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Hybrid components consisting of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRT) and steel components exhibit promising potential in advanced lightweight construction. However, the joining operation presents a significant challenge due to the materials' distinct physical and chemical properties. This paper studies a joining method in which dual pin arrays protruding from the surface of the metal component are inserted into the locally heated CFRT component to create a form-fitting joint. The primary objective is to scrutinize the influence of various CFRT materials on joint formation and quantify the resulting properties. The fiber type (glass and carbon) and fiber architecture (unidirectional and bidirectional reinforcement) are varied. All materials could successfully be joined via the direct pin pressing process, while depending on the CFRT material, distinct characteristic fiber morphologies could be identified. Bidirectionally reinforced carbon fiber reinforced samples showed the highest overall strength, while unidirectionally glass fiber reinforced samples showed the highest energy absorption and second highest ultimate strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: This study reveals that mutations in BRIP1/2 subunits of the BAS complex disrupt root meristem development by decreasing PIN genes expression, affecting auxin transport, and downregulating essential root genes PLT. Switch defective/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complexes play vital roles in plant development. BRAHMA-interacting proteins1 (BRIP1) and BRIP2 are subunits of BRAHMA (BRM)-associated SWI/SNF complex (BAS) in plants; however, their role and underlying regulatory mechanism in root development are still unknown. Here, we show that brip1 brip2 double mutants have a significantly shortened root meristem and an irregular arrangement in a portion of the root stem cell niche. The mutations in BRIP1 and BRIP2 cause decreased expression of the PIN-FORMED (PIN) genes, which in turn reduces the transport of auxin at the root tip, leading to the disruption of the accurate establishment of normal auxin concentration gradients in the stem cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments indicated that BRIP1 and BRIP2 directly bind to the PINs. Furthermore, we found a significant down-regulation in the expression of key root development genes, PLETHORA (PLT), in brip1 brip2. The brip1 brip2 plt1 plt2 quadruple mutations do not show further exacerbation in the short-root phenotype compared to plt1 plt2 double mutants. Using a dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible PLT2 transgenic line, we showed that acute overexpression of PLT2 partially rescues root meristem defects of brip1 brip2, suggesting that BRIP1 and BRIP2 act in part through the PLT1/2 pathway. Taken together, our results identify the critical role and the underlying mechanism of BRIP1/2 in maintaining the development of root meristem through the regulation of auxin output and expression of PLTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrodynamics of the existing basic extrusion head of the MCH-200 screw machine were calculated using ANSYS. Pin extrusion was proposed for head modernization. A new simpler head design was developed using the directional search method. When comparing data on the distribution of material flow rates for the basic and new head designs, the efficiency of pin insertion into the extrusion head was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration is a life threatening emergency which requires immediate medical attention. Foreign body aspiration caused by sharp objects like scarf pins was more common in young girls, possibly due to casual handling of sharp objects. Most of the patients were symptomatic with cough and choking episodes. The penetration and dislodgement was the most commonly reported symptom in the majority of the patients. Here we are presenting a case of a young female with accidental swallowing of sharp scarf, following which she developed throat pain and cough. A detailed radiological examination was performed which showed that a foreign body had migrated into the left bronchus, which was removed with a bronchoscope. This case demonstrates the emergency management of a sharp foreign object that was inhaled into the airway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin is a plant phytohormone that is essential for the initiation of tuberization in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.). Auxin exerts these effects via polar auxin transport facilitated by various auxin influx and efflux carriers. It is unclear which members of the auxin transporter families: PIN, PILS, Aux/LAX, and ABCB, are involved in sweet potato tuber initiation and development. Therefore, a genome-wide analysis of the I. batatas auxin transporter genes was conducted, and their expression patterns during storage root initiation and development were analyzed. Five IbLAX, 16 IbPIN, 12 IbPILS, and 34 IbABCB family members were identified. These genes showed high conservation among families based on their intron-exon structure, motif composition, and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, the promoter regions of these genes had various cis-acting regulatory elements involved in hormone, light, and developmental responses. The auxin transporter genes were expressed in various sweet potato tissues, and many were differentially expressed during storage root development. IbLAX1, IbPIN13, IbPILS7, IbABCB1, and IbABCB14 showed up-regulated expression during tuber initiation. This study characterizes these auxin transporter gene families for the first time. These results are an important reference for validation studies to determine the specific functions of these genes and their auxin transporting capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the Bucharest Stock Exchange, we examine the factors influencing the probability of informed trading (PIN) during February—October 2020, a COVID-19 pandemic period. Based on an unconditional quantile regression approach, we show that PIN exhibit asymmetric dependency with liquidity and trading costs. Furthermore, building a customized database that contains all insider transactions on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, we reveal that these types of orders monotonically increase the information asymmetry from the 50th to the 90th quantile throughout the PIN distribution. Finally, we bring strong empirical evidence associating the level of information asymmetry to the level of fake news related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This novel result suggests that during episodes when the level of PIN is medium to high (between 15 and 50%), any COVID-19 related news classified as misinformation released during the lockdown period, is discouraging informed traders to place buy or sell orders conditioned by their private information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, 1 k (i.e., 1000 fiber per bundle) T-300™ (Toray Institute Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and 12 k (i.e.,12,000 fiber per bundle) T-700™ (Toray Institute Inc., Tokyo, Japan) carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) pins are fabricated using the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) method. For the 1 k T-300™ carbon fiber, the 2D [0°/90°] plain-woven (PW) laminated structure is adopted; and for the 12 k T-700™ carbon fiber, the Multi-axial Warp-Knitted (MWK) structure (i.e., [0°/45°/90°/-45°]) is adopted. Mechanical properties (i.e., tensile, compression, and flexure) of two types of C/SiC are evaluated. Three types of double-shear tests (i.e., the shear loading perpendicular (Type 1), parallel (Type 2), and 45° off-axial (Type 3) loading to the lamination of the C/SiC pins) are conducted to evaluate the shear mechanical properties for the C/SiC pins. Relationships between the double shear mechanical properties, loading type, fiber type, microstructures, and damage mechanisms are established. For 1 k T-300™ PW C/SiC pin, the double shear strength is τs = 74.66 ± 11.33 and 105.49 ± 8.6 MPa for test Type 1 and 2, respectively; and for 12 k T-700™ PW C/SiC pin, the double shear strength is τs = 104.33 ± 11.33, 202.82 ± 24.8, 86.56 ± 2.57 MPa for test Type 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Compared with 1 k T-300™ PW C/SiC pin, the double shear strength of 12 k T-700™ PW C/SiC pin increased 39.74 and 99.26% for test Type 1 and 2. The increases of the shear strength in 12 k T-700™ MWK C/SiC pins is due to the higher strength for 12 k T-700™ carbon fiber and the higher densification for the MWK fiber preform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-rooted pomegranate seedlings are widely used in the horticultural industry to cut costs and time. However, these seedlings produce shallow roots that exhibit poor cold resistance. Thus, deeper adventitious roots generated through gravitropism are imperative for seedling survival, and understanding the molecular mechanisms of gravitropism can facilitate improved breeding techniques. We hypothesized that gravitropism in pomegranate is partially controlled by pomegranate FOUR LIPS (PgFLP), an R2R3-MYB protein that interacts with and controls the transcriptional expression of PgPIN10, which facilitates transmembrane auxin signaling. We studied subcellular localization of PgFLP, quantified auxin levels, and measured gravitropic set-point angle (GSA) to investigate the underlying mechanisms regulating PgPIN10 expression during the formation of GSA in pomegranate adventitious roots. We found that PgFLP was localized to the nucleus based on use of green florescent proteins, suggesting that this protein is a transcription factor. When using the tractable 35S::PgFLP, we observed stronger gravitational response in overexpression lines leading to a narrower GSA than in the wild-type Arabidopsis, and the expression of PgFLP and PgPIN10 in 'Lanbaoshi' (LBS; a deep-rooted cultivar) was higher than that in 'Taishanhong' (TSH; a shallow-rooted cultivar), which indicates that PgFLP may participate in regulating the GSA of adventitious roots via PgPIN10 in pomegranate. Taken together, our results indicate that the pomegranate R2R3-MYB transcription factor, PgFLP, plays a vital role in setting the GSA of adventitious roots in this crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genes for grain softness and rust resistance were transferred from a soft grained Australian wheat variety (Barham) to a hard grained Indian wheat variety (DBW14) through marker assisted back cross breeding. Backcrosses were made with recurrent parent in the BC1F1 plants that were found positive for markers of Pina-D1a, Pina-D1b and Lr37b genes. The BC2F1 plants were further screened and those that possessed the PinaD1a and Lr37b alleles were advanced up to BC2F4 with continued marker assisted selection and field screening. 48 SSR markers that were heterozygous in the BC1F1 plants were used for background selection in three BC2F1 plants derived from three respective BC1F1s. Further generations were screened for morphological traits in the field and 16 BC2F4 lines were finally selected through combined field and marker screening. These 16 near isogenic lines (NILs) had lower grain hardness index (13.86–47.13) than the recurrent parent DBW 14 (81.76) and displayed more than 95% of the recurrent parent genome. 12 of the NILs had significantly higher grain yield than DBW 14. Combined foreground and background selection strategy coupled with field screening, was thus, found to be an effective strategy for transferring grain softness in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we use bank loan information to construct proxies for corporate transparency and examine whether these measures reflect information asymmetry in the stock market. Our analysis is based on a novel dataset of stock transactions and bank loans of all publicly listed firms on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, covering January 2008 to June 2013. We find that firms with outstanding loans have a lower level of information asymmetry in the stock market, whereas firms with defaulted loans have a higher level of asymmetry. Further evidence demonstrates that the effect of loan default on information asymmetry in the stock market is more pronounced when these loans are borrowed from joint-equity commercial banks or multiple banks and when the default occurs under inactive market conditions. Our results remain robust to a series of endogeneity and sensitivity tests and provide suggestive evidence of a close connection between the credit loan and stock markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the reasons for the occurrence of defects in the process of polymer products extrusion. To solve some of the problems, it is proposed to use a pin extrusion head. Numerical simulation of such a head with different pin locations has been carried out. Velocity isocontours are presented, on the basis of which recommendations for the pin location in the extrusion head are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the work on the efficient scheme of Spectral Amplitude Coding Optical Code Division Multiple Access (SAC-OCDMA). This is one of the promising solution to the emerging need of high data rates. The systems based on OCDMA suffer from Multiple User Interference (MAI) and Phase-Induced Intensity Noise (PIIN). The SAC-OCDMA systems are able to eliminate them by using better code structuring. This script presents the numerical analysis and detailed comparison of logical interference cancellation of used 1D codes which are Enhanced Double Weight (EDW) and Modified Double Weight (MDW) codes. The three-user system is simulated and designed for associating BER and other performance parameters with respect to the length of the optical cable. The receiver side is using Single Photo Diode Detection (SPD) technique. The results reveal that EDW performs better than the MDW codes moreover, the transmission length for standard error free transmission is 120 km with EDW codes and 102 km for MDW codes. For comparative study PIN as well as APD detectors are used for the same parameters where a significant increase up to 45 km is seen while using APD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern era of wireless communication relies on the evolution of adaptive antennas. This influences the new age antenna designs to adapt themselves to the changing RF environment. Reconfigurable antennas are one such design where the operating frequency, radiation pattern, and polarization can be altered according to the user's requirement. Numerous research works have been contributed to the design of reconfigurable antennas. In view of that, this work proposes