bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Germ cell cysts, a fetal feature in mammals, are constitutively present in the adult armadillo
Authors: Rossi Luis Francisco , Nottola Stefania , Miglietta Selenia , Macchiarelli Guido , Luaces Juan Pablo , Merico Valeria , Merani Susana , Garagna Silvia , Zuccotti Maurizio 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFormation and subsequent break down of ovarian germ cell (GC) cysts is a key and an evolutionary‐conserved developmental event, described in phylogenetically diverse species of invertebrates and vertebrates. In mammals, cyst break down (CBD) ends at the time of, or soon after, birth with the formation of primordial follicles enclosing single oocytes, which constitute the sole reservoir of gametes available through the whole female's reproductive life. In this study, we challenge this paradigm demonstrating the constitutive presence of a large number of cysts, enclosing two‐thirty GCs, in the ovary of the adult armadillo Chaetophractus villosus, belonging to the superorder Xenarthra, one of the earliest offshoots among placentals. We also describe that (a) GCs enclosed within cysts are connected by intercellular bridges—intercellular bridges—markers of their clonal origin; (b) CBD occurs through four main phases, ending with primordial follicles containing single oocytes; (c) GCs encompass meiotic prophase I stages, from leptotene to diplotene; (d) seasonal variations in the number of GCs enclosed within cysts, suggesting the presence of a GC multiplying activity. The armadillo C. villosus''s ovary emerges as an extraordinary resource to investigate folliculogenesis and to explore the evolutionary past of the mammalian ovary.
Could DNA hydroxymethylation be crucial in influencing steroid hormone signaling in endometrial biology and endometriosis?
Authors: Mahajan Vishakha , Farquhar Cynthia , Ponnampalam Anna P. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractEndometriosis affects 10% of reproductive‐aged women. It is characterized by the growth of the endometrium, outside the uterus and is associated with infertility and chronic abdominal pain. Lack of noninvasive diagnostic tools and early screening tests results in delayed treatment and subsequently increased disease severity. Endometriosis is a disease associated with a deregulated hormonal response, therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern this hormonal interplay is of paramount importance. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark that regulates gene expression and is often associated with genes that code for steroid receptors and enzymes associated with estrogen synthesis and metabolism in endometriosis. DNA hydroxymethylation, which is structurally similar to methylation but functionally different, is a biologically critical mechanism that is also known to regulate gene expression. Ten Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins mediate hydroxymethylation. However, the role of DNA hydroxymethylation or TETs in the endometrium remains relatively unexplored. Currently, the “gold standard” technique used to study methylation patterns is bisulfite genomic sequencing. This technique also detects hydroxymethylation but fails to distinguish between the two, thereby limiting our understanding of these two processes. The presence of TETs in the male and female reproductive tract and its contribution to endometrial cancer makes it an important factor to study in endometriosis. This review summarizes the role of DNA methylation in aberrant steroid hormone signaling and hypothesizes that hydroxymethylation could be a factor influencing hormonal instability seen in endometriosis.
