cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Irradiated tumor cell vaccine for treatment of an established glioma. I. Successful treatment with combined radiotherapy and cellular vaccination.

Rats bearing a 5-day intracranial (i.c.) syngeneic glioma were treated with a subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination consisting of irradiated glioma cells or a multimodality approach composed of radiotherapy plus s.c. vaccination. Vaccination of rats harboring a T9 glioma with 5×106 irradiated T9.F glioma cells (a clone derived from the T9 glioblastoma cell line) resulted in a marked enhancement of i.c. glioma growth and a significant decrease in survival. Histopathology of the tumors from vaccinated rats revealed a massive glioma composed of healthy tumor tissue lacking any marked inflammation, edema or hemorrhage. Analysis of the tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells indicated that gliomas from vaccinated rats contained a 10-fold greater lymphoid infiltrate per milligram of tumor as compared to tumors from non-vaccinated rats, suggesting that the vaccination had induced immune cells to localize to the i.c. glioma. Combined treatment consisting of 15 Gy of whole head irradiation of the 5-day glioma followed by vaccination with T9.F cells resulted in a significant increase in survival compared to that of non-treated rats, 45% of which remained tumor-free. Microscopic evaluation in survivors of the tumor implantation site revealed the presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and other mononuclear cells, with the absence of tumor cells within the residual lesion. When survivors were challenged s.c. with viable T9.F glioma cells, a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction appeared at the challenge site. T cells purified from these rats proliferated and secreted Th1-associated cytokines when stimulated with irradiated T9.F glioma cells, and lysed T9.F target cells. In contrast, when these rats were challenged s.c. with the unrelated MadB106 adenocarcinoma, tumor formation was observed. These findings indicate that the treatment of an established i.c. glioma with a cellular vaccination alone may induce enhanced tumor growth; however, when the vaccination is combined with radiation therapy, the results are beneficial in terms of increased survival time or complete remission that is accompanied by the development of tumor-specific cellular immunity.
TOLTERODINE EXTENDED RELEASE ATTENUATES LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS IN MEN WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Purpose: In this open label, prospective study we determined the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended release (ER) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in whom previous α-blocker therapy had failed.Materials and Methods: A total of 43 consecutive men with BPH and LUTS in whom a mean of 5.7 months of α-blocker therapy had failed due to adverse events (11) or a lack of efficacy (32) received tolterodine ER (4 mg daily) for 6 months. Primary efficacy end points were American Urological Association symptom score, and mean daytime and nighttime micturition frequency. Secondary end points were the peak urinary flow rate, post-void residual volume, the incidence of urinary retention, total score on the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function and adverse events.Results: A total of 39 men (91%) with a mean age of 61 years completed the 6-month trial. Mean 24-hour micturition frequency decreased from 9.8 to 6.3 voids and...
THE EFFECT OF UNILATERAL NEPHRECTOMY ON THE SENILE ATROPHY OF THE KIDNEY IN THE WHITE RAT

1. In senility in the white rat there is a decrease in the total number of glomerular units. 2, The decrease in glomerular units is associated with an increase in the average diameter and a greater variation in size, of the remaining glomeruli. 3. Unilateral nephrectomy during adult life has no effect on these senile changes.
The energy benefit of stainless steel recycling

Abstract The energy used to produce austenitic stainless steel was quantified throughout its entire life cycle for three scenarios: (1) current global operations, (2) 100% recycling, and (3) use of only virgin materials. Data are representative of global average operations in the early 2000s. The primary energy requirements to produce 1 metric ton of austenitic stainless steel (with assumed metals concentrations of 18% Cr, 8% Ni, and 74% Fe) is (1) 53 GJ, (2) 26 GJ, and (3) 79 GJ for each scenario, with CO 2 releases totaling (1) 3.6 metric tons CO 2 , (2) 1.6 metric tons CO 2 , and (3) 5.3 metric tons CO 2 . Thus, the production of 17 million metric tons of austenitic stainless steel in 2004 used approximately 9.0×10 17 J of primary energy and released 61 million metric tons of CO 2 . Current recycling operations reduce energy use by 33% (4.4×10 17 J) and CO 2 emissions by 32% (29 million tons). If austenitic stainless steel were to be produced solely from scrap, which is currently not possible on a global level due to limited availability, energy use would be 67% less than virgin-based production and CO 2 emissions would be cut by 70%. The calculation of the total energy is most sensitive to the amount and type of scrap fed into the electric arc furnace, the unit energy of the electric arc furnace, the unit energy of ferrochromium production, and the form of primary nickel.
The University Library and the Modern Language Reading Knowledge Requirement

