cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and characterization of metal-molecule-silicon devices

The use of molecular devices for computation shows promise for miniaturizing electronic devices and enhancing integrated circuit functionality. While a majority of molecular devices presented to date employ metal contacts, the use of semiconductor contacts could allow for more stable chemical bonds and improved electrical properties. In this study, we present the grafting and characterization of molecular layers on hydrogenated silicon surfaces using procedures found in the literature. We present the development, fabrication, and measurement of metal-molecule-silicon device structures using traditional lithographic techniques.
Sonographic contrast effect of combined steroid and anesthetic injections: in vitro analysis

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent and duration of the sonographic contrast effect during guided steroid-anesthetic injections and to propose a potential mechanism based on mixture immiscibility and density differences. Methods. A steroid-anesthetic mixture was injected into cyst phantoms under sonographic visualization, and time-dependent data were acquired. Regions of interest were drawn within each cyst, and measured mean pixel intensities were compared with a gel phantom background that served as a control. Two test tubes were also prepared similarly with the steroid-anesthetic mixture and saline in one test tube and synovial fluid in the other; these were observed to estimate separation time to form a fluid-fluid level. Results. There was a substantial contrast effect after injection of the steroid-anesthetic suspension into a cyst phantom containing saline. The background levels remained constant during the period of observation. The contrast effect decreased as a function of time to 4 (94% decrease from the time of injection) in the upper half and to 34 (64% decrease from the time of injection) in the lower half throughout the course of the experiment. The test tube containing the injected material in saline achieved separation in approximately 15 minutes, whereas in the synovial fluid, separation was achieved in 48 hours. Conclusions. We have verified, in vitro, an apparent clinically observed contrast effect noted during sonographically guided therapeutic injections of cortisone-anesthetic mixtures. We have shown that this effect relates to differences in acoustic impedance and immiscibility, differences in density of the mixture, or both. Key words: contrast; guided injection; steroid.
A Curse from God? Religious and political dimensions of the post-1991 rise of ethnic violence in South Sudan

Southern Sudanese civilian populations have been trapped in a rising tide of ethnicised, South-on-South, military violence ever since leadership struggles within the main southern opposition movement – the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) – split into two warring factions in August 1991. This paper traces the devastating impact of this violence on a particularly volatile and fractured region of contemporary South Sudan: the oil rich heartlands of the Western Upper Nile Province. Foregrounding the historical experiences and grassroots perspectives of Nuer civilian populations in this region, the paper shows how elite competition within the southern military has combined with the political machinations of the national Islamic government in Khartoum to create a wave of inter- and intra-ethnic factional fighting so intense and intractable that many Nuer civilians have come to define it as ‘a curse from God’. Dividing Sudan's seventeen-year-long civil war (1983–present) into four distinct phases, the paper shows how successive forms and patterns of political violence in this region have provoked radical reassessments of the precipitating agents and ultimate meaning of this war on the part of an increasingly demoralised and impoverished Nuer civilian population.
Destructive action of human cancer extracts on red blood cells in vitro.

SummaryExperiments reported in this paper suggest that extracts prepared from human cancer occasionally agglutinate, and frequently hemolyze red blood cells in vitro. These phenomena, but particularly the hemolysis, become evident only after a prolonged incubation of the tumor extracts with the red blood cells at 37°C. The agglutination is evident after 24 hours of incubation or earlier; the hemolysis requires 48 hours of incubation. Heating of the tumor extracts for 30 minutes to 56°C, prior to mixing tham with the red blood cells, destroys their ability to either agglutinate or hemolyze the erythrocytes.
Structure-Property Studies on a Series of Polycarbonate-Polydimethylsiloxane Block Copolymers

Abstract Block copolymers composed of hard and soft segments form an interesting class of materials ranging from thermoplastics to thermoplastic elastomers depending on their composition and/or the size of segments. These materials have attracted much attention in the past decade because by careful tailoring, polymers of desired properties can be obtained. Yet they are thermoplastic in nature and can be processed and even reprocessed thermally. Among the common elastomers that can be used as the soft segment in a block copolymer, polydimethyl-siloxane is of special interest due to its great thermal stability at elevated temperatures and high flexibility at low temperatures. Block copolymers containing polydimethylsiloxane as the soft segment and various thermoplastics such as poly(α-methylstyrene), polystyrene, and polysulfone, etc., as the hard segment, have been synthesized and studied. A group of randomly alternating block copolymers of bisphenol-A polycarbonate and polydimethylsiloxane have also been ...
A Case of Bad Credit?: The United State and the Protection of Moral Rights in Intellectual Property Law

