cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Common communications support in systems application architecture

Application execution in a Systems Application Architecture (SAA) network depends on the underlying capability of the network to obtain reliable connectivity and orderly data exchange among its system components. The objectives of SAA are distributed applications, distributed processing, and distributed data, which are achieved through interconnected SAA systems supporting appropriate interfaces and architectures. The Common Communications Support of SAA affords this capability by utilizing a number of Systems Network Architecture communication architectures and international standards. These architectures provide useful data interchange within SAA components by providing services ranging from managing data links to specifying data streams for user applications. This paper discusses the role of Common Communications Support and the means for SAA users to access this support, and provides an overview of the functions and roles of various component architectures of Common Communications Support, along with their interrelationships.
Remote limit points on surfaces

Abstract A flow (continuous real action) on a compact orientable surface M of genus greater than one (a sphere with at least two handles) has sufficient room for orbits to wrap around one of the handles in an exotic fashion. Specifically, an orbit that is wrapping around one handle can, between wraps, spend increasing amounts of time wrapping and unwrapping around a second handle before returning to the first for the next wrap around it. As a result the omega limit set of such an orbit can contain a simple closed curve of fixed points around the second handle in spite of wrapping around the first handle. In an earlier paper (Colloq. Math. 84/85 (2000) 235), the authors constructed such a flow from this perspective and studied its lift to the universal covering space of the surface. In this paper it is shown that many of the properties of the example are consequences of a general theory that extends classical limit cycle theory.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, light therapy, and their combination in treating seasonal affective disorder.

Background: The need to develop supplementary or alternative treatments for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is underscored by the significant minority (47%) of SAD patients that is refractory to light therapy, the persistence of residual symptoms despite light treatment, and poor long-term compliance with light use. Because preliminary studies suggest that cognitive and behavioral factors are involved in SAD, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) warrants investigation as a possible treatment option. Methods: We piloted a 6-week randomized clinical trial to compare a standard light therapy protocol; a novel, SAD-tailored, group CBT intervention; and their combination in ameliorating and remitting a current SAD episode and as prophylaxis against episode recurrence. Depressive symptom severity and remission rates were assessed at post-treatment and at a 1-year follow-up visit to examine long-term treatment durability. Results: CBT, light therapy, and their combination all demonstrated significant reductions in depressive symptoms on two different outcome measures. Remission rates varied by measure, but did not reach statistical significance. During the subsequent winter, CBT, particularly in combination with light therapy, appeared to improve long-term outcome regarding symptom severity, remission rates, and relapse rates. No CBT-treated participant, with or without light, experienced a full SAD relapse compared to over 60% of those treated with light alone. Limitations: These results should be viewed as preliminary and are limited by the small sample size (n=23) and lack of a control group. Conclusions: The nearly half of SAD patients who do not remit with light alone may benefit from CBT as an adjunct or alternative treatment, especially as a prophylaxis against episode recurrence.
Management of nephrolithiasis after Cohen cross-trigonal and Glenn-Anderson advancement ureteroneocystostomy.

Purpose: Ureteroneocystotomy is frequently performed for ureteral injury or vesicoureteral reflux. The Glenn-Anderson technique advances the ureteral orifice distal to its native position, while the Cohen technique crosses the orifice to the opposite trigone. Each treatment can alter access to the upper genitourinary tracts. We report our experience with subsequent nephrolithiasis in these patients.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients treated with ureteroneocystotomy since 1980 who had nephrolithiasis.Results: Nephrolithiasis developed in 9 patients with prior Cohen ureteroneocystotomy and in 15 with prior Glenn-Anderson ureteroneocystotomy. Stones size was 2 to 20 mm (mean 6.4). In the Cohen group ureteroscopy was attempted and failed in 2 patients, requiring percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Attempted shock wave lithotripsy failed in 2 patients, of whom 1 required percutaneous nephrolithotomy and 1 required observation. Primary percutaneous nephrolithotomy was per...
Analysis of an alignment algorithm for nonlinear dimensionality reduction

The goal of dimensionality reduction or manifold learning for a given set of high-dimensional data points, is to find a low-dimensional parametrization for them. Usually it is easy to carry out this parametrization process within a small region to produce a collection of local coordinate systems. Alignment is the process to stitch those local systems together to produce a global coordinate system and is done through the computation of a partial eigendecomposition of a so-called alignment matrix. In this paper, we present an analysis of the alignment process, giving conditions under which the null space of the alignment matrix recovers the global coordinate system up to an affine transformation. We also propose a post-processing step that can determine the global coordinate system up to a rigid motion. This in turn shows that Local Tangent Space Alignment method (LTSA) can recover a locally isometric embedding up to a rigid motion.
Effects of Nitrous Oxide During Organogenesis in the Rat

