211 research outputs found
DIRAC framework evaluation for the -LAT and CTA experiments
DIRAC (Distributed Infrastructure with Remote Agent Control) is a general
framework for the management of tasks over distributed heterogeneous computing
environments. It has been originally developed to support the production
activities of the LHCb (Large Hadron Collider Beauty) experiment and today is
extensively used by several particle physics and biology communities. Current
( Large Area Telescope -- LAT) and planned (Cherenkov Telescope Array --
CTA) new generation astrophysical/cosmological experiments, with very large
processing and storage needs, are currently investigating the usability of
DIRAC in this context. Each of these use cases has some peculiarities:
-LAT will interface DIRAC to its own workflow system to allow the access
to the grid resources, while CTA is using DIRAC as workflow management system
for Monte Carlo production and analysis on the grid. We describe the prototype
effort that we lead toward deploying a DIRAC solution for some aspects of
-LAT and CTA needs.Comment: proceedings to CHEP 2013 conference : http://www.chep2013.org
Three-Dimensional Printed Abdominal Imaging Windows for In Vivo Imaging of Deep-Lying Tissues
The ability to microscopically image diseased or damaged tissue throughout a longitudinal study in living mice would provide more insight into disease progression than having just a couple of time points to study. In vivo disease development and monitoring provides more insight than in vitro studies as well. In this study, we developed permanent 3D-printed, surgically implantable abdominal imaging windows (AIWs) to allow for longitudinal imaging of deep-lying tissues or organs in the abdominal cavity of living mice. They are designed to prevent organ movement while allowing the animal to behave normally throughout longitudinal studies. The AIW also acts as its own mounting bracket for attaching them to a custom 3D printed microscope mount that attaches to the stage of a microscope and houses the animal inside. During the imaging of the living animal, cellular and macroscopic changes over time in one location can be observed because markers can be used to find the same spot in each imaging session. We were able to deliver cancer cells to the pancreas and use the AIW to image the disease progression. The design of the AIWs can be expanded to include secondary features, such as delivery and manipulation ports and guides, and to make windows for imaging the brain, subcutaneous implants, and mammary tissue. In all, these 3D-printed AIWs and their microscope mount provide a system for enhancing the ability to image and study cellular and disease progression of deep-lying abdominal tissues of living animals during longitudinal studies
Die REGIONALEN als Instrument regionalisierter Strukturpolitik in Nordrhein-Westfalen - das Beispiel der REGIONALE 2010 Köln/Bonn
Der Beitrag beschÀftigt sich mit den REGIONALEN in Nordrhein-Westfalen als Instrument
regionalisierter Strukturpolitik. Im Rahmen der mittlerweile sechsten REGIONALEN
prÀsentiert die Region Köln/Bonn im Jahr 2010 die Ergebnisse eines mehrjÀhrigen
Kooperationsprozesses. Die âZukunftssicherungâ wurde zum zentralen Thema des
zeitlich befristeten, projektorientierten Ansatzes gemacht. Bei den beteiligten Akteuren
und der Ăffentlichkeit konnte sich die REGIONALE 2010 als positives SchlĂŒsselsymbol
etablieren. Als Erfolgsfaktoren lassen sich die Organisations- und Kooperationsstrukturen,
die Förderung und gebaute bzw. erlebbare Erfolge sowie deren Vermarktbarkeit
identifizieren.
Mit hohem Aufwand gelingt es, in der heterogenen Region ein gemeinsames Agieren
vieler zentraler Akteure zu erzeugen, was sich auch in der frĂŒhzeitigen Festlegung auf
eine Nachfolgestruktur manifestiert. Die Chancen stehen gut, dass die im Rahmen der
âInstitutionalisierung auf Zeitâ geschaffenen Grundlagen sowohl auf der Projekt- als
auch auf der programmatischen und organisatorischen Ebene ĂŒber das PrĂ€sentationsjahr
hinaus tragen.This paper is concerned with the programme of REGIONALE events organised in North
Rhine-Westphalia as an instrument of regionalised structure policy. Within the framework
of what is now the sixth REGIONALE, in 2010 the Cologne/Bonn region will present
the results of a process of co-operation which stretches back over many years. The
central theme chosen for this project-based and time-limited programme is âSafeguarding
the Futureâ. REGIONALE 2010 has been able to establish itself both among the
actors involved and among the general public as a positive and emblematic symbol. The
factors behind its success can be identified as the organisational and co-operative
structures it employs, the funding it receives, as well as the physical and tangible successes
it presents, and the manner in which they are marketed.
