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One challenge to pipeline operators is to identify potentially injurious dents among thousands of reported deformation features using limited information (e.g., reported dent’s length, width, and depth) and to prioritize the efforts and allocate the resources to obtain additional more detailed information (e.g., dent profiles) for those potentially severe dents. An innovative approach based on machine learning predictions stemming from a representative dictionary of finite element analysis (FEA) generated prototypes was developed. The proposed approach predicts multiple severity-based indicators for each dent, then combines them in an overall severity score, which finally is used to prioritize the acquisition of dent profiles. Once the dent profiles are available, detailed level 3 FEA quantitative reliability analyses, following previously developed and published methodology (QuAD) [1], is performed allowing pipeline operators to confirm dent’s severity more accurately and perform an integrity risk informed decision (IRIDM) leading to a safer and more efficient integrity management. Three severity indicators were considered herein and intended to address both formation-induced and service-induced failure mechanisms. The maximum dent formation plastic strain and accumulated ductile failure damage were used for evaluating the likelihood of forming a crack during indentation. The third indicator was the stress concentration factors (SCFs) to assess the potential of service-induced failure due to fatigue. A machine learning model, as an emulator, trained and tested using ∼4000 FEA-based dent prototypes was shown to be able to effectively predict dent severity indicators previously referred to. These predicted dent severity indicators are combined to produce an overall severity score, which was finally used to prioritize the acquisition of the detailed dent profiles. Once profiles are obtained, detailed FEA quantitative reliability assessments will ultimately confirm the severity and hence drive repair/no repair decisions, enabling in this way an efficient and effective allocation of resources.

Masticatory muscle myositis (MMM) is the second most common inflammatory myopathy diagnosed in dogs, but it is rarely described in puppies. The disease is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against 2M myofibers contained in masticatory muscle, although the cause of this production is still unclear. The aim of the present case report was to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatment, and follow-up of an atypical case of chronic masticatory muscle myositis in a very young dog. A 5-month old Cavalier king Charles Spaniel (CKCS) was presented to the AniCura Istituto Veterinario Novara with a two weeks, progressive history of lethargy and difficulty in food prehension. Neurological examination revealed bilateral masticatory muscle atrophy, mandibular ptosis with the jaw kept open, inability to close the mouth without manual assistance, jaw pain, and bilateral reduction of palpebral reflex and menace reaction; vision was maintained. A myopathy was suspected. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for 2M antibodies, and histopathological examination of masticatory muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of MMM. Glucocorticoids treatment was started and clinical signs promptly improved. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case describing mandibular ptosis in a dog affected by chronic MMM, successfully managed with medical treatment and the first report describing the CT and MRI findings in a young CKCS affected by MMM.

Defects in plant development caused by loss-of the FKBP42, TWISTED DWARF1 (TWD1), have so far been accounted to a dual function of TWD1 acting as an ABCB chaperone that positively regulates ABCB biogenesis and transport activity. On the other hand, TWD1 was characterized as a modulator of actin cytoskeleton bundling and dynamics by interaction with ACTIN7, however, currently it is unclear if both events are connected.Here, we show that TWD1 positively regulates pollen tube germination and growth by controlling actin organization. We identify and verify myosin XI-K as TWD1 interacting protein, which is most likely linking the action of TWD1 on the actin cytoskeleton. We provide evidence that myosin XI-K is required for proper auxin exporter trafficking and auxin export. Further, we show that ER-localized TWD1 reshapes the ER network to overlay actin cables similar to mutations of myosin-XI and thus controls cytoplasmic streaming.In summary, our data support a model in that TWD1 functions as an ER–actin adapter proteins involved in myosin-dependent ER motility and cargo trafficking. Our findings provide a molecular explanation for the defects in early ABCB biogenesis in twd1 that are caused by defects in the three-way interaction between the ER, cytosolic myosin-XI and F-actin.

