cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Commentary on: Factors That Influence the Decision to Seek Labiaplasty: Media, Relationships, and Psychological Well-Being

Cosmetic alteration of the vulva is increasingly sought by women, in the United States and globally, dissatisfied with the size, shape, and/or appearance of their genitalia.1-3 Despite the growing popularity of labiaplasty procedures,4 the extant peer-reviewed literature analyzing the factors influencing women's decisions in undergoing external genital aesthetic surgery is scant and largely anecdotal. Sharp et al, in this interesting publication, offer one of the first controlled studies investigating the psychological issues that might influence or motivate women to seek genital cosmetic surgery in general, and labiaplasty in particular.5 They are commended for their novel effort. Although the authors do not specify which genital labia (minora or majora) were intended to be altered, it is safe to assume that the overwhelming majority of the 35 women in their labiaplasty cohort sought labia minora reductions, as it is overwhelmingly the most frequently performed female external cosmetic surgery operation.1,2,6 Interestingly, and relevant to this discussion, labia minora reduction surgery has remarkably high patient satisfaction rates - >90% - in published surveys.6,7 This, in my opinion, seems to validate women's decisions to undergo labiaplasty, regardless of influencing and/or motivating considerations. The authors finding that women seeking labiaplasty were statistically significantly less satisfied with the appearance of their genitals than the non-labiaplasty gynecology patient control group is not surprising. It has been, in the experience of myself …
Derandomizing probabilistic semantics through Eilenberg-Moore algebras for the Giry monad

A simple language is defined, a probabilistic semantics and a partial correctness logic is proposed in terms of probabilistic relations. It is shown how a derandomized semantics can be constructed through the Eilenberg-Moore algebras. We investigate the category of EilenbergMoore algebras for the Giry monad associated with stochastic relations over Polish spaces with continuous maps as morphisms. The algebras are characterized through strongly convex structures on the base space.
Role of BACE1 in Cognitive Function, from Alzheimer’s Disease to Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract β-secretase has been identified as a novel membrane-tethered member of the aspartyl proteases, termed β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). The generation of BACE1 null mice has clearly demonstrated that BACE1 is the limiting enzyme for Aβ generation. Initial studies showed that genetic deletion of BACE1 did not produce any overt phenotype, suggesting that inhibiting BACE1 pharmacologically would be a straightforward strategy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment. However, following studies identified a multitude of phenotypes in BACE1 null mice. While these findings shed some light on BACE1 function, they also raise concerns about the possible side effects of therapeutic BACE1 inhibition. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that BACE1 is a stress-induced protease that is increased in AD brains and following experimental traumatic brain injury. Thus, the search for therapeutic targets aimed to restore normal levels of BACE1 represents an attractive alternative approach to the direct inhibition of BACE1.
Promotion of Long-Term Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle

The prevalence of chronic diseases including dyslipidemia has increased as the prevalence of healthy lifestyles has decreased. Intensive interventions targeting lifestyle management of chronic diseases have proven effective in producing meaningful outcomes in research settings. However, it is not clear whether the comprehensive and intensive components of these interventions could be translated into real-world clinical and community settings. There are certain barriers that health care providers should consider when counseling patients.
Unpredictability of commercially available exoantigen culture confirmation tests in confirming the identity of five Blastomyces dermatitidis isolates

Colonial and microscopic features of five fungal isolates from three patients suggested Blastomyces dermatitidis . Extracts from the mold forms of all isolates were tested on several occasions with commercially available Exoantigen immunodiffusion culture-confirmation test reagents and Nolan reagents. All three isolates from patient 1 were negative on four separate attempts with Exoantigen reagents using conventional (“slant”) and “broth” extraction methods, and were also negative on one attempt with the Nolan reagents. The isolate from patient 3 was negative on three attempts using both reagent kits. The isolate from patient 2 was negative on four of five attempts with Exoantigen test reagents and positive on one attempt with Nolan reagents. Commercially prepared chemiluminescence-labeled DNA probes (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA) directed at ribosomal RNA from B. dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum confirmed all five isolates as B. dermatitidis . The cost and labor of the exoantigen and DNA Probe culture confirmation tests were evaluated. New methods for confirming the identity of cultural isolates of B. dermatitidis that are sensitive, specific, and commercially available are greatly needed.
Etching Process Analysis for High Density Build-up Substrate by Thin Dry Film Resists

ビルドァップ基板における低価格と高密度の両立を目指し, 薄膜ドライフィルムレジストを用いたサブトラクティブ法による微細配線の形成を, 実験と理論計算の両面から検討した。厚さ15μm, 10μmのレジストを用いた場合について, ライン幅/スペース幅が30/50, 27/43μm (銅厚20μm, アンカー深さ2.8μm) の配線の量産可能性を確認した。エッチング液が配線に沿った方向へ流れる場合について, 配線の形状を理論計算で求めた。理論計算から, 銅厚20μm, アンカー深さ2.8μm, レジスト厚15μmの場合において, 形成可能な最小ピッチを, 銅厚, レジスト幅, エッチング速度のばらつきの1次関数で近似した。
Utilization of the IRRI-bred rice varieties in China

