cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boundary Stiffness Regulates Fibroblast Behavior in Collagen Gels

Recent studies utilizing compliant culture substrates clearly demonstrate that many cell behaviors such as migration and contraction are strongly influenced by the stiffness of the local environment. The goal of this work was to develop a method for studying stiffness-dependent biology within 3D cell-populated gels without altering the biochemical environment of the gel. A device was developed utilizing compliant anchors to tune the boundary stiffness of suspended collagen gels. Human fibroblasts compacted the gels to a greater extent as the stiffness of the anchors was decreased. Further, the force generated by the cells increased with increased boundary stiffness, and the response of the cells to TGF-β1 was accentuated as the stiffness increased. This new method represents a promising tool for the controlled study of stiffness-dependent biology within tissuelike 3D environments.© 2008 ASME
Open Carpal Tunnel Release Is the Preferred Method of Surgical Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Question: In patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, how effective are various surgical treatments for relieving symptoms and promoting return to work and to activities of daily living? Data sources: Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE (1966 to 2000), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica) (1988 to 2000), and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The references of retrieved articles were scanned. Study selection: Studies were selected if they were full reports of randomized, controlled clinical trials, published in Dutch, English, French, or German, that compared different surgical techniques for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Data extraction: Two reviewers independently assessed …
Studies on the mechanism of in vitro acid hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

1. The mechanism of acid hemolysis of PNH erythrocytes appears to be a direct mechanism, with the production of an initial "hole" in the membrane sufficiently large to permit the direct egress of hemoglobin. 2. PNH erythrocytes react like normal red cells with rabbit antihuman red cell antibody and human or guinea pig C9 at pH 7.2 to produce a membrane defect which is less than 32.5 A in effective diffusion radius. 3. Inhibition of acid hemolysis of PNH erythrocytes by high molecular weight dextrans (Dextran 150) is also associated with inhibition of K + loss, indicating inhibition of complement.
Two-dimensional light-front ϕ 4 theory in a symmetric polynomial basis

We study the lowest-mass eigenstates of ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{1+1}^{4}$ theory with both odd and even numbers of constituents. The calculation is carried out as a diagonalization of the light-front Hamiltonian in a Fock-space representation. In each Fock sector a fully symmetric polynomial basis is used to represent the Fock wave function. Convergence is investigated with respect to the number of basis polynomials in each sector and with respect to the number of sectors. The dependence of the spectrum on the coupling strength is used to estimate the critical coupling for the positive-mass-squared case. An apparent discrepancy with equal-time calculations of the critical coupling is resolved by an appropriate mass renormalization.
Evolutionary test data generation: a comparison of fitness functions: Research Articles

Previous research using genetic algorithms to automate the generation of data for path testing has utilized several different fitness functions, assessing their usefulness by comparing them to random generation. This paper describes two sets of experiments that assess the performance of several fitness functions, relative to one another and to random generation. The results demonstrate that some fitness functions provide better results than others, generating fewer test cases to exercise a given program path. In these studies, the branch predicate and inverse path probability approaches were the best performers, suggesting that a two-step process combining these two methods may be the most efficient and effective approach to path testing. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monetary policy shocks and the dynamics of agricultural commodity prices: evidence from structural and factor‐augmented VAR analyses

Fluctuation in commodity prices is a significant and timely issue to be studied. This study is to examine the impact of monetary policy and other macroeconomic shocks on the dynamics of agricultural commodity prices. The major contributions of this study are twofold. First, unlike other studies that use indexes, this study analyzes the commodities individually, affording the inclusion of commodity-specific fundamentals such as the level of inventory—an important determinant of commodity price—in a structural VAR framework. Second, it exploits a rich data set of agricultural commodity prices which includes commodities that are usually overlooked in the literature, and extracts a common factor using the dynamic factor model to understand the extent of comovement of the prices and to gauge the extent to which macroeconomic shocks drive the “comovement” in a factor-augmented VAR (FAVAR) framework. The findings show that monetary policy, global economic conditions, and the U.S. dollar exchange rates play an important role in the dynamics of agricultural commodity prices.
RFI detection and mitigation using independent component analysis as a pre-processor

Radio-frequency interference (RFI) has negatively impacted scientific measurements of passive remote sensing satellites. This has been observed in the L-band radiometers Microwave Imaging Radiometer with Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) for the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission, Aquarius and more recently, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP). RFI has also been observed at higher frequencies such as K band. Improvements in technology have allowed wider bandwidth digital back ends for passive microwave radiometry. A radio frequency interference detector based on complex signal kurtosis was developed to help identify corrupted measurements. This work explores the use of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) as a blind source separation (BSS) technique to pre-process radiometric signals for use with the previously developed real and complex signal kurtosis detectors.
Neurologic Emergencies on Computed Tomography of the Head

