cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Containment of existing potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) foliar epidemics with fungicides

Critical timing of application of foliar fungicides to limit further infection of potato foliage by Phytophthora infestans and the critical threshold of foliar infection level at which individual or combinations of specific fungicides limited further spread of infection with P. infestans were determined. In most seasons, key application timings at which the foliar late blight epidemic was contained to o50% of that in untreated control plots, were programs initiated 72 h before and 72 h after inoculation with P. infestans, and when foliar area with late blight lesions was estimated to be 1% or less. Delaying initiation of application of any fungicide until 5% and 10% estimated average foliar area with late blight lesions resulted in late blight development similar to the untreated control. Most fungicides and fungicide mixtures examined resulted in 30–50% reduction of late blight development in comparison to the untreated control as long as they were applied not later than 1% estimated average foliar area with late blight lesions. r 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Unexpected Correlations and the Cross-Cultural Method

Cross-cultural studies, in which the cases are societies rather than individuals, may be subject to errors due to individual differences within societies, cultural differences in behavior variables, and the implicit theories of the observers. In addition, antecedent variables may correlate more highly with unexpected consequences than with dependent variables predicted from theory. Ratings provided by Whiting and Child (1953) were correlated and the resulting matrix of correlations between all antecedent and all dependent variables was examined. Off-diagonal correlations, e.g., that between oral socialization anxiety and anal explanations of illness, were often found to be as high as correlations predicted from psychoanalytic theory. It was concluded that the caution suggested by Campbell and Fiske (1959) for validity studies should be applied to crosscultural studies.
Effect of Various Acids and Sulfites in Steep Solution on Yields and Composition of Corn Fiber and Corn Fiber Oil

ABSTRACT The addition of six acids (organic and inorganic) and four sulfite compounds (including gaseous SO2) during the conventional corn wet-milling steeping process of two yellow dent corn hybrids were evaluated for the effect on corn fiber yield, corn fiber oil yield, and the composition of three phytosterol compounds (ferulate phytosterol esters [FPE], free phytosterols [St], and phytosterol fatty acyl esters [St:E]) in the corn fiber oil. No significant effect of different sulfite compounds and acids were observed on corn fiber yields. However, a significant effect was observed on corn fiber oil yield and the composition of corn fiber oil for phytosterol compounds. Three of the sulfite compounds (including gaseous SO2) caused very little effect on the levels of phytosterol compounds compared with the control sample (corn steeped with sodium metabisulfite and lactic acid). However, for one hybrid, ammonium sulfite gave a significantly higher yield of FPE and St:E and had no effect on the yield of St....
An incremental model for developing computer-based learning environments for problem-based learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogical strategy that centers learning activities around the investigation and development of solutions to complex and ill-structured authentic problems. It requires additional support and resources for students and instructors to use it in schools. Computer-based interactive learning environments have been used to provide students authentic and supportive settings for PBL. These systems, however, require significant up-front development effort before they can be put into use. In this paper, we describe an incremental model that allows instructors to author the learning environment during real use. In our model, an instructor is part of the feedback loop, complementing system feedback and collecting materials to be incorporated into the system. By working within the system, the instructor can observe detailed traces of student learning activities in the system and provide individualized coaching and critiquing. We describe our experience in developing Corrosion Investigator, a Web-based learning environment, as an exemplar of our model. We focus on how the system is designed to facilitate instructor involvement and support incremental authoring. We present empirical results showing materials collected through use and benefits to the students and teachers.
Lactobacillus priming of the respiratory tract: Heterologous immunity and protection against lethal pneumovirus infection

We showed previously that wild-type mice primed via intranasal inoculation with live or heat-inactivated Lactobacillus species were fully (100%) protected against the lethal sequelae of infection with the virulent pathogen, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), a response that is associated with diminished expression of proinflammatory cytokines and diminished virus recovery. We show here that 40% of the mice primed with live Lactobacillus survived when PVM challenge was delayed for 5months. This robust and sustained resistance to PVM infection resulting from prior interaction with an otherwise unrelated microbe is a profound example of heterologous immunity. We undertook the present study in order to understand the nature and unique features of this response. We found that intranasal inoculation with L. reuteri elicited rapid, transient neutrophil recruitment in association with proinflammatory mediators (CXCL1, CCL3, CCL2, CXCL10, TNF-alpha and IL-17A) but not Th1 cytokines. IFNγ does not contribute to survival promoted by Lactobacillus-priming. Live L. reuteri detected in lung tissue underwent rapid clearance, and was undetectable at 24h after inoculation. In contrast, L. reuteri peptidoglycan (PGN) and L. reuteri genomic DNA (gDNA) were detected at 24 and 48h after inoculation, respectively. In contrast to live bacteria, intranasal inoculation with isolated L. reuteri gDNA elicited no neutrophil recruitment, had minimal impact on virus recovery and virus-associated production of CCL3, and provided no protection against the negative sequelae of virus infection. Isolated PGN elicited neutrophil recruitment and proinflammatory cytokines but did not promote sustained survival in response to subsequent PVM infection. Overall, further evaluation of the responses leading to Lactobacillus-mediated heterologous immunity may provide insight into novel antiviral preventive modalities.
Beyond Altruism: Sociological Foundations of Cooperation and Prosocial Behavior

