cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What is an appropriate measure of exposure when testing drugs for carcinogenicity in rodents

This discussion paper argues that in the carcinogenicity testing of drugs, biological measures of drug exposure may often be more relevant than the classical pharmacokinetic approaches applicable to reversible pharmacodynamic phenomena. Chemicals that produce tumors in rodents may do so (either directly or after bioactivation) by mechanisms involving inter alia a mutagenic, cytotoxic, or hormone-like effect. Such mechanisms may involve the formation of reactive metabolites of fleeting existence, and these are subject to the principles of irreversible pharmacokinetics. Examples are given of genotoxic and nongenotoxic substances for which the species and target site for tumor formation correlates not with plasma concentration, but with the amount metabolized and/or the rate of metabolism. Other compounds produce tumors in rodents, often in only one sex or species, in association with an exaggerated pharmacodynamic effect, with an increase in liver weight (by one of a diversity of mechanisms) or with hormonal or hormonal-like effects. In such cases the determinant of tumor formation is the degree of disturbance of homeostasis, not the plasma concentration of the parent substance. For drugs, the disturbance in question may have no relevance to the clinical use of the drug. Plasma concentrations of the parent substance are useful in assessing the proportion of an oral dose that is absorbed and the linearity of kinetics over the full dose range and for exploring the differences between dietary and gavage administration. They do not usually, however, provide information of direct relevance to assessment of "exposure" for the purposes of carcinogenic risk assessment.
5-Cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) reduction in a mesophilic anaerobic digester: measuring redox behavior, differentiating abiotic reduction, and comparing FISH response as an activity indicator.

The tetrazolium salt 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) has been widely applied to assess microbiological activity in environmental samples. CTC reduction has previously been quantified in a variety of anaerobic systems (i.e., fermentative, nitrate reducing, sulfate reducing) using direct microscopy, solvent extraction, and flow cytometry. In this work, extracellular CTC reduction was observed and distinguished from its intercellular counterparts by the amorphous character and near uniform fluorescence of the resulting formazan precipitates (CTF). Fluorescence yielded by non-cellular-associated formazan precipitates bleached much more rapidly than CTF formed within cells under identical UV exposure (<2 min). Dehydrogenase activity assays and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were simultaneously carried out in microcosms containing active anaerobic digester biomass, propylene glycol, and settled sewage centrate for direct comparison. In substrate limited microcosms, quantitative FISH measurements remained well above their detection limit indicating sustained intercellular ribosomal RNA concentrations over a 5-day period, while dehydrogenase assays (CTC) decreased to background levels within 14 h of substrate limitation. Results from this work suggest that CTC reduction in cell-free samples may impede accurate enzyme activity measurements, particularly when quantification involves solvent extraction, flow cytometry, or software-aided counting. In addition, activity assessment in anaerobic digesters using FISH and CTC reduction assays may be comparable until substrate becomes limited.
Outcomes of a Comprehensive, Pharmacist-Managed Injectable Anticoagulation Discharge Program for the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism

Background:Safe and effective transition of patients receiving injectable anticoagulation, from an inpatient to an outpatient setting, requires patient education, prescription coordination, and appropriate follow-up.Objective:To evaluate a long-standing, hospital-wide, pharmacist-managed injectable anticoagulation discharge program at an urban academic medical center.Methods:This observational study included adults discharged on an injectable anticoagulant between December 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009. The primary endpoint was program adherence, defined as percent of discharged patients whose anticoagulation therapy was coordinated by a pharmacist. Secondary endpoints included duration of patient counseling and medication procurement (including confirmation of current home supply or need for complete procurement of a full/new prescription); length of hospital stay for patients with a primary diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE); and VTE recurrence and bleeding rates at 3 months. Descriptive statist...
High-Resolution Fourier Transform Emission Spectroscopy of the C1Σ+-X1Σ+ and e3Φ-a3Δ Systems of YD

Abstract High-resolution electronic emission spectra of YD have been recorded in the 690 nm to 3 μm spectral region using a Fourier transform spectrometer. YD molecules were excited in a yttrium hollow cathode lamp operated with neon gas and a trace of deuterium. The observed bands have been classified into two different electronic transitions: C 1 Σ + - X 1 Σ + and e 3 Φ- a 3 Δ. The rotational analysis of the 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, 0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 bands of the C 1 Σ + - X 1 Σ + system provides the following set of equilibrium molecular constants for the ground state: ω e = 1089.1182(81) cm −1 , ω e x e = 9.8459(38) cm −1 , ω e y e = 0.0144(8) cm −1 B e = 2.320192(10) cm −1 , α e = 0.032960(6) cm −1 , and r e = 1.920404(4) A Three bands observed in the red region with origins at 11 398.0507(14), 11 523.0523(13), and 11 611.6396(7) cm −1 have been assigned as the 0-0 bands of the 3 Φ 2 - 3 Δ 1 , 3 Φ 3 - 3 Δ 2 , and 3 Φ 4 - 3 Δ 3 subbands, respectively, of a new e 3 Φ- a 3 Δ electronic transition. Several additional bands, all degraded toward higher wavenumbers, have been identified in the 7800-8500 cm −1 region. The very weak intensity of these bands limited the information which could be extracted from them.
Racism and hypertension: a review of the empirical evidence and implications for clinical practice.

