cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine mediates the antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate as well as its toxicities

Methotrexate remains the mainstay of therapy for rheumatoid arthritis yet its mechanism of action remains unclear. Recent work from our laboratory indicates that methotrexate promotes increased adenosine release from cells and tissues and that the anti-inflammatory actions of methotrexate are mediated by adenosine, acting at its receptors on inflammatory and other cells. Similarly, evidence from our laboratory suggests that such toxicities as methotrexate-accelerated nodulosis and methotrexate-induced hepatic fibrosis are mediated by adenosine acting at its receptors.
Object detection in aerial imagery based on enhanced semi-supervised learning

Object detection in aerial imagery has been well studied in computer vision for years. However, given the complexity of large variations of the appearance of the object and the background in a typical aerial image, a robust and efficient detection is still considered as an open and challenging problem. In this paper, we present the enhanced semi-supervised learning (ESL) framework and apply this framework to revising an object detection methodology we have developed in a previous effort. Theoretic analysis and experimental evaluation using the UCI machine learning repository clearly indicate the superiority of the ESL framework. The performance evaluations of the revised object detection methodology against the original one clearly demonstrate the promise and superiority of this approach
Melanocytic tumor with GNA11 p.Q209L mutation mimicking a foramen magnum meningioma.

Melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system arise from elanocytes normally found in the leptomeninges. They most comonly present as intradural-extramedullary lesions of the posterior ossa and cervical spine, but may occur throughout the neuraxis 1]. This group includes diffuse leptomeningeal melanocytosis and ocal tumors ranging from benign melanocytomas to malignant rimary CNS melanomas. Few tumors of intermediate grade (“atypcal” melanocytic tumors) have been reported [1]. Here we report n unusual intermediate-grade melanocytic tumor arising from he dura of the craniocervical junction. Its radiographic and gross ppearance were suggestive of a foramen magnum meningioma. Our ability to grade and treat CNS melanocytic tumors is limted by our poor understanding of their molecular derangements. here is some evidence that their pathogenesis resembles that of ther melanocytic neoplasms. In particular, uveal melanomas have een found to harbor frequent mutations of GNAQ [2] and GNA11 3], which encode components of two related G proteins. A recent
Baseband Modeling and Distortion Equalization of the DeLange FM Oscillator by Functional Methods

Exact and approximate baseband models of the DeLange frequency-modulated oscillator are derived. Exact and approximate baseband distortion equalizers, that may be used to predistort the modulation voltage so that the distortion in the output phase of the oscillator is removed, are also given.
Ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase is a subunit of the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complex.

Purified detergent-soluble cytochromeb6f complex from chloroplast thylakoid membranes (spinach) and cyanobacteria (Mastigocladus laminosus) was highly active, transferring 300–350 electrons percyt f/s. Visible absorbance spectra showed a red shift of the cytochrome f α-band and the Qy chlorophylla band in the cyanobacterial complex and an absorbance band in the flavin 450–480-nm region of the chloroplast complex. An additional high molecular weight (Mr ∼ 35,000) polypeptide in the chloroplast complex was seen in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at a stoichiometry of ∼0.9 (cytochrome f)−1. The extra polypeptide did not stain for heme and was much more accessible to protease than cytochrome f. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of CNBr fragments of the 35-kDa polypeptide was diagnostic for ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR), as were antibody reactivity to FNR and diaphorase activity. The absence of FNR in the cyanobacterial complex did not impair decyl-plastoquinol-ferricyanide activity. The activity of the FNR in the chloroplastb6f complex was also shown by NADPH reduction, in the presence of added ferredoxin, of 0.8 heme equivalents of the cytochrome b6 subunit. It was inferred that the b6f complex with bound FNR, one equivalent per monomer, provides the membrane protein connection to the main electron transfer chain for ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron transport.
Directed acyclic graph based mode optimization for H.263 video encoding

Optimal mode selection for video coding is important in minimizing visual distortion given a rate constraint, and it has been studied in the literature using a single previous macroblock dependency assumption. We relax the assumption to multiple-macroblocks and develop a directed acyclic graph based procedure that solves the now generalized optimization problem. We demonstrate that in certain cases, multiple block dependencies can be accounted for while remaining computationally feasible. The optimization is sufficiently general that it can be applied to most multimode block-based video coding standards. Experiments show coding gain of up to 0.32 dB over University of British Columbia's TMN10 implementation. We conjecture that the more general optimization can be more flexibly applied to irregular video objects, as encountered in multiple-VOP (video object plan) mode in MPEG-4.
THE EFFECTS OF COLCHICINE ON SPERMATOGENESIS IN NITELLA