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader, a seasoned radiologist, a budding resident, or a curious practitioner, the background necessary to accurately and swiftly interpret a head computed tomography in the emergency setting. At the very least, being able to generate a reasonable differential diagnosis is the aim and will be accomplished by describing not only features of classic neurologic emergencies but also the possible traps to which one may fall prey. Images will be used to illustrate cases, and the reader will be instructed when other imaging modalities may be required to clarify diagnoses.
Multiple Perspectives on the State-Mandated Implementation of a High-Stakes Performance Assessment for Preservice English Teacher Candidates

ABSTRACTDrawing on situated learning and communities of practice, this teacher-research study examined multiple stakeholders’ perspectives about the purpose, design, and inaugural implementation of the edTPA, a teacher performance assessment mandated for state certification. Participants included teacher candidates, mentor teachers, a field placement supervisor, and a teacher educator involved with one English education program. Data included edTPA-related documents, artifacts from a student-teaching seminar, and interviews. Findings indicated differences in perspective. Mentors had the most negative views and the least information about the assessment, as well as the most skepticism about its positioning within the state’s reform agenda. Candidates and the field supervisor identified benefits and concerns about the impact on student teaching. The teacher educator expressed anger and fear related to the new mandate but, over time, identified some aspects of the assessment aligning with past practice. Impl...
Race Disparities in the Contribution of miRNA Isoforms and tRNA-Derived Fragments to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer subtype characterized by marked differences between White and Black/African-American women. We performed a systems-level analysis on datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to elucidate how the expression patterns of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are shaped by regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Specifically, we studied isomiRs, i.e. isoforms of microRNAs (miRNAs), and tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs). In normal breast tissue, we observed a marked cohesiveness in both the ncRNA and mRNA layers and the associations between them. This cohesiveness was widely disrupted in TNBC: many mRNAs become either differentially expressed or differentially wired between normal breast and TNBC in tandem with isomiR or tRF dysregulation. The affected pathways included energy metabolism, cell signaling and immune responses. Within TNBC, the wiring of the affected pathways with isomiRs and tRFs differed in each race. Multiple isomiRs and tRFs arising from specific miRNA loci (e.g., miR-200c, miR-21, the miR-17/92 cluster, the miR-183/96/182 cluster) and from specific tRNA loci (e.g. the nuclear tRNAGly and tRNALeu, the mitochondrial tRNAVal and tRNAPro) were strongly associated with the observed race disparities in TNBC. We highlight the race-specific aspects of transcriptome wiring by discussing in detail the metastasis-related MAPK and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, two of the many key pathways that were found differentially wired. In conclusion, by employing a data- and knowledge-driven approach we comprehensively analyzed the normal and cancer transcriptomes to uncover novel key contributors to the race-based disparities of TNBC.
Effects of growth implants on consumer perceptions of meat tenderness in beef steers.

Anabolic steroid implants are routinely used to increase growth performance and profitability; however, there are concerns that the use of implants, particularly those containing trenbolone acetate, may have detrimental effects on carcass quality and beef tenderness. Thus, the objectives of the current study were to determine the effects of various commonly used implant regimens on shear force values, sensory properties, and consumer satisfaction of beef top loin steaks from cattle of Bos indicus influence. Cattle were supplied by producers that agreed to provide sire and dam information in exchange for carcass and sensory data. Steers (n = 2,748) were assigned randomly to one of three implant treatments (12/sire; four steers from each sire were placed into each treatment group): 1) unimplanted controls (n = 1,368); 2) Synovex-S followed by another Synovex-S (n = 660); or 3) Synovex-S followed by Revalor-S (n = 720). Steaks sampled after 3, 7, and 14 d of aging indicated that unimplanted cattle had lower (P 0.05) in shear force values were found between the two treatments or the control groups for steaks sampled following a 21-d aging period. Steaks from implanted animals sampled after 3, 7, and 14 d aging were rated lower (P 0.10 and 0.18, respectively) or tenderness acceptability (P > 0.11 and 0.68, respectively); however, consumers with postgraduate degrees recorded lower (P 0.21), beef flavor (P > 0.28), juiciness (P > 0.58), or tenderness (P > 0.45) scores. Results indicate that using a moderate implant program in Bos indicus-influenced cattle has no detrimental effects on beef tenderness and consumer acceptability.
Science in the service of patients: lessons from the past in the moral battle for the future of medical education.

