bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining the Location of T-bet-expressing Myeloid Cells During Acute Intestinal Toxoplasma gondii Infection
Authors: Wickstrom Melody , Schanz Madison , Larson Kimberly , López-Yglesias Américo H.
Published: December 2021

Background/Objective:
The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the second leading cause of foodborne pathogen-related deaths in the United States. The transcription factor T-bet is indispensable for host immunity against T. gondii. The absence of T-bet results in rapid susceptibility during parasite infection. T-bet has been considered essential for T-cell-derived IFN-g during T. gondii infection; yet, recent research has shown that T-bet is not required for lymphocyte-derived IFN-g responses. Our preliminary research shows that T-bet-deficient mice succumb to parasite infection significantly quicker than mice lacking lymphocytes. This has led to our hypothesis that T-bet-dependent myeloid cells are critical for host resistance during acute intestinal T. gondii infection. The objective of this project was to define the location of the T-bet-expressing myeloid cells in the medial small intestines (MSI) of naïve and infected mice during acute mucosal parasite infection.
Methods:
We used immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the location of T-bet-expressing myeloid cells in the MSI of naïve and T. gondii infected mice. Mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of the ME49 strain of T. gondii. On days 0 and 5, one-inch MSI segments were harvested, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for at least one hour, and then frozen in OCT compound. Tissues were then cut into 8mm sections and placed onto slides for staining. Sections were stained for nuclei, CD11c, T-bet, and T. gondii.
Results:
Our results revealed T-bet-expressing CD11c+ cells in both the MSI and spleen on days 0 and 5 of T. gondii infection.
Summary:
These data indicate that T-bet-expressing myeloid cells are present in the MSI during T. gondii infection. Defining the position of these cells will allow us to determine T-bet’s role in mediating myeloid cell-dependent T. gondii clearance. Due to the limited treatment options for patients suffering from toxoplasmosis it is critical to define new mechanisms for eliminating T. gondii.
Are age-related biomarkers of dementia risk accelerated by low educational attainment?
Authors: Schaefer Katherine A. , Unverzagt Frederick W. , Xu Huiping , Clark Daniel O.
Published: December 2021

Background: Low education significantly elevates dementia risk but it is not clear whether this is through chronic systemic inflammation, early-onset dementia pathology, or other factors. This project compares biomarkers of inflammation and dementia pathology in a young-old and older cohort.  Due to significantly lower education in the young-old cohort, we hypothesized evidence of similar or higher biomarker levels in the young-old cohort compared to the older cohort.  
Methods: Blood samples were used to measure pro-inflammatory cytokines (C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1 anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1RA), and the brain biomarkers phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and neurofilament light (NfL). Inflammatory markers were measured at the Considine Lab at the Indiana University School of Medicine using ELISA assays while p-tau and NfL were measured with Simoa assays at the Quanterix lab in Massachusetts. We used the natural logarithm of all biomarker variables to address skewed data. Linear regression was used to investigate race- and gender-adjusted differences in the biomarkers.  
Results: The young-old cohort (N=42) has a mean age of 62.4, 69.1% are female, and 78.6% are non-Hispanic black (NHB), while the older cohort (N=60) has a mean age of 80.3, 60% are female, and 20% are NHB. Median education in the young-old cohort is 12 vs 16 in the older cohort. Adjusted models showed higher mean CRP (p=0.004) and lower mean IL-10 (p<0.001) in the young-old cohort. TNF- (p <0.001), IL-6 (p=0.021), and IL-1(p=0.017), P-tau (p=0.003), and NfL (p<0.001) were all higher in the older cohort.  
Conclusion: We found partial support of our hypothesis in that the younger, low education cohort had higher mean CRP and lower mean IL-10 (anti-inflammatory). However, brain biomarkers were higher in the older cohort. More research will be needed to determine if and how low education elevates ADRD risk through systemic inflammation.
A 12-Month Retrospective Comparison of the Efficacy and Complications of Device-Based and Non-Device-Based MIGS Procedures
Authors: Amjad Rabiah , Cantor Louis
Published: December 2021

