cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A characterization of the demand for land

Abstract In a model of an economy where land is modelled explicitly as heterogeneous subsets of the plane and utility takes an integral form, demand can be characterized as a specific map from endowments and prices into subsets of the plane. A modified form of the Neyman-Pearson lemma is used to obtain this result, the modification being necessary because the analog of randomized tests must be excluded from this model.
Surgery for the teenager with familial adenomatous polyposis: ileo-rectal anastomosis or restorative proctocolectomy?

Increasing numbers of polyposis registries have led to more young patients being diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). To provide guidelines for selecting the appropriate surgical procedure in teenagers (10–19 years), we compared the results of colectomy and ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA, n=17 patients) to the results of resrorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA, n=7 patients). Charts were reviewed to obtain data on the operative technique, blood loss and transfusions, hospital stay (including the time for ileostomy closure), and early (within 30 days of surgery) and late complications. Functional results (bowel movements per 24h, use of antidiarrheal drugs, seepage, and fecal incontinence) and quality of life were evaluated prospectively with a questionnaire and physical examination. The median follow-up time was 49 months (range, 6 to 95 months) after IRA, and 36 months after IPAA (range, 4 to 87 months). Although restorative proctocolectomy and IPAA, is a longer (5.75 vs 3.1 hours), more bloody (500 vs 300 mL blood loss), and more complex operation with a longer hospital stay (12 vs 7 days) than IRA (P=0.008, P=0.006, P=0.02, respectively), no significant difference (P>0.05) was found between groups concerning the complication rate or quality of life. For teenagers with FAP and rectal carpeting, large rectal adenomas, curable cancer in the upper two-thirds of the rectum, or who are unavailable for follow-up, we recommend a restorative proctocolectomy and IPAA. For the other patients, the decision whether to perform IRA or restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA depends on the patient's desire and the surgeon's skill.
Supply in a CGE Model

In this chapter, we examine the supply side of an economy as represented in computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. The production data in the social accounting matrix (SAM) depict the production process, in which firms combine intermediate inputs with factors of production to produce goods and services. We use these data to calculate input-output coefficients, which describe the input intensity of production processes. CGE models break down the production technology into parts, depicting how subprocesses are nested within the overall production process. Within each nest, behavioral equations describe producers’ efficiency-maximizing input demands and output levels, subject to their production technology. Export transformation functions, used in some CGE models, describe the allocation of production between domestic and export markets. In 2009, the U.S. government offered financial assistance to its auto manu-facturers to help them survive a deep recession and a free fall in consumer demand for cars. The bailout was controversial in part because the government seemed to be choosing to support a particular manufacturing industry. The government response was that the aid package not only helped save the jobs of autoworkers but also preserved jobs in the many industries that supply parts to the automakers and that sell and service autos. This part of the U.S. economic stimulus program built on the idea that an injection of support into one part of the economy would move in a circular flow to the rest of the economy, starting with the strong inter-industry linkages between automakers and the other manufacturing and service sectors that supply its inputs. In this chapter and the next, we explore the supply side of the economy as represented in a CGE model, emphasizing the linkages among industries through their demands for intermediate inputs and their competition for the factors of production. We start with an examination of the production data in the SAM. The activity column accounts of the SAM describe the inputs used in industries’ production processes. An activity's column is therefore much like a recipe because its lists all of the ingredients and the proportions used in making its product. Activity row accounts describe the use of industries’ outputs as inputs for other industries.
Independence Results in Computer Science

Abstract The adequacy of weak theories of arithmetic as axiomatic bases for Computer Science is investigated. The formal system studied in Lipton ( in “Proceedings, 19th Symposium of the Foundations of Computer Science,” pp. 193–200, 1978) is shown to be inadequate for Computer Science in the sense that it has a model with the following defects: (i) finite (i.e., bounded) sets may be undecidable in the model, (ii) standard recursively enumerable sets which are undecidable may have linear time decision procedures in the model, and (iii) programs which simply loop a bounded number of times may not terminate in the model (demonstrating the inadequacy of the formal system for proving program termination).
The Role of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Countering Chemical Terrorism

A series of incidents over the past two decades has indicated that some terrorist groups are interested in acquiring and using improvised chemical devices (ICDs). Although the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a disarmament treaty that is legally binding only on sovereign states that join it voluntarily, the Convention fortuitously includes several provisions that can help its members to prevent chemical terrorism or to manage the consequences of an attack. This article examines the articles of the CWC that are relevant to counterterrorism and discusses how their implementation could be improved at the national and international levels. The article also addresses the role that the CWC secretariat, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, currently plays in preventing and responding to incidents of chemical terrorism, and the political factors that constrain its activities in the counterterrorism field.
Effects of moisture and other contaminants in friction composites

