cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Benefit and Cost Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Stems Largely From Resolution of Metabolic Disease, Not Just Weight Loss

analysis was based on 154 patients (104 LGBP and 50 LSG). One hundred nineteen patients were female (77.2%), being more in the LGBP group (84.6% vs. 62% for the LSG group; p1⁄40.003). Both groups had comparable baseline characteristics for weight and BMI. The overall mean time between surgery and questionnaire was 10 6.7 months, without statistical difference between groups. Weight loss (%EWL) was higher for the LGBP group (74.1 19% vs. 51.2 20.6% for the LSG group; po0.001). (Table 1). Most of the patients (87.6%) experienced some taste/ smell change after a mean time of 2.4 2.2 and 2.1 2.3 months, respectively. There were no difference between procedures (89.4% for LGBP group vs 84% for LSG), taste change (63.4% for LGBP group vs 62% for LSG) or smell change (53.8% for LGBP group vs 46% for LSG). More patients submitted to LGBP referred that food smelled different (51.9 vs. 34% for the LSG group; p1⁄40.040). Table 2. Fat, fruits and meat were the most common products that changed in taste/smell. Higher %EWL was observed for patients presenting food aversion (73.3 19.7% vs 65.8 19.4% for those without aversion; p 0.046). Based on type of surgery, the LGBP group had the same trend, where a %EWL of 78.2 17.3 was observed for those with aversion, vs 70.4 18.6% for those without; p 0.044. The LSG group had no differences for this matter. Conclusion: The majority of patients presented taste and olfactory changes soon after baritric surgery independently of type of procedure. Patients submitted to LGBP referred more often a different smell in food. Higher %EWL was observed in patients presenting any food aversion, especially in the LGBP group.
Mechanical assessment of the effects of metastatic lytic defect on the structural response of human thoracolumbar spine.

To investigate the effects of a clinical lytic defect on the structural response of human thoracolumbar functional spinal unit. A novel CT-compatible mechanical test system was used to image the deformation of a T12-L1 motion segment and measure the change in strain response under compressive loads ranging from 50 to 750 N. A lytic lesion (LM) with cortex involvement (33% by volume) was introduced to the upper vertebral body and the CT experiments were repeated. Finite element models, established from the CT volumes, were used to investigate the defect's effects on the structural response and the state of principal and shear stresses within the affected and adjacent vertebrae. The lytic lesion resulted in severe loss of the vertebral structural competence, resulting in significant, non-linear, and asymmetric increase in the experimentally measured strains and computed stresses within both vertebrae (p < 0.01). At the cortex, the tensile strains were significantly increased, while compressive strains significantly decreased, (p < 0.05). Both the vertebral bone and cortex regions adjacent to the defect showed significant increase in computed compressive, tensile, and shear stresses (p < 0.01). Changes in stress and strain distribution within the affected and adjacent vertebral bone and the experimentally observed bulging and buckling of the vertebral cortices suggested that initiation of catastrophic vertebral failure may occur under load magnitudes encountered in daily living. Although the effect of LM on the global deformation of the spine was well-predicted, our results show that FE predictions of local strain changes must be carefully assessed for clinical relevance. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1808-1819, 2016.
Why don't adolescents finish the HPV vaccine series? A qualitative study of parents and providers

Objective: To describe why adolescent females who initiated HPV vaccination completed or did not complete the series.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents/guardians of 11...
Effect of Aging on Driving Performance

The current research investigated the effects of aging on driving performance. Perceptual measures included far and near point acuity, stereopsis, a measure of lateral and vertical phoria, color vision; and spatial contrast sensitivity. Cognitive functioning was examined using the Useful-Field-of-View (UFOV) Test. In addition, each driver completed a Driving Habits Questionnaire (DHQ). Although older drivers tended to have fewer collisions and exhibited better adherence to speed limits in a simulated driving task than did younger drivers, older drivers appear to be at a greater risk of having a collision, resulting from degraded divided and selective attention compared to the younger drivers.
Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism

Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. It is considered one of the most common preventable causes of death in hospitalized patients. While most hospitalized patients will have at least one risk factor for developing VTE, not all factors have the same weighted risk associated with causing VTE. VTE risk assessment models were created to help assist providers with identifying high VTE risk patients. When it comes to selecting preventative therapies, there are many options for both pharmacologic and mechanical strategies.
Magnon spectra and strong spin-lattice coupling in magnetically frustrated Mn B 2 O 4 ( B = Mn ,V): Inelastic light-scattering studies