Medical schools instill a classic moral standoff in which the responsibility for the betterment of the patient stands at odds with the responsibility for the betterment of society. In critical ways, the latter, in the form of a robust research and technology-driven enterprise, has taken precedence over the former, resulting in harm to patients and individual dignity. This tradeoff can be traced to Abraham Flexner, the father of American medical education. In the wake of the Flexner report, American medicine set out on a course of exponential scientific advancement, but the mistreatment of research subjects and the erosion of the doctor-patient relationship in a health care system that is increasingly unaffordable, complex, and impersonal suggest that such progress has come at a price. Recent efforts by medical schools to emphasize humanism in their curricula and admissions processes have shown promise in orienting the values of academic medicine toward the individual patient’s well-being.
Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release

Endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression is a new and effective way of relieving CTS. It shortens the recovery period and the length of time required to resume normal postoperative activity. The majority of our patients have experienced relief of symptoms and, in instances where the opposite hand was affected by CTS, have returned for that hand to be surgically repaired. Because there is less trauma with this method, and because of the patient's rapid recovery, it is common to perform bilateral releases. It is thought that patients who require surgical intervention will choose to have the procedure done sooner because of the availability of endoscopy, thereby decreasing the incidence of entrapment neuropathy that occurs late in the CTS process.
Molecular Ecology of Phytoplankton Photosynthesis

The ability to derive basin-scale maps of phytoplankton chlorophyll in the upper ocean from satellite color sensors (see Lewis, this volume) has led increasingly to the development of models relating biomass to primary production (Eppley et al., 1985; Falkowski, 1981; Platt, 1986; Platt and Sathyendranath, 1988; Morel, 1991). Chlorophyll, however, represents a pool size, while primary production is a flux. To derive a flux from a pool, a time-dependent variable must be incorporated. The simplest models relating carbon fixation to chlorophyll incorporate irradiance (Bidigare et al., this volume); the transfer function is a quantum yield. These so-called light-chlorophyll models (Ryther and Yentsch, 1957; Cullen, 1990) are virtually impossible to verify in the ocean, hence their credulity presumably lies in understanding the underlying biological processes and how those processes are regulated. Here, I examine how some of the key parameters which are implicitly or explicitly incorporated in rational light-chlorophyll models are regulated at a fundamental, molecular level.
Impaired Proinflammatory Response in Stringently Defined Otitis-prone Children During Viral Upper Respiratory Infections.

BACKGROUND Viral upper respiratory infections (URIs) are common and often precipitate acute otitis media (AOM), caused by bacterial otopathogens, in young children. Acute inflammatory responses initiated in the early phase of viral URI contribute to preventing the development of AOM. Stringently-defined otitis-prone (sOP) children are susceptible to recurrent AOM. METHODS We assessed proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in the nasopharynxes during viral URIs, and examined the different nasopharyngeal responses between viral URI events and the following AOM episodes in both sOP and non-otitis-prone (NOP) children. RESULTS The sOP children exhibited significantly more AOM episodes per child (8.86-fold higher), viral URIs (P < .0001), and viral URIs followed by AOMs (P < .0001) than the NOP children. The sOP children had lower nasal proinflammatory levels of interleukin (IL)-6 (P = .05), IL-10 (P = .001), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P = .004), and regulated on activation, normal T-cell-expressed and -secreted (RANTES; P = .002) than NOP children during viral URIs. NOP children had higher levels of IL-6 (P = .02), IL-10 (P = .02), interferon-γ (P = .003), TNF-α (P = .006), IL-1β (P = .022), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (P = .028), RANTES (P = .005), IL-2 (P = .002), and IL-17 (P = .007) during viral URIs versus AOMs following the URIs, when compared to sOP children. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that sOP children have more frequent viral URIs than NOP children, due to deficient antiviral nasopharyngeal proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses.
PUMA: A tool for processing 16S rRNA taxonomy data for analysis and visualization

