cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orai1 Function is Essential for T Cell Homing to Lymph Nodes

In T lymphocytes, Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels composed of Orai1 subunits trigger antigen-induced gene expression and cell proliferation through the NFAT pathway. We evaluated the requirement of CRAC channel function for lymphocyte homing using expression of a dominant-negative Orai1-E106A mutant to suppress Ca2+ signaling. To investigate homing and motility of human lymphocytes in immunocompromised mouse hosts, we transferred human lymphocytes either acutely or following stable engraftment after a second transfer from the same blood donor. Human and mouse lymphocyte homing was assessed and cells were tracked within lymph nodes by two-photon microscopy. Our results demonstrate that human T and B lymphocytes home into and migrate within the lymph nodes of immunocompromised NOD.SCID mice similar to murine lymphocytes. Human T and B cells colocalized in atrophied or reconstituted mouse lymph nodes, where T cells migrated in a random walk at velocities of 9-13 μm/min and B cells at 6 μm/min. Expression of Orai1-E106A inhibited CRAC channel function in human and mouse T cells and prevented homing from high endothelial venules into murine lymph nodes. Ca2+ signals induced by CCL21 were also inhibited in T cells expressing Orai1-E106A. With CRAC channels inhibited, the high-affinity form of LFA-1 failed to become active, and T cells failed to migrate across endothelial cells in a transwell model. These results establish a requirement for CRAC channel-mediated Ca2+ influx for T cell homing to lymph nodes mediated by high-affinity integrin activation and chemokine-induced transendothelial migration.
First Case of Renesting after Brood Loss by a Greater Prairie-Chicken

Abstract Production of a second brood, or double brooding, by a single female in one breeding season has not been reported for any species of grouse in North America. We describe the breeding history of one of 55 radio-marked female Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) that successfully renested after losing a brood from a first nesting attempt during the 2011 breeding season in Kansas. Observations of double brooding by grouse might only be possible in areas like the Flint Hills of Kansas, where populations have a long breeding season in combination with a high rate of brood loss.
Relationships between Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Satellite-Based Indicators of Inner Core Convection: 85-GHz Ice-Scattering Signature and Lightning

Abstract A key component in the maintenance and intensification of tropical cyclones is the transverse circulation, which transports mass and momentum and provides latent heat release via inner core convective updrafts. This study examines these updrafts indirectly, using satellite-borne observations of the scattering of upwelling microwave radiation by precipitation-sized ice particles and satellite-borne observations of lightning. The observations are then compared to tropical cyclone intensity (defined here as maximum sustained wind speed) and the resulting relationships are assessed. Substantial updrafts produce large ice particles aloft, which in turn produce microwave ice-scattering signatures. The large ice, together with supercooled liquid water also generated by substantial updrafts, is a necessary ingredient in charge separation, which leads to lightning. Various parameters derived from the inner core ice-scattering signature are computed for regions encircling hurricanes and typhoons, and obser...
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria terminating in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

A 34 year old white female with documented PNH developed acute myeloblastic leukemia. The details of this patient’s clinical course are presented. Two similar cases are described in the same issue of this journal. The significance of these cases with respect to the potential role of marrow injury in the pathogenesis of PNH is discussed.
Dyskinetic cilia and Kartagener's syndrome. Bronchiectasis with a twist.

Kartagener’s published description of the syndrome of sinusitis, bronchiectasis, and situs inversus achieved eponymous recognition for him (1), although the clinical features had apparently been described previously by Siewert (2). A familial tendency was noted in some subsequent cases, and it was concluded that the condition was probably hereditary. In 1975, Camner et al. (2) reported immotile respiratory cilia and immotile spermatozoa in two patients with Kartagener’s syndrome. They suggested that the basis for the chronic sinusitis, bronchial infections, and bronchiectasis was impaired ciliary clearance of mucus due to the immotility of the respiratory cilia. Subsequent studies have shown that a variety of ciliary morphologic defects and abnormalities are detectable by electron microscopy and are accompanied by absence of motility in the cilia (4). The term “immotile cilia syndrome” was proposed for such cases (5). As many of these patients did not have situs inversus, it was concluded that Kartagener’s syndrome is a subgroup or variant of the immotile cilia syndrome. It is now recognized that the anatomically abnormal cilia are not always immobile, although the movement, when present, is dysfunctional, dyskinetic, and ineffective. The terms “dyskinetic cilia syndrome” (DCS) and primary ciliary dyskinesia are now applied to this syndrome. The latter term is pertinent because anatomic abnormalities in the respiratory cilia may also be secondary to pre-existing destruc-
Characterization of the electron- and photon-driven plasmonic excitations of metal nanorods.

