cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seguridad humana. La responsabilidad de proteger

IN THE PRESENT ARTICLE THE AUTHOR PRESENTS A REFLECTION ON THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN SECURITY AS ONE OF THE CONTEMPORARY PRIORITIES OF THE STATE. THE ESSAY DISCUSSES SEVERAL ISSUES ON THE IMPORTANCE OR PRIORITY THAT MUST BE RECOGNIZED TO PERSONAL SECURITY IN RELATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO STATE SECURITY CONTEMPORARY PRIORITIES OF THE STATE. AS PART OF HER FINDINGS, THE AUTHOR SHOWS THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT SOME STATES LIKE CANADA, CHILE JAPAN AND MEXICO HAVE ASSUMED ON THIS MATTER, RANGING FROM AN ACTIVE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL SECURITY, TO THE NEGATION OF SUCH RIGHT.
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Interventional Symptom Management Options When Caring for Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

Abstract Patients diagnosed with advanced stages of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are often quite symptomatic, with symptoms primarily related to anatomic sites of obstruction. Endoscopic appr...
Malignant disease appearing late after operation for T1 N0 non-small-cell lung cancer. The Lung Cancer Study Group

Occurrences of malignancy in 308 patients who were clinically free of cancer 60 months or more after surgical treatment of T1 N0 non-small-cell lung cancer are summarized. At last report, 210 patients remained alive with no evidence of malignant disease, 43 patients died of nonmalignant causes, and 55 patients had 59 occurrences of malignant disease. Late lung cancer recurrence was observed in 22 patients (concurrent with nasopharyngeal cancer in one patient and with laryngeal cancer in one patient). Metachronous second lung cancer was noted in 20 patients (including concurrent colon cancer in one patient and metastatic recurrence in one patient). Other nonpulmonary malignant tumors appeared in 13 patients. Including second lung cancer, 25 cancers of aerodigestive epithelium were observed in 23 patients. The malignancy-free survival advantage for patients with squamous cancer observed until 60 months after resection was not sustained at 60 months and beyond. At the time of last follow-up, 84 patients (27%) had died; 43 were free of malignancy, and 41 had malignancy (14 patients were alive with malignancy and 210 with no evidence of disease). These data reinforce two conclusions: (1) The probability of lung cancer recurrence or appearance of new lung cancer 5 years or more after successful operation in this select subpopulation of patients with lung cancer is of concern. (2) The malignancy-free survival advantage of patients with squamous cancer disappears after 5 years.
Cervical Changes Accompanying Birth

Chapter Summary Investigations in the mouse have enhanced our understanding into the mechanisms of cervical remodeling and defined distinct pathways of ripening in term vs preterm birth. The cervix is a critical organ for maintenance of pregnancy and delivery of term fetus(es). Dynamic alterations in the structure and composition of the cervical extracellular matrix drive flexibility and mechanical strength of the cervix throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum and are in part regulated by steroid hormones. This includes early pregnancy changes in collagen fibril processing and assembly that result in progressive modifications to collagen architecture and increased hyaluronan synthesis and deposition in late pregnancy with subsequent loss of tissue stiffness. Although once considered an acceleration of the normal physiological process, recent studies in antiprogestin- and infection-mediated premature cervical ripening models reveal distinct pathways of ripening as determined by differences in gene expression, immune cell populations, prostaglandin synthesis, hyaluronan expression, and collagen structure.
Advanced industrial countries

(2000). Advanced industrial countries. Environmental Politics: Vol. 9, Ecological Modernisation Around the World Perspectives and Critical Debates, pp. 109-137.
Power Converter Topologies for Grid Interface of Wind Energy

This chapter focuses on the power electronic converter topologies used in grid integration of wind generators. The need for variable speed operation in order to capture the maximum possible energy at different wind velocities is discussed first. Based on this requirement, as well as to support emerging requirements on grid support features, a majority of the new wind generator designs employ the doubly fed induction generators with partial rated power converters or permanent magnet synchronous generators with fully rated power converters. Hence, the focus of this chapter is specifically on the power converter topologies for these two types of wind generators. The circuit configurations, basic operation and overview of control structure, and some relevant design details are presented. The capabilities of each of these two types of wind generators to support existing and emerging standards on grid interconnection are discussed
Smoking cessation for patients with cardiovascular disease: What is the best approach?

