cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scanning High-Efficiency Air Filters for Leaks Using Particle Counting Methods

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and ultra low penetration air (ULPA) filters such as those used in cleanrooms and clean benches are frequently scanned or probed for leaks. Increasingly, particle detectors that count individual particles are used to scan filters. The equations that govern the scanning of high-efficiency filters with particle counters have been derived. The assumptions that bound the applicability of the equations are stated. The relationships provide the means to determine the appropriate linear scan rate and to understand the effect of the test parameters on the duration and accuracy of the test. The linear scan rate is derived in terms of a leak flow rate but a method is presented to relate the leak flow to the traditional leak penetration. Further, a method is described to standardize the definition of leak penetration to eliminate the dependence of measured leak penctration on the instrument used to measure it. The linear scan rate is shown to depend on the number of par...
Responsibility and the shallow self

Contemporary philosophers of moral responsibility are in widespread agreement that we can only be blamed for actions that express, reflect, or disclose something about us or the quality of our wills. In this paper I reject that thesis and argue that self disclosure is not a necessary condition on moral responsibility and blameworthiness: reactive responses ranging from aretaic appraisals all the way to outbursts of anger and resentment can be morally justified even when the blamed agent’s action expresses or discloses nothing significant about his or her “deep self,” judgments and cares, or the quality of his or her will. I argue that the self-disclosure requirement on responsibility overestimates the extent to which our blaming practices and responsibility judgments are responsive to agents as opposed to actions, and that this mistake has the potential to distort both our reactive responses and our understanding of blamed agents’ characters.
Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome.

Only three biochemical tests — urinary free cortisol, plasma corticotropin, and plasma cortisol measurements — are needed to distinguish patients with Cushing’s syndrome from those with obesity or the metabolic syndrome.
Recursive Partitioning Methods for Data Imputation in the Context of Item Response Theory: A Monte Carlo Simulation

Missing data is a common problem faced by psychometricians and measurement professionals. To address this issue, there are a number of techniques that have been proposed to handle missing data regarding Item Response Theory. These methods include several types of data imputation methods - corrected item mean substitution imputation, response function imputation, multiple imputation, and the EM algorithm, as well as approaches that do not rely on the imputation of missing values - treating the item as not presented, coding missing responses as incorrect, or as fractionally correct. Of these methods, even though multiple imputation has demonstrated the best performance in prior research, higher MAE was still present. Given this higher model parameter estimation MAE for even the best performing missing data methods, this simulation study’s goal was to explore the performance of a set of potentially promising data imputation methods based on recursive partitioning. Results of this study demonstrated that approaches that combine multivariate imputation by chained equations and recursive partitioning algorithms yield data with relatively low estimation MAE for both item difficulty and item discrimination. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Learning from our mothers: examining the role of intergenerational knowledge transfer in advancing gender equity among Sri Lankan youth

Abstract Background In a 2013 survey, over half of Sri Lankan men and women expressed gender-inequitable attitudes that equated masculinity with violence, and femininity with obedience to men. High rates of gender-inequitable attitudes are a community-level risk factor for gender-based violence including rape and intimate partner violence. In Sri Lanka, public health practitioners focused on reducing the health disparities resulting from gender inequity need to better understand the processes by which gender-inequitable attitudes develop and how to prevent them. The goal of this research was to identify potential points of intervention at which appropriate programmes and policies could most effectively cultivate gender-equitable attitudes among young people in Sri Lanka. Methods Over 9 months in 2016 and 2017, we interviewed more than 30 young adults in Sri Lanka to understand how their experiences helped them to develop their own gender identity, as well as to understand and respond to gender norms. Their responses were analysed using a grounded theory approach to explore which factors have most influenced the processes of gender norm learning, acceptance, or rejection throughout Sri Lankan young adults' lives. Findings Many interviews focused on the impact of elder family members on the interviewee's perception and acceptance of gender norms. Many young adults who did not agree with gender-inequitable norms reported receiving advice from their parents or other elder relatives to disregard norms and pursue their own non-conforming interests. In one example, many non-working mothers insisted on their daughters working and becoming financially independent. Interpretation Young people in Sri Lanka are repeatedly confronted by gender-inequitable attitudes in school, the media, politics, and society at large. However, family members can support youth to develop gender equitable attitudes and behaviours within this gender-inequitable society. Harnessing elders' positive wishes for their offspring's future may prove essential to advancing gender equity in the next generation of Sri Lankan adults. Even from gender-inequitable roles, parents may still support gender equity, and could be encouraged through public health interventions to support their children in realising their full potential. Elder family members are an untapped public health resource for advancing gender equity and reducing its related health disparities among Sri Lankan youth. Funding 2016 Fulbright US Student Grant.
The extremists across the aisle: selective exposure and evaluations of presidential candidate extremity

The consensus of most scholars is that the United States is significantly polarized across lines of partisanship, ideology, beliefs, and values. This polarization also extends to media use through ...
An Ethical and Legal Analysis of Ovascience - A Publicly Traded Fertility Company and its Lead Product AUGMENT.

