cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction: William James and His Legacy

Several colleagues recently told me that they are rereading William James on emotion. Smart idea. James articulated as yet unanswered questions at the heart of affective science. With the understandable exception of Charles Darwin, William James is the scientist from the 19th century whose ideas most continue to stimulate theoretical debate and empirical research. All theories of emotion today assume Darwinian evolution; only some theories are Jamesian, others anti-Jamesian. James was perhaps the first to spell the word is with all capital letters when he stated what he meant by emotion: Emotion IS a perception. When subsequent writers endorsed or debated James by redefining emotion, controversy ensued. This special section does not resolve the controversies, but does expose them in the clearest form yet. It challenges parts of the received view of James: that he defined emotion as visceral activity, that his definition allowed emotion researchers to abandon the armchair for the physiology laboratory, and that the visceral theory was refuted by Walter Cannon. This special section discusses whether current treatments of James interpret him correctly, whether there are really two Jamesian theories, and whether he proposed basic emotions. Deigh (2014) drops back in history to examine the ideas James simply presupposed and those he sought to overturn. Deigh also moves forward to critique today’s Jamesian revival. Dror (2014) moves forward in history to consider Cannon and the James– Cannon (peripheralist–centralist) debate that dominated emotion research in the first part of the 20th century and continues today. Ellsworth (2014) argues that James proposed an appraisal rather than basic emotion theory. Laird and Lacasse (2014) reply to Cannon’s refutation of James, present a modern version of James’s theory, and review modern evidence supporting that version. Reisenzein and Stephan (2014) critique that modern evidence and comment on each of the other articles. The authors reply.
A Framework for Understanding Botnets

Botnets have become a severe threat to the cyberspace. However, existing studies are typically conducted in an ad hoc fashion, by demonstrating specific analysis on captured bot programs or bot communication mechanisms so as to suggest means to counter them. Although suchstudies are important, another perhaps even more important problem that is largely left unaddressed is: How should we build a unified framework that can help us understand botnets in a systematic fashion? In this paper we make a first step towards the goal by presenting a framework, which especially suggests a general architecture that could be coupled with certain advanced techniques that have not been exploited in existing botnets. The framework also suggests a set of attributes that can be used to measure and compare botnets. Moreover, the dynamic nature of botnets (e.g., a victim machine may be powered-offduring some time intervals) implies that a botnet, and thus its attributes, are stochastic in nature. This means that a meaningful comparison between botnet attributes should be based on the concept of stochastic order.
Perfect sub-wavelength metamaterial fishnet-like film absorbers for THz applications

We present two designs of robust, easy to manufacture metamaterial-based films of sub-wavelength thickness capable of full absorption of the incident terahertz (THz) radiation at certain frequencies. Both designs can be either made polarization sensitive, or have 90° rotation symmetry, which works equally well for waves of any polarization provided the incident angle is zero. All our designs work for a wide range of angles of incidence, and even if the films are optimized for normal incidence the absorption remains greater than 99% for angles up to ~35° in the TE and ~65° in the TM case. In the first design the maximum absorption frequency shifts considerably with angle, and in the second design the maximum absorption frequency remains almost the same at any angle. Theory, simulation data, and recent experimental results are all in a good agreement, and will be reported in the presentation. Having a low heat capacity these absorbers combined with thermo detectors can be utilized for precise frequency-selective detection of THz radiation.
Factors influencing the onset of egglaying in a cecidomyiid fly.

The timing of the onset of egglaying in the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), is influenced by several exogenous and endogenous factors. Mated females initiated egglaying 48 h earlier than virgins and laid 3–4 times more eggs before dying. The effects of mating on the onset of egglaying were further modified by several other factors whose effects were measured in hours rather than days. Increases in ambient temperatures experienced by mated females shortened the post-mating pre-ovipositional transition phase; however, the effects of temperature were not linear throughout the temperature range. Age of females at the time of mating also influenced the onset of egglaying. Females that mated1, 2 and 3 h after eclosion spent190, 160 and 120 min in the post-mating transition phase, respectively. Effects of age were also observed when females were mated over the three calling periods that comprise the 3-day lifespan of the adult female. Linear regressions of transition times on time of mating had similar slopes for first and second day post-eclosion females but were offset such that first-day females mated late in the morning had similar transition times to second-day females mated early in the morning. By the third day post-eclosion, transition times showed no significant changes when females were mated throughout the calling period. Possible mechanisms underlying the effects of mating, temperature, and female age on post-mating pre-oviposition transition times are discussed.
Reduced Morbidity in Gas Myelography

Gas myelography is a useful technique in the evaluation of the spinal canal and its contents. Although it has been greatly simplified and the high-resolution imaging greatly improved, morbidity remains a problem. Removal of the gas at the end of the examination through the lumbar route significantly decreases morbidity. This can be achieved through the same needle if the examination is performed via a lumbar puncture. Insertion of a second needle in the lumbar region may be necessary if the cervical or cisternal puncture is employed for gas introduction.
A Discussion of Low Order Numerical Integration Formulas for Rigid and Flexible Multibody Dynamics

