cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tribological investigation of piston ring coatings operating in an alternative Fuel and Engine Oil Blend

The tribological performance of piston ring coatings, including Mo, CrN and physical vapor deposited Diamond-Like-Carbon, sliding against cast iron cylinder segments was studied using a reciprocating bench friction and wear machine. The surface interaction of ring coatings with the blend of 85% ethanol I 15% unleaded gasoline (ethanol 85) fuel and energy-conserving engine oil containing molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate (MoDTC) was compared and analyzed. The results show that the DLC coating has the lowest coefficient of friction among all the coatings when running in a blend of engine oil and E85 fuel. The CrN coating has the lowest ring wear but produces the highest wear on the mating cylinder segment. With MoDTC in the engine oil, the wear volumes for all ring coatings are higher while the wear volumes of the cylinder segment are lower than those operating without MoDTC. Based on the surface profile and roughness measurements, the surface roughness becomes smoother and the skewness becomes more negativ...
Second order operators in the uniform norm 1

In this paper we study second order partial differential operators in the uniform norm. We solve the problem of constructing a closed extension of the operator and of characterizing its essential spectrum. This program has been extensively developed in the £p, case.But the existing methods are not strong nough to dealwith th £∞ case. The uniform norm presents the interesting new feature that the boundary condition that the functions in the definition space go to zero at infinity (in £ sense) is not assumed, allowing for example to have functions in the domain of the operator. Since most of the techniques used in £p, are not applicable in £∞we create a new theory.
Probing the Mechanism of Electron Capture and Electron Transfer Dissociation Using Tags with Variable Electron Affinity

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) of doubly protonated electron affinity (EA)-tuned peptides were studied to further illuminate the mechanism of these processes. The model peptide FQpSEEQQQTEDELQDK, containing a phosphoserine residue, was converted to EA-tuned peptides via β-elimination and Michael addition of various thiol compounds. These include propanyl, benzyl, 4-cyanobenzyl, perfluorobenzyl, 3,5-dicyanobenzyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, and 3,5-dinitrobenzyl structural moieties, having a range of EA from −1.15 to +1.65 eV, excluding the propanyl group. Typical ECD or ETD backbone fragmentations are completely inhibited in peptides with substituent tags having EA over 1.00 eV, which are referred to as electron predators in this work. Nearly identical rates of electron capture by the dications substituted by the benzyl (EA = −1.15 eV) and 3-nitrobenzyl (EA = 1.00 eV) moieties are observed, which indicates the similarity of electron capture cross sections for the two derivatized peptides. This observation leads to the inference that electron capture kinetics are governed by the long-range electron−dication interaction and are not affected by side chain derivatives with positive EA. Once an electron is captured to high-n Rydberg states, however, through-space or through-bond electron transfer to the EA-tuning tags or low-n Rydberg states via potential curve crossing occurs in competition with transfer to the amide π* orbital. The energetics of these processes are evaluated using time-dependent density functional theory with a series of reduced model systems. The intramolecular electron transfer process is modulated by structure-dependent hydrogen bonds and is heavily affected by the presence and type of electron-withdrawing groups in the EA-tuning tag. The anion radicals formed by electron predators have high proton affinities (approximately 1400 kJ/mol for the 3-nitrobenzyl anion radical) in comparison to other basic sites in the model peptide dication, facilitating exothermic proton transfer from one of the two sites of protonation. This interrupts the normal sequence of events in ECD or ETD, leading to backbone fragmentation by forming a stable radical intermediate. The implications which these results have for previously proposed ECD and ETD mechanisms are discussed.
The Future of the South Atlantic Anomaly and Implications for Radiation Damage in Space

South Atlantic Anomaly of the geomagnetic field plays a dominant role in where radiation damage occurs in near Earth orbits. The historic and recent variations of the geomagnetic field in the South Atlantic are used to estimate the extent of the South Atlantic Anomaly until the year 2000. This projection indicates that radiation damage to spacecraft and humans in space will greatly increase and cover a much larger geographic area than present.
Influence of an electric field on photodegradation and self-healing in disperse orange 11 dye-doped PMMA thin films

