cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure or intubation in very low birth weight preterm infants

Objective To investigate the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and intubation in very low birth weight preterm infants. Methods One hundred and twenty-three very low birth weight preterm infants with respiratory distress within 60 minutes after birth were randomly assigned to nCPAP (n=63) or intubation group (n=60).Outcomes at 7,28 days and 36 corrected gestational weeks were assessed with x2 or t-test. Results There were no significant difference in fatality rate and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia between nCPAP group and intubation group [7.9％ (5/63) vs 6.6％(4/60),4.8％(3/63) vs 3.3％(2/60),x2 =0.07and 0.16,P＞0.05].In nCPAP group,the use of pulmonary sulfactant was 27.0％ (17/63),lower than that (83.3 ％,50/60) in intubation group (x2 =39.34,OR=0.3,90 ％ CI:0.2-0.6,P＜0.05) ;The nCPAP group had fewer ventilation support in 28 days [17.5％ (11/63) vs 25.0％ (15/60),OR=0.7,90％ CI:0.4-1.4] and 36 weeks [6.3％ (4/63) vs 8.3％ (5/60),OR=0.8,90％ CI:0.2-2.4] than those in intubation group but without statistical difference (x2=1.05 and 0.01,P＞0.05,respectively).The incidence of air leak in nCPAP group were lower than intubation group [11.1％ (7/63) vs 33.3％ (20/60),x2 =8.86,OR=0.3,90％00 CI:0.2-0.7,P＜0.05].There was no significant difference for other complications between two groups. Conclusions In very low birth weight preterm infants,early nCPAP dose not significantly reduce the fatality rate and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia as compared with intubation ventilation,but shorten the time of ventilation and lower the incidence of air leak. Key words: Infant, premature; Infant, very low birth weight; Continuos positive airway pressure; Respiration, artificial
Device and programming abstractions for spatiotemporal control of active micro-particle swarms

We present a hardware setup and a set of executable commands for spatiotemporal programming and interactive control of a swarm of self-propelled microscopic agents inside a microfluidic chip. In particular, local and global spatiotemporal light stimuli are used to direct the motion of ensembles of Euglena gracilis, a unicellular phototactic organism. We develop three levels of programming abstractions (stimulus space, swarm space, and system space) to create a scripting language for directing swarms. We then implement a multi-level proof-of-concept biotic game using these commands to demonstrate their utility. These device and programming concepts will enhance our capabilities for manipulating natural and synthetic swarms, with future applications for on-chip processing, diagnostics, education, and research on collective behaviors.
Addressing tobacco use at NCI designated cancer centers: Online resources available for patients.

e12566 Background: Tobacco is the single largest preventable cancer risk factor, and continued tobacco use by cancer patients causes adverse treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to eva...
Development and Behavior Following First Febrile Seizure

Investigators at New York Presbyterian Hospital determined the effect of a first febrile seizure (FS) on development, using measures of cognition, motor ability, and adaptive behavior.
A UWB near-field contactless sensor for solid and liquid material characterization

A 3–10 GHz contactless sensor for liquid and solid material sensing is proposed. The sensor setup is based on utilizing two printed UWB Vivaldi antennas coupled to each other at their radiative near-field region with the material-under-test (MUT) placed in the middle. The sensor setup is fabricated with an overall size of 15.6×6.1 cm2. Liquid chemical detection, and thickness sensing of thin dielectric slabs are successfully carried out using the proposed contactless sensor as a proof of concept.
Epigenetic Therapy: Novel Translational Implications for Arrest of Environmental Dioxin-Induced Disease in Females.

Increased toxicant exposure and resultant environmentally induced diseases are a tradeoff of industrial productivity. Dioxin [2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)], a ubiquitous byproduct, is associated with a spectrum of diseases including endometriosis, a common, chronic disease in women. TCDD activates cytochrome (CYP) p450 metabolic enzymes that alter organ function to cause disease. In contrast, the transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 11, represses these enzymes via epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we characterized these opposing mechanisms in vitro and in vivo as well as determining potential translational implications of epigenetic inhibitor therapy. KLF11 antagonized TCDD-mediated activation of CYP3A4 gene expression and function in endometrial cells. The repression was pharmacologically replicated by selective use of an epigenetic histone acetyltransferase inhibitor (HATI). We further showed phenotypic relevance of this mechanism using an animal model for endometriosis. Fibrotic extent in TCDD-exposed wild-type animals was similar to that previously observed in Klf11-/- animals. When TCDD-exposed animals were treated with a HATI, Cyp3 messenger RNA levels and protein expression decreased along with disease progression. Fibrotic progression is ubiquitous in environmentally induced chronic, untreatable diseases; this report shows that relentless disease progression can be arrested through targeted epigenetic modulation of protective mechanisms.
Statistical quality of service provisioning over edge computing mobile wireless networks