Treatment of Nitella antheridia with colchicine results in various sperm abnormalities, depending upon duration of exposure and subsequent recovery. Early effects of treatment include disappearance of spindle fibers and a cessation of ordered cell wall formation in dividing cells. Sperm released from antheridia treated for 24 hr and allowed to recover for 4–5 days possess branched flagella. After a recovery period of 6–10 days the sperm appear normal; however, following longer recovery periods, the sperm exhibit variations in size and number of flagella. Branched flagella contain a variety of microtubule patterns ranging from branches containing a single microtubule to flagella with an excess of microtubules. Spermatids which differentiate in the presence of colchicine lack flagella and a microtubular sheath. Nuclear contents undergo condensation stages; however, the nucleus as a whole does not undergo the orderly elongation and coiling characteristic of untreated Nitella spermatids. Long-term colchicine treatment followed by a recovery period produces atypical microtubules and microtubular aggregations in the spermatid. The results indicate that colchicine affects not only polymerization of microtubule subunits but also factors responsible for their ordered spatial relationships in the cell. The presence of microtubules is a prerequisite for normal morphological changes during spermiogenesis.
The Carboxy-Terminal Tails of Septins Cdc11 and Shs1 Recruit Myosin-II Binding Factor Bni5 to the Bud Neck in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Septins are a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins that form heterooctameric complexes that assemble into higher-order structures. In yeast, septin superstructure at the bud neck serves as a barrier to separate a daughter cell from its mother and as a scaffold to recruit the proteins that execute cytokinesis. However, how septins recruit specific factors has not been well characterized. In the accompanying article in this issue, (Finnigan et al. 2015), we demonstrated that the C-terminal extensions (CTEs) of the alternative terminal subunits of septin heterooctamers, Cdc11 and Shs1, share a role required for optimal septin function in vivo . Here we describe our use of unbiased genetic approaches (both selection of dosage suppressors and analysis of synthetic interactions) that pinpointed Bni5 as a protein that interacts with the CTEs of Cdc11 and Shs1. Furthermore, we used three independent methods—construction of chimeric proteins, noncovalent tethering mediated by a GFP-targeted nanobody, and imaging by fluorescence microscopy—to confirm that a physiologically important function of the CTEs of Cdc11 and Shs1 is optimizing recruitment of Bni5 and thereby ensuring efficient localization at the bud neck of Myo1, the type II myosin of the actomyosin contractile ring. Related article in GENETICS : Finnigan, G. C. et al. , 2015 Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of Paralogous Terminal Septin Subunits Shs1 and Cdc11 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Genetics 200: 821–841.
Tissue factor: past, present, and future.

Series Editor: Nigel Mackman Mark B. Taubman ATVB In Focus Tissue Factor: Past, Present, and Future Articles in this series: •Mackman N. Tissue factor: past, present, and future. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:1986–1988. •Butenas S, Orfeo T, Mann KG. Tissue factor in coagulation: which? where? when? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:1989–1996. •Bach R, Monroe D. Title. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:1997–1998. •Schaffner F, Ruf W. Tissue factor and PAR2 signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:1999–2004. •Milsom C, Magnus N, Meehan B, Al-Nedawi K, Garnier D, Rak J. Tissue factor and cancer stem cells: is there a linkage? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:2005–2014. •Hackeng TM, Rosing J. Protein S as cofactor for TFPI. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:2015–2020. This issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology contains 4 reviews on tissue factor (TF) and 1 on tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). One review on TF will be published in a later issue. In this editorial, we will briefly revisit the major advances in the field, highlight some of the current controversies, and discuss some of the future challenges. TF (also known as tissue thromboplastin or coagulation factor III) was first identified as a constituent of tissue that when added to plasma activated the clotting cascade—hence the name tissue factor. TF was first purified in 1985,1 and this subsequently led to the cloning of the TF cDNA and gene.2–5 In 1989 Drake and colleagues6 proposed that TF around blood vessels forms a “hemostatic envelope” that initiates clotting after vessel injury. The crystal structure of the extracellular domain of TF bound to Factor VIIa (FVIIa) was reported in 1996.7 In the same year it was discovered that inactivation of the mouse TF gene resulted in embryonic lethality.8–10 Taken together, these studies indicated that TF …
James Joyce as Philosopher and Theologian of Time

Ruben Borg's The Measureless Time of Joyce, Deleuze and Derrida argues that James Joyce's Finnegans Wake must be read as a singular attempt to represent the eccentric structure of post-human temporality. The book relocates the Wake within a long history of philosophies of time as well as recent post-structuralist and information theory. Drawing upon the work of Gilles Deleuze and Jacques Derrida, Borg shows how Joyce's formal and narratological innovations enabled him to present a structure of time that does not obey the linear, humanistic progression of the bildungsroman but instead manifests mechanical temporal economies of production and waste.
A 3-band switched-inductor LC VCO and differential current re-use doubler achieving 0.7-to-11.6 GHz tuning range

This paper presents a 3-bit switched inductor, 8-bit switched capacitor VCO utilizing frequency aware switch sizing to achieve 157% tuning range (0.7–5.8 GHz). Implemented in 65nm CMOS, the VCO maintains phase noise between −128 and −116 dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset across the tuning range. A current reuse differential frequency doubler extends the tuning range to 0.7–11.6 GHz (177%). The FOM T s of the stand alone VCO as well as that of the VCO-doubler combination vary between 191 to 209 dBc/Hz over their respective tuning ranges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders: The Use of Contingency Management Procedures to Manage Dialectical Dilemmas

