cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agricultural drought monitoring using MODIS-based drought indices over the USA Corn Belt

In 2012, the USA Corn Belt, an intensive agricultural region of the USA, was hit by a widespread severe drought, affecting states such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana. In this study, time series 2000–2012 of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS measurements were investigated to assess the 2012 drought conditions during the corn-growing season. Seven MODIS indices generated based on eight day MODIS reflectance and land surface temperature LST products were examined with standardized precipitation index SPI and Palmer-Z across the Corn Belt to evaluate the relative performance of each MODIS index to detect agricultural drought. The normalized difference infrared index NDII6 anomaly shows the highest correlation coefficient r with SPI at three time scales and correlates best with Palmer-Z, which suggests good sensitivity of the NDII6 anomaly to precipitation and moisture deficiency in agricultural areas. The temporal and spatial features of drought provided by MODIS indices were compared with maps of the USA Drought Monitor USDM, the current advanced tool for drought monitoring. The rapid intensification of drought across the Corn Belt in 2012 summer captured by MODIS index anomalies agreed with the changes of USDM maps quite well, especially in August and September when extreme drought occurred. Through comparison with the USDM drought map, the NDII6 anomaly demonstrated an advantage in monitoring drought condition over irrigated land and showed the potential to advance fine-scale agricultural drought monitoring by providing more detailed spatial characterization.
Bacterial Colonization of Wounds and Sepsis in Total Hip Arthroplasty

This is a study of 658 consecutive total hip arthroplasty procedures in which cultures were taken at surgery. Cultures were positive in 195: 111 occurred in 437 hips that had not been previously operated on and eighty-four in 221 hips that had undergone previous operation. To date, there have been fourteen infections: seven superficial, and seven deep. Preliminary data indicate that the presence of a positive culture in a hip previously operated on may be significant, even though a deep wound infection may later yield a different organism. Organisms belonging to the family Micrococcaceae appear to predominate in deep wound infections.
Material trades and structural analysis of a composite structure

In order to design a composite system specific for a particular mission, it is necessary to perform a materials trade study and structural analysis first. Through the use of software such as: Analam, 6strut, and Strut Design Tool the best material makeup can be identified. Then, by using Patran, MSC Nastran and Sigmax a finite element model based on a real structure can be set up and used to find stresses and margins of safety as well as modal frequencies. The results of this analysis are that the structure’s first mode was found at 20.41 Hz. The lowest margin of safety in the composite skins was found to be 2.6180, which indicates no failure and room for improvement. Also, forces in the struts of the kinematic mount were found and compared to a rough analysis from 6strut. The max force from sigmax in any of the struts was found to be 612.0 lbs and for its given loading pattern had a percent deviation from what 6strut expected for said strut of 57.29%.
Resistance and political independence

At the beginning of World War II, in late 1941, American concern over the safety of Suriname's aluminum ore led to the occupation of the Dutch colony by 1,000 US troops (Baptiste 1988: 115–29). The main fear was of a possible commando raid out of Vichy-held (pro-Nazi) French Guiana to sabotage the bauxite mines at Moengo in eastern Suriname, or even the blocking of the narrow Cottica River leading to the mines at Moengo. Accordingly, a small concentration camp near Paramaribo in Suriname housed suspected German agents and also German ship crews for the duration of the war. In 1942, three Germans escaped from the camp and traveled overland in an easterly direction to the Maroni River separating Suriname from French Guiana. Upon attempting to cross the river, the Germans were recaptured by the men from a “Bush Negro” village and returned to the Dutch authorities in Paramaribo (Sharp 1942: 14). The black villagers who captured the German escapees probably were members of the Djuka tribe, one of six Maroon (“Bush Negro” from the Dutch bosch neger ) tribes inhabiting the forested interior of Suriname. These peoples, who until very recently represented over 10 percent of Suriname's human population, all descended from escaped African slaves. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries slaves fled inland from the coffee, timber, and sugar cane plantations on Suriname's coastal plain to establish clandestine encampments in the rainforest.
Mitigation of Hazard Impacts on Ecosystems and Their Inhabitants: Possible for Some, Not Possible for Others

We have discussed the possibilities of mitigating the effects of impacts from natural and anthropogenic hazards on human populations and their physical environments. This is only part of the planet’s environmental equation. We must also consider the impacts of hazards on ecosystems and life therein that is fundamental to human sustainability on earth. One can start with an assessment of the effects of global warming/climate change and the disruptions and disasters these effects can cause or support in ecosystems.
A general relationship links gait mechanics and running ground reaction forces

