cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MO-FG-CAMPUS-TeP2-02: First Experiences and Perspectives in Using Direct Multicriteria Optimization (MCO) On Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) for Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose: To report the first experiences and perspectives in using direct multicriteria optimization (MCO) on volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for head and neck (H&N) cancer. Methods: Ten prior patients with tumors in representative H&N regions were selected to evaluate direct MCO-VMAT in RayStation v5.0 beta. The patients were previously treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with MCO on an Elekta linear accelerator with Agility multileaf collimator. To avoid radiating eyes and shoulders, MCO-VMAT required one to three partial-arc groups, with each group consisting of single or dual arcs. All MCO-VMAT plans were approved by a radiation oncologist. The MCO-VMAT and MCO-IMRT plans were compared using V100, D5, homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) for planning target volume (PTV), Dmean and D50 for six parallel organs and Dmax for five serial organs. Patient-specific quality assurance (QA) was performed using ArcCHECK for MCO-VMAT and Matrixx for MCO-IMRT with results analyzed using gamma criteria of 3%/3mm. Results: MCO-VMAT provided better V100 (+0.8%) lower D5(− 0.3 Gy), lower HI (−0.27) and comparable CI (+0.05). MCO-VMAT decreased Dmean and D50 for multiple parallel organs in seven of the ten patients. On average the reduction ranged from 2.1 (larynx) to 7.6 Gy (esophagus). For the nasal cavity and nasopharynx plans significant reduction in Dmax was observed for optics (up to 11 Gy) brainstem (6.4 Gy), cord (2.1 Gy) and mandible (6.7 Gy). All MCO-VMAT and -IMRT plans passed clinical QA. MCO-VMAT required slightly longer planning time due to the more complex VMAT optimization. The net beam-on time for the MCO-VMAT plans ranged from 80 to 242 seconds, up to 9 minutes shorter than MCO-IMRT. Conclusion: With similar target coverage, reduced organ dose, comparable planning time, and significantly faster treatment, MCO-VMAT is very likely to become the modality of choice in RayStation v5.0 for H&N cancer.
Phycobilisome Composition and Relationship to Reaction Centers in Anacystis Nidulans

Phycobilisomes were studied in Anacystis nidulans wild type and several spontaneous mutants selected for improved growth in far-red light (>650 nm). In the mutants the phycocyanin varied in relation to allophycocyanin but there was no alteration in the antenna size in terms of chlorophylls in photosystems I and II. Phycobilisomes of wild-type contained phycocyanin and allophycocyanin in a molar ratio of 3:1. Phycobilisomes of the mutants 85Y, 19Y and 59G had respective ratios of 0.4:1, 0.7:1, and 1:1. Analysis of purified phycobilisomes on SDS-PAGE gradient gels revealed significant differences in the polypeptide pattern. A comparison of phycobilisomes of the wild-type and 85Y by electron microscopy, showed that they were larger in wild-type (57nm × 30nm) than in 85Y (28nm × 15nm). The number of phycobilisomes per cell (~2 × 104) was about the same in wild-type (white light) and 85Y (far-red light). The ratio of phycobilisome/reaction center 2 was close to 1 and was relatively constant in spite of large variations in chlorophyll and in phycocyanin content.
Riding off into the Sunset: Organizational Sensegiving, Shareholder Sensemaking, and Reactions to CEO Retirement

We test hypotheses derived from resource dependence and sensemaking/sensegiving theoretical lenses in the context of CEO succession, focusing on an under-researched yet prevalent type of executive turnover – CEO retirement. Using event study methodology and a sample of CEO retirements from S&P 1500 firms during the 2003–2012 period, we find that, all else equal, shareholders' perceptions of organizations' capacity to serve their interests are adversely affected when a retirement related change occurs in the leadership structure. Specifically, in line with resource dependence theory, we find that CEO retirement disclosures typically generate negative abnormal returns. Furthermore, in line with the sensemaking perspective, we find that the magnitude of shareholders' reactions is contingent on the lexical sensegiving cues contained in the organizational narratives that are released to capital markets via executive retirement announcements. Overall, our theory and results point to CEO retirement events as consequential in the eyes of shareholders, challenging an important assumption of extant succession research. Moreover, they suggest that shareholders' interpretation of these events is influenced by organizational sensegiving, highlighting the important role of organizational communication around succession events. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
What does a person's eating identity add to environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake?