Several researchers have adapted and/or applied dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for populations with eating disorders. There is a growing body of research that indicates that DBT is an effective treatment option for this population, including those who have co-occurring Axis II disorders. The goal of the current paper is to summarize the research conducted in the area of DBT with those individuals who present with eating disorders only as well as those who present with both eating disorders and Axis II disorders. We also describe a dialectical dilemma, apparent compliance vs. active defiance, which is commonly observed in the group with comorbidities A DBT change strategy, contingency management, is discussed as an intervention to target apparent compliance and active defiance.
Preview of Models of the Human Monitor/Supervisor

In past years many of us have been confronted by our nontechnical friends and asked, in effect, how we have the audacity to suggest that human behavior can be reduced to mathematical equations. Typically we have retreated to the argument that we are dealing with man-machine interactions which are quite utilitarian and mechanistic to begin with. Therefore, such mechanistic mathematic models have a face validity. Anyway, when the stimulus and response are well-defined and the decision criterion straightforward, the models are useful because they are good predictors of the aspects of human behavior which are important.
observations on asexual and sexual reproductive structures of the choanephoraceae

Twenty isolates of Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxter and five designated Blakeslea trispora Thaxter were obtained from soil and other sources. Experimental studies were conducted and ...
Preparation of Mn-Si Thermoelectric Material by MA and Pulsed Current Sintering

The formation process of Mn-Si thermoelectric material made by mechanical alloying followed by pulsed current sintering was investigated. The MA was performed in a planetary ball mill using two elemental powders. The composition of milled powders was MnSi1.85. From the results of thermal analysis by DSC it can be stated that the thermoelectric phase, MnSi1.73, was formed at about 800K. The shrinkage of sintering sample using MA powder during SPS was stagnant at about 800K because of formation of MnSi1.73 phase. Then the shrinkage of sintering sample using MA powder shows a sharp rise at about 900K because the formation of MnSi1.73 was finished. XRD shows the sample sintered at 900K consisted of only MnSi1.73 phase.
Insect Ryanodine Receptor: Distinct but Coupled Insecticide Binding Sites for [N-C3H3]Chlorantraniliprole, Flubendiamide, and [3H]Ryanodine

Radiolabeled anthranilic diamide insecticide [N-C3H3]chlorantraniliprole was synthesized at high specific activity. It was compared with phthalic diamide insecticide flubendiamide and [3H]ryanodine in radioligand binding studies with house fly muscle membranes to provide the first direct evidence with a native insect ryanodine receptor that the major anthranilic and phthalic diamide insecticides bind at different allosterically coupled sites, i.e., there are three distinct Ca2+-release channel targets for insecticide action.
The conservative backlash argument controverted: carnivalesque, comedy, and respect in Rocky

ABSTRACTThe 1976 film Rocky is not the catalyst for conservative backlash that scholars of American cinema and culture have long made it out to be. Through detailed analysis this essay reveals two counterposed dramas: an epic race rivalry conceived by Creed, and a low mimetic comedy that sees Balboa integrated in his local community. The epic dissolves in carnivalesque play and gives way to the earnest local drama of building relationships. Rocky embodies some progressive ideals for race and class under the general theme of respect; it also manifests the men’s liberation movement against the classical male machine. As a pivotal film for critical conceptions of US cinema and culture after 1975, my reappraisal of Rocky challenges ideological criticism’s prevailing paradigm.
Analysis of disinfection monitoring results of kindergartens in Luoding,2010-2012

Objective To study the status of disinfection in Luoding and provide the scientific basis for improving the quality of disinfection. Methods We monitored disinfection effects by sampling and testing air, surfaces of the tools, hands of the preschool staff and disinfectants of kindergartens in Luoding. Results Among 1334 samples detected from 2010 to 2012, 1044 were qualified.The pass rate was 77.68% and the annual pass rates were 79.65%, 83.23% and 70.43%, respectively. There were significant differences between two types of regions(χ2=23.53, P0.05). The compliance rate of urban kindergartens(558 samples) was 84.59%,while that of town kindergartens(786 samples) was 72.77%. There are significant differences between two types of regions(χ2=27.00, P0.05). Conclusion The disinfection work remains to be strengthened in Luoding. The relevant departments should intensify the supervision and monitoring to improve the quality of disinfection.
Protein tyrosine kinase signaling in cold-stimulated contraction of newborn lamb cerebral arteries

