cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-efficient data preservation in intermittently connected sensor networks

We study data preservation in intermittently connected sensor networks, wherein the sensor nodes do not always have connected paths to the base station. In such networks, the generated data is first stored inside the network before being uploaded to the base station when uploading opportunity arises. How to preserve the data inside the network is therefore an important problem. The problem becomes more challenging when sensor nodes have finite and unreplenishable battery energy. In this paper, we identify, formulate and study the data preservation problem in the intermittently connected sensor networks under energy constraints at sensor nodes. The problem aims to preserve the data inside the network for maximum possible time, by distributing the data items from low energy nodes to high energy nodes. We first show that this problem is NP-hard. We then design a centralized greedy heuristic and a distributed data distribution algorithm, and compare their performances using simulations.
Measured optimum BNS damping configuration of the SLC linac

Transverse wakefield (or BNS) damping has been successfully used in the linac of the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC) to reduce emittance enlargement from beam trajectory jitter coupled with transverse wakefields. We are presently in the process of raising the bunch intensities from 3/spl times/10/sup 10/ particles per bunch to over 4/spl times/10/sup 10/. With these higher currents the RF phasing configuration which produces BNS damping must be improved. Too little "damping" allows excessive emittance growth from jitter but too much damping increases emittance growth from chromatic effects and produces an unacceptable loss of overall energy. Several experiments were performed to find the optimum settings for the present situation. An empirical optimum was found with a combination of 1) somewhat stronger BNS RF phase settings in the upstream section of the linac and 2) a stronger quadrupole lattice in the downstream section. >
The Intricacies of Academic Remuneration

How can we comprehend academic salaries? Does the sum paid monthly to a professor constitute his or her full remuneration? Our research on international comparisons of academic salaries found major variations among countries. Differences exist as well within countries—by rank, discipline, and other factors.
Inelastic dark matter

Many observations suggest that much of the matter of the universe is nonbaryonic. Recently, the DAMA NaI dark matter direct detection experiment reported an annual modulation in their event rate consistent with a WIMP relic. However, the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) Ge experiment excludes most of the region preferred by DAMA. We demonstrate that if the dark matter can only scatter by making a transition to a slightly heavier state $(\ensuremath{\Delta}m\ensuremath{\sim}100 \mathrm{keV}),$ the experiments are no longer in conflict. Moreover, differences in the energy spectrum of nuclear recoil events could distinguish such a scenario from the standard WIMP scenario. Finally, we discuss the sneutrino as a candidate for inelastic dark matter in supersymmetric theories.
Deterministic sampling methods for spheres and SO(3)

This paper addresses the problem of generating uniform deterministic samples over the spheres and the three-dimensional rotation group, SO(3). The target applications include motion planning, optimization, and verification problems in robotics and in related areas, such as graphics, control theory and computational biology. We introduce an infinite sequence of samples that is shown to achieve: 1) low-dispersion, which aids in the development of resolution complete algorithms, 2) lattice structure, which allows easy neighbor identification that is comparable to what is obtained for a grid in /spl Ropf//sup d/, and 3) incremental quality, which is similar to that obtained by random sampling. The sequence is demonstrated in a sampling-based motion planning algorithm.
Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx: An Analysis of 650 Cases

ObjectiveBasaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is considered an aggressive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant. However, we hypothesized that BSCC of the oropharynx may carry a similar prognosi...
Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction: Is It the Valve or Something Else?

A 67-YEAR-OLD FEMALE presented to the authors’ institution for an elective aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the setting of known aortic stenosis and progressive congestive heart failure symptoms. The patient had been followed as an outpatient with serial transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) but suffered an acute episode of hemodynamic decompensation with respiratory failure requiring intubation and ventilation prior to this admission. At that time, it was determined that the patient would undergo elective aortic valve replacement (AVR). On the day of the surgery after uneventful induction of general anesthesia, an intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination was performed with an iE-33 ultrasound system and an X7-2t probe (Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA) capable of real-time three-dimensional (RT-3D) imaging. This evaluation revealed a discreet echo density in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) (Fig 1) with associated turbulence on color-flow Doppler interrogation. There was also a significant gradient across the LVOT (Peak Gradient 48 mmHg) (Fig 2). There was mild-to-moderate aortic regurgitation (AR). The aortic valve leaflets were thickened with slightly limited excursion but did not appear to be significantly stenotic (Fig 3).
Understanding improved electrochemical properties of NiO-doped NiF2-C composite conversion materials by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and pair distribution function analysis.

