cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Considerations in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Human reproduction is remarkably inefficient; nearly 70% of human conceptions do not survive to live birth. Spontaneous fetal aneuploidy is the most common cause for spontaneous loss, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Although losses owing to de novo fetal aneuploidy occur at similar frequencies among women with sporadic and recurrent losses, some couples with recurrent pregnancy loss have additional associated genetic factors and some have nongenetic etiologies. Genetic testing of the products of conception from couples experiencing two or more losses may aid in defining the underlying etiology and in counseling patients about prognosis in a subsequent pregnancy. Parental karyotyping of couples who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) will detect some couples with an increased likelihood of recurrent fetal aneuploidy; this may direct interventions. The utility of preimplantation genetic analysis in couples with RPL is unproven, but new approaches to this testing show great promise.
Context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking after punishment in a rat model

Background Rat studies have demonstrated that exposure to environments associated with alcohol intake reinstates alcohol seeking after extinction of alcohol-reinforced responding in a different context. However, extinction is limited as an abstinence model, because humans typically abstain because of negative consequences associated with excessive drinking. It is currently unknown whether alcohol-associated contexts can provoke relapse to alcohol seeking after alcohol-taking behavior is suppressed by adverse consequences in a different context. Methods Alcohol-preferring P rats were first given home-cage access to 20% ethanol. Next, they were trained to self-administer 20% ethanol in one context (context A). Subsequently, all rats continued to self-administer alcohol in a different context (context B). For one group, 50% of alcohol-reinforced responses were punished by mild footshock; two other groups either received noncontingent shocks or no shock. A fourth group was given extinction training in context B. All rats were then tested for relapse to alcohol seeking under extinction conditions in contexts A and B. Results In Context B, alcohol-taking behavior was suppressed by contingent shock (punishment) and extinction training but not by noncontingent shock. In Context A, relapse to alcohol seeking was reliably observed in the punished and extinction groups; a context switch had no effect on alcohol seeking in the no-shock or noncontingent shock groups. Conclusions Our data indicate that punishment-induced suppression of alcohol-taking behavior is context-dependent. We propose that our procedure can be used to explore mechanisms of context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking after alcohol-taking behavior is suppressed by adverse consequences.
MUTUAL FUND BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS

The brokerage commissions paid for portfolio transactions by a large sample of equity mutual funds are investigated. Median brokerage commissions measured as a percentage of net assets are 21 basis points per year with a standard deviation of 27 basis points. The commission levels are negatively correlated with fund size and positively correlated with fund turnover and expense ratio. The average brokerage commission measured as a percentage of assets traded exceeds the typical execution-only commissions for large institutional traders. This finding is consistent with many mutual fund brokerage commissions including payments for research, so-called soft dollar payments. Funds' expense ratios are positively correlated with commissions per trade, inconsistent with the idea that mutual fund managers who pay soft dollars for research have a corresponding reduction in management fees.
Imagining the Possibility of Interpretive Democratic Theory: Some Promises and Problems

In this paper I examine the resources of an approach to political inquiry that is less accepted in the discipline, one focusing on methods of interpretation. I argue that interpretivism encompasses such assumptions about lay people's thinking that influential in democratic theory elitist framework does not offer. I argue that interpretivism has populist overtones insofar as it embraces a view that lay people's beliefs and ideas are not irrelevant but integral to giving meaning and significance to various political institutions and practices. I suggest that interpretivism brings to elitist "democratic" theory a missing democratic moment, an impulse to transcend the hierarchical world view and to elevate lay political thought, at least in intellectual sense, out if its subordinate place to a status of an equal vis-a-vis social elites and experts. However, I also argue that the democratic promise of interpretive social science is incomplete insofar as scholars simply reproduce rather than critically engage with lay thinking. I argue that democratic theory should incorporate interpretation of lay ideas, but not be simply a mirror reflection of lay people's beliefs. It should contribute to new insights among lay people. I propose to revive democratic theory through interpretive assumptions as well as the tradition of practically-oriented social science that stresses critical engagement with lay beliefs, emancipation, innovation, and social change.
Biomedicine in an Unstable Place: Infrastructure and Personhood in a Papua New Guinean Hospital

Biomedicine in an Unstable Place is the story of people's struggle to make biomedicine work in a public hospital in Papua New Guinea. It is a story encompassing the history of hospital infrastructures as sites of colonial and postcolonial governance, the simultaneous production of Papua New Guinea as a site of global medical research and public health, and people's encounters with urban institutions and biomedical technologies. In Papua New Guinea, a century of state building has weakened already inadequate colonial infrastructures, and people experience the hospital as a space of institutional, medical, and ontological instability. In the hospital's clinics, biomedical practitioners struggle amid severe resource shortages to make the diseased body visible and knowable to the clinical gaze. That struggle is entangled with attempts by doctors, nurses, and patients to make themselves visible to external others—to kin, clinical experts, global scientists, politicians, and international development workers—as socially recognizable and valuable persons. Here hospital infrastructures emerge as relational technologies that are fundamentally fragile but also offer crucial opportunities for making people visible and knowable in new, unpredictable, and powerful ways.
Packed Bed Biofilm Reactors: Simplified Model

