cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Bladder Rupture in Association with Alcoholic Binge: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Although a few cases of bladder wall rupture have been reported in the literature in association with bladder wall disease, idiopathic rupture of the bladder without injury remains an uncommon phenomenon. We report the case of a patient presenting to the Emergency Department with diffuse abdominal pain from spontaneous bladder rupture in association with an acute alcohol binge. Although cases of spontaneous bladder rupture in association with alcohol use were historically associated with high morbidity and mortality, prompt identification and treatment can lead to favorable outcomes.
Exploring topologies for source-synchronous ring-based network-on-chip

The mesh interconnection network has been preferred by the Network-on-Chip (NoC) community due to its simple implementation, high bandwidth and overall scalability. Most existing mesh-based NoC designs operate the mesh at the same or lower clock speed as the processing elements (PEs). Recently, a new source synchronous ring-based NoC architecture has been proposed, which runs significantly faster than the PEs and offers a significantly higher bandwidth and lower communication latency. The authors implement the NoC topology as a mesh of rings, which occupies the same area as that of a mesh. In this work, we evaluate two alternate source synchronous ring-based NoC topologies called the ring of stars (ROS) and the spine with rings (SWR), which occupy a much lower area, and are able to provide better performance in terms of communication latency compared to a state of the art mesh. In our proposed topologies, the clock and the data NoC are routed in parallel, yielding a fast, synchronous, robust design. Our design allows the PEs to extract a low jitter clock from the high speed ring clock by division. The area and performance of these ring-based NoC topologies is quantified. Experimental results on synthetic traffic show that the new ring-based NoC designs can provide significantly lower latency (upto 4.6×) compared to a state of the art mesh. The proposed floorplan-friendly topologies use fewer buffers (upto 50% less) and lower wire length (upto 64.3% lower) compared to the mesh. Depending on the performance and the area desired, a NoC designer can select among the topologies presented.
Bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)actinide alkyls: facile activation of carbon monoxide, carbon-carbon double bond formation, and the production of unusual oxygen-bonded migratory insertion products

The facile activation of CO by bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)thorium and uranium alkyls, the molecular structure of the Th((CH/sub 3/)/sub 5/C/sub 5/)/sub 2/(CH/sub 3/)/sub 2/ dicarbonylation product, and some structure-sensitivity observations on the carbon monoxide incorporation process are reported. The compounds M((CH/sub 3/)/sub 5/C/sub 5/)/sub 2/(OC(CH/sub 3/) = C(CH/sub 3/)O))/sub 2/, (M = thorium or uranium) were prepared by equilibrating a toluene solution of the appropriate metal alkyl at -80/sup 0/C with CO (less than 1 atm) for 1h, and then warming the solution to room temperature. Single crystals of the compound were found to be monoclinic (space group P2, ln); a = 11.819(2), b = 13.661(3), c = 15.658(2)A, ..beta.. = 107.08(1), and z = 2. The compound is composed of centrosymmetric dimers in which each Th(IV) ion adopts the pseudotetrahedral ''bent sandwich'' configuration. The oxygen atoms of bridging 2-butene-2,3-diolate ligands constitute the organic portion of the ten-atom, two-Th metallocycle. Bond lengths and angles for selected chemically distinct bonds are given. Monoclinic products resulted when the actinide substituent was replaced with trimethylsilylmethyl groups to yield M((CH/sub 3/)/sub 5/C/sub 5/)/sub 2/(CH/sub 2/Si(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/)/sub 2/. Carbonylation of the monoalkyl M(CH/sub 3/)/sub 5/C/sub 5/)/sub 2/(Cl)CH/sub 2/Si(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/ complexes led to trimethylsilyl migration. Amore » plausible scheme for the observed CO activation and product formation is presented.« less
When foragers discount the future: constraint or adaptation?

Abstract Foraging currencies based on average rates of energy gain often fail to predict observed behaviour when an animal must choose between a smaller, more immediate reward and a larger, more delayed reward. We review experiments demonstrating that a forager's choice may depend on the ratio of reward sizes, the difference in pursuit times, and the magnitude of the average pursuit time. The most telling result is that of Green et al. (1981), who showed that foragers prefer the smaller, more immediate reward when both pursuit times are relatively small, but they prefer the larger, more delayed reward when both pursuit times are relatively large. This paper proposes a new theoretical explanation by modifying a standard economic model for discounting future rewards. Our model of a variable time bias specification can explain the observed, temporally inconsistent preferences. Discounting future rewards might be an adaptive response to uncertainty in an animal's natural environment, but we cannot reject the possibility that preference for immediacy is a behavioural constraint on foraging efficiency.
RNA interference-mediated silencing of the YPS3 gene of Histoplasma capsulatum reveals virulence defects.

