cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the anti-tumor immune response using a combination of interferon-γ and B7 expression in an experimental mammary carcinoma

In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has begun to exploit the emerging knowledge of the mechanisms of T cell activation to enhance the immune responses to tumors. However, many tumors, despite genetic modification to express co-stimulatory molecules or cytokines, are not readily rejected due to their inherently poor immunogenicity. In the present study, we tested whether expression of the co-stimulatory ligand B7-1 and the immunostimulatory cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by a mammary carcinoma (SM1) would sufficiently augment its immunogenicity to obtain rejection and immunity. Our findings demonstrate that expression of B7, IFN-gamma, or GM-CSF alone, or co-expression of B7 and GM-CSF did not result in rejection of SM1. However, co-expression of B7 and IFN-gamma was sufficient to result in regression of SM1 tumors by a CD8+ T cell-dependent mechanism. Rejection of the B7/IFN-gamma-expressing SM1 tumor resulted in protection from rechallenge not only with the unmodified SM1 tumor but with another syngeneic mammary tumor. Our data support the idea that although B7 expression alone may not be sufficient for rejection of certain tumors, the immune system may be stimulated to mount an effective anti-tumor immune response by the co-expression of both the co-stimulatory ligand and a cytokine.
Calculation of EELS at a doped semiconductor surface

Abstract We calculate electron energy loss spectra (EELS) within a simple model of a doped semiconductor surface. The model is designed to mimic an n-type GaAs surface for which experimental results exist. Coupling is only allowed via the dipole mechanism and the external electron is presumed to follow a specular trajectory. Using a cumulant expansion, we can treat multiple losses and gains as well as Debye-Waller factors. The basic theoretical quantity is an effective surface dielectric function that depends on frequency and wavevector parallel to the surface. Its calculation requires in general the specification of an additional boundary condition (ABC) in order to match fields at the surface. We explore the consequences of two possible ABC choices. At early stages of these calculations there are large differences between results from different ABC's; but by the time all the broadening (e.g. due to Ohmic damping, to multiple losses, and to finite spatial and energy resolution) has been included in order to compare with experiment, there survives much less dependence on ABC. We conclude that it is difficult to probe fine theoretical details, such as the influence of spatial dispersion, with EELS in such systems.
Comparison of Corneal Powers Obtained from 4 Different Devices

Purpose To assess the repeatability and comparability of anterior corneal power values obtained from the Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer (Ziemer, Port, Switzerland), Humphrey Atlas corneal topographer (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany), IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss), and a manual keratometer (Bausch & Lomb Inc, Rochester, New York, USA). Design Prospective, comparative study. Methods Prospectively, 20 subjects were enrolled. Three sets of corneal power measurements were obtained by a single observer using the Galilei, Atlas topographer, IOLMaster, and manual keratometer. Repeatability of the 3 measurements from each device was evaluated by means of coefficient of variation, standard deviation (SD), and intraclass correlation coefficient. An analysis of variance was used to compare the differences in corneal powers among devices. The Bland and Altman method also was performed to assess agreement in measurements between devices. Vector analysis was used to compare the astigmatism values obtained from different devices. Results For each device, the coefficient of variation of repeated measurements was lower than 0.22%. The SD of 3 repeated measurements ranged from 0.042 to 0.096 diopters (D). The intraclass correlation coefficients were higher than 0.99 in all devices. Mean central corneal powers were 43.80 D, 43.88 D, 43.92 D, and 43.76 D for the Galilei, Atlas, IOLMaster, and manual keratometer, respectively. SDs of the differences between devices ranged from 0.07 D for Galilei and IOLMaster to 0.14 D for Galilei and Atlas. For astigmatism, the mean astigmatism values for the Galilei, Atlas, IOLMaster, and manual keratometer were 0.54 D at 84 degrees, 0.51 D at 88 degrees, 0.62 D at 88 degrees, and 0.52 D at 87 degrees, respectively. Conclusions The corneal power measurements from these 4 devices were highly reproducible, comparable, and correlated.
A computer simulation for evaluating dual-energy, contrast-enhanced breast tomosynthesis

Previous studies have suggested that iodine contrast-enhanced breast tomosynthesis can be helpful in the characterization of suspicious abnormalities. Dual-energy, contrast-enhanced breast tomosynthesis involves acquiring low- and high-energy acquisitions after the administration of the contrast agent, and therefore can simplify the procedure and reduce the effect of patient motion. In this study, a computer simulation is developed for use in investigating optimal parameters for dual-energy, contrast-enhanced breast tomosynthesis. The simulation allows for the selection of various polyenergetic x-ray spectra and x-ray filters, and models x-ray transport through a voxelized breast phantom, as well as signal and noise propagation through an indirect CsI based imager. A compressed breast phantom that models the non-uniform parenchymal structure of the breast is used. Irregular lesions were simulated by using a stochastic growth algorithm. Simulations of dual-energy subtraction, contrast-enhanced breast tomosynthesis show that using x-ray filters to form quasi-monochromatic high- and low-energy spectra above and below the iodine K-edge can substantially reduce background structure, and increase lesion conspicuity as compared to single shot contrast-enhanced BT.
HPMC2 is required for recruiting an ERβ coactivator complex to mediate transcriptional upregulation of NQO1 and protection against oxidative DNA damage by tamoxifen

