cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B05: mEAK-7 supports self-renewal and radioresistance in metastatic cancer

Mammalian EAK-7, or MTOR associated protein, eak-7 homolog, (mEAK-7) functions as a crucial regulator of mTOR signaling. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling contributes to the pathogenicity of human carcinomas, so we sought to clarify the role of mEAK-7 in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that MEAK7 mRNA or gene copy number amplification was observed in a multitude of human carcinomas, including non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Tissue microarrays containing sections of primary NSCLC tumors, noncancerous adjacent tissue, and metastatic lymph tissue were used to quantify mEAK-7 and mTOR signaling. Our analyses revealed high mEAK-7 expression and mTOR signaling in metastasized lymph nodes. NSCLC cell lines H1299 and H1975 were used for all in vitro experiments. To examine the role mEAK-7 may play in cancer stem cell (CSC) self-renewal, NSCLC cells were FACS sorted into two groups: CD44+/CD90+ CSCs and non-CSCs. CSCs expressing CD44+/CD90+ demonstrated higher mEAK-7 expression and mTOR activation than non-CSCs, suggesting a role for mEAK-7 in cancer self-renewal and radiation resistance. Following X irradiation-induced DNA damage, 2D clonogenicity and 3D spheroid assays were used to further examine mEAK-79s role in clonogenic potential and self-renewal, respectively. These assays revealed that mEAK-7 is essential for the clonogenic potential and self-renewal of cancer cells in response to DNA damage. Comet assays were used to quantify the DNA damage response, and immunoblot and immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed that mEAK-7 is required for promoting radiation stress. Similarly, siRNA-mediated knockdown of mEAK-7 resulted in reduced DNA damage repair and enhanced cellular apoptosis following genotoxic stress. To do so, mEAK-7 may be interacting with components of the DNA damage response, such as DNA-PK. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analyses identified that mEAK-7 interacts with DNA-PK, and this interaction is strengthened following treatment with genotoxic stress. Further, DNA-PK interacts with mEAK-7 to regulate S6K2, a crucial target of the mTOR. This suggests crosstalk between the DNA-PK and PI3K pathways, since mEAK-7 interacts with DNA-PK to impact the DNA damage response in human cancer cells. Therefore, DNA-PK inhibitors may be utilized to regulate mEAK-7 and mTOR signaling in specific human carcinomas. Thus, mEAK-7 is a novel marker for NSCLC metastasis; overexpressed in both NSCLC and CSCs; and required for clonogenic potential, spheroid formation, and radiation resistance. Citation Format: Joe T. Nguyen, Fatima S. Haidar, Alexandra L. Fox, Connor Ray, Daniela B. Mendonca, Jin K. Kim, Paul H. Krebsbach. mEAK-7 supports self-renewal and radioresistance in metastatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr B05.
Evaluation of the NFHS Online Captains Leadership Course: Student Athletes' Views of Effectiveness.

Sport is viewed as an arena for positive life skill development, including leadership development. In 2015, the NFHS launched an online Captain’s Leadership Training Course. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the course in improving leadership knowledge and ability. An electronic survey was sent to a sample of athletes (n = 202, 129 female), ages 13–19 (M = 17.01, SD = 0.10) in eight United States states who had completed the NFHS course within the last 3–18 months. Most athletes (92.6%) completed the course based upon their coach’s recommendation. The course was viewed to be moderately to very useful (M = 2.49, SD = 1.00) in helping them in preparing to be a team captain. Participants believed the course to be very to extremely effective in building their knowledge on motivation (M = 1.96, SD = 0.89), communication (M = 1.90, SD = 0.80), decision making (M = 2.03, SD = 0.91), peer modeling (M = 1.91, SD = 0.86), team cohesion (M = 1.96, SD = 0.88) and problem solving strategies (M = 2.00, SD = 0.85). Canonical correlation analyses showed that athletes who felt they were more reflective tended to rate the effectiveness of the course lower than their peers. Additionally, analyses did not show any clear demographic characteristics that distinguished between perceptions of the effectiveness of the course, showing the value found in the course was high with all types of scholastic athletes. Athletes felt the course could be improved most in the area of learning how to manage conflict with their peers and coaches. Future research in scholastic leadership should seek to understand the impact of the course prospectively across a high school sport season.
It's More Complicated Than It Seems: Virtual Qualitative Research in the COVID-19 Era

COVID-19 has necessitated innovation in many parts of our lives and qualitative research is no exception, as in-person qualitative data collection has been complicated by the constraints of social ...
Outpatient Management of COVID-19 With Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in a Young Renal Transplant Patient.

