cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluations of plug-in electric vehicle distribution system impacts

With plug-in electric vehicles poised to enter the automotive market this year, a remaining concern for electrical distribution utilities is the potential impact these loads may have on their system and how to account for them in their planning process. In order to address this concern, EPRI has initiated a multi-utility project to quantify the potential impacts across numerous distribution feeders of varying characteristics. As part of this project, an analysis methodology which accounts for PEV spatial and temporal diversities has been developed and used to study these potential impacts. Preliminary findings from some of the initial circuits studied are presented as well as initial insights developed thus far.
Increased MEPP frequency as an early sign of experimental immune-mediated motoneuron disease

Intracellular recordings of miniature end-plate potentials were performed in extensor digitorum longus muscles from guinea pigs with experimental immune-mediated motoneuron destruction. In the early stages of the disease, the miniature end-plate potential frequency was elevated compared to that in control and normal animals. The amplitude and time course of the miniature end-plate potentials as well as the resting potential of the muscle fibers were not altered, which implies integrity of the postjunctional membrane. The increase in frequency of miniature end-plate potential reflects an increase of basal acetylcholine release and documents dysfunction of the presynaptic terminal of the neuromuscular junction. The increased frequency was associated with high levels of antimotoneuronal IgG in the blood and the presence of IgG at motor end-plates. These data suggest that the presynaptic terminal of the neuromuscular junction may be involved in the immune attack in animal models of motoneuron degeneration.
Mechanical testing of thin metallic films

Mechanical properties of thin-film metallizations used as interconnects in VLSI devices can be studied by different techniques. The present investigation centers about mechanical testing of aluminum films of submicron dimensions. Free-standing films were subjected to bulge and uniaxial testing, while films adherent to the silicon substrate were tested in an apparatus that employed cantilever specimens. It measured the deflection as a function of a variable load. The results of these in situ tests can be compared with stress-strain curves of free-standing films of identical composition. Because of the very high sensitivity required of the equipment, various experimental problems tend to arise, which are discussed in detail.
POSTPONING ARMAGEDDON: WHY POPULATION GROWTH ISN'T OUT OF CONTROL

This paper argues that the belief that the rapid growth of the human population will inevitably lead to a major ecological disaster is neither intuitively nor empirically tenable. A significant portion of the world's pollution comes not from overpopulated poorer nations, but from Western nations with very low population growth rates. On the other hand, most of this damage is the result of misguided government policies, and not Western overconsumption. Overpopulation is not likely to be a problem environmentally because Malthusian predictions are often made based on the assumption that current rates of resource use and population growth rates will remain the same. Such assumptions ignore the critical role that adaptability has played in allowing humans to avert Malthusian crises. Substitution of products, innovative production methods, and technological changes all ensure in the long run, very few of the facts that predictions are based on will remain fixed.
Humidity effects on calibrations of radiation therapy electrometers.

Purpose: To eliminate variation in electrometer calibration results caused by high humidity and suboptimal connectors on the standard capacitors and to implement hardware that prevents overloading of the input stage of electrometers during calibration. Methods: A humidity-controlled cabinet was installed to provide a low-humidity environment for the standard capacitors. All of the coaxial BNC connections were replaced with Triax (TRB) connectors with the exception of the output from the voltage source. A three-stage RC filter with cascaded RC low-pass sections was designed and tested. Results: The installation of the humidity cabinet resulted in a major improvement in the stability and reproducibility of the electrometer calibration system. For the three years since this upgrade, the Ionizing Radiation Standards (IRS) electrometer calibration results have been consistent regardless of the ambient relative humidity in the lab. The connector replacements improved grounding in the calibration circuit. The three-stage filter allows the voltage at the output to rise in an S-shaped waveform, resulting in a smooth rise of the current through the isolation resistor from zero and back again, with no abrupt transition. For the filter design chosen, 99.99% of the charge is delivered within 6 s. Conclusions: A three-way improvement to the calibration measurement system was successful in eliminating the observed variations, resulting in an electrometer calibration measurement system that is unaffected by humidity and allowing reliable year-round calibrations of any electrometer encountered since the implementation of these changes.
Long-Term Survival in the Immediately Functioning Transplanted Primate Lung: Physiological Findings

Abstract The physiological alterations in the long-term, immediately functioning transplanted primate lung are the subject of this report. Left lung autotransplantation and immediate contralateral pulmonary artery (PA) ligation were performed in 30 baboons, 24 of which were long-term survivors with 12 primates still alive more than one year following operation. The most critical time for the transplanted lung was the early postoperative period. During this time all the animals showed a temporary fall in arterial pO 2 (mean, 64.6 mm. Hg), while 10 had a marked elevation in PA pressure (increase > 10 mm. Hg). By 14 days these values had returned to preoperative levels. There has been no deterioration in respiratory function in the long-term survivors; however, a persistent but minimal elevation in PA pressure has remained. This study suggests that the transplanted lung can provide adequate respiratory function both immediately after transplantation and over an extended period, with little deterioration in functional integrity.
Filling words in fundamental groups of Riemann surfaces

