cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IrisNet: an internet-scale architecture for multimedia sensors

Most current sensor network research explores the use of extremely simple sensors on small devices called motes and focuses on over-coming the resource constraints of these devices. In contrast, our research explores the challenges of multimedia sensors and is motivated by the fact that multimedia devices, such as cameras, are rapidly becoming inexpensive, yet their use in a sensor network presents a number of unique challenges. For example, the data rates involved with multimedia sensors are orders of magnitude greater than those for sensor motes and this data cannot easily be processed by traditional sensor network techniques that focus on scalar data. In addition, the richness of the data generated by multimedia sensors makes them useful for a wide variety of applications. This paper presents an overview of IRISNET, a sensor network architecture that enables the creation of a planetary-scale infrastructure of multimedia sensors that can be shared by a large number of applications. To ensure the efficient collection of sensor readings, IRISNET enables the application-specific processing of sensor feeds on the significant computation resources that are typically attached to multimedia sensors. IRISNET enables the storage of sensor readings close to their source by providing a convenient and extensible distributed XML database infrastructure. Finally, IRISNET provides a number of multimedia processing primitives that enable the effective processing of sensor feeds in-network and at-sensor.
Insights in the Physical Damage of $V_{\rm GS} = V_{\rm DS}$ High-K PMOSFET Degradation in AC Switching Conditions

In this paper, the device degradation enhanced by localized drain self-heating (LDSH) effects at VGS = VDS bias condition has been measured and characterized in the pMOSFET transistors of an advanced CMOS HKMG 28-nm bulk technology in both dc (constant voltage) and ac (rectangular pulse) conditions. A comparison with the pMOSFET aging during symmetric (VDS = 0 V) negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) condition gives experimental evidence that the physical damage generated at VGS = VDS bias conditions is dominated by the quasi-permanent component of a symmetric “NBTI-like” thermally activated process with an effective temperature determined by LDSH effects dominating during switching. Similar to conductive (VGS ≈ 1/2VDS) hot carrier phenomena, a quasi-static approximation can be assumed for the VGS = VDS condition during ac switching. In this case, however, the device damage relates to the NBTI response to the effective temperature profile reached during the VGS ≈ VDS transients as well as the relation of the associated duty cycles to the values of the LDSH thermal time constants at the stress conditions. The obtained results clearly show that end-of-life projections using dc models will greatly overpredict the level of VGS = VDS degradation expected in typical digital applications. On the contrary, our study provides experimental evidence that the VGS = VDS bias condition is not expected to contribute to device aging during typical digital switching frequencies (f ≈ GHz) and brings further light on the physical mechanism responsible for its observed reduced sensitivity from dc to ac.
Absorption Spectra Analysis using Modified Self-Organizing Feature Maps

This research demonstrates an application of a modified self-organizing feature map (SOFM) algorithm to analyze and discover the quality of chemical absorption spectrum data. By forming an NxN neural array from input features and varying the essential parameters of the algorithm, map recognition quality is increased at the expense of more computation. The features of this SOFM are based on absorption intensity variations with excitation wavelength. SOFMs are used to discern pattern similarities and differences between spectral data. A context tree allows individual features, or key numbers in the data, to be input and classifies the vector to the type of data that is most similar. This research also use the self-organizing map to enhance as well as visualize resultant classification efficiency through the use of watershed transformation.
Veterinary Subject Headings and Classification

Monographic titles in the Iowa State University collection within the classification range SF600-1100 (Veterinary Medicine) were analyzed for appropriateness of assigned subject headings and for fit into existing Library of Congress Classification Schedule "S" (Agriculture). Observations made during the study led to several suggestions on how improved access to monographic titles in the field of veterinary medicine might be provided by LCSH and the LC classification scheme
Properties of Fe3O4 Porous Film Catalyst

An intermetallic compound Fe2Al5 phase was formed on the surface of the original ironplate by aluminum coating followed by heat treating. The alloy plate was processed by a 10 wt% NaOH solution (whole development), and the iron-plate resulted was dried and oxidized in a desiccator. By the procedure described above, a Fe3O4 porous film catalyst was obtained. The catalyst showed activity for reduction of NO with NH3. The following rate equation was obtained: RNO=9.3×103 exp(-7.2×103/RT)•PNOThe pore-size distribution determined by nitrogen adsorption isotherm and mercury penetration was bimodal. A group of micro-pore peaks lay at about 50A, and that of macropore peas at about 1, 300A. The specific surface area of the catalyst was proportional to the thickness of the alloy layer. It was obvious, in this study, that diffusional resistance of capillary began to appear from the alloy layer thickness of ca. 140μm, e. g., the oxide layer was 100μm thick. The effectiveness factor for the sample, whose oxide layer was 120μm thick, was about 0.42 on the basis of a cylindrical pore model.
Amino acid sequence in constitutionally isomeric tetrapeptide amphiphiles dictates architecture of one-dimensional nanostructures.

