cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microvascular free tissue transfer in reconstructing skull base defects: lessons learned.

Objective: To demonstrate the effectiveness of microvascular free tissue transfer in reconstructing complex skull base defects. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted identifying patients with anterior or lateral skull base defects, or both, who underwent microvascular free flap reconstruction. Appropriate demographic, pathological, and preoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: Thirty-five patients with skull base defects were identified, including 8 women (Mean age, 43.9 y; age range, 28-75 y) and 27 men (mean age, 57.9 y; age range, 19-85 y). Defects were secondary to trauma in two cases, whereas the remaining 33 cases were secondary to ablative procedures for a variety of malignant tumors, of which squamous cell carcinoma was the most common (n = 18). The average defect surface area was 89.3 cm 2 , and 36 free flaps were used. The most commonly used flap was the rectus myocutaneous (n = 20); however, six different flap types were employed, including three radial forearm fascial flaps. In all, there were seven flap-related complications and there was one total flap loss. A total of 43 postoperative complications occurred in 23 patients, with the most common complications being grouped as intracranial (n = 10), orbital (n = 9), and cardiac (n = 9). The perioperative mortality rate was 5.7%, and the average hospital stay was 13.5 days (range, 7-37 d). Conclusions: The use of microvascular free tissue transfer for reconstruction of complex skull base defects has proven highly successful in the large series presented in the current study. The versatility and reliability of free flaps for such reconstruction are discussed, and helpful hints are given to minimize the complication rate.
Blending services and crises: a few questions and observations

Purpose – Proposes stimulating future thought and research among service scholars and practicing service marketers as to the relevance of crises and crisis management issues in the service sector.Design/methodology/approach – This article offers the author's perspective of the issues discussed. Eight crisis‐related questions are raised and discussed, with insights from various business leaders also woven into the discussion.Findings – Several themes are addressed, including: crisis‐related issues (including crisis management) should be of particular interest to service organizations; although crises may be linked to specific dates or events, their occurrence is not necessarily random and unpredictable; a proactive approach to crisis management is called for; some organizations (e.g. small and powerless firms) may be more crisis‐prone than others; the term “crisis” means different things to different people and is used in both negative and positive contexts; and when organizations are interconnected with p...
CO2 sequestration with brine solution and fly ashes

Abstract A conceptual multi-step process demonstrates the feasibility of CO 2 sequestration in an integrated operation utilizing by products primarily obtained from fossil fuel combustion (fly ash) and oil and gas production (brine). This process includes a carbonation reaction utilizing a brine solution and CO 2 as reactants under mild reaction conditions. CaO rich fly ashes are added to increase the pH level of the reactant brine, maximizing the reaction efficiency of the carbonation reaction. Furthermore, these materials can also provide a source of Ca in addition to the Ca present in the brine for carbonation. The calcium from fly ashes and brine both contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate during the carbonation reaction.
The Genus Paralorryia

Twenty-three species of Paralorryia are discussed, 14 of which are new. Known species are cumbrensis (Baker), italica (Oudemans), concinna (Oudemans), leptonychotes (Womersley), arthurbakeri (Baker), doddsi (Baker), mali (Oudemans), ferula (Baker), and chapultepecensis (Baker). New species are argentinensis, sapodilla, peruviensis, berryi, mexicana, magdalenae, zaheri, gonzalezi, woolleyi, striata, stegmaieri, mansoni, eharai, and carya.
X‐ray topography of large single crystals

SUMMARY A requirement exists in the fabrication of certain electronic devices for non-destructive examinations of the structural perfection of large single crystals. Two X-ray topographical techniques which fulfill this requirement are described. A curved crystal transmission topography technique provides images of equivalent definition to those obtained by Lang topography, but with a very large gain in speed. This technique is restricted to the examination of flexible plates of uniform thickness and is particularly suited to silicon slices. A topographical method, incorporating an unorthodox scanning mode, has been applied to the assessment of the surface perfection of long crystals. Using this technique, crystals up to 205 mm in length have been examined on a suitably modified Lang camera of limited traverse capability.
A Political Sociology of the Middle East

