cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Di-adenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) metabolism impacts biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens via modulation of c-di-GMP-dependent pathways.

Dinucleoside tetraphosphates are common constituents of the cell and are thought to play diverse biological roles in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. In this study we characterized two independent mechanisms by which di-adenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) metabolism impacts biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens. Null mutations in apaH, the gene encoding nucleoside tetraphosphate hydrolase, resulted in a marked increase in the cellular level of Ap4A. Concomitant with this increase, Pho regulon activation in low-inorganic-phosphate (Pi) conditions was severely compromised. As a consequence, an apaH mutant was not sensitive to Pho regulon-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation. In addition, we characterized a Pho-independent role for Ap4A metabolism in regulation of biofilm formation. In Pi-replete conditions Ap4A metabolism was found to impact expression and localization of LapA, the major adhesin regulating surface commitment by P. fluorescens. Increases in the level of c-di-GMP in the apaH mutant provided a likely explanation for increased localization of LapA to the outer membrane in response to elevated Ap4A concentrations. Increased levels of c-di-GMP in the apaH mutant were associated with increases in the level of GTP, suggesting that elevated levels of Ap4A may promote de novo purine biosynthesis. In support of this suggestion, supplementation with adenine could partially suppress the biofilm and c-di-GMP phenotypes of the apaH mutant. We hypothesize that changes in the substrate (GTP) concentration mediated by altered flux through nucleotide biosynthetic pathways may be a significant point of regulation for c-di-GMP biosynthesis and regulation of biofilm formation.
The Lever oscillator for use in high resistance resonator applications

A series resonator oscillator design that operates over a wide dynamic range of resonator resistance is presented. This resistance range is compatible with in situ resonator sensors used in liquid environments. The Lever oscillator is useful for these applications because of its ability to measure the f/sub 2/ and R/sub m/ of the resonator. The oscillator's variable leveraging effect has been shown to be useful for increasing the dynamic range of resonator resistance while maintaining sensitivity at lower resistances. The oscillator's ability to servo a resonator-impedance phase has been demonstrated, and this phase can be made close to zero degrees by selection of transistor type and/or circuit resistance values. The relationship between the resonator frequency at a given phase with respect to true f/sub s/ is discussed along with correction methods. Currently this design is being implemented in a jet-fuel contamination sensory system and in a viscosity-density sensor using bulk wave resonators. >
Ultrathin MBE-Grown AlN/GaN HEMTs with record high current densities

III-V nitride-based HEMT technology has made rapid progress over the last decade. Benefiting from the extremely high polarization charge, in this work, we demonstrate record high DC current density (2.9 A/mm) and very high extrinsic transconductance (~430 mS/mm) AIN/GaN HEMTs.
Testing electron boost invariance with 2S-1S hydrogen spectroscopy

There are few good direct laboratory tests of boost invariance for electrons, because the experiments required often involve repeated precision measurements performed at different times of the year. However, existing measurements and remeasurements of the $2S\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}1S$ two-photon transition frequency in $^{1}\mathrm{H}$---which were done to search for a time variation in the fine structure constant---also constitute a measurement of the boost symmetry violation parameter $0.83{c}_{(TX)}+0.51{c}_{(TY)}+0.22{c}_{(TZ)}=(4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$. This is an 8 order of magnitude improvement over preexisting laboratory bounds, and with only one additional measurement, this system could yield a second comparable constraint.
Is Trust a Historical Residue? Information Flows and Trust Levels

Abstract In making cross-country social comparisons, `trust' has usually been treated as a culturally determined primitive. However, understanding the determinants of trust would enhance our understanding of its effects on the nature of contracting and on organizational structure. Theories of economists and sociologists generally predict a positive relationship between trust and information flows. We examine some institutional determinants of trust, using data from the World Values Survey 1990–1993 and the International Telecommunications Union Yearbook. Our finding that trust is increasing in the ease of two-way communication, particularly in urbanized economies, calls into question the extreme viewpoint that trust is purely a historical residue.
Una Narración Fundacional para una Antropología Filosófica Chilena: Raza Chilena de Nicolás Palacios

This article argues that Palacios proposes the essential elements for a systematical philosophical anthropology, under the influence of his time, mainly evolutionism and racism, but different while trying to give a wide perspective of racial mix as the result of cultural contamination by contact and the sociocultural mutation as a result. Raza Chilena is a book that contains a holistic hypothesis that link all forms of science, history, biology, sociology, anthropology and linguistics available in the 19 th century Chile.
Onset exercise hyperaemia in humans: partitioning the contributors.

