cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of spark discharge in nonuniform field gaps under impulse voltages

Investigations have been made of the electrical characteristics of leader strokes preceding the impulse breakdown of sphere-plane and rod-rod gaps up to 50cm spacing in atmospheric air. Oscillograms of the discharge current show a marked difference in the leader propagation in sphere-plane gap under the two polarities. The breakdown of the gap when the sphere is positive takes place as a result of positive leader developing at the sphere for all gap lengths. When the sphere is negative, however, a change in the development of leader from negative leader to positive leader from plate has been observed at a certain gap length. This transition explains the well known inflection in the negative-breakdown characteristic of a sphere-plane gap. Average leader velocities have been computed from the current oscillograms, and the velocity of the negative leader has been found to be higher than that of the positive leader.Breakdown of rod-rod gap has been observed to be initiated by the development of the positive leader for all gap lengths irrespective of the polarity of the h.v. rod. Curves of breakdown-voltage/gap lengths have been presented and the characteristics are explained in terms of the leader development.
Pathology in Practice

History A 2.5-year-old 62.6-kg (137.7-lb) pregnant female Huacaya alpaca was evaluated because of a mass associated with its left shoulder region. The mass was first detected 1 month prior and had doubled in size in the intervening period. The owners had not noted it to cause signs of pain, cause lameness, or affect the alpaca’s eating or locomotion. There was no known traumatic event preceding the appearance of the mass. No other animals on the farm had similar lesions currently or in the past. The alpaca was reported to be in its 10th month of gestation, as determined on the basis of its last breeding date. Diagnostic test results were unremarkable except for mild hyperfibrinogenemia consistent with mild systemic inflammation. Diagnostic testing was performed again 3 months later, following an uneventful parturition and weaning of the cria. At that time, the alpaca had lost 27% of its previous body weight and weighed 45.8 kg (100.8 lb), and the increasing size of the mass was interfering with its ability to cush and ambulate. The alpaca was euthanized and underwent necropsy.
Short-range correlations of partons & 3D nucleon structure

Dynamical breaking of chiral symmetry in QCD is caused by non- perturbative interactions on a scale �∼ 0.3fm much smaller than the hadronic size R∼ 1fm. This has important consequences for the nucleon structure such as the prediction that the transverse momentum distribution of sea quarks is sig- nificantly broader than the pT-distribution of valence quarks due to short-range correlations between sea quarks in the nucleon's light-cone wave function.
Measuring the Self-Stigma Associated With Seeking Psychological Help

Self-stigma is an important factor in people's decisions not to engage in therapy. To measure this construct, the authors developed the 10-item Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale. In Study 1 (n = 583), the SSOSH had a unidimensional factor structure and good reliability (.91) among participants. Study 2 (n = 470) confirmed the factor structure. Studies 2, 3 (n = 546), and 4 (n = 217) cross-validated the reliability (.86 to .90; test-retest, .72) and showed evidence of validity (construct, criterion, and predictive) across the study samples. The SSOSH uniquely predicted attitudes toward and intent to seek psychological help. Finally, in Study 5 (n = 655) the SSOSH differentiated those who sought psychological services from those who did not across a 2-month period.
Treatment of Complex Anterior Urethral Stricture Disease With Mesh Graft Urethroplasty

ABSTRACTPurpose: Treatment of complex anterior urethral strictures complicated by a lack of sufficient penile skin for primary flap repair has generally consisted of 2-stage scrotal inlay urethroplasty. Scrotal skin has shortcomings, most notably hair formation, diverticula and stricture recurrence from urine induced dermatitis. As an alternative, we present our results with staged mesh graft urethroplasty using split-thickness skin, which is nonhair-bearing, easier to size and seemingly less permeable to urine penetration.Materials and Methods: Between 1990 and 1995, 20 men underwent mesh graft urethroplasty for complex strictures, most after failed urethroplasty. Meshed split-thickness skin graft from the thigh (17 men) or full-thickness foreskin (3) was used.Results: Overall median time to closure was 5.5 months, and 6 men required revision before closure (revision of ostia in 3, chordee release in 2 and lysis of graft adhesions in 1). A successful outcome, as evidenced by retrograde urethrography and ...
The political economy of nontariff barriers: a cross-national analysis

Nontariff barriers to trade are most pervasive when deteriorating macroeconomic conditions give rise to demands for protection by pressure groups, when countries are sufficiently large to give policymakers incentives to impose protection, and when domestic institutions enhance the ability of public officials to act on these incentives. Statistical results based on a sample of advanced industrial countries during the 1980s support the argument that the incidence of nontariff barriers tends to be greatest when the preferences of pressure groups and policymakers converge. More attention should be devoted to the interaction between societal and statist factors in cross-national studies of trade policy.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the black coral Chrysopathes formosa (Cnidaria:Anthozoa:Antipatharia) supports classification of antipatharians within the subclass Hexacorallia.

