cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic drift or natural selection? Hybridization and asymmetric mitochondrial introgression in two Caribbean lizards (Anolis pulchellus and Anolis krugi).

Hybridization and gene introgression can occur frequently between closely related taxa, but appear to be rare phenomena among members of the species-rich West Indian radiation of Anolis lizards. We investigated the pattern and possible mechanism of introgression between two sister species from Puerto Rico, Anolis pulchellus and Anolis krugi, using mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (DNAH3, NKTR) DNA sequences. Our findings demonstrated extensive introgression of A. krugi mtDNA (k-mtDNA) into the genome of A. pulchellus in western Puerto Rico, to the extent that k-mtDNA has mostly or completely replaced the native mtDNA of A. pulchellus on this part of the island. We proposed two not mutually exclusive scenarios to account for the interspecific matings between A. pulchellus and A. krugi. We inferred that hybridization events occurred independently in several populations, and determined that k-mtDNA haplotypes harboured in individuals of A. pulchellus can be assigned to four of the five major mtDNA clades of A. krugi. Further, the spatial distribution of k-mtDNA clades in the two species is largely congruent. Based on this evidence, we concluded that natural selection was the probable driving mechanism for the extensive k-mtDNA introgression into A. pulchellus. Our two nuclear data sets yielded different results. DNAH3 showed reciprocal monophyly of A. pulchellus and A. krugi, indicating no effect of hybridization on this marker. In contrast, the two species shared nine NKTR alleles, probably due to incomplete lineage sorting. Our study system will provide an excellent opportunity to experimentally assess the behavioural and ecological mechanisms that can lead to hybridization in closely related taxa.
Continuum Companion to Research Methods in Applied Linguistics edited by PALTRIDGE, BRIAN, & AEK PHAKITI

The article reviews the book "Continuum Companion to Research Methods in Applied Linguistics," edited by Brian Paltridge and Aek Phakiti, part of the Continuum Companion book series.
Risk Factors for Acquisition and Loss of Clostridium difficile Colonization in Hospitalized Patients

Asymptomatic colonization may contribute to Clostridium difficile transmission. Few data identify which patients are at risk for colonization. We performed a prospective cohort study of C. difficile colonization and risk factors for C. difficile acquisition and loss in hospitalized patients. Patients admitted to medical or surgical wards at a tertiary care hospital were enrolled; interviews and chart review were performed to determine patient demographics, C. difficile infection (CDI) history, medications, and health care exposures. Stool samples/rectal swabs were collected at enrollment and discharge; stool samples from clinical laboratory tests were also included. Samples were cultured for C. difficile, and the isolates were tested for toxins A and B and ribotyped. Chi-square tests and univariate logistic regression were used for the analyses. Two hundred thirty-five patients were enrolled. Of the patients, 21% were colonized with C. difficile (toxigenic and nontoxigenic) at admission and 24% at discharge. Ribotype 027 accounted for 6% of the strains at admission and 12% at discharge. Of the patients colonized at admission, 78% were also colonized at discharge. Cephalosporin use was associated with C. difficile acquisition (47% of patients who acquired C. difficile versus 25% of patients who did not; P = 0.03). β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations were associated with a loss of C. difficile colonization (36% of patients who lost C. difficile colonization versus 8% of patients colonized at both admission and discharge; P = 0.04), as was metronidazole (27% versus 3%; P = 0.03). Antibiotic use affects the epidemiology of asymptomatic C. difficile colonization, including acquisition and loss, and it requires additional study.
Case review: management of life-threatening sepsis and wound healing in a Klippel-Trenaunay patient using serial surgical débridements and vacuum-assisted closure

In Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome surgery is reserved for conditions which result in hemodynamic instability and sepsis. We report a pediatric patient with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and life-threatening wound sepsis responding to serial surgical debridements and application of the Vacuum-Assisted Closure device. The device was found to be an effective adjunct to the treatment algorithm.
Clearance of minute virus of mice by flocculation and microfiltration

Clearance of minute virus of mice (MVM) from CHO cell suspensions by flocculation and microfiltration has been investigated. MVM is a parvovirus that is recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for validating clearance of parvoviruses. The feed streams were flocculated using a cationic polyelectrolyte. Virus clearance in excess of 10,000-fold was obtained in the bulk permeate for flocculated feeds streams. However, the level of clearance was only about 10- to 100-fold for unflocculated feed streams. The results suggest that virus clearance involves interactions between the MVM particles, the cationic polyelectrolyte, and the CHO cells present. Validating virus clearance is a major concern in the biotechnology industry. New unit operations are frequently added to the purification train simply to validate virus clearance. However, many of these unit operations are less effective at validating clearance of nonenveloped viruses. Validating clearance of parvoviruses is often particularly problematic as they are nonenveloped and the virus particles are small (18 to 24 nm), making physical removal difficult. The results obtained herein indicate that addition of the cationic polyelectrolyte not only results in significant clearance of MVM but also leads to an increase in permeate flux.
The application of wavelets to lossless compression and progressive transmission of floating point data in 3-D curvilinear grids

