cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of ligase defective E6-associated protein, E6-AP, results in mammary tumorigenesis

E6-associated protein (E6-AP) is a dual function protein. It acts as an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase enzyme and coactivator of steroid hormone receptors such as estrogen (ERα) and progesterone (PR) receptors. It promotes the degradation of ERα and PR through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Furthermore, it has been shown that the levels of E6-AP are inversely associated with that of ERα in human breast tumors. But the role of wild-type human E6-AP and its ubiquitin-protein ligase activity in mammary tumorigenesis is still unknown. To investigate this role, the authors utilized transgenic mice lines that specifically overexpress either the wild-type human E6-AP (E6-APWT) or the ubiquitin-protein ligase defective E6-AP that contains C833S mutation (E6-APC833S) in the mammary gland. To further substantiate the role of E6-AP in the development of breast tumorigenesis, it was also examined the expression of E6-AP in a large cohort of human breast cancer samples. The transgenic mice that overexpress wild-type E6-AP (E6-APWT) fail to develop mammary tumors. Unlike the E6-APWT mice, the E6-APC833S mice that overexpress ubiquitin-protein ligase defective E6-AP protein develop mammary hyperplasia with a median latency of 18 months. These observations suggest that the inactivation of the ubiquitin-protein ligase function of E6-AP is sufficient to initiate the process of mammary tumor development. Furthermore, the data also suggests that E6-AP exerts its effects on target cells by modulating the protein levels and functions of ERα and PR. In addition, it was found in human breast cancer patients that the level of E6-AP is decreased in invasive breast tumors compared to normal breast tissue. Moreover, the authors also show that the survival patterns for E6-AP negative patients were worse compared to E6-AP positive patients. Taken together, these data suggests that E6-AP may act as a tumor suppressor in breast.
Variations in postweaning environment and sensitivity to electric shock in male and female rats

Male and female rats were reared two to a cage, one to a cage, or in enriched environments from 21–45 days of age. Enriched rearing elevated shock thresholds and also reduced open-field activity on the last 3 days of a 4-day test in both males and females. Rearing in social isolation had no effect on either measure. Sex differences in open-field behavior and sensitivity to shock were observed in all three rearing conditions.
Loss of cardiac tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin in human and experimental heart failure.

The mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin is required for optimal mitochondrial respiration. In this study, cardiolipin molecular species and cytochrome oxidase (COx) activity were studied in interfibrillar (IF) and subsarcolemmal (SSL) cardiac mitochondria from Spontaneously Hypertensive Heart Failure (SHHF) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats throughout their natural life span. Fisher Brown Norway (FBN) and young aortic-constricted SHHF rats were also studied to investigate cardiolipin alterations in aging versus pathology. Additionally, cardiolipin was analyzed in human hearts explanted from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. A loss of tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin (L4CL), the predominant species in the healthy mammalian heart, occurred during the natural or accelerated development of heart failure in SHHF rats and humans. L4CL decreases correlated with reduced COx activity (no decrease in protein levels) in SHHF cardiac mitochondria, but with no change in citrate synthase (a matrix enzyme) activity. The fraction of cardiac cardiolipin containing L4CL became much lower with age in SHHF than in SD or FBN mitochondria. In summary, a progressive loss of cardiac L4CL, possibly attributable to decreased remodeling, occurs in response to chronic cardiac overload, but not aging alone, in both IF and SSL mitochondria. This may contribute to mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction during the pathogenesis of heart failure.
Optical anisotropy in GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs multiple quantum wells under thermally induced uniaxial strain.

The effect of thermally induced in-plane uniaxial strain on the optical properties of a GaAs/${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As multiple quantum well (MQW) has been studied in detail. The strain was produced by bonding the MQW thin films to ${\mathrm{LiTaO}}_{3}$, a transparent substrate which possesses a direction-dependent thermal expansion coefficient. At temperatures different from the bonding temperature we have observed an anisotropy in the optical properties of the MQW due to the strain-induced lowering of its in-plane fourfold rotation symmetry. The anisotropic absorption and birefringence for light incident normal to such a MQW structure have been determined and compared to a theory involving the mixing of the valence subbands.
the Donor Nature of the Main Electron Traps in Electron-Irradiated N-Type GaAs

Abstract Of all the electron (E) and hole (H) traps measured by DLTS in 1 MeV electron-irradiated GaAs, two of them, E1 and E2, have much higher production rates (∼ 2 cm-1) than any of the others. By carefully analyzing nine samples which exhibit the type-conversion phenomenon, we show that the net production rate of below-mid-gap acceptors over above-mid-gap donors in n-type samples is τ net ≏ τ A - τ D = 0.4 ± 0.1 cm -1 . This number is consistent with recent temperature-dependent Hall-effect data only if E1 is a donor. We then show that other evidence also strongly favors E2 as a donor, while E3 remains uncertain. The donor nature of E1 and E2 is much more consistent with their identification as As-vacancy related than are other proposed models.
POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE (PTFE) GRAFTS FOR HAEMODIALYSIS IN CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE: ASSESSMENT OF DURABILITY AND FUNCTION AT THREE YEARS