At baseline, solid organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk for infectious complications due to the complex immunosuppressive regimens. The available data in renal transplant patients who contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrates dangerously high mortality rates (33%) in those who require hospitalization and/or ICU level care. Interestingly, the data for transplant patients who do not require hospitalization shows significantly lower mortality (3%) despite being on an immunosuppressive regimen. We present the case of a young male patient with a history of renal transplant who tested positive for COVID-19; he was mildly symptomatic with cough, sinusitis, and headache, was worked up as an outpatient, and treated as an outpatient with bamlanivimab monotherapy with no adjustment to his immunosuppressive regimen. This case aims to highlight the possibility of safely managing mild cases of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant patients receiving immunosuppression as an outpatient with monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy.
Population genomics reveals distinct temporal association with the emergence of ST1 serotype V Group B Streptococcus and macrolide resistance in North America.

Identified in the 1970s as the leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in neonates and young infants, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is now also recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among adults with underlying medical conditions and the elderly. Concomitant with the increasing incidence of GBS invasive disease in adults is the rise of resistance among GBS isolates to second line antibiotics. Previous research shows that among serotype V GBS - one of the most common capsular types causing adult invasive disease - sequence type 1 (ST1) - accounts for an overwhelming majority of adult invasive disease isolates and frequently harbors macrolide resistance. In this study, using whole genome sequencing data from strains isolated in the USA and Canada over a 45-year period, we examined the association of antimicrobial resistance with the emergence of invasive serotype V ST1 GBS. Our findings show a strong temporal association between increased macrolide resistance and the emergence of serotype V ST1 GBS subpopulations that currently co-circulate to cause adult as well as young infant invasive disease. ST1 GBS subpopulations are defined, in part, by the presence of macrolide resistance genes in mobile genetic elements. Increased frequency of macrolide resistance-encoding mobile genetic elements among invasive GBS ST1 strains suggests the presence of such elements contributes to GBS virulence. Our work provides a foundation for the investigation of genetic features contributing to the increasing prevalence and pathogenesis of serotype V GBS in adult invasive disease.
Identifying determinants of conformational stability in GTPases (LB607)

Cellular functionalities are contingent upon the ability of proteins to maintain or transform their shape (conformation). The molecular forces that govern protein folding have long been known. Thes...
Do Televised Debates Affect Image Perception More Than Issue Knowledge?A Study of the First 1992 Presidential Debate

Do televised presidential debates affect audiences’perception of candidates’images more than their knowledge of candidates’issue positions? Existing communication theories offer two competing predictions, with one in favor of the effects on image perception and the other in favor of the effects on issue knowledge. Empirical studies have provided mixed evidence for both predictions. This article reports results of a new study of the effects of the first presidential debate in the 1992 election. Based on a review of various methodological weaknesses in previous studies, the current study used a between-subjects design involving repeated measures of issue knowledge and image perception. Results show that the viewers learned a great deal about candidates’issue positions that were discussed in the debate, but no learning took place of issues that were not debated. The debate did not affect the viewers’perception of the two well-known candidates'personalities but did improve the perception of the least well-known candidate, Ross Perot, on several debate-related personality traits.
Attributed Transformational Code Generation for Dynamic Compilers

The design of dynamic compilers, that is, compilers that preserve execution state when newly compiled code is patched into an executing image, presents the compiler writer with a number of difficulties. First, all the complexity of a standard compiler is present. Second, enough intermediate information must be maintained to allow the compilation to proceed incrementally. Third, the incremental incorporation of newly compiled segments of code must disturb the existing execution state as little as possible. The last two factors are compounded when the desired level of granularity is small, such as at the level of statements or expressions. We describe our proposed method for automatically generating dynamic compilers and explain how the method will handle these issues.
An Architecture for an Adaptive Intrusion-Tolerant Server

We describe a general architecture for intrusion-tolerant enterprise systems and the implementation of an intrusion-tolerant Web server as a specific instance. The architecture comprises functionally redundant COTS servers running on diverse operating systems and platforms, hardened intrusion-tolerance proxies that mediate client requests and verify the behavior of servers and other proxies, and monitoring and alert management components based on the EMERALD intrusion-detection framework. Integrity and availability are maintained by dynamically adapting the system configuration in response to intrusions or other faults. The dynamic configuration specifies the servers assigned to each client request, the agreement protocol used to validate server replies, and the resources spent on monitoring and detection. Alerts trigger increasingly strict regimes to ensure continued service, with graceful degradation of performance, even if some servers or proxies are compromised or faulty. The system returns to less stringent regimes as threats diminish. Servers and proxies can be isolated, repaired, and reinserted without interrupting service.
Business Languages and the Use of English in Multilingual Switzerland

