Evaluation of ground reaction forces and centers of pressure predicted by AnyBody Modeling System during load reaching/handling activities and effects of the prediction errors on model-estimated spinal loads

Full-body and lower-extremity human musculoskeletal models require feet ground reaction forces (GRFs) and centers of pressure (CoPs) as inputs to predict muscle forces and joint loads. GRFs/CoPs are traditionally measured via floor-mounted forceplates that are usually restricted to research laboratories thus limiting their applicability in real occupational and clinical setups. Alternatively, GRFs/CoPs can be estimated via inverse dynamic approaches as also implemented in the Anybody Modeling System (AnyBody Technology, Aalborg, Denmark). The accuracy of Anybody in estimating GRFs/CoPs during load-handling/reaching activities and the effect of its prediction errors on model-estimated spinal loads remain to be investigated. Twelve normal- and over-weight individuals performed total of 480 static load-handling/reaching activities while measuring (by forceplates) and predicting (by AnyBody) their GRFs/CoPs. Moreover, the effects of GRF/CoP prediction errors on the estimated spinal loads were evaluated by inputting measured or predicted GRFs/CoPs into subject-specific musculoskeletal models. Regardless of the subject groups (normal-weight or overweight) and tasks (load-reaching or load-handling), results indicated great agreements between the measured and predicted GRFs (normalized root-mean-squared error, nRMSEs < 14% and R2 > 0.90) and between their model-estimated spinal loads (nRMSEs < 14% and R2 > 0.83). These agreements were good but relatively less satisfactory for CoPs (nRMSEs < 17% and 0.57 < R2 < 0.68). The only exception, requiring a more throughout investigation, was the situation when the ground-foot contact was significantly reduced during the activity. It appears that occupational/clinical investigations performed in real workstation/clinical setups with no access to forceplates may benefit from the AnyBody GRF/CoP prediction tools for a wide range of load-reaching/handling activities.

Non-Abelian braiding of graph vertices in a superconducting processor

Indistinguishability of particles is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics¹. For all elementary and quasiparticles observed to date-including fermions, bosons and Abelian anyons-this principle guarantees that the braiding of identical particles leaves the system unchanged^2,3. However, in two spatial dimensions, an intriguing possibility exists: braiding of non-Abelian anyons causes rotations in a space of topologically degenerate wavefunctions^4-8. Hence, it can change the observables of the system without violating the principle of indistinguishability. Despite the well-developed mathematical description of non-Abelian anyons and numerous theoretical proposals^9-22, the experimental observation of their exchange statistics has remained elusive for decades. Controllable many-body quantum states generated on quantum processors offer another path for exploring these fundamental phenomena. Whereas efforts on conventional solid-state platforms typically involve Hamiltonian dynamics of quasiparticles, superconducting quantum processors allow for directly manipulating the many-body wavefunction by means of unitary gates. Building on predictions that stabilizer codes can host projective non-Abelian Ising anyons^9,10, we implement a generalized stabilizer code and unitary protocol²³ to create and braid them. This allows us to experimentally verify the fusion rules of the anyons and braid them to realize their statistics. We then study the prospect of using the anyons for quantum computation and use braiding to create an entangled state of anyons encoding three logical qubits. Our work provides new insights about non-Abelian braiding and, through the future inclusion of error correction to achieve topological protection, could open a path towards fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Formation of robust bound states of interacting microwave photons

Systems of correlated particles appear in many fields of modern science and represent some of the most intractable computational problems in nature. The computational challenge in these systems arises when interactions become comparable to other energy scales, which makes the state of each particle depend on all other particles1. The lack of general solutions for the three-body problem and acceptable theory for strongly correlated electrons shows that our understanding of correlated systems fades when the particle number or the interaction strength increases. One of the hallmarks of interacting systems is the formation of multiparticle bound states2-9. Here we develop a high-fidelity parameterizable fSim gate and implement the periodic quantum circuit of the spin-½ XXZ model in a ring of 24 superconducting qubits. We study the propagation of these excitations and observe their bound nature for up to five photons. We devise a phase-sensitive method for constructing the few-body spectrum of the bound states and extract their pseudo-charge by introducing a synthetic flux. By introducing interactions between the ring and additional qubits, we observe an unexpected resilience of the bound states to integrability breaking. This finding goes against the idea that bound states in non-integrable systems are unstable when their energies overlap with the continuum spectrum. Our work provides experimental evidence for bound states of interacting photons and discovers their stability beyond the integrability limit.

Noise-resilient edge modes on a chain of superconducting qubits

Inherent symmetry of a quantum system may protect its otherwise fragile states. Leveraging such protection requires testing its robustness against uncontrolled environmental interactions. Using 47 superconducting qubits, we implement the one-dimensional kicked Ising model, which exhibits nonlocal Majorana edge modes (MEMs) with ℤ 2 parity symmetry. We find that any multiqubit Pauli operator overlapping with the MEMs exhibits a uniform late-time decay rate comparable to single-qubit relaxation rates, irrespective of its size or composition. This characteristic allows us to accurately reconstruct the exponentially localized spatial profiles of the MEMs. Furthermore, the MEMs are found to be resilient against certain symmetry-breaking noise owing to a prethermalization mechanism. Our work elucidates the complex interplay between noise and symmetry-protected edge modes in a solid-state environment.