Tobacco use remains the major preventable cause of early mortality and morbidity in the US and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Quitting smoking rapidly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. In this review, we identify and discuss best approaches to assist smoking cessation among patients with CVD. Establishing office systems that reliably identify smokers to healthcare providers is an essential first step. Once the patient is identified as a smoker, providers should inquire about their willingness to quit and advise them to quit or provide motivation to get ready to make a quit attempt. Behavioral (counseling) and pharmacologic (nicotine replacement and non-nicotine medications) treatments double or triple long-term cessation rates and should be offered in combination to all patients with CVD who use tobacco. More intensive behavioral therapy is more effective and should be delivered when possible. The choice of pharmacotherapy will depend upon the clinical history of the patient and patient preference. Nicotine replacement and sustained release bupropion (bupropion SR) are first-line treatments for smoking cessation. Nicotine patches have been studied extensively in patients with stable CVD and have been shown to be safe. Bupropion SR has relatively few cardiovascular adverse effects and may be especially useful for patients with CVD; its safety is currently being studied. Special consideration is needed for hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes (e.g. myocardial infarction and unstable angina). The safety of pharmacotherapy in the acute setting is not yet established. Behavioral interventions, however, are very effective and should be delivered to all hospitalized smokers. Finally, it is important to create a clinical environment that is supportive of treating patients with tobacco dependence. Simple changes in office and hospital routines and procedures (routine screening to identify smokers, prompts to encourage intervention and links to more intensive tobacco dependence treatment programs) will substantially improve the identification, treatment, and outcomes of patients with CVD who use tobacco.
PROPERTIES OF LIQUID HYDROGEN

In this lecture I wish to survey the available knowledge of those physical properties of liquid hydrogen that are of technological importance. First, some of the physics that explains the special characteristics of hydrogen will be presented. Then a catalog of the major sources of data and extracts of these data will be given. Finally, some special topics will be discussed that have not been adequately dealt with in previous surveys.
Improving the assessment and documentation of constipation at UF Health Cancer Center through mandatory prompts.

263Background: Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients for management of pain and the most common and persistent side effect from opioid use is constipation. Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) a...
A mutant Herpes simplex virus, HSPV-1, for treatment of oral cancer

3296 Although Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) can be used as an oncolytic virus, it can infect a wide range of cells, which opens the possibility of undesirable side-effects. To increase the specificity of the virus for oral squamous cell carcinomas we replaced the promoter of the essential gene ICP-4 with the promoter/enhancer region of the highly tissue-specific Human papillomavirus type-16 (HPV-16). The novel virus was termed HSPV-1. The specificity of the HPV-16 promoter was confirmed by using a luciferase reporter gene construct, and expression was found in 2/3 oral cancer cell lines, but not in 3/3 brain cancer cell lines. When each of these cells was infected with HSPV-1 the cells expressed ICP-4, at levels that varied from 40% to 160% of that from the wild-type virus. However, these levels did not correlate with the activity of the promoter. HSPV-1 replicated in each cell type to titers that varied from 1% to 34.4% of the wild type virus, but the level of replication did not show a correlation with either the activity of the promoter in uninfected cells, the expression level of ICP-4 in infected cells, nor the type of tumor cell. To test the possibility that the promoter of HPV-16 was responding to some function of HSV, each of the three oral cancer cell types was transfected with the luciferase reporter construct and then infected with either HSV-1 or HSPV-1. A significant increase in expression was induced in each case, but was not seen when the wild-type virus had been exposed to UV light before the infection. Expression was induced by a strain of HSV-1, d120, from which the ICP-4 gene had been deleted. Thus, induction of expression from the HPV-16 promoter was dependent on the expression of immediate-early genes of HSV-1. The specificity of an oncolytic strain of HSV-1 can therefore be regulated by use of a fragment of HPV, but the design of new mutants must take into account the effects of other functions of HSV. Supported by PHS grant DE 13214
Skin Friction Measurements Using Oil Film Interferometry in a 3-D Supersonic Flowfield

The application of oil film interferometry (OFI) for the measurement of global skin friction on the surface beneath a complex three-dimensional supersonic flow is explored in this study. The flowfi...
Calcium Translocation in Signal Transduction

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews calcium translocation in signal transduction. It discusses neutrophils that are vital for human defense not only against bacteria and fungi but also against viruses and protozoa. Neutrophils are among the most motile mammalian cells, continuously leaving the vascular compartment and crawling into tissues in search of invading microorganisms. When they encounter such targets, which they recognize through specific cell surface receptors, signal transduction occurs leading to a variety of biological responses. These include adherence, directional movement, engulfment, and secretion of granule contents and generation of highly reactive oxygen metabolites at the level of the plasma membrane. The integrity and sequence of all these events are essential for the broad antimicrobial activity of these cells that are clearly demonstrated by the recurrent infections observed in patients with specific genetic defects. The chapter also discusses the regulation and role of [Ca2+]i in neutrophil activation. The introduction of fluorescent indicators of [Ca2+]i enabled the analysis of [Ca2+]i transients during neutrophil activation. Studies in populations of neutrophils showed an average resting. The use of new highly fluorescent intracellular calcium indicators such as fura-2 has allowed monitoring of [Ca2+]i at the single-cell level in a variety of cellular systems, including neutrophils.
Limited stage grade 3 follicular lymphoma patients can experience favorable outcomes with combined modality therapy.