The utilization of 162 PTFE grafts for angio access in 131 patients over a three year period is reported. One hundred and three new PTFE arterio-venous fistulae were constructed in addition to 59 patch and tube incorporations into pre-existing graft fistulae. At three years, the cumulative patency of newly constructed grafts was 85%. Seventy four per cent of the grafts have had no thrombosis and are functioning up to 38 months following insertion. An aggressive approach was adopted towards the 15% of grafts that had at least one episode of thrombosis prior to flow being successfully restored. Graft occlusion which occurred up to 18 months following insertion, represented 11% of the group in this series. PTFE has provided an important advance in angio access for chronic renal failure with high patency and excellent durability after three years.
Prevention of Diabetes in NOD Mice by Administration of Dendritic Cells Deficient in Nuclear Transcription Factor-κB Activity

Abnormalities of dendritic cells (DCs) have been identified in type 1 diabetic patients and in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice that are associated with augmented nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB activity. An imbalance that favors development of the immunogenic DCs may predispose to the disease, and restoration of the balance by administration of DCs deficient in NF-κB activity may prevent diabetes. DCs propagated from NOD mouse bone marrow and treated with NF-κB–specific oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) in vitro (NF-κB ODN DC) were assessed for efficacy in prevention of diabetes development in vivo. Gel shift assay with DC nuclear extracts confirmed specific inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding by NF-κB ODN. The costimulatory molecule expression, interleukin (IL)-12 production, and immunostimulatory capacity in presenting allo- and islet-associated antigens by NF-κB ODN DC were significantly suppressed. NF-κB ODN renders DCs resistant to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Administration of 2 × 10 6 NF-κB ODN DCs into NOD mice aged 6–7 weeks effectively prevented the onset of diabetes. T-cells from pancreatic lymph nodes of NF-κB ODN DC–treated animals exhibited hyporesponsiveness to islet antigens with low production of interferon-γ and IL-2. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of autoimmune diabetes and may lead to development of novel preventive strategies.
Classifying dynamic behavior during three dimensional frictional rigid body impact

We model and analyze three dimensional rigid body impact with Coulomb friction and Poisson restitution. The differential equations that describe the progress and outcome of the impact induce a flow in the tangent velocity space which defines the qualitatively different sliding behavior that can occur. We show that the flow patterns depend only on the inertial parameters at the point of contact. We associate each of the possible flow patterns with a distinct region in a three dimensional parameter space. By examining the mass parameters and the initial conditions, we can determine the corresponding flow pattern and the possible outcomes of the impact. The equations of motion cannot be solved in a closed form, but by analyzing the flow at the point of sticking, we can avoid instabilities in the numerical integration of the equations. >
Institutional metrics for the United States Marine Corps

This paper describes an early-stage investigation into approaches and tools to collect, manage, and deliver institutional metrics to the senior command of the United States Marine Corps. The paper describes how contemporary approaches to institutional metrics and supporting tools from more traditional organizations were adapted to Marine Corps priorities. The study explores current institutional metrics strategies with a particular emphasis on the balanced scorecard approach, deemed most relevant because of its focus on strategic alignment and its applicability to noncommercial organizations. The literature on performance measurement for industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government/military institutions is reviewed along with Marine Corps strategy publications, campaign plans, and other doctrinal documents as the basis for a set of sample metrics to act as a 'strawperson' for further development. The different software metrics tools that may be used to manage the information required to support institutional metrics programs are reviewed as are approaches to managing a successful institutional metrics program.
Use of tissue plasminogen activator to resolve high purge system pressure in a catheter-based ventricular-assist device

2. Copeland JG, Copeland H, Gustafson M, Mineburg N, Covington D, Smith RG, et al. Experience with more than 100 total artificial heart implants. J Thoracic Cardiovasc Surgery 2012;143: 727-34. 3. Kirklin JK, Naftel DC, Kormos RL, Stevenson LW, Pagani FD, Miller MA, et al. Fifth INTERMACS annual report: risk factor analysis from more than 6,000 mechanical circulatory support patients. J Heart Lung Transplant 2013;32:141-56.
Metal photocathodes for optical triggering of back-lighted thyratrons