The conversion reactions of pure NiF2 and the NiO-doped NiF2–C composite (NiO–NiF2–C) were investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The enhanced electronic conductivity of NiO–NiF2–C is associated with a significant improvement in the reversibility of the conversion reaction compared to pure NiF2. Different evolutions of the size distributions of the Ni nanoparticles formed during discharge were observed. While a bimodal nanoparticle size distribution was maintained for NiO–NiF2–C following the 1st and 2nd discharge, for pure NiF2 only smaller nanoparticles (∼14 A) remained following the 2nd discharge. We postulate that the solid electrolyte interphase formed upon the 1st discharge at large overpotential retards the growth of metallic Ni leading to formation of smaller Ni particles during the 2nd discharge. In contrast, the NiO doping and the carbon layer covering the NiO–NiF2–C possibly facilitate the conversion process on the surface preserving the reaction kinetics upon the 2nd discharge. Based on the electronic conductivity and surface properties, the resulting size of the Ni nanoparticles is associated with the conversion kinetics and consequently the cyclability.
Functional and Molecular Aspects of Human T Lymphocyte Activation via T3-Ti and Tl1 Pathways

Two pathways of human lymphocyte activation are known to exist on T-lineage cells. The first involves the T-lymphocyte receptor for antigen (T3-Ti) which operates in conjunction with gene products of the MHC complex and is a molecular complex composed of 5 polypeptide chains. Both the 49KD alpha and 43KD beta chains are immunoglobulin-like and thus contain variable domains responsible for ligand binding. In contrast, the 20-25KD T3 gamma, delta and epsilon chains are monomorphic structures presumably involved in transmembrane signalling. The alpha and beta subunits are disulfide bonded to each other and held in noncovalent association with the T3 chains. The second pathway involves the 50KD T11 sheep erythrocyte binding protein. The T11 pathway is operational during early intrathymic ontogeny, prior to T3-Ti receptor expression. Under physiologic conditions, T3-Ti and T11 pathways appear to function in series with T11, representing a more "nuclear proximal" structure. However, each pathway, independently of the other, can activate the phosphoinositol cascade and lead to elevation in cytosolic free calcium. The latter is critical for transcriptional activation of the endogenous IL-2 gene. The ability of the T3-Ti complex to regulate T11-mediated activation is discussed with reference to its possible role in thymic selection.
Design of Self-Matched Planar Loop Resonators for Wireless Nonradiative Power Transfer

An impedance-matching technique for magnetically coupled planar-loop resonators employing transmission lines and capacitive stubs is presented for application in wireless nonradiative power transfer (WNPT). These distributed components can be incorporated into the planar resonator itself, thereby eliminating external matching networks. The theory behind the impedance-matching technique is given in detail. Parameter tradeoffs are explored and a design procedure is provided. Two different planar loop designs are presented. The first design yields a loop-to-loop power transfer efficiency of 91% at a coupling distance of 15 cm (1.67 loop radii). The second design yields 85% efficiency at a coupling distance of 20 cm (2.22 loop radii). These results show that planar self-matched loop resonators enable compact efficient WNPT.
Performance analysis of b-bit digital receivers for TR-UWB systems with inter-pulse interference

An ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitted reference (TR) system transmits an un-modulated pulse and a delayed modulated pulse pair. Then, a correlation receiver uses the former to demodulate the latter. Because of the long spread of a typical UWB channel, time delay between the two pulses is preferable to be larger than the channel delay spread for reduced noise at the receiver. However, for bandwidth efficiency, that delay should be made small, resulting in inter-pulse interference at the receiver. In this paper, digital receivers are constructed for TR-UWB systems including inter-pulse interference. A typical mean matching technique, appropriate for both PPM and PAM schemes, is implemented digitally to obtain a good template for symbol detection. Joint estimation and detection performance of this family of digital receivers, using finite number of bits in analog-to-digital conversion and finite noisy observations, is analyzed. Closed form results are derived and verified by computer simulations. In addition, the effect of time offset between the reference pulse and information carrying pulse is studied. Overlap of the two pulses does not incur noticeable performance degradation. The proposed analytical framework can be applied to study detection performance of other related digital receivers not covered in this paper
Effect of amrinone during group B Streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension in piglets.

Intravenous infusion of group B Streptococcus (GBS) into neonatal animals pro- duces pulmonary hypertension, ventilation/perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch, and an increase in serum levels of thromboxane B2, (TxB2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α. The vasodilator amrinone (amr) is a cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase inhibitor and is reported to inhibit thromboxane A2 and TNF production. We hypothesized that infusion of amr would cause pulmonary vasodilation and reduce serum TxB2, and TNF levels in piglets with late phase GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension. The effect of amr on gas exchange was also determined. A continuous infusion of GBS was administered for 5 hr to 4 groups of anesthetized, mechanically ventilated neonatal piglets. An amr bolus of 8 mg/kg was given at 4 hr followed by a 1 hr continuous infusion of either 10 or 20μg/kg/min of amr (amr 10 and amr 20, respectively). Control piglets received a bolus and 1 hr infusion of amr carrier. The infusion of amr, but not of carrier reversed late phase GBS- induced pulmonary hypertension. Piglets infused with amr 20 showed transient selective pulmo- nary vasodilation, based on a reduced ratio of pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance (PVW SVR ratio) value at 30min but not at 1 hr. compared to pre-amr treatment values. The PVR/SVR ratio values for amr 10 and control group did not change after treatment with either amr or carrier. Treatment with amr 10 or 20 did not decrease serum TxB2, or TNF levels or increase VA/Q mismatch. A subsequent group of piglets received an 8 mg/kg bolus and 40 μg/kg/min infusion of amr (amr 40) to determine if the increased infusion rate would sustain a selective pulmonary vasodilatory effect beyond 30 min. The PVR/SVR ratio values for amr 40 did not change after treatment for 30 min or 1 hr, compared to pretreatment values. We conclude that amr is effective in reversing GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension. However, the reduction in SVR caused by amr may preclude its use in septic newborns. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:303–310. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cutting Edge: Rag Deletion in Peripheral T Cells Blocks TCR Revision

