cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marked differences in the swainsonine inhibition of rat liver lysosomal α-d-mannosidase, rat liver golgi mannosidase II, and jack bean α-d-mannosidase

Abstract Swainsonine, a plant toxin, strongly inhibits certain α- d -mannosidases but has no effect on others [ D. R. P. Tulsiani, T. M. Harris, and O. Touster (1982) J. Biol. Chem.257, 7936–7939]. The reversible inhibition of jack bean and lysosomal α- d -mannosidases has previously been suggested to be similar in nature but quite complex. Specific differences in the action of swainsonine on these two enzymes and on Golgi mannosidase II are reported. (a) The inhibition of the jack bean mannosidase, but not rat liver lysosomal α- d -mannosidase or Golgi mannosidase II, is increased by preincubation with the alkaloid. (b) The inhibition of the jack bean and lysosomal enzymes, but not mannosidase II, is competitive at inhibitor concentrations of ⩽0.5μ m . (c) The inhibition of jack bean α-mannosidase is largely irreversible, its very limited reversibility being partially dependent upon the swainsonine concentration used and on the time of preincubation with the inhibitor. On the other hand, the inhibition of lysosomal α-mannosidase is largely reversible, as shown by dilution experiments and by the use of [3H]swainsonine. Golgi mannosidase II shows intermediate reversibility, the results indicating two modes of binding; one rapid and irreversible, the other much slower and reversible.
Computation of linear hypothesis tests for two-stage least squares

Abstract An alternative method for computing test statistics for linear hypotheses for two-stage least square regressions is presented. The method requires only the sums of squared residuals from auxiliary regressions.
Bangladesh: Politics, Economy and Civil Society

After its controversial 5 January election, Bangladesh seems to be drifting politically towards a one-party, authoritarian state. Given its harbinger status as one of the first of the homogenous Muslim countries to adopt formal democracy, a thorough analysis of the distorted development of this paradoxical country is sorely needed. It boasts an economy that (in both GDP and GDP per capita terms) has grown constantly and sustainably for almost two decades, accompanied by a great leap forward in its social indicators. However, this is contradicted by a complete absence of progress towards democratization; in fact, there is an apparent back-slide towards authoritarianism. This seems very counter-intuitive to many who believe that economic/social progress goes hand in glove with modernization of the political/social system.
Symmetry breaking and asymptotic freedom in colour SU(3) gauge models

Abstract A class of quark models based on the colour gauge group SU(3) is shown to be asymptotically free despite the conplete breakdown of local symmetry to guarantee infrared stability. The symmetry breakdown is achieved by the presence of elementary scalar fields either through the Higgs mechanism or dynamically as first proposed by Coleman and Weinberg. Asymptotic freedom is preserved by imposing eigenvalue conditions on the coupling constants as first proposed by Chang. New quark species must be present, but below their production threshold, colour can still be a global symmetry which is approximate under SU(3), but exact under SU(2). Among the many implications of this class of models is the possibility of producing isolated quarks and gluons of non-zero mass without altering the short-distance behaviour of the superstrong interaction which binds them.
Esters of Gentisic Acid and Their Toxicities**: I. Preparation and Analyses of New Esters of Gentisic Acid

The syntheses of new esters of gentisic acid are discussed. Eight esters of gentisic acid and amino alcohols have been prepared by the interaction of dialkylaminoalkyl chlorides and gentisic acid. Five esters of gentisic acid and other carboxylic acids are prepared by the interaction of acid chlorides and gentisic acid in alkaline media.
Abstract 5159: The histone methyltransferase SUV39H2 is a novel target of anticancer therapy

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Besides genetic disorders, dysregulation of epigenetic machinery has been proved to play a crucial role in human carcinogenesis, and the histone methylation/demethylation process has been considered as one of key regulators for this event. In this study, we demonstrate that one of the HMTs, suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 2 (SUV39H2), plays pivotal roles in human carcinogenesis. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that SUV39H2 is aberrantly overexpressed in lung cancer, bladder cancer and multiple myeloma compared with their corresponding normal tissues, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed its positive staining in 251 out of 392 lung cancer cases and 16 of 29 bladder cancer cases, while no significant staining was observed in various normal tissues we examined. cDNA microarray analysis using a number of clinical tissues also confirms overexpression of SUV39H2 in various types of cancer. SUV39H2-specific small interfering RNAs significantly knocked down its expression, and caused the G1 arrest as well as suppression of cancer cell growth. Since SUV39H2 expression was undetectable in the normal tissues, SUV39H2 is considered to be an ideal target for development of tumor-specific therapeutics. Citation Format: Kembun Sone, Yusuke Nakamura, Ryuji Hamamoto. The histone methyltransferase SUV39H2 is a novel target of anticancer therapy. [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 5159. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5159
A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED 1-YEAR CLINICAL TRIAL COMPARING TRANSURETHRAL NEEDLE ABLATION TO TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

