cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geographies of state failure and sophistication in maritime piracy hijackings

Abstract Many analysts are concerned about territories subject to state failure becoming safe havens for terrorists. In this article, I apply this logic to maritime piracy syndicates and their ship hijacking operations, and argue that a focus on the geographies of state failure can help us explain why pirates' behavior varies between failed and weak states. Analysis of a dataset of hijacking incidents suggests that state failure is associated with less sophisticated attacks, while state weakness encourages more sophisticated attacks. Through case studies of the process by which pirates carry out their attacks in East Africa and Southeast Asia, I argue that it is the differences in political and economic landscapes that influence how pirates embed their operations across territory, and thus how they carry out their operations. Notably, because they do not have to worry about enforcement, pirates in failed states can engage in time-intensive kidnappings for ransom, while only weak states provide the markets and transportation infrastructure necessary for operations where ships and cargo are seized and sold for profit. These findings suggest that weak states might actually be more problematic for international security in some respects than failed states.
A Metallicity Map of M33

We present initial results from the M33 Metallicity Project. Out of the thousands of cataloged HII regions in M33, only ~30 have electron-temperature based abundances in the literature. We have obtained Keck spectroscopy of a sample of ~200 HII regions in M33, with 61 detections of the [O III] 4363 A line that can be used for determining electron temperatures, including measurements at small galactocentric radii where auroral lines are generally difficult to detect. We find an oxygen abundance gradient of -0.027 +/- 0.012 dex/kpc, in agreement with infrared measurements of the neon abundance gradient but much shallower than most previous oxygen gradient measurements. There is substantial intrinsic scatter of 0.11 dex in the metallicity at any given radius in M33, which imposes a fundamental limit on the accuracy of gradient measurements that rely on small samples of objects. Finally, we present a two-dimensional map of oxygen abundances across the southern half of M33 and discuss the evidence for deviations from axisymmetry.
English Language Learners and English-Only Learners' Response to Direct Vocabulary Instruction

We examined data from an 18-week kindergarten vocabulary intervention study to determine whether treatment outcomes had differential effects that favored English language learners (ELLs) or English-only learners (EOLs) and whether the relationship between initial English general receptive vocabulary knowledge and response to vocabulary intervention differed as a function of language status. Participants from 3 northeastern U.S. elementary schools within 3 separate school districts were assigned to either a treatment condition (ELLs, n = 31; EOLs, n = 49) or no-treatment condition (ELLs, n = 17; EOLs, n = 25). Trained interventionists delivered direct vocabulary instruction using 1 storybook twice per week in 20- to 25-min sessions. Results from 2 × 2 analyses of variance indicated that participants performed better if they were (a) in the treatment condition rather than the no-treatment condition and (b) categorized as an EOL rather than an ELL with evidence of an interaction effect on a target-word knowl...
Use of time-activity budgets to measure early progress of a social attraction restoration project

Abstract Social attraction is a useful technique for re-establishing or relocating waterbird colonies and other species groups. However, little information exists regarding how newly attending individuals behave when the social environment is influenced predominantly by artificial stimuli. To help assess early progress of colony re-establishment, we compared time-activity budgets of common murres (Uria aalge) at a social attraction site (Devil’s Slide Rock; DSR) in central California with two nearby reference colonies during the first 3 years (1996–1998) of efforts. Murres at all colonies spent over 95% of their time engaged in resting, comfort, courtship, and alert activities during the pre-breeding period and over 88% of their time in similar activities during the breeding period. Although patterns were similar overall, comparisons of pooled and year-specific time budget data revealed significant differences between all three colonies, especially during pre-breeding. Murres at DSR typically engaged in comfort behaviors less frequently and in alert and courtship behaviors more frequently than reference colonies. Differences likely were due to recent re-establishment, including lower bird densities and higher proportions of non-breeders and first-time breeders at DSR, along with other factors such as disturbance. Results indicate that newly attracted birds at DSR behaved “normally” even though the social environment was influenced predominantly by artificial stimuli. Furthermore, re-established breeding in the first year of efforts, subsequent colony growth, and high productivity reflected successful restoration efforts. Thus, time-activity budgets can provide important measures of early progress of social attraction efforts and as such can be used to inform adaptive management decisions.
Can development ever rise again? The enduring lessons of William Kessen

Abstract This essay represents a search for an understanding of Bill Kessen, and for an understanding of what he was trying to teach us in his later years. I discuss possible sources of his dissatisfaction with the field of child development, and whether any of these issues can now be resolved in ways that Kessen might not have fully anticipated. I then conclude by summarizing what I believe to be the main lessons we can learn from Bill Kessen’s distinguished career.
A two-stage version of the Kassam-Thomas nonparametric dead-zone limiter detection system