Optimizing MRF‐ASL scan design for precise quantification of brain hemodynamics using neural network regression
Authors: Lahiri Anish , Fessler Jeffrey A. , Hernandez‐Garcia Luis 
Published: November 2019

PurposeArterial Spin Labeling (ASL) is a quantitative, non‐invasive alternative for perfusion imaging that does not use contrast agents. The magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) framework can be adapted to ASL to estimate multiple physiological parameters simultaneously. In this work, we introduce an optimization scheme to increase the sensitivity of the ASL fingerprint. We also propose a regression based estimation framework for MRF‐ASL.MethodsTo improve the sensitivity of MRF‐ASL signals to underlying parameters, we optimized ASL labeling durations using the Cramer‐Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). This paper also proposes a neural network regression based estimation framework trained using noisy synthetic signals generated from our ASL signal model. We tested our methods in silico and in vivo, and compared with multiple post labeling delay (multi‐PLD) ASL and unoptimized MRF‐ASL. We present comparisons of estimated maps for the six parameters of our signal model.ResultsThe scan design process facilitated precise estimates of multiple hemodynamic parameters and tissue properties from a single scan, in regions of normal gray and white matter, as well as regions with anomalous perfusion activity in the brain. In particular, there was a 86.7% correlation of perfusion estimates with the ground truth in silico, using our proposed techniques. In vivo, there was roughly a 7 fold improvement in the Coefficient of Variation (CoV) for white matter perfusion, and 2 fold improvement in gray matter perfusion CoV in comparison to a reference Multi PLD method. The regression based estimation approach provided perfusion estimates rapidly, with estimation times of around 1s per map.ConclusionsScan design optimization, coupled with regression‐based estimation is a powerful tool for improving precision in MRF‐ASL
Single‐stage embolization with n‐butyl cyanoacrylate and surgical resection of venous malformations
Authors: Polites Stephanie F. , Watanabe Miho , Scorletti Federico , Patel Manish N. , Ricci Kiersten W. , Hammill Adrienne M. , Dasgupta Roshni 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPurposeSclerotherapy or surgical resection is options for symptomatic venous malformations (VM). Sclerotherapy may require repetitive intervention and resection is often avoided due to operative morbidity. The purpose of this study was to report use of single‐stage n‐butyl cyanoacrylate glue embolization and surgical resection of focal VM.MethodsA review of patients with focal VM who underwent glue embolization followed by resection at a single tertiary care vascular malformations center was performed. All embolizations were performed with ultrasound and fluoroscopy under the same anesthetic as resection. Patient characteristics and outcomes were evaluated.ResultsFifteen procedures were performed in 12 patients with a total of 20 VM addressed, as several patients had multiple VM. Mean age was 16 ± 9 years. Malformation locations included scalp, hip, gluteal, labial, toe, finger, face, lip, chest, and foot and size ranged from 1.0 to 10.5 cm. Median (range) of prior sclerotherapy treatments was 3 (0‐5) and three patients previously underwent surgical resection. Median blood loss was zero (0‐10) mL. Surgical complications occurred after five procedures (33%) including superficial wound dehiscence and cellulitis. No complications required readmission or reoperation. At a median follow up of 195 (103‐266) days, no patients have required additional treatment.ConclusionGlue embolization and resection of focal VM of variable size and location appears to have durable results and low surgical morbidity. This single‐stage procedure, often performed as an outpatient, may be utilized as upfront treatment for symptomatic malformations or for VM refractory to other treatments.
High performance aliphatic polyurea films reinforced using nonfunctionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Chin Daniel Chee Ho , Palaniandy Khanisya , Hia Iee Lee , Pasbakhsh Pooria 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPolyurea nanocomposites appear to be a recent advanced elastomer with high robustness. This study shows that without chemical surface functionalization, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can significantly increase the tensile strength of aliphatic polyurea nanocomposites which are cured at room temperature. This is achieved via ultrasonic dispersion techniques which prevent agglomeration and the role of MWCNTs as physical crosslink sites, encouraging the formation of hydrogen bonds, thus entangling the polymer chains in the polyurea matrix and restricting chain movement. The incorporation of MWCNT drastically increases the tensile strength of the nanocomposite by 1000%, from 2.16 ± 0.24 MPa to 21.7 ± 4.4 MPa. The thermal and chemical properties of samples are investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and acetone swelling tests. In this study, we showed that polyurea films reinforced with MWCNTs have high swelling resistance compared to the pure polyurea films. Aliphatic polyurea is also known to have high UV stability. The tensile properties achieved by the nanocomposite in this study are comparable to the aliphatic and aromatic polyurea products in the market and can make these films suitable products for rolling and coating applications.