AbstractPurpose: We assess the 1-year efficacy and safety of transurethral needle ablation of the prostate compared to transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical trial of 121 men 50 years old or older with symptomatic BPH was performed at 7 medical centers across the United States. Of the men 65 (54%) were treated with transurethral needle ablation of the prostate and 56 (46%) underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. Mean and percentage changes from baseline and between cohorts for American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, AUA bother score, quality of life score, peak urinary flow rate and post-void residual urine volume were measured at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following treatment. Length of procedure, hospitalization, type of anesthesia, post-procedure catheterization, side effects and sexual function were compared.Results: Transurethral needle ablation and resecti...
Arylphorin from Manduca sexta: Carbohydrate structure and immunological studies

The major hemolymph protein in the last larval stage of Manduca sexta is a hexameric glycoprotein, arylphorin (Mr = 450,000). Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified arylphorin reveals the presence of two subunits, A1 and A2. Both subunits are glycosylated and have apparent Mr = 77,000 and 72,000, respectively. Pronase digestion of arylphorin yielded a single major glycopeptide. 250 MHz NMR spectroscopy of arylphorin glycopeptide revealed a Man9GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide structure similar to that observed in mammalian glycoproteins. Endoglycosidase-H treatment of arylphorin was employed to remove covalently linked carbohydrate residues. The carbohydrate removal lowered the apparent Mr of subunits A1 and A2 to 72,000 and 69,000, respectively, indicating that the difference in arylphorin subunit size is not due to levels of glycosylation. Immunoblotting experiments with anti-arylphorin antiserum and Bombyx mori storage proteins indicated cross reactivity with the corresponding arylphorin of this insect. Preparation of subunit A2 monospecific antibodies, followed by immunoblotting of arylphorin showed a close immunological relationship between subunits A1 and A2.
Spatial frequency analysis of high-density lipoprotein and iron-oxide nanoparticle transmission electron microscope image structure for pattern recognition in heterogeneous fields

The optical spatial frequencies of tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) are investigated. As a concentrated colloidal suspension of interacting native nanoparticles, the TIF can develop internal ordering under shear stress that may hinder delivery of antitumor agents within tumors. A systematic method is presented to characterize the TIF nanometer-scale microstructure in a model suspension of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles and reconstituted high-density lipoprotein by Fourier spatial frequency (FSF) analysis so as to differentiate between jammed and fluid structural features in static transmission electron microscope images. The FSF method addresses one obstacle faced in achieving quantitative dosimetry to neoplastic tissue, that of detecting these nanoscale barriers to transport, such as would occur in the extravascular space immediately surrounding target cells.
Generalized martingales, generalized Markov chains and generalized harmonic functions

This paper introduces and studies a generalization of the notion of martingale which allows for a generalization of the concept of a Markov chain and a generalization of the concept of harmonic and superharmonic functions. The theory is supported by examples and techniques that suggest the natural character of the material developed.
Genetic factors influence changes in sensitivity to the convulsant properties of cocaine following chronic treatment.

Abstract Repeated administration of doses of cocaine below the threshold for seizure induction results in the development of an increased susceptibility to cocaine-induced seizures (cocaine-kindling). Genetic differences in susceptibility to cocaine-kindled seizures were evaluated in 4 inbred mouse strains and compared with susceptibility to seizures induced by acute administration of cocaine. The acute administration of cocaine produced convulsant activity in mice from all 4 genotypes, however, there were significant differences in the dose of cocaine required to induce seizures. C57 mice were highly susceptible and SJL mice highly resistant to convulsions induced by acute administration of cocaine, while BALB and DBA mice showed an intermediate degree of seizure susceptibility. The repeated administration of subconvulsant doses of cocaine resulted in rapid sensitization to cocaine-induced seizures. The 4 strains differed in the rate at which sensitization to cocaine-induced seizures developed, with the SJL strain being most sensitive and the C57 strain the least sensitive to the cocaine-kindling process. The susceptibility of the 4 strains to cocaine kindling was virtually opposite to their susceptibility to seizures induced by the acute administration of cocaine, suggesting that different mechanisms may be involved in the control of acute and kindled seizures. In 3 of the 4 genotypes sensitization to cocaine-induced seizures did not persist upon further exposure to cocaine. Following a period of increased sensitivity to cocaine-induced seizures, tolerance to the convulsant properties of cocaine developed among C57, BALB and DBA mice. Only among the SJL mice did the development of a kindled state persist upon repeated exposure to cocaine. These differences emphasize the potential importance of inheritance in determining the effects of cocaine and suggest novel approaches to understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of cocaine.
Learning networks in health and Parkinson's disease: Reproducibility and treatment effects

