cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does androgen insufficiency cause lacrimal gland inflammation and aqueous tear deficiency

PURPOSE. The current investigators have shown that androgen treatment suppresses inflammation and stimulates the function of lacrimal glands in mouse models of Sjogren's syndrome. Recently, others have hypothesized that androgen insufficiency induces an autoimmune process in lacrimal tissue, leading to inflammation, a Sjogren's syndrome-like pathology, and aqueous tear deficiency. The purpose of the present study was to test this hypothesis. METHODS. Lacrimal glands were obtained from adult testicular feminized (Tfm) and control mice; castrated rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits; and castrated rats without anterior or whole pituitary glands and were processed for histology and image analysis. Tear volumes were measured in mice, in patients taking antiandrogen medications, and in age-matched human control subjects. RESULTS. Tfm mice, which are completely resistant to classical androgen action, did not have increased lymphocyte infiltration in their lacrimal glands or decreased tear volumes. No inflammation was evident in lacrimal tissues of male or female rats, guinea pigs, or rabbits 12 to 31 days after castration, no inflammation existed in rat lacrimal glands 15 to 31 days after orchiectomy and pituitary removal, and no aqueous tear deficiency was apparent in patients receiving antiandrogen therapy. CONCLUSIONS. Androgen deficiency may promote the progression of Sjogren's syndrome and its associated lacrimal gland inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, and severe dry eye. However, androgen insufficiency alone does not cause lacrimal gland inflammation, a Sjogren's syndrome-like pathology in lacrimal tissue, or aqueous tear deficiency in nonautoimmune animals and humans.
The Influence of Cyclic Hormonal Contraception on Expression of Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract Background: Some women who use cyclic hormonal contraception (CHC) suffer from premenstrual symptoms; whether their symptoms differ from women who do not use CHC is not clear. Objective: To compare women who use or do not use CHC on perimenstrual symptom timing and change severity. Study Design: We analyzed daily symptom ratings from women who requested participation in (Screened Cohort: 103 used CHC and 387 did not) or were randomized in (Randomized Cohort: 41 used CHC and 211 did not) a clinical trial for premenstrual syndrome. We used effect sizes to compute and compare change scores between cycle phases in four partially overlapping perimenstrual windows defined relative to day 1 of menses [(−6, −1), (−5, 1), (−4, 2), (−3, 3)]. Differences in magnitude of change and timing were estimated using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Both cohorts showed a significant two-way interaction between CHC use and symptom change scores (p < 0.01) and a significant main effect of perimenstrual window (p ...
Characterizing Peri-ictal Mood Changes in Patients with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (P4.201)

Objective: While the etiology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) remains unclear, a potential contributor may be psychological distress and poor coping strategies in these patients. We hypothesize that seizures may serve as a coping strategy in patients with PNES by improving mood and anxiety in the hours following a seizure. Background: Patients with PNES have episodes of apparent alteration of awareness and changes in behavior that resemble epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal electrical activity. While patients have been found to have conversion, somatization, and dissociative disorders, the cause of the disorders remains uncertain. Some studies suggest that these patients have poor coping skills but little is known about the psychological mechanism behind the seizures and the effects of PNES in the peri-ictal period. Methods: Patients admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for video EEG monitoring completed depression and anxiety questionnaires upon enrollment and at 4, 12, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after a seizure using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Beck Anxiety Inventories (BAI). Seizure type was classified by EEG analysis after a seizure. A matched paired T-test was used for subsequent analysis. Results: For the patients in the study who were diagnosed with PNES, there was a decrease in average depression and anxiety scores following a seizure. The primary mood improvement was in anxiety at 12 hours post-ictal (average BAI decrease= -6.9; p=0.0672; t=2.231; n=7). Conclusions: Patients showed decreased depression and anxiety trending towards significance. While the study is ongoing and current sample size is small, preliminary data support our hypothesis that PNES patients achieve some degree of anxiety reduction following their seizures. Study Supported by: University of Maryland School of Medicine PRISM Disclosure: Dr. Yin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cassady has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grimes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Turlington has nothing to disclose. Dr. Richert has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kvarta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thompson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hopp has received personal compensation for activities with UpToDate online publication.
Competing and contested discourses of citizenship and civic praxis

In this paper, I utilize complementary features of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to trace and investigate issues of power, materiality, and reproduction embedded within notions of citizenship and civic engagement. I interrogate the often narrow and conservative political and public discourses in Arizona, as well as the xenophobic-driven civics education policy. To these, I juxtapose the enactment of citizenship by youth who use, produce, and share language materials and counter authoritative citizenship and civic discourses, especially, but not exclusively, in online contexts. I explore the questions: In what ways are discourses of civic engagement and citizenship assembled, interpreted, understood, enacted, and contested in Arizona? What are the relationships between the civics education policy, discursive enactments of citizenship, and the youth of Mexican descent’s online civic practices? I draw on a mixture of textual (language materials) and discursive (events, acts, and practices) data collected in Arizona to argue that youth are doing critical, yet unrecognized and undervalued, forms of civic engagement online, which could be incorporated in the formal civics education curriculum.
Entransy concept and controversies: A critical perspective within elusive thermal landscape

