cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of mild temperature hyperthermia on tumour hypoxia and blood perfusion: relevance for radiotherapy, vascular targeting and imaging.

Clinically achievable mild temperature local hyperthermia (<43°C) has been demonstrated to be an effective adjuvant to radiotherapy in pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this article, we briefly review the recent progress in the following areas: (1) the effect of mild temperature hyperthermia (MTH) on tumour hypoxia and blood perfusion as assessed by dual marker immunohistochemistry (IHC); (2) the kinetics of MTH induced changes in tumour hypoxia; (3) the potential role of heat-induced tumour reoxygenation on radio- and chemo-sensitisation; (4) the potential role of MTH in combination with vascular targeting agents (VTAs) on tumour response; and (5) non-invasive detection of changes in tumour oxygenation and blood perfusion. It is shown that MTH, by itself or in combination with VTAs, leads to changes in tumour perfusion and oxygenation with potential for radio- and chemo-sensitisation.
Effect of exogenous prostacyclin on central and uterine hemodynamics in the chronically instrumented pregnant guinea pig before and after indomethacin administration

The effect of prostacyclin before and after pretreatment with indomethacin was studied in the chronically instrumented pregnant guinea pig. Twenty-six animals were studied between 45 and 65 days' gestation. Prostacyclin (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 125 micrograms/kg/min) produced a dose-dependent decrease in arterial pressure (r = -0.915, p less than 0.0001) and uterine artery blood flow velocity, as measured by a miniaturized Doppler flow probe (r = -0.850, p = 0.0001), and an increase in heart rate (r = 0.745, p = 0.0335). Uterine resistance increased at each dose, with 125 micrograms/kg/min generating an increase greater than all others (p less than 0.02). The hypotensive effect of prostacyclin was blunted by indomethacin (p = 0.018). Rather than blunting the expected changes in the remaining parameters, pretreatment with indomethacin followed by prostacyclin significantly decreased uterine blood flow velocity further and increased uterine resistance. We conclude that prostacyclin infusion can have adverse effects on uterine blood flow and that these are altered by pretreatment with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor. Prostacyclin should be avoided in women with preeclampsia until further animal studies are available.
Robust quantizers designed using the companding approximation

This paper considers the design of a quantizer when the probability distribution of the input signal is not known exactly. A robust (minimax) quantizer is derived which produces the largest possible guaranteed signal-to-noise ratio over a sizeable class of input distributions (all unimodal distributions with a known moment). A closed-form solution for the robust quantization levels is possible by using the companding approximation. In many instances, the robust quantizer guarantees a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio than quantizers designed for the standard distributions (uniform, Gaussian, Laplace.) A similar approach is used to "robustify" the commonly used µ-law and A-law companders.
Reduced-size lung transplantation in neonatal swine: technique and short-term physiological response.

Abstract Lung transplantation is now a clinical reality in adults but is limited by the scarcity of appropriate donors. The donor shortage is even more acute for neonatal and pediatric patients. Reduced-size lung grafts would expand the pool of appropriate cadaveric donors and allow HLA-matched living related lobar or segmental lung transplants. To evaluate this experimentally, we developed a model of pulmonary lobar transplantation in neonatal pigs and studied the acute hemodynamic response after transplanting the left lower lobe from a more mature donor to a neonatal recipient. Technical considerations included using the recipient atrial appendage for the pulmonary venous anastomosis. Nine pairs of pigs underwent left lateral thoracotomy. The recipient left atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures, cardiac output, and pulmonary vascular resistance were measured before pneumonectomy and after left lower lobe transplantation. Although the left atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures remained unchanged after transplantation, there was a 15% increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a 23% reduction in cardiac output. Neither change was statistically significant. The distribution of blood flow through the left and right pulmonary arteries was unchanged after transplantation. We conclude that lobar transplantation is technically feasible in immature animals and that the pulmonary venous anas tomosis to the left atrial appendage facilitates the procedure. This model may prove useful in studying lung transplantation in immature recipients and expedite implementation of reduced-size lung transplantation in neonatal and pediatric patients.
Calmodulin antagonists inhibit electron transport in photosystem II of spinach chloroplasts

Abstract Chlorpromazine, phenothiazine and trifluoperazine, known as calmodulin antagonists, inhibit electron transport in Photosystem II of spinach chloroplasts in concentrations from 20–500 μM. The inhibition site is located on the diphenyl carbazide to indophenol pathway in Tris-treated chloroplasts, indicating that water oxidation is not affected by these drugs. Ca 2+ ions, bound to chloroplast membranes before the addition of calmodulin antagonists, can protect against inhibition up to 25% of the electron transport rate. In presence of A23187, the Ca 2+ -specific ionophore, Ca 2+ ions provide less protection against inhibition by the 3 calmodulin antagonists used. A possible role of a calmodulin-like protein in spinach chloroplasts is postulated.
Mode of action of lactocin 160, a bacteriocin from vaginal Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