With a great deal of effort, and at considerable expense, the REGIONALE is able to
generate joint action within this heterogeneous region on the part of a host of key
actors; this is manifested not least in the success in deciding on a follow-up structure at
a relatively early point in the process. There is every likelihood that the foundation
which was established as part of what is termed âlong-term institutionalisationâ â both
at the project level and at the programme and organisational level â will remain in
place after the presentation year comes to an end
Influenza virus differentially activates mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling to maximize late stage replication
<div><p>Influenza A virus usurps host signaling factors to regulate its replication. One example is mTOR, a cellular regulator of protein synthesis, growth and motility. While the role of mTORC1 in viral infection has been studied, the mechanisms that induce mTORC1 activation and the substrates regulated by mTORC1 during influenza virus infection have not been established. In addition, the role of mTORC2 during influenza virus infection remains unknown. Here we show that mTORC2 and PDPK1 differentially phosphorylate AKT upon influenza virus infection. PDPK1-mediated phoshorylation of AKT at a distinct site is required for mTORC1 activation by influenza virus. On the other hand, the viral NS1 protein promotes phosphorylation of AKT at a different site via mTORC2, which is an activity dispensable for mTORC1 stimulation but known to regulate apoptosis. Influenza virus HA protein and down-regulation of the mTORC1 inhibitor REDD1 by the virus M2 protein promote mTORC1 activity. Systematic phosphoproteomics analysis performed in cells lacking the mTORC2 component Rictor in the absence or presence of Torin, an inhibitor of both mTORC1 and mTORC2, revealed mTORC1-dependent substrates regulated during infection. Members of pathways that regulate mTORC1 or are regulated by mTORC1 were identified, including constituents of the translation machinery that once activated can promote translation. mTORC1 activation supports viral protein expression and replication. As mTORC1 activation is optimal midway through the virus life cycle, the observed effects on viral protein expression likely support the late stages of influenza virus replication when infected cells undergo significant stress.</p></div
Structured information during the ICU stay to reduce anxiety: study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Absolute treatment effects of novel antidiabetic drugs on a composite renal outcome: meta-analysis of digitalized individual patient data
Background: Absolute treatment benefitsâexpressed as numbers needed to treatâof the glucose lowering and cardiovascular drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on renal outcomes remain uncertain. With the present meta-analysis of digitalized individual patient data, we aimed to display and compare numbers needed to treat of both drugs on a composite renal outcome. Methods: From KaplanâMeier plots of major cardiovascular outcome trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors vs. placebo, we digitalized individual patient time-to-event information on composite renal outcomes with WebPlotDigitizer 4.2; numbers needed to treat from individual cardiovascular outcome trials were estimated using parametric Weibull regression models and compared to original data. Random-effects meta-analysis generated meta-numbers needed to treat with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Twelve cardiovascular outcome trials (three for GLP-1 receptor agonists, nine for SGLT2 inhibitors) comprising 90,865 participants were included. Eight trials were conducted in primary type 2 diabetes populations, two in a primary heart failure and two in a primary chronic kidney disease population. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline ranged between 37.3 and 85.3 ml/min/1.73 m2. Meta-analyses estimated meta-numbers needed to treat of 85 (95% CI 60; 145) for GLP-1 receptor agonists and 104 (95% CI 81; 147) for SGLT2 inhibitors for the composite renal outcome at the overall median follow-up time of 36 months. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis of digitalized individual patient data revealed moderate and similar absolute treatment benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors compared to placebo for a composite renal outcome. Graphical Abstract