In the presence of ERβ, trans-hydroxytamoxifen (TOT) protects cells against 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced oxidative DNA damage (ODD) and this correlates with increased expression of the antioxidative enzyme quinone reductase (QR). Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for ERβ-mediated protection against ODD. We observe constitutive interaction between ERβ and the novel protein hPMC2. Using a combination of breast epithelial cell lines that are either positive or negative for ERα, we demonstrate TOT-dependent recruitment of both ERβ and hPMC2 to the EpRE (electrophile response element)-regulated antioxidative enzyme QR. We further demonstrate TOT-dependent corecruitment of the coactivators Nrf2, PARP-1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1) and topoisomerase IIβ, both in the presence and absence of ERα. However, absence of either ERβ or hPMC2 results in nonrecruitment of PARP-1 and topoisomerase IIβ, loss of antioxidative enzyme induction and attenuated protection against ODD by TOT even in the presence of Nrf2 and ERα. These findings indicate minor role for Nrf2 and ERα in TOT-dependent antioxidative gene regulation. However, downregulation of PARP-1 attenuates TOT-dependent antioxidative gene induction. We conclude that ERβ and hPMC2 are required for TOT-dependent recruitment of coactivators such as PARP-1 to the EpRE resulting in the induction of antioxidative enzymes and subsequent protection against ODD.
Aluminum hyperfine interactions in ruby

Abstract ENDOR spectra, consisting of some 200 spectral lines in the region 5–10 Mc/s, have been observed in dilute ruby. The observed lines may be ascribed to 5 inequivalent aluminum nuclear sites neighboring the chromium ion impurity. The spectra are classified and analyzed in terms of the magnetic hyperfine and quadrupole interaction parameters of these nuclei with the chromium electrons. A semi-quantitative model is presented for explaining the magnitude of these interactions. The salient features of the model are (1) the electrons are principally confined to the volume of the chromium ion so that the dipole interaction is approximately that due to a point source; (2) there is a moderate amount of local distortion about the chromium ion, of the order of 2 per cent of a lattice spacing, yielding local variations in the quadrupole coupling constant; (3) there is an appreciable degree of covalency in the bonding of the Al 2 O 3 lattice, of the order of 20 per cent, which permits the transmission of the Fermi contact interaction through the bonding states of the crystal.
Raman Scattering And Luminescence Study Of Laser Beam Induced Effects In GaAs-AlAs Multiple Quantum Well Structures

The effect of CW argon laser radiation on a GaAs-AlAs multiple quantum well structure was studied. Raman scattering and quantum well lumiunescence excited by the same laser beam were used as probes. It was found that most important changes in the spectra were caused by laser beam heating of the crystalline lattice. The temperature inside the laser beam was determined as a function of laser power, position in the laser spot and scanning speed. An irreversible transformation of the superlattice to a phase with different optical properties was observed at a laser power threshold of 24kW/cm2; this is much lower than the threshold for sample destruction. Temperature dependences of energies of quantum well transitions and LO GaAs-like phonons were also measured. Breit-Wigner-Fano interference between LO AlAs-like phonons and the Raman active continuum was found.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Active Flux Schemes for Systems

We introduce a new formulation of active flux schemes and extend the idea to systems of hyperbolic equations. Active flux schemes treat the edge values, and hence the fluxes, as independent variables, doubling the degrees of freedom available to describe the solution without enlarging the stencil. Schemes up to third order accurate are explored. The limiter employed uses solution characteristics to set the bounds for the edge updates. The process reduces to simply accessing the solution history from memory and ensuring that the updates stay within the bounded range. The limited edge values are then used to construct the fluxes that conservatively update the centroid value. Using data that most closely follows the solution characteristics allows the limiter to better maintain true extrema in the solution. The scheme is used to generate 1-D solutions for the linear advection, Burgers’, and Euler equations.
A 16-bit, 5MHz multi-bit sigma-delta ADC using adaptively randomized DWA

This paper describes a 16 bit, 5 MHz analog to digital converter (ADC) chip that advances the state of the art of high speed sigma-delta ADCs by achieving a maximum output data rate of 5 MHz (2.5 MHz input signal bandwidth). The chip, which includes a novel multi-bit digital to analog converter linearization algorithm (AR-DWA) and an on-chip digital decimation filter, gives peak SNR, SFDR, THD of 88.5 dB, 106 dB, -103 dB, respectively.
Left ventricular hypertrophy associated with chronic cocaine abuse.

