cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photodynamic therapy of choroidal hemangioma in sturge-weber syndrome, with a review of treatments for diffuse and circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.

Abstract We report three new cases of patients with Sturge-Weber Syndrome and symptomatic retinal detachments from diffuse choroidal hemangiomas successfully treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and review medical literature on the available treatment options for choroidal hemangiomas. All patients were treated with a single session of PDT with verteporfin infused at a concentration of 6 mg/m 2 and treated for 83 seconds with 689-nm Zeiss laser that was delivered with total energy level of 50 J/cm 2 with an intensity of 600 mW/cm 2 . The exudative retinal detachment (RD) and macular edema completely resolved in all cases by 1–4 months after PDT treatment. Visual acuity improved in all three cases with diminished tumor size in the areas of treatment. One case was followed for 5 months, another for 2 years, and the third case for 6 years, with no recurrence of exudative RD. PDT is an effective treatment option for visual deterioration from exudative retinal detachment in patients with diffuse choroidal hemangiomas.
Fixed-width confidence sequences for the normal mean and the binomial probability

Let X1,X2,...,Xn,... be iid N(μ,σ2) random variables with an unknown mean μ and known σ, and let Xn=(X1+...+Xn)/n . For a given d > 0 and 0 < α < 1 we determine a suitable m such that so that{Xn ± d, n ≥ m} is a fixed-width confidences sequences for μ . The sample size m is compared with the optimum sample size m* in the usual fixed-width confidence interval with the same coverage probability 1 - α. An almost power one test for μis also briefly discussed. A similar problem is considered for the binomial probability p, and a suitable m is determined to achieve where [Pcirc]n, is the usual estimator for p.
Against Desert as a Forward-Looking Concept

Fred Feldman and, more recently, David Schmidtz have challenged the standard view that a person's desert is based strictly on past and present facts about him. I argue that Feldman's attempt to overturn this ‘received wisdom’ about desert's temporal orientation is unsuccessful, since his examples do not establish that what a person deserves now can be based on what will occur in the future. In addition, his forward-looking account introduces an unnecessary asymmetry regarding desert's temporal orientation in different contexts. Schmidtz advances a promissory account of desert, only part of which presents a strong challenge to the received wisdom. After disambiguating the two main elements of his account, I examine Schmidtz's arguments for forward-looking desert. I find these arguments to be unconvincing because they seem to either rely on past or present facts about people, including people's dispositions, or they give us desert without desert bases. I briefly examine the relationship between desert and merit, and I argue that some dispositions might be desert bases and others might be merit bases. I conclude the paper with a summary of the arguments against desert as a forward-looking concept.
Erratum: “Dosimetric characterization of a dedicated breast computed tomography clinical prototype” [Med. Phys. 37(8), pp. 4110–4120 (2010)]

We would like to report an error in the discussion on how the normalized glandular dose (DgNCT) varies with different parameters. In page 4116 of the Results section, a sentence states that “As expected, DgNCT decreases with increasing glandular fraction, increasing breast diameter, and increasing chest wall-to-nipple distance.” Based on the results the last “increasing” should be “decreasing,” so the whole sentence should state “As expected, DgNCT decreases with increasing glandular fraction, increasing breast diameter, and decreasing chest wall-to-nipple distance.” This is clearly shown by the data in Table I, and the previously published results referred in the paper. This error does not affect any of the conclusions in the paper.
Cortical geography is destiny.

A study demonstrates that learning different character sets produces a repeatable arrangement of distinct cortical modules, suggesting that a preexisting cortical architecture is repurposed during learning.
Singular measures without restrictive intervals

For the transformationT:[0,1]↦[0,1] defined byT(x)=λx(1−x) with 0≦λ≦4, a λ is shown to exist for whichT has no restrictive intervals, hence is sensitive to initial conditions, but for which no finite absolutely continuous invariant measure exists forT.
Redox reactivity and reorganization energy of zinc cytochrome c cation radical.

Little is known about transient intermediates in photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of metalloproteins. Oxidative quenching of the triplet state of zinc cytochrome c, 3Zncyt, is done at 20 °C, pH 7.00, and ionic strength of 1.00 M, conditions that suppress the thermal back-reaction and prolong the lifetime of the cation radical, Zncyt+. This species is reduced by [Fe(CN)6]4-, [W(CN)8]4-, [Os(CN)6]4-, [Mo(CN)8]4-, and [Ru(CN)6]4- complexes of similar structures and the same charge. The rate constants and thermodynamic driving forces for these five similar electron-transfer reactions were fitted to Marcus theory. The reorganization energy of Zncyt+ is λ = 0.38(5) eV, lower than that of native cytochrome c, because the redox orbital of the porphyrin cation radical is delocalized and possibly because Met80 is not an axial ligand to the zinc(II) ion in the reconstituted cytochrome c. The rate constant for electron self-exchange between Zncyt+ and Zncyt, k11 = 1.0(5) × 107 M-1 s-1, is large owing to the e...
Comparison of Methods for Quantitation of Free Fatty Acids in Cheese

