cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modal analysis of plates using the dual reciprocity boundary element method

Abstract This paper presents a new method for determining the natural frequencies and mode shapes for the free vibration of thin elastic plates using the boundary element and dual reciprocity methods. The solution to the plate's equation of motion is assumed to be of separable form. The problem is further simplified by using the fundamental solution of an infinite plate in the reciprocity theorem. Except for the inertia term, all domain integrals are transformed into boundary integrals using the reciprocity theorem. However, the inertia domain integral is evaluated in terms of the boundary nodes by using the dual reciprocity method. In this method, a set of interior points is selected and the deflection at these points is assumed to be a series of approximating functions. The reciprocity theorem is applied to reduce the domain integrals to a boundary integral. To evaluate the boundary integrals, the displacements and rotations are assumed to vary linearly along the boundary. The boundary integrals are discretized and evaluated numerically. The resulting matrix equations are significantly smaller than the finite element formulation for an equivalent problem. Mode shapes for the free vibration of circular and rectangular plates are obtained and compared with analytical and finite element results.
Potential for adaptation-by-time in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): the interactions of body size and in-stream reproductive life span with date of arrival and breeding location

In salmonid fishes, the tendency to return to the natal site for breeding leads to reproductively isolated, locally adapted populations. In addition to this isolation-by-space, the heritability of breeding date can result in temporal segregation or isolation of breeding units. We examined the interaction between breeding location (spatial segregation) and arrival date (temporal segregation) for two fitness-related traits, reproductive life span and body size, of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) in a small Alaskan stream. Analysis of data on tagged individuals over 9 years revealed that both males and females arriving early to the spawning grounds tended to spawn farther upstream than those arriving later, demonstrating the potential for segregation in time and space within the population. Both body length and reproductive life span also consistently varied with arrival date. Larger males and females entered the stream before smaller individuals, and individuals of both sexes t...
Long-term losses from accumulation of pesticide residues: a case of persistent copper toxicity in soils of Costa Rica

Abstract This article examines a case of soil toxicity from the accumulation of copper-based fungicides (called Bordeaux) in thousands of hectares of land formerly planted in bananas in Costa Rica. Although this problem first emerged in the 1950s in the United Fruit Company's plantations, the damage has persisted, rendering the soils useless for most kinds of agriculture up until the present day. This paper evaluates the economic losses to society and also elucidates the causes of the problem. It is argued that the contributing causes are biochemical factors affecting the reactions of copper in the soil, technical factors including the amount of chemicals and application methods, and, most importantly, socioeconomic factors (such as short-term production goals, unwarranted fears, and lack of information from chemical suppliers) which determine how and why the banana company used these agrochemicals.
High resolution photoabsorption and circular polarization measurements on the University of California/National Laboratory spherical grating monochromator beamline

Abstract We have measured the N, C, and O 1s photoabsorption of O2,N2 and CO using the University of California/National Laboratory bend magnet beamline located at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. The photon-energy resolving power at the N 1s edge ranges from 8–12.5 × 103 based upon the vibrationally resolved 1s-π∗ transition, indicating that this spherical grating monochromator is one of the highest-resolution soft-X-ray/ultraviolet photon sources yet reported. Magnetic circular dichroism was also measured with this beamline on highly magnetized thin films. Left and right elliptically polarized soft X-rays were produced by collecting the synchrotron radiation above or below the plane of the electron ring.
Karyotypes of Shrews of the Genera Cryptotis and Blarina (Mammalia: Soricidae)

Cryptotis parva has a diploid number of 52 and a fundamental number of 50. Blarina brevicauda in Nebraska and Pennsylvania has a diploid number of 49 or 50 and a fundamental number of 48. Blarina carolinensis in Nebraska and Kansas has a diploid number of 52 and a fundamental number of 62. The X-chromosome in all 3 species is a large metacentric chromosome. The Y-chromosome is a small acrocentric in Blarina, whereas in Cryptotis it is a small subtelocentric.
8:45-9:00. Using PET 18F-FDG, 11CO, and 15O-water for Monitoring Prostate Cancer During a Phase II Anti-angiogenic Drug Trial with Thalidomide.

