cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial/ethnic differences in cortisol diurnal rhythms in a community sample of adolescents.

Abstract Purpose To identify potential physiological pathways to racial disparities in health outcomes, this study uses cortisol data collected from a community sample of 255 adolescents to examine whether there are racial/ethnic differences in cortisol slopes and levels across the waking day in naturalistic settings. Methods This study uses salivary cortisol data (sampled five times per day over 3 days) to examine racial/ethnic differences in diurnal cortisol rhythms, while covarying the presence of major depressive disorder and chronic and episodic life stress (assessed by structured interviews), momentary negative emotion (reported in diaries completed with cortisol samples), and socioeconomic status, sleep, and health variables (assessed by questionnaire) previously found to be associated with cortisol levels. Results African-American and Hispanic youth were found to have flatter cortisol slopes across the waking day than their Caucasian counterparts. Differences are due to higher bedtime cortisol levels among Hispanics and to both lower wakeup and higher bedtime levels among African-Americans. Although higher levels of negative emotion were associated with flatter diurnal rhythms, the socioenvironmental factors examined failed to explain the observed racial/ethnic differences in diurnal cortisol rhythms. Conclusions Significantly flatter diurnal cortisol slopes were found among African American and Hispanic adolescents, a pattern which has been related to negative health consequences. Further research is needed to examine how early these differences emerge and to identify their developmental origins. Although genetic contributions are possible, greater prenatal stress exposure, low birth weight, adverse early childhood experiences, experiences with racism or discrimination, and lifetime history of chronic stress are all reasonable psychosocial hypotheses to pursue.
The risk of carotid endarterectomy in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

Objective Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been associated with less favorable outcome in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). The authors compared results of CEA in the presence and absence of CRI at their institution over a 5-year period. Design/setting/participants This article is a retrospective review of 1351 patients who underwent CEA between 1998 and 2004. Chronic renal insufficiency was present in 143 patients. Renal insufficiency was graded as mild (creatinine 1.6-2.9 mg/dL) or severe (creatinine ≥3.0 mg/dL or on hemodialysis). The composite endpoint was stroke or death within 30 days postoperatively. The results were compared with 150 consecutive patients having CEA in the absence of renal insufficiency between 2002 and 2003. Results For the 143 patients with CRI, the composite endpoint was 9.0%, whereas the composite endpoint for the 150 control patients without CRI was 2.6% (p = 0.032). For patients with severe CRI (creatinine ≥3.0 or on hemodialysis), the composite endpoint was 19.0% (p = 0.08). For those with mild CRI (creatinine 1.6-2.9), the composite endpoint was 7.3% (p = 0.06). Conclusions Chronic renal insufficiency is associated with increased incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death after CEA. For patients with advanced CRI, carotid artery stenting (CAS) or aggressive medical management may be alternative treatment options.
Prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in Habitat Associated with Allegheny Woodrat (Neotoma magister) Populations in Indiana

Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) populations have been in decline across their range since the late 1970s. Hypotheses proposed to explain these declines include habitat fragmentation and loss, decreased food availability, and increased mortality from infection with Baylisascaris procyonis. We investigated the prevalence of B. procyonis at raccoon (Procyon lotor) latrines in woodrat cliff habitats (n=18) along the Ohio River in southern Indiana in 1995. We located 275 latrines (mean=15.3/site; range, 6–34) and found B. procyonis in 13 (4.7%) latrines across all sites. When present at a site, B. procyonis occurred, on average, at 11.1% of latrines (range, 3–36%). Woodrat abundance, determined through a concurrent live-trapping program, was significantly higher (χ2=5.12, df=1, P=0.024) at sites where B. procyonis was not found (9.5±2.52) than at sites with B. procyonis (3.7±2.2). Our analyses support the hypothesis that this parasite could contribute to declines in woodrat abundance. Because woodrats cac...
European Integration after the SEA: The Case of the Social Charter:

Neo-functionalist and intergovemmentalist theories of regional integration have been reasserted in recent analyses of European Community (EC) politics. This essay examines the ability of hypotheses drawn from these theories to clarify the politics leading to the 1989 Social Charter in the EC. It is found that a linkage politics model, based in part upon neo- functionalism and intergovernmentalism but which also emphasizes the impact of interest group organization on regional bargaining, best explains this case. The essay concludes with suggestions for reformulations of regional integration theory.
Semi-parametric estimation of disequilibrium models

This paper presents an easy-to-compute semi-parametric (SP) method to estimate a simple disequilibrium model proposed by Fair and Jaffee (1972). The proposed approach is based on a non-parametric interpretation of the EM (Expectation and Maximization) principle (Dempster et al; 1977) and the least squares method. The simple disequilibrium model includes the demand equation, the supply equation, and the condition that only the minimum of quantity demanded and quantity supplied is observed. The method used here allows one to consistently estimate the disequilibrium model without fully specifying the distribution of error terms in both demand and supply equations. Our Monte Carlo study suggests that the proposedestimator is better than the normal maximum likelihood estimator under asymmetric error distributions. and comparable to the nlaximunl likelihood estimator under synirnetric error distributions in finite samples. Aggregate U.S. labor market data from Quandt and Rosen (1988) is used to illustrate the p...
Desmoid tumor: from surgical extirpation to molecular dissection.

