cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current status of understanding the pathogenesis and management of patients with NOMID/CINCA.

Neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID)/chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, and arthritis (CINCA) syndrome is the most severe clinical phenotype in the spectrum of cryopyrin- (NLRP3/NALP3) associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). The study of patients with NOMID/CINCA has been instrumental in characterizing the extent of organ-specific inflammatory manifestations and damage that can occur with chronic interleukin (IL)-1β overproduction. Mutations in CIAS1/NLRP3 lead to constitutive activation of the “NLRP3 inflammasome,” an intracellular platform that processes and secretes increased amounts of IL-1β. The pivotal role of IL-1β in NOMID/CINCA has been demonstrated in several clinical studies using IL-1—blocking agents that lead to rapid resolution of the inflammatory disease manifestations. NOMID/CINCA is a monogenic autoinflammatory syndrome; and the discovery of the role of IL-1 in NOMID has led to the exploration in the role of IL-1 in other disorders including gout and Type II diabetes. The inflammation in NOMID/CINCA is continuous with intermittent flares, and organ manifestations encompus the central nervous system, eye, inner ear, and bones. This review discusses updates on the pathogenesis of NOMID/CAPS, emerging long term-outcome data regarding IL-1—blocking agents that have influenced our considerations for optimal treatment, and a monitoring approach tailored to the patient’s disease severity and organ manifestations.
Electron-phonon SAW attenuation in aluminum for all ql

Theoretical expressions for the electron-phonon contribution to the attenuation of surface acoustic waves (SAW) propagating on a semi-infinite block of material have been obtained for all ql, where q is the sound propagation vector and l is the electron mean-free path. The calculation of the attenuation due to electron-phonon interaction for ql >
Graphical Display of Diagnostic Test Results in Electronic Health Records: A Comparison of 8 Systems

Accurate display and interpretation of clinical laboratory test results is essential for safe and effective diagnosis and treatment. In an attempt to ascertain how well current electronic health records (EHRs) facilitated these processes, we evaluated the graphical displays of laboratory test results in eight EHRs using objective criteria for optimal graphs based on literature and expert opinion. None of the EHRs met all 11 criteria; the magnitude of deficiency ranged from one EHR meeting 10 of 11 criteria to three EHRs meeting only 5 of 11 criteria. One criterion (i.e., the EHR has a graph with y-axis labels that display both the name of the measured variable and the units of measure) was absent from all EHRs. One EHR system graphed results in reverse chronological order. One EHR system plotted data collected at unequally-spaced points in time using equally-spaced data points, which had the effect of erroneously depicting the visual slope perception between data points. This deficiency could have a significant, negative impact on patient safety. Only two EHR systems allowed users to see, hover-over, or click on a data point to see the precise values of the x-y coordinates. Our study suggests that many current EHR-generated graphs do not meet evidence-based criteria aimed at improving laboratory data comprehension.
SOME PROBLEMS IN PROCESS THEODICY

What good is divinity if it can come only in dreams and shadows...? (Wallace Stevens) It is a well-known and rarely challenged assumption that one of the chief merits of Whitehead's cosmology is that it enables religious thinkers to come at the problem of God in relation to the presence of evil in an entirely new way. Among the virtues most commonly appealed to in praise of the Whiteheadian theodicy are its emphasis on God's persuasive, rather than controlling power; its defence of the moral goodness of the God whose nature is reconceived in the light of the problem of evil; and its provision for a realistic hope in the redemptive processes operative in divine and human history. However, none of these aspects of process theodicy is without serious problems. In what follows I will present certain reasons why I do not believe process theism has made good its claim to have solved, with the help of Whitehead's philosophy, the problem of evil. Rather, I will suggest that like the story of what happened to the donkey laden with salt, who took to the water, process theology's 'solution' to the problem of evil dissolves in the dialectic river of life, until nothing is left but the verbal sack in which it is contained. Much of the force of this critique will hinge on recognizing the systematic implications of the role of ambiguity in a processive-relational universe, a position I will summarize in conclusion.
Impaired Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Specific Effector CD8+ T Cells Undergo Massive Apoptosis in the Peripheral Blood during Acute HCV Infection and in the Liver during the Chronic Phase of Infection

A majority of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) do not sustain an effective T-cell response, and viremia persists. The mechanism leading to failure of the HCV-specific CD8+ T-cell response in patients developing chronic infection is unclear. We investigated apoptosis susceptibility of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells during the acute and chronic stages of infection. Although HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in the blood during the acute phase of infection and in the liver during the chronic phase were highly activated and expressed an effector phenotype, the majority was undergoing apoptosis. In contrast, peripheral blood HCV-specific CD8+ T cells during the chronic phase expressed a resting memory phenotype. Apoptosis susceptibility of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells was associated with very high levels of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and low CD127 expression and with significant functional T-cell deficits. Further evaluation of the “death phase” of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells during acute HCV infection showed that the majority of cells were dying by a process of cytokine withdrawal, mediated by activated caspase 9. Contraction during the acute phase occurred rapidly via this process despite the persistence of the virus. Remarkably, in the chronic phase of HCV infection, at the site of infection in the liver, a substantial frequency of caspase 9-mediated T-cell death was also present. This study highlights the importance of cytokine deprivation-mediated apoptosis with consequent down-modulation of the immune response to HCV during acute and chronic infections.
The turnover of myelin in the adult rat.