BACKGROUND Despite improved hypertension (HTN) awareness and treatment, racial disparities in HTN prevalence persist. An understanding of the biopsychosocial determinants of HTN is necessary to address racial disparities in the prevalence of HTN. This review examines the evidence directly and indirectly linking multiple levels of racism to HTN. METHODS Published empirical research in EBSCO databases investigating the relationships of three levels of racism (individual/interpersonal, internalized, and institutional racism) to HTN was reviewed. RESULTS Direct evidence linking individual/interpersonal racism to HTN diagnosis is weak. However, the relationship of individual/interpersonal racism to ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) is more consistent, with all published studies reporting a positive relationship of interpersonal racism to ABP. There is no direct evidence linking internalized racism to BP. Population-based studies provide some evidence linking institutional racism, in the forms of residential racial segregation (RRS) and incarceration, to HTN incidence. Racism shows associations to stress exposure and reactivity as well as associations to established HTN-related risk factors including obesity, low levels of physical activity and alcohol use. The effects vary by level of racism. CONCLUSIONS Overall the findings suggest that racism may increase risk for HTN; these effects emerge more clearly for institutional racism than for individual level racism. All levels of racism may influence the prevalence of HTN via stress exposure and reactivity and by fostering conditions that undermine health behaviors, raising the barriers to lifestyle change.
Cellulose Studies II. Estimation of Aldehyde Groups in Oxycellulose by the Hypoiodite Method

The various modifications of the aldehyde group determination by alkaline iodine solution were found to be unreliable for the aldehyde type of oxycellulose. The failure of the method is chiefly att...
Spectroscopic Observation of Fluctuation-Induced Dynamo in the Edge of the Reversed-Field Pinch

The fluctuation-induced dynamo has been investigated by direct measurement of v and b in the edge of a reversed-field pinch and is found to be significant in balancing Ohm's law. The velocity fluctuations producing the dynamo emf have poloidal mode number m = 0, consistent with MHD calculations and in contrast with the core m = 1 dynamo. The velocity fluctuations exhibit the parity relative to their resonant surface predicted by linear MHD theory.
Quantitative somatosensory testing of the penis: optimizing the clinical neurological examination.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Quantitative somatosensory testing, including vibration, pressure, spatial perception and thermal thresholds of the penis, has demonstrated neuropathy in patients with a history of erectile dysfunction of all etiologies. We evaluated which measurement of neurological function of the penis was best at predicting erectile dysfunction and examined the impact of location on the penis for quantitative somatosensory testing measurements.Materials and Methods: A total of 107 patients were evaluated. All patients were required to complete the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, of whom 24 had no complaints of erectile dysfunction and scored within the “normal” range on the IIEF. Patients were subsequently tested on ventral middle penile shaft, proximal dorsal midline penile shaft and glans penis (with foreskin retracted) for vibration, pressure, spatial perception, and warm and cold thermal thresholds.Results: Mixed models repeated measur...
High‐Resolution Electronic Spectroscopy Studies of meta‐Aminobenzoic Acid in the Gas Phase Reveal the Origins of its Solvatochromic Behavior

A theoretical and experimental investigation of meta-aminobenzoic acid (MABA) in the gas phase is presented, with the goal of understanding counterintuitive observations on the solvatochromism of this "push-pull" molecule. The adiabatic excitation energies, transition moments, and excited-state structures are examined using the complete active space self-consistent field approach (CASSCF and CASPT2), which shows the first excited electronic state of MABA to be of greater charge transfer character than was found in the para-isomer (PABA). The rotationally resolved electronic spectrum of MABA reveals the existence of two rotamers, owing to asymmetry in the carboxylic acid functional group. Stark measurements in a molecular beam show the change in permanent dipole moment upon excitation to be Δμ≈3.5 D for both rotamers, more than three times larger than that found in PABA. The excited state measurements reported here, along with supporting data from theory, clearly demonstrate how the meta-directing effects of asymmetric substitution in aniline derivatives can drive charge transfer pathways in the isolated molecule.
Mast fruiting and seedling survival of the ectomycorrhizal, monodominant Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae) in Guyana

