cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Celastrol suppresses invasion of colon and pancreatic cancer cells through the downregulation of expression of CXCR4 chemokine receptor

Although metastasis accounts for >90% of cancer-related deaths, no therapeutic that targets this process has yet been approved. Because the chemokine receptor CXCR4 is one of the targets closely linked with tumor metastasis, inhibitors of this receptor have the potential to abrogate metastasis. In the current report, we demonstrate that celastrol can downregulate the CXCR4 expression on breast cancer MCF-7 cells stably transfected with HER2, an oncogene known to induce the chemokine receptor. Downregulation of CXCR4 by the triterpenoid was not cell type-specific as downregulation occurred in colon cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and pancreatic cancer cells. Decrease in CXCR4 expression was not due to proteolysis as neither proteasome inhibitors nor lysosomal stabilization had any effect. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that downregulation of CXCR4 messenger RNA (mRNA) by celastrol occurred at the translational level. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed regulation at the transcriptional level as well. Abrogation of the chemokine receptor by celastrol or by gene-silencing was accompanied by suppression of invasiveness of colon cancer cells induced by CXCL12, the ligand for CXCR4. This effect was not cell type-specific as celastrol also abolished invasiveness of pancreatic tumor cells, and this effect again correlated with the disappearance of both the CXCR4 mRNA and CXCR4 protein. Other triterpenes, such as withaferin A and gedunin, which are known to inhibit Hsp90, did not downregulate CXCR4 expression, indicating that the effects were specific to celastrol. Overall, these results show that celastrol has potential in suppressing invasion and metastasis of cancer cells by down-modulation of CXCR4 expression.
Optical Losses in Ferroelectric Oxide Thin Films: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Optical losses are a barrier to use of ferroelectric waveguide thin films. Losses of about 2 dB/cm will reduce the efficiency of a frequency doubler by over 50%. Achieving losses on this order in conjunction with other essential film properties is difficult. The optical loss has several origins, including absorption, mode leakage, internal scattering and surface scattering. When the film surface morphology is accurately known, it is possible to estimate the surface scattering component of the loss. We have employed atomic force microscopy and computer modeling to compute, and correlate the optical loss as a function of film thickness and wavelength. The results suggest upper limits to the morphological roughness for various device applications. For lithium niobate films on sapphire which are intended to frequency double into the blue part of the spectrum, the optimal film thickness is about 400 nm and the RMS roughness is constrained below about 1.0 nm, with some weak dependence on grain size. Although present growth techniques do not appear to achieve this level of surface flatness intrinsically, an understanding of the morphological development of the film structure may lead to improvements.
The Genetic, Morphological, and Physiological Characterization of a Dark Larval Cuticle Mutation in the Butterfly, Bicyclus anynana

Studies on insect melanism have greatly contributed to our understanding of natural selection and the ultimate factors influencing the evolution of darkly pigmented phenotypes. Research on several species of melanic lepidopteran larvae have found that low levels of circulating juvenile hormone (JH) titers are associated with a melanic phenotype, suggesting that genetic changes in the JH biosynthetic pathway give rise to increased deposition of melanin granules in the cuticle in this group. But does melanism arise through different molecular mechanisms in different species? The present study reports on a Bicyclus anynana (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) dark larvae single locus mutation, in which larvae exhibit a darker cuticle relative to wild type. Unlike other lepidopteran melanic larvae mutations, this one is autosomal recessive and does not appear to involve a deficiency in JH titers. Unlike JH deficiency mutants, dark larvae mutants display similar growth rates and sexual behaviors as wild type, and topical application of a JH analogue failed to rescue the wild type cuticular coloration. Finally, transmission electron microscopy showed that sclerotization or deposition of diffuse melanin, rather than deposition of melanin granules, produces the dark coloration found in the cuticle of this species. We conclude that different molecular mechanisms underlie larval melanism in different species of Lepidoptera.
Fuzzy Keyword Search over Encrypted Data in Cloud Computing

As Cloud Computing becomes prevalent, more and more sensitive information are being centralized into the cloud. For the protection of data privacy, sensitive data usually have to be encrypted before outsourcing, which makes effective data utilization a very challenging task. Although traditional searchable encryption schemes allow a user to securely search over encrypted data through keywords and selectively retrieve files of interest, these techniques support only exact keyword search. That is, there is no tolerance of minor typos and format inconsistencies which, on the other hand, are typical user searching behavior and happen very frequently. This significant drawback makes existing techniques unsuitable in Cloud Computing as it greatly affects system usability, rendering user searching experiences very frustrating and system efficacy very low. In this paper, for the first time we formalize and solve the problem of effective fuzzy keyword search over encrypted cloud data while maintaining keyword privacy. Fuzzy keyword search greatly enhances system usability by returning the matching files when users' searching inputs exactly match the predefined keywords or the closest possible matching files based on keyword similarity semantics, when exact match fails. In our solution, we exploit edit distance to quantify keywords similarity and develop an advanced technique on constructing fuzzy keyword sets, which greatly reduces the storage and representation overheads. Through rigorous security analysis, we show that our proposed solution is secure and privacy-preserving, while correctly realizing the goal of fuzzy keyword search.
Effects of hydration of scale factors for ab intitio force constants