A comparison of three relatively rapid methods of determining free fatty acids concentrations in cheese was performed by correlating the results with a more laborious but accurate gas chromatographic (GC) technique. Acid Degree Values were found to correlate poorly with the GC data, particularly for short chain fatty acids. Values obtained using a Copper Soap Method correlated closely with the GC data for total and long chain fatty acids, but did not correlate as well with short chain fatty acids levels. The Extraction-Titration Method was found to be a simple and reliable technique that yielded values which correlate closely with short chain fatty acid concentrations.
Activation of transgene expression in skeletal muscle by focused ultrasound.

Abstract To correlate thermal dose from focused ultrasound (FUS) with gene expression and tissue injury, a temperature plateau strategy was employed. Plasmids encoding luciferase gene under the control of hsp70B promoter were transfected into the right gastrocnemius muscle in a rat via electroporation. One day after transfection, hind limbs were treated with 3.3-MHz focused ultrasound, using one of four different temperature plateaus with spatial-peak time-average focal temperatures ( T SPTA ) of 46 °C, 48 °C, 51 °C and 62 °C. The treatment duration at the plateau temperature was varied from 0 to 30 s. Gene expression was analyzed in vivo one day following FUS treatment, and H&E staining was employed to assess tissue injury. Gene activation and tissue damage correlated closely with thermal dose. The highest level of gene activation was induced by FUS at T SPTA = 51 °C for 20 s, which was found to be statistically equivalent to that produced by water-bath hyperthermia.
Fluorofluorophores: fluorescent fluorous chemical tools spanning the visible spectrum.

“Fluoro” refers to both fluorescent and fluorinated compounds. Despite the shared prefix, there are very few fluorescent molecules that are soluble in perfluorinated solvents. This paucity is surprising, given that optical microscopy is a ubiquitous technique throughout the physical sciences and the orthogonality of fluorous materials is a commonly exploited strategy in synthetic chemistry, materials science, and chemical biology. We have addressed this shortage by synthesizing a panel of “fluorofluorophores,” fluorescent molecules containing high weight percent fluorine with optical properties spanning the visible spectrum. We demonstrate the utility of these fluorofluorophores by preparing fluorescent perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions.
Tumor length in prostate cancer.

To evaluate the impact of tumor length and fraction of positive biopsy cores on overall survival, I used the data for 526 patients with prostate cancer. Median follow-up in patients not observed until death was more than 6 years. In a Cox model analysis that included age, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, grade, and fraction of positive cores, tumor length was the most closely associated with overall survival time ( P = 6 × 10–5); however, the impact of tumor length was mostly for a subset of men with tumors measuring more than 20 mm. Patient age, serum PSA level, Gleason score, fraction of cores with tumor, and tumor length were all significantly codependent variables. For routine cases of prostate cancer, measuring tumor length in the needle cores may be unnecessary. Tumor length may assist studies of long-term outcomes or treatment trials in prostate cancer by reducing baseline variance better than other prognostic variables. For the few patients with unusually large amounts of tumor in biopsy specimens, tumor length may provide a concise indicator for the likelihood of an adverse outcome, especially when the values of other prognostic variables appear by themselves to be less ominous.
Distribution and Activation of the Golgi Apparatus in Geotropism

We find a differential distribution of dictyosomes in the avascular tip cells of the oat (Avena sativa) coleoptile upon geostimulation. A differential activation (increased vesicle production) of the dictyosomes with respect to gravity also occurs, but only in the tip cells of the lower tissues. Similar differences in distribution and activation of dictyosomes occur also in cells subjacent to the avascular tip (1st and 5th millimeter from the apex) of both the upper and lower half-tissues. When only the outer epidermal cells below the apex are considered, the differential distribution and activation of dictyosomes occur only in the lower outer epidermis. The changes in distribution of dictyosomes begin at 6 minutes, or sooner, from the start of geostimulation, before the onset of geotropism. The kinetics of amyloplast sedimentation and Golgi movement do not appear to differ in the cells of the avascular tip. We suggest that the Golgi participates in, and possibly initiates, the differential elongation of cells of geotropically stimulated coleoptiles.
STUDIES IN ISOAGGLUTINATION : II. THE OCCURRENCE OF GROUPED ISOAGGLUTINATION IN THE LOWER ANIMALS.