BACKGROUNDThis study was performed to determine whether chronic cocaine abuse is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in humans.METHODS AND RESULTSA consecutive series of 40 chronic cocaine abusers 23-44 years old who were enrolled in an inpatient drug rehabilitation program were considered for the study. Subjects with elevated resting blood pressure (n = 4) or a history of hypertension (n = 3) were excluded. Technically adequate two-dimensional echocardiograms were obtained in 30 cocaine abusers and 30 age- and race-matched normal control subjects. All subjects were men, and the groups were similar with regard to resting blood pressure, height, weight, and body surface area. All echocardiograms were read in blinded fashion, and left ventricular mass was calculated by the area-length method. Left ventricular cavity dimensions and wall motion were normal in all subjects. Left ventricular mass index was higher in the cocaine group (103 +/- 24 versus 77 +/- 14 g/m2, p = 0.0001). Posterior wall thickn...
Generators' bidding behavior in the NYISO day-ahead wholesale electricity market

This paper proposes a statistical and econometric model to analyze the generators' bidding behavior in the NYISO day-ahead wholesale electricity market. The generator level bidding data show very strong persistence in generators' grouping choices over time. Using dynamic random effect ordered probit model, we find that persistence is characterized by positive state dependence and unobserved heterogeneity and state dependence is more important than unobserved heterogeneity. The finding of true state dependence suggests a scope for economic policy intervention. If NYISO can implement an effective policy to switch generators from higher price groups to lower price groups, the effect is likely to be lasting. As a result, the market price can be lowered in the long-run. Generators' offered capacity is estimated by a two-stage sample selection model. The estimated results show that generators in higher-priced groups tend to withhold their capacity strategically to push up market prices. It further confirms the importance of an effective policy to turn generators into lower price groups in order to mitigate unexpected price spikes. The simulated market prices based on our estimated aggregate supply curve can replicate most volatility of actual DA market prices. Applying our models to different demand assumptions, we find that demand conditions can affect market prices significantly. It validates the importance of introducing demand side management during the restructure of electricity industry.
The Practice of Change: A Working MRI/Brief Therapy Clinic

This paper describes the application of the M.R.I.'s brief therapy model in a new clinic in California. It discusses certain aspects of the model that are particularly important to the clinic's work and presents statistics for the early months of operation. Three case descriptions are offered as examples of the clinic's working style. A brief discussion of the model's effectiveness in a clinic setting is included.
Effects of pH on the C-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectrum of Phenol

The C-13 chemical shift dependences of phenol on pH have been investigated and the shifts interpreted in terms of the phenol–phenoxide equilibrium and hydrogen bonding. In the low and high ranges of pH the carbon shifts have been related to subtle changes in the characteristics of solvent properties. The spectra were obtained using the Fourier transform technique.
Residential Fenestration Vulnerability to Windborne Debris

This paper summarizes the methods and results of three experimental investigations regarding the vulnerability of residential windows and window protection systems to windborne debris impact. The first experimental investigation quantified the momentum threshold required to damage unprotected residential window glazing due to the impact of asphalt roof shingles and wooden dowels (vegetation). The second experimental investigation documented the performance of metal shutters due to the impact of whole concrete roof tiles and 2 x 4 lumber. The third experimental investigation addressed the frangibility of roof tile systems under impact by roof tiles, and the puncture vulnerability of metal hurricane shutters under impact by roof tile fragments. These studies confirm that the use of window protection to mitigate damage from windborne debris is effective. However, properly installed and code approved protection systems are vulnerable to failure in strong hurricane conditions.
Patient selection, cancer control, and complications after salvage local therapy for postradiation prostate-specific antigen failure : A systematic review of the literature

Among men who experience prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure after external beam radiation or brachytherapy (RT), many will harbor occult micrometastases; however, a significant minority will have a true local-only failure and, thus, potentially may benefit from a salvage local therapy. Those most likely to have a local-only failure initially have low-risk disease (PSA 3 years, PSA doubling time > 12 months, negative bone scan and pelvic imaging, and positive rebiopsy. In addition, men with presalvage PSA levels > 10 ng/mL, presalvage T3/T4 disease, or presalvage Gleason scores > or =7 on a rebiopsy sample without significant RT effects are unlikely to be cured by salvage local therapy. Based on a review of all series of post-RT salvage prostatectomy, cryosurgery, and brachytherapy published in English since 1990, morbidity can be substantial. Although urinary incontinence appeared to be greater after salvage prostatectomy (41%) or cryosurgery (36%) than after brachytherapy (6%), patients who received salvage brachytherapy faced a 17% risk of grade 3 or 4 genitourinary complications and a fistula risk that averaged 3.4% across all series. From this review, the authors concluded that prospective randomized studies are needed to determine the relative efficacy of the 3 major local salvage modalities and that additional research is needed to identify factors associated with an increased risk of significant complications to improve patient selection and to augment the benefit/risk ratio associated with attempts to cure local-only recurrences after radiation therapy.
Who Pays for Defense