Experimentally measured vibrational frequencies from the polar groups of peptides in aqueous solutions do not agree with frequencies calculated from scaled quantum mechanical force fields (SQMFF) using differential scale factors developed for molecules in the vapor phase. Measured stretching frequencies for carbonyl groups are more than 50 wavenumbers lower than the calculated values. On the other hand, frequencies for non-polar groups calculated using these scale factors are relatively accurate. Our goal is to develop a SQMFF that yields accurate calculated frequencies for peptides in aqueous solutions. To this end, we have calculated scale factors for ab initio force constants for formic acid, acetic acid, and acetone using a least squares fit of calculated and experimental frequencies. We compare these scale factors with changes observed in the ab initio force constants calculated for these molecules at various states of hydration. These force constants are calculated using fully optimized geometries for these hydrated molecules using the 4-31G basis. We present a comparison of the experimental and calculated frequencies, along with their potential energy distributions, for both vapor and aqueous phases. The results indicate that scale factors can simulate the effects of solvation on molecular force constants to yield accurate scaled ab initio force fields.
Document collaboration and tacit knowledge

Discusses how process documents, i.e. video recordings of a person's writing, mediate the way people collaborate with one another to construct texts. First, I talk about tacit knowledge and how it is inarticulate without a medium that supports articulation. I then talk about cognitive tools that support collaboration and how video recording, as such a tool, can support multiple ways of "seeing" a text, enabling coordination between the various ways people understand how a text works. Finally, I report preliminary findings of a study that suggests specific ways in which process documents facilitate greater collaboration and coordination between the different perspectives of the collaborators.
Mycobacterium fortuitum (with M. chelonei, M. borstelense, and M. abscessus)

These several organisms are considered under the same heading both for convenience and as a result of uncertainty. Bacteriologists have not reached complete agreement as to the exact relationship among them. Clinical studies and reports often antedate the separation of M. abscessus but present infections that seem clearly to result from the organism now known by that name. Mycobacterium borstelense and M. chelonei appear as organisms in a number of reports but are thought (see below) to be identical with M. abscessus.
Genome-Wide Expression Analysis in Fibroblast Cell Lines from Probands with Pallister Killian Syndrome

Pallister Killian syndrome (OMIM: # 601803) is a rare multisystem disorder typically caused by tissue limited mosaic tetrasomy of chromosome 12p (isochromosome 12p). The clinical manifestations of Pallister Killian syndrome are variable with the most common findings including craniofacial dysmorphia, hypotonia, cognitive impairment, hearing loss, skin pigmentary differences and epilepsy. Isochromosome 12p is identified primarily in skin fibroblast cultures and in chorionic villus and amniotic fluid cell samples and may be identified in blood lymphocytes during the neonatal and early childhood period. We performed genomic expression profiling correlated with interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism array quantification of degree of mosaicism in fibroblasts from 17 Caucasian probands with Pallister Killian syndrome and 9 healthy age, gender and ethnicity matched controls. We identified a characteristic profile of 354 (180 up- and 174 down-regulated) differentially expressed genes in Pallister Killian syndrome probands and supportive evidence for a Pallister Killian syndrome critical region on 12p13.31. The differentially expressed genes were enriched for developmentally important genes such as homeobox genes. Among the differentially expressed genes, we identified several genes whose misexpression may be associated with the clinical phenotype of Pallister Killian syndrome such as downregulation of ZFPM2, GATA6 and SOX9, and overexpression of IGFBP2.
A CHEMICAL INFLUENCE OF ANTS ON WING DEVELOPMENT IN APHIDS

Colonies of Aphis fabae Scop, maintained on an artificial diet contained a higher proportion of apterae when they were attended by the ant Formica fusca Wheeler. When extracts of the mandibular glands of this ant and dendrolasin (a chemical known to occur in the mandibular glands of another ant) were topically applied to the aphids the proportions of apterae also increased. The results suggest that the apterizing effect associated with ant-attendance may in part be mediated by a transfer of a juvenile hormone-related chemical from the ants to the aphids. Zusammenfassung EIN CHEMISCHER EINFLUSS VON AMEISEN AUF DIE FLUGELENTWICKLUNG VON BLATTLAUSEN Kolonien von Aphis fabae, an kunstlicher Diat gehalten, besassen einen hoheren Anteil von Apteren, wenn sie von der Ameise Formica fusca besucht wurden. Die topikale Anwendung von Extrakten der Mandibeldruse dieser Ameise oder von Dendrolasin (einer Substanz, die bekanntermassen in der Mandibeldruse anderer Ameisen vorkommt) bei den Blattlausen bewirkte ebenfalls eine Erhohung des Apterenanteils. Die Ergebnisse lassen vermuten, dass der die Geflugelbildung bewirkende Effekt, der mit dem Ameisenbesuch verbunden ist, teilweise in die Wege geleitet wird durch Ubertragung einer Juvenilhormon-verwandten Substanz von den Ameisen auf die Blattlause.
Connections of Synaptic Vesicles to Active Zone Material Before and after Docking on the Presynaptic