Purpose of reviewDesmoid tumors are associated with a variable and unpredictable clinical course. Surgery is the therapeutic mainstay, but there has been much discussion of late regarding its proper application. Little is known regarding the molecular determinates of desmoid tumor behavior. Some rec
Isotopic analysis of nanogram quantities of plutonium by using a sid ionization source

Abstract A surface ionization-diffusion-type ionization source which uses a rhenium filament overplated with platinum has been developed and optimized for analyzing plutonium samples of 0.5–2 ng. This source is capable of measuring the 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio to 0.07% precision and accuracy at the 95% confidence level.
Instability in a cylindrical panel subjected to normal pressure: Bifurcation vs nonlinear analyses

Abstract Cylindrical shell panels subjected to external pressure are seen in thin semi-monocoque aerospace applications and in the thick-wall pressure hulls of deep-sea submersibles. Both cases are weight-sensitive designs, and therefore, laminated constructions due to their high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios appear advantageous. In this paper, both linear bifurcation and nonlinear analyses are presented for a wide range of geometries. For shells of high curvature, i.e. a Batdorf parameter, Z, greater than 100, the bifurcation load predicts the onset of instability very accurately as compared to a nonlinear analysis. On the other hand, shallow shells indicate a bifurcation instability where none exists in the nonlinear analysis. The response for some curvatures is significantly altered where transverse shear flexibility apparently has a major influence.
Efficiency of a pneumococcal opsonophagocytic killing assay improved by multiplexing and by coloring colonies.

For evaluating pneumococcal vaccines, the opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) is useful as a supplement to the pneumococcal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, evaluations of pneumococcal vaccines require the determination of antibody responses to 7 to 11 serotypes, and the OPKA is tedious to perform and requires more serum than the ELISA. Consequently, the OPKA is infrequently used for evaluating pneumococcal vaccines. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a simple multiplexed (double-serotype) OPKA by using antibiotic-resistant pneumococci for nine serotypes. Serotype 6B, 9V, 19A, and 23F strains were made streptomycin resistant, and serotype 4, 6A, 14, 18C, and 19F strains were made optochin resistant. The multiplexed OPKA was the same as the single-serotype OPKA except for two changes. First, the target bacteria were a mixture of one streptomycin-resistant strain and one optochin-resistant strain. Second, the surviving bacteria of each serotype were enumerated by plating on Todd-Hewitt agar plates with yeast extract and an agar overlay containing the appropriate antibiotics and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. The performance of the multiplexed OPKA was evaluated by analyzing 28 serum samples from adults immunized with a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine by using the single-serotype OPKA and the multiplexed OPKA. The multiplexed OPKA was specific for the desired serotypes. The multiplexed and conventional OPKAs had comparable assay sensitivities and produced results that were highly correlated (r2 values ranging from 0.92 to 0.98) for all nine serotypes. A simple modification of the conventional OPKA produces a multiplexed assay that greatly reduces effort, reagents, and the necessary amount of serum.
Mutations affecting peptidoglycan acetylation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae acetylates its cell wall peptidoglycan (PG) at the C-6 position on N -acetylmuramic acid. To understand the effects of PG acetylation on PG metabolism and release of PG fragments, we have made mutations in the genes responsible for PG acetylation. An insertion mutation in a putative PG acetylase gene (designated pacA ) resulted in loss of PG acetylation as detected by a high-performance liquid chromatography-based assay. Sequence analysis of a naturally occurring nonacetylating strain revealed the presence of a 26-bp deletion in pacA . Introduction of the deletion mutation into wild-type gonococci resulted in lack of acetylation, and the phenotype was complemented by the addition of a wild-type copy of pacA at a distant location on the chromosome. Mutations were also introduced into three genes downstream of pacA . The gene directly downstream of pacA was required for acetylation and was designated pacB , whereas the next two genes were not required. Sequences highly similar to pacA and pacB were also found in N. meningitidis and N. lactamica strains, and an insertion in the meningococcal pacA eliminated PG acetylation. Phenotypic analyses of an N. gonorrhoeae pacA mutant did not show any decrease in lysozyme resistance or serum resistance, and the release of PG fragments during growth was unchanged. However, purified PG from the wild-type strain was significantly more resistant to the action of human lysozyme than was PG purified from the pacA mutant. Interestingly, the pacA mutant was more sensitive to EDTA, a compound known to trigger autolysis.
Parallel split-level relaxation