In explaining the sources of cooperation and prosocial behavior, psychologists, behavioral economists, and biologists often focus on factors internal to the individual, such as altruistic motivations, other-regarding preferences, and prosocial emotions. By contrast, sociologists typically emphasize social forces external to the individual, including norms, reputation systems, and social networks. Here we review evidence for these rules, reputations, and relations, showing that they have powerful and pervasive effects on cooperation and prosocial behavior. Our discussion highlights two emergent themes of the reviewed literature. First, although these classes of sociological mechanisms typically promote cooperation, their presence can also create ambiguity for individuals regarding the reasons for their own and others' prosocial acts, and that ambiguity can undermine future prosociality in subsequent settings where the mechanisms are absent. Second, altruistic preferences and social mechanisms often interac...
Gene structure and organization of the human β-secretase (BACE) promoter

The first step in the generation of the amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) deposited in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the processing of the larger Abeta precursor protein (APP) by an integral membrane aspartyl protease named the beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE). We present the genomic organization of the BACE gene. BACE mRNAs are synthesized as nine exons and eight introns from a 30.6 kb region of chromosome 11q23.2-11q23.3. Regulation of BACE may play an important role in regulating the levels of Abeta produced and is therefore likely to play an important role in AD. Herein, we report the cloning and detailed analysis of 3765 nucleotides of the promoter region of BACE and 364 nucleotides of the 5' untranslated region of the BACE mRNA (5' UTR). Characteristic "CAAT" and "TATA" boxes are absent within 1.5 kb of the transcription start site (TSS). The promoter region and 5' UTR contain multiple transcription factor binding sites, such as activator protein (AP)1, AP2, cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), estrogen responsive element (ERE), glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE), "GC" box, nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, stimulating protein (SP)1, metal-regulatory elements, and possible Zeste binding sites. Limited interspecies similarity was observed between the human sequence and corresponding genomic DNA from the rat and mouse sequences, but several transcription factor-binding sites are conserved. Thus, the BACE gene contains basal regulatory elements, inducible features and sites for regulated activity by various transcription factors. These results identify the important regions for functional analysis of the binding domains and neuron-specific expression (1). Such a study will allow us to further examine the possible role of changes in the promoter of BACE in AD pathogenesis.
Cell loss from three established lines of the C3H mouse mammary tumor: a comparison of the 125I-UdR and the 3H-TdR-autoradiographic methods.

The 125I-UdR method for measuring cell loss from solid tumors has been reevaluated. The rate of tumor cell loss from three established lines (S 102F, S102S and Slow) of the C3H mouse mammary tumor was determined by the 125I-UdR method and the results were compared to the estimates for cell loss as determined by the combined approach of cellular 3H-TdR autoradiography and volumetric growth-rate determinations. This detailed comparison shows that the two methods complement each other but cannot substitute for one another because they give different quantitative information. The combined approach measures the flow of viable cells, as determined morphologically, from the proliferating compartment to the quiescent comparment, the quiescent compartment out of the tumor, etc., but does not evaluate the flow of degenerate cells or acellular (necrotic) debris. In contrast, the 125I-UdR method indicates the net flow of intact cells and/or dead cells as well as debris from the tumor as the 125I-labeled material is lost from the tumor, but gives limited internal information. thus, depending on the specific experiment, an investigator could choose one or the other of the methods to answer the question. Perhaps both would be desirable at times; however, in most cases, one could not substitute one method for the other. The data from the Slow tumors also indicate that in certain tumors, the quantitative information from the 125I-UdR method may be quite limited, i.e. the confidence limits within an experiment as well as the replication error between experiments may be high.
Lateral tegmental field neurons play a permissive role in governing the 10-Hz rhythm in sympathetic nerve discharge

