cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The antiangiogenic agent linomide inhibits tumor necrosis factor‐α secretion via inhibition of its synthesis

We have previously reported that linomide, a quinoline-3-carboxamide, has antitumor effects against prostatic cancers in vivo through its ability to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Subsequently, we reported that linomide inhibits several steps in the process of angiogenesis, including direct effects on endothelial cell proliferation and their chemotactic migration and invasion. Besides these direct effects, linomide's antiangiogenic activity also involves indirect effects secondary to inhibition of tumor infiltration of macrophages and their ability to secrete the angiogenic factor tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The current studies were conducted to gain insight into the mechanism by which linomide inhibits macrophage TNF-alpha secretion. The virally transformed RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line was used as a model system. Chronic in vitro exposure (7 days) to 81-650 microM linomide is cytostatic to RAW cells. Such chronic exposure to linomide significantly decreased (P < 0.05) RAW cells' baseline ability to secrete TNF-alpha and also their ability to up-regulate TNF-alpha secretion in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Ribonuclease protection assays demonstrated that linomide's ability to inhibit baseline and LPS-challenged TNF-alpha secretion is not functioning at the mRNA level, because steady-state levels of TNF-alpha mRNA do not change in response to linomide. Linomide's ability to inhibit TNF-alpha secretion is not associated with an increase in cell-associated TNF-alpha levels. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that linomide did not inhibit the normal proteolytic processing of the initial 26 kDa plasma membrane-bound TNF-alpha to the secreted 17 kDa soluble form. These results demonstrate that linomide inhibits TNF-alpha secretion by inhibition of the synthesis of the TNF-alpha protein. Linomide's ability to inhibit TNF-alpha protein synthesis is not due to an inhibition of general protein synthesis or secretion and is not mediated via a change in cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels.
Selective management of pediatric pancreatic injuries.

Abstract Background: Despite trauma being the most common cause of pediatric pancreatitis, the diagnosis and management is often difficult. Methods: The hospital course, diagnostic and surgical procedures, and complications for all children with traumatic pancreatitis evaluated at a Regional Level I Trauma Center were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Twelve of 3,500 children (0.35%, mean age, 8.7 ± 1.2 years) were reviewed. Intraoperative diagnosis was made in three after penetrating trauma. Nine children sustained blunt pancreatic trauma (BPT) with serial radiographic imaging confirming the diagnosis in seven. Serial serum amylase levels, when performed, were normal in two and elevated in six, but did not predict injury severity or need for further intervention. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed in three children and indicated the need for surgical intervention in two and prevented planned laparotomy in one. Two children underwent computed tomography-guided fluid drainage. Pseudocysts developed in five children. Mortality rate from penetrating injuries was 66% with no deaths from BPT. Conclusions: A combination of serial radiographic, laboratory, and ERCP findings will improve the diagnosis and management of BPT. Penetrating or main ductal injuries require surgical intervention, and fluid collections may require drainage, but, otherwise, most BPT can be managed nonoperatively with minimal morbidity and mortality.
Inconsistent localization of gram-positive bacteria to prostate-specific specimens from patients with chronic prostatitis

Abstract Objectives To determine the rate of gram-positive localizations and whether repetitive cultures demonstrate consistent localization of gram-positive bacteria in patients with chronic prostatitis symptoms. Methods We repeated localization cultures at different visits for untreated patients with chronic prostatitis symptoms. Results A total of 470 patients with chronic prostatitis had lower urinary tract localization cultures done. Ten-fold increases in the concentrations of gram-positive bacteria were noted when the postprostatic massage (VB3) or expressed prostatic secretions cultures were compared with first-void urine (VB1) cultures from 29 patients (6%). This was comparable to the 7% rate of gram-negative chronic bacterial prostatitis. We studied 49 patients who had undergone 130 repeated localization studies (median 2, range 2 to 4). Repeatedly negative studies were found in 20 patients, including 19 who each had undergone two studies and 1 who had undergone four studies. Of 9 patients who each had undergone three or four studies, 9 demonstrated localization of at least one gram-positive species. Of the 29 patients with gram-positive localizations, 27 (94%) did not have consistent localization of the gram-positive species. Conclusions Patients with chronic prostatitis demonstrated localization of gram-positive bacteria, but the results were seldom reproducible in untreated patients. Gram-positive localizations may represent nonpathogens, transient bacterial colonization of the lower urinary tract, or intermittent shedding of prostatic pathogens. The limitations of traditional cultures highlight the need for better diagnostic approaches and improved recommendations for antimicrobial therapy.
The radiation controlled balloon (RACOON)

Abstract The RACOON concept permits the flight of large, low-cost polyethylene balloons for several weeks at stratospheric altitudes without ballast. The theory of operations is described. The RACOON balloon ascends each morning and descends at night. This movement of 15 to 20 km in altitude provides an ideal platform for vertical soundings and sampling measurements in the stratosphere. Results of a number of globe-circling flights are presented.
Universal newborn hearing screening follow-up: a university clinic perspective.