Susceptibility of the pregnant female rat to possible teratogenic effects from acute nitrous oxide exposure was studied. A statistically significant increase in fetal death rate (ranging from 19.1 to 7%) was observed with exposure during various periods of organogensis. No significant differences in fetal length, weight, or organ-to-body-weight ratio for spleen and liver were observed.
10 bit 200 MSPS GaAs BiFET sample and hold circuit

A GaAs BiFET sample and hold circuit has been implemented and evaluated. SINAD (signal to noise and distortion) was measured to be /spl sim/60 dB, but was limited by the test setup. The device accepts a differential input and produces a differential output. The S/H is clocked differentially at rates of up to 200 MHz. 12 bit performance was expected from SPICE simulations. Despite our test setup limitations, 10 bit performance was observed at 200 MSPS with an input signal frequency of 198 MHz. >
Solution characterization of [methyl-13C]methionine HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by NMR spectroscopy

Abstract HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) is a primary target for drug intervention in the treatment of AIDS. We report the first solution NMR studies of [methyl-13C]methionine HIV-1 RT, aimed at better understanding the conformational and dynamic characteristics of RT, both in the presence and absence of the non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) nevirapine. The selection of methionine as a structural probe was based both on its favorable NMR characteristics, and on the presence of two important active site methionine residues, M18466 and M23066. Observation of the M184 resonance is subunit dependent; in the p66 subunit the solvent-exposed residue produces a readily observed signal with a characteristic resonance shift, while in the globular p51 subunit, the M18451 resonance is shifted and broadened as M184 becomes buried in the protein interior. In contrast, although structural data indicates that the environment of M230 is also strongly subunit dependent, the M230 resonances from both subunits have very similar shift and relaxation characteristics. A comparison of chemical shift and intensity data with model-based predictions gives reasonable agreement for M18466, while M23066, located on the β-hairpin “primer grip”, is more mobile and solvent-exposed than suggested by crystal structures of the apo enzyme which have a “closed” fingers-thumb conformation. This mobility of the primer grip is presumably important for binding of non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs), since the NNRTI binding pocket is not observed in the absence of the inhibitors, requiring instead that the binding pocket be dynamically accessible. In the presence of the nevirapine, both the M18466 and M23066 resonances are significantly perturbed, while none of the methionine resonances in the p51 subunit is sensitive to this inhibitor. Site-directed mutagenesis indicates that both M16 and M357 produce two resonances in each subunit, and for both residues, the intensity ratio of the component peaks is strongly subunit dependent. Conformational features that might explain the multiple peaks are discussed.
Asymmetric Excess Free Energies and Variable Interaction Parameters in MiXed Micellization

The electrostatic contribution to the excess free energy of mixed micellization, considered to be the most important contribution for ionic/nonionic mixtures of hydrocarbon-based surfactants with similar tail lengths, was calculated for mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate and three different nonionic surfactants at two salt concentrations. A simplified analytical molecular thermodynamic approach was used where the electrostatic free energy contributions of both the pure ionic and mixed micelle were obtained by applying an approximate solution of the Poisson−Boltzmann equation. The results show that in general the excess free energies are not symmetrical with respect to the micellar composition. However, it is shown that even in this case the equations for the micellar properties given by the molecular thermodynamic approach at the optimal micellar composition remain identical to the ones produced by the phase separation approximation, including the expressions for the activity coefficients as a function of...
A clinical study on the use of a fluorogenic substrate assay of plasminogen

A fluorogenic substrate assay of plasminogen was compared with acceptable methodologies, i.e., caseinolytic and radial immunodiffusion assays. Reference intervals based on a population of 25 members of the laboratory staff were 2.5-3.8 CTA u/ml (fluorogenic), 2.2-4.0 CTA u/ml (caseinolytic) and 8.7-14.3 mg/dl (RID). Ninety eight determinations were performed on 65 patients. Regression analysis showed linear correlation between the fluorometric and caseinolytic assays (r = 0.8046, p less than 0.03) and between the fluorometric and immunologic assays (r = 0.8572, p less than 0.005). Pre-operative and post-operative determinations were performed on 33 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and there was a consistent and significant (10%-76%) decrease in the plasminogen levels post-operatively (p less than 0.01). Twenty-five patients with various malignancies were compared with the normal population; no significant difference in the plasminogen levels was observed between the two groups.
Comparison of ground and flight test results using a modified F106B aircraft

A F106 aircraft was modified by installing two additional underwing nacelles housing afterburning J85 engines to study exhaust nozzles in flight at Mach numbers up to 1.3. Installation effects were determined for several nozzles by comparing flight and wind-tunnel data. The effect is to decrease boattail drag and delay its drag rise Mach number to about 0.98. A study of Reynolds number effects, carried out at subsonic speeds with afterburning turbofan engines showed boattail drag to be sensitive to Reynolds number. In flight, drag was highest at the lowest Reynolds number, and decreased as the Re number was increased. Static and flyover noise measurements showed that, except for special cases, noise levels at takeoff (M = 0.4) were higher than predicted from static data.
Depolarization of diffusely reflecting man-made objects