Abstract : The role of water and other contaminants like salt water, isooctane and ethylene glycol on neat resin, composites, and friction materials have been investigated. The maximum solvent uptake and the diffusion coefficient of the solvent in these systems were determined and the experimental data was fitted to a Fickian model. The nature of the diffusion process was determined in each case and deviations from Fickian behavior were accounted for. For the neat resin and the composites, the diffusion coefficients of the liquids were of the order of 10-10 CM2/sec. After exposure to these contaminants, mechanical properties of all the systems were determined and a general degradation in properties were found. The flexural strength and fracture toughness showed reduction in values while the flexural modulus was not affected.
Risk assessment of renal cell carcinoma using alkaline comet assay

BACKGROUND DNA damage induced by mutagens has been associated with an individual's susceptibility to cancer. METHODS In the current study, which involved 193 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients and 193 controls, DNA damage before mutagen induction (baseline), after benzo(α)pyrene dio epoxide (BPDE) treatment, and after γ-radiation induction were assayed by comet assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Olive tail moments were used as DNA damage parameters. The 5 variables that were analyzed for their associations with RCC risk were baseline, BPDE-induced, γ-radiation-induced, net BPDE-induced (BPDE-induced subtract baseline), and net γ-radiation-induced (γ-radiation-induced subtract baseline) Olive tail moments. RESULTS Significantly higher Olive tail moments were observed in cases compared with controls at baseline (1.95 vs 1.65; P = .008), after BPDE induction (3.10 vs 2.38; P < .001), and after γ-radiation induction (4.25 vs 3.47; P < .001). The net BPDE-induced and γ-radiation-induced DNA damage was also found to be significantly higher in cases compared with controls (P < .001 for both mutagens). Using the 75th percentile Olive tail moments in the controls as the cutoff point, the authors found that high levels of baseline DNA damage, BPDE-induced DNA damage, and γ-radiation-induced DNA damage were associated with significantly increased risks of RCC, with odds ratios of 1.96 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.26–3.06), 2.70 (95% CI, 1.72–4.23), and 3.13 (95% CI, 1.99–4.92), respectively. Similarly, net BPDE-induced and net γ-radiation-induced DNA damages were also found to be significantly associated with elevated risks of RCC. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study suggest that both baseline and mutagen-induced DNA damages assessed by comet assay are associated with an increased risk of RCC. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Aspectual inflection, verb raising and object fronting in American sign language

Abstract This paper examines the object fronting construction of American sign language (Liddell, S., 1980. American Sign Language Syntax. Mouton, The Hague; Matsuoka, K., 1997. Verb missing in American sign language. Lingua 103, 127–149), and its relation to verb raising and aspectual inflection. In this construction, word order, canonically S–V–O, is modified to O–S–V. Matsuoka argues persuasively for a relationship between object fronting and overt verb raising, driven by the presence of an affixal verbal inflection [Lasnik, H. 1995b. Verbal morphology: syntactic structures meets the minimalist program. In: Campos, H. and Kempchinsky, P. (Eds.), Evolution and Revolution in Linguistic Theory. Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC, pp. 251–275]. Thus, her analysis reduces ASL object fronting to an instance of ‘object shift’ as occurs in the Scandinavian language family. However, evidence is provided here, from the distributions of adverbs and modals, and from the interaction of object fronting with question formation and raising contexts, which indicates that ASL object fronting targets a position high in the clause. A new model of ASL object fronting is developed against the backdrop of Matsuoka and the Lasnik theory of verbal morphology. This new framework has much in common with Matsuoka's account, while attaining greater empirical coverage. In this framework, as in Matsuoka, overt verb raising is triggered by the presence of an aspectual head (Asp). However, I argue that AspP is part of an articulated COMP layer [Rizzi, L. 1997. The fine structure of the left periphery. In: Haegeman, L. (Ed.), Elements of Grammar: Handbook in Generative Syntax. Kluwer, Dordrecht. pp. 281–337]. Object fronting targets spec-AspP, an A′-position. This model is shown to provide a better account of the distribution of adverbs and modals in object-fronted clauses, as well as explanations of the behavior of object fronted clauses in questions and in embedded contexts. Lasnik's model of verbal morphology is extended such that verbs in (some varieties of) ASL allow both derivational and lexical options for aspectual inflection. This mechanism provides for an explanation of the infelicity of object fronted clauses in embedded contexts. The analysis crucially relies on the categorial status of object-fronted clauses and the mechanism of c-selection.
Argon laser intraocular photocoagulation.

