cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The sacral hiatus approach for drainage of anterior lumbo-sacral epidural abscesses. A case report and technical note.

Lumbosacral epidural abscesses are managed either conservatively with IV antibiotics or with open surgery, particularly in the presence of acute neurological symptoms. Their location makes it difficult for image-guided interventional approaches either for biopsy or evacuation. We report the sacral hiatus and canal as a corridor for image-guided minimally invasive abscess of lumbosacral epidural abscess for aspiration. A 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of six weeks of worsening low back pain. MRI of the patient’s lumbosacral spine showed osteomyelitis involving his L5, S1 vertebrae, L5-S1 discitis, as well as an anterior epidural abscess extending from L4-5 disc space to the S2 vertebral level. Blood cultures grew out gram-positive cocci. For drainage, a 5-French micropuncture kit was utilized to access the hiatus. Under fluoroscopic guidance a microwire was then advanced along the sacral canal. An 18-gauge needle curved to approximate the contours of the sacral canal was then advanced over the guidewire. Once anatomic access was established 2 ml of thick purulent material was aspirated. The patient tolerated the procedure well, and no focal nerve root symptoms were noted following the procedure. Image-guided aspiration of lumbosacral epidural abscesses can thus be carried out in a safe and effective manner using a sacral hiatus approach.
Jet Interactions in a Feedback-Free Fluidic Oscillator at Low Flow Rate

In this work, the internal fluid dynamics and frequency characteristics of feedback-free fluidic oscillators are investigated experimentally for low flow rates below 3.4 mL/s. The internal flow field of feedback-free fluidic oscillator was extracted using a refractive indexmatched Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique with the help of a problem-specific sensor setup for simultaneous frequency measurements in refractive index matching fluid. The oscillation mechanism for the low flow rate region was revealed with PIV measurements. Flow topologies extracted with the measurements were found to exhibit various flow features and the details of the jets interactions and vortical balance that lead to oscillatory behavior were discussed.
Observation and explanation of an unusual feature of random arrays with a nearest-neighbor constraint

When a nearest-neighbor constraint (which prevents elements from lying closer than some specified distance from each other) is imposed on a large random planar array of isotropic radiators, the corresponding radiation pattern contains a region around the main beam where random sidelobes are suppressed. This effect is mostly clearly manifested if the array is densely packed, i.e. if the array contains nearly the maximum number of elements consistent with the chosen constraint. A theory to account for this effect is developed. >
Film Boiling and Vapor Explosion Phenomena

AbstractAn initial period of film boiling has been identified as a key element in the chain of events leading to a large-scale vapor explosion. From theoretical considerations, the conditions requi...
Does size matter?—Considering the importance of size and scale in educational environments

When creating environments for children, adults inevitably face the question of scale. What are the needs of the users? How high or wide should rooms be to instill a feeling of security and a sense of being sheltered by their small users? Does the provision of spaces suitable for children call for miniature environments or does the possibility to experience and explore spaces and furnishings at a variety of scales offer an important learning opportunity for children? How can the potential of educational buildings to function as a three-dimensional textbook and as a teaching and learning tool be fully embraced (Taylor, 2009)? Architecture acts on our senses in many different ways: We do not only see the space, we feel it with all of our senses. We hear the different resonances or echoes depending on the size of the space and the materials used to build and finish it. We understand the distinctive tectonic properties of materials, their size and functions. These are important experiences for children who explore their world. Perception is an active procedure involving all of our senses, while the brain simultaneously processes numerous pieces of information (Guski, 2000). All this creates an overall understanding of the situation in time and space and trains the child’s skills. Especially at a young age vestibular, kinesthetic, and somatovisceral senses mature (Walden, 2009). In an ideal world, every school and kindergarten would provide a balanced level of stimulation while reducing stress factors and disturbances to a minimum and allowing the users to physically use, explore and appropriate their learning environment. This study will introduce several examples of schools and kindergartens where the architecture successfully adds to the curriculum in a way that the space helps to develop all human senses in the children and their perception of scale in the environments they are using.
Astrocytes in the developing human brain. An immunohistochemical study.