Theories of the economic causes of war are at least as old as capitalism, and have in recent years appeared in myriad forms. Around the turn of the last century J. A. Hobson and Lenin developed their famous arguments about the economic driving forces behind imperialist expansion; American opponents of their country's entry into World War I blamed the lobbying of munitions makers; more recently we have had C. Wright Mills and the New Left. The assertions of these theorists are not always susceptible to scientific examination, but to supplement them there have in the past few years been a number of sound and well-documented studies locating in the national economy the groups that benefit most from military expenditures. Such studies show very effectively which industries, and which states, gain disproportionately from defense spending and hence develop some special interest in maintaining or increasing those expenditures. One need not accept Marxist or other extreme positions on the causes of war to find such information relevant to identifying political pressure groups that must be countered or compensated in any effort to reduce the level of military spending.A question closely related to “Who benefits from defense spending?” is, of course, “Who pays for it?”; but curiously this second problem has received very little attention. Nothing comes free, and defense is no exception. In this paper we shall examine some evidence about what segments of the economy and society sacrifice disproportionately when defense spending rises.
General Equilibrium When Economic Growth Exceeds Discounting

Abstract After dropping the standard general-equilibrium assumption that preference orders discount future consumption faster than the economy grows and dropping continuity and weakening utility representation, we establish commodity prices and consumptions that approach approximate equilibrium to within any practical tolerance. The Weizacker-overtaking criterion defines the best-known non-standard-discounting orders we admit over discrete-time, deterministic consumption paths and over continuous-time, stochastic consumption processes. We also perturb preferences to qualify all approximate equilibrium as full equilibrium, thus showing some well-known non-existence examples are singular, and so are inadequate defence of standard assumptions. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C60, C62.
Role of insulin‐like growth factors and their binding proteins in growth control and carcinogenesis

Interest in the role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis in growth control and carcinogenesis has recently been increased by the finding of elevated serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels in association with three of the most prevalent cancers in the United States: prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. IGFs serve as endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine stimulators of mitogenesis, survival, and cellular transformation. These actions are mediated through the type 1 IGF-receptor (IGF-1R), a tyrosine kinase that resembles the insulin receptor. The availability of free IGF for interaction with the IGF-1R is modulated by the insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBPs, especially IGFBP-3, also have IGF-independent effects on cell growth. IGF-independent growth inhibition by IGFBP-3 is believed to occur through IGFBP-3-specific cell surface association proteins or receptors and involves nuclear translocation. IGFBP-3-mediated apoptosis is controlled by numerous cell cycle regulators in both normal and disease processes. IGFBP activity is also regulated by IGFBP proteases, which affect the relative affinities of IGFBPs, IGFs and IGF-1R. Perturbations in each level of the IGF axis have been implicated in cancer formation and progression in various cell types.
Model-based compressive sensing for signal ensembles

Compressive sensing (CS) is an alternative to Shannon/Nyquist sampling for acquiring sparse or compressible signals. Instead of taking N periodic samples, we measure M ≪ N inner products with random vectors and then recover the signal via a sparsity-seeking optimization or greedy algorithm. A new framework for CS based on unions of subspaces can improve signal recovery by including dependencies between values and locations of the signal's significant coefficients. In this paper, we extend this framework to the acquisition of signal ensembles under a common sparse supports model. The new framework provides recovery algorithms with theoretical performance guarantees. Additionally, the framework scales naturally to large sensor networks: the number of measurements needed for each signal does not increase as the network becomes larger. Furthermore, the complexity of the recovery algorithm is only linear in the size of the network. We provide experimental results using synthetic and real-world signals that confirm these benefits.
INTRAMITOCHONDRIAL YOLK-CRYSTALS OF FROG OOCYTES I. Formation of Yolk-Crystal Inclusions by Mitochondria during Bullfrog Oogenesis

Electron microscope examination of thin sections of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) ovarian oocytes has shown the presence of mitochondria containing yolk-crystal inclusions in oocytes of all sizes, from 160 to 1500 µ mean diameter. The hexagonally shaped yolk-crystals have major periodicities of 73.8 ± 10.7 A (n = 100). Several forms of modified mitochondria, observed in the smaller oocytes, may be arranged into a series of structurally intermediate forms between standard oocyte mitochondria and the typical mitochondria with yolk-crystal inclusions. The observation of such intermediate forms is consistent with proposals that the yolk-crystal inclusions arise within a limited portion of the oocyte chondriome by a complex process of mitochondrial differentiation.
Hybrid computation with an attractor neural network

This paper discusses the properties of a controllable, flexible, hybrid parallel computing architecture that potentially merges pattern recognition and arithmetic. Humans perform integer arithmetic in a fundamentally different way than logic-based computers. Even though the human approach to arithmetic is slow and inaccurate for purely arithmetic computation, it can have substantial advantages when useful approximations ("intuition") are more valuable than high precision. Such a computational strategy may be particularly useful when computers based on nanocomponents become feasible because it offers a way to make use of the potential power of these massively parallel systems.
Sperm Fractions Responsible for Immunologic Induction of Pre- and Postfertilization Infertility in Rabbits