The Middle East in International Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology. By Fred Halliday. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 386 pp., $65.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-521-59240-2), $21.99 paper (ISBN: 0-521-59741-2). The objective of Fred Halliday's The Middle East in International Relations is “to provide an introduction to the politics and, in particular, international relations of the Middle East, both through offering a history organized around particular explanatory themes and through examining a set of analytic issues in the politics of the region” (p. 13). Clearly an experienced writer, this is exactly what Halliday accomplishes. The Middle East in International Relations weaves together a judicious and balanced account of the historical and political sociology of the region with insights gleaned from a selective engagement with theories of international relations (IR). It offers a practical and accessible framework, particularly strong on historical sociology and political economy, for discussions about the region among specialists and nonspecialists alike. Serving as a bridge between general introductions to the region and more specialized texts, it will be of particular interest to graduate students and advanced undergraduates in political science, history, sociology, and Middle East studies. The book is divided into four sections: IR theory and foreign policy (Part I); the history of the region since World War (WW) I (Part II); a set of analytic discussions on armed conflict, the role of ideological factors, transnational politics, and the impact of the world economy (Part III); and a concluding section (Part IV). Chapter 1 organizes the IR literature on the Middle East into five categories: (1) historical analysis; (2) realism; (3) foreign policy analysis (FPA); (4) ideologies, perceptions, and norms; and (5) historical and international sociology. After charting the merits and limitations of each approach, Halliday settles on historical sociology, which “looks at the core components of a political and social order, the state, ideology and society, and focuses specifically on how institutions, be they of political or social/religious power, are established and maintained” (p. 36). Emphasis …
Constraints to public influence in US Forest Service NEPA processes

The Forest Service is mandated to involve the public during agency planning efforts, but involving the public does not necessarily mean the public will gain any influence over the planning decision. An earlier survey revealed that Forest Service team leaders commonly desire greater levels of public influence than they achieve in their planning processes. Informed by interviews with 16 Forest Service employees experienced with leading planning processes, this research explores the constraints to desired public influence. We found that agency personnel serve as key ‘gatekeepers’ to public influence through their decisions and actions during the process. Efforts beyond required procedures appear to often be necessary to translate normative public comments that might otherwise be dismissed into substantive public influence on analyses and subsequent decision making. Key constraints include a lack of perceived self-efficacy and fear associated with conflict, a lack of leadership commitment to public influence,...
U1 snRNA variants coexist in Bombyx mori cells

Evidence for at least four U1 snRNA variants were obtained from a U1 cDNA library using U1 snRNA from Bombyx mori BmN cells in culture. Sequence analysis of thirty cDNA clones showed that: (1) the nucleotide changes are in the hairpin structures I, II and III; (2) the majority of the base changes in stem structures between a posterior silk gland (PSG) U1 RNA and the BmN U1 clones, as well as among the BmN U1 clones, are compensatory; (3) although the base differences between PSG U1 and BmN U1 clones, and among the BmN U1 clones, are not the same, they are located in similar positions in moderately conserved sites, frequently at the bases of loops; (4) when comparing the PSG U1 with the BmN U1 clones, twelve out of nineteen stem differences generate stronger pairing resulting in a more stable hairpin II in the BmN U1 clones; and (5) the Sm and 70K proteins binding site sequences are highly conserved among these U1 clones. Although a comparison of sequences changes associated with U1 isoforms from different species indicate that there are no common base changes with the B. mori U1 clones reported here, similarities in the multitude and location of base differences in hairpins I, II and III are observed in mouse and/or Xenopus. It is possible that U1 variants like the ones reported here play a role in alternative pre-mRNA splicing by way of different RNA-protein factor interactions.
Structured Programming: Retrospect and Prospect

Structured programming has changed how programs are written since its introduction two decades ago. However, it still has a lot of potential for more change.
Communication, class and concentric media practices: Developing a contemporary rubric

Understanding class as a process of self-making in relation to a particular, historical form of capitalism, in this article we argue that media and communication (from face-to-face and old mediums such as radio to internet-powered tools) must be conceptualized as an emerging structural dimension for class formation. Based on ethnographic fieldwork on the Media Mobilizing Project in Philadelphia, a community-based media and communications infrastructure and a network of organizations across the region, we develop a conceptual approach we call concentric practices, which provides us with a framework of how contemporary class formation is occurring through the use of media and communications. Concentric practices we understand and analyze along three overlapping processes, which establish a “common” among the different fragments of the working class: communicative spaces, narrative practices and shared struggles. Analytically, these concentric practices describe a process of thickening and converging of the ...
Management of Asymptomatic Term Neonates Whose Mothers Received Intrapartum Antibiotics—Part 2: Diagnostic Tests and Management Strategies

The evaluation of the potentially septic newborn is often a source of frustration for practitioners. In the past, it has often been standard practice to evaluate and treat empirically all neonates whose mothers received antibiotics during labor, regardless of whether the infant had any signs or symptoms suggestive of infection. With the advent of recommendations for intrapartum antibiotic therapy to prevent early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal infections, this strategy is no longer practicable because too many infants would thus be evaluated and treated needlessly. This two-part review addresses the issues involved in managing asymptomatic newborns whose mothers received intrapartum antibiotics. Part 1, published separately, reviewed the rationale behind strategies for preventing intrapartum transmission of bacterial infection. This final part addresses the evaluation and management of the newborn. A number of diagnostic tests are often used in looking for bacterial infections in the neonate. Unfort...
Clinical and biochemical characteristics of autoantibody systems in polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