Trait-anger, hostility, and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

Introduction

There is a well-established association between anger, hostility, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence also suggests associations between anger/hostility and type 2 diabetes (T2D), though evidence from longitudinal studies has not yet been synthesized.

Objectives

To systematically review findings from existing prospective cohort studies on trait anger/hostility and the risk of T2D and diabetes-related complications.

Methods

Electronic searches of MEDLINE (PubMed), PsychINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL were performed for articles/abstracts published up to December 15, 2020. Peer-reviewed longitudinal studies conducted with adult samples, with effect estimates reported for trait anger or hostility and incident T2D or diabetes-related complications, were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias/study quality was assessed. The review protocol was published a priori in PROSPERO (CRD42020216356) and was in keeping with PRISMA guidelines. Screening for eligibility, data extraction, and quality assessment was conducted by two independent reviewers.

Results

Four studies with a total of 155,146 participants met the inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis of extracted data was conducted according to the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis guidelines. While results were mixed, our synthesis suggested a positive association between high trait-anger/hostility and increased risk of incident T2D. No longitudinal studies were identified relating to anger/hostility and incident diabetes-related complications. Geographical locations of the study samples were limited to the USA and Japan.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to investigate whether trait-anger/hostility predicts incident type 2 diabetes after adjustments for potential confounding factors. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate trait-anger/hostility and the risk of diabetes-related vascular complications.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Realizing topologically ordered states on a quantum processor

[Figure: see text].

Controlling the Nonlinear Relaxation of Quantized Propagating Magnons in Nanodevices

Relaxation of linear magnetization dynamics is well described by the viscous Gilbert damping processes. However, for strong excitations, nonlinear damping processes such as the decay via magnon-magnon interactions emerge and trigger additional relaxation channels. Here, we use space- and time-resolved microfocused Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and micromagnetic simulations to investigate the nonlinear relaxation of strongly driven propagating spin waves in yttrium iron garnet nanoconduits. We show that the nonlinear magnon relaxation in this highly quantized system possesses intermodal features, i.e., magnons scatter to higher-order quantized modes through a cascade of scattering events. We further show how to control such intermodal dissipation processes by quantization of the magnon band in single-mode devices, where this phenomenon approaches its fundamental limit. Our study extends the knowledge about nonlinear propagating spin waves in nanostructures which is essential for the construction of advanced spin-wave elements as well as the realization of Bose-Einstein condensates in scaled systems.

Demonstrating a Continuous Set of Two-Qubit Gates for Near-Term Quantum Algorithms

Quantum algorithms offer a dramatic speedup for computational problems in material science and chemistry. However, any near-term realizations of these algorithms will need to be optimized to fit within the finite resources offered by existing noisy hardware. Here, taking advantage of the adjustable coupling of gmon qubits, we demonstrate a continuous two-qubit gate set that can provide a threefold reduction in circuit depth as compared to a standard decomposition. We implement two gate families: an imaginary swap-like (iSWAP-like) gate to attain an arbitrary swap angle, θ, and a controlled-phase gate that generates an arbitrary conditional phase, ϕ. Using one of each of these gates, we can perform an arbitrary two-qubit gate within the excitation-preserving subspace allowing for a complete implementation of the so-called Fermionic simulation (fSim) gate set. We benchmark the fidelity of the iSWAP-like and controlled-phase gate families as well as 525 other fSim gates spread evenly across the entire fSim(θ,ϕ) parameter space, achieving a purity-limited average two-qubit Pauli error of 3.8×10^{-3} per fSim gate.

Weight status and associated comorbidities in children and adults with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

Little is known about body weight status and the association between body weight and common comorbidities in children and adults with Down syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

METHODS

Data were extracted from the University of Kansas Medical Center's Healthcare Enterprise Repository for Ontological Narration clinical integrated data repository. Measures included demographics (sex, age and race), disability diagnosis, comorbid health conditions, height, weight and body mass index percentiles (BMI%ile; <18 years of age) or BMI (≥18 years of age).

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-eight individuals with DS (122 children and 346 adults), 1659 individuals with ASD (1073 children and 585 adults) and 604 individuals with other IDDs (152 children and 452 adults) were identified. A total of 47.0% (DS), 41.9% (ASD) and 33.5% (IDD) of children had overweight/obese (OW/OB), respectively. Children with DS were more likely to have OW/OB compared with children with IDD or ASD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.49, 2.46); OR = 1.43, 95% CI: (1.19, 1.72)], respectively. A total of 81.1% (DS), 62.1% (ASD), and 62.4% (IDD) of adults were OW/OB, respectively. Adults with DS were more likely to have OW/OB compared with those with IDD [OR = 2.56, 95% CI: (2.16, 3.02)]. No significant differences were observed by race. In children with ASD, higher OW/OB was associated with significantly higher (compared with non-OW/OB) occurrence of sleep apnoea [OR = 2.94, 95% CI: (2.22, 3.89)], hypothyroidism [OR = 3.14, 95% CI: (2.17, 4.25)] and hypertension [OR = 4.11, 95% CI: (3.05, 5.54)]. In adults with DS, OW/OB was significantly associated with higher risk of sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes [OR = 2.93, 95% CI: (2.10, 4.09); OR = 1.76, 95% CI: (1.11, 2.79) respectively]. Similarly, in adults with ASD and IDD, OW/OB was significantly associated with higher risk of sleep apnoea [OR = 3.39, 95% CI: (2.37, 4.85) and OR = 6.69, 95% CI: (4.43, 10.10)], type 2 diabetes [OR = 2.25, 95 % CI: (1.68, 3.01) and OR = 5.49, 95% CI: (3.96, 7.61)] and hypertension [OR = 3.55, 95% CI: (2.76, 4.57) and 3.97, 95% CI: (3.17, 4.97)].