The edge computing techniques have been developed to support the exponentially increasing service demands in the fifth generation (5G) networks by bringing the data contents and their corresponding computations/communications near to mobile users. As a promising and efficient solution to implement edge computing techniques, mobile data offloading complements the traditional cellular transmission through either WiFi networks or device-to-device (D2D) communication/relay to mitigate the overloaded wireless traffics for cellular networks. However, the mobile data offloading in edge computing wireless networks imposes many new quality of service (QoS) guarantee problems which still remain opening research areas. To overcome these challenges, in this paper we propose the statistical delay-bounded QoS provisioning schemes using the effective capacity theory for two types of mobile data offloading: WiFi offloading and D2D offloading, where we formulate the WiFi offloading and D2D offloading as the single-hop and two-hop wireless-link statistical QoS provisioning problems, respectively. We also derive the optimal probability of using each type of offloading which maximizes the average effective capacity for all mobile users under the following two scenarios: (1) all mobile users have the same probability of requesting the popular multimedia data contents and have the same probability to become a relay in D2D offloading; and (2) each mobile user has the distinct probability of requesting the popular multimedia data contents and the distinct probability to become a relay in D2D offloading. Finally, we evaluate and validate our proposed statistical delay-bounded QoS provisioning schemes over multimedia data offloading architecture through numerical analyses.
Experimental Atherosclerosis: Diet and Drugs

The earliest studies of induced atherosclerosis involved the feeding of milk and eggs (1) or of pure cholesterol to rabbits (2). The choice of the rabbit for this type of study has been criticized on the grounds that this species is normally herbiverous and thus we are studying a cholesterol storage disease in an animal that cannot detoxify excess cholesterol. The criticism is justifiable but, in fact, any animal species used differs metabolically from man to some extent. While direct extrapolation of animal data to man is generally unwarranted these experiments provide clues which may be useful in assessing dietary or drug treatment.
Elodie Ghedin: Unlocking the Genetic Code of Emerging Outbreaks

Elodie Ghedin is a scientist, innovator, and trendsetter in the field of genomics. Ghedin’s cutting-edge research has opened a world of opportunities for the detection, tracking, and monitoring of emerging infectious disease outbreaks in real time. In addition to her skills and talents, which enable her to be a true innovator in the field of genomics, she is also a committed mentor for the next generation of computational biologists. This chapter by Tamara Lewis Johnson covers this trailblazing scientist, her motivations and accomplishments, and how she has inspired those whose lives and trainings she has touched.
Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Labels for Molecular and Cellular Imaging

Quantum dots (QDs) are light-emitting particles on the nanometer scale, with novel optical and electronic properties that are not available from either isolated molecules or bulk solids. They are under intense development for a broad range of biological applications, including single molecule biophysics, biomolecular profiling, optical barcoding, molecular and cellular imaging. In comparison with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, semiconductor QDs offers several unique advantages such as sizeand composition-tunable emission from visible to infrared wavelengths, large absorption coefficients across a wide spectral range, and very high levels of brightness and photostabilityV Due to their broad excitation profiles and narrow/symmetric emission spectra, high-quality QDs are also well suited for combinatorial optical encoding, in which multiple colors and intensities are combined to encode thousands of genes, proteins, or small-molecule compounds^'^. Despite their relatively large sizes (2-8 nm diameter), recent research has shown that bioconjugated QD probes behave like fluorescent proteins (4-6 nm), and do not suffer from serious binding kinetic or steric-hindrance problems^"^ . In this "mesoscopic" size range, QDs also have more surface areas and functionalities that can be used for linking to multiple diagnostic (e.g., radioisotopic or magnetic) and therapeutic (e.g., anticancer) agents. Furthermore, polymer-encapsulated QDs have been found to be essentially nontoxic to cells and animal models. This review will focus on the development and applications of QDs for molecular and cellular imaging. We
Clinical Geriatric Nursing Research

This review of clinical geriatric nursing research covers the 30 years, 1952 to 1982, that coincide with the era of nursing research journals and journals of gerontological/geriatric nursing (1975 to 1982). Early in the period covered, there were few studies in the care of the elderly, but at this time a number of nurses are choosing clinical research in this area. There have been few funded studies in clinical geriatric nursing, and much of the published research has been that which met requirements for graduate degrees in nursing. At this time there is a turning point: clinical studies are increasing in number and quality, and there are more opportunities to publish in refereed journals. There are excellent means of retrieval through computerized searches and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, International Nursing Index, and Index Medicus. The future promises a productive and exciting era for clinical geriatric nursing research. This chapter recounts the prologue.
Addressing variations: is there hope for the future?

ABSTRACT: The papers by Robert Berenson and by Steven Lieberman and colleagues show that variations remain a true challenge for those trying to improve the delivery of health care. Recent clarifica...
Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE).