OLYMYOSITIS (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are inflammatory muscle diseases of unknown etiology. There is strong evidence for cellular immune mechanisms of muscle damage in these disorders. In recent years, numerous autoantibodies have been identified in patients with myositis, but their role in producing this clinical syndrome is unknown. In this report, we summarize the current state of knowledge about myositis-related autoantibodies, including characterization of the antigens, epidemiology, clinical significance. and the clues these autoantibodies may provide concerning the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease.
Autonomous Navigation of Heavy Construction Equipment

: A John Deere model 690 excavator, mounted on a Standard Manufacturing Company wheeled undercarriage, has been automated for the purpose of autonomously uncovering and removing unexploded buried ordnance. This paper describes the development effort, with emphasis placed on the autonomous navigation of the excavator system. Accurate navigation is required in order to properly position the excavator system so that it can uncover and remove the target buried munition. Autonomous navigation is accomplished by use of an A* search algorithm for path planning, an inertial navigation system (INS) integrated with a global positioning system (GPS) for vehicle positioning, and proportional control for path-following. Data gathered from eight navigation test runs show that the excavator, on average, can navigate to within 0.67 m of a goal position and to within 0.021 rad of a goal orientation.
A new anti-Molinist argument

An argument is given showing that, on the assumptions of Molinism, human beings must bring about the truth of the counterfactuals of freedom that govern their actions. But, it is claimed, it is impossible for humans to do this, and so Molinism is involved in a contradiction. The Molinist must maintain, on the contrary, that we can indeed bring about the truth of counterfactuals of freedom about us. This question turns out to depend on whether the counterfactuals of freedom are, or are entailed by, part of the causal history of the world. A further argument is given that these counterfactuals are entailed by events intrinsic to the world's history. If this is so, then we cannot bring about the truth of these counterfactuals; the anti-Molinist argument succeeds, and Molinism is refuted.
Investigation of leaf biochemistry by hierarchical foreground/background analysis

A hierarchical procedure was developed for quantitative estimation of foliar chemistry from remote reflectance spectra. The authors based their analysis on a new methodology called Hierarchical Foreground and Background Analysis (HFBA) that derives sequentially a series of weighting vectors which simultaneously extract important discriminant features, in this case, leaf anatomy and chemical concentration at different levels of detection from the spectral information. In this study, they focused on the application of detecting carbon, cellulose, nitrogen concentrations, and water content. The goal of the derived vectors is twofold: 1) create a robust detection and classification system of constituent materials and 2) create a good information packing system that minimizes extraneous undesired interference, like noise, in the analysis. In their study, two data sets were examined: a fresh leaf (FL) data set, LOPEx, and a dry leaf data set, Blackhawk Island (BH), WI. The authors tested the robustness of the derived vectors with four other data sets: fresh leaf data from Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (JRBP), Santa Monica Mountains (SMM), CA and dry leaf data from two ACCP sites Howland and Harvard Forest. The results support the robustness of the HFBA system and demonstrate an advantage in classification accuracy as well as in predicting the biochemical composition (subsequent levels) over classical forms of analysis that ignore effects of the nonlinear variation that contribute to reflectance at different (subpixel and spectral) scales, HFBA primarily deals with the spectral scaling issue.
Generation of the rotationally symmetric TE 01 and TM 01 modes from a wavelength-tunable laser

A nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser has been made to operate in the rotationally symmetric TE01 or TM01 modes. The modes are preserved as the laser wavelength is varied. The mode selector allows convenient switching from one mode to the other. The theory of the operation of the mode selector is described.
Renewable highest capacity VB2/air energy storage.

The first renewable electrochemical energy system which stores more energy than gasoline is presented, and with an order of magnitude higher capacity than lithium-ion batteries, VB2 opens a pathway towards electric vehicles with a viable driving range.
Vortex dynamics of 2D electron plasmas

Abstract Electron columns confined magnetically in vacuum evolve in ( r , θ ) as N ∼10 9 field-aligned rods of charge, or point vortices. Neglecting discreteness, the column evolves as would vorticity in an inviscid, incompressible fluid, governed by the Euler equations. The macroscopic flow dynamics is readily imaged, including effects such as surface waves and inviscid damping, two vortex merger, and gradient-driven vortex motion. Turbulent initial states are observed to relax to “vortex crystal” meta-equlibria, due to vortex “cooling” from entropic mixing of background vorticity; and characteristics of this process are predicted by theory. The microscopic discreteness gives rise to point-vortex diffusion, which is strongly affected by the overall flow shear. Macroscopically and microscopically, the vortex dynamics depends critically on whether the vortex is prograde or retrograde with respect to the flow shear.
A reconfiguration of mobile clustering architecture for enhanced and reliable small unit computing