Abstract Assessing prostate metastases is difficult with conventional radiographic modalities as few patients have soft tissue involvement and most have only bone lesions. Even with FDG PET, problems due to decreased avidity compared to other tumor types can occur. We assessed PET's ability to monitor changes in such tumors during an anti-angiogenic therapy. We measured changes in tumor blood flow ( 15 O), blood volume ( 11 CO), 18 F-FDG uptake and “metabolic volume” before and during thalidomide treatment, to see if these changes correlated with changes in PSA values. Six patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer were imaged with 18 F-FDG, 11 CO, and 15 O water before and during (mean interval 63 days, range 55-76 days) thalidomide therapy (200-1200mg/day). Lesions were visually identified on FDG images (9 bone, 5 soft tissue lesions). VOI's were generated by 3D region growing, with a 50% maximum pixel threshold. These VOI's were registered with, and applied to, the 11 CO and water studies. Correlations with PSA values were done using the Spearman rank test. The change in maximum (r = 0.77, p = 0.06) and mean FDG value (r = 0.83, p = 0.03), functional FDG volume (r = 0.66, p = 0.14), and 11-CO blood volume (r = 0.77, p = 0.06) all correlated with the change in PSA. Changes in blood flow values were smaller than the variance of the method for repeated measures, likely due to low flow values in bone. Changes in blood volume measured by 11 CO, and the mean and peak activity and functional volume measured by 18 F-FDG, correlate with changes in PSA and may be useful in monitoring anti-angiogenic therapy in prostate cancer.
Mechanics of the healed meniscus in a canine model

The mechanical behavior of the intact canine stifle joint was studied, using a surgical model of meniscal injury and repair. Thirty-eight animals were divided into five study groups: Group S received only a sham arthrotomy (without a meniscal incision), Groups P13 and P26 received peripheral medial meniscal incisions, and Groups R13 and R26 received radial medial meniscus incisions. All meniscal incisions were repaired anatomically with absorbable suture. Groups P13 and R13 were sacrificed at 13 weeks following surgery and Groups P26 and R26 at 26 weeks. Following sacrifice, the joints were subjected to gross and histologic examination, and structural and material properties testing. All meniscal repairs healed, and the peripheral repairs were virtually invisible, with no articular damage. The radial repairs healed with 3 to 5 mm wide fibrovascular scars, and several joints demonstrated articular erosions. The radial repair tissue contained unorganized collagen bundles and ground substance deficient in mucopolysaccharides. Groups S, P13 and P26 demonstrated no statistically significant differences between test and control limbs in compressive force-displacement behavior, input energy (EI), and ratio of dissipated to input energy (ED/EI). There were significant test-control differences in the load-displacement characteristics of Groups R13 (P less than 0.05) and R26 (P less than 0.05), with the repaired joint stiffer than the control. EI decreased 26% in Group R13 (not significant) and 34% in Group R26 (P less than 0.05), while the ratio ED/EI increased from 27% to 44% in Group R13 (not significant) and from 31% to 38% in Group R26 (P less than 0.05). Medial compartment contact area did not change significantly in either peripheral repair group, but decreased by 25% in Group R13 (P less than 0.05) and by 13% in Group R26 (P less than 0.05). Yield stress, maximum stress, and Young's modulus decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) relative to the controls in tensile tests of the radial repair tissue. There were no significant changes in these properties from 13 to 26 weeks. We concluded that in this animal model, the mechanical function of the meniscus is restored following repair of peripheral longitudinal lesions; however, it appears that in the radial repairs, progressive spreading at the repair site (filled by a fibrovascular scar) altered normal meniscal geometry and structure, adversely influencing mechanical function. Future studies may document whether protective measures (immobilization, limited weightbearing, etc.) can preserve normal mechanical function following repair of radial lesions.
Cosimulating synchronous DSP applications with analog RF circuits

This paper introduces timed synchronous dataflow (TSDF) which enables the codesign of the synchronous DSP and analog RF portions of an application. The semantics and scheduling techniques of TSDF are detailed. A 16 QAM modem with a QAM synthesizable DSP transmitter cosimulating with a RF modulator and RF power amplifier is demonstrated.
Genome-wide hypomethylation and cancer risk--letter.

Brennan and Flanagan's recent publication in Cancer Prevention Research describing a meta-analysis of blood methylation and cancer risk is an outstanding contribution to this burgeoning field ([1][1]). The authors discuss a wide-ranging set of important issues and make numerous salient points
Feasibility of transperineal prostate biopsy under interventional Magnetic Resonance guidance

A patient, who was not suited for ultrasound-guided biopsy, was biopsied in an interventional magnetic resonance unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Real-time magnetic resonance imaging provided verification of placement before tissue samples were taken. This technique successfully sampled tissue from the prostate and led to a diagnosis of cancer.
Textural characteristics of drift from some representative Cordilleran glaciers

Particle-size analyses of more than 300 samples of drift from Nisqually, Paradise, and South Cascade Glaciers in the Cascade Range of Washington, from Athabasca Glacier in Alberta, Canada, and from other alpine glaciers show that textural differences exist both between glaciers and between glacier subenvironments. Differences between glaciers probably reflect bedrock terrane and are shown by the percentage of silt + clay in the A comparison of alpine drift with continental ice-sheet drift from Ontario shows that, in general, alpine drift is coarser, but that alpine basal till is comparable to ice-sheet basal till. When comparing nonglacial diamictons to alpine drift, it may be possible to distinguish the former from the sediments of one glacier subenvironment but not from those of another.
Age and gender effects on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of triazolam, a cytochrome P450 3A substrate.