Using a step-wise, reductionist approach we characterized the time course and degree to which mechanical, vasodilatory and cardiac mechanisms contribute to the increase in leg blood flow (LBF) at the onset of dynamic knee-extensor exercise. Heart rate (HR) and LBF (ultrasound Doppler) were evaluated during (1) voluntary and (2) passive exercise in the seated position, (3) passive exercise in the supine position with the leg above the heart, and (4) passive exercise with measurements made in the non-moving leg. In trials 2 and 3, the degree of change and time course of peak ΔHR (8.7 ± 2 bpm, seated; 10 ± 1 bpm, supine) and peak ΔLBF (518 ± 135 ml min−1, seated; 448 ± 179 ml min−1, supine) were similar, supporting the concept that the skeletal muscle pump was minimized. Even with the reduction of skeletal muscle pump and metabolic influences (trials 2, 3 and 4) a significant cardio-acceleration and hyperaemia was seen. In the first 5 s of seated passive exercise, the retrograde component of the blood velocity profile was significantly greater than rest or the 5–20 s interval, which may suggest an arterial inflow that initially exceeded leg vasodilatation. Steady-state LBF (minutes 2 and 3) remained elevated during voluntary exercise, but returned to near baseline during passive movement. Taken together, these data suggest that cardio-acceleration (i.e. tachycardia) and mechanical forces other than the skeletal muscle pump play a role in reducing vascular resistance and ultimately increasing LBF at the onset of exercise, followed by steady-state LBF which matches muscle metabolic demand.
Dual cavity reltron

In this paper, we propose a design for a dual cavity reltron. In the dual cavity reltron the second cavity is used to increase beam modulation allowing tighter beam bunches to be formed. This allows the dual cavity reltron to generate greater microwave power compared to a single cavity reltron. Both single particle analyses and MAGIC particle-in-cell computer simulations are used in this study.
Attributional Biases in the Service of Stereotype Maintenance: A Schema-Maintenance Through Compensation Analysis:

Six experiments were conducted to test assumptions of a schema-maintenance through compensation analysis. The results of these experiments indicated that perceivers can compensate for the inconsistent action of one individual (the target) by altering their attribution concerning the action of a fellow group member. When the target performed an inconsistent behavior, perceivers compensated by making especially extreme stereotypically consistent attributions concerning a fellow group member’s subsequent action. In addition, in Experiment 5, perceivers compensated via a fellow group member for a target’s inconsistent action while maintaining their general view of group members. Experiments also provided tests of the capability and motivation assumptions of the schema-maintenance through compensation analyses.
Health, Morality, and Housing: The “Tenement Problem” in Chicago

In this article, I trace the history of Chicago's Health Department, exploring when and how housing conditions came to be considered a serious social problem requiring municipal regulation. Although journalists and labor leaders were among the first Chicagoans to link tenement housing to the spread of contagious disease, Health Department officials quickly began regulating the city's housing stock under their own authority. I argue that in attempting to eliminate the dangers of contagious disease, a long-standing public health threat, health officials drew new attention to the dangers of multifamily dwellings and set a precedent for government regulation of living conditions in tenement dwellings.
Inhibition of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase triggers massive apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells

Diets high in fat are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, although the molecular mechanism is still unknown. We have previously reported that arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid common in the Western diet, stimulates proliferation of prostate cancer cells through production of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite, 5-HETE (5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid). We now show that 5-HETE is also a potent survival factor for human prostate cancer cells. These cells constitutively produce 5-HETE in serum-free medium with no added stimulus. Exogenous arachidonate markedly increases the production of 5-HETE. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by MK886 completely blocks 5-HETE production and induces massive apoptosis in both hormone-responsive (LNCaP) and -nonresponsive (PC3) human prostate cancer cells. This cell death is very rapid: cells treated with MK886 showed mitochondrial permeability transition between 30 and 60 min, externalization of phosphatidylserine within 2 hr, and degradation of DNA to nucleosomal subunits beginning within 2–4 hr posttreatment. Cell death was effectively blocked by the thiol antioxidant, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, but not by androgen, a powerful survival factor for prostate cancer cells. Apoptosis was specific for 5-lipoxygenase—programmed cell death was not observed with inhibitors of 12-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, or cytochrome P450 pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Exogenous 5-HETE protects these cells from apoptosis induced by 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, confirming a critical role of 5-lipoxygenase activity in the survival of these cells. These findings provide a possible molecular mechanism by which dietary fat may influence the progression of prostate cancer.
Identification of regulators of the innate immune response to cytosolic DNA and retroviral infection by an integrative approach

The innate immune system senses viral DNA that enters mammalian cells, or in aberrant situations self-DNA, and triggers type I interferon production. Here we present an integrative approach that combines quantitative proteomics, genomics and small molecule perturbations to identify genes involved in this pathway. We silenced 809 candidate genes, measured the response to dsDNA and connected resulting hits with the known signaling network. We identified ABCF1 as a critical protein that associates with dsDNA and the DNA-sensing components HMGB2 and IFI204. We also found that CDC37 regulates the stability of the signaling molecule TBK1 and that chemical inhibition of the CDC37-HSP90 interaction and several other pathway regulators potently modulates the innate immune response to DNA and retroviral infection.
Surrogates' perceptions about feeding tube placement decisions.