The protection of moral rights is a concept that is truly foreign to the United States. Protection of moral rights developed in Europe and was incorporated in the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (hereinafter, “Berne Convention”). All countries that are party to the Berne Convention are required to provide a minimum level of protection for moral rights. As a party to the Berne Convention, the United States is subject to this requirement. How do moral rights operate and what do they protect? This paper examines how moral rights are protected in France, a leader in the area of moral rights, and the United States, the difference in culture development between Europe and the United States, and whether the United States is in compliance with Article 6bis of the Berne Convention. Section II of this paper will look at the origin of moral rights and how they are defined in France, the Berne Convention, and the United States, and the importance of moral rights in international law. Section III of this paper will examine the cultural and sociological differences between the United States and European countries and how these differences influence the development of moral rights. Section IV studies whether the protection of moral rights in the United States is sufficient to comply with Article 6bis of the Berne Convention.
Gender and trauma as predictors of military attrition: a study of Marine Corps recruits.

ABSTRACT Recent studies have shown high rates of premilitary trauma exposure among U.S. military enlistees. Given the association of trauma with later stressor vulnerability, it is important to examine the role of premilitary stress and trauma in adaptation to the stress of recruit training. U.S. Marine Corps recruits (N = 1,530) were surveyed for premilitary histories of interpersonal trauma to examine the relationship between premilitary trauma and attrition from recruit training. The majority of the recruits (47.5% of men and 68.1% of women) reported experiencing at least one interpersonal trauma before entering the Marine Corps. Individuals with a history of interpersonal trauma were at significantly greater risk for attrition; they were 1.5 times more likely to drop out of recruit training than were individuals without a trauma history. These findings suggest that developing interventions to bolster recruits' coping skills may improve adaptation to the recruit training environment and thus decrease a...
Political Realism Revisited

Originating in a debate on political realism with the late Hans Morgenthau, this article purports to reanalyze some basic concepts underlying traditional realism (such as power, security, national interest, international systems) in the light of the fundamental changes in international relations that are indicated by the terms population pressure, resources depletion, environmental destruction, and, last but not least, armament races and nuclear superarmament. In suggesting solutions (an attitude and policy of universalism replacing national and other group parochialism, for instance), I have tried to keep my approach equidistant from a utopianism that would substitute world authority for the nation-state system and from a superrealism that denies the feasibility of any more internationalist policy altogether.
Abstract 3182: PTM ELISA microarray for breast cancer biomarker discovery

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are known to be altered during breast cancer development. These PTMs are potentially useful biomarkers for breast cancer. In order to study the potential of PTMs in the early detection of breast cancer, ELISA microarray protocols for analyzing several PTMs in a panel of 24 proteins that are found in blood but known to be secreted by breast tissue and/or breast tumors. We evaluated these PTMs in a case-control study with 68 plasma samples. The control samples were from age-matched women with benign breast disease. The sensitivity and the specificity of each assay and the combined assays were evaluated using the areas under (AUC) the receiver operator curves. In the best multivariate analysis, the AUC values ranged from 77% to 87% for 4 different PTMs. Overall, our data suggest that the PTM ELISA microarray platform is a promising tool for discovery and evaluation of biomarkers that have potential for the early detection of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3182. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3182
Advocacy Coalitions and Space Policy

In stark contrast to the position of dominance it enjoyed at the height of the Apollo era-in what is best thought of as a single, unified space program-NASA’s role in the far more complex policy environment of the post-Apollo era is to serve as a sort of “broker” among all of the competing coalitions. This is also the case internal to NASA as its component offices align themselves with one coalition or another of them. The role of a “broker” for administrative agencies is to advocate more centrist positions than their interest-group allies.56 In NASA’s case, it may not always be clear what constitutes a “centrist position.” To begin with, some of the coalitions with which the Agency must deal can hardly be considered “allies.” Some members of the “business in space” group, for example, would be perfectly content if NASA was eliminated altogether.
The QBO, gravity waves forced by tropical convection, and ENSO

By means of theory, a simplified cartoon illustrating wave forcing of the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), and general circulation modeling of the QBO, it is argued that the period of the QBO is mainly controlled by the magnitude of the gravity wave (GW) vertical fluxes of horizontal momentum (GWMF) forcing the QBO, while the QBO amplitude is mainly determined by the phase speeds of the GWs that make up this momentum flux. It is furthermore argued that it is the zonally averaged GWMF that principally determines the QBO period irrespective of the longitudinal distribution of this GW momentum flux. These concepts are used to develop a hypothesis for the cause of a previously reported El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulation of QBO periods and amplitudes. Some observational evidence is reported for the ENSO modulation of QBO amplitudes to have been different before the 1980s than after about 1990. A hypothesis is also given to explain this in terms of the different ENSO modulation of tropical deep convection that took place before the 1980s from that which occurred after about 1990. The observational evidence, while consistent with our hypotheses, does not prove that our hypotheses are correct given the small number of El Ninos and La Ninas that occurred in the early and later periods. Further research is needed to support or refute our hypotheses.
Ottoman Mİllets in the Early Seventeenth Century 1