Abstract Argon laser intraocular photocoagulation is now available during vitreous surgery, to treat retinal breaks and to give panretinal photocoagulation. Twenty patients, including phakic patients with gasfilled eyes, were treated using a new operative contact lens without complication. This intraoperative technique allows controlled rapid application of laser lesions at a safe distance from the retina, and eliminates the need for attempting treatment through the often hazy media of an irritated postoperative eye. A group of five rhesus monkeys were treated with various power settings to assess the histopathologic features of these laser lesions.
Lipid transport in the avian species Part 1. Isolation and characterization of apolipoproteins and major lipoprotein density classes of male turkey serum

Abstract 1.(1) Lipoproteins from the serum of male turkeys maintained on a normal diet were separated by sequential preparative ultracentrifugation into VLDL (d 1.21 g/ml). Lipoprotein density classes were characterized by analytical ultracentrifugation, agarose electrophoresis, immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, and by quantitative determination of protein, lipids and individual phosphatides. 2.(2) HDL were the major density class representing 75% of the total lipoprotein content, LDL accounted for approximately 20% and VLDL for only 3–5% of the total lipoproteins. 3.(3) VLDL were characterized by a relatively low content of glyceride (34%). Cholesterol esters were the major lipid (38%) of LDL, and the phospholipids (26%) of HDL. Glycerides of all major density classes consisted of equal amounts of triglycerides and diglycerides. 4.(4) Phosphatidylcholine was the major phosphatide in all density classes. The composition of phosphatides was very similar in the VLDL and LDL, but it was different in the HDL. The ratio of phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin was higher in HDL than in VLDL and LDL. 5.(5) Immunological and electrophoretic studies showed that all three major density classes consisted of two lipoprotein families designated, in analogy to the human serum lipoprotein system [ 11, as LP-A and LP-B. The exception was HDL 3 (d = 1.125–1.21 g/ml) which contained only LP-A. 6.(6) ApoB was insoluble in aqueous buffers but could be solubilized after reduction and carboxymethylation. No C- or N-terminal amino acids were released by the usual chemical methods. The carbohydrate moiety of ApoB contained mannose, galactose and galactosamine. 7.(7) ApoA consisted of a non-identical polypeptides designated in analogy to the human polypeptides as A-I and A-II. A-I was the major ApoA polypeptide and had a molecular weight of about 27,000. This polypetide contained no half cystine, and the aspartic acid as the N-terminal and alanine as the C-terminal amino acids. A-II had a molecular weight of about 10,000, contained no half cystine and had alanine as the C-terminal amino acid. A-II showed no N-terminal amino acid by either dansylation, dinitrophenylation or Edman's procedure. Neither A-I nor A-II contained neutral sugars or hexosamines. 8.(8) Concentrations of polypetides analogous to human ApoC, ApoD and "arginine-rich" polypeptide, if present, were too low for their unequivocal chemical characterization.
Automated on-line column-switching HPLC-MS/MS method with peak focusing for the determination of nine environmental phenols in urine.

We developed a method using isotope dilution on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC−MS/MS) for the determination in urine of nine environmental phenolic compounds: Bisphenol A; 4-tert-octylphenol; o-phenylphenol; 2,4-dichlorophenol; 2,5-dichlorophenol; 2,4,5-trichlorophenol; 2,4,6-trichlorophenol; benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-metoxybenzophenone); and triclosan (2,4,4‘-trichloro-2‘-hydroxyphenyl ether). A unique fully automated column-switching system, constructed using 1 autosampler, 2 HPLC pumps, and a 10-port switching valve, was designed to allow for concurrent SPE-HPLC operation with peak focusing. The phenols present in 100 μL of urine were retained and concentrated on a C18 reversed-phase size-exclusion SPE column. Then, the phenols were “back-eluted” from the SPE column and diluted through a mixing Tee before being separated from other urine matrix components using a pair of monolithic HPLC columns. The phenols were dete...
Effect of androgen and thyroid hormones on renin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in mouse submandibular gland.

Abstract The synthesis of renin and other biologically active polypeptides in the granular convoluted tubule cells of the mouse submandibular gland (SMG) is regulated by androgen and thyroid hormones. In this study genetically hypothyroid ( hyt/hyt ) mice carrying a single renin structural gene ( Ren -1) were used to investigate the mechanism of hormonal action in mouse SMG. Treatment of female mice with 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and/or thyroxine (T 4 ) enhanced renin-1 activity and increased renin-1 mRNA, determined by Northern analysis. Compared to euthyroid ( hyt / +) littermates, hyt/hyt mice had lower basal levels of renin-1 mRNA and a blunted response to either hormone alone. DHT and T 4 acted synergistically to increase renin-1 activity and renin-1 mRNA in the SMG of hyt/hyt females. Furthermore, levels of renin-1 activity and renin-1 mRNA varied concordantly in the SMG of these animals. These data indicate that androgen and thyroid hormones influence levels of renin-1 in mouse SMG primarily by regulating the amount of renin-1 mRNA available for translation.
Coronary collateral size, flow capacity, and growth: estimates from the angiogram in patients with obstructive coronary disease.

