Knockdown of piRNA pathway proteins results in enhanced Semliki forest virus production in mosquito cells

The exogenous siRNA pathway is important in restricting arbovirus infection in mosquitoes. Less is known about the role of the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway, or piRNA pathway, in antiviral responses. Viral piRNA-like molecules have recently been described following infection of mosquitoes and derived cell lines with several arboviruses. The piRNA pathway has thus been suggested to function as an additional small RNA-mediated antiviral response to the known infection-induced siRNA response. Here we show that piRNA-like molecules are produced following infection with the naturally mosquito-borne Semliki Forest virus in mosquito cell lines. We show that knockdown of piRNA pathway proteins enhances the replication of this arbovirus and defines the contribution of piRNA pathway effectors, thus characterizing the antiviral properties of the piRNA pathway. In conclusion, arbovirus infection can trigger the piRNA pathway in mosquito cells, and knockdown of piRNA proteins enhances virus production

Analysis of Function Component Complexity for Hypercube Homotopy Algorithms

Probability-one homotopy algorithms are a class of methods for solving nonlinear systems of equations that globally convergent from an arbitrary starting point with probability one. The essence of these homotopy algorithms is the construction of a homotopy map p-sub a and the subsequent tracking of a smooth curve y in the zero set p-sub a to the -1 (0) of p-sub a. Tracking the zero curve y requires repeated evaluation of the map p-sub a, its n x (v + 1) Jacobian matrix Dp-sub a and numerical linear algebra for calculating the kernel of Dp-sub a. This paper analyzes parallel homotopy algorithms on a hypercube, considering the numerical algebra, several communications topologies and problem decomposition strategies, functions component complexity, problem size, and the effect of different component complexity distributions. These parameters interact in complicated ways, but some general principles can be inferred based on empirical results

Unit Tangent Vector Computation for Homotopy Curve Tracking on aHypercube

Probability-one homotopy methods are a class of methods for solving nonlinear systems of equations that are globally convergent from an arbitrary starting point. The essence of all such algorithms is the construction of an appropriate homotopy map and subsequent tracking of some smooth curve in the zero set of the homotopy map. Tracking a homotopy curve involves finding the unit tangent vectors at different points along the zero curve. Because of the way a homotopy map is constructed, the unit tangent vector at each point in the zero curve of a homotopy map (symbols) is in the kernel of the Jacobian matrix (symbols). Hence tracking the zero curve of a homotopy map involves finding the kernel of the Jacobian matrix (symbols). The Jacobian matrix (symbols) is a n x (n + 1) matrix with full rank. Since the accuracy of the unit tangent vector is very important, on orthogonal factorization instead of an LU factorization of the Jacobian matrix is computed. Two related factorizations, namely QR and LQ factorization, are considered here. This paper presents computational results showing the performance of several different parallel orthogonal factorization/triangular system solving algorithms on a hypercube. Since the purpose of this study is to find ways to parallelize homotopy algorithms, it is assumed that the matrices are small, dense, and have a special structure such as that of the Jacobian matrix of a homotopy map

Albumin concentrations are primarily determined by the body cell mass and the systemic inflammatory response in cancer patients with weight loss

The association between hypoalbuminemia and poor prognosis in patients with cancer is well recognized. However, the factors that contribute to the fall in albumin concentrations are not well understood. In the present study, we examined the relationship between circulating albumin concentrations, weight loss, the body cell mass (measured using total body potassium), and the presence of an inflammatory response (measured using C- reactive protein) in male patients (n=40) with advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer. Albumin concentrations were significantly correlated with the percent ideal body weight (r=0.390, p lt 0.05), extent of reported weight loss (r=-0.492, p lt 0.01), percent predicted total body potassium (adjusted for age, height, and weight, r=0.686, p lt 0.001), and logo C-reactive protein concentrations (r=-0.545, p lt 0.001). On multiple regression analysis, the percent predicted total body potassium and log(10) C-reactive protein concentrations accounted for 63% of the variation in albumin concentrations (r(2) = 0.626, p lt 0.001). The interrelationship between albumin, body cell mass, and the inflammatory response is consistent with the concept that the presence of an ongoing inflammatory response contributes to the progressive loss of these vital protein components of the body and the subsequent death of patients with advanced cancer

Predicting Feedlot Growth Performance over the Feeding Period Utilizing Steer Age and Body Weight

A pooled- analysis of UNL feedlot pens examined the effects of steer age and body weight on feedlot growth performance. For data analysis, pens were divided into 3 subclasses based on steer age (calf- fed, short yearling, or long yearling) and, grouped based upon initial body weight (500 to 1200 lb, in 100 lb increments) within each age class. As initial body weight increased, DMI (lb/d) for the whole feeding period increased quadratically in calf-fed steers and increased linearly in short and long yearlings. A quadratic increase in ADG was observed in calf- feds as initial body weight increased. No differences in ADG were observed for short and long yearlings due to initial body weight. As heavier cattle were placed within age group, feed conversion increased linearly. Predicting DMI is more consistent when expressed as % of body weight. Predicting intake and growth performance over the entire feeding period, in order to facilitate management decisions, is dependent upon steer age and initial weight when starting the finishing diet