The switching of two adjacent amino acids can lead to differences in how proteins fold thus affecting their function. This effect has not been extensively explored in synthetic peptides in the context of supramolecular self-assembly. Toward this end, we report here the use of isomeric peptide amphiphiles as molecular building blocks to create one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. We show that four peptide amphiphile isomers, with identical composition but a different sequence of their four amino acids, can form drastically different types of 1D nanostructures under the same conditions. We found that molecules with a peptide sequence of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids such as VEVE and EVEV self-assemble into flat nanostructures that can be either helical or twisted. On the other hand, nonalternating isomers such as VVEE and EEVV result in the formation of cylindrical nanofibers. Furthermore, we also found that when the glutamic acid is adjacent to the alkyl tail the supramolecular assemb...
Nitric oxide-induced reduction of lung cell and whole lung thioredoxin expression is regulated by NF-κB

We examined whether nitric oxide (NO)-induced inhibition of thioredoxin (Thx) expression is regulated by a mechanism mediated by a transcription factor, i.e., nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), in cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) and in mouse lungs. Western blot analysis revealed that IkappaB-alpha content was reduced by 20 and 60% in PAEC exposed to 8.5 ppm NO for 2 and 24 h, respectively. NO exposure also caused significant reductions of cytosol fraction p65 and p52 content in PAEC. The nuclear fraction p65 and p52 contents were significantly reduced only in PAEC exposed to NO for 24 h. Exposure to NO resulted in a 50% reduction of p52 mRNA but not of the IkappaB-alpha subunit. DNA binding activity of the oligonucleotide encoding the NF-kappaB sequence in the Thx gene was significantly reduced in PAEC exposed to NO for 24 h. Exposure of mice to 10 ppm NO for 24 h resulted in a significant reduction of lung Thx and IkappaB-alpha mRNA and protein expression and in the oligonucleotide encoding Thx and NF-kappaB/DNA binding. These results 1) demonstrate that the effects of NO exposure on Thx expression in PAEC are comparable to those observed in intact lung and 2) suggest that reduced expression of the NF-kappaB subunit, leading to reduced NF-kappaB/DNA binding, is associated with the loss of Thx expression in PAEC and in intact mouse lungs.
Kleine-Levin Syndrome Response to Carbamazepine

A 16-year-old male adolescent began having recurrent episodes of severe hypersomnia which persisted 5 or 6 times a year up to age 27, when he was treated with carbamazepine at the American University of Beirut, Medical Center, Lebanon.
Research progress of water-borne zinc-rich inorganic coating in hydraulic engineering metal structures

Aiming at the disadvantages of traditional water-borne zinc-rich inorganic coating such as low water resistance and high brittleness,it is demonstrated that the mechanical and electrochemical properties of the coatings can be improved by modification. Further,by summarizing the previous research results,we discuss modifications solutions from three aspects of film-forming substrate modification,filler modification as well as additives modification. Some unsolved problems and future research directions of water-borne zinc-rich inorganic coating are proposed.
Airborne pollen characteristics and the influence of temperature and precipitation in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (1999–2012)

The incidence of allergic diseases has been increasing in recent decades, in part due to increased exposure to aeroallergens, particularly pollen. Allergic diseases have a major burden on the health care system, with annual costs in the USA alone exceeding $30 billion. There is evidence that the production of aeroallergens, including pollen, is increasing in response to environmental and climatic change, which has important implications for the treatment of allergy sufferers. In this study, pollen data from a Rotorod sampler in Raleigh, North Carolina, was used to characterize and examine trends in the atmospheric pollen seasons for trees, grasses, and weeds over the period 1999–2012. The influence of mean monthly antecedent and concurrent temperature and precipitation on the timing, duration, and severity of the pollen seasons was assessed using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression models. An increasing trend was noted in seasonal tree pollen concentrations, while seasonal and peak weed pollen concentrations declined over time. The atmospheric pollen seasons for grasses and weeds trended toward earlier start dates and longer durations, while the tree pollen season trended toward an earlier end date. Peak daily tree pollen concentrations were strongly associated with antecedent temperature and precipitation, while peak daily grass pollen concentrations were strongly associated with concurrent precipitation. The strongest relationships between climate and weed pollen were associated with the timing and duration of the pollen season, with drier antecedent and warmer concurrent conditions tied to longer weed pollen seasons.
Maladaptive perfectionism, body image satisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors among U.S. college women: The mediating role of self-compassion

Abstract Maladaptive perfectionism has been linked with body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. From the standpoint of social mentality theory, this relationship may be the result of an overactive threat system and/or an underactive self-soothing system. Self-compassion represents the activities of the self-soothing system. This article describes two studies that were conducted in order to investigate whether self-compassion mediates these relationships in a large sample of U.S. college women. Study 1 found that self-compassion mediates the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and body image dissatisfaction. Study 2 replicated the results of Study 1 but found that self-compassion did not mediate the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and disordered eating. Results from both studies suggest that the self-judgment component of self-compassion was the most consistent mediator, suggesting that maladaptive perfectionism impacts body image satisfaction and disordered eating through negative self-evaluations.
Stem Cell Antigens in Cancer