Patterns of appearance and maturation of astrocytes, as demonstrated by the immunohistochemical detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), were studied in fetal and mature neonatal brains. Mature astrocytes were present throughout much of the normal central nervous system at 15 weeks of gestation, but they varied in density in different parts. Glioneogenesis continued throughout the fetal and postnatal ages. Marginal glia were conspicuous with strong reaction and probably constituted a distinct subpopulation of glia. There was no temporal relationship between astrocytic proliferation and “myelination gliosis”. Radial glia and Bergmann fibers in normal brains did not react to GFAP antiserum.
Case Report: Acute Myelocytic Leukemia in a Patient Treated with Hexamethylmelamine

Abstract This case report describes a 76-year-old white woman who was found to have ovarian cancer and underwent chemotherapy with hexamethylmelamine. After 34 months of therapy, she developed an acute myelocytic leukemia. Although commonly reported as a side effect of alkylating agents, this is believed to be the first reported case of an acute non- lymphocytic leukemia associated with hexamethylmelamine use.
A Millimeter-Wave Reflectometer for Whole-Body Hydration Sensing

This paper demonstrates a non-invasive method to determine the hydration level of human skin by measuring the reflectance of W-band (75-110 GHz) and Ka-band (26-40 GHz) radiation. Ka-band provides higher hydration accuracy ( 1 mm), thereby allowing access to the important dermis layer of skin. W-band provides less depth of penetration but finer spatial resolution (~2 mm). Both the hydration sensing concept and experimental results are presented here. The goal is to make a human hydration sensor that is 1% accurate or better, operable by mechanically scanning, and fast enough to measure large areas of the human body in seconds.
Decision-making method on second-hand house combination matching

With respect to the second-hand house combination matching problem,a novel decision-making analysis method is proposed.Firstly,the definitions of second-hand house combination matching,individual rationality,no wasteful,fairness,pareto optimal and pareto efficient matching alternatives are given.Then,the methods for calculating matching satisfaction degrees of buyers and sellers are given by considering the evaluation provided by sellers and the aspiration level on multi-attribute and distance demand provided by buyers.Further,an extended H-R algorithm considering the stability of matching alternative is designed to determine the optimal matching alternative,and the rationality of this algorithm is proved.Finally,an example is given to illustrate the efficient and feasible of extended H-R algorithm.
Improvement of COD Determination Method in Wastewater and Circulating Water

The COD determination method for the wastewater and the circulating water was improved.By the seal digestion method,and applied the special purpose cuvettes,experiences were carried on and the result was satisfactory.
Secure behavioral biometric authentication with leap motion

In this paper we examine the effectiveness of user authentication using biometrics and behavioral motion data captured by the Leap Motion sensor. The biometrics data is derived from the user's hand and the behavioral motion data is generated when the user signs his or her signature using his or her hand in front of the sensor. We have developed a prototype system to collect experiment data from 10 participants and used the data to analyze the accuracy and effectiveness of our authentication method. The experimental results are measured by FAR, FRR, and EER. For the hand biometrics data involving 17 genuine hand samples and 162 attacking ones for each of the 10 users, the system has achieved an average EER of 34.80%. For the behavioral signature motion data involving 17 genuine samples and 262 attacking samples for each of the 10 users, the system has achieved an average EER of 3.75% Our study indicates that behavioral biometrics with Leap Motion is a viable authentication approach.
Obesity conveys poor outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transarterial chemoembolization.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on radiologic outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Materials and methods A total of 100 TACE procedures performed in 57 patients (42 men, 15 women) with a mean age of 62 years ± 8.4 (SD) (range: 39–83 years) were retrospectively reviewed. The 1–2-month follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examinations was assessed for new or residual disease and radiologic response using mRECIST criteria. Patients were categorized into two groups according to body mass index (BMI). Patients with BMI 2 were further referred as to low BMI patients and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 as high BMI patients. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Low and high BMI patients were similar in regard to age, gender, HCC etiology and stage, and pre-procedure disease burden. TACE for high BMI, compared to low BMI, patients resulted in lower complete response (39% vs. 66%) and higher progressive disease (21% vs. 5%) rates ( P = 0.04), and higher rates of residual disease (63% vs. 39%, P = 0.02) and new lesions in untreated liver (39% vs. 18%, P = 0.04) on 1–2-month follow-up imaging. Conclusions High BMI is associated with significantly more residual disease, new lesions, and progressive disease in patients with HCC treated by TACE.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Causes, and Consequences

In the overlap between the fields of neurology, psychiatry, and pediatrics, it may be hard to find a term with as much generality as neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Not surprisingly, these disorders have a number of different but possibly overlapping etiologies. New genome-wide discovery platforms, including chromosomal microarrays and whole-exome sequencing, have led to the discovery of many new genes and have pointed to the importance of de novo mutations functioning in an autosomal dominant fashion as key causes of this group of conditions, perhaps accounting for 50% of these patients. Animal models (particularly rodent) have made significant progress in understanding some of the biological mechanisms behind these disorders, but progress in the development of novel pharmacological interventions has been more challenging. These advances in genetics have also pointed to the importance of testing patient cohorts that are etiologically homogeneous to make progress in imaging and biomarker development. This convergence of tools and well-characterized patient cohorts will undoubtedly lead to rapid expansion in our understanding of NDD and suggests that real advances in disease-altering treatments may not be far off.
Gay rights activism: collection action frames, networks, and protesting among gays, lesbians, and bisexuals