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether knowledge of a person's eating identity (EI) can explain any additional variation in fruit and vegetable intake above and beyond that explained by food environment characteristics, perceptions of the food environment, and shopping behaviors. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A total of 968 adults were recruited for a telephone survey by the Survey Research Laboratory in an eight-county region in South Carolina. Subjects The survey queried information on shopping behaviors, perceptions of the food environment, demographic and address information, fruit and vegetable intake, and EI. EI was assessed using the Eating Identity Type Inventory, a 12-item instrument that differentiates four eating identity types: healthy, emotional, meat, and picky. Statistical analyses were restricted to 819 participants with complete data. Results Healthy EI and picky EI were significantly and directly related to fruit and vegetable intake, with coefficients of 0.31 (p-value Conclusions Perceptions and GIS-based measures of environmental factors alone do not explain a substantial amount of variation in fruit and vegetable intake. EI, especially healthy EI and picky EI, is an important, independent predictor of fruit and vegetable intake and contributes significantly to explaining the variation in fruit and vegetable intake.
A Bot is Not a Polyglot: Designing Personalities for Multi-Lingual Conversational Agents

Conversational agents are becoming more common, influenced by the success of Siri and Alexa. As such, new methods and associated challenges of designing for conversational systems are emerging. One factor, unique to conversational agents, that we need to account for as designers, is personality. People attribute personalities to conversational agents, strongly influenced by social expectations, whether or not a particular personality was designed deliberately. In the case of multi-lingual agents, this creates additional challenges: direct translations don't accommodate cultural variation. We discuss the design process and lessons learned from Radar Pace, a conversational coach that launched with support for five languages. We highlight successes and failures based on user study results and propose changes to the design process to avoid pitfalls for future agents.
Regulatory focus and technology acceptance: Perceived ease of use and usefulness as efficacy

The technology acceptance model (TAM) has been widely used to gage IS adoption. Over the years, although research on the replications, extensions, and modifications of TAM has been prolific in addi...
MicroRNA molecular profiling identifies potential signaling pathways conferring resistance to chemoradiation in locally-advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

// Cory Pettit 1 , Amy Webb 1 , Steve Walston 1 , Moumita Chatterjee 1 , Wei Chen 1 , Wendy Frankel 1 , Carlo Croce 1 and Terence M. Williams 1 1 The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Correspondence to: Terence M. Williams, email: terence.williams@osumc.edu Keywords: miRNA; rectal cancer; chemotherapy; radiation; biomarker Received: February 05, 2018 Accepted: April 02, 2018 Published: June 22, 2018 ABSTRACT Purpose: There has been growing interest in using chemoradiation (CRT) for non-operative management of rectal cancer, and identifying patients who might benefit most from this approach is crucial. This study identified miRNAs (miRs) associated with clinical outcomes and treatment resistance by evaluating both pre- and post-CRT expression profiles. Methods: Forty patients, 9 with pathologic complete response (pCR) and 31 with pathologic incomplete response (pIR) were included. MicroRNA was extracted from 40 pre-therapy tumor samples and 31 post-chemoradiation surgical samples with pathologic incomplete response (pIR). A generalized linear model was used to identify miRs associated with pCR. A linear mixed effects model was used to identify miRs differentially expressed before and after treatment. miR expression was dichotomized at the mean and clinical outcomes were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard modeling. Results: Nine miRs were associated with pCR (p<0.05), but none were significant after false discovery rate correction. Among patients with pIR, 68 miRs were differentially expressed between the pre and post-CRT groups (FDR p<0.05). Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) demonstrated multiple signaling networks associated with pIR, including p38MAPK, TP53, AKT, IL-6, and RAS. Increased let-7b was correlated with increased distant metastasis (DM), worse relapse-free survival (RFS), and worse overall survival (OS) (p<0.05). Conclusions: No miRs were significantly correlated with pCR. We identified miRs that were differentially expressed between pre- and post-CRT tumor samples, and these miRs implicated multiple signaling pathways that may confer resistance to CRT. In addition, we identified an association between increased let-7b and worse clinical outcomes (DM, DFS, OS).
Incineration and Thermal Treatment of Chemical Agents and Chemical Weapons

The U. S. Army has been directed by Congress to dispose of its approximately 24,800 ton stockpile of chemical weapons and chemical warfare agents (CWAs) by December 31, 2004 and has chosen to use incineration for this purpose[1]. This stockpile contains the mustard gas, blister agents H, HD, and HT, and the organophosphorus nerve agents VX and GB. On Johnston Atoll a prototype disposal facility, consisting of four separate process streams each containing a furnace, afterburner and air pollution control section, has been constructed, tested and is now operational. In spite of the fact that this facility has met all major performance goals, there is considerable opposition to the use of incineration for disposal of that portion of the stockpile stored at eight sites in the continental U.S.
The Nanofiber Matrix as an Artificial Stem Cell Niche

Nanofibrous matrices serve as artificial substrates to partially mimic the key physical and structural characteristics of the stem cell niche. Three methods for the preparation of nanofibrous matrices, including electrospinning, solution phase separation and self-assembly are reviewed and contrasted. Their effect on stem cell adhesion, survival, migration, proliferation and differentiation are discussed. In particular the applications of these nanofibrous matrices for the expansion, differentiation and delivery of stem/progenitor cells are highlighted in this chapter. These matrices provide great opportunities to modulate cellular behavior and tissue regeneration at the nanometer scale.
Analogue and Virtual Reality Assessment