Author's Summary.— Graduate students satisfying the reading knowledge requirements in French and German are likely to choose unsuitable material or to damage expensive and irreplaceable sets. In order to protect library property and direct the student's reading along legitimate channels, a reference librarian trained in modern languages should advise on the selection of material to be read.
Measurement of microsecond dynamic motion in the intestinal fatty acid binding protein by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements have been carried out on the intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) to study microsecond dynamics of the protein in its native state as well as in pH-induced intermediates. IFABP is a small (15 kDa) protein that consists mostly of antiparallel β-strands enclosing a large central cavity into which the ligand binds. Because this protein does not contain cysteine, two cysteine mutants (Val60Cys and Phe62Cys) have been prepared and covalently modified with fluorescein. Based on fluorescence measurements, one of the mutants (Val60Flu) has the fluorescein moiety inside the cavity of the protein, whereas the fluorescein is exposed to solvent in the other (Phe62Flu). The protein modified at position 60 demonstrates the presence of a conformational event on the order of 35 μsec, which is not seen in the other mutant (Phe62Flu). The amplitude of this fast conformational event decreases sharply at low pH as the protein unfolds. Experiments measuring the diffusion as a function of pH indicate the formation of a compact state distinct from the native state at about pH 3.5. Steady state fluorescence and far-UV CD indicates that unfolding occurs at pH values below pH 3.
Rapid thermal processing for reproducible formation of the self-aligned silicides of cobalt and platinum

The results of a continued investigation of the formation of self-aligned CoSi/sub 2/ and PtSi are presented. In both cases it is found that simple surface cleaning methods and use of rapid thermal annealing in inert ambients lead to a method of forming these silicides that is reproducible and reliable. The effect of dopants in silicon or polysilicon on such process has also been investigated. These results are described and compared with the available information on the TiSi/sub 2/ process. >
Sustainability of algae derived biodiesel: a mass balance approach.

Abstract A rigorous chemical engineering mass balance/unit operations approach is applied here to bio-diesel from algae mass culture. An equivalent of 50,000,000 gallons per year (0.006002 m3/s) of petroleum-based Number 2 fuel oil (US, diesel for compression–ignition engines, about 0.1% of annual US consumption) from oleaginous algae is the target. Methyl algaeate and ethyl algaeate diesel can according to this analysis conceptually be produced largely in a technologically sustainable way albeit at a lower available diesel yield. About 11 square miles of algae ponds would be needed with optimistic assumptions of 50 g biomass yield per day and m2 pond area. CO2 to foster algae growth should be supplied from a sustainable source such as a biomass-based ethanol production. Reliance on fossil-based CO2 from power plants or fertilizer production renders algae diesel non-sustainable in the long term.
Neuroprotective effect of SolCD39, a novel platelet aggregation inhibitor, on transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

Background and Purpose— SolCD39 is a soluble form of recombinant human ecto-ATP/ADPase (NTPDase1) and represents a new class of antithrombotic agents. SolCD39 blocks and reverses platelet activation, preventing recruitment of additional platelets into a growing thrombus. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of solCD39 on neurological deficit, infarct size, and extent of edema after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Methods— Physiologically controlled Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 2-hour MCAO by retrograde insertion of an intraluminal suture coated with poly-l-lysine. The agent (solCD39) was administered intravenously before MCAO or at 1-hour or 3-hour recirculation. Other groups received vehicle (Tris-buffered saline) or human albumin (as a “positive” neuroprotective control; 25%, 0.5% of body weight) at 1-hour recirculation. Neurological status was evaluated during occlusion (at 60 minutes) and daily for 3 days after MCAO. Brains were perfusion-fixed at 72 hours, a...
Development of a user friendly marine geographic information system with spatial data analysis and error estimation of three dimensional data model in the Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone

This paper describes the development of a user-friendly marine geographic information system (MGIS) which performs tasks such as processing, storing, updating, manipulating and analyzing different spatial marine data. For the development of the author's MGIS, various hardware systems including PC, workstation, plotter, scanner and printer, as well as software such as GIV, ARC/INFO ver 7, and its various modules, image processing software tools such as Imagetool, XV and Corel Draw were used. The users can access the database with the aid of menus developed for querying the database. The data used for this project were retrieved from the GEODAS CD-ROM published by National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), USA. The database include bathymetric, gravity and magnetic data collected in the part of the Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by numerous national and international organizations over the past several decades. The data points have both spatial and non-spatial attributes. This project involved the extensive use of various modules of ARC/INFO: ARCEDIT, ARCPLOT, TIN, AML and INFO. The menus were developed using AML. The entire sequence of stages which involves invoking various modules is controlled by a main menu which in turn generates lower level pop-up submenus. TIN was used to create three dimensional ocean bottom surface and also for surface analysis to derive information about ocean bottom that cannot be determined with two dimensional analysis tools alone. Marine data which have been collected over the years have varied spatial resolution and accuracy. To create a more accurate three dimensional surface model with these data needs extensive spatial statistical analysis which includes giving different weightage to data points collected by different instruments and have different positional errors. This marine GIS model performs the error analysis of the three dimensional surfaces created using different data points.
Application of the Kubelka Munk equation to characterizing a reflectance pulse oximeter

