Breaking Boundaries in Computing in Undergraduate Courses

An important question in undergraduate curricula is that of incorporating computing into STEM courses for majors and non-majors alike. What does it mean to teach “computing” in this context? What are some of the benefits and challenges for students and instructors in such courses? This paper contributes to this important dialog by describing three undergraduate courses that have been developed and taught at Harvey Mudd College and Loyola Marymount University. Each case study describes the course objectives, implementation challenges, and assessments

Ur Next GF: Urine as Next Generation Fertilizer with Meat and Bone Meal Applied on Vigna radiata (Monggo plant)

Fertilizers play an important role in providing crops with essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which supplements plant growth. Compared to synthetically composed commercial fertilizers, next generation fertilizers are manufactured from low-energy mechanisms and are composed of nutrients from repurposed wastes which make them cost-efficient and sustainable. With the objective of determining which would deem to be an effective next generation fertilizer, we focus on human urine and meat and bone meal, to which its processing included solar drying, freezing, grinding, and utilizing additives to prevent fungal growth as well as improve efficacy. Three iterations, each with four set ups: plain urine, urine and meat and bone meal, control, and meat and bone meal only; were used to examine which content would prove more beneficial to the growth and quality of the chosen plant, Vigna radiata. The study adapted a quantitative analysis that aimed to measure the plant height, leaf area index, and dark green color index through the conduction of statistical tests and the use of ImageJ. As a result, the paper was able to conclude that the combination of urine and meat and bone meal poses a great potential for future fertilizer use

Validation of candidate genes putatively associated with resistance to SCMV and MDMV in maize (Zea mays L.) by expression profiling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The potyviruses sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) are major pathogens of maize worldwide. Two loci, <it>Scmv1 </it>and <it>Scmv2</it>, have ealier been shown to confer complete resistance to SCMV. Custom-made microarrays containing previously identified SCMV resistance candidate genes and resistance gene analogs were utilised to investigate and validate gene expression and expression patterns of isogenic lines under pathogen infection in order to obtain information about the molecular mechanisms involved in maize-potyvirus interactions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By employing time course microarray experiments we identified 68 significantly differentially expressed sequences within the different time points. The majority of differentially expressed genes differed between the near-isogenic line carrying <it>Scmv1 </it>resistance locus at chromosome 6 and the other isogenic lines. Most differentially expressed genes in the SCMV experiment (75%) were identified one hour after virus inoculation, and about one quarter at multiple time points. Furthermore, most of the identified mapped genes were localised outside the <it>Scmv </it>QTL regions. Annotation revealed differential expression of promising pathogenesis-related candidate genes, validated by qRT-PCR, coding for metallothionein-like protein, S-adenosylmethionine synthetase, germin-like protein or 26S ribosomal RNA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study identified putative candidate genes and gene expression patterns related to resistance to SCMV. Moreover, our findings support the effectiveness and reliability of the combination of different expression profiling approaches for the identification and validation of candidate genes. Genes identified in this study represent possible future targets for manipulation of SCMV resistance in maize.</p

Solar disinfection (SODIS) of viruses in PET bottles

Solar disinfection of drinking water in PET bottles (SODIS) is a simple point-of-use technique efficient for the inactivation of many bacterial pathogens. In contrast, the efficiency of SODIS toward viruses is not well known. In this work, we studied the inactivation of bacteriophages (MS2 and ɸX174) and human viruses (echovirus 11 and adenovirus type 2) by SODIS. We conducted experiments in PET bottles exposed to (simulated) sunlight at different temperatures (15, 22, 26 and 40°C) and in water sources of diverse composition and origin (India and Switzerland). Good inactivation of MS2 (more than 6-log inactivation after exposure to a total fluence of 1.34 kJ/cm2) was achieved in Swiss tap water at 22°C, while less efficient inactivation was observed in Indian waters and for echovirus (1.5-log at the same fluence). The DNA viruses studied, ɸX174 and adenovirus, were resistant to SODIS and the observed inactivation was equivalent to that occurring in the dark. Temperature enhanced MS2 inactivation substantially; at 40°C, a 3-log inactivation as achieved in Swiss tap water after exposure to a fluence of only 0.18 kJ/cm2. Overall, our findings demonstrate that SODIS may reduce the load of ssRNA viruses such as echoviruses, particularly at high temperatures and in photo-reactive matrices. In contrast, further complementary measures may be needed to ensure an efficient inactivation during SODIS of viruses resistant to oxidation such as ɸX174, or viruses undergoing rapid inactivation in the dark

