cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Theories of Speech Meet the Real World

Two theories of speech—one quite conventional, the other much less so—account very differently for the biological advantage of speech over writing/reading. The guiding assumption of the more conventional theory is that the elements of speech are sounds, and that these are served by processes of motor control and auditory perception that are in no way specialized for language. Accordingly, there must be a cognitive stage, beyond action and perception, where the motor and auditory representations are somehow invested with linguistic significance. On the conventional view, then, the sounds of speech are just like the letters of the alphabet. Neither has more than an arbitrary relation to language, hence the difference between them is trivially a matter of which of the equally large gaps between signal and message needs to be bridged. On the less conventional theory, the ultimate constituents of speech are not sounds, but articulatory gestures. Having evolved exclusively in the service of language, they form a natural class, a phonetic modality. Being phonetic to begin with, they do not require to be made so by cognitive translation. And that, very simply, is the advantage of speech over writing/reading. Speech has the corollary advantage that it is managed by a module biologically adapted to circumvent limitations of tongue and ear by automatically coarticulating the constituent gestures and coping with the complex acoustic consequences. But a result is that awareness of phonetic structure is not normally a product of having learned to speak: The module “spells”—that is, sequences phonetic segments—for the speaker and recovers the segments for the listener, leaving both in the dark about the way that is done; the gestural representations are immediately phonetic in nature, precluding the cognitive translation that would bring them to notice; and coarticulation destroys all correspondence in segmentation between acoustic and phonetic structures, making it that much harder to demonstrate the alphabetic nature of speech at the acoustic surface. Accordingly, special difficulty in becoming literate might be caused by a weakness of the phonetic module, for that would produce primary representations of a fragile sort, with the consequence that they would be that much harder to bring to awareness—as is required if they are to serve writers and readers as the units of an alphabetic script—and also that much less able to bear the weight of working memory.
Graphs: Traversing Roads

The idea of a graph (or linear graph) is introduced. We start by modelling roads and look at the problem of traversing all roads in an area. The Konigsberg bridge problem asks whether this can be done without repeating roads; alternatively, one can try to minimize the number of repeats. The components of graphs (vertices, edges) are defined, and some basic ideas (adjacency, multiple edges, simplicity, connectedness) are discussed.
Cocaine Mediated Neuroinflammation: Role of Dysregulated Autophagy in Pericytes

Cocaine, a known psychostimulant, results in oxidative stress and inflammation. Recent studies from our group have shown that cocaine induces inflammation in glial cells. Our current study was aimed at investigating whether cocaine exposure could also induce inflammation in non-glial cells such as the pericytes with a focus on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/autophagy axis. Our in vitro findings demonstrated that exposure of pericytes to cocaine resulted in upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in both the intracellular as well as extracellular compartments, thus underpinning pericytes as yet another source of neuroinflammation. Cocaine exposure of pericytes resulted in increased formation of autophagosomes as demonstrated by a time-dependent increase of autophagy markers, with a concomitant defect in the fusion of the autophagosome with the lysosomes. Pharmacological blocking of the sigma 1 receptor underscored its role in cocaine-mediated activation of pericytes. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that cocaine-mediated dysregulation of autophagy involved upstream activation of the ER stress pathways, with a subsequent downstream production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in pericytes. These findings were also validated in an in vivo model wherein pericytes in the isolated brain microvessels of cocaine injected mice (7 days) exhibited increased expression of both the autophagy marker—LC3 as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6. This is the first report describing the role of pericytes in cocaine-mediated neuroinflammation. Interventions aimed at blocking either the sigma-1 receptor or the upstream ER stress mediators could likely be envisioned as promising therapeutic targets for abrogating cocaine-mediated inflammation in pericytes.
A Truly Ancient “Great Divergence”––A New History of the Chinese State

Zhao provides a new view of why China remained politically united, but unable to achieve industrialization. He traces the roots of both conditions back to the Warring States period, when Chinese le...
Twelve tips for incorporating the study of human rights into medical education.

AbstractIn order for patients to be adequately cared for by clinicians, an awareness and acknowledgement of the factors that affect their well-being, including adherence to internationally recogniz...
Iron(III) Speciation Observed at Aqueous and Glycerol Surfaces: Vibrational Sum Frequency and X-ray

Aqueous solutions of FeCl3 have been widely studied to shed light on a number of processes from dissolution, mineralization, biology, electrocatalysis, corrosion, to microbial biomineralization. Ye...
GP9 Skull X-rays in the diagnosis of abnormal skull shapes