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest higher rates of OW/OB in individuals with DS compared with ASD and IDD. Given the increased risk of comorbidities associated with the increased risk of OW/OB, identification of effective interventions for this special population of individuals is critical.

All-fiber widely tunable ultrafast laser source for multimodal imaging in nonlinear microscopy

In this Letter, we present an all-fiber, easy-to-use, wavelength-tunable, ultrafast laser, based on soliton self-frequency shifting in an Er-doped polarization-maintaining very large mode area fiber. The system is tunable over 370 nm, starting at 1620 nm, with an average power of up to 1.5 W that emits 120 fs short laser pulses directly out of the fusion-spliced fiber without using bulky pulse compression optics. The output is subsequently frequency doubled to a wavelength range covering 810 nm up to almost 1000 nm with more than 500 mW average power and 120 fs pulse width. Having a polarization extinction ratio better than 40 dB and a M² of 1.1, the fully computer-controlled laser system presents a robust and compact laser source. These parameters make the laser perfectly suited for multimodal imaging in nonlinear microscopy.

Effect of dietary soybean lecithin on fish performance, hemato-immunological parameters, lipid biochemistry, antioxidant status, digestive enzymes activity and intestinal histomorphometry of pre-spawning Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius)

A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soybean lecithin (SBL) supplementation on performance, hemato-immunological parameters, lipid biochemistry, antioxidant status, digestive enzymes activity and intestinal histomorphometry of Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius in the pre-spawning stage. The basal diet was supplemented with 0% (control), 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% of SBL to obtain five experimental diets. Fish with an average weight of 350 ± 10 g were randomly distributed among five experimental groups and fed for 90 days. Dietary SBL resulted in better performance including specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05). Among the different hemato-immunological parameters, white blood cell counts (WBC), lysozyme, alternative complement activity (ACH50) and total immunoglobulin (IgM) content of serum were significantly increased with dietary SBL inclusion (p < 0.05). For antioxidant enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) showed significant differences among various experimental diets (p < 0.05). Furthermore, digestive enzymes activity including alkaline protease, lipase and amylase were increased in those fish received SBL supplemented diets (p < 0.05). Our results revealed that the dietary SBL improved some physiological responses of the fish and indicate 6-9% dietary SBL supplementation would improve the physiological competence of the pre-spawning Caspian brown trout breeders.

Backscattering Immunity of Dipole-Exchange Magnetostatic Surface Spin Waves

The existence of backscattering-immune spin-wave modes is demonstrated in magnetic thin films of nanoscale thickness. Our results reveal that chiral magnetostatic surface waves (CMSSWs), which propagate perpendicular to the magnetization direction in an in-plane magnetized thin film, are robust against backscattering from surface defects. CMSSWs are protected against various types of surface inhomogeneities and defects as long as their frequency lies inside the gap of the volume modes. Our explanation is independent of the topology of the modes and predicts that this robustness is a consequence of symmetry breaking of the dynamic magnetic fields of CMSSWs due to the off-diagonal part of the dipolar interaction tensor, which is present both for long- (dipole-dominated) and short-wavelength (exchange-dominated) spin waves. Micromagnetic simulations confirm the robust character of the CMSSWs. Our results open a new direction in designing highly efficient magnonic logic elements and devices employing CMSSWs in nanoscale thin films.

Synthesis and characterization of cadmium selenide quantum dots doped by europium and investigation of their chemiluminescence properties and antibacterial activities

Nanoparticles of cadmium selenide (CdSe) doped with europium, were synthesized as stabilizing agents using thioglycolic acid ligand. This method is based on the enhancing effect of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) doped with europium on chemiluminescence (CL) emission. This emission was generated by mixing CdSe QDs with manganese (II), iron (II) and chrome (II) sulfates as catalysts in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ). The structural characteristics and morphology of these nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray pattern and dynamic light scattering methods. The CdSe QDs doped with europium were used as the sensitizer in a luminol-hydrogen peroxide CL system. The sensitized CdSe QDs were analyzed for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that the CdSe QDs are effective against all the studied bacteria, effectiveness was especially higher for Bacillus subtilis.