The YPS3 gene of Histoplasma capsulatum encodes a protein that is both surface localized in the cell wall of H. capsulatum and released into the culture medium. This protein is produced only during the pathogenic yeast phase of infection and is also expressed differentially in H. capsulatum strains of different virulence levels. In this study, we silenced the YPS3 transcript by using an interfering-RNA strategy and examined the silenced mutants for phenotypic differences in vitro and during infection. The mutants showed no growth defect during in vitro culture in a defined medium at 37°C and appeared to have normal virulence in a RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cell line. In a C57BL/6 mouse model of infection, however, the mutants caused significantly decreased fungal burdens, particularly in the peripheral phagocyte-rich tissues of livers and spleens. This defect in organ colonization was evident within 3 days of infection; however, it appeared to be exacerbated at later time points.
Nitrogen, phosphorous, and organic carbon removal in simulated wetland treatment systems.

Effects of vegetation, wastewater drawdown, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and media depth on removal of nitrogen, phosphorous, and organic carbon in microcosms were investigated. Synthetic wastewater was added daily to 28 microcosms, and effluent was sampled every 12 days for 132 days. Effluent was analyzed for ammonium (NH4 +-N), nitrate (NO3 −-N), orthophosphate (PO4 3−-P), and total organic carbon (TOC). Average percent removal of NH4 +-N was significantly greater in microcosms containing plants (67%) than in those without plants (29%). Percent removal of PO4 3−-P was also significantly greater in microcosms with plants (42%) than in microcosms without plants (20%), but no significant difference was found for TOC removal between microcosms with plants (67%) and those without plants (74%). Average removal was significantly lower in microcosms with wastewater drawdown than in those without wastewater fluctuation for both NH4 +-N (51% versus 83%) and PO4 3−-P (14% versus 71%). Percent NH4 +-N removal was significantly greater in microcosms with a 6-day retention time (80%) than in those with a 2-day retention (53%), and PO4 3−-P removal was also significantly greater with a 6-day retention time (55%) than a 2-day retention (29%). No differences were seen in TOC removal due to any of the treatments but HRT, where removal was greater microcosms with a 2-day HRT (76%) than in those with a 6-day HRT (60%). Media depth did not have a significant effect on nutrient removal. Results of this study demonstrate that required design parameters are different depending on the nutrient being removed in systems simulated by these microcosms.
Participation in activities outside of school hours in relation to problem behavior and social skills in middle childhood.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that participating in activities outside of school hours is associated with lower dropout rates, enhanced school performance, improved social skills, and reduced problem behaviors. However, most prior studies have been limited to small populations of older children (>12 years). This analysis focuses on children aged 6 to 11 to assess the potential association between participation in activities outside of school hours and behavior in middle childhood in a nationally representative survey. METHODS: Estimates were based on 25 , 797 children from the 2003 - 2004 National Survey of Children's Health. Outside of school activity was defined as participating in sports teams/lessons, clubs/organizations, or both at least once in the past year. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the differences in behavior problems and social skills adjusting for sociodemographic factors, among children classified by participation in outside of school activities. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of children participated in outside of school activities: 23 % in sports, 1 6% in clubs, and 3 6% in both clubs and sports. Activity participation differed by gender, race/ethnicity, type of school, poverty status, family structure, household education, and school and community safety. Children participating in both sports and clubs had higher social skills index scores, but no significant difference in problem behavior scores compared with children who did not participate in any outside of school activity. CONCLUSION: Children participating in both sports and clubs had greater social competence during middle childhood compared with children who did not participate in any outside of school activities.
Estimating Total-test Scores from Partial Scores in a Matrix Sampling Design.

In establishing national test norms, sampling both examinees and items serves to reduce the amount of testing time required. It is often desired to obtain a total-test score for an individual who was administered only a subset of the total test. The present study compared six methods, two of which utilize the content structure of items, to estimate total-test scores using 450 students and 60 items of the 110-item Stanford Mental Arithmetic Test. The items were sampled in such a way as to make comparisons between overlapping subtest designs and nonoverlapping subtest designs feasible. Three methods yielded fairly good estimates of the total-test score, namely regression with perfectly correlated nonoverlapping item samples, regression with correlation between item samples on overlapping subtests, and perfectly parallel overlapping or nonoverlapping item samples. The second method is suggested to be more robust than the other two and is, therefore, recommended.
A Self‐Doping, O2‐Stable, n‐Type Interfacial Layer for Organic Electronics