ABSTRACTWhile sexual minorities have produced large and efficacious social movements in many countries, there are few systematic studies on why gays and lesbians join these movements. To address this void, this study created a unique sample of activist and non-activist listservs to identify some factors that inspired greater involvement in protests for gay and lesbian equality (n = 285). Through the use of binary logistic regression, this study highlights the importance of several contextual, framing, and demographic variables on the protesting actions of sexual minorities. In particular, the act of protesting for gay and lesbian rights was predicted by involvement in voluntary groups, the concealment of sexual orientations, a concern over institutionalized heterosexism, and the internalizing several sorts of activist identities. Finally, racial background, but not gender, age, or economic factors, was associated with attendance at gay and lesbian rights demonstrations.
Re-establishing Context for Orphaned Collections A Case Study from the Market Street Chinatown, San Jose, California

While the primary rationale for curating orphaned archaeological col- lections is to restore the collections' research potential, in practice such research programs are rarely actualized because of the challenges in reconstructing archaeological context. this article presents the results of a concerted effort undertaken to re-establish the context of the Market street chinatown archaeological collection. We outline the history of the excavation of the Market street chinatown, the subsequent "orphan- ing" of the collection, and the early efforts that uncovered the untapped research potential of the collection. next, we describe the methods and results of the four-stage process we used during 2010-2011 to de- velop historical and archaeological context for research on the collec- tion: archive analysis, methods analysis, feature context, and research potential assessment. While some of these procedures were tailored to the specific circumstances of the Market street chinatown collection, the overall process provides a model for re-establishing context for research purposes on other orphaned and endangered collections.
Beyond Yates: From Engagement to Accountability in Corporate Crime

In 2015, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates released a memorandum (the “Yates memo”) that makes several revisions to the Department of Justice’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations. Most significantly, the Yates memo states that corporations facing criminal scrutiny are now eligible for cooperation credit only if they provide prosecutors with all relevant information about the individual agents involved in crimes under investigation. This Essay assesses the Yates memo to situate it within the current social context of corporate criminal prosecutions. What I find is that the Yates memo represents a missed opportunity. Its guidelines amount to political talking points that are unlikely to produce meaningful change. As a practical matter, the guidelines are virtually impossible to execute, at least in ways that differ from the present enforcement regime. As a normative matter, they also risk causing significant and socially undesirable harms to firms and their employees. This analysis suggests that proponents of corporate criminal law reform should look elsewhere for progress. My recommendation is to shift the conversation from enforcement to more meaningful civic engagement. I conclude with a proposal to drive collaboration among federal officials, corporate leaders, educators, religious figures, lay groups, and other social actors who profess an interest in finding and fixing the social roots of corporate wrongdoing.
Factors responsible for remote-frequency masking in children and adults.

Susceptibility to remote-frequency masking in children and adults was evaluated with respect to three stimulus features: (1) masker bandwidth, (2) spectral separation of the signal and masker, and (3) gated versus continuous masker presentation. Listeners were 4- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 10-year-olds, and adults. Detection thresholds for a 500-ms, 2000-Hz signal were estimated in quiet or presented with a band of noise in one of four frequency regions: 425–500 Hz, 4000–4075 Hz, 8000–8075 Hz, or 4000–10 000 Hz. In experiment 1, maskers were gated on in each 500-ms interval of a three-interval, forced-choice adaptive procedure. Masking was observed for all ages in all maskers, but the greatest masking was observed for the 4000–4075 Hz masker. These findings suggest that signal/masker spectral proximity plays an important role in remote-frequency masking, even when peripheral excitation associated with the signal and masker does not overlap. Younger children tended to have more masking than older children or adults, consistent with a reduced ability to segregate simultaneous sounds and/or listen in a frequency-selective manner. In experiment 2, detection thresholds were estimated in the same noises, but maskers were presented continuously. Masking was reduced for all ages relative to gated conditions, suggesting improved segregation and/or frequency-selective listening.
Total RNA-seq to identify pharmacological effects on specific stages of mRNA synthesis

Pharmacological perturbation is a powerful tool for understanding mRNA synthesis, but identification of the specific steps of this multi-step process that are targeted by small molecules remains challenging. Here we applied strand-specific total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify and distinguish specific pharmacological effects on transcription and pre-mRNA processing in human cells. We found unexpectedly that the natural product isoginkgetin, previously described as a splicing inhibitor, inhibits transcription elongation. Compared to well-characterized elongation inhibitors that target CDK9, isoginkgetin caused RNA polymerase accumulation within a broader promoter-proximal band, indicating that elongation inhibition by isoginkgetin occurs after release from promoter-proximal pause. RNA-seq distinguished isoginkgetin and CDK9 inhibitors from topoisomerase I inhibition, which alters elongation across gene bodies. We were able to detect these and other specific defects in mRNA synthesis at low sequencing depth using simple metagene-based metrics. These metrics now enable total-RNA-seq-based screening for high-throughput identification of pharmacological effects on individual stages of mRNA synthesis.
Insight into the population structure of hardhead silverside, Atherinomorus stipes (Teleostei: Atherinidae), in Belize and the Florida Keys using nd2.

