cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technology insight: can neuroimaging provide insights into the role of ischemia in Baló's concentric sclerosis?

Balo's concentric sclerosis (BCS) is a demyelinating disorder characterized by white matter lesions consisting of rings of demyelination alternating with rings of relatively intact myelin. In this Review, Mowry et al. discuss how advanced neuroimaging techniques have contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of BCS, as well as enabling clinicians to distinguish BCS from other demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The authors explore these themes further in a Case Study in this issue.
Abstract 3191: Elevation of tumor-promoting cytokines in mice exposed to the environmental contaminant tributyltin

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Cytokines are important regulators of immune responsiveness. Alterations of cytokine secretion from immune cells would have the potential to disrupt both immune destruction of cancer cells and to alter the proliferation and invasiveness of tumor cells due to their capacity to act as growth factors, angiogenic factors, and inducers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Tributyltin (TBT) is a widespread environmental contaminant having been used in a variety of industrial applications and is found in human blood at levels ranging as high as 261 nM. Studies in human immune cells have shown that secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is altered by exposures to TBT. There have been no in vivo studies of the effects of exposure to TBT on the cytokine communication network. As it is not possible to examine alterations of this network in exposed humans, we examined the effects of TBT exposure in a mouse model using Milliplex mouse cytokine/chemokine magnetic bead premixed 32 plex kit. Serum and spleens of TBT-exposed mice were analyzed for changes in cytokine secretion/levels. TBT increased the levels of IL13 in the serum of non-tumor-bearing mice and increased IL1β, IL6, KC, and M-CSF in tumor-bearing mice. The spleens of both non-tumor-bearing and tumor-bearing mice showed increases in Eotaxin when exposed to TBT. Of significant interest is the fact that the presence of tumor causes increases in Eotaxin, IL12p40, M-CSF, and TNFα and exposure to TBT alone can cause increases in these same cytokines. Tumors are known to increase levels of cytokines that enhance their ability to survive. The results showing that TBT can amplify the levels of several cytokines that are increased by tumor suggest that TBT may have tumor-promoting abilities by modulating tumor growth and/or invasiveness. Experiments are under way to dissect cytokine signaling pathways that are affected by TBT. The findings will allow identification of molecular targets that are necessary to intercept the tumor promoting signaling following TBT exposure. Supported by: NIH grant 5U54CA163066-03 Citation Format: Shanieek Lawrence, Samuel Troy Pellom, Tasia Hurd-Brown, Anil Shanker, Margaret Whalen. Elevation of tumor-promoting cytokines in mice exposed to the environmental contaminant tributyltin. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3191. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3191
The Role of Weight Status in Intergenerational Correlations of Education

The research developed in this paper estimates the role of weight status in intergenerational correlations of educational attainment between women and their children. I consider a model of how obesity may influence the accumulation of human capital and its correlation across generations. Credit constraints for low-income families (who are at higher risk of obesity) are likely to amplify this correlation. Prior studies have found a causal relationship between weight status and economic outcomes, such as income. Thus, the transmission of obesity between generations may explain a portion of the estimates of intergenerational mobility previously characterized. I find that women who were overweight or obese in early adulthood obtain less education than their peers and also that their obese or overweight daughters accumulate less education than their peers. The direction of this contemporaneous relationship is reversed in boys, with obese and overweight sons having higher levels of education than those with BMI levels in the desired range. These results for investments in education are consistent with the evidence that obese women face a wage penalty relative to their non-obese peers, while obese males do not.
Insulation failure in laparoscopic instruments.

Background Electrosurgery is used in virtually every laparoscopic operation. In the early days of laparoscopic surgery, capacitive coupling, associated with hybrid trocars, was thought to be the major cause of laparoscopic electrosurgery injuries. Modern laparoscopy has reduced capacitive coupling, and now insulation failure is thought to be the main cause of electrosurgical complications. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the incidence of insulation failures, (2) to compare the incidence of insulation failure in reusable and disposable instruments, and (3) to determine the location of insulation failures.
Self-motion improves head direction cell tuning.

Head direction (HD) cells respond when an animal faces a particular direction in the environment and form the basis for the animal's perceived directional heading. When an animal moves through its ...
Molecular Cloud Formation in Disk Galaxies: The Case of M33

We present results from the BIMA survey of 12CO(1 → 0) emission from M33. The survey resolves this emission into individual objects making this study the first unbiased, complete census of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in a Spiral galaxy. The GMCs are clearly associated with dense atomic gas, suggesting formation from the HI. Moreover, high resolution observations of these clouds show that they appear the same as Milky Way GMCs when viewed through the same observational filters. The GMCs show significantly less angular momentum than predicted by simple formation theories, suggesting the importance of magnetohydrodynamic effects in their formation.
Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in mice lacking anion transporter Slc26a6.