Computer physician order entry has been shown to decrease medical errors and increase the safety of patients and productivity of hospital staff. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Ribosomal RNA Promoter-RNA Polymerase Interactions and rRNA Transcription in Escherichia coli

In rapidly growing bacterial cultures, cells contain about 70000 ribosomes, each of which is constructed from more than 50 ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) and three ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) (reviewed by Condon et al. 1995; Gourse et al. 1996; Keener and Nomura 1996). Under these growth conditions, the largest single expenditure of the cell’s biosynthetic energy is the synthesis of ribosomes. The ribosomal protein synthesis rate is ultimately controlled by the level of rRNA, primarily by a translational feedback regulation system. Therefore, the rate-limiting step in ribosome synthesis is the synthesis of rRNA which in turn is limited by the rate of transcription initiation. In order to make the large number of ribosomes present at high growth rates, the promoters for the seven E. coli rRNA operons transcribe well over half the cell’s total RNA (Bremer and Dennis 1987). The special mechanisms that make rRNA promoters so active will be a major focus of this chapter.
On obtaining closed form solutions for compressible nonlinearly elastic materials

The assumption of incompressibility brings about a considerable simplification in finite elastostatics for homogeneous isotropic solids.1 Most notably, it affords a set of closed form solutions, called controllable or universal deformations, which are independent of material properties and thus are possible in all incompressible materials. Solutions of this type were first discovered by Rivlin [1–4] and later by others [5–9]. They include torsion of cylinders, bending or straightening of blocks and cylindrical sectors, and inflation or eversion of hollow cylinders and spheres. Some related controllable or universal motions have been discussed [10–13] and all of these results have been extended to include inelastic response [14, 15].
Attachment in action — changing the face of 21st century couple therapy

The field of couple therapy-one of the most widely sought and practiced modality of therapy-has been revolutionized by the emergence of attachment science in the 21st century. We now understand not only the centrality of close relationships for human health and wellbeing, but also that the key to a healthy happy relationship is a secure attachment bond. Emotionally Focused Therapy is an attachment-based approach that aims to help couples create a secure attachment bond. Several outcome studies have shown that EFT helps to not only alleviate relationship distress but individual co-morbidities as well, with positive follow-up effects. EFT appears to help couples not only improve their relationships but also access the optimal resilience and wellbeing secure attachment allows.
Polarization Observables T and F in $$\pi ^0$$ π 0 Photoproduction Off the Proton with CLAS g9 Experiment

Pion photoproduction in the $$\gamma p \rightarrow \pi ^0 p$$ reaction has been measured in the FROST experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. In this experiment, circularly polarized photons with energies up to 3.082 GeV impinged on a transversely polarized frozen-spin target. Final-state protons were detected in the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Preliminary results of the polarization observables T and F have been extracted. The data generally agree with predictions of present partial-wave analyses, but also show marked differences. The data will constrain further partial wave analyses and improve the extraction of proton resonance properties.
Sensory curation: theorizing media use for sensory regulation and implications for family media conflict

Media sensory curation theory, introduced here, complements theories of informational, emotional, and relational media gratifications. Sensory curation theory conceptualizes media devices as tools ...
Supporting Constructive Mental Health Discourse in Social Media

Social media platforms can be used to provide effective support for users with mental health issues. Self-disclosure about mental health on these platforms can lead to social support and community building. However, there are also inherent risks of stigmatization and misuse of platform features for maladaptive purposes, such as to promote eating disorders. To address these issues, it is essential to understand the reasoning and mechanisms of self-disclosure regarding mental health issues. However, this can be quite challenging, given the flexibility and complexity of user interactions on these platforms. For example, users can now share content not only privately or publicly, but also permanently or temporarily. Our initial inquiry with Instagram showed a tendency to co-opt mental health hashtags to increase post popularity. Based on our initial findings, we propose a participatory design study to better understand the motivations and challenges faced by users who disclose mental health issues on Instagram. Findings from this work can guide future designs to improve user experience and provide effective social support.
Abstract 4841: Rapid screening of cyclotide-based libraries for the selection of potent E3 ligase antagonists

We report novel methods for the biosynthesis of natively-folded MCoTI-based cyclotides inside live E. coli cells using a split protein splicing unit. The cyclotide MCoTI-cylotides are potent trypsin inhibitors recently isolated from the seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis , a plant member of cucurbitaceae family. Biosynthesis of genetically encoded cyclotide-based libraries opens the possibility of using single cells as microfactories where the biosynthesis and screening of a particular inhibitor can take place in a single process within the same cellular cytoplasm. The cyclotide scaffold has a tremendous potential for the development of therapeutic leads based on their extraordinary stability and potential for grafting applications. We will show an example, where a large cyclotide-based genetically-encoded library was used to screen for low nanomolar antagonists for the Hdm2-HdmX RING-mediated E3 ligase activity. We will also present different strategies to improve the cellular uptake and pharmacokinetic profiles of bioactive cyclotides. Citation Format: Julio A. Camarero. Rapid screening of cyclotide-based libraries for the selection of potent E3 ligase antagonists [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4841.
Male and female mice show equal variability in food intake across 4-day spans that encompass estrous cycles.