Sixty-one healthy men and women, aged 20 to 75 years, received single 0.25-mg doses of triazolam, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A substrate benzodiazepine, and placebo in a double-blind crossover study. Among women, age had no significant effect on area under the triazolam plasma concentration curve (AUC) (Spearman r = 0.14, P = .44) or clearance (r = −0.09, P = .62). Among men, AUC increased (r = 0.43, P < .02) and clearance declined (r = −0.42, P < .02) with increasing age. Gender differences in triazolam kinetics were not apparent. Compared with placebo, triazolam impaired digit-symbol substitution test performance, increased observer-rated sedation, impaired delayed recall of information learned at 1.5 hours after dosing, and increased electroencephalographic β amplitude. Among men, mean values of relative digit-symbol substitution test decrement (P < .002) and observer-rated sedation (P < .05) were significantly greater in elderly subjects compared with young subjects. Age-dependent differences among women reached significance for observer-rated sedation (P < .02). A combination of higher plasma levels and increased intrinsic sensitivity explained the greater pharmacodynamic effects of triazolam in elderly subjects. Although the findings are consistent with reduced clearance of triazolam in elderly men, individual variability was large and was not explained by identifiable demographic or environmental factors. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 76, 467–479; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.07.009
Restoration of Seagrasses: With Economic Analysis

The technique of restoration of populations of land plants is an old one that is well understood by scientists, agronomists, forestry experts, and the general public. However, only recently has attention been turned to restoring underwater areas with socalled seagrasses. From 1947 onwards, attempts have been made to restore suitable marine areas by using important species; however, only very recently (from August 1973) have large-scale restoration projects been undertaken.The efforts that have been made to replant various seagrass species by different techniques are reviewed, but only two seagrasses, Zostera noltii and Thalassia testudinum, have been restored on a large scale. Both of these can be restored successfully; however, the seeding method of Thalassia appears to be the most practical operation of all, and the most potentially valuable for future research into large-scale restoration, as it allows flexibility of location and of depth of transplantation, and involves the minimum of damage to the donor site. It also ensures the most rapid regrowth, besides being in the long run the most economical method yet devised of restoring a seagrass community. An economic model (see Technical Appendix to this paper) and analysis for restoration costs are given and finally a wide range of uses of restoration of such beds of seagrasses are enumerated.
On the Difficulty of Averaging Faces: Comments on Langlois and Roggman

In this journal, Langlois and Roggman (1990) argued that faces with morphologically normal features will be seen as attractive by conspecifics. In humans, this process takes the following form: The perceiver develops mental prototypes of faces by averaging the features of the faces she sees and then uses those prototypes as baselines for judging the attractiveness of faces seen subsequently. Langlois and Roggman also described a novel technique for averaging facial photographs. Simulated photographs produced by this technique were used to test their hypothesis that "average," i.e., normal, faces are especially attractive. Although I support a different account of facial attractiveness (Carello, Grosofsky, Shaw, Pittenger, & Mark, 1989), I do not dispute Langlois and Roggman's conclusion about the attractiveness of normal faces. Indeed, their study is an elegant test of their hypothesis. However, three characteristics of their technique for producing a two-dimensional representation of an average face compromise the technique's ability to recover either morphologically normal faces or mental prototypes of faces. The severity of the resulting problems is contingent partly on how we choose to define "normal face" and partly on details of the processes by which people might construct mental prototypes of faces. Briefly, their technique involves reducing black-andwhite facial photographs to a 512 x 512 matrix of graylevel values, averaging the values at each point in the matrix over individual faces, and printing the resulting matrix as a simulated photograph. The first problem lies in the fact that averages are computed over gray levels located in a fixed matrix rather than over the spatial locations of anatomically defined points. These two processes produce different "mean" faces. For example, suppose that upper eyelids appear as dark lines in photographs and that eyelid sizes are bimodally distributed (i.e., most eyes are either rather large or rather small, few are mid-sized). Averaging of gray levels at fixed points in a matrix would generate two eyelid lines in the composite face, one near each of the modal sizes, rather than a single lid at the mean anatomical position. This type of problem appears to have occurred in Langlois and Roggman's study: On pages 116 and 117, they report the need to apply a smoothing operation to the averaged faces to remove double edges. Although the concept of morphologically normal is not yet precisely defined, it seems plausible to suppose that it should be based on the shapes and locations of anatomical features. Although mental prototypes conceivably could be based on gray-level representations of faces, it is more plausible to suppose they too would be based on anatomical features.
From Vietnam to Iraq: Continuity and Change in Between-Group Differences in Support for Military Action

