cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kuhn reconstructed: Incommensurability without relativism

Abstract The standard reading of Kuhn's philosophy attributes to him the view that the incommensurability of rival theories and theory-ladenness of observation make rational debate about competing paradigms nearly impossible. If this reflects his real view, then he has claimed something prima facie absurd, and easily refuted with historical counter-examples. It is not the incommensurability thesis per se that is easily refutable, but Kuhn's gestelt interpretation of it. The gestalt interpretation, moreover misrepresents his more fundamental ideas on paradigms, and is in itself confused. The incommensurability thesis can be explained and defended without invoking gestalts, and this reconstructed view can be used to show that familiar criticisms, such as those of Davidson and Laudan, and unwelcome endorsements, such as that of Barnes, which are based on the assumption that Kuhn must be an extreme relativist, are all directed at views that he need not, and should not, hold.
RED CELL SIZE AND FETAL HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION IN THE NEWBORN INFANT

At birth, the newborn infant has a heterogenous population of erythrocytes; variability exists with respect to size, shape, enzymatic capacity and hemoglobin composition. Employing both differential staining for fetal hemoglobin and cytophotometric techniques, the erythrocytes of term infants were examined in an attempt to relate cell size to hemoglobin composition. One-hundred and twenty cells from each infant were individually sized and subjected to micro-densitometry measurements. Sixty of the cells had been eluted and counter-stained for fetal hemoglobin. The staining for fetal hemoglobin did not alter the size of the cells. Analysis revealed that as the red cells increased in size the concentration of fetal hemoglobin within the cells decreased significantly more than did the total hemoglobin concentration. Cells with a diameter of approximately 6 μ had almost exclusively fetal hemoglobin. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the largest, and presumably the youngest, erythrocytes are synthesizing less fetal hemoglobin at the time of birth than cells that had been produced some weeks before. The use of cytophotometry provides a technique for following cohorts of cells with varying ages and hemoglobin composition.
Receptors and intracellular signaling in human neutrophils.

Adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and responses to cytokines are mediated by distinct classes of cell surface receptors in human neutrophils. Intracellular signaling by these different receptors is a subject of active investigation. Observation of single neutrophils adherent to surfaces reveals the presence of spontaneous oscillations of cytosolic-free calcium, [Ca2+]i, generated by mechanisms that are presently unknown. Chemoattractant receptor activation via a specific G-regulatory protein activates a plasma membrane phospholipase C and generates diacylglycerol and inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate. DG activates C kinase(s). Ins(1,4,5)P3 releases Ca2+ from a specific intracellular organelle, the calciosome. Calciosomes resemble sarcoplasmic reticulum: they contain a Ca2+-ATPase and a high capacity/low affinity calcium-binding, calsequestrinlike protein. Chemoattractant receptor stimulation of calcium influx across the plasma membrane in phagocytes correlates strongly with the conversion of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to...
GIS‐Based Groundwater Modeling

: A geographic information system (GIS) interface to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) groundwater flow model MODFLOW is developed. Geologic and hydrologic information is interpolated from borehole geophysical logs and associated pump tests to form a GIS well-log database. The GIS-MODFLOW interface targets a modeling area and interpolates the well database to create a three-dimensional representation of the subsurface environment. An attribute mesh is developed which represents the geometric discretization of the study area and provides a means of relating hydrologic model parameters to each cell in the mesh. Information required for each simulation is automatically extracted from the attribute mesh. A brief introduction to the GIS program ARC/INFO emphasizing the characteristics of the data structure and the macro language is given. A groundwater flow model for a portion of Shelby County, Tennessee, is developed illustrating the advantages of the GIS-MODFLOW interface and the attribute mesh system.
The Prognostic Value of Undetectable Highly Sensitive Cardiac Troponin I in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND Elevated cardiac troponin levels have been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, few data address the management implications of undetectable cardiac troponin I (cTnI) using a highly sensitive assay. We hypothesized that undetectable cTnI predicts very low in-hospital adverse event rates. METHODS In a retrospective cohort study, we classified patients with confirmed acute PE according to cTnI detectability into cTnI+ (≥ 0.012 ng/mL) and cTnI− ( RESULTS Among 298 consecutive patients with confirmed acute PE, 161 (55%) were cTnI+ and 137 (45%) cTnI−. No deaths occurred in the cTnI− group vs nine (6%) in the cTnI+ group ( P = .004). No hard events were observed in the cTnI− group vs 15 (9%) in the cTnI+ group ( P P P = .001) or soft ( P P CONCLUSIONS Highly sensitive cTnI assay provides an excellent prognostic negative predictive value; thus, it plays a role in identifying candidates for out-of-hospital treatment of acute PE.
H2AX Haploinsufficiency Modifies Genomic Stability and Tumor Susceptibility