Nanomaterials in the Environment Acquire an “Eco‐Corona” Impacting their Toxicity to Daphnia Magna—a Call for Updating Toxicity Testing Policies
Authors: Nasser Fatima , Constantinou Julia , Lynch Iseult 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNanomaterials (NMs) are particles with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm and a large surface area to volume ratio, providing them with exceptional qualities that are exploited in a variety of industrial fields. Deposition of NMs into environmental waters during or after use leads to the adsorption of an ecological (eco‐) corona, whereby a layer of natural biomolecules coats the NM changing its stability, identity and ultimately toxicity. The eco‐corona is not currently incorporated into ecotoxicity tests, although it has been shown to alter the interactions of NMs with organisms such as Daphnia magna (D. magna). Here, the literature on environmental biomolecule interactions with NMs is synthesized and a framework for understanding the eco‐corona composition and its role in modulating NMs ecotoxicity is presented, utilizing D. magna as a model. The importance of including biomolecules as part of the current international efforts to update the standard testing protocols for NMs, is highlighted. Facilitating the formation of an eco‐corona prior to NMs ecotoxicity testing will ensure that signaling pathways perturbed by the NMs are real rather than being associated with the damage arising from reactive NM surfaces “acquiring” a corona by pulling biomolecules from the organism's surface.
Mutation of doublesex in Hyphantria cunea results in sex‐specific sterility
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Liu Qun , Liu Huihui , Bi Honglun , Wang Yaohui , Chen Xien , Wu Ningning , Xu Jun , Zhang Zhen , Huang Yongping , Chen Hui 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe gene doublesex (dsx) plays pivotal roles in sex determination and controls sexually dimorphic development in certain insects. Importantly, it also displays a potential candidate target for pest management due to its sex‐specific splicing. Therefore, we used CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene disruption to investigate the function of dsx in Hyphantria cunea, an invasive forest pest.RESULTIn the present study, we identified the dsx gene from H. cunea which showed a sex‐biased expression pattern that was different from other lepidopteran insects. Referring to sex‐specific functional analyses in Bombyx mori, we performed a site‐specific knockout of the Hcdsx gene by using a CRISPR/Cas9 system, which induced severe abnormalities in external genitalia and some incomplete sex reversal phenotypes, which in turn led to reduced sex‐specific fecundity. An alternative splicing pattern of Hcdsx was altered by CRISPR/Cas9‐induced mutation, and alterations in splicing affected expression of downstream genes encoding pheromone binding protein 1, vg1 and vg2 (encoding vitellogenin), which contributed to the sex‐specific sterility phenotypes in the Hcdsx mutants.CONCLUSIONThe Hcdsx gene plays important roles in sexual differentiation in H. cunea. Disruption of Hcdsx induced sex‐specific sterility, demonstrating a potential application in control of this pest. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of QT Liability for PF‐05251749 in the Presence of Potential Circadian Rhythm Modification
Authors: Huh Yeamin , Chen Danny , Riley Steve , Chang Cheng , Nicholas Timothy 
Published: November 2019

PF‐05251749 is a dual inhibitor of casein kinase 1 δ/ε, key regulators of circadian rhythm. As a result of its mechanism of action, PF‐05251749 may also change the heart rate corrected QT (QTc) circadian rhythm, which may confound detection of drug‐induced QTc prolongation. In this analysis, a nonlinear mixed effect model including a multioscillator function was developed in addition to fitting the prespecified linear mixed effect concentration‐QTc model, to identify QTc liability of PF‐05251749 in the presence of potential circadian rhythm change. The modeling results suggested lack of clinically meaningful QTc prolongation (upper bound of 90% confidence interval for ∆∆QTc < 10 milliseconds) and that the drug‐induced QTc circadian rhythm change was not present. However, simulation results indicated that inference of drug‐induced QTc prolongation could be misleading if the drug effect on QTc circadian rhythm is not properly addressed. The modeling and simulation results suggest that prespecification of the concentration‐QTc model should be reconsidered for drugs with circadian rhythm modulation potential.