The active zones of axon terminals, which are where the initial events in synaptic transmission occur, are characterized in part by dense aggregates of macromolecules, called active zone material (AZM), attached to the cytoplasmic surface of the presynaptic plasma membrane and by synaptic vesicles docked on the presynaptic membrane, which contain neurotransmitter and fuse with the presynaptic membrane to release their neurotransmitter during synaptic transmission. Previous electron tomography (ET) studies on the 15nm of AZM next to the presynaptic membrane of axon terminals at resting frog and mouse neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) showed that it is composed of an organized network of elongate macromolecules that fall into several classes, one of which, ribs, connects to each docked vesicle.We used ET to study in axon terminals at resting frog NMJs the remaining 45nm of the AZM network deep to the presynaptic membrane. Like that in the initial 15nm, it is a highly organized network containing several classes of elongate macromolecules. Some of these, spars and booms, also connect to docked vesicles. Thus, each docked vesicle is connected to 3-4 ribs, 2-3 spars and 4-8 booms. For NMJs that had been fixed during electrical stimulation, we found that at those active zones where the docked vesicles had fused with and flattened into the presynaptic membrane, the vesicles moving from the reserve pool to replace them at the docking sites on the presynaptic membrane are connected to the ribs, spars and booms when 20-30 nm from the membrane. Altogether the findings support the hypothesis (Harlow et al., Nature 409: 479-484, 2001; Nagwaney et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 513: 457-468, 2009) that AZM helps regulate the docking of synaptic vesicles on the presynaptic membrane.
Biocompatibility of polyimide-based neural interfaces for chronic implant applications

Neural interfaces provide functional re-establishment of the central nervous system, as well as accessibility to monitor physiological responses at a cellular and molecular level. An ideal device is electrically, mechanically, and biologically compatible in long-term applications. Reducing the foreign body response and scar tissue formation caused by the surrounding tissue of the implant makes the device most biocompatible, while not hindering the electrical interface of the device. Technological advances in polymer materials are leading to improved designs of neural implants with the utilization of flexible polyimide, which decreases the relative micromotion strain. However, the flexibility of polyimide causes the device to buckle during insertion; therefore a biodegradable polymer, polyglycolic acid (PGA), is added to the polyimide device in order to temporarily enhance the structural rigidity. In this study we detail the successful biocompatibility demonstrated with both uncoated and PGA coated polyimide devices to provide new design strategies for neural implants used in chronic applications.
Assessment of known impacts of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on marine mammals: data gaps and recommendations for researchers in the United States1

The development of advanced technologies to enhance conservation science often outpaces the abilities of wildlife managers to assess and ensure such new tools are safely used in proximity to wild animals. Recently, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become more accessible to civilian operators and are quickly being integrated into existing research paradigms to replace manned aircraft. Several federal statutes require scientists to obtain research permits to closely approach protected species of wildlife, such as marine mammals, but the lack of available information on the effects of UAS operations on these species has made it difficult to evaluate and mitigate potential impacts. Here, we present a synthesis of the current state of scientific understanding of the impacts of UAS usage near marine mammals. We also identify key data gaps that are currently limiting the ability of marine resource managers to develop appropriate guidelines, policies, or regulations for safe and responsible operation of UAS nea...
A Quantitative Electron Microscopic Study of Changes in Microtubule Arrays and Wall Microfibril Orientation During in vitro Cotton Fiber Development

A quantitative electron microscopic (E/M) study of the changes in microtubule arrays and wall microfibril orientation has been done on in vitro grown cotton fibers. Microtubules change orientation during cotton fiber development. During fiber initiation and early elongation, microtubules have a generally random orientation. Microtubules re-orient into shallow pitched helices as elongation and primary wall deposition continue, and into steeply pitched helices during secondary wall deposition. Accompanying the changes in orientation are increases in microtubule length, number, proximity to the plasmalemma and a decreased variability in orientation of the microtubules. Based on these observations, three pivotal stages in microtubule patterns were identified during fiber development: (1) the transition between fiber initiation and elongation, where microtubules develop a shallow pitched helical orientation; (2) the transition between primary and secondary wall synthesis, where microtubules abruptly shift orientation to a steeply pitched helical pattern; and (3) early in secondary wall synthesis, where there is a four fold increase in microtubule number. Microfibrils exhibit changes in orientation similar to the microtubules; however significant differences were found when the precise orientations of microtubules and microfibrils were compared. During secondary wall synthesis, wall microfibrils exhibit some variability in orientation due to inter-fibril bundling, thus indicating that components of the wall may also influence final microfibril orientation.
An Imagery-Processing View of the Role of Pictures in Print Advertisements:

Pictures that exemplify verbal product attribute information in an ad are argued to enhance ad recall only when the verbal information is of low imagery. When the verbal information is of high imag...
Scaling the Annotation of Subtidal Marine Habitats

Visually documenting seafloor habitats has the potential to answer challenging questions in several maritime disciplines including: ecology, geology, and archaeology. Unfortunately, the attenuation of visible light underwater limits the imaging footprint of a single image to square meters. This limitation makes representing large habitats, on the order of hundreds of square meters and beyond, an intensive process requiring the collection, storage, processing and annotation of thousands of high resolution images per hundred square meters of seafloor. This paper describes a pipeline for dealing with these challenges efficiently and effectively using visual data of coral reef communities processed into a three dimensional model. We evaluate the resources and technological advancements required to scale this problem to orders of magnitude larger than the current state of the art and motivate the need for networked underwater data collection platforms to push the scalability of this method.
Characterization of Plant-Fungal Interactions Involving Necrotrophic Effector-Producing Plant Pathogens

Recently, great strides have been made in the area of host-pathogen interactions involving necrotrophic fungi. In this article we describe a method to identify, produce, and characterize effectors that are important in host-necrotrophic fungal pathogen interactions, and to genetically characterize the interactions. The main strength of this method is the combined use of pathogen inoculation, a pathogen culture filtrate bioassay, and genetic analysis of susceptibility and sensitivity in segregating host-mapping populations. These methods have been successfully used to identify several Stagonospora nodorum necrotrophic effectors and to characterize the genetic and phenotypic effects of individual host-effector interactions in the wheat-S. nodorum system. S. nodorum isolates that induce a differential response on two lines are used to produce culture filtrates that contain necrotrophic effectors while the wheat lines differing in reaction to the pathogen are used to develop a mapping population. The wheat population is used to develop DNA marker-based genetic linkage maps and culture filtrates are infiltrated across the mapping population. Linkage and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis is used to identify regions of the wheat genome harboring genes that govern sensitivity to necrotrophic effectors. The same populations are inoculated with the effector-producing isolate to determine the significance and proportion of disease explained by individual host gene-effector interactions. Additionally, from this information, differential lines that are sensitive to single effectors are developed for further purification and characterization of the effectors, eventually resulting in the identification, molecular cloning, and characterization of the effector genes.
The mpl ligand: molecular and cellular biology of the critical regulator of megakaryocyte development

The development of blood cells requires the interplay of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, marrow stroma and polypeptide growth factors. Although many proteins are thought to support the expansion of megakaryocytic precursor cells (e.g., interleukin [IL]-3, c-kit ligand [KL]), identification of the late-acting, lineage-specific growth factor for platelet production, termed Thrombopoietin (Tpo), has remained elusive. Recently, characterization of the proto-oncogene c-mpl revealed structural homology with the hematopoietic cytokine receptor family. Based on the cell of origin of its cDNA, we hypothesized that the ligand for c-mpl might be identical with Tpo. Using BaF3 cells engineered to express c-mpl, we employed a functional expression strategy to clone its cDNA. At low concentrations, the recombinant protein supports the growth of megakaryocytic colonies, alone and together with either IL-3 or KL. For IL-3 this appears to be additive, for KL, true synergy was detected. At higher concentrations, the mpl ligand (ML) alone supported a near maximal number of very large megakaryocytic colonies. Using suspension cultures and human megakaryocytic cell lines, we have also shown that ML induces the terminal differentiation of megakaryocytes by enhancing polyploidization and surface membrane expression of GPIb and IIb/IIIa. Moreover, the development of megakaryocytes in vitro appears to be absolutely dependent on the presence of ML. Following receptor engagement, ML induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of membrane associated kinases and adaptor molecules, including SHC, JAK2, PLC-gamma and the mpl receptor itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hydrological processes and the water budget of lakes

Lakes interact with all components of the hydrological system: atmospheric water, surface water, and groundwater. The fluxes of water to and from lakes with regard to each of these components represent the water budget of a lake. Mathematically, the concept of a water budget is deceptively simple: income equals outgo, plus or minus change in storage. In practice, however, measuring the water fluxes to and from lakes accurately is not simple, because understanding of the various hydrological processes and the ability to measure the various hydrological components are limited.
A Brief History of Human Beverage Consumption: Prehistory to the Present

