Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POCIS Calibration for Organic Compound Sampling in Small Headwater Streams

Field‐based atrazine sampling rates (Rs) obtained by the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) method were measured in 9 headwater streams over 3 yr covering 5 to 6 exposure periods of 2 to 3 wk/site/yr. Rates were best in line with the model Rs = 148 mL/d, with a standard deviation of 0.17 log units (factor 1.5). The POCIS canisters reduced mass transfer coefficients of the water boundary layer by a factor of 2 as measured by alabaster dissolution rates. A mechanistic model that accounts for flow and temperature effects yielded a fair estimate of the effective exchange surface area (12.5 ± 0.8 cm2). This model could only be tested for higher flow velocities because of uncertainties associated with the measurement of flow velocities <1 cm/s. Pictures of sorbent distributions in POCIS devices showed that the effective exchange surface area varied with time during the exposures. Error analysis indicated that sorbent distributions and chemical analysis were minor error sources. Our main conclusion is that an atrazine sampling rate of 148 mL/d yielded consistent results for all 3 yr across 9 headwater streams. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1334–1342. © 2020 SETAC
Attentional Push: A Deep Convolutional Network for Augmenting Image Salience with Shared Attention Modeling in Social Scenes

We present a novel visual attention tracking technique based on Shared Attention modeling. By considering the viewer as a participant in the activity occurring in the scene, our model learns the loci of attention of the scene actors and use it to augment image salience. We go beyond image salience and instead of only computing the power of image regions to pull attention, we also consider the strength with which the scene actors push attention to the region in question, thus the term Attentional Push. We present a convolutional neural network (CNN) which augments standard saliency models with Attentional Push. Our model contains two pathways: an Attentional Push pathway which learns the gaze location of the scene actors and a saliency pathway. These are followed by a shallow augmented saliency CNN which combines them and generates the augmented saliency. For training, we use transfer learning to initialize and train the Attentional Push CNN by minimizing the classification error of following the actors gaze location on a 2-D grid using a large-scale gaze-following dataset. The Attentional Push CNN is then fine-tuned along with the augmented saliency CNN to minimize the Euclidean distance between the augmented saliency and ground truth fixations using an eye-tracking dataset, annotated with the head and the gaze location of the scene actors. We evaluate our model on three challenging eye fixation datasets, SALICON, iSUN and CAT2000, and illustrate significant improvements in predicting viewers fixations in social scenes.
Visual Outcome after Nd-YAG Capsulotomy in Posterior Capsule Opacification

Results: Of the 58 patients, 39 (67.2%) were male and 19 (32.8%) were female. Nine (15.5%) were aphakic and 49 (84.5%) were pseudophakic. The average age was 52 years (Range 18 years to 83 years). The average time interval between cataract surgery and Nd-YAG laser capsulotomy was 23 months (2 months to 12 years). Capsular fibrosis (62%) was the predominant type of PCO. Elschnig’s pearls were present in 20.7% and capsular wrinkling found in 15.5%. All these capsulotomies were performed for optical purposes and the results were rewarding. The pre laser VA of more than 70% of eyes was 6/36 or below while 44.8% had VA of hand movements or finger count. Visual acuity of 6/18 or better was achieved in 60.2% of eyes while 12.0% recovered to 6/9 and 3.4% achieved 6/6. None of these eyes showed further deterioration in VA.
Relationship of absolute numbers of Sertoli cells to testicular size and spermatogenesis in young beef bulls.

