cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development and stability of Y–Ti–O nanoclusters in mechanically alloyed Fe–Cr based ferritic alloys

Ferritic alloys containing a high density of nanoscale clusters of Y–Ti–O exhibit superior creep strength and potential for high resistance to radiation damage. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to characterize the sequence-of-events and the necessary ingredients for the formation of nanoclusters (NCs) during processing, as well as their thermal stability during high temperature aging. Mechanical alloying (MA) dissolves Y2O3 in the master alloy Fe– Cr–W powders. A large population of 1–2 nm NCs precipitate during subsequent high temperature consolidation. The NC sizes increase and their volume fractions and number densities decrease with increasing the consolidation temperature. Both Ti and Y are necessary for NC formation at higher temperatures. The NCs in MA957 are stable during aging at 1150 � C for times up to 243 h, but systematically coarsen at 1200 � C. The NCs coarsen rapidly and become unstable at higher aging temperatures. Variations in the alloy hardness are consistent with differences in the NC sizes and number densities. � 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A fault-tolerant steering control design for automatic path tracking in autonomous vehicles

In this paper, a model reference based adaptive controller with look-ahead technology is proposed for the automatic steering of autonomous vehicles in the presence of actuator faults. Following fault detection by an adaptive diagnostic observer, the proposed controller adaptively changes the control technique to compensate for the loss of actuator effectiveness. The proposed method was applied to a ground vehicle following a rigid square wave shaped road under different faulty conditions in the steering actuator. Simplicity of the overall scheme, the speed by which the system is able to recover from the fault and excellent tracking performance under faulty conditions are the main positive features of the proposed approach.
Relationships between visual perception and oral language production of young children.

This study examined the role of visual perception in the oral language production of young children. The purpose was to identify and specify the extent of relationships between certain visual perceptual processes and selected oral language skills. 48 Ss (CAs, 4 through 8) were given the Marianne Frostig Developmental Test of Visual Perception. Raw scores on each of the 5 subtests served as measures of the visual perceptual processes. Measures of selected skills of oral language (syntactical, morphological, and associative skills) were dependent variables. Step-wise regression techniques showed that the visual perceptual processes contributed significantly to explaining the variance of some skills in all aspects of language sampled. Differentiation among the visual perceptual processes occurred: Spatial Relationships contributed consistently to the morphological and associative skills while Constancy of Shape contributed to the syntactical skills. Implications for language arts instruction and for theory c...
Counseling and Psychotherapy: Ethnic and Cultural Differences

Scholars and mental health professionals have argued that racial–cultural issues are obstacles for those seeking help. When available, cross-cultural counseling has focused on misunderstanding client health beliefs and cultural customs, practitioners' historical, social, and political unfamiliarly of discrimination, professional cultures, biased theoretical models, and failure to create realistic understandings of members of racial–cultural groups in the USA. Recognizing the importance of meeting the needs for all who seek mental health services, cross-cultural scholars and educators have been providing direction in cross-cultural psychology research, practice, and training. Competency guidelines and ethical and professional mandates have come from these efforts. Unfortunately, emanating from a cultural pluralism perspective, cross-cultural psychology has often resulted in overgeneralized and homogenized group stereotypes without attention to within group variation and individual differences. A transition from cross-cultural towards socially constructivist multicultural psychology has been gaining momentum that shifts learning from cognitively perceived culture-specific group norms to an integrated cognitive-affective racial-cultural identity perspective that includes social, historical, and political frameworks. Understanding personal racial and cultural identities and developing self-acceptance as the means for respectfully and competently working with people from all racial-cultural groups has become the primary and necessary prerequisites for developing multicultural competence in the twenty-first century.
Screening and evaluating aminated cationic functional moieties for potential CO2 capture applications using an anionic MOF scaffold

Three cations with different amine density, guanidinium, aminoguanidinium, and diaminoguanidinium, were loaded into anionic bio-MOF-1via cation-exchange. The structures and compositions of the cation-exchange products were characterized, and their N2 and CO2 adsorption properties were studied and compared.
Selective expression of stromal-derived factor-1 in the capillary vascular endothelium plays a role in Kaposi sarcoma pathogenesis

Kaposi sarcoma (KS), the most common neoplasm in patients with AIDS, typically presents with multiple skin lesions characterized by “spindle cells,” the vast majority of which are infected with KSHV (Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus, also named HHV-8). In patients with AIDS, the presence of cell-associated KSHV DNA in blood is predictive of subsequent KS development, but the mechanisms by which circulating KSHV-infected cells contribute to AIDS-KS pathogenesis are unclear. Here, we show that the chemokine stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), which is constitutively expressed by skin capillary endothelium and displayed on the endothelial cell surface in association with heparan sulfate, can trigger specific arrest of KSHV-infected cells under physiologic shear flow conditions. Moreover, in the presence of soluble SDF-1 gradients, SDF-1 expressed on the endothelial barrier can promote transendothelial migration of KSHV-infected cells. By triggering specific adhesion of circulating KSHV-infected cells and favoring their entry into the extravascular cutaneous space, endothelial cell–associated SDF-1 in cutaneous capillaries may dictate the preferential occurrence of KS in the skin.
IL-22 Levels are Associated with Trichomonas vaginalis Infection in the Lower Genital Tract