Growing evidence has highlighted the essential role of plant hormones, notably, cytokinins (CKs), in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, both at early and late nodulation stages1,2. Despite numerous studies showing the central role of CK in nodulation, the importance of CK transport in the symbiosis is unknown. Here, we show the role of ABCG56, a full-size ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in the early stages of the nodulation. MtABCG56 is expressed in roots and nodules and its messenger RNA levels increase upon treatment with symbiotic bacteria, isolated Nod factor and CKs, accumulating within the epidermis and root cortex. MtABCG56 exports bioactive CKs in an ATP-dependent manner over the plasma membrane and its disruption results in an impairment of nodulation. Our data indicate that ABCG-mediated cytokinin transport is important for proper establishment of N-fixing nodules.

In order to survive under ever-changing conditions plants must be able to adaptively respond to their environment. Plant hormones and the signaling cross-talk among them play a key role in integrating external and internal cues, enabling the plants to acclimate accordingly. HSP90 and several of its co-chaperones are known as pleiotropic factors involved in the signaling pathways of multiple stress responses, including temperature, drought, and pathogen infection. Recently, hormone receptor components for auxin and jasmonic acid, respectively, have been identified as clients of the HSP90 chaperone system, suggesting a direct HSP90-dependent link to hormone signaling. In this review, we give an overview of the multiple roles of HSP90 and its co-chaperones in plant hormone biology and discuss the largely unexplored targets for signal integration that the activity of these apparent multitaskers may suggest.

Summary: The widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are derivatives of the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA). SA is well known to regulate plant immunity and development, whereas there have been few reports focusing on the effects of NSAIDs in plants. Our studies here reveal that NSAIDs exhibit largely overlapping physiological activities to SA in the model plant Arabidopsis. NSAID treatments lead to shorter and agravitropic primary roots and inhibited lateral root organogenesis. Notably, in addition to the SA-like action, which in roots involves binding to the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), NSAIDs also exhibit PP2A-independent effects. Cell biological and biochemical analyses reveal that many NSAIDs bind directly to and inhibit the chaperone activity of TWISTED DWARF1, thereby regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics and subsequent endosomal trafficking. Our findings uncover an unexpected bioactivity of human pharmaceuticals in plants and provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular action of this class of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Successfully executing maintenance & reliability improvement programs on a complex pipeline asset network tends to be challenging. Influencing the factors that affect reliability performance usually involves elements of culture, asset management & operations, resource allocation, reliability and maintenance strategy and maintenance execution. Frequently, the focus of attention is placed primarily on tracking detailed reliability & maintenance performance (i.e. tool time, average time between failures, planned work, etc.) because they tend to be easier to understand and measure. When some of the other key factors potentially holding back the full realization of significant reliability improvements may be at the resource allocation level where usually measuring and benchmarking can be more challenging. In this sense, being able to benchmark different operating areas in terms of maintenance, reliability and resources allocation performance can help understand higher level factors driving less than ideal asset reliability performance. Supporting the implementation of a Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) program on a vast liquid pipeline network, multi-attribute decision making (MADM) techniques and concepts were used to create assessment models that based around the notion of complexity were then used to benchmark multiple operating regions. From these assessment models, derived benchmarking indexes such as maintenance technicians per equivalent complexity or maintenance budget per equivalent complexity were created and used in support of resource allocation discussions. The paper will describe the use of a MADM techniques, discuss how different complexity models were developed working in collaboration with multiple maintenance SMEs, discuss some of the analysis and findings of different regional benchmarks and also comment on some of the cultural challenges encountered when using and communicating quantitative benchmarks to influence and drive reliability improvements. Hopefully this paper will help other professionals in the industry understand how SME experience can be captured and transformed into assessment tools for use in benchmarking.

