cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical opening of the blood-brain barrier

Abstract Biochemical agents that can influence the abnormal BBB are reviewed. Vasoactive compounds, including leukotrienes, bradykinin, histamine appear to selectively increase permeability in abnormal brain capillaries. Normal brain capillaries resist the effects of these compounds through an ‘enzymatic barrier’ that may inactivate vasoactive agents. In contrast, this enzymatic barrier is lost in certain diseased states, allowing vasoactive compounds to selectively increase permeability in abnormal capillaries. Clinically, intracarotid infusion of leukotrienes, bradykinin and other vasoactive agents can increase drug delivery to diseased tissue.
All-optical phase and amplitude regeneration of DPSK signals based on phase-sensitive amplification

All-optical regeneration of differential phase-shift keyed signals by an interferometric phase-sensitive amplifier is described theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. Measurements reveal simultaneous reduction of both phase and amplitude noise when the device functions as a limiting amplifier.
Relationship between Viral RNA and Viral Protein Synthesis.

Abstract Low concentrations of p-fluorophenylalanine (5–10 μg/ml) inhibit the maturation of Western equine encephalomyelitis and poliomyelitis viruses. Much higher concentrations are required (125 μg/ml) to inhibit the synthesis of the respective infectious RNA. By means of fluorescent antibodies against poliovirus, it was found that the formation of the viral antigens and the viral RNA are inhibited in a parallel manner by FPA. The implications of these findings suggesting a mutual dependency of viral protein and viral RNA synthesis are discussed.
Atmospheric Pressure Ionization LC-MS-MS Determination of Urushiol Congeners

This paper describes atmospheric pressure ionization (API) LC-MS-MS determination of urushiols, 3-n-alkenyl- and -alkyl-substituted catechols responsible for poison oak dermatitis. Urushiol was isolated from Western poison oak according to the method of Elsohly et al. (1) (J. Nat. Prod. 1982, 45, 532-538)-the purified preparation contained C(17)- and C(15)-substituted urushiols with zero, one, two, and three double bonds as determined from GC-MS analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives. Urushiol mixtures were separated on a C(18) reversed phase HPLC column with a methanol-water gradient with urushiols eluting in 100% methanol. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) produced primarily [M - H](-) and MH(+) molecule ions. Electrospray ionization (ESI) yielded [M - H](-) and adduct ions including [M + Cl](-). Daughter ions of [M - H](-) included quinoid radical anions ([M - H - H(2)](-) and m/z 122(-)) and a benzofuran phenate (m/z 135(-)). A suite of hydrocarbon fragments were produced by collision-induced dissociation of MH(+) directly or via an intermediate [MH - H(2)O](+) daughter ion. Six urushiol congeners, one not previously reported in poison oak, were determined by negative ion API-LC-MS-MS with detection limits of approximately 8 pg/microL (ESI) and approximately 800 pg/microL (APCI). API-LC-MS-MS was used to determine urushiol in surface wipes, air samples, and plant materials.
Cyclic nucleotide regulation of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator-inhibitor messenger RNAs in rat hepatoma cells.

HTC rat hepatoma cells synthesize and secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Incubation with 8-bromo-cAMP increases tPA activity more than 50-fold and, in combination with dexamethasone, causes an additional 4-fold increase. We have investigated the mechanism of the regulation of tPA activity by cyclic nucleotides, both alone and in combination with dexamethasone, by examining the effects of these agents on tPA and PAI-1 mRNA and protein. 8-Bromo-cAMP induces only a 2-fold increase in tPA mRNA and a 5-fold increase in tPA protein which is not sufficient to account for the increase in tPA activity. However, 8-bromo-cAMP causes a 90% decrease in PAI-1 mRNA and a 60–70% decrease in PAI-1 protein, which, taken together with the modest increase in tPA mRNA and protein, can account for the increase in tPA activity. Incubation with 8-bromo-cAMP plus dexamethasone also results in an 80–90% decrease in PAI-1 mRNA, but causes a synergistic 10- to 20-fold ...
Estimating thermal distortion of monochromator crystals

Abstract Excessive distortion of monochromator crystals exposed to high thermal fluxes can cause undesirable losses in photon beam intensity. Distortion of this kind can often be reduced to an acceptable level by indirect cooling with water. Recently, the method of finite elements was used to estimate the distortion of the first crystal in a monochromator being designed for use at the National Synchrotron Light Source Facility. Several crystal and cooling jacket configurations were evaluated for the predicted worst case thermal flux in this application. Results of the analysis indicated that, for these configurations using single crystal silicon and practical heat transfer coefficients, the thermal distortion is only a fraction of the Darwin width, or acceptance angle, of the crystal.
A comparison of self-control therapy and combined self-control therapy and antidepressant medication in the treatment of depression