Problem IL-22 has important functions at mucosal surfaces, including the induction of antimicrobial peptides and maintenance of epithelium. However IL-22 has not been investigated in the genital tract during TV infection.
The Role of Nontechnical Skills in Simulated Trauma Resuscitation

Objective Trauma team training provides instruction on crisis management through debriefing and discussion of teamwork and leadership skills during simulated trauma scenarios. The effects of team leader's nontechnical skills (NTSs) on technical performance have not been thoroughly studied. We hypothesized that team's and team leader's NTSs correlate with technical performance of clinical tasks. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Brigham and Women's Hospital, STRATUS Center for Surgical Simulation Participants A total of 20 teams composed of surgical residents, emergency medicine residents, emergency department nurses, and emergency services assistants underwent 2 separate, high-fidelity, simulated trauma scenarios. Each trauma scenario was recorded on video for analysis and divided into 4 consecutive sections. For each section, 2 raters used the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons framework to assess NTSs of the team. To evaluate the entire team's NTS, 2 additional raters used the Modified Non-Technical Skills Scale for Trauma system. Clinical performance measures including adherence to guidelines and time to perform critical tasks were measured independently. Results NTSs performance by both teams and team leaders in all NTS categories decreased from the beginning to the end of the scenario (all p Conclusions The NTSs of trauma teams and team leaders deteriorate as clinical scenarios progress, and the performance of team leaders and teams is highly correlated. Cognitive NTS scores correlate with critical task performance. Increased attention to NTSs during trauma team training may lead to sustained performance throughout trauma scenarios. Decision making and situation awareness skills are critical for both team leaders and teams and should be specifically addressed to improve performance.
Flight Mechanics of Manned Sub-Orbital Reusable Launch Vehicles with Recommendations for Launch and Recovery

An overview of every significant method of launch and recovery for manned sub-orbital Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) is presented here. We have categorized launch methods as vertical takeoff, horizontal takeoff, and air launch. Recovery methods are categorized as wings, aerodynamic decelerators, rockets, and rotors. We conclude that both vertical takeoff and some air launch methods are viable means of attaining sub-orbital altitudes and wings and aerodynamic decelerators are viable methods for recovery. These conclusions are based on statistical methods using historical data coupled with time-stepped integration of the trajectory equations of motion. Based on the additional factors of safety, customer acceptance, and affordability, we also conclude that the preferred architecture for a commercially successful manned sub-orbital RLV is Vertical Takeoff using hybrid rocket motor propulsion and winged un-powered Horizontal Landing onto a runway (VTHL).
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Increases the Mitogenic Response to Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vivo via Expression of fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has traditionally been considered an endothelial cell–specific factor inducing angiogenesis and vascular permeability in vivo. In the present study, expression of VEGF and its receptors, fetal liver kinase-1 (flk-1) and fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (flt-1), was examined in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury. Although VEGF and flk-1 were not detectable, high levels of flt-1 mRNA and protein were expressed by smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the neointima, as demonstrated by en face in situ hybridization and Western blotting. Intimal SMC proliferation in chronically denuded rat carotid arteries was unaffected by intraluminal infusion of VEGF, whereas fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 increased the number of replicating SMCs 4-fold. Pretreatment with VEGF doubled the mitogenic response to infused FGF-2 by increasing SMC replication in deeper layers of the intima. VEGF increased the permeability of chronically denuded vessels to plasma proteins but had no ef...
Recent studies of temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS) in animals

It is well known that excessive exposure to noise results in temporary and/or permanent changes in hearing sensitivity in both human and animal subjects. The purpose of this review is to describe the major findings from laboratory studies of experimentally induced hearing losses, both temporary and permanent, resulting from exposure to noise in animal subjects which have been published since the report of Kryter e t a l. (1966). The data reviewed support the following general statements: (1) The chinchilla is the most widely used and most appropriate animalmodel for studies of noise‐induced hearing loss; (2) with continuous exposures to moderate‐level noise, thresholds reach asymptotic levels (ATS) within 18–24 h; (3) permanent threshold shifts, however, depend upon the level, frequency, and the duration of exposure; (4) below a ‘‘critical level’’ of about 115 dB, permanent threshold shift (PTS) and cell loss are generally related to the total energy in continuous exposures; (5) periodic rest periods inserted in an exposure schedule are protective and result in less hearing loss and cochlear damage than equal energy continuous exposures; and (6) under some schedules of periodic exposure, threshold shifts increase over the first few days of exposure, then recover as much as 30 dB as the exposure continues.
Identification of Modulators of Hair Cell Regeneration in the Zebrafish Lateral Line