The ferrimagnetic spinels $\mathrm{Mn}{B}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ ($B=\mathrm{Mn}$,V) exhibit a similar series of closely spaced magnetic and structural phase transitions at low temperatures, reflecting both magnetic frustration and a strong coupling between the spin and lattice degrees of freedom. Careful studies of excitations in $\mathrm{Mn}{B}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ ($B=\mathrm{Mn}$,V), and the evolution of these excitations with temperature, are important for obtaining a microscopic description of the role that magnetic excitations and spin-lattice coupling play in the low-temperature phase transitions of these materials. We report an inelastic light (Raman) scattering study of the temperature and magnetic-field dependences of one- and two-magnon excitations in $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{O}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. We observe a pair of $\mathbf{q}=0$ one-magnon modes at 74 and 81 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ in $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{O}_{4}$, which is in contrast with the single 80-cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ $\mathbf{q}=0$ magnon that has been reported for $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{O}_{4}$ based on previous neutron-scattering measurements and spin-wave calculations. Additionally, we find that the two-magnon energy of $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{O}_{4}$ decreases (``softens'') with decreasing temperature below ${T}_{N}$, which we attribute to strong coupling between magnetic and vibrational excitations near the zone boundary.
Methanol dehydrogenation by iridium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

A series of homogeneous iridium bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) catalysts are active for three transformations involving dehydrogenative methanol activation: acceptorless dehydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, and amine monoalkylation. The acceptorless dehydrogenation reaction requires base, yielding formate and carbonate, as well as 2–3 equivalents of H2. Of the few homogeneous systems known for this reaction, our catalysts tolerate air and employ simple ligands. Transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines from methanol is also possible. Finally, N-monomethylation of anilines occurs through a “borrowing hydrogen” reaction. Notably, this reaction is highly selective for the monomethylated product.
Social Work–Business Sector Collaboration in Pursuit of Economic Justice

This article examines social workers' perceptions, experiences, and prospects regarding working in the business sector after participating in an MSW field practicum with a local microlending program. Social workers' insights suggest that cross-sector collaboration leads to vast opportunities not only for the populations served by the collaborative efforts, but also for social work as a profession. However, several challenges are evealed, including social workers' unfamiliarity with business operations, the business sector's narrow understanding of social workers' roles, and divisions between participants in interprofessional collaboration. This article calls for enhancing the role of social work to maximize its impact on economic development through further research and tangible cross-sector projects.
Atorvastatin reduced coronary and stroke events in patients with hypertension and without dyslipidemia.

Source Citation Sever PS, Dahlof B, Poulter NR, et al. Prevention of coronary and stroke events with atorvastatin in hypertensive patients who have average or lower-than-average cholesterol concent...
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STAGES OF THE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS: A Theoretical Model

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the economic growth and stages of the balance of payments. A well-known stylized fact in the theories of economic development and international trade is the notion that a country goes through a number of distinct balance of payments and balance of indebtedness stages in the process of growth. A typical classification defines four stages: (1) young and growing debtor, (2) mature debtor, (3) young creditor, and (4) mature creditor. A well-known model in the theory of international trade is the two-sector Heckscher–Ohlin model. The chapter describes the construction of a formal model of a growing economy with a Metzleric wealth-saving relationship to be used in analyzing the structure and development of both the balance of payments and its components, and the balance of indebtedness in the process of growth.
MOLECULAR GAS LASERS

Molecular gas lasers are important because of their high efficiencies and high powers. This chapter reviews the nomenclature and fundamental ideas of molecular structure and spectra and discusses the molecular gas lasers. The pulsed molecular nitrogen laser is one of the first molecular lasers reported. The hydrogen laser system is very similar to the molecular nitrogen system. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) lasers are of interest because of their high efficiencies, high powers, and the atmospheric window that exists for CO­ 2 laser signal propagation. The primary CO 2 laser output wavelengths are around 9.4 μm and 10.4 μm and these are vibrational rotational transitions. The chapter describes the notation for the vibrational levels of CO 2. CO 2 is a linear triatomic molecule; therefore, three different modes of vibration are possible. A present, there are at least three processes that are considered to be important in exciting the upper laser level: (1) direct electron-impact excitation, (2) electron-impact pumping of nitrogen and resonant energy transfer, and (3) electron impact pumping of carbon monoxide and resonant energy transfer.
Interaction Forces Between a Coal Surface and a Polystyrene Sphere in the Presence of Cationic and Anionic Surfactants as Measured Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Interaction forces between hydrophobic coal particles and air bubbles during flotation are of significant academic and practical importance. When ionic surfactants are adsorbed by interacting surfaces, the flotation process can change due to changes in interfacial forces. An atomic force microscope (AFM) colloidal probe technique was used to measure the interaction forces between a coal surface and a polystyrene sphere in the presence of dodecylamine hydrochloride and sodium dodecylsulfate solutions. A significant dependence of these interaction forces on surfactant concentration was observed. In addition, zeta potential, bubble attachment time and contact angle measurements were performed, which together with AFM force measurements, give a more detailed description of this interfacial system involving two hydrophobic surfaces.
Solving the Multivariant EV Routing Problem Incorporating V2G and G2V Options