Abstract The rate of loss of radioactivity of lipids of brain subcellular fractions was followed for 56 days after injection of adult rats with uniformly labeled [ 14 C]glucose. Myelin did not reach its maximum specific activity until 5 days after injection, then showed a slow rate of loss of radioactivity. When the turnover of the lipid components of purified myelin was measured, inositol phosphatide and lecithin were found to have a more active metabolism than the other myelin lipids which include serine phosphatide, sphingomyelin, ethanolamine phosphatide, cerebroside, cerebroside sulfate, and cholesterol. These results which agree with our previous findings indicate that the metabolism of myelin on the outer layers is identical to that laid down early in the life of the animal. Proteolipid protein showed a half-life of about 35 days, thus was one of the more active myelin components. The pattern of metabolism, though on a longer time scale in myelin, is similar to that of the most active brain membrane fraction. These results are discussed in relation to the possible structure of myelin membranes.
Plasmonic-based techniques to generate and detect optical vortex beams

Ultra-thin and integrated photonic devices based on optical phase discontinuities can generate optical vortices with a variety of topological charges, as well as sort out vortex beam topological charges by means of holographic gratings.
Railroads and the Changing Face of Britain, 1825–1901

This article goes beyond the usual easy generalization that the coming of the railroad brought profound economic and social changes. Here a broad panorama is revealed, but with specific features in sharp focus, These features include the conflicting impact of the railroads on local craftsmen and tradesmen; the initial stimulus to extreme concentration and then to dispersion of population; the influence upon industrial decentralization; the changing railroad attitude toward passenger traffic; the rise of dormitory suburbs and their conversion into integrated communities; the social implications of the new mode of conveyance; the significance in labor reform of the railroads as large employers. Students of American transportation will find much of interest in this British pattern and in the method by which it is set forth.
ℒ 1 -adaptive methods for control of patient response to anesthesia

In this paper, we discuss the first application of recently developed ℒ 1 -adaptive control methods for closed-loop control of anesthesia delivery during surgery. Our initial objective, described herein, is to design controllers that are robust to inter-patient variability, such that patients follow a prespecified Bispectral Index profile. The controllers are designed from identification-based models constructed from clinical trial data.
What a Nephrologist Needs to Know About Acute Liver Failure

Although relatively rare in the United States, acute liver failure (ALF) is associated with very high rates of morbidity and mortality. A leading cause of morbidity and mortality is cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension. Hypothermia, osmotic diuretics, and hyperosmolar therapy are commonly used to manage these complications; however, when these are ineffective, renal replacement therapy may be needed for volume management. Acute kidney injury is a common complication of ALF and may arise from a number of etiologies, including hepatorenal syndrome and acute tubular necrosis. Acute kidney injury is most common in patients who develop ALF because of acetaminophen toxicity or ischemia. With regard to renal replacement therapy, we will review specific considerations relevant to the management of the patient with ALF.
Differential compliance instrument in the treatment of infantile colic: A report of two cases

Objective: To report on the novel use of a computer-assisted adjusting device as a potentially safe method for treatment of infantile colic. Clinical Features: Two infants were diagnosed by their pediatrician as having infantile colic, which was characterized by signs of distress, uncontrollable crying, and brief episodes of screaming. Both children had normal growth (despite low birth weight in the second) and no other abnormalities. Intervention and Outcome: A PulStar Function Recording and Analysis System (PulStar FRAS, Sense Technology, Inc, Pittsburgh, Penn) device was used to administer light impulses (≅1.7 joules, which produced a 3 to 4 lb force) at each segmental level throughout the dorsal spine, with probe tips spaced 2 cm apart straddling the spinous processes. Crying was reduced by 50% after a single session of instrumental adjusting in a 6-week old girl and after 4 sessions in a 9-week old boy, according to colic diaries kept by the mothers. Average hours of uninterrupted daily sleep increased from 3.5 to 6.5 hours after a single session. Within 10 days (5 and 8 sessions, respectively), colicky behavior disappeared and average total daily sleep improved to 14.5 hours (an average increase of 4.5 hours). Results continued over a 30-day follow-up. Conclusion: The PulStar mechanical adjusting device appears to have been well tolerated and beneficial in 2 cases of infantile colic. Further research is necessary to determine whether this device can enhance the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment in infants with colic.
An inverse problem of simultaneous estimation of radiation phase function, albedo and optical thickness