The influence of an applied electric field on reversible photodegradation of disperse orange 11 doped into (poly)methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) is measured using digital imaging and conductivity measurements. Correlations between optical imaging, which measures photodegradation and recovery, and photoconductivity enables an association to be made between the damaged fragments and their contribution to current, thus establishing that damaged fragments are charged species, or polarizable. Hence, the decay and recovery process should be controllable with the applications of an electric field. Indeed, we find that the dye polymer system is highly sensitive to an applied electric field, which drastically affects the decay and recovery dynamics. We demonstrate accelerated recovery when one field polarity is applied during burning and the opposite polarity is applied during recovery. This work suggests that the damage threshold can be increased through electric field conditioning, and the results are qualitatively consistent with the domain model of Ramini. The observed behavior will provide useful input into better understanding the nature of the domains in the domain model, making it possible to design more robust materials using common polymers and molecular dopants.
New therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Despite intense investigation, the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unknown. Recent studies with new therapeutic agents provide insight into the pathogenesis of IBD through analysis of the clinical response to pharmacologic agents whose mechanism of action is understood. Until new agents are established, IBD will be treated with conventional drugs directed toward modifying the inflammatory responses responsible for gastrointestinal mucosal damage. Sulfasalazine, mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid), and corticosteroids will continue to be the mainstay of therapy for the foreseeable future. Antibiotics such as metronidazole and immunosuppressants such as 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate are useful in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in selected cases. Many new exciting agents are being investigated and show encouraging results in the treatment of IBD. This article reviews the agents used in IBD with an emphasis on new therapeutic agents.
Extended interlacing intervals

Abstract Classical interlacing for a Hermitian matrix A may be viewed as describing how many eigenvalues of A must be captured by intervals determined by eigenvalues of a principal submatrix Â of A . If the size Â is small relative to that of A , then it may be that no eigenvalues of A are guaranteed to be in an interval determined by only a few consecutive eigenvalues of Â. Here, we generalize classical interlacing theorems by using singular values of off-diagonal blocks of A to construct extended intervals that capture a larger number of eigenvalues of A . In the event that an appropriate off-diagonal block has low rank, the extended interval may be no wider, giving stronger statements than classical interlacing. The union of pairs of intervals is also discussed, and some applications of the ideas are mentioned.
Wavelength Dependent Photofragmentation Patterns of Tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)Ln (III) (Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd) in a Molecular Beam

Laser photoionization and ligand photodissociation in Ln(thd)3 (Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd; thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato) are studied in a molecular beam via time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The fragmentation patterns are strongly wavelength dependent. With 355 nm excitation, the mass spectrum is dominated by Ln2+, Ln+, and LnO+ fragments. The bare Ln ions are believed to arise from photoionization of neutral Ln atoms. The Ln atoms, in turn, are produced from the Ln(thd)3 complex in a sequence of Ln reductions (through ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transitions), with each reduction being accompanied by the dissociation of a neutral ligand radical. In contrast, under visible-light (410−450 nm) excitation, a significant Ln(thd)n+ signal is observed (where n = 2,3 for Ln = Tb,Gd and n = 1−3 for Ln = Eu). Thus, with visible excitation, photoionization of Ln(thd)n competes effectively with the Ln-reduction/ligand-dissociation sequence that leads to the dominant bare Ln-ion signal seen with 355 nm excit...
On the modelling of ribbed plates for shape optimization

The development of a homogenized plate model suitable for shape optimization is presented. The development is based on a homogenization method for layered materials with a periodic microstructure. A particular advantage of the approach is that it accommodates without significant changes the modelling of ribbed, honeycomb and perforated plates. The model is compared with others that have appeared in the literature and that are also useful in the context of the optimization of the shape and layout of plates and plate-like structures. The results indicate that the model presented here is useful in the optimization of both thick and thin plates.
Recirculation in an Annular-Type Jet Pump

For some annular-type jet pump applications, it is important to avoid formation of a recirculation zone in the mixing region. The goals of this research were to find (i) when recirculation occurs and (ii) the size and location of the resulting recirculation zone. Experiments were performed using air in a straight-walled, annular-type, ducted jet. Area ratio A j /A s varied from 0.39 to 0.89; here, A is flow area, and j and s identify the jet and secondary flows, respectively. Data showed that recirculation correlates with J, where J P j /(P j + P s ), and P is rate of momentum. For the area ratios studied, recirculation begins when J exceeds a value ranging from 0.89 to 0.94. This paper also presents data showing the recirculation zone boundaries and presents a discussion of jet pump design
Insulin responses in myotonia dystrophica.

Abstract The undue hyperinsulinemia which has been observed to follow glucose, tolbutamide, or glucagon administration to persons with myotonia dystrophica is a variable rather than a characteristic feature. In the series herein reported, most of the individuals responded to such stimuli with levels of serum immunoassayable insulin, growth hormone, inorganic phosphorus, and blood sugar indistinguishable from those recorded in our healthy control subjects.
SEED BANK, SURVIVORSHIP, AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF A NEBRASKA POPULATION OF IMPATIENS CAPENSIS (BALSAMINACEAE)