Light-activated pseudospark switches, also called back-lighted thyratrons (BLTs), are low pressure (typ. ≤0.5 Torr), high voltage (typ. 10–50 kV), high current (1-≫100 kA) glow-mode switches. Developing reliable and practical optical triggering systems for BLTs is of interest for applications of compact pulsed power4. In this work, we present investigations of photocathode candidates for triggering BLTs, as well as studies of the integration of such materials within the switch geometry. The quantum efficiencies (QEs) of magnesium, copper and molybdenum in a pressure range of 10−7 to 0.1 Torr as photocathode candidates for back-lighted thyratrons are measured. QE of 10−5 for Mg and Cu photocathodes at a He pressure of 0.1 Torr promises a potential improvement in switch performance (e.g., shorter switch trigger delay and jitter). Measurements with magnesium also showed that QE increases from 0.15×10−5 to 1.3×10−5 with increasing electric field strength on the sample surface from 50 to 550 V/cm at constant pressure, due to Schottky effect. As a result of higher field regions present (up to 100kV/cm), higher photoelectron yields can be expected when these photocathode materials are implemented in BLTs. Methods for integration of the photocathode materials within the switch and the switching parameters like trigger, delay and jitter under these conditions will also be discussed.
The subtropical global plume in the Pacific Exploratory Mission-Tropics A (PEM-Tropics A), PEM-Tropics B, and the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP): How tropical emissions affect the remote Pacific

[1] An extended southern subtropical plume of CO meanders >15,000 km around the world, gradually spreading around � 20 S. This southern pollution plume is most noticeable in the burning season, southern spring; a similar subtropical plume appears in the northern spring. We use tracer maps to guide the use of trajectories to trace observations of the plume to their origins. The MM5 mesoscale model provides highresolution, near-global synoptic reconstructions of the weather. Two situations are analyzed: NASA’s airborne Pacific Exploratory Mission-Tropics A (PEM-Tropics A) period, September–October 1996 and the PEM-Tropics B period, March–April 1999. Similar features are noted for a much earlier mission in 1977, which apparently captured the first, but never-recognized, samples of the global pollution of the Southern Hemisphere. For PEM-Tropics A, near-source pieces of the plume are clearly seen in the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) absorbing aerosol product and are well simulated. Downwind, the aircraft sampling of several strands deriving from a single plume seems representative and well simulated. A general mechanism of the plume emerges: The southern plume arises in surface accumulation regions in Africa and South America. Thunderstorm-scale venting of pollutants usually lofts the plume; however, synoptic-scale lifting can produce intense outbreaks. The plume flows eastward in the subtropical jet region as a single coherent but articulated current until it is increasingly filamented by storms in the Pacific. A similar northern subtropical plume is described for the PEM-Tropics B period. The 100-km model resolution we used seemed to capture much of the variability. However, the model somewhat under predicted the highest values. INDEX TERMS: 3319 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: General circulation; 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional (0305); 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 9355 Information Related to Geographic Region: Pacific Ocean; 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (0315, 0325); KEYWORDS: global pollution, subtropical jet, long-distance transport, biomass burning, pristine atmosphere, cloud venting
Regulatory Overlap and Functional Redundancy among Bacillus subtilis Extracytoplasmic Function σ Factors

Bacillus subtilis encodes seven extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors that regulate partially overlapping regulons related to cell envelope homeostasis and antibiotic resistance. Here, we investigated their physiological role by constructing a mutant set of single, double, triple, and quadruple ECF sigma factor deletions in the undomesticated B. subtilis strain NCIB3610. This mutant set was subsequently screened for defects in motility, multicellular differentiation, and sensitivity to more than 200 chemicals by using Phenotype MicroArrays. A quadruple mutant strain, harboring deletions of the sigV, sigY, sigZ, and ylaC gene, behaved indistinguishably from the wild-type strain, indicative of either regulatory redundancy or very specific functions of these four ECF sigma factors. In contrast, a triple mutant, inactivated for the sigM, sigW, and sigX genes (but none of the corresponding double mutants), showed a biphasic growth behavior and a complete loss of multicellular differentiation, as judged by both colony formation and the inability to form a pellicle. This triple mutant also displayed a greatly increased sensitivity to detergents and several cell wall antibiotics including beta-lactams, polymyxin B, and d-cycloserine. In several cases, these antibiotic-sensitive phenotypes are significantly enhanced in the triple mutant strain relative to strains lacking only one or two sigma factors.
Proteomic similarities in steroid responsiveness in normal and glaucomatous trabecular meshwork cells

