cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma. Recent findings and new concepts

Neuroendocrine cells of the prostate are intraepithelial regulatory cells that probably modulate both growth and differentiation as well as the exocrine secretory process. These cells form a component of the more generalized multiorgan regulatory system known as the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD), or dispersed neuroendocrine system. The prostatic neuroendocrine cells contain serotonin and a variety of regulatory neuroendocrine peptides. Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma is manifested as the relatively rare small cell carcinoma and the much more common, if not ubiquitous, focal neuroendocrine differentiation in conventional prostatic carcinoma. Neuroendocrine differentiation may have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. Recent findings include the expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein, the chromogranin peptide family, epidermal growth factor receptor, and c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity by prostatic neuroendocrine cells. Immunoreactive androgen receptor is not expressed by benign or malignant prostatic neuroendocrine cells. Non-neuroendocrine proliferation foci and bcl-2 immunoreactive cells appear to cluster around neuroendocrine cells in prostatic carcinoma. These findings, along with additional clinical and experimental evidence, suggest that neuroendocrine cells may play a role as an independent prognostic factor in prostate cancer, particularly those that are resistant to hormonal therapy. The therapeutic implications of prostatic neuroendocrine differentiation are discussed as are potential lines of investigation. Cancer 1995 ;75 :1850-9.
Flow-based control of temperature in long ducts

Abstract Flow-based control of a thermal system with a long duct and heat loss to the environment is analyzed. A Proportional-Integral controller is used to regulate the duct outlet temperature by using the flow velocity as control input. The one-dimensional energy equation in Eulerian and Lagrangian forms are numerically solved. The non-linear dynamics can be represented by an integral equation in terms of the residence time which acts as a delay. A linear stability analysis leads to a characteristic transcendental equation which is examined for different orders of the residence time. Pontryagin’s theorem on the zeros of exponential polynomials is used to obtain stability maps as a function of system parameters. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the predictions, determine super- and sub-critical instabilities, and evaluate the amplitude and frequency of limit-cycle oscillations.
Man with Abdominal Distension

Author(s): Canders, Caleb Patrick; Abdullahi, Gezman E; Diaz, Jorge A; Hui, Joshua | Abstract: [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(4):354–355.]
Molecular Evolution of GYPC: Evidence for Recent Structural Innovation and Positive Selection in Humans

GYPC encodes two erythrocyte surface sialoglycoproteins in humans, glycophorin C and glycophorin D (GPC and GPD), via initiation of translation at two start codons on a single transcript. The malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum uses GPC as a means of invasion into the human red blood cell. Here, we examine the molecular evolution of GYPC among the Hominoidea (Greater and Lesser Apes) and also the pattern of polymorphism at the locus in a global human sample. We find an excess of nonsynonymous divergence among species that appears to be caused solely by accelerated evolution of GYPC in the human lineage. Moreover, we find that the ability of GYPC to encode both GPC and GPD is a uniquely human trait, caused by the evolution of the GPC start codon in the human lineage. The pattern of polymorphism among humans is consistent with a hitchhiking event at the locus, suggesting that positive natural selection affected GYPC in the relatively recent past. Because GPC is exploited by P. falciparum for invasion of the red blood cell, we hypothesize that selection for evasion of P. falciparum has caused accelerated evolution of GYPC in humans (relative to other primates) and that this positive selection has continued to act in the recent evolution of our species. These data suggest that malaria has played a powerful role in shaping molecules on the surface of the human red blood cell. In addition, our examination of GYPC reveals a novel mechanism of protein evolution: co-option of untranslated region (UTR) sequence following the formation of a new start codon. In the case of human GYPC, the ancestral protein (GPD) continues to be produced through leaky translation. Because leaky translation is a widespread phenomenon among genes and organisms, we suggest that co-option of UTR sequence may be an important source of protein innovation.
Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons in Learned Appetitive Behavior and Positive Reinforcement

