cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants and impact of generalist-specialist communication about pediatric outpatient referrals.

OBJECTIVE. Effective communication between primary care and specialty physicians is essential for comanagement when children are referred to specialty care. We sought to determine rates of physician-reported communication between primary care physicians and specialists, the clinical impact of communication or its absence, and patient- and practice system–level determinants of communication for a cohort of children referred to specialty care. METHODS. We enrolled 179 patients newly referred from general pediatricians in 30 community practices to 15 pediatric medical specialists in 5 specialties. Primary care physicians and specialists completed questionnaires at the first specialty visit and 6 months later. Questions covered communication received by primary care physicians and specialists, its impact on care provision, system characteristics of practices, and roles of physicians in treatment. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine associations between practice system and patient characteristics and the dependent variable of reported primary care physician–specialist communication. RESULTS. Specialists reported communication from referring primary care physicians for only 50% of initial referrals, whereas primary care physicians reported communication from specialists after 84% of initial consultations. Communication was strongly associated with physicians9 reported ability to provide optimal care. System characteristics associated with reported primary care physician–specialist communication were computer access to chart notes and lack of delays in receipt of information. Associated patient characteristics included non-Medicaid insurance, no additional specialists seen, and specialty to which referred. Physicians favored comanagement of referred patients in more than two thirds of the cases. CONCLUSIONS. Although a prerequisite for optimal care, communication from primary care physicians to specialists is frequently absent. Interventions should promote widely accessible clinical information systems and target children with complex needs and public insurance.
Image reconstruction from measured scattering data

We present our recent work on the image reconstruction of two dimensional scattering objects using the layered-medium contrast source inversion (CSI) method from the measured scattering data collected in June 2004 from Institut Fresnel. We focus on the TM case. Even though the Fresnel data sets were collected from the EM chamber that simulates a homogeneous background, it provided real data for validation test of our layered-medium contrast source inversion algorithm and procedure (when degenerating to a one layer medium).
Object Tracking by Asymmetric Kernel Mean Shift with Automatic Scale and Orientation Selection

Tracking objects using the mean shift method is performed by iteratively translating a kernel in the image space such that the past and current object observations are similar. Traditional mean shift method requires a symmetric kernel, such as a circle or an ellipse, and assumes constancy of the object scale and orientation during the course of tracking. In a tracking scenario, it is not uncommon to observe objects with complex shapes whose scale and orientation constantly change due to the camera and object motions. In this paper, we present an object tracking method based on the asymmetric kernel mean shift, in which the scale and orientation of the kernel adaptively change depending on the observations at each iteration. Proposed method extends the traditional mean shift tracking, which is performed in the image coordinates, by including the scale and orientation as additional dimensions and simultaneously estimates all the unknowns in a few number of mean shift iterations. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the traditional mean shift tracking in the following aspects: 1) it provides consistent object tracking throughout the video; 2) it is not effected by the scale and orientation changes of the tracked objects; 3) it is less prone to the background clutter.
Heterogeneity of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) now accounts for 20–30% of all newly diagnosed breast cancers in centers which use mammographic surveillance as a standard part of the examination. The majority of these DCIS lesions, at least in the United States, are of very limited size, with mean estimated extents of 8–20 mm, based on pathological examination. A small fraction of these are incidental microscopic features of the biopsy; the majority are detected on the basis of mammographic microcalcifications. These mammographically detected DCIS lesions are biologically heterogeneous, and this is reflected by their histology. Moreover, a number of recent independent studies have shown that the clinical outcome of patients, particularly those treated by breast conservation, is related to the presence of reproducible and identifiable histologic features, and possibly to certain immunohistochemically demonstrable gene markers as well. Regardless of the type of therapy, local recurrence in the breast is the most common and often the only site of failure after breast conservation therapy for DCIS. Although individual studies show some variation in the proportion of invasive to non-invasive recurrence, equal numbers of invasive and non-invasive recurrences are most commonly noted.
High-speed braking of an aircraft tire on grooved surfaces

The Federal Aviation Administration is engaged in an experimental program to determine the effectiveness of grooves and other low-cost surface treatments that alleviate hydroplaning. A ground test facility provides speeds of up to 150 knots by the use of a jet-powered pusher car that also supports a tire-wheel assembly. The tires of a Boeing 727 aircraft are inflated to 140 psi and loaded vertically to 35,000 Ib. The tire-runway braking is measured by the use of proper instrumentation. High-speed braking tests show that low-cost surface treatment can be provided in two ways: 1) by increasing the spacing of the square saw-cut grooves beyond 11A in., and 2) by installing V-shaped grooves using a reflex-percussive cutting process. In both cases, the braking effectiveness of an aircraft tire was found to be "acceptable" and hydroplaning was not experienced at speeds of up to 150 knots.
The Effects of Combining Peer Tutoring and Attribution Training on Students' Perceived Self-Competence

