cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of interleukin-13 receptor alpha2 antigen expressing modified vaccinia ankara recombinant virus for potential cancer immunotherapy

Genetically modified recombinant poxviruses have shown promise in preclinical models of cancer immunotherapy due to their ability to induce effective cell-mediated immunity against target tumor-associated antigens (TAA). One such vector, recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), is capable of expressing foreign genes in infected host cells. MVA is replication restricted in most mammalian cells exemplifying a unique safety profile. We have demonstrated that the interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) is selectively expressed in various solid tumors but not in normal tissues making it a promising TAA. Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination with a plasmid vector expressing IL-13Rα2 caused only partial regression of established tumors [1], suggesting that host immune responses against IL-13Rα2 needed further enhancement. Thus, we constructed a recombinant MVA (rMVA-IL13Rα2) expressing both IL-13Rα2 and a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. Purified virus titration by immunostaining using anti-vaccinia antibody and anti-IL-13Rα2 antibody confirmed the identity and purity of the recombinant MVA. Western Blot analysis showed the presence of IL-13Rα2 protein (65 kDa). Flow cytometric analysis of IL-13Rα2 negative T98G glioma cells infected with rMVA-IL13Rα2 virus (T98G-IL13Rα2) demonstrated surface expression of IL-13Rα2, indicating the infectivity potential of the recombinant virus. Incubation of T98G-IL13Rα2 cells with varying concentrations (0-100 ng/ml) of IL13-PE (interleukin-13 fused to truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin [2] resulted in depletion of GFP+ T98G-IL13Rα2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Higher concentrations of IL13-PE (10-1000 ng/ml) also inhibited the protein synthesis in T98G-IL13Rα2 compared to cells infected with control pLW44-MVA. We further observed that IL13-PE treatment of rMVA-IL13Rα2 infected chicken fibroblast, DF-1 cells led to a reduction in virus titer compared to untreated cells. These results indicate that rMVA-IL13Rα2 virus can successfully infect mammalian cells and express IL-13Rα2 in a biologically active form on the cell surface. The immunization studies of rMVA-IL13Rα2 are ongoing in a syngeneic mouse model of metastatic breast carcinoma. Based on in vitro results, we expect the rMVA-IL13Rα2 to be a useful agent in tumor immunotherapy as a vaccine alone and in combination with other therapeutic agents to eradicate metastatic tumors.
Association between a functional catechol O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and schizophrenia: meta-analysis of case-control and family-based studies.

OBJECTIVE: There is strong evidence for a genetic contribution to schizophrenia, but efforts to identify susceptibility genes have been largely unsuccessful because of the low power of individual studies. The authors’ goal was to evaluate the collective evidence for an association between the Val158/108Met polymorphism of the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and schizophrenia. METHOD: They performed separate meta-analyses of existing case-control and family-based association studies. RESULTS: Overall, case-control studies showed no indication of an association between either allele and schizophrenia, and family-based studies found modest evidence implicating the Val allele in schizophrenia risk. The pooled analyses of studies from diverse geographical regions may have obscured ethnic differences in patterns of genetic risk for schizophrenia. Stratification of the studies by ethnicity of the subjects yielded evidence for an association with the Val allele in case-control studies of European samples...
On Chemotaxis Models with Cell Population Interactions

This paper extends the volume filling chemotaxis model [18, 26] by taking into account the cell population interactions. The extended chemotaxis models have nonlinear diffusion and chemotactic sensitivity depending on cell population density, which is a modification of the classical Keller-Segel model in which the diffusion and chemotactic sensitivity are constants (linear). The existence and boundedness of global solutions of these models are discussed and the numerical pattern formations are shown. The further improvement is proposed in the end.
A scientific exploration of happiness -- A review of the science in Exploring Happiness: From Aristotle to Brain Science

Exploring Happiness covers the vast terrain of happiness references and research from Aristotle to Brain Science . But despite what the subtitle suggests, the vast majority of the book concerns the remarks of various literary and historical figures on the concept while too few pages are reserved for the scientific findings that have surfaced in recent decades. This interesting read shines at times, most notably when it compares arm-chair theories from the distant past to modern scientific findings, but it is overall unsatisfactory from a perspective of scientific intrigue.
Cost-effectiveness of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle battery capacity and charging infrastructure investment for reducing US gasoline consumption