Objectives. To determine the mechanism of antimicrobial action of lactocin 160, a bacteriocin produced by the healthy vaginal strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, using an established model, with Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10420 as a test organism. Methods. Sensitivity of M. luteus to lactocin 160 was determined by the diffusion assay. Loss of cellular ATP in the lactocintreated cells was elucidated using a commercially available ATP determination kit (luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay). Luminescence intensity as a reflection of ATP quantity was determined using a luminometer. Dissipation of membrane potential (Dc) was studied using fluorophore DiSC3(5) with the fluorescence spectrum sensitive to changes in Dc. Results. Lactocin 160 inhibited growth of M. luteus ATCC 10420 at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. There were no significant changes in the intracellular ATP level of M. luteus upon the addition of 20 mg/ml of lactocin 160. However, the extracellular ATP level increased significantly. This means that the treatment of cells with lactocin 160 resulted in an efflux of ATP from inside the cells. Therefore, a partially purified lactocin 160 preparation (16 mg /ml of the bacteriocin in the sample) killed sensitive cells and dissipated 3.12 + 0.36% of Dc. Conclusion. Lactocin 160 has a mode of action typical for bacteriocins. It disturbs the cellular membrane (Dc dissipation) and induces ATP efflux, most likely because of the pore formation, which is a common mechanism of action for many bacteriocins.
Requirement of Serum Factors for Capacitation and the Acrosome Reaction of Guinea Pig Spermatozoa in Buffered Medium Below pH 7.8

In a protein-deficient minimal culture medium containing various buffers at pH 8.3-8.4, acrosome reactions of motile guinea pig spermatozoa were first evident after 30 mm and maximal by 2 h. If the pH of the culture medium was adjusted to pH 7.4, however, spermatozoa did not undergo acrosome reactions within 8 h. Subsequent experiments showed that acrosome reactions were not spontaneously induced below pH 7.8, whereas at pH 10.5 \.85% of the motile spermatozoa showed acrosome reactions within 5 mm. Similarly, acrosome reactions could be maximally induced within 40 mm in spermatozoa incubated at pH 9.5. The induction of acrosome reactions at high pH required the presence of Ca2 + since no acrosome reactions were observed when 1 mM Mg2 + and 0.2 mM ethylcne-glycol-bis (Il-aminoethyl ether) N,N’-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) were substituted for Ca2+. Acrosome reactions occurred at pH values less than 7.8, however, if 20% (v/v) of heat-treated guinea pig serum or human plasma was added to the culture medium. The serum or plasma was fractionated by ultrafiltration or dialysis, and both a low molecular weight fraction ( 7.8), added biological factors are required to capacitate cells at lower pH values.
Ancient graphite in the Eoarchean quartz–pyroxene rocks from Akilia in southern West Greenland I: Petrographic and spectroscopic characterization

Because all known Eoarchean (>3.65 Ga) volcano-sedimentary terranes are locked in granitoid gneiss complexes that have experienced high degrees of metamorphism and deformation, the origin and mode of preservation of carbonaceous material in the oldest metasedimentary rocks remain a subject of vigorous debate. To determine the biogenicity of carbon in graphite in such rocks, carbonaceous material must be demonstrably indigenous and its composition should be consistent with thermally altered biogenic carbon as well as inconsistent with abiogenic carbon. Here we report the petrological and spectroscopic characteristics of carbonaceous material, typically associated with individual apatite grains, but also with various other minerals including calcite, in a >3.83 Ga granulite-facies ferruginous quartz-pyroxene unit (Qp rock) from the island of Akilia in southern West Greenland. In thin sections of the fine-grained parts of Akilia Qp rock sample G91-26, mapped apatites were found to be associated with graphite in about 20% of the occurrences. Raman spectra of this carbonaceous material had strong G-band and small D-band absorptions indicative of crystalline graphite. Three apatite-associated graphites were found to contain curled graphite structures, identified by an anomalously intense second-order D-band (or 2D-band) Raman mode. These structures are similar to graphite whiskers or cones documented to form at high temperatures. Raman spectra of apatite-associated graphite were consistent with formation at temperatures calculated to be between 635 and 830 °C, which are consistent with granulite-facies metamorphic conditions. Three graphite targets extracted by focused ion beam (FIB) methods contained thin graphite coatings on apatite grains rather than inclusions sensu stricto as inferred from transmitted light microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. TEM analyses of graphite in these FIB sections showed a (0 0 0 2) interplanar spacing between 3.41 and 3.64 A for apatite-associated graphite, which is larger than the spacing of pure graphite (3.35 A) and may be caused by the presence of non-carbon heteroatoms in interlayer sites. Samples analyzed by synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) also confirmed the presence of crystalline graphite, but abundances of N and O heteroatoms were below detection limit for this method. Graphite in the Akilia Qp rock was also found to occur in complex polyphase mineral assemblages of hornblende ± calcite ± sulfides ± magnetite that point to high-temperature precipitation from carbon-bearing fluids. These complex mineral assemblages may represent another generation of graphitization that could have occurred during the amphibolite-facies metamorphic event at 2.7 Ga. Several observations point to graphitization from high-temperature fluid-deposition for some of the Akilia graphite and our results do not exclude a biogenic source of carbon in graphite associated with apatite, but ambiguities remain for the origin of this carbon.
K-core decomposition of a protein domain co-occurrence network reveals lower cancer mutation rates for interior cores