The split-level relaxation technique is analyzed in a parallel processing framework. It is shown that there is much parallelism inherent in the algorithm that can be exploited. This has been confirmed by implementation of the algorithm on an actual multiprocessor. Although the results are good, the implementation can be made more efficient. The use of multiple queues instead of a centralized queue can reduce memory contention, particularly in large multiprocessors. An asynchronous implementation can also improve the performance. >
Romantic Relationships of Female-to-Male Trans Men: A Descriptive Study

The present descriptive study examined the prevalence of romantic relationships in a large-scale international sample of female-to-male (FtM) transgender men, the rates that partners stay together during a gender transition of one of the partners, and the relationship between perceived social support from romantic relationships and the mental health of FtMs. Participants were trans men who completed an anonymous online survey. Of those who were in a relationship before they decided to transition, about half reported that their relationship had been maintained. FtMs who were in a relationship reported fewer symptoms of depression than those who were single. Perceived social support from a romantic partner was found to moderate the relation between being in a relationship and symptoms of both depression and anxiety. These findings highlight the fact that some relationships can and do endure through a gender transition and the importance of close, supportive relationships during and after transition.
Science, Technology, and Pedagogy: Exploring Secondary Science Teachers' Effective Uses of Technology.

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. August 2010. Major: Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Advisor: Gillian Roehrig. 1 computer file (PDF); ix, 233 pages, appendices A-C. Ill.(some col.)
Current concentration at defects in ZnO varistor material

We numerically simulated the current density distribution in electrically nonlinear varistor material containing geometrically simple inclusion defects. Nonconductive spheres and disks, which resemble inclusion shapes observed in chemically prepared varistor material, were investigated. Current densities near perfectly conductive spheres and rods were also computed to gain insight into observed electrical degradation phenomena. These defects were assumed to be much larger than the characteristic size of the zinc oxide (ZnO) grain structure, and our computational method treated the varistor material as electrically isotropic. Results showed strong, localized concentrations of current with either perfectly conductive or nonconductive inclusions, and a dependence on the density of the conductive defects. The small spatial extent of strong current intensification may help to explain the stepwise electrical degradation we have observed when a failing ZnO varistor is subjected to high-power electrical pulses.
4-Oxo-Aldehydes From the Dorsal Abdominal Glands of the Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Analyses of the dorsal abdominal glands of fourth- and fifth-instar nymphs of the bed bud, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), indicated the predominant constituents were (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal, with lesser amounts of 4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal and 4-oxo-(E)-2-octenal. The latter two compounds have not been reported previously as occurring in bed bugs. There were no differences in the chemical composition of the dorsal abdominal glands excised from exuviae left behind by either male or female adults, nor from glands excised from fourth-instar exuviae. Because the two oxo-aldehydes made up at least 16% of the gland contents, further study of the functional role of these chemicals seem advisable.
Wheat Germ Protein Flour Solubility and Water Retention

The effects of pH and temperature on water retention (WR), protein solubility (PS), and total solubility (TS) of defatted wheat germ protein flour (WGPF) were studied in a model system. PS of WGPF was compared with those of corn germ protein flour (CGPF), soy flour (SF), nonfat dried milk (NFDM), and egg white powder (EWP) at 1-8%. WR increased with increase in pH from 4 to 8. Maximum WR occurred at 70°C, and slight variations were observed between 5 and 30°C. PS and TS increased with increases in pH and temperature. PS of proteins was in the order of NFDM > EWP > SF > CGPF=WGPF. The results showed the potential for usage of WGPF in comminuted meats, beef patties, breads, cakes, and cookies.
Recent Progress in Interior-Point Methods: Cutting-Plane Algorithms and Warm Starts

We review some of the recent enhancements of interior-point methods for the improved solution of semidefinite relaxations in combinatorial optimization and binary quadratic programming. Central topics include general interior-point cutting-plane schemes, handling of linear inequalities, and several warm-starting strategies. A practical implementation and computational results are also discussed.
How organizational standards and coworker support improve restaurant service.