In a previous H215O/PET study of motor sequence learning, we used principal components analysis (PCA) of region of interest (ROI) data to identify performance-related activation patterns in normal subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we determined whether these patterns predicted learning performance in subsequent normal and untreated PD cohorts. Using a voxel-based PCA approach, we correlated the changes in network activity that occurred during antiparkinsonian treatment and their relationship to learning performance. We found that the previously identified ROI-based patterns correlated with learning performance in the prospective normal (P < 0.01) and untreated PD (P < 0.05) cohorts. Voxel analysis revealed that target retrieval was related to a network characterized by bilateral activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor and anterior cingulate cortex, the precuneus, and the occipital association areas as well as the right ventral prefrontal and inferior parietal regions. Target acquisition was associated with a different network involving activation of the caudate, putamen, and right dentate nucleus, as well as the left ventral prefrontal and inferior parietal areas. Antiparkinsonian therapy gave rise to changes in retrieval performance that correlated with network modulation (P < 0.01). Increases in network activation and learning performance occurred with internal pallidal deep brain stimulation (GPi DBS); decrements in these measures were present with levodopa. Our findings suggest that network analysis of activation data can provide stable descriptors of learning performance. Network quantification can provide an objective means of assessing the effects of therapy on cognitive functioning in neurodegenerative disorders. Hum. Brain Mapping 11:197–211, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Growth hormone stimulation of fatty acid utilization by adipose tissue.

The daily administration of 1 mg of ovine growth hormone to hypophysectomized male rats resulted in a stimulation of long chain fatty acid utilization by the isolated fat pad. Growth hormone augmented the oxidation of palmitate-1-14C to 14CO2 and increased its incorporation into phospholipids and triglycerides. There was increased long chain acyl CoA-carnitine acyltransferase activity in the fat pads of treated animals and an increased incorporation of 32P into phospholipids. These data are consistent with a growth hormone stimulation of long chain fatty acid utilization in adipose tissue. (Endocrinology 81: 1306, 1967)
On the density functions of integrals of Gaussian random fields

In the paper we consider the density functions of random variables that can be written as integrals of exponential functions of Gaussian random fields. In particular, we provide closed-form asymptotic bounds for the density functions and, under smoothness conditions, we derive exact tail approximations of the density functions.
Measuring price inflation in the physician sector of the health care market

The purpose of this study was to indicate the need for the development of an adequate measure of the inflation in prices of medical care services. Although the CPI provides a medical care component, the index has a number of serious shortcomings. These shortcomings hinder its usefulness for policy purposes. The main thrust of this analysis was to suggest an alternative measure of prices of medical care services. This suggested hedonic approach will produce a more realistic measure of medical care prices for policy purposes.
May You Live to Be 150

Daniel Callahan urges us to deliberate with a view to halting trends that might result in extending human lives to, say, 150 years. The socio-economic disruptions, he argues would be insupportable; changes affecting us all should not be left to personal choice or ceded to the juggernaut of untrammeled scientific inquiry and biomedical innovation. Goodman agrees that the ramifications of social change are often unpredictable, especially given the magnitude and accelerating pace of technological advance. But such changes are also polyvalent and will bring opportunities as well as challenges. Ageing, Callahan argues, is not a disease. So the desire to push back its boundaries is a medical aspiration, not a medical need. But that claim involves a category error. For although ageing is not a disease but a process, it is a process that makes us vulnerable to quite a variety of diseases and debilities. Morally, Goodman argues, it is wrong for “us” to seek to set limits to one another’s lives. Clearly most human beings would prefer any advances in life’s duration to proceed pari passu with preservation of the quality of life. But quality should not be made a fig leaf for sordid economic concerns. Human life is an intrinsic, not instrumental value. Humans can be creative long into old age, but persons should not be counted worthless just because they are no longer active, say, in the marketplace. Population is not pollution. But that equation raises its head ominously when Callahan grounds the mandate for collective deliberations about life extension on the analogy of laws restricting a supposed right to pollute. Citing prophetic visions of an age of reconciliation between the generations, Goodman sees community and communication—a mandate and an ethos of service—as critical to the effort to rise to the moral challenges that will present themselves as the trend toward life extension takes hold.
Two-dimensional echocardiographic and angiocardiographic diagnosis of subpulmonary stenosis due to tricuspid valve pouch in complete transposition of the great arteries