A useful modification of the Kassam–Thomas nonparametric dead‐zone limiter detection system is proposed. The modified detector is based on a recently established procedure for multistage hypothesis testing which offers improved efficiency over fixed‐sample‐size tests while retaining the implementational and mismatch advantages that fixed‐sample‐size tests have over strictly sequential tests. The proposed detector operates as follows: A group of observations is taken and the Kassam–Thomas procedure is applied to decide whether or not a signal is present. If it is decided that no signal is present the procedure stops; otherwise a second group of observations is taken and the test is reperformed in order to double‐check the results of the first test. Thus the presence of a signal is announced only when this decision has been double‐checked. Two versions of this detector are proposed, one of which discards the first group of observations when double‐checking and the other of which performs the double‐check on the combined first and second groups. Both detectors are strictly nonparametric. Improvement in performance, in terms of the average number of samples, over the Kassam–Thomas detector is observed. With proper choices of data group sizes and of the significance level for testing the first group of observations, significant improvement can be obtained. These modified detectors are particularly attractive when the prior probability of the signal being absent is very much larger than the prior probability of the signal being present. Under this condition, the asymptotic performance of the proposed detector is better even than that of the linear detector under Gaussian noise in most cases considered. However, these new procedures are strictly nonparametric whereas the linear detector is parametric.
Advanced technology for computer simulation of LWR plant transients

The advanced computer architecture, specially designed for high-speed and low-cost digital simulation of complex systems, has been combined with six mathematical modeling principles to provide a convenient, interactive engineering plant analyzer for nuclear power plants. Simulation needs of the nuclear industry are discussed, and the architectural and mathematical modeling principles are presented. Various features of the analyzer are highlighted. >
Order reduction of structural dynamic systems with static piecewise linear nonlinearities

A technique for order reduction of dynamic systems in structural form with static piecewise linear nonlinearities is presented. By utilizing two methods which approximate the nonlinear normal mode (NNM) frequencies and mode shapes, reduced-order models are constructed which more accurately represent the dynamics of the full model than do reduced models obtained via standard linear transformations. One method builds a reduced-order model which is dependent on the amplitude (initial conditions) while the other method results in an amplitude-independent reduced model. The two techniques are first applied to reduce two-degree-of-freedom undamped systems with clearance, deadzone, bang-bang, and saturation stiffness nonlinearities to single-mode reduced models which are compared by direct numerical simulation with the full models. It is then shown via a damped four-degree-of-freedom system with two deadzone nonlinearities that one of the proposed techniques allows for reduction to multi-mode reduced models and can accommodate multiple nonsmooth static nonlinearities with several surfaces of discontinuity. The advantages of the proposed methods include obtaining a reduced-order model which is signal-independent (doesn’t require direct integration of the full model), uses a subset of the original physical coordinates, retains the form of the nonsmooth nonlinearities, and closely tracks the actual NNMs of the full model.
Husband-wife agreement, power relations and contraceptive use in Turkey.

In Turkey contraceptive use has become more widespread but little is known about the concurrence of spousal reports or the relative influence of communication decision making and power differentials on method use. METHODS: Data from the 1998 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) for 1546 married couples were tested for concurrence between spousal reports on fertility and family planning variables. Multivariate regression analyses based on wives husbands and joint reports of current contraceptive use were used to assess the association between such use and various background communication and interspousal variables. RESULTS: Spousal reports on most fertility and contraceptive use measures demonstrated moderate to high concordance whereas reports of approval of family planning showed only fair concordance. After adjusting for background factors models based on wives and husbands reports showed that current contraceptive use was positively associated with the number of methods known (odds ratios 1.2 and 1.1 respectively) and perception of spousal approval (3.3 and 2.0 respectively) and in the husbands model with approval of either spouse or both (3.8-5.8). In the combined model contraceptive use was positively associated with both partners approving of family planning (2.4) and negatively associated with both partners wanting more than three children and with only wives wanting three or fewer (0.4 and 0.6 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies between spousal reports were less significant in Turkey than in most developing countries with DHS data but the differences were not inconsequential to explaining how spousal attitudes and preferences influence contraceptive use. No evidence was found associating interspousal power differentials with method use. Further research is needed to improve the testing and modeling of such dyadic processes.
Near-Earth Ultraviolet Environment

Observations of naturally-occurring ultraviolet radiation provide us a wealth of knowledge about the nature and mechanisms of the terrestrial atmosphere, ionosphere, and geocorona and the local interstellar medium. The ultraviolet spectrum is so valuable because it corresponds to the energies of atomic and molecular processes such as fundamental resonance transitions, ionization, and dissociation; however, these same properties make ultraviolet technology difficult. Far and extreme ultraviolet observations from rockets and satellites produce accurate synoptic views of the earth's hydrogen and helium atmospheres and their variations. Similarly, the plasmasphere, confined by the earth's magnetic field, is mapped on a global scale by the resonance radiation of the helium ions. Near the magnetic equator, ultraviolet emissions depict the unique behavior of oxygen ions and the precipitation of alpha particles. With the discovery of extended extraterrestrial ultraviolet resonance radiation from hydrogen and helium it was realized that the local interstellar medium (LISM) flows into and interacts with the solar system. The UV radiation patterns accurately define the LISM characteristics.
On a text-processing approach to facilitating autonomous deception detection

