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In the Cooperative Intelligent Transportation System (C-ITS) paradigm, vehicles could communicate with roadside units to augment their traffic knowledge. Smart roadside units could provide second-order information (e.g., vehicle count) from raw first-order data (e.g., visual feed, point clouds), and this ``smart'' feature is usually provided using deep neural network models. However, implementing these useful models implies a cost for computational complexity that could hinder the future deployment of smart roadside units needed for sustainability in transportation systems. In this paper, we propose to use model compression on deep image processing models to promote its feasibility for usage in smart sensors. We formulated a controllable convolutional model compression (CCMC) algorithm that can perform filter-wise evolutionary pruning on image processing networks, along with a predefined compression ratio. CCMC is applicable for image processing networks, which have multiple possible traffic data sources (e.g., road camera surveillance). Furthermore, CCMC has a definable target compression ratio that is useful for controlling the trade-off between resource consumption and output performance. We tested our proposed method on depth estimation, which is useful for scene understanding and mapping the locations of objects in the 3D space. Our experiments show that the pruned model has minimal performance discrepancy from the original one, supporting the sustainability features needed for intelligent transportation systems.

Deep understanding of the impact of photon polarization on pair production is essential for the efficient generation of laser-driven polarized positron beams and demands a complete description of polarization effects in strong-field QED processes. Employing fully polarization-resolved Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate correlated photon and electron (positron) polarization effects in the multiphoton Breit–Wheeler pair production process during the interaction of an ultrarelativistic electron beam with a counterpropagating elliptically polarized laser pulse. We show that the polarization of e−e+ pairs is degraded by 35% when the polarization of the intermediate photon is resolved, accompanied by an ∼13% decrease in the pair yield. Moreover, in this case, the polarization direction of energetic positrons at small deflection angles can even be reversed when high-energy photons with polarization parallel to the laser electric field are involved.

A novel adaptive method to achieve both path following and formation moving along desired orbits in the presence of a spatio-temporal flowfield is presented. The flowfield is a spatio-temporal general flow with unknown time-varying parameters. The so-called \emph{congelation of variables} method is used to estimate the time-varying flow parameters, which do not have any restrictions on the rate of their variation. The asymptotic properties of the resulting adaptive system are studied in detail. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The health effects of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) have been controversial. A de novo pooled analysis was conducted with 17 prospective cohort studies examining the associations between blood n-3 FAs levels and risk for all-cause mortality. Over a median of 15 years of follow-up, 15,720 deaths occurred among 42,466 individuals. After adjustment for relevant risk factors, risk for death from all causes was significantly lower (by 15-18%) in the highest vs the lowest quintile for circulating long chain (20-22 carbon) n-3 FAs, but not for the 18-carbon n-3 FA. These novel findings suggest that higher circulating levels of marine n-3 PUFA may be associated with a lower risk of premature death., The EPIC Norfolk study (DOI 10.22025/2019.10.105.00004) has received funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1 and MC-UU_12015/1) and Cancer Research UK (C864/A14136). NJW, NGF, and FI were supported by the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit core funding [MC_UU_12015/1 and MC_UU_12015/5]. NJW and NGF acknowledge support from the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre [IS-BRC-1215-20014] and NJW is an NIHR Senior Investigator.

We report the properties of sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.46 million sodium and 0.51 million aluminum nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. We found that Na and Al, together with nitrogen (N), belong to a distinct cosmic ray group. In this group, we observe that, similar to the N flux, both the Na flux and Al flux are well described by the sums of a primary cosmic ray component (proportional to the silicon flux) and a secondary cosmic ray component (proportional to the fluorine flux). The fraction of the primary component increases with rigidity for the N, Na, and Al fluxes and becomes dominant at the highest rigidities. The Na/Si and Al/Si abundance ratios at the source, 0.036 +/- 0.003 for Na/Si and 0.103 +/- 0.004 for Al/Si, are determined independent of cosmic ray propagation. Erratum Erratum: Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 021101 (2021)] M. Aguilar et al. (AMS Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 159901 (2021)

We report the observation of new properties of primary iron (Fe) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.65 GV to 3.0 TV with 0.62×10⁶ iron nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. Above 80.5 GV the rigidity dependence of the cosmic ray Fe flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of the primary cosmic ray He, C, and O fluxes, with the Fe/O flux ratio being constant at 0.155±0.006. This shows that unexpectedly Fe and He, C, and O belong to the same class of primary cosmic rays which is different from the primary cosmic rays Ne, Mg, and Si class.