The growth and survivorship of a population of Impatiens capensis were followed in eastem Nebraska. Soil cores were taken within the population to estimate the size of the seed bank. The number of seeds in the soil remained relatively constant from April through October, with a mean of 200 seeds/M2. The seed bank size corresponded to observed seedling densities in the following years. Twenty permanent plots were established within the population and censused for three years, 1983-1985. Seedling recruitment to the population was similar in 1983 and 1984 but 30% higher in 1985. The seedling densities of plots were uncorrelated from year to year. Survivorship in 1983 followed a Deevey Type I pattem. Almost one-third ofthe population survived until chasmogamous reproduction. Plant size (stem height) was measured monthly on all individuals during 1983. The frequency distribution of stem height was positively skewed as long as growth was exponential. When the growth rate slowed, the distribution became more normal.
Influence of recent advances in medical management on clinical outcomes of cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis and its disease-related complications are the 12th leading cause of mortality among US adults and are the 5th leading cause of death for individuals aged 45 to 54 years. Hospitalization costs for disease-related complications are estimated at $18,000 per episode of care, and 10% of admitted patients die. Despite these ominous findings, the survival rate of patients with cirrhosis has improved during the past 2 decades. This observation coincides with the conducting and reporting of high-quality randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Therefore, the improved prognosis in cirrhosis may be related to the effective translation of research findings to clinical practice for this patient population. Although explicit data to support this claim are not available, this article reviews the reported trends in clinical outcomes for patients with cirrhosis and the existence of evidence-based medical information that is available to care for these chronically ill patients.
Surprising view of insomnia and sleeping pills.

Surprising View of Insomnia and Sleeping Pills: Commentary on Chen et al. A 9-year Follow-up Study of Sleep Patterns and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taiwan (SP-00502-12). Daniel F. Kripke, MD Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center La Jolla, California 92037, USA Contact: Daniel F. Kripke, M.D. 8437 Sugarman Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 Tel: 858-222-2934 Email: DKripke1@san.rr.com 862 Words exclusive of title page, disclosure, and references. DISCOSURE STATEMENT: The author has indicated no financial conflict of interest.
Seeing beyond the datasets: the unexploited structure of electoral and institutional data

We propose relational data modeling as a tool for replacing the ad hoc and uncoordinated approaches commonly used throughout the social sciences to gather, store, and disseminate data. We demonstrate relational data modeling using global electoral and political institutional data. We define a relational data model as a map of concepts, their attributes, and the relationships between concepts developed using a formal language and according to a set of rules. To demonstrate the methodology, we design a simple relational data model of six concepts: countries, parties, elections, districts, institutions, and election results. Furthermore, we introduce a data model to solve the particularly vexing issue of party discontinuity (party splits, mergers, and alliances). We show how the solution facilitates computational tasks, such as the calculation of core measures of political phenomena (ex: electoral volatility). Ultimately, a relational data approach will play a central role in collective investments to develo...
For newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet may delay need for medication and improve chance of remission compared to a low-fat diet

Commentary on : Esposito K, Maiorino MI, Petrizzo M, et al. The effects of a Mediterranean diet on the need for diabetes drugs and remission of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: follow-up of a randomized trial. Diabetes Care 2014;37:1824–30.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Type 2 diabetes is pandemic.1 Certain dietary patterns have been shown to exert a protective effect in the prevention of chronic diseases.2 Recently, dietary pattern research gained prominence over a single nutrient focus, because people usually consume … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DDiabetes%2BCare%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.2337%252Fdc13-2899%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24722497%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=diacare&resid=37/7/1824&atom=%2Febnurs%2F18%2F3%2F74.atom
Synthesis of a bulky bis(imino)pyridine compound: a methodology for systematic variation of steric bulk and energetic implications for metalation

A new bis(imino)pyridine compound, 2,6-{(2,6-Me2-C6H3)NC(t-Bu)}2C5H3N (6), has been synthesized with t-butyl substituents on the imino carbon atoms. The stepwise synthetic method for assembly of this compound is novel. Compound 6 and its synthetic precursor, mono(imino)pyridine 3, have been characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Metalation attempts of 6 using iron(II) chloride under forcing conditions does not yield the desired iron(II) chloride complex; the use of refluxing acetic acid solvent provides a minimal amount of a paramagnetic species that has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility (NMR method). Computational methods have been used to evaluate the relative energies of three conformations of bis(imino)pyridine ligands with varying alkyl substitution at the imino carbon positions. The relative energies of these closed, open and open-planar conformations of 6 reveal a thermodynamic argument for the difficulty in metalation of 6, as compared to related ligands with less steric hindrance at the imino carbon atoms.
Kinetic analysis of macromolecular interactions using surface plasmon resonance biosensors

Surface plasmon resonance based biosensors are being used to define the kinetics of a wide variety of macromolecular interactions. As the popularity of this approach grows, experimental design and data analysis methods continue to evolve. These advances are making it possible to accurately define the assembly mechanisms and rate constants associated with macromolecular interactions.
ALS-II, a Potential Soft X-ray, Diffraction Limited Upgrade of the Advanced Light Source*

The Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Berkeley Lab has seen many upgrades over the years, keeping it one of the brightest sources for soft x-rays worldwide. Recent developments in magnet technology and lattice design appear to open the door for very large further increases in brightness [1], particularly by reducing the horizontal emittance, even within the space constraints of the existing tunnel. Initial studies for possible lattices will be presented that could approach the soft x-ray diffraction limit around 2 keV in both planes within the ALS footprint. Emerging scientific applications and experimental methods that would greatly benefit from ring based sources having much higher brightness and transverse coherence than present or near future storage ring facilities include nanometer imaging applications, X-ray correlation spectroscopy, diffraction microscopy, holography, ptychography, and resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering at high resolution.
The Basic Nature of Epistemic Justification

The leading approaches to the nature of epistemic justification are the sides taken in two controversies: coherentism versus foundationalism, and externalism versus internalism. The former dispute has time-tested durabili ty; the latter threatens to become equally persistent. Nevertheless, it will be argued here that these controversies have satisfactory resolutions. It will be argued that each of the four approaches is fundamentally right. Each has a plausible core that combines consistently with the others. This paper offers a prolegomenon. Its goals are to clear away apparent obstacles to a recon ciliation among the approaches and to outline the resulting inclusive view.
Intelligence and social competence among high-risk adolescents

Interactions between intelligence and psychosocial factors were examined in terms of influences on social competence among 144 inner-city ninth-grade students. Psychosocial variables examined included ego development, locus of control, and positive and negative life events. Definitions of social competence were based on peer ratings, teacher ratings, and school grades. Results indicated that, unlike their less intelligent peers, intelligent youngsters showed higher competence levels at high versus low levels of both ego development and internal locus of control. Findings were interpreted in the context of sociocultural influences on academic achievement among disadvantaged adolescents.
Wavelet analysis for detecting anisotropy in point patterns

Although many methods have been proposed for analysing point locations for spatial pattern, previous methods have concentrated on clumping and spacing. The study of anisotropy (changes in spatial pattern with direction) in point patterns has been limited by lack of methods explicitly designed for these data and this purpose; researchers have been constrained to choosing arbitrary test directions or converting their data into quadrat counts and using methods designed for continuously distributed data. Wavelet analysis, a booming approach to studying spatial pattern, widely used in mathematics and physics for signal analysis, has started to make its way into the ecological literature. A simple adaptation of wavelet analysis is proposed for the detection of anisotropy in point patterns. The method is illustrated with both simulated and field data. This approach can easily be used for both global and local spatial analysis.
Innovative Behavior in the Workplace: The Role of Performance and Image Outcome Expectations

Why do employees engage in innovative behavior at their workplaces? We examine how employees' innovative behavior is explained by expectations for such behavior to affect job performance (expected positive performance outcomes) and image inside their organizations (expected image risks and expected image gains). We found significant effects of all three outcome expectations on innovative behavior. These outcome expectations, as intermediate psychological processes, were shaped by contextual and individual difference factors, including perceived organization support for innovation, supervisor relationship quality, job requirement for innovativeness, employee reputation as innovative, and individual dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Effects of intra-fraction motion on IMRT dose delivery: statistical analysis and simulation.

There has been some concern that organ motion, especially intra-fraction organ motion due to breathing, can negate the potential merit of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). We wanted to find out whether this concern is justified. Specifically, we wanted to investigate whether IMRT delivery techniques with moving parts, e.g., with a multileaf collimator (MLC), are particularly sensitive to organ motion due to the interplay between organ motion and leaf motion. We also wanted to know if, and by how much, fractionation of the treatment can reduce the effects. We performed a statistical analysis and calculated the expected dose values and dose variances for volume elements of organs that move during the delivery of the IMRT. We looked at the overall influence of organ motion during the course of a fractionated treatment. A linear-quadratic model was used to consider fractionation effects. Furthermore, we developed software to simulate motion effects for IMRT delivery with an MLC, with compensators, and with a scanning beam. For the simulation we assumed a sinusoidal motion in an isocentric plane. We found that the expected dose value is independent of the treatment technique. It is just a weighted average over the path of motion of the dose distribution without motion. If the treatment is delivered in several fractions, the distribution of the dose around the expected value is close to a Gaussian. For a typical treatment with 30 fractions, the standard deviation is generally within 1% of the expected value for MLC delivery if one assumes a typical motion amplitude of 5 mm (1 cm peak to peak). The standard deviation is generally even smaller for the compensator but bigger for scanning beam delivery. For the latter it can be reduced through multiple deliveries ('paintings') of the same field. In conclusion, the main effect of organ motion in IMRT is an averaging of the dose distribution without motion over the path of the motion. This is the same as for treatments with conventional beams. Additional effects that are specific to the IMRT delivery technique appear to be relatively small, except for the scanning beam.
A survey of elephant husbandry and foot health in North American zoos