A one-dimensional optical reflectance model based on the equations of P. Kubelka and F. Munk (1931) has been developed to characterize a reflectance pulse oximeter. Arterial blood volume was varied in order to simulate pulsatile changes in reflectance. It was found that the reflectance ratio versus SaO/sub 2/ (arterial oxygen saturation) varied significantly with SvO/sub 2/ (venous oxygen saturation). This effect was simulated by changes in the cardiac output. In addition, effects of changing hematocrit and venous blood volume were examined. Neither of these parameters had a significant effect on the reflectance ratio versus SaO/sub 2/ plot for the oxygen saturation range most often seen clinically (SaO/sub 2/>80%). >
Obituary Jørgen Bagger Kirkegaard (1920–2006)

Jorgen Bagger Kirkegaard was born on the 18th of November, 1920 in Frederiksberg, a town just west of Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the only child of an elementary school biology teacher, Immanuel Kirkegaard, and his wife Oda, nee Simonsen.
Polymerase delta-interacting protein 2 regulates collagen accumulation via activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Objectives Polymerase delta interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) has previously been implicated in migration, proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in vascular smooth muscle cells. To better understand the role of Poldip2 in ECM regulation, we investigated the mechanism responsible for collagen I accumulation in Poldip2 +/− mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (MASMs). Approach and results Protein degradation and protein synthesis pathways were investigated. Depletion of Poldip2 had no effect on proteasome activity, but caused a partial reduction in autophagic flux. However, the rate of collagen I degradation was increased in Poldip2 +/− vs. Poldip2 +/+ MASMs. Conversely, activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, involved in regulation of protein synthesis, was significantly elevated in Poldip2 +/− MASMs as was β1-integrin expression. Suppressing mTOR signaling using Akt inhibitor or rapamycin and reducing β1-integrin expression using siRNA prevented the increase in collagen I production. While collagen I and fibronectin were increased in Poldip2 +/− MASMs, overall protein synthesis was not different from that in Poldip2 +/ + MASMs, suggesting selectivity of Poldip2 for ECM proteins. Conclusions Poldip2 +/− MASMs exhibit higher β1-integrin expression and activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, leading to increased ECM protein synthesis. These findings have important implications for vascular diseases in which ECM accumulation plays a role.
Perceptions of success in virtual cross-disciplinary design teams in large multinational corporations

AbstractThe nature of design problems facing industry today often requires the use of cross-disciplinary teams in order to maximise innovation. Three case studies were used to answer the research question: What factors contribute to the success of virtual cross-disciplinary design teams in large multinational engineering corporations? Results indicate that factors that contribute to success include the context in which teams work, the method by which teams do their work, and the media by which teams communicate. In addition, this study also found that technology facilitates, but does not take the place of, well-defined and shared processes.
Laying waste to the environment

The Energy Department, especially under the Reagan administration, has evaded and defied landmark environmental laws. Recently introduced legislation would subject the department to the same controls that apply to commercial facilities.
A computer-aided design system geared toward conceptual design in a research environment

A computer-aided design system has recently been developed specifically for the small research group environment. The system is implemented on a Prime 400 minicomputer linked with a CDC 6600 computer. The goal was to assign the minicomputer specific tasks, such as data input and graphics, thereby reserving the large mainframe computer for time-consuming analysis codes. The basic structure of the design system consists of GEMPAK, a computer code that generates detailed configuration geometry from a minimum of input; interface programs that reformat GEMPAK geometry for input to the analysis codes; and utility programs that simplify computer access and data interpretation. The working system has had a large positive impact on the quantity and quality of research performed by the originating group. This paper describes the system, the major factors that contributed to its particular form, and presents examples of its application.
Facilitating the Cope Rearrangement by Partial Protonation: Implications for Synthesis and Biosynthesis

The theoretical investigation of concerted and stepwise Cope rearrangements of natural products led to the prediction that some concerted Cope rearrangements can be promoted by noncovalent association of their transition state structures with ammonium cations.
Fixed-Structure Robust CMC Momentum Manager Design for the International Space Station