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND STUDENTS AT RISK FOR REFERRAL FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SERVED AS TUTORS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN IN A PEER TUTORING PROGRAM. DURING WEEKLY TRAINING SESSIONS, THE TUTORS IN ONE CONDITION WERE TRAINED TO RESPOND TO TUTEES' CORRECT RESPONSES WITH STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTING THEIR SUCCESS TO ABILITY AND EFFORT, AND TO INCORRECT RESPONSES WITH STRATEGY SUGGESTIONS. IN A SECOND CONDITION, STUDENTS WERE TRAINED TO RESPOND TO CORRECT RESPONSES WITH GENERAL FEEDBACK STATEMENTS, AND TO INCORRECT RESPONSES WITH STRATEGY SUGGESTIONS. ANALYSES WERE CONDUCTED FOR BOTH TUTORS AND TUTEES ON MEASURES OF COMPETENCE, ATTRIBUTIONS, AND SOCIAL COMPARISONS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT STUDENTS IN THE ATTRIBUTION-PLUS-STRATEGY TRAINING BECAME MORE POSITIVE IN THEIR SELF-PERCEPTIONS THAN STUDENTS IN THE STRATEGY-ONLY CONDITION.
Repeated, Selection-Driven Genome Reduction of Accessory Genes in Experimental Populations

Genome reduction has been observed in many bacterial lineages that have adapted to specialized environments. The extreme genome degradation seen for obligate pathogens and symbionts appears to be dominated by genetic drift. In contrast, for free-living organisms with reduced genomes, the dominant force is proposed to be direct selection for smaller, streamlined genomes. Most variation in gene content for these free-living species is of “accessory” genes, which are commonly gained as large chromosomal islands that are adaptive for specialized traits such as pathogenicity. It is generally unclear, however, whether the process of accessory gene loss is largely driven by drift or selection. Here we demonstrate that selection for gene loss, and not a shortened genome, per se, drove massive, rapid reduction of accessory genes. In just 1,500 generations of experimental evolution, 80% of populations of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 experienced nearly parallel deletions removing up to 10% of the genome from a megaplasmid present in this strain. The absence of these deletion events in a mutation accumulation experiment suggested that selection, rather than drift, has dominated the process. Reconstructing these deletions confirmed that they were beneficial in their selective regimes, but led to decreased performance in alternative environments. These results indicate that selection can be crucial in eliminating unnecessary genes during the early stages of adaptation to a specialized environment.
Intersection Collision Avoidance System Architecture

In this preliminary paper we propose new intersection collision avoidance architecture. This system allows vehicles to establish secure links with roadside unit installed at the intersection before entering the furthest point where vehicles start to share their current state with the roadside unit. Early link establishment is chosen to maximize the opportunity of advanced notification for collision warnings.
Lysosome biogenesis requires Rab9 function and receptor recycling from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network

Newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes bind to mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) in the TGN, and are carried to prelysosomes, where they are released. MPRs then return to the TGN for another round of transport. Rab9 is a ras-like GTPase which facilitates MPR recycling to the TGN in vitro. We show here that a dominant negative form of rab9, rab9 S21N, strongly inhibited MPR recycling in living cells. The block was specific in that the rates of biosynthetic protein transport, fluid phase endocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis were unchanged. Expression of rab9 S21N was accompanied by a decrease in the efficiency of lysosomal enzyme sorting. Cells compensated for the presence of the mutant protein by inducing the synthesis of both soluble and membrane-associated lysosomal enzymes, and by internalizing lysosomal enzymes that were secreted by default. These data show that MPRs are limiting in the secretory pathway of cells expressing rab9 S21N and document the importance of MPR recycling and the rab9 GTPase for efficient lysosomal enzyme delivery.
Young children's access and use of computers in family child care and child care centers

Forty eight family child care providers and 37 center-based providers completed surveys about the availability and use of computers for children in their care. In addition, the providers were asked about their attitudes towards technology and their own computer skills. The impact of setting type on computer placement and rules about their use did not differ very much by setting type. Several factors were associated with the amount of time children were reported to use the computers. Overall, it appears that child care providers had developmentally sensitive guidelines for fostering computer use in both child care settings.
An Empirical Study of Degree Completion Patterns

To plan and implement effective strategies for retention and expedient degree completion, data about the trends that currently exist within a particular program must be available for analysis. This article describes the process used to collect and analyze data on degree completion for 149 graduates of the Health Administration Program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) between 1993 and 1997. Differences between students enrolled exclusively at EMU and transfer students are presented. The article also includes a description of strategies that have been implemented to improve retention and efficient degree completion for health administration majors.
Enhanced quantitative PET imaging utilizing adaptive partial resolution modeling