In May 2015, the first baby created through an emerging ova technology called AUGMENT, was born in Canada.1 Developed by OvaScience, AUGMENT essentially introduces mitochondria sourced from the genetic mother into her own ovum in order to revitalize the ovum.2 This technology is controversial because OvaScience is a publicly traded company, and it is driven by short-term results, such as earnings;3 and (2) OvaScience did not complete adequate clinical trials before offering AUGMENT to the public.4 Moreover, in its 2014 annual report, OvaScience declared that it was intentionally offering its products in countries where clinical trials are not required.5 The lack of adequate clinical trials is the primary reason underlying the Food and Drug Administration's (“FDA”) prohibition of the technology in the United States.6 Finally, as of August 2018, OvaScience has shifted its research away from AUGMENT, and it only offers it through an “exclusive license to IVF Japan Group in Japan.”7
From Peacemaking to Peacebuilding Criminology

When thinking about crime, notions of deviance, delinquency, violence and moral turpitude most often come to mind. In somewhat more open-minded conceptions, crime may evoke critical questions of class and race, among other variables. In still more expansive spaces, crime may be evaluated through the lenses of exploitation of labor, maintenance of political power, and social control. From sociology to cinema studies, crime sometimes can be viewed in unvarnished dystopian terms—as the modality through which a society expresses the limits of its conscience and consciousness alike. Yet, in all of these critical interrogations, crime is rarely considered as a correlate of peace or an expression of justice. This article builds upon traditions in criminology that highlight the restorative, transformative, and peacemaking potentials inherent in constructions of crime and the processes used to address it, arguing for a proactive and constructive vision of peacebuilding that encompasses mechanisms for urgent implementation.
Mining for Christ: Eco-Justice in Contexts of Resource Extraction

This article discusses the social and ecological impacts of fracking for oil on religious communities in Western North Dakota. Attention is furthermore given to racial tensions between the settler and indigenous communities that have become pronounced within churches in relation to the repudiation of the discovery doctrine and the protests at the Standing Rock Reservation against the North Dakota Access Pipeline in the fall of 2016.
Peracetic acid fate and decomposition in poultry processing wastewater streams

Abstract Peracetic acid (PAA) has been increasingly used by the poultry processing industry. However, information related to the potential PAA carryover to and effect on biological treatment processes, commonly used in poultry processing wastewater treatment, is limited. The objectives of this work were to assess the fate of PAA in poultry processing wastewater streams, investigate dominant factors contributing to PAA decomposition, and identify major PAA decomposition products. PAA was detected in chiller overflow and in the dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit influent and effluent only at the end of the processing shift. The PAA decomposition rate correlated positively with pH, temperature, wastewater strength and organic content, and negatively with initial PAA concentration. PAA decomposition followed one-step (pH ≥ 6) or two-step (pH
Overview of imaging findings associated with systemic therapies in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

To provide an overview for radiologists of the systemic agents used in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and their associated toxicities. EOC is a common gynecological malignancy, with the majority of patients presenting with advanced stage disease at the time of diagnosis. Although primary cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy are the principal treatments for EOC, recurrence rates of disease remain high. As several molecular targeted therapies have been developed in the last decade, various novel agents have shown efficacy in the treatment of advanced EOC. Advanced EOC will be discussed by outlining the relevant radiological features of toxicities. Knowledge of the systemic therapies utilized in the treatment of advanced EOC and their associated radiological features is critical in diagnostic image interpretation.
Assessing non-aggressiveness of untreated, local and regional, papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract Objectives With a steadily increasing thyroid cancer incidence, information regarding cancer aggressiveness is essential to determine which patients may be suitable for active surveillance. This study assessed the extent of non-aggressiveness of untreated, local and regional stage, papillary thyroid cancer. Materials and methods We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry and included 1423 local stage and 337 regional stage papillary thyroid cancer cases. Thyroid cancer specific survival was estimated conditional on the absence of death due to competing causes using competing risk methods. Stratified analyses were done to determine non-aggressiveness among different patient and tumor characteristics. Results The overall rate of non-aggressiveness for local stage thyroid cancer was 99.34% (95% CI: 99.33–99.35%), with a rate of non-aggressiveness of 98.85% (95% CI: 98.77–98.93%) for males and 99.48% (95% CI: 99.46–99.49%) for females (p = 0.055). Rate of non-aggressiveness was significantly lower in patients >60 years compared to patients ≤60 years (p 20 mm had a significantly lower rate of non-aggressiveness (p = 0.002). The overall rate of non-aggressiveness for regional stage thyroid cancer was 72.58% (95% CI: 70.61–74.56%). Conclusion We found high rates of non-aggressiveness in untreated, local stage, papillary thyroid cancer, particularly in younger patients with small (≤2 cm) thyroid cancer, suggesting that these patients may be good candidates for active surveillance.
High-value care for senior medical students.