A computational analysis of the electron- and photon-driven surface-plasmon resonances of monomer and dimer metal nanorods is presented to elucidate the differences and similarities between the two excitation mechanisms in a system with well-understood optical properties. By correlating the nanostructure’s simulated electron energy-loss spectrum and loss-probability maps with its induced polarization and scattered electric field we discern how certain plasmon modes are selectively excited and how they funnel energy from the excitation source into the near- and far-field. Using a fully retarded electron-scattering theory capable of describing arbitrary three-dimensional nanoparticle geometries, aggregation schemes, and material compositions, we find that electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is able to indirectly probe the same electromagnetic hot spots that are generated by an optical excitation source. Comparison with recent experiment is made to verify our findings.
Understanding the evolution of learning by explicitly modeling learning mechanisms

Models of the evolution of learning often assume that learning leads to the best solution to any task, and disregard the details of the learning and decision-making process along with its potential pitfalls. These models therefore do not explain in- stances in the animal behavior literature in which learning leads to maladaptive behaviors. In recent years a growing number of theoretical studies use explicit models of learning mechanisms, offering a fresh perspective on the issue by revealing the dynam- ics of information acquisition and biases arising from it. These models have pointed out possible learning rules and their adaptive value, and shown that the value of learning may crucially depend on such factors as the layout of the physical environment to be learned, the structure of the payoffs offered by different alternatives, the risk of failure, characteristics of the learner and social interactions. This review considers the merits of explicit modeling in studying the evolution of learning, describes the kinds of results that can only be obtained from this modeling approach, and outlines directions for future research (Current Zoology 61 (2): 341-349, 2015 ). Keywords Agent-based simulation, Learning bias, Learning rule, Decision rule, Cognition
Application of Infrared Image Fusion in Air Leakage Localization

An air leakage localization method based on infrared image fusion was investigated.Modeling and simulation of heat transfer coupled with steady air-leak flow were addressed by the finite element method.The temperature difference in leak throttling process was derived from the expression of Joule-Thomson coefficient.In the experiments,metallic and metalloid test objects were charged with cryogenic compressed air respectively,which enhanced the phenomenon,and their temperature fields were acquired by an infrared camera.Leak diagnostic criterion was set as different values referring to the thermal conductivities of various tested materials,and entropy fusion operation among the infrared images captured before and after inflation was conducted.Then,the leak positions were located by a certain strategy.The advantages of the method were demonstrated by experiment,especially in eliminating the interference of surface defects and the influence of shapes by employing the entropy fusion algorithm.
Some Observations Concerning the Study of Consumer Goods Shortages in the Polish Market

Relatively few definitive reports’ concerning the state of consumer welfare in the socialist nations have appeared in the western professional literature and popular press. However, the reports which are available generally suggest a pervasive shortage of consumer goods, varying according to product category and severity of shortage from nation to nation. It appears that many, if not most, reports of this type treat the shortage of consumer goods as a monolithic phenomenon. As a consequence, the western observer is presented with an unbalanced perspective which ill prepares him to understand the nature of the situation.
Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: The Forgotten Adolescent Father and His Parents

Abstract This article, based on research and extensive practice experience, calls attention to the adolescent father and his family who are too frequently forgotten in our work with pregnant adoles...
Does Group Psychotherapy Work

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews whether group psychotherapy works. It also discusses group therapy outcome in the 1960s. Several important characteristics illustrate the reviews of the 1960s. First, there is a great deal of diversity in the treatment orientations of the various studies, ranging from large group milieu and nondirective therapies to traditional analytic models of treatment. In addition to the traditional case studies and anecdotal reports that characterized most of the group literature in the first half of this century, there was an emergence of investigations that empirically compared group therapy with other experimental conditions, such as control groups (no-treatment conditions), group treatment alternatives, individual therapy, and combined treatment conditions. In addition, the chapter discusses group therapy combined with other treatments.
Application of range migration algorithms to imaging with a dynamic metasurface antenna

Dynamic metasurface antennas are planar structures that exhibit remarkable capabilities in controlling electromagnetic wavefronts, advantages that are particularly attractive for microwave imaging. These antennas exhibit strong frequency dispersion and produce rapidly varying radiation patterns. Such behavior presents unique challenges for integration with conventional imaging algorithms. We adapt the range migration algorithm (RMA) for use with dynamic metasurfaces and propose a preprocessing step that ultimately allows for expression of measurements in the spatial frequency domain, from which the fast Fourier transform can efficiently reconstruct the scene. Numerical studies illustrate imaging performance using conventional methods and the adapted RMA, demonstrating that the RMA can reconstruct images with comparable quality in a fraction of the time. The algorithm can be extended to a broad class of complex antennas for application in synthetic aperture radar and MIMO imaging.
Computer Techniques in Contrast Echocardiography