The foot health of elephants in human care is a longstanding concern. In 2001, the AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care were published recommending husbandry to improve foot health. This article reports the results of a 2006 survey: basic statistics describing facility, husbandry, and foot health attributes are reported and relationships among variables are investigated. Median area available to elephants exceeded Standard recommendations (755ft 2 per elephant indoor and 10,000ft 2 outdoor). Concrete makes up 69% of indoor area and natural substrates account for 85% of outdzoor area. Elephants in AZA facilities received an average of 45.5min/day of exercise, and facilities with a structured exercise plan provided significantly more exercise than did facilities without a structured exercise plan ( z5 y 2.522, P50.012). Enrichment is important to psychological health and may also stimulate activity beneficial to foot health; 95% of institutions had a structured enrichment program. Preventative foot care was nearly universal, and 100% of facilities performed routine nail and pad trimming. However, foot pathology has not been eradicated; 33% of institutions reported at least one pathology in the previous year. This study found a strong inverse relationship between foot pathology and exercise ( w 2 (3) 524.34, Po0.001). Younger herds were less likely to have a member diagnosed with arthritis ( w 2 (1) 58.90, P50.003). Lameness was unrelated to age or pathology, and only the presence of arthritis explained lameness ( z5 y 7.81, Po0.001). African elephants seemed to experience lower rates of foot pathology and arthritis than Asian elephants; however, this was explained by differences in age. Zoo Biol 29:221–236, 2010. r 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cardiac Hypertrophy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Ventricular weight in spontaneously hypertensive rats (F26 generation, Okamoto-Aoki strain) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in body weight-matched American Wistar and Kyoto-Wistar normotensive rats, not only among older groups of rats but also among younger groups that had not developed significant hypertension. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) concentration in ventricular muscle was not different from normal in the youngest group (P < 0.4) but was significantly reduced in the older spontaneously hypertensive rats (P < 0.01). Plasma renin activity was significantly increased in younger spontaneously hypertensive rats before the development of established hypertension; moreover, ventricular weight and plasma renin activity were significantly correlated in younger rats (r = 0.788, P < 0.005 for all rats, r = 0.644, P < 0.01 for spontaneously hypertensive rats). Antihypertensive therapy with either α-methyldopa or hydralazine reduced blood pressure, especially in hypertensive rats; however, ventric...
Effect of AZT on thymidine phosphorylation in cultured H9c2, U-937, and Raji cell lines

Abstract 3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of thymidine kinase 2 in work from this laboratory. Inhibition results in decreased salvage of thymidine to TTP, which may lead to depletion of the TTP pool and result in the mitochondrial dysfunction and mt-DNA depletion observed with AZT toxicity. The effect of AZT on thymidine phosphorylation in growing cells expressing thymidine kinase 1 has not been shown. Three cell lines were used in these experiments: H9c2, derived from rat cardiomyoblasts; U-937, derived from human monocytes; and Raji, derived from human lymphoblasts. AZT inhibited growth in a concentration-dependent manner in U-937 cells, but not the other cell lines. The phosphorylation of [3H]-thymidine or [3H]-AZT was determined during log growth. All cell lines salvaged and phosphorylated thymidine to TTP, with TTP the major product. The U-937 cells had a much more active salvage pathway than the other cells. All cell lines phosphorylated AZT to the triphosphate, but the major product was AZTMP. The AZT inhibition of growth of the U-937 cells did not correlate with levels of the phosphorylated AZT. In contrast, pro-drug AZT was shown to inhibit thymidine phosphorylation in all lines with 50% inhibition concentrations (IC50) ranging from 4.4 to 21.9 μM. Since the U-937 cells expressed higher activity of the salvage pathway than the other cell lines, the U-937 cells may rely more heavily on the salvage pathway for TTP synthesis, accounting for AZT inhibition of growth.
Folk poetry, local knowledge, and resistance in Tunisia

ABSTRACTIn pre-Islamic times, Arabic poetry was a potent propaganda weapon among the nomadic Arabian tribes. More than 15 centuries later, not much has changed. In the twenty-first century, Arabic poetry is still used ritualistically to celebrate harvests, weddings, and other happy events, but also to put up a defensive shield against encroachments by outsiders, or to lament the loss of a loved one, the devastation by natural disasters, or the generation gap and loss of a traditional Bedouin lifestyle. The verbal prowess of Arabic nomadic groups led to a flourishing of poetry in both fuṣḥā/classical and dārija/dialectical Arabic. This essay looks at Tunisian folk poetry – what might be called ‘literature from below’ – as a potent force sustaining political resistance and cultural identity. We focus on two features of folk poetry (malḥūn in dārija) in southern Tunisia: poetry as resistance to authoritarian regimes, both before and after the January 14, 2011 revolution; and poetry as resistance to the consu...
Enhancing Masculine Features After Massive Weight Loss