Abstract Black corals comprise a globally distributed shallow- and deep-water taxon whose phylogenetic position within the Anthozoa has been debated. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the antipatharian Chrysopathes formosa to further evaluate its phylogenetic relationships. The circular mitochondrial genome (18,398 bp) consists of 13 energy pathway protein-coding genes and two ribosomal RNAs, but only two transfer RNA genes (trnM and trnW), as well as a group I intron within the nad5 gene that contains the only copies of nad1 and nad3. No novel genes were found in the antipatharian mitochondrial genome. Gene order and genome content are most similar to those of the sea anemone Metridium senile (subclass Hexacorallia), with differences being the relative location of three contiguous genes (cox2–nad4–nad6) and absence (from the antipatharian) of a group I intron within the cox1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses of multiple protein-coding genes support classifying the Antipatharia within the subclass Hexacorallia and not the subclass Ceriantipatharia; however, the sister-taxon relationships of black corals within Hexacorallia remain inconclusive.
Do uterine risk factors or lymph node metastasis more significantly affect recurrence in patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objectives Controversy continues over the importance of lymph node (LN) status in treating and predicting recurrence in endometrial cancer. Several predictive models are available which use uterine factors to stratify risk groups. Our objective was to determine how LN status affects recurrence and survival compared to uterine factors alone. Methods A retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing complete surgical staging for clinical stage 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. Patients were assessed based on PORTEC 1 high intermediate risk (H-IR) criteria (2 factors : age>60, grade 3, >50% DOI), GOG-99 H-IR criteria (age >70+1 factor, age 50–70+2 factors, any age +3 factors: grade 2 or 3, LVSI, >50% DOI), and PORTEC 2 criteria. Rates of nodal involvement, recurrence rates, PFS, and OS were compared. Results We identified 352 clinical stage I patients with positive LN in 24% (87). 175 patients met PORTEC 1 eligibility and 66 met H-IR criteria. Rates of LN positivity were similar among groups (18.4% vs 19.7%, p =0.83) but recurrence rates were dissimilar (7.4% vs 27.3%, p =0.0004). Only 93 met PORTEC 2 criteria for treatment with no association between LN status, recurrence, and eligibility. 188 patients met H-IR eligibility criteria for GOG-99 with LN positive and recurrence rates higher in the H-IR group compared to GOG-99 eligible (34.6% vs 16.3%, p =0.0004, 28.3% vs. 10.6%, p =0.0002). Conclusions Patients with H-IR disease based on uterine characteristics alone have substantial risk of nodal involvement. Knowledge of LN status may better define risk, prognosis, and postoperative treatment.
Ischemia Modified Albumin Measured by the Albumin Cobalt Binding Test: A Clinical and Analytical Review

Eight million patients with chest pain present annually to emergency departments (ED).1 Five million of this group are judged to have suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and are admitted to the hospital. Less than half ultimately are found to have a cardiac diagnosis, causing costly, unnecessary admissions. Three million of this group are discharged from the ED each year, and 40,000 of these are inadvertently discharged as myocardial infarctions (MI). Mortality rates of missed diagnoses in patients sent home are 2-fold greater than those patients admitted. Thus, there is a considerable amount of clinical interest and research to identify markers of myocardial ischemia that could be monitored during the early, reversible stage of ACS to assist in the appropriate triage of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of ACS. CE update [chemistry | molecular diagnostics] Ischemia Modified Albumin Measured by the Albumin Cobalt Binding Test: A Clinical and Analytical Review
Non-deterministic reconfiguration of tree formations

We consider a network of mobile agents in an initially unknown acyclic network configuration and the problem of reconfiguring them into a desired network topology and formation geometry while maintaining connectivity in an asynchronous network. We model the system and solution as an embedded graph grammar and use a method of lexicographically ordered Lyapunov functions to show the system converges non-deterministically regardless of the initial network structure and the order of the communication events.
Management and industry in China

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the current status of Chinese business, industry, education, transportation, science, and technology as seen by those who have participated in Chinese management training programs. Based on their contact with Chinese executives and government officials, the contributors offer detailed accounts of the management of the business, industrial, and public sectors of the Chinese economy.
A compact Cramer-Rao bound expression for parametric estimation of superimposed signals

The problem of parameter estimation of superimposed signals in white Gaussian noise is considered. Closed-form expressions of the Cramer-Rao bound for real or complex signals with vector parameters are derived, extending recent results by P. Stoica and A. Nehorai (1989). >
Increasing numbers of bird species result from taxonomic progress, not taxonomic inflation