Switzerland, the small, highly industrialized, neutral nation, is known for its linguistic diversity (four national languages) and international appeal for business and humanitarian organizations. This article describes the historical background of language and industrial development in Switzerland, and it examines how language use in the workplace, in school, and at home has changed over the last decades. To illustrate these changes, it uses data from the national census of 1990 and 2000 as well as academic investigations about language distribution. The main focus is on how English has become a major business language and how schools are responding to the demand of the global economy. Already in 1993, Bally Management AG, the famous Swiss shoe manufacturer, adopted English, like many other export companies in Switzerland, as their main business language. Eighty percent of their employees must know foreign languages.1 English is now not only the official language in international departments at all major Swiss banks and companies, English is even used for internal daily communication. A bank employee2 in Zurich states that she and her colleagues use English 70% of the time, German 25% of the time, and French 5% in their daily work, which is representative of the industry and the area. Documents at large Swiss banks are composed in five language versions (German, French, Italian, English, and Spanish)3 to serve their international customers. According to swissinfo, Switzerland’s on-line news and information platform,4 English now is the fifth language of the Swiss government regarding the translations of documents which are already 1 “Das Business spricht englisch.” Woche 34/95: 20. 2 E-mail to the author from Verena Staeheli, AGI-Kooperation; March 17, 2004. 3 “Das Business spricht englisch.” Woche 34/95: 21. 4 http://www.swissinfo.org March 9, 2002. English becomes fourth language of government.
Effects of anxiety sensitivity on alcohol problems: evaluating chained mediation through generalized anxiety, depression and drinking motives

AIMS: To test whether the relations between anxiety sensitivity (AS), a transdiagnostic risk factor, and alcohol problems are explained by chained mediation models, from AS through anxiety or depressive symptoms then drinking motives in an at-risk sample. It was hypothesized that AS would influence alcohol problems through generalized anxiety or depression symptoms and then through negatively-reinforced drinking motives (i.e., drinking to cope with negative affect and drinking to conform). DESIGN: Cross-sectional single- and chained-mediation models were tested. SETTING: Self-report measures were completed in clinics at Florida State University and the University of Vermont, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants consisted of 523 adult daily cigarette smokers (M age = 37.23, SD = 13.53; 48.6% female). MEASUREMENTS: As part of a larger battery of self-report measures, participants completed self-report measures of AS, generalized anxiety, depression, drinking motives, and alcohol problems. FINDINGS: Chained mediation was found from AS to alcohol problems through generalized anxiety then through drinking to cope with negative affect (B =.04, 90% confidence interval [CI;.004,.10]). Chained mediation was also found from AS to alcohol problems through depression then through drinking to cope with negative affect (B =.11, 90% CI [.05,.21]) and, separately, through socially motivated drinking (B =.05, 90% CI [.003,.11]). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety sensitivity and alcohol problems are indirectly related through several intervening variables, such as through generalized anxiety or depression and then through drinking to cope with negative affect. Language: en
Performance analysis of a CDMA/FDMA cellular communication system with cell splitting

A new cellular communication system based upon direct sequence spread spectrum code division multiple access (DS-SS-CDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) along with a unique cell structure is proposed. Performance analysis of the proposed system under Rayleigh multipath fading and log normal shadowing channels showed that this model increased the forward link capacity by a factor of approximately seven to ten over the standard CDMA cellular system. Also, under ideal power control and similar channel conditions, the reverse link capacity moderately increased over the standard CDMA implementation. The proposed system demonstrated that it is possible to increase the cell capacity without deploying additional cells by applying proper FDMA frequency reuse to minimize interference.
'Wrong Blood in Tube': Solutions for a Persistent Problem

Background and objectives This study was performed to determine the incidence of 'wrong blood in tube' (WBIT)-type errors at our institution during the past 5 years, to analyse their root cause and to evaluate the efficacy of preventive measures that have been implemented since 2006. Methods All reports of mislabelled and miscollected specimens detected between January 2005 and December 2009 were reviewed. Of these, WBIT-type errors were further analysed as they represent a major risk for mistransfusion. Results Between 2005 and 2009, 59,373 type and screens were performed at our institution and a total of 26 major errors (WBIT) were identified. Of the errors, eight were detected by discrepant typing results (in comparison with historic blood type), six were discovered by the clinical service and 12 were identified in the blood bank by other means. Our estimated 'raw' WBIT rate (1 in 2283 samples) is comparable to that (1:2262) in the published literature. Since 2006, our nursing policy mandates that 'all type, screen and cross will have two witnesses to the correct ID of the patient and labeling is done at the bedside at the time of the draw.' This has reduced (from 11 in 2006 to 5 in 2007), but did not eliminate, our WBIT problem that persisted into 2008 and 2009 (three and seven incidents, respectively). Since 2009, we also require a second, independently drawn sample in previously un-typed patients who are likely to be transfused. Conclusion We conclude that WBITs continue to represent a leading cause of potential mistransfusions at our institution. Changes in nursing (two witnesses to correct ID) and/or blood bank policy (check-type with a second specimen) may reduce, but not eliminate, this persistent problem. Clearly, additional safety measures are required to prevent WBIT-type errors.
Animals, Zombanimals, and the Total Turing Test