Testes were obtained from 34 Hereford or Angus bulls at about 1.5 yr of age and were used to investigate the relationship between the absolute number of Sertoli cells vs testicular size and daily spermatozoal production (DSP). Quantitative determination of DSP was based upon enumeration of elongated spermatids in testicular homogenates. The ratio of step 8 spermatids to Sertoli cells (S:SC) was established by direct counts of these cells in each of 20 round stage VIII seminiferous tubular cross sections for each bull. The number of Sertoli cells per paired testes was calculated as (total spermatids divided by S:SC)/. 394, where total spermatids equalled the number of homogenization-resistant spermatids. The factor of . 394 adjusted for the fact that the latter cells are present for only 39.4% of the spermatogenic cycle. All data were subjected to simple linear and second-order regression analyses. A positive linear relationship (P less than .005) was found between testicular weight (Y, in grams) and the absolute number of Sertoli cells per paired testes (X, in billions), which was characterized by the equation Y = 315.2 + 10.74X and a coefficient of correlation (r) of . 56 (P less than .01). A similar relationship was observed between DSP (Y, in billions) and Sertoli cell numbers (X, in billions). This was characterized by the equation Y = 1.36 + . 222X (P less than .005) and a coefficient of correlation of . 70 (P less than .01). Daily sperm production was unrelated to the S:SC ratio (P greater than .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of metformin use in pregnant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Use of metformin throughout pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has shown to reduce the rates of early pregnancy loss, preterm labor, and prevention of fetal growth restriction. Metformin has been shown to have encouraging effects on several metabolic aspects of polycystic ovarian syndrome, such as insulin sensitivity, plasma glucose concentration and lipid profile and since women with PCOS are more likely than healthy women to suffer from pregnancy-related problems like early pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive states in pregnancy, the use of metformin therapy in these patients throughout pregnancy may have beneficial effects on early pregnancy loss and development of gestational diabetes.
Interlevel optical transitions in quantum wells.

A general expression for optical matrix elements describing interlevel absorption in size-quantized systems in the presence of electric and magnetic fields is derived. For rectangular and triangular confining potentials, this approach does not require detailed knowledge of the electron wave function and considerably simplifies the problem. As a result, selection rules and analytical expressions for the matrix elements are obtained for many cases where the standard procedure is much more complicated. As examples, optical matrix elements and selection rules are calculated for some particular shapes of quantum wells: triangular, single, and double asymmetric rectangular. The problem is generalized to the case of heterostructures with effective-mass mismatch. A similar approach to quantum wires and dots is also considered. Interlevel absorption spectra for quantum wells in a parallel magnetic field are calculated.
RIDGES AND SECTORS INDUCED IN THE RIND OF CITRUS FRUITS BY FUMIGATION WTH HYDROCYANIC ACID.

The fumiigation of citrus trees with hydrocyaulic acid (HCN) for pest control, at certain times of year and under certain environmental conditions, produces irregular and excessive growth of the outer peel (flavedo) of the fruit (3). This abnormality is commonly known as "ridging" or "coxcombing. " That ridging occurs in somie groves to a greater extent than in others has been generally recognized, but growers and field men have until recentlv been unable to trace the cause. In some fruits, the growth may appear as a single smooth ridge in the form of a longitudinal sector; other fruits may have several longitudinal sectors of equal or unequal width (fig. 1). The amount of ridging varies considerably. The ridges may extend the full length of the fruit, from the calyx to the stylar end, or they may be small and irregularly placed over the entire fruit surface. Deformations or variations on fruit surfaces occur naturally, to a limited degree, as bud variants in all varieties of citrus (2). SHAMEL and his coworkers (4) have studied these bud variations intensively from a commercial standpoint, identifying them largely by their appearance on the fruit. They have shown that individual fruit variations from limbs on given trees can be transmitted by means of bud propagation. They state: "The degree of inherent stability of the progenies has been found to be about the same as the condition of uniformity in the characteristics of the parent bud variations. If the fruit or foliage of these limb or tree variations was uniform their progenies have been found to be uniform; on the other hand, if there was a marked variability of the fruit or leaves in the parent limb variations the progenies have usually been relatively variable. " The purpose of this paper is to show that certain individual fruit variations, similar to those ordinarily transmitted and produced by means of bud propagation, can, under certain conditions, be induced by fumigation with HCN. It was decided to determine the amount of ridging on the fruit of trees fumiigated at different seasons of the year. Groves in which some trees could be fumigated at various times of year and others, to serve as controls, could go without fumigation, were selected for this investigation. As citrus is grown in southern California in both coastal and inland districts, experimental plots were located in commercial groves in both of these areas. For more than two years, extensive counts of the ridged fruits in the different groves were made. The results of the experiments, showing the
Age-Associated Defect in Human TLR-1/2 Function1