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) neuron firing precedes behaviors elicited by reward-predictive sensory cues and scales with the magnitude and unpredictability of received rewards. These patterns are consistent with roles in the performance of learned appetitive behaviors and in positive reinforcement, respectively. The VTA includes subpopulations of neurons with different afferent connections, neurotransmitter content, and projection targets. Because the VTA and substantia nigra pars compacta are the sole sources of striatal and limbic forebrain dopamine, measurements of dopamine release and manipulations of dopamine function have provided critical evidence supporting a VTA contribution to these functions. However, the VTA also sends GABAergic and glutamatergic projections to the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, VTA-mediated but dopamine-independent positive reinforcement has been demonstrated. Consequently, identifying the neurotransmitter content and projection target of VTA neurons recorded in vivo will be critical for determining their contribution to learned appetitive behaviors.
Spatially Resolved Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystal- Polypropylene Composite by Confocal Raman Microscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) -polypropylene (PP) composites and to investigate the spatial distribution of CNCs in extruded composite filaments. Three composites were made from two forms of nanocellulose (CNCs from wood pulp and the nano-scale fraction of microcrystalline cellulose) and two of the three composites investigated used maleated PP as a coupling agent. Raman maps, based on cellulose and PP bands at 1098 and 1460 cm−1, respectively, obtained at 1 μm spatial resolution showed that the CNCs were aggregated to various degrees in the PP matrix. Of the three composites analyzed, two showed clear existence of phase-separated regions: Raman images with strong PP and absent/weak cellulose or vice versa. For the third composite, the situation was slightly improved but a clear transition interface between the PP-abundant and CNC-abundant regions was observed, indicating that the CNC remained poorly dispersed. The spectroscopic approach to investigating spatial distribution of the composite components was helpful in evaluating CNC dispersion in the composite at the microscopic level, which helped explain the relatively modest reinforcement of PP by the CNCs.
Unveiling steady-state multiplicity in hybridoma cultures: the cybernetic approach.

Mammalian cells grown in suspension produce waste metabolites such as lactate, alanine, and ammonia, which reduce the yield of cell mass and the desired product on the nutrients supplied. Previous studies (Cruz et al., 1999; Europa et al., 2000; Follstad et al., 1999) have shown that the cells can be made to alter their metabolism by starving them on their nutrients in continuous cultures at low dilution rates or starting the culture as a fed-batch. This leads to multiple steady states in continuous reactors, with some states being more favorable than others. Mathematical models that take into account the metabolic regulation that leads to these multiple steady states are invaluable tools for bioreactor control. In this article we present a cybernetic modeling strategy in which Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA) is used to guide the cybernetic formulation. The hybridoma model presented as a result of this strategy considers the partially substitutable, partially complementary nature of glucose and glutamine. The choice of competitions within the network is guided by MFA and the model is successful in explaining the three multiple steady states observed. The cybernetic model though identified for the hybridoma experiments of Hu and others (Europa et al., 2000) seem generally applicable to mammalian systems as it captures the pathways that are common to mammalian cells grown in suspension. The model presented here could be used for start-up strategies for continuous reactors and model-based feedback control for maintaining high productivity of the reactor.
S-Adenosylmethionine as a Biomarker for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer

Background S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is a major methyl donor for transmethylation reactions and propylamine donor for the biosynthesis of polyamines in biological systems, and therefore may play a role in lung cancer development. We hypothesized that AdoMet levels were elevated in patients with lung cancer and may prove useful as a biomarker for early lung cancer. Methods High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze plasma AdoMet levels in triplicate samples from 68 patients. This included 13 patients with lung cancer, 33 smokers with benign lung disease, and 22 healthy nonsmokers. The three groups of subjects were compared with respect to the distribution of demographic and disease characteristics and AdoMet levels. Distributions were examined using summary statistics and box plots, and nonparametric analysis of variance procedures. Results Serum AdoMet levels were elevated in patients with lung cancer as compared to smokers with benign lung disorders and healthy nonsmokers. There were no significant correlations between AdoMet levels and tumor cell types, nodule size, or other demographic variables. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that plasma levels of AdoMet are significantly elevated in patients with lung cancer. Plasma AdoMet levels may prove to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of early lung cancer, in combination with chest CT.
An evaluation of overhead laser scanning to estimate herbage removals in pasture quadrats.

Abstract The goal of this study was to test the utility of terrestrial laser scanning (lidar) as a means to estimate the dry weight and spatial distributions of herbage removals from small pasture plots. High resolution measurements of sward surface heights (SSH) were generated from lidar data acquired at close range over alfalfa ( Medicado sativa subsp. sativa L.) and tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb. or Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire) pasture quadrats, before and after the collection of hand-plucked samples designed to mimic grazing by livestock. Removed herbage dry weights ranged from 3 to 65 g for n = 32 samples collected on 1 m 2 quadrats, half in each pasture type. Volume change was calculated based on differences in SSH before and after plucking. Strong relationships were observed between volume change and dry weights of removals for both species (alfalfa r 2 = 0.970, tall fescue r 2 = 0.957). Contour maps gave detailed information on SSH before and after plucking, and the spatial distributions of herbage removed from field plots. Subject to further testing, lidar-based estimates could prove both reliable and non-invasive to livestock in grazing or herbage studies.
A Hybrid Method for the Verification and Synthesis of Parameterized Self-Stabilizing Protocols

This paper presents a hybrid method for verification and synthesis of parameterized self-stabilizing protocols where algorithmic design and mechanical verification techniques/tools are used hand-in-hand. The core idea behind the proposed method includes the automated synthesis of self-stabilizing protocols in a limited scope (i.e., fixed number of processes) and the use of theorem proving methods for the generalization of the solutions produced by the synthesizer. Specifically, we use the Prototype Verification System (PVS) to mechanically verify an algorithm for the synthesis of weakly self-stabilizing protocols. Then, we reuse the proof of correctness of the synthesis algorithm to establish the correctness of the generalized versions of synthesized protocols for an arbitrary number of processes. We demonstrate the proposed approach in the context of an agreement and a coloring protocol on the ring topology.
All-window data liveness