The ultimate goal of contrast echocardiography is to produce a quantifiable, volumetric analysis of myocardial perfusion in patients. Since 1968, when contrast echocardiographic observations were first reported by Gramiak and Shah [1], several innovative and promising techniques using contrast echocardiography have been developed to provide qualitative information on myocardial perfusion [2–4]. However, with recent advances made in interventional cardiology the need to quantitate myocardial blood flow has become critical. The acute and chronic management of patients with ischemic heart disease often depends upon accurate, serial and, quantitative measurements of tissue viability.
Detection of Sterol Epoxides in Foods by Colorimetric Reaction with Picric Acid

Picric acid (2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol) was reacted with sterol epoxides to form a chromophore with absorption maxima at 350 and 410 nm, which follow Beer's law. Linearity was obtained up to 0.2 mg/ml with a sensitivity of 2 μg of cholesterol α-epoxide/ml. Optimum conditions included a 24-h reaction at 23°C, a 150 + M/M excess of picric acid over sterol epoxide and a picrate removal step. Both cholesterol α-epoxide and cholesterol β-epoxide were synthesized and purified for analysis. The α-epoxide was seven times more reactive than the β-epoxide. Cholesterol and sitosterol α-epoxides had the same reactivity with picric acid. Epoxides were detected in commercially available french fries, but quantification required further purification.
Targeted energy transfer in laminar vortex-induced vibration of a sprung cylinder with a nonlinear dissipative rotator

Abstract We computationally investigate the dynamics of a linearly-sprung circular cylinder immersed in an incompressible flow and undergoing transverse vortex-induced vibration (VIV), to which is attached a rotational nonlinear energy sink (NES) consisting of a mass that freely rotates at constant radius about the cylinder axis, and whose motion is restrained by a rotational linear viscous damper. The inertial coupling between the rotational motion of the attached mass and the rectilinear motion of the cylinder is “essentially nonlinear”, which, in conjunction with dissipation, allows for one-way, nearly irreversible targeted energy transfer (TET) from the oscillating cylinder to the nonlinear dissipative attachment. At the intermediate Reynolds number R e = 100 , the NES-equipped sprung cylinder undergoes repetitive cycles of slowly decaying oscillations punctuated by intervals of chaotic instabilities. During the slowly decaying portion of each cycle, the dynamics of the cylinder is regular and, for large enough values of the ratio e of the NES mass to the total mass (i.e., NES mass plus cylinder mass), can lead to significant vortex street elongation with partial stabilization of the wake. As e approaches zero, no such vortex elongation is observed and the wake patterns appear similar to that for a sprung cylinder with no NES. We apply proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to the velocity flow field during a slowly decaying portion of the solution and show that, in situations where vortex elongation occurs, the NES, though not in direct contact with the surrounding fluid, has a drastic effect on the underlying flow structures, imparting significant and continuous passive redistribution of energy among POD modes. We construct a POD-based reduced-order model for the lift coefficient to characterize energy transactions between the fluid and the cylinder throughout the slowly decaying cycle. We introduce a quantitative signed measure of the work done by the fluid on the cylinder over one quasi-period of the slowly decaying response and find that vortex elongation is associated with a sign change of that measure, indicating that a reversal of the direction of energy transfer, with the cylinder “leaking energy back” to the flow, is responsible for partial stabilization and elongation of the wake. We interpret these findings in terms of the spatial structure and energy distribution of the POD modes, and relate them to the mechanism of transient resonance capture into a slow invariant manifold of the fluid–structure interaction dynamics.
Effects of Solution Structure on the Folding of Lysozyme Ions in the Gas Phase

The fidelity between the structures of proteins in solution and protein ions in the gas phase is critical to experiments that use gas-phase measurements to infer structures in solution. Here we generate ions of lysozyme, a 129-residue protein whose native tertiary structure contains four internal disulfide bonds, from three solutions that preserve varying extents of the original native structure. We then use cation-to-anion proton-transfer reactions (CAPTR) to reduce the charge states of those ions in the gas phase and ion mobility to probe their structures. The collision cross section (Ω) distributions of each CAPTR product depends to varying extents on the original solution, the charge state of the product, and the charge state of the precursor. For example, the Ω distributions of the 6+ ions depend strongly on the original solutions conditions and to a lesser extent on the charge state of the precursor. Energy-dependent experiments suggest that very different structures are accessible to disulfide-redu...
The clinical utility of the CA 19-9 tumor-associated antigen