Background Physicians have an opportunity to address rising health care costs by optimising resource use. Recent research suggests that regional spending patterns influence student engagement with high- and low-value behaviours, revealing that these behaviours may be adopted early in training. The major curriculum for the internal medicine clinical experience does not address high-value care (HVC). At our institution, senior medical students in the subinternship of internal medicine have an increased responsibility in the development and implementation of patient management plans. Objective Our study aimed to determine whether a curriculum on HVC delivered to senior medical students would have a lasting impact on the students. Methods We implemented a curriculum in HVC for medical students and surveyed them before and after the curriculum as well as prior to graduation about their perceptions and engagement with HVC practices. Results We found a statistically significant increase in positive attitudes and reported perception of practice in senior medical students who received the curriculum; this was sustained prior to graduation. Conclusions Our study supports the notion that a curriculum in HVC can increase reported HVC practices. Further research should be carried out to assess the impact of efforts to teach medical students about limiting unnecessary care within our medical system.
Have restaurant firms been using right recession turnaround strategies?: Evaluating with propensity score measure

Abstract Among the diverse strategies that restaurants use in recessions, some studies have shown that strategies that increase advertising, profit margins, or asset turnover have yielded promising results in terms of firm performance. However, the success of these turnaround strategies might be due to the health or size of a firm rather than the implementation of these strategies. Therefore, this study empirically tested this question utilizing the propensity score measure (PSM) due to concerns with selection bias across restaurant segments. The results showed significant improvements in revenue for limited-service and franchise restaurants when aggressive advertising was used but no improvements in profitability. The profit margin strategy had no impact on revenue but affected profitability and stock returns positively for all segments. Finally, the asset turnover strategy had adverse effects on revenue the year after a recession for all segments. These mixed results suggest that managers need to be cautious when implementing recession turnaround strategies.
Predictors of intentions to conserve bats among New York property owners

Understanding why private property owners take actions to conserve bats has become increasingly important in U.S. states where the fungus causing white-nose syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) has decimated bat populations. We surveyed property owners in three New York State counties (n = 2,500) and used multiple linear regression analyses to test predictors of intentions to conserve bats. Intentions to take actions that contribute to bat conservation directly were predicted by severity of rabies consequences, sense of bat conservation self efficacy, beliefs about responsibility for bat conservation, and attitudes toward bats (R² =.39). Intentions to take actions that conserve bats indirectly were predicted by biospheric value orientations, beliefs about responsibility for bat conservation, and attitudes toward bats (R² =.27). The relationship between beliefs about rabies and intentions to take actions that contribute to bat conservation highlights the need for coordinated risk communication between public health and wildlife conservation organizations.
High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in COVID-19: Using the ROX Index to Predict Success.

BACKGROUND: Optimal timing of mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 is uncertain. We sought to evaluate outcomes of delayed intubation and examine the ROX index (ie, [ S pO 2 /F IO 2 ]/breathing frequency) to predict weaning from high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study of subjects with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 and managed with HFNC. The ROX index was applied to predict HFNC success. Subjects that failed HFNC were divided into early HFNC failure (≤ 48 h of HFNC therapy prior to mechanical ventilation) and late failure (> 48 h). Standard statistical comparisons and regression analyses were used to compare overall hospital mortality and secondary end points, including time-specific mortality, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and ICU length of stay between early and late failure groups. RESULTS: 272 subjects with COVID-19 were managed with HFNC. One hundred sixty-four (60.3%) were successfully weaned from HFNC, and 111 (67.7%) of those weaned were managed solely in non-ICU settings. ROX index >3.0 at 2, 6, and 12 hours after initiation of HFNC was 85.3% sensitive for identifying subsequent HFNC success. One hundred eight subjects were intubated for failure of HFNC (61 early failures and 47 late failures). Mortality after HFNC failure was high (45.4%). There was no statistical difference in hospital mortality (39.3% vs 53.2%, P = .18) or any of the secondary end points between early and late HFNC failure groups. This remained true even when adjusted for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective review, HFNC was a viable strategy and mechanical ventilation was unecessary in the majority of subjects. In the minority that progressed to mechanical ventilation, duration of HFNC did not differentiate subjects with worse clinical outcomes. The ROX index was sensitive for the identification of subjects successfully weaned from HFNC. Prospective studies in COVID-19 are warranted to confirm these findings and to optimize patient selection for use of HFNC in this disease.
Myelin development in cerebral gray and white matter during adolescence and late childhood.