In-situ electrochemical Fe(VI) for removal of microcystin-LR from drinking water: comparing dosing of the ferrate ion by electrochemical and chemical means

Harmful algal blooms (HAB) release microtoxins that contaminate drinking water supplies and risk the health of millions annually. Crystalline ferrate(VI) is a powerful oxidant capable of removing algal microtoxins. We investigate in-situ electrochemically produced ferrate from common carbon steel as an on-demand alternative to crystalline ferrate for the removal of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and compare the removal efficacy for both electrochemical (EC) and chemical dosing methodologies. We report that a very low dose of EC-ferrate in deionized water (0.5 mg FeO₄^2- L^-1) oxidizes MC-LR (MC-LR₀ = 10 μg L^-1) to below the guideline limit (1.0 μg L^-1) within 10 minutes' contact time. With bicarbonate or natural organic matter (NOM), doses of 2.0-5.0 mg FeO₄^2- L^-1 are required, with lower efficacy of EC-ferrate than crystalline ferrate due to loss of EC-ferrate by water oxidation. To evaluate the EC-ferrate process to concurrently oxidize micropollutants, coagulate NOM, and disinfect drinking water, we spiked NOM-containing real water with MC-LR and Escherichia coli, finding that EC-ferrate is effective at 10.0 mg FeO₄^2- L^-1 under normal operation or 2.0 mg FeO₄^2- L^-1 if the test water has initial pH optimized. We suggest in-situ EC-ferrate may be appropriate for sporadic HAB events in small water systems as a primary or back-up technology.

Novel atherogenic pathways from the differential transcriptome analysis of diabetic epicardial adipose tissue

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To evaluate the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) transcriptome in comparison to subcutaneous fat (SAT) in coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

SAT and EAT samples were obtained from subjects with T2DM and CAD (n = 5) and those without CAD with or without T2DM (=3) undergoing elective cardiac surgery. RNA-sequencing analysis was performed in both EAT and SAT. Gene enrichment analysis was conducted to identify pathways affected by the differentially expressed genes. Changes of top genes were verified by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunofluorescence. A total of 592 genes were differentially expressed in diabetic EAT, whereas there was no obvious changes in SAT transcriptome between diabetics and non-diabetics. Diabetic EAT was mainly enriched in inflammatory genes, such as Colony Stimulating Factor 3 (CSF3), Interleukin-1b (IL-1b), IL-6. KEGG pathway analysis confirmed that upregulated genes were involved in inflammatory pathways, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) and advanced glycation end-products-receptor advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE). The overexpression of inflammatory genes in diabetic EAT was largely correlated with upregulated transcription factors such as NF-κB and FOS.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic EAT transcriptome is significantly different when compared to diabetic SAT and highly enriched with genes involved in innate immune response and endothelium, like Pentraxin3 (PTX3) and Endothelial lipase G (LIPG). EAT inflammatory genes expression could be induced by upregulated transcription factors, mainly NF-kB and FOSL, primarily activated by the overexpressed AGE-RAGE signaling. This suggests a unique and novel atherogenic pathway in diabetes.

Ki-67 is required for maintenance of cancer stem cells but not cell proliferation

Ki-67 expression is correlated with cell proliferation and is a prognostic marker for various cancers; however, its function is unknown. Here we demonstrate that genetic disruption of Ki-67 in human epithelial breast and colon cancer cells depletes the cancer stem cell niche. Ki-67 null cells had a proliferative disadvantage compared to wildtype controls in colony formation assays and displayed increased sensitivity to various chemotherapies. Ki-67 null cancer cells showed decreased and delayed tumor formation in xenograft assays, which was associated with a reduction in cancer stem cell markers. Immunohistochemical analyses of human breast cancers revealed that Ki-67 expression is maintained at equivalent or greater levels in metastatic sites of disease compared to matched primary tumors, suggesting that maintenance of Ki-67 expression is associated with metastatic/clonogenic potential. These results elucidate Ki-67's role in maintaining the cancer stem cell niche, which has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications for human malignancies.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Procalcitonin to guide taking blood cultures in the intensive care unit; a cluster-randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to study the safety and efficacy of procalcitonin in guiding blood cultures taking in critically ill patients with suspected infection.

METHODS

We performed a cluster-randomized, multi-centre, single-blinded, cross-over trial. Patients suspected of infection in whom taking blood for culture was indicated were included. The participating intensive care units were stratified and randomized by treatment regimen into a control group and a procalcitonin-guided group. All patients included in this trial followed the regimen that was allocated to the intensive care unit for that period. In both groups, blood was drawn at the same moment for a procalcitonin measurement and blood cultures. In the procalcitonin-guided group, blood cultures were sent to the department of medical microbiology when the procalcitonin was >0.25 ng/mL. The main outcome was safety, expressed as mortality at day 28 and day 90.

RESULTS

The control group included 288 patients and the procalcitonin-guided group included 276 patients. The 28- and 90-day mortality rates in the procalcitonin-guided group were 29% (80/276) and 38% (105/276), respectively. The mortality rates in the control group were 32% (92/288) at day 28 and 40% (115/288) at day 90. The intention-to-treat analysis showed hazard ratios of 0.85 (95% CI 0.62-1.17) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.67-1.17) for 28-day and 90-day mortality, respectively. The results were deemed non-inferior because the upper limit of the 95% CI was below the margin of 1.20.