Many times in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work very large datasets are produced on remote machines. This vast amount of data must often be moved to a local machine for post processing and visualization. However, this can be time consuming because of the large quantity of data that must be transmitted. Compressing the data can speed up the transmission and save several hours of the researchers' time. Progressive transmission can further increase efficiency of the visualization process by giving researchers an approximation of the data very quickly. They can then make a decision based on this approximation about whether to continue the transmission or, if the data is determined to be undesirable, to abort it. A method of lossless compression using wavelets is presented that enables progressive transmission of CFD data in Plot-3D format, a standard format for CFD data. Given a CFD data set, the floating point data is first converted to double-precision floating point format. Although the conversion to double-precision floating point numbers doubles the size of the data set, most of the extra precision retains the value of zero. It can therefore be compressed very well using Huffman codes.
Genetic approach to pole placement in linear state space systems

This paper describes a genetic approach for shaping the dynamic responses of linear state space systems through pole placement. The genetic approach generates a gain vector K. The vector K is used in state feedback for altering the poles of the system so as to meet step response requirements such as settling time and percent overshoot. To obtain the gain vector K by the proposed genetic approach, a pair of ideal, desired poles is calculate first and the corresponding gain vector K is computed based on the desired poles. That K vector is bred and mutated into a population. Each member of the population is tested for its fitness (the degree to which it matches the criteria). A new population is created each “generation” from the results of the previous iteration, until the criteria are met, or a certain number of generations have passed. Several case studies are provided in this paper to illustrate that this new approach is working.
Early Detection of Head and Neck Cancer: Development of a Novel Screening Tool Using Multiplexed Immunobead-Based Biomarker Profiling

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is an aggressive disease that has been linked to altered immune, inflammatory, and angiogenesis responses. A better understanding of these aberrant responses might improve early detection and prognosis of SCCHN and provide novel therapeutic targets. Previous studies examined the role of multiplexed serum biomarkers in small cohorts or SCCHN sera. We hypothesized that an expanded panel comprised of multiple cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and other tumor markers, which individually may show some promising correlation with disease status, might provide higher diagnostic power if used in combination. Thus, we evaluated a novel multianalyte LabMAP profiling technology that allows simultaneous measurement of multiple serum biomarkers. Concentrations of 60 cytokines, growth factors, and tumor antigens were measured in the sera of 116 SCCHN patients before treatment (active disease group), 103 patients who were successfully treated (no evidence of disease group), and 117 smoker controls without evidence of cancer. The multimarker panel offering the highest diagnostic power was comprised of 25 biomarkers, including epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor, interleukin (IL)-8, tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, alpha-fetoprotein, matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-3, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IFN-inducible protein-10, regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, IL-7, IL-17, IL-1 receptor-alpha, IL-2 receptor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, mesothelin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1, E-selectin, cytokeratin-19, vascular cell adhesion molecule, and cancer antigen-125. Statistical analysis using an ADE algorithm resulted in a sensitivity of 84.5%, specificity of 98%, and 92% of patients in the active disease group correctly classified from a cross-validation serum set. The data presented show that simultaneous testing using a multiplexed panel of serum biomarkers may present a promising new approach for the early detection of head and neck cancer.
Totally automated electrophysiologic testing of sinus node function

The investigation of cardiac dysrhythmias has become increasingly more complex, time consuming, and expensive.’ A complex case requires 5 to 8 hours of physician time. Although automated computer technologies have been applied to dysrhythmia recognition by surface ECG and postcase measurement of electrophysiology data,2 they have not, to our knowledge, been used to perform stimulation protocols or measure stimulated intracardiac intervals automatically during electrophysiologic testing on line. It is the purpose of this article to report the development of a stimulation/measurement system and programs, which automatically measure intracardiac intervals during electrophysiologic study, and to compare these measurements to those obtained in the usual manner.
Photosynthetic and phylogenetic primers for detection of anoxygenic phototrophs in natural environments