Purpose To evaluate the referral and follow-up procedures at a university clinic to determine whether the early intervention program is achieving the goals of diagnosis of hearing loss by 3 months,...
Shallow acceptor levels in 4H-and 6H-SiC

Shallow impurities are the principal means of affecting the electrical properties of semiconductors in order to induce desired characteristics. They can be used to isolate a region by introducing carriers of opposite charge, or they can be used to enhance the number of carriers of a particular type. Thermal admittance spectroscopy has been used to determine the activation energies of the principal p-type dopants, Al and B, in 4H and 6H-SiC, and temperature dependent Hall effect measurements were used to study the shallow B acceptors in 6H-SiC. The accept or species B and Al occupy inequivalent lattice sites in the Si sublattice, and would be expected to exhibit distinct energy levels for each site in analogy to the well known donor energy levels of N. Activation energies for B in 6H-SiC were found to be Eh=Ev+0.27 eV, Ek1=Ev+0.31 eV, and Ek2=Ev+0.38 eV. Al acceptors in 4H-SiC were found to exhibit two energy levels at Eh=Ev+0.212 eV and Ek=Ev+0.266 eV.
Beyond ‘state pimpage’: insights from local leaders on HIV/AIDS prevention in the Dominican tourism industry

The literature on tourism in the Caribbean and elsewhere suggests that state actors are complicit with multinational tourism interests, acting as handmaidens of capital in developing nations. This has been referred to as ‘state pimpage’, the literal or metaphorical sale of local erotic resources for global exploitation. In the public health literature on HIV/AIDS, analysts have suggested that complicit states neglect HIV prevention services due to the presumed negative effects of explicitly addressing the HIV epidemic on the tourism industry, placing the government in direct opposition to local health initiatives. This article interrogates the theoretical assumptions behind the notion of state pimpage through in-depth interviews with policy makers in the Dominican Republic, including civil society, public sector, and private tourism representatives. While state pimpage presumes parity between global capitalist interests and state actions, our participants articulated three aspects of local experience that...
Purification and properties of a DPNH-TPNH diaphorase from Clostridium kluyverii.

Abstract A diaphorase which utilizes both reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) has been purified from a commercial preparation of Clostridium kluyverii . The purified enzyme appears to be homogeneous, and contains flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as a cofactor. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 24,000 and 1 mole of FMN per mole of enzyme is present. No evidence has been found for any metal ion involvement. The enzyme does not catalyze hydrogen exchange between pyridine nucleotides, and cannot utilize DPNH or TPNH to reduce oxygen or cytochrome c . The enzyme is protected against denaturation in urea, guanidine hydrochloride and at elevated temperatures by DPNH, TPNH and FMN, but not by DPN, TPN, FAD or riboflavin.
Content diversity and the FCC'S minority and gender licensing policies

All government‐sponsored affirmative action programs raise questions of equal protection under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The FCC's minority and gender licensing preference policies — pre...
Effect of bleach on the transport characteristics of polysulfone hemodialyzers

Although post-treatment modifications are widely employed to increase hydrophilicity and render membranes more biocompatible, they can also be used to modify the membrane pore size. In this study, hollow fiber Fresenius membranes made from polysulfone and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) were treated with a hypochlorite (bleach) solution for different periods of time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated a significant loss of PVP, with the bulk of the PVP removal occurring within the first hour of bleach exposure. The bleach-treated membranes also had a greater negative charge and a larger effective pore size. In contrast to the XPS data, the membrane charge and pore size continued to increase throughout the 14 h bleach exposure. Hindered diffusion and sieving data were analyzed using available hydrodynamic models that account for the asymmetric structure of the hollow fiber membranes. The good agreement between the hydrodynamic model and data indicates that the bleach-treated membranes were free of any large defects.
Direct experimental validation of the Jones-Ray effect

In 1937, Jones and Ray observed a minimum in the surface tension of electrolyte solutions at � 1 mM concentrations. According to the Gibbs adsorption equation, a decreasing surface tension corresponds to an enhanced ion concentration at the interface, which is contrary to textbook descriptions based on Onsanger–Samaras theory. The Jones–Ray Effect has since been essentially dismissed as an artifact of the indirect experimental method used, and remains today as a curiosity. Here, we present direct experimental confirmation of the enhanced anion concentration around 1 mM of alkali iodide solutions using resonance enhanced femtosecond second harmonic generation, and the extraction of a large and negative value for the surface excess free energy (� 6.2 ± 0.2 kcal/mol). � 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Estimation of resolution and covariance for large matrix inversions