a detailed survey on reconfigurable antennas. The key motivation behind the survey is to provide an elaborate idea on the existing reconfigurable antenna designs so that the antenna researchers can perform possible analysis to overcome shortcomings or can enhance the performance of the existing designs. The evolution of reconfigurable antennas, the need for different reconfigurations and their design specifications are presented in this survey. Further, a comparative study on different switching mechanisms, deployment of various techniques to enhance antenna performance, diverse applications and existing design challenges are also addressed as a part of this review. Hence, this survey will be useful to the researchers in developing futuristic reconfigurable radiating structures that can be well suited for applications like Cognitive Radio, 5G and Multiple Input Multiple Output systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many tree species especially the rooting-recalcitrant woody perennials, the adventitious root (AR) in the juvenile phase can be easily induced by exogenous auxin, but AR formation becomes recalcitrant in the adult phase. Also, it is reported that the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibits primary root growth in Arabidopsis and the AR formation in poplar (Populus ssp). So far, how GABA affects or is affected by the ontogenetic phase or auxin remains unclear. Here, we used an apple rootstock, Malus xiaojinensis, and tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) to investigate this question. We first analyzed the content of GABA, the activity of GABA synthetic enzyme GAD, and the expression of the coding gene MxGADs, respectively, in leafy cuttings of juvenile and adult phase. Next, the effect of exogenous GABA on AR formation was examined in in vitro shoots of M. xiaojinensis and tobacco. Interestingly, significant and consistent increases in GABA concentration, GAD activity, and expression of MxGAD genes in response to exogenous indole butyric acid (IBA) were detected in adult-phase cuttings, but not in juvenile-phase cuttings. Exogenous GABA application inhibited the AR formation by delaying rooting time and reducing root number and the total root length in in vitro shoots of both M. xiaojinensis and tobacco. The expression of MxPIN members increased in response to IBA application, but these changes were restrained by the addition of GABA. These results indicate that both the loss of juvenility and IBA are required to trigger GABA accumulation. GABA may affect the AR formation as a co-actor by inhibiting polar auxin transport. Together, these findings facilitate the understanding of the regulatory network among GABA, juvenility, and auxin signaling on the AR formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRT) hybrid parts offer interesting possibilities for lightweight application, which can exceed the capabilities of mono material metal or CFRT parts. In this case, the joining technology oftentimes is the limiting factor. This study investigates a joining operation with metal pin structures which are additively manufactured via powder bed fusion featuring different diameters and tip geometries, which are inserted into the locally infrared heated CFRT part. The resulting fiber rearrangement is assessed using transmitted light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy as well as micro-computer-tomography. It could be shown that for all assessed pin variants a similar distinct fiber displacement can be seen and that the pin diameter has a significant effect on the resulting fiber orientation with smaller pin diameters being advantageous because of gentle fiber displacement and reduced undulation. The tip geometry has only minor effect on the fiber orientation. Especially in the X/Y plane no systematic influence of the tip geometry on the fiber displacement could be observed. Based on the gained insights a three-stage model of the fiber orientation processes is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phage study draws more attention recently as the bacterial antibiotic resistances become a major threat for global health. Bacteriophage T4 is one of the most studied the phages and the representative of Tevenvirinae subfamily. Since 1950s, T4 phage has been studied more intensively than any other large lytic phages and its biological studies have provided basis for current phage biology as well as other applications. However, among approximately 300 T4 genes, 130 of them still remain uncharacterized. Coded by y04L gene in pin-nrdC intergenic region, Y04L is an example of such proteins whose biological function and mechanism are yet to be addressed. While Pin blocks bacterial Lon protease and thus inhibits bacterial toxin–antitoxin system, NrdC or Glutaredoxin is a specific reducing agent for the phage-induced ribonucleotide reductase. With two interesting neighbouring genes, this 11.9 kDa protein may be functionally related to Pin or NrdC. Here, using solution-state NMR, our near-complete resonance assignment of Y04L provides a basis for future structure determination and further mechanism study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometrics are being increasingly used across the world, but it also raises privacy and security concerns of the enrolled identities. The main reason is due to the fact that biometrics are not cancelable and if compromised may give access to the intruder. Cancelable biometric template is a solution to this problem which can be reissued if compromised. In this paper, we suggest a simple and powerful method called Random Permutation Locality Preserving Projection (RP-LPP) for Cancelable Biometric Recognition. Here, we exploit the mathematical relationship between the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the original biometric image and its randomly permuted version is exploited for carrying out cancelable biometric recognition. The proposed technique work in a cryptic manner by accepting the cancelable biometric template and a key (called PIN) issued to a user. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques is demonstrated on three freely available face (ORL), iris (UBIRIS) and ear (IITD) datasets against state-of-the-art methods. The advantages of proposed technique are (i) the classification accuracy remains unaffected due to cancelable biometric templates generated using random permutation, (ii) security and quality of generated templates and (iii) robustness across different biometrics. In addition, no image registration is required for performing recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For extraarticular proximal phalanx fractures, two methods are employed, transarticular fixation in which the metacarpophalangeal joint is crossed and the extraarticular method in which the pins are introduced through the base of the proximal Phalanx. Materials and methods: This study was a prospective one on patients with proximal phalanx transverse or short oblique fractures. In one of the groups we used parallel pins from metacarpal head through MCP joint to proximal phalanx. In the second, we used two cross pins from proximal phalanx the base of the proximal phalanx to fix the fracture. We evaluated metacarpophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints active range of motion and how long it took the patient to resume their daily activities and work without difficulty, as