ABSTRACT The relationship between gait mechanics and running ground reaction forces is widely regarded as complex. This viewpoint has evolved primarily via efforts to explain the rising edge of vertical force–time waveforms observed during slow human running. Existing theoretical models do provide good rising-edge fits, but require more than a dozen input variables to sum the force contributions of four or more vague components of the body9s total mass ( m b ). Here, we hypothesized that the force contributions of two discrete body mass components are sufficient to account for vertical ground reaction force–time waveform patterns in full (stance foot and shank, m 1 =0.08 m b ; remaining mass, m 2 =0.92 m b ). We tested this hypothesis directly by acquiring simultaneous limb motion and ground reaction force data across a broad range of running speeds (3.0–11.1 m s −1 ) from 42 subjects who differed in body mass (range: 43–105 kg) and foot-strike mechanics. Predicted waveforms were generated from our two-mass model using body mass and three stride-specific measures: contact time, aerial time and lower limb vertical acceleration during impact. Measured waveforms ( N =500) differed in shape and varied by more than twofold in amplitude and duration. Nonetheless, the overall agreement between the 500 measured waveforms and those generated independently by the model approached unity ( R 2 =0.95±0.04, mean±s.d.), with minimal variation across the slow, medium and fast running speeds tested (Δ R 2 ≤0.04), and between rear-foot ( R 2 =0.94±0.04, N =177) versus fore-foot ( R 2 =0.95±0.04, N =323) strike mechanics. We conclude that the motion of two anatomically discrete components of the body9s mass is sufficient to explain the vertical ground reaction force–time waveform patterns observed during human running.
Prophylactic Wound Vacuum Therapy after Cesarean Section to Prevent Wound Complications in the Obese Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial (the ProVac Study)

Objective The objective of this study was to perform a randomized controlled feasibility trial investigating negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system versus a standard postcesarean wound care (WC) on the development of a postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) and/or a wound dehiscence in obese women. Study Design This is a randomized controlled feasibility trial of obese women undergoing an unscheduled cesarean delivery. Women with an initial body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 who were ≥ 4 cm dilated were included. Women were assigned to either a NPWT or standard WC. The primary outcome was a composite of wound morbidity at 4 weeks postpartum including SSI and/or wound opening (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02128997). Continuous variables were analyzed with t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and categorical variables with Fisher's exact test. Results Of 136 women randomized, 67 received NPWT and 69 received standard WC. The 4-week follow-up rate was 88%. Maternal clinical and surgical characteristics were similar between the groups. The prevalence of the composite wound morbidity outcome was not different between those with NPWT and standard WC (4.9 vs. 6.9%; p = 0.71). Conclusion Routine clinical use of a NPWT system after cesarean delivery did not result in a significant reduction of wound morbidity over standard WC.
Misregulation of DNA Methylation Regulators in Cancer

Epigenetic modifications at the DNA level play a central role in establishing the chromatin state and thereby influencing biological function. Several disorders arise from aberrant epigenetic patterns on DNA, cancer being widely explored as an epigenetic disorder. In fact several cancers are associated with a hypermethylator phenotype, which essentially functions as a ‘driver’ of tumorigenesis. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns arise from disrupting the ‘writers’ or ‘erasers’ of the DNA methylation pathway, coordinately functioning to regulate DNA epigenetic marks. Cancer associated deregulatory mechanisms targeting functional disruption of the molecular components of the DNA methylation pathway, and their contribution to cancer initiation and progression are being increasingly appreciated. Understanding these mechanisms of deregulation is central to identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention, in both cancer prevention and treatment.
Preclinical evaluation of genexol-PM, a nanoparticle formulation of paclitaxel, as a novel radiosensitizer for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

e13546 Background: A key research objective in radiation oncology is to identify agents that can improve chemoradiotherapy. Nanoparticle (NP) chemotherapeutics possess several properties, such as p...
The Making of Remembering Shakespeare

The essay discusses the making of Cecilia Rubino's documentary “Remembering Shakespeare”. In collaboration with filmmaker Peter Lucas, she interviewed a wide range of people who live with Shakespeare's words embedded in their daily lives.
A DSS for Systems Analysis and Design

The tools available for assisting the Systems Analyst/Designer in his/her work have changed very little in the past 30 years. Certainly, the productivity gains from tools and techniques are small relative to improvements in hardware and software. Productivity gains from the systems analyst/designer tools can’t compare with productivity gains from hardware and systems software. Hardware has been reduced in size and price, performance and reliability has improved greatly (Figure 1). The improvements in hardware are dramatic and has led to greater expectations by the user. Systems software has also improved tremendously from the primitive systems of the 50’s. Programming Languages, operating systems and Data Base Management Systems have proven to be powerful tools for building systems. For example, assemblers and compilers have made the job of the programmer much easier. Operating systems have evolved from largely a manual effort to a completely automated system. Building information systems has evolved to the point where the next step is to support the systems analyst in the analysis and design process.
The Virtual Cam Method Application and Verification on Locating Key Instant Centers of Ten-Bar 1-DOF Indeterminate Linkages

Planar ten-bar single degree of freedom linkages have 230 valid isomers, 53 of them are kinematically indeterminate, i.e. their complete sets of instant centers cannot be obtained simply from Kennedy Theorem. This paper investigates a graphical approach, i.e. virtual cam method, to help locate the key instant centers of these kinematically indeterminate linkages, after that all the instant centers can be located by Kennedy Theorem accordingly. The criteria of application are proposed and examined carefully, the results are verified against traditional Kennedy Theorem approach and CAD modeling.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Hydrogen sulfide increases glutathione biosynthesis, and glucose uptake and utilisation in C2C12 mouse myotubes.