The premise of this work is that real-life mechanical systems limit the use of high order integration formulas due to the presence in the associated models of friction and contact/impact elements. In such cases producing a numerical solution necessarily relies on low order integration formulas. The resulting algorithms are generally robust and expeditious; their major drawback remains that they typically require small integration step-sizes in order to meet a user prescribed accuracy. This paper looks at three low order numerical integration formulas: Newmark, HHT, and BDF of order two. These formulas are used in two contexts. A first set of three methods is obtained by considering a direct index-3 discretization approach that solves for the equations of motion and imposes the position kinematic constraints. The second batch of three additional methods draws on the HHT and BDF integration formulas and considers in addition to the equations of motion both the position and velocity kinematic constraint equations. The first objective of this paper is to review the theoretical results available in the literature regarding the stability and convergence properties of these low order methods when applied in the context of multibody dynamics simulation. When no theoretical results are available, numerical experiments are carried out to gauge order behavior. The second objective is to perform a set of numerical experiments to compare these six methods in terms of several metrics: (a) efficiency, (b) velocity constraint drift, and (c) energy preservation. A set of simple mechanical systems is used for this purpose: a double pendulum, a slider crank with rigid bodies, and a slider crank with a flexible body represented in the floating frame of reference formulation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Recent Advances in Alcoholic Liver Disease I. Role of intestinal permeability and endotoxemia in alcoholic liver disease

A significant body of evidence indicates that endotoxemia and endotoxin-mediated hepatocellular damage play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. A close correlation between endotoxemia and the severity of alcohol-induced liver injury is supported by a number of clinical and experimental studies. Elevated intestinal permeability appears to be the major factor involved in the mechanism of alcoholic endotoxemia and the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. Ethanol and its metabolic derivatives, acetaldehyde in particular, alter intracellular signal-transduction pathways leading to the disruption of epithelial tight junctions and an increase in paracellular permeability to macromolecules. Studies addressing the mechanisms of such epithelial disruption and the protective factors that prevent ethanol and acetaldehyde-mediated disruption of epithelial tight junctions are critically important in the investigations toward the search of preventive and therapeutic strategies for alcoholic liver disease.
Functional changes of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes during acute graft versus host diease: correlation with phenotype

While the pathological characteristics of acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) have been defined for many target organs, little attention has been paid to the functional changes of lymphocytes in target organs such as the liver and small intestine. We have shown previously, utilizing a nonlethal parent (C57BL/6J) into the F 1 (C57BL/6J × DBA2J F 1 ) GvHD model, that the intestinal mucosa is infiltrated exclusively by donor T cells with a CD8+ phenotype during the first 3 weeks post-GvHD induction. The present study investigated the functional changes associated with the phenotypic changes of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) during the acute phase of GvHD. IEL displayed specific anti-host cytolytic activity during the second and third week after GvHD induction. In addition, enhanced cytolytic activity, detected in the presence of anti-CD3 antibody, was apparent during the second through fourth week, with a peak in the third week after GvHD induction. The IEL also showed enhanced proliferative responses to immobilized anti-CD3 during the first 2 weeks of acute GvHD, while profound inhibition of proliferation was observed in the splenocyte population of the same animals. During weeks 2 and 3 post-GvHD induction, the V β distribution of host IEL remained unchanged while the V β distribution of infiltrating donor CD8 + cells resembled that of the donor IEL population. In the small intestine, the increased cytolytic and proliferative activity of IEL during the course of the disease may provide a rationale for the involvement of this organ in the pathology associated with GvHD.
Severe adverse immunologic reaction in a patient with glioblastoma receiving autologous dendritic cell vaccines combined with GM-CSF and dose-intensified temozolomide.

Therapeutic vaccination of patients with cancer-targeting tumor-associated antigens is a promising strategy for the specific eradication of invasive malignancies with minimal toxicity to normal tissues. However, as increasingly potent modalities for stimulating immunologic responses are developed for clinical evaluation, the risk of inflammatory and autoimmune toxicities also may be exacerbated. In this report, we describe the induction of a severe (Grade 3) immunologic reaction in a patient with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) receiving autologous RNA-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) vaccines admixed with GM-CSF and administered coordinately with cycles of dose-intensified temozolomide (diTMZ). Shortly after the eighth administration of the admixed intradermal vaccine, the patient experienced dizziness, flushing, conjunctivitis, headache, and the outbreak of a disseminated macular/papular rash and bilateral indurated injection sites. Immunologic work-up of patient reactivity revealed sensitization to the GM-CSF component of the vaccine and the production of high levels of anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies during vaccination. Removal of GM-CSF from the DC vaccine allowed continued vaccination without incident. Despite the known lymphodepletive and immunosuppressive effects of TMZ, these observations demonstrate the capacity for the generation of severe immunologic reactivity in patients with GBM receiving DC-based therapy during adjuvant diTMZ.
Legal Objectivity and the Illusion of Legal Principles

In this essay I approach the topic of legal objectivity by analyzing law's possible relationships with morality, rules, standards, and principles. I argue that law's function is to settle moral controversies, which renders problematic law's incorporation of morality and points to the moral desirability of determinate rules, even though such rules will conflict with morality. I argue that legal rules can be objective. On the other hand, I deny that there are any norms that can play the role that so-called "legal principles" are said to play, whether in Dworkin's account of them or in Alexy's.
Studies of the human testis. XI. Leydig cell clusters and levels of intratesticular testosterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone.

