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Biomedical subjects

C Lim

Publications and source records attributed to C Lim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The ribavirin analog ICN 17261 demonstrates reduced toxicity and antiviral effects with retention of both immunomodulatory activity and reduction of hepatitis-induced serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

The demonstrated utility of the nucleoside analog ribavirin in the treatment of certain viral diseases can be ascribed to its multiple distinct properties. These properties may vary in relative importance in differing viral disease conditions and include the direct inhibition of viral replication, the promotion of T-cell-mediated immune responses via an enhanced type 1 cytokine response, and a reduction of circulating alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels associated with hepatic injury. Ribavirin also has certain known toxicities, including the induction of anemia upon chronic administration. To determine if all these properties are linked, we compared the D-nucleoside ribavirin to its L-enantiomer (ICN 17261) with regard to these properties. Strong similarities were seen for these two compounds with respect to induction of type 1 cytokine bias in vitro, enhancement of type 1 cytokine responses in vivo, and the reduction of serum ALT levels in a murine hepatitis model. In contrast, ICN 17261 had no in vitro antiviral activity against a panel of RNA and DNA viruses, while ribavirin exhibited its characteristic activity profile. Importantly, the preliminary in vivo toxicology profile of ICN 17261 is significantly more favorable than that of ribavirin. Administration of 180 mg of ICN 17261 per kg of body weight to rats by oral gavage for 4 weeks generated substantial serum levels of drug but no observable clinical pathology, whereas equivalent doses of ribavirin induced a significant anemia and leukopenia. Thus, structural modification of ribavirin can dissociate its immunomodulatory properties from its antiviral and toxicologic properties, resulting in a compound (ICN 17261) with interesting therapeutic potential.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Ten years of presymptomatic testing for Huntington's disease: the experience of the UK Huntington's Disease Prediction Consortium.

Data on all presymptomatic genetic tests for Huntington's disease (HD) in the UK have been collected over the 10 year period since testing became available as a service. A total of 2937 completed tests have been performed up to the end of 1997, 2502 based on specific mutation testing, feasible since late 1993.A total of 93.1% of these were at 50% prior risk, with a significant excess of females (58.3%); 41.4% of results were abnormal or high risk, including 29.4% in subjects aged 60 or over. The trend in test numbers has currently levelled out at around 500 per year. Almost all presymptomatic tests are carried out in National Health Service genetics centres, with a defined genetic counselling protocol and with availability now in all regions of the UK. The introduction and establishment of HD presymptomatic testing shows that this form of predictive medicine for Mendelian disorders can be successfully incorporated into National Health Service structures. The comprehensive collection of simple data allows trends in demand and outcomes to be monitored and has also been the foundation for more detailed specific studies. A comparable approach to data collection in other genetic disorders will be important as presymptomatic testing becomes more generally feasible.

Female↗

Formation of a Novel Cage Compound with a Pentacyclo

Abnormally long C-C single bonds are found in the polycyclic caged diol with a pentacyclo[6.3.0.1(4,11).0(2,6).0(5,10)]dodecane skeleton formed by photolysis (see scheme). This skeleton resembles the structure of diamantane, but instead of having six cyclohexane rings in a chair conformation it contains only two cyclohexane rings in a distorted chair conformation and four cyclopentane rings, which makes it more highly strained than diamantane.

Journal Article↗

Comparative analysis of alpha-stat and pH-stat strategies with a membrane oxygenator during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in young pigs.