Abstract Histone H2AX becomes phosphorylated in chromatin domains flanking sites of DNA double-strand breakage associated with γ-irradiation, meiotic recombination, DNA replication, and antigen receptor rearrangements. Here, we show that loss of a single H2AX allele compromises genomic integrity and enhances the susceptibility to cancer in the absence of p53. In comparison with heterozygotes, tumors arise earlier in the H2AX homozygous null background, and H2AX −/− p53 −/− lymphomas harbor an increased frequency of clonal nonreciprocal translocations and amplifications. These include complex rearrangements that juxtapose the c- myc oncogene to antigen receptor loci. Restoration of the H2AX null allele with wild-type H2AX restores genomic stability and radiation resistance, but this effect is abolished by substitution of the conserved serine phosphorylation sites in H2AX with alanine or glutamic acid residues. Our results establish H2AX as genomic caretaker that requires the function of both gene alleles for optimal protection against tumorigenesis.
Evaluation of stable and unstable resonator configurations for efficient second-harmonic laser systems

A comparative evaluation of a stable resonator, self-filtering unstable resonator, and an unstable resonator with a graded reflectivity mirror (GRM) as the output coupler is presented. The GRM resonator produced a slope efficiency of 1.4 percent, best beam quality (1.4 times diffraction limit), and highest conversion efficiency (50 percent). Other accomplishments include determination of the importance of measuring thermal focusing when designing unstable resonators, development of techniques in measuring thermal focusing and birefringence in laser materials, and development of a high brightness laser system for efficient second harmonic conversion.
Importance of CDOM Distribution and Photoreactivity in a Shallow Texas Estuary

This study examined freshwater discharge of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the shallow Lavaca–Matagorda (LM) Bay estuarine system along the central Texas coast and investigated whether chromophoric DOM (CDOM) photochemical reactions have the potential to stimulate microbial activity within LM estuarine waters. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations ranged from 3 to 10 mg C l−1 and CDOM levels (reported as a 305) ranged from 8 to 77 m−1 during April and July, 2007, when the LM system was experiencing very high freshwater inputs. DOC and CDOM levels were well-correlated with salinities > 3, but exhibited considerable variability at salinities < 3. CDOM photobleaching rates (i.e., decrease in a 305 resulting from exposure to solar radiation) for estuarine samples ranged from 0.014 to 0.021 h−1, corresponding to photobleaching half-lives of 33–50 h. Our data indicate when Matagorda Bay waters photobleach; dissolved organic carbon utilization is enhanced perhaps due to enhanced microbial respiration of biologically labile photoproducts (BLPs). Net ecosystem metabolism calculations indicate that most of the LM system was net heterotrophic during our study. We estimate that BLP formation could support up to 20% of the daily microbial respiratory C demand in LM surface waters and combined with direct photochemical oxygen consumption could have an important influence on O2 cycles in the LM system.
High-Resolution, Radar Coherent Linear FM Microwave Source

The microwave CLFM study was directed to generating 14 ?s S-band pulses of 1000 MHz bandwidth and an rms phase error of a few degrees. Over 972 MHz bandwidth, the sampled phase error relative to the reference was 7 degrees rms and 17 degrees peak, with a maximum Fourier component of 4 degrees. The FM pulse train is generated by a gated BWO driven by a stable linearizing waveform. Phase coherency during each pulse is obtained by a sampling technique, where the phase is corrected at intervals of 1/6 ?s, the RF phase having changed an integral number of cycles in each interval. Multiplication of the BWO signal by the sampling pulse train results in band-limited phase error pulses which are applied in a feedback loop. Pulse-to-pulse coherency is obtained by phase lock of the BWO starting frequency to the crystal reference. Feedback leveling holds the output constant to 0.3 dB. The basic MITRE technique was originally demonstrated at 10 MHz in 1964. Range results measured with the X-band model radar using the CLFM generator are given and confirm the phase errors of the CLFM.
The effects of gamma radiation on sclerotia of Whetzelinia sclerotiorum

Abstract Sclerotia of Whetzelinia sclerotiorum obtained from field grown peas and from laboratory cultures were exposed to gamma radiation from a 60 Co source. Over 2500 sclerotia irradiated at levels from 100 to 800 krads were observed. Sclerotia with moisture levels below 10% were highly resistant to radiation damage, having an LD 50 of up to 600 krads. An increase in moisture content resulted in a marked decrease in the LD 50 . Cultures of 11 stable mutants lacking the ability to produce sclerotia were isolated for use in later biochemical studies.
Polarization evolution in bent spun fiber

Since its introduction over a decade ago, the spun birefringent single-mode optical fiber is increasingly being considered for current-sensing applications. In this paper, we study the behavior of such a fiber when it is bent into a sensing coil. We show that bending weakens the polarization-holding capability of the spun birefringent fiber and causes the average polarization state to slowly oscillate along the fiber, potentially degrading the performance of the current sensor. The amplitude of this oscillation increases with tighter bending. Both the amplitude and the period of this oscillation, which are important parameters for designing current-sensing coils, are calculated by applying an appropriate perturbation theory. An experiment confirming the theory is also reported.
Filipin recognizes both GM1 and cholesterol in GM1 gangliosidosis mouse brain