Primer sets were designed to target specific 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of photosynthetic bacteria, including the green sulfur bacteria, the green nonsulfur bacteria, and the members of the Heliobacteriaceae (a gram-positive phylum). Due to the phylogenetic diversity of purple sulfur and purple nonsulfur phototrophs, the 16S rDNA gene was not an appropriate target for phylogenetic rDNA primers. Thus, a primer set was designed that targets the pufM gene, encoding the M subunit of the photosynthetic reaction center, which is universally distributed among purple phototrophic bacteria. The pufM primer set amplified DNAs not only from purple sulfur and purple nonsulfur phototrophs but also from Chloroflexus species, which also produce a reaction center like that of the purple bacteria. Although the purple bacterial reaction center structurally resembles green plant photosystem II, the pufM primers did not amplify cyanobacterial DNA, further indicating their specificity for purple anoxyphototrophs. This combination of phylogenetic- and photosynthesis-specific primers covers all groups of known anoxygenic phototrophs and as such shows promise as a molecular tool for the rapid assessment of natural samples in ecological studies of these organisms.
Designing Zeolites As Novel Precursors To Electronic Ceramics

The decomposition of zeolites is a novel route for the synthesis of aluminosilicate-based ceramic materials. Zeolites offer a number of advantages as ceramic precursors which allow the formation of dense ceramics at lower temperatures than by conventional methods. Using various cation-exchanged zeolites, ceramics and ceramic composites containing anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8). mullite (Al6Si2O11) cordierite (Mg2Al4Si5O18). celsian (BaAl2Si2O8), and s-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) have been formed. Using Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), we have studied the reconstructive transformation of strontium-exchanged zeolite A to Sr-anorthite and have shown that the primary coordination of strontium remains intact during conversion.
The effect of learning management systems on student and faculty outcomes

Abstract This study examines the effects of interactive and learning structures enabled by different Learning Management Systems (LMS) on satisfaction and learner engagement in online courses. An LMS can support or hinder active engagement, meaningful connections between segments of the course, easy communication, and formative feedback by making it easier or more difficult for faculty to communicate course requirements, provide open-ended feedback, and place course elements that are used together contiguous to one another. This study compares sections of the same course, offered by the same instructors using the same course materials in at least two different LMSs. It examines whether the LMS in which the course is taught affects faculty and student communication behaviors, satisfaction, and social presence, teaching presence and cognitive presence as measured by the Community of Inquiry (COI) survey. Approximately twelve courses, taught in four different schools at DePaul University, will be studied.
Role of Rho in Ca2+-insensitive contraction and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation in smooth muscle

We investigated whether Rho activation is required for Ca2+-insensitive paxillin phosphorylation, myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, and contraction in tracheal muscle. Tyrosine-phosphorylat...
International Symposium on Ion Therapy: Planning the First Hospital-Based Heavy Ion Therapy Center in the United States

Investigation into the use of heavy ions for therapeutic purposes was initially pioneered at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the 1970s [1, 2]. More recently, however, significant advances in determining the safety and efficacy of using heavy ions in the hospital setting have been reported in Japan and Germany [3, 4]. These promising results have helped to resurrect interest in the establishment of hospital-based heavy ion therapy in the United States. In line with these efforts, world experts in the field of heavy ion therapy were invited to attend the first annual International Symposium on Ion Therapy, which was held at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, from November 12 to 14, 2014. A brief overview of the results and discussions that took place during the symposium are presented in this article.
One-to-One Technology in K–12 Classrooms: A Review of the Literature From 2004 Through 2014

AbstractThis literature review examined empirical research conducted between 2004 and 2014 regarding 1:1 technologies in K–12 educational settings. Our overarching research question was: What does research tell us about 1:1 technology in K–12 classrooms? We used the constant-comparative method to analyze, code, and induce themes from 46 relevant articles. Findings showed that the studies selected for analyses primarily concentrated on the following themes: effects on student achievement, changes to the classroom environment, classroom uses, effects on learner motivation and engagement, and challenges to classroom integration. In this article, we define each of these themes, describe the implications of the use of technologies on a 1:1 basis in classrooms, and offer suggestions for future research.
Navigating Ambiguity: Comedy Improvisation as a Tool for Urban Design Pedagogy and Practice

The purpose of this article is three-fold: to reflect critically on the nature of comedy improvisation as a method of unleashing individual and collaborative creativity, to investigate its application in studio pedagogy as a way of enhancing the design process, and to offer insights into its effectiveness as a pedagogical tool and its implications for urban design practice. While comedy improvisation has been studied and applied in fields such as business and management, there has been no serious attempt to explore its potential as an urban design methodology. Based on the author’s experience as a professional urban designer and extensive training in comedy improvisation, an experimental urban design studio was conducted in Boston for graduate students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early 2009. The article highlights the benefits of comedy improvisation such as creative collaboration, fostering innovation, supporting spontaneity, and learning through error; and describes the studio experience of building skills and testing ideas through pedagogical practice. The article concludes with useful insights from comedy improvisation for urban design practice, including building effective design teams as horizontal networks, developing highly creative design processes that are sensitive to constant change, and ways in which design innovation emerges out of specific types of group dynamics. Urban designers require such skills in a field marked by long-term non-linear design processes, interdisciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders with different viewpoints, and considerable ambiguity in decision making.
Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Nonlinear Absorption in Poly(carbazole-alt-2,7-fluorene)s Bearing Perylene Diimides as Pendant Acceptors