A simplified design method is developed for submerged filter and expanded bed biofilm reactors. The method incorporates limitations of both the electron donor and electron acceptor based upon Monod kinetics, and the stagnant liquid layer at the biofilm surface based upon the packing media and the waste flow rate. The model has been programmed so that calculations can be accomplished on a hand-held calculator, offering wide-scale availability to designers. The model consists of two basic processes: diffusion of substrate from the bulk liquid into the biofilm, and transformation of the substrate by bacteria within the biofilm. Conceptually, substrate must diffuse first from the bulk liquid through a stagnant liquid layer at the biofilm surface, and then into the biofilm until reaching a constant concentration, close to zero, at the effective depth.
Simulation of Highway Renewal Asset Management Strategies

This paper describes the mathematical equations, embedded in a simulation environment, that are needed to simulate the deterioration of pavements as well as the renewal or maintenance strategies. The paper shows how highway maintenance managers can consider the impact of choosing one maintenance policy alternative over another through ”what-if” analysis. Highway maintenance managers (transportation officials at the District or State DOT level) are able to consider such things as the available budget and target goals for the overall condition of the highway network in order to determine the best maintenance policy. Thus, maintenance managers are able to compare strategies based on preventive maintenance versus strategies that wait until pavements have become visibly distressed. Background
Abstract C67: Gene expression profiling with human breast cancer cell lines exposed to gephyronic acid

Gephyronic acid is an antibiotic natural product isolated at the HZI (Helmholtz-Zentrum fur Infektionsforschung) by Sasse and Hofle from the myxobacterium Archangium gephyra in 1995. Gephyronic acid has been shown to inhibit the growth of yeast and mold in the micromolar range; it also exhibits a cytostatic effect on mammalian cell cultures (human cervix, human leukemia, hamster kidney, hamster ovary, mouse connective tissue, and monkey kidney cancer cells) in the nanomolar range. An in vitro translation assay demonstrated that gephyronic acid is a specific inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis. Interdisciplinary efforts within our laboratory are directed to the evaluation of gephyronic acid as a potential anticancer agent and its structural and biological relationship to the myriaporones and tedanolides. Our recent structural assignment and total synthesis of gephyronic acid incorporates a synthetic route that provides a means by which to access significant quantities of gephyronic acid efficiently and selectively, thus facilitating further biological evaluation. Additionally, we seek to identify the mode of action for gephyronic acid by screening various cancer cell lines through transcriptome and proteome profiling. Our proposed method will analyze mRNA expression levels of cells treated with gephyronic acid, or without for control, through the application of cDNA microarrays. Transcript profiling will then be coupled to proteomic profiling utilizing a method of protein labeling called iTRAQ. Identifying specific genes and their associated proteins will secure the mode of action of gephyronic acid selective activity and further defines potential as a chemotherapeutic lead. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C67.
A Meta-analytic Review of Auditory Event-Related Potential Components as Endophenotypes for Schizophrenia: Perspectives From First-Degree Relatives

INTRODUCTION As endophenotypes bridge the gap between genetics and phenotypic disease expression, identifying reliable markers is important for fostering understanding of pathophysiology. The present aim was to conduct current meta-analyses of 3 key auditory event-related potential (ERP) components that have been held as potential endophenotypes for schizophrenia: P50, P300 amplitude and latency, and mismatch negativity (MMN), reflective of sensory gating, attention and classification speed, and perceptual discrimination ability, respectively. In order to assess endophenotype viability, these components were examined in unaffected relatives of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. METHODS Effect sizes (ES) were examined between relatives and controls for P50 suppression (10 studies, n = 360 relatives, 473 controls), P300 amplitude (20 studies, n = 868 relatives, 961 controls), P300 latency (17 studies, n = 674 relatives, 792 controls), and MMN (11 studies, n = 377 relatives, 552 controls). RESULTS Reliable differences in P50 suppression (ES = 0.86, P < .001), P300 amplitude (ES = -0.52, P < .001), and P300 latency (ES = 0.44, P < .05) were found between unaffected relatives and controls. A trend was found between relatives and controls for MMN (ES = 0.21, P = 0.06), and the use of extraneous channels was found to be a significant moderator (P = 0.01). When MMN was analyzed using frontocentral channel Fz, a significant difference was found (ES = 0.26, P < 0.01). DISCUSSION The results indicate that P50 suppression, P300 amplitude and P300 latency, and MMN may serve as viable endophenotypes for schizophrenia.
The painful hand.

