cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
c-myc antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides inhibit proliferation of non—small cell lung cancer

Background. Mutation or deregulation of certain cellular genes (protooncogenes) results in expression of proteins that appear to promote malignant transformation. Human non—small cell lung cancer has been documented to express many such oncogenes including c- myc , bcl -2, and mutant p53. Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ASODN) complementary to these oncogenes were tested on three non—small cell lung cancer cell lines for their efficacy in inhibiting cellular proliferation and oncoprotein expression. Methods. Established non—small cell lung cancer cell lines A427, SKMES-1, and A549 were grown in the presence of ASODNs complementary to messenger RNA of c- myc , bcl -2, p53, or controls at 1 μmol/L or 10 μmol/L concentrations for 4 or 10 days. Cellular proliferation was measured by tritiated thymidine uptake. Flow cytometry was used to quantitate oncoprotein expression. Intranuclear ASODN uptake was documented by fluoresceinetagged ASODNs. Results. Fluoresceine-tagged ASODNs were readily taken up by all cell lines. c- myc , as well as bcl -2 and p53 ASODNs, were found to inhibit proliferation of all cell lines significantly compared with controls, most notably in line A549 (40.1% ± 7.1% of control, p = 0.000 with c- myc ASODN). Antisense c- myc reduced c- myc protein by as much as 71.3% in A427, although protein levels were only minimally reduced in the viable cells of the other lines. Conclusions. c- myc ASODNs inhibit proliferation of non—small cell lung cancer cell lines as well as reduce c- myc protein expression. Antisense bcl -2 and p53 also cause similar growth inhibition. These results suggest a critical role for activation of these oncogenes in the growth of cultured lung cancer cells. Furthermore, the efficacy and rapid cellular uptake of ASODNs support the potential role of antisense targeting of oncogene expression for pharmacologic control of non—small cell lung cancer.
Successful sphincter-sparing surgery for all anal fistulas.

This study was designed to evaluate the success of a sphincter-sparing treatment algorithm for patients with anal fistulas. All patients with anal fistulas presenting to a single surgeon from 1999 to 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were treated according to a sphincter-sparing algorithm that utilized three operative approaches: subcutaneous fistulotomy, seton placement followed by fibrin glue, and/or seton placement followed by rectal advancement flap. Data analyzed included: age, gender, type of fistula, operative intervention, treatment success, and functional results. A total of 137 patients with anal fistulas were evaluated (age range, 23–74 years). Fistula etiology was cryptoglandular in 116 (85 percent), inflammatory bowel disease in 9 (7 percent), HIV in 3 (2 percent), and miscellaneous in 9 (7 percent). A subcutaneous fistulotomy was possible in 38 patients (28 percent), and all of these patients healed. The remaining 99 patients (72 percent) with transsphincteric fistulas underwent staged procedures: 89 patients (65 percent) underwent seton placement followed by fibrin glue closure (55 healed, 62 percent success rate), 9 patients had seton placement followed by flap (9 healed, 100 percent success rate), and 1 patient had seton placement alone. Of the 34 patients with fibrin glue failure, retreatment with glue was successful in 8 of 14 (57 percent success rate). The remaining 20 patients who declined glue retreatment and the 6 patients who failed glue retreatment underwent flap (26 healed, 100 percent success rate). All fistulas healed with an average of two operations per patient, and fecal continence was maintained in all patients. By using staged operative procedures without any division of anal sphincter muscle, all fistulas healed with excellent functional results. A sphincter-sparing approach can successfully treat all anal fistulas.
Soviet sea power in retrospect: Admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei G. Gorshkov and the rise and fall of the Soviet Navy

The late Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Sergei G. Gorshkov, was one of the outstanding naval leaders of the twentieth century. Trying to justify the construction of a powerful ‘blue‐water’ fleet based on a comparatively weak national economy, he published eleven articles in Morskoi Sbornik in 1972. They were translated and published, along with commentaries by US flag officers, in U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings in 1974. This paper looks back at those articles after a quarter century retrospection, the (at least apparent) concern of the American admirals, the actual threat of the Soviet Navy, and the capacity of the Soviet economy to support it. A comparison is drawn between the Imperial German High Seas Fleet created by Admiral Tirpitz and Kaiser William II early in the century and Gorshkov's fleet.
LUTS, ED, QOL: alphabet soup or real concerns to aging men?

The severity of symptoms and the degree to which they negatively impact on quality of life (QOL) are the major factors prompting patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to seek treatment. Several tools have been developed to assess symptom severity in patients with BPH, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS), and the International Continence Society (ICS) questionnaire. Data from the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study show that reductions in IPSS scores predict global ratings of improvement with treatment. Instruments have also been developed to measure the impact of urinary symptoms on QOL and have shown that as symptom severity increases, the impact on QOL also increases. Data from studies conducted in the United States, France, Scotland, and Japan reveal a similar pattern regarding the impact of symptom severity on QOL. Studies have also demonstrated that medical treatment with α-blockers, for example, is associated with a reduction in symptoms and a corresponding improvement in QOL. Patients with BPH frequently also have coexisting erectile dysfunction, which significantly affects QOL. Thus, in addition to assessment of symptoms and QOL in patients with BPH, sexual function should also be assessed in these patients.
Full abstraction for nondeterministic dataflow networks

The problem of finding fully abstract semantic models for nondeterministic dataflow networks is discussed. The author presents a result indicating that there exist nondeterministic networks using only bounded choice for which the input-output relation is not compositional. It is shown that the trace semantics is fully abstract for all nondeterministic as well as deterministic networks. >
Development of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model (PBPK) of BMP2 in Mice

Bone Morphogenetic protein 2 holds great promise for potential applications in the clinic. It is a potent growth factor for the use in the cervical spine surgery (FDA approved 2002) and has been marketed as "Infuse" for treating open tibial shaft fractures (FDA approved 2004). However, its use is limited by several significant side effects that maybe due to its potency and effect on different stem cell populations in the spine. BMP2 is expressed throughout the human body in several tissues and at a very high concentration in the blood. BMP receptors, especially BMP receptor type Ia, is ubiquitously expressed in most tissues. Currently, it is difficult to determine how BMP2 is physiologically distributed in mice or humans and no quantitative models are available. A Physiologically-Based Pharmaco-Kinetic (PBPK) model has been developed to determine steady-state distribution of BMP2 in mice. The multi-compartmental PBPK model represents relevant organ/tissues with physiological accuracy. The organs/tissue compartments chosen were brain, lung, heart, liver, pancreas, kidney, uterus, bone and fat. A blood compartment maintained connectivity among the various organs. Four processes characterized the change in the concentration of the protein in every compartment: blood flow in, blood flow out, protein turnover and receptor binding in the organ. The unique aspects of the model are the determination of elimination using receptor kinetics and generation using protein turnover. The model also predicts steady state concentrations of BMP2 in tissues in mice and may be used for possible scale-up of dosage regimens in humans.
Augmentation of cognitive brain functions with transcranial lasers

Discovering that transcranial infrared laser stimulation produces beneficial effects on frontal cortex functions such as sustained attention, working memory, and affective state has been groundbreaking. Transcranial laser stimulation with low-power density (mW/cm2) and high-energy density (J/cm2) monochromatic light in the near-infrared wavelengths modulates brain functions and may produce neurotherapeutic effects in a nondestructive and non-thermal manner (Lampl, 2007; Hashmi et al., 2010). Barrett and Gonzalez-Lima (2013) provided the first controlled study showing that transcranial laser stimulation improves human cognitive and emotional brain functions. But for the field of low-level light/laser therapy (LLLT), development of a model of how luminous energy from red-to-near-infrared wavelengths modulates bioenergetics began with in vitro and in vivo discoveries in the last 40 years. Previous LLLT reviews have provided extensive background about historical developments, principles and applications (Rojas and Gonzalez-Lima, 2011, 2013; Chung et al., 2012). The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on LLLT's neurochemical mechanisms supporting transcranial laser stimulation for cognitive-enhancing applications. We will explain first LLLT's action on brain bioenergetics, briefly describe its bioavailability and dose-response, and finish with its beneficial effects on cognitive functions. Although our focus is on prefrontal-related cognitive functions, in principle LLLT should be able to modulate other brain functions. For example, stimulating different brain regions should affect different functions related to sensory and motor systems.
The Franco-Prussian War: Wissembourg and Spicheren

By the first week of August 1870, Napoleon III had come under massive pressure to launch an offensive. This was not only the right thing for a Bonaparte to do politically, it was the only way strategically for France to preempt Prussia's superior numbers and organization, and, as Gramont continually reminded Leboeuf, the only way for France to lure the wary Austrians, Italians, and Danes into a French alliance. The problem, of course, was that France's advantage in the early stages of a Franco-Prussian war was presumptive and based on nothing more solid than the assumption that a larger peacetime army (France's) could mobilize more quickly than a smaller one that needed reserves (Prussia's). As it chanced, Moltke's army – regulars, reserves, and Landwehr – defeated that particular assumption, mobilizing faster than the French, absorbing Louis-Napoleon's half-hearted push across the Saar, and then swarming past it to crack the defensive French positions at Wissembourg, Froeschwiller, and Spicheren and push into France. Truth be told, offensive operations were the last thing that the French ought to have been contemplating in the first week of August 1870. The synchronization of Gramont's bellicose foreign policy and the army's mobilization had been so utterly neglected that superhuman exertions were now required just to deploy the French army. On 1 August, eleven French guardsmen died of heatstroke marching from Nancy to Metz.
Salmonella modulates metabolism during growth under conditions that induce expression of virulence genes

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a facultative pathogen that uses complex mechanisms to invade and proliferate within mammalian host cells. To investigate possible contributions of metabolic processes to virulence in S. Typhimurium grown under conditions known to induce expression of virulence genes, we used a metabolomics-driven systems biology approach coupled with genome-scale modeling. First, we identified distinct metabolite profiles associated with bacteria grown in either rich or virulence-inducing media and report the most comprehensive coverage of the S. Typhimurium metabolome to date. Second, we applied an omics-informed genome-scale modeling analysis of the functional consequences of adaptive alterations in S. Typhimurium metabolism during growth under our conditions. Modeling efforts highlighted a decreased cellular capability to both produce and utilize intracellular amino acids during stationary phase culture in virulence conditions, despite significant abundance increases for these molecules as observed by our metabolomics measurements. Furthermore, analyses of omics data in the context of the metabolic model indicated rewiring of the metabolic network to support pathways associated with virulence. For example, cellular concentrations of polyamines were perturbed, as well as the predicted capacity for secretion and uptake.
Maximal CP violation via Higgs-boson exchange

The unitarity of the mixing matrix of the charged Higgs bosons, and the orthogonality of the mixing matrix of the neutral Higgs bosons, are used to derive upper bounds on the values of general CP-violating expressions. The bounds are independent of the total number of Higgs fields in any specific model. They allow us to relax the usual assumption of only one Higgs boson being light. It is natural that the CP violation in the exchange of neutral Higgs bosons between bottom quarks be particularly large.
Deficient tonic GABAergic conductance and synaptic balance in the fragile X syndrome amygdala

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability. Comorbidities of FXS such as autism are increasingly linked to imbalances in excitation and inhibition (E/I) as w...
Relationship of lymphoid lesions to disease course in mucosal feline immunodeficiency virus type C infection.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection typically has a prolonged and variable disease course in cats, which can limit its usefulness as a model for human immunodeficiency virus infection. A clade C FIV isolate (FIV-C) has been associated with high viral burdens and rapidly progressive disease in cats. FIV- C was transmissible via oral-nasal, vaginal, or rectal mucosal exposure, and infection resulted in one of three disease courses: rapid, conventional/slow, or regressive. The severity of the pathologic changes paralleled the disease course. Thymic depletion was an early lesion and was correlated with detection of FIV RNA in thy- mocytes by in situ hybridization. The major changes in thymic cell populations were depletion of p55 1/S1001 dendritic cells, CD32 cells, CD41/CD82 cells, and CD41/CD81 cells and increases in apoptosis, CD45R1 B cells, and lymphoid follicles. In contrast to thymic depletion, peripheral lymphoid tissues often were hyper- plastic. Mucosally transmitted FIV-C is thymotropic and induces a spectrum of lymphoid lesions and disease mirroring that seen with the human and simian immunodeficiency virus infections.
Non-overshooting stabilisation via state and output feedback

The concept of ‘strong stability’ of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems has been introduced in a recent paper (Karcanias, N., Halikias, G., and Papageorgiou, A. (2010), ‘Strong Stability of Internal System Descriptions’, International Journal of Control, 83, 182–205). This is a stronger notion of stability compared to alternative definitions (e.g. stability in the sense of Lyapunov, asymptotic stability), which allows the analysis and design of control systems with non-overshooting response in the state-space for arbitrary initial conditions. This article reviews the notion of ‘strong stability’ (Karcanias et al. 2010) and introduces the problem of non-overshooting stabilisation. It is shown that non-overshooting stabilisation under dynamic and static output feedback are, in a certain sense, equivalent problems. Thus, we turn our attention to static non-overshooting stabilisation problems under state-feedback, output injection and output feedback. After developing a number of preliminary results, we give...
Airway in the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum: two cases and a review of the literature.

Two patients with oculo-auriculo-vertebral syndrome and multiple airway anomalies are presented. Both patients had esophageal atresia with a distal tracheoesophageal fistula and tracheomalacia due to innominate artery compression. Pulmonary hypoplasia, obstructive sleep apnea, and a laryngeal anomaly were also noted. The literature of airway anomalies and obstructive sleep apnea described in association with the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum is reviewed.
Millimeter Wave Imaging and Visualization of Plasma Waves and Instabilities

Summary form only given. The microwave and millimeter wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum is ideally suited for the determination of plasma parameters such as electron density and temperature as well as more subtle phenomena such as collective waves and instabilities through exploitation of the frequency dependent properties of this dielectric medium. This spectral region is witnessing intensive activity through the recent microwave and millimeter wave technology advances which have made possible the development of novel imaging and visualization diagnostics for hot plasmas. These include imaging scattering systems and imaging interferometer/polarimeter systems as well as electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) systems and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) systems. For example, a novel 2-D ECEI on the TEXTOR tokamak provides 2-D images with high spatial resolution [128 pixels covering 8 cm (radial) x 16 cm (vertical)], and high temporal resolution (up to ~5 microsec) which have revealed the details of 2-D images of the electron temperature fluctuations during the precursor phase and the crash time of m=1 (sawtooth) oscillations, with a level of detail that is not accessible through conventional methods (1-D ECE and/or tomography). Also on TEXTOR, a 16-channel MIR system, that can measure multiple poloidal wavenumbers up to ~3 cm-1, has been designed and installed for plasma experiments. These and other imaging diagnostics implementations will be described.
‘NO KINGS, NO LORDS, NO SLAVES’: ETHNICITY AND RELIGION AMONG THE SEREER-SAFÈN OF WESTERN BAWOL, 1700–1914

The Sereer-Safen occupied a defensible refuge zone in Western Bawol, where forests and sandstone ridges provided protection against Wolof monarchy. The Safen were part of a larger ‘Sereer’ world that defined itself by opposition to Islam in the period from 1700 to 1914. This religious divide made the Sereer targets for enslavement by the Wolof, but Sereer religion was also linked to Safen resistance to Islam, slavery and monarchy. Religion was interwoven with an ethnic boundary, which emphasized the incompatibility of Wolof and Sereer society. Safen religion was centered on the village ‘shrine’ or xerem, which served as the focal point of ritual, justice, communication with the other world and defense.
Significant relationships exist between muscle group strengths following stroke

The purpose of this study of 26 patients with stroke was to determine whether the forces produced by nine muscle groups were significantly correlated on the paretic and on the nonparetic sides. The hemiparetic patients had a mean age and time since stroke of 67.8 years and 49.9 days respectively. Strength of upper and lower extremity muscle groups was measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Pearson product moment correlations were calculated between the muscle groups of each side. All muscle groups of each side were significantly correlated with one another. The mean correlations of the nonparetic and paretic sides were .781 and .696 respectively. Such correlations suggest that strokes might be considered as having some generalized motor effects. It may therefore be acceptable to test a limited number of muscle groups to gain an indication of the paresis resulting from stroke.
High midbrain [18F]DOPA accumulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

OBJECTIVE: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent childhood psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired attention, excessive motor activity, and impulsivity. Despite extensive investigation of the neuropathophysiology of ADHD by a wide array of methodologies, the neurobiochemical substrate of this disorder is still unknown. Converging evidence, however, suggests a primary role of the dopaminergic system. METHOD: This study examined the integrity of presynaptic dopaminergic function in children with ADHD through use of positron emission tomography and the tracer [18F]fluor­o­dopa ([18F]DOPA). Accumulation of [18F]DOPA in synaptic terminals, a measure of dopa decarboxylase activity, was quantified in regions rich in dopaminergic innervation, including caudate nucleus, putamen, frontal cortex, and midbrain (i.e., substantia nigra and ventral tegmentum). RESULTS: Accumulation of [18F]DOPA in the right midbrain was higher by 48% in 10 children with ADHD than in 10 normal child...
A SUSPENDED-DROP CURRENT METER

Abstract : A simple and direct method for measuring ocean currents is given by providing an identifiable point in the water and determining its displacement in a known time interval. The speed is obtained by dividing the displacement by the time, and the direction of the velocity is the direction of the displacement. The method is capable of measuring very small velocities and also rather large ones. An identifiable point can be provided by a small drop of colored liquid having approximately the same density as sea water but being immiscible with it. Positions can be obtained from photographs of the drop. Knowledge of the time intervals between photographs can be provided by a motor-driven timer or by a watch. A magnetic compass in the field of view of the camera that photographs the drop can provide the direction. (Author)
Experimental verification of internal friction at GHZ frequencies in doped single-crystal silicon

This paper reports on the experimental verification of the intrinsic loss mechanisms present in degenerately doped single-crystal silicon. Previous work reported at the Hilton Head Workshop 2010 [1] experimentally showed the dominant acoustic loss mechanism in a 3.72-GHz silicon resonator (Fig. 1) to be Landau-Rumer phonon-phonon dissipation as seen from the 1/T4 temperature dependence for temperatures as low as 77K. This work extends these measurements to lower temperature (1.5K) and finds that free electron scattering due to degenerate doping affects the Q of silicon micromechanical resonators at low temperatures and in some cases, such as in the current resonator design, becomes comparable to anchor loss even at room temperature.
Semi-parametric estimation of the binormal ROC curve for a continuous diagnostic test.

SUMMARY Not until recently has much attention been given to deriving maximum likelihood methods for estimating the intercept and slope parameters from a binormal ROC curve that assesses the accuracy of a continuous diagnostic test. We propose two new methods for estimating these parameters. The first method uses the profile likelihood and a simple algorithm to produce fully efficient estimates. The second method is based on a pseudo-maximum likelihood that can easily accommodate adjusting for covariates that could affect the accuracy of the continuous test.
Branched-Chain Aminotransferases Control TORC1 Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The conserved target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) integrates nutrient signals to orchestrate cell growth and proliferation. Leucine availability is conveyed to control TORC1 activity via the leu-tRNA synthetase/EGOC-GTPase module in yeast and mammals, but the mechanisms sensing leucine remain only partially understood. We show here that both leucine and its α-ketoacid metabolite, α-ketoisocaproate, effectively activate the yeast TORC1 kinase via both EGOC GTPase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Leucine and α-ketoisocaproate are interconverted by ubiquitous branched-chain aminotransferases (BCAT), which in yeast are represented by the mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes Bat1 and Bat2, respectively. BCAT yeast mutants exhibit severely compromised TORC1 activity, which is partially restored by expression of Bat1 active site mutants, implicating both catalytic and structural roles of BCATs in TORC1 control. We find that Bat1 interacts with branched-chain amino acid metabolic enzymes and, in a leucine-dependent fashion, with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle enzyme aconitase. BCAT mutation perturbed TCA-cycle intermediate levels, consistent with a TCA-cycle block, and resulted in low ATP levels, activation of AMPK, and TORC1 inhibition. We propose the biosynthetic capacity of BCAT and its role in forming multicomplex metabolons connecting branched-chain amino acids and TCA-cycle metabolism governs TCA-cycle flux to activate TORC1 signaling. Because mammalian mitochondrial BCAT is known to form a supramolecular branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase enzyme complex that links leucine metabolism to the TCA-cycle, these findings establish a precedent for understanding TORC1 signaling in mammals.
Measuring Black Hole Spin

“This chapter describes the methods by which black hole spins can be measured and discusses the practicalities involved in using each method for determining spins in AGN.”
Levels of 208Po from radioactive decay and nuclear reaction γ-ray spectroscopy

Abstract Information obtained from a study of the radioactive decay of 1.7 h 208 At and from on-line studies of the γ-radiations emitted by 208 Po produced in 209 Bi(p, 2n), 206 Pb(α, 2n) and 208 Pb(α, 4n) reactions has been used to construct a decay scheme for 208 At and a level scheme for 208 Po. Many of the low-lying levels can be explained on the basis of the known levels of 208 Pb and 210 Po and the weak coupling approximation. Among the interesting features of the scheme is a 380 nsec state which is identified as the 8 + member of the band of levels resulting from the proton configuration ( h 2 3 ) 2 .
Abstract 549: Sensitization to chemotherapy by inhibition of cathepsin proteases in a mouse model of metastatic breast cancer

A growing body of evidence supports the role of the tumor microenvironment in promoting malignant progression and modulating the response to anti-cancer therapy. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have been established as an important component of the tumor microenvironment, contributing to angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, invasion and metastasis. We and others have identified cysteine cathepsin proteases as key effectors of these pro-tumorigenic functions of TAMs. These same processes, which are integral to tumor progression, may also aid tumors in recovering from cytotoxic insults, thereby blunting our therapeutic efforts. There is thus a strong rationale for combinatorial targeting of both the tumor and the supporting stroma. We have uncovered such a phenomenon in a mouse model of metastatic mammary carcinogenesis (MMTV-PyMT). Following maximum tolerated dose paclitaxel treatment (TaxMTD), we observed an elevation in levels of circulating cathepsin-activity+ myeloid cells and a subsequent increase in macrophages and cathepsin activity levels in the tumor. In co-cultures, cathepsin-activity+ macrophages reduced paclitaxel-induced tumor cell death. Furthermore, the use of primary macrophages from various cathepsin null genetic backgrounds identified cathepsins B and S as mediators of this effect. To determine whether cathepsin inhibition could therefore enhance the effects of chemotherapy, we treated MMTV-PyMT mice with both TaxMTD and a pan-cathepsin inhibitor, JPM. While JPM alone had no effect on mammary tumor burden, it significantly impaired tumor growth when combined with TaxMTD, demonstrating that the TaxMTD-induced elevation in tumor cathepsin activity is functionally relevant. To further our goal of simultaneous targeting of tumor and stroma, we added a low-dose cyclophosphamide regimen, which has been shown to have both anti-angiogenic and immune-stimulatory properties. This triple combination treatment was substantially more effective than any double or single drug combination. Importantly, metastatic burden was also significantly reduced in triple-treated mice as compared to controls, and long-term survival was improved. These studies suggest cathepsin+ macrophages are recruited to the tumor after TaxMTD treatment to promote tumor survival and recovery. The efficacy of combining cathepsin inhibition with paclitaxel highlights both the importance of integrated therapeutic targeting of tumor and stroma, as well as the role of TAMs in modulating resistance to chemotherapy. The addition of cysteine cathepsin inhibition to chemotherapeutic regimens thus holds considerable promise for clinical translation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 549. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-549
Longitudinal systolic strain profiles and outcomes in peripartum cardiomyopathy

Objective Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure that develops in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery. Longitudinal systolic strain has been shown to be impaired in HF patients with both preserved and depressed EF, but has not previously characterized in patients with PPCM. Methods The purpose of our study was to investigate the prognosis and recovery in patients with PPCM and use 2D strain imaging to characterize regional and global LV strain in patients with PPCM. Between 2009 and 2014, we identified 47 newly diagnosed patients with PPCM and reduced EF (rPPCM), and 14 patients within the first 4 weeks postpartum who presented with signs and symptoms of HF, and elevated BNP/pro-NT-BNP, but preserved LVEF (pPPCM). We compared the echocardiographic characteristics of the patients with rPPCM and pPPCM with 14 healthy controls. Results All-cause mortality was 10.6% (5/47) and rehospitalization for HF rate was 31.9% (15/47) at a median follow-up of 12.5 months (range: 1–60 months) in the rPPCM group. In 25.5% (12/47) of patients with rPPCM, there was no recovery or worsening of LVEF, while complete and partial (more than 10% increase but less than 55%) recovery was seen in 57.4% (27/47) and 17% (8/47) of patients, respectively. Global and longitudinal strain (GLS) values were not independent predictors of all-cause mortality or the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization, or no LVEF recovery in these patients. GLS and segmental strain were significantly lower in the preserved EF group compared with controls but higher compared with PPCM with reduced EF. Conclusion Global and segmental longitudinal strain parameters were significantly reduced in PPCM patients.
Lidocaine Pretreatment Reduces the Discomfort of Intranasal Midazolam Administration: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Objective Intranasal (IN) midazolam is a commonly prescribed medication for pediatric sedation and anxiolysis. One of its most frequently-encountered adverse effects is discomfort with administration. While it has been proposed that premedicating with lidocaine reduces this undesirable consequence, this combination has not been thoroughly researched. The objective of our study was to assess whether topical lidocaine lessens the discomfort associated with IN midazolam administration. Methods This was a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial performed in an urban, academic pediatric emergency department. Children 6-12 years of age who were receiving IN midazolam for procedural sedation received either 4% lidocaine or 0.9% saline (placebo) via mucosal atomizer. Subjects were subsequently given IN midazolam in a similar fashion, and then rated their discomfort using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBS). The primary endpoint of WBS score was analyzed with a two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Seventy-seven patients were enrolled over a consecutive 8-month period. One child was excluded from analysis due to a discrepancy in recording the drug identification number. Study groups were similar in regards to demographic information and indication for sedation. Subjects who received IN lidocaine reported less discomfort with IN midazolam administration (median WBS 3, interquartile range [IQR] 0-6) than those who received placebo (median WBS 8, IQR 2-9) (P=0.006). Conclusions Premedication with topical lidocaine reduces the discomfort associated with administration of IN midazolam. (ClinicalTrials. gov, NCT02396537). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Bioinformatics for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in informatics supporting mass spectrometry-based proteomics research, including the development of a wide array of open-source and commercial tools for processing mass spectrometry data. While the processes are established for many commonly studied organisms, the study of HIV-1 and other viruses can be more challenging. Success requires a clear understanding of existing information in public protein databases, whether a custom protein sequence database is required, and which particular features of the bioinformatics platform are essential for HIV-1 proteomics. This chapter provides an introduction to the framework required for proteomic analyses and highlights current challenges involved with informatics surrounding HIV-1 proteomics. Readers are first introduced to the types of data that are generated in a mass spectrometry-based proteomics experiment and then how these data are analyzed. For each step in the workflow, important considerations and opportunities for data quality improvement are highlighted. The chapter concludes with a view on the future of systems biology studies using HIV-1 proteomics. Although the potential for these emerging technologies is just beginning to be explored, this chapter aims to illustrate how integration of bioinformatics and proteomic technologies, along with coordination among proteomic scientists, virologists, and clinicians, is poised to make significant contributions to the future of HIV-1 biology.
P111 Reaching out – gum in the general practice setting

Introduction Providing accessible GU services in rural areas is difficult. Providing a service in General Practice (GP), close to patients’ homes may increase access (particularly to those who might not otherwise test) and avoid the perceived stigma of attending a GUM clinic. A GUM service was set up in 2008 within a general practice setting (syndromic management), in an area of high need (HIV prevalence 2.58 PHE 2015).We aim to describe the outcomes of running a GU clinic within GP. Methods Demographic, attendance and diagnoses data was collected and analysed from 2008–2016. Results A total of 1081 patients were seen (1826 attendances) with a median of 200(186–221) per year. 604 diagnoses of infection were made (33.1%). 922(85%) lived in the town where the clinic was held. 53.8%(582) had never been seen in GU in our county before compared with 32.6% in the hubs. 440 (41%) were men of which 40(9%) were MSM. Mean age for attendees was 29 (28 at the main GU hub). Total number Discussion In rural areas where transport links are limited, a GU clinic run in GP offers an efficient, anonymous service. Services can be offered in this setting with few extra resources providing an alternative point of access for patients.
Serotonin in Intestinal Function

These in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the mechanisms of control of the release of 5-HT into the portal circulation as well as the jejunal lumen. In addition, experiments were performed to assess the biological actions of 5-HT administrered intravenously (30 µg/kg-min) and intraluminally (600 ng/min). Using both these means of administration, 5-HT induced secretion of water, sodium, chloride, and potassium. Similarly, intravenous and intraluminal 5-HT augmented intestinal motility (as measured by intraluminal pressure). Both intravenous and intraluminal 5-HT increased regional perfusion to the muscularis of the proximal small bowel. Vagally-mediated release of serotonin into the portal circulation was shown to be under adrenergic control, whereas release into the jejunal lumen is mediated by cholinoreceptors.
Modal decomposition of fluid–structure interaction with application to flag flapping

Abstract Modal decompositions such as proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) and their variants are regularly used to educe physical mechanisms of nonlinear flow phenomena that cannot be easily understood through direct inspection. In fluid–structure interaction (FSI) systems, fluid motion is coupled to vibration and/or deformation of an immersed structure. Despite this coupling, data analysis is often performed using only fluid or structure variables, rather than incorporating both. This approach does not provide information about the manner in which fluid and structure modes are correlated. We present a framework for performing POD and DMD where the fluid and structure are treated together. As part of this framework, we introduce a physically meaningful norm for FSI systems. We first use this combined fluid–structure formulation to identify correlated flow features and structural motions in limit-cycle flag flapping. We then investigate the transition from limit-cycle flapping to chaotic flapping, which can be initiated by increasing the flag mass. Our modal decomposition reveals that at the onset of chaos, the dominant flapping motion increases in amplitude and leads to a bluff-body wake instability. This new bluff-body mode interacts triadically with the dominant flapping motion to produce flapping at the non-integer harmonic frequencies previously reported by Connell and Yue (2007). While our formulation is presented for POD and DMD, there are natural extensions to other data-analysis techniques.
Assessing the global distribution of river fisheries harvest: a systematic map protocol

Although surface freshwater comprises < 0.01% of the total water volume of earth, freshwater inland capture fisheries and aquaculture represent 40% of the global reported finfish harvest. While the social, economic, and ecological importance of inland fish and fisheries is difficult to overstate, they are often undervalued and underappreciated. Accurate information about these highly dispersed fisheries is inherently difficult to acquire, often unreported, and not collected in a standardized format globally. A standardized river fishery database is needed for managing aquatic systems as well as for defining relevant development policies. Here, we describe our methodology to search, identify, and describe available river fisheries information to create a harmonized global database of river fisheries harvest. This database will provide the first global database of spatially and temporally explicit river fisheries data. The database can be used to identify locations, hotspots of data collection, and gaps in existing knowledge and will be especially important to inform studies and management at larger spatial scales (i.e., watershed, regional, or global scales). This database will also be critical for developing fish biomass models for rivers, which can provide managers with information critical for decision-making, such as improved valuation methods for river fish and fisheries. This systematic map protocol describes the methodology to search, identify, and describe available information on river fish and fisheries across the globe. We define river fisheries as “both capture and aquaculture of river finfish species for food, income, or recreation”. River fish species are those finfish that live part, or all of their lives in rivers. The searches will be conducted for the period from 1950 to present using bibliographic databases and grey literature sources. To identify relevant evidence, pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used to screen articles at title, abstract, and full text. A searchable database containing extracted meta-data from relevant included studies will be developed and presented as a geodatabase. The final systematic map will consist of a descriptive narrative report of the distribution and content of river fish literature including a geodatabase of available information.
UCST-Type Thermoresponsive Polymers in Synthetic Lubricating Oil Polyalphaolefin (PAO)

This Article reports a family of UCST-type thermoresponsive polymers, poly(alkyl methacrylate)s with an appropriate alkyl pendant length in an industrially important nonvolatile organic liquid polyalphaolefin (PAO). The cloud point (CP) can be readily tuned over a wide temperature range by changing the alkyl pendant length; at a concentration of 1 wt % and similar polymer molecular weights, the CP varies linearly with the (average) number of carbon atoms in the alkyl pendant. PAO solutions of ABA triblock copolymers, composed of a PAO-philic middle block and thermoresponsive outer blocks with appropriate block lengths, undergo thermoreversible sol–gel transitions at sufficiently high concentrations. The discovery of thermoresponsive polymers in PAO makes it possible to explore new applications by utilizing PAO’s unique characteristics such as thermal stability, nonvolatility, superior lubrication properties, and so on. Two examples are presented: thermoresponsive physical gels for control of optical trans...
Energy Coupling in the Plasma Membrane of Neurospora: ATP-Dependent Proton Transport and Proton-Dependent Sugar Cotransport