Publisher Summary Analogue assessment is defined as direct, systematic behavioral observations made of child behavior in a clinic or laboratory setting, especially where efforts are made to have the setting approximate, in some ways, more natural situations. Virtual reality technology is the most recent advance in the field of analogue assessment and it falls into the enactment/role-play category. It is defined as a three-dimensional interface that puts the interacting subject in a condition of active exchange with a world re-created via the computer. This chapter reviews the background information on analogue and virtual reality (VR) assessment, which are two relatively new developments in the childhood behavioral assessment field. It begins with a broad and theoretical approach by providing general background information on analogue and VR techniques and by describing how they address the aforementioned goals of behavioral assessment, including functional assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning for children. It also presents an illustrative example to demonstrate how these techniques can be used to accomplish these goals. It then reviews and critiques the empirical literature on the application of specific analogue and VR assessment techniques to diverse childhood problems. Finally, the chapter discusses the developmental considerations that have been largely ignored by the literature.
Validation of model-predicted tibial tray-synthetic bone relative motion in cementless total knee replacement during activities of daily living.

Abstract As fixation of cementless total knee replacement components during the first 4–6 weeks after surgery is crucial to establish bony ingrowth into the porous surface, several studies have quantified implant-bone micromotion. Relative motion between the tray and bone can be measured in vitro, but the full micromotion contour map cannot typically be accessed experimentally. Finite element models have been employed to estimate the full micromotion map, but have not been directly validated over a range of loading conditions. The goal of this study was to develop and validate computational models for the prediction of tray-bone micromotion under simulated activities of daily living. Gait, stair descent and deep knee bend were experimentally evaluated on four samples of a cementless tibial tray implanted into proximal tibial Sawbones™ constructs. Measurements of the relative motion between the tray and the anterior cortical shell were collected with digital image correlation and used to validate a finite element model that replicated the experiment. Additionally, a probabilistic analysis was performed to account for experimental uncertainty and determine model sensitivity to alignment and frictional parameters. The finite element models were able to distinguish between activities and capture the experimental trends. Best-matching simulations from the probabilistic analysis matched measured displacement with an average root mean square (RMS) difference of 14.3 µm and Pearson-product correlation of 0.93, while the mean model presented an average RMS difference of 27.1 µm and a correlation of 0.8. Maximum deviations from average experimental measurements were 40.5 and 87.1 µm for the best-matching and average simulations, respectively. The computational pipeline developed in this study can facilitate and enhance pre-clinical assessment of novel implant components.
Antigenicity of envelope protein complexes of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and insights into T cell responses of infected animals

Paratuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). This is a chronic enteric disease of ruminant animals with clinical signs taking from 2 to 5 years for manifestation. Current diagnostic tests are effective in identifying animals in later stages of infection; however, sensitivity among animals in the early stages of infection is low. In addition, currently available vaccines in the US fail to prevent infection of animals. Transitions in host immunity to MAP leading to clinical disease are poorly understood and their comprehension could lead to more targeted approaches for vaccine and diagnostic development. The objective of the first study was to identify protein complexes in the envelope of MAP to gain insight into pathogenic mechanisms as well as to identify antigenic proteins. Seven protein complexes were identified in the envelope of MAP and these complexes were fragmented into individual proteins with potential as diagnostic and vaccine targets. The second objective in this thesis was to study two crucial molecules in T cell signaling investigated in cows with subclinical and clinical disease. ZAP-70 (zeta-chain associated protein of 70 kDa) is involved in proximal T cell receptor signaling and its activation is necessary for T cell effector function. The second molecule studied was CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4), regarded as one of the major negative regulators of T cell function. All MAP infected animals demonstrated a significant reduction in expression of ZAP-70 among CD4+ T cells whereas only animals of subclinical status had a significant upregulation of CTLA-4 in the CD4+ T cell population. Both studies
Participatory Research for Scientific, Educational, and Community Benefits: A Case Study from Brooklyn Community Gardens