Using young pigs, this study compared the strategies of alpha-stat and pH-stat during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) for the cooling time of brains during the induction of hypothermia and rewarming time with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); the cerebral perfusion rate and metabolism rate, and the ratio of these 2 rates; and the extent of the cerebral edema development after circulatory arrest. Fourteen young pigs were assigned to 1 of 2 strategies of gas management. Cerebral blood flow was measured with a cerebral venous outflow technique. With CPB, core cooling was initiated and continued until the nasopharyngeal temperature fell below 20 degrees C. The flow rate was set at 2,500 ml/min. Once the temperature reached below 20 degrees C, the animals were subjected to DHCA for 40 min. During the cooling period, the acid-base balance was maintained using either alpha-stat or pH-stat strategy. After DHCA, the body was rewarmed to the normal body temperature. The animals then were sacrificed, and we measured the brain water content. The cerebral perfusion and metabolism rates were measured before the onset of CPB, before cooling, before DHCA, 15 min after rewarming, and upon the completion of rewarming. The cooling time was significantly shorter with alpha-stat than with pH-stat strategy while no significant differences were observed in the rewarming time between groups. Also, no significant differences were found in cerebral blood flow volume, metabolic rate, or flow/metabolic rate ratio between groups. In each group, the cerebral blood flow volume, metabolic rate, and flow/metabolic rate ratio showed significant differences in body temperature. Brain water content showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. In summary, this study found no significant differences between alpha-stat and pH-stat strategies, except in the cooling time. The cooling time was rather shorter with the alpha-stat than with the pH-stat strategy.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Inhibition of CD28 expression by oligonucleotide decoys to the regulatory element in exon 1 of the CD28 gene.

Ligation of CD28 provides a costimulatory signal essential for Ag-mediated T cell activation via the TCR. Previously we demonstrated that inhibition of human and murine CD28 expression by a guanosine (G)-rich oligonucleotide (ODN), GR1, led to immunosuppression in vitro and in vivo. The bioactivity of GR1 was dependent on a G-rich DNA sequence motif consisting of two G tetrads separated by four nucleotides, (G4N4G4). We have shown recently that a G-rich region, designated CD28GR, in exon 1 of the CD28 gene is such a motif and is a positive regulatory element that binds the transcription factors Sp1 and EGR-1. Here we showed that the bioactivity of GR1 and the related GR2 correlated with the sequence-specific formation of distinct nuclear protein complexes and a high degree of ODN secondary structure. In addition, these ODN blocked transcription factor binding to CD28GR (also in a sequence-specific manner) and prevented CD28GR from driving transcription of a reporter gene. Interestingly, GR1 potently inhibited CD28, but not the expression of other Sp1- and EGR-1-regulated genes, an effect associated with lower Sp1 protein binding affinity of GR1 and GR2 compared with that of canonical Sp1 sites. These data show that DNA sequences that contain the G-rich sequence motif, G4N4G4, such as GR1 and GR2, can functionally mimic the regulatory protein binding ability of CD28GR. Thus, GR1 and GR2 act as molecular decoys to selectively interfere with transcriptional regulation of the CD28 gene.

Antigens, CD↗

Contact hypersensitivity responses following ribavirin treatment in vivo are influenced by type 1 cytokine polarization, regulation of IL-10 expression, and costimulatory signaling.

We previously described the promotion of type 1 cytokine responses by the nucleoside analogue, ribavirin, in human T cells in vitro. In this study, we examined whether type 1 cytokine polarization by ribavirin in vivo could promote contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses to dinitrofluorobenzene, a type 1 cytokine-mediated immune response. Unexpectedly, although type 1 cytokine responses were enhanced following ribavirin treatment in vitro and in vivo, the magnitude of CHS responses in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice was influenced more by a second ribavirin-regulated pathway. The key regulatory molecule in this pathway was IL-10. Ribavirin-mediated suppression of IL-10 in BALB/c mice was associated with increased B7-2 expression and enhanced CHS responses, whereas enhanced IL-10 levels, following ribavirin administration, led to increased B7-1 expression and impaired CHS responses in C57BL/6 mice. The effect of ribavirin on the expression of B7 molecules and on CHS responses was neutralized by IL-10 administration in BALB/c and by anti-IL-10 Ab in C57BL/6. Thus, ribavirin controlled CHS responses directly through the modulation of IL-10 expression, and in vivo outcome was dictated by the preferential expression of either B7-1, an inappropriate costimulatory molecule in CHS, or B7-2, the predominant costimulatory molecule in CHS. Replacing dinitrofluorobenzene priming with IFN-alpha stimulation, we showed that the ribavirin-regulated pathway could function independent of Ag priming. Altogether, these data showed that, although ribavirin treatment induced a type 1 cytokine bias in contact allergen-primed BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, in vivo CHS responses were dependent on ribavirin-mediated regulation of both IL-10 and preferential costimulatory signaling.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Exploring the dynamic information content of a protein NMR structure: comparison of a molecular dynamics simulation with the NMR and X-ray structures of Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI.