Mature CD4(+)Vbeta5(+) T cells that recognize a peripherally expressed endogenous superantigen are tolerized either by deletion or TCR revision. In Vbeta5 transgenic mice, this latter tolerance pathway results in the appearance of CD4(+)Vbeta5(-)TCRbeta(+) T cells, coinciding with Rag1, Rag2, and TdT expression and the accumulation of V(beta)-DJ(beta) recombination intermediates in peripheral CD4(+) T cells. Because postthymic RAG-dependent TCR rearrangement has remained controversial, we sought to definitively determine whether TCR revision is an extrathymic process that occurs in mature peripheral T cells. We show in this study that Rag deletion in post-positive selection T cells in Vbeta5 transgenic mice blocks TCR revision in vivo and that mature peripheral T cells sorted to remove cells bearing endogenous TCRbeta-chains can express newly generated TCRbeta molecules in adoptive hosts. These findings unambiguously demonstrate postthymic, RAG-dependent TCR rearrangement and define TCR revision as a tolerance pathway that targets mature peripheral CD4(+) T cells.
MicroRNAs in Vascular Biology

Vascular inflammation is an important component of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and aneurysms. All vascular cells, including endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and infiltrating cells, such as macrophages, orchestrate a series of pathological events. Despite dramatic improvements in the treatment of atherosclerosis, the molecular basis of vascular inflammation is not well understood. In the last decade, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been revealed as novel regulators of vascular inflammation. Each miRNAs suppresses a set of genes, forming complex regulatory network. This paper provides an overview of current advances that have been made in revealing the roles of miRNAs during vascular inflammation. Recent studies show that miRNAs not only exist inside cells but also circulate in blood. These circulating miRNAs are useful biomarkers for diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that circulating miRNAs are delivered into certain recipient cells and act as messengers. These studies suggest that miRNAs provide new therapeutic opportunities.
Hybrid switching and p-routing for optical burst switching networks

One promising switching technology for wavelength-division multiplexing optical networks is optical burst switching (OBS). However, there are major deficiencies of OBS. (1) The delay offset between a control message and its corresponding data burst is based on the diameter of a network. This affects network efficiency, quality-of-service, and network scalability.( 2) OBS adopts one-way resource reservation scheme, which causes frequent burst collision and, thus, burst loss. We address the above two important issues in OBS. In particular, we study how to improve the performance of delay and loss in OBS. To reduce the end-to-end delay, we propose a hybrid switching scheme. The hybrid switching is a combination of lightpath switching and OBS switching. A virtual topology design algorithm based on simulated annealing to minimize the longest shortest path through the virtual topology is presented. To minimize burst collision and loss, we propose a new routing algorithm, namely, p-routing, for OBS network. The p-routing is based on the wavelength available probability. A path that has higher available probability is less likely to drop bursts due to collision. The probability-based p-routing can reduce the volatility, randomness, and uncertainty of one-way resource reservation. Our studies show that hybrid switching and p-routing are complementary and both can dramatically improve the performance of OBS networks.
Characteristics of Braked, Locked and Free-Wheeling Two- and Three-Bladed Propellers

The use of multi-engined aircraft has introduced the problem of aircraft performance when one or more power units have either become unusable or voluntarily shut down during cruising flight. If the use of the engine is to be discontinued because of mechanical failure, the desirable procedure is obviously to stop it altogether, so as to prevent possible destruction to the engine. This can be accomplished by locking the propeller, by a free-wheeling arrangement, or by feathering a variable pitch propeller. If the use of the engine is to be discontinued merely to reduce fuel consumption, the propeller may be allowed to turn the engine, in which case the propeller is braked by a torque equal to the friction of the engine. Another recent development connected with braked propellers is the fact that the variable pitch propeller now offers the possibility of using the large increment in drag at low blade angles of braked and free-wheeling propellers for reduction in landing speed or landing run of clean, highly powered, multi-engined aircraft. It was the purpose of the present investigation to provide information not already made available by researches listed under the references at the end of this paper. Therefore the following thesis will be concerned chiefly with the three-bladed propeller and its effect on airplane characteristics, the two-bladed propeller being used principally for comparison purposes with other available data. The tests were performed at model scale, but their acceptance as applicable to full scale is supported by the favorable comparisons made in Reference 5.
Using soundscape recordings to estimate bird species abundance, richness, and composition

