cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL DEVIANCE AND POLITICAL MARGINALITY: TOWARD A REDEFINITION OF THE RELATION BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICS

The traditional distinction between social problems and the political system is becoming obsolete. Behavior which in the past was perceived as social deviance is now assuming well-defined ideological and organizational contours; while political marginals are adopting a deviant life style. This merger of social deviance and political marginality creates a new style of politics, based on strategies that are traditionally considered illegitimate. The result of this trend is estimated to be an increase in the use of violence as a political tactic, and the development of a revolutionary potential among the expanding ranks of deviant sub-groups. In the light of such developments, sociology and political science must revise their theoretical formulations to take into account the merger of social deviance and political marginality.
Data mining and information retrieval in time series/multimedia databases

Time series and multimedia data are ubiquitous; large volumes of such data are routinely created in scientific, industrial, entertainment, medical and biological domains. Examples include gene expression data, X-rays, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, gait analysis, stock market quotes, space telemetry etc.A decade ago, a seminal paper by Faloutsos, Ranganathan, Manolopoulos appeared in SIGMOD [1]. The paper, Fast Subsequence Matching in Time-Series Databases, has spawned at least a thousand references and extensions in the database/data mining and information retrieval communities. This tutorial will summarize the decade of progress since this influential paper appeared.
Mining the web for visual concepts

The web has the potential to serve as an excellent source of example imagery for visual concepts. Image search engines based on text keywords can fetch thousands of images for a given query; however, their results tend to be visually noisy. We present a technique that allows a user to refine noisy search results and characterize a more precise visual object class. With a small amount of user intervention we are able to re-rank search engine results to obtain many more examples of the desired concept. Our approach is based on semi-supervised machine learning in a novel probabilistic graphical model composed of both generative and discriminative elements. Learning is achieved via a hybrid expectation maximization / expected gradient procedure initialized with a small example set defined by the user. We demonstrate our approach on images of musical instruments collected from Google image search. The rankings given by our model show significant improvement with respect to the user-refined query. The results are suitable for improving user experience in image search applications and for collecting large labeled datasets for computer vision research.
Kant's First-Critique Theory of the Transcendental Object*

Summary The paper discusses major issues concerning the A104-10 transcendental-object theory. For that theory, our de re knowledge becomes related to its object just because our understanding (using the concept of a transcendental object) thinks a certain object to stand related to the intuition via which we know. Employing an apparatus of intensional logic, I argue that this thought of an object is to be understood as a certain sort of intuition-related, de dicto thought. Then I explore how, via such a de dicto thought, we can nevertheless achieve de re knowledge. This question involves an important Kantian reduction of de re to de dicto outer-object thinking, which I consider. Finally, I investigate some further topics about the transcendental object. I endeavor to show, throughout, that Kant's theory of that object is crucially related to matters of intensionality. Resume Cet article discute les problemes principaux souleves par la theorie de l' objet transcendental A104-10. Selon cette theorie, notre connaissance de re est mise en relation avec son objet precisement parce que notre entendement (utilisant le concept d' objet transcendental) pense un certain objet comme etant relie a l' intuition a travers laquelle nous connaissons. Employant un formalisme de logique intensionnelle, je montre que cette pensee d' un objet doit etre comprise comme une pensee de dicto reliee a l' intuition. J'explore ensuite comment, a partir de cette pensee de dicto, nous pouvons neanmoins atteindre une connaissance de re. J'examine la maniere dont Kant reduit ainsi la pensee d' un objet exterieur du de re au de dicto. Finalement, j'explore quelques autres points concernant l' objet transcendental. Dans tout l' article je montre combien la theorie kantienne de l' objet transcendental est fondamentalement reliee a l' intensionalite (au sens logique). Zusammenfassung Der Aufsatz behandelt wichtige Themen, die die in A104-10 formulierte Theorie des transzenden-talen Gegenstandes betreffen. Dieser Theorie nach bezieht sich unsere de re Erkenntnis auf ihren Gegenstand eben deshalb, weil unser Verstand, inderri er den Begriff eines transzendentalen Gegenstandes verwendet, denkt, dass ein gewisser Gegenstand in Beziehung zur Anschauung steht, durch welche wir erkennen. Mit Hilfe eines Apparates der intensionalen Logik argumentiere ich, dass diese Konzeption eines Gegenstandes als ein auf die Anschauung bezogener de dicto Gedanke gedeutet werden muss. Dann untersuche ich, wie wir auf Grund eines solchen de dicto Gedankens eine de re Erkenntnis erzielen konnen. Diese Frage bringt eine bedeutsame Kantische Reduktion des de re Denkens von ausseren Gegenstanden auf ein de dicro Denken mit sich. Schliesslich untersuche ich einige weitere, den transzendentalen Gegenstand betreffende Streitfragen. Ich versuche nachzuweisen, dars Kants Theorie dieses Gegenstandes sich durchweg in entscheidender Weise auf Fragen der Intensionalitat bezieht.
Whiteness constancy: Inference or insensitivity?