Purpose: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are common anti-inflammatory agents that can cause ocular hypertension and secondary glaucoma as a consequence of impaired aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM). Mechanisms of GC-signaling are complex and poorly understood. To better understand GC-signaling in the eye, we tested the hypothesis that common mechanisms of steroid responsiveness exist in TM cells from normal and glaucomatous donors. Methods: Four primary cultures of human TM cells from normal and glaucomatous donors were treated with or without dexamethasone (Dex) for 10 days, then cellular proteins were extracted, identified and quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) technology. Results: A total of 718 proteins were quantified. Dex-treatment significantly altered the abundance of 40 proteins in ≥3 cell samples, 37 of which have not previously been associated with GC-signaling in TM cells. Most steroid responsive proteins were changed in all four TM cells analyzed, both normal and glaucomatous. GC-induced proteomic changes support remodeling of the extracellular matrix, disorganization of the cytoskeleton/cell-cell interactions, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Such physiologic consequences appear common to those induced in TM cells by transforming growth factor-β2, another putative contributor to ocular hypertension and glaucoma pathology. Conclusions: The results expand the repertoire of TM proteins involved in GC-signaling, demonstrate common consequences of GC-signaling in normal and glaucomatous TM cells, and reveal similarities in proteomic changes induced by steroids and TGFβ2 in normal and glaucomatous TM cells. Finally, the data contributes to a TM quantitative proteomic database.
Formal Methods for Surviving the Jungle of Heterogeneous Parallelism

The parallel programming community will soon be entering the `jungle' of heterogeneous hardware and software. Unfortunately, we are not adequately preparing future programmers (today's students) to cope with the many challenges of heterogeneous concurrency, especially in their ability to rigorously specify and verify concurrent systems. Concerted action is urgently needed to create a body of education material supplemented by effective software tools that help gain working knowledge of specification and verification techniques. We suggest funding models and incentives that can help create this material and put them into wide practice.
Avian-inspired passive perching mechanism for robotic rotorcraft

Flying robots capable of perch-and-stare are desirable for reconnaissance missions. Current solutions for perch-and-stare applications utilize various methods to create an aircraft that can land on a limited set of surfaces that are typically horizontal or vertical planes. This paper presents a bio-inspired concept that allows for passive perching on cylindrical-type surfaces. The prototype provides compliant gripping through the use of an underactuated foot. A mechanism inspired by songbird anatomy is integrated that utilizes rotorcraft weight as a way to passively actuate the foot. Successful perching trials on two rods of differing diameters were performed and are discussed. The purpose of this initial design is to act as a proof of concept for the mechanical action of the mechanism; our results demonstrate that passive perching can be achieved through the integration of underactuated gripping with mechanism-generated mechanical advantage.
Synthesis of trustable ICs using untrusted CAD tools

We have developed the first technique for synthesis of trustable ICs using untrusted CAD tools. The approach enables the use of CAD tools for difficult synthesis tasks and very simple trusted tools developed by the designer for checking results and modifying specifications. The main idea is to specify the pertinent design in such a way that there is no room for the untrusted tool to add any malicious circuitry.
New Journal Section on Musculoskeletal Pain

Pain Medicine , recognizing a fundamental change in the understanding and management of musculoskeletal pain, is establishing a new musculoskeletal pain section in the journal that will feature clinical and basic research articles. Musculoskeletal pain disorders constitute a group of conditions that cross classical medical disciplines, encompassing the specialties of rheumatology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesia, and urogynecology, as well as touching other medical disciplines. The knowledge base of certain clinical conditions, especially myofascial pain syndromes (MPS) and fibromyalgia (FM), was so limited in the recent past that diagnosis and treatment clearly lagged behind other fields of medicine and were not evidence-based. It would not come as a surprise if amulets were prescribed for these conditions. Indeed, some of the popular treatments, popular particularly among long-time sufferers of these conditions, were little more than that, based on subsequent studies of treatment effectiveness. Among discounted treatments are S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), guaifenisin, dehydroandrosterone (DHEA), and oral magnesium supplements for the treatment of FM, although they still maintain some currency among patients today. The intent of this section is to explore the broad fields of joint and periarticular pain conditions …
Research observation: Daily movement patterns of hill climbing and bottom dwelling cows

Abstract Individual animal selection has been proposed as a tool for increasing uniformity of grazing on rugged rangeland. Daily grazing patterns of cows previously identified as preferring steeper slopes and higher elevations (hill climbers) were compared to cows preferring gentler slopes and lower elevations (bottom dwellers). Cows were ranked for slope use and vertical distance traveled to water during late summer in 1997 using horseback observers. In 1998, 9 extreme cows based on 1997 rankings (4 hill climbers and 5 bottom dwellers) were tracked using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars for 3 weeks during late summer on foothill rangeland. Hill climbers (1027 hours) arrived at water about 1 hour later (P = 0.04) than bottom dwellers (0928 hours). Hill climbers and bottom dwellers left water at the same time (1801 hours, P = 0.3). During this interval, 90% and 98% of the observations were within 100 and 200 m of water, respectively. While cattle were away from water (1901 to 0846 hours), 56%, 77%, ...
Conceptualising WiMAX user acceptance

For network service providers and the end users, WiMAX represents a huge technological leap that provides seamless mobile access not possible with the other existing technologies. Both customers and service providers can find it potentially attractive. But like all new technologies, there are inhibitors that prevent adoption of the technology. In this paper we review factors affecting adoption of WiMAX using the technology acceptance model and formulate hypotheses for the adoption.
Specialized functional properties of the integrin alpha 4 cytoplasmic domain.

