cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Template-directed dynamic synthesis of mechanically interlocked dendrimers.

The versatility and efficiency of dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) has been exploited in the convergent synthesis of mechanically interlocked dendrimers that are based upon the mutual recognition expressed between secondary dialkylammonium ions and crown ether-like macrocycles. Reversible imine bond formation is employed to clip two acyclic fragments, one of them a diformylpyridine unit bearing a dendritic side chain, and the other a complementary dianiline in the shape of the di(o-aminophenyl)ether of tetraethylene glycol, around each arm of a tritopic trisammonium ion core, thereby affording a branched [4]rotaxane. This template-directed strategy has been demonstrated to work in very high yields (>90%) with successive generations (G0−G2) of a modified Frechet-type dendritic wedge attached to the 4-position of the diformylpyridine unit. Reduction of these dynamic dendritic systems is achieved upon treatment with borane·THF and results in kinetically stable compounds. The inherent modularity of the overal...
A theory of water-bells

A theory is developed to determine the shape of water-bells. The motion of the gas induced by the moving walls is taken into account in this analysis. A rapidly converging iterative procedure leads to a theoretical shape which agrees well with the experimental shape of the water-bell.
A multi-level parallelization concept for high-fidelity multi-block solvers

The integration of high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis tools with the industrial design process benefits greatly from the robust implementations that are transportable across a wide range of computer architectures. In the present work, a hybrid domain-decomposition and parallelization concept was developed and implemented into the widely-used NASA multi-block Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solvers employed in ENSAERO and OVERFLOW advanced flow analysis packages. These advanced engineering and scientific analysis packages include more than 300,000 lines of code written in FORTRAN 77 language in more than 1300 individual subprograms. The new parallel solver concept, PENS (Parallel Euler Navier-Stokes Solver), employs both fine and coarse granularity with data partitioning as well as data coalescing to obtain the desired load-balance characteristics on the available computer platforms for these legacy packages. This multi-level parallelism implementation itself introduces no changes to the numerical results, hence the original fidelity of the packages are identically preserved. The present implementation uses the Message Passing Interface (MPI) library for interprocessor message passing and memory accessing. By choosing an appropriate combination of the available partitioning and coalescing possibilities only during the execution stage, the PENS solver is used on different computer architectures from shared-memory to distributed-memory platforms with varying degrees of parallelism. Improvements in computational load-balance and speeds are extremely crucial on the realistic problems in the design of aerospace vehicles. The PENS implementation on the IBM SP2 distributed memory environment at the NASA Ames Research Center obtains 85 percent scalable parallel performance using fine-grain partitioning of single-block CFD domains using up to 128 wide computational nodes. Multi-block CFD simulations of complete aircraft geometries achieve 85 percent perfect load-balanced executions using data coalescing and the two levels of parallelism. SGI PowerChallenge, SGI Onyx2, and Cray T3E are the other platforms where the robustness, performance behavior, and the parallel scalability of the implementation are tested and fine-tuned for actual production run environments.
Successful myoblast transplantation in rat tongue reconstruction.

Background. Controversy exists regarding the success of myoblast transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine the survival of transplanted myoblasts in a rat tongue reconstruction model by using fluorescently labeled myoblasts and surgical stains to mark the location of the poc- ket into which transplanted cells were delivered. We evaluated tongue histology after myoblast transplantation under the hy- pothesis that myoblast transplantation will promote muscle regeneration and result in minimal scar tissue formation. Methods. Sterile solutions of 1:10 India ink, 1% methylene blue, and 1% crystal violet were applied to the inner lining of a left-sided mucosa-sparing hemiglossectomy pocket. After air- drying, the hemiglossectomy defect was filled with collagen gel and closed. The tongues were evaluated histologically at 6 weeks. Next, myoblasts were cultured and labeled with three commercially available fluorescent dyes, 5-chloromethyl-fluo- rescein diacetate (CMFDA), chloromethylbenzamido (CM-DiI), and fluorescently labeled microspheres (FLMs), to determine which would optimally label myoblasts in a tongue reconstruc- tion model. Next, Lewis rats underwent left hemiglossectomy, and the created pockets were coated with 1:10 India ink. Con- trol animals received collagen gel alone, whereas experimental animals received labeled myoblast/collagen constructs into the tongue defect. Tongues were harvested at intervals to deter- mine the presence of labeled fluorescent cells, the relative numbers of viable myoblasts, and the degree of scarring. Results. India ink coating of the hemiglossectomy pocket caused minimal inflammation and lasted longer than the other tested dyes. CMFDA and FLMs both successfully label myo- blasts for transplantation. In vivo, donor cells were observed in all specimens at week 0 with increasing numbers of cells and muscle formation, determined by desmin immunofluorescence, after 6 weeks. There was less scar tissue contracture in the ex- perimental group and a significant increase in the amount of desmin-stained muscle in the surgical defect. Conclusions. India ink is an appropriate vehicle for intra- operative marking of a hemiglossectomy cavity. The introduction of myoblast/collagen constructs into the rat hemiglossectomy defect increases the amount of regenerated muscle, results in less scar contracture, and may increase meaningful tongue function. V C 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 28: 517- 524, 2006
Mode-locked microchip lasers for millimeter-wave generation for optically fed wireless systems