Point counts are the most frequently used technique for sampling bird populations and communities, but have well-known limitations such as inter- and intraobserver errors and limited availability of expert field observers. The use of acoustic recordings to survey birds offers solutions to these limitations. We designed a Soundscape Recording System (SRS) that combines a four-channel, discrete microphone system with a quadraphonic playback system for surveying bird communities. We compared the effectiveness of SRS and point counts for estimating species abundance, richness, and composition of riparian breeding birds in California by comparing data collected simultaneously using both methods. We used the temporal-removal method to estimate individual bird detection probabilities and species abundances using the program MARK. Akaike's Information Criterion provided strong evidence that detection probabilities differed between the two survey methods and among the 10 most common species. The probability of detecting birds was higher when listening to SRS recordings in the laboratory than during the field survey. Additionally, SRS data demonstrated a better fit to the temporal-removal model assumptions and yielded more reliable estimates of detection probability and abundance than point-count data. Our results demonstrate how the perceptual constraints of observers can affect temporal detection patterns during point counts and thus influence abundance estimates derived from time-of-detection approaches. We used a closed-population capture-recapture approach to calculate jackknife estimates of species richness and average species detection probabilities for SRS and point counts using the program CAPTURE. SRS and point counts had similar species richness and detection probabilities. However, the methods differed in the composition of species detected based on Jaccard's similarity index. Most individuals (83%) detected during point counts vocalized at least once during the survey period and were available for detection using a purely acoustic technique, such as SRS. SRS provides an effective method for surveying bird communities, particularly when most species are detected by sound. SRS can eliminate or minimize observer biases, produce permanent records of surveys, and resolve problems associated with the limited availability of expert field observers.
Self-assembled second order nonlinear optical multilayer azo polymer

An epoxy based polymer with nonlinear optical azo chromophores was designed to contain anionic groups to induce water solubility and self assembly. Using this polyanion with a polycation, multilayers were prepared on a glass substrate by alternating adsorption from dilute aqueous solutions. The azo chromophores in the confined layer of the polyanion in the multilayer films self-assemble into a noncentrosymmetric alignment and demonstrate second order optical nonlinearity (d33 = 19 pm/V).
Creating Multiracial Identities in the Work of Rebecca Walker and Kip Fulbeck: A Collective Critique of American Liberal Multiculturalism

Americans of multiracial descent recently have become noticeable, respectable, marketable, and, in the case of Barack Obama, presidential. In the last two decades, a growing body of creative and critical work about multiracial lives and issues has materialized. This social and historical development has become an ideological battleground for advocates, politicians, scholars, journalists, and marketers who have appropriated and interpreted its products and personalities in relation to their own beliefs, objectives, and commitments. According to many popular and political accounts, the growing number of interracial marriages and self-identified multiracials indicates that American society quickly is becoming post-racial. Scholars of this development, however, have been mostly skeptical of accounts that claim or assume that race-mixing leads to post-racial societies. Among scholars, there is ongoing debate over the precise impact that the emergent self-identified multiracial population is having on race, racial hierarchy, and white supremacy. Many scholars agree with G. Reginald Daniel, who claims that selfidentified multiracials challenge race and racial hierarchy. However, Rainier Spencer and others argue the opposite: self-identified multiracials maintain racial hierarchy and reproduce race insofar as they rely on established racial categories to articulate their experiences and identities. Hence, this debate is at an impasse. One way to negotiate this impasse is to shift the focus of the debate from the impact that self-identified multiracials have had on race and racial hierarchy to the conditions that have made mixed-race individuals possible in ethno-racial combinations besides black and white. Of course, scholars who analyze this development through a black/white framework will likely object to this move on the grounds that all other ethno-racial categories must fall between black and white in the racial hierarchy, thus orienting multiracial identities, old and new, toward whiteness and away from blackness. Their objection, however, presumes stable
Facile Synthesis of a Tungsten Alkylidyne Catalyst for Alkyne Metathesis

Reaction of WCl3(OAr)3 (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) with 4 equiv of t-BuCH2MgCl in diethyl ether produces yellow crystalline W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2 in 40−50% isolated yield. W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2 is a versatile entry for preparing W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(NPh2)2 and subsequently other W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)2 species in situ, which are active alkyne metathesis catalysts.
Use of Cevimeline, a Muscarinic Ml and M3 Agonist, in the Treatment of Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is characterized by symptoms of dryness of the eyes and mouth associated with lymphoid infiltrates of the lacrimal and salivary glands. Confusion exists about the criteria for diagnosis of this disease, 1 but the frequency, according to a newly proposed international criterion that requires either a characteristic minor salivary gland biopsy or the presence of an antibody against SS-A/SS-B antigen, 2 is about 0.5% of adult women. SS may exist with other autoimmune disorders (secondary SS associated with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma), or as a primary condition. Primary and secondary SS are systemic autoimmune disorders, although the most recognizable manifestations are the ocular and oral components of the disease.
Coordinating Inventory Control and Pricing Strategies with Random Demand and Fixed Ordering Cost: The Infinite Horizon Case