On designing an efficient control chart to monitor fraction nonconforming
Authors: Abbas Zameer , Nazir Hafiz Zafar , Akhtar Noureen , Abid Muhammad , Riaz Muhammad 
Published: November 2019

AbstractProcess control measures are mostly applied in production and manufacturing industries. The most important tool used in these disciplines is control chart. In manufacturing and production processes, when the quality characteristic of interest cannot be directly measured, it becomes essential to apply attribute control charts. To monitor fraction nonconforming of the output, quality practitioners mostly prefer p‐chart. In this article, a new progressive mean (PM) control chart is being proposed for monitoring drift in proportion of nonconforming products. The design evaluations of the proposed chart are made and compared through different properties of run length distribution, such as average run length (ARL), standard deviation of run length (SDRL), and some percentile points. The performance of the proposed chart is assessed under zero‐state and steady‐state scenarios. The proposed PM chart is compared with p‐chart, moving average (MA) chart, optimal CUSUM chart, modified exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) chart, and runs rules p‐charts for monitoring fraction nonconforming. The proposed chart spots efficiently sustained disturbances in the process as compared with their existing counterparts. Two illustrative examples are also provided; one from real‐life application of nonconforming bearing and seal assemblies data and the other from simulated data for the implementation of PM chart.
Using historical and political understanding to design for equity in science education
Authors: Shea Molly V. , Sandoval Jose 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this article we studied how community educators’ designed for equity in an after school science program. Building from discussions of equity in out‐of‐school‐time (OST) science, this case study offers insight into the role of pedagogy in organizing for dignity and belonging in an after school program. This case study focused on the practices of nine Latinx community educators as they supported science practices in an after school program. Grounded in an understanding of place and the specific cultural, political, and historical densities of life in an agricultural town, the study found that educators created a space of affirmation and care that supported alternative paths to deep engagement in science. The findings add dimensionality to current discourses of equity in OST science and engineering education by examining how historical and political understanding of marginalization informed educators’ pedagogical strategies. These strategies include offering: moment‐to‐moment affirmations of young people's ideas, material and cultural generosity in the Studio, connections to political belonging through science, and extensions from community activities into the after school science inquiries. Together educators created a space of belonging that used science and engineering as entry points for creation, political expression, and intellectual expansion.
Origin and evolution of Atriplex (Amaranthaceae s.l.) in the Americas: Unexpected insights from South American species
Authors: Brignone Nicolás F. , Pozner Raúl E. , Denham Silvia S. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWith ca. 300 species of herbs, shrubs and subshrubs adapted to saline or alkaline soils, the evolution of the genus Atriplex is key to understand the development of semi‐arid environments worldwide. Previous phylogenetic analyses of Atriplex, including only a few species from South America, especially in comparison with North American species represented, proposed a North American origin for the South American Atriplex, through more than one dispersal event. Since South America is one of the four centres of Atriplex diversity, with a high number of endemic species, a wider and more representative sampling of this region is essential to understand the origin and evolution of the genus Atriplex in the Americas. We performed a phylogenetic analysis with estimated clade ages and an ancestral range estimation focused on the American species of Atriplex, to identify South American lineages, their relationships with other lineages of the genus (and particularly with North American ones), and to unravel their biogeographical history in the Americas. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted with sequence data from ITS, ETS and atpB‐rbcL spacer markers, using maximum parsimony, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood approaches. The DEC+J model implemented in BioGeoBEARS was applied in order to infer ancestral ranges. The Americas were colonized by Atriplex in two independent dispersal events: (1) the C4 Atriplex from Eurasia or Australia, and (2) the C3 Atriplex (represented only by the extant A. chilensis) from Eurasia. The C4 American lineage of Atriplex originated roughly 10.4 Ma (95% HPD = 13.31–7.62 Myr) in South America, where two lineages underwent in situ diversification and evolved sympatrically. North America was colonized by Atriplex from South America; later, one lineage moved from North America to South America. Most of the extant species have arisen in the last 3–4 Myr, in Pliocene–Pleistocene. We detected some South American taxa differing in position between both nuclear and atpB‐rbcL spacer partitions, which could be explained by chloroplast capture.