Diabetic patients have lower blood concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), L-cysteine (LC), and glutathione (GSH). Using C2C12 mouse myotubes as a model, this study investigates the hypothesis th...
Social Identity and Discrimination in Religious/Spiritual Influences on Health

This chapter reviews theories and empirical evidence on relations between religion and spirituality (R/S), social identity, and discrimination by race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and religious tradition. We also examine health-supportive (salutogenic) processes arising from social identities linked to each characteristic. Religion and spirituality are conceived as evolving over time and residing at both collective and individual levels. Each type of discrimination has been linked to poorer health outcomes.
“Far Darker than the IKEA Paradise of Sensible Volvos”: American Perceptions of Sweden Filtered Through Crime Fiction

This study looks at references made to Sweden in U.S. newspaper and magazine articles discussing Swedish crime fiction. Books by authors such as Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell have enjoyed a great deal of popularity in the United States in recent years, and institutions such as the Swedsh Institute in Stockholm have expressed the hope that this popularity will result in greater interest in and knowledge about Sweden. The findings of the study, however, suggest that such is not necessarily the case. U.S. media references to the home country of Larsson and Mankell tend to follow stereotypes and focus on the country’s cold climate, or to see Sweden solely as the origin of products and pop-culture phenomena already familiar to Americans, such as IKEA, Volvo and ABBA. The study considers this view of Sweden part of a larger trend in U.S. mass media away from politics and social issues and toward consumer-oriented news.
Characterization of a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation and release reaction isolated from allium sativum (Garlic)

Abstract When added to platelet-rich plasma, aqueous extracts of garlic inhibited platelet aggregation and the release reaction. Subsequent experiments designed to characterize the inhibitory component revealed that the inhibitory activity was i) associated with small molecular-weight components, ii) the inhibitory component possessed the typical garlic odor and contained an abundance of sulfur, iii) the inhibitory activity could be extracted with organic solvents, and iv) temperatures above 56° C and alkaline pH above 8.5 quickly destroyed the inhibitory activity. The Rf value of the major inhibitory component after thin-layer chromatographic separation was similar to that of allicin, an unique thiosulfinate in garlic previously shown to possess strong antibiotic and antifungal properties. Allicin was synthesized. On thin-layer chromatographic plates, allicin co-migrated with the inhibitory component in garlic. At 10 uM concentration, allicin inhibited completely platelet aggregation and the release reaction. Comparative studies suggest that the major platelet aggregation and release inhibitor in garlic may be allicin.
In Situ SiO2 Passivation of Epitaxial (100) and (110)InGaAs by Exploiting TaSiOx Atomic Layer Deposition Process

In this work, an in situ SiO2 passivation technique using atomic layer deposition (ALD) during the growth of gate dielectric TaSiOx on solid-source molecular beam epitaxy grown (100)InxGa1–xAs and ...
Financial Toxicity: Limitations and Challenges When Caring for Older Adult Patients With Cancer.

Background Financial toxicity refers to the unintended financial consequences and distress that patients and families can incur during treatment of cancer. Financial issues can add further stress to an already stressful situation. Objectives This article aims to increase awareness of the financial burden of cancer treatment in older adults with cancer and its effect on health-related quality of life for patients and their families and to increase knowledge of institutional and community resources to help patients manage financial concerns. Methods A literature search was performed to investigate the burden of financial toxicity on older adults with cancer. Findings High levels of financial burden have been linked to lower adherence to cancer treatments, shorter survival, poorer prognosis, and greater risk of recurrence. Older adults are particularly vulnerable and more likely to experience financial toxicity. Incorporating discussions about financial burden and exploring options to defray costs are key components of quality and patient-centered care.
Intra-Cluster Distance Minimization in DNA Methylation Analysis Using an Advanced Tabu-Based Iterative $k$ k -Medoids Clustering Algorithm (T-CLUST)