Solid films of a water-soluble dicationic perylene diimide salt, perylene bis(2-ethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide imide), Petma{sup +}OH{sup -}, are strongly doped n-type by dehydration and reversibly de-doped by hydration. The hydrated films consist almost entirely of the neutral perylene diimide, PDI, while the dehydrated films contain {approx}50% PDI anions. The conductivity increases by five orders of magnitude upon dehydration, probably limited by film roughness, while the work function decreases by 0.74 V, consistent with an n-type doping density increase of {approx}12 orders of magnitude. Remarkably, the PDI anions are stable in dry air up to 120 C. The work function of the doped film, {phi} (3.96 V vs. vacuum), is unusually negative for an O{sub 2}-stable contact. Petma{sup +} OH{sup -} is also characterized as an interfacial layer, IFL, in two different types of organic photovoltaic cells. Results are comparable to state of the art cesium carbonate IFLs, but may improve if film morphology can be better controlled. The films are stable and reversible over many months in air and light. The mechanism of this unusual self-doping process may involve the change in relative potentials of the ions in the film caused by their deshielding and compaction as water is removed, leadingmore » to charge transfer when dry.« less
Automated Techniques for Synthesis of Application-Specific Network-on-Chip Architectures

This paper addresses the automated synthesis of a custom network-on-chip architecture whose topology is optimized for the specific communication requirements of the target device. The optimization objectives include power consumption and resource usage. This paper presents a two-stage synthesis approach consisting of the following: (1) core to router mapping and (2) custom topology and route generation. In particular, it presents an optimal technique for core to router mapping [stage (1)] and a factor-2 approximation algorithm for custom topology generation [stage (2)]. The superior quality of the techniques is established by experimentation with benchmark applications and by comparisons with existing approaches.
Can telehealth technology be used for the education of health professionals

The purpose of this report is to describe the usefulness and desirability of using telehealth technology in the education of health care professionals. The PC-compatible, Windows-based system allowed for both real-time videoconferencing and store-and-forward (sending information from one site and stored at a distant site for access at a later time) functions. Student responses indicated that they thought they would benefit from this type of technology in their clinical education. They were most positive with respect to increasing access to a wider range of clients they may not otherwise access and least positive for the ability to learn from a televideo interaction when compared with a clinic experience. Similarly, faculty were least interested in using videoconferencing for patient rounds and more interested in using telehealth to enhance classroom presentations.
Effects of DSS, modeling, and exogenous factors on decision quality and confidence

118 undergraduate business students participated in an experiment which required that they manage production and workforce with the objective of minimizing costs using one of two forms of computer-based DSS. Using a 2/spl times/2 design, subjects were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: the (1) presence or (2) absence of a modeling feature, crossed with a (3) "good" or (4) "bad" decision environment implemented as a decreasing or increasing sales trend. Results indicate that subjects with access to a modeling feature performed better than those without such capability; subjects' confidence, however, was not correlated with environmental effects or the availability of a modeling feature. We also found a strong correlation between confidence and actual decision quality for all conditions. All these results are in the opposite direction from those of a previously published study using the same task but a different DSS. Finally, we found no evidence of overconfidence, on average, in any of our conditions. >
Exercise Training Modifies Ghrelin and Adiponectin Concentrations and Is Related to Inflammation in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to observe exercise training-induced effects on adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin. Twenty-nine older, healthy participants were classified as physically active (comparison group: N = 15, 70.9 ± 1.2 years) or physically inactive (exercise group: N = 14, 70.5 ± 1.4 years). Exercise group participants completed 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training, whereas comparison group participants maintained their current level of exercise and served as a physically active comparison group. Monocyte phenotype, as well as serum ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II were analyzed prior to and following the 12-week period. Ghrelin and adiponectin increased 47% and 55%, respectively, in exercise group participants following exercise training. Percent change in ghrelin (post and pre) was negatively correlated with the percent change in CD14+CD16+ monocytes (post and pre) in exercise group participants. Despite no changes in body mass, these data contribute to evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise.
Galactose metabolism in normal human lymphoblasts studied by 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy of extracts

The development of tools to follow and quantitate the fate of galactose in mammalian cells is crucial to the study and understanding of the inherited disorders of galactose metabolism. In this study we incubated normal human lymphoblasts with 1- or 2-(13)C galactose for 2.5 or 5 h and prepared TCA extracts of the cells. The various galactose metabolites were identified and quantified using a combination of proton, carbon and phosphorus NMR spectra. Galactose-1-phosphate (gal-1P), uridine diphosphogalactose, uridine diphosphoglucose and galactitol were present in the extracts. Average levels for gal-1P were around 10 nmol/mg protein and for uridine diphosphoglucose, uridine diphosphogalactose and galactitol in the range of 0.5-2 nmol/mg protein. Galactonate was never found in any conditions. Percentage labeling could be estimated for gal-1P and for the ribose carbons of AMP. The labeling agrees with a conversion of galactose to glucose through the Leloir pathway.
EUS versus surgical cyst-gastrostomy for management of pancreatic pseudocysts