This paper reports the synthesis, photophysical behavior, and use in nanosecond optical-pulse suppression of a poly(2,7-carbazole-alt-2,7-fluorene) and a poly(3,6-carbazole-alt-2,7-fluorene) in which the carbazole N-positions are linked by an alkyl chain to one of the nitrogen atoms of a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) acceptor. It was found that the PDI pendants on the polymer side chain aggregated even in dilute solution, which extended the onset of PDI absorption into the near-infrared (NIR). Transient-absorption spectra of these polymers provide evidence for efficient electron transfer following either donor or acceptor photoexcitation to form long-lived charge-separated species, which exhibit strong absorption in the NIR. The spectral overlap between the transient species and the long-wavelength absorption edge of the aggregated PDI leads to reverse saturable absorption at 680 nm that can be used for optical-pulse suppression. Additionally, at high input energies, two-photon absorptio...
Analysis of Teaching and Living Environmental Monitoring on Primary and Secondary Schools in Hebei District of Tianjin City

[Objective]To understand and realize the teaching and living environment and sanitary status of primary and secondary schools.[Methods]Primary and secondary schools were monitored in the entire district.[Results]Of 59 monitored schools,57 were qualified generally. The number of single item qualified schools was 20 of lighting,50 of illumination,52 of average room area per student,32 of desks and chairs,54 of toilet,26 of room noise,and 48 of microclimate. Among which the difference of qualified rate of desks and chair between schools was significant(χ2=9.484,P=0.002).[Conclusion]Preventive sanitary supervision should be strengthened in future. Teaching environment,sanitation fixture and hygiene standards of teaching should be into included in the assessment contents of school.
Diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma

In the last 30 years the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has greatly increased in the United States and Europe, but not in Japan. Most adenocarcinomas arise in Barrett’s esophagus, an intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells. On endoscopy in Barrett’s esophagus, the red columnar epithelium extending upwards in the lower esophagus is easily seen, and biopsies confirm metaplasia. Patients with Barrett’s esophagus usually have severe esophageal reflux, a weak lower sphincter, and hiatus hernia. Medical or surgical treatment for reflux can relieve symptoms, but the Barrett’s esophagus and increased cancer risk remain. About 5% of Barrett’s patients die from esophageal cancer. In Barrett’s, low-grade then high-grade dysplasia usually precede invasive cancer. Endoscopic biopsy surveillance of patients with Barrett’s esophagus can detect malignancy at an early, curable stage. However, most cases of Barrett’s developing adenocarcinoma are still not found until advanced cancer has developed. As about 20% of adults in the United States have reflux symptoms weekly, and 5% of these have Barrett’s esophagus, population screening for Barrett’s esophagus would be a major effort. With no, or low-grade dysplasia, surveillance endoscopy is usually done. High-grade dysplasia or early adenocarcinoma is often managed by esophagectomy; endoscopic mucosal resection for selected cases is being evaluated. Five-year survival with later-stage adenocarcinomas following transthoracic or transhiatal resection is about 15%. Controlled trials indicate surgical results may be improved by preoperative chemotherapy and radiation. For palliation of dysphagia in nonoperation cases, stent placement or endoscopic laser debulking are used.
PTK6 inhibition suppresses metastases of triple negative breast cancer via Snail-dependent E-cadherin regulation

Patients with triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are at high risk for recurrent or metastatic disease despite standard treatment, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic targets and strategies. Here we report that protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is expressed in approximately 70% of TNBCs where it acts to promote survival and metastatic lung colonization. PTK6 downregulation in mesenchymal TNBC cells suppressed migration and three-dimensional culture growth, and enhanced anoikis, resistance to which is considered a prerequisite for metastasis. PTK6 downregulation restored E-cadherin levels via proteasome-dependent degradation of the E-cadherin repressor SNAIL. Beyond being functionally required in TNBC cells, kinase-active PTK6 also suppressed E-cadherin expression, promoted cell migration, and increased levels of mesenchymal markers in nontransformed MCF10A breast epithelial cells, consistent with a role in promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). SNAIL downregulation and E-cadherin upregulation mediated by PTK6 inhibition induced anoikis, leading to impaired metastatic lung colonization in vivo Finally, effects of PTK6 downregulation were phenocopied by treatment with a recently developed PTK6 kinase inhibitor, further implicating kinase activity in regulation of EMT and metastases. Our findings illustrate the clinical potential for PTK6 inhibition to improve treatment of patients with high-risk TNBC. Cancer Res; 76(15); 4406-17. ©2016 AACR.
A model for the strain-rate dependence of yielding in Ni 3 Al alloys