371 Objectives Resolution Modeling (RM) in PET imaging models resolution degrading phenomena within reconstruction step, improving resolution and contrast recovery (CR). However, RM i) can generate Gibbs ringing artifacts and ii) may degrade reproducibility for small tumors. In this work, we introduce adaptive partial RM and study optimization in quantitative imaging tasks. Methods We considered lung tumor FDG PET imaging, with SUV images 60min post-injection simulated based on realistic clinically derived kinetic parameters. We modeled projection-space degradations (inter-crystal penetration & scattering, photon non-collinearity) including clinically realistic noise levels, and utilized the MLEM reconstruction algorithm. Our RM model includes a set of radial blurring kernels for different incident angles. Partial RM was obtained by introducing RM kernels with controllable parametrized (t) extents in-between no RM (t=0) and full RM (t=1) kernels. We assessed CR coefficients (CRC) curves, plus bias vs noise (spatial roughness, SUVmean coefficient of variation (COV)). Results No RM was outperformed by full RM with 40% reduction in bias at convergence. RM and partial RM had comparable bias vs. noise (whether defined as image roughness or SUVmean COV), as well as similar CRC curves. However, optimized (t=0.8) partial RM produced images with 15% reductions in SUVmean COV relative to full RM for matched SUVmean bias, and 12% reduction in SUVmean COV at matched SUVmax bias. The poorer reproducibility in full RM is due to increased inter-voxel correlations which lowers roughness (gives visual impressions of reduced noise) but actually degrades SUVmean reproducibility. Conclusions Partial RM achieves comparable CRC and image roughness relative to full RM, but shows significant reduction in SUVmean bias. We propose partial RM should be pursued as a very powerful and viable choice in quantitative task-based optimization including prognostication and treatment response assessment.
Effect of High-Grade Pre-operative Knee Laxity on Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Objectives:Knee laxity in the setting of suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is frequently assessed through physical examination using the Lachman, pivot-shift, and anterior drawer te...
Plasma renin substrate changes in experimental uremia.

Summary And ConclusionsThe effect of uremia on plasma renin substrate concentration was investigated in dogs with and without severe renal tubular damage. Dogs with renal tubular damage secondary to ureteral ligation and renal ischemia had markedly elevated plasma renin substrate concentration. These elevations in plasma renin substrate concentration were associated with elevated plasma renin activity. Another group of dogs with uretero-vena cava shunts exhibited the same degree of uremia but had a much smaller increase in plasma renin substrate concentration and no change in plasma renin activity. It is concluded that uremia per se did not stimulate the very large increase in plasma renin substrate concentration observed after renal tubular damage. The increased renin substrate concentration was associated with loss of renal tubular function and cessation of glomerular filtration. These results support the concept that plasma renin substrate concentration may, in part, be controlled by changes in glomeru...
On the nature of the blood coagulation mechanisms in certain clinical states.

Current concepts of deficiency of serum prothrombin conversion accelerator (SPCA) metabolism are all related to prothrombin and its activation. SPCA deficiency is a hemorrhagic diathesis first described by Alexander and associates and subsequently by Owren and others. Patients with hemorrhagic tendencies were helped following administration of serum but this was of short duration, and the use of whole blood was of doubtful value. Plasma of Dicumarol-treated patients as well as plasma of normal persons only partly corrected the function of the coagulation mechanisms. The concentrations of Ac-globulin and prothrombin in the plasma were only slightly below normal. I t has been postulated that the patient with SPCA deficiency is deficient in a precursor of a factor found in serum. This precursor is supposed to be in plasma and to be different from any previously recognized coagulation factor. Owren is especially emphatic concerning its reality, and states that "it was discovered as a contaminant of prothrombin preparations. . . .In 1949 proconvertin was separated from prothrombin. . . .The discovery of patients with a hemorrhagic disease due to a lack of proconvertin . . . has provided a final proof of the existence of this factor. . . ." We have not found it possible to correlate the results of our extensive work with those assertions or with similar points of view. Our data, based on experiments with purified prothrombin, lead us to believe with even more assurance than formerly that the factor found in serum, and variously called factor VII, convertin, or SPCA, is a derivative of prothrombin itself and not of something distinctly different from prothrombin. Even apart from our work on purified prothrombin, it is interesting to note that no one has been able to prepare the hypothetical precursor of the accelerator found in serum and to establish that it is distinctly different from all other clotting factors. It is generally stated that the administration of Dicumarol is followed by a decrease in concentration of prothrombin. That view has been supported for many years and we also uphold it. The hypothetical precursor of SPCA (proSPCA, proconvertin, precursor of factor VII) has recently been reported as reduced in concentration, parallel with reduction of prothrombin. Indeed Biggs and Macfarlane found so great a divergence with Tromexan that they suggested that prothrombin concentration remains at the normal level while factor VII decreases. On the other hand, Owren and Aas," and to a lesser extent, Koller, Loeligpr and Duckert, using a method that is supposed to measure the concentration of the hypothetical precursor (proconvertin, pro-SPCA) in plasma, found
Shootin' the Pipe around the World: Orbit Design and Maintenance for L-Band SAR Radar Interferometry