The polarization properties of light scattered or diffusely reflected from seven different man-made samples are studied. For each diffusely reflecting sample an in-plane Mueller matrix bidirectional reflectance distribution function is measured at a fixed bistatic angle using a Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter. The measured profile of depolarization index with changing scattering geometry for most samples is well approximated by an inverted Gaussian function. Depolarization is minimum for specular reflection and increases asymptotically in a Gaussian fashion as the angles of incidence and scatter increase. Parameters of the Gaussian profiles fitted to the depolarization data are used to compare samples. The dependence of depolarization on the incident polarization state is compared for each Stokes basis vector: horizontal, vertical, 45 degrees, 135 degrees, and right- and left-circular polarized light. Linear states exhibit similar depolarization profiles that typically differ in value by less than 0.06 (where 1.0 indicates complete depolarization). Circular polarization states are depolarized more than linear states for all samples tested, with the output degree of polarization reduced from that of linear states by as much as 0.15. The depolarization difference between linear and circular states varies significantly between samples.
Methotrexate and Childhood Leukemia

(1991). Methotrexate and Childhood Leukemia. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 53-60.
Domain-Independent Heuristics for Goal Formulation

Goal-driven autonomy is a framework for intelligent agents that automatically formulate and manage goals in dynamic environments, where goal formulation is the task of identifying goals that the agent should attempt to achieve. We argue that goal formulation is central to high-level autonomy, and explain why identifying domain-independent heuristics for this task is an important research topic in highlevel control. We describe two novel domain-independent heuristics for goal formulation (motivators) that evaluate the utility of goals based on the projected consequences of achieving them. We then describe their integration in MARTUE, an agent that balances the satisfaction of internal needs with the achievement of goals introduced externally. We assess its performance in a series of experiments in the Rovers With Compass domain. Our results show that using domain-independent heuristics yields performance comparable to using domain-specific knowledge for goal formulation. Finally, in ablation studies we demonstrate that each motivator contributes significantly to M-ARTUE’s performance.
Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Human Corneal Epithelial Cells: Role of Bacterial Fibronectin-Binding Protein and Host Cell Factors

Wild-type Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be capable of invading human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Internalization of S. aureus required expression of fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBPs); the capacity of an FnBP-deficient isogenic strain to invade HCEC was reduced by more than 99%. The binding of S. aureus to HCEC did not require viable bacteria, since UV-killed cells were observed to adhere efficiently. Invasion of HCEC by S. aureus involved active host cell mechanisms; uptake was nearly completely eliminated by cytochalasin D and genistein. These data suggest that FnBPs play a key role in host-parasite interactions and may serve as an important adhesin or invasin in ulcerative keratitis caused by S. aureus.
LET-23 Receptor Localization by the Cell Junction Protein LIN-7 during C. elegans Vulval Induction

Abstract In C. elegans, the anchor cell signal induces Pn.p cells to form the vulva by activating a conserved receptor tyrosine kinase pathway. lin-2 and lin-7 mutants exhibit a vulvaless phenotype similar to the phenotype observed when this signaling pathway is defective. We have found that LIN-7 is a cell junction–associated protein that binds to the LET-23 receptor tyrosine kinase. LET-23 is also localized to the cell junctions, and both LIN-2 and LIN-7 are required for this localization. LET-23 overexpression rescues the lin-2 or lin-7 vulvaless phenotype, suggesting that increased receptor density can compensate for mislocalization. These results suggest that proper localization of LET-23 receptor to the Pn.p cell junctions is required for signaling activity.
Developmental Sequences in the Acquisition of English L2 Syllable Codas: A Preliminary Study

This study examines the acquisition of English syllable codas by two native speakers of Vietnamese. Data were collected at three intervals over 1 year. Results indicate that a developmental sequence may exist and that this sequence may not be linear, with some longer (i.e., two and three member) codas emerging before some singleton codas. Furthermore, it was found that production type (e.g., with epenthesis or feature change) differed significantly by coda type and was indicative of acquisition processes. Finally, linguistic environment (preceding and following) and grammatical conditioning were found to significantly affect coda production and development.The author would like to thank Jun Liu, Mary Zampini, and the anonymous SSLA reviewers for their invaluable comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper.
CSG-based object recognition using range images

A CSG (constructive solid geometry) -based system to recognize 3D objects from range images is proposed. The system starts by segmenting an object in a range image into primitive surface patches with the simplest geometric characteristics. The primitive patches are classified as surfaces of primitive volumes such as sphere, cylinders, cubes, or cones, and the order and types of set operations on these primitives are determined. This is achieved by constructing a precedence graph describing the priorities of operations. The recognition is based on matching of precedence graphs. The advantages and disadvantages of the approach are discussed. >
ADPLL variables determinations based on phase noise, spur and locking time