Current techniques towards information security have limited capabilities to detect and counter attacks that involve different kinds of masquerade and spread of misinformation executed over long time periods to achieve malicious goals. Detection of such deceptive information obtained during online interactions (emails, chat room conversations) is the first step before counter strategies can be developed. With the large-scale use of information technologies as a general communication medium, facilitating deception detection is a key enabler to utilizing information systems to their fullest potential. This article presents a framework for computer-aided deception detection building on the interpersonal deception theory (IDT) of human interpersonal communication research and text-processing techniques for facilitating deception analysis of text-oriented communication. A state-transition diagram based framework is proposed to model the dynamic evolution of an interpersonal conversation between a sender and receiver based on the IDT-based process schemata. The framework is then utilized to develop a deception detection agent to process textual information. Deception detection is defined as a process of model verification. Architecture of a prototype under development and open problems for further research in this area are outlined.
The origin, distribution and disappearance of surface cilia during embryonic development of Rana pipiens as revealed by scanning electron microscopy

Cilia begin to grow from the free surface of some ectodermal cells during the neural plate stage (stage 13). Ciliary growth is not closely synchronized between cells in the same embryo, but the number of ciliated cells increases greatly during neural fold development and further growth in length of pre-existing cilia occurs. Ciliated cells are numerous and widely distributed over the surface of early tailbud stages. However, cilia do not develop on cells in the neural plate and inner sides of the neural fold, and only an occasional ciliated cell is observed on the surface of the paired suckers. The number of ciliated epidermal cells per embryo increases during tail growth (stages 18–22). Ciliated epidermal cells persist after hatching (stage 20), but regression of cilia can be detected in stage 24 larvae. By late stage 25, most of the cilia have disappeared and the morphological variations observed indicate that the process involves resorption of cilia. Non-ciliated (secretory) ectodermal cells from the neurula onward to stage 25 synthesize granules which are released to provide a mucous-like coat for the embryo and larva. The surface structure of both ciliated and non-ciliated ectodermal cells is described in sections studied with the transmission electron microscope and compared to the surface architecture of both cell types observed with the scanning electron microscope.
Intrarenal Angiotensin ii is associated with inflammation, renal damage and dysfunction in dahl salt-sensitive hypertension.

Abstract The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that intrarenal angiotensin (Ang) II has a proinflammatory effect leading to renal damage and dysfunction in Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats on high-Na intake. Forty-six 7- to 8-week old Dahl S or Dahl salt-resistant (R)/Rapp strain rats were maintained for 5 weeks on high sodium (8%) with or without candesartan cilexetil in daily doses of 10 to 15 mg/kg/day. Arterial catheters were implanted at day 28. By day 35 in the high-Na S + candesartan rats, renal tissue Ang II concentration, renal monocytes/macrophages, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 significantly decreased. Plasma Ang II remained at very low levels in all groups. Reduced renal damage in candesartan-treated Dahl S rats was demonstrated by marked decreases in urinary protein excretion and renal glomerular and interstitial damage. After 5 weeks of high-Na, compared with high-Na Dahl S rats, arterial pressure was unchanged in candesartan S rats, but creatinine clearance was increased. Therefore, candesartan reduced renal tissue Ang II, renal damage, infiltration of immune cells, cytokines, chemokines, and improved renal hemodynamics. These data suggest that intrarenal Ang II plays an important role in causing renal inflammation, which leads to renal cortical damage, proteinuria, and decreases in renal hemodynamics.
MRI findings of rapidly progressive hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and patient characteristics in subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that exhibit rapid progression. Materials and Methods In this unblinded retrospective study, initial and follow up MR images were reviewed, before and after rapid progression of HCC, respectively. Rapid progression was defined as a lesion 3 cm increase in one year or 2 cm increase in 6 months. Patient characteristics and MRI findings were determined using clinical information from the institution clinical information system and records from the Radiology and Pathology Departments, Hepatology Division and Liver Transplant Service of the Department of Medicine. Results Seven individuals were identified with HCC that showed rapid progression. Five of the patients had underlying hepatitis C, one had alcoholic hepatitis, and one had immunosuppression due to liver transplantation. On initial MRI, six patients had early intense ring enhancing lesions, which rapidly progressed in size. Five patients died within 6 months, one within 1 year after progression despite treatment. Six of the seven patients also had multiple other liver nodules on initial MRI; those that showed ring enhancement rapidly progressed but those without, did not show rapid progression. Conclusion Patients with rapidly progressive HCC had underlying hepatitis C and intense ring enhancement on initial MRI. This group of patients should be evaluated further to determine if they might benefit from early intervention.
Mapping of a protein-RNA kissing hairpin interface: Rom and Tar-Tar*