The NISAR mission is a proposed joint mission of the space agencies of India and the United States. It would use L-band SAR radar interferometry to measure very small changes in the topography of the Earth including ice sheets. The use of interferometry places more stringent requirements on the orbit design and maintenance of this mission than any earlier robotic mission in either agency has had to meet. This paper discusses how the requirements led to the orbit design and outlines orbit maintenance strategies to meet the orbit requirements.
Minimal residual disease program for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Dhahran Health Center

Background and Objectives: Minimal residual disease (MRD) assays for monitoring acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during treatment are defined as assays with a limit of detection of at least 0.01% leukemic blasts per mononuclear cells or total nucleated cells. Settings and Design: We retrospectively reviewed out experience at Dhahran Health Center in monitoring adult and pediatric ALL patients with a MRD assay based on immunophenotyping by flow cytometry with a level of detection of 0.01% leukemic blasts per mononuclear cells and compute Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). We also demonstrated the incorporation of an estimated measurement uncertainty for the reported MRD values based on metrological principles. Methods: A retrospective review of all cases diagnosed with ALL from 2006 to 2012 was undertaken and after applying exclusion criteria, 26 cases were identified and patient chart review was done. Results: Although the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for OS and RFS do demonstrate a statistically significant difference between MRD positive and negative patients, none of the pediatric ALL MRD positive cases have relapsed till now. Conclusions: The detection of MRD in ALL opens up the opportunity to intensify or alter treatment for patients with detectable levels by a highly sensitive assay before clinical relapse.
Inlet Track Molding & Flowfield Calculation of Vehicle Engine

The article mainly introduces adverse model of the engine inlet track with UG software,applying FLOTRAN of ANSYS to analyze finite element of flowfield on air flue.Based on the results of flowfield analysis,the data of air flue velocity field and pressure field can be conducted,while we can hold that gird,iteration frequency and access speed affect the results and then attain some useful conclusions.
Application Analysis of Situational Teaching in Health Assessment

With the deepening of education reform, teaching methods are constantly updated and improved. Situational teaching methods with its unique charm is widely used in teaching in various disciplines. Health assessment among nursing teaching is a very important subject, learning of this course the student is directly related to their future learning. The introduction of situational teaching in the health assessment of teaching methods, not only can enhance students' interest, but also for the students created a good atmosphere. Therefore, the analysis in this chapter show the specific application scenario teaching health evaluation teaching.
Abstract B2-04: Time lapse to cancer: Defining the transition from polyp to colorectal cancer based on telomere metrics

Despite advances in prevention and early detection strategies, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The majority of CRC arises from adenomatous polyps. However, only 5% of all people who receive a colonoscopy will have a lesion determined to be at high risk for malignant transformation. Adenomas are primarily classified based on histology, size, degree of dysplasia and limited genetic mutation information. Further characterization of what contributes to or underlies the malignant transformation of polyps is currently lacking, but is essential to further understand the transition from polyp to cancer and factors that lead only a small portion of polyps to progress onto cancer. Although telomere length is a recognized biomarker in multiple cancers, few studies have addressed the comprehensive role of telomeres in CRC progression. Telomere shortening is a fundamental feature of dividing cells related to the age of the cell and is implicated in carcinogenesis. Telomere length is not solely determined by attrition resulting from cell division, but also through telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM), which are often exploited in malignant cells. In this study, we will measure the telomere profile (consisting of telomere length and TMM) in normal colon epithelium, polyps and the adjacent tumor trios and normal colon epithelium and cancer-free polyp pairs. Our aim is to determine which telomere features distinguish cancer adjacent polyps from cancer free polyps. This is an innovative approach for identifying the definable telomere-related properties that distinguish polyps with malignant potential that remain benign from those that transform to cancer and progress to invasive lesions. Further characterization of the molecular profile of polyps undergoing the transition to cancer that differentiate cancer free polyps has the potential to be utilized in designing optimal treatment options for patients with polyps that carry the risk of CRC. Citation Format: Brooke R. Druliner, Ruth Johnson, Xiaoyang Ruan, Russell Vanderboom, Donna Felmlee Devine, Jill Washechek Aletto, Lisa A. Boardman. Time lapse to cancer: Defining the transition from polyp to colorectal cancer based on telomere metrics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B2-04.
The formation of choline O-sulphate by Pseudomonas C12B and other Pseudomonas species