Background Whereas body contouring surgery after massive weight loss in women emphasizes sculptured adipose and broader lower torso, little attention has been devoted to accentuating the male physique.
High Order Discontinuity Capturing Using Adaptive Polynomials

The grid-independent study is arguably the most reliable way to determine if an accurate solution is reached or not. This process involves tediously regenerating a finer mesh, a reworking of the solution and then comparing the new and old solutions. Although the polynomial refinement technique can be shown as a more efficient way to obtain an accurate solution, it can be numerically unstable when the order of the polynomial is high and it may introduce spurious numerical oscillations across discontinuities. In this paper, we shall introduce an implicit space-time spectral difference method using adaptive polynomial refinement. The method is not only capable of resolving accurate solutions for smooth profiles, but it can also capture profile discontinuities.
Comparison of Properties of Individual Axons in the Frog

In large mixed nerves, such as the sciatic, the action potential started by local stimulation is much more protracted after conduction than at the locus of stimulation, and, in the former case, presents 3 principal elevations of the continuous potential.1 Bishop and Heinbecker recognize 4 main elevations and believe that the potentials contributed to these elevations are supplied by fibers of different types.2, 3 Measurements of the duration of axon potentials hitherto have been based on superimposed axon responses recorded at the site stimulated. Inasmuch as axons respond to stimulation with different latencies4 this method cannot give the axon potential in its true form. By employing nerves containing only a few fibers at the lead, long distances of conduction and very high amplification, it is possible to record discretely the undistorted potentials of some, often of all, and to ascertain the characteristics of each, of the constituent axons.When either the relative voltage of threshold induction shock...
Self-deception: Adaptation or by-product?

By systematically biasing our beliefs, self-deception can endanger our ability to successfully convey our messages. It can also lead lies to degenerate into more severe damages in relationships. Accordingly, I suggest that the biases reviewed in the target article do not aim at self-deception but instead are the by-products of several other mechanisms: our natural tendency to self-enhance, the confirmation bias inherent in reasoning, and the lack of access to our unconscious minds.
Recent developments in drug discovery for leishmaniasis and human African trypanosomiasis.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that presents four main clinical syndromes: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), visceral leishmaniasis/kala azar (VL), and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Causative Leishmania are protozoan parasites that are transmitted among mammalian hosts by phlebotomine sandflies. In mammalian hosts, parasite cells proliferate inside the host phagocytic cells as round amastigotes. Infection of sandflies with Leishmania occurs during insect feeding on infected mammalian hosts. After introduction into the insect gut together with the blood meal, Leishmania amastigotes transform into elongated flagellated promastigotes that propagate in the insect gut. A new round of infection is initiated after the infected sandfly takes a blood meal from a naive mammalian host and introduces Leishmania parasites into the bite wound in the host dermis (Scheme 1). More than 20 different Leishmania species have been found to cause human leishmaniasis (Table 1). Leishmaniasis is endemic in 98 countries and is closely associated with poverty. More than a million new cases are reported per year and 350 million people are at risk of contracting the infection. For the most severe form of leishmaniasis, VL, ∼300 000 new cases are estimated to occur annually resulting in ∼40 000 deaths. Approximately 90% of all VL cases occur in 3 endemic foci: 1. India, Bangladesh, and Nepal; 2. East Africa; and 3. Brazil. In spite of the high prevalence, currently available treatments for leishmaniasis are inadequate. Pentavalent antimonials, the standard treatment for leishmaniasis for many decades, are not efficacious in Bihar (∼60% of VL cases worldwide) any longer due to widespread resistance to the drug in this region. Several new VL treatments have emerged during the past 10–15 years, but each has serious shortcomings (summarized in Table 2). These include paromomycin (injectable, long treatment, region-dependent efficacy), miltefosine (cost, teratogenicity, long treatment), and liposomal amphotericin B (cost, hospitalization, region-dependent efficacy). An additional challenge is represented by patients with HIV/VL coinfections who are more difficult to cure (lower initial and final cure rates), have greater susceptibility to drug toxicity, and have higher rates of death and relapse. Due to the limitations of the existing treatments, better drugs are urgently needed. Ideally, new VL drugs would be efficacious across all endemic regions, would affect cure in ≤10 days, and would cost <$10 per course (for a complete target product profile for new VL drugs, which was formulated by DNDi, see Table 4).1 Here we describe the disease history and parasite biology followed by a summary of the currently available treatments and, finally, review reports of novel small molecules with antileishmanial activity.
Reflections on the Probability Space Induced by Moment Conditions with Implications for Bayesian Inference

