Quantitative oximetry of breast tumors: a near-infrared method that identifies two optimal wavelengths for each tumor

We present a noninvasive optical method to measure the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in breast lesions. This method introduces the novel concept that the best choice of near-infrared wavelengths for noninvasive tumor oximetry consists of a wavelength pair (lambda1, lambda2) within the range 680-880 nm, where the specific values of lambda1 and lambda2 depend on the optical properties of the specific tumor under examination. Our method involves two steps: (1) identify the optimal wavelength pair for each tumor and (2) measure the tumor oxygenation using the optical data at the two selected wavelengths. We have tested our method by acquiring experimental optical data from turbid media containing cylindrical or irregularly shaped inhomogeneities and by computing theoretical data for the case of spherical lesions embedded in a highly scattering medium. We have found that our optical method can provide accurate and quantitative measurements of the oxygenation of embedded lesions without requiring knowledge of their size, shape, and depth.     

Text classification based on the word subspace representation

Pattern Analysis and Applications - In this paper, we propose a novel framework for text classification based on subspace-based methods. Recent studies showed the advantages of modeling texts as...     

Instantaneous nanowelding of ultra-high temperature ceramics for hypersonics

Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are a group of advanced ceramic materials that possess excellent high temperature capabilities, which make them especially suitable for extreme environment engineering applications. As an effective assembling method, joining is frequently required for fabricating sophisticated structures for such applications due to the excessive challenges and costs in producing near-net shapes. Here, we introduce a promising new joining technique to effectively join UHTCs called Instantaneous Nanowelding, which uses direct electric current assisted rapid Joule heating to instantaneously bond hafnium diboride (HfB₂) to zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) in 1 s down to atomic scale. Our approach is analogous to high temperature spot welding, and the entire process is complete in 10 min, and the instant diffusion occurs in 1 s. Seamless HfB₂/ZrB₂ interfaces are formed at 1750 for a duration of 1 s. A series of characterizations are done at the interfaces using techniques including SEM, WDS, EBSD, and S/TEM to observe Zr_xHf_1−xB₂ solid solution formation. Highly coherent transition with perfect lattice alignment at atomic scale from ZrB₂ to HfB₂ is observed using S/TEM, meaning that the two materials are brought to atomic contact.     

KCNK3 Mutation Causes Altered Immune Function in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients and Mouse Models

Loss of function KCNK3 mutation is one of the gene variants driving hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). KCNK3 is expressed in several cell and tissue types on both membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and potentially plays a role in multiple pathological process associated with PAH. However, the role of various stressors driving the susceptibility of KCNK3 mutation to PAH is unknown. Hence, we exposed kcnk3^fl/fl animals to hypoxia, metabolic diet and low dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and performed molecular characterization of their tissue. We also used tissue samples from KCNK3 patients (skin fibroblast derived inducible pluripotent stem cells, blood, lungs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and performed microarray, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and mass cytometry time of flight (CyTOF) experiments. Although a hypoxic insult did not alter vascular tone in kcnk3^fl/fl mice, RNASeq study of these lungs implied that inflammatory and metabolic factors were altered, and the follow-up diet study demonstrated a dysregulation of bone marrow cells in kcnk3^fl/fl mice. Finally, a low dose LPS study clearly showed that inflammation could be a possible second hit driving PAH in kcnk3^fl/fl mice. Multiplex, IHC and CyTOF immunophenotyping studies on human samples confirmed the mouse data and strongly indicated that cell mediated, and innate immune responses may drive PAH susceptibility in these patients. In conclusion, loss of function KCNK3 mutation alters various physiological processes from vascular tone to metabolic diet through inflammation. Our data suggests that altered circulating immune cells may drive PAH susceptibility in patients with KCNK3 mutation.     

‘Best’ for whom?: the tension between ‘best practice’ ERP packages and diverse epistemic cultures in a university context

The idea that so-called ‘best’ business practices can be transferred to organizations when they purchase enterprise resource planning (ERP) software packages is a major selling point of these packages. Yet recent research has illustrated a gap between the espoused theory of a best practice solution and the theory-in-use experienced by those who install software with such a design. As researchers begin to examine the difficult process by which organizations recast the best practices model handed down to them by consultancies and software vendors in an effort to make the software ‘work for them’ in practice, it is equally important that we begin to understand the reasons that such a gap exists. To this end, we analyze the strategic partnership between a multinational software vendor and a university who together designed a ‘best practice’ ERP package for the higher education industry. Through the theoretical lens of ‘epistemic cultures’ we argue that in organizational contexts made up of more than one epistemic culture, the use of a best practice model will be problematic because, by definition, the model mandates one epistemological position through the software design. This is counter to a university's loosely coupled organizational form.     