The plant hormone auxin must be transported throughout plants in a cell-to-cell manner to affect its various physiological functions. ABCB transporters are critical for this polar auxin distribution, but the regulatory mechanisms controlling their function is not fully understood. The auxin transport activity of ABCB1 was suggested to be regulated by a physical interaction with FKBP42/Twisted Dwarf1 (TWD1), a peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase), but all attempts to demonstrate such a PPIase activity by TWD1 have failed so far. By using a structure-based approach, we identified several surface-exposed proline residues in the nucleotide binding domain and linker of Arabidopsis ABCB1, mutations of which do not alter ABCB1 protein stability or location but do affect its transport activity. P1008 is part of a conserved signature D/E-P motif that seems to be specific for auxin-transporting ABCBs, which we now refer to as ATAs. Mutation of the acidic residue also abolishes auxin transport activity by ABCB1. All higher plant ABCBs for which auxin transport has been conclusively proven carry this conserved motif, underlining its predictive potential. Introduction of this D/E-P motif into malate importer, ABCB14, increases both its malate and its background auxin transport activity, suggesting that this motif has an impact on transport capacity. The D/E-P1008 motif is also important for ABCB1-TWD1 interactions and activation of ABCB1-mediated auxin transport by TWD1. In summary, our data imply a new function for TWD1 acting as a putative activator of ABCB- mediated auxin transport by cis-trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl bonds.

Transport of signaling molecules is of major importance for regulating plant growth, development, and responses to the environment. A prime example is the spatial-distribution of auxin, which is regulated via transporters to govern developmental patterning. A critical limitation in our ability to identify transporters by forward genetic screens is their potential functional redundancy. Here, we overcome part of this functional redundancy via a transportome, multi-targeted forward-genetic screen using artificial-microRNAs (amiRNAs). We generate a library of 3000 plant lines expressing 1777 amiRNAs, designed to target closely homologous genes within subclades of transporter families and identify, genotype and quantitatively phenotype, 80 lines showing reproducible shoot growth phenotypes. Within this population, we discover and characterize a strong redundant role for the unstudied ABCB6 and ABCB20 genes in auxin transport and response. The unique multi-targeted lines generated in this study could serve as a genetic resource that is expected to reveal additional transporters., Characterizing plant membrane transporters via genetic methods is complicated by functional redundancy among multi-gene transporter families. Here Zhang et al. use an artificial microRNA-based screen to overcome this issue and show that ABCB6 and ABCB20 act redundantly to regulate auxin transport.

The widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are derivatives of the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA). In plants, SA is well-known to regulate immunity as well as development, whereas there was no study focusing on the effects and mechanism of action of NSAIDs in plants. Our studies here in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana reveal that NSAIDs exhibit largely overlapping physiological activities to SA. NSAID treatments in Arabidopsis seedlings lead to shorter and agravitropic primary roots and inhibited lateral root organogenesis. Notably, in addition to the SA-like action, which in roots involves binding to the Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A), NSAIDs exhibit also PP2A-independent effects. Cell biological and biochemical analyses unravel that many NSAIDs bind directly to and inhibit the chaperone activity of the FKBP42, TWISTED DWARF1, thereby regulating the dynamics of actin cytoskeleton and subsequent endosomal trafficking. Our findings uncover an unexpected bioactivity of human pharmaceuticals in plants, and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular action of this class of anti-inflammatory compounds.

In order to survive under ever‐changing conditions plants must be able to adaptively respond to their environment. Plant hormones and the signaling cross‐talk among them play a key role in integrating external and internal cues, enabling the plants to acclimate accordingly. HSP90 and several of its co‐chaperones are known as pleiotropic factors involved in the signaling pathways of multiple stress responses, including temperature, drought, and pathogen infection. Recently, hormone receptor components for auxin and jasmonic acid, respectively, have been identified as clients of the HSP90 chaperone system, suggesting a direct HSP90‐dependent link to hormone signaling. In this review, we give an overview of the multiple roles of HSP90 and its co‐chaperones in plant hormone biology and discuss the largely unexplored targets for signal integration that the activity of these apparent multitaskers may suggest.