An RNA ‘kissing’ complex is formed by the association of two hairpins via base pairing of their complementary loops. This sense‐antisense RNA motif is used in the regulation of many cellular processes, including Escherichia coli ColE1 plasmid copy number. The RNA one modulator protein (Rom) acts as a co-regulator of ColE1 plasmid copy number by binding to the kissing hairpins and stabilizing their interaction. We have used heteronuclear two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy to map the interface between Rom and a kissing complex formed by the loop of the trans-activation response (Tar) element of immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and its complement. The protein binding interface was obtained from changes in amide proton signals of uniformly 15 N-labeled Rom with increasing concentrations of unlabeled Tar‐Tar*. Similarly, the RNA-binding interface was obtained from changes in imino proton signals of uniformly 15 N-labeled Tar with increasing concentrations of unlabeled Rom. Our results are in agreement with previous mutagenesis studies and provide additional information on Rom residues involved in RNA binding. The kissing hairpin interface with Rom leads to a model in which the protein contacts the minor groove of the loop‐loop helix and, to a lesser extent, the major groove of the stems.
Effect of Estrogen on Calcium Absorption and Serum Vitamin D Metabolites in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporotic women have decreased calcium absorption and decreased serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] and are usually in negative calcium balance. Estrogen therapy improves calcium balance in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. In birds, estrogen administration increases the conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) to 1,25-(OH)2D. To determine if estrogen therapy affects vitamin D metabolism in human subjects, we studied 21 osteoporotic women before and after 6 months of treatment. We compared groups treated with either placebo (9 patients) or conjugated equine estrogen (1.2-2.5 mg/day; 12 patients). Fractional calcium absorption (mean +/- SE) was unchanged after treatment with placebo (0.51 +/- 0.03 to 0.52 +/- 0.01) but increased after treatment with estrogen (0.53 +/- 0.02 to 0.65 +/- 0.04; P < 0.005). The increase after estrogen was similar to the increase observed in 10 additional osteoporotic women treated for 6 months with a small dose of 0.5 microgram/day 1,25-(OH)2D (0.54 +/- 0.03 to 0.68 +/- 0.04; P < 0.005). Serum 1,25-(OH)2D was unchanged after treatment with placebo (27.5 +/- 1.3 to 27.6 +/- 1.7 pg/ml) but increased after treatment with estrogen (23.6 +/- 2.7 to 33.2 +/- 3.7 pg/ml; P < 0.005). Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased (23.0 +/- 4.2 to 32.7 +/- 4.6 microliter eq/ml; P < 0.05) after estrogen but not after placebo treatment. After treatment with estrogen, the increases in serum immunoreactive PTH and serum 1,25-(OH)2D were correlated (r = 0.68; P < 0.05), and the increases in serum 1,25-(OH)2D and calcium absorption were highly correlated (r = 0.89; P < 0.001). We conclude that estrogen treatment increases calcium absorption in postmenopausal osteoporosis by increasing serum 1,25(OH)2D. This effect appears to be mediated indirectly through stimulation of renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase by increased serum PTH.
The Scope and Limitations of Ternary Blend Organic Photovoltaics

The alignment of E g , T with the donor and acceptor optical gaps, E g,D and E g,A , respectively, determines whether charge generation is exothermic for a given combination of donor and acceptor. The best experimental estimate for this driving force is usually E E E CS g,T g,D ∆ = − , or E E E CS g,T g,A ∆ = − , depending on whether the photoexcitation originates on the donor or the acceptor, respectively. E g,T must also be less than both E g,D and E g,A in order to avoid competitive energy transfer and exciton reformation. [ 13 ] These rules are simply summarized in the requirement for E g,T to be the smallest bandgap in the blend:
Effect of Anneal Time on the Enhanced Performance of a-Si:H TFTs for Future Display Technology

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs) are widely used as controlling devices for picture pixels in liquid crystal displays. In addition to flat panel display applications, a significant research effort focuses on the extension of this technology to circuitry on flexible substrates to build flexible sensor systems. This study investigates the effect of anneal time on the performance of the a-Si:H TFTs on Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). Off-current is reduced by two orders of magnitude for 48-hours annealed TFT, and the sub-threshold slope become steeper with longer annealing. For positive gate-bias-stress, ΔVt values are positive and exhibit a power-law time dependence (PLTD). The 48-hour annealed TFTs, however, display a turnaround phenomenon (TP) at longer stress times. For negative gate-bias-stress, TFTs annealed for ≥ 24 hours possess a smaller positive ΔVt. They do not follow a PLTD and the TP is observed at longer stress times. The observed ΔVt is explained in terms of the shift in the electron and hole transfer characteristics.
High‐pressure polymorphism of FeO? An alternative interpretation and its implications for the Earth's core