Assessing the potential for precision medicine in body weight reduction with regard to type 2 diabetes mellitus therapies: A metaâregression analysis of 120 randomized controlled trials
Aims: To assess the potential for precision medicine in type 2 diabetes by quantifying the variability of body weight as response to pharmacological treatment and to identify predictors which could explain this variability. Methods: We used randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing glucoseâlowering drugs (including but not limited to sodiumâglucose cotransporterâ2 inhibitors, glucagonâlike peptideâ1 receptor agonists and thiazolidinediones) to placebo from four recent systematic reviews. RCTs reporting on body weight after treatment to allow for calculation of its logarithmic standard deviation (log[SD], i.e., treatment response heterogeneity) in verum (i.e., treatment) and placebo groups were included. Metaâregression analyses were performed with respect to variability of body weight after treatment and potential predictors. Results: A total of 120 RCTs with a total of 43 663 participants were analysed. A slightly larger treatment response heterogeneity was shown in the verum groups, with a median log(SD) of 2.83 compared to 2.79 from placebo. After full adjustment in the metaâregression model, the difference in body weight log(SD) was â0.026 (95% confidence interval â0.044; 0.008), with greater variability in the placebo groups. Scatterplots did not show any slope divergence (i.e., interaction) between clinical predictors and the respective treatment (verum or placebo). Conclusions: We found no major treatment response heterogeneity in RCTs of glucoseâlowering drugs for body weight reduction in type 2 diabetes. The precision medicine approach may thus be of limited value in this setting
SERS spectroscopy with machine learning to analyze human plasma derived sEVs for coronary artery disease diagnosis and prognosis
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major cardiovascular diseases and represents the leading causes of global mortality. Developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for CAD treatment are critically needed, especially for an early accurate CAD detection and further timely intervention. In this study, we successfully isolated human plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from four stages of CAD patients, that is, healthy control, stable plaque, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurement in conjunction with five machine learning approaches, including Quadratic Discriminant Analysis, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor, Artificial Neural network, were then applied for the classification and prediction of the sEV samples. Among these five approaches, the overall accuracy of SVM shows the best predication results on both early CAD detection (86.4%) and overall prediction (92.3%). SVM also possesses the highest sensitivity (97.69%) and specificity (95.7%). Thus, our study demonstrates a promising strategy for noninvasive, safe, and high accurate diagnosis for CAD early detection
ES2008-54271 Simulation, Analysis and Systems Engineering of a Hybrid-Electric Race Car
ABSTRACT For the past two years, Embry-Riddle has participated in the SAE Formula Hybrid competition. As part of the competition, a team of students analyze, design, and build a fully functional hybrid-electric race car. As an academic competition, the event is designed to allow a wide variety of system configurations and fuel choices. In order to optimize the vehicle characteristics, simulate vehicle performance, and build control laws, the design team created a Simulink model of the race car. As a recently created design competition, the SAE Formula Hybrid event offers an opportunity for both design innovation and system engineering. To develop a concept for the competition, the ERAU team developed detailed simulations of the vehicle in Simulink. Since the competition allows a variety of energy storage devices, engines, fuels, driveline configurations, and control systems, the development of a system dynamics model was not straight-forward. Further, system components for this project are constrained by some rules and practical constraints. The vehicle configuration was selected to be a parallel hybrid using a 250cc gasoline engine and 7.2kW DC motor with 1500F ultra-capacitor energy storage, with an unusual control strategy. The results of the Simulink model were used to predict how this vehicle configuration compares to other design choices including alternative fuels, energy storage devices and control strategies. The performance of the actual vehicle at the 2008 SAE Formula Hybrid competition, which occurs May 2008, will be presented at the conference