The article presented the utilization of the rice varieties developed by International Rice Research Institute in last 40 years in China.The varieties involved semidwarfication variety IR8 bred in 1966,high grain yield and good quality varieties PSBRC04、PSBRC10、PSBRC20、PSBRC28 and PSBRC30 bred in recent years.
Clinicopathologic aspects of gastric neuroendocrine tumors

The major clinicopathologic aspects of 55 gastric neuroendocrine tumors were analyzed. Forty-six of 55 cases were well-differentiated tumors and 9 were poorly differentiated gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas. Well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumors comprised 1 gastrinoma and 45 enterochromaffin-like (ECL)-cell tumors. ECL tumors were grouped depending on their clinical background. Type 1, associated with chronic atrophic gastritis of the acidopeptic mucosa (A-CAG), included 28 cases with tumor growths mainly restricted to the mucosa and submucosa, with no metastasis. Type 2, associated with hypertrophic gastropathy, included seven cases, six of which were associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1), including two cases with local metastasis. Type 3, not associated with any significant clinicopathologic condition (sporadic), included 10 cases, 7 of which were deeply invasive and 5 metastatic. The nine gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas were highly aggressive metastatic tumors. At follow-up, no tumor-related death was observed for type 1 and type 2 ECL tumors. Type 3 (sporadic) ECL tumors were fatal in 3 of 10 cases, and 6 of 9 patients with gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas died of their tumor disease. It is concluded that type 1 and type 2 well-differentiated ECL tumors are benign or low-grade tumors, whereas type 3 well-differentiated ECL tumors and the poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas are malignant neoplasms.
Analysis of edge rolling based on continuous symmetric parabola curves

Edge rolling plays a vital role in width control of strip rolling, where plastic deformation concentrates in the edge of the slab. Then, the center of the slab remains its initial shape. The local deformation is different from overall one which obtained in horizontal rolling. In this paper, dog-bone shape is creatively described by a continuous symmetric parabola used to describe, and based on the complex mathematical function, a kinematically admissible continuous velocity field for edge rolling is established. Finally, the upper deformation power function is yielded. Based on minimum of the power, the results in edge rolling force and torque are obtained. Some vertical rolling forces for copper and aluminum experiments are calculated by the function, and then, also the results are verified by the traditional models. Anyway, the maximum error is less than 18 %. This is a crossover study on both mathematical curve and mechanical analysis which can be seen as a combination of the theory and engineering.
cis Retinol oxidation regulates photoreceptor access to the retina visual cycle and cone pigment regeneration.

Key points This study explores the nature of the cis retinol that Muller cells in the retina provide to cones for the regeneration of their visual pigment. We report that the retina visual cycle provides cones exclusively with 11-cis chromophore in both salamander and mouse and show that this selectivity is dependent on the 11-cis-specific cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP) present in Muller cells. Even though salamander blue cones and green rods share the same visual pigment, only blue cones but not green rods are able to dark-adapt in the retina following a bleach and to use exogenous 9-cis retinol for pigment regeneration, suggesting that access to the retina visual cycle is cone-specific and pigment-independent. Our results show that the retina produces 11-cis retinol that can be oxidized and used for pigment regeneration and dark adaptation selectively in cones and not in rods. Abstract Chromophore supply by the retinal Muller cells (retina visual cycle) supports the efficient pigment regeneration required for cone photoreceptor function in bright light. Surprisingly, a large fraction of the chromophore produced by dihydroceramide desaturase-1, the putative all-trans retinol isomerase in Muller cells, appears to be 9-cis retinol. In contrast, the canonical retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) visual cycle produces exclusively 11-cis retinal. Here, we used the different absorption spectra of 9-cis and 11-cis pigments to identify the isoform of the chromophore produced by the visual cycle of the intact retina. We found that the spectral sensitivity of salamander and mouse cones dark-adapted in the isolated retina (with only the retina visual cycle) was similar to that of cones dark-adapted in the intact eye (with both the RPE and retina visual cycles) and consistent with pure 11-cis pigment composition. However, in mice lacking the cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), cone spectral sensitivity contained a substantial 9-cis component. Thus, the retina visual cycle provides cones exclusively with 11-cis chromophore and this process is mediated by the 11-cis selective CRALBP in Muller cells. Finally, despite sharing the same pigment, salamander blue cones, but not green rods, recovered their sensitivity in the isolated retina. Exogenous 9-cis retinol produced robust sensitivity recovery in bleached red and blue cones but not in red and green rods, suggesting that cis retinol oxidation restricts access to the retina visual cycle to cones.
The Time-Averaged Elastodynamic J-Integral

