Red,Purple and Pink: The Colors of Diffusion on Pinterest

Many lab studies have shown that colors can evoke powerful emotions and impact human behavior. Might these phenomena drive how we act online? A key research challenge for image-sharing communities is uncovering the mechanisms by which content spreads through the community. In this paper, we investigate whether there is link between color and diffusion. Drawing on a corpus of one million images crawled from Pinterest, we find that color significantly impacts the diffusion of images and adoption of content on image sharing communities such as Pinterest, even after partially controlling for network structure and activity. Specifically, Red, Purple and pink seem to promote diffusion, while Green, Blue, Black and Yellow suppress it. To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate how colors relate to online user behavior. In addition to contributing to the research conversation surrounding diffusion, these findings suggest future work using sophisticated computer vision techniques. We conclude with a discussion on the theoretical, practical and design implications suggested by this work—e.g. design of engaging image filters.     

The Function of Embryonic Stem Cell-expressed RAS (E-RAS), a Unique RAS Family Member,Correlates with Its Additional Motifs and Its Structural Properties

E-RAS is a member of the RAS family specifically expressed in embryonic stem cells, gastric tumors, and hepatic stellate cells. Unlike classical RAS isoforms (H-, N-, and K-RAS4B), E-RAS has, in addition to striking and remarkable sequence deviations, an extended 38-amino acid-long unique N-terminal region with still unknown functions. We investigated the molecular mechanism of E-RAS regulation and function with respect to its sequence and structural features. We found that N-terminal extension of E-RAS is important for E-RAS signaling activity. E-RAS protein most remarkably revealed a different mode of effector interaction as compared with H-RAS, which correlates with deviations in the effector-binding site of E-RAS. Of all these residues, tryptophan 79 (arginine 41 in H-RAS), in the interswitch region, modulates the effector selectivity of RAS proteins from H-RAS to E-RAS features.     

A genetic variant in CDKN2A/2B locus was associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the leading causes of cancer related death. Despite of extensive efforts in identifying valid cancer prognostic biomarkers, only a very small number of markers have been identified. Several genetic variants in the 9p21 region have been identified that are associated with the risk of multiple cancers. Here, we explored the association of two genetic variants in the 9p21 region, CDKN2A/B, rs10811661, and rs1333049 for the first time in 273 subjects with, or without ESCC. We observed that the patients with ESCC had a higher frequency of a TT genotype for rs10811661 than individuals in the control group, and this polymorphism was also associated with tumor size. Moreover, a CC genotype for the rs1333049 polymorphism was associated with a reduced overall survival (OS) of patients with ESCC. In particular, patients with a CC (rs1333049) genotype had a significantly shorter OS (CC genotype: 34.5 ± 8.9 months vs. CG+GG: 47.7 ± 5.9 months; p value = 0.03). We have also shown the association of a novel genetic variant in CDKN2B gene with clinical outcome of patients with ESCC. Further investigations are warranted in a larger population to explore the value of emerging markers as a risk stratification marker in ESCC.     

Utilization of harvester ant nest sites by Persian goitered gazelle in steppes of central Iran

Ants are among the most important elements in many ecosystems and known as famous ecosystem engineers. By changing physical and chemical properties of soil, ants may provide suitable habitats for other species. Based on previous observations, we hypothesized that Persian goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa) exhibit a preference for utilizing sites close to seed harvester ant (Messor spp.) nests. We tested our hypothesis by (1) mapping the occurrence of harvester ant nests and aggregated gazelle pellet groups along 31 strip transects, (2) monitoring pellet group accumulation bimonthly at 56 pairs of permanent plots established on ant nests and at adjacent control sites for a complete year, and (3) comparing vegetation and soil parameters between ant nest sites used by gazelles and paired control plots without ant nests. Although the area of Messor spp. nest sites covered only about 0.29% of the sampled transects, 84% of the gazelle pellet group aggregation sites were positioned upon ant nests, suggesting that gazelles actively selected Messor spp. nest sites. Pair-wise comparisons between ant nest plots and paired control plots also confirmed higher use of ant nest sites by gazelles compared to sites without ant nests in all time periods. Percent soil organic matter, percent cover of gravel, and annual herb vegetation significantly differed between ant nest and paired control plots in all the vegetation communities. We suggest that the alterations brought about by harvester ants on soil and vegetation make these sites attractive to gazelles. Gazelle territoriality behaviour and use of ant nests as bedding sites may be the reasons for selection of ant nest sites by gazelles.     

Seasonal variation in susceptibility of the pear psyllid,Cacopsylla permixta (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) to selected insecticides

Although Cacopsylla pyri Forster and Cacopsylla pyricola Linnaeus have long been considered as more significant pests of pear trees around the world, Cacopsylla permixta Burckhardt and Hodkinson is the most significant pest in some parts of Iran, especially in pear gardens of Karaj. Current control strategies against this pest in Iran generally involve five or six insecticide treatments each year, despite unsatisfactory results are reported at many localities. So, it is crucial to know the most susceptible generation of the pest to apply a good strategy for its control. The aim of this study was to explore the seasonal variation in susceptibility of C. permixta to four commonly used insecticides. The results showed that winter forms (February) were 2.71‐fold, 4.58‐fold, 3.26 fold and 3.38‐fold more tolerant to diazinon, imidacloprid, acetamiprid and abamectin, respectively, compared with summer forms. Also, Esterase, GST and P450 monooxygenase activity was highest during February. Moreover, the content of lipid, carbohydrate, glycogen and protein was significantly higher in February compared with other months. Based on these results, the best period for insecticide treatment for efficient control is treatment against the first generation, at the time when eggs are laid by females as well as during the egg hatching and the larvae appearance. At this time of year, psylla are more susceptible, which would likely lead to better results and the reduction in damage during the next summer. However, further studies are needed to test this in farm settings, and to whether this holds true for other psylla species.     

Application of CAR-T cell technology in autoimmune diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection treatment

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy approach that has played a tremendous role in the battle against cancer for years. Since the CAR T lymphocytes are unrestricted-major histocompatibility complex T lymphocytes, they could identify more targets than natural T cells, resulting in practical and widespread functions. The good prospects of CAR T-cell therapy in oncology can be additionally applied to treat other diseases such as autoimmune and infectious diseases. CAR-T cell-derived immunotherapy for autoimmune disorders can be allocated to CAR-Tregs and chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells. Other generations of CARs target human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proteins. In this review, we summarize CAR-T cell therapies in autoimmune disorders and HIV infection.     

Differential Roles of Intra-accumbal Orexin Receptors in Acquisition and Expression of Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in the Rats

Neurochemical Research - A large amount of document has revealed that the orexin system in the reward circuity, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc), contributes to the modification of drug...