Introduction Differentiation between plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis continues to provide a challenge for the clinician. Historically, initial investigations would have included a skull x-ray. However, it is widely accepted that this investigation is difficult to interpret and its value in diagnosis of craniosynostosis is debated. Aside from creating the burden of additional investigations, it also exposes children to ionising radiation. Aim and Objectives Examine the correlation between reported skull x-rays and clinical diagnosis of craniosynostosis to establish their diagnostic value and value in management of abnormal skull shape. Methods Retrospective chart review conducted as a 2 part study in children who were referred with a skull x-ray. Part A: Referrals of abnormal skull shapes to the National Pediatric Craniofacial Center (NPCC), Temple Street Children’s Hospital, between 1st January 2015 and 30th May 2017 Part B: Children who underwent surgery for a confirmed craniosynostosis between 1st January 2011 - 25th October 2017. Results and Findings Part A: 300 children were referred with 59 skull x-rays. This represented 20% of all patients referred during the time period. Of these 44 (75%) were found to be a match with 15 (25%) not matching the final clinical diagnosis. Part B: 274 children underwent surgery for a confirmed craniosynostosis between 1st January 2011 - 25th October 2017. 63 pts had skull x-rays on referral- this represents 23% of all operated children in the time period. Of these 41 (63%) were found to be a match with 17 (29%) not matching the final clinical diagnosis. 5 (8%) were inconclusive. Conclusions Part A: In 25% of the children referred to the NPCC with abnormal skull shape, their clinical diagnosis did not match their x-ray report. As such, skull x-rays did not contribute to their management. Part B: In 35% of children who underwent surgery for craniosynostosis, their clinical diagnosis did not match their radiological diagnosis. In the remaining children who had a skull x-ray performed and underwent surgery for craniosynostosis, the majority (88%) had a subtype of craniosynostosis which our clinical team who feel confident to diagnosis clinically without imaging. As such, it can be said that in 92% of children who underwent surgery at the NPCC the x-ray did not contribute to their management. We recommend clinicians should check with the NPCC with respect to the protocol for x-rays where craniosynostosis is suspected as in most cases the diagnosis is clinically obvious to the craniofacial surgeon.
(p, γ) Resonance-Curve Shapes and Measurements of Resonance Energies with H + 1 Beams

During the preparation of a new precise absolute energy scale for nuclear reaction accelerators, some "anomalies" were observed in the behavior of ($p, \ensuremath{\gamma}$) resonances. These observations led to an exhaustive investigation of ($p, \ensuremath{\gamma}$) yield-curve shapes and detailed interpretation of these shapes in terms of physically significant quantities such as resonance energy and resonance width. Most of the measurements have been made with respect to the 992-keV resonance in the ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction, but other reactions have also been used. A list of the anomalies observed includes (1) the failure of the peaks of thin-target resonance yield curves to be shifted from resonance energy by as much as half the target thickness, (2) the displacement of the midpoint of the rise of thick-target yield curves to bombarding energies below the resonance energy, (3) the "overshoot" of the yield curve for thick targets forming a hump above the thick-target plateau, (4) the obtaining of apparently different intrinsic resonance widths for the same resonance and from the same thick target at different times separated by a few weeks, and (5) the obtaining of significantly different thick-target yield-curve shapes from the same target in two different orientations with respect to the beam. The anomalies are all satisfactorily explained on the basis of fluctuations in energy loss of the bombarding protons as they penetrate the target. The theory used was chiefly developed by Symon. Detailed numerical integrations of the formal yield equation have been made, and in most cases very good fits have been made with the experimental data. The information gained from this investigation is applied to energy calibrations resulting in precise best values for the following narrow ($p, \ensuremath{\gamma}$) resonances: ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma}){\mathrm{Si}}^{28}$ reaction, 991.91\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.30 and 1317.19\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.40 keV; ${\mathrm{C}}^{13}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma}){\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ reaction, 1747.06\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.53 keV; ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{58}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma}){\mathrm{Cu}}^{59}$ reaction, 1423.64\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.43 and 1843.45\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.56 keV. The displacement of the midpoint of the rise of a thick-target yield curve from the resonance energy ${E}_{r}$ as a function of the resonance width $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ is discussed, and a typical curve of this relationship is shown. The overshoot or hump height for a thick target as a function of $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ is also discussed, and a curve is shown.
Baloxavir Reduces Symptom Duration Similar to Oseltamivir, Primarily Within 24 Hours of Symptom Onset.

Baloxavir has similar efficacy to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) (33-hour reduction in duration of symptoms compared with placebo) and, like oseltamivir, is most effective when given within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Liquid crystal nose (LC-nose): case of chiral networks

Liquid crystalline networks based on compositions of cholesteric siloxanes and low molar mass compounds are studied as components of a liquid crystal nose (LC-nose) that is able to detect a number ...
Improved stability of long-duration sitting in spatial neglect after a single session of prism adaptation

Spatial neglect after right brain stroke affects balance, and improvements in sitting balance after prism adaptation have been demonstrated using short-duration center of pressure (CoP) data. We pr...
Skeletal dysplasias in art and antiquities: A cultural journey through genes, environment, and chance