Controversy exists regarding the optimal management of limited stage grade 3 follicular lymphoma (FL3). We assessed the treatment outcomes of 190 consecutive patients with stage I-II FL. Fifty two ...
An ex vivo technique for quantifying mouse lung injury using ultrasound surface wave elastography

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressively fatal disease with limited treatments. The bleomycin mouse model is often used to simulate the disease process in laboratory studies. The aim of this study was to develop an ex vivo technique for assessing mice lung injury using lung ultrasound surface wave elastography (LUSWE) in the bleomycin mouse model. The surface wave speeds were measured at three frequencies of 100, 200, and 300 Hz for mice lungs from control, mild, and severe groups. The results showed significant differences in the lung surface wave speeds, pulse oximetry, and compliance between control mice and mice with severe pulmonary fibrosis. LUSWE is an evolving technique for evaluating lung stiffness and may be useful for assessing pulmonary fibrosis in the bleomycin mouse model.
Fetal calcitropic hormones and neonatal calcium homeostasis.

Ionic calcium (Ca2+), total calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, albumin, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH), and immunoreactive calcitonin (CT) were measured in maternal and cord blood at term delivery of 96 women near term with predominantly normal pregnancies. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and albumin were measured in the infants at 24 hours of age. Umbilical Ca2+ levels exceeded maternal values significantly (2.82 +/- 0.15 vs 2.23 +/- 0.09 mEq/liter, P < .001), as did calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and albumin levels. The relative fetal hypercalcemia was associated with significantly higher CT levels in fetus than in mother (248 +/- 68 vs 209 +/- 54 pg/ml, P < .05) but PTH concentrations did not differ significantly between the two circulations. Within the fetal circulation, levels of each component did not differ except for PTH which was in higher concentration in venous than in arterial blood (5.50 +/- 1.81 vs 4.93 +/- 1.71 microliter-eq/ml, P < .05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis, utilizing neonatal Ca level as the dependent variable, identified one clinical feature (duration of pregnancy) and six laboratory data as significant independent variables, account in sum for 35% of the variation in neonatal calcium level. The significant laboratory variables, in order of entry into the model, were maternal PTH, umbilical venous PTH, maternal phosphorus, umbilical venous magnesium, neonatal albumin, and neonatal magnesium. These results indicate that the normal fetus responds to hypercalcemia in late intrauterine life by increasing CT secretion but not by suppressing PTH output. The umbilical PTH level is one of several factors at birth which correlates significantly with calcium concentration at 24 hours of age.
A Case Series of Preoperative Endovascular Stenting in Patients Undergoing Postchemotherapy Resection of Complex Oncologic Masses.

Abstract The incidence of complications for postchemotherapy (PC) resections is high. Severe intraoperative hemorrhage during retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is of significant concern. The safety and efficacy of endovascular technology in vascular surgery have been demonstrated, but no studies have incorporated endovascular stenting in preoperative planning. We present a case series of four patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors who underwent preoperative endovascular stenting to identify and protect major vascular structures encased by complex PC tumors. We measured operative time, estimated blood loss, intraoperative transfusion requirement, length of stay, and postoperative complications. In all cases, surgery progressed without full continuous identification of the major vascular structures and their branches because of the assurance that hemorrhage would be controlled should they be breached. Patient summary Preoperative endovascular stenting may be an effective approach for minimizing intraoperative hemorrhage and operative time in patients undergoing bulky postchemotherapy dissection. Additional studies are needed to better clarify patient selection criteria and quantify the efficacy and adverse consequences.
Modified rubbery siloxane membranes for enhanced C3+ hydrocarbon recovery from natural gas: Pure and multicomponent gas permeation evaluation

Abstract Rubbery siloxane membranes are utilized in industry for the rejection of nitrogen and for the concentration of heavy hydrocarbons in the membrane permeate stream. In this work, modified crosslinked siloxane terpolymer (VinylMeSiO)p(Me2SiO)m(OctMeSiO)n membranes (Ter-PDMS) were fabricated and evaluated for separations of heavy hydrocarbon (C3+) from natural gas. Gas permeation properties were evaluated using pure gas and C3+ hydrocarbon rich multicomponent gas mixtures under varying operating conditions (e.g. feed pressure, temperature, and feed gas composition). Pure gas permeation properties for modified crosslinked siloxane Ter-PDMS membranes displayed enhanced C3+/CH4 ideal selectivity and lessened permeability compared to conventional crosslinked PDMS membrane. Moreover, modified crosslinked siloxane Ter-PDMS membranes also showed enhanced C3+ separation performance under simulated typical field gas testing conditions (i.e. feed pressures up to 800 psi for multicomponent gas mixture consisting C1-C5 hydrocarbons, CO2, N2, and toluene/xylene). At 800 psi, modified crosslinked siloxane Ter-PDMS membrane exhibited C4H10/CH4 mixed gas selectivity and C4H10 permeability of 17.2 and 15,100 Barrer, respectively. These results emphasize the observations that membrane separation performance is strongly related to the testing conditions and feed compositions, highlighting the importance of exploring and designing better modified rubbery siloxane membrane materials for the actual industrial process.
Life Context and Critical Medical Anthropology: Lessons Learned in the Management of Perinatal Substance Use