Federal electric vehicle (EV) policies in the United States currently include vehicle purchase subsidies linked to EV battery capacity and subsidies for installing charging stations. We assess the cost-effectiveness of increased battery capacity vs. nondomestic charging infrastructure installation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as alternate methods to reduce gasoline consumption for cars, trucks, and SUVs in the US. We find across a wide range of scenarios that the least-cost solution is for more drivers to switch to low-capacity plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (short electric range with gasoline backup for long trips) or gasoline-powered hybrid electric vehicles. If more gasoline savings are needed per vehicle, nondomestic charging infrastructure installation is substantially more expensive than increased battery capacity per gallon saved, and both approaches have higher costs than US oil premium estimates. Cost effectiveness of all subsidies are lower under a binding fuel economy standard. Comparison of results to the structure of current federal subsidies shows that policy is not aligned with fuel savings potential, and we discuss issues and alternatives.
The Antarctic Atmospheric Energy Budget. Part I: Climatology and Intraseasonal-to-Interannual Variability

The authors present a new, observationally based estimate of the atmospheric energy budget for the Antarctic polar cap (the region poleward of 708S). This energy budget is constructed using state-of-the-art reanalysis products from ECMWF [the ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim)] and Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes for the period 2001‐10. The climatological mean Antarctic energy budget is characterized by an approximate balance between the TOA net outgoing radiation and the horizontal convergence of atmospheric energy transport, with the net surface energy flux and atmospheric energy storage generally being small in comparison. Variability in the energy budget on intraseasonal-to-interannual time scales bears a strong signature of the southern annular mode (SAM), with El Ni~ Oscillation (ENSO) having a smaller impact. The energy budget framework is shown to be a useful alternative to the SAM for interpreting surface climate variability in the Antarctic region.
Studies on the Abundance, Distribution and Feeding Habits of Some West African Mosquitos.

Almost all of the studies here reported were made in one small region, so that very little new information was secured on the ranges of the species of mosquitos under consideration.Our investigations regarding breeding-places were limited to a few species. Aedes vittatus was found occasionally breeding in tree-holes in Ibadan. Aedes irritans adults were taken at Ibadan, which is so far inland that this species must sometimes breed in places other than crab-holes at the edges of salt or brackish water. We did not, however, find the larvae of this species at Ibadan. The favourite breeding-place of Eretmopodites chrysogaster was found to be small collections of water in fallen leaves (especially those of cocoa trees) lying in moist and densely shaded places. Because of the abundance of Mansonia africana in places practically free from Pistia, we conclude that in the vicinity of Lagos it must breed abundantly on other plants. The long flight range of this species was taken into consideration in arriving at this conclusion. An extensive search failed, however, to reveal these plants. M. uniformis, also abundant in the vicinity of Lagos, does not breed there upon Pistia, but an extensive search failed to reveal its breeding-place.
Chemical changes in a sarawak soil after fertilization and crop growth

Chemical changes are described, together with some possible explanations, which have occurred in a tropical red-yellow podzolic clay soil after fertilization with ammonium sulphate, mono-calcium phosphate, potassium chloride and the subsequent growth of dry, hill rice. The reactions of mono-calcium phosphate were mainly controlled by iron and aluminium. The latter dominated the exchange complex and soil acidity reactions while both iron and aluminium played major roles in phosphate transformations. Aluminium, iron, calcium and organic-bound phosphates were available to plants, yet withstood leaching. Maize growth after eight months and natural regrowth during the next three months were significantly better on those plots high in non-occluded phosphates. The order of residual effects on natural regrowth was mono-calcium phosphate > potassium chloride > ammonium sulphate (t values at 18 d.f. for the differences between levels 0, 1 were 16.70, 1.79 and 1.50). Potassium chloride reduced the concentration of exchangeable aluminium and interacted with mono-calcium phosphate to increase the amount of iron-and aluminium-bound phosphates. The ‘available’ P determination gives a useful prediction of crop response on this soil.
Automated custom instruction generation for domain-specific processor acceleration

Application-specific extensions to the computational capabilities of a processor provide an efficient mechanism to meet the growing performance and power demands of embedded applications. Hardware, in the form of new function units (or coprocessors), and the corresponding instructions are added to a baseline processor to meet the critical computational demands of a target application. In this paper, the design of a system to automate the instruction set customization process is presented. A dataflow graph design space exploration engine efficiently identifies computation subgraphs to create custom hardware and a compiler subgraph matching framework seamlessly exploits this hardware. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this system across a range of application domains and study the applicability of the custom hardware across an entire application domain. Generalization techniques are presented which enable the application-specific hardware to be more effectively used across a domain.
The Meaning of Administrative Support

During the past decade a small but consistent literature has evolved that emphasizes the importance of administrative support for educational change efforts. Yet no empirical definition exists as t...
Formation of Intrathermocline Lenses by Eddy–Wind Interaction

AbstractMesoscale intrathermocline lenses are observed throughout the World Ocean and are commonly attributed to water mass anomalies advected from a distant origin. An alternative mechanism of local generation is offered herein, in which eddy–wind interaction can create lens-shaped disturbances in the thermocline. Numerical simulations illustrate how eddy–wind-driven upwelling in anticyclones can yield a convex lens reminiscent of a mode water eddy, whereas eddy–wind-driven downwelling in cyclones produces a concave lens that thins the mode water layer (a cyclonic “thinny”). Such transformations should be observable with long-term time series in the interiors of mesoscale eddies.
Shifting institutional orders and responses to technological disruption among local journalists in Russia and the U.S.