This paper proposes a new metric called all-window liveness, which is the average amount of live data in all time windows of a given length. The paper gives a linear-time algorithm to compute the average liveness for all window lengths and discusses potential uses of the new metric.
Comparison of high-dose (86.4 Gy) IMRT vs combined brachytherapy plus IMRT for intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Objective To compare tumour control and toxicity outcomes with the use of high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) alone or brachytherapy combined with IMRT (combo-RT) for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Patients and Methods Between 1997 and 2010, 870 consecutive patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated at our institution with either 86.4 Gy of IMRT alone (n = 470) or combo-RT consisting of brachytherapy combined with 50.4 Gy of IMRT (n = 400). Brachytherapy consisted of low-dose-rate permanent interstitial implantation in 260 patients and high-dose-rate temporary implantation in 140 patients. The median (range) follow-up for the entire cohort was 5.3 (1–14) years. Results For IMRT alone vs combo-RT, 7-year actuarial prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-relapse-free survival (PSA-RFS) rates were 81.4 vs 92.0% (P < 0.001), and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) rates were 93.0 vs 97.2% (P = 0.04), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that combo-RT was associated with better PSA-RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40 [95% confidence interval, 0.24–0.66], P < 0.001), and better DMFS (HR, 0.41 [0.18–0.92], P = 0.03). A higher incidence of acute genitourinary (GU) grade 2 (35.8 vs 18.9%; P < 0.01) and acute GU grade 3 (2.3 vs 0.4%; P = 0.03) toxicities occurred in the combo-RT group than in the IMRT-alone group. Most acute toxicity resolved. Late toxicity outcomes were similar between the treatment groups. The 7-year actuarial late toxicity rates for grade 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity were 4.6 vs 4.1% (P = 0.89), for grade 3 GI toxicity 0.4 vs 1.4% (P = 0.36), for grade 2 GU toxicity 19.4 vs 21.2% (P = 0.14), and grade 3 GU toxicity 3.1 vs 1.4% (P = 0.74) for the IMRT vs the combo-RT group, respectively. Conclusions Enhanced dose escalation using combo-RT was associated with superior PSA-RFS and DMFS outcomes for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer compared with high-dose IMRT alone at a dose of 86.4 Gy. While acute GU toxicities were more prevalent in the combo-RT group, the incidence of late GI and GU toxicities was similar between the treatment groups.
Organic matter–hosted pore system, Marcellus Formation (Devonian), Pennsylvania

The Marcellus Formation of Pennsylvania represents an outstanding example of an organic matter (OM)–hosted pore system; most pores detectable by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) are associated with OM instead of mineral matrix. In the two wells studied here, total organic carbon (TOC) content is a stronger control on OM-hosted porosity than is thermal maturity. The two study wells span a maturity from late wet gas (vitrinite reflectance [Ro], 1.0%) to dry gas (Ro, 2.1%). Samples with a TOC less than 5.5 wt. % display a positive correlation between TOC and porosity, but samples with a TOC greater than 5.5 wt. % display little or no increase in porosity with a further increasing TOC. In a subset of samples (14) across a range of TOC (2.3–13.6 wt. %), the pore volume detectable by FE-SEM is a small fraction of total porosity, ranging from 2 to 32% of the helium porosity. Importantly, the FE-SEM–visible porosity in OM decreases significantly with increasing TOC, diminishing from 30% of OM volume to less than 1% of OM volume across the range of TOC. The morphology and size of OM-hosted pores also vary systematically with TOC. The interpretation of this anticorrelation between OM content and SEM-visible pores remains uncertain. Samples with the lowest OM porosity (higher TOC) may represent gas expulsion (pore collapse) that was more complete as a consequence of greater OM connectivity and framework compaction, whereas samples with higher OM porosity (lower TOC) correspond to rigid mineral frameworks that inhibited compactional expulsion of methane-filled bubbles. Alternatively, higher TOC samples may contain OM (low initial hydrogen index, relatively unreactive) that is less prone to development of FE-SEM–detectable pores. In this interpretation, OM type, controlled by sequence-stratigraphic position, is a factor in determining pore-size distribution.
Synthesis of a Pillared Graphene Nanostructure: A Counterpart of Three-Dimensional Carbon Architectures