CONCLUSION

Applying procalcitonin to guide blood cultures in critically ill patients with suspected infection seems to be safe, but the benefits may be limited.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ID NCT01847079. Registered on 24 April 2013, retrospectively registered.

Selenium Supplementation and the Effects on Reproductive Outcomes, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Selenium supplementation could be effective on reproductive outcomes, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the study was to determine the effects of selenium supplementation on reproductive outcomes, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in PCOS patients. The present randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 64 women aged 18-40 years old with PCOS at the clinic affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups receiving either 200 μg selenium daily (n=32) or placebo (n=32) for 8 weeks. Hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured and compared both before and after the treatment. After 8 weeks of intervention, pregnancy rate in the selenium group was higher than in the placebo group: 18.8 (6/32) vs. 3.1% (1/32), p=0.04. In addition, alopecia (40.6 vs. 9.4%, p=0.004) and acne (46.9 vs. 12.5 %, p=0.003) decreased following the consumption of selenium supplements compared with placebo. Additionally, patients who received selenium supplements had significantly decreased serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels (p=0.02), hirsutism (modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores) (p<0.001), serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (p=0.02), and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p=0.01) compared with placebo. We did not observe any significant effects of taking selenium supplements on other hormonal profiles, nitric oxide (NO), and other biomarkers of oxidative stress. Taken together, selenium supplementation for 8 weeks among PCOS women had beneficial effects on reproductive outcomes, DHEA, hs-CRP, and MDA levels. Supporting Information for this article is available online at http://www.thieme-connect.de/products.

A scratch resistant yet healable automotive clearcoat containing hyperbranched polymer and POSS nanostructures

In this paper a typical acrylic melamine clearcoat has been modified with hyperbranched polymer and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanostructures to simultaneously enhance its scratch resistance and healing ability.

Influence of Psychological Empowerment on Organizational Commitment among Medical Employees in a Hospital Setting

INTRODUCTION

People within organizations are a key factor for efficiency. Thus employee empowerment has become a popular management strategy. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological empowerment and organizational commitment among medical staff of a hospital in Zahedan city.

METHODS

This cross sectional study was carried out in 2013. A random sample of 172 medical employees in Khatam-ol-Anbia hospital at Zahedan city was selected and responded to items of the questionnaires using a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7. For measuring psychological empowerment and organizational commitment, Mishra & Spreitzer's scale and Meyer and Allen's questionnaire were used. A higher score means a higher degree of psychological empowerment or organizational commitment. Analysis was carried out using SPSS.

RESULTS

The level of organizational commitment and psychological empowerment significantly were higher than average. There was a significant positive relationship between employees' empowerment and their commitment to organization. Psychological empowerment was a significant predictor of organizational commitment (β = .524). Out of the five dimensions of empowerment three dimensions are significant predictors of commitment and explain 37.1% of the variance in commitment.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to The positive influence of psychological empowerment on organizational commitment, programs for in-service education should focus on facilitating psychological empowerment to improve and increase organizational commitment. Also, since impact of employees psychological empowerment on organizational commitment partially supported, there are other variables that influence the organizational commitment.

Photocurable, Antimicrobial Quaternary Ammonium-modified Nanosilica

In this study, novel, quaternary ammonium methacrylate-modified silica nanoparticles (QMSNs) were synthesized for the first time and proposed as possible antimicrobial particles for free-radical, photocurable monomers. Such monomers have the potential to polymerize with other methacrylate monomers and create antimicrobial polymers. The silica nanoparticles were modified by quaternary ammonium methacrylate functionality and incorporated at 0 to 10 wt% into a 1:1 (by mass) bisphenol A glycerolate dimethacrylate (BisGMA)/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) resin. Thermal stability of the pristine and modified silica nanoparticles was examined by thermogravimetric analyses. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the size distribution and topography of the nanoparticles. For evaluation of the mechanical properties of the samples, flexural strength was measured using a 3-point bending test method. The flexural strength of the composites containing QMSNs increased with increasing modified silica content. The antimicrobial activity of samples was investigated against some standard microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans), and then cytotoxicity and viability were quantified. Incorporation of 2.5% to 10% (by mass) QMSNs into BisGMA/TEGDMA demonstrated antimicrobial activity, but ≥5 wt% significantly reduced cell viability.

A phosphoproteomic screen demonstrates differential dependence on HER3 for MAP kinase pathway activation by distinct PIK3CA mutations

The PIK3CA gene encodes for the p110 alpha isoform of PI3 kinase and is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. However, the mechanisms by which PIK3CA mutations activate cell signaling are not fully understood. Here we used a phosphoproteomic approach to compare differential phosphorylation patterns between human breast epithelial cells and two isogenic somatic cell knock in derivatives, each harboring a distinct PIK3CA mutation. We demonstrated differential phosphorylation patterns between isogenic cell lines containing a PIK3CA helical domain mutation (E545K) compared to cells with a PIK3CA kinase domain mutation (H1047R). In particular, the receptor tyrosine kinase, HER3, showed increased phosphorylation at tyrosine 1328 in H1047R cells versus E545K cells. Genetic studies using shRNA demonstrated that H1047R cells have a profound decrease in growth factor independent proliferation upon HER3 knock down, but this effect was attenuated in E545K cells. In addition, HER3 knock down led to reductions in both PI3 kinase and MAP kinase pathway activation in H1047R cells, but in E545K cells only PI3 kinase pathway diminution was observed. These studies demonstrate the power of using paired isogenic cell lines for proteomic analysis to gain new insights into oncogenic signal transduction pathways.