The time-averaged path independent J-integral for a stationary crack subjected to time-harmonic elastic waves is introduced. It can be determined from remote fields providing an alternative approach to compute the stress intensity factors. The J-integral is evaluated for a semi-infinite crack impinged by a plane sheer wave at an oblique angle.
Ultrasound characterization of interface oscillation as a proxy for ventriculoperitoneal shunt function

Hydrocephalus, where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production rate is greater than reabsorption rate, leads to impaired neurological function if left untreated. Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are implanted in the brain ventricles to route CSF. VPS systems have a high failure rate, and failure symptoms resemble symptoms of common maladies. The current gold standard for shunt diagnosis, surgical intervention, poses high risk and requires an expensive procedure for patients. Current non-invasive methods lack proper insight to assist physicians. We propose a noninvasive method of characterizing the oscillation of the shunt's pressure-relief valve to assist physicians in shunt diagnosis. Brightness-mode and motion-mode ultrasound images can be used to determine fluid flow. Blockage in the system could be detected by observing the phase change of the ultrasound signal in different flow cases with or without perturbation. Future testing and implementation can allow for the use of this method in localizing and identifying the modality of failure.
Season and the Metabolism of Fat and Carbohydrate: A Study of Vestigial Physiology

A critical review of the literature on the seasonal variation in the metabolism of fat and carbohydrate is presented. The various observations are discussed with particular reference to Edmund Hughes’ theory of vestigial function. According to this theory the seasonal variations in physiological functions and metabolic diseases of human beings are attributable to a vestigial mechanism the function of which is analogous to that of hibernation in lower animals. The seasonal growth of children, the voluntary consumption of calories, fat, and carbohydrate from month to month, and the seasonal variation in various phases of the intermediary metabolism of fat and carbohydrate all tend to support the theory to some extent. The seasonal changes in the morbidity rate, mortality rate, and geographical distribution of diabetes mellitus also are in accord with the theory. Critical experiments deduced from this theory, however, are not available. A few such experiments are suggested.
NOTES Pancreatic Pseudocystgastrostomy

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a collection of fluid encapsulated within or around the pancreas. This often needs to be drained due to symptoms. Surgical drainage typically results in an anastomosis to the stomach or jejunum. Endoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts has been well described and consists of drainage and/or debridement of necrotic tissue. Endoscopic puncture of pseudocyst across the gastric wall are also well described. Inspired by the less-invasive concept of NOTES, and using a flexible endoscopic stapler, a stapled pancreatic pseudocystgastrostomy can be created utilizing a per-oral approach. This often follows endoscopic drainage, although it has been described doing both concurrently. Further development of flexible stapling tools, as well as endoscopic suturing tools, may make the procedure easier to perform and afford the widespread adoption of this procedure.
Identifying environmental chemicals as agonists of the androgen receptor by using a quantitative high-throughput screening platform.

The androgen receptor (AR, NR3C4) is a nuclear receptor whose main function is acting as a transcription factor regulating gene expression for male sexual development and maintaining accessory sexual organ function. It is also a necessary component of female fertility by affecting the functionality of ovarian follicles and ovulation. Pathological processes involving AR include Kennedy’s disease and Klinefelter’s syndrome, as well as prostate, ovarian, and testicular cancer. Strict regulation of sex hormone signaling is required for normal reproductive organ development and function. Therefore, testing small molecules for their ability to modulate AR is a first step in identifying potential endocrine disruptors. We screened the Tox21 10K compound library in a quantitative high-throughput format to identify activators of AR using two reporter gene cell lines, AR β-lactamase (AR-bla) and AR-luciferase (AR-luc). Seventy-five compounds identified through the primary assay were characterized as potential agonists or inactives through confirmation screens and secondary assays. Biochemical binding and AR nuclear translocation assays were performed to confirm direct binding and activation of AR from these compounds. The top seventeen compounds identified were found to bind to AR, and sixteen of them translocated AR from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. Five potentially novel or not well-characterized AR agonists were discovered through primary and follow-up studies. We have identified multiple AR activators, including known AR agonists such as testosterone, as well as novel/not well-known compounds such as prulifloxacin. The information gained from the current study can be directly used to prioritize compounds for further in-depth toxicological evaluations, as well as their potential to disrupt the endocrine system via AR activation.
THE INFLUENCE OF TAX LEGISLATION ON FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING: A STUDY OF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, 1905–1925

The purpose of this paper is to examine the financial accounting records of a Mississippi timber company and its subsidiaries in light of the dynamic tax environment of the period 1905 to 1925. The financial accounting records and correspondence with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue indicate deficiencies in the following areas: asset valuation, a lack of a cost accounting system to adequately value inventories, and the depletion and depreciation deduction. The demands of the new tax laws were often in conflict with the accounting practices of this period of time forcing changes in accounting practice.
Resistance and susceptibility of plant communities to invasion:revisiting Rabotnov's ideas about community homestasis