This is a commentary on Preis et al.’s (2020) article “Improving Assessment, Treatment, and Understanding of Pregnancy Women With Opioid Use Disorder: The Importance of Life Context.” Here I note t...
A Comparison of US Clinical Laboratory Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Testing Practices Before and After the 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Testing Recommendations.

BACKGROUND Adherence to recommended laboratory testing practices is crucial for sexually transmitted infection prevention and control. The objective of this article is to compare Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) testing practices of US clinical laboratories in 2013 before the updated 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and in 2015 after the updated recommendations. METHODS A total of 236 clinical laboratories participated in surveys about their 2013 and 2015 CT and NG testing practices, including questions on specimen types collected and assays used. RESULTS There was an increase of 5 laboratories offering CT nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) from 2013 to 2015 and an increase of 5 laboratories offering NG NAAT. There was a net increase of 3 laboratories accepting urine for CT and NG NAAT, the preferred specimen type for male individuals. There was not a net increase in the total number of laboratories accepting vaginal swabs for CT NAAT (n = 89 in 2013 and 2015), the preferred specimen type for female individuals, but there was an increase of 3 laboratories accepting vaginal swabs for NG NAAT. The number of laboratories performing NG susceptibility testing decreased from 100 in 2013 to 89 in 2015 (χ2 = 1.07, P > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS There were no major changes in testing practices in the 2-year period from 2013 to 2015. However, there were some small shifts, including increases in the use of NAATs, acceptance of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-preferred specimen types for CT/NG, and changes in usage of assays by manufacturer.
Generating 3D Molecular Structures Conditional on a Receptor Binding Site with Deep Generative Models.

Deep generative models have been applied with increasing success to the generation of two dimensional molecules as SMILES strings and molecular graphs. In this work we describe for the first time a deep generative model that can generate 3D molecular structures conditioned on a three-dimensional (3D) binding pocket. Using convolutional neural networks, we encode atomic density grids into separate receptor and ligand latent spaces. The ligand latent space is variational to support sampling of new molecules. A decoder network generates atomic densities of novel ligands conditioned on the receptor. Discrete atoms are then fit to these continuous densities to create molecular structures. We show that valid and unique molecules can be readily sampled from the variational latent space defined by a reference `seed' structure and generated structures have reasonable interactions with the binding site. As structures are sampled farther in latent space from the seed structure, the novelty of the generated structures increases, but the predicted binding affinity decreases. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of conditional 3D molecular structure generation and provide a starting point for methods that also explicitly optimize for desired molecular properties, such as high binding affinity.
Resisting carelessness: The care manifesto: the politics of interdependence, by The Care Collective, London, Verso, 2020, 128 pp., $14.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1839760969

Care is having a moment. If neoliberalism is the zeitgeist of contemporary politics – championing hierarchies of capitalist individualism, hypermasculine competition, xenophobic border policing, wh...
Segmented conjugated macromolecules

Abstract Advances in the research and development of segmented conjugated macromolecules continue to open opportunities in the design of materials for a multitude of applications. Careful choice of polymerization technique enables the synthesis of controlled structures using precursors with promising mechanical and electrochemical properties. Further modification of the macromolecular structures allows for additional functionalities such as flexible side chains for process ability. Electrochemical properties of polymers are tuned using and combining segments with appropriate properties, for example, combining electron donor and acceptor properties to control the electronic band gap in materials for photovoltaics. This contribution will describe representative examples of conjugated systems and respective applications, differentiate between the oligomer and the polymer approach, and describe select developments in segmented conjugated polymer systems for use in a variety of electro-optical applications.
Simultaneous Estimation of Temperature and Voltage from Digital Delay Diversity

Semiconductor devices are fundamentally sensitive to process variation, supply voltage, and temperature, which impacts both the design and performance of modern integrated circuits. On-chip sensors are typically designed and calibrated to measure temperature and voltage independently, but designing independent sensors has implicit power and area costs. Here we propose a new simultaneous estimation of temperature and supply voltage using an ensemble of digital logic delays and nonlinear regression models. This approach is inherently digital and compatible with modern digital design flows. Using simulations in commercial 12nm FinFET and 65nm bulk CMOS processes, we show the feasibility and efficiency of this approach, and consider its benefits and potential limitations.
Justice Michael A. Musmanno and Constitutional Dissents, 1967-68