The purpose of this article is to utilize some exiting words in the fundamental group of a Riemann surface to acquire new words that are represented by filling closed geodesics.
Interactions between the peripheries of ehrlich ascites tumor cells as indicated by the binding of colloidal iron hydroxide particles

An attempt was made to correlate contact between Ehrlich ascites cells growing in stationary culture, with the distribution of colloidal iron hydroxide particles adsorbed to their surfaces after fixation. It was observed that significantly fewer particles were adsorbed to regions of surfaces at which microvilli from other cells were “aimed”, than in adjacent regions. Although the precise relationship of this alignment to cell contact is problematical, the fact that alignment occurs at all is indicative of interactions taking place between regions of cell surfaces, and the modification of these surfaces as a result of the interactions. Interaction de La Peripherie des Cellules Tumorales de L'Ascite D'Ehrlich Indiquee Par La Fixation des Particules Colloidales D'Hydroxyde de Fer Les auteurs ont tente de mettre en correlation le contact entre les cellules d'ascite d'Ehrlich en culture stationnaire et la distribution des particules colloidales d'hydroxyde de fer adsorbees sur leur surface apres fixation. Ils ont observe qu'un nombre sensiblement moindre de particules a ete adsorbe sur les zones des surfaces “visees” par les microvillosites d'autres cellules, par comparaison avec les zones adjacentes. Bien que les relations precises entre cet “alignement” et le contact cellulaire restent problematiques, le seul fait qu'il existe indique qu'il y a entre les zones de la surface cellulaire des interactions qui provoquent des modifications de ces surfaces.
Post infarction left ventricular pseudoaneurysm properly diagnosed clinically and angiographically and successfully treated surgically.

A case of pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle following acute myocardial infarction is reported. The condition was accurately diagnosed by left ventricular angiography and successfully treated by surgical resection of a massive false aneurysm.
Antiarrhythmic agents. I. Mechanisms of action and clinical pharmacology.

In the application of antiarrhythmic drugs in patients, a thorough knowledge of their pharmacological effects greatly aids the clinician in the more rational selection of the drug or combination of drugs in terms of expected benefits, favourable additive actions, and contra-indications. Each of the agents depresses disorders of rapid impulse formation (repetitive ectopic pacemaker activity) by reducing diastolic depolarisation and thereby diminishing automaticity, and inhibits disorders of impulse conduction (re-entry tachyarrhythmias) by altering conduction velocity and refractory period and thereby interrupting reciprocal excitation pathways.
Molecular interactions in a unique solvent—solute system

Abstract A systematic study has been undertaken of the variables in gas chromatographic separation of enantiomeric substances using an optically active dipeptide stationary phase (N-trifluoroacetyl- l -α-amino- n -butyryl- l -α-amino- n -butyric acid cyclohexyl ester). Although this dipeptide phase showed excellent separation for derivatized d , l -α-amino acids, it was observed that other optically active solutes ( e.g. , β-amino acids, β-amino alcohols, and derivatives of α-amino acids other than trifluoroacetyl-α-amino acid esters) did not meet the steric and structural requirements, and hence were not resolved. Interaction between the optically active solvent (dipeptide phase) and optically active solute seems to be so unique that only α-amino acids and proline are capable of forming the hydrogen-bonded diastereoisomeric association complex, which has been shown to be requisite for the chromatographic resolution.
Benign mesenchymoma of the oral soft tissues

Abstract Benign mesenchymoma is a mixed tumor of mesenchymal derivatives. These tumors are composed of an admixture of two or more benign mesenchymal components in addition to fibrous tissue. A case of benign mesenchymoma of the base of the tongue in a 2 1 2 - year-old girl is presented. The literature is reviewed and discussed.
HSP70 Transgene Directed Motion to Nuclear Speckles Facilitates Heat Shock Activation