In the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells, there are two distinct mechanisms by which energy can be supplied to “active” transport systems. The first involves the reaction of a high-energy compound (such as ATP) directly with the transport system; the second, which has been called “cotransport” by animal physiologists, makes use of the downhill movement of one substance along its electrochemical gradient, with the physical coupling between the two fluxes thought to reside in a ternary complex between the carrier and the two substances. The best-known examples of these two mechanisms in animal cells are the ATP-driven transport of Na+ and K+ (reviewed by SKOU, 1971) and the Na+-driven transport of amino acids and sugars (reviewed by CHRISTEN-SEN, 1970; SCHULTZ, CURRAN, 1970). In these instances, and in general, cotransport mechanisms of the second type depend ultimately upon primary, covalent bond-driven mechanisms of the first type.
Zwischen Revolutionsromantik und mangelnder Leidenschaft für den Sozialismus

Der Militarputsch in Chile am 11. September 1973 – er wurde finanziell und ideologisch durch die sogenannte Operation Condor von den USA unterstutzt – zerstorte die chilenische Demokratie; dabei kam der amtierende Prasident Salvador Allende zu Tode. Die demokratisch gewahlte sozialistische Partei Unidad Popular wurde durch eine Militardiktatur unter der Fuhrung von General Augusto Pinochet ersetzt.
Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Language

The recent developments of Paul Ricoeur’s thought are consistent with the basic methodological and anthropological themes outlined in the prior discussion. And yet there is one significant development beyond The Symbolism of Evil, namely the incorporation of a hermeneutic method into an entire philosophic program which extends beyond the analysis of religious symbol and myth. This can be shown through consideration of a number of related philosophical problems and solutions: the hermeneutic definition of philosophy, the subject matter of philosophy as language, an engagement with other human sciences that have the interpretation of language as their subject matter, a definition of philosophy as a reflective task, and finally the centralization of all these issues in the persistent question that continues to dominate Ricoeur’s thought — who is man? Ricoeur’s view of the philosophical task culminates in the phrase, the archaeology of the subject.1
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy Platform Suitable for Rapid Evaluation of Small Fragments of Tissue in Surgical Pathology Practice.

Context.— Rapid advances in the fields of biophotonics, computer science, and instrumentation have allowed for high-resolution imaging of biologic tissues. Objective.— To evaluate the quality of im...
Use of a quantum genetic algorithm for coalition formation in large-scale UAV networks

Abstract Task allocation among a network of heterogeneous resource-constrained Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in an unknown and remote environment is still a challenging problem noting the limited available information about highly dynamic environment, lack of continuous and reliable communication network, and the limited energy and resources available at the UAVs. One solution for this such allocation problem is to form several efficient coalitions of the UAVs, where a complex task is assigned to a group of agents (i.e., a coalition) carrying the required resources/capabilities to perform this task. In this paper, inspired by Quantum Evolutionary Algorithms, we propose a leader-follower coalition formation algorithm in a large-scale UAV network to form the best possible coalitions of agents to accomplish the detected tasks in an unknown environment. Three main objectives have been considered in this coalition formation: (i) minimizing resource consumption in completing the assigned tasks on time; (ii) enhancing the reliability of the coalitions; and (iii) considering the most trustworthy UAVs amid the self-interested UAVs in forming the coalitions. The simulation results demonstrate the superior performances of the proposed model in different scenarios with large number of UAVs compared to existing coalition formation algorithms such as merge-and-split and a famous multi-objective genetic algorithm called NSGA-II. 1 2
Three to four years outcomes of the absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus second-generation drug-eluting stent: A meta-analysis.

Objective This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the outcomes of absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) compared with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) after 3 years, the approximate time of complete polymer bioresorption. Background BVS were found to be inferior to second-generation DES in early and mid-term outcomes with a higher rate of target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and device thrombosis (DT). Improper implantation techniques and incomplete bioresorption of the poly-l-lactide (PLLA) polymer were sighted as possible reasons. Methods We conducted an electronic database search for all randomized control trials that compared absorb BVS to second-generation DES and reported outcomes of interest after 3 years of absorb BVS implantation. Assuming interstudy heterogeneity, a random-effects analysis was conducted with odds ratio as the effect size of choice to compare the event rates between the two groups. Results A total of four studies (n = 3,245, BVS = 2075, DES = 1,170) were included in the final analysis. Pooled analysis revealed that there was no difference between absorb BVS and second-generation DES with respect to target lesion failure (TLF) (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.73-2.07, p = 0.44), TV-MI (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.42-2.53, p = 0.95), target lesion revascularization (TLR) (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.77-3.33, p = 0.20) and definite/probable DT (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.10-5.07, p = 0.74). Also, there was no difference in cardiac mortality (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.22-1.94, p = 0.45). Conclusions Between 3 and 4 years of follow-up, patients receiving absorb BVS did not have significantly different outcomes, in terms of TLF, TV-MI, TLR, DT, and cardiac mortality, compared to DES.