In this paper, we study the problem of robust CMG momentum manager design for the International Space Station (ISS). The CMG momentum manager is the primary control law that provides combined momentum management and attitude control capability. However, the robustness property of this controller have not been addressed adequately in design stage other than post-design verification analysis. Within constraint of the existing controller structure, the newly developed CMG momentum manager design is demonstrated to robustly stabilize the space station against moment of inertial and aerodynamic uncertainties without much loss of performance.
Comparison of lidar and stereo photogrammetric point clouds for change detection

The advent of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud collection has significantly improved the ability to model the world in precise, fine, three dimensional detail. The objective of this research was to demonstrate accurate, foundational methods for fusing LiDAR data and photogrammetric imagery and their potential for change detection. The scope of the project was to investigate optical image-to-LiDAR registration methods, focusing on dissimilar image types including high resolution aerial frame and WorldView-1 satellite and LiDAR with varying point densities. An innovative optical image-to-LiDAR data registration process was established. Comparison of stereo imagery point cloud data to the LiDAR point cloud using a 90% confidence interval highlighted changes that included small scale (< 50cm), sensor dependent change and large scale, new home construction change.
TEXTURE ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF PEARLTIC WIRES DURING DRAWING

The textures of pearltic wires were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction with a modified texture measurement method, which suits for the wires samples. The experimental results demonstrate that the main factors affecting texture formation are die angle and the friction between the wire and die. For a larger die angle, the {110}（110） circular texture can be found on the surface or intermediate, this kind of texture lowers the ability of drawing and torsion. The circular textures can be explained well by Taylor model.
Criminology and the “Essence” of Crime: The Views of Garofalo, Durkheim, and Bonger

The first and perhaps most fundamental problem of criminology, when practiced as a science, is the challenge of defining crime, of identifying a stable, empirical “essence” of crime that can guide ...
Religion in the Life, Thought, and Presidency of James Madison

Was James Madison a Christian? Was his political thought grounded upon traditional religious faith? Did he seek—to borrow a phrase from Thomas Jefferson—to erect “a wall of separation” between church and state?
Organizing Communication Behavior: The Role of Schemas and Constructs

(1984). Organizing Communication Behavior: The Role of Schemas and Constructs. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 8, Communication Yearbook 8, pp. 310-329.
Reverse time migration angle gathers using Poynting vectors

ABSTRACTAngle-domain common-image gathers provide much useful data about the subsurface, such as seismic velocities and amplitude-versus-angle (AVA) information, and they can be manipulated to provide high-quality stacked images. However, the computation of angle gathers for reverse time migration (RTM), the most physically accurate migration algorithm, has proven to be costly in terms of computer time and memory usage. We have developed an algorithm for computing RTM angle gathers in a relatively efficient manner. Our method is based on the construction of the directions of propagation of the source and receiver wavefields, given by the direction of energy flux, known as the Poynting vector. The computation is carried out in the space-time domain, avoiding the need to transform the wavefield to, for example, frequency-wavenumber space, as is needed for methods based on wavefront projection. Given accurate Poynting vectors for source and receiver wavefields, one may compute the local reflection angle and ...
Circuit recognition with deep learning

Identifying properties (features) of circuits and applying proper algorithms are helpful for solving various computer-aided design problems. For hardware security inspection, there is a demand for reverse engineering, the process of extracting high-level components from bit-level designs. Given a suspected circuit block, a common approach is to find a set of candidate functions and then to apply formal methods to identify it. Identifying useful features of high-level functions and collecting suggested candidates of an unknown block are important steps. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been used extensively in machine learning because often pre-defined features are not required. Deep networks with multiple processing layers have been shown to be capable of learning concealed structures of objects during a training process. This paper discusses requirements for representing logic circuits for CNN processing. A new circuit representation (data format) is developed for the proposed circuit-based convolution operation with dynamic pooling. Based on this data format, a deep learning framework using CNNs to recognize circuit functionalities was built. Compared to reference methods based on support vector machines (SVM), experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed CNN method for both circuit classification as well as function detection and location. With proper training data, e.g. a set of circuits with hidden Trojans, the proposed framework can be used to train a model to help detect and locate malware in hardware designs.
When in doubt, sit it out! Pediatric concussion-an update

