Does the Constitution Provide More Ballot Access Protection for Presidential Elections Than for U.S. House Elections?

Both the U.S. Constitution and The Federalist Papers suggest that voters ought to have more freedom to vote for the candidate of their choice for the U.S. House of Representatives than they do for the President or the U.S. Senate. Yet, strangely, for the last thirty-three years, the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts have ruled that the Constitution gives voters more freedom to vote for the candidate of their choice in presidential elections than in congressional elections. Also, state legislatures, which have been writing ballot access laws since 1888, have passed laws that make it easier for minor-party and independent candidates to get on the ballot for President than for the U.S. House. As a result, voters in virtually every state invariably have far more choices on their general election ballots for the President than they do for the House. This Article argues that the right of a voter to vote for someone other than a Democrat or a Republican for the House is just as important as a voter’s right to do so for President, and that courts should grant more ballot access protection to minor-party and independent candidates for the House

Weekly gemcitabine plus 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin for locally advanced or metastatic carcinoma of the biliary tract

[[abstract]]Both gemcitabine and weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (HDFL) have shown promising antitumour activity for patients with locally advanced or metastatic carcinoma of the biliary tract (CBT). From April 1999 through December 2002, 30 patients with inoperable CBT were treated with gemcitabine 800 mg m(-2), intravenous infusion for 30 min, followed by 5-FU, 2000 mg m(-2) and leucovorin, 300 mg m(-2), intravenous infusion for 24 h, on day 1, 8 and 15, every 4 weeks. A total of 166 cycles were given (median of four cycles per patient, range 1-24 cycles). Response was evaluable in 28 patients and toxicity in 29 patients. Partial response was obtained in six patients, stable disease in 13, while progressive disease occurred in nine. The objective response rate was 21.4% (95% CI: 5.2-37.6%). The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicity was infection (nine patients). Other types of grade 3 or 4 toxicity included leucopenia (four patients), thrombocytopenia (three patients), anaemia (three patients), nausea/vomiting (two patients) and elevation of liver transaminases (three patients). As of 30 September 2003, the median progression-free survival was 3.7 months (95% CI: 2.8-4.6 months) and the median overall survival was 4.7 months (95% CI: 0.8-8.6 months). Our data suggest that weekly gemcitabine plus HDFL is modestly active with acceptable treatment-related toxicity for patients with advanced CBT

FACT - The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope: Status and Results

The First G-APD Cherenkov telescope (FACT) is the first telescope using silicon photon detectors (G-APD aka. SiPM). It is built on the mount of the HEGRA CT3 telescope, still located at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, and it is successfully in operation since Oct. 2011. The use of Silicon devices promises a higher photon detection efficiency, more robustness and higher precision than photo-multiplier tubes. The FACT collaboration is investigating with which precision these devices can be operated on the long-term. Currently, the telescope is successfully operated from remote and robotic operation is under development. During the past months of operation, the foreseen monitoring program of the brightest known TeV blazars has been carried out, and first physics results have been obtained including a strong flare of Mrk501. An instantaneous flare alert system is already in a testing phase. This presentation will give an overview of the project and summarize its goals, status and first results

The Vehicle, Spring 2013

Vol. 54, Issue 1 Table of Contents About Face!: A Confederacy of ClichesKaren Neuberg page 8 HopeJames Coxpage 9 IN or OUTTaryn DeVriespage 12 The Imagination of a ChildMaxwell Collinspage 16 How Free to be a TreeLeann Kirchnerpage 18 CrowsValentina Canopage 19 Old West PhotosFred Pollackpage 20 Lava LampFred Pollackpage 21 Mort MotGerry Mark Nortonpage 23 If ILaura Adrianpage 24 Finding my MonkeyDavid Lewitzkypage 25 Slow DragDavid Lewitzkypage 26 Political ScienceElizabeth Marlowpage 27 ...Were Punctuated By...Elizabeth Marlowpage 28 St. E Pt 1Elizabeth Marlowpage 29 The Steamboat CaptainElizabeth Marlowpage 30 Pretty EyesRyan Sheapage 31 The World is RoundRyan Sheapage 32 End SongsJason Graffpage 33 The Sensitive Youth Grows UpRichard King Perkins IIpage 41 Colors and LightKyle Owenspage 42 RE-TARDKarlyn Thayerpage 44 Where Is Waldo?Riley Parishpage 57 Beneath Shifting SoundsHolly Daypage 58 Talking Shop with Mike Kardospage 60 Winnie Davis Neely Award winner: Paper CutsGregory Robert Petersonpage 68 Paper-Mache PoetryGregory Robert Petersonpage 69 James K. Johnson Award winners: ValveChristopher Robinsonpage 72 Dear MotherEliot Thompsonpage 76 Why Are There Bars on the WindowsEliot Thompsonpage 77 To Be a ScholarEliot Thompsonpage 79 OccidentalEliot Thompsonpage 80 Falling is for the ClumsyEliot Thompsonpage 81 Scary MonstersC. David Banyaipage 83 I Called My Grandmother DollyRashelle Spearpage 90 Tender FleshH R Greenpage 92 Faking ItShelby Koehnepage 95 Contributor\u27s notespage 101https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1095/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, Spring 2013