Background— Stimulation of coronary collateral growth has potential clinical value, yet techniques to assess such growth in patients are limited. Methods and Results— A cineangiographic approach to classify the dominant collaterals and to quantify their lumen caliber and flow capacity was developed and validated. For measurement of 0.4- to 1.5-mm-diameter phantoms, mean error ranged from −0.01 to +0.02 mm. To illustrate the utility of such a method, 52 collateral pathways were measured in 13 patients with 17 occluded arteries before and after 10 years of intensive lipid therapy. The mean variance, ς, of 9 separate measurements of each collateral was ±0.101 mm. At pretreatment, collateral diameter averaged 0.50±0.11 mm (SD) (range, 0.3 to 1.4 mm) without tapering or central narrowing. Over 10 years, mean increase in diameter was +16% (P=0.028); in area, +64% (P=0.015); and in estimated flow capacity, +214% (P=0.009). Certain lipoprotein characteristics tended to predict collateral growth. Patients for whom...
Azimuthal asymmetries and the emergence of “collectivity” from multi-particle correlations in high-energy pA collisions

Abstract We show how angular asymmetries ∼ cos ⁡ 2 ϕ can arise in dipole scattering at high energies. We illustrate the effects due to anisotropic fluctuations of the saturation momentum of the target with a finite correlation length in the transverse impact parameter plane, i.e. from a domain-like structure. We compute the two-particle azimuthal cumulant in this model including both one-particle factorizable as well as genuine two-particle non-factorizable contributions to the two-particle cross section. We also compute the full BBGKY hierarchy for the four-particle azimuthal cumulant and find that only the fully factorizable contribution to c 2 { 4 } is negative while all contributions from genuine two, three and four-particle correlations are positive. Our results may provide some qualitative insight into the origin of azimuthal asymmetries in p + Pb collisions at the LHC which reveal a change of sign of c 2 { 4 } in high-multiplicity events.
When does data envelopment analysis outperform a naïve efficiency measurement model

Abstract This paper compares the results from data envelopment analysis (DEA) to a naive efficiency measurement model, which generates a scalar efficiency score by averaging all output–input ratios. Random data and real-life data are used to test the relative performance of the naive model against various DEA models. The results suggest that the proposed the naive model replicates DEA efficiency scores almost perfectly for constant return-to-scales and low heterogeneity in output–input data. It is therefore concluded that heterogeneity in output–input data is important to take advantage of the capability of DEA. It is also shown that heterogeneity is more relevant to efficiency measurement than the number of dimensions.
Caffeine analogs: biomedical impact

Caffeine, widely consumed in beverages, and many xanthine analogs have had a major impact on biomedical research. Caffeine and various analogs, the latter designed to enhance potency and selectivity toward specific biological targets, have played key roles in defining the nature and role of adenosine receptors, phosphodiesterases, and calcium release channels in physiological processes. Such xanthines and other caffeine-inspired heterocycles now provide important research tools and potential therapeutic agents for intervention in Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Such compounds also have activity as analgesics, antiinflammatories, antitussives, behavioral stimulants, diuretics/natriuretics, and lipolytics. Adverse effects can include anxiety, hypertension, certain drug interactions, and withdrawal symptoms.
On digital control of continuous time systems using generalized hold functions

Consideration is given to robust designs of generalized hold functions. A condition is given for the stability of the system using generalized hold functions in the presence of uncertainty. The problem of simultaneous stabilization and minimization is defined and studied. It is shown that every plant with a strictly proper transfer function is simultaneously stabilizable and minimizable, provided the sampling interval is small enough. >
Trial results from a custom distance learning system based on hybridization of CD-ROM, Web, and Active-X component technology

The paper provides results from the first trial of the implementation of a distance learning system developed by the authors. A short instructional lesson was delivered to twenty-eight geographically dispersed students through a variety of connection speeds ranging from dial-up 56 Kbs to dedicated TI 1.45 Megabit connection. The system strives to provide the same media delivery capabilities available in a traditional classroom by integrating CD-ROM, Web, and Active-X technologies. Using embedded ActiveX objects within a Macromedia Director shell, the system renders Web content within the Director interface, interfaces with ASP databases, delivers MPEG-I full-screen full-motion video on demand, automatically transcribes lectures, and multicast live video. The system provides mechanisms for homework, tests, live lectures, video on demand lectures, and software demos. Macromedia Director is used as the anchor application, Macromedia Multiuser Server for TCP/IP calls, Microsoft Media Services for live video streaming, Microsoft's Web rendering Active-X component for Web access, and Microsoft's NetMeeting Active-X component for application sharing.
Amplification of the angiogenic signal through the activation of the TSC/mTOR/HIF axis by the KSHV vGPCR in Kaposi's sarcoma.