Concussion is a major public health issue that has received much publicity in recent years. Reported concussions are increasing across all ages, including the highest rates in pediatric age ranges. Due to the age-related physiological responses and differential recovery of symptoms after concussion, special consideration must be given to youth concussions. Concussion can affect each child differently and likely affects children differently than adults. Until the past decade, there has been a scarcity of scientifically rigorous studies examining concussions in children. This increasing amount of research and consensus has begun to influence the definition, evaluation, management, return to school and play recommendations, prevention, and education relating to pediatric concussion. The purpose of this article is a review of relevant research published in the last few years (2015-2017) with highlights of these updates summarized for clinical use.
Effects of Thermomechanical Stimulation during Vaccination on Anxiety, Pain, and Satisfaction in Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Purpose Vaccination can be a significant source of pain for pediatric patients, which could result in fear of medical procedures and future reluctance to seek medical care. It is important for nurses to provide pain prevention during these procedures. This study sought to measure the impact of an intervention combining cold and vibration on pain scores during routine pediatric immunization. Design and Methods A prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of the Buzzy device (thermomechanical stimulation) compared to no intervention (control group) in reducing child-reported pain during routine immunization. The Wong Baker Faces scale was used to collect child, parent, and observer reported anxiety and pain. Parents reported satisfaction with the procedure and overall office visit. Results Fifty children between the ages of 3 and 18 were included in the present analysis. Mean child-reported pain scores were significantly lower in the group receiving thermomechanical stimulation compared to control (3.56 vs 5.92, p = 0.015). Buzzy did not impact child-reported anxiety or how much pain the child expected. Parent-reported satisfaction did not vary significantly between groups, but was strongly associated with parent-reported pain scores. Conclusions Thermomechanical stimulation with the Buzzy device significantly reduced pain during pediatric immunization over a wide range of ages compared to control, but did not impact pre-procedure anxiety. Practice Implications The Buzzy device is an easy to implement intervention to reduce pediatric pain during vaccination. It may have the greatest impact in younger children but could be offered during all immunizations.
Competitive interactions between gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) and red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in laboratory and field studies in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Field removal and laboratory studies examined competitive interactions between gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) and red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). In field studies, all gray triggerfish and red snapper were counted and sizes estimated on 24 reef sites. Gray triggerfish were then removed from half of these reef sites resulting in significantly fewer gray triggerfish on the removal reefs at the start of the experiment. After 7 months the experiment ended and reef sites were re-surveyed. Gray triggerfish decreased on both treatments, while the mean number of red snapper did not differ between treatments; however, there were significantly more small (< 400 mm TL) red snapper on reefs where gray triggerfish were removed. In seven laboratory growth trials (30 to 35 days each), red snapper held with gray triggerfish had significantly lower growth rates and numerous bite marks compared to red snapper alone and gray triggerfish alone treatments. These competitive interactions indicate that management eff...
Survey on Neonatal End-of-Life Comfort Care Guidelines Across America

Abstract Context Infants of age less than one year have the highest mortality rate in pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines for palliative care in 2013; however, significant variation persists among local protocols addressing neonatal comfort care at the end-of-life (EOL). Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate current neonatal EOL comfort care practices and clinician satisfaction across America. Methods After institutional review board approval (516005), an anonymous, electronic survey was sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Members of the listserv include neonatologists, neonatal fellow physicians, neonatal nurses, and neonatal nurse practitioners from across America (U.S. and Canada). Results There were 346/3000 (11.5%) responses with wide geographic distribution and high levels of intensive care responding (46.1% Level IV, 50.9% Level III, 3.0% Level II). Nearly half (45.2%) reported that their primary institution did not have neonatal comfort care guidelines. Of those reporting institutional neonatal comfort care guidelines, 19.1% do not address pain symptom management. Most guidelines also do not address gastrointestinal distress, anxiety, or secretions. Thirty-nine percent of respondents stated that their institution did not address physician compassion fatigue. Overall, 91.8% of respondents felt that their institution would benefit from further education/training in neonatal EOL care. Conclusion Across America, respondents confirmed significant variation and verified many institutions do not formally address neonatal EOL comfort care. Institutions with guidelines commonly appear to lack crucial areas of palliative care including patient symptom management and provider compassion fatigue. The overwhelming majority of respondents felt that their institutions would benefit from further neonatal EOL care training.
What might be predominant form of cyber conflict

After nearly fifteen years of war, the US military is pretty sure that future conflicts won't look like the past.
Interplay between orbital-quantization effects and the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov instability in multiple-band layered superconductors

We explore superconducting instability for a clean two-band layered superconductor with deep and shallow bands in the magnetic field applied perpendicular to the layers. In the shallow band, the quasiclassical approximation is not applicable, and Landau quantization has to be accounted for exactly. The electronic spectrum of this band in the magnetic field is composed of the one-dimensional Landau-level minibands. With increasing magnetic field the system experiences a series of Lifshitz transitions when the chemical potential enters and exits the minibands. These transitions profoundly influence the shape of the upper critical field at low temperatures. In addition, the Zeeman spin splitting may cause the nonuniform state with interlayer modulation of the superconducting order parameter [Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state]. Typically, the quantization effects in the shallow band strongly promote the formation of this state. The uniform state remains favorable only in the exceptional resonance cases when the spin-splitting energy exactly matches the Landau-level spacing. Furthermore, for specific relations between electronic spectrum parameters, the alternating FFLO state may realize, in which the order parameter changes sign between the neighboring layers. For all above cases, the reentrant high-field superconducting states may emerge at low temperatures if the shallow band has significant contribution to the Cooper pairing.
Public–private synergies: Reconceiving urban redevelopment in Tübingen, Germany