This paper presents a methodology to determine all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) circuit variables based on required design specifications, including output phase noise, spur and locking time. An analytical model is developed to characterize the effects of different noise sources on ADPLL output phase noise and fractional spur. Applying the proposed noise model, circuit variables in ADPLL can be properly selected to meet the phase noise, spur and locking time requirements. For model validation, we collect the ADPLL circuit designs published in the recent literature and perform model analysis. The analysis results and hardware measurements show good agreements.
Freedom at Moderate Energies: Masses in Color Dynamics

We discuss the effects of quark and target masses in inclusive lepton-hadron scattering, assuming a color SU(3) gauge theory of strong interactions. Our tools are the renormalization group, suitably extended to include quark masses, and the operator-product expansion. We argue that the best renormalization procedure is to specify all parameters in the Lagrangian (coupling constants and masses) as well as wave-function normalizations at Euclidean momenta of scale M. We use the renormalization group to develop an understanding of the relation between current-algebra and constituent-quark masses. In the operator-product expansion, we use the equations of motion to eliminate operators with D, D2, etc. acting on a quark field. We order the expansion as a power series in the gauge coupling constant as it occurs in the coefficient functions. We predict approximate scaling in a new variable ξ≠x, which depends on Q2 and the quark and target masses. We also discuss the distribution of antiquarks and heavy quarks in the nucleon.
The HS:19 serostrain of Campylobacter jejuni has a hyaluronic acid-type capsular polysaccharide with a nonstoichiometric sorbose branch and O-methyl phosphoramidate group.

A recent study that examined multiple strains of Campylobacter jejuni reported that HS:19, a serostrain that has been associated with the onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome, had unidentified labile, capsular polysaccharide (CPS) structures. In this study, we expand on this observation by using current glyco-analytical technologies to characterize these unknown groups. Capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization MS and NMR analysis with a cryogenically cooled probe (cold probe) of CPS purified using a gentle enzymatic method revealed a hyaluronic acid-type [-4)-beta-D-GlcA6NGro-(1-3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1-]n repeating unit, where NGro is 2-aminoglycerol. A labile alpha-sorbofuranose branch located at C2 of GlcA was determined to have the L configuration using a novel pyranose oxidase assay and is the first report of this sugar in a bacterial glycan. A labile O-methyl phosphoramidate group, CH3OP(O)(NH2)(OR) (MeOPN), was found at C4 of GlcNAc. Structural heterogeneity of the CPS was due to nonstoichiometric glycosylation with sorbose at C2 of GlcA and the nonstoichiometric, variably methylated phosphoramidate group. Examination of whole bacterial cells using high-resolution magic angle spinning NMR revealed that the MeOPN group is a prominent feature on the cell surface for this serostrain. These results are reminiscent of those in the 11168 and HS:1 strains and suggest that decoration of CPS with nonstoichiometric elements such as keto sugars and the phosphoramidate is a common mechanism used by this bacterium to produce a structurally complex surface glycan from a limited number of genes. The findings of this work with the HS:19 serostrain now present a means to explore the role of CPS as a virulence factor in C. jejuni.
Evaluation of Automatically Assigned MeSH Terms for Retrieval of Medical Images

This paper presents the results of the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) team in collaboration with the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the 2007 ImageCLEFmed task. We use a system that combines visual features (using a CBIR System) and text retrieval. We used the Medical Text Indexer (MTI) developed by NLM to automatically assign MeSH terms and UMLS concepts to the English free text annotations of the images. We also used an equivalent system called MAIF that automatically assigns MeSH and UMLS concepts to French free text. Our results indicate that the use of automatically assigned UMLS concepts improves retrieval performance significantly. We also identified specific aspects of the system that could be improved in the future, such as the method used to perform the automatic translation of medical terms and the addition of image classification to process queries targeted to a specific image modality.
“I'm Not the One They're Sticking the Needle Into” Latino Couples, Fetal Diagnosis, and the Discourse of Reproductive Rights

Despite the growing routinization of prenatal diagnosis, little research has examined men's roles in this reproductive arena or these technologies' possibilities for reinforcing or transforming gender roles and relations. The authors analyze male partners' participation in the amniocentesis decisions of Mexican-origin women at high risk for problems, drawing on interviews with 157 women and 120 of their male partners. The primary aim is to explore whether the normalization of prenatal testing poses a threat to women's autonomy in this decision arena. The findings challenge critics of new reproductive and genetic technologies who assume that these technologies inherently represent male attempts to control women's bodies and the processes of reproduction. In contrast, the authors find many couples try to balance their desire to share equally in parenting responsibilities while maintaining the woman's ultimate control over her body and decisions associated with it.
Pigmented purpuric eruptions: immunopathologic studies supportive of a common immunophenotype.

