The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer

The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) is a small scientific spacecraft designed for launch on a Pegasus™ XL launch vehicle for the USRA Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative. Its scientific goals are to measure nitric oxide density in the lower thermosphere and analyze the energy inputs to that region from the sun and magnetosphere that create it and cause its abundance to vary dramatically. These inputs are energetic solar photons in the EUV and X -ray spectral regions, and energetic electrons that are accelerated into the polar regions, where they cause auroral disturbances and displays. Both of these phenomena are aspects of solar variability; thermospheric nitric oxide responds to that variability and in turn determines key temperature and compositional aspects of the thermosphere and ionosphere through its radiative and chemical properties. The SNOE ( snowy ) spacecraft and its instrument complement is being designed, built, and operated entirely at the University of Colorado, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (CU/LASP). The spacecraft is a compact hexagonal structure, 37 high and 39 across its widest dimension, weighing approximately 220 Ibs. It will be launched into a circular orbit, 550±50 km altitude, at 97.5° inclination for sun-synchronous precession at 10:30-22:30 solar time. It will spin at 5 rpm with the spin axis normal to the orbit plane. It carries three instruments: An ultraviolet spectrometer to measure nitric oxide altitude profiles, a two-channel ultraviolet photometer to measure auroral emissions beneath the spacecraft, and a five-channel solar soft X-ray photometer. The spacecraft structure is aluminum, with a center platform section for the instruments and primary components and truss work to hold the solar arrays. Power is regulated using switched arrays and a partial shunt. The attitude determination and control system uses a magnetometer, two torque rods, and two horizon crossing indicators to measure spin rate and orientation. Attitude control is implemented open-loop by ground commands. The command and data handling system is implemented using a single spacecraft microprocessor that handles all spacecraft and communications functions and instrument data. The communications system is NASA compatible for downlink using the Autonomous Ground Services station at Poker Flat; all mission operations, data processing, and analysis will be performed using a project operations control center (POCC) at the LASP Space Technology Research building

Advanced-stage mycosis fungoides: role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, nuclear factor-kB and nuclear factor of activated T cells pathways

BACKGROUND: The malignant mechanisms that control the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) are beginning to be identified. Recent evidence suggests that disturbances in specific intracellular signalling pathways, such as RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase, T-cell receptor (TCR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CTCL. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanisms controlling disease development and progression in mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common form of CTCL. METHODS: We collected 100 samples that were submitted for diagnosis of, or a second opinion regarding, MF between 2001 and 2018, 80% of which were in the early clinical stages of the disease. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were used for histological review and to measure the expression by immunohistochemistry of surrogate markers of activation of the TCR-PLCG1-NFAT, JAK-STAT and NF-?B pathways. Folliculotropism and large-cell transformation were also examined. RESULTS: NFAT and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B) markers showed a comparable activation status in early and advanced stages, while STAT3 activation was more frequent in advanced stages and was associated with large-cell transformation. Consistently with this observation, STAT3 activation occurred in parallel with MF progression in two initially MF-negative cases. A significant association of NFAT with NF-?B markers was also found, reflecting a common mechanism of activation in the two pathways. Genomic studies identified nine mutations in seven genes known to play a potential role in tumorigenesis in T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma, including PLCG1, JAK3 and STAT3, which underlies the activation of these key cell-survival pathways. A higher mutational allele frequency was detected in advanced stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that STAT3 is activated in advanced cases and is associated with large-cell transformation, while the activation of NFAT and NF-?B is maintained throughout the disease. These findings could have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. What's already known about this topic? Mycosis fungoides is characterized by a clonal expansion of T cells in the skin. The mechanisms controlling disease development and progression are not fully understood. What does this study add? An association of the nuclear factor of activated T cells and nuclear factor kappa B pathways was found, which could reflect a common mechanism of activation. These pathways were activated in early and advanced stages at the same level. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation was associated with large-cell transformation and was more frequent in advanced stages. A genomic analysis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated genes was performed. Nine mutations were detected. What is the translational message? These results could have important implications for the treatment of MF in the near future.Funding: This study has been supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, from the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (SAF2013-47416-R, CIBERONC-ISCIII, ISCIII-MINECO-AES-FEDER (Plan Estatal I + D + I 2013–2016): PI14/00221, PIE14/0064, PIE15/0081, PIE16/01294, and FIS 17/0957)), Asociación española contra el Cáncer (AECC), Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid and from the Instituto Formación e Investigación Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL): NVAL16/18