A model examining the relationship between restaurant employees' reactions to their work environment and their jobs as service providers and guest satisfaction was tested among twenty-five restaura...
Singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We report quasi-phase-matched singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in electric-field-poled lithium niobate waveguides. Parametric gains as high as 250%/W, an oscillation threshold of 1.6 W (peak), idler output powers of 220 mW, and a tuning range of 1180-2080 nm for pump wavelengths of 756-772 nm have been observed. Pump depletion is limited to 40% because of the multiple launched transverse modes at the pump wavelength. We predict that fully optimized waveguide singly resonant oscillators can have thresholds of ~100 mW, accessible to cw diode pumping.
Robotic Kinematics and Statics

In order to model an open serial-chain robot arm kinematically, we need not only to represent a 6 d.o.f. rigid motion in Cartesian space for the purpose of task/path description, but also to determine a complete transformation along the entire serial-chain robot body in joint space for the purpose of joint values determination. During the 1950’s, Denavit and Hartenberg had independently developed a wonderful procedure to uniquely determine all the joint parameters plus variables for an open serial-chain robotic manipulator. Today, almost everyone recognizes that the D-H procedure is the best approach to uniquely modeling robotic kinematics, which is commonly called the D-H Convention [1, 2, 4].
Association patterns for data modeling and definition

Association patterns provide guidance for modeling the associations that occur among objects within both the real world and the solution domains of computer applications. The patterns help the designer better understand and more precisely define the semantics of these associations, which allows them to be more easily and properly implemented. This paper describes a number of association patterns using Object Relationship Notation (ORN) and by doing so provides evidence for the effectiveness of this notation. It also shows how the development of database systems can be improved by an approach that uses association patterns to build a database model and then implements the model by mapping it to an ORN-extended database definition that is supported by a DBMS. The feasibility of this approach and the applicability of our association patterns have been validated by DBMS research prototypes and by the modeling, implementing, and testing of numerous associations.
Predicting the likely behaviors of complex systems

The author discusses a method to predict the likely behaviors of a complex system when one has a model of that system, but not all the inputs/parameters are precisely known. Depending on the given model, the method can answer such questions as how likely it is that some state variable(s) will stay inside (outside) of a certain numeric range, or increase (decrease); the system will go into oscillation vs. remaining stable; any transients will be below a given threshold and last less than a given duration. Applications include predicting semiconductor yields and drug safety and effectiveness. The author is concentrating on using a cardiovascular model to predict the possible effects of heat disease therapies. >
Interactions of Iron Deficiency and Exercise Training Relative to Tissue Norepinephrine Turnover, Triiodothyronine Production and Metabolic Rate in Rats

The interactions of iron deficiency and exercise training relative to resting metabolic rate (RMR), tissue norepinephrine (NE) turnover and triiodothyronine (T3) production were examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were assigned to iron-deficient (ID) or control (CN) diets and to sedentary (SD) or treadmill-exercise (EX) groups for 6 or 12 wk. Iron-deficient animals (hemoglobin 7.2 +/- 0.2 g 100 mL-1) had a 17% higher RMR and had slower growth rates than CN animals. Exercise training affected growth but not RMR in iron deficiency. Oxygen consumption (Vo2) following pharmacologic injection of norepinephrine was similar in both iron-deficient and exercised groups despite a 35% lower maximal exercise Vo2 in trained iron-deficient rats. NE turnover was lower in heart (55%) and liver (80%) of iron-deficient animals relative to controls. Trained iron-deficient animals had lower NE turnover in interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) than sedentary iron-deficient animals; however, training did not alter NE turnover in control animals. In vitro liver and IBAT T3 production was similar in all groups except for lower activities (40%) in 6-wk iron-deficient, exercised animals. The significant effect of exercise on the growth attenuation of iron-deficient, exercised animals is thus not explained by increased IBAT metabolic activity or a generalized sympathetic nervous system activation. Decreased T3 production during periods of rapid growth and lean body mass development, however, may be important in exercised, iron-deficient animals.
A comparison of self-help approaches to smoking cessation

Abstract The current study evaluated the effectiveness of widely used self-help materials for quitting smoking. Five hundred and seventy smokers volunteered during a baseline survey to participate in the evaluation. After random assignment, 200 were mailed National Cancer Institute (NCI) “Quit for Good” materials, 200 the Minnesota “Quit and Win” program, and the remaining 170 were assigned to a nonintervention control condition. Results at 7-month follow-up failed to indicate treatment effects either for abstinence or for reported quit attempts. A number of smokers quit prior to the mailing of self-help materials, suggesting that a telephone prompt in itself may have been an important stimulus to cessation. Overall abstinence at follow-up was 10%. Contrary to expectation, successful participants were less likely to use a number of specific preparation strategies for quitting. The results are instructive in providing a large-scale assessment of self-help materials in a population of smokers that was not specifically seeking treatment.
Strongly well-covered graphs

