Instrumentation for a multichord motional Stark effect diagnostic in KSTAR

The motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic is used to measure the radial magnetic pitch angle profile in neutral beam heated plasmas. This information is used to calculate the safety factor, q, with magnetic equilibrium reconstruction codes such as EFIT. The MSE diagnostic is important during active shaping of the q profile to optimize confinement and stability, and it has become a key diagnostic in high performance tokamaks. A multichord photo-elastic modulator (PEM) based MSE system is being developed for a real-time plasma current profile control in Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR). The PEM-based approach is a standard method that measures the polarization direction of a single Stark line with narrow tunable bandpass filters. A tangential view of the heating beam provides good spatial resolution of 1-3 cm, which provides an opportunity to install 25 spatial channels spanning the major radius from 1.74 m to 2.84 m. Application of real-time control is a long-term technical goal after commissioning the diagnostic in KSTAR, which is expected in 2015. In this paper, we describe the design of this newly-constructed multichord MSE diagnostic in KSTAR.

The synthesis of organic charge transfer hetero-microtubules by crack welding

The strain-induced cracks in organic microtubules composed of an organic charge transfer (CT) complex of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) and naphthalene were selectively welded via the formation of secondary CT complexes; this process, in turn, led to the formation of organic hetero-microtubules consisting of multiple segments of two organic CT complexes.

Single-cell heterogeneity in suppression of PC12 differentiation by direct microinjection of a differentiation inhibitor, U0126

Phenotypic and genomic heterogeneity among single cells in a cell population leads to inaccuracy and obscuration in research about mammalian cell differentiation. In order to address the problems regarding bulk analysis on heterogeneous cell populations, it is necessary to accurately regulate and analyze changes in differentiating cells at the single-cell level. To investigate the single-cell changes in PC12 neuronal differentiation that occur when inhibited by U0126, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), we directly injected the chemical into individual target cells and analyzed the outcomes (neurite outgrowth) at the single-cell level. As a result, we could accurately regulate the quantity of U0126 being introduced into each target cell, which was previously not possible using the common method of simply adding the inhibitor to the culture medium. It was possible to analyze the inhibitive effect of U0126 even when the injected quantity was lower than the lower limit for inhibition when added to culture medium (0.1 μM, identical to 1.2 × 10(8) molecules per cell on dish). In particular, injection of 1.5 × 10(7) molecules into each cell resulted in a 59% decrease of the mean total neurite length. Time-course analysis of neurite outgrowth at the single-cell level using fluorescence staining method showed that the changes in neurite length of differentiating PC12 cells were not homogeneous, but were largely variable across individual target cells.

Assessing older adults' perceptions of sensor data and designing visual displays for ambient environments. An exploratory study

INTRODUCTION

This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on "Using Data from Ambient Assisted Living and Smart Homes in Electronic Health Records".

OBJECTIVES

Our objectives were to: 1) characterize older adult participants' perceived usefulness of in-home sensor data and 2) develop novel visual displays for sensor data from Ambient Assisted Living environments that can become part of electronic health records.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older adult participants during three and six-month visits. We engaged participants in two design iterations by soliciting feedback about display types and visual displays of simulated data related to a fall scenario. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify themes related to perceived usefulness of sensor data.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified three themes: perceived usefulness of sensor data for managing health; factors that affect perceived usefulness of sensor data and; perceived usefulness of visual displays. Visual displays were cited as potentially useful for family members and health care providers. Three novel visual displays were created based on interview results, design guidelines derived from prior AAL research, and principles of graphic design theory.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants identified potential uses of personal activity data for monitoring health status and capturing early signs of illness. One area for future research is to determine how visual displays of AAL data might be utilized to connect family members and health care providers through shared understanding of activity levels versus a more simplified view of self-management. Connecting informal and formal caregiving networks may facilitate better communication between older adults, family members and health care providers for shared decision-making.