The effects of aging on human TLR function remain incompletely understood. We assessed TLR function and expression in peripheral blood monocytes from 159 subjects in 2 age categories, 21–30 and >65 years of age, using a multivariable mixed effect model. Using flow cytometry to assess TLR-induced cytokine production, we observed a substantial, highly significant defect in TLR1/2-induced TNF-α (p = 0.0003) and IL-6 (p < 0.0001) production, in older adults compared with young controls. In contrast to findings in aged mice, other TLR (including TLR2/6)-induced cytokine production appeared largely intact. These differences were highly significant even after correcting for covariates including gender, race, medications, and comorbidities. This defect in TLR1/2 signaling may result from alterations in baseline TLR1 surface expression, which was decreased by 36% in older adults (p < 0.0001), whereas TLR2 surface expression was unaffected by aging. Production of IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and TNF-α (p = 0.003) after stimulation by N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2R,S)-propyl]-Cys-[S]-Ser1-[S]-Lys(4) trihydrochloride was strongly associated with TLR1 surface expression. Diminished TLR1/2 signaling may contribute to the increased infection-related morbidity and mortality and the impaired vaccine responses observed in aging humans.
Exosomal MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer towards Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Soon after the discovery of microRNAs over 15 years ago, a myriad of research groups around the world sought to develop clinical applications in breast cancer for these short, noncoding, regulatory RNAs. While little of this knowledge has translated into the clinic, the recent research explosion on cell-to-cell communication via exosomes and other extracellular vesicles has rekindled interest in microRNA-based clinical applications. microRNAs appear to be a preferential and important cargo of exosomes in mediating biological effects in recipient cells. This review highlights recent studies on the biology of exosomal microRNAs (exo-miRNAs) and discusses potential clinical applications. From a diagnostic perspective, circulating exo-miRNAs may represent breast cancer cell content and/or tumor microenvironmental reactions to cancer cell growth. Thus, serum or plasma analysis of exo-miRNAs could be useful for early disease detection or for monitoring treatment response and disease progression. From a therapeutic perspective, exo-miRNAs derived from different cell types have been implicated in supporting or restraining tumor growth, conferring drug resistance, and preparing the metastatic niche. Strategies to interfere with the loading or delivery of tumor-promoting exo-miRNAs or to replenish tumor-suppressive miRNAs via exosomal delivery are under investigation. These recent studies provide new hope and opportunities, but study design limitations and technical challenges will need to be overcome before seriously considering clinical application of exo-miRNAs.
Oncogene AF1q enhances doxorubicin-induced apoptosis through BAD-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

AF1q is an oncogenic factor involved in leukemia development, thyroid tumorigenesis, and breast cancer metastasis. In the present study, AF1q was found to be down-regulated in a doxorubicin-resistant subline of human squamous carcinoma A431 cells. Knockdown of AF1q decreased the apoptosis induced by doxorubicin, Taxol, γ-radiation, IFN-α, and IFN-γ in A431 cells. On the other hand, overexpression of AF1q increased the doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in A431 cells as well as in HepG2 and HL60 cells. Both exogenous and ectopic expression of AF1q in A431 cells increased the mRNA and protein levels of BAD, a proapoptotic BCL-2 family protein. Gene silencing of BAD by small interfering RNA suppressed the AF1q enhancement of apoptosis, suggesting that BAD is downstream of AF1q in regulation of apoptosis. Furthermore, AF1q enhanced the mitochondrial membrane depolarization, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 on doxorubicin treatment. Collectively, AF1q increases doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in cells through activation of BAD-mediated apoptotic pathway. The study provides the first evidence that AF1q plays a critical role in the regulation of apoptosis and drug resistance. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(10):3160–8]
Peritubular dentin formation: crystal organization and the macromolecular constituents in human teeth.