Traditionally, the pigmented purpuric eruptions (PPE) have been subdivided into four histologic categories, based upon variations in histologic pattern and clinical morphologies. In recent years, it has become apparent that the lesions behave similarly, and this family of eruptions has become grouped under the term PPE. The pathogenesis of these eruptions is largely unknown. In this study, we examined 13 examples of the histologic and clinical subtypes of the PPE with a panel of hematolymphoid immunophenotypic markers, in hopes of better understanding the pathogenesis of these curious eruptions. All lesions examined showed a predominantly T cell infiltrate composed of a mixture of OPD4 (CD4) positive and OPD4 negative cells. B cells were rare. Macrophages did not comprise a significant component of the infiltrate. The staining pattern was relatively constant, independent of the histologic pattern (i.e., Schamberg's vs. Gougerot-Blum, etc) of the PPE. Our results suggest that PPE are a group of related eruptions which may have a common pathogenesis. It seems likely that the vascular damage and erythrocyte extravasation are secondary to a localized cell-mediated immunologic event.
Determinants of Voluntary Association Participation and Volunteering: A Literature Review:

This article reviews the American literature in social science for the period 1975–1992 on the determinants of volunteer participation in programs and associations. It finds that most studies are t...
PATTERNS OF PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS, RARITY, ENDEMISM, AND UNIQUENESS IN AN ARID LANDSCAPE

Most current conservation literature focuses on the preservation of hotspots of species diversity and endemism, as if the two were geographically synonymous. At landscape scales this may not be the case. We collected data from 367 1000-m 2 plots in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA, to show that: (1) the vast majority of plant species are locally rare; (2) species-rich areas are generally in rare, mesic, or high-elevation habitats such as aspen stands or riparian zones high in soil N and P; (3) endemic species (to the Colorado Plateau and the Monument) were generally found in relatively species-rich, but low-elevation, xeric vegetation type areas low in soil P; (4) unique species assemblages were found in areas moderately high in endemism and species richness; and (5) nonnative plant species were widely distributed, but more prevalent in species-rich, mesic sites high in soil fertility or disturbed sites, and significantly less prev- alent in plots with endemic species. We show that primary hotspots of species richness, high endemism, and unique species assemblages are not co-located on the landscape. Hence, conservation strategies may have to consider a much broader concept of ''hotspots'' to adequately preserve native plant species and the processes that foster persistence.
Gimcracks, Dollar Blouses, and Transistors: American Reactions to Imported Japanese Products, 1945-1964

This article examines the changing extent of the Cold War9s influence on popular American perceptions of goods made in Japan. Although the National Security Council recommended in 1948 that the United States rebuild Japan9s devastated economy to strengthen an anti-communist ally in East Asia (and America9s position there), U.S. merchants, consumers, manufacturers, and journalists did not consistently go along with this official economic policy. The American press initially depicted the Japanese economy as needing assistance and producing only cheap, inconsequential products, but as Japan9s economy began to recover in the mid-1950s and Japanese manufacturers produced better quality goods, concerns over competition revived racialized wartime rhetoric. Japan9s emergence as a successful exporter of high-end merchandise by the 1960s seemed to prove the strength of American-style free market capitalism.
Directional migration and transcriptional analysis of oligodendrocyte precursors subjected to stimulation of electrical signal

Loss of oligodendrocytes as the result of central nervous system disease causes demyelination that impairs axon function. Effective directional migration of endogenous or grafted oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to a lesion is crucial in the neural remyelination process. In this study, the migration of OPCs in electric fields (EFs) was investigated. We found that OPCs migrated anodally in applied EFs, and the directedness and displacement of anodal migration increased significantly when the EF strength increased from 50 to 200 mV/mm. However, EFs did not significantly affect the cell migration speed. The transcriptome of OPCs subjected to EF stimulation (100 and 200 mV/mm) was analyzed using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and results were verified by the reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway that signals cell migration was significantly upregulated in cells treated with an EF of 200 mV/mm compared with control cells. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the downregulation of differentially expressed genes in chemotaxis. This study suggests that an applied EF is an effective cue to guiding OPC migration in neural regeneration and that transcriptional analysis contributes to the understanding of the mechanism of EF-guided cell migration.
Stabilization of a 3D rigid pendulum

