cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy color extractor based algorithm for segmenting an odor source in near shore ocean conditions

A mission of chemical plume tracing (CPT) in near-shore and ocean environments is to find out an odor source via an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). It is necessary to confirm the detected odor source using a visual system interactively or automatically, when a chemical sensor identifies the odor source. However, color images taken in near-shore ocean environments are very vague due to dim illumination conditions and fluid advection effects. This paper presents a fuzzy algorithm for recognizing the chemical plume and its source in near-shore and ocean environments. This algorithm iteratively generates color patterns based on a defined reference color and extracts color components of the chemical plume and its source from fuzzy images using a fuzzy color extractor (FCE). The proposed approach to color image segmentation might be of general interest to robot vision.
Morphological decomposition of convex polytopes and its application in discrete image space

We present a new technique for the decomposition of convex structuring elements for morphological image processing. A unique feature of our approach is the use of linear integer programming technique to determine optimal decompositions for different parallel machine architectures. This technique is based on Shephard's theorem for decomposing Euclidean convex polygons. We formulated the necessary and sufficient conditions to decompose a Euclidean convex polygon into a set of basis convex polygons. We used a set of linear equations to represent the relationships between the edges and the positions of the original convex polygon and those of the basis convex polygons. This is applied to a class of discrete convex polygons in the discrete space. Further, a cost function was used to represent the total processing time for performing dilations on different machine architectures. Then integer programming was used to solve the linear equations based on the cost function. Our technique is general and flexible, so that different cost functions could be used, thus achieving optimal decompositions for different parallel machine architectures. >
Discrete mobility of single-stranded DNA in non-denaturing gel electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis is the standard method to separate, identify and purify nucleic acids. SSCP detects single base changes by altered mobility of single-stranded segments electrophoresed through non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Herein, changes in electrophoretic mobilities due to single base substitutions were measured for single-stranded segments of lengths ranging from 333 to 547 nt. A 484 nt segment in exon H of the human factor IX gene was studied most intensively. After SSCP, mobilities were determined by scanning autoradiograms at very high resolution (1200 d.p.i.), which allowed precise measurement of mobilities. When the mobilities of 46 single base substitutions were characterized, the distribution of mutant segments relative to a wild-type control was found to be discrete, i.e. the observed mobility values occurred in distinct ranges. Discrete mobility distributions were seen at different electrophoretic temperatures, buffer concentrations, segment lengths and segment sequences. In addition: (i) single base substitutions caused discontinuous distributions between highly dispersed and sharp bands; (ii) at least one single-stranded segment produced two sharp bands of similar intensity. These observations suggest that: (i) the single base changes in DNA segments in the size range 333-547 nt result in discrete conformational changes; (ii) individual DNA molecules of the same DNA segment can occasionally adopt two or more discrete conformations.
GRASSLAND PASSERINE NEST PREDATORS NEAR PASTURE EDGES IDENTIFIED ON VIDEOTAPE

Abstract Fragmentation of grassland habitat may increase predation rates on grassland passerine nests and contribute to population decline of several species. Studies that simultaneously document the nest predator community and associate predator species with edges created by fragmentation have not been conducted for grassland habitats. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of using miniature video camera systems to document predation events, identify grassland passerine nest predators in grazed pastures, and determine whether predation patterns of nest predators known to prefer wooded edges differed from those of other nest predators. In 1998–2000, we deployed cameras at 89 nests of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia), meadowlarks (Sturnellaspp.), and Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in southwestern Wisconsin pastures 16–169 ha in size. Abandonment rates were higher for nests with cameras than for n...
Discretion v. Independence: Distinguishing Two Forms of Autonomy in Models of Judicial Behavior

Existing scholarship offers competing accounts of judicial independence, alternatively seeing it as a by-product of the number of veto players in a political system, its electoral competitiveness, or its use of common law. This paper tests directly these three prominent models of judicial independence against one another in both a cross-national context and across the American states. Results suggest that the veto players approach better accounts for the discretionary power judges possess in a cross-national context, while the interest group model explains when judges will operate independently of other political actors, particularly in the American states. I demonstrate how scholars can better explore the liberty afforded judges by separating the concepts of judicial discretion and judicial independence.
Comparison of Rabbit Facial Nerve Regeneration in Nerve Growth Factor-Containing Silastic Tubes to Autologous Cable Grafts