Abstract The concept of ‘entransy’, a product of heat and temperature, originally called ‘heat transport potential capacity’, was introduced in 2003, as analogy to product of electrical charge and voltage, as well as other similar quantities. The concept has been extended to entransy property, as integral product of ‘stored heat’ and temperature, MCvT2/2, thus representing quantity and quality of stored heat, or thermal energy in isochoric processes without work interactions. The entransy has been used for analysis and optimization of many heat transfer processes as described in many publications since its introduction, and is under further development. Later, the entransy concept has been criticized and denounced by a group of researchers, thus creating controversies that need to be put in a broader, historical and contemporary perspective, which is the main goal of this paper. Despite the need for further clarifications and development of the new concept, it would be premature and unjust to discredit entransy, based on limited and subjective claims, as if the ‘already established’ concepts and methodologies are perfect, and do not need alternatives and innovations, as if further progress is not needed.
The collapse argument

We can divide philosophical theories of consciousness into two main camps: First-Order theories and Higher-Order theories. Like all Higher-Order theories, many First-Order theories are mentalistic theories of consciousness: they attempt to reduce a mental state’s being consciousness using mental (but non-phenomenal) terms, such as being available to certain cognitive centers. I argue that mentalistic First-Order theories, once fully cashed out, collapse into some form of Higher-Order theory. I contend that not only are there general considerations in favor of this conclusion, but that the four most prominent mentalistic ‘First-Order’ theories are, in fact, Higher-Order theories in disguise. Given a strong assumption in favor of some form of mentalism, if this is right, what emerges is a powerful argument for the Higher-Order theory of consciousness.
Hydrocarbon Processing by Plasma

Nonthermal plasma processes have been successfully utilized commercially in air pollution control, ozone generation, polymerization processes, and microelectronics processing. The addition of a liquid phase that contacts the plasma has given rise to a wide range of other potential applications in materials synthesis, biomedicine, and chemical synthesis. Applications in the petroleum and energy fields utilizing organic chemistry plasma processes have been investigated as well, for example, in hydrogen generation, gas reforming, and partial oxidation. Partial oxidation of hydrocarbons is a longstanding challenge in organic chemistry, and recent work with plasma and plasma contacting liquids have demonstrated the formation of alcohols and other oxygenated species from a range of hydrocarbons. This review focuses on the functionalization of hydrocarbons with radical species produced by nonthermal plasma discharges primarily in oxygen and argon gases with liquid water. Since the types of chemical reactions that can be induced by plasma depend strongly on the composition of the gases utilized, the reactor configuration, and the plasma properties, we address two major ways of functionalizing hydrocarbons with plasma; 1) utilization of oxygen radicals from molecular oxygen and 2) utilization of hydroxyl radicals from liquid water. Both methods supply oxidants that lead to similar reaction product distributions and such plasma processes have the potential to produce value-added products efficiently and with reduced environmental impact.
Bending and Crack Characteristics of Polymer Lattice-Reinforced Mortar

As the construction industry moves toward precast structures, a more mechanically robust concrete is required. To provide joints with higher mechanical toughness, we propose reinforcing the mortar with a polymeric lattice. This study considers the mechanical effects of reinforcing concrete with a polymeric lattice and compares this new technique against the standard fiber-reinforced method. We investigate the octet lattice, which is notable for its high specific strength. Lattices with 23.4 mm unit cells were prototyped out of polylactic acid using a thermoplastic extrusion-based 3D printer. These lattices were placed in a rectangular mold, infiltrated with concrete, and vibrated. The resulting specimens were tested for flexural strength in four-point bending on a hydraulic testing machine. Bending test results show that the lattice-reinforced beams achieve a net deflection at peak load that is 2.5 times greater than that of the fiber-reinforced beams. Further, the lattice-reinforced beams obtain toughness and peak load values comparable to the fiber-reinforced beams while allowing for easier processing. Fabrication of these lattice structures for use in construction can readily be scaled, as the polymeric lattices can be manufactured through injection molding.
Abstract 18101: Examining Self-Efficacy and Patient Activation Mechanisms in a Weight Management Intervention for Overweight and Obese Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

Introduction: Approximately 80% of cardiac patients in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are overweight. Although weight loss interventions are effective in reducing weight in the short-term, they fail t...
Splenic cyst : aspiration, laparoscopic derooling, or surgical excision and omentopexy.