In the near future, gasoline-fueled vehicles are expected to be replaced by electrical vehicles (EVs) to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. A large penetration of EVs threatens the stability of the electric grid but also provides a potential for grid ancillary services, which strengthens the grid, if well managed. This paper incorporates grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) options in the travel path of logistics sector EVs. The paper offers a complete solution methodology to the multivariant EV routing problem rather than considering only one or two variants of the problem like in previous research. The variants considered include a stochastic environment, multiple dispatchers, time window constraints, simultaneous and nonsimultaneous pickup and delivery, and G2V and V2G service options. Stochastic demand forecasts of the G2V and V2G services at charging stations are modeled using hidden Markov model. The developed solver is based on a modified custom genetic algorithm incorporated with embedded Markov decision process and trust region optimization methods. An agent-based communication architecture is adopted to ensure peer-to-peer correspondence capability of the EV, customer, charging station, and dispatcher entities. The results indicate that optimal route for EVs can be achieved while satisfying all constraints and providing V2G ancillary grid service.
Informatics Infrastructure for Evidence-Based Cancer Medicine

How is cancer information exchanged among laypersons, clinical professionals, and medical researchers? High hopes for the role of computers in medical information exchange have been reflected in science fiction for decades. After at least two information technology paradigm shifts (personal computers and the Internet) and countless successful implementations of, for example, shared electronic records, knowledge bases, decision support systems, speech-to-text tools, natural language processing tools, or remote monitoring devices in a variety of medical and nonmedical settings, we are in the process of realizing these high hopes.
Weeding without Walking: A Mediated Approach to List-Based Deselection

ABSTRACTWeeding an academic library is a complicated practice that tends to arouse debate. Despite these contentions, weeding is necessary to deal with the changing needs for space in many libraries. This article describes a holistic weeding project at LaGuardia Community College Library. It reviews several approaches the project team considered and draws on research, practice, and discussion to evaluate them. It concludes that weeding requires a balance between objective rules and professional judgment. The resulting workflow uses an interactive spreadsheet to automate some of the research work involved in deciding the fate of a book, allowing librarians to practice subjective weeding without walking through the stacks.
A 20-Year Follow-up After First-Generation Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

Background:Treating articular cartilage defects is a demanding problem. Although several studies have reported durable and improved clinical outcomes after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) over a long-term period, there is no report with over 20 years’ follow-up.Purpose:To evaluate clinical outcomes after first-generation ACI for the treatment of knees with disabling, large single and multiple cartilage defects for which patients wished to avoid prosthetic arthroplasty, with a minimum of 20 years’ follow-up.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:The authors reviewed prospectively collected data from 23 patients (24 knees; mean age, 35.4 years [range, 13-52 years]) undergoing ACI for the treatment of symptomatic, full-thickness articular cartilage lesions. A mean of 2.1 lesions per knee were treated over a mean total surface area of 11.8 cm2 (range, 2.4-30.5 cm2) per knee. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and functional outcome scores, including the modified Cincinnati Knee Rating Sy...
Abstract 3322: Elucidation of the signaling pathways that mediate berberine-induced effects in cancer cells