Previous reports suggest that nerve growth factor (NGF) enhanced significantly nerve regeneration in rabbit facial nerves (Chen et al.). We compared facial nerve regeneration in silastic tubes prefilled with NGF or cytochrome C (Cyt. C, control) to autologous neural grafts. A 10-mm silastic tube prefilled with a solution of either NGF or Cyt. C in saline was implanted to bridge an 8-mm neural gap in the buccal division of the rabbit facial nerve. At 3 weeks there was a more mature neural organization, greater fascicular organization, and more proliferative neovascularization in NGF-treated regenerates. At 3 and 5 weeks computer-assisted morphometric examination at the midtube revealed no significant difference in the number of myelinated or unmyelinated axons in NGF or Cyt. C treated implants. However, at 5 weeks, NGF regenerates, when compared to their respective preoperative controls, had a greater percentage of myelinated axons (46% vs 18%). For cable graft repair an 8-mm autologous segment of the buccal nerve was removed, rotated 180°, and sutured to bridge the neural gap.
Inferior Dislocation of the Distal End of the Clavicle

Inferior Dislocation of the Distal End of the Clavicle: A CASE REPORT WILLIAM PATTERSON; The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
The postmortem survival of tissues

Summary 1. The rate of oxidation of glucose C14 to C14O2 in a standard incubation system is proposed as an index of tissue viability. The mean of 74 observations on fresh dog liver is 2.89 ± 0.45 μM. of glucose oxidized to CO2 per gram of wet liver per 100 minutes, as based on recovery of radiocarbon in carbon dioxide. 2. Liver tissue that has been stagnant at room temperature for 24 hours has activity approximately 12 per cent of normal. 3. Use of an oxygen-free atmosphere of nitrogen reduces the activity to 1 per cent of the mean. 4. The corrected (100 minute) activity rate for carbon dioxide production is the same when the incubation is carried on for periods of 85 to 230 minutes. 5. This incubation procedure does not alter significantly the glycogen content of the liver slices, nor their histologic architecture. 6. Some of the advantages and potential dis-advantages of the use of this index of tissue viability are discussed.
SITES OF ‘SEDITION’, SITES OF LIBERATION: GURDWARAS, THE GHADAR PARTY, AND ANTICOLONIAL MOBILIZATION

This paper examines the gurdwaras on the Pacific Coast of North America as critical sites of Ghadar organizing. Linked to gurdwaras across the Pacific, particularly in Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, in a network of labor migration and anticolonial politics, the gurdwaras in Stockton, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia in particular, were closely monitored by US, British, and Canadian officials as centers of sedition and fronts for revolutionary activity. Examining British gendered representations of Sikh soldiers and the ways in which Ghadar activists sought to dismantle the bond between Sikhs and the British Empire, I argue that Pacific Coast gurdwaras were critical meeting spaces for Indian migrants to forge an anticolonial movement against both British colonial subjugation in India and racial discrimination and exclusion in North America. As such, these gurdwaras constituted a central place in early South Asian American history and the histories of global anticolonialism and state repression...
The strategic concerns of quality assurance: case studies of large reputable firms in the service sector

Following the Resource-Based View (RBV) of the firm, certain tactical and strategic resources are harder to imitate than others, such as those containing the characteristics of physical uniqueness, path dependence, causal ambiguity and economic deterrence. Creating a strong and recognisable reputation occurs when a client seeks out services primarily based on the success of its quality assurance initiatives. Four service industry organisations were studied by their quality goals, ability to do customised workflow design and implementation and strategically leverage quality assurance techniques and how these organisations can improve its reputation, image and incentives towards achieving superior quality. The four studied organisations are IKON Office Solutions, Inc., Ayco Company, L.P., Highmark, Inc. and Reed Smith, LLP. A brief introduction to their general operating environment is followed by sections describing their general situation and quality-service initiatives and a fairly detailed discussion of the practical applications of the lessons learned from the case studies.
Morphology and characteristics of five types of Echinostomatidae in Fujian

Objective To describe the morphology and epidemiological characteristics of five types of Echinostomatidae in Fujian.Methods Five types of Echinostomatidae pathogens were collected.The morphological characteristics of adults and eggs were observed microscopically and described.Sizes of adults and eggs were determined by testing random samples.Results Comparison of the size and morphology of the five types of Echinostomatidae adults revealed marked differences.The biggest was Echinostoma angustitestis,followed by Echinostoma aegyptiaca,while the smallest was Echinochasmus japonicus.Three types-Echinochasmus perfoliatus,Echinostoma angustitestis,and Echinostoma aegyptiaca-were willow leaf-shaped.Echinochasmus fujianensis was oval-shaped.Echinochasmus japonicus was pitcher or gourd-shaped.Conclusion Fujian has an abundance of Echinostomatidae.Their size and morphological characteristics must be comprehensively determined to classify and identify members of this family.
The value of literature in introducing performance studies