Radon and radon daughters pose significant backgrounds to rare-event searching experiments. Activated carbon, which has very strong adsorption capacity for radon, can be used for radon removal and radon enrichment. The internal $^{226}$Ra concentration ultimately limits its radon enrichment ability. In order to measure the intrinsic background and study the radon adsorption capability of Saratech activated carbon at various temperatures, a radon-emanation measurement system with a high-sensitivity radon detector and an adsorption-performance research-system have been developed. In this paper, a 0.71~mBq/m$^3$ high-sensitivity radon detector and measurement details of the radon-adsorption capability of Saratech activated carbon at low temperature will be presented., Comment: 16 pages,11figures

Precise knowledge of the charge and rigidity dependence of the secondary cosmic ray fluxes and the secondary-to-primary flux ratios is essential in the understanding of cosmic ray propagation. We report the properties of heavy secondary cosmic ray fluorine F in the rigidity \(R\) range 2.15 GV to 2.9 TV based on 0.29 million events collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. The fluorine spectrum deviates from a single power law above 200 GV. The heavier secondary-to-primary F/Si flux ratio rigidity dependence is distinctly different from the lighter B/O (or B/C) rigidity dependence. In particular, above 10 GV, the \(\frac{F/Si}{B/O}\) ratio can be described by a power law \(R^{δ}\) with \(δ\)=0.052±0.007. This shows that the propagation properties of heavy cosmic rays, from F to Si, are different from those of light cosmic rays, from He to O, and that the secondary cosmic rays have two classes.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a precision particle physics detector on the International Space Station (ISS) conducting a unique, long-duration mission of fundamental physics research in space. The physics objectives include the precise studies of the origin of dark matter, antimatter, and cosmic rays as well as the exploration of new phenomena. Following a 16-year period of construction and testing, and a precursor flight on the Space Shuttle, AMS was installed on the ISS on May 19, 2011. In this report we present results based on 120 billion charged cosmic ray events up to multi-TeV energies. This includes the fluxes of positrons, electrons, antiprotons, protons, and nuclei. These results provide unexpected information, which cannot be explained by the current theoretical models. The accuracy and characteristics of the data, simultaneously from many different types of cosmic rays, provide unique input to the understanding of origins, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is a major global health challenge. At the time of writing, over 11.6 million people around the world had been registered as infected and 538,000 had died (Worldometers, 2020, accessed July 7, 2020). Public health responses to COVID-19 need to balance direct efforts to control the disease and its impact on health systems, infected people, and their families with the impacts from associated mitigating interventions. Such impacts include social isolation, school closure, health service disruption stemming from reconfiguring health systems, and diminished economic activity. The primary focus of both the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has been on addressing COVID-19 as a physical health crisis, but the need to strengthen mental health action, including suicide prevention, is increasingly recognized, as is the need for mental health research to be an integral part of the recovery plan (UN, 2020a). The impacts of the pandemic on physical and mental health will unfold differently over time and will vary depending on the duration and fluctuating intensity of the disease. Research is needed to help ensure that decision-making regarding all aspects of health, including mental health (Holmes et al., 2020), is informed by the best quality data at each stage of the pandemic. The pandemic poses a prolonged and unique challenge to public mental health, with major implications for suicide and suicide prevention (Gunnell et al., 2020; Reger, Stanley, & Joiner, 2020). A rise in suicide deaths in the wake of the pandemic is not inevitable. There is consensus, however, that the mitigation of risk will be contingent upon a proactive and effective response involving collaborative work between the state, NGOs, academia, and local governments and coordinated leadership across government ministries, including health, education, security, social services, welfare, and finance. Countries have responded in different ways to the pandemic, effectively creating a series of natural experiments. Thus, regions of the world affected later in the pandemic can draw on lessons from countries, such as China and Italy, affected in its early phase. Likewise, lessons learned early in the pandemic (e.g., on the impact of lockdown and physical distancing measures) can be used to inform responses to any future surges in the incidence of COVID-19. Although there are important parallels between countries in the course of the pandemic, some stressors, responses, and priorities are likely to differ between high- and low–middle-income countries and between cultures and regions. As COVID-19 appears to be disproportionately affecting Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities, the response – and suicide prevention research carried out to inform the response – needs to be sufficiently granular and account for the complexity of risks in these groups (O'Connor et al., 2020). Throughout this editorial, when we refer to suicide and suicidal behavior, we mean to include both fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors and self-harm.

High-spin structure of $^{109}$In has been investigated with the $^{100}$Mo($^{14}$N, 5$n$)$^{109}$In reaction at a beam energy of 78 MeV using the in-beam $\gamma$ spectroscopic method. The level scheme of $^{109}$In has been modified considerably and extended by 46 new $\gamma$-rays to the highest excited state at 8.979 MeV and $J^{\pi}$=(45/2$^{+}$). The new level scheme consists of eight bands, six of which are identified as dipole bands. The configurations have been tentatively assigned with the help of the systematics of neighboring odd-$A$ indium isotopes and the experimental aligned angular momenta. The dipole bands are then compared with the titled axis cranking calculation in the framework of covariant density function theory (TAC-CDFT). The results of theoretical calculation based on the configurations, which involve one proton hole at the $g_{9/2}$ orbital and two or four unpaired neutrons at $g_{7/2}$, $d_{5/2}$ and $h_{11/2}$ orbitals, show that the shape of $^{109}$In undergoes an evolution on both $\beta$ and $\gamma$ deformations and possible chirality is suggested in $^{109}$In., Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, 75 conference

