The mesenchymal-to-epithelial reverting transition is enriched in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer and correlates with poor survival

Despite recent recognition that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program acts in a dynamic manner (termed Epithelial to Mesenchymal Plasticity or EMP) during carcinoma metastasis, it has largely been ignored in the discovery and development of EMT-targeted therapies. In part, this has stemmed from a lack of preclinical models that can mimic the full dynamic nature of EMP and the perception that the EMT-reverting transition [or mesenchymal-epithelial reverting transition; (MErT)] is a mere antithesis of EMT. The objective of this study was to develop the first PCa model capable of recapitulating the dynamic nature of EMP.

Composite scheme using localized relaxation with non-standard finite difference method for hyperbolic conservation laws

Non-standard finite difference methods (NSFDM) introduced by Mickens [Non-standard Finite Difference Models of Differential Equations, World Scientific, Singapore, 1994] are interesting alternatives to the traditional finite difference and finite volume methods. When applied to linear hyperbolic conservation laws, these methods reproduce exact solutions. In this paper, the NSFDM is first extended to hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, by a novel utilization of the decoupled equations using characteristic variables. In the second part of this paper, the NSFDM is studied for its efficacy in application to nonlinear scalar hyperbolic conservation laws. The original NSFDMs introduced by Mickens (1994) were not in conservation form, which is an important feature in capturing discontinuities at the right locations. Mickens [Construction and analysis of a non-standard finite difference scheme for the Burgers–Fisher equations, Journal of Sound and Vibration 257 (4) (2002) 791–797] recently introduced a NSFDM in conservative form. This method captures the shock waves exactly, without any numerical dissipation. In this paper, this algorithm is tested for the case of expansion waves with sonic points and is found to generate unphysical expansion shocks. As a remedy to this defect, we use the strategy of composite schemes [R. Liska, B. Wendroff, Composite schemes for conservation laws, SIAM Journal of Numerical Analysis 35 (6) (1998) 2250–2271] in which the accurate NSFDM is used as the basic scheme and localized relaxation NSFDM is used as the supporting scheme which acts like a filter. Relaxation schemes introduced by Jin and Xin [The relaxation schemes for systems of conservation laws in arbitrary space dimensions, Communications in Pure and Applied Mathematics 48 (1995) 235–276] are based on relaxation systems which replace the nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws by a semi-linear system with a stiff relaxation term. The relaxation parameter (λ) is chosen locally on the three point stencil of grid which makes the proposed method more efficient. This composite scheme overcomes the problem of unphysical expansion shocks and captures the shock waves with an accuracy better than the upwind relaxation scheme, as demonstrated by the test cases, together with comparisons with popular numerical methods like Roe scheme and ENO schemes.

The Pandolf load carriage equation is a poor predictor of metabolic rate while wearing explosive ordnance disposal protective clothing

This investigation aimed to quantify metabolic rate when wearing an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) ensemble (~33kg) during standing and locomotion; and determine whether the Pandolf load carriage equation accurately predicts metabolic rate when wearing an EOD ensemble during standing and locomotion. Ten males completed 8 trials with metabolic rate measured through indirect calorimetry. Walking in EOD at 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5km·h−1 was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than matched trials without the EOD ensemble by 49% (127W), 65% (213W) and 78% (345W), respectively. Mean bias (95% limits of agreement) between predicted and measured metabolism during standing, 2.5, 4 and 5.5km·h−1 were 47W (19 to 75W); −111W (−172 to −49W); −122W (−189 to −54W) and −158W (−245 to −72W), respectively. The Pandolf equation significantly underestimated measured metabolic rate during locomotion. These findings have practical implications for EOD technicians during training and operation and should be considered when developing maximum workload duration models and work-rest schedules.