The phytohormone auxin is involved in virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. Through polar auxin transport, auxin gradients can be established, which then direct plant differentiation and growth. Shade avoidance responses are well- known processes that require polar auxin transport. In this study, we have identified a mutant, shade avoidance 4 (sav4), defective in shade-induced hypocotyl elongation and basipetal auxin transport. SAV4 encodes an unknown protein with armadillo repeat- and tetratricopeptide repeat-like domains known to provide protein-protein interaction surfaces. C terminally yellow fluorescent protein-tagged SAV4 localizes to both the plasma membrane and the nucleus. Membrane-localized SAV4 displays a polar association with the shootward plasma membrane domain in hypocotyl and root cells, which appears to be necessary for its function in hypocotyl elongation. Cotransfection of SAV4 and ATP-binding cassette B1 (ABCB1) auxin transporter in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) revealed that SAV4 blocks ABCB1-mediated auxin efflux. We thus propose that polarly localized SAV4 acts to inhibit ABCB-mediated auxin efflux toward shoots and facilitates the establishment of proper auxin gradients.

Patients who undergo percutaneous chevron-Akin osteotomies have less pain at follow-up, greater correction of hallux valgus angle, and a shorter operation time compared with open osteotomies. Stable fixation of the chevron osteotomy allows early full weight bearing and mobilization of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This article describes the surgery technique, including reduction of the first metatarsal head after translation, accurate positioning of the proximal first metatarsal fixation screw, and removal of the dorsomedial prominence of the first metatarsal head.

This work presents a time-domain sensor in which the ratio between two temperature dependent signals is measured. This signals are generated within the sensor in order to increase its sensitivity when compared to traditional approaches in which one of them is temperature invariant and generated externally. In this way, the sensor is autonomous and can be integrated in any system, without the need of a reference.The resulting sensor was integrated with a RFID Tag in a 130 nm technology; the chip validation was performed for temperatures between 20 °C and 60 °C, yielding sensor linear response and a power consumption of 80 nW @ 60 °C and 10 samples per second.

Plant ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are membrane proteins that are important for transporting a wide range of compounds, including secondary metabolites and phytohormones. In Arabidopsis, some members of the ABCB subfamily of ABC transporter, also known as Multi-Drug Resistance proteins (MDRs), have been implicated in auxin transport. However, reports on the roles of the auxin-mediated ABCBs in fleshy fruit development are rare. Here, we present that SlABCB4, a member of the tomato ABCB subfamily, transports auxin in the developing fruit of tomato. Transient expression of SlABCB4-GFP fusion proteins in tobacco cells showed plasma membrane localization. The transport activity of SlABCB4, expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts, revealed substrate specificity for indole-3-acetic acid export. Gene expression analysis of SlABCB4 revealed high expression levels at the early stages of fruit development. Therefore, SlABCB4 is considered to facilitate auxin distribution in tomato fruit, which is important for tomato fruit development.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been shown as a very important fact to take account in many aspects of individual life. In Educational context is stipulated the beneffits of the inclussion of emotional dimension in all educational community (Aguayo-Muela y Aguilar-Luzón, 2017). In this way, reading inspire (promote, launch??) the activation of emotional processes and their managing (dealing??) (Mata, 2014). The proposal aims the analysis about emotional competence in students who received a reading habit and emotional enhacement based programme. The sample contains 170 students, 84 males and 86 females, aged between 7 and 11 years, from 3º to 6º of Elementary School, divided in three schools of Tenerife. Bar-On ICE: NA was chosen for the data 3 collection. The results show a considerable percent of students with severe IE deficiencies. Also, and even though no significative differences were found concerning genre or academic levels (standars), it was found that the more presence of reading habit, the more IE is self-perceived by the pupils. La Inteligencia Emocional (IE) se ha mostrado como un indicador importante a tener en cuenta en muchos de los aspectos de la vida del individuo. En el contexto educativo, se remarcan los beneficios que la inclusión de la emocionalidad reporta a los miembros de la comunidad educativa (Aguayo-Muela y Aguilar-Luzón, 2017). Así, la actividad lectora favorece la activación de los procesos emocionales y su gestión (Mata, 2014). Se propone realizar una exploración de la competencia emocional de un grupo de alumnado que recibió un programa dirigido al hábito lector y a la potenciación de la IE. La muestra contiene 170 escolares, 84 niños y 86 niñas, de 7 a 11 años, de 3º a 6º de Primaria, repartida en tres centros de Tenerife, escogiéndose el instrumento de Bar-On ICE: NA para la recogida de datos. Los resultados arrojan un porcentaje notable de alumnado con serias deficiencias en IE. De la misma manera, y aunque no se encontraron diferencias significativas en relación a la IE y el género o el curso escolar, se halló que a mayor presencia de hábito lector más IE autopercibida por los escolares.