Little is known about the natural history, biology, and population genetic structure of the Hardhead Silverside, Atherinomorus stipes, a small schooling fish found around islands throughout the Caribbean. Our field observations of A. stipes in the cays of Belize and the Florida Keys found that populations tend to be in close association with the shoreline in mangrove habitats. Due to this potential island-based population structuring, A. stipes represents an ideal system to examine questions about gene flow and isolation by distance at different geographic scales. For this study, the mitochondrial gene nd2 was amplified from 394 individuals collected from seven different Belizean Cays (N = 175) and eight different Floridian Keys (N = 219). Results show surprisingly high haplotype diversity both within and between island-groups, as well as a high prevalence of unique haplotypes within each island population. The results are consistent with models that require gene flow among populations as well as in situ evolution of rare haplotypes. There was no evidence for an isolation by distance model. The nd2 gene tree consists of two well-supported monophyletic groups: a Belizean-type clade and a Floridian-type clade, indicating potential species-level differentiation.
Theoretical Analysis of Circuit Non-Idealities in a Passive Spectrum Scanner Based on Periodically Time-Varying Circuit Components

Spectrum scanners based on passive, linear periodically time-varying $RC$ circuits have been shown to be highly linear and consume low power. They rely on the Filtering by Aliasing technique to achieve sharp filtering from a continuous-time input to a discrete-time output. The presence of circuit parasitics can adversely affect scanner performance. Hence, this paper presents a theoretical analysis of the main circuit non-idealities affecting them. In addition, circuit and signal processing techniques to mitigate the effect of these non-idealities is presented and verified through both simulation and chip measurement results.
Stable Liquid Glucagon: Beyond Emergency Hypoglycemia Rescue

Glycemic control is the mainstay of preventing diabetes complications at the expense of increased risk of hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia negatively impacts the quality of life of patients with type 1 diabetes and can lead to morbidity and mortality. Currently available glucagon emergency kits are effective at treating hypoglycemia when correctly used, however use is complicated especially by untrained persons. Better formulations and devices for glucagon treatment of hypoglycemia are needed, specifically stable liquid glucagon. Out of the scope of this review, other potential uses of stable liquid glucagon include congenital hyperinsulinism, post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia, and insulinoma induced hypoglycemia. In the 35 years since Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first liquid stable human recombinant insulin, we continue to wait for the glucagon counterpart. For mild hypoglycemia, a commercially available liquid stable glucagon would enable more widespread implementation of mini-dose glucagon use as well as glucagon in dual hormone closed-loop systems. This review focuses on the current and upcoming pharmaceutical uses of glucagon in the treatment of type 1 diabetes with an outlook on stable liquid glucagon preparations that will hopefully be available for use in patients in the near future.
Model-Reference Adaptive Control

This chapter presents the fundamental theory of model-reference adaptive control. Various types of uncertainty are defined. The composition of a model-reference adaptive control system is presented. Adaptive control theory for first-order single-input single-output (SISO) systems, second-order SISO systems, and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems is presented. Both direct and indirect adaptive control methods are discussed. The direct adaptive control methods adjust the control gains online directly, whereas the indirect adaptive control methods estimate unknown system parameters for use in the update of the control gains. Asymptotic tracking is the fundamental property of model-reference adaptive control which guarantees that the tracking error tends to zero in the limit. On the other hand, adaptive parameters are only bounded in the model-reference adaptive control setting.
EdgeEye: An Edge Service Framework for Real-time Intelligent Video Analytics

Deep learning with Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) can achieve much higher accuracy on many computer vision tasks than classic machine learning algorithms. Because of the high demand for both computation and storage resources, DNNs are often deployed in the cloud. Unfortunately, executing deep learning inference in the cloud, especially for real-time video analysis, often incurs high bandwidth consumption, high latency, reliability issues, and privacy concerns. Moving the DNNs close to the data source with an edge computing paradigm is a good approach to address those problems. The lack of an open source framework with a high-level API also complicates the deployment of deep learning-enabled service at the Internet edge. This paper presents EdgeEye, an edge-computing framework for real-time intelligent video analytics applications. EdgeEye provides a high-level, task-specific API for developers so that they can focus solely on application logic. EdgeEye does so by enabling developers to transform models trained with popular deep learning frameworks to deployable components with minimal effort. It leverages the optimized inference engines from industry to achieve the optimized inference performance and efficiency.
Modeling the endogeneity of lane-mean speeds and lane-speed deviations using a Bayesian structural equations approach with spatial correlation