Background: Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a vascular neoplasm characterized by the dysregulated expression of angiogenic and inflammatory cytokines. The driving force of the KS lesion, the KSHV-infected spindle cell, secretes elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), essential for KS development. However, the origin of VEGF in this tumor remains unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we report that the KSHV G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) upregulates VEGF in KS through an intricate paracrine mechanism. The cytokines secreted by the few vGPCR-expressing tumor cells activate in neighboring cells multiple pathways (including AKT, ERK, p38 and IKKb) that, in turn, converge on TSC1/2, promoting mTOR activation, HIF upregulation, and VEGF secretion. Conditioned media from vGPCR-expressing cells lead to an mTORdependent increase in HIF-1a and HIF-2a protein levels and VEGF upregulation. In a mouse allograft model for KS, specific inhibition of the paracrine activation of mTOR in non-vGPCR-expressing cells was sufficient to inhibit HIF upregulation in these cells, and abolished the ability of the vGPCR-expressing cells to promote tumor formation in vivo. Similarly, pharmacologic inhibition of HIF in this model blocked VEGF secretion and also lead to tumor regression. Conclusions/Significance: Our findings provide a compelling explanation for how the few tumor cells expressing vGPCR can contribute to the dramatic amplification of VEGF secretion in KS, and further provide a molecular mechanism for how cytokine dysregulation in KS fuels angiogenesis and tumor development. These data further suggest that activation of HIF by vGPCR may be a vulnerable target for the treatment of patients with KS.
Epilogue: Some civil rights issues moving forward

This chapter discusses the continued need for–and civil rights implications of–research on community colleges and Latino educational opportunity.
The inversion of aragonite to calcite during the sampling of skeletal archives: Implications for proxy interpretation

Rationale Understanding changes in Earth's oceans and climate requires the reliable application of paleo-proxies. However, inconsistencies between individual δ18O records within biogenic specimens commonly have significant impacts on environmental reconstructions. This study addresses the stable isotope variability associated with sample milling from aragonitic organisms commonly used for paleoclimate studies. Methods Aragonite samples were hand-ground and milled from sclerosponge, coral, and mollusc specimens using a computerized micromill. An X-ray diffractometer was used to analyze sample mineralogy prior to measurement of δ18O and δ13C values via isotope ratio mass spectrometry of CO2 gases provided from the samples by a Kiel III device. Possible influences on the Sr/Ca ratios were assessed on a sclerosponge through paired elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Results Analyses revealed up to 36% inversion to calcite in milled samples that correlated with a decrease in the δ18O value of 0.02 ‰ per 1% inversion. Replicate sclerosponge transects yielded similar trends in δ13C values and Sr/Ca ratios, although the δ18O values showed irregular variations consistent with those measured for the inversion of individual organisms during milling. Conclusions While the δ13C values and Sr/Ca ratios of milled samples were largely consistent, the δ18O values co-varied with the inversion of aragonite to calcite suggesting significant implications for the resulting temperature and salinity reconstructions from aragonitic archives. The effect appears to be density-driven and, given that the skeletal density tends to vary seasonally in organisms such as corals, would subsequently mask temperature-induced changes in skeletal δ18O values. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associations between carbon isotope ratios of ecosystem respiration, water availability and canopy conductance

We tested the hypothesis that the stable carbon isotope signature of ecosystem respiration (δ13CR) was regulated by canopy conductance (Gc) using weekly Keeling plots (n=51) from a semiarid old-growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest in Oregon, USA. For a comparison of forests in two contrasting climates we also evaluated trends in δ13CR from a wet 20-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantation located near the Pacific Ocean. Intraannual variability in δ13CR was greater than 8.0‰ at both sites, was highest during autumn, winter, and spring when rainfall was abundant, and lowest during summer drought. The δ13CR of the dry pine forest was consistently more positive than the wetter Douglas-fir forest (mean annual δ13CR: −25.41‰ vs. −26.23‰, respectively, P=0.07). At the Douglas-fir forest, δ13CR–climate relationships were consistent with predictions based on stomatal regulation of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ). Soil water content (SWC) and vapor pressure deficit (vpd) were the most important factors governing δ13CR in this forest throughout the year. In contrast, δ13CR at the pine forest was relatively insensitive to SWC or vpd, and exhibited a smaller drought-related enrichment (∼2‰) than the enrichment observed during drought at the Douglas-fir forest (∼5‰). Groundwater access at the pine forest may buffer canopy–gas exchange from drought. Despite this potential buffering, δ13CR at the pine forest was significantly but weakly related to canopy conductance (Gc), suggesting that δ13CR remains coupled to canopy–gas exchange despite groundwater access. During drought, δ13CR was strongly correlated with soil temperature at both forests. The hypothesis that canopy-level physiology is a critical regulator of δ13CR was supported; however, belowground respiration may become more important during rain-free periods.
Toxicity and efficacy evaluation of multiple targeted polymalic acid conjugates for triple-negative breast cancer treatment