Abstract A graph is well-covered if every maximal independent set is a maximum independent set. A strongly well-covered graph G has the additional property that G - e is also well-covered for every line e in G . Hence, the strongly well-covered graphs are a subclass of the well-covered graphs. We characterize strongly well-covered graphs with independence number two and determine a parity condition for strongly well-covered graphs with independence number three. More generally, we show that a strongly well-covered graph (with more than four points) is 3-connected and has minimum degree at least four.
Is manualized family‐based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa acceptable to patients? Patient satisfaction at the end of treatment

Patient satisfaction with treatment sheds light on the acceptability, disseminability and usefulness of treatments. This study aimed to assess the perspectives of families who completed treatment using a manual-driven family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa. We hypothesized that overall, manualized treatment would be viewed as acceptable and helpful, but that none the less, a proportion of patients would identify a wish for other types or additional therapy. A total of thirty-four families participated in the survey. Results suggest that patients and families viewed the treatment as highly effective and acceptable. However, approximately a quarter suggested that individual therapy, more family therapy, and focusing on other issues besides anorexia nervosa would improve treatment. These data suggest that a manual-driven family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa is acceptable to adolescents and their parents, though modifications to include additional therapy and individual therapy might be considered in some cases.
Fractionation of hydrogen isotopes in lipid biosynthesis

Isotopic compositions of carbon-bound hydrogen in individual compounds from eight diAerent organisms were measured using isotope-ratio-monitoring gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. This technique is capable of measuring D/H ratios at natural abundance in individual lipids yielding as little as 20 nmol of H2, and is applicable to a wide range of compounds including hydrocarbons, sterols, and fatty acids. The hydrogen isotopic compositions of lipids are controlled by three factors: isotopic compositions of biosynthetic precursors, fractionation and exchange accompanying biosynthesis, and hydrogenation during biosynthesis. dD values of lipids from the eight organisms examined here suggest that all three processes are important for controlling natural variations in isotopic abundance. n-Alkyl lipids are depleted in D relative to growth water by 113‐262-, while polyisoprenoid lipids are depleted in D relative to growth water by 142‐376-. Isotopic variations within compound classes (e.g., n-alkanes) are usually less than 050-, but variations as large as 150- are observed among isoprenoid lipids from a single organism. Phytol is consistently depleted in D by up to 50- relative to other isoprenoid lipids. Inferred isotopic fractionations between cellular water and lipids are greater than those indicated by previous studies. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Why Marketers Should Be More Transparent with the Ad Agencies They Hire: Media Planners Say Their Relationships with Clients Suffer from Gaps in Marketers' Information

The agency–client relationship is like a marriage: Without nurturing, it falls apart. Agency–client relationships, in fact, have a much shorter life span than they used to, and the authors of the current article surveyed media planners across the United States to find out why. Beyond competitive fees, one reason offered by these agency staffers was prevalent: Marketers need to do a better job communicating with the agencies they hire—not only about their needs but also about their other marketing tools and resources. Such increased sharing, the planners noted, would make agencies more engaged with marketers9 businesses and brands and give the agencies the tools they need to produce appropriate outcomes.
Minimum-Service Requirements in Real Estate Brokerage: A Reply to Darryl W. Anderson

In my prior article, I described the advocacy efforts by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in opposing minimum-service requirements for real estate brokers. These requirements force consumers to choose between purchasing a larger bundle of real estate brokerage services than they would otherwise desire, or forgoing the help of a real estate agent altogether. Anderson responded that, rather than limiting consumer choice and restricting competition, minimum-service requirements are procompetitive because “they solve the asymmetric information problem that is otherwise exacerbated by [limited-service brokers (LSBs)].” He posits that without such restrictions, a consumer who hires an LSB is vulnerable to harm from “lock-in.” Once a consumer has entered into an exclusive agency agreement with an LSB, she effectively is locked-into that broker to purchase all additional brokerage services that she may subsequently decide she needs. He states that, “the exclusive services agreement makes the LSB a monopoly brokerage provider to the particular customer, and she is subject to monopoly pricing if she seeks to purchase additional brokerage services after she had already entered into the limited-service agreement and signed the exclusive agency agreement.”
Partners in Crime: The Role of CMV in Immune Dysregulation and Clinical Outcome During HIV Infection