Advances in cancer and stem cell biology have identified genes important for properties such as self-renewal shared between tumor cells and stem cells. Such genes may also underlie the tumor heterogeneity in the setting of a hierarchical cancer stem cell model. Here we discuss emerging evidence about the ability of the immune system to target these genes and the promise as well as potential challenges associated with targeting these genes in the context of tumor immunity. The ability to immunologically target stemness in cancer cells may be an attractive approach for effective cancer vaccines.
Genomic Signature Predicts Resistance To Busulfan In AML Cell Lines

The alkylating agent Busulfan (Bu) is commonly used in the pre-transplant conditioning regimen for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Relapse after transplant is in part due to resistance to Bu. Our study was aimed at identifying a genomic signature that could predict resistance to Bu in AML cells. In order to obtain a list of candidate genes which may correlate with increasing resistance to Bu we performed a linear regression analysis controlled for cancer type on NCI60 Stanford cDNA data and GI50 values. This produced a list of 111 genes correlating with increasing Busulfan GI50 (p<0.01, FDR<50%). The ability of these 111 genes to predict GI50 was subsequently tested based upon their expression in a second independent gene expression platform (Affymetrix U133 plus 2.0). This analysis yielded 6 genes (KCNH2, CD74, CD53, HCLS1, ERC2 and HLA-DQB2) predicting higher GI50 values (p<0.05). We then tested the ability of these genes to predict Bu GI50 in a panel of 6 AML cell lines (K562, HL60, HL60-MX1, KG1, THP1 and NB4). To obtain GI50 values on AML cell lines we treated the cells with doses of Bu ranging from 0-200mcg/ml. At 24 hours, cells were washed and resuspended in fresh medium. Proliferation of cells was measured by standard 3H-thymidine uptake assay at 48 hours. Sigmoidal dose response curves and GI50 values were then calculated. GI50 values varied from 13.9 - 70.4 micromoles/ml. RNA quantitation for the 6 identified genes was performed using the Quantigene assay (Panomics, Santa Clara, CA). Expression was normalized to control gene levels (RPLP0). Two genes (ERC2 and HLA-DQB2) showed low or undetectable expression and were excluded from further analysis. Logistic regression analysis showed that a combined overexpression of any 2 of the remaining 4 genes was significantly associated with increasing resistance to Bu GI50 in AML cells (p=0.006). Of the 6 cell lines tested, the 2 most resistant (THP1 and K562) both displayed this pattern of gene overexpression. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to obtain a list of genomic biomarkers to predict Bu resistance in AML using a genome wide approach. This data provides a rationale for validation of these 4 genes in a clinical dataset with the potential future application of predicting relapse after Bu based high dose therapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Abstract 386: Addition of mTOR inhibition to HER2 blockade results in improved antitumor activity in a preclinical model of uterine serous carcinoma with HER2 gene amplification and a gain of function mutation in PIK3CA

Subsets of uterine serous carcinomas (USC) harbor simultaneous HER2 (ERBB2) over-expression and gain of function mutations in PIK3CA that may play a role in resistance to single agent anti-HER2 therapies. Targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) may be a promising option to heighten anti-tumor response and restore sensitivity to anti-HER2 therapies. HER2 gene amplified cell lines with (ARK1, E542K) and without (ARK2) PIK3CA gene mutations were divided into four arm cohorts with equivalent tumor volumes and treated with either vehicle, ridaforolimus (1 mg/kg, lapatinib (150 mg/kg) and trastuzumab (10mg/kg) or the combination of lapatinib/trastuzumab and ridaforolimus. At day 22, tumors were collected to measure downstream target proteins and calculate the proliferation and apoptosis index. In the ARK1 USC xenograft cohort, inhibition of tumor growth was observed following treatment with ridaforolimus compared to vehicle (P Analysis of the treatment effects revealed the lapatinib/trastuzumab/ridaforolimus therapy was required to decrease Ki67 positive cells in ARK1 xenografts compared to the vehicle (P These data suggest that USCs harboring gain of function PIK3CA mutations are relatively insensitive to anti-HER2 therapies. The addition of downstream mTOR inhibition to HER2 blockade increased the anti-tumor activity only in the xenograft model with PIK3CA mutation and provides rationale for clinical trials in HER2 positive endometrial cancers based on molecular genotype. Citation Format: Silvia F. Hernandez, Sarah Chisholm, Darrell Borger, Rosemary Foster, Bo R. Rueda, Whitfield B. Growdon. Addition of mTOR inhibition to HER2 blockade results in improved antitumor activity in a preclinical model of uterine serous carcinoma with HER2 gene amplification and a gain of function mutation in PIK3CA. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 386.
Notes on the Moduli Space of Stable Quotients

In this chapter, we consider compactifications of the space of maps from curves to Grassmannians and to related geometries. We focus on sheaf theoretic compactifications via Quot scheme-type constructions. An underlying theme is the geometric description of such compactifications, as well as the comparison of the intersection theoretic invariants arising from them.
Selective Complexation in Three Component Cocrystals Composed of Pyrogallol[4]arene and Fluorescent Probes Pyrene and 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