Abstract This study focused on the development of speed prediction models for a multilane highway which incorporate the potential endogenous relationship between adjacent lane speeds and speed deviations while considering geometric design, traffic flow, and other variables in the model specification and accounting for the correlation structures due to multilevel nature of data. The Full Bayesian framework was employed to build the hierarchical models which accounted for three correlation structures at multiple levels: the correlation between speeds of adjoining lanes due to multivariate nature; spatially structured correlations between the adjacent segments, and spatially unstructured correlations among segments. The model estimates which influence the lane-mean speed indicated the directional variation of exogenous factors. For the westbound traffic, the afternoon and night hours were observed to be influential while eastbound traffic was more sensitive to the morning period. The segment length revealed a lane-varying correlation where longer segments influenced a speed reduction for the three lanes closer to the median while the speed in outermost lane exhibited a reverse trend as it increased with longer segments. Both models, with mean speed and speed deviations, demonstrated the significant presence of endogeneity due to mean speeds and speed deviations of adjacent lanes, respectively. This study also assessed the accuracy of predicted mean speed and speed deviations by calculating the measures of discrepancy between the observed and model predicted speeds. The Bayesian residuals, which incorporated the normal, multivariate, and spatial correlation structures, exhibited significant superiority at the prediction accuracy than the Normal ones. This discrepancy in prediction performance reflected the impact of consideration or exclusion of random effects.
Evaluation of Anesthesiology Residents

During the early days of graduate medical education, an apprenticeship model was followed, and evaluation was directly based on daily performance. As time evolved global assessment and high-stakes written examinations came to be the norm. With increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of graduate medical education on outcome, there has been a movement toward assessment and selection of assessment tools with appropriate structure, objectivity, and validity. While the role of high-stakes examinations has not been eliminated, it is also clear that their impact does not necessarily encourage learning and may, in fact, discourage long-term retention of knowledge. There is increasing knowledge about the optimum characteristics of assessment tools and about the performance of these tools individually. An ideal assessment program contains multiple tools, is administered with timely feedback to the learner, and is designed to fit the learning environment. Options include audits, direct observation, mentorship, objective structured clinical examinations, oral exams, peer review, portfolio assessment, self-assessment, simulation, standardized patients, and written examinations. With upcoming changes in the accreditation process by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, time will be replaced by criteria for performance in advancement and promotion of residents, using “milestones.” Optimum assessment in anesthesiology residency is possible, but must overcome obstacles, including “I know it when I see it,” “studying to the test,” the halo effect, grade inflation, and the “hidden curriculum.” Evidence of success in the future may be obtained by programs based on the performance of their graduates.
Federalism and the Ninth Amendment

Suppose that Justices Black and Stewart were correct (or at least not completely wrong) when they observed in Griswold v. Connecticut that the 9th and 10th Amendments were meant to operate solely as a tandem guarantee that the federal government was one of enumerated powers. Although the Black/Stewart position seems to ignore the obvious textual differences between the 9th and 10th Amendments, draining the 9th Amendment of any independent utility, their theory of "coordination" does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the text of the 9th Amendment can be ignored. This essay tentatively explores how a coordinated model of the 9th and 10th Amendments might operate. The basic thesis is that "retained rights" are those created by exercises of the "reserved powers." This is, quite obviously, a radical departure from current doctrine. It suggests the possibility that such reserved powers/retained rights may sometimes operate as a trump on the exercise of federal power, leading to a type of reverse supremacy. The point of this essay is not to establish a proposition, but simply to consider possibilities and to open a dialogue.
Industrial Structure and Political Outcomes: The Case of the 2016 US Presidential Election

This paper analyzes the US presidential election of 2016, examining the patterns of industrial structure and party competition in both the major party primaries and the general election. It attempts to identify the new, historically specific factors that led to the upheavals, especially the steady growth of a “dual economy” that locks more and more Americans out of the middle class. It draws extensively on a newly assembled, more comprehensive database to identify the specific political forces that coalesced around each candidate, including the various stages of the Trump campaign.
Variance-Reduced Stochastic Gradient Descent on Streaming Data

We present an algorithm STRSAGA for efficiently maintaining a machine learning model over data points that arrive over time, quickly updating the model as new training data is observed. We present a competitive analysis comparing the sub-optimality of the model maintained by STRSAGA with that of an offline algorithm that is given the entire data beforehand, and analyze the risk-competitiveness of STRSAGA under different arrival patterns. Our theoretical and experimental results show that the risk of STRSAGA is comparable to that of offline algorithms on a variety of input arrival patterns, and its experimental performance is significantly better than prior algorithms suited for streaming data, such as SGD and SSVRG.
Learning to Embody the Radically Empirical: Performance, Ethnography, Sensorial Knowledge and the Art of Tabla Playing