This study compares U.S. and Russian news organizations’ responses to today’s disruptive environment intensified by the development of digital online technologies and global economic crisis. Findings show U.S. journalists attempt to maintain legitimacy within ‘professional’ and ‘digital network’ orders by either decoupling their digital network efforts from traditional, core operations or by assimilating digital practices within traditional journalistic practices. For Russian journalists, the dominant conflicting orders are the ‘state’ institutional order and a weak ‘professional’ order; and accord with a ‘digital network’ order is most evident outside of traditional news organizations. Overall, in both countries, a lack of response to online audiences by media outlets is common, but differing institutional environments help explain differing reasons for these responses.
A BIRDIE THAT IS NOT A BIRDIE IN PYTHON'S AGEN (FR. 1 = ATH. 13.595F)*

In Python's comic satyr play Agen (perhaps actually written by Alexander of Macedon) Harpalus, Alexander's errant treasurer, is mocked for erecting costly buildings left and right to honour his dead lover, the notorious prostitute Pythionice:ἔστιν δ’ ὅπου μὲν ὁ κάλαμος πέϕυχ’ ὅδe†ϕέτωμ’ ἄορνον, οὑξ ἀριστeρᾶς δ’ ὅδeπόρνης ὁ κλeινὸς ναός, ὃν δὴ Παλλίδηςτeύξας κατέγνω διὰ τὸ πρᾶγμ’ αὑτοῦ ϕυγήν.(TrGF 91 F 1. 1–4)1–2 πέϕυκe· ὁ δ’ eϕeτωμα ορνον Athenaei cod. A: ὅδe scr. Dindorf, ἄορνον Fiorillo †ϕέτωμ’ vox desperata: ϕάτνωμ’ Fiorillo, ἕλωμ’ Meineke, πέτρωμ’ Pezopulus, ϕλέωμ’ A. von Blumenthal, στόμωμ’ Erbse, ϕηγὼν Friebel
An Evaluation of the Economic Impact of National Football League Mega-events

Cities, regions, states, and countries compete vigorously with one another for the right to host mega-events. Political conventions, religious conferences, and sports events such as the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the World Cup, Commonwealth Games, and the Pan American Games qualify as mega-events. Competition for these events has intensified given the common perception that they have the capacity to transform the economic landscape in the cities and countries that host them.
Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adolescents.

1. Beth S. Gottlieb, MD, MS* 2. Norman T. Ilowite, MD† 1. *Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Schneider Children's Hospital, Hyde Park, NY 2. †Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. List the most common presenting symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the pediatric population. 2. Describe the patient who is most likely to have secondary Raynaud phenomenon. 3. Recognize why antinuclear antibody testing lacks specificity. 4. Know the specific serologic markers for SLE. 5. Discuss the treatment for SLE. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem, chronic but often episodic, autoimmune disease that is characterized by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Because SLE can present with a number of signs and symptoms, the diagnosis often is considered in children who have prolonged unexplained complaints. Approximately 20% of all patients who have SLE are diagnosed in childhood. The onset of SLE is rare in those younger than 5 years of age; most pediatric patients are diagnosed in adolescence. SLE is considered a predominantly female disease, and although most affected patients are female, the ratio changes with age. Prior to puberty, the female-to-male ratio is 3:1; after puberty, the ratio becomes 9:1. Aside from this sex difference, there also are marked racial differences observed in SLE. Native Americans are most susceptible to developing SLE, followed by African-Americans, Hispanics, Chinese, and Filipinos. The disease tends to be more severe in African-Americans and Hispanics. SLE is a multigenic disease. A patient who has SLE is more likely to have a relative who has either SLE or another autoimmune disease such as thyroiditis or insulin-dependent diabetes. Epidemiologic, twin, and human leukocyte antigen data suggest a strong genetic contribution to the etiology of SLE, but the exact cause is unknown. Multiple factors confer risk, including abnormalities in the metabolism of sex hormones, particular foods that have been found to be immunostimulatory in animals, and infectious agents. Overall, it has been suggested that an environmental trigger is necessary in a …
Rapid Isolation of Sorghum and Other Cereal Starches Using Sonication