Cocrystals composed of a pyrogallol[4]arene molecule (one of C-propylpyrogallol[4]arene in ethanol and one of C-hexylpyrogallol[4]arene in isopropanol) and a pyrene molecule were crystallized and investigated with the aim to develop trends based on solvent and aliphatic tail length of the pyrogallol[4]arene. These new trends along with previously determined trends for the fluorescent probe 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN), were then used to crystallize a cocrystal composed of C-hexylpyrogallol[4]arene and two fluorescent probes, pyrene and PAN. Within a two-component cocrystal of pyrene or PAN, the probe molecules are complexed in both the endo (inside the pyrogallol[4]arene bowl) and exo (outside the pyrogallol[4]arene bowl) positions. However, in the three component system, selective complexation of the probes is demonstrated whereby the PAN molecules prefer to be endo and the pyrene molecules occupy exo positions.
Intrathymic and Extrathymic Notch-Dependent T Lineage Checkpoints during Normal Development and after Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The essential role of Notch for T lineage commitment is well established, but it remains unclear where and on which progenitor subset(s) Notch signals act. Addressing these questions is critical to understand the regulation of lymphopoiesis in normal and lymphopenic settings, such as after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In normal mice, a small number of progenitors settle in the thymus from the blood and expand to generate a pool of early T lineage progenitors (ETPs). At the population level, ETPs can give rise to T cells, NK cells, B cells, DCs and myeloid cells. We found that ETPs could be subdivided based on expression of the cytokine receptor Flt3, which is expressed on about 10% of ETPs and is inversely correlated with expression of Notch target genes. B lineage potential was restricted to ETPFlt3 positive cells. The Notch targets Hes-1, Hes-5, and Deltex1 were present at low levels in ETPFlt3 positive and high levels in ETPFlt3 negative cells. Induction of Notch signaling resulted in the rapid downregulation of surface Flt3 expression. In contrast, culture of ETPFlt3 negative cells in the absence of Notch ligands resulted in upregulation of Flt3. Although both ETP subsets were efficient T lineage progenitors, ETPFlt3 negative cells had a more rapid differentiation kinetics resembling DN2 thymocytes, consistent with a more advanced state of T lineage commitment relative to the Flt3 positive subset. In mice reconstituted with HSCs transduced with the pan-Notch inhibitor DNMAML1 (Maillard et al., Blood 2004), no ETPFlt3 negative and very few ETPFlt3 positive cells were observed, indicating that the generation of ETPs is Notch-dependent. These observations position the physiological Notch checkpoint either very early after thymic seeding and/or in a prethymic location.To further investigate if Notch-dependent prethymic T lineage commitment occurs in adult mice, we studied lymphoid reconstitution early after BMT. ETPs were absent in the thymus of recipients until ≥ 6 weeks post-BMT, despite the presence of donor-derived pre-T cells and double positive thymocytes as early as 2–3 weeks post-BMT. Instead, cells with pre-T cell characteristics were present in the spleen of BMT recipients in the first month post-BMT. These cells were absent when DNMAML1-transduced bone marrow was used as the source of HSCs, indicating that generation of extrathymic pre-T cells is Notch-dependent. Thus, extrathymic sites may be important for efficient lymphoid reconstitution after BMT. Altogether, our results indicate that both intrathymic and extrathymic Notch-dependent checkpoints regulate T lineage commitment during normal development and in the post-BMT setting.
Extracellular chloride and the maintenance of spontaneous epileptiform activity in rat hippocampal slices

Previous studies showed that furosemide blocks spontaneous epileptiform activity without diminishing synaptic transmission or reducing hyperexcited field responses to electrical stimuli. We now test the hypothesis that the antiepileptic effects of furosemide are mediated through its blockade of the Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter and thus should be mimicked by a reduction of extracellular chloride ([Cl-]o). In the first set of experiments, field recordings from the CA1 cell body layer of hippocampal slices showed that spontaneous bursting developed within 10-20 min in slices perfused with low-[Cl-]o (7 mM) medium but that this spontaneous epileptiform activity ceased after a further 10-20 min. Intracellular recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells showed that normal action potential discharge could be elicited by membrane depolarization, even after the tissue was perfused with low-[Cl-]o medium for >2 h. In a second set of experiments, spontaneous bursting activity was induced in slices by perfusion with high-[K+]o (10 mM), bicuculline (100 microM), or 4-aminopyridine (100 microM). In each case, recordings from the CA1 region showed that reduction of [Cl-]o to 21 mM reversibly blocked the bursting within 1 h. Similar to previous observations with furosemide treatment, low-[Cl-]o medium blocked spontaneous hypersynchronous discharges without reducing synaptic hyperexcitability (i.e., hyperexcitable field responses evoked by electrical stimulation). In a third set of experiments, prolonged exposure (>1 h after spontaneous bursting ceased) of slices to systematically varied [Cl-]o and [K+]o resulted in one of three types of events: 1) spontaneous, long-lasting, and repetitive negative field potential shifts (7 mM [Cl-]o; 3 mM [K+]o); 2) oscillations consisting of 5- to 10-mV negative shifts in the field potential, with a period of approximately 1 cycle/40 s (16 mM [Cl-]o; 12 mM [K+]o); and 3) shorter, infrequently occurring negative field shifts lasting 20-40 s (21 mM [Cl-]o; 3 mM [K+]o). Our observations indicate that the effects of low [Cl-]o on neuronal synchronization and spontaneous discharge are time dependent. Similar effects were seen with furosemide and low [Cl-]o, consistent with the hypothesis that the antiepileptic effect of furosemide is mediated by the drug's effect on chloride transporters. Finally, the results of altering extracellular potassium along with chloride suggest that blockade of the Na+, K+,2Cl- cotransporter, which normally transports chloride from the extracellular space into glial cells, is key to these antiepileptic effects.
RECURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR EVENT RATES IN A CONTEMPORARY COHORT OF 829,498 ADULTS WITH ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Introduction: While cardiovascular (CV) event rates in the U.S. are declining, there is limited data on CV event rates among those with prevalent atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD). Methods: Using MarketScan Research data, we identified adults ≥ 20 years with prevalent ASCVD (defined as coronary
Cognitive Deficits in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease

Among the most important neurodegenerative disorders affecting aging adults around the world are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which affects around 4.5 million people in the United States, and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which has a prevalence of about 160 cases per 100,000 people and an incidence of about 20 cases per 100,000 people per year. In both disorders prevalence and incidence increase with age. AD is the main dementing disorder, whereas cognitive dysfunction and dementia eventually occur in 20–40% of patients with PD. In this chapter the neurobiology of these diseases is reviewed. Classical, anatomically defined local circuits are summarized. Data obtained using advanced imaging techniques, such as SPECT, and functional MRI, and electrophysiological recordings, are highlighted. The main emphasis for both PD and AD is on cognitive deficits from the perspective of brain circuits and synaptic physiological abnormalities as well as on their biochemical correlates. In particular, among nonmotor defects in Parkinson’s disease sensory deficits are also emphasized in relation to visuocogntive and attentive dysfunction. The main neurotransmitter systems involved are dopamine (in PD) and acetylcholine (both in PD and AD). The logic role of dopamine in the retinal circuitry is discussed in relation to sensory (visual) dysfunction in PD. The contribution of neurotransmitter/modulators beyond the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in the basal ganglia and in several cortical areas is reviewed. This involves glutamate, adenosine, and GABA. The cognitive effect of genetic variability of catechol-o-methyltranferase, in the prefrontal cortex is summarized. Although advances in the understanding of AD and PD pathophysiology have been significant, fundamental issues remain unsolved. The powerful neuropathological arguments concerning the progression of PD based on alpha synuclein predict late involvement of cortical circuits, presumably responsible for cognitive changes. The role of acetylcholine and diverse cholinergic receptors in cognitive dysfunction in both AD and PD will need further studies. Future studies may potentially lead to a bridging theory of cognitive impairment in both AD and PD.
Aerodynamic constraints on the production of palatalized trills: the case of the Slavic trilled [r].

Production of a trill depends on several articulatory and aerodynamic constraints. These constraints can be held responsible for various sound changes in Slavic languages which all involve depalatalization or frication of ProtoSlavic palatalized trilled r. As soon as a trill is affected by palatalization, the aerodynamic conditions are changed and the possibility of trill production lowers. Small deviations in aperture size and air velocity can lead to a failure of a trill. This paper proposes a phonetic explanation for the depalatalization and/or frication of the Proto-Slavic palatalized trilled r by considering the detrimental effects of articulatory and aerodynamic constraints on the production of a palatalized trill.
Thymic carcinoma, Part 2: A clinicopathologic correlation of 33 cases with a proposed staging system

Thymic carcinomas are rare neoplasms. Accordingly, no robust staging system exists for these tumors. Herein 33 cases of thymic carcinoma are presented with emphasis on staging, follow-up, and usefulness of prior staging systems. All of the cases shared similar clinical, surgical, and pathologic features, which makes them suitable for appropriate staging. Based on our experience, a novel 3-tier staging schema is presented. According to our proposed schema, 7 patients had stage I tumors, 11 had stage II tumors, and 15 had stage III tumors at the time of resection. Follow-up revealed that 19 patients were alive (mean follow-up, 57 months) and 14 patients had died (mean survival, 44 months). The survival curves obtained using our proposed staging system showed significant differences between the individual stages contrary to those obtained using prior staging systems. Our proposed schema seems to correlate well with survival and seems to be more practical than prior systems.
Substrate Stiffness-Dependent Regulation of the SRF-Mkl1 Co-Activator Complex Requires the Inner Nuclear Membrane Protein Emerin