Network biology currently focuses primarily on metabolic pathways, gene regulatory, and protein-protein interaction networks. While these approaches have yielded critical information, alternative methods to network analysis will offer new perspectives on biological information. A little explored area is the interactions between domains that can be captured using domain co-occurrence networks (DCN). A DCN can be used to study the function and interaction of proteins by representing protein domains and their co-existence in genes and by mapping cancer mutations to the individual protein domains to identify signals. The domain co-occurrence network was constructed for the human proteome based on PFAM domains in proteins. Highly connected domains in the central cores were identified using the k-core decomposition technique. Here we show that these domains were found to be more evolutionarily conserved than the peripheral domains. The somatic mutations for ovarian, breast and prostate cancer diseases were obtained from the TCGA database. We mapped the somatic mutations to the individual protein domains and the local false discovery rate was used to identify significantly mutated domains in each cancer type. Significantly mutated domains were found to be enriched in cancer disease pathways. However, we found that the inner cores of the DCN did not contain any of the significantly mutated domains. We observed that the inner core protein domains are highly conserved and these domains co-exist in large numbers with other protein domains. Mutations and domain co-occurrence networks provide a framework for understanding hierarchal designs in protein function from a network perspective. This study provides evidence that a majority of protein domains in the inner core of the DCN have a lower mutation frequency and that protein domains present in the peripheral regions of the k-core contribute more heavily to the disease. These findings may contribute further to drug development.
Advanced broadband optical access networks

Optical fiber-based access networks are being deployed to address the increasing demand for bandwidth and help to support multiple services. As for the future optical access networks, different technologies have been proposed and under investigations, including WDM-based passive optical networks (WDM-PON), optical coding division multiplexing —based PON (OCDM-PON), and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing —based PON (OFDM-PON). Compared with other PON technologies, OFDM-PON shows some very promising features, e.g. dynamic bandwidth allocation, network privacy and support of multiple services. Here we will show the principles, and experimental testings of an OFDM-PON and further talk about virtual PON scheme using OFDM technologies.
On Multiple Antenna Spectrum Sensing Under Noise Variance Uncertainty and Flat Fading

We investigate a spectrum sensing method based on asymptotic analysis of the discrete Fourier transform of the received multiantenna signal, possibly non-Gaussian, for flat-fading primary user signals in white noise under noise variance uncertainty. The proposed approach is based on the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) paradigm for a restricted version of the problem obtained by ignoring the spatial structure of the primary users' received signals, and it permits the noise variances to be different at different antennas without requiring knowledge of their values. Simulation examples show the efficacy of the proposed approach compared with the energy detector and some existing time-domain GLRT approaches. A performance analysis of the proposed detector is carried out and verified via simulations. It is also shown that the proposed test statistic is equivalent to an existing time-domain GLRT statistic except that the latter has been derived under the assumption that received signal is Gaussian whereas we make no such assumption.
Bit Error Rate Measurements in Reverberation Chambers Using Real-Time Vector Receivers

We discuss practical measurement implementation methods when using laboratory-grade vector instrumentation to measure bit error rate (BER) in the highly reflective, time-variant environment of a reverberation chamber. These methods include synchronizing the transmitted and received signals in spite of time-varying path lengths created in the reverberation chamber and minimizing potential receiver loss of lock after a long-duration fade by use of a simple error-correction scheme. Use of general laboratory instrumentation, rather than application-specific digital receivers, facilitates study of the multipath channel created in the reverberation chamber on BER.
Elliptic relative equilibria in the N-body problem