Microarray-based cell-free DNA analysis improves noninvasive prenatal testing

OBJECTIVE

To develop a microarray-based method for noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and compare it with next-generation sequencing.

METHODS

Maternal plasma from 878 pregnant women, including 187 trisomy cases (18 trisomy 13, 37 trisomy 18, 132 trisomy 21), was evaluated for trisomy risk. Targeted chromosomes were analyzed using Digital Analysis of Selected Regions (DANSR™) assays. DANSR products were subsequently divided between two DNA quantification methods: microarrays and next-generation sequencing. For both microarray and sequencing methodologies, the Fetal-Fraction Optimized Risk of Trisomy Evaluation (FORTE™) algorithm was used to determine trisomy risk, assay variability across samples, and compute fetal fraction variability within samples.

RESULTS

NIPT using microarrays provided faster and more accurate cell-free DNA (cfDNA) measurements than sequencing. The assay variability, a measure of variance of chromosomal cfDNA counts, was lower for microarrays than for sequencing, 0.051 versus 0.099 (p < 0.0001). Analysis time using microarrays was faster, 7.5 versus 56 h for sequencing. Additionally, fetal fraction precision was improved 1.6-fold by assaying more polymorphic sites with microarrays (p < 0.0001). Microarrays correctly classified all trisomy and nontrisomy cases.

CONCLUSIONS

NIPT using microarrays delivers more accurate cfDNA analysis than next-generation sequencing and can be performed in less time.

Changes in blood metals, hematology and hepatic enzyme activities in lactating cows reared in the vicinity of a lead-zinc smelter

The present study examines blood metals levels and health parameters in dairy cows reared in areas around a Pb-Zn industrial complex located near the city of Zanjan-Iran. Blood samples (n = 27) were collected from cows reared around the smelter. Blood samples (n = 25) were also collected from cows reared in areas where chances of Pb contamination of soil, water and fodder do not exist, to serve as reference. The mean blood Pb level in cows around the smelter (1.09 ± 0.26 µg/mL) was higher than the cows from the reference area (0.72 ± 0.25 µg/mL). Hematocrit (PCV) levels decreased in cows reared in the near of smelter (24.37 % ± 2.22 %) compared to the reference site (27.54 % ± 2.87 %). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and mean corpuscular Hb concentration value in cows from the area around the smelter were statistically lower than the cows reared in reference area. Activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase (IU/l) were significantly higher in cows around the smelter as compared to reference animals.

Numerical evidence for robustness of environment-assisted quantum transport

Recent theoretical studies show that decoherence process can enhance transport efficiency in quantum systems. This effect is known as environment-assisted quantum transport (ENAQT). The role of ENAQT in optimal quantum transport is well investigated; however, it is less known how robust ENAQT is with respect to variations in the system or its environment characteristic. Toward answering this question, we simulated excitonic energy transfer in Fenna-Matthews-Olson photosynthetic complex. We found that ENAQT is robust with respect to many relevant parameters of environmental interactions and Frenkel-exciton Hamiltonians, including reorganization energy, bath-frequency cutoff, temperature, initial excitations, dissipation rate, trapping rate, disorders, and dipole moments orientations. Our study suggests that the ENAQT phenomenon can be exploited in robust design of highly efficient quantum transport systems.

Single copies of mutant KRAS and mutant PIK3CA cooperate in immortalized human epithelial cells to induce tumor formation

The selective pressures leading to cancers with mutations in both KRAS and PIK3CA are unclear. Here, we show that somatic cell knockin of both KRAS G12V and oncogenic PIK3CA mutations in human breast epithelial cells results in cooperative activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in vitro, and leads to tumor formation in immunocompromised mice. Xenografts from double-knockin cells retain single copies of mutant KRAS and PIK3CA, suggesting that tumor formation does not require increased copy number of either oncogene, and these results were also observed in human colorectal cancer specimens. Mechanistically, the cooperativity between mutant KRAS and PIK3CA is mediated in part by Ras/p110α binding, as inactivating point mutations within the Ras-binding domain of PIK3CA significantly abates pathway signaling. In addition, Pdk1 activation of the downstream effector p90RSK is also increased by the combined presence of mutant KRAS and PIK3CA. These results provide new insights into mutant KRAS function and its role in carcinogenesis.

Hyperentanglement-enabled direct characterization of quantum dynamics

We use hyperentangled photons to experimentally implement an entanglement-assisted quantum process tomography technique known as direct characterization of quantum dynamics. Specifically, hyperentanglement-assisted Bell-state analysis enabled us to characterize a variety of single-qubit quantum processes using far fewer experimental configurations than are required by standard quantum process tomography. Furthermore, we demonstrate how known errors in Bell-state measurement may be compensated for in the data analysis. Using these techniques, we have obtained single-qubit process fidelities over 98% but with one-third the number of experimental configurations required for standard quantum process tomography. Extensions of these techniques to multiqubit quantum processes are discussed.

