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The thioether-functionalized 2-azabutadiene (iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2 L ligates to CdI2 and HgI2 to form the chelate compounds [CdI2{(iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2] (1) and [HgI2(iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2] (2). Their crystal structures were solved via X-ray diffraction. Both crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space groups: monoclinic P21 (1) and orthorhombic P212121 (2), respectively. The closed-shell d10 metal centers are four-coordinated (two iodides and S and N coordinating atoms from the ligand L) in both complexes. The geometrical indexes τ indicate that a highly distorted trigonal pyramidal is adopted for 1 and a seesaw geometry for 2. The comparative nature of metal–ligand bonds is discussed on the basis of metric parameters and of QT-AIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecules) calculations. L was also treated with CuI to obtain the dinuclear species [LCu(μ2-I2)CuL] (3), in which the two Cu(I) centers are linked by a short metal–metal bond. The geometric and electronic properties of 3 are compared with those of 1 and 2.

Gene therapy and its role in the medical field have evolved drastically in recent decades. Studies aim to define DNA-based medicine as well as encourage innovation and the further development of novel approaches. Gene therapy has been established as an alternative approach to treat a variety of diseases. Its range of mechanistic applicability is wide; gene therapy has the capacity to address the symptoms of disease, the body’s ability to fight disease, and in some cases has the ability to cure disease, making it a more attractive intervention than some traditional approaches to treatment (i.e., medicine and surgery). Such versatility also suggests gene therapy has the potential to address a greater number of indications than conventional treatments. Many DNA-based therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, and several have been approved for use in humans. Whereas current treatment regimens for chronic disease often require frequent dosing, DNA-based therapies can produce robust and durable expression of therapeutic genes with fewer treatments. This benefit encourages the application of DNA-based gene therapy to manage chronic diseases, an area where improving efficiency of current treatments is urgent. Here, we provide an overview of two DNA-based gene therapies as well as their delivery methods: adeno associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy and plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based gene therapy. We will focus on how these therapies have already been utilized to improve treatment of chronic disease, as well as how current literature supports the expansion of these therapies to treat additional chronic indications in the future.

Electroporation (EP) stands out as a promising non-viral plasmid delivery strategy, although achieving optimal transfection efficiency in vivo remains a challenge. A noteworthy advancement in the field of in vivo EP is the application of hyaluronidase, an enzyme with the capacity to degrade hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix, which thereby enhances DNA transfer efficiency by 2- to 3-fold. This paper focuses on elucidating the mechanism of hyaluronidase’s impact on transfection efficiency. We demonstrate that hyaluronidase promotes a more uniform distribution of plasmid DNA (pDNA) within skeletal muscle. Additionally, our study investigates the effect of the timing of hyaluronidase pretreatment on EP efficiency by including time intervals of 0, 5, and 30 min between hyaluronidase treatment and the application of pulses. Serum levels of the pDNA-encoded transgene reveal a minimal influence of the hyaluronidase pretreatment time on the final serum protein levels following delivery in both mice and rabbit models. Leveraging bioimpedance measurements, we capture morphological changes in muscle induced by hyaluronidase treatment, which result in a varied pDNA distribution. Subsequently, these findings are employed to optimize EP electrical parameters following hyaluronidase treatment in animal models. This paper offers novel insights into the potential of hyaluronidase in enhancing the effectiveness of in vivo EP, as well as guides optimized electroporation strategies following hyaluronidase use.

“HOW IS IT DELIGHTFUL WHEN IT IS NOT?”: ON THE TRANSLATIONS OF THE 55TH SURA OF THE KORAN AR-RAḤMĀN – THE MERCIFUL The Koran is not only the holy book of Islam, but also one of the most important literary works of classical Arabic literature. Muslims and people who know Arabic emphasize the extraordinary beauty of this text, written in rhymed and rhythmic prose. 55 sura of the Koran, Ar-Raḥmān (The Merciful) is widely regarded, both in Muslim and Orientalist circles, as one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, sura of the Koran from the artistic point of view. This is mainly due to the presence of a kind of “refrain” in this sura, which, of course, also has a semantic role in the context of the content of this fragment of the holy book of Muslims. The subject of the article is, first of all, a comparative analysis of the translation of this sura, and first of all of the refrain, in selected translations of the Koran into Polish, German, French and Russian. The analysis focuses not on the way of presenting the content, but on whether the authors of the translations tried to reflect the undoubted beauty of the sound of the Koranic text, which is supposed to delight not only with its content, but also its form, and translators usually have huge problems with this. The conclusions resulting from this analysis have a broader meaning, because analogous problems also arise in the case of ancient Arabic poetry and some other literary genres, primarily maqāma.