SUMMARY RSD can be approached using objective criteria in a logical and systematic fashion. Frustration during treatment is common because (1) the pathophysiology of RSD is incompletely understood, (2) there is significant variation in presentation because of disparate premorbid anatomy and physiology, and (3) the natural history may be affected by incomplete treatment. Therapeutic efforts that theoretically should be effective may fail, and a trial-and-error approach is often mandatory. In spite of vigorous intervention using all known strategies, patients may continue to have pain and disability that progresses to stiffness and arthrofibrosis. Early recognition and prompt intervention, however, provide the best opportunity for clinical improvement.
Mesothelin expression in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

7607 Background: Mesothelin (meso) is overexpressed in many solid tumors and has been used as a target for anticancer therapy. Limited data is available on meso expression in TETs and its clinical correlates. Standard treatments have limited efficacy for patients with advanced TETs, especially thymic carcinoma (TC) after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. There is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In view of early results demonstrating benefit in therapeutic targeting of meso, we characterized meso expression in TETs. Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed thymoma (T) or TC and available tumor tissue who were enrolled in clinical trials at the National Cancer Institute between December 2007 and December 2013 were included. Meso expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using monoclonal antibody 5B2 (Novocastra/Leica, Bannockburn, IL) by a pathologist who was blinded to histological subcategory (T vs. TC) and clinical outcome. IHC staining of > 50% was labeled ...
Long-range electrostatic effects in biomolecular simulations

Le traitement approprie des forces de Coulomb a long portee est un domaine a haut interet dans la communaute de simulation bio-moleculaire. Recemment, des algorithmes rapides adressant le probleme connu sous le nom N-Body ont apparu. Des methodes pour calculer efficacement les sommes de Ewald sont particulierement de grand interet. En plus, sont encore d'interet les difficultes theoriques concernant le mariage des etats des limites periodiques avec les interactions de Coulomb. Dans cet article, nous discussions en premier lieu certain problemes concernant l'utilisation de la sommation de Ewald. Ensuite, nous discussions des algorithmes rapides pour sa calcule. Nous nous concentrons sur les algorithmes bases sur la methode Particle-Mesh. En particulier, nous comparons l'algorithme P3M realise par Pollock et Glosli [1] avec les algorithmes PME developpe par notre equipe. En ce regard, nous reportons sur un noveau algorithme PME optimise.
Theory and measurement of the soliton self-frequency shift and efficiency in optical microcavities

Dissipative Kerr cavity solitons experience a so-called self-frequency shift (SFS) as a result of Raman interactions. The frequency shift has been observed in several microcavity systems. The Raman process has also been shown numerically to influence the soliton pumping efficiency. Here, a perturbed Lagrangian approach is used to derive simple analytical expressions for the SFS and the soliton efficiency. The predicted dependences of these quantities on soliton pulse width are compared with measurements in a high-Q silica microcavity. The Raman time constant in silica is also inferred. Analytical expressions for the Raman SFS and soliton efficiency greatly simplify the prediction of soliton behavior over a wide range of microcavity platforms.
Active zero-shot learning: a novel approach to extreme multi-labeled classification

Big data bring a huge volume of data in a great speed and in many formats with extremely many labels and concepts to be modeled and predicted, such as in text and image tagging, online advertisement placement, recommendation systems, NLP. This emerging issue of big data is termed “extreme multi-labeled classification” (XMLC) and is challenging due to the time, space and sample complexity in predictive model training and testing. We first define general XMLC and then categorize and review recent methods based on two specific forms of XMLC. We propose a novel method called active zero-shot learning to reduce the above complexities. Since the performance of the unseen class prediction largely depends on the seen classes that have labeled data, we challenge the critical and yet often overlooked assumption that the labeled data can only be passively acquired. We propose a new learning paradigm aiming at accurate predictions of a large number of unseen labels using labeled data from only an intelligently selected small set of seed classes with the help of external knowledge. We further demonstrate that the proposed strategy has desirable probabilistic properties to facilitate unseen classes prediction. Experiments on 4 datasets demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is superior to a wide spectrum of baselines. Based on our findings, we point out several critical and promising future directions in XMLC.
Effects of abstinence and chronic cigarette smoking on white matter microstructure in alcohol dependence: Diffusion tensor imaging at 4T.