This article examines between-group differences in support for military action in the period since the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, support for military action was stronger among men, whites, the more educated, the more affluent, and younger persons. In the post-Vietnam era, men have remained consistently more supportive of military action, despite recent changes in gender roles and gender politics. Racial differences have remained strong, but not uniformly so. The gap between whites and nonwhites has been most pronounced in periods of intense partisanship or when military events have sparked a “rally-'round-the-flag” response that affected whites more than nonwhites. Education and income differences have generally followed a similar pattern, although there are signs of a weakening (or even reversal) of differences in attitudes to war on the education variable. Another change in the post-Vietnam era has been the relative decline in support for military action among younger persons. These data are used to explore the diverse causes and meanings of attitudes toward the use of military force and to assess the implications of the social distribution of pro- and antiwar opinion for the conduct of U.S foreign policy and political mobilization on issues of war and peace.
Modes of glutamate receptor gating

The time course of excitatory synaptic currents, the major means of fast communication between neurons of the central nervous system, is encoded in the dynamic behaviour of post-synaptic glutamate-activated channels. First-pass attempts to explain the glutamate-elicited currents with mathematical models produced reaction mechanisms that included only the most basic functionally defined states: resting vs. liganded, closed vs. open, responsive vs. desensitized. In contrast, single-molecule observations afforded by the patch-clamp technique revealed an unanticipated kinetic multiplicity of transitions: from microseconds-lasting flickers to minutes-long modes. How these kinetically defined events impact the shape of the synaptic response, how they relate to rearrangements in receptor structure, and whether and how they are physiologically controlled represent currently active research directions. Modal gating, which refers to the slowest, least frequently observed ion-channel transitions, has been demonstrated for representatives of all ion channel families. However, reaction schemes have been largely confined to the short- and medium-range time scales. For glutamate receptors as well, modal gating has only recently come under rigorous scrutiny. This article reviews the evidence for modal gating of glutamate receptors and the still developing hypotheses about the mechanism(s) by which modal shifts occur and the ways in which they may impact the time course of synaptic transmission.
Roth spots as the primary presentation of a metastatic solid malignancy

### Learning Point for Clinicians This case report highlights a novel presentation of a common disease, specifically a solid malignancy presenting as blurred vision due to Roth spots. It would be interesting to physicians from a variety of medicine specialities as it links oncology with a well-known, but nonetheless, intriguing ophthalmologic finding. A 58-year-old man with hyperlipidemia and alcohol dependence presented with a 2-day history of visual blurring, seeing flashes of light and pain in his eyes associated with headaches. The patient had bi-temporal region tenderness and hepatomegaly, but no fever or murmurs. Digital retinal imaging revealed bilateral intra-retinal hemorrhages and Roth spots (Figure 1a). The patient was anemic, with a hemoglobin of 91 g/l, had leukocytosis with white blood cell count of 17.2 × 109/l (neutrophils 13.2 × 109/l, lymphocytes 2.6 × …
Warfarin, hematoma expansion, and outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage

Background: Warfarin increases mortality of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The authors investigated whether this effect reflects increased baseline ICH volume at presentation or increased ICH expansion. Methods: Subjects were drawn from an ongoing prospective cohort study of ICH outcome. The effect of warfarin on baseline ICH volume was studied in 183 consecutive cases of supratentorial ICH age ≥ 18 years admitted to the emergency department over a 5-year period. Baseline ICH volume was determined using computerized volumetric analysis. The effect of warfarin on ICH expansion (increase in volume ≥ 33% of baseline) was analyzed in 70 consecutive cases in whom ICH volumes were measured on all subsequent CT scans up to 7 days after admission. Multivariable analysis was used to determine warfarin’s influence on baseline ICH, ICH expansion, and whether warfarin’s effect on ICH mortality was dependent on baseline volume or subsequent expansion. Results: There was no effect of warfarin on initial volume. Predictors of larger baseline volume were hyperglycemia ( p p p p = 0.14) and reduced the marginal effect of warfarin on ICH mortality. Conclusions: Warfarin did not increase ICH volume at presentation but did raise the risk of in-hospital hematoma expansion. This expansion appears to mediate part of warfarin’s effect on ICH mortality.
Lessons from Pennsylvania's mixed response to federal school wellness law