The impact and significance of modern taxonomy on other fields in biology have been subjects of much debate. It has been proposed that increasing numbers of vertebrate species are largely owing to ‘taxonomic inflation’. According to this hypothesis, newly recognized species result from reinterpretations of species limits based on phylogenetic species concepts (PSCs) rather than from new discoveries. Here, I examine 747 proposals to change the taxonomic rank of birds in the period 1950–2007. The trend to recognize more species of birds started at least two decades before the introduction of PSCs. Most (84.6%) newly recognized species were supported by new taxonomic data. Proposals to recognize more species resulted from application of all six major taxonomic criteria. Many newly recognized species (63.4%) were not based exclusively on PSC-based criteria (diagnosability, monophyly and exclusive coalescence of gene trees). Therefore, this study finds no empirical support for the idea that the increase in species is primarily epistemological rather than data-driven. This study shows that previous claims about the causes and effects of taxonomic inflation lack empirical support. I argue that a more appropriate term for the increase in species is ‘taxonomic progress’.
The Cbp2 Protein Suppresses Splice Site Mutations in a Group I Intron

The Cbp2 protein facilitates the folding of a group I intron in the COB pre-mRNA of yeast mitochondria. Based on its ability to suppress mutations affecting the auto-catalytic reaction, the protein appears to play a role in the selection of splice sites. Adding Cbp2 did not overcome the effects of mutations in P1 whose primary effect was on the first step of splicing. In contrast, most mutations affecting the ligation of exons were suppressed in vitro by Cbp2. These included mutations in P1, P9.0 and P10. In fact, a mutant transcript lacking both P9.0 and P10 ligated efficiently in the presence of Cbp2. P9.0 and P10 mutations also reduced the rate of cleavage at the 5' splice junction, and this effect was only partially mitigated by adding Cbp2. A competitive secondary structure near the 3' splice junction blocked Cbp2-stimulated splicing, but this mutation could be suppressed by co-transcriptional splicing in the presence of Cbp2. Our data underscore the importance of the interaction between the 5' and 3' splice junctions in group I introns and suggest that nucleotide-nucleotide interactions that stabilize the structure of group I introns can be superceded by protein-RNA interactions.
Linear matrix inequalities, multidimensional system optimization, and control of spatially distributed systems: an example

In this paper the analytical and software tools developed by the author for the control of spatially distributed and interconnected systems are applied to a numerical example: the control of a vibrating, elastic cable. Tractable solutions and practical controller implementations are obtained by considering systems with distributed actuation and sensing capabilities.
Evaluation of a USDA Nutrition Education Program for Low-income Youth

Objective: Examine effectiveness of a state’s Youth Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and assess the validity of the federal impact indicator method for reporting program outcomes. Design: A randomized, controlled field trial of 229 groups with 5,111 youth, 9-12 years old, in community settings. Intervention: 6- to 8- hour, 7-lesson education experience with food preparation and tasting, an education experience typical of EFNEP in California. Outcome Measures: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) impact indicators: nutrition knowledge, eating a variety of foods, food selection, and food preparation and safety practices. Analysis: Analysis of covariance model controlling for pretest, gender, age, and ethnicity, with group nested in condition. Results: Organizing responses by impact indicators, treatment participants made significant gains on the posttest compared to controls for 3 of 4 indicators (P .008 to P .0001). Gains were made by 34 to 68% of youth participants for 4 indicators. The impact indicator method for federal reporting compared favorably with results from a randomized controlled trial with groups nested in conditions. Conclusion and Implications: This is the first report in the literature of (1) a large evaluation study of Youth EFNEP and (2) an estimate of the validity of the USDA impact indicator method for reporting program outcomes.
Parent-Child Acculturation Discrepancies as a Risk Factor for Substance Use among Hispanic Adolescents in Southern California

Theories of acculturation predict that discrepancies in cultural orientation between adolescents and their parents will increase the adolescents' risk for behavior problems such as substance use. This study evaluated this hypothesis in a sample of 1772 Hispanic 9th grade students in Southern California. Parent-child discrepancy in U.S. orientation (defined as the difference between the child's U.S. orientation and the child's perception of the parents' U.S. orientation) was a risk factor for past-month smoking, lifetime and past-month alcohol use, and lifetime and past-month marijuana use. Parent-child discrepancy in Hispanic orientation (defined as the difference between the child's Hispanic orientation and the child's perception of the parents' Hispanic orientation) was a risk factor for lifetime and past-month alcohol and marijuana use. The adolescents' own Hispanic orientation was protective against lifetime and past-month smoking and marijuana use, but not alcohol use. In an analysis of mediation, U.S. acculturation discrepancy was associated with lower levels of family cohesion, which in turn was associated with higher levels of substance use. Results suggest that family-based interventions for acculturating and bicultural Hispanic families may be useful in decreasing the likelihood of substance use among Hispanic adolescents.
Lived Experience of Critically Ill Patients’ Family Members During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