This paper presents a distributed architectural approach to enable robust mobile computing for squad-sized elements. The architecture of each soldierpsilas computer employs an array of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) with embedded processors to function as individual nodes that collectively comprise the mobile cluster configuration each soldier wears. Each node allows hardware reconfiguration to perform specific tasks, such as GPS tracking, wireless communication and video transmission. The robustness of these multi-FPGA hardware clusters allows the mobile platform to perform all the tasks of a traditional mobile computer with two significant advantages: fewer hardware peripherals and preservation of functionality even while portions of the cluster are partially or permanently damaged.
Reemphasizing the context of women's risk for HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Researchers who concentrate their efforts on improving public understanding of womens risk for HIV and developing interventions to reduce HIV risk have become increasingly aware that the epidemic is deeply rooted in a larger context, one in which HIV/AIDS co-occurs with other public health problems such as violence, and with structural inequities involving poverty and homelessness.
Shear strength of trapezoidal corrugated steel webs

Abstract Corrugated webs are used to increase the shear stability of the steel webs of beams and girders and to eliminate the need for transverse stiffeners. This paper focuses on the shear strength of corrugated steel webs with trapezoidal corrugations. Previously developed formulas for predicting the shear strength of steel trapezoidal corrugated webs, along with the corresponding theory, are summarized. A new formula is developed, which considers interaction among the various shear failure modes. More than 100 test results from previous research are organized and evaluated according to relevant test specimen parameters. The conditions of many of these tests are found to be inconsistent with the theoretical conditions assumed in deriving the shear strength formulas. The various formulas for predicting shear strength are then compared with selected test results. The new formula is shown to be more accurate than previous formulas for estimating the shear strength of corrugated steel webs.
Do people with intellectual disability require special human subjects research protections? The interplay of history, ethics, and policy

People with intellectual disability (ID) have a long history of discrimination and stigmatization, and a more recent history of pride and self-advocacy. The early history suggests that people with ID are a vulnerable population and deserve special research protections as do some other groups; the disability rights movement of the late 20th century aligns people with ID more closely with the principle of autonomy that has guided clinical and research ethics for the last 40 years. In examining the history of people with ID and the prevailing framework of human subjects research protections in the United States, we conclude that people with ID do not require special protection in human subjects research. The protections that have already been put in place for all individuals, if conscientiously and effectively implemented, achieve the right balance between safeguarding the interest of human research subjects and empowering individuals who choose to do so to participate in research.
Alteration in IGF-I mRNA content of fetal swine tissues in response to maternal diabetes

Diabetes alters the level of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA in tissues of postnatal animals, but the impact of maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes on IGF-I mRNA abundance in fetal tissues has not been examined. Pregnant pigs were injected with either buffer or alloxan (50 mg/kg) at day 75 of gestation to induce diabetes. Fetal tissue samples were collected at day 105 of gestation, and IGF-I mRNA abundance (densitometric units/10 micrograms total RNA) were estimated by specific ribonuclease protection assay. Fetal glucose and IGF-I concentrations were increased 166 and 34%, respectively, by maternal diabetes. Maternal diabetes induced an increase in abundance of IGF-I mRNA in fetal skeletal muscle, liver, heart, kidney, and placenta. IGF-I mRNA levels were depressed by maternal diabetes in fetal adipose tissue and brain compared with the respective tissues from fetuses of control pigs. These data indicate that circulating levels of IGF-I and the steady-state levels of IGF-I mRNA in fetal tissues can respond to the metabolic and endocrine alterations occurring during maternal diabetes. The large variation in expression and degree of response among fetal tissues indicates that the fetus experiences tissue-specific regulation of IGF-I expression during development.
Cross-Cultural Perspective on Attitudes toward Family Responsibility and Well-Being in Later Years

In this chapter, we used cross-national surveys from Japan and the United States to look at the perceptions of responsibility of children toward elderly parents, desirable ways of living in old age, and well-being in later years. By comparing Japan and the United States, we want to contribute to the analysis of the role of culture in mediating between values and age structures (Foner, 1984; Riley, Kahn, & Foner, 1994). The analysis of selected questions from these surveys, referred to as the Generations project,* is used to raise theoretical issues about shared attitudes toward aging and well-being, and the emergence of a trans-cultural sense of self among older people. By comparing age groups and looking at the discrepancies between younger adults’ and older persons’ perceptions of aging and normative expectations, we hope to throw some light on the discourse of aging in postmodern society. We further want to explore how the family provides a context that protects and isolates, helps and controls older people, creating tensions between emotional caring in the family and social isolation in the larger community, what we describe as paradoxes of attachment. Such an analysis requires that family relations be understood within the larger cultural framework of rights and obligations in each country.
Improved performance in tube-encapsulated phase change thermal energy stores for HVAC applications