Microbial community profiling and functional inference via 16S rRNA analysis is quickly expanding across various areas of microbiology due to improvements to technology. There are numerous platforms for producing 16S rRNA taxonomic data which often vary in file and sequence formatting, creating a common barrier in microbiome studies. Additionally, many of the methods for analyzing and visualizing this sequencing data each require their own specific formatting. As a result, efficient and reproducible comparative analysis of taxonomic data and corresponding metadata in multiple programs remains a challenge in the investigation of microbial communities. PUMA, the Program for Unifying Microbiome Analysis, alleviates this problem in microbiome studies by allowing users to take advantage of numerous 16S rRNA taxonomic identification platforms and analysis tools in an efficient manner. PUMA accepts sequencing results from several taxonomic identification platforms and then automates configuration of data and file types for analysis and visualization via many popular tools. The protocol accomplishes this by producing a variety of properly configured, annotated, and altered files for both analysis and visualization of taxonomic community profiles and inferred functional profiles. PUMA provides an easy and flexible interface to accommodate for a variety of users to produce all files needed for all-inclusive analysis of targeted amplicon sequencing studies. PUMA is an unprecedented open-source solution for unifying multiple microbiome analysis softwares and uses an adaptable implementation with the potential to improve and consolidate the state of microbiome research.
The role of functional status on the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive decline: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Objective To examine whether self-reported functional status modified the association between blood pressure (BP) and cognitive decline among older adults. Methods The study included 2097 US adults aged 75 years and older from the Cardiovascular Health Study, followed for up to 6 years. Functional status was ascertained by self-reported limitation in activities of daily living (ADL; none vs. any). Cognitive function was assessed by the Modified Mini Mental State Exam (3MSE). We used linear mixed models to examine whether the presence of at least one ADL limitation modified the association between BP and cognitive decline. Potential confounders included demographics, physiologic measures, antihypertensive medication use and apolipoprotein E e4 allele. We conducted stratified analyses for significant interactions between BP and ADL. Results The association between BP and change in 3MSE differed by baseline ADL limitation. Among participants without ADL limitation, elevated systolic BP (≥140 mmHg) was associated with a 0.15 decrease (95% CI -0.24 to -0.07); P value for interaction less than 0.001, whereas in those with an ADL limitation, elevated systolic BP was independently associated with a 0.30 increase in 3MSE scores per year (95% CI 0.06-0.55). Elevated diastolic BP (≥80 mmHg) was associated with an increase in cognitive function in both groups, although the increase was greater in those with ADL limitation (0.47 points per year vs. 0.18 points per year, P value for interaction = 0.01). Conclusion Elevated BP appears to be associated with a decrease in cognitive scores among functioning older adults, and modest improvements in cognitive function among poorly functioning elders.
Meditation-based mind-body therapies for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis.

Meditation-based mind-body therapies (yoga, tai-chi, qi-gong, mindfulness) have been suggested to have a potential therapeutic effect on negative symptoms. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining effectiveness of yoga, tai-chi, qi-gong and mindfulness on negative symptoms of schizophrenia, using different databases and trial registries. The primary outcome was effect of mind-body therapies on negative symptoms and the secondary outcome was effect on positive symptoms. Fifteen RCTs were included in the meta-analysis (N = 1081 patients). Overall, we found a beneficial effect of mind-body interventions on negative symptoms at endpoint compared to treatment-as-usual or non-specific control interventions, but the effect was small and moderate to high heterogeneity was present. A subgroup analysis for different types of therapy revealed a significant effect of mindfulness-based and yoga interventions on negative symptoms, but heterogeneity within the yoga subgroup was high. Our results did not show an increase of positive symptoms (N = 1051). Our results suggest a potential for meditation-based mind-body therapies in the treatment of negative symptoms, in particular for mindfulness based approaches and to a lesser extent yoga. Limitations in the available comparisons do not allow concluding on a specific effect of these interventions. Overall, the currently available evidence remains limited and does not yet allow one to recommend mind-body therapies for the reduction of negative symptoms. However, the present findings justify further research on mind-body therapies for the treatment of negative symptoms.
Preventing Infections in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is an uncommon complication after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) but leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Prevention is one of the most important strategies in combating PJI after UKA. There are many prevention strategies, and they can be categorized as preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative. Preoperative strategies emphasize medically optimizing the host, modifying patient risk factors for PJI, appropriate skin cleansing, and infection screening. Intraoperative strategies are focused on creating and maintaining a sterile environment, antibiotic prophylaxis, and limiting operating room time. Postoperative strategies are focused on avoiding allogeneic blood transfusions, utilizing aspirin for venous thromboembolic event prophylaxis, and antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal procedures. Future research is warranted to determine the most cost-effective and clinically efficacious strategies to preventing PJI after UKA.
Use of Standardized Patients in Endocrinology Fellowship Programs to Teach Competent Transgender Care.

Purpose Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals have unique health care needs and have difficulty accessing health care services because of a lack of qualified health care providers, insurance coverage, mistreatment, and bias by the medical community. Medical trainees and physicians report a lack of education in, and exposure to, the clinical care and unique aspects of this field. We assessed the use of a standardized patient as a tool to evaluate 4 core medical competencies (patient care, medical knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal communication) of endocrinology fellows at a single training program. Methods Endocrine fellows were evaluated by faculty in different aspects of transgender care and completed a self-assessment before and after the exercise. Faculty viewed the fellows during the Objective Clinical Structured Examination. Fellows were provided feedback by a faculty member and the standardized patient after the exercise. Results Deficits were found in patient care and professionalism. Fellows scored well in medical knowledge. Fellows did not report an improvement in comfort and communication skills after the exercise. Interestingly, fellows' self-assessment scores in several domains declined after the standardized patient encounter, highlighting an occasion for self-reflection and growth within the realms of cultural competency and medical knowledge. Main conclusions We conclude that use of standardized patients to teach medical competencies in transgender medicine may be one approach to improve exposure to, and training in, transgender medicine. Endocrine fellows still had discomfort treating transgender individuals after the standardized patient encounter and require other training activities that may include didactics and clinical case discussions.
Adventures in NoSQL for Metadata Management