People with skeletal dysplasias have left traces in art and antiquities through ages and cultures worldwide, in Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Europe. Such traces record the impact of people with skeletal dysplasia on society and culture-in daily life, religion, and mythology. However, identifying ("diagnosing") skeletal dysplasia in artifacts and interpreting what such depictions meant within the culture in which they were created is extremely challenging and at times impossible. The objectives of this short and necessarily selective survey are to present a few examples of art through different ages and cultures as a springboard for discussion not only on potential medical diagnoses but also on the lives of people with chondrodysplasia and how they were valued in the society in which they lived. The artifacts were selected from Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, Mesoamerica (Maya), Sub-Saharan Africa (Kingdom of Benin), Tang China, and 17th Century Europe. In some cases, surviving artifacts with likely depictions of skeletal dysplasia are few and their cultural context incompletely understood. Nevertheless, certain themes and attitudes seem to repeat across different times and regions, though some cultures, such as those in Ancient Egypt, appeared to have had a comparatively positive view of people with restricted growth and chondrodysplasia.
The Rational Dynamics of Implicit Thought

Implicit attitudes are mental states posited by psychologists to explain behaviours including implicit racial and gender bias. In this paper, I investigate the belief view of the implicit attitudes...
College Student Retention Risk Analysis From Educational Database using Multi-Task Multi-Modal Neural Fusion.

We develop a Multimodal Spatiotemporal Neural Fusion network for Multi-Task Learning (MSNF-MTCL) to predict 5 important students' retention risks: future dropout, next semester dropout, type of dropout, duration of dropout and cause of dropout. First, we develop a general purpose multi-modal neural fusion network model MSNF for learning students' academic information representation by fusing spatial and temporal unstructured advising notes with spatiotemporal structured data. MSNF combines a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-based document embedding framework to represent each advising note, Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) network to model temporal advising note embeddings, LSTM network to model students' temporal performance variables and students' static demographics altogether. The final fused representation from MSNF has been utilized on a Multi-Task Cascade Learning (MTCL) model towards building MSNF-MTCL for predicting 5 student retention risks. We evaluate MSNFMTCL on a large educational database consists of 36,445 college students over 18 years period of time that provides promising performances comparing with the nearest state-of-art models. Additionally, we test the fairness of such model given the existence of biases.
WE-G-210-03: Mammographically Configured, Automated Ultrasound: Methods and Potential Applications

This session focuses on recent developments in breast ultrasound imaging, covering clinical practice as well as clinical and pre-clinical research. Current status of ultrasound screening will be reviewed, followed by discussions of emerging technologies at various stages of regulatory and technical development. The session strives to provide the attendee with a view of a continuum of imaging advances starting with the present and spanning the near and long term future. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand current state of ultrasound screening for breast cancer 2. Learn about current availability of whole breast ultrasound 3. Appreciate the current barriers to stronger adoption of screening ultrasound 4. Learn about attempts to drive adoption of screening ultrasound (e.g. breast density laws) 5. Learn about ultrasound tomography as an emerging technique for breast imaging 6. Learn about the regulatory status of emerging techniques such as ultrasound tomography 7. Learn about the developmental status of combined 3-D ultrasound and Mammography systems 8. Learn about photo-acoustic imaging and its potential future role in breast imaging
4 – Diatomic Molecules

This chapter focuses on the different properties such as discrete spectrum, the ionization continuum, and analysis of several molecules including molecular hydrogen (H 2 ), molecular nitrogen (N 2 ), molecular oxygen (O 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen chloride (HCl). Molecular hydrogen introduces more complications than He, since each np Rydberg is split into npσ and npπ by the molecular field, and each Rydberg member has vibrational structure. In H 2 , for the first ∼1.2 eV above the IP there is competition between auto ionization, predissociation, direct ionization, and direct photo dissociation. Unlike H 2 , where high-quality calculations are available to determine the oscillator strengths of the resulting bands, the calculations for N 2 are not of sufficiently high quality. The oxygen molecule has two electrons in the valence anti-bonding π g orbital. This results in a reduction of the adiabatic ionization potential relative to N 2 and also a diminution in the dissociation energy. The CO molecule is isoelectronic with N 2 . This implies similarities in orbital aufbau and excitation, but there are noteworthy differences. The dissociation energy (D 0 ) is higher in CO than in N 2 , but the IP is lower. This latter observation suggests lower excitation energies in CO than in N 2 . The total discrete oscillator strength is about one unit in both cases, but in CO the lower excitation energies make S (−2) in this domain relatively larger, which accounts in part for the polarizability ( α ) being larger in CO than in N 2 .
Crystal structure of a DinB family error-prone DNA polymerase from Sulfolobus solfataricus

A new group of error-prone DNA polymerases overcomes the blockage posed to normal DNA replication by damaged template bases, suggesting an active site with a loose, flexible pocket that accommodates aberrant DNA structures. We have determined a 2.8 A resolution crystal structure of the Sulfolobus solfataricus Dbh protein, a DNA translesion polymerase closely related to Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV and human polymerase κ. A high error rate is observed for the Dbh polymerase in a range of 10−2–10−3 for all 12 base substitution mispairs. The crystal structure of Dbh reveals an overall architecture resembling other DNA polymerases but has unique features that are likely to contribute to error-prone synthesis, including −1 frameshifting mutations.
Committee decisions under alternative procedural rules: An experimental study applying a new non-monetary method of preference inducement