SUMMARY Key advantages of conjugate gradient (CG) methods are that they require far less computer memory than full singular value decomposition (SVD), and that iteration may be stopped at any time to give an approximate solution; this means that they may be used to obtain solutions of problems that are too large for SVD. The disadvantage is that CG does not conveniently provide auxiliary information on the quality of the solution (resolution and covariance matrices). This may be overcome by extensions of Paige and Saunders’ LSQR algorithm, which is one of the family of CG algorithms. The extensions are produced by analogy with SVD; bidiagonalization in LSQR produces orthonormal basis vectors that can be used to construct solutions and estimates of resolution and covariance. For large problems, for which SVD can not be performed, the new method provides approkimate resolution and covariance estimates that asymptotically approach those of the SVD solutions as the number of iterations increases.
A massively spectacular view of the chemical lives of microbes

Knowledge that microbes lead fascinating chemical lives is as old as microbiology itself. Observations in the late 19th century by Burdon-Sanderson (1) that were elaborated on by Pasteur and Joubert (2) gave rise to the idea that compounds secreted by some microbes could have remarkable effects on the lives of others. The accretion of such knowledge continued steadily through the early years of the 20th century until the quantum leap emanating from Fleming’s seminal discovery of penicillin (3). Chain and Florey’s subsequent development of penicillin as a therapeutic agent ushered in not only the golden era of antibiotics but an entire pharmaceutical industry based largely on small-molecule natural products. Since those days, the chemical lives of microbes have been studied largely through labor-intensive and time-consuming approaches that addressed one molecule at a time. Although this time-honored approach has yielded much new knowledge, the rate of discovery slowed down dramatically in recent decades. Perhaps all there was to discover about small-molecule natural products had been discovered. The advent of genomics put a halt to that idea; genomes revealed a great potential diversity of secreted microbial products waiting to be found (4). However, progress in realizing that potential has been slow (5). In PNAS, Watrous et al. offer a brand new way of viewing secreted microbial products that holds great promise in providing the next quantum leap in understanding the fascinating world of microbial chemical ecology (6).
Initial Deposits in the Cordilleran Geosyncline: Evidence of a Late Precambrian (<850 m.y.) Continental Separation

Upper Precambrian and Lower Cambrian strata in western North America are exposed in a narrow slightly sinuous belt extending from Alaska and northern Canada to northern Mexico, a distance of 2,500 mi. Within this belt, the strata thicken from 0 ft on the east to 15,000 to 25,000 ft in areas 100 to 300 mi to the west. The basal unit of this sequence is a diamictite (conglomeratic mudstone) which is widely distributed but discontinuous and is generally considered to be of glacial origin. Overlying sedimentary rocks consist predominantly of siltstone, shale, argillite, quartzite, and conglomerate. Tholeiitic basalt forms thick and widespread units near the base of the sequence but is sparse higher in the section. The distribution pattern and lithologic characteristics of the upper Precambrian and Lower Cambrian sequence fit the recently developed concept that thick sedimentary sequences accumulate along stable continental margins subsequent to a time of continental separation. The depositional pattern of the sequence is unlike that of underlying rocks, a relation consistent with the idea of a continental separation cutting across the grain of previous structures. The pattern is, on the other hand, similar to that of overlying lower and middle Paleozoic rocks, suggesting that the diamictite and post-diamictite rocks were the initial deposits in the Cordilleran geosyncline. Thick units of volcanic rock near the bottom of the sedimentary sequence indicate volcanic activity related to the thinning and rifting of the crust during the continental separation.
An overview of space-time adaptive processing for airborne radars

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) is a joint angle-Doppler domain filtering technique developed for minimizing the effects of various kinds of interference on target detection. That is, the angle-Doppler response pattern of a STAP based system can be adapted to the very complicated varying interference environment of airborne radar. This paper provides an overview of major issues in STAP development and its current status, with an emphasis on its surveillance application. For convenience of discussion, only the side-mounted aperture and uniform PRF are considered. The interference power spectral and range distributions are illustrated.
Transferring instances for model-based reinforcement learning

Reinforcement learningagents typically require a significant amount of data before performing well on complex tasks. Transfer learningmethods have made progress reducing sample complexity, but they have primarily been applied to model-free learning methods, not more data-efficient model-based learning methods. This paper introduces timbrel , a novel method capable of transferring information effectively into a model-based reinforcement learning algorithm. We demonstrate that timbrel can significantly improve the sample efficiency and asymptotic performance of a model-based algorithm when learning in a continuous state space. Additionally, we conduct experiments to test the limits of timbrel 's effectiveness.
Basic Design of Electrical Machines