The multiconformer nature of solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures of proteins results from the effects of intramolecular dynamics, spin diffusion and an uneven distribution of structural restraints throughout the molecule. A delineation of the former from the latter two contributions is attempted in this work for an ensemble of 15 NMR structures of the protein Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI (RNase HI). Exploration of the dynamic information content of the NMR ensemble is carried out through correlation with data from two crystal structures and a 1.7-ns molecular dynamics (MD) trajectory of RNase HI in explicit solvent. Assessment of the consistency of the crystal and mean MD structures with nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) data showed that the NMR ensemble is overall more compatible with the high-resolution (1.48 A) crystal structure than with either the lower-resolution (2.05 A) crystal structure or the MD simulation. Furthermore, the NMR ensemble is found to span more conformational space than the MD simulation for both the backbone and the sidechains of RNase HI. Nonetheless, the backbone conformational variability of both the NMR ensemble and the simulation is especially consistent with NMR relaxation measurements of two loop regions that are putative sites of substrate recognition. Plausible side-chain dynamic information is extracted from the NMR ensemble on the basis of (i) rotamericity and syn-pentane character of variable torsion angles, (ii) comparison of the magnitude of atomic mean-square fluctuations (msf) with those deduced from crystallographic thermal factors, and (iii) comparison of torsion angle conformational behavior in the NMR ensemble and the simulation. Several heterogeneous torsion angles, while adopting non-rotameric/syn-pentane conformations in the NMR ensemble, exist in a unique conformation in the simulation and display low X-ray thermal factors. These torsions are identified as sites whose variability is likely to be an artifact of the NMR structure determination procedure. A number of other torsions show a close correspondence between the conformations sampled in the NMR and MD ensembles, as well as significant correlations among crystallographic thermal factors and atomic msf calculated from the NMR ensemble and the simulation. These results indicate that a significant amount of dynamic information is contained in the NMR ensemble. The relevance of the present findings for the biological function of RNase HI, protein recognition studies, and previous investigations of the motional content of protein NMR structures are discussed.

Cluster Analysis↗

Ribavirin polarizes human T cell responses towards a Type 1 cytokine profile.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The therapeutic benefit of ribavirin, a nucleoside analog, in the treatment of chronic HCV infection is seen even in the absence of any apparent direct antiviral effect. We surmised that ribavirin may act by eliciting altered virus-specific immune responses. Because antiviral immunity is predominantly mediated by cytotoxic T cells and antiviral cytokines, we sought to determine whether ribavirin could promote antiviral (Type 1) cytokine expression in human T cells. METHODS: Isolated human T cells were activated in vitro with enterotoxin B or with phorbol ester plus ionomycin. Cytokine ELISAs were performed on culture supernatants, cytokine mRNA was detected following RT-polymerase chain reaction of T cell RNA, and T cell proliferation measured using MTT assay. RESULTS: Ribavirin enhanced a Type 1 (IL-2, IFNgamma, TNFalpha) while suppressing a Type 2 cytokine response (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10), at the level of both protein and mRNA expression. Ribavirin mediated comparable effects on cytokine expression both following activation of specific T cell subpopulations with superantigen and following activation of a larger percentage of T cells via pharmacologic means. The in vitro effect on cytokine expression following ribavirin treatment was comparable in both CD4+ or CD8+ T cell subsets and was observed in a dose range that promoted T cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the view that ribavirin promotes a Type 1 cytokine-mediated immune response, a property which may account in part for its ability to enhance the antiviral activity of interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

Antiviral Agents↗

Increased potency of an aptameric G-rich oligonucleotide is associated with novel functional properties of phosphorothioate linkages.

