BKCASE:Body of Knowledge and Curriculum to Advance Systems Engineering Panel Discussion

May 26, 2010: European Systems Engineering Conference (EUSEC®) BKCASE Panel at EuSEC by Rick Adcock, Bud Lawson, Dave Olwell, Art Pyster, Jean Claude RousselMuch of the funding and sponsorship for BKCASE was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense

Up-regulation of avian uncoupling protein in cold-acclimated and hyperthyroid ducklings prevents reactive oxygen species production by skeletal muscle mitochondria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although identified in several bird species, the biological role of the avian homolog of mammalian uncoupling proteins (avUCP) remains extensively debated. In the present study, the functional properties of isolated mitochondria were examined in physiological or pharmacological situations that induce large changes in avUCP expression in duckling skeletal muscle.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The abundance of avUCP mRNA, as detected by RT-PCR in gastrocnemius muscle but not in the liver, was markedly increased by cold acclimation (CA) or pharmacological hyperthyroidism but was down-regulated by hypothyroidism. Activators of UCPs, such as superoxide with low doses of fatty acids, stimulated a GDP-sensitive proton conductance across the inner membrane of muscle mitochondria from CA or hyperthyroid ducklings. The stimulation was much weaker in controls and not observed in hypothyroid ducklings or in any liver mitochondrial preparations. The production of endogenous mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was much lower in muscle mitochondria from CA and hyperthyroid ducklings than in the control or hypothyroid groups. The addition of GDP markedly increased the mitochondrial ROS production of CA or hyperthyroid birds up to, or above, the level of control or hypothyroid ducklings. Differences in ROS production among groups could not be attributed to changes in antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This work provides the first functional <it>in vitro </it>evidence that avian UCP regulates mitochondrial ROS production in situations of enhanced metabolic activity.</p

4-Benzyl-6-p-tolyl­pyridazin-3(2H)-one

The title compound, C18H16N2O, is a new dihydro­pyridazin-3(2H)-one derivative synthesized in one step by condensation of α-benzyl­idene-γ-tolyl­butenolide with hydrazine. The mol­ecule is not planar; the tolyl and pyridazine rings are twisted with respect to each other making a dihedral angle of 27.35 (9)° and the benzyl ring is nearly perpendicular to the pyridazine ring with a dihedral angle of 85.24 (5)°. In the crystal structure, inversion dimers arise, being linked by pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak offset π–π stacking stabilize the packing. The π–π stacking occurs between the pyridazine rings of symmetry-related mol­ecules, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.748 Å, an inter­planar distance of 3.605 Å and a slippage of 1.024 Å

Recurrent American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

International audienc

Overcoming challenges on an international project to advance systems engineering

The Body of Knowledge and Curriculum to Advance Systems Engineering (BKCASE) project's dual product development cycle spanned a three‐year period from the September 2009 to December, 2012. During this timeframe, BKCASE authors met quarterly at various locations, primarily in various regions of the United States, but also in Stockholm, Sweden; Toulouse, France; London, England; and Rome, Italy (BKCASE, 2009–2019). The team successfully worked through challenges and differences to produce The Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK) wiki and a Graduate Reference Curriculum for Systems Engineering (GRCSE) publication. This article is a collection of personal stories from the team members that focus on overcoming obstacles to successfully produce the final published products

Predictors of hospital discharge and mortality in patients with diabetes and COVID-19: updated results from the nationwide CORONADO study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This is an update of the results from the previous report of the CORONADO (Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and Diabetes Outcomes) study, which aims to describe the outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with diabetes hospitalised for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: The CORONADO initiative is a French nationwide multicentre study of patients with diabetes hospitalised for COVID-19 with a 28-day follow-up. The patients were screened after hospital admission from 10 March to 10 April 2020. We mainly focused on hospital discharge and death within 28 days. RESULTS: We included 2796 participants: 63.7% men, mean age 69.7 ± 13.2 years, median BMI (25th-75th percentile) 28.4 (25.0-32.4) kg/m(2). Microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications were found in 44.2% and 38.6% of participants, respectively. Within 28 days, 1404 (50.2%; 95% CI 48.3%, 52.1%) were discharged from hospital with a median duration of hospital stay of 9 (5-14) days, while 577 participants died (20.6%; 95% CI 19.2%, 22.2%). In multivariable models, younger age, routine metformin therapy and longer symptom duration on admission were positively associated with discharge. History of microvascular complications, anticoagulant routine therapy, dyspnoea on admission, and higher aspartate aminotransferase, white cell count and C-reactive protein levels were associated with a reduced chance of discharge. Factors associated with death within 28 days mirrored those associated with discharge, and also included routine treatment by insulin and statin as deleterious factors. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In patients with diabetes hospitalised for COVID-19, we established prognostic factors for hospital discharge and death that could help clinicians in this pandemic period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04324736