Guiding principles of general validity are presented for the design of electrical machines. These lead to the formulation of scaling laws which relate the main dimensions to the most important performance parameters.
A Reduced Order System ID Approach to the Modeling of Nonlinear Structural Behavior in Aeroelasticity

A method is proposed for identifying a set of reduced order, nonlinear equations which describe the structural behavior of aeroelastic configurations. The strain energy of the system is written as a (polynomial) function of the structures’ modal amplitudes. The unknown coefficients of these polynomials are then computed using the strain energy data calculated from a steady state, high-order, nonlinear finite element model. The resulting strain energy expression can then be be used to develop the modal equations of motion. From these equations zero and nonzero angle of attack flutter and LCO data are computed for a 45 degree delta wing aeroelastic model. The results computed using the reduced order model compare well with those from a high fidelity aeroelastic model and to experiment. A two to three order of magnitude reduction in the number of structural equations and a two order of magnitude reduction in total computational time is accomplished using the current reduced order method.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Magnetic anisotropy and anisotropic ballistic conductance of thin magnetic wires

Abstract The magnetocrystalline anisotropy of thin magnetic wires of iron and cobalt is quite different from the bulk phases. The spin moment of monatomic Fe wire may be as high as 3.4 μ B , while the orbital moment as high as 0.5 μ B . The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) was calculated for wires up to 0.6 nm in diameter starting from monatomic wire and adding consecutive shells for thicker wires. I observe that Fe wires exhibit the change sign with the stress applied along the wire. It means that easy axis may change from the direction along the wire to perpendicular to the wire. We find that ballistic conductance of the wire depends on the direction of the applied magnetic field, i.e. shows anisotropic ballistic magnetoresistance. This effect occurs due to the symmetry dependence of the splitting of degenerate bands in the applied field which changes the number of bands crossing the Fermi level. We find that the ballistic conductance changes with applied stress. Even for thicker wires the ballistic conductance changes by factor 2 on moderate tensile stain in our 5×4 model wire. Thus, the ballistic conductance of magnetic wires changes in the applied field due to the magnetostriction. This effect can be observed as large anisotropic BMR in the experiment.
Energy-Aware Modeling and Scheduling for Dynamic Voltage Scaling with Statistical Real-Time Guarantee

Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) is a promising technique for battery-powered systems to conserve energy consumption. Most existing DVS algorithms assume information about task periodicity or a priori knowledge about the task set to be scheduled. This paper presents an analytical model of general tasks for DVS assuming job timing information is known only after a task release. It models the voltage scaling process as a transfer function-based filtering system, which facilitates the design of two efficient scaling algorithms. The first is a time-invariant scaling policy and it is proved to be a generalization of several popular DVS algorithms for periodic, sporadic, and aperiodic tasks. A more energy efficient policy is a time-variant scaling algorithm for aperiodic tasks. It is optimal in the sense that it is online without assumed information about future task releases. The algorithm turns out to be a water-filling process with a linear time complexity. It can be applied to scheduling based on worst-case execution times as well as online slack distribution when jobs complete earlier. We further establish two relationships between computation capacity and deadline misses to provide a statistical real-time guarantee with reduced capacity
α-Ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenases: A mechanism for prolyl hydroxylase action

Abstract The enzymatic conversion of proline residues to hydroxyproline residues within collagen peptides is discussed in mechanistic terms. The chemistry of previously suggested reaction mechanisms is reviewed, and a new mechanism which is based on recently published data is proposed. The key issue in the new interpretation is the coupling of the exothermic oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoglutaric acid to the endothermic production of an oxo-iron species, which then stereospecifically effects an aliphatic hydroxylation of the proline ring.
On the Existence of Recurrent Extensions of Self-similar Markov Processes

Let $X= (X_t) _{t \geq 0}$ be a self-similar Markov process with values in the non-negative half-line, such that the state $0$ is a trap. We present a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a self-similar recurrent extension of $X$ that leaves $0$ continuously. This condition is expressed in terms of the Levy process associated with $X$ by the Lamperti transformation.
Automated analysis of phencyclidine in urine by probability based matching GC/MS

A novel form of selected ion recording mass spectrometry using a microcomputer-managed mass spectrometer was employed to automatically identify and quantitate phencyclidine (PCP) in cyclohexane extracts of urine by Probability Based Matching. Seventy urine samples from known abusers were assayed for PCP content. The positively identified PCP concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 10.5 mug/ml for 65 samples, 26% of which fell in the 0.35-1.0 mug/ml range and 30% in the 1.0-3.4 mug/ml range. Five specimens had no detectable PCP (less than 10 mug/ml). Cyclohexane extraction efficiency for PCP in urine exceeded 95%. Selected ion monitoring was found to be necessary in order to avoid gas chromatographic interferences produced by co-elution of contaminants at the same retention time as PCP.
Doing gesture promotes learning a mental transformation task better than seeing gesture.