We previously showed that inhibition of the expression of CD28 (an essential immune receptor on T cells) mediated by a phosphorothioate (PS)-modified aptameric oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) sequence, GR1, resulted in reduced T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. Using GR1 sequences differing only in the amount of terminal PS linkages (chimeric SO-ODN), the present study demonstrated that even after a substantial reduction in PS linkages, this 18-mer ODN sequence could still confer functionality in the ODN-mediated inhibition of CD28 expression. We showed that secondary structure and full retention of the ability to form a specific protein-ODN complex and to increase cellular uptake in activated Jurkat T cells were critical parameters in the determination of the magnitude of bioactivity of chimeric SO-ODN. We report that a chimeric SO-ODN with terminal PS linkages that total 9 (ICN 17221) or 12 (ICN 17263) was sufficient to inhibit CD28 expression and suppress in vivo inflammatory ear responses to contact allergen in mice with similar potency to the 17-thioate S-ODN (ICN 16064). Interestingly, all chimeric SO-ODN showed similar in vitro nuclease resistance. These data suggest alternate functional properties for PS linkages, unrelated to nuclease resistance, in enhancing the bioactivity of a G-rich aptamer.

Animals↗

Effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on the benign gastric ulcer recurrence--a 24 month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) on the recurrence of benign gastric ulcer (BGU) in the patients with BGU. METHODS: This study was performed for 40 H. pylori-positive BGU patients cured of BGU and H. pylori eradicated, and for 25 H. pylori-positive patients (non-eradicated group) who were not treated with H. pylori eradication regimen or H. pylori was not eradicated. Four different methods--CLOtest, microscopy of Gram stained mucosal smear, culture and histology of modified Giemsa staining--were taken for identifying colonization of H. pylori before treatment, and 4 weeks after completion of triple therapy. For the control group in which triple therapy was not tried, follow-up gastroscopy was done to confirm the healing of the ulcer. To detect BGU recurrence, the gastroscopy was performed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after therapy. RESULTS: In the non-eradicated group, the BGU recurrence rate was 16% within 6 months, 40% within 1 year, 56% within 18 months and 60% within 2 years. The respective recurrence rates in the 40 patients in whom the bacteria had been eradicated were 0%, 7.5%, 10% and 10% (4 patients), respectively. Among the four BGU-recurred patients in whom H. pylori had been eradicated, one patient was found to have BGU recurring with H. pylori positive again in one year, and another two patients had NSAIDs ingestion history. CONCLUSION: The eradication of H. pylori in patients with BGU reduces the recurrence of BGU. In addition, the major causes of BGU recurrence look like NSAIDs ingestion and reinfection of H. pylori.

Adult↗

Undescended testes: incidence in 1,002 consecutive male infants and outcome at 1 year of age.

In a study of 1,002 consecutive Malaysian male newborns, 48 (4.8%) were found to have undescended testes (UDT). The rate and laterality of the UDT were associated with lower birth weight (P < 0.001) and prematurity (P < 0.001). Boys with UDT were also more likely to have other congenital abnormalities of the external genitalia, the commonest being hydrocele. No correlation between UDT and maternal age, birth order, social class, or mode of delivery was demonstrated in this study. Although 26/34 (76.5%) of UDT achieved full spontaneous descent by 1 year of age, 1.1% of all infants whose testes remained undescended required regular long-term follow-up with surgical referral and correction at an appropriate time. A premature infant with UDT is more likely to achieve full testicular descent at 1 year of age than a term infant.

Birth Rate↗

Prediction of an anti-IgE binding site on IgE.

A combination of computation techniques have been used to determine the binding site and amino acid residues on IgE that are critical for binding to a therapeutic anti-IgE. Homology modeling was used to model parts of IgE and of an antibody that binds to IgE. Docking simulations using shape descriptions were then carried out using the models to determine which residues in the IgE are involved in the binding interaction. The anti-IgE has been determined to bind close to some of the residues that are believed to be in the Fc(epsilon)RI receptor site on IgE, therefore preventing IgE from binding to Fc(epsilon)RI on mast cells and basophils and causing the release of pharmacologic mediators from these cells. Experiments have been suggested to verify the binding site and the residues involved in binding to anti-IgE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Connections of the hippocampal formation in humans: I. The mossy fiber pathway.