Female rabbits were isoimmunized against 0.3 M lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS) soluble extracts of washed rabbit sperm and homogenized rabbit testis. The rates of fertility, measured as percentage of corpora lutea represented by viable embryo implants at 9-13 days after breeding, for the 2 groups were 45% (P<0.05) and 56%, respectively, compared with 71% for control rabbits. Antisera from rabbits immunized against the sperm-LIS extract possessed intermediate titers of sperm immobilizing and agglutinating antibodies and significantly reduced fertility of sperm used in artificial insemination of nonimmunized does. In the second phase of the study, groups of rabbits were immunized against increased amounts of LIS solubilized extracts of sperm and testis, the LIS-extracted sperm pellet and also detergent (Nonidet NP.40) extracts of sperm pellet and of homogenized testis. Does immunized with the LIS extract of sperm exhibited low fertility (3%) and produced antisera that had high titers of sperm antibodies that blocked sperm attachment to rat ova in vitro and inhibited sperm from in vivo fertilization of nonimmune does. Rabbits immunized with the LIS-extracted sperm pellet and the NP.40 extract of the pellet experienced significantly low incidences of implantation, 15 and 28%. respectively. Fertilization rate in 3 does immunized against the LIS-extracted sperm pellet was normal (9 1%), but the implantation rate (19%) was reduced. Antisera from these 2 groups of rabbits possessed low titers of sperm antibodies and did not inhibit sperm attachment to rat ova or fertilization in nonimmune rabbits. A significant reduction in implantation of transferred-fertilized ova occurred in rabbits immunized against the NP.40 soluble fraction of the LIS-extracted sperm pellet (19.5%) compared with rabbits immunized against the LIS-soluble fraction (39.8%) and against saline (41.3%). It is concluded that immunization of female rabbits either with immunogens in the LIS-soluble fraction of sperm or the sperm pellet after LIS extraction resulted in prefertilization and postfertilization antifertility effects, respectively.
Transformation of streptococci in chemically defined media

Abstract This report describes a chemically defined medium which fosters development of competence in cells of group H streptococcus (strain Challis) and which supports all steps involved in transformation. In addition, bacterial products which increase competence in a poorly transformable strain of streptococci are found in culture filtrates of strain Challis grown in this medium. Previous reports on the transformation of group H streptococcus, and on the production of similar competence factor indicated that complex media were necessary ( Pakula, 1965A , Pakula, 1965B ).
Making a Case When Theory is Unfalsifiable

Milton Friedman's famous methodological essay contains, along with much else, some strands that look as though they were taken from the “empirical-scientific” fabric described by Karl Popper (Popper, 1959, pp. 32, 37; see also Klant, 1984, pp. 33ff. for a very clear discussion). Think, for example, of Friedman's conviction that the way to test a (theoretically embedded) hypothesis is to compare its implications with experience (Friedman, 1953a in 1953b, pp. 9, 13, 14). Or of his more or less explicit espousal of the view that while no amount of facts can ever prove a hypothesis true, a single “fact” may refute it (ibid., p. 9). Or of his assertion that hypotheses are to be accepted only as provisionally true (ibid., p. 41), and then only after repeated efforts to refute them have failed (ibid., pp. 9, 22–23). The appearance of these Popperian ideas is not surprising.
Metabolic syndrome: yet another co-morbidity gastric bypass helps cure

Abstract Background The metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors predictive of cardiovascular diseases. The rising number of obese Americans has increased the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the hypothesis that the incidence of metabolic syndrome is decreased after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Methods The charts of all patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery during a 6-month period were reviewed for the presence of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, both preoperatively and at least 1 year postoperatively. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) criteria were used to define the metabolic syndrome. These criteria included elevated blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and waist circumference. Results Data were available for 53 patients. Before laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, 32 (60%) of the 53 patients had metabolic syndrome, as defined by the NCEP ATPIII criteria. No difference was found in the preoperative body mass index between patients who had metabolic syndrome (47.4 kg/m 2 ) and those who did not (49.8 kg/m 2 ; P = NS). The percentage of excess body weight lost after at least 1 year was 78% in patients with metabolic syndrome. After surgery, only 1 (2%) of the 53 patients had metabolic syndrome ( P Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is quite common in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The results of our study have shown that laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery resolves metabolic syndrome in most patients. Metabolic syndrome should be considered another co-morbidity that improves and is cured after gastric bypass surgery.
The Far Eastern Situation

It is a great pleasure to have the privilege of speaking to you again this evening. In my last lecture, I have pointed out that the situation in China now was very grave. France could not save herself with 40 years of military preparation. It is a wild dream that we could save our country by military force alone.
Alberto Gerchunoff: ¿Gaucho judío o antigaucho europeizante?