A planar central configuration of the N-body problem gives rise to a solution where each particle moves on a specific Keplerian orbit while the totality of the particles move on a homothety motion. If the Keplerian orbit is elliptic then the solution is an equilibrium in pulsating coordinates so we call this solution an elliptic relative equilibrium. The totality of such solutions forms a four-dimensional symplectic subspace and we give a symplectic coordinate system which is adapted to this subspace and its symplectic complement. In our coordinate system, the linear variational equations of such a solution decouple into three subsystems. One subsystem simply gives the motion of the center of mass, another is Kepler’s problem and the third determines the nontrivial characteristic multipliers. Using these coordinates we study the linear stability of the elliptic relative equilibrium defined by the equilateral triangular central configuration of the three-body problem. We reproduce the analytic studies of G. Roberts. We also study the linear stability of the four- and five-body problem where three or four bodies of unit mass are at the vertices of a equilateral triangle or
Quantifying the Population Impact of a Prophylactic Helicobacter pylori Vaccine

Background: Helicobacter pylorivaccines, which have been suggested as promising interventions to control infection, are under development. We sought to quantify the potential population impact of a prophylactic H. pylori vaccine. Methods: We developed a mathematical model that compartmentalized the population according to age, infection status and clinical state. A proportion of individuals was assumed to acquire infection and develop gastritis, duodenal ulcer (DU), chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer (GC). We first simulated the model without vaccine intervention, to obtain estimates of H. pylori prevalence, and GC and DU incidences based on intrinsic dynamics. We then incorporated a prophylactic vaccine (80% efficacy, lifetime protection, 80% coverage) targeting all infants. We tested vaccination programs over unlimited as well as limited time spans. Analyses were performed for the US, Japan and a prototypical developing country. Results: In the US, our model predicted a decrease in H. pylori prevalence from 12.0% in 2010 to 4.2% in 2100 without intervention. With 10 years of vaccination beginning in 2010, prevalence would decrease to 0.7% by year 2100. In the same period, incidence of H. pylori-attributable GC would decrease from 4.5 to 0.4 per 100,000 with vaccine (compared to 1.3 per 100,000 without vaccine). Incidence of H. pylori-attributable DU would decrease from 33.3 to 2.5 per 100,000 with vaccine (compared to 12.2 per 100,000 without vaccine). In Japan, incidence of H. pylori-attributable GC would decrease from 17.6 to 1.0 per 100,000 after 10 years of vaccination (compared to 3.0 per 100,000 without vaccine). In a prototypical developing country, after 10 years of vaccination, H. pylori-attributable GC would decrease from 31.8 to 22.5 per 100,000 by 2090, returning to the original level by mid-2100s. Under continuous vaccination, it would decrease to 5.8 per 100,000 by 2100. Interpretation: In the US and Japan, a 10-year vaccination program would confer almost the same reduction in H. pylori and associated diseases as a vaccination effort that extends beyond 10 years. In developing countries, a continuous vaccination effort would be required to eliminate the pathogen and its associated diseases. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hypoplasia of the Spleen: Review of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Potential Clinical Implications.

Context: Splenic aplasia is seen when the spleen is congenitally absent, has been surgically removed, or becomes atrophic secondary to episodes of arterial/venous occlusion, which result in splenic infarction. This rare condition is caused by a heterogenous group of diseases, which may present a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Splenic hypoplasia is defined as reduction in splenic mass and or functions caused by incomplete splenic development or secondary parenchymal involution. Splenic infarction may be clinically silent and only discovered incidentally during abdominal exploration for other conditions. Case Report: We present an unusual case of hypoplastic spleen with calcifications, which was preoperatively found during radiologic workup for gastric carcinoma. An 88-year-old woman presented with coffee-ground emesis. Her past medical history was only significant for atrial fibrillation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated gastric carcinoma, for which a subtotal gastrectomy was planned. Preoperative computed tomography scan showed a hypoplastic spleen with calcifications in the left upper quadrant. Symptoms of immunologic deficiency were not present. During laparotomy, an atrophied and calcified spleen was identified and left in situ . The patient made an uneventful postoperative recovery. Splenic hypoplasia is an unique entity, which may be seen in the setting of atrial fibrillation and abdominal malignancy. Conclusion: Splenic hypoplasia may be detected incidentally during radiologic workup or abdominal exploration. Abdominal symptoms or immunologic deficiency are not always present.
The bizarre effort to eliminate underage drinking in the United States: A harm reduction approach to youthful drinking

The article in this issue, Perceived Availability and Alcohol Cue Reactivity, by James MacKillop and Stephen A. Lisman, presents an interesting – perhaps critical – result. Telling underage drinker...
Recent Results on Difference Sets with Classical Parameters

We survey recent results on difference sets with classical parameters. In particular, we discuss constructions of cyclic difference sets from hyperovals and related 2-rank results. We also mention a few conjectures on sequences with two-level autocorrelation as well as some recent results on these conjectures.
Silicon integrated microsensors