For functional studies of the integrin alpha 4 cytoplasmic domain, we have expressed the following in K562 and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells: 1) wild-type alpha 4 (called X4C4), 2) two chimeric forms of alpha 4 (called X4C2 and X4C5) that contain the cytoplasmic domains of alpha 2 and alpha 5, respectively, and 3) alpha 4 with no cytoplasmic domain (X4C0). Cytoplasmic domain exchange had no effect on VLA-4-dependent static cell adhesion or tethering to VCAM-1 in conditions of shear flow. However, the presence of the alpha 2 or alpha 5 tails markedly enhanced VLA-4-dependent K562 cells spreading (X4C2 > X4C5 > X4C4 > X4C0), increased localization of VLA-4 into focal adhesion-like complexes in CHO cells (X4C2 > X4C5 > X4C4), and strengthened CHO and K562 cell resistance to detachment from VCAM-1 in conditions of shear flow (X4C2 > X4C5 > X4C4 > X4C0). Conversely, the alpha 4 tail supported greater VLA-4-dependent haptotactic and chemotactic cell migration. In the absence of any alpha tail (i.e., X4C0), robust focal adhesions were observed, even though cell spreading and adhesion strengthening were minimal. Thus, such focal adhesions may have relatively little functional importance, and should not be compared with focal adhesions formed when alpha tails are present. Together, these results indicate that all three alpha-chain tails exert defined positive effects (compared with no tail at all), but suggest that the alpha 4 cytoplasmic domain may be specialized to engage in weaker cytoskeletal interactions, leading to diminished focal adhesion formation, cell spreading, and adhesion strengthening, while augmenting cell migration and facilitating rolling under shear flow. These properties of the alpha 4 tail are consistent with the role of alpha 4 integrins on highly motile lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils.
On the determination of characteristic values for a class of Sturm-Liouville problems

Abstract : In this paper is presented a new method for obtaining the characteristic values of the Sturm-Liouville problem u' + lambda a(t)u = o, u(o) = u(1) = o. The method yields upper and lower bounds and is particularly suitable for problems in which the first and second characteristic values are desired to a high degree of accuracy.
A Tool for a High-Carat Gold-Standard Word Alignment

In this paper, we describe a tool designed to produce a gold-standard word alignment between a text and its translation with a novel visualization. In addition, the tool is designed to aid the aligners in producing an alignment at a high level of quality and consistency. This tool is presently being used to align the Hebrew Bible with an English translation of it.
Legislating in the Light: Considering Empirical Data in Crafting Arbitration Reforms

Consumer advocates and policymakers call for abolition of predispute arbitration clauses in consumer contracts, while proponents of arbitration claim such abolition would increase companies’ dispute resolution costs, leading to higher prices and interest rates. Policymakers on both sides of the debate, however, rarely consider the empirical research necessary for crafting informed arbitration disclosure rules. This article therefore focuses on how varied research, including my own empirical studies, may inform policies regarding arbitration disclosure regulations. The article also offers suggestions for regulations tailored to have the most impact for the cost in light of this research.
From Global to Local: Providing Actionable Flood Forecast Information in a Cloud‐Based Computing Environment

Global and continental scale flood forecast provide coarse resolution flood forecast, but from the perspective of emergency management, flood warnings should be detailed and specific to local conditions. The desired refinement can be provided by the use of downscaling global scale models and through the use of distributed hydrologic models to produce a high-resolution flood forecast. Three major challenges associated with transforming global flood forecasting to a local scale are addressed in this work. The first is using open-source software tools to provide access to multiple data sources and lowering the barriers for users in management agencies at local level. This can be done through the Tethys Platform that enables web water resources modeling applications. The second is finding a practical solution for the computational requirements associated with running complex models and performing multiple simulations. This is done using Tethys Cluster that manages distributed and cloud computing resources as a companion to the Tethys Platform for web app development. The third challenge is discovering ways to downscale the forecasts from the global extent to the local context. Three modeling strategies have been tested to address this, including downscaling of coarse resolution global runoff models to high-resolution stream networks and routing with Routing Application for Parallel computatIon of Discharge (RAPID), the use of hierarchical Gridded Surface and Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA) distributed models, and pre-computed distributed GSSHA models.
Resistance of normal human thyroids to propylthiouracil.