Facebook’s Handbook of Content Removal
Authors: Stjernfelt Frederik , Lauritzen Anne Mette 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDue to the recent crises, Facebook is restructuring to restore the company’s reputation, which is, according to Zuckerberg, a three-year process. On April 24, 2018, Facebook published its updated internal guidelines for enforcement of the company’s community standards. It was the first time the public gained direct, “official” insight into this comprehensive hidden policing inside the company. The only glimpses behind the curtain provided before then came from confidential documents leaked to Gawker magazine in 2012, to S/Z in 2016—and in 2017, when The Guardian published “The Facebook Files”. They included comprehensive removal guidelines featuring a mixture of parameters, decision trees and rules of thumb—illustrated by many concrete examples of content to be removed, most likely taken from real ousted material of the time. As a contrast to this, the 2018 document is much more sparse, orderly and void of examples, and it is tempting to think that this is a combed-down version aimed for publication. Still, the document gives unique insight into the detailed principles for the company’s content removal—albeit not the enforcement procedure itself. One can only guess as to whether this surprising move away from secrecy can be attributed to the increasing media storm throughout 2017, culminating in the Cambridge Analytica revelation of March 2018 and the congressional hearings in April of the same year. The document contains six chapters: (1) “Violence and Criminal Behavior”, (2) “Safety”, (3) “Objectionable Content”, (4) “Integrity and Authenticity”, (5) “Respecting Intellectual Property” and (6) “Content Related Requests”.
Facebook and Google as Offices of Censorship
Authors: Stjernfelt Frederik , Lauritzen Anne Mette 
Published: November 2019

AbstractOn May 15, 2018, Facebook continued its springtime campaign to restore its reputation in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. A “Transparency” report was published, which included statistics on the extent of content removal, organized by category. Let’s look at for instance the category “Graphic Violence”: “In Q1 2018, we took action on a total of 3.4 million pieces of content, an increase from 1.2 million pieces of content in Q4 2017. This increase is mostly due to improvements in our detection technology, including using photo-matching to cover with warnings photos that matched ones we previously marked as disturbing. These actions were responsible for around 70% of the increase in Q1”. The numbers may seem high, but they only tell half the story. Another graph in the report shows that 71.56% of the 1.2 million users were tracked by Facebook itself, until user complaints started flooding in; in the first quarter of 2018, this figure rose to 85.6%. The fact that the number of removals tripled means that content removed because of user complaints rose from 341,000 to almost 500,000, in absolute figures, despite the decrease in percentage. So, the increase can be attributed not only to better tracking equipment, but also to more complaints favored. These numbers are a testimony to content removal on a disproportionately large scale, also known as censorship.
A Digital Hangover
Authors: Stjernfelt Frederik , Lauritzen Anne Mette 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn 1964, media theorist Marshall McLuhan noted: “The electric technology is within the gates, and we are numb, deaf, blind, and mute about its encounter with the Gutenberg technology.” Today, this problem is even more urgent with the rapid development of digital media. We are witnessing a radical shift of paradigms. For a long time, we have been blind to the consequences of digital intoxication. We have turned a blind eye to the fact that we are being reprogrammed by the new digital life. Slowly, sneakily and unnoticed, tech giants have been able to change our behavior, our emotions, our thoughts, our world views and our relationships with other people. The curse of our times is this blindness and dizziness. It is time to wake up.
A New Golden Age of Enlightenment?
Authors: Stjernfelt Frederik , Lauritzen Anne Mette 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFor a long time during the 1990s and 2000s, positive stories about the Internet prevailed. A growing number of people with online access, first in the Western world, then gradually across the globe, would start a new era of Enlightenment with freedom of information and freedom of expression in a new radical sense. An unprecedented number of individuals would gain easy access to the large amounts of information uploaded by many different players, from individuals to media outlets, to organizations and government authorities. As a growing number of free search engines came about, it became easier to seek out information. There is no doubt that much of the elementary optimism was actually correct: the world has become a significantly more enlightened place thanks to the Internet, in the basic sense of “enlightenment” as the increased dissemination of information and knowledge—but also in the sense of Enlightenment as empowerment of the individual.