cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Basal Autophagy Is Required for Herpes simplex Virus-2 Infection

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process of the cell, which plays an important role in regulating plethora of infections. The role of autophagy in Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection is unknown. Here, we found that HSV-2 does not allow induction of an autophagic response to infection, but maintains basal autophagy levels mostly unchanged during productive infection. Thus, we investigated the importance of basal autophagy for HSV-2 infection, using pharmacological autophagy suppression or cells genetically deficient in an autophagy-essential gene (ATG5). Interference with basal autophagy flux in cells significantly reduced viral replication and diminished the infection. These results indicate that basal autophagy plays an indispensable role required for a productive infection. Importantly, this study draws a sharp distinction between induced and basal autophagy, where the former acts as a viral clearance mechanism abrogating infection, while the latter supports infection.
Studying the Bandung conference from a Global IR perspective

ABSTRACTMainstream international relations scholarship has ignored or disparaged the significance and legacies of the Bandung conference. The author argues in favour of its importance, not only for any serious investigation into the evolution of the post-war international order, but also for the development of Global IR as a truly universal discipline: a global international relations. Few events offer more fertile ground for rethinking the established boundaries of international relations. After introducing the concept of a global international relations, the author then considers ways in which the conference’s key legacies challenge conventional accounts and attest to the ‘agency’ of the newly independent states in the making of the post-war international order. The legacies this section focuses on include frustration at Western attempts to ‘sabotage’ the conference; the delegitimisation of collective defence pacts and the development of the Non-Aligned Movement; the emergence of a South-East Asian regi...
John Locke on Naturalization and Natural Law: Community and Property in the State of Nature

In an unpublished paper of 1693 John Locke weighed in on a long debate in the English Parliament by declaring that there should be a “general naturalization” of all immigrants currently residing in England. His argument for this controversial policy was entirely economic and based on promoting England’s interest in achieving greater wealth. He wrote nothing about the interests of the immigrants (most of whom were escaping religious persecution) nor did he appeal to the moral and political theory he had so strongly proposed in Second Treatise of Government, published only a few years earlier in 1690. In this paper I look closely at the concepts of community and law in the state of nature and conclude that if Locke had employed the fundamental principles developed in Second Treatise he would have endorsed a humanitarian policy focused on the plight of refugees. The application of these principles has important consequences for contemporary debates in the United States and in other wealthy countries about the extent of the obligation to provide relief to foreigners escaping religious persecution, war, enslavement, hunger, and natural disaster.
Determination of Residues of Flumequine and Nalidixic, Oxolinic, and Piromidic Acids in Catfish by Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence and UV Detection

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for determining residues of flumequine (FLU) and nalidixic (NAL), oxolinic (OXO), and piromidic (PIR) acids in catfish muscle. The identities of 3 of these residues are confirmed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extraction and cleanup procedures are the same for both determination and identification. Analyte isolation involves homogenizing the tissue with acetone, defatting the acetone extract with hexane, and extracting the compounds into chloroform. The extract is further purified by first partitioning into base and subsequently back-extracting into chloroform after acidifying the aqueous phase. After the solvent is evaporated, the residue is dissolved in mobile phase, and the analytes are determined by LC with fluoresoence detection, excitation at 325 nm and emission at 365 nm. Catfish muscle was fortified with each quinolone at 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 ng/g. Overall averaGe recoveries were 83-94%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 5-7%. The method was evaluated also by a second analyst, who determined 4 quinolones added in combination. Average recoveries of quinolones from catfish fortified at 5, 10, and 20 ng/g were 78-90%, with RSDs of 3-6%. The presence in catfish muscle of incurred OXO, FLU, and NAL at the 10 ng/g level was confirmed by analyzing the decarboxylated quinolones by GC-MS. The relative abundances of all 5 major ions for OXO, FLU, and NAL were within 10% of those observed in spectra of standard compounds decarboxylated by the same method
Li2CO3-Coated Ni Particles for the Inner Electrodes of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors: Evaluation of Lifetime.