Abstract Background We previously reported widespread microstructural deficits of brain white matter in alcohol-dependent individuals (ALC) compared to light drinkers in a small 1.5 T diffusion tensor imaging study employing tract-based spatial statistics. Using a larger dataset acquired at 4 T, the present study is an extension that investigated the effects of alcohol consumption, abstinence from alcohol, and comorbid cigarette smoking on white matter microstructure. Methods Tract-based spatial statistics were performed on 20 1-week-abstinent ALC, 52 1-month-abstinent ALC, and 30 controls. Regional measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the significant clusters were compared by Analysis of Covariance. The metrics were correlated with substance use history and behavioral measures. Results 1-week-abstinent ALC showed lower FA than controls in the corpus callosum, right cingulum, external capsule, and hippocampus. At 1 month of abstinence, only the FA in the body of the corpus callosum of ALC remained significantly different from controls. Some regional FA deficits correlated with more severe measures of drinking and smoking histories but only weakly with mood and impulsivity measures. Conclusion White matter microstructure is abnormal during early abstinence in alcohol dependent treatment seekers and recovers into the normal range within about four weeks. The compromised white matter was related to substance use severity, mood, and impulsivity. Our findings suggest that ALC may benefit from interventions that facilitate normalization of DTI metrics to maintain abstinence, via smoking cessation, cognitive-based therapy, and perhaps pharmacology to support remyelination.
ADEPT sounding rocket one (SR-1) flight experiment overview

The Adaptable, Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) architecture represents a novel approach for entry vehicle design utilizing a high performance carbon-fabric to serve as the primary drag surface of the mechanically deployed decelerator. The ADEPT project team is advancing this decelerator technology via systems-level testing at the one-meter diameter (nano-ADEPT) scale. A subsonic aeroloads test (May 2015) and an arc-jet aeroheating test (Sept 2015) have already been completed. The initial system-level development of the nano-ADEPT architecture will culminate in the launch of a 0.7 meter deployed diameter ADEPT sounding rocket flight experiment named, SR-1. Launch is planned for August 2017. The test will utilize the NASA Flight Opportunities Program sounding rocket platform provided by UP Aerospace to launch SR-1 to an apogee over 100 km and achieve re-entry conditions with a peak velocity near Mach 3. The SR-1 flight experiment will demonstrate most of the primary end-to-end mission stages including: launch in a stowed configuration, separation and deployment in exo-atmospheric conditions, and passive ballistic re-entry of a 70-degree half-angle faceted cone geometry. ADEPT SR-1 will determine supersonic through transonic aerodynamic stability of the unique ADEPT blunt body shape with an open-back entry vehicle configuration.
Immigrant access in the Affordable Care Act: legacies of the Confederacy

During its first five years, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) built upon previous categorical distinctions among immigrants to solidify some inequalities and partially redress others. To analyse these...
Slow Reading in Glaucoma: Is it due to the Shrinking Visual Span in Central Vision?

Purpose Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. Patients with bilateral glaucoma read slower than normal cohorts. Here we examined the factors that may underlie slow reading in glaucoma and determined the best predictor of reading speed in glaucoma. Methods A total of 38 subjects participated in this study: 17 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (mean age = 64.71 years) and 21 age-similar normal controls (58.24 years). For each subject, we measured binocular visual acuity (BVA); binocular contrast sensitivity (BCS); stereoacuity; visual field mean deviation (MD); and the visual span (i.e., the number of letters recognizable at one glance) known to limit reading speed. The visual span was measured with a trigram letter-recognition task in which subjects identify trigrams flashed at varying letter positions left and right of the fixation. Oral reading speed was measured with short blocks of text. Results Even after controlling for age, glaucoma patients showed significantly slower reading speed (by 19%, P < 0.05) and smaller visual span (by 11 bits, P < 0.001) compared to normal controls. While their BVA was relatively normal (20/20 Snellen equivalent), their BCS (P < 0.001); stereoacuity (P < 0.001); and visual field MD (P < 0.001) showed pronounced deficits. Multiple regression analysis further revealed that reading speed in glaucoma was best predicted by the visual span. Conclusions Our results showed that slower reading speed in glaucoma was closely related to the shrinkage of the visual span. Our findings further support the view that the visual span plays a limiting role in reading speed.
The contribution of cochlear implants to postural stability.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether spatial auditory cues provided by cochlear implants can improve postural balance in adults with severe deafness. METHODS In the presence of spatial white noise, 13 adult cochlear implantees wore head and lumbar-mounted inertial sensors while standing in the dark for 30 seconds in two auditory conditions: hearing assistive devices on and off. RESULTS Stability was improved with implants on (aided condition) compared to off (unaided condition) with respect to differences in mean head velocity (Cohen's d = 0.912, P = 0.006) as well as to root mean square (RMS) acceleration (Cohen's d = 0.456, P = 0.048). This was particularly evident in measures of anteroposterior accelerations (mean difference = 0.034 m/s2 ; Cohen's d = 0.612; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION The decrease in RMS head acceleration and velocity while wearing cochlear implants suggests that they could be recognized as balance implants in addition to auditory implants. The clinical importance of this finding in various patient populations remains to be determined. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1676-1680, 2018.
A Framework for Measuring the “Fit” Between Product and Organizational Architectures