Federal legislation aimed at tackling the nation's soaring childhood obesity rate through changes to school meals and nutrition and wellness programs has met with mixed results. An examination of Pennsylvania's response to the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004, one of the most comprehensive state responses, found improvements to the nutritional quality of foods offered a la carte in conjunction with school meal programs. However, multiple weaknesses remain. Consistent wellness policy implementation steps were not followed, and there was inadequate statewide enforcement. Despite this, Pennsylvania can offer lessons for other states in moving forward with programs to promote good nutrition and wellness.
Application driven embedded system design: a face recognition case study

The key to increasing performance without a commensurate increase in power consumption in modern processors lies in increasing both parallelism and core specialization. Core specialization has been employed in the embedded space and is likely to play an important role in future heterogeneous multi-core architectures as well. In this paper, the face recognition application domain is employed as a case study to showcase an architectural design methodology which generates a specialized core with high performance and very low powercharacteristics. Specifically, we create "ASIC-like" execution flows to sustain the high memory parallelism generated within the core. The price of this benefit is a significant increase in compilation complexity. The crux of the problem is the need to co-schedule the often conflicting constraints of data access, data movement, and computation. A modular compiler approach that employs integer linear programming (ILP) based "interconnect-aware" instruction and data scheduling techniques to solve this problem is then described. The resulting core running the compiled code delivers a 1.65x throughput improvement over a high performance processor (Pentium 4) while simultaneously achieving an 80x energy-delay improvement over an energy-efficient processor (XScale) and performs real-time face recognition at embedded power budgets.
Mapping Heat Flux

Abstract An infrared camera technique designed for remote sensing of air–water heat flux has been developed. The technique uses the differential absorption of water between 3.817 and 4.514 microns. This difference causes each channel’s radiance to originate over a different range of depths inside the air–water interface temperature gradient. Since this gradient varies only with total heat flux, the radiance difference between channels caused by the gradient also varies with heat flux. Laboratory experiments showed that this radiance difference correlates well with heat flux measured independently with calorimetry. A regression relation between camera output and heat flux is determined initially using time variations of the radiance difference and heat flux. This relation is modified by a partial differential analysis of the relative contributions of temperature and heat flux using data from experiments designed for this evaluation. The result is applied to the spatial variations of radiance difference in ...
Principles of Geobiochemistry

The basic premise of geobiochemistry is that life emerged on Earth where there were opportunities for catalysis to expedite the release of chemical energy in water–rock–organic systems. In this framework, life is a planetary response to the dilemma that cooling decreases the rates of abiotic processes to the point that chemical energy becomes trapped. Catalysis via metabolism releases the trapped energy, and life benefits by capturing some of the energy released. Out of necessity, biochemical processes have geochemical origins, and geobiochemistry asserts that these origins can be revealed by mapping reaction mechanisms onto deep time. We propose five principles that should help guide research in the emerging field of geobiochemistry.
Relationships between components of metabolic syndrome and coronary intravascular ultrasound atherosclerosis measures in women without obstructive coronary artery disease: the NHLBI-Sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation Study.

Objective In women, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with higher risk of ischemic heart disease-related adverse outcomes versus individual components. We examined the relationship of MetS to subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. Methods Women (n = 100) undergoing coronary angiography for suspected ischemia but without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) of a segment of the left coronary artery. A core lab, masked to other findings, assessed IVUS measures and normalized volume measures to pull-back length. MetS [defined using ATPIII criteria (fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl per revised NCEP guideline)] and its components were entered into multiple regression models to assess associations with IVUS measures. Results Detailed IVUS measurements were available in 87 women. Mean age was 54 ± 10 years, 36% had MetS, and 78% had atheroma. Comparing women with MetS versus without MetS, significant differences were observed for seven IVUS atherosclerosis measures, but were not significant after adjusting for the MetS components. Systolic blood pressure and waist circumference components remained independently positively associated with the IVUS measures after adjusting for age, diabetes, CAD family history, dyslipidemia, smoking, and hormone replacement. Conclusion In women with signs and symptoms of ischemia and no obstructive CAD, MetS is associated with coronary atherosclerosis presence and severity. However, these associations appear largely driven by components of waist circumference and systolic blood pressure versus MetS cluster. This supports the concept that MetS is a convenient clustering of risk factors rather than an independent risk predictor, and emphasizes that the critical factors for coronary atherosclerosis are potentially modifiable.
Design of scheduling algorithms for end-to-end backlog minimization in wireless multi-hop networks under k-hop interference models