How did humans learn to drink? Are drinking preferences instinctive? How did humans learn which beverages were safe to drink? Did earliest humans watch and imitate the drinking behavior of animals? How would early humans know whether or not a pond of standing water was suitable to drink? At the dawn of human history, life spans were short, and illness that followed drinking polluted water would be associated with bacteria or toxins. Then, as now, aesthetics and a well-developed sense of smell, taste, color, and appearance determine our beverage selection as well as our place in natural selection. For a review of how color alters taste perception, see the chapter in this book by Spence.
The Involvment of Hematopoietic-Specific PLC -β2 in Homing and Engraftment of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Migration and bone marrow (BM) homing of hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) is regulated by several signaling pathways, and here we provide evidence for the involvement in this process of hematopoietic-specific phospholipase C-β2 (PLC-β2). This enzyme is involved in release of intracellular calcium and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Recently we reported that PLC-β2 promotes mobilization of HSPCs from BM into peripheral blood (PB), and this effect is mediated by the involvement of PLC-β2 in the release of proteolytic enzymes from granulocytes and its role in disintegration of membrane lipid rafts. Here we report that, besides the role of PLC-β2 in the release of HSPCs from BM niches, PLC-β2 regulates the migration of HSPCs in response to chemotactic gradients of BM homing factors, including SDF-1, S1P, C1P, and ATP. Specifically, HSPCs from PLC-β2-KO mice show impaired homing and engraftment in vivo after transplantation into lethally irradiated mice. This decrease in migration of HSPCs can be explained by impaired calcium release in PLC-β2-KO mice and a high baseline level of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), an enzyme that negatively regulates cell migration.
Nuclear bodies reorganize during myogenesis in vitro and are differentially disrupted by expression of FSHD-associated DUX4

Nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, PML bodies, and SC35 speckles, are dynamic sub-nuclear structures that regulate multiple genetic and epigenetic processes. Additional regulation is provided by RNA/DNA handling proteins, notably TDP-43 and FUS, which have been linked to ALS pathology. Previous work showed that mouse cell line myotubes have fewer but larger nucleoli than myoblasts, and we had found that nuclear aggregation of TDP-43 in human myotubes was induced by expression of DUX4-FL, a transcription factor that is aberrantly expressed and causes pathology in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). However, questions remained about nuclear bodies in human myogenesis and in muscle disease. We examined nucleoli, PML bodies, SC35 speckles, TDP-43, and FUS in myoblasts and myotubes derived from healthy donors and from patients with FSHD, laminin-alpha-2-deficiency (MDC1A), and alpha-sarcoglycan-deficiency (LGMD2D). We further examined how these nuclear bodies and proteins were affected by DUX4-FL expression. We found that nucleoli, PML bodies, and SC35 speckles reorganized during differentiation in vitro, with all three becoming less abundant in myotube vs. myoblast nuclei. In addition, though PML bodies did not change in size, both nucleoli and SC35 speckles were larger in myotube than myoblast nuclei. Similar patterns of nuclear body reorganization occurred in healthy control, MDC1A, and LGMD2D cultures, as well as in the large fraction of nuclei that did not show DUX4-FL expression in FSHD cultures. In contrast, nuclei that expressed endogenous or exogenous DUX4-FL, though retaining normal nucleoli, showed disrupted morphology of some PML bodies and most SC35 speckles and also co-aggregation of FUS with TDP-43. Nucleoli, PML bodies, and SC35 speckles reorganize during human myotube formation in vitro. These nuclear body reorganizations are likely needed to carry out the distinct gene transcription and splicing patterns that are induced upon myotube formation. DUX4-FL-induced disruption of some PML bodies and most SC35 speckles, along with co-aggregation of TDP-43 and FUS, could contribute to pathogenesis in FSHD, perhaps by locally interfering with genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the small subset of nuclei that express high levels of DUX4-FL at any one time.
MOSFET degradation due to stressing of thin oxide

Oxide and interface traps in 100 A SiO 2 created by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling current have been investigated using capacitor C-V, I-V, and transistor I-V measurements. The net oxide trapped charge is initially positive due to hole trapping near the anode interface and, at sufficiently high fluence, it becomes negative due to the trapping of electrons with a centroid of 60 A from the injector (cathode) interface. Interface traps (Surface states) are created by tunneling electrons flowing to and from the substrate. The interface-trap energy distribution gives a distinct peak at 0.65 eV above the valence band edge. The positive charge trapping and interface traps generation saturate at high electron fluence, but not the electron trap generation. The generation rates for electron traps and interface traps are weak functions of tunneling current density over the range tested. The interface traps cause degradations in subthreshold current slope and surface electron mobility. The threshold-voltage shift can be either positive or negative under the combined influence of the oxide charges and the interface charges.
Detection of endoscopic looping during colonoscopy procedure by using embedded bending sensors.