Summary • In Guyana, we investigated seed output, and resulting seedling establishment and survival, during a ‘mast’ year, by the ectomycorrhizal, monodominant rainforest canopy tree Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae), a species with high, synchronous seed production at intermittent years. • By utilizing seed traps, the mast seed output, predation, carbon and mineral investment, and masting synchrony were quantified in 2003 in primary D. corymbosa forests. Establishment of seedling cohorts was monitored, and climatic conditions associated with masting were assessed. • During 2003, D. corymbosa in the Pakaraima Mountains exhibited high, synchronous seed production with low dispersal and predation. Investment in reproductive biomass was large relative to that in other tropical forests. Recent D. corymbosa reproductive events followed El Nino-induced droughts, with little intervening seed production. Over 12 months, 40% of the 2003 seedling cohort survived. • Our results suggest that D. corymbosa has a strongly bimodal fruiting pattern that allows the establishment of a large seedling bank, facilitating persistent monodominance. Resource investment in large seed crops may depend on mineral recycling via ectomycorrhizas, coupled with the reallocation of carbon from vegetative maintenance.
Carotid Artery Imaging: Insights Into Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients With HIV Infection

As patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) live longer because of advances in antiretroviral therapy, the importance of identifying and preventing non—AIDS-related causes of death has increased. Whether HIV infection, per se, increases risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains an open
Formation of S/D-extension using boron gas cluster ion beam doping for sub-50-nm PMOSFET

Boron doping using gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is implemented for formation of source/drain-extension (SDE) of pMOSFETs with sub-50-nm gate length. As compared with low energy ion implantation, GCIB is confirmed to produce steep profile of /spl sim/2.5 nm/decade without tail distribution. By simple replacement of low energy boron implantation with GCIB doping, about 20-nm improvement in short-channel effect and almost the same current drivability are obtained for pMOSFETs. Considering that conventional spike RTA and no offset space were used in the fabrication process, GCIB doping is considered to be promising technology for 45-nm node and beyond.
Anomaly-based intrusion detection using distributed intelligent systems

Anomaly based intrusion detection suffers from the uncontrollability of the rate of false alarms (false positive). What one computer may not be able to accomplish (reliable detection of a new malware with small false positive) many networked intelligently may. This paper is a proof of concept of that idea based on simulation with real data analysis. It speculates on how such set-up could be made part of a large scale intelligent system.
Oral administration of triptolide ameliorates the clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by induction of HSP70 and stabilization of NF-κB/IκBα transcriptional complex

Abstract Available treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) require frequent injections and have significant side effects. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory properties of orally administered triptolide, a major diterpenoid triepoxide isolated from a twining vine Tripterygium wilfordii. SJL/J mice were primed with PLP139–151 peptide and orally treated with triptolide (100 μg/kg per day) from the day of EAE induction (preventive regime) and after the onset of clinical signs (therapeutic regime). Triptolide delayed disease onset, reduced clinical symptoms, decreased the relapse rate, and suppressed inflammation and demyelination in CNS tissue of EAE mice when compared to vehicle-treated animals. Molecular analysis revealed a marked increase of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mRNA and protein in the CNS tissue of triptolide-treated animals. Cytokine and chemokine expression analysis from EAE tissues and in vitro macrophages detected a decrease of key pro-inflammatory mRNAs. Triptolide inhibited IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation by stabilization of NF-κB/IκBα complex, possibly due to a direct physical interaction between NF-κB and Hsp70 proteins. Lymph node cell proliferation assay in EAE confirmed the immunosuppressive efficacy of triptolide. Our data indicate that daily oral administration of triptolide exhibits not only a preventive but also a therapeutic effect on EAE. These effects might be explained by the increase in Hsp70 levels driven by triptolide and stabilization of the NF-κB/IκBα complex leading to an attenuated inflammatory response.
Feature-specific imaging

We analyze the performance of feature-specific imaging systems. We study incoherent optical systems that directly measure linear projects of the optical irradiance distribution. Direct feature measurement exploits the multiplex advantage, and for small numbers of projections can provide higher feature-fidelity than those systems that postprocess a conventional image. We examine feature-specific imaging using Wavelet, Karhunen-Loeve (KL), Hadamard, and independent-component features, quantifying feature fidelity in Gaussian-, shot-, and quantization-noise environments. An example of feature-specific imaging based on KL projections is analyzed and demonstrates that within a high-noise environment it is possible to improve image fidelity via direct feature measurement. A candidate optical system is presented and a preliminary implementational study is undertaken.
Impacts of seagrass habitat architecture on bivalve settlement