This study examined the differential efficacy of self-control therapy alone and self-control therapy plus antidepressant medication in treating unipolar depression. Subjects participated in a 12-week self-control treatment program in which they were trained to identify and modify dysfunctional patterns of thought and behavior (i.e., biases in the areas of selective attention, standard setting, self-attribution, self-reinforcement, etc.). Half of the clinical cohort also received antidepressant medication. Thirty-two individuals were randomly assigned to one of four therapy groups which were generated from a 2×2 (therapist×treatment condition) design. No significant effects were detected for the therapist variable. Both treatment conditions evidenced marked decreases in depressive symptomatology. Combined treatment resulted in significantly more rapid improvement as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Three-month follow-up assessments indicate that treatment gains were maintained in both groups.
Co-occurrence of obesity and patterns of alcohol use associated with elevated serum hepatic enzymes in US adults

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to present nationally representative findings on the co-occurrence of obesity and specific patterns of alcohol use associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among adults in the United States. We analyzed data from 8,373 adults aged ≥ 20 years who participated in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We produced prevalence ratios by using the co-occurrence of obesity (i.e., body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women) and specific patterns of alcohol use (i.e., non-drinkers, non-excessive drinkers, and excessive drinkers) as a predictor; elevations in serum ALT, AST, and GGT were used as an outcome variable while adjusting for covariates in multivariate regression models. Approximately 34.7% of adult men and 38.6% of adult women in the United States had co-occurrence of obesity and any alcohol use, including 16.4% of men and 9.8% of women who had co-occurrence of obesity and excessive drinking during 2005–2008. When compared to male non-drinkers without obesity after multivariate adjustment, male excessive drinkers with obesity were 3.08 (95% CI: 1.80–5.28), 2.42 (95% CI: 1.80–3.26), and 3.15 (95% CI: 1.82–5.46) times more likely to exhibit elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. Similarly, when compared to female non-drinkers without obesity, female excessive drinkers with obesity were 2.36 (95% CI: 1.38–4.04), 3.27 (95% CI: 1.85–5.78), and 3.43 (95% CI: 2.19–5.40) times more likely to have elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. The co-occurrence of obesity and excessive drinking may place adults at an increased risk for potential liver injury. Our study findings provide support for evidence-based clinical and population-based interventions that integrate health behavior change among adults who have these co-occurring risk factors.
Multipath Wireless Network Coding: An Augmented Potential Game Perspective

We consider wireless networks in which multiple paths are available between each source and destination. We allow each source to split traffic among all of its available paths, and we ask the question: How do we attain the lowest possible number of transmissions per unit time to support a given traffic matrix? Traffic bound in opposite directions over two wireless hops can utilize the “reverse carpooling” advantage of network coding in order to decrease the number of transmissions used. We call such coded hops “hyper-links.” With the reverse carpooling technique, longer paths might be cheaper than shorter ones. However, there is a peculiar situation among sources-the network coding advantage is realized only if there is traffic in both directions of a shared path. We consider the problem of routing with network coding by selfish agents (the sources) as a potential game and develop a method of state-space augmentation in which additional agents (the hyper-links) decouple sources' choices from each other by declaring a hyper-link capacity, allowing sources to split their traffic selfishly in a distributed fashion, and then changing the hyper-link capacity based on user actions. Furthermore, each hyper-link has a scheduling constraint in terms of the maximum number of transmissions allowed per unit time. We show that our two-level control scheme is stable and verify our analytical insights by simulation.
Death Threat and Death Concerns in the College Student.

A four part investigation of death orientation in college students using the provided-construct form of the Threat Index and the Death Concern Scale was conducted. Part I investigated the construct validity of the Threat Index, reporting significant predicted correlations of the Threat Index with the Death Concern Scale, Trait Anxiety Scale, and Repression-Sensitization Scale. Part II explored death orientation and personality differences between a Thanatology Group (death education students) and a Control Group. Thanatology students reported significantly lesser death threat and significantly greater death concerns than controls. Part III compared pre-test to post-test changes in death threat and death concerns for the Thanatology Group with pre-post changes for the Control Group. Using analysis of covariance procedures, a significantly greater decline in death threat was obtained in the Thanatology Group relative to the controls. Part IV explored two personality variables–trait anxiety and repression-se...
U1 snRNA is cleaved by RNase III and processed through an Sm site-dependent pathway

Core snRNP proteins bind snRNA through the conserved Sm site, PuA(U)n>/=3GPu. While yeast U1 snRNA has three matches to the Sm consensus, the U1 3'-terminal Sm site was found to be both necessary and sufficient for U1 function. Mutation of this site inhibited pre-mRNA splicing, blocked cell division and resulted in the accumulation of two 3'-extended forms of the U1 snRNA. Cells which harbor the Sm site mutation lack mature U1 RNA (U1alpha) but have a minor polyadenylated species, U1gamma, and a prominent, non-polyadenylated species, U1beta. Metabolic depletion of the essential Sm core protein, Smd1p, also resulted in the increased accumulation of U1beta and U1gamma. In vitro, synthetic U1 precursors were cleaved by Rnt1p (RNase III) very near the U1beta 3'-end observed in vivo. We propose that U1beta is an Rnt1p-cleaved intermediate and that U1 maturation to the U1alpha form occurs through an Sm-sensitive step. Interestingly, both U1alpha and a second, much longer RNA, U1straightepsilon, were produced in an rnt1 mutant strain. These results suggest that yeast U1 snRNA processing may progress through Rnt1p-dependent and Rnt1p-independent pathways, both of which require a fun-ctional Sm site for final snRNA maturation.
Global Mutational Analysis of NtrC-Like Activators in Myxococcus xanthus: Identifying Activator Mutants Defective for Motility and Fruiting Body Development