ABSTRACT: Congenital non-parasitic splenic cysts are rare. Differentiation of true cysts with epithelial lining of the cyst wall from pseudocysts without such lining is important from the management point of view. True cysts are resistant to non surgical methods of treatment like aspiration or sclerosis. Presented is the case of a 16 year old boy with an epidermoid cyst of the spleen which failed to respond to repeated aspirations and recurred following laparoscopic deroofing. This was effectively managed with surgical near total excision and omentopexy of the residual cavity.
2196 Vulvar Vestibulectomy with Vaginal Advancement Flap for Neuroproliferative Vulvodynia

Video Objective To demonstrate the surgical technique and steps of a vulvar vestibulectomy procedure used for management of neuroproliferative vulvodynia. Setting A patient with lifelong vulvar pain and dyspareunia diagnosed with neuroproliferative vulvodynia seeking surgical management at a large academic center. Interventions Vulvodynia is a common, but under recognized, cause of pain in women. In neuroproliferative vulvodynia, there is a higher density of nociceptors in the vestibule that cause both allodynia and hyperalgesia. Though medical management options are available, surgical management through vestibulectomy removes the affected mucosa with the associated nociceptors, and can more effectively alleviate pain for these women. Conclusion For patients with neuroproliferative vulvodynia, surgical management with removal of the vulvar vestibule is a safe and effective treatment method.
Migration and Integration: The Case for Liberalism with Borders

Migration and Integration clarifies and proposes answers for all of the politically toxic questions associated with large-scale migration from the Global South to the Western liberal democracies. Driven by the conviction that the Alt-Right is using the issues of migration and integration effectively to batter the defenses of liberal democracy, Professor Tom Farer argues that despite its strength, the moral case for open borders should be rejected and that while broadly tolerant of different life styles, the state should enforce core liberal values. Examining closely the policies and practices of various European states, Farer draws on their experience, contrasts it with that of the United States, and provides a detailed strategy for addressing the issues of who should be allowed to enter, how migrant families should be integrated and cultural conflicts resolved. This remarkable elaboration of a liberal position on migration and integration to which moderate conservatives could adhere combines powerful analysis with passionate advocacy.
Sowing Across a State: Development and Delivery of a Grassroots Pediatric Palliative Care Nursing Curriculum.

Background:Rural pediatricians and adult-trained hospice teams report feeling ill-prepared to care for children at end of life, resulting in geographies in which children are not able to access hom...
Association between telomere length and neighborhood characteristics by race and region in US midlife and older adults

Abstract Disadvantaged neighborhoods are correlated with worse health outcomes, particularly among US Blacks. However, less is known about the link between neighborhood characteristics and biomarkers of cellular age, such as telomere length (TL), which may be implicated in racial health inequities. Moreover, this relationship may vary across US region given patterns of racial segregation across the US. Therefore, this study analyzed 2008 Health and Retirement Study data on 3,869 US-born white and Black adults >50 years old to examine race differences in the relationship between salivary TL and (1) neighborhood safety, cleanliness, and social cohesion and (2) interactions between neighborhood characteristics and US region. Neighborhood characteristics were not associated with TL in whites. However, significant associations were found among Blacks with variation by region. Blacks living in less clean neighborhoods in the Northeast (b = −0.03, SE = 0.01, p
Impact of intrinsic framework flexibility for selective adsorption of sarin in non-aqueous solvents using metal-organic frameworks.

Molecular modeling of mixture adsorption in nanoporous materials can provide insight into the molecular-level details that underlie adsorptive separations. Modeling of adsorption often employs a rigid framework approximation for computational convenience. All real materials, however, have intrinsic flexibility due to thermal vibrations of their atoms. In this article, we examine quantitative predictions of the adsorption selectivity for a dilute concentration of a chemical warfare agent, sarin, from bulk mixtures with aqueous and non-aqueous (methanol, isopropyl alcohol) solvents using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). These predictions were made in MOFs approximated as rigid and also in MOFs allowed to have intrinsic flexibility. Including framework flexibility appears to have important consequences for quantitative predictions of adsorption selectivity, particularly for sarin/water mixtures. Our observations suggest the intrinsic flexibility of MOFs can have a nontrivial impact on adsorption modeling of molecular mixtures, especially for mixtures containing polar species and molecules of different sizes.
A strategy for training 3D object recognition models with limited training data using transfer learning

A typical issue with development of 3D image recognition models and systems is that 3D images often come with large volumes of data and require expensive computational cost for image reconstruction and model training. Transfer learning is a machine learning technique where a model trained on one task is reused on another related task. In this research, we propose a Transfer Learning method that allows training a 3D object recognition model with very limited training data, so requires much fewer reconstructed image slices, and help reduce the computational cost of both image reconstruction and training such models. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding Transfer Learning for 3D object recognition using integral imaging.
Objective score from initial interview identifies patients with probable dissociative seizures.