Optically fed wireless systems have been investigated for applications like picocellular telephony, for broadband distribution of interactive multimedia services (video, voice, data, etc.), and for remoting and phased array antennas. The principal advantages of the transmission of high frequency signals over fiber is low attenuation and cost when compared to the conventional coaxial cable or radio transmission, and the large aggregated information capacity even when only part of the bandwidth is exploited. An additional advantage that makes millimeter-wave desirable for fiber radio systems is that these frequencies are highly attenuated by the water molecules and oxygen in the atmosphere. This property limits signal propagation within the picocell, allowing for frequency reuse and making the communication system secure. Various methods of optically generating millimeter wave subcarriers have been demonstrated, including direct modulation of semiconductor lasers, external electro-optic modulation, laser heterodyning, optical injection locking, and semiconductor laser mode-locking. The examination of these techniques suggests that conventional solid-state laser sources present lower noise levels, but are expensive and complex. Laser diode based transmitters, in general, have higher phase noise. Laser diode mode-locking offers high modulation efficiency but with higher noise levels. Mode-locked microchip laser combines the pure spectral quality of solid-state lasers with the efficient high frequency and low noise modulation provided by active mode-locking.
Characterization of Inhibition Kinetics of (S)-warfarin Hydroxylation by Noscapine: Implications in Warfarin Therapy

Noscapine is an antitussive and potential anticancer drug. Clinically significant interactions between warfarin and noscapine have been previously reported. In this study, to provide a basis for warfarin dosage adjustment, the inhibition kinetics of noscapine against warfarin metabolism was characterized. Our enzyme kinetics data obtained from human liver microsomes and recombinant CYP2C9 proteins indicate that noscapine is a competitive inhibitor of the (S)-warfarin 7-hydroxylation reaction by CYP2C9. Interestingly, noscapine also inhibited (S)-warfarin metabolism in a NADPH- and time-dependent manner, and removal of unbound noscapine and its metabolites by ultrafiltration did not reverse inhibition of (S)-warfarin metabolism by noscapine, suggesting mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C9 by noscapine. Spectral scanning of the reaction between CYP2C9 and noscapine revealed the formation of an absorption spectrum at 458 nm, indicating the formation of a metabolite-intermediate complex. Surprisingly, noscapine is a 2- to 3-fold more efficient inactivator of CYP2C9.2 and CYP2C9.3 variants than it is of the wild type, by unknown mechanisms. Based on the inhibitory kinetic data, (S)-warfarin exposure is predicted to increase up to 7-fold (depending on CYP2C9 genotypes) upon noscapine coadministration, mainly due to mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2C9 by noscapine. Together, these results indicate that mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C9 by noscapine may dramatically alter pharmacokinetics of warfarin and provide a basis for warfarin dosage adjustment when noscapine is coadministered.
Gene expression profiling of the left ventricles in a rat model of intrinsic aerobic running capacity

Our previous work found DA rats superior for intrinsic aerobic running capacity (ARC) and several cardiac function indexes compared with Copenhagen (COP) rats, and identified ARC quantitative trait...
Efficient subspace fitting algorithms for diversely polarized arrays

The authors present a statistically efficient algorithm for direction of arrival (DOA) estimation using diversely polarized arrays. The proposed technique requires a multidimensional search over the DOA parameters only, after which the polarization parameters can be calculated explicitly. A comparison with a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) based approach revealed that the method may give significantly improved performance, particularly in scenarios involving highly correlated signals. >
The evolution of bacterial social life: From the ivory tower to the front lines of public health.