Cuatro versos del Martin Fierro expresan en forma sintetica, la realidad argentina de las ultimas decadas del siglo XIX.
Toppling manipulation

This paper describes a robotic manipulation primitive called toppling, i.e. knocking a part over. We derive the mechanical conditions for toppling, express these as constraints on robot contact locations and motions, and describe an application of toppling to minimalist parts feeding of 3D objects on a conveyor with a 2 joint robot.
Les perspectives humaniste et politique sur les droits humains

Cet article s’interesse au lien entre deux perspectives qui concernent la nature des droits humains. Selon la perspective « politique » ou « pratique », les droits humains sont des revendications que les individus entretiennent face a un certain nombre de structures institutionnelles, dans certains Etats modernes, en vertu des interets qui sont les leurs selon les contextes qui les mettent en jeu. Selon la perspective « humaniste » ou « naturaliste », plus traditionnelle, les droits humains sont des revendications pre-institutionnelles que les individus entretiennent face a tous les autres individus, en vertu d’interets propres a l’humanite qu’ils ont tous en partage. Cet article soutient qu’une fois qu’on identifie ces deux perspectives sous leur meilleur jour, on peut voir qu’elles sont complementaires et qu’on a en realite besoin de chacune d’elles pour donner sens, sur le plan normatif, a la pratique contemporaine des droits humains. J’y explique comment des considerations humanistes et politiques peuvent et meme doivent travailler main dans la main si on veut rendre compte du concept, du contenu et de la justification des droits humains.
Simulation of the Formation of Elastomers

Computer simulations prove be a powerful tool to study network structure problems. Questions about the detailed structure of the elastomer, sol-gel transitions, and the mechanical properties can be given reliable answers. Wherever there is sufficient knowledge of the reaction system and enough experimental data for comparison, computer simulations can provide information of unprecedented depth and accuracy
Let Our Students Be Our Guides McNair Scholars “Guide” Three Urban Teacher Educators on Meeting the Needs of Culturally Diverse Learners

This case study examines the PreK-16 schooling experiences of nine McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholars from a large, urban university in the southeast with respect to culturally relevant teaching. This study highlights the experiences of the McNair Scholars in an effort to assist educators in creating spaces that allow culturally diverse learners to thrive. Using students’ experiences to guide this study, the authors discover that the McNair Scholars were successful in their educational pursuits despite some barriers. Furthermore, the authors discuss implications at the micro- and macro-levels concerning culturally responsive learning environments for ethnically diverse students.
Deployment-driven Security Configuration for Virtual Networks

Virtualized Infrastructures are increasingly deployed in many data centers. One of the key components of this virtualized infrastructure is the virtual network – a software-defined communication fabric that links together the various Virtual Machines (VMs) to each other and to the physical host on which the VMs reside. Because of its key role in providing connectivity among VMs and the applications hosted on them, Virtual Networks have to be securely configured to provide the foundation for the overall security of the virtualized infrastructure in any deployment scenario. The objective of this paper is to illustrate a deployment-driven methodology for deriving a security configuration for Virtual Networks. The methodology outlines two typical deployment scenarios, identifies use cases and their associated security requirements, the security solutions to meet those requirements, the virtual network security configuration to implement each security solution and then analyzes the pros and cons of each security solution.
Aeroelastic tailoring of composite box beams

Aeroelastic instabilities are an important factor in the design of modern high-speed, flexible aircraft. The current trend is toward the creative use of composites to delay these instabilities. To obtain an optimum design, an accurate as well as efficient model is required. As a first step towards this goal, aeroelastic analysis is carried out for a swept composite box beam, using a linear structural model and a linear 2-D unsteady aerodynamic theory. Structurally, the wing is modeled as a thin-walled composite box beam of rectangular cross section. Theodorsen’s theory is used to get the 2-D unsteady aerodynamic forces, which are integrated over the span. The flutter solution is obtained using the V-g method and divergence speeds are calculated by using a very low reduced frequency in the flutter analysis. The variation of critical speeds with composite ply layup is plotted for various sweep angles. These trends are compared with those available in literature.
Building Child-Centered Social Movements

Subsidized campus childcare was hard-won and remains very effective, while budget cuts and the privatization of childcare threaten centers across the country.
Current Resource and Capacity Status of Community-based Organization Participating in Prevention and Cure of AIDS

Objective To find the resource and capacity of community-based organization participating in prevention and cure of AIDS,This will be used to develop future community based HIV/AIDS prevention and cure.Methods Stratified sampling was adopted to do this survey on 44 community based organizations.The content included personnel,office space,funding,capacity of participating in prevention and cure of AIDS and etc.Results The workforce consisted of high education levels(97.8% have more than 9 years education) and low length of service(72.0% is less than 5 years);45.5% had taken part in HIV/AIDS training,29.1% participated in prevention and cure of AIDS;many community-based organization can independently participating in a part of prevention and cure of AIDS,such as disseminating education materials,20.9% community-based organization have specialized funds on HIV/AIDS.Conclusion The situation is unsatisfactory.Thus,it is necessary to improve the capacity and funding of community-based organization participating in prevention and cure of AIDS,and the opportunity of training.
A STUDY OF SEISMIC WAVEFORM INVERSION BY CHAOTIC NOISE PERTURBING