This paper describes an attempt to use a NoSQL database engine to manage custom metadata using a rich query interface as motivating and descriptive examples of what kind of functionality is desired. While the difficulties are numerous, a number of important considerations for how and when to use this alternative technology were revealed as well as some initial performance numbers showing the performance impact of those choices.
The Effects of Establishing Intimacy and Consubstantiality on Group Discussions About Climate Change Solutions

The many obstacles to productive climate change communication necessitate new approaches. Based on science communication strategies that promote engagement rather than knowledge transfer, we assign...
Nitrogen fixation associated with the decomposition of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera

Abstract The seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera plays an important role in the coastal zone as a result of its global distribution, high productivity and detrital export, and the high diversity of the ecological communities that it supports. Growth of the giant kelp Macrocystis, like other seaweeds, is often limited by the availability of fixed nitrogen. Several other macroalgal species have been reported to harbor microbial symbionts that fix ubiquitous dissolved N2, converting it into bioavailable forms, and potentially making a significant contribution to algal nutrition. Our investigation shows that N2 fixation on living Macrocystis (mean 0.17 μmol g−1 d−1) was more than 10 times greater than that associated with all but one of the 14 other macroalgal species we studied. However, this rate is insufficient to contribute significantly to Macrocystis growth. Instead, we reported much higher rates of N2 fixation (up to 23 μmol g−1 d−1) associated with detrital or decomposing Macrocystis. Decomposition-related N2 fixation on Macrocystis is stimulated both by anaerobic conditions and amendment with mannitol or phosphate, but is inhibited by light, and is therefore, likely a heterotrophic process in contrast to the cyanobacterial N2 fixation reported for Codium and Sargassum. Using O2 microsensors, we show that anaerobic conditions around the Macrocystis blade are unlikely to develop in attached plants. Nitrogen fixation may be important in kelp rafts and wrack, where it could contribute as much as a 4-fold increase in the availability of nitrogen to support microbial and invertebrate communities.
Development of a tool to allocate inpatient specialized pharmacy resources at a comprehensive cancer center.

PurposeDevelop an objective tool to align the needs of inpatient services at a Comprehensive Cancer Center with the available resources of hematology/oncology clinical specialist pharmacists.Summar...
Gender Difference in the Association Between E-Cigarette Use and Depression among US Adults.

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the association between e-cigarette use and depression and examine how this association is different by gender among US adults. Methods Data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends was used, and included 174,351 of 230,875 US adults aged 18 years and older. Data were analyzed using the multivariate logistic regression models. Results After adjusting for age, race, education, income, marital status, employment status, smoking status, and physical activity, firstly, "current daily e-cigarette users" (AOR = 2.487, p < 0.001), "current non-daily e-cigarette users" (AOR = 1.623, p < 0.001), and "former e-cigarette users" (AOR = 1.573, p < 0.001) were associated with increased odds of depression compared with "never e-cigarette users." Secondly, women were associated with increased odds of depression compared with men (AOR = 1.797, p < 0.001). Finally, male "current daily e-cigarette users" (AOR = 1.366, p < 0.01) were associated with increased odds of depression compared with female "never e-cigarette users." Conclusion Thus, even though women tend to be more vulnerable to depression compared with men, e-cigarette use was positively associated with depression among both men and women.
Deep learning-based denoising for magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive imaging tool for detecting and quantifying metabolites in vivo. However, the spectral data often suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to low concentrations of metabolites and limited acquisition time. In this work, we introduce a deep learning-based method for denoising MRS spectra. By identifying and characterizing the sparse representations in the feature vector domain of the noise in MRS data using the deep learning network, the non-signal components can be removed to improve the SNR of spectral data. We used a stack auto-encoder (SAE) network to train the deep learning-based model based on high SNR data collected from a brain phantom using a high number of signal average (NSA=192). To overcome overfitting, the SAE network is trained in a patch-based manner. The network and denoising method were then tested using the noisy data collected in the same sample volume but using low NSA (NSA=8) with much shorter acquisition time. The denoising performance of the reported method was then evaluated using statistical comparison analysis of spectra before and after being denoised and the paired “ground truth” high NSA spectra based on the measurements of SNR, and mean squared error (MSE) and known metabolite levels. for the results of testing and evaluating the reported method showed that the SNR improved by 40% and the MSE reduced by 72% in the data collected from the brain phantom, while, the SNR improved by 47% and the MSE reduced by 27% in the data collected from the human subjects. In summary, the reported deep-learning method demonstrated a model-free approach to enhance SNR of noisy MRS data that otherwise cannot be used for quantitative analysis. The potential applications of include using low NSA or short data collection time to accelerate MRS exams while maintaining adequate spectroscopic information for detection and quantification of the metabolites of interest when a little time is available for an MRS exam in the clinical setting.
User Experience Best Practices for Human-Robot Interaction