The external location of the zebrafish lateral line makes it a powerful model for studying mechanosensory hair cell regeneration. We have developed a chemical screen to identify FDA-approved drugs and biologically active compounds that modulate hair cell regeneration in zebrafish. Of the 1680 compounds evaluated, we identified two enhancers and six inhibitors of regeneration. The two enhancers, dexamethasone and prednisolone, are synthetic glucocorticoids that potentiated hair cell numbers during regeneration and also induced hair cell addition in the absence of damage. BrdU analysis confirmed that the extra hair cells arose from mitotic activity. We found that dexamethasone and prednisolone, like other glucocorticoids, suppress zebrafish caudal fin regeneration, indicating that hair cell regeneration occurs by a distinctly different process. Further analyses of the regeneration inhibitors revealed that two of the six, flubendazole and topotecan, significantly suppress hair cell regeneration by preventing proliferation of hair cell precursors. Flubendazole halted support cell division in M-phase, possibly by interfering with normal microtubule activity. Topotecan, a topoisomerase inhibitor, killed both hair cells and proliferating hair cell precursors. A third inhibitor, fulvestrant, moderately delayed hair cell regeneration by reducing support cell proliferation. Our observation that hair cells do not regenerate when support cell proliferation is impeded confirms previous observations that cell division is the primary route for hair cell regeneration after neomycin treatment in zebrafish.
Securing the Elliptic Curve Montgomery Ladder against Fault Attacks

The Montgomery ladder method of computing elliptic curve scalar multiplication is esteemed as an efficient algorithm, inherently resistant to simple side-channel attacks as well as to various fault attacks. In FDTC 08, Fouque \etal present an attack on the Montgomery ladder in the presence of a point validation countermeasure, when the $y$-coordinate is not used. In this paper, we present an efficient countermeasure that renders the algorithm resistant to this attack as well as to other known fault attacks.
Cure behavior of paper–phenolic composite systems: Kinetic modeling

Cure reactions in paper–phenolic composite systems were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A phenomenological approach was used to characterize the cure kinetics. Various kinetic models including homogeneous reaction, diffusion-controlled reactions, surface reaction and phase boundary movement, and nucleation and growth-type kinetic models have been tested. Kinetic analyses using integral and derivative procedures on dynamic and isothermal data indicate that the cure reaction data can be described well with the homogeneous first-order reaction model or the Jander three-dimensional diffusion model. The activation energies are found to be in the range 20–40 kj/mol. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Profile of Succession Planning among Family Business Owners

Using data from the 1997 National Family Business Survey, this study analyzed 673 familyowned businesses. Consistent with other studies, the findings indicated that only 20 percent had a written succession plan. Among 673 family business owners, only about 14% developed a net worth statement and 13% met with a financial planner or business consultant to discuss estate planning. Those family business owners with a succession plan tended to be older, worked longer hours in their family businesses, had fewer numbers of children, and had higher business management scores than did those business owners without a succession plan. Those who started their own business were less likely to have a written succession plan than those who inherited the business. Female family business owners were less likely to have a succession plan than were male business owners. Based on the findings, implications for financial counselors/planners and family business consultants are presented.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Groupwork with At-Risk Junior High School Students: Enhancing the Bottom Line:

Despite the preliminary studies that support solution-focused brief therapy, limited research has examined the model as a group intervention with students at risk for academic underachievement and ...
Relationship between genotypes and serotypes of genogroup 1 recoviruses: a model for human norovirus antigenic diversity

Human norovirus (NoV) research greatly relies on cell culture-propagable surrogate caliciviruses, including murine NoVs and the prototype ‘recovirus’ (ReCV), Tulane virus. However, the extreme biological diversity of human NoVs cannot be modelled by a uniform group of viruses or single isolate. Based on a diverse group of recently described ReCVs, a more advanced model reflecting human NoV biological diversity is currently under development. Here, we have reported the genotypic and serotypic relationships among 10 G1 ReCV isolates, including Tulane virus and nine other recent cell culture-adapted strains. Based on the amino acid sequences of virus capsid protein, VP1, and classification constraints established for NoVs, G1 ReCVs were separated into three genotypes, with variable organization of the three open reading frames. Interestingly, cross-neutralization plaque assays revealed the existence of four distinct serotypes, two of which were detected among the G1.2 strains. The amino acid (aa) difference between the two G1.2 ReCV serotypes (12%) was less than the minimum 13 % difference established between NoV genotypes. Interestingly, one of the G1.3 ReCVs was equally neutralized by antisera raised against the G1.3 (6 % aa difference) and G1.1 (25 % aa difference) representative strains. These results imply the existence of a large number of human NoV serotypes, but also shared cross-neutralization epitopes between some strains of different genotypes. In conclusion, the newly developed ReCV surrogate model can be applied to address biologically relevant questions pertaining to enteric CV diversity.
The effects of self-movement, observation, and imagination on /spl mu/ rhythms and readiness potentials (RP's): toward a brain-computer interface (BCI)