Two-dimensional echocardiograms and angiocardiograms were obtained in six infants and children, each with complete transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect and subvalvular pulmonary stenosis. In each case, the subpulmonary stenosis resulted from redundant tricuspid valve tissue which protruded through the ventricular septal defect and into the left ventricular outflow tract. Angio-echocardiographic correlations demonstrated features that allowed preoperative recognition of this unusual type of subpulmonary stenosis. The left ventricular angiogram in an anteroposterior orientation revealed a characteristic filling defect in the outflow tract during systole in each patient. Echocardiographic images of the left ventricular outflow tract and of the tricuspid valve demonstrated subpulmonary stenosis caused by protruding redundant tricuspid valve tissue (resembling a “pouch”) in all six patients. These findings were contrasted with those from three patients with normally related great arteries and a similar, but nonobstructive, tricuspid valve pouch. Echocardiographic and angiocardiographic examination and correlation allowed preoperative diagnosis of this unusual form of subpulmonary stenosis in complete transposition of the great arteries. This is especially important because limited left ventricular intraoperative exploration may fail to reveal subpulmonary obstruction as the pouch may be flaccid in a relaxed arrested heart.
Short-term association recall as a function of number and type of retention interval tasks

In a single-association short-term memory task, four retention-interval activities involving manipulation of numbers were employed, with retention intervals of 32, 64, and 128 sec. In the 64-and 128-sec intervals, conditions involving two or four tasks of 32 sec each also were employed. The results indicated that number of task shifts in a retention interval did not significantly retard performance and that a number-classification task yielded recall performance significantly superior to addition, subtraction, and counting backwards.
High-Resolution Temperature−Concentration Diagram of α-Synuclein Conformation Obtained from a Single Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Image in a Microfluidic Device

We present a microfluidic device for rapid and efficient determination of protein conformations in a range of medium conditions and temperatures. The device generates orthogonal gradients of concentration and temperature in an interrogation area that fits into the field of view of an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.45. A single Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) image of the interrogation area containing a dual-labeled protein provides a 100 x 100 point map of the FRET efficiency that corresponds to a diagram of protein conformations in the coordinates of temperature and medium conditions. The device is used to explore the conformations of alpha-synuclein, an intrinsically disordered protein linked to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, in the presence of a binding partner, the lipid-mimetic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The experiment provides a diagram of conformations of alpha-synuclein with 10,000 individual data points in a range of 21-47 degrees C and 0-2.5 mM SDS. The diagram is consistent with previous reports but also reveals new conformational transitions that would be difficult to detect with conventional techniques. The microfluidic device can potentially be used to study other biomolecular and soft-matter systems.
The synthesis of triethylphosphine gold(I) 4-nitrobenzenethiolate and solvent dependent visible absorption spectra of 4-nitrobenzenethiolate

Abstract The synthesis of triethylphosphine gold(I) 4-nitrobenzenethiolate, Et 3 PAu(SC 6 H 4 NO 2 -4), is reported. Et 3 PAu(SC 6 H 4 NO 2 -4) displays a low energy visible electronic absorption band which is solvent dependent: EtOH ( λ max = 385 nm), acetonitrile ( λ max = 391 nm), THF ( λ max = 395 nm), and DMSO ( λ max = 402 nm). The corresponding low energy visible electronic absorption band of 4-nitrobenzenethiolate, 4-NO 2 C 6 H 4 S − also shows solvent dependency: acetonitrile, ( λ max = 484 nm), DMSO ( λ max = 502 nm), dimethylformamide ( λ max = 505 nm). The positive solvatochromic shifts for Et 3 PAu(SC 6 H 4 NO 2 -4) and 4-NO 2 C 6 H 4 S − are consistent with an intraligand (IL) charge transfer transition, i.e. π(S) → ∗π (C 6 H 4 NO 2 -4) or n(S) → ∗π (C 6 H 4 NO 2 -4). Assignment of 4-NO 2 C 6 H 4 S − was aided by a DFT calculation.
A hybrid intelligent system for fault detection and sensor fusion

In this paper, an efficient new hybrid approach for multiple sensor fusion and fault detection is proposed, addressing the problem with multiple faults, which is based on conventional fuzzy soft clustering and artificial immune systems. For this new approach, requires no prior knowledge or information about the sensors, or the system behavior, and no learning processes are required. The proposed hybrid approach consists of two main phases. In the first phase a single fuser for the input sensor signals is generated using the fuzzy clustering c-means algorithm. The fused output is based on the cluster centers that contain the maximum number of the input elements. In the second phase a fault detector was generated base on the artificial immune system AIS.
New evidence for magnetic dynamo processes in young stars

A recent observation of the Orion Nebula Cluster with the Chandra X-ray Observatory detected 1075 sources, providing a uniquely large and well-defined sample to study the dependence of magnetic activity on bulk properties for pre-main sequence (PMS) stars descending the Hayashi tracks. The principal result is that X-ray emission does not show the activity-rotation relation which is the dominant correlate of magnetic activity indicators in main sequence stars. Instead, other effects are seen in PMS stars: X-ray luminosities are correlated with stellar bolometric luminosity, mass and size for M M ⊙ , but the emission drops precipitously in some or all PMS stars with M > 2-3 M ⊙ . The absence of an X-ray/rotation correlation in PMS stars, and particularly the high X-ray values seen in some very slowly rotating stars, is a clear indication that the mechanisms of magnetic field generation differ from those operating in main sequence stars. The most promising possibility is a turbulent dynamo distributed throughout the convective zone, but other models such as a "supersaturated" α - Ω dynamo or relic core fields are not immediately excluded. The evidence does not support X-ray production in large-scale star-disk magnetic fields. This work is described in detail by Feigelson et al. (2003).
The optimal connection preemption algorithm in a multi-class network