Supporting community food production is a key strategy for all the community-based partners in Food Dignity, a community-university research partnership dedicated to supporting and learning from food justice organizations. Participatory action research (PAR) may develop knowledge and skills for sustainable agriculture, thus building gardeners’ capacities to refine, implement, and share locally appropriate, sustainable food production practices. However, little research has explored the possibilities and challenges of PAR with urban gardeners. In the context of Food Dignity, I examine those possibilities in a case study of a PAR project on cover crops with gar­deners in Brooklyn, New York, USA. I address two questions: (1) How can PAR be designed in an urban community gardening context to achieve positive outcomes for science, education, and communities? and (2) What are the challenges, and how might facilitators address them? Several practices contributed to positive outcomes in our project. First, engaging gardeners in cover crop monitoring strengthened their knowledge of ecological processes (e.g., nitrogen fixation) and adaptive management skills (e.g., systematic observation). Second, facilitating oppor­tunities for participants to share their knowledge (e.g., field days) supported leadership development. Third, sustained, in-person support enabled gar­deners to implement cover cropping practices with benefits for crop production and environmental quality. Key challenges included addressing community-defined priorities within the constraints of a dissertation project and providing sufficient one-on-one research and education support with limited funding for community-based partners. Despite its challenges, PAR in urban gardening contexts may develop knowledge and skills that support improved stewardship practices and com­munity capacities. Implications for inspiring and sustaining more community-university research partnerships include strengthening institutional support for PAR at colleges and universities, funding community researcher/educator positions, and providing professional development for community and academic PAR partners.
Discrimination in health care and biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in U.S. adults

Abstract Introduction Discrimination in health care settings is associated with poor health outcomes and may be especially harmful to older adults who are more likely to have existing risk factors or medical conditions that require on-going care. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between patient-reported health care discrimination and biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk. Methods We used 2008–2014 data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study of US adults ages 50+ (n=12,695 participants contributing up to 16,179 observations) to examine the association between patient-reported experiences of health care discrimination and biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk: high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), Hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, cystatin C and blood pressure and whether relationships were modified by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic) or gender. We fit generalized estimating equation (GEE) models specifying a binomial distribution and logit link to account for dependency of repeated measures on individuals. Results Health care discrimination was associated with higher odds of CRP>3 mg/L (OR: 1.20 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.30) and HbA1c>6.5% (OR: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.38) but not associated with other biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in the sample as a whole. However, subgroup differences were detected. While health care discrimination was positively associated with elevated HbA1c for non-Hispanics, it was inversely associated with HbA1c for Hispanics. Conclusions Health care discrimination was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk based on selected biomarkers.
A prototype generalized network technology for hospitals: initial implementation.

A demonstration implementation of a distributed data-processing hospital information system using an intelligent local area communications network (LACN) technology is described. This system is operational at the UCSF Medical Center and integrates four heterogeneous, stand-alone minicomputers. The applications systems are PID/Registration, Outpatient Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory, and Radiology/Medical Records. Functional autonomy of these systems has been maintained, and no operating system changes have been required. The LACN uses a fiber-optic communications medium and provides extensive communications protocol support within the network, based on the ISO/OSI Model. The archtecture is reconfigurable and expandable. This paper decribes system architectural issues, the applications environment, and the local area network.
Who Governs? How Shifts in Political Power Shape Perceptions of Local Government Services:

What factors influence citizens’ perceptions of local government services? To answer this question, we examine citizens’ perceptions of public education in post-Katrina New Orleans. Following Hurri...
Molecular Machines Involved in Pexophagy

Pexophagy, the selective autophagy of peroxisomes, is a membrane trafficking pathway that delivers damaged or superfluous peroxisomes from the cytosol to the vacuole/lysosome for degradation and recycling. Pexophagosomes, the peroxisome-containing autophagosomes, are the double-membrane carriers in the pexophagy pathway. Like autophagosomes, they are built by the core autophagic machinery, a set of autophagy-related (Atg) proteins that get together at the phagophore assembly site (PAS). The pexophagy-specific receptor protein complex (RPC) plays a central role in pexophagy by bridging the peroxisomal membrane with the core autophagic machinery and, later, with the growing isolation membrane or phagophore to ensure the high selectivity of peroxisome sequestration. This process is tightly regulated by phosphorylation and involves the cytoskeleton. Additional mechanisms secure the pexophagy of large peroxisomes. Finally, the fusion machineries support the membrane flow at different stages of the pexophagy pathway.
Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Associated MicroRNAs in Intercellular Communication: One Cell's Trash Is Another Cell's Treasure.

Several non-protein-coding genomic regions, previously marked as “junk DNA”, have been reported to be transcriptionally active, giving rise to non-coding RNA species implicated in fundamental biological and pathological processes. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs mediating post-transcriptional gene silencing, are causally involved in several human diseases, including various cancer types. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures physiologically released by most cell types. Initially, they were considered a “waste-removal” mechanism, through which cells could dispose unnecessary material and organelles. It is now widely demonstrated that EVs also play a critical role in intercellular communication, mediating the horizontal transfer of lipids, proteins, and genetic material. A paradigm shift in the biology of miRNAs was represented by the discovery that EVs, especially from cancer cells, contain miRs. EV-associated miRs act as autocrine, paracrine and endocrine factors, participating in cancer pathogenesis by modulating intercellular communication. Noteworthy, these formerly neglected molecules are now considered the next generation of cancer “theranostic” tools, with strong clinical relevance. In this review, we aim to summarize the most recent findings regarding EV-associated miRs in cancer pathogenesis and in the development of novel anti-neoplastic diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Loci associated with conception rate in crossbred beef heifers

