Music Beyond Your World

As the world becomes more globalized in upcoming generations, people should have access to music beyond their own culture to form a more worldly view of life. As music in America is widely spread to countries around the world, the same cannot be said for foreign music entering America. This project aims to help remedy this situation so people can experience the sounds and culture of Asia, through the form of music

Análise epidemiológica dos fatores de risco cardíaco em idosos

This study analyzed cardiac risk factors found in older adults, highlighting the increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases with advancing age. A total of 372 elderly individuals were evaluated at Basic Health Units, and divided into sedentary and active groups. Research emphasized the importance of physical activity in reducing cardiovascular risk, using the Framingham Score to identify high cardiovascular risk and to guide interventions. The sociodemographic analysis included age group, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and family history of diseases. Bayesian inferences were conducted to assess the number of simultaneous changes in variables and calculate the proportion of individuals with potential cardiac risk. The final conclusion of Bayesian inferences indicates that approximately 29.0% of individuals in the sample may bear potential cardiovascular risk due to two or more alterations in the evaluated variables.Este estudio analizó factores de riesgo cardíaco en personas mayores, resaltando el aumento de la incidencia de enfermedades cardiovasculares con el avance de la edad. Se evaluaron 372 adultos mayores en Unidades Básicas de Salud, divididos en grupos sedentarios y activos. La investigación destacó la importancia de la actividad física en la reducción del riesgo cardiovascular, utilizando el Puntaje de Framingham para identificar alto riesgo cardiovascular y dirigir intervenciones. El análisis sociodemográfico incluyó el rango de edad, etnia, estado civil, educación, ingresos y antecedentes familiares de enfermedades. Se realizaron inferencias bayesianas para evaluar el número de cambios simultáneos en las variables y calcular la proporción de individuos potencialmente con riesgos cardíacos (Potenciales Cardiópatas). La conclusión final de las inferencias bayesianas indica que aproximadamente el 29,0% de los individuos en la muestra pueden considerarse potencialmente cardiópatas debido a dos o más cambios en las variables evaluadas.Este estudo analisou fatores de risco cardíaco em idosos, ressaltando o aumento da incidência de doenças cardiovasculares com o avanço da idade. Foram avaliados 372 idosos em Unidades Básicas de Saúde, divididos em grupos sedentários e ativos. A pesquisa destacou a importância da atividade física na redução do risco cardiovascular, utilizando o Escore de Framingham para identificar alto risco cardiovascular e direcionar intervenções. A análise sociodemográfica incluiu faixa etária, etnia, estado civil, educação, renda e histórico familiar de doenças. Inferências Bayesianas foram realizadas para avaliar o número de alterações simultâneas nas variáveis e calcular a proporção de indivíduos potencialmente com riscos cardíacos (Potenciais Cardiopatas). A conclusão final das inferências Bayesianas indica que aproximadamente 29,0% dos indivíduos na amostra podem ser considerados potencialmente cardiopatas devido a duas ou mais alterações nas variáveis avaliadas

Explorando o nexo entre autonomia funcional, depressão e resiliência entre idosos