We investigated the effects of differing spatial scales of seagrass habitat architecture on the composition and abundance of settling bivalves in a sub-tropical seagrass community. The density of newly settled bivalves was generally greater atThalassia testudinum grass bed edge ( 10 m). Deviation from this generalized pattern occurred when high densities of newly settled tulip mussels (Modiolus americanus) were recorded from the interior of the meadow, associated with aggregations of adult mussels. Bivalve settling densities appear to reflect settlement shadows of passively delivered larvae, bedload transport of newly settled individuals from unvegetated regions, as well as gregarious settlement among adult conspecifics. We also investigated the impact of seagrass patch shape and size on settlement by using artificial seagrass units (ASU) in separate short-term and long-term experiments. We found a positive relationship between ASU perimeter and bivalve abundance, suggesting that larval encounter rates with seagrass habitat may determine initial settlement patterns. Using ASUs we also investigated the relative role seagrass epiphytes play in determining the density of settling bivalves. Results showed greater settling densities where epiphytic secondary structure was elevated compared to controls, and bivalve density was significantly greater when ASUs were fouled with a natural community of epiphytes, suggesting that both microstructure and biofilms positively influenced bivalve settlement. We conclude that structural components of seagrass habitats increase bivalve settlement at multiple spatial scales, including epiphytic micro-structure, small-scale patch shape and size, and large-scale within habitat differences.
Performance characteristics of poetry: Some cross-linguistic comparisons

A within-subject, cross-linguistic (L1 and L2) design was used to study poetry readings in two experiments. The primacy of the poetic line as determiner of temporal unitization is challenged. The relatively greater importance of punctuation in this regard is demonstrated. Personal style, language fluency, artistic skill, and characteristics of the respective poems, not characteristics of the specific languages (German, English, and French), are responsible for on- and off-time organization and patterns of emphasis.
Deletion of exon 8 causes glycosylasparaginase deficiency in an African American aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) patient

Abstract We have indentified a G T-to- T T transversion at the splice donor site of intron 8 in the glycosylasparaginase gene from an African American aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) patient, This mutation causes abnormal splicing of glycosylasparaginase pre-mRNA by joining exon 7 to 9 and excluding 134 bp exon 8. The effect of the mutation is compounded by a frame shift that occurs after the deletion site resulting in premature translational termination. The truncated AGU protein was neither catalytically active nor processed into mature α and β subunits. Both this and a previously characterized Finnish AGU mutation appear to affect folding of the single-chain precursor of glycosylasparaginase and thereby prevent transport of the enzyme to lysosomes.
Multisystemic Therapy for social, emotional, and behavioral problems in youth aged 10‐17

Background: Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive, home-based intervention for families of youth with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Masters-level therapists engage family members in identifying and changing individual, family, and environmental factors thought to contribute to problem behavior. Intervention may include efforts to improve communication, parenting skills, peer relations, school performance, and social networks. Most MST trials were conducted by program developers in the USA; results of one independent trial are available and others are in progress. Objective: To provide unbiased estimates of the impacts of MST on restrictive out-of-home living arrangements, crime and delinquency, and other behavioral and psychosocial outcomes for youth and families. Conclusion: There is inconclusive evidence of the effectiveness of MST compared with other interventions with youth. There is no evidence that MST has harmful effects.
Child Psychopharmacology: How School Psychologists Can Contribute to Effective Outcomes

Psychopharmacological treatments have been used with increased frequency to treat a variety of internalizing and externalizing disorders in children. Given the potential impact that medication has on children's school performance, school psychologists should be involved in helping physicians and families make effective decisions by assisting with (a) diagnostic decision-making and determining the need for medication; (b) evaluating medication effects and determining optimal dosage; and (c) integrating medical, psychosocial, and educational interventions. Potential barriers to the adoption of these roles are discussed as well as clinical, ethical, training, and legal implications.
Low power DCT using highly scalable multipliers

Low power consumption in computing systems is a key requirement for devices such as cell phones and cameras. In this paper we present a low power DCT implementation using a highly scalable multiplier. This paper focuses on IDCT with playback applications such as digital photo displays. The proposed solution exploits the fact that the size of the multiplications varies per stage in a multistage IDCT implementation and configuring multipliers to match the needs of each stage saves power. Results are compared with Wallace and Array multipliers. We show that using a scalable multiplier and dynamically reconfiguring the width of the multiplier leads to significant power savings (over 72%) with negligible degradation in decoded image quality.
Estimating and Analyzing Demographic Models Using the popbio Package in R

A complete assessment of population growth and viability from field census data often requires complex data manipulations, statistical routines, mathematical tools, programming environments, and graphical capabilities. We therefore designed an R package called popbio to facilitate both the construction and analysis of projection matrix models. The package consists primarily of the R translation of MATLAB code found in Caswell (2001) and Morris and Doak (2002) for the analysis of projection matrix models. The package also includes methods to estimate vital rates and construct projection matrix models from census data typically collected in plant demography studies. In these studies, vital rates can often be estimated directly from annual censuses of tagged individuals using transition frequency tables. Because the construction of projection matrix models requires careful management of census data, we describe the steps to construct a projection matrix in detail.
Applying evidence in practice: a qualitative case study of the factors affecting residents' decisions.