Since Koprowski and coworkers discovered the CA 19-9 antigen 10 yr ago, it has become the most useful blood test in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer of the pancreas. With an upper limit of normal of 37 U/ml, the assay's overall sensitivity is approximately 80% and its specificity is 90%. If higher cutoffs are used, the specificity rises so that, at levels greater than 1000 U/ml, the marker's specificity approaches 100%. Acute cholangitis and cirrhosis are two benign conditions that might raise this assay significantly. This tumor-associated marker is also helpful in predicting unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as 96% of tumors that result in blood levels greater than 1000 U/ml have been found to be unresectable. After potentially curative surgery, the CA 19-9 can help prognosticate survival. Patients who normalize their CA 19-9 postoperatively live longer than those who do not. Furthermore, the assay, when used serially, predicts recurrence of disease prior to radiographic or clinical findings. The CA 19-9 is currently the "gold" standard marker for pancreatic cancer, against which other assays in this field will be judged.
Parallel Application of Monopoly and Competition in Nigeria’s Energy Sector: A Malediction to Energy and Economic Development

Despite the abundant forms of primary energy available in Nigeria, the country has grappled with various energy shortage and erratic power supply for decades. Power can be out for more than 6 hours a day and homes rely on diesel generators for power supply. Businesses and industries have sought ways to develop their own source of power to keep their business afloat amid the darkness. They mostly rely on diesel engines which are expensive to maintain and this drives up the costs of production. This problem has caused untold underdevelopment of the sector, subsequently leading to an economic downturn of the country. Energy is critical to the development of any economy. Most industrial economies in the world thrived on adequate and sustainable energy production to achieve industrialization. Nigeria no doubt is endowed with huge amounts of non-renewable and renewable forms of energy. It boasts of about 5 trillion Cubic feet of natural gas which currently places the country as the ninth natural gas producer in the world. The National Bureau of Statistics has estimated that Nigeria has about 37.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and about 209.439 million tons of recoverable short coal. In terms of renewable, Nigeria has a considerable amount of sunlight all through the year and the Northern Nigeria is ideal for siting wind turbines. Successive governments have tried to fix this problem, but the issue of energy production in Nigeria has been beleaguered with corruption, economic policy mismatch and what Isser calls rhetorical appeals to models. The government has initiated reforms in solving some erratic energy development in the country by unbundling the vertically integrated utilities in the energy sector, such as NEPA but the yield has been nothing short of abysmal. Some of the reforms introduced have made matters worse as industry watchers are confused as to whether it is a monopoly or competition that is being practiced. With the regulator’s over-bearing policies and its somewhat complicated implementation, the sector has not grown or become fully competitive. The era of government fixing tariffs of energy products has not aided the growth of the sector. The government's indecision as to practice a monopoly or open the markets to competition has made matters worse and by extension has affected the economy of the country seeing that energy production is directly connected with economic development. This article looks at the energy sector in Nigeria specifically, power sector and explores the extent of the parallel practice of monopoly and competition and it's effect on the economy. This study will make a case for the need to develop a sustainable regulatory framework to reflect competitive outcomes and sustainable practice.
S195 Physiological properties of the seizure onset zone and brain connectivity: Insights gained from callosotomy procedures

Introduction Rapidly propagating frontal lobe seizures that are difficult to lateralize may do so after corpus callosotomy. We performed callosotomy using laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in three patients who were undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and examined both the electrocorticogram electrophysiology and neuroimaging connectivity measures. Methods SEEG electrodes were placed three patients with suspected underlying laterization. All three patients underwent anterior corpus callosotomy using stereotactic laser interstitial ablation with electrodes in place (e.g. Fig. 1). Resting fMRI, diffusion tractography were obtained one week before electrode implantation and one week after. In addition, the resting electrocorticogram and corticocortical evoked potential mapping were performed before and after the callosotomy procedure using the same electrodes that were rigidly held in place with skull bolts, resulting in minimal electrode migration after callosotomy. Results All patients had marked lateralization of both interictal activity (Fig. 3) as well as seizure onset (Fig. 4). Alterations in interhemispheric connectivity was reliably demonstrated using DTI and resting fMRI. This was paralleled by a similar changes in resting electrocorticography and corticocortical evoked potentials over areas with projections to the area of the callosum that was lesioned. Both intrahemispheric connectivity as well as interhemispheric connectivity beyond the callosotomy were relatively maintained as reflected by electrocorticographic- and MRI-based measures. Conclusions Callosotomy using LITT may be used in conjunction with SEEG to accurately identify ictal onset in cases where seizure lateralization is difficult. Our results further confirm the correspondence of MRI- and electrophysiological-based connectivity measures by showing that alterations of function connectivity occur using both methods after surgical disconnection.
Inflammation-regulated mRNA stability and the progression of vascular inflammatory diseases.