In previous work, it was demonstrated that using Li2CO3-coated Ni particles in the manufacturing of multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) devices could improve both the permittivity and dissipation factors. However, adding Li+ ions to the system gave rise to the concern that ions could migrate under sustained electrical fields and thereby increase the degradation rates of the insulation resistance in MLCCs. In this paper, thermally stimulated depolarization current and highly accelerated lifetime testing were both utilized to evaluate the oxygen vacancy space-charge regions and migration in MLCCs. The results suggested that three parameters (the sintering schedule, Li2CO3 coatings, and oxygen flow during sintering) determine the overall resilience to the degradation. The Li+ ions did not migrate during degradation, as verified by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry mapping; however, the Li ions enter the perovskite structure as an acceptor and, if ionically compensated for, could introduce more o...
A normative spatiotemporal MRI atlas of the fetal brain for automatic segmentation and analysis of early brain growth

Longitudinal characterization of early brain growth in-utero has been limited by a number of challenges in fetal imaging, the rapid change in size, shape and volume of the developing brain, and the consequent lack of suitable algorithms for fetal brain image analysis. There is a need for an improved digital brain atlas of the spatiotemporal maturation of the fetal brain extending over the key developmental periods. We have developed an algorithm for construction of an unbiased four-dimensional atlas of the developing fetal brain by integrating symmetric diffeomorphic deformable registration in space with kernel regression in age. We applied this new algorithm to construct a spatiotemporal atlas from MRI of 81 normal fetuses scanned between 19 and 39 weeks of gestation and labeled the structures of the developing brain. We evaluated the use of this atlas and additional individual fetal brain MRI atlases for completely automatic multi-atlas segmentation of fetal brain MRI. The atlas is available online as a reference for anatomy and for registration and segmentation, to aid in connectivity analysis, and for groupwise and longitudinal analysis of early brain growth.
Understanding the Marginal Role of the Election Management Body (EMB) in Algeria’s 2014 General Election

The ideological struggle between the West and former liberation movements on the veracity of the post-cold war multiparty democracy is still alive. In Algeria, the ruling Front for the Liberation of Algeria (FLN) continues to view with suspicion this notion, convinced it’s a neo-colonial ploy to remove them from power. It is against this intensely contested background that Electoral Management Bodies (EMB) have emerged and trying to find a role. In the Algerian April 2014 Election, the ruling party was confronted by the surging popularity of the Islamic Salvation Front (F.I.S). In that election, the EMB played a marginal, if not overtly partisan role, in spite of the 2012 recommendations by the European Union to undertake reforms. In this case study, it is clear that establishing and consolidating EMBs on the African continent as part of democratisation is still very much work in progress.
Selection of Sustainable Process and Essential Indicators for Decision Making Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Sustainability of processes or systems is generally evaluated with metrics or indicators. When a set of indicators is identified for a particular system of study, it is important to ensure that all the indicators are necessary and sufficient in defining system sustainability. The indicators should be able to distinguish sustainable process options from unsustainable ones. Generally, a large number of indicators are used to characterize a system. While some of the indicators are essential sustainable indicators, they may not be relevant in defining the particular system of interest. It is essential to select the most important indicators from a large set so that reduced set of indicators can enhance the generalized performance of sustainable process selection algorithm. In this paper, we propose the use of machine learning algorithms including k-means clustering for sustainable process selection and support vector machine recursive feature elimination algorithm (SVM-RFE) for relevant indicator identification that is important in sustainable process classification from a group of competing process options. The method is based on weight vector derivatives or generalized error bound sensitivity with respect to each indicator. The proposed method of relevant indicator selection is compared with previous work on important indicator identification using partial least square-variable importance in projection (PLS-VIP) method. We have used two case studies to demonstrate the methodologies. While the PLS-VIP method was successful in identifying indicators that are sufficient for finding relative importance of different process options, SVM-RFE method is useful for identifying indicators that are sufficient in sustainable process classification.
Don Quixote: In Defense of Judaism

It seems that one of the episodes in Don Quixote includes a veiled defense of Judaism, in particular an argument that Jews are not guilty of deicide, have the right to be left unmolested, and that forced conversions are wrong. In Book I, chapter 12-14, Cervantes relates the story of the death of Grisostomo, a shepherd apparently about thirty years old who fell in love with Marcela, a shepherdess who was so beautiful that all who looked at her instantly fell in love with her. Grisostomo wrote plays for Christmas eve and allegorical dramas for the feast of Corpus Christi. Marcela rejected Grisostomo, who either died of love or killed himself. Don Quixote is told how Marcela caused Grisostomo death and travels to see his funeral. Some writers have focused on what the story tells us about the relative virtues of marriage and celibacy, the pastoral ideal of freedom, and the desire for literature to achieve a measure of immortality. I would like to suggest another dimension — the defense of Judaism from attacks based on Christian antisemitism. Just as Grisostomo was a writer of allegorical plays about the body and blood of Christ, the story of Grisostomo and Marcela can be read in part as an allegory about Jesus, the Church, and the Jews. While it seems that Cervantes may have wanted to disguise the allegory because of the controversial nature of its message, there are too many to clues as to meaning to be ignored.
The WAIS-III and WMS-III: Practical Issues and Frequently Asked Questions