• BACKGROUND During resuscitative efforts, patients’ family members are often barred from the patients’ rooms and may never have the opportunity to see their loved ones alive again. Recently, the need to ask family members to leave the room is being questioned. Little is known about families’ perceptions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. • OBJECTIVE To describe the experiences, thoughts, and perceptions of family members of critically ill patients during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the intensive care unit. • METHOD Six family members whose loved ones underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survived consented to an audiotaped interview. During the interview, family members were asked to describe their experiences during the resuscitation. Interviews were transcribed and were analyzed for relevant themes by using Van Manen thematic analysis. • RESULTS One major theme emerged: Should we go or should we stay? Additionally, 2 subthemes emerged: What is going on? and You do your job. A model, the family’s experience with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, was developed to reflect the research findings. • CONCLUSIONS During the period of resuscitation, healthcare professionals neglect to recognize that patients’ family members are experiencing crisis along with the patients and that coping mechanisms are impaired. Moreover, the family members’ informational and proximity needs are often ignored during this time of crisis. Addressing these needs through appropriate nursing interventions will become increasingly important as patients’ family members begin to remain with their loved ones during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2004;13:416-420)
Evaluation & Function of Fuel Dispensing Filtration for Gasoline & Ethanol Blended Motor Fuels

Fuel dispensing filters are the final opportunity to control fuel quality, the last line of defense, before the contamination burden is transferred to the vehicle onboard fuel filtration system. Contamination is often considered to be in the form of solid particulate, but can also consist of chemical compounds, water, or as a phase separated water/ethanol mixture. Particulate contamination is easily managed with current technologies common to the filtration industry. As ethanol blended fuel usage increases, the occurrence of water contamination issues escalates in a similar trend. Therefore, it is desirable to understand the contamination involved, the operational function of dispensing filters, and to develop industry standard test methods for proper evaluation of dispensing filter performance, which can facilitate protection of vehicle fuel systems.
The role of isohydric and anisohydric species in determining ecosystem-scale response to severe drought.

Ongoing shifts in the species composition of Eastern US forests necessitate the development of frameworks to explore how species-specific water-use strategies influence ecosystem-scale carbon (C) cycling during drought. Here, we develop a diagnostic framework to classify plant drought-response strategies along a continuum of isohydric to anisohydric regulation of leaf water potential (Ψ L). The framework is applied to a 3-year record of weekly leaf-level gas exchange and Ψ measurements collected in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest (Indiana, USA), where continuous observations of the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) have been ongoing since 1999. A severe drought that occurred in the middle of the study period reduced the absolute magnitude of NEE by 55 %, though species-specific responses to drought conditions varied. Oak species were characterized by anisohydric regulation of Ψ L that promoted static gas exchange throughout the study period. In contrast, Ψ L of the other canopy dominant species was more isohydric, which limited gas exchange during the drought. Ecosystem-scale estimates of NEE and gross ecosystem productivity derived by upscaling the leaf-level data agreed well with tower-based observations, and highlight how the fraction of isohydric and anisohydric species in forests can mediate net ecosystem C balance.
Factorial Structure of Individual Differences in Limb Speed, Reaction, and Strength

Abstract Factor analyses were made of reaction time and maximal limb speed measurements of six movements, using a sample of 80 college men. Measurements of reaction time, speed, strength, and the ratio of limb strength to limb mass in four movements were also analyzed, using another sample of 70 college men. A factor labeled quickness of reaction was found to be characterized by relatively high loadings in reaction time items, although approximately one-fourth of the individual difference variance was specific to a particular limb and/or movement. A second factor labeled speed of limb movement was identified. It was characterized by low saturation; about two-thirds of the individual difference variance in speed was specific to a particular limb and/or movement. The factors for reaction and speed were uncorrelated. A third factor, limb strength in proportion to limb mass, had moderate saturation with about half of the variance in the specificity category. This factor was orthogonal to limb reaction and lim...
Simple Measurements of Toughness and Crack Formation in Several Intermetallic-Matrix Composite Systems

Chisel-and-hammer (C.T.) and microhardness tests have been used to examine trends in toughness and crack formation in several intermetallic-based two-phase equilibrium systems. High fracture toughness, as defined by the chisel test, correlates with the presence of some ductility; and the lack of crack formation, or its limitation by a second phase in the microstructure, are prerequisites for fracture resistance. Equilibrium systems have desirable stability for use at elevated temperatures. Comparison of Tbd and C.T. is now possible for a wide range of intermetallics. Intuition suggests that Tbd and C.T. would anti-correlate. Observation, however, contradicts that hypothesis. There are significant numbers of alloys with low Tbd and low C.T. and with high Tbd and high C.T. Possible explanations are noted. Systems that have been studied include Al-Ru with Sc additions, Be-Ti, Be-Zr, Cr-Ti, with Al, Nb and Zr, Ge-Ti, Ir-Nb with Co, Fe, Ni, and V, and Ru-Ta with Co and Fe. Compositional effects on chisel toughness, hardness-vs-temperature, and crack information are presented.
Control of Lesser Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) with Chlorpyrifos-Methyl, Bioresmethrin, and Resmethrin: Effect of Chlorpyrifos-Methyl Resistance and Environmental Degradation