Recent advances in DNA methylation profiling have paved the way for understanding the underlying epigenetic mechanisms of various diseases such as cancer. While conventional distance-based clustering algorithms (e.g., hierarchical and $k$ k -means clustering) have been heavily used in such profiling owing to their speed in conduct of high-throughput analysis, these methods commonly converge to suboptimal solutions and/or trivial clusters due to their greedy search nature. Hence, methodologies are needed to improve the quality of clusters formed by these algorithms without sacrificing from their speed. In this study, we introduce three related algorithms for a complete high-throughput methylation analysis: a variance-based dimension reduction algorithm to handle high-dimensionality in data, an outlier detection algorithm to identify the outliers of data, and an advanced Tabu-based iterative $k$ k -medoids clustering algorithm (T-CLUST) to reduce the impact of initial solutions on the performance of conventional $k$ k -medoids algorithm. The performance of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated on nine different real DNA methylation datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus DataSets database. The accuracy of the cluster identification obtained by our proposed algorithms is higher than those of hierarchical and $k$ k -means clustering, as well as the conventional methods. The algorithms are implemented in MATLAB, and available at: http://www.coe.miami.edu/simlab/tclust.html .
Games and Simulations and Their Relationships to Learning

Educational games and simulations are experiential exercises that transport learners to another world. There they apply their knowledge, skills, and strategies in the execution of their assigned roles. For example, children may search for vocabulary cues to capture a wicked wizard (game), or engineers may diagnose the problems in a malfunctioning steam plant (simulation).
Molecular and Cellular Effect of Angiotensin 1-7 on Hypertensive Kidney Disease.

Background Studies implicate that angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7) imparts protective effects in the kidney. However, its relevance in hypertensive kidney disease is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of Ang1-7 on renal damage/remodeling during hypertension and its potential underlying molecular-cellular mechanisms. Methods Hypertension was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of aldosterone (ALDO; 0.75 μg/hour) for 4 weeks with or without co-treatment of Ang1-7 (1 mg/kg/day). Untreated rats served as controls. Systolic blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff technique. Renal fibrosis was evaluated by picrosirius red staining and renal collagen volume fraction was quantitated using imaging analyzing system. The expression of profibrotic factors [transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D), fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)] and free radical producing enzymes (inducible nitric oxide synthase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH] oxidase) in the kidney were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Renal oxidative stress was assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement. Results Chronic ALDO infusion caused hypertension and hypertensive renal disease represented as glomerular damage/sclerosis. Ang1-7 co-treatment did not affect blood pressure in ALDO-treated rats, but significantly attenuated the glomerular damage/fibrosis. ALDO treatment significantly elevated renal expression of profibrogenic factors, including TGF-β1, TIMP-1/TIMP-2, FGF-1, PDGF-D, and VEGF-D, whereas Ang1-7 co-treatment significantly reduced renal TGF-β1, TIMP-1/TIMP-2, and FGF-1, but not PDGF-D and VEGF-D. Furthermore, ALDO infusion elevated NADPH oxidase (gp91phox) and MDA in the kidney, which was attenuated by Ang1-7 co-treatment. Conclusions Ang1-7 plays a protective role in the hypertensive kidney disease independent of blood pressure. The beneficial effects of Ang1-7 are likely mediated via suppressing TGF-β/FGF-1 pathways and oxidative stress.
Menopausal status and disordered eating and body image concerns among middle-aged women.

Objective Eating disorders are present among middle-aged women, yet most eating disorder knowledge comes from adolescents and young adults. There is arguably a need for research specific to middle-aged women and eating pathology. One biological factor that may contribute to eating disorder symptoms and is unique to middle-aged women is menopause, given the changes in body shape and weight that direct women's bodies away from the young, thin beauty standard. Method This study explored group differences in disordered eating and body image by menopausal status. Participants were 310 middle-aged women between the ages of 40 and 68. They completed an online survey about their menopausal status, disordered eating, and body image concerns. We compared disordered eating behaviors and attitudes across three groups: premenopausal women, perimenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Results Results indicated no group differences on either disordered eating or body image concerns by menopausal status. Discussion These findings suggest the perimenopausal period may not be a window of vulnerability for women in general. Given these mixed findings, future research should examine moderators to determine when there are menopausal status group differences on eating pathology.
Design Thinking Gives STEAM to Teaching: A Framework That Breaks Disciplinary Boundaries

In this chapter, we present a multi-threaded argument to suggest how design thinking can be an excellent framework for developing STEAM education. We note that STEAM is broader than mere arts integration in STEM. It reflects a view of education that is more creative, real-world-driven, and problem- or project-based in nature. To develop learning content and experiences that offer creative, authentic, real-world, and problem- or project-driven focus, teachers need more than an argument—they need a guiding framework. We suggest that design and design thinking are natural areas of interconnection with STEAM, both for learners and teachers. These ideas can be used to frame STEAM-based experiences that are more open, creative, project-based, and real-world-driven. Here, we discuss the nature of the connections between design and STEAM and focus on how teachers can use design thinking practices to help them redesign curriculum to transition from STEM to STEAM.
Regulation of Intronic Polyadenylation by PCF11 Impacts mRNA Expression of Long Genes