Background In COPD, functional status is improved by pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) but requires specific facilities. Tai Chi, which combines psychological treatment and physical exercise and requires no special equipment, is widely practiced in China and is becoming increasingly popular in the rest of the world. We hypothesized that Tai Chi is equivalent (ie, difference less than ±4 St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ] points) to PR. Methods A total of 120 patients (mean FEV1, 1.11 ± 0.42 L; 43.6% predicted) bronchodilator-naive patients were studied. Two weeks after starting indacaterol 150 μg once daily, they randomly received either standard PR thrice weekly or group Tai Chi five times weekly, for 12 weeks. The primary end point was change in SGRQ prior to and following the exercise intervention; measurements were also made 12 weeks after the end of the intervention. Results The between-group difference for SGRQ at the end of the exercise interventions was –0.48 (95% CI PR vs Tai Chi, –3.6 to 2.6; P = .76), excluding a difference exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. Twelve weeks later, the between-group difference for SGRQ was 4.5 (95% CI, 1.9 to 7.0; P < .001), favoring Tai Chi. Similar trends were observed for 6-min walk distance; no change in FEV1 was observed. Conclusions Tai Chi is equivalent to PR for improving SGRQ in COPD. Twelve weeks after exercise cessation, a clinically significant difference in SGRQ emerged favoring Tai Chi. Tai Chi is an appropriate substitute for PR.

A nonlinear Schrödinger equation for the envelope of two-dimensional gravity-capillary waves propagating at the free surface of a vertically sheared current of constant vorticity is derived. In this paper we extend to gravity-capillary wave trains the results of Thomas et al. (2012) and complete the stability analysis and stability diagram of Djordjevic & Redekopp (1977) in the presence of vorticity. Vorticity effect on the modulational instability of weakly nonlinear gravity-capillary wave packets is investigated. It is shown that the vorticity modifies significantly the modulational instability of gravity-capillary wave trains, namely the growth rate and instability bandwidth. It is found that the rate of growth of modulational instability of short gravity waves influenced by surface tension behaves like pure gravity waves: (i) in infinite depth, the growth rate is reduced in the presence of positive vorticity and amplified in the presence of negative vorticity, (ii) in finite depth, it is reduced when the vorticity is positive and amplified and finally reduced when the vorticity is negative. The combined effect of vorticity and surface tension is to increase the rate of growth of modulational instability of short gravity waves influenced by surface tension, namely when the vorticity is negative. The rate of growth of modulational instability of capillary waves is amplified by negative vorticity and attenuated by positive vorticity. Stability diagrams are plotted and it is shown that they are significantly modified by the introduction of the vorticity.

Background: Breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor (ER)���positive disease have a continuous long-term risk for fatal Breast cancer, but the biological factors influencing this risk are unknown. We aimed to determine whether high intratumor heterogeneity of ER predicts an increased long-term risk (25 years) of fatal Breast cancer. Methods: The STO-3 trial enrolled 1780 postmenopausal lymph node���negative Breast cancer patients randomly assigned to receive adjuvant tamoxifen vs not. The fraction of cancer cells for each ER intensity level was scored by Breast cancer pathologists, and intratumor heterogeneity of ER was calculated using Rao���s quadratic entropy and categorized into high and low heterogeneity using a predefined cutoff at the second tertile (67%). Long-term Breast cancer-specific survival analyses by in-tra-tumor heterogeneity of ER were performed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics. Results: A statistically significant difference in long-term survival by high vs low intratumor heterogeneity of ER was seen for all ER-positive patients (P < .001) and for patients with luminal A subtype tumors (P �� .01). In multivariable analyses, patients with high intratumor heterogeneity of ER had a twofold increased long-term risk as compared with patients with low intratumor heterogeneity (ER-positive: hazard ratio [HR] �� 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] �� 1.31 to 3.00; luminal A subtype tumors: HR �� 2.43, 95% CI �� 1.18 to 4.99). Conclusions: Patients with high intratumor heterogeneity of ER had an increased long-term risk of fatal Breast cancer. Interestingly, a similar long-term risk increase was seen in patients with luminal A subtype tumors. Our findings suggest that intratumor heterogeneity of ER is an independent long-term prognosticator with potential to change clinical management, especially for patients with luminal A tumors.