The inability of beef cattle to maintain full term pregnancies has become an economic concern for the beef industry. Herd management and nutritional improvements have alleviated environmental impacts on embryonic and fetal loss, yet additional gains can be made through genomic selection. The objectives of this study were to identify loci and gene-sets in crossbred beef heifers associated with the number of services required to become pregnant (TBRD) and heifer conception rate at first service (HCR1). Heifers (n = 709) from a commercial beef operation underwent one round of artificial insemination, before exposure to bulls for natural service for 50 days. Pregnancy and time of conception was determined by ultrasound 35 days after the breeding season. Heifers were genotyped using the GeneSeek (Lincoln, NE) Bovine GGP50K BeadChip prior to genome-wide association analyses (GWAA) conducted using an EIGENSTRAT-like model to identify loci associated (P < 1 × 10-5) with TBRD and HCR1. One locus was associated (P = 8.97 × 10-6) with TBRD on BTA19 and included the positional candidate gene ASIC2, which is differentially expressed in the endometrium of fertility classified heifers, and the positional candidate gene, SPACA3. Gene-set enrichment analyses using SNP (GSEA-SNP) data, was performed and identified one gene-set, oxidoreductase activity, acting on paired donors, with incorporation or reduction of molecular oxygen as enriched (NES = 3.15) with TBRD and contained nine leading edge genes that contributed to the enrichment of the gene set. The enriched gene-set is involved in catalyzing oxidation-reduction reactions, which have been associated with oxidative stressors impacting pregnancy success. No loci were associated nor gene-sets enriched with HCR1. Identification of loci, positional candidate genes, gene-sets and leading edge genes enriched for fertility facilitate genomic selection that allows producers to select for reproductively superior cattle, reduce costs associated with infertility, and increase percent calf crop.
Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction by Self-Assembled Monolayers of Metal Porphyrins

The main issue hindering the successful utilization of CO2 electroreduction processes in industry is the lack of selective, durable, and efficient catalysts. In this work, a new heterogeneous molec...
Post-fire mechanical properties of advanced high-strength cold-formed steel alloys

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted on the post-fire mechanical properties of advanced high-strength cold-formed steel alloys. Tensile specimens made of two dual-phase steels and two martensitic steels with nominal yield stress from 340 MPa to 1200 MPa were tested after exposure to temperatures up to 700 °C. The stress-strain curves and mechanical properties were obtained from the tests and post-fire retention factors were derived. Comparison with available test data on hot-rolled and conventional cold-formed steels showed the influence of cold-working and steel grade on the post-fire mechanical properties. The permanent reduction in strength after exposure to elevated temperature is more severe and starts at lower temperatures for cold-formed steels compared with hot-rolled steels. Furthermore, cold-formed steels made of advanced high-strength grade exhibit proportionally larger permanent reductions in yield stress and ultimate stress than those made of conventional grade. A model for the post-fire properties of advanced high-strength cold-formed steels was proposed based on calibration of a simple three-coefficient equation developed through committee work with the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Dietary stability inferred from dental mesowear analysis in large ungulates from Rancho La Brea and opportunistic feeding during the late Pleistocene

Abstract The Rancho La Brea locality is world famous for asphaltic deposits that trapped and preserved late Pleistocene megafauna over the last 50,000 years. This wealth of paleontological data allows for detailed investigation into paleoecological changes through the last glacial maximum into the Holocene. Here, we used dental mesowear analyses to infer dietary behavior in Bison antiquus, Equus occidentalis, and Camelops hesternus from five deposits (“pits”) spanning the latest Pleistocene: pits 77, 91, 13, 3, and 61/67. Mesowear was compared among pits for each taxon and discriminant function and posterior probability analyses were conducted using a modern dataset to predict dietary categories at Rancho La Brea. Published mesowear scores from late Pleistocene Bison, Equus and Camelops from other localities were included in the discriminant function and posterior probability analyses to assess dietary variability among regions. Mesowear for each taxon did not differ among pits. Posterior probabilities and discriminant function analyses recovered E. occidentalis as a strict grazer with B. antiquus and C. hesternus recovered as mixed feeders. The stability of mesowear scores through the latest Pleistocene suggests average diets of these herbivores did not significantly change at Rancho La Brea. This is in contrast to documented changes in climate and flora proxies of southern California. However, it is unclear whether these proxies are representative of climate and floral changes at Rancho La Brea. Mesowear scores from late Pleistocene populations of Equus, Bison, and Camelops indicate little variability in diet in Equus, modest variability in Bison, and high variability in Camelops. These analyses suggest large ungulates may have been more opportunistic in their feeding strategies and highlights the need for using multiple proxies to clarify dietary behavior of herbivores
Current Opinion Regarding Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic Utilization for the Management of Prostate Cancer.

