Imaging for Early Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Updates and Challenges in the Implementation of Screening and Surveillance Programs.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most aggressive cancers. It has a poor 5-year survival rate of 12%, partly because most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, precluding curative surgical resection. Early-stage PDA has significantly better prognoses due to increased potential for curative interventions, making early detection of PDA critically important to improved patient outcomes.

Pete and the Missing Scissors: a primary literature-focused case study that highlights the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on splicing.

This case study was designed to help students explore the molecular mechanisms of the spliceosome and how SARS-CoV-2 impacts host cell spliceosomal function while interpreting figures from primary literature (A. K. Banjeree, et al.

A gut microbiome tactile teaching tool and guided-inquiry activity promotes student learning.

The gut microbiome and its physiological impacts on human and animal health is an area of research emphasis. Microbes themselves are invisible and may therefore be abstract and challenging to understand. It is therefore important to infuse this topic into undergraduate curricula, including Anatomy and Physiology courses, ideally through an active learning approach.

Postoperative surveillance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) recurrence: practice pattern on standardized imaging and reporting from the society of abdominal radiology disease focus panel on PDAC.

Purpose: Surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but unfortunately most patients recur within 5 years of surgery. This article aims to assess the practice patterns across major academic institutions and develop consensus recommendations for postoperative imaging and interpretation in patients with PDAC.

Methods: The consensus recommendations for postoperative imaging surveillance following PDAC resection were developed using the Delphi method.

NASA GEOS Composition Forecast Modeling System GEOS-CF v1.0: Stratospheric Composition.

The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Composition Forecast (GEOS-CF) provides recent estimates and 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition to the public in near-real time. To do this, the GEOS Earth system model is coupled with the GEOS-Chem tropospheric-stratospheric unified chemistry extension (UCX) to represent composition from the surface to the top of the GEOS atmosphere (0.01 hPa).

California wildfire spread derived using VIIRS satellite observations and an object-based tracking system.

Changing wildfire regimes in the western US and other fire-prone regions pose considerable risks to human health and ecosystem function. However, our understanding of wildfire behavior is still limited by a lack of data products that systematically quantify fire spread, behavior and impacts. Here we develop a novel object-based system for tracking the progression of individual fires using 375 m Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite active fire detections.

Baseline CT-based Radiomic Features Aid Prediction of Nodal Positivity after Neoadjuvant Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose To study the association between CT-derived textural features of pancreatic cancer and patient outcome. Materials and Methods This retrospective study evaluated 54 patients (median age, 62 years [range, 40-88 years]; 32 men) with pancreatic cancer who underwent chemoradiation followed by surgical resection and lymph node dissection from May 2012 to June 2016. Three-dimensional segmentation of the pancreatic tumor was performed on baseline dual-energy CT images: 70-keV pancreatic parenchymal phase (PPP) images and iodine material density images.

Regional impacts of COVID-19 on carbon dioxide detected worldwide from space.

Activity reductions in early 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to unprecedented decreases in carbon dioxide (CO) emissions. Despite their record size, the resulting atmospheric signals are smaller than and obscured by climate variability in atmospheric transport and biospheric fluxes, notably that related to the 2019–2020 Indian Ocean Dipole. Monitoring CO anomalies and distinguishing human and climatic causes thus remain a new frontier in Earth system science.

Description of the NASA GEOS Composition Forecast Modeling System GEOS-CF v1.0.

The Goddard Earth Observing System composition forecast (GEOS-CF) system is a high-resolution (0.25°) global constituent prediction system from NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). GEOS-CF offers a new tool for atmospheric chemistry research, with the goal to supplement NASA's broad range of space-based and in-situ observations.

Storm surge and ponding explain mangrove dieback in southwest Florida following Hurricane Irma.

Mangroves buffer inland ecosystems from hurricane winds and storm surge. However, their ability to withstand harsh cyclone conditions depends on plant resilience traits and geomorphology. Using airborne lidar and satellite imagery collected before and after Hurricane Irma, we estimated that 62% of mangroves in southwest Florida suffered canopy damage, with largest impacts in tall forests (>10 m).

CT features predictive of nodal positivity at surgery in pancreatic cancer patients following neoadjuvant therapy in the setting of dual energy CT.

Purpose: Evaluate utility of dual energy CT iodine material density images to identify preoperatively nodal positivity in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: This IRB approved retrospective study evaluated 62 patients between 2012 and 2016 with proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, who underwent neoadjuvant therapy, tumor resection and both baseline and preoperative assessment with pancreatic multiphasic rapid switching dual energy CT. Three radiologists in consensus identified on imaging nodes > 0.

Forecasting Global Fire Emissions on Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Time Scales.

Fire emissions of gases and aerosols alter atmospheric composition and have substantial impacts on climate, ecosystem function, and human health. Warming climate and human expansion in fire-prone landscapes exacerbate fire impacts and call for more effective management tools. Here we developed a global fire forecasting system that predicts monthly emissions using past fire data and climate variables for lead times of 1 to 6 months.

Introduction to Research: A Scalable, Online Badge Implemented in Conjunction with a Classroom-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that Promotes Students Matriculation into Mentored Undergraduate Research.

The benefits of mentored undergraduate research to student success, retention, and persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have long been identified. However, many students miss out on the opportunity to engage in research often due to unfamiliarity of various research opportunities or how to approach potential research mentors. To address this, we developed a scalable online badge, Introduction to Research, that draws on aspects of the curriculum (Branchaw, Pfund, & Rediske, 2010) to help students explore and prepare for undergraduate research in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

Supporting Deaf Students in Undergraduate Research Experiences: Perspectives of American Sign Language Interpreters.