In this paper, we study the problem of link scheduling for multi-hop wireless networks with per-flow delay constraints under the $K$ -hop interference model. Specifically, we are interested in algorithms that maximize the asymptotic decay-rate of the probability with which the maximum end-to-end backlog among all flows exceeds a threshold, as the threshold becomes large. We provide both positive and negative results in this direction. By minimizing the drift of the maximum end-to-end backlog in the converge-cast on a tree, we design an algorithm, Largest-Weight-First (LWF), that achieves the optimal asymptotic decay-rate for the overflow probability of the maximum end-to-end backlog as the threshold becomes large. However, such a drift minimization algorithm may not exist for general networks. We provide an example in which no algorithm can minimize the drift of the maximum end-to-end backlog. Finally, we simulate the LWF algorithm together with a well known algorithm (the back-pressure algorithm) and a large-deviations optimal algorithm in terms of the sum-queue (the P-TREE algorithm) in converge-cast networks. Our simulation shows that our algorithm performs significantly better not only in terms of asymptotic decay-rate, but also in terms of the actual overflow probability.
Talk of Production Techniques of Xiangxue Wine in the Past and at Present

Xiangxue wine is one of the four representative Shaoxing yellow rice wine products.It is produced as follows: preparation of sweet fermented wine by rice sprinkling,then addition of small quantity of malt,then mixing together,and then rack instead of water used for chief fermentation.Its production techniques in the past and at present were compared in this paper and it was found that there was no change for some techniques including rice sprinkling,starter addition,and the storage operation in late stage of fermentation,however,some techniques in the past such as rice steeping,seriflux addition,and harrowing were similar to the operations in rice-adding wine production.(Tran.by YUE Yang)
A Report on the Treatment of Two Cases of Chronic Filariasis

Objective To improve the diagnosis and the treatment of filariasis. Method Clinical data of 2 cases of filariasis were analyzed. Result Two cases of diagnosed filariasis were confirmed. The patients were recovered after a long-term treatment. Conclusion Unknown causes of edema of lower trunk may be an early sign of elephantiasis. Early to middle stage of elephantiasis may be cured after a long-term treatment to remove the worms.
Experience of endoscopic intranasal sinus surgery in minority district hospital

In order to estimate the importance and effectiveness of conducting endoscope sinus surgery in minority district hospital, 142 minority patients with chronic nasal sinusitis or nasal polyps undergone endoscopic sinus surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Of all patients, 112 cases (78.87%) were cured, 28 cases (19.7%) improved, 2 cases (1.4%) unimproved and 5 cases (3.5%) were found with complications. Results showed that intranasal endoscopic sinus surgery was effective on treating nasal sinusitis and nasal polyps and had its specialty in minority. The major means to get a good result is a full complex therapy before and after operation and a careful endoscopic follow-up.
Evaluation on Control Strategies since Basically Eliminating of Leprosy

Objective To analyze and evaluate control strategies since basically elimination of leprosy so as to provide basis for consolidating control achievements of leprosy.Methods Leprosy patients were found by clue survey of leprosy,re-examination of leprosy patients,checkup of the patients' contacts and leprosy focus investigation.The patients were treated by MDT.New patients post leprosy elimination was analyzed to evaluate MDT and surveillance.Results 18 new patients and 3 relapsed patients were found.The coverage rate of using MDT was 100%.The cure rate was 100%.The new patient's onset age was older than before and their course of the disease was shortened.Children incidence decreased.Disabled rate dropped.Conclusions We should continue to use the method of MDT,develop health education and investigate the clue,actively find and treat the patient at their early stage,continuously conduct leprosy surveillance in order to consolidate the achievements, strengthen leprosy control and rehabilitation of the patients.
Enzymic studies of X-irradiated cornea and lens with special reference to glutathione reductase

Whole lens and cornea of rabbits exposed to x irradiation were assayed 1, 4, and 14 days afterward for hexokinase and glutathione reductase activity. Corneal epithelium was assayed for hexokinase, glutathione reductase and isocitric dehydrogenase 4 and 14 days after x irradiation. In spite of morphological changes under these conditions of irradiation, there was no alteration in enzyme content. A sensitive method for the assay of glutathione reductase in tissue is presented. Its activity in tissues of the rat, rabbit, and calf is compared. (auth)
Acetaminophen and Asthma — A Small Sigh of Relief?

Acetaminophen is the drug of choice for fever in young children. Pediatricians, parents, and caregivers consider it to be safe for most children when it is administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions for use. In 2000, however, concern was raised about the safety of acetaminophen as a result of the findings of a case–control study by Shaheen et al.1 that suggested that frequent use of acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol in the United Kingdom) among adults was associated with asthma, and among those who already had asthma, with more severe disease. The mechanism for this association was thought to . . .
Implementation of Motivational Interviewing in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Research Network Participation and Organizational Compatibility.