Cardiovascular disease remains a major medical and socioeconomic burden in developed and developing societies, and will increase with an aging and increasingly sedentary society. Vascular disease and atherosclerotic vascular syndromes are essentially inflammatory disorders, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes play essential roles in the ability of resident vascular and inflammatory cells to adapt to environmental stimuli. The regulation of mRNA translocation, stability, and translation are key processes of post-transcriptional regulation that permit these cells to rapidly respond to inflammatory stimuli. For the most part, these processes are controlled by elements in the 3′-UTR of labile, proinflammatory transcripts. Since proinflammatory transcripts almost exclusively contain AU-rich elements (AREs), this represents a tightly regulated and specific mechanism for initiation and maintenance of the proinflammatory phenotype. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) recognize cis elements in 3′-UTR, and regulate each of these processes, but there is little literature exploring the concept that RBPs themselves can be directly regulated by inflammatory stimuli. Conceptually, inflammation-responsive RBPs represent an attractive target of rational therapies to combat vascular inflammatory syndromes. Herein we briefly describe the cellular and molecular etiology of atherosclerosis, and summarize our current understanding of RBPs and their specific roles in regulation of inflammatory mRNA stability. We also detail RBPs as targets of current anti-inflammatory modalities and how this may translate into better treatment for vascular inflammatory diseases.
Malaise, Fever, and Nausea in a Man with Marfan Syndrome

A 37-year-old male with Marfan syndrome was admitted to the hospital with several weeks of low-grade fevers and a 1-week history of fatigue and malaise. At age 21 years, he had a type A thoracic aortic dissection for which he underwent an aortic valve replacement with a St. Jude mechanical valve, and then at the age of 36 years, he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm dissection requiring a bypass graft repair. Extensive evaluation including transesophageal echocardiogram was unrevealing; however, his fevers resolved with empiric antibiotics. He was diagnosed with presumed culture-negative prosthetic valve endocarditis. Four weeks prior to the current presentation, he was discharged on intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin with oral rifampin.
Occupational Therapy for Nonoperative Four-Part Proximal Humerus Fracture: A Case Report.

Objective Proximal humerus fractures are highly traumatic and debilitating. Surgical fixation may be contraindicated in older clients, thus requiring a systematic rehabilitation protocol. These clients may suffer loss of independence and require long-term assistance if not treated properly. Method In this case report, we describe the occupation-based conservative rehabilitation of a retired male client after a four-part proximal humerus fracture. Outcome measurements used were the QuickDASH, the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain, goniometric measurements, and manual muscle testing. Repeated measures were used to collect data throughout a 12-mo period. Results Scores and measurements demonstrated improvement in all four outcome measures with clinically notable improvements achieved and maintained throughout the 12-mo period. The client reported a full return to activity. Conclusion The techniques presented can be used by clinicians to create treatment plans, achievable functional goals, and realistic expectations for their clients. The protocol can aid clinicians in achieving objective milestones through occupation-based interventions.
Social Media Acceptance and Usage by Business Communication Faculty

Social media are an ubiquitous, technological phenomenon, permeating both personal and professional lives. Increasingly, business professionals use social media at work, yet it is often omitted fro...
Mechanics of Evolution

What forces account for the tremendous diversity and profound biologic adaptations seen in modern vertebrates? Although certain major climatic changes are known to have altered past environments, the evolutionary changes of ancient groups must be inferred largely from genetic changes in living forms. Much of the experimental investigation of evolutionary trends involves insects, especially fruit flies (Drosophila), but generally evolutionary patterns are assumed to apply to all animals.
National Security Considerations for a Binding Instrument on Managing Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

The effort to negotiate and adopt a legally binding instrument to manage marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ) implicates national security interests both directly and tangentially. First, negotiations for any agreement will contend with the long-standing concept that the oceans are reserved for “peaceful purposes.” The maritime powers will insist that the concept, which reflects customary law and the practice of virtually all states, does not demilitarize the oceans. Second, any BBNJ treaty must overcome two interrelated spatial issues: the geographic parameters of what constitutes “areas beyond national jurisdiction” when those maritime boundaries are often uncertain, and how measures to protect the environment interact with military activities in those areas. Naval powers will insist that requisite marine protected areas (MPAs) and associated protective measures do not diminish naval freedom of navigation and other military uses of the sea. Third, BBNJ negotiations will be compelled to address how a new treaty will relate to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a host of other treaties, and customary norms. Imperfect as the contemporary global order of the oceans is, major maritime powers and even middle powers will seek to protect it and resist efforts at radical change that may destabilize existing regimes in pursuit of an ephemeral gain for BBNJ. This strategic interest in international stability, while understandable, unintentionally creates inertia that is likely to frustrate the most progressive proponents of BBNJ. Fourth, more broadly, any treaty is likely to affect marine ecosystem services and perhaps marine genetic resources (MGR), which help propel the “blue economy” and undergird national security. We may expect most coastal states to continue to jealously protect their exclusive rights to the living and nonliving resources offshore, and even to propose expansion of those rights and jurisdiction to “adjacent areas.” The most developed states, for their part, are unlikely to agree to any text that diminishes their rights to intellectual property related to marine biotechnology, which is a strategic sector for bio-weapons research and defense. In short, states with advanced military capabilities, and major maritime powers in particular, are unlikely to support more than incremental change to the regimes reflected in UNCLOS.
Activation of beta 1 integrin fibronectin receptors on HL60 cells after granulocytic differentiation