Performing action has been found to have a greater impact on learning than observing action. Here we ask whether a particular type of action – the gestures that accompany talk – affect learning in a comparable way. We gave 158 6-year-old children instruction in a mental transformation task. Half the children were asked to produce a Move gesture relevant to the task; half were asked to produce a Point gesture. The children also observed the experimenter producing either a Move or Point gesture. Children who produced a Move gesture improved more than children who observed the Move gesture. Neither producing nor observing the Point gesture facilitated learning. Doing gesture promotes learning better than seeing gesture, as long as the gesture conveys information that could help solve the task.
The economics of spam and the context and aftermath of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003

The paper reviews the background and the aftermath of the CAN-SPAM Act. The Act banned a variety of deceptive practices, but it also pre-empted the passage of stricter state laws that would have outlawed spam altogether. The nature of spam has changed since the passage of the Act. The most benign of the spammers have been reined in while those operating outside the law have grown ever more dangerous and malevolent.
Potential for modifying the behavior of the multicolored Asian lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) with plant-derived natural products.

Abstract Bioassays were conducted to study the effectiveness of selected chemicals to prevent the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), from overwintering in buildings. We discovered that certain monoterpenoids elicited avoidance in adults toward treated filter paper within a petri dish bioassay at 1.0 mg/cm2. Camphor and menthol were the most effective of the monoterpenoids tested. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays revealed that beetles spent significantly more time (within 10-min observation periods) in the untreated control arm than in the arm containing camphor or menthol (both at 100 and 1,000 μg). Another olfactometer bioassay revealed that significantly more beetles remained in the untreated control arm than in the arm containing camphor or menthol (142 μg), within 45-min observation periods. When camphor (9.4% emulsified concentrate) was sprayed onto crevices on the exterior of a building through which beetles were entering, 100% of approaching beetles were repelled for the durat...
Pricing Beta: Parameter Uncertainty and Factor Models

I examine whether the difficulty of estimating parameters, which is generally referred to as parameter uncertainty or estimation risk, is itself a priced risk. I primarily consider parameter uncertainty in the context of factor models such as the CAPM and Fama-French four factor model, using t-scores of estimated betas as a proxy for estimation risk. I show that this form of estimation risk is priced. I then construct a monthly risk factor from hedge portfolios and show that this factor is priced and has explanatory power. My results suggest that parameter uncertainty is an important component of market prices and can help to explain some of the alphas reported in previous studies.
Introduction: Religion and Human Security: An Understudied Relationship

Over the last twenty years, international relations scholars and the international diplomatic community have begun to move away from their myopic focus on “state security” and they have increasingly focused on promoting “human security.” Convinced that international peace and stability cannot be achieved unless humans around the world enjoy basic welfare and rights, the international community, acting through the UN, has formally recognized that under some circumstances, sovereign states are legally required to provide “human security” for their citizens. In this environment, scholars and policy-makers have struggled both to define “human security” in a precise manner and develop effective strategies for promoting it. To date, these scholars and policy-makers have not cooperated closely enough with scholars of religion. This chapter, the introduction to a volume of case studies on religion and human security, analyzes this failure systematically to explore religion’s impact on human security and explains how it has impoverished our understanding of human security. After reviewing the current literature, the chapter identifies a vast number of ways in which religions and religious organizations can directly or indirectly affect human security for better or for worse. It then argues that in any particular society, the actual impact of religion on the human security of individuals necessarily depends on a variety of contextual factors. Depending on circumstances, religion may have a beneficial or harmful impact on human security; and in many cases it will simultaneously have both beneficial and harmful effects. The chapter concludes with a call for increased cooperation between the human security community and academics focused on religion. Because the relationship between human security and religion is so large and so contextualized, scholars and policy-makers should avoid the temptation to propose simple, “cookie cutter” techniques for dealing with religious actors in areas where human security is threatened. Working with religious scholars, they should instead familiarize themselves with the dynamics of religion and society in each of the countries where they operate and should strive to develop policies that are designed to diminish the negative effects of religion on human security while preserving its positive impacts.
Findings of the Harvard Study on the Economic Effects of Advertising