Abstract Objectives (1) To determine surrogates perceptions about who made the decision to place the feeding tube and who they would have preferred to have made the decision. (2) To determine surrogates’ perceptions of the information they received to make this decision. Methods Structured interviews with 246 surrogate decision-makers. Results Fifty-five percent of surrogates felt that the decision was made primarily by the surrogate, but 75% would prefer that the decision be shared with the physician. Surrogates reported that they discussed the benefits (80%) and the risks (72%) of feeding tube placement and discussed what life would be like with the feeding tube (65%) and without the feeding tube (67%). They also reported being asked if they understood the information (85%) and their thoughts about placement (56%). Despite receiving this information, 28 to 41% reported wanting more information about these aspects. Conclusion Surrogates would have preferred greater physician participation in decisions about feeding tube placement and many reported that their informational needs were not completely met. Practice Implications These results suggest that physicians may be justified in taking a more active role in feeding tube decisions with surrogates and that many surrogates desire more information than is required by standards of informed decision making.
CQESTR Simulation of Management Practice Effects on Long-Term Soil Organic Carbon

Management of soil organic matter (SOM) is important for soil productivity and responsible utilization of crop residues for additional uses. CQESTR, pronounced "sequester," a contraction of"C sequestration" (meaning C storage), is a C balance model that relates organic residue additions, crop management, and soil tillage to SOM accretion or loss. Our objective was to simulate SOM changes in agricultural soils under a range of climate and management systems using the CQESTR model. Four long-term experiments (Champaign, IL, >100 yr; Columbia, MO, >100 yr; Lincoln, NE, 20 yr; Sidney, NE, 20 yr) in the United States under various crop rotations, tillage practices, organic amendments, and crop residue removal treatments were selected for their documented history of the long-term effects of management practice on SOM dynamics. CQESTR successfully simulated a substantial decline in SOM with 50 yr of crop residue removal under various rotations at Columbia and Champaign. The increase in SOM following addition of manure was simulated well; however, the model underestimated SOM for a fertilized treatment at Columbia. Predicted and observed values from the four sites were significantly related (r2 = 0.94, n = 113, P < 0.001), with slope not significantly different from 1. Given the high correlation of simulated and observed SOM changes, CQESTR can be used as a reliable tool to predict SOM changes from management practices and offers the potential for estimating soil C storage required for C credits. It can also be an important tool to estimate the impacts of crop residue removal for bioenergy production on SOM level and soil production capacity.
ANALYSIS OF RESERVE PIT SLUDGE FROM UNCONVENTIONAL NATURAL GAS HYDRAULIC FRACTURING AND DRILLING OPERATIONS FOR THE PRESENCE OF TECHNOLOGICALLY ENHANCED NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (TENORM)

Soil and water (sludge) obtained from reserve pits used in unconventional natural gas mining was analyzed for the presence of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM). Samples were analyzed for total gamma, alpha, and beta radiation, and specific radionuclides: beryllium, potassium, scandium, cobalt, cesium, thallium, lead-210 and -214, bismuth-212 and -214, radium-226 and -228, thorium, uranium, and strontium-89 and -90. Laboratory analysis confirmed elevated beta readings recorded at 1329 ± 311 pCi/g. Specific radionuclides present in an active reserve pit and the soil of a leveled, vacated reserve pit included 232 Thorium decay series ( 228 Ra, 228 Th, 208 Tl), and 226 Radium decay series ( 214 Pb, 214 Bi, 210 Pb) radionuclides. The potential for impact of TENORM to the environment, occupational workers, and the general public is presented with potential health effects of individual radionuclides. Current oversight, exemption of TENORM in federal and state regulations, and complexity in reporting are discussed.
Identification of the amino acids on a neuronal glutamate receptor recognized by an autoantibody from a patient with paraneoplastic syndrome

Autoantibodies from a patient with paraneoplastic disease were identified previously to bind to the glutamate receptor (GluR) subunit GluR5 and to function as potential allosteric modulators of receptor activity (Gahring et al. [1995] Mol Med 1:245–253). In the present study we have used deletion mapping and mutagenesis to define the residues in GluR5 bound by this autoreactivity. The autoantibody contact residues include residues K497, N508, K510, E512, and to a lesser extent Q507. Residues 507–512 confer autoantibody specificity of the autoreactivity to GluR5. These residues have been shown in crystallographic studies (Armstrong et al. [1998] Nature 395:913–917) to participate in a loop structure, whereas residue K497 is located on a beta-strand. Notably, this binding spans tyrosine 504, a residue important in forming the agonist-binding site. We propose that autoantibody binding of essential residues in this GluR5 autoantigenic region defines a subunit-specific allosteric regulatory site on neuronal glutamate receptors and suggests how receptor dysfunction and region-specific neuronal death in the brain can progress in certain autoimmune neurological diseases. J. Neurosci. Res. 63:480–485, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stable models of formulas with intensional functions