The multicellular developmental cycle of Myxococcus xanthus requires large-scale changes in gene transcription, and recent findings indicate that NtrC-like activators play a prominent role in regulating these changes. In this study, we made insertions in 28 uncharacterized ntrC-like activator (nla) genes and found that eight of these insertions cause developmental defects. Hence, these results are consistent with the idea that M. xanthus uses a series of different NtrC-like activators during fruiting body development. Four of the eight developmental mutants we identified have motility defects. The nla1, nla19, and nla23 mutants show S-motility defects, while the nla24 mutant shows defects in both S-motility and A-motility. During development, aggregation of the nla1, nla19, and nla23 mutants is delayed slightly and the nla24 mutant shows no signs of aggregation or sporulation. The nla4, nla6, nla18, and nla28 mutants have no appreciable loss in motility, but they fail to aggregate and to sporulate normally. The nla18 mutant belongs to a special class of developmental mutants whose defects can be rescued when they are codeveloped with wild-type cells, suggesting that nla18 fails to produce a cell-cell signal required for development. The three remaining activator mutants, nla4, nla6, and nla28, appear to have complex developmental phenotypes that include deficiencies in cell-cell developmental signals.
Responsibility, opportunity, and vision for higher education in urban and regional carbon management

This is a summary of the conversation among scholars attending the special session on "Responsibility, Opportunity, and Vision for Higher Education in Urban and Regional Carbon Management" at the First International Conference on Carbon Management at Urban and Regional Levels: Connecting Development Decisions to Global Issues in Mexico City Sept. 4–8, 2006. It includes The Declaration for Carbon Management Education, agreed upon by the participants. Obstacles to such a vision were discussed along with exemplar models of transdisciplinary curricula and suggestions for scholarship.
Ökoeffizienz als Maßstab für das erste serienreife 3-Liter-Auto der Welt

Bei der Bewertung der Okoeffizienz eines Automobils ist der Kraftstoffverbrauch und die damit in direkter Abhangigkeit stehende CO2-Emission von besonderer Bedeutung, da mehr als zwei Drittel des Gesamtenergieverbrauchs wahrend des Lebenszyklus‘ eines Fahrzeugs auf die Nutzungsphase entfallen. In der Offentlichkeit dominiert seit vielen Jahren die Frage nach dem Kraftstoffverbrauch und den CO2-Emissionen die Diskussion im Kontext der allgemeinen Umweltproblematik. Entsprechende Absichtserklarungen zur Reduzierung der CO2-Emissionen wurden auf den Klimakonferenzen von Rio (1992), Kyoto (1997) und Buenos Aires (1998) abgegeben.
Formation control using generalized coordinates

This paper develops a control methodology which allows a number of vehicles to move as a group while maintaining a desired formation pattern. The control is based on the use of generalized coordinates. These coordinates characterize the location (L), orientation (O), and shape (S) of the formation. This provides a natural and convenient way of specifying configuration and allows the group to be controlled as a single entity. Both force-based and velocity-based controls are developed, as well as a simplified implementation with reduced communication requirements.
Tunable Crystallinity in Regioregular Poly(3‐Hexylthiophene) Thin Films and Its Impact on Field Effect Mobility

The properties of poly(alkylthiophenes) in solution are found to have a profound impact on the self assembly process and thus the microstructural and electrical properties of the resultant thin films. Ordered supramolecular precursors can be formed in regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) solutions through the application of low intensity ultrasound. These precursors survive the casting process, resulting in a dramatic increase in the degree of crystallinity of the thin films obtained by spin coating. The crystallinity of the films is tunable, with a continuous evolution of mesoscale structures observed as a function of ultrasonic irradiation time. The photophysical properties of P3HT in solution as well in the solid state suggest that the application of ultrasound leads to a π stacking induced molecular aggregation resulting in field effect mobilities as high as 0.03 cm2 V−1 s−1. A multiphase morphology, comprising short quasi-ordered and larger, ordered nanofibrils embedded in a disordered amorphous phase is formed as a result of irradiation for at least 1 min. Two distinct regions of charge transport are identified, characterized by an initial sharp increase in the field effect mobility by two orders of magnitude due to an increase in crystallinity up to the percolation limit, followed by a gradual saturation where the mobility becomes independent of the thin film microstructure.
Risk Factors for Failed Newborn Otoacoustic Emissions Hearing Screen