Background: Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) encompasses a group of procedures designed to reduce trauma to the target tissue and reduce the incidence of complications. MIGS procedures can be divided into two overall categories: device-based procedures and non-device-based procedures. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and complications of device-based and non-device-based MIGS procedures in eyes combined with phacoemulsification. 
Methods: 55 eyes from 36 patients with combined MIGS (iStent, GATT, ABIC, BANG, and KDB) and phacoemulsification were included. The glaucoma diagnoses included primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), secondary open angle glaucoma (SOAG), and combined-mechanism glaucoma (CMG). The efficacy of the device-based and non-device-based procedures was determined by the mean postoperative IOP and glaucoma medication reduction. Early complications included adverse events and IOP spikes. Late complications included additional surgeries.  
Results: At 12 months post-operatively, non-device-based eyes had a greater statistically significant reduction in IOP (3.6 ± 1.3 mmHg) when compared to device-based eyes (.07 ± 1.3 mmHg). There was not a statistically significant difference regarding glaucoma medication burden change between the non-device-based eyes (.58 ± .20, 29.7% reduction) and the device-based eyes (.76 ± .19, 31.7% reduction) (p = .52). The occurrence of hyphema was not statistically significantly greater in device-based eyes compared to non-device-based eyes with the sample sizes in this study. The difference between IOP spikes in the two groups was not statistically significant. 
Conclusion: Non-device-based MIGS procedures reduced the 12-month post-operative IOP more than the device-based MIGS procedures. There was not a statistically significant difference regarding glaucoma medication burden change between the study groups. Post-operative complications occurred at a similar frequency between the two groups.  
Clinical Impact and Implications: The results of this study can help surgeons choose the appropriate MIGS procedure for their patients depending on the efficacy and safety profile.
Effects of SGLT2 Inhibition on Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Leley Sameer , Luo Qianyi , Bhatwadekar Ashay
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis:
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a microvascular complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population, and its prevalence is increasing. New treatment modalities must be developed to slow the progression of DR. SGLT2 inhibition has shown promise in treating other diabetic complications; however, its effect on DR remains unknown, therefore, for this study, we hypothesize that SGLT2 inhibition will reduce the harmful effects of DR.
Methods:
Diabetic (db/db) mice were fed 10 mg/kg of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in their diet for 6 months, non-diabetic (db/m) mice on a regular diet served as controls. In parallel, human retinal endothelial cells (HREC) were used as in-vitro models and treated with dapagliflozin to assess glucose uptake via a 2-(N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)Amino)-2-Deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) assay.
Results:
Our studies show that db/db mice with dapagliflozin had significantly fewer acellular capillaries compared to untreated db/db mice. Furthermore, Dapagliflozin treatment at 1 and 10 µM concentrations of dapagliflozin yielded a significant decrease in glucose uptake compared to respective vehicle controls.
Conclusion:
Our study shows that SGLT2 inhibition has a promise in treating DR by reducing acellular capillaries and retinal glucose transport suggesting the potential of dapagliflozin treatment in DR.
Do Hispanic Patients Who Require a Medical Interpreter Understand the Severity of Their Glaucoma Diagnosis?
Authors: Bertot Sophia , Cantor Louis
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: Glaucoma is a group of progressive optic neuropathies characterized by a degeneration of retinal ganglion cells with characteristic changes in the visual field. The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) is the largest and most recent study to determine the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma in Hispanics; reported at nearly 5%. Between 2010 – 2019, Hispanic patients accounted for more than half of the United States population growth, reaching a record of 60.6 million Hispanics living in the United States. With an influx of Hispanic’s migrating to the United States, there is an increased need for medical interpreters to assist medical professionals in encounters with Hispanic patients. The success of a medical encounter relies on a multitude of factors, but when a medical interpreter is involved, the stakes are even higher. We hypothesize that Hispanic speaking patients will have lower rates of understanding their glaucoma diagnosis and severity, in comparison to English speaking patients due to gaps in translation provided by medical interpreters. 
Project Methods: Native Spanish and native English-speaking patients from the Eskenazi Health Eye Clinic were recruited via phone, reminding them of their upcoming eye appointment and their eligibility to participate in the study. Interested patients were provided with information regarding the study and consent materials at the start of the medical encounter. Participants who consented were administered the survey at the end of their medical encounter, in their preferred language, in person, at the clinic. 
Results: This is an ongoing prospective study. 
Potential Impact: This study will determine if medical interpreters successfully relay all the necessary information regarding a Hispanic patient’s glaucoma diagnosis. This study could also provide a partial explanation as to why there is a high no show rate and high medication noncompliance rate within the Eskenazi Health Eye Clinic Hispanic population.
PGC1α protects against cisplatin-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction
Authors: Chatterjee Rohit , Huot Joshua , Pin Fabrizio , Bonetto Andrea
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: We and others have shown that chemotherapy promotes skeletal muscle wasting and weakness (i.e., cachexia) by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and causing oxidative stress. Peroxisome proliferative-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) is a pivotal regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and is involved in reducing oxidative damage in skeletal muscle. Hence, in the present study we investigated whether overexpression of skeletal muscle PGC1α (mPGC1α) was sufficient to preserve skeletal muscle mass and function in young and old mice treated with cisplatin.
Experimental Design or Project Methods: Young (2-month; n = 5) and old (18-month; n = 5-8) male wild type (WT) or mPGC1α transgenic mice were treated with cisplatin (2.5mg/kg), while age-matched WT mice received vehicle for 2 weeks. Animals were assessed for muscle force and motor unit number estimation (MUNE). Skeletal muscles were weighed and processed for molecular analyses, including assessment of mitochondrial protein content.
Results: Young WT mice exposed to cisplatin showed evidence of cachexia, as indicated by reduced gastrocnemius size (-16%), plantarflexion force (-8%) and MUNE (-56%), whereas mPGC1α mice were only partially protected. Interestingly, despite exacerbated cachexia in aged WT mice treated with chemotherapy, as demonstrated by markedly decreased gastrocnemius size (-22%), plantarflexion force (-18%) and MUNE (-80%) compared to untreated WT, muscle mass, strength and innervation were fully preserved in age-matched mPGC1α mice. Follow-up molecular analyses revealed that WT animals exposed to chemotherapy present loss of muscle mitochondrial proteins PGC1α, OPA1 and CytochromeC, whereas their levels in mPGC1α mice were robustly increased.
Conclusion and Potential Impact: Altogether, our data suggest that PGC1α plays a pivotal role in preserving skeletal muscle mass and function, usually impaired by anticancer treatments. These findings enforce developing mitochondria-targeting therapeutics to combat the negative consequences that chemotherapy has on skeletal muscle.
Differential Gene Expression and Functional Enrichment Analysis of Smoothed PDAC Spatial Transcriptomics Slides
Authors: Duggan Ben , Liu Yusong , Wang Tongxin , Zhang Jie , Johnson Travis S. , Ye Xiufen , Huang Kun
Published: December 2021