We recently reported a contraction of middle cerebral artery (MCA) preparations isolated from newborn lambs in response to tissue cooling. However, the mechanism(s) by which cold stimulus modifies the contractile properties of MCA is not known. We hypothesize that cold stimulus-triggered contraction may be mediated by a signal transduction pathway associated with protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent machinery. In the present study the tissue bath technique was used to evaluate the effect of select inhibitors of PTK and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) on the temperature-dependent contractile behavior of isolated MCA from new-born lambs. Reduction of tissue bath temperature from 37 to 21 degrees C stimulated contraction (55 +/- 3% of the response to 120 mM KCl). Two distinct inhibitors of PTK, genistein and tyrphostin 47, completely reversed the cold-stimulated contraction, whereas staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, was without effect. Sodium orthovanadate (50 microM) potentiated the cold-stimulated contraction, augmenting the slope of the temperature-force relationship over twofold. Two Ser/Thr phosphatase inhibitors (okadaic acid and calyculin A) had no effect on the temperature-force relationship. These results offer experimental evidence to support a novel hypothesis where PTK/PTP-dependent signal transduction pathways may be preferably targeted by cold stimulus and thus provide a biochemical basis for cold-stimulated modification of cerebral vascular contractile properties.
Aspekte der Pharmakotherapie während der Wirbelsäulenoperation nach Harrington

In einer retrospektiven Studie wurden die Dossiers von 85 Patienten (m: 22, f: 63; Alter: 21,6 ± 12,9 J.), die sich einer Skolioseoperation nach Harrington unterzogen, in bezug auf die pharmakologische Therapie in der perioperativen Phase analysiert. Die analgetische Therapie mit zentral wirksamen Analgetika spielte in der fruhen postoperativen Phase eine wichtige Rolle, wobei besonders Pethidin, Piritramid und Pentazocin bevorzugt wurden. Propyphenazonhaltige Kombinationen gehorten zu den meist verordneten peripheren Schmerzmitteln. Eine sedative Therapie mit Benzodiazepinen und Neuroleptika wurde haufig eingesetzt. Flucloxacillin und Gentamicin wurden fur die perioperative antibiotische Prophylaxe, Carbachol und Dexapanthenol gegen Dermatonien preferiert.
Reversible photo-patterning of soft conductive materials via spatially-defined supramolecular assembly

A strategy for reversible patterning of soft conductive materials is described, based upon a combination of peptide-based block copolymer hydrogelators and photo-thermally-active carbon nanotubes. This composite displays photo-responsive gelation at application-relevant timescales ( 100 S m−1), which, additionally, hold the capability to revert to sol upon sonication for reprocessing.
Effect of bacteremia on skeletal muscle glucose transport in fed rats.

Basal and insulin-stimulated membrane glucose transport was studied in soleus muscles from fed rats given Escherichia coli intraperitoneally (ip, 4 X 10(10) colony forming units (CFU)/kg) or saline. Glucose transport was measured in muscles by evaluating the fractional efflux (lambda, min-1) of [14C]3-O-methylglucose (14C-3MG) after "loading" muscles with 14C-3MG. Basal glucose transport was similar in muscles from 8-hr bacteremic (B) and time-matched control (C) rats, but it was elevated significantly in muscles 12 hr after bacterial injection (B lambda = 0.0227 +/- 0.0010, n = 41, C lambda = 0.0159 +/- 0.0008, n = 42; P less than .05). The effect of insulin on transport was determined from the peak response and from the percent increase in transport for each insulin dose. At low insulin concentrations, peak glucose transport was increased in muscles from 8-hr bacteremic rats compared to controls, while the response to 10.0 mU/ml of insulin was similar in bacteremic and control rat muscles. The maximum percent increase in transport and the EC50 for insulin-mediated 3MG transport were not different in muscles from 8-hr bacteremic and time-matched control rats. Twelve hr after bacterial injection, low insulin doses stimulated sugar transport to greater peak values in bacteremic rat muscles compared to time-matched control values. However, peak 14C-3MG transport with 10.0 mU/ml of insulin was attenuated in bacteremic rat muscles compared to controls. An attenuated maximum response and slightly diminished EC50 were evident in muscles from 12-hr bacteremic rats compared to controls when the percent increase in transport at each insulin concentration was analyzed. The results of the current study were similar to results obtained in fasted rats [1] which indicates that alterations in muscle glucose transport during bacteremia are independent of dietary state.
BP: synthesis and properties of boron phosphide

Cubic boron phosphide, BP, is notorious for its difficult synthesis, thus preventing it from being a widely used material in spite of having numerous favorable technological properties. In the current work, three different methods of synthesis are developed and compared: from the high temperature reaction of elements, Sn flux assisted synthesis, and a solid state metathesis reaction. Structural and optical properties of the products synthesized from the three methods were thoroughly characterized. Solid state metathesis is shown to be the cleanest and most efficient method in terms of reaction temperature and time. Synthesis by Sn flux resulted in a novel Sn-doped BP compound. Undoped BP samples exhibit an optical bandgap of ~2.2 eV while Sn-doped BP exhibits a significantly smaller bandgap of 1.74 eV. All synthesized samples show high stability in concentrated hydrochloric acid, saturated sodium hydroxide solutions, and fresh aqua regia.
Signaling Virtue: Charitable Behavior Under Consumer Elective Pricing