This paper develops a framework for measuring the “fit” between product and organizational architectures. The ability to measure “fit” in an objective and systematic way is a necessary precursor to understanding the nature of the hidden costs associated with design support tools that are becoming commonplace enablers of complex system design. Specifically, these tools are enabled by significant upfront decomposition – the problem is a priori broken up into a set of loosely coupled tasks that can be worked in parallel, with interactions across tasks routinized and often encoded in computational tools. When this imposed structure fits the problem well, it can drastically speed up design cycles and enable intraorganizational collaboration, by hiding extraneous information and freeing up experts’ time to focus on the hardest parts. However, even minor mismatches between the organizational decomposition (people and tasks) and product decomposition (the problem being solved) can cause designers to miss important trades and make poor choices. The proposed measurement framework builds on existing measures from the organizational design literature and systems engineering literature. Our contribution lies in unifying the level of analysis of the two disciplines and developing a novel strategy for tracking the interaction among the product and organizational system. The utility of this approach for observing influences in real systems is demonstrated with a “toy” case study example based on space system development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Animal Identification and Record Keeping: Current Practice and Use

Publisher Summary The task of record keeping and tracking the whereabouts, use, health, and reproductive status of animals is an important one in most nonhuman primate colonies. Most managers have found that managing colony information has grown to be a major part of their operations and that investment in computer hardware, software, and personnel has expanded accordingly. This situation has come about gradually as the value of breeding animals has grown, the availability of relatively inexpensive imports has declined, and the administrative burdens and expenses have increased with the emergence of ever more intricate regulatory demands. The larger institutions have had a longer experience with these issues, but ever more complex record keeping is now a ubiquitous colony feature irrespective of the size of the population of animals. The unambiguous permanent identification of individual animals is fundamental to keeping records. Unfortunately, no really satisfactory identification method has been devised to date. The ultimate reason for identification and record keeping is the need for monitoring the health, well-being, and productivity of the colony. Colony status reports are fundamental to any well-run colony, and for the most part can be generated from the colony vital statistics registry, plus any number of additional multiple-entry data files.
Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors in Children

Malignant soft tissue tumors represent a diverse group of diagnoses. They are classified into two main groups—rhabdomyosarcomas and non-rhabdomyosarcomas. Non-rhabdomyosarcomas are further differentiated based on their tissue of origin. Most soft tissue tumors present as growing subcutaneous masses, but several have distinct cutaneous findings. In all cases, a biopsy is required to make an accurate diagnosis. Ongoing advances in molecular diagnostics allow for more precise classification and diagnosis. Complete surgical excision, when possible, is the treatment of choice for most soft tissue tumors. Additional treatments and prognosis are tumor dependent and vary by patient age. Herein we provide a unique review of the pediatric soft tissue malignancies with special attention given to their cutaneous manifestations and clinical mimics. Histopathology and imaging characteristics, as well as prognosis, are also discussed. General treatment suggestions are included, but multispecialty care lead by a pediatric oncologist with expertise in this area is necessary to implement a suitable treatment plan.
The Benefits and Challenges of Working in an Academic Library: A Study of Student Library Assistant Experience