Resistance towards standard therapeutic regimens and evasion of apoptosis are some of the hallmarks of advanced forms of cancer, which include Sorafenib-resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), castration-resistance in prostate cancer. Development of effective therapeutic strategies that can target these resistant forms is critically needed. In an effort to understand the molecular mechanism mediating resistance in cancer, in previous studies utilizing Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-resistant cancer cells we showed that combination of TRAIL along with the PPARγ ligand Troglitazone (TZD) can sensitize them towards apoptosis. Using more molecular approaches these studies identified the serine/threonine protein kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a mediator of TRAIL-TZD-induced apoptosis. Since AMPK seemed to be a major mediator of this apoptosis, in the current studies we utilized the natural compound Berberine (BBR), a known activator of AMPK in combination with TRAIL. These demonstrated a significant reduction of cell viability (MTT assay) and induction of apoptosis (caspase activation) when treated with a combination of TRAIL and BBR. This apoptosis is attenuated in cells overexpressing AMPKα-dominant negative (DN), suggesting an involvement of AMPK in mediating this. To understand the downstream targets and the mechanism involved, an apoptosis PCR array analysis was performed, which suggested induction of TNFRSF10B (DR5) gene expression by BBR. In addition, knockdown of DR5 expression attenuated TRAIL-BBR-induced apoptosis, suggesting DR5 to be a potential target of BBR in this apoptotic cascade. Future studies will include determining any crosstalk of AMPK in BBR signaling to modulate DR5 pathway. Our earlier studies also demonstrated an involvement of β-catenin in mediating cancer cell resistance. Stabilizing mutations and overexpression of β-catenin has been reported in many cancers, most profoundly in HCC leading to an activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. To understand any role of β-catenin in TRAIL-BBR-induced apoptosis, we determined the effect of BBR on β-catenin pathway. These revealed a significant attenuation of β-catenin protein expression by BBR in various HCC cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. BBR treatment also attenuated β-catenin/TCF-induced transcriptional activity, indicating antagonism of β-catenin pathway. Our studies indicate that combination of TRAIL and AMPK activator BBR might be an effective means of antagonizing β-catenin pathway and ameliorating TRAIL resistance via DR5 in advanced forms of cancer. Citation Format: Basabi Rana, Rong Ke, Kanchan Vishnoi, Navin Viswakarma, Subhasis Das, Ajay Rana. Elucidation of the signaling pathways that mediate berberine-induced effects in cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3322. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3322
Long-term efficacy of psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract Psychotherapies are well established as efficacious acute interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the long-term efficacy of such interventions and the maintenance of gains following termination is less understood. This meta-analysis evaluated enduring effects of psychotherapy for PTSD in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with long-term follow-ups (LTFUs) of at least six months duration. Analyses included 32 PTSD trials involving 72 treatment conditions (N = 2935). Effect sizes were significantly larger for active psychotherapy conditions relative to control conditions for the period from pretreatment to LTFU, but not posttreatment to LTFU. All active interventions demonstrated long-term efficacy. Pretreatment to LTFU effect sizes did not significantly differ among treatment types. Exposure-based treatments demonstrated stronger effects in the posttreatment to LTFU period (d = 0.27) compared to other interventions (p = 0.005). Among active conditions, LTFU effect sizes were not significantly linked to trauma type, population type, or intended duration of treatment, but were strongly tied to acute dropout as well as whether studies included all randomized patients in follow-up analyses. Findings provide encouraging implications regarding the long-term efficacy of interventions and the durability of symptom reduction, but must be interpreted in parallel with methodological considerations and study characteristics of RCTs.
The Potential Pathogenic Contributions of Endothelial Barrier and Arterial Contractile Dysfunction to Shock Due to B. anthracis Lethal and Edema Toxins

Shock with B. anthracis infection is particularly resistant to conventional cardiovascular support and its mortality rate appears higher than with more common bacterial pathogens. As opposed to many bacteria that lack exotoxins directly depressing hemodynamic function, lethal and edema toxin (LT and ET respectively) both cause shock and likely contribute to the high lethality rate with B. anthracis. Selective inhibition of the toxins is protective in infection models, and administration of either toxin alone in animals produces hypotension with accompanying organ injury and lethality. Shock during infection is typically due to one of two mechanisms: (i) intravascular volume depletion related to disruption of endothelial barrier function; and (ii) extravasation of fluid and/or maladaptive dilation of peripheral resistance arteries. Although some data suggests that LT can produce myocardial dysfunction, growing evidence demonstrates that it may also interfere with endothelial integrity thereby contributing to the extravasation of fluid that helps characterize severe B. anthracis infection. Edema toxin, on the other hand, while known to produce localized tissue edema when injected subcutaneously, has potent vascular relaxant effects that could lead to pathologic arterial dilation. This review will examine recent data supporting a role for these two pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the shock LT and ET produce. Further research and a better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to improved management of B. anthracis in patients.
Longer treatment with alternative non-drug reinforcement fails to reduce resurgence of cocaine or alcohol seeking in rats

Provision of alternative non-drug reinforcement is among the most effective methods for treating substance use disorders. However, when alternative reinforcers become unavailable during treatment interruptions or upon cessation of treatment, relapse often occurs. Relapse following the loss of alternative reinforcement is known as resurgence. One factor that could reduce resurgence is longer duration of treatment with alternative reinforcement, but the available data are mixed. Further, the effects of length of treatment have previously only been examined with food seeking. The present experiments directly examined if duration of treatment impacted the magnitude of resurgence of cocaine or alcohol seeking in rats. First, rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (Experiment 1) or alcohol (Experiment 2) by performing a target behavior. Second, target behavior was extinguished and performing an alternative behavior produced an alternative non-drug (i.e., food) reinforcer. Finally, resurgence was assessed following removal of alternative reinforcement after either 5 or 20 sessions of treatment. Treatment duration did not differentially affect resurgence of cocaine seeking in Experiment 1 or Alcohol seeking in Experiment 2. These results suggest that extended treatment with alternative non-drug reinforcement may not decrease propensity to relapse. Further, these results may have implications for treatment of substance use disorders and for theories of resurgence.
Distinction worldwide?: Bourdieu's theory of taste in international context