Background Looping of the colonoscope shaft during procedure is one of the most common obstacles encountered by colonoscopists. It occurs in 91% of cases with the N-sigmoid loop being the most common, occurring in 79% of cases. Purpose Herein, a novel system is developed that will give a complete three-dimensional (3D) vector image of the shaft as it passes through the colon, to aid the colonoscopist in detecting loops before they form. Patients and methods A series of connected links spans the middle 50% of the shaft, where loops are likely to form. Two potentiometers are attached at each joint to measure angular deflection in two directions to allow for 3D positioning. This 3D positioning is converted into a 3D vector image using computer software. MATLAB software has been used to display the image on a computer monitor. For the different configuration of the colon model, the system determined the looping status. Results Different configurations (N loop, reverse gamma loop, and reverse splenic flexure) of the loops were well defined using 3D vector image. Conclusion The novel sensory system can accurately define the various configuration of the colon during the colonoscopy procedure.
Enhancing the free corrosion dealloying rate with a catalytically driven reaction

Despite its high popularity, chemical dealloying that is widely used for the fabrication of nanoporous metals is a relatively slow process: dealloying a few milligrams of bulk material may take from several hours up to a few days, depending on the material system. Raising the temperature of the corroding medium is a common approach to speed up the dealloying process. However, high temperatures cause undesired ligament growth in dealloyed materials. Here we report for the first time the use of a catalytically driven reaction to speed up the dealloying process at ambient temperature and pressure. To demonstrate the concept, we show that the free corrosion dealloying of a silver–aluminum alloy is significantly faster with the help of a platinum catalyst. More importantly, the corresponding characteristic nanostructured size is much smaller than that without a catalyst. Our finding is expected to play a central role in scaling up the dealloying process from the laboratory to the industrial scale.
Borrowing Capacity, Financial Instability, and Contagion: Case Study of the U.S. Subprime Mortgage Crisis

In this paper we study an agent-based model of economy to investigate the impact of borrowing capacity on financial instability and contagion. We divide an economy into agents that interact via flow of funds and express the financial instability level of each agent as a function of the time derivatives of its wealth, cash inflows, and borrowing capacity. We show that among these factors the borrowing capacity, which itself is determined by other economic constraints, affects the most the financial instability, and it can even cause contagion through feedback loop formed by flow of funds. We use historical time series of the integrated macroeconomic accounts of the United Stated from 1960 to date to verify our conjecture by quantifying the financial instability levels of the agents under different level of borrowing capacity and how they affect one another during the period of the 2007-10 U.S. subprime mortgage crisis. Finally shortcomings from the limitations of data collecting practice is addressed along with partial yet compatible results for selected Eurozone countries.
Subtotale Kolektomie bei massiver Darmblutung

Bei vielen alteren Patienten mit Divertikelkrankheit ist die Kolonblutung — atiologisch eine Angiodysplasie — im rechten Kolon lokalisiert. Kann diese durch die Arteriographie nachgewiesen bzw. aufgedeckt und lokalisiert werden, ist die rechtsseitige Hemikolektomie empfehlenswerter als die subtotale Kolektomie. Wahrend die subtotale Kolektomie von den meisten Patienten gut toleriert wird, treten gelegentlich belastende Diarrhon auf. Ottinger berichtete, das bei 16% seiner so operierten Patienten nach subtotaler Kolektomie bei niehtentzundlichen Kolonerkrankungen 6 und mehr Stuhlgange am Tag auftraten.
Spatial structure of large‐river fish populations across main‐stem and tributary habitats

The spatial variability in demographic parameters represents fundamental information for conservation and management of large‐river fish populations. We assessed demographic processes including survival and movement across macroscale habitats in a large‐river network using 2 candidate large‐river species with contrasting life history strategies. We used mark–recapture data and a multistate model framework to estimate survival and transition probabilities between main‐stem and tributary habitats for both channel catfish and shovelnose sturgeon. Annual survival for channel catfish was similar in main‐stem and tributary habitats (range in S = 0.47–0.58). Annual survival for shovelnose sturgeon was less in the tributary (S = 0.68) compared with the main stem (S = 0.83). The probability of movement among macroscale habitats differed between species. However, the greatest probability of movement occurred from the tributary to the main‐stem for both channel catfish (ψ = 0.42) and shovelnose sturgeon (ψ = 0.27). Movement between main‐stem and tributary rivers may be a prominent characteristic for both channel catfish and shovelnose sturgeon and could influence population demographic rates and abundance across systems. Riverine fish populations are likely structured across multiple salient scales—including tributary and main‐stem habitats. Consideration of connectivity across tributary and main‐stem habitats with respect to species' life history strategy and life stage may better integrate a systems' perspective for conservation and management of large‐river fish populations.
Network State Conservation in Dynamic Spectrum Access: the IEEE 802.11 DCF Case