Different subclasses of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters have been implicated in the transport of native variants of the phytohormone auxin. Here, the putative, individual roles of key members belonging to the ABCB, ABCD and ABCG families, respectively, are highlighted and the knowledge of their assumed expression and transport routes is reviewed and compared with their mutant phenotypes. Protein-protein interactions between ABC transporters and regulatory components during auxin transport are summarized and their importance is critically discussed. There is a focus on the functional interaction between members of the ABCB family and the FKBP42, TWISTED DWARF1, acting as a chaperone during plasma membrane trafficking of ABCBs. Further, the mode and relevance of functional ABCB-PIN interactions is diagnostically re-evaluated. A new nomenclature describing precisely the most likely ABCB-PIN interaction scenarios is suggested. Finally, available tools for the detection and prediction of ABC transporter interactomes are summarized and the potential of future ABC transporter interactome maps is highlighted.

In this work we present a programmable and reconfigurable single instruction multiple data (SIMD) visual processor based on the S-CNN architecture, namely, the Simplicial CNN Digital Visual Processor (SCDVP), oriented to high-performance low-level image processing. The cells in the array have a selectable neighborhood configuration and several registers, which provide the chip with extended spatial and temporal processing capabilities, in particular optical flow. A prototype 64 × 64 cell chip with two program memories and a column adder was fabricated in a 90 nm technology, which running at 133 MHz delivers 105.5 GOPS. The calculation at the cell level is performed with time coded signals and the program memory is located outside the array. This produces a very efficient realization in terms of area: 53.8 GOPS per mm2, which outperforms all results reported so far. We show that even after normalization, to account for technology scaling, the proposed architecture is the most efficient among all reported digital processors. Computation performance to power ratio also exceeds all previous results with 817.8 GOPS/W. Experimental results of the working chip are reported. Fil: Di Federico, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigación En Ingeniería Eléctrica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingenieria Electrica y de Computadoras; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Julian, Pedro Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigación En Ingeniería Eléctrica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingenieria Electrica y de Computadoras; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Mandolesi, Pablo Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigación En Ingeniería Eléctrica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingenieria Electrica y de Computadoras; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina

The aim of this work is to describe three different architectural designs for AES cipher, which is a symmetric block encryption standard. The three architectures are oriented to different applications and are designed using different approaches, like pipeline structures and resource sharing. They also include an AMBA AHB interface, which is an open standard that defines the interconnection of blocks in a System-on-Chip (SoC).

This work presents the design of a Morse decoder implemented using fourteen different architectures described in Verilog. All designs are synthesized in FPGA and ASIC, using Xilinx ISE and Vivado for the former and Leonardo Spectrum and Design Compiler for the latter. The performance and resource requirements after synthesis of each architecture are compared to gain insight on the impact caused by using different design styles, description techniques, architectural variants and the circuit’s final target.

Pipeline ruptures have the potential to cause significant economic and environmental impact in a short period of time, therefore it is critical for pipeline operators to be able to promptly detect and respond to them. Public stakeholder expectations are high and an evolving expectation is that the response to such events be automated by initiating an automatic pipeline shutdown upon receipt of rupture alarm. These types of performance expectations are challenging to achieve with conventional, model-based, leak-detection systems (i.e. CPM–RTTMs) as the reliability measured in terms of the false alarm rate is typically too low. The company has actively participated on a pipeline-industry task force chaired by the API Cybernetics committee, focused on the development of best practices in the area of Rupture Recognition and Response. After API’s release of the first version of a Rupture Recognition and Response guidance document in 2014, the company has initiated development of its own internal Rupture Recognition Program (RRP). The RRP considers several rupture recognition approaches simultaneously, ranging from improvements to existing CPM leak detection to the development of new SCADA based rupture detection system (RDS). This paper will provide an overview of a specific approach to rupture detection based on the use of machine learning and pattern recognition techniques applied to SCADA data.