In general, geophysical inversion is a nonlinear, multi parameter, non onvex question. It is therefore worthy of solving geophysical inversion questions with nonlinear approaches to search for new global optimization algorithm. In the present work, the thought of chaotic noise perturbing is introduced into seismic waveform inversion. The method is characterized by introducing a simple nonlinear feedback into the gradient descendant systems for optimization tasks. It not only maintains the fast searching speed of the gradient descendant method, but also is of the capability to get away from the pitfall of local extremum. Results show that in comparison with conventional genetic algorithm and logistic map based chaotic optimization algorithm the proposed method is faster in computation and needs less subjective parameters, and then is easier to lead to a global optimization.
Pharmacokinetics of zonisamide dispersible tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers using an analytic method of HPLC

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of zonisamide in human plasma, and study the pharmacokinetics of zonisamide dispersible tablets with single and multiple doses in healthy Chinese volunteers. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into three groups. The volunteers in the three groups were given single-dose of zonisamide dispersible tablets respectively with 200, 300 and 400 mg, and then those subjects in 300 mg single-dose zonisamide dispersible tablets group were enrolled for multiple-dose study, who were given zonisamide once a day for fourteen days. The plasma concentrations of zonisamide were determined by HPLC method, the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and analyzed by DAS 2.1.1 software. Results:AUC 0-t, AUC 0-∞ and C max of zonisamide increased in a linear manner at the dose range from 200 to 400 mg. For the multiple-dose administration, the parameters were as follow: C max(27.305 ± 5.201) μg·mL-1, t max(2.556 ± 0.726) h, t 1/2(59.286 ± 8.882) h, AUC 0-t(2 435.713 ± 668.845) μg·h·mL-1, AUC 0-∞(2 522.230 ± 720.554) μg·h·mL-1. Conclusion: C max showed significant difference in physiological disposition between the male and female after administration of a single-dose. After the administration of multiple-dose zonisamide, steady state plasma concentrations can be achieved.
Agonist and membrane depolarization induced activation of MAP kinase in the swine carotid artery

Caldesmon phosphorylation has been proposed to be involved in regulation of smooth muscle contraction. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase has been suggested to be the caldesmon kinase; stimulation-induced MAP kinase activation in intact vascular smooth muscle, however, has not been demonstrated. We measured temporal profiles of MAP kinase activation in response to histamine stimulation and membrane depolarization in intact swine carotid artery. Phosphotyrosine levels of 42- and 44-kDa MAP kinases were elevated during contraction in response to histamine or KCl. The temporal profile of MAP kinase activation/inactivation was similar to that for contraction/relaxation of the vascular tissue in response to KCl or histamine stimulation. MAP kinase activated during contractile stimulation phosphorylates caldesmon with a specific activity significantly greater than that for myelin basic protein-(95-98). We propose that MAP kinase is activated in response to all forms of contractile stimulation. We also suggest that activated MAP kinase phosphorylates and disinhibits the effects of caldesmon on actin-myosin interactions. This disinhibition allows an inherent level of myosin ATPase activity to be expressed.
Surface Protein Expression in Group B Streptococcal Invasive Isolates

Group B streptococci (GBS) are important pathogens of newborn infants, causing sepsis and/or meningitis, of early-onset or late-onset. GBS also cause bacteremia in parturients, the elderly and the immunocompromised.1 Identification of GBS isolates is based on the type polysaccharide (serotypes Ia through VIII) and the surface-localized c and R proteins.1, 5 C protein includes two components: trypsin sensitive beta (β) and trypsin resistant alpha (α)5 while R includes four species, R1 through R4 and, like α, is trypsin-resistant.3 These proteins are of interest because of their possible role in GBS virulence and protective immunity.
Inhibition of vasopressin V1a receptors in the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis has sex- and context-specific anxiogenic effects

Vasopressin V1a receptors (V1aR) are thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression, sparking interest in V1aR as a therapeutic target. Although the global effects of V1aR have been documented, less is known about the specific neural circuits mediating these effects. Moreover, few studies have examined context-specific V1aR function in both males and females. By using the California mouse, we first studied the effects of sex and social defeat stress on V1aR binding in the forebrain. In females but not males, V1aR binding in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) was negatively correlated to social interaction behavior. In females stress also increased V1aR binding in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Infusions of V1aR antagonist in to the medioventral BNST (BNSTmv) had anxiogenic effects only in animals naive to defeat. For males, inhibition of V1aR in BNSTmv had anxiogenic effects in social and nonsocial contexts, but for females, anxiogenic effects were limited to social contexts. In stressed females, inhibition of V1aR in the NAc shell had no effect on social interaction behavior, but had an anxiogenic effect in an open field test. These data suggest that V1aR in BNSTmv have anxiolytic and prosocial effects in males, and that in females, prosocial and anxiolytic effects of V1aR appear to be mediated independently by receptors in the BNSTmv and NAc shell, respectively. These findings suggest that males have more overlap in neural circuits modulating anxiety in social and nonsocial contexts than females.
Alcohol detoxification completion, acceptance of referral to substance abuse treatment, and entry into substance abuse treatment among Alaska Native people