Engineered nanoparticles are widely used for delivery of drugs but frequently lack proof of safety for cancer patient's treatment. All-in-one covalent nanodrugs of the third generation have been synthesized based on a poly(β-L-malic acid) (PMLA) platform, targeting human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). They significantly inhibited tumor growth in nude mice by blocking synthesis of epidermal growth factor receptor, and α4 and β1 chains of laminin-411, the tumor vascular wall protein and angiogenesis marker. PMLA and nanodrug biocompatibility and toxicity at low and high dosages were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The dual-action nanodrug and single-action precursor nanoconjugates were assessed under in vitro conditions and in vivo with multiple treatment regimens (6 and 12 treatments). The monitoring of TNBC treatment in vivo with different drugs included blood hematologic and immunologic analysis after multiple intravenous administrations. The present study demonstrates that the dual-action nanoconjugate is highly effective in preclinical TNBC treatment without side effects, supported by hematologic and immunologic assays data. PMLA-based nanodrugs of the Polycefin™ family passed multiple toxicity and efficacy tests in vitro and in vivo on preclinical level and may prove to be optimized and efficacious for the treatment of cancer patients in the future.
The enriching effect of non-commercial items in stabled horses

a b s t r a c t The effect of the provision of simple objects to stabled horses on their behaviour was investigated to determine whether these objects can affect horses’ behaviour in a positive way and thus enrich their environment. A positive influence can for example be measured by a decrease in stereotypical or abnormal activities. In this study, 35 horses were observed in their boxes during three observation periods per observation day. Each observation period lasted one hour and during one hour, each horse was observed 30 times. The observation periods were at noon (11:00–12:00 h), in the afternoon (15:00–16:00 h) and in the evening (20:00–21:00 h). The horses were observed before the objects were provided to set a baseline and then during the presence of the objects. A plastic bottle filled with sand and a rope were chosen as potential enrichment items and placed in a box for one week. For an average of 3.85% (±0.420) of our observations, the horses exhibited behaviour involving the items. This frequency does not significantly reduce after a week. The frequency of item related behaviour was associated with the age and gender of the horse, with a higher frequency in younger horses (P = 0.0151) and in stallions (P = 0.0217). It was also associated with the quantity of hay, with the highest frequency when no hay was available. It is possible that horses are expressing either frustration of having no roughage towards the item or a need for fibres by chewing on the objects. It is suggested that oral activities show the motivation to eat, to attempt to supplement the concentrate feed or the absence of roughage with additional sources of fibres. The use of the items had the tendency to reduce one specific type of abnormal behaviour, i.e. the occurrence of licking walls and other objects (P = 0.0586). However, it is possible that horses redirect their abnormal behaviour towards the items. Biting behaviour was associated with the quantity of hay, with a higher frequency when no hay was available. This possibly also suggests a search for other sources of fibres when roughage is absent. Although horses exhibited item related behaviour, the used objects do not offer a food reward and arouse the interest only to a very limited extent, showing a limited enriching effect. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
miRNA profiling for biomarker discovery in multiple sclerosis: From microarray to deep sequencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are highly expressed in cells of the immune and nervous system, attesting to their importance in Neuroimmunology. Besides their involvement in modulation of physiological and pathological processes, miRNAs hold high promise as disease biomarkers, therapeutic agents and/or drug targets. Several studies have recently explored the involvement of miRNAs in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) using a variety of miRNA profiling techniques. In this review, we discuss basic miRNA biology and nomenclature, the techniques available for miRNA profiling research and recent miRNA profiling studies in Multiple Sclerosis.
Appendix—Three-dimensional interpretation of the two-dimensional advection-diffusion equation

The realism of Shir's results may at first appear paradoxical. His numerical model is two-dimensional, so that the simulated stacks are actually line sources, whereas real-atmosphere stacks are (essentially) point sources. The physical dimensions of the source strengths aren't even the same for the two cases. Moreover, even in a unidirectional wind field, atmospheric turbulence acts to diffuse the plume in the three directions, not two. This point is especially important in view of the basic differences between two- and three-dimensional turbulence, which arise from the absence of vortex stretching in the two-dimensional case.
Flow in the wake of self-propelled bodies and related sources of turbulence

Abstract : In the steady-state counterpart of the wake behind a totally immersed, self-propelled body, simulated in an air tunnel by a concentric nozzle and disk, measurements were made of mean-flow velocity and pressure, turbulence intensities in the three co-ordinate directions, turbulent shear, and mean temporal gradient and auto-correlation of the axial-velocity flucutations. Through the equations of momentum and energy for the mean and the turbulent motion, the experimental data were used to verify the condition of self-propulsion and the accuracy of measurement, and to provide a picture of the force field and the process of energy transformation. The variation of the principal flow characteristics was analysed with the aid of appropriate hypotheses as to the transport mechanism and the structure of the turbulence. (Author)
Hybrid anatomically based modelling of animals