Phorbol esters upregulate the functional affinity of beta 1 integrin receptors for fibronectin on human neutrophils and other leukocytes. We investigated the ability of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to stimulate the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 to adhere to fibronectin, either in its undifferentiated state (HL60) or after dimethylsulfoxide-induced differentiation along the granulocytic pathway (dHL60). PMA stimulated little adherence of undifferentiated HL60 to fibronectin or to the 120-kD chymotryptic cell-binding domain (CBD) of fibronectin. In contrast, PMA stimulated dHL60 cells to rapidly adhere to both fibronectin- and to CBD-coated plastic. PMA-stimulated dHL60 adherence to fibronectin was largely mediated by both alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1, whereas PMA-stimulated dHL60 adherence to CBD was largely mediated by alpha 5 beta 1. There was little contribution from beta 2 integrins to PMA-stimulated dHL60 adherence to fibronectin or CBD. The inability of undifferentiated HL60 to adhere to fibronectin and CBD did not result from lack of expression of alpha 4 beta 1 or alpha 5 beta 1 because HL60 and dHL60 express similar amounts of both alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 on their surface. In addition, 1 mmol/L Mn2+ induced similar amounts of alpha 5 beta 1-dependent adherence of both HL60 and dHL60, showing that alpha 5 beta 1 on undifferentiated HL60 is capable of binding to its ligand. These data suggest that activation of protein kinase C cannot functionally upregulate these beta 1 integrins on undifferentiated HL60 cells. The development of PMA-stimulated beta 1-dependent adherence after granulocytic differentiation of HL60 cells suggests that the differentiated HL60 cell is a useful model for investigating functional coupling of protein kinase C to beta 1 integrin in myeloid cells.
Detection of Ranavirus in Eastern Fence Lizards and Eastern Box Turtles in Central Virginia

Abstract Ranaviruses are a group of emerging infectious pathogens that threaten reptiles around the world; however, their geographic and taxonomic distribution in wild reptiles is understudied relative to amphibians. We sampled tissues from 2 reptile species: Terrapene Carolina carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) and Sceloporus undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard) in central Virginia to determine if they carried these pathogens. We found moderate prevalence of a ranavirus in these 2 species (36.1% and 20.0%, respectively). This study supplements the existing survey information for Eastern Box Turtles, which are known to carry and suffer mortality from ranaviruses. We also report on the first documentation of ranaviruses in the family Phrynosomatidae, and the first systematic screening for ranavirus in a wild, terrestrial squamate population.
Environmental art: A path to civic progress in a time of policy retreat in the United States

Over the past forty years, the environmental movement has won important victories, from the Clean Air Act to the Paris Accord, yet the overall environmental outlook for our planet remains dire. At ...
Understanding and improving optical coherence tomography imaging depth in selective laser sintering nylon 12 parts and powder

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown promise as a process sensor in selective laser sintering (SLS) due to its ability to yield depth-resolved data not attainable with conventional sensors. However, OCT images of nylon 12 powder and nylon 12 components fabricated via SLS contain artifacts that have not been previously investigated in the literature. A better understanding of light interactions with SLS powder and components is foundational for further research expanding the utility of OCT imaging in SLS and other additive manufacturing (AM) sensing applications. Specifically, in this work, nylon powder and sintered parts were imaged in air and in an index matching liquid. Subsequent image analysis revealed the cause of “signal-tail” OCT image artifacts to be a combination of both inter and intraparticle multiple-scattering and reflections. Then, the OCT imaging depth of nylon 12 powder and the contrast-to-noise ratio of a sintered part were improved through the use of an index matching liquid. Finally, polymer crystals were identified as the main source of intraparticle scattering in nylon 12 powder. Implications of these results on future research utilizing OCT in SLS are also given.
Conservation of resources and suicide proneness after oilrig disaster

The current study applied the Conservation of Resources (COR) disaster theory to explain suicide proneness after the Deepwater Horizon oilrig explosion. We had 213 residents in affected areas with ...
Stratification in Study Abroad Participation After Accounting for Student Intent