Objective To identify any socioeconomic, demographic, neonatal, and perinatal factors that may be associated with failing the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) newborn hearing screen. Study Design A retrospective chart review was performed looking at hearing screens performed on 1272 newborn infants by OAE testing. Socioeconomic, demographic, neonatal, and perinatal factors were reviewed to determine association with failing the OAE newborn hearing screen. Results Our results demonstrate that Hispanic race was significantly associated with failing the newborn OAE hearing screen with an odds ratio of 2.54 (CI = 1.56-4.14, P = .0002). Family history of hearing loss was also significantly associated with failing the newborn hearing screen. Newborns with a family history of hearing loss were 13 times more likely to fail the newborn screen (odds ratio = 13.63, CI = 4.09-45.43, P < .0001). Conclusions Hispanic race and family history of hearing loss are statistically significant risk factors for failing the newborn OAE hearing screen.
How Do Managers Control Technology-Intensive Work?

Technology pervades every aspect of the modern business enterprise and demands new strategies for work management. Advances in internet and computing technologies, the emergence of the “knowledge worker”, globalization, resource scarcity, and intense competition have led corporations to accomplish their strategic goals and objectives through the implementation of projects. Project success is assured by the effective use of financial and human resources, a project management (PM) framework backed by senior management, and controls spanning the PM spectrum of initiation; planning; implementation; monitoring, measurement, and control; and closing. As an essential function of management, ‘control’ may be accomplished through a PM Plan, a project-matrix organization, competent and motivated people, and appropriate management tools and techniques. A PM Plan conforming to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) framework incorporates controls for the key PM elements and, implemented properly, can assure project success.
On Requesting Reprints.

(1979). On Requesting Reprints. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 107, No. 1, pp. 141-142.
Transfer of persistent chemicals in milk.

(1989). Transfer of Persistent Chemicals in Milk. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 277-317.
Estradiol Topical Emulsion for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Vasomotor Symptoms Associated with Menopause:

A novel micellar, nanoparticle emulsion containing 17β-estradiol is currently available as a daily topical treatment for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Applied daily to the lower extremities, the emulsion delivers 0.05 mg estradiol systemically and provides an 85% reduction in hot flash frequency versus baseline by 12 weeks of therapy. When specifically surveyed, most patients felt that this cosmetic-like delivery system was convenient and preferable to transdermal patches. Local skin reactions, all mild, were seen in 4%, and there was a low incidence of side effects that included breast pain, endometrial thickening and headache. Contraindications include those common to all estrogen-containing therapies. This formulation provides patients with a cosmetic-like treatment option that is effective and safe, delivers stable systemic estradiol levels, and may promote overall treatment compliance.
Predominant Use of Windthrows by Nesting Eastern Woodrats (Neotoma Floridana) in the South Carolina Coastal Plain

ABSTRACT We conducted a study of nest site selection by the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) in the South Carolina coastal plain. We identified 40 active nests in three macrohabitats: a bottomland hardwood–upland pine ecotone, a southern mixed hardwood forest and a disturbed maritime forest. We further conducted an analysis of 21 microhabitat variables at 27 active nests, identified through live-trapping and release. Previous studies suggest that stick houses are preferred nest sites throughout N. floridana's range, and that dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) may be an important indicator of woodrat habitat in North Carolina. Eastern woodrats inhabited windthrown rootmasses in 77.5% of nests at our study sites. S. minor and stick houses were completely absent from two of the three habitats. Multivariate analysis revealed that nest sites differed from paired non-nest sites by containing higher coarse woody debris and rootmass volume, and lower basal area. We recommend that N. floridana population surveys rout...
Permutation patterns are hard to count

Let F ⊂ Sk be a finite set of permutations and let Cn(F) denote the number of permutations σ ∈ Sn avoiding the set of patterns F. We prove that {Cn (F)} cannot be computed in time polynomial in n, unless EXP = ⊕EXP. Our tools also allow us to disprove the Noonan--Zeilberger conjecture which states that the sequence {Cn (F)} is P-recursive.
Toxic Cookies

The W3C has shown what can happen when bright, well-intentioned people become policy czars.
The Generation and Bleaching of Positive Charge in Gate-Quality Nitrogen-Rich Amorphous Silicon Nitride By Sub-Bandgap Illumination

We report, for the first time, on the stretched-exponential time dependence of the generation and bleaching of positive charge in gate-quality nitrogen-rich amorphous silicon nitride films subjected to the sub-bandgap illumination at room temperature in vacuum. We also propose a mechanism which we believe is responsible for the generation and bleaching of the positive charge in the nitride films.
Community-Engaged Learning in Food Systems and Public Health

