Cuticular nitrogen economy during development in the cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus and the termite Neotermes jouteli.

The role of nitrogen during insect development and reproduction is key in the success of a species, and is of primary importance in wood feeding taxa. Based on comparison of xylophagous, one-piece termites to the termite sister group, subsocial wood-feeding cockroaches in the genus Cryptocercus, it has been proposed that the evolution of termite eusociality involved a fundamental shift in nitrogen allocation strategies. Cryptocercus exhibits a nitrogen storage economy, with individuals gradually increasing in size and cuticular density over a years-long developmental period.

Optimizing Camera Exposure Time for Automotive Applications.

Camera-based object detection is integral to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle research, and RGB cameras remain indispensable for their spatial resolution and color information. This study investigates exposure time optimization for such cameras, considering image quality in dynamic ADAS scenarios. Exposure time, the period during which the camera sensor is exposed to light, directly influences the amount of information captured.

A Study on Data Selection for Object Detection in Various Lighting Conditions for Autonomous Vehicles.

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and other technology for autonomous vehicles. Automated object detection is a crucial component of autonomous driving; however, there are still known issues that affect its performance. For automotive applications, object detection algorithms are required to perform at a high standard in all lighting conditions; however, a major problem for object detection is poor performance in low-light conditions due to objects being less visible.

Patient Satisfaction With Long-term Sacral Neuromodulation for Fecal Incontinence: Experience From a Single Tertiary Center.

Background: Sacral neuromodulation is an effective treatment for fecal incontinence in the long term. Efficacy is typically assessed using bowel diary, symptom severity, and quality-of-life questionnaires, and "success" is defined as more than 50% improvement in these measures. However, patient satisfaction may be a more meaningful and individualized measure of treatment efficacy.

Tumor-targeted therapy with BRAF-inhibitor recruits activated dendritic cells to promote tumor immunity in melanoma.

Background: Tumor-targeted therapy causes impressive tumor regression, but the emergence of resistance limits long-term survival benefits in patients. Little information is available on the role of the myeloid cell network, especially dendritic cells (DC) during tumor-targeted therapy.

Methods: Here, we investigated therapy-mediated immunological alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-draining lymph nodes (LN) in the D4M.

Impact of ISP Tuning on Object Detection.

In advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or autonomous vehicle research, acquiring semantic information about the surrounding environment generally relies heavily on camera-based object detection. Image signal processors (ISPs) in cameras are generally tuned for human perception. In most cases, ISP parameters are selected subjectively and the resulting image differs depending on the individual who tuned it.

The Long-term Outcomes of Sacral Neuromodulation for Fecal Incontinence: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Sacral neuromodulation is an effective treatment for fecal incontinence.

Objective: To assess the long-term outcomes of sacral neuromodulation and establish the outcomes of patients with inactive devices.

Design: This is an observational study of patients treated for >5 years.

Developing 3D models using photogrammetry for virtual reality training in anatomy.

Virtual reality (VR) is an increasingly available resource with numerous applications to medical education, and as a teaching tool has been widely validated in the literature. Photogrammetry, the process of overlapping two-dimensional (2D) photographic images of three-dimensional (3D) objects to create a 3D image or "model," can be used in conjunction with VR to create pedagogically sound learning modules for anatomy education. However, to date, there has not been a detailed description of the process of developing and implementing an in-house VR tool to supplement anatomy instruction.

Pedestrian Crossing Intention Forecasting at Unsignalized Intersections Using Naturalistic Trajectories.

Interacting with other roads users is a challenge for an autonomous vehicle, particularly in urban areas. Existing vehicle systems behave in a reactive manner, warning the driver or applying the brakes when the pedestrian is already in front of the vehicle. The ability to anticipate a pedestrian's crossing intention ahead of time will result in safer roads and smoother vehicle maneuvers.

Development of a novel capillary electrophoresis method for quantitative measurements of intracellular recombinant protein titer.

The measurement of volumetric titer is an integral step in the assessment and selection of a production cell line and cell culture process. The production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), a major class of therapeutic proteins, in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines is challenging due to the clone-to-clone variations in the intrinsic capability to secrete a biologically complex protein. The measurement of intracellular mAb concentration could be a valuable tool to determine the ratio of intracellular to secreted product and be part of the evaluation of potential mAb productive cell lines.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging After Breast Surgery.

Given that 20% to 40% of women who have percutaneous breast biopsy subsequently undergo breast surgery, knowledge of imaging women with a history of benign (including high-risk) disease or breast cancer is important. For women who had surgery for nonmalignant pathology, the surveillance recommendations are determined by their overall risk. Higher-than-average risk women with a history of benign surgery may require screening mammography starting at an earlier age before 40 and may benefit from screening MRI.

The IL-20RB receptor and the IL-20 signaling pathway in regulating host defense in oral mucosal candidiasis.

Pseudomembranous candidiasis (thrush), erythematous candidiasis, and fungal esophagitis are infections of the barrier mucosa of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The majority of these infections are caused by , an opportunistic fungal pathogen that frequently exists as a harmless commensal on mucosal surfaces lining the gastrointestinal tract. Oral infections are initiated in the superficial stratified squamous epithelium, in which keratinocytes are the most abundant host cells and are the initial points of contact with present in saliva.