The public–private development (PPD) model created in Tubingen, Germany, exemplifies an alternative to traditional PPD practices that engage high-capacity business stakeholders, such as large devel...
General Trends in Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime on a Global Scale

This chapter examines the trends in drug trafficking and organized crime, focusing on the evolution of organized crime. While some of the actors have changed and the world has evolved, there are some trends across time, particularly in the policy realm in terms of which policies have been effective and which have been less effective. Moreover, drug trafficking organizations present challenges not only for state security but also for regional security as a result of the violent tactics that some organizations employ.
Letter-to-sound for small-footprint multilingual TTS engine.

This paper presents two letter-to-sound (LTS) methods in building a small-footprint multilingual text-to-speech (TTS) engine. For the languages where there exist a systematic relationship between a word format and its pronunciation, we employ a rule-based method. Otherwise, we use a trainingbased method. In the second method, we adopted optimal sequence to implement the process of letter-to-phoneme alignment, and use CART to train the decision tree and store the results in an efficient way. Despite their merits and disadvantages, the experimental results on six languages demonstrate these methods are effective to reach an acceptable LTS precision within a reasonable small size.
Productivity and quality patient care.

Because of the need to control rising U.S. health care costs, managers today not only must focus on their staff and patients, but also on the business aspects of radiology, such as increasing productivity. Balancing productivity with quality patient care is not an easy task--it requires changes by the entire radiology team, including managers, technologists and radiologists. After completing this article, the reader should be able to: Discuss why health care costs continue to rise. Define productivity, how it can be measured and why it must be measured in today's health care settings. Recognize how patient satisfaction contributes to a health care organization's bottom line. Understand the health care team's role in simultaneously increasing productivity and patient satisfaction.
Acceptor-bound magnetic polarons in Cd 1 − x Mn x Te

Photoluminescence measurements have been used to determine bound magnetic polaron energies in intentionally doped, high-purity p-type ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{\mathrm{x}}$Te samples. The binding energy of acceptor-bound magnetic polarons has been found to increase with Mn content in the alloy up to about x=0.2. Beyond this value the polaron energy saturates with increasing x, as a result of the antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$-${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ interactions. This behavior and the values of polaron binding energy are in agreement with the predictions of phenomenological polaron theory, which uses the measured high-field magnetization of the host crystal as an input to determine the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ response.
Is GRP78 a sensor of cellular secretory activity

In eukaryotes, secreted proteins and membrane proteins are transported through two membrane-bound compartments consisting of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex. In the lumen of the ER they undergo covalent modification, folding and assembly which are prerequisites for efficient transport (1). These events are mediated by a complement of resident ER proteins. Studies on the development of secretory capacity indicate that cells respond to increases in the synthesis of secretory proteins by coordinately regulating the expression of resident ER proteins (2). The glucose regulated proteins (GRP), GRP781 and GRP94, may provide important insight into the mechanisms by which coordinate regulation of ER resident proteins may be achieved. The GRPs are transcriptionally activated by a variety of stress agents which inhibit processing and transport of secretory proteins from the ER (3,4). While little is known of the function of GRP94, GRP78 is known to bind stably to unprocessed, misfolded or unassembled proteins whose presence in the ER stimulates GRP expression (5). The GRPs also play an essential role under non-stress conditions since expression is constitutive in all mammalian tissues but is increased in cells active in protein secretion (2), and GRP78 is highly conserved in eukaryotes (6). To explain the regulation of GRPs and other resident ER proteins several groups have suggested the existence of a feedback mechanism whereby cells monitor the level of exported proteins in the ER and adjust the level of resident ER proteins accordingly (2,5). GRP78 has been proposed to function as such an ER sensor. In this paper I review the evidence for this proposal including genetic and biochemical similarities to the heat shock proteins (HSPs) and specifically to the 70 kD heat shock family (HSP70) of which GRP78 is a member.
Case Study #1: Control Design Issues