Abstract The paper is on improving spectral efficiency in dynamic spectrum access (DSA). The proliferation of wireless devices has been straining the limited radio spectrum in recent years. The spectrum shortage problem will deteriorate as the ideas of Internet of things (IoT) and smart communities are gaining attention and acceptance. It is thus important to improve spectral efficiency in DSA, one of the most promising techniques addressing the spectrum shortage problem. One perspective to improving spectral efficiency in DSA is to study the impact of a cognitive-radio (CR) physical layer on the upper layers, such as the medium access control (MAC) sub-layer. A CR physical layer coupled with DSA may interrupt the activities at an upper layer at any given time, which can be costly in terms of spectral efficiency. For example, when a CR physical layer interrupts the ACK transmission in a RTS-CTS-DATA-ACK cycle of the IEEE 802.11 DCF, the spectrum used for accomplishing the RTS-CTS-DATA exchange are totally wasted, impairing spectral efficiency in the second user (SU) network. This type of spectrum waste caused by a CR physical layer in DSA can be reduced by the idea of network state conservation (NSC). Basically, second users with NSC conserve their protocol state information when the signal of primary user (PU) arrives in the channel. When the channel becomes available again for the SUs, they use their conserved network states to resume their protocol cycle from where it was interrupted by the PU’s signal, instead of starting the whole cycle over. We show that NSC can significantly improve the spectrum efficiency of an SU network of IEEE 802.11 DCF nodes, and the gain in spectrum efficiency increases with the intensity of the PU’s traffic.
Measuring Constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in the Context of Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Federally Qualified Health Center.

Objective To operationalize constructs from each of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains and to present psychometric properties within the context of evidence-based approaches for promoting colorectal cancer screening in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Methods Data were collected from FQHC clinics across seven states. A web-based Staff Survey and a Clinic Characteristics Survey were completed by staff and leaders (n = 277) from 59 FQHCs. Results Internal reliability of scales was adequate ranging from 0.62 for compatibility to 0.88 for other personal attributes (openness). Intraclass correlations for the scales indicated that 2.4 percent to 20.9 percent of the variance in scale scores occurs within clinics. Discriminant validity was adequate at the clinic level, with all correlations less than 0.75. Convergent validity was more difficult to assess given lack of hypothesized associations between factors expected to predict implementation. Conclusions Our results move the field forward by describing initial psychometric properties of constructs across CFIR domains.
Cutting Edge: T Cell–Dependent Plasmablasts Form in the Absence of Single Differentiated CD4+ T Cell Subsets

The T follicular helper (Tfh) cell subset of CD4+ Th cells promotes affinity maturation by B cells in germinal centers. The contribution of other Th cell subsets to B cell responses has not been fully explored in vivo. We addressed this issue by analyzing the T cell-dependent B cell response to the protein Ag PE in mice lacking specific Th cell subsets. As expected, PE-specific germinal center B cell production required Tfh cells. However, Tfh, Th1, or Th17 cell-deficient mice produced as many PE-specific, isotype-switched plasmablasts as wild-type mice. This response depended on Th cell expression of CD154 and Ag presentation by B cells. These results indicate that many Th cell subsets can promote plasmablast formation by providing CD40 signals to naive B cells.
AB INITIO CALCULATIONS ON FLUOROETHANES : GEOMETRIES, DIPOLE MOMENTS, VIBRATIONAL FREQUENCIES, AND INFRARED INTENSITIES

Ab initio calculations have been performed at the MP2/6-31G** level for the series of fluorinated ethanes, C2HnF6-n, n = 0−5. The resulting geometries, dipole moments, vibrational frequencies, and absolute infrared intensities are reported for stable conformers of the series, including both anti and gauche species, together with their energy differences, for 1,2-difluoroethane, 1,1,2-trifluoroethane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane. The results are compared to available experimental data. In particular, because of the importance of members of this series as potential CFC substitutes, the accuracy of the computational results for infrared frequencies and intensities is discussed, including the dependence on basis set, for calculations at the MP2 level of the theory.
The challenges of itinerant early childhood special education: The perspectives of practitioners

Normal 0 false false false BS-LATN-BA JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} ECSE teachers who serve as itinerants face professional challenges that can differ from their classroom-based colleagues. The purpose of this study was to understand the kinds of challenges that itinerant ECSE teachers from one state face. A content analysis of comments related to professional challenges yielded six themes that focused on logistics, caseload, confidence and competence, characteristics of teachers, parents, or early childhood programs, accessing resources and professional support, and meeting the needs of specific children. Most of the comments centered on the characteristics of teachers, parents or early childhood programs. Implications for future research include the need for replication with other groups of itinerant teachers. Implications for practice focus on the need to better prepare ECSE teachers for roles as itinerants.
Recent advances in metal carcinogenesis