This paper reviews the field of silicon-based integrated microsensors. These devices are implemented using fabrication technologies developed for integrated circuits, and lend themselves easily to low cost and high volume production. They are typically much smaller, more precise and stable, have less drift, and are much more reliable than their discrete counterparts. The addition of on-chip integrated circuits to the silicon sensors enables the processing and amplification of low level signals recorded by the sensors, and allows the device to be more easily interfaced and integrated into an electronic measurement and control system. The fabrication of silicon integrated microsensors is reviewed, and a number of examples are discussed. These examples include a multichannel integrated silicon microprobe for the recording of neural signals form the brain cells, and a multi-element infrared thermal detector based on silicon-gold thermopiles.
Effects of Antigen and Genetic Adjuvants on Immune Responses to Human Immunodeficiency Virus DNA Vaccines in Mice

The effects of genetic adjuvants on humoral and cell-mediated immunity to two human immunodeficiency virus antigens, Env and Nef, have been examined in mice. Despite similar levels of gene expression and the same gene delivery vector, the immune responses to these two gene products differed following DNA immunization. Intramuscular immunization with a Nef expression vector plasmid generated a humoral response and antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production but little cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) immunity. In contrast, immunization with an Env vector stimulated CTL activity but did not induce a high-titer antibody response. The ability to modify these antigen-specific immune responses was investigated by coinjection of DNA plasmids encoding cytokine and/or hematopoietic growth factors, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, IL-15, Flt3 ligand (FL), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Coadministration of these genes largely altered the immune responses quantitatively but not qualitatively. IL-12 induced the greatest increase in IFN-γ and immunoglobulin G responses to Nef, and GM-CSF induced the strongest IFN-γ and CTL responses to Env. A dual approach of expanding innate immunity by administering the FL gene, together with a cytokine that enhances adaptive immune responses, IL-2, IL-12, or IL-15, generated the most potent immune response at the lowest doses of Nef antigen. These findings suggest that intrinsic properties of the antigen determine the character of immune reactivity for this method of immunization and that specific combination of innate and adaptive immune cytokine genes can increase the magnitude of the response to DNA vaccines.
“Nobody Ever Asked Me Before”: Understanding Life Experiences of African American Elders

With the unprecedented growth in the African American elderly population, there exists an urgent need to prepare nurses to deliver culturally competent care. The purpose of this study was to increase the knowledge available about the cultural heritage, worldviews, and life experiences of African American elders. Reminiscence interviews were conducted with African American elders living in a medium-sized northeast urban community. Data were analyzed using Spiegelberg’s phenomenological method. The following themes emerged: (a) nobody ever asked me before, (b) stories of discrimination, (c) coping with discrimination, (d) the hurt of discrimination, and (e) self-discoveries. Nurses, through the use of reminiscence, can gain insight into the cultural heritage, worldviews, and life experiences of African American elders and improve their ability to deliver culturally competent care to this population.
Growth of the rat epiphyseal cartilage plate following partial amputation.

Following hemi-resection of the rat distal femoral epiphysis with its growing epiphyseal cartilage, the cut surface of the cartilage is sealed-off by trabecular bone and the cells fail to undergo further growth and maturation at that site. However, since the peripheral rows of cartilage cells survive and continue to proliferate, the cellular activity gradient causes the epiphyseal remnant to rotate about the fixed cut surface of the cartilage toward the amputated side. In these experiments, the degree of epiphyseal rotation following partial amputation was compared to the longitudinal growth of the contralateral intact femurs in normal and estrogen-treated rats. While estrogen treatment retarded both the growth of intact femurs and epiphyseal rotation, the ratios of these growth measurements calculated at different time intervals following osteotomy (0–4, 4–7, 7–9 weeks) were identical to those of the control series. It was concluded that partial amputation per se had no demonstrable effect on the vitality of the surviving chondrocytes of epiphyseal cartilages; moreover, these cells were entirely responsive to the growth depressing action of estrogen.
Biomass production and species composition change in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem after long‐term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2