Committees operating with simple majority rule procedures and with closed rule procedures are studied. A new method (the duplicate method) was used to induce preferences. The results of the control experiments compare favorably to those for which monetary incentives have been used. In all cases, the core is a relatively accurate model of committee choice.
Design and Development of Cryostable Superconducting Ohmic Heating Coils for a Tokamak

A conceptual design on the superconducting ohmic heating (OH) coil has been made for the GA/ANL TNS tokamak reactor studies. The primary advantage of a superconducting OH coil is the minimization of equipment and operational costs. This is primarily a result of the much reduced power supply and energy storage costs. Three-hundred megawatt peak power and 11-MW rms power would be required to drive a room-temperature copper OH coil system, as opposed to 16 and 4 MW, respectively, for a superconducting OH coil. Another reason is that, to reduce the overall TNS tokamak cost, the flux core of OH coils should be small. However, a much better utilization of the flux core can be achieved with superconducting OH coils by placing the support cylinder of superconducting toroidal field (TF) coils within the inner diameter of the superconducting OH coils, thus allowing the outer diameter of the OH coils to be in close contact with TF coils. Recent scoping studies indicate that superconducting OH coils will cost only half as much as room-temperature copper OH coils [1].
Using a Venture Capital Class to Teach Transactional Skills

This article is an edited version of my remarks at Emory Law's Conference on Teaching Drafting and Transactional Skill held in May 2008. In it I explore three topics. First I discuss why venture capital is an ideal method to teach the business aspects of deals and transactional skills -- more so than most other courses. Second, I share some thoughts on the best way to organize a venture capital course. And third, I survey some of the materials that are available to teach in this area, particularly business school cases, which are designed to teach exactly the type of skills we should be teaching.
Acyl Carrier Protein (ACP) Import into Chloroplasts

During the import of the precursor for the acyl carrier protein (ACP) into chloroplasts, apoACP is converted to holoACP by the attachment of a phosphopantetheine group transferred from coenzyme A (CoA) by a chloroplast holoACP synthase [Fernandez, M. and Lamppa, G. (1990) Acyl carrier protein import into chloroplasts does not require the phosphopantetheine: evidence for a chloroplast holoACP synthase, Plant Cell 2, 195–-2061. Here it is shown that exogenous addition of CoA to intact chloroplasts in the import assay stimulates the conversion of apoACP to holoACP. If adenosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate [Ado(3′,5′)P2], the byproduct of the transfer reaction, was also included the extent of conversion was greatly reduced. CoA has its effect after ACP precursor (pre-ACP) import and proteolytic removal of the transit peptide, thus indicating that the chloroplast holoACP synthase resides in the stroma where fatty acid synthase is found. When Ado(3′,5′)P2 was added alone to the import assay, it inhibited the synthesis of holoACP. Inhibition of the conversion of apo- to holoACP with Ado(3′,5′)P2 made it possible to examine whether the holoform of preACP could be imported into chloroplasts. Pre-apoACP was synthesized in Escherichia coli and shown to be competent for import in an ATP- and temperature-dependent manner. A partially purified chloroplast holoACP synthase converted 60–90% of the pre-apoACP to pre-holoACP. Pre-holoACP incubated with chloroplasts in the presence of Ado(3′,5′)P2 yielded >60% holoACP, whereas the control reaction with pre-apoACP gave primarily apoACP. Hence the phosphopantetheine prosthetic group of ACP does not block precursor movement through the translocation apparatus of the chloroplast envelope.
The corrected log N-log fluence distribution of cosmological γ-ray bursts

Recent analysis of relativistically expanding shells of cosmological γ-ray bursts has shown that if the bursts are cosmological, then most likely total energy (E0) is standard and not peak luminosity (L0). Assuming a flat Friedmann cosmology (q0=1/2, λ=0) and constant rate density (ρ0) of bursting sources, we fit a standard candle energy to a uniformly selected log N-log S in the BATSE 3B catalog correcting for fluence efficiency and averaging over 48 observed spectral shapes. We find the data consistent with E0=7.3−1.0+0.7×1051 ergs and discuss implications of this energy for cosmological models of γ-ray bursts.
SAR correlation technique - An algorithm for processing data with large range walk