Four field experiments examined the quantitative and qualitative forces influencing behaviors under consumer elective pricing called “shared social responsibility” (SSR, Gneezy, Gneezy, Nelson, & Brown, 2010). Under SSR consumers can pay what they want and a percentage of their payment goes to support a charitable cause. Customers in our experiments were sensitive to the presence of charitable giving, paying more when a portion of their payment went to charity (Studies 1-4), but were largely insensitive to what portion of their payment went to charity (Studies 1 and 2). To test possible explanations we examined how consumers’ qualitative concerns to signal a positive image influenced their decisions and found that neither self-selection into paying (Studies 3 and 4) nor social pressure (Study 4) explained higher payments under SSR.
A controllable way to measure the interfacial strength between carbon nanotube and polymer using a nanobridge structure

The interfacial strength between an embedded carbon nanotube (CNT) and a polymer matrix is a direct indicator of the interfacial load transfer which significantly impacts the effective mechanical properties of CNT/polymer nanocomposites. However, unavoidable kinks or entanglement of the CNTs in the polymer may complicate the characterization of the interface as measured through nanopullout experiments. In the current work a CNT/polymer nanobridge structure in a suspended polymer film is developed to allow the observation of the embedded portion of the CNT after the pullout process. The nanobridge structure was created on the basis of phase separation of a polymer blend, self-assembly of the CNTs in liquid flow, and ductile fracture of the polymer under thermal and solvent treatment. This structure accommodates a nanomechanical interfacial characterization method where a transverse force applied on the suspended CNT using an atomic force microscope results in an axial pullout force, which is obtained by the force-distance curves and a force balance relation. The high resolution of the AFM in the loading process and the ability to observe the embedded portion of the CNT eliminate uncertainties of the nanopullout process and provide a more controllable approach for measuring the interfacial strength in CNT/polymer nanocomposite systems.
Mitigation of spectral leakage for single carrier, block-processing cognitive radio receivers

Abstract Cognitive Radio (CR) is a multiuser, wireless communication concept that allows for a dynamic and adaptive assignment of spectral resources. The coexistence of multiple users, often transmitting at significantly different power levels, makes CR receivers vulnerable to spectral leakage caused by components’ nonlinearities and time-truncation of the processed signal records. In this work we propose a method for mitigating the latter with an adaptive choice of the length of the processing block size. With simulations we show that a significant leakage reduction that leads to receiver dynamic range improvement of around 10 dB can be achieved with the proposed method.
In Vivo Hard and Soft Tissue Response of Two-Dimensional Nanoparticle Incorporated Biodegradable Polymeric Scaffolds

There is a growing interest in harnessing the physicochemical properties of two-dimensional organic and inorganic nanoparticles to improve bulk and surface properties of biodegradable polymers. Towards these efforts, studies that examined and compared the short and long term soft and hard tissue responses of porous polymeric biodegradable scaffolds incorporated with layered 2D carbon or inorganic nanoparticles would be beneficial. Herein, we investigate the hard and soft tissue in vivo biocompatibility of two such constructs; 90% porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocomposite scaffolds incorporated with 0.2 wt% graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONPs) or molybdenum disulfide nanoplatelets (MSNPs). Scaffolds were implanted in a non-critical sized monocortical defect in the tibia or subcutaneously on the dorsum of a rat model for two or six weeks. Hard and soft tissue biocompatibility of the nanoparticle reinforced scaffolds was comparable to PLGA control. In addition, two weeks after implantation, s...
Formulating emotion perception as a probabilistic model with application to categorical emotion classification

Automatic recognition of emotions is an important part of affect-sensitive human-computer interaction (HCI). Expressive behaviors tend to be ambiguous with blended emotions during natural spontaneous conversations. Therefore, evalu-ators disagree on the perceived emotion, assigning multiple emotional classes to the same stimuli (e.g., sadness, anger, surprise). These observations have clear implications on emotion classification, where assigning a single descriptor per stimuli oversimplifies the intrinsic subjectivity in emotion perception. This study proposes a new formulation, where the emotional perception of a stimuli is a multidimensional Gaussian random variable with an unobserved distribution. Each dimension corresponds to an emotion characterized by a numerical scale. The covariance matrix of this distribution captures the intrinsic dependencies between different emotional categories. The process where an evaluator judges the stimuli is equivalent to sampling a point from this distribution, reporting the class with the highest value. The proposed approach recursively estimates this multimodal distribution using numerical methods. The mean of the Gaussian distribution is used as a soft label to train a deep neural network (DNN). Our experimental results show that the proposed training method leads to improvements in F-score over training with (1) hard-labels based on majority vote, and (2) soft-label framework proposed by other studies.
Role of androgens for urethral homeostasis