Filipin is an antibiotic polyene widely used as a histochemical marker for cholesterol. We previously reported cholesterol/filipin-positive staining in brain of β-galactosidase (β-gal) knockout (−/−) mice (GM1 gangliosidosis). The content and distribution of cholesterol and gangliosides was analyzed in plasma membrane (PM) and microsomal (MS) fractions from whole-brain tissue of 15 week-old control (β-gal+/−) and GM1 gangliosidosis (β-gal−/−) mice. Total ganglioside content (μg sialic acid/mg protein) was 3-fold and 7-fold greater in the PM and MS fractions, respectively, in βgal−/− mice than in βgal+/− mice. GM1 content was 30-fold and 50-fold greater in the PM and MS fractions, respectively. In contrast, unesterified cholesterol content (μg/mg protein) was similar in the PM and the MS fractions of the βgal−/− and βgal+/− mice. Filipin is known to bind to various sterol derivatives and phospholipids on thin-layer chromatograms. Biochemical evidence is presented showing that filipin also binds to GM1 with an affinity similar to that for cholesterol, with a corresponding fluorescent reaction. Our data suggest that the GM1 storage seen in the β-gal−/− mouse contributes to the filipin ultraviolet fluorescence observed in GM1 gangliosidosis brain. The data indicate that in addition to cholesterol, filipin can also be useful for detecting GM1.
Vector finite element formulation for scattering from two-dimensional heterogeneous bodies

A formulation is proposed for electromagnetic scattering from two-dimensional heterogeneous structures that illustrates the combination of the curl-curl form of the vector Helmholtz equation with a local radiation boundary condition (RBC). To eliminate spurious nonzero eigenvalues in the spectrum of the matrix operator, vector basis functions incorporating the Nedelec constraints are employed. Basis functions of linear and quadratic order are presented, and approximations made necessary by the use of the local RBC are discussed. Results obtained with linear-tangential/quadratic normal vector basis functions exhibit excellent agreement with exact solutions for layered circular cylinder geometries, and demonstrate that abrupt jump discontinuities in the normal field components at material interfaces can be accurately modeled. The vector 2D formulation illustrates the features necessary for a general three-dimensional implementation. >
The development and implementation of an instrument to assess students' data analysis skills in molecular biology.

Developing visual literacy skills is an important component of scientific literacy in undergraduate science education. Comprehension, analysis, and interpretation are parts of visual literacy that describe related data analysis skills important for learning in the biological sciences. The Molecular Biology Data Analysis Test (MBDAT) was developed to measure students’ data analysis skills connected with scientific reasoning when analyzing and interpreting scientific data generated from experimental research. The skills analyzed included basic skills, such as identification of patterns and trends in data and connecting a method that generated the data, and advanced skills, such as distinguishing positive and negative controls, synthesizing conclusions, determining if data supports a hypothesis, and predicting alternative or next-step experiments. Construct and content validity were established and calculated statistical parameters demonstrate that the MBDAT is valid and reliable for measuring students’ data analysis skills in molecular and cell biology contexts. The instrument also measures students’ perceived confidence in their data interpretation abilities. As scientific research continues to evolve in complexity, interpretation of scientific information in visual formats will continue to be an important component of scientific literacy. Thus science education will need to support and assess students’ development of these skills as part of students’ scientific training.
An improved mode-matching method for large cavities

The calculation of electromagnetic fields for two-dimensional (2-D) large open cavities filled with a layered material is studied. By defining two extension operators, the exact solution and the mode-matching solution may be formulated under the same framework, which makes it possible to analyze the difference. Using an asymptotic technique, we present a new (improved) mode-matching method. In particular, the explicit solution of the model problem is given. Numerical examples are presented.
The demand for potatoes in Tunisia: Are they a cereal substitute?