Abstract An inverse analysis is presented for simultaneous estimation of optical thickness, single scattering albedo and the coefficients of phase function for an anisotropic scattering plane-parallel medium. The Levenberg-Marquardt method of minimization is used to solve the resulting nonlinear system of algebraic equations. Forward and backward scattering phase functions are considered, and the effects of the magnitudes of single scattering albedo and optical thickness on the accuracy of the estimations are examined. The confidence bounds are established for the estimated values of the single scattering albedo, the optical thickness and the coefficients of the phase function.
Hell and the God of Justice

Christians have often held that on the day of judgment God will condemn some persons who have disobeyed him to a hell of everlasting torment and total unhappiness from which there is no hope of escape, as a punishment for their deeds up to that time. This is not the only way that hell has been or could be conceived of, but it has been the predominant conception in the Christian church throughout much of its history and it is the one on which I shall focus in this paper.
Clinical Outcomes in Adult and Pediatric Ewing Sarcoma: A Single Institution Comparative Study

oncology web page to an encrypted database. Forms initially were reviewed at monthly quality assurance meetings. Starting in May 2010, a process improvement team consisting of physician, physicist, dosimetrist, therapist, and nursing group representative met weekly to improve workflow and decrease errors. This group was expanded to non-clinical staff in 2011. Form review priority criteria, solution criteria, and meeting ground rules were set in advance of the first team meeting. Spreadsheets were used to present the forms. Actions, owners, and completion dates were assigned at each meeting. Results: Over 1,182 process improvement reports were recorded. Efforts resulted in many operational changes in the department. In addition to first day therapist chart checklists, physics and dosimetry chart checklists were added and electronically recorded in the every patient’s chart. Table indexing was developed for all patients to minimize potential for wrong site treatment. A Linear Accelerator Field Definition Chart was created to include unique differences in treatment parameters and a Field Definition Chart was created showing screen capture examples of different linear accelerator parameters. Machine parameter spreadsheets were created and are being used by dosimetrists and physicists. Data demonstrated increased adoption by staff over time with increased PIF submission. Forms for incidents reaching the patient decreased, during the same time period that total number of fields treated and complexity of patient set-up increased (Table). Conclusions: The number of errors reaching patients can be positively affected by a continuous improvement program. A continuous quality improvement program can be implemented at a large tertiary teaching institution that can be adapted for smaller radiation oncology departments. Author Disclosure: T. Meier: None. B. Hugebeck: None. T. Kovacs: None. C. Belfi: None. J. Suh: G. Consultant; Abbott Oncology. M. Kolar: None. S. Chao: None.
Strain relaxation and dislocation introduction in lattice-mismatched InAs/GaP heteroepitaxy

Misfit dislocation development in the lattice-mismatched InAs/GaP system was studied by transmission electron microscopy. InAs is 11% lattice mismatched with GaP, and the majority of strain relaxation during initial growth occurs by the introduction of misfit dislocations directly near island edges. Dislocation introduction in the islands has a significant impact on the island morphology and the prevailing state of strain. The island aspect ratio decreases with increasing dislocation content, which rapidly leads to island coalescence. However, the misfit is not completely accommodated before the layer becomes continuous. Subsequent strain relaxation occurs by the introduction of glissile pairs of 60° dislocations, which then combine to form sessile 90° segments at the interface. This latter mechanism is seen during early growth but becomes more pronounced after island coalescence occurs. Complete strain relaxation results in a two-dimensional network of predominantly edge misfit dislocations, spaced about 4nm apart. Subsequent in-situ annealing induces the non-conservative motion of the misfit dislocations on the (001) plane to homogenize the spacing and, thus, to reduce the energy of the configuration.
A High-Resolution Phosphor Screen Beam Profile Monitor

A high-resolution luminescent screen beam profile monitor was developed to allow viewing of both conventional large diameter SLAC e+/e- beams, and also collider rf-bunches having small transverse spatial extent, with one instrument. The principal features of the monitor are described. They include the two-power magnification system offering magnifications of 12 and 78X, respectively; the reticle grid which is optically superimposed on the screen image by a cube beam splitter; selection of a suitable camera; and the Al2O3(Cr) phosphor screen. A simplified version of the monitor for viewing of only micronsized beams for applications in the collider arcs and final focus regions and achieving a magnification of ~40X, coupled with a resolution of ~20?m is also presented.
Responses of Medial Rectus Motoneurons in Monkeys with Strabismus