5 DISRUPTION OF THE HIGH MOBILITY GROUP AT-HOOK 2 (HMGA2) GENE IN SWINE REDUCES POSTNATAL GROWTH

The high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) protein has been shown to be a crucial gene for cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis; HMGA2 is also a strong biological candidate for growth, because mutations in this gene alter body size in mice and humans. Compared with wild-type controls, adult mice lacking HMGA2 are 60% smaller, and adult heterozygous mutants are 20% smaller. In humans, HMGA2 has been associated with adult and childhood height without any other deleterious effect. Additionally, a microdeletion in the HMGA2 gene in a human patient resulted in short stature, with no dysmorphologies and normal puberty. In order to determine the effect of HMGA2 on fetal and adult growth in pigs, a transgenic pig line deficient in HMGA2 expression was generated by gene targeting in fetal fibroblasts (FF). Using a targeting vector carrying a reporter gene, and homology arms specific to HMGA2, heterozygous mutant cell lines were generated. The cell lines were then used to generate 6 heterozygous females by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Bodyweights and lengths from snout to base of tail were measured every 2 weeks for a year for mutant (n = 6) and wild-type farm gilts (n = 6). Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA. As in mice, disruption of one allele of the HMGA2 gene resulted in 25% reduction in weight (P < 0.0001) and 14% reduction in length (P < 0.0001). Early in postnatal growth (2 months), weights of mutants were not different than wild-type. However, mutants were 20 to 35% lighter (P < 0.05) during mid stages (6 months) and 25 to 30% (P < 0.0001) in late stages (3 months). The same insertional mutation generated 8 heterozygous male clones by SCNT. In addition, 7 nontransgenic males from the same FF line were generated as SCNT controls. Bodyweights and lengths were measured every 2 weeks for 30 weeks for HMGA2 heterozygous mutants (n = 8), control SCNT (n = 7) and wild-type farm boars (n = 5). The weight curve of boars showed similar pattern as for mutant gilts. At 30-week postnatal stage, mutants were 17% (P < 0.05) and 16% (P < 0.05) lighter in weight compared with littermate and wild-type animals, respectively. We are presently developing homozygous HMGA2 mutant lines. Currently, 3 of 6 heterozygous gilts have been bred with heterozygous boars, with 1 confirmed pregnancy. The expectation is that the homozygous animals will, like mice, be 60% smaller than the wild-type animals. The approach described here will result not only in a valuable large-animal model of dwarfism, but also in a tool to reduce the size of existing transgenic and nontransgenic swine lines. This, in turn, will increase the receptivity of valuable transgenic lines by the biomedical community. Funding for this work was provided by NIH grant R21-OD010553 to JP.

A pan-Canadian practice guideline and algorithm: screening, assessment, and supportive care of adults with cancer-related fatigue

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present systematic review was to develop a practice guideline to inform health care providers about screening, assessment, and effective management of cancer-related fatigue (crf) in adults.

METHODS

The internationally endorsed adapte methodology was used to develop a practice guideline for pan-Canadian use. A systematic search of the literature identified a broad range of evidence: clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, and other guidance documents on the screening, assessment, and management of crf. The search included medline, embase, cinahl, the Cochrane Library, and other guideline and data sources to December 2009.

RESULTS

Two clinical practice guidelines were identified for adaptation. Seven guidance documents and four systematic reviews also provided supplementary evidence to inform guideline recommendations. Health professionals across Canada provided expert feedback on the adapted recommendations in the practice guideline and algorithm through a participatory external review process.

CONCLUSIONS

Practice guidelines can facilitate the adoption of evidence-based assessment and interventions for adult cancer patients experiencing fatigue. Development of an algorithm to guide decision-making in practice may also foster the uptake of a guideline into routine care.