Abstract Many college students choose or need to work, and academic libraries offer a potentially convenient on-campus location for employment. Students serving in these roles may benefit from the experience both academically and socially. By examining students' experience as workers in the library, academic libraries have the opportunity to understand the benefits that such work might provide and intentionally plan to enhance learning and demonstrate library value in a novel way. This basic qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of student assistants working in an academic library and identify the benefits and challenges they perceived as a result of enacting the role. Individual interviews were conducted with seven undergraduate student library assistants at a doctoral-granting institution to determine benefits and challenges they noted that resulted from their experiences in this student employment role, and findings reveal opportunities for academic librarians in training and supervising student employees.
Is MIS-TLIF superior to open TLIF in obese patients?: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Obesity is a global health problem. It increases the risk of surgical complications and re-operations. While both MIS-TLIF and O-TLIF are reported to have comparably good long-term outcomes for non-obese patients, no consensus has been reached for obese patients. A comprehensive search of the published literature was performed: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database in accordance to the PRISMA 2009 checklist. Data were collected with attention to baseline demographics, intra-operative blood loss, duration of surgery, surgical complications, hospitalization stay, VAS and Oswestry disability index (ODI) pre- and postoperatively. A total of 863 abstracts were identified from the databases, of which 4 articles were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 430 patients were identified, of which 217(50.5%) underwent the O-TLIF, while 213(49.5%) underwent MIS-TLIF. One hundred and ninety-four (45.1%) patients were males, while 236(54.9%) were females. The average age was 54.8 ± 12.0 years. The pooled BMI was 33.4 ± 4.7 for the open-TLIF group, and 32.7 ± 3.9 for MIS-TLIF group (p = 0.22). When comparing O-TLIF to MIS-TLIF: Patients who underwent O-TLIF had 383 mls more blood loss (95% CI: 329.5–437.4, p < 0.00001), 1.2-day longer hospitalization stay (95% CI: 0.80–1.62, p < 0.00001) and 3.8 times higher risk of dural tear (95% CI: 1.61–9.87, p = 0.003) when compared to MIS-TLIF patients. A trend toward higher postoperative wound infection rates (O-TLIF: 4.5%, MIS-TLIF: 2.4%) and an inferior improvement in ODI score (O-TLIF: 39.3, MIS-TLIF: 44.1) was found in O-TLIF patients when compared to MIS-TLIF patients. However, these were not statistically significant. MIS-TLIF is safe and may be a better option for lumbar fusion in obese patients. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material
Social capital predicts accelerometry-measured physical activity among older adults in the U.S.: a cross-sectional study in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project

Older adults receive important health benefits from more robust social capital. Yet, the mechanisms behind these associations are not fully understood. Some evidence suggests that higher levels of social capital ultimately affect health through alterations in physical activity (PA), but most of this research has relied on self-reported levels of PA. The aim of this study was to determine whether components of social capital, including social network size and composition as well as the frequency of participation in various social and community activities, were associated with accelerometry-measured PA levels in a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults (≥ 62 years). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the wrist accelerometry sub-study (n = 738) within Wave 2 of the National Social, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a population-based longitudinal study that collects extensive survey data on the physical, cognitive, and social health of older adults. Participants’ physical activity was measured with a wrist accelerometer worn for 72 consecutive hours. We related seven, self-reported social relationship variables (network size, network proportion friends, and frequencies of socializing with friends and family, visiting with neighbors, attending organized group meetings, attending religious services, and volunteering) to accelerometer-measured PA (mean counts-per-minute) using multivariate linear regression analysis, while adjusting for potential confounders. Larger social networks (p = 0.042), higher network proportion friends (p = 0.013), more frequent visiting with neighbors (p = 0.009), and more frequent attendance at organized group meetings (p = 0.035) were associated with higher PA levels after controlling for demographic and health covariates. Volunteering was significant prior to adjusting for covariates. No significant associations were found between frequencies of socializing with friends and relatives or attendance at religious services and PA. This study suggests social capital is significantly related to objectively measured PA levels among older adults, and that friendships as well as social participation in groups and with neighbors may be particularly pertinent to PA. These findings expand our understanding of and offer a potential mechanism linking social relationships and overall health among older adults. They also have implications for how we might motivate older adults to be more physically active.
Models of Saccade-Vergence Interactions

Eye fixations in daily life are controlled by two types of eye movements. Saccades rotate the two eyes in the same direction (i.e., conjugately; Fig. 11.1A), such as during reading and scanning of a scene, whereas vergence movements rotate the two eyes in opposite-directions (i.e., disjunctively; Fig. 11.1B), such as during tracking of objects moving in depth. Together, they provide control of binocular fixation in three-dimensional space (Ciuffreda and Tannen, 1995).
Ten-Year Results of Tree Shelters on Survival and Growth of Planted Hardwoods.

The perjformance of planted northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.), with and without tree shelters, was evaluated 10 yr after planting. Northern red oak was planted in three harvestedforest openings, and black walnut and green ash were planted in a cultivatedfield. Survival of northern red oak with tree shelters was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than northern red oak without shelters only for year 3. Survival diflerences between tree shelter treatments for black walnut and green ash were not significant. However, overall survival of green ash declined rapidly after year 5. Trees began to exit the 120-cm-tall shelters after 2 yr, but not in large numbers until the fourth year. Sheltered oaks were significantly taller than unsheltered oaks at year 10, and sheltered oaks had more height growth than unsheltered oaks at year 5, but not at year 10. Except for year 1, neither height nor height growth for black walnut was significantly diflerent between tree shelter treatments. Green ash was taller and had more height growth with shelters than without shelters in year 1, but had more height growth without shelters than with shelters in year 5. Diameter growth at breast height did not difler between treatments for any of the three species. The greater height of sheltered northern red oaks compared to unsheltered northern red oaks could increase the opportunity of sheltered oaks to achieve dominant and codominant positions in the developing stands. North. J. Appl. For. 20(3): 104-1 08.
Periocular Recognition from Low-Quality Iris Images