Recordings from sympathetic nerves in decerebrate cats show a variable mixture of 10-Hz and 2- to 6-Hz discharges. Although medullary lateral tegmental field (LTF) neurons are considered to be a source of the 2- to 6-Hz oscillation in sympathetic nerve discharge (SND), their role in the control of the 10-Hz rhythm has not been critically evaluated. This issue served as the focus of the current study. In the first series of experiments, spike-triggered averaging of inferior cardiac SND was used in an attempt to identify LTF neurons with activity correlated to the 10-Hz rhythm in SND. The discharges of only one of the 120 LTF neurons studied were correlated to this component of SND. In contrast, 17 of 79 neurons had activity correlated to the 2- to 6-Hz oscillation in experiments in which this component of SND was prominent. These data indicate that LTF neurons neither receive input from nor are components of the 10-Hz rhythm generator. In a second series of experiments, muscimol was microinjected into the LTF bilaterally. Chemical inactivation of the LTF either eliminated the 10-Hz rhythm or reduced the power and peak frequency in this band of SND. These data support the view that LTF neurons have a permissive role in governing the 10-Hz rhythm in SND, probably by acting on elements of the rhythm generator located elsewhere. As expected, muscimol microinjections reduced the power in the 2- to 6-Hz band in SND in some experiments.
de Finetti Scoops Markowitz

In 1940, in the context of choosing optimum reinsurance levels, Bruno de Finetti essentially proposed mean-variance analysis with correlated risks. It was not until 1952 that Markowitz and Roy introduced mean-variance analysis with correlated risks into the financial literature. De Finetti solved the problem of computing mean-variance efficient frontiers for a particular constraint set (one that describes the reinsurance problem) assuming uncorrelated risks. While he understood and explained the importance of the case with correlated risks, he did not provide an algorithm for this case. In fact, one of his conjectures concerning its solution was incorrect. The present article summarizes de Finetti's contribution, presents an algorithm for solving "the de Finetti problem" when risks are correlated, and illustrates these matters with an easily visualized two-policy reinsurance problem.
RIGHT VENTRICLE FUNCTION RECOVERY AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS PATIENTS

Right ventricular (RV) function is correlated with adverse outcomes in cardiac patients. Our goal was to assess the change in RV function at 1-year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) among severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients with RV dysfunction. Severe AS patients with RV
Controlling H+ vs CO2 Reduction Selectivity on Pb Electrodes

Nanocrystalline Pb films prepared by reducing PbO2 precursors have up to 700-fold lower H+ reduction activity than polycrystalline Pb foil electrodes but maintain the ability to reduce CO2. As a result, these “oxide-derived” Pb (OD–Pb) electrodes have higher Faradaic efficiency for CO2 reduction to HCO2– in aqueous solutions with almost no competitive H+ reduction. Even with very low CO2 concentrations in N2-saturated NaHCO3 solution, OD–Pb converts CO2 derived from HCO3– decomposition to HCO2– with almost quantitative Faradaic efficiency while Pb foil has less than 10% efficiency. Electrokinetic data suggest that the difference in selectivity between the two electrodes is caused by a difference in the coverage of a surface layer—likely a metastable Pb oxide—that is passivating for H+ reduction but active for CO2 reduction.
Intestinal phospholipase A and triglyceride lipase: Localization and effect of fasting

We investigated the distribution of phospholipase A and triglyceride lipase in the rat small intestine and the effects of heparin and hormones on enzyme release. Phospholipase A activity was 10 times higher in the ileum than in the jejunum; triglyceride lipase activity was threefold higher in the jejunum than in the ileum. Activities of both enzymes were much greater in villus than in crypt cells. The specific activity of phospholipase A was highest in microsomes and least in cytosol. The crude nuclei and brush-border fraction contained 40.5% of total phospholipase A activity; mitochondria contained 33.8%; and microsomes, 17.4%. Phospholipase A activity increased significantly in the distal intestinal mucosa in fasted rats compared with controls. Heparin did not increase the release of phospholipase A by isolated intestinal cells or perfused intestinal vasculature. Thus, the small intestine probably does not contribute significantly to the phospholipase A activity of postheparin plasma. Hormones and cAMP, which inhibit the secretion of phospholipase A and triglyceride lipase from isolated hepatocytes, had no effect on the release of either enzyme from intestinal cells.
Novel microbial assemblages inhabiting crustal fluids within mid-ocean ridge flank subsurface basalt