This study compared the general and ocular biometric characteristics of normal, primary angle closure (PAC), and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients to better understand the possible relationship between differences in ocular parameters that might predict risk for PACG in PAC patients. One hundred normal, 90 PAC, and 90 PACG eyes were retrospectively reviewed. General characteristics such as age, gender, body height, body weight, blood pressure, pulse, systemic diseases, and education level were recorded. Ocular findings included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, refraction, cup to disc ratio, and ocular biometry. Ocular biometry was obtained by A-scan ultrasonography (Digital A/B scan 5500; Sonomed Inc., Lake Success, NY, USA). The parameters recorded were anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), axial length (AXL), lens/axial length factor (LAF), and relative lens position (RLP). Although the controls, PAC group, and PACG group were found to be significantly different in age (62.7±9.8; 65.3±7.5; and 66.0±7.4, respectively), there were no gender differences. With regard to ocular parameters, the ACD tended to decrease and the LT and LAF tended to increase from normal to PAC to PACG. The eyes of the PACG group had significantly shallower ACD (P

The low hilly topography of Green Island, a volcanic island off southeastern Taiwan, includes an altitudinal sequence of sub-horizontal benches. We examined eight profiles along this sequence, ranging from pale brown loamy coral sand on the lowest bench that fringes the coast at an elevation of about 10 m to deep, intensely red and acid clay on the highest bench at about 240 m. Chemical analyses, differential Fe extractions, thin sections, X-ray diffraction of the clay minerals and indices of pedochemical weathering and strain indicated that soil development progressed by weathering of primary and secondary phyllosilicates through argilluviation in the intermediate stages to the generation of increasing quantities of free Fe. The Fe accumulates as free sesquioxides, which crystallize with age. Taxonomically the soil types progress from sandy coral Arenosol, through Eutric Cambisol, Hypereutric Lixisol and Acrisol to incipient Ferralsol (Udipsamment → Eutrudept → Udalf → Udultisol → Udox in Soil Taxonomy). The profiles are interpreted as a chronosequence, although this is complicated by minor and upwardly diminishing contributions of reef coral to the mainly igneous parent materials. There are also variations in the andesitic-basaltic bedrock, and minor aeolian inputs in the higher and older soil types. Regional eustatic sea-level correlations, 14C dating of carbonates on the two lowest benches and estimates of local tectonic uplift indicate that the incipient Ferralsols on the upper bench might date from about 150 ka. The transition through argilluvial Acrisols to incipient sesquioxide-dominated Ferralsols appears, therefore, to develop within 100–200 ka on Green Island, which is faster than usual.

Instabilities are common phenomena frequently observed in nature, sometimes leading to unexpected catastrophes and disasters in seemingly normal conditions. The simplest form of instability in a distributed system is its response to a harmonic modulation. Such instability has special names in various branches of physics and is generally known as modulation instability (MI). The MI is tightly related to Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) recurrence since breather solutions of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation (NLSE) are known to accurately describe growth and decay of modulationally unstable waves in conservative systems. Here, we report theoretical, numerical and experimental evidence of the effect of dissipation on FPU cycles in a super wave tank, namely their shift in a determined order. In showing that ideal NLSE breather solutions can describe such dissipative nonlinear dynamics, our results may impact the interpretation of a wide range of new physics scenarios., Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchive/

Effective systemic therapies for patients with advanced, progressive neuroendocrine tumours of the lung or gastrointestinal tract are scarce. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of everolimus compared with placebo in this patient population.In the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 RADIANT-4 trial, adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with advanced, progressive, well-differentiated, non-functional neuroendocrine tumours of lung or gastrointestinal origin were enrolled from 97 centres in 25 countries worldwide. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio by an interactive voice response system to receive everolimus 10 mg per day orally or identical placebo, both with supportive care. Patients were stratified by tumour origin, performance status, and previous somatostatin analogue treatment. Patients, investigators, and the study sponsor were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by central radiology review, analysed by intention to treat. Overall survival was a key secondary endpoint. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01524783.Between April 3, 2012, and Aug 23, 2013, a total of 302 patients were enrolled, of whom 205 were allocated to everolimus 10 mg per day and 97 to placebo. Median progression-free survival was 11·0 months (95% CI 9·2-13·3) in the everolimus group and 3·9 months (3·6-7·4) in the placebo group. Everolimus was associated with a 52% reduction in the estimated risk of progression or death (hazard ratio [HR] 0·48 [95% CI 0·35-0·67], p0·00001). Although not statistically significant, the results of the first pre-planned interim overall survival analysis indicated that everolimus might be associated with a reduction in the risk of death (HR 0·64 [95% CI 0·40-1·05], one-sided p=0·037, whereas the boundary for statistical significance was 0·0002). Grade 3 or 4 drug-related adverse events were infrequent and included stomatitis (in 18 [9%] of 202 patients in the everolimus group vs 0 of 98 in the placebo group), diarrhoea (15 [7%] vs 2 [2%]), infections (14 [7%] vs 0), anaemia (8 [4%] vs 1 [1%]), fatigue (7 [3%] vs 1 [1%]), and hyperglycaemia (7 [3%] vs 0).Treatment with everolimus was associated with significant improvement in progression-free survival in patients with progressive lung or gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours. The safety findings were consistent with the known side-effect profile of everolimus. Everolimus is the first targeted agent to show robust anti-tumour activity with acceptable tolerability across a broad range of neuroendocrine tumours, including those arising from the pancreas, lung, and gastrointestinal tract.Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of greater immunomodulatory effects of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells against proliferation in human leukemia cells. To achieve this, cells U937 in junior elderly (with cool environmental physical activities) subjects with habitual morning swimming and sedentary lifestyle were recruited in relatively cool season in Taiwan; the isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin to obtain the conditioned medium which contains various cytokines. However, the differential effects of the conditioned medium on growth inhibition in U937 leukemia cells were observed. The cytokines, including interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factors-alpha and interleukine-2 secreted into conditioned medium were higher in the morning-swimming subjects than in the sedentary-lifestyle ones. Similarly, serum white blood cell, creatine phosphokinase, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A in the morning-swimming and sedentary-lifestyle groups indicated that no further inflammatory status existed in the morning-swimming group. In summary, greater immunomodulatory effects of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells against proliferation in human leukemia cells U937 in junior elderly subjects came from the effects of regular moderate exercise in cool temperature rather than of inflammatory effects.Keywords: Immunomodulatory, junior elderly, morning swimming, leukemia, U937, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

