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Early detection of prostate cancer is critical for the success of cancer therapy. It is believed that the biochemical changes that cause the optical spectra changes would appear earlier than the histological aberration. The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the ability of Stokes Shift Spectra (S3) to identify human prostate cancerous tissues from the normal. Fifteen (15) pairs of with pathologically confirmed human prostate cancerous and normal tissues underwent Stokes Shift Spectra measurements with selective wavelength interval of 40 nm. The spectra were then analyzed using machine learning (ML) algorithms to classify the two types of tissues. The ML algorithms including principal component analysis (PCA) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) were used for dimension reduction and feature detection. The characteristic component spectra were used to identify the key fluorophores related to carcinogenesis. The results show that these key fluorophores within tissue, e.g., tryptophan, collagen, and NADH, have different relative concentrations between cancerous and normal tissues. A multi-class classification was performed using support vector machines (SVMs). A leave-one-out cross validation was used to evaluate the performance of the classification with the gold standard histopathological results as the ground truth. The results with high sensitivity and specificity indicate that the S3 method is effective for detecting changes of fluorophore composition in human prostate tissues due to the development of cancer. © 2021 SPIE.

Recent reports pointed out that the application of optical spectroscopy in the field of liquid biopsy has aroused great interest among researchers and demonstrated the potential of its clinical application. We report a preliminary investigation on the visible resonance Raman (VRR) spectra of human brain blood liquid collected from the scalp and around the meningeal tumor during surgery and a set of venous blood samples from healthy people and glioma grade III patients using a portable VRR-LRRTM, HR800, HR-Evolution and WITec300 Raman systems in vivo and ex vivo. The biochemical fingerprints and molecular biomarkers were found. These findings indicate that if VRR spectroscopy technology is combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or genetic molecular biomarker methods (VRR-PCR), it will greatly increase the possibility for its clinical application. © 2021 SPIE.

Metastasis is the leading cause of mortalities in cancer patients due to the spreading of cancer cells to various organs. Detecting cancer and identifying its metastatic potential at the early stage is important. This may be achieved based on the quantification of the key biomolecular components within tissues and cells using recent optical spectroscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to develop a noninvasive label-free optical biopsy technique to retrieve the characteristic molecular information for detecting different metastatic potentials of prostate cancer cells. Herein we report using native fluorescence (NFL) spectroscopy along with machine learning (ML) to differentiate prostate cancer cells with different metastatic abilities. The ML algorithms including principal component analysis (PCA) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) were used for dimension reduction and feature detection. The characteristic component spectra were used to identify the key biomolecules that are correlated with metastatic potentials. The relative concentrations of the molecular spectral components were retrieved and used to classify the cancer cells with different metastatic potentials. A multi-class classification was performed using support vector machines (SVMs). The NFL spectral data were collected from three prostate cancer cell lines with different levels of metastatic potentials. The key biomolecules in the prostate cancer cells were identified to be tryptophan, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and hypothetically lactate as well. The cancer cells with different metastatic potentials were classified with high accuracy using the relative concentrations of the key molecular components. The results suggest that the changes in the relative concentrations of these key fluorophores retrieved from NFL spectra may present potential criteria for detecting prostate cancer cells of different metastatic abilities.

We conducted speckle imaging observations of 53 stellar systems that were members of long-term radial velocity (RV) monitoring campaigns and exhibited substantial accelerations indicative of planetary or stellar companions in wide orbits. Our observations were made with blue and red filters using the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument at Gemini-South and the NN-Explore Exoplanet Stellar Speckle Imager at the WIYN telescope. The speckle imaging identifies eight luminous companions within 2" of the primary stars. In three of these systems-HD 1388, HD 87359, and HD 104304-the properties of the imaged companion are consistent with the RV measurements, suggesting that these companions may be associated with the primary and the cause of the RV variation. For all 53 stellar systems, we derive differential magnitude limits (i.e., contrast curves) from the imaging. We extend this analysis to include upper limits on companion mass in systems without imaging detections. In 25 systems, we rule out companions with masses greater than 0.2 M⊙, suggesting that the observed RV signals are caused by late-M dwarfs or substellar (potentially planetary) objects. On the other hand, the joint RV and imaging analysis almost entirely rules out planetary explanations of the RV signal for HD 19522 and suggests that the companion must have an angular separation below a few tenths of an arcsecond. This work highlights the importance of combined RV and imaging observations for characterizing the outer regions of nearby planetary systems. © 2021 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.

We present high-resolution speckle interferometric imaging observations of TESS exoplanet host stars using the NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet and Stellar Speckle Imager instrument at the 3.5 m WIYN telescope. Eight TESS objects of interest that were originally discovered by Kepler were previously observed using the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument. Speckle observations of 186 TESS stars were carried out, and 45 (24%) likely bound companions were detected. This is approximately the number of companions we would expect to observe given the established 46% binarity rate in exoplanet host stars. For the detected binaries, the distribution of stellar mass ratio is consistent with that of the standard Raghavan distribution and may show a decrease in high-q systems as the binary separation increases. The distribution of binary orbital periods, however, is not consistent with the standard Ragahavan model, and our observations support the premise that exoplanet-hosting stars with binary companions have, in general, wider orbital separations than field binaries. We find that exoplanet-hosting binary star systems show a distribution peaking near 100 au, higher than the 40–50 au peak that is observed for field binaries. This fact led to earlier suggestions that planet formation is suppressed in close binaries.