Testosterone concentration in testes of 23 men, ages 51 to 90,was determined as 490±172 ng/g tissue (M±s.D.) and 20α-dihydroprogesterone concentration as 10.0±2.3 ng/g tissue (M±S.D.) in 18 men of the same patient group. Leydig cells were estimated by the number of Leydig cell clusters per tubule. There was a high correlation (r=0.88, p<.001) of the Leydig cell index with intratesticular testosterone. It is proposed that the Leydig cell cluster index provides a direct index of steroid biosynthetic activity in the human testis as reflected in intratesticular testosterone levels. Although there was no significant correlation of 20α-dihydroprogesterone levels in the testis with either the Leydig cell index or intratesticular testosterone, the high level of 20α-dihydroprogesterone compared to peripheral levels suggests its production by the testis.
Reconstructing functional neuronal circuits using dynamic Bayesian networks

Identifying functional connectivity from simultaneously recorded spike trains is important in understanding how the brain processes information and instructs the body to perform complex tasks. We investigate the applicability of dynamic Bayesian networks (DBN) to infer the structure of neural circuits from observed spike trains. A probabilistic point process model was used to assess the performance. Results confirm the utility of DBNs in inferring functional connectivity as well as directions of signal flow in cortical network models. Results also demonstrate that DBN outperforms the Granger causality when applied to populations with highly non-linear synaptic integration mechanisms.
Fastigial efferent projections in the monkey: an autoradiographic study.

Because fastigial efferent fibers partially decussate within the cerebellum and cerebellar corticovestibular projections pass near, or through, the fastigial nucleus (FN), degeneration studies based on lesions in the nucleus leave unresolved questions concerning fastigial projections. Attempts were made to determine fastigial projections in the monkey using autoradiographic tracing technics. Cells in rostral, caudal and all parts of the FN were labeled with [3H] amino acids. Selective labeling of neurons in either rostral or caudal parts of the FN results in transport of isotope primarily via fibers of the contralateral uncinate fasciculus (UF) and the ipsilateral juxtarestiform body (JRB). Fastigial projections to the vestibular nuclei are mainly to ventral portions of the lateral (LVN) and inferior (IVN) vestibular nuclei, are nearly symmetrical and are quantitatively similar on each side. Fastigiovestibular projections to cell groups f and x arise from all parts of the FN and are mainly crossed; modest projections to the medial vestibular nucleus are uncrossed. No fastigial efferent fibers end in the superior vestibular nucleus on either side, or in dorsal regions of the LVN. Crossed fibers descending in IVN terminate in the nucleus parasolitarius. Fastigioreticular fibers arise predominately from rostral regions of the FN, are entirely crossed and project mainly to: (1) medial regions of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, (2) the dorsal paramedian reticular nucleus and (3) the magnocellular part of the lateral reticular nucleus. Fastigiopontine fibers, emerge with the UF, bypass the vestibular nuclei and terminate upon the contralateral dorsolateral pontine nuclei. Crossed fastigiospinal fibers separate from fastigiopontine fibers and descend in the ventrolateral tegmentum beneath the spinal trigeminal tract; in the medulla and upper cervical spinal cord these fibers are intermingled with those of the vestibulospinal tract. Fastigiospinal fibers terminate in the anterior gray horn at C-1 and probably descend further. Ascending fastigial projections arise from caudal parts of the FN, are entirely crossed and ascend in dorsal parts of the midbrain tegmentum. Label is transported bilaterally to the superior colliculi and the nuclei of the posterior commissure. Contralateral fastigiothalamic projections terminate in the ventral posterolateral (VPLc and VPLo) and in parts of the ventral lateral (VLo) thalamic nuclei. The major region of termination of fastigiothalamic fibers is in VPLo. Fastigiothalamic projections, probably conveying impulses concerned with equilibrium and somatic proprioception, appear to impinge upon thalamic neurons receiving inputs from less specialized receptors that signal information concerning position sense and body movement. More modest fastigial projections to VLo could directly influence activity of neurons in the primary motor cortex.
Human brain contains a novel non-AT1, non-AT2 binding site for active angiotensin peptides.