Summary Association and disassociation of gene loci with respect to specific nuclear compartments accompany changes in gene expression, yet little is known concerning the mechanisms by which this occurs or its functional consequences. Previously, we showed that tethering acidic activators to a peripheral chromosome site led to movement of the chromosome site away from the nuclear periphery, but the physiological relevance of this movement was unclear [1]. Nuclear speckles, or interchromatin granule clusters, are enriched in factors involved in RNA processing [2], and the association of a subset of active genes at their periphery suggests speckles may play a role in gene expression [3, 4]. Here, we show an actin-dependent association of HSP70 transgenes with nuclear speckles after heat shock. We visualized HSP70 transgenes moving curvilinearly toward nuclear speckles over ∼0.5–6 μm distances at velocities of 1–2 μm min −1 . Chromatin stretching in the direction of movement demonstrates a force-generating mechanism. Transcription in nearly all cases increased noticeably only after initial contact with a nuclear speckle. Moreover, blocking new HSP70 transgene/speckle association by actin depolymerization prevented significant heat shock-induced transcriptional activation in transgenes not associated with speckles, although robust transcriptional activation was observed for HSP70 transgenes associated with nuclear speckles. Our results demonstrate the existence of a still-to-be-revealed machinery for moving chromatin in a direct path over long distances toward nuclear speckles in response to transcriptional activation; moreover, this speckle association enhances the heat shock activation of these HSP70 transgenes.
The spectral dimension of longwave feedback in the CMIP3 and CMIP5 experiments

Radiative feedback is normally discussed in terms of the change of broadband flux. Yet it has an intrinsic dimension of spectrum. A set of longwave (LW) spectral radiative kernels (SRKs) is constructed and validated in a similar way as the broadband radiative kernel. The LW broadband feedback derived using this SRK are consistent with those from the broadband radiative kernels. As an application, the SRK is applied to 12 general circulation models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 and 12 GCMs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 simulations to derive the spectrally resolved Planck, lapse rate, and LW water vapor feedback. The spectral details of the Planck feedback from different GCMs are essentially the same, but the lapse rate and LW water vapor feedback do reveal spectrally dependent difference among GCMs. Spatial distributions of the feedback at different spectral regions are also discussed. The spectral feedback analysis provides us another dimension to understand and evaluate the modeled radiative feedback.
Multistakeholderism: anatomy of an inchoate global institution

Building on John Ruggie’s pioneering study of multilateralism, this paper presents an analogous study of multistakeholder governance, or multistakeholderism. Its central argument is that multistakeholderism is, as yet, a much less well-defined institutional form. Cases exhibit significant variation both in the combinations of actor classes entitled to participate and the nature of authority relations among those actors. The first section discusses multistakeholderism as an institutional form, and proposes a taxonomy of its types. This section also briefly addresses the implications of the analysis for International Relations theory. The paper then conducts a comparative analysis of multistakeholderism, applying the taxonomy to five illustrative cases. It demonstrates the degree of inter-case variation, and the range of issue-areas across which the institutional form is employed and invoked by actors. Three cases are drawn from the increasingly contentious area of Internet governance; the paper thus makes a secondary contribution to this growing literature. The paper’s most striking finding in this regard is that Internet governance often fails to live up to its multistakeholder rhetoric. Other cases include governance of securities regulation and the governance of corporate social responsibility. The paper concludes by examining the implications of our argument, and identifying areas for further research.
10 W/mm and High PAE Field-plated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs at Ka-band with n+GaN Source Contact Ledge

The paper reports small-signal and large-signal performance of 140 nm gatelength field-plated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs at Ka-band frequencies, in which the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were fabricated with n+ GaN source ledge to reduce source access resistance such that the gate-to-drain feedback capacitance and breakdown voltage is not impacted.
Restoration of Norepinephrine-Modulated Contextual Memory in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is the most common cause of mental retardation in children and leads to marked deficits in contextual learning and memory. In rodents, these tasks require the hippocampus and are mediated by several inputs, particularly those originating in the locus coeruleus. These afferents mainly use norepinephrine as a transmitter. To explore the basis for contextual learning defects in Down syndrome, we examined the Ts65Dn mouse model. These mice, which have three copies of a fragment of mouse chromosome 16, exhibited significant deficits in contextual learning together with dysfunction and degeneration of locus coeruleus neurons. However, the postsynaptic targets of innervation remained responsive to noradrenergic receptor agonists. Indeed, despite advanced locus coeruleus degeneration, we were able to reverse contextual learning failure by using a prodrug for norepinephrine called L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine, or xamoterol, a b1-adrenergic receptor partial agonist. Moreover, an increased gene dosage of App, in the context of Down syndrome, was necessary for locus coeruleus degeneration. Our findings raise the possibility that restoring norepinephrine-mediated neurotransmission could reverse cognitive dysfunction in Down syndrome.
A new bioassay for insulin in conscious rabbits by continuous measurement of glycemic responses