Background Although EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy is increasingly being performed, there are no studies that compare the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness with surgical cyst-gastrostomy. Objectives To compare the clinical outcomes of EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy with surgical cyst-gastrostomy for the management of patients with uncomplicated pancreatic pseudocysts and to perform a cost analysis of each treatment modality. Design A retrospective case-controlled study. Setting A tertiary-referral center. Patients Consecutive patients with uncomplicated pancreatic pseudocysts managed by surgical and EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy. Methods An independent observer blinded to all clinic outcomes matched each patient who underwent a surgical cyst-gastrostomy with 2 patients who underwent an EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy for age, etiology of pancreatitis, and the size of the pseudocyst. Main Outcome Measurements Rates of treatment success, complications, and reinterventions; length of postprocedure hospital stay; and cost associated with each treatment modality. Results Ten patients (6 men; mean age 42.3 years, range 22-65 years) who underwent surgical cyst-gastrostomy were matched with 20 patients who underwent an EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy. There were no significant differences in demographics, major comorbidities, and clinical characteristics between both cohorts. Although there were no significant differences in rates of treatment success (100% vs 95%, P = .36), procedural complications (none in either cohort), or reinterventions (10% vs 0%, P = .13) between surgery versus an EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy, the mean length of a postprocedure hospital stay for an EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy was significantly shorter than for surgical cyst-gastrostomy (2.65 vs 6.5 days, P = .008). The average direct cost per case for EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy was significantly less when compared with surgical cyst-gastrostomy ($9077 vs $14,815, P = .01), which corresponded to a cost savings of $5738 per patient. Limitations Retrospective, nonrandomized design; patients with pancreatic abscess or necrosis were not evaluated; a limited sample size and a short duration of follow-up. Conclusions EUS-guided cyst-gastrostomy should be considered as a first-line treatment approach for patients with uncomplicated pancreatic pseudocysts, because the procedure is cost saving and is associated with a shorter length of a postprocedure hospital stay when compared with surgical cyst-gastrostomy. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between both treatment modalities.
Detection of tissue folds in whole slide images

In whole slide imaging (WSI) the quality of scanned images is an interplay between the hardware specifications of the scanning device and the condition of the tissue slide itself. Tissue artifacts such as folds and bubbles have been known to affect the efficiency of a whole slide scanning system in selecting the focus points wherein the presence of the said artifacts have been found to produce blur or unfocused images. Thus, for a whole slide scanning device to produce the best image quality, even with the presence of tissue artifacts, information on the location of these artifacts should be known such that they can be avoided in the selection of the focus points. In this paper we introduced an enhancement method to emphasize and detect the location of the tissue folds from whole slide images. Results of the experiments that we conducted on various H&E stained images that were scanned using different scanners show the robustness of the method to detect tissue folds.
A Different Way to Estimate the Equity Premium (for CAPM and One-Factor Model Use Only)

In a one-factor model, such as the CAPM, it takes two assets to pin down the expected rates of return on every other asset in the economy. The risk-free rate is one. The market is traditionally the second. However, this numeraire can be switched to other assets. If we use long-term Treasuries, and believe earlier empirical evidence in Fama-Bliss (1987) that the long-term yield spread is entirely due to a risk premium and not at all due to a forecast of future yields, then the Treasury yield spread and the market-beta of the long-term Treasury pin down an estimate of the equity premium. For the period from 1962 to 2007, it was 8 er year.However, this method also fails often, specifically in times when the market beta estimate of the long-term Treasury is close to zero. Moreover, given that the CAPM performs so poorly, the author recommends using the resulting estimate only as an internally consistent estimate within the context of the model itself.
A Preliminary Study on the Impact of a Pedometer-Based Intervention on Daily Steps:

Abstract Purpose. To investigate the effects of an 8-week, pedometer-based lifestyle physical activity intervention on physical activity levels. Methods. Participants were 37 college employees who volunteered to participate in the study. The intervention consisted of goal setting, pedometer use, self-monitoring, and weekly e-mail reminders. Physical activity measures (pedometer, survey) were taken at baseline and immediately following the intervention. A t-test for paired samples was used to determine significant changes in measures. Results. Results indicate a significant increase in average daily steps (p < .01), from 8565 (± 3121) steps at baseline to 10,538 (± 3681) steps after the program. Participants who averaged fewer than 6000 steps and obese participants experienced the greatest increase. Discussion. Although preliminary, this study indicates that the minimal contact, self-managed, pedometer-based lifestyle intervention was effective in increasing the daily physical activity of participants. Giv...
Indication and inference: reflections on the challenge of mixing paradigms in the Narrative Policy Framework

How does one draw inferences from a conceptual framework that mixes research paradigms? How does one go about convincing others that this is a worthy enterprise in narrative analysis? These are the...
Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks for intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures.