To determine the long-term impact of elevated CO2 on primary production of native tallgrass prairie, we compared the responses of tallgrass prairie at ambient and twiceambient atmospheric CO2 levels over an &year period. Plots in open-top chambers (4.5 m diameter) were exposed continuously (24 h) to ambient and elevated CO2 from early April to late October each year. Unchambered plots were monitored also. Aboveground peak biomass was determined by clipping each year in early August, and root growth was estimated by harvesting roots from root ingrowth bags. Plant community composition was censused each year in early June. In the last 2 years of the study, subplots were clipped on 1 June or 1 July, and regrowth was harvested on 1 October. Volumetric soil water content of the O-100 cm soil layer was determined using neutron scattering, and was generally higher in elevated CO2 plots than ambient. Peak aboveground biomass was greater on elevated CO2 plots than ambient CO2 plots with or without chambers during years with significant plant water stress. Above-ground regrowth biomass was greater under elevated CO2 than under ambient CO2 in a year with late-season water stress, but did not differ in a wetter year. Root ingrowth biomass was also greater in elevated CO2 plots than ambient CO2 plots when water stress occurred during the growing season. The basal cover and relative amount of warmseason perennial grasses (C4) in the stand changed little during the S-year period, but basal cover and relative amount of cool-season perennial grasses (C3) in the stand declined in the elevated CO2 plots and in ambient CO2 plots with chambers. Forbs (C3) and members of the Cyperaceae (C3) increased in basal cover and relative amount in the stand at elevated compared to ambient CO2* Greater biomass production under elevated CO2 in C4-dominated grasslands may lead to a greater carbon sequestration by those ecosystems and reduce peak atmospheric CO2 concentrations in the future.
Split-CV for pseudo-MOSFET characterization: Experimental setups and associated parameter extraction methods

We examine in detail the experimental setup for fast, in situ characterization of bare SOI substrates using the pseudo-MOSFET technique. Two main experimental conditions are analyzed: the back contact between the SOI wafer and the metal chuck, and the influence of probes placement (location and pressure) on the die surface. Static I-V and split-CV measurements are reported and the parameter extraction methods are update. We focus on the carrier mobility and define pragmatic guidelines for simple and accurate extraction.
Safety And Efficacy Of Ara 290, A Non-erythropoietic Peptide Engineered From Erythropoietin, In Patients With Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.

Human diabetic neuropathy is the commonest long-term complication of diabetes and leads to pain, impotence, foot ulceration and amputation. Currently there are no FDA approved therapies for human diabetic neuropathy. ARA 290 is a novel non-hematopoietic peptide designed from the structure of erythropoietin to preferentially interact with the innate repair receptor that mediates tissue protection and repair. It has shown efficacy in preclinical animal models of neuropathy and in patients with small fiber neuropathy due to sarcoidosis and was granted FDA designation as an orphan drug product for the treatment of neuropathic pain in sarcoidosis. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ARA 290 in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study (EUCTR2012-005590-32-NL). ARA 290 (4 mg) (n=24) or placebo (n=24), were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 days and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment. No potential safety issues were identified. Patients receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in HbA1c (P 1 standard deviation from normal there was a mean increase (+2.6 ± 1.0 fibers/mm2 for ARA 290 (n=18; p=0.02; paired t test) versus +0.7 ± 1.3 fibers/mm2 for placebo (n=19; p = ns). The improvement in PainDetect correlated significantly with the increase in CNFD in the ARA 290 (r2 = 0.48, P=0.004) but not the placebo group. These observations suggest that ARA 290 may benefit glycemic and lipid control and also has an impact on neuropathic symptoms and small fiber repair which can be detected using our pioneering technique of CCM in diabetic patients with painful neuropathy. These data warrant further larger clinical trials of ARA 290 in diabetic neuropathy.
STEROLS OF SKIN IN THE NORMAL AND TRIPARANOL-TREATED RAT.

SUMMARY Skin of normal rats and of rats treated with triparanol were incubated with acetate-2-H3 for 2 hr, and the sterols were extracted and separated chromatographically. Treatment with triparanol resulted in grossly visible changes (scaliness, roughness, and atrophy of the skin) and in a marked alteration in the metabolism of skin sterols. There were considerable reductions in the concentrations of compounds with saturated side chains: cholesterol, methostenol, and dihydrolanosterol; and increases in the concentrations of sterols with unsaturated side chains: desmosterol, lanosterol, and sterols tentatively identified as dehydromethostenol and A7,24-cholestadienol. Isotope data showed that after incubation for 2 hr, a large proportion of the counts were in squalene in skin from both normal and triparanoltreated rats. There was a reduction in the incorporation of radioactivity into the A5-stenol fraction and an increase in the incorporation into lanosterol and A7-sterols, in skin from triparanol-treated rats. Triparanol inhibits the enzyme responsible for reduction of the 24,25double bond in the sterols of rat skin. The mechanism of sterol biosynthesis in mammalian skin is generally believed to be similar to that in the rest of the organism. The composition of the skin sterols, however, differs markedly from their compoeition in other organs. Skin contains significantly higher concentrations of various sterols that serve as normal intermediates in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Skin, then, would appear to be an ideal site for studying the biosynthesis of cholesterol in normal animals and for observing the effects of inhibitors of biosynthesis. Previous studies on the composition of rat skin include those of Moore and Baumann (I), who identified 7-dehydrocholesterol among the “fast-acting” sterols from rat skin, and Idler and Baumann (a), who found that A7-cholestenol represents up to SOYo of the total sterol fraction. It is interesting to note that AI-cholestenol is less abundant in other mammals (3). Keiderhiser and Wells (4) reported the presence of 4amethyl-A’-cholestenol (methostenol) in rat skin and other tissues, and Stokes et al. (5) identified 24-dehydrocholesterol (desmosterol) as a normal constituent of
Suture-Zones of Hybrid Interaction Between Recently Joined Biotas