In an integrated network in which multiple classes with different priorities exist, when the network does not have enough unused bandwidth, connection preemption algorithms (CPA) play an important role in accepting a new session with a high priority by preempting lower priority flows already admitted. Although there are lots of studies about which connections to preempt to optimize the preemption factors (the priority of connections, the bandwidth to be preempted, and the number of connections to be preempted), existing CPAs are only suboptimal from the point of view of the preemption factors because of the computational complexity. The connection preemption problem in a centralized fashion is proved to be NP-complete. To avoid the complexity of the centralized scheme, decentralized/distributed algorithms are proposed. However their solutions are optimal only at the hop level. In order to avoid the priority order problem and to minimize the number of preempted and rerouted sessions, we propose to order the priority of the preemption factors in a new way. We also propose an optimal connection preemption algorithm which optimizes the newly ordered preemption factors in the connection preemption events. The proposed algorithm is the first optimal algorithm that provides a guideline about the upper bound of the computational complexity of the optimal CPAs.
X-ray fluorescence mapping of mercury on suspended mineral particles and diatoms in a contaminated freshwater system

Abstract. Mercury (Hg) bioavailability and geochemical cycling is affected by its partitioning between the aqueous and particulate phases. We applied a synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microprobe to visualize and quantify directly the spatial localization of Hg and its correlations with other elements of interest on suspended particles from a Hg-contaminated freshwater system. Up to 175 μg g−1 Hg is found on suspended particles, but less than 0.01% is in the form of methylmercury. Mercury is heterogeneously distributed among phytoplankton (e.g., diatoms) and mineral particles that are rich in iron oxides and natural organic matter (NOM). The diatom-bound Hg is mostly found on outer surfaces of the cells, suggesting passive sorption of Hg on diatoms. Our results indicate that localized sorption of Hg onto suspended particles, including diatoms and NOM-coated oxide minerals, may play an important role in affecting the partitioning, reactivity, and biogeochemical cycling of Hg in natural aquatic environments.
The agouti gene product inhibits lipolysis in human adipocytes via a Ca2+-dependent mechanism

Overexpression of the murine agouti gene results in obesity. The human homologue of agouti is expressed primarily in human adipocytes, and we have shown recombinant agouti protein to increase adipo...
The spectrum of emotional distress and personality changes after minor head injury incurred in a motor vehicle accident

This is a systematic presentation of the emotional and personality disorders of 33 patients who incurred minor traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in a vehicular accident. A wide spectrum of disorders wa...
NEUROMODULATION BY 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE IN THE ANTENNAL LOBE OF THE SPHINX MOTH MANDUCA SEXTA

Using intracellular recording techniques, we have begun to examine the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on antennal-lobe (AL) neurones in the brain of the adult moth Manduca sexta. 5-HT modulated the responses of local interneurones and projection neurones, which were recognized on the basis of well-established electrophysiological criteria, to primary synaptic input elicited by electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral antennal nerve. 5-HT applied at low concentration (10(-8) mol l-1) reduced the excitatory responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the antennal nerve, whereas at high concentration (10(-4) mol l-1), 5-HT enhanced the responses. At 10(-4) mol l1, 5-HT increased cell input resistance, led to broadening of action potentials and caused increased cell excitability in many AL neurones.
SIP Offload Engine for Accelerating J2EE Based SIP Application Server

J2EE based SIP application server is a scalable middleware for containing and managing SIP application. In this paper, a kind of SIP accelerator named SIP offload engine (SOE) is presented to improve server performance through offloading SIP message parsing, SIP transaction processing, security and transport layer connections management. The SIP application can be deployed on SOE enabled SIP application server without any modification. The benchmarking results on typical SIP application scenario indicate that the throughput of SIP application server can be improved significantly. Furthermore SOE can be used as high performance HTTP and SIP converged proxy server.
New NFS Tracing Tools and Techniques for System Analysis

Passive NFS traces provide an easy and unobtrusive way to measure, analyze, and gain an understanding of an NFS workload. Historically, such traces have been used primarily by file system researchers in an attempt to understand, categorize, and generalize file system workloads. However, because such traces provide a wealth of detailed information about how a specific system is actually used, they should also be of interest to system administrators. We introduce a new open-source toolkit for passively gathering and summarizing NFS traces and show how to use this toolkit to perform analyses that are difficult or impossible with existing tools.
The Third Force in Seventeenth-Century Thought: Skepticism, Science and Millenarianism