Abstract Objective To develop a Dissociative Seizures Likelihood Score (DSLS), which is a comprehensive, evidence-based tool using information available during the first outpatient visit to identify patients with “probable” dissociative seizures (DS) to allow early triage to more extensive diagnostic assessment. Methods Based on data from 1616 patients with video-electroencephalography (vEEG) confirmed diagnoses, we compared the clinical history from a single neurology interview of patients in five mutually exclusive groups: epileptic seizures (ES), DS, physiologic nonepileptic seizure-like events (PSLE), mixed DS plus ES, and inconclusive monitoring. We used data-driven methods to determine the diagnostic utility of 76 features from retrospective chart review and applied this model to prospective interviews. Results The DSLS using recursive feature elimination (RFE) correctly identified 77% (95% confidence interval (CI), 74–80%) of prospective patients with either ES or DS, with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 84%. This accuracy was not significantly inferior than neurologists’ impression (84%, 95% CI: 80–88%) and the kappa between neurologists’ and the DSLS was 21% (95% CI: 1–41%). Only 3% of patients with DS were missed by both the fellows and our score (95% CI 0–11%). Significance The evidence-based DSLS establishes one method to reliably identify some patients with probable DS using clinical history. The DSLS supports and does not replace clinical decision making. While not all patients with DS can be identified by clinical history alone, these methods combined with clinical judgement could be used to identify patients who warrant further diagnostic assessment at a comprehensive epilepsy center.
Clinical Outcomes of Noninvasive Ventilation in Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and Other COPD.

OBJECTIVES Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) appears to be associated with a significant decrease in frequency of exacerbation, hospital admissions, and mortality in patients with COPD. In this study, we sought to determine clinical outcomes, prevalence, patient profiles and systems characteristics associated with the use of NIV in patients with asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD. METHODS In this retrospective study, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample dataset was used to evaluate patient characteristics for adult hospitalizations for asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD between January 2002 and December 2017. Using the adjusted survey logistic regression model, the association between NIV and in-hospital mortality for asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD was ascertained. RESULTS Other COPD hospitalization prevalence was nearly two times higher among non-Hispanic Black patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients (8.32/1000 vs 4.46/1000). There was a 4.3% average annual decrease in the rates of NIV among hospitalized patients with other COPD during the study period. Furthermore, nonusage of NIV was associated with increased in-hospital mortality for asthma (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-1.57), bronchiectasis (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.69-2.41), and other COPD (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.16-1.32), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Inpatient use of NIV has a clear mortality benefit in asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD. These findings support a signal for potential benefit, particularly among certain populations and warrant further investigation.
Appstrument - A Unified App Instrumentation and Automated Playback Framework for Testing Mobile Applications

Mobile Test Automation is gaining significant importance for an app-tester because it helps to alleviate the voluminous effort and time associated in thoroughly testing an application. Challenges like diversity in mobile hardware, multiple operating systems, ever-increasing application complexity and high volume of test cases etc. reiterate the importance of exploiting automation techniques for mobile application testing. In order to exhaustively capture user actions during the record-phase, faithfully reproduce those actions during playback-phase and also to capture the relevant metrics while playing back, instrumentation of the Application-under-test (AUT) becomes an imperative process. However, the type and level of instrumentation is different and is very specific to the category of testing which has to be automated. This paper presents Appstrument, a unified framework for instrumenting mobile applications to make them ready for functional, performance and accessibility testing. This framework allows instrumenting the application to get it ready for either a single category of testing or a combination of two or more of these categories, with multiple optional features for each category. In addition to this, given a test script, the framework also supports automated playback of instrumented applications. Appstrument has been deployed and tested against some popular applications from Google Play (Android apps) and some IBM in-house iOS applications. Results indicate that this framework is able to successfully instrument a sizeable number of applications and effectively playback user-defined test cases automatically to collect relevant metrics/results corresponding to each category of testing.
Design and feasibility of high temperature nanoparticle fluid filter in hybrid thermal/photovoltaic concentrating solar power

A nanoparticle fluid filter used with concentrating hybrid solar/thermal collector design is presented. Nanoparticle fluid filters could be situated on any given concentrating system with appropriate customized engineering. This work shows the design in the context of a trough concentration system. Geometric design and physical placement in the optical path was modeled using SolTrace. It was found that a design can be made that blocks 0% of the traced rays. The nanoparticle fluid filter is tunable for different concentrating systems using various PV cells or operating at varying temperatures.
Strategies for using molecular neuroimaging in dementia.