I consider a model of multiple winner elections with several types of spoilers. In single-office elections, a “classic” spoiler turns a winner into a non-winner and a non-winner into a winner. Such spoilers rarely appear in multi-office elections. In such elections, spoilers include a “Kingmaker”, who turns a non-winner into a winner; a “Kingslayer”, who turns a winner into a non-winner; a “Valuegobbler”, who subtracts from some competitor more seats than it receives; and “Selfspoilers”, who may be hurt by competing separately rather than creating an electoral coalition. Various strategic spoilers, such as fake parties, are possible as well. I look for spoilers in eight Polish parliamentary elections that have taken place since the fall of communism in 1989. In two elections, the consequences of spoilers were massive. In 1993, multiple spoilers on the right helped the two post-communist parties return to power, slow down decommunization and create strong institutional obstacles to further democratization. In 2015, a spoiler manufactured a majority for the largest party (PiS) and, as a consequence, enabled PiS quickly to implement radical reforms. In other elections, spoilers had smaller, but noticeable consequences. The results suggest that parliamentary elections using PR party-list systems are vulnerable to spoiler problems that may cause significant political effects.

Not only Houris: wildān muḫalladūn and ġilmān in the Koran and Muslim Religious Literature In descriptions and discussions of the Muslim concept of paradise, much space is always devoted to the famous – as well as infamous – Houris. My article, however, is devoted to another paradise thread, that is, an analysis of fragments of the Koran where “immortal youths” (wildān muḫalladūn) are mentioned. These are verses 56: 17–19 and 76: 19. In slightly different words (ḡilmān muḫalladūn) they are also referred to in verse 52: 24. This topic has not yet been sufficiently covered in the studies in the field of Arabic and Islamic studies. Christian Luxenberg devoted some space to him in his controversial work on the Syro-Aramaic reading of the Koran. Much more space has been devoted to “immortal youths” by Muslim scholars, both classical and modern, not avoiding references to the ambiguities that may arise in connection with these verses.

The polymeric title compound, [Cu2Br2(C4H8S)2]n, CP1, represents an example of a two-dimensional coordination polymer resulting from reaction of CuBr with tetrahydrothiophene (THT) in MeCN solution. The two-dimensional layers consist of two different types of rhomboid-shaped dinuclear Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu secondary building units (SBUs); one with a quite loose Cu...Cu separation of 3.3348 (10) Å and a second one with a much closer intermetallic contact of 2.9044 (9) Å. These SBUs are interconnected through bridging THT ligands, in which the S atom acts as a four-electron donor bridging each Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu unit in a μ2-bonding mode. In the crystal, the layers are linked by very weak C—H...·Br hydrogen bonds with H...Br distances of 2.95 Å, thus giving rise to a three-dimensional supramolecular network.