Author(s): Smarr, Benjamin; Rowland, Neil; ZUCKER, Irving | Abstract: The exclusion of female rodents from biomedical research is well documented and persists in large part due to perceptions that ovulatory cycles render female traits more variable than those of males, and females must be tested at each of four stages of the estrous cycle to generate reliable data. These beliefs are not empirically based. The magnitude of trait variance associated with the estrous cycle may be sufficiently low and of little impact, or trait variability of males tested on 4 consecutive days may be as great as that of females over the 4 days of the estrous cycle. Here, we analyzed food intake data from mice in 4-day blocks, corresponding to the females 4-day estrous cycle in several schedules of food procurement or reward. Variance was compared within and across individual mice. In no instance did the overall variance differ by sex under any of the food reward schedules. This extends earlier observations of trait variability in body temperature and locomotor activity of mice and supports the claim that there is no empirical basis for excluding female rodents from biomedical research.
Evolving Complexity in Cooperative and Competitive Noisy Prediction Games.

We examine the effect of cooperative and competitive interactions on the evolution of complex strategies in a prediction game. We extend previous work to the domain of noisy games, defining a new o...
Association of Opioid Overdose Risk Factors and Naloxone Prescribing in US Adults

Prescribing naloxone to patients is a key strategy to prevent opioid overdoses, but little is known about the reach of naloxone prescribing. Determine patient factors associated with receiving naloxone and trends over time in patients with key overdose risk factors. Retrospective observational study. Using the Clinformatics DataMart, a US-wide health insurance claims dataset, we compared adults who received opioids and naloxone (opioid+naloxone) from January 2014 to June 2017 with adults who received opioids without naloxone (opioids only), matched on gender, age ± 5 years, month/year of opioid fill, and number of opioid claims. Key patient-level opioid overdose risk factors included receipt of high-dosage opioids, concurrent benzodiazepines, history of opioid and other substance use disorders, and history of opioid overdose. We included 3963 opioid+naloxone and 19,815 opioid only patients. Key factors associated with naloxone fills included high opioid daily dosage (50 to < 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME): AOR = 2.43, 95% CI 2.15–2.76 and ≥ 90 MME: AOR = 3.94, 95% CI 3.47–4.46; reference: < 50 MME), receiving concurrent benzodiazepines (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.16–1.38), and having a diagnosis of opioid use disorder (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.40–1.73). History of opioid overdose was not associated with naloxone (AOR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.74–1.15). The percent of patients receiving naloxone increased, yet less than 2% of patients in any of the key overdose risk factor groups received naloxone by the last 6 months of the study period. Naloxone prescribing has increased and was more likely to be co-prescribed to patients with some risk factors for overdose. However, overall prescribing remains minimal. Additional efforts are needed across health systems to increase naloxone prescribing for patients at risk for opioid overdose.
Management of Cavernous Malformation of the Cervicomedullary Junction

Cavernous malformations located at the cervicomedullary junction represent a challenging surgical problem. Counseling and treating patients with cavernous malformations of the cervicomedullary junction requires the surgeon to understand: (1) the natural history of cavernous malformations and the risks of treatments; (2) indications for treatment; (3) local neurovascular anatomy, including safe entry points to the brainstem; (4) bony anatomy and skull base approaches to the cranio-vertebral junction; and (5) microsurgical techniques unique to the resection of cavernous malformations. Most lesions of the cranio-vertebral junction can be reached safely through the retrosigmoid, far-lateral suboccipital, and midline suboccipital approaches. The two-point method is used in conjunction with knowledge of known safe entry points to the brain stem in order to choose the appropriate approach to a particular lesion. Advances in microsurgical instrumentation, navigation, neuromonitoring, brainstem anatomy, and our understanding of cavernous malformations have all contributed to safer microsurgery for these lesions. Microsurgical resection remains the mainstay of therapy for symptomatic cavernous malformations.
Technical Report: Diagnostic Scan-Based Planning (DSBP), A Method to Improve the Speed and Safety of Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Critically Ill Patients.