The concept of “ millet ” rivals other ideas, such as “the ghazi state” and “the decline paradigm,” as one of the principal formations around which Ottoman historiography has been constructed. Significantly, it was the Ottomans themselves who originated, and manufactured powerful illusions around, each of these notions. Fifteenth-century post-Interregnum (1402-1412) historians probably invented the view that the Osmanlilar of the previous century had constituted the pre-eminent ghazi principality along the Byzantine frontier; late-sixteenth and seventeenth-century Ottoman critics certainly concocted the proposal that the state was decaying after a brilliant epoch under Mehmed II, Bayezid II, Selim I, and Suleyman I (1451-1566); and post-Tanzimat (1839) reformers formulated the construct of millet as a defining characteristic of Ottoman society. Modern historians have tended to accept these models rather uncritically; only recently have we begun to examine the contents and contexts of such Ottoman self-portraits.
Robotic splenectomy with ex vivo bench surgery and hemi-spleen autotransplant: the first report

Background We describe our experience with what is, to our knowledge, the first case of robotic assisted ex vivo partial splenectomy with auto-transplantation for a benign non parasitic cyst.
Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency

A 9-year-old girl with a phenotype similar to a mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and a clinical history characteristic of late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is reported from the Department of Neurology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; the Developmental and Metabolic Neurology Branch, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland; and Department of Pediatrics (Dr. Horwitz), University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
What Are We Really Learning through Publicly Funded Historical Archaeology (and Is It Worth the Considerable Expense

Historical archaeology has become an established discipline within the last 30 years, yet to some its value is unrecognized or open to question. The reason for this can be found in several areas. As a discipline, historical archaeology has yet to develop a coherent approach to the study of the historic past or to the identification of sites that are truly worthy of preservation or study at public expense. Reports of excavations are cumbersome and difficult to use by other archaeologists, let alone by professionals in other disciplines or the interested public. We are probably spending considerable money on sites that really do not warrant the effort. As a whole, our literature does clearly illustrate the value of our accomplishments. To remedy what is in reality a decades-old problem requires leadership from the profession and from individual professionals. We need to redefine what we as a discipline are attempting to accomplish and how it is best accomplished, redefine priorities for publicly funded archaeology, establish a meaningful threshold of significance, reinvent our reports, challenge other scholars with our findings and interpretations, and insist that publicly funded projects result in publicly oriented products.
Numerical simulation of the freeze–thaw behavior of mortar containing deicing salt solution

This paper presents a one-dimensional finite difference model that is developed to describe the freeze-thaw behavior of an air-entrained mortar containing deicing salt solution. A phenomenological model is used to predict the temperature and the heat flow for mortar specimens during cooling and heating. Phase transformations associated with the freezing/melting of water/ice or transition of the eutectic solution from liquid to solid are included in this phenomenological model. The lever rule is used to calculate the quantity of solution that undergoes the phase transformation, thereby simulating the energy released/absorbed during phase transformation. Undercooling and pore size effects are considered in the numerical model. To investigate the effect of pore size distribution, this distribution is considered using the Gibbs-Thomson equation in a saturated mortar specimen. For an air-entrained mortar, the impact of considering pore size (and curvature) on freezing was relatively insignificant; however the impact of pore size is much more significant during melting. The fluid inside pores smaller than 5 nm (i.e., gel pores) has a relatively small contribution in the macroscopic freeze-thaw behavior of mortar specimens within the temperature range used in this study (i.e., +24 °C to -35 °C), and can therefore be neglected for the macroscopic freeze-thaw simulations. A heat sink term is utilized to simulate the heat dissipation during phase transformations. Data from experiments performed using a low-temperature longitudinal guarded comparative calorimeter (LGCC) on mortar specimens fully saturated with various concentration NaCl solutions or partially saturated with water is compared to the numerical results and a promising agreement is generally obtained.
The Virtue Ethics of Hume and Nietzsche

In The Virtue Ethics of Hume and Nietzsche, Christine Swanton undertakes a bold project, seeking to situate Hume and Nietzsche within the tradition of virtue ethics. In so doing, Swanton not only b...
Global optimality in low-rank matrix optimization