Chapter 6 discusses several control design issues including single nonlinear variable forcing functions, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems and noncollocated control. A sinusoidal damping/nonlinear feedback term is investigated to show the effect of nonlinear feedback terms that change sign as a function of velocity. Multiple coupled mass spring dampers are used to demonstrate the HSSPFC design process for linear and nonlinear MIMO systems. Finally, these coupled mass spring damper systems are used to present the effects of noncollocated control on stability and performance based on HSSPFC. This chapter follows several papers by Robinett and Wilson.
Effective Modeling of Elastic Mechanical System Through Objective-Aimed Finite Element Strategies

Engineering modeling plays an important role on the overall design process for a complex mechanical and/or structural system. Yet, the development and generation of a suitable finite element model for the static, dynamic or thermal analysis of the system is one of the most tedious and time consuming tasks in engineering analysis. The quality of the engineering modeling has the most significant impact on the quality of the analytical results.
Inhibitory effects of beta-boswellic acids on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, arachidonic acid metabolism, and tumor promotion in mouse skin

749 Boswellia serrata extracts have been used for centuries as an herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammation and related diseases in India and China. A preparation of Boswellia extract (BE) contains about 35-40% total beta-boswellic acids and further separated and purified by a Phenomenex Synergi MAX-RP 80A column into 6 peaks. Four peaks were identified as beta-boswellic acid, 3-O-acetyl-beta-boswelic acid, 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid and 3-O-acety-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, respectively. The other 2 peaks were alpha-boswellic acid and 3-O-acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid. Beta-boswellic acid and its 3 derivatives had strong anti-inflammatory activity in mouse ear edema test. Topical application of TPA (0.8 nmol) onto ears of CD-1 mice once a day for 4-5 days induced persistent inflammation that was corrected with elevated protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as formation of PGE2 and LTB4 levels in the mouse ears. Topical application of BE and pure beta-boswellic acid at 30 min before each TPA application once a day for 4 days inhibited TPA-induced persistent inflammation and expression IL-1beta and IL-6 protein levels as well as inhibited formation of LTB4 levels, but not PGE2 levels in mouse ears. Oral administration of 3.5 and 14 mg of 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid in corn oil to the female CD-1 mouse at 30 min before TPA treatment inhibited TPA-induced ear edema by 53% and 64%, respectively. Beta-boswellic acid appears to have advantage with high systemic bioavailability in comparison to other anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent such as curcumin. Topical application of 1.2 and 3.6 mg of BE before TPA (5 nmol) to skin of DMBA-initiated mice twice a week for 16 weeks inhibited the average number of skin tumors per mouse by 87 and 99%, respectively, and the percent of the mice with skin tumors was decreased by 59 or 92%, respectively. The results indicating that BE and beta-boswellic acids had strong anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive activities.
Rational exponents in extremal graph theory

Given a family of graphs H, the extremal number ex(n,H) is the largest m for which there exists a graph with n vertices and m edges containing no graph from the family H as a subgraph. We show that for every rational number r between 1 and 2, there is a family of graphs Hr such that ex(n,Hr) = Θ(n r). This solves a longstanding problem in the area of extremal graph theory.
Fully Inkjet-printed Multi-layer Tunable Origami FSS Structures with Integrated Thermal Actuation Mechanism

A first-of-its-kind design methodology to realize origami-inspired multi-layer frequency selective surfaces (FSS) with a thermally actuated smart shape-shifting spacer layer is presented. The spacer not only features low dielectric losses but can also change its shape to maintain optimum inter-layer distances as the Miura-FSS structure is folded to preserve desired frequency response. It also introduces unprecedented high mechanical strength making it suitable for wide range of applications. The proposed structure features twice as broad bandwidth as compared to single layer Miura-FSS and an excellent angle of incidence rejection.
Rapid pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing in in vitro endophthalmitis with matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and VITEK 2 without prior culture

Purpose Prompt clinical diagnosis and initiation of treatment are critical in the management of infectious endophthalmitis. Current methods used to identify causative agents of infectious endophthalmitis are mostly inefficient, owing to suboptimal sensitivity, length, and cost. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) can be used to rapidly identity pathogens without a need for culture. Similarly, automated antimicrobial susceptibility test systems (AST, VITEK 2) provide accurate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. In this proof-of-concept study, we apply these technologies for the direct identification and characterization of pathogens in vitreous samples, without culture, as an in vitro model of infectious endophthalmitis. Methods Vitreous humor aspirated from freshly enucleated porcine eyes was inoculated with different inocula of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and incubated at 37°C. Vitreous endophthalmitis samples were centrifuged and pellets were directly analyzed with MALDI-TOF MS and VITEK 2 without prior culture. S. aureus colonies that were conventionally grown on culture medium were used as control samples. Time-to-identification, minimum concentration of bacteria required for identification, and accuracy of results compared to standard methods were determined. Results MALDI-TOF MS achieved accurate pathogen identification from direct analysis of intraocular samples with confidence values of up to 99.9%. Time from sample processing to pathogen identification was <30 minutes. The minimum number of bacteria needed for positive identification was 7.889x106 colony forming units (cfu/μl). Direct analysis of intraocular samples with VITEK 2 gave AST profiles that were up to 94.4% identical to the positive control S. aureus analyzed per standard protocol. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the direct analysis of vitreous samples with MALDI-TOF MS and VITEK 2 without prior culture could serve as new, improved methods for rapid, accurate pathogen identification and targeted treatment design in infectious endophthalmitis. In vivo models and standardized comparisons against other microbiological methods are needed to determine the value of direct analysis of intraocular samples from infectious endophthalmitis with MALDI-TOF MS and VITEK 2.
Applications of variable-order fractional operators: a review