Population aging is a global reality that presents challenges to society. Issues such as functional autonomy, depression, and resilience stand out in promoting healthy aging. Functional autonomy, essential for independent daily activities, can be affected by depression, a common issue among the elderly, impairing motivation. Resilience, which is crucial for facing adversities, also influences well-being. The proposed study investigates the relationship among these factors in the elderly population, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach and quantitative methodology. The study\u27s population comprises elderly individuals receiving care in Basic Health Units. Preliminary results indicate a good level of functional autonomy in the sample and associate depression with resilience. The research aims to promote effective interventions for quality of life and to comprehend the interconnection of these factors, thereby promoting healthy aging.El envejecimiento de la población es una realidad global que presenta desafíos para la sociedad. Problemas como la autonomía funcional, la depresión y la resiliencia son destacados en la promoción del envejecimiento saludable. La autonomía funcional, esencial para las actividades diarias independientes, puede verse afectada por la depresión, un problema común entre las personas mayores, que afecta la motivación. La resiliencia, que es crucial para enfrentar adversidades, también influye en el bienestar. El estudio propuesto investiga la relación entre estos factores en la población de personas mayores, utilizando un enfoque interdisciplinario y una metodología cuantitativa. La población del estudio está compuesta por personas mayores que reciben atención en Unidades Básicas de Salud. Los resultados preliminares indican un buen nivel de autonomía funcional en la muestra y asocian la depresión con la resiliencia. La investigación tiene como objetivo promover intervenciones efectivas para la calidad de vida y comprender la interconexión de estos factores, promoviendo así un envejecimiento saludable.O envelhecimento populacional é uma realidade global, trazendo desafios para a sociedade. Questões como autonomia funcional, depressão e resiliência se destacam na promoção de um envelhecimento saudável. Autonomia funcional, essencial para atividades diárias independentes, pode ser afetada pela depressão, um problema comum entre idosos, prejudicando a motivação. A resiliência, fundamental para enfrentar adversidades, também influencia o bem-estar. O estudo proposto investiga a relação entre esses fatores em idosos, usando abordagem interdisciplinar e metodologia quantitativa. O universo do estudo é composto por idosos atendidos em Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Os resultados preliminares indicam bom nível de autonomia funcional na amostra e associam depressão e resiliência. A pesquisa visa promover intervenções eficazes para a qualidade de vida, além de compreender a interligação desses fatores, promovendo envelhecimento saudável

Microenvironmental Landscape of Human Melanoma Brain Metastases in Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition

Melanoma-derived brain metastases (MBM) represent an unmet clinical need because central nervous system progression is frequently an end stage of the disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) provide a clinical opportunity against MBM; however, the MBM tumor microenvironment (TME) has not been fully elucidated in the context of ICI. To dissect unique elements of the MBM TME and correlates of MBM response to ICI, we collected 32 fresh MBM and performed single-cell RNA sequencing of the MBM TME and T-cell receptor clonotyping on T cells from MBM and matched blood and extracranial lesions. We observed myeloid phenotypic heterogeneity in the MBM TME, most notably multiple distinct neutrophil states, including an IL8-expressing population that correlated with malignant cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In addition, we observed significant relationships between intracranial T-cell phenotypes and the distribution of T-cell clonotypes intracranially and peripherally. We found that the phenotype, clonotype, and overall number of MBM-infiltrating T cells were associated with response to ICI, suggesting that ICI-responsive MBMs interact with peripheral blood in a manner similar to extracranial lesions. These data identify unique features of the MBM TME that may represent potential targets to improve clinical outcomes for patients with MBM

Effect of Chemotherapy Treatment on Overall Survival of Colon Cancer Patients Using Propensity Score Matching

Background Colon cancer is a common cause of cancer and cancer-associated deaths in the United States. Many factors can influence the overall survival (OS) of patients with colon cancer, such as patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment characteristics. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of chemotherapy on OS in patients with colon cancer with similar baseline characteristics. Materials and methods A total of 70,876 patients with stage II and III colon cancer, confirmed by pathology, over the age of 18, and who were diagnosed with colon cancer between 2004 and 2019, were selected from the de-identified National Cancer Database (NCDB). All of the patients included in the study underwent surgical treatment. Patients who received hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, palliative care, or any treatment modality besides chemotherapy were excluded from the analysis. Calculation of the propensity score was performed by computing the probability of patients being in the chemotherapy group using logistic regression. The propensity score matching (PSM) was done via the PSMATCH procedure with the SAS software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) on patients who received chemotherapy compared to patients who received a treatment other than chemotherapy. The greedy nearest neighbor matching method was then utilized to match one chemotherapy patient to one non-chemotherapy patient with a caliper of 0.2. An exact match was done for sex, race, tumor stage, and year diagnosed at the time of patient diagnosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was then used to estimate the effect of chemotherapy on OS before and after PSM. Results A total of 70,876 patients were included in the study before PSM, with 44,992 receiving chemotherapy and 25,884 not receiving chemotherapy. Before PSM, the OS was 17.55 years for patients who received chemotherapy, compared to 14.12 years for those who did not. After matching 23,356 patients, the OS was 17.77 years for patients who received chemotherapy and 12.18 years for those who did not. Following PSM, patients who received chemotherapy were 46% less likely to die compared to those who did not receive chemotherapy. Conclusion Our findings, per the PSM method, demonstrate that receiving chemotherapy can be a significant predictor of OS among patients with stage II and III colon cancer. Other variables such as tumor stage, age, and insurance type were also found to be significant predictors of OS in colon cancer patients. Prospective clinical studies are necessary and should be performed to determine the true effects of chemotherapy on OS