Cultural anthropology has privileged the concept of experience over that of performance, and as ethnographers, we have also privileged the ethnographic text and inscription over the act(s) of fieldwork or the “performances” of ethnography. Although we have made some improvements toward a different kind of anthropology, one that is embodied, the investigations of the body and performance have ultimately remained on the margins of the discipline. Drawing from my ethnographic participant fieldwork with North Indian tabla players and the teaching of ethnomusicology labs at an American university, I argue for a turn to what Sarah Pink (2009) has called sensory ethnography.
A Computer Application to Teach Financial Literacy

The system of teaching financial literacy described in this paper has been developed by an undergraduate electrical engineering student. This system illustrates sophisticated economic concepts and the importance of household savings to people in developing countries. An undergraduate software engineering student has developed this system into a computer application to enhance and widen its usability, particularly with rural, subsistence farming communities. The computer application, which can be installed on both computers and smartphones, can be used by organizations that teach financial literacy in these communities.
Integrative Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Multiphasic Epithelial–Mesenchymal Spectrum in Cancer and Non-tumorigenic Cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the conversion between rigid epithelial cells and motile mesenchymal cells, is a reversible cellular process involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Numerous studies have found that several types of tumor cells show a high degree of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in terms of their gene expression signatures and cellular phenotypes related to EMT. Recently, the prevalence and importance of partial or intermediate EMT states have been reported. It is unclear, however, whether there is a general pattern of cancer cell distribution in terms of the overall expression of epithelial-related genes and mesenchymal-related genes, and how this distribution is related to EMT process in normal cells. In this study, we performed integrative transcriptomic analysis that combines cancer cell transcriptomes, time course data of EMT in non-tumorigenic epithelial cells, and epithelial cells with perturbations of key EMT factors. Our statistical analysis shows that cancer cells are widely distributed in the EMT spectrum, and the majority of these cells can be described by an EMT path that connects the epithelial and the mesenchymal states via a hybrid expression region in which both epithelial genes and mesenchymal genes are highly expressed overall. We found that key patterns of this EMT path are observed in EMT progression in non-tumorigenic cells and that transcription factor ZEB1 plays a key role in defining this EMT path via diverse gene regulatory circuits connecting to epithelial genes. We performed Gene Set Variation Analysis to show that the cancer cells at hybrid EMT states also possess hybrid cellular phenotypes with both high migratory and high proliferative potentials. Our results reveal critical patterns of cancer cells in the EMT spectrum and their relationship to the EMT process in normal cells, and provide insights into the mechanistic basis of cancer cell heterogeneity and plasticity.
Expectations and Trust in Automated Vehicles

A lack of trust is a major barrier to the adoptions of Automated Vehicles (AVs). Given the ties between expectation and trust, this study employs the expectation-confirmation theory to investigate trust in AVs. An online survey was used to collect data including expectation, perceived performance, and trust in AVs from 443 participants which represent U.S. driver population. Using the polynomial regression and response surface methodology, we found that higher trust is engendered when perceived performance is higher than expectation, and perceived risk can moderate the relationship between expectation confirmation and trust in AVs. Results have important theoretical and practical implications.
Update on Auditory Neuropathy/Dyssynchrony in Children

Auditory neuropathy/dyssynchrony (AN/AD) is a form of sensorineural hearing loss characterized by the presence of cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) function and absent or abnormal auditory neural function. This article is meant to update clinicians on best practices for diagnosis and management of AN/AD. Exciting advances in genetics present opportunities for additional evidence to classify AN/AD based on site of lesion, and may lead to additional understanding of the pathophysiology as well as prognosis. Cochlear implantation continues to be a highly effective intervention for managing AN/AD in pediatric patients. AN/AD can be a challenging condition to manage given the heterogeneity of its presentation and variety of options for management. Ultimately, clinicians must tailor treatment to the individual child which requires frequent follow-up and communication with families, educators, and other providers. Further research is needed to fully understand this disorder and advance evidence-based care for these children.
An Initial Test of the Tactic-First and Item-Order Hypotheses: Accounting for Response Discrepancies in Sexual Victimization Questionnaires