The complex comprising serum response factor (SRF) and megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 protein (Mkl1) promotes myofibroblast differentiation during wound healing. SRF-Mkl1 is sensitive to the mechanical properties of the extracellular environment; but how cells sense and transduce mechanical cues to modulate SRF-Mkl1-dependent gene expression is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the nuclear lamina-associated inner nuclear membrane protein Emerin stimulates SRF-Mkl1-dependent gene activity in a substrate stiffness-dependent manner. Specifically, Emerin was required for Mkl1 nuclear accumulation and maximal SRF-Mkl1-dependent gene expression in response to serum stimulation of cells grown on stiff substrates but was dispensable on more compliant substrates. Focal adhesion area was also reduced in cells lacking Emerin, consistent with a role for Emerin in sensing substrate stiffness. Expression of a constitutively active form of Mkl1 bypassed the requirement for Emerin in SRF-Mkl1-dependent gene expression and reversed the focal adhesion defects evident in EmdKO fibroblasts. Together, these data indicate that Emerin, a conserved nuclear lamina protein, couples extracellular matrix mechanics and SRF-Mkl1-dependent transcription.
On the Origins of Flat-Backed Canteens in the American Southwest

Since water-transport vessels are often a highly conservative vessel form, the appearance of a new water vessel shape—the flat-backed canteen—in the American Southwest around the time of Spanish ar...
Efficacy, Safety, and Long-term Outcome of Serial Endoscopic Balloon Dilation for Upper Gastrointestinal Crohn's Disease-associated Strictures-A Cohort Study.

Background Gastric and duodenal Crohn's disease [CD]-associated strictures are rare. Evidence on endoscopic balloon dilation [EBD] of upper gastrointestinal [GI] CD strictures is limited, in particular in respect to serial dilations. Methods Prospective short- and long-term outcome data as well as complication rates on a cohort of upper GI CD-associated stricture dilations [stomach and duodenum] were collected from 1999 to 2015. Factors linked with clinical and technical success, long-term efficacy and complication rates were investigated. Results A total of 35 CD patients with symptomatic CD-associated upper GI strictures [20% gastric, 67% duodenal, 11% both; mean age at diagnosis 25 years; mean CD duration to stricture 79.9 months; median post-dilation follow-up 22.1 months] underwent a total of 96 pneumatic dilations [33 gastric and 63 duodenal]. The median maximal dilation diameter was 15 mm. Technical success was achieved in 93% and clinical success in 87%, with a complication rate of 4% per procedure. The mean time to re-dilation was 2.2 months and mean time to stricture-related surgery after first dilation was 2.8 months. There was no difference in short-term efficacy, safety, or long-term outcome between the first and any later dilation procedure in the same patient. Conclusions Pneumatic dilation of upper GI CD-associated strictures has a high rate of short-term technical and clinical success, with moderate long-term efficacy and acceptable complication rates. Serial dilations do not change the efficacy and could be a feasible option to delay or prevent surgical intervention.
Polymer-based passive and active guided-wave devices and their applications

Due to the material property restrictions of LiNb03 and III-V compound material systems a sizable portion of the research work on guided wave devices has been shifted to polymer-based materials. Low material dispersion, flexible material preparation process, unlimited device size and cost effectiveness are the major factors that can not be provided using conventional inorganic materials. By definition, polymer matrix is formed by linking an array of monomers. Therefore, there are infinite number of polymeric materials can be generated. The Polymeric materials suitable for guided wave device research are the ones with desired optical and electrooptic properties. In this paper, we report the research status of the photolime gel superpolymer. In contrast to any artificial polymer that are synthesized according to a predesigned formula, the polymer we employed is a class of biopolymer which consists of thousands of 1 to 2 nmlong amino acids. A myriad of passive and active guided wave devices has been successfully fabricated using the photolime gel polymer. These include high density linear and curved channel waveguide arrays, electrooptic modulator and modulator array, highly multiplexed waveguide holograms for wavelength division demultiplexing and optical interconnects, waveguide lens, and rare earth ion doped polymer waveguide amplifier. A single-mode linear channel waveguide array with device packaging density of 1250 channels/cm is achieved. The first 12-channel wavelength division demultiplexer working at 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, and 940nm on a GaAs substrate is also described in this paper. A polymer-based electrooptic traveling wave modulator with 40 GHz electrical bandwidth is further delineated. A rare earth ion doped polymer waveguide amplifier working at 1.06pm with 8.5dB optical gain is also achieved using this polymer matrix. The tunability of the waveguide refractive index allows the formation of a graded index (GRIN) layer. As a result, these active and passive guided wave devices can be realized on any substrate of interest. High quality waveguide (loss<0.1dB/cm) has been made on Glass, LiNb03, Fused Silica, Quartz, PC board, GaAs, Si, Al, Cu, Cr, Au, Kovar, BeO, AI2O3 and AIN.
Integrated optical beamforming network for millimeter wave communications

An optical ring resonator (ORR) based 1 × 4 integrated optical beamforming network (OBFN) targeting mmW is reported. The optimized true time delay response of a 3-ORR delay line with a bandwidth of 8.7 GHz was achieved over tuning range of 172.4 ps, which corresponds to a 31π phase shift for a 90 GHz signal. A 3 Gbps OOK NRZ data signal was transmitted through the delay line to verify the overall performance. A 49° beamsteering angle equivalent OBFN delay response was achieved for a 90 GHz half-wavelength dipole antenna array. Using heterodyne upconversion technology and a single delay path, 41 GHz mmW signal with 3 Gbps OOK NRZ data modulation was generated and delayed.
Online Learning: Bridging the Cultural Gaps: A Review of Culture and Online Learning: Global perspectives and research.