SummaryPropylthiouracil was administered to 8 euthyroid women over a period of 7½ months in large dosage. No evidence of hypothyroidism was noted, i.e., no change of basal metabolic rate, no alteration of menstrual cycles, no clinical signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism, and no thyroid enlargement. No toxic manifestations were noted, even though during the final 6 weeks, each patient received 3000 mg of propylthiouracil daily in divided doses.
Modification of silicon carbide surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma for composite applications.

In this study, we explore the use of atmospheric pressure plasmas for enhancing the adhesion of SiC surfaces using a urethane adhesive, as an alternative to grit-blasting. Surface analysis showed t...
Synthesis of backbone-modified DNA analogues for biological applications

The phosphite triester method was adapted for automated synthesis of phosphate (“backbone”)-modified analogues of DNA. The use of phosphoramidite reagents to achieve substitution of the nonequivalent (diastereotopic) oxygens of an internucleotide phosphate linkage is nonselective, and leads to nonequivalent (diastereomeric) strands of DNA with R p and S p absolute configurations at the chiral, modified phosphorus position. Indications of the scope and limitations of the use of reversed-phase HPLC to separate these diastereomers have been obtained through studies of backbone-modified DNA analogues having phosphorothioate (P-S), phosphotriester (P-OR), and alkanephosphonate (P-R) linkages. Incorporation of these modifications in the self-complementary octanucleotide d(GGAATTCC) led to separable diastereomers, which form nonequivalent R p · R p and S p · S p duplexes. A combination of chemical and nuclear Overhauser effect NMR spectroscopic methods was developed to assign unambiguously, for the first time, the absolute configurations at phosphorus in these prototypal cases. The effects of backbone ethylation on DNA structure and dynamics were evaluated by NMR methods. Modified duplexes were used to probe for proposed phosphate contacts for EcoRI endonuclease, and to define, in concert with base-modified analogues, a recognition site for monoclonal anti-native DNA autoantibody.
An anti-realist account of the application of mathematics

Mathematical concepts play at least three roles in the application of mathematics: an inferential role, a representational role, and an expressive role. In this paper, I argue that, despite what has often been alleged, platonists do not fully accommodate these features of the application of mathematics. At best, platonism provides partial ways of handling the issues. I then sketch an alternative, anti-realist account of the application of mathematics, and argue that this account manages to accommodate these features of the application process. In this way, a better account of mathematical applications is, in principle, available.
Inheriting Curiosity: Leveraging MBSE to Build Mars2020

The success of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Martian mission Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) prompted NASA to challenge JPL to build a second rover, Mars2020. Mars2020 has chosen to infuse Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) in pursuit of aiding the design of the Flight System. This paper will derive the motivation for MBSE infusion and will explain the current state of the Mars2020 Flight System Model. Successes in MBSE adoption will be discussed, as will limitations to the methodology.
Abstract IA10: Financial distress in patients with cancer: Contributing factors and potential solutions

As the cost of cancer care in the United States continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, cancer patients are struggling to pay their share of the bill. Along with other measures of financial distress, cancer patients are 2.65 times more likely to file for bankruptcy than patients without cancer. Several recent reports suggest that individuals who face such financial challenges during treatment are more likely to report treatment non-adherence, poorer quality of life, and may suffer worse clinical outcomes. Despite an increasing awareness of “financial toxicity” among cancer patients, few oncology practices have processes in place to identify high out-of-pocket spending for cancer care and to provide assistance to patients struggling to pay for treatment or manage other life expenses. Given the rising cost of cancer care and its growing impact on cancer patients9 financial health, the oncology community must be proactive in developing tools to steer vulnerable patients towards appropriate resources to reduce or prevent financial crisis. Such an approach may help to reduce disparities in treatment, adherence, and outcomes faced by cancer patients with limited financial reserves. Addressing the patient-level financial burden of cancer care requires a multifaceted approach, including efforts at the policy level to negotiate pharmaceutical drug prices and improve structure of existing health insurance plans (e.g. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). At the health system and payer level, efforts to improve cost transparency may decrease waste and price variation while improving care quality. At the patient and provider level, we propose several solutions that may also help to mitigate the financial burden of cancer treatment: 1) develop tools to track patient out-of-pocket costs and level of financial distress in real time; 2) develop strategies to align patients with available financial assistance resources from the time of diagnosis; 3) improve transparency about available effective treatment options and associated out-of-pocket costs to improve shared decision-making. In the era of widespread mobile phone and smartphone use across all racial and income groups, leveraging mobile technology to accomplish some of these goals is particularly appealing. Citation Format: Veena Shankaran. Financial distress in patients with cancer: Contributing factors and potential solutions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA10.
Experimental determination of forces exerted in tennis play

In a recent clinical study of 84 of the world’s best tennis players, elbow injuries in significant numbers, marked increases in muscle and bone dimensions in the dominant upper extremity, and pronounced postural assymetry of the shoulders were found. These findings are striking when one considers that in the United States alone approximately 11.5 million people play tennis and that pain in the region of the lateral humeral epicondyle, or “tennis elbow,” poses an unsolved problem.
Optimal temperature management in aortic arch operations