We analyze an infinite horizon, single-product, periodic review model in which pricing and production/inventory decisions are made simultaneously. Demands in different periods are identically distributed random variables that are independent of each other, and their distributions depend on the product price. Pricing and ordering decisions are made at the beginning of each period, and all shortages are backlogged. Ordering cost includes both a fixed cost and a variable cost proportional to the amount ordered. The objective is to maximize expected discounted, or expected average, profit over the infinite planning horizon. We show that a stationary ( s,S,p) policy is optimal for both the discounted and average profit models with general demand functions. In such a policy, the period inventory is managed based on the classical ( s,S) policy, and price is determined based on the inventory position at the beginning of each period.
Assessment of Windkessel as a model of aortic input impedance

To facilitate the analysis of aortic-ventricular coupling, simplified models of aortic input properties have been developed, such as the three-element Windkessel. Even though the impedance spectrum of the Windkessel reproduces the gross features of the real aortic input impedance, it fails to reproduce many of its details. In the present study we assessed the physiological significance of the differences between real and Windkessel impedance. We measured aortic input impedance spectra from five anesthetized open-chest dogs under a wide range of conditions. For each experimentally determined spectrum we estimated the corresponding values of the best-fit Windkessel parameters. By computer simulation we imposed both the real and best-fit Windkessel impedances on a model left ventricle and assessed the differences in seven different coupling variables. The analysis indicated that the Windkessel model provides a reasonable representation of afterload for purposes of predicting stroke volume, stroke work, oxygen consumption, and systolic and diastolic aortic pressures. However, the Windkessel model significantly underestimates peak aortic flow, slightly underestimates mean arterial pressure, and, of course, does not provide realistic aortic pressure and flow waveforms.
Field Portable and Autonomous Immunosensors for the Detection of Environmental Contaminants

A monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to UO22+ complexed with the chelator 2,9-dicarboxyl-1,10-phenanthroline was used to develop a sensor-based assay for UO22+. The assay range for UO22+ was 0.5 to 25 nM (0.12 to 6 ppb). The average coefficients of variation in the assay was 2.2%. The immunoassay results were comparable to those obtained using the Kinetic Phosphorescence Assay. The versatility of this sensor platform was further demonstrated by the development of an immunoassay for caffeine.
Power of Confidence: How Poll Scores Impact Topic Dynamics in Political Debates

In this paper, we investigate how topic dynamics during the course of an interaction correlate with the power differences between its participants. We perform this study on the US presidential debates and show that a candidate’s power, modeled after their poll scores, affects how often he/she attempts to shift topics and whether he/she succeeds. We ensure the validity of topic shifts by confirming, through a simple but effective method, that the turns that shift topics provide substantive topical content to the interaction.
108. Peri-adolescent high fructose diet remodels the hypothalamic transcriptome and increases hypothalamic and hippocampal complement gene expression

Fructose consumption has increased by over 25% since the 1970s, and adolescents consume the greatest quantity of fructose. Fructose consumption is associated with metabolic dysfunction and with an inflammatory profile in hepatic, renal, and adipose tissue, but its effects on neuroinflammation have not been studied. We hypothesized that high-fructose feeding in male rats during the “critical period” of adolescence would result in multiple inflammatory gene expression changes in the brain. Whole-transcriptome sequencing of hypothalamic tissue from peri-adolescent fructose- or standard-chow fed rats revealed that inflammatory and immune pathways ranked highly for significant enrichment with differentially expressed genes. In particular, classical, lectin-induced, and alternative complement pathways were significantly enriched by upregulated genes. Moreover, qRT-PCR showed that increased expression of C4b and Cfb, early components in the classical/lectin-induced and alternative pathways respectively, extended to the hippocampus of the peri-adolescent fructose-fed animals. However, expression of these components was unchanged in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus of a cohort of rats fed the same high-fructose diet but only during adulthood. These data demonstrate that consumption of a high-fructose diet during the peri-adolescent period substantially remodels the hypothalamic transcriptome and promotes increased expression of complement in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus. This is the first demonstration of widespread fructose-induced changes in central expression of inflammatory factors and highlights the profound influence of diet on neuroimmunology.
Abstract 1776: Antitumor activity of Chk1 inhibitor LY2606368 as a single agent in SW1990 human pancreas orthotopic tumor model