Drug-resistant bacteria are a huge and growing threat to public health. A solution exists in theory, but had not yet been put to a practical test. The accompanying paper by Ross-Gillespie et al., the theory is put to a test and performs successfully. As predicted, using a drug that targets bacteria's shared secreted ‘public goods’ molecules instead of cell components did not drive the bacterial evolution of drug resistance, and therefore retained its effectiveness. This result holds great promise for better drugs and vaccines against many infectious diseases, and also for better cancer therapies.
A Web Service Mining Framework

We propose a service mining framework for exploring interesting compositions of existing Web services. The framework first screens Web services for composition leads using a "coarse-grained" filtering approach. It then verifies these leads based on runtime conditions. Top candidates are selected from the verified leads and evaluated for their interestingness. We present algorithms to automate the screening phase of the framework. Finally, we study the effects of key variables on lead compositions' interestingness. As a motivating example, we apply these algorithms to the field of biological pathway discovery and rely on knowledge obtained from reverse engineering online resources to assess their effectiveness.
Group Force Mobility

The group force mobility model that can take care of the environmental changes such as collision avoidance and congestion in the group mobility in terms of exerting forces is explained. We have described how the GFMM can simulate more realistic mobility adapting to an environment stimuli. In addition, the simulation results are compared between the GFMM and the RPGM.
Accuracy estimate of equilibrium flash vaporization calculation of crude oil and vacuum residue at high temperature

Abstract For the reliable design of crude oil and residua fractionators and fired heaters, accurate calculation method for vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE), thermodynamic and physical properties is necessary. Recent trends using increasingly heavier crude oils, extracting the maximum light oils by deep-cut vaporization at high temperatures and high vacuum, and the decreasing demand for black oil products prompted this investigation. However, the accuracies of these methods in the calculation of vapor–liquid equilibrium of crude oils and their residues at high temperatures have not been thoroughly investigated and published by previous investigators. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of the currently available and often-used methods, and to investigate a new method for the VLE of high-boiling petroleum fractions. For this purpose, the equilibrium flash vaporization data (EFV) of four crude oils and their vacuum residues were used, which have been published by major oil companies.
In defense of the Malthusian interpretation of history

The four reviews make the following major criticisms of the book: (1) A Farewell to Alms assumes one important revolution in economic history, the Industrial Revolution. In reality there were two, with the Neolithic Revolution of equal importance (George Grantham).(2) World income levels did rise between the Stone Age and 1800 (Gunnar Persson, Hans-Joachim Voth).(3) The Malthusian model has been shown to be inapplicable to pre-industrial Europe (Grantham, Persson).(4) The claim of ‘survival of the richest’ is just the revival of discredited and dangerous social Darwinism? (Deirdre McCloskey).(5) There was no Darwinian selection for ‘bourgeois characteristics’ in the pre-industrial world of settled, institutionally stable agrarian societies (McCloskey).(6) The recent growth of India and China, and the experience of immigrants to the USA, easily refute the view that survival of the richest had any impact (McCloskey).(7) The ideas of A Farewell to Alms are not new, merely uncredited borrowings from others (McCloskey, Persson, Voth).
Performance analysis of multiple antenna systems with VQ-based feedback

We investigate vector quantization (VQ) methods for feeding back the channel information through a low-rate feedback channel in the context of multiple-antenna MISO systems. The performance of systems with VQ-based quantized beamforming is analyzed for the independent Rayleigh fading case. This requires finding the density of the squared inner-product between the optimum and the quantized beamforming vector, which is obtained by considering a simple approximation of the quantization cell. The approximate density function is used to lower bound the capacity loss due to quantization, the outage probability and the bit error probability.
Chaotic encryption and decryption: involving undergraduates in authentic research

Research is becoming an integral part of the educational experiences of undergraduates. The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) has developed programs that provide authentic research experiences for undergraduate majors in its College of Natural Sciences in Mathematics. An investigation of chaotic encryption involves mentors from UCA and NSWCDD. Complex dynamical systems can be used to generate pseudorandom electronic signals. Such pseudorandom signals can be combined with communications signals to mask underlying signals. When broadcast, the resulting combination appears to be broadcast noise. In this project chaotic electric circuits are being used to mask information. Such circuits exhibit the property of chaotic synchronization. The synchronization is known to persist when communications signals are added to the chaotic signal produced by the source circuit. The students are investigating the stability of synchronization when different signal inputs are imposed on the circuits, and determining the conditions under which chaotic signals can be separated from underlying communication signals. Methods of determining which signals contain information are also being investigated.
EMG biofeedback with college student volunteers: limitations of effects of independent variables.