This paper presents an algorithm for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) azimuth correlation with extraneously large range migration effect which can not be accommodated by the existing frequency domain interpolation approach used in current SEASAT SAR processing. A mathematical model is first provided for the SAR point-target response in both the space (or time) and the frequency domain. A simple and efficient processing algorithm derived from the hybrid algorithm is then given. This processing algorithm enables azimuth correlation by two steps. The first step is a secondary range compression to handle the dispersion of the spectra of the azimuth response along range. The second step is the well-known frequency domain range migration correction approach for the azimuth compression. This secondary range compression can be processed simultaneously with range pulse compression. Simulation results provided here indicate that this processing algorithm yields a satisfactory compressed impulse response for SAR data with large range migration.
An Artful Afterthought: Post-structuralism Meets Art and Narrative Therapies

Art Psychotherapy and Narrative Therapy: An Account of Practitioner Research by Sheridan Linnell is the first in Bentham's e-book series, Rethinking Research and Professional Practices in Terms of ...
Two patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia followed by idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura: case report.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are separate and well-recognized clinical syndromes, 10both having potential for disastrous outcomes. Sequential occurrence of these two diseases has not been reported in the literature. We report herein two patients who were initially diagnosed as having HIT but whose later clinical course was similar to ITP. Although dysfunction of immune system seems to play a role, the precise mechanisms for the development of these diseases are unclear. As both conditions have different natural histories and require different treatment modalities, it is important to recognize that these two diseases may be seen sequentially.
Prestressing Steel Reinforcement Wire Measurement Protocol

The purpose of this paper is to propose new measurement guidelines for pre-stressing steel reinforcement wire indent geometries. The current guidelines for measuring pre-stressing steel reinforcement wire indent geometries are within ASTM A881M-10. These measurement guidelines provide instructions on measuring indent depth, indent side wall angle, and indent orientation. However, since the creation ASTM A881M-10 new measurements have been presented that serve as better predictors of wire performance than the current measurement requirements. The new measure guidelines presented in this research have been shown to have superior correlation to transfer length and the pull out force of pre-stressing steel reinforcement wires used in concrete railroad ties.These measurement guidelines are intended to more completely quantify the surface profile of pre-stressing steel reinforcement wires and do so in a manner that adheres to the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing standards of ASME Y14.5-2009. The measurement guidelines presented in this research use the concept of minimal zone on a variety of different measurements. This includes measurements such as indent volume, indent surface area, and indent edge wall surface area. These new measurements are shown through a variety of statistical models to be strong predictors of transfer length and pull out force for the given reinforcement wire.By presenting these new measurement procedures that define the surface geometry of reinforcement wire indent geometry in greater detail, suppliers can present more complete information of their wire type to consumers. Likewise, consumers will be able to more fully define the design requirements that are needed for their pre-stressed concrete railroad ties. The overall impact of the proposed changes will be the improvement of the quality control of pre-stressing steel reinforcement wires and the extended lifespan and durability of pre-stressed concrete railroad ties.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Abstract 4509: The fully human, proapoptotic fusion protein Granzyme B/VEGF121targets tumor vasculature and inhibits tumor growth

Angiogenesis is a critical process in numerous diseases, and targeting neovascularization has therapeutic value in several disease states including tumor progression and metastatic spread. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptors play a central role in the control of neovascularization. Within the VEGF-A family, VEGF121 is a naturally-occurring splice variant that binds to receptors (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) that are over-expressed on the endothelium of tumor vasculature but not normal vasculature. Granzyme B (GrB) is a serine protease that plays a critical role in the body9s defense against viral infection and tumor development by initiating the apoptotic cascade via both caspase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. We expressed GrB/VEGF121 in HEK-293T cells and harvested the secreted fusion protein under serum-free conditions. Endothelial and tumor cells lines showed varying levels of sensitivity to GrB/VEGF121 that correlated closely to total VEGFR-2 expression. IC50 levels were found to be in the nanomolar range. GrB/VEGF121 internalized rapidly into VEGFR-2 expressing cells while the internalization into VEGFR-1 expressing cells was significantly reduced. Forty percent of VEGFR-2+ cells underwent mitochondrial depolarization within 24 h of exposure to GrB/VEGF121, compared to 13% of controls. Over this same time period, 35% of GrB/VEGF121-treated cells mobilized into early apoptosis, compared to 4% of control cells. In vivo, intravenous administration of GrB/VEGF121 to non-tumor bearing mice at doses up to 40 mg/kg had no observed toxicity. GrB/VEGF121 localized specifically in xenografts of non-VEGFR-expressing PC-3 and MDA-MB-231/Luc cells, primarily in perivascular regions and in other areas of the tumor less well-vascularized, whereas free GrB did not localize to tumor tissue. Treatment of mice bearing established prostate PC-3 tumor xenografts with GrB/VEGF121 at 27 mg/kg resulted in the regression of four of five tumors in this group. Tumors showed a two-fold lower Ki-67-labeling index compared with controls. Treatment of mice bearing orthotopic triple negative breast (MDA-MB-231/Luc) tumors with GrB/VEGF121 resulted in statistically significant differences in tumor volumes by Day 39 when compared to controls (saline vs 10 mg/kg GrB/VEGF121: P Citation Format: Khalid A. Mohamedali, Lawrence H. Cheung, Yu Cao, Walter N. Hittelman, Michael G. Rosenblum. The fully human, proapoptotic fusion protein Granzyme B/VEGF121 targets tumor vasculature and inhibits tumor growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4509. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4509
Characterization of the interaction between estrogen metabolites and taurocholate for uptake into isolated hepatocytes. Lack of correlation between cholestasis and inhibition of taurocholate uptake