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses some important practical issues that may not be explicitly covered in the manuals that accompany the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III). The unfamiliarity of new or updated tests can pose barriers to adopting such measures in clinical practice. In addition, when major changes are made in a revised version of an instrument, there is a healthy uncertainty about applying previously formed assumptions and interpretations of test performance to the new measure. However, the WAIS-III and WMS-III make good clinical sense, even if one is satisfied with previous versions of these tests. The chapter provides frequently asked questions that may be of particular interests to clinicians at various levels of experience and highlights some of the most current research pertaining to the WAIS-III and WMS-III. On the WMS-III, impaired individuals often have difficulty to understand the instructions for “verbal paired associates” and “family pictures”. The confusion on “family pictures” often occurs during the recall questions after the scenes have been presented, so it is necessary that the task be as clear as possible to the examinee before beginning the test in order to ensure maximal performance. Therefore, adequate attention is imperative for examinees to perform at their optimal level.
Venus atmospheric structure and dynamics from the VEGA lander and balloons: New results and PDS archive

Abstract The longest-lived in-situ measurement platforms at Venus have been the Soviet VEGA balloons in 1985 and the only high-quality pressure/temperature profile in the lowest 10 km of the atmosphere is that from the VEGA-2 lander. Here we review the mission and the resultant literature and report the archival of numerical data from these investigations on the NASA Planetary Data System Atmospheres Node to facilitate their access to the community. We additionally report some new results, including the striking absence of a signature of the planetary boundary layer in the near-surface potential temperature profile from the VEGA-2 lander, in contrast to the well-defined boundaries seen in a comparable profile at Titan.
MicroRNA, Breast Cancer and Green Tea Polyphenon-60

Breast cancer is one of the major leading causes of female death in the world. Previous epidemiological studies have established a strong correlation between green tea consumption and a decreased risk of developing breast cancer. The polyphenols found in the leaves of the green tea plant inhibited breast cancer cell survival and growth. Green tea and its polyphenol extracts induce the aberrant expression of protein-coding genes. However, the molecular mechanism is unclear. Recently identified microRNAs, an extensive class of small regulatory RNAs, may play an essential role in green tea-treated breast cancers. A recent study showed that green tea polyphenols induced a change of miRNA expression profile in a breast cancer cell line. The differentially expressed miRNAs target several oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, which suggest that green tea polyphenols regulate miRNA expression and then further regulate breast cancer pathogenesis.
Nitric Oxide and Redox Inflammation in Cancer

Abstract Cancer is an extensive and complex disease that takes numerous steps and time to develop. Recently, inflammation has been identified for its critical roles in carcinogenesis and it accounted for as much as 20% of the incidence of cancer. There is growing evidence that patient prognosis is associated with a number of inflammation-related biomarkers such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)2. The latter has been found to be indicative of poor and good outcomes. These biomarkers are associated with the inflammation and wound healing response. The presence of these molecules may suggest that “cancer is a wound that does not heal” and the lack of resolution maintains the perpetual inflammatory tissue restoration cycle leads to more aggressive tumors. This report discusses the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) on these mechanisms, such as progression of cancer and how specific levels of NO may influence these processes. Part of the answer lies within the levels of NO in the microenvironment. This insight may offer a platform for devising new drugs and therapies as well as indicate biomarkers.
The Engaged Classroom.

I do my research by shadowing teenagers in school. Even though I’m a veteran high school and college teacher and the father of three, I figure the truest and most accurate way I can learn about the way teaching and learning happen in high schools is to experience what adolescents experience throughout a school day. I recently spent 130 days shadowing students in a diverse California high school. As I sat side by side with young people in classrooms and later debriefed them about their experiences, I focused on two central questions:
Gymnast’s Wrist

Gymnastics is a unique sport as the wrist becomes a weight-bearing joint. Gymnasts may train at an elite level prior to skeletal maturity, placing the gymnast’s wrist at risk for a specific group of disorders. Chronic overload of an immature distal radius can lead to inflammation of the distal radius physis, resulting in “gymnast wrist.” If not properly treated, this can cause growth arrest of the radius and overgrowth of the ulna, leading to ulnar impaction syndrome. Additionally, gymnasts may suffer chronic dorsal wrist pain, often due to repetitive wrist hyperextension, dorsal capsular impingement, and posterior interosseous nerve irritation. Acutely, the use of poorly fitting dowel grips can cause “grip lock,” resulting in forearm fractures. This chapter will discuss the etiology of conditions specifically affecting a gymnast’s wrist, physical exam findings, appropriate imaging, and treatment options. Additionally, guidelines for returning a gymnast to upper extremity weight-bearing activities are suggested.
Tau Biology, Tauopathy, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Diagnostic Challenges