ChK1 is a key kinase in the DNA damage response signaling network, including cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, apoptosis and transcription, thus emerging as an attractive target in anti-cancer therapy. LY2606368, a potent and selective ATP competitive inhibitor of the Chk1 protein kinase, is currently in clinical development. LY2606368 has been reported to inhibit Chk1 auto-phosphorylation activated by DNA damaging agents, and induce phosphorylation of H2AX, a DNA damage maker in multiple cancer cell lines in vitro. In addition, LY2606368 has demonstrated potent single agent activity and potentiates the anti-tumor activity of DNA damaging agents in vivo. Pancreatic cancer is one of the least curable cancers, with an approximate 5% overall 5-year survival for all patients. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of LY2606368 (as its methanesulfonate salt, hydrate; LY2606368.MeSO3H.H2O = LY2940930) in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and xenograft tumors (including subcutaneous and orthotopic models) in vivo. LY2606368 alone significantly inhibited the cell proliferation in a variety of pancreatic cell lines (SW1990, SU86.86, Bx-PC3, AsPC-1, CFPAC-1, Capan-2, HPAF-II) with SW1990 being the most sensitive (IC50=1.5 nM). In SW1990 subcutaneous xenograft model, LY2606368 showed substantial dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth. In SW1990 pancreas orthotopic model, which represents the local and metastatic growth pattern seen in pancreas cancer patients, LY2606368 treatment resulted in over 92% inhibition of primary tumor growth as well as 100% inhibition of metastasis to lymph node, spleen and intestine. The anti-tumor effect of LY2606368 treatment was further demonstrated in comparing with gemcitabine (the standard of care for pancreas cancer patient) in SW1990 orthotopic model. The anti-tumor and/or anti-metastasis mechanism of LY2606368 was also investigated, including phosphorylation of H2AX, cell proliferation, cell survival, and soft agar anchorage-independent growth. Together, our findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of LY2606368 as a single agent in the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1776. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1776
Modeling Results On Detectability of Shallow Tunnels Using Rayleigh-wave Diffraction

Rayleigh waves have been widely employed in nearsurface high-resolution seismic investigations since the development of multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW). Usually, detecting near-surface features such as voids and tunnels by inverting Rayleigh-wave phase velocities is challenging because the resolution of inverted shear (S)-wave velocity profiles is limited by a geophonespread length. As a human-made structure, a shallow tunnel can generate strong diffractions of seismic waves due to its angular shape and the high contrast elastic modulus around a tunnel surface. Since Rayleigh-wave energy is dominant in the near-surface P-SV wavefield, the diffraction of Rayleigh waves is also significant on a shotgather, which allows a tunnel to be located directly by using a hyperbola curve matching technique. However, the size and depth of the tunnel can influence the diffraction energy dramatically. In case where the diffraction energy is too weak, it is usually impractical to recognize the hyperbolic pattern on a shotgather even with F-K filtering. In this paper, we present finite-difference numerical modeling results illustrating the variation of Rayleigh-wave diffraction energy for different size tunnels. The modeling results reveal that the amplitude of Rayleigh-wave diffraction decreases at different rate depending on tunnel size The diffraction energy decreases more rapidly when the size of a tunnel is smaller than 3/16 of the central depth of the tunnel. When a tunnel size is smaller than 1/32 of its depth, the diffraction energy of Rayleigh-wave is less than 1% of the direct Rayleigh-wave energy, which makes the hyperbola difficult to be recognized on a shotgather. Considering the noise and nearsurface attenuation in a real data, the ratio of size to depth of a detectable tunnel could be much larger than these modeling based results.
Modeling of Analogue-digital Hybrid Real-time Simulation System Applied in the UHV AC/DC Great Power Grid

In order to conduct special research on the AC/DC response and recovery performance on the condition that Jinshajiang phase I and Jingping power transmission project be interconnected into the power grid and the sending and receiving end being disturbed,the largest analogue-digital hybrid real-time simulation system in the world has been established in the simulation centre of China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI),based on the equivalence principle that the performances of the simplified network are consistent with those of the original one,and the simplified network can adapt to the present simulation system. Several key modeling technologies are described in this paper: choosing the appropriate simulation ratio of the AC/DC system,establishment and verification of the generators,dynamic load models,seven HVDC and UHVDC systems with different control strategies,model of the reactive components,establishing of system database,the comprehensive verification of the whole network,and so on. All these technologies accumulate valuable experiences in model establishment and research of large scale AC/DC interconnection power grid by means of the analogue-digital hybrid real-time simulation system.
Delayed unilateral post-traumatic tremor: localization studies using single-proton computed tomographic and magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques.

