cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of a LacZ Knock-In Allele of MDS1 Indicates a Critical Role in Hematopoietic Development.

The MDS1-EVI1 locus is of considerable interest due to its role in myeloid malignancies and dysplasias. It is well established now that the locus has two different transcription start sites (TSS) located 0.5 Mb apart, and these have the capacity to encode different isoforms, which variably contain zinc finger DNA binding domains and a SET-like domain that may have histone modifying ability. In order to better understand the biological role of this locus, we knocked in a lacZ allele into the Mds1 (upstream) TSS by homologous recombination in ES cells and created mice harboring this modified allele (K. Lezon-Geyda, S. Lin, G. Steele-Perkins et al, in preparation). By staining for beta-galactosidase activity, we documented the distribution of Mds1 activity during embryonic development and in the adult. During development, five major organ systems showed expression: musculoskeletal, renal, cardiac, neural, and hematopoietic, and in the latter three, there was a striking and highly specific spatiotemporal pattern of expression suggesting that Mds1-Evi1 plays important regulatory roles. In the developing heart, staining was seen in the anterior heart field specifically during the formation of the cardiac outflow tract, with significant spatiotemporal overlap with Mef2c, which encodes an important cardiac transcriptional regulatory protein. Thereafter, expression in the heart is very low. Beta-gal staining in the hematopoietic system in the embryo is limited to the clusters of nascent hematopoietic progenitors that develop at day 9.5 p.c. in the ventrolateral wall of the dorsal aorta and bud into the vascular lumen. Strikingly, we see no staining in other endothelium, nor in the fetal liver of 12.5–14.5 day embryos, wherein the majority of fetal hematopoiesis takes place. In adult bone marrow, there is beta-gal activity exclusively in the lin− c-kit+ Sca1+ progenitor population, with all of the beta-gal-positive cells being in the progenitor pool, and nearly all of the progenitor cells staining. While homozygous mice are viable, they are small, kyphotic, and have a shortened lifespan. Morphologic and quantitative analysis of the peripheral blood failed to reveal any significant abnormality. To assess the function of the hematopoietic system more rigorously, competitive repopulations of homozygous Mds1-deficient marrow progenitors with wildtype progenitors were performed. Within several weeks after transplant, the Mds1−/− cells were undetectable in the recipients, revealing that the homozygous Mds1-null bone marrow progenitors are deficient in their repopulating ability. To identify what function Mds1-Evi1 plays in hematopoetic cells, we used shRNA to suppress its expression in the myeloid cell lines 32Dcl3 and DA-1. This revealed an increase in steady state levels of cell death, as documented by histone release, TUNEL staining, and caspase activation. These data suggest that a primary role for the Mds1-Evi1 locus in hematopoietic cells is to promote their survival, thus allowing normal expansion at the progenitor stage.
Acid soil profiles of the semiarid and subhumid tropics in Central and West Africa

Soils of the semiarid and subhumid tropics of Central and West Africa are frequently strongly acid. In an investigation using soils from Cameroon in Central Africa and Mali and Niger in West Africa, selected pedons were described and classified using the U.S. soil classification system. Selected chemical and physical methods were used to analyse samples from the various profiles. Greenhouse and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate crop response to fertilizer P. The Mbomi 2 pedon from Cameroon was described and classified as clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Aeric Kandiaquult while the Cinzana Pedon from Mali and Dayobu Pedon from Niger were classified as mixed, isohyperthermic Grossarenic Paleustalf and coated, isohyperthermic Ustoxic Quartzipsamment, respectively. The pH of the profiles was strongly acid for Mbomi 2 to acid for Cinzana and Dayobu sites. All three sites have low effective cation exchange capacity. The Mbomi 2 and Dayobu sites are predominantly Al saturated and the Cinzana site is predominantly Ca saturated.
Fine-scale population structure of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in offshore and coastal waters of the US Gulf of Mexico

Patterns of dispersal and population structure of highly mobile marine fauna in the open ocean are not well understood. Much insight, however, can be gained from using common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one of the most abundant marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOMx), as a model to better understand these aspects of the marine realm. Populations of common bottlenose dolphins in estuarine environments show evidence of strong population structure; however, whether this species similarly partitions the open ocean to the point that genetically differentiated populations are present is unknown. Such information is essential to accurately assess natural and anthropogenic impacts and is crucial for effective conservation and management. We used mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data, 19 microsatellite and 39 single nucleotide polymorphism loci to identify population structure of T. truncatus in coastal and offshore waters of the northern GOMx. Bayesian clustering and a multivariate method of discriminant analysis identified seven genetically distinct populations and levels of genetic differentiation were in line with other recognized populations of T. truncatus. The newly identified populations do not correspond to the currently delineated management stocks, suggesting revision may be necessary to establish accurate representation and effective management of the existing biological populations of T. truncatus in these waters. The finding of significant population structure in dolphins living in open-ocean waters augments the growing body of evidence indicating pelagic waters are not homogeneous even for highly mobile species.
High-throughput screening for identification of novel innate immune activators