In the present study the relative effects of biofeedback, a set to relax, and a no set (adaptation) condition upon EMG changes in the frontalis muscles were addressed. Subjects were college student volunteers and the proportion of males to females was equal among groups. All subjects were first monitored for minutes (adaptation, no set). Subsequently, subjects in the biofeedback group were then instructed to relax and also to attend to feedback signals to facilitate relaxation for 20 additional minutes (1-min. trials). Subjects in the relaxation set group were given a set to relax but not biofeedback until the last 5-min. segment. Subjects in the no set group were given no instructions to relax and no biofeedback until the last 5-min. segment. Results indicated reductions of EMG monitored tension levels in all groups with no significant between-group differences. Pre- and poststate anxiety self-report measures also showed a significant reduction in anxiety for all groups but no between-group differences r...
Hot-carrier current modeling and device degradation in surface-channel p-MOSFETs

The channel field and substrate current models developed for n-MOSFETs are applicable to p-MOSFETs. The impact ionization rate extracted for holes is found to be 8*10/sup 6/ exp (-3.7*10/sup 6//E), where E is the electric field. The lucky electron approach was used to model the gate current of surface-channel (SC) p-MOSFETs successfully. Device degradation in p-MOSFETs is due to trapped electrons in the oxide. p-MOSFET lifetime has good correlation with gate current in SC p-MOSFETs. The correlation is better than with substrate current. I/sub G/ can be larger in a buried-channel (BC) p-MOSFET than in a comparable SC n-MOSFET. This makes the SC MOSFET a much more reliable device. Device lifetime of a p-MOSFET under pulse stress can be predicted from DC stress data for inverterlike waveforms. For other waveforms, there is an extra degradation probably caused by the excess hot carriers generated during the gate turn-off transient. >
Somatic Complaints in Anxious Youth

This study examined (a) demographic and clinical characteristics associated with physical symptoms in anxiety-disordered youth and (b) the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy (Coping Cat), medication (sertraline), their combination, and pill placebo on physical symptoms. Youth (N = 488, ages 7–17 years) with a principal diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, or social phobia participated as part of a multi-site, randomized controlled trial and received treatment delivered over 12 weeks. Diagnostic status, symptom severity, and impairment were assessed at baseline and week 12. The total number and severity of physical symptoms was associated with age, principal diagnosis, anxiety severity, impairment, and the presence of comorbid internalizing disorders. Common somatic complaints were headaches, stomachaches, head cold or sniffles, sleeplessness, and feeling drowsy or too sleepy. Physical symptoms decreased over the course of treatment, and were unrelated to treatment condition. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00052078).
Computation and analysis of power system voltage oscillations from interarea modes

Most studies of power system interarea mode oscillations focus on the analysis of slow coherent groups of synchronous machine angle and speed variables. It has not been clearly defined how the interarea modes of oscillation propagate through the power network. The purpose of this paper is to bridge this gap by studying the oscillations present in the bus voltage and frequency variables. Such knowledge would be useful for using phasor measurement data on high-voltage transmission buses. Earlier a technique has been proposed to develop an interarea model of a power transfer path using synchronized phasor data. Here the technique to obtain voltage and frequency oscillation characteristics is generalized to multi-machine power systems with multiple interarea modes.
Incorporating Evaluation into the Regulatory Process

For the last two decades there have been substantial attention and resources devoted to increasing evaluation of government programs in an effort to promote evidenced-based and performance-based policies. However, federal efforts to promote evaluation through the Government Performance and Results Act and the Performance Assessment Rating Tool have had limited success. This paper seeks to evaluate the recent efforts at evaluation and provide guidance for how future efforts can be shaped. We provide a stylized model for evaluation in the regulatory process that is consistent with prior federal initiatives. We then examine four categories of barriers to implementation of this stylized model – cognitive barriers, social/cultural barriers, organizational barriers, and incentive barriers. We then present suggestions for how future evaluation efforts can be formulated to better overcome these barriers.
Intraosseous meningioma of the sphenoid bone

A 50-year-old female presented to the Neurosurgery clinic with dimness of vision and proptosis of her right eye. Maxillofacial CT showed a hyperostotic mass involving the right sphenoid ridge, anterior clinoid process, orbital roof, and lateral wall with mass effect on the intraorbital contents and lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus. MRI of the brain and orbit showed a heterogeneous enhancement of underlying dura and right orbital apex extending into the cavernous sinus. The patient underwent a staged resection in which pathological analysis showed an intraosseous meningioma. When a hyperostotic mass of the skull is encountered, meningioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Although primary intraosseous meningiomas are rare benign tumors, they can be associated with morbidity secondary to mass effect.
The asymmetric connection between money and material vs. experiential purchases

We examined the relationship between having a monetary mindset and the pursuit of material goods over experiences and found that people tend to think of their material purchases more in monetary terms than their experiential purchases. Purchase price correlated more highly with participants’ satisfaction with their material goods than their experiences (Study 1) and participants reported that the amount spent on significant components of a purchase (Study 2) would have more impact on their satisfaction with material goods than with experiences, as would a change in purchase price (Study 3). When the same purchase (a 3D TV) was framed in material terms (vs. experiential terms), participants reported that a price change would have a greater impact on their satisfaction. These findings suggest experiences suffer less than material possessions from the extrinsic psychology that comes with thinking about purchases in monetary terms.
Linking families and early childhood education: A global perspective