METHODS. Burst-tonic activity of 21 MRMNs in the oculomotor nucleus were recorded from two monkeys with exotropia as they performed horizontal and vertical smooth pursuit (0.2 Hz, 10°) under monocular viewing conditions. Neuronal responses and horizontal component of eye movements were used to identify regression coefficients in a first-order model for each tracking condition. RESULTS. Comparison of position, velocity, and constant parameter coefficients, estimated from horizontal tracking data with either eye viewing, showed no significant differences (P 0.07), indicating that neuronal activity could account for the horizontal misalignment. Comparison of the position, velocity, and constant parameter coefficients estimated from horizontal tracking and the cross-axis condition showed no significant differences (P 0.07), suggesting that motoneuron activity could account for most of the inappropriate horizontal crossaxis movement observed in the covered eye during vertical smooth pursuit. CONCLUSIONS. These data suggest that, in animals with sensoryinduced strabismus, central innervation to extraocular muscles is responsible for setting the state of strabismus. Mechanical factors such as muscle length adaptation (for horizontal misalignment) and pulley heterotopy or static torsion (for “A” patterns) likely do not play a major role in determining properties in a sensory-induced strabismus. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:6697‐6705) DOI:10.1167/iovs.11-7402
Media salience and the framing of mass murder in schools a comparison of the Columbine and Sandy Hook massacres

Several high-profile school shootings have emerged as significant discursive markers in a longer "disaster narrative." This study applies the two-dimensional analytic framework introduced by Chyi and McCombs to examine the frame-changing differences between two highly salient school shootings. A content analysis was conducted using the New York Times coverage of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The findings of this study indicate that while Columbine set the precedent for how the media covers school shootings, the coverage of Sandy Hook illustrates a departure from this model and potentially reshapes the way that these events are covered. Language: en
The structure of amorphous iron at high pressures to 67 GPa measured in a diamond anvil cell

We report the results of room temperature compression studies of amorphous iron up to 67 GPa. The experiments were performed with a modified diamond anvil cell (DAC) that allows for measurements of X-ray scattering to a maximum momentum of 86.6 nm −1 using a monochromatic beam at a wavelength of 0.3311 A. It is shown that accurate structural determination can be made for amorphous materials in a DAC to ultra high pressures. The dense random-packing model is favored to interpret our observations for amorphous iron. The resultant structure factor and the pair distribution function show that the dominant peak does not significantly change in shape and in intensity with the increase of pressure, except for peak positions. This observation is consistent with essentially zero pressure dependence of the coordination number and ratios of distances derived from the obtained pair distribution functions at high pressures. It is thus proposed that the structural contraction with the increase of pressure for amorphous iron is isotropic, which allows us to estimate volume changes as a function of pressure from the positions of the first peak in the pair distribution function. The compression behavior is found to be similar to those of b.c.c.-Fe and h.c.p.-Fe. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Plant Defense Elicitors Fail to Protect Viburnum dentatum from Herbivory by Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a new landscape pest in the United States, feeds in both the larval and adult stages on foliage of plants in the genus Viburnum. A field trial was conducted from 2004 to 2006 to examine the impact of several elicitors of plant defense on ability of arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum L.) to resist attack by P. viburni in both larval and adult stages. The treatments included jasmonic acid (JA), harpin, and paclobutrazol. For comparison, imidacloprid and untreated controls were included in the trial. The soil-applied treatments (paclobutrazol and imidacloprid) were applied once during the trial (spring 2004), and the foliarly applied treatments (JA and harpin) were applied each spring. Herbivory by viburnum leaf beetle larvae and adults was measured yearly in spring and summer, respectively, and plant height was recorded at the end of each growing season. The only treatment that decreased feeding by viburnum leaf beetle was imidacloprid; these plants were virtually untouched throughout the duration of the trial. Plants treated with JA and harpin actually suffered greater feeding damage at the end of the second growing season; other than this observation, the elicitors had no impact on viburnum leaf beetle. As expected, plant height was decreased for the shrubs treated with paclobutrazol, a plant growth regulator, and unaffected by JA and harpin. Plant height was increased for the shrubs treated with imidacloprid. These shrubs also seemed to be protected from viburnum leaf beetle after residues dropped below lethal levels.
GENO-11PERIOSTIN MAINTAINS A MESENCHYMAL PROGRAM IN GLIOBLASTOMA STEM CELLS