Per capita potato consumption has more than doubled in Tunisia during the past three decades. An econometric analysis of potato demand suggests that the principal source of growth in consumption is an income effect. The demand elasticities also suggest that potatoes are substituted for traditional cereal staples when food price ratios change, at least in the short run. Consumer preferences for potatoes may be increasing due to demographic and cultural factors. These findings carry implications for national agricultural policy which seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in food production. More emphasis could be given to non-traditional foods such as potatoes. Copyright 1994 by Oxford University Press.
Transcervical placement of a Malecot catheter after hysteroscopic evaluation provides for easier entry into the endometrial cavity for women with histories of difficult intrauterine inseminations and/or embryo transfers: a prospective case series.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate a new technique designed to improve access to the endometrial cavity through tortuous and/or stenotic endocervical canals in women with histories of difficult IUIs, ETs, or endometrial biopsies. Design: Prospective case series. Setting: Tertiary care center. Patient(s): Women with histories of difficult intrauterine procedures because of tortuous and/or stenotic endocervical canals who continued to undergo treatment. Intervention(s): Hysteroscopic evaluation and/or correction of the endocervix, followed by transcervical placement of a Malecot catheter (CR Bard Inc., Covington, GA) for an average of 10 days. Main Outcome Measure(s): Improvement in the ease of access to the endometrial cavity during IUIs or ETs. Result(s): Thirty-two of 36 patients had significantly easier procedures after the placement and removal of a Malecot catheter. Conclusion(s): Hysteroscopic evaluation and placement of a Malecot catheter is a useful technique that allows easier entry through the cervical canal in patients in whom previous IUIs, ETs, and endometrial biopsies have been difficult. This procedure may lead to improved pregnancy rates, particularly with IVF-ET, as the ease of ET has been correlated with improved implantation rates.
Supply Chain Coordination with Contracts

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the supply chain coordination with contracts. Numerous supply chain models are discussed. In each model, the supply chain optimal actions are identified. The chapter extends the newsvendor model by allowing the retailer to choose the retail price in addition to the stocking quantity. Coordination is more complex in this setting because the incentives provided to align one action might cause distortions with the other action. The newsvendor model is also extended by allowing the retailer to exert costly effort to increase demand. Coordination is challenging because the retailer's effort is noncontractible—that is, the firms cannot write contracts based on the effort chosen. The chapter also discusses an infinite horizon stochastic demand model in which the retailer receives replenishments from a supplier after a constant lead time. Coordination requires that the retailer chooses a large basestock level.
Baroreceptor sensitivity at rest and during stress in women with posttraumatic stress disorder or major depressive disorder

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and parasympathetic nervous system functioning was investigated during a baseline rest period and anger recall speaking task using noninvasive estimates of baroreceptor sensitivity. Participants (N = 124) were women categorized into one of four diagnostic groups: PTSD without major depressive disorder (MDD), PTSD with comorbid MDD, MDD without PTSD, and controls with neither psychiatric diagnosis. Women with PTSD (with or without MDD) exhibited significantly lower resting baroreceptor sensitivity than women not diagnosed with PTSD. Baroreceptor sensitivity decreased during the anger recall task, and the decrease was less among the psychiatric groups. Taken together, these findings suggest that PTSD is associated with reduced parasympathetic nervous system functioning.
Back to Basics: Primary Immune Deficiencies: Windows into the Immune System

1. Thomas A. Fleisher, MD* 1. *Chief, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Md After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the basic role of the innate and adaptive immune systems in host defense. 2. Recognize the clinical features of the various categories of primary immune deficiencies. 3. List the screening laboratory tests that can define the primary immune deficiencies. 4. Discuss the general approaches to immune reconstitution for treating primary immune deficiencies. The inherited immune deficiencies have been invaluable instructors, extending our understanding of the contribution of components of the immune system to host defense. The information provided by studying these disorders also has generated new avenues of therapy, applications of which have influenced the treatment of a range of other human diseases. Currently, more than 120 genetic defects are associated with immune deficiency, and it appears that these numbers will continue to grow. This expansion of knowledge is being driven, in part, by clinicians becoming more aware of the subtleties of immune function and linking clinical phenotypes to potential immune deficiencies. This article focuses on the range of human immune deficiencies in the context of the underlying immunologic defects and associated infections. This link between components of the immune system and protection from infection to various categories of microorganisms serves as the basis for developing current approaches to therapy. Space constraints limit this discussion; readers are referred to major textbooks that deal specifically with immune deficiencies for in-depth discussions of these disorders. (1) Better understanding of the immune deficiencies requires a basic understanding of the immune system and its division into two major components: innate and adaptive immunity. The former is a phylogenetically more primitive system that responds without the requirement of prior exposure. The functional components of innate immunity include cellular components as well as circulating and secreted proteins (Fig. 1). An innate immune host response is activated by direct …
Deltaic sedimentation in a modern rift lake

Five of the largest deltas of Lake Malawi in Africa were surveyed to compare and contrast bathymetry, bedform distribution, and sedimentary facies using high-resolution seismic reflection profiling, side-scan sonar, and sediment coring. Striking variability in delta morphology and depositional facies was found, depending primarily on tectonic setting but also influenced strongly by lake processes and the significant past variability in lake level resulting from climatic change. Deltas on border faults and accommodation zones have much steeper offshore gradients than those on shoaling margins, resulting in narrow sandy shelves, abundant mass wasting, and sand bypass to the deep basins as turbidites, either confined to turbidity channels or spread across sand ramps. At the axial margin of the lake, where the trend of faults is orthogonal to the shoreline, deltaic facies are dominated by mud, mass wasting is common, and numerous turbidite channels coalesce into a single major, fault-controlled channel. In contrast, deltas on shoaling margins have broad, sandy shelves that are strongly influenced by coastal currents, which rework the sands into well-developed sand wave fields. Turbidites are not common in this setting, and the slope regions are covered with poorly sorted sandy muds with little evidence for downslope transport.
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF PURE SILICA MEL AND MFI ZEOLITE THIN FILMS