Soft red winter wheat treated with 6 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl, 2 and 5 ppm resmethrin, and 2 and 5 ppm bioresmethrin was stored under ambient conditions for 10 mo. Six field strains of lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), with chlorpyrifosmethyl resistance frequencies of 21-100% and a susceptible laboratory strain were confined on the treated wheat at regular intervals during storage. Three highly resistant strains were not controlled by the chlorpyrifos-methyl residues. Survival in the remaining three field strains and the laboratory strain increased as the storage interval increased. Chlorpyrifos-methyl resistance frequencies were correlated with residual mortality only immediately after insecticide application. Residues from the bioresmethrin and resmethrin applications controlled all six field strains for 10 mo.
Intergenerational Intimacy and Descending Familism in Rural North China

Based on evidence drawn from longitudinal fieldwork over three decades, in this study I unpack the complex connections among the development of intergenerational intimacy, the redefinition of filial piety, and the rise of descending familism in a north China village. In the first section, I discuss the structural and functional solidarity in intergenerational relationships by examining changing patterns in household composition. Next I show that villagers have redefined the norms of filial piety by relinquishing unconditional obedience and submission from the junior to the senior generations, thus paving the way to intergenerational intimacy. In the third section, I take a closer look at the practices of intergenerational intimacy, the special role played by married women, and the blurring of the boundaries between intimacy and privacy. Next I offer a brief account of macrolevel social factors that render intergenerational intimacy important in family life and result in the rise of descending familism. I conclude by placing the case study in a comparative context and exploring the implications of intergenerational intimacy and descending familism beyond the village community.
Stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis by thrombin in rabbits with ancrod-induced afibrinogenemia.

The effect of intravenous infusions of thrombin on fibrinogen synthesis was evaluated in rabbits rendered afibrinogenemic by ancrod. Fibrinogen production and catabolism were measured simultaneously with 75Se-labeled selenomethionine (75SeM) and with 125I-labeled fibrinogen injected 5, 12, 18, or 26 h after ancrod. In normal rabbits the infusion of ancrod (2 U/kg body mass during 1 h) did not alter fibrinogen synthesis nor did it affect the rate of fibrinogen catabolism measured during a period of 5–120 h after ancrod administration. Normal rabbits that received purified bovine thrombin (100 U/kg body mass during 1 h) exhibited a twofold stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis as measured by the incorporation of 75SeM injected 5 h after thrombin. Rabbits made afibrinogenemic by infusion of ancrod 5 h before thrombin also showed a twofold increase in fibrinogen synthesis, as did animals that received ancrod immediately after thrombin. These experiments show that ancrod alone has no effect on fibrinogen production, and that thrombin stimulates fibrinogen synthesis in afibrinogenemic rabbits to the same extent as in controls fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products; fibrinogen catabolism Submitted on March 29, 1977
Simultaneous quantification of 11 cannabinoids and metabolites in human urine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using WAX-S tips

A comprehensive cannabinoid urine quantification method may improve clinical and forensic result interpretation and is necessary to support our clinical research. A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry quantification method for ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCAA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), ∆9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THCV (THCVCOOH), THC-glucuronide (THC-gluc), and THCCOOH-glucuronide (THCCOOH-gluc) in urine was developed and validated according to the Scientific Working Group on Toxicology guidelines. Sample preparation consisted of disposable pipette extraction (WAX-S) of 200 μL urine. Separation was achieved on a Kinetex C18 column using gradient elution with flow rate 0.5 mL/min, mobile phase A (10 mM ammonium acetate in water), and mobile phase B (15 % methanol in acetonitrile). Total run time was 14 min. Analytes were monitored in both positive and negative ionization modes by scheduled multiple reaction monitoring. Linear ranges were 0.5–100 μg/L for THC and THCCOOH; 0.5–50 μg/L for 11-OH-THC, CBD, CBN, THCAA, and THC-gluc; 1–100 μg/L for CBG, THCV, and THCVCOOH; and 5–500 μg/L for THCCOOH-gluc (R 2 > 0.99). Analytical biases were 88.3–113.7 %, imprecisions 3.3–14.3 %, extraction efficiencies 42.4–81.5 %, and matrix effect −10 to 32.5 %. We developed and validated a comprehensive, simple, and rapid LC-MS/MS cannabinoid urine method for quantification of 11 cannabinoids and metabolites. This method is being used in a controlled cannabis administration study, investigating urine cannabinoid markers documenting recent cannabis use, chronic frequent smoking, or route of drug administration and potentially improving urine cannabinoid result interpretation.
Are financial markets less responsive to monetary policy shocks at the zero lower bound

Abstract This paper investigates the time-varying effect of monetary policy shocks on financial markets. We show that the corporate bond market is highly responsive to monetary policy shocks throughout 2000–2012, implying a high pass-through of policy-induced movements in Treasury yields to private yields even during the zero lower bound period. While the long-term Treasury bond market is highly sensitive to monetary policy shocks throughout almost the entire sample, the short-term Treasury bond market is severely constrained by the zero lower bound. The stock market is less responsive from 2008 to 2010, but the responsiveness bounces back rapidly in 2011.
Automated Search-Based Robustness Testing for Autonomous Vehicle Software