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) block cipher is currently used in many applications such as smart cards, e-mail and Wi-Fi. The algorithm's purpose in any case is to provide confidentiality in the communication. However, each of the applications imposes different constraints over the cipher. The aim of this work is the design of three architectures for AES, oriented to different applications. One of them maximizes the performance through the use of pipeline structures, other minimizes the area through resource sharing, and the third one represents a trade-off between area and throughput.

Morphogenetic signals control the patterning of multicellular organisms. Cytokinins are mobile signals that are perceived by subsets of plant cells. We found that the responses to cytokinin signaling during Arabidopsis development are constrained by the transporter PURINE PERMEASE 14 (PUP14). In our experiments, the expression of PUP14 was inversely correlated to the cytokinin signaling readout. Loss of PUP14 function allowed ectopic cytokinin signaling accompanied by aberrant morphogenesis in embryos, roots, and the shoot apical meristem. PUP14 protein localized to the plasma membrane and imported bioactive cytokinins, thus depleting apoplastic cytokinin pools and inhibiting perception by plasma membrane–localized cytokinin sensors to create a sink for active ligands. We propose that the spatiotemporal cytokinin sink patterns established by PUP14 determine the cytokinin signaling landscape that shapes the morphogenesis of land plants.

A novel series of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines bearing a 3-hydroxyphenyl group at C(3) and substituted tropanes at C(7) have been identified as potent B-Raf inhibitors. Exploration of alternative functional groups as a replacement for the C(3) phenol demonstrated indazole to be an effective isostere. Several compounds possessing substituted indazole residues, such as 4e, 4p, and 4r, potently inhibited cell proliferation at submicromolar concentrations in the A375 and WM266 cell lines, and the latter two compounds also exhibited good therapeutic indices in cells.

Background We studied the 1-year complication rate of patients diagnosed as having a pulmonary embolism (PE) after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery and the distribution of emboli in the pulmonary circulation, and determined if a relationship exists between the location of the PE and age, gender, body mass index, preoperative predisposing factors, American Society of Anesthesiology classification, type of surgery, prophylaxis, hospital stay, transfer to a higher level of care, and mortality. Methods Two hundred sixty-nine patients who developed an in-hospital PE proved by computed tomography pulmonary angiography after elective THA or TKA between 2005 and 2012 were studied. Results The most proximal location of the emboli was central in 62, segmental in 139, and subsegmental in 68. Nineteen patients (7%) developed a bleeding complication during PE treatment. Twenty-nine patients (11%) were readmitted during the first year. Two patients (0.74%) died: one had a segmental PE after TKA. He died 11 months after surgery due to an autopsy-proven sepsis. The second patient developed a segmental PE after THA. She was anticoagulated, developed an intracranial bleed, and died 8 months after surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that demographic variables, American Society of Anesthesiology class, preoperative comorbidities (with the exception of arrhythmia), and the presence of preoperative predisposing factors had no effect in the location of the PE. Conclusion The 1-year mortality rate of these patients is low. Death can be caused by bleeding complications secondary to anticoagulation or by unrelated conditions. This information may aid clinicians while counseling patients who developed a PE after surgery, particularly those with small subsegmental emboli.

Plasmodesmata (PD) are dynamic cell wall microchannels that facilitate the intercellular trafficking of RNA and protein macromolecules playing cell nonautonomous roles in the orchestration of plant development, growth, and plant defense. The trafficking of macromolecules and organelles within cells depends on cytoskeletal components and their associated motor proteins. Plant viruses evolved to hijack this transport system to move their infectious genomes to PD. Current efforts concentrate on dissecting the role of specific myosin motors in transporting plant or viral proteins to the channels. Here we describe a method that addresses the role of specific myosins by expression of myosin tails that cause the repression of myosin activity in a dominant-negative manner. As an example, we explain the use of myosin tails from Nicotiana benthamiana to address the role of N. benthamiana myosins in the targeting of PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED PROTEIN 1 (PDLP1) to PD.