This paper reports the temperature dependent cross-plane thermal conductivity of pure silica zeolite (PSZ) MFI and MEL thin films measured using the 3ω method between 30 and 315 K. PSZ MFI thin films were b-oriented, fully crystalline, and had a 33% microporosity. PSZ MEL thin films consisted of MEL nanoparticles embedded in a nonuniform and porous silica matrix. They featured porosity, relative crystallinity, and particle size ranging from 40% to 59%, 23% to 47%, and 55 to 80 nm, respectively. Despite their crystallinity, MFI films had smaller thermal conductivity than that of amorphous silica due to strong phonon scattering by micropores. In addition, the effects of increased relative crystallinity and particle size on thermal conductivity of MEL thin films were compensated by the simultaneous increase in porosity. Finally, thermal conductivity of MFI zeolite was predicted and discussed using the Callaway model based on the Debye approximation.
Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Drugs⁎

Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs have arguably prevented or delayed more deaths in patients with established heart disease that any other class of pharmaceutical agent ([1][1]). These drugs fundamentally alter the clinical course of patients with heart failure and a reduced left ventricular
Stockholders' Equity Exercises

Three exercises related to stockholders’ equity are presented. Students are asked to record transactions, and then consider their effect on the financial statements. The exercises include the issuance of common and preferred stock, payment of dividends, repurchase and reissue of stock, stock splits, and stock dividends.
School Truancy: A Case Study of a Successful Truancy Reduction Model in the Public Schools

Today, school districts around the nation are tackling the truancy problem by working jointly with courts, law enforcement, social service agencies, and parents to identify students at the first signs of unexcused absenteeism and ensuring that all individuals are involved in prevention, planning, and implementation of a truancy plan. This article examines one such program in Colorado by providing an overview of truancy and juvenile crime, examining Colorado's School Attendance Law of 1963, and concluding with an examination of Adams County School District 14's successful truancy reduction model. The underlying philosophy of this model is that the American way of life is predicated upon an educated citizenry. Without an educated citizenry our American form of democratic government will struggle to survive. Our citizens must be capable of making informed decisions in voting and self-determination.
Duodenal neuroendocrine tumor and the onset of severe diabetes mellitus in a US veteran

Objective:Neuroendocrine tumors are neoplasms derived from endocrine cells, most commonly occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors are rare tumors averaging 1.2–1.5 c...
The congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome: imaging findings in a multicenter study. CBPS Study Group.

PURPOSE To describe the neuroimaging findings and the clinical features in patients with the congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS Evaluation including history, general and neurologic examinations, electroencephalogram, chromosomal studies, and imaging data were reviewed in 31 patients. Pathologic material was available in two patients. RESULTS All patients had similar neurologic dysfunction, primarily pseudobulbar paresis. Dysarthria and severe restriction of tongue movements were present in all. Motor milestones were delayed in 75% of the patients and language milestones in all. Mild to moderate intellectual deficits were documented in 75% of patients (full-scale IQ = 70). Pyramidal signs were observed in 70%. Seizures were present in 87% and were intractable to medical therapy in half of this group. MR revealed bilateral perisylvian and perirolandic malformations with exposure of the insula. The malformations were symmetrical in 80% of cases. Pathologic correlation revealed four layered polymicrogyria in the affected areas. CONCLUSIONS The congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome is a homogeneous clinical-radiologic entity. The underlying abnormality is probably polymicrogyria.
Optical Studies of The Uniformity of Thermally Induced In-Plane Strain in Thin Gallium Arsenide Films

In-plane anisotropic strain can be employed in the design of a new class of optoelectronic devices, such as high contrast, polarization sensitive spatial light modulators. One of the key issues involved in realizing these devices is obtaining a controllable and uniform in-plane strain. We have studied the uniformity of thermally induced in-plane strain in MOCVD grown GaAs lift-off thin films mounted on LiTaO3 or CaCO3 substrates. The experiment exploits the straininduced splitting of the excitonic interband transition at low temperature through absorption measurements using a Ti-Sapphire laser focused to a spot size less than 100 μm. The polarization vector of the incident light was oriented along an axis which enhances both features. From the energy positions of these transitions, the magnitude as well as the type of the in-plane strain was determined. Topographic scans performed over a 1.4mm X 1.4mm area for the sample bonded to CaCO3, and along a 2 mm line for that bonded to LiTaO3 revealed variations in strain of less than 5%.
Targeting chemokine receptors in disease – a case study of CCR4