Human antibodies targeting the C-type lectin-like domain of the tumor endothelial cell marker clec14a regulate angiogenic properties in vitro

It has been suggested that clec14a may be involved in tumor angiogenesis. However, a molecular mechanism has not been clearly identified. In this study, we show for the first time that C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) of clec14a may be important for regulating cell migration and filopodia formation. Using phage display technology, recombinant human antibodies specific to the CTLDs of human and mouse clec14a (clec14a-CTLD (immunoglobulin G) IgG) were selected. Functional assays using the antibodies showed that clec14a-CTLD IgGs specifically blocked endothelial cell migration and tube formation without affecting cell viability or activation. Further, clec14a-CTLD IgGs inhibited clec14a-mediated cell–cell contact by blocking interaction between CTLDs. Finally, clec14a cross-linking by the clec14a-CTLD IgGs significantly downregulated clec14a expression on the surface of endothelial cells. These results strongly suggest that the clec14a-CTLD may be a key domain in angiogenesis, and that clec14a-CTLD IgGs specifically inhibit angiogenesis by modulating CTLD-mediated cell interactions and clec14a expression on the surface of endothelial cells.

Abstract P3-07-05: Bisphosphonate use after primary breast cancer and risk of contralateral breast cancer using pharmacy data

Background: It is not clear if bisphosphonates (BP) are associated with improved breast cancer prognosis in women with early breast cancer. Clinical trials have reported mixed results, yet BPs may be most beneficial in patients with low estrogen levels. However, BPs and risk of second (contralateral) breast cancer has been minimally studied. We examined the association of oral BP use (ever/never and duration) on risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in 17,224 women with early stage breast cancer treated with tamoxifen.

Materials and Methods: A cohort was assembled of women diagnosed with their first primary breast cancer (Stage 0, I, II) from 1996 to 2007 on tamoxifen and followed through 31 December 2009 at Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California. Demographic, tumor, pharmacy, and cancer treatment information was extracted from electronic medical records and SEER-affiliated cancer registries at each site. Second (contralateral) tumors were identified from the cancer registries. Detailed information on oral BP use (before and after initial breast cancer diagnosis) was obtained from pharmacy databases. A record of &gt;90 days supply was considered the minimum exposure. Initiation and duration of post-diagnosis use was categorized as 1) non-use (≤90 days supply) and use (&gt;90 days supply) and 2) non-use (≤90 days supply), 91 days–&lt;1 year supply, 1-&lt;2 years supply, and ≥2 years supply. Delayed entry Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with BP use modeled as a time-varying covariate. Women were followed through CBC, health plan disenrollment, death, or end of study, whichever occurred first. We adjusted for age, stage and year of diagnosis; race/ethnicity; income; comorbidity; tumor factors; primary and adjuvant cancer treatments; previous BP use, and study site.

Results: Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.4 (6.3) years, 586 women (3.4%) were diagnosed with CBC after their initial breast cancer diagnosis. Around 19.2% (n = 3303) of the cohort used a BP post-initial breast cancer diagnosis (&gt;93% alendronate). To minimize confounding by indication, all models were adjusted for prior use of BPs before breast cancer diagnosis (n = 1047, 6.1%) and excluded women with prior 5-year history of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures (n = 1808, 10.5%). Compared to non-users, ever use (&gt;90 days supply) was associated with a modestly lower CBC risk (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.16). However, stratified analyses by age at breast cancer diagnosis (&lt;50 years vs. ≥50 years) suggested lower risk among older women (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.57, 1.12) compared with younger women (HR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.39, 2.52). Increasing duration of use was not associated with CBC risk compared to non-use and possibly reflective of some residual confounding by indication: &lt;1 year (HR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.30, 1.02), 1-&lt;2 years (HR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.72), ≥2 years (HR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.58, 1.42).

Discussion: While we found modestly lower CBC risk with BP use after diagnosis of primary breast cancer, the protective effects were perhaps confined to older women compared with younger women. Next steps include adding BMD to further explore confounding by indication and examining BP use and breast cancer recurrence and mortality.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-05.