Abstract Objectives To compare pain relief between patients with intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures who received an ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block (USFNB). Design A multicenter, prospective, randomized, clinical trial. Setting The study was conducted in the emergency departments of 3 academic hospitals located in New York City. Subjects Patients aged ≥60 years presenting to the emergency department with hip fracture. Methods A subgroup analysis from a larger data set was conducted of patients with intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures who received an USFNB. We compared pain scores at baseline and then at 2 and 3 hours after the nerve block was performed, and also assessed pain relief at 2 and 3 hours. Results Seventy-seven patients were randomized to receive USFNB, of which 68 had follow-up data at 2 and 3 hours and were included in the data analysis. Thirty-one were diagnosed with intracapsular and 37 with extracapsular hip fractures. In both groups, reductions in pain scores were clinically and statistically significant. In the intracapsular group, mean pain scores decreased from 6.23 to 3.81 ( P P P P P = .92) and at 3 hours ( P = .58), thus demonstrating similar reductions in pain in the 2 groups. The differences in pain relief between the intracapsular and extracapsular groups were also similar: 1.61 (confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.08) vs 1.35 (CI, 0.96-1.75) at 2 hours ( P = .39) and 1.68 (CI, 1.21-2.15) vs 1.38 (CI, 0.89-1.87) at 3 hours ( P = .38). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block was equally effective in reducing pain for patients with both intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures.
Dis-Integration and Re-Integration Strategies: Alternatives to Vertical Integration

Much has been written about the advantages of vertical marketing systems. However, very little has been written about why VMS companies might decide to "disintegrate" or "re-integrate" their corporate structures. This paper explores reasons why a company might wish to utilize the latter two strategies.
Booker's Unnoticed Victims: Why Courts Should Abandon the Departure Concept and Provide Notice Prior to Sua Sponte Variances

This paper 1) notices that Booker uprooted the statutory basis for the departure concept, suggesting that courts are at liberty to deviate from precedent rooted in the pre-Booker concept; 2) explains why Rule 32(i)(1)(C) as read by Burns v United States requires notice prior to sua sponte non-Guidelines sentences in those jurisdictions that require a distinct legal determination if a non-Guidelines sentence is warranted; and 3) discusses why such notice would be beneficial in other jurisdictions.
Chapter 16: Do Decision-Makers 'Care' about Efficiency?

This is chapter 16 of Environmental Economics: An Integrated Approach and it considers the extent to which political and jurisdictional problems result in inefficient environmental policies in the developed world.
Health Care in Coastal Villages of Tuticorin District

Environment is a vital factor very much associated with the diseases. People who follow a series of social practices in a humiliating environment would suffer from serious health problems. This study mostly emphases on the relationship between the coastal village people health care and their health problems. The study was conducted in four coastal villages from Tuticorin district. Velapatti, Siluvaipatti, Pazhayakayal and Punnakayal coastal villages from Tuticorin district were interviewed to collect primary data. Each village 45 respondents were selected and a total of 180 respondents were selected as sample. The researcher also collected secondary data from books, journals, magazines, websites and the like which supplemented the primary data. Besides these some first-hand information was also collected from the field and also from a few experts. The field work was carried out during June 2015-September 2015 without any interruption. The descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test, chi-square test were used to analyse the data. It reveals that a noteworthy proportion of male respondents (47.1 per cent) are free from diseases. As regards the severe diseases that affect the respondents, the proportion of male respondents (26.7 per cent) is more or less equal to the proportion of their female counterparts (24.6 per cent). But, with respect to continuing diseases, the proportion of female respondents (42.1 per cent) is over one and a half time higher than their male counterparts (26.2 per cent). However, this has been statistically proved that there is a high significant relationship between the types of disease affecting the respondents and their sex. In other words, more female respondents than their male counterparts are suffering from long-lasting diseases. In order to find out whether there is any correlation between the sex of the respondents and types of disease, chi-square test has been applied. As the calculated value of Chi-square is greater than the table value at 5 per cent level of significance, there is a relationship between sex of the respondents and types of disease in the study area. Fever, Common cold, Diabetes, Acid peptic diseases, Gastritis, Arthritis, Cancer, Asthma, Tuberculosis and Deaf Mutism were the chronic diseases threatening the people in the study area. 81% of the respondents are still suffering from joint pain in the aftermath of chikungunya fever. From the findings of the study, it is understood that the people in the village under study do not pay passable consideration to the precautionary care. Health care does not suggest remedial attention alone. It suggests precautionary care as well. But the people in the village give position to the remedial characteristics rather than to the defensive features of health care.
A Survey of Attitude Error Representations