User experience (UX) design of human-robot interaction (HRI) is an emerging practice [1]. Best practices for this discipline are actively evolving as robotics expands into commercial markets. As is typical of emerging technologies, the technology itself takes center stage, continuing to present challenges to proper functioning as it is tested in real world applications. Also, deployment comes at a high price until the market is competitive enough to drive hardware and development prices down. All these aspects preclude an emphasis on UX design, until the technology and associated market reaches a tipping point and good user experience is in demand. If robots continue to be deployed at rates the industry currently predicts, the need for user experience design knowledge and best practices for HRI is eminent. Best practices are a collection of methods, specifically principles, heuristic evaluators and taxonomies [2]. Principles embody high level guidance for design direction and design processes [3]. Heuristics ensure measurable “must have” base-functionality [4, 5, 6]. Taxonomies provide a conceptual understanding of possible categories of interactivity [7, 8, 9]. This paper focuses on two aspects of best practices, 1.) proposing a robustly user-centric set of emerging technology principles for HRI, which is the area of best practices least explored by the literature, and 2.) proposing a design matrix as a beginning step in addressing the complexity of HRI.
Comparison of {O,S}- vs {N,S}-donor ligands in PtNi heterobimetallic lantern complexes

Abstract A pair of thiocarboxylate lantern complexes, [PtNi(SAc)4(L)] (L = pyCN (2), HpipCN (3)) and three new {N,S} chelated mercaptopyridine lantern complexes [PtNi(mpyS)4(L)] (L = H2O (4), MeCN (5), pyCN (6)) have been synthesized and characterized by SCXRD, 1H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, as well as elemental analysis and RT solution magnetization. A detailed structural comparison was made of the {O,S} and {N,S} donor systems that demonstrates that the stronger field mercaptopyridine ligand decreases the Pt (donor) – M (acceptor) character within the lantern, reducing the Pt(II) Lewis acidity and therefore preventing the formation of intermolecular interactions in Ni(II) complexes 4–6. An unexpected pentameric species [Pt(PtNi(mpyS)4(Cl))2] (7) was also formed, albeit in very low quantities, that showed the importance of the choice of Ni(II) starting material. Additionally, the development of an improved air- and water-stable synthesis for the formation of the homoleptic, [Pt2(pyS)4], is reported.
Availability of Integrative Medicine Therapies at National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Community Hospitals

Introduction: The authors compared the availability of integrative medicine therapies in National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and community hospitals. Methods: The auth...
Heat stress mitigation strategies used by midwestern cattle feeders

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this survey was to obtain descriptive data and cattle feeders’ perceptions regarding facilities and heat stress (HS) mitigation strategies. Materials and Methods Feedlot managers (n = 46) from South Dakota (SD; n = 21), Minnesota (MN; n = 6), and Nebraska (NE; n = 19) were surveyed regarding facilities, management, and perceptions of HS mitigation strategies. The SD and MN responses were combined (MN/SD) for summarization. Results and Discussion Open yards (OY) were the most commonly reported facility, particularly in NE, where OY were reported by 100% of participants and comprised 90% of facility types. Facility types in MN/SD were more diverse, with OY, total barn confinement, and partially covered comprising 49, 30, and 21% of all facility types, respectively. Shades and sprinklers were used in 79 and 100% of NE OY, respectively, compared with 32 and 86% of MN/SD OY, respectively. Feed deliveries were adjusted in summer by 37 and 30% of NE and MN/SD managers, respectively. All respondents avoided unnecessary cattle handling during HS events. Shades or buildings were perceived as successful by 63 and 56% of respondents from NE and MN/SD, respectively, whereas water application was deemed effective by 32 and 63% from NE and MN/SD, respectively. Shades structures were named by 63% of respondents from both regions as the most desirable HS mitigation measure, followed by confinement buildings (16 and 18% for NE and MN/SD, respectively). Implications and Applications Midwest cattle feeders use multiple approaches to mitigate HS, with those providing shade deemed most desirable.
Management of Cancer Pain

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States after heart diseases. Center of Disease Control estimated number of cancer deaths in 2005 to 559,312. Cancer constitutes 22.8% of the total death in the United States. Lung cancer is the most common fatal cancer in men (31%), followed by colon and rectum (10%), and prostate (9%). In women, lung (26%), breast (15%), and colon and rectum (10%) are the leading causes of cancer death. Most patients with cancer have pain. Cancer pain can develop from tumor invasion, musculoskeletal pain, visceral pain, radiation treatment effect, or neuropathy from chemotherapy. The incidence of pain in cancer patients receiving active treatment for early disease is about 20–25%. The incidence of pain in cancer patient with advanced disease is about 90%. More than 50% of patients with cancer pain have only one or two locations of pain. This fact usually gives the opportunity for interventional pain doctors to help patients with pain. Many cancer patients present with a combination of pain types such as visceral and somatic pain. Up to 90% of cancer pain patients respond well to medical treatment. A high percentage of the remaining individuals also respond well to interventional pain techniques (Portenoy 1989).
Perioperative Blood Transfusion and Postoperative Outcome in Patients with Crohn's Disease Undergoing Primary Ileocolonic Resection in the "Biological Era".