Alan Turing devised his famous test (TT) through a slight modification of the parlor game in which a judge tries to ascertain the gender of two people who are only linguistically accessible. Stevan Harnad has introduced the Total TT, in which the judge can look at the contestants in an attempt to determine which is a robot and which a person. But what if we confront the judge with an animal, and a robot striving to pass for one, and then challenge him to peg which is which? Now we can index TTT to a particular animal and its synthetic correlate. We might therefore have TTTrat, TTTcat, TTTdog, and so on. These tests, as we explain herein, are a better barometer of artificial intelligence (AI) than Turing's original TT, because AI seems to have ammunition sufficient only to reach the level of artificial animal, not artificial person.
EZH2 Overexpression in Malignant Melanoma Represses E-cadherin and Promotes Invasion

Decline in the expression of E-cadherin has long been associated with metastasis and ultimately mortality in different types of cancer. However, no such study has yet been performed in melanoma, which is a deadly variety of skin cancer, responsible for 75% of skin cancer-related deaths. Here we investigate the effect of EZH2 on E-cadherin in melanoma. Preliminary studies by our lab have strongly suggested increased levels of EZH2 and increased EZH2-catalyzed histone H3K27 trimethylation (repressive mark) in aggressive stages of melanoma. We used the EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 in our matched cell lines – WM115 and WM266-4, and established that EZH2 inhibition adversely affects invasion by restoring E-cadherin expression. The inverse relationship between EZH2 and E-cadherin expression was further validated by performing large scale immunohistochemistry (IHC) in formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded (FFPE) patient biopsies as well as human tissue microarrays. The mechanism of EZH2 induced E-cadherin silencing in the m...
Tourism in Ghana: The Representation of Slavery and the Return of the Black Diaspora

L'A. decrit la rencontre sur la zone frontaliere entre les touristes afro-americains revenus de la diaspora au château d'Elmina et les Ghaneens locaux les recevant. Il souleve la question de l'opposition entre les deux protagonistes sur la maniere dont les châteaux doivent etre interpretes et le probleme associe du pouvoir, de celui qui possede les châteaux
Large deviations-based asymptotics for inventory control in supply chains

We consider a model of a capacitated single-class supply chain consisting of a tandem of production facilities and propose production policies in two cases: (a) when each facility has access to its local inventory only, and (b) when it has knowledge of the total downstream inventory. In case (a) the proposed policy guarantees stockout probabilities at each stage to stay bounded below given constants (service level constraints). In case (b) we minimize total expected inventory cost subject to service level constraints. In both cases we rely upon large deviations asymptotics to analytically obtain the policy parameters; this leads to huge computational savings compared to simulation. Our model can accommodate autocorrelated demand and service processes, both critical features of modern failure-prone manufacturing systems. We demonstrate that detailed distributional information on demand and service processes, which is incorporated into large deviations asymptotics, is critical in inventory control decisions. Some extensions to a multiclass setting are discussed.
Combination of all-trans retinoic acid and interferon-gamma upregulated p27(kip1) and down regulated CDK2 to cause cell cycle arrest leading to differentiation and apoptosis in human glioblastoma LN18 (PTEN-proficient) and U87MG (PTEN-deficient) cells.

Purpose Deletion or mutation of phosphatase and tensin homolog located on chromosome ten (PTEN) occurs in as high as 80% glioblastoma. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces differentiation in cancer cells. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induces apoptosis in many cancers including glioblastoma. We used the combination of ATRA and IFN-γ to control growth of human glioblastoma LN18 (PTEN-proficient) and U87MG (PTEN-deficient) cells and explored any advantage of having PTEN in the cells.
Effects of high doses of manganese on carbohydrate homeostasis

The effects of manganese (Mn) toxicity on carbohydrate homeostasis was examined in Sprague-Dawley and Osborne-Mendel rats. Mn injection was followed by increases in Mn concentration in both liver and pancreas. Concentrations of Mn in the pancreas increased more rapidly than in the liver. Plasma insulin levels decreased, plasma glucose levels increased, and a spike in glucagon concentration was observed following Mn injection. Increases in blood glucose in response to Mn injection were also observed in 24- and 48-h fasted rats, although the magnitude of the increase was less than that observed in fed rats. Both strains of rats appeared to respond similarly to Mn injection. The present studies demonstrate that acute Mn injection can affect glucose homeostasis. These effects may be mediated through altered endocrine pancreatic function.
Infrared spectra of some platinum(II) glycine complexes

Abstract Mixed ligand platinum(II) complexes with glycine in which glycine acts as a unidentate ligand, a bidentate ligand, or as both, have been prepared and examined in the i.r. (4000−300 cm−1). Empirical band assignments have been made based on the previous normal co-ordinate treatments of glycine and of the bidentate glycino complex bis-(glycino) Pt(II). Particular attention has been focused on the 600−300 cm−1 region in an attempt to locate the PtN and PtO stretching modes. The ability to differentiate between the uni- and bidentate complexes by i.r. will also be discussed.
Topological evaluation of network functions

Abstract This paper considers the topological relationships for the various combinations of two terminal-pair networks that may be useful in analysis as well as in synthesis of networks. These results are obtained by means of topological identities of a two terminal-pair network that contains no transformer. The necessary conditions of the transfer function for the physical realizability are also derived. Application of the topological formulas to the evaluation of network functions is illustrated with an example.
Thermodynamic properties of NiCeO, NiCeOMn, NiCeOCu and NiCeOFe melts

Abstract The equilibrium constant of CeO in molten nickel and the related interaction coefficient were determined experimentally and the following results obtained (at T = 1823 K): K = 1.12 × 10 −18 e ce ce = 0.033. In these experiments inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was used to determine the extremely low contents of the rare earth (RE) elements in the metal phase at equilibrium. In order to avoid errors caused by any partial inclusion of RE content of nonmetallic inclusions in the analytical results for the dissolved RE, the metal samples were electrolyzed in an organic electrolyte at low temperature and the dissolved rare earth contents determined by ICP. The oxygen activity in the melt was measured by solid electrolyte sensors made of CaZrO 3 (Y 2 O 3 ) tube. The CeO equilibrium constants in the Systems NiCeOMn, NiCeOCu and NiCeOFe were determined and the interaction coefficients e Ce Mn e Ce Cu and e Ce Fe were determined to be −0.83, −0.92 and −0.20.
Bartering activities of the Fortune 500 and hospitality lodging firms

Abstract This study compared the bartering practices of Fortune 500 companies with those of hospitality lodging firms. The various types of barter arrangements used by the firms are discussed as well as the annual dollar amount of bartering their firms do annually. The companies' attitudes on bartering, average length of the barter contract and reasons for bartering are explained. The procedures for recording bartered transactions are also discussed. The study indicates that bartering is being done by both types of firms and that more standardized accounting procedures need to be developed for these transactions.
LINKS WITH TRIVIAL JONES POLYNOMIAL

Examples of non-trivial 2- and 3-component links are given that cannot be distinguished from the corresponding unlink by means of the Jones polynomial.
The shadow knows: performance expectations of new hires in an IT organization

As organizations reshape themselves to meet market and customer demands, expectations companies have of their employees change, which means employment contracts must also change. Social research on organizations has gained interest in recent years, but research on psychological contracts has been particularly limited. Rousseau (1995) noted the importance of performance expectations, but that these expectations were frequently not conveyed to employees, due, in part, to the dynamic nature of the industry and the market. Performance expectations, however, are of critical importance for organizations, as they provide predictability, enablement, and clarity (Rousseau, 1995), which are all essential for organizations, particularly in a dynamic environment.This paper examined performance expectations for newly hired information technology (IT) professionals in a systems development organization of a large telecommunications company in the US in 1998. Expectations of middle managers, upper managers, and technical team leaders were gathered and summarized, and analyzed for trends, differences, and similarities. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore expectations of both IT professionals and an IT organization, and provide a recent, accurate summary of expectations of new hires. The intent of this study was to assist prospective employees, newly hired employees, and hiring managers and their organizations by providing consistent documentation and clarity in organizational goals and expectations. Once preliminary areas are noted, additional research may then provide specific needs. By providing consistent, current and accurate information, IT professionals can learn more about the organization in less time, match their skills and goals more effectively to those of the organization, and quickly become contributing organizational members.For organizations, this could assist hiring managers by enabling common understandings, potentially reducing cost and turnover, increasing retention rates and creating more productive working relationships.
Computer Storage And Retrieval Of Coronary Trees

Coronary cineangiography is a routine procedure for evaluation of the coronary circulation. From the biplane cineangiograms a visual representation of coronary perfusion was obtained. A collection of simple ideas and procedures to aid in the collection is described. The uses to which the tree data will be put include the evaluation of myocardial function and the formation of a library sufficiently large to enable some taxonomic classification of coronary artery patterns to be made.
The effects of alumina and silica nanoparticles on the cure kinetics of bisphenol E cyanate ester

Nanoparticles can be used as fillers to reinforce polymers, forming nanocomposites with better thermomechanical properties than composites with macrosized fillers. Furthermore, the addition of nanoparticles may influence the curing behavior of the polymer matrix during processing. In this study, the effect of various loadings of alumina or silica nanoparticles on the cure kinetics of bisphenol E cyanate ester (BECy) is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Alumina nanoparticles are shown to have a catalytic effect on the cure of BECy. The greater catalytic effect of alumina nanoparticles, compared with silica, is attributed to the increased number of hydroxyl groups on the surface and the Lewis acidity of γ-phase alumina. Kinetic parameters were obtained from dynamic DSC experiments. For an autocatalytic model of the cure process, the kinetic parameters obtained from the model suggest that the addition of alumina nanoparticles changed the cure reaction mechanism of BECy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Retrospective Evaluation of Sildenafil Citrate as a Therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension in Dogs

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a pathologic condition in dogs characterized by abnormally high pressures in the pulmonary circulation and has been associated with a poor outcome. Sildenafil is a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor that produces nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation. Sildenafil treatment decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in people with PH. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. The cardiology database was searched for dogs with PH treated with sildenafil. PH was defined as systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) > or = 25 mmHg at rest. Medical records were reviewed for the following information: signalment, duration and type of clinical signs before treatment, underlying disease, estimated or measured PAPs, dosage and dosing interval of sildenafil, and the effect of treatment on clinical signs and pulmonary arterial pressure and survival time. Thirteen affected dogs were identified. Clinical signs included collapse, syncope, respiratory distress, and cough. Duration of clinical signs before presentation ranged from 3 days to 5 months. An underlying cause was identified in 8 dogs. The median sildenafil dosage was 1.9 mg/kg. Ten dogs received concurrent medications. Median PAPs was 90 mmHg; 8 dogs were reevaluated after therapy, and the median decrease in PAPs was 16.5 mmHg. The median survival time of all dogs was 91 days. Sildenafil appeared to be well tolerated in dogs with PH and was associated with decreased PAPs and amelioration of clinical signs in most. Sildenafil represents a reasonable treatment option for dogs with pulmonary hypertension.
Effect of Fluid Properties on Heat Transfer in Channels with Offset Strip Fins

A set of experiments was devised to investigate the effect of Prandtl number on the thermal performance of offset strip fins and to verify the extension of Kays and London air test data to liquids. An offset strip fin with a cross section of 6.25 cm × 0.938 cm (2.5 in × 0.375 in) and a flow length of 25.4 cm (10 in) was tested for water and ethylene glycol at Reynolds numbers from 30 to 3,000, and Prandtl numbers from 4 to 80. Results correlate according to Nu = 0.287 Re0.58 Pr0.5. For the conditions tested in the present work, the fin efficiencies were in the range of 5-25%. It is suggested that for liquid coolants or for asymmetric boundary conditions, a different fin geometry needs to be designed for higher efficiencies.
Molecular Mechanisms of Water and Solute Transport across Archaebacterial Lipid Membranes

Archaebacteria thrive in environments characterized by anaeobiosis, saturated salt, and both high and low extremes of temperature and pH. The bulk of their membrane lipids are polar, characterized by the archaeal structural features typified by ether linkage of the glycerol backbone to isoprenoid chains of constant length, often fully saturated, and with sn-2,3 stereochemistry opposite that of glycerolipids of Bacteria and Eukarya. Also unique to these bacteria are macrocyclic archaeol and membrane spanning caldarchaeol lipids that are found in some extreme thermophiles and methanogens. To define the barrier function of archaebacterial membranes and to examine the effects of these unique structural features on permeabilities, we investigated the water, solute (urea and glycerol), proton, and ammonia permeability of liposomes formed by these lipids. Both the macrocyclic archaeol and caldarchaeol lipids reduced the water, ammonia, urea, and glycerol permeability of liposomes significantly (6–120-fold) compared with diphytanylphosphatidylcholine liposomes. The presence of the ether bond and phytanyl chains did not significantly affect these permeabilities. However, the apparent proton permeability was reduced 3-fold by the presence of an ether bond. The presence of macrocyclic archaeol and caldarchaeol structures further reduced apparent proton permeabilities by 10–17-fold. These results indicate that the limiting mobility of the midplane hydrocarbon region of the membranes formed by macrocyclic archaeol and caldarchaeol lipids play a significant role in reducing the permeability properties of the lipid membrane. In addition, it appears that substituting ether for ester bonds presents an additional barrier to proton flux.
A Novel Device to Investigate the Effect of Residual Tension in Natural Tissue Implants

Natural collagen tissue implants derived from fetal bovine dermis are an attractive alternative to polymers for use in soft tissue repair. Constitutive relationships for this material are typically determined in vitro on a universal testing machine. However, upon implementation, tissue remodeling may cause the material properties to change rapidly. The literature indicates that the level of in vivo strain and the corresponding stress field may promote either tissue adaptation or undesirable resorption. The present work investigates a novel device for eventual use as an implantable tensometer. The device is not intended to be a substitute for material characterization on a universal testing machine, but rather a new device, representing a basic mechanical system that would facilitate the development of an even smaller instrument on the scale to be implanted in laboratory animals. An instrument of this type would enable the in vivo characterization of biomaterials under a prescribed load. The new device uses springs to generate a force on the biomaterial sample. Results show that the device creates a diminishing force that reaches quasi-static equilibrium displacement with acellular collagen implants (n = 11) of varying cross sectional areas under different loads. Reaching an equilibrium displacement is an essential starting point for an implantable instrument. Changes from the equilibrium position may forecast a threshold stress to initiate resorption. In addition, knowledge on resorption rate may be obtained.© 2011 ASME
Key laser technologies for next generation x-ray sources

Advances in femtosecond lasers and ultrafast optical techniques may lead to the construction of fully coherent soft and hard x-ray sources with unprecedented coherence, peak brightness and temporal control. Key laser technologies enabling this progress are reviewed.
Two-photon single and double ionization of helium

We describe an efficient technique for calculating cross sections for two-photon single and double ionization of an atom without the use of the final-state continuum wave function. We present results of an application to helium over the photon energy range 25-54 eV, and we compare our results to a representative sample of results obtained by others.
Effect of Bacteria on Survival and Growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii

The growth and survival of Acanthamoeba castellanii in the presence of Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia varied with the densities and species of bacteria. All species of bacteria suspended in a buffered saline at densities of 105 to 106/ml supported the growth and survival of 106/ml trophozoites of Acanthamoeba castellanii in a buffered saline solution. At densities of bacteria to amoebae of 100:1 or greater, growth and survival of A. castellanii were suppressed, particularly by P. aeruginosa. In an enrichment medium, the rapid growth of most co-inoculated bacteria inhibited the growth and survival of the amoeba.
Testing for and against a stochastic ordering between multivariate multinomial populations

Abstract Tests for comparing a multivariate response on a control and on a treatment population are considered. It is assumed that each component of the response is a categorical variable with ordered categories. In some situations it may be believed a priori that the treatment has a nondecreasing effect on each component of the response, and in such cases a test of equality of the two populations with a stochastically ordered alternative is of interest. In other situations, the stochastic ordering assumption may be questioned and one would want to test it as a null hypothesis. The likelihood ratio tests, as well as some chi-square analogues, for both of these situations are studied in the one- and two-sample cases. In the latter testing situation, equality of the two populations is shown to be asymptotically least favorable within the stochastic ordering hypothesis. A numerical example is given to illustrate the use of these tests.
Coping, Self-Management, and Adaptation in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Background Adolescents with type 1 diabetes experience stress related to treatment management, feeling different from peers, and deciding to tell others about their diabetes.
Alterations of nitrogen dynamics under elevated carbon dioxide in an intact Mojave Desert ecosystem: evidence from nitrogen-15 natural abundance

We examined soil and vegetation N isotopic composition (δ15N) and soil inorganic N availability in an intact Mojave desert ecosystem to evaluate potential effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on N cycling. Vegetation from the dominant perennial shrub Larrea tridentata under elevated CO2 was enriched in 15N. Over a 7-month sampling period, Larrea δ15N values increased from 5.7±0.1‰ to 9.0±1.1‰ with elevated CO2; under ambient conditions, δ15N values of shrubs increased from 4.9±0.3‰ to 6.6±0.7‰. No difference was found in soil δ15N under elevated and ambient CO2. Soil δ15N values under the drought deciduous shrubs Lycium spp. were greatest (7.2±0.3‰), and soil under the C4 perennial bunchgrass Pleuraphis rigida had the lowest values (4.5±0.2‰). Several mechanisms could explain the enrichment in 15N of vegetation with elevated CO2. Results suggest that microbial activity has increased with elevated CO2, enriching pools of plant-available N and decreasing N availability. This hypothesis is supported by a significant reduction of plant-available N under elevated CO2. This indicates that exposure to elevated CO2 has resulted in significant perturbations to the soil N cycle, and that plant δ15N may be a useful tool for interpreting changes in the N cycle in numerous ecosystems.
Low cost solar cells

To make a significant impact on the total National energy supply by any form of solar energy utilization, two basic conditions will have to be met: 1). The systems will have to be installed over an adequately large area, and 2). The systems will have to be sold at an adequately low price to permit such large scale instalation without upsetting the economic system. The second statement means, that complete photovoltaic systems, which will be in competition with other methods of generating electric power such as coal fired or nuclear plants will have to be sold in the range of 20 to 100 $/m2of receiver area based on current values. The annual production rate required to achieve significant impact within 20 years is around 500km2, a million times the current production rate.
The influence of ground-water dynamics in a periodically flooded ecosystem, the Great Dismal Swamp

Frequency, duration, depth, and timing of flooding are major influences on the structure and functional dynamics of wetland ecosystems. In the present study, ground-water and surface-water dynamics were continuously measured on four long-term study sites in the Great Dismal Swamp. The hydrologic patterns were examined in relation to previously measured processes. Conclusions drawn from these comparisons include (1) increased winter and spring flooding results in greater aboveground production but less belowground production, (2) higher leaf litter decay rates correspond with longer duration of flooding in wet years and with longer duration of saturation of the upper soil layers in dry years, and (3) the relationship between flooding and decay of leaf litter and roots is complicated by the strong influence of the chemical and structural nature of the litter. Erroneous interpretations of hydrologic relationships may result from observations of surface flooding dynamics alone. In the Great Dismal Swamp, a significant reversal occurs in the order of sites ranked on the basis of the amount of flooding aboveground versus the duration of saturation below the soil surface.
Phage Display Selection of Cyclic Peptides That Inhibit Andes Virus Infection

Specific therapy is not available for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome caused by Andes virus (ANDV). Peptides capable of blocking ANDV infection in vitro were identified using antibodies against ANDV surface glycoproteins Gn and Gc to competitively elute a cyclic nonapeptide-bearing phage display library from purified ANDV particles. Phage was examined for ANDV infection inhibition in vitro, and nonapeptides were synthesized based on the most-potent phage sequences. Three peptides showed levels of viral inhibition which were significantly increased by combination treatment with anti-Gn- and anti-Gc-targeting peptides. These peptides will be valuable tools for further development of both peptide and nonpeptide therapeutic agents.
Causes of couspecific nest parasitism in the northern masked weaver

Conspecific nest parasitism is a common reproductive strategy in the northern masked weaver (Ploceus taeniopterus). Parasites appear to be females with nests of their own who lay an additional egg in another female's nest as a way to enhance their reproductive success. Brood size in the northern masked weaver is practically constrained to three: starvation in four-chick broods is very common. The constraint on brood size is probably imposed by the extreme hatching asynchrony characteristic of this species: the last egg in a four-egg clutch hatches 72 h after the first egg, and when a chick starves, it is almost always the youngest chick. Late-hatching chicks also grow more slowly than do early-hatching chicks. If a female were to lay a fourth egg in her own nest, there is little chance that it would succeed. However; if she places it in another female's nest before that host lays her third egg, then it may have a greater chance of success.
neXtProt, a new knowledgebase on human proteins

In September 2008, the UniProt/Swiss-Prot group achieved a major milestone: the first complete manual annotation of what is believed to be the full set of human proteins (derived from ~20'300 genes). This corpus of data is already quite rich in information pertinent to modern biomolecular medical research, but made us realize how large is the gap in our knowledge of human proteins in terms of functional information as well as protein characterization (PTMs, protein/protein interactions, subcellular locations, etc). This gap resides not only in the available experimental information, but also in the way this information has been stored, which is far from being sufficient to help researchers making sense of what all these human proteins do in our bodies! Therefore, in the framework of CALIPHO, a new interdisciplinary group from the University of Geneva and the SIB, we are developing neXtProt, a human-centric protein knowledge resource.We aim to help researchers answer pertinent questions relevant to human proteins. This requires answering three different challenges: 1) Add to the corpus of data on human proteins that is already in Swiss-Prot, a lot of additional information. We will import in neXtProt data originating from a variety of highthroughput approaches such as proteomics, microarray, antibodies, siRNAs, interactomics, etc. All of these data sets must be carefully selected so as to only provide high-quality data as we want to avoid creating a noisy and dirty compendium.2) Organize the data in such a way that it is possible to make powerful queries in the most user-friendly environment. Here also, it is necessary to be able to capture the complexity and the heterogeneity of the data that will be available in neXtProt, yet make it easy for the user to forget this complexity!3) Build a software platform that will allows tools ranging from sequence analysis to text and data mining to be integrated in various research environments so as to answer specific needs of academic and industrial users.Finally, we also aim in enabling researchers to collaborate and share data and ideas through the use of the neXtProt platform. neXtProt is a common development of the SIB and of GeneBio SA. We hope you will enjoy working with it and will help us making it evolve by telling us of your specific needs.
Combining the Effects of Rain-Induced Attenuation and Depolarization in Digital Satellite Systems

Rain depolarization causes crosstalk on a dual polarization communications link. The effects of depolarization can be expressed as a degradation of the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) which can then be combined with the rain-induced attenuation to yield an effective attenuation. The effective attenuation is computed for a hypothetical satellite link at 11, 14, 20, and 30 GHz. It is shown that at 20/ 30 GHz the increase in system margin required by dual polarized use is small.