In the current era of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals are living longer and healthier lives. Nevertheless, HIV-infected persons are at greater risk for age-related disorders, which have been linked to residual immune dysfunction and inflammation. HIV-infected individuals are almost universally co-infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and both viruses are associated with inflammation-related morbidities. Therefore, a detailed investigation of the relationship between CMV and aging-related morbidities emerging during chronic HIV infection is warranted. Here, we review the literature on how CMV co-infection affects HIV infection and host immunity and we discuss the gaps in our knowledge that need elucidation.
Deactivation of Pt/Al2O3 during propane oxidation at low temperatures: Kinetic regimes and platinum oxide formation

Abstract The kinetics of propane oxidation over Pt/Al2O3 are investigated in this work as a function of O2/C3H8 ratio in the 150–300 °C temperature range. At high O2/C3H8 ratios, the platinum nanoparticles are saturated with oxygen and the reaction rate is zero-order with respect to the oxygen partial pressures in this regime. As the oxygen coverage decreases with decreasing O2/C3H8 ratio, the reaction rate increases and the reaction order changes from zero-order to negative-order in the oxygen partial pressure. The reaction rate is controlled to a large extent by the oxygen coverage on the platinum nanoparticles. However, at lower temperatures and higher oxygen pressures there is a slow deactivation of the catalyst that cannot be explained by a slow change in the oxygen coverage. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) of adsorbed CO was performed to track the evolution of the nanoparticle structure over the course of the propane oxidation reaction and to determine whether the slow deactivation was caused by reconstruction of the platinum nanoparticles. We found that the platinum nanoparticles are significantly reconstructed during the course of the reaction, including the formation of a platinum oxide (PtO) which has a characteristic CO-DRIFTS band at 2123 cm−1. The extent of PtO formation decreases with increasing temperature and, as a result, deactivation of the catalyst is less severe at higher temperatures. Unexpectedly, increasing the oxygen partial pressure resulted in less PtO formation. We believe that a different platinum oxide phase (e.g. PtO2 or Pt3O4) is formed at higher oxygen pressures, which is reduced to metallic platinum during CO exposure at 25 °C, and therefore is not detectable by CO-DRIFTS. These results are unique because they show how the nanoparticle structure evolves over many hours of propane oxidation, and how the temperature and oxygen pressure influence the reconstruction of the nanoparticles, which has implications for a wide range of reactions not limited to propane oxidation.
Clustering-based preconditioning for stochastic programs

We present a clustering-based preconditioning strategy for KKT systems arising in stochastic programming within an interior-point framework. The key idea is to perform adaptive clustering of scenarios (inside-the-solver) based on their influence on the problem at hand. This approach thus contrasts with existing (outside-the-solver) approaches that cluster scenarios based on problem data alone. We derive spectral and error properties for the preconditioner and demonstrate that scenario compression rates of up to 94 % can be obtained, leading to dramatic computational savings. In addition, we demonstrate that the proposed preconditioner can avoid scalability issues of Schur decomposition in problems with large first-stage dimensionality.
How the kinetochore couples microtubule force and centromere stretch to move chromosomes

The Ndc80 complex (Ndc80, Nuf2, Spc24 and Spc25) is a highly conserved kinetochore protein essential for end-on anchorage to spindle microtubule plus ends and for force generation coupled to plus-end polymerization and depolymerization. Spc24/Spc25 at one end of the Ndc80 complex binds the kinetochore. The N-terminal tail and CH domains of Ndc80 bind microtubules, and an internal domain binds microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) such as the Dam1 complex. To determine how the microtubule- and MAP-binding domains of Ndc80 contribute to force production at the kinetochore in budding yeast, we have inserted a FRET tension sensor into the Ndc80 protein about halfway between its microtubule-binding and internal loop domains. The data support a mechanical model of force generation at metaphase where the position of the kinetochore relative to the microtubule plus end reflects the relative strengths of microtubule depolymerization, centromere stretch and microtubule-binding interactions with the Ndc80 and Dam1 complexes.
Optimization of CubeSat Constellations for Uncued Electrooptical Space Object Detection and Tracking

The proliferation of onorbit debris has motivated much of the recent space situational awareness missions and related research. Space-based missions are typically carried out by large spacecraft, yet the emerging and improving technology for CubeSat-class satellites offers a potential new platform for space situational awareness. This paper formally defines space object detectability for a given electrooptical sensor and applies an optimization problem approach to mission design for a CubeSat space situational awareness constellation. The optimization of the design parameters for this constellation is separated into a formal description of the concept of operations, an optimization of the electrooptical sensor payload itself, and an optimization of the constellation parameters via the number of satellites and traditional orbital parameters. A Pareto frontier of mission design points in terms of object detection capability and lifecycle cost is presented.
Capillary Fluid Physics in Zero-Gravity