Ten Year Real World Experience with Ultrafiltration for the Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of ultrafiltration (UF) have demonstrated conflicting results regarding its efficacy and safety. Objective: We reviewed 10 years of data for adjustable UF during heart failure hospitalizations in a real world cohort. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single center analysis of 335 consecutive patients treated with adjustable rate UF using the CHF Solutions Aquadex Flex Flo System from 2009 to 2019. Results: Compared to previous RCTs investigating UF, our cohort was older, with worse renal impairment and more antecedent HF hospitalizations in the year preceding therapy. Mean fluid removal with UF was 14.6 l. Mean weight loss with UF was 15.6 lbs (range 0.2–57 lbs) and was sustained at 1–2 week follow-up. Mean creatinine change upon stopping UF, at discharge and follow-up (mean 30 days) was +0.11 mg/dl, +0.07 mg/dl and +0.11 mg/dl, respectively. HF rehospitalizations at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year were 12.4 %, 14.9 % and 27.3 % respectively. On average patients had 1.74 fewer hospitalizations for HF in the year following UF when compared to 12 months preceding UF. Major bleeding defined as requiring discontinuation of anticoagulation occurred in 3.6 % of patients. Conclusions: Compared with previous UF trials, our study demonstrates that UF compares favorably for HF rehospitalizations, renal function response, and weight/volume loss. Importantly, our real world experience allowed for the adjustment of UF rate during therapy and we believe this is a major contributor to our favorable outcomes. In clinical practice, UF can be a safe and effective strategy for decongestion

Relationship between Dietary Total Digestible Nutrients and Digestible Organic Matter in Beef Cattle Finishing and Growing Diets With or Without Distillers Grains

The relationship between organic matter digestibility and total digestible nutrients is unestablished for diets containing distillers grains. Three cattle digestion studies were used to evaluate the relationship between total digestible nutrients and digestible organic matter. Results suggest digestible organic matter is consistent relative to total digestible nutrients content for traditional, corn based diets. In finishing and growing diets containing distillers grains additional digestible energy supplied by distillers grains is not accounted for when evaluating only digestible organic matter. Measuring digestible energy content of diets used in digestion trials is essential

Cleaning Turbomachinery Without Disassembly, Online And Offline.

LecturePg. 117-128Turbomachinery is designed for optimum aerodynamic and mechanical performance at given user conditions. Before shipment, this performance is usually verified on the OEM's test floor, based on specified design conditions. However, in operation, the gas composition can vary and include unanticipated solid and liquid ingestion into the turbomachinery, causing a buildup of foreign materials. The resulting fouling has an adverse effect on aerodynamic and mechanical performance of the unit. Fouling comes from external dust, dirt or dissolved matter, process materials, condensation and/or chemical reactions. Depending on the rate and composition of the deposits, the effect could range from a fast buildup, causing immediate shutdown of the unit due to high vibration and possible parts damage, to a slow buildup causing increased vibration and/or reduction in performance. An overview is presented of the cause, effect, and prevention of fouling on turbomachinery, with its main purpose to present tested and proven methods of cleaning turbomachinery. Presented are methods of online and offline (without disassembly) cleaning of multistage centrifugal compressors, axial compressors, and steam turbines. The operating environment will encompass hydrogen recycle gas, steam, and air. Methods include online cleaning using saturated steam, liquid spray and abrasive solids, and offline cleaning using acidized saturated steam for turbines and crank-washing for compressors

Granularity issues for solving polynomial systems via globally convergent algorithms on a hypercube

Polynomial systems of equations frequently arise in many applications such as solid modeling, robotics, computer vision, chemistry, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering . Locally convergent iterative methods such as quasi-Newton methods may diverge or fail to find all meaningful solutions of a polynomial system. Recently a homotopy algorithm has been proposed for polynomial systems that is guaranteed globally convergent (always converges from an arbitrary starting point) with probability one, finds all solutions to the polynomial system, and has a large amount of inherent parallelism. There are several ways the homotopy algorithms can be decomposed to run on a hypercube. The granularity of a decomposition has a profound effect on the performance of the algorithm. The results of decompositions with two different granularities are presented. The experiments were conducted on an iPSC-16 hypercube using actual industrial problems

Social Activism in IS Research: Making the World a Better Place

Information Systems (IS) can play a salient role in the transformation of our societies, especially in less-developed (or under-served) communities. IS can be used to benefit citizens in these societies through improvements in education, government, healthcare, social, and entrepreneurial systems. It would be a mistake to think that under-served communities can develop without optimal deployment of IS, after all advanced societies depended on IS to boost their development. The realization that IS offers potential benefit to improve the livelihood of the less-privileged is not new or recent. However, what is not clear is what should be the role of IS researchers in addressing the needs of the under-served communities