A series of coordination polymers (CPs), some of them featuring an unusual architecture, have been constructed by treatment of RSCH2C≡CCH2SR (R = C6H11L1, t-Bu L2) with CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) and CuX2. The outcome of the reaction of L1 with CuI depends on the metal-to-ligand ratio. Treatment of CuI with L1 in a 2 : 1 ratio affords the luminescent 2D CP [Cu4I4(μ-L1)2]n (CP1), whose grid-shaped network is built upon Cu4(μ3-I)4 cubane-like clusters as secondary building units (SBUs), interconnected via bridging L1 ligands. The use of a 1 : 1 ratio gives a material, whose particularity is the coexistence of two topological isomers within the unit cell. The first one, [{Cu(μ2-I)2Cu}(μ-L1)2]n (CP2), consists of 1D ribbons. The second isomer having a 0D topology, [{Cu(μ2-I)2Cu}(μ-L1)2] D1, is built upon discrete molecular complexes, whose dinuclear [Cu(μ2-I)2Cu] rhomboid-shaped core is spanned by two bridging L1 ligands. Mixing CuBr with L1 in MeCN solution leads to an isostructural material incorporating both 0D [{Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu}(μ-L1)2] complex D2 along with the 1D isomer [{Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu}(μ-L1)2]n (CP3). However, only the 1D CP [{Cu(μ2-Cl)2Cu}(μ-L1)2]n (CP4) results from complexation of L1 with CuCl. A stoichiometry-dependence is also noticed upon treatment of CuI with L2. Conducting the reaction in a 2 : 1 ratio yields the luminescent 2D CP [Cu4I4(μ-L2)2]n (CP5), whereas mixing equimolar amounts of the reactants produces 2D CP [{Cu(μ2-I)2Cu}(μ-L2)2]n (CP6). Structurally similar 2D CPs [{Cu(μ2-X)2Cu}(μ-L2)2]n (CP8 and CP9) result from complexation of L2 on CuBr or CuCl, respectively. Treatment of L2 with an excess of CuBr or CuBr2 in refluxing acetonitrile led to the transfer of Br to the acetylenic triple bond, generating an olefinic halogenated dithioether ligand Bu L3 that coordinates to CuBr to generate a 1D network [{Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu}(CH3CN)(μ-L3)]n (CP9). Using different conditions (propionitrile at 293 K), the reaction of L2 and excess CuBr led to the formation of a 2D network [{Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu}(μ-L2)(μ-L3)]n (CP10) incorporating both L2 and L3 in an alternating manner as assembling ligands. An isostructural chloro-analogue 2D [{Cu(μ2-Cl)2Cu}(μ-L2)(μ-L4)]n (CP11) was obtained using CuCl or CuCl2. The crystallographic work is completed by thermal analyses and investigation of the luminescence properties of CP1 and CP5 at 77 and 298 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Materialwissenschaft und Werkstoffechnik is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents Józef Korycki, called Janosik Podlaski, described in the accounts of his three friends. The source material was developed with the biographical method and subjected to critical analysis. The accounts revealed the axiological ambiguity of Korycki’s activities, as well as the differences in opinions about his activities. In the eyes of the communist propaganda, Janosik Podlaski was a common criminal. However, in the memory of friends he remained a good man, loyal to his homeland and devoted to the Podlasie community. In addition to presenting the recollections of Korycki, the article offers a clear interpretation of activities of this outstanding man. Artykuł prezentuje postać Józefa Koryckiego, zwanego Janosikiem Podlaskim, opisaną na podstawie relacji trójki jego przyjaciół. Pozyskany w ten sposób materiał został opracowany w oparciu o metodę biograficzną i poddany krytycznej analizie. Relacje uwidoczniły niejednoznaczność aksjologiczną działalności Koryckiego, a także wynikającą z tego rozbieżność ocen prowadzonych przezeń działań. Ukazały zależność dotyczących jego osoby i czynów sądów wartościujących od perspektywy postrzegania. W ujęciu propagandy komunistycznych władz, Janosik Podlaski przedstawiany był, jako pospolity kryminalista. Natomiast w pamięci przyjaciół pozostał dobrym człowiekiem, wiernym ojczyźnie i oddanym podlaskiej społeczności. Artykuł ma na celu, oprócz prezentacji wspomnień o Koryckim, także przybliżenie rozstrzygnięcia dylematu w historycznej ocenie tej nieprzeciętnej postaci.

This paper presents a new concept of disinfection traditionally applied in water treatment systems. The new definition of this process results from the change in its functionality, aims and methods, which guarantee high quality of water supply. The literature review and technical practice demonstrate a demand for disinfection to act as a functional element of the integrated water distribution system and an active intermediate link between the technology of water treatment and the water distribution network. The presented concept of a disinfection process enables evaluation of water treatment, increases its effectiveness in integrated water treatment systems. Such defined disinfection addresses water conservation and its biological stability within the water supply network. The presented here new concept of disinfection assigns its new role and function in the integrated water distribution system. The controlling and diagnostic function of the disinfection defined in the paper provides a transparent and comprehensive method, with considerable application in experimental design, as well as practical solutions for integrated water distribution systems.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie działań poprzedzających wprowadzenie Polityki Otwartego Dostępu wobec publikacji naukowych na Politechnice Krakowskiej (PK). Działania, których skutkiem było przyjęcie otwartego mandatu na PK, obejmowały m.in.: przygotowanie infrastruktury informatycznej – w tym utworzenie Repozytorium PK, opracowanie dokumentów prawnych, udostępnienie rozpraw doktorskich, wprowadzenie otwartych licencji dla czasopism naukowych wydawanych na PK, działania informacyjne i edukacyjne w zakresie OA. Prace te realizowano zgodnie z wytycznymi zawartymi w dokumentach rządowych oraz na podstawie praktycznych rozwiązań zrealizowanych w instytucjach naukowych. Konsekwencją tych działań było wprowadzenie, na mocy zarządzenia Rektora PK z dnia 22 marca 2019 roku, Polityki Otwartego Dostępu na PK. W podsumowaniu omówiono również dane przedstawione w pierwszym Raporcie z realizacji Polityki Otwartego Dostępu na Politechnice Krakowskiej.