Peritubular dentin (PTD) is a relatively dense mineralized tissue that surrounds the tubules of coronal tooth dentin. It is composed mainly of crystals of carbonated apatite together with a small amount of collagen. Its mode of formation has been investigated by studying the relatively dense particles isolated from a powdered preparation. Electron microscopic examination of the PTD particles, including 3-dimensional image reconstruction and electron diffraction, shows that the organization of the crystals of PTD is very similar to that of the adjacent intertubular dentin (ITD). The latter contains relatively large amounts of collagen and the carbonated apatite crystals are closely associated with the collagen matrix. The proteins present in the PTD particles are soluble after decalcification and stain with Stains All. The principal protein has higher molecular weight and a quite different amino acid composition than the phosphophoryns of the intertubular dentin. The interface between the PTD and the ITD shows structural continuity. These data show how two distinct carbonated apatite-based mineralized tissues can be organized and formed contiguously within the same organ by utilizing different sets of matrix proteins.
Experience report: peer instruction in introductory computing

Peer Instruction (PI) is a pedagogical technique to increase engagement in lectures. Students answer a multiple choice question (MCQ) typically using clickers (hand-held remote devices with a minimum of 5 option buttons), discuss the question with their peers, and then answer the question again. In physics, PI has years of evidence of increased conceptual learning, as measured by the Force Concept Inventory (FCI)[7]. In this experience report, we describe how PI was applied in CS1 and CS1.5 courses teaching Java. We identify specifics of the standard PI model which were adopted, adapted, or discarded for use in introductory computing, describe the process involved for the instructor, give examples of the types of questions asked of students, report on students' performance in answering these questions, reflect on the value for the instructor, and report the attitudes and opinions of the students. We conclude with observations, advice and suggested improvements.
The management of patients with metastatic prostate cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the benefit of treating patients with cancer must be weighed against the COVID-19 infection risks to patients, staff and society. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men and raises particular interest during the pandemic as recent reports show that the TMPRSS2 (and other serine proteases), which facilitate the entry, replication and budding of the virion from a cell, can be inhibited using androgen deprivation therapy. Nevertheless, patients with metastatic prostate cancer commonly receive chemotherapy which may compromise their immune system. This paper aims to address the current status of the COVID-19 in patients with cancer overall and suggests an optimal approach to patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
High prevalence of Escherichia coli belonging to the B2+D phylogenetic group in inflammatory bowel disease

Background: It is not clear which species of bacteria may be involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One way of determining which bacteria might be likely candidates is to use culture-independent methods to identify microorganisms that are present in diseased tissues but not in controls. Aims: (1) To assess the diversity of microbial communities of biopsy tissue using culture-independent methods; (2) to culture the bacteria found in the tissues of patients with IBD but not in the controls; (3) to identify potential virulence factors associated with cultured bacteria. Methods: 84 biopsy specimens were collected from 15 controls, 13 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 19 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) from a population-based case–control study. Ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) was conducted to identify unique DNA bands in tissues from patients with CD and UC that did not appear in controls. Results: RISA followed by DNA sequencing identified unique bands in biopsy specimens from patients with IBD that were classified as Escherichia coli. Targeted culture showed a significantly (p<0.05) higher number of Enterobacteriaceae in specimens from patients with IBD. The B2+D phylogenetic group, serine protease autotransporters (SPATE) and adherence factors were more likely to be associated with tissues from patients with UC and CD than with controls. Conclusions: The abundance of Enterobacteriaceae is 3–4 logs higher in tissues of patients with IBD and the B2+D phylogenetic groups are more prevalent in patients with UC and CD. The B2+D phylogenetic groups are associated with SPATE and adherence factors and may have a significant role in disease aetiology.
Overexpressed let-7a inhibits glioma cell malignancy by directly targeting K-ras, independently of PTEN.