Urolithiasis is one of the most common urologic diseases in industrialized societies. Calcium oxalate is the predominant component in 70–80% of kidney stones1, and small changes in urinary oxalate concentration affect the risk of stone formation2. SLC26A6 is an anion exchanger expressed on the apical membrane in many epithelial tissues, including kidney and intestine3,4,5,6. Among its transport activities, SLC26A6 mediates Cl−-oxalate exchange5,6,7,8,9. Here we show that mutant mice lacking Slc26a6 develop a high incidence of calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Slc26a6-null mice have significant hyperoxaluria and elevation in plasma oxalate concentration that is greatly attenuated by dietary oxalate restriction. In vitro flux studies indicated that mice lacking Slc26a6 have a defect in intestinal oxalate secretion resulting in enhanced net absorption of oxalate. We conclude that the anion exchanger SLC26A6 has a major constitutive role in limiting net intestinal absorption of oxalate, thereby preventing hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate urolithiasis.
Threats to privacy in the forensic analysis of database systems

The use of any modern computer system leaves unintended traces of expired data and remnants of users' past activities. In this paper, we investigate the unintended persistence of data stored in database systems. This data can be recovered by forensic analysis, and it poses a threat to privacy. First, we show how data remnants are preserved in database table storage, the transaction log, indexes, and other system components. Our evaluation of several real database systems reveals that deleted data is not securely removed from database storage and that users have little control over the persistence of deleted data. Second, we address the problem of unintended data retention by proposing a set of system transparency criteria: data retention should be avoided when possible, evident to users when it cannot be avoided, and bounded in time. Third, we propose specific techniques for secure record deletion and log expunction that increase the transparency of database systems, making them more resistant to forensic analysis.
Innate Predator Recognition and the Problem of Introduced Trout

Innate predator recognition typically only occurs when there is an evolutionary history between predator and prey. Predator introductions thus can pose a substantial threat to native fauna that rely heavily on inherent identification of predators. In permanent aquatic habitats prey often encounter a variety of predatory and non-predatory fish species, and the ability to distinguish between the two is essential to avoid wasted time and energy spent in unnecessary antipredatory efforts. Here, we present a study evaluating the ability of lab-reared larvae of an endangered fully aquatic salamander (hellbenders: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) to recognize chemical cues from native and introduced fish predators. We recorded responses of hellbender larvae to chemical stimuli from native and non-native predatory fishes, a non-predatory fish and a blank control. Eastern hellbender larvae (C. a. alleganiensis) significantly reduced activity in response to chemical stimuli from native predators (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieu, Ambloplites rupestris, Sander vitreus, and Cottus carolinae), but responses to non-native rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown (Salmo trutta) trout were not significantly different from responses to the non-predatory control (redhorse sucker, Moxostoma spp.). Responses of larval Ozark hellbenders (C. a. bishopi) to brown trout were similar to that of the native fishes and different from the blank control, but responses to rainbow trout did not differ from the blank control. The generally weak responses of larval hellbenders to chemical cues from introduced predatory trout could lead to increased predation in the wild, which may have exacerbated the decline of hellbender populations.
The expressive powers of the logic programming semantics (extended abstract)

We compare the expressive powers of three semantics for deductive databases and logic programming: the 3-valued program completion semantics, the well-founded semantics, and the stable semantics, We identify the expressive power of the stable semantics, and in fairly general circumstances that of the well-founded semantics.Over infinite Herbrand models, where the three semantics have equivalent expressive power, we also consider a notion of uniform translatability between the 3-valued program completion and well-founded semantics. In this sense of uniform translatability we show the well-founded semantics to be more expressive.
Behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational evidence for perceptual caching in repetition priming.

Abstract Repetition priming (RP) is a form of learning, whereby classification or identification performance is improved with item repetition. Various theories have been proposed to understand the basis of RP, including alterations in the representation of an object and associative stimulus–response bindings. There remain several aspects of RP that are still poorly understood, and it is unclear whether previous theories only apply to well-established object representations. This paper integrates behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational modeling experiments in a new RP study using novel objects. Behavioral and neuroimaging results were inconsistent with existing theories of RP, thus a new perceptual memory-based caching mechanism is formalized using computational modeling. The model instantiates a viable neural mechanism that not only accounts for the pattern seen in this experiment but also provides a plausible explanation for previous results that demonstrated residual priming after associative linkages were disrupted. Altogether, the current work helps advance our understanding of how brain utilizes repetition for faster information processing.
Frequency and Severity of Comorbid Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Prescription Opioid Dependence