Summary. It has been reported that no stoichiometric FeO can be formed at temperatures above about 6OO0C regardless of pressure. The stoichiometry of FexO quenched from static high pressure and temperature experiments appears to decrease with increasing pressure in the range 100-300 kbar. On the basis of these observations, we have re-interpreted the recent shock results on FeoawO, and have found that the Hugoniot data can be reasonable interpreted by the same shift in stoichiometry as observed in the static highpressure experiments instead of a first-order transformation as proposed. If oxygen is assumed to be the light component of the outer core, the outer core can be chemically homogeneous only if the stoichiometry of FexO decreases with increasing pressure. A constant stoichiometry would demand that the oxygen content decreases by a factor of 2 from the top to the bottom of the outer core. A chemically homogeneous outer core is consistent with a convecting outer core.
The Trends and Future of Photobiology : Biochemical and Genetic Aspects

Since the science of photobiology is in a rapid growth phase, it has been relatively easy to select areas of photobiology (bio chemical and genetic) that will provide unusual opportunities for exciting research in the coming years. However, the future of the science of photobiology not only depends upon the continued production of “scientific breakthroughs”, but also on the encouragement of young scientists to enter the field of photobiology. Accompanying this should be a committment to educate photobiologists to be knowledgeable in all the areas of photobiology, not just in the area of their research specialty.
Deployment Algorithms and In-Door Experimental Vehicles for Studying Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless communication has been traditionally used in robotics to transmit sensory and telemetry information between a robot and a base station. Because research in mobile robotics has typically focused on navigation, mapping and sensor fusion, network oriented problems such as communication bandwidth optimization, coverage and fault tolerance are not usually considered in this context. The motivation behind this research is formulating and solving combined robot navigation issues (such as obstacle avoidance, environment mapping and coverage) with sensor network issues (such as congestion control, routing and node energy minimization). In this paper we present several types of algorithms for mobile wireless sensor nodes (MWSN) as well as experimental results with a fleet of mobile robots and sensors in our lab. The algorithms include adaptive sampling (AS) for distributed field estimation, potential fields (PF) for communication bandwidth optimization, and a discrete event controller (DEC) for mission planning.
AGU Honors 82 Geophysicists

This year's Honors Ceremony, held on 5 December 2012, celebrated 82 AGU geophysicists for their profound contributions and breakthrough achievements. These outstanding scientists were honored for their persistence, dedication, pursuit of excellence, and scientific statesmanship. Their work continues to advance science and to communicate it better; it inspires and guides the scientific community as they seek to expand and deepen knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
Use of a Mini-Transposon to Study Chondroitinase Activity Associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract Edwardsiella ictaluri, the etiological agent of enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), is the leading cause of bacterial disease in commercially raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Little work has been conducted at a genotypic level to determine potential virulence characteristics, but the production of chondroitin sulfatase is a suspected virulence factor. Using transpositional mutagenesis, we created stable E. ictaluri mutants that are deficient in chondroitinase activity. Channel catfish were challenged by injection with E. ictaluri transposon mutant MI15. None of the catfish challenged with the mutant died or showed signs of ESC. These fish were held for 2 weeks and then challenged by injection with the known virulent parent strain of E. ictaluri. The challenged naive control fish showed clinical signs of and a mortality rate consistent with ESC, whereas catfish that had been injected with MI15 prior to challenge with the parent strain were resistant to disease. This work represents a p...
Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal Procedures

This article reviews several ultrasound (US)-guided procedures, including aspiration of joint, bursal, and periarticular fluid collections; aspiration of calcific tendinitis; injection of joints and bursa; tenotomy; and biopsy of soft tissue masses. Imaging guidance ensures that procedures are done safely and successfully. US has several advantages over CT guidance and other methods of performing these.
Electrophysiologic assessment of autonomic function in epilepsy

Sudden unexpected death associated with epilepsy (SUDEP) is an important clinical problem. Peri-ictal autonomic dysfunction is thought to play a role in SUDEP and few means exist for clinical identification of patients at risk. Sympathetic function was assessed by measuring sympathetic skin responses (SSR) elicited in the hand by auditory or tactile stimulation or by inspiration. Parasympathetic function was assessed by recording the R-R interval (RRI) and determining its variability in subsequent heartbeats. Fifty epilepsy patients had significantly greater SSR amplitudes and latencies than controls. The RRI was shorter in patients than in controls and the mean successive difference (MSD) was less, but significance was not reached. Twenty patients at possible risk for SUDEP (male, generalized seizures, intermittent medication noncompliance, drug and alcohol abuse, traumatic or structural aetiology) differed significantly from controls in SSR and RRI. Epilepsy patients may differ in autonomic function from the general population, and these differences may be relevant to SUDEP. The SSR and the RRI may be a simple means of assessing autonomic function in epilepsy outpatients.
Structural Characterization of the Catalytic Sites of Mononuclear Nonheme Fe Hydroxylases Using 2H-ESEEM