This paper considers the minimization of a general objective function $f(\boldsymbol{X})$ over the set of rectangular $n\times m$ matrices that have rank at most $r$ . To reduce the computational burden, we factorize the variable $\boldsymbol{X}$ into a product of two smaller matrices and optimize over these two matrices instead of $\boldsymbol{X}$ . Despite the resulting nonconvexity, recent studies in matrix completion and sensing have shown that the factored problem has no spurious local minima and obeys the so-called strict saddle property (the function has a directional negative curvature at all critical points but local minima). We analyze the global geometry for a general and yet well-conditioned objective function $f(\boldsymbol{X})$ whose restricted strong convexity and restricted strong smoothness constants are comparable. In particular, we show that the reformulated objective function has no spurious local minima and obeys the strict saddle property. These geometric properties imply that a number of iterative optimization algorithms (such as gradient descent) can provably solve the factored problem with global convergence.
Testing survey-based methods for rapid monitoring of child mortality, with implications for summary birth history data.

Introduction Under-five mortality estimates are increasingly used in low and middle income countries to target interventions and measure performance against global development goals. Two new methods to rapidly estimate under-5 mortality based on Summary Birth Histories (SBH) were described in a previous paper and tested with data available. This analysis tests the methods using data appropriate to each method from 5 countries that lack vital registration systems. SBH data are collected across many countries through censuses and surveys, and indirect methods often rely upon their quality to estimate mortality rates. Methods and findings The Birth History Imputation method imputes data from a recent Full Birth History (FBH) onto the birth, death and age distribution of the SBH to produce estimates based on the resulting distribution of child mortality. DHS FBHs and MICS SBHs are used for all five countries. In the implementation, 43 of 70 estimates are within 20% of validation estimates (61%). Mean Absolute Relative Error is 17.7.%. 1 of 7 countries produces acceptable estimates. The Cohort Change method considers the differences in births and deaths between repeated Summary Birth Histories at 1 or 2-year intervals to estimate the mortality rate in that period. SBHs are taken from Brazil’s PNAD Surveys 2004–2011 and validated against IGME estimates. 2 of 10 estimates are within 10% of validation estimates. Mean absolute relative error is greater than 100%. Conclusions Appropriate testing of these new methods demonstrates that they do not produce sufficiently good estimates based on the data available. We conclude this is due to the poor quality of most SBH data included in the study. This has wider implications for the next round of censuses and future household surveys across many low- and middle- income countries.
Toward sport reform: hegemonic masculinity and reconceptualizing competition

Hegemonic masculinity, a framework where stereotypically masculine traits are over-emphasized, plays a central role in sport, partly due to an excessive focus on winning. This type of masculinity m...
Safety and Feasibility of Rehabilitation Interventions in Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant With Thrombocytopenia.

Abstract Objective To analyze the relation between platelet counts, intensities of physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services received, and frequencies of bleeding complications in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) during a period of severe thrombocytopenia. Design Retrospective review study. Setting Tertiary care hospital. Participants Children (N=63; age, Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Intensities of PT and OT interventions, patients' platelet counts on specific therapy days, and any bleeding events (minor or major) that occurred during or shortly after rehabilitation interventions. Results Sixty-two patients (accounting for 63 HSCTs) met the criteria for analysis. Fifty-six of these patients (57 HSCTs) underwent PT and/or OT while markedly thrombocytopenic. There was no correlation between platelet counts and intensities of rehabilitation interventions. There were no major bleeding events. There was no association between minor bleeding events and intensities of PT or OT interventions and no association between minor bleeding events and platelet counts. Only 5 minor bleeding events occurred during or after moderate or intensive therapy out of 346 PT and OT sessions (1.5%). Conclusions The results of our study suggest that bleeding complications during or after mobilization and supervised exercise during PT and OT in children with severe thrombocytopenia undergoing HSCT are minor and relatively rare. These are encouraging results for both patients and rehabilitation specialists treating this population who is at high risk of developing immobility-related complications.
Mechanics of magnetic fluid active element in strong magnetic field

Measurements and theoretical analysis of the processes of static displacement and oscillations of the magnetic fluid column confined by magnetic levitation in a strong magnetic field in a horizontally placed tube are carried out. The calculations of the saturation magnetization, made on the basis of the obtained results of the displacement and the oscillation frequency for the sample of the magnetic fluid under study, are in good agreement with the experimental data. The described technique is of interest when studying saturation magnetization, magnetophoresis, aggregation of nanoparticles and their temporal dependence in magnetic colloids.
Style-Based Robotic Motion in Contemporary Dance Performance

This chapter reviews a framework for generating robotic motion and describes its application in a performance at Georgia Institute of Technology. In particular, the movement model stems from the view that cannons of basic warm-up exercises in formalized movement genres, such as classical ballet, seed more complex phrases. This model employs a separation of basic movement ordering and execution. Basic movements are sequenced, and their individual execution modulated via a notion of quality from dance theory. The sequencing framework is then employed in performance both on a humanoid robot and real dancers. Results from a human study, questionnaires given to audience members after the show, are also presented. The generation framework also lends itself to movement interpretation and that extension will be briefly presented as well.
Implementing problem-based learning in a family medicine clerkship.