Background and Objectives Comorbid substance use disorders and mood and anxiety disorders are associated with more severe psychiatric symptoms, social and occupational impairment, and economic burden. To date, the majority of research has focused on comorbidity in illicit drug users, rather than prescription drug users. To address this gap in the literature, the present cross-sectional study investigated the clinical profiles of individuals with prescription opioid dependence with or without comorbid mood and anxiety disorders. Methods Ninety individuals with prescription opioid use were recruited to participate in the study procedures. All participants completed a structured clinical interview and series of self-report measures. Results and Conclusions Of the 85 individuals with prescription opioid dependence, 47.1% (n = 40) were diagnosed with a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder. The findings showed that individuals with prescription opioid dependence and comorbid mood and anxiety disorders demonstrated significantly more severe alcohol use, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep impairment than individuals without comorbidity. Scientific Significance The findings highlight the frequency and severity of co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders in individuals with prescription opioid dependence and suggest that integrated interventions are needed to address these growing problems. (Am J Addict 2013; 22:261–265)
The developing organ of Corti contains retinoic acid and forms supernumerary hair cells in response to exogenous retinoic acid in culture

The mammalian organ of Corti has one of the most highly ordered patterns of cells in any vertebrate sensory epithelium. A single row of inner hair cells and three or four rows of outer hair cells extend along its length. The factors that regulate the formation of this strict pattern are unknown. In order to determine whether retinoic acid plays a role during the development of the organ of Corti, exogenous retinoic acid was added to embryonic mouse cochleae in vitro. Exogenous retinoic acid significantly increased the number of cells that developed as hair cells and resulted in large regions of supernumerary hair cells and supporting cells containing two rows of inner hair cells and up to 11 rows of outer hair cells. The effects of retinoic acid were dependent on concentration and on the timing of its addition. Western blot analysis indicated that cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) was present in the sensory epithelium of the embryonic cochlea. The amount of CRABP apparently increased between embryonic day 14 and postnatal day 1, but CRABP was not detectable in sensory epithelia from adults. A retinoic acid reporter cell line was used to demonstrate that retinoic acid was also present in the developing organ of Corti between embryonic day 14 and postnatal day 1, and was also present in adult cochleae at least in the vicinity of the modiolus. These results suggest that retinoic acid is involved in the normal development of the organ of Corti and that the effect of retinoic acid may be to induce a population of prosensory cells to become competent to differentiate as hair cells and supporting cells.
A W-band interferometric real-beam scanning FMCW imaging radar

This paper presents an interferometric real-beam scanning FMCW imaging radar. As opposed to the more commonly discussed interferometric SAR radar system that requires a finite capture interval as well as traditionally long post-processing times, the proposed system is a real-time imaging system that generates a 10Hz real-beam radar image. The interferometric technique is proposed as a means to enhance the raw 2D-based image result by providing target height estimation from phase difference measurements, paving a foundation for a 3D volumetric sensor. The general concepts of the system will be discussed followed by details on the RF characteristics and performance. Lastly, the initial validation results of phase estimation measurements will be presented.
Physiology of functional and effective networks in epilepsy

Epilepsy is a network phenomenon characterized by atypical activity during seizure both at the level of single neurons and neural populations. The etiology of epilepsy is not completely understood but a common theme among proposed mechanisms is abnormal synchronization between neuronal populations. Recent advances in novel imaging and recording technologies have enabled the inference of comprehensive maps of both the anatomical and physiological inter-relationships between brain regions. Clinical protocols established for diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy utilize both advanced neuroimaging techniques and neurophysiological data. These growing clinical datasets can be further exploited to better understand the complex connectivity patterns in the epileptic brain. In this article, we review results and insights gained from the growing body of research focused on epilepsy from a network perspective. In particular, we put an emphasis on two different notions of network connectivity: functional and effective; and studies investigating these notions in epilepsy are highlighted. We also discuss limitations and opportunities in data collection and analyses that will further our understanding of epileptic networks and the mechanisms of seizures.
Drake Passage and the Scotia arc: A tortuous space-time gateway for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

