cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adolescent girls' neural response to reward mediates the relation between childhood financial disadvantage and depression.

Background Children who experience socioeconomic disadvantage are at heightened risk for developing depression; however, little is known about neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association. Low socioeconomic status (SES) during childhood may confer risk for depression through its stress-related effects on the neural circuitry associated with processing monetary rewards. Methods In a prospective study, we examined the relationships among the number of years of household receipt of public assistance from age 5–16 years, neural activation during monetary reward anticipation and receipt at age 16, and depression symptoms at age 16 in 123 girls. Results Number of years of household receipt of public assistance was positively associated with heightened response in the medial prefrontal cortex during reward anticipation, and this heightened neural response mediated the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and current depression symptoms, controlling for past depression. Conclusions Chronic exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood may alter neural circuitry involved in reward anticipation in adolescence, which in turn may confer risk for depression.
Teaching Geology in the Field: Significant Geoscience Concept Gains in Entirely Field-based Introductory Geology Courses

This study quantifies improvements in introductory students' concepts in geoscience after completion of a nine week, entirely field-based geology course. Sixty-three student participants in three consecutive introductory field programs demonstrated statistically significant improvements in geoscience concept knowledge as a result of their experiences on the field programs. Conceptual content gain was assessed using a 19-item, scaled Geoscience Concept Inventory (GCI). The scaled GCI mean pre and post-test scores of field course participants show significantly greater improvement in geoscience concept understanding compared with scaled GCI scores from 29 other introductory geoscience courses from across the United States (n = 63 students). Geology courses taught as an extended field trip result in improvements in geoscience concepts for their introductory students that are significantly greater than comparable campus-based courses.
Biaxial Alignment of High-Tc Superconductor Polycrystals V: Micrographic Evidence for Biaxial Alignment in (Eu. 92 Yb.08)Ba2Cu30x [123(Eu)]

The new biaxial alignment technique based on a combination of magnetic field and mechanical force alignment (acting normal to each other) has been applied for the first time to an RE-123 superconductor ceramic, where RE - Eu.92Yb.08. Biaxial (and hence triaxial) alignment was achieved, at least in the surface layer, as demonstrated by XRD and observation of the twin boundary pattern.
Synchronization of superimposed training for channel estimation

Channel estimation for single-input multiple-output (SIMO) time-invariant or slowly time-varying channels was recently considered in (J. K. Tugnait et al, IEEE Comm. Lett., vol.CL-8, p.413-415, 2003) using superimposed training. A periodic (non-random) training sequence is arithmetically added (superimposed) at a low power to the information sequence at the transmitter before modulation and transmission. In the Tugnait method, the channel is estimated using only the first-order statistics of the data, under the assumption that the superimposed training sequence at the receiver is time-synchronized with its transmitted counterpart. In this paper, we remove this assumption of synchronization and propose a novel approach to superimposed training synchronization. An illustrative computer simulation example is presented.
Learning with Temporal Derivatives in Pulse-Coded Neuronal Systems

A number of learning models have recently been proposed which involve calculations of temporal differences (or derivatives in continuous-time models). These models, like most adaptive network models, are formulated in terms of frequency (or activation), a useful abstraction of neuronal firing rates. To more precisely evaluate the implications of a neuronal model, it may be preferable to develop a model which transmits discrete pulse-coded information. We point out that many functions and properties of neuronal processing and learning may depend, in subtle ways, on the pulse-coded nature of the information coding and transmission properties of neuron systems. When compared to formulations in terms of activation, computing with temporal derivatives (or differences) as proposed by Kosko (1986), Klopf (1988), and Sutton (1988), is both more stable and easier when reformulated for a more neuronally realistic pulse-coded system. In reformulating these models in terms of pulse-coding, our motivation has been to enable us to draw further parallels and connections between real-time behavioral models of learning and biological circuit models of the substrates underlying learning and memory.
Effect of angiotensin on the denervated kidney in the dog.

SummaryThe renal effects of angiotensin were studied in anesthetized dogs with one kidney acutely denervated. Denervation was accomplished in each animal by sectioning all visible nerves leading to the left kidney. The response of the innervated kidney was compared to that of the denervated kidney before and during the intravenous infusion of angiotensin (0.025, 0.050, and 0.100 μg/kg-min). The kidneys were compared for urine flow (V), sodium excretion (UNAV), glomerular filtration rate (CIN) and effective renal plasma flow (CPAH). During angiotensin infusion the mean decrease of CPAH for the denervated side (21.9 ± 2.2 ml/min) was not statistically different from the fall measured for the innervated side (18.6 ± 2.1 ml/min). In all but one experiment, V and UNaV changed in the same direction for both kidneys during the infusion of angiotensin. The denervated kidney did not display a greater diuresis nor natriuresis than the control kidney. These data indicate that renal denervation does not alter the vas...
Abstract A66: Admixture and fine mapping in African Americans identifies a susceptibility locus for prostate cancer on chromosome 7.