ABSTRACTAs Oral Interpretation broadened into Performance Studies, some introductory performance classes abandoned teaching performance of literature for more contemporary theory and practice. However, the shape of the course at Louisiana State University has held firm for decades. This essay theorizes the pedagogy of the "Introduction to Performing Literature" course at Louisiana State University. It provides a historical overview of the scholarship that shaped the philosophy of the course, describes the assignments in the current course (taking into consideration how those assignments accommodate innovations or trends in performance studies), and argues that the enduring shape of the course places it in relationship to the other communication areas represented in the department, emphasizes the communication thread in performance studies, and develops students to be better citizens by encouraging nuanced, empathetic, and critical performances of a broad array of literary texts.
Beyond the Analytic of Finitude: Kant, Heidegger, Foucault

The editors of the French edition of Michel Foucault's Introduction to Kant's Anthropology claim that Foucault started rereading Kant through Nietzsche in 1952 and then began rereading Kant and Nietzsche through Heidegger in 1953. This claim has not received much attention in the scholarly literature, but its significance should not be underestimated. In this article, I assess the likelihood that the editor’s claim is true and show how Foucault’s introduction to Kant’s Anthropology and his comments about Kant in The Order of Things echo the concerns about finitude and subjectivity in Heidegger’s Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics . I then argue that Foucault's later preoccupation with Kant's essay An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment? should be regarded as an attempt to develop an alternative to the Heideggerian interpretation of Kant, and the preoccupation with finitude, that had played such an important role in Foucault’s earlier works.
Hemorrhagic shock inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced myelopoiesis in both germ-free and conventional rats.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial translocation has been implicated in the alteration of the immune response after shock and trauma. This study examined the effect of bacterial translocation on myelopoiesis after hemorrhagic shock in germ-free and conventional rats. METHODS: Awake, unrestrained germ-free and conventional rats were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 30 mm Hg until the animal required infusion of 10% of the shed blood. Rats were resuscitated with shed blood and crystalloid. Sham rats were catheterized but not bled. Twenty-four hours after shock or sham, rats were administered lipopolysaccharide 100 micrograms or saline intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours later, bone marrow cells were cultured for growth of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CFU-GM). RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide increased the number of CFU-GM/femur in sham germ-free rats (801 +/- 129 versus 455 +/- 110; p less than 0.05) and conventional rats (1458 +/- 200 versus 492 +/- 59; p less than 0.05) compared with saline-treated rats. In contrast, hemorrhagic shock inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced CFU-GM growth in both germ-free and conventional rats. Shock, itself, was a stimulus for CFU-GM growth in germ-free but not conventional rats. Bone marrow white blood cell counts were unaffected by shock, lipopolysaccharide administration, or the germ-free state. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic shock inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced CFU-GM proliferation independent of the germ-bearing status of the rat, and bacterial translocation exerted no influence on myelopoietic dysfunction after hemorrhagic shock.
Histopathological techniques for the diagnosis of combat-related invasive fungal wound infections

Effective management of trauma-related invasive fungal wound infections (IFIs) depends on early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment. We evaluated the utility of routine staining, histochemical stains and frozen section for fungal element identification. A total of 383 histopathological specimens collected from 66 combat-injured United States military personnel with IFIs were independently reviewed by two pathologists. Both periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stains were used on 74 specimens. The performance of the two special stains was compared against the finding of fungal elements via any histopathological method (ie, special stains or hematoxylin and eosin). In addition, the findings from frozen sections were compared against permanent sections. The GMS and PAS results were 84 % concordant (95 % confidence interval: 70 to 97 %). The false negative rate of fungal detection was 15 % for GMS and 44 % for PAS, suggesting that GMS was more sensitive; however, neither stain was statistically significantly superior for identifying fungal elements (p = 0.38). Moreover, 147 specimens had frozen sections performed, of which there was 87 % correlation with permanent sections (60 % sensitivity and 98 % specificity). In 27 permanent sections, corresponding cultures were available for comparison and 85 % concordance in general species identification was reported. The use of both stains does not have an added benefit for identifying fungal elements. Furthermore, while the high specificity of frozen section may aid in timely IFI diagnoses, it should not be used as a stand-alone method to guide therapy due to its low sensitivity.
Stochastic Dynamics of Extended Objects in Driven Systems II: Current Quantization in the Low-Temperature Limit

Abstract Driven Langevin processes have appeared in a variety of fields due to the relevance of natural phenomena having both deterministic and stochastic effects. The stochastic currents and fluxes in these systems provide a convenient set of observables to describe their non-equilibrium steady states. Here we consider stochastic motion of a ( k - 1 ) -dimensional object, which sweeps out a k-dimensional trajectory, and gives rise to a higher k-dimensional current. By employing the low-temperature (low-noise) limit, we reduce the problem to a discrete Markov chain model on a CW complex, a topological construction which generalizes the notion of a graph. This reduction allows the mean fluxes and currents of the process to be expressed in terms of solutions to the discrete Supersymmetric Fokker–Planck (SFP) equation. Taking the adiabatic limit, we show that generic driving leads to rational quantization of the generated higher dimensional current. The latter is achieved by implementing the recently developed tools, coined the higher-dimensional Kirchhoff tree and co-tree theorems. This extends the study of motion of extended objects in the continuous setting performed in the prequel (Catanzaro et al.) to this manuscript.
Pneumonitis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with programmed death 1 (PD1) axis inhibitors.