ABSTRACT High-intensity ultrasound (sonication) was investigated as a method to rapidly purify starch from sorghum and other cereal grains. To improve the process, buffers were optimized to solubilize sorghum proteins in combination with the sonication. Protein content and starch color were determined to evaluate the efficiency of the extraction process. Sonication times, SDS concentration, different types and concentrations of reducing agents (sodium metabisulfite, dithiothreitol, and β-mercaptoethanol), and centrifugation speeds of the starch washing procedure were tested. Protein content of isolated sorghum starch was reduced to 0–0.14% (db) after 2 min of sonication (using any of the reducing agents tested). Sodium metabisulfite was chosen as the preferred reducing agent because of its lower toxicity and odor compared with other reducing agents tested. The optimum conditions for producing high-purity sorghum starches (0.06% protein) were obtained using the following conditions: 2 min of sonication tim...
Structure and Flexibility in Bayesian Models of Cognition

Probability theory forms a natural framework for explaining the impressive success of people at solving many difficult inductive problems, such as learning words and categories, inferring the relevant features of objects, and identifying functional relationships. Probabilistic models of cognition use Bayes’ rule to identify probable structures or representations that could have generated a set of observations, whether the observations are sensory input or the output of other psychological processes. In this chapter we address an important question that arises within this framework: How do people infer representations that are complex enough to faithfully encode the world but not so complex that they “overfit” noise in the data? We discuss nonparametric Bayesian models as a potential answer to this question. To do so, first we present the mathematical background necessary to understand nonparametric Bayesian models. We then delve into nonparametric Bayesian models for three types of hidden structure: clusters, features, and functions. Finally, we conclude with a summary and discussion of open questions for future research.
Evaluation of Elevated Serum Transaminase Levels

The evaluation of patients with elevated transaminase levels should be individualized based on the presence of symptoms or physical examination findings that suggest serious disease or hepatic decompensation.
Bone and cartilage transplantation

Bone and cartilage have been transplanted as tissues for almost one hundred years. During much of this time, these tissues were seldom modified following removal from the donor and transplantation into the recipient. Advances were made in surgical technique as well as in methods of storage of the tissues, but few advances were made in manipulating the tissues in order to improve incorporation or function. In the past few years, biochemical advances have resulted in modification of these tissues which has produced a promising future in their transplantation. This paper will review bone and cartilage transplantation through historical, current, and future perspectives.
Reply to rejoinder by Plümper and Troeger

The remarks in my paper, "Fixed Effects Vector Decomposition: A Magical Solution to the Problem of Time Invariant Variables in Fixed Effects Models?," were a comment on the econometric methods pro posed in Pliimper and Troeger, "Efficient Estimation of Time-Invariant and Rarely Changing Variables in Finite Sample Panel Analyses with Unit Fixed Effects," Political Analysis, 15, 2007, which I will refer to as PT in the following. The remarks below will respond to the authors' comments published in this issue, which I will refer to as P&T. PT's Equation (1) and the explanatory text define the model they intend to analyze:
How Diet Influences the Aging Process of the Rat

AbstractAging is a time-dependent, deleterlous process known to be influenced by multiple factors and processes. Recent gerontological investigations have clearly shown nutrition to be the most powerful extrinsic factor influencing the aging process. That role has been clarified by recent inquiries on such underfeeding paradigms as calorie restriction. The idea of reduced calorie intake as a potent aging modulator contrasts dramatically with the traditional view that “more is better” which springs from the consideration of nutrition only as a source of energy and nutrients required to maintain health. This review presents pertinent data on how nutrition may influence the longevity of organisms and modulate age-related diseases. [P.S.E.B.M. 1994, Vol 205]
High Luminescence Efficiency in MoS2 Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition

One of the major challenges facing the rapidly growing field of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is the development of growth techniques to enable large-area synthesis of high-quality materials. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is one of the leading techniques for the synthesis of TMDCs; however, the quality of the material produced is limited by defects formed during the growth process. A very useful nondestructive technique that can be utilized to probe defects in semiconductors is the room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY). It was recently demonstrated that a PL QY near 100% can be obtained in MoS2 and WS2 monolayers prepared by micromechanical exfoliation by treating samples with an organic superacid: bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI). Here we have performed a thorough exploration of this chemical treatment on CVD-grown MoS2 samples. We find that the as-grown monolayers must be transferred to a secondary substrate, which releases strain, to obtain high QY by TFSI treatment. Furthermore, we find that the sulfur precursor temperature during synthesis of the MoS2 plays a critical role in the effectiveness of the treatment. By satisfying the aforementioned conditions we show that the PL QY of CVD-grown monolayers can be improved from ∼0.1% in the as-grown case to ∼30% after treatment, with enhancement factors ranging from 100 to 1500× depending on the initial monolayer quality. We also found that after TFSI treatment the PL emission from MoS2 films was visible by eye despite the low absorption (5-10%). The discovery of an effective passivation strategy will speed the development of scalable high-performance optoelectronic and electronic devices based on MoS2.
Regional Competition, Fiscal Federalism, and Economic Structure: Evidence from China