Autonomous systems must successfully operate in complex time-varying spatial environments even when dealing with system faults that may occur during a mission. Consequently, evaluating the robustness, or ability to operate correctly under unexpected conditions, of autonomous vehicle control software is an increasingly important issue in software testing. New methods to automatically generate test cases for robustness testing of autonomous vehicle control software in closed-loop simulation are needed. Search-based testing techniques were used to automatically generate test cases, consisting of initial conditions and fault sequences, intended to challenge the control software more than test cases generated using current methods. Two different search-based testing methods, genetic algorithms and surrogate-based optimization, were used to generate test cases for a simulated unmanned aerial vehicle attempting to fly through an entryway. The effectiveness of the search-based methods in generating challenging test cases was compared to both a truth reference (full combinatorial testing) and the method most commonly used today (Monte Carlo testing). The search-based testing techniques demonstrated better performance than Monte Carlo testing for both of the test case generation performance metrics: (1) finding the single most challenging test case and (2) finding the set of fifty test cases with the highest mean degree of challenge.
Accuracy and Precision of Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster Techniques for Determining Equine Strongyle Egg Counts

The use of fecal egg count techniques to indirectly assess intestinal parasite burdens and determine anthelmintic efficacy is common in parasitological research and veterinary practice. The McMaster method is one of the most widely used techniques in veterinary practice, but recently, the Mini-FLOTAC technique has been introduced as a possible alternative. Studies comparing the two methods in precision and accuracy are needed. This study aimed at evaluating the Mini-FLOTAC technique for determining equine strongyle egg counts through a two-part procedure. First, a set of fecal counts was executed using both methods. Next, blind counts were performed on spiked fecal samples with true egg counts at 0, 5, 50, 500, and 1,000 eggs per gram. All counts were performed in triplicates, and each sample was counted using both methods. Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster had 83.2% and 53.7% precision, respectively. The accuracy was found to be 42.6% and 23.5% for Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster, respectively. In conclusion, this study found that Mini-FLOTAC exhibited both higher precision and accuracy than the McMaster technique and appears to be a more reliable alternative. Using a more precise egg-counting method can help assure that changes in egg counts before and after treatment reflect a genuine reduction and are not due to chance variability.
Omentum transposition for treatment of Alzheimer disease in China

A paper was published in a Chinese medical journal that suggested that the placing of an intact vascularized omental pedicle would increase cerebral blood flow and could decelerate the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the paper showed limited support for the operation. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the lack of enthusiasm for the operation may deserve re-evaluation. The operation that was evaluated required an intact omental pedicle to be placed directly on the brain in order to increase the blood flow to the brain. The omentum is brought from the abdominal cavity up to the brain where it is simply laid resulting in a large volume of blood to flow into the cerebral tissue. The Chinese paper demonstrated relatively poor results in the Alzheimer patients. It is believed that the poor results were probably due to the results of the patients age, the length of time they had Alzheimer disease (5 or more years), but especially their low mini-mental state examination results – some as low as 2. The paper being presented will suggest the possible benefit of omental transposition in Alzheimer patients when there is a successful choice of suitable candidates for the procedure.
Correlation between X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra of 16 commercial graphene–based materials and their resulting classification

Structural properties of sixteen (16) commercial samples of graphene-based materials (GBM) labelled as graphene, graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide are investigated at room temperature using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Based on the observed correlation between the results obtained with these two techniques, these samples are classified into three groups: Group A of seven samples consisting of graphitic nanosheets with evaluated thickness ≃20 nm and exhibiting both the 2H and 3R phases in XRD; Group B of six samples exhibiting XRD spectra characteristic of either graphene oxides (GO) or carbons with some order; and Group C of three samples with XRD spectra characteristic of disordered carbons. The relative intensities and widths of D, G, D', 2D and (D + D') bands in the Raman spectra are equally distinguishable between the samples in groups A, B and C. The width of the D-band is the smallest for Group A samples, intermediate for group B and the largest for group C samples. The intensity ratio I(D)/I(G) of the D and G bands in the Raman spectra of the samples is used to quantify the Raman-active defects whose concentration increases in going from samples in Group A to those in Group C.
Equal Treatment for Disabled Persons: The Case of Organ Transplantation

Mill is famous for his clever preliminary solution to the conflict between justice and utility-maximizing. In Chapter 5 of Utilitarianism he notes that, because of declining marginal utility, one can often maximize utility by concentrating resources on the worst-off in society, thus providing a utilitarian explanation for our intuition that the worst off have special moral claims. In medical ethics, reflection on cases of persons with severe, chronic disabilities challenges this felicific, if fallacious, resolution (Mill, 1967, pp. 391–434). These persons can sometimes command enormous quantities of medical resources, but gain only marginal benefit from them. An organ transplant for someone who is worst off because she has only a short time to live would, for example, target the worst off, but produce only small benefit. Thus proposals for aggressive medical intervention to bring those with disabilities to levels of nearer normal health or restore them to that status provide a critical challenge to a theory of justice in the use of health resources.
192 GHz push–push VCO in 0.13 [micro sign]m CMOS