We study the relationship between jet power and accretion for Fermi and non-Fermi blazars, respectively. We also compare the relevant parameter between them. Our main results are as follows. (i) Fermi and non-Fermi blazars have significant difference in redshift, black hole mass, and broad line luminosity. (ii) Fermi blazars have higher average core-dominance parameter than non-Fermi blazars, which suggests that Fermi blazars have strong beaming effect. (iii) We find significant correlation between broad line emission and jet power for Fermi and non-Fermi blazars, respectively, which suggests a direct tight connection between jet and accretion. (iv) The accretion and black hole mass may have a different contribution to jet power for Fermi and non-Fermi blazars, respectively., 16pages,12figures,accepted for publication in MNRAS

This article presents an elementary introduction on various aspects of the prototypical integrable model the Lieb-Liniger Bose gas ranging from the cooperative to the collective features of many-body phenomena [1]. In 1963 Lieb and Liniger first solved this quantum field theory many-body problem using the Bethe's hypothesis, i.e. a particular form of wave function introduced by Bethe in solving the one-dimensional Heisenberg model in 1931. Despite the Lieb-Liniger model is arguably the simplest exactly solvable model, it exhibits rich quantum many-body physics in terms of the aspects of mathematical integrability and physical universality. Moreover, the Yang-Yang grand canonical ensemble description for the model provides us with a deep understanding of quantum statistics, thermodynamics and quantum critical phenomena at the many-body physics level. Recently, such fundamental physics of this exactly solved model has been attracting growing interest in experiments. Since 2004, there have been more than 20 experimental papers that report novel observations of different physical aspects of the Lieb-Liniger model in the lab. So far the observed results to date are seen to be in excellent agreement with results obtained using the analysis of this simplest exactly solved model. Those experimental observations reveal the unique beauty of integrability., Comment: 15 figures, for the special issue "Precision measurement with ultracold atoms" published in Chinese Physics B, based on XWG's lectures

We report on the ineffectiveness of programming oxide-based resistive random access memory (OxRAM) at low current with a program and verify algorithm due to intrinsic relaxation of the verified distribution to the natural state distribution obtained by single-pulse programming without verify process. Based on oxygen defect formation thermodynamics and on their diffusion barriers in amorphous HfOx and TaOx, we describe the intrinsic nature of tailing of the verified low resistive state and high resistive state distributions. We introduce different scenarios to explain fast distribution widening phenomenon, which is a fundamental limitation for OxRAM current scaling and device reliability.

The binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) on the surface of vascular endothelial cells stimulates many steps in the angiogenic pathway. Inhibition of this interaction is proving of value in moderating the neovascularization accompanying age-related macular degeneration and in the treatment of cancer. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) has been shown to be a natural VEGFR-2 specific antagonist—an activity that is independent of its ability to inhibit metalloproteinases. In this investigation we localize this activity to the C-terminal domain of the TIMP-3 molecule and characterize a short peptide, corresponding to part of this domain, that not only inhibits all three VEGF-family receptors, but also fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors. This multiple-receptor inhibition may explain why the peptide was also seen to be a powerful inhibitor of tumour growth and also a partial inhibitor of arthritic joint inflammation in vivo.