Reported prevalence rates of sexual violence range widely in the literature, even in the same sample when using two different questionnaires of the same construct. These discrepancies are concerning as they indicate we may be underestimating the rate of sexual violence and, therefore, resources and treatment for victims. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate two mechanisms that may contribute to differences in reported prevalence rates across the literature and discrepancies within studies: the tactic-first and item-order hypotheses. Participants were 265 MTurk workers whom all completed the Post-Refusal Sexual Persistence Scale (PRSPS), then were randomly assigned to one of two versions of a tactic-first Sexual Experiences Survey (T-SES). Experimental conditions varied in the item order of the T-SES, one condition received the traditional hierarchical item order (n = 130) while the other received a randomized item order (n = 135). Our results suggest strong support for the tactic-first hypothesis; victimization prevalence rates on the T-SES were double compared to the traditional SES (54.1 vs. 19.8%) in prior research. Further, in both conditions, victimization prevalence rates were statistically equivalent between the PRSPS (62.6%) and the tactic-first SESs (56.2 and 54.1%), χ2(1) < 2.5, p ≈ .1–.7, contrary to prior research. We did not find support for the item-order hypothesis; there were few differences between item-order conditions. Our findings indicate that unintentional underreporting remains a threat to validity in sexual violence assessment, and continued research into the mechanisms of measurement is warranted.
Biomechanical Events in the Production of Ciliary Movement

Ciliary motility consists of a repetitive series of bends that are formed and propagated along the ciliary axoneme. It is clear that the axoneme, the cytoskeletal core of each motile cilium, that consists of the classic 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules (cf. Sugrue et al., 1991), is responsible for the production of bending and bend propagation. The form of beat in living cilia is matched by that produced by isolated axonemes reactivated by ATP, sometimes with great fidelity. Cilia are found on many different cells of a great variety of single and multicellular organisms. They come in many lengths, ranging from about 5 to over 500 μm and numbers ranging from 1 to about 200 per cell. However, the diameter of the 9 + 2 axoneme is always the same, about 0.2 μm, suggesting that this is an important parameter for the production of motility. Ciliary bending is also variable, both with regard to amplitude and timing, and the same organelle can exhibit quite different kinds of beat, varying specifically in beat frequency, in overall form or in the spatial direction of net force production. An elegant example is given by sea urchin embryo cilia which spontaneously beat in two different directions - normal and reversed, and whose beat can be recorded and analyzed at high time resolution (Mogami et al., 1993). A second example is given by Chlamydomonas, whose so-called ‘flagella’ beat normally with a ciliary breast stroke, but which reverse, for example during a photophobic response, to beat with what is in effect, undulatory motion. In both of these examples, the motile mechanism of the axoneme remains unchanged, but it is controlled in specific ways, to give the appropriate changes in timing and bend amplitude. The controls work by means of second messengers, notably Ca2+ or cAMP, which act directly on axonemal constituents. Any explanation of the mechanism of motility needs to explain how it is possible to change flexural into undulatory motion and back again, or to change the direction of the effective stroke for a short while on a single cilium.
Keeping the farm business in the family: the case of farm and non-farm family businesses in the midwestern United States

Succession planning is a very crucial aspect of family business continuity. The successful transition of family businesses is especially important for small and medium scale family businesses which...
A review of non-prostanoid, eicosanoid receptors: expression, characterization, regulation, and mechanism of action

Eicosanoid signaling controls a wide range of biological processes from blood pressure homeostasis to inflammation and resolution thereof to the perception of pain and to cell survival itself. Disruption of normal eicosanoid signaling is implicated in numerous disease states. Eicosanoid signaling is facilitated by G-protein-coupled, eicosanoid-specific receptors and the array of associated G-proteins. This review focuses on the expression, characterization, regulation, and mechanism of action of non-prostanoid, eicosanoid receptors.
Assessing and Exploring Heterogeneity

Meta-analysis is a statistical method for combining the results of studies included in the systematic review. It is justified only when the potentially eligible studies are similar enough. However, some differences in their clinical or methodological characteristics are inevitable as no two studies are expected to be identical in the true sense. Clinical heterogeneity is caused by diversity in important characteristics such as participants, interventions, comparators, or outcomes (in extreme cases, ‘apples vs. oranges’). Methodological heterogeneity involves differences in the design (e.g., randomised vs. quasi-randomised) and methodological quality of studies (e.g., masked vs. non-masked allocation) included in a systematic review. A fair amount of clinical judgement is thus necessary to decide whether or not studies are similar enough to be combined in a meta-analysis. Statistical heterogeneity in a meta-analysis means that the between-study variation in the effect of intervention varies beyond the extent expected by chance alone. This chapter is focussed on understanding, assessing and handling heterogeneity from various sources in meta-analysis.
Decay Rates of Human Remains in an Arid Environment