Because of the substantial variability often observed in the determination of insulin potency by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) bioassay method, a large number of rabbits are required in order to attain an accuracy of +/- 6% and each bioassay needs 2-3 weeks to be completed. In this report, an improved bioassay method has been developed. This bioassay was conducted in conscious healthy rabbits. The decline in blood glucose levels, following intravenous injection of an insulin preparation, was monitored (in uninterrupted manner) by the continuous glucose monitoring system developed. A glucose response curve was generated, and from this response curve, various pharmacodynamic parameters were easily determined. The whole procedure could be completed in 1 day and also achieved an accuracy where upon only one rabbit is needed to determine accurately the insulin potency. To validate the method, a total of nine healthy rabbits were studied to determine the inter- and intra-animal reproducibility. The values of insulin potency determined from four pharmacodynamic parameters were compared, and the potency calculated from the ABGC (area of the blood glucose response curve under baseline) was found to be the most accurate: a mean (+/- SEM) value of 102.3(+/- 1.2)% was determined by inter-animal study (n = 9) and a value of 100.6(+/- 1.3)% by intra-animal study (n = 4). The inter-bioassay variability among the random-dose bioassays was 1.2% for inter-animal and 1.3% for intra-animal studies. The insulin potency in an insulin sample determined by this bioassay had attained an overall mean (+/- SEM) value of 101.6(+/- 0.8)% (n = 17).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Refined matrix models from BPS counting

We construct a free fermion and matrix model representation of refined Bogomol’nyi-Prasad-Sommerfeld generating functions of D2 and D0 branes bound to a single D6 brane, in a class of toric manifolds without compact four-cycles. In appropriate limit we obtain a matrix model representation of refined topological string amplitudes. We consider a few explicit examples which include a matrix model for the refined resolved conifold, or equivalently five-dimensional U(1) gauge theory, as well as a matrix representation of the refined MacMahon function. Matrix models which we construct have ordinary unitary measure, while their potentials are modified to incorporate the effect of the refinement.
Non-steroidal anti-androgens in prostate cancer--current treatment practice.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is a common disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality in the adult male population. Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer is considered when a patient fails with initial curative therapy, such as radical prostatectomy or definitive radiation therapy, or if he is found with an advanced disease. Many hormonal agents have been developed to exploit the fact that prostate cancer growth is dependent on androgen. Non-steroidal anti-androgens (NSAAs) block androgen at the cellular level. Numerous clinical trials comparing monotherapy of castration and combination therapy of castration and NSAAs have been performed. At present, the results of the trials with regard to the survival of patients under therapy are conflicting. When the disease recurs in a patient in the middle of combination androgen blockade therapy, androgen withdrawal should be considered. The benefits of NSAA in monotherapy, intermittent or neoadjuvant therapy are not clear at present. Better designed, l...
Timed constraint programming: a declarative approach to usage control

This paper focuses on policy languages for (role-based) access control [14, 32], especially in their modern incarnations in the form of trust-management systems [9] and usage control [30, 31]. Any (declarative) approach to access control and trust management has to address the following issues: Explicit denial, inheritance, and overriding, andHistory-sensitive access control.Our main contribution is a policy algebra, in the timed concurrent constraint programming paradigm, that uses a form of default constraint programming to address the first issue, and reactive computing to address the second issue.The policy algebra is declarative --- programs can be viewed as imposing temporal constraints on the evolution of the system --- and supports equational reasoning. The validity of equations is established by coinductive proofs based on an operational semantics.The design of the policy algebra supports reasoning about policies by a systematic combination of constraint reasoning and model checking techniques based on linear time temporal-logic. Our framework permits us to perform security analysis with dynamic state-dependent restrictions.
Growth regulation in normal and malignant melanocytes.

The biochemical events responsible for the progression of normal melanocytes into preneoplastic cells, such as in dysplastic nevi, and further on into early malignant state such as in thin-radial melanoma, into nodular melanoma and culminating in metastatic disease are not yet known. One of the most common characteristics of melanoma cells grown in vitro from nodular primary or metastatic melanoma lesions is an acquired autonomy from growth factors required by their normal counterparts and possibly by melanocytes from primary melanomas of the radial growth phase. In view of the fact that normal human melanocytes depend on several growth factors, it is possible that progression to melanoma is due to inappropriate production of one or more of these factors, to mutations that cause constitutive activation of the receptors for these growth factors, or to constitutive activation of other components of the signal transduction pathway. Therefore knowledge of growth factors/receptors and their substrates operative in normal human melanocytes may provide clues for the biochemical basis of transformation to melanomas. The following review focuses on growth factor and receptor activity in normal and malignant melanocytes.
Prediction of myelinated nerve fiber stimulation thresholds: limitations of linear models