The opening of Drake Passage between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula may have removed the last barrier for the wind-driven Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the largest current in the world’s oceans, encircling the Antarctic continent. For over 35 yr, it has been speculated that its
Elevated peroxiredoxin 1, but not NF-E2-related factor 2, is an independent prognostic factor for disease recurrence and reduced survival in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death with chance of survival restricted to a subset of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients able to undergo surgical resection. However, the recurrence rate of NSCLC after surgery remains high with few prognostic indicators of clinical outcome. Peroxiredoxin1 (Prx1) is shown to be elevated in various cancers and confers an aggressive survival phenotype. We recently cloned the prx1 promoter and found that NF-E2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor for prx1 up-regulation. Previous studies suggest that Nrf2 may be constitutively activated in NSCLC. Based on the above information, we investigated whether Prx1 and/or Nrf2 levels have prognostic significance in stage I NSCLC. Methods and Results: Immunohistochemical expression of Prx1 and Nrf2 was evaluated in paraffin-embedded tissues from 90 patients who underwent a curative surgical resection. Increased expression of cytosolic Prx1 (66.7%) and nuclear Nrf2 (61.8%) was observed in this series. Prx1 elevation, but not Nrf2, correlated with reduced recurrence-free survival and overall survival on univariate ( P = 0.01 and P = 0.03) and multivariate ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.005) analyses. Conclusion: This is the first study to test the prognostic significance of Prx1 and Nrf2 in human cancers. Our results show that Prx1 expression status predicts for recurrence and shorter survival in stage I NSCLC after surgery. Considering the possible role of Prx1 and Nrf2 in radioresistance/chemoresistance, it warrants future investigation to evaluate whether elevated Prx1 and/or Nrf2 levels are predictive of treatment response in advanced lung cancer and other malignancies.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling in proliferating cells maintains an anti-apoptotic transcriptional program mediated by inhibition of FOXO and non-canonical activation of NFκB transcription factors

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase is activated by a variety of growth factor receptors and the PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway is a key regulator of cell proliferation and survival. The downstream targets of PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling include direct regulators of cell cycle progression and apoptosis as well as a number of transcription factors. Growth factor stimulation of quiescent cells leads to robust activation of PI 3-kinase, induction of immediate-early genes, and re-entry into the cell cycle. A lower level of PI 3-kinase signaling is also required for the proliferation and survival of cells maintained in the presence of growth factors, but the gene expression program controlled by PI 3-kinase signaling in proliferating cells has not been elucidated. We used microarray analyses to characterize the changes in gene expression resulting from inhibition of PI 3-kinase in proliferating cells. The genes regulated by inhibition of PI 3-kinase in proliferating cells were distinct from genes induced by growth factor stimulation of quiescent cells and highly enriched in genes that regulate programmed cell death. Computational analyses followed by chromatin immunoprecipitations demonstrated FOXO binding to both previously known and novel sites in promoter regions of approximately one-third of the up-regulated genes, consistent with activation of FOXO1 and FOXO3a in response to inhibition of PI 3-kinase. NFκB binding sites were similarly identified in promoter regions of over one-third of the down-regulated genes. RelB was constitutively bound to promoter regions in cells maintained in serum, however binding decreased following PI 3-kinase inhibition, indicating that PI 3-kinase signaling activates NFκB via the non-canonical pathway in proliferating cells. Approximately 70% of the genes targeted by FOXO and NFκB regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis, including several regulators of apoptosis that were not previously known to be targeted by these transcription factors. PI 3-kinase signaling in proliferating cells regulates a novel transcriptional program that is highly enriched in genes that regulate apoptosis. At least one-third of these genes are regulated either by FOXO transcription factors, which are activated following PI 3-kinase inhibition, or by RelB, which is activated by PI 3-kinase via the non-canonical pathway in proliferating cells.
A new reconstruction approach for reflection mode diffraction tomography

Reflection mode diffraction tomography (RM DT) is an inversion scheme used to reconstruct the acoustical refractive index distribution of a scattering object. In this work, we reveal the existence of statistically complementary information inherent in the backscattered data and propose reconstruction algorithms that exploit this information for achieving a bias-free reduction of image variance in RM DT images. Such a reduction of image variance can potentially enhance the detectability of subtle image features when the signal-to-noise ratio of the measured scattered data is low in RM DT. The proposed reconstruction algorithms are mathematically identical, but they propagate noise and numerical errors differently. We investigate theoretically, and validate numerically, the noise properties of images reconstructed using one of the reconstruction algorithms for several different multifrequency sources and uncorrelated data noise.
Single underwater image enhancement using depth estimation based on blurriness

In this paper, we propose to use image blurriness to estimate the depth map for underwater image enhancement. It is based on the observation that objects farther from the camera are more blurry for underwater images. Adopting image blurriness with the image formation model (IFM), we can estimate the distance between scene points and the camera and thereby recover and enhance underwater images. Experimental results on enhancing such images in different lighting conditions demonstrate the proposed method performs better than other IFM-based enhancement methods.
Contact Transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease from Infected to Susceptible Cattle

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of ruminants and swine, spread by contact of susceptible animals with infected animals, fomites, or aerosols [1-3]. The length of time that infected cattle transmit FMD to susceptible cattle and the period of maximal infectiousness are fundamental to an understanding of the spread of the disease. It has been assumed that the presence of virus and its relative titer in either infected animals or the environment determines
Research on the On-Line Monitoring Technology for AC-DC Integration Power in Intelligent Substation

The key technology about on-line monitoring for AC-DC integration power is introduced,expounding the system frame and each department of AC-DC integration.Research the methods of SOC-forecasting for battery, comparing several methods for internal resistance testing,research the safety mechanism of long-distance discharging, point out realizing DC system's CBM is the development trending of Smart Grid.
Critical trials with morantel tartrate against Parascaris eguorum.