One of the strangest but most interesting phenomena in ecology is the tremendous increase in abundance that some species experience when introduced to new ecosystems by humans (see Louda et al. 2003). Although most species that establish in new ecosystems appear to be well behaved and act more or less like the native species, some become overwhelming dominants – far more abundant than they are in their native regions. Equally impressive is the collapse of many native communities when new species are introduced (see D’Antonio and Vitousek, 1992; Mack et al. 2000; for reviews on community-level effects of plant invasions). Diversity can be transformed to virtual monocultures (Braithwaite et al. 1989; Malecki et al. 1993; Meyer and Florence, 1996; Bruce et al. 1997). The extreme nature of invasive success and native collapse suggests that unusual and very powerful ecological processes and mechanisms are at work. The goal of this chapter is to scrutinize the mechanisms that drive the impressive “transmogrification” (Watterson, 1988) of some exotic invaders from minor components at home to competitive monsters away from home and how this transmogrification devastates native plant communities.
Human and Animal Spongiform Encephalopathies are Autoimmune Diseases: A Novel Theory and its Supporting Evidence

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the autoimmune diseases of human and animal spongiform encephalopathies. Spongiform encephalopathies (SEs) are fatal degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) that can occur both in animals and in humans. It is hypothesized in the chapter that a key step in the pathogenic process leading toward the development of various known forms of SE diseases involves the production of specific autoimmune antibodies against disease-causing prion protein (PrP sc ) and possibly other immunogenic macromolecules (proteins or non-proteins) present in the CNS. The autoimmune antibodies produced against PrP sc are not only directly responsible for the conversion of normal cellular prion protein (PrP c ) to PrP sc , but are also directly responsible for the accumulation of PrP sc in the CNS and other peripheral tissues. The production of autoimmune antibodies against PrP sc and/or other cellular macromolecules is also responsible for the antibody-mediated chronic autoimmune attack of PrP-expressing cells, such as neurons, contributing to the development of neurological lesions and clinical symptoms characteristic of various SE diseases.
Auditing as part of the terminology design life cycle.

Objective: To develop and test an auditing methodology for detecting errors in medical terminologies satisfying systematic inheritance. This methodology is based on various abstraction taxonomies that provide high-level views of a terminology and highlight potentially erroneous concepts. Design: Our auditing methodology is based on dividing concepts of a terminology into smaller, more manageable units. First, we divide the terminology's concepts into areas according to their relationships/roles. Then each multi-rooted area is further divided into partial-areas (p-areas) that are singly-rooted. Each p-area contains a set of structurally and semantically uniform concepts. Two kinds of abstraction networks, called the area taxonomy and p-area taxonomy , are derived. These taxonomies form the basis for the auditing approach. Taxonomies tend to highlight potentially erroneous concepts in areas and p-areas. Human reviewers can focus their auditing efforts on the limited number of problematic concepts following two hypotheses on the probable concentration of errors. Results: A sample of the area taxonomy and p-area taxonomy for the Biological Process (BP) hierarchy of the National Cancer Institute Thesaurus (NCIT) was derived from the application of our methodology to its concepts. These views led to the detection of a number of different kinds of errors that are reported, and to confirmation of the hypotheses on error concentration in this hierarchy. Conclusion: Our auditing methodology based on area and p-area taxonomies is an efficient tool for detecting errors in terminologies satisfying systematic inheritance of roles, and thus facilitates their maintenance. This methodology concentrates a domain expert's manual review on portions of the concepts with a high likelihood of errors.
Supplemented Morus nigra extract-based medium associated with FSH enables the survival and growth of isolated ovine secondary ovarian follicles.

The effects of Morus nigra ethanolic extract, without or with addition of supplements associated or not with FSH, on in vitro culture of ovine secondary follicles were evaluated. In experiment 1, isolated secondary follicles were cultured for 12 days in α-MEM alone (control) or in different concentrations of M. nigra extract (MN 0.025; 0.05 or 0.1 mg/ml). In experiment 2, culture media were α-MEM supplemented with BSA, insulin, transferrin, selenium, glutamine, hypoxanthine and ascorbic acid (α-MEM+ ) or this medium associated with FSH (α-MEM+ + FSH), or 0.1 mg/ml M. nigra without supplements (MN 0.1) or supplemented (MN 0.1+ ) without or with FSH (MN 0.1+ + FSH). In experiment 1, 0.1 mg/ml M. nigra showed the highest percentages (p .05) mitochondrial activity compared to α-MEM. In experiment 2, MN 0.1+ + FSH showed similar results (p > .05) to α-MEM+ + FSH for all parameters evaluated, except for the daily growth rate, which was higher (p < .05) in MN 0.1+ + FSH. The GSH levels were higher in MEM+ than all treatments. In addition, oocytes from follicles cultured in MN 0.1+ + FSH showed ability to resume meiosis. In conclusion, M. nigra extract (0.1 mg/ml) added by supplements and FSH can be an efficient medium for ovine secondary follicle development.
Social work: Integral to interprofessional education and integrated practice