well as post-operative complications such as wound infection, malunion, and nonunion in 3 and 6 months follow-up. Results: Ultimately, 61 people entered the study, 29 in the parallel pins and 31 in the cross pins group. There was no significant difference between the two groups, but the improvement in all of the joints range of motion showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001) from the 3 to 6 months follow-up. The final range of motion showed an inverse correlation with age of the patient (P < 0.05). Most of the patients were in the excellent grade of range of motion class and no serious complication was observed in any of them. Conclusion: The results of treatment in proximal phalangeal fractures with both methods were comparable and so the surgeon may select each based on the experience and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root development in plants is affected by light and phytohormones. Different ranges of light wavelength influence root patterning in a particular manner. Red and white light promote overall root development, whereas blue light has both positive as well as negative role in these processes. Light-mediated root development primarily occurs through modulation of synthesis, signaling and transport of the phytohormone auxin. Auxin has been shown to play a critical role in root development. It is being well-understood that components of light and auxin signaling cross-talk with each other. However, the signaling network that can modulate the root development is an intense area of research. Currently, limited information is available about the interaction of these two signaling pathways. This review not only summarizes the current findings on how different quality and quantity of light affect various aspects of root development but also present the role of auxin in these developmental aspects starting from lower to higher plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The technologies of repairing the worn parts of metallurgical equipment using plastic deformation methods, namely, expansion, swaging, upsetting, pressing, knurling, and forge-rolling, are described. Recommendations are given to choose temperature conditions in repairing the parts and determining the deformation forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vascular system develops in response to auxin flow as continuous strands of conducting tissues arranged in regular spatial patterns. However, a mechanism governing their regular and repetitive formation remains to be fully elucidated. A model system for studying the vascular pattern formation is the process of leaf vascularization in Arabidopsis. In this paper, we present current knowledge of important factors and their interactions in this process. Additionally, we propose the sequence of events leading to the emergence of continuous vascular strands and point to significant problems that need to be resolved in the future to gain a better understanding of the regulation of the vascular pattern development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the information-based trading using spatially selective noise filtration (SSNF) method. The SSNF method is a kind of filtration technique based on the different spatial correlation of the wavelet transform at several adjacent scales. Using SSNF method, the information shock caused by the informed traders could be extracted from the prices effectively, then the PINs at different scales could be calculated. The measure of informed trading can capture some asymmetric information properties, which is consistent with some empirical consensuses. Furthermore, compared with the MLE method in EKOP model, the method has computational facilities in avoiding the overflow or underflow problem, the boundary solutions problem and the initial values problem. And the method could be applied to the high-frequency world in both order-driven and quote-driven market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion Application of auxin to root stock and scion increases the success rate of grafting in Chinese hickory. The nuts of the Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis) tree are considered both delicious and healthy. The popularity and high demand result is that the hickory nuts are of very high economical value for horticulture. This is particularly true for the Zhejiang province in eastern China where this tree is widely cultivated. However, there are several difficulties surrounding the hickory cultivation, such as for example long vegetative growth, tall trees, labour-intensive nut picking, and slow variety improvements. These complications form a great bottleneck in the expansion of the hickory industry. The development of an efficient grafting procedure could surpass at least some of these problems. In this study, we demonstrate that application of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid promotes the grafting process in hickory, whereas application of the auxin transport inhibitor 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid inhibits the grafting process. Furthermore, we have identified hickory genes in the PIN, ABCB, and AUX/LAX-families known to encode influx and efflux carriers in the polar transport of auxin. We show that increased expression of several of these genes, such as CcPIN1b and CcLAX3, is correlating with successful grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid state process for refining the microstructure. Though FSP has shown significant impact in manufacturing industry, a detailed investigation is needed for further development of the process. The current article presented an experimental investigation on tool plunge stage by using different pin profiles such as conical, square, pentagonal and hexagonal. Influence of pin profiles on the temperature distribution around the tool during plunge has been studied. Thermocouples were placed at two different locations around the tool in the workpiece of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy and temperatures were measured simultaneously at both the locations. FSP tools with different pin profiles under same process parameters were used to study the effects of pin profile on the temperature of the workpiece. Temperature profile was found to be asymmetric around the tool. During plunging stage, it was observed that the temperature due to plastic deformation at pin was less than the temperature caused by friction on the workpiece. Compared to other pin profiles, pentagon pin generated more temperature during the plunging. Further, tool shoulder had significant influence on the workpiece temperature compared to tool pin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Stromal–epithelial interaction is crucial to mediate normal prostate and prostate cancer (PCa) development. The indispensable roles of mesenchymal/stromal androgen receptor (AR) for the prostate organogenesis have been demonstrated by using tissue recombination from wild‐type and testicular feminized mice. However, the stromal AR functions in the tumour microenvironment and the underlying mechanisms governing the interactions between the epithelium and stroma are not completely understood. Here, we have established the first animal model with AR deletion in stromal fibromuscular cells (dARKO, AR knockout in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells) in the Pten+/− mouse model that can spontaneously develop prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). We found that loss of stromal fibromuscular AR led to suppression of PIN lesion development with alleviation of epithelium proliferation and tumour‐promoting microenvironments, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, immune cell infiltration and neovasculature formation due, in part, to the modulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Finally, targeting stromal fibromuscular AR with the AR degradation enhancer, ASC‐J9®, resulted in the reduction of PIN development/progression, which might provide a new approach to suppress PIN development.