Exciton diffusion length in complex quantum systems: the effects of disorder and environmental fluctuations on symmetry-enhanced supertransfer

Symmetric couplings among aggregates of n chromophores increase the transfer rate of excitons by a factor n(2), a quantum-mechanical phenomenon called 'supertransfer'. In this work, we demonstrate how supertransfer effects induced by geometrical symmetries can enhance the exciton diffusion length by a factor n along cylindrically symmetric structures, consisting of arrays of rings of chromophores, and along spiral arrays. We analyse both closed-system dynamics and open quantum dynamics, modelled by combining a random bosonic bath with static disorder. In the closed-system case, we use the symmetries of the system within a short-time approximation to obtain a closed analytical expression for the diffusion length that explicitly reveals the supertransfer contribution. When subject to disorder, we show that supertransfer can enhance excitonic diffusion lengths for small disorders and characterize the crossover from coherent to incoherent motion. Owing to the quasi-one-dimensional nature of the model, disorder ultimately localizes the excitons, diminishing but not destroying the effects of supertransfer. When dephasing effects are included, we study the scaling of diffusion with both time and number of chromophores and observe that the transition from a coherent, ballistic regime to an incoherent, random-walk regime occurs at the same point as the change from supertransfer to classical scaling.

Efficient estimation of energy transfer efficiency in light-harvesting complexes

The fundamental physical mechanisms of energy transfer in photosynthetic complexes is not yet fully understood. In particular, the degree of efficiency or sensitivity of these systems for energy transfer is not known given their realistic with surrounding photonic and phononic environments. One major problem in studying light-harvesting complexes has been the lack of an efficient method for simulation of their dynamics in biological environments. To this end, here we revisit the second order time-convolution (TC2) master equation and examine its reliability beyond extreme Markovian and perturbative limits. In particular, we present a derivation of TC2 without making the usual weak system-bath coupling assumption. Using this equation, we explore the long-time behavior of exciton dynamics of Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) portein complex. Moreover, we introduce a constructive error analysis to estimate the accuracy of TC2 equation in calculating energy transfer efficiency, exhibiting reliable performance for system-bath interactions with weak and intermediate memory and strength. Furthermore, we numerically show that energy transfer efficiency is optimal and robust for the FMO protein complex of green sulfur bacteria with respect to variations in reorganization energy and bath correlation time scales.

Abstract 985: Dissecting PI3K-AKT pathway by phosphoproteomic profiling of PIK3CA knock-in mutants

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase subunit PIK3CA is frequently mutated in human cancers. PIK3CA mutations are observed in about 30% of breast cancers. Three recurrent oncogenic “hotspot” mutations comprise the majority of somatic PIK3CA mutations. Two of these mutations, E542K and E545K, occur in the helical domain found in exon 9, and the third mutation, H1047R, affects the kinase domain located within exon 20. Although many studies have implicated PIK3CA mutations with features of transformation, definitive mechanisms describing how these mutations promote cell growth and proliferation have not been fully elucidated. Two MCF10A (a normal mammary gland epithelial cell line) knock-in cell lines with E545K or H1047R hotspot mutations were used for our phosphoproteome study. We employed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative mass spectrometry to study phosphoproteomic alterations caused by PIK3CA onogenic mutations. In order to identify signaling proteins directly involved in PI3K-AKT pathway, a novel PIK3CA specific inhibitor (J124) was used to suppress PIK3CA activity. Phosphopeptides were enriched by TiO2-based strategy after strong cation exchange (SCX) fractionation and analyzed on a high resolution Fourier transform LTQ-Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometer. We identified 5,491 unique phosphopeptides from 1,546 unique proteins - of these, 2,239 peptides were hyperphosphorylated in MCF10A cell with PIK3CA mutants. Notably, the PIK3CA inhibitor, J124, could specifically suppress the phosphorylation levels of 1,187 hyperphosphorylated peptides. These are likely to be effectors of PI3Kalthough only 34 of them were previously known AKT1 substrates. By integrating data from protein microarray-based phosphorylation experiments with AKT1, we found 16 novel hyperphosphorylated proteins that were phosphorylated in vitro by AKT1. In addition to identifying novel AKT substrates, we also identified multiple receptor tyrosine kinases including EGFR, FGFR and EPHA2 to be hyperphosphorylated in PIK3CA mutant knockin cells. This novel discovery of the reverse crosstalk initiated from PI3K-AKT to RTKs could explain oncogenic consequences of cells with PIK3CA mutants such as growth factor-independent growth and invasive ability. In summary, our comprehensive phosphoproteomic study reveals that oncogenic activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway can activate a broad spectrum of signaling molecules. By integrating data from large-scale protein microarray studies, we were able to identify novel AKT substrates. The knowledge gained from these studiescan greatly enhance our understanding of the PI3K-AKT pathway and provide potential therapeutic targets for attenuating oncogenic effects of PIK3CA mutations.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 985. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-985

The growth response to androgen receptor signaling in ERα-negative human breast cells is dependent on p21 and mediated by MAPK activation

Introduction

Although a high frequency of androgen receptor (AR) expression in human breast cancers has been described, exploiting this knowledge for therapy has been challenging. This is in part because androgens can either inhibit or stimulate cell proliferation in pre-clinical models of breast cancer. In addition, many breast cancers co-express other steroid hormone receptors that can affect AR signaling, further obfuscating the effects of androgens on breast cancer cells.