Abstract Purpose Treating critically ill patients in radiation oncology departments poses multiple safety risks. This study describes a method to improve the speed of radiation treatment for patients in the intensive care unit by eliminating the need for computed tomography (CT) simulation or on-table treatment planning using patients’ previously acquired diagnostic CT scans. Methods and Materials Initially, a retrospective planning study was performed to assess the applicability and safety of diagnostic scan-based planning (DSBP) for 3 typical indications for radiation therapy in patients in the intensive care unit: heterotopic ossification (10), spine metastases (cord compression; 10), and obstructive lung lesions (5). After identification of an appropriate diagnostic CT scan, treatment planning was performed using the diagnostic scan data set. These treatment plans were then transferred to the patients’ simulation scans, and a dosimetric comparison was performed between the 2 sets of plans. Additionally, a time study of the first 10 patients treated with DSBP in our department was performed. Results The retrospective analysis demonstrated that DSBP resulted in treatment plans that, when transferred to the CT simulation data sets, provided excellent target coverage, a median D95% of 96% (range, 86%-100%) of the prescription dose with acceptable hot spots, and a median Dmax108% (range, 102%-113%). Subsequently, DSBP has been used for 10 critically ill patients. The patients were treated without CT simulation, and the median time between patient check-in to the department and completion of radiation therapy was 28 minutes (range, 18-47 minutes.) Conclusions This study demonstrates that it is possible to safely use DSBP for the treatment of critically ill patients. This method has the potential to simplify the treatment process and improve the speed and safety of treatment.
Quantification of aerenchyma lacunae in Symplocarpus foetidus to provide air to roots

Abstract Swamps, wetlands, flooded crop lands, and tidal zones occur a significant area of the earth's surface. For these places, plant roots survive in anoxic substrates. Plants of Symplocarpus foetidus are well suited for anoxic substrates, since they have aerenchyma tissues (lacunae) for air movement from leaves to roots. Air in leaves is pressurized and thus moves down petioles to provide oxygen to rhizomes and roots, in the anoxic substrates. The objective of this study is to quantify lacunae in tissues in order to demonstrate that lacunae in these tissues are well scaled to move air effectively. Lacunae comprise about 68% of all leaf volume. The total areas of all lacunae within lamina were about 500 times larger than the total area of all lacunae areas of petioles. Lacunae in petioles comprised 51% of petiole cross-sectional areas. In turn, lacunal areas in rhizomes and roots were about 30% of lacunal areas in petioles, indicating that air may pass easily from petioles to rhizomes, and then to roots. Individual lacunal areas varied among the tissues. For leaves, petioles, and rhizomes individual lacunae areas were 0.04–0.069 mm2, 0.011–0.069 mm2, and 0.037–0.121 mm2, respectively. In contrast, mean individual lacunal areas were smaller in root cross sections (0.0001–0.0064 mm2). Overall, leaves and petioles provide a large network for air flow but airflow is more restricted in rhizomes and roots. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document aerenchyma characteristics, numbers of lacunae and areas of individual lacunae in many tissues.
Dynamic Bandits with Temporal Structure

Multi-armed bandit (MAB) problems are mainly studied under two extreme settings known as stochastic and adversarial. The two aforementioned settings, however, does not capture realistic environments such as search engines and marketing and advertising, in which rewards stochastically change in time. Motivated by that, we introduce and study dynamic MAB problems with stochastic temporal structures. In this problem, the expected reward of each arm follows an auto-regressive (AR) model that governs the temporal structure of the rewards. Due to the dynamic nature of the rewards, simple "explore and commit" policies fail, as all arms have to get explored continuously over time. We formalize this by characterizing a per-round regret lower bound, where the regret is measured against a strong (dynamic) benchmark. We then present an algorithm whose per-round regret almost matches the regret lower bound. The algorithm relies on two mechanisms: (i) alternating between recently pulled arms and unpulled arms with potential, and (ii) restarting. These mechanisms enables the algorithm to not only dynamically adapt to changes, but also discard irrelevant past information at a suitable rate. In numerical studies, we further demonstrate the strength of our algorithm, especially when the future rewards are highly correlated with past observations.
Prevention of low-temperature gelation in milk protein concentrates by calcium-binding salts

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of adding low concentrations of calcium-binding salts on the prevention of low-temperature gelation in milk protein concentrates (MPC). The MPC were created by a combination of ultrafiltration and diafiltration, standardized from 14 to 17% (wt/vol) protein content and mixed with one of 5 calcium-binding salts (sodium citrate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, and sodium monophosphate) adjusted to a pH of 6.75. The flow properties, apparent viscosity, and gel strength were determined for MPC containing a wide range of calcium-binding salt concentrations. Low-temperature gelation occurred in MPC with 16.0% and higher protein content. Low-temperature gelation at 16.0% protein content was prevented by the addition of any of the 5 salts tested at low concentrations (0.30 mM or less; sodium citrate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate or sodium monophosphate), with sodium polyphosphate and sodium monophosphate being the most consistent in preventing low-temperature gels. All MPC samples exhibited shear-thinning behavior (n = 0.52–0.72), which increased (lower n values) as the protein content increased and decreased by addition of salt. At concentrations of salt above 1.00 mM, thermally irreversible gels were observed with relative strength dependent on the salt and protein content.
Ethics and Law: An Introduction