Food preferences, systems, and policies influence the health of individuals and communities both directly, through food consumption choices, and indirectly, through environmental, economic, and social impacts. To aid student understanding of these complex determinants of food choice, a student-driven, community-engaged learning course on food systems and food choices was developed. Guided by the socio-ecological model for health and the goals of the Emory Sustainability Initiative and supported by the Center for Community Partnerships (CFCP), the course objectives, curriculum, and activities were determined by the students in collaboration with the faculty advisor and community partners. Two central components of the course were student-led learning modules and community-engaged research on food systems. The four learning modules included: (1) determinants of individual food preference and choice; (2) food and agriculture systems; (3) food access and food justice; and (4) agricultural policy. Community research projects described the role of farmers' markets, community supported agriculture, conventional markets, community gardens, and farm-to-table restaurants in the production and distribution of food in metro Atlanta, with an emphasis on locally produced fruits, vegetables, meats, and milk. Where possible the projects mapped the reach of these distribution models to low-income communities and food deserts, and identified strategies to improve access to healthy food options in these communities. The course culminated in a student-organized symposium for community members and in research reports for community partners. The symposium drew diverse participants, including growers, farmers' market managers, advocacy groups, public-health scientists, policy-makers, students, and academicians. Discussions with symposium participants assisted in refining the research reports for community partners and helped identify strategies and topics for future collaborative efforts and course improvements. A grant from Emory's CFCP facilitated collaboration with community partners, community research, and dissemination of research findings.
Catalytic Mechanisms of Sulfur-Doped Graphene as Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts for Fuel Cells

Density functional theory (DFT) was applied to study sulfur-doped graphene clusters as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cathode catalysts for fuel cells. Several sulfur-doped graphene clusters with/without Stone–Wales defects were investigated and their electronic structures, reaction free energy, transition states, and energy barriers were calculated to predict their catalytic properties. The results show that sulfur atoms could be adsorbed on the graphene surface, substitute carbon atoms at the graphene edges in the form of sulfur/sulfur oxide, or connect two graphene sheets by forming a sulfur cluster ring. These sulfur-doped graphene clusters with sulfur or sulfur oxide locating at graphene edges show electrocatalytic activity for ORR. Catalytic active sites distribute at the zigzag edge or the neighboring carbon atoms of doped sulfur oxide atoms, which possess large spin or charge density. For those being the active catalytic sites, sulfur atoms with the highest charge density take a two-electron tran...
Anal and Para-Anal Tumors

In order of ascending frequency, the following malignant tumors of the anal canal and anal margin are discussed: basal cell carcinoma, extramammary Paget’s disease, Bowen’s disease or in situ epidermoid carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and epidermoid carcinoma (invasive).
Bringing your tools to CyVerse Discovery Environment using Docker.

Docker has become a very popular container-based virtualization platform for software distribution that has revolutionized the way in which scientific software and software dependencies (software stacks) can be packaged, distributed, and deployed. Docker makes the complex and time-consuming installation procedures needed for scientific software a one-time process. Because it enables platform-independent installation, versioning of software environments, and easy redeployment and reproducibility, Docker is an ideal candidate for the deployment of identical software stacks on different compute environments such as XSEDE and Amazon AWS. CyVerse’s Discovery Environment also uses Docker for integrating its powerful, community-recommended software tools into CyVerse’s production environment for public use. This paper will help users bring their tools into CyVerse Discovery Environment (DE) which will not only allows users to integrate their tools with relative ease compared to the earlier method of tool deployment in DE but will also help users to share their apps with collaborators and release them for public use.
West Nile Virus Mimicking Herpes Encephalitis

A 3-year-old male child with suspected herpes simplex virus encephalitis who asubsequently tested positive for West Nile virus is reported from Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
On Boundary Conditions for the Einstein Equations

The use of the projection of the Einstein tensor normally to a timelike boundary as a set of boundary conditions for the initial-value problem of the vacuum Einstein equations is investigated within the setting of a particular first-order strongly hyperbolic formulation. It is found that the components of such a projection give rise to boundary conditions that are appropriate, in a certain sense, for the initial-value problem of the evolution equations and for the initial-value problem of the auxiliary system of propagation of the constraints, at the same time. It can be concluded that imposing such boundary conditions on the values of the fundamental variables of the initial-value problem guarantees the propagation of the constraints. This contribution presents a unified account of results that have recently appeared separately in the literature. The presentation is meant to be accessible to a broader readership.
Game-theoretic and risk-sensitive stochastic optimal control via forward and backward stochastic differential equations

In this work we present a sampling-based algorithm designed to solve game-theoretic control problems and risk-sensitive stochastic optimal control problems. The cornerstone of the proposed approach is the formulation of the problem in terms of forward and backward stochastic differential equations (FBSDEs). By means of a nonlinear version of the Feynman-Kac lemma, we obtain a probabilistic representation of the solution to the nonlinear Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs equation, expressed in the form of a decoupled system of FBSDEs. This system of FBSDEs can then be simulated by employing linear regression techniques. Utilizing the connection between stochastic differential games and risk-sensitive optimal control, we demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is also applicable to the latter class of problems. Simulation results validate the algorithm.
Morphine worsens the severity and prevents pancreatic regeneration in mouse models of acute pancreatitis.