Regulation of cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) affects gene expression and polyadenylation site (PAS) choice. Here, we report that the CPA and termination factor PCF11 modulates gene expression on the basis of gene size. Although downregulation of PCF11 leads to inhibition of short gene expression, long genes are upregulated because of suppressed intronic polyadenylation (IPA) enriched in large introns. We show that this regulatory scheme, named PCF11-mediated expression regulation through IPA (PEIPA), takes place in cell differentiation, during which downregulation of PCF11 is coupled with upregulation of long genes with functions in cell morphology, adhesion, and migration. PEIPA targets distinct gene sets in different cell contexts with similar rules. Furthermore, PCF11 is autoregulated through a conserved IPA site, the removal of which leads to global activation of PASs close to gene promotors. Therefore, PCF11 uses distinct mechanisms to regulate genes of different sizes, and its autoregulation maintains homeostasis of PAS usage in the cell.
The New Latinx 'Repatriation'? Removals, Criminal Justice, and the Efforts to Remove Latinx Peoples from the United States

Several historical episodes have indelibly influenced the sense of belonging of generations of persons of Mexican ancestry - and Latinx generally - in the United States. Two powerful examples aptly illustrate this point. During the hard times of the Great Depression, state and local governments, with the support of the U.S. government, “repatriated” approximately one million persons of Mexican ancestry, including many U.S. citizen children as well as immigrant parents, to Mexico. Similarly, the U.S. government in 1954 in the military-style “Operation Wetback,” directed by a retired general, removed hundreds of thousands of persons of Mexican ancestry, including many U.S. citizen children, from the Southwest. Those discriminatory events have shaped the identities of Latinx people in the United States. History has condemned these episodes of racial intolerance. Nonetheless, we may be seeing history repeat itself, but with even larger numbers of people injured. Ushering in breath-taking changes in immigration law and enforcement, President Donald J. Trump has boldly moved to reduce immigration to, and the number of immigrants in, the United States. This Article contends that, because so many of the measures directly and indirectly target Latina/os, they represent the equivalent of an attempt at a “new” Mexican repatriation– a concerted effort to remove Latinx people, focusing on Mexicans and Central Americans, from the country. Just as the previous campaigns did, the new efforts further encourage Latinx non-citizens, along with U.S. citizen children, to “self-deport” (i.e., leave the country) or to never come to the United States. Part I of this Article reviews previous efforts to remove persons of Mexican ancestry from the United States, namely what is known as the “Mexican repatriation” during the Great Depression and “Operation Wetback” in 1954. Part II considers the impacts on Latinx of the contemporary efforts by the Trump administration to remove immigrants from the United States, and to reduce legal immigration. It further draws parallels between the “new” and “old” repatriation campaigns.
Cross‐Country Evidence on Labor Market Institutions and Young Adult Employment through the Financial Crisis

I develop and analyze a set of cross‐country facts regarding employment and wage setting institutions over the decade surrounding the 2008 financial crisis. Among long‐industrialized countries, young adult employment declined more than prime age employment over this time period. I show that differences in countries' wage setting institutions strongly predict variations in the magnitude of declines in young adult employment. Both unconditionally and conditional on changes in macroeconomic conditions, young adult employment declined 5 percentage points less in countries where wage setting is driven by collective bargaining arrangements than in countries with statutory wage floors. Evidence on the evolution of legislated minimum wage rates and of an asymmetry in the relationship between growth and young adult employment suggest an important role for a standard “wage rigidity” mechanism.
Comparison Between Quantitative Measurements of Diffusion Tensor Imaging and T2 Signal Intensity in a Large Series of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Patients for Assessment of Disease Severity and Prognostication of Recovery

OBJECTIVE Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. Recently, it has been shown that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may be a better biomarker than T2-weighted signal intensity (T2SI) on MRI for CSM. However, there is very little literature on a comparison between the quantitative measurements of DTI and T2SI in the CSM patient population to determine disease severity and recovery. METHODS A prospective analysis of 46 patients with both preoperative DTI and T2-weighted MRI was undertaken. Normalized T2SI (NT2SI), regardless of the presence or absence of T2SI at the level of maximum compression (LMC), was determined by calculating the T2SI at the LMC/T2SI at the level of the foramen magnum. Regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of fractional anisotropy (FA), a quantitative measure derived from DTI, and NT2SI individually as well their combination with baseline preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and ∆mJOA score at the 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Goodness-of-fit analysis was done using residual diagnostics. In addition, mixed-effects regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of FA and NT2SI individually. A p value < 0.05 was selected to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between FA at the LMC and preoperative mJOA score (p = 0.041) but a significant negative correlation between FA at the LMC and the ΔmJOA score at the 12-month follow-up (p = 0.010). All other relationships between FA at the LMC and the baseline preoperative mJOA score or ∆mJOA score at the 3-, 6-, and 24-month follow-ups were not statistically significant. For NT2SI and the combination of FA and NT2SI, no significant relationships with preoperative mJOA score or ∆mJOA at 3, 6, and 24 months were seen on regression analysis. However, there was a significant correlation of combined FA and NT2SI with ∆mJOA score at the 12-month follow-up. Mixed-effects regression revealed that FA measured at the LMC was the only significant predictor of ΔmJOA score (p = 0.03), whereas NT2SI and time were not. Goodness-of-fit analysis did not show any evidence of lack of fit. CONCLUSIONS In this large prospective study of CSM patients, FA at LMC appears to be a better biomarker for determining long-term outcomes following surgery in CSM patients than NT2SI or the combination values at LMC.
Canonical Correlation Analysis