Two general viewpoints were advanced as explanations of whiteness constancy: (a) an inferential process, in which noise illuminance variation) is suppressed, and (b) an insensitivity hypothesis, in which Os show an insensitivity to illuminance variation in well-articulated fields. Category judgments of illuminance and albedo variation were given by three Os to either unpatterned (isolated surface) or patterned (two surfaces, one of which was constant in albedo) stimuli. Judgments of the patterned stimuli differed from judgments of the unpatterned stimuli in that Os showed increased sensitivity to real albedo variation (whiteness constancy) and a corresponding decreased sensitivity to real illuminance variation, allowing the interpretation that stimulus conditions producing whiteness constancy are also those producing insensitivity to illuminance variation.
QuickSuggest: character prediction on web appliances

As traditional media and information devices integrate with the web, they must suddenly support a vastly larger database of relevant items. Many devices use remote controls with on-screen keyboards which are not well suited for text entry but are difficult to displace. We introduce a text entry method which significantly improves text entry speed for on-screen keyboards using the same simple Up/Down/Left/Right/Enter interface common to remote controls and gaming devices used to enter text. The paper describes QuickSuggest's novel adaptive user interface, demonstrates quantitative improvements from simulation results on millions of user queries and shows ease of use and efficiency with no learning curve in user experiments.
Ear Acupuncture for Alcohol Withdrawal in Comparison With Aromatherapy: A Randomized‐Controlled Trial

Background: There is increasing clinical acceptance of acupuncture as a treatment of substance-related disorders. Little is known about acupuncture as a treatment for the withdrawal syndrome ininpatient settings. We compared auricular needle acupuncture with aromatherapy in reducing theduration and severity of symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.Methods: Inpatients undergoing alcohol withdrawal were randomly allocated to needle acu-puncture (n555) and aromatherapy (n554). Both therapies were applied daily during the ﬁrst 5consecutive treatment days. The rating scale for the assessment of the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome(AWS scale) served as the main dependent variable and was applied daily during the ﬁrst 5 days ofthe withdrawal. Further measures included a subjective visual analog scale of craving and the SelfAssessment Manikin (SAM).Results: Thirty-six of the 55 patients who received acupuncture, and 38 of the 54 patients whoreceived aromatherapy, ﬁnished the study regularly. The groups differed in their initial self-reportedarousal, which then served as a covariate in the further analyses. Neither the extent of craving nor ofwithdrawal symptoms differed between groups over the observation period. Self-rated arousaldecreased in response to both treatments from days 1 to 2 (po0.001) and within single days(po0.001), and we found a significant interaction between pretreatment versus posttreatment anddays (po0.001). Interactions including between-subjects effects and intervention did not achieve thesignificance level.Conclusion: The results do not support the assumption of a superiority of acupuncture over thecontrol therapy in its specific effects on alcohol withdrawal symptoms.Key Words: Acupuncture, Ear Acupuncture, Alcoholism, Withdrawal, Aroma Therapy.
Childhood medulloblastoma: the paradigm shift in molecular stratification and treatment profile.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, accounting for nearly 25% to 30% of primary central nervous system tumors in children younger than 18 years of age. Risk strat...
Plasticity and Creep in Single Crystals of Zirconium Carbide

High-temperature deformation in ZrC single crystals was studied. Seeded crystals were grown by a direct rf-coupling floating-zone process. Yield stresses were measured from 1080° to 2000°C as a function of stress axis orientation. The Burgers vector was shown to be parallel to the 〈110〉 axes by transmission electron microscopy. Slip was observed on {100}, {110}, or {111} planes, depending on the orientation of the stress axis; it always occurred on the most favorably oriented slip system. The dependence of steady-state creep rate on the applied stress indicated that recovery occurred by a dislocation climb mechanism. Examination of the dislocation structure in deformed crystals by transmission electron microscopy supported this conclusion.
Tubular reactors for emulsion polymerization: II. Model comparisons with experiments

A dynamic model for emulsion polymerization in a tubular reactor has been developed and compared with experimental data. The model uses an axial dispersion coefficient to fit experimentally measured residence time distributions and to represent axial mixing during reaction. Very general emulsion polymerization kinetics are assumed so that a wide range of monomers and operating conditions can be handled. Orthogonal collocation on finite elements was chosen as the numerical solution technique. Comparisons show good agreement between model and experiments for two different monomers.
Current Procedural Terminology: Where and How Do We Get CPT Codes?