Background: There are well documented racial disparities in prostate cancer among African American (AA) men in the United States. AA men have a 60% higher incidence rate and over twice the mortality rate of Caucasian men. A previous admixture mapping study identified a region on chromosome 7 where excess European ancestry was associated with increased prostate cancer risk (Bock et al., 2009). Fine mapping of this region was performed to further identify prostate cancer susceptibility loci. Methods: DNA from 420 prostate cancer cases and 244 controls from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI and Howard University in Washington, DC was genotyped using an Illumina 1M chip. After quality control exclusions, 54,105 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 7 were available for this analysis. Local ancestry was estimated using the Local Ancestry in adMixed Populations (LAMP) program, with ancestral allele frequencies obtained from HapMap. Admixture linkage was confirmed using an affected-only test. Fine-mapping within the region was conducted using the MIX-score method proposed by Pasaniuc et al. (2011) to identify the SNP(s) most likely to explain the admixture linkage. Results: The admixture linkage signal spanned from 7q31.1 (112.27Mb) to 7q34 (137.90Mb). Within this region, there were three SNPs with MIX-score p-values less than the Bonferonni corrected significance threshold. The highest level of significance was attained at SNP rs13221538 (p=1.16*10-7). This SNP is located in an intron of the Cadherin-like and PC-esterase domain-containing protein 1 (CPED1) gene. Adjusting for local ancestry, the allelic odds ratio for this SNP was 1.52 (p=1.16*10-5), and the C allele of this SNP is more prevalent in the Northern and Western European population (CEU - 82%) than in the West African population (YRI – 60%). While little is known about the function of CPED1, it is located between genes WNT16 and ING3. WNT16 is known to be involved in oncogenesis, and the WNT pathway has been implicated in b-catenin signaling and prostate cancer development. Conclusion: Utilizing admixture linkage information, association fine mapping has narrowed the region on chromosome 7q associated with prostate cancer risk and identified potential candidate SNPs likely to explain the observed admixture. Citation Format: Julie J. Ruterbusch, Albert M. Levin, Rick Kittles, Benjamin A. Rybicki, Cathryn H. Bock. Admixture and fine mapping in African Americans identifies a susceptibility locus for prostate cancer on chromosome 7. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A66.
Synergistic suppression of the hyperacute form of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by tilorone and cycloleucine.

SummarySingle doses of antilymphocyte serum, cyclophosphamide, cycloleucine, and tilorone delayed the onset of the hyper-acute form of experimental allergic enceph-alomyelitis. Many combinations of drugs delayed the onset more than the sum of the delays attributed to each agent alone. The efficacy of some combinations depended on the schedule of administration. Cycloleucine and tilorone were proven to have a synergistic relationship.
Treatment of Symptomatic Hammertoe with a Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

This study examined 76 consecutive patients (100 feet) treated by a single surgeon for both flexible and rigid hammertoes with a PIP arthrodesis using custom-machined drills, a peg cutter, and hole...
Deciphering Chemical Bonding in a BC3 Honeycomb Epitaxial Sheet

The substitution of every fourth carbon atom in graphene by a boron atom preserves the honeycomb structure in the BC3 two-dimentional lattice, but as we found in our adaptive natural density partit...
Radio frequency guided wave communication in deep oil wells

High bit-rate RF communication is shown to be possible in deep oil wells using the air gap between the steel cladding and exterior rock as a dielectric waveguide to propagate TE signals in the kHz to MHz range. Computational modeling analysis in both the frequency and time domains validate the ideal analytic cylindrical guidance condition. Efficient propagation is also possible for asymmetric borehole geometries, even when the casing comes in contact with the surrounding rock wall.
Noradrenergic signal transfer as a target of antidepressant therapy

Neurohormones such as norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) are, like hormones, informational molecules that transmit specific sets of instructions through specific membrane receptors from the outside to the inside of the cell. While research on the mode of action of antidepressant drugs has centered in the past on their effects on synthesis, release, metabolism, reuptake and hence the availability of neurohormones such as NE or 5-HT at presumptive noradrenergic and/or serotonergic receptor sites, two discoveries made during the second half of the 1970s have shifted the research emphasis on the mode of action of these drugs from acute presynaptic to delayed postsynaptic receptor mediated events. First, Vetulani and Sulser (1975) discovered that various prototypes of antidepressant treatments, including ECT, if administered on a clinically relevant time basis, decreased the neurohormonal sensitivity of the NE receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system in brain.
Overgrowth of Silver Nanodisks on a Substrate into Vertically Aligned Nanopillars for Chromatic Light Polarization