This article reviews the constitutional dissents of Associate Justice Michael A. Musmanno of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in his final two years on the bench before his death.
Communicating Ethical Engagement Abroad: A Content Analysis of Service-Learning Study Abroad Third-Party Provider Websites

This article shares the results of a study that analyzed the website content of eight third-party providers that offer service-learning study abroad programs to college students. The study looked specifically at the information about service-learning projects and how host communities, community partners, and target populations are portrayed or represented within that content. Data are analyzed through the lens of two ethical guidelines for international service-learning defined by The Forum on Education Abroad: prioritization of human dignity and community autonomy; and recognizing the risk of paternalism, exploitation, and neocolonial behavior. The findings of this study serve to provide baseline data about the public information shared by international service-learning program providers about service projects and partners as well as insights into how organizations that produce web content about service-learning partnerships can design information that meets ethical standards related to upholding dignity, respecting autonomy, and challenging paternalism.
Exploration of global spatiotemporal changes of fall foliage coloration in deciduous forests and shrubs using the VIIRS land surface phenology product

Abstract Fall foliage coloration is a phenological development process that has a significant impact on ecosystem carbon and water balance, climate change, and human sightseeing activities worldwide. Studies of land surface phenology concentrating on the onset timing of senescence and dormancy are insufficient to reveal the full details of the fall foliage coloration process that is particularly important for travel and the tourism industry. Thus, the aim of this study is for the first time to explicitly explore the fall foliage development in six coloration phases (little/no coloration, low coloration, moderate coloration, near-peak coloration, peak coloration, and post-peak coloration) and the related deciduous vegetation across the globe. The onset and duration of each coloration phase were estimated using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) land surface phenology product. The results indicate spatial patterns and interannual variations in the onset and duration of six phases in foliage coloration. The coloration phases present regular shifts along latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere but are complex in the Southern Hemisphere. The rate of change along latitudes is faster during the later coloration phases than the early phases in the Northern Hemisphere, while the rates are similar in the Southern Hemisphere for all six coloration phases. Moreover, the interannual variations in the onset of a foliage coloration phase are smaller in forested areas than in shrub areas, and more so in dense tree/shrub cover areas than in sparse tree/shrub cover areas. In contrast, the interannual variations in the duration of a foliage coloration depend on the vegetation type. Finally, there were no significant trends in the foliage coloration phase during 2013–2019. The results from this study improve our understanding of fall foliage coloration development and provide valuable datasets to the communities of phenology study and tourism.
Elemental and Microscopic Analysis in the 1993 Soft Drink/Syringe Product Tampering Incidents

Throughout the summer of 1993, a large number of alleged product tamperings were reported to the US Food and Drug Administration concerning medical syringes and numerous other items found in carbonated soft drinks. In response to several of these claims, FDA's National Forensic Chemistry Center (NFCC) utilized microscopic and elemental analysis to help establish the veracity of the allegations. The techniques used include inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, stereoscopic light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. This report describes, in part, studies which were performed in response to some specific product tampering scenarios.
Defects of neuronal migration and the pathogenesis of cortical malformations.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on cell movements during corticogenesis. In terms of orientation and directionality of cell movement, migration can be classified into (1) radial—proceeding from the ventricular to the pial surface and (2) tangential—running parallel to the surface of developing brain. With regard to pathway selection, migrating neurons fall into three major categories: (1) gliophilic cells that follow elongated glial fibers and bypass other neurons that are encountered within the sphere of their trajectory, (2) neurophilic cells that follow neuronal, particularly axonal surfaces, and bypass nearby glial shafts, and (3) biphilic cells that display temporal or regional affinities towards either glial or neuronal surfaces. Conceptual and factual advances in understanding neuronal migration in the past two decades have provided new insight into the pathogenesis of human brain malformations at the cellular, molecular, and functional levels. Nevertheless, methodological and conceptual advances made in recent years open new possibilities for understanding the effect of the environment on synaptic connectivity in the human brain at the molecular, cellular and functional levels.
Mineral Concentrations in Alfalfa and Sainfoin as Influenced by Soil Moisture Level

(...) There was an increase in the concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Zn in both species, and P in alfalfa with decreasing soil moisture supply. Sainfoin had approximately 0.3 kg −1 higher Mg and P concentrations than alfalfa, but lower concentrations of Ca and K (1.9 and 8.5 g kg −1 lower, respectively). Both species had a similar Ca/P ratio (approx. 3.3:1). Alfalfa had 2.35 mg kg −1 higher Cu and 1.95 mg kg −1 lower Zn concentrations than sainfoin. There was little influence of soil moisture level on the direction or magnitude of the correlation coefficients among the minerals in both species. (...)
Virus-induced alterations of lymphoid tissues: II. Lymphocyte receptors for Newcastle disease virus

Abstract Newcastle disease virus (NDV) agglutinates rat, mouse and human lymphocytes. Viral agglutination of rat thoracic duct lymphocytes was specifically inhibited by N-acetylneuraminic acid implying that the receptors terminate in sialic acid. While the attachment of virus to lymphocytes was rapid the reaction was unstable and NDV was shown to elute at 37 °C. Evidence was obtained that the eluting virus cleaved sialic acid from the surface of lymphocytes and concomitantly destroyed this lymphocyte receptor.
Ultraviolet-sensitive mutants of Neurospora. II. Radiation studies.