Graphene is a single sheet of carbon atoms with outstanding electrical and physical properties and is being exploited for applications in electronics, sensors, photovoltaics, and energy storage. A novel 3D architecture called a pillared graphene nanostructure (PGN) is a combination of two allotropes of carbon, including graphene and carbon nanotubes. A one-step chemical vapor deposition process for large-area PGN fabrication via a combination of surface catalysis and in situ vapor–liquid–solid mechanisms is described. A process by which PGN layers can be transferred onto arbitrary substrates while keeping the 3D architecture intact is also described. Single and multilayer stacked PGNs are envisioned for future ultralarge and tunable surface-area applications in hydrogen storage and supercapacitors.
Dielectric studies in the development of high energy density pulsed power capacitors

In an effort to increase the energy density of high voltage capacitors to greater than 5 J/cm3 for compact pulsed power sources, high dielectric constant materials with high dielectric strength are under continued development at the University of Missouri. The materials are modified versions of composites recently developed for compact dielectric-loaded antennas. While the composites for antennas were developed specifically for use at 100s of MHz to several GHz, the requirements of capacitor applications present unique challenges. In particular, the leakage current must be minimized to efficiently store the energy for long periods of time, and the dielectric losses must be considered at relatively low frequencies up to several 10s of MHz. This paper details the dielectric properties of the materials under development for high energy density pulsed power capacitors. The dielectric constant and loss are reported under low electric field conditions at frequencies relevant for capacitor applications. The leakage current under high electric field conditions is presented, and the dielectric constant under high electric field conditions is calculated from analysis of the fast discharge of sample capacitors charged to high voltage. Finally, projections are provided on how the materials may be scaled from small capacitors for dielectric evaluation to full-size prototypes.
The Second National Risk and Culture Study: Making Sense of—and Making Progress In— the American Culture War of Fact

Cultural Cognition refers to the disposition to conform one's beliefs about societal risks to one's preferences for how society should be organized. Based on surveys and experiments involving some 5,000 Americans, the Second National Risk and Culture Study presents empirical evidence of the effect of this dynamic in generating conflict about global warming, school shootings, domestic terrorism, nanotechnology, and the mandatory vaccination of school-age girls against HPV, among other issues. The Study also presents evidence of risk-communication strategies that counteract cultural cognition. Because nuclear power affirms rather than threatens the identity of persons who hold individualist values, for example, proposing it as a solution to global warming makes persons who hold such values more willing to consider evidence that climate change is a serious risk. Because people tend to impute credibility to people who share their values, persons who hold hierarchical and egalitarian values are less likely to polarize when they observe people who hold their values advocating unexpected positions on the vaccination of young girls against HPV. Such techniques can help society to create a deliberative climate in which citizens converge on policies that are both instrumentally sound and expressively congenial to persons of diverse values.
Thermal Conductivity of Particle Suspensions

This paper concerns the thermal conductivity measurements of stationary and flowing suspensions of 50 μ and 100 μ polystyrene spheres in aqueous glycerine and aqueous sodium chloride. The thermal conductivity of neutrally and nonneutrally buoyant stationary suspensions was determined by the transient technique (accuracy 3–4%). The thermal conductivity of neutrally buoyant suspensions satisfies the Maxwell formula. However, the thermal conductivity of nonneutrally buoyant suspensions (density difference of about 1.5%) is measured to be higher (at high particle concentrations) than predicted by the Maxwell formula. This is attributed a priori to the wake created by the gravity settling of particle assemblages.
2009 Federal Tax Update

This paper examines significant developments in the federal income, gift, and estate taxation of individuals and small businesses from August, 2008, through August, 2009. It covers important cases, rulings, regulations, and legislation during this period. This paper generally does not address developments in the areas of qualified plans or the taxation of C corporations (except to limited extents).
Placement and routing in a disciplined design environment

A placement and routing tool for a class of finite-state machines (FSM) is presented. The finite-state machine is designed using a standard set of structures which discipline the state sequencing. The sequencing discipline is exploited in the placement and routing process to produce more efficient results. The FSM is synthesized using one-hot encoding. The authors show that the use of the disciplined sequencing architecture along with one-hot encoding results in regular structures which can be easily placed and routed in silicon. The regularity of the structures allows for significantly accelerating placement time. The flip-flops are organised into a parallel-in-parallel-out shift register arrangement which has a regular architecture. Benchmark results using general placement and routing tools are also shown. The benchmark data include CPU time and occupied silicon area. >
Kankakee State Hospital Summer Camping Program

(1972). Kankakee State Hospital Summer Camping Program. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 77-78.
Preparation of Bipbsrcacuo Superconductors by Laser Pedestal Growth Method

Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-0 superconductors were prepared by the laser pedestal growth method. The high Tc phase was created only by post annealing. As the growing speed increased, the annealing time necessary to obtain a Tc above 100K decreased. When the low Tc phase was aligned with the growing direction, Tc was under 100K, but a Jc of 15B0A/cm2(77.3K, OT) was obtained. In this case, magnetic field dependence below 300 gauss was superior to that of Pb-free materials.
Abundance of Immature Stages of the House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) from Five Areas in Beef Cattle Feedlot Pens