Background:
Cancer heterogeneity can impact diagnosis and therapeutics. This has been studied at the cellular level using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) but not spatially. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) has recently enabled measuring transcriptomes at hundreds of locations in a tissue, revolutionizing our understanding of tumor heterogeneity. Low RNA quantities in scRNA-seq and ST introduce missed reads and noise. Multiple methods have been developed to impute and smooth scRNA-seq data including MAGIC and SAVER. To date, only our newly developed spatial and pattern combined smoothing (SPCS) method has been developed specifically for ST. We compared the biological interpretability of these smoothing methods to determine which method best informs tumor heterogeneity.
Methods:
Ten ST slides from six patients with PDAC were computationally smoothed using SAVER, MAGIC, and SPCS. ST spots from unsmoothed and smoothed slide were split into TM4SF1 high or low expression groups and differentially expressed genes (DEG) found. Significant up- and down-regulated DEGs were used for functional enrichment analysis (EA) to compare the biological insights each method provides.
Results:
DEGs were found in eight samples, with SPCS finding the most DEGs in six of the eight samples. The number of EA terms generally correlated with the numbers DEGs. SPCS had the most up-regulated enriched terms for every ST slide. Top ten up- and down-regulated EA terms were presented from one ST slide to demonstrate that SPCS gives more biologically interpretable results. Lastly, we present SPCS terms previously been reported in PDAC or involved in the TM4SF1 cancer pathway.
Conclusion:
Smoothing ST data using SPCS provided more DEGs and more useful EA terms. The EA terms found using SPCS are more consistent with our current understanding of PDAC. Not smoothing, MAGIC, and SAVER missed many important terms which SPCS found. Compared to other methods, SPCS smoothed data is more interpretable.
Non-Invasive Myocardial Infarction Ischemic Area Estimation Through Four-Dimensional Ultrasound
Authors: Clark Sydney Q. , Earl Conner C. , Gruber Joseph M. , Annamalai Karthik S. , Schepers Luke E. , Goergen Craig J.
Published: December 2021

Background/Objective: Following myocardial infarction, infarct size and cardiac function are significant predictors of long-term prognosis. Most echocardiography studies rely on two-dimensional analysis for estimation of left ventricular function and electrical activity analysis for estimation of infarct area. Other imaging modalities, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, are limited by time, cost, availability, patient tolerance, and incompatible implantable devices.  Using an experimental mouse model of myocardial infarction, we hypothesize that four-dimensional ultrasound offers a possible alternative for easy, quick, and reliable estimation of infarct size.  
Methods: A cohort of 10 mice underwent four-dimensional cardiac imaging at baseline using a small animal high frequency ultrasound. A thoracotomy was subsequently performed, and a suture placed to ligate the left coronary artery approximately midway down the left ventricle. Sequential four-dimensional ultrasound was performed at six time points over 28 days, following which the mice were euthanized. The hearts were then removed and sent for embedding and sectioning into seven uniform segments stained using both H&E and Masson’ s Trichrome.
Results: Thus far, we have segmented the imaging and collected end diastolic volume, peak systolic volume, stroke volume, ejection fraction, transmural thickness, and circumferential strain. Additionally, four-dimensional models of the left ventricles have been rendered. Histological embedding, sectioning, and staining is still in progress, and therefore validation against the gold standard is still in process.
Conclusion and Impact: Treatment and monitoring of myocardial infarction patients is reliant upon accurate assessment of patient status and prognosis. This study provides initial evidence for the validity of four-dimensional ultrasound as a tool for estimation of myocardial infarction size, providing an alternative to current two-dimensional methods that are less accurate and a more accessible alternative to highly specialized and costly equipment. Improved and accessible imaging methods have the potential to enhance patient care, ultimately improving overall health outcomes.
Novel Fracture Site Targeting Drug Improves Fracture Healing with Pain Relief: Preclinical Evaluation of MAK123
Authors: Elsayed Abduallah , Nielsen Jeffery , Taylor Natalie , Juboori Mohammed , Staut Caio de Andrade , Alentado Vincent , Hux Nicholas , Dalloul Christopher , Zike Samuel , Tewari Nikhil , Nazzal Murad , Battina Hanisha , Brinker Alex , Shaikh Mustafah , Myers Sarah , Blosser Rachel , Dadwal Ushashi , Niedrauer Mary , Low Stewart , Low Philip , Li Jiliang , White Fletcher A. , Kacena Melissa A.
Published: December 2021