To achieve healthy communities, addressing food insecurity (FI) is critical. This study describes a unique food distribution program combining a mobile Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for children with a mobile pantry for adults. A survey (n = 153) of participants at six locations in New Haven Connecticut revealed that 36% reported FI and 76% were first-time pantry users. Three- quarters participated in SNAP, WIC, or both, and two-thirds had children who were fed by SFSP. Major federal programs do not eliminate FI, therefore local voluntary organizations are essential partners to address the food crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Between You and Me: Transitional Comics is a collection of comics that reflects two transitions--from a person who doesn't draw to a cartoonist and from a butch lesbian to a transgender dude. I stopped drawing when I was a kid and didn't start drawing again until I was 33 years old and brave enough to take a course with Lynda Barry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the four years since, I have continued working closely with her, and in that time, I have quite literally drawn myself into being. It was through the experience of drawing myself in the world on the page that allowed me to draw myself out into the world, to realize that I am transgender and that I wanted to transition--something I had been thinking about for nearly a decade but kept private and suppressed. The comics in Between You and Me reflect the experiences of a transgender and transitioning person navigating the profundities and mundanities of daily life and observing the world around him. Also present in the book is my transition from non-drawer to someone who identifies as a cartoonist. Though not linearly, readers will note a shift in the confidence of the line as my fluency as an artist increased. The book includes a back section that includes a letter to the reader, early sketchbook pages and commentary on being self-conscious, encouraging people to reclaim drawing as a form of self-expression and a way of looking at the world. The book concludes with a dialogue between me and Lynda Barry, a conversation between student and teacher about gender and drawing and discovery and identity and growing up and everything in between (and then some)! The book includes reflections that expand beyond my own life and experiences to address social issues. This comes from my grappling with the sincere belief that it is possible for people to fundamentally change--I don't think people actually want to be "haters"--while at the same time witnessing the violences of racist oppression, patriarchy, and homophobia. The book is entirely nonfiction, but it's not wholly a memoir, and certainly doesn't aim to represent any kind of authoritative version of trans experience. The specifics of my experiences of walking down the street, going to the bathroom, going through airport security or to the doctor, of coming out and not coming out are at once particular to my experience and resonate with the sticking points where many trans and gender-fluid people experience confusion, frustration, fear, and delight"--Author's website.

The disproportionate impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on African American communities necessitates an increased focus on the intersectional roles of racism, stigma, and other social determinants of health in influencing disease and mortality risk. The Weathering Framework is applied to demonstrate the dynamic interrelationships between these factors and to conceptualize COVID-19 as a stressful life event that will have profound health implications over the life course for African Americans. Recommendations for population health research, interventions and policies aimed at reducing COVID-19 incidence and mortality, and mitigation of the long-term impacts of the pandemic on communities of color are discussed.

Diabetes is one of the leading fatal diseases globally, putting a huge burden on the global healthcare system. Early diagnosis of diabetes is hence, of utmost importance and could save many lives. However, current techniques to determine whether a person has diabetes or has the risk of developing diabetes are primarily reliant upon clinical biomarkers. In this article, we propose a novel deep learning architecture to predict if a person has diabetes or not from a photograph of his/her retina. Using a relatively small-sized dataset, we develop a multi-stage convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model DiaNet that can reach an accuracy level of over 84% on this task, and in doing so, successfully identifies the regions on the retina images that contribute to its decision-making process, as corroborated by the medical experts in the field. This is the first study that highlights the distinguishing capability of the retinal images for diabetes patients in the Qatari population to the best of our knowledge. Comparing the performance of DiaNet against the existing clinical data-based machine learning models, we conclude that the retinal images contain sufficient information to distinguish the Qatari diabetes cohort from the control group. In addition, our study reveals that retinal images may contain prognosis markers for diabetes and other comorbidities like hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The results led us to believe that the inclusion of retinal images into the clinical setup for the diagnosis of diabetes is warranted in the near future.

An explorative survey pertaining to organization and execution of programs and events offered in public libraries across Connecticut revealed that library programs have been steadily increasing in recent years, with most libraries providing one hundred or more programs a year. The types of programs that are most popular vary throughout the library’s open hours. Children’s programming appears to be more popular during the day while adult programming is more popular in the evening. Program popularity is based on grouping and continuous support from external partners. While this study confirmed that both library space and library staff sizes are adequate for programming, a further investigation would assert that this is the case within nationwide library programming.

Fish and wildlife agencies produce a bounty of information aimed at the public. Under the right circumstances, that information can be compiled into scientifically useful data to complement full scientific studies. This poster describes some preliminary results from a project to compile mentions of gamefish species, locations, and sizes throughout the Long Island Sound and surrounding waters from the Weekly Fishing Report (2006, 2008-2018) and the Trophy Fish Report (2009-2017), both produced by the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection. The dataset consists of more than 20,000 entries from the reports collected weekly by DEEP employees from tackle shops and charter companies. The current portion of the analysis is to determine the characteristics of the dataset, such as entry types, species counts, and some general trends. Presented at the 2019 NEAFWA Conference in Groton, CT and the 2019 CSCU Faculty Research Conference at SCSU in New Haven, CT.