Although little is known regarding microbial life within our planet's rock-hosted deep subseafloor biosphere, boreholes drilled through deep ocean sediment and into the underlying basaltic crust provide invaluable windows of access that have been used previously to document the presence of microorganisms within fluids percolating through the deep ocean crust. In this study, the analysis of 1.7 million small subunit ribosomal RNA genes amplified and sequenced from marine sediment, bottom seawater and basalt-hosted deep subseafloor fluids that span multiple years and locations on the Juan de Fuca Ridge flank was used to quantitatively delineate a subseafloor microbiome comprised of distinct bacteria and archaea. Hot, anoxic crustal fluids tapped by newly installed seafloor sampling observatories at boreholes U1362A and U1362B contained abundant bacterial lineages of phylogenetically unique Nitrospirae, Aminicenantes, Calescamantes and Chloroflexi. Although less abundant, the domain Archaea was dominated by unique, uncultivated lineages of marine benthic group E, the Terrestrial Hot Spring Crenarchaeotic Group, the Bathyarchaeota and relatives of cultivated, sulfate-reducing Archaeoglobi. Consistent with recent geochemical measurements and bioenergetic predictions, the potential importance of methane cycling and sulfate reduction were imprinted within the basalt-hosted deep subseafloor crustal fluid microbial community. This unique window of access to the deep ocean subsurface basement reveals a microbial landscape that exhibits previously undetected spatial heterogeneity.
Structure and Magnetic Properties of Tb_(3-x)Y_xFe_(26.5)Cr_(2.5)(0.3≤x≤2.5) Compounds at Low Temperature

The Tb3-xYxFe26.5Cr2.5(0.3≤x≤ 2.5) compounds were prepared by arc-melting method.The structure and magnetic properties of Tb3-xYxFe26.5Cr2.5 compounds at low temperature have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurement.It is found that the compounds with single phase crystallize in Nd3(Fe,Ti)29-type structurebelong to the monoclinic symmetry and A2/m space group.The unit cell volume V and the Curie temperature TC of the compounds decrease with increasing Y content.The spontaneous magnetization M0,the saturation magnetization Ms and the anisotropy field Ba of the compounds decrease with decreasing the concentration of Y element.A first order magnetization process appeared on the compounds.
A revisit to interest rates outside the organized money markets of underdeveloped countries

In the November 1957 issue of Staff Papers , a study was performed on interest rates outside the organised money markets of underdeveloped countries. The present work updates the information contained in that study and re-examines its conclusions. The author looks at the size of unorganised money markets, sources of credit, demand for funds, non-institutional rates of interest, links between unorganised and organised money markets and causes of high interest rates. JEL: E43, E51
Dynamic State Estimation Assisted Out-of-Step Detection for Generators Using Angular Difference

Out-of-step detection methods for generators depend on impedance measurements that are mapped from the angular difference between the generator source and the Thevenin equivalent of the interconnected system. Though implemented successfully with decades of operating experience, the mapping is not the most accurate due to a simplified model. This paper proposes an improved out-of-step detection method for generators by means of the most direct indicator—angular difference. The generator's rotor angle is estimated with a particle filter-based dynamic state estimator and the angular separation is then calculated by combining the raw local phasor measurements with this estimate. The method is also enhanced with the real-time stability analysis that is able to predict marginally unstable swings. The approach is illustrated via dynamic simulations on the New England 10-generator, 39-bus system. While consistent with the traditional schemes for out-of-step detection, the proposed method is advantageous in that it does not make any simplifying assumptions in its formulation, and provides early detection for unstable swings resulting in reduced stresses on the breaker and generator. The proposed approach shows great potential to supervise the conventional relay with availability of synchrophasor measurements and computational power.
Variation in CT Number and Image Noise Uniformity According to Patient Positioning in MDCT

OBJECTIVE. Many algorithms for clinical decision making rely on assessment of the CT number (expressed as Hounsfield units); however, to our knowledge, few, if any, studies have addressed how CT numbers change as a function of patient positioning within the scanner. MATERIALS AND METHODS. An anthropomorphic phantom underwent imaging with varying amounts of vertical orientation misalignment with respect to isocenter. CT number and noise were measured using ROIs in the upper thorax, mid thorax, and abdomen. The degree of noise nonuniformity and changes in the CT number were assessed by comparing values obtained in the anterior versus posterior ROIs. To add clinical relevance, data on vertical mispositioning were collected from 20,316 clinical abdominal CT scans. Box-and-whisker plot analysis was used to identify the range of patient positioning. RESULTS. Absolute CT number changes of more than 20 HU were observed for some ROIs at phantom positions of 10 cm from isocenter, with important differences noted be...
Angiosarcoma: Clinical and imaging features from head to toe

Angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive subtype of soft-tissue sarcoma with a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis associated with a generally poor prognosis, unless diagnosed early. Given the vascular endothelial cell origin of angiosarcoma, tumours may develop in essentially any organ; however, there is a predilection for the skin where half of all tumours arise, increasing in prevalence with age. The most common risk factors are chronic lymphoedema and history of radiation. We review the most important radiological findings along the spectrum of angiosarcoma from head to toe throughout the body, including uncommon and rare locations. Key imaging features of angiosarcoma across multiple organ systems will be described, as well as the impact on management and prognosis.
Future methane emissions from the heavy-duty natural gas transportation sector for stasis, high, medium, and low scenarios in 2035

Today’s heavy-duty natural gas–fueled fleet is estimated to represent less than 2% of the total fleet. However, over the next couple of decades, predictions are that the percentage could grow to re...
Mid/Distal Esophageal Cancer and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer (Siewert Type I and II)

The management of mid/distal esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer is challenging with only one-third patient presenting with a potentially resectable disease at diagnosis. Surgery alone treatments result in disappointing outcomes, and its utility as monotherapy has been challenged. Combined modality approach with the incorporation of neoadjuvant chemoradiation is the current standard of care for resectable patients, while definitive chemoradiation is used for locally advanced disease. The radiation techniques have evolved tremendously over past decade with the development of modern radiotherapy delivery techniques capable of safely delivering intensified treatment. This chapter provides a practical guide for evidence and treatment planning for radiation treatment strategies in the context of multimodality setting. The natural history and management of mid/lower esophageal cancer are not very different from GEJ (Siewert type I and II) cancers, and therefore, will be discussed together in this chapter.
Leveraging personal experience for academic research and outreach

Use your individuality to build your career path whether it leans toward academia, outreach, or both. The existing underlying threads between your experiences and the pursuit of research problems might surprise you.
The intergroup foundations of climate change justice

Climate change is a global problem that is caused by humans and must be solved by humans, and while differences exist, many theories and research on prejudice and discrimination have direct connect...
Hot or Cold? The Effects of Anger and Perceived Responsibility on Sport Fans’ Negative Word-of-Mouth in Athlete Scandals

Despite the frequent controversies in sport, little research has been conducted to understand sport consumers' emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to athlete scandals. Drawing from attri...
Medication use evaluation of programmed death-1 inhibitors in a veteran population.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of programmed death-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in a clinical practice setting.MethodsChart reviews were conducted on a total of 21 Veterans with ad...
Distributed Kalman filter with a Gaussian process for machine learning

Distributed estimation is a fundamental problem of sensor networks, in which each node leverages information from neighboring nodes to calculate estimates while maintaining a consensus on those estimates. Estimates may include both the state of the dynamical system and the parameters defining a model of that system. However, the dynamical model may be unknown, time-varying, or contain errors, prompting the need for an adaptive component to learn the dynamics. Adaptive methods have been scarcely addressed in the context of distributed estimation. The novelty of this paper is formulating a methodology involving state estimation, parameter estimation, and consensus filtering. The chosen components include a recursive form of Gaussian process regression for parameter estimation while a distributed Kalman filter enables the consensus and state estimation. Furthermore, this paper derives the objective function and gradient equations for a gradient-based optimization of the parameters defining the dynamical model. Lastly, a simulation demonstrates the distributed estimation capability with a comparison to a centralized solution.
Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Assessment of Mitral Annular Physiology in Patients With Degenerative Mitral Valve Regurgitation Undergoing Surgical Repair: Comparison between Early- and Late-Stage Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Background Ventricular-annular decoupling is thought to exist in all degenerative myxomatous mitral valve (MV) diseases. However, the annular physiology of degenerative MV disease may differ when severe mitral regurgitation (MR) presents at different stages. The aim of this study was to assess differences in mitral annular physiology and surgical effects between early- and late-stage severe MR. Methods Three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography was performed before and after MV surgery in 74 patients with degenerative MV disease, including 57 with early-stage severe MR (without left ventricular remodeling) and 17 with late-stage MR (with left ventricular remodeling). A control group comprised 46 patients without MV disease. Novel 3D MV software was used to evaluate mitral annular dynamics. The degree of annular saddle shape was calculated as the ratio of annular height (AH) to lateromedial diameter (LM). Ventricular-annular decoupling was defined as insufficient systolic AH/LM compared with the control group. Results Prebypass 3D measurements demonstrated that systolic AH/LM in the early-stage group (0.19 ± 0.04) was similar to that in the control group (0.21 ± 0.05; P = .101), while systolic AH/LM in the late-stage group (0.17 ± 0.04) was lower than that in the control group (P = .011). Postbypass comparison showed saddle shape accentuation in the early-stage group (0.20 ± 0.04), similar to that in the control group (P = .3127); the mitral annulus remained flat in the late-stage group (0.17 ± 0.03; P = .004). Conclusions Ventricular-annular decoupling, present in the late-stage group, was absent in the early-stage group. MV repair surgery did not disrupt mitral annular saddle shape in the early-stage group; however, it failed to correct annular dysfunction in the late-stage group. Sequential 3D transesophageal echocardiographic analysis provides comprehensive mitral annular evaluation beyond conventional two-dimensional parameters for determining stages of severe MR.
Precision Lasso: accounting for correlations and linear dependencies in high-dimensional genomic data.