Non-union bone fracture occurs in 5-10% of fracture injuries. Interventions include surgery with local implantation of autograft, allograft, demineralized bone matrix, and/or bone morphogenetic proteins. These types of fracture injuries are also accompanied by acute and chronic pain states. In most instances, opioids are provided to injured patients during and after surgery. With the opioid crisis, identifying new analgesic therapies that could reduce or eliminate opioid use, while also improving bone healing is important. Here we show the ability of a novel compound, MAK123, to both enhance bone healing and reduce pain behavior in a surgically induced femoral fracture mouse model. Briefly, 20 male C57BL/6 mice underwent a surgically induced femoral fracture and then were treated with 0, 2, 6, or 20 mg/kg, 3X/week for the 3 week study duration. Weekly X-rays were used to examine healing progression. Prior to euthanasia, mice underwent behavioral testing to measure evoked pain behaviors. Upon euthanasia, ex vivo µCT imaging and analysis was completed to assess fracture callus size and composition. While all doses of MAK123 tested resulted in improved healing, the 6mg/kg dose resulted in accelerated bone healing and a significant increase in mineralized callus volume (p<0.05). Similarly, while all doses of MAK123 reduced evoked responses to tactile stimulus as demonstrated by increased paw withdrawal thresholds, 6 mg/kg of MAK123 resulted in a more robust and significant improvement (p<0.05). We postulate that optimization of the dosing schedule/concentration could further improve both bone healing and behavioral measures thought to represent pain in rodents. That said, these promising pre-clinical data warrant further evaluation as MAK123 may prove to be a unique tool for orthopaedic surgery usage whereby it could both improve bone healing and reduce clinical pain, improving overall patient outcomes.
The Influence of Medial Collateral Ligament and Lateral Collateral Ligament Pie Crusting in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty on Patient Reported Outcomes
Authors: Cornwell Ethan , Deckard Evan R. , Sonn Kevin A. , Meneghini R. Michael
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: Pie-crusting of the collateral ligaments can help achieve balanced gaps in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in knees with varus or valgus deformity. However, the effect of this technique on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is unknown.  The purpose of this study was to compare PROMs following primary TKA for patients with and without medial collateral ligament (MCL) or lateral collateral ligament (LCL) pie-crusting.
Experimental Design or Project Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,305 primary TKAs. Intraoperative MCL or LCL pie-crusting was documented in all operative reports and recorded. Prospectively collected preoperative, 4-month postoperative, and minimum 1-year postoperative PROMs related to overall knee health, pain during functional activities, activity level, and overall satisfaction were compiled and compared between patients with and without MCL or LCL pie-crusting.  Medians were evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis test adjusted for ties.
Results: The cohort was 67% female with mean age 66 years and BMI 34.0 kg/m2. MCL or LCL pie-crusting was performed in 13.0% of the cohort.  There were no intraoperative or postoperative ruptures of the MCL or LCL. 6.3% of conforming bearing TKAs required a collateral ligament pie crusting versus 21.5% of standard bearing TKA (p<0.001). No significant differences were found in preoperative, 4-month, minimum 1-year, or change from preoperative baseline to minimum 1-year PROMs with and without pie-crusting of the collateral ligaments (p≥0.095).  However, the LCL pie-crusting group had slightly better PROMs at minimum 1-year.
Conclusion and Potential Impact: These study results corroborate existing literature that pie-crusting of collateral ligaments is safe and effective to achieve a balanced TKA.  Additionally, no significant outcome differences were found between groups with and without MCL or LCL pie-crusting. However, LCL pie-crusting for valgus knee correction had slightly better PROMs.  Interestingly, conforming bearings may impart enhanced stability and mitigate the need for pie-crusting ligament releases in TKA.
Quality Improvement Initiative: Foley Catheters in Patients Undergoing Pectus Deformity Repair
Authors: Crabtree Jordan , Marke Troy
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: Pectus excavatum and carinatum are sternal deformities that often require surgeries with significant postoperative pain that can limit a patient’s ability to void. An indwelling urinary catheter is placed for the operation, but is often removed on the first postoperative day due to concerns of infection, which begs the necessity of these catheters in the first place. In this study, we hypothesized that there would be no increased risk of urinary retention or urinary tract infection irrespective of whether urinary catheters were utilized.
Experimental Design: A pre/post quality improvement study was undertaken of patients undergoing pectus excavatum/carinatum repair between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2022. The pre intervention group spanned from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2021, where Foley catheters were placed intraoperatively and removed the first postoperative day. Pediatric surgery and anesthesia groups changed practice effective June 1, 2021 and decided to no longer utilize urinary catheters in pectus repairs. Pre-intervention patients were acquired through the surgery billing database. Post-intervention patients were acquired prospectively. Rates of urinary retention (any event requiring mechanical intervention for voiding) and urinary tract infections (UTI, >100,000 CFU bacteria/mL urine) were compiled into REDCap. Data are expressed as percent of the total cohort.
Results:  Of 179 patients undergoing pectus repair (162 Excavatum, 17 Carinatum), 12 patients (6.7%) in the pre-intervention group experienced urinary retention. Of these, 9 received in/out catheterization, 1 had a Foley catheter replaced, and 2 underwent in/out catheterization and had a Foley replaced. There were no urinary tract infections recorded among the pre-intervention group.
Conclusion and Potential Impacts: Urinary retention and UTI are rare in patients who have an indwelling urinary catheter. Data acquired over the next year from the post-intervention group will help determine the true necessity for these catheters in the perioperative pectus population.
Improving the Diagnosis of Abusive Abdominal Trauma
Authors: Fisher Reid , Karmazyn Boaz , Marine Megan
Published: December 2021