Computer models of neurons are used to simulate neural behavior, and are important tools for designing neural prostheses. Computation time remains an issue when simulating large numbers of neurons or applying models to real time applications. Warman et aL developed a method to predict excitation thresholds for axons using linear models and a predetermined critical voltage. We calculated threshold prediction error as a function of the location of an extracellular electrode using two different axon models to examine further threshold prediction using linear models. Threshold prediction error was low (<3% error) under the conditions examined by Warman et aL, but under more general conditions, threshold prediction error was as high as 23.6%. Linear models were limited as effective tools for single fiber threshold prediction because accuracy was dependent on the nonlinear and linear models used, and any parameter that affected the extracellular potential distribution. Threshold prediction could be improved by appropriately choosing the membrane conductance of the linear model, but determination of an optimal conductance was computationally expensive. Finally, although single fiber threshold prediction error was partially masked when considering the input-output (I/O) properties of populations of axons, relatively large errors still occurred in population I/O curves generated with linear models.
VI Steady Stokes Flow in Domains with Unbounded Boundaries

So far, with the exception of the half-space, we have considered flows occurring in domains with a compact boundary. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the applications it is very important to consider flows in domains Ω having an unbounded boundary, such as channels or pipes of possibly varying cross section.
Systematic Errors in Approximations to the Standard Error of Measurement and Reliability

Lord’s approximation to the standard error of measurement of a test uses only nthe number of items. Millman’s is based on npthe mean difficulty. Saupe has used Lord’s approximation to derive an approximation to the reliability. Through an empirical demonstration involving 200 classroom tests, all three approximations are shown to be biased. The Lord and Millman approximations overestimate sand thus Saupe’s underestimates rfor these tests. The unweighted mean of the tests’ mean item difficulties was .68, supporting Lord’s original warning that his approximation be used cautiously with tests that are either very difficult or very easy. Still, the approximations did correlate very highly with their criteria, supporting their continued limited use.
Marriage and Family Therapy Students’ Views on Including Weight Bias Training into Their Clinical Programs

Discussions about diversity rarely focus on overweight, obesity, and bias about body size (i.e., weight bias). These discussions allow students to develop self-awareness about how their biases can affect their clinical work, as well as the challenges and subsequent bias clients may face in their everyday lives and from clinical providers. One consequence of the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States is the increase in the level of weight bias and discrimination towards individuals who are overweight, which has been documented among mental and healthcare professionals. Thus, it is imperative that training programs integrate weight bias as a part of diversity training. The authors will review weight bias in mental and healthcare professions, and describe several trainings focused on self-awareness about weight bias. The purpose of this study was to pilot and evaluate a training program for marriage and family therapy (MFT) students about developing self-awareness around weight bias and working with clients who are overweight. Following the program, focus groups were conducted to explore participants’ experiences, learning, and feedback on the content and delivery method. Focus Group methodology was used to guide the analysis process. Four themes emerged: training program feedback, challenges for the MFT field, self-of-therapist, and etiology of weight loss/gain. Implications for MFT training programs are discussed.
Photo-oriented aerial-dispersal behavior of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) enhances escape from the leaf surface

In response to wind and light, twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch, manifest an aerial-dispersal behavior that facilitates their escape from the leaf-surface boundary layer and enables them to become airborne. This behavior, which is manifest only in the presence of wind, involves the mites orienting away from the light source and raising their forelegs and forebodies. Seventy percent of the adult females removed from a green host plant held on a dry test arena for 8 h, and exposed to a 1.5-m/s wind velocity, manifested this aerial-dispersal behavior. Mites do not adopt a dispersal posture in the absence of wind. As wind velocity increased the dispersal response increased until the response curve leveled at 1.5 m/s. All life stages, except adult males, manifested the aerial-dispersal behavior. Nymphal stages manifested the behavior less frequently than adult females. Larvae rarely adopted a dispersal posture. The low percentage of immature stages found in an aerial-dispersal posture can be partially explained by the sharp reduction in boundary-layer wind velocity at heights <0.5 mm above the leaf surface. On deteriorating corn plants in the field, a positive photokinetic response of “dispersal-phase” mites leads them to the upper periphery of the plant where aerial-dispersal behavior increases the probability of mites being carried aloft on updrafts.
Abstract 766: Phenformin is a MYCN/MYC destabilizer that can specifically target neural crest derived tumors.