Motivation Association studies to discover links between genetic markers and phenotypes are central to bioinformatics. Methods of regularized regression, such as variants of the Lasso, are popular for this task. Despite the good predictive performance of these methods in the average case, they suffer from unstable selections of correlated variables and inconsistent selections of linearly dependent variables. Unfortunately, as we demonstrate empirically, such problematic situations of correlated and linearly dependent variables often exist in genomic datasets and lead to under-performance of classical methods of variable selection. Results To address these challenges, we propose the Precision Lasso. Precision Lasso is a Lasso variant that promotes sparse variable selection by regularization governed by the covariance and inverse covariance matrices of explanatory variables. We illustrate its capacity for stable and consistent variable selection in simulated data with highly correlated and linearly dependent variables. We then demonstrate the effectiveness of the Precision Lasso to select meaningful variables from transcriptomic profiles of breast cancer patients. Our results indicate that in settings with correlated and linearly dependent variables, the Precision Lasso outperforms popular methods of variable selection such as the Lasso, the Elastic Net and Minimax Concave Penalty (MCP) regression. Availability and implementation Software is available at https://github.com/HaohanWang/thePrecisionLasso. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Novel In Vitro Test Systems and Insights for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Design, Part II: Radial Expansion Forces

Transcatheter mitral valve (TMV) replacement technology has great clinical potential for surgically inoperable patients suffering from mitral regurgitation. An important goal for robust TMV design is maximizing the likelihood of achieving a geometry post-implant that facilitates optimal performance. To support this goal, improved understanding of the annular forces that oppose TMV radial expansion is necessary. In Part II of this study, novel circular and D-shaped Radial Expansion Force Transducers (C-REFT and D-REFT) were developed and employed in porcine hearts (N = 12), to detect the forces required to radially expand the mitral annulus to discrete oversizing levels. Forces on both the septal-lateral and inter-commissural axes (FSL and FIC) scaled with device size. The D-REFT experienced lower FSL than the C-REFT (19.8 ± 7.4 vs. 17.4 ± 10.8 N, p = 0.002) and greater FIC (31.5 ± 14.0 vs. 36.9 ± 16.2 N; p = 0.002), and was more sensitive to degree of oversizing. Across all tests, FIC/FSL was 2.21 ± 1.33, likely reflecting low resistance to radial expansion at the aorto-mitral curtain. In conclusion, the annular forces opposing TMV radial expansion are non-uniform, and depend on final TMV shape and size. Based on this two-part study, we propose that radial force applied at the commissural aspect of the annulus has the most potent effect on paravalvular sealing.
Relationships Between Life Stressors, Health Behaviors, and Chronic Medical Conditions in Mid-Life Adults: A Narrative Review.

Objectives (1) To explore stressors affecting midlife adults and understand their impact on health behaviors and the development of chronic medical conditions; (2) To identify midlife-specific interventions that mitigate the impact of stressors on the health of this population. Methods We searched the PubMed database from inception to December 2017 using the search terms [mid-life] and [midlife] paired with related behaviors and conditions. Eligible articles provided data on: (1) sources of stress and effects on health behaviors, (2) development of chronic medical conditions, or (3) midlife interventions targeting health-related stressors or behaviors. We also reviewed the references of articles found in the initial search to identify additional articles. We included studies not focused on midlife for comparison. Results This review revealed that interpersonal stress (e.g., caregiving and loneliness), occupational stress, and financial stress are highly prevalent in midlife and have a substantial impact on the health and health behaviors of this population. Many of these stressors converge, intensifying associated distress and health impact. Although not always targeted specifically to this population, interventions focused on diminishing these stressors have showed promising results, particularly group interventions and those focused on positive psychological well-being and mindfulness. Conclusion Midlife is a large and growing population at high risk for chronic medical conditions. Specific stressors during this period are negatively associated with health outcomes. Further research is needed on midlife-specific interventions focused on mitigating these stressors, as such interventions have the potential to improve quality of life and promote health in this significant and vulnerable segment of society.
Information-Theoretic Image Formation with Applications in Hyperspectral and Medical Imaging