Zero gravity uid dynamics is not unusual. Zero-gravity uid dynamics is an everyday topic in our world. On May 4, 2011 NASA announced the acceptance of a Physics Review Letter titled Gravity Probe B: Final results of a space experiment to test general relativity by C. W. F. Everitt et al. This historic rst mass-on-mass test of two predictions of general relativity was a successful experiment and it contained an interesting low-gravity capillary uids problem. Global communication in many forms relies on satellites for transmitting massive and seemingly ceaseless streams of bytes for television, fax, video conferencing, some telephony, and similar. Pro table daily operation of these vehicles depends on zero-gravity uid dynamics for control and delivery of liquid propellants for station-keeping maneuvers. In addition, the long-term pro tability, and thus, the existence of the communication services, depends on low-gravity thermaluids for propellant gauging. Daily low-gravity uid dynamics are a part of our life on the surface of Earth too. At some blood banks, a classical glass capillary is still used to wick up a droplet of blood from a nger tip. Then the capillary is used to transfer the blood to a small chip, approximately 1 cm square. The blood then wicks into passages inside chip and the chip is placed into an instrument. People who are bedridden with substantial pulmonary congestion sometimes describe a crackling noise in their lungs when breathing. This noise is from small droplets of water changing topologies as the airways expand and contract. The International Space Station provides a fabulous laboratory for both remotely-controlled and astronautoperated capillary uids experiments. Two such experiments presently in orbit, the Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) experiment and the Vane-Gap portion of the Capillary Fluids Experiment (CFE), are brie y discussed below.
Influence of Bacteria Within Bovine Feces on the Development of the Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)

The role of living gastrointestinal bacteria in the growth and development of face fly ( Musca autumnalis DeGeer) larvae in bovine feces was evaluated. Egg-to-pupa survival and mean pupal weight were lower for larvae grown in steam-sterilized feces than for larvae grown in unsterilized feces (4.6 versus 28.0% and 15.3 versus 26.1 mg, respectively). However, larval development was not retarded in sterilized feces that had been inoculated with bacteria collected from the bovine rumen or with a mixture of 11 bacterial isolates representing the major bacterial groups from the gastrointestinal tract. When tested individually, all of the isolates tended to improve larvae survival in sterilized feces, but no single isolate provided for survival rates equivalent to those observed with the mixed inoculum. Survival rates were greatest when sterilized feces were inoculated with strains of Escherichia coli or Lactobacillus plantarum which gave survival rates of 57.2 and 32.8% of the unsterilized control, respectively. These data suggest that the presence of living bacteria in bovine feces is essential to normal growth and development of face fly larvae.
Group Threat, Police Officer Diversity and the Deadly Use of Police Force

Officer-involved killings and racial bias in policing are controversial political issues. Prior research indicates that (perceived) group threat measured in terms of population shares and race-specific crime rates are important explanations for variations in police killings across cities in the United States. We argue that a diverse police force that proportionally represents the population it serves mitigates group threat and thereby reduces the number of officer-involved killings. Count models support our argument. They show that officer involved killings of African Americans are higher in cities with factors commonly associated with group threat, including ethnic/racial polarization and black-on-white homicides. A diverse police force, however, reduces the influence of group threat lowering the number of officer-involved killings of African Americans. The findings represent one of the first analysis of a highly relevant contemporary issue based on a recent and high-quality dataset from 2013 to 2015. By highlighting the interaction between group treat and the proportional representation of minority groups in police departments, our research advances group conflict and threat theories with important theoretical and policy implications for law enforcement and representative bureaucracies more broadly.
Estimating allele frequencies.

Methods of estimating allele frequencies from data on unrelated and related individuals are described in this chapter. For samples of unrelated individuals with simple codominant markers, the natural estimators of allele frequencies can be used. For genetic data on related individuals, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) can be applied to compute allele frequencies. Factors that influence allele frequencies in populations are also explained.
The economic growth of creative industries in the Miami metropolitan area

ABSTRACTCreative industries are at the core of the twenty-first century's economy. Most developed countries recognise the importance of creative industries and have studied those industries to strategise their national development. This paper shows the effect of creative industries on urban economy through a case study of Miami metropolitan areas. This study uses a panel analysis to measure the relation between creative industries and urban economy. The study suggests the following implications: first, creative industries are mostly clustered in the Miami city, not clustered at the metropolitan level. Miami's industries, workers and sales in the creative sector are almost the same as the sum from the second ranked city to the sixth ranked city. The value of global Moran's I is −0.06, meaning that creative industries show a dispersed pattern at the metropolitan level. Second, the number of creative industries and the diversity of those industries in the Miami metropolitan statistical area have a positive e...
An Empirical, Phenomenological Study: Being Joyful