We have been interested in identifying MYCN/MYC destabilizers that can specifically target neural crest derived tumors (neuroblastoma, melanoma, and malignant pheochromocytoma). MYCN amplification and its over-expression are associated with the worst neuroblastoma disease outcome. Non-MYCN amplified neuroblastomas express high-levels of MYC, and prognosis of these neuroblastomas is very poor. Melanoma and malignant pheochromocytoma are also known for high MYC expression. Interestingly, these neural crest derived tumors characteristically express the norepinephrine transporter (NET). This feature can be used to specifically target the tumor cells with agonists of NET, such as Meta-Iodo-BenzylGuanidine (MIBG). In the previous AACR meeting, we presented our finding that non-radio-labeled MIBG can suppress growth of neuroblastoma cells in vitro, and this effect is in part related to its ability to destabilize MYC and MYCN. We have also shown that FCCP, a well-known mitochondrial respiration inhibitor, destabilized MYCN and MYC in neuroblastoma cells and caused growth suppression. Recently, it has been reported that Phenformin, a Type II diabetic drug, binds NET, suggesting that NET positive cells preferentially uptake Phenformin. It is also known that Phenformin inhibits the mitochondrial electron transfer system. In this study, we have investigated a possible effect of Phenformin on growth and MYC/MYCN stability in neuroblastoma cells in vitro. SKNBE(2)C and CHP134 neuroblastoma cell lines were treated with various doses (0-2.5mM) of Phenformin for two days. MTS assay was used to assess the effect of Phenformin on growth of the cells. There was a dose-dependent growth suppression of the NB cell lines tested. Phenformin was more effective against growth of SKNBE(2)C than CHP134 cells. The effect of Phenformin on MYC/MYCN expression in four neuroblastoma cell lines [SKNBE(2)C, CHP134, SKNAS, and SY5Y] was also examined by Western blot assay. SKNBE(2)C and CHP134 express MYCN, whereas SKNAS and SY5Y express MYC at high levels. Treatment of these cells with Phenformin at the dose of 1mM for 24 hours resulted in destabilization of MYCN/MYC, suggesting that the growth suppressive effect of Phenformin on neuroblastoma cells was in part due to reduction in MYC/MYCN expression. We are currently examining whether the above observations made in neuroblastoma are also applicable to other neural crest derived tumors. In addition, we are investigating how Phenformin-related mitochondrial dysfunction causes destabilization of MYC/MYCN in neuroblastoma cells. Citation Format: Naohiko Ikegaki, Srah Lomahan, Xao X. Tang. Phenformin is a MYCN/MYC destabilizer that can specifically target neural crest derived tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 766. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-766
Aortic arch syndromes.

Since many aortic arch lesions are amenable to surgical treatment, aortography has assumed greater importance. Retrograde aortography should not be used if dissecting hematoma (aneurysm) is a possi...
Sensitivity analysis on the influence of RV typed reducer transmission accuracy by combination mode of errors

Enhancing the transmission accuracy is an important task confronted in the study RV typed reducer.According to the mathematical model of RV typed reducer,by a synthetical consideration on the influence of transmission accuracy by the combination manner of error factors of manufacturing errors of each component part,assembling errors and bearing clearances etc.,and by adopting the numerical differentiation method of sensitivity analysis,the sensitivity on the influence of systematic dynamic transmission accuracy by the error combination pattern was obtained.Based on the obtained sensitivity result,the main error that affects the system transmission accuracy and its affection law were found out.The result of study provides corresponding theoretical basis for enhancing the system transmission accuracy in the design and manufacturing of RV typed reducer and bears practical guiding significance for the design.
Mindfully Sharing Capital in Modern China

Over the past decade, philanthropic giving in China has entered a new era. A series of natural disasters triggered an upsurge in public giving; the changing social environment transformed individuals’ pattern of giving behavior. By discussing the influence of three major traditional Chinese philosophies (i.e. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) on philanthropy, this paper argues that China’s philanthropy is not a reflex behavior after acute calamity, but an intrinsic intention within humanity. This paper also highlights that being aware of this intention of giving allows donors to not only simply share their resources, but also mindfully facilitate civic engagement. This mindful sharing process, therefore, builds a social culture that collectively empowers vulnerable populations, which is the purpose of philanthropic giving. The paper concludes that mindful sharing emphasizes the intention of giving, fosters a sustainable culture of giving, and achieves an ideal state of collective empowerment.
The Next 20 Years of Tiger Science, Politics, and Conservation

Publisher Summary There is growing recognition in the tiger conservation community about the importance of understanding policy, governance, and economics to achieve—or hamper—conservation objectives. Scientific and technological advances may progress rapidly and boldly, but political support and competing priorities are thick with complexity and change slowly, challenging science-based conservation plans. Managing tigers really means managing and helping people, and not just at local scales, but at regional and global scales. A growing number of national laws and international agreements, like CITES, are in place to protect tigers, but all too often lack enforcement or broad support. The slaughter and illegal sale of tigers continues unabated throughout many corners of Asia. One of the most important steps one can take today is to protect what habitat one has and, where possible, set aside additional land for conservation while fully addressing issues of justice and equity for people who live in and near these areas. Tigers have been exterminated to protect people and their property, and this challenge will remain as long as people and tigers share the same landscape.
Degradation and half-life of DNA present in biomass from a genetically-modified organism during land application