Methods

To create better-defined models of AR signaling in human breast epithelial cells, we took estrogen receptor (ER)-α-negative and progesterone receptor (PR)-negative human breast epithelial cell lines, both cancerous and non-cancerous, and engineered them to express AR, thus allowing the unambiguous study of AR signaling. We cloned a full-length cDNA of human AR, and expressed this transgene in MCF-10A non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast-cancer cells. We characterized the responses to AR ligand binding using various assays, and used isogenic MCF-10A p21 knock-out cell lines expressing AR to demonstrate the requirement for p21 in mediating the proliferative responses to AR signaling in human breast epithelial cells.

Results

We found that hyperactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway from both AR and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling resulted in a growth-inhibitory response, whereas MAPK signaling from either AR or EGFR activation resulted in cellular proliferation. Additionally, p21 gene knock-out studies confirmed that AR signaling/activation of the MAPK pathway is dependent on p21.

Conclusions

These studies present a new model for the analysis of AR signaling in human breast epithelial cells lacking ERα/PR expression, providing an experimental system without the potential confounding effects of ERα/PR crosstalk. Using this system, we provide a mechanistic explanation for previous observations ascribing a dual role for AR signaling in human breast cancer cells. As previous reports have shown that approximately 40% of breast cancers can lack p21 expression, our data also identify potential new caveats for exploiting AR as a target for breast cancer therapy.

Investigation of genetic causes of intellectual disability in kerman province, South East of iran

BACKGROUND

Intellectual disability (ID) has a worldwide prevalence of 1-3% and results from extraordinary heterogeneous. To shed more light on the causes of ID in Kerman Province, in Southeast Iran, we set out in 2008 to perform systematic clinical studies and homozygosity mapping in large Iranian families with ID.

METHODS

Fifty seven families with a minimum of two mentally retarded children from Kerman Province were initially tested for metabolic disorders, by Tandem mass spectrometry. Fragile X testing and standard karyotyping were performed for all probands of families. Cases with autosomal recessive (AR) pattern of inheritance and microcephaly were subjected to homozygosity mapping by using several microsatellite markers for known MCPH loci.

RESULTS

Three out of seven families with X-linked pattern of inheritance were positive for fragile X syndrome. Chromosome abnormality was not observed in any of dysmorphic patients and all families were negative for metabolic tests. Among the remaining 50 families of AR ID, six were found to be microcephalic, of which 2 linked to two MCPH loci (33.3%). The rest 4 families were not linked to any of the known loci.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that ID with microcephaly comprised 12% of ID cases in Kerman Province. In two families with apparent linkage to the MCPH5 and MCPH6 locus, mutation screening was not successful, which might indicate that either the mutation is located in the regulatory sequences of the gene or that there might be another genes present in these regions, which is mutated in such cases.

Pilot-scale UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation process for surface water treatment and downstream biological treatment: effects on natural organic matter characteristics and DBP formation potential

The effects of the advanced oxidation process (AOP) of ultraviolet radiation in combination with hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) on the structure and biodegradability of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) and on the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) through the post-UV/H2O2 chlorination were investigated using UV reactors equipped with either low-pressure amalgam lamps or medium-pressure mercury vapour lamps. With electrical energy doses and H2O2 concentrations typically applied in full-scale UV systems for water remediation, the UV/H2O2 AOP partially oxidized NOM, reducing its degree of aromaticity and leading to an increase in the level of biodegradable species. Also, when combined with a downstream biological activated carbon (BAC) filter, UV/H2O2 AOP reduced the formation of DBPs by up to 60% for trihalomethanes and 75% for haloacetic acids. Biological activated carbon was also shown to effectively remove biodegradable by-products and residual H2O2.

Psychomotor delay, a possible rare presentation of moyamoya disease

Moyamoya disease is a rare, chronic cerebrovascular occlusive disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by progressive stenosis of the arteries of the circle of Willis leading to ischemic strokes in young people and cerebral hemorrhage, which is more frequent in adults. Secondarily, an abnormal network of fine collateral vessels arises at the base of the brain. The term moyamoya refers to the angiographic appearance of the cerebral vasculature. We present such a disease in an 18-month-old Iranian girl with global developmental delay, which is a very rare presentation of moyamoya disease. She was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Efficient measurement of quantum dynamics via compressive sensing

The resources required to characterize the dynamics of engineered quantum systems--such as quantum computers and quantum sensors--grow exponentially with system size. Here we adapt techniques from compressive sensing to exponentially reduce the experimental configurations required for quantum process tomography. Our method is applicable to processes that are nearly sparse in a certain basis and can be implemented using only single-body preparations and measurements. We perform efficient, high-fidelity estimation of process matrices of a photonic two-qubit logic gate. The database is obtained under various decoherence strengths. Our technique is both accurate and noise robust, thus removing a key roadblock to the development and scaling of quantum technologies.