Abstract Myelin development during adolescence is becoming an area of growing interest in view of its potential relationship to cognition, behavior, and learning. While recent investigations suggest that both white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) undergo protracted myelination during adolescence, quantitative relations between myelin development in WM and GM have not been previously studied. We quantitatively characterized the dependence of cortical GM, WM, and subcortical myelin density across the brain on age, gender, and puberty status during adolescence with the use of a novel macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) mapping method. Whole-brain MPF maps from a cross-sectional sample of 146 adolescents (age range 9–17 years) were collected. Myelin density was calculated from MPF values in GM and WM of all brain lobes, as well as in subcortical structures. In general, myelination of cortical GM was widespread and more significantly correlated with age than that of WM. Myelination of GM in the parietal lobe was found to have a significantly stronger age dependence than that of GM in the frontal, occipital, temporal and insular lobes. Myelination of WM in the temporal lobe had the strongest association with age as compared to WM in other lobes. Myelin density was found to be higher in males as compared to females when averaged across all cortical lobes, as well as in a bilateral subcortical region. Puberty stage was significantly correlated with myelin density in several cortical areas and in the subcortical GM. These findings point to significant differences in the trajectories of myelination of GM and WM across brain regions and suggest that cortical GM myelination plays a dominant role during adolescent development.
Effectiveness of HPV vaccine by age at vaccination and number of doses: protocol for a population-based matched case-control study.

Introduction In 2006, the first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA based on pre-licensure clinical trials that found it to be highly efficacious at preventing persistent infection and precancerous, high-grade cervical lesions (HGCLs) caused by viral types the vaccine protects against. However, the real-world effectiveness of HPV vaccines as used in clinical practice may be quite different from the efficacy found in pre-licensure clinical trials. More than 10 years have passed since the introduction of the vaccine programme. It is critical to determine if the full benefits of HPV are being realised in real-world settings. Methods and analysis The objectives of this study were to estimate the effectiveness of HPV vaccines as used in real-world clinical settings and to determine the degree to which the vaccine’s effectiveness varies based on age at the time of immunisation and the number of doses received. The study will be a population-based, matched case–control study. Cases will be women with newly diagnosed HGCL associated with HPV types 16 and 18. Matched controls will be women with a normal Pap test result, matched individually to cases in a 2:1 ratio by age, a practice and date of testing. Medical records will be reviewed to determine dates of receipt of the HPV vaccine for all participants. We will use multivariate conditional logistic regression to control for potential confounders. Ethics and dissemination This protocol presents minimal risk to the subjects. This protocol has received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Yale University (HIC: 1502015308), and a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Waiver of Authorisation has been granted to allow investigators to recruit subjects for the study. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journals and conference presentations.
fNIRS Based Multi-Class Mental Workload Classification Using Recurrence Plots and CNN-LSTM

The ever-increasing human-machine interaction and advancement in socio-technical systems have made it essential to analyze the vital human factors such as mental workload, vigilance, fatigue, stress, etc., via monitoring brain states. Similarly, brain signals are becoming paramount for rehabilitation and assistive purposes in fields such as brain- computer interface (BCI), closed-loop neuromodulation for neurological disorders, etc. The complex, non-stationary, and very low signal-to-noise ratio of brain signals poses a significant challenge for researchers to design robust and reliable BCI systems outside the laboratory environment. In this study, we present novel recurrence plots (RPs) based on convolutional neural network and long short term memory (CNN-LSTM) algorithm for four class functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) BCI. The acquired brain signals are projected into a non-linear dimension with RPs and fed into the CNN, which extracts the important features. Then LSTM learns the chronological and time-dependent relations. The average accuracy achieved with the proposed model is 77.7%, while the maximum accuracy is 85.9%. The results confirm the viability of RPs based deep learning algorithms for successful BCI systems.
Ileoanal Anastomosis with Ileal Reservoir Following Total Colectomy and Mucosal Proctectomy