There is considerable interest in the pathobiology of tau protein, given its potential role in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Tau is an important microtubule associated protein, required for the assembly of tubulin into microtubules and maintaining structural integrity of axons. Tau has other diverse cellular functions involving signal transduction, cellular proliferation, developmental neurobiology, neuroplasticity, and synaptic activity. Alternative splicing results in tau isoforms with differing microtubule binding affinity, differing representation in pathological inclusions in certain disease states, and differing roles in developmental biology and homeostasis. Tau haplotypes confer differing susceptibility to neurodegeneration. Tau phosphorylation is a normal metabolic process, critical in controlling tau’s binding to microtubules, and is ongoing within the brain at all times. Tau may be hyperphosphorylated, and may aggregate as detectable fibrillar deposits in tissues, in both aging and neurodegenerative disease. The hypothesis that p-tau is neurotoxic has prompted constructs related to isomers, low-n assembly intermediates or oligomers, and the “tau prion”. Human postmortem studies have elucidated broad patterns of tauopathy, with tendencies for those patterns to differ as a function of disease phenotype. However, there is extensive overlap, not only between genuine neurodegenerative diseases, but also between aging and disease. Recent studies highlight uniqueness to pathological patterns, including a pattern attributed to repetitive head trauma, although clinical correlations have been elusive. The diagnostic process for tauopathies and neurodegenerative diseases in general is challenging in many respects, and may be particularly problematic for postmortem evaluation of former athletes and military service members.
Using Expert Patterns in Assisted Interactive Machine Learning: A Study in Machine Teaching

Machine Teaching (MT) is an emerging practice where people, without Machine Learning (ML) expertise, provide rich information beyond labels in order to create ML models. MT promises to lower the barrier of entry to creating ML models by requiring a softer set of skills from users than having ML expertise. In this paper, we explore and show how end-users without MT experience successfully build ML models using the MT process, and achieve results not far behind those of MT experts. We do this by conducting two studies. We first investigated how MT experts build models, from which we extracted expert teaching patterns. In our second study, we observed end-users without MT experience create ML models with and without guidance from expert patterns. We found that all users built models comparable to those built by MT experts. Further, we observed that users who received guidance perceived the task to require less effort and felt less mental demand than those who did not receive guidance.
Simvastatin and ML141 decrease intracellular Streptococcus pyogenes infection

Background Recurrent pharyngotonsillitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes develops regardless of whether infecting strains are resistant or susceptible to first-line antimicrobials. Causation for recurrent infection is associated with the use of first-line antimicrobials that fail to penetrate deep tissue and host cell membranes, enabling intracellular S. pyogenes to survive throughout repeated rounds of antimicrobial therapy. Objective To determine whether simvastatin, a therapeutic approved for use in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, and ML141, a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor with specificity for human CDC42, limit host cell invasion by S. pyogenes. Methods Assays to assess host cell invasion, bactericidal activity, host cell viability, actin depolymerization, and fibronectin binding were performed using the RAW 267.4 macrophage cell line and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) infected with S. pyogenes (90-226) and treated with simvastatin, ML141, structural analogs of ML141, or vehicle control. Results Simvastatin and ML141 decreased intracellular infection by S. pyogenes in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition by simvastatin persisted following 1 h washout whereas inhibition by ML141 was reversed. During S. pyogenes infection, actin stress fibers depolymerized in vehicle control treated cells, yet remained intact in simvastatin and in ML141 treated cells. Consistent with the previous characterization of ML141, simvastatin decreased host cell binding to fibronectin. Structural analogs of ML141, designated as the RSM series, decreased intracellular infection through non-cytotoxic, nonbactericidal mechanisms. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the potential of repurposing simvastatin and of developing CDC42-targeted therapeutics for eradicating intracellular S. pyogenes infection to break the cycle of recurrent infection through a host-directed approach.
Risk Factors for 30-Day Non-Neurological Morbidity and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Vestibular Schwannoma

Introduction We analyzed perioperative risk factors for morbidity and mortality for the patients undergoing surgical intervention for vestibular schwannoma along with rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks that required surgery. Materials and Methods Patients undergoing surgery vestibular schwannoma were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2016 using current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for posterior fossa surgical approaches and International Classification of Diseases 9th revision (ICD 9) and ICD 10 codes for peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Preoperative laboratories, comorbidities, and operative times were analyzed along with CSF leaks and unplanned returns to the operating room. Results Nine-hundred ninety-three patients fit the inclusion criteria. Average age was 51, 41% were male, and 58% were female. Mortality within 30 days of the operation was very low at 0.4%, complications were 7% with infection being the most common at 2.3%, and unplanned reoperations happened in 7.4% of the cases. Dependent functional status (odds ratio [OR]: 5.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–16.6, p = 0.001), preoperative anemia (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.5, p = 0.009), and operative time over 8 hours (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4, p = 0.017) were the only significant predictors of perioperative complications. CSF leak postoperatively occurred in 37 patients (3.7%). Reoperation for CSF leak was necessary in 56.3% of the cases. Operative time over 8 hours was the only independent significant predictor of postoperative CSF leak (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1–4.3, p = 0.028). Conclusion Dependent functional status preoperatively, preoperative anemia, and duration of surgery over 8 hours are the greatest predictors of complications in the 30-day postoperative period.
Constructing invisible walls through national and global policy