The hippocampal formation has been one of the most extensively studied cortical regions in rats, yet little is known about the anatomical connections of the hippocampus in primates, especially humans. With the use of an antibody against the calcium-binding protein, calbindin-D28K, in normal autopsy tissue and the neuronal tracers biocytin or biotinylated dextrans in in vitro slice preparations from tissue removed during surgery for intractable epilepsy, we examined the human hippocampal mossy fiber pathway. The injections of biocytin into the dentate granule cell layer labeled neurons in a Golgi-like manner, revealing the presence of basal dendrites on about 30% of the granule cells. The granule cell axons, the mossy fibers, initially formed a diffuse plexus of fibers in the polymorphic layer before organizing into fiber fascicles in the hilar pyramidal region. These fiber fascicles were much more prominent rostrally than caudally. Within the hilus and proximal portions of the extrahilar CA3 field, the mossy fibers ran through the pyramidal cell layer, and while near the transition to field CA2, the fibers turned superficially and crossed the pyramidal layer to run in the stratum lucidum. All of these features, seen following injections of tracer into hippocampal slices from the brains of epileptics, were confirmed by calbindin-staining of mossy fibers in normal brains. Biocytin-labeled mossy fiber axons revealed two characteristic types of enlargements: small varicosities and larger expansions. The expansions were found throughout the neuropil and were highly irregular, diaminobenzidine-dense profiles that had pleiomorphic modes of attachment to the parent axon. Electron microscopic images of these biocytin labeled expansions revealed that they were large synaptic boutons bearing asymmetric synapses. This study indicates that the human mossy fiber pathway shows some minor deviations from the rodent brain but little difference from monkeys. We argue that these changes mirror a phylogenetic growth of the CA3 pyramidal neurons (subfield CA3c) into the hilus rather than an evolutionary change of the mossy fiber pathway. This growth of subfield CA3c and the increase in mossy fibers running through the pyramidal layer (and a presumed accompanying increase in proximal basal dendritic contacts) may reflect a growing role of the projection from the dentate granule cells to subfield CA3c and from there to field CA1 in the primate hippocampus.

Adult↗

Connections of the hippocampal formation in humans: II. The endfolial fiber pathway.

We investigated the anatomical connections of the pyramidal neurons located within the hilar region of the dentate gyrus of the human hippocampus, neurons which do not have a rodent equivalent. The myeloarchitectural patterns of the human hippocampus indicated the presence of a distinct fiber pathway, the endfolial fiber pathway, in the stratum oriens of the hilus and field CA3. By using the fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI in formalin-fixed human hippocampal tissue, we demonstrated that this is a continuous fiber pathway between the deep hilar region and CA2. This fiber pathway did not enter the fimbria or alveus along the entire distance of the traced pathway and ran exclusively in the stratum oriens of the hilus and CA3. Tracing studies with biocytin in in vitro human hippocampal slices indicated that the hilar and CA3 pyramidal neurons contributed to this pathway. Out distally in field CA3, the long transverse fibers became short and choppy, suggesting that they were beginning to move out of the plane of the tissue slice. Numerous fibers from this pathway were seen crossing the pyramidal layer. Based on comparative studies, we propose that the endfolial fiber system is a component of the hilar Schaffer collateral system in humans. The presence of a significant Schaffer collateral system from the pyramidal neurons in the hilar region would indicate that these neurons are anatomically related to the CA3 pyramidal neurons. Therefore, we suggest the inclusion of the human hilar pyramidal neurons within Lorente de No's field CA3 and, in particular, within subfield CA3c.

Adult↗

Oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of CD28 expression induces human T cell hyporesponsiveness and manifests impaired contact hypersensitivity in mice.