Summary Fourteen New Forest foals infected with Parascaris equorum were treated with morantel tartrate by stomach tube at 3 dose levels in critical trials. Worms passed up to the sixth day after treatment compared with worms recovered post mortem gave average efficacy figures of 52, 97 and 100% respectively at dosage levels of 7·5, 10·0 and 12·5 mg/kg. Corresponding faecal egg count reduction was 82, 100 and 100%.
RGS Redundancy and Implications in GPCR–GIRK Signaling

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS proteins) are key components of GPCR complexes, interacting directly with G protein α-subunits to enhance their intrinsic GTPase activity. The functional consequence is an accelerated termination of G protein effectors including certain ion channels. RGS proteins have a profound impact on the membrane-delimited gating behavior of G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K(+) (GIRK) channels as demonstrated in reconstitution assays and recent RGS knockout mice studies. Akin to GPCRs and G protein αβγ subunits, multiple RGS isoforms are expressed within single GIRK-expressing neurons, suggesting functional redundancy and/or specificity in GPCR-GIRK channel signaling. The extent and impact of RGS redundancy in neuronal GPCR-GIRK channel signaling is currently not fully appreciated; however, recent studies from RGS knockout mice are providing important new clues on the impact of individual endogenous RGS proteins and the extent of RGS functional redundancy. Incorporating "tools" such as engineered RGS-resistant Gαi/o subunits provide an important assessment method for determining the impact of all endogenous RGS proteins on a given GPCR response and an accounting benchmark to assess the impact of individual RGS knockouts on overall RGS redundancy within a given neuron. Elucidating the degree of regulation attributable to specific RGS proteins in GIRK channel function will aid in the assessment of individual RGS proteins as viable therapeutic targets in epilepsy, ataxia's, memory disorders, and a growing list of neurological disorders.
Mercury Cadmium Telluride (Hg1-xCdxTe)

Publisher Summary Mercury cadmium telluride (Hg1-xCdxTe) is an II-VI ternary alloy semiconductor that belongs to the zinc-blende family and hence, has much in common with other known semiconductors—such as GaAs and InP. The overall shape of the dielectric functions are similar for most of the materials of the same family, but the precise energy positions of the various spectroscopic features vary from one material to the other. The uniqueness of Hg1-xCdxTe arises from the fact that the direct gap can be varied all the way from 0 to 1.6 eV. The band gap can therefore be reduced below the lowest limit attainable within the III-V family. Hence, Hg1-xCdxTe has found widespread use in the fabrication of quantum infrared detectors. The optical properties of Hg1-xCdxTe are investigated by many investigators. More recent investigations, particularly using scanning ellipsometry, have yielded optical data with substantially improved accuracy. In the context of advances in materials technology, the recent reports of absorption measurements performed on epitaxial films with well-controlled properties, in particular x and its uniformity, are more dependable.
The Timing of Cognitive and Physical Rest and Recovery in Concussion

Immediate cognitive and physical rest in the concussed patient is almost universally recommended in the concussion literature. The authors conducted a prospective observational in a primary care pediatric office to examine the effect of delayed cognitive and physical rest had on recovery time in pediatric concussion. The authors found that patients who started cognitive and physical rest immediately after injury were more likely to recover within 30 days compared to patients who delayed cognitive and physical rest for 1-7 days after their injury (67% vs 35%, P = .016). Within the group of patients who recovered within 30 days those with immediate cognitive and physical rest recovered 4.6 days sooner than those with delayed cognitive and physical rest (10.29 ± 5.83 vs 14.42 ± 6.15 days, P = .005). These data support the recommendation that cognitive and physical rest should be implemented immediately after injury in concussed patients.
Optimal design of high frequency H-bridge inverter for wireless power transfer systems in EV applications

With the emergence of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems in electric vehicle (EV) applications, variety of power electronics converters topologies are implemented. The proper converter design is crucial in these application to be able to handle the high power and frequency operation. This paper presents an optimum design of 40 kHz single-phase H-bridge resonance inverter for wireless EV's charging system. The power and signal components selection and design are discussed in details. Also, the printed circuit board (PCB) layout design is optimized for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) to comply the standard level. Moreover, snubber circuit is designed and added to each inverter leg to minimize the ringing issue. The proposed design includes voltage and current protection for both the DC and AC sides. Both the power switched and the driving circuits are embedded in one PCB. The proposed design is tested under different control and operating conditions and compared with a random design. Finally, the proposed inverter is introduced in a bidirectional inductive wireless power transfer (BIWPT) system prototype and examined by means of simulation and experimental tests. The results shows effective improvements for the proposed design.
The TNF Receptor, CD40 Enters Nucleus through Nuclear Pore Complex and Interacts with c-Rel in Aggressive B Cell Lymphoma.