Randomly selected core samples were taken over a 3-yr period from five sample areas (the feed apron-soil interface, mound, side fences, back fences, and general lot) in pens of several beef feedlots. Our goal was to determine the abundance, from the five sample areas, of immature house flies, Musca domestica L., throughout each year. The feed apron-soil interface consistently (≥33%of the cores yielded house flies) yielded the highest numbers of immature house flies (>70% of total) in all 3 yr. House fly numbers tended to peak in mid- to late-season samples. Scheduled, concerted waste management along the feed apron should have a positive impact on house fly population reduction. Data derived from sampling along the feed apron could have predictive value in developing pest management schemes.
Illegal Beings: The Costs of Anticloning Laws Outweigh Their Benefits

Antimiscegenation laws were bad public policy. Their costs outweighed their putative benefits. The laws injured the men and women who were denied the fundamental right of marriage. The laws also injured the children of mixed-race couples by subjecting them to existential segregation and stigmatizing them as inferior. In addition, the laws denied mixed-race children legitimacy and the legal and social benefits of that status. The legislatures that enacted antimiscegenation laws, and the courts that upheld them, disregarded these costs in favor of flimsy and speculative “evidence” regarding the supposed degeneracy and inferiority of mixed-race unions and children. This evidence included scientific studies purporting to establish that blacks are physically and mentally inferior to whites and that racial mixing leads to children who are inferior. Today, most people recognize and acknowledge that antimiscegenation laws were bad public policy. Unfortunately, they have not recognized or acknowledged that laws against human reproductive cloning are bad public policy. Policymakers and lawmakers have emphasized the putative benefits of these laws and minimized or ignored their costs. In this chapter, I seek to reverse this trend and provide a fresh public policy analysis of laws against human reproductive cloning. The chapter first identifies the costs that such laws impose – not only upon existing adults but also upon the innocent children who will be born through cloning technology . Unfortunately, policymakers and lawmakers have virtually ignored the costs that anticloning laws will impose on human clones.
Reading the Citizenship Papyrus (P.Giss. I 40)

This paper traces two competing understandings of the nature of citizenship in the Roman world, as they appear in P.Giss. 40, the papyrus which preserves the text of the Constitutio Antoniniana as well as two other edicts. I argue that state/official understandings of the nature of universal citizenship were difficult to impose, because they met with powerful processes of translation or transformation at the local level.
Socrates and Philosophy in the Dialogues of Plato: Opposed hypotheses about Plato's dialogues

A DATUM: THE TWO DIFFERENT MODES OF SPEAKING OF PLATO'S SOCRATES The Socrates of Plato's Apology , on trial for his life, announces an intention to his jurors: While I breathe and am able, I will not stop philosophizing ( philosophon )…saying the sorts of things I usually do. (29d) His example of what he usually says is this: Best of men – being an Athenian, from the city the greatest and most reputed for wisdom and strength – are you not ashamed that you are concerned about having as much money as possible, and reputation and honor, while you are not concerned for ( epimele(i) ) nor do you think about thoughtfulness and truth and how your soul will be the best it can be? (29d–e) He also says: My total concern is to be practicing nothing unjust or impious. (32d) We can then infer that concern for “how your soul will be…best” is for Socrates concern about how to live justly and piously. So Socrates' usual address involves issuing a challenge about the rightness of your way of living. Socrates further reports that his challenge can lead to examination and that the examination can lead to reproach under certain conditions: And if one of you disputes this and says he is concerned, I won't directly let him off or go away, but I will question him and examine ( exetaso ) and test ( elegxo ) and if he does not seem to me to possess virtue, but says he does, I will reproach him that things that are worth the most he makes least of, but the more trivial things he makes more of. […]
Percutaneous nephrostomy or double J stenting, which is better modality for obstructive uropathy-a descriptive study

Background: Percutaneous Nephrostomy or Ureteric Stenting is indicated in patients with Acute Renal Failure following urinary tract obstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the better treatment modality in terms of S. Creatinine level. Methods: Total 50 patients with Creatinine level of >2 mg/dl and hydronephrosis due to upper urinary tract obstruction were grouped into either percutaneous nephrostomy or stent insertion groups. These patients were then evaluated by overall trend of S. creatinine and urine output levels postoperatively. Results: Two comparable groups of PCN and DJS were formed with a mean age of 45.5 years and 47.9 years. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1 and 1.2:1 respectively. Pain with oliguria or anuria was the major presentation. The urine output levels showed a sudden increase postoperatively with a subsequent trend towards normal value in both the groups. Creatinine however showed a normalizing trend from a mean 6.46 mg/dl preoperatively to 1.01mg/dl postoperatively in PCN group whereas in DJS group 5.38mg/dl preoperatively to 2.75mg/dl with a rising trend from POD 15 requiring conversion to PCN in 20% of patients with subsequent normalization of creatinine levels to 0.95 mg/dl. Statistically we found no difference in the outcome when both the groups were compared in view of serum creatinine and urine output levels whereas there is a significant difference in the pre and post operative outcome of both the groups. Conclusions: Our results thus support that though there is no significant difference among both the procedures, ureteral stents are associated with intolerable lower urinary tract symptoms owing to conversion to secondary percutaneous Nephrostomy. Hence percutaneous nephrostomy is superior to ureteral stents for diversion of urine in patients with ARF due to obstructive uropathy.
Cross-Battery Assessment Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses Approach to the Identification of Specific Learning Disorders: Evidence-Based Practice or Pseudoscience?.