Worldwide 37,000 people are forced to flee their homes every day due to conflict and persecution. The factors that lead people to leave their home countries often originate with economic deprivation and violence, escalated to a level that becomes a struggle for survival. Climate change, as it has accelerated over the last three to four decades and negatively impacted natural resources, contributes to a parallel increase in strife and migration. The US response to migration has been to construct an "Invisible Wall" of isolationist and xenophobic policies, many of which are especially harmful to children and their families. The southern US border is perhaps the most high profile location of the Invisible Wall's construction, fortified by federal policies and a withdrawal from international cooperation. Global reengagement on climate change and migration, US ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and destruction of the Invisible Wall will help to create a world where children can thrive.
Chemically controlled shape-morphing of elastic sheets

Two-dimensional responsive materials that change shape into complex three-dimensional structures are valuable for creating systems ranging from wearable electronics to soft robotics. Typically, the final 3D structure is unique and predetermined through the materials’ processing. Here, we use theory and simulation to devise a distinctive approach for driving shape changes of 2D elastic sheets in fluid-filled microchambers. The sheets are coated with catalyst to generate controllable fluid flows, which transform the sheets into complex 3D shapes. A given shape can be achieved by patterning the arrangement of the catalytic domains on the sheet and introducing the appropriate reactant to initiate a specific catalytic reaction. Moreover, a single sheet that encompasses multiple catalytic domains can be transformed into a variety of 3D shapes through the addition of one or more reactants. Materials systems that morph on-demand into a variety of distinct structures can simplify manufacturing processes and broaden the utility of soft materials.
The Crime Victims' Rights Act: Rhetoric or Reality?

Crime victim’s rights legislation including the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 (VWPA) and the Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004 (CVRA) brought attention to the plight of the crime victim and called on justice professionals and the public to recognize victims’ value, worth, and role within a justice model that seeks to hold offenders accountable and increase public safety. The CVRA was the first federal policy to grant participatory rights to victims of crime; it served as a model statute for states enacting similar legislation. Beyond the eight participatory rights, implementation and administration of the CVRA is recommended but not required by law enforcement, prosecutors, or the judiciary. Instead, these justice professionals are encouraged to “make a good faith effort” in delivering these rights to victims of crime. This paper tells the story of the victims’ rights movement before utilizing the Narrative Policy Framework to analyze the CVRA. Highlighting several key issues of relevance to the social work profession, a call to action is issued for social workers and policymakers to shift current narratives and more clearly define who constitutes a victim, how these rights are to be implemented and by whom, and to develop enforcement mechanisms.
Sputter-deposited low-stress boron carbide films

Significant challenges have been faced in the manufacturing of low-stress B 4C films. Here, we demonstrate a set of process parameters for direct-current magnetron sputter deposition of smooth, high-purity, amorphous B 4C films with near-zero total residual stress and with thicknesses up to 10 μm. Films are characterized by a combination of high-energy ion scattering, x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and stress measurements based on substrate curvature. In order to facilitate the process transfer to other sputtering geometries, the favorable deposition conditions are correlated with distributions of landing energies and incident angles of depositing species estimated by Monte Carlo simulations of ballistic collisions and gas phase atomic transport. Based on such simulations, a decrease in compressive stress with increasing Ar working gas pressure is attributed to the corresponding broadening of the angular distribution of depositing species and associated atomic shadowing effects.
Corrosion Behavior of Pre-Carburized Hastelloy N, Haynes 244, Haynes 230, and Incoloy 800H in Molten FLiNaK

Austenitic alloys such as austenitic stainless steels and Ni-based alloys have been specified as container materials for molten salt reactors (MSRs). In MSR environments, these alloys are susceptib...
Experimental Shear Property Characterization of Agarose Hydrogel and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