Our radiogenomic screen identified Periostin (POSTN) to be highly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) with high edema/FLAIR. Subsequently, POSTN is implicated in glioblastoma invasion and recruitment of tumor associated macrophages. However, its impact on glioblastoma stem cells (GSC) biology/properties is largely unknown. Here GSC lines with high endogenous POSTN expression levels were used to generate inducible shRNA mediated loss of function (LOF) clones. GSCs with low/undetectable levels of POSTN expression were used to generate Gain of function (GOF) clones. In vitro tests were performed to assess the impact of POSTN LOF and GOF on GSC properties such as self-renewal, BrdU label retention, differentiation potential etc. We show that GSCs with POSTN LOF acquired an increased stem like state with unaltered proliferation rate. When these clones were implanted at orthotopic locations in mouse, POSTN LOF was associated with increased survival of mice. Cells of human origin were isolated from tumors using human specific HLA Class I ABC antibody by FACS. Total RNA from these sorted cells (without cell-culture) were used for expression profile analysis by HTA 2.0 array from affymetrix. Transcriptome analyses of POSTN LOF cells show inhibition of multiple mesenchymal associated networks such as CEBPB (a master regulator of mesenchymal program in GBM), PRDM1, TGFB1, FGF2, WNT3A, HIF1A etc. with concomitant activation of MYCN network, indicating a mesenchymal to proneural switch. We have generated POSTN and CEBPB dual knockdown clones and are currently investigating the molecular link between these two key mesenchymal genes in GSC context. Our results show that POSTN maintains a mesenchymal program in GSC by coopting with intracellular factors such as CEBPB. Therefore, neutralizing extracellular POSTN will have far reaching impact in terms of therapeutics where while blocking GBM invasion and it may simultaneously block a mesenchymal program in stem cell niche in GBM.
Meta-analysis of erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acid biostatus in bipolar disorder.

Objectives Dietary deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), and excesses in omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) and arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6), may be associated with the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. In an effort to provide clarification regarding the relationship between PUFA biostatus and bipolar disorder, this meta-analysis investigated studies comparing erythrocyte (red blood cell) membrane PUFA composition in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Methods A meta-analysis was performed on case–control studies comparing erythrocyte PUFA (EPA, DHA, LA and AA) levels in patients with bipolar I disorder and healthy controls. Standardized effect sizes were calculated and combined using a random effects model. Results Six eligible case-control studies comprising n = 118 bipolar I patients and n = 147 healthy controls were included in the analysis. Compared with healthy controls, patients with bipolar I disorder exhibited robust erythrocyte DHA deficits (p = 0.0008) and there was a trend for lower EPA (p = 0.086). There were no significant differences in LA (p = 0.42) or AA (p = 0.64). Conclusions Bipolar I disorder is associated with robust erythrocyte DHA deficits. These findings add to a growing body of evidence implicating omega-3 PUFA deficiency in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.
Biological Investigation on Rodent Animals in Plague Foci in Guizhou

To study the rodent animals in plague foci, which included specises, composition and seasonal distribution,to provide basis for decision-making on the control of plague, samples of rodent animals were collected and classfied by using cage method and clip method. Rodent density was determined by using powder track method in house and by using clip method in field. 23 species of 10 genus, 4 families, 3 orders of rodent animals were found in this area. Rattus flavipectus and Rattus norvegicus were dominant within house and Rattus flavipectus within the field at the rodent community structure. The positive rate of powder track in domestic rodents was 72.62%, and the positive rate of clipping in wild rodent was 4.54%. The pregnancy rate of Rattus flavipectus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus pahari was 24.22%, 28.99% and 28.13%, respectively. Domestic rodents should be mainly killed in the control of plague. An opportune moment of rodent-killing was in March and November.
Comparison on the effect of synthetic leather based water and solvent polyurethane resin on the air quality of the workplace

Objective At present,the main production of polyurethane( PU) system synthetic leather production by solvent type. With the strengthening of environmental regulations and awareness of environmental protection,aqueous PU synthetic leather technology has become the research focus in the field. The aim is to understand the air quality effects of two different properties of PU resin in the workplace,to master the degree of occupation hazards involved in DMF enterprise,and to provide scientific basis for the effective protection suggestion. Methods Monitor the DMF concentration in the air of workplace to compare. Results 10 companies qualified rate of total nearly 60. 4%,the water-based PU resin 88. 3% pass rate,Solvent type PU resin 32. 5% pass rate. Description of DMF exceed the standard seriously in the air of workplace,especially the wet coated table. Conclusion In the production process,technical requirement and process of wterborne PU resin is high,the price is expensive than solvent based resin PU 30%. It suggested that proposals to strengthen the technological reform should be strengthen and the cost of water-based PU should be reduced,and maximize the use of water-based PU resin to replace solvent type PU resin.
MR IMAGING: ITS CURRENT AND POTENTIAL UTILITY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BREAST CANCER