In Conjectures and Refutations, the philosopher of science Karl Popper (1962) stated that “the criterion of the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability”...
CAP on mobility control for 4G LTE networks

The CAP theorem [1] exposes the fundamental tradeoffs among three key properties of strong consistency, availability and partition tolerance in distributed networked systems. In this position paper, we take the CAP perspective on 4G mobility control. We view the control-plane management for mobility support as a distributed signaling system. We show that the impossibility result of the CAP theorem also holds for mobility control: It is impossible for any mobility control to guarantee sequential consistency, high service availability, and partition tolerance simultaneously. Unfortunately, the current 4G system adopts its mobility scheme with the notion of sequential consistency. Our empirical study further confirms that, the incurred data unavailability (i.e., data service suspension) time is comparable to that induced by wireless connectivity setup. We argue that the desirable mobility control for the upcoming 5G networks should take a paradigm shift. We discuss our early effort on re-examining the consistency notion for higher availability and fault tolerance.
CRT-800.21 Triple Antithrombotic Therapy in High Bleeding Risk Population Has Higher Bleeding But Similar Stroke Rate Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are routinely prescribed oral anticoagulation (OAC), but it increases bleeding risk, especially in those with a high bleed risk (HBR). The impact of HBR criteria on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) bleeding in the setting of OAC is unknown. We
Asynchronous Multi-User Uplink Transmissions for 5G with UFMC Waveform

Universal filtered multi-carrier (UFMC) has been widely researched for 5G communication systems. In this paper, we propose a new UFMC receiver model and signaling structure to support asynchronous transmissions. Since the UFMC transmitter contains sub-band filters, we adopt equivalent filters at the receiver to separate target user signal over asynchronous multi-user transmissions. Moreover, we introduce a coarse timing synchronization algorithm in the presence of multiple timing offsets (TOs) over the complex additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). Finally, simulation results show that the performance of the proposed system with asynchronous users is better than conventional 4G uplink system with synchronous users.
Abstract 006: Distinct and Overlapping Roles of Cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F in Angiotensin II-induced Hypertension and End-organ Injury

Recently, interleukin-17A (IL-17A) has been found to contribute to the renal and vascular dysfunction associated with hypertension, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. We and others found that IL-17F is upregulated in IL-17A deficient mice, suggesting a compensatory response. The goal of the present study was to determine the role of IL-17F in hypertension and the effect of IL-17A or IL-17F neutralization on blood pressure and renal/vascular inflammation. Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6J mice received angiotensin II (Ang II) (490 ng/kg/min, s.c. via 4 wk-osmotic minipump). After 2 weeks, the systolic blood pressure as measured by tail-cuff was 179.4 ± 3.7 mmHg, n=33. Mice were then randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) Mouse anti-IL-17A; (2) Rat anti-IL-17F; (3) Mouse IgG1 control; (4) Rat IgG1 control. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μg of antibodies twice weekly during the remaining 2 weeks of Ang II infusion. The administration of anti-IL-17A, but not anti-IL-17F, improved Ang II-induced hypertension (166.5 ± 7.4 mmHg, n=10 vs 181.8 ± 8.6 mmHg, n=7 respectively). Interestingly, both anti-IL-17A and anti-IL-17F blunted the increase in aortic and renal total leukocyte infiltration as quantified by flow cytometry in both organs (Fig. 1a). In addition, both treatments attenuated the increase in glomerular injury as monitored by albuminuria measurement (ELISA) during the Ang II infusion period (Fig. 1b). In conclusion, IL-17F neutralization does not lower blood pressure in response to Ang II, but both IL-17A and IL-17F are pro-inflammatory and orchestrate a major role in the end-organ damage associated with Ang II-induced hypertension. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Impaired AMPA receptor trafficking by a double knockout of zebrafish olfactomedin1a/b

