cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fateful Interaction between Biomedical Engineering and SUMROC

Acquainting Professor Chung-li Wang was the turning point of my career as a researcher. Before getting to know him, I was an aerospace engineer playing with airplanes, helicopter, and space-shuttle design. Luckily, through the introduction of Professor Fon-jou Hsieh, I became a member of biomedical research for the past 16 years. I joined the musculoskeletal ultrasound study group first, where we met and studied the basic principles of ultrasound every week for more than 3 months. With Professor Hsieh’s assistance, we were allowed to use the ultrasound equipment in the hallway of National Taiwan University Hospital on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. This was the beginning of our adventure in the arena of ultrasound. Even to this day, it is still one of my most cherished memories, and I am filled with gratitude whenever I think back to those times. Using ATL Ultramark, I got my first set of ultrasound images (Fig. 1). It was the M-mode and Doppler spectrum of Dr Chih-Chin Hsu’s common carotid artery (CCA). When I saw the M-mode image, I was very excited to see how similar the pulse of the arterial wall and the blood pressure were, and how convenient it was to measure the blood flow of the CCA. An innovative and easy way to measure the resistance of cerebral circulation immediately came to my mind. I returned to my lab and quickly wrote a MATLAB image analysis program to investigate impairment of the carotid artery, which can be applied to analyze the condition of the artery in patients with stroke. It can also be used to verify the characteristic frequency of systemic
Ten Years of Consumer Attitude Surveys: Their Forecasting Record

Abstract Since 1951 the Survey Research Center has conducted surveys of consumer optimism and confidence two to four times a year in an attempt to improve methods of forecasting discretionary spending by consumers. The predictive success of these attitude surveys is tested here in conjunction with a number of financial variables by means of time series regressions covering the years 1952–61. The results indicate that attitude measurements contain information not obtainable from a simple combination of financial and business cycle indicators. The explanatory value of the Survey Research Center Index of Consumer Attitudes is consistently good in the sense that a number of alternative formulations of the time series regressions lead to the same conclusion: Attitudes contribute significantly to our ability to account for fluctuations in durable goods spending, particularly spending on new cars, after allowance is made for changes in the financial situation of consumers.
Broomcorn silage for dairy cattle.

Summary A small-scale investigation of the possibilities of using broomcorn for silage was conducted. Two varieties of broomcorn, Black Jap and White Italian, produced large yields of dry matter per acre, the amounts in the stalk portion of the plant at the usual brush-harvest stage being as large as the amounts in hybrid corn and in Orange sorgo harvested for silage. The White Italian is a larger growing variety than the Black Jap and gave larger yields of dry matter. Broomcorn was ensiled at different stages of development. Best results were obtained in the case of broomcorn stalks ensiled at the usual stage for brush harvest. Silage very low in acidity and with poor keeping qualities was found in all silos except those in which the cut crop was treated with molasses at the rate of 100 pounds per ton. Broomcorn silage was found to be high in fiber content and hard splintered pieces several inches in length were refused by dairy cows. After becoming accustomed to the new feed, the cows ate the silage readily though not as freely as when corn silage was fed, and produced only slightly smaller amounts of milk than during the corn silage periods. The results obtained justify the conclusion that it is possible to make large amounts of silage having good keeping qualities and fair feeding value from the stalks of broomcorn, the portion of the plant now rarely utilized in any way except for plowing under.
Prevention of Secondary Conditions in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Identification of Systems-Level Barriers

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) impact 2–5 % of the US population and are associated with life-long cognitive and behavioral impairments. Individuals with FASD have high rates of secondary conditions, including mental health problems, school disruptions, and trouble with the law. This study focuses on systems-level barriers that contribute to secondary conditions and interfere with prevention and treatment. Using a phenomenological methodology, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with parents of children with FASD and service providers. Data were analyzed using a framework approach. Participants emphasized the pervasive lack of knowledge of FASD throughout multiple systems. This lack of knowledge contributes to multi-system barriers including delayed diagnosis, unavailability of services, and difficulty qualifying for, implementing, and maintaining services. FASD is a major public health problem. Broad system changes using a public health approach are needed to increase awareness and understanding of FASD, improve access to diagnostic and therapeutic services, and create responsive institutional policies to prevent secondary conditions. These changes are essential to improve outcomes for individuals with FASD and their families and facilitate dissemination of empirically supported interventions.
Scattering of spiral density waves to lower arm number

It is shown that spiral density waves in astrophysical disks can undergo nonlinear resonance and scatter to waves with lower azimuthal wavenumber. The process is a fluid analog to nonlinear Landau damping, in which two linear modes exchange energy, mediated by a virtual beat mode. The scattering rate is calculated for a thin fluid disk model, using a weak turbulence expansion. It is shown that down-scattering is related to outward angular momentum transport and hence plays a role in mass accretion.
Hybrid variable finite elements for semiconductor devices

Abstract A class of methods recently developed by Brezzi for the solution of semiconductor device equations of the type div((∇u + u ∇ψ) = f with ψ given is further discussed. We show that the system arising from the methods has essentially diagonal matrices, and that, by use of a certain numerical integration, the methods are identical with the classical Galerkin method. We also indicate how the methods generalize to a more general case in which ψ might depend on u (or on ∇u). Finally, error estimates for the approximation of current (current = σ = ∇u + u ∇ψ) are given.
Metal-on-oxide nanoparticles produced using laser ablation of microparticle aerosols

A continuous aerosol process has been studied for producing nanoparticles of oxides that were decorated with smaller metallic nanoparticles and are free of organic stabilizers. To produce the oxide carrier nanoparticles, an aerosol of 3–6 μm oxide particles was ablated using a pulsed excimer laser. The resulting oxide nanoparticle aerosol was then mixed with 1.5–2.0 μm metallic particles and this mixed aerosol was exposed to the laser for a second time. The metallic micron-sized particles were ablated during this second exposure, and the resulting nanoparticles deposited on the surface of the oxide nanoparticles producing an aerosol of 10–60 nm oxide nanoparticles that were decorated with smaller 1–5 nm metallic nanoparticles. The metal and oxide nanoparticle sizes were varied by changing the laser fluence and gas type in the aerosol. The flexibility of this approach was demonstrated by producing metal-decorated oxide nanoparticles using two oxides, SiO2 and TiO2, and two metals, Au and Ag.
Trends in Grain Area and Yield in Developed and Developing Nations

W ORLD grain production has expanded sharply since World War II. This growth is often primarily ascribed to yield increases. Brown, writing in 1963, indicated that since the 1948-52 period, "nearly four-fifths of the gains in world grain output have come from yield increases" [1, p. 100]. How does this relationship vary between developed and developing nations? One might hypothesize that while yield increases have been the main factor in bringing about production increases in the developed nations, area expansion has been (until only recently) the dominant factor in the developing countries. This question can be analyzed in a preliminary way by using a series of data for all grains -which Brown also utilized-from FAO's annual Production Yearbook [3]. Area and production are reported for all grains by individual countries and regions.1 Here we shall cover the
Synthesis and characterization of 2234-phase Ti2Ba2Ca3Cu4O12 prepared near and at the melting point

Bulk samples of nearly