Objectives Multidisciplinary cancer clinic (MDC) is an evaluation option for the management of prostate cancer (PCa). The purpose of MDC is to provide the patient with a comprehensive assessment and risk/benefit discussion of all pertinent treatment options. Our objective was to obtain a contemporary measure and analysis of urologists' opinion regarding PCa MDC. Material and methods We created a 14-item questionnaire for respondent baseline characteristics, subjective and objective inquiries regarding MDC for PCa management. The survey was distributed through email to members of the Society of Urologic Oncology and the Endourological Society. Data were analyzed using R (R Core team, 2017). Results One hundred and seven (51%) respondents reported participation in MDC; the majority of which were male (97.6%), academic (61.4%) urologists with urologic oncology fellowship training (50%), and >20 years in practice (40.3%). MDC patients were most commonly referrals (78.5%) and with high-risk disease (Gleason sum 8-10) (83.2%). A majority of the respondents felt that MDC was very or extremely beneficial for PCa research (45% and 19%, respectively) and treatment (35% and 20%, respectively). Responses dissuading the use of MDC included lack of infrastructure (41%) and time commitment (21%). On multivariate analysis, urologists with >10 years in practice were less likely to find MDC beneficial in the management of PCa (11-20 years, P = 0.028 and >20 years P = 0.009). Conclusion A contemporary sampling of urologists' opinion and practice patterns alludes to the benefits that advocate for and the resource demand that hinders routine use of MDC for PCa evaluation. Urologist training and practice environment can affect participation in PCa MDC.
Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Response After Locoregional Therapy

Locoregional therapy (LRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma can be used alone or with other treatment modalities to reduce rates of progression, improve survival, or act as a bridge to cure. As the use of LRT expands, so too has the need for systems to evaluate treatment response, such as the World Health Organization and modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors systems and more recently, the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) treatment response algorithm (TRA). Early validation results for LI-RADS TRA have been promising, and as research accrues, the TRA is expected to evolve in the near future.
Unquantize: Overcoming Signal Quantization Effects in IoT Time Series Databases

Low-resolution quantized time series signals present a challenge to big data machine learning (ML) prognostics in IoT industrial and transportation applications. The challenge for detecting anomalies in monitored sensor signals is compounded by the fact that many industries today use 8-bit sample-and-hold analog-to-digital (A/D) converters for almost all physical transducers throughout the system. This results in the signal values being severely quantized, which adversely affects the predictive power of prognostic algorithms and can elevate empirical false-alarm and missed-alarm probabilities. Quantized signals are dense and indecipherable to the human eye, and ML algorithms are challenged to detect the onset of degradation in monitored assets due to the loss of information in the digitization process. This paper presents an autonomous ML framework that detects and classifies quantized signals before instantiating two separate techniques (depending on the levels of quantization) to efficiently unquantize digitized signals, returning high-resolution signals possessing the same accuracy as signals sampled with higher-bit A/D chips. This new “unquantize” framework works in line with streaming sensor signals, upstream from the core ML anomaly detection algorithm, yielding substantially higher anomaly detection sensitivity, with much lower false-alarm and missed-alarm probabilities (FAPs/MAPs).
Antithrombosis stewardship efforts to de-escalate inappropriate combined therapy in outpatient clinics.

Antithrombotic therapies include anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. It is increasingly recognized that combined dual antithrombotic (DAT, which consists of an oral anticoagulant and a single antiplatelet) and triple antithrombotic therapies (TAT, which consists of an oral anticoagulant and two antiplatelets) increase bleeding risk. Additionally, the benefit of aspirin for primary prevention has been called into question by a number of randomized controlled trials over the last few years. As such, several recent clinical trials have explored de-escalated antithrombotic regimens that have resulted in less bleeding with similar efficacy. Our study was a retrospective, observational investigation assessing the effect of a systematic antithrombosis stewardship intervention implemented in outpatient, pharmacy-driven antithrombosis clinics on the number of patients receiving potentially inappropriate combined antithrombotic therapy. Pharmacists identified anticoagulation patients on concomitant antiplatelet therapy, assessed for appropriateness, and performed interventions if needed. Of the 875 patients included, 261 (29.8%) were on combined antithrombotic therapy, 48 (18.4%) of which were deemed inappropriate at baseline. By the end of the intervention period, 45 (93%) of these patients had a de-escalation in combined therapy (p < 0.001). We found that a systematic de-escalation protocol led to a significant reduction in patients on inappropriate combined antithrombotic therapy.
Russian America and the Archaeology of Capitalism