This study uses the Wabash National Study on Liberal Arts Education to understand student study abroad participation while holding a student’s prior intent to study abroad constant. The study augments previous use of the data set by (1) holding intent to study abroad constant across models and (2) focusing on study abroad participation and the socioeconomic construct of parental education. Consistent with theories of high-brow embodied cultural capital and effectively maintained inequality, students of advanced degree parents are more likely to study abroad after holding intent to study abroad and the various forms of capital constant. Intent to study abroad, gender, prior and current academic characteristics, university type, diverse coursework, orientation towards diversity, non-classroom faculty interactions, and co-curricular involvement have associations with study abroad participation. After controlling for intent to study abroad, individual analyses of student socioeconomic status indicate that intent to participate, academic achievement, and liberal arts institution attendance remain salient for increasing study abroad participation, and some other factors had heterogeneous associations among subgroups.
Tonic inhibition of murine proximal colon is due to nitrergic suppression of Ca 2+ signaling in interstitial cells of Cajal

Spontaneous excitability and contractions of colonic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are normally suppressed by inputs from inhibitory motor neurons, a behavior known as tonic inhibition. The post-junctional cell(s) mediating tonic inhibition have not been elucidated. We investigated the post-junctional cells mediating tonic inhibition in the proximal colon and whether tonic inhibition results from suppression of the activity of Ano1 channels, which are expressed exclusively in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). We found that tetrodotoxin (TTX), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, L-NNA, and an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, ODQ, greatly enhanced colonic contractions. Ano1 antagonists, benzbromarone and Ani9 inhibited the effects of TTX, L-NNA and ODQ. Ano1 channels are activated by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in ICC, and blocking Ca2+ release with a SERCA inhibitor (thapsigargin) or a store-operated Ca2+ entry blocker (GSK 7975 A) reversed the effects of TTX, L-NNA and ODQ. Ca2+ imaging revealed that TTX, L-NNA and ODQ increased Ca2+ transient firing in colonic ICC. Our results suggest that tonic inhibition in the proximal colon occurs through suppression of Ca2+ release events in ICC. Suppression of Ca2+ release in ICC limits the open probability of Ano1 channels, reducing the excitability of electrically-coupled SMCs.
Vehicular Network Simulation Environment via Discrete Event System Modeling

A vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) enables vehicles to communicate with each other directly or via roadside infrastructure in order to improve road safety and efficiency. Within a VANET, communications can potentially alter vehicular mobility and conversely, that the mobility could potentially influence vehicular communications. Therefore, a VANET simulator environment is needed that can accurately model interactions between vehicular mobility and network protocols. In this paper, we present a novel vehicular network simulation environment designed using the MATLAB discrete event system (DES) in the SimEvents toolbox. The proposed simulation environment is a bit-accurate, discrete event simulator that integrates vehicular mobility operations with wireless network communication. This paper provides details on the design of the proposed simulator. Its computational costs are evaluated in terms of events quantities and execution time. The physical (PHY) layer of the proposed simulator shows a more realistic packet success rate (PSR) using bit-level processing techniques when compared with the packet-based NS-3 simulator. The performance of the priority-based media access control (MAC) layer proves the data with different priorities that can coexist in the same channel.
Tool Substitution with Shape and Material Reasoning Using Dual Neural Networks.

This paper explores the problem of tool substitution, namely, identifying substitute tools for performing a task from a given set of candidate tools. We introduce a novel approach to tool substitution, that unlike prior work in the area, combines both shape and material reasoning to effectively identify substitute tools. Our approach combines the use of visual and spectral reasoning using dual neural networks. It takes as input, the desired action to be performed, and outputs a ranking of the available candidate tools based on their suitability for performing the action. Our results on a test set of 30 real-world objects show that our approach is able to effectively match shape and material similarities, with improved tool substitution performance when combining both.
An Engaging CS1 Curriculum Using BRIDGES

Early programming courses such as CS1 are an important time to capture the interest of students while imparting critical technical knowledge. Yet many CS1 courses are being taught using toy assignments and activities that tend to make students uninterested or doubt the usefulness of the content. In this poster, we demonstrate an enriching experience for students by coupling interesting datasets with visual representations and interactive applications, without having to change the content of that course. Our approach utilizes extensions to BRIDGES, an API in use for sophomore level CS courses for the past 5 years. BRIDGES provides easy access to external datasets and helps build interactive applications. The assignments we present are all scaffolded in a way that can be directly integrated into most early programming courses to make routine topics compelling and exciting.
A Parallel Grid Modification and Domain Decomposition Algorithm for Local Phenomena Capturing and Load Balancing

Lion's nonoverlapping Schwarz domain decomposition method based on a finite difference discretization is applied to problems with fronts or layers. For the purpose of getting accurate approximation of the solution by solving small linear systems, grid refinement is made on subdomains that contain fronts and layers and uniform coarse grids are applied on subdomains in which the solution changes slowly and smoothly. In order to balance loads among different processors, we employ small subdomains with fine grids for rapidly-changing-solution areas, and big subdomains with coarse grids for slowly-changing-solution areas. Numerical implementations in the SPMD mode on an nCUBE2 machine are conducted to show the efficiency and accuracy of the method.
Self-Supervised Learning of a Biologically-Inspired Visual Texture Model.