The authors describe a new hybrid approach to modeling and animating animals. A pre-defined skin is modeled as a triangle mesh, such as may be purchased from a digital model vendor, or generated with a typical modeling program. This skin is then attached to the underlying bone, muscle, and tissue model. The rest shape of the skin is exactly as given in the surface model of the animal. Internal components-bones, muscles, and general tissue-are directly modeled with triangle meshes or ellipsoids. Changes in joint angle result in changes to the position of bones and generalized tissue, and in changes to the shapes of muscles. The attached skin vertices move with their underlying components, resulting in natural-looking deformations to the animal modeled. This alternative approach to modeling skin allows for greater realism or detail without requiring more accurate internals, and it allows pre-existing animal models to be realistically deformed using an anatomically based method.
The solar wind interaction with the Earth's magnetosphere: a tutorial

The size of the terrestrial magnetosphere is determined by the balance between the solar wind dynamic pressure and the pressure exerted by the magnetosphere, principally that of its magnetic field. The shape of the magnetosphere is additionally influenced by the drag of the solar wind, or tangential stress, on the magnetosphere. This drag is predominantly caused by the mechanism known as reconnection in which the magnetic field of the solar wind links with the magnetic field of the magnetosphere. The factors that control the rate of reconnection of the two fields are not understood completely, but a southward direction of the interplanetary field is critical to enabling reconnection with the dayside low-latitude magnetosphere, resulting in magnetic flux transfer to the magnetotail. Numerical simulations suggest that the conductivity of the ionosphere controls the rate of reconnection, but this has not been verified observationally. Although solar wind properties ultimately control the interaction, the properties of the plasma that make direct contact with the magnetosphere are different than those of the solar wind, having been altered by a standing bow shock wave. This standing shock is necessitated by the fact that the flow velocity of the solar wind far exceeds the velocity of the compressional wave that diverts the solar wind around the Earth. The upper atmosphere is the final recipient of all the energy and momentum that enters the magnetosphere. Coupling takes place along the magnetic field Lines principally in the polar and auroral region via current systems that close across the magnetic field both at low and high altitudes and flow parallel to the magnetic field between high and low altitudes.
Robust MSE precoder design for imperfectly known MIMO flat-fading channels

The paper considers a robust precoder design problem for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) flat-fading channels with imperfect channel knowledge at the transmitter. The robust design problem requires finding the optimal precoder minimizing the equalization mean-square error (MSE) for the least favorable channel located in a ball centered about the estimated channel. Lagrangian optimization is used to convert this min-max problem into a min-min convex minimization problem over a convex domain which is solved by interchanging the minimization order. The robust precoder and associated least favorable channel have an intuitive interpretation since the least-favorable channel zeroes out the weakest subchannels, and the robust precoder implements a pseudo-inverse only for the remaining subchannels.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Houston Bridging the Research-Practice Gap Symposium

This article provides a brief introduction to the articles presented on April 5–6, 2013, at the University of Houston’s Symposium titled, Critical Considerations, Successes, and Emerging Ideas for Bridging the Research and Practice Gap in Social Work. This conference, attended by 150 practitioners, researchers, academics, and administrators, focused on identifying novel solutions to build a more durable and complete research–practice bridge. The primary research–practice translation issues covered in this symposium and this special issue include achieving fidelity and full implementation of efficacious interventions in real settings, dealing with the discrepancy in comorbidity and complexity between the characteristics of clients in randomized controlled trials and those of the clients seen in real practice settings, addressing organizational barriers to implementation of research-supported treatments, and improving our profession’s preparation of social workers who can help build the research–practice bridge.
A reliabilist solution to the problem of promiscuous bootstrapping

Jonathan Vogel (2000) has presented a disturbing problem for reliabilism.1 Reliabilists claim that knowledge is reliably produced true belief. Reliabilism is, of course, a version of externalism, and on such a view, a knower need have no knowledge, no justified belief, indeed, no conception that his or her belief is reliably produced. It is the fact that the knower's true belief is reliably produced which makes it a case of knowledge, not any appreciation of this fact. But Vogel now argues that reliabilists will, by a process he calls 'bootstrapping', far too easily gain knowledge of the reliability of the processes by which their knowledge is produced. For the reliabilist, knowledge which should be difficult to come by is quite easily and trivially attainable, Vogel argues. And this, of course, seems to show a fundamental flaw in the reliabilist conception of knowledge. One solution to this puzzle is offered by van Cleve (2003). Bootstrapping may seem unattractive, van Cleve claims, but only when we fail to consider the alternative. Any epistemological view which does not legitimate bootstrapping, he argues, will inevitably lead to scepticism. And if the choice is between bootstrapping and scepticism, van Cleve will happily accept bootstrapping. It would be nice, certainly, if we could avoid this unpalatable dilemma. Vogel's argument is disturbingly straightforward. Suppose that Roxanne gains knowledge that the gas tank in her car is full by looking at her gas gauge, and let us further suppose that Roxanne has no reason at all to believe
Non-thermal O/1D/ produced by dissociative recombination of O2/+/ - A theoretical model and observational results