Perioperative blood transfusion has been shown to be associated with inflammatory response and immunosuppression. Patients receiving blood transfusion may have an increased risk for developing postoperative morbidities. The impact of blood transfusion on the postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease (CD) has been controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of blood transfusion on postoperative outcomes in CD in the current biological era. This historical cohort study involved data collection and analysis of CD patients who underwent the index ileocolonic resection in our institution between 2000 and 2012. Postoperative complications were compared between the transfused and nontransfused patients. The effects of perioperative blood transfusion on postoperative complications and disease recurrence were analyzed with both univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 318 patients were included in the study, and 52 of them (16.5 %) received perioperative blood transfusion. Blood transfusion was found to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative infectious and noninfectious complications both in univariate (P < 0.001 for each) and multivariable analyses (infectious complications: odds ratio [OR] = 8.73, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 2.85–26.78, P < 0.001; noninfectious complications: OR = 3.64, 95 % CI 1.30–10.18; P = 0.014). In addition, the Cox regression model indicated that blood transfusion was associated with both surgical (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.43, 95 % CI 1.92–6.13; P < 0.001) and endoscopic (HR = 2.08, 95 % CI 1.38–3.14; P < 0.001) CD recurrence following the index surgery. Adverse outcomes after perioperative blood transfusion for the primary ileocolonic resection for CD resemble findings in surgery for other diseases. The presumed immunosuppressive effect of blood transfusion did not confer any protective effect on disease recurrence.
Computational Methods for Cardiac Electrophysiology

Abstract Computational methods for tissue biomechanics, electrophysiology, and cellular physiology separately provide frameworks for modeling functions of cardiac tissue. We review strategies currently available for meeting the goal of structurally and functionally integrated models of cardiac electromechanical function that combine data-intensive cellular systems models with compute-intensive anatomically detailed multiscale simulations.
Energy Requirements for the Transport of Methylthio-β-d-Galactoside by Escherichia coli: Measurement by Microcalorimetry and by Rates of Oxygen Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Production

The energy cost for maintenance of gradients of methylthio-beta-d-galactoside in Escherichia coli was evaluated. Information was also obtained concerning the energy flow associated with gradient establishment under some circumstances. Energy flow was evaluated from transport-induced changes in the rate of heat evolution, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production in metabolically active cells. Heats were measured with an isothermal calorimeter. Energy expenditure behavior was characterized by a transition that depended on the level of accumulation. The data for steady-state maintenance could be rationalized in terms of the Mitchell hypothesis, two models for influx and efflux, and a transition between them. At low levels of uptake, steady-state proton-methylthio-beta-d-galactoside (TMG) symport for influx and efflux occurred via a nonenergy-requiring exchange process. The only energy requirement was that necessary to pump back in any TMG exiting via a leakage pathway (model I). Above the transition, all influx occurred with proton symport, but all exit, leak and carrier mediated, occurred without proton symport (model II). The H(+)/TMG stoichiometric ratio computed for the region of model II applicability (carbon source present, high level of uptake) approached 1. This value agreed with that of other workers for downhill beta-galactoside flow, suggesting that the energy cost for both downhill and uphill flow was approximately the same. For low levels of uptake, initial establishment of the gradient was followed by a burst of metabolism that was much larger than that expected on the basis of the chemiosmotic hypothesis. In the absence of carbon source, the stimulation in respiration was sufficient to produce 13 times more protons than are apparently necessary to establish the gradient. The results indicate also that the nature of the biochemical process stimulated by TMG depends on its level of uptake. Insight into several aspects of the nature of these processes was provided through analysis of the heat, oxygen, and CO(2) data. The key factor controlling the transition in energy flow behavior is suggested to be rate of flux. The present data suggest that it occurs at a flux of approximately 120 nmol/min per mg of protein.
Induction of Cell-Mediated Immunity to Chemically Modified Antigens in Guinea Pigs II. The Interaction between Lipid-Conjugated Antigens, Macrophages, and T Lymphocytes