A global human ecological system framework is discussed and utilized in this paper. Three main themes are emphasized:
Concentration and Possible Significance of Histaminase in the Human Placenta

SummaryAlthough the amount of histaminase in the placenta shows some correlation with the efficiency of uterine contractions, the evidence is not sufficiently definite to warrant such a conclusion.
Effect evaluation of AIDS health education for junior middle school students

Objective: To investigate the attitudes,practice and knowledge about AIDS among middle school students and evaluate deeffect of AIDS health education among them and the role of publicity and education of the students in AIDS prevention.Methods: Investigation was made into 3122 middle school students selected by cluster sampling before and after the health promotion using the same questionnaire.Results: The rate of AIDS knowledge was significantly improved after health promotion(P0.01).Many of them had the right attitudes toward AIDS.Conclusion: Brochures,special courses and school broadcasting are the good methods of school AIDS health promotion.
Analysis on the Statues of the Four-armed Avalokiteshvara in Grottoes of Bingling Temple

After the Tibetan Buddhism was disseminated into Bingling Temple during the Yuan and Ming dynasties,most of the mural paintings in grottoes were repainted with the content of Tibetan Buddhism.The appearance of the four-armed Avalokiesvra is very frequently.Four-armed Avalokiesvra as one of the representatives of six-words Mantra in Esoteric Goddess of Mercy system,it has a very high status in Tibetan Buddhism.This kind of frequent Tantra Statue had a great impact on the religion of Avalokiesvra in China.
Mutagenesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine-binding Residues in Coronavirus nsp14 N7-Methyltransferase Demonstrates Differing Requirements for Genome Translation and Resistance to Innate Immunity

UNLABELLED Eukaryotic mRNAs possess a methylated 5'-guanosine cap that is required for RNA stability, efficient translation, and protection from cell-intrinsic defenses. Many viruses use 5' caps or other mechanisms to mimic a cap structure to limit detection of viral RNAs by intracellular innate sensors and to direct efficient translation of viral proteins. The coronavirus (CoV) nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) is a multifunctional protein with N7-methyltransferase (N7-MTase) activity. The highly conserved S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-binding residues of the DxG motif are required for nsp14 N7-MTase activity in vitro However, the requirement for CoV N7-MTase activity and the importance of the SAM-binding residues during viral replication have not been determined. Here, we engineered mutations in murine hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp14 N7-MTase at residues D330 and G332 and determined the effects of these mutations on viral replication, sensitivity to mutagen, inhibition by type I interferon (IFN), and translation efficiency. Virus encoding a G332A substitution in nsp14 displayed delayed replication kinetics and decreased peak titers relative to wild-type (WT) MHV. In addition, replication of nsp14 G332A virus was diminished following treatment of cells with IFN-β, and nsp14 G332A genomes were translated less efficiently both in vitro and during viral infection. In contrast, substitution of alanine at MHV nsp14 D330 did not affect viral replication, sensitivity to mutagen, or inhibition by IFN-β compared to WT MHV. Our results demonstrate that the conserved MHV N7-MTase SAM-binding-site residues are not required for MHV viability and suggest that the determinants of CoV N7-MTase activity differ in vitro and during virus infection. IMPORTANCE Human coronaviruses, most notably severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, cause severe and lethal human disease. Since specific antiviral therapies are not available for the treatment of human coronavirus infections, it is essential to understand the functions of conserved CoV proteins in viral replication. Here, we show that substitution of alanine at G332 in the N7-MTase domain of nsp14 impairs viral replication, enhances sensitivity to the innate immune response, and reduces viral RNA translation efficiency. Our data support the idea that coronavirus RNA capping could be targeted for development of antiviral therapeutics.
A Combination of HER-2 Peptide Epitope Vaccines Mediate Superior Biological Effects

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, HER-2 is a tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in many human malignancies. Monoclonal antibodies targeting HER-2 were shown to inhibit tumor growth both in animal models and human clinical trials. In addition, combinations of HER-2 monoclonal antibodies were shown to inhibit tumor growth more efficiently than individual antibodies alone [2,4]. Active specific immunotherapy offers the possibility for generating sustained immune responses and is potentially more beneficial than passive therapy for both primary and secondary cancer prevention. Twelve B-cell epitopes were identified in the extracellular domain of HER-2 by computer-aided analyses of protein antigenicity. Four chimeric peptide vaccines incorporating the HER-2 B-cell epitopes and a “promiscuous” T-helper cell epitope from measles virus induced high levels of native protein reactive antibodies. Antibodies to one B-cell epitope (628–647) selectively inhibited the growth of HER-2 overexpressing tumor cells and prevented the spontaneous development of HER-2/neu— overexpressing mammary tumors in 83% of transgenic mice [1]. These studies led to an NCI-approved phase lb human clinical trial. The ongoing clinical trial evaluated the clinical and immunologic effects of a novel chimeric peptide vaccine (MVF-HER2 (628–647)-CRL 1005 vaccine) that targets the human HER-2 oncoprotein and that incorporates a non-human T-helper epitope. The first treatment cohort, consisting of five patients has completed immunization. Levels of serum antibody to the immunogen have been analyzed for patients in the first cohort.
Efficacy of DSP30-IL2/TPA for detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