Vertically aligned and well-separated 1D silver nanopillars (AgNPLs) are prepared on a large-area quartz surface using a robust colloidal chemical technique. Silver nanodisk (AgND) monolayers were first deposited on quartz using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique, and the presence of the substrate induced asymmetric chemical overgrowth of the AgNDs into AgNPLs. The height and diameter of the prepared AgNPLs were controlled by changing the rate of the overgrowth reaction. Chloride ions were used during overgrowth to etch the silver atoms that formed sharp features on the sides of the AgNDs and to limit growth in the lateral direction. The grown AgNPLs displayed two surface plasmon resonance modes corresponding to the transverse and longitudinal electron oscillations. The intensity of the longitudinal mode increased by a factor of 9 while the intensity of the transverse mode decreased by a factor of 2.5 upon increasing the angle of incidence of the exciting light from 0° to 60°. This interesting property makes...
VERITAS and Cosmic Rays: An Update

Abstract VERITAS is a ground-based array of four 12-meter telescopes near Tucson, Arizona and is one of the world's most sensitive detectors of very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV ) gamma rays. VERITAS has a broad scientific reach that addresses direct studies of cosmic ray accelerators, the propagation of cosmic rays, and direct measurements of cosmic ray spectra. Recent results include deep studies of the Galactic supernova remnants Tycho, Cassiopeia A, and IC 443, the search for gamma-ray emission associated with astrophysical neutrinos detected by IceCube, and a new measurement of the spectrum of cosmic ray electrons. In this presentation, we will summarize the current status of the VERITAS observatory and highlight a number of new results from VERITAS.
Twisting IL-1 signaling to kill CML stem cells

In this issue of Blood, Agerstam et al1 and Zhang et al2 show that increased expression of the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) complex confers leukemia stem cells (LSCs) from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with a selective growth and survival advantage over normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).1,2 Furthermore, they provide evidence that blocking IL-1 signaling through IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA)2 or antibody-mediated therapy (anti-IL-1R accessory protein [anti-IL-1RAP])1 has the potential to lead to disease eradication at a stem cell level (see figure). This is extremely important because first-, second-, and third-generation BCR-ABL1 TKIs, although they are capable of inducing sustained molecular and deep molecular remission, are unable to kill quiescent LSCs. Thus, it is becoming evident that a better characterization of the specific pathways of LSCs could lead to the development of new therapies that, if not toxic, will selectively kill CML LSCs. The therapeutic relevance of such studies rests on the fact that a successful CML eradication therapy will not only prevent disease relapse upon TKI discontinuation but also release the majority of patients from life-long and economically challenging TKI therapy and, perhaps, will positively impact prognosis of those patients who become resistant to multiple TKIs and/or undergo blastic transformation.3
The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in Schizophrenia: A Review.

Epidemiological studies and mouse models suggest that maternal immune activation, induced clinically through prenatal exposure to one of several infectious diseases, is a risk factor in the development of schizophrenia. This is supported by the strong genetic association established by genome wide association studies (GWAS) between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus and schizophrenia. HLA proteins (also known in mice as the major histocompatibility complex; MHC) are mediators of the T-lymphocyte responses, and genetic variability is wellestablished as a risk factor for autoimmune diseases and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Taken together, the findings strongly suggest that schizophrenia risk in a subgroup of patients is caused by an infectious disease, and/or an autoimmune phenomenon. However, this view may be overly simplistic. First, MHC proteins have a non-immune effect on synaptogenesis by modulating synaptic pruning by microglia and other mechanisms, suggesting that genetic variability could be compromising this physiological process. Second, some GWAS signals in the HLA locus map near non-HLA genes, such as the histone gene cluster. On the other hand, recent GWAS data show association signals near B-lymphocyte enhancers, which lend support for an infectious disease etiology. Thus, although the genetic findings implicating the HLA locus are very robust, how genetic variability in this region leads to schizophrenia remains to be elucidated.
The study of breast milk thyroxine

Breast milk is the best food for the newborn.The effect in the development and growth of the neonate is irreplaceable.There are many hormones in the breast milk,including insulin,leptin and thyroxine.The quantity of thyroxine is low and is related to the methods of the mensuration and the duration of the lactation.Breast milk thyroxine may mitigate the transient hypothyroxinaemia of preterm and delay the infants' hypothyroidism. Key words: Breast milk; Thyroxine; Transient hypothyroxinaemia
Epidemiologic Approaches for Studying Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Design, Methods, Analysis, and Interpretation

Purpose While considerable progress has been made since the advent of assisted reproductive technology (ART), the field remains a complex and challenging one for clinicians and researchers alike. This review discusses some of the most salient issues pertaining to the study of ART and whenever possible suggestions on how to address them.
Evaluation of a state based syndromic surveillance system for the classification and capture of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses in New Jersey.

Background This preliminary study evaluates a real-time syndromic surveillance system to track occupationally-related emergency room visits throughout New Jersey. Methods Emergency Department (ED) chief complaint fields were evaluated from 79 of 80 hospitals in NJ in 2014, using work-related keywords and ICD-9 E-codes, to determine its ability to capture non-fatal work-related injuries. Sensitivity analysis and descriptive statistics, were used to evaluate and summarize the occupational injuries identified. Results Overall, 11 919 (0.3%) possible work-related ED visits were identified from all ED visits. Events with the greatest number of ED visits were slips, trips, and falls (1679, 14%). Nature of injury included cuts, lacerations (1041, 9%). The part of the body most affected was the back (1414, 12%). This work-related classifier achieved a sensitivity of 5.4%, a specificity of 99.8%, and a PPV of 2.8%. Conclusions This evaluation demonstrated that the syndromic surveillance reporting system can yield real-time knowledge of work-related injuries.
Abstract 4342: Loss of MSLN impairs pancreatic cancer growth in the peritoneal cavity

Mesothelin (MSLN) is a cell surface glycoprotein that is expressed in at least 85% of pancreatic adenocarcinoma but not on cells of the healthy pancreas nor in the parenchyma of other vital organs. Due to this differential expression, MSLN has been used as a target for various antibody based treatments and cancer vaccines. The physiologic role of MSLN is unknown. Previous reports have suggested that overexpression of MSLN may increase tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. To further define the role of MSLN in this disease, we deleted MSLN from the human pancreatic cancer cell line, KLM1, using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Successful deletion of MSLN was confirmed via flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Furthermore, KLMΔMSLN cells were rendered invulnerable to the MSLN-targeted immunotoxin, RG7787, which depends on the presence of surface MSLN for cytotoxicity. In cell culture, KLMΔMSLN cells grew at the same rate as control cells. KLMΔMSLN formed subcutaneous tumors in nude mice with the same frequency as control cells and these tumors grew at the same rate. However, when nude mice were inoculated with KLMΔMSLN or control cells intraperitoneally, a marked decrease in tumor burden was observed in cells lacking MSLN. In summary, we have engineered a pancreatic cancer cell line that lacks MSLN and demonstrated that loss of MSLN impairs tumor growth and spread specifically within the peritoneal cavity. Further experiments are in progress to identify the factors contributing to this phenotype. Citation Format: Michael W. Rudloff, Danielle Arons, Salma El-Behaedi, Rakan Albalawy, Christine Alewine. Loss of MSLN impairs pancreatic cancer growth in the peritoneal cavity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4342. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4342
Patients with symptoms of delayed gastric emptying have a high prevalence of oesophageal dysmotility, irrespective of scintigraphic evidence of gastroparesis.

Background Patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis exhibit several symptoms, such as epigastric pain, postprandial fullness, bloating and regurgitation. It is uncertain if such symptoms reflect underlying oesophageal motor disorder. Aims To examine whether patients with epigastric pain and postprandial distress syndrome suggestive of functional dyspepsia and/or gastroparesis also have concomitant oesophageal motility abnormalities and, if so, whether there are any associations between these disturbances. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients with functional gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of gastric neuromuscular dysfunction (gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia) underwent clinical assessment, gastric scintigraphy, oesophageal high-resolution manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring using standard protocols. Results We studied 61 patients with various functional upper gastrointestinal symptoms who underwent gastric scintigraphy, oesophageal high-resolution manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring. Forty-four patients exhibited gastroparesis by gastric scintigraphy. Oesophageal motility disorders were found in 68% and 42% of patients with or without scintigraphic evidence of gastroparesis respectively, suggesting of overlapping gastric and oesophageal neuromuscular disorder. Forty-three per cent of patients with gastroparesis had abnormal oesophageal acid exposure with mean % pH Conclusions Irrespective of gastric emptying delay by scintigraphy, patients with symptoms suggestive of gastric neuromuscular dysfunction have a high prevalence of oesophageal motor disorder and pathological oesophageal acid exposure that may contribute to their symptoms and may require therapy. High-resolution oesophageal manometry and pH monitoring are non-invasive and potentially useful in the assessment and management of these patients.
Momentum in Child Compliance and Opposition

Several event-dependent properties of child-mother interactions were studied to investigate momentum in child oppositional and compliant behavior. It was hypothesized that: (a) compared to an episode of child opposition, an episode of child compliance would be related to an increased likelihood of subsequent child compliance, and (b) the association between a target episode of child opposition and the likelihood of subsequent compliance or opposition would be mediated by the history of the dyadic interaction. These hypotheses were supported. In addition, the presence of interactional sequences predictive of child compliance was inversely related to mother dysphoria and unrelated to mother-reported child externalizing behavior disorder symptoms. Discussion focuses on antecedent interactional patterns as determinants of future child behavior.
Load-Triggered Warp Approximation on GPU

Value similarity of operands across warps have been exploited to improve energy efficiency of GPUs. Prior work, however, incurs significant overheads to check value similarity for every instruction and does not improve performance as it does not reduce the number of executed instructions. This work proposes Lock 'n Load (LnL) which triggers approximate execution of code regions by only checking similarity of values returned from load instructions and fuses multiple approximated warps into a single warp.
Healthcare-Associated Outbreaks and Pseudo-Outbreaks of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been increasingly reported worldwide. NTM thrive throughout the environment. They are commonly found in municipal and hospital water systems including hot water and chlorinated systems and cause various types of opportunistic infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Most of these infectious outbreaks have exposure to water or water-based solutions as the common denominator. This chapter reviews many of the published NTM outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks and seeks to provide guidance to the clinician and laboratory on when to suspect an NTM outbreak or pseudo-outbreak. Surveillance and control measures to prevent and mitigate these outbreaks are also described.
Progesterone Receptor Status Predicts Response to Progestin Therapy in Endometriosis.

Context Progestin-based therapy is the first-line treatment for managing endometriosis-associated pain. However, response to progestins is currently variable and unpredictable. Predictive markers for response to progestin-based therapy would allow for a personalized approach to endometriosis treatment. Objective We hypothesize that progesterone receptor (PR) levels in endometriotic lesions determine response to progestin-based therapy. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic center. Patients Fifty-two subjects with histologically confirmed endometriosis and a previous documented response to hormonal therapy were included. Interventions Immunohistochemistry was performed on sections of endometriotic lesions using a rabbit polyclonal IgG for detection of PR-A/B. Main Outcome Measures The Histo (H)-score was used for quantifying PR status. Response to progestin-based therapies was determined from review of the electronic medical record. Results H-score was higher in responders compared with nonresponders. Subjects were categorized into three groups: high (H-score > 80, n = 7), medium (H-score 6 to 80, n = 28), and low (H-score ≤ 5, n = 17) PR status. The threshold of PR > 80 was associated with a 100% positive predictive value. The threshold of PR < 5 was associated with a 94% negative predictive value. Conclusion PR status is strongly associated with response to progestin-based therapy. Receptor status in endometriosis could be used to tailor hormonal-based regimens after surgery, and negate trialing progestin-based therapy to determine resistance. Ascertainment of PR status may allow for a novel, targeted, precision-based approach to treating endometriosis.
Unusual invasion of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a cat.

Case summaryAn 11-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was referred to the Foster Hospital for Small Animals, USA for suspected dysautonomia based on weight loss, vomiting and referral rad...
Relationships among urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio, urine specific gravity, and bacteriuria in canine urine samples.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria is a marker of chronic kidney disease in dogs and a risk factor for increased morbidity and death. Predictive models using the results of readily available screening tests could foster early recognition. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether urine specific gravity (USG) and semiquantitative category of dipstick protein can be used to predict urinary protein‐to‐creatinine ratio (UP : C) and to examine the effect of urine culture results on UP : C in dogs. ANIMALS: Three hundred ninety‐four dogs (482 visits) presented to a university Community Practice Clinic or Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 2011 and November 2015. METHODS: Retrospective study. Medical records were searched to identify dogs for which urinalysis, UP : C measurement, and urine culture testing were performed during a single hospital visit. Urine specific gravity, UP : C, dipstick protein concentration, and findings of urine sediment analysis and urine culture were recorded. Regression or Spearman correlation analysis was used to test for relationships between UP : C and USG within dipstick categories and between UP : C and bacterial colony‐forming units per milliliter, respectively. Cohen's kappa test was used to evaluate agreement between urine culture and UP : C testing. RESULTS: There were significant (P < .05) weak negative correlations (R² range, 0.14‐0.37) between UP : C and USG for all nonnegative urine protein dipstick categories. The presence of a positive urine culture did not agree with the presence of abnormal UP : C (κ = −0.06). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Within dipstick protein categories, UP : C cannot be accurately predicted from USG. Repeating UP : C measurement after resolution of urinary tract infection is advisable.
Semantic Segmentation of Complex Road Environments from Aerial Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Road detection is a difficult task because roads are complex objects lacking a cohesive shape; as such, detection is typically limited to satellite images of urban environments. Detecting complex roads beyond asphalt, such as dirt or gravel, in complex environments, such as a desert, poses a more significant challenge. This report describes the implementation of a convolutional neural network to segmentize roads across a variety of types in a variety of environments from aerial images by directly comparing the image to a corresponding ground-truth. Current results are favorable for complex roads but the detector needs more work for environments where roads may take up most of the image.
Dynamic Bayesian Network Modeling of Game-Based Diagnostic Assessments.

AbstractDigital games offer an appealing environment for assessing student proficiencies, including skills and misconceptions in a diagnostic setting. This paper proposes a dynamic Bayesian network...
Concordance of patients' beliefs about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, their comorbidities, and their medications.

Abstract Objective To test the association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) illness and medication beliefs with those specific to hypertension or diabetes in patients with COPD and coexisting chronic conditions. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of data collected from a sample of 282 adults with COPD and comorbid hypertension or diabetes recruited from primary care practices in New York, NY, and Chicago, IL. Beliefs about COPD, hypertension, and diabetes were measured using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate a more adaptive view of the illness. Beliefs about medications were measured using the 10-item Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire; higher scores on the two subscales indicate increased concerns and necessity, respectively. Results In adjusted analyses, scores for COPD and hypertension as well as COPD and diabetes illness beliefs, medication necessity, and medication concern were significantly associated. Conclusion Patients with COPD and comorbid hypertension or diabetes have consistent beliefs about their diseases and the medications used to treat them. Practice implications : The consistency of beliefs across conditions may help in the development of a more holistic approach to disease management in patients with COPD who have comorbid illnesses and contribute to a better understanding of the Common-Sense Model of Illness Representation.
The Ontology of Incremental Games: Thinking Like the Computer in Frank Lantz’s Universal Paperclips

Incremental games merge the game's system and guise, casting the player in the role of a computer. This paper analyzes incremental games to show how the specific features of the genre cause the player to engage in machinic thinking. It begins with a brief overview of the incremental game genre. Then shifts to an analysis of one game in particular: Frank Lantz’s Universal Paperclips (2017). Universal Paperclips puts the player in the role of an AI tasked with producing paperclips, making it a perfect example to show how the player learns to think like the machine through the overlapping roles of the player and computer, which will be elaborated through a comparison of the ways both incremental games and slot machines encourage what Natasha Dow Schull’s (2012) calls the “machine zone” in players. The study concludes by complicating these arguments with an examination of the ways in which, despite the machinic thinking that incremental games engender, the player and computer actually withdraw from each other which makes incremental games a critique of human computer interactions and a meta-game about the construction of videogames, instead of purely a speculative ontological representation of computers.
Raman imaging for detection of corn kernels infected with Aspergillus flavus: a preliminary study

The potential of line-scan hyperspectral Raman imaging system equipped with a 785 nm line laser was examined for discrimination of healthy, AF36-inoculated and AF13-inoculated corn kernels in this study. The AF36 and AF13 strains were used as representatives for the aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus fungal varieties. A total of 300 kernels were used with 3 treatments, namely, 100 kernels inoculated with the AF13 fungus, 100 kernels inoculated with the AF36 fungus, and 100 kernels inoculated with sterile distilled water as control. The kernels were all incubated at 30 °C for 8 days and then dried and surface wiped to remove exterior signs of mold. The kernels were imaged from endosperm side over the wavenumber range of 103-2831 cm-1. The mean spectrum was extracted from the Raman image of each kernel, and preprocessed with adaptive iteratively reweighted penalized least squares, Savitzky-Golay smoothing and min-max normalization. Based upon the preprocessed group mean spectra, a total of 35 local Raman peaks were identified. With the spectral variables at the identified local peak locations as inputs of discriminant models, the 3-class principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) models ran 20 random times, achieved a mean overall prediction accuracy of 91.13% along with a standard deviation value of 3.36%.
Young Adult JUUL Users' Beliefs About JUUL

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to test beliefs (risks to individual health, tobacco industry affiliation, and harm to others) with young adult current JUUL users to prompt decreased JUUL use. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was used. Undergraduates aged 18–24 years at a large southwest university who owned and used a JUUL at least once a week completed an online survey (n = 667) in March 2019. Participant reactions to 6 JUUL-specific statements (harm to lungs and brain, tobacco industry ownership, communication device inside JUUL, harm to others and the environment) were assessed. Then, 51 participants completed an in-person interview 1–2 weeks later to explain what influenced their responses. Results Across beliefs, females were more likely and those who used other tobacco products were less likely to say they would reduce JUUL use. Beliefs about harm to the brain, others, and the environment had the most influence on interview participants. Tobacco industry affiliation with JUUL was not viewed negatively and likely would not affect participant decisions. Conclusions Messaging developed for other tobacco products may not have the same impact with young adult JUUL users. These findings provide guidance to tobacco use regulators by informing marketing message regulations to prevent initiation or prolonged use of JUUL and other pod-based products.
Identity Development and Major Choice Among Underrepresented Students Interested in STEM Majors: A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis

The present study employed a narrative identity analysis to the examination of identity development in relation to major choice for college-going emerging adults. We focused on underrepresented min...
Multidisciplinary Management of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma

Successful management of adolescent and young adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) requires a multidisciplinary approach to care with special attention paid to the unique medical, logistical, and psychosocial challenges faced by this group. The emotional and social changes and big life transitions that occur between the ages of 15 and 39 result in a broad scope of supportive care needs that differ from children or adults in similar circumstances. Currently, care of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with HL may be fractured across the pediatric-adult cancer care continuum resulting in this group being less well studied than pediatric or adult patients in general. In order to optimize outcomes, these patients need access to medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, advanced practice providers (APPs), psychologists/social work, financial support services, fertility specialists, survivorship care, and advocates with AYA expertise that can help navigate the healthcare system. A strong AYA support system established early with targeted education and resources may influence treatment compliance and likelihood of long-term follow-up. Surveys of the AYA cancer population have identified areas of opportunity for the healthcare team to collaborate to identify needs, design interventions to meet them, and ultimately develop evidence-based guidelines that will enable us to offer AYAs with HL the quality care they deserve.
Chapter 12 – Infections of the central nervous system

Publisher Summary Infectious diseases are often among the mechanisms leading to the terminal state of an individual. This chapter provides a brief overview of the wide sprectrum of infectious diseases encountered in a medical examiner setting, and a few selected examples of such cases commonly observed. More comprehensive reviews of central nervous system (CNS) infections are available in several general texts on neuropathology and in monographs devoted to this subject. Whenever indicated, and when circumstances allow, microbiologic cultures and other special studies should be used to confirm preliminary morphologic diagnoses. Antemortem microbiologic studies performed with appropriate collection techniques are correlated with gross and microscopic findings. In the absence of antemortem microbiologic studies in cases in which infection is suspected, it is especially important to correlate the clinical history, gross and microscopic autopsy findings, and results of postmortem microbiologic studies as estimates of contaminants or false positives in postmortem cultures have varied from approximately 13% to 76%, and vary with the collection technique used. Sources of cases referred in this chapter, for disposition by the medical examiner, include a relatively high percentage of individuals who have suboptimal nutrition, a history of insufficient medical evaluation and treatment for chronic illness, including immunocompromised states, or have had inadequate preventive medicine screening for conditions such as routine prenatal visits.
China’s Export Restrictions of Raw Materials and Rare Earths: A New Balance Between Free Trade and Environmental Protection?

On March 13, 2012, Japan, the United States, and the European Union filed Requests for Consultations (Requests) with the World Trade Organization (WTO), contesting China's export restrictions on rare earth elements (REE). The Requests were long expected, given the growing importance of REE, coupled with China's near-total dominance in the REE market. This Article predicts that, in light of the W4TO's recent Appellate Body decision in the China - Raw Materials case, China will not successfully defend its REE export restrictions under the General Agreement on Tarnffs and Trade (GATT 1994). The legal issues that arise in both China - Raw Materials and China's export restrictions of REE are significant for WTO jurisprudence because they address long-standing tensions between free trade and environmental protection. This Article discusses the Raw Materials Appellate Body's analysis of the environmental and conservation defenses China raised under GATT 1994 Articles XI, XX(b), and XX(g). While China's export restrictions were held to violate its WATO obligations, the interpretation of Articles XX(b) and XX(g) left WTO jurisprudence largely unchanged and demonstrated the Appellate Body's willingness to uphold legitimate environmental and conservation measures. This Article then evaluates the factual and evidentiary issues China faces in the REE dispute, in light of China - Raw Materials, and identifies potential hurdles that will impair China's ability to prevail in the REE case.
The reality of a journey: what school social workers need to know about the experiences of Latinx undocumented youth

This study used qualitative interviews to look at the experiences of undocumented youth’s journey to the United States. We examined challenges faced upon arrival, trauma at home and on the journey,...
Toward a Third Generation of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

The finding of a severely damaged and underactive cholinergic system in the brain of AD patients has led to clinical trials of new cholinomimetics including cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) (see Becker and Giacobini, 1988a,b). Based on available experimental and clinical information (Giacobini and Becker, 1989; Pomponi et al., 1990), an ideal ChEI suitable for symptomatic treatment of memory and cognitive impairment in AD should satisfy the following requirements: a) produce a long-term acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in brain with a steady-state phase of increased cortical ACh; b) not inhibit acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis or release in nerve endings; and c) produce only mild side effects at therapeutic doses. Such requirements have not been met by the ChEI used so far (Becker and Giacobini, 1988a,b). We have studied a number of new ChEI (Giacobini and Becker, 1989) and based on our experimental results in animals, we have proposed three new ChEI for experimental therapy of Alzheimer disease (AD), heptyl-physostigmine (HEP), a physostigmine (PHY) derivative, metrifonate (MTF) and huperzine A (HUP-A) (Hallak and Giacobini, 1987, 1989; DeSarno et al., 1989; Tang et al., 1989). All three compounds are in clinical trials. Both MTF and HEP have a low level of toxicity in humans and only at the 60–80% of plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) level of inhibition, peripheral side effects are present. No central side effects have been recorded.
Geometric Dissections that Swing and Twist

Two ways of hinging geometric dissections of 2-dimensional figures are explored. Swing hinges allow rotation in the plane. Twist hinges allow rotation by 180° through the third dimension. Techniques are presented and analyzed for designing hingeable dissections that use either only swing hinges or only twist hinges. For swing hinges these include the superposition of tessellations, the crossposition of T-strips, and the exploitation of the structure of regular polygons and stars. For twist hinges these include the conversion of swing hinges, the P-twist for parallelograms, and completing the pseudo-tessellation. Open problems relating to the possible universality of such hingings are posed.
Squeezing in the degenerate parametric oscillator using the positive P-representation

The theoretical description of quantum-dynamical processes which generate squeezed states meets with some interesting questions. Squeezed light has quantum fluctuations in one field quadrature reduced below the quantum limit for a coherent state [1]. If the theoretical description of a process which generates squeezed light is cast in terms of a Fokker-Planck equation, or equivalent stochastic differential equations, negative diffusion is needed to accomplish this reduction. Phase-space representations, such as the Glauber-Sudarshan P-representation [2,3], have been widely used in quantum optics to convert operator equations describing the interaction of optical fields into Fokker-Planck equations [4–6]. Traditional approaches based on these representations fail in the treatment of squeezing precisely because they give Fokker-Planck equations with non-positive-definite diffusion.
Contours of the Land: Place-as-Rhetoric and Native American Effigy Mounds

This essay presents a critical analysis of the textual, material, and experiential rhetorics of Native American effigy mounds in a modern urban landscape. It argues that in such culturally layered locations material and textual artifacts might disrupt divisions between past and present, but that more often the sites merely mark space without demanding prolonged attention and ultimately perpetuate a sense of estrangement between the viewer and the viewed object. These observations are used to promote reflexive layering of space, whereby rhetorical frames for experience encourage explicit reflection on the multiple and interrelated perspectives embedded on any given landscape.
Comparison of frequency and time domain neural network controllers for an active power filter

Active power filters compensate for power system harmonic distortion created by nonlinear loads. Compensation may not be complete due to errors or other system influences. A neural network active filter controller is discussed in this paper which learns to improve the compensation of the harmonic distortion. The aim of the controller is to reduce either the amount of utility current or voltage harmonic distortion. A comparison between frequency and time domain neural network controllers based on steady state and transient performance is considered. Improvements in the transient response can be made by using a neural network and a traditional active filter controller combination. The hardware and software requirements of implementing the time and frequency domain neural network controllers are also discussed. >
Abstract P037: Effect of a Family Based Intervention on Biomarkers of Diet Quality/Endogenous Metabolism and BMI z-score

Developing strategies to prevent excess weight gain during childhood is critical to support efforts to stem the current juvenile obesity epidemic and associated long-term adverse cardiometabolic consequences. The objective was to assess how participation in a family-based weight management intervention affected biomarkers of diet quality/endogenous metabolism and cardiometabolic outcomes in children aged 7-12 years (n=309) with baseline BMI z-score (BMIz) >85th percentile. Families were randomized to a control group, receiving a booklet targeting healthy eating behaviors/increasing physical activity, and quarterly visits to review lifestyle recommendations or an experimental group, receiving weekly sessions for 3 months including targeted diet strategies (increasing highly pigmented fruit/vegetable and fish intake; substituting non-fat/low-fat for full-fat dairy products; and reducing meat, fried food and savory snack intakes) and physical activity curriculum followed by 9 monthly sessions. Biomarkers of nutrient intake and metabolism (RBC fatty acid profiles, plasma carotenoids, vitamins A, E, K and dihydrovitamin K) were measured using GC or HPLC. Presented are results of pooled group analysis between change in age and sex standardized BMIz and dietary/endogenous metabolism biomarkers. Using multivariate logistic regression (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]), MUFA 16:1n-7 (0.26 [0.07-0.98]), an indicator of de novo lipogenesis, was negatively associated with, while 18:1n-9trans (13.5 [1.5-128.1]), a biomarker of partially-hydrogenated fat, and lycopene (1.02 [1.01-1.05]), a biomarker for tomato-based foods, were positively associated with change in BMIz. Delta-6-desaturase (D6D; 20:3n-6/18:2n-6) and delta-5-desaturase (D5D; 20:4n-6/20:3n-6) activities, indicators of endogenous fatty acid metabolism, were negatively (0.32 [0.15-0.68]) and positively (1.10 [1.01-1.22]) associated with change in BMIz, respectively. Results suggest that foods high in partially-hydrogenated fat and tomato-based products (e.g., pizza) have an adverse effect on change in BMIz. Additionally, the changes in D6D and D5D indices suggest that in vivo metabolism is predictive of change in BMIz in this cohort of high-risk children.