The pervasiveness of online education created opportunities for learners across the world to pursue their higher education at accredited universities of their choice. However, this form of education generated several challenges for both educators and learners due to several cultural differences. As the world is a global village, it has become crucial to satisfy the academic and professional needs of these learners who aspire to get the best scholastic aptitude. Yet, there are many benefits of cultural diversity for both educators and learners. The rich examples of the impact of culture on online learning stated throughout "Culture and Online Learning: Global perspectives and research" help understand the effect of cultural differences on creating a successful and effective learning environment, which embraces online students and provides them with the tools to assist their success. The integration of philosophy and practice is vital for the success of online education to reach a larger number of students across the world, students who aspire to receive better education opportunities that might not be available in their home countries.
Deepdiary: Lifelogging image captioning and summarization

Abstract Automatic image captioning has been studied extensively over the last few years, driven by breakthroughs in deep learning-based image-to-text translation models. However, most of this work has considered captioning web images from standard data sets like MS-COCO, and has considered single images in isolation. To what extent can automatic captioning models learn finer-grained contextual information specific to a given person’s day-to-day visual experiences? In this paper, we consider captioning image sequences collected from wearable, life-logging cameras. Automatically-generated captions could help people find and recall photos among their large-scale life-logging photo collections, or even to produce textual “diaries” that summarize their day. But unlike web images, photos from wearable cameras are often blurry and poorly composed, without an obvious single subject. Their content also tends to be highly dependent on the context and characteristics of the particular camera wearer. To address these challenges, we introduce a technique to jointly caption sequences of photos, which allows captions to take advantage of temporal constraints and evidence across time, and we introduce a technique to increase the diversity of generated captions, so that they can describe a photo from multiple perspectives (e.g., first-person versus third-person). To test these techniques, we collect a dataset of about 8000 realistic lifelogging images, a subset of which are annotated with nearly 5000 human-generated reference sentences. We evaluate the quality of image captions both quantitatively and qualitatively using Amazon Mechanical Turk, finding that while these algorithms are not perfect, they could be an important step towards helping to organize and summarize lifelogging photos.
NUCLEOPHILIC REACTIONS OF THIOLS WITH ACETYLENES AND CHLOROETHYLENES

Abstract. Nucleophilic additions of thiols to acetylenes tend to proceed in a trans manner. These reactions, as well as nucleophilic displacements of halogens from olefinic carbon atoms are discussed. The latter displacements may proceed by several different paths.
Erich Fromm and Thomas Merton

The paper explores Erich Fromm’s 1963 antiwar pamphlet, War Within Man: A Psychological Enquiry into the Roots of Destructiveness, part of a series of pamphlets published by the American Friends Service Committee. In the pamphlet, Fromm contrasted the healthy “biophilic” character orientation, which was open to growth, change, and the future, with the pathological “necrophilic” character orientation, which was characterized by sentimentality, dwelling upon the past, and attempting to render the world static, fixed, predictable, and dead.
Light-Activated, Multi-Semiconductor Hybrid Microswimmers

Using a dynamic fabrication process, hybrid, photoactivated microswimmers made from two different semiconductors, titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and cuprous oxide (Cu2 O) are developed, where each material occupies a distinct portion of the multiconstituent particles. Structured light-activated microswimmers made from only TiO2 or Cu2 O are observed to be driven in hydrogen peroxide and water most vigorously under UV or blue light, respectively, whereas hybrid structures made from both of these materials exhibit wavelength-dependent modes of motion due to the disparate responses of each photocatalyst. It is also found that the hybrid particles are activated in water alone, a behavior which is not observed in those made from a single semiconductor, and thus, the system may open up a new class of fuel-free photoactive colloids that take advantage of semiconductor heterojunctions. The TiO2 /Cu2 O hybrid microswimmer presented here is but an example of a broader method for inducing different modes of motion in a single light-activated particle, which is not limited to the specific geometries and materials presented in this study.
Interaction of COUP-TF II with the Rat Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I β Promoter in Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocytes

The rat muscle isoform of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I β (CPT-I β) demon-strates a modest (three-fold) up-regulation of transcriptional activity when neonatal rat cardiac myocytes are co-transfected with the CPT-I β luciferase reporter gene and Peroxisomal Proliferator-Activated Receptor-α (PPAR- α). Neonatal cardiac myocytes contain undetectable levels of PPAR- α protein by immunoblotting. Cotransfection of CPT-I β luciferase with Retinoid X Receptor- α (PJCR- α) alone fails to increase promoter gene expression, con-sistent with the low amounts of PPAR- α in neonatal rat heart. COUP-TF II, but not COUP-TF I, inhibits the activation of the CPT-I β luciferase reporter gene expression, indicating that the repressor effects are isoform specific. Anti-sense COUP-TF II transfection augments CPT-I β reporter gene expression by 80%. Mutation of the PPAR-α/PJCR-α site increases CPT-I β gene expression in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Luciferase expression of both the wild type and mutant promoters is significantly inhibited by co-transfection of COUP-TF II. The data suggest that COUP-TF II represses CPT-I β activation in neonatal heart myocytes by occupying the PPAR-α/PJCR-α binding site within the wild type promoter. The data also support mediation by COUP-TF II of promoter repression by interacting with other transacting factors on the CPT-I β promoter in neonatal heart.
CURRENT ALGEBRA PREDICTIONS FOR D ---> K PI K PI L neutrino DECAY