Abstract Background Little is known about factors associated with detoxification treatment completion and the transition to substance abuse treatment following detoxification among Alaska Native people. This study examined 3 critical points on the substance abuse continuum of care (alcohol detoxification completion, acceptance of referral to substance abuse treatment, entry into substance abuse treatment following detoxification). Methods The retrospective cohort included 383 adult Alaska Native patients admitted to a tribally owned and managed inpatient detoxification unit. Three multiple logistic regression models estimated the adjusted associations of each outcome separately with demographic/psychosocial characteristics, clinical characteristics, use related behaviors, and health care utilization. Results Seventy-five percent completed detoxification treatment. Higher global assessment functioning scores, longer lengths of stay, and older ages of first alcohol use were associated with completing detoxification. A secondary drug diagnosis was associated with not completing detoxification. Thirty-six percent accepted a referral to substance abuse treatment following detoxification. Men, those with legal problems, and those with a longer length of stay were more likely to accept a referral to substance abuse treatment. Fifty-eight percent had a confirmed entry into a substance abuse treatment program at discharge. Length of stay was the only variable associated with substance abuse treatment entry. Conclusions Services like motivational interviewing, counseling, development of therapeutic alliance, monetary incentives, and contingency management are effective in linking patients to services after detoxification. These should be considered, along with the factors associated with each point on the continuum of care when linking patients to follow-up services.
Assessing Marine Microbial Induced Corrosion at Santa Catalina Island, California.

High iron and eutrophic conditions are reported as environmental factors leading to accelerated low-water corrosion, an enhanced form of near-shore microbial-induced corrosion. To explore this hypothesis, we deployed flow-through colonization systems in laboratory-based aquarium tanks under a continuous flow of surface seawater from Santa Catalina Island, California, USA, for periods of two and six months. Substrates consisted of mild steel – a major constituent of maritime infrastructure – and the naturally occurring iron sulfide mineral pyrite. Four conditions were tested: free-venting “high-flux” conditions; a “stagnant” condition; an “active” flow-through condition with seawater slowly pumped over the substrates; and an “enrichment” condition where the slow pumping of seawater was supplemented with nutrient rich medium. Electron microscopy analyses of the two-month high flux incubations document coating of substrates with “twisted stalks”, resembling iron oxyhydroxide bioprecipitates made by marine neutrophilic Fe-oxidizing bacteria. Six-month incubations exhibit increased biofilm and substrate corrosion in the active flow and nutrient enriched conditions relative to the stagnant condition. A scarcity of twisted stalks was observed for all six month slow-flow conditions compared to the high-flux condition, which may be attributable to oxygen concentrations in the slow-flux conditions being prohibitively low for sustained growth of stalk-producing bacteria. All substrates developed microbial communities reflective of the original seawater input, as based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Deltaproteobacteria sequences increased in relative abundance in the active flow and nutrient enrichment conditions, whereas Gammaproteobacteria sequences were relatively more abundant in the stagnant condition. These results indicate that i) high-flux incubations with higher oxygen availability favor the development of biofilms with twisted stalks resembling those of marine neutrophilic Fe-oxidizing bacteria and ii) long-term nutrient stimulation results in substrate corrosion and biofilms with different bacterial community composition and structure relative to stagnant and non-nutritionally enhanced incubations. Similar microbial succession scenarios, involving increases in nutritional input leading to the proliferation of anaerobic iron and sulfur-cycling guilds, may occur at the nearby Port of Los Angeles and cause potential damage to maritime port infrastructure.
Prion-Like Characteristics of Polyglutamine-Containing Proteins

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are infectious neurodegenerative diseases caused by the conversion of prion protein (PrP) into a self-replicating conformation that spreads via templated conversion of natively folded PrP molecules within or between cells. Recent studies provide compelling evidence that prion-like behavior is a general property of most protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Many of these disorders are associated with spontaneous protein aggregation, but genetic mutations can increase the aggregation propensity of specific proteins, including expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts, which is causative of nine inherited neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregates formed by polyQ-expanded huntingtin (Htt) in Huntington's disease can transfer between cells and seed the aggregation of cytoplasmic wild-type Htt in a prion-like manner. Additionally, prion-like properties of glutamine-rich proteins underlie nonpathological processes in yeast and higher eukaryotes. Here, we review current evidence supporting prion-like characteristics of polyQ and glutamine-rich proteins.