Historical archaeology is the “archaeology of capitalism” (Paynter 1988), including its evolution and expansion, economic and social impacts, and the material culture of the industrial age. As an integrated world system of capitalist economies coalesced during the late eighteenth century, Russian fur merchants pushed eastward from Siberia to Alaska, subordinating new peoples into global hierarchies of production, consumption, and power (Wallerstein 1974; Wolf 1982). The present study examines this momentous expansion from a single point in space and time–the Russian settlement at Three Saints Harbor on Kodiak Island, Alaska, founded by fur merchant Grigorii Shelikhov in 1784. Despite its small size and relatively brief span of occupation, Shelikhov’s outpost in America is a rich source of historical and archaeological information pertaining to the origins and development of Russian colonialism, and about the material ties between Russia and its distant Alaskan frontier. Studies at Three Saints address topics of broad significance to historians and anthropologists as they attempt to interpret the complex interactions that everywhere accompanied Western contact and capitalist transformation.
Improving the Solution of the Boundary Element Method by Changing the Conditioning of the Matrix in Algebraic Equations

The boundary element method starts with a statement of boundary value problem in terms of an integral equation. By discretizing the boundary, the integral equations are reduced to a set of linear algebraic equations. If the matrix in the algebraic equations is poorly conditioned then the accuracy of the numerical solution becomes very sensitive to small changes in the input data. Small errors in the input data or changes in the mesh description can change the solution drastically. In a paper by this investigator that is to be published [1] a scheme is described which improves the condition of the matrix. Furthermore, it also reduces the sensitivity of the condition of the matrix to changes in the mesh description. The scheme is applicable to any boundary element method.
TU-AB-303-04: Characterizing CT-Derived Mass Change of Non-Tumor Pathology During Lung Radiotherapy.

Purpose: Atelectasis and other commonly-observed non-tumor lung pathologies (NTPs) can change during thoracic radiotherapy altering normal anatomy and inducing large changes in tumor position. However, the characteristics of these changes are not well understood. This study investigates longitudinal NTP tissue mass change during radiotherapy. Methods: Delineation of corresponding atelectatic regions before and after re-aeration is challenging since it is difficult to detect atelectatic-region boundaries after re-aeration. Therefore, individual lobes were delineated and analyzed instead. A radiation oncologist contoured the tumor and individual lobes in the planning and mid-treatment CTs for 7 patients. Each lobe was eroded by 2–4 voxels, which was found to reduce effects of inadvertent chest wall in the lobe delineation but still preserve the mean density of the lobe. The mass of each lobe was calculated after removing the tumor region. The uninvolved lobes were used as controls. Results: Mean mass change for contralateral, ipsilateral without NTP, and NTP lobes were +2.1 (18.0) %, −9.4 (18.2) %, and −13.4 (40.1) %, respectively. For NTP lobes, the degree and direction of change depended on atelectasis resolution type (full or partial), with mean mass change for full resolution of −43.1 (16.2) % and +4.5 (40.1) % for partial. The standard deviation for NTP lobes is likely higher due to actual changes in mass as well as increased delineation variability in the presence of tumor and lung consolidation. Median mean density change was −46.4% for NTP lobes, showing significant difference from contralateral (p=8.2×10−⁴) and NTP-free ipsilateral lobes (p=0.006). Conclusion: No noticeable mass change occurred for pathology-free lobes. As NTP fully resolved, mass of the lobe decreased. One possible explanation is that the release of retained fluid and infiltrate commonly associated with NTP accounts for the reduced mass. This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01CA166119. The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Treatment of contralateral hydrocele in neonatal testicular torsion: Is less more?

Summary Objective Treatment of neonatal testicular torsion has two objectives: salvage of the involved testicle (which is rarely achieved) and preservation of the contralateral gonad. The second goal universally involves contralateral testicular scrotal fixation to prevent the future occurrence of contralateral torsion. However, there is controversy with regards to management of a synchronous contralateral hydrocele. It has been our policy not to address the contralateral hydrocele through an inguinal incision to minimize potential injury to the spermatic cord. Our objective in this study was to determine whether the decision to manage a contralateral hydrocele in cases of neonatal testicular torsion solely through a scrotal approach is safe and effective. Patients and method We reviewed all cases of neonatal testicular torsion occurring at our institution between the years 1999 and 2006. Age at presentation, physical examination, ultrasonographic and intraoperative findings were recorded. Patients were followed after initial surgical intervention to determine the likelihood of developing a subsequent hydrocele or hernia. Results Thirty-seven patients were identified as presenting with neonatal torsion. Age of presentation averaged 3.5 days (range 1–14 days). Left-sided pathology was seen more commonly than the right, with a 25:12 distribution. All torsed testicles were nonviable. Twenty-two patients were noted to have a contralateral hydrocele at presentation. All hydroceles were opened through a scrotal approach at the time of contralateral scrotal fixation. No patient underwent an inguinal exploration to examine for a patent process vaginalis. None of the patients who presented with a hydrocele have developed a clinical hydrocele or hernia after an average 7.5 years (range 4.3–11.2) follow-up. Conclusion We have demonstrated that approaching a contralateral hydrocele in cases of neonatal testicular torsion solely through a scrotal incision is safe and effective. Inguinal exploration was not performed in our study and our long-term results demonstrate that such an approach would have brought no additional benefit. In avoiding an inguinal approach we did not subject our patients to unnecessary risk of testicular or vasal injury. Contralateral hydrocele is commonly seen in cases of neonatal testicular torsion. In our experience this is a condition of minimal clinical significance and does not warrant formal inguinal exploration for treatment. This conservative management strategy minimizes the potential of contralateral spermatic cord injury in the neonate. The aims of the study were met.
Biosynthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-galacturonic acid in Bacillus cereus subsp. cytotoxis NVH 391-98