Abstract Thermal energy stores can be used to shift building peak electric loads for cooling to off-peak hours. Compact, high-density thermal storage solutions are required for buildings that may not have the space necessary for typical thermal storage systems, such as chilled water tanks. Previous studies show that latent thermal stores using polymer tube-encapsulated paraffin-based phase change materials (PCM) yield acceptable thermal performance at low to moderate encapsulation tube packing densities, but that thermal performance falls as tube packing densities climb due to increasingly restricted heat transfer fluid (HTF) flow paths. This paper reports the experimental results found when using a highly conductive encapsulation material to redistribute the thermal energy around the PCM, mitigating the effect of the restricted HTF flow paths and enabling maximum encapsulation tube packing densities. These experiments show a more than two-fold increase in the percentage of recoverable thermal energy over a similar polymer tube based system, providing thermal performance comparable to that of a low density polymer tube encapsulation system while increasing PCM capacity by 111%. Test results are provided in a format suitable for estimating design criteria for larger thermal stores, and a design parameter – the resistance ratio – is proposed to assist in optimizing encapsulation tube parameters.
PP02.13 – 2983: Human neural stem cells improve water maze learning after rat pup moderate ischemic injury without affecting injury volume

Objective Stem cell (SC) transplantation is being evaluated for treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII). One issue is whether the potential for SCs to improve functional recovery depends on the degree of HII severity. We examined whether HII severity affected the potential reparative effects of human neural SC (hNSC) transplantation in a rat pup HII model. Methods We transplanted hNSCs (250k-500k) into the contralateral ventricle of rat pups 3d after unilateral HII. We examined lesion (total, core, penumbra) and hNSC volumes using MRI at 1, 4, 30 and 90d postinjury and behavior at 90d followed by histology and compared animals classified as mild, moderate and severe HII based on a rat pup severity score (RPSS). Results hNSC transplantation did not significantly reduce total, core or penumbral lesion volume in the mild or moderate injury groups. However, in the severe group, total and core ischemic volumes at 90d were greater in hNSC than in saline-treated pups. Also, we saw a reduction in the ability of hNSCs to replicate over 90d depending on the severity of the initial HII (% increase in hNSC volume: mild injury = 385%; moderate, 299%; severe, 210%). At 90d, moderate hNSC animals exhibited significantly improved spatial learning compared to moderate saline animals (p Conclusion Our data suggest that the degree of injury severity following neonatal HII is an important factor that needs to be considered if stem cells are to be evaluated in human newborns, as we found that behavioral improvements were observed only in moderate HII pups. Of interest is that hNSC transplantation resulted in increased lesion volume but only in severe HII pups at 90d post HII, but this was not associated with a worse behavioral outcome.[Support: NIH-1R01NS059770-01A2].
Household Size and the Decision to Purchase Health Insurance in Cambodia: Results of a Discrete-Choice Experiment with Scale Adjustment

Background Community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes have been introduced in low- and middle-income countries to increase health service utilization and provide financial protection from high healthcare expenditures.
A Generalization of the PageRank Algorithm

PageRank is a well-known algorithm that has been used to understand the structure of the Web. In its classical formulation the algorithm considers only forward looking paths in its analysis- a typical web scenario. We propose a generalization of the PageRank algorithm based on both out- links and in-links. This generalization enables the elimination network anomalies- and increases the applicability of the algorithm to an array of new applications in networked data. Through experimental results we illustrate that the proposed generalized PageRank minimizes the effect of network anomalies, and results in more realistic representation of the network.
A Demographic History of the West: Manistee County, Michigan, 1860

SINCE Frederick Jackson Turner propounded his frontier thesis, an army of historians have diligently gathered facts and written countless analyses of the frontier. The many "Wests," such as the cattle, the "sod house," and gold mining frontiers, with their differing terrain and natural resources, fostered varying activities and attracted diverse populations. Although these particular "Wests" have been extensively studied, students of the westward movement have conspicuously overlooked the timber frontier.' Manistee County, Michigan, a typical timber county, lends itself to analysis as a frontier because of available census data.2
AIDS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS: A SURVEY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS '

A survey of beliefs about, knowledge of, and attitudes about AIDS was administered to 345 college students. While knowledge was generally high, reported behavior was not always consistent with that knowledge.
Critical Science Literacy: What Citizens and Journalists Need to Know to Make Sense of Science.