Background: We observed that patients with hypogonadism are at higher risk to experience artificial urinary sphincter cuff erosion. Sphincter erosions have been found to be associated with urethral atrophy or compromised urethras subsequent to events limiting its blood supply. We therefore analyzed possible mechanisms how a decrease in testosterone serum levels can result decreased urethral blood flow. Methods: In a cohort of >1,200 urethroplasties, tissue specimens obtained during surgeries were analyzed for expression of androgen receptor (AR), AR-responsive TIE-2 associated with angiogenesis, and the endothelial cell marker CD31 for determination of vessel counts were analyzed immunohistochemically. A total of 11 patients were included in whom both tissue and serum testosterone levels within 2 years of the urethroplasty was available. Low serum testosterone level defined as Results: Mean serum testosterone level was significant lower in hypogonadal patients (179.4 ng/dL) compared to eugonadal patients (375.0 ng/dL, P=0.003). Urethral tissue of hypogonadal patients showed decreased AR expression [1.11% high power field (HPF)] compared to eugonadal patients (1.62%, P=0.016), decreased TIE-2 expression (1.84% HPF vs . 3.08%, P=0.006), and also decreased vessel counts (44.47 vessels/HPF vs . 98.33, P=0.004). There was a direct correlation of AR and TIE-2 expression levels with serum testosterone levels (rho 0.685, P=0.029, and rho 0.773, P=0.005, respectively). Of note, we did not detect a difference in age, prior radiation, coronary artery disease or hypertension among hypo- or eugonadal patient. However, higher body mass index was associated with low serum testosterone levels. Conclusions: Hypogonadal status is associated with decreased expression of AR and TIE-2 and also reduced vessel count in urethral tissue. We believe that the resulting decreased urethral vascularity subsequent to a hypogonadal state may be an important risk factor for complications of urethral surgery.
Life history variation in female Gambusia hubbsi.

Gambusia hubbsi populations occur in a variety of fresh and brackish-water habitats on Andros, Bahamas. These include shallow water sites (tidal creeks, lakes, roadside ditches), and blueholes (vertical solution caves). In some blueholes G. hubbsi is the only species present, in others it co-occurs with other species, principal among these is a predator, Eleotris pisonis. By contrast to blueholes, shallow water sites have highly variable temperature and depth. In addition, they are frequented by avian piscivores and may be occasionally occupied by piscivores such as Eleotris. We sampled 10 shallow water sites, 14 blueholes where Eleotris is absent and 12 blueholes where Eleotris co-occurs with G. hubbsi. We measured and compared variation in female body size, fecundity, and reproductive investment among these three habitats. The observed patterns of life history variation are only partially in accord with expectations from theory regarding the effects of predation and seasonality on life history variation. Samples from populations that colonized a series of man-made trenches (Well Fields), a set of introductions into that habitat, and changes in life history traits of lab-raised females from three blueholes, suggest that the observed pattern of life history variation in other habitats also reflects differences in food availability among habitats, and imperfectly reflects the potential phenotypic variability of this species.
De Thou’s Other Writings

De Thou’s works form an integrated whole. His poetry not only introduces the reader to a circle of friends and a body of interests which make less surprising the remarkable number of obituary notices in the History, a series of biographies so extensive that they form a kind of cultural history of later sixteenth-century Europe1; the poems also throw light on the religious, political, and historiographical views which inform the History of His Time. And if de Thou’s poems were often occasioned by what happened in or to his History, the Memoirs were written specifically as a defense of that work. In addition to information on the historian’s early studies and the manner in which he regarded his critics, the Memoirs contain materials which supplement the History itself in questions of contemporary politics and letters.2 The relevance to de Thou’s historiography of the various historical and biographical works included in the third section of this chapter, “Other Published Writings,” is obvious in most cases from their very titles.
Cabin Pressurization Accident

Commercial aircraft predominantly rely on “bleeding” a fraction of their engine compressor air to provide a high-pressure air stream to keep the cabin at a pressure well above the outside air (during cruise). This chapter offers a glimpse into what happens when a fuselage opening is not latched properly. The large pressure difference between the air in the fuselage and the low pressure outside the aircraft can break open doors if improperly designed or latched. This chapter examines the effects of “explosive” decompression on a United Airlines Boeing 747 flying out of Hawaii.
He Said, She Said: Communication Theory of Identity and the Challenges Men Face in the Information Systems Workplace

The preponderance of the academic research focused on diversity in the IS field has emphasized the perspectives of women and racioethnic minorities. Recent research has found that following the appointment of a female CEO, white male top managers provided less help to colleagues, particularly those identified as minority-status (McDonald, Keeves, & Westphal, 2018). Additionally, Collison and Hearn (1994) assert that white men's universal status and their occupancy of the normative standard state have rendered them invisible as objects of analysis. To develop a more holistic view of the IS workplace, we expand the academic exploration by looking at the challenges men face in the Information Systems (IS) workplace. Using a cognitive lens, we evoke the challenges men perceive they face at work and cast them into revealed causal maps. We then repeat the process evoking women's perspectives of men's challenges. The findings are analyzed using the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) to determine the areas of overlap and identity gaps. This study advances our understanding of the cognitive overlap (and lack thereof) regarding the challenges facing men in the IS field, and provides another step toward developing a more inclusive IS work environment.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Understanding the workings of the human brain is not an easy task. Cognitive functions unique to humans, such as language and its development, ultimately require noninvasive functional measurement of the human brain in vivo. With recent advances in neuroimaging techniques, structure/function relations now may be studied in greater detail and in pediatric populations. These technical advances eliminate the invasiveness of conventional neuroimaging techniques in the study of human brain functioning and provide spatiotemporal resolution never before attained.
A convex optimization framework for gene-level tissue network estimation with missing data and its application in understanding disease architecture