Musealização da Performatividade em coleções públicas e privadas

This text presents the dossier Musealization of Performativity in Public and Private Collections, whose contributions are from researchers in the areas of Museology, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Information Science, Communication, Dance, Art History, Anthropology, Sociology. The main aim of the dossier is to present analyses on musealization and performativity from the perspectives of different areas, establishing relationships between works, narratives, public and private collections, material culture, intangible heritage. For this purpose, the text has three topics: performing document, performing heritage, and performing museum, which presents approaches on the intersections between work, document, record, project, remains, forms of acquisition, documentary production, curatorial narratives, artistic and institutional trajectories, and collective memory, thinking of musealization as a performative act, a cyclical process in constant movementEste texto apresenta o dossiê Musealização da Performatividade em Coleções Públicas e Privadas, cujas contribuições são de pesquisadoras e pesquisadores das áreas de Museologia, Artes Visuais, Artes Cênicas, Ciência da Informação, Comunicação, Dança, História da Arte, Antropologia, Sociologia. O objetivo do dossiê é apresentar reflexões sobre a musealização e a performatividade nas perspectivas de diferentes áreas, estabelecendo relações entre obras, narrativas, coleções públicas e privadas, cultura material, patrimônio imaterial. Para tanto, o texto está dividido em três tópicos, o documento performa, o patrimônio performa e o museu performa, contendo abordagens sobre as intersecções entre obra, documento, registro, projeto, vestígio, as formas de aquisição, a produção documental, as narrativas curatoriais, as trajetórias artísticas e institucionais e a memória coletiva, pensando a musealização como ato performativo, um processo cíclico e em constante movimento

Analysis of the Recognition of Facial Movements of App Designed for Rehabilitation of People with Facial Paralysis

Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) causes deficits in muscle and sensory functions of the face due to damage to the facial nerve. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the “Fisiobem” app in rehabilitating patients with PFP through facial mimicry exercises. The app uses the device’s camera to identify the user and measure the range of motion during the exercises, applying the ARKit framework to quantify the intensity of the movements. We conducted a usability study with 34 participants unaffected by PFP, performing mimics with different amplitudes. Results show that glasses did not affect recognition accuracy in exercises such as raising eyebrows, frowning, and closing the eyes tightly. As for wrinkling the nose exercise, glasses impacted higher intensities. As for the beard or mustache, lower lip protrusion, compressing the lips, smiling, showing teeth and blowing out filling cheeks were not affected. However, when smiling with lips together, beard and mustache influenced intensities above 75%. It is important to highlight that this study has limitations, such as the sample size and lack of consideration for ethnic diversity among participants. Future research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to validate and generalize these findings and explore the nuances of interactions between facial features and facial recognition algorithms. Despite these limitations, the approach facilitated by the “Fisiobem” application offers significant benefits, especially for patients with PFP who face challenges in accessing specialized therapists. It allows patients to complement their treatment by performing guided facial mimicry exercises at home. The application helps individuals accurately perform the exercises and effectively track the progress of their rehabilitation

Comparison of uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery pulmonary anatomic resections with multiport robotic-assisted thoracic surgery: a multicenter study of the European experience