Background Opioids such as morphine are widely used for the management of pain associated with acute pancreatitis. Interestingly, opioids are also known to affect the immune system and modulate inflammatory pathways in non-pancreatic diseases. However, the impact of morphine on the progression of acute pancreatitis has never been evaluated. In the current study, we evaluated the impact of morphine on the progression and severity of acute pancreatitis. Methods Effect of morphine treatment on acute pancreatitis in caerulein, L-arginine and ethanol–palmitoleic acid models was evaluated after induction of the disease. Inflammatory response, gut permeability and bacterial translocation were compared. Experiments were repeated in mu (µ) opioid receptor knockout mice (MORKO) and in wild-type mice in the presence of opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone to evaluate the role of µ-opioid receptors in morphine’s effect on acute pancreatitis. Effect of morphine treatment on pathways activated during pancreatic regeneration like sonic Hedgehog and activation of embryonic transcription factors like pdx-1 and ptf-1 were measured by immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR. Results Histological data show that treatment with morphine after induction of acute pancreatitis exacerbates the disease with increased pancreatic neutrophilic infiltration and necrosis in all three models of acute pancreatitis. Morphine also exacerbated acute pancreatitis-induced gut permeabilisation and bacteraemia. These effects were antagonised in the MORKO mice or in the presence of naltrexone suggesting that morphine’s effect on severity of acute pancreatitis are mediated through the µ-opioid receptors. Morphine treatment delayed macrophage infiltration, sonic Hedgehog pathway activation and expression of pdx-1 and ptf-1. Conclusion Morphine treatment worsens the severity of acute pancreatitis and delays resolution and regeneration. Considering our results, the safety of morphine for analgesia during acute pancreatitis should be re-evaluated in future human studies.
Germany: How a Conservative Compromise Between CDU/CSU and SPD Blocked the Populist Radical Right Parties REP and Schill

This chapter traces immigration debates in (West) Germany from the 1980s up to 2012. The conservative CDU/CSU mobilized on immigration issues whenever the party was undergoing a substantial crisis. However, only once has the CDU/CSU dropped its conservative messaging in a salient debate: in the late 1980s, leading to the electoral advances of the populist radical ‘Die Republikaner’ (REP) party. Subsequently, whenever the CDU/CSU has politicized identity politics, the German Social Democrats (SPD) have avoided a fully-fledged political confrontation. Because of the dire economic conditions Germany faced up until the late 2000s, the SPD occupied a substantially more conservative position on immigration matters than its counterparts in the Netherlands or Sweden. Consequently, a conservative compromise on messaging on immigration issues kept the electoral niche for a far right party in Germany closed until the Alternative for Germany (AfD) rose due to the salience of Eurozone topics in 2013.
Terror, Suspicion and Neo-Liberal Logics: ‘Expanding Orientalisms’ and South Asians in the United States

Using Said's contrapuntal analysis, this paper places Prashad's Uncle Swami: South Asians in America Today (2012) in a dialectic with Said's Orientalism (1978) to explore contemporary conceptualisa...
A Horse: No Worse? Phobia and the Failure of Human Metaphors in Psychoanalysis

In Seminar VIII, Lacan describes phobia as ‘the most radical form of neurosis.’ In this chapter, we—two clinicians working with patients presenting with phobic symptoms—explore how the appearance of phobic objects opens up inquiries into the role of the inanimate and the nonhuman in analytic praxis; the production of the subject; and, ultimately, a potential beyond, of and for, psychoanalysis. Drawing from our clinical work, we look at the ways in which Lacanian clinical praxis might be able to engage more fully with the affective–material dimensions of language and the objects that occupy it. In this manner, phobic subjects might be thought to produce a more radical analysis for psychoanalysis through the decentering and failure of the human and its metaphors.
Complications of Robotic Instrument Malfunctions

A robotic instrument malfunction refers to a defect in a robotic instrument that limits its normal function. Fortunately, robotic instrument malfunctions are rare, and occur in 0.25–1.1% of urologic robotic surgeries (Friedman et al., Surg Endosc 27:1503–1508, 2013; Park et al., Yonsei Med J 51:148–150, 2010). However, it is critical for the surgeon to be knowledgeable about robotic instrument malfunctions as they may compromise the surgeon’s ability to safely complete an operation and adversely affect clinical outcomes. For example, robotic instrument malfunctions may increase operating room times, cause operating room delays, and lead to iatrogenic injuries. Despite this, the literature regarding robotic instrument malfunctions is unfortunately limited.
Roman Law Scholarship and Translation in Early Twentieth-Century America

This article provides an overview of the book Lost in Translations, which examines the lives and work of five twentieth century American Roman law translator-scholars: Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Fred H. Blume (1875-1971), who single-handedly translated Justinian’s Code and Novels; gentleman-scholar Samuel Parsons Scott (1846-1929) and classics professor Clyde Pharr (1883-1972), both of whom created massive translations of ancient Roman law; Charles Phineas Sherman (1874-1962), a lawyer-professor who translated some Roman law and wrote prolifically about it; and, finally, Charles Sumner Lobingier (1866-1956), a judge-professor who wrote about Roman law, translated a little, championed the publication of Scott’s work, and was connected to all of the others. All of these men were prominent during their lifetimes but are largely forgotten now. It is hoped that Lost in Translations will draw attention to the work these extraordinary men did and stir an interest to our classical past.
Parsing Time: Learning to Interpret Time Expressions