Modern drug discovery has embraced in vitro platforms that enable investigation of large numbers of compounds within tractable timeframes and for feasible costs. These endeavors have been greatly aided in recent years by advances in molecular and cell-based methods such as gene delivery and editing technology, advanced imaging, robotics, and quantitative analysis. As such, the examination of phenotypic impacts of novel molecules may only be limited by the size of the compound collection. Innate immune signaling processes in mammalian cells are especially amenable to high-throughput screening platforms since the cellular responses elicited by their activation often result in high level transcription that can be harnessed in the form of bioluminescent or fluorescent signal. In addition, targeted activation of innate immune pathways represents a valuable therapeutic strategy applicable to multiple chronic and acute human diseases. Herein, we describe the optimization and utilization of a high-throughput screening method using human reporter cells reactive to stimulation of the type I interferon response. Importantly, the principles and methods described can be applied to adherent reporter cells of diverse derivation and innate signaling pathway readouts.
Cooling field dependent exchange bias in Mn2Ni1.4Ga0.6: A reentrant spin glass system with short range ferromagnetic ordering

Abstract The intermetallic alloy, Mn2Ni1.4Ga0.6, has been investigated by x-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, and ac susceptibility measurements. The material exhibits a non-modulated tetragonal structure, and undergoes a ferromagnetic transition near room temperature. Ac susceptibility and dc magnetization measurements show that below the Curie temperature, short range ferromagnetic ordering and reentrant spin glass state coexist in the material. A cooling field dependent exchange bias effect, with a maximum exchange bias field of 730 Oe, for a cooling field of 1 kOe, has also been observed in the material. The experimental observations suggest that the exchange bias effect in Mn2Ni1.4Ga0.6 is a result of the interaction between the coexisting spin glass and short range ferromagnetic ordering in the material.
Dilantin toxicity and vegetative depression : a report of two cases

Dilantin toxicity has been well described and has generally been noted to include signs and symptoms of nystagmus, ataxia, nausea, and vomiting. Dilantin's depressive effects are seldom mentioned. Two patients are presented who, although stable while on the rehabilitation unit, developed vegetative signs of depression soon after discharge. Both were found to have toxic levels of Dilantin. Neither revealed the classic neurologic or gastrointestinal complaints. Although one patient had documented family and social stressors, the other had a stable home life. Both patients recovered remarkably once their Dilantin dosages were adjusted. In such patients who present with change in mood, sleeping, and eating patterns, Dilantin toxicity should be suspected. Serum blood levels should be checked, and dosage adjusted before the addition of antidepressant medication. Possible causes for Dilantin-associated depression are discussed in detail.
Overlapping Layered Learning

Abstract Layered learning is a hierarchical machine learning paradigm that enables learning of complex behaviors by incrementally learning a series of sub-behaviors. A key feature of layered learning is that higher layers directly depend on the learned lower layers. In its original formulation, lower layers were frozen prior to learning higher layers. This article considers a major extension to the paradigm that allows learning certain behaviors independently, and then later stitching them together by learning at the “seams” where their influences overlap. The UT Austin Villa 2014 RoboCup 3D simulation team, using such overlapping layered learning, learned a total of 19 layered behaviors for a simulated soccer-playing robot, organized both in series and in parallel. To the best of our knowledge this is more than three times the number of layered behaviors in any prior layered learning system. Furthermore, the complete learning process is repeated on four additional robot body types, showcasing its generality as a paradigm for efficient behavior learning. The resulting team won the RoboCup 2014 championship with an undefeated record, scoring 52 goals and conceding none. This article includes a detailed experimental analysis of the team's performance and the overlapping layered learning approach that led to its success.
Pedicle De-epithelialization in Reduction Mammoplasty: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Reduction mammoplasty is among the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. The reduction pedicle is traditionally de-epithelialized. Many practitioners propose that preservation of the subdermal blood supply results in improved circulation for the nipple-areolar complex. However, this is a time-consuming step of the procedure. Presumed benefits have not been definitively demonstrated. To evaluate current evidence regarding pedicle de-epithelialization in inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasty. The MEDLINE database was searched for studies evaluating pedicle de-epithelialization in reduction mammoplasty surgery. Studies reporting outcomes after reduction mammoplasty with pedicle de-epithelialization and deskinning were included. Additionally, reports detailing novel techniques or modification for pedicle de-epithelialization were evaluated and included. One hundred and thirty-eight articles were identified on a systematic review. Thirty-six articles met the study criteria. This includes 23 reporting outcomes after reduction mammoplasty procedures and 13 describing novel techniques for pedicle de-epithelialization. Of the 23 studies reporting outcomes, 6 studies evaluated deskinning of the pedicle. Two of the six studies directly compared deskinning and de-epithelialization. They reported no significant difference in outcomes. The remaining 17 articles described outcomes of inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasty with pedicle de-epithelialization. Studies evaluating deskinning reported ischemic nipple-areolar complex complication rates between 0 and 1.4%. Studies evaluating de-epithelialization reported ischemic nipple-areolar complex complication rates between 0 and 11.1%. Pedicle de-epithelialization is commonly performed despite limited definitive evidence evaluating its surgical necessity or benefits. Available evidence suggests deskinning may yield acceptable results; however, further investigation is necessary. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Soil health assessment for coffee farms on andosols in Colombia