Current movement-based brain-computer interfaces (BCI's) utilize spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms associated with movement, such as the /spl mu/ rhythm, or responses time-locked to movements that are averaged across multiple trials, such as the readiness potential (RP), as control signals. In one study, the authors report that the /spl mu/ rhythm is not only modulated by the expression of self-generated movement but also by the observation and imagination of movement. In another study, the authors show that simultaneous self-generated multiple limb movements exhibit properties distinct from those of single limb movements. Identification and classification of these signals with pattern recognition techniques provides the basis for the development of a practical BCI.
Echoes in the coherent-state Jaynes-Cummings model

The Jaynes–Cummings model (JCM) is used to give a detailed analysis of the long-time behavior of a two-level atom interacting with a (Glauber) coherent-state field. This work is based on the earlier work of J. H. Eberly and collaborators, who drew attention to the collapse and revival of the Rabi oscillations of the atomic inversion. We use the three components S1, S2, and S3 of the pseudospin vector S to analyze the dynamics of the atom within the rotating-wave approximation and exact resonance. We show that, at the times when the revivals peak, the variables σ = |S| and η = S3/σ become independent of (1) the transition dipole moment of the atom, (2) the intensity of the coherent-state field, and (3) the (common) frequency of the atom and the field. Thus these special values of σ and η are a universal feature of the JCM that should be observed in experiments with any two-level atom in an arbitrarily intense (but resonant) coherent-state field. The derivation of the above results was facilitated by transforming into a rotating coordinate frame in which S1 = 0 so that S2 and S3 are the only dynamical variables. The two-dimensional nature of S in this frame makes it easy to visualize the dynamical changes in the atom. The dynamics of the JCM is clarified by comparison with the closely related Buck–Sukumar model. The relationship of the phenomena discussed here to photon echoes and to quench echoes (in condensed media) is pointed out.
Pharmacotherapy of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Options, Long-Term Follow-Up, and Predictors of Outcome

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and disabling condition. Treatment is essential to reduce symptoms, increase the patient's functioning and well-being, and reduce comorbidity with other psychological disorders. Evidence suggests that psychopharmacologic therapy can be effective in PTSD. This article considers clinical data for various pharmacologic treatment options for PTSD; in particular, several recent studies of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are examined. The long-term effects of pharmacotherapy and issues concerning patient management are also discussed.
Feng Youlan and Dialectical/Historical Materialism, 1930s–1950s

This article explores the acceptance of Marxism by a non-Marxist Chinese philosopher, Feng Youlan, before and after 1949. Previous studies have largely focused on establishment intellectuals in the study of Marxism and intellectuals in China, and this article seeks to fill the lacuna on the intellectual potential Marxism offered to non-Communist intellectuals in China. This article finds that for Feng Youlan, a non-Marxist Chinese intellectual, Marxism was able to provide meaningful venues for his attempt to modernize Chinese knowledge and transform Chinese culture. A Marxist emphasis on universal rules governing all human societies on the same stage of development, Marxist presentist approaches to history, and most of all, a Marxist emphasis on praxis, aided Chinese intellectuals like Feng in constructing new approaches to learning the Chinese past. The Marxist emphasis on praxis helped deepen the discussion of experience, a concept central to a reconstruction of Confucian learning in modern China, after the Communist takeover of China in 1949. Eventually the state monopoly of the definition of Marxist praxis stifled the spontaneous search for a new understanding of experience in Communist China. Nonetheless, Marxism had a transformative and lasting impact on modern Chinese scholarship, as seen from the example of Feng Youlan.
The Evolving Legislative Process: Implications for Tax Reform

The article describes two evolving features of the legislative process - an increasingly top-down organizational structure and a greater fracturing and external focus of the legislative body - and considers the implication of those trends for congressional consideration of major tax legislation such as tax reform.
How we may think: the next chapter: civic intelligence and collective metacognition

Seventy years after Vannevar Bush's seminal article his paper argues that societal or group thinking is as important as individual thinking. The phenomenon of civic intelligence, the capability of collectivities to address significant shared issues efficiently and equitably, is explored, especially in relation to other social / psychological phenomena including collective intelligence and metacognition. The paper's strongest claim is that contemporary conditions absolutely compel us to take seriously the need for consciously improving the civic intelligence of the world's citizenry.This article was originally published in the Spanda Journal in a special issue devoted to Systemic Change, Vol. VI, 1, 2015. (http://www.spanda.org/SpandaJounrnal_VI,1.pdf). It has been reprinted with permission from the author.
Cardiovascular responses to PGD2 in the dog.