Several spirocyclic piperidine derivatives were designed and synthesized as σ1 receptor ligands. In vitro competition binding assays showed that the fluoroalkoxy analogues with small substituents possessed high affinity towards σ1 receptors and subtype selectivity. Particularly for ligand 1'-((6-(2-fluoro-ethoxy)pyridin-3-yl)methyl)-3H-spiro[2-benzofuran-1,4'-piperidine] (2), high σ1 receptor affinity (Ki = 2.30 nM) and high σ1/σ2 subtype selectivity (142-fold) as well as high σ1/VAChT selectivity (234-fold) were observed. [18F]2 was synthesized using an efficient one-pot, two-step reaction method in a home-made automated synthesis module, with an overall isolated radiochemical yield of 8-10%, a radiochemical purity of higher than 99%, and specific activity of 56-78 GBq/µmol. Biodistribution studies of [18F]2 in ICR mice indicated high initial brain uptake and a relatively fast washout. Administration of haloperidol, compound 1 and different concentrations of SA4503 (3, 5, or 10 µmol/kg) 5 min prior to injection of [18F]2 significantly decreased the accumulation of radiotracer in organs known to contain σ1 receptors. Ex vivo autoradiography in Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrated high accumulation of radiotracer in brain areas with high expression of σ1 receptors. These encouraging results prove that [18F]2 is a suitable candidate for σ1 receptor imaging with PET in humans.

Background: We have previously reported in Xishuangbanna (Banna) Dai Autonomous Prefecture, a well-developed tourist destination in the southwest border of China, that HIV-1 transmitted dominantly through heterosexual contact with less divergent genotypes and few drug resistant mutations [1]. Due to the rapid increase of newly diagnosed HIV-1 cases per year in Banna in recent years, it's important to evaluate the evolution of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology for the better understanding of ongoing HIV-1 outbreak in this region. Methodology/Principal Findings: By sequencing of HIV-1 pol genes and phylogenetic analysis, we conducted a molecular epidemiologic study in 352 HIV-1-seropositive highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART)-naive individuals newly diagnosed at the Banna Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 2009 and 2011. Of 283 samples (84.1% taken from heterosexually acquired adults, 10.6% from needle-sharing drug users, 2.8% from men who have sex with men, 0.4% from children born from HIV-1-infected mothers, and 2.1% remained unknown) with successful sequencing for pol gene, we identified 108 (38.2%) HIV-1 subtype CRF08_BC, 101 (35.7%) CRF01_AE, 49 (17.3%) CRF07_BC, 5 (1.8%) C/CRF57_BC, 3 (1.1%) B', 1 (0.4%) B/CRF51_01B, and 16 (5.7%) unique recombinants forms. Among these infected individuals, 104 (36.7%) cases showed drug resistant or resistance-relevant mutations, and 4 of them conferring high-level resistance to 3TC/FTC, EFV/NVP or NFV. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 21 clusters (2-7 sequences) with only 21.2% (60/283) sequences involved. Conclusion/Significance: In contrast to our previous findings, CRF08_BC, replaced CRF01_AE, became the dominant genotype of HIV-1 in Banna prefecture. The viral strains with drug resistance mutations were detected frequently in newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals in this region.

Background—Myocardial fibrosis is a hallmark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a potential substrate for arrhythmias and heart failure. Sarcomere mutations seem to induce profibrotic changes before left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) develops. To further evaluate these processes, we used cardiac magnetic resonance with T1 measurements on a genotyped HCM population to quantify myocardial extracellular volume (ECV). Methods and Results—Sarcomere mutation carriers with LVH (G+/LVH+, n=37) and without LVH (G+/LVH−, n=29), patients with HCM without mutations (sarcomere-negative HCM, n=11), and healthy controls (n=11) underwent contrast cardiac magnetic resonance, measuring T1 times pre- and postgadolinium infusion. Concurrent echocardiography and serum biomarkers of collagen synthesis, hemodynamic stress, and myocardial injury were also available in a subset. Compared with controls, ECV was increased in patients with overt HCM, as well as G+/LVH− mutation carriers (ECV=0.36±0.01, 0.33±0.01, 0.27±0.01 in G+/LVH+, G+/LVH−, controls, respectively; P≤0.001 for all comparisons). ECV correlated with N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide levels (r=0.58; P60% of overt patients with HCM but absent from G+/LVH− subjects. Both ECV and late gadolinium enhancement were more extensive in sarcomeric HCM than sarcomere-negative HCM. Conclusions—Myocardial ECV is increased in HCM sarcomere mutation carriers even in the absence of LVH. These data provide additional support that fibrotic remodeling is triggered early in disease pathogenesis. Quantifying ECV may help characterize the development of myocardial fibrosis in HCM and ultimately assist in developing novel disease-modifying therapy, targeting interstitial fibrosis.