In classical logic, nonBoolean fluents, such as the location of an object and the color of a ball, can be naturally described by functions, but this is not the case with the traditional stable model semantics, where the values of functions are predefined, and nonmonotonicity of the semantics is related to minimizing the extents of predicates but has nothing to do with functions. We extend the first-order stable model semantics by Ferraris, Lee and Lifschitz to allow intensional functions. The new formalism is closely related to multivalued nonmonotonic causal logic, logic programs with in-tensional functions, and other extensions of logic programs with functions, while keeping similar properties as those of the first-order stable model semantics. We show how to eliminate intensional functions in favor of intensional predicates and vice versa, and use these results to encode fragments of the language in the input language of ASP solvers and CSP solvers.
Influence of a reactive element on the growth of a thermally grown chromia scale: A grazing emission X-ray fluorescence study

The oxidation of 55Fe–25Cr–20Ni (wt.%) alloys, with and without added reactive element (RE) Y, were studied using grazing-emission X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF). Samples were studied after isothermal treatments at 750°C in O2 and after cyclic-oxidation treatments. In early-stage oxidation, a Ni-rich scale is formed. The distribution of this early-stage Ni deposit is studied as the scale evolves. The Ni deposit, serving as a marker, remains on the outer scale surface in Y-containing alloys, but is not detectable in scales on Y-free alloys. The results indicate that new chromia scale growth occurs at the outer surface in Y-free alloys but, for Y-containing alloys, new growth occurs away from the outer surface. Thus, a shift in the growth mode is apparently observed at 750°C, consistent with higher-temperature observations. However, unlike the high-temperature measurements, scale-growth rates are not significantly affected by the RE.
Assessing Performance of Glow-in-the-Dark Concrete

The objective of this research was to develop a soy-based luminescent sealant for use on concrete surfaces. The luminescent sealant was a mixture of soy methyl ester polystyrene and strontium aluminate, a phosphorescent powder that slowly luminesces after being excited by light. A test procedure was developed to quantify the magnitude and duration of the luminance of the coated concrete surface; quantifying the luminance was key in evaluating the performance of the luminescent sealant. The luminescent sealant was excited in a consistent manner with a xenon lighting system that simulated sunlight, a photometer (light-measuring instrument) that measured the luminance of the excited concrete surface, and a housing unit that prevented extraneous light from the surroundings from influencing the test results. Results of the tests indicated that the luminescent surface emitted light (i.e., glowed) for approximately 24 h in a dark space after it was excited. Larger particles of strontium aluminate were found to l...
How to Observe a Colleague Teach a Case

The baseball coach, Yogi Berra, once remarked "You can observe a lot just by watching." This, it seems to me, is dubious advice to those who want to learn to teach by observing others. It implies a rather passive, disengaged approach to this important activity and is no guarantee of learning or growth as a teacher. Observation is one of the most important means by which one learns to teach by the case method. It is hard, fully engaged work. Here are some tips for making this a more fruitful use of time.
Menstrual Blood Quantitation in the Rhesus Monkey: An Experimental Tool for Improving Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUDS) *

6 normally menstruating and 21 ovariectomized rhesus monkeys were used to measure the menstrual blood loss (MBL) during an estrous cycle. A reliable method of quantitating MBL should provide better evaluation of the bleeding problem associated with IUDs. The technic used in measuring the MBL and the volume of MBL are presented. The ovariectomized animals were given 25-mcg estradiol im daily for 22 consecutive days of each month and 1.5-mg progesterone daily during the second half of the injection schedule. These injections supported normal endometrial histology. Intravaginal pads were used for the collection of the menstrual blood. MBL was calculated by the Hallberg-Nillson method. Average MBL for all menstrual periods was 2.01 ml. This should provide a necessary parameter for evaluation of IUD-associated uterine hemorrhage.
Food Insecurity and Financial Access During an Economic Recession: Evidence From the 2008 SIPP

ABSTRACTThis study examines the association between financial access, unemployment, and household food insecurity during the economic recession (N = 14,417). The unbanked lack financial access to smooth their consumption during times of financial stress. The dependent variable is food insecurity, the independent variable is banked status, and unemployment experience is a moderator. The results of this study, using Survey of Income and Program Participation data, indicate financial access and unemployment are significantly related to food insecurity for the general population, but there is no evidence that financial access mitigates food hardship for the unemployed. Policy implications are discussed.
Tunneling through a barrier with the phase–amplitude method

Abstract A previous study (Rawitscher, 2015) of the solution of Milne’s non linear equation for the phase and amplitude of a one-dimensional wave function is extended to the case where the incident energy is less than the potential (Barrier region). The numerical method again consists in implementing a spectral expansion of the amplitude in terms of a number of Chebyshev polynomials. The method is applied to a Morse-type potential, for energies in a resonance region, and for one energy below the resonance region, and a strong repulsive Coulomb potential. The results are compared with highly accurate direct solutions of the Schrodinger equation, and were found to be accurate to 1 : 1 0 − 6 .
Impact of antenatal steroids on intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth weight infants