The olfm1a and olfm1b genes in zebrafish encode conserved secreted glycoproteins. These genes are preferentially expressed in the brain and retina starting from 16 h post-fertilization until adulthood. Functions of the Olfm1 gene is still unclear. Here, we produced and analyzed a null zebrafish mutant of both olfm1a and olfm1b genes (olfm1 null). olfm1 null fish were born at a normal Mendelian ratio and showed normal body shape and fertility as well as no visible defects from larval stages to adult. Olfm1 proteins were preferentially localized in the synaptosomes of the adult brain. Olfm1 co-immunoprecipitated with GluR2 and SNARE complexes indicating participation of Olfm1 in both pre- and post-synaptic events. Phosphorylation of GluR2 was not changed while palmitoylation of GluR2 was decreased in the brain synaptosomal membrane fraction of olfm1 null compared with wt fish. The levels of GluR2, SNAP25, flotillin1 and VAMP2 were markedly reduced in the synaptic microdomain of olfm1 null brain compared with wt. The internalization of GluR2 in retinal cells and the localization of VAMP2 in brain synaptosome were modified by olfm1 null mutation. This indicates that Olfm1 may regulate receptor trafficking from the intracellular compartments to the synaptic membrane microdomain, partly through the alteration of post-translational GluR2 modifications such as palmitoylation. Olfm1 may be considered a novel regulator of the composition and function of the AMPAR complex. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Redox-Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitors: Status, Opportunity, and Best Practices for Performance Evaluation

Redox-enhanced electrochemical capacitors (redox ECs) are a class of augmented electric double-layer capacitors utilizing reversible redox reactions of soluble redox couples in the electrolyte. These systems offer increased energy density, efficient power delivery, and simple construction. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of the emerging field of redox ECs, including the current status, advantages, and outstanding problems confronting their development. Our discussion is primarily focused on operating mechanisms and how they affect performance. We also provide a perspective on the advantage of dual-redox ECs and how to improve them based on fundamental design principles including self-discharge suppression strategies. Finally, we comment on best practices for device characterization, suggest performance-reporting protocols for redox ECs, and examine future directions for the field.
Association between extremity kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and lymphedema

Kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas are pediatric vascular tumors that do not metastasize. We present a patient with a thigh kaposiform hemangioendothelioma successfully treated using a systemic corticosteroid during infancy who was diagnosed with lymphedema in the extremity 9 years later. The observation that extremity kaposiform hemangioendothelioma could possibly be associated with lymphedema has implications for the care of patients with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.
Reconsidering an active role for G-actin in cytoskeletal regulation

Globular (G)-actin, the actin monomer, assembles into polarized filaments that form networks that can provide structural support, generate force and organize the cell. Many of these structures are highly dynamic and to maintain them, the cell relies on a large reserve of monomers. Classically, the G-actin pool has been thought of as homogenous. However, recent work has shown that actin monomers can exist in distinct groups that can be targeted to specific networks, where they drive and modify filament assembly in ways that can have profound effects on cellular behavior. This Review focuses on the potential factors that could create functionally distinct pools of actin monomers in the cell, including differences between the actin isoforms and the regulation of G-actin by monomer binding proteins, such as profilin and thymosin β4. Owing to difficulties in studying and visualizing G-actin, our knowledge over the precise role that specific actin monomer pools play in regulating cellular actin dynamics remains incomplete. Here, we discuss some of these unanswered questions and also provide a summary of the methodologies currently available for the imaging of G-actin.
Combinatorial-based event sequence testing of Android applications

Abstract Context: Mobile applications are Event Driven Systems (EDS) that take Graphical User Interface (GUI) event sequences as input and respond by changing their state. EDS are often tested with event sequences that exercise system functionality. Much of prior work focuses on testing random event sequences. Combinatorial-based techniques are often used to systematically generate event combinations and may be extended to test behavior that occurs only when events are executed in a particular order. We expand upon the state-of-the-art by using combinatorial-based techniques to systematically test Android applications with automatically generated GUI event sequences. Objective: This paper describes a combinatorial-based technique for automatic construction of Android application test suites. The goal is to minimize redundant execution of events, maximize coverage of event combinations, and increase the likelihood of testing behavior that occurs when GUI events are executed in a particular order. Method: A greedy online algorithm selects and executes GUI events that maximize coverage of n-way event combinations, where n is a specified event combination strength. We compare our combinatorial-based technique to random and frequency-based techniques. We use a two-hour time budget to generate test suites for ten Android applications and empirically evaluate the test suites in terms of code and event coverage. Results: Our 2-way and 3-way combinatorial-based test suites achieve better code and event coverage compared to random and frequency-based test suites in the majority of our subject applications. The results show that there is no significant difference in code or event coverage between 2-way and 3-way combinatorial-based test suites. Conclusion: Given the time budget, the combinatorial-based technique is more effective than random and frequency-based techniques, but its effectiveness may vary depending on specific characteristics of the application under test.
Application of pulsed multi-ion irradiations in radiation damage research: A stochastic cluster dynamics simulation study