Deaf undergraduates are eager to engage in research but often feel marginalized due to lack of appropriate accommodations to allow for effective communication within heterogeneous research teams consisting of hearing peers and/or mentors. In this case study, we interviewed four American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters who provided full-time accommodations to teams consisting of one deaf student and two hearing peers during a six-week internship. We queried the interpreters on their role and experiences in supporting the research teams.

Evolution of an 8-week upper-division metagenomics course: Diagramming a learning path from observational to quantitative microbiome analysis.

Metagenomics is a tool that enables researchers to study genetic material recovered directly from microbial communities or microbiomes. Fueled by advances in sequencing technologies, bioinformatics tools, and sample processing, metagenomics studies promise to expand our understanding of human health and the use of microorganisms for agriculture and industry. Therefore, teaching students about metagenomics is crucial to prepare them for modern careers in the life sciences.

Quantitative attenuation accuracy of virtual non-enhanced imaging compared to that of true non-enhanced imaging on dual-source dual-energy CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the quantitative attenuation and reliability of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images of the abdomen acquired from multiphasic scans with a dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) system and compare it with that of true non-enhanced images (TNC) on second- (Flash) and third- (Force) generation DECT scanners.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and included 123 patients with pancreatic cancer who had undergone routine clinical multiphasic DECT examinations at our institution using Flash and Force scanners between March and August 2017. VNC images of the abdomen were reconstructed from late arterial phase images.

Imaging of acute abdomen in cancer patients.

The pattern of disease causing acute abdominal pain has changed over last few decades, some of this has been attributed to intraabdominal cancers. The most common acute abdominal complaints in cancer patients are related to the gastrointestinal system. Abdominal emergencies in cancer patients can result from the underlying malignancy itself, cancer therapy and/or result from the standard pathologies causing acute abdomen in otherwise healthy population.

Community-wide Screening for Tuberculosis in a High-Prevalence Setting.

Background: The World Health Organization has set ambitious targets for the global elimination of tuberculosis. However, these targets will not be achieved at the current rate of progress.

Methods: We performed a cluster-randomized, controlled trial in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, to evaluate the effectiveness of active community-wide screening, as compared with standard passive case detection alone, for reducing the prevalence of tuberculosis.

Tumor thrombus in the venous drainage pathways of primary, recurrent and metastatic disease on routine oncologic imaging studies: beyond hepatocellular and renal cell carcinomas.

Radiologists routinely evaluate for tumor thrombus in the portal and hepatic veins in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and in the renal vein and inferior vena cava in patients with renal cell carcinoma. However, tumor thrombus occurs in association with numerous other tumor types, . colorectal carcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Students' Understanding and Perceptions of Assigned Team Roles in a Classroom Laboratory Environment.

Using a cooperative learning framework in a quantitative reasoning laboratory course, students were assigned to static teams of four in which they adopted roles that rotated regularly. The roles included: team leader, protocol manager, data recorder, and researcher. Using a mixed-methods approach, we investigated students' perceptions of the team roles and specifically addressed students' understanding of the roles, students' beliefs in their ability to enact the roles, and whether working with assigned team roles supported the teams to work effectively and cohesively.

Think 500, not 50! A scalable approach to student success in STEM.

Background: UMBC, a diverse public research university, "builds" upon its reputation in producing highly capable undergraduate scholars to create a comprehensive new model, STEM BUILD at UMBC. This program is designed to help more students develop the skills, experience and motivation to excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This article provides an in-depth description of STEM BUILD at UMBC and provides the context of this initiative within UMBC's vision and mission.

Imaging-based biomarkers: Changes in the tumor interface of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma on computed tomography scans indicate response to cytotoxic therapy.

Background: The assessment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) response to therapy remains challenging. The objective of this study was to investigate whether changes in the tumor/parenchyma interface are associated with response.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans before and after therapy were reviewed in 4 cohorts: cohort 1 (99 patients with stage I/II PDAC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery); cohort 2 (86 patients with stage IV PDAC who received chemotherapy), cohort 3 (94 patients with stage I/II PDAC who received protocol-based neoadjuvant gemcitabine chemoradiation), and cohort 4 (47 patients with stage I/II PDAC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and were prospectively followed in a registry).

Multi-institutional survey on imaging practice patterns in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To study the practice patterns for performance and interpretation of CT/MRI imaging studies in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at multiple institutions using a survey-based assessment.

Methods: In this study, abdominal radiologists/body imagers on the Society of Abdominal Radiology disease-focused panel for PDAC and from multiple institutions participated in an online survey. The survey was designed to investigate the imaging and reporting practice patterns for PDAC.

Imaging mimics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common primary malignancy of the pancreas. The classic imaging features are a hypovascular mass with proximal ductal dilatation. Different pancreatic pathologies can mimic the imaging appearance of carcinoma including other tumors involving the pancreas (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma, metastasis, and rare tumors like pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma and solid pseudopapillary tumors), inflammatory processes (chronic pancreatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis), and anatomic variants (annular pancreas).

The influence of mid-latitude cyclones on European background surface ozone.

The relationship between springtime mid-latitude cyclones and background ozone (O) is explored using a combination of observational and reanalysis data sets. First, the relationship between surface O observations at two rural monitoring sites on the west coast of Europe - Mace Head, Ireland and Monte Velho, Portugal - and cyclone track frequency in the surrounding regions is examined. Second, detailed case study examination of four individual mid-latitude cyclones and the influence of the associated frontal passage on surface O is performed.