Since their early 1990s, the chemokine receptor family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been the source of much pharmacological endeavour. Best known for their key roles in recruiting leukocytes to sites of infection and inflammation, the receptors present themselves as plausible drug targets for therapeutic intervention. In this article, we will focus our attention upon CC Chemokine Receptor Four (CCR4) which has been implicated in diseases as diverse as allergic asthma and lymphoma. We will review the discovery of the receptors and their ligands, their perceived roles in disease and the successful targeting of CCR4 by both small molecule antagonists and monoclonal antibodies. We will also discuss future directions and strategies for drug discovery in this field.
Forward: A Fresh Look at Measuring and Altering Bone Quality

This special issue of Clinical Reviews in Bone and Mineral Metabolism presents a series of review articles on how bone quality is measured and how it is altered by intervention. These articles highlight the great progress that has been made over the past three decades to define and study bone quality. The stage is now set to harness these concepts of bone quality for development of new approaches to strengthen the skeleton and reduce fracture risk.
Abstract 1327: Gold nanorods based hypoxia-targeted photothermal cancer therapy

PURPOSE: Tumor hypoxia is a well-recognized driver of resistance to traditional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Gold nanorods (GNR), with unique dimension and optical properties, have shown superior capability for tumor photothermal ablation. This study aimed to develop a new nanoconstruct composed of gold nanorods (GNRs) conjugate to anti-carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) antibody that specifically binds to CAIX, a biomarker of hypoxia, to facilitate targeting tumor hypoxic areas for focused photothermal ablation. METHODS: GNR were synthesized according to the seed-mediated growth method with modification. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the size and shape of the particles. The GNR/anti-CAIX conjugates were prepared through a bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG). The conjugates were characterized by UV-Vis spectra, particle sizes and zeta potentials. The binding affinity and specificity of the GNR/anti-CAIX were evaluated with ELISA, cell adhesion assay and cell photothermal treatment. HT29 colon cancer cell line (overexpressing CAIX) and NIH3T3 cell line (no expressing CAIX) were used in our study. Near-infrared (NIR) ablation was performed on HT29 tumors in mice that treated with PBS, GNR-PEG and GNR/anti-CAIX. Biodistribution were conducted on the latter two groups. RESULTS: TEM images showed that the synthesized GNR had an aspect ratio of about 3 (8 × 24 nm). The changes of UV-vis spectra, particle sizes and zeta potentials confirmed the success of the conjugation. ELISA suggested that the number of anti-CAIX per GNR was 4.8 ± 0.3. In the cell binding assay, GNR/anti-CAIX only showed specific and high degree binding to HT29 cells but not to NIH3T3 cells. NIR laser treatment of HT29 cells resulted in significantly higher killing of GNR/anti-CAIX-targeted cells than of controls. NIR ablation of HT29 tumors in mice showed no tumor regression in the sham-treated group, regression but recurrence in the non-targeted-GNR group, and complete tumor regression in the targeted-GNR group. Biodistribution study showed significant higher accumulation in tumor in the targeted-GNR group. CONCLUSIONS: GNR/anti-CAIX nanoconstructs show promise as highly efficient targeting and photothermal ablation agents for cancer treatment. GRANT SUPPORT: This work was performed under funding from NIH/NIGMS grant (1SC3GM102018-01) and NIH/NIMHD/RCMI grant (5G12RR003045-21). Citation Format: Huan Xie, Sunil Krishnan. Gold nanorods based hypoxia-targeted photothermal cancer therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1327.
Impact of environmental factors on biometric matching during human decomposition

Automatic recognition systems are valuable tools for identifying unknown deceased individuals. Immediately after death, fingerprint and face biometric samples are easy to collect using standard sensors and can be easily matched to antemortem biometric samples. Even though early postmortem fingerprints and facial images have been used for identification purposes for decades, there are no studies that track these biometrics through the later stages of decomposition to determine the length of time they remain viable. This paper discusses a multimodal dataset of finger-prints, faces, and irises from twelve donated human subjects that decomposed outdoors under natural conditions. Results include predictive models relating time and temperature, measured as Accumulated Degree Days (ADD), and season (winter, spring, summer), to the probability of automatic verification using a commercial algorithm.
Randomized Deep Learning Methods for Clinical Trial Enrichment and Design in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract There is growing body of research devoted to designing imaging-based biomarkers that identify Alzheimer's disease (AD) in its prodromal stage using statistical machine learning methods. Recently several authors investigated how AD clinical trials can be made more efficient using predictive measures from such computational methods. For instance, identifying Mild Cognitive Impaired who are most likely to decline during a trial, and thus most likely to benefit from the treatment, will improve trial efficiency and power to detect treatment effects. To this end, using multi-modal, imaging-derived, inclusion criteria may be especially beneficial. In this paper, we explain why predictive measures given by ROI-based summaries or SVM type objectives may be less than ideal for use in the setting described above. We give a solution based on novel deep learning models referred to as a randomized neural networks. We show that our proposed models trained on multiple imaging modalities correspond to a minimum variance unbiased estimator of the decline and are ideal for clinical trial enrichment and design. The resulting predictions appear to more accurately correlate to the disease stages, and extensive evaluations on Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) indicate strong improvements in sample size estimates over existing strategies including those based on multi-kernel learning. From the modeling perspective, we evaluate several architectural choices including denoising autoencoders and dropout learning. Separately, our formulation empirically shows how deep architectures can be applied in the large d , small n regime – the default situation in medical imaging and bioinformatics. This result is of independent interest.
Enhancement of weakly tagged fecal materials in dual-energy CT colonography using spectral-driven iterative reconstruction technique