Development of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia methanolica for the expression of the 65 kilodalton isoform of human glutamate decarboxylase

We describe a protein expression system in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia methanolica. Methods for transformation and genetic manipulation of the organism were developed using an ade2 strain and the wild-type ADE2 gene. A vacuolar protease-deficient strain was constructed. Two genes encoding alcohol oxidases were found, yet a single isoform of alcohol oxidase was produced during methanol-fed fermentations. The promoter from this gene was used to drive expression. An integrating plasmid for the cytoplasmic expression of the 65 kDa isoform of human glutamate decarboxylase (human GAD₆₅) was assembled. A strain harboring eight copies of this plasmid expressed enzymatically active human GAD₆₅ at levels approaching 0·5 g/l. Identical amounts were made in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant GAD₆₅ was purified to greater than 90% purity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Colocalization and Interaction Study of Neuronal JNK3, JIP1, and β-Arrestin2 Together with PSD95

c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are stress-activated serine/threonine protein kinases belonging to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Among them, JNK3 is selectively expressed in the central nervous system, cardiac smooth muscle, and testis. In addition, it is the most responsive JNK isoform to stress stimuli in the brain, and it is involved in synaptic dysfunction, an essential step in neurodegenerative processes. JNK3 pathway is organized in a cascade of amplification in which signal transduction occurs by stepwise, highly controlled phosphorylation. Since different MAPKs share common upstream activators, pathway specificity is guaranteed by scaffold proteins such as JIP1 and β-arrestin2. To better elucidate the physiological mechanisms regulating JNK3 in neurons, and how these interactions may be involved in synaptic (dys)function, we used (i) super-resolution microscopy to demonstrate the colocalization among JNK3–PSD95–JIP1 and JNK3–PSD95–β-arrestin2 in cultured hippocampal neurons, and (ii) co-immunoprecipitation techniques to show that the two scaffold proteins and JNK3 can be found interacting together with PSD95. The protein-protein interactions that govern the formation of these two complexes, JNK3–PSD95–JIP1 and JNK3–PSD95–β-arrestin2, may be used as targets to interfere with their downstream synaptic events.     

Father-adolescent relationships and the role of genotype-environment correlation.

This study uses 2 samples of adolescents and parents--the child-based Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development project (NEAD; D. Reiss, J. M. Neiderhiser, E. Hetherington, & R. Plomin, 2000; N = 395 families) and the parent-based Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden (TOSS; N = 909 twin family pairs)--to investigate passive and evocative genotype-environment correlation (rGE) on fathering. Both samples used the same measures of positivity, negativity, control, and monitoring. A previous report examining mothering found evidence for passive rGE for positivity and monitoring, and evocative rGE for negativity and control, although both types of rGE were suggested in many cases. The current report focuses on fathering. Father reports of positivity and control are influenced by evocative rGE, whereas father reports of negativity and monitoring are influenced by both passive and evocative rGE. Adolescent reports of father's positivity and negativity were influenced by both evocative and passive rGE, and control and monitoring by passive rGE. The most notable difference in findings for fathers and mothers is for positivity and the presence of rGE for father's control and monitoring. These findings and their implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The stereotype-matching effect: Greater influence on functioning when age stereotypes correspond to outcomes.

Older individuals assimilate, and are targeted by, contradictory positive and negative age stereotypes. It was unknown whether the influence of stereotype valence is stronger when the stereotype content corresponds to the outcome domain. We randomly assigned older individuals to either positive-cognitive, negative-cognitive, positive-physical, or negative-physical subliminal-age-stereotype groups and assessed cognitive and physical outcomes. As predicted, when the age stereotypes corresponded to the outcome domains, their valence had a significantly greater impact on cognitive and physical performance. This suggests that if a match occurs, it is more likely to generate expectations that become self-fulfilling prophecies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)