Can someone be a good person yet act in a professional role that may involve deception, procedural trickery, withholding information, and working on behalf of terrible people and institutions? This question is at the heart of legal ethics. Using cases from around the common-law world, W. Bradley Wendel looks at issues including confidentiality, the moral responsibility of lawyers, and truth and deception in advocacy. He then examines the classic questions of philosophy of law, including the nature of law, positivism, natural law, the relationship between law and morality, unjust legal systems, and the obligation to obey the law. Finally, he considers the ethical issues surrounding the role of lawyers, including criminal defense and prosecution, civil litigation, counseling clients on the law, and representing corporations. Combining the theoretical, philosophical, and practical, his book will be of vital interest to students of law, the philosophy of law, ethics, and political philosophy.
Emerging Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Idiopathic Pancreatitis

Abstract: Background “Idiopathic pancreatitis” is diagnosed when clinical, laboratory and conventional radiologic methods do not provide a clear etiology for the episode. Given its associated morbidity and mortality, it is important to determine the cause of pancreatitis to provide early treatment and prevent recurrence. Methods The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in determining an etiology in patients classified as having idiopathic pancreatitis and to assess how EUS performed compared with other modalities. A PubMed search for relevant articles (January 2000–November 2014) was performed using the search terms “(pancreatitis or idiopathic pancreatitis or unexplained pancreatitis) and (EUS or endoscopic ultrasound).” Results The search yielded a total of 963 articles, and 13 studies were included in the final review. In some studies, the yield of EUS was higher than magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in idiopathic pancreatitis. EUS more accurately detected biliary stones, whereas magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography more often identified pancreatic duct abnormalities. The yield of EUS was lower in patients postcholecystectomy but was not influenced by gender, severity of pancreatitis, or recurrent disease. The most frequent diagnoses by EUS for those with idiopathic pancreatitis were biliary tract disease (41%). Overall, EUS identified additional diagnostic information in 61% of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis. Conclusions Given the high incidence of microlithiasis and/or biliary sludge as a cause of idiopathic pancreatitis as well as the safety and high accuracy, EUS should be considered 1st for evaluation of idiopathic pancreatitis if conventional cross-sectional radiography fails to reveal a cause.
Beyond essentialist critiques: the co-development of individual and society within Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory of identity development

Erikson's psychosocial theory is often positioned as essentialist, creating the groundwork for criticisms about the resolution of crises as a universal aspect of identity development towards a unified and coherent Self. These critiques represent an oversimplification of Erikson's theory and overlook the centrality of the co-development of the individual and society within his theory of identity development. To justify this claim, we examine Erikson's concepts of ego identity (1959, 1968), and demonstrate overlap with Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner, and Cain's 'figured worlds' framework (1998). The purpose of these comparisons is to problematize essentialist critiques of Erikson and create a dialogic space for socio-cultural researchers to consider Erikson's psychosocial theory of identity formation when exploring relationships between identity, agency, power and cultural worlds of practice.
Dehydration in the tropical tropopause layer: A case study for model evaluation using aircraft observations

The dynamical and microphysical processes that influence water vapor concentrations in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) are investigated in simulations of ice clouds along backward trajectories of air parcels sampled during three flights of the Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment over the central to eastern tropical Pacific in boreal fall 2011. ERA-Interim reanalysis temperatures interpolated onto the flight tracks have a negligible (−0.09 K) cold bias compared to aircraft measurements of tropical cold point temperature thus permitting case study simulations of TTL dehydration. When the effects of subgrid-scale waves, cloud microphysical processes, and convection are considered, the simulated water vapor mixing ratios on the final day of 40 day backward trajectories exhibit a mean profile that is within 20–30% of the mean of the aircraft measurements collected during vertical profiling maneuvers between the 350 and 410 K potential temperature levels. Averaged over the three flights, temperature variability driven by subgrid-scale waves dehydrated the 360–390 K layer by approximately −0.5 ppmv, whereas including homogeneous freezing of aqueous aerosols and subsequent sublimation and rehydration of ice crystals increased water vapor below the 380 K level by about +1 ppmv. The predominant impact of convection was to moisten the TTL, resulting in an average enhancement below the 370 K level by +1 to 5 ppmv. Accurate (to within 0.5–1 ppmv) predictions of TTL water vapor using trajectory models require proper representations of waves, in situ ice cloud formation, and convective influence, which together determine the saturation history of air parcels.
The LLNL Nevada Test Site Underground Radionuclide Source-Term Inventory

The potential for the contamination of ground water beneath the Nevada Test Site (NTS) by nuclear testing has long been recognized. The United States has conducted underground nuclear weapons testing at NTS since 1957, and a considerable amount of radioactive material has been deposited in the subsurface by this work. As a part of the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office’s Underground Test Area Operable Unit (UGTA OP), the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has compiled an inventory of radionuclides produced by underground LLNL weapons tests from 1957 through 1992.
AN ANALYSIS OF AXIAL FLOW THROUGH A CIRCULAR CHANNEL CONTAINING ROD CLUSTERS