Definitions of the periocular region vary, but typically encompass the skin covering the orbit of the eye. Especially in cases where the iris has not been acquired with sufficient quality to reliably compute an IrisCode, the periocular region can provide additional discriminative information for biometric identification. The NIR periocular images which form NIST’s Face and Ocular Challenge Series (FOCS) are characterized by large variations in illumination, eye-lid and eye-lash occlusion, de-focus blur, motion blur and low resolution. We investigate periocular recognition on the FOCS dataset using three distinct classes of features: photometric, keypoint, and frequency-based. We examine the performance of these features alone, in combination, and when fused with classic IrisCodes.
Probabilistic Proofs of Classical Theorems

This chapter is devoted to new probabilistic proofs of results previously proved using analytic techniques.
To Recognize Families In the Wild: A Machine Vision Tutorial

Automatic kinship recognition has relevance in an abundance of applications. For starters, aiding forensic investigations, as kinship is a powerful cue that could narrow the search space (e.g., knowledge that the 'Boston Bombers' were brothers could have helped identify the suspects sooner). In short, there are many beneficiaries that could result from such technologies: whether the consumer (e.g., automatic photo library management), scholar (e.g., historic lineage & genealogical studies), data analyzer (e.g., social-media- based analysis), investigator (e.g., cases of missing children and human trafficking. For instance, it is unlikely that a missing child found online would be in any database, however, more than likely a family member would be), or even refugees. Besides application- based problems, and as already hinted, kinship is a powerful cue that could serve as a face attribute capable of greatly reducing the search space in more general face-recognition problems. In this tutorial, we will introduce the background information, progress leading us up to these points, several current state-of-the-art algorithms spanning various views of the kinship recognition problem (e.g., verification, classification, tri-subject). We will then cover our large-scale Families In the Wild (FIW) image collection, several challenge competitions it as been used in, along with the top per- forming deep learning approaches. The tutorial will end with a discussion about future research directions and practical use-cases.
Identification of expressed R -genes associated with leaf spot diseases in cultivated peanut

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important food and oilseed crop worldwide. Yield and quality can be significantly reduced by foliar fungal diseases, such as early and late leaf spot diseases. Acceptable levels of leaf spot resistance in cultivated peanut have been elusive due to environmental interactions and the proper combination of QTLs in any particular peanut genotype. Resistance gene analogs, as potential resistance (R)-genes, have unique roles in the recognition and activation of disease resistance responses. Novel R-genes can be identified by searches for conserved domains such as nucleotide binding site, leucine rich repeat, receptor like kinase, and receptor like protein from expressed genes or through genomic sequences. Expressed R-genes represent necessary plant signals in a disease response. The goals of this research are to identify expressed R-genes from cultivated peanuts that are naturally infected by early and late spot pathogens, compare these to the closest diploid progenitors, and evaluate specific gene expression in cultivated peanuts. Putative peanut R-genes (381) were available from a public database (NCBI). Primers were designed and PCR products were sequenced. A total of 214 sequences were produced which matched to proteins with the corresponding R-gene motifs. These R-genes were mapped to the genome sequences of Arachis duranensis and Arachis ipaensis, which are the closest diploid progenitors for tetraploid cultivated peanut, A. hypogaea. Identification and association of specific gene-expression will elucidate potential disease resistance mechanism in peanut and may facilitate the selection of breeding lines with high levels of leaf spot resistance.
9.4T Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Mouse Circle of Willis Enables Serial Characterization of Flow-Induced Vascular Remodeling by Computational Fluid Dynamics.

Background The neurovasculature dynamically responds to changes in cerebral blood flow by vascular remodeling processes. Serial imaging studies in mouse models could help characterize pathologic and physiologic flow-induced remodeling of the Circle of Willis (CoW). Method We induced flow-driven pathologic cerebral vascular remodeling in the CoW of mice (n=3) by ligation of the left Common Carotid Artery (CCA), and the right external carotid and pterygopalatine arteries, increasing blood flow through the basilar and the right internal carotid arteries. One additional mouse was used as a wild-type control. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 9.4 Tesla (T) was used to serially image the mouse CoW over three months, and to obtain threedimensional images for use in Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations. Terminal vascular corrosion casting and scanning electron microscope imaging were used to identify regions of macroscopic and microscopic arterial damage. Results We demonstrated the feasibility of detecting and serially measuring pathologic cerebral vascular changes in the mouse CoW, specifically in the anterior vasculature. These changes were characterized by bulging and increased vessel tortuosity on the anterior cerebral artery and aneurysm- like remodeling at the right olfactory artery origin. The resolution of the 9.4T system further allowed us to perform CFD simulations in the anterior CoW, which showed a correlation between elevated wall shear stress and pathological vascular changes. Conclusion In the future, serial high-resolution MRI could be useful for characterizing the flow environments corresponding to other pathologic remodeling processes in the mouse CoW, such as aneurysm formation, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemia.
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHING EXCELLENCE: A TRADEOFF ANALYSIS

Traditional-aged college students examined the variables associated with teaching excellence using conjoint analysis. Educational Testing Service’s Student Instructional Report (SIR), which has bee...
Disorder driven phase transitions in weak AIII topological insulators

The tenfold classification of topological phases enumerates all strong topological phases for both clean and disordered systems. These strong topological phases are connected to the existence of robust edge states. However, in addition to the strong topological phases in the tenfold classification, there exist weak topological phases whose properties under disorder are less well understood. It is unknown if the weak topological indices can be generalized for arbitrary disorder, and the physical signatures of these indices is not known. In this paper, we study disordered models of the two-dimensional weak AIII insulator. We demonstrate that the weak invariants can be defined at arbitrary disorder, and that these invariants are connected to the presence or absence of bound charge at dislocation sites.
Perceived Risks, Benefits, and Interest in Participating in Environmental Health Studies That Share Personal Exposure Data: A U.S. Survey of Prospective Participants:

Little is known about the willingness of prospective study participants to share environmental health data. To fill this gap, we conducted a hypothetical vignette survey among 1,575 women who have volunteered to be contacted about breast cancer studies. Eighty-three percent were interested in participating in the environmental studies, with little difference whether data were restricted to the research team, shared with approved researchers, or publicly accessible. However, participants somewhat preferred controlled access for children's data. Respondents were more interested in studies with environmental rather than biological samples and more interested when researchers would return personal results, a practice of increasing importance. They were more reluctant to share location or to participate if studies involved electronic medical records. Many expressed concerns about privacy, particularly security breaches, but reidentification risks were mentioned infrequently, indicating that this topic should be discussed during informed consent.
[PI263] Worker Protection Standard: Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)

This document highlights one of the major changes to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) since it became a federal regulation in 1992 and became fully implemented in 1995. This fact sheet summarizes application exclusion zones which require compliance during 2017 and 2018. Worker Protection Standard: Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a Federal regulation designed to protect agricultural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides).The “Application Exclusion Zone” or AEZ is a new term used in the WPS rule; it refers to the area surrounding the pesticide application equipment. This three-page fact sheet explains this new rule. Written by Fred M. Fishel and Tatiana Sanchez and published by the Agronomy Department.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi263
Seminars in surgical oncology—Pancreas cancer adjuvant therapy trials

Adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer has undergone a paradigm shift in the last 30 years. Before the 1990s, surgery was the main treatment with high morbidity and minimal long-term survival. In the mid-1980s, GITSG showed a doubling of overall survival from 11 to 20 months with 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation and now the PRODIGE trial showed the benefit of FOLFIRINOX with the longest overall survival to date approaching 5 years. Further investigation on the agents, duration and sequencing of therapy remains ongoing.
Predator-specific responses and emergent multi-predator effects on oviposition site choice in grey treefrogs, Hyla chrysoscelis

Predators affect prey through both consumptive and non-consumptive effects (NCEs), and prey typically face threats from multiple simultaneous predators. While different predators have a variety of NCEs on prey, little is known regarding effects of simultaneous multiple predators on demographic habitat selection. Demographic habitat selection is unique among NCEs, especially in discrete habitat patches; decisions directly affect both distribution and abundance of species across habitat patches, rather than simply abundance and performance within patches. Our goal was to determine strength of avoidance responses to multiple species/species combinations of predatory fish, and responses to predator richness. We assessed responses of ovipositing grey treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) to three predatory fish species and substitutive combination of species. In single-species treatments, treefrogs avoided only one species, Notemigonus crysoleucas. All two-species combinations, and the three-species combination, were avoided, including the Fundulus chrysotus × Noturus phaeus combination, of which neither were avoided alone. This suggests emergent properties of multiple predators, with potential interactive effects among cues themselves or in the perception of cues by treefrogs. Our results indicate effects of multiple predators are not predictable based on individual effects, and illustrate the importance and complexity of effects of demographic habitat selection on distribution and abundance.
Hiding in plain sight: black women, the law, and the making of a White Argentine Republic: by Erika Denise Edwards, Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama Press, 2020, XVI+168pp., ISBN 978-0-8173-2036-2.

Prof. Erika Denise Edwards Hiding in Plain Sight is a novel investigation into the importance of marriage, miscegenation, concubinage, religion and performance in transforming the status of black w...