9030Background: Pneumonitis (P) has been reported in up to 6% of patients (pts) with advanced NSCLC receiving anti- PD1 or PD ligand 1 (PDL1) antibodies (Ab), with potential for fatality if not rec...
Modification of the Genome of Domestic Animals

ABSTRACTIn the past few years, new technologies have arisen that enable higher efficiency of gene editing. With the increase ease of using gene editing technologies, it is important to consider the best method for transferring new genetic material to livestock animals. Microinjection is a technique that has proven to be effective in mice but is less efficient in large livestock animals. Over the years, a variety of methods have been used for cloning as well as gene transfer including; nuclear transfer, sperm mediated gene transfer (SMGT), and liposome-mediated DNA transfer. This review looks at the different success rate of these methods and how they have evolved to become more efficient. As well as gene editing technologies, including Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and the most recent clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). Through the advancements in gene-editing technologies, generating transgenic animals is now more...
Membrane Defects Recruit C-Terminus of Complexin to Synaptic Vesicles

Single vesicle-vesicle fusion assays based on FRET of lipid or content mixing [1-3] are widely used to investigate complexin on vesicle docking [4] and fast fusion process [5]. Most recently, we discovered the important role of its N-terminal domain in promoting fast fusion via membrane interaction [6] and the association of its C-terminus to synaptic vesicles for suppressing spontaneous fusion [7]. For the membrane curvature sensing mechanism of complexin, through molecular dynamics simulations, we found that a high density of membrane defects on synaptic vesicles is responsible for recruiting amphiphilic regions in C-terminal domain of complexin.1. Diao, J. et al. Nat. Protoc. 7, 921 (2012).2. Diao, J. et al. Bioessays 35, 658 (2013).3. Diao, J. et al. Langmuir 25, 7177 (2009).4. Diao, J. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, 15274 (2013).5. Lai, Y. et al. Elife 3, e03756 (2014).6. Lai, Y. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 113, E4698 (2016).7. Gong, J., Lai, Y., ⋯ Yang, X., Brunger, A.T., Diao, J. The C-terminal domain of mammalian complexin-1 localizes to highly curved membranes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, (2016).
Integration of biological control and transgenic insect protection for mitigation of mycotoxins in corn

Abstract Biological control is known to be effective in reducing aflatoxin contamination of corn, and some transgenic corn hybrids incur reduced damage from corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) than comparable non-Bt hybrids. We conducted seven field trials over two years to test the hypothesis that transgenic insect protection and biological control could be integrated to prevent mycotoxin contamination of corn. Corn hybrid N78N3111, expressing the highest degree of transgenic insect protection, was nearly 100 percent free from corn earworm damage and generally had less than half as much contamination from fumonisin compared to N78NGT, a near isogenic corn hybrid without insect protection. This insect protection, however, did not significantly prevent aflatoxin contamination. Soil application of non-aflatoxigenic biocontrol strains of Aspergillus flavus significantly reduced aflatoxin concentrations in corn. Biocontrol strain 21882 of A. flavus was especially effective and reduced aflatoxin contamination by about 90 percent over the seven field trials. There was no significant interaction between the insect protection and biocontrol treatments. Although no synergies were detected, the reduction of mycotoxins by both strategies supports application of both strategies in tandem. Economic factors external to the cost of the technologies will be a major determinant if the mycotoxin mitigation attained by use of these technologies will have a positive economic benefit.
On the homotopy type of the regular group of a realW*-algebra

In this paper we determine the homotopy groups of the group of invertible elements of a purely realW*-algebra of typeII1. It turns out that the homotopy groups are periodic with period 4.
Treatment Considerations and Tools for Treating Latino Children with Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent disorders for children and adolescents and are associated with significant short- and long-term consequences (Costello, Egger, & Agnold, 2005). Some data suggest that Latinos report higher levels of anxiety symptoms than other groups (Pina & Silverman, 2004). Research comparing non-Latino White and Latino youth who participate in evidence-based treatments for anxiety highlights similar outcomes between groups; however, Latinos continue to underutilize mental health services when compared to non-Latino populations (e.g., Ojeda & McGuire, 2006; Pina, Silverman, Fuentes, Kurtines, & Weems, 2003). While research expands in the realm of anxiety treatment for Latino youth, a gap remains with regard to accessible and applicable materials to use while working with Spanish-speaking populations. This chapter provides practical information for clinicians working with Spanish-speaking Latino children and families. The following information and resources are provided: Brief overview of current research on evidence-based practices with Latino populations Cultural considerations to help the provider modify current treatment practices Session plan and Spanish language worksheets with culturally relevant examples
Killer in search of a motive