A 192 GHz cross-coupled push-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is fabricated using the UMC 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS logic process. The VCO can be tuned from 191.4 to 192.7 GHz. The VCO provides output power of /spl sim/-20 dBm and phase noise of /spl sim/-100 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset, while consuming 11 mA from a 1.5 V supply.
Supply Chain Complexity and Economically Motivated Adulteration

Globalization of our food supply increases many types of risk, including economically motivated adulteration (EMA) or food fraud (the intentional adulteration or misrepresentation of food for economic gain). Increasing complexity reduces the ability of both regulators and industry to effectively oversee food supply chains. This chapter describes the challenges in overseeing globalized food supply chains, provides background on EMA and food fraud including the wide variety of methods used to perpetrate fraud, presents some of the drivers behind EMA and factors that increase the vulnerability of foods, and concludes with a discussion of future trends, including recent government action in the United States and the EU.
Methylation level of CpG islands in GGH gene promoter in pediatric acute leukemia

BACKGROUND γ-Glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) regulates intracellular folates and antifolates such as methotrexate (MTX) for proper nucleotide biosynthesis and antifolate-induced cytotoxicity, respectively. In addition to genetic polymorphism and karyotypic abnormalities, methylation of CpG island 1 (CpG1) in the promoter region is found to modulate GGH activity by reducing GGH mRNA expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. We aim to investigate methylation status of two CpG islands (CpG1 and CpG2) in the GGH promoter region in pediatric patients with ALL and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). METHODS 70B-ALL, 29 AML, 10 ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) and 40 healthy children are recruited in the present study. MS-HRM (methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) are used to detect methylation change and its level in CpG1 and CpG2 in the GGH promoter region. GGH mRNA expression is quantified by real-time PCR. Correlation between CpG island methylation and GGH mRNA expression is assessed by statistical software. RESULTS Methylations of CpG1 are detected in leukemia cells samples obtained from 30.9% (21/68) of patients with ALL and 20.7% (6/29) of patients with AML. These methylations are not detected in the controls. Methylations of CpG2 are detected in leukemia cell samples obtained from 44.1% (30/68) of the ALL patients and 37.9% (11/29) of the AML patients. These percentages are significantly higher than that observed in the control cell samples: 6.0% (3/50) (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.000). The abundance of CpG1 methylation in all leukemia cell samples is classified as Grade I (methylation level is less than 10%) and the abundance of CpG2 methylation in leukemia cell samples is classified in separate grades. Our results indicate that methylation of CpG1 or hypermethylation (the methylation level is greater than 10%) of CpG2 could significantly reduce GGH mRNA expression in leukemia cells from the ALL and AML patients (ALL-CpG1: t = 4.632, P = 0.000; ALL-CpG2: t = 3.250, P = 0.006; AML-CpG1: t = -2.254, P = 0.037; AML-CpG2: t = 1.328, P = 0.202). CONCLUSION Either methylation of CpG1 or hypermethylation of CpG2 in GGH promoter region can significantly reduce GGH mRNA expression in pediatric patients with acute leukemia, which can improve the response to treatment.
Anti-Gay Curriculum Laws

Since the Supreme Court’s invalidation of anti-gay marriage laws, scholars and advocates have been debating the LGBT movement’s near-term strategies and priorities. This Article joins that conversation by developing the framework for a national campaign to repeal or invalidate anti-gay curriculum laws –– statutes that prohibit or restrict the discussion of homosexuality in public schools. Anti-gay curriculum laws expose LGBT students to stigmatization and bullying, and they are far more prevalent than scholars and advocates have recognized. In the existing literature, these provisions are called “no promo homo” laws and are said to exist in only a handful of states. Based on a comprehensive survey of federal and state law, this Article shows that anti-gay provisions exist in the curriculum laws of twenty states and in a federal law that governs the annual distribution of $75 million for abstinence-education programs. Grounded in moral disapproval and anti-gay animus, these laws plainly violate the Constitution’s equal protection guarantees under the Supreme Court’s landmark rulings in Romer v. Evans, Lawrence v. Texas, Windsor v. United States, and Obergefell v. Hodges. Yet federal and state officials will retain the legal authority to enforce these laws unless and until courts enjoin them from doing so. Challenging anti-gay curriculum laws is a necessary and important step toward establishing the legal equality of LGBT people and creating a safe environment for LGBT students in the nation’s public schools.
Economic Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential in the US Forest Sector

This study conducted an economic analysis of future US forest mitigation potential using a detailed economic model of the global forestry sector. The scenario design included a wide range of possible future carbon price incentives and climate policy structures (unilateral and global mitigation). Results across all scenarios show US forest sector mitigation potential ranging from 54 to 292 MtCO2e between 2015 and 2030 (5 to 47 percent of the additional mitigation needed to achieve the 26 to 28 percent emissions reduction target). The results from this study suggest that the US forest sector can play an important role in global greenhouse gas mitigation efforts, including efforts to meet any potential future US mitigation targets.
Epidemiology of Conjunctivitis in US Emergency Departments