This combination of operations will certainly accomplish complete removal of the diseased colonic mucosa. The threat that carcinoma may develop postoperatively in the colon is eliminated at the cost of removing all of the colon and rectum. The patient must live henceforth with a permanent ileostomy. Although many patients may make a good adjustment ileostomy to life with a permanent ileostomy, the ileostomy does engender late surgical and psychosocial complications.
Methods and Approximations for Strongly Coupled Plasmas

Strongly coupled plasmas are certainly not unique amongst physical systems in the sense of being characterized by a substantial or even overwhelming portion of their energy residing in the form of potential energy. Even if solids are excluded, there are many dense gases and liquids for which such a condition prevails. However, there exist certain features, which do set the strongly coupled plasma problem apart from the rest of the field of dense liquids and other strongly coupled many body systems. First is the long-range character of the coulomb interaction. This feature has been the focal point of attention since the early days that mark the beginning of the investigation of coulomb systems, and plasmas. It is known to be responsible for many unique patterns, both of the physical behavior of such systems, and of the mathematical problems that arise in their treatments (Dr. Baus’ lectures [Baus, this Volume] discuss some of these features.) Second, the coulomb potential - in contrast to most of the potentials governing the interaction of neutral fluids - has a simple and well-defined analytic structure. It is probably this, more than any other, feature that motivates the difference in methodology in attacking the problems of plasmas and neutral gases and liquids.
The Doctrine of Good Faith in Contract Law: A (Nearly) Empty Vessel?

Empty Vessel explores both the positive and normative questions of what the contractually implied obligation of good faith does and should require of contracting parties. The Article attempts to assess and evaluate the ways in which courts are currently employing the good faith doctrine in contract disputes, as part of a larger project whose goal is to re-conceive and reinvigorate the private law doctrine of good faith as one that might assist in effecting the public law norm of equality. Empty Vessel identifies two dominant theoretical approaches to how to define good faith, which I refer to as the fairness (or, Restatement) and the economic (or, foregone-opportunities) approaches. Further, it argues that, to the extent courts have applied and/or referenced the economic and/or fairness models of good faith in their decisions, they have rendered the two approaches operationally and functionally indistinguishable by employing both approaches as analytical proxies for material breach. Empty Vessel is divided into three parts. Part I explains the good faith doctrine, and explores in some depth the theoretical differences between the fairness and economic approaches to good faith. By examining exemplary good faith decisions in the contexts of "vanilla" commercial contracting, commercial lending, contractor cases, and commercial real estate leasing, Part II argues that contemporary courts employ the good faith doctrine not as a truly implied contractual obligation, but as a rhetorical framework for analyzing underlying issues of what constitutes material breach. In conclusion, Empty Vessel argues that the good faith doctrine might be given new life in two different ways: first, vis-a-vis its applicability to bad faith conduct in contract formation and negotiation (presently the obligation applies only to the performance and termination of contract); and, second, with respect to performance and termination, vis-a-vis it's applicability in the employment context. While the scholarship relating to the former is quite rich, that relating to the latter remains relatively unexplored. As a result, I explore in other articles how good faith might be used in the employment context to remedy presently non-cognizable forms of discrimination.
La constelación freudiana y el tiempo del consumo

Psychoanalysis arises in the context of the crisis of the liberal subject: the transition from the culture of production to the culture of consumption. The time of progress (production) comes hand in hand with a new model of time: the instant (repetition), and the time of the unconscious (desire). The biographical task is demanded as a moral duty. This paper examines the antecedents of this Freudian constellation: Nietzsche, for example, talks about fashion.
A Comparative Study of Seven Segment Numerics

Two studies are reported. In the first study, reading seven segment numerics (SN) was shown to be more difficult than reading of conventional numerics (CN) under short viewing times. Errors in reading SN were idiosyncratic to certain numbers; however, the numbers erroneously reported are predictable. In the second study, training was shown to be effective in overcoming difficulties in reading SN, but without opportunity for continued exposure to SN, acquired skills may be reduced significantly after one month. It was concluded that where time is not critical, SN readability is comparable to CN, but in situations where time is critical, periodic SN training should be employed to preclude readability problems.
Demand response impacts on off-grid hybrid photovoltaic-diesel generator microgrids