INTRODUCTION Despite considerable empirical evidence that psychosocial interventions improve addiction treatment outcomes across populations, implementation remains problematic. A small body of research points to the importance of research network participation as a facilitator of implementation; however, studies examined limited numbers of evidence-based practices. To address this gap, the present study examined factors impacting implementation of motivational interviewing (MI). METHODS This study used data from a national sample of privately funded treatment programs (n = 345) and programs participating in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) (n = 156). Data were collected via face-to-face interviews with program administrators and clinical directors (2007-2009). Analysis included bivariate t tests and chi-square tests to compare private and CTN programs, and multivariable logistic regression of MI implementation. FINDINGS A majority (68.0%) of treatment programs reported use of MI. Treatment programs participating in the CTN (88.9%) were significantly more likely to report use of MI compared with non-CTN programs (58.5%; P < 0.01). CTN programs (82.1%) also were more likely to use trainers from the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers as compared with private programs (56.1%; P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression models reveal that CTN-affiliated programs and programs with a psychiatrist on staff were more likely to use MI. Programs that used the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale assessment tool were more likely to use MI, whereas programs placing greater emphasis on confrontational group therapy were less likely to use MI. DISCUSSION Findings suggest the critical role of research network participation, access to psychiatrists, and organizational compatibility in adoption and sustained use of MI.
Motivation to learn: an overview of contemporary theories

Objective To succinctly summarise five contemporary theories about motivation to learn, articulate key intersections and distinctions among these theories, and identify important considerations for future research. Results Motivation has been defined as the process whereby goal-directed activities are initiated and sustained. In expectancy-value theory, motivation is a function of the expectation of success and perceived value. Attribution theory focuses on the causal attributions learners create to explain the results of an activity, and classifies these in terms of their locus, stability and controllability. Social- cognitive theory emphasises self-efficacy as the primary driver of motivated action, and also identifies cues that influence future self-efficacy and support self-regulated learning. Goal orientation theory suggests that learners tend to engage in tasks with concerns about mastering the content (mastery goal, arising from a ‘growth’ mindset regarding intelligence and learning) or about doing better than others or avoiding failure (performance goals, arising from a ‘fixed’ mindset). Finally, self-determination theory proposes that optimal performance results from actions motivated by intrinsic interests or by extrinsic values that have become integrated and internalised. Satisfying basic psychosocial needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness promotes such motivation. Looking across all five theories, we note recurrent themes of competence, value, attributions, and interactions between individuals and the learning context. Conclusions To avoid conceptual confusion, and perhaps more importantly to maximise the theory-building potential of their work, researchers must be careful (and precise) in how they define, operationalise and measure different motivational constructs. We suggest that motivation research continue to build theory and extend it to health professions domains, identify key outcomes and outcome measures, and test practical educational applications of the principles thus derived.
Abstract P67: Nonwhite Males Show Less Satisfaction with Atrial Fibrillation Care

As part of a performance improvement continuing medical education activity on atrial fibrillation (afib), cardiologists and other health care providers solicited baseline surveys to ascertain patient attitudes about quality of life and provider communication and behaviors. Using selected questions from the ambulatory CAHPS survey and internally developed afib-specific questions, surveys were collected from 1,385 patients. The sample included more males (n=757) than females (n=574) and was majority white (n=1207) and 55 or older (n=1200). A subset of the survey containing 7 CAHPS items (α = .88) assessed the extent to which their doctor explained things clearly, listened carefully, spent enough time with them, and other indicators of quality care. Items were scored using a 4-point Likert scale and responses were analyzed using ANOVA with two independent variables (sex and race/ethnicity) and their interaction term. For analysis purposes, race/ethnicity was re-coded into 2 groups: white and non-white. The main effects of sex, race/ethnicity, and their interaction term were significant (F (3,1327) = 23.77, p. = .00; F (3,1327) = 10.74, p. = .00; F (3,1327) = 28.66, p. = .00, respectively). Results indicated non-white males were least satisfied with care (see attached graph). While the results are preliminary and need further validation, reduced satisfaction with care among non-white males is consistent with recent results from focus groups conducted by Griffith and colleagues at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. As the project continues, educational interventions for physicians will highlight this disparity and potential changes over time will be examined. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Targeting Obesity through Health Promotion Programs for School Staff

Health promotion programs for school staff are an overlooked and under-utilized resource that can lead to reductions in overweight and obesity among teachers and other staff members if implemented properly. In addition to increasing the overall staff wellness, boosting morale, increasing productivity, improving academic achievement, providing healthy role models for children, and, most importantly, reducing overweight and obesity, schools can achieve financial cost reductions similar to those found in other types of worksites. To enhance effectiveness, therefore, schools should consider focusing obesity prevention efforts on current employees as well as students.
Sparse reconstruction of RF tomography with dynamic dictionary