Background and objectives Problem-based learning (PBL) has been implemented in the curriculum of many medical schools, but limited information is available about the outcome of this learning technique. The educational intervention presented in this paper implemented a PBL learning component in our third-year family medicine clerkship and measured the outcomes of this curricular change. Methods One third of the curricular time devoted to didactic teaching in our family medicine clerkship was replaced with PBL activities. Simulated cases were developed and presented to students who, with the aid of faculty facilitators, studied the cases, gathered information about the cases, and developed diagnostic and management plans for the cases. The outcome of the intervention was measured by a) comparing students' scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) family medicine clerkship examination to scores achieved by students in the year before PBL was introduced and b) students' evaluations of the relevance and success of PBL in the clerkship curriculum. Results Students' NBME clerkship examination scores increased from a mean of 66 the year before PBL began to 73 after PBL was implemented. More than 80% of students reported that PBL was a good way to learn family medicine, and 85% reported that the PBL technique provided sufficient information to formulate learning issues. Conclusions PBL can be introduced into a third-year family medicine clerkship curriculum with general acceptance by students. Students rated the technique highly, and their examination scores improved.
Epidemiological Studies On The Relationship Between Semen Quality And Environmental Chemicals: Historic And Contemporary Compounds

Recent reports of downward trends in semen quality and increased rates of developmental urogenital tract anomalies and testicular cancer have raised both scientific and public concern about the potential risk of environmental chemicals to male reproductive health. Of particular concern is whether some contemporary use environmental chemicals alter semen quality. Semen quality refers to both conventional measures, such as sperm concentration, motility and morphology, as well as sperm DNA integrity as assessed by bioassays. Specific toxicants of interest include phthalates and pesticides (primarily insecticides and herbicides), as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The human data on the relationship of semen quality with phthalate and pesticide exposure are limited and does not currently allow for a definitive conclusion on whether adult exposure, at background environmental levels, alters semen quality. However, the epidemiologic data support an inverse association of PCBs with reduced semen quality, specifically reduced sperm motility. The associations found were generally consistent across studies despite a range of PCB levels. In addition to the chemicals discussed in detail, there are additional classes of chemicals that require further study as to their relation with human semen quality. These chemicals include alkylphenols, such as 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A and the fluorinated organic compounds.
The Role of Infection in Atherosclerosis and in Plaque Stability

The concept that infection may trigger the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis has been the subject of much debate, which continues to the present time. The potential contribution of infection to plaque rupture is also the subject of controversy. Here we provide an overview of this continuing controversy, and present the mechanisms through which infection may alter disease progression and lesion stability.
Liposomal bupivacaine in minimally invasive thoracic surgery: something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

In the last decade, incorporation of minimally invasive approaches for a vast array of thoracic procedures has improved perioperative patient outcomes, however adequate postoperative pain control for thoracic patients remains a challenge. Inadequate pain control may result in adverse sequelae such as hypoventilation, retained secretions, respiratory failure, decreased mobility, and prolonged hospital stay (1). There is ample evidence in the literature of the effect these adverse events can have on postoperative morbidity and mortality.
E4orf1 protein reduces the need for endogenous insulin

E4orf1 protein derived from adenovirus-36 reduces glucose excursion in mice, and lowers endogenous insulin response, suggesting a reduced need for insulin. We tested if the E4orf1-mediated lowering of insulin response is due to increased tissue sensitivity to insulin, reduced ability to produce or release insulin, or a reduced need for insulin release. Experiment 1: hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamps (HEC) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) were performed in high fat fed transgenic mice expressing E4orf1 or non-transgenic littermates (n = 12 each), for 4 weeks. Experiments 2, 3, and 4: E4orf1 or null vectors were expressed in rat-pancreatic β-cell line (INS-1) for 72 h, and cells were exposed to varying levels of glucose. Cell lysates and media were collected. Experiment 5: 3T3L1-preadipocytes that express E4orf1 upon doxycycline induction, or null vector were induced with doxycycline and then exposed to protein transport inhibitor. Supernatant and cell lysate were collected. Experiment 6: 3T3L1-preadipocytes that express E4orf1 upon doxycycline induction, or null vector were co-cultured with INS-1 cells for 24 h. Media was collected. Experiment 1: E4orf1 transgenic mice cleared glucose faster compared to non-transgenic mice during GTT. HEC showed that E4orf1 did not alter tissue sensitivity to exogenous insulin in mice. Experiments 2, 3, and 4: in INS1 cells, E4orf1 did not alter Glut2 abundance or Akt activation, suggesting no reduction in glucose sensing or insulin synthesis, respectively. E4orf1 did not influence glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in media by INS1 cells. Experiment 5: E4orf1 was present in cell lysate, but not in media, indicating it is not a secretory protein. Experiment 6: INS1 cells released less insulin in media when co-cultured in the presence of E4orf1-expressing 3T3-L1 cells. Our studies support the working hypothesis that the E4orf1-mediated lowering of insulin response is not due to increased tissue sensitivity to insulin, or reduced ability to produce or release insulin, but likely to be due to a reduced need for insulin release.
Artificial Wombs, Birth, and "Birth": A Response to Romanis