Abstract Applications of Bourdieu's theory of taste have focused almost exclusively on French-American comparisons. This paper uses original data to identify the cultural repertoires, the level of cultural participation, and the personal qualities used in symbolic boundary formation for an international sample of young elites. The study found evidence for two domains of cultural stratification: arts activities and sports activities. Rates of participation in arts activities varied across world region but were consistently higher than arts participation found in the GSS national sample. Regional variations in personal qualities desired in friends cast new light on past comparisons; again, despite this variation, arts-related personal qualities were valued more by this sample of elites than by the GSS sample. Sports activities emerged as a major candidate for legitimate culture in the examples of upper-class cultural repertoires generated by respondents; American domination of sports culture was the only consistent regional pattern found. A major finding of this study is the disjuncture in findings among cultural repertoires, cultural participation, and symbolic boundaries, all of which have been assumed to be aspects of a single cultural stratification concept.
Can a system be intelligent if it never gives a damn

I explore whether all types of cognitive faculties are possible in a system which does not also have "affective faculties" such as motives and emotions. Attention is focused on the human cognitive faculty of understanding the human affective faculties, and it is suggested that we do this in part by using ourselves as models of other people. Therefore any system which could perform as well as we do on this task would incorporate much knowledge about human affective faculties, and would probably have embedded within it a "model human" which would possess affective faculties. However, this would not necessarily manifest itself directly in the embedding system's behavior; thus the embedding system, unlike the embedded one, need not have affective faculties. That's a relief, because we might prefer that it didn't.
Serotonin Agonist Induced Corticosterone and Prolactin Secretion: Role of 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A Receptors

Serum concentrations of corticosterone were increased following activation of 5-HT1A receptors with 8-OH-DPAT or activation of 5-HT2 receptors with MK-212 or DOI. The repeated administration of a 5-HT1A agonist, 5-MeODMT, selectively diminished the corticosterone response to 8-OH-DPAT, whereas the repeated administration of a 5-HT2 agonist, DOI, selectively diminished the corticosterone response to MK-212. Serum concentrations of PRL were increased following the administration of a 5-HT2 agonist (viz., DOI) but not 5-HT1A agonists (viz., 8-OH-DPAT, ipsapirone, gepirone). It is concluded that corticosterone secretion can be enhanced through the activation of either 5-HT1A or 5-HT2 receptors. The role of subtypes, other than 5-HT2, in the stimulation of PRL secretion is less clear.
Stereoselective oxidative glycosylation of anomeric nucleophiles with alcohols and carboxylic acids

Oligosaccharides, one of the most abundant biopolymers, are involved in numerous biological processes. Although many efforts have been put in preparative carbohydrate chemistry, achieving optimal anomeric and regioselectivities remains challenging. Herein we describe an oxidative glycosylation method between anomeric stannanes and oxygen nucleophiles resulting in the formation of a C-O bond with consistently high anomeric control for glycosyl donors bearing a free C2-hydroxyl group. These reactions are promoted by hypervalent iodine reagents with catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of Cu or Zn salts. The generality of this transformation is demonstrated in 42 examples. Mechanistic studies indicate that the oxidative glycosylation is initiated by the hydroxyl-guided delivery of the hypervalent iodine and tosylate into the anomeric position, and results in excellent 1,2-trans selectivity. The unique mechanistic paradigm, high selectivities, and mild reaction conditions make this method suitable for the synthesis of oligosaccharides and for integration with other methodologies such as automated synthesis.
Evolution of the Human Growth Curve

After many years of languishing in disrepute, the relationship of ontogeny to phylogeny is once again becoming a legitimate, if not a popular, field of study (Gould, 1977). Ontogeny represents one of the last frontiers of evolutionary anthropology, lying as it does at the interface of genetics, anatomy, and ecology. Fossil specimens of immature individuals can provide information about the evolution of skeletal size, proportions, and developmental stages. But comparative study of living animals is essential for understanding the dynamics of the growth process itself, including its relationship to genetical and physiological underpinnings and the ecological context in which it unfolds. Relatively little is known about the growth and development of primates other than humans. Nevertheless, it now appears that the basic patterns of human growth are shared to a large degree with nonhuman primates. And, at least among the catarrhines, the shape of the growth curve is similar, right down to the finer details (Watts and Gavan, 1982). Therefore, attempts to explain the evolutionary origins and significance of the human growth process cannot proceed without knowledge of the growth of other primates.
Seeing eye drone: a deep learning, vision-based UAV for assisting the visually impaired with mobility

Seeing Eye Drone assists low-vision persons with environment awareness performing exploration and obstacle detection. The modalities of 3D (stereo) and 2D vision on a drone are compared for this task. Different deep-learning systems are developed including 2D only and 3D+2D networks. Comparisons of retrained networks versus training from scratch are also made and approximately 34,000 samples were collected for training and the resulting SSD CNN architecture is used to determine a user's location and direction of travel. A second network identifies locations of common objects in the scene. The object locations are then compared with the user location/heading and depth data to determine whether they represent obstacles. Obstacles determined to be in the user's region of interest are communicated to the visually-impaired user via Text-to-Speech. Real data from outdoor drone flights that communicate with an Android based application are shown.
Traumatic Neck and Skull Base Injuries.