Abstract Although the debate on US health care reform is ongoing, existing policy has expanded access to preventative and treatment services through new models of integrated care. This has resulted in the creation of interprofessional healthcare teams comprised in part of social workers who undertake brief behavioral health intervention, care management, and service referral. To promote patient care and population health, integrating social workers onto interprofessional teams requires educating all members of the healthcare team on the roles and functions of social workers. A case vignette is included to demonstrate how interprofessional teams can use the skills of social workers to offer brief, evidence-supported interventions and inform team-based care. Suggestions are offered for moving forward to increase the participation of social work in IPE and practice settings.
Utility of Electroencephalography (EEG) during Tilt Table Evaluation for Syncope (P5.328)

Objective: To analyze the changes in electroencephalography (EEG) during tilt table study in syncope and other orthostatic syndromes. Background: Tilt table testing is routinely performed for evaluation of unexplained syncope. Occasionally convulsive syncope is misdiagnosed as an epileptic seizure, and EEG with video during tilt table can help differentiate these conditions. However, the diagnostic utility of simultaneous EEG during tilt table testing is unknown. Prior studies have described multiple patterns of EEG changes with syncope, but others have not replicated these findings. In addition, it is unclear whether any significant EEG changes occur during severe symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. Design/Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive tilt table studies with simultaneous EEG from April 2014 to May 2016. All patients had video EEG before (baseline) and during tilt table. All patients had at least 10 minutes of head up tilt unless they had syncope or did not tolerate the study. In addition, all patients performed deep breathing and valsalva testing. All studies were supervised and interpreted by autonomic specialists, and EEG was visually read by trained epileptologists. Results: Eighty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 45 years, and 56 were women. Seven patients (~8%) had syncope during tilt table, 11 (~12%) had significant neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, another 11 (~12%) had significant orthostatic tachycardia. Nineteen(~21%) had abnormal baseline EEG. Visually discernable EEG changes were seen in only 3 patients (~3%) with syncope and in 1patient (~1%) with orthostatic tachycardia. Conclusions: In our cohort, qualitative EEG analysis based on visual inspection during tilt table study revealed abnormalities in only a few patients with syncope and in one patient with orthostatic tachycardia. No discernable EEG changes were noted in patients with severe orthostatic hypotension. Quantitative or computerized EEG analysis might be more sensitive and objective for detecting cerebral hypoperfusion during tilt table studies. Disclosure: Dr. Muppidi has received personal compensation for activities with Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Razavi has received personal compensation for activities with Ceribell as a consultant. Dr. Miglis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jaradeh has nothing to disclose.
Neutrosophic Sets and Systems, Vol. 11, 2016

“Neutrosophic Sets and Systems” has been created for publications on advanced studies in neutrosophy, neutrosophic set, neutrosophic logic, neutrosophic probability, neutrosophic statistics that started in 1995 and their applications in any field, such as the neutrosophic structures developed in algebra, geometry, topology, etc.
Regulation of Circadianly Rhythmic Ethylene Production by Phytochrome B in Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench. is a short-day (SD), quantitatively photoperiodic C-4 monocot. It contains 6 genes which, due to mutations, have been recognized to influence photoperiodic flowering, specifically the delaying effects of long days (LD). These genes have been designated as Ma 1 Ma 2 , Ma 3 , Ma 4 , Ma 5 , Ma 6 by Quinby [22] and F.R. Miller (unpublished data).
Laparoscopic and Robotic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy

In 1991, Schuessler et al. first reported the application of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection (L-PLND) for staging of adenocarcinoma of the prostate (1). Subsequently, laparoscopic-limited obturator PLND, and in select cases, extended obturator and iliopsoas node dissection, has become the primary initial application of urologic laparoscopic surgery as a diagnostic and therapeutic technique (2). Follow-up studies on L-PLND clearly indicated that this procedure was comparable in accuracy and significantly less morbid than open PLND (Table 1) (3–6). While early studies showed a longer operative time for L-PLND, they also demonstrated a significant reduction in postoperative pain, hospitalization, and convalescence compared with open PLND (3–5). As expected, L-PLND initially showed an increased overall cost. However, with gradual refinements of technique, reusable equipment, and a reduced need for specialized instrumentation, overall cost is now likely to be equivalent to or less than open PLND (7–9). More recently, robot-assisted L-PLND has been performed in conjunction with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, both by the transperitoneal and extraperitoneal routes. The cost effectiveness of this procedure is unclear in light of the need for significant capital investment in the robotic device, its maintenance, and the ongoing need for limited reusable accessories.
Antidromic Spikes Drive Hebbian Learning in an Artificial Dendritic Tree