Grouped isoagglutination is not limited to man, but is much more widespread than has been hitherto suspected. It occurs in the bloods of steers and rabbits. It seems probable that it will be found to occur in the bloods of other animals. Just how many of the isoagglutinins and the isoagglutinable substances in different species are respectively identical is still to be determined. The work is being continued with other animals.
Evaluating the impact of modeling assumptions for cascading failure simulation

Because of the complicated combination of mechanisms that combine to produce large power system failures, the simulation of cascading failure requires some modeling assumptions. In this paper we compare three models of cascading failure in electrical power systems under various assumptions. In the first, we combine dynamic generator models with a DC power flow network model, and use time-delayed (memory) relays to simulate branch failure. In the second, we simulate cascading with the use of sequential power flow calculations. In the third, we simulate cascading using a simple topological contagion model. The results indicate that the dynamical and the quasi-steady state (QSS) simulations show substantial agreement, whereas the topological model differs significantly. We also find that the extent of the agreement between the dynamical and the QSS model largely depends on the way in which branch failures occur.
Oxazolidine formation in the attempted eschweiler‐clarke reductive methylation of cis‐3‐aminobicyclo[2.2.2] octan‐2‐ol

Evidence is presented confirming the formation of N-methyl-cis-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl[2,3-d]-oxazolidine as the product of Eschweiler-Clarke reductive alkylation of cis-3-amino-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octan-2-ol.
Evaluation of extraction methods for quantification of aqueous fullerenes in urine.

There is a growing concern about the human and environmental health effects of fullerenes (e.g., C60) due to their increasing application in research, medicine, and industry. Toxicological and pharmacokinetic research requires standard methods for extraction and detection of fullerenes from biological matrices such as urine. The present study validates the use of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods in conjunction with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) for the quantitative determination of C60 in human and synthetic urine as compared with ultrapure water. Glacial acetic acid, which is necessary to prevent emulsions during LLE, inhibited C60 detection by LC–MS, but this could be mitigated with evaporation. Aqueous C60 aggregates (nC60) were spiked at 180 μg/L into the components of a synthetic urine recipe to determine their individual impacts on extraction and detection. Urea, creatinine, and a complex protein (i.e., gelatin) were found to impair SPE, leading to a low recovery rate of 43 ± 4% for C60 spiked into human urine. In contrast, C60 was consistently recovered from synthetic matrices using LLE, and recovery in human urine was 80 ± 6%. These results suggest that LLE combined with LC–MS is suitable for studying the clearance of fullerenes from the body. LLE is a robust technique that holds promise for extracting C60 from other complex biological matrices (e.g., blood, sweat, amniotic fluid) in toxicological studies, enabling a better understanding of the behavior of fullerenes in human and animal systems and facilitating a more comprehensive risk evaluation of fullerenes.
Buffeting the Technical Core: Entraining Contention to Innovation in the Social Media Era

A long-standing concern for companies has been buffering their technical core from influence by their external environment. Drawing upon the entrainment lens and research on innovation, contention, and social media, we propose that the social media era erodes such buffers. Contrasting the recent four-year period, marking the social media era, with an earlier four-year period, our empirical investigation of innovation and contention in the energy sector supports our proposition. Specifically, our findings suggest that the social media era is enhancing entrainment of external contention to firms’ technical innovation, thereby buffeting their technical core. Findings further reveal that this effect increases for firms with a more complex technical core.
The diagnosis of neurotic traits by means of a new perceptual test.

(1948). The Diagnosis of Neurotic Traits by Means of a New Perceptual Test. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 105-135.
Family communication patterns, discourse behavior, and child television viewing

This study investigated the relationship between the Family Communication Patterns (FCP) Inventory and parent-child discourse, the effect of FCP scores on child compliance, and the effect of parent discourse strategies on child compliance. Parents and children did not appear to agree about the norms in their family and appeared to be using different instances of discourse to draw conclusions about their family. For parents, control orientation was related to controlling verbal strategies; for children, control was related to global negative affect. Communication orientation was related to information sharing for parents but to fewer parental commands for children. In addition, greater control orientation resulted in less compliance. Parent discourse strategies also were related to child compliance. Younger children were more compliant when parents used directive language coupled with positive affect, but older children were less compliant in response to this verbal strategy.
Truth decay: the half-life of facts

Much of what we believe to be factual has an expiry date, but the good news is that we can see it coming
Intermittent hypoxia and hypercapnia induce pulmonary artery atherosclerosis and ventricular dysfunction in low density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea, who experience episodic hypoxia and hypercapnia during sleep, often demonstrate increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia. We hypothesized th...
Open Reduction-Fixation of Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures: A Review