SummaryThe cardiac and peripheral vascular effects of PGD2 and PGE2 were investigated in dogs with an intact circulation and during left ventricular bypass. PGE2 had a positive inotropic effect, whereas PGD2 produced a negative inotropic effect on the heart that was independent of reflex effects or changes in ventricular preload or afterload. Both PGE2and PGD2 produced a systemic depressor response which was due to the direct peripheral vasodilating action of these compounds.
Changes in otolith microchemistry over a protracted spawning season influence assignment of natal origin

Our understanding of the role dispersal plays in marine population dynamics is incom- plete. One method used to quantify movement among populations is otolith microchemistry. A chal- lenge with this method is gaining an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of micro- chemistry that occurs over the course of a protracted spawning season. High-resolution sampling was used to explore the variability of elemental fingerprints of Hypsypops rubicundus at 6 rocky reefs spanning the southern California (USA) coastline from 3 June to 2 September 2008. Otolith micro- chemistry of 1101 larval fish and 72 juveniles was analyzed using a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Within-reef elemental fingerprints were more similar than among-reef elemental fingerprints. The primary elements enabling discrimination among reefs and their relative contribution (%) to the elemental fingerprint of each reef were U (47%), Pb (31%), Ba (14%), Mg (9%), and Sr (1%). The 2 elements with the most consistent shifts in elemental chemistry from the onset to cessation of the spawning season were Ba (decreased across all study sites) and U (increased across all study sites). More than a third of the time (34%), the elemental fingerprint of a given reef was indistinguishable from the elemental fingerprint of a different reef later in the spawning season. When natal origins of juveniles were classified using microchemical data spanning the entire spawn- ing season, the number of source populations and number of individuals predicted to have originated from actual source populations were underestimated. Researchers must utilize natural history infor- mation together with otolith microchemistry data to ensure that the natal origin of juveniles is assigned using data that account for both spatial and temporal changes in reef-specific elemental fingerprints.
Appropriate Implantable Defibrillator Therapy in Adults With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Introduction Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are effective at terminating the ventricular arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, identifying patients at risk for SCD remains an ongoing challenge. Methods and results We retrospectively studied all adult patients with HCM treated with ICDs at our referral center from 2000 to 2013 to determine the risk factor profile, rates of appropriate ICD therapy, and complications associated with ICD implantation and discharge. Over a mean follow-up period of 5.2 ± 4.5 years, ICDs provided appropriate therapy to 25 of 135 patients (2.6%/year for primary prevention, 9.8%/year for secondary prevention). Established risk factors for SCD were equally prevalent among patients who received appropriate therapy and those who did not. There were similar rates of appropriate therapy for primary prevention patients with each risk factor. Patients with multiple risk factors had similar rates of appropriate therapy to patients with a single risk factor. Patients who underwent implantation at a younger age were more likely to experience appropriate therapy. Inappropriate therapy occurred in 27 of 135 patients (20%). Conclusions These data indicate that the rate of appropriate ICD therapy for primary prevention in a contemporary adult HCM population is lower than previously reported. The frequency of appropriate therapy was equally modest regardless of the nature and number of risk factors that led to ICD implantation, and patients with multiple risk factors for SCD did not have an increased rate of appropriate therapy.
Rabbit heart valve basement membrane: low platelet reactivity.

Electron microscopic studies were performed on rabbit heart valves, and all four valves were found to be lined with a continuous basement membrane (BM). The valvular BM was liable to digestion by either trypsin or collagenase, but brief exposure to trypsin was suitable for desquamating endothelial cells, while leaving BM exposed and intact. Such preparations were used to determine their platelet reactivity with heparinized and citrated whole blood or with platelet-rich plasma. Although various conditions of exposure were used, including shaking and centrifugation, little or no platelet adhesion to the BM was observed. With similar conditions of exposure, preparations of collagen showed massive platelet adhesion accompanied by aggregation. This vascular BM was similarly nonreactive to platelets when endothelial cell removal was accomplished by mechanical methods. Rabbit valvular BM appears to be a poorly thrombogenic surface.
Economic Shocks and Varieties of Conflict: Global Prices, Real Income and Local Violence in Africa

Do economic shocks cause civil conflict? Evidence at the country level is ambiguous. We study the impact of plausibly exogenous shocks to world food prices on civil conflict in Africa using panel data at the level of a 0.5 degree grid cell. We find that higher prices lead to fewer civil conflict battles in cells that produce food, and more civil conflict battles in cells that consume food. We interpret this as evidence that negative income shocks cause civil conflict, as rising prices increase income for producers and decrease income for consumers in real terms. The result is consistent with a model that allows for a distinction between two varieties of conflict. In food-producing cells, higher prices reduce civil conflict battles over the control of territory (what we call "factor conflict") and increase smaller-scale conflict over the appropriation of surplus ("output conflict"). This difference arises because higher prices raise the opportunity cost of soldiering for producers, while also inducing net consumers to appropriate increasingly valuable surplus as their real wages fall. In food-consuming cells, higher prices increase both forms of conflict, as poor consumers turn to soldiering and appropriation in order to maintain a minimum consumption target. We corroborate the model's predictions on output conflict using both cell-level data on violence and looting and geocoded survey data on theft and physical assault. Ignoring distinctions between consumer and producer effects leads to attenuated estimates. Projected price changes from 2010-2050 are expected to substantially increase both forms of conflict.
Event Extraction from Unstructured Text Data