Abstract This tutorial provides the background and rationale for the establishment of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Manual as well as instructions for its beneficial use. Current Procedu...
Differential Effects of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate and D,L-Sulforaphane on TLR3 Signaling

Naturally occurring isothiocyanates (ITCs) from cruciferous vegetables are widely studied for their cancer chemopreventive effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of ITCs on TLR signaling, and found that the two most promising ITCs, phenethyl ITCs (PEITC) and D,L-sulforaphane (SFN), have differential effects on dsRNA-mediated innate immune signaling through TLR3. PEITC preferentially inhibited TLR3-mediated IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling and downstream gene expression in vivo and in vitro, whereas SFN caused inhibition of TLR3-mediated NF-κB signaling and downstream gene expression. Mechanistically, PEITC inhibited ligand (dsRNA)-dependent dimerization of TLR3, resulting in inhibition of signaling through IFN regulatory factor 3. In contrast, SFN did not disrupt TLR3 dimerization, indicating that it affects further downstream pathway resulting in NF-κB inhibition. To examine the biological significance of these findings in the context of antitumor activities of these compounds, we used two approaches: first, we showed that dsRNA-mediated apoptosis of tumor cells via TLR3 was inhibited in the presence of PEITC, whereas this response was augmented by SFN treatment; second, in a separate assay measuring anchorage-independent growth and colony formation by immortalized fibroblasts, we made similar observations. Again in this study, PEITC antagonized dsRNA-mediated inhibition of colony formation, whereas SFN enhanced the inhibition. These results indicate biologically relevant functional differences between two structurally similar ITCs and may provide important insights in therapeutic development of these compounds targeted to specific cancer.
Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate increases contractions but not L-type calcium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

Objective: We studied the effects of intracellularly applied inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) to test the hypothesis that InsP3 is a messenger for stimulation of L-type calcium current ( I Ca(L)) and contractions by muscarinic agonists. Methods: Voltage clamp pulses elicited I Ca(L) that evoked contractions recorded with an edge detector in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes superfused with Tyrode’s solution (36°C). InsP3 or cyclic AMP (cAMP) was dialyzed into the cell at selected times via the patch electrode. Results: InsP3 (1–10 μM) transiently increased isotonic contractions when applied for 4–5 min; higher concentrations (50–300 μM) caused a sustained decrease in contractions. InsP3 had no effect on I Ca(L) at any concentration tested. Caffeine (10 mM)-induced contractures were increased and decreased, respectively, at 3 and 100 μM InsP3. Pentosan polysulfate (50 μg/ml), an InsP3 receptor antagonist, opposed the increased contractions by InsP3. Intrapipette cyclic AMP (10–300 μM) caused sustained increases of I Ca(L) and contractions. Cyclic AMP, but not InsP3, also increased I Ca(L) when intrapipette Cs+ suppressed K+ currents. Conclusions: Increased myocyte shortening at low InsP3 concentrations accords with receptor-initiated sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release. The transient stimulation of contractions at low concentrations and the sustained reduction of contractions at high concentrations are not consistent with a role for InsP3 in the persistent increase of contractions by muscarinic agonist in ventricular muscle and myocytes. The failure of InsP3 to change I Ca(L) when contractions were increased or decreased militates against the L-type calcium channel being an effector of InsP3.
Through-wall imaging (TWI) by radar: 2-D tomographic results and analyses

A two-dimensional nonlinear inverse scattering technique is developed for imaging objects in a multilayered medium that simulates the effects of building walls in the context of through-wall imaging (TWI). The effectiveness and capacity of the inversion algorithm and the feasibility of through-wall imaging is demonstrated via a number of numerical examples. It has been shown that using multifrequency data high-quality image reconstruction can be achieved with a limited array view.
Aspectual Coercion in Eye Movements

Comprehension includes interpreting sentences in terms of aspectual categories such as processes (Harry climbed) and culminations (Harry reached the top). Adding a verbal modifier such as for many years to a culmination coerces its interpretation from one to many culminations. Previous studies have found that coercion increases lexical decision and meaning judgment time, but not eye fixation time. This study recorded eye movements as participants read sentences in which a coercive adverb increased the interpretation of multiple events. Adverbs appeared at the end of a clause and line; the post-adverb region appeared at the beginning of the next line; follow-up questions occasionally asked about aspectual meaning; and clause type varied systematically. Coercive adverbs increased eye fixation time in the post-adverb region and in the adverb and post-adverb regions combined. Factors that influence the appearance of aspectual coercion may include world knowledge, follow-up questions, and the location and ambiguity of adverbs.
Piperidine alkaloid content of Picea (spruce) and Pinus (pine)

Abstract The piperidine alkaloid content of the spruces Picea abies, P. glauca, P. pungens and P. sitchensis, and the pines Pinus edulis, P. flexilis, P. jeffreyi, P. nigra, P. pinea, P. ponderosa and P. sylvestris was assessed by isolation and GCMS. The spruce species contained a variety of cis- and trans-2, 6-disubstituted piperidine alkaloids, while the pines contained only cis-disubstituted piperidines. In some species the alkaloid patterns of individual plant parts were determined. Preliminary bioactivity of some of the piperidines is reviewed.
Rapid Screening by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) of Dopants for Bi2WO6 Improved Photocatalytic Water Oxidation with Zn Doping