Pin-tract infection (PTI) is the most commonly expected problem, or even an almost inevitable complication, when using external fixation. Left unteated, PTI will progress unavoidably, lead to mechanical pin loosening, and ultimately cause instability of the external fixator pin-bone construct. Thus, PTI remains a clinical challenge, specifically in cases of limb lengthening or deformity correction. Standardised pin site protocols which encompass an understanding of external fixator biomechanics and meticulous surgical technique during pin and wire insertion, postoperative pin site care and pin removal could limit the incidence of major infections and treatment failures. Here we discuss concepts regarding the epidemiology, physiopathology and microbiology of PTI in paediatric populations, as well as the clinical presentations, diagnosis, classification and treatment of these infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A3 intertrochanteric fracture has a higher incidence of intraoperative re-displacement than A1 and 2. The authors have also experienced difficulty with maintenance of reduction in A3 intertrochanteric fractures, as the technique depends on manual effort and can fail easily during the procedure. It induced us to develop this surgical technique to ease the surgical procedure and improve clinical outcomes. This paper introduces a modified provisional guide pin fixation technique applicable to even AO/OTA A3 intertrochanteric fractures, and presents preliminary results of 11 patients who were treated by provisional pin fixation-assisted nailing in A3 intertrochanteric fractures. Using this technique, we have reduced the chances of intraoperative reduction loss and achieved favorable clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to or relapse after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a significant problem in patients with prostate cancer. Several studies have hypothesized that the overexpression of MET and the activating signaling axis in prostate cancer cells are associated with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). On the other hand, the expression of human kallikrein 1-related peptidase (KLK) 4, which activates plasma HGF activator zymogen, in prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis or advanced stage has also been reported. In this study, we analyzed the expression and phosphorylation of MET along with KLK4 by immunohistochemistry in 62 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of prostate cancer collected by needle biopsy at our hospital between 2006 and 2011. As a result, the phosphorylation of MET was observed in 56 % (35 of 62 cases) and positively correlated with worsening PSA relapse rate in a group of ADT-treated patients ( P = 0.0445), suggesting significant correlation with CRPC. Overexpression of KLK4 was observed in patients with high T stage ( P = 0.0001) and high Gleason score (P = 0.0146), and the expression was correlated with the phosphorylation of MET (P = 0.0002). Pathologically, strong MET phosphorylation observed in specific architectures in prostate cancer, such as cribriform structures, ill-defined glands or solid patterns, suggested the significance of MET activation in promoting the architectural formation of prostate cancer. In addition, high positivity rate (80 %) of phospho-MET staining at high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) may indicate the importance of the activating signaling axis in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use transactions data from TORQ and present empirical evidence on the cross sectional relation between institutional trading and effective spread after controlling for trading volume denoting inventory and order processing costs and probability of informed trading (PIN) denoting risk of informed trading. We find that volume, information risk premium denoted by PIN times price, and institutional trading are significant determinants of bid ask spreads for a sample of 65 NYSE listed securities. We also find that institutional trading increases the adverse selection component but does not have a significant effect on order processing costs. The net effect of institutional trading on spread depends on the dominant effect, information increasing adverse selection costs or liquidity decreasing order processing costs. In our sample the increase in adverse selection costs trumps the decrease in order processing costs and as a consequence spread increases as institutional trading rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative evaluation of semi-destructive and destructive testing of wood. Semi-destructive methods are represented by screw-withdrawal test, microdrilling, pin penetration and a new construction of a diagnostic device for in situ evaluation of timber based on the principle of measuring the mechanical resistance to pin being pushed gradually into wood. In order to ascertain the differences between the methods, measuring of three basic softwood species was conducted. One of the aims was to capture the variability of properties brought about by the distribution of properties along the diameter and along the trunk (section) length; therefore, an entire trunk of spruce, fir and pine were used for testing. The accuracy of the prediction of mechanical properties provided by the semi-destructive devices was verified using correlations with mechanical properties established by standard pressure tests in compliance with European norms. The results show a very good correlation of the mean force necessary to push the pin in the timber with wood density and strength in compression along the grain found in standard specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaN PIN betavoltaic nuclear batteries are demonstrated in this work. GaN epitaxial layers were grown on 2-inch sapphire sub-strates by MOCVD, and then the GaN PIN nuclear batteries were fabricated. Current-voltage ( I-V) characteristic shows that the small leakage currents are 0.12 nA at 0 V and 1.76 nA at −10 V, respectively. With 147Pm the irradiation source, the maximum open circuit voltage and maximum short circuit current are 1.07 V and 0.554 nA, respectively. The fill factor (FF) of 24.7% for the battery was been obtained. The limited performance of the devices is mainly due to the low energy deposition in the microbatteries. Therefore, the GaN nuclear microbatteries are expected to be optimized by growing high quality GaN films, thin dead layer and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment of radial neck fractures in children varies according to the displacement, angulation, and skeletal maturity. There is a general agreement that displaced radial neck fractures with more than 30° angulations (Judet type III and IV fractures) should be surgically