Impact of antenatal steroids on intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth weight infants
High Temperature, High Frequency Fiber Optic Strain Measurement System

Luna has demonstrated an extreme environment strain measurement system capable of operating at temperatures >900 oC and collecting data at 2.5 MHz. The system consists of a novel laser based data acquisition system and extreme environment transducers that can be attached to virtually any substrate. The data acquisition system uses two lasers to determine the distance between the two reflectors of an Extrinsic Fabry Perot Interferometer (EFPI). The sensors have been tested to measure strain in the presence of a flame at 601 oC, in a high temperature furnace at 900 oC, and under varying frequency loads at ambient temperatures. Testing to failure also demonstrated that the sensors would measure strains above 10%, past the delamination point of the foil gages used for comparison. This measurement capability will enable accurate high temperature strain characterization which is critical in the development of modern aerospace materials and the validation of vehicle and component performance models.
Response of Tufted Angiomas to Low‐Dose Aspirin

Tufted angioma (TA), also known as angioblastoma of Nakagawa, is an uncommon vascular tumor. Clinical presentation and evolution of TA can vary. There are many treatment modalities, but none are uniformly effective. We present two patients with TA without Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) treated with low dose aspirin, which resulted in improved appearance, decreased bulk, and resolution of symptoms. Low-dose aspirin should be considered as a treatment option for large or symptomatic TA that are not associated with KMP.
Evidence for a role of the supraopticohypophyseal system in regulation of adrenocorticotrophin secretion.

Conclusions1. Hypothalamic lesions which block ACTH secretion, as judged by adrenal ascorbic acid depletion, adrenal weight, or blood ACTH concentration, uniformly destroy a significant fraction of the supraopticohypophyseal tract as evidenced by their location and the presence of diabetes insipidus. 2. ACTH secretion appears to be produced in these rats by large doses of pitressin. 3. Control of diabetes insipidus by small doses of pitressin, or the injection of epinephrine, histamine or pitocin does not produce significant ACTH secretion in such rats. 4. The results indicate that the supraopticohypophyseal tract may play a role in the regulation of ACTH secretion by release of antidiuretic hormone into the hypophyseal portal vessels.
Songs of the Ketu cult of Bahia, Brazil

The present study is directed toward establishing the music structure of an African- derived cult group of Bahia, Brazil. Such work is at present of considerable importance to the entire study of the musical relationships between New World and African Negro cultures; to date very few studies have been made. Before ethnomusicology can begin to make its most significant contributions to the study of the New World Negro acculturative problems and the broader questions of cultural dynamics that derive from it, a series of such works as that being undertaken here must be completed, so that factual information will become available for comparative data.
The Design of the Test System of Automatic Gap Adjuster

The general test items of automatic gap adjuster were presented.The process of designing the test system of automatic clearance adjuster was studied,and a practical design plan was proposed.Some tested data was presented.
Drug Discovery Gets a Boost from Data Science

In this issue of Structure, Schiebel et al. (2016) describe a workflow-driven approach to high-throughput X-ray crystallographic fragment screening and refinement. In doing so, they extend the applicability of X-ray crystallography as a primary fragment-screening tool and show how data science techniques can favorably impact drug discovery efforts.
Sequential changepoint detection in quality control and dynamical systems

After a brief survey of a large variety of sequential detection procedures that are widely scattered in statistical references on quality control and engineering references on fault detection and signal processing, we study some open problems concerning these procedures and introduce a unified theory of sequential changepoint detection. This theory leads to a class of sequential detection rules which are not too demanding in computational and memory requirements for on-line implementation and yet are nearly optimal under several performance criteria.
Microscopic SPECT imaging with micro-ring apertures and high resolution semiconductor detectors

Recently, considerable progress has been made in developing a high resolution SPECT system for small animal imaging. However, it is a major challenge to further improve the resolution for the convectional pinhole system without decreasing the sensitivity to a level that is beyond applicable. In this work, we explore the use of a novel confocal micro-ring aperture collimator along with ultrahigh resolution CdTe pixel detectors for a microscopic SPECT imaging system that will enable one to achieve an ultrahigh resolution at relatively high detection efficiency. The micro-ring aperture has a ring shape opening with width ranging from 30μm to 150μm and diameter around 2mm. The micro-ring aperture could benefit the microscopic SPECT imaging in two aspects: firstly, an appropriate ring-width can be chose so that the projection overlapping between two resolution elements (the two closest points in object space that one wants to resolve) can be well-controlled to the two small cross-sections between the two ring shape profile. Secondly, even with a small ring-width (say 100μm), a micro-ring aperture could offer a reasonable open-fraction for incident gamma rays, and therefore a relatively good sensitivity. To evaluate the use of the micro-ring apertures for microscopic SPECT imaging, a stationary microscopic SPECT system is proposed. This system uses 32 micro-ring apertures and 8 highly pixelated CdTe detectors that provide an intrinsic resolution of 100μm. And a series of comparing simulation study between micro-ring aperture and conventional pinhole aperture are carried on. The image of resolution phantom shows that smaller hot rods are visible from the ring aperture than convection ring aperture at the same open fraction. In addiction, the imaging of digital mouse-brain from ring aperture gives more details than the pinhole aperture. Simulation results indicate that the novel micro-ring aperture likely provides a better image quality than conventional pinhole aperture, especially for ultra-high resolution SPECT system.
NetAlytics: Cloud-Scale Application Performance Monitoring with SDN and NFV