• From 1973 to 1990, 392 mandibular subcondylar fractures were treated at the University of California, Davis, by the Otolaryngology Department. Of these, 17% were handled by open reduction and internal fixation. Twenty-one patients from this group were located for follow-up at an average interval of 64 months. Retrospective review shows the operation to be safe, with few complications and no permanent sequelae. Patient examination often revealed abnormalities of occlusion and mandibular function; however, these objective findings did not correlate well with patients' relative lack of subjective complaints. An 86% incidence of roentgenographic evidence of condylar disease after open reduction and internal fixation was found. We question the long-term efficacy of open reduction and internal fixation in restoring fracture alignment and maintaining mandibular height given the high rate (86%) of condylar disease in our patient population. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:403-406)
Zygaria: Storage Performance as a Managed Resource

Large-scale storage systems often hold data for multiple applications and users. A problem in such systems is isolating applications and users from each other to prevent their workloads from interacting in unexpected ways. Another is ensuring that each application receives an appropriate level of performance. As part of the solution to these problems, we have designed a hierarchical I/O scheduling algorithm to manage performance resources on an underlying storage device. Our algorithm uses a simple allocation abstraction: an application or user has a corresponding pool of throughput, and manages throughput within its pool by opening sessions. The algorithm ensures that each pool and session receives at least a reserve rate of throughput and caps usage at a limit rate, using hierarchical token buckets and EDF I/O scheduling. Once it has fulfilled the reserves of all active sessions and pools, it shares unused throughput fairly among active sessions and pools such that they tend to receive the same amount. It thus combines deadline scheduling with proportional-style resource sharing in a novel way. We assume that the device performs its own low-level head scheduling, rather than modeling the device in detail. Our implementation shows the correctness of our algorithm, imposes little overhead on the system, and achieves throughput nearly equal to that of an unmanaged device.
Characterization and comparison of bacterial communities in benign vocal fold lesions

Benign vocal fold lesions, including cysts, nodules, polyps, and Reinke’s edema, are common causes of hoarseness and subsequent voice disorders. Given the prevalence of these lesions, disease etiology and pathophysiology remain unclear and their microbiota has not been studied to date secondary to the paucity of available biopsies for investigation. We sought to characterize and compare the bacterial communities in biopsies of cysts, nodules, polyps, and Reinke’s edema collected from patients in Germany and Wisconsin. These samples were then compared to the communities found in healthy saliva and throat samples from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). 454 pyrosequencing of the V3–V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene revealed five phyla that explained most of the bacterial diversity, including Firmicutes (73.8%), Proteobacteria (12.7%), Bacteroidetes (9.2%), Actinobacteria (2.1%), and Fusobacteria (1.9%). Every lesion sample, regardless of diagnosis, had operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified as Streptococcus, with a mean abundance of 68.7%. Most of the lesions, 31 out of 44, were indistinguishable in a principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) due to dominance by OTUs phylogenetically similar to Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae. Thirteen lesions not dominated by S. pseudopneumoniae were more similar to HMP throat and saliva samples, though 12 of them contained Pseudomonas, which was not present in any of the HMP samples. Community structure and abundance could not be correlated with lesion diagnosis or any other documented patient factor, including age, sex, or country of origin. Dominance by S. pseudopneumoniae could be a factor in disease etiology, as could the presence of Pseudomonas in some samples. Likewise, decreased diversity, as compared to healthy saliva and throat samples, may be associated with disease, similar to disease models in other mucosal sites.
Black Gold, Green Earth: An Analysis of the Petroleum Industry’s CSR Environmental Sustainability Discourse

This study examines 21 environmental sustainability reports from Fortune Global 500 petroleum companies to determine how competitive advantage and institutional language is used by corporations to ...
Improved overall survival and mortality in head and neck cancer with adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy in national databases

Background Many studies have demonstrated the advantage of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) over radiotherapy (RT) alone in locoregional control, but few have examined overall survival with respect to national databases. Methods The literature was searched for eligible randomized controlled trials. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database and National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) were searched for 5-year overall survival data. Results Twenty-eight studies were examined and demonstrated 44% greater locoregional control (relative risk [RR] = 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46–0.68) and 12% overall survival benefit (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.81–0.98) with postoperative adjuvant CRT compared to adjuvant RT. Overall SEER survival was 45.0% in 1973, rising to 53.2% in 2005. The NCDB documents a similar increase in overall survival from 45.5% in 1994 to 53.4% in 2005. Conclusion The literature shows mortality benefit of adjuvant CRT in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, reflected in SEER and NCDB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 208–215, 2016
RiceNIC: a reconfigurable network interface for experimental research and education