Publisher Summary This chapter explains that molecular imaging techniques provide unique information about neurodegenerative diseases by probing brain biochemistry. The techniques have increased our understanding of the characteristic metabolic, neurotransmitter and enzymatic signatures of dementing disorders by localizing the abnormalities and revealing the evolution throughout the disease course. The chapter discusses how molecular imaging also can evaluate drug effects on brain biochemistry and hasten the development of new therapies. These methods are powerful, but complex. As a consequence, only a few of the many potential molecular imaging strategies thus far have reached clinical application. Finally, the chapter concludes that there is now sufficient experience to incorporate molecular imaging into everyday diagnostic and treatment decisions about dementia. The clinician's challenge is to utilize these tools optimally.
Use of Wet Distillers’ Grains with Solubles Mixed with Ground Hay and Bunker Stored in a Heifer Development Program

A total of 124 Angus heifers split into treatment and control groups with three replicates were utilized to compare a bunker stored mixture of wet distillers’ grains with solubles and ground hay to a normal growing ration for developing heifers. Heifers receiving the mixture gained slower, were less efficient in feed conversion and had numerical lower reproductive rates than those on a control ration consisting of corn, haylage, soybean meal and a mineral balancer. However, neither the control or treatment ration mixtures achieved goals set out at the beginning of the trial for growth, efficiency and pregnancy rates.
Competenza visuale: imparare e insegnare nella biblioteca accademica del XXI secolo e oltre

L'articolo offre una panoramica sulla competenza visuale, cosi come elaborata dall'ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries), e si sofferma sulle affinita tra competenze informative e competenze visuali; sul ruolo del bibliotecario accademico nelle universita americane per quel che riguarda l’insegnamento delle competenze visuali; e sul potenziale ruolo dei fumetti nella trasmissione di tali competenze.
cDNA sequence and predicted primary structure of the gamma subunit from the ATP synthase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Abstract The 1701-base nucleotide sequence (not including the poly(A) tail) of a cDNA for the gamma subunit of the ATP synthase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was determined. A start translation sequence, 23 bases in from the 5' end, initiates an 1074-base-long open reading frame. The sequence of the first 21 amino acids at the amino-terminal end of the mature gamma subunit from C. reinhardtii was determined and compared to the deduced amino acid sequence of the open reading frame. From this it was determined that the mature protein contains 323 amino acids, with the first 35 amino acids probably being part of the transit peptide. The length of the mature protein is the same as that for the mature gamma subunit from spinach, for which only a few of the amino acids of the transit peptide are known. The similarity of the two mature proteins at the nucleotide level is 56% while at the amino acid level it is 77%. In addition, the 3 cysteines, which in spinach are involved in the energy-linked catalytic functions of the ATP synthase, are conserved in the predicted amino acid sequence for the gamma subunit from C. reinhardtii. In contrast, the mature C. reinhardtii gamma subunit contains 3 additional cysteine residues not found in the spinach gamma subunit.
Testing the Efficiency of Aerosol Containment During Cell Sorting

Production of droplets and microdroplets (aerosols) is part of the normal operation of a cell sorter. These aerosols may contain toxic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic fluorophores or known or unknown pathogens from viable biological specimens. Most newer models of commercially available instruments incorporate features designed to reduce the production of aerosols and prevent their release into the room. This unit presents two protocols for assessment of aerosol containment on jet-in-air flow sorters. In both procedures, lytic T4 bacteriophage is run through the instrument at high concentrations to tag aerosol droplets. The instrument is tested in normal operating mode and in simulated failure mode. Aerosols are detected by plaque formation on susceptible E. coli lawns. With the continuing increase in the sorting of viable human cells, it is vital for cytometrists to be aware of the potential dangers.
Subcellular and Subsynaptic Localization of Glutamate Transporters in the Monkey Basal Ganglia

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. In addition to its essential role as mediator of rapid signaling, this excitatory amino acid also contributes to brain damage observed in acute insults (e.g. head trauma) and some chronic neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) (Choi, 1992; Fornai et al., 1997). Therefore, removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft plays an important role not only in the dynamics of glutamate receptor activation but also in the maintenance of subtoxic levels of glutamate. This requirement is handled by the family of high-affinity glutamate transporters (Amara, 1992).
Toward post-national societies and global citizenship

AbstractThis paper explores the thesis that models of post-national societies and global citizenship are on the rise and that these models have important educational implications. We examine changing portraits of citizens, states, and societies in school textbooks around the world. We find that in general, textbooks are increasingly more student-centered, more environmentalist in focus, and contain more human rights emphases, but are only modestly more likely to stress diversity. This is particularly true for social studies and civics textbooks in comparison to history textbooks. We further find these changing emphases co-vary with each other: textbooks that emphasize student empowerment and active learning are also more likely to stress human rights and an ecological approach to the environment. What these global trends and cross-national findings suggest is that students are increasingly exposed to a world that involves the reframing of local matters as global issues, the activation of global or transna...
Evaluating Autologous Lipofilling for Parry-Romberg Syndrome-Associated Defects: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Report.