Abstract The cholestasis induced by estrogen metabolites has been postulated to be due to an inhibition of bile acid transport. Therefore, the uptake of [3H]taurocholate (TC) into isolated hepatocytes was examined in the presence of known cholestatic steroid glucuronides. The cholestatic d -ring glucuronide conjugates of estradiol, estriol, ethynylestradiol and dihydrotestosterone did not inhibit the uptake of TC suggesting that these organic anions are transported by different carrier systems. Estrone sulfate inhibited TC uptake 65% but did not decrease bile flow following i.v. administration to the rat (22μ mol/kg), under conditions which the steroid glucuronide estradiol-17β-(β- d -glucuronide) (E217G) decreased bile flow 100%. The hepatocytic uptake of [3H]E217G (100μM) was inhibited by estriol-16α-(β- d -glucuronide) (200 μM, 40%) and estradiol-17β-3-(β- d -glucuronide) (200 μ M, 22%) as well as by the organic anions bromosulfophthalein (150 μM, 57%), dibromosulfophthalein (150 μM, 59%), indocyanine green (150 μM, 62%), rose bengal (150μM, 56%) and bilirubin (50μM, 40%). Thus, the bile acids and steroid glucuronides are transported into the hepatocyte by different carrier systems so that the cholestasis induced by the steroid d -ring glucuronides cannot be explained by an inhibition of bile acid uptake. Furthermore, the hepatocytic uptake of E217G occurs by a carrier system similar to that for the other steroid glucuronides and organic anions.
Early alteration of retinal neurons in Aipl1-/- animals.

PURPOSE Mutations in the photoreceptor cell-specific gene encoding aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein-like 1 (AIPL1) lead to Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA4), retinitis pigmentosa, and cone-rod dystrophy. Gene therapy appears to be promising in the treatment for AIPL1-mediated vision loss in humans. Prior to initiating these treatments, however, it is crucial to understand how the retinal neurons remodel themselves in response to photoreceptor cell degeneration. In this study, using an animal model for AIPL1-LCA, Aipl1(-/-) mice, we investigate the changes in postreceptoral retinal neurons during the course of photoreceptor cell loss. METHODS Morphology of the Aipl1(-/-) retina from postnatal day 8 to 150 was compared to that of age-matched, wild-type C57Bl6/J retina (WT) by immunocytochemistry using cell-specific markers. RESULTS Expression of postsynaptic proteins in bipolar cells is reduced prior to photoreceptor cell degeneration at postnatal day 8. Bipolar and horizontal cells retract their dendrites. Cell bodies and axons of bipolar and horizontal cells are disorganized during the course of degeneration. Muller cell processes become hypertrophic and form a dense fibrotic layer outside the inner nuclear layer. CONCLUSIONS An early defect in photoreceptor cells in the AIPL1-LCA mouse model affects the expression of postsynaptic markers, suggesting abnormal development of bipolar synapses. Once degeneration of photoreceptor cells is initiated, remodeling of retinal neurons in the Aipl1(-/-) animal is rapid.
Reactivation of human placental 17β, 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: Affirmation of affinity labeling principles

Abstract Human placental 17β, 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was completely inactivated by the affinity alkylator, 3-bromoacetoxy-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-17-one (estrone 3-bromoacetate). The inactivated enzyme was then reactivated to 100% of the enzyme activity by base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the steroidalester-enzyme conjugate. After the reactivated enzyme was repurified by dialysis, re-inactivation studies were performed on it. The reactivated enzyme could not be re-inactivated by the original alkylator, estrone 3-bromoacetate. However, 16α-bromoacetoxyestradiol-17β 3-methyl ether caused a loss of reactivated enzyme activity at a rate comparable to that for the native enzyme. These observations demonstrate that a specific amino acid modification within the enzyme active site was produced by estrone 3-bromoacetate alkylation and suggest that the conformation of the active center was essentially unaltered. Thus, these successful reactivation studies of 17β, 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase affirm the specificity of affinity labeling. This methodology also offers a new tool to investigate the steroid binding regions of macromolecular proteins.
On the relationship between objective increases in pay and employees' subjective reactions

This study explored whether two principles describe the relationship between the size of a pay increase (a bonus expressed as a percentage of current salary) and the attractiveness of that increase. Based on a sample of sales personnel (N = 639) and consistent with the constant proportion principle of the psychophysical law, pay increase attractiveness was unrelated to current salary level after controlling for the size of the percentage increase. In addition, at any given salary level, the relationship between the size of the increase and its attractiveness was curvilinear. The attractiveness of larger and larger bonus percentages continues to increase, but at a decreasing rate supporting the principle of diminishing returns.
Quadratic dynamical decoupling: Universality proof and error analysis