Application performance monitoring in large data centers relies on either deploying expensive and specialized hardware at fixed locations or heavily customizing applications and collecting logs spread across thousands of servers. Such an endeavor makes performance diagnosis a time-consuming task for cloud providers and a problem beyond the control of cloud customers. We address this problem using emerging software defined paradigms such as Software Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization as well as big data technologies. In this paper, we propose NetAlytics: a non-intrusive distributed performance monitoring system for cloud data centers. NetAlytics deploys customized monitors in the middle of the network which are transparent to end host applications, and leverages a real-time big data framework to analyze application behavior in a timely manner. NetAlytics can scale to packet rates of 40Gbps using only four monitoring cores and fifteen processing cores. Its placement algorithm can be tuned to minimize network bandwidth cost or server resources, and can reduce monitoring traffic overheads by a factor of 4.5. We present experiments that demonstrates how NetAlytics can be used to troubleshoot performance problems in load balancers, present comprehensive performance analysis, and provide metrics that drive automation tools, all while providing both low overhead monitors and scalable analytics.
Abstract 2336: AD1 promotes astroglial differentiation and depletes glioblastoma stem cells

Glioblastoma are among the least curable cancers in man, at least in part because of stem-like cellular subpopulations (herein referred to as glioma stem cells, GSC) refractory to current therapies. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that tumor cells are organized in a pyramidal unidirectional differentiation cascade with GSC at the top and functionally defined by the ability to self-renew and initiate tumors identical to the original tumors from which they are derived. GSCs are maintained by both cell intrinsic and micro-environmental factors and conditions. In this study we focused on identifying small molecules which target tumor heterogeneity by promoting differentiation of GSC into less aggressive, more differentiated subpopulations. To this end, we have developed reporter models for astroglial and neuronal differentiation in HSR-GBM1, HSR040622 and HSR040821 tumor-derived, GSC-enriched, neurospheres lines, using lineage-specific reporter constructs. We employed these reporter lines to screen a library of over 700 bioactive small molecules for potential inducers of GSC differentiation. We identified several molecules which significantly induce astroglial differentiation in multiple GSC-enriched lines. In this report, we focus on one of these agents, (AD1 = (Astroglial Differentiation-1), which induces astroglial differentiation by up to 30-fold as compared with DMSO control. Interestingly, the effects of AD-1 appear to be primarily cytostatic rather than cytotoxic. As differentiation should result in reduced self-renewal capacity, we next determined the effect of AD1 on clonogenicity in vitro using the extreme limited dilution assay (ELDA). We found that 48h treatment with AD1 significantly reduced clonogenic capacity of HSR-GBM1, HSR-040622 and HSR-040821 reporter lines by over 90%. To test this in vivo we examined the effect of AD1 on tumor initiation in an intracranial transplantation model. We found that ex vivo treatment with AD1 resulted in a significant increase in the survival of animals as 6 (of 6) animals transplanted with DMSO-treated cells exhibited massively infiltrating tumors while 2 (of 6) of the animals implanted with AD1 treated cells developed tumors, and those began to appear several weeks later. Importantly, the effects of AD1 are likely to be irreversible as cells extracted from tumors maintained reporter expression even after six passages in vitro. Taken together, our results support the therapeutic value of a drug-induced differentiation and define how differentiation affects the GSC compartment in glioma. Citation Format: Raffaella Spina, Dillon M. Voss, Andrew Sloan, Eli E. Bar. AD1 promotes astroglial differentiation and depletes glioblastoma stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2336. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2336
Abstracts of the 18th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM)-2016.