The anomalous increase in strength with temperature of Ni3Al alloys has been attributed to a thermally activated, stress-aided cross-slip process. Such a mechanism would normally imply a strong rate effect on strength. However, the strength of Ni3Al has been observed to be strain-rate independent for all strain rates that have been used. This paper presents a model to describe cross-slip kinetics in Ni3Al alloys. The model demonstrates that the formation of cross-slip segments can be virtually instantaneous. From this, it was quantitatively shown that a rate dependence would not be expected for Ni3Al alloys at strain rates which have been applied.
Driving a Wedge Between Evidence and Beliefs: How Online Ideological News Exposure Promotes Political Misperceptions

This article has 2 goals: to provide additional evidence that exposure to ideological online news media contributes to political misperceptions, and to test 3 forms this media-effect might take. Analyses are based on representative survey data collected during the 2012 U.S. presidential election N = 1,004. Panel data offer persuasive evidence that biased news site use promotes inaccurate beliefs, while cross-sectional data provide insight into the nature of these effects. There is no evidence that exposure to ideological media reduces awareness of politically unfavorable evidence, though in some circumstances biased media do promote misunderstandings of it. The strongest and most consistent influence of ideological media exposure is to encourage inaccurate beliefs regardless of what consumers know of the evidence.
Introduction: Interfaith Contributions to Nurturing Cultures of Peace

The Introduction provides an overview of the scope of the volume, and outlines a working definition of several concepts that are implicitly at the core of the book, including the concepts of peace, religion, violence, structural violence, interreligious peacemaking (or, peacebuilding), and cultures of peace. From this basis, the chapter presents a critical overview of the way religion and peace has been conceptualized within the tradition of Western philosophy and the social sciences, with the goal of opening up a space for new avenues in the study and practice of religion and peace that are global and interdisciplinary in scope.
Measuring change in career counseling: Validation of the Career Futures Inventory-Revised

This retrospective chart review study examined the factor structure of the Career Futures Inventory-Revised (CFI-R; Rottinghaus et al. in J Career Assess 20:123–139, 2012) and its utility as a career counseling outcome measure using a sample of 332 clients from a university career center. The CFI-R examines career agency and other career adaptability dimensions germane to clients’ career concerns. Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the proposed factor structure. Changes in CFI-R scale scores are reported for 116 clients who received counseling. The use of the CFI-R as an effectiveness outcome measure for individual, group, and classroom career interventions is addressed.
Dispersed single wall carbon nanotubes do not impact mitochondria structure or function, but technical issues during analysis could yield incorrect results

Mitochondria are the organelles of cells that generate a majority of the cell's energy through ATP and are involved in programmed cell death through apoptosis. An understanding of non-specific targeting of nanomaterials, including single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), to organelles is important in trying to modulate cell function or determine the cellular toxicity with long term exposure. Here, we examine the impact of SWCNTs dispersed with Pluronic F127 and protein on mitochondria using a battery of standard tests. Seahorse XF24 analysis suggests complete loss of mitochondiral function, but this data is artifactual due to SWCNTs adsorbing onto the Seahorse probes. Imaging using the mitochondrial functional dye JC-1 gives inconclusive results owing to fluorescence quenching by SWCNTs. We observe no co-localization or reorganization of mitochondria in the presence of SWCNTs, although the results could have been misinterpreted had we not been correcting for significant fluorescence quenching by SWCNTs. In sum, the surface activity and fluorescence quenching of SWCNTs alter many traditional cellular assays. However, light emitting (luciferase) assays show that ATP levels are not altered with SWCNT treatment suggesting that mitochondiral function is not impacted as well as that light-emitting assays are an essential complimentary approach for quantitative, unambiguous cellular study of nanomaterials.
Sexual Health and Multiple Forms of Discrimination Among Heterosexual Youth

Research suggests that inequality in material conditions contributes greatly to disparities in sexual health among youth; however, scholars have overlooked the effect of one manifestation of social disadvantage—interpersonal discrimination—on sexual health. This article uses data from a nationally representative survey of 15 to 25 year olds ( N = 955) to investigate the relationship between interpersonal discrimination and sexual health among heterosexual youth. I examine whether exposure to multiple forms of discrimination (e.g., race and gender) is associated with risky sexual behaviors, as well as STI history, teenage pregnancy, and abortion history. The findings suggest that experiences of multiple forms of discrimination are associated with sexual activity, including early sexual debut and multiple sexual partners. However, discrimination is not linked with condom and contraceptive use, or the negative outcomes of (risky) sexual activity. These findings emphasize the importance of examining, rather than presuming, risk associated with youths’ sexual activity.
Nup42 and IP6 coordinate Gle1 stimulation of Dbp5/DDX19B for mRNA export in yeast and human cells.