White biotechnology has made a positive impact on the chemical industry by providing safer, more efficient chemical manufacturing processes that have reduced the use of toxic chemicals, harsh reaction conditions, and expensive metal catalysts, which has improved alignment with the principles of Green Chemistry. The genetically-modified (GM) biocatalysts that are utilized in these processes are typically separated from high-value products and then recycled, or eliminated. Elimination routes include disposal in sanitary landfills, incineration, use as a fuel, animal feed, or reuse as an agricultural soil amendment or other value-added products. Elimination routes that have the potential to impact the food chain or environment have been more heavily scrutinized for the fate and persistence of biological products. In this study, we developed and optimized a method for monitoring the degradation of strain-specific DNA markers from a genetically-modified organism (GMO) used for the commercial production of 1,3-propanediol. Laboratory and field tests showed that a marker for heterologous DNA in the GM organism was no longer detectable by end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after 14 days. The half-life of heterologous DNA was increased by 17% (from 42.4 to 49.7 h) after sterilization of the soil from a field plot, which indicated that abiotic factors were important in degradation of DNA under field conditions. There was no evidence for horizontal transfer of DNA target sequences from the GMO to viable organisms present in the soil.
Ricoeur on Moral Religion: A Hermeneutics of Ethical Life, by James Carter, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014, xiii + 169 pp., US$85.00 (hardback), ISBN 978 0 1987 1715 7

Ricoeur has always seemed to me to be the contemporary philosopher most concerned with the ethical void in our lives. He is the thinker I have often consulted to explain why human beings turn upon ...
Frequency-scalable SiGe bipolar RF front-end design

The optimum collector current density, at the global minimum noise figure (NF) point for a bipolar transistor, scales linearly with frequency. The optimum source impedance, on the other hand, remains constant if the device area is scaled inversely with frequency. As a result, transforming the design from one frequency to another can be achieved by simple circuit scaling. Taking advantage of the shallow nature of the NF/sub min/ global minima, it is possible to increase the linearity of the low-noise amplifier (LNA) or decrease its power consumption, which is required for multimode designs, with little degradation in NF. These theoretical results have been applied to LNA and active mixer designs, and verified by constructing a 1.8-GHz frequency-scaled SiGe bipolar test chip. The measured LNA NF is 1.3 dB at 4.5 mA, while the double-balanced mixer achieves a single-sideband (SSB) NF of 6.1 dB for the low-linearity mode and an IIP3 and an SSB NF of +3 dBm and 6.6 dB, respectively, for the high-linearity mode.
Understanding health policy leaders' training needs

Purpose We assessed the training needs of health policy leaders and practitioners across career stages; identified areas of core content for health policy training programs; and, identified training modalities for health policy leaders. Methods We convened a focus group of health policy leaders at varying career stages to inform the development of the Health Policy Leaders’ Training Needs Assessment tool. We piloted and distributed the tool electronically. We used descriptive statistics and thematic coding for analysis. Results Seventy participants varying in age and stage of career completed the tool. “Cost implications of health policies” ranked highest for personal knowledge development and “intersection of policy and politics” ranked highest for health policy leaders in general. “Effective communication skills” ranked as the highest skill element and “integrity” as the highest attribute element. Format for training varied based on age and career stage. Conclusions This study highlighted the training needs of health policy leaders personally as well as their perceptions of the needs for training health policy leaders in general. The findings are applicable for current health policy leadership training programs as well as those in development.
A device that operates within a self-assembled 3D DNA crystal

Structural DNA nanotechnology finds applications in numerous areas, but the construction of objects, 2D and 3D crystalline lattices and devices is prominent among them. Each of these components has been developed individually, and most of them have been combined in pairs. However, to date there are no reports of independent devices contained within 3D crystals. Here we report a three-state 3D device whereby we change the colour of the crystals by diffusing strands that contain dyes in or out of the crystals through the mother-liquor component of the system. Each colouring strand is designed to pair with an extended triangle strand by Watson-Crick base pairing. The arm that contains the dyes is quite flexible, but it is possible to establish the presence of the duplex proximal to the triangle by X-ray crystallography. We modelled the transition between the red and blue states through a simple kinetic model.
Shortcut to adiabaticity for an electron spin in diamond

A strain-induced lambda-type three-level system in a nitrogen vacancy center in diamond is used for the implementation of shortcut to adiabatic passage through a dark state with counterdiabatic driving.
Nitrogen, science, and environmental change: the politics of the Green Revolution in Chile and the global nitrogen challenge