In many applications, one wants to associate one kind of data with another. For example, every data item could be a video sequence together with its sound track. You might want to use this data to learn to associate sounds with video, so you can predict a sound for a new, silent, video. You might want to use this data to learn how to read the (very small) motion cues in a video that result from sounds in a scene (so you could, say, read a conversation off the tiny wiggles in the curtain caused by the sound waves). As another example, every data item could be a captioned image. You might want to predict words from pictures to label the pictures, or predict pictures from words to support image search. The important question here is: what aspects of the one kind of data can be predicted from the other kind of data?
Incorporating imaging information from deep neural network layers into image guided radiation therapy (IGRT)

Abstract Background and purpose To investigate a novel markerless prostate localization strategy using a pre-trained deep learning model to interpret routine projection kilovoltage (kV) X-ray images in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Materials and methods We developed a personalized region-based convolutional neural network to localize the prostate treatment target without implanted fiducials. To train the deep neural network (DNN), we used the patient’s planning computed tomography (pCT) images with pre-delineated prostate target to generate a large amount of synthetic kV projection X-ray images in the geometry of onboard imager (OBI) system. The DNN model was evaluated by retrospectively studying 10 patients who underwent prostate IGRT. Three out of the ten patients who had implanted fiducials and the fiducials’ positions in the OBI images acquired for treatment setup were examined to show the potential of the proposed method for prostate IGRT. Statistical analysis using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the results along with the difference between the digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) derived and DNN predicted locations of the prostate. Results Differences between the predicted target positions using DNN and their actual positions are (mean ± standard deviation) 1.58 ± 0.43 mm, 1.64 ± 0.43 mm, and 1.67 ± 0.36 mm in anterior–posterior, lateral, and oblique directions, respectively. Prostate position identified on the OBI kV images is also found to be consistent with that derived from the implanted fiducials. Conclusions Highly accurate, markerless prostate localization based on deep learning is achievable. The proposed method is useful for daily patient positioning and real-time target tracking during prostate radiotherapy.
Non-invasive multiphoton imaging of neural structure and activity in Drosophila

Abstract A limitation of current methods for examining neural activity over long periods of time in the fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is the need to remove the head cuticle and the underlying tissue to gain optical access to the brain, a process that damages circulation and restricts the length of imaging time. Here, we developed a non-invasive preparation for structural and functional imaging of the fly brain through the intact head cuticle. We first showed that the head cuticle transmits long-wavelength laser light with surprisingly high efficiencies. In fact, the tissue that interferes with laser light during multiphoton imaging is the air sacs underneath the head cuticle. We developed a non-invasive imaging preparation that compresses the air sacs, and used it to image the mushroom body Kenyon cells and central complex ring neurons through the cuticle at cellular resolution using both 2-and 3-photon microscopy. We also performed non-invasive short-term and long-term functional imaging (for the first time for 12 consecutive hours) of odour-evoked calcium responses from the mushroom body Kenyon cells. Our results demonstrate that the non-invasive imaging preparation developed here extends the time limits of current in vivo imaging methods used in flies that require an invasive surgery, and opens up new ways to capture neural activity from the intact fly brain.
Psychosocial outcomes and care utilization among rural and nonrural cancer patients.

79Background: Approximately 20% of people diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. travel from rural areas to urban cancer centers for treatment. Rural cancer patients face unique challenges which may con...
Vertebral compression fractures: how to manage pain, avoid disability.

About 25% of U.S. women over age 50 will suffer one or more vertebral compression fractures related to osteoporosis. Vertebral fractures may be biconcave, anterior wedge, or crush deformities. A fracture is most often precipitated by putting a load on outstretched arms (eg, while raising a window). Back pain is usually incapacitating for a few weeks, then diminishes in severity but remains intense for 2 to 3 months. Acute complications include transient ileus, urinary retention, or (rarely) cord compression. Long-term effects include kyphosis, deconditioning, insomnia, and depression. Initial treatment includes bed rest, pain management with local and systemic analgesia, bracing to improve comfort, and patient reassurance. Long-term management includes spinal stretching exercises, walking, and treatment of underlying osteoporosis with calcitonin or estrogen in selected patients.
The nature of flame gases free of nonmetallic content

Abstract Normal flame gases free of metals are chemically simple and understood. The gas flow is the energy transport as well as the transporter of any trace ingredient in the fuel. Even then the gas phase remains chemically simple.
O-GlcNAc Transferase Regulates Cancer Stem-like Potential of Breast Cancer Cells.