Recently, I argued that human subjects in artificial wombs (AWs) 'share the same moral status as newborns' and so, deserve the same treatment and protections as newborns. This thesis rests on two claims: (A) subjects of partial ectogenesis-those that develop in utero for at time before being transferred to AWs-are newborns and (B) subjects of complete ectogenesis-those who develop in AWs entirely-share the same moral status as newborns. In response, Elizabeth Chloe Romanis argued that the subject in an AW is 'a unique human entity…rather than a fetus or a newborn'. She provides four lines of response to my essay. First, she argues that I have 'misconstrued' what birth is. Once we correct that error, it becomes clear that subjects of partial ectogenesis have not been born. Second, she argues that my claims imply that non-implanted embryos (existing in vivo) 'would also be "born"'. But that is absurd. Third, she claims I fail to 'meaningfully respond' to distinctions she draws between subjects of ectogenesis and neonates. Finally, she criticises my essay for focusing on subjects of AWs rather than focusing on pregnant persons (who should be at the 'centre' of debates over AWs). I respond to each of these charges. In doing so, I reaffirm that (contra Romanis) some subjects of ectogenesis are newborns and all subjects of ectogenesis-even those that have not been born-share the same moral status as newborns.
Engineering, markets, and human behavior: an essential integration for decisions toward sustainability

The environmental impact of an engineered system depends on factors such as economic policies, efficiency of the technology, and the extent to which it is used in society. Methods for making decisions toward sustainability certainly account for technological aspects such as efficiency, but have been lacking in accounting for the broader economic implications such as the effect of markets and human behavior. These shortcomings can result in perverse outcomes: improvement in efficiency may increase environmental impact by encouraging greater consumption. Recent advances in sustainability assessment include methods that range from ignoring the economy to considering price changes and elasticity effects. Methods for sustainable process design are accounting for the macroeconomy by extending the process-to-planet framework to include partial and general equilibrium models of the economy. Such methods are needed to account for the role of the economy and society in determining the impact and sustainability of engineered systems.
Temporal progression of Drosophila medulla neuroblasts generates the transcription factor combination to control T1 neuron morphogenesis

Proper neural function depends on the correct specification of individual neural fates, controlled by combinations of neuronal transcription factors. Different neural types are sequentially generated by neural progenitors in a defined order, and this temporal patterning process can be controlled by Temporal Transcription Factors (TTFs) that form temporal cascades in neural progenitors. The Drosophila medulla, part of the visual processing center of the brain, contains more than 70 neural types generated by medulla neuroblasts which sequentially express several TTFs, including Homothorax (Hth), eyeless (Ey), Sloppy paired 1 and 2 (Slp), Dichaete (D) and Tailless (Tll). However, it is not clear how such a small number of TTFs could give rise to diverse combinations of neuronal transcription factors that specify a large number of medulla neuron types. Here we report how temporal patterning specifies one neural type, the T1 neuron. We show that the T1 neuron is the only medulla neuron type that expresses the combination of three transcription factors Ocelliless (Oc or Otd), Sox102F and Ets65A. Using CRISPR-Cas9 system, we show that each transcription factor is required for the correct morphogenesis of T1 neurons. Interestingly, Oc, Sox102F and Ets65A initiate expression in neurons beginning at different temporal stages and last in a few subsequent temporal stages. Oc expressing neurons are generated in the Ey, Slp and D stages; Sox102F expressing neurons are produced in the Slp and D stages; while Ets65A is expressed in subsets of medulla neurons born in the D and later stages. The TTF Ey, Slp or D is required to initiate the expression of Oc, Sox102F or Ets65A in neurons, respectively. Thus, the neurons expressing all three transcription factors are born in the D stage and become T1 neurons. In neurons where the three transcription factors do not overlap, each of the three transcription factors can act in combination with other neuronal transcription factors to specify different neural fates. We show that this way of expression regulation of neuronal transcription factors by temporal patterning can generate more possible combinations of transcription factors in neural progeny to diversify neural fates.
Surgical treatment on subvalvular aortic stenosis in children