Soft materials exhibit a unique blend of properties resembling either a solid or liquid. Hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are a few examples of soft materials. These materials exhibit viscoelastic properties which makes them difficult to determine the mechanical properties through conventional means. In addition, the material properties are highly dependent on their concentration ratios—wt./wt. for PDMS and wt./solvent volume for agarose hydrogel. A new in-plane shear test method, which incorporates 3D printed parts and Digital Image Correlation (DIC), was developed and updated to fully quantify the mechanical shear properties of agarose hydrogels at multiple concentrations (4.0, 2.5, 1.5, and 0.5% wt./vol.) and PDMS at multiple mixture ratios (10:1, 20:1, and 30:1 wt./wt.). The 3D printed parts were used as loading fixtures to ensure the appropriate grip on these soft materials. Verification of the agarose testing was conducted through the use of a plate-plate shear rheometer.
Exercise 1: Using a Compound Microscope

The compound microscope is one of the most important instruments found in laboratories engaged in the examination of cells and microorganisms. We will examine mouse blood stained with Giemsa stain to identify red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes). Some of the red cells are infected with Plasmodium yoelii and P. berghei, intracellular parasites within the red cells, and causative agents of rodent malaria. The parasites are protozoans, eukaryotic cells and therefore the nucleus and cytoplasm will be stained. Uninfected erythrocytes lack a nucleus and will be stained red/pink. The objectives of the introductory exercise are to: (1) Review parts and function of a compound microscope; (2) Review calculation of magnification and (3) Identify uninfected erythrocytes, Plasmodium infected erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets. A differential count of the leukocytes will be performed to determine the percentage of each leukocyte in the blood smear.
Performance Effects of Diversification: Theory and Evidence on Importance of Nature of Information

By definition, diversified corporations consist of several segments. By definition, venture capital firms consist of several segments, that is, funds, each of which has its own legal identity. Feasibility of coinvestments between funds that are managed by the same firm, but of which some are focused (`focused funds') on the technology sector, and others, either focused (for arrival at a `focused firm'), or `generalist' (for arrival at a `diversified firm') provides a unique opportunity for empirical tests of performance effects of corporate diversification. Study findings show, relative to focused firms, that diversified (hybrid) firms are associated with positive abnormal long-run exit performance. The finding that diversified firms take better advantage of arrival of positive shocks within investment opportunity sets of focused funds - an opportunity set held in common by focused and diversified firms - provides unambiguous evidence for efficiency of internal capital markets of diversified firms. Formal theoretical predictions and empirical findings show that while performance effects of corporate diversification align with performance effects of internal capital markets, the extant finding that diversification premiums align with dominance of the diversification structure (Santalo and Becerra 2008) lacks character of a necessary condition for efficiency of internal capital markets.
The Behavior Problems Inventory: An Instrument for the Assessment of Self-Injury, Stereotyped Behavior, and Aggression/Destruction in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

The Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01) is a 52-item respondent-based behavior rating instrument for self-injurious, stereotypic, and aggressive/destructive behavior in mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Items are rated on a frequency scale and a severity scale. The BPI-01 was administered by interviewing direct care staff of 432 randomly selected residents from a developmental center between the ages of 14 to 91 years. For 73% of those selected, at least one problem was endorsed on the BPI-01. A total of 43% showed self-injury, 54% stereotyped behavior, and 38% aggressive/destructive behavior. Confirmatory factor analysis and item-total correlations supported the three a priori factors. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed that of the variables age, sex, and level of mental retardation, only the latter had a significant effect on the BPI-01 total score, the SIB subscale score, and the Stereotyped Behavior subscale score. Aggression/destruction was not significantly related to any of the three variables. Individuals with a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder had higher scores on all three subscales than those without, whereas residents with a diagnosis of stereotyped movement disorder had higher Stereotyped Behavior scale scores than those without. The BPI-01 was found to be a reliable (retest reliability, internal consistency, and between-interviewer-agreement) and valid (factor and criterion validity) behavior rating instrument for problem behaviors in mental retardation and developmental disabilities with a variety of potentially useful applications. Strengths and limitations of the instrument are discussed.
A twenty five year evaluation of the treatment of carcinoma of the cervix with irradiation.