We introduced models for a 3D pendulum, consisting of a rigid body that is supported at a frictionless pivot, in a 2004 CDC paper [Shen, J, Dec. 2004]. In that paper, several different classifications were given and models were developed for each classification. Control problems were posed based on these various models. This paper continues that line of research by studying stabilization problems for a reduced model of the 3D pendulum. Two different stabilization strategies are proposed. The first controller, based on angular velocity feedback only, asymptotically stabilizes the hanging equilibrium. The domain of attraction is shown to be almost global. The second controller, based on angular velocity and reduced attitude feedback, asymptotically stabilizes the inverted equilibrium, providing an almost global domain of attraction. Simulation results are provided to illustrate closed loop properties.
Thioredoxin reductase is inhibited by the carbamoylating activity of the anticancer sulfonylhydrazine drug laromustine

The thioredoxin system facilitates proliferative processes in cells and is upregulated in many cancers. The activities of both thioredoxin (Trx) and its reductase (TrxR) are mediated by oxidation/reduction reactions among cysteine residues. A common target in preclinical anticancer research, TrxR is reported here to be significantly inhibited by the anticancer agent laromustine. This agent, which has been in clinical trials for acute myelogenous leukemia and glioblastoma multiforme, is understood to be cytotoxic principally via interstrand DNA crosslinking that originates from a 2-chloroethylating species generated upon activation in situ. The spontaneous decomposition of laromustine also yields methyl isocyanate, which readily carbamoylates thiols and primary amines. Purified rat liver TrxR was inhibited by laromustine with a clinically relevant IC50 value of 4.65 μM. A derivative of laromustine that lacks carbamoylating activity did not appreciably inhibit TrxR while another derivative, lacking only the 2-chloroethylating activity, retained its inhibitory potency. Furthermore, in assays measuring TrxR activity in murine cell lysates, a similar pattern of inhibition among these compounds was observed. These data contrast with previous studies demonstrating that glutathione reductase, another enzyme that relies on cysteine-mediated redox chemistry, was not inhibited by methylcarbamoylating agents when measured in cell lysates. Mass spectrometry of laromustine-treated enzyme revealed significant carbamoylation of TrxR, albeit not on known catalytically active residues. However, there was no evidence of 2-chloroethylation anywhere on the protein. The inhibition of TrxR is likely to contribute to the cytotoxic, anticancer mechanism of action for laromustine.
Potassium Toxicity Due to Intravenous Penicillin Therapy

Extremely large doses of penicillin given intravenously are regularly used by many in the treatment of severe bacterial infections. Attention has been called to the possibility that potassium toxicity might result from the rapid infusion of large doses of the potassium salt of penicillin, which is the commonly used preparation.1,2 In mice, the toxicity of intravenously injected penicillin has been shown to be due to the cation used in the preparation with the potassium salt being the most toxic form.3,4
Treating the Criminal Psychopath? Past, Present and Future

Psychopaths constitute less than 1% of the general population, but they commit over 30% of the violent crime in our society and do an estimated $250-400 billion dollars in societal costs each year. Hence, they pose a central problem for the criminal justice system. Over 200 years of clinical research suggests that individuals with psychopathy are resistant to treatment. Indeed, studies indicate that some forms of treatment may even increase rates of violent recidivism in individuals with psychopathy compared to not treating them at all. However, recent studies have made progress in treating individuals with psychopathy and modern neuroscience research is posed to help us further refine treatment regimes. This later work will be reviewed and summarized.
The Media’s Role in Fighting Corruption: Media Effects on Governmental Accountability

This study measures the relationship between media freedom and corruption, accounting for elements of vertical accountability (electoral competitiveness, civil society, and voter turnout) and horizontal accountability (judicial independence and political system). Results suggest a strong association between media freedom and corruption that runs from high levels of media freedom to low levels of corruption. This study also implies that media freedom might have a stronger indirect effect on corruption when coupled with powerful institutions of horizontal accountability. The data suggest that the association between media freedom and corruption is strongest in countries with parliamentary systems than in those with presidential systems, and that this impact amplifies as the judiciary independence increases.
An MR compatible frequency domain fluorescence molecular imaging system: design and phantom studies

In this study, a hybrid MR-frequency domain fluorescence tomography (FT) is developed. The phantom studies show that the anatomical images from MRI improve reconstruction of both fluorescence concentration and lifetime parameters significantly.
A Direct Uncertainty Minimization Framework in Model Reference Adaptive Control

This paper considers stabilization and command following of uncertain dynamical systems and presents a new adaptive control approach with improved system performance. The proposed framework consists of a novel architecture involving modification terms in the adaptive controller and the update law. Specifically, these terms are activated when the system error between an uncertain dynamical system and a given reference model, which captures a desired closed-loop dynamical system behavior, is nonzero and vanishes as the system reaches its steady-state. This key feature of our framework allows to suppress the effect of system uncertainty on the transient system response through a gradient minimization procedure, and hence, leads to improved system performance. We further show that by automatically adjusting the design parameter of the added terms in response to system variations, we can enforce system error to approximately stay in a priori given, userdefined error performance bounds. Several illustrative numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Framing policy paradigms: population dispersal and the Gaza withdrawal