Background/Objective: Abusive abdominal trauma (AAT) in children when missed can be fatal. In addition, differentiating from accidental trauma is essential in evaluating for other injuries and protecting from continued inflicted injuries. Abdominal CT remains the gold standard study to evaluate for abdominal injuries. Our purpose is to identify findings in presentation, clinical evaluation, the abdominal CT, and other imaging that can improve the diagnosis of abusive abdominal trauma.
Methods: A retrospective (2011-2020) study compared children younger than 3 years that had abdominal CT scans for abusive trauma to those with accidental blunt abdominal trauma. Demographic information, clinical presentation, physical exam findings, final diagnoses, lab values, and imaging studies were collected. Descriptive analysis and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine significance of findings.
Results: 226 (125 male, average age 11 months) patients had AAT and 90 (48 male, average age 18 months) patients had accidental trauma. 30 patients in the abusive group and 19 patients in the accidental group had positive CT. Most (70%) children with AAT and positive CT had no explanation for the trauma. Fall injury was reported in 27% of abusive (88.9% younger than 1 years) and 32% (83.3% older than 1 year) of accidental trauma. Retinal hemorrhage, abdominal bruising, subdural hematoma, and rib fractures were significantly (p<0.05) more common in the abusive group. In addition, 13 (43%) of patients with AAT and positive CT had rib fractures while none were detected on CT in the accidental group.
Conclusions: In children younger than 3 years with abdominal trauma that present with a history of a fall or unknown injury, abusive abdominal trauma should be suspected. These children should subsequently be evaluated for other injuries. Children should be evaluated for nonaccidental trauma if rib fractures are visualized on abdominal CT, as these were only seen in AAT.
Development of Automated Angiogram Labeling via AI Active Learning Pipeline
Authors: Kersey Kolten , Gonzalez Andrew
Published: December 2021

Background and Objective:  As technology is integrated further into medicine, more specialties are discovering new uses for it in their clinical practice. However, the tasks that we want technology to complete are often removed from developer’s intended tasks.  A field of research is growing that integrates medicine with current AI technology to bridge the gap and utilize already existing technology for medical uses.  We desire to use an active learning pipeline (a form of machine learning) to automate the labeling of blood vessels on angiograms and potentially develop the ability to detect occlusions. By using machine learning, it would essentially allow the machine to teach itself with human guidance.   
 
Methods:  A machine learning pipeline is in development for automation of the process.  To create a baseline for the machine to start learning, the first set of angiograms are being labeled by hand using the program 3D Slicer.  For the first pass, we have been quickly labeling the blood vessels by changing the color sensitivity threshold to highlight the darker blood vessels juxtaposed next to lighter tissue.  For the second pass, we have erased any erroneous highlighting that was picked up in the first pass such as tools, tissue, contrast outside the injection site, and sutures.  For the third pass, we have labeled and segmented the arteries into specific vessels such as femoral, common iliac, internal iliac, etc. This will then be entered into the machine for automated learning. 
 
Results:  We are in the process of labeling the initial image set.   
 
Potential Impact:   By creating a lab for angiogram automation, it will allow physicians to efficiently search images for specific arteries and save valuable time usually spent searching images.  This would also allow for automated labeling of occlusions that a physician could then look at to verify.
Detection of pancreatic fibrosis using magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with histopathology
Authors: Kranz Carsyn , Saeed Omer , Osuji Vitalis , Fogel Evan , Zyromski Nicholas , Tirkes Temel
Published: December 2021