Abstract 1.1. An evaluation and eritical analysis of the 485 patients seen and/or treated by irradiation for carcinoma of the cervix on the ward service of the Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jefferson Medical College Hospital, from Sept. 1, 1921, to Sept. 1, 1946, have been presented, with a follow-up record of 98.5 per cent. 2.2. Modification in the evaluation of five-year survival results, as contrasted with previous reports from this service, have been explained. 3.3. Transposition of all patients from the original Schmitz grouping to the International staging has been accomplished, with both classifications appearing for comparison in the statistical evaluations. 4.4. The question of the "delay period" in the diagnosis of pelvic cancer in the City of Philadelphia has been presented, with pertinent comment and data. 5.5. Methods applicable for earlier diagnosis and prophylaxis with respect to cervical carcinoma have been discussed. 6.6. The progressive evolution in our methods of utilizing irradiation therapy with x-ray and radium since 1921 has been compared with methods deseribed in previous reports and minutely analyzed, revealing increasing five-year survival rates as follows: 7.o 8.A. 1921–1936 27.9 per cent. 9.B. 1936–1942 34.6 per cent. 10.C. 1942–1946 47.6 per cent. 11.7. The three- and four-year trends with the continued use of the "planned therapy" initiated in 1942 have likewise been scrutinized, as well as certain operative procedures that have been performed additionally during the same period. 12.8. The occurrence of carcinoma of the cervical stump among the patients in this series has been commented upon. 13.9. Postirradiation complications have been discussed in some detail, indicating that increased survival rates have been accompanied by a higher incidence of bowel and bladder disturbances. Further improvement in irradiation methods is vital if serious damage to normal tissue is to be avoided in an appreciable percentage of patients so treated.
Serpins (Serine Protease Inhibitors)

Serpins are a class of proteins involved in the regulation of serine and other types of proteases. In humans, the majority of serpins regulate the functions of proteases involved in the body's response to injury. This includes roles in coagulation, fibrinolysis, inflammation, wound healing, and tissue repair. Serpins have been implicated in various animal and human pathologies by the loss of a functional serpin gene through deletion or mutation, which results in a defect in functional protein. Examples of sestorically called antithrombin III) are first described. Then, protocols to determine the second-order rate constant of AT inhibition of thrombin in the absence and presence of heparin are presented. Also provided is a partial list of other serpins and their purification methods.
A molecular orbital approach to chemisorption. I. Atomic hydrogen on graphite

Abstract We examine the use of Extended Huckel Theory, a semi-empirical molecular orbital approach, in treating chemisorption. The calculations include all valence electrons and overlap integrals. Adsorbate energy levels are self consistently determined. The substrate is represented by a relatively small number of atoms which is shown to be adequate for obtaining semi-quantitative results. The small representation permits investigation of adsorbate interactions with both ideal and imperfect surfaces. The binding energy, binding sites, and barrier to surface mobility exhibited by atomic hydrogen on a graphite basal surface are obtained. The experimentally observed formation of CH4 on adsorption of hydrogen is also considered. Calculations on electrophilic adsorbates reveal the necessity for a more completely self consistent treatment in which all energy levels are adjusted.
Self-Help Treatment Programs

Self-help treatment programs have emerged as a significant development in the human services for a growing number of populations in need. The author explores their history, range, and prospects for the future as well as their sociological and political roots. The self-help movement is considered to have profound implications for mental health caregiving systems.
CUBA'S MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH

The purpose is to elucidate the differences between the Cuban and United States (U.S.) maternal-child health delivery systems by providing a descriptive, retrospective evaluation based on a convenience sample of data gathered through observations with Cuban public health officials, including physicians, nurses, and citizens. U.S. and Cuban data were analyzed using available United Nations data. In Cuba, there are several programs that contribute to excellent maternal-child health outcomes. Two health interventions for the mother and child are regarded as “hygiene” and include the maternity home and vaccination program. Maternity homes provide comprehensive, residential care for at-risk mothers until the onset of labor. An inclusive vaccination program provides continued support to the mother and child post-delivery. In contrast, the U.S. system lacks the two preventive comprehensive healthcare programs noted in the Cuban system that focus on hygiene, in the form of the maternity home for at-risk mothers and vaccination preventive care. El proposito de este articulo es aclarar las diferencias en sistema de atencion a la salud materno-infantil entre Cuba y los Estados Unidos. A partir de una evaluacion descriptiva y retrospectiva que se basa en una muestra conveniente de datos, que fueron recogidos a partir de la observacion con funcionarios de Salud Publica de Cuba, incluidos doctores, enfermeras y ciudadanos. Los datos sobre Estados Unidos y Cuba se analizaron a partir de la informacion disponible en Naciones Unidas. En Cuba existen dos programas que contribuyen a lograr excelentes resultados en terminos de salud materno-infantil. Existen dos intervenciones de salud para la madre y su hijo que son consideradas “de higiene,” estas son, el hogar materno y un programa de vacunacion. Los hogares maternos ofrecen cuidados de salud completos y atencion en residencia para las madres consideradas en riesgo hasta que comiencen los dolores del parto. Por otra parte un abarcador programa de vacunacion continua post parto a disposicion de la madre y el recien nacido. En comparacion, el sistema estadounidense carece de programas preventivos y abarcadores como se destaca en el sistema cubano, el cual se concentra en la higiene a traves de los hogares maternos para madres en riesgo y la vacunacion preventiva.
The Crime of Poison in the Middle Ages – By Franck Collard