Often a structural model implies that certain moment functions expressed in terms of data and model parameters follow a distribution. An assertion that moment functions follow a distribution logically implies a distribution on the arguments of the moment functions. This fact would appear to permit Bayesian inference on model parameters. The classic example is an assertion that the sample mean centered at a parameter and scaled by its standard error has Student’s t-distribution followed by an assertion that the sample mean plus and minus a critical value times the standard error is a Bayesian credibility interval for the parameter. This article studies the logic of such assertions. The main finding is that if the moment functions have one of the properties of a pivotal, then the assertion of a distribution on moment functions coupled with a proper prior does permit Bayesian inference. Without the semi-pivotal condition, the assertion of a distribution for moment functions either partially or completely specifies the prior. In this case, Bayesian inference may or may not be practicable depending on how much of the distribution of the constituents remains indeterminate after imposition of a noncontradictory prior. An asset pricing example that uses data from the U.S. economy illustrates the ideas.
Obstacles to the Implementation of Antiemetic Guidelines

Although guidelines help physicians deliver high quality clinical care, they will have minimal impact unless familiarity and adherence are achieved. Although nausea and vomiting are highly feared toxicities of chemotherapy that markedly decrease patient quality of life, modifications in physician behavior and improvements in standards of care, particularly in terms of preventing delayed emesis, have been slow. Variations in format, goals, physician education, and institutional education may all affect guideline implementation and state-of-the-art care. The relationship between these factors and the scientific basis of antiemetic guidelines must be considered to achieve optimal results and compliance.
Vitamin E and the Antioxidant Network: Protection of Human Low Density Lipoprotein from Oxidation

The oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) is thought to initiate a series of pathological changes that eventually result in atherosclerosis. With diabetes atherogenesis may be accelerated by oxidative processes. Vitamin E is the major antioxidant in LDL, where it is important for protection from oxidation. When following the time course of LDL oxidation, an initial lag period is observed before oxidation commences, during which time antioxidants are consumed. The lag period is reported to be correlated with the LDL vitamin E content. Thus human subjects who consume vitamin E supplements exhibit a dose-dependent increase in the duration of the lag phase before oxidation of LDL is observed. Ascorbate and the thiol antioxidants reduced glutathione and dihydrolipoic acid (the dithiol thioctic acid) have been shown to regenerate vitamin E from its one electron oxidation product. The oxidized thiols can be reduced by enzymatic pathways utilizing reducing equivalents from NADH or NADPH. These enzymatic pathways, the thiol antioxidants, and the antioxidant vitamins E and C constitute a network of redox antioxidants. Supplementing isolated LDL preparations with these antioxidants increases lag time and protects LDL from oxidation. Consistent with epidemiological and prospective studies, these studies suggest that vitamin E supplementation is protective against the pathological changes that eventually result in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Recruiting the social contacts of patients with STI for HIV screening in Lilongwe, Malawi: process evaluation and assessment of acceptability

Objectives To explore acceptability of recruiting social contacts for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods In this observational study, three groups of ‘seed’ patients were enrolled: 45 HIV-infected patients with STI, 45 HIV-uninfected patients with STI and 45 community controls, who were also tested for HIV as part of the study. Each seed was given five coupons and asked to recruit up to five social contacts to the STI clinic. Seeds were told the programme for contacts would include HIV testing, STI screening and general health promotion. Seeds were asked to return after 1 month to report on the contact recruitment process. Seeds received $2 for each successfully recruited contact. Results Eighty-nine seeds (66%) returned for 1-month follow-up with no difference between the three seed groups (p=0.9). Returning seeds reported distributing most of their coupons (mean=4.1) and discussing each feature of the programme with most contacts—HIV testing (90%), STI screening (87%) and health promotion (91%). Seeds reported discussing their own HIV status with most contacts (52%), with a lower proportion of HIV-infected seeds discussing their HIV status (22%) than HIV-uninfected seeds (81%) or community seeds (64%) (p Conclusions Most seeds distributed all coupons and reported describing all aspects of the programme to most contacts. Patients with STI are able to act as health promoters within their social networks and may be a critical link to increasing STI and HIV status awareness among high-risk groups.
The impact of personalized risk communication on screening decisions.

Patients presented with personalized risk information are more likely to make informed decisions about screening than patients who are presented with generic risk information. Individualizing risk appears to improve the accuracy of patients' risk perception and decrease anxiety.
Commentary on ‘Reforms’

Singapore is known for its linguistic diversity and a bilingual language policy that encourages English plus one other ‘mother tongue,’ including Tamil, Chinese, and Malay. The official educational language policy for Singapore is quadrilingual (Silver and Bokhorst-Heng, this volume), and each of the chapters in this section shows various ways in which the government and the Ministry of Education (MOE) attempt to promote all four languages. Yet, the linguistic ecology appears to be changing rapidly, with English becoming the dominant language in both educational and noneducational contexts. In this commentary, I reflect on what the growing prominence of English might mean for Singaporean education and educational language policy around the world.
Isolation of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Using 0157 Specific Antibody Coated Magnetic Beads.