In this paper, we explore sparse reconstruction of RF tomography with sensors pseudo randomly distributed on a ring. Multilevel scattering and multipath propagation are considered in the system model. A novel approach of dynamically building dictionary for reconstruction is proposed. Under the assumption of sparse target, the proposed method can significantly reduce the size of dictionary and computational complexity of reconstruction. Numerical simulation shows that the method is effective in removing ghost targets caused by multipath propagation, and is fairly accurate in estimating target reflectivity.
“To Model, or to Let Them Model?” That is the Question!

Two sets of students with weak content skills and no prior experience were introduced to mathematical modelling. Contrasting instructional approaches were used — exposure to a variety of models, versus constructing the model themselves. Both groups demonstrated understanding of aspects of modelling and model structures. The students actively modelling the situation statistically out-performed the other group on four evaluation parameters.
3D Models of Mesothelioma in the Study of Mechanisms of Cell Survival

Three-dimensional models can provide another experimental system for investigating many aspects of tumor biology, particularly of cell death and survival. These models, both in vitro and ex vivo, may be ideally suited for studying mesothelioma. Here we discuss the reports that are currently available on this subject and highlight areas in which 3D biology may provide insights into the mechanisms of cell death and survival in mesothelioma. It has long been known that single cells or monolayers are more sensitive to cell death than 3D aggregates or spheroids, which acquire resistance called “multicellular resistance.” Possible survival mechanisms that have been studied using multicellular spheroids (in vitro) and tumor fragment spheroids (ex vivo) include growth factor pathways, calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion, resistance to drug penetrance, gene expression, epigenetics, Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic family expression, and autophagy. In general, cells in a 3D setting show many differences compared to the same cells in a 2D monolayer. Many of these differences appear to contribute to cell survival. In many cases, these features can be shown to be more similar to those in the actual tumor. Thus, whereas 3D studies offer more challenges for study, they offer the opportunity for new insights not possible in 2D studies. They may thus offer an intermediate model between the monolayer and in vivo studies and hopefully lead to discoveries that can be tested in clinical trials to benefit patients.
The role of multinationals in corruption in the Asia-Pacific region

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can participate in or decline to engage in host country corruption, and then further resist or support national anticorruption campaigns. This chapter draws on three sources concerning the role of MNEs in Asia-Pacific corruption: relevant literature, corruption information, and reports on recent cases of MNE misconduct in the region. Transparency International (TI) provides 2011 bribe payers index (BPI) information on MNEs from 28 large economies; and 2015 corruption perceptions index (CPI) information on those 28 countries and all other Asia-Pacific countries. Asia-Pacific is a geographically, culturally, economically, and politically diverse region. Major economies with significant MNEs are Australia, China, Hong Kong (part of China), Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. While New Zealand has some important exporting companies, the country is not a major economy. Other economies, typically without significant MNEs, are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Canada, Russia, and the USA bordering the North Pacific are excluded in defining this region, as is Central Asia beyond Afghanistan. There is no automatic association between MNE bribe paying conduct and level of domestic corruption in MNE home and host countries. Some MNEs from relatively clean home countries may pay bribes; some MNEs from relatively corrupt home countries do not pay bribes. The chapter discusses the relationship of the supply-side and the demand-side of corruption markets. There are different kinds of corruption across the region. The chapter includes information on bribe paying, domestic corruption, recent enforcement actions, anticorruption reform efforts, and some specific MNE cases occurring in a variety of Asia-Pacific countries. China and India are engaged in anticorruption campaigns. USA and European anticorruption enforcement efforts are increasing.
An unmet clinical need: The history of thrombus imaging

Robust thrombus imaging is an unresolved clinical unmet need dating back to the mid 1970s. While early molecular imaging approaches began with nuclear SPECT imaging, contrast agents for virtually all biomedical imaging modalities have been demonstrated in vivo with unique strengths and common weaknesses. Two primary molecular imaging targets have been pursued for thrombus imaging: platelets and fibrin. Some common issues noted over 40 years ago persist today. Acute thrombus is readily imaged with all probes and modalities, but aged thrombus remains a challenge. Similarly, anti-coagulation continues to interfere with and often negate thrombus imaging efficacy, but heparin is clinically required in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis or coronary ruptured plaque prior to confirmatory diagnostic studies have been executed and interpreted. These fundamental issues can be overcome, but an innovative departure from the prior approaches will be needed.