Hebbian learning using the timing between pre-synaptic and post-synaptic spiking allows a network of silicon neuromorphs to learn and playback complex spatiotemporal input patterns. Learning occurred dynamically and in a stimulus dependent manner by potentiating active synapses that contributed to post-synaptic spike production and depressing active synapses that were anti-causal. Active synapses that were neither causal nor anti-causal remained at their pre-activated efficacy. The network used to evaluate hebbian synaptic plasticity was fully connected with each neuromorph making a prescribed number of connections to the dendrites of all the other neuromorphs. To enable learning of spatiotemporal spiking activity, efferents from each neuromorph had to make connections along the entire length of their target dendrites so as to produce a temporally distributed response. Upon repetitive presentation of an input pattern those synapses that had appropriate causal timing were strengthened while those that were anti-causal were depressed.
High-Order Sandwich Panel Theories

The effects of transverse shear and core compressibility are of high importance in sandwich structures, having an influence on the entire structural behavior including bending, buckling and vibrations. The unusually large transverse shear effects arise due to the very low shear modulus of the core in relation to the extensional modulus of the face sheets. The compressibility effects arise due to the soft nature of the core. This chapter presents two one-dimensional high-order core shear theories for sandwich beams or wide plates, namely the “High-Order Sandwich Panel Theory” (HSAPT), and the more recent “Extended High-Order Sandwich Panel Theory” (EHSAPT). It should be noted that the basic assumptions regarding the face sheets kinematics and face sheet constitutives are the same in all theories and the differences are in dealing with the core kinematics and constitutive relations. In addition, although these theories are presented for the simpler one-dimensional beam configuration, they can be easily extended to the two-dimensional plate or shell geometries. Other high-order theories for sandwich structures available in the literature are briefly outlined.
Does the “Healthy Immigrant Effect” Extend to Cognitive Aging?

We test whether the “healthy immigrant effect” extends to indicators of cognitive aging. We use six waves of data collected from the original cohort of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to estimate a series of growth curve models to assess variations in cognitive functioning trajectories by nativity and age at migration. Our results suggest that the cognitive functioning trajectories of early (before age 20) and late life migrants (50 and older) are similar to those of the U.S.-born. We also find that those who immigrated between the ages of 20 and 49 tend to exhibit a slower rate of cognitive decline than the U.S.-born. Although our results suggest that the health advantage of Mexican immigrants extends to cognitive aging, additional research is needed to explore selection processes that are specific to age at migration.
Polygenic Inheritance and Human Intelligence

Inheritance of human intelligence is a subject which has received an increasing amount of attention from human geneticists, psychologists, educators, sociologists, and others. Not only has the development of a methodology to study this trait been vigorously pursued, but in some instances consequences for the future of mankind and conclusions regarding changes needed in our educational system have been drawn. The relevant literature is vast. It is not the purpose of this paper to review it, nor is there any intention to discuss the controversies which are currently rife on many aspects of the subject (see, e.g., Hirsch, 1970).
Canavalia ensiformis-derived lectin inhibits biofilm formation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.

Aim A lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) derived from Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) exhibits high-binding affinity to carbohydrates on bacterial cell surfaces. The objective of this study was to inhibit the biofilm formation of the foodborne pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes using ConA prepared by a membrane-based extraction method. Methods and results ConA was extracted using a simple and inexpensive membrane method instead of a chromatography approach. The extracted ConA was effective in inhibiting biofilms of E. coli by 30-fold and L. monocytogenes by 140-fold. In addition, ConA decreased the swimming motility of enterohemorrhagic E. coli EDL933 (EHEC) by 37%, resulting in low biofilm formation, as ConA binding to the bacterial cell surfaces might cause a reduced capability to adhere due to low cellular motility. We confirmed that the extracted ConA contains active components at less than 10 kDa as well as ConA multimers (>30 kDa) that repress EHEC biofilms. Additionally, noncell-based mannose reduced the activity of ConA in inhibiting biofilms. Conclusions ConA extracted using the membrane-based method is active in inhibiting the biofilm formation by E. coli and L. monocytogenes via the mannose-binding affinity of ConA. Significance and impact of the study ConA can be used as a promising anti-adherent and antibiofilm agent in inhibiting biofilm formation by enterohemorrhagic E. coli and L. monocytogenes. The membrane-based extraction approach may be applied for the economic production of biologically active lectins.
If you build it, they will stay: the development of public cricket provision as a construction of social citizenship

Immigration is transforming the United States and cultural diversity is becoming increasingly visible within an emerging poly-ethnic society. Such a challenge to the singularity of cultural assimil...
Information and power: Women of color's experiences interacting with health care providers in pregnancy and birth