CD40 is a member of TNF receptor family, which plays important roles in the proliferation, survival and differentiation of lymphocytes. Constitutively active CD40 signaling is one of the hallmarks of aggressive B cell lymphoma development and mediates pivotal functions through its downstream pathways, involving NF-kBs. Recently, our group has reported the nuclear localization of CD40, opening a new paradigm in the functional role of CD40 in non-Hodgkin lymphomas of B cell origin (NHL-B). In this study, we show that CD40 co-localizes and immuno-precipitates with nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins, which suggests NPC proteins are involved in the classic karyopherin pathway that facilitates the nuclear translocation of CD40 protein. Importantly, our co-immunoprecipitation assays and confocal microscopy have demonstrated that, in NHL-B cells, nuclear localized CD40 interacts with the NF-kB protein-c-Rel, but not p65. Chromotin-IP assay further indicates that CD40 forms complexes with c-Rel on the promoters of several proliferation and survival genes- CD154 , Blys/BAFF and Bfl-1/A1 in various NHL-B cell lines. Co-transfection of CD40 and c-Rel in NHL-B cells synergistically enhance Blys promoter-driven luciferase activity while CD40 and p65 do not show such synergy. In normal B cells, transfection of c-Rel has synergistically enhanced the proliferation of B lymphocyte after CD40 ligand stimulation, which results in accumulation of CD40 in the nucleus. Furthermore, co-transfection of c-Rel and wild type CD40 also synergizes the proliferation of NHL-B cells, while co-transfection of c-Rel and nuclear localization signal (NLS) mutated CD40 does not. This study suggests that the nuclear CD40 plays an important role in lymphoma growth and survival mechanisms through its interaction with c-Rel, an oncogene that is amplified in many cases of NHL-B that may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease process. Modulating the nuclear function of CD40 could provide a new targeted therapeutic approach for lymphoma therapy.
Direct visualization of hydrogen absorption dynamics in individual palladium nanoparticles.

It remains unclear why energy storage systems with nanoscale constituents are less susceptible to stress-induced damage than their bulk counterparts. Here, the authors probe in real time the intercalation-driven phase transitions of nanoscale palladium hydride, finding that these nanoparticles are able to fix crystallographic flaws as they form.
Spin and statistics in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics: The spin-zero case

It is proved from stated assumptions of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics based on the Schr\"odinger equation that identical spin-zero particles must obey symmetric statistics.
Left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral outperforms ejection fraction and Doppler-derived cardiac output for predicting outcomes in a select advanced heart failure cohort

Left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI) is a measure of cardiac systolic function and cardiac output. Heart failure patients with low cardiac output are known to have poor cardiovascular outcomes. Thus, extremely low LVOT VTI may predict heart failure patients at highest risk for mortality. Patients with heart failure and extremely low LVOT VTI were identified from a single-center database. Baseline characteristics and heart failure related clinical outcomes (death, LVAD) were obtained at 12 months. Correlation between clinical endpoints and the following variables were analyzed: ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), NYHA class, renal function, Doppler cardiac output (CO), and LVOT VTI. Study cohort consisted of 100 patients. At the 12-month follow up period, 30 events (28 deaths, 2 LVADs) were identified. Occurrence of death and LVAD implantation was statistically associated with a lower LVOT VTI (p = 0.039) but not EF (p = 0.169) or CO (p = 0.217). In multivariate analysis, LVOT VTI (p = 0.003) remained statistically significant, other significant variables were age (p = 0.033) and PASP (p = 0.022). Survival analysis by LVOT VTI tertile demonstrated an unadjusted hazard ratio of 4.755 (CI 1.576-14.348, p = 0.006) for combined LVAD and mortality at one year. Extremely low LVOT VTI strongly predicts adverse outcomes and identifies patients who may benefit most from advanced heart failure therapies.
Influence of Red Cell Water Content on the Morphology of Sickling

The response of sickle cells with varying water content to alterations in oxygen tension has been studied. Cells that were severely dehydrated while sickled retained the characteristic sickled morphology even after prolonged reoxygenation. When the cell water content was increased by reduction of the suspending medium osmolality, the cells unsickled. Cells that were dehydrated before deoxygenation were unable to assume the spiculated morphology typical of sicked cells. This was true both for high mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) discoid sickle cells and for irreversibly sickled cells. When such cells were resuspended in hypotonic medium before deoxygenation, they sickled with the characteristic morphology of sickle cells with normal MCHC. The morphological behavior of Ca-loaded sickled cells as well as irreversibly sickled cells showed a major influence of increased hemoglobin concentration and extremely high internal viscosity. Constraint on cell morphology by putative membrane rigidity was not observed.
Cheap and Near Exact CASSCF with Large Active Spaces