Objective To study the results of surgical treatment on subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) in children.Methods 22 cases of SAS were included from January 1990 to December 2010.There were 15 males and 7 females.The age range was from 8 months to 15 years (mean 5.93 ± 3.90years),and the follow-up period ranged from 1 month to 13.5 years (mean 7.30 ± 5.60 years).Overall,simple SAS were seen in 5 cases,while the others had other associated cardiac malformations:ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 16 cases,dual-chamber right ventricle in 2 cases,patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 2 cases.All children underwent surgical treatment.Simple annular diaphragm-like stenosis or muscle resection were done in 18 cases; left ventricular hypertrophy myocardial resection done in 3 cases; 1 patient with PDA had ligation first,and followed by surgical resection of simple diaphragm-like stenosis after 6 years.Results Successful surgery was carried out in all.19 patients were cured (86.36％ ) with recurrence seen in 3 cases ( 13.64％ ).There was no surgical mortality.Post-operative echocardiography showed no systolic pressure gradient from left ventricle to aorta in the successful cases.For the 3 cases of recurrence,they were followed up for 4 years,10 years,12 years,respectively.Conclusions The key to successful surgical treatment on subvalvular aortic stenosis in children is complete removing of the stenosis of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction,and to avoid damage to the mitral valve,aortic valve and conduction bundle.Incomplete removal of stenosis and postoperative local tissue overgrowth may be important factors in SAS recurrence. Key words: Heart disease,congenital; Subvalvular aortic stenosis; Cardiac surgical procedures
Advancements in Space Safety: An Assessment of Safety Management System Theory (SMST) Attributes among Commercial Space Organizations and CFR Part 121 Airlines

Abstract Advances in the commercial space industry have highlighted the safety hazards and associated risk inherent in commercial space operations in the United States. The National Transportation Board (NTSB) recommended the implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS) into commercial space service provision as part of its accident investigation report on the Scaled Composite fatal event in 2014. An exploratory, sequential, mixed-method approach was used to assess the perceptions of SMS theory (SMST) among respondents from commercial space organizations without SMS and Part 121 commercial airlines with SMS. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) approach was used to assess the strength of relationships between SMST and its four underlying factors (safety policy, safety risk, safety assurance and safety promotion). The underlying scales had strong loadings (β ≥ 0.80) with acceptable construct validity. A measurement model of SMST had good fit and provides a tool for assessing SMST attributes in both the commercial space industry and commercial airlines. Generally, there was an acceptable understanding of the attributes of SMS theory by both groups of respondents. Findings suggest that commercial space respondents may be predisposed to accept SMST attributes. There was a significant difference among the two groups on safety assurance, with the airline respondents having a better perception (M = 5.9) as compared to space respondents (M = 5.1). This finding suggests that safety assurance elements require more emphasis in the commercial space industry. The study provides a viable model for assessing SMST attributes in commercial space operations to ensure continuous monitoring and improvements in safety management.
20th Century Chinese Migration to Italy: The Chinese Diaspora Presence within European International Migration

International migration is changing the face of Europe, and the rapidly growing presence of the Chinese diaspora in Italy illustrates how longstanding migratory patterns are subject to global socioeconomic changes. Both Italy and China are traditionally points of emigration, but today, there is a unique juncture in the historical experience whereupon one community, the Italians, has become host to the other, the Chinese. Italy, with its promise of new or underdeveloped economic niches and relatively lax immigration policies, has served as a particular draw for Chinese migrants over the last two decades. The following article seeks to present a clearer picture of 20th century Chinese migration to Italy. First, I will establish the present state of immigration in Italy followed by an overview of contemporary Chinese migration to Italy. Second, I will consider the Zhejiangese migration to Europe, including Italy, and the motivations behind these global movements. Third, I will examine the traces of historical influence on the livelihoods of the Chinese residing in Italy today. The development of the Chinese community in Italy touches upon the need to learn from the past as Italy, and Europe, determines how to administer to and integrate the newest members of its society.
Abstract 893: Metabolomic profiling of APCΔ14/+ mice maintained on a methyl donor deficient diet reveals alterations to methionine and fatty acid metabolism associated with cancer protection