Real-time MSE measurements for current profile control on KSTAR

To step up from current day fusion experiments to power producing fusion reactors, it is necessary to control long pulse, burning plasmas. Stability and confinement properties of tokamak fusion reactors are determined by the current or q profile. In order to control the q profile, it is necessary to measure it in real-time. A real-time motional Stark effect diagnostic is being developed at Korean Superconducting Tokamak for Advanced Research for this purpose. This paper focuses on 3 topics important for real-time measurements: minimize the use of ad hoc parameters, minimize external influences and a robust and fast analysis algorithm. Specifically, we have looked into extracting the retardance of the photo-elastic modulators from the signal itself, minimizing the influence of overlapping beam spectra by optimizing the optical filter design and a multi-channel, multiharmonic phase locking algorithm.

Search for a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson in the dimuon decay channel in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

The dimuon invariant mass spectrum is searched in the range between 5.5 and 14 GeV for a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson a, predicted in a number of new physics models, including the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. The data sample used in the search corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.3 fb(-1) collected in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. No excess is observed above the background predictions and upper limits are set on the cross section times branching fraction σ × B(pp→a→μ(+)μ(-)) in the range of 1.5-7.5 pb. These results improve on existing bounds on the abb coupling for m(a) < m(Υ(1S)) and are the first significant limits for m(a) > m(Υ(3S)). Constraints on the supersymmetric parameter space are presented in the context of the next-to-minimal model.

Measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in inclusive W production in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV

A measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in inclusive pp→W+X→eν+X production at sqrt[s]=7  TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 840  pb(-1). The electron charge asymmetry reflects the unequal production of W(+) and W(-) bosons in pp collisions. The electron charge asymmetry is measured in bins of the absolute value of electron pseudorapidity in the range of |η|<2.4. The asymmetry rises from about 0.1 to 0.2 as a function of the pseudorapidity and is measured with a relative precision better than 7%. This measurement provides new stringent constraints for parton distribution functions.

Search for new physics with same-sign isolated dilepton events with jets and missing transverse energy

A search for new physics is performed in events with two same-sign isolated leptons, hadronic jets, and missing transverse energy in the final state. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.98 fb(-1) produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. This constitutes a factor of 140 increase in integrated luminosity over previously published results. The observed yields agree with the standard model predictions and thus no evidence for new physics is found. The observations are used to set upper limits on possible new physics contributions and to constrain supersymmetric models. To facilitate the interpretation of the data in a broader range of new physics scenarios, information on the event selection, detector response, and efficiencies is provided.

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged particles at high transverse momenta in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The azimuthal anisotropy of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=2.76  TeV is measured with the CMS detector at the LHC over an extended transverse momentum (p(T)) range up to approximately 60  GeV/c. The data cover both the low-p(T) region associated with hydrodynamic flow phenomena and the high-p(T) region where the anisotropies may reflect the path-length dependence of parton energy loss in the created medium. The anisotropy parameter (v2) of the particles is extracted by correlating charged tracks with respect to the event-plane reconstructed by using the energy deposited in forward-angle calorimeters. For the six bins of collision centrality studied, spanning the range of 0-60% most-central events, the observed v2 values are found to first increase with p(T), reaching a maximum around p(T)=3  GeV/c, and then to gradually decrease to almost zero, with the decline persisting up to at least pp(T)=40  GeV/c over the full centrality range measured.

Search for dark matter and large extra dimensions in pp collisions yielding a photon and missing transverse energy

Results are presented from a search for new physics in the final state containing a photon (γ) and missing transverse energy (E[combininb /](T)). The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb(-1) collected in pp collisions at √[s]=7 TeV by the CMS experiment. The observed event yield agrees with standard-model expectations for the γ+E[combininb /](T) events. Using models for the production of dark-matter particles (χ), we set 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper limits of 13.6-15.4 fb on χ production in the γ+E[combininb /](T) state. These provide the most sensitive upper limits for spin-dependent χ-nucleon scattering for χ masses (M(χ)) between 1 and 100 GeV. For spin-independent contributions, the present limits are extended to M(χ)<3.5 GeV. For models with 3-6 large extra dimensions, our data exclude extra-dimensional Planck scales between 1.64 and 1.73 TeV at 95% C.L.