Abstract Aims To determine whether the novel non-AT1, non-AT2 binding site for angiotensins recently discovered in rodent brains occurs in the human brain. Main methods Radioligand binding assays of 125 I-sarcosine 1 , isoleucine 8 angiotensin II binding were carried out in homogenates of the rostral pole of the temporal cortex of human brains containing 0.3 mM parachloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), 10 µM losartan to saturate AT1 receptors, 10 µM PD123319 to saturate AT2 receptors, with or without 10 µM angiotensin II to define specific binding. Competition binding assays employed a variety of angiotensin peptides, specific angiotensin receptor antagonists, several neuropeptides and an endopeptidase inhibitor to determine pharmacological specificity for this binding site. Key findings The novel non-AT1, non-AT2 binding site was present in similar amounts in female and male brains: Bmax 1.77 ± 0.16 and 1.52 ± 0.17 fmol/mg initial wet weight in female and male brains, respectively. The K D values, 1.79 ± 0.09 nM for females, and 1.53 ± 0.06 nM for males were also similar. The binding site shows pharmacological specificity similar to that in rodent brains: sarcosine 1 , isoleucine 8 angiotensin II > angiotensin III > angiotensin II > angiotensin I ’ angiotensin IV > angiotensin 1–7. Shorter angiotensin fragments and non-angiotensin peptides showed low affinity for this binding site. Significance The presence in human brain of this novel non-AT1, non-AT2 binding site supports the concept that this binding site is an important component of the brain angiotensin system. The functional significance of this binding site, either as a novel angiotensin receptor or a highly specific angiotensinase remains to be determined.
Hybrids for Direct Enrichment and Self-Protected Fissile Fuel Production

For hybrid reactors that would directly enrich light water reactor fuel bundles with 239Pu, the fuel distribution across a bundle can be made to be more uniform than when 233U is produced from thor...
The discrete Z2Nc symmetry and effective superpotential in SUSY gluodynamics

We find an expression for the effective superpotential describing the Nc vacua of SU(Nc) SUSY gluodynamics. The superpotential reduces in some approximation to the Veneziano-Yankielowicz expression amended by the term restoring the discrete Z2Nc symmetry. Moreover, the superpotential, being restricted to one particular vacuum state, yields the expression which was derived recently to describe all the lowest-spin physical states of the theory. The corresponding scalar potential has no cusp singularities and can be used to study the domain walls interpolating between the chirally asymmetric vacua of the model.
VEGFR-targeted angiogenesis imaging for therapeutic evaluation in glioblastoma

384 Objectives To develop a novel optical probe targeting VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) for imaging angiogenesis in glioblastoma, and to expand its imaging capability to evaluate anticancer therapies against the tumor. Methods A dimeric ZD-G2 derivative of ZD6474 was synthesized and conjugated with a Cy5.5 fluorescent moiety to generate a novel optical probe targeting VEGFR. Its targeting specificity was evaluated in a human glioblastoma cell line U87-MG and a mouse xenograft model. Furthermore, to illustrate regulation of epigenetics on angiogenesis, an FDA approved drug SAHA (targeting histone deacetylases [HDACs]) was administered in the mice, followed by angiogenesis-imaging studies. Blocking, ex vivo and biodistribution studies validated the imaging efficacy of the probe. Results Receptor binding assays indicated that ZD-G2 had a high binding affinity for VEGFR with a dissociation constant of 0.45 nM. In vitro imaging study with U87-MG cells confirmed the specificity of the probe for VEGFR. In vivo experiments using the mouse xenograft model of U87-MG showed efficient imaging capability, with specific enrichment of the probe in tumors being visible as early as 6h post-injection. The fluorescent signal peaked at 24h with a tumor-to-background ratio of 1.83±0.11 (n=3). Blocking experiments using unlabeled ZD-G2 established the binding specificity. Interestingly, prior treatment of SAHA (15mg/Kg), a HDAC pan-inhibitor, significantly reduced VEGFR-targeted imaging signals (P Conclusions A novel angiogenesis-imaging probe ZD-G2-Cy5.5 has been successfully developed and evaluated for its ability to visualize glioblastoma in vivo. Its potentiality of evaluating therapeutic response of anticancer treatment has been demonstrated by an HDAC-VEGFR system in vivo, which reveals an intriguing mechanism where angiogenesis may be regulated by HDACs during glioblastoma tumorigenesis.
Abstract B103: Effect of over-the-counter vitamin D supplementation on circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration

Background: Vitamin D is a proposed chemopreventive and treatment agent for a variety of cancers. Studies have identified cellular anti-cancer mechanisms as well as associations between low circulating 25(OH)D levels and increased risk of cancer. Recommendations exist for vitamin D supplementation, though published cholecalciferol supplement trials have tested only pharmacological preparations or multivitamins. It is unknown whether intake of over-the-counter (OTC) cholecalciferol supplements, at the estimated average requirement (EAR) recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), changes circulating vitamin D metabolite concentrations and associated biomarkers in healthy adults. Objective: To determine the effect of 400 IU of OTC cholecalciferol supplements on circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in healthy adults. Methods: This study was a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted from September 2009 through March 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. A total of 60 healthy male and female residents, aged 35 to 50 years, were recruited. Participants were randomized to receive either 400 IU/d cholecalciferol or a placebo for 30 days. Serum samples were collected every 15 days (± 3 days) and analyzed to determine if the change in circulating 25(OH)D concentration was significantly different between the groups. Results: After 30 days of supplementation, the net change in circulating concentration of 25(OH)D in the supplement versus placebo group was 2.2 ng/ml (8.5% change, p-value = 0.06). Individuals with low baseline 25(OH)D ( 30 ng/ml) did not increase significantly (net change 0.3 ng/ml, 0.8%, p-value = 0.84). Conclusions: Use of OTC cholecalciferol supplements is a common practice, yet there is limited evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of OTC vitamin D supplements to change circulating 25(OH)D levels. These initial results demonstrate that 400 IU OTC cholecalciferol is sufficient for maintaining the 25(OH)D concentrations of Arizonans throughout the winter, and provide support for the IOM recommended EAR of 400 IU/day in this population. Further research on the optimal dose for chemoprevention is ongoing. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B103.
Beyond convergence: Poland and Turkey en route to high income

Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the policy reform experiences of Poland and Turkey en route to high income. For both countries, globalization has presented unprecedented opportunities to catch up, unleased by integration into European and global markets and the establishment of macroeconomic discipline. These opportunities were reinforced by the creation of economic institutions to strengthen competition and support private entrepreneurship, catalyzed by the convergence process with the European Union. Both Poland and Turkey have shown resilience following the 2008 global crisis, but continued success will require renewed structural reform measures. Dealing with the challenging of aging while at the same time finding a way to sustain productivity growth through greater domestic innovation is shaping Poland’s policy agenda. Turkey's structural and demographic potential as well as its strategic location between the markets of Europe and Asia offers attractive value proposition to investors, which could be further enhanced with improvements in business regulations and economic governance.
Manipulating Electronic Energy Disorder in Colloidal Quantum Dot Solids for Enhanced Charge Carrier Transport

A realistic CQD solid model is developed that computes the charge carrier mobility using hopping transport models within an ensemble of individual CQD units. Large decreases in electron mobility of up to 70% as compared to the monodisperse case are observed when the energetic disorder in CQD films lies in the typical experimental range of 10%–15%. Furthermore, it is suggested that tailored and potentially experimentally achievable re-arrangement of the CQD size ensemble combined with spatial doping control can mediate the reduction in mobility even in highly dispersive cases, and presents an avenue toward improved mobility and photovoltaic performance by up to 9% by leveraging fast carrier transport channels in highly polydisperse materials.
The role of familism in weight loss treatment for Mexican American women.

Mexican American women are disproportionately affected by overweight/obesity and the health complications accompanying them, but weight loss treatments are less successful in this ethnic group. Hig...
The Bench-to-Bedside Story of IL-17 and the Therapeutic Efficacy of its Targeting in Spondyloarthritis

TNF-blocking biologics have revolutionized the care of patients with spondyloarthritis, a group of clinically overlapping conditions that includes ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. However, incomplete response rates speak to the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Over the last decade, animal models, genetics, and translational studies have implicated the excessive production of a pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) along with another IL-17-promoting cytokine IL-23 in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis. Genome-wide studies identified disease associations with multiple genes regulating IL-23/IL-17 immune pathway activity. Direct examination of the patient blood and tissues revealed excessive IL-17 and IL-23 production by diverse cell types. Murine models both underscored the sufficiency of excess IL-23 in driving disease phenotype and predicted utility in IL-23/IL-17 pathway blockade. However, the clinical efficacy of agents such as secukinumab and ustekinumab, which block IL-17 and IL-23/IL-12 respectively, provided exciting proof of concept.
Laser nano-surgery for neuronal manipulation (Conference Presentation)

Optical manipulation has enabled study of bio-chemical and bio-mechanical properties of the cells. Laser nanosurgery by ultrafast laser beam with appropriate laser parameters provides spatially-targeted manipulation of neurons in a minimal invasiveness manner with high efficiency. We utilized femto-second laser nano-surgery for both axotomy and sub-axotomy of rat cortical neurons. Degeneration and regeneration after axotomy was studied with and without external growth-factor(s) and biochemical(s). Further, axonal injury was studied as a function of pulse energy, exposure and site of injury. The ability to study the response of neurons to localized injury opens up opportunities for screening potential molecules for repair and regeneration after nerve injury. Sub-axotomy enabled transient opening of axonal membrane for optical delivery of impermeable molecules to the axoplasm. Fast resealing of the axonal membrane after sub-axotomy without significant long-term damage to axon (monitored by its growth) was observed. We will present these experimental results along with theoretical simulation of injury due to laser nano-surgery and delivery via the transient pore. Targeted delivery of proteins such as antibodies, genes encoding reporter proteins, ion-channels and voltage indicators will allow visualization, activation and detection of the neuronal structure and function.
Human Per1 gene expression in peripheral mononuclear system in young adults