The rapid evolution of the treatment of breast cancer has been paralleled by a similar rapid improvement in the imaging of breast cancer. High-resolution contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast has recently emerged as a sensitive instrument for the detection of breast cancer. The sensitivity of MR imaging makes it an excellent tool in specific clinical situations, such as the detection of local recurrence in patients who have received breast-conservation therapy. Furthermore, MR imaging of the breast has the potential to be a powerful aid in presurgical planning and to be a useful adjunct to mammography in selected patients. MR imaging, however, has a significant false-positive rate, is not readily available in all areas, and is more expensive than mammography and sonography. It also remains unclear if alterations of management plans based on MR imaging findings actually benefit affected patients. Therefore rigorous clinical trials are needed to define precisely the exact role that MR imaging should play in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer patients.
Pregnancy resulting from peritoneal ovum sperm transfer procedure

This is the first reported transvaginal ultrasound-guided POST pregnancy in the United States. Advantages over the GIFT procedure include it being an office procedure done under local anesthesia and IV sedation, and decreased cost. Larger series are needed to compare pregnancy rates.
Extended one-dimensional method for coherent synchrotron radiation including shielding

Coherent synchrotron radiation can severely limit the performance of accelerators designed for high brightness and short bunch length. Examples include light sources based on energy recovery LINAC or free-electron lasers, and bunch compressors for linear colliders. In order to better simulate coherent synchrotron radiation, a one-dimensional formalism due to Saldin, Schneidmiller, and Yurkov has been implemented in the general beam dynamics code Bmad. Wide vacuum chambers are simulated by means of vertical image charges. Results from Bmad are here compared to analytical approximations, to numerical solutions of the Maxwell equations, and to the simulation code ELEGANT and the code of Agoh and Yokoya.
The One Divine Nature

The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that there are three divine Persons, each of whom is fully God, who have between them a single concrete divine nature. This paper attempts two show that, and how, these claims are coherent rather than contradictory. In the process a model for the Trinity is proposed using the notion of constitution.
Current molded, storm damaged, sinuous columnar stromatolites: Mesoproterozoic of northern China

Abstract A thin (~ 50 cm) horizon of sinuous stromatolites occurs within a succession of elongate upright columns in the ~ 1.4 Ga Tieling Formation, near Jixian, China. The upright columns form aligned closely spaced ridges, separated by narrow runnels with signs of current scour. The sinuous and upright stromatolites, and their intervening matrix, were originally mainly composed of carbonate mud. In end-on view, the sinuous columns incline back and forth. Each column consists of well-defined laminae that successively rotate relative to column curvature, maintaining their orientation approximately at right-angles to the column axis. In inclined parts of the columns, laminae are typically asymmetric and the steeper side faces the direction of column inclination. We interpret this column sinuosity to be a response to changes in current-direction, with accreting laminae facing into currents that supplied sediment. We find no evidence for heliotropism (mat growth towards the sun) in these examples. Adjacent columns typically show similar shapes, bending back and forth together, but their angles of curvature and inclination can change laterally from column to column, from near vertical to 45°, over distances of 30 cm. Columns can show breakage and separation of adjacent laminae. Some of this is enhanced by compaction and stress, but the occurrence of sinuous columns on their sides or upturned, in spaces between undisturbed columns, indicates that column curvature developed during growth and that toppling of columns was syndepositional. We infer that sinuosity developed in response to changes in current direction, that column inclination reflects current strength, and that breakage and toppling was produced by strong currents. Curved and sinuous columns could reflect shoaling. This would also have exposed them to storm damage and to the effects of currents that scoured sufficient matrix to locally break and topple columns. Markedly sinuous Mesoproterozoic columns also occur in Siberia and North America, suggesting that similar conditions and processes of stromatolite formation may have been widespread at this time. Formation and preservation of the sinuous stromatolites described here required a combination of conditions that included abundant fine-grained carbonate sediment, microbial mats capable of trapping it, reduced early lithification, and absence of bioturbation.
Silicon-On-Insulator Bulk Acoustic Wave Disk Resonators

This paper introduces the design and implementation of center-supported bulk acoustic wave (BAW) disk resonators on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. The use of a SOI substrate enables implementation of single crystal silicon disk resonators and provides electrical isolation between the disk and the substrate. A center-supported 800mum in diameter single crystal silicon disk resonator operated in a high order in-plane degenerate mode at 5.9MHz demonstrates an ultra high quality factor (Q) of 243,000. Lateral BAW disk resonators have the potential to be employed in filters, frequency references and sensors (in particular vibratory gyroscopes)
Effect of wide-base tires on nationwide flexible pavement systems: Numerical modeling

The pavement responses obtained from the validated finite element modeling of new-generation wide-base tires (NG-WBTs) and a conventional dual-tire assembly (DTA) are presented. Features of the adopted finite element model, such as three-dimensional contact forces, dynamic analysis, and nonlinear anisotropic base materials, are not considered in the conventional analysis of flexible pavements. Furthermore, the input for the model was intended to simulate a large range of scenarios for the national pavement system. The NG-WBT showed consistently higher pavement responses than the DTA, and the difference decreased as pavement thickness increased. (Pavement thickness varied from 225 to 1,012.5 mm.) The average percentage difference of the longitudinal tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer was 14.7% and 23.2% for thick and thin pavements, respectively. In a few cases of vertical shear strain in the subgrade for thin pavement, the response was higher for the DTA than for the NG-WBT. For th...
Management of Hypertension in Stroke