Aromatic amino acid hydroxylases are members of a larger group of enzymes that use a mononuclear nonheme Fe center to catalyze a variety of thermodynamically challenging reactions in which O2 is used in the oxidative transformation of substrates. The hydroxylase enzymes are catalytically active in the ferrous oxidation state and are high-spin. To render the catalytic site EPR-active, we have used nitric oxide (NO) as a surrogate for substrate O2 to form an S=3/2 paramagnetic center. While the continuous-wave (cw)-EPR spectra of NO-enzyme adducts are rather generic, they provide electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) data that are rich with structural information derived from ligand hyperfine couplings. This chapter will focus on (2)H-ESEEM spectroscopy, an approach that we have taken for assigning these spectra and harvesting the unique information on Fe(II) coordination chemistry that they provide. While these spectroscopic measurements are routine, an emphasis will be placed on the analysis of cw-EPR and (2)H-ESEEM data using an unconstrained nonlinear optimization approach. These analysis methods are based on simple custom "scripts" that run in the MATLAB environment and that use EasySpin, a public-domain EPR simulation package, as their calculation engine. The examples provided here use a strategy that can be adapted for the treatment of most EPR measurements.
PinX1 the tail on the chromosome

The PinX1 protein inhibits telomerase, an enzyme that lengthens telomeres - the structures that protect the ends of chromosomes. Loss of PinX1 leads to increased telomere length along with defects in chromosome dynamics. In this issue of the JCI, Zhou et al. present novel evidence from human tumors and mouse models indicating that PinX1 is a clinically significant tumor suppressor. Importantly, the genome-destabilizing effects of PinX1 loss appear to depend on telomerase activity, raising new models and questions for how telomeres and telomerase contribute to the development of cancer.
Work-Unit Absenteeism: Effects of Satisfaction, Commitment, Labor Market Conditions, and Time

Prior research is limited in explaining absenteeism at the unit level and over time. We developed and tested a model of unit-level absenteeism using five waves of data collected over six years from 115 work units in a large state agency. Unit-level job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and local unemployment were modeled as time-varying predictors of absenteeism. Shared satisfaction and commitment interacted in predicting absenteeism but were not related to the rate of change in absenteeism over time. Unit-level satisfaction and commitment were more strongly related to absenteeism when units were located in areas with plentiful job alternatives.
Agent societies without dilemmas: an evolutionary approach

The social sciences literature abound in problems of providing and maintaining a public good in a society composed of self-interested individuals (Hardin, 1968). Public goods are social benefits that can be accessed by individuals irrespective of their personal contributions. We had previously used genetic algorithms (GAs) for generating an optimized agent society that can circumvent a particularly problematic social dilemma. In that approach, each chromosome represented the entire agent society. In this paper, we investigate an adaptive system approach of evolving a set of co-adapted chromosomes where each chromosome represent an agent, and the population represents the society.
Analysis of General Electric Model 7001 First Stage Nozzle Cracking

Analyses of first stage nozzle cracking in General Electric Model 7001B and 7001E industrial gas turbines are presented. Empirical algorithms are developed to predict the maximum extent of cracking that is visible on these nozzles as a function of engine cyclic history and the number of fired hours. It is shown that the algorithms predict this cracking to within a factor of two. Metallurgical analyses of nozzles show that crack growth follows the carbide-matrix interface, environmental attack occurs at the crack tip, and that the microstructure changes by increasing the amount of carbide precipitation which increases the hardness. These metallurgical results, along with mechanical test data and stress analyses from the literature, are used to understand the nature of nozzle cracking. The maximum extent of cracking coincides with locations of maximum thermal stresses as determined by finite element analyses of similar nozzle designs. This location is at the airfoil-shroud junction on the middle vanes of multi-vane castings. The use of these algorithms as a predictive maintenance tool and the ability to visually inspect nozzles in the engine also are discussed.Copyright © 1992 by ASME
Entrepreneurs, Managers, and the Nonprofit Enterprise

In the previous chapter of this book, Christoph Badelt provides an excellent overview and integrative commentary on entrepreneurial theories of nonprofit organization. In this chapter, I will address three principal areas of interest that Badelt has highlighted. First, I will endorse the notion that the entrepreneurial perspective can make an important contribution to the formal economic theory of the nonprofit sector. Second, I will argue that entrepreneurship theory can substantially benefit nonprofit managerial practice, but that dangers lurk in this application. Finally, I will explore how entrepreneurship theory opens doors to broader, interdisciplinary theory building for the nonprofit sector.
Anosognosia increases caregiver burden in mild cognitive impairment.