ABSTRACT An accurate, approximate method for the determination of velocity, pressure drop, friction factor, and shear stress for laminar flow through a circular channel containing a rod cluster is reported. This method employs a mapping function and the transformation of the complex potential from one polar coordinate system to another. Thus, the velocity may be expressed explicitly in any portion of the flow channel within the complicated physical boundaries before the boundary conditions are imposed. The boundaries are then point-matched in the least-squares sense. Solution can be obtained and insured to any desired degree of accuracy. The treatment can be extended to problems involving such other configurations as stars, crosses, or wagon wheels commonly encountered in certain aspects of space technology. The research reported in this paper was sponsored by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation and Research Contract Carbide W7405, Sub 2426, with the University of Tennessee.
Proteomic discovery of markers of metastatic oral SCC

A19 Introduction: Cervical lymph node metastasis (N+ node) is the critical prognostic factor for oral cancer patients. Detection of N+ node remains problematic because there are no biomarkers available to predict regional spread. Therefore, the goal of this study is to use proteomics technology to identify candidate biomarkers that may be associated with cervical lymph node metastasis.Method: Frozen tissues of a buccal mucosa SCC and associated node containing metastatic tumor (N+) were obtained from one patient. Lesional tissue was microdissected, proteins extracted and separated by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. The gels were stained with Colloidal Coomassie Blue and imaged using ImageMaster 2D Platinum software. The 2D gels were differentially analyzed to identify proteins both common and unique to the primary tumor and N+ node. Proteins less than 50 kDa were cut from the gels, trypsin digested and identified using MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprinting and LC MS/MS analysis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used on the tissues to confirm, localize and compare the expression of proteins identified by mass spectrometry.Results: 353 proteins were resolved in the primary SCC while 376 proteins were resolved in tumor within the lymph node. 210 proteins between the primary tumor and N+ node showed identical migration and percent spot volume. 166 and 143 proteins were unique spots to primary tumor and N+ node, respectively. Based on differential analysis of protein spots between the primary tumor and N+ node, 18 spots were selected for identification by mass spectrometry yielding a total of 41 unique proteins. Among the unique proteins identified in the N+ node were: albumin, β-2-microglobulin, calgranulin A, coactosin-like protein, eosinophil lysophospholipase, fatty acid binding protein 5, galectin 1, histone H3/b, cathepsin C isoform b, immunoglobulin heavy chain, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), profilin 1, Pterin-4-apha-carbinolamine dehydratase, cytosolic ribosomal protein S12, S100 calcium binding protein, Shujun-1, 11 hemoglobin related proteins, 6 keratin proteins and 2 trypsin precursor protein. PACAP, not previously associated with oral cancer metastasis, is a protein that has been associated to stimulate c-fos gene expression and cell proliferation in lung cancer. Our immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed overexpression of PACAP in the N+ node.Conclusions: Using a proteomic discovery approach, we identified a series of proteins both common and unique to a primary oral SCC and the associated neck metastasis. These several candidate proteins may be associated with the metastatic process from oral SCC to cervical lymph nodes. Differential analysis of the candidate proteins might yield a predictive metastatic marker that could be clinically tested.
Genetic characterization of the stabilizing functions of a region of broad-host-range plasmid RK2.

One of the regions responsible for the stable inheritance of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 is contained within the PstI C fragment, located from coordinates 30.8 to 37.0 kb (P.N. Saurugger, O. Hrabak, H. Schwab, and R.M. Lafferty, J. Biotechnol. 4:333-343, 1986). Genetic analysis of this 6.2-kb region demonstrated that no function was present that stabilized by selectively killing plasmid-free segregants. The sequence from 36.0 to 37.0 kb mediated a twofold increase in plasmid copy number, but this region was not required for stabilization activity. The PstI C fragment was shown to encode a multimer resolution system from 33.1 to 35.3 kb. The resolution cis-acting site was mapped to 140 bp, sequenced, and observed to contain two directly repeated sequences of 6 and 7 bases and two perfect inverted repeats of 6 and 8 bases. The trans-acting factor(s) was mapped and functionally determined to encode a resolvase capable of catalyzing recombination at high frequency between cis-acting sites in either direct or inverted orientation. Multimer resolution alone did not account for complete plasmid stabilization by the PstI C fragment, since removal of regions adjacent to the 35.3-kb border of the minimal mrs locus dramatically reduced stabilization. The minimal region required for complete stabilization, from 32.8 to 35.9 kb, was capable of fully stabilizing plasmids independently of the replicon or the recA proficiency of the host. Stabilization activity was also fully expressed in several diverse gram-negative bacteria, whereas the F plasmid par locus functioned only in Escherichia coli. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that under the growth conditions used, the minimal stabilization locus encodes both an mrs activity and a stabilization activity that has the properties of a par locus.
Identification of Voice Segments in Stereo Soundtracks