Bi2WO6 microelectrode arrays on FTO glass substrates were fabricated by a picoliter solution dispensing technique using Bi(NO3)3 as the Bi source and (NH4)6H2W12O40 as the W source in ethylene glycol. The scanning electrochemical microscope modified by using an optical fiber in place of an ultramicroelectrode was employed for rapid screening of the Bi2WO6 arrays and to investigate the effect of 12 different dopants on the photocatalytic oxidation of SO32–. Among the different dopant compositions, addition of 12% Zn showed a photocurrent enhancement of up to 80% compared with that of the pure Bi2WO6. This result was further confirmed with bulk electrode studies for SO32– and water oxidation. UV–vis absorption, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction studies were carried out with the photocatalysts to elucidate the role of Zn in the bulk semiconductors. Absorbed photon-to-current efficiency and incident photon-to-current efficiency determinations further c...
Cap-independent polysomal association of natural mRNAs encoding c-myc, BiP, and eIF4G conferred by internal ribosome entry sites

Sequence elements that can function as internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) have been identified in 5' noncoding regions of certain uncapped viral and capped cellular mRNA molecules. However, it has remained largely unknown whether IRES elements are functional when located in their natural capped mRNAs. Therefore, the polysomal association and translation of several IRES-containing cellular mRNAs was tested under conditions that severely inhibited cap-dependent translation, that is, after infection with poliovirus. It was found that several known IRES-containing mRNAs, such as BiP and c-myc, were both associated with the translation apparatus and translated in infected cells when cap-dependent translation of most host-cell mRNAs was blocked, indicating that the IRES elements were functional in their natural mRNAs. Curiously, the mRNAs that encode eukaryotic initiation factor 4GI (eIF4GI) and 4GII (eIF4GII), two proteins with high identity and similar functions in the initiation of cap-dependent translation, were both associated with polysomes in infected cells. The 5'-end sequences of eIF4GI mRNA were isolated from a cDNA expression library and shown to function as an internal ribosome entry site when placed into a dicistronic mRNA. These findings suggest that eIF4G proteins can be synthesized at times when 5' cap-dependent mRNA translation is blocked, supporting the notion that eIF4G proteins are needed in both 5' cap-independent and 5' cap-dependent translational initiation mechanisms.
Some further considerations on the use of repair-defective organisms as biological dosimeters for broad-band ultraviolet radiation sources.

— The extreme variation in biological effectiveness of the various components of solar ultraviolet radiation (solar UV) which reaches the earth's surface, especially photons of wavelengths between 295 and 330 nm, makes the dosimetry of solar UV a complex and, as yet, unresolved problem. A proper weighting of the various components of solar UV would permit expression of expsoure as a single parameter (dose). Weighting could compensate for the variations in composition of solar UV which might occur during exposure or the differences in sources of UV radiations; weighting would permit comparison of exposures at various locations on the earth and extrapolation of laboratory observations to field situations where wavelength composition might be rather different. Various radiation-sensitive microorganisms have been proposed as biological dosimeters. Biological dosimeters automatically weight the subcomponents of solar UV differently than a purely physical irradiance meter. We have examined the available evidence regarding the weighting which repair-defective mutants provide in comparison with response of a number of wild-type organisms and would caution investigators that, for broad-band UV sources, especially those with significant biological actions through the range of 300–330 nm, repair-sensitive mutants may improperly weight the components, leading to errors of dosimetry and thus to possible errors of interpretation of results of solar UV exposure of wild-type organisms
Pulmonary venoocclusive disease: CT findings in eight patients.

The objective of the study was to describe the CT findings of pulmonary venoocclusive disease.Eight patients with CT scans of the thorax and a diagnosis of pulmonary venoocclusive disease were identified from three institutions. The six males and two females had a mean age of 32 years old (range, 5-58 years old). All scans were evaluated with consensus reading by two chest radiologists. Lung parenchyma were assessed for the type and distribution of disease. Bronchi, pleura, hila, mediastina, and chest walls were evaluated for abnormalities. Pathologic specimens from five patients were reviewed and specifically correlated with the radiologic findings.Seven of the eight patients had interlobular septal thickening. All eight patients had regions of ground-glass opacity. Four of the eight patients had a mosaic pattern of lung attenuation. No enlarged hilar or mediastinal nodes were revealed. Five patients had bilateral pleural effusions.The most common CT findings in these eight patients with pulmonary venooc...
Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Patient with Difficult Anatomy