Copyright of Ethos (0860-8024) is the property of John Paul II Institute, Faculty of Philosophy, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Electroporation (EP) stands out as a promising non-viral plasmid delivery strategy, although achieving optimal transfection efficiency in vivo remains a challenge. A noteworthy advancement in the field of in vivo EP is the application of hyaluronidase, an enzyme with the capacity to degrade hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix, which thereby enhances DNA transfer efficiency by 2- to 3-fold. This paper focuses on elucidating the mechanism of hyaluronidase's impact on transfection efficiency. We demonstrate that hyaluronidase promotes a more uniform distribution of plasmid DNA (pDNA) within skeletal muscle. Additionally, our study investigates the effect of the timing of hyaluronidase pretreatment on EP efficiency by including time intervals of 0, 5, and 30 min between hyaluronidase treatment and the application of pulses. Serum levels of the pDNA-encoded transgene reveal a minimal influence of the hyaluronidase pretreatment time on the final serum protein levels following delivery in both mice and rabbit models. Leveraging bioimpedance measurements, we capture morphological changes in muscle induced by hyaluronidase treatment, which result in a varied pDNA distribution. Subsequently, these findings are employed to optimize EP electrical parameters following hyaluronidase treatment in animal models. This paper offers novel insights into the potential of hyaluronidase in enhancing the effectiveness of in vivo EP, as well as guides optimized electroporation strategies following hyaluronidase use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene therapy and its role in the medical field have evolved drastically in recent decades. Studies aim to define DNA-based medicine as well as encourage innovation and the further development of novel approaches. Gene therapy has been established as an alternative approach to treat a variety of diseases. Its range of mechanistic applicability is wide; gene therapy has the capacity to address the symptoms of disease, the body's ability to fight disease, and in some cases has the ability to cure disease, making it a more attractive intervention than some traditional approaches to treatment (i.e., medicine and surgery). Such versatility also suggests gene therapy has the potential to address a greater number of indications than conventional treatments. Many DNA-based therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, and several have been approved for use in humans. Whereas current treatment regimens for chronic disease often require frequent dosing, DNA-based therapies can produce robust and durable expression of therapeutic genes with fewer treatments. This benefit encourages the application of DNA-based gene therapy to manage chronic diseases, an area where improving efficiency of current treatments is urgent. Here, we provide an overview of two DNA-based gene therapies as well as their delivery methods: adeno associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy and plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based gene therapy. We will focus on how these therapies have already been utilized to improve treatment of chronic disease, as well as how current literature supports the expansion of these therapies to treat additional chronic indications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thioether-functionalized 2-azabutadiene (iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2 L ligates to CdI2 and HgI2 to form the chelate compounds [CdI2{(iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2] (1) and [HgI2(iPrS)2C=C(H)-N=CPh2] (2). Their crystal structures were solved via X-ray diffraction. Both crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space groups: monoclinic P21 (1) and orthorhombic P212121 (2), respectively. The closed-shell d10 metal centers are four-coordinated (two iodides and S and N coordinating atoms from the ligand L) in both complexes. The geometrical indexes τ indicate that a highly distorted trigonal pyramidal is adopted for 1 and a seesaw geometry for 2. The comparative nature of metal–ligand bonds is discussed on the basis of metric parameters and of QT-AIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecules) calculations. L was also treated with CuI to obtain the dinuclear species [LCu(μ2-I2)CuL] (3), in which the two Cu(I) centers are linked by a short metal–metal bond. The geometric and electronic properties of 3 are compared with those of 1 and 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podróże kształcą, pozwalają poznać „innego” – zarówno obojętnego „Innego”, jak i przyjaciela czy wroga. Bardzo specyficznym przykładem podróży, które pozwalają poznać „Innego” jako wroga są wyprawy wojenne. Jedna z wojen, toczonych przez Europejczyków na kontynencie afrykańskim w XIX wieku będzie przedmiotem niniejszego opracowania. To wojna hiszpańsko-marokańska z lat 1859–1860, zwana także „wojną afrykańską” lub „wojną tetuańską”. Jest ona bodaj najlepiej opisanym w europejskich źródłach wydarzeniem z dziejów Maroka. Wojna tetuańska znalazła swoje szerokie odzwierciedlenie w kilku relacjach, z których w artykule wezmę pod uwagę trzy, pochodzące z rozmaitych krajów: hiszpańską: Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, Diario de un testigo de la guerra de África, Madrid 1859; brytyjską: Frederic Hardman, The Spanish Campaign in Morocco, Edinburgh and London 1860 i niemiecką: Eduard Schlagintweit, Der spanisch-marokkanische Krieg in den Jahren 1859 und 1860, Leipzig 1863. Wśród autorów mamy wojskowego uczestniczącego w wojnie (Schlagintweit), jak pisarzy, którzy znaleźli się w Maroku jako korespondenci wojenni (Hardman i de Alarcón). Wojna ta była pierwszym konfliktem, który został obszernie udokumentowany zarówno na piśmie, jak i graficznie oraz fotograficznie przez korespondentów, znalazł także swoje odzwierciedlenie w malarstwie.