Patient care based on best available evidence is increasingly viewed as the hallmark of good quality medical diagnosis and treatment, yet its uptake is often slow and uneven and the reasons underlying the slow diffusion of evidence-based guidelines remain elusive. The authors report a qualitative study conducted at a major US teaching hospital which sought to discover the reasons why an evidence-based anticoagulation guideline appeared to be applied irregularly, with problematic results. Using a theoretical framework derived from Rogers’ work on the diffusion of innovation, this article describes the ways in which a group of residents evaluated and applied evidence in the context of caring for their patients. Future work in evidence-based practice can benefit from a greater emphasis on studies that use multi-method, qualitative designs to explore the complex ways in which people interact with information and the changes that ensue from its use.
Reducing cardiometabolic risk in peritoneal dialysis patients: role of the dialysis solution.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a well-established form of therapy for stage 5 chronic kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy. d-Glucose has been used successfully for several decades as the osmotic agent employed in dialysis solutions to achieve adequate fluid removal. The absorption of 100–200 grams of glucose per day has been suggested as potentially increasing cardiometabolic risk, particularly in patients with diabetes. Supporting and undermining evidence for this hypothesis is reviewed, with a focus on the role of glucose absorption in changes in body composition, dyslipidemia, and glycemic control in diabetic PD patients. Clinical strategies to optimize fluid removal while minimizing the metabolic impact of glucose absorption are also discussed.
Impact of Cloud Model Microphysics on Passive Microwave Retrievals of Cloud Properties. Part I: Model Comparison Using EOF Analyses

Abstract The impact of model microphysics on the relationships among hydrometeor profiles, latent heating, and derived satellite microwave brightness temperatures TB have been examined using a nonhydrostatic, adaptive-grid cloud model to simulate a mesoscale convective system over water. Two microphysical schemes (each employing three-ice bulk parameterizations) were tested for two different assumptions in the number of ice crystals assumed to be activated at 0°C to produce simulations with differing amounts of supercooled cloud water. The model output was examined using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, which provided a quantitative framework in which to compare the simulations. Differences in the structure of the vertical anomaly patterns were related to physical processes and attributed to different approaches in cloud microphysical parameterizations in the two schemes. Correlations between the first EOF coefficients of cloud properties and TB at frequencies associated with the Tropical Rai...
Role of Financial Variables in Explaining the Profitability of North Dakota Farm Supply and Grain Marketing Cooperatives

This paper examines the profitability of a balanced sample of 58 North Dakota farm supply and grain marketing cooperatives over the period 2003– 2007. Our findings reveal that increased liquidity tended to allow farm supply cooperatives to operate more efficiently, but reduced the efficiency of cooperatives which provide farm supply and grain marketing services. These results suggest strategies for cooperatives during times of illiquidity and other credit constraints for achieving profitability objectives.
The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers That Rule Our World by Zachary Karabell

A recent article in Wired Magazine (Finley, 2014) anointed data scientists the “rock stars of the 21st century,” but Zachary Karabell points out in Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Number...
Relations Between Molecular Structure — Morphological Structure and Properties of Polyethylenes

Studies of the crystallization of polymers has matured sufficiently to enable a detailed and specific quantitative analysis to be made of the relation between structure and properties. In this endeavor a careful distinction needs to be made between two different kinds of structures. On one hand there is the influence of molecular or chain structure. Here, the principal variables involved are the chain length for fractions, the polydispersity for whole polymers, and the structural regularity of the chain. In addition, the independent structural variables which define the crystalline state also need to be taken into account and in fact require major attention. There is a synergistic effect between these two different types of variables, the crystallization conditions and the properties of crystalline polymers.
A molecular plasmonic Fano-router: Using hotspots in a single-stone ring-like structure

Abstract In the past decade there has been outstanding, continuing interest in developing novel structures to engineer and control light-matter interactions in subwavelength dimensions with desired optical characteristics. Herein, we propose a unique plasmonic configuration consisting of a split-ring and a nanosphere in the split section (resembles a single-stone ring). We show that this simple and antisymmetric structure is able to support pronounced antisymmetric Fano resonance at the near-infrared region, while strong hotspots form at the gap space between the split-ring terminals and the nanosphere. The antisymmetric feature of the structure facilitates strong-dependency on the polarization of the incident beam. Having strong sensitivity to the incident polarization angle, we tailored a fast plasmonic Fano-router based on the behavior of Fano resonant mode. This study could help realizing Fano resonance based photonic devices using simple and antisymmetric nanostructures.
Development of sensing and control system for robotized laser-based direct metal addition system

Abstract Laser-based direct metal addition (LBDMA) is a promising directed energy deposition technology that is well suited for the production of complex metal structures, low-volume manufacturing, and high-value component repair or modification. LBDMA is finding wide application in the automotive, biomedical, and aerospace industries. However, the process reliability and the repeatability of finished components are still problems. This work offers a solution by developing a sensing and control system for the robotically controlled 8-axis LBDMA system developed at the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. The developed system consists of sensing and control units for the powder flow rate and the molten pool size. An optoelectronic sensor was developed to sense the powder flow rate. It is a main component in an on-line control system of powder flow rate in a LBDMA system. An infrared imaging setup was installed on the laser head to monitor the top full-field view of the molten pool. A simple proportional integral derivative (PID) controller, combined with feed-forward compensation was used to build a closed-loop control system for achieving a uniform molten pool size. Two L-shaped single-bead walls were built with and without closed-loop control, respectively. A good performance on achieving uniform geometry by closed-loop control of the molten pool size was approved.
Abstract TP371: Does Symptom Onset to Primary Stroke Center Time Points Affect Stroke Outcome?