Hybrid microgrids consisting of diesel generator set(s) and converter based power sources, such as solar photovoltaic or wind sources, offer an alternative to generator based off-grid power systems. The hybrid approach has been shown to be economical in many off-grid applications and can result in reduced generator operation, fuel requirements, and maintenance. However, the intermittent nature of demand and renewable energy sources typically require energy storage, such as batteries, to properly operate the hybrid microgrid. These batteries increase the system cost, require proper operation and maintenance, and have been shown to be unreliable in case studies on hybrid microgrids. This work examines the impacts of leveraging demand response in a hybrid microgrid in lieu of energy storage. The study is performed by simulating two different hybrid diesel generator—PV microgrid topologies, one with a single diesel generator and one with multiple paralleled diesel generators, for a small residential neighborhood with varying levels of demand response. Various system designs are considered and the optimal design, based on cost of energy, is presented for each level of demand response. The solar resources, performance of solar PV source, performance of diesel generators, costs of system components, maintenance, and operation are modeled and simulated at a time interval of ten minutes over a twenty-five year period for both microgrid topologies. Results are quantified through cost of energy, diesel fuel requirements, and utilization of the energy sources under varying levels of demand response. The results indicate that a moderate level of demand response can have significant positive impacts to the operation of hybrid microgrids through reduced energy cost, fuel consumption, and increased utilization of PV sources.
Cyclical Parthenogenesis and Viviparity in Aphids as Evolutionary Novelties

Evolutionary novelties represent challenges to biologists, particularly those who would like to understand the developmental and genetic changes responsible for their appearance. Most modern aphids possess two apparent evolutionary novelties: cyclical parthenogenesis (a life cycle with both sexual and asexual phases) and viviparity (internal development and live birth of progeny) in their asexual phase. Here I discuss the evolution of these apparent novelties from a developmental standpoint. Although a full understanding of the evolution of cyclical parthenogenesis and viviparity in aphids can seem a daunting task, these complex transitions can at least be broken down into a handful of steps. I argue that these should include the following: a differentiation of two developmentally distinct oocytes; de novo synthesis of centrosomes and modification of meiosis during asexual oogenesis; a loss or bypass of any cell cycle arrest and changes in key developmental events during viviparous oogenesis; and a change in how mothers specify the sexual vs. asexual fates of their progeny. Grappling with the nature of such steps and the order in which they occurred ought to increase our understanding and reduce the apparent novelty of complex evolutionary transitions.
Assessing Political Dynamics in Contemporary Malaysia: Implications for Democratic Change

This article examines political dynamics in Malaysia and assesses the prospects for change in the direction of greater political liberalization. It focuses on the 12th General Election of 2008 and its implications for opportunities and challenges for liberal democratic change in Malaysia. It discusses the role of the internet-based new media in shaping an emerging public sphere, and some factors affecting the changing role of non-Malay voters in the political process. This article argues that democratization in Malaysia is already occurring, albeit at a gradual pace; it is being pushed by the new political forces of civil society actors, newly empowered opposition parties, and the internet-based media. The boundaries of this emerging democratic space is simultaneously being shaped and contested by the political competition between status-quo and reformist forces in this society. Some institutional changes have expanded the parameters of democratic space, although the entrenched dominant institutions of the ruling regime continue to wield sufficient amounts of institutional capacity to subvert any consolidation of these democratic changes for now.
Gas chromatographic method of moisture determination.

The acid-catalyzed reaction between 2,2-dimethoxypropane (DMP) and water to form acetone and methanol was investigated to determine the applicability of the reaction in the quantitative determination of water by gas chromatography. An 8-ft. column packed with 30 per cent Theed (tetrahydroxyethyl ethylenediamine) was found to give a satisfactory separation of the DMP and the reaction products, acetone and methanol. An equation relating the heights of the peaks observed on the chromatogram to the moisture content of the sample was derived. The accuracy of the method was determined using samples of known water content, and a comparative study using the Karl Fischer titrimetric method was performed. The gas chromatographic method gave better accuracy and precision than the Karl Fischer method. The method was applied to two common solvents, and a general procedure for moisture determination was developed.
Frequent marijuana use is associated with greater nicotine addiction in adolescent smokers

Abstract Background Marijuana and tobacco are the substances used most commonly by adolescents and co-occurring use is common. Use of one substance may potentiate the addictive properties of the other. The current study examined the severity of nicotine addiction among teen smokers as a function of co-occurring marijuana use. Methods Participants were 165 adolescents (13–17 years old) who reported smoking at least 1 cigarette per day (CPD) in the past 30 days. General linear models examined the association of marijuana use with multiple measures of nicotine addiction including the Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (mFTQ), Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC), ICD-10, and the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS). Results The adolescent sample (mean age = 16.1 years, SD = 0.95) averaged 3.0 CPD (SD = 3.0) for 1.98 years (SD = 1.5). Most (79.5%) also smoked marijuana in the past 30 days. In models controlling for age, daily smoking status, and years of tobacco smoking, frequency of marijuana use accounted for 25–44% of the variance for all four measures of adolescent nicotine dependence. Conclusions Marijuana use was associated with greater reported nicotine addiction among adolescent smokers. The findings suggest a role of marijuana in potentiating nicotine addiction and underscore the need for treatments that address both smoked substances.
Abstract 3530: Chemicals that stimulate iron uptake: a novel approach to cancer treatment