Abstract Developing local soil health (SH) benchmarks for different ecosystems is important for supporting locally appropriate management decisions and correct interpretation of soil health results. This study was conducted to develop SH scoring functions as benchmarks specific to coffee production in Cauca, Colombia. A total of 223 soil samples were collected from coffee farms in six municipalities and were analyzed for 13 SH indicators including wet aggregate stability (WAS), available water capacity (AWC), respiration rate, pH, contents of active carbon (AC), organic matter (OM), protein, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). A scoring function for each indicator was developed using the cumulative normal distribution (CND) function with parameters based on either the average local conditions for a given indicator (physical and biological indicators), or thresholds found in the literature for coffee systems (chemical indicators). Separate scoring functions by textural group (fine, medium) were necessary for AWC, OM, AC, and respiration. A best subsets regression (BSR) using the overall soil health index as the response variable was executed to determine the indicators with highest predictive power of overall soil health. AC was the best single predictor of soil health, and AC combined with protein, P and pH offer additional predictability, suggesting them for a simplified SH test.
Major Books on the North American Jewish Community

The following list was derived from WorldCat, a global catalogue of library collections. The list was limited to books about Jews and Judaism in the US, excluding self- published works.
Attitudes to apparel amongst the baby boomer generation

Abstract The baby boomer generation's significance to the textile and apparel marketplace has grown steadily throughout their lifespan because of their market size, spending power, and love of consumer products. It is imperative that product markets research and anticipate the needs of this user group and develop affordable consumer products to meet these needs. Textile and apparel manufacturers that do this will reap the benefits for years to come.
Tourette's syndrome and neonatal anoxia: further evidence of an organic etiology.

Abstract Studies of Tourette's syndrome have indicated that the etiology may be either primary or secondary. Secondary Tourette's syndrome has been reported in association with numerous neurological conditions, but there have been no previous reports of Tourette's syndrome and its relationship to neonatal anoxia. This report presents the case of a 15-year-old boy with a history of Tourette's syndrome and neonatal anoxia and examines whether or not there is a connection between the two. To test the hypothesis that this is the first documented case of cerebral anoxia at birth followed by Tourette's, a review of the pertinent literature on secondary Tourette's syndrome is presented. Evidence of perinatal anoxia, subsequent Tourette's syndrome, a negative family history, as well as an examination of the statistical chances of anoxia and Tourette's syndrome co-existing and of all previous reports of acquired Tourette's syndrome tend to favor an organic perinatal insult as having caused the later development of Tourette's syndrome in the case of this adolescent.
Determination of 15N/14N and 13C/12C in Solid and Aqueous Cyanides

The stable isotopic compositions of nitrogen and carbon in cyanide compounds can be determined by combusting aliquots in sealed tubes to form N2 gas and CO2 gas and analyzing the gases by mass spectrometry. Free cyanide (CN-aq + HCNaq) in simple solutions can also be analyzed by first precipitating the cyanide as copper(II) ferrocyanide and then combusting the precipitate. Reproducibility is ±0.5‰ or better for both δ15N and δ13C. If empirical corrections are made on the basis of carbon yields, the reproducibility of δ13C can be improved to ±0.2‰. The analytical methods described herein are sufficiently accurate and precise to apply stable isotope techniques to problems of cyanide degradation in natural waters and industrial process solutions.
Assembly of Adhesive Organelles on Gram-Negative Bacteria

Bacterial pathogens interact with their hosts in a multitude of ways in order to persist, survive and multiply. The molecular signals triggered by these interactions, ultimately determines the fate of the microbe and the consequences to the host. The interaction between a microbe and its host often depends on the presentation of adhesins on the microbial surface. Adhesins are often assembled into hair-like fibers called pili (Fig. 1). Bacterial adhesins bind with stereochemical specificity to host receptors, thus targeting the bacteria to a defined niche within the environment. For example, pili facilitate intimate contact with eukaryotic cells resulting in the colonization of the cell surface, or invasion to gain access to a nutritionally rich environment within the eukaryotic cell allowing evasion of the host defenses. In host-pathogen interactions pili often activate a cascade of events that will ultimately determine whether the microbe will remain extracellular or trigger processes that will allow its uptake into host cells and/or activation of host defense mechanisms.
Acute Colonic Obstruction

There are many causes of colonic obstruction ranging from anatomic to physiologic etiologies (Table 28.1). The type of obstructions also differ depend on region. In the United States, the most common cause of adult colonic obstruction is colorectal cancer, whereas in Russia and Africa, colonic volvulus is much more common. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management differ depending on the etiology; however, the initial assessment of the patient is similar regardless.
Do disciplinary matrices moderate the effects of prior disciplinary actions on perceived organizational support (POS) among police officers

Previous research has argued that disciplinary matrices should increase positive attitudes toward the administration because this form of disciplinary practice allows for more salient, consistent, ...
Plasma Free Cortisol in States of Normal and Altered Binding Globulins: Implications for Adrenal Insufficiency Diagnosis.

CONTEXT Accurate diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is critical because there are risks associated with overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Data using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) free cortisol (FC) assays in states of high or low cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) levels, including cirrhosis, critical illness, and oral estrogen use, are needed. DESIGN Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE Determine the relationship between CBG and albumin as well as total cortisol (TC) and FC in states of normal and abnormal CBG. Establish the FC level by LC/MS/MS that best predicts TC of <18 μg/dL (497 nmol/L) (standard adrenal insufficiency diagnostic cutoff) in healthy individuals. SUBJECTS This study included a total of 338 subjects in four groups: healthy control (HC) subjects (n = 243), patients with cirrhosis (n = 38), intensive care unit patients (ICU) (n = 26), and oral contraceptive (OCP) users (n = 31). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) FC and TC by LC/MS/MS, albumin by spectrophotometry, and CBG by ELISA. RESULTS TC correlated with FC in the ICU (R = 0.91), HC (R = 0.90), cirrhosis (R = 0.86), and OCP (R = 0.70) groups (all P < 0.0001). In receiver operator curve analysis in the HC group, FC of 0.9 μg/dL (24.8 nmol/L) predicted TC of <18 μg/dL (497 nmol/L; 98% sensitivity, 91% specificity; AUC, 0.98; P < 0.0001). Decreasing the cutoff to 0.7 μg/dL led to a small decrease in sensitivity (92%) with similar specificity (91%). CONCLUSIONS A cutoff FC of <0.9 μg/dL (25 nmol/L) in this LC/MS/MS assay predicts TC of <18 μg/dL (497 nmol/L) with excellent sensitivity and specificity. This FC cutoff may be helpful in ruling out adrenal insufficiency in patients with binding globulin derangements.
Enhancing Indigenous Well-Being: Applying Human Rights and Trauma-Informed Perspectives with Native Americans

This chapter begins with an overview of Native Americans including basic demographics, a discussion of sovereignty, and the distinct relationship between Native American nations and the federal government. It is followed by a discussion of historical trauma and the failure to recognize human rights of Indigenous Peoples. This sets the framework for an examination of contemporary health and well-being of Native Americans. Historical and contemporary trauma is examined as human rights issues and explored through the lens of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Significant societal change is required to effectively address trauma for Native American Peoples. The chapter provides guidance for maximizing social justice and trauma-informed work with Native American Peoples.
A Role for Drosophila Amyloid Precursor Protein in Retrograde Trafficking of L1-Type Cell Adhesion Molecule Neuroglian

The role of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well studied. However, the normal function of APP in the nervous system is poorly understood. Here, we characterized the role of the Drosophila homolog (APPL) in the adult giant fiber (GF) neurons. We find that endogenous APPL is transported from the synapse to the soma in the adult. Live-imaging revealed that retrograde moving APPL vesicles co-traffic with L1-type cell adhesion molecule Neuroglian (Nrg). In APPL null mutants, stationary Nrg vesicles were increased along the axon, and the number of Nrg vesicles moving in retrograde but not anterograde direction was reduced. In contrast, trafficking of endo-lysosomal vesicles, which did not co-localize with APPL in GF axons, was not affected. This suggests that APPL loss of function does not generally disrupt axonal transport but that APPL has a selective role in the effectiveness of retrograde transport of proteins it co-traffics with. While the GF terminals of APPL loss of function animals exhibited pruning defects, APPL gain of function had no disruptive effect on GF morphology and function, or on retrograde axonal transport of Nrg. However, cell-autonomous developmental expression of a secretion-deficient form of APPL (APPL-SD), lacking the α-, β-, and, γ-secretase cleavage sites, resulted in progressive retraction of the GF terminals. Conditional expression of APPL-SD in mature GFs caused accumulation of Nrg in normal sized synaptic terminals, which was associated with severely reduced retrograde flux of Nrg labeled vesicles in the axons. Albeit β-secretase null mutants developed GF terminals they also exhibited Nrg accumulations. This suggests that cleavage defective APPL has a toxic effect on retrograde trafficking and that β-secretase cleavage has a function in Nrg sorting in endosomal compartments at the synapse. In summary, our results suggest a role for APPL and its proteolytic cleavage sites in retrograde trafficking, thus our findings are of relevance to the understanding of the endogenous role of APP as well as to the development of therapeutic treatments of Alzheimer's disease.
Playing the race card: White injury, White victimhood and the paradox of colour-blind ideology in anti-immigrant discourse

Analysing online threads, we show how nativist extremist forum participants use the term “race card” within their anti-illegal immigration rhetoric in three ways. First, they employ abstract libera...
General Discussion on Electromagnetic Scattering

The purpose of this general discussion on e.m. scattering after the formal scientific presentations at the workshop was to ascertain the present state of knowledge in the field, assess the quality of the predictions, and to arrive at some specific recommendations for future research. Frank and active discussions took place in regard to the status of e.m. scattering theories/models for the ocean surface (see Table I). During the formal presentations it was clear that the two-scale model (Wright, 1968; Bass and Fuks, 1979) when properly applied, (Thompson, 1988; Thompson et al., 1988) yields just as good agreement (within a couple of decibels) as the Kirchhoff approximation (Holliday et al., 1986, 1987) when applied to the SARSEX data on SAR imagery (L and X band) for internal waves in the New York Bight. Both of these comparisons only deal with cross section effects, the distortion in the image intensity from wave motion and current variations affecting the phase of the e.m. backscattered fields is not included. To match the theoretical predictions with the measurements, the enhancement in slopes by the internal waves of both the long (greater than 1 m length) and intermediate (of the order of 1 m length) gravity waves should be included in the tilting of the Bragg resonant waves of wave number 2ko sinθ, ko is the wavenumber of the e.m. radiation in free space and θ is the angle of incidence.
A longitudinal examination of daily patterns of cannabis and alcohol co-use among medicinal and recreational veteran cannabis users.

Abstract Background Prompted by the ongoing debate regarding whether cannabis serves as a complement to or substitute for alcohol, this study uses prospective data to examine daily associations between medicinal versus recreational cannabis and alcohol use in veterans. Methods Three semi-annual waves of Timeline Followback Interview data were collected from a sample of veterans who reported co-using alcohol and cannabis on at least one day (N = 115; 56% medicinal users; 93% male; 62,100 observations). Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the association between daily cannabis use and number of drinks consumed across time for both medicinal and recreational users and to examine the frequency medicinal cannabis used to substitute for alcohol. Results Compared to medicinal users, recreational users were more likely to drink more on cannabis use days relative to non-use days. Among medicinal users, those endorsing more frequent use of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol reported fewer number of drinks consumed on days when cannabis was used relative to non-use days. Conclusions Among veterans, recreational users are at greater risk for increased drinking when co-using cannabis at the daily level, an association that is stable over time. Medicinal users may be at lower risk for increased drinking on days when cannabis is also used, especially those who endorse using cannabis to substitute for alcohol. Findings help clarify the debate on cannabis-alcohol substitution or complementary associations in a sample of veterans and suggests that alcohol interventions should address cannabis use as a risk factor, especially for recreational users.
Considering learning disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder when assessing for neurodegenerative disease.

Purpose of review When evaluating an older adult for a possible neurodegenerative disease, the role of premorbid specific learning disabilities or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be considered. These neurodevelopmental conditions can manifest as lifelong weaknesses and variability in cognitive functions that complicate assessment of cognitive decline. There is also accumulating evidence that certain neurodevelopmental disorders may entail greater risk for specific neurodegenerative disorders. Recent findings We describe clinical cases where diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease was influenced by preexisting neurodevelopmental disorders. We also present a questionnaire to assist with screening for premorbid learning disabilities and ADHD in older adults. Summary This article offers clinical guidance for practicing neurologists in the identification and assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders in older adult patients, which informs management and treatment. Consideration of lifetime functioning has become increasingly important with research linking neurodevelopmental disabilities to increased risk of specific neurodegenerative diseases.
Collaborative Note-Taking: A Tool for Creating a More Inclusive College Classroom.

Collaborative note-taking is a pedagogical technique that asks students to rotate note-taking responsibilities during class meetings in a shared document. Implementing this technique helped me, as ...
Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the United States: A Victim-Centered Approach

The United States is one of the world’s largest sex-trafficking markets. Many of the victims are victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST). DMST involves the recruitment, harboring, and transportation of a person, who is a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, under the age of 18 years for the purpose of commercial sex (TVPA 2000). It has been estimated that approximately 150,000–300,000 U.S. children are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation in the United States each year. However, despite the fact that DMST is a rapidly growing problem in the United States, only recently has there been legislative efforts to address this serious problem. In this chapter, the authors, using a victim-centered approach, examine the nature and extent of DMST and the legislative and social responses to the victims of DMST.
Safety First: Developing a Model of Expertise in Collaborative Robotics

Rapid advances in technology also come with increased training needs for people who engineer and interact with these technologies. One such technology is collaborative robots, cobots, which are designed to be safer and easier to use than their traditional robotic counterparts. However, there have been few studies of how people use cobots and even fewer identifying what a user must know to properly set up and effectively use cobots for their manufacturing processes. In this study, we interviewed nine experts in robots and automation in manufacturing settings. We employ a quantitative ethnographic approach to gain qualitative insights into the cultural practices of robotics experts and corroborate these stories with quantitative warrants. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that experts put safety first when designing and monitoring cobot applications. This study improves our understanding of expert problem-solving in collaborative robotics, defines an expert model that can serve as a basis for the development of an authentic learning technology, and illustrates a useful method for modeling expertise in vocational settings.
On the link between the shadow economy and stock market development: An asymmetry analysis

Abstract The existence of the shadow economy adversely affects stock market performance. Despite considerable studies on the impact of the shadow economy on different macroeconomic variables, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the relationship between the shadow economy and stock market development. This study investigates the link between the shadow economy and stock market development for a group of 17 selected emerging economies for the period of 1980−2017. The long-run and short-run relationships are examined. In addition to the Pesaran et al. (2001) bounds testing approach to cointegration and error correction modeling (or linear ARDL model), we also employ the Shin et al. (2014) nonlinear cointegration approach, which investigates the asymmetric impact of the shadow economy on stock market development. Using a linear model, our findings show that, in a majority of countries in this sample, the existence of the shadow economy adversely affects stock market development. Meanwhile, as the first study using the N-ARDL estimation approach to investigate this relationship, we provide robust and strong statistical evidence that the impact of the shadow economy on stock market development, an important part of financial market development, is not symmetric.
Salvage Radiosurgery for Recurrent Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors: A Single Institutional Series and Review of the Literature.

Introduction Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor is a rare, aggressive intrinsic brain tumor with limited treatment options for recurrent disease. SRS as a treatment modality in the recurrent setting was investigated. Methods A retrospective review of 8 patients treated with SRS for local or distant recurrence of supratentorial PNET from 1999 to 2014 was conducted. Results Thirty-six tumors were treated in 15 sessions in 8 patients. The median patient age was 22.5 (interquartile range [IQR], 14.75-43.5 years) with a median 21-month period from diagnosis until SRS (IQR, 16-23.75 months). The median prescription isodose volume was 1.85 cm3 (IQR, 1.85-7.02 cm3); median tumor margin dose was 18 Gy (IQR 14-20 Gy); and median isocenters was 2 (range 1-13). No patients experienced adverse radiation effects. All but 1 patient died, and the median overall survival was 32 months (IQR, 26.75-53.5 months) with median overall survival following SRS of 9.5 months (IQR, 5.25-30 months). Univariate analysis failed to demonstrate a statistically significant association between age, number of gamma knife treatments, interval to gamma knife, and margin radiation dose with overall survival. Discussion/conclusion This series supports the use of SRS in patients with recurrent supratentorial PNET following multimodal therapy.
Multiple PET Reconstruction Assisted Non-local Mean Denoising of PET Images

Non-local mean (NLM) denoising is commonly used for noise suppression in natural as well as medical imaging. Basically, the NLM filter takes advantage of the redundant information present in the image in the form of repeated structures/patterns to identify the underlying signals. In medical imaging (particularly PET and SPECT imaging), different representations of the image data under study (target or original image) could be reconstructed via applying different reconstruction settings. These representative (auxiliary) images bear very similar patterns/structures to the original/target image with different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) which are ideal for use in the NLM denoising approach. This study proposed the multiple-reconstruction NLM filtering approach (referred to as MR-NLM) for noise reduction in PET imaging, wherein the redundant information present in auxiliary PET images are employed to conduct the NLM denoising process. The MR-NLM method relies on 12 additional PET image reconstructions (apart from the target PET image) using the same iterative algorithm with different iterations and subset numbers. Thereafter, for each target voxel, patches of voxels are extracted at the same location from all auxiliary PET images to be fed into the NLM smoothing process. To evaluate the performance of the MR-NLM algorithm, post-reconstruction denoising approaches including the conventional NLM, bilateral, and Gaussian filters were implemented and compared using 25 18F-FDG clinical whole-body (WB) PET/CT studies. The clinical studies demonstrated superior performance of the MR-NLM approach which established a promising compromise between noise suppression and preservation of the underlying signal/structures in PET images leading to higher SNR compared to the conventional NLM approach (34.9±5.7 versus 32.4±5.5). Though MR-NLM exhibited promising performance, this method suffers from long processing time due to the requirement of multiple reconstructions of raw PET data.
Observation of Tick Parasitism on Scincella lateralis in Texas

Cases of Ixodes scapularis (Blacklegged Tick or Deer Tick) are known to infest a variety of lizard species including Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink). We report the finding of 1 Ground Skink with an attached immature tick, later identified as an engorged Blacklegged Tick nymph, in a population with a low rate of tick infestation. Of the 151 Ground Skinks we collected at the Piney Woods Environmental Laboratory, only 1 was parasitized by any tick species. We extracted whole-body tick DNA and tested for various bacterial pathogens, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., and Rickettsia spp. PCR tests for these pathogens were negative except for Rickettsia spp. Within our sampling region of Walker County, TX, in the East Texas Piney Woods, we estimated the infestation prevalence of Blacklegged Ticks utilizing Ground Skinks as a host at 0.66%, much lower than previous estimations in Oklahoma.
Evaluation of an Informal Virtual Medical Student Elective in Radiation Oncology During the COVID Era

Purpose/Objective(s) The COVID19 pandemic prevented most onsite elective rotations for medical students (MSs) in 2020; therefore, alternate methods of subspeciality exploration were necessary. We assessed the efficacy of an informal virtual elective (IVE) for students interested in radiation oncology (RO). Materials/Methods We created a series of IVE activities (non-credit granting) related to RO. MSs interested in the formal RO away elective at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) were invited to participate. A pre- and post-IVE survey was performed in the Summer and Fall of 2020, respectively. Likert-type scores (1 = not at all, 5 = extremely) were reported as median [interquartile range]. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare pre/post values. Results The pre- and post-IVE surveys were completed by 22/27 (81%) and 20/27 (74%) students, respectively. Prior to the IVE, students reported their top reasons for participation: promote self in preparation for interview season (5, 23%), receive an introduction to the field of RO (4, 18%), interact with faculty/residents at MDACC (3, 14%), networking (3, 14%), initiate research collaborations (3, 14%), self-exposure in RO (2, 9%), explore research opportunities (1, 5%), explore learning opportunities (1, 5%). Students reported that resident mentors would be extremely beneficial (5 [4-5]) on the pre-IVE survey vs. quite beneficial (4 [4-5]) on the post-IVE survey (P = 0.42). Faculty mentors were rated slightly more beneficial after the IVE (5 [4-5]) compared to prior (4.5 [4-5]) (P = 0.79). Students rated preparing and delivering a virtual presentation as quite beneficial (4 [3-4]) prior to the IVE and extremely beneficial (3 [3-5]) after the IVE (P = 0.16). The MS lecture series was rated as quite beneficial both prior to (4 [4-5]) and after (4.5 [4-5]) the IVE (P = 0.86). The remote resident didactics were rated as quite beneficial on both the pre- and post-IVE survey (4 [4-5] vs 4 [3-4], respectively, P = 0.054). On the pre-IVE survey, MSs preferred a full onsite away elective (16, 73%) vs. an official virtual elective (3, 14%), or an IVE (3, 14%). On the post-IVE survey, fewer MSs preferred an official virtual elective (1, 5%), and most still preferred a full onsite away elective (16, 80%). On the post-IVE survey, students reported participating in an onsite elective at their home institution (14, 70%), a full virtual away elective (7, 35%), a full onsite away elective (4, 20%), and none (2, 10%). Overall, students scored the ability of the IVE to provide an adequate introduction to RO higher after the experience (4 [4-5] vs 3 [3-4.25], P = 0.10 Conclusion MSs report that IVE experiences can provide an adequate introduction to RO, although they prefer a formal onsite away elective. These informal virtual activities could be used to introduce MSs to smaller, less accessible subspecialties such as RO, even when onsite rotations are again allowed.
Using protocols to improve the outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients. Focus on weaning and sedation.

The use of nonphysician-directed protocols and guidelines for the management of sedation and weaning has been shown to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure when compared with conventional physician-directed practices. Practitioners in ICUs frequently are needed to perform multiple tasks and to evaluate numerous elements of clinical information in the care of the critically ill. In this complex environment, protocols and guidelines are one strategy for ensuring that specific tasks are carried out in a timely manner. Simple-to-employ methods for facilitating changes and improvements in the care of hospitalized patients recently have been proposed. These methods emphasize the importance of developing a culture of cooperation within the ICU so protocols and guidelines can be implemented successfully. Such a culture should embrace changes in medical practices in the ICU if they are associated with improved clinical outcomes. The results of studies evaluating the use of protocols and guidelines have important implications for general critical care practices, because many ICUs do not have physicians who are constantly at the patient's bedside. The need for effective communication from the bedside caregiver (e.g., nurse, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, technician) to the physician, so that treatment orders can be changed appropriately, usually results in some delay in the implementation of treatment changes. Protocols are one method for potentially reducing those delays and ensuring that medical care is administered in a more standardized and efficient manner.
Differential Responses of Wild and Laboratory Strains of the Housefly to PCBs

Mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls, Aroclor 1242 and 1254, had different effects on larval survival of strains of the housefly Musca domestica recently derived from nature, a long-established laboratory strain, and a strain selected for insecticide resistance. All strains tolerated high levels of PCBs; however, both wild-derived strains exhibited unexpected increased survival upon exposure to moderate levels of PCBs alone, whereas the long-established laboratory strain exhibited lowered larval survival in the presence of PCBs. This was not related to a lack of uptake of PCBs by the wild-derived flies, since uptake was high and all major Aroclor GC fractions were represented in the emerging flies. There was increased effectiveness of insecticides in the presence of PCBs on the long-established laboratory strain, but there was no such synergism with insecticides for the wild-derived flies. Recent evolutionary modification of the effects of PCBs alone or in conjunction with insecticides has apparently occurred in this species.
The Metaphysics of Real Estate

The thesis that an analysis of property rights is essential to an adequate analysis of the state is a mainstay of political philosophy. The contours of the type of government a society has are shaped by the system regulating the property rights prevailing in that society. Views of this sort are widespread. They range from Locke to Nozick and encompass pretty much everything else in between. Defenders of this sort of view accord to property rights supreme importance. A state that does not sufficiently respect property rights is likely to be a totalitarian state, and will also be likely to fail to respect rights of other sorts. While property rights are indeed important, this
BLUE CITY … RED CITY? A COMPARISON OF COMPETING THEORIES OF CORE COUNTY OUTCOMES IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, 2000–2012

The Red/Blue dichotomy describing presidential elections, while criticized, is ubiquitous: Red states vote Republican, Blue states Democratic. Locally, suburban and rural counties are often Red, urban counties Blue. This overgeneralization misses the Republican share of urban centers. This study analyzes the 2000–2012 presidential elections in core counties of metropolitan areas with populations over 250,000. Possible explanations for urban election outcomes cover three theoretical groupings: sociodemographics, culture, and economics. Several prominent explanatory variables from each are compared. Changes from 2000–2004 to 2008–2012 are highlighted given the 2008 economic crash and President Obama's race and urban identity, which permitted him to cut President Bush's core county share in half. Regression analyses find that sociodemographic and cultural features account for most variation for all elections, while economic indicators add little explanatory power. In contrast to conventional thinking, economics mattered most in 2004, culture increased in importance in 2008–2012, and urban foreclosures positively influenced McCain in 2008.
Characterizing Soil Spatial Variability

Soil spatial variability refers to the variation in soil physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties across the landscape and through the soil profile. The significance of soil spatial variability lies in its direct or indirect influence on any landscape-scale soil-related issue ranging from solute transport of non-point source pollution to precision agriculture. A general discussion of the origin, need for characterization, and measurement methods is presented with greatest emphasis placed on the use of apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) to characterize spatial variability. The characterization of spatial variability with geospatial ECa measurements is based on the correlation of ECa with various physicochemical properties and the use of ECa-directed soil sampling designs. Edaphic factors influencing ECa measurements, mobile ECa measurement equipment, ECa-directed sampling designs, guidelines for conducting an ECa survey, and limitations and precautions are discussed. The discussion is intended to provide a basic understanding of spatial variability and its characterization with geospatial ECa measurements to a general scientific audience. Keywords: spatial variability; apparent soil electrical conductivity; electromagnetic induction; electrical resistivity; spatial heterogeneity; landscape-scale processes; soil quality; solute transport modeling; precision agriculture; salinity; water content; texture
Temperature-dependent cage effects from triplet radical pairs generated upon irradiation of 1-(4-methylphenyl)-3-phenyl-2-propanone in polyethylene films.

The photochemistry of 1-(4-methylphenyl)-3-phenyl-2-propanone (MeDBK) in polyethylene (PE) films of varying crystallinity and at different temperatures has been investigated. Specifically, the selectivity of combination of the initially formed triplet pairs of benzylic radicals derived from irradiation of MeDBK has been used to determine the natures of the PE reaction cavities and how they influence the motions of the radicals. The results indicate that in-cage combinations are favored at lower temperatures and in PE of higher crystallinity. At temperatures significantly above the glass transition of PE, the fraction of radical pairs combining in-cage (Fc) is independent of the extent of conversion of MeDBK. The data are interpreted according to a structural model that considers the shape, free volume, wall stiffness, and permeability of the reaction cavities and a dynamic model that includes the competition between the rates of in-cage combination and cage escape by the radical pairs. Near the glass transition temperature, Fc decreases as the temperature is reduced and the data are interpreted using a stochastic model that considers the slow relaxation of the walls of the reaction cavities. The results demonstrate that the cavities afforded by PE can be subtly ‘tuned’ by temperature changes and microscopic variations in the polymer structure and morphology.
Pressure Ulcers in the Nursing Home

Objective: To review the literature on the causes, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of pressure ulcers in nursing homes and to summarize this information for clinicians caring for nursing ho...