The evaluation of new network server architectures is usually performed experimentally using either a simulator or a hardware prototype. Accurate simulation of the hardware-software interface within the network subsystem is challenging due to the interactions of multiple asynchronous systems. Small timing inaccuracies in such a system can perturb the hardware and software state yielding potentially misleading results. Hardware prototypes show more promise because they are real-world implementations, not simplifications. Existing Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) are unsuitable for prototyping as they lack the capability and/or flexibility for advanced networking research.RiceNIC is an open network interface prototyping platform for public use. This reconfigurable and programmable Gigabit Ethernet NIC is designed to address the dilemma of how to accurately evaluate new ideas in network server architecture, and is built for use in experimental research and education. The flexibility and capability of RiceNIC has proven invaluable in recent research efforts.
NADPH oxidase mediates β-amyloid peptide-induced activation of ERK in hippocampal organotypic cultures

Background Previous studies have shown that beta amyloid (Aβ) peptide triggers the activation of several signal transduction cascades in the hippocampus, including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. In this study we sought to characterize the cellular localization of phosphorylated, active ERK in organotypic hippocampal cultures after acute exposure to either Aβ (1-42) or nicotine.
Determination of Free Fatty Acids in Plasma by a Colorimetric Procedure: An Appraisal of the Method and Comparison with Other Technics

A microcolorimetric procedure for measurement of long-chain fatty acids in pure solution was adapted to eliminate phospholipid interference and used to determine free fatty acids (FFA) in human plasma and serum. The lipids were extracted from plasma into chloroform; the phospholipids precipitated with acetone and MgCl2 in water bath; and the FFA concentration in the supernatant determined by formation of copper soaps. The copper was assayed colorimetrically. The method was used to establish the range of normal values for plasma FFA in human subjects.
Neurologic Manifestations of Electrolyte Disturbances

Electrolyte disturbances occur commonly and are associated with a variety of characteristic neurologic manifestations involving both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Electrolyte disturbances are essentially always secondary processes. Effective management requires identification and treatment of the underlying primary disorder. Since neurological symptoms of electrolyte disorders are generally functional rather than structural, the neurologic manifestations of electrolyte disturbances are typically reversible. The neurologic manifestations of serum sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium disturbances are reviewed.
Surface Tension, Density, Viscosity, and Electrical Resistivity of Molten Binary Alkaline‐Earth Borates

Results of an investigation of some properties of the systems CaO-B2O3, SrO-B2O3, and BaO-B2O3 are reported. The formation of two liquids at low RO concentrations limited the range of compositions which could be measured. The values of surface tension and temperature coefficient of surface tension obtained for compositions where two immiscible liquids exist corresponded closely to those for pure B2O3. At RO concentrations above the two–liquid regions the surface tension rose sharply with increasing RO content. The densities in the liquid range as well as at room temperature were in the order Ba > Sr > Ca. The introduction of RO into B203 caused contractions in the glass network; the order of the contracting effect was Ca > Sr > Ba. Neither the method of Huggins or of Stevels was satisfactory for representing the density behavior of these glasses. The viscosity isotherms of barium borate liquids in the temperature range 850° to 950°C. showed maxima at about 22 to 23 mole yo BaO; the other two systems were too fluid for the counterbalanced sphere apparatus used in this work. The equivalent conductance increased with RO concentration; the order for both specific and equivalent conductance at corresponding concentrations was Ba > Sr > Ca.
Peer review and the process of publishing of adverse drug event reports.

Abstract Most doctors finish their careers without ever having published a scientific paper. The small percent that do mostly end up writing “case reports”. But, unless the report describes some truly extraordinary event, very little ever comes of it, and their publication may do more harm than good. The problem is particularly acute in cases of alleged drug toxicity. Case reports are incomplete, uncontrolled, retrospective, lack operational criteria for identifying when an adverse event has actually occurred, and resemble nothing so much as hearsay evidence, a type of evidence that is prohibited in all courts in all of industrialized societies. When a journal, even a highly respected one, decides to publish hearsay, readers are utterly reliant on the integrity of the journal, the author, and the peer review process; such reliance may not always be warranted. Some recent examples of process failure are provided, as well as some suggestions about possible remedies, including the use of pharmaco-vigilance algorithms.
Growth Hormone Promotes Somatic and Skeletal Muscle Growth Recovery in Rats Following Chronic Protein-Energy Malnutrition

The efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) and/or a diet enriched in protein and energy to improve growth recovery following prolonged malnutrition was examined in male rats food-restricted from birth until 120 d of age. At d 121, restricted rats were randomly assigned to recovery groups receiving either a control or enriched diet with or without daily subcutaneous injections of GH. Rats were killed after 16 or 47 d of recovery. At d 16, GH treatment stimulated liver, heart, plantaris, soleus, carcass and body weight gain and inhibited fat gain when compared to recovery controls. Rats receiving GH also exhibited the highest serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations and total muscle protein. At d 47, GH effects on body and muscle recovery were minimal, and differences among recovery groups in serum IGF-I concentration and total muscle protein were no longer present. Consumption of an enriched diet increased fat pad and liver mass, but did not promote muscle recovery. There were no differences among treatment groups in skeletal muscle IGF-I mRNA levels at d 16 or 47. In summary, GH had positive effects on somatic and skeletal muscle growth early in the recovery process, possibly via endocrine IGF-I-stimulated protein accretion. In contrast, the enriched diet promoted fat deposition with no impact on skeletal muscle growth recovery.
The Tip of the Iceberg: The Quest for Innovation at the Base of the Pyramid