This study aimed to develop a low-cost multichannel neural recording system and multi-electrode array (MEA) chip for a number of research laboratories. Because these elaborate systems may be cost-prohibitive for many laboratories, the simple fabrication of the MEA chip and the construction of the low-cost recording system with cellular image acquisition is presented in this study. The MEA chip is a polyimide-based microelectrode array with 60 electrodes (5 μm thick, 30 μm in radius and with 200 μm spacing) and is based on the semiconductor process and advanced microelectro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the electrodes is fabricated by electroplating, which produces rough textures that increased the effective surface area. The in vitro impedance of the electrodes on the MEA chip is 0.43±0.024 MΩ at 1 kHz, which is sufficiently low for obtaining high-quality neural recordings. A self-built amplifier (79 dB) and filter (100 Hz∼5 kHz) were implemented for signal conditioning. Furthermore, with the help of the National Instruments system and LabVIEW graphic interface, multichannel neural signals and cellular images can be simultaneously acquired using this low-cost neural recording system. With good biocompatibility, a high and stable SNR for neural recording, and a high tolerance for chemical and electrolytic erosion, the laboratory-designed MEA-based recording can serve as a useful device in neuroscience research.

In this fluid dynamics video, we show current findings on the morphology of an oil-water interface in a torsional flow produced by rotating the upper lid of a cylindrical tank. This video was submitted as part of the Gallery of Fluid Motion 2012 which is showcase of fluid dynamics videos., 1 video is included

Polycrystalline samples of HoxTb2-xTi2O7 (0 < x < 2) have been prepared and characterized for their structural and magnetic properties. The parent compounds of this solid solution are the spin ice Ho2Ti2O7 and the spin liquid Tb2Ti2O7. Specific-heat measurements on HoTbTi2O7 (x = 1.0) reveal the absence of a long-range order state above 0.5 K. The integrated entropies of all HoxTb2-xTi2O7 specimens up to 30 K scale well with the ratio of spin ice and spin liquid in the composition. The neutron diffraction spectrum of HoTbTi2O7 exhibits a dipolar spin-ice pattern and can be well described by mean-field theory for < 111 > Ising spins, nearest-neighbor exchange, and dipolar interactions. Inelastic neutron scattering on HoTbTi2O7 reveals two dispersionless excitations, one of similar to 2.5 meV out of the ground state, and a 4-meV transition out of an excited state. We argue that these data suggest that the very strong single-ion effects of Ho2Ti2O7 and Tb2Ti2O7 persist in the HoxTb2-xTi2O7(0 < x < 2) solid solution, whereas the Tb-Ho correlations are weak, resulting in small shifts in the energy scales but with no dramatic effect on the bulk properties.

Similar to the optimal-doped, weak-ferromagnetic (WFM induced by canted antiferromagnetism, T$_{Curie}$ = 131 K) and superconducting (T$_{c}$ = 56 K) RuSr$_{2}$GdCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$, the underdoped RuSr$_{2}$EuCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ (T$_{Curie}$ = 133 K, T$_{c}$ = 36 K) also exhibited a spontaneous vortex state (SVS) between 16 K and 36 K. The low field ($\pm$20 G) superconducting hysteresis loop indicates a weak and narrow Meissner state region of average lower critical field B$_{c1}^{ave}$(T) = B$_{c1}^{ave}$(0)[1 - (T/T$_{SVS}$)$^{2}$], with B$_{c1}^{ave}$(0) = 7 G and T$_{SVS}$ = 16 K. The vortex melting transition (T$_{melting}$ = 21 K) below T$_{c}$ obtained from the broad resistivity drop and the onset of diamagnetic signal indicates a vortex liquid region due to the coexistence and interplay between superconductivity and WFM order. No visible jump in specific heat was observed near T$_{c}$ for Eu- and Gd-compound. This is not surprising, since the electronic specific heat is easily overshadowed by the large phonon and weak-ferromagnetic contributions. Furthermore, a broad resistivity transition due to low vortex melting temperature would also lead to a correspondingly reduced height of any specific heat jump. Finally, with the baseline from the nonmagnetic Eu-compound, specific heat data analysis confirms the magnetic entropy associated with antiferromagnetic ordering of Gd$^{3+}$ (J = S = 7/2) at 2.5 K to be close to $\it{N_{A}k}$ ln8 as expected., Comment: 7 figures

We have first succeefully synthesized the sodium cobalt oxyhydrate superconductors using KMnO4 as a de-intercalating and oxidizing agent. It is a novel route to form the superconductive phase of NaxCoO2.yH2O without resorting to the commonly used Br2/CH3CN solution. The role of the KMnO4 is to de-intercalate the Na+ from the parent compound Na0.7CoO2 and oxidize the Co ion as a result. The higher molar ratio of KMnO4 relative to the sodium content tends to remove more Na+ from the parent compound and results in a slight expansion of the c-axis in the unit cell. The superconducting transition temperature is 4.6-3.8 K for samples treated by the aqueous KMnO4 solution with the molar ratio of KMnO4 relative to the sodium content in the range of 0.3 and 2.29., 10 pages, 3 figures

We comment on a recent Letter in Phys. Rev. Lett. (M. Kafesaki, R. S. Penciu, and E. N. Economou, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 84}, 6050 (2000)), 2 pages, 2 figures