The mRNA lifecycle is driven through spatiotemporal changes in the protein composition of mRNA particles (mRNPs) that are triggered by RNA-dependent DEAD-box protein (Dbp) ATPases. As mRNPs exit the nuclear pore complex (NPC) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this remodeling occurs through activation of Dbp5 by inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6)-bound Gle1. At the NPC, Gle1 also binds Nup42, but Nup42’s molecular function is unclear. Here we employ the power of structure-function analysis in S. cerevisiae and human (h) cells, and find that the high-affinity Nup42-Gle1 interaction is integral to Dbp5 (hDDX19B) activation and efficient mRNA export. The Nup42 carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) binds Gle1/hGle1B at an interface distinct from the Gle1-Dbp5/hDDX19B interaction site. A nup42-CTD/gle1-CTD/Dbp5 trimeric complex forms in the presence of IP6. Deletion of NUP42 abrogates Gle1-Dbp5 interaction, and disruption of the Nup42 or IP6 binding interfaces on Gle1/hGle1B leads to defective mRNA export in S. cerevisiae and human cells. In vitro, Nup42-CTD and IP6 stimulate Gle1/hGle1B activation of Dbp5 and DDX19B recombinant proteins in similar, non-additive manners, demonstrating complete functional conservation between humans and S. cerevisiae. Together, a highly conserved mechanism governs spatial coordination of mRNP remodeling during export. This has implications for understanding human disease mutations that perturb the Nup42-hGle1B interaction.
KLF-5 extends its fingers to desmosomes: the next frontier for enteric epithelial research?

pathological alterations in intestinal epithelial permeability can be a cardinal feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A monolayer of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the junctions that seal the paracellular spaces between them serve as the body’s primary barrier against luminal
The Transformation of Urban Politics in France the Roots of Growth Politics and Urban Regimes

French urban planning and politics has moved away from traditional spatial and social policy goals toward a new politics of local economic development. The roots of this transformation are found in...
Deconstructing the algorithmic sublime

This special theme contextualizes, examines, and ultimately works to dispel the feelings of “sublime”—of awe and terror that overrides rational thought—that much of the contemporary public discours...
The Total Artificial Heart in the Surgical Management of Congestive Heart Failure

The idea of completely replacing both ventricles of the heart with an orthotopic mechanical substitute for the treatment of severe heat failure is probably as old as the first understanding of cardiac anatomy and function. However, the first clinical use of such a device dates back less than half a century. In 1969, after considerable animal experimentation, Cooley implanted the Liotta heart (Table 1). Twelve years later, he implanted another total artificial heart (TAH), designed by Akutsu (1). Neither of these desperately ill patients survived for more than a few days. One year later, in 1982, DeVries and his team implanted the Jarvik-100 TAH. This experience with four “permanent” implants demonstrated surprisingly long survivals (2), but was complicated by device endocarditis and subsequent strokes.
Emerging insights into the mechanistic link between α-synuclein and glucocerebrosidase in Parkinson's disease.

Mutations in the GBA1 gene, encoding the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, cause the lysosomal storage disorder GD (Gaucher’s disease), and are associated with the development of PD (Parkinson9s disease) and other Lewy body disorders. Interestingly, GBA1 variants are the most common genetic risk factor associated with PD. Although clinical studies argue a strong case towards a link between GBA1 mutations and the development of PD, mechanistic insights have been lacking. In the present article, we review recent findings that have provided some biochemical evidence to bridge this relationship, focusing on the molecular link between two proteins, α-synuclein and glucocerebrosidase, involved in PD and GD respectively.
Detecting suspicious package updates

With an increased level of automation provided by package managers, which sometimes allow updates to be installed automatically, malicious package updates are becoming a real threat in software ecosystems. To address this issue, we propose an approach based on anomaly detection, to identify suspicious updates based on security-relevant features that attackers could use in an attack. We evaluate our approach in the context of Node.js/npm ecosystem, to show its feasibility in terms of reduced review effort and the correct identification of a confirmed malicious update attack. Although we do not expect it to be a complete solution in isolation, we believe it is an important security building block for software ecosystems.
Local recurrence of Ewing sarcoma: Is wide excision an acceptable treatment?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Local recurrence in Ewing sarcoma (ES) is associated with poor prognosis. The purpose of the study is to determine what factors affect overall survival after local recurrence and whether wide excision constitutes appropriate treatment. METHODS From 1992 to 2017, 26 patients were treated for local recurrence of ES. Sixteen patients presented with local recurrence only while 10 had metastasis. The median follow-up was 23 months (range, 3-255 months). Overall survival was assessed with Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS At the last follow-up, seven of 26 (27%) patients were alive. Overall survival after local recurrence was 28% at 5 years. Later onset of local recurrence (P = .041), surgical treatment (P < .001), and complete eradication of all recurrent disease (P < .001) predicted better survival. Metastasis was associated with worse survival (P = .014). All three patients who survived more than 10 years were treated with wide local excision. A second local recurrence developed in seven patients (28%) but did not predict worse overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Overall survival after local recurrence is better for patients with nonmetastatic disease treated surgically. Wide excision can be compatible with long survival. We do not advocate amputation on a routine basis for local recurrence. Complete eradication of all diseases is associated with better survival.
Virtual Slots Game for Rehabilitation Exercises