treated. There are several treatment possibilities for Judet type III and IV fractures including percutaneous pin reduction, elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN), and open reduction with or without internal fixation. In this retrospective study we compared the clinical and radiographical outcomes, and complications following intramedullary versus percutaneous pinning in displaced radial neck fractures in children. Materials and methods: Between 2000 and 2011, 20 patients were treated using closed reduction: in 12 cases we used percutaneous pinning, and in 8 cases we used ESIN. According to Judet classification the two groups were composed as follows: 10 (77 %) type III and 3 (23 %) type IV fractures in the percutaneous pinning group; 4 (57 %) type III, and 3 (43 %) type IV fractures in the ESIN group. Results: After an average of 42 months, excellent results in Mayo elbow performance scores (MEPS) were obtained in 71 and 69 % of ESIN and percutaneous pinning groups respectively, with good results in the remaining cases apart from one fair case (8 %) in the percutaneous pinning group. After a radiological evaluation, all fractures healed in excellent or good alignment. When comparing the two groups, the subjects treated with the ESIN technique had higher range of motion (ROM) in flexion, extension and pronation. No patients developed complications, except three cases of asymptomatic enlargements of the radial head, reported only in the percutaneous pinning group. Conclusion: In this research the clinical outcome, assessed with the MEPS, and the radiological alignment, were comparable between the subjects that were treated with percutaneous pinning and those with ESIN techniques; whereas the ESIN technique demonstrated higher ROM in flexion, extension and pronation. The ESIN technique seems to be the ideal approach both for the higher ROM values and for the absence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), or auxin, is a key regulator of almost all processes of plant growth and development. In general, the auxin biosynthesis, metabolism, and transport systems form a global auxin machinery, which is controlled by a great number of specific genes. The regulation of this auxin system is implemented at least in four functional levels, i.e. biosynthesis, metabolism, transport of auxin, and response to auxin signaling. Not all the genes involved in the operation and regulation of auxin machinery are known to this day, and there are still many uncertainties in our ideas about the functioning of this key plant growth system. The list of genes associated with auxin action expands rapidly. However, only a few of them are likely to be used as viable targets for directed crop improvement in genetic transformation programs. This review reflects our current understanding of the internal regulation mechanisms of the plant auxin system and reveals the most attractive gene targets for use in genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ca transduces hormone and environmental signals to the Ca sensors and relays them to the downstream target effectors in cells. During the post-embryonic developmental process, auxin plays a critical role in maintaining the mitotically inactive status of the quiescent center (QC) and the root growth and development that follows. In this report, we demonstrate that Ca plays an important role in the maintenance of the QC, probably by regulating PIN1-mediated auxin transport. Perturbation of the intracellular Ca levels with chemicals that modify the Ca level decreases the endogenous auxin level and the size of the auxin maximum in the root tip and, at the same time, activates QC cell division and expansion. This decreased level of auxin is almost completely restored to the control level by the treatment of exogenous auxin. Interestingly, treatment with Ca level modifying chemicals significantly decreased the PIN1 expression in the root vasculature. Taken together, we suggest that balancing Ca homeostasis is one of contributing factors in establishing the proper auxin maximum in the root tip and maintaining the QC identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common choke ring ground planes are known to contribute to undesirable antenna pattern narrowing in the elevation plane which is associated with difficulties of tracking low elevation satellites. Also known is the comparatively narrow frequency bandwidth of the choke grooves structure. As an alternative, using a convex impedance ground plane has been suggested for full-spectrum GNSS applications. With such ground planes a pin structure is utilized instead of choke grooves to allow a frequency bandwidth increase. A semi-spherical shape of the ground plane is shown to provide increased antenna gain for low elevation angles. Theoretical performance estimates along with experimental test data have been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant hormone auxin plays a role in virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. Temporal and spatial distribution of auxin largely depends on the dynamic expression and subcellular localization of the PIN auxin-efflux carrier proteins. We show here that the Arabidopsis thaliana JAGGED LATERAL ORGAN ( JLO) gene, a member of the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN (LBD) gene family, is required for coordinated cell division during embryogenesis. JLO promotes expression of several PINFORMED (PIN) genes during embryonic and root development. Inducible JLO misexpression reveals that JLO activity is sufficient for rapid and high level PIN1 and PIN3 transcription. Genes of the PLETHORA (PLT) family respond to auxin and direct PIN expression, but PLT genes were severely underexpressed in jlo mutants. JLO controls embryonic patterning together with the auxin dependent MONOPTEROS/BODENLOS pathway, but is itself only mildly auxin inducible. We further show that all known auxin responses in the root require JLO activity. We thereby identify JLO as a central regulator of auxin distribution and signaling throughout plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin transport network, which is important in the integration of plant developmental signals, depends on differential expression of the auxin efflux carrier PIN gene family. We cloned three tomato PIN (referred as SlPIN) cDNAs and examined their expression patterns in fruit and other organs. The expression of SlPIN1 and SlPIN2 was highest in very young fruit immediately after anthesis, whereas the expression of SlPIN3 was low at this same stage of fruit development. SlPIN2::GUS was expressed in ovules at anthesis and in young developing seeds at 4 days after anthesis, while SlPIN1::GUS was expressed in whole fruit. The DR5::GUS auxin-responsive reporter gene was expressed in the fruit and peduncle at anthesis and was higher in the peduncle 4 days after anthesis. These studies suggest that auxin is likely transported from young seeds by SlPIN1 and SlPIN2 and accumulated in peduncles where SlPIN gene expression is low in tomato. The possible role of SlPINs in fruit set was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we report the influence of the molar composition of the coupling agent, as well as the curing conditions on the mechanical properties of SiO2-PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) hybrid films deposited on organic acrylic substrates. The SiO2-PMMA hybrid films were