Thermal and nonthermal O(1D) number density profiles are calculated. The two populations are assumed to be coupled by a thermalization cross-section which determines the loss and production in the nonthermal and thermal populations, respectively. The sources, sinks and transport of the two populations are used to model volume emission rate profiles at 6300 A. The 6300 A brightness measured by the Visible Airglow Experiment is then used to establish the presence of the nonthermal population and to determine the thermalization cross-section.
Ultrastructure of the excretory tubes of the mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Mesostigmata, Macrochelidae) with notes on altered mitochondria

The fine structure of the excretory tubes of the mesostigmatid mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae were investigated. These paired tubes are partially ensheathed by fat body and invested throughout by a branching system of visceral muscles. The fine structure of the cells of the excretory tube is in general similar with only minor differences found throughout its length. The basal region of each epithelial cell of the excretory tube borders the hemocoel and is divided into many compartments by the extensive infolding of the plasma membrane. Mitochondria and vacuolar inclusions are often closely associated with these compartments. More than one morphological type of mitochondria was found distributed throughout the cells of the excretory tubes. The most commonly encountered type had well developed cristae and an electron dense matrix. Less commonly, mitochondria with somewhat poorly developed cristae and a translucent matrix often containing myelin-like figures of varying complexity were observed. It is suggested that they represent part of a normal process of mitochondrial degeneration. The apical region of the cell has a border composed of plate-like folds of the plasma membrane termed microlamellae. The lumen contains abundant granules of the excretory product.
Control of tip-leakage flows using periodic excitation

Many flows can be characterized as leakage flows from high-pressure sides to lowpressure sides, resulting in increased inefficiency. This paper experimentally explores reducing leakage flows using periodic excitation. A synthetic jet actuator was used as the periodic excitation source in this experiment. The synthetic jet when excited periodically produces momentum but no net mass flux. Two speakers were used in these experiments as actuators: a high-frequency compression driver and a low-frequency woofer. The speaker exit cavity was covered with plates leaving only a small rectangular orifice exit for the synthetic jet. An airtight plexiglass box with a small gap was used to create a simulated leakage flow. The synthetic jet was then directed normally into the leakage flow to reduce the effective gap. The variables considered were as follows: the momentum flux ratio of the actuator over the leakage flow, the reduced frequency, the ratio of the height of the clearance gap over the thickness of the gap, and the ratio of the width of the orifice exit over the thickness of the gap. The ratio of discharge coefficient with actuation over the baseline discharge coefficient was used as the figure of merit. The results showed that the momentum flux ratio exerted a great influence on the leakage flow. A reduction of nearly 70 % in discharge coefficient ratio was achieved at a momentum flux ratio of 70. The reduced frequency was also found to have a significant effect, with the effectiveness of the actuator decreasing as the reduced frequency increased. The geometric parameters had little effect on the leakage flow. Thesis Supervisor: Kenneth S. Breuer Title: Visiting Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Will the Real Constitutional Originalist Please Stand Up

The purpose of this Article, however, is very similar to "To Tell the Truth." Justice Antonin Scalia is widely recognized as the preeminent judicial proponent of the "original meaning," textualist approach to interpreting the United States Constitution. Supporters and opponents of originalism alike credit him as the contemporary Godfather of the originalist movement. 2 But there is another Justice on the Supreme Court, a quiet Justice who rarely speaks during oral argument and not famous for his lectures or books on this topic, who may be as much or more committed to the principles of originalism as Justice Scalia. That Justice, of course, is Clarence Thomas. The proof of a judge's judicial philosophy is found in court opinions; so rather than looking to articles and speeches, the modest purpose of this Article is to play "To Tell the Truth" by examining the evidence of the constitutional decisions written by Justices Scalia and Thomas during their fifteen years on the Supreme Court together 3 in order to ask the question...Will the real original meaning textualist please stand up?
Does valvuloarterial impedance impact prognosis after surgery for severe aortic stenosis in the elderly

Background Valvuloarterial impedance (Zva) was introduced as a prognostic measure in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, it is unclear whether Zva has a prognostic impact on survival after surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe AS with preserved ejection fraction (EF). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 929 consecutive patients who had AVR. We investigated 170 elderly patients (age >65 years, mean 76 years) who had AVR secondary to severe AS (mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg; aortic valve area ≤1 cm 2 ; peak velocity ≥4 m/s). Patients with EF Results Age, prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), atrial fibrillation, symptoms, EF, E/e′ and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft were not different between the groups. Survival was not different between the groups at 5 years (70% in low Zva and 81% in high Zva; p=0.21) and for the entire follow-up period (p=0.23). Only age was a significant factor in predicting survival by multivariate analyses in Cox proportional hazards model after adjusting for Zva, CKD, atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Conclusions Our results suggest that preoperative Zva does not have a prognostic impact on postoperative survival in elderly patients with severe AS with preserved EF. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the controversial results.