Variable-order fractional operators were conceived and mathematically formalized only in recent years. The possibility of formulating evolutionary governing equations has led to the successful application of these operators to the modelling of complex real-world problems ranging from mechanics, to transport processes, to control theory, to biology. Variable-order fractional calculus (VO-FC) is a relatively less known branch of calculus that offers remarkable opportunities to simulate interdisciplinary processes. Recognizing this untapped potential, the scientific community has been intensively exploring applications of VO-FC to the modelling of engineering and physical systems. This review is intended to serve as a starting point for the reader interested in approaching this fascinating field. We provide a concise and comprehensive summary of the progress made in the development of VO-FC analytical and computational methods with application to the simulation of complex physical systems. More specifically, following a short introduction of the fundamental mathematical concepts, we present the topic of VO-FC from the point of view of practical applications in the context of scientific modelling.
Fooling the Master: Exploiting Weaknesses in the Modbus Protocol

Abstract Modbus is a commonly used protocol in SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) environments for remote monitoring, control, and data acquisition. Since its arrival in 1979, the Modbus protocol has lacked security with no confidentiality and data integrity. The rise of insecure network protocols such as Modbus are often accompanied with the unprecedented dangers associated with its application in the real-world systems, especially the ones which are critical in nature. The paper outlines some of the insecurities of this protocol and makes use of Scapy to exploit weaknesses in the Modbus over TCP/IP in simulated endpoints running on in a virtualized environment. The paper presents two attacks on the Modbus protocol - infecting the master with a malware and man-in-the-middle attack.
Making a Modern Central Bank : The Bank of England 1979-2003

Making a Modern Central Bank examines a revolution in monetary and economic policy. This authoritative guide explores how the Bank of England shifted its traditional mechanisms to accommodate a newly internationalized financial and economic system. The Bank's transformation into a modern inflation-targeting independent central bank allowed it to focus on a precisely defined task of monetary management, ensuring price stability. The reframing of the task of central banks, however, left them increasingly vulnerable to financial crisis. James vividly outlines and discusses significant historical developments in UK monetary policy, and his knowledge of modern European history adds rich context to archival research on the Bank of England's internal documents. A worthy continuation of the previous official histories of the Bank of England, this book also reckons with contemporary issues, shedding light on the origins of growing backlash against globalization and the European Union.
Optimizing imitation: Examining cognitive factors leading to imitation, overimitation, and goal emulation in preschoolers

Humans imitate patently irrelevant actions known as overimitation, and rather than decreasing with age, overimitation increases with age. Whereas most overimitation research has focused on social factors associated with overimitation, comparatively little is known about the cognitive- and task-specific features that influence overimitation. Specifically, developmental contrasts between imitation and overimitation are confounded by the addition of irrelevant actions to causally necessary actions, increasing sequence length, cognitive load, and processing costs-variables known to be age dependent. We constructed a novel puzzle box task such that a four-step imitation, four-step overimitation, and two-step efficient sequence could be demonstrated using the same apparatus on video. In Experiments 1 and 2, 2.5- to 5-year-olds randomly assigned to imitation and overimitation groups performed significantly more target actions than baseline control groups. Rates of imitation and overimitation increased as a function of age, with older preschoolers outperforming younger preschoolers in both conditions. In Experiment 3, preschoolers were shown a video of an efficient two-step demonstration prior to testing. After they responded, they were shown a four-step overimitation video and were tested on the same puzzle box. Children imitated the efficient demonstration, but after watching the overimitation video, they also overimitated the irrelevant actions. Once again, older children overimitated more than younger children. Together, results show that preschoolers are faithful, flexible, and persistent overimitators. The fidelity and flexibility of overimitation are constrained not only by social factors but also by basic cognitive processes that vary across age groups. As these constraints diminish, overimitation and flexible (optimal) imitation increases.