Background: Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is a rare craniofacial disease that causes progressive hemifacial atrophy of the soft tissue before spontaneously entering remission. Autologous fat grafting may provide a less invasive alternative, producing aesthetically pleasing results while avoiding the need for traditional microsurgical free flap coverage. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The case report highlights the technique using two-dimensional and three-dimensional photography. Results: Our review yielded 31 articles in addition to our case describing 147 cases of lipofilling to correct PRS soft-tissue defects. Patients underwent an average of 2.2 procedures, receiving on average 95 mL of grafted fat. Disease severity was classified into mild (41%), moderate (42%), and severe (17%) in the identified patients. Increasing disease severity correlated with an increasing number of procedures and fat-grafting volumes to achieve ad...
Testing the Stress-Response Sequence in Pediatric Oncology Nursing

This article summarizes six studies completed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on role-related stress experienced by pediatric oncology nurses. Two models, the Environmental Care model and the Stress-Response Sequence (SRS) model, provided the theoretical guidance for these studies. The studies included initial efforts to identify and define role-related stressors, reactions, and consequences; to develop a psychometrically sound instrument to measure role-related stressors; and to test portions of the SRS model. Subsequent studies included a complete testing of the SRS model, an exploratory effort to define role-related meaning, and a testing of the revised SRS model. Findings to date indicate that pediatric oncology nurses experience moderate to high role-related stressors but report notably positive consequences, including high job satisfaction and group cohesion and low intent to leave the setting or the specialty. High levels of role-related meaning seem to sustain the commitment of pediatric oncology nurses in their efforts to deal with role-related stressors. The current study will help to determine if the revised SRS model adequately explains the role-related stress response of pediatric oncology nurses. If it does, the revised model will be used to develop and test interventions designed to increase role-related meaning and effective coping reactions.
Impact of unusual gastrointestinal problems on the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant overdose

We report the cases of two patients with tricyclic antidepressant overdose in which the use of charcoal was hampered by gastrointestinal abnormalities. In the first patient, a previous gastric bypass procedure impeded the placement of an orogastric tube and subsequent charcoal administration, while potentially facilitating rapid absorption of the drug — factors that may have contributed to her death. In the second patient, severe esophageal spasm delayed therapy until IV nitroglycerin relieved the functional obstruction. Both circumstances are previously unreported complications associated with tricyclic antidepressant overdose. Potentially corrective measures are proposed.
Atomic Layer Deposition of MgO Using Bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium and H2O

Magnesium oxide (MgO) atomic layer deposition (ALD) was performed using sequential exposures of bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)magnesium (Mg(CpEt)2) and H2O. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements monitored the mass deposition during MgO ALD and verified self-limiting reactions for each reactant. Extremely efficient reactions were observed that required reactant exposures of only ∼1 × 104 L (1 L = 1 × 10−6 Torr s). X-ray reflectivity (XRR) studies were used to confirm the QCM measurements and determine the film density and film thicknesses. The MgO ALD film density was 3.07 g/cm3. The largest MgO ALD growth per cycle was 1.42 A/cycle at 150 °C and the growth per cycle decreased for temperatures >150 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the CpEt* and OH* surface species during MgO ALD and also to monitor the bulk vibrational modes of the growing MgO films. Transmission electron microscopy of MgO ALD on ZrO2 nanoparticles revealed the conformality of the MgO films and confirmed t...
Structural vulnerability of the North American power grid

The magnitude of the August 2003 blackout affecting the United States has put the challenges of energy transmission and distribution into limelight. Despite all the interest and concerted effort, the complexity and interconnectivity of the electric infrastructure precluded us for a long time from understanding why certain events happened. In this paper we study the power grid from a network perspective and determine its ability to transfer power between generators and consumers when certain nodes are disrupted. We find that the power grid is robust to most perturbations, yet disturbances affecting key transmision substations greatly reduce its ability to function. We emphasize that the global properties of the underlying network must be understood as they greatly affect local behavior.
Public Property Damage and Emergency Response Costs: Comparing the Loma Prieta and Whittier Narrows Earthquakes