Ligation of CD28 provides a costimulatory signal essential for Ag-mediated T cell activation via the TCR. Blocking CD28 ligation can inhibit cytokine expression and elicits a state of T cell hyporesponsiveness. In this study, we examined the effect of inhibiting CD28 expression on in vitro and in vivo T cell responses. To address this, we have synthesized a series of G-rich phosphorothioate oligonucleotides that inhibited activation-induced transcription and cell surface expression of CD28 on human T cells. CD28 blockade was selective, as expression of other activation-induced receptors was unaffected by oligonucleotide treatment. Using strategic changes to base composition, we identified a minimal 12-mer sequence, containing two sets of four contiguous guanosines separated by 3 to 5 bases, which conferred activity in vitro. Furthermore, inhibition of CD28 expression mediated by one representative active oligonucleotide, GR1, resulted in a concomitant dose-dependent diminution of anti-CD3/PMA-induced cytokine (IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-8) production. Inhibition of IL-2 synthesis was dependent on CD28 expression, as GR1 failed to abrogate activated IL-2 production in a CD28-deficient T cell line, HUT 78. The inhibitory activity of GR1 reduced T cell proliferative responses in MLR and induced Ag-specific T cell hyporesponsiveness to alloantigens. Finally, s.c. administration of GR1 impaired in vivo contact hypersensitivity responses in mice and was associated with substantially decreased CD28 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in lymph node cells. Collectively, our studies show the tolerogenic potential of oligonucleotide-mediated CD28 inhibition on T cell activation, in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗

Grit blasting and the marginal accuracy of two ceramic veneer systems--a pilot study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Margins of ceramic restorations can be damaged during removal of investment materials with grit blasting and result in relatively large marginal discrepancies and excessive marginal discrepancies with greater exposure of cement to the oral environment. Subsequent dissolution of cement can encourage plaque retention, dental caries, and periodontal problems. PURPOSE: This study compared marginal adaptation of ceramic veneers created by the refractory die technique (R), Dicor glass ceramic technique (D), and effects of grit blasting on their margins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two groups of ceramic veneers were constructed for each system, one without grit blasting (R g and D g) and one with grit blasting (R+g and D+g). RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed that grit blasting had a greater effect in reducing marginal accuracy for Dicor ceramic veneers compared with refractory die ceramic veneers.

Air↗

Accuracy and precision of NMR relaxation experiments and MD simulations for characterizing protein dynamics.

Model-free parameters obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations commonly are used to describe the intramolecular dynamical properties of proteins. To assess the relative accuracy and precision of experimental and simulated model-free parameters, three independent data sets derived from backbone 15N NMR relaxation experiments and two independent data sets derived from MD simulations of Escherichia-coli ribonuclease HI are compared. The widths of the distributions of the differences between the order parameters for pairs of NMR data sets are congruent with the uncertainties derived from statistical analyses of individual data sets; thus, current protocols for analyzing NMR data encapsulate random uncertainties appropriately. Large differences in order parameters for certain residues are attributed to systematic differences between samples for intralaboratory comparisons and unknown, possibly magnetic field-dependent, experimental effects for interlaboratory comparisons. The widths of distributions of the differences between the order parameters for two NMR sets are similar to widths of distributions for an NMR and an MD set or for two MD sets. The linear correlations between the order parameters for an MD set and an NMR set are within the range of correlations observed between pairs of NMR sets. These comparisons suggest that the NMR and MD generalized order parameters for the backbone amide N-H bond vectors are of comparable accuracy for residues exhibiting motions on a fast time scale (< 100 ps). Large discrepancies between NMR and MD order parameters for certain residues are attributed to the occurrence of "rare" motional events over the simulation trajectories, the disruption of an element of secondary structure in one of the simulations, and lack of consensus among the experimental data sets. Consequently, (easily detectable) severe distortions of local protein structure and infrequent motional events in MD simulations appear to be the most serious artifacts affecting the accuracy and precision, respectively, of MD order parameters relative to NMR values. In addition, MD order parameters for motions on a fast (< 100 ps) timescale are more precisely determined than their NMR counterparts, thereby permitting more detailed dynamic characterization of biologically important residues by MD simulation than is sometimes possible by experimental methods. Proteins 28:481-493, 1997.

Computer Simulation↗