Increasing public knowledge of science is a widely recognized goal, but what that knowledge might consist of is rarely unpacked. Existing measures of science literacy tend to focus on textbook knowledge of science. Yet constructing a meaningful list of facts, even facts in application, is not only difficult but less than satisfying as an indicator of what people actually know—or need to know—as citizens. Revisiting this concept from a more sociological perspective yields a rather different concept that is here termed “critical science literacy.” The implications of this reconsideration for thinking about citizen perspectives, for the work of science journalists and other professional interpreters, and for the design and evaluation of new approaches to science communication are explored.
Reoperation after sacral neuromodulation therapy: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES Sacral neuromodulation has become an accepted treatment for various types of lower urinary tract dysfunction. However, despite technologic advances in device implantation and a trial stimulation period, sacral neuromodulation still has a significant reoperation rate. We report our single-institution experience of reoperation rates. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of our patients who had undergone the implantation of the InterStim device from April 1999 to December 2011 for lower urinary tract dysfunction. RESULTS A total of 155 InterStim devices were implanted by 2 surgeons. Of the 142 patients with complete follow-up, 55 (38.2%) patients required reoperation, for either revision or explantation of the device. Revisions were performed in 30 (21.1%) patients, most commonly for mechanical failure of device, battery end-of-service, and pain, either at the site of the implanted pulse generator or with stimulation. Of the 30 patients who underwent revision, 14 had successful results, 6 had persistent symptoms, and 10 progressed to eventual explantation.The overall explantation rate was 24.6% (35 of 142 patients), and the average time to removal was 44 months. Most of the explantations were performed for poor symptom control and failure to maintain response (74.3%).Reoperation was not associated with age, sex, obesity, diabetes, chronic pain, use of the tined lead, or type of lower urinary tract dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Sacral neuromodulation has a substantial revision and explantation rate, without any clear predictors for these complications. Patients should be counseled to these complications before surgery.
The Influence of Chemical Agents on the Accumulation of Adenosine 3',5'-Phosphate in Slices of Rabbit Cerebellum

Incubation of slices of rabbit cerebellum with norepinephrine for a few minutes resulted in large increases in the tissue content of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate. Exposure of slices to norepinephrine for more than 6 min led to a progressive disappearance of this nucleotide. Theophylline, a known inhibitor of cyclic-3',5'-ribonucleotide phosphodiesterase, had relatively little effect by itself upon the slice content of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate, but potentiated the effects of norepinephrine severalfold. In a survey of substances known to occur in the central nervous system, histamine, and to a lesser extent serotonin, were observed to produce effects similar to those of norepinephrine. The effects of histamine and norepinephrine were additive; phenoxybenzamine and diphenhydramine were observed to inhibit the effects of histamine at concentrations having relatively little influence on the action of norepinephrine while dichloroisoproterenol specifically prevented the effects of norepinephrine. Prolonged exposure of slices to norepinephrine desensitized slices to the readdition of norepinephrine, but not to histamine and vice versa. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was supported in part by Grants AM-06141, NB-05716, and GM-661 from the U.S. Public Health Service. The authors also wish to acknowledge the skillful technical assistance of Mrs. Arleen Maxwell Haley and Mr. George Thorne in carrying out this work.
Lung Infiltrates Following Removal of a Neck Mass

(1982). Lung Infiltrates Following Removal of a Neck Mass. Hospital Practice: Vol. 17, No. 7, pp. 153-157.
Infectious sinusitis and otitis

Insight into the pathogenesis and knowledge of the microbial flora provide the basis for the treatment of sinus and ear infections. Reduced oxygen tension and impaired mucociliary transport are important factors that influence the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic sinusitis and otitis. Therefore, topical decongestion and antibiotic regimens belong to the main therapeutic principles. The choice of an antibiotic for treatment of acute infections is usually empiric; however, in chronic and recurrent infections identification of the microbiology by fluid aspiration from the sinus or middle ear is desirable before long-term antibiotic therapy is initiated. It is also important to recognize underlying predisposing conditions such as nasal polyps, anatomic deformities or tooth abscesses which should be corrected to prevent further recurrences. External otitis is a painful condition seen most frequently in the swimming season (swimmer's ear) and is often associated with the use of cotton swabs. Repeated removal of debris from of the external canal and ototopical antibiotics are mostly successful; however, in severe cases like in necrotizing external otitis antibiotic therapy is indicated.
The organization of flood evacuation in the ant genusPheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Minor workers ofPheidole cephalica respond to small quantities of water placed in the nest entrance by making alarm runs through the nest, often ending at alternate entrances (fig. 1). They use odor trails to lead nestmates into the entrance galleries and sometimes away from the nest altogether. With this procedure one or two workers are able to mobilize a large fraction of the colony in 30 secs or less.
Resources for Teaching Discrete Mathematics: A Study of Logic and Programming via Turing Machines