Publisher Summary This chapter provides insights into the applicability of theories of subjective well-being for understanding joy. The participants of the study described what could be construed as a sense of being fulfilled, and one could make tentative inferences about how the fulfillment of certain needs may have led the participants to feel that way. The participants felt an intimate connection with others, which would support the hypothesis that joy and other positive effects result from fulfillment of the need to belong. Other needs that might have been met include a feeling of freedom and a sense that one has been affirmed as a person. The chapter sheds some light on how the fulfillment of such needs might appear from a first-person experience. The results of the analysis yield some unexpected findings that will stimulate more research on these themes.
College Student Values and the World of Work

For the past few years, I have been very interested and involved in the questions raised here thus far by my colleagues. That is: Changes in the population mix of college students today and in the near future Changes in the value orientations of young people attending college today Declining enrollments and the implications for higher education
Case 6: Failure to Thrive with Congenital Glaucoma in a 2-month-old Girl

1. Brittney Statler, MD* 2. David J. Massop, MD† 3. John W. Schmidt, MD‡ 1. *Division of Ophthalmology, Surgical Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 2. †Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 3. ‡Division of Newborn Medicine, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE A 2-month-old girl presents to her pediatrician for a regular checkup. Failure to gain weight, unmet developmental milestones, and hypotonia are observed, and the patient is admitted for evaluation for failure to thrive. The patient was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at 39 weeks with a body weight of 2,690 g. Her newborn screening test result was normal. Shortly after birth, she was noted to have left buphthalmos associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and underwent left eye trabeculotomy 10 days after birth. Postoperatively, she experienced hypothermia to 91.4°F (33.0°C), an elevated ammonia level to 126 μg/dL with mild metabolic acidosis, and difficulty regaining consciousness. She was admitted to the hospital for observation, and her ammonia level returned to normal without treatment. No further evaluation was initiated because the hyperammonemia self-corrected and was thought to be a postoperative complication related to anesthesia. She is currently followed by a glaucoma specialist. At home, she eats 2 to 3 oz of partially hydrolyzed cow milk formula every 3 hours, including overnight, an average of 101 to 151 kcal/kg per day. She has had no vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing. Her family history includes healthy parents, who both repeated a year of elementary school and received special education, and 2 healthy older brothers. Her extended family history includes a maternal grandmother who had 1 term stillbirth and 1 miscarriage and a developmentally normal 2-year-old maternal first cousin with a history of congenital cataracts. On physical examination, she is afebrile and her pulse is 152 beats/min, respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min, length is 20 in (52 cm) (2.20 percentile), weight is 3,170 g …
Current concepts in the management of patellar instability

Patellar instability is a common presenting clinical entity in the field of orthopedics. This not only can occur from baseline morphologic variability within the patellofemoral articulation and alignment, but also from traumatic injury. While conservative management is many times employed early in the treatment course, symptomatic patellar instability can persist. This article reviews the available indexed published literature regarding patellar instability. Given the debilitating nature of this condition and the long term sequelae that can evolve from its lack of adequate recognition and treatment, this article details the most current methods in the evaluation of this entity as well as reviews the most up-to-date surgical treatment regimens that are available to address this condition.
CEDAW: The Challenges of Enshrining Women’s Equality in International Law

While women’s rights are more of a recent development in international human rights law, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was the first interna...
Applications of machine learning for facies and fracture prediction using Bayesian Network Theory and Random Forest: Case studies from the Appalachian basin, USA

Abstract Identification and prediction of facies and fractures are critical to subsurface geosystems analysis and hydrocarbon exploration. However, accurate prediction of facies and fractures is hard in the absence of high-resolution advanced geophysical logs (e.g. image logs) and core samples. This study demonstrates the application of machine learning algorithms, such as Bayesian Network Theory and Random Forest to predict the presence of different facies and fractures in sedimentary rocks using common well logs. We build and train supervised machine learning models using Bayesian Network Theory and Random Forest to classify facies and fractures in unconventional shale and conventional sandstone, and carbonate reservoirs. The trained machine-learning models are cross-validated 10-fold to check their robustness. Application of Bayesian Network theory and Random Forest shows that both facies and fractures can be predicted with high accuracy using limited common well logs. In addition, the Bayesian Network shows the complex causal relationship among the input petrophysical parameters and output (facies or fracture), which is its unique feature compared to other machine learning algorithms, such as Random Forest.
Potential Autoepitope within the Extracellular Region of Contactin-Associated Protein-like 2 in Mice.

Aims Implicated in autoimmune encephalitis, neuromyotonia and genetic forms of autism, here we report that contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) contains a potential autoepitope within the extracellular region.