Woodland caribou population decline in Alberta: fact or fiction?

We re-assessed the view of a major woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) population decline in Alberta. Several historical publications and provincial documents refer to this drastic decline as the major premise for the designation of Alberta's woodland caribou an endangered species. In the past, wildlife management and inventory techniques were speculative and limited by a lack of technology, access and funding. The accepted trend of the decline is based on many speculations, opinions and misinterpretation of data and is unsubstantiated. Many aerial surveys failed to reduce variance and did not estimate sightability. Most surveys have underestimated numbers and contributed unreliable data to support a decline. Through forest fire protection and the presence of extensive wetlands, the majority of potential caribou habitat still exists. Recreational and aboriginal subsistence hunting does not appear to have contributed greatly to mortality, although data are insufficient for reliable conclusions. Wolf (Canis lupus), population fluctuations are inconclusive and do not provide adequate information on which to base prey population trends. The incidence of documented infection by parasites in Alberta is low and likely unimportant as a cause of the proposed decline

Energetic implications of disturbance caused by petroleum exploration to woodland caribou

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Alberta are classified as endangered and apparently have declined. Disturbance from petroleum exploration has been implicated as a possible cause, so we constructed a simple model to estimate the energy costs of multiple encounters with disturbance (i.e., loud noise). Our objective was to estimate if woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta have been exposed to enough disturbance from 1988 to 1993 to cause winter mass loss to exceed either (i) 15% autumn mass or (ii) 20% autumn mass. A single disturbance event costs caribou 3.46-5.81 MJ. Caribou would have to encounter (i) 20-34 (mean = 27) disturbance events to lose &gt;15% mass over winter and (ii) 41-137 (mean = 89) events to lose &gt;20% mass. There were five occasions from 1988 to 1993 (i.e., in a particular caribou distribution zone and winter) when the encounter rate (number of potential encounters per square kilometre) exceeded a level expected to result in caribou losing more than the estimated mean 15% autumn mass. There were four occasions when the encounter rate exceeded the lower limit expected to cause &gt;20% mass loss and one occasion when it approached the mean rate expected to cause &gt;20% mass loss. Modelling the cumulative influence of disturbances demonstrates an effect on individual energy loss during winter at certain exploration intensities. It is the first attempt at estimating the consequences of petroleum exploration for wildlife in northeastern Alberta and provides important information for future research and land-use management. </jats:p

Low-cost, high-volume imaging for entomological digitization

Large-scale digitization of natural history collections requires the automation of image acquisition and processing. Reflecting this fact, various approaches, some highly sophisticated, have been developed to support the imaging of museum specimens. However, most of these systems are complex and expensive, restricting their deployment. Here we describe a simple, inexpensive technique for imaging arthropods larger than 5 mm. By mounting a digital SLR camera on a CNC (computer numerical control) motor-drive rig, we created a system that captures high-resolution z-axis stacked images (6960 x 4640 pixels) of 95 specimens in 30 minutes. This system is inexpensive ($1000 USD without camera), easy to set up, and to maintain. By coupling low cost with high production capacity, it represents a solution for the digitization of any natural history collection