Genes with correlated expression across individuals in multiple tissues are potentially informative for systemic genetic activity spanning these tissues. In this context, the tissue-level gene expression data across multiple subjects from the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project is a valuable analytical resource. Unfortunately, the GTEx data is fraught with missing entries owing to subjects often contributing only a subset of tissues. In such a scenario, standard techniques of correlation matrix estimation with or without data imputation do not perform well. Here we propose Robocov, a novel convex optimization-based framework for robustly learning sparse covariance or inverse covariance matrices for missing data problems. Robocov produces more interpretable and less cluttered visual representation of correlation and causal structure in both simulation settings and GTEx data analysis. Simulation experiments also show that Robocov estimators have a lower false positive rate than competing approaches for missing data problems. Genes prioritized based on the average value of Robocov correlations or partial correlations across tissues are enriched for pathways related to systemic activities such as signaling pathways, heat stress factor, immune function and circadian clock. Furthermore, SNPs linked to these prioritized genes provide unique signal for blood-related traits; in comparison, no disease signal is observed for SNPs linked to genes prioritized by the standard correlation estimator. Robocov is an important stand-alone statistical tool for sparse correlation and causal network estimation for data with missing entries; and when applied to the GTEx data, it provides insights into both genetic and autoimmune disease architectures.
Spatially Offset Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy: Observing Exciton Transport through a Vibrational Lens.

To design better molecular electronic devices, we need a strong understanding of how charges or excitons propagate, as many efficiency losses arise during transport. Exciton transport has been diff...
Correction to: Health Implications of Black Lives Matter Among Black Adults.

The names of two coauthors of this article were updated following the article’s original publication.
‘No one remains living in the past’: the dynamics of pottery technological styles in southwestern Ethiopia

This article examines the pottery technological styles of the Oromo, the Yem and the Dawro ethnolinguistic groups in southwestern Ethiopia. It provides a comparative examination of the technologica...
Materials Engineering with a Social Context: A course on Materials, Ethics, & Society

A sophomore level Materials Engineering course entitled, “Materials, Ethics, & Society” at Cal Poly analyzes the interactions between technology and society, and emphasizes the communication of societal and ethical impacts of technology to diverse audiences. Students study materials in a historical context, not only to highlight specific materials science concepts, but also to explore societal-technology connections. Starting from the Stone Age, advances in civilizations have come about through discoveries and new uses of materials. World geography, history, and culture become intertwined with the casting of metals, alloy development, ceramics, and phase diagrams. Students highlight the social relevancy of materials throughout history, and seek parallel themes in today’s world. While learning about the development of the atomic bomb, students also examine the ethical dilemmas of the scientists and the current NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers. In addition, the role of the engineering profession is examined with the NAE Engineering Grand Challenges and current news items. Students investigate how materials engineering can help society through examples of appropriate technology solutions, such as designing porosity in ceramics for water filters and food storage pots. Students develop their analytical and communication skills by discussing C.P. Snow’s “two cultures” and debating a rationale for scientific literacy. Students are also trained in informal science learning in preparation for NanoDays with young and diverse audiences. At the same time, they learn about nano-scale science and technology principles, and the associated societal and ethical implications. The course culminates with student-created videos for the general public that highlight a material or technology of importance to society and integrates the material science with ethical, environmental, and societal dimensions.
Magnetic resonance imaging of deltoid muscle/tendon tears: a descriptive study

To describe the MRI features of deltoid tears and to evaluate tear characteristics in patient groups based on history of trauma and rotator cuff tear (RCT). The records of patients who underwent shoulder MRI at our institution between July 2007 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed to identify deltoid tears, and patients were divided into groups based on history of recent trauma and presence of RCT. Images were reviewed to identify the location and size of the deltoid tear; the presence or absence of RCT, muscle atrophy, tendon retraction, humeral head subluxation, soft tissue edema, and additional pathologies were also noted. Medical records were reviewed for information about history of steroid injection, previous rotator cuff surgery, and treatments used. Among 69 patients with deltoid tears (45 men; mean age, 65.2 years; range, 19–89 years), patients with RCTs and no trauma had the highest frequency of deltoid tears in the middle portion (p = 0.005). Only patients with RCTs had undergone steroid injection or rotator cuff surgery. Two patients had deltoid tear without RCT and without recent trauma; these patients demonstrated evidence of calcific tendinopathy and chronic subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis. The middle (acromial) portion of the deltoid is more frequently affected in patients with RCTs than in those with trauma. Although deltoid tears are commonly associated with RCT, calcific tendinopathy and chronic bursitis may also be seen in patients with deltoid tears.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Childhood and Adolescence.