We extend a bootstrapping method that was initially developed for extracting relations from webpages to the problem of extracting content from large collections of short unstructured text. Such data appear as field notes in enterprise applications and as messages in social media services. The method iteratively learns sentence patterns that match a set of representative event mentions and then extracts different mentions using the learnt patterns. At every step, the semantic similarity between the text and set of patterns is used to determine if the pattern was matched. Semantic similarity is calculated using the WordNet lexical database. Local structure features such as bigrams are extracted where possible from the data to improve the accuracy of pattern matching. We rank and filter the learnt patterns to balance the precision and recall of the approach with respect to extracted events. We demonstrate this approach on two different datasets. One is a collection of field notes from an enterprise dataset. The other is a collection of "tweets" collected from the Twitter social network. We evaluate the accuracy of the extracted events when method parameters are varied.
Macrophages and Monocytes

This chapter discusses macrophages and monocytes. There are several reasons for beginning a description of the immune system with monocytes and macrophages. It is believed that these cells have functional counterparts throughout the animal kingdom. Although macrophages are believed to be relatively simple and nonspecific functionally, they have reached high-functional development in vertebrates. Present in several organ systems, monocytes and macrophages handle or process antigen, and they play an indirect role in antibody synthesis. They also participate in cell-mediated immune reactions. The macrophage is a ubiquitous, large, mononuclear cell, capable of phagocytosis. Macrophages originate from the bone marrow as monocytes that migrate into the circulating blood, and eventually they leave it to become macrophages. Macrophages contain enzymes needed for a variety of energy-yielding metabolic pathways. Macrophages are capable of synthesizing interferon and serum proteins, including certain components of complement, and they also contain enzymes for the synthesis and degradation of lipids. Macrophages are found throughout the animal kingdom, where their antibacterial activity is a characteristic function.
Process Intensification through Continuous Spherical Crystallization Using a Two-Stage Mixed Suspension Mixed Product Removal (MSMPR) System

Of utmost importance in the crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the pharmaceutical industry is to produce crystals of good physical, processing, and biopharmaceutical properties. The definition of good physical properties depends on what the end goal and the drug formulation that the crystals will be a part of, but often processing and biopharmaceutical properties are competing interests. In most cases, the crystallization process is tailored to improve downstream process efficiency rather than improve drug molecule efficacy in the human body. Herein a novel concept and method to help satisfy both processing and biopharmaceutical interests is proposed, which is based on performing crystallization and spherical agglomeration in a two-stage continuous mixed suspension mixed product removal (MSMPR) system. With the suitable operating mode, the system enables to decouple the nucleation and growth from the agglomeration mechanisms, while performing efficient continuous manufacturing ...
Abstract 2904: Induction of autophagy reveals a cytoprotective mechanism by which DNA polymerase gamma (pol-γ) prevents UVB-induced skin cancer

DNA polymerase γ (polγ), a major mitochondrial DNA repair enzyme, is essential for replication and repair of the mitochondrial genome. It is well-established that mitochondrial genomic stability is important for healthy cell survival; however, whether and how polγ plays a role in autophagic response remain unknown. Our previous studies demonstrated that polγ is inactivated upon exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation by a peroxynitrite-mediated mechanism. In this study, we identified tyrosine 964, which is near the active site of polγ, as the target of nitration-induced inactivation by the use of LC/MS/MS mass spectroscopy coupled to immunoprecipitation, Western blotting and a 3` to 5` exonuclease activity assay. Treatment of mouse skin epithelial cells with UVB radiation validated the presence of polγ nitration and reduction of its enzymatic activity in vivo. To determine the effect of UVB in autophagic responses, mouse skin epithelial (JB6) cells were transfected with GFP-labeled LC-3 cDNA and exposed to UVB radiation, or wild-type C57BL/6 mice were exposed to UVB radiation and examined for LC-3 cleavage products. UVB radiation of JB6 cells and mouse skin increased LC-3 cleavage products and beclin levels, suggesting increased autophagic response to UVB treatment both in vitro and in vivo. To elucidate the role of Polγ in autophagic responses, the expression of polγ in JB6 cells was inhibited by siRNA for polγ. Consistent with the role of polγ in preventing UVB-induced autophagy, knockdown of polγ led to an increase LC-3 cleavage products. Knockdown of polγ induced prosurvival autophagic responses via the mTOR-signaling-complex-1(mTORC1) and complex-2(mTORC2). Interestingly, the mTORC2 complex plays a prominent role in the prosurvival autophagy responses based on the bromodeoxyuridine uptake assay, following knockdown and overexpression approaches. Importantly, suppression of polγ alone leads to transformation and invasion ofJB6 cells, which are increased following UVB treatment. The results reveal a unique role of Polγ in autophagy and support the role of Polγ in the suppression of prosurvival autophagic response to UVB- mediated carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Sanjit K. Dhar, Vasu Bakthavachalu, Tadahide Izumi, Jing Chen, Haining Zhu, Daret K. St. Clair. Induction of autophagy reveals a cytoprotective mechanism by which DNA polymerase gamma (pol-γ) prevents UVB-induced skin cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2904. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2904
Trigger Factor Boosts the Work Done by Protein Folding under Force