BACKGROUND Altered expression of micro(mi)RNAs has been shown to be associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) plays an important role in glioma and is regarded as a prognostic marker of glioma patients. The goal of this study was to investigate the function of lethal (let)-7a miRNA in glioma cell lines with different PTEN phenotypes. METHODS One hundred ninety-eight glioma tissues were used to profile miRNA expression. RESULTS Let-7a was shown to have lower expression in high-grade glioma than in low-grade glioma. Low expression of let-7a was correlated with poor prognosis of primary glioblastoma patients. We demonstrated that K-ras was a functional target for let-7a to induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of cell migration and invasion in vitro. Our further results showed no difference in malignancy inhibition induced by let-7a in 4 glioma cells, including U87 (PTEN null), U251 (PTEN mutant), LN229 (PTEN wild type), and LN229 (PTEN small interfering RNA). The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways were inhibited by let-7a, and the inhibition effects had no difference in 4 glioma cells. We demonstrated that let-7a could induce suppression of glioma in vivo by generating a glioma xenograft model. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that let-7a suppresses its target transcript K-ras and inhibits glioma malignancy independent of PTEN expression.
Insights into Phycoerythrobilin Biosynthesis Point toward Metabolic Channeling*

Phycoerythrobilin is a linear tetrapyrrole molecule found in cyanobacteria, red algae, and cryptomonads. Together with other bilins such as phycocyanobilin it serves as a light-harvesting pigment in the photosynthetic light-harvesting structures of cyanobacteria called phycobilisomes. The biosynthesis of both pigments starts with the cleavage of heme by heme oxygenases to yield biliverdin IXα, which is further reduced at specific positions by ferredoxin-dependent bilin reductases (FDBRs), a new family of radical enzymes. The biosynthesis of phycoerythrobilin requires two subsequent two-electron reductions, each step being catalyzed by one FDBR. This is in contrast to the biosynthesis of phycocyanobilin, where the FDBR phycocyanobilin: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PcyA) catalyzes a four-electron reduction. The first reaction in phycoerythrobilin biosynthesis is the reduction of the 15,16-double bond of biliverdin IXα by 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PebA). This reaction reduces the conjugated π -electron system thereby blue-shifting the absorbance properties of the linear tetrapyrrole. The second FDBR, phycoerythrobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PebB), then reduces the A-ring 2,3,31,32-diene structure of 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin to yield phycoerythrobilin. Both FDBRs from the limnic filamentous cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon and the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. WH8020 were recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli and purified, and their enzymatic activities were determined. By using various natural bilins, the substrate specificity of each FDBR was established, revealing conformational preconditions for their unique specificity. Preparation of the semi-reduced intermediate, 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin, enabled us to perform steady state binding experiments indicating distinct spectroscopic and fluorescent properties of enzyme·bilin complexes. A combination of substrate/product binding analyses and gel permeation chromatography revealed evidence for metabolic channeling.
Evidence and consensus.

In only ten years, the consensus conference, developed in the United States, has become important worldwide as a means of assessing the application of medical technology to clinical practice. Canada recently held its first consensus conference, on indications for cesarean section. As the article by Lomas et al 1 in this issue ofTHE JOURNALdescribes, research-based evidence played a critical role in this conference. The authors conclude that the evidence was well integrated into the consensus statement and that it served to modulate the degree of consensus achieved on the various issues before the conference. These conclusions prompt reflection on the role that empirical evidence has played in consensus development in the United States. See also p 3001. Donald S. Fredrickson, MD, then director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), originated the consensus development process in 1977 with a public confirmation of the agency's responsibilities for promoting efforts