SummaryIntroduction Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most prevalent leukaemia in the Western Hemisphere. Cytogenetic abnormalities in CLL are used for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. However, detecting these is difficult because mature B cells do not readily divide in culture. Here, we present data on two mitogen cocktails: CpG-oligonucleotide DSP30/Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and DSP30/IL-2 in combination with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Methods We analysed 165 cases of CLL with FISH and cytogenetics from January 2011 to June 2013. In 2011, three cultures were set-up: unstimulated, DSP30/IL-2-stimulated and TPA-stimulated. In 2012–2013, two cultures were set-up: unstimulated and stimulated with TPA/DSP30/IL-2. Results In 2011, FISH had a detection rate of 91% and cytogenetics using DSP30/IL2 had a detection rate of 91% (n = 22). In 2012–2013, FISH had a detection rate of 79% and cytogenetics using TPA/DSP30/IL-2 had a detection rate of 98% (n = 40). The percentage of cases with normal FISH but abnormal cytogenetics increased from 9% in 2011 to 21% in 2012–2013. The TPA/DSP30/IL-2 cultures in 2012–2013 detected more novel abnormalities (n = 5) as compared to DSP30/IL-2 alone (n = 3). Conclusions TPA/DSP30/IL2 was as good as or better than DSP30/IL2 alone. TPA/DSP30/IL-2 offers a high detection rate for CLL abnormalities with a single stimulated culture and may increase detection of clinically significant abnormalities.
ATLAS detector data processing on the Grid

The ATLAS detector is in the second year of continuous LHC running. A starting point for ATLAS physics analysis is data reconstruction. Following the prompt reconstruction, the ATLAS data are reprocessed, which allows reconstruction of the data with updated software and calibrations providing coherence and improving the quality of the reconstructed data for physics analysis.
Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are uncommon neoplasms that arise from endocrine cells of the pancreas. They are classified as functional or nonfunctional based on hormone secretion which, in turn, dictates their clinical behavior. Symptoms of excess hormone production are seen in functional tumors whereas patients with nonfunctional tumors lack a clinical syndrome and present with generalized symptoms related to the local tumor effects. In the last decade, there has been a major expansion in the available diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent PNETs. Tumors are staged and characterized based on their biological and clinical information and thus treatments can now be personalized. The optimal treatment sequencing (of available therapies) for patients with PNETs, especially those with larger tumor volumes, remains an area of active investigation.
Active vs. sedentary lifestyle from weaning to adulthood and susceptibility to ozone in rats

The prevalence of a sedentary (SED) life style combined with calorically rich diets has spurred the rise in childhood obesity, which, in turn, translates to adverse health effects in adulthood. Obe...
Imaging Pancreatic Cysts with CT and MRI

CT and MRI are the imaging modalities of choice to guide the clinical management of incidentally discovered pancreatic cysts. Most of these lesions are mucinous cysts with varying degrees of malignant potential. This article reviews the CT and MRI findings that help differentiate a potentially aggressive lesion that requires EUS or surgery from a lesion of low malignant potential that is appropriate for imaging surveillance. The imaging-based societal guidelines for these cysts are reviewed.
Robust Design Approach for Achieving Flexibility in Multidisciplinary Design

The interdisciplinary nature of complex systems design presents challenges associated with computational burdens and organizational barriers as these issues cannot be resolved with faster computers and more efficient optimization algorithms. There is a need to develop design methods that could model different degrees of collaboration and help to resolve the conflicts between different disciplines. In this paper, an approach to providing flexibility in resolving the conflicts between the interests of multiple disciplines is proposed. We propose to integrate the robust design concept into the existing game protocol, in particular the Stackelberg leader/follower protocol. Specifically, the solution for the design parameters which involve the coupled information between multiple players (disciplines) are developed as a range of solutions rather than a single point solution. This additional flexibility provides more freedom to the discipline that takes the role of follower while the performance of the discipline that takes leader's role is stable within a tolerable range. The method is demonstrated by a passenger aircraft design problem. NOMENCLATURE
Abstract 190: Epigenetic Modifications of Pro-inflammatory Gene Expression in Macrophages by a Demethylase Enzyme, JMJD3, May Promote Chronic Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetic (T2D) Wounds