To properly describe, diagnose, and classify traumatic neck and skull base injuries, radiologists should be familiar with the neck and skull base anatomy and imaging findings associated with these ...
A National Survey of Integrated Vascular Surgery Residents' Experiences With and Attitudes About Quality Improvement During Residency

Background Integrated vascular surgery residency, or “0+5,” programs provide education in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies of Systems-Based Practice (SBP) and Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI), which include milestones related to quality improvement (QI). It is unclear what QI curricula are in place in 0+5 programs nationally or how 0+5 residents perceive the importance of QI. Objective The purpose of this study is to assess current 0+5 residents’ knowledge, experiences with, and attitudes about QI. Design A survey was developed using the ACGME Common Program Requirements and Milestones pertaining to QI. All 0+5 residents from 2017 to 2018 academic year were emailed an electronic link to the survey. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were calculated using Stata/MP version 13.1. Setting All 0+5 vascular surgery residency programs in the United State (n = 52). Participants The survey was completed by 35% (n = 90/257) of 0+5 residents, representing 75% of 0+5 programs in the United States (n = 39/52). Results Forty-one percent of respondents felt that applying QI methods is very important and 33% felt that QI education is very important for their future work, however, just 13% felt very prepared to lead a QI initiative. Residents’ perceptions of preparedness to lead QI projects and the importance they attached to QI education were significantly influenced by their participation in a QI project (p = 0.003 and p = 0.038 respectively). Finally, just 8% (n = 6) of residents responded correctly to all 13 knowledge-based questions and these residents felt better prepared to lead a QI initiative compared to those who answered incorrectly (p = 0.002). Conclusions Most 0+5 residents report participation in a QI project during residency, however, few feel prepared to lead a QI initiative in practice. Furthermore, only half of PGY5 0+5 residents report achieving specific ACGME targets for graduation pertaining to QI. Current QI curricula in 0+5 programs may be inadequate in teaching fundamental QI concepts and achieving ACGME competency targets for graduation.
NSF'S Integrative Computing Education and Research (ICER) initiative: whither the northwest

In late 2005 and early 2006, the Computer and Information Systems and Engineering (CISE) Division of the National Science Foundation (NSF) convened four regional workshops, each with about 30 leaders in computing and computing education to "take a 5--10 year view" of the field, considering universal influences such as decreasing enrollments, USA workforce needs, national demographics, impacts of global competitiveness, and intellectual trends towards multidisciplinary domains of knowledge in computing applications. NSF-CISE specifically wanted participants to address the integrative nature of the field and future grand challenges. Eric Roberts and Judy Cushing convened the ICER workshop for the western region at Stanford University in January 2006.
Synergistically coupling membrane electrochemical reactor with Fenton process to enhance landfill leachate treatment.

Abstract Landfill leachate is challenging to treat due to its complex composition. Advanced oxidation processes such as Fenton process can be effective to treat leachate. Herein, a previously developed membrane electrochemical reactor (MER) was coupled with Fenton oxidation through providing synergistic benefits with the low solution pH, reduced organics, and ammonia removal/recovery. This two-stage coupled system reduced the leachate COD by 88%, much higher than that from the standalone Fenton process treating raw leachate. In addition, the usage of chemical reagents has been greatly reduced. At a dimensionless oxidant dose of 1.0, the coupled MER-Fenton system reduced the consumption of both FeSO4⋅7H2O and H2O2 by 39%, H2SO4 by 100%, and NaOH by 55%. Consequently, the sludge production was reduced by 51% in weight and 12% in volume. Despite electricity consumption by the MER, the coupled system cost $4.76 per m3 leachate less than the standalone Fenton treatment. More notably, direct Fenton oxidation removed only 21% of ammonia; in comparison the MER-Fenton system removed ammonia by 98% with the possibility for recovery at a rate of 30.6–55.2 kg N m−3 reactor d−1. Those results demonstrate that coupling MER with Fenton process could mitigate some inherent drawbacks of Fenton oxidation such as ineffective ammonia removal, high acid and chemical reagents dose requirements, and a large amount of sludge generation. This system may be moved towards practical applications by addressing a few challenges such as using renewable energy to power MER.
Bounds on ship deployment in container shipping with time windows

This paper extends and complements the liner shipping literature by examining the ship deployment decision in the presence of time windows at container ports. A set of tight bounds on the number of...
Enabling student self-guided field expeditions in geoscience with the GeoXploration platform for mobile apps