Background: Treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 4.5 hours, and with door to needle time of Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected UCSD SPOTRIAS data was performed. IV rtPA AIS patients were included if they were treated within 270 minutes, and had known 90 day mRS. In-hospital strokes were excluded. Primary outcome was good 90 day mRS(0-2) as predicted by: onset to needle, onset to imaging, onset to stroke code, onset to neuro exam, onset to labs, and onset to decision. Logistic regression was performed (categorized by quartiles). Results: 291 patients were included (49.8% female, mean age 70.6, median NIHSS 10). Group differences included: HTN (p=0.0002), A.fib (p=0.0005), pre-stroke mRS (p Conclusions: In an academic center providing comprehensive stroke services, onset to time goals was not a significant predictor of 90 day outcome. Expedited care processes in comprehensive stroke centers may compensate for differences in outcomes based on onset time. These results should be validated in a larger cohort in PSCs vs. CSCs.
L'inspection et le remplacement des vis d'internes des cuves de réacteurs aux Etats-Unis

Framatome Technologies Inc. (FTI), filiale americaine de Framatome, a realise l'inspection des v i s de cloisonnement des internes des cuves de Point Beach 2 et Ginna aux Etats-Unis, et le remplacement d'un certain nombre d'entre elles. Les procedes et outillages vendus par FTI etant directement issus de ceux mis en oeuvre quelques annees plus tot par la division Services composants primaires de Framatome, une partie des outillages utilises par FTI ont donc ete developpes et fabriques par le Centre de developpement des outillages de Framatome, le Cedem a Chalon-sur-Saone. Quelques membres de la division Services composants primaires de Framatome sont intervenus en assistance technique a FTI pendant les operations.Le temps est aujourd'hui a l'expertise des vis extraites et au retour d'experience, avant de reprendre les autres interventions au programme de FTI.
Relationships among the Mexican races of maize

The present study was designed to advance the classification of the Mexican races of maize as part of the process of revising the Razas de Maiz en Mexico by Wellhausen et al. The interrelationships among the races are examined by numerical taxonomy of morphological characters and the comparison of classifications with previous studies. Forty-nine Mexican races, represented by 148 collections, were grown in several locations and seasons in Mexico from 1982 to 1984; 47 characters were measured directly. For the analysis using numerical taxonomy, characters with the ratio $$r = [\hat \sigma ^2 _r /(\hat \sigma ^2 _{re} + \hat \sigma ^2 _e )] \geqslant 3.0$$ were chosen. Classifications of Mexican races indicate general agreement with the relationships found in previous studies which were based on conventional taxonomic methods and numerical taxonomy. In addition, poorly described races and new types may now be assigned to well defined groups.
Micro-Cavity Resonator Optimization Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Particle swarm optimization is used to design the geometry of micro-cavity optical resonators to obtain high q-factors at desired resonances. The quality factor and resonant frequency of the cavity are evaluated using eigenmode analysis.
Abstract LB-C04: Modeling the impact of somatic alterations across human cancers

Modeling the impact of somatic alterations across human cancers Hatice U. Osmanbeyoglu1, Christina S. Leslie1,* 1Computational Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY Abstract Large-scale cancer genomics projects like The Cancer Genome Atlas have generated a comprehensive catalog of somatic mutations and copy number aberrations across many tumor types, but the role of some frequently altered genes remains obscure. To better model the impact of these alterations, we developed a computational strategy for exploiting parallel phosphoproteomics and mRNA sequencing data for large tumor sets to link dysregulation of upstream signaling pathways with altered transcriptional response through the transcriptional circuitry. Our modeling allows us to interpret the impact of mutations and copy number events in terms of altered signaling and transcription factor (TF) activity. We used a novel machine learning strategy to train phosphoprotein-TF interaction models across 10 human cancers for which large reverse-phase protein array and RNA-seq data sets are available through TCGA. We then applied a novel algorithmic approach to extract networks of signaling proteins and TFs whose inferred activities are correlated across tumors and whose dysregulation is associated with specific somatically altered genes. Our analysis revealed both known and novel interactions of frequently altered genes with signaling pathways and transcriptional programs in a pan-cancer context. Moreover, our algorithmic approach provides a general strategy for modeling the impact of recurrent mutations and copy number alterations on signaling pathways and transcriptional programs through pan-cancer analysis. Citation Format: Hatice U. Osmanbeyoglu, Christina Leslie. Modeling the impact of somatic alterations across human cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr LB-C04.
Survey of the Sanitation and Management Status in the Tableware Decontaminating Industry