From a study of the geographic occurrences of contemporary hybridization among North American animals, it has become apparent that most of the hybrids are produced in a few relatively localized zones, with little hybridizing in the vast areas between these zones of mixing. The hybrids tend to be at least moderately fertile and therefore to be a source of significant gene exchange between the typically allopatric pairs of species and semispecies. There is a wide variety of consequences from this introgression, with greater or lesser influence on the parental populations, and large portions of the fauna and probably flora are involved. An appropriate term for such a belt of interfaunal and interfloral linkage is suture-zone.1
Semantic Parsing: The Task, the State of the Art and the Future

Semantic parsing is the task of mapping natural language sentences into complete formal meaning representations which a computer can execute for some domain-specific application. This is a challenging task and is critical for developing computing systems that can understand and process natural language input, for example, a computing system that answers natural language queries about a database, or a robot that takes commands in natural language. While the importance of semantic parsing was realized a long time ago, it is only in the past few years that the state-of-the-art in semantic parsing has been significantly advanced with more accurate and robust semantic parser learners that use a variety of statistical learning methods. Semantic parsers have also been extended to work beyond a single sentence, for example, to use discourse contexts and to learn domain-specific language from perceptual contexts. Some of the future research directions of semantic parsing with potentially large impacts include mapping entire natural language documents into machine processable form to enable automated reasoning about them and to convert natural language web pages into machine processable representations for the Semantic Web to support automated high-end web applications. This tutorial will introduce the semantic parsing task and will bring the audience up-to-date with the current research and state-of-the-art in semantic parsing. It will also provide insights about semantic parsing and how it relates to and differs from other natural language processing tasks. It will point out research challenges and some promising future directions for semantic parsing.
Compounds related to juvenile hormone. Exceptional activity of arylterpenoid compounds in four species of flies.

Six arylterpenoid juvenile hormone mimics were prepared and tested in the laboratory against the house fly, Musca domestica L., the face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer, the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L)., and the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L). Three of the compounds also were evaluated as feed additives to cattle and as insecticidal sprays. All compounds were highly active against all 4 species. The JH activity of 2-ethoxy-9-( p -isopropylphenyl)-2, 6-dimethylnonane is the highest thus far reported against all species but the horn fly.
Jump Rates for Point Defects in Special Positions Held by a Trapping Center of Noncubic Symmetry.

In a previous paper [J. Phys. Chem. Solids 27, 975 (1966)] the authors have discussed symmetry conditions for equivalence of jump rates operative in point-defect motion between crystallographically equivalent general sites neighboring a trapping center. The treatment is here extended to equivalent special sites to show that the total number of inequivalent jump rates can be expressed as (Nt/Nd )-qe -1 where Nt and Nd are the orders of the symmetry groups of the trap and defect respectively and where qe is the number of independently effective pairs of nonself-inverse symmetry operators (paired with their inverses) all in the symmetry group of the trap. The number qe can be obtained by counting any nonself-inverse operator pair, an element of which, when multiplied by any element of the defect symmetry, equals neither its own inverse nor an element of a pair previously counted. For thermally activated relaxation processes expressions apply for maximum and minimum numbers of jump frequencies involved in complete and partial relaxation processes. For complete relaxation the maximum number is the number of prime factors in the ratio of the order of the symmetry group of the trap to that of the defect group. The minimum number is the minimum number of generators that will raise the defect position symmetry to that of the trap.
Analysis of 46 Severe Viral Encephalitis Cases in Children

Objective To explore optimal methods in the diagnosis and treatment of severe viral encephalitis in children with severe viral encephalitis.Methods 46 cases of sever viral encephalitis in children collected in our department were reviewed.Results After a comprehensive therapy,16 children(34.8%) were fully recovered,29 children(63.0%) were discharged with better conditions and 1 child(2.2%) died after the patient gave up treatment.Three months later,the recheck observed 12 cases(26.1%) of epilepsy,16 cases(34.8%) of poorer intelligence and 1 case(2.2%) of paralyzed body on one side.Conclusion Early inspection,early diagnosis and the adoption of correct comprehensive therapy can increase the cure rate of severe viral encephalitis in children,and decrease the death rate and the disability rate.
Positive and Negative Regulation of Cell Cycle Progression by Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatases

Reversible protein phosphorylation events play a key role in intracellular signal transduction pathways that regulate gene expression and cell proliferation. To analyze the involvement of protein phosphatases in these processes, we applied two different approaches. First, we used okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of the two major serine/threonine protein phosphatases, type 1 (PP-1) and type 2A (PP-2A).1–3 Second, we microinjected subunits of PP-2A into living cells and analyzed the effects on gene expression.
Physeal Disruption During ACL Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: Does Independent Femoral Tunnel Drilling Place the Physis at Greater Risk?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to radiographically assess differences in distal femoral physeal disruption between transtibial and independent femoral tunnel drilling techniques following ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients.
Function and regulation of microRNA-31 in development and disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that orchestrate numerous cellular processes both under normal physiological conditions as well as in diseases. This review summarizes the functional roles and transcriptional regulation of the highly evolutionarily conserved miRNA, microRNA-31 (miR-31). miR-31 is an important regulator of embryonic implantation, development, bone and muscle homeostasis, and immune system function. Its own regulation is disrupted during the onset and progression of cancer and autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Limited studies suggest that miR-31 is transcriptionally regulated by epigenetics, such as methylation and acetylation, as well as by a number of transcription factors. Overall, miR-31 regulates diverse cellular and developmental processes by targeting genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell differentiation, and cell motility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 654-674, 2016 © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emerging trends in the evaluation and management of small cell prostate cancer: a clinical and molecular perspective.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Prostatic small cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare, aggressive form of prostate cancer associated with poor clinical outcomes. It can arise de novo or in the setting of castrate resistant adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Current therapeutic interventions are based upon observations the PSCC responds similarly to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Standard treatment includes chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide, radiation therapy, and occasional extirpative management. Ongoing research into the molecular pathway behind the development of PSCC and potential interventions is resulting in the identification of multiple novel therapeutic targets.Areas covered: A review of contemporary literature was undertaken to evaluate the histology, pathogenesis, evolution, current and novel treatment regimens, and upcoming methods of diagnosis of PSCC. To this end a literature search using terms, ‘prostate small cell carcinoma’, ‘neuroendocrine prostate cancer’, and derivations thereof was performed ...
Distinct Microbiome-Neuroimmune Signatures Correlate With Functional Abdominal Pain in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background & Aims Emerging data on the gut microbiome in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that altered host–microbe interactions may contribute to disease symptoms. Although gut microbial communities in children with ASD are reported to differ from individuals with neurotypical development, it is not known whether these bacteria induce pathogenic neuroimmune signals. Methods Because commensal clostridia interactions with the intestinal mucosa can regulate disease-associated cytokine and serotonergic pathways in animal models, we evaluated whether microbiome-neuroimmune profiles (from rectal biopsy specimens and blood) differed in ASD children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (ASD-FGID, n = 14) compared with neurotypical (NT) children with FGID (NT-FGID, n = 15) and without abdominal pain (NT, n = 6). Microbial 16S ribosomal DNA community signatures, cytokines, and serotonergic metabolites were quantified and correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Results A significant increase in several mucosa-associated Clostridiales was observed in ASD-FGID, whereas marked decreases in Dorea and Blautia , as well as Sutterella , were evident. Stratification by abdominal pain showed multiple organisms in ASD-FGID that correlated significantly with cytokines (interleukin [IL]6, IL1, IL17A, and interferon-γ). Group comparisons showed that IL6 and tryptophan release by mucosal biopsy specimens was highest in ASD children with abdominal pain, whereas serotonergic metabolites generally were increased in children with FGIDs. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokines correlated significantly with several Clostridiales previously reported to associate with ASD, as did tryptophan and serotonin. Conclusions Our findings identify distinctive mucosal microbial signatures in ASD children with FGID that correlate with cytokine and tryptophan homeostasis. Future studies are needed to establish whether these disease-associated Clostridiales species confer early pathogenic signals in children with ASD and FGID.
Framing, Engagement, and Policy Change: Lessons for the ACA

Supporters of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) sometimes speculate that public attitudes toward the law will shift if proponents succeed in focusing attention on its more popular components, but the scholarly literature on framing effects provides ample reason to question their assertion. This article contends that engagement, an alternative rhetorical strategy where advocates address the same policy dimensions as their opponents, is a more promising approach. Extending the engagement literature to the elite context in which most ACA-related decisions are made, it argues that elite-level engagement necessitates the additional task of linking policy change to opponents' broader philosophical and policy goals. Current debates surrounding the application of sales taxes to electronic commerce-a policy arena that seems far removed from health care policy but overlaps with the ACA in ways that make it an appropriate source of lesson drawing-illustrate the potential of an engagement strategy. Recently, many conservative lawmakers who previously opposed policy change have instead embraced online sales taxes as a mechanism for additional tax cuts. Analogous connections may facilitate the diffusion of ACA provisions that presently receive hostile receptions in Republican-leaning states.