Using legal and literary sources, this is a remarkable work of wide scope and elegant complexity. Following a brief overview of the subject, Frank Collard establishes one of the central dichotomies...
A Comparison of Nonparametric Methods to Measure Efficiency in the Savings and Loan Industry

Using data on 1,360 savings and loan (S&L) institutions, we compare two non-parametric methods for measuring efficiency: data envelopment analysis (DEA) and algebraic methods based on Varian (1984). We show that both methods are vulnerable to measurement error, although both theoretically and empirically we find the Varian-style measures to be less vulnerable. Because we have data on the future insolvency of our S&Ls, we can directly compare the two methods by seeing which does a better job of predicting insolvency (working under the hypothesis that efficiency and insolvency should be negatively correlated). We find that various measures perform very similarly, except for the technical efficiency measure in DEA. Importantly, this last measure frequently yields the implausible result that efficiency and insolvency are positively correlated, possibly because it does not account for factor prices.
Detection limit of polymeric membrane potentiometric ion sensors: how can we go down to trace levels?

Abstract Chemical reasons that may dictate the lower detection limit of polymeric membrane ion-selective electrode are discussed in terms of a possible leaching process of measuring ions from the membrane into the sample. As such electrode membranes are measured under zero current conditions, the charge of such released ions must be compensated for. Three distinct mechanisms are discussed: co-diffusion of measuring ions and counteranions from the backfilling solution into the sample, counter-diffusion of measuring ions and interfering ions of the same charge, and simple partitioning of measuring ions with the lipophilic ion-exchangers. A number of experiments are performed to illustrate these different mechanisms. Silver-selective electrode membranes are studied where the decrease in backfilling electrolyte concentration leads to detection limit variations from 10 −5.3 to 10 −8 M. The leaching behavior of sodium tetraphenylborate as anionic membrane additives is shown to be difficult to quantify in membranes containing no ionophore. Interestingly, much of the additive seems to leave the membrane in just a few minutes after water exposure. The presence of a neutral ionophore in the membrane is expected to slow this process.
Kinetics of serotonin uptake in the intact lung.

The pulmonary endothelium is capable of removing and metabolizing serotonin (5HT) carried in the venous blood. Thus the lungs can influence the arterial concentrations of 5HT. In addition, there is evidence that changes in the lung uptake of 5HT might portend more serious endothelial damage wherein the barrier function of the endothelium is compromised. This has been a stimulus for finding methods for evaluating these endothelial functions. These methods must be able to distinguish changes in whole organ function which result from changes in perfusion (e.g., cardiac output, redistribution of flow, etc.) from those resulting from changes in the function of the endothelial cells. When a bolus containing radio-labeled 5HT and an unmetabolizable indicator which is confined to the vascular space is injected into the pulmonary artery, the pulmonary venous or systemic arterial concentration curves contain information about both the convective transport and endothelial cell process involved. Some of this information can be interpreted quantitatively using a simple mathematical model.
Why OpenFlow/SDN can succeed where GMPLS failed

OpenFlow & Software Defined Networking (SDN) ideas offer drastically reduced complexity in the control plane, increased programmability and extensibility, and a gradual adoption path; all significant advantages over GMPLS for dynamic interaction between packet and circuit networks.
Optical Scatter imaging : A microscopic modality for the rapid morphological assay of living cells

Tumors derived from epithelial cells comprise the majority of human tumors and their growth results from the accumulation of multiple mutations affecting cellular processes critical for tissue homeostasis, including cell proliferation and cell death. To understand these processes and address the complexity of cancer cell function, multiple cellular responses to different experimental conditions and specific genetic mutations must be analyzed. Fundamental to this endeavor is the development of rapid cellular assays in genetically defined cells, and in particular, the development of optical imaging methods that allow dynamic observation and real-time monitoring of cellular processes. In this context, we are developing an optical scatter imaging technology that is intended to bridge the gap between light and electron microscopy by rapidly providing morphometric information about the relative size and shape of non-spherical organelles, with sub-wavelength resolution. Our goal is to complement current microscopy techniques used to study cells in-vitro, especially in long-term time-lapse studies of living cells, where exogenous labels can be toxic, and electron microscopy will destroy the sample. The optical measurements are based on Fourier spatial filtering in a standard microscope, and could ultimately be incorporated into existing high-throughput diagnostic platforms for cancer cell research and histopathology of neoplastic tissue arrays. Using an engineered epithelial cell model of tumor formation, we are currently studying how organelle structure and function are altered by defined genetic mutations affecting the propensity for cell death and oncogenic potential, and by environmental conditions promoting tumor growth. This talk will describe our optical scatter imaging technology and present results from our studies on apoptosis, and the function of BCL-2 family proteins.