[Objective] To investigate circadian rhythm of human Per1 gene expression in peripheral mononuclear system(PMS)in healthy young adults and changes of Per1 gene expression after work shift. [Methods] 7 healthy young adults (H1-H7), aged from 24~30, 3 male and 4 female, were recruited. H7 had work shift just before experiment. Competitive RT-PCR methods were used to quantify gene expression. [Results] Human Per1 gene expression was significantly higher at 9:00 clock and reached the lower level around 21:00. The difference between the higher peak and lower peak of hPer1 expression was significant (P 0.01). Per1 gene expression at 9:00 clock in the first day was approximately equal to that of the second day(P 0.05). [Conclusions] There is a significant circadian rhythm in the expression of hPer1 in human PMS. These results would contribute to the study of circadian rhythm in patients and explore the relationship between circadian rhythm and diseases.
Effect of high temperature and drought on yield and grain quality of different indica rice varieties during heading periods

The effect of high temperature and drought stress on yield and grain quality of indica rice varieties during heading periods was investigated. Five indica rice cultivars which included three restorers Shuhui 527,Yangdao 6 and OM052,two hybrid varieties ⅡYou 838 and Fengliangyou 4 were grown in pots and suffered from high temperature treatments( maximum temperature during the day at37. 0 ℃),soil drying treatments( relative soil water potential reduced to- 70 k Pa),while the rice of natural environment condition in plastic bucket was used as control. The yield,long breadth ratio and chalkiness,gel consistency,alkali digestion value and amylose content had the same downward trend under the two treatments. Compared with the control group,seed-setting rate and gel consistency of the five varieties decreased and had significant differences under the two treatments,rice amylose content was significantly lower,too,gel consistency and amylose content correlated significantly,and seed setting rate and filled grains per panicle had significantly or extremely significantly positive correlation( r = 0. 949*~ 0. 995**). It had different sensitivity to temperature and water between varieties,while OM052 had a higher filled grains per panicle and seed-setting rate than other varieties under the condition of high temperature and drought stress,which indicated that OM052 probably had the characteristic of heat and drought resistance.
The Effect of Vasectomy Upon the Incidence of Epididymitis after Prostatectomy; An Analysisof 810 Operations1

The incidence of epididymitis was reviewed in 810 prostatectomy case s 320 of which were preceded by vasectomy. The incidence of epididymit is was 15.05% in cases in which vasectomy was not performed and 3.75% in those cases in which it was. In cases of transurethral resection epididymitis occurred in 9.06% of the cases in which vasectomy was not performed and in 2.66% of the patients in which it was. The results indicate that preoperative vasectomy considerably reduces the incidence of epididymitis following prostatectomy and transurethral resection. Vasectomy is recommended as a preoperative measure in prostatic surgery patients though an exception can be made for younger patients.
Defective T cell-mediated, isotype-specific immunoglobulin regulation in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The consistent occurrence of T cell abnormalities in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) suggest that the non- neoplastic host T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of this B cell neoplasm. Because potential defects of immunoglobulin regulation are evident in B-CLL patients, we investigated one aspect of this by studying the T cell-mediated immunoglobulin isotype-specific immunoregulatory circuit in B-CLL. The existence of class-specific immunoglobulin regulatory mechanisms mediated by Fc receptor-bearing T cells (FcR + T) through soluble immunoglobulin binding factors (IgBFs) has been well established in many experimental systems. IgBFs can both suppress and enhance B cell activity in an isotype-specific manner. We investigated the apparently abnormal IgA regulation in a B-CLL patient (CLL249) whose B cells secrete primarily IgA in vitro. Enumeration of FcR + T cells showed a disproportionate increase in IgA FcR + T cells in the peripheral blood of this patient. Our studies showed that the neoplastic B cells were not intrinsically unresponsive to the suppressing component of IgABF produced from normal T cells, but rather the IgABF produced by the CLL249 host T cells was defective. CLL249 IgABF was unable to suppress IgA secretion by host or normal B cells and enhanced the in vitro proliferation of the host B cells. Size fractionation of both normal and CLL249 IgABF by gel-filtration high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated differences in the ultraviolet-absorbing components of IgABF obtained from normal T cells v that from our patient with defective IgA regulation. Such T cell dysfunction may not be restricted to IgA regulation, since we have found similar expansion of isotype-specific FcR + T cells associated with expansion of the corresponding B cell clone in other patients with B-CLL. These data suggest that this T cell-mediated regulatory circuit could be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of B-CLL.
Imaging Coronary Blood Flow in AS: Let the Data Talk, Again.