Abstract Chronic hypertension is a known risk factor for acute ischemic as well as hemorrhagic strokes. There is an independent, graded relationship between the two, and hypertension is therefore aggressively treated in the outpatient environment in order to reduce future stroke risks. Ischemic strokes comprise the majority of all strokes. Although they can present in a myriad of manifestations, patients will usually have a focal onset of neurological symptoms at admission hinting toward this diagnosis. Cerebral autoregulation is integral to the delicate process of maintaining stable cerebral perfusion and brain tissue oxygenation against changes in the arterial blood pressure (BP). The classic description of cerebral autoregulation is that cerebral blood flow is maintained at a constant level across a wide range of mean arterial BP (60–150 mmHg). Autoregulation occurs through changes in cerebral vascular resistance leading to vasodilation when peripheral BP is reduced and vasoconstriction when BP is elevated. In the face of longstanding hypertension, which leads to morphological changes in the vessel walls, this “autoregulatory window” is shifted toward higher BP such that reductions in cerebral blood flow can occur when BP is lowered within the 60–150 mmHg range.
Quality Improvement Interventions for Nutritional Assessment among Pregnant Mothers in Northeastern Uganda.

Introduction. Assessment of pregnant mothers for nutritional status is a neglected intervention. In Kaabong Hospital, nutritional status of pregnant mothers was not assessed during antenatal care (ANC) visits. A quality improvement (QI) project was initiated to increase nutritional assessment using midupper arm circumference (MUAC) among pregnant mothers during ANC visits from 0 to 90% between April and September 2015. Method. Baylor-Uganda formed ANC Work Improvement Team (WIT) that reviewed ANC register, identified gaps in quality of care, analyzed root causes using cause-effect diagram, developed solutions, and tested and implemented the solution using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Planned and tested changes included the provision of anthropometric tools, integrated ANC register, and data use. Result. In April 2015 (baseline), none (0/235) of the pregnant women were assessed for nutritional status using MUAC. Following QI interventions, nutritional assessment improved to 79% (200/252) in May 2015 and to 100% (241/241) in June 2015. The 100% performance was sustained until August 2016. Overall, 39 cases of malnutrition—1 (2.6%) severe (MUAC < 19.0 cm) and 38 (97.4%) moderate acute malnutrition (MUAC 19–22.0 cm)—were identified and linked to nutritional rehabilitation program. Conclusion. QI interventions are critical in achieving high rates of nutritional status assessment and identifying malnourished pregnant women during ANC visits.
Microplasmas, a platform technology for a plethora of plasma applications

Publications describing microplasmas, which are commonly defined as plasmas with at least one dimension in the submillimeter range, began to appear to the scientific literature about 20 years ago. As discussed in a recent review by Schoenbach and Becker [1], interest and activities in basic microplasma research as well as in the use of microplasma for a variety of application has increased significatly over the past 20 years. The number of papers devoted to basic microplasma science increased by an order of magnitude between 1995 and 2015, a count that excludes publications dealing exclusively with technological applications of microplasmas, where the microplasma is used solely as a tool. In reference [1], the authors limited the topical coverage largely to the status of microplasma science and our understanding of the physics principles that enable microplasma operation and further stated that the rapid proliferation of microplasma applications made it impossible to cover both basic microplasma science and their application in a single review article.
Managing the Patient with a Fecal Diversion

An effective pouching system requires an adequate seal and intact skin around the stoma. Preoperative evaluation for stoma location is important to ensure that the area is free of skin folds in the sitting, standing, and prone positions. The adhesive/hydrocolloid should be inspected for erosion upon removal of the pouching system, with shorter time between changes if there is evidence of skin barrier breakdown. Postoperatively, patients are advised to adhere to a low-residue diet; many can extend their diet after 6-weeks. Patients with high-output ostomies are advised to eat foods that thicken their effluent, especially when drinking liquids. Risk factors for complications include obesity, the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, and emergently created stomas. The most common peristomal complication, irritant contact dermatitis, is due to an inadequate seal and requires reevaluation of the pouching system and patient technique. Social support is important for patients to adapt to their new ostomy. The Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing Society (WOCN) and the United Ostomy Associations of America provide valuable resources to ­caregivers and their patients with ostomies. The input of a trained WOC nurse is important in each step of the process for the patient who requires an ostomy.
Carotid Artery Disease as a Predictor of In-Hospital Postoperative Stroke After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting From 1999 to 2011.