During the International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris in 1900 David Hilbert (1862–1943), one of the leading mathematicians of the last century, proposed a list of problems for following generations to ponder [8, p. 290–329] [9]. On the list was whether the axioms of arithmetic are consistent, a question which would have profound consequences for the foundations of mathematics. Continuing in this direction, in 1928 Hilbert proposed the decision problem (das Entscheidungsproblem) [10, 11, 12], which asked whether there was a standard procedure that can be applied to decide whether a given mathematical statement is true. Both Alonzo Church (1903–1995) [2, 3] and Alan Turing (1912–1954) [13] published papers in 1936 demonstrating that the decision problem has no solution, although it is the algorithmic character of Turing’s paper “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem” [13] that forms the basis for the modern programmable computer. Today his construction is known as a Turing machine. Let’s first study a few excerpts from Turing’s original paper [13, p. 231–234], and then design a few machines to perform certain tasks.
Mentor's brain functional connectivity network during robotic assisted surgery mentorship

In many complicated cognitive-motor tasks mentoring is inevitable during the learning process. Although mentors are expert in doing the task, trainee's operation might be new for a mentor. This makes mentoring a very difficult task which demands not only the knowledge and experience of a mentor, but also his/her ability to follow trainee's movements and patiently advise him/her during the operation. We hypothesize that information binding throughout the mentor's brain areas, contributed to the task, changes as the expertise level of the trainee improves from novice to intermediate and expert. This can result in the change of mentor's level of satisfaction. The brain functional connectivity network is extracted by using brain activity of a mentor during mentoring novice and intermediate surgeons, watching expert surgeon operation, and doing Urethrovesical Anasthomosis (UVA) procedure by himself. By using the extracted network, we investigate the role of modularity and neural activity efficiency in mentoring. Brain activity is measured by using a 24-channel ABM Neuro-headset with the frequency of 256 Hz. One mentor operates 26 UVA procedures and three trainees with the expertise level of novice, intermediate, and expert perform 26 UVA procedures under the supervision of mentor. Our results indicate that the modularity of functional connectivity network is higher when mentor performs the task or watches the expert operation comparing mentoring the novice and intermediate surgeons. At the end of each operation, mentor subjectively assesses the quality of operation by giving scores to NASA-TLX indexes. Performance score is used to discuss our results. The extracted significant positive correlation between performance level and modularity (r = 0.38, p — value < 0.005) shows the increase of automaticity and decrease in neural activity cost by improving the performance.
Abstract 5001: High dose IL-2 (HDIL-2) results in increased PD-1 expression on CD45RA-CCR7-CD8+ and CD45RA-CCR7-CD4+ T cells in melanoma patients

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Introduction: HDIL-2 is associated with long-term remissions in Stage IV melanoma in less than 10% of patients. We hypothesized that HDIL-2 alters the expression of PD-1 on T cell subsets in melanoma patients. Methods: Samples were collected after written consent under an IRB approved protocol. Peripheral blood was collected at baseline and serially post-treatment at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours from 6 patients with advanced stage melanoma undergoing HDIL-2. All patients were treatment naive with regards to anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 therapies. PBMCs were isolated and underwent intracellular cytokine and extracellular receptor staining. Co-signaling molecule expression was analyzed via flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t tests via Prism 6.0e software. Results: HDIL-2 was associated with a preferential loss of effector memory (TEM; CD45RA-CCR7-) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a relative enrichment of naive (CD45RA+CCR7+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood during the first 3 days of treatment. On day 4, frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ TEM had returned to baseline. Importantly, PD-1 expression was significantly increased on day 4 post-treatment on CD8+ TEM relative to baseline (22.1% +/- 13.2% on day 4 compared to 13.4% +/- 7.4% at baseline; p = 0.04). This finding was also true for CD4+ TEM (11.4% +/- 6.1% on day 4 compared to 6.1% +/- 3.7% at baseline, p = 0.04). PD-1 expression was not statistically different within the other CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cell subsets including: naive, central memory (CD45RA-CCR7+), or TEMRA (CD45RA+CCR7-) lymphocytes. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that HDIL-2 is associated with an increase in expression of PD-1 on TEM cells in patients with advanced melanoma suggesting a possible mechanism contributing to the limited efficacy of HDIL-2 in most patients. It is known that TEM cells function by migrating to peripheral tissues, and that CD8+ TEM cells are found specifically in metastatic melanoma lesions. Importantly, our findings illustrate a potential synergistic effect between HDIL-2 and PD-1 blockade. Upregulation of PD-1 and the chronologic pattern in which its expression changes under the effects of HDIL-2 provide a mechanistic rationale for testing the combination of HDIL-2 and anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with advanced melanoma. Citation Format: Maggie L. Diller, Susan Maio, Cabell E. Eysmans, David Lawson, Keith A. Delman, Ragini R. Kudchadkar, Mandy L. Ford. High dose IL-2 (HDIL-2) results in increased PD-1 expression on CD45RA-CCR7-CD8+ and CD45RA-CCR7-CD4+ T cells in melanoma patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5001. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5001
Cystoid macular changes on optical coherence tomography in a patient with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD)-associated macular dystrophy.