We use the recently developed Heat-bath Configuration Interaction (HCI) algorithm as an efficient active space solver to perform multiconfiguration self-consistent field calculations (HCISCF) with large active spaces. We give a detailed derivation of the theory and show that difficulties associated with non-variationality of the HCI procedure can be overcome by making use of the Lagrangian formulation to calculate the HCI relaxed two-body reduced density matrix. HCISCF is then used to study the electronic structure of butadiene, pentacene, and Fe–porphyrin. One of the most striking results of our work is that the converged active space orbitals obtained from HCISCF are relatively insensitive to the accuracy of the HCI calculation. This allows us to obtain nearly converged CASSCF energies with an estimated error of less than 1 mHa using the orbitals obtained from the HCISCF procedure in which the integral transformation is the dominant cost. For example, an HCISCF calculation on the Fe–porphyrin model comp...
Learner beliefs for successful study abroad experience: A case study

Abstract Second language learners' beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes about themselves as learners and their language learning process have been studied extensively (Wesely, 2012). The relationship between learner beliefs and study abroad (SA) experiences, however, has primarily been investigated in terms of what effects SA might have on learner beliefs (Amuzie & Winke, 2009; Kaypak & Ortactepe, 2014; Tanaka & Ellis, 2003). Notably absent is an examination of the impact of learner beliefs on actual SA experiences, and all of these studies investigated learners of English. Applying case study methodology (Duff, 2014) and drawing upon data from in-depth interviews and reflections, we investigated the beliefs of an American college learner of Russian and the ways in which they affected his SA experience. Our analysis revealed that the learner's pre-existing beliefs about language, language learning, target language, and the target language community/culture contributed positively to his SA in Russia. His positive attitudes towards the target language and community kept him motivated and helped him recognize and overcome culture shock. For example, his pre-SA belief that the immersion setting facilitated the usage of the target language prompted him to seek and seize opportunities for communication, as well use his whole linguistic and cultural repertoire.
Food insecurity in the United States of America: an examination of race/ethnicity and nativity.

Food insecurity is a persistent problem in the United States and is disproportionately distributed across racial/ethnic groups, with some evidence that non-Latino blacks and Latinos experience higher rates than non-Latino whites. But no nationally-representative study examines how race/ethnicity affects food insecurity for immigrants in the United States. Using new assimilation theory and the 1999–2010 waves (N = 32,464) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the relationship between food insecurity and both race/ethnicity and nativity status. Results, when socioeconomic status is held constant, provide evidence for a nonwhite/white divide in food insecurity for both immigrants and the native-born. That is, blacks and Latinos – regardless of nativity status – are significantly more food insecure than both foreign- and native-born whites. These results provide insight into a continuing pattern of racial/ethnic inequality in the United States.
Pharmacovigilance in developing countries (part I): importance and challenges

The thalidomide disaster was the significant historical event that acted as a catalyst for pharmacovigilance activity. Following this event developed countries initiated drug monitoring systems that evolved and now extend their scope to broader drug-related safety issues; however, this was not the case in developing countries. Pharmacovigilance is still a relatively new concept with low priority in developing countries although various issues are raising concerns that magnify the need for systems to monitor post marketing drug safety in these countries. This article analyzes the barriers to introducing robust pharmacovigilance systems in developing countries.
Bounded acceleration traffic flow models: A unified approach

Abstract Bounded acceleration plays a critical role in safety, fuel consumption, vehicle emissions, and capacity drop in traffic flow. We present here equivalent second-order continuum and car-following models with bounded accelerations that encompass existing models, including the LWR model with bounded acceleration, Lebacque’s two-phase model, and the bounded acceleration version of Newell’s car-following model. Analytical solutions are presented for (i) an accelerating rarefaction wave on a homogeneous road, where traffic is still in equilibrium in the acceleration zone, and (ii) an inhomogeneous road with varying speed limits, where an accelerating standing wave is continuous over an acceleration zone and traffic states are non-equilibrium but stationary. We find that traffic states with bounded acceleration can be equilibrium or not and stationary or not, and bounded acceleration does not lead to capacity drop with variable speed limits. These theoretical results are verified with numerical solutions of corresponding lead-vehicle problems. This study provides a theoretical foundation of applying variable speed limits to eliminate capacity drop at lane-drop, sag, tunnel, and other bottlenecks. In the future we are interested in extending such bounded acceleration models for other bottlenecks with inhomogeneous jam densities and time gaps.
Opening GIScience: A process-based approach