Abstract The pervasiveness of smartphones amongst the undergraduate population has been leveraged to deploy a student-centered learning platform that enables exploration of individual interests and empowers students to become their own fieldtrip guides. We describe an automated learning analytics platform developed by combining a set of readily available web applications with custom scripts to support student-guided experiential learning activities. The platform has been utilized in introductory geoscience courses to support smartphone submission of place-based learning extracurricular activities, available to approximately fifteen hundred undergraduate students. Six platform goals were developed to encourage engagement within these courses: build community, foster collaboration, minimize extra work for instructors, support changeable and flexible assignments, enable student accountability, and establish platform sustainability. The utilization of existing web applications, rather than development of an independent smartphone application, results in a platform that is more accessible and sustainable for long-term use by instructors with a familiar interface for students.
Association of Dysregulated Central Pain Processing and Response to Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective To determine the association between dysregulated central pain processing and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods One hundred eighty-two participants with active RA were followed up for 12 weeks after starting a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). To assess central pain processing, participants underwent quantitative sensory testing (QST), including assessment of pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at the trapezius muscles, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). QST measures were categorized as high central dysregulation versus low central dysregulation. The association between baseline central dysregulation and treatment response, as defined by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, was assessed using multiple logistic regression adjusted for demographic characteristics, RA-related variables, and psychosocial variables. Results A good EULAR response was achieved in fewer participants with high CPM dysregulation than participants with low CPM dysregulation (22.5% versus 40.3%; P = 0.01). A similar trend, though not significant, was noted when central dysregulation was assessed with PPT and temporal summation. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between high central dysregulation and good EULAR response were 0.59 for PPTs (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.28-1.23), 0.60 for temporal summation (95% CI 0.27-1.34), and 0.40 for CPM (95% CI 0.19-0.83). In a model examining the combined effects of dysregulated temporal summation and CPM, dysregulation of both measures was associated with lower odds of achieving a good EULAR response (OR 0.23 [95% CI 0.07-0.73]). Conclusion Low CPM was significantly associated with lower odds of achieving a good EULAR response, suggesting that inefficient descending inhibitory mechanisms may be a potential treatment target for further study.
Dietary supplementation with phytochemicals improves diversity and abundance of honey bee gut microbiota

Aim Determine the impact of beneficial phytochemicals on diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Methods and results Eight-day-old honey bee workers were fed 25 ppm of phytochemical (caffeine, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid or kaempferol) in 20% sucrose. Guts of bees collected at 3 and 6 days were excised and subjected to next-generation sequencing for bacterial 16S and fungal ITS regions. Although phytochemical supplementation fostered gut microbial diversity and abundance, the patterns differed between phytochemicals and there was a temporal stabilization of the bacterial community. While bacterial and fungal communities responded differently, all phytochemical treatments displayed increased abundance of the most represented bacterial genera, Snodgrassella sp. and Lactobacillus sp. Conclusions Phytochemical supplementation improves gut microbial diversity and abundance, reiterating the need for diverse habitats that provide bees with access to pollen and nectar rich in these micronutrients. Diverse gut microbiota can provide a strong line of defense for bees against biotic stressors while improving worker bee lifespan. Significance and impact of the study This is the first report on the impact of phytochemical supplementation on gut microbiota in honey bees and these findings have implications for strategic hive management through standardization of effective phytochemical and probiotic feed supplements.
The Moral Incompetence of Anti-corruption Experts

This paper studies the lessons of principled anti-corruption experts who dared to fulfill their duty of justice in highly corrupt societies, through the true story of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Finance Minister of Nigeria. My thesis is that when principled anti-corruption experts are epistemic trespassers (when they fail to identify the limits of their skills), they show moral incompetence (the tendency of principled agents to bungle moral situations). Okonjo-Iweala shows moral incompetence in two ways: she misread the opposition to her strategies and misled other honest reformers. Both actions bungled her efforts to eradicate corruption inasmuch as they hindered the possibility of finding successful anti-corruption policies. Okonjo-Iweala’s moral incompetence is, I argue, the result of her epistemic trespassing that led her to act like an expert in an environment where she was not. I conclude that, in highly corrupt societies, principled anti-corruption experts should embrace moral humility, stop thinking that they are experts, and act more like students, asking questions and not rushing to think that they understand the answers.
Fifteen Years in the Trenches: An Updated Suite of Scenario-Based Academic Integrity Videos

Scenario-based academic integrity videos previously developed by the authors have been updated to address changes in technology and on-line resources, expand the application to more general STEM courses, and include new scenarios. Student understanding of academic integrity expectations before and after watching the video was assessed, and initial results indicate that students’ understanding of what behaviors are allowed and disallowed changes dramatically with regard to several particularly problematic behaviors.
Risk-Informed Decision-Making for Predisaster Risk Mitigation Planning of Interdependent Infrastructure Systems: Case Study of Jamaica