Protein folding under force generates mechanical work, which is integral to several biological processes including muscle contraction, proteasomal degradation, and protein translation. As molecular chaperones affect protein folding, we hypothesized that chaperones would modulate the mechanical work generated from protein folding. Trigger Factor (TF) is a model chaperone from E. coli, which is found intracellularly in both ribosome-associated and free cytosolic states. Here, we apply Magnetic Tweezers-based single molecule force spectroscopy to investigate the effect of TF in the mechanical folding of a substrate, protein L (PL). We find that TF increases the folding probability by up to 40% at ∼8 pN. The half-maximal TF activity, K1/2, is highly force dependent, ranging from 0.6 µM at 6.2 pN to 27.5 µM at 8.9 pN. The functional consequence of this TF-assisted mechanical folding is an increase in the effective work generated, calculated as the product of the force, the PL folding contraction length, and the TF-dependent folding probability. The maximal activity of TF (at 10 µM and 8.4 pN) contributes 40 zJ to the work done by protein folding, comparable to the energy delivered by myosin motors. 85% of the mechanical contribution from TF is achieved between 500 nM and 2 μM TF, in the range of the chaperon's cellular concentration. This is the first study of the influence of a molecular chaperone in the work done by protein folding, which could have important consequences in the translation process, helping polypeptide synthesis and assisting protein folding under force.
Numerical design of gradient-index beam shapers

Design methods are illustrated to produce beam shaping elements in which the refractive index is a continuous function of position. An index profile yielding a desired gradual transformation of the field can be computed in two ways. A ray theory approach yields a solution consistent with the eikonal equation, while diffraction effects can be incorporated into the index profile by using a split step representation of the medium and performing a series of phase retrieval calculations. The methods are demonstrated in an example of mode conversion and coherent laser beam combining, where a near-unity conversion efficiency can theoretically be achieved.
Imaging Brain Electrial Activity

Brain activation is a spatio-temporally-distributed process. While the electroencephalogram (EEG) offers excellent temporal resolution to characterize rapidly changing patterns of brain activation, conventional EEG techniques are limited mainly due to their inability to provide spatial information regarding brain activity. As a result, invasive mapping procedures have been increasingly used [Towle et al, 1995]. It is extremely desirable to image spatially distributed brain electrical activity from noninvasive electromagnetic recordings. Such noninvasive means would greatly increase our ability to accurately localize rapidly changing regional pattern as of brain activation, and to aid presurgical evaluation in medically refractory epilepsy.
Abstract 703: Combinatory treatment for pediatric low grade glioma with the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor TAK228 and MEK inhibitor Trametinib

Pediatric low grade glioma (PLGG) is one of the most common childhood tumors. If the tumor is located in a region of the brain that is not accessible for surgical resection or if the tumor recurs after surgery, additional therapies are needed. Recent studies highlighted the important role of mTORC and MEK-activation in PLGG. The dual mTORC1/2-inhibitor, TAK-228, and the FDA approved MEK-inhibitor, Trametinib, have good brain penetration and are promising candidates for targeted therapy PLGG. We hypothesized that TAK-228 and Trametinib would show synergistic effects both in vitro and in vivo in PLGG models. We treated the PLGG derived cell lines Res186 and Res259 with TAK-228, Trametinib, and vehicle. Cell growth was investigated using MTT-assay over different days and compared to the treatment with the vehicle. DNA replication was measured through bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay and apoptosis was evaluated through cleaved caspase 3 (CC-3) staining. Cells were analyzed and counted with ImageJ. Activation of MAPK pathway was detected via Western Blot by phosphorylated pERK compared to total pERK, and β-actin. Treatment of Res186 and Res259 with TAK-288 or Trametinib reduces cell growth and proliferation in a dose and time depended manner. Res186 have a significant reduction in cell growth after 4 days treatment (TAK-288: 20nM, **p Citation Format: Antje Arnold, Fausto Rodriguez, Charles George Eberhart, Eric Hutton Raabe. Combinatory treatment for pediatric low grade glioma with the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor TAK228 and MEK inhibitor Trametinib [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 703. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-703
Mitigation of bacterial translocation and subsequent sepsis in γ-irradiated mice treated with CCL1 antisense ODN (INC4P.331)