Tumour islet Foxp3+ T-cell infiltration predicts poor outcome in nonsmall cell lung cancer

The impact of host immunity on outcome in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversial. We examined the relationship between lymphoid infiltration patterns in NSCLC and prognosis. Tumour- and stroma-infiltrating CD3+, CD8+ and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ T-lymphocytes were identified using immunohistochemistry and a novel image analysis algorithm to assess total, cytotoxic and regulatory T-lymphocyte counts, respectively, in 196 NSCLC cases. The median cell count was selected as a cut-point to define patient subgroups and the ratio of the corresponding tumour islet:stroma (TI/S) counts was determined. There was a positive association between overall survival and increased CD8+ TI/S ratio (hazard ratio (HR) for death 0.44, p<0.001) but an inverse relationship between Foxp3+ TI/S ratio and overall survival (HR 4.86, p<0.001). Patients with high CD8+ islet (HR 0.48, p<0.001) and Foxp3+ stromal (HR 0.23, p<0.001) counts had better survival, whereas high CD3+ and CD8+ stromal counts and high Foxp3+ islet infiltration conferred a worse survival (HR 1.55, 2.19 and 3.14, respectively). By multivariate analysis, a high CD8+ TI/S ratio conferred an improved survival (HR 0.48, p=0.002) but a high Foxp3+ TI/S ratio was associated with worse survival (HR 3.91, p<0.001). Microlocalisation of infiltrating T-lymphocytes is a powerful predictor of outcome in resected NSCLC.

Performance Analysis of Guidance Laws Based on Timescale Gap

An analytical treatment of performance analysis of guidance laws is possible only in simplistic scenarios. As the complexity of the guidance system increases, a search for analytical solutions becomes quite impractical. In this paper, a new performance measure, based upon the notion of a timescale gap that can be computed through numerical simulations, is developed for performance analysis of guidance laws. Finite time Lyapunov exponents are used to define the timescale gap. It is shown that the timescale gap can be used for quantification of the rate of convergence of trajectories to the collision course. Comparisonbetween several guidance laws, based on the timescale gap, is presented. Realistic simulations to study the effect of aerodynamicsand atmospheric variations on the timescale gap of these guidance laws are also presented.

The proposed gun laws are not enough

Argues that as a more effective precuationary measure, it would seem that the firearms revocation threshold should be substantially lowered, or at least further clarified in guidance. Response to public debate in light of school shootings.

COMMON-Sense net:Improved water management for resource-poor farmers via sensor networks

We describe the on-going design and implementation of a sensor network for agricultural management targeted at resource-poor farmers in India. Our focus on semi-arid regions led us to concentrate on water-related issues. Throughout 2004, we carried out a survey on the information needs of the population living in a cluster of villages in our study area. The results highlighted the potential that environment-related information has for the improvement of farming strategies in the face of highly variable conditions, in particular for risk management strategies (choice of crop varieties, sowing and harvest periods, prevention of pests and diseases, efficient use of irrigation water etc.). This leads us to advocate an original use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). We believe our demand-driven approach for the design of appropriate ICT tools that are targeted at the resource-poor to be relatively new. In order to go beyond a pure technocratic approach, we adopted an iterative, participatory methodology.

Behaviour of autonomous mobile agents using linear cyclic pursuit laws

In this paper, the behaviour of a group of autonomous mobile agents under cyclic pursuit is studied. Cyclic pursuit is a simple distributed control law, in which the agent i pursues agent i + 1 modulo n.. The equations of motion are linear, with no kinematic constraints on motion. Behaviourally, the agents are identical, but may have different controller gains. We generalize existing results in the literature and show that by selecting these gains, the behavior of the agents can be controlled. They can be made to converge at a point or be directed to move in a straight line. The invariance of the point of convergence with the sequence of pursuit is also shown.

A one point shock capturing kinetic scheme for hyperbolic conservation laws

We have presented a new low dissipative kinetic scheme based on a modified Courant Splitting of the molecular velocity through a parameter φ. Conditions for the split fluxes derived based on equilibrium determine φ for a one point shock. It turns out that φ is a function of the Left and Right states to the shock and that these states should satisfy the Rankine-Hugoniot Jump condition. Hence φ is utilized in regions where the gradients are sufficiently high, and is switched to unity in smooth regions. Numerical results confirm a discrete shock structure with a single interior point when the shock is aligned with the grid.