Research has shown that compliance to interactive training in tasks such as movement therapy following injuries, stroke and major surgeries is sub-optimal. Efforts are being made to make the rehabilitation process a more engaging experience to motivate patients to adhere to therapy. The use of games and virtual reality has gained interest among researchers and clinicians as it may cost less than clinical therapy and can be made portable for use at home. However, without the encouragement of a physical therapist, motivating patients may be difficult. In this paper, we propose a virtual slot machine game and hypothesize that it can potentially make individuals increase time devoted to therapy. Since this game requires minimal skill for gameplay, patients can simply reach a target to trigger a reel spin. We propose that the anticipation and uncertainty of this game will capture patients’ interest and motivate them to play longer. This preliminary study with able-bodied individuals may be used to tune the testing designs for future efforts on patient populations that need to repetitively practice arm movements.
Detection of aflatoxin B1 on corn kernel surfaces using visible-near infrared spectroscopy:

In this study, visible-near infrared spectroscopy over the spectral range of 400–2500 nm was utilized to detect surface contamination of corn kernels with aflatoxin B1. The artificially contaminate...
X-ray fluorescence microscopy: A method of measuring ion concentrations in the ear

Abstract This technical note describes synchrotron x-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) as a method for measuring the concentrations of different elements in cross-sections of the ear at extremely high resolution. This method could be of great importance for addressing many open questions in hearing research. XFM uses synchrotron radiation to evoke emissions from many biologically relevant elements in the tissue. The intensity and wavelength of the emitted radiation provide a fingerprint of the tissue composition that can be used to measure the concentration of the elements in the sampled location. Here, we focus on energies that target biologically-relevant elements of the periodic table between magnesium and zinc. Since a highly focused x-ray beam is used, the spot size is well below 1 μm and the samples can be scanned at a nanometer lateral resolution. This study shows that measurement of the concentrations of different elements is possible in a mid-modiolar cross-section of a mouse cochlea. Images are presented that indicate potassium and chloride “hot spots” in the spiral ligament and the spiral limbus, providing experimental evidence for the potassium recycling pathway and showing the cochlear structures involved. Scans of a section obtained from the incus, one of the middle ear ossicles, in a developing mouse have shown that zinc is not uniformly distributed This supports the hypothesis that zinc plays a special role in the process of ossification. Although limited by sophisticated sample preparation and sectioning, the method provides ample exciting opportunities, to understand the role of genetics and epigenetics on hearing mechanisms in ontogeny and phylogeny.
DNA mismatch repair in the context of chromatin

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) maintains replication fidelity by correcting mispaired nucleotides incorporated by DNA polymerases. Defects in MMR lead to cancers characterized by microsatellite instability. Recently, chromatin mechanisms that regulate MMR have been discovered, which sheds new light on MMR deficiency and its role in tumorigenesis. This review summarizes these chromatin-level mechanisms that regulate MMR and their implications for tumor development.
Post Stroke Fatigue and Depression Predict Lower Health Related Quality of Life in Stroke Patients (P3.106)

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Post Stroke Fatigue (PSF) and Post Stroke Depression (PSD) in African/Caribbean Blacks. Background: PSF is a common and debilitating condition that can last months or even years. Although the relationship between PSF and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has been studied, the results have been inconclusive and not previously reported in a minority cohort. Design/Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years with a stroke in the past 3 years were enrolled. Standardized questionnaires were administered to assess the patients’ levels of PSF [Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS)], HRQoL [Short Form-36 (SF-36)], PSD [Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI)], and Stroke related disability [modified Rankin Scale (mRS)]. SF-36 responses were weighted and averaged in accordance to standard practices. FAS, BDI, and mRS scores were dichotomized and adjusted for gender. A multiple linear regression model was constructed for the HRQoL score. The dichotomized FAS, BDI, and mRS scores, and gender were considered as predictors. Results: 100 patients enrolled, 55% female, 93% African or Caribbean American. The prevalence of stroke related disability (mRS ≥ 2) was 63%, PSF (FAS≥22) was 51%, PSD (BDI ≥11) was 24%. Both PSF and PSD was seen in 20%. The mean SF-36 score was 51.6 ± 21.1. BDI Conclusions: Our results suggest that both PSF and PSD are significantly correlated with a lower HRQoL. In this minority cohort, over half of post-stroke HRQoL is attributed to depression, disability, fatigue, and female gender. Disclosure: Dr. Toy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Balucani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stefanov has nothing to disclose. Dr. Huang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Halket has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mlabasati has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ahmed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gilles has nothing to disclose. Dr. Levine has nothing to disclose.
Raman Spectroscopy Enables Non-Invasive Identification of Peanut Genotypes and Value-Added Traits