Abstract Under the multi-ion irradiation conditions present in accelerated material-testing facilities or fission/fusion nuclear reactors, the combined effects of atomic displacements with radiation products may induce complex synergies in the structural materials. However, limited access to multi-ion irradiation facilities and the lack of computational models capable of simulating the evolution of complex defects and their synergies make it difficult to understand the actual physical processes taking place in the materials under these extreme conditions. In this paper, we propose the application of pulsed single/dual-beam irradiation as replacements for the expensive steady triple-beam irradiation to study radiation damages in materials under multi-ion irradiation.
Drug Antagonism: Orthosteric Drug Effects

Publisher Summary In this chapter, readers should be able to quantify the effects of antagonists to yield empirical measures of antagonist potency. They will also be able to relate patterns of antagonism produced by orthosteric antagonists to mechanisms of antagonist action. These mechanisms can be used to apply the appropriate mathematical analysis to yield estimates of true system-independent antagonist potency that transcend cell type and measuring system. This chapter deals with molecules that bind to the target without themselves causing a change, but do interfere with agonists producing response; this is the process of antagonism. The main reason for noting the patterns of antagonism produced by orthosteric antagonists with various rates of offset kinetics is to determine the correct method of estimating antagonist potency. In practical terms, all that is required to estimate the potency of a simple competitive antagonist is the determination of the effect of a single concentration of the antagonist on an agonist dose-response curve. The in-vivo effects of various antagonists and schematic diagrams depicting the logic used to determine the mode of action and potency of an antagonist is explained.
On the Energy Release Rate from a Moving Dislocation and the Equation of Motion of a Dislocation

It is shown that the energy release rate for a moving dislocation may be obtained by using the energy flux through the slip-plane. This facilitates the calculation for the case of a general motion of the dislocation, since it requires only the 0(1) term in the near-field expansion of the resolved shear stress radiated by the dislocation, which is already obtained. This energy release rate is equated to the externally supplied energy-rate to give the equation of motion for a dislocation.
Ultrasonic Investigation of Tensile Fatigue Overloads in Fatigue Cracks

The growth of a fatigue crack is generally modeled in terms of empirical rules such as the Paris law [1] which states that da/dN = A(ΔK)m where a is the crack length, N is the number of fatigue cycles at a particular stress intensity range ΔK and A and m are material constants. Recently, evidence has accumulated that establishes that the full excursion of the applied load or the full stress intensity range does not drive the crack tip forward due to a variety of phenomena often referred to as crack tip shielding [2,3]. This shielding arises as a consequence of the formation of contacting asperities between the surfaces of the fatigue crack. Since these contacting asperities bear a portion of the load, they modify the stress intensity at the tip, thereby altering the growth rate.
On the Extended Iterative Proportional Scaling Algorithm

The iterative proportional scaling algorithm is generalized to find real positive solutions to polynomial systems of the form: \( \sum\nolimits_{j = 1}^m {a_{sj} p_j = c_s ,s = 1,...,n,} \) where \( p_j = \pi _j \prod\nolimits_{s = 1}^n {x_s^{a_{sj} } } \) with a sj ∈ ℝ and π j , c s ∈ ℝ>0. These systems arise in the study of reversible self-assembly systems and reversible chemical reaction networks. Geometric properties of the systems are explored to extend the iterative proportional scaling algorithm. They are also applied to improve the convergent rate of the iterative proportional scaling algorithm when dealing with ill-conditioned systems. Reduction to convex optimization is discussed. Computational results are also presented.
Knee Biomechanics and Prosthetic Design

The design of a total knee replacement must meet several important mechanical goals in order to restore joint function for the lifetime of the patient. The first goal is to provide appropriate kinematics so that the joint will function like a normal knee joint. This objective involves, of course, not only implant design, but also consideration of the soft tissues around the joint. The second goal is to successfully transfer the large loads that cross the knee joint to the surrounding bony structures. A third goal is to provide secure fixation of the implant components. A final goal is to provide long-term wear resistance. Wear debris should not be generated in large enough volumes at large enough rates to cause osteolysis.
Free-Energy Profiles for A-/B-DNA Conformational Transitions in Isolated and Aggregated States from All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulation

In ordinary aqueous solution, B-DNA is the major structural form of DNA. After the addition of ethanol, DNA is thought to be aggregated/condensed in the A-form structure. However, there is uncertainty as to whether the B-to-A conformational change is connected to the aggregation/condensation steps. In this study, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and calculated the free-energy surface involved in the A/B conformational transition for isolated and aggregated Dickerson–Drew dodecamers (DDDs) in water and 85% ethanol environments. We found in the case of an isolated DDD, the overall free-energy profile is entirely downhill to give the B-DNA conformation in both water and 85% ethanol. However, in the aggregated state and 85% ethanol environment, there is a free-energy minimum associated with the A-DNA region in addition to the global B-DNA minimum, and there is a ∼3 kcal/mol free-energy barrier to the A-to-B conformational change. The molecular dynamics results suggest that aggregation of D...