Recent advances in metal carcinogenesis are comprehensively reviewed, including (a) epidemiological and clinical aspects, (b) carcinogenesis bioassays, (c) bacterial mutagenesis, (d) mammalian cell mutagenesis, (e) chromosomal damage, (f) mammalian cell transformation, (g) microsomal metabolism, (h) DNA strandbreaks and crosslinks, (i) DNA polymerase infidelity, (j) RNA strand initiation, and (k) helical transition of B-DNA to Z-DNA. Based upon these observations, several hypotheses are proposed for the molecular pathogenesis of carcinogenesis by metal compounds. These hypotheses are amenable to experimental test by existing techniques of molecular biology.
Communes in America, 1975–2000

This third volume in a trilogy on twentieth-century communal life in America is the eleventh book emerging from Timothy Miller’s long career, which began in American religious history. The author’s...
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Judicial Review Under APA Sections 706(1) and 706(2)

Judicial review of agency inaction under Section 706(1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) has been often been doctrinally incoherent and unclear. There is confusion about proper standard of review, the distinction between agency action and inaction, and the full scope of the presumption of unreviewability for agency non-enforcement decisions laid out by the Supreme Court in Heckler v. Chaney. The result is not just problematic on an abstract level - judicial review of agency inaction is increasingly important in regulatory fields such as environmental law, as shown by the Supreme Court's recent decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. Building on a framework developed in a separate paper that identifies judicial deference to agency resource allocation decisions as a crucial factor in this field, this paper applies that framework to provide coherence and clarity to the doctrine of judicial review of agency inaction. In particular, the paper shows that there is no fundamental difference between judicial review of agency action under Section 706(2) of the APA and of agency inaction under Section 706(1). The same underlying principles of administrative law apply in both circumstances, with the level of deference varying depending on the importance that resource allocation plays in the agency's decision. Likewise, a wide range of exceptions to judicial review of agency decisions that the Supreme Court has carved out can be understood as the result of judicial deference to agency resource allocation.
Simple mucinous cysts of the pancreas have heterogeneous somatic mutations.

Summary Simple mucinous cysts of the pancreas have an epithelial lining resembling pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia but may have a clinical presentation similar to premalignant mucinous neoplasms such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Whether the epithelial lining shares genomic alterations with other pancreatic preinvasive neoplasms such as PanIN and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm has not been determined. We performed targeted sequencing analysis using a custom-designed MiSeq panel including the full coding regions of 18 pancreatic cancer genes on 13 clinically and pathologically well-characterized simple mucinous cysts. We detected 59 mutations in 15 genes in the cohort, with a median of 4 mutations per cyst (range = 0–16 mutations per cyst). The mutated genes and rate of detected mutations were as follows: KMT2C (MLL3) (62%), KRAS (15%), BRAF (8%), RNF43 (8%), CDKN2a (8%), TP53 (15%), and SMAD4 (8%). No GNAS mutations were detected. Four cases (31%) had no mutations detected. These findings place the majority of simple mucinous cysts of the pancreas in the spectrum of early, low-grade mucinous neoplasia, albeit with a different spectrum of genomic alterations compared with PanIN and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.
An Epistasis Analysis of recA and recN in Escherichia coli K-12

RecA is essential for double-strand-break repair (DSBR) and the SOS response in Escherichia coli K-12. RecN is an SOS protein and a member of the Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes family of proteins thought to play a role in sister chromatid cohesion/interactions during DSBR. Previous studies have shown that a plasmid-encoded recA4190 (Q300R) mutant had a phenotype similar to ∆recN (mitomycin C sensitive and UV resistant). It was hypothesized that RecN and RecA physically interact, and that recA4190 specifically eliminated this interaction. To test this model, an epistasis analysis between recA4190 and ∆recN was performed in wild-type and recBC sbcBC cells. To do this, recA4190 was first transferred to the chromosome. As single mutants, recA4190 and ∆recN were Rec+ as measured by transductional recombination, but were 3-fold and 10-fold decreased in their ability to do I-SceI-induced DSBR, respectively. In both cases, the double mutant had an additive phenotype relative to either single mutant. In the recBC sbcBC background, recA4190 and ∆recN cells were very UVS (sensitive), Rec−, had high basal levels of SOS expression and an altered distribution of RecA-GFP structures. In all cases, the double mutant had additive phenotypes. These data suggest that recA4190 (Q300R) and ∆recN remove functions in genetically distinct pathways important for DNA repair, and that RecA Q300 was not important for an interaction between RecN and RecA in vivo. recA4190 (Q300R) revealed modest phenotypes in a wild-type background and dramatic phenotypes in a recBC sbcBC strain, reflecting greater stringency of RecA’s role in that background.