Pseudomonas C 12 B and other Pseudomonas species released larger amounts of a 35 S-labelled metabolite into the medium when cultured on growth-limiting concentrations of Na 2 SO 4 as opposed to growth in SO 4 2- -sufficient media. The metabolite was found at all stages of the culture cycle of Pseudomonas C 12 B and maximum quantities occurred in stationary-phase culture supernatants. The metabolite was not detected when the bacterium was cultured on growth-limiting concentrations of potassium phosphate. The amount of the metabolite present in the medium greatly exceeded that which could be extracted from intact cells and, except for choline chloride, it was independent of the carbon source used for growth. If choline chloride was present in high concentration, then larger amounts of the metabolite were found in the culture medium. The metabolite was not detected extracellularly or intracellularly when the bacterium was grown in SO 4 2- -deficient media containing 5mm-l-cysteine. The same metabolite was also synthesized in vitro only when Pseudomonas C 12 B extracts were incubated with choline chloride, ATP, MgCl 2 and Na 2 35 SO 4 . The metabolite-forming system was not subject to repression by Na 2 SO 4 and was completely inhibited by 0.5mm-l-cysteine and activated by Na 2 SO 4 (up to 1.0mm). The metabolite was identified as choline O -sulphate by electrophoresis, chromatography and isotope-dilution analysis. Another 35 S-labelled metabolite was also detected in culture supernatants, but was not identified.
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Phenolic and Anthocyanin Concentrations in Fruit and Leaf Tissues of Highbush Blueberry

Antioxidant capacity, as measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and total phenolic and total anthocyanin contents were evaluated in fruit tissues of 87 highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and species-introgressed highbush blueberry cultivars. ORAC and phenolic levels were evaluated in leaf tissues of the same materials. Average values for ORAC, phenolics, and anthocyanins in fruit were 15.9 ORAC units, 1.79 mg/g (gallic acid equivalents), and 0.95 mg/g (cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents), respectively. Cv. Rubel had the highest ORAC per gram of fresh weight values, at 31.1 units, and cv. Elliott had the highest values on the basis of ORAC per square centimeter of surface area. In leaf tissue, values for both ORAC and phenolics were significantly higher than in fruit tissue, with mean values of 490 ORAC units and 44.80 mg/g (gallic acid equivalents), respectively. Leaf ORAC had a low, but significant, correlation with fruit phenolics and anthocyanins, but not with fruit ORAC. An ana...
Antiferromagnetic order in Dy Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7

Neutron diffraction measurements on the high-temperature superconductor DyBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ have revealed antiferromagnetic ordering of the Dy moments below 1 K. The magnetic unit cell is obtained from doubling the orthorhombic chemical unit cell along all three basis vectors; q/sub magnetic/ = ((1/2, 1) / 2 ,(1/2). Within experimental error, the moments are aligned along the c axis of the structure and the ordered moment is 7.2 +- 0.6..mu../sub B/, which is smaller than the full moment of 10..mu../sub B/.
Role of platelet-prostaglandin synthesis in shear-induced platelet alterations.

Exposure of citrated human platelet-rich plasma (C-PRP) to mechanical shear stress has been shown to induce platelet aggregation (PAG), release from platelets of dense granule contents, and platelet lysis. The mechanisms involved in these shear-induced platelet alterations have not been defined. To examine the possible role of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in shear-induced platelet reactions, C-PRP was sheared in a concentric cylinder viscometer for 5 min at stresses ranging from 50 to 460 dyn/sq cm in the presence or absence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a potent inhibitor of platelet thromboxane-A2 synthesis. With increasing shear stress, a progressive loss of platelets from the sheared C-PRP was observed due to PAG and adherence of the aggregates to the viscometer surfaces. PAG was associated with a progressive release from platelets of serotonin and β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) and formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) a stable end-product of platelet cyclooxygenase-mediated arachidonate metabolism reflecting thromboxane-A2 synthesis. At stresses above 150 dyn/sq cm, a progressive loss of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was observed, indicating platelet damage. ASA (0.1 mM) completely abolished shear-induced MDA formation and caused a 50% reduction of shear-induced release of serotonin and β-TG. However, ASA did not cause an appreciable reduction of shear-induced PAG and did not alter the extent of or threshold for shear-induced platelet lysis. The findings indicate that (1) shear-induced release from platelets of dense and α-granule contents is associated with and potentiated by stimulation of thromboxane-A2 synthesis and (2) thromboxane-A2 synthesis appears to play no appreciable role in shear-induced PAG or platelet lysis in this system.
Soft Boundary Approach for Unsupervised Gesture Segmentation in Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery holds significant promise to improve patient treatment by allowing surgeons to perform many types of complex operations with greater precision and flexibility than before. In order to facilitate automation of robotic surgery and more practical training for surgeons, more detailed comprehension of the surgical procedures is needed. In this regard, a key step is to develop techniques that segment and recognize surgical tasks intelligently. Surgeries involve complex continuous activities that may contain superfluous, repeated actions, and temporal variation. Therefore, any segmentation approach that has the capability to account for all these characteristics is of increased interest. Toward this goal, we develop a new segmentation algorithm, namely soft-boundary unsupervised gesture segmentation (Soft-UGS), to segment the temporal sequence of surgical gestures and model gradual transitions between them using fuzzy membership scores. The proposed framework is evaluated using a real robotic surgery dataset. Our extensive set of experiments and evaluation metrics show that the proposed Soft-UGS method is able to match manual annotations with upto 83% sensitivity, 81% precision, and 73% segmentation score. The results show that the proposed soft boundary approach can provide more insight into the surgical activities and can contribute to the automation of robotic surgeries.
Clinical and Pathologic Staging of Prostate Cancer