The philosophical battle of the seventeenth century is usually presented as a contest between two philosophies — Cartesian rationalism and British empiricism — each of which was set forth in order to justify “the new science.” Thinkers who do not fit in these categories are usually ignored or treated as strange, unrelated figures, as one finds in the discussion of Herbert of Cherbury, Gassendi, Hobbes, the Cambridge Platonists, Kenelm Digby, John Seargant, and Comenius, among others.
Relationship of Early Life Stress and Psychological Functioning to Adult C-Reactive Protein in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study

Background Low socioeconomic status (SES) and a harsh family environment in childhood have been linked to mental and physical health disorders in adulthood. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate a developmental model of pathways that may help explain these links and to relate them to C-reactive protein (CRP) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) dataset. Methods Participants (n = 3248) in the CARDIA study, age 32 to 47 years, completed measures of childhood SES (CSES), early family environment (risky families [RF]), adult psychosocial functioning (PsyF, a latent factor measured by depression, mastery, and positive and negative social contacts), body mass index (BMI), and C-reactive protein. Results Structural equation modeling indicated that CSES and RF are associated with C-reactive protein via their association with PsyF (standardized path coefficients: CSES to RF, RF to PsyF, PsyF to CRP, CSES to CRP, all p < .05), with good overall model fit. The association between PsyF and CRP was partially mediated by BMI (PsyF to BMI, BMI to CRP, both p < .05). Conclusions Low childhood SES and a harsh early family environment appear to be related to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood through pathways involving psychosocial dysfunction and high body mass index.
Myeloid Cell COX-2 deletion reduces mammary tumor growth through enhanced cytotoxic T-lymphocyte function

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with poor prognosis across a range of human cancers, including breast cancer. The contribution of tumor cell-derived COX-2 to tumorigenesis has been examined in numerous studies; however, the role of stromal-derived COX-2 is ill-defined. Here, we examined how COX-2 in myeloid cells, an immune cell subset that includes macrophages, influences mammary tumor progression. In mice engineered to selectively lack myeloid cell COX-2 [myeloid-COX-2 knockout (KO) mice], spontaneous neu oncogene-induced tumor onset was delayed, tumor burden reduced, and tumor growth slowed compared with wild-type (WT). Similarly, growth of neu-transformed mammary tumor cells as orthotopic tumors in immune competent syngeneic myeloid-COX-2 KO host mice was reduced compared with WT. By flow cytometric analysis, orthotopic myeloid-COX-2 KO tumors had lower tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration consistent with impaired colony stimulating factor-1-dependent chemotaxis by COX-2 deficient macrophages in vitro. Further, in both spontaneous and orthotopic tumors, COX-2-deficient TAM displayed lower immunosuppressive M2 markers and this was coincident with less suppression of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in myeloid-COX-2 KO tumors. These studies suggest that reduced tumor growth in myeloid-COX-2 KO mice resulted from disruption of M2-like TAM function, thereby enhancing T-cell survival and immune surveillance. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD8+, but not CD4+ cells, restored tumor growth in myeloid-COX-2 KO to WT levels, indicating that CD8+ CTLs are dominant antitumor effectors in myeloid-COX-2 KO mice. Our studies suggest that inhibition of myeloid cell COX-2 can potentiate CTL-mediated tumor cytotoxicity and may provide a novel therapeutic approach in breast cancer therapy.
A Growth Machine's Plan B: Legitimating Development When the Value-free Growth Ideology is Under Fire

ABSTRACT:Growth machine theory portrays the promotion and legitimation of urban development strictly in terms of the value-free growth ideology—the claim that growth benefits everyone, that it is a collective good. Based on an analysis of planning documents, newspapers, interviews, and public meetings in San Diego, California, this research argues that the persuasiveness of the value-free growth ideology is highly variable. Pro-growth elites bolster the ideology with a range of secondary arguments when the costs of growth are rising. The way growth is both supported and criticized by the same people suggests that they have more fluid and contradictory relationships to urban growth than machine theory’s dichotomy of “the machine versus residents” implies. This inconsistency can work to the advantage of pro-growth elites.
Reported blood exposure rates and staff nurse satisfaction with a closed surgical drainage system

Abstract Background: The purposes of this investigation were (1) to describe performance characteristics, incidence of exposure, and staff satisfaction with a closed drainage system, the Kendall Tru-Close, and (2) to compare performance, incidence of exposure, and satisfaction between the closed drainage system and a currently used surgical drainage system (the Hemovac). Methods: Subjects were 40 adult made and female patients who had undergone selective orthopedic joint surgery. Twenty patients received the Hemovac drainage system, and 20 patients received the Tru-Closed drainage system. Data collection instruments included a patient demographic data form, a daily assessment form, a nurses' bedside survey (self-report), and a satisfaction questionnaire. Results: There were significantly fewer exposures with the closed drainage system when compared with the Hemovac system. An odds ratio of 5.09 indicated that the odds of exposure to fluids with the Hemovac system were five times greater than for the closed system. Nursing satisfaction scores were higher for the Tru-Close system than the Hemovac system for items that related to protection from exposure to self or environment. However, overall nursing satisfaction with the new device was mixed. Conclusions: Although nurses liked the increased protection from exposure afforded by the Tru-Close drainage system, other patient management issues emerged related to the increased weight of the reservoir bag.
The normal distribution of thoracoabdominal aorta small branch artery ostia