Several attitude error representations are developed for describing the tracking orientation error kinematics. Compact forms of attitude error equation are derived for each case. The attitude error is initially de ned as the quaternion (rotation) error between the current and the estimated orientation. The nonlinear kinematic models are valid for arbitrarily large relative rotations and rotation rates. These modes have been developed for supporting the development of nonlinear spacecraft maneuver formulations. All of the kinematic formulations assume that a reference state has been de ned. These results are expected to be broadly useful for generalizing extended Kalman ltering formulations. The bene ts of paper are discussed.
Glycaemic control, glucose variability and the Triangle of Diabetes Care

The discovery of insulin turned a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes from a terminal condition to one that can be managed in a way that allows a full and fulfilling life. Optimal management of glycaemia plays a key role within the long-term management of diabetes. Indeed, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study established beyond doubt that intensive management of blood glucose (HbA1c) reduced the risk of long-term (especially microvascular) complications of the disease in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Long-term observational follow up years or decades beyond these trials revealed a longer-term macrovascular benefit from these interventions. There is more to glycaemic control than the prevailing level of HbA1c, however. Variability of blood glucose within and between days promotes hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic episodes that may increase the risk of diabetes complications or adverse clinical outcomes and which certainly impair patients' quality of life and confidence in managing their insulin regimen. The Triangle of Diabetes Care has emerged as a useful concept here, bringing together the need to improve glucose levels, but also to avoid hypoglycaemia and to reduce glucose variability. Continuous glucose monitoring is a particularly valuable tool for addressing glycaemic variability, but patients and healthcare professionals can be swamped by the large amount of data that it generates. Advanced glucose profiling provides a means of producing a straightforward, visual representation of daily glucose profiles over a number of days that can help to pinpoint the changes in the insulin regimen needed to optimise blood glucose control.
Modeling reaction pathways of low energy particle deposition on polymer surfaces via first principle calculations.

The chemical processes that lead to polystyrene surface modification via low energy deposition of C 2 H + , C 2 F + , CH 2 , CH 2 + , and H + radicals and ions are examined using first principles calculations. Specifically, the reaction mechanisms responsible for products identified in classical molecular dynamics with reactive empirical bond-order potentials are examined using density functional theory. In addition, these calculations consider how the presence of charges on the incident particles changes the result for the CH 2 system through the comparison of barriers, transition states, and final products for CH 2 and CH 2 + . The structures of the reaction species and energy barriers are determined using the B3LYP hybrid functional. Finally, CCSD/6-31G(d,p) single point energy calculations are carried out to obtain optimized energy barriers. The results indicate that the large variety of reactions occurring on the polystyrene surface are a consequence of complex interactions between the substrate and the deposited particles, which can easily be identified and characterized using advanced computational methodologies, such as first principle calculations.
Neuropathic Anticonvulsant Medications

Neuropathic pain medications have dramatically changed the armamentarium of treatment options available to pain medicine practitioners. It is important to be familiar with the indications, dosing, and side effects associated with each of these medications.
Ahrensite, γ-Fe2SiO4, a new shock-metamorphic mineral from the Tissint meteorite: Implications for the Tissint shock event on Mars

Ahrensite (IMA 2013-028), γ-Fe_2SiO_4, is the natural Fe-analog of the silicate-spinel ringwoodite (γ-Mg_2SiO_4). It occurs in the Tissint Martian meteorite, where it forms through the transformation of the fayalite-rich rims of olivine megacrysts or Fe-rich microphenocrysts in contact with shock melt pockets. The typical sequence of phase assemblages traversing across a Tissint melt pocket into olivine is: quenched melt or fayalite-pigeonite intergrowth ⇒ bridgmanite + wustite ⇒ ahrensite and/or ringwoodite ⇒ highly-deformed olivine + nanocrystalline ringwoodite ⇒ deformed olivine. We report the first comprehensive set of crystallographic, spectroscopic, and quantitative chemical analysis of type ahrensite, and show that concentrations of ferric iron and inversion in the type material of this newly approved mineral are negligible. We also report the occurrence of nanocrystalline ringwoodite in strained olivine and establish correlations between grain size and distance from melt pockets. The ahrensite and ringwoodite crystals show no preferred orientation, consistent with random nucleation and incoherent growth within a highly strained matrix of olivine. Grain sizes of ahrensite immediately adjacent to melt pockets are consistent with growth during a shock of moderate duration (1–10 ms).
Genotyping of AmpC-producing bacteria causing infections in children with septicemia