Much of the world in Asia, Latin America, and Africa is at an early stage of economic development similar to what the United States and other developed countries experienced many decades ago. Yet, much as their needs for hard and soft infrastructure, effective business practices, and an educated workforce parallel similar needs that underlay earlier development in the West, replicating Western development would overlook the hallmarks of the current century: widely available information and communications technology; a set of electronic linkages among the world; and a global business environment, to name just a few. Consequently, it should be possible to allow developing countries to use “leapfrog” technologies that were inconceivable decades ago to support their development. One means of identifying these opportunities is by matching traditional development needs with novel support by connecting previously unrelated literatures.
Cerebellopontine angle metastasis from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of well-differentiated thyroid malignancy and typically has an excellent prognosis and a low incidence of distant metastasis. However, once metastasis has developed in a distant site, prognosis is markedly diminished. Brain metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma are extremely rare. Currently, there are no established therapeutic guidelines for treating brain metastases from thyroid carcinoma. CASE DESCRIPTION We report on the case of a patient who presented with worsening neurological symptoms 3 years after resection of a thyroid papillary carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a lesion of the cerebellopontine angle that encased the lower cranial nerves. The patient underwent a left retrosigmoid craniotomy with a 98% resection of the mass and received postoperative adjuvant radioiodine therapy, external beam radiation, and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The patient tolerated the procedure well and demonstrated significant progressive improvement in her neurological symptoms postoperatively. After the multimodal approach to therapy, she remains symptom-free at 3-year follow-up. Radiographic monitoring of the small tumor remnant reveals a decrease in size from the postoperative period. CONCLUSION This article is the first formal case report of cerebellopontine angle metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma. Therapeutic protocols for brain metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma are not firmly established. This case illustrates the unique event of a cerebellopontine angle metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma, which was successfully treated with a combination of surgical, chemical, and radiological modalities. This aggressive course of therapy has resulted in an excellent outcome in this instance.
Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) using fuzzy logic: an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture

For a farming system to be considered sustainable, certain economic, environmental, and social criteria need to be met. An approach which integrates measures of achievement in these three areas has been lacking in the past. It is argued that the combination of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) and fuzzy logic provides a promising theoretical framework for the evaluation of alternative farming systems. Three well-known MCDM methods are described to illustrate a range of problems that may arise using conventional MCDM methods. These problems include: (1) the treatment of noncommensurate units; (2) the ranking procedure for a solution; and, (3) the degree of discrimination between attribute values, and, hence alternatives. The combination of MCDM and fuzzy logic provides a superior methodology which overcomes some of these problems.
Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trials Using Covariate Constrained Randomization: A Method for Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs).

Background: Cluster randomized trials (CRTs) are useful in practice-based research network translational research. However, simple or stratified randomization often yields study groups that differ on key baseline variables when the number of clusters is small. Unbalanced study arms constitute a potentially serious methodological problem for CRTs. Methods: Covariate constrained randomization with data on relevant variables before randomization was used to achieve balanced study arms in 2 pragmatic CRTs. In study 1, 16 counties in Colorado were randomized to practice-based or population-based reminder recall for vaccinating children ages 19 to 35 months. In study 2, 18 primary care practices were randomized to computer decision support plus practice facilitation versus computer decision support alone to improve care for patients with stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease. For each study, a set of optimal randomizations, which minimized differences of key variables between study arms, was identified from the set of all possible randomizations. Results: Differences between study arms were smaller in the optimal versus remaining randomizations. Even for the randomization in the optimal set with the largest difference between groups, study arms did not differ significantly on any variable for either study (P > .05). Conclusions: Covariate constrained randomization, which restricts the full randomization set to a subset in which differences between study arms are minimized, is a useful tool for achieving balanced study arms in CRTs. Because of the increasing recognition of the risk of imbalance in CRTs and implications for interpreting study findings, procedures of this type should be considered in designing practice-based or community-based trials.
Orthodontic bonding with varying curing time and light power using an argon laser.