The purpose of this study was to determine the normal distribution of aortic branch artery ostia. CT scans of 100 subjects were retrospectively reviewed. The angular distributions of the aorta with respect to the center of the T3 to L4 vertebral bodies, and of branch artery origins with respect to the center of the aorta were measured. At each vertebral body level the distribution of intercostal/lumbar arteries and other branch arteries were calculated. The proximal descending aorta is posteriorly placed becoming a midline structure, at the thoracolumbar junction, and remains anterior to the vertebral bodies within the abdomen. The intercostal and lumbar artery ostia have a distinct distribution. At each vertebral level from T3 caudally, one intercostal artery originates from the posterior wall of the aorta throughout the thoracic aorta, while the other intercostal artery originates from the medial wall of the descending thoracic aorta high in the chest, posteromedially from the mid-thoracic aorta, and from the posterior wall of the aorta low in the chest. Mediastinal branches of the thoracic aorta originate from the medial and anterior wall. Lumbar branches originate only from the posterior wall of the abdominal aorta. Aortic branch artery origins arise with a bimodal distribution and have a characteristic location. Mediastinal branches of the thoracic aorta originate from the medial and anterior wall. Knowing the location of aortic branch artery ostia may help distinguish branch artery pseudoaneurysms from penetrating ulcers.
Chaos-Assisted Tunnelling and Dynamical Localization in Optical Microresonators

We demonstrate that the lifetimes and emission patterns of the optical modes in dielectric microresonators are strongly affected by the phenomena of Chaos-Assisted Tunnelling and Dynamical Anderson Localization, and develop quantitative description of these effects.
A Review of Some Subtleties of Practical Relevance for Time-Delay Systems of Neutral Type

This paper reviews some subtleties in time-delay systems of neutral type that are believed to be of particular relevance in practice. Both traditional formulation and the coupled differential-difference equation formulation are used. The discontinuity of the spectrum as a function of delays is discussed. Conditions to guarantee stability under small parameter variations are given. A number of subjects that have been discussed in the literature, often using different methods, are reviewed to illustrate some fundamental concepts. These include systems with small delays, the sensitivity of Smith predictor to small delay mismatch, and the discrete implementation of distributed-delay feedback control. The framework prsented in this paper makes it possible to provide simpler formulation and strengthen, generalize, or provide alternative interpretation of the existing results.
Fiduciary Duties of Investment Bankers: Senate Testimony – May 4, 2010

This testimony before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs focuses on two issues: to what extent should investment bankers have fiduciary duties to investors? And should there be criminal liability for willful breach of these duties? The testimony concludes that these duties are the wrong tool for dealing with any problems that might exist in the investment banking industry. Fiduciary duties are an amorphous concept which courts and commentators have applied in many different forms to many different types of conduct. Applying these duties to investment bankers would cast a potentially wide net over not only bad conduct but also conduct that should be viewed as clearly legitimate. Moreover, even under a narrow view of these duties, they are inappropriate for most aspects of investment banking. These problems with fiduciary duties would be significantly exacerbated by imposing criminal liability for their breach.
On distributed reactive power and storage control on microgrids

Summary This manuscript develops a dual decomposition algorithm for the distributed control of reactive power and charging/discharging rates in microgrids with distributed solar generation and \storage capacities. Our setting considers physical constraints inherent to storage systems and voltage regulation constraints with the objective of minimizing a cost function that encompasses two aspects: the total cost of the active power consumed by the microgrid and its associated transmission losses over a finite time horizon. We provide a complete analysis of the convergence of the proposed algorithm and introduce a novel approach for the distributed approximation of the voltage prediction over the power grid. Simulations demonstrate the performance of the dual decomposition algorithm on a particular microgrid case. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of the Internal Circadian System and Circadian Misalignment on Glucose Tolerance in Chronic Shift Workers.