Abstract The widespread use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers during the second half of the 20th century radically transformed agricultural production and ecosystems on a global scale. Although the "N challenge" or the "N problem" has had limited public attention compared to biodiversity loss and climate change, scientists consider N pollution a leading ecological concern for the 21st century. Accordingly, a major challenge for scientists and policymakers around the world today is how to meet food production demands while also protecting the environment. Using Chile as a case study—one of the highest consumers of N fertilizer per hectare in the Americas—this article examines the transnational politics of production and destruction in this process of agricultural modernization. In the Cold War context, a transnational network of scientists, agencies, and authorities created an institutional framework for the transference of knowledge and technology in Chile during the 1960s. Paradoxically, as local and global reliance on N fertilizers increased, scientists were able to generate a narrative about the negative environmental effects of intensive N use and highlight the ecological limits of the Green Revolution. After 1973, however, this knowledge network suffered as a result of the Chilean government's anti-communist crackdown and adoption of market-based agricultural policies. Understanding this history of how politics shaped N consumption, science, and policy is critical to current efforts to create new of agricultural production on a regional and global scale. Keywords: nitrogen, fertilizers, the Green Revolution, Cold War, Chile, science, environment, policy, Global Nitrogen Challenge, agriculture, United States
3D printing of piezoelectric transducer/array for ultrasonic imaging

Piezoelectric ceramics are currently of considerable interest for their capabilities of converting compressive/tensile stresses to an electric charge, or vice versa. The applications of piezoelectric devises are far reaching, ranging from acoustic imaging to energy harvesting. However, conventional manufacturing processes such as etching and dicing for piezoelectric ceramics fabrication have limited capability of achieving complex geometry. Because ceramics cannot be cast and machined easily, additive manufacturing (AM) processes (3D printing technology) are considered as a promising way in novel piezoelectric devices. This article presents piezoelectric element/array with complex geometry, fabricated by Mask-Image-Projection-based Stereolithography (MIP-SL) technology.
I Will Pay Tomorrow, or Maybe the Day After. Credit Card Repayment, Present Biased and Procrastination

Procrastinating the repayment in full on a monthâ€ toâ€ month balance in credit card debt is a problem affecting a large segment of the population. This paper studies the role that presentâ€ biased preferences and impatience play in the repayment behaviour of consumers. Evidence from a field study using a sample of 380 college students provides empirical support to the hypothesis that individuals with presentâ€ biased preferences tend to adopt a strategic procrastination repayment behaviour that is not optimal to accomplish repayment in full. More specifically, individuals suffering from self control issues and using credit cards to bridge unexpected shortage of income are more likely to fail to repay credit cards in full in the period after the purchase was completed, therefore, carrying over a monthâ€ toâ€ month balance. In addition, people with a simple presentâ€ biased revealed effect are also more likely to fall behind on credit card repayment, visâ€ A â€ vis those that have a higher marginal propensity to save. By the same token, we find that individuals consistently behave inconsistently, that is evidence from our sample indicates the predominance of dynamically inconsistent preferences, in opposition to the prescriptions of the neoclassical theory. In this regard, the naA¯ve type of individuals with presentâ€ bias preferences consume beyond their income capabilities and are much more likely to carry over credit card debt into the next period, visâ€ A â€ vis individuals that are more sophisticated.
Dissecting the Roles of the Calcineurin Pathway in Unisexual Reproduction, Stress Responses, and Virulence in Cryptococcus deneoformans

The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin orchestrates sexual reproduction, stress responses, and virulence via branched downstream pathways in the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans The calcineurin-binding protein Cbp1, the calcineurin temperature suppressor Cts1, the calcineurin-responsive zinc finger transcription factor Crz1, and the calcineurin targets Pbp1, Tif3, and Puf4, all function downstream of calcineurin to orchestrate distinct cellular processes. To elucidate how the calcineurin pathway regulatory network governs unisexual reproduction, stress responses, and virulence, we have analyzed the self-filamentous C. deneoformans strain, XL280α, and generated double mutants of these calcineurin downstream genes. We demonstrated that calcineurin governs unisexual reproduction at different sexual developmental stages, in which the initiation of the yeast-hyphal morphological transition is independent of Crz1, whereas the sporulation process is dependent on Crz1. Calcineurin-dependent unisexual reproduction is independent of the pheromone response pathway. Crz1 synergistically interacts with different calcineurin downstream targets in responding to ER, high-calcium, and cell wall stresses. We observed a widespread synergy suggesting that these proteins function in complex branched pathways downstream of calcineurin with some functional redundancy, which may allow efficient signaling network rewiring within the pathway for prompt adaptation to changing environments. Finally, we showed that deletion of PBP1 or TIF3 in the cna1∆ mutant background conferred a modest level of growth tolerance at 37°, but that the cna1∆ pbp1∆ and cna1∆ tif3∆ double mutants were both avirulent, suggesting that calcineurin may control virulence via mechanisms beyond thermotolerance.