Breast tumors are heterogeneous and composed of different subpopulation of cells, each with dynamic roles that can change with stage, site, and microenvironment. Cellular heterogeneity is, in part, due to cancer stem-like cells (CSC) that share properties with stem cells and are associated with treatment resistance. CSCs rewire metabolism to meet energy demands of increased growth and biosynthesis. O-GlcNAc transferase enzyme (OGT) uses UDP-GlcNAc as a substrate for adding O-GlcNAc moieties to nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. OGT/O-GlcNAc levels are elevated in multiple cancers and reducing OGT in cancer cells blocks tumor growth. Here, we report that breast CSCs enriched in mammosphere cultures contain elevated OGT/O-GlcNAcylation. Inhibition of OGT genetically or pharmacologically reduced mammosphere forming efficiency, the CD44H/CD24L, NANOG+, and ALDH+ CSC population in breast cancer cells. Conversely, breast cancer cells overexpressing OGT increased mammosphere formation, CSC populations in vitro, and also increased tumor initiation and CSC frequency in vivo. Furthermore, OGT regulates expression of a number of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and CSC markers including CD44, NANOG, and c-Myc. In addition, we identify Kruppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) as a novel regulator of breast cancer mammosphere formation and a critical target of OGT in regulating CSCs. IMPLICATIONS: These findings demonstrate that OGT plays a key role in the regulation of breast CSCs in vitro and tumor initiation in vivo, in part, via regulation of KLF8, and thus inhibition of OGT may serve as a therapeutic strategy to regulate tumor-initiating activity.
Jet shapes and fragmentation functions in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200GeV in STAR

Abstract The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of differential jet shapes and semi-inclusive jet fragmentation functions in Au+Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. Jet shapes, which represent the radial distribution of momentum carried by constituents, are measured differentially for (1) the charged particles transverse momentum and (2) the jet azimuthal angle relative to the second-order event plane. Based on the semi-inclusive population of jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum trigger hadron, jet fragmentation functions in 40-60% central heavy-ion collisions are measured, and compared to those in PYTHIA simulations for pp collisions.
Demo Abstract: RF Soil Moisture Sensing via Radar Backscatter Tags

We present a sensing system that determines soil moisture via RF using backscatter tags paired with a commodity ultra-wideband RF transceiver. Despite decades of research confirming the benefits, soil moisture sensors are still not widely adopted on working farms for three key reasons: the high cost of sensors, the difficulty of deploying and maintaining these sensors, and the lack of reliable internet access in rural areas. We seek to address some of these obstacles by designing a low-cost soil moisture sensing system that uses a hybrid approach of pairing completely wireless backscatter tags with a mobile reader.(p)(/p)We designed and built a backscatter tag prototype and tested our system both in laboratory and in situ at an organic farm field. Our backscatter tag has a projected battery lifetime of up to 15 years on 4xAA batteries, and can operate at a depth of at least 30cm and up to 75cm. It achieves an average accuracy within 0.01-0.03cm3/cm3 of the ground truth with a 90th percentile of 0.034cm3/cm3, which is comparable to state-of-the-art commercial soil sensors, at an order of magnitude lower cost.
The Landmark Series: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative and HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

While historically breast cancer has been treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant therapy, the delivery of systemic therapy in the neoadjuvant setting has become increasingly common, especially for triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer. The initial motivations for pursuing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were decreasing the tumor burden in the breast and axilla to enable de-escalation of surgery, and use the strategy to advance drug development. While these remain of interest, recent trials have additionally demonstrated survival advantages from escalation of systemic treatment in patients with residual disease, and new studies are testing de-escalation of systemic therapy based on pathologic response. Thus, response information to NAC has become pivotal to guide adjuvant treatment recommendations, and has resulted in NAC being the preferred approach for most HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers. Herein, we review select landmark trials that have paved the way for the use of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting for breast cancer.
Exploring the Rare Etiology of Severe Anemia in an Immunocompromised Patient

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare cause of profound anemia, marked by very low reticulocyte count and near to complete absence of erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow. PRCA can be congenital such as in the case of children with Diamond- Blackfan anemia or acquired, which is often triggered by exposure to certain viruses or drugs. Management depends on the underlying etiology of PRCA. Here, we present the case of a young male with underlying acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, who presented with a hemoglobin of 2.6 g/dL, initially thought to be secondary to gastrointestinal blood loss, but was later discovered to have parvovirus-induced PRCA.
Which surgical approach is optimal for joint preparation in talonavicular fusion — A cadaver study