Introduction Type 2 diabetic(T2D) wounds are characterized by chronic inflammation, maintained by an exaggerated M1(pro-inflammatory) macrophage phenotype response. We seek to define a link between epigenetic modifications of bone marrow(BM) cells in T2D and dysregulated macrophages in wounds. We hypothesized that a chromatin modifying demethylase enzyme, JMJD3, is responsible for the decrease in H3K27me3 repressive methylation at the IL-12 gene promoter and thus drives an M1 macrophage phenotype in T2D wounds. Methods BM/adipose tissue(AT)/wounds were harvested from 30 diet-induced obese mice(DIO)(MG= 350g/DL) and 30 matched(WT) controls. For chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP) analysis, cells were isolated via ferromagnetic columns(CD34+,CD11b+). ChIP to detect histone methylation at the promoter regions of JMJD3 and IL-12(key M1 macrophage gene) was performed and RNA analysis was done with standard primers. Results JMJD3 mRNA in the BM is significantly increased in the DIO versus WT. ChIP showed increased H3K4me3(gene expression mark) in CD34+ progenitor cells and a corresponding decrease in H3K27me3(repressive mark) in monocytes at the promoter region of JMJD3. These changes correspond with the decrease in H3K27me3 seen at the IL-12 promoter in macrophages(CD11b+) from AT/T2D wounds. Conclusions Epigenetic changes initiated by JMJD3 in BM progenitor cells result in changes in histone methylation at the IL-12 promoter favoring an M1 phenotype in macrophages and thus contributes to the chronic inflammation seen in T2D wounds and AT. Whether manipulation of epigenetic enzymes could reduce chronic inflammation in T2D wounds requires further work. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
A chain model for chromosomes

On propose une geometrie de la structure chromosomique. Celle-ci suppose (que les chromosomes sont des alignements de cercles sans branchements. On indique la maniere d’apres laquelle une telle geometrie se revele dans les croisements. En particulier on expose les resultats experimentaux de croisements comportant des marqueurs « internes » et « externes ». Une maniere de localiser des marqueurs sur des cercles est indiquee. Le substrat moleculaire des cercles peut etre de grandes molecules d’ADN circulaires. Si l’on accepte cette hypothese, suggeree par la carte genetique du phage T4, l’on lient fournir une « explication » des proportions aberrantes observees dans des segregations qui accompagnent les recombinaisons de marqueurs proches.
Cancer Clonal Theory, Immune Escape, and Their Evolving Roles in Cancer Multi-Agent Therapeutics.

The knowledge base of malignant cell growth and resulting targets is rapidly increasing every day. Clonal theory is essential to understand the changes required for a cell to become malignant. These changes are then clues to therapeutic intervention strategies. Immune system optimization is a critical piece to find, recognize, and eliminate all cancer cells from the host. Only by administering (1) multiple therapies that counteract the cancer cell’s mutational and externally induced survival traits and (2) by augmenting the immune system to combat immune suppression processes and by enhancing specific tumor trait recognition can cancer begin to be treated with a truly targeted focus. Since the sequencing of the human genome during the 1990s, steady progress in understanding genetic alterations and gene product functions are being unraveled. In cancer, this is proceeding very fast and demonstrates that genetic mutations occur very rapidly to allow for selection of survival traits within various cancer clones. Hundreds of mutations have been identified in single individual cancers, but spread across many clones in the patient’s body. Precision oncology will require accurate measurement of these cancer survival-benefiting mutations to develop strategies for effective therapy. Inhibiting these cellular mechanisms is a first step, but these malignant cells need to be eliminated by the host’s mechanisms, which we are learning to direct more specifically. Cancer is one of the most complicated cellular aberrations humans have encountered. Rapidly developing significant survival traits require prompt, repeated, and total body measurements of these attributes to effectively develop multi-agent treatment of the individual’s malignancy. Focused drug development to inhibit these beneficial mutations is critical to slowing cancer cell growth and, perhaps, triggering apoptosis. In many cases, activation and targeting of the immune system to kill the remaining malignant cells is essential to a cure.
Writing the Dead: Pietro Della Valle and the Tombs of Shirazi Poets

This essay explores the impact of the Shirazi poets Saʿdi and Hafiz on the famous Baroque traveler, Pietro della Valle. Hitherto unexplained features of the magnificent funeral he designed for his Syrian Christian wife, Sitti Maʿani Gioerida, in Rome (1627) can be related to the poets’ tombs he had seen in Shiraz immediately following her untimely demise. In Safavid Iran, Della Valle was impressed by the production of commemorative poetry as well as by the virtuosic calligraphy that functioned as both word and image. He approved of the funerary complexes that created a community of poets both living and dead. The Roman funeral of 1627 not only displayed Della Valle’s literary erudition, it also emulated social, poetic, and artistic elements of the tomb shrines he had seen on his travels.
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition preserves exercise-onset vasodilator kinetics when NOS activity is reduced.