The clinical presentation and optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) are presented to highlight the presence of macular cystoid sp...
A Community Checklist for Health Sector Resilience Informed by Hurricane Sandy

This is a checklist of actions for healthcare, public health, nongovernmental organizations, and private entities to use to strengthen the resilience of their community's health sector to disasters. It is informed by the experience of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey and analyzed in the context of findings from other recent natural disasters in the United States. The health sector is defined very broadly, including—in addition to hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), and public health agencies—healthcare providers, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, home health providers, behavioral health providers, and correctional health services. It also includes community-based organizations that support these entities and represent patients. We define health sector resilience very broadly, including all factors that preserve public health and healthcare delivery under extreme stress and contribute to the rapid restoration of normal or improved health sector functioning after a disaster. ...
The Influence of Calcium Chloride on Flexural Strength of Cement-Based Materials

Calcium chloride (CaCl2), which is commonly used as a deicing salt, can react with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in cement-based materials to form calcium oxychloride. This reaction causes damage that typically manifests itself as flaking of concrete pavements at the joints and leads to expensive repairs and a reduction of the service life. In this paper, cement pastes with different fly ash replacement levels were prepared to provide pastes with differing amounts of Ca(OH)2. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to quantify the Ca(OH)2 content in these pastes. Low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (LT-DSC) was used to quantify the amount of calcium oxychloride formed when these pastes were exposed to CaCl2 solutions. The reduction in the flexural strength of these pastes saturated with different CaCl2 solutions was also measured. As the concentration of CaCl2 increases, the reduction in flexural strength increases. There is a lower flexural strength reduction in pastes with fly ash, because these pastes have lower Ca(OH)2 and form lower amounts of calcium oxychloride. The strength reduction is directly correlated to the amount of formed calcium oxychloride.
A Prospective Longitudinal Study to Investigate Corneal Hysteresis as a Risk Factor for Predicting Development of Glaucoma

Purpose To investigate the role of corneal hysteresis (CH) as a risk factor for development of glaucoma. Design Prospective observational cohort study. Methods Two hundred and eighty-seven eyes of 199 patients suspected of having glaucoma were followed for an average of 3.9 ± 1.8 years. All eyes had normal visual fields at baseline. Development of glaucoma was defined as occurrence of 3 consecutive abnormal standard automated perimetry tests during follow-up, defined as pattern standard deviation (PSD) Results Fifty-four (19%) eyes developed repeatable visual field defects during follow-up. Measurements of CH at baseline were significantly lower in patients who developed glaucoma vs those who did not (9.5 ± 1.5 mm Hg vs 10.2 ± 2.0 mm Hg; P = .012). Each 1-mm Hg lower CH was associated with an increase of 21% in the risk of developing glaucoma during follow-up (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.41; P = .013). In a multivariable model adjusting for age, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, PSD, and treatment, CH was still predictive of development of glaucoma (hazard ratio = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.01–1.42; P = .040). Conclusion Baseline lower CH measurements were significantly associated with increased risk of developing glaucomatous visual field defects over time. The prospective longitudinal design of this study supports a role of CH as a risk factor for developing glaucoma.
ALV Integration-Associated Hypomethylation at the TERT Promoter Locus

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a simple retrovirus that can induce B-cell lymphoma in chicken(s) and other birds by insertional mutagenesis. The promoter region of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been identified as an important integration site for tumorigenesis. Tumors with TERT promoter integrations are associated with increased TERT expression. The mechanism of this activation is still under investigation. We asked whether insertion of proviral DNA perturbs the epigenome of the integration site and, subsequently, impacts the regulation of neighboring genes. DNA cytosine methylation, which generally acts to suppress transcription, is one major form of epigenetic regulation. In this study, we examine allele-specific methylation patterns of genomic DNA from chicken tumors by bisulfite sequencing. We observed that alleles with TERT promoter integrations are associated with decreased methylation in the host genome near the site of integration. Our observations suggest that insertion of ALV in the TERT promoter region may induce expression of TERT through inhibition of maintenance methylation in the TERT promoter region.