Escherichia coli 0157 specific antibody, coated on magnetic beads, was used to concentrate and remove the E. coli 0157:H7 from mixed cultures and meat samples. The problem of nontarget organism carryover was addressed by adding Protamine to the culture-bead sample, washing the beads three times in saline, and changing the test tubes with each wash. These modifications reduced the nontarget colony counts obtained from uninoculated meat samples. This procedure enabled consistent recovery of E. coli 0157:H7 from inoculated meat samples. The percentage of E. coli 0157:H7 cells captured, compared to the total number of cells captured, ranged from 48 to 100%. Two strains of E. coli 0157, H7 and :non-H7, appeared to compete with one another and thus reduce or prevent isolation.
Reaching through learned forward model

This paper presents a learning approach for a humanoid to reach objects in its environment. Instead of assuming that the exact forward kinematics of the arm is given, we address the reaching problem by first learning forward kinematics with a RBFN through autonomously gathered training samples. The learnt forward model is subsequently used to construct Jacobian matrices to incrementally generate straight reaching trajectory exhibited by humans. We show that if the learning parameters are set appropriately, a RBFN trained on a small number of samples corrupted by perception noise can still lead to high reaching accuracy. The size of the training set can be further reduced without severe performance degradation if limited visual feedback is used to aid reaching after the end effector has been moved into the neighborhood of the desired object.
Extension of sonic anemometry to high subsonic Mach number flows

In the literature, the application of sonic anemometry has been limited to low subsonic Mach number, near-incompressible flow conditions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper represents the first time a sonic anemometry approach has been used to characterize flow velocity beyond Mach 0.3. Using a high speed jet, flow velocity was measured using a modified sonic anemometry technique in flow conditions up to Mach 0.83. A numerical study was conducted to identify the effects of microphone placement on the accuracy of the measured velocity. Based on estimated error strictly due to uncertainty in time-of-acoustic flight, a random error of 4 m s−1 was identified for the configuration used in this experiment. Comparison with measurements from a Pitot probe indicated a velocity RMS error of 9 m s−1. The discrepancy in error is attributed to a systematic error which may be calibrated out in future work. Overall, the experimental results from this preliminary study support the use of acoustics for high subsonic flow characterization.
Numerical study of slightly viscous flow

A numerical method for solving the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations in two space dimensions at high Reynolds number is presented. The crux of the method lies in the numerical simulation of the process of vorticity generation and dispersal, using computer-generated pseudo-random numbers. An application to flow past a circular cylinder is presented.
In Situ Disease on Breast MRI

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ is a non-invasive form of breast cancer, in which malignant ductal epithelial cells proliferate, but do not invade through the basement membrane. It is a heterogeneous disease, and is a non-obligate precursor to invasive carcinoma. With the advent of screening mammography the incidence of DCIS has greatly increased. MRI is the most sensitive examination for detecting DCIS. The most common presenting morphology of DCIS is nonmass enhancement, with a clumped internal enhancement pattern and with a segmental distribution pattern. There is great variety in the kinetic patterns of DCIS, and therefore assessment must be based on morphology. Additional tools, such as diffusion weighted imaging have been shown to be promising in helping detect clinically relevant DCIS.
The Gene Machine: How Genetic Technologies Are Changing the Way We Have Kids—And the Kids We Have, by Bonnie Rochman

How much do you want to know about your health? Would knowing which diseases you are at risk for be unsettling or prepare you to take what measures you could to prevent the disease? Would you choos...
Axogenic mechanism enhances retinal ganglion cell excitability during early progression in glaucoma

Diseases of the brain involve early axon dysfunction that often precedes outright degeneration. Pruning of dendrites and their synapses represents a potential driver of axonopathy by reducing activity. Optic nerve degeneration in glaucoma, the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness, involves early stress to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons from sensitivity to intraocular pressure (IOP). This sensitivity also influences survival of RGC dendrites and excitatory synapses in the retina. Here we tested in individual RGCs identified by type the relationship between dendritic organization and axon signaling to light following modest, short-term elevations in pressure. We found dendritic pruning occurred early, by 2 wk of elevation, and independent of whether the RGC responded to light onset (ON cells) or offset (OFF cells). Pruning was similarly independent of ON and OFF in the DBA/2J mouse, a chronic glaucoma model. Paradoxically, all RGCs, even those with significant pruning, demonstrated a transient increase in axon firing in response to the preferred light stimulus that occurred on a backdrop of generally enhanced excitability. The increased response was not through conventional presynaptic signaling, but rather depended on voltage-sensitive sodium channels that increased transiently in the axon. Pruning, axon dysfunction, and deficits in visual acuity did not progress between 2 and 4 wk of elevation. These results suggest neurodegeneration in glaucoma involves an early axogenic response that counters IOP-related stress to excitatory dendritic architecture to slow progression and maintain signaling to the brain. Thus, short-term exposure to elevated IOP may precondition the neural system to further insult.