Observation of a new Ξb baryon

The observation of a new b baryon via its strong decay into Ξ(b)(-) π(+) (plus charge conjugates) is reported. The measurement uses a data sample of pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb(-1). The known Ξ(b)(-) baryon is reconstructed via the decay chain Ξ(b)(-) → J/ψΞ(-) → μ(+) μ(-) Λ(0) π(-), with Λ(0) → pπ(-). A peak is observed in the distribution of the difference between the mass of the Ξ(b)(-) π(+) system and the sum of the masses of the Ξ(b)(-) and π(+), with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations. The mass difference of the peak is 14.84 ± 0.74(stat) ± 0.28(syst) MeV. The new state most likely corresponds to the J(P) = 3/2(+) companion of the Ξ(b).

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the decay channel H→ZZ→4ℓ in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for a Higgs boson in the four-lepton decay channel H→ZZ, with each Z boson decaying to an electron or muon pair, is reported. The search covers Higgs boson mass hypotheses in the range of 110<m(H)<600 GeV. The analysis uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb(-1) recorded by the CMS detector in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV from the LHC. Seventy-two events are observed with four-lepton invariant mass m(4ℓ)>100 GeV (with 13 below 160 GeV), while 67.1±6.0 (9.5±1.3) events are expected from background. The four-lepton mass distribution is consistent with the expectation of standard model background production of ZZ pairs. Upper limits at 95% confidence level exclude the standard model Higgs boson in the ranges of 134-158 GeV, 180-305 GeV, and 340-465 GeV. Small excesses of events are observed around masses of 119, 126, and 320 GeV, making the observed limits weaker than expected in the absence of a signal.

Search for signatures of extra dimensions in the diphoton mass spectrum at the large hadron collider

A search for signatures of extra spatial dimensions in the diphoton invariant-mass spectrum has been performed with the CMS detector at the LHC. No excess of events above the standard model expectation is observed using a data sample collected in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb(-1). In the context of the large-extra-dimensions model, lower limits are set on the effective Planck scale in the range of 2.3-3.8 TeV at the 95% confidence level. These limits are the most restrictive bounds on virtual-graviton exchange to date. The most restrictive lower limits to date are also set on the mass of the first graviton excitation in the Randall-Sundrum model in the range of 0.86-1.84 TeV, for values of the associated coupling parameter between 0.01 and 0.10.

Controlling the width of self-assembled dysprosium silicide nanowires on the Si(001) surface

We present STM data that show that it is possible to use a metal induced 2 × 7 reconstruction of Si(001) to narrow the width distribution of Dy silicide nanowires. This behavior is distinct from the effect of the 7 × 7 reconstruction on the Si(111) surface, where the 7 × 7 serves as a static template and the deposited metal avoids the unit cell boundaries on the substrate. In this case, the 2 × 7 is a dynamic template, and the nanowires nucleate at anti-phase boundaries between 2 × 7 reconstruction domains.

Search for a vectorlike quark with charge 2/3 in t+Z events from pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for pair-produced heavy vectorlike charge-2/3 quarks, T, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, is performed with the CMS detector at the LHC. Events consistent with the flavor-changing-neutral-current decay of a T quark to a top quark and a Z boson are selected by requiring two leptons from the Z-boson decay, as well as an additional isolated charged lepton. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.14  fb(-1), the number of observed events is found to be consistent with the standard model background prediction. Assuming a branching fraction of 100% for the decay T→tZ, a T quark with a mass less than 475  GeV/c(2) is excluded at the 95% confidence level.