Gut bacteria-associated sepsis is a serious concern in persons who have radiation-induced injuries in the gastrointestinal system. Such infection does not normally occur in healthy hosts with M1Mϕ. However, M1Mϕ are not generated in γ-irradiated mice (WBI-mice), even though Mϕ are still present. WBI-mice are carriers of M2bMϕ, which inhibit Mϕ conversion from resident Mϕ to M1Mϕ. We have previously reported that sepsis stemming from Enterococcus faecalis oral infection is markedly mitigated in 5 Gy WBI-mice after M2bMϕ polarization using CCL1 antisense ODN. In this study, we examined the effect of CCL1 antisense ODN on spontaneous bacterial translocation and subsequent sepsis in 8 Gy WBI-mice. The ODN was administered (s.c., twice daily) to 8 Gy WBI-mice for 1 week starting 3 days after γ-irradiation. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by an increase in the percentage of survival in test groups, as compared with that of control groups. All control mice died within 22 days of γ-irradiation. However, 70% of the WBI-mice treated with 25 to 125 μg/mouse of the ODN survived more than 30 days after γ-irradiation. Severe bacteremia and bacterial growth in MLNs were not seen in WBI-mice treated with the ODN. M1Mϕ were isolated from MLNs of these mice, while M2bMϕ were not. These results indicate that the Mϕ polarization therapy using CCL1 antisense ODN is effective to mitigate spontaneous bacterial translocation and subsequent sepsis in mice exposed to 8 Gy of γ-irradiation.
Cryptic diversity, pathogenicity, and evolutionary species boundaries in Cercospora populations associated with Cercospora leaf spot of Beta vulgaris.

The taxonomy and evolutionary species boundaries in a global collection of Cercospora isolates from Beta vulgaris was investigated based on sequences of six loci. Species boundaries were assessed using concatenated multi-locus phylogenies, Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC), Poisson Tree Processes (PTP), and Bayes factor delimitation (BFD) framework. Cercospora beticola was confirmed as the primary cause of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) on B. vulgaris. Cercospora apii, C. cf. flagellaris, Cercospora sp. G, and C. zebrina were also identified in association with CLS on B. vulgaris. Cercospora apii and C. cf. flagellaris were pathogenic to table beet but Cercospora sp. G and C. zebrina did not cause disease. Genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition, GMYC and PTP methods failed to differentiate C. apii and C. beticola as separate species. On the other hand, multi-species coalescent analysis based on BFD supported separation of C. apii and C. beticola into distinct species; and provided evidence of evolutionary independent lineages within C. beticola. Extensive intra- and intergenic recombination, incomplete lineage sorting and dominance of clonal reproduction complicate evolutionary species recognition in the genus Cercospora. The results warrant morphological and phylogenetic studies to disentangle cryptic speciation within C. beticola.
Can Procalcitonin Be Used as a Reliable Marker for Infectious Fever in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage

Objective To determine whether procalcitonin (PCT) levels are different in infected versus noninfected febrile patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Methods This prospective observational study included 104 patients with ICH and fever >38.3°C admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. PCT was measured on day 1 (PCT 1) of fever and 48–72 hours later (PCT 2). Patients were determined to have an infection (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or bacteremia) based on cultures, imaging, and clinical impression of treating clinicians. Results Analysis of variance indicated significant mean differences in patients with no, probable, and definite infection (F2,103 = 3.12, P = 0.048) between PCT 1 and PCT 2 (F2,72 = 4.64, P = 0.013). Patients with probable infection had the highest PCT 1 (mean = 0.47, SD = 0.93), and patients with definite infection had higher PCT 2 (mean = 0.62, SD = 0.85). Additional analyses of univariable mean differences showed mean PCT 1 that was significantly higher in the probable infection group compared with the no infection group. Mean PCT was significantly higher at both time points in the definite infection group compared with the no infection group. There were no significant differences between the probable and definite infection groups. Conclusions PCT levels were higher in patients with ICH and infections and may be a useful marker to differentiate between infectious and noninfectious etiologies of fevers in these patients. Further studies, including randomized controlled trials, will help in establishing the utility of this marker in optimal management of febrile patients with ICH.
Compiler Optimizations for OpenMP

Modern compilers support OpenMP as a convenient way to introduce parallelism into sequential languages like C/C++ and Fortran, however, its use also introduces immediate drawbacks. In many implementations, due to early outlining and the indirection though the OpenMP runtime, the front-end creates optimization barriers that are impossible to overcome by standard middle-end compiler passes. As a consequence, the OpenMP-annotated program constructs prevent various classic compiler transformations like constant propagation and loop invariant code motion. In addition, analysis results, especially alias information, is severely degraded in the presence of OpenMP constructs which can severely hurt performance.