We develop a model for representing visual texture in a low-dimensional feature space, along with a novel self-supervised learning objective that is used to train it on an unlabeled database of texture images. Inspired by the architecture of primate visual cortex, the model uses a first stage of oriented linear filters (corresponding to cortical area V1), consisting of both rectified units (simple cells) and pooled phase-invariant units (complex cells). These responses are processed by a second stage (analogous to cortical area V2) consisting of convolutional filters followed by half-wave rectification and pooling to generate V2 'complex cell' responses. The second stage filters are trained on a set of unlabeled homogeneous texture images, using a novel contrastive objective that maximizes the distance between the distribution of V2 responses to individual images and the distribution of responses across all images. When evaluated on texture classification, the trained model achieves substantially greater data-efficiency than a variety of deep hierarchical model architectures. Moreover, we show that the learned model exhibits stronger representational similarity to texture responses of neural populations recorded in primate V2 than pre-trained deep CNNs.
Clinical Aspects of Paediatric PoTS

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome causes upright dizziness and chronic fatigue as it affects up to 1% of adolescents. The diagnosis is based on symptoms (months of fatigue, dizziness, and, often, discomfort and gastrointestinal symptoms) coupled with excessive postural tachycardia (a heart rate increase of more than 40 beats per minute following transition from supine to upright. Treatment includes enhancing blood volume (through increased oral intake of fluids and salt), daily aerobic exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, cognitive behavioral therapy, and, often, medications. Commonly used medications include beta blockers, fludrocortisone, midodrine, and, more recently, ivabradine. Concurrently, comorbidities such as iron deficiency, hypovitaminosis D, anxiety, depression, and mast cell activation disorder should be identified and, if necessary, treated.
Combining the Best of Online and Face-to-Face Learning: Hybrid and Blended Learning Approach for COVID-19, Post Vaccine, & Post-Pandemic World

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the landscape of higher education. As academic institutions across the world continue to deal with the global health crisis, there is a ...
SIMULATION OF CAKE FORMATION AND GROWTH

It is conceivable that through simulations, information such as cake structure and morphology and the effect of solution variables (pH and surface potential of particles) on cake structure can be obtained. On the most basic level, cake filtration involves the motions of fluids and particles and particle collisions as they move toward the filter medium. A complete understanding of cake filtration therefore requires the knowledge of the flow of filtrate in the void space of the cake region, the movement of the individual particles, their contact with the medium and each other, and the aftermath once a contact (collision) is made. For the last issue, the stability criteria that take into account the geometry, the particle material characteristics and the various forces acting on particles must be devised. In simulating cake formation, growth, and compaction, information about the movement of particles participating in the process is required. This information can be obtained from the solution of the particle trajectory equation and from the knowledge of the outcome when a given particle makes contact during its motion with the filter medium or a deposited particle. The condition under which the contact leads to immobility of the particle involved is referred to as the “stability criterion.” Three such criteria are criterion involving two particles, criterion involving more than two particles, and criterion with cross-flow. A number of simulation studies on cake formation, growth and compaction have been made in the past. An account of these studies and their results is also presented in this chapter.
Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds

Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds is an essential human behavior textbook for social work students. The third edition emphasizes the biopsychosocial framework within a psychodynamic, developmental and life-course perspective and includes a brand new chapter on the psychosocial complexities of technological advances. Written by an experienced classroom teacher, faculty advisor and clinician, the text approaches development through the life cycle, discussing the challenges, tasks, and problems of each stage. Presenting complex concepts in a clear and understandable way, Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Includes 16 chapters which cover the diverse nature of the circumstances that practicing social workers will be exposed to, including cultural differences, mental health issues, and disability; Analyses several different theories, including psychoanalytic, ego psychology, cognitive-behavioral, and postmodern theories in a manner that enables students to engage critically with the subject matter; Includes case vignettes and material from literary works, biographies and newspapers, intertwined with learning exercises and suggestions for additional readings, forming an engaging and practical volume. Written specifically for social work students undertaking courses and modules on human behavior in the social environment, this book is also a valuable resource for beginning and advanced readers in human services, including nursing, medicine, public health, clinical psychology and counseling.