AbstractIn June 2004 the Israeli government decided to dismantle all of the Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip. During the year between the government’s decision and the implementation of this policy, ardent supporters and opponents of the move sought to sway a divided Israeli public through public relations campaigns promoting their positions. One of the central components of the government’s campaign supporting the pullout from Gaza was that it would advance the development of Israel’s southern Negev region. Promotion of the policy as a means for development of the Negev tied into Israel’s long-standing population dispersal policy, which has been a policy paradigm for land use and development in Israel since the state’s founding. This paper examines the way in which development of the Negev was used to advance the Gaza pullout and the degree to which this development was implemented in the years following the pullout. Analysis of the Israeli case is used illustrate the strategic influence of policy p...
Beyond Anticommunism: The Fragility of Class Analysis in Romania

The debate about socio-economic inequalities and class has become increasingly important in mainstream academic and political debates. This article shows that during the late 2000s class analysis was rediscovered in Romania both as an analytical category and as a category of practice. The evidence suggests that this was the result of two converging processes: the deepening crisis of Western capitalism after 2008 and the country’s increasingly transnational networks of young scholars, journalists, and civil society actors. Although a steady and focused interest in class analysis is a novelty in Romania’s academia, media, and political life and has the potential to change the political conversation in the future, so far the social fields where this analysis is practiced have remained relatively marginal.
Autoinflammatory Skin Disorders: The Inflammasome in Focus

Autoinflammatory skin disorders are a group of heterogeneous diseases that include diseases such as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Therapeutic strategies targeting IL-1 cytokines have proved helpful in ameliorating some of these diseases. While inflammasomes are the major regulators of IL-1 cytokines, inflammasome-independent complexes can also process IL-1 cytokines. Herein, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of how IL-1 cytokines, stemming from inflammasome-dependent and -independent pathways are involved in the regulation of skin conditions. Importantly, we discuss several mouse models of skin inflammation generated to help elucidate the basic cellular and molecular effects and modulation of IL-1 in the skin. Such models offer perspectives on how these signaling pathways could be targeted to improve therapeutic approaches in the treatment of these rare and debilitating inflammatory skin disorders.
Rational and Effective Energy Use

The environmental consequences just described, other consequences to be described later, rising costs, and long-term depletion of resources establish the importance of using energy efficiently and productively, of not squandering its thermodynamic potential. The ubiquitous and casual use of energy creates an attitude of false familiarity that leads to undervaluing both the importance and the complexity of rational and effective use. Other impediments also exist, to be described later. Knowing the substantial possibilities for better use of energy also influences our ideas of how much needs to be provided, and often of what kind. Therefore, this chapter precedes those that deal with supply options.
Role of COUP-TFII in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the role of COUP-TFII in the etiology of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and describes some pathways and genes involved in CDH and their potential associations with COUP-TFII. COUP-TFs are members of a nuclear receptor superfamily. Two major subtypes are identified in mammals that include COUP-TFI (NR2F1) and COUP-TFII (NR2F2). COUP-TFI and II share 98.5 percent amino acid identity in the DNA binding domain (DBD) and 96 percent identity in the putative ligand binding domain (LBD). N-terminal domains of COUP-TFI and II have only 45 percent similarity, which may provide distinct functions for these subtypes. COUP-TFs are also highly homologous among species. The DBDs of COUP-TFI or COUP-TFII in different species are identical, and even the putative LBDs of the two receptors are 99.6 percent identical among vertebrates. COUP-TFs preferably bind a DR1 element (a direct repeat of AGGTCA with one nucleotide spacer) in the form of homodimers. However, COUP-TFs are also able to bind to other types of direct repeats or inverted repeats. COUP-TFs are well characterized as transcriptional repressors of many genes. COUP-TFII is expressed in the primordial components of the diaphragm. At E10.5, COUP-TFII is highly expressed in the foregut mesenchyme. PHMP/PPF, the primordium of the dorsolateral part of the diaphragm, is organized by E11.5 and COUP-TFII is clearly detected in this region. At E12.5, the expression level of COUP-TFII becomes much higher in PHMP/PPF, whereas it starts to decrease in the developing diaphragm at E13.5. COUP-TFII is highly expressed in other components that are important for the development of the diaphragm such as septum transversum, and it is expressed in the developing lung as well.
Philosophical Space and Time

Before going any further with time travel, it will be well worth the effort to take a closer look at time itself, the ‘stuff’ or ‘thing’ or … ? that we are interested in traveling ‘through’ or ‘around’ or ‘across’ or … ? Oddly enough, I’ll start with religion, as philosophical theologians had identified time as something unusual long before Newton’s words on time in his Principia that I mentioned in the Introduction, and many thousands of years before science fiction writers and their time travel stories.
Dynamic Pricing for On-Demand Ride-Sharing: A Continuous Approach