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is most commonly performed as a diagnostic and staging examination. Surgically or pathologically altered anatomy creates obstacles for the endosonographer which may increase risk while decreasing procedural success rate. Traditional echoendoscopes are large, cumbersome, oblique-viewing instruments given the presence of a tip-mounted ultrasound transducer. Hence, maneuvering through altered anatomy may prove challenging if not impossible. Particularly troublesome situations in the esophagus include the presence of a Zenker’s diverticulum or malignant stricture. Pancreatic imaging may be compromised after partial gastrectomy or gastric bypass, where pancreatic head imaging may be difficult to impossible. If one can target a pancreatic head mass, EUS-FNA may prove difficult in the setting of malignant venous occlusion with resultant collateral vasculature. This article will discuss various maneuvers and tips to hopefully increase the success rate of EUS examination in these challenging situations.
Osteocyte-based image analysis for quantitation of histologically apparent femoral head osteonecrosis: application to an emu model.

Femoral head osteonecrosis is often characterized histologically by the presence of empty lacunae in the affected bony regions. The shape, size and location of a necrotic lesion influences prognosis, and can, in principle, be quantified by mapping the distribution of empty lacunae within a femoral head. An algorithm is here described that automatically identifies the locations of osteocyte-filled vs. empty lacunae. The algorithm is applied to necrotic lesions surgically induced in the emu, a large bipedal animal model in which osteonecrosis progresses to collapse, as occurs in humans. The animals' femoral heads were harvested at sacrifice, and hematoxylin and eosin-stained histological preparations of the coronal midsections were digitized and image-analyzed. The algorithm's performance in detecting empty lacunae was validated by comparing its results to corresponding assessments by six trained histologists. The percentage of osteocyte-filled lacunae identified by the algorithm vs. by the human readers wa...
Political Effects of International Migration

What are the political consequences of international migration on the migrant's country of origin? To help understand this question, this review article first examines data and measurement issues that have hampered empirical analysis. It then lays out an analytical framework outlining four channels through which migration's political consequences play out: the prospective, absence, diaspora, and return channels. The article next delineates the variables that attenuate or amplify these effects and argues that unobservable characteristics, in particular who leaves and why, have an important influence on the type and intensity of political effects. Subsequently, the article examines some key political consequences of international migration: its political economy consequences; its impact on conflict; and its institutional effects, focusing on political institutions as well as nationalism and citizenship. The penultimate section points out the importance of temporality in understanding the political effects o...
Effect of Heredity on Some Characteristics of Egg Albumen Affecting Consumer Acceptance

Abstract In the course of a long term project concerned with consumer egg problems, several albumen quality factors appeared to adversely affect the consumer. Among these were cloudy albumen (milkiness) and the tendency of the albumen of some eggs to stick to the small end of the shell when broken out (sticking). The effect of heredity on these factors and correlations with other quality factors were studied. Sufficient eggs from two pens each of ten strains of hens were collected to evaluate ten eggs per pen at five time periods. Evaluation methods included percent transmittance, milkiness, pH, U.S.D.A. scores, chalaza size and sticking. Both milkiness and the sticking of the albumen in the small end of the egg were found to be heritable traits. Milkiness was significantly correlated with pH, but sticking appeared t o have little correlation with any other measurements.
Why Size Counts: Children's Spatial Reorientation in Large and Small Enclosures

When mobile organisms are spatially disoriented, for instance by rapid repetitive movement, they must re-establish orientation. Past research has shown that the geometry of enclosing spaces is consistently used for reorientation by a wide variety of species, but that non-geometric features are not always used. Based on these findings, some investigators have postulated a speciesuniversal ‘geometric module’ that is transcended by the acquisition of spatial language at 6 years. This conclusion has been challenged, however, by findings that children as young as 18 months actually do use features to reorient in larger enclosures than those used in the original experiments. The reason for the room size effect is explored here in five experiments. Collectively, the data on age at which features are first used point to the importance of both restriction of movement in the small space and the fact that features are closer in the small space. In addition, success is seen at younger ages when the target object is adjacent to the feature. These results favor an adaptive combination model of spatial reorientation over a ‘module-plus-language’ view.
NMDA receptors are expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues and human ovarian cancer cell lines