Plasmodesmata (PD) are dynamic cell wall microchannels that facilitate the intercellular trafficking of RNA and protein macromolecules playing cell nonautonomous roles in the orchestration of plant development, growth, and plant defense. The trafficking of macromolecules and organelles within cells depends on cytoskeletal components and their associated motor proteins. Plant viruses evolved to hijack this transport system to move their infectious genomes to PD. Current efforts concentrate on dissecting the role of specific myosin motors in transporting plant or viral proteins to the channels. Here we describe a method that addresses the role of specific myosins by expression of myosin tails that cause the repression of myosin activity in a dominant-negative manner. As an example, we explain the use of myosin tails from Nicotiana benthamiana to address the role of N. benthamiana myosins in the targeting of PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED PROTEIN 1 (PDLP1) to PD.

This paper presents an analysis of different alternatives for the realization of a VLSI cell in a nonlinear neuronal array, based on a simplicial piecewise linear (PWL) operation. Depending on the type of existing design constraints, namely, speed or density, different bus sizes can be used to broadcast the parameters stored in the memory, and in addition, row and column operations can be serialized. Based on a 90nm technology process, the different options will be analyzed and compared using simulations.

In this paper we present an integrated circuit implementing piecewise-linear (PWL) functions with three inputs, where each input can be either analog or digital. The PWL function to be implemented can be chosen by properly storing a set of coefficients in a 4 kB external memory. Experimental results are shown that demonstrate the circuit working up to 50 MHz with a maximum power consumption of 3.7 mW. Measurements corresponding to both static and time-varying inputs are provided and discussed.

Two classes of compounds, thiocarbamates 1 and triazoles 2, have been identified as HIV RT RNase H inhibitors using a novel FRET-based HTS assay. The potent analogs in each series exhibited selectivity and were active in cell-based assays. In addition, saturable, 1:1 stoichiometric binding to target was established and time of addition studies were consistent with inhibition of RT-mediated HIV replication.

This paper discusses Circuits and Systems (CAS) education, its strengths and shortcomings, and areas that need improvement from the perspective of two GOLD (graduates of the last decade) members and one industry member. The GOLD members highlight the need for hardware experiments, and active education methods such as self-learning-the-theory through practices, and the importance of lab work to relate theory to practice, and also discuss the impact of new emerging technologies on educational reforms, also suggesting ways to get industry involved in the formulation of a new multi-discipline education curriculum. The GOLD members also discuss the impact of globalization on the CAS education in less-developed countries and the role of the IEEE CAS Society on the subject matter. The author from industry discusses the importance of CAS education, and contrary to the general belief, points out the importance of understanding the fundamentals of electrical engineering in industry. The author also discusses the importance of being flexible in a work environment, and establishing a broad knowledge in engineering to have a positive impact in the company. Fil: Tarim, Tuna B.. Texas Instruments; Estados Unidos Fil: Di Federico, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentina Fil: Mak, Pui In. University of Macau; China

In this paper Professor Di Martin identifies and interprets a number of trends and signposts we may be able to use to forecast potential futures for libraries and librarians and considers how we might positively influence their development and realization.

The preparation of alpha-methylbenzyl thioureas and their biological activity against varicella zoster virus is described. Several analogs demonstrated IC50s0.1 microM and their SAR are discussed. These compounds represent a novel class of potent and selective nonnucleoside inhibitors of varicella zoster virus.

The synthesis and biological activity of pyrimidotetrazin-6-ones against HCMV protease is described. The mechanism of action for these inhibitors is the oxidation of several cysteine residues to generate cross-linked enzyme.