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Cancer cells have increased levels of transferrin receptor and lower levels of ferritin, an iron deficient phenotype that has led to the use of iron chelators to further deplete cells of iron to limit growth. Chelators have not proven, however, to be successful anti-cancer agents. As cancer cells also have increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) we hypothesized that a contrarian approach of enhancing iron entry would allow for further increased generation of ROS causing oxidative damage and cell death. Molecules that accelerate iron uptake were identified using high through-put screening of a reporter system of K562 cells loaded with the divalent metal chelator calcein whose fluorescence is quenched with chelation of Fe2+. A small molecule library consisting of ∼11,000 compounds was screened and a class of compounds identified that stimulated iron-induced quenching of calcein fluorescence. The stimulation was verified by dose-dependent 55Fe uptake in various cancer cell lines. The lead compound LS081 exhibited an IC50 = 1.22 ± 0.48 μM and also increased the uptake of Fe from transferrin (Tf). LS081 decreased PC-3 cell growth in the presence of Fe2+ by 64 ± 8% compared to 14 ± 1% decrease with LS081 alone (mean decrease ± SEM, n = 3) with minimal effects on the immortalized, non-malignant prostate cell line 267B1 cells. LS081 plus Fe increased DNA strand breaks and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase of PC-3 cells. In addition, LS081 markedly decreased HIF-1α and HIF-2α levels in the DU-145 prostate cancer and the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. LS081 also stimulated ROS production by nearly 3-fold and decreased clonogenicity by greater than 50% in PC-3 cells. In summary, we have developed a high through-put screening technique that identified small molecules that stimulate iron uptake both from ferri-Tf and non-Tf bound iron. These molecules have properties that suggest that these iron facilitator compounds may serve as anti-cancer agents. 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 3530. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3530
Diverse roles of SIRT1 in cancer biology and lipid metabolism.

SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, has been described in the literature as a major player in the regulation of cellular stress responses. Its expression has been shown to be altered in cancer cells, and it targets both histone and non-histone proteins for deacetylation and thereby alters metabolic programs in response to diverse physiological stress. Interestingly, many of the metabolic pathways that are influenced by SIRT1 are also altered in tumor development. Not only does SIRT1 have the potential to regulate oncogenic factors, it also orchestrates many aspects of metabolism and lipid regulation and recent reports are beginning to connect these areas. SIRT1 influences pathways that provide an alternative means of deriving energy (such as fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis) when a cell encounters nutritive stress, and can therefore lead to altered lipid metabolism in various pathophysiological contexts. This review helps to show the various connections between SIRT1 and major pathways in cellular metabolism and the consequence of SIRT1 deregulation on carcinogenesis and lipid metabolism.
A global interconnect reduction technique during high level synthesis

In this paper, we propose an interconnect binding algorithm during high-level synthesis for global interconnect reduction. Our scheme is based on the observation that not all functional units (FUs) operate at all the time. When idle, FUs can be reconfigured as pass-through logic for data transfer, reducing interconnect requirement. Our algorithm formulates the interconnect reduction problem as a modified min-cost max-flow problem. It not only reduces the overall length of global interconnects but also minimizes the power overhead without introducing any timing violations. Experimental results show that, for a suite of digital processing benchmark circuits, our algorithm reduces global interconnects by 8.5% on the average in comparison to previously proposed schemes [6, 8]. It further lowers the overall design power by 4.8%.
Cyberwarfare in the Korean Peninsula: Asymmetries and Strategic Responses

In this paper, we argue that the two Koreas’ intentions and actions on the cyber front point toward the possibility that they have engaged in cyber warfare against each other. From South Korea’s standpoint, a key concern has been North Korea’s advanced cyber warfare capabilities and alleged involvement of its substantial workforce in the Internet’s dark side activities. These issues need to be looked at the backdrop of the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. This paper draws principally upon theories and concepts from military strategy and warfare to examine the contexts, mechanisms, and processes associated with the cyber warfare in the Korean peninsula. We also compare the two Koreas in terms of various forms of asymmetries in cyber warfare and cyber attacks. Also highlighted in the paper are South Korea’s recent initiatives and actions to enhance cyber-offense and cyber-defense capabilities.
Orbifolding the twistor string