Background In this study, the risk factors for stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were examined. In particular, the role of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (both unilateral and bilateral) as a predictor of in-hospital postoperative stroke was investigated. Finally, the trends surrounding in-hospital postoperative stroke from 1999 to 2011 also were examined. The purpose of the study was to appropriately identify patients at high risk for stroke after CABG and spark discussion about the perioperative management of such patients. Materials and Methods Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. The study cohort was identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and Projection Clinical Classification Software codes. Exploratory statistics, univariate analyses, and multivariable regression were used for this study. Results The analysis demonstrated that both asymptomatic unilateral and bilateral carotid stenoses were independent risk factors for in-hospital postoperative stroke. In addition, increasing age, female sex, increasing van Walraven score, paralysis, neurologic disorders, history of infective endocarditis, asymptomatic basilar stenosis, and cerebral occlusion all were demonstrated to be statistically significant predictors of stroke. Patients with carotid stenosis and a van Walraven score >14 were found to be particularly vulnerable to in-hospital postoperative stroke. Lastly, predictors of carotid stenosis were examined, and increasing age, female sex, and increasing van Walraven score all were found to be significant predictors of asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Conclusions This study examined risk factors for stroke after CABG in a large, longitudinal, and population-based database. The study found that both unilateral and bilateral asymptomatic carotid stenoses are indeed risk factors for in-hospital postoperative stroke. In addition, a number of other predictors were identified. These results can be used to identify patients at high risk for perioperative stroke and hopefully decrease the rate of a devastating complication of CABG.
Federal Reserve System Rising: The Expansion of Board Veto Authority on the Eve of the Great Depression

Most scholars agree that restrictive Federal Reserve System (FRS) policies contributed to the depression’s duration and severity. FRS policy mistakes are attributed to faulty ideas, poor leadership...
Skeletal Involvement in Alagille Syndrome

Alagille syndrome results in a spectrum of skeletal abnormalities in patients. Distinct facies are pathognomonic for the disease, and butterfly vertebrae are common. Patients have reduced bone mass and a propensity to fracture. While some of these abnormalities are developmental, others may be associated with alterations in nutrition (malabsorption) and systemic metabolism during growth. Emerging data demonstrate that Notch signaling and Jagged1 in particular have direct effects on adult bone cells. Activating Notch signaling with Jagged1 in human cells promotes osteoblast differentiation. However, data in genetically modified mice suggests that the regulation of Jagged1-Notch on the skeleton is complex, and Notch signaling may have variable effects depending on the site of the bone and the differentiation status of the target cell. Excitingly, the most recent work in the field demonstrates that delivery of Jagged1 bound to biomaterials promotes bone formation. This has broad implications for treating Alagille syndrome patients with acute fractures as well as treating patients with osteopenia.
Truncal Blocks: Thoracic Paravertebral Blocks

Paravertebral blocks are an older technique, which have regained popularity due to the increased safety of ultrasound assisted or live-time needle guided paravertebral blockade with or without catheter placement. Efficacious for both thoraco-abdominal and abdominal surgery, it and may have the same potency as thoracic epidural analgesia with greater haemodynamic stability. It can be unilaterally or bilaterally inserted; single-shot or continuously administered. Bilateral continuous blocks are required for open abdominal surgery. Pneumothoax and potential vascular injury are the most serious potential complications. Limiting catheter insertion to less than 3 cm within the paravertebral space reduces misplacement. Due to the efficacy and haemodynamic stability of this technique it may be well suited to enhanced recovery after surgery for major abdominal surgery.
Automatic Annotation of Web Images for Domain-Specific Crack Classification

Manual visual crack detection and classification for inspection of civil infrastructure is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Many automatic crack detection and classification algorithms have, thus, been developed in the past decade, several of which achieved acceptable performance results for specific applications and using large datasets for training. However, developing training data for automatic crack classification is not an easy task. It requires a large dataset in terms of quantity and variability, as well as well-trained professionals to label the dataset. Hence, there is a need for efficient ways to develop well-labeled datasets that could not only reduce human effort, but also adapt to diverse inspection contexts for improved classification performance. To address this need, this paper proposes a data retrieval and annotation method to automatically retrieve and label crack images from the Web. The dataset can be used as pseudo training data for supervised machine learning-based crack classification algorithms. The proposed method incrementally retrieves and labels crack images. A weak Convolutional Neural Network classifier first learns from a limited set of Web images, and then acts as a machine annotator and further labels a larger size of data. The proposed method was able to retrieve and label a set of images with 95% labeling recall, which shows that the proposed approach is promising.
A Fiber-Pigtailed Hemispherical Fabry-Pérot Microcavity for Accelerometry and Sensing

A novel hemispherical Fabry-Perot microcavity with high finesse, good optical performance and compact packaging is developed for potential applications in optomechanical accelerometry and precision sensing.