Fiscal decentralization is an important element that fostered the success of China’s reforms towards a market economy. If economics is all about incentives, then understanding how fiscal reforms provided incentives for local authorities and economic entities to stimulate economic growth is essential to understanding China’s economic success. There is no dispute about the positive impacts of fiscal reforms on China’s recent economic growth. However, there are many concerns about the negative impacts of fiscal decentralization, such as corruption and the imbalance of regional development. Among these negative effects, local protectionism seems to be one of the most prominent problems associated with fiscal decentralization and has been widely commented on and studied. General consensus recognizes the seriousness of local protectionism in China and its damaging effect on economic efficiency, but tends to neglect the dynamics of the relationship between local protectionism and market forces.
A short computer interview for obtaining psychiatric diagnoses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a short computer interview could be used in place of a full diagnostic interview to obtain psychiatric diagnoses, the authors examined the short interview's sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic agreement with the full interview. METHODS: Patients recently discharged from a university psychiatric service were interviewed in two back-to-back sessions, one in which a full diagnostic interview was used and the other in which a short computer interview was used. Based on diagnoses derived from both interviews, the sensitivity and specificity of the short interview and kappa values reflecting the diagnostic agreement of the two interviews were calculated. RESULTS: The short interview had high sensitivity and specificity and excellent diagnostic agreement with the full interview for most disorders. It also had a significantly shorter administration time. However, it missed a substantial percentage of cases of generalized anxiety disorder and misclassified as in remission a substantial proportion of patients with active cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSIONS: With few exceptions, the short interview may be substituted for the full interview when missing an active case is not important or when a count of individual symptoms and subtyping of disorders are not needed. Such uses include screening subjects for inclusion in a study and obtaining an overview of a patient's lifetime psychiatric status.
Diffusion of Innovations: The Case Study of Oman’s e-Payment Gateway

In 2006 the Government of Oman has embarked on a strategy called ‘Digital Oman’ which, aims to make government services available electronically throughout the country, and to facilitate e-Commerce in all of its forms. Part of the e-Government initiative was to develop an e-Payments gateway to facilitate the online payments for users of different departments and services. The Information Technology Authority (ITA) of the Sultanate of Oman has taken up the strategic initiative to drive the development of e-Payments in Oman. The ePayment gateway is one of a kind in the region, and it was implemented in partnership with MasterCard’s “MiGS” platform. The project has been live for over 8 years, yet neither the number of customers nor the value of transactions is close the initial projections. The project is about to reach a dead end and get replaced with another solution. In this paper we apply the Diffusion of Innovations Model [12] in a case study to identify the issues and propose a solution for future initiatives.
Intrinsic Security in MANET via Trusted Connectivity Information

Mobile Ad-hoc Networks are increasingly deployed in military networks as well as special kinds of civil law enforcement and emergency operation domains. Compared to wired and other types of wireless networks, MANETs are particularly vulnerable to a wide range of attacks and require high security and privacy guarantees due to their critical mission. Research efforts have focused on developing secure routing protocols for MANETs but very little attention has been given to the data plane and the information we can extract about the actual communication links. Wireless networks that require high levels of security may use data path information to validate routing information. In this paper, we develop a scheme that allows us to track and validate mobile node connectivity in order to identify potential malicious behavior. We propose a novel algorithm to accomplish connectivity tracking based on a space-efficient Bloom filter data structure and the use of aggregate signatures. We present simulation results on a real network trace that show the effectiveness of our design.
Issues of Stream‐Aquifer Interactions in Grout Lined Channels in Urban Watersheds

Grout lined storm drains are used worldwide to convey storm runoff away from urban areas. They also convey dry weather flows such as car wash runoff, lawn runoff, and other “nuisance flows” in urban centers. Areas in Southern California and elsewhere have shallow water tables where dry weather flows in grout lined storm drains consist primarily of perennial groundwater baseflows. In these areas, groundwater leaks through cracks, joints, weepholes, and intentional dewatering structures into storm drains and eventually flows into natural channels, coastal wetlands, and estuaries. The “lined” sections of these channels are not always impervious; in fact, the lining of the channels often affords excellent opportunities to collect groundwater samples at discrete points that are usually not present along unlined channels where well control is sparse or where technical or legal issues prevent installation of piezometers. Frequently, as much as 95% of the nutrient and trace element loading to urban catchments during dry weather is from seepage of groundwater that is laden with pollutants. This project presents several examples of our experiences in conducting stream/aquifer studies in lined and semi-lined channels in Southern California. Sub-projects include evolution of groundwater quality along flowpaths, detection of unwanted recharge mounds in shallow groundwater systems due to leaky water main pipes, and comparisons of water quality in lined and unlined sections of a creek. Tools that are utilized and described in the paper include isotopic tracers; trace element and standard inorganic constituents; and innovative sampling methods.
Religion and Self-Governance: Catholicism, Islam, and the Issue of Censorship