The International Society of Addiction Medicine is an international fellowship of physicians founded in 1998 and committed to the (1) advancement of knowledge about addiction seen as a treatable di...
Single-Sided Statistic Multiplexed High Performance Computing

For the last three decades, end-to-end computing has been the de facto paradigm for distributed and parallel computing. MPI (Message Passing Interface), RPC (Remote Procedure Call), OpenMP (share memory) and RMI (Remote Method Invocation) are all end-to-end protocols from the same computing paradigm. A myth persisted since 1990's that while the data communication community is well served by the end-to-end protocols, direct use of the end-to-end protocols in distributed computing was considered a fallacy.This paper explores the possibility of acquiring higher performance and better reliability at the same time when expanding the application processing infrastructure by avoiding the well-known fallacy. The key instrument is a single-sided statistic multiplexed computing (SMC) paradigm. It reports a computation performance study for two single-sided SMC prototypes: Synergy and AnkaCom against an MPI application in bare metal HPC environments. Computational experiments confirmed the investigation objectives by exposing the hidden deficiencies of end-to-end computing protocols. Reliability tests are also included.
Does diversity improve profits and shareholder returns? Evidence from top rated companies for diversity by DiversityInc

Abstract In this study, we examine the relationship between the diversity efforts of firms listed in DiversityInc's list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity and their financial performance. We examine both an announcement effect and the risk-adjusted performance of diverse firms to a matched sample and the S&P 500 index. We find a positive effect related to the announcement of the DiversityInc Top Companies for Diversity list. When examining long-term performance using the risk-adjusted performance of listed companies, DiversityInc firms outperform the S&P 500 index but have performance that is either indistinguishable or inferior to a matched sample. DiversityInc firms exhibit superior return on assets compared to the matched sample, but this difference is explained by differences in firm size. Overall, we find limited support that inclusion in DiversityInc's list of top firms for diversity indicates improved performance over a matched sample.
Co3O4 nanoparticles as oxygen carriers for chemical looping combustion: A materials characterization approach to understanding oxygen carrier performance

Abstract Currently, there is relatively limited information about the use of Co 3 O 4 as an oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion, with the promise afforded by its high oxygen capacity often overlooked because of its moderate temperature of decomposition. Here, we employ a materials characterization approach to investigate the coupled surface chemical and bulk material processes influencing the oxidation of methane by Co 3 O 4 (CO 2 yield and reactive longevity). Methane (CH 4 ) oxidation by Co 3 O 4 was studied in a continuous flow reactor across a range of temperatures (500–700 °C) and gas hourly space velocities (125–375 h −1 ). At the highest temperatures considered (700 °C), Co 3 O 4 reduction proceeded through CoO to an ultimate end product of metallic Co, with the rate and extent of CH 4 oxidation to CO 2 decreasing monotonically with increasing CoO content because of its more highly coordinated lattice oxygen. In contrast, at lower temperatures (e.g., 500 °C) the initial decrease in CH 4 oxidation coinciding with Co 3 O 4 conversion to CoO was followed by a period of increasing CO 2 yield as some CoO was further converted to Co, unexpected behavior not observed at higher temperatures. Complementary bulk and surface analyses indicate that CoO reduction to Co follows a nucleation and nuclei growth mechanism within the particle bulk. We thereby attribute the greater reactivity of lattice oxygen in mixed CoO/Co phases to a lower cohesive energy for oxygen atoms at the interface of these phases. Our results suggest that for CLC applications in lower temperature regimes, the use of mixed metal-metal oxide phases may help to improve reactivity. More practically, our results demonstrate the performance of Co 3 O 4 through several cycles, illustrating its potential for use in CLC.
Abstract 262: Depolarization Stimulates Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Proliferation In Vitro

Cardiac tissue engineering is a promising approach for treating children with congenital heart defects. However, as cardiomyocytes (CMs) undergo a rapid transition from hyperplastic to hypertrophic growth after birth, a major challenge to the development of engineered cardiac tissue is the limited proliferation of CMs. Mature CMs and other terminally differentiated cell types tend to have a highly negative resting membrane potential (Vmem) while stem cells and less mature cells tend to have Vmem closer to zero. Vmem has been shown to play an important role in cell differentiation and proliferation. We hypothesized that depolarization of cardiac cells would stimulate CM proliferation in vitro . To test our hypothesis, we isolated neonatal rat cardiac cells and cultured them for 24 hr under standard conditions. Cells were then subjected to depolarization treatment for 72 hr using potassium gluconate or ouabain at various concentrations. Samples were fixed and stained for cardiac α-actin (Fig 1A, red) and phospho-histone H3 (Fig 1A, green) to assess CM mitosis. We found that potassium gluconate had no significant effect while ouabain significantly increased CM mitosis, suggesting Vmem regulation via Na/K-ATPase. CM-specific proliferation was significantly higher with 10nM (p= 0.015) and 100nM (p=0.008) ouabain treatment compared to controls (n=3) (Fig 1B). Cell density was significantly higher with 100μM ouabain versus controls (2656 ± 50 vs. 2026 ± 117 cells/mm 2 ), indicating increased cardiac cell proliferation (Fig 1C). Our findings suggest that depolarization promotes CM proliferation and may be a novel approach to encourage growth of engineered cardiac tissue in vitro .
Use of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta for Proximal Aortic Control in Patients With Severe Hemorrhage and Arrest.