Background Invasive aspergillosis (IA) during induction chemotherapy of acute leukemia or allogeneic HSCT has a negative impact on the outcome of patients and is a major concern in haematology department. The impact of air treatment on invasive aspergillosis since the introduction of posaconazole prophylaxis is not very well studied at this time. In our center, the haematological intensive care unit contain ten single rooms each, of which 4 rooms are equipped with laminar airflow named “Controlled Air Zone” (CAZ) and 6 rooms have no specific air treatment (NSAT). Objective Our objective in this study was to compare the development of IA during hospitalization in the two areas of the unit and to analyze the impact of posaconazole prophylaxis on the short- and long-term survival. We compared the outcome of 56 consecutive patients hospitalized for induction treatment of ALL, AML or underwent allogeneic HSCT for AML/ALL in CR1 or had been hospitalized for GvHD treatment between the years 2009 and 2013. Posaconazole prophylaxis was introduced in 2013. Results In this study, there were 29 (52%) male and 27 (48%) female with a median age of 53 years (range, 20-64), diagnosis were AML for 35 (62.5%) patients, ALL for 11 (19.65%) patients, allogeneic HSCT for 4 (7.14%) patients (AML in CR1 for 3 and ALL in CR1 for 1), episode of aGvHD for 4 (7.14) patients and biphenotypic AL for 2 (3.57%) patients. All patients with GvHD had a grade III-IV of acute GvHD with digestive involvement. Fourty (71%) patients were hospitalized in the CAZ and 16 (29%) patients in the NSAT zone. Eleven (19%) patients received posaconazole and 45 (81%) patients received fluconazole (p=0.007). IA was observed in 19 (34%) patients: 12 (21%) patients in the CAZ and 7 (12%) patients in the NSAT zone with a median time of 2.7 months (range, 0.3-20.50) since disease diagnosis. Twenty-five (44.6%) patients died in this study: 21(37.5%) from relapse and 4 (7%) from aspergillosis. After a median follow-up of 12.23 months (range, 0.4-54), the probability of survival at 6 months and 12 months was for patients in CAZ: 72.5% and 64.44% respectively and for patients not in CAZ: 67.71% and 54.17% respectively. The probability of survival at 6 months and 12 months for posaconazole patients was 90% for both, and for fluconazole patients: 66.67% and 54.17% respectively. The survival according to treatment and zone is presented in Figure 1. The cumulative incidence of aspergillosis at 6, 12 and 24 months for fluconazole patients: 28.89%, 28.89% and 35.88% respectively and for patients with posaconazole prophylaxis: 9.09%, 9.09% and 50%. All patients who had AI in the posaconazole group had aGvHD with digestive involvement and were hospitalized during this event in the NSAT zone. The incidence of aspergillosis according to zone was 25% and 46.88% at 6 and 12 months respectively for patients not in CAZ and for patients in CAZ: 25%, 25% and 34% at 6, 12 and 24 months respectively. For posaconazole patients in CAZ, there were no event of AI. The incidence of aspergillosis is presented according zone and treatment in Figure 2. In univariate analysis, we found an impact of gender (p=0.045), ALL (p Altough this study concerning a small number of patients, IA was associated with age, male gender and ALL diagnosis. Protective factor is female gender and there is a trend for CAZ and posaconazole. Conclusion In conclusion, we found a trend for a protective impact of Controlled Air Zone and we confirm the impact of posaconazole prophylaxis on survival. The global environmental strategy in haematologic department associated with antifungical prophylaxis have an important impact in the management of AI and large prospective studies are needed to improve this strategy. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 2. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

In this paper we present a mixed-signal integrated circuit in a standard CMOS 0.5 µm technology implementing a piecewise-linear (PWL) function with three inputs, where each input can be either analog or coded with 8 bits. The output of the circuit is a digital word with 8-bit precision, representing the value of the PWL function at the three-dimensional input. The circuit accesses also a 4 kB external memory, which is addressed with a 12-bit word. Experimental results are shown that demonstrate the circuit working up to 50 MHz with a maximum power consumption of 3.7 mW.