Abstract This research project investigated the damage to public property caused by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The claims filed by state and local governments, special districts and non‐profit organizations under FEMA's disaster assistance program were analyzed to better understand the pattern of damage caused by the earthquake. These claims accounted for nearly $600 million. Emergency response costs (debris removal, emergency services and safety services) accounted for more than 40 percent of total claims. Public buildings comprised another 40 percent, while all types of infrastructure systems accounted for only about 13 percent of the total. While the proportion of damages attributable to public buildings was similar to that experienced in the smaller Whittier Narrows earthquake, the proportion attributable to emergency response activities was much larger for the Loma Prieta event. This research suggests that emergency response costs are proportionately larger for more severe earthquakes, especial...
The GPSS On-Line Monitor

This paper describes a system for monitoring a General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) run while the run is in progress. The on-line monitor provides the ability to select and display statistics related to the GPSS entities. The IBM 2250 and the IBM 2260 display consoles are used as interface devices. This system is currently in use at the MITRE Corporation, Washington, D.C.
Management of Failed Trochanteric Fracture Fixation With Cementless Modular Hip Arthroplasty Using a Distally Fixing Stem

Failure of internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures is associated with delayed union or malunion resulting in persistent pain and diminished function. We evaluated 15 elderly patients treated with a tapered, fluted, modular, distally fixing cementless stem. At an average follow-up of 2.86 years, mean Harris hip score improved from 35.90 preoperatively to 83.01 (P < .01). Fourteen stems had stable bony ongrowth, and one stem was loose. Distal fixation with a tapered, fluted, modular cementless stem allows stable fixation with good functional outcome in a reproducible fashion in this challenging cohort of patients.
Curvature and Orientation Statistics of Turbulent Premixed Flame Fronts

Abstract The curvature of turbulent premixed flame fronts is an important spatial property that needs to be quantified over a range of turbulence conditions. In this study, measurements of flamelet curvature along with orientation statistics for u'/ SL = 1.42-5.71 are obtained from OH planar laser-induced fluorescence images of the flame boundary by applying a curve-tracing difference formula with interval length of the order of the inner cutoff scale. Use of this particular interval length is essential for accurate tracing of the flame boundary with implicit filtering of extraneous noise that can introduce significant errors in the curvature measurements. The distributions of flamelet curvature are found to be symmetric with respect to the zero mean, while the variance increases with increasing u'/SL. These distributions can be approximated by Gaussian distribution functions. The positive and negative mean curvatures show a nearly square-root dependence on u'/SL whereas the mean flamelet radius of curvat...
Cloning of an ecdysone receptor homolog from Manduca sexta and the developmental profile of its mRNA in Wings

Abstract Using the Drosophila melanogaster ecdysone receptor (DmEcR) BI cDNA clone, we isolated three genomic clones for EcR from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta . Subsequent isolation and sequencing of several cDNAs yielded a homolog of the BI isoform with 50, 95 and 70% amino acid identities with DmEcR in the N-terminal A/B, the DNA binding and the ligand binding domains respectively. Unlike Drosophila, an intron occurs between the exons encoding the two zinc fingers of Manduca EcR (MsEcR). A 6.0 kb mRNA encoding MsEcR was found in both larval wing discs and prothoracic glands and in pupal wings. During the final larval instar, the mRNA was maximal in the wing discs at one day after wandering (W1), whereas in the prothoracic gland EcR mRNA increased rapidly to high levels on day 2 and remained high thereafter. During the onset of adult development, two peaks of EcR mRNA were observed in wings from day 3 to 5 and on day 8 after pupal ecdysis. These two peaks correlated with the time of increasing titers of ecdysone (E) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), respectively. The EcR mRNA peaks always preceded the large ecdysteroid peak, suggesting that the transcription of the EcR gene is induced by a low concentration of ecdysteroid in vivo .
Photoexcitation in poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene)

Abstract We present a detailed study of the elementary charged excitations of poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene) (PTV) including photoinduced absorption in the infraredand visible for both cast and oriented films. Upon photoexcitation, we observed the production of infrared active vibrational (IRAV) modes and two self-localized electronic states in the π-π ∗ gap. These data indicated that photoinduced charged excitations are predominantly spinless bipolarons. An analysis of the IRAV modes provides a structural fingerprint of the lowest energy charged excitations of PTV. Polarization studies of oriented film samples yields additional insight into the nature of the charged excitations in thissystem, which is predominantly an in-plane deformation and is polarized along the chain.
The role of capital realignment versus in situ stabilization for the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Introduction:Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) can be treated by a variety of methods with the traditional method of in situ pin fixation being most commonly used. More recently, the Modified Dunn (Mod. Dunn) procedure consisting of capital realignment has been popularized as a treatment meth
A Tunable Dye Laser In The 400-500 nm Range For Picosecond Spectroscopy