The TNM classification system is used to assign clinical and pathologic stage to prostate cancers. Clinical staging uses data available at the time of diagnosis to estimate the extent of disease. Pathologic stage is determined by pathologic examination of the surgical specimen after radical prostatectomy, and is the most accurate method for assessing local extent of tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node metastases. Staging criteria are useful in guiding management decisions, facilitating exchange of information among treatment centers, and serving as a basis for clinical research studies. Furthermore, prostate cancer staging data are commonly incorporated into multivariable prediction models in order to assess patient prognosis at the time of diagnosis and after definitive treatment.
Arqueologías globales en la literatura cubana: de las ruinas al chicle

Este articulo estudia el papel de ciertos objetos o materiales en la obra de los autores cubanos Jorge Enrique Lage y Legna Rodriguez Iglesias, para dilucidar, primero, como acontece el distanciamiento con respecto a la generacion anterior a partir del uso de dichos materiales, que les sirven para abandonar los lugares comunes de la carencia, la decadencia o las ruinas, y manifestar asi su desapego con respecto a una literatura preocupada en exceso por la tematica nacional; y, segundo, como el interes central por lo material en estos escritores no desemboca obligatoriamente en un nuevo realismo.
Establishing a Learning Community with an Online Orientation

Students new to distance education need to be prepared for learning in a fully online environment. While many undergraduate and graduate programs offer face-to-face orientation sessions to welcome new students and introduce them to general requirements, the sessions are often short, optional, and focus mainly on policies and procedures. Students entering a fully online degree program have a unique set of questions and concerns, including hardware/software requirements, building relationships with their professors, and creating a sense of community among their peers. In order to address the needs of their distance-learning students, the Education Leadership program designed a five-day interactive orientation on Blackboard for new online cohorts. This orientation module not only cultivates creative and reflective learners, but also utilizes technology-enhanced tools and strategies to establish a cohesive learning community. The orientation includes daily components such as community building activities and opportunities to practice using Blackboard features, as well as a summative, guided reflection. The EDLE online orientation was offered in 2015/2016 for two cohorts totaling 44 students. An overwhelming majority reported feeling more prepared to begin the program, comfortable with using the required technology, and engaged with their colleagues and professors. More importantly, evidence shows that students in 2015/2016 who participated in the orientation performed better in group activities and demonstrated high levels of engagement in their courses, compared to students in 2014 who did not have access to the orientation. Faculty attending this session will learn how to design an effective and innovative orientation module for an entire program or how to use the techniques illustrated in a single course setting.
Emerging Ethical Issues Related to the Use of Brain-Computer Interfaces for Patients with Total Locked-in Syndrome

New brain-computer interface and neuroimaging techniques are making differentiation less ambiguous and more accurate between unresponsive wakefulness syndrome patients and patients with higher cognitive function and awareness. As research into these areas continues to progress, new ethical issues will face physicians of patients suffering from total locked-in syndrome (total LIS), characterized by complete loss of voluntary muscle control, with retention of cognitive function and awareness detectable only with neuroimaging and brain-computer interfaces. Physicians, researchers, ethicists and hospital ethics committees should be aware of and prepared to handle ethical issues unique to these totally locked-in patients. Several thought experiments are discussed, to highlight potential ethical dilemmas surrounding surrogate decision-making, autonomy, end-of-life care, and pediatric care, which will be unique to total LIS patients. These, along with other ethical problems especially relevant to total LIS patients, merit further discussion among physicians, researchers, ethicists and hospital ethics committees, to facilitate consensus regarding these issues, and improve patient care.
Advanced computational tools for phased array antenna applications