Objective Our aim is to determine the clinical correlates of impaired insight in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by examining its impact on cognition, functional status, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregiver burden. Methods The study involved 75 patients with MCI and their caregivers. Patients and caregivers underwent a comprehensive evaluation including the Clinical Dementia Rating, memory tests, and the Functional Assessment Questionnaire. Behavioral symptoms were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, caregiver burden by the Zarit Burden Inventory, and insight by comparing self-report on the AD8 dementia screening tool to informant collateral. Patients were asked about their perceptions of their memory, and answers were compared with informants' responses. Patient mood was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. Results There was a significant difference in AD8 scores among patients who retained versus lacked insight. Zarit Burden Inventory scores showed a significant rise as patient insight declined; the burden appeared greater on spouse versus non-spouse caregivers. Patients with poor insight had significantly worse ratings in Clinical Dementia Rating domains of personal care and judgment, while patients who retained insight had significantly higher depression and anxiety. Insight impairment was associated with worse caregiver mood. Conclusions Decreased patient awareness for cognitive problems was significantly associated with higher caregiver burden, independent of neuropsychiatric symptoms, functional abilities, and cognition. Personal care, judgment, and problem-solving skills could contribute to caregiver burden. Increased awareness seemed a source of patient depression and anxiety. The research highlights the need to focus on the needs of MCI caregivers and to incorporate psychosocial assessments of caregiver–patient dyads into office visits.
Involuntary Bankruptcy as Debt Collection: Multi-Jurisdictional Lessons in Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

This paper contrasts the usage of creditor-initiated or 'involuntary' bankruptcy in England, the Netherlands and the United States, and it presents empirical evidence to reveal and explain stark divergences among these three otherwise very similar systems. US practice is consistent with the hypothesis that involuntary bankruptcy should represent a rare exception to the ordinary process of individual claims enforcement. Elevated levels of involuntary bankruptcy in England and the Netherlands pose a theoretical and practical conundrum. Analysis of empirical data suggests that involuntary bankruptcy is commonly used in England and the Netherlands for deleterious purposes inconsistent with the modern goals of bankruptcy. These discoveries suggest that policymakers should consider restricting involuntary bankruptcy in a variety of ways, especially against individual, natural person debtors.
John Rogers and the Ultrathin Limits of Technology: His Flexible, Skin-Mounted Biostamp Is Changing the Game for Wearable Diagnostic Devices

Reports on the medical products developed by John Rogers. One of these medical devices is a flexible patch, a device as small and thin as a postage stamp, that could soon be providing health-monitoring capabilities that match and, in some cases, potentially improve on tests that now require a visit to a hospital or clinic. The patch is as thin as a temporary tattoo, so thin that the person wearing it can barely feel it. Air and moisture pass right through it, and it flexes when one moves, just as the skin itself does. Rogers flexible, skin-mounted Biostamp is changing the game for wearable diagnostic devices.
Predictors of initial treatment in older adults with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma

8054 Background: Multiple treatment options are available for patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), including expectant management (EM), radiation therapy (RT), various chemotherapy (CTX) regimen...
Aquatic Arthropods in California Rice Paddies: Effects of Water-Drainage Versus Continuous-Flood Regimes on Abundance and Species Composition

In conjunction with experiments to evaluate water drainage as a control method for the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, studies were performed to compare the abundance and species composition of aquatic arthropods in two sets of continuously flooded and temporarily drained but reflooded rice, Oryza sativa L., paddies. A total of 1,736 individuals representing 22 arthropod taxa was collected. Few differences in abundance were detected; however, Notonecta spp. were significantly more abundant in reflooded paddies. Percentage similarity (PS) between paired treatments was >0.50 on all but one date; relatively high PS values on the first sampling dates suggest that the aquatic arthropod community is able to recover rapidly following reflooding. Several taxa appear to possess traits that enhance survival in a rice paddy subjected to temporary drainage. Implications are discussed for the wide-scale use of drainage on California rice acreage.
A Molecular Dynamics Study of Cu Segregation to the Σ11 Grain Boundary In Al

We present results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of Cu segregation to the Σ11 % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqr1ngB % PrgifHhDYfgasaacH8srps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaqFr0x % c9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qqQ8fr % Fve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaadaaada % qaaiaaigdaceaIXaGbaebacaaIWaaacaGLPmIaayPkJaaaaa!3BC3! $$\left\langle {1\bar 10} \right\rangle $$ /(113)(113) grain boundary (GB) in Al. The simulations were performed with Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potentials for Al and Al-Cu. The results predict that copper atoms tend to order along either side of the interface even at the pure symmetrical GB, forming alternating chains along the % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqr1ngB % PrgifHhDYfgasaacH8srps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaqFr0x % c9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qqQ8fr % Fve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaadaWada % qaaiqaiodagaqeaiqaiodagaqeaiaaikdaaiaawUfacaGLDbaaaaa!3C03! $$\left[ {\bar 3\bar 32} \right]$$ direction. The nucleation of the chains is driven by a change in the local atomic level stress induced by the pre-existing Cu atoms at the GB.
Transport Resistances in Fuel-Cell Catalyst Layers