We present the case of a 46-year-old former U.S. Marine who developed unilateral dystonic tremor responsive to anticholinergic medications 13 years after contralateral, combat-induced head trauma. Although conventional neuroimaging techniques showed normal brain anatomy, single-proton computed tomographic scans demonstrated hypometabolism ipsilateral to the area of old trauma. Proton echoplanar spectral imaging demonstrated decreased signal in this same area on creatine imaging, which normalized on anticholinergic medication. Choline imaging on medication showed a signal void in the clinically suspected basal ganglia-thalamus region. We believe that these results indirectly suggest a trans-synaptic origin of the patient's movement disorder.
Is there a prevention and treatment strategy for macular degeneration

BACKGROUND: Reduced antioxidant defense of the retina secondary to poor nutrition and smoking combined with increased life expectancy and exposure to solar radiation can provide a triple assault on the aging retina. If left untreated, without prophylactic measures, 7.5 million American adults will suffer vision loss from ARM by the year 2020. METHODS: Better known pathobiologic interrelationships between ARM, nutritional/antioxidant status and UV/blue visible solar exposure risk based on animal research and recent epidemiologic studies is presented, along with an overview of ocular free radical biochemistry. RESULTS: Because ARM begins parafoveally, and confounding ocular lens changes often occur, there have been practical clinical/research difficulties in early diagnosis, and assessing improvement/loss from nutritional intervention. Threshold Amsler grid testing, contrast sensitivity and more recently red foveal flicker fusion frequency testing are presented as promising tests for discerning subtle pathologic and functional changes in vision. CONCLUSIONS: A conservative prevention/treatment strategy is presented involving identification of at-risk patients, solar radiation protection, nutritional counseling based on the new USDA Food Pyramid concept and vitamin/mineral supplementation if necessary for non-compliant high risk patients. Excessive vitamin intake of particular micronutrients has some drawbacks, and the optometrist should be aware of the implications of self-prescribed OTC ocular formulations, the difference between UV risk vs. "blue light hazard" and ongoing clinical trials.
The Double Asteroid Redirection test mission

On Feb. 15, 2013, a 20-meter asteroid unexpectedly hit the Earth without any warning near Chelyabinsk, Russia. This impact released about 500 kilotons TNT of energy, injured over 1500 people, and caused extensive property damage. The Chelyabinsk impact served as a dramatic reminder of the asteroid impact hazard and re-emphasized the importance of discovering hazardous Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and learning how to mitigate the threat they pose. Mitigation of a hazardous NEO can be accomplished by deflecting it so that it misses the Earth. Strategies to deflect an asteroid include impacting it with a spacecraft (a kinetic impactor), pulling it with the gravity of the mass of a spacecraft (a gravity tractor), using the blast of a nearby nuclear explosion, and modifying the surface or causing ablation by various means including lasers or particle beams. None of these approaches has been tested on a NEO. The AIDA mission is a proposed international collaboration to demonstrate kinetic deflection, the most mature technique for mitigating the impact hazard of a Near Earth Object (NEO). AIDA consists of two mission elements, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission and the ESA Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM). The main objectives of the DART mission, which includes the spacecraft kinetic impact and an Earth-based observing campaign, are to: o Perform a full scale demonstration of the spacecraft kinetic impact technique for deflection of an asteroid, by targeting an object large enough to qualify as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid; o Measure the resulting asteroid deflection, by targeting the secondary member of a binary NEO and measuring the period change of the binary orbit; o Understand the hypervelocity collision effects on an asteroid, including the long-term dynamics of impact ejecta; validate models for momentum transfer in asteroid impacts, inferring physical properties of the asteroid surface and sub-surface. The DART target is the secondary member of the binary asteroid 65803 Didymos, with the impact scheduled to occur in September, 2022. The DART impact on the secondary member of the Didymos binary at ∼7 km/s will alter the binary orbit period by at least 4 minutes, assuming a simple transfer of momentum to the target. The period change may be significantly greater, as the momentum transferred to the target asteroid may exceed the incident momentum of the kinetic impactor, possibly by a large factor. The AIM spacecraft will characterize the asteroid target and monitor results of the impact in situ at Didymos, but the period change can be determined accurately solely with ground-based observatories, an approach that is only feasible because of the choice of a binary system as target. AIM is currently in Phase A. DART held its Mission Concept Review on May 21–22, 2015. This paper summarizes the DART mission concept and the path forward in Phase A.
Detection of Mold in Processed Foods by High Performance Liquid Chromatography1

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to analyze for the degree of mold contamination in processed fruit and vegetable products. The method is based on detection of glucosamine, a breakdown product of chitin which is one of the major constituents of fungal cell walls Food samples were hydrolyzed at 121°C for 2 h to release glucosamine from fungal chitin. The hydrolysates were partially purified by passing them through a Dowex-50 cation exchanger. Effluents were derivatized by o-phthalaldehyde and the fluorogenic reaction products were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and detected by a spectroflurometer. Six species of mold, Alternaria alternata , Alternaria solani , Colletotrichum coccodes , Fusarium oxysporum , Geotrichum candidum and Rhizopus stolonifer , which are commonly associated with fruit and vegetable products, were used in this study and different levels (0.1 to 2.5 mg/g of sample) of mold mycelium were added to rot-free tomato products. A linear relationship between concentration and glucosamine was observed. However, different species of mold gave different amounts of glucosamine. The effect of insect contamination on the assay was negligible unless high levels were present. Results obtained by the HPLC method were compared with those obtained with an amino acid analyzer and reasonable correlation between the two methods was evident.
Design of class E/F power amplifier with distributed active transformer architecture