Two aspects of democratic self-governance are analyzed: Collective self-governance, or the authority of citizens over one another, and individual self-governance, referring to the ability of each citizen to govern her/his own beliefs and actions. Individual self-governance is thought to require some level of autonomy on the part of individual citizens, and authenticity of personal preferences and desires. Beliefs about autonomy and authenticity in Roman Catholic and Islamic theology are considered, and these perspectives are applied to the problem of restricting certain types of discourse, based on the content of that discourse. While censorship if usually considered to be incompatible with democratic governance, Catholic and Islamic perspectives on individual self-governance suggest the possibility that some forms of censorship may enhance, rather than detract from citizen autonomy and authenticity, and enhance the possibility of positive collective self-governance.
Effector CD8+ T cells abrogate fibroblasts-mediated chemoresistance in ovarian cancer (TUM2P.1007)

Tumor infiltrating effector CD8 + T cells have been described to play a major role in antitumoral activity and to be a favorable prognostic factor in ovarian cancer. The strategies of immunotherapy to improve effector T cells response have also shown potential clinical benefit in subset of ovarian cancer patients. Currently platinum-based chemotherapy is still the most active regimen for ovarian cancer treatment. However, the therapeutic resistance is a major challenge to limit the therapeutic efficiency. Here we found primary fibroblasts isolated from ovarian tumor speciman could induce resistance against cisplatin in cancer cells when the two cell types were co-cultured in vitro or co-inoculated in vivo . Activated CD8 + T cells abolished fibroblasts-mediated cisplatin resistance through IFNγ secretion. Next, we found fibroblasts induced cisplatin resistance through increasing intracellular Glutathione (GSH) level and reducing the cisplatin accumulation in cancer cells. We also identified both intact GSH and Cysteine released by fibroblasts contributed to cisplatin resistance in cancer cells. IFNγ producted by activated CD8 + T cells promoted fibroblasts extracellular GSH degradation through up-regulation of Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and also diminished Cysteine generation by fibroblasts through down-regulation of System xc⁻ cystine/glutamate antiporter.These date implicate effector T cells immunotherapy as a powerful regimen to overcome the resistance to chemotherapy.
Rabies Vaccination of Wildlife and Domestic Animals other than Dogs

Rabies vaccines have been found effective in a variety of domestic animals other than dogs, and are approved for use in those species. They include cats, cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Although attenuated vaccines are often used to immunize these animals, and are potent in the laboratory and in the field, inactivated vaccines are being used more and more, especially in tropical areas where vaccine stabilization is difficult. There are no vaccines approved for immunizing wild animals, and, in fact, all veterinary groups strongly discourage the owning of wild animals as pets. The only wildlife vaccine is an attenuated vaccine, SAD-BHK, administered by mass oral administration in the field and has been used extensively in Switzerland and in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Introduction to Big Data Microscopy Experiments

This chapter introduces the key topics of this book, such as web image processing pipeline and big data experiments, and then presents topics of interest to the multiple disciplines of big image data. We also highlight challenges of big data experiments and the role of a web image processing pipeline in the quest for reproducible science.
Patient centeredness in electronic communication: evaluation of patient-to-health care team secure messaging

Background: As information and communication technology is becoming more widely implemented across health care organizations, patient-provider email or asynchronous electronic secure messaging has the potential to support patient-centered communication. Within the medical home model of the Veterans Health Administration (VA), secure messaging is envisioned as a means to enhance access and strengthen the relationships between veterans and their health care team members. However, despite previous studies that have examined the content of electronic messages exchanged between patients and health care providers, less research has focused on the socioemotional aspects of the communication enacted through those messages. Objective: Recognizing the potential of secure messaging to facilitate the goals of patient-centered care, the objectives of this analysis were to not only understand why patients and health care team members exchange secure messages but also to examine the socioemotional tone engendered in these messages. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional coding evaluation of a corpus of secure messages exchanged between patients and health care team members over 6 months at 8 VA facilities. We identified patients whose medical records showed secure messaging threads containing at least 2 messages and compiled a random sample of these threads. Drawing on previous literature regarding the analysis of asynchronous, patient-provider electronic communication, we developed a coding scheme comprising a series of a priori patient and health care team member codes. Three team members tested the scheme on a subset of the messages and then independently coded the sample of messaging threads. Results: Of the 711 messages coded from the 384 messaging threads, 52.5% (373/711) were sent by patients and 47.5% (338/711) by health care team members. Patient and health care team member messages included logistical content (82.6%, 308/373 vs 89.1%, 301/338), were neutral in tone (70.2%, 262/373 vs 82.0%, 277/338), and respectful in nature (25.7%, 96/373 vs 33.4%, 113/338). Secure messages from health care team members sometimes appeared hurried (25.4%, 86/338) but also displayed friendliness or warmth (18.9%, 64/338) and reassurance or encouragement (18.6%, 63/338). Most patient messages involved either providing or seeking information; however, the majority of health care team member messages involved information provision in response to patient questions. Conclusions: This evaluation is an important step toward understanding the content and socioemotional tone that is part of the secure messaging exchanges between patients and health care team members. Our findings were encouraging; however, there are opportunities for improvement. As health care organizations seek to supplement traditional encounters with virtual care, they must reexamine their use of secure messaging, including the patient centeredness of the communication, and the potential for more proactive use by health care team members. [J Med Internet Res 2018;20(3):e82]
Visitor effects on a zoo population of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