The food borne pathogen Bacillus cereus produces uronic acid-containing glycans that are secreted in a shielding biofilm environment, and certain alkaliphilic Bacillus deposit uronate-glycan polymers in the cell wall when adapting to alkaline environments. The source of these acidic sugars is unknown and, in the present study, we describe the functional identification of an operon in Bacillus cerues subsp. cytotoxis NVH 391-98 that comprises genes involved in the synthesis of UDP-uronic acids in Bacillus spp. Within the operon, a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase converts UDP-glucose in the presence of NAD(+) to UDP-glucuronic acid and NADH, and a UDP-GlcA 4-epimerase (UGlcAE) converts UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-galacturonic acid. Interestingly, in vitro, both enzymes can utilize the TDP-sugar forms as well, albeit at lower catalytic efficiency. Unlike most of the very few bacterial 4-epimerases that have been characterized, which are promiscuous, the B. cereus UGlcAE enzyme is very specific and cannot use UDP-glucose, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, UDP-N-acetylglucosaminuronic acid or UDP-xylose as substrates. Size exclusion chromatography suggests that UGlcAE is active as a monomer, unlike the dimeric form of plant enzymes; the Bacillus UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase is also found as a monomer. Phylogenic analysis further suggests that the Bacillus UGlcAE may have evolved separately from other bacterial and plant epimerases. Our results provide insight into the formation and function of uronic acid-containing glycans in the lifecycle of B. cereus and related species containing homologous operons, as well as a basis for determining the importance of these acidic glycans. We also discuss the ability to target UGlcAE as a drug candidate.
Reevaluation of Bacitracin as a Spore Coat Component

Analysis of hydrolysates of highly purified spore coats revealed only small quantities of ornithine, a component of bacitracin. We conclude that the peptide, bacitracin, is not a significant component of spore coats.
Bullous Pemphigoid Antigen: Isolation from Normal Human Skin

A protein moiety from epidermal PBS-soluble products was isolated by gel filtration (Bio-Gel A-1.5m) and ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose). This protein (A-1-Epid) was not retarded by DEAE-cellulose in Tris-HCl buffer, 15mM, pH 8.1. By IEP against an antiserum to epidermal antigens, it showed a single cathodal arc. On disc electrophoresis, at low pH (4.3) a single band was apparent. On SDS gels this protein demonstrated two bands, one with a molecular weight of 20,000, and the second with a molecular weight of 9,200. This purified antigen was able to block the staining of the basement membrane zone produced by bullous pemphigoid antibodies on monkey esophagus and normal human skin with the use of indirect immunofluorescence. This study also demonstrates that bullous pemphigoid antigen (A-1-Epid) and a second epidermal protein (A-2-Epid) are present in the PBS-soluble products of human esophageal mucosa, saliva, and urine. These antigens appear to be unrelated with the blood group substances or secretor status of the donors.
Ethical issues in web design

This paper explores the meaning of ethical Web design. It defines a set of guidelines as to what could help define ethical Web design and gives real world examples for justification. These examples provide excellent case studies for a Web design class.
Repairing sparse low-rank texture

In this paper, we show how to harness both low-rank and sparse structures in regular or near regular textures for image completion. Our method leverages the new convex optimization for low-rank and sparse signal recovery and can automatically correctly repair the global structure of a corrupted texture, even without precise information about the regions to be completed. Through extensive simulations, we show our method can complete and repair textures corrupted by errors with both random and contiguous supports better than existing low-rank matrix recovery methods. Through experimental comparisons with existing image completion systems (such as Photoshop) our method demonstrate significant advantage over local patch based texture synthesis techniques in dealing with large corruption, non-uniform texture, and large perspective deformation.
Estimation of blood velocity using the wideband maximum likelihood estimator (ultrasonic measurement)

The local accuracy of the wideband point MLE (maximum likelihood estimator) is evaluated through the use of the Cramer-Rao bound. This evaluation shows that this new estimation strategy results in a reduced bound on the estimator variance in comparison with traditional strategies. In order to study global accuracy the expected estimator output is evaluated and the width of the mainlobe and the height of subsidiary peaks are reduced through the use of this estimator. In an experimental study, the predictions are compared with actual values computed from ultrasonic data. Through this investigation, the assumptions of the model are verified and the predicted improvements in local and global accuracy are confirmed. >