T HAVE BEEN allotted thirty minutes to I give a summary of the findings of the Harvard study relating to the economic effects of advertising. In this time I can do little more than touch upon a few of the more important conclusions, for to give you the full summary chapter of my report, in which I have brought together the conclusions drawn from the large volume of factual material amassed, would require five times the period assigned me. Just a word regarding the study itself. This factual investigation of advertising, first proposed to the Harvard Business School by the Advertising Research Foundation in 1937, was financed by a gift from Mrs. Alfred W. Erickson, of New York, as a memorial to her husband. Additional funds to complete the study were supplied from School research funds. In the conduct of the study and in the publication of findings the Harvard Business School was an entirely free agent. I was given the responsibility for the conduct of the study and a corresponding freedom in the direction of the factual investigation and the determination of findings. I was fortunate, however, in having the active advice and counsel of an advisory committee, consisting of five of my Faculty associates, Professors T. H. Brown, E. P. Learned, H. T. Lewis, M; P. McNair, and H. R. Tosdal. Whatever merit the study may have, I gladly attribute to these men who gave unstintedly and unselfishly from their store of knowledge and experience. I cannot ask them to share criticism for the weaknesses of the study, however, because the responsibility for the collection and analysis of data and the presentation of findings rested with me. In the collection of material, all approved scientific methods were utilized. The literature in appropriate fields was carefully examined, analyzed, and evaluated. Extensive correspondence was carried on and important use was made of mail questionnaires in securing information from business firms. Much more reliance was placed upon personal investigations and more or less extensive interviews with business executives, consumers, and others who are concerned with advertising and its effects. Trained research personnel was engaged to do the principal interviewing work under my personal and continuing supervision. For certain portions of the study the thousands of case studies which have been made through the Harvard Business School since I920 and during the course of the investigation proved most useful. The report itself, a volume of about I,ooo pages, contains only a selection among a vast quantity of material collected during the study and is divided into seven parts. Part I, which recounts the development and use of advertising by businessmen, provides an economic background. Besides a discussion of the growth of advertising in the economy and a report on the volume of advertising expenditures, there are two chapters written for laymen and for economists in which I have attempted to give a realistic picture of the way in which ad-
Network-based Computational Drug Combination Prediction

Cancers are complex diseases that are regulated by multiple signaling pathways. Patients often acquire resistance to single drug treatment. Use of drug combinations that target multiple parallel pathways is a promising strategy to reduce the drug resistance. Pharmacogenomics big data are being generated to uncover complex signaling mechanisms of cancers and correlate cancer-specific signaling with diverse drug responses. Thus, converting pharmacogenomics big data into knowledge can help the discovery of synergistic drug combination. However, it is challenging and remains an open problem due to the enormous number of combination possibilities and noise of genomics data.
Analysis on 20 cases with retreatment of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by diabetes mellitus

Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics of retreatment smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by diabetes mellitus,and to find case earlier and improve treatment effect.Methods The retrospective analysis has been taken on the epidemic features,photographic methods,laboratory test results and treatment effect of 20 cases with pulmonary tuberculosis complicating diabetes treated in Tongzhou District conter for Disease Control and Pneven tion dring 2001 to 2011.Results The case with retreatment positive pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by diabetes mellitus had clinical characteristics as follows:maincy agecl 40 or abooe extensive lesion,easy to form cavity,much mycobacteria in sputum,slow sputum negative conversion high rates of drug resistance,and poor lesion absorption.Conclusions The patients with retreatment smear-positive of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by diabetes mellitus show specific clinical characteristics. Strict control glycemia,drug-sensitivity test and reasonable antituberculous treatment should be taken into account.
Interest convergence and hegemony in dual language: Bilingual education, but for whom and why?

I analyze two bills from the state legislatures of California (SB 1174) and Arizona (SB 1242) that propose to expand bilingual education where English-only education was previously the default. Using a critical discourse analysis lens to conduct a directed content analysis, I ask who bilingual education is for, why it is offered, and how the proposed programs would affect the education of English learners. The theoretical framework draws heavily from interest convergence theory, which holds that minoritized communities make civil rights gains when their interests converge with interests of the majority/state. Additionally, the framework employs the idea of economic preparation through education as a hegemonic force, driving the expansion of dual language programs. The bills demonstrate the shifting discourse from supporting English learners to an economic interest in bilingualism. The Arizona bill restricts bilingual education to students who already speak English fluently, making the programs unavailable to English learners. The California bill explicitly makes the potential programs available to all students, including English learners. The bills mention multiple reasons for expanding bilingual education, but the primary emphases are economic benefits and national security. While the promotion of bilingualism is a step forward, interest convergence theory and hegemony are useful analytical tools to understand the change and ensure that all students have equitable access to language programs.
Cortical Brain–Computer Interface for Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation

Essential tremor is the most common neurological movement disorder. This progressive disease causes uncontrollable rhythmic motions—most often affecting the patient’sdominant upper extremity—thatoccur during volitional movement and make it difficult for the patient to perform everyday tasks. Medication may also become ineffective as the disorder progresses. For many patients, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus is an effective means of treating this condition when medication fails. In current use, however, clinicians set the patient’s stimulator to apply stimulation at all times—whether it is needed or not. This practice leads to excess power use, and more rapid depletion of batteries that require surgical replacement. In this paper, for the first time, neural sensing of movement (using chronically implanted cortical electrodes) is used to enable or disable stimulation for tremor. Therapeutic stimulation is delivered onlywhen the patient is actively using their effected limb, thereby reducing the total stimulation applied, and potentially extending the lifetime of surgically implanted batteries. This paper, which involves both implanted and external subsystems, paves the way for fully-implanted closed-loop DBS in the future.
Inactivation of Bacillus Anthracis Spores on All-Weather Paper:

This study evaluated the inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Ames strain on all-weather paper using 1% and 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). A suspension of approximately 1 × 108 colony forming units ...
Plumage pattern dimorphism in a shorebird exhibiting sex-role reversal (Actitis macularius)

ABSTRACT In birds, both males and females can exhibit socially selected traits, but relatively few studies address the role of female ornaments despite their potential importance in competitive female–female interactions and male mate choice. We investigated the melanized plumage pattern of male and female Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius), a species with sex-role reversal and a polyandrous mating system. While the sexes overlap in the spottiness metrics, females had fewer, but larger and more irregularly shaped spots that covered a greater percentage of their plumage than did males. Feather mite load best explained the first principal component of plumage pattern (i.e. spot size) in females as well as in males. Sandpipers with lower mite loads had larger spots, but this relationship was less strong in males. Considering the second principal component (i.e. spot shape and percent cover), mass, hematocrit levels, and day captured best explained variation across females. Heavier females with higher he...
Hartmann’s Procedure

The Hartmann’s procedure consists of a left colon resection with end colostomy and closure of the distal rectosigmoid as a blind pouch. It is performed in the setting of a diseased descending or sigmoid colon where a primary anastomosis is not possible. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed template operative note for the procedure.
Abstract 2686: Dual inhibition of BCR and TLR signaling has therapeutic potential in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction: The Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib is clinically active in lymphoproliferative diseases driven by B-cell receptor (BCR) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), respectively. However, deep remissions are uncommon and resistance to single agent has been described. The hallmark of WM is an activating mutation in MYD88 in the TLR signaling pathway. While mutations in MYD88 are uncommon in CLL, our previous study identified gene signatures indicative of active BCR and TLR signaling in CLL cells residing in lymphoid tissues (Herishanu, Blood 2011). Further, TLR9 activating CpG oligonucleotides induce proliferation and extend CLL cell survival in vitro. These observations suggest that BCR and TLR signaling may cooperate to activate CLL cells in the tissue microenvironment. Here, we tested the hypothesis that targeting both BCR and TLR signaling could improve therapy for CLL. Methods: CLL PBMCs were treated with ibrutinib and/or an IRAK1/4 inhibitor (Calbiochem) for 1h and then stimulated with soluble αIgM, CpG, or both. We quantified changes in phosphorylation of BTK, PLCγ2 and ERK (BCR pathway) and STAT3 and STAT1, as well as total IRAK1 (TLR pathway). Results: As expected, ibrutinib inhibited phosphorylation of BTK, PLCγ2 and ERK (P Conclusion: While ibrutinib partially inhibited TLR signaling, an IRAK1/4 inhibitor was required for full inhibition of the pathway. The combination of BTK and IRAK1/4 inhibition for the treatment of lymphoproliferative diseases warrants further investigation. Citation Format: Eman L. Dadashian, Sarah Herman, Adrian Wiestner. Dual inhibition of BCR and TLR signaling has therapeutic potential in chronic lymphocytic leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2686. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2686
Experimental demonstration of enhanced terahertz coupling to plasmon in ultra-thin membrane AlGaN/GaN HEMT arrays

THz technology offers multiple applications in areas such as remote sensing, spectroscopy, biomedical imaging, and ultra-wide bandwidth communications [1]. However, obtaining high-frequency performance at THz frequencies has proven challenging in conventional electronic devices. This difficulty motivated the exploration of unconventional transport mechanisms such as electron plasma waves. Two dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) in semiconductor heterostructures can allow for collective motion of electrons, i.e. plasma waves, whose group velocity is >10X larger than typical electron drift velocities (i.e. vg >108 cm/s) [2-3]. Devices based on electron plasma waves have attracted significant attention during recent years for THz generation, detection and amplification [4]. In this context, efficient coupling of external THz radiation into and out of plasmons in semiconductor heterostructures is essential for the operation of these devices. A conventional approach to excite plasmons in a 2DEG is via a grating gate coupler as illustrated in Fig. 1(a). In a grating gate configuration, adjacent unit-cells interact with each other making this a coupled resonant system. In contrast, via addition of source (S) and drain (D) electrodes, in a HEMT array configuration as depicted in Fig. 1(b), every unit cell becomes effectively independent. In this configuration, the THz to plasmon coupling is enhanced due to a cooperative effect by synchronizing the electron plasma waves in each unit-cell of the array as theoretically discussed by Popov et al [5]. Here we present the first experimental demonstration of enhanced THz coupling to electron plasma wave or plasmon in ultra-thin membrane HEMT arrays via plasmon synchronization. A thin-membrane configuration enables us to remove substrate effects and further enhance the coupling. The proposed approach allows: (i) more efficient excitation of high order plasmonic modes, and (ii) superior overall coupling-even in configurations having less number of devices per unit area-. Our results reveal a simple way to enhance the THz to plasmon coupling and thus improve the performance of electron plasma wave based devices; this effect can be exploited, for example, to improve the response of HEMT THz detectors.
Application of a Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Nanofiltration Membrane for Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback Water: Selectivity and Implications for Treatment