deposited by the sol–gel method from hybrid precursor solutions with fixed molar ratio of 1:0.25 for TEOS/MMA (Tetraethyl-orthosilicate/Methylmethacrylate) and TEOS/TMSPM (3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate) molar ratios ranging from 1:0.05 to 1:0.2. The organic compound TMSPM was used as coupling agent to enhance the bond between the organic and inorganic molecules. The wear resistance, hardness and elastic modulus of the hybrid films were determined by nanoindentation techniques and compared to the substrate mechanical behaviour. The chemical bonding in the hybrid films was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and their transparency by optical transmission and reflection spectroscopy. The friction coefficient and sliding life of the hybrid films were also measured with a pin-on-disc tribometer. The surface morphology and roughness were determined from atomic force microscopy images. The hybrid films with lowest content of coupling agent showed the best mechanical performance in terms of hardness, friction coefficient and wear resistance keeping high optical transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Easley et al. (J Finance 57:2185–2221, ), building upon the asset pricing model of Fama and French (J Finance 47:427–465, ), show that the probability of informed trading (PIN) is a determinant of asset returns for NYSE-listed securities. We extend this work by examining whether the PIN is a predictive factor for NASDAQ stocks, as many studies document significant differences between NYSE and NASDAQ listed securities. In the process we examine whether the use of PIN is appropriate for NASDAQ-listed securities. We find that PIN and certain stock characteristics correlate differently for our sample of NASDAQ stocks than that of Easley et al. sample of NYSE stocks. We also determine that the risk of informed trading is only weakly priced for NASDAQ stocks. Contrary to Easley et al. we do not find evidence that excess returns increases as PIN increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an alternative breeding methodology for common buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), involving the use of the self-compatibility ( S h) gene derived from F. homotropicum Ohnishi. This methodology involves inbred development of homostyle ( S h S h) and pin ( ss) lines by using the self-compatibility gene ( S h). Further, single-cross hybrid seeds are produced using these inbred homostyle and pin lines as pollen and seed parents, respectively. This strategy successfully produced self-compatible homostyle hybrids ( S h s); the percentage of hybrid plants among the progeny was more than 90%. In a greenhouse trial, the heterosis (best parent) in top dry weight, including stem and leaves, was 29.1–48.1% during the early growth stage. The seed yield of the progeny obtained in single-cross experiments was superior to that of an open-pollinated standard variety “Kitawasesoba” by 10% on average. These results suggest that heterosis breeding can be used to increase seed yield in common buckwheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite considerable success in treatment of early stage localized prostate cancer (PC), acute inadequacy of late stage PC treatment and its inherent heterogeneity poses a formidable challenge. Clearly, an improved understanding of PC genesis and progression along with the development of new targeted therapies are warranted. Animal models, especially, transgenic immunocompetent mouse models, have proven to be the best ally in this respect. A series of models have been developed by modulation of expression of genes implicated in cancer-genesis and progression; mainly, modulation of expression of oncogenes, steroid hormone receptors, growth factors and their receptors, cell cycle and apoptosis regulators, and tumor suppressor genes have been used. Such models have contributed significantly to our understanding of the molecular and pathological aspects of PC initiation and progression. In particular, the transgenic mouse models based on multiple genetic alterations can more accurately address the inherent complexity of PC, not only in revealing the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression but also for clinically relevant evaluation of new therapies. Further, with advances in conditional knockout technologies, otherwise embryonically lethal gene changes can be incorporated leading to the development of new generation transgenics, thus adding significantly to our existing knowledge base. Different models and their relevance to PC research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swedish health care and national health registers are dependent on the presence of a unique identifier. This paper describes the Swedish personal identity number (PIN) and explores ethical issues of its use in medical research. A ten-digit-PIN is maintained by the National Tax Board for all individuals that have resided in Sweden since 1947. Until January 2008, an estimated 75,638 individuals have changed PIN. The most common reasons for change of PIN are incorrect recording of date of birth or sex among immigrants or newborns. Although uncommon, change of sex always leads to change of PIN since the PIN is sex-specific. The most common reasons for re-use of PIN ( n = 15,887), is when immigrants are assigned a PIN that has previously been assigned to someone else. This is sometimes necessary since there is a shortage of certain PIN combinations referring to dates of birth in the 1950s and 1960s. Several ethical issues can be raised pro and con the use of PIN in medical research. The Swedish PIN is a useful tool for linkages between medical registers and allows for virtually 100% coverage of the Swedish health care system. We suggest that matching of registers through PIN and matching of national health registers without the explicit approval of the individual patient is to the benefit for both the individual patient and for society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epitaxial structure and growth, circuit design, fabrication process and characterization are described for the photoreceiver opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) based on the InP/InGaAs HBT/PIN photodetector integration scheme. A 1.55 μm wavelength monolithically integrated photoreceiver OEIC is demonstrated with self-aligned InP/InGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) process. The InP/InGaAs HBT with a 2 μm × 8 μm emitter showed a DC gain of 40, a DC gain cutoff frequency of 45 GHz and a maximum frequency of oscillation of 54 GHz. The integrated InGaAs photodetector exhibited a responsivity of 0.45 A/W at λ = 1.55 μm, a dark current less than 10 nA at a bias of −5 V and a −3 dB bandwidth of 10.6 GHz. Clear and opening eye diagrams were obtained for an NRZ 223–1 pseudorandom code at both 2.5 and 3.0 Gbit/s. The sensitivity for a bit error ratio of 109 at 2.5 Gbit/s is less than −15.2 dBm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PIN-FORMED (PIN) protein family is a group of plant transmembrane proteins with a predicted function as secondary transporters. PINs have been shown to play a rate-limiting role in the catalysis of efflux of the plant growth regulator auxin from cells, and their asymmetrical cellular localization determines the direction of cell-to-cell auxin flow. There is a functional redundancy of PINs and their biochemical