Abstract The D-instanton expansion of the topological B-model on the supermanifold CP ( 3 | 4 ) reproduces the perturbative expansion of N = 4 super-Yang–Mills theory. In this paper we consider orbifolds in the fermionic directions of CP ( 3 | 4 ) . This operation breaks the SU ( 4 ) R R-symmetry group, reducing the amount of supersymmetry of the gauge theory. As specific examples we take N = 1 and N = 2 orbifolds and obtain the corresponding superconformal quiver theories. We discuss the D1 instanton expansion in this context and explicitly compute some amplitudes.
Correlates of Having Never Been HIV Tested among Entrants to Substance Abuse Treatment Clinics: Empiric Findings from Real-World New England Settings

AbstractRoutine testing is the cornerstone to identifying HIV, but not all substance abuse treatment patients have been tested. This study is a real-world evaluation of predictors of having never been HIV tested among patients initiating substance abuse treatment. Participants (N = 614) from six New England clinics were asked whether they had ever been HIV tested. Eighty-five patients (13.8%) reported having never been tested and were compared to those who had undergone testing. Clinic, male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–3.41), and having fewer employment (AOR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.11–0.88) and medical problems (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.17–0.99) were independently correlated with having never been HIV tested. Thus, there is still considerable room for improved testing strategies as a clinically significant minority of substance abuse patients have never undergone HIV testing when they initiate treatment.
Optimizing Two Targets for Calibrating a Broadband Multibeam Sonar

The new Simrad MS70 multibeam sonar has a nominal total bandwidth of 70-120 kHz. Scientific applications of this, as in fisheries and other ecological research, require calibration. The standard-target method is suitable. Design criteria for the standard target are that this be robust and dense, with a mass of order several kilograms and with target strength in the nominal range from ?35 to ?30 dB. Candidate targets necessarily contain resonances in their backscattering spectra. Two targets are therefore proposed to cover the total band in piecewise fashion. For the selected material of tungsten carbide with 6% cobalt binder, the optimized sphere diameters are 75 and 84 mm. Detailed computations of the respective target strength spectra and sensitivity to variations in medium temperature are given with respect to the reference ambient temperature 8 deg C and salinity 33 ppt.
Procaryotic ribosomal proteins: N-terminal sequence homologies and structural correspondence of 30 S ribosomal proteins from Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus

Abstract : In attempting to evidence the evolution and the structure--function relationships of the ribosome in procaryotes the authors have undertaken a comparative amino acid sequence analysis of ribosomal proteins from Escherichia coli, and Bacillus stearothermophilus and Halobacterium cutirubrum, organisms which differ substantially in their physiological tolerances and taxonomic relationships. Previous structural studies have indicated a high degree of homology in some of the 30 S ribosomal proteins from E. coli and B. stearothermophilus. Reported in this paper is a summary of results on the study of the amino terminal regions of 19 ribosomal proteins E. coli strain Q13 and 21 from B. stearothermophilus strain 10.
Scaling of velocity and temperature fluctuations in turbulent thermal convection

Abstract The scaling arguments presented by [J. Fluid Mech. 204 (1989) 1] to justify the Nu∼Ra 2/7 power law observed in high Rayleigh number thermal convection also have implications regarding the distribution of velocity and temperature fluctuations within the turbulent layer. Asymptotic matching of the inner scaling law and the outer scaling law implies that the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) vertical velocity fluctuation varies as σ w ∼ln z , and the r.m.s. temperature fluctuation varies as σ θ ∼ln z or σ θ ∼ z −1/2 depending on the details of the modeling assumptions [Exp. Fluids 4 (1986) 121]. These results differ markedly from the Priestley similarity theory [Turbulent Transport in the Lower Atmosphere, 1959], in which σ w ∼ z 1/3 and σ θ ∼ z −1/3 . Consequently, the r.m.s. velocity and temperature profiles offer the possibility to distinguish between the two theories. We present measurements in wide-aspect-ratio convection over the range Ra=10 7 –10 9 that support the logarithmic variation for both the temperature and velocity.
SELECTION OF PROSE MATERIAL FOR TESTING

The study investigated teachers' selection of prose material for testing. Thirty elementary school social studies teachers wrote test questions based on a 1900 word passage from a commercial social studies text. Moderate consensus was observed among the teachers as to those segments of the passage chosen for testing. Additional analyses to determine the characteristics of the passage segments selected for testing were performed. The most frequently selected text segments were sentences which either contained a list or were themselves an entry in a list.