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2014-02-26T17:07:07Z No. of bitstreams: 0 Made available in DSpace on 2014-02-26T17:07:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1996-01-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T15:29:26Z No. of bitstreams: 0 Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T15:29:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1996-01-01 Both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) types A and B are found in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) occurring in equatorial Africa. We studied 17 cases of Brazilian BL previously demonstrated to be EBV-positive to determine the EBV type as well as the presence of a characteristic 30 bp deletion within the 3' end of the latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene that may be important to the pathogenesis of several EBV-associated neoplasms. All case in which the age was known were children. We found type A EBV in 13 of 14 (93%) evaluable cases, and type B in one case. The LMP-1 deletion was found in 12 of 15 (80%) evaluable cases, including the one case of type B EBV, and a similar high prevalence (59%) of the deletion was detected in EBV-positive normal and reactive lymphoid tissues from individuals from the same geographic region. The high proportion of cases associated with type A EBV suggests that immunodeficiency is not an important factor in the pathogenesis of Brazilian BL, in contrast to endemic African BL. The presence of the LMP-1 deletion in a high prevalence in the normal population in this region is unexplained. CITY HOPE NATL MED CTR,DIV PATHOL,DEPT PATHOL,DUARTE,CA 91010 UNIV ESTADUAL PAULISTA JULIO MESQUITA FILHO,DEPT PATHOL,BOTUCATU,BRAZIL UNIV CAMPINAS,DEPT PATHOL,CAMPINAS,SP,BRAZIL UNIV ESTADUAL PAULISTA JULIO MESQUITA FILHO,DEPT PATHOL,BOTUCATU,BRAZIL

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease, with an frequency of 15 to 50% in the immunocompetent host. We studied 12 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of Hodgkin's disease occurring in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals to determine the frequency of EBV in Hodgkin's disease from this population. EBV DNA-RNA in situ hybridization was performed using a 30-base biotinylated anti-sense oligonucleotide complementary to the EBER1 gene of EBV. EBV RNA was found in the Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in 11 of 12 cases. Double-labeling studies confirmed the presence of EBV RNA in CD15-expressing Hodgkin's cells in all 11 cases, although rare B lymphocytes coexpressing EBV RNA and CD20 were also noted in these cases. The Hodgkin's cells in all 11 EBER-positive cases expressed latent membrane protein. The one case negative for EBV RNA showed the histology of nodular, lymphocyte predominance, a subtype thought to be distinct from other types of Hodgkin's disease.

The authors studied typical Hodgkin's disease along with the nodular, lymphocyte predominance subtype by both the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization for evidence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). By PCR, EBV DNA was detected in 12/23 cases of typical Hodgkin's disease and 2/13 cases of the nodular, lymphocyte predominance subtype. EBV RNA was detected by in situ hybridization studies within Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in 11/23 cases of typical Hodgkin's disease and 0/13 cases of nodular, lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease. Other cells positive for EBV, identified as both B and T cells in double-labeling immunohistochemical/in situ hybridization studies, were found in 20/23 cases of typical Hodgkin's disease, 9/13 cases of nodular, lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease, 4/6 cases of progressive transformation of germinal centers, and 7/10 normal lymphoid tissues. It is concluded that EBV is significantly associated with Reed-Sternberg cells in approximately one-half cases of typical Hodgkin's disease but not in the nodular, lymphocyte predominance subtype. EBV-infected B and T cells are also present in a majority of cases of Hodgkin's disease as well as in reactive conditions.

The systemic distribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes was studied in paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 fatal cases of Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), using an in situ hybridization technique employing an alpha-35S-dCTP-radiolabeled BamHI-W fragment of EBV DNA. The presence of EBV was documented in various PTLD-involved organs. The hybridization signal for the virus localized predominantly in the abnormal lymphoid cells, but signals also were detected in hepatocytes and/or adrenal cortical cells in five cases. The distribution of autoradiographic label within the lymphoid cells was focal and its intensity varied from field to field suggesting a nonuniformity of the viral genomic load in the infected tissues. Recruitment of EBV genome-bearing cells was not observed into inflammatory mononuclear infiltrates found in organs without histopathologic evidence of PTLD.

To establish the relative frequencies of types A, B and non-A, non-B hepatitis, stored samples of blood from all the cases of acute viral hepatitis seen over a period of 9 years in a general hospital for adults were classified according to their type by presently available serologic methods. The study included 456 episodes of hepatitis in 447 patients, distributed as follows: 114 episodes of hepatitis A (25%), 282 of hepatitis B (62%) and 60 of hepatitis non-A, non-B (13%). The episodes of non-A, non-B hepatitis were equally distributed between the sexes, suggesting a mode of transmission different from that of hepatitis A or B, which had male/female ratios of 2.4 and 3.1 respectively. The low proportion of hepatitis non-A, non-B may not reflect its real frequency, since it often escapes clinical recognition.