In this issue of the Journal , Ahn et al. [(1)][1] correlate an index of relative myocardial perfusion reserve (MPRI) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and angina pectoris, those with AS without angina, and control patients without aortic stenosis. The
Factors for Consideration in an Open-Flame Test for Assessing Fire Blocking Performance of Barrier Fabrics

The main objective of the work reported here is to assess factors that could affect the outcome of a proposed open flame test for barrier fabrics (BF-open flame test). The BF-open flame test characterizes barrier effectiveness by monitoring the ignition of a flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) layer placed in contact with the upper side of the barrier fabric, exposed to a burner flame from below. Particular attention is given to the factors that influence the ignitibility of the FPUF, including thermal resistance, permeability, and structural integrity of the barrier fabrics (BFs). A number of barrier fabrics, displaying a wide range of the properties, are tested with the BF-open flame test. Visual observations of the FPUF burning behavior and BF char patterns, in addition to heat flux measurements on the unexposed side of the barrier fabrics, are used to assess the protective performance of the BF specimen under the open flame test conditions. The temperature and heat transfer measurements on the unexposed side of the BF and subsequent ranking of BFs for their thermal protective performance suggest that the BF-open flame test does not differentiate barrier fabrics based on their heat transfer properties. A similar conclusion is reached with regard to BF permeability characterized at room temperature. However, the outcome of this BF-open flame test is found to be heavily influenced by the structural integrity of thermally degraded BF. The BF-open flame test, in its current form, only ignited FPUF when structural failure of the barrier was observed.
West Syndrome Remission Following Acute Viral Infection

Researchers at Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, report 11 children with intractable epilepsy (West syndrome in 6 and myoclonic seizures in 5) who showed clinical and electrographic improvement following acute viral infection.
Current Status of Tissue Engineering Heart Valve.

The development of surgically implantable heart valve prostheses has contributed to improved outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, there are drawbacks, such as risk of infection and lack of growth potential. Tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) holds great promise to address these drawbacks as the ideal TEHV is easily implanted, biocompatible, non-thrombogenic, durable, degradable, and ultimately remodels into native-like tissue. In general, three main components used in creating a tissue-engineered construct are (1) a scaffold material, (2) a cell type for seeding the scaffold, and (3) a subsequent remodeling process driven by cell accumulation and proliferation, and/or biochemical and mechanical signaling. Despite rapid progress in the field over the past decade, TEHVs have not been translated into clinical applications successfully. To successfully utilize TEHVs clinically, further elucidation of the mechanisms for TEHV remodeling and further translational research outcome evaluati...
Susan Lindquist: Visionary scientist and peerless mentor

The science universe is dimmer after one of our brightest stars, Susan Lee Lindquist, was taken by cancer on October 27, 2016. Sue was an innovative, creative, out-of-the-box scientific thinker. She had unique biological intuition—an instinct for both the way things worked and the right questions to ask to uncover new research insights. Her wide-ranging career began with the study of protein folding and molecular chaperones, and she went on to show that protein folding can have profound and unexpected biological effects on such diverse processes as cancer, evolution, and neurodegenerative disease. As Sue9s laboratory manager, I would like to offer a ground-floor perspective on what made her an exceptional scientist, mentor, and leader. She created a harmonious, collegial environment where collaborative synergy fueled meaningful progress that will impact science for decades to come.
Flavour-Isolation Techniques

The recovery of aroma compounds from waste streams has been accomplished in only a few commercial applications, the best known being the recovery of coffee or cocoa volatiles during processing. The limitation in application is economics. The waste stream must have an adequate concentration of volatiles and the volatiles must be of high value. Few processing operations meet these economic criteria at this time. In the future, the high costs of recovering flavouring materials from waste streams will be partially offset by the saving in disposal costs associated with environmental issues.
Outcomes following cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation guided by pressure waveform monitoring without the routine use of pulmonary venography

Pressure waveform analysis has the potential for facilitated assessment of pulmonary vein occlusion during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation. Data on clinical outcomes using this method are lacking. We sought to validate through clinical outcomes the use of pressure waveform analysis as the primary method of determining pulmonary vein occlusion during cryoballoon ablation. A study was performed of 122 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (85% paroxysmal) undergoing cryoballoon ablation from May 2014 through July 2015 at a single institution using pressure waveform analysis as the primary method of assessing pulmonary vein occlusion. Cryoballoon ablation, with additional segmental radiofrequency ablation in 13.7%, resulted in complete pulmonary vein isolation in 100% of patients. The single procedure freedom from recurrence of atrial arrhythmia beyond the initial 3-month post-ablation was 81.2% at a mean follow-up of 237 days. Recurrence of atrial arrhythmia within 3-month post-ablation was 11.1%, and predicted recurrence beyond 3 months. Repeat ablation was performed in 12.0% of patients. In the largest study to date on this topic and the only study to focus on clinical outcomes, pressure waveform analysis as the primary method of determining pulmonary vein occlusion in cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation resulted in acute and long-term procedural success rates comparable to those reported with use of routine pulmonary venography. Controlled study is needed to confirm these findings and to determine if this technique affects variables such as procedure duration and radiation exposure.
Breast cancer margin delineation with fluorescence lifetime imaging (Conference Presentation)