I investigate the paradoxes associated with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) point-based ranking of national soccer teams. The ranking has been plagued with paradoxes that incentivize teams to avoid playing friendly matches, i.e., matches that are not part of any official FIFA tournament or preliminaries, and applying other counterintuitive strategies. The most spectacular paradox was the dramatic underrating of the hosts of major tournaments. For a long time, host teams, which were absent from preliminary matches, would play only friendly matches that awarded few points. Here, I present three models that estimate the magnitude of the resulting “host effect” at 14.2–16 positions. Such an estimate counteracts the intuition that a large investment in hosting a tournament should result in an improvement in the host team’s standing. However, as discussed here, a given host’s low ranking could decrease interest in the tournament, and likely result in a major loss of advertisement revenue.

M Marek,1 M Grobe-Einsler,1 JR Bedarf,1 B Wabbels,2 S Paus1 1Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; 2Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany Background: Sexual dysfunction is a frequent, yet underrated, symptom of neurological disease. While knowledge of non-motor comorbidity in focal dystonia is growing rapidly, there is no information on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in cervical dystonia (CD) or blepharospasm (BL). Methods: In this controlled study, we examined sexual dysfunction in 65 patients with CD and 54 patients with BL by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, a validated self-rating scale. Results: Sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in CD patients (45%) than in controls (24%), and frequent in BL (39%). Interestingly, variables of dystonia such as disease duration or severity did not influence sexuality; yet, 23% of CD patients ascribed worsening of their sexual life to dystonia. Symptoms of depression were identified as the most important predictors for sexual dysfunction, followed by age, and personal status (single). Conclusion: Our observations establish sexual dysfunction as a frequent non-motor symptom in CD and BL that is perceived as a burden. It should be considered when investigating patients with adult-onset focal dystonia. Keywords: dystonia, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, sexual dysfunction, depression

The article discusses the novel 2025. An-Nida al-Akhir [2025. The Last Call] written by a young Egyptian journalist and writer born in 1982 – Mustafa al-Husayni. The novel was published in early 2011, between the fall of Zayn al-Abidin Ibn Ali in Tunisia and of Husni Mubarak in Egypt. It describes a revolution against the regime of Jamal al-Mubarak, son of Husni, spurred by a group of young Egyptians. The story takes place in 2025 and antici­pates the development of the political situation in Egypt and the Middle East between 2011 and 2025 in a utopian/dystopian manner. Alongside Utopia by Ahmad Khalid Tawfik and the poetry of Usama al-Abnubi and Abd ar-Rahman al-Abnudi, al-Husayni’s book is considered to be a forecast of the Arab Spring in Egypt.