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that administration of a diet deficient in methyl donor nutrients (folic acid, methionine, choline and vitamin B12) reduces tumor multiplicity by greater than 95% in ApcMin/+ mice. However, the mechanism by which this dramatic cancer protection is afforded is unknown. To begin to identify the metabolic consequences of methyl donor deficiency, we have conducted an LC/MS-based metabolic profiling analysis of colonic mucosa collected from ApcΔ14/+ mice fed a methyl donor deficient (MDD) diet for 17 weeks. Methyl donor deficiency causes significant alterations to a number of key metabolic pathways, including those involved in the methionine cycle, fatty acid oxidation, and tryptophan catabolism. We observed significant reductions in methionine (65% reduction, p<0.001) and betaine (70% reduction, p<0.001), accompanied by large increases in homocysteine (88.6-fold increase, p<0.001) and S-adenosylmethionine (17.2-fold increase, p<0.001), confirming that dietary methyl donor deficiency alters one-carbon metabolites in the colon. MDD mice were found to have reduced levels of acyl-carnitines and free carnitine (58% reduction, p<0.001). Additionally, we detected a reduction in the critical metabolic component, acetyl CoA, suggesting decreased transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria for use in fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Finally, we observed changes in the mucosal levels of tryptophan (32% reduction, p = 0.02), kynurenine (2.8-fold increase, p = 0.008) and indolepropionate (5.1-fold increase, p = 0.005), that were retained for seven weeks beyond active methyl donor deficiency. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary methyl donor deficiency significantly disrupts the methionine cycle, inhibits fatty acid transport and oxidation, and may induce long-term changes to tryptophan metabolism. This study has improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the cancer protection conveyed by dietary methyl donor deficiency and has identified metabolic pathways that are candidate targets for chemopreventive intervention. Citation Format: Matthew P. Hanley, Daniel W. Rosenberg. Metabolomic profiling of APCΔ14/+ mice maintained on a methyl donor deficient diet reveals alterations to methionine and fatty acid metabolism associated with cancer protection. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 893. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-893
Developing a Better Method of Tag Attachment for Cetaceans

Abstract : The overall goal of this project was to develop and test several novel methods of tag attachment for cetaceans. The primary goal was to increase the duration of tag attachment while limiting the detrimental effects of placing an anchoring device in or on the animals. We proposed to develop and test several novel approaches for attaching instruments to marine mammals, especially large whales. Long-term attachment requires a firm and biocompatible anchor into the animal that causes the least amount of injury and infection and resists the tendency for rejection. The type of tag used is dependent on the required duration of the attachment, thus a noninvasive suction cup attachment might be used for short-term attachments (e.g., hours to a day), whereas an implanted tag that is invasive might be used for attachments intended to last months or years. We proposed a prong with lateral movement (called an anchoring wing) after tag penetration that would be more effective as a deterrent to rejection. The combination of a more secure anchor and a smaller tag will increase the longevity of the tag deployment. We also proposed to develop and test minor modifications to suction-cup attachments (i.e., post with barb) that will increase the duration of the attachment of instruments via suction cups. Finally, we proposed a barb attachment with an external tag that would minimize the implantable portion of the tag while allowing prolonged attachment (e.g., 1 to 4 weeks) beyond that afforded by suction-cup attachments (0 to 2 days). These attachment types would be designed, bench tested, and subsequently tested on stranded cetacean carcasses. Future funding will allow for these various attachment techniques to be tested on free-ranging animals.
OBDD-based universal planning: specifying and solving planning problems for synchronized agents in non-deterministic domains

Recently model checking representation and search techniques were shown to be efficiently applicable to planning, in particular to non-deterministic planning. Such planning approaches use Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (OBDDS) to encode a planning domain as a non-deterministic finite automaton (NFA) and then apply fast algorithms from model checking to search for a solution. OBDDS can effectively scale and can provide universal plans for complex planning domains. We are particularly interested in addressing the complexities arising in non-deterministic, multi-agent domains. In this chapter, we present UMOP,1 a new universal OBDD-based planning framework for non-deterministic, multi-agent domains, which is also applicable to deterministic singleagent domains as a special case. We introduce a new planning domain description language, NADL,2 to specify non-deterministic multi-agent domains. The language contributes the explicit definition of controllable agents and uncontrollable environment agents. We describe the syntax and semantics of NADL and show how to build an efficient OBDD-based representation of an NADL description. The UMOP planning system uses NADL and different OBDD-based universal planning algorithms. It includes the previously developed strong and strong cyclic planning algorithms [9,10]. In addition, we introduce our new optimistic planning algorithm, which relaxes optimality guarantees and generates plausible universal plans in some domains where no strong or strong cyclic solution exist. We present empirical results from domains ranging from deterministic and single-agent with no environment actions to nondeterministic and multi-agent with complex environment actions. UMOP is shown to be a rich and efficient planning system.