Protein antigens covalently conjugated with lipid groups (dodecanoic acid) have previously been shown to stimulate strong delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) without the aid of adjuvants. The present experiments show that lipid-conjugated bovine serum albumin (L-BSA) is taken up in vitro by macrophages (Mo) 25- to 50-fold more than unconjugated BSA or aminidated BSA, neither of which induces DTH. Macrophages that take up 125I-labeled L-BSA in vitro stimulate DTH even more efficiently, when injected into syngeneic guinea pigs, than does soluble L-BSA. Tracer studies on the fate of radiolabeled BSA and L-BSA showed that much more L-BSA than BSA was retained by draining lymph nodes. Autoradiography demonstrated that 125I-L-BSA is rapidly taken up by Mo in the medullary sinuses of the lymph nodes. Some of this antigen is then transported into the paracortex, a region in which T lymphocytes predominate. The capacity of lipophilic antigens to stimulate cell-mediated immune responses may be caused by their increased uptake by Mo, resulting in more efficient presentation to immunocompetent T lymphocytes. The anatomical site of this Mo-T cell interaction may be within the sinusoids or paracortex of the draining lymph nodes.
Power of the Circumplex: Incremental validity of intersection traits in predicting counterproductive work behaviors

This study examines the role of the circumplex model of personality in predicting counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). Drawing on the fidelity-bandwidth principle, we investigate the hypotheses that each of the three sets of circumplex traits representing the intersections of conscientiousness–agreeableness, conscientiousness–emotional stability, and agreeableness–emotional stability will account for significant incremental variance over five-factor model (FFM) traits in predicting CWBs. Results indicated the circumplex traits contribute incremental variance over the FFM traits, are relatively more important than the FFM traits, and account for 1.5–2.0 times more variance in the total R2 associated with CWBs. Collectively, these findings show that circumplex traits capture unique information not explained by FFM traits, and this information leads to a better understanding of the dispositional nature of CWBs.
Ray Reiter's Knowledge in Action: A Review

Review of "Knowledge in Action: Logical Foundations for Specifying and Implementing Dynamical Systems, Ray Reiter, MIT Press, 448 pp., 2001, ISBN 0-262-18218-1.
In vitro identification and characterization of a virus isolated from a dog with neurological dysfunction.

Abstract A virus, 78-238, isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a dog with neurological dysfunction, was characterized as a paramyxovirus. This conclusion was supported by viral cytopathic effects and morphological appearance of virions and nucleocapsids in infected cells. Nucleocapsids were found in the cytoplasm of all infected cells and in the nuclei of 0.001% of these cells. Growth curves revealed that a high percentage (≥76%) of infectious progeny virus was cell released. Persistent infection of Vero cells with 78-238 showed a consistently high percentage of fluorescence-positive cells and a low proportion of hemadsorption-positive cells. Serological studies indicate that the virus was closely related to Simian virus 5 and reference canine parainfluenza virus.
In extremis death and life in 21st-century haitian art

(2013). In extremis death and life in 21st-century haitian art. Material Religion: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 264-266.
Processing‐morphology‐property relationships in polyethylene/acrylonitrile copolymer/compatibilizer blends

Effects of blend composition, compatibilizer, and processing conditions on the morphology, rheology, and mechanical properties of the ternary blends are investigated. Introduction of compatibilizer and increasing shear rate lead to a finer particle dispersion. A modification of Wu's equation is utilized to obtain an estimate of the interfacial tension. The results indicate a reduction in interfacial tension upon addition of compatibilizer. Morphological stability of these blends is studied by reprocessing them in an injection molding machine and a twin-screw extruder. The nature of the reprocessing history was found to govern the morphology and the mechanical properties of the blends investigated.
Analysis for possible linkage between the loci for the Waardenburg syndrome and various blood groups and serological traits.

Linkage was sought between the Waardenburg syndrome locus and the loci for various genetic markers segregating in a single family. Close linkage was shown to be unlikely with the loci for Rh, MN, Ag, ADA, HL-A, and Gm. Evidence obtained is consistent with the possibility of linkage with the locus for the AB0 blood group, but study of additional families will be required to provide a definite answer.
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission, drug resistance, and implications for response to therapy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW HIV-1 drug resistance can emerge in both maternal and infant virus after exposure to antiretroviral drugs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The purpose of this review is to discuss the prevalence and clinical implications (for antiretroviral treatment outcomes) of this drug resistance, focusing on more recent information. RECENT FINDINGS New, highly sensitive laboratory assays have been developed that demonstrate even greater than previously known levels of drug resistance in minor HIV-1 variants after the use of single-dose nevirapine. At the same time, new data related to virological and immunological outcomes among women and infants after exposure to short-course prevention of mother-to-child transmission regimens suggest that although the response to nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy after single-dose nevirapine may be compromised, this is less of a problem among women starting antiretroviral therapy more remotely from nevirapine exposure. SUMMARY Whereas single-dose nevirapine alone should be reserved for settings in which other combination antiretroviral interventions are not feasible for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, recent data provide measured reassurance to women regarding their future response to nevirapine-containing antiretroviral therapy.