Context: Shift work is a risk factor for diabetes. The separate effects of the endogenous circadian system and circadian misalignment (ie, misalignment between the central circadian pacemaker and 24-hour environmental/behavioral rhythms such as the light/dark and feeding/fasting cycles) on glucose tolerance in shift workers are unknown. Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that the endogenous circadian system and circadian misalignment separately affect glucose tolerance in shift workers, both independently from behavioral cycle effects. Design: A randomized, crossover study with two 3-day laboratory visits. Setting: Center for Clinical Investigation at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Patients: Healthy chronic shift workers. Intervention: The intervention included simulated night work comprised of 12-hour inverted behavioral and environmental cycles (circadian misalignment) or simulated day work (circadian alignment). Main Outcome Measures: Postprandial glucose and insulin respon...
Fast Polyhedral Cell Sorting for Interactive Rendering of Unstructured Grids

Direct volume rendering based on projective methods works by projecting, in visibility order, the polyhedral cells of a mesh onto the image plane, and incrementally compositing the cell’s color and opacity into the final image. Crucial to this method is the computation of a visibility ordering of the cells. If the mesh is “well-behaved” (acyclic and convex), then the MPVO method of Williams provides a very fast sorting algorithm; however, this method only computes an approximate ordering in general datasets, resulting in visual artifacts when rendered. A recent method of Silva et al. removed the assumption that the mesh is convex, by means of a sweep algorithm used in conjunction with the MPVO method; their algorithm is substantially faster than previous exact methods for general meshes. In this paper we propose a new technique, which we call BSP-XMPVO, which is based on a fast and simple way of using binary space partitions on the boundary elements of the mesh to augment the ordering produced by MPVO. Our results are shown to be orders of magnitude better than previous exact methods of sorting cells.
Preliminary Analysis of the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) with PROTEUS

The neutron transport code PROTEUS has been used to perform preliminary simulations of the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT). TREAT is an experimental reactor designed for the testing of nuclear fuels and other materials under transient conditions. It operated from 1959 to 1994, when it was placed on non-operational standby. The restart of TREAT to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s resumption of transient testing is currently underway. Both single assembly and assembly-homogenized full core models have been evaluated. Simulations were performed using a historic set of WIMS-ANL-generated cross-sections as well as a new set of Serpent-generated cross-sections. To support this work, further analyses were also performed using additional codes in order to investigate particular aspects of TREAT modeling. DIF3D and the Monte-Carlo codes MCNP and Serpent were utilized in these studies. MCNP and Serpent were used to evaluate the effect of geometry homogenization on the simulation results and to support code-to-code comparisons. New meshes for the PROTEUS simulations were created using the CUBIT toolkit, with additional meshes generated via conversion of selected DIF3D models to support code-to-code verifications. All current analyses have focused on code-to-code verifications, with additional verification and validation studies planned. The analysis of TREAT with PROTEUS-SNmore » is an ongoing project. This report documents the studies that have been performed thus far, and highlights key challenges to address in future work.« less
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of the Painful Total Knee Arthroplasty

Optimization of metal artifact reduction pulse sequences over the past decade has rendered MRI valuable in knee arthroplasty assessment. MRI can reliably predict the presence and extent of infection, component loosening and polyethylene wear, and component malrotation, and it can evaluate the integrity of surrounding soft tissue structures. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced angiographic techniques, vascular pathology such as pseudoaneurysm formation and recurrent hemarthrosis can also be assessed.
Levels of Aggregation in Conjoint Analysis: An Empirical Comparison:

Two segmented methods of performing conjoint anal/sis, clustered and componential segmentation, are compared with each other as well as with individual level and totally aggregate level analyses. T...
Jagged Landscapes: Conceptualizing Borders and Boundaries in the History of Human Societies

AbstractThe present paper discusses ways in which thinking about this paradoxical nature of boundaries might be broadened so that familiar, contemporary, and ultimately very Western notions of what a border actually “is” might be probed and challenged. Borders have histories just as peoples do, and the history of Western borders is only one category among many in global and historical scope. The first part of the paper will focus on conceptual approaches that scholars have taken in examining borders as a rubric of social scientific study. The second part of the paper turns to some of the newer methodologies for this inquiry, as a range of specialists have utilized varying tool kits to hone their analyses of these liminal spaces. The third portion of the essay will look at some regional variations of borders, and how these “lines in space” have appeared in different guises in various global landscapes, and at varying points in the historical continuum. Early Modern Europe, Ottoman Turkey, pre-modern China,...
Study on the Conceptual Model of Naval Tactics Based on XML/Schema

Conceptual model of military affairs is a formal description of military activity in real life.To expand the applicability of conceptual model of military affairs,it is difficult to describe the military activity with an information mode that can be understood by human and computer program.By analyzing the need on technology that was brought forward by conceptual model of military with such characteristic,the characteristic of XML(eXtensible Markup Language) and Schema and their relationship,and combining the charateristic of naval activities on the level of tactics,this paper puts forward a modeling method with XML/Schema technology to construct the CMNT(conceptual model of naval tactics) based on ability.And then,with such way,this paper builds up a logical structure of archetypal CMNT.At last,applying this archetypal,this paper sets up a simplified conceptual model of aerial defense of single warship on cruise.Illustrated example indicates that the approach of modeling for CMNT based on XML/Schema is reasonable and effective in technology.