The p53 protein is mutated in over 50% of human cancers, and has gained the title 'guardian of the genome' due to its crucial functions in regulating cell growth and death. A hitherto unknown protein, termed p73, has now been discovered and characterized, and it seems to share structural and functional similarity with p53. But more tests need to be done before p73 can be confirmed as a tumour-suppressor gene.
Peyronie’s Disease Reconstruction: Simple and Complex

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is often a physically and psychologically devastating condition for the affected man. Though conservative treatments have come a long way since PD was first described, surgical correction remains the most reliable and durable treatment for this condition. This chapter describes the surgical management of PD from start to finish including indications, patient selection, patient counseling, surgical approaches, instruments, graft materials, postoperative management, and rehabilitation strategies. Both simple and complex reconstructive techniques are detailed with step-by-step intraoperative photography and expert instruction.
Vessel Wall Compliance and Transient Fluid Movement

Fluid movement across arterial walls in the steady state is governed by the net chemical potential difference across the endothelial layer resistance, or, equally by the hydrostatic pressure difference across the resistance of the balance of the wall. This latter resistance is influenced by the size and spacing of the pores in the endothelial layer and the anisotropic structure of the intima. Hydrostatic pressure in the interstitium of the artery wall in the steady state is difficult to measure but its gradient is thought to be proportional to the flow per unit area according to Darcy’s law. Elsewhere in this volume, Lever (1988) shows that the interstitial fluid volume of the outer layers of a canine carotid artery increases with inflation pressure, if the endothelial layer is missing, but does not when it is intact. Similar results are reported for the canine descending thoracic aorta by Emerson, (1988). At conditions where the permeability to macromolecules of the endothelial layer is elevated, as is the case in a region of rapid cell turnover, Larson and Sheridan (1982), Fry (1987), Weinbaum et al. (1985), Vargas (1988) and Schwartz et al. (1975), the local hydraulic conductivity could be sufficiently elevated so that wall hydration would increase locally with increasing inflation pressure. During an inflation pressure transient the velocity of water movement from the outer layers of an artery wall toward the endothelial layer can produce local blistering and desquamation of the endothelial layer, Blackshear et al. (1983), and thus play a role in disturbing further an already disturbed endothelium.
Extended-DDH and lossy trapdoor functions

Lossy Trapdoor Functions (LTFs) were introduced by Peikert and Waters in STOC '08 and since then have found many applications and have proven to be an extremely useful and versatile cryptographic primitive. Lossy trapdoor functions were used to build the first injective trapdoor functions based on DDH, the first IND-CCA cryptosystems based on lattice assumptions, and they are known to imply deterministic encryption, collision resistant hash-functions, oblivious transfer and a host of other important primitives. While LTFs can be instantiated under most known cryptographic hardness assumptions, no constructions until today existed based on generic cryptographic primitives. In this work, we show that any Homomorphic Smooth Hash Proof System, introduced by Cramer and Shoup in EUROCRYPT '02, can be used to construct LTFs. In addition to providing a connection between two important cryptographic primitives --- our construction implies the first construction of LTFs based on the QR assumption. Smooth Hash Proof Systems (SHPs) can be seen as a generalization of the DDH assumption, yet can be built on other cryptographic assumptions, such as the DCR or QR assumptions. Yet, until today, a "translation" of results proven secure under DDH to results under DCR or QR has always been fraught with difficulties. Thus, as our second goal of this paper, we ask the following question: is it possible to streamline such translations from DDH to QR and other primitives? Our second result formally provides this connection. More specifically, we define an Extended Decisional Diffie Hellman (EDDH) assumption, which is a simple and natural generalization of DDH. We show that EDDH can be instantiated under both the DCR and QR assumptions. This gives a much simpler connection between the DDH and the DCR and QR assumptions and provides an easy way to translate proofs from DDH to DCR or QR. That is, the advantage of the EDDH assumption is that most schemes (including LTFs) proven secure under the DDH assumption can easily be instantiated under the DCR and QR assumptions with almost no change to their proofs of security.
The manufacture, shipping and receiving and quality control of rodent bedding materials.

The criteria for rodent bedding and nesting materials are discussed. The literature is reviewed regarding sources of bedding materials, manufacturing methods, quality control, procedures (microbiological, physical and chemical), storage, methods, shipment, methods of use and disposal, current knowledge concerning bedding effects on animals as related to research and testing and legal aspects. Future needs, especially with respect to the promulgation of standards, also are addressed.
Using informatics to improve healthcare quality

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into contemporary challenges associated with applying informatics and big data to healthcare quality improvement.,This paper is a narrative literature review.,Informatics serve as a bridge between big data and its applications, which include artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and point-of-care clinical decision making. Healthcare investment returns, measured by overall population health, healthcare operation efficiency and quality, are currently considered to be suboptimal. The challenges posed by informatics/big data span a wide spectrum from individual patients to government/regulatory agencies and healthcare providers.,The paper utilizes informatics and big data to improve population health and healthcare quality improvement.,Informatics and big data utilization have the potential to improve population health and service quality. This paper discusses the challenges posed by these methods as the author strives to achieve the aims.
Effect of Tillage and Cultivar on Plant Population, Sudden Death Syndrome, and Yield of Soybean in Iowa

Conservation tillage has become a common practice of soybean farming in the Midwestern United States owing to the benefits of soil and moisture conservation. Field trials were established in a fiel...
Enabling Large-Scale Ex Vivo Production of Megakaryocytes from CD34+ Cells Using Gas-Permeable Surfaces

Patients suffering from acute or sustained thrombocytopenia require platelet transfusions, which are entirely donor‐based and limited by challenges related to storage and fluctuating supply. Developing cell‐culture technologies will enable ex vivo and donor‐independent platelet production. However, critical advancements are needed to improve scalability and increase megakaryocyte (Mk) culture productivity. To address these needs, we evaluated Mk production from mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells cultured on a commercially available gas‐permeable silicone rubber membrane, which provides efficient gas exchange, and investigated the use of fed‐batch media dilution schemes. Starting with a cell‐surface density of 40 × 103 CD34+ cells per cm2 (G40D), culturing cells on the membrane for the first 5 days and employing media dilutions yielded 39 ± 19 CD41+CD42b+ Mks per input CD34+ cell by day 11—a 2.2‐fold increase compared with using standard culture surfaces and full media exchanges. By day 7, G40D conditions generated 1.5‐fold more CD34+ cells and nearly doubled the numbers of Mk progenitors. The increased number of Mk progenitors coupled with media dilutions, potentially due to the retention of interleukin (IL)‐3, increased Mk production in G40D. Compared with controls, G40D had higher viability, yielded threefold more Mks per milliliter of media used and exhibited lower mean ploidy, but had higher numbers of high‐ploidy Mks. Finally, G40D‐Mks produced proplatelets and platelet‐like‐particles that activate and aggregate upon stimulation. These results highlight distinct improvements in Mk cell‐culture and demonstrate how new technologies and techniques are needed to enable clinically relevant production of Mks for platelet generation and cell‐based therapies.
Deep-Learning Tracking for Autonomous Flying Systems Under Adversarial Inputs

We propose a game-theory-based deep-learning tracking control scheme to enable a holonomic flying system to perform an autonomous trajectory tracking task, when considering saturating actuators, adversarial inputs, and nonquadratic cost functionals. The problem is formulated as a two-player zero-sum game, whose online solution is computed by learning the saddle point strategies in real time. Three approximators, namely a critic and two actors, are tuned online using data generated in real time along the system trajectories. The adaptive control character of the algorithm requires a persistence of excitation condition to be a priori validated, which is relaxed by using. a deep-learning approach, based on experience replay with multiple layers. A robustifying control term is added to eliminate the effect of residual errors, leading to asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point of the closed-loop system. A simulation of a target tracking application, where the measurements available to the aerial system are perturbed by persistent adversaries, is performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The metabolic alteration and apparent preservation of the zombie ant brain

Some parasites can manipulate the behavior of their animal hosts to increase transmission. An interesting area of research is understanding how host neurobiology is manipulated by microbes to the point of displaying such aberrant behaviors. Here, we characterize the metabolic profile of the brain of an insect at the moment of the behavioral manipulation by a parasitic microbe. Our model system are ants infected with the parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae (=unilateralis), which manipulates ants to climb and bite into plant substrates, before killing the host (i.e. zombie ants). At the moment of the behavioral manipulation by the fungus, the host's brain is not invaded by the fungus which is known to extensively invade muscle tissue. We found that, despite not being invaded by the parasite, the brains of manipulated ants are notably different, showing alterations in neuromodulatory substances, signs of neurodegeneration, changes in energy use, and antioxidant compound that signal stress reactions by the host. Ergothionine, a fungal derived compound with known neuronal cytoprotection functions was found to be highly elevated in zombie ant brains suggesting the fungus, which does not invade the central nervous system, is preserving the brain.
Coda: Make America Great Again—The Gender of Money

In this brief coda I reflect on the ways in which the gendering of money and value continues to pervade the cultural imaginary in the West, most recently in the United States presidential election of 2016, and the battle over U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The fantasies and fears about money and economy, about masculine identity and gender difference, that this book traces continue to have a profound impact not only on how money and value are conceived, but also on how women and other minorities are imagined.
EphrinB2 expression in prostate adenocarcinoma: Implications for targeted therapy.

Abstract Background Prostate cancer is managed by surgery, androgen deprivation and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Targeted therapy is emerging as an important pillar in cancer therapeutics, however, efficacy in prostate cancer has been limited. Eph-ephrin is a novel pathway that is upregulated in prostate cancer and promotes the initiation and progression of cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the immunohistochemical expression of ephrinB2 in prostate adenocarcinoma. Methods A tissue microarray comprising of prostate adenocarcinoma of different grade groups was stained with a monoclonal anti-ephrinB2 antibody (Abcam, AB201512). The tumor and endothelial cells expressing the ephrinB2 positivity were noted. The statistical analysis was performed to determine the difference in expression based on grade groups and the TNM stage. Results EphrinB2 was expressed in 40 out of 72 cases (55.5 %) of prostate adenocarcinoma and was predominantly negative in the normal prostatic tissue. There was no significant difference in the expression of ephrinB2 in various grade groups (p = 0.7) or stages (p = 0.6). Conclusions EphrinB2 is expressed in a significant number of prostate adenocarcinoma regardless of grade and stage. Hence, there is a potential to target this molecule in the low-grade tumors with localized disease as well as high grade, high volume tumors with metastatic disease.
Rapid Establishment of Transient Trust for NDN-Based Vehicular Networks

Recent advances of vehicular networking technolo-gies are giving birth to the emerging class of road safety and collaborative driving applications, where cars need to commu-nicate and assist each other with various tasks, such as sharing views from onboard cameras, performing distributed predictions of car positions, etc. The proposed Named Data Networking (NDN) architecture promises a straightforward way to implement such applications with enhanced data delivery and security capabilities. However, one of the critical elements of vehicular applications is the need of reliable trust: the communicating cars must ensure that parties will do the job they are asked to do. Such trust, while can be mechanically implemented through the use of cryptographic signatures, requires the establishment of trust relations between the cars. This is especially a challenge, given the individual cars in a typical urban environment can very infrequently meet each other and each encounter could be very short-term. Although one can rely on a manufacturer-centric endorsement of car actions (e.g., by installing manufacturer certificates as global trust anchors, creating manufacturer-signed certs for individual cars, and trusting data that is signed by such certificates), it is not sufficient for the collaborative applications. Such certificate can only tell that data is coming from the specific car model, but does not guarantee the quality of the data/actions. This paper considers ideas and concepts developed based on the Swift Trust model and explores their use in vehicular environments with NDN-based communication. With Swift Trust, vehicles in the communication range can quickly make short-term trust decisions for secure publishing, consumption, and processing of data (e.g., to cooperatively analyze the nearby environment for potential safety issues). As an initial step, the paper explores a task-oriented method of establishing trust based on request-response communication. The paper also highlights several potential threats and attacks and discusses possible directions to mitigate them.
Defining and Characterizing Frequent Attenders: Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations.

Purpose To decrease cost and improve efficiency, health care organizations have focused on frequent attenders - patients with high health care utilization. Prior studies have investigated singular health care settings, used varying definitions of frequent attendance, and inconsistently identified factors correlated with frequent attendance. The purpose of this article is to suggest a uniform definition of frequent attenders for different health care settings and to determine factors correlated with frequent attendance. Methods This systematic review of three databases identified 2761 unique articles; 174 met inclusion criteria. Studies were analyzed for their definition of frequent attenders and factors associated with frequent attendance. Results Most studies defined frequent attenders by number of health care visits within a set time period (n=115) and top percentile cutoff (n=42). Based on averages across studies, we propose the following frequent attender definitions: for primary care, either the top 10th percentile or at least 10 visits in 12 months; for emergency room, at least 5 visits in 12 months; and for inpatient hospitalization, at least 4 admissions in 12 months. Common factors correlated with frequent attendance were mental health and chronic disease. Conclusions We propose definitions of frequent attenders for three common health care settings: primary care, emergency room, and inpatient. Future studies should include mental health and chronic disease, among other factors, when studying this population. Adoption of these recommendations will allow comparisons across studies such that meta-analyses may better determine interventions for more appropriate health care utilization.
(Not the) Same Old Story: Invisible Reasons for Rejecting Invisible Wounds