Dual-energy computed tomography is used increasingly in CT colonography (CTC). The combination of computer-aided detection (CAD) and dual-energy CTC has a high clinical value because it can automatically detect clinically significant colonic lesions in CTC images with higher accuracy than does single-energy CTC. While CAD has demonstrated its ability to detect small polyps, its performance is highly dependent on the quality of the input images. The presence of artifacts such as beam hardening and image noise in ultra-low-dose CTC may severely degrade detection performance for small polyps. A further limitation to the effectiveness of CAD are the weakly tagged fecal materials in the colon that may cause false-positive detections. In this work, we developed a dual-energy method for enhancing the appearance of weakly tagged fecal materials in CTC images. The proposed method consists of two stages: 1) the detection of weakly tagged fecal materials by use of sinogram-based image decomposition and 2) the enhancement of the detected tagged fecal materials in the images using an iterative reconstruction method. In the first stage, the ultra-low-dose dual-energy projection data obtained from a CT scanner are decomposed into two basis materials – soft tissue and fecal-tagged material (iodine). Virtual monochromatic projection data are calculated from the material decomposition at a pre-determined energy. The iodine-decomposed sinogram and the virtual monochromatic projection data are then used as input to an iterative reconstruction method. In the second stage, virtual monochromatic images are reconstructed iteratively while the intensity of weakly tagged iodine in the images is enhanced. The performance of the proposed method was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Preliminary results show that our method effectively enhances the visual appearance of weakly tagged fecal materials in the reconstructed CT images while reducing noise and improving the overall quality of the reconstructed images.
The Reproduction of the Hypermasculine Male: Select Subaltern Views

Since the 1500s, masculinity and the socialization of men have been defined by colonization. This essay explores the hypermasculine male as a person unemotional yet fearful of intimacy, void of non-masculine attachments and identifications, competitive and aggressive, strong, independent, dominant, powerful, rational, sexist, homophobic, and generally disconnected from his own sense of self and the self of others. Nancy Chodorow’s challenge for the reproduction of masculinity is understood as a call to decolonialize the hypermasculine male as exposed in the political and subaltern psychologies of Frantz Fanon and Ashis Nandy. When the hypermasculine male is not rehumanized, all people are dehumanized, especially persons of color, children, women, and the elderly, and all who are perceived as not manly enough or as not following the rules and systems set by men. The image of the hypermasculine male is recognized in select computer games, where the image is actively promoted.
Time Lapse Image Stretch Measurements to Obtain Atmospheric Refractivity Duct Model Parameters

Low cost time lapse imaging system is used to obtain diurnal towering of a near horizon target. Atmospheric refractivity profile is achieved combining Webster duct model and our previous work to transform time lapse data.
Timing of births and oral contraceptive use influences ovarian cancer risk

Increasing parity and duration of combined oral contraceptive (COC) use provide substantial protection against ovarian carcinoma (cancer). There are limited data on the impact of the age of the births or age of COC use on reducing ovarian cancer risk. Here, we examined the effects of age at first and last births and age at use of COCs using data from studies conducted in Los Angeles County, California, USA (1,632 cases, 2,340 controls). After adjusting for the number of births, every 5 years that a first birth was delayed reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 13% (95% CI 5-21%; p = 0.003); a first birth after age 35 was associated with a 47% lower risk than a first birth before age 25. COC use before age 35 was associated with greater protection per year of use than COC use at older ages. Considering previously published results as well as the results presented here, increasing parity and a later age at births are both important protective factors against ovarian cancer and the protection extends over 30 or more years from last birth. Current models of the etiology of ovarian cancer do not encompass an effect of late age at births. Our result of an attenuation of the protective effect with COC use after around age 35 needs further investigation as it has not been seen in all studies.
Sun and Light, or On the Agent Intellect

This paper examines some passages in the Treatise on Human Nature in which Thomas Aquinas, following Themistius, refers to Plato’s analogies between the sun and the soul in order to prove that the agent intellect is something that belongs to the soul. It also analyzes the analogy between the light and the soul that Aquinas mentions, which is taken from Aristotle. The main task at hand will be to revisit the question of how Aquinas interprets Plato and Aristotle in this particular section of the Treatise on Human Nature.
Neutral Fermions and Bosons

Our major interest in this work lies with the pure electromagnetic system: electrons, positrons, and the electromagnetic field. But the phenomena with which these are associated contain enough other interesing notions that a complete picture cannot be obtained without examining those notions. This chapter, therefore, is devoted to a number of peripheral subjects which, nevertheless, are essential to a full treatment of the Dirac theory.
Feminist implications of anti-leisure in dystopian fiction.