Conjunctivitis is the most common ocular condition diagnosed in US emergency departments (EDs), accounting for almost one-third of all eye-related encounters.1 Because of its generally nonemergent nature, understanding the burden and timing of conjunctivitis may allow preemptive triage to a less expensive health care setting.
Unraveling bacterial fingerprints of city subways from microbiome 16S gene profiles

Microbial communities can be location specific, and the abundance of species within locations can influence our ability to determine whether a sample belongs to one city or another. As part of the 2017 CAMDA MetaSUB Inter-City Challenge, next generation sequencing (NGS) data was generated from swipe samples collected from subway stations in Boston, New York City hereafter New York, and Sacramento. DNA was extracted and Illumina sequenced. Sequencing data was provided for all cities as part of 2017 CAMDA contest challenge dataset. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear clustering of the samples for the three cities, with a substantial proportion of the variance explained by the first three components. We ran two different classifiers and results were robust for error rate ( 95%). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that overall, bacterial composition across the three cities is significantly different. A similar conclusion was reached using a novel bootstrap based test using diversity indices. Last but not least, a co-abundance association network analyses for the taxonomic levels “order”, “family”, and “genus” found different patterns of bacterial networks for the three cities. Bacterial fingerprint can be useful to predict sample provenance. In this work prediction of provenance reported with over 95% accuracy. Association based network analysis, emphasized similarities between the closest cities sharing common bacterial composition. ANOVA showed different patterns of bacterial amongst cities, and these findings strongly suggest that bacterial signature across multiple cities are different. This work advocates a data analysis pipeline which could be followed in order to get biological insight from this data. However, the biological conclusions from this analysis is just an early indication out of a pilot microbiome data provided to us through CAMDA 2017 challenge and will be subject to change as we get more complete data sets in the near future. This microbiome data can have potential applications in forensics, ecology, and other sciences. This article was reviewed by Klas Udekwu, Alexandra Graf, and Rafal Mostowy.
Marine isocyano compounds

Marine isocyano (-NC) terpenoids are often accompanied by isothiocyanates (R-NCS) and formamides (R-NHCHO). Recent work has uncovered the less common cyanates (R-NCO), thiocyanates (R-SCN), amines (R-NH2) and carbonimidic dichlorides (R-N=CCl2). A majority of sesquiterpenes bear one of the nitrogenous functional groups of the related -NC/-NCS/-NHCHO triad. More complex substitution exists in diterpenoid skeletons. Most complex are the kalihinols which are polyfunctional diterpenoid tetrahydrofurans or pyrans elaborating multiple isocyanoand isocyano-related functions together with hydroxyl, chloro, and olefinic groups. More recent discoveries of sesquiterpenoid isonitiles with hydroxyl and chloro substituents reinforce the speculative role of cationic intermediates in the biosynthesis of these compounds. Cyanide is incorporated into the isocyano function of terpenoids in sponges (Porifera), the phylum from which the majority of marine isocyano-related compounds have been obtained. Marine isonitriles from nudibranchs are of dietary origin. The diversity of marine isocyano-related compounds and their degree of substitution is limited by the fact that so far only isoprenoids (sesqui- and diterpenes) in certain taxa of the Porifera are involved.
A self-equilibrium Friedman-like urn via stochastic approximation

Abstract In this study, we propose a class of generalized Friedman urns with random entries. The class has the property of self-equilibrium. We prove the almost-sure convergence to the equilibrium point of this entire class by the method of stochastic approximation. We develop a central limit theorem for the proportion of white balls through the convergence theorem of stochastic approximation algorithms. We then apply this class of schemes to model the effect of trading on the price in the stock market under the efficient market hypothesis.
Beyond Revolution, Beyond the Law: Christian Anarchism in Conversation with Giorgio Agamben

The Christian anarchist tradition and the work of Giorgio Agamben fit within a subversive trajectory of political theology that critiques the state paradigm, while also operating at a distance from...
Leveraging Library Trust to Combat Misinformation on Social Media

Abstract One reason librarians are confident they have a role to play in fighting misinformation is the level of trust in libraries as institutions. Exactly how they might leverage that trust remains unclear and untested. Building on recent work in correcting health misperceptions on social media, this study tests whether libraries can leverage trust to combat misinformation online. Using a misperception about the influenza vaccine as a test case, an experiment (n = 625) was conducted in fall 2018 using Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Results suggest that the misperception can be reduced, but not by library institutions. An unsuccessful follow-up (n = 600) suggests that the effectiveness of the correction is season dependent and opens the possibility that libraries may yet play a role, but not necessarily because they are trusted. Future library proposals for combating misinformation need to be developed and tested within a broader contemporary misinformation research program.