activity is regulated at many levels. PINs constitute a flexible network underlying the directional auxin flux (polar auxin transport) which provides cells in any part of the plant body with particular positional and temporal information. Thus, the PIN network, together with downstream auxin signalling system(s), coordinates plant development. This review summarizes recent progress in the elucidation of the role of PIN proteins in polar auxin transport at the cellular level, with emphasis on their structure and evolution and regulation of their function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids are extensively used in combination chemotherapy of advanced prostate cancer (PC). Little is known, however, about the status of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in PC. We evaluated over 200 prostate samples and determined that GR expression was strongly decreased or absent in 70–85% of PC. Similar to PC tumors, some PC cell lines, including LNCaP, also lack GR. To understand the role of GR, we reconstituted its expression in LNCaP cells using lentiviral approach. Treatment of LNCaP-GR cells with the glucocorticoids strongly inhibited proliferation in the monolayer cultures and blocked anchorage-independent growth. This was accompanied by upregulation of p21 and p27, down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression and c-Myc phosphorylation. Importantly, the activation of GR resulted in normalized expression of PC markers hepsin, AMACR, and maspin. On the signaling level, GR decreased expression and inhibited activity of the MAP-kinases (MAPKs) including p38, JNK/SAPK, Mek1/2 and Erk1/2. We also found that activation of GR inhibited activity of numerous transcription factors (TF) including AP-1, SRF, NF-κB, p53, ATF-2, CEBPα, Ets-1, Elk-1, STAT1 and others, many of which are regulated via MAPK cascade. The structural analysis of hepsin and AMACR promoters provided the mechanistic rationale for PC marker downregulation by glucocorticoids via inhibition of specific TFs. Our data suggest that GR functions as a tumor suppressor in prostate, and inhibits multiple signaling pathways and transcriptional factors involved in proliferation and transformation.Oncogene (2007) 26, 1885–1896. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209991; published online 2 October 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 212 prostate specimens of men dead between August 2002–August 2004, have been sectioned in consecutive autopsies and subjected to whole mount analysis in purpose to determine the epidemiology of impalpable prostate cancer in Greece. Impalpable prostate carcinomas were found in 40 cases (18.8%) most in the peripheral region. In all, 29 of 40 impalpable cancers (70.7%) had volume less than 1 cm3. Most of impalpable carcinomas were of favorable (Gleason score 2–4) or intermediate (Gleason score 5 and 6) histological type (55 and 27.7%, respectively) while only five (12.5%) were undifferentiated (Gleason score 7 and 8). In all, 24 (60%) of the 40 impalpable carcinomas were multifocal and consisted of two or more foci, most of small size (<0.5 cm3). Most of the impalpable cancers found in this autopsy study were potentially insignificant tumors (relatively low volume, favorable or intermediate histological pattern and absence of invasiveness). Prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) coexisted with impalpable carcinomas, in almost half of the cancer-positive specimens. There was a positive correlation between PIN foci and coexistent cancer foci in most of the cases. Frequency rate and pathological features of both entities show significant variations in medical literature. Since the incidence of clinical prostate cancer in Greece is relatively low, and according to our autopsy findings, it is plausible that the frequency of clinical prostate cancer in a certain population could be related to the prevalent model of impalpable cancer as well as to the frequency and extend of the precancerous lesions.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2006) 9, 457ndash;49. doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4500847; published online 29 November 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extension supra-condylar fracture of the humerus is a most common fracture in children. Several treatment regimens have been used in the treatment of displaced supra-condylar humeral fractures. A prospective study was performed including 67 children presenting a displaced supra-condylar humeral fracture. We uniformly treated them by closed reduction under general anaesthesia with fluoroscopic control and two parallel lateral pinnings. The criteria for inclusion were a supra-condylar humeral fracture (Gartland type II and type III) with posterior displacement in an infant, or in an adolescent less than 16 years old. According to the Flynn classification, there were 47 excellent results (70%), 15 good (23%), two fair (3%) and three poor (4%), which means 62 good and excellent results (93%). This percentage fell to 61 and 27% respectively if we considered the humero-ulnar angle. Forearm prono-supination was always normal. Poor results analysis found no relation between them except for the type of the fracture. The humero-ulnar angle seemed to be the pejorative radiological criterion. There was no correlation between type of reduction in AP or lateral X-ray and functional or cosmetic results. Poor fracture reduction induced residual deformity; anatomic reduction is therefore necessary to avoid it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose membrane supported peptide arrays, prepared according to the Spot method, allow the rapid identification and characterization of protein-protein interaction sites. Here, the method was used to screen reactive peptides from different proteins that bind to a single molecule, the PIN protein. PIN possesses two binding grooves, that have been shown to interact with several targets, including neuronal NO synthase, dynein intermediate chain, myosin V, the proapoptotic protein Bim, the scaffolding proteins DAP1α and gephyrin, and the transcription factor NRF-1. Arrays of peptides representing sequences of these targets were probed for reactivity with GST-tagged PIN, enabling the precise identification of binding motifs. Binding motifs were then minimized to seven or eight amino acid long peptides: YSKETQT for dynein IC, CDKSTQT for Bim, KDTGIQVD for nNOS, QSVGVQV for DAP1α and EDKNTMTD for myosin V. Alascan and substitution analysis provided proof that the Gln residue is critical for the interaction and cannot be easily replaced. Positions –1 and +1, just flanking the pivotal Gln, are also important; they consist of hydrophobic residues (Thr, Val) that could only be replaced by hydrophobic or aromatic amino acids. Position –4 is also critical for binding, with its Asp or Ser being replaceable to some extent. Alignment of sequences of proteins known to bind PIN shows that the most frequent amino acids in the motif are DKGTQT, consistent with the Spot results. We postulate that the degenerate character of binding to PIN is based on the propensity of several sequences to adopt a β-strand conformation that allows the Gln residue to position itself in the PIN channel and on the conformational breathing of the PIN binding groove. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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