This paper investigates the applicability of various Computational Electromagnetic (CEM) Methods for the design and analysis of phased array antennas. The full-wave methods like the Method of Moments (MoM), Finite Element Method (FEM), Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) and Multi-level Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM) are discussed in detail starting with simple arrays like a planar strip dipole to more complex Vivaldi antenna arrays. The usefulness of special features like the Periodic Boundary Conditions (PBCs) and the Domain Green's Function Method (DGFM) is also investigated.
Dendrochronological Field Methods for Fire History in Pine Ecosystems of the Southeastern Coastal Plain

ABSTRACT Few tree-ring based fire-history studies have been completed in pine ecosystems of the Southeastern Coastal Plain, in part because of difficulties in finding old fire-scarred material. We propose specialized field methods that improve the likelihood of locating fire scars in dead trees (i.e. stumps, snags, and logs). Classic fire-history field methods developed in the southwestern United States involve targeting only trees with evidence of repeated external scarring, but we have found this approach to be less effective in our region given that trees without any external scarring may contain an abundance of buried scars. The buried scars occur primarily near the ground surface and can be sampled by collecting full cross-sections from the bases of old dead trees. We hope our insights foster further fire-history research in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
A Genome-Wide Association Study Using a Custom Genotyping Array Identifies Variants in GPR158 Associated with Reduced Energy Expenditure in American Indians

Pima Indians living in Arizona have a high prevalence of obesity, and we have previously shown that a relatively lower energy expenditure (EE) predicts weight and fat mass gain in this population. EE is a familial trait (heritability = 0.52); therefore, in the current study, we aimed to identify genetic variants that affect EE and thereby influence BMI and body fatness in Pima Indians. Genotypic data from 491,265 variants were analyzed for association with resting metabolic rate (RMR) and 24-h EE assessed in a whole-room calorimeter in 507 and 419 Pima Indians, respectively. Variants associated with both measures of EE were analyzed for association with maximum BMI and percent body fat (PFAT) in 5,870 and 912 Pima Indians, respectively. rs11014566 nominally associated with both measures of EE and both measures of adiposity in Pima Indians, where the G allele (frequency: Pima Indians = 0.60, Europeans 2 ), and higher PFAT (β = +0.9%). However, the association of rs11014566 with BMI did not directionally replicate when assessed in other ethnic groups. rs11014566 tags rs144895904, which affected promoter function in an in vitro luciferase assay. These variants map to GPR158 , which is highly expressed in the brain and interacts with two other genes ( RGS7 and CACNA1B ) known to affect obesity in knockout mice. Our results suggest that common ethnic-specific variation in GPR158 may influence EE; however, its role in weight gain remains controversial, as it either had no association with BMI or associated with BMI but in the opposite direction in other ethnic groups.
Retinoic acid, CYP26, and drug resistance in the stem cell niche

The bone marrow niche is essential for hematopoietic stem cells to maintain lifelong blood production by balancing their self-renewal and differentiation. Hematologic malignancies have a similar hierarchical organization to their normal counterparts, with rare populations of cancer stem cells that rely on the microenvironment to survive and propagate their differentiated malignant progenitor cells. Cancer cells alter their microenvironment to create a supportive niche, where they endure chemotherapy, survive as minimal residual disease (MRD), and eventually prevail at relapse. Powerful morphogens, such as retinoids, Wnt/βcatenin, Notch, and Hedgehog, control stem cell fates across tissues, including normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The molecular conversations between these pathways and the mechanisms that control their activity and create gradients at cellular scale remain a mystery. Here, we discuss accumulating evidence suggesting that cytochrome P450 (CYP26), the primary retinoid-inactivating enzyme, plays a critical role in the integration of two of these molecular programs: the retinoid and Hedgehog pathways. Induction of stromal CYP26 by either one of these pathways limits retinoic acid concentration in the stem cell niche, with profound effects on tissue homeostasis and drug resistance. Bypassing this gatekeeping mechanism holds promise for overcoming drug resistance and improving clinical outcomes in hematological malignancies and cancer in general.
Brooke Correll and Clos Du Val: Adventures in Napa Valley (a) and (B) (Condensed)

An established winery's first marketing director is charged with reviving the once-hot brand. Cofounded by an expert winemaker with ties to the famous Ch®teau Lafite-Rothschild, Clos Du Val had seen its glory days, with high ratings accompanied by robust sales. During the 1990s, however, sales had begun to lag, though it was unclear why. What should the new marketing director do first? A teaching note is available to verified faculty that covers both this condensed A and B case and the longer A and B cases as well as the follow-up C case (UVA-M-0749); a multimedia case supplement featuring interviews with the principals is also available. Excerpt UVA-M-0788 Rev. Dec. 12, 2011 BROOKE CORRELL AND CLOS DU VAL: ADVENTURES IN NAPA VALLEY (A) AND (B) (CONDENSED) In December 2001, Brooke Correll ambled among rows of Cabernet Sauvignon vines outside her office at Clos Du Val Wine Company, Ltd., in Napa, California. A University of Virginia graduate with an MBA from Duke, Correll had joined the privately owned company as director of marketing in June 2001. Her credentials as a former executive at MTV, Ziff-Davis, and WineShopper.com earned her the unique position of the winery's first dedicated marketing professional. Clos Du Val, which owned vineyards in both the Stags Leap District and Carneros, two of Napa's most coveted appellations, had enjoyed glory days for two decades, with high ratings and robust sales. Consumers purchased anything and everything the winery produced. As a result, like many early Napa wineries, Clos Du Val was a production-driven company. During the 1990s, however, ratings and sales began to sag. A 1996 article in Wine Spectator chastised the winery for resting on its laurels: . . .
Exercise and Implicit Memory: A Brief Systematic Review.

BackgroundEmerging work demonstrates that acute exercise may enhance explicit memory function. No published systematic reviews have evaluated the totality of research examining the effects of exerc...
Process Evaluation for Improving K12 Program Effectiveness: Case Study of a National Institutes of Health Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Research Career Development Program.

Abstract Introduction: Process evaluation is an important tool in quality improvement efforts. This article illustrates how a systematic and continuous evaluation process can be used to improve the...
The Best is yet to Come

I am Confucius, a teacher who lived and worked some 2500 years ago in China. What a privilege it is to address you from across the centuries and to share my thoughts about something we both hold dear: Education. But first, let me say I am a little perplexed by the treatment I receive today in my home county and abroad.
Neural Transactions During Acoustic Stimulation of Noctuid Moths

Moths of several families have acoustic organs capable of detecting the echolocation cries made by insectivorous bats. The afferent nerve responses of these auditory organs have been studied as follows: the thoracic tympanic organs of noctuid moths (Roeder and Treat, 1957, Roeder, 1964, 1966a, 1974); the abdominal tympanic organs of geometrids (Roeder, 1974), and the cephalic palp-pilifer organs of choerocampine sphingids (Roeder and Treat, 1970, Roeder, 1972). In the case of the noctuid tympanic organ, the fine structure of the receptor region has been described by Ghiradella (1971), and the biophysics of acoustic transduction is being investigated by Adams (1971, 1972 and in press).
The Power of Affect: Predicting Intention

ABSTRACT This robust structural modeling study, with over 23,000 responses to 240 advertising messages, found that affect when measured by a visual measure of emotional response dominates over cognition for predicting conative attitude and action.
A non-task-oriented approach based on high-dose playful movement exploration for rehabilitation of the upper limb early after stroke: A proposal.

Background Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, with the upper limb being affected up to 80% of the time. Current rehabilitative therapies for the upper limb, primarily centered on task-oriented training, are ineffective at boosting recovery from motor impairment beyond what is expected from spontaneous biological recovery and instead promote compensatory strategies in order to perform specific activities of daily living. Purpose To give a critical overview of animal and clinical literature that support the idea that a non-task-oriented approach may be more fruitful for recovery from motor impairment, and to propose a novel therapeutic paradigm designed to bolster spontaneous biological recovery early after stroke. Conclusions A focus on movement quality, rather than task completion, practiced at high intensity and dosage in an enriching environment may be the training approach that best exploits the sensitive period early after stroke in order to amplify the generalized gains seen with spontaneous biological recovery.
Late Bronze Age II pottery tradition from Qatna: The Palace Destruction Phase evidenced in Areas Q and T

The final phase of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) is well known from textual sources, through the documentation from Ugarit especially, and more recently through the discoveries from many sites in Weste...
A Matter of Perspectives: Studying the Persistence of Fourth-Year Urban Teachers From Two Preparation Programs:

Recognizing the pressing problem of low teacher retention in urban schools, this qualitative study explores how two post-baccalaureate teacher education programs at the same university prepare cand...
Changing Incidence and Nature of Injuries Caused by Falls From Skateboards in the United States

Since 2000, the number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for children who have sustained a fall from a skateboard has undergone a noticeable decline. One possible explanation f...
Communication-Efficient Planning and Mapping for Multi-Robot Exploration in Large Environments

This letter presents a framework for planning and perception for multi-robot exploration in large and unstructured three-dimensional environments. We employ a Gaussian mixture model for global mapping to model complex environment geometries while maintaining a small memory footprint which enables distributed operation with a low volume of communication. We then generate a local occupancy grid for use in planning from the Gaussian mixture model using Monte Carlo ray tracing. Then, a finite-horizon, information-based planner uses this local map and optimizes sequences of observations locally while accounting for the global distribution of information in the robot state space which we model using a library of informative views. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system is able to maintain efficiency and completeness in exploration while only requiring a low rate of communication.