We apply current-algebra techniques to $D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K\ensuremath{\pi}l\ensuremath{\nu}$ decay to obtain their predictions in the soft-pion and soft-kaon limits. We then extend these techniques to the region where the kaon and pion momenta are small but finite to obtain predictions for the form factors and the decay distributions in this region.
Cocoa for Recovery

Cocoa may enhance recovery from exercise owing to its antioxidant properties and partly because it usually is associated with other nutrients (e.g., carbohydrate and protein in chocolate milk). Chocolate milk, a cocoa-based beverage, appears comparable to more expensive recovery beverages and seems well accepted by many athletes. Consuming 1.0–1.5 g/kg−1/h−1 of carbohydrate, with or without cocoa, immediately after exercise and at 30-min intervals for up to 6 h postexercise, appears to be optimal for adequate glycogen resynthesis. A cocoa-based beverage ingested at 1.0–1.5 g/kg−1/h−1 may be optimal for recovery, and the addition of flavanol-rich cocoa may decrease perceptions of postexercise muscle soreness and decrease levels of plasma isoprostanes. Research should examine different types of cocoa (natural and Dutched) and differences in solid, liquid, and gel forms of cocoa-based recovery meals, the dosage of cocoa, timing, and frequency of ingestion on postexercise recovery measures, including performance, muscle soreness, and ­oxidative stress indices.
Squirming motion in a Brinkman medium

Micro-organisms encounter heterogeneous viscous environments consisting of networks of obstacles embedded in a viscous fluid medium. In this paper we analyse the characteristics of swimming in a porous medium modelled by the Brinkman equation via a spherical squirmer model. The idealized geometry allows an analytical and exact solution of the flow surrounding a squirmer. The propulsion speed obtained agrees with previous results using the Lorentz reciprocal theorem. Our analysis extends these results to calculate the power dissipation and hence the swimming efficiency of the squirmer in a Brinkman medium. The analytical solution enables a systematic analysis of the structure of the flow surrounding the squirmer, which can be represented in terms of singularities in Brinkman flows. We also discuss the spatial decay of flows due to squirming motion in a Brinkman medium in comparison with the decay in a purely viscous fluid. The results lay the foundation for subsequent studies on hydrodynamic interactions, nutrient transport and uptake by micro-organisms in heterogeneous viscous environments.
Mainstream or Margins? How Somalis Perceive Their Status and Possibilities in Finnish and American Societies?

Immigrant inclusion is typically measured on the socioeconomic scale of wellbeing. Both the Refugee Act of the United States (1980) and the Finnish Integration Act (2010) depict economic self-sufficiency, employment and language skills as the goals of immigrant inclusion. But inclusion can also be perceived subjectively as feelings of belonging and acceptance. This article examines how the Somali migrants in Finland and in the United States perceive their status and possibilities in Finnish and American societies. Do they see themselves as equal members or do they experience conflicts between their ways of being and the requirements of the mainstream society? Although these social identifications alone do not cause or prevent marginalization, they nevertheless play an important role in en- or discouraging individuals, and providing information about the barriers and possibilities of inclusion.
Complex oscillatory decrease with size in diffusivity of {100}-epitaxially supported 3D fcc metal nanoclusters.

Diffusion and coalescence of supported 3D metal nanoclusters (NCs) leads to Smoluchowski Ripening (SR), a key pathway for catalyst degradation. Variation of the NC diffusion coefficient, DN, with size N (in atoms) controls SR kinetics. Traditionally, a form DN ∼ N−β was assumed consistent with mean-field analysis. However, KMC simulation of a stochastic model for diffusion of {100}-epitaxially supported fcc NCs mediated by surface diffusion reveals instead a complex oscillatory decrease of DN with N. Barriers for surface diffusion of metal atoms across and between facets, along step edges, etc., in this model are selected to accurately capture behavior for fcc metals. (This contrasts standard bond-breaking prescriptions which fail dramatically.) For strong adhesion, equilibrated NCs are truncated pyramids (TP). Local minima of DN sometimes but not always correspond to sizes, NTP, where these have a closed-shell structure. Local maxima generally correspond to N ≈ NTP + 3 for N = O(102). For weak adhesion, equilibrated NCs are truncated octahedra (TO), and local minima of DN occur for sizes close or equal to those of just a subset of closed-shell structures. Analytic characterization of energetics along the NC diffusion pathway (which involves dissolving and reforming outer layers of facets) provides fundamental insight into the behavior of DN, including the strong variation with N of the effective NC diffusion barrier.