Abstract A thin-film composite, bicontinuous cubic lyotropic liquid crystal polymer (TFC Q I ) membrane with uniform-size, ionic nanopores was studied for the treatment of hydraulic fracturing flowback water. The TFC Q I membrane performance was compared to those of a commercial nanofiltration (NF) membrane (NF270) and a commercial reverse osmosis (RO) membrane (SW30HR) for the filtration of flowback water from the Denver-Julesburg Basin. The permeability, salt rejection, and organic solute rejection for each membrane was evaluated. The results illustrate that the TFC Q I membrane maintained its performance to a similar degree as the commercial NF and RO membranes while demonstrating a unique selectivity not observed in the commercial membranes. Specifically, the TFC Q I membrane rejected 75% of the salt while recovering 9.6% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 50% of the water. Of particular interest was the recovery of labile DOC, which was assessed through biodegradation experiments. Analysis following biodegradation of the TFC Q I membrane permeate demonstrates the membrane's ability to recover labile DOC in a reduced-saline permeate. Improved recovery of labile DOC (increased to 22%) was demonstrated by reducing the pH of the flowback water. Therefore, the selectivity of the TFC Q I membrane provides an opportunity to recover resources from hydraulic fracturing flowback.
Gene Delivery in Neuro-Oncology

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults with a dismal prognosis despite aggressive multimodal management thus novel treatments are urgently needed. Gene therapy is a versatile treatment strategy being investigated in multiple cancers including GBM. In gene therapy, a variety of vectors or “carriers” are used to deliver genes designed for different anti-tumoral effects. Gene delivery vehicles and approaches to treatment will be addressed in this review. The most commonly studied vectors are viral based, however, driven by advances in biomedical engineering, mesenchymal and neural stem cells, as well as multiple different types of nanoparticles have been developed to improve tumor tropism and also increase gene transfer into tumor cells. Different genes have been studied including suicide genes, which convert non-toxic prodrug into cytotoxic drug; immunomodulatory genes, which stimulate the immune system; and tumor suppressor genes which repair the defect that allow cells to divide unchecked. Gene therapy may be a promising treatment strategy in neuro-oncology as it is versatile and flexible due to the ability to tailor vectors and genes for specific therapeutic activity. Pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated feasibility and safety of gene therapy; however, further studies are required to determine efficacy.
Classification of Asthma Severity and Medication Using TensorFlow and Multilevel Databases

Abstract Escalating cost of treating chronic diseases demand that they be, to the extent possible, self-managed by the patients. In self-management of disease an imperative is to predict, the possible future state of morbidity (at time, T¹), given the present precursor conditions (at time, To) and expected precursor condition (at time, T¹). This paper reports the results of a study to evaluate the potential use of using TensorFlow and Inpatient Databases at national level and hospital level for predicting the asthma severity. Methods of Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have been deployed in classification of morbidity conditions, as well as treatment options. The results indicate that training a DNN to predict asthma severity level or the imminence of an asthma attack is possible.
The Modigliani-Miller Theorem at 60: The Long-Overlooked Legal Applications of Finance’s Foundational Theorem

2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller’s The Cost of Capital, Corporation Finance, and the Theory of Investment. Widely hailed as the foundation of modern finance, their article, which purports to demonstrate that a firm’s value is independent of its capital structure, is little known by lawyers, including legal academics. That is unfortunate because the Modigliani-Miller capital structure irrelevancy proposition (when inverted) provides a framework that can be extremely useful to legal academics, practicing attorneys and judges.
High performance quasi-optical Faraday rotators

The design, characterisation, manufacture and application of new, large area, quasi-optical Faraday rotators isdiscussed. When used as isolators these have given state of the art performance at W-band with isolations <60dB andinsertion loss < 0.5dB at spot frequencies.