Background and Hypothesis: Diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is challenging and controversial. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers a noninvasive modality to diagnose CP, but its findings have been rarely correlated with histopathology. We aimed to assess the correlation of T1 signal intensity ratio of pancreas to spleen (T1 SIRp/s) and arterio-venous ratio (AVR) of the parenchyma on MRI and Cambridge score on MRCP with surgical histopathology in patients who underwent pancreatic resection. 
Methods: We identified 160 pancreatic resections performed in adults between 2017 and 2019 by searching our institution’s surgery database. Seventy-one of them had surgical pathology specimens available and 59 of them had MRI/MRCP within 3 months prior to the surgery. Histologic grading was performed by a gastrointestinal pathologist using Ammann’s fibrosis score. Two image analysts blinded to the clinical information and fibrosis score measured T1 SIRp/s from unenhanced T1-weighted fat-saturated gradient-echo images and arterio-venous ratio (AVR) from post-contrast dynamic phase. Cambridge score was also recorded from MRCP. Statistical analysis included Pearson’s correlation coefficient of the T1 SIRp/s, AVR, and Cambridge score with the fibrosis score and weighted kappa for interobserver agreement. 
Results: Correlations between T1 SIRp/s and AVR with the fibrosis score were (r= -0.30, p=0.02, 95%CI: -0.51 to -0.04 and r= -0.36, p=0.01, 95%CI: -0.58 to -0.09, respectively). In comparison, there is less correlation between the Cambridge grade and the fibrosis (r= 0.17, p=0.15, 95% CI for r= -0.07 to 0.39). Interobserver agreement was good (kappa=0.80). 
Conclusion: There is moderate correlation between the T1 signal intensity and enhancement ratio of the pancreas with pancreatic fibrosis. This is higher than the correlation between the Cambridge grade and fibrosis. Multi-institutional, prospective studies are needed to verify T1 SIR and AVR as potential imaging biomarkers of pancreatic fibrosis.
Enabling FAIR use of Ethnomusicology Data – Through Distributed Repositories, Linked Data and Music Information Retrieval
Authors: Hofmann Alex , Miksa Tomasz , Knees Peter , Bakos Asztrik , Salam Hande , Ahmedaja Ardian , Yimwadsana Boonsit , Chan Clare , Rauber Andreas
Published: December 2021

Recordings of musical practices are kept in various public institutions and private depositories around the world. They constitute valuable data for ethnomusicological research and are substantial for the world's musical heritage. At the moment, there are no commonly used systems and standards for organizing, describing or categorizing these data, which makes their use difficult. In this paper, we discuss the required steps to make them findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), and outline action items to reach these goals. We show solutions that help researchers to manage their data over the whole research lifecycle and discuss the benefits of combining technologies from information science, music information retrieval, and linked data, with the aim of giving incentives for the ethnomusicology research community to actively participate in these developments in the future.
FAIR Interconnection and Enrichment of Public-Domain Music Resources on the Web
Authors: Weigl David M. , Crawford Tim , Gkiokas Aggelos , Goebl Werner , G Emilia , Guti Nicol , Liem Cynthia C. S. , Santos Patricia
Published: December 2021

Vast amounts of publicly licensed classical music resources are housed within many different repositories on the Web encompassing richly diverse facets of information—including bibliographical and biographical data, digitized images of music notation, music score encodings, audiovisual performance recordings, derived feature data, scholarly commentaries, and listener reactions. While these varied perspectives ought to contribute to greater holistic understanding of the music objects under consideration, in practice, such repositories are typically minimally connected. The TROMPA project aims to improve this situation by interconnecting and enriching public-domain music repositories. This is achieved, on the one hand, by the application of automated, cutting-edge Music Information Retrieval techniques, and on the other, by the development of contribution mechanisms enabling users to integrate their expertise. Information within established repositories is interrelated with data generated by the project within a data infrastructure whose design is guided by the FAIR principles of data management and stewardship: making music information Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. We provide an overview of challenges of description, identification, representation, contribution, and reliability toward applying the FAIR principles to music information, and outline TROMPA's implementational approach to overcoming these challenges. This approach applies a graph-based data infrastructure to interrelate information hosted in different repositories on the Web within a unifying data model (a 'knowledge graph'). Connections are generated across different representations of music content beyond the catalogue level, for instance connecting note elements within score encodings to corresponding moments in performance time-lines. Contributions of user data are supported via privacy-first mechanisms that retain control of such data with the contributing user. Provenance information is captured throughout, supporting reproducibility and re-use of the data both within and outside the context of the project.
Connecting the Dots: Engaging Wider Forms of Openness for the Mutual Benefit of Musicians and Musicologists
Authors: Gotham Mark R. H.
Published: December 2021

While it is encouraging to see renewed attention to 'openness' in academia, that debate (and its interpretation of the F.A.I.R. principles) is often rather narrowly defined. This paper addresses openness in a broad sense, asking not so much whether a project is open, but how open and to whom. I illustrate these ideas through examples of my own ongoing projects which to seek to make the most of a potential symbiosis between academic and wider musical communities. Specifically, I discuss how these communities can both benefit from – and even work together on building – highly accessible and interoperable corpora of scores and analyses when ambitious openness is factored into decision making from the outset.
FAIR, Open, Linked: Introducing the Special Issue on Open Science in Musicology
Authors: Moss Fabian C. , Neuwirth Markus
Published: December 2021

No abstract available.
Postgraduate student’s perception on preclinical prosthodontics curricula: A web-based survey
Authors: Chokhani Dishita , Patane Deepali
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to determine the current background of teaching pre-clinical prosthodontics for post graduate students. It describes the perception of post graduate students regarding the effectiveness of the preclinical prosthodontic curriculum in preparing them to operate efficiently in the clinical setting.