Many scholars have demonstrated growing interest in GIScience in recent years, including use of open data portals, shared code and options for open access publication. These practices have made bot...
WImBo — Watermark imaging box project: A digital art history data acquisition tool

The goal of the Watermark Imaging Box (WImBo) Project is to develop a low-cost, readily portable system for imaging artworks on paper, specifically etchings and drawings by the innovative and prolific Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606–1669) and drawings by his pupils, in order to produce images of the watermark and chain lines in the paper support. The background of the WImBo project is described here as an extension of two still-active, pioneering projects in the emerging field of computational art history using digital image processing to address issues in art history scholarship. These two foundation projects are devoted to Chain Line Pattern Marking and Matching (CLiP) — founded in 2012 — and Watermark Identification in Rembrandt's Etchings (WIRE) — founded in 2015.
Mesophase formation and chemical changes in petroleum pitch during low-temperature heat soaking

A-240 petroleum pitch was used to study the mesophase formation. The mesophase formation of solvent and solvent-acid extracted pitch were controlled in terms of optical texture by adding aromatic hydrocarbon compounds as nucleating agents. It is possible to improve considerably the coking properties that are enhanced by the ring condensation tendency of the precursor. The mesophase yield of the HF-solvent extracted pitches in the presence of 1% anthracene was increased when compared with HF-solvent extracted pitch in the absence of anthracene. In this case, HF acted as a catalyst along with anthracene for ring condensation, similar to AlCl3 in the aromatic hydrocarbons.
Pen-Based User Interface for Geometric Decomposition for Hexahedral Mesh Generation

In this work, we present a pen-based user interface (UI) that makes manual geometry decomposition easier and helps reduce user time spent on geometry decomposition for hexahedralmeshing. This paper presents the first attempt to apply a pen-based UI for geometry preparation for mesh generation. The proposed UI is more natural, intuitive, and easier to use than existing interfaces such as Window-Icon-Mouse-Pointer and commandline interfaces. The pen-based UI contains the following features: (1) drawing freeform strokes, (2) fitting and aligning strokes to CAD geometry automatically, (3) creating cutting surfaces, and (4) performing various tasks including webcutting through gestures. The proposed pen-based UI has been tested on a few models to demonstrate its effectiveness in decomposition, defeaturing and controlling mesh orientation.
Factors affecting failure of irrigation and debridement with liner exchange in total knee arthroplasty infection.

Abstract Background We sought to determine if reoperation-free survival following irrigation and debridement with polyethylene liner exchange of acutely infected primary TKA is affected by: 1) postoperative antibiotic duration; 2) patient characteristics or surgical factors; 3) infecting organism; or 4) whether infection was acute postoperative versus hematogenous. Methods Of revision TKAs from 2004 to 2012 (n = 1735), 76 underwent irrigation and debridement (ID 2) is worse with atrial fibrillation, COPD, > 15 cells/HPF, preoperative C-reactive protein > 500 mg/L, or MRSA so two-stage revision may be favored in these patients; and 3) is equivalent in acute postoperative and hematogenous infections.
Communicating in a culturally diverse workforce.

As the Latino population continues to grow in the US, the need for a culturally diverse workforce heightens. The current RN workforce doesn't reflect the increasing diversity of the population. Demands on nurse leaders include the ability to retain a skilled, engaged, and diverse staff. The lead
The Digital Child: The Evolution of Inwardness in the Histories of Childhood

Nothing is more synonymous with the twenty-first century than the image of a child on his or her smart phone, tablet, video game console, television, and/or laptop. But with all this external stimulation, has childhood development been helped or hindered? Daniel Dervin is concerned that today's childhood has become unmoored from its Rousseauist-Wordsworthian anchors in nature. He considers childrens development to be inextricably linked with inwardness, a psychological concept referring to the awareness of ones self as derived from the world and the internalization of such reflections. Inwardness is the enabling space that allows ones thoughts, experiences, and emotions to be processed. It is an important adaptive marker of human evolution. In The Digital Child, Dervin traces the evolution of how we have perceived childhood in the West, and thus what we have meant by inwardness, from pre-history to today. He identifies six transformational stages: tribal, pedagogical, religious, humanist, rational, and citizen leading up to a new stage, the digital child. This stage has emerged from current unprecedented and pervasive technological culture. Dervin delves deeply into each stage that precedes today's, studying myths, literary texts, the visual arts, cultural histories, media reports, and the traditions of parenting, pediatrics, and pedagogy. Weaving together approaches from biology, culture, and psychology, Dervin revisits who we once were as a species in order to enable us to grasp who we are becoming, and where we might be heading, for better or worse.
America’s Crowded Statehouses: Measuring and Explaining Lobbying in the U.S. States:

Across the United States over time, numbers of registered interest groups have continued to increase, but these populations mask the total amount of lobbying that is occurring within America’s stat...