Importance Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a percutaneous transfemoral balloon technique used in select centers for resuscitation and temporary hemostasis, often instead of emergency department thoracotomy. The ability to perform aortic occlusion (AO) with an intravascular device allows focused occlusion at the most distal level to perfuse proximal regions while slowing hemorrhage to injured areas. Objective To describe what is to date the largest single-institution experience with REBOA in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants Use of REBOA at an urban tertiary care facility for severe traumatic hemorrhage, traumatic arrest (AR), or nontraumatic hemorrhage (NTH) was investigated from February 1, 2013, to January 31, 2017, among 90 patients who were not responsive or were transiently responsive to resuscitation measures, or were in arrest, from presumed hemorrhage below the diaphragm. Possible causes were trauma or nontrauma-related hemorrhage. Patients with ruptured aortic aneurysms were excluded. Main Outcomes and Measures In-hospital mortality. Results Of the 90 patients in the study (15 women and 75 men; mean [SD] age, 41.5 [17.4] years), 29 underwent REBOA for severe traumatic hemorrhage, 50 for AR, and 11 for NTH. For the patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage and AR, the median age was 36.2 years (interquartile range, 25.3-55.5 years), mean (SD) admission Glasgow Coma Scale score was 6 (5), and median Injury Severity Score was 39 (interquartile range, 10-75). The distal thoracic aorta was occluded in 73 patients (81%), and in all patients with AR. A total of 17 patients (19%) had distal abdominal AO. Mean (SD) systolic blood pressure improved in patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage, from 68 (28) mm Hg prior to AO, to 131 (12) mm Hg after AO ( P Conclusions and Relevance REBOA is a minimally invasive alternative to emergency department thoracotomy with aortic cross-clamp to temporize noncompressible torso hemorrhage and obtain proximal control in both traumatic and nontraumatic causes of hemorrhage. REBOA can also be used for more targeted AO in the distal aorta for pelvic, junctional, or extremity hemorrhage.
The maximal velocity of vascular smooth muscle shortening is independent of the expression of calponin

In smooth muscle, the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the 20-kDa regulatory light chain of myosin (MLC20) is known to regulate actomyosin interaction and force. However, a thin filament based regulatory system for actomyosin interaction has been suggested to exist in parallel to MLC20 phosphorylation. Calponin is a thin filament associated protein that in vitro inhibits actomyosin interaction, and has been suggested to reduce maximal shortening velocity (vmax). Using antibodies to h1- and h2-calponin, we demonstrated that calponin was present in smooth muscle from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, while calponin was not detectable in the smooth muscle from Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. vmax determined from the force vs. velocity relationship at maximal Ca2+ activation was not different for either the aorta or the portal vein of SD vs. WKY rats. These results suggest that physiological levels of calponin do not contribute to a thin filament-based secondary regulation to inhibit smooth muscle contraction.
Editorial Comment on adjuvant radiotherapy study.

When asked to write this editorial, I initially demurred. Reasoning: the subject at hand is the subject of two randomized controlled studies of almost 1500 subjects; both have reported initial results. The EORTC trial, a study of about 1,000 men has reported short-term results: a significant reduction in PSA relapse with radiation.1 SWOG 8794, with longer followup showed an even greater reduction in biochemical failure, delaying median time to failure by 7 years.2 However, the primary endpoint for our study – metastasis-free survival – was reduced by 25%, but just missed statistical significance (p=0.06). We recently reported updated data at the 2008 AUA meeting.3 What’s the point of this editorial? The SWOG and EORTC trials were developed in response to hundreds of case series and reviews on this subject. Some are pro-radiation and some are pro-observation, following PSA, and treating later – either at PSA relapse or for symptoms. Clinicians can find support for either approach, based on which case series they read or opt to cite. This is not the way to advance medical care; with the completion of phase 3 trials, it is my opinion that reporting of case studies, with their inherent biases (patient selection, uneven followup regimens, differing prompts for adjuvant therapy, non-standardized treatments, lack of quality assurance for treatment and followup, etc), should stop. Readers should examine a single reference.4 The authors report how long journals and authors take to stop publishing papers on unproven therapies after the completion of an enormous clinical trial; curiously, publications continued for years after the treatment was debunked. Sorry folks, but history has demonstrated that when it comes to determining which of two treatments is optimal, little can be learned from case series, no matter how hard the investigators try to control for covariates; there are so many confounds which you cannot control or measure so that your results and comparisons are unreliable. Only through randomized trials can you get an answer. Our plaintive reply is “they’re too hard, they take too long, we can’t do them”. That’s not an excuse; our colleagues in other disciplines expect these challenging studies to be accomplished, do not rely on observational data, and with perseverance, accomplish difficult trials.5,6 Ultimately, our patients deserve them. Finally, I would encourage journals (and authors) to consider a modest proposal: once phase 3 data are available, think twice about publishing another case series; devote your effort into registering a patient.