We have earlier demonstrated that breast cancer and small-cell lung cancer express functional NMDA receptors that can be targeted to promote cancer cell death. Human ovarian cancer tissues and human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, A2008, and A2780) have now been shown to also express NMDA-receptor subunit 1 (GluN1) and subunit 2B (GluN2B). Seventeen ovarian cancers in two arrays were screened by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies that recognize an extracellular moiety on GluN1 and on GluN2B. These specimens comprised malignant tissue with pathology diagnoses of serous papillary cystadenocarcinoma, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and clear-cell carcinoma. Additionally, archival tissues defined as ovarian adenocarcinoma from ten patients treated at this institute were also evaluated. All of the cancerous tissues demonstrated positive staining patterns with the NMDA-receptor antibodies, while no staining was found for tumor-adjacent normal tissues or sections of normal ovarian tissue. Human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines (A2008, A2780, SKOV3) were demonstrated to express GluN1 by Western blotting, but displayed different levels of expression. Through immunocytochemistry utilizing GluN1 antibodies and imaging using a confocal microscope, we were able to demonstrate that GluN1 protein is expressed on the surface of these cells. In addition to these findings, GluN2B protein was demonstrated to be expressed using polyclonal antibodies against this protein. Treatment of all ovarian cell lines with antibodies against GluN1 was found to result in decreased cell viability (P<0.001), with decreases to 10%-25% that of untreated cells. Treatment of control HEK293 cells with various dilutions of GluN1 antibodies had no effect on cell viability. The GluN1 antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine maleate) and the GluN2B antagonist ifenprodil, like antibodies, dramatically decreased the viability of A2780 ovarian tumor cells (P<0.01). Treatment of A2780 tumor xenografts with ifenprodil (2.5 mg/kg body weight/day) significantly reduced tumor growth in nu/nu mice. Our findings suggest that both GluN1 and GluN2B proteins as membrane components could be readily available targets for the treatment of most ovarian cancers.
Reliability of twin-dependent triple junction distributions measured from a section plane

Abstract Numerous studies indicate polycrystalline triple junctions are independent microstructural features with distinct properties from their constituent grain boundaries. Despite the influence of triple junctions on material properties, it is impractical to characterize triple junctions on a large scale using current three-dimensional methods. This work demonstrates the ability to characterize twin-dependent triple junction distributions from a section plane by adopting a grain boundary plane stereology. The technique is validated through simulated distributions and simulated electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) data. Measures of validation and convergence are adopted to demonstrate the quantitative reliability of the technique as well as the convergence behavior of twin-dependent triple junction distributions. This technique expands the characterization power of EBSD and prepares the way for characterizing general triple junction distributions from a section plane.
Investigation of calcareous beach sands in the Akumal and Tulum areas for use in constructed wetlands, Eastern Yucatan Peninsula

Constructed wetlands can be a low-cost, ecologically based technology to locally treat domestic wastewater prior to discharge. Wetland systems implemented in the resort village of Akumal in the state of Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico have been considered moderately successful over approximately 10 years of operation. Yet the wide-scale implementation of constructed wetlands has not occurred in the region nor throughout Mexico due largely to the cost of the crushed aggregate used in these systems. Variation in the geotechnical and mineralogical properties of 29 samples of local calcareous beach sands collected from the tourist areas of Akumal and Tulum in the Yucatan, Mexico were analyzed and compared to those of crushed aggregate currently used in constructed wetland systems in Akumal. Powder X-ray diffraction on beach sand samples from Akumal and Tulum indicates that the proportion of aragonite varies from 24 to 84%, calcite varies from 7 to 38% and Mg-calcite varied from 8 to 57% compared to crushed aggregate which consists of 0–25% aragonite and 75–100% calcite. Compared to crushed aggregate beach sands are unimodal and have better uniformity coefficients, making them a better geotechnical choice than crushed sands with respect to these properties. Grain-size of the beach sands is much smaller compared to that of the crushed aggregate currently used in the constructed wetland systems in Akumal which should enhance the efficiency of the filtration of organic matter and bacteria. The average hydraulic conductivity measurements of 0.010 and 0.016 cm/s for beach sands from Akumal and Tulum, respectively are comparable or less than the average of 0.016 cm/s for crushed aggregate currently used in engineered wetland systems. Yet a combination of high bulk porosity, intragranular pores, and the presence of Mg-calcite observed in beach sands may likely result in higher dissolution rates versus the crushed aggregate. Preliminary assessment suggests that the use of local sand may be a technical, economic, and perceptual enhancement to the systems. Still a careful and thorough analysis of the potential environmental and aesthetic impacts of mining beach sands is necessary.
Hardness of Easy Problems: Basing Hardness on Popular Conjectures such as the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (Invited Talk)

Algorithmic research strives to develop fast algorithms for fundamental problems. Despite its many successes, however, many problems still do not have very efficient algorithms. For years researchers have explained the hardness for key problems by proving NP-hardness, utilizing polynomial time reductions to base the hardness of key problems on the famous conjecture P != NP. For problems that already have polynomial time algorithms, however, it does not seem that one can show any sort of hardness based on P != NP. Nevertheless, we would like to provide evidence that a problem $A$ with a running time O(n^k) that has not been improved in decades, also requires n^{k-o(1)} time, thus explaining the lack of progress on the problem. Such unconditional time lower bounds seem very difficult to obtain, unfortunately. Recent work has concentrated on an approach mimicking NP-hardness: (1) select a few key problems that are conjectured to require T(n) time to solve, (2) use special, fine-grained reductions to prove time lower bounds for many diverse problems in P based on the conjectured hardness of the key problems. In this abstract we outline the approach, give some examples of hardness results based on the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis, and present an overview of some of the recent work on the topic.
Exercise and Osteoporosis Prevention