Vol. 54, Issue 1 Table of Contents About Face!: A Confederacy of ClichesKaren Neuberg page 8 HopeJames Coxpage 9 IN or OUTTaryn DeVriespage 12 The Imagination of a ChildMaxwell Collinspage 16 How Free to be a TreeLeann Kirchnerpage 18 CrowsValentina Canopage 19 Old West PhotosFred Pollackpage 20 Lava LampFred Pollackpage 21 Mort MotGerry Mark Nortonpage 23 If ILaura Adrianpage 24 Finding my MonkeyDavid Lewitzkypage 25 Slow DragDavid Lewitzkypage 26 Political ScienceElizabeth Marlowpage 27 ...Were Punctuated By...Elizabeth Marlowpage 28 St. E Pt 1Elizabeth Marlowpage 29 The Steamboat CaptainElizabeth Marlowpage 30 Pretty EyesRyan Sheapage 31 The World is RoundRyan Sheapage 32 End SongsJason Graffpage 33 The Sensitive Youth Grows UpRichard King Perkins IIpage 41 Colors and LightKyle Owenspage 42 RE-TARDKarlyn Thayerpage 44 Where Is Waldo?Riley Parishpage 57 Beneath Shifting SoundsHolly Daypage 58 Talking Shop with Mike Kardospage 60 Winnie Davis Neely Award winner: Paper CutsGregory Robert Petersonpage 68 Paper-Mache PoetryGregory Robert Petersonpage 69 James K. Johnson Award winners: ValveChristopher Robinsonpage 72 Dear MotherEliot Thompsonpage 76 Why Are There Bars on the WindowsEliot Thompsonpage 77 To Be a ScholarEliot Thompsonpage 79 OccidentalEliot Thompsonpage 80 Falling is for the ClumsyEliot Thompsonpage 81 Scary MonstersC. David Banyaipage 83 I Called My Grandmother DollyRashelle Spearpage 90 Tender FleshH R Greenpage 92 Faking ItShelby Koehnepage 95 Contributor\u27s notespage 101https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1095/thumbnail.jp

Inflammation and cancer: macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)—the potential missing link

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was the original cytokine, described almost 50 years ago and has since been revealed to be an important player in pro-inflammatory diseases. Recent work using MIF mouse models has revealed new roles for MIF. In this review, we present an increasing body of evidence implicating the key pro-inflammatory cytokine MIF in specific biological activities related directly to cancer growth or contributing towards a microenvironment favouring cancer progression

Irinotecan plus folinic acid/continuous 5-fluorouracil as simplified bimonthly FOLFIRI regimen for first-line therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Combination therapy of irinotecan, folinic acid (FA) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been proven to be highly effective for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. However, in light of safety and efficacy concerns, the best combination regimen for first-line therapy still needs to be defined. The current study reports on the bimonthly FOLFIRI protocol consisting of irinotecan with continuous FA/5-FU in five German outpatient clinics, with emphasis on the safety and efficiency, quality of life, management of delayed diarrhea, and secondary resection of regressive liver metastases. METHODS: A total of 35 patients were treated for metastatic colorectal cancer. All patients received first-line treatment according to the FOLFIRI regimen, consisting of irinotecan (180 mg/m(2)), L-FA (200 mg/m(2)) and 5-FU bolus (400 mg/m(2)) on day 1, followed by a 46-h continuous infusion 5-FU (2400 mg/m(2)). One cycle contained three fortnightly administrations. Staging was performed after 2 cycles. Dosage was reduced at any time if toxicity NCI CTC grade III/IV was observed. Chemotherapy was administered only to diarrhea-free patients. RESULTS: The FOLFIRI regimen was generally well tolerated. It was postponed for one-week in 51 of 415 applications (12.3%). Dose reduction was necessary in ten patients. Grade III/IV toxicity was rare, with diarrhea (14%), nausea/vomiting (12%), leucopenia (3%), neutropenia (9%) and mucositis (3%). The overall response rate was 31% (4 CR and 7 PR), with disease control in 74%. After primary chemotherapy, resection of liver metastases was achieved in three patients. In one patient, the CR was confirmed pathologically. Median progression-free and overall survival were seven and 17 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The FOLFIRI regimen proved to be safe and efficient. Outpatient treatment was well tolerated. Since downstaging was possible, combinations of irinotecan and continuous FA/5-FU should further be investigated in neoadjuvant protocols

Vascular disrupting agents in clinical development

Growth of human tumours depends on the supply of oxygen and nutrients via the surrounding vasculature. Therefore tumour vasculature is an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Apart from angiogenesis inhibitors that compromise the formation of new blood vessels, a second class of specific anticancer drugs has been developed. These so-called vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) target the established tumour vasculature and cause an acute and pronounced shutdown of blood vessels resulting in an almost complete stop of blood flow, ultimately leading to selective tumour necrosis. As a number of VDAs are now being tested in clinical studies, we will discuss their mechanism of action and the results obtained in preclinical studies. Also data from clinical studies will be reviewed and some considerations with regard to the future development are given

Differentiation of normal and cancer cells induced by sulfhydryl reduction: biochemical and molecular mechanisms

We examined the morphological, biochemical and molecular outcome of a nonspecific sulfhydryl reduction in cells, obtained by supplementation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) in a 0.1-10 mM concentration range. In human normal primary keratinocytes and in colon and ovary carcinoma cells we obtained evidences for: (i) a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation without toxicity or apoptosis; (ii) a transition from a proliferative mesenchymal morphology to cell-specific differentiated structures; (iii) a noticeable increase in cell-cell and cell-substratum junctions; (iv) a relocation of the oncogenic beta-catenin at the cell-cell junctions; (v) inhibition of microtubules aggregation; (vi) upregulation of differentiation-related genes including p53, heat shock protein 27 gene, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1, E-cadherin, and downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2; (vii) inhibition of c-Src tyrosine kinase. In conclusion, a thiol reduction devoid of toxicity as that operated by NAC apparently leads to terminal differentiation of normal and cancer cells through a pleiade of converging mechanisms, many of which are targets of the recently developed differentiation therapy