Abstract Objective: To test the effects of curing time and light intensity on the shear bond strength of adhesive composites for stainless-steel orthodontic brackets. Materials and Methods: An argon laser at four different power settings (100, 150, 200, and 250 mW) and four different exposure times (5, 10, 15, and 20 seconds) was used to bond adhesive-precoated (APC) stainless-steel incisor brackets to the facial surfaces of 154 bovine incisors. The shear bond strength of each specimen in 16 randomly divided groups was randomly tested to failure using an Instron universal testing machine. Each mode of failure was described using the adhesive remnant index (ARI). Results: The ARI scoring system showed that the location of bond failure did not differ significantly in relation to exposure time (P = .40). However, the location of bond failure was significantly different in relation to light power (P = .03). Conclusions: A short exposure time and a low power setting produce shear bond strengths equivalent to t...
Extreme Weather Conditions: Military Medicine Responds to a Korean War Winter.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the M-1951 Cold-Wet Uniform (extreme cold), from base layers through outer garments. This cold-weather gear replaced the World War II era M-1943 to become standard issue for American soldiers during the Korean War. The Cold-Wet Uniform could be supplemented with a heavy parka, a component of the Cold-Dry Uniform. The parka could replace the field jacket, or be worn on top of it. The Army Medical Department had good reason for documenting the new uniform and publicizing its development through photographs like the two featured here. In the fall of 1950, American soldiers and their commanding officers were unprepared for their first Korean winter, when temperatures could plunge to more than 30 degrees below zero and arctic winds from Siberia yielded deadly consequences. A Life magazine article from February 1951 reported that more than 5,000 U.S. troops in Korea suffered from frostbite that first winter. For some, evacuation and medical care was timely, but others lost feet and hands, as well as fingers and toes. Army surgeons realized that many frostbite diagnoses during World War II had, in fact, been trench foot and that their treatment programs were not designed to manage the dangers of a truly severe winter. Without proper prevention and treatment, soldiers fell prey to frostbite in catastrophic numbers, leaving their units less effective in the field. The Medical Corps responded swiftly to the need. New treatment regimens were developed for troops in the field and severe cases were transferred to Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan, where doctors worked to save gangrenous limbs that would have almost certainly been amputated during the last war. But medical care was only one part of the solution. The Quartermaster Corps also designed uniforms to protect soldiers from extreme cold while allowing them to perform their duties as much as possible. This included layers of head coverings, protection for the hands, and the “Mickey Mouse” boots designed to withstand extreme cold. Today, this work is continued by organizations such as the U.S. Army Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Massachusetts, where experts focus their research on the health and performance of the warfighter in extreme conditions. Their most recent publications note that frostbite still accounts for the largest number of cold injuries per year; however, their guidance on countermeasures and risk assessment far exceed the resources available in fall 1950. The early research and development initiated during the Korean War reflects the continued missions of military medical research assets to provide their soldiers and civilians with the necessary equipment to carry out missions in all climates and conditions, all over the world.
Modeling a CuCl(aq)/HCl(aq) Electrolyzer using Thermodynamics and Electrochemical Kinetics

Abstract Research efforts on the CuCl(aq)/HCl(aq) electrolyzer would greatly benefit from the ability to quantify the dissipative processes that undesirably increase the cell’s applied potential, E cell , which decreases its efficiency. To date, little is known about what impact further improvements to active surface area, extent of CuCl(aq) conversion and ohmic resistance would exactly have on the electrolyzer performance. To better understand how this electrolyzer can be improved, a model was developed to quantify and separate the effects of electrochemical kinetics, membrane transport and open circuit potential, E OCP, on E cell for a given current density. By employing data obtained from previous studies with electrochemical cells into the developed model, it was possible to calculate E cell values that agreed with data collected from a lab scale electrolyzer using just one adjustable parameter, the Nernst diffusion layer at limiting current. The model was then used to identify the predicted E cell contributions as a function of CuCl(aq) conversion, active electrode area and ohmic resistance. It was found that the extent of CuCl(aq) conversion can dramatically impact the electrolyzer electrode kinetics and E OCP . More importantly, as CuCl(aq) conversion increased, the E cell values needed consistently increased to keep the same current density. Overall, E cell could be most readily reduced by improving R ohm , whereas improvements to electrode kinetics have limited impacts.
Computational assessment of visual search strategies in volumetric medical images

When searching through volumetric images [e.g., computed tomography (CT)], radiologists appear to use two different search strategies: "drilling" (restrict eye movements to a small region of the image while quickly scrolling through slices), or "scanning" (search over large areas at a given depth before moving on to the next slice). To computationally identify the type of image information that is used in these two strategies, 23 naive observers were instructed with either "drilling" or "scanning" when searching for target T's in 20 volumes of faux lung CTs. We computed saliency maps using both classical two-dimensional (2-D) saliency, and a three-dimensional (3-D) dynamic saliency that captures the characteristics of scrolling through slices. Comparing observers' gaze distributions with the saliency maps showed that search strategy alters the type of saliency that attracts fixations. Drillers' fixations aligned better with dynamic saliency and scanners with 2-D saliency. The computed saliency was greater for detected targets than for missed targets. Similar results were observed in data from 19 radiologists who searched five stacks of clinical chest CTs for lung nodules. Dynamic saliency may be superior to the 2-D saliency for detecting targets embedded in volumetric images, and thus "drilling" may be more efficient than "scanning."
Anatomy, physiology, and genetics of paragangliomas