Osteoporosis is known as the “silent disease” because there are no outward signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is the leading cause of fracture among older adults and increases mortality and morbidity rates. Exercise interventions reduce fracture-risk; however, different types of exercises produce different results. Based on findings, daily physical activity, walking, running, resistance, and power training all promote BMD development. Yet, resistance training may be most effective of exercise interventions. More specifically, high-velocity resistance training leads to greater increases in BMD than traditional resistance training and results in fewer injuries than power training.
‘Inhabited earth’: American landscape architecture writing in the 1980s

Although still evolving, the credible discourse of landscape architecture that exists today began to take shape thirty years ago. Evidenced by the small number of English-language publications on t...
Activation of NMDA receptors and the mechanism of inhibition by ifenprodil

The physiology of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is fundamental to brain development and function. NMDA receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors that function as heterotetramers composed mainly of GluN1 and GluN2 subunits. Activation of NMDA receptors requires binding of neurotransmitter agonists to a ligand-binding domain (LBD) and structural rearrangement of an amino-terminal domain (ATD). Recent crystal structures of GluN1-GluN2B NMDA receptors bound to agonists and an allosteric inhibitor, ifenprodil, represent the allosterically inhibited state. However, how the ATD and LBD move to activate the NMDA receptor ion channel remains unclear. Here we applied X-ray crystallography, single-particle electron cryomicroscopy and electrophysiology to rat NMDA receptors to show that, in the absence of ifenprodil, the bi-lobed structure of GluN2 ATD adopts an open conformation accompanied by rearrangement of the GluN1-GluN2 ATD heterodimeric interface, altering subunit orientation in the ATD and LBD and forming an active receptor conformation that gates the ion channel.
Comparison and explanation of predictive capability of pellet quality metrics based on fundamental mechanical properties of ground willow and switchgrass

Abstract Willow is a light-weight and uniform-grained hardwood, which is a promising bioenergy crop. In this study, physical and mechanical properties of ground willow and quality of willow pellets were determined and compared with already published properties of more commonly used bioenergy crop, i.e., switchgrass. Rational explanations were provided for why certain mechanical properties were correlated well with pellet qualities. To that end, willow was ground with two different screen sizes (3.175 mm and 6.350 mm) and conditioned at two moisture contents (17.5% and 20.0% w.b.). The physical and mechanical properties of ground willow and pellet qualities were determined. Ground willow and switchgrass exhibited similar trends of mechanical properties, however, the magnitudes were different. For ground willow, compression index correlated well with strength of willow pellets, however, bulk modulus and spring-back index showed high correlations in case of switchgrass. This could be an attribute of different physical properties, i.e., particles size distribution, bulk density, and particle density, and chemical compositions. Higher levels of lignin present in willow than switchgrass might produce significant effect of resistance to compressibility. Ground willow underwent plastic deformation, which resulted in a high correlation to compression index. Ground switchgrass was dominated by elastic responses thus highly correlated to bulk modulus and spring-back index.
Towards ‘reflexive epidemiology’: Conflation of cisgender male and transgender women sex workers and implications for global understandings of HIV prevalence

The HIV epidemic has had a widespread impact on global scientific and cultural discourses related to gender, sexuality, and identity. 'Male sex workers' have been identified as a 'key population' in the global HIV epidemic; however, there are methodological and conceptual challenges for defining inclusion and exclusion of transgender women within this group. To assess these potential implications, this study employs self-critique and reflection to grapple with the empiric and conceptual implications of shifting understandings of sexuality and gender within the externally re-created etic category of 'MSM' and 'transgender women' in epidemiologic HIV research. We conducted a sensitivity analysis of our previously published meta-analysis which aimed to identify the scope of peer-reviewed articles assessing HIV prevalence among male sex workers globally between 2004 and 2013. The inclusion of four studies previously excluded due to non-differentiation of cisgender male from transgender women participants (studies from Spain, Thailand, India, and Brazil: 421 total participants) increased the overall estimate of global HIV prevalence among 'men' who engage in sex work from 10.5% (95% CI 9.4-11.5%) to 10.8% (95% CI 9.8-11.8%). The combination of social science critique with empiric epidemiologic analysis represents a first step in defining and operationalising 'reflexive epidemiology'. Grounded in the context of sex work and HIV prevention, this paper highlights the multiplicity of genders and sexualities across a range of social and cultural settings, limitations of existing categories (i.e. 'MSM', 'transgender'), and their global implications for epidemiologic estimates of HIV prevalence.
The Structure–Function Relationships of Classical Cannabinoids: CB1/CB2 Modulation