The environment of southern Arizona with mild winters and hot, dry summers produces great variability in decay rates of human remains. Summer temperatures, which range well over 38°C (100°F), induce rapid bloating as a result of the accumulation of decompositional gases. However, in certain circumstances, the aridity can lead to extensive mummification, allowing preservation of remains for hundreds of years. A retrospective study of 189 cases, concentrating on remains found on the desert floor or in the surrounding mountains and on remains found within closed structures, outlines the time frame and sequences of the decay process. Remains can retain a fresh appearance for a considerable time in the winter, but the onset of marked decomposition is rapid in the summer months. Bloating of the body usually is present two to seven days following death. Following this, within structures, there is frequently rapid decomposition and skeletonization. With outdoor exposure, remains are more likely to pass through a long period of dehydration of outer tissues, mummification, and reduction of desiccated tissue. Exposure of large portions of the skeleton usually does not occur until four to six months after death. Bleaching and exfoliation of bone—the beginning stages of destruction of the skeletal elements—begins at about nine months' exposure. Insect activity, including that of maggot and beetle varieties, may accelerate decomposition, but this process is greatly affected by location of the body, seasonal weather, and accessibility of the soft tissues. Carnivores and other scavengers also are contributing factors, as are clothing or covering of the body, substrate, elevation, and latitude.
Liver microsomes contain two distinct NADPH-Monooxygenases with NH2-terminal segments homologous to the flavin containing NADPH-monooxygenase of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Abstract Two NADPH-reductase preparations (FAD-containing monooxygenases) were isolated from rabbit liver microsomes, referred to as form 1 and form 2. Purification was achieved by means of anion-exchange, cation-exchange and hydroxylapatite chromatography in the presence of cholate and Nonidet P-40. Affinity chromatography on 2′, 5′-ADP Sepharose was used to increase the purity and to concentrate the enzyme. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, form 1 exhibited a single band at Mr 58,500 and form 2 at Mr 58,000. The NH 2 - terminus of form 1 is blocked, whereas the NH 2 -terminus of form 2 is homologous to the NADPH-p-hydroxybenzoate hydrolase from Pseudomonas fluorescens . The latter and the form 2 enzyme share 11 identical residues in the NH 2 -terminal segment of 15 residues. Both forms were subjected to tryptic cleavages and peptide mapping. Sequence analysis of the peptides obtained indicated that forms 1 and 2 are similar but not identical proteins. A tryptic peptide, homologous to residues 3 to 32 of form 2 enzyme was isolated from the form 1 protein. This segment has 24 residues that are identical to the form 2 and contains the consensus sequence Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly, found in most FAD binding proteins. These results indicate that the NADPH-monooxygenase system consists of at least two distinct proteins representing different gene products.
Gauss composition for P1, and the universal Jacobian of the Hurwitz space of double covers

Abstract In this paper, we give an explicit description of the moduli space of line bundles on hyperelliptic curves, including singular curves. We study the universal Jacobian J 2 , g , n of degree n line bundles over the Hurwitz stack of double covers of P 1 by a curve of genus g . Our main results are: the construction of a smooth, irreducible, universally closed (but not separated) moduli compactification J ‾ bd 2 , g , n of J 2 , g , n whose points we describe simply and explicitly as sections of certain vector bundles on P 1 ; a description of the global geometry and moduli properties of these stacks; and a computation of the Picard groups of J ‾ bd 2 , g , n and J 2 , g , n in the cases when n − g is even. An important ingredient of our work is the parametrization of line bundles on double covers by binary quadratic forms. This parametrization generalizes the classical number theoretic correspondence between ideal classes of quadratic rings and integral binary quadratic forms, which in particular gives the group law on integral binary quadratic forms first discovered by Gauss.
STRUCTURE OF THE SI12 CLUSTER

Tight-binding molecular-dynamic simulations have revealed that ${\mathrm{Si}}_{12}$ is an icosahedron with all atoms on the surface of an approximately 5 \AA{} diameter sphere. This is the most spherical cage structure for silicon clusters in the 2\char21{}13 atom size range.
Trisporic acid biosynthesis in Blakeslea trispora via mating type-specific precursors.

Separate (+) and (-) mating type cultures of Blakeslea trispora synthesized: (a) labeled trisporic acid B and trisporic acid C when incubated with labeled, partially purified extracts isolated from opposite mating type cultures; (b) unlabeled trisporic acids when incubated with labeled glucose and unlabeled extracts isolated from opposite mating type cultures; and (c) over 100-fold less trisporic acids when incubated with labeled extracts isolated from the same mating type cultures. Thus, separate (+) and (-) cultures synthesize mating type-specific precursors of trisporic acids.
Emerson's Skeptical Morality Compared to Montaigne's and Nietzsche's

This essay hones the exact nature and consequences of Emerson’s moral philosophy by contrasting it to the skeptic he most admired, Montaigne, and the skeptic with whom he is most often compared, Nietzsche. In contradistinction to Emerson’s own self-understanding in the case of Montaigne and against the views of almost all major Emerson scholars of the past two decades in the case of Nietzsche, I show that Emerson is considerably less skeptical than both Montaigne and Nietzsche. This essay both corrects these mistaken views and shows the moral and political consequences of them for properly appreciating Emerson’s thought. It is precisely the limits of Emerson’s skepticism that account for his unique moral vision.