An Application of 3-D Kinematical Conservation Laws: Propagation of a 3-D Wavefront

Three-dimensional (3-D) kinematical conservation laws (KCL) are equations of evolution of a propagating surface Omega(t) in three space dimensions. We start with a brief review of the 3-D KCL system and mention some of its properties relevant to this paper. The 3-D KCL, a system of six conservation laws, is an underdetermined system to which we add an energy transport equation for a small amplitude 3-D nonlinear wavefront propagating in a polytropic gas in a uniform state and at rest. We call the enlarged system of 3-D KCL with the energy transport equation equations of weakly nonlinear ray theory (WNLRT). We highlight some interesting properties of the eigenstructure of the equations of WNLRT, but the main aim of this paper is to test the numerical efficacy of this system of seven conservation laws. We take several initial shapes for a nonlinear wavefront with a suitable amplitude distribution on it and let it evolve according to the 3-D WNLRT. The 3-D WNLRT is a weakly hyperbolic 7 x 7 system that is highly nonlinear. Here we use the staggered Lax-Friedrichs and Nessyahu-Tadmor central schemes and have obtained some very interesting shapes of the wavefronts. We find the 3-D KCL to be suitable for solving many complex problems for which there presently seems to be no other method capable of giving such physically realistic features.

Optimal infinite-horizon feedback laws for a general class of constrained discrete-time systems: stability and moving-horizon approximations

Stability results are given for a class of feedback systems arising from the regulation of time-varying discrete-time systems using optimal infinite-horizon and moving-horizon feedback laws. The class is characterized by joint constraints on the state and the control, a general nonlinear cost function and nonlinear equations of motion possessing two special properties. It is shown that weak conditions on the cost function and the constraints are sufficient to guarantee uniform asymptotic stability of both the optimal infinite-horizon and movinghorizon feedback systems. The infinite-horizon cost associated with the moving-horizon feedback law approaches the optimal infinite-horizon cost as the moving horizon is extended.

Eigenvalues of kinematical conservation laws (KCL) based 3-D weakly nonlinear ray theory (WNLRT)

System of kinematical conservation laws (KCL) govern evolution of a curve in a plane or a surface in space, even if the curve or the surface has singularities on it. In our recent publication K. R. Arun, P. Prasad, 3-D kinematical conservation laws (KCL): evolution of a surface in R-3-in particular propagation of a nonlinear wavefront, Wave Motion 46 (2009) 293-311] we have developed a mathematical theory to study the successive positions and geometry of a 3-D weakly nonlinear wavefront by adding an energy transport equation to KCL. The 7 x 7 system of equations of this KCL based 3-D weakly nonlinear ray theory (WNLRT) is quite complex and explicit expressions for its two nonzero eigenvalues could not be obtained before. In this short note, we use two different methods: (i) the equivalence of KCL and ray equations and (ii) the transformation of surface coordinates, to derive the same exact expressions for these eigenvalues. The explicit expressions for nonzero eigenvalues are important also for checking stability of any numerical scheme to solve 3-D WNLRT. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Control of Agent Swarms using Generalized Centroidal Cyclic Pursuit Laws

One of the major tasks in swarm intelligence is to design decentralized but homogenoeus strategies to enable controlling the behaviour of swarms of agents. It has been shown in the literature that the point of convergence and motion of a swarm of autonomous mobile agents can be controlled by using cyclic pursuit laws. In cyclic pursuit, there exists a predefined cyclic connection between agents and each agent pursues the next agent in the cycle. In this paper we generalize this idea to a case where an agent pursues a point which is the weighted average of the positions of the remaining agents. This point correspond to a particular pursuit sequence. Using this concept of centroidal cyclic pursuit, the behavior of the agents is analyzed such that, by suitably selecting the agents' gain, the rendezvous point of the agents can be controlled, directed linear motion of the agents can be achieved, and the trajectories of the agents can be changed by switching between the pursuit sequences keeping some of the behaviors of the agents invariant. Simulation experiments are given to support the analytical proofs.