Two new, recessive, chromosomal mutants of Neurospora, uvs-3, and uvs-4, have been found to be more sensitive to UV than wild type. The uvs-3 mutant, is very sensitive to nitrogen mustard, nitrosoguanidine and X-rays. UV-dose-response curves of uvs-3 lack the shoulder typical of wild type but parallel the wild-type curve at low survival levels. Unlike wild type, which shows a decrease in survival when incubated in water or proflavine (4 mg/ml) after UV, uvs-3 shows an increase in survival after water incubation and an even greater increase when incubated in proflavine. It also differs from wild type in showing much less photoreactivation and in not losing its photoreactivation ability during two hours incubation in water. The uvs-4 mutant is not sensitive to nitrogen mustard and only slightly sensitive to nitrosoguanidine. Dose-response curves of uvs-4 retain a shoulder and are steeper than those of wild type at low survival levels. Proflavine sensitivity and photoreactivation of uvs-4 resemble wild type, but no decrease in survival occurs when it is held in water after UV. The combination of characteristics shon, by uvs-4 is not like that of any of the UV-sensitive mutants found in E. coli but those of uvs-3 resemble those shown by the EXR (X-ray sensitive, low to normal recombination) and reckless REC (X-ray sensitive, recombinationless) mutant classes in bacteria.
Benzothiadiazole-induced gene expression in wheat spikes does not provide resistance to Fusarium head blight

Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of wheat throughout the world. FHB is primarily caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. In wheat, benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH) induces the wheat chemically-induced (WCI) genes and provides resistance to several pathogens. The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to investigate the effects of BTH application and F. graminearum infection on selected defense response genes in wheat spikes; and (2) to study the potential of BTH for inducing FHB resistance in wheat. Wheat spikes were treated with BTH prior to anthesis and transcript accumulation and resistance to FHB were measured. BTH-treated wheat spikes were examined for expression of six defense response genes (PR-1, PR-2, PR-3, PR-4, PR-5 and peroxidase) and the five WCI genes that are induced by BTH in wheat leaves. All five WCI genes were induced by BTH in spikes; however none of the six defense response genes were induced. Conversely, the defense response genes were induced by F. graminearum infection, whereas the WCI genes were not. These data indicate that the pathway for induction of the defense response genes by F. graminearum infection is distinct from the BTH-induced pathway. In the disease evaluations of BTH-treated plants, we found that BTH did not provide significant Type I or Type II resistance to wheat spikes spray- or point-inoculated with F. graminearum, respectively. These data indicate that BTH application and the induction of WCI gene expression does not provide resistance to FHB.
Nephrotoxic effects of aminoglycosides on the developing kidney

Aminoglycosides are the most commonly used antibiotics in infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. Despite their outstanding efficacy profile, aminoglycosides remain relatively toxic with a narrow therapeutic index and a potential to cause nephrotoxicity and/or ototoxicity. Although aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity has been the subject of multiple studies, the short- and long-term effect of aminoglycosides administration on the developing kidney of the fetus or premature newborn has not yet been determined. In this review the currently available evidence about the effects of aminoglycosides on the developing kidney and the mechanisms involved in aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity are presented. Proceedings of the 9 th International Workshop on Neonatology · Cagliari (Italy) · October 23 rd -26 th , 2013 · Learned lessons, changing practice and cutting-edge research
An algorithm for computing the Pisarenko vector

The problem of computing the minimum eigenvector (the Pisarenko vector) of a covariance matrix is of considerable interest in signal processing and computational linear algebra. A unified algorithm for computing both the minimum and maximum eigenpairs by simply choosing the proper initial condition is proposed. In particular, the extremum eigenpairs are computed using higher order convergent methods which include the Newton method, the Halley method and root iterations. The advantage of these methods is that one can control where the methods converge by choosing a proper initial condition. Some of the methods are implemented using QR factorization to avoid matrix inversion. By appropriately choosing the initial condition, this approach can also be used to compute the largest eigenpair and thus can be applied for computing the minor and major subspaces of symmetric or Hermitian matrices. Procedures such as the double step Newton method for accelerating the developed methods are considered. Several randomly generated test problems are used to evaluate the performance of the methods.
Advances in Radiation Therapy in Pediatric Neuro-oncology:

Radiation therapy remains a highly effective therapy for many pediatric central nervous system tumors. With more children achieving long-term survival after treatment for brain tumors, late-effects of radiation have become an important concern. In response to this problem, treatment protocols for a variety of pediatric central nervous system tumors have evolved to reduce radiation fields and doses when possible. Recent advances in radiation technology such as image guidance and proton therapy have led to a new era of precision treatment with significantly less exposure to healthy tissues. These developments along with the promise of molecular classification of tumors and targeted therapies point to an optimistic future for pediatric neuro-oncology.
p53 Mutations and hepatitis B virus: Cofactors in hepatocellular carcinoma

We studied 80 hepatocellular carcinomas from three continents for p53 gene (TP53) mutations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequences. p53 mutations were frequent in tumors from Mozambique but not in tumors from South Africa, China, and Germany. Independent of geographic origin, most tumors were positive for HBV sequences. X gene coding sequences of HBV were detected in 78% of tumors, whereas viral sequences in the surface antigen- and core antigen-encoding regions were present in less than 45% of tumors. These observations indicate that hepatocellular carcinomas are genetically heterogeneous. Mozambican-type of hepatocellular carcinomas are characterized by a high incidence of p53 mutations related to aflatoxins. In other tumors, the rarity of p53 mutations combined with the frequent presence of viral X gene coding sequences suggests a possible interference of HBV with the wild-type p53 function.
Signal transduction in vascular plants

We review current evidence for the presence and activity in plants of several paradigmatic components of transmembrane signal transduction systems. Components considered include the second messengers calcium, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and cyclic AMP; protein kinases and protein phosphatases; and G-proteins. At the current stage of development of the field of plant signal transduction, broad similarities between plant and the more well-studied animal systems are apparent. However, there also exist considerable differences in detail.
Two-Dimensional Sonoelastographic Shear Velocity Imaging

We introduce a novel 2-D sonoelastographic technique for estimating local shear velocities from propagating shear wave interference patterns (termed crawling waves) in this paper. A relationship between the local crawling wave spatial phase derivatives and local shear wave velocity is derived, with phase derivatives estimated using a 2-D autocorrelation technique. Comparisons were made between the 2-D sonoelastographic shear velocity estimation technique and its computationally simpler 1-D precursor. In general, the 2-D sonoelastographic shear velocity estimator outperformed the 1-D-based technique in terms of accuracy and estimator noise minimization. For both approaches, increasing the estimator kernel size reduces noise levels but lowers spatial resolution. Homogeneous elastic phantom results demonstrate the ability of sonoelastographic shear velocity imaging to quantify the true underlying shear velocity distributions as verified using time-of-flight measurements. Results also indicate that increasing the estimator kernel size increases the transition zone length about boundaries in heterogeneous elastic mediums and may complicate accurate quantification of smaller elastically contrasting lesions. Furthermore, analysis of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values for sonoelastograms obtained in heterogeneous elastic phantoms reveal that the 2-D sonoelastographic shear velocity estimation technique outperforms the 1-D version for a given kernel size in terms of image noise minimization and contrast enhancement. Experimental results from an embedded porcine liver specimen with a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesion demonstrates that the 2-D sonoelastographic shear velocity estimation technique minimizes image noise artifacts and yields a consistent lesion boundary when compared with gross pathology. Volume measurements of the RFA lesion obtained from shear velocity sonoelastograms was comparable to that obtained by fluid displacement of the dissected lesion as illustrated by 3-D volume reconstructions. Overall, 2-D sonoelastographic shear velocity imaging was shown to be a promising new approach to characterizing the shear velocity distribution of elastic materials.
Undiagnosed myasthenia gravis owing to a very unusual primary presentation

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an uncommon autoimmune disorder presenting with fluctuating, progressive muscle weakness. The typical initial presentation includes ocular symptoms of ptosis, diplopia, or both. In the literature, other late symptoms have been described. The inability to close the jaws or difficulty in closing the jaws is an uncommon symptom of muscle weakness. Studies have found that only 4% of patients with MG ever complain of, or demonstrate, masticatory muscular weakness with an inability to close the jaws or difficulty in closing the jaws. In the present case, although the patient may have manifested other symptoms, his primary complaint was the inability to masticate as a result of muscular weakness and the difficulty in closing the jaw. The symptoms had reportedly been present for several months. The case is interesting in that the patient presented with an uncommon symptom as the primary complaint. The patient's recall and communication of his medical history was poor, and it is unclear as to all the factors that may have delayed the diagnosis. However, it is important for dentists to recognize these atypical symptoms of MG so that they can either order the initial tests or make the appropriate referral.
Gadolinium chloride inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced mortality and in vivo prostaglandin E2 release by splenic macrophages