: To assess student’s knowledge and perception of preclinical postgraduate prosthodontics course in different dental colleges of India.

: The study sample was obtained from 148 postgraduate student, both male and female, an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 15 questions regarding knowledge, attitude and practice of the preclinical curriculum. This research was conducted after getting permission from the respective authority and consent from all respondents. Data acquired from structured questionnaires were analysed and compared by simple percentage method.

After careful assessment and graphical representation of responses acquired from participants, results were formulated. Participants expressed through open ended and closed ended questionnaire that exercises conducted for complete denture prostheses and fixed partial denture prostheses were adequate and preclinical curriculum for implantology and maxillofacial prostheses needs to be streamlined.

This paper has found that, while all schools make efforts to ensure that their postgraduate dental students are best prepared for subsequent independent practices, prosthodontic education varies among schools. Although some trends in curricular formats and content are evident. This survey indicated that active and passive learning for preclinical prosthodontics and frequent feedback from students plays a vital role.
La electrificación industrial en Chile: 1895-1955
Authors: Martín Garrido-Lepe
Published: December 2021

La presente investigación analiza la trayectoria de la electrificación de las industrias chilenas entre 1895 y 1955, como ejemplo de aquellos países periféricos de industrialización tardía que no lograron insertarse al grupo de países de ingreso alto. Empleando datos inéditos sobre la potencia mecánica industrial, se sostiene que los trastornos generados por las guerras mundiales provocaron dificultades en el proceso de modernización industrial, motivando un retorno al uso de motores primarios por sobre los eléctricos. Este estudio demuestra que la transición hacia el motor eléctrico no estuvo exenta de conflictos, y que tales problemas pudieron afectar los incrementos de productividad industrial.
Advanced Battery Materials Research at Nazarbayev University: Review
Authors: Kurmanbayeva I. , Mentbayeva A. , Nurpeissova A. , Bakenov Z.
Published: December 2021

With the rapid development of new and advanced technologies, the request for energy storage device with better electrochemical characteristics is increasing as well. Therefore, the search and development for more novel and efficient energy storage components are imperative. In Kazakhstan there are several groups that were established to conduct research in the field of energy storage devices. One of them is professor Mansurov’s research group with we have a long time fruitful collaboration. Group at Nazarbayev University do research in design and investigation of advanced energy storage materials for high performance energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and aqueous rechargeable batteries, employing strategies as nanostructuring, nano/micro combination, hybridization, pore-structure control, configuration design, 3D printing, surface modification, and composition optimization. This manuscript reviews research on advanced battery materials, provided by Nazarbayev University scientists since the last 10 years.
Processing Conditions Optimization for the Synthesis and Consolidation of High-Entropy Diborides
Authors: Barbarossa S. , Murgia M. , Orrù R. , Cao G.
Published: December 2021

The fabrication by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) of bulk high entropy ceramics from powders obtained by Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis (SHS) is addressed in this work. The effect produced by the introduction of 1 wt.% of graphite to the powders before SPS is investigated under different temperature conditions. The final density and composition of sintered (Hf0.2Mo0.2Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2)B2 and (Hf0.2Mo0.2Zr0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2)B2 ceramics are found to be negatively affected by the presence of oxide impurities in the powders. While product composition can be progressively improved when the temperature is increased from 1800 to 1950 °C, residual porosities remain relatively high if using additive-free powders. In contrast, the introduction of 1 wt.%C markedly allows for oxides elimination by carbothermal reduction mechanism. Products consolidation is correspondingly enhanced so that relative densities of about 97% are attained. Other than the latter effect, surface oxides removal also makes powders more reactive, thus the synthesis of single-phase products is promoted. In particular, fully homogeneous (Hf0.2Mo0.2Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2)B2 ceramics are obtained at relatively lower temperature conditions (1850 °C).
How Organic Waste Improves Bitumen’s Characteristics
Authors: Caputo P. , Porto M. , Loise V. , Abe A. , Teltayev B. , Calandra P. , Oliviero Rossi C.
Published: December 2021

The organic fraction derived from the differentiated collection of urban waste is mainly composed of fatty acids, medium molecular weight hydrocarbons and cellulose. This peculiar composition gave us insight into the possible use of organic waste to improve bitumen’s characteristics (possible antioxidant, regenerating and/ or viscosifying additive for road pavements). The issue of the disposal of organic waste is a global one and it’s constantly of increasing concern. This study looks to alleviate this problem by finding ways for this waste fraction to be utilized for the greater good- in this case, as an additive for bitumen binder in road pavements. The present study is focused on the use of waste as it is and waste treated by the FENTON process (treatment with ferrous sulphate and hydrogen peroxide solution). Dynamic Shear Rheology (DSR) and aging tests (Rolling Thin Film Oven Test, RTFOT) showed that two of the additives tested in this study proved effective: one can be utilised as a viscosifying agent and the other can be us ed as a filler.
Educadores do campo e movimentos sociais em formação: embates políticos em defesa das escolas do campo no noroeste fluminense
Authors: Andrade Francisca Marli Rodrigues de , Neves Lucas do Couto
Published: December 2021