Abstract Rationale Preterm birth and other poor birth outcomes disproportionately affect women of color. Emerging evidence suggests that socially-driven issues such as disrespect, abuse, and discrimination within the health care system influence how people of color experience care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, which contributes to poorer outcomes for the mother and baby. Objective As recommended by community partners, we explored how interactions with providers were perceived and understood in the context of seeking care for pregnancy and birth. Method For this constructivist grounded theory study, we recruited 22 self-identified women of color 18 years of age or older and who were between six weeks and one year postpartum. Women participated in interviews exploring their experiences, which were audiorecorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using dimensional analysis and situational analysis methods. Results The concepts of information and power surfaced in analysis, in which providers have control over the information they share and “package” information to exert power over women's ability to participate in decision-making. An established relationship with providers and acknowledged levels of privilege or marginalization influenced how information was shared. Contextual factors included provider bias and judgment towards their patients, health care system structural issues, and the overall power dynamic between patient and provider. Conclusions Women of color's experiences during pregnancy and birth were influenced by how they were treated by providers, particularly in how information was shared and withheld. The providers' control over information led to a power dynamic that diminished women's ability to maintain autonomy and make health care decisions for themselves and their children. This study provides insight and impetus for change in how providers share information, utilize informed consent, and provide respectful care to women of color during pregnancy and birth care.
Between hope and despair: Teacher education in the age of Trump

We are teacher educators trying to recalibrate to the world of Trump. As we search to find our new bearings, we recognize that the markers of meaning that we relied on (such as civility and truth) ...
The direct and indirect effects of family and school-related factors on Latino adolescent substance use

Latino adolescents continue to have high usages of alcohol and other harmful substances when compared with other ethnic groups (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2005; Telzer, Gonzales, & Fuligni, 2014). This study focuses on the direct and indirect effects of family and school-related factors that impact Latino adolescent substance use comparing male and female groups. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationship between maternal monitoring knowledge, the adolescent-teacher relationship, family stress and substance use through academic achievement and school engagement mediators using data from 359 Latino boys and 480 Latina girls from a West Texas area school district. Results indicated that maternal monitoring knowledge was negatively associated with substance use while family stress was positively associated with substance use. Gender differences were found between the influence of maternal monitoring knowledge and academic achievement and among other indirect paths to substance use. Academic achievement completely mediated the relationship between the adolescent-teacher relationship and substance use for both genders while school engagement was also found to be a significant mediator for girls and not boys. Implications are discussed.
Röntgenstrahlenbeugung bei hohen Temperaturen zur Untersuchung der thermischen Ausdehnung von MnSe und MnSe 2

Durch Rontgenstrahlenbeugung mit Hilfe einer 190 mm Unicam-Hochtemperaturkamera wurde die thermische Ausdehnung von MnSe und MnSe2 von Zimmertemperatur bis 710° bzw. 522° C untersucht. Der thermische Ausdehnungskoeffizient β wurde aus den Mesdaten nach der Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate erhalten und betragt fur MnSe: β=24,5·10−6°C−1 (94–450° C) und β=14,3·10−6°C−1 (450–710° C). Die Ausdehnung von MnSe2 verlauft bis zum Bereich, in dem Zersetzung eintritt, linear. Die Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate ergibt den Wert β=20,0·10−6°C−1 (73–522° C).
More A's, Fewer F's in a Data Structures Class in a New Classroom Building Designed for Active Learning

Recognizing the value of evidence-based active learning teaching methods, as well as the need for higher-order skills in its increasingly diverse student body, the University of California, Irvine recently invested $62 million in a new classroom building designed for active learning. We report first experiences in transforming a Data Structures class to take advantage of this space. The specially designed environment made it easier for students to collaborate on problem solving, discuss their solutions with each other, and share them with the entire class for further discussion. Survey data showed that students appreciated the benefits of the space and the active learning exercises. Compared to a previous offering of the course taught by the same instructor in a traditional lecture hall, students in this highly-structured active learning classroom were more likely to earn an A grade (41% vs 75%), and three times less likely to fail (6.7% vs 2.1%).
Couple Relationships in China

Influenced by traditional culture, socioeconomic development, and globalization, Chinese couple relationships are rapidly evolving, although some unique features remain stable. While the forms of couples in China are becoming increasingly diversified, intracultural heterosexual married couples remain the majority and “modern” couple forms such as cohabitation, intercultural marriage, and same-sex partnerships are less prevalent. Through the theoretical perspectives of human ecology and family life course development, a critical analysis of literature reveals that individual, family, and societal contexts, together with Chinese culture, interact to different degrees to influence Chinese couple relationships. Driven simultaneously by individual preference, family interests and social norms, mate selection has shifted to some extent from family arrangement and practicality, to mutual attractiveness and romance, whereas the core values of marriage have remained the same. The rigid gender roles of traditional Chinese culture still tend to decrease Chinese couples’ relationship satisfaction. In contrast, shared power and decision-making, constructive communication, as well as quality relationships with children and extended family strengthen couples’ relationship and satisfaction. Women generally report lower marital satisfaction when they have to do double shifts, taking on both paid work and work at home. Moreover, educated, unmarried women face social biases, being perceived negatively as “leftover women.” Increased gender inequality in the job market is associated with the lowered status of women, and is particularly risky for rural women, or those who mainly work in the home, as it impacts on the quality of relationships and is linked to intimate partner violence.
Ronald S. Duman, PhD (1954–2020)