Hypothermic circulatory arrest is a critical component of aortic arch procedures, without which these operations could not be safely performed. Despite the use of hypothermia as a protective adjunct for organ preservation, aortic arch surgery remains complex and is associated with numerous complications despite years of surgical advancement. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest affords the surgeon a safe period of time to perform the arch reconstruction, but this interruption of perfusion comes at a high clinical cost: stroke, paraplegia, and organ dysfunction are all potential-associated complications. Retrograde cerebral perfusion was subsequently developed as a technique to improve upon the rates of neurologic dysfunction, but was done with only modest success. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion, on the other hand, has consistently been shown to be an effective form of cerebral protection over deep hypothermia alone, even during extended periods of circulatory arrest. A primary disadvantage of using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is the prolonged bypass times required for cooling and rewarming which adds significantly to the morbidity associated with these procedures, especially coagulopathic bleeding and organ dysfunction. In an effort to mitigate this problem, the degree of hypothermia at the time of the initial circulatory arrest has more recently been reduced in multiple centers across the globe. This technique of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest in combination with adjunctive brain perfusion techniques has been shown to be safe when performing aortic arch operations. In this review, we will discuss the evolution of these protection strategies as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses.
Proteomic identification of a potential sex biomarker for 2 fruit fly species at pupal stage

Abstract Fruit flies are one of the most destructive pests worldwide. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been one of the most effective fruit fly control techniques. Genetic sexing strains have been developed to facilitate the separation of males and females based on color at the pupal stage for the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, and the medfly, Ceratitis capitate, known as dorsalis translocation white pupae (DTWP) and temperature sensitive lethal mutation strain (TSL). In both cases, the females are white and the males are brown. By releasing only sterile males, the control efficiency was increased, and fruit damage due to sterile females reduced. There remains, however, a gap in our understanding of this phenomenon because there is no information on the physiological basis of the sex differences. Here, we report the outcome of a study designed to identify pupal proteins related to the sex differences using these two strains. We collected whole pupae of both species each day for first 10 days for protein analysis. Protein expression was analyzed by 2D electrophoresis, gel densitometry and mass spectrometry. The general odorant binding protein, OBP56d, was differentially expressed in white pupae versus brown pupae for both species. We also confirmed this result with phenotypical characteristics to prove these proteins were not derived from puparia. These proteins had molecular weights between 10 and 15 kDa and a pI of 6.73 for DTWP and 5.71 for TSL.
Globalization and Economic Convergence

Convergence among national economies is viewed by a growing number of observers as an inevitable result of increasing global integration of product and financial markets. Yet there is reason to dou...
Complete genome sequence of Streptomyces griseochromogenes ATCC 14511 T , a producer of nucleoside compounds and diverse secondary metabolites

ATCC 14511T (=DSM 40499, =NBRC 13413) is a type strain of Streptomyces griseochromogenes. It is known as a producer of nucleoside antibiotic, blasticidin S. In this report we present the complete genome sequence of S. griseochromogenes ATCC 14511T, which consists of 10,764,674bp with a linear chromosome, 9822 protein-coding genes, 6 rRNA operons, 74 tRNA and 3 sRNA. The genomic analysis revealed that 52 putative gene clusters are involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including four gene clusters of nucleoside antibiotics. These gene clusters provide a beneficial source for production of bioactive natural compounds.
Fundamental Rights, General Principles of EU Law, and the Charter

The purpose of this chapter is to explore selected aspects of the relationship between the general principles of EU law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The chapter first looks at the expansion of fundamental rights in EU law and the importance of general principles by reference to three principles which have provided fruitful grounds for judicial activism: the right to judicial protection, the principle of non-discrimination, and the right to personal data. It then examines the sources of fundamental rights under Article 6 TEU and the relationship between Charter rights and general principles. Finally, it explores a pivotal issue in EU constitutional discourse, namely, the scope of application of the Charter and the general principles of law. The chapter concludes by observing that, far from declining in importance, the general principles of law continue to be an integral part of judicial methodology; that, following the introduction of the Charter, the CJEU applies a heightened level of judicial scrutiny; and that it favours a centralised approach opting for an autonomous interpretation of the Charter, granting it precedence over national constitutional norms, and understanding broadly its scope of application.
Concurrent Control of Mobility and Communication in Multirobot Systems

We develop a hybrid system architecture that enables a team of mobile robots to complete a task in a complex environment by self-organizing into a multihop ad hoc network and solving the concurrent communication and mobility problem. The proposed system consists of a two-layer feedback loop. An outer loop performs infrequent global coordination and a local inner loop determines motion and communication variables. This system provides the lightweight coordination and responsiveness of decentralized systems while avoiding local minima. This allows a team to complete a task in complex environments while maintaining desired end-to-end data rates. The behavior of the system is evaluated in experiments that demonstrate: 1) successful task completion in complex environments; 2) achievement of equal or greater end-to-end data rates as compared to a centralized system; and 3) robustness to unexpected events such as motion restriction.
Different phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate distinct phosphoproteomes during cAMP signaling.