Fechar escolas do campo é um cenário que tem se consolidado em muitos Estados do Brasil, impondo às comunidades campesinas o apagamento do campo como lugar de reprodução da vida e de existência. No Noroeste Fluminense, as escolas do campo seguem a mesma trajetória de outras realidades brasileiras; ou seja, vítimas das práticas de fechamento, enquanto injustiças arquitetadas em argumentos economicistas. Porém, com a implementação da Licenciatura Interdisciplinar em Educação do Campo (LEdoC) da Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) na cidade de Santo Antônio de Pádua – Rio de Janeiro – uma série de movimentos populares confrontam a realidade de esvaziamento do campo. Nesse sentido, este artigo, com enfoque metodológico da pesquisa-ação, tem como objetivo descrever o caminho que estudantes da LEdoC da UFF e a comunidade de Santo Antônio de Pádua construíram, no âmbito da Pedagogia da Alternância, em defesa das escolas do campo, no período de 2015 a 2019. Os principais resultados destacam a importância da pesquisa-ação no fortalecimento das demandas locais e no processo de denúncia da retirada de direitos educativos das populações do campo. Ademais, os resultados sinalizam que os movimentos sociais populares fortalecem a formação de educadores do campo como política pública de reparação e de questionamento das situações de opressão, dentro e fora das instituições educativas.
Rural teachers and social movements under formation: political struggles for rural schools in northwestern Rio de Janeiro state
Authors: Andrade Francisca Marli Rodrigues de , Neves Lucas do Couto
Published: December 2021

Closing rural schools is a scene that has become usual in many Brazilian states, a fact that forces rural communities to quit life in the country as the place for both living and existence reproduction. Rural schools in Northwestern Rio de Janeiro State take the same path of other Brazilian realities; in other words, they are the victims of activity canceling, which is an injustice supported by economic arguments. However, the implementation of the course named Interdisciplinary Major Degree in Rural Education, also known as LEdoC, at Fluminense Federal University (UFF), in Santo Antônio de Pádua City, RJ, opened room for a whole series of popular movements to cope with the rural exodus reality. Accordingly, the aim of the present study is to describe the path opened between 2015 and 2019 by UFF’s LEdoC and Santo Antônio de Pádua’s community for the Alternation Pedagogy in order to defend rural schools, based on the research-action methodology. The main results have highlighted the importance of the research-action methodology to reinforce the local demands and the process of reporting the alienation of rural populations from their right to education. Moreover, they have pointed towards the fact that popular social movements reinforce rural teachers’ formation by repairing public policies to question oppression situations in and outside education institutions.
On Termination of a Criminal Case over a Tax Crime
Authors:   Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Procedure and Criminalistics of the Saint Petersburg Law Institute (Branch) of the University of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation PhD (Law), Barkalova Elena V.
Published: December 2021

On the basis of judicial and investigative practice, the features of the termination of criminal proceedings on tax crime are analyzed, and rehabilitating and non-rehabilitating grounds are identified.
The Place of Insurance Contributions in the Tax System of the Russian Federation
Authors:   Associate Professor of the Department of Financial Law of the Russian State University for the Humanities PhD (Law), Associate Professor, Knyazeva Elena Yu.
Published: December 2021

Compulsory social insurance is the implementation by the state of the constitutional principle of social protection of its citizens, which occurs on the basis of the country’s main law — the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Compulsory insurance of citizens is aimed at compensation in the event of a possible deterioration in their material or social situation, as a rule, due to objective circumstances. When analyzing the legal nature of tax, collection and insurance premium, their common features are established and differences are highlighted, additions to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation are proposed in terms of regulation of insurance premiums. The presence of common features in taxes, fees and insurance premiums makes it difficult to clearly distinguish between them. Thus, it can be argued that insurance premiums by a legal nature are of a mixed nature, combining the characteristics of both tax and collection. However, they are fundamentally different from tax payments by their intended purpose, personalized accounting and the absence of redistribution.
International and Supranational Means of Protection of Taxpayers` Rights within the Framework of Automatic Exchange of Information on Financial Accounts: Experience of the European Union
Authors:   PhD Student of the Administrative and Financial Law Chair of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MGIMO University), Ageev Stanislav S.
Published: December 2021

In this article the problem of protection of taxpayers’ rights in the context of automatic exchange of financial account information is studied. This problem is a particular case of a wider problem inherent to tax law in general — the problem of finding a balance between private and public interest. The author researches this problem on the example of the European Union since in the EU taxpayers have not only international but supranational remedies as well. On the international level the provisions of tax treaties, the EU Charter of fundamental rights and the European convention on human rights are analyzed. The conclusion on the advantages and disadvantages of each tax treaty is made. On the supranational level the Directive on administrative cooperation and General data protection regulation are studied. Then the conclusion on their influence on national legislation of the EU Member States follows. In the end the ways of improvement of taxpayers’ remedies on the international level are suggested. One of them is the additions to Multilateral convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters of 1988 that is currently the only universal tax treaty.