While the human auditory system is easily able to distinguish between the voice and the audio components of a soundtrack, this appears to be a significant challenge to any computer model due to the overlap of audio and speech spectrum. The algorithm developed is able to discern the presence of voice in a stereo input with a high degree of accuracy. It is based on time-domain energy criterion, which results in lower computations in comparison to frequency domain techniques
Pragmatist Philosophical Reflections on GMOs

This essay examines the public debate about the agricultural biotechnologies known as genetically modified organisms, as that debate is being carried out in its most dichotomizing forms in the United States. It attempts to reveal the power of sharply dichotomous thinking, as well as its limits. The essay draws on the work of Michel Serres, who uses the concept of the parasite to reconstruct or reframe fundamental dichotomies in western philosophy; it attempts a similar reframing of the public debates about GMOs. The purpose of such a reframing is to create possibilities for dialogue among participants that will move beyond the polarization that characterizes much of the current debate in the U.S.
Airway smooth muscle cells from patients with COPD exhibit a higher degree of cellular proliferation and steroid insensitivity than that from healthy patients

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of two commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. The potential contribution of airway smooth muscle to airflow obstruction, airway inflammation and airway remodeling in COPD isn9t fully understood. Indeed, although it is known that the cytokine TGF-β induces the expression of such cytokines as IL-6 and IL-8, little is known regarding its role upon ASM proliferation and steroid insensitivity in COPD. Ergo, we have examined the role of both the growth factor FCS and TGF-β, upon ASM proliferation and steroid response following treatment with dexamethasone. Methods: Human ASM cells were pre-treated with dexamethasone for 2 h before being stimulated with FCS ± TGF-β for 8 days. For the determination of chemokine release, supernatants were removed and IL-6 levels determined by DuoSet ELISA (R&D Systems). The degree of cell proliferation was assessed by Cell Proliferation ELISA, BrdU kit (Roche Applied Science) according to the manufacturer9s instructions. Results: Exposure to FCS and TGF-β induced a higher increase in cellular proliferation and IL-6 release in ASM from patients with COPD compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone in this system was almost completely ablated in the ASM cells from the COPD patients.
Self‐Control Moderates Decision‐Making Behavior When Minimizing Losses versus Maximizing Gains

We examined (1) whether people would be more responsive to the delayed consequences of their decisions when attempting to minimize losses than when attempting to maximize gains in a history-dependent decision-making task and (2) how trait self-control would moderate such an effect. In two experiments, participants performed a dynamic decision-making task where they chose one of two options on each trial. The increasing option always gave a smaller immediate reward but caused future rewards for both options to increase. The decreasing option always gave a larger immediate reward but caused future rewards for both options to decrease. In Experiment 1 where the two options had equivalent expected value in the long run, participants were more prone to select the increasing option, which yielded larger benefits on future trials, in the loss-minimization condition than in the gain-maximization condition. Trait self-control moderated the effect of losses by enhancing the effect for low self-control participants while attenuating it for high self-control participants. In Experiment 2 where selecting the increasing option was suboptimal, low self-control participants still attempted to reduce losses on future trials by selecting the increasing option more often than high self-control participants. These results suggest that decision makers value delayed consequences of their actions more in a losses domain relative to a gains domain and low self-control individuals are more susceptible to such an effect. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. key wor ds loss aversion; gains; losses; decision making; self-control; experience-based
Efficient deamination of 5-methylcytosines in DNA by human APOBEC3A, but not by AID or APOBEC3G

The AID/APOBEC family of enzymes in higher vertebrates converts cytosines in DNA or RNA to uracil. They play a role in antibody maturation and innate immunity against viruses, and have also been implicated in the demethylation of DNA during early embryogenesis. This is based in part on reported ability of activation-induced deaminase (AID) to deaminate 5-methylcytosines (5mC) to thymine. We have reexamined this possibility for AID and two members of human APOBEC3 family using a novel genetic system in Escherichia coli. Our results show that while all three genes show strong ability to convert C to U, only APOBEC3A is an efficient deaminator of 5mC. To confirm this, APOBEC3A was purified partially and used in an in vitro deamination assay. We found that APOBEC3A can deaminate 5mC efficiently and this activity is comparable to its C to U deamination activity. When the DNA-binding segment of AID was replaced with the corresponding segment from APOBEC3A, the resulting hybrid had much higher ability to convert 5mC to T in the genetic assay. These and other results suggest that the human AID deaminates 5mC’s only weakly because the 5-methyl group fits poorly in its DNA-binding pocket.
Drosophila segmentation genes and blastoderm cell identities

The formation of the segmentation pattern in Drosophila embryos provides an excellent model for investigating the process of pattern formation in multicellular organisms. Several genes required in an embryo for normal segmentation have been analyzed by classical and molecular genetic and morphological techniques. A detailed consideration of these results suggests that these segmentation genes are combinatorially involved in translating the positional identities of individual cells at an early stage in Drosophila development.