OBJECTIVE To investigate the drug resistance and the genotypes of AmpC-producing bacteria causing infections in the children with septicemia so as to guide the clinical treatment.METHODS The bacterial identification and drug susceptibility testing were performed with VITEK-2 Compact for the pathogens isolated from the children with septicemia who were treated in Hunan Children′s Hospital from Jan 2009 to Jan 2011,then the AmpC/R and DHA genes were detected.RESULTS A total of 581 strains of gram-negative bacilli were isolated from 10 264 blood samples,accounting for 59.77%.There were 56 strains of Ochrobactrum anthropi and 22 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae,whose drug resistance rates to ampicillin,the first,second,and third generation of cephalosporins,and aztreonam were relatively high,the drug susceptibility rates to cefepime,ciprofloxacin,and imipenem were relatively high.The gene test showed that O.anthropi carried with AmpC/R genes and K.pneumoniae produced DHA AmpC.CONCLUSION O.anthropiand K.pneumoniae can cause the septicemia in the infants.The cefepime can be used as the preferred antibiotics,and imipenem is used for the children critically ill.The control of the antibiotics application should be strengthened to prevent the spread of the drug resistant genes through those strains.
Functional role of angiotensin II type 1 and 2 receptors in regulation of uterine blood flow in nonpregnant sheep

The objective was to determine the receptor subtype of angiotensin II (ANG II) that is responsible for vasoconstriction in the nonpregnant ovine uterine and systemic vasculatures. Seven nonpregnant...
Estimation of Freeway Density Based on Combination of Data: Point Traffic Detector Data and Automatic Vehicle Identification Data

This study compared the results from three freeway density estimation methods based on point detector data with the results obtained from the density estimation procedure of the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010). The three methods were the cumulative volume–based method, the occupancy-based method, and the fundamental relationship–based method. The study also developed and tested a new method that integrated data from point traffic detectors and automatic vehicle identification readers to estimate the density of freeway segments for offline and real-time applications. The four density estimation methods were compared with each other and the HCM 2010 method by using two case studies based on simulation modeling and real-world data. Results showed that the density estimates based on the proposed segmentation method, cumulative volume method, and HCM 2010 method were generally closer to each other compared with the estimates based on the other two tested methods. The simulation case study showed that t...
The History of Antithrombotic Therapy: The Discovery of Heparin, the Vitamin K Antagonists, and the Utility of Aspirin

The administration of intravenous heparin to postoperative patients by Barritt and Jordan reduced the incidence of fatal and nonfatal pulmonary embolism and established heparin as the standard for parenteral anticoagulation. The coumarin family of vitamin K antagonists quickly became the standard for long-term oral anticoagulation. Aspirin became a widely used antithrombotic agent after the discovery that chronic oral administration reduced the incidence of secondary strokes and myocardial infarction. This article gives a brief history of antithrombotic therapy, including the discovery of heparin, the vitamin k antagonists, and the utility of aspirin.
Weight loss following diet-induced obesity does not alter colon tumorigenesis in the AOM mouse model

Obesity presents a significant public health concern given its association with increased cancer incidence, unfavorable prognosis, and metastasis. However, there is very little literature on the effects of weight loss, following obesity, on risk for colon cancer or liver cancer. Therefore, we sought to study whether intentional weight loss through diet manipulation was capable of mitigating colon and liver cancer in mice. We fed mice with a high-fat diet (HFD) comprised of 47% carbohydrates, 40% fat, and 13% protein for 20 wk to mimic human obesity. Subsequently, azoxymethane (AOM) was used to promote colon and liver carcinogenesis. A subset of obese mice was then switched to a low-fat diet (LFD) containing 67.5% carbohydrate, 12.2% fat, and 20% protein to promote intentional weight loss. Body weight loss and excess fat reduction did not protect mice from colon cancer progression and liver dysplastic lesion in the AOM-chemical-cancer model even though these mice had improved blood glucose and leptin levels. Intentional weight loss in AOM-treated mice actually produced histological changes that resemble dysplastic alterations in the liver and presented a higher percentage of F4/80+CD206+ macrophages and activated T cells (CD4+CD69+) in the spleen and lymph nodes, respectively. In addition, the liver of AOM-treated mice exposed to a HFD during the entire period of the experiment exhibited a marked increase in proliferation and pNF-κB activation. Altogether, these data suggest that intentional weight loss following chemical-induced carcinogenesis does not affect colon tumorigenesis but may in fact negatively impact liver repair mechanisms.
El desempeño de las ecuaciones de estimación del índice de filtrado glomerular basado en cistatina-C y creatinina depende de las características del paciente

Background: The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline recommends use of a cystatin C–based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) t...
Securing digital microfluidic biochips by randomizing checkpoints

Much progress has been made in digital microfluidic biochips (DMFB), with a great body of literature addressing low-cost, high-performance, and reliable operation. Despite this progress, security of DMFBs has not been adequately addressed. We present an analysis of a DMFB system prone to malicious modification of routes and propose a DMFB defense based on spatio-temporal randomized checkpoints using CCD cameras. Absent the knowledge of the time- and space-randomized checkpoints, an attacker cannot navigate the DMFB without alerting the system. We present an algorithm to guide the placement and timing of the checkpoints such that the probability that an attack can evade detection is minimized. The efficacy of the defense mechanism is illustrated with a case study under stealthy malicious modifications.
2.5-Year-Olds’ Retention and Generalization of Novel Words across Short and Long Delays