Objective Find out the sanitation status of tableware concentrated decontaminating industry,and provide the basis for the government can formulate relevant sanitation regulations and strengthening management.Methods Investigate the processes and managements of sanitation in the tableware decontaminations enterprises by the way of local questionnaire.Supervise the tableware and wrapper in the processes.Results The eligible rates of tablewares that detected by Coliform paper were 90.4% and some after seven times of being saved were all 100%,the wrappers' eligible rates were 100% too.The health government hasn't provided any managements to this industry in Guangzhou.Conclusion There are disfigurements in establishment of overall arrangement and sanitation management in the most of the decontaminations enterprises.The government has to establish the regulations of sanitation and strengthening management so that such industry can grow healthily.
The PID Neural Network Control of The Pilotless Turbojet Engine

This thesis introduces the structure and principle of the PID control system comprised of the BP neural network.Instead of the BP arithmetic which has certain deficiency of conducting the simulation slowly and being vulnerable to the minimum value,this thesis adopts the LM arithmetic which is fast in conducting simulation.By conducting simulation to the PID neural network control of the pilotless turbojet engine and comparing the simulating results with those by the conventional PID control method,conclusion could be safely drawn that the PID controller comprised of BP neural network is proved quicker in response,lesser in stable error and simpler in arithmetic method;and that it is theoretically possible to control several objects in the air and on the ground with the neural network as the controller,which still needs further study in order to be put in practise.
Expression of CNP/NPR-B axis and NPR-C/NEP elimination pathways in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction

Objectives To study the expression features of C-type natriuretic peptide(CNP)/ natriuretic peptide receptorB(NPR-B) axis and two parallel elimination pathways, natriuretic peptide receptor-C(NPR-C) and neutral endopeptidase(NEP) in unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) rats. Methods CNP, NPR- B, NPR- C, NEP, Col- IV and type IV collagen(Col- IV) mRNA and proteins were determined by in situ hybridization, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot in UUO rats at 24h, 72h, 1w, 2w, 3w, 1m, 2m and 3m. Results CNP expression tended to be higher immediately after ligation and declined along with the progression of disease, occurring predominantly in tubular epithelial cells. A high-level CNP may attribute to the elevated expression of NPR- B in the early phase of UUO. Conclusions NEP and NPR participate in the regulation of CNP expression in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The gradual increased expression of NPR-C and NEP may cause the subsequent decline of CNP.
Assessment of agonist- and cell-mediated responses in airway microsections by computerized videomicrometry

The objective of this investigation was to develop a method for real-time measurement of changes in luminal area in microexplants of airways during pharmacological and physiological interventions. After guinea pigs were killed, tracheal rings (1- to 2-mm thick) were excised and placed in 300-microliters chambers. The area of the airway lumen was calculated as pixel number with the use of computerized videomicrometry. In 29 epithelium-intact airways, 10(-3) M acetylcholine (ACh) caused decrease in luminal area of 38.1 +/- 2.80% (P < 0.001 vs. 10(-9) M). Spontaneous tone also was demonstrated in 34 preparations from 4 guinea pigs; decrease in area of 17.0 +/- 1.45% after 60-min incubation in buffer alone was blocked completely by 10(-5) M indomethacin (P = 0.01). Luminal narrowing caused by < or = 10(-6) M ACh was reversed completely by 10(-6) M albuterol (P = 0.002). Addition of 100,000 activated human eosinophils caused 24.7 +/- 4.41% decrease in luminal area vs. 7.24 +/- 5.51% for nonactivated cells (P = 0.048). We demonstrate a real-time method for the assessment of auxotonic changes in airway caliber that utilizes microsections of explanted airways and permits the use of extremely small numbers of isolated cells to achieve physiological activation. Concentration-response characteristics and spontaneous tone are similar to those of large chamber preparations, and narrowing is reversed by beta 2-adrenoceptor activation.
Inhibition of Growth Rate and Deoxynucleoside Triphosphate Concentrations in Cultured Leukemia L1210 Cells

Thymidine and deoxyguanosine produce antiproliferative effects on murine Leukemia L1210 cells when added to the growth medium, and these effects can be prevented by the addition of one on a combination of deoxynucleosides. This study utilized these toxic deoxynucleosides to induce growth rate inhibition in L1210 cells in order to investigate the relationship between growth rate and deoxynucleoside triphosphate pool size in mammalian cells. Deoxyguanosine toxicity of these cells was manifested by deoxynucleoside triphosphate concentration changes which were correlated with growth rate. Both dTTP and dCTP decreased in parallel in a linear manner, while dATP remained unaffected and dGTP increased. In thymidine-inhibited cells, although both dCTP and dATP decreased, only their sum diminished in proportion to growth inhibition.
Diversity-dependent species dynamics; incorporating the effects of population-level processes on species dynamics