We prove the universality of the generalized QDD${}_{{N}_{1}{N}_{2}}$ (quadratic dynamical decoupling) pulse sequence for near-optimal suppression of general single-qubit decoherence. Earlier work showed numerically that this dynamical decoupling sequence, which consists of an inner Uhrig DD (UDD) and outer UDD sequence using ${N}_{1}$ and ${N}_{2}$ pulses, respectively, can eliminate decoherence to $O({T}^{N})$ using $O({N}^{2})$ unequally spaced ``ideal'' (zero-width) pulses, where $T$ is the total evolution time and $N={N}_{1}={N}_{2}$. A proof of the universality of QDD has been given for even ${N}_{1}$. Here we give a general universality proof of QDD for arbitrary ${N}_{1}$ and ${N}_{2}$. As in earlier proofs, our result holds for arbitrary bounded environments. Furthermore, we explore the single-axis (polarization) error suppression abilities of the inner and outer UDD sequences. We analyze both the single-axis QDD performance and how the overall performance of QDD depends on the single-axis errors. We identify various performance effects related to the parities and relative magnitudes of ${N}_{1}$ and ${N}_{2}$. We prove that using QDD${}_{{N}_{1}{N}_{2}}$ decoherence can always be eliminated to $O({T}^{\mathrm{min}{{N}_{1},{N}_{2}}})$.
System-Level Design: Designers' Wish List vs. Reality

System level design has brought together a number of formidable challenges, such as methodology, software and hardware design and design automation, to name a few. More than ever, the successful design of a system requires all these challenges to be addressed - by both the designers and the design automation tools.Designers, better and anyone else, know what the problems are. Design automation companies claim to know how to solve them and have the products to prove it. Is this really true? Are the design automation tools really solving the hard problems or skimming over the real challenges. This panel addresses exactly that by confronting the views of distinguished designers and tools developers.The panelists belong to two teams. The designer team will present the main problems in doing system design including verification, IP use, integration and synthesis among others, and try to show that many of the real problems are not being addressed by current tools. The tools team will explain how the tools are indeed tackling the real problems and how the designers can make the best use out of them.The attendees can expect a very interesting, informative and technical debate. At the end, the audience will be the judge and a verdict will be passed on what the real problems are, which ones can be solved with existing tools, and what needs to be done in the future to address the system design challenges.
Comparative performance of concrete pavements with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and virgin aggregate subbases

Using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as base/subbase for road construction is alternative way to manage construction waste and reduces the need for virgin aggregates. This paper discusses the long-term performance of concrete pavements on RCA granular layer in comparison to concrete pavements on virgin aggregate granular layer. 18 representative RCA pavement sections across Iowa were primary selected considering state wide location and pavement age. Detailed visual distress surveys were conducted to identify the current pavement surface condition information and the primary distress on RCA granular layer pavement. The pavement information data for the surveyed RCA subbase sections and the corresponding virgin aggregate subbase sections in similar condition were extracted from the Iowa DOT's Pavement Management Information System (PMIS). The performance of the RCA and the virgin aggregate sections was investigated and compared in terms of the pavement condition index (PCI) and the International Roughness Index (IRI). The results indicate that RCA granular layer provides performance compared to the virgin aggregate granular layer in Iowa pavements and are performing adequately.
Analysis of a laser process for permanently degrading a photo-activated adhesive joint

Abstract A pulsed, laser process has been developed to reduce the permanent strength of photo-activated adhesive joints prior to work-piece de-bonding. The objective of this investigation was to gain insight into the relationships between carbon black content of the adhesive, laser delivery mode, heat transfer, and adhesive degradation. To do so, a variety of experiments were performed to characterize process sensitivity, radiation absorption within the adhesive joint, and thermal decomposition of the adhesive. In addition, heat transfer analysis was conducted to predict adhesive temperatures during the process. The results of this investigation indicate that the strength diminishment of an adhesive joint occurs after it has absorbed a train of high power pulses in rapid succession. The vast majority of strength diminishment occurs over a very narrow time window and is highly correlated to the rapid emission of gray smoke/vapor from the adhesive joint. For this to occur, the adhesive must contain carbon black. It is also highly correlated to a rapid increase in temperatures throughout the adhesive matrix. Laser pulse parameters that do not lead to this rapid increase, will not initiate adhesive degradation. The inclusion of carbon black into the adhesive promotes heat absorption and increased temperatures in the adhesive joint. These temperatures are large enough to enable adhesive decomposition. But the time span over which this happens is too small for significant damage to occur. It is currently hypothesized that high temperatures local to the carbon black particles may be the source of adhesive degradation.
A formalization of the ‘biological’ model of trade in similar products