Hydrographic-hydrochemical assessment of the Baltic Sea 2017
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The article summarizes the hydrographic-hydrochemical conditions in the western and central Baltic Sea in 2017. Based on meteorological conditions, the horizontal and vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, oxygen/hydrogen sulphide and nutrients are described on a seasonal scale. For the southern Baltic Sea area, the âcold sumâ of the air temperature of 31.7 Kd in WarnemĂŒnde amounted to a mild winter in 2014/15 and ranks as 15th warmest winter since the beginning of the record in 1948. The summer âheat sumâ of 159.5 Kd ranks on 28th position of the warmest summers over the past 70 years and is slightly above the long-term average of 153.4 Kd. Based on satellite derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) 2017 was the eleventh-warmest year since 1990 and with 0.24 K slightly above the long-term SST average. March, April and October - December contributed to the average by their positive anomalies. July and August were characterized by negative anomalies. The anomalies reached maximum values of +2 K and -3 K. The situation in the deep basins of the Baltic Sea was mainly coined by beginning stagnation at bottom-near water depths of the eastern Gotland Basin and ongoing ventilation of the upper part 5 of the deep-water above 150 m as a consequence of weak inflows. For the first time within this phase of intensified inflow activity, starting in 2014, the ventilation of the Farö Deep at the Northern Central Basin was registered at the beginning of the year. In the course of 2017 two weak inflows showing total volumes of 210 km^Âł (February) and 188 km^Âł (October) were registered. In conclusion, the impact of the observed phase of intensified water exchange processes with subsequent consequences for the biogeochemical cycles is weakening.
GERMAN ABSTRACT: Die Arbeit beschreibt die hydrographisch-hydrochemischen Bedingungen in der westlichen und zentralen Ostsee fĂŒr das Jahr 2017. Basierend auf den meteorologischen VerhĂ€ltnissen werden die horizontalen und vertikalen Verteilungsmuster von Temperatur, Salzgehalt, Sauerstoff/ Schwefelwasserstoff und NĂ€hrstoffen mit saisonaler Auflösung dargestellt. FĂŒr den sĂŒdlichen Ostseeraum ergab sich eine KĂ€ltesumme der Lufttemperatur an der Station WarnemĂŒnde von 31,7 Kd. Im Vergleich belegt der Winter 2016/17 den 15. Platz der wĂ€rmsten Winter seit Beginn der Aufzeichnungen im Jahr 1948 und wird als mild klassifiziert. Mit einer WĂ€rmesumme von 159,5 Kd rangiert der Sommer im Mittelfeld der 70jĂ€hrigen Datenreihe und reiht sich auf Platz 28 der wĂ€rmsten Sommer ein. Das Langzeitmittel liegt bei 153,4 Kd. Auf der Grundlage von satellitengestĂŒtzten MeeresoberflĂ€chentemperaturen (SST) war 2017 das elft- wĂ€rmste Jahr seit 1990 und mit 0,24 K etwas ĂŒber dem langfristigen SST-Mittel. MĂ€rz, April und Oktober - Dezember trugen durch ihre positiven Anomalien zum Durchschnitt bei. Juli und August waren durch negative Anomalien gekennzeichnet. Die Anomalien erreichten Höchstwerte von +2 K und -3 K. Die Situation in den Tiefenbecken der Ostsee war im Wesentlichen geprĂ€gt durch bodennah einsetzende Stagnation im östlichen Gotland Becken und BelĂŒftung der mittleren WassersĂ€ule oberhalb 150 m im Zuge kleinerer Einströme. Zu Jahresbeginn wurde das im nördlichen Zentralbecken gelegene Farö Tief erstmals innerhalb der aktuellen Einstromphase belĂŒftet. Im Jahresverlauf 2017 wurden zwei weitere schwache Einströme mit Volumina zwischen 210 kmÂł und 188 kmÂł im Februar sowie Oktober registriert. Zusammenfassend kann gesagt werden, dass die Auswirkungen der seit 2014 beobachten Phase von verstĂ€rkten Wasseraustauschprozessen mit entsprechenden Konsequenzen fĂŒr die biogeochemischen KreislĂ€ufe abklingen
- âŠ