Mass-transport resistances observed with low platinum (Pt) loadings in polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell (PEFC) catalyst layers (CLs) limit performance and thus, present challenges for necessary further Pt reduction to enable commercialization. It is believed that this resistance is due to mass-transport hindrance near the Pt surface, probably due to transport through the ionomer thin-film layer on the Pt/C particles; the nature and genesis of this resistance needs to be explored further. In this study, a hydrogen-pump configuration at limiting-current is used to study local mass-transport limitations in CLs. Using an agglomerate model, analytical expressions for the total resistance at limiting current are developed to identify critical parameters controlling this resistance. The dependence of CL resistance on these parameters is examined.
Effects of Electro - acupuncture at Different Time Points on Detrusor Urinae Apoptosis in Rats with Acute Urinary Retention

Objective:To study the effect of pre-conditioning and post-conditioning electro-acupuncture on bladder function and detrusor urinae apoptosis in rats with acute urinary retention(AUR).Methods:Thirty healthy female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups which were normal(C),model(M),60min pre-conditioning(E),0min post-conditioning(E0),60min post-conditioning(E1),120min post-conditioning(E2),with five rats in each group.AUR model was established by filling the rats' bladder with normal saline at a volume of two times above their normal capacity for one hour on model group and acupuncture groups;Electro-acupuncture on Sanyinjiao(SP6) was applied to acupuncture groups at relative time point;the change of bladder volume and maximum pressure of detrusor urinae were tested;TUNEL method was applied to test the apoptosis index(AI) of detrusor urinae.Results:The bladder function of all acupuncture groups(E,E0,E1,E2) were better than that of model group after modelling(P0.05);AI of model group was higher than that of all acupuncture groups(P0.01);the bladder function of E0 was better than that of E2 after modelling(P0.05);AI of E0 was lower than that of E2(P0.05).Conclusion:The change of bladder function in rats with AUR has a close relationship with detrusor urinae apoptosis;Bladder function is inverse correlation with AI;Pre-conditioning and post-conditioning electro-acupuncture is effective to alleviate detrusor urinae apoptosis in rats with AUR;Electro-acupuncture should be started as early as possible after AUR in order to protect bladder function better.
Characterization of control rod worths and fuel rod power peaking factors in the university of Utah TRIGA Mark I reactor

Control rod reactivity (worths) for the three control rods and fuel rod power peaking factors in the University of Utah research reactor (100 kW TRIGA Mark I) are characterized using the AGENT code system and the results described in this paper. These values are compared to the MCNP6 and existing experimental measurements. In addition, the eigenvalue, neutron spatial flux distributions and reaction rates are analyzed and discussed. The AGENT code system is widely benchmarked for various reactor types and complexities in their geometric arrangements of the assemblies and reactor core material distributions. Thus, it is used as a base methodology to evaluate neutronics variables of the research reactor at the University of Utah. With its much shorter computation time than MCNP6, AGENT provides agreement with the MCNP6 within a 0.5 % difference for the eigenvalue and a maximum difference of 10% in the power peaking factor values. Differential and integral control rod worths obtained by AGENT show well agreement with MCNP6 and the theoretical model. However, regulating the control rod worth is somewhat overestimated by both MCNP6 and AGENT models when compared to the experimental/theoretical values. In comparison to MCNP6, the total control rod worths and shutdown margin obtained with AGENT show better agreement to the experimental values.
Relationship between carbohydrate oxidation and G-1,6-P2 in human skeletal muscle during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia

Euglycemic (approximately 5.5 mM) hyperinsulinemic clamps were performed on normoglycemic insulin-sensitive (NIS) men and men who were normoglycemic but insulin resistant (NIR) and hyperglycemic and insulin resistant (HIR) (i.e., noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). Insulin was infused at successive rates of 40 and 400 mU.m-2.min-1, and biopsies were obtained from the quadriceps femoris muscles before and after insulin and analyzed for regulators of phosphofructokinase, a rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis. Glucose disposal and whole body carbohydrate oxidation were markedly lower in NIR and HIR vs. NIS (P less than 0.001 for disposal and oxidation). The alpha-D-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (G-1,6-P2) content increased almost twofold during the 40-mU insulin infusion (P less than 0.001) without any further change during the 400-mU infusion in NIS men. The increase in G-1,6-P2 in NIR and HIR was only approximately 25 and 50% of the increase observed in NIS during the 40- and 400-mU infusions, respectively. The mean content of G-1,6-P2 was strongly related to the mean rate of carbohydrate oxidation (r = 0.99; P less than 0.001). Because during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia approximately 90% of the glucose utilization is accounted for by skeletal muscle (J. Clin. Invest. 76: 149, 1985), it is likely that whole body carbohydrate oxidation is proportional to carbohydrate oxidation and glycolysis in muscle. The different rates of carbohydrate oxidation between NIS and insulin-resistant men could not be associated with differences in fructose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, Pi, free ADP and free AMP (activators of phosphofructokinase), or ATP and citrate (inhibitors of phosphofructokinase).