Information theory plays a role in many aspects of imaging problems, from the problem definition, through the development of algorithms, to the implementation of those algorithms and performance quantification. While derivation of performance bounds is arguably the most fundamental contribution of information theory to imaging problems, development of algorithms based on information-theoretic criteria is also important. An important class of algorithms for imaging problem consists of alternating minimization algorithms. We discuss the derivation of alternating minimization algorithms that result from minimization of the I-divergence between two functions where the first function is restricted to a linear family and the second function is restricted to an exponential family. Many well known alternating minimization algorithms fit within this framework including algorithms for extracting endmembers in hyperspectral imaging and for forming images in transmission tomography. These two examples are discussed in detail.
Quantitative Guidelines for Establishing and Operating Soil Archives

Soil archives are widely recognized as important, but there is limited information available on the basic elements of archive design, such as how much material to archive, which sites and horizons to prioritize, and the most effective way to promote an archive. Here I address these gaps based on 6 yr of operating the National Ecological Observatory Network’s (NEON) Megapit Soil Archive, which has provided over 1500 samples to researchers. Active outreach by NEON staff was the most effective way of raising awareness of the archive among the user community. On average, 14.6 ± 4.3 g soil was sent to requesters per sample per year, with soils from A horizons and intensively studied sites consumed fastest. Based on these consumption rates and depending on soil horizon and site type, archiving between 22.3 and 39.9 g soil for each year of a sample’s desired lifespan would be sufficient to ensure that it is not exhausted earlier than expected with ≥89% confidence. Similarly, 500 g of archived soil would be sufficient for the vast majority of samples to last at least 12 to 22 yr, depending on horizon and site type. A simple equation is proposed, and parameterized using NEON data, to determine the quantity of soil necessary to archive if the desired sample lifespan is known. Setting a desired lifespan can inform archive management decisions, such as the number of requests to approve and whether to increase or decrease the allocation of resources to raising awareness of the archive.
The Addition of Rituximab to CHOP Chemotherapy Improves Response Rate, Failure-Free Survival and Overall Survival for Follicular Grade 3 Lymphoma Compared to CHOP Alone

Background: FL3 is a subcategory of follicular lymphomas that is challenging in that it behaves aggressively like large cell lymphomas. If treated with CHOP, however it has a clinical course of relapse and treatment failure similar to grade 1–2 follicular lymphoma. We looked at the outcome of FL3 patients treated with RCHOP, combining rituximab with CHOP. There are no large study reports of this regimen’s results in FL3 to our knowledge. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 45 patients with follicular grade 3 lymphoma who were treated with rituximab and the combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC). Response rate (RR), failure-free survival (FFS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated and a historical comparison to 111 CHOP only treated patients was made. Results: The International Prognostic Index (IPI) distribution was: 47% Low, 36% Low-Intermediate, 13% High-intermediate, and 4% High-risk. The complete response rate was 96%. Forty-four out of 45 patients are still alive. Median follow-up is 3.5 years. The 3-year FFS rate according to IPI was 80% (95% CI: 64% to 100%) in low risk, 81% in low-intermediate (95% CI 64% to 100%), and was 50% (95% CI: 25% to 100%) in high-intermediate/high-risk patient group. The addition of rituximab to CHOP improved both 5-year FFS, 71% (95% CI: 58% to 87%) compared to 44% of CHOP alone (95% CI: 36% to 55%) with p-value of 0.019 and 5-year OS, 98% (95% CI: 93% to 100%) compared to 75% (95% CI: 67% to 84) with p-valule of 0.0034. The addition of rituximab to CHOP improve the FFS compared to CHOP alone when subgroups of IPI were analyzed and compared (p=.002) Conclusion: The addition of rituximab to CHOP provided a high response rate and excellent early survival. Poor risk patients continue to demonstrate a high rate of failure despite the use of rituximab.
Early Diagnosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome Reduces Obesity and Associated Co-Morbidities.

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is an imprinting genetic disorder characterized by lack of expression of genes on the paternal chromosome 15q11–q13 region. Growth hormone (GH) replacement positively influences stature and body composition in PWS. Our hypothesis was that early diagnosis delays onset of obesity in PWS. We studied 352 subjects with PWS, recruited from the NIH Rare Disease Clinical Research Network, to determine if age at diagnosis, ethnicity, gender, and PWS molecular class influenced the age they first become heavy, as determined by their primary care providers, and the age they first developed an increased appetite and began seeking food. The median ages that children with PWS became heavy were 10 years, 6 years and 4 years for age at diagnosis < 1 year, between 1 and 3 years, and greater than 3 years of age, respectively. The age of diagnosis and ethnicity were significant factors influencing when PWS children first became heavy (p < 0.01), however gender and the PWS molecular class had no influence. Early diagnosis delayed the onset of becoming heavy in individuals with PWS, permitting early GH and other treatment, thus reducing the risk of obesity-associated co-morbidities. Non-white individuals had an earlier onset of becoming heavy.
What’s Personhood Got to Do with it?