1. Dorit Koren, MD, MTR* 2. Lynne L. Levitsky, MD* 1. *Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Pediatric Diabetes Center, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA * Abbreviations: ADA: : American Diabetes Association DKA: : diabetic ketoacidosis FDA: : Food and Drug Administration FPG: : fasting plasma glucose HbA1c: : glycohemoglobin IR: : insulin resistance LGA: : large for gestational age MODY: : maturity-onset diabetes of youth NAFLD: : nonalcoholic fatty liver disease RISE: : Restoring Insulin Secretion SES: : socioeconomic status SGA: : small for gestational age T1D: : type 1 diabetes mellitus T2D: : type 2 diabetes mellitus TODAY: : Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) are increasing in children and adolescents as a result of the worldwide pediatric obesity epidemic. It is important to distinguish type 1 diabetes mellitus, which is more common in children, from T2D because clinical phenotypes may overlap at presentation, but clinical course and treatment options differ considerably. Thus, it is crucial to diagnose this disease early and to choose appropriate treatment. In addition, prevention of T2D by directly addressing and preventing or ameliorating excess weight gain in young people is of great importance in primary care. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the pathophysiology and risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in children and adolescents. 2. Explain that there may be an overlap in the presentation between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and T2D: children with T1D may be overweight or obese, and children with T2D may present with ketosis or ketoacidosis. 3. Screen appropriate childhood populations for T2D. 4. Recognize that individuals with youth-onset T2D are at higher risk for diabetes-related complications than those with T1D and adults with T2D and, therefore, require careful longitudinal follow-up and treatment. The pediatric obesity pandemic of the past few decades has been accompanied by an increase in the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in childhood, with a disproportionate disease burden in children of minority ethnic groups and low socioeconomic status (SES). (1) Childhood-onset T2D is associated with greater …
Loss of glutamate decarboxylase mRNA-containing neurons in the rat dentate gyrus following pilocarpine-induced seizures

In situ hybridization methods were used to determine if glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA-containing neurons within the hilus of the dentate gyrus are vulnerable to seizure-induced damage in a model of chronic seizures. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with pilocarpine, and the hippocampal formation was studied histologically at 1, 2, 4, and 8 week intervals after pilocarpine-induced seizures. In situ hybridization histochemistry, using a digoxigenin-labeled GAD cRNA probe, demonstrated a substantial decrease in the number of GAD mRNA-containing neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus in the pilocarpine-treated rats as compared to controls at all time intervals. Additional neuronanatomical studies, including cresyl violet staining, neuronal degeneration methods, and histochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein, suggested that the decrease in the number of GAD mRNA-containing neurons was related to neuronal loss rather than to a decrease in GAD mRNA levels. The loss of GAD mRNA-containing neurons in the hilus contrasted with the relative preservation of labeled putative basket cells along the inner margin of the granule cell layer. Quantitative analyses of labeled neurons in three regions of the dentate gyrus in the 1 and 2 week groups showed statistically significant decreases in the mean number of GAD mRNA-containing neurons in the hilus of both groups of experimental animals. No significant differences were found in the molecular layer or the granule cell layer, which included labeled neurons along the lower margin of the granule cell layer. The results indicate that, in this model, a subpopulation of GAD mRNA-containing neurons within the dentate gyrus is selectively vulnerable to seizure-induced damage. Such differential vulnerability appears to be another indication of the heterogeneity of GABA neurons.
Amelia's Manual Manipulation of the Major in Thackeray's VANITY FAIR

“A touch, a pressure of the hands, are the only external signs a woman can give of entertaining a particular regard for certain individuals,” reads The Mirror of the Graces, an 1811 conduct manual ...
Factors involved in the regulation of type I collagen gene expression: Implication in fibrosis

Type I collagen, the major component of extracellular matrix in skin and other tissues, is a heterotrimer of two alpha1 and one alpha2 collagen polypeptides. The synthesis of both chains is highly regulated by different cytokines at the transcriptional level. Excessive synthesis and deposition of collagen in the dermal region causes thick and hard skin, a clinical manifestation of scleroderma. To better understand the causes of scleroderma or other tissue fibrosis, it is very important to investigate the molecular mechanisms that cause upregulation of the Type I collagen synthesis in these tissues. Several cis-acting regulatory elements and trans-acting protein factors, which are involved in basal as well as cytokine-modulated Type I collagen gene expression, have been identified and characterized. Hypertranscription of Type I collagen in scleroderma skin fibroblasts may be due to abnormal activities of different positive or negative transcription factors in response to different abnormally induced signaling pathways. In this review, I discuss the present day understanding about the involvement of different factors in the regulation of basal as well as cytokine-modulated Type I collagen gene expression and its implication in scleroderma research.