Abstract Background Fusion of the talonavicular joint has proven challenging in literature. The optimal surgical approach for talonavicular arthrodesis is still uncertain. This study compares the amount of physical joint preparation between dorsal and medial approaches to the talonavicular joint. Methods Twenty fresh frozen cadaver specimens were randomly assigned to receive either a dorsal or medial operative approach to the talonavicular joint. The joint surface was prepared, and the joint was disarticulated. Image analysis, using ImageJ, was performed by two blinded reviewers to assess the joint surface preparation and this was compared by surgical approach. Results The dorsal approach had a higher median percentage of talar and total talonavicular joint surface area prepared (75% vs. 59% (p = .007) and 82% vs. 70% (p = .005)). Irrespective of approach, the talus was significantly more difficult to prepare than the navicular (62% vs 88% (p = .001)). Conclusion The dorsal approach provides superior talonavicular joint preparation. The lateral ¼th of the talar head was the most difficult surface to prepare, and surgeons performing double or triple arthrodesis may prepare the lateral talar head from the lateral approach. Level of evidence Level V.
Towards Human-Centric Futures: An Affordance Perspective on the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The current era of technology-enabled change is often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Information systems research into the 4IR largely adopts a techno-economic perspective, according to which rapidly advancing digital technologies enable productivity-enhancing industrial innovations. As a result, insufficient knowledge is generated about such important issues as the implications of the 4IR for human welfare and environmental sustainability. In response, an affordance perspective on the 4IR is developed, which de-emphasizes technology and related deceptions and focuses on action possibilities and human agency. Analysis yields four machine affordances that emulate human cognition and communication: enhanced decision making, human-centered interaction, generativity, and extensible resource sharing. The affordance perspective on the 4IR involves machines that can sense, understand, interact, and react - opening new discourse and suggesting new research streams that transcend the techno-economic while building on existing research. Overall, the analysis centrally situates human agency in determining how and for what purpose evolving 4IR affordances are enacted - countering the presumption that an industry vision for a technology-infused future is inevitable.
Evidence for neurotransmitter plasticity in vivo. II. Immunocytochemical studies of rat sweat gland innervation during development.

Abstract Previous studies of the cholinergic sympathetic innervation of rat sweat glands provide evidence for a change in neurotransmitter phenotype from noradrenergic to cholinergic during development. To define further the developmental history of cholinergic sympathetic neurons, we have used immunocytochemical techniques to examine developing and mature sweat gland innervation for the presence of the catecholamine synthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) and for two neuropeptides present in the mature cholinergic innervation, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In 7-day old animals, intensely TH- and DBH-immunoreactive axons were closely associated with the forming glands. The intensity of both the TH and DBH immunofluorescence decreased as the glands and their innervation developed. Neither TH-IR nor DBH-IR disappeared entirely; faint immunoreactivity for both enzymes was reproducibly detected in mature animals. In contrast to noradrenergic properties, the expression of peptide immunoreactivities appeared relatively late. No VIP-IR or CGRP-IR was detectable in the sweat gland innervation at 4 or 7 days. In some glands VIP-IR first appeared in axons at 10 days, and was evident in all glands by 14 days. CGRP-IR was detectable only after 14 days. In addition to VIP-IR and CGRP-IR, we examined the sweat gland innervation for several neuropeptides which have been described in noradrenergic sympathetic neurons including neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, substance P, and leu- and met-enkephalin; these peptides were not evident in either developing or mature sweat gland axons. Our observations provide further evidence for the early expression and subsequent modulation of noradrenergic properties in a population of cholinergic sympathetic neurons in vivo . In addition, the asynchronous appearance during development of the two neuropeptide immunoreactivities raises the possibility that the expression of peptide phenotypes may be controlled independently.
Traffic jams affect plant development and signal transduction

Analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana endomembrane system has shown that plant cell viability depends on a properly functioning vacuole and intact vesicular trafficking. The endomembrane system is also essential for various aspects of plant development and signal transduction. In this review, we discuss examples of these newly discovered roles for the endomembrane system in plants, and new experimental approaches and technologies that are based on high-throughput screens, which combine chemical genetics and automated confocal microscopy.
A privacy-sensitive approach to modeling multi-person conversations

In this paper we introduce a new dynamic Bayesian network that separates the speakers and their speaking turns in a multi-person conversation. We protect the speakers' privacy by using only features from which intelligible speech cannot be reconstructed. The model we present combines data from multiple audio streams, segments the streams into speech and silence, separates the different speakers, and detects when other nearby individuals who are not wearing microphones are speaking. No pre-trained speaker specific models are used, so the system can be easily applied in new and different environments. We show promising results in two very different datasets that vary in background noise, microphone placement and quality, and conversational dynamics.