The effects of visitor presence on zoo and aquarium animals have become increasingly well studied, using measures such as behavioral responses and exhibit usage. Many taxa remain underrepresented in this literature; this is the case for marine mammals, despite widespread public concern for their welfare in managed care settings. The current study therefore used behavioral activity budgets and exhibit usage to assess the responses of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) to visitors at the Seal Cove exhibit at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo CA. Data was collected via focal follow video recordings over the summer season of 2016, and analyzed using MANCOVAs, discriminant analyses, and modified Spread of Participation Indices. The sea lions showed no significant changes in behavior when visitors were present, but did show greater preference for the water bordering visitor viewing areas during these times. Two sea lions gave birth during the study period, and showed greater preference for land areas both adjacent to and out of sight of visitors when nursing compared to while pregnant. In contrast, the harbor seals showed significant behavioral changes in the presence of visitors, including increased vigilance and feeding. This was associated with increased preferential use of water areas adjacent to the visitor viewing area. Visitors were able to purchase fish to throw to the animals, which likely contributed to the differences observed. Overall, this study found little evidence for negative visitor impacts on two pinniped species in a zoo setting.
Management of the Facial Nerve

Malignancies affecting the facial nerve are most commonly caused by advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, primary temporal bone cancer, and primary or metastatic lesions of the parotid gland. Perineural spread along the facial nerve and preoperative facial nerve weakness are ominous findings and portend a poor prognosis. Treatment often requires aggressive multimodality management. Surgery, in resectable cases, followed by adjuvant radiation, is the primary treatment for temporal bone malignancies that involve the facial nerve. Careful preoperative planning and multidisciplinary management are imperative to maximize both oncologic and functional outcomes.
Numerical dispersion analysis for spherical FDTD

Analyses of spherical functions-based numerical dispersion relation are performed for the finite-difference timedomain method in spherical coordinates. Errors in the numerically rendered wavenumber due to finite mesh densities are analyzed as a function of absolute position within the spherical mesh, solutions mode orders and mesh density. Solution singularities near the origin and the z-axis are properly tracked and fully quantified for the different spherical solution modes.
Molecular dispersion in pre-turbulent and sustained turbulent flow of carbon dioxide.

Abstract The average dispersion coefficients, D a ¯ , of two small molecules (acetonitrile and coronene) were measured under laminar, transient, and sustained turbulent flow regimes along fused silica open tubular capillary (OTC) columns (180 μm inner diameter by 20 m length). Carbon dioxide was used as the mobile phase at room temperature (296 K) and at average pressures in the range from 1500 to 2700 psi. The Reynolds number (Re) was increased from 600 to 5000. The measurement of D a ¯ is based on the observed plate height of the non-retained analytes as a function of the applied Reynolds number. D a ¯ values are directly estimated from the best fit of the general Golay HETP equation to the experimental plate height curves. The experimental data revealed that under a pre-turbulent flow regime (Re D a ¯ is 2–6 times larger (3.5 × 10−4 cm2/s) than the bulk diffusion coefficients Dm of the analyte (1.6 × 10−4 and 5.8 × 10−5 cm2/s for acetonitrile and coronene, respectively). This result was explained by the random formation of decaying or vanishing turbulent puffs under pre-turbulent flow regime. Yet, the peak width remains controlled exclusively by the slow mass transfer in the mobile phase across the inner diameter (i.d.) of the OTC. Under sustained turbulent flow regime (Re > 2500), D a ¯ is about four to five orders of magnitude larger than Dm. The experimental data slightly overestimated the turbulent dispersion coefficients predicted by Flint-Eisenklam model ( D a ¯ = 4 cm2/s). The discrepancy is explained by the approximate nature of the general Golay equation, which assumes that D a ¯ is strictly uniform across the entire i.d. of the OTC. In fact, both the viscous and buffer wall layers, in which viscous effects dominate inertial effects, cannot be considered as fully developed turbulent regions. Remarkably, the mass transfer mechanism in OTC under sustained turbulent flow regime is not only controlled by longitudinal dispersion but also by a slow mass transfer in the mobile phase across the thick buffer layer and the thin viscous layer. Altogether, these layers occupy as much as 35% of the OTC volume at Re = 4000. From a theoretical viewpoint, the general Golay HETP equation is only an approximate model which should be refined based on the actual profile of the analyte dispersion coefficient across the OTC i.d. In practice, the measured plate height of non-retained analytes under sustained turbulent flow of carbon dioxide are two orders of magnitude smaller than those expected under hypothetical laminar flow regime.
Antimony in Food Contact Materials and Household Plastics: Uses, Exposure, and Health Risk Considerations