We investigate the dynamic pricing problem in on-demand ride-sharing using a continuous-time continuous-space approach. A ride-sharing platform controls two sides of the market, supply (vacant vehicles) and demand (customers' trip requests) via setting dynamic prices and commissions with the objective of maximizing its expected revenue in the infinite horizon. The dynamic model of supply is described by the multi-population traffic flow with an intergroup transfer (a system of hyperbolic stochastic partial differential equations); the demand subjects to independent stochastic processes. This continuous setting allows solving the revenue maximization by optimal control without treating combinatorial explosions. The demand-supply-based pricing is smooth in space and the traffic congestion resulted from control is also considered. This work provides a macroscopic perspective in handling the complicated spatiotemporal pricing problem in ride-sharing and similar matching markets.
Safety Assessment of Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms in Patients with Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

Background The prevalence of cerebral aneurysms is increased in fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The presence of FMD may serve as discouragement to elective endovascular aneurysm treatment. Outcomes of endovascular intervention for aneurysms through vessels affected by FMD have not been reported. Methods A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing intracranial embolization was reviewed for patients with FMD who underwent endovascular aneurysm treatment. Results A total of 1,025 patients were screened and 31 (3.0%) had cerebrovascular FMD. These patients underwent a total of 43 embolization procedures; 27 of these procedures were performed through an affected vessel. All but 1 patient were female and the average age was 62 years. "String-of-pearls"-type FMD was the most common subtype (90%). The internal carotid arteries were more commonly affected (65%) than the vertebral arteries (48%). All patients underwent treatment of cerebral aneurysms, most of which (87%) were incidentally discovered; 6 patients (19%) also had incidental vessel dissection. The average aneurysm size was 7.1 mm. The morphology was saccular in 93% of the cases, and 86% were in the anterior circulation. The most commonly performed treatment was flow diversion (67%), in the majority of cases by pipeline embolization. Other procedures performed were coiling (19%), stent-coiling (12%), and intrasaccular flow disruption (2%). All but 1 procedure (98%) were successful. There were no major complications; 1 patient experienced a transient ischemic attack. Follow-up angiography was performed in 88% of the cases, without evidence for disease progression after treatment. The average time to last angiographic follow-up was 17 months (±13). Conclusions Elective embolization of intracranial aneurysms can be performed safely through vessels affected by FMD.
Exploring, defining, and illustrating a concept: Structural and psychological empowerment in the workplace.

AIM The aim of this concept analysis is to clarify the meaning and relationship of psychological and structural empowerment. BACKGROUND Empowerment is linked to positive organizational and individual constructs and outcomes. Improving the work environment may assist in sustaining a fragile and essential workforce. DESIGN Walker and Avant's method was used to guide an analysis of this concept. DATA SOURCE Resources published from 1970 to 2018 were identified via electronic databases, empirical works, and modern operational usage of the terms. REVIEW METHODS A literature review and search for concept maps were completed and analyzed to identify uses and definitions of the concept: attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. It also includes identifying model, borderline, and contrary cases to differentiate empowerment from other related concepts. RESULTS A comprehensive, inclusive review of empowerment must include both constructs, structural and psychological. A conceptual map of these akin constructs illustrates their syndication. CONCLUSIONS The concept of examining empowerment from both constructs, structural and psychological, is necessary to develop evidence-based practice strategies and improve the work environment and workforce.
Comparison of early postnatal prediction models for survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

To compare the PF-PCO2 equation—partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) minus partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2)—to three other tools for postnatal prediction of survival in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). A retrospective analysis of 203 infants with CDH from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2018. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis was performed for survival and secondary outcomes of survival without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) and death despite ECMO. Predictive scores were calculated to determine cutoff for PF-PCO2 score. The PF-PCO2 tool had the highest AUC (0.84 for survival, 0.92 for survival without ECMO, and 0.83 for death despite ECMO). PF-PCO2 best predicted survival when >−60 and survival without ECMO when >+80. There was no optimal cutoff score for death despite ECMO. The PF-PCO2 tool best predicted postnatal survival in infants with CDH.
N–H Bond Formation in a Manganese(V) Nitride Yields Ammonia by Light-Driven Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

A method for the reduction of a manganese nitride to ammonia is reported, where light-driven proton-coupled electron transfer enables the formation of weak N—H bonds. Photoreduction of (saltBu)MnVN to ammonia and a Mn(II) complex has been accomplished using 9,10-dihydroacridine and a combination of an appropriately matched photoredox catalyst and weak Bronsted acid. Acid-reductant pairs with effective bond dissociation free energies between 35 and 46 kcal/mol exhibited high efficiencies. This light-driven method may provide a blueprint for new approaches to catalytic homogeneous ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions.