cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Annexin II in Stem Cell Homing to Endosteal Osteoblasts - Molecular Dissection of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche.

HSC differentiation occurs in direct proximity to osteoblasts (OBs) with in the bone marrow cavity. Using a novel cell blotting system in which OB membranes were run on non-denaturing discontinuous gels and blotted with labeled HSC cell lines, two major adhesive bands were identified. The two proteins were identified as annexin II monomers and multimers. Immunohistochemistry and laser capture and microarray studies demonstrated that annexin II is preferentially expressed at endosteal surfaces and endothelial cells. Antibody studies against annexin II blocked the adhesion of HSC to OB in vitro. siRNA knockdown and over-expression studies of annexin II resulted in either reduced or enhanced binding characteristics, respectively, as expected. These findings were verified using primary human CD34+ bone marrow cells and human OBs where the binding of the progenitor cells and CFU-activities were linked with annexin II. Peptide mapping demonstrated that the majority of the HSC binding activity resides in the N-terminal aspect of the peptide. To assess the role of annexin II in hematopoietic reconstitution, lethally irradiated mice were transplanted with bone marrow cells in the presence or absence of antibody to annexin II, antibody to the p11 annexin II binding partner, or isotype matched controls. Additional groups included use of the N-terminal p1-12 annexin II synthetic peptide or control. Animals that did not receive any marrow cells died within 14 days. Of the mice transplanted with 2x10^5 bone marrow cells, 1/8 animals died at day 11, representing an 80% survival rate. In contrast, when mice were transfused with the same number of marrow cells together with antibody to annexin II, none of the mice survived; the control treated animals survived (n = 8). Equivalent antibody doses against the annexin II binding partner p11 decreased the survival rate of the treated animals compared to IgG controls. However this treatment was less effective in inhibiting survival compared to the antibody to annexin II. Like wise, the survival of mice treated with two different doses of the p1-12 peptides at two different cell concentrations was significantly relative to the groups treated with a scrambled peptide control. These data suggest that the N-terminal twelve amino acids of annexin II facilitate stem cell homing to the marrow. Together these in vitro and in vivo data suggest a novel role for annexin II in the marrow microenvironment.
Atomic Layer Deposited MgO: A Lower Overpotential Coating for Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2 Cathode

An ultrathin MgO coating was synthesized via atomic layer deposition (ALD) to improve the surface properties of the Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2 (NMC) cathode. An in-situ quartz crystal sensor was used to monitor the "self-limiting" surface reactions during ALD process and estimate the density of the deposited film. The electrochemical performance of the MgO-coated NMC cathode was evaluated in a half-cell assembly and compared to other ALD-based coatings, such as Al2O3 and ZrO2. Cyclic voltammetry studies suggested that ALD MgO has a higher Li-diffusion coefficient which resulted in lower overpotential on the NMC cathode surface and improved Li-ion battery rate performance. MgO-coated NMC also yielded improved capacity retention over uncoated NMC in a long-range cycling test.
The Decline and Fall of the Free World

At the end of the first world war, Oswald Spengler’s ‘Untergang des Abendlandes’ attracted very considerable interest. By this he meant the collapse of the free world, as personified by the civic order of individual freedom in the modern western world. In opposition to it, he prophesied the inevitable and fateful rise of a com munity based upon military discipline, in which a strict, authoritarian leadership would direct the whole political, economic and spiritual life of the nation and everything would be subordinated to the aim of expansion and, ultimately, of world dominion. The rise of this new order, which, in essence, is, as Spengler rightly says, ‘completely amorphous’ and ‘devoid of all prejudice and inhibition’, would, he maintained, break ‘the dictatorship of wealth and its political weapon, democracy’. The individual freedoms would be brushed aside as superfluous or pernicious. Man, it would be asserted, attains his true freedom by subordinating himself willingly and completely to a leadership, which knows what it wants, possesses the power to achieve it and promises to lead the masses to a glittering future.
Adaptive Algorithms for Online Decision Problems

We study the notion of learning in an oblivious changing environment. Existing online learning algorithms which minimize regret are shown to converge to the average of all locally optimal solutions. We propose a new performance metric, strengthening the standard metric of regret, to capture convergence to locally optimal solutions, and propose efficient algorithms which provably converge at the optimal rate. One application is the portfolio management problem, for which we show that all previous algorithms behave suboptimally under dynamic market conditions. Another application is online routing, for which our adaptive algorithm exploits local congestion patterns and runs in near-linear time. We also give an algorithm for the tree update problem that is statically optimal for every sufficiently long contiguous subsequence of accesses. Our algorithm combines techniques from data streaming algorithms, composition of learning algorithms, and a twist on the standard experts framework.
Novice Conceptions of Design: Implications for the Design of Learning Environments

Publisher Summary This chapter confirms the initial beliefs that a catalog of students' misconceptions of designing can be developed, and interventions can be prescribed to overcome those misconceptions. To better understand the nature and substance of these misconceptions, several methods of studying the students in the class have been used, and a descriptive survey study of 290 freshmen has been conducted. The findings suggest a consistent profile of misconceptions across disciplines. Cognitive science research has shown that a learner's prior knowledge is critical to the development of an integrated and generative knowledge. The more incommensurable the set of misconceptions is to that of an expert, the more aggressive the learning intervention needs to be. This has been demonstrated repeatedly in science learning where naive theories are remarkably robust and resistant to change, regardless of the pedagogy. The answers to the questions on misconceptions generate a critical part of an overall framework for the science of design learning. The framework of the science of design learning's goals is to understand how experts practice design, to understand how people learn to design and what makes learning to design difficult, and what are the classroom practices that need to be developed to effectively educate the designers.
Phantom-based image quality test methods for photoacoustic imaging systems

As photoacoustic imaging (PAI) technologies advance and applications arise, there is increasing need for standardized approaches to provide objective, quantitative performance assessment at various stages of the product development and clinical translation process. We have developed a set of performance test methods for PAI systems based on breast-mimicking tissue phantoms containing embedded inclusions. Performance standards for mature imaging modalities [magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound] were used to guide selection of critical PAI image quality characteristics and experimental methods. Specifically, the tests were designed to address axial, lateral, and elevational spatial resolution, signal uniformity, penetration depth, sensitivity, spatial measurement accuracy, and PAI-ultrasound coregistration. As an initial demonstration of the utility of these test methods, we characterized the performance of a modular, bimodal PAI-ultrasound system using four clinical ultrasound transducers with varying design specifications. Results helped to inform optimization of acquisition and data processing procedures while providing quantitative elucidation of transducer-dependent differences in image quality. Comparison of solid, tissue-mimicking polymer phantoms with those based on Intralipid indicated the superiority of the former approach in simulating real-world conditions for PAI. This work provides a critical foundation for the establishment of well-validated test methods that will facilitate the maturation of PAI as a medical imaging technology.
Innovative endovascular defibrillator lead use in superior vena cava obstruction.

Background: We describe an unusual case of severe heart failure (HF) and rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) improved through ablation and pacemaker implant despite superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO).
The Importance of the Phenotype in Explorations of Gene–Environment Interplay

Prior research has ably highlighted the likely role of gene–environment interplay in adolescent development, with a specific focus on gene–environment transactions involving the family of origin. One issue that researchers should attend to closely when exploring gene–environment interplay, however, is that of the phenotype (or observed behavior) under study. Namely, given the different demographic patterns, behavioral expressions, and developmental trajectories that characterize various adolescent outcomes (e.g., depression vs. substance abuse), one would a priori expect the role of gene–environment interplay to also vary across these outcomes. In this chapter, I argue that gene–environment interplay is not a “one-size-fits-all phenomenon” via the use of a specific example. In particular, I illustrate the differential role of gene–environment interplay across two related forms of antisocial behavior (i.e., physical aggression and nonaggressive rule breaking).
Statutory Stare Decisis in the Courts of Appeals

The Supreme Court has long given its cases interpreting statutes special protection from overruling. Two rationales exist for this practice. One line of thought interprets congressional silence following the Supreme Court's interpretation of a statute as approval of that interpretation. According to this way of thinking, a refusal to overrule statutory precedent is a refusal to veer from an interpretation that Congress has effectively approved. Another line of thought emphasizes that statutory interpretation inevitably involves policymaking, and that policymaking is an aspect of legislative, rather than judicial, power. According to this second way of thinking, the Supreme Court should refuse to revisit its statutory interpretations as a means of encouraging Congress (and other interested parties) to use the democratic rather than the judicial process to resolve the policy questions that lie at the heart of interpretive disputes. A robust literature exists debating the wisdom of the Supreme Court's statutory stare decisis doctrine. That robust literature, however, has wholly overlooked a curious aspect of super-strong statutory stare decisis: the courts of appeals have adopted it too. Scholars of statutory interpretation have not noticed the appearance of this doctrine in the lower courts, and the logic of its presence there is not immediately apparent. In this Article, I explore whether statutory stare decisis is an example of an interpretive practice in which the Supreme Court and the lower courts should diverge. I argue that in the courts of appeals, as in the Supreme Court, the theory emphasizing the connection between statutory stare decisis and the separation of powers provides far more credible support for the doctrine than does a theory of congressional acquiescence. Nevertheless, even the separation-of-powers theory does not justify super-strong statutory stare decisis in the courts of appeals. To the extent that statutory stare decisis operates as a restraint on judicial policymaking, it does so based on assumptions about how Congress will react to the Supreme Court. It is both impractical and inconsistent with the system of appellate review that Congress has designed for the inferior courts to assume that Congress will respond to them in the same way. Whatever the merits of statutory stare decisis in the Supreme Court, I conclude that the inferior courts have no sound basis for following the Supreme Court's practice.
Respiratory problems of newborn calves.

Birth is an important time in the life of a calf, because of the transition that must take place from intrauterine existence. This article reviews the cardiopulmonary development of the fetus and the adaptation that takes place shortly following birth. Any delay in the birthing process makes the fetus quite susceptible to asphyxia and death. Calves suffering from asphyxia need to be recognized immediately and therapeutic measures delivered.
Stereotype threat and working memory among surgical residents.

Abstract Background Stereotype threat is a situational threat in which a member of a stereotyped group fears conforming to a negative stereotype. In this study, we examined the impact of stereotype threat on surgical performance and working memory among surgical residents. Methods Residents at one institution were randomized to either the threat condition or the no-threat condition. We administered the Vandenberg Mental Rotation Test and the reading span task to assess residents’ mental rotation and working memory, respectively. Results 102 residents participated in this study (response rate 61%). In multivariable analysis, we found significant gender differences. Men outperformed women in mental rotation, and women outperformed men in working memory. There was no effect of condition on performance on the mental rotation or working memory test. Conclusions No effect of condition on either test suggests that high-achieving women may be less susceptible to stereotype threat. This could be due to self-selection or adapted resilience, or women in this context may be more qualified to reach the same level of achievement as their male colleagues.
Application of pharmacoeconomics to formulary management in a health system setting.

Purpose A novel value-based approach to evaluate costly specialty drugs for formulary addition was developed. Summary In February 2016, Stanford Health Care launched the specialty drug subcommittee (SDSC), a subcommittee of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee, responsible for the formulary review of specialty pharmaceuticals. A process was developed for value-based review that includes not only consideration of clinical trial data and institutional acquisition costs but also internal patient outcomes and a cost-effectiveness model using internal financial data. A Markov model was developed to assess the value of trabectedin, which was approved for formulary addition in April 2016, relative to the addition of dacarbazine. The economic model and internal patient outcome analysis were presented to the prescribing oncologist and the SDSC for review. Internal data revealed that fewer patients than had been estimated received trabectedin, with outcomes significantly worse than those observed in the clinical trial leading to Food and Drug Administration approval. In the cost-effectiveness model, trabectedin had higher costs and poorer outcomes compared with dacarbazine. Based on the economic model, low utilization, and real-world outcomes, trabectedin was removed from formulary and a restrictive treatment pathway for nonformulary use, developed by the primary prescriber, was implemented. This process has since been applied to 11 more specialty drugs. Conclusion Internal cost-effectiveness models in combination with real-world patient outcomes data can be effective formulary management tools. Engagement and collaboration with the requesting provider are key to developing thoughtful treatment pathways.
Nitrogen Fixation in Flooded Soil Systems, A Review

Publisher Summary This chapter examines nitrogen fixation in the component parts of a flooded soil system: the water column and soil surface, the aerobic soil layer, the anaerobic soil layer, the plant root zone (rhizosphere), and the leaf and stem surface of plants. Flooded soil systems tend to be more favorable sites for nonsymbiotic nitrogen fixation than well-drained soils. Many of the characteristic features of flooded soils indicate the suitability of these systems for nitrogen fixation. Their poor aeration suggests a favorable environment for fixation because nitrogenase, the enzyme system that catalyzes nitrogen fixation, is oxygen sensitive. The near neutral pH and low redox potential found in most flooded soils are apparently favorable for heterotrophic nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae can readily proliferate in the photic zone of flooded soil systems. The chapter discusses the environmental factors influencing fixation and the assumptions and limitations associated with the indirect acetylene reduction assay as compared with the direct I5N method for fixation in flooded soils
Streptococcus pneumoniae - An Uncommon but Noteworthy Cause of Intrauterine Fetal Demise and Acute Necrotizing Funisitis.

AbstractBackground: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is an uncommon cause of amniotic fluid infection and intrauterine fetal demise. Case report: A 39-year-old G8P2052 presented with preter...
Effect of lesion proximity on the regenerative response of long descending propriospinal neurons after spinal transection injury

The spinal cord is limited in its capacity to repair after damage caused by injury or disease. However, propriospinal (PS) neurons in the spinal cord have demonstrated a propensity for axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. They can regrow and extend axonal projections to re-establish connections across a spinal lesion. We have previously reported differential reactions of two distinct PS neuronal populations—short thoracic propriospinal (TPS) and long descending propriospinal tract (LDPT) neurons—following a low thoracic (T10) spinal cord injury in a rat model. Immediately after injury, TPS neurons undergo a strong initial regenerative response, defined by the upregulation of transcripts to several growth factor receptors, and growth associated proteins. Many also initiate a strong apoptotic response, leading to cell death. LDPT neurons, on the other hand, show neither a regenerative nor an apoptotic response. They show either a lowered expression or no change in genes for a variety of growth associated proteins, and these neurons survive for at least 2 months post-axotomy. There are several potential explanations for this lack of cellular response for LDPT neurons, one of which is the distance of the LDPT cell body from the T10 lesion. In this study, we examined the molecular response of LDPT neurons to axotomy caused by a proximal spinal cord lesion. Utilizing laser capture microdissection and RNA quantification with branched DNA technology, we analyzed the change in gene expression in LDPT neurons following axotomy near their cell body. Expression patterns of 34 genes selected for their robust responses in TPS neurons were analyzed 3 days following a T2 spinal lesion. Our results show that after axonal injury nearer their cell bodies, there was a differential response of the same set of genes evaluated previously in TPS neurons after proximal axotomy, and LDPT neurons after distal axotomy (T10 spinal transection). The genetic response was much less robust than for TPS neurons after proximal axotomy, included both increased and decreased expression of certain genes, and did not suggest either a major regenerative or apoptotic response within the population of genes examined. The data collectively demonstrate that the location of axotomy in relation to the soma of a neuron has a major effect on its ability to mount a regenerative response. However, the data also suggest that there are endogenous differences in the LDPT and TPS neuronal populations that affect their response to axotomy. These phenotypic differences may indicate that different or multiple therapies may be needed following spinal cord injury to stimulate maximal regeneration of all PS axons.
Activity behavior and cognitive performance in older adults living in a senior housing facility: the impact of frailty status.

Frailty, a condition characterized by a reduced physiological reserve and resilience, is highly prevalent among older adults. This study examined differences in physical activity (PA) level, sedentary behavior (SB) time, and cognitive performance in older adults living in a senior housing facility (SHF) as a function of frailty status. This study assessed 100 older adults from a SHF in the Midwest area of the United States. Participants were categorized as frail or non-frail according to scores observed in the short physical performance battery (SPPB), using the cutoff of nine previously stated in the literature. PA level and SB time were self-reportedly assessed using the physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE) and SB using a specific questionnaire developed for the older adult population. Cognitive performance was assessed using a collection of tests measuring cognitive processing speed, verbal learning, visuospatial memory, and verbal fluency. Frail and non-frail older adults reported similar PA level and SB time (P > .05). Frail older adults performed significantly (P < .05) worse than their counterparts, non-frail in all measures of cognitive function. However, after controlling the analysis for age, only processing speed (SDMT scores) remained statistically different (P < .05) between groups. Older adults living in a SHF with different frailty status (i.e., frail vs. non-frail) report similar levels of PA level and SB time; but our findings suggest that non-frail older adults appear to have better cognitive function in terms of processing speed compared to the frail group.
Queer(y)ing Teacher Education: Ignorance, Insecurity, and Intolerance

In 2001, Marc Prensky stated: “Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach” (p. 1). Prensky meant this in terms of technology, but this statement also applies to students’ perspectives on identities, particularly gender and sexuality. Driver’s (Queer girls and popular culture: Reading, resisting, and creating media, New York, 2007) research explores how youth are defining their own genders, using phrases such as: “[i]n the middle of fem and butch,” “[a] tom boy with a princess stuck inside of me,” “andro,” “fem-androgynous,” “in-between,” “boi,” “birl” (pp. 41–42). Meanwhile, teacher education programs rarely address sexuality or discuss the multiplicity of gender due to the stigma and silence long associated with queer culture. This chapter examines the current state of teacher education in terms of queer topics and looks at different conceptualizations of how teacher education programs can better prepare preservice teachers for the gender, sexuality, and identity diversity of their students.
Effect of Inhibition of Grb2 Expression on BCR-ABL Mediated Transformation of Primary Human Hematopoietic Cells.

Abstract The critical mechanisms underlying human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transformation by the BCR-ABL gene in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are still not well understood. Since treatment with imatinib fails to eliminate primitive CML hematopoietic cells, there is a pressing need to identify additional mechanisms that can be targeted to enhance elimination of CML stem cells. A tyrosine residue at position 177 (Y177) in the BCR-ABL protein binds the adapter protein Grb2 and appears to play an important role in BCR-ABL induced myeloid leukemogenesis in murine CML models. We have recently shown that a tyrosine to phenylalanine mutation of Y177 (Y177F) also results in significant reduction of abnormalities in proliferation and differentiation in BCR-ABL expressing human CD34+ cells and in BCR-ABL induced activation of Ras, Akt and STAT5 signaling (Cancer Res 2007 67:7045). Since Grb2 signaling is implicated in several other human malignancies and likely plays an important role in signaling downstream of BCR-ABL, we were interested in investigating the role of Grb2 in BCR-ABL-mediated transformation of primary human hematopoietic cells. Cord blood (CB) CD34+ cells were transduced with bicistronic retrovirus vectors coexpressing wild type or Y177F mutated BCR-ABL genes with the GFP gene. Coimmunoprecipitation studies confirmed the association of Grb2 with BCR-ABL and was abrogated by the Y177F mutation. We next investigated the effect of inhibition of Grb2 expression in BCR-ABL transduced human CD34+ cells. CB CD34+ cells were co-transduced with retroviral vectors coexpressing the BCR-ABL and GFP genes or control vectors expressing the GFP gene alone together with lentivirus vectors coexpressing Grb2 shRNA constructs and the dsRed gene or the dsRed gene alone. Cells expressing CD34+, GFP and dsRed were selected using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis indicated that Grb2 levels were reduced by 80.8±14.5% (n=3, P
The Evolution of North American Deserts and the Uniqueness of Cuatro Ciénegas

With an area of less than 600 km2, the Cuatro Cienegas Basin harbors one of the most diverse desert landscapes in Mexico. On the general aridity pattern of the Chihuahuan Desert, limited by a very short season of scant summer rain, a unique geology of gypsum soils is superimposed, dotted by montane sky islands where relicts of temperate vegetation that occupied the Mexican Plateau still survive. Plants here show remarkable adaptations to this unique desert environment, including tolerance to gypsum and salinity, seed retention (serotiny) during the dry season, thick, isolateral leaves, and a panoply of different life-forms, including desert annuals, stem- and leaf-succulents, microphyllous shrubs, desert perennial with photosynthetic stems, and drought-deciduous trees, and phreatophytes, tapping the deep with powerful pivot roots. This chapter analyzes the evolution of this diversity of life-forms in the heart of the Chihuahuan Deserts, and discusses the challenges and opportunities it offers for conservation and sustainable resource use.
Asymmetry of Grasp in Haptic Perception

In this paper we present evidence that human perception of grasp might be most dependent on the information retrieved during the inward latch rather than the release of objects. This research is motivated by a number of haptic simulations and devices and grounded in perception science. We ran a user study (n=12) with two devices one capable of delivering compliant simulations for both grip and release (CLAW), i.e. symmetric device; the other only capable of delivering adaptive grip simulations (CapstanCrunch), i.e. asymmetric device. We fund that both performed similarly well for realism scores in a grasping task with objects of different stiffness. That similar performance was despite CapstanCrunch release was delivered by a constant spring independently of the compliance of the object. Our results show preliminary evidence that when simulating haptic grasp the release might be less important. And we propose a new theory of asymmetry of grasp in haptic perception.
Combined Inhibition of EGFR and VEGF Pathways in Patients with EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dual inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways could potentiate improved outcomes in patients with metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) plus a VEGF inhibitor with EGFR TKI alone for the treatment of EGFR-mutated NSCLC. We systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that involved patients with EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC treated with combination therapy versus EGFR TKI alone. In a pooled analysis of 5 studies, treatment with the combination therapy was associated with statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63, 95% CI [0.54, 0.75]) when compared with control. However, pooled data from 4 studies revealed no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups for overall survival (HR 1.00, 95% CI [0.68, 1.52]) and the objective response rate (relative risk [RR] 1.05, 95% CI [0.97, 1.14]). In patients with metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC, treatment with EGFR TKI plus VEGF inhibition provided significant improvements in progression-free survival, but not in overall survival or objective response rate, when compared with treatment with EGFR TKI alone.
A Three‐Tier System for Evaluation of Organ Procurement Organizations’ Willingness to Pursue and Utilize Non‐Ideal Donor Lungs

Lungs from "nonideal," but acceptable donors are underutilized; however, organ procurement organization (OPO) metrics do not reflect the extent to which OPO-specific practices contribute to these trends. We developed a comprehensive system to evaluate nonideal lung donor avoidance, or risk aversion among OPOs. Adult donors in the UNOS registry who donated ≥1 organ for transplantation between 2007 and 2018 were included. Nonideal donors had any of age>50, smoking history ≥20 pack-years, PaO2 /FiO2 ratio ≤350, donation after circulatory death, or increased risk status. OPO-level risk aversion in donor pursuit, consent attainment, lung recovery, and transplantation was assessed. Among 83916 donors, 70372 (83.9%) were nonideal. Unadjusted OPO-level rates of nonideal donor pursuit ranged from 81 to 100%. In a three-tier system of overall risk aversion, tier 3 OPOs (least risk-averse) had the highest rates of nonideal donor pursuit, consent attainment, lung recovery, and transplantation. Tier 1 OPOs (most risk-averse) had the lowest rates of donor pursuit, consent attainment, and lung recovery, but higher rates of transplantation compared to tier 2 OPOs (moderately risk-averse). Risk aversion varies among OPOs and across the donation process. OPO evaluations should reflect early donation process stages to best differentiate over- and underperforming OPOs and encourage optimal OPO-specific performance.
Consistency of invariance-based randomization tests

Invariance-based randomization tests -- such as permutation tests -- are an important and widely used class of statistical methods. They allow drawing inferences with few assumptions on the data distribution. Most work focuses on their type I error control properties, while their consistency properties are much less understood. We develop a general framework and a set of results on the consistency of invariance-based randomization tests in signal-plus-noise models. Our framework is grounded in the deep mathematical area of representation theory. We allow the transforms to be general compact topological groups, such as rotation groups. Moreover, we allow actions by general linear group representations. We apply our framework to a number of fundamental and highly important problems in statistics, including sparse vector detection, testing for low-rank matrices in noise, sparse detection in linear regression, symmetric submatrix detection, and two-sample testing. Perhaps surprisingly, we find that randomization tests can adapt to problem structure and detect signals at the same rate as tests with full knowledge of the noise distribution.
Emergency room imaging in pediatric patients with cancer: analysis of the spectrum and frequency of imaging modalities and findings in a tertiary cancer center and their relationship with survival.

BACKGROUND To assess the spectrum and frequency of modalities used for emergency room (ER) imaging and their findings in pediatric cancer patients and assess their relationship with survival. METHODS Consecutive pediatric cancer patients that underwent imaging during an ER visit at our tertiary cancer center over a 5-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Imaging findings were considered positive when they were relevant to the ER presenting complaint. Imaging positivity was correlated with inpatient admission. Overall survival (OS) was assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves and uni- and multi-variate Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify significant factors associated with OS. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-one patients (135 males and 126 females; median age 11 years [interquartile range 5-16 years] with 348 visits and a total of 406 imaging studies were included. Common chief complaints were related to the chest (100 [28.7 %]) and fever (99 [28.4 %]). ER imaging was positive in 207 visits (59.5 %), commonly revealing increased metastases (50 [14.4 %]), pneumonia (47 [13.5 %]), and other lung problems (12 [2.9 %]). Positive ER imaging was associated with inpatient admission (69.3 % [133/192] vs. 40.4 % [63/156], p < 0.01). Multivariate survival analysis showed that positive ER imaging (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.35 [95% CI 1.44-3.83, p < 0.01), admission (HR = 1.86 [95% CI 1.17-3.00], p < 0.01), number of ER visits (HR = 3.08 [95% CI 1.62-5.83], p < 0.01 for ≥ 3 visits) were associated with poorer survival. CONCLUSIONS Imaging was able to delineate the cause for ER visits in children with cancer in over half of the cases. Positive ER imaging was associated with admission and worse survival.
Editorial Comment: Preoperative Thoracic CT findings as Predictors of the Requirement for Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Abdominal and Pelvic Surgeries.

This Editorial Comment discusses the following AJR article: Preoperative Thoracic CT Findings Associated With Postoperative Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal or Pelvic S...
Autoencoder-based Anomaly Detection in Smart Farming Ecosystem.

The inclusion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is growing rapidly in all application domains. Smart Farming supports devices connected, and with the support of Internet, cloud or edge computing infrastructure provide remote control of watering and fertilization, real time monitoring of farm conditions, and provide solutions to more sustainable practices. This could involve using irrigation systems only when the detected soil moisture level is low or stop when the plant reaches a sufficient level of soil moisture content. These improvements to efficiency and ease of use come with added risks to security and privacy. Cyber attacks in large coordinated manner can disrupt economy of agriculture-dependent nations. To the sensors in the system, an attack may appear as anomalous behaviour. In this context, there are possibilities of anomalies generated due to faulty hardware, issues in network connectivity (if present), or simply abrupt changes to the environment due to weather, human accident, or other unforeseen circumstances. To make such systems more secure, it is imperative to detect such data discrepancies, and trigger appropriate mitigation mechanisms. In this paper, we propose an anomaly detection model for Smart Farming using an unsupervised Autoencoder machine learning model. We chose to use an Autoencoder because it encodes and decodes data and attempts to ignore outliers. When it encounters anomalous data the result will be a high reconstruction loss value, signaling that this data was not like the rest. Our model was trained and tested on data collected from our designed greenhouse test-bed. Proposed Autoencoder model based anomaly detection achieved 98.98% and took 262 seconds to train and has a detection time of .0585 seconds.
Rigid-Plastic Analysis of General Structures

An attempt to explore the concepts involved in the use of kinematic methods to find the limit load for general rigid-plastic structures suggests, by analogy with well established procedures for plane frames loaded in plane, that two types of kinematically admissible velocity and strain rate fields are of particular significance: (1) Fields in which the associated stresses are in internal and external equilibrium but do not necessarily satisfy the yield condition; and (2) fields having the properties of (1) but having, in addition, a minimum number of degrees of freedom when considered purely kinematically. All fields of type (1) are shown to be elaborations of type (2). Because the solution for any particular problem is contained among fields of type (1), and because fields of type (2) are relatively easy to construct, a procedure for determining the limit load is suggested. Illustrative examples are drawn from transversely loaded grid structures, which are termed space frames by some authors.
Class II HDACs and Neuronal Regeneration

The vastly more superior regenerative capacity of the axons of peripheral nerves over central nervous system (CNS) neurons has been partly attributed to the former's intrinsic capacity to initiate and sustain the functionality of a new growth cone. Growth cone generation involves a myriad of processes that centers around the organization of microtubule bundles. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) modulate a wide range of key neuronal processes such as neural progenitor differentiation, learning and memory, neuronal death, and degeneration. HDAC inhibitors have been shown to be beneficial in attenuating neuronal death and promoting neurite outgrowth and axonal regeneration. Recent advances have provided insights on how manipulating HDAC activities, particularly the type II HDACs 5 and 6, which deacetylate tubulin, may benefit axonal regeneration. These advances are discussed herein.
Abnormal cardiac function in the streptozotocin-induced, non–insulin-dependent diabetic rat: Noninvasive assessment with Doppler echocardiography and contribution of the nitric oxide pathway

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate in vivo and in vitro left ventricular (LV) geometry and function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and the possible role of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway. BACKGROUND Diabetes results in cardiac dysfunction; however, the specific abnormalities are unknown. Because decreased NO contributes to abnormal vascular function in diabetics, we hypothesized that NO pathway abnormalities may contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS Control rats and those with non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) underwent echocardiography, hemodynamic assessment, isolated heart perfusion and measurement of exhaled NO and LV endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS). RESULTS Diabetic rats had increased LV mass (3.3 ± 0.6 vs. 2.6 ± 0.3 g/g body weight [BW], p CONCLUSIONS Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction, the latter correlating with decreased exhaled NO. The NO pathway is intact, suggesting impaired availability of NO as contributor to cardiomyopathy.
Online Participation in a Community Context: Civic Engagement and Connections to Local Communication Resources

This article investigates community-oriented Internet participation and its association with traditional predictors of civic engagement. The analysis poses larger questions about the democratic potential of digital media in diverse communities. Taking a communication infrastructure approach, the study explores the relationship between online and off-line forms of local involvement. The analysis is based on data from a phone survey conducted in 2010 with the residents of a demographically diverse city in the United States. Structural equation modeling is used to evaluate the importance of local media consumption, organizational membership, and interpersonal discussion as drivers of online participation. Community-oriented Internet activities are found to promote off-line civic engagement and intergroup dialogue. A disconnect between online participants and traditional local media suggests a need to rethink the role of community news sources in the context of underserved multiethnic residential areas.
Microscale and Nanoscale Thermal Characterization Techniques

In this paper the authors review various microscale and nanoscale thermal characterization techniques that could be applied to active and passive devices. Solid-state micro refrigerators on a chip can provide a uniform and localized temperature profile and they are used as a test vehicle in order to compare the resolution limits of various microscale techniques. After a brief introduction to conventional micro thermocouples and thermistor sensors, various contact and contactless techniques will be reviewed. Infrared microscopy is based on thermal emission and it is a convenient technique that could be used with features tens of microns in size. Resolution limits due to low emissivity and transparency of various materials and issues related to background radiation will be discussed. Liquid crystals that change color due to phase transition have been widely used for hot spot identification in integrated circuit chips. The main problems are related to calibration and aging of the material. Micro Raman is an optical method that can be used to measure absolute temperature. Micron spatial resolution with several degrees temperature resolution has been achieved. Thermoreflectance technique is based on the change of the sample reflection coefficient as a function of temperature. This small change in 10-4-10-5 range per degree is typically detected using lock-in technique when the temperature of the device is cycled. Use of visible and near IR wavelength allows both top surface and through the substrate measurement. Both single point measurements using a scanning laser and imaging with CCD or specialized lock-in cameras have been demonstrated. For ultrafast thermal decay measurement, pump-probe technique using nanosecond or femtosecond lasers have been demonstrated. This is typically used to measure thin film thermal diffusivity and thermal interface resistance. The spatial resolution of various optical techniques can be improved with the use of tapered fibers and near field scanning microscopy. While sub diffraction limit structures have been detected, strong attenuation of the signal reduces the temperature resolution significantly. Scanning thermal microscopy which is based on nanoscale thermocouples at the tip of atomic force microscope has had success in ultra high spatial resolution thermal mapping. Issues related to thermal resistance between the tip and the sample and parasitic heat transfer paths will be discussed
Spectral histogram based face detection

This paper adopts a generic feature representation and applies it to the task of face detection as an appearance-based case. The distribution of faces and non-faces are modeled from the marginal distribution of filter responses. The face detection algorithm proposed here uses the spectral representation of a 21/spl times/21 image window as input to a multiple layer perceptron for classification. The classifier is trained with the backpropagation learning rule. A simple method to correct nonuniform illuminance is used to normalize all training and test images. Testing is done on a standard data set and compared to the work of others.
Is It Good to Be Green? Assessing the Ecological Results of County Green Infrastructure Planning

This study assesses the process and outcomes of landscape-scale green infrastructure planning as a strategy for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. The research examines how nine county planning agencies carry out green infrastructure planning and the effectiveness of those strategies in retaining, preserving, and connecting green space over time. The study develops and applies a new framework for green infrastructure planning and uses remote sensing, land conversion analysis, and a landscape ecology–oriented spatial analysis program (FRAGSTATS) to assess on-the-ground change. Results confirm the relationship between green infrastructure planning and green space outcomes, question conventional metrics, and highlight the importance of strategies that support connectivity and manage growth.
The geometry of aerial photos

Aerial photos are usually classified according to the inclination of the camera axis at the moment of exposure. Thus, photos are termed either verticals, low obliques, or high obliques. Verticals are taken with the optical axis of the camera in a vertical position (Fig. 11); more commonly, however, the axis is 1–2° from vertical because of uncompensated motions in the aircraft. Oblique photos, in contrast to verticals, are taken with the optical axis of the camera inclined. Those taken with the optical axis inclined enough that the horizon is visible on the photos are referred to as high obliques, those on which the horizon is not visible are referred to as low obliques. While each type of photo has its uses, the utility of vertical photos far exceeds that of obliques.
Overview of University of Wisconsin Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Research

AbstractIn Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) devices, a voltage difference between concentric, nearly transparent spherical grids accelerates ions to fusion-relevant velocities. The University of Wisconsin (UW) operates two IEC devices: a cylindrical aluminum chamber and a spherical, water-cooled, stainless-steel chamber, with a power supply capable of 75 mA and 200 kV. The research program aims to generate fusion reaction products for various applications, including protons for creating radioisotopes for nuclear medicine and neutrons for detecting clandestine materials. Most IEC devices worldwide, including the UW devices, presently operate primarily in a pressure range (1-10 mtorr) that allows ions to make only a few passes through the core before they charge exchange and lose substantial energy or they collide with cathode grid wires. It is believed that fusion rates can be raised by operating at a pressure where neutral gas does not impede ion flow, and a helicon ion source has been developed t...
Effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on avian appetite-related processes

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is released from the gastrointestinal tract following ingestion and causes satiety in mammals. Its effects on appetite in non-mammalian vertebrates are unreported. In Experiment 1, fasted chicks reduced food and water intake after central injection of CGRP. These effects were not associated with increased plasma corticosterone concentration. In Experiment 2, we showed that the effect on water intake was independent of food intake. In Experiment 3, central CGRP caused increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the arcuate (ARC) nucleus, paraventricular nucleus (PVN), periventricular (PHN) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamic nuclei. The results of Experiment 4 demonstrate that intraperitoneal injection of CGRP also causes reduced food and water intake. c-Fos immunoreactivity was increased in the ARC, PHN, PVN and VMH in Experiment 5 after intraperitoneal injection of CGRP. Lastly in Experiment 6, we showed that central CGRP changes the type of pecks from feeding to exploratory, and reduces the number of escape attempts. The effect of CGRP appears to be primary on appetite in chicks. In conclusion, the mechanisms of CGRP induced satiety have some similarities and differences between avian and rodent models. The results presented here provide new insight into the evolution of vertebrate satiety regulatory mechanisms.
Chronic constipation management for institutionalized older adults.

Bran’s effectiveness in reducing the need for bowel medication for intermediate care patients was examined at a VA medical center in New York. Twelve older men with chronic constipation and bowel medication use were matched and randomized to receive either bran treatment or usual care (controls). After baseline assessment, six patients were given gradually increasing daily doses of a bran mixture. Results over a 4-month period showed that these patients completely discontinued oral laxative use and had an 80% reduction in total bowel medication use without adversely affecting bowel frequency. The six men who received usual care (controls) experienced no changes. (Geriatr Nurs 2000;21:78-82)