Thousands of former military service-members have been discharged with other-than-honorable discharges due to misconduct that can be traced to a mental health condition. These veterans may request a post-discharge change to their discharge characterization — known as a “discharge upgrade.” Discharge review boards consider discharge upgrade requests and typically (90-99% of the time) deny the requests. In the past few years, the Department of Defense has issued new policy guidance partly in response to the low grant rate and to specifically address the growing understanding of the relationship between misconduct and mental health conditions for military service-members. The policy guidance requires the boards to give “liberal consideration” to veterans seeking relief for matters relating to “invisible wounds,” such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Liberal consideration mandates a relaxed view of misconduct in connection to mental health conditions, with the overall goal of granting relief to those who deserved it. Despite the significant shift in policy, there has been very little change in the rate of discharge upgrades granted. This essay seeks to explore why liberal consideration has not had its intended effect. Rather than take on a comprehensive evaluation of the liberal consideration policy, this essay intentionally narrows in on one possible explanation for why liberal consideration has not been fully implemented. In exploring this implementation gap, the essay looks to storytelling and rhetorical principles to consider a possible explanation for the boards’ failure to embrace liberal consideration. The essay applies a narrow slice of storytelling scholarship — how humans respond to stories — to the specific context of discharge review board decisions.
Atomistic mechanism of stress modulated phase transition in monolayer MoTe2

Abstract Monolayer MoTe 2 , one of the 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials, exhibits two stable structural phases: semiconducting 2H phase and metallic 1T ′ phase. The dynamic control of the transition between these two phases on a single atomically thin sheet holds promise for a variety of revolutionary device applications. Particularity, stress could be utilized to dynamically modulate such phase transition. To date, the atomistic and kinetic mechanism of the phase transition under stress is not clear. In this paper, the finite deformation nudged elastic band method and density functional theory are applied to determine the phase transition barriers and pathways of monolayer MoTe 2 as a function of applied stress. It is found that the stress can greatly influence the thermodynamics and kinetics of the phase nucleation and propagation. The results shed light on the phase engineering of 2D TMD materials with stress at the atomic level.
Mechanosensitive Expression of Lamellipodin Governs Cell Cycle Progression and Intracellular Stiffness

SUMMARY Cells exhibit pathological behaviors in response to increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, including accelerated cell proliferation and migration [1–9], which are correlated with increased intracellular stiffness and tension [2, 3, 10–12]. The biomechanical signal transduction of ECM stiffness into relevant molecular signals and resultant cellular processes is mediated through multiple proteins associated with the actin cytoskeleton in lamellipodia [2, 3, 10, 11, 13]. However, the molecular mechanisms by which lamellipodial dynamics regulate cellular responses to ECM stiffening remain unclear. Previous work described that lamellipodin, a phosphoinositide- and actin filament-binding protein that is known mostly for controlling cell migration [14–21], promotes ECM stiffness-mediated early cell cycle progression [2], revealing a potential commonality between the mechanisms controlling stiffness-dependent cell migration and those controlling cell proliferation. However, i) whether and how ECM stiffness affects the levels of lamellipodin expression and ii) whether stiffness-mediated lamellipodin expression is required throughout cell cycle progression and for intracellular stiffness have not been explored. Here, we show that the levels of lamellipodin expression in cells are significantly increased by a stiff ECM and that this stiffness-mediated lamellipodin upregulation persistently stimulates cell cycle progression and intracellular stiffness throughout the cell cycle, from the early G1 phase to M phase. Finally, we show that both Rac activation and intracellular stiffening are required for the mechanosensitive induction of lamellipodin. More specifically, inhibiting Rac1 activation in cells on stiff ECM reduces the levels of lamellipodin expression, and this effect is reversed by the overexpression of activated Rac1 in cells on soft ECM. We thus propose that lamellipodin is a critical molecular lynchpin in the control of mechanosensitive cell cycle progression and intracellular stiffness.
Spontaneous time reversal and parity breaking in a $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconductor with magnetic impurities

It is argued that the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ superconductor exhibits the transition into $d_{x^2-y^2} + id_{xy}$ state in the presence of magnetic impurities in certain conditions. Linear coupling between impurity magnetization and the $d_{xy}$ component drives this transition. Violation of time-reversal symmetry and parity occurs spontaneously via the second order transition. In the ordered phase both impurity magnetization and $d_{xy}$ component of the order parameter develop and are proportional to each other.
Ovarian and Adnexal Masses

Incidental finding of an adnexal mass during abdominal surgery may present as a challenge to surgeons. This chapter will provide a detailed review of the various types of adnexal masses commonly encountered. Management of adnexal masses depends on the age of the patient and the pathology of the mass. Specific surgical approaches are addressed based on the age of the patient. A conservative surgical approach is emphasized for younger patients of childbearing age, in which the goal is to remove the abnormal adnexal mass while preserving the contralateral adnexa. However, in older patients and in the case of advanced ovarian malignancies, full surgical staging and removal of all visible disease is paramount to the management of this disease.