Identification of specific genotypes can be accomplished by visual recognition of their distinct phenotypical appearance, as well as DNA analysis. Visual identification (ID) of species is subjective and usually requires substantial taxonomic expertise. Genotyping and sequencing are destructive, time- and labor-consuming. In this study, we investigate the potential use of Raman spectroscopy (RS) as a label-free, non-invasive and non-destructive analytical technique for the fast and accurate identification of peanut genotypes. We show that chemometric analysis of peanut leaflet spectra provides accurate identification of different varieties. This same analysis can be used for prediction of nematode resistance and oleic-linoleic oil (O/L) ratio. Raman-based analysis of seeds provides accurate genotype identification in 95% of samples. Additionally, we present data on the identification of carbohydrates, proteins, fiber and other nutrients obtained from spectroscopic signatures of peanut seeds. These results demonstrate that RS allows for fast, accurate and non-invasive screening and selection of plants which can be used for precision breeding.
Inter-individual differences in the responses to aerobic exercise in Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the FIT-AD trial.

Abstract Background Despite the strong evidence of aerobic exercise as a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in animal models, its effects on cognition are inconsistent in human studies. A major contributor to these findings is interindividual differences in the responses to aerobic exercise, which was well documented in the general population but not in those with AD. The purpose of this study was to examine interindividual differences in aerobic fitness and cognitive responses to a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention in community-dwelling older adults with mild to moderate dementia due to AD. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of the Effects of Aerobic Exercise for Treating Alzheimer's Disease (FIT-AD) trial data. Aerobic fitness was measured by the shuttle walk test, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) test, and cognition by the AD Assessment Scale-Cognition (ADAS-Cog). Interindividual differences were calculated as the differences in the standard deviation of 6-month change (SDR) in the SWT, 6MWT, VO2max, and ADAS-Cog between the intervention and control groups. Results Seventy-eight participants were included in this study (77.4 ± 6.3 years old, 15.7 ± 2.8 years of education, mean ± SD; 41% women). VO2max was available for 26 participants (76.2 ± 8.0 years old, 14.8 ± 2.7 years of education, mean ± SD; 31% women). The SDR was 37.0, 121.1, 1.7, and 2.3 for SWT, 6MWT, VO2max, and ADAS-Cog, respectively. Conclusion There are true interindividual differences in aerobic fitness and cognitive responses to aerobic exercise in older adults with mild to moderate AD dementia. These interindividual differences likely underline the inconsistent cognitive benefits in human studies.
The Possession of High Status Strengthens the Status Motive.

The current research tested whether the possession of high status, compared with the possession of low status, makes individuals desire having high status even more. Five studies (total N = 6,426),...
Mechanized analysis of Anselm’s modal ontological argument

We use a mechanized verification system, PVS, to examine the argument from Anselm’s Proslogion Chapter III, the so-called “Modal Ontological Argument.” We consider several published formalizations for the argument and show they are all essentially similar. Furthermore, we show that the argument is trivial once the modal axioms are taken into account. This work is an illustration of Computational Philiosophy and, in addition, shows how these methods can help detect and rectify errors in modal reasoning.
Spatial organization of projection neurons in the mouse auditory cortex identified by in situ barcode sequencing

Understanding neural circuits requires deciphering the interactions of myriad cell types defined by anatomy, spatial organization, gene expression, and functional properties. Resolving these cell types requires both single neuron resolution and high-throughput, a combination that is challenging to achieve with conventional anatomical methods. Here we introduce BARseq, a method for mapping the projections of thousands of spatially resolved neurons by combining the high throughput of DNA sequencing with the high spatial resolution of microscopy. We used BARseq to determine the projections of 1309 neurons in mouse auditory cortex to 11 targets. We observed 264 distinct projection patterns. Hierarchical clustering confirmed the major classical classes of projection neurons, segregated across cortical laminae. Further analysis revealed 25 subclasses, largely intermingled across laminae. Unlike cell types defined by gene expression, projection subclasses beyond the major classes were rarely enriched in specific laminae, raising the possibility that the organization of projection patterns in mature neurons is orthogonal to that of gene expression. In this way, downstream brain areas could receive information from multiple cell types through parallel pathways. By sequencing in situ, BARseq has the potential to bridge anatomical, transcriptomic, functional, and other approaches at single neuron resolution with high throughput, and thereby offer unprecedented insight of the structure and function of a neural circuit.