Design of a fully integrated power amplifier (PA) with distributed active transformer (DAT) architecture is introduced in this paper. PA achieves high efficiency and high power performance necessary for long range internet of thing (IoT) wireless communication systems. The amplifier is implemented in a 0.18gm SiGe BiCMOS technology with 3.3 V supply voltage and achieves a peak output power of +32dBm and a gain of +15dBm while operating at 10GHz. The amplifier has a peak drain efficiency of 35% and peak power added efficiency (PAE) of 47%. The chip has an area of 1.3mm2 including pads.
Antimicrobial Activities of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Comparator Agents against Clinical Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Cancer

A total of 521 unique clinical isolates from cancer patients with primarily (>90%) bloodstream infections were tested for susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam and comparators using broth microdilution methods. Ceftazidime-avibactam inhibited 97.8% of all Enterobacteriaceae (n = 321) at the susceptibility breakpoint of ≤8/4 μg/ml (there were 7 nonsusceptible strains). It was also active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (91.7% isolates susceptible, n = 121), including many isolates not susceptible to meropenem, cefepime, ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam, or other comparators.
High Areal Capacity Si/LiCoO2 Batteries from Electrospun Composite Fiber Mats.

Freestanding nanofiber mat Li-ion battery anodes containing Si nanoparticles, carbon black, and poly(acrylic acid) (Si/C/PAA) are prepared using electrospinning. The mats are compacted to a high fiber volume fraction (≈0.85), and interfiber contacts are welded by exposing the mat to methanol vapor. A compacted+welded fiber mat anode containing 40 wt % Si exhibits high capacities of 1484 mA h g-1 (3500 mA h g-1Si ) at 0.1 C and 489 mA h g-1 at 1 C and good cycling stability (e.g., 73 % capacity retention over 50 cycles). Post-mortem analysis of the fiber mats shows that the overall electrode structure is preserved during cycling. Whereas many nanostructured Si anodes are hindered by their low active material loadings and densities, thick, densely packed Si/C/PAA fiber mat anodes reported here have high areal and volumetric capacities (e.g., 4.5 mA h cm-2 and 750 mA h cm-3 , respectively). A full cell containing an electrospun Si/C/PAA anode and electrospun LiCoO2 -based cathode has a high specific energy density of 270 Wh kg-1 . The excellent performance of the electrospun Si/C/PAA fiber mat anodes is attributed to the: i) PAA binder, which interacts with the SiOx surface of Si nanoparticles and ii) high material loading, high fiber volume fraction, and welded interfiber contacts of the electrospun mats.
Symmetry Breaking Patterns in E 6

The two possible ways of using the exceptional group E6 as a grand unified gauge model are discussed. Natural directions that occur in its breaking are exhibited through a generalization of a method employed by Michel and Radicati. The corresponding Higgs sector is analyzed both for elementary or composite Higgs scalars. The possible enlargement of the electroweak group from SU(2)W × u(l) to SU(2)W × SU’(2)W × u(l) is discussed in the two generations (topless) mode. The possibilities of neutron oscillations and neutrino masses are indicated in both topless and standard (t-quark containing) versions.
Inhibition of the Renin–Angiotensin System: How Far Have We Come?

Inhibition of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) reduces the rate of progression of cardiovascular and renal disease in patients with established cardiac or renal dysfunction. The RAAS is complex with both autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine effects and there are multiple locations in this catalytic cascade which can be targeted with different therapies. Downstream metabolites of the cascade may have biological effects of clinical relevance. Optimal strategies to enhance the cardio renal benefits of RAAS inhibition are still being evaluated, given the evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker provide only a 20% relative risk reduction benefit of cardiorenal disease progression.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with severe aortic valve stenosis, colon cancer, and obstructive ileus: A case report.

An 82-year-old woman with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) developed an obstructive ileus caused by colon cancer. Colectomy was considered a high-risk surgery due to both the severe AS and obstructive ileus. Therefore, we planned placement of a colonic stent for the obstructive ileus. After stenting, we performed transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) instead of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), because of the risk of bleeding during extracorporeal circulation and the perioperative risk of AVR (Society of Thoracic Surgery predicted risk of mortality: 7.4%). Successful colonic stenting and TAVI allowed a safer colectomy. The period from TAVI to colectomy was 12 days. TAVI could be useful for symptomatic severe AS in high-risk patients prior to non-cardiac surgery, especially for malignant tumors. .