Consider a binary afterlife, wherein some people go to Heaven, others to Hell, and nobody goes to both. Would such a system be just? Theodore Sider argues: no. For, any possible criterion of determining where people go will involve treating very similar (possible) individuals very differently. Here, I argue that this point has deep and underappreciated implications for moral philosophy. The argument proceeds by analogy: many ethical theories make a sharp and practically significant distinction between persons and non-persons. Yet, just like in the binary afterlife, this involves treating very similar individuals very differently. I propose two ways out. The first is to deny that such theories are strictly speaking true, but to claim that it is practically best if people adopt them. The second is to modify such theories so as to allow for continuous variation in the scope and strength of the moral obligations arising from personhood.
Understanding the early mortality benefit observed in the PARADIGM-HF trial: considerations for the management of heart failure with sacubitril/valsartan

This review aims to elucidate the optimal dosing of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) therapy in the heart failure (HF) treatment paradigm through examination of the trial population characteristics and the mortality benefit observed in the Prospective Comparison of ARNI with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF; {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01035255","term_id":"NCT01035255"}}NCT01035255) trial. Considerations regarding the initiation and titration of sacubitril/valsartan, a first-in-class ARNI, will also be addressed. The approval of sacubitril/valsartan heralded the first novel pharmacological class in over a decade for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The PARADIGM-HF trial showed that treatment with valsartan/valsartan reduced the risk of first occurrence of either cardiovascular death or HF-related hospitalization (composite primary endpoint) by 20% compared with enalapril in patients with HFrEF. The incremental benefits of treatment with valsartan/valsartan over enalapril demonstrated in the PARADIGM-HF trial led to strong recommendations for its use over ACEIs or angiotensin receptor blockers to further reduce morbidity and mortality in the 2016 and 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America updates to the guidelines for the management of HF. Although the optimal timing for the initiation of valsartan/valsartan has yet to be determined, its early use is likely to have a positive impact on patient outcomes.
Efficient non-line-of-sight imaging with computational single-photon imaging

Single-photon detectors time-stamp incident photon events with picosecond accuracy. When combined with pulsed light sources, these emerging detectors record transient measurements of a scene containing the time of flight information of the direct light reflecting off of visible objects, and also the indirectly scattered light from objects outside the line of sight. The latter information has recently been demonstrated to enable non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging, where advanced inverse methods process time-resolved indirect light transport of a scene to estimate the 3D shape of objects hidden around corners. In this article, we review computationally efficient NLOS approaches that build on confocally scanned data, where the light pulses used to probe a scene are optically aligned with the detection path. This specific scanning procedure has given rise to computationally efficient inverse methods that enable real-time NLOS image reconstruction.
Relationship described by bereaved caregivers (BCGs) between blood transfusions and hospice utilization for loved-ones (LOs) who died from acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

e24002Background: Patients with AML may under-utilize hospice due to a reluctance to discontinue potentially life-sustaining transfusions. Transfusions while on hospice are a proposed solution. Met...
Lidar-Based Lane Marking Extraction Through Intensity Thresholding and Deep Learning Approaches: a Pavement-Based Assessment

Abstract. With the rapid development of autonomous vehicles (AV) and high-definition (HD) maps, up-to-date lane marking information is necessary. Over the years, several lane marking extraction approaches have been proposed with many of them based on accurate and dense Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data collected by mobile mapping systems (MMS). This study proposes a normalized intensity thresholding strategy and a deep learning strategy with automatically generated labels. The former extracts lane markings directly from LiDAR point clouds while the latter utilizes 2D intensity images generated from the LiDAR point cloud. Additionally, the proposed approaches are also compared with state-of-the-art strategies such as original intensity thresholding and a deep learning approach based on manually established labels. Finally, each strategy is evaluated in asphalt and concrete pavements separately to assess their sensitivity to the nature of pavement surface. The results show that the deep learning model trained with automatically generated labels performs the best in both asphalt and concrete pavement area with an F1-score of 84.9% and 85.1%. In asphalt pavement area, original intensity thresholding strategy shows a lane marking extraction performance comparable to the other strategies while in concrete pavement area, it is significantly poor with an F1-score of 65.1%. Between the proposed normalized intensity thresholding and deep learning model trained with manually labeled data, the former performs better in asphalt pavement area while the latter obtains better results in concrete pavements.