Egyptian blue: from pigment to battery electrodes.

Herein we report on using Egyptian blue as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. A 1 cycle lithiation capacity of 594 mA h g and reversible capacity of 210 mA h g at 20 mA g, and at 500 mA g a reversible capacity of 120 mA h g (stable over 1000 cycles) were achieved with coulombic efficiency more than 99.5%.

Altered stress responses in adults born by Caesarean section.

Birth by Caesarean-section (C-section), which increases the risk for metabolic and immune disorders, disrupts the normal initial microbial colonisation of the gut, in addition to preventing early priming of the stress and immune-systems.. Animal studies have shown there are enduring psychological processes in C-section born mice.

HolistIC: leveraging Hi-C and whole genome shotgun sequencing for double minute chromosome discovery.

Motivation: Double minute (DM) chromosomes are acentric extrachromosomal DNA artifacts that are frequently observed in the cells of numerous cancers. They are highly amplified and contain oncogenes and drug-resistance genes, making their presence a challenge for effective cancer treatment. Algorithmic discovery of DM can potentially improve bench-derived therapies for cancer treatment.

The Influence of Southwestern Virginia Environmental Conditions on the Potential Ability of and to Overwinter in the Region.

Ticks are susceptible to environmental conditions and, to ensure survival during winter conditions, they adopt a wide variety of physiological and behavioral adaptations including utilization of a suitable niche with insulation (e.g., leaf coverage).

The design of the n2EDM experiment: nEDM Collaboration.

We present the design of a next-generation experiment, n2EDM, currently under construction at the ultracold neutron source at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) with the aim of carrying out a high-precision search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron. The project builds on experience gained with the previous apparatus operated at PSI until 2017, and is expected to deliver an order of magnitude better sensitivity with provision for further substantial improvements. An overview is of the experimental method and setup is given, the sensitivity requirements for the apparatus are derived, and its technical design is described.

Use of a Qualitative Story Deck to Create Scenarios and Uncover Factors Associated with African American Participation in Genomics Research.

To gain a complex understanding of willingness to participate in genomics research among African Americans, we developed a technique specifically suited to studying decision making in a relaxed social setting. The "Qualitative Story Deck," (QSD) is a gamified, structured elicitation technique that allows for the spontaneous creation of scenarios with variable attributes. We used the QSD to create research scenarios that varied on four details (race/ethnicity of the researcher; research goal; biospecimen requested; and institutional affiliation).

Arterial blood gas measurements during deep open-water breath-hold dives.

Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements at both maximum depth and at resurfacing prior to breathing have not previously been measured during free dives conducted to extreme depth in cold open-water conditions. An elite free diver was instrumented with a left radial arterial cannula connected to two sampling syringes through a low-volume splitting device. He performed two open-water dives to a depth of 60 m (197', 7 atmospheres absolute pressure) in the constant weight with fins competition format.

Epitope spreading toward wild-type melanocyte-lineage antigens rescues suboptimal immune checkpoint blockade responses.

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), can deliver durable antitumor effects, most patients with cancer fail to respond. Recent studies suggest that ICI efficacy correlates with a higher load of tumor-specific neoantigens and development of vitiligo in patients with melanoma. Here, we report that patients with low melanoma neoantigen burdens who responded to ICI had tumors with higher expression of pigmentation-related genes.

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess Safety and Tolerability of (Thetanix) Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in Adolescent Crohn's Disease.

Introduction: Thetanix (gastroresistant capsules containing lyophilized Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) is a live biotherapeutic, under development for Crohn's disease, that antagonizes transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B, reducing proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor alpha. We aimed to assess safety and tolerability in adolescents with Crohn's disease in remission.

Methods: Subjects who were 16-18 years with Crohn's in remission (weighted pediatric Crohn's disease activity index <12.

Molecular action of pyriproxyfen: Role of the Methoprene-tolerant protein in the pyriproxyfen-induced sterilization of adult female mosquitoes.

Exposure of adult mosquitoes to pyriproxyfen (PPF), an analog of insect juvenile hormone (JH), has shown promise to effectively sterilize female mosquitoes. However, the underlying mechanisms of the PPF-induced decrease in mosquito fecundity are largely unknown. We performed a comprehensive study to dissect the mode of PPF action in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Complex Variant Discovery Using Discordant Cluster Normalization.

Complex genomic structural variants (CGSVs) are abnormalities that present with three or more breakpoints, making their discovery a challenge. The majority of existing algorithms for structural variant detection are only designed to find simple structural variants (SSVs) such as deletions and inversions; they fail to find more complex events such as deletion-inversions or deletion-duplications, for example. In this study, we present an algorithm named CleanBreak that employs a clique partitioning graph-based strategy to identify collections of SSV clusters and then subsequently identifies overlapping SSV clusters to examine the search space of possible CGSVs, choosing the one that is most concordant with local read depth.