We show that when NO bioavailability is reduced, PDE-5 inhibition can restore vasodilation onset kinetics of exercise-mediated vasodilation via NO-independent cGMP pathways. These data suggest PDE-...
Estimating Maximum Significant Wave Height and Dominant Wave Period inside Tropical Cyclones

AbstractMaking use of the fetch- and duration-limited nature of wind-wave growth inside tropical cyclones, an algorithm is developed to estimate the maximum significant wave height and dominant wav...
Dissonant memories of Japanese American incarceration

Memories of the Japanese American Incarceration Camps during WWII vary widely across America. For some, memories of the incarceration are a focal point of their identity and a driver of political a...
Oscillometric and intra-arterial blood pressure in children post-kidney transplantation: Is invasive blood pressure measurement always needed?

Objective Blood pressure (BP) monitoring in children immediately after kidney transplantation is ideally performed with an arterial line. Accurate measurement of BP is necessary for optimal management. However, during the first days postoperative, the arterial line is removed and BP measurement is switched to a non-invasive device. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of the automated oscillometric device compared to invasive arterial BP (IBP) monitoring in patients after renal transplantation in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Method We analyzed all simultaneously measured BPs in children with a kidney transplant in the Amalia Children's Hospital Radboud University Medical Center between January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2016. BP measurements were performed according to the hospital protocol. Agreement between invasive and non-invasive methods was assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Results A total of 29 patients were included in this retrospective study. The majority of children were male (59%), and median age was 11 years (range 1-17 years). Totally, 80 BP measurements were recorded during the first days post-kidney transplantation. The correlation coefficients (R) of systolic, diastolic, and MAP of non-invasive (NIBP) and IBP measurements were 0.84, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively (P 10 mm Hg was found in 51% (41/80) of measurements and mainly observed in hypertensive measurements. Conclusions IBP measurement is considered the golden standard for monitoring BP in patients immediately after kidney transplantation. NIBP values showed a good agreement with invasive reading, but the variability of NIBP mainly in hypertensive patients is high as it is the number of clinically relevant differences to IBP. We conclude that IBP remains the golden standard to monitor BP in children directly postoperatively.
Triglycerides: Emerging Targets in Diabetes Care? Review of Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia in Diabetes

Moderate hypertriglyceridemia is exceedingly common in diabetes, and there is growing evidence that it contributes to residual cardiovascular risk in statin-optimized patients. Major fibrate trials yielded inconclusive results regarding the cardiovascular benefit of lowering triglycerides, although there was a signal for improvement among patients with high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)—the “diabetic dyslipidemia” phenotype. Until recently, no trials have examined a priori the impact of triglyceride lowering in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia, who are likely among the highest cardiovascular-risk patients. In the recent REDUCE IT trial, omega-3 fatty acid icosapent ethyl demonstrated efficacy in lowering cardiovascular events in patients with high triglycerides, low HDL, and statin-optimized low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The ongoing PROMINENT trial is examining the impact of pemafibrate in a similar patient population. Emerging evidence suggests that lowering triglycerides may reduce residual cardiovascular risk, especially in high-risk patients with diabetic dyslipidemia.
Regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis

An attempt is made here to synthesize the information gained by studies of megakaryocytopoiesis in these various animal systems in order to develop unifying concepts that might be generally applicable to mammalian megakaryocytopoiesis
Modeling Human Temporal Dynamics in Agent-Based Simulations

Time-based habitual behavior is exhibited in humans globally. Given that sleep has such an innate influence on our daily activities, modeling the patterns of the sleep cycle in order to understand the extent of its impact allows us to also capture stable behavioral features that can be utilized for predictive measures. In this paper we show that patterns of temporal preference are consistent and resilient across users of several real-world datasets. Furthermore, we integrate those patterns into large-scale agent-based models to simulate the activity of users in the involved datasets to validate predictive accuracy. Following simulations reveal that incorporating clustering features based on time-based behavior into agent-based models not only result in a significant decrease in computational overhead, but also result in predictive accuracy comparable to the baseline models.
RAPID ESTIMATION OF THE REGIONAL THERMAL RESPONSE TO A NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY-LIMITING CASE ANALYSIS.

Integral methods have been applied to the prediction of the far field thermal impact of a nuclear waste repository. The heat balance integral (HBI) has been applied to a semi-infinite layered domai...