This essay provides a feminist perspective on dystopian anti-leisure. Dystopias are futuristic anti-utopias where leisure is distorted and individuals are manipulated to further the agenda of the politically powerful (Rabkin, 1983). The purpose of this essay is to illustrate how women in dystopian societies are subjected to anti-leisure as evidenced by the devaluation of their personal leisure spaces. A feminist definition of leisure is used to guide a poststructuralist feminist analysis of four dystopian novels: Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano and George Orwell's 1984. Synopsis and discussion are then employed to demonstrate how two binary oppositions of female disempowerment are evidenced in the novels and to consider how these same forces operate in reality to jeopardize women's personal leisure spaces.
Management of Ductal Leaks

Pancreatic duct leaks can occur as a result of the inflammation associated with acute pancreatitis. Leaks have a wide range of clinical manifestations, which vary based on the severity and location of the leak as well as the body’s ability to wall off or control its output. Pancreatic leaks can be internal or external. External leaks represent pancreaticocutaneous fistulas, while internal leaks can present as pseudocysts, pancreatic ascites, high amylase pleural effusions, disconnected duct syndrome (DDS), or other complications. Most minor leaks will resolve with conservative management while major leaks often require interventions. Historically, patients with pancreatic leaks have been treated surgically; however, more recently endoscopic and interventional radiology therapies have been developed. Pancreatic leak patients are now best cared for by a multidisciplinary team involving gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists, and pancreatic surgeons. Treatment of internal leaks involves both treating the leak and the consequences of the leak. Placement of a transpapillary stent that bridges the ductal disruption is likely to result in resolution of the leak as long as DDS is not present. Fluid collections such as pseudocysts can often be treated by endoscopic transmural drainage with or without endoscopic ultrasound assistance. Endoscopic therapies for pancreatic leaks have shown good efficacy with low rates of complications.
Việt Nam: a history from earliest times to the present

In the past few years, three leading historians of mainland Southeast Asia have published major surveys of Vietnamese history. The near-simultaneous appearance of Keith Taylor’s A History of the Vi...
Probabilistic models of abutment backfills for regional seismic assessment of highway bridges in California

Abstract Seismic responses of ordinary highway bridges that feature stiff superstructures have been shown to be strongly affected by abutment-backfill interactions. Seismic risk assessment of these bridges at the regional scale faces the added challenge of having to deal with the large uncertainty in backfill properties. In this regard, the study develops probabilistic backfill models to better quantify the uncertainties in modeling the abutment. First, efforts to establish the validity of the numerical method in predicting the pushover response of backfills are described. Advanced plasticity materials are used in finite element models (FEMs) to simulate sandy and clayey soils that yield consistent backfill force-displacement relationships against full-scale test results. Second, a probabilistic analysis framework is constructed to incorporate soil uncertainties that are identified from field investigations. Statistical moments are extracted from the resultant pushover curves to fully define the probabilistic backfill models, which are verified to bear appropriate uncertainty treatment and reasonable height adjustment factors. Further, statistical analysis tools are used to investigate the influences of different backfill models on the bridge demand estimates of two common bridge classes. The study reveals that backfill models will affect the response estimates of different bridge components in both diaphragm and seat-type abutment bridges. However, probabilistic models shall be especially considered on backfills for the bridge components that are expected to have dominant responses in the longitudinal direction. The proposed backfill models appear to outperform previous deterministic models in predicting realistic bridge responses. The models can be employed in the task of regional seismic assessment of various bridge classes.
Summary of Working Group 7: Radiation Generation and Advanced Concepts

This paper presents a summary of the presentations and discussions of Working Group 7 (WG7): Radiation and Advanced Concepts. This working group was part of the 2018 Advanced Accelerator Concepts Workshop held at Breckenridge, Colorado, from August 12 to 17, 2018. There was wide-range of topics covered by this working group raging from electromagnetic radiation generated by beams (both as a diagnostic and as a source) and advanced concepts that fall outside the scope of the other working groups.
Navigating End-of-Life Decisions Using Informed Nondissent.

Ursin argues that when responding to surveys, many physicians state that, in their view, there are ethical distinctions between withholding and withdrawing intensive care and other life-sustaining ...
Sex difference in kidney electrolyte transport II: impact of K+ intake on thiazide-sensitive cation excretion in male and female mice.

We studied sex differences in response to high K+ (HK) intake on thiazide-sensitive cation (Na+ and K+) excretion in wild-type (WT) and ANG II receptor subtype 1a (AT1aR) knockout (KO) mice. Renal ...