Sixty years ago, Sutherland and Rall identified cAMP as the first second messenger involved in cell–cell communication (reviewed in ref. 1). For many years, Sutherland had been interested in understanding how hormones, such as catecholamines, released by one cell type could alter the characteristics of a target cell because hormones of this type were charged, and therefore could not enter the cell. Sutherland termed compounds, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, released by one cell type that were capable of altering the properties of target cells in cell–cell communication, as “first messengers.” He reasoned that these first messengers, upon binding to the external surface of the target cell, might stimulate the synthesis of a “second messenger” on the inner surface of the target cell’s membrane, which would travel into the target cell’s interior and redirect the machinery of that cell (Fig. 1). With the discovery of cAMP, Sutherland and Rall proved this theory and thus the field of signal transduction was born. Ten years later it was discovered that the actions of cAMP resulted from its binding to and activating effector proteins, termed cAMP-dependent protein kinases, or PKAs (reviewed in ref. 1). PKAs are serine/threonine kinases that phosphorylate a wide range of protein substrates, almost all of which contain the consensus amino acid sequence R-R/K-X-S/T-Y, where X represents any small amino acid and Y represents a large hydrophobic amino acid. Phosphorylation of a target enzyme by PKA can lead to either activation or inhibition of enzymatic activity, depending on the particular target enzyme. In addition to this posttranslational modification of enzymatic activities, cAMP can regulate the transcriptional expression of a wide range of proteins through the PKA phosphorylation and regulation of transcription factors (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. Role of PDEs in regulation of signal transduction. In the model of the second messenger … [↵][1]1Email: Epstein{at}uchc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Medical Student Experiences on Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Rotations: A Nationwide Survey.

Background Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry clerkship rotations may improve medical students’ understanding of psychiatric principles relevant to the settings in which they will ultimately practice. This study aimed to characterize students’ experiences on C-L rotations. Methods This cross-sectional survey study, sponsored by the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine Subcommittee on Medical Student Education, was conducted at 5 US medical schools between 2012 and 2016. After the C-L rotation, students completed a voluntary 17-item survey. Results A total of 235 surveys were collected (mean response rate = 92%). The most frequently endorsed benefit of C-L was learning to manage psychiatric disorders in the context of medical illness (89%). The most frequently endorsed drawback was inconsistent/excessively variable workload (40%). Overall, 82% of respondents recommended C-L to other students; 80% reported that the ideal clerkship would include exposure to both C-L and inpatient psychiatry. Overall, 38% reported that their C-L experience increased their interest in psychiatry as a career. Effect of C-L on interest in psychiatry did not differ by study site, age, sex, clerkship length, or time spent on C-L. Respondents who noted more positive role-modeling on C-L compared to other clerkship rotations were more likely to report increased interest in a psychiatry career (odds ratio = 2.70). Conclusions Most medical students perceive C-L rotations favorably. Positive role modeling may increase their consideration of psychiatry specialization. The findings that C-L rotation length did not correlate with attitudes and that most students preferred exposure to both inpatient and C-L psychiatry suggest that C-L exposure can beneficially be integrated into core clerkships containing other elements.
Tile-Based DNA Nano-assemblies

Tile-based DNA nanostructures have played an important role in the evolution of the field of structural DNA nanotechnology over the last three decades. These structures are formed using multiple short synthetic oligonucleotide strands that are specifically designed to self-assemble into desired configurations. Successful assembly of a variety of planar DNA tiles has been demonstrated including crossover tiles, multi-armed tiles, weave tiles, etc. These tiles have then been used to form one- and two-dimensional arrays or lattices. In addition, three-dimensional tile-based structures have been developed using helix bundle tubes, finite-sized closed polyhedral structures, and a three-dimensional crystalline lattice. This chapter chronicles the progress thus far in the design and synthesis of tile-based DNA nano-assemblies. Furthermore, it details the steps involved in the successful design, synthesis, and characterization of such structures. It also reviews the applications of these tiles in molecular computation and in programmed assembly of other nanoscale materials such as proteins, metallic nanoparticles, and aptamers.
Bindungs- und Strukturprobleme

Durch Addition von Carben an die Doppelbindung von Δ1.5-Bicyclo[3.2.0]hepten 1 konnte 1972 der interessante Kohlenwasserstoff 2 zum erstenmal hergestellt werden.