We present a probabilistic approach for learning to interpret temporal phrases given only a corpus of utterances and the times they reference. While most approaches to the task have used regular expressions and similar linear pattern interpretation rules, the possibility of phrasal embedding and modification in time expressions motivates our use of a compositional grammar of time expressions. This grammar is used to construct a latent parse which evaluates to the time the phrase would represent, as a logical parse might evaluate to a concrete entity. In this way, we can employ a loosely supervised EM-style bootstrapping approach to learn these latent parses while capturing both syntactic uncertainty and pragmatic ambiguity in a probabilistic framework. We achieve an accuracy of 72% on an adapted TempEval-2 task -- comparable to state of the art systems.
THE REMOVAL OF NITROGEN FROM AN INORGANIC INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT BY MEANS OF INTENSIVE ALGAL CULTURE

ABSTRACT The feasibility of algal mass culture as a means of removing nitrogen from an inorganic nitrogenous effluent was investigated. Nitrogen concentrations of 100 mgl–1 can be removed from water by a multistage algal process for which important design parameters are described and evaluated. The most important design parameter is the residence time, which is determined by the nitrogen removal rate and the algal productivity which is a function of incident light and temperature. An area for further work, to reduce the number of stages of the process while still maintaining satisfactory nitrogen removal, is identified. The growth characteristics of the predominant alga, Ankistrodesmus , are described and compared with those found by other workers.
Overview of Chronic Disease Management

I want to go into medicine so that I can help large numbers of patients who are suffering from the effects of chronic diseases. I want to be a member of a multidisciplinary disease management team. I want all members of the team to have well-established roles, roles that take advantage of each of our strengths. I want to use information technology in a way that helps provide better care to each of my patients and to the population of patients I care for. I want access to a registry so that I can determine how my patients are doing and so that I can track clinically meaningful outcomes. I want to be able to review the registry data and implement rapid cycle interventions that can be readily monitored and measured, interventions that are linked in cycles and work toward building a safer and more effective health care system. I want to have evidence-based guidelines embedded in the electronic medical record so that I can provide improved point of service care. I want to find ways to be more effective in helping patients learn more about their disease and how to become better at self-management. I want to be comfortable in using motivational interviewing techniques to support the lifestyle changes that are necessary to improve quality of life and outcomes. I want all of my patients to set their own goals and to use an action plan to manage the complications that uniformly occur in chronic disease.
The value and the limitations of the coagulation time in the study of the hemorrhagic diseases.

The coagulation time is a measurement of the intrinsic power of the blood to convert fibrinogen to fibrin. It is an empirical test no matter how performed, and therefore in order to be reliable requires that the test be done on venous blood under strictly controlled conditions. A recommended procedure is outlined in detail. The coagulation time is prolonged in hemophilia, hypoprothrombinemia, afibrinogenemia and heparinemia. In hemophilia, the coagulation time theoretically is a measure of the severity of the disease but practically is of limited value since the coagulation time may be within normal limits in some patients; the prothrombin consumed in the coagulation of hemophilic blood is therefore a better guide for diagnosis. The coagulation time in hypoprothrombinemia is relatively little prolonged until a drastic reduction occurs. The test is therefore of no value for establishing a hemorrhagic condition in hypoprothrombinemia. In afibrinogenemia the blood is incoagulable. A small amount of fibrinogen restores the coagulation time to normal. The presence of heparin increases the coagulation time. The test is therefore useful in controlling the therapeutic action of this drug. The senior author, in making a survey of the literature on hemorrhagic diseases in preparation of his monograph, was impressed by the significant and diverse contributions which Dr. George R. Minot made to this field of medicine. We feel honored to contribute this study to the collection of papers offered as a fitting tribute to Dr. Minot, who has so successfully and productively combined science and clinical medicine.
rritant Contact Dermatitis of the Nails

Nails have served our species well since the dawn of mankind, but fingernails are frequently traumatized functioning as tools. When man adopted closed shoes, the toenails were exposed to a generally warmer, moister atmosphere. Though shoes protect the nails from some trauma, ill-fitting shapes also damage the nail. Irritant environmental factors that cause nail damage may be categorized as mechanical, physical, chemical, and biologic. Frequently these factors act together to irritate the nail unit. Four keratinizing components of the nail unit are: posterior nail fold, nail matrix, nail bed, and hyponychium. Injuring any component may result in change in appearance of the horny nail plate. Irritant hand dermatitis from any cause involving nail folds or fingertips may cause nail changes. Isomorphic responses (Koebner phenomena) due to irritant reactions can subsequently lead to psoriasis or lichen planus of the nails.
Effects of Electronic Cigarette Liquid Flavors and Modified Risk Messages on Perceptions and Subjective Effects of E-Cigarettes:

Understanding how two characteristics-flavors and modified risk messages-affect perceptions and subjective effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can inform tobacco control efforts. In two within-subjects studies ( N = 17 and N = 19), the effects of e-cigarette flavors (tobacco vs. menthol and unflavored vs. cherry) and hypothetical modified risk messages ("reduced harm relative to cigarettes" vs. no message and "reduced carcinogen exposure relative to cigarettes" vs. no message) on cigarette smokers' perceptions of e-cigarettes were measured after participants self-administered condition-specific products (own-brand cigarettes; e-cigarettes). Perceptions/subjective effects were tested using linear mixed-effects regressions. Cigarettes were perceived as most harmful but rated more positively than e-cigarettes ( ps < .05). Cherry and menthol e-cigarettes increased perceived pleasantness, taste, and physical sensations compared with unflavored and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, respectively ( ps < .05). Modified risk messages were associated with reduced ratings of aversive effects ( ps < .05) but not harm perceptions. Overall, few perceptions/subjective effects differed by e-cigarette flavor or message. Flavors and messages may have some influence on how smokers experience e-cigarettes.
Amino acid-specific isotopic labeling and active site NMR studies of iron(II)- and iron(III)-superoxide dismutase from Escherichia coli.

We have developed and employed multiple amino acid-specific isotopic labeling schemes to obtain definitive assignments for active site 1H NMR resonances of iron(II)- and iron(III)-superoxide dismutase (Fe(II)SOD and Fe(III)SOD) from Escherichia coli. Despite the severe relaxivity of high-spin Fe(III), we have been able to assign resonances to ligand His′ δ1 protons near 100 ppm, and β and α protons collectively between 20 and 50 ppm, in Fe(III)SOD. In the reduced state, we have assigned all but 7 ligand protons, in most cases residue-specifically. A pair of previously unreported broad resonances at 25.9 and 22.1 ppm has been conclusively assigned to the β protons of Asp 156, superseding earlier assignments (Ming et al. (1994) Inorg. Chem., 33, 83–87). We have exploited higher temperatures to resolve previously unobserved ortho-like ligand His proton resonances, and specific isotopic labeling to distinguish between the possibilities of δ2 and e1 protons. These are the closest protein protons to Fe(II) and therefore they have the broadest (∼4000 Hz) and most difficult to detect resonances. Our assignments permit interpretation of temperature dependences of chemical shifts, pH dependences and H/D exchange rates in terms of a hydrogen bond network and the Fe(II) electronic state. Interestingly, Fe(II)SOD's axial His ligand chemical shifts are similar to those of the axial His ligand of Rhodopseudomonas palustris cytochrome c′ (Bertini et al. (1988) Inorg. Chem., 37, 4814–4821) suggesting that Fe(II)SOD's equatorial His2Asp− ligation is able to reproduce some of the electronic, and thus possibly chemical, properties of heme coordination for Fe2+.
Highly efficient editing of the β-globin gene in patient-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to treat sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disorder that affects millions worldwide. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only available cure. Here, we demonstrate the use of CRISPR/Cas9 and a short single-stranded oligonucleotide template to correct the sickle mutation in the β-globin gene in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from peripheral blood or bone marrow of patients with SCD, with 24.5 ± 7.6% efficiency without selection. Erythrocytes derived from gene-edited cells showed a marked reduction of sickle cells, with the level of normal hemoglobin (HbA) increased to 25.3 ± 13.9%. Gene-corrected SCD HSPCs retained the ability to engraft when transplanted into non-obese diabetic (NOD)-SCID-gamma (NSG) mice with detectable levels of gene correction 16-19 weeks post-transplantation. We show that, by using a high-fidelity SpyCas9 that maintained the same level of on-target gene modification, the off-target effects including chromosomal rearrangements were significantly reduced. Taken together, our results demonstrate efficient gene correction of the sickle mutation in both peripheral blood and bone marrow-derived SCD HSPCs, a significant reduction in sickling of red blood cells, engraftment of gene-edited SCD HSPCs in vivo and the importance of reducing off-target effects; all are essential for moving genome editing based SCD treatment into clinical practice.
Novel Dehydrogenation of 2,5-Diaryl Substituted ∆ 2 -Oxazolines to Oxazoles

The dehydrogenation of various 2,5-diaryl substituted ∆ 2 -oxazolines with either Br 2 /LiBr/CaCO 3 (molar ratio 1.05 : 2 : 3) or CuBr 2 /LiBr/CaCO 3 (molar ratio 2 : 1 : 3) in refluxing o -dichlorobenzene gives the corresponding oxazole up to 87% yield. Free radical benzylic bromination followed by dehydrobromination is the expected dehydrogenation mechanism. The successful application of the reagent combination for this transformation is in contrast to standard dehydrogenation reagents, including N-bromosuccinimide, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, chloranil, NiO 2 and active γ-MnO 2 .