Hinges creak, and she swirls in the door, puts her finger to blue lips. Cold takes the old woodcutter, eyes open, breath frozen in his beard.  But crystals melt in your lashes as you gaze on her gl…

Gabriel Garcia Marquez in Retrospect gathers fifteen essays by noted scholars in the fields of Latin American literature, politics, and theater. The volume offers broad overviews of the Colombian author’s total body of work, along with closer looks at some of his acknowledged masterpieces. The Nobel laureate’s cultural contexts and influences, his variety of themes, and his formidable legacy (Hispanic, U.S., world-wide) all come up for consideration. New readings of One Hundred Years of Solitude are further complemented by fresh, stimulating, highly detailed examinations of his later novels (Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The General in His Labyrinth, Of Love and Other Demons) and stories (Strange Pilgrims). Further attention is focused on “Gabo’s” labors as journalist and as memoirist (Living to Tell the Tale), and to his sometime relationships with the cinema and the stage. Reactions to his enormous stature on the part of younger writers, including recent signs of backlash, are also given thoughtful scrutiny. Feminist and ecocritical interpretations, plus lively discussions of Gabo’s artful use of humor, character’s names, and even cuisine, are to be found here as well. In the wake of García Márquez’s passing away in 2014, this collection of essays serves as a fitting tribute to one of the world’s greatest literary figures of the twentieth century.

"Photovoice for Social Justice, the latest volume in Sage's Qualitative Research Methods Series, helps readers in the health and social sciences learn the foundations and applications of this exciting qualitative method. Authors Jean M. Breny and Shannon L. McMorrow approach photovoice as not only a community-based participatory research method, but as a method for social justice, centering community participants, organizations, and policy makers at the heart of this research method. Special topics relating to social justice include a focus on ethics and working with marginalized communities, sensitive concerns during data collection, and presenting the work to communities and policymakers, as well as academics. Written for students and researchers new to photovoice, this brief text takes readers from the process of conceptualizing and implementing a photovoice study to analyzing data and finally presenting the results of the study. The book concludes with suggestions for future iterations of photovoice, including web based resources and digital storytelling. The authors take into account the realities of photovoice as a method by providing practical, applied tools including sample consent forms, presentations, recruitment flyers, and photo-taking tips. Using Photovoice for Social Justice, new and experienced researchers can design, implement, and analyze their photovoice projects" --

The sociology of education is a rich interdisciplinary field that studies schools as their own social world as well as their place within the larger society. The field draws contributions from education, sociology, human development, family studies, economics, politics and public policy. Sociology of Education: An A-to-Z Guide introduces students to the social constructions of our educational systems and their many players, including students and their peers, teachers, parents, the broader community, politicians and policy makers. The roles of schools, the social processes governing schooling, and impacts on society are all critically explored. Despite an abundance of textbooks and specialized monographs, there are few up-to-date reference works in this area. Features & Benefits: 335 signed entries fill 2 volumes in print and electronic formats, providing the most comprehensive reference resource available on this topic. Cross-References and Suggestions for Further Reading guide readers to additional resources. A thematic "Reader's Guide" groups related articles by broad topic areas as one handy search feature on the e-Reference platform, which also includes a comprehensive index of search terms, facilitating ease of use by both on-campus students and distance learners. A Chronology provides students with historical perspective on the sociology of education.

The sociology of education is a rich interdisciplinary field that studies schools as their own social world as well as their place within the larger society. The field draws contributions from education, sociology, human development, family studies, economics, politics and public policy. Sociology of Education: An A-to-Z Guide introduces students to the social constructions of our educational systems and their many players, including students and their peers, teachers, parents, the broader community, politicians and policy makers. The roles of schools, the social processes governing schooling, and impacts on society are all critically explored. Despite an abundance of textbooks and specialized monographs, there are few up-to-date reference works in this area. Features & Benefits: 335 signed entries fill 2 volumes in print and electronic formats, providing the most comprehensive reference resource available on this topic. Cross-References and Suggestions for Further Reading guide readers to additional resources. A thematic "Reader's Guide" groups related articles by broad topic areas as one handy search feature on the e-Reference platform, which also includes a comprehensive index of search terms, facilitating ease of use by both on-campus students and distance learners. A Chronology provides students with historical perspective on the sociology of education.

The literature shows that racially and economically segregated schools diminish educational outcomes for students in non white schools with impoverished peers (Frankenberg & Lee, 2002; Mayer, 2000). To reveal which children are apt to begin their education in high minority and poor schools, this study drew on nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Evidence documents variations in school racial and economic contexts according to children's race and social class backgrounds. Over half of Black and Hispanic first-graders attend segregated minority and poor schools while very few White first-graders do so. Additional analyses reveal that while social class is a useful predictor of educational segregation, it is less predictive for Black and Asian students than for White and Hispanic students.