The current standard of care for early stages of breast cancer is breast-conserving surgery (BCS). BCS involves a lumpectomy procedure, during which the tumor is removed with a rim of normal tissue-if cancer cells found in that rim of tissue, it is called a positive margin and means part of the tumor remains in the breast. Currently there is no method to determine if cancer cells exist at the margins of lumpectomy specimens aside from time-intensive histology methods that result in reoperations in up to 38% of cases. We used fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) to measure time-resolved autofluorescence from N=13 ex vivo human breast cancer specimens (N=10 patients undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy) and compared our results to histology. Tumor (both invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ), fibrous tissue, fat and fat necrosis have unique fluorescence signatures. For instance, between 500-580 nm, fluorescence lifetime of tumor was shortest (4.7 ± 0.4 ns) compared to fibrous tissue (5.5 ± 0.7 ns) and fat (7.0 ± 0.1 ns), P<0.05 (ANOVA). These differences are due to the biochemical properties of lipid, nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and collagen fibers in the fat, tumor and fibrous tissue, respectively. Additionally, the FLIm data is augmented to video of the breast tissue with image processing algorithms that track a blue (450 nm) aiming beam used in parallel with the 355 nm excitation beam. This allows for accurate histologic co-registration and in the future will allow for three-dimensional lumpectomy surfaces to be imaged for cancer margin delineation.
PTEN Mediates Activation of Core Clock Protein BMAL1 and Accumulation of Epidermal Stem Cells

Tissue integrity requires constant maintenance of a quiescent, yet responsive, population of stem cells. In the skin, hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) that reside within the bulge maintain tissue homeostasis in response to activating cues that occur with each new hair cycle or upon injury. We found that PTEN, a major regulator of the PI3K-AKT pathway, controlled HFSC number and size in the bulge and maintained genomically stable pluripotent cells. This regulatory function is central for HFSC quiescence, where PTEN-deficiency phenotype is in part regulated by BMAL1. Furthermore, PTEN ablation led to downregulation of BMI-1, a critical regulator of adult stem cell self-renewal, and elevated senescence, suggesting the presence of a protective system that prevents transformation. We found that short- and long-term PTEN depletion followed by activated BMAL1, a core clock protein, contributed to accumulation of HFSC.
The Prague Study of Children Born from Unwanted Pregnancies

The importance of some of the functions on which the family has been founded has largely diminished. There has been considerable growth, however, in the importance of two basic functions: (1) gratification of the emotional needs of all the family members, and (2) preparing the child for his future life in society. We may well ask what factors are conducive to satisfactory fulfillment of these functions and what, on the contrary, impedes their fulfillment. The demands the society of the latter half of the 20th century imposes on man are considerably different from those made on the previous generations. Even slight developmental deviations, retardations, disproportions, and imperfections that before escaped unnoticed are nowadays Mconspicuous,tT and may become serious obstacles to social integration of the afflicted child. And as the present-day family more than ever before revolves around the emotional ties on which it has been founded on that precious, fine, but fragile bond all deviations in the emotional and social development of a young person assume an exceptional importance. The age at which boys and girls reach sexual maturity has
ERβ and ApoE isoforms interact to regulate BDNF–5-HT 2A signaling and synaptic function in the female brain

Depression has been reported to be commonly manifested in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is considered a risk factor for AD. The human apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene exists in three major isoforms (coded by e2, e3, and e4), and the e4 allele has been associated with a greater incidence of both depression and AD. Although mounting evidence points to the potentially complex interaction between these two brain disorders in which ApoE might play a role, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using human ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4 gene-targeted replacement (hApoE-TR) mouse models, we investigated the role of ApoE isoforms and their potential interactions with estrogen receptor β (ERβ) signaling in modulating the brain mechanisms involved in depression. Our initial analyses in 6-month-old female hApoE-TR mice demonstrated that ApoE influenced the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) serotonin receptor in an isoform-dependent manner, with the ApoE4 brain exhibiting the lowest level of BDNF and the highest level of 5-HT2A. In addition, both presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins were downregulated, indicating a synaptic deficit in ApoE4 brains. Our subsequent analyses revealed that a 3-month chronic treatment with an ERβ-targeted (83-fold selectivity over ERα) phytoestrogenic diet induced several changes in ApoE2 and ApoE3 brains, including a significant decrease in the expression of 5-HT2A receptors and an increase in BDNF/tropomyosin receptor kinase B and synaptic proteins. In contrast, ApoE4 brains were largely unresponsive to the treatment, with an increase only in select synaptic proteins in the treated group. Taken together, these results indicate that ApoE4 negatively impacts BDNF–5-HT2A signaling in the female brain, which could in part underlie the ApoE4-mediated increased risk for depression. In a larger context, this mechanism could serve as a molecular link between depression and AD associated with ApoE4. Enhancing ERβ activity could provide a greater therapeutic benefit to non-ApoE4 carriers than to ApoE4 carriers in interventions for these brain disorders.