This paper reports recent results in the development of a picosecond short cavity dye laser designed to operate in the 400-500 nm range. The short cavity dye laser is axially pumped with a single Nd+3: glass third harmonic pulse of 11 ps. The output pulse duration, measured with a light gate, is less than 13.8 ps. A theoretical analysis of the laser rate equations is presented which indicates that this blue output pulse may be as short as 1.5 ps and transform limited. single and multiple mode operation are reported with individual mode bandwidths of ≈0.2 nm. Gross tuning of the laser is accomplished by changing dyes and demonstrated for the spectral region of 396 nm to 470 nm. Finer tuning is accomplished by changing the cavity length, while the finest wavelength selection is produced by changing the pumping angle. The maximum energy conversion efficiency measured is ≈6%. This laser should be useful as a broadband source for picosecond spectroscopy of solutions or a nar-rowband source for excitation of gases or low temperature crystals. No practical source of high-power, tunable picosecond pulses in the spectral region of this laser has been previously reported.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An empirical bayes estimate of multinomial probabilities

This paper deals with the prblem of estimating simultaneously the parameters (Cell probabilities) of m ≤ 2 independent multinomial distributions, with respect to a quadratic loss functions. An empirical Bayes estimator is proposed which is shown to have smaller risk than the maximum likelihood estimator for sufficiently large values of mq, where q is a measure of the average diversity of the given multinomial populations. Some numerical results are given on the performance of the proposed estimator.
Lymphatic dissemination of hepatic metastases. Implications for the follow‐up and treatment of patients with colorectal cancer

Hepatic spread of colorectal cancer is a prominent cause of treatment failure, but selected patients with liver metastases may attain long-term palliation or cure with liver resection. A review of the records of 81 patients seen at the National Cancer Institute for treatment of colorectal hepatic metastases revealed 7 instances of metastases discovered at operation within the hepatic lymphatic drainage in the absence of other extrahepatic tumor. These patients were studied with reference to location and stage of the primary colon cancer and location of metastases at the time of planned liver resection. All seven patients had their extrahepatic lymphatic disease limited to nodes draining the liver, implicating lymphatic dissemination from hepatic metastases as the mechanism of tumor spread. This pattern of spread rendered these patients unresectable for cure. If lymphatic metastases occur from hepatic tumor this implies a need for frequent and thorough follow-up of patients following resection of a primary colon cancer, and indicates urgency in treatment of liver metastases.
Molecular defects in T- and B-cell primary immunodeficiency diseases

More than 120 inherited primary immunodeficiency diseases have been discovered in the past five decades, and the precise genetic defect in many of these diseases has now been identified. Increasing understanding of these molecular defects has considerably influenced both basic and translational research, and this has extended to many branches of medicine. Recent advances in both diagnosis and therapeutic modalities have allowed these defects to be identified earlier and to be more precisely defined, and they have also resulted in more promising long-term outcomes. The prospect of gene therapy continues to be included in the armamentarium of treatment considerations, because these conditions could be among the first to benefit from gene-therapy trials in humans.
A normal form for relational databases that is based on domains and keys

A new normal form for relational databases, called domain-key normal form (DK/NF), is defined. Also, formal definitions of insertion anomaly and deletion anomaly are presented. It is shown that a schema is in DK/NF if and only if it has no insertion or deletion anomalies. Unlike previously defined normal forms, DK/NF is not defined in terms of traditional dependencies (functional, multivalued, or join). Instead, it is defined in terms of the more primitive concepts of domain and key, along with the general concept of a “constraint.” We also consider how the definitions of traditional normal forms might be modified by taking into consideration, for the first time, the combinatorial consequences of bounded domain sizes. It is shown that after this modification, these traditional normal forms are all implied by DK/NF. In particular, if all domains are infinite, then these traditional normal forms are all implied by DK/NF.
Methodological Review: What can natural language processing do for clinical decision support?

Computerized clinical decision support (CDS) aims to aid decision making of health care providers and the public by providing easily accessible health-related information at the point and time it is needed. natural language processing (NLP) is instrumental in using free-text information to drive CDS, representing clinical knowledge and CDS interventions in standardized formats, and leveraging clinical narrative. The early innovative NLP research of clinical narrative was followed by a period of stable research conducted at the major clinical centers and a shift of mainstream interest to biomedical NLP. This review primarily focuses on the recently renewed interest in development of fundamental NLP methods and advances in the NLP systems for CDS. The current solutions to challenges posed by distinct sublanguages, intended user groups, and support goals are discussed.
Distortion management strategy for EPL reticle

For position measurements of the EPL reticle, a new concept reticle holder is proposed. This holder clamps the same surface during measurement as during exposure in Nikon's EPL tool, the EB Stepper. Thus the holder reproduces the deformation caused by clamping in a metrology tool with that in the EB Stepper. Investigation by simulation is described. Furthermore, an experimental holder based on this concept was manufactured, and the deformation of a 200 mm EPL reticle was measured. The experimental results and simulation results show an advantage of this method.