Abstract The present paper uses a variant of the characteristics framework to develop a world demand structure based on broadly defined international taste differences. Moreover, firms face short-run ‘adjustments’ costs when changing product specifications. This constellation of assumptions traces very closely the ‘biological’ model of trade in similar products. The usual problem of the pattern of trade indeterminacy that emerges in models of intra-industry trade is resolved even in the case with zero transport costs. Finally, the paper analyzes the efects of taste-induced intra-industry trade on prices and product specifications.
Communications Satellites Using Arrays

Passive reflectors require large ground antennas and powers but permit use of unstabilized reflectors. Active systems, on the other hand, offer attractive performance through high directivity antennas but generally require stabilized vehicles. Further, the reliability of a satellite repeater amplifier is a critical factor. Automatic angle return arrays are investigated for both passive and active systems. These arrays, called Van Atta arrays, return a signal in the direction of incidence and are effective over at least ±45°. Thus only partial stabilization or single axis (spin) stabilization need be used, greatly simplifying the station-keeping orbit control problem. An active Van Atta (AVA) scheme has inherently high reliability since many of the distributed amplifiers can fail without serious performance degradation. The distributed structure also allows use of low-power solid-state amplifiers. This paper points up the salient advantages of the AVA system, and de'ineates the major areas where further work is indicated.
The actin cytoskeleton differentially regulates platelet α-granule and dense-granule secretion

Stimulation of platelets with strong agonists results in centralization of cytoplasmic organelles and secretion of granules. These observations have led to the supposition that cytoskeletal contraction facilitates granule release by promoting the interaction of granules with one another and with membranes of the open canalicular system. Yet, the influence of the actin cytoskeleton in controlling the membrane fusion events that mediate granule secretion remains largely unknown. To evaluate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in platelet granule secretion, we have assessed the effects of latrunculin A and cytochalasin E on granule secretion. Exposure of platelets to low concentrations of these reagents resulted in acceleration and augmentation of agonist-induced alpha-granule secretion with comparatively modest effects on dense granule secretion. In contrast, exposure of platelets to high concentrations of latrunculin A inhibited agonist-induced alpha-granule secretion but stimulated dense granule secretion. Incubation of permeabilized platelets with low concentrations of latrunculin A primed platelets for Ca(2+)- or guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-gamma-S-induced alpha-granule secretion. Latrunculin A-dependent alpha-granule secretion was inhibited by antibodies directed at vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP), demonstrating that latrunculin A supports soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein-dependent membrane fusion. These results indicate that the actin cytoskeleton interferes with platelet exocytosis and differentially regulates alpha-granule and dense granule secretion.
Robust tracking control of an array of nanoparticles moving on a substrate

Control of nanosystems with frictional dynamics using feedback control methods is important to a wide range of applications of nanotribology. This paper studies the tracking control problem of an array of nanoparticles moving on a substrate with friction between the substrate and the particles. The major challenges in this problem include 1) nonlinearities and uncertainties in the frictional dynamics and 2) limited availability of measurable states in nanosystems. In this paper, the particle-substrate and interparticle interactions are considered to be unknown and of general dynamic forms. The unknown effect of unmodeled particle dynamics on the dynamics of the center of mass of the array is also considered. A nonlinear identifier is developed to identify this unmodeled dynamics. A feedback controller is developed upon the identifier to control the center of mass of the particles to track a desired trajectory. Boundedness of the closed-loop states and semiglobal asymptotic stability of the tracking error are proved using Lyapunov theory. Numerical simulation results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the developed identification and control laws.
How Do We Know What They Know?: Testing the Impact of the School Curriculum on the Political Knowledge of Students

We read and hear many alarming generalizations about great deficiencies in the political knowledge of young people and the failure of the schools to educate students for citizenship in a democracy. What are the bases for these claims? How is the political awareness of young people measured? How is the impact of the school curriculum assessed? As the evaluation coordinator for a project seeking to assess the strengths and weaknesses of school political education and to design a curriculum for improvement, the author undertook to examine and critically review the instruments used to test the impact of schooling on the political knowledge of students.
Soot and thin-filament pyrometry using a color digital camera

Abstract A simple and compact temperature and soot volume fraction diagnostic technique based on ratio pyrometry has been studied. Two different consumer digital single lens reflex cameras were evaluated for use as pyrometers. The incandescence from soot and a SiC filament was imaged at the three wavelengths of each camera’s color filter array (CFA). After characterization of the detector’s signal response curves, temperatures were calculated by two-color ratio pyrometry using a lookup table approach. A SiC filament with known emissivity was shown to provide an absolute light intensity calibration, which further allows the soot volume fraction to be determined. Measurements were carried out on four different flames with varying levels of soot loading. The filament-derived gas temperature and soot temperature measurements have been compared with computational results and overall good agreement has been shown. Soot volume fraction measurements have been compared with previous LII results, with excellent agreement for both cameras tested.