The cannabinoids are members of a deceptively simple class of terpenophenolic secondary metabolites isolated from Cannabis sativa highlighted by (-)-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), eliciting distinct pharmacological effects mediated largely by cannabinoid receptor (CB1 or CB2) signaling. Since the initial discovery of THC and related cannabinoids, synthetic and semisynthetic classical cannabinoid analogs have been evaluated to help define receptor binding modes and structure–CB1/CB2 functional activity relationships. This perspective will examine the classical cannabinoids, with particular emphasis on the structure–activity relationship of five regions: C3 side chain, phenolic hydroxyl, aromatic A-ring, pyran B-ring, and cyclohexenyl C-ring. Cumulative structure–activity relationship studies to date have helped define the critical structural elements required for potency and selectivity toward CB1 and CB2 and, more importantly, ushered the discovery and development of contemporary nonclassical cannabinoid modulators with enhanced physicochemical and pharmacological profiles.
Eight-membered Rings with Three Heteroatoms

This chapter covers structural and synthetic aspects of eight-membered heterocycles with three heteroatoms, triheterocines. Theoretical and computational methods are surveyed in conjunction with experimental spectroscopic data, and aimed on conformational studies of strained eight-membered ring systems. Reactivity of the rings and reactivity of substituents attached both to carbons and heteroatoms are reviewed. Methods of various heteronine ring synthesis from acyclic precursors include [1+7], [2+6], and [3+5] bimolecular reactions and unimolecular cyclizations. Ring expansion into eight-membered rings of mono- and bicyclic precursors are surveyed. Natural products containing triheterocine moieties are discussed.
Restricted replicative life-span of diabetic fibroblasts in vitro: its relation to microangiopathy.

The finding that diabetic microangiopathy is caused by accumulation of multiple layers of basal lamina and experiments in which similar basal lamina layering is produced when new cell generations repopulate preexisting basal lamina scaffolding (from which previous cell generations have shed) indicate, that the rates of cell death and cell replenishment are accelerated in diabetics. Because the lesions are focal and regional and develop at different ages and in different time sequences, we have proposed that the accelerated cell turnover is probably caused by increased vulnerability of diabetic cells to injury which in turn may represent the expression of a genetically transmitted defect. To test whether this aberration can be detected in vitro, we examined the replicative life-span of skin fibroblasts from three nondiabetics, three age- and sex-matched diabetics and one individual with acquired hyperglycemia due to pancreatitis. Cells of diabetics exhibited about half the number of population doublings as cells from nondiabetics (0.01 < P < 0.025). Cells of the individual with pancreatitis generated a normal number of cell doublings. The interpretation that fits best with all data is that decreased replicative life span of diabetic fibroblasts in vitro is also an expression of increased susceptibility of diabetics’ cells to injury and dying.—Vracko, R. and E. P. Benditt. Restricted replicative life-span of diabetic fibroblasts in vitro: its relation to microangiopathy. Federation Proc. 34: 68–70, 1975.
Design of an International Central Bank

What kind of international structure could properly regulate the whole of the international financial grid? We analyze whether and how such a proper banking institution might be an international central bank which regulates national central banks. Then we compare this ideal model to the present reality of the European Central Bank and the Bank of International Settlements.
A tutorial and overview of retrospective cost adaptive control

The goal of this paper is to provide a tutorial on retrospective cost adaptive control (RCAC). RCAC is a discrete-time adaptive control technique that is applicable to stabilization, command following, and disturbance rejection. RCAC is based on the concept of retrospectively optimized control, where past controller coefficients used to generate past control inputs are re-optimized in the sense that if the reoptimized coefficients had been used over a previous window of operation, then the performance would have been better. Unlike signal processing applications such as estimation and identification, it is impossible to change past control inputs, and thus the re-optimized controller coefficients are used only to generate the next control input. This paper presents a tutorial on the algorithmic details of RCAC including the construction of the retrospective cost, the role of the target model, and the effect of tuning parameters. Numerical examples are given to illustrate each of these choices as well as the performance of RCAC for command following and disturbance rejection under minimal modeling of the plant dynamics and exogenous inputs. Properties of the closed-loop system are also compared to features of discrete-time, high-authority LQG controllers.
Topography of the Arctic Ocean

The world’s largest land-locked ocean, the Arctic, occupies a broad elliptical basin, covering an area of about 12 million km2 and containing 13 million km3 of water. Although it constitutes over 3% of the world’s ocean area, the Arctic holds only 1% of its volume; this is accounted for by the broad continental shelves which underlie almost 70% of its area (Beal, 1969).
Cannabis Withdrawal: a Review of Neurobiological Mechanisms and Sex Differences

Purpose of Review This report provides an updated overview of pre-clinical and clinical research on the etiology and biological substrates of the cannabis withdrawal syndrome.