The monocytic phagocytic system, consisting primarily of tissue macrophages of the liver and spleen, produces prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a modulator of the septic response. Macrophages are known to internalize gadolinium chloride (GD), a lanthanide metal, which inhibits phagocytic function. Thus we studied the effect of in vivo GD on lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced mortality and on LPS-stimuIated PGE2 release by cultured splenic macrophages. GD (7 mg/kg intravenously) given on the two days prior to LPS challenge (30 mg/kg intravenously) completely prevented the uniform mortality in rats. This protective effect was transient since rechallenge with LPS 10 days later was uniformly lethal. Previous work in this laboratory has established a critical role of arginine concentration on macrophage behavior in vitro. Therefore, to establish culture conditions reflective of the milieu within the portal venous system, alanine and arginine levels were measured in the portal and hepatic veins of normal and endotoxemic (LPS, 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) rats. In contrast to alanine levels, which were not altered by endotoxemia, there was a reduction of arginine concentrations from a range of 50 to 250 μmol/L in normal rats to a range of 10 to 50 μmol/L after LPS challenge. Consequently subsequent in vitro assays of splenic macrophage secretory behavior were performed in concentrations of 1200 μmol/L arginine (in standard RPMI-1640), as well as in concentrations reflective of physiologic arginine levels (10 and 100 μmol/L in modified RPMI-1640). Rat splenic macrophages harvested after two consecutive days of either in vivo saline or GD injection (7 mg/kg intravenously) were stimulated with LPS (0.025 to 2.5 μg/ml). At 72 hours of culture, the release of PGE2 by splenic macrophages from GD-treated rats was significantly (P<0.0001) reduced at all LPS concentrations. Increased PGE2 production was not present when the splenic macrophages were cultured in the supraphysiologic arginine (1200 μmol/L) concentration. The results demonstrate the relevance of physiologic arginine concentrations in cell culture studies and suggest that the protection conferred by GD against septic mortality may be related to downregulation of the release of immunosuppressive PGE2 by the monocytic phagocytic system.
I try not to depend on anyone but me : Welfare-reliant women's perspectives on self-sufficiency, work, and marriage

Welfare reformers sought to reduce “dependency,” or reliance on state-supported cash benefits and deployed a discourse of “self-sufficiency” to promote the legitimacy of efforts to remove welfare recipients from publicly funded cash assistance through either wage labor or marriage. We use longitudinal, qualitative interview data collected from 38 initially welfare-reliant women to examine what self-sufficiency means to them and their perspectives on how work and marriage affect their ability to be self-sufficient. Grounded theory analysis revealed that for these women, self-sufficiency means formal independence from both the state (i.e., Temporary Assistance to Needy Families [TANF]) and men (i.e., marriage). Although they value marriage as an institution and would ideally marry, they do not consider marriage to be a likely route to self-sufficiency given the pool of men available to them. Rather, they embrace their own market-based wage labor as the means by which they can attain some measure of independence. Taking our lead from the women in this study, we challenge the emphasis on marriage in current welfare policy. We argue that employment training that results in better jobs for women and men and work supports that make low-wage work pay are clearly the appropriate direction for policy aimed at the welfare-reliant and working poor.
Tanti Auguri, Tony!

The present issue of Journal of Musicology is the first of two containing articles from the ‘‘International Conference on the Italian Madrigal, 1550–1610, and 70th Birthday Celebration for Anthony Newcomb,’’ which was held at the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities at the University of California, Berkeley, 9–10 November 2011. Generous funding for the conference was provided by the Dean of Humanities, the Department of Music, the Department of Italian Studies, the History of Art Department, and the Townsend Center for the Humanities at the University of California, Berkeley, and these sponsors should be thanked at the outset, for without their support, this remarkable gathering of scholars from across Europe and the United States would not have been possible. The foregoing list of backers will include surprises for those who do not know some details of Tony Newcomb’s long and distinguished career. A virtual California native, in 1949 Tony moved with his family from New York City to the Bay Area, where as a youngster he studied with Darius Milhaud, by then at Mills College. Not wanting to play favorites when it came time for university, he attended both Stanford University (1958–1959) and the University of California, Berkeley (BA 1962). He took his PhD at Princeton University in 1969, having already landed a premier position at Harvard University the year before, but by 1973 he was back at Berkeley, an institution to which he has remained staunchly loyal. Alongside his invaluable teaching and mentoring, his contributions to the university include helping to found the Italian Studies Department in 1984; serving as Dean of Arts and Humanities from 1990 to 1998, when he saw the College of Letters and Sciences through a period of great transformation; and chairing both the Department of Music and the History of Art Department. In addition to his national honors—including election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992 and an honorary lifetime membership in the American 325