Background: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has seen increasing interest in the last few years, with most procedures primarily being performed in the conventional multiport manner. Our team has developed a new approach that has the potential to convert surgeons from uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open surgery to robotic-assisted surgery, uniportal-RATS (U-RATS). We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of one single incision, uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (U-RATS) against standard multiport RATS (M-RATS) with regards to safety, feasibility, surgical technique, immediate oncological result, postoperative recovery, and 30-day follow-up morbidity and mortality. Methods: We performed a large retrospective multi-institutional review of our prospectively curated database, including 101 consecutive U-RATS procedures performed from September 2021 to October 2022, in the European centers that our main surgeon operates in. We compared these cases to 101 consecutive M-RATS cases done by our colleagues in Barcelona between 2019 to 2022. Results: Both patient groups were similar with respect to demographics, smoking status and tumor size, but were significantly younger in the U-RATS group [M-RATS =69 (range, 39-81) years; U-RATS =63 years (range, 19-82) years; P<0.0001]. Most patients in both operative groups underwent resection of a primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [M-RATS 96/101 (95%); U-RATS =60/101 (59%); P<0.0001]. The main type of anatomic resection was lobectomy for the multiport group, and segmentectomy for the U-RATS group. In the M-RATS group, only one anatomical segmentectomy was performed, while the U-RATS group had twenty-four (24%) segmentectomies (P=0.0006). All M-RATS and U-RATS surgical specimens had negative resection margins (R0) and contained an equivalent median number of lymph nodes available for pathologic analysis [M-RATS =11 (range, 5-54); U-RATS =15 (range, 0-41); P=0.87]. Conversion rate to thoracotomy was zero in the U-RATS group and low in M-RATS [M-RATS =2/101 (2%); U-RATS =0/101; P=0.19]. Median operative time was also statistically different [M-RATS =150 (range, 60-300) minutes; U-RATS =136 (range, 30-308) minutes; P=0.0001]. Median length of stay was significantly lower in U-RATS group at four days [M-RATS =5 (range, 2-31) days; U-RATS =4 (range, 1-18) days; P<0.0001]. Rate of complications and 30-day mortality was low in both groups. Conclusions: U-RATS is feasible and safe for anatomic lung resections and comparable to the multiport conventional approach regarding surgical outcomes. Given the similarity of the technique to uniportal VATS, it presents the potential to convert minimally invasive thoracic surgeons to a robotic-assisted approach

Assessment of Indoor Air Pollution in Homes with Infants

Infants spend most of their indoor time at home; however, residential air quality is poorly understood. We investigated the air quality of infants’ homes in the New England area of the U.S. Participants (N = 53) were parents of infants (0–6 months) who completed telephone surveys to identify potential pollutant sources in their residence. Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤0.5 µm (PM0.5), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were measured in 10 homes over 4–7 days, and levels were compared with health-based guidelines. Pollutant levels varied substantially across homes and within homes with overall levels for some homes up to 20 times higher than for other homes. Average levels were 0.85 ppm, 663.2 ppm, 18.7 µg/m3, and 1626 µg/m3 for CO, CO2, PM0.5, and TVOCs, respectively. CO2, TVOCs, and PM0.5 levels exceeded health-based indoor air quality guidelines. Survey results suggest that nursery renovations and related potential pollutant sources may be associated with differences in urbanicity, income, and presence of older children with respiratory ailments, which could potentially confound health studies. While there are no standards for indoor residential air quality, our findings suggest that additional research is needed to assess indoor pollution exposure for infants, which may be a vulnerable population

Mural cell-derived chemokines provide a protective niche to safeguard vascular macrophages and limit chronic inflammation

Maladaptive, non-resolving inflammation contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases such as atheroscle-rosis. Because macrophages remove necrotic cells, defective macrophage programs can promote chronic inflammation with persistent tissue injury. Here, we investigated the mechanisms sustaining vascular mac-rophages. Intravital imaging revealed a spatiotemporal macrophage niche across vascular beds alongside mural cells (MCs)-pericytes and smooth muscle cells. Single-cell transcriptomics, co-culture, and genetic deletion experiments revealed MC-derived expression of the chemokines CCL2 and MIF, which actively pre-served macrophage survival and their homeostatic functions. In atherosclerosis, this positioned macro-phages in viable plaque areas, away from the necrotic core, and maintained a homeostatic macrophage phenotype. Disruption of this MC-macrophage unit via MC-specific deletion of these chemokines triggered detrimental macrophage relocalizing, exacerbated plaque necrosis, inflammation, and atheroprogression. In line, CCL2 inhibition at advanced stages of atherosclerosis showed detrimental effects. This work presents a MC-driven safeguard toward maintaining the homeostatic vascular macrophage niche