A general model of species dynamics must incorporate the effects of species number on the processes of speciation and extinction. Previous models make specific assumptions about these effects, but do not consider the effects of dynamics of lower level entities on speciation and extinction rates. A hierarchical model is developed which explicitly describes the effects of energy use by species on speciation and extinction rates. The effects of energy use are represented by parameters that characterize the average effects of energy use by each species in the biota on speciation and extinction rates. The dynamics of the model describe a sigmoidal increase in species number over time, as does the logistic model of species dynamics. However, the mechanisms of those dynamics are assumed to be different in the two models. Empirical analysis of a data set on the diversification of fossil Miocene horses suggests that the logistic and hierarchical models have similar descriptive power. The hierarchical model incorporates insights from recent considerations of the nature of a hierarchical theory of biology. Further progress in developing such a theory will depend on the success with which relationships among levels in the biological hierarchy are able to be defined.
Abstract 3287: Targeting GSK-3: a new approach for the treatment of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a devastating pediatric cancer and most patients older than 18 months present with multi-organ metastatic disease. High grade or recurrent disease is refractory to treatment with chemotherapy and almost uniformly fatal. Because GSK-3beta has been shown to be a positive regulator of NF-kappaB-mediated survival and chemoresistance in cancer cells, we hypothesize that the inhibition of GSK-3 may have potential therapeutic effects in neuroblastoma. To test this premise we used small molecule inhibitors, Western blotting, apoptotic and MTS assays to study the effect(s) of GSK-3 inactivation in neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-DZ and SK-N-BE(2). Using chemically distinct GSK-3 inhibitors (AR-A014418, TDZD8 and 9-ING-41), we found that pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 led to a decrease in proliferation and survival of neuroblastoma cells. We observed that inhibition of GSK-3 results in decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-XL and XIAP (NF-kappaB target genes) and a subsequent increase in neuroblastoma cell apoptosis. Moreover, we show that our novel GSK-3 inhibitor 9-ING-41 enhances the antitumor effects of irinotecan in neuroblastoma cells. Our results demonstrate that GSK-3 positively regulates neuroblastoma cell survival and proliferation and suggest that the inhibition of GSK-3 is a promising new approach for the treatment of neuroblastoma. Citation Format: Oleksii Dubrovskyi, Andrey Ugolkov, Irina Gaisina, Gennadiy Bondarenko, Luigi Strizzi, Naira Margaryan, Thomas O9Halloran, Alan Kozikowski, Mary Hendrix, Andrew Mazar. Targeting GSK-3: a new approach for the treatment of neuroblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3287. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3287
Light, temperature and tocopherol status influence foliar vascular anatomy and leaf function in Arabidopsis thaliana

This study addressed whether the winter annual Arabidopsis thaliana can adjust foliar phloem and xylem anatomy both differentially and in parallel. In plants acclimated to hot vs cool temperature, foliar minor vein xylem-to-phloem ratio was greater, whereas xylem and phloem responded concomitantly to growth light intensity. Across all growth conditions, xylem anatomy correlated with transpiration rate, while phloem anatomy correlated with photosynthetic capacity for two plant lines (wild-type Col-0 and tocopherol-deficient vte1 mutant) irrespective of tocopherol status. A high foliar vein density (VD) was associated with greater numbers and cross-sectional areas of both xylem and phloem cells per vein as well as higher rates of both photosynthesis and transpiration under high vs low light intensities. Under hot vs cool temperature, high foliar VD was associated with a higher xylem-to-phloem ratio and greater relative rates of transpiration to photosynthesis. Tocopherol status affected development of foliar vasculature as dependent on growth environment. The most notable impact of tocopherol deficiency was seen under hot growth temperature, where the vte1 mutant exhibited greater numbers of tracheary elements (TEs) per vein, a greater ratio of TEs to sieve elements, with smaller individual sizes of TEs, and resulting similar total areas of TEs per vein and transpiration rates compared with Col-0 wild-type. These findings illustrate the plasticity of foliar vascular anatomy acclimation to growth environment resulting from independent adjustments of the vasculature's components.
Influence of a wiper on transport phenomena in direct chill casting of aluminium alloy 7050

AbstractA fully transient model of the direct chill casting process is used to examine the influence of implementing a wiper to divert the free falling water from the ingot surface on transport phenomena and segregation profiles for aluminium alloy 7050. The ingot diameter and casting velocity are varied to determine the proper wiper placement as determined by the predicted composition, temperature, and fraction solid fields. The segregation level was evaluated by comparing steady state radial composition profiles. The wiper alters the dominant radial heat transfer mechanism, causing the surface of the ingot to heat up below the wiper. Placing the wiper too close to the mould causes the surface temperature to increase above the solidus, making the ingot susceptible to bleed outs. The optimal wiper location was found to be near the bottom of the sump for all process conditions examined.