Ronald S. Duman, the Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Neuroscience at the Yale University School of Medicine and Director of the Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities of the Connecticut Mental Health Center, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 1 February 2020 while hiking near his home in Guilford, CT. Dr Duman was about to turn 65 years old. He was a member of the US National Academy of Medicine and received many honors for his research on mood disorders, including the Colvin Prize, from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the Anna-Monika Foundation Prize.
Chapter 15 – Normal Aging of the Lung

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the normal aging of lungs in various mammalian species such as mouse, rat, and dog. Various studies have demonstrated that lung aging in mice is associated with decreases in specific functional and structural parameters. These include increases in the phagocytic cell populations present in the lung airspaces, but decreased ability to engulf foreign particles. Decreases in antioxidant defense systems have also been noted in the lungs of aging mice. From a structural perspective, hyperinflation of the lungs and increases in interalveolar pore size and number are key features of the lung aging process in mice. The dynamics of lung growth, development, and aging in the rat is a continuous process that involves every tissue compartment of the lungs. Significant changes in aging adult rats are primarily within alveolar type II cells and the noncellular portions of the interstitium. Changes in cell number, size, and function associated with aging are likely to impact on lung physiology, metabolism, and immunity. Such changes could significantly alter the normal functions of the lung and its susceptibility to injury. Aging of canine lungs has many similarities to that seen in human lungs, but the aging process in dogs occurs over a shorter time frame than in humans. The accumulation of dust-laden macrophages as well as lumenal enlargement of alveolar ducts are hallmarks of this aging process. Changes in the relative velocity of mucus flow in the trachea with aging also parallels changes observed in the aging human trachea.
Children in Immigrant Families: Advocacy Within and Beyond the Pediatric Emergency Department

In the United States, 1 in 4 children lives in an immigrant family. State and national policies have historically precluded equitable access to health care among children in immigrant families. More recently, increasingly restrictive policies, political rhetoric, and xenophobic stances have made immigrant families less able to access health care and less comfortable in attempting to do so, thus increasing the likelihood that patients will present to the emergency department. Once in the emergency department, language, cultural, and health literacy barriers make providing high-quality care potentially challenging for some families. Emergency care professionals can therefore glean critical insight regarding inequities from clinical work to inform advocacy and policy changes at institutional, community, regional, and national levels.
6-Hydroxydopamine Retardation of Ovarian Development in the Housefly, Musca Domestica L.

Drug treatments affecting biogenic amine systems interfere with the processes of vitellogenesis and egg maturation in dipterans. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) acts as a “chemical castrator” in female Sarcophaga bullata (De Loof et al., 1981) presumably by inhibiting the release of a gonadotrophic factor (Huybrechts and De Loof, 1981). Musca domestica were treated with 6-OHDA to assess the drug’s overall effects on ovarian development.
Frustrated Lewis Pair Pedagogy: Expanding Core Undergraduate Curriculum and Reinforcing Fundamental Thermodynamic Concepts

For over a decade, the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP) concept has helped to extend the frontiers of main-group chemistry. The present-day maturity of the field, coupled with recent research developments highlighting the continuity between FLP chemistry and classical Lewis acid–base chemistry, suggests that FLP chemistry should be introduced into the mainstream undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Herein is described the experience of a pilot project to incorporate FLP chemistry into the undergraduate main-group inorganic chemistry course at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The presentation of the material, which stresses the thermodynamic-based continuity that links classical Lewis acid–base chemistry and FLP chemistry, also suggested that coverage of the FLP material might provide a means of solidifying fundamental concepts from chemical thermodynamics from earlier courses. Preliminary quantitative and qualitative data have been acquired that support this hypothesis.
Predicting Short-Term Parole Outcome in Substance Abusing Offenders with the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form

The purpose of this study was three-fold: determine whether scores on the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form (LCSF), a recidivism and re-offense risk assessment procedure, predict future criminal...
Reducing Costs of Managing Medication Inventory in Automated Dispensing System in Hospital Units

Hospital pharmacies utilize automated dispensing systems (ADS) to store and dispense medication in hospital wards. We propose an algorithm to minimize the inventory management costs incurred in holding and refilling the medications stored in an ADS. The algorithm is a linear integer programming formulation to compute how to configure an ADS, and how to allocate medications into capacity-constrained containers. Using a numerical example with real hospital data we demonstrate significant percentage savings relative to the status quo.