Paragangliomas arise from an extra-adrenal paraganglionic cells, derived from the neural crest of the autonomic nervous system and make up the most common class of benign vascular neoplasms of the neck. PGLs of the head and neck originate most commonly from the paraganglia within the carotid body, the jugular foramen, the middle ear and the vagus nerve. Knowledge of the embryology, anatomy and genetics of these rare tumors is paramount to successful diagnosis and treatment of head and neck paragangliomas.
Evaluating the safety and efficacy of felbamate in the context of a black box warning: A single center experience

Abstract Introduction Felbamate was approved in 1993 to treat partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in adults and in Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome in children. Its use was later restricted when rare but fatal cases of aplastic anemia and hepatic failure were identified. Methods This single center analysis retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of felbamate in a cohort of children, adolescents, and adults with epilepsy. Results A chart review identified 103 patients taking felbamate. The range of felbamate dose was 300–4500 mg (mean: 1800 ± 900 mg). The duration of therapy ranged from 1 month to 20 years (mean duration: 35 ± 45 months). Eighteen (17.5%) subjects experienced adverse events including insomnia, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, weight loss, gastric discomfort, diarrhea, mood and behavioral problems, high blood pressure, headache, and elevated liver enzymes. Out of these, 6 (5.9%) patients discontinued the therapy. No hepatic failure or agranulocytosis was observed. Fifty-nine (57.72%) patients achieved ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 30 (29.12%) patients achieved seizure freedom. Conclusions These findings suggest that felbamate is safe, well tolerated, and effective in treatment of various types of epilepsy syndromes.
Body Size Perceptions among Overweight and Obese African American Women

Objectives: Understanding body size percep­tions and discrepancies among African Ameri­can women may have implications for effec­tive weight-loss interventions. The purpose of this study is to examine body size perceptions of economically disadvantaged, overweight and obese African American women. Design: Cross-sectional using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial. Setting: 18 census tracts in a central South Carolina city where ≥25% of residents were below poverty income. Participants: 147 economically disad­vantaged, overweight and obese African American women. Main Outcome Measures: Using Pulvers’ figure rating scale, participants chose the figure: 1) closest to their current figure; 2) they would be satisfied with; and 3) with a body weight that would be a health problem for the average person. Mean body mass indices corresponding to each figure were compared with those in a large sample of White women. Results: Most participants wanted to be smaller (mean=2.6 figures smaller) than their current size. A majority (67%) chose the largest figure as representing a body size that could lead to a health problem, and most (60%) chose a current figure smaller than the figure they believed would be associated with health problems. The mean body mass index for women selecting any given figure as their current size was significantly larger (5.2-10.8 kg/m2 larger, P <.0001) than those established in the sample of White women. Conclusions: Although women desired a smaller body size, there nonetheless were misperceptions of body size and the as­sociated health consequences. Body size misperceptions and/or satisfaction may pose barriers for effective weight-loss. Ethn Dis . 2015;25(4):391-398; doi:10.18865/ ed.25.4.391
Survivability of bare, individual Bacillus subtilis spores to high-velocity surface impact: Implications for microbial transfer through space

Abstract Laboratory experiments show that endospores of Bacillus subtilis survive impact against a solid surface at velocities as high as 299 ± 28 m/s. During impact, spores experience and survive accelerations of at least 1010 m/s2. The spores were introduced into a vacuum chamber using an electrospray source and accelerated to a narrow velocity distribution by entrainment in a differentially pumped gas flow. Different velocity ranges were studied by modifying the gas flow parameters. The spores were electrically charged, allowing direct measurement of the velocity of each spore as it passed through an image charge detector prior to surface impact. Spores impacted a glass surface and were collected for subsequent analysis by culturing. Most spores survived impact at all measured velocities. These experiments differ fundamentally from other studies that show either shock or impact survivability of bacteria embedded within or on the surface of a projectile. Bacteria in the present experiments undergo a single interaction with a solid surface at the full impact velocity, in the absence of any other effects such as cushioning due to microbe agglomerations, deceleration due to air or vapor, or transfer of impact shock through solid or liquid media. During these full-velocity impact events, the spores experience extremely high decelerations. This study is the first reported instance of accelerations of this magnitude experienced during a bacteria impact event. These results are discussed in the context of potential transfer of viable microbes in space and other scenarios involving surface impacts at high velocities.