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Our data identify a novel candidate for combination strategy in melanoma treatment, and can inform clinicians in their decision-making process regarding therapeutic intervention for melanoma patients. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is a novel source of cyclic AMP (cAMP). In melanoma, nuclear sAC localization has an established diagnostic utility and we newly found that nuclear sAC functions as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting Hippo pathway, which affects treatment response. Here, we examine the effect of nuclear sAC on melanoma treatment response. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We developed a doxycycline inducible system for increasing sAC activity only in the nucleus. We assessed whether nuclear sAC activity affects treatment response, using BRAFV600 human melanoma cell lines. Using a clonogenic assay, we examined how nuclear sAC activity affects growth inhibition in the presence of a BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib. Our findings will be confirmed in vivo using tumor xenografts. After tumor formation in NSG mice, mice will be randomized to be fed normal or doxycycline chow for nuclear sAC induction, then subdivided to receive vehicle or vemurafenib to examine the effect of nuclear sAC activity on treatment response in vivo. We will also compare melanoma biopsies collected before and after treatment with BRAF inhibitors to assess how nuclear sAC staining affects tumor morphology in vivo. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: So far, nuclear sAC activity has rendered SkMel178 and M263 cell lines more susceptible to vemurafenib. Cell viability was inversely correlated both with vemurafenib and with doxycycline concentration. Cell viability after vemurafenib treatment was dramatically reduced when nuclear sAC was activated. It appears that nuclear sAC enhances the sensitivity of BRAF mutant melanomas to vemurafenib in vitro. We anticipate that xenografts of these cells in mice will be more susceptible to vemurafenib when nuclear sAC is activated. We also anticipate that positive nuclear sAC staining will correlate with a favorable response to therapy. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Targeted therapy with BRAF inhibitors is used in late-stage melanomas, but its use is limited as patients invariably acquire resistance. Here, we identified nuclear sAC activation as a novel candidate for combination strategy. Our data will also inform clinicians how best to integrate this biomarker into their decision-making regarding therapy.

Neither the “Transitional Justice” literature or literatures in post-communist politics have examined post-communist “self lustrations.” Our goal is to explain why Post-communists “punish themselves.” We argue that Post-communists act under constraints of legislative institutions. We formalize our argument with a game-theoretic model of agenda-setting.

Quantum transport simulations often use explicit, yet finite, electronic reservoirs. These should converge to the correct continuum limit, albeit with a trade-off between discretization and computational cost. Here, we study this interplay for extended reservoir simulations, where relaxation maintains a bias or temperature drop across the system. Our analysis begins in the non-interacting limit, where we parameterize different discretizations to compare them on an even footing. For many-body systems, we develop a method to estimate the relaxation that best approximates the continuum by controlling virtual transitions in Kramers turnover for the current. While some discretizations are more efficient for calculating currents, there is little benefit with regard to the overall state of the system. Any gains become marginal for many-body, tensor network simulations, where the relative performance of discretizations varies when sweeping other numerical controls. These results indicate that typical reservoir discretizations have little impact on numerical costs for certain computational tools. The choice of a relaxation parameter is nonetheless crucial, and the method we develop provides a reliable estimate of the optimal relaxation for finite reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Structure of interphase cell nuclei remains dynamic and can undergo various changes of shape and organisation, in health and disease. The double-membraned envelope that separates nuclear genetic material from the rest of the cell frequently includes deep, branching tubular invaginations that form a dynamic nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR). This study addresses mechanisms by which NR can form in interphase nuclei. We present a combination of Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) approach and light microscopy techniques to follow formation of NR by using pulse-chase experiments to examine protein and lipid delivery to nascent NR in cultured cells. Lamina protein incorporation was assessed using precursor accumulation (for lamin A) or a MAPLE3 photoconvertible tag (for lamin B1) and membrane phospholipid incorporation using stable isotope labelling with deuterated precursors followed by high resolution NanoSIMS. In all three cases, nascent molecules were selectively incorporated into newly forming NR tubules; thus strongly suggesting that NR formation is a regulated process involving a focal assembly machine, rather than simple physical perturbation of a pre-existing nuclear envelope.

Backward induction (BI) was one of the earliest methods developed for solving finite sequential games with perfect information. It proved to be especially useful in the context of Tom Schelling’s ideas of credible versus incredible threats. BI can be also extended to solve complex games that include an infinite number of actions or an infinite number of periods. However, some more complex empirical or experimental predictions remain dramatically at odds with theoretical predictions obtained by BI. The primary example of such a troublesome game is Centipede. The problems appear in other long games with sufficiently complex structure. BI also shares the problems of subgame perfect equilibrium and fails to eliminate certain unreasonable Nash equilibria.