Antimony is a metal that has been used clinically to treat parasitic infections, as synergist in flame retardant materials, and as a catalyst in the manufacturing of plastics. Antimony trioxide is used in the manufacturing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a food contact plastic used extensively for single-use water and beverage bottles and food trays. Both storage time and high temperatures are factors that increase the migration of antimony from the food contact plastics to the food or beverage. While polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics may be a source of antimony exposure, there is little information on levels of exposure in children from PVC toys, or in those working with recycled electronics. Levels of antimony in drinking water supplies and in food contact materials (FCMs) are regulated in Europe and the United States (U.S.). Studies on the general population of the U.S. indicate that urinary levels of antimony have decreased since 1999. Rodent studies have detected lung tumors with inhalation but not oral exposure to antimony, and increased levels of blood lipids with oral exposure. Additional animal cancer bioassays are needed to evaluate antimony trioxide’s potential as a carcinogen. While peripheral artery disease and preeclampsia have been reported in antimony-exposed humans, more studies are needed to evaluate these findings. Since antimony trichloride has some estrogenic properties, additional studies are needed to determine if other types of antimony, including antimony trioxide, have the potential to be endocrine disruptors.
Globalization, spatial allocation of resources and spatial impacts: A conceptual framework

The main objective of this paper is to develop an integrated conceptual framework in which relationships among globalization, spatial allocation of resources and spatial impacts are constructed. The paper begins with debates on globalization and summarizes persistent problems of the world and new trends of globalization. Then it observes the historical transformation of industrial cities and investigates the factors affecting the spatial allocation of resources which create spatial impacts. The overall framework can be used as a basis to create and define research tasks about globalization and urban spatial development.
Cocaine Legalization: Designing the Experiments

Publisher Summary Cocaine legalization is defined as reducing controls to make inexpensive cocaine available legally to users. Discussions of legalization draw on retrospective data, rather than prospective research, to support cost-benefit predictions. This chapter reviews the different levels of drug legalization already operating in the United States. It emphasizes the fact that legalization of cocaine might increase the prevalence of its use. Abuse potentials are thought to be minor for unscheduled prescription drugs and modest to severe for scheduled ones. Scheduled drugs have all of the regulatory controls placed on other prescription drugs, but are also subjected to additional, special government supervision and licensing. Mescaline, marijuana, and LSD are considered to have high abuse potential and no role in medical treatment. Nonclinical cocaine-use stations provide unlimited quantities of low-cost cocaine for on-site use by certified cocaine-dependent persons, who could snort, inject, or smoke the drug at will for as long as they wished. This chapter highlights the fact that cocaine-dependent wealthy people, who can buy as much as they wish, sometimes exhaust their fortunes before seeking treatment.
Modeling and Forecasting with ARMA Processes

The determination of an appropriate ARMA(p, q) model to represent an observed stationary time series involves a number of interrelated problems. These include the choice of p and q (order selection) and estimation of the mean, the coefficients {ϕ i , i = 1, …, p}, {θ i , i = 1, …, q}, and the white noise variance σ2. Final selection of the model depends on a variety of goodness of fit tests, although it can be systematized to a large degree by use of criteria such as minimization of the AICC statistic as discussed in Section 5.5. (A useful option in the program ITSM is Model>Estimation>Autofit, which automatically minimizes the AICC statistic over all ARMA(p, q) processes with p and q in a specified range.)
Neuropilins as Semaphorin Receptors

After the initial discovery of neuropilin-1 as an epitope on axons recognized by a monoclonal antibody, neuropilins were rediscovered in the search for receptors mediating the repulsive actions of class 3 Semaphorins, notably Sema3A. Neuropilins are the ligand binding moieties in the class 3 Semaphorin receptor complexes, with the signaling moieties apparently provided by members of the plexin family. In their capacity as Semaphorin receptors, neuropilins have been shown to transduce repulsive guidance signals that direct a large variety of cell migration and axon guidance events. We summarize their demonstrated roles in driving axon fasciculation, channeling various axonal populations, inhibiting axonal branching, creating exclusion zones for axons, and providing directional guidance cues by being presented in gradients. In addition to their roles in repulsive axon guidance, evidence is accumulating that neuropilins also transduce some attractive guidance functions of Semaphorins.