ABSTRACTTwo experiments investigated two-year-olds’ retention and generalization of novel words across short and long time delays. Specifically, retention of newly learned words and generalization to novel exemplars or novel contexts were tested 1 min or 1 week after learning. Experiment 1 revealed successful retention as well as successful generalization to both new exemplars and new contexts after a one-minute delay, with no statistical differences between retention and generalization performance for either generalization type. Toddlers tested after a week delay (Experiment 2) showed successful retention and generalization as well, but while context generalization was statistically equivalent to retention accuracy, exemplar generalization was significantly lower than retention accuracy. The overall success in both retention and generalization suggests that toddlers’ newly learned words are robust and flexible. However, the lower exemplar generalization performance compared to retention after a weeklong ...
It takes a village: Exploring the impact of social determinants on delivery system outcomes for heart failure patients.

Abstract Background Local social determinants may act as effect modifiers for the impact of neighborhood material deprivation on patient-level healthcare outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the mediating effect of local social determinants on neighborhood material deprivation and delivery outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. Material and methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 4737 HF patients receiving inpatient care (n=6065 encounters) from an integrated healthcare delivery system from 2010 to 2014. Outcomes included post-discharge mortality, readmission risk and length of stay. Deprivation was measured using an area deprivation index by address of residence. Effect modifications measured included urban-rural residency and faith identification using generalized linear regression models. Patient-level data was drawn from the delivery system data warehouse. Results Faith identification had a significant protective effect on HF patients from deprived areas, lowering 30-day mortality odds by one-third over patients who did not identify with a faith (OR 0.35 95%CI:0.12–0.98;p=0.05). Significant effects persisted at the 90 and 180-day timeframes. In rural areas, lack of faith identification had a multiplicative effect on 30-day mortality for deprived patients (OR 14.0 95%CI:1.47–132.7;p=0.02). No significant effects were noted for other healthcare outcomes. Conclusions The lack of expected association between area deprivation and healthcare outcomes in some communities may be explained by the presence of effect modifiers. Implications Understanding existing effect modifiers for area deprivation in local communities that delivery systems serve can inform targeted quality improvement. These factors should also be considered when comparing delivery system performance for reimbursement and in population health management.
Revolutionary Terror in the Colombian Civil War

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the use of terror in Colombia's civil war by examining the behavior of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Relying on an extensive database covering 25 years of conflict, the article traces the way in which the FARC and ELN have employed terror as part of their overall insurrectional strategy. I argue that, while ideology plays an important role in inspiring revolutionary terrorism, these groups' terror practices evolved over time and were driven principally by military strategies. Changing conditions in the theater of war, particularly growing competition with paramilitary forces, in turn, influenced these strategies. The article also discusses some interesting differences between the two groups' terror practices.
Assessing Selenium, Manganese, and Iodine Status in Pediatric Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

Background: Pediatric patients who are receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) unsupplemented with trace minerals can become deficient. Due to shortages in trace mineral products and the 2004 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition report stating that individualized trace element supplementation may be warranted, a review was conducted concerning the trace minerals selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), and iodine (I). Method: A retrospective review of pediatric patients receiving PN that contained Se and Mn was conducted to determine if a difference existed between them and patients receiving PN without Se and Mn. Statistical analysis was done to assess a difference between trace mineral levels and the time to deficiency between supplemented and unsupplemented patients. Unsupplemented I patients had urine I levels assessed to determine deficiencies in patients receiving PN. Results: Plasma Se levels were measured at a mean of 20 days for supplemented patients (n = 131) and 19 days for nonsupplemented p...
Enhancing Open National Combustion Code and Application of Energy Efficient Engine Combustor

This paper presents a recent enhancement of the Open National Combustion Code (OpenNCC) and applies it to model a realistic combustor configuration, Energy Efficient Engine (E3). First, a series of...
Information and Communication Technologies: The Penultimate Interactive Information-Rich Environment

Building on Chap. 2’s exploration of the natures and affordances of various information-rich environments, this chapter focuses specifically on the environment offered by the Internet and the World Wide Web. It extends the earlier discussion of interactivity to position it as the basic learning affordance of this penultimate information-rich environment, and it explains how interactivity underlies the capability of information and communication technologies to provide both logistical and conceptual advantages. Because research on the unique learning affordances of the Internet / Web environment is still relatively limited, the chapter draws on earlier research as well as on a strong theoretical base to suggest the inherent possibilities for learning with information available here. The chapter argues that many of the affordances presented in Chap. 2 apply in this environment and that several key affordances and combinations of affordances that are uniquely present here seem to hold special promise for twenty-first-century learning—distributed processing and collaboration, discourse strategies and distributed processing, and collaboration and discourse strategies.