AbstractHazards cause huge social disruptions and economic losses each year. Community disaster resilience relies on the capacity of critical infrastructure systems to maintain acceptable levels of...
N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene 1 (NDRG1) functions as a molecular switch for cellular adaptation to hypoxia

Lack of oxygen (hypoxia and anoxia) is detrimental to cell function and survival and underlies many disease conditions. Hence, metazoans have evolved mechanisms to adapt to low oxygen. One such mechanism, metabolic suppression, decreases the cellular demand for oxygen by downregulating ATP-demanding processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this adaptation are poorly understood. Here, we report on the role of ndrg1a in hypoxia adaptation of the anoxia-tolerant zebrafish embryo. ndrg1a is expressed in the kidney and ionocytes, cell types that use large amounts of ATP to maintain ion homeostasis. ndrg1a mutants are viable and develop normally when raised under normal oxygen. However, their survival and kidney function is reduced relative to WT embryos following exposure to prolonged anoxia. We further demonstrate that Ndrg1a binds to the energy-demanding sodium-potassium ATPase (NKA) pump under anoxia and is required for its degradation. Consequently, ndrg1a mutants that fail to downregulate NKA, have reduced ATP levels compared to WT embryos. Lastly, we show that sodium azide treatment, which increased lactate levels, was sufficient to trigger NKA degradation in an Ndrg1a-dependent manner. These findings support a model whereby Ndrg1a functions as a molecular switch for long term adaptation to hypoxia via metabolic suppression.
“If I Ever Leave, I Have a List of People That Are Going With Me:” Principals’ Understandings of and Responses to Place Influences on Teacher Staffing in West Virginia:

Purpose: Schools across the predominately rural state of West Virginia are experiencing widespread teacher shortages, though recruitment and retention difficulties are unevenly distributed across p...
Robust Identification of Temporal Biomarkers in Longitudinal Omics Studies

Longitudinal studies increasingly collect rich 9omics9 data sampled frequently over time and across large cohorts to capture dynamic health fluctuations and disease transitions. However, the generation of longitudinal omics data has preceded the development of analysis tools that can efficiently extract insights from such data. In particular, there is a need for statistical frameworks that can identify not only which omics features are differentially regulated between groups but also over what time intervals. Additionally, longitudinal omics data may have inconsistencies, including nonuniform sampling intervals, missing data points, subject dropout, and differing numbers of samples per subject. In this work, we developed a statistical method that provides robust identification of time intervals of temporal omics biomarkers. The proposed method is based on a semi-parametric approach, in which we use smoothing splines to model longitudinal data and infer significant time intervals of omics features based on an empirical distribution constructed through a permutation procedure. We benchmarked the proposed method on five simulated datasets with diverse temporal patterns, and the method showed specificity greater than 0.99 and sensitivity greater than 0.72. Applying the proposed method to the Integrative Personal Omics Profiling (iPOP) cohort revealed temporal patterns of amino acids, lipids, and hormone metabolites that are differentially regulated in male versus female subjects following a respiratory infection. In addition, we applied the longitudinal multi-omics dataset of pregnant women with and without preeclampsia, and the method identified potential lipid markers that are temporally significantly different between the two groups. We provide an open-source R package, OmicsLonDA (Omics Longitudinal Differential Analysis): https://bioconductor.org/packages/OmicsLonDA to enable widespread use.
Application of226Ra,228Ra,223Ra, and224Ra in coastal waters to assessing coastal mixing rates and groundwater discharge to oceans

The fate of dissolved material delivered to the coastal ocean depends on its reactivity and the rate at which it is mixed offshore. To measure the rate of exchange of coastal waters, we employ two short-lived radium isotopes,223Ra and224Ra. Along the coast of South Carolina, shore-perpendicular profiles of223Ra and224Ra in surface waters show consistent gradients which may be modeled to yield eddy diffusion coefficients of 350–540 m2s−1. Coupling the exchange rate with offshore concentration gradients yields estimates of offshore fluxes of dissolved materials. For systems in steady state, the offshore fluxes must be balanced by new inputs from rivers, groundwater, sewers or other sources. Two tracers that show promise in evaluating groundwater input are barium and226Ra. These tracers have high relative concentrations in the fluids and low-reactivity in the coastal ocean. Applying the eddy diffusion coefficients to the offshore gradient of226Ra concentration provides an estimate of the offshore flux of226Ra. Measuring the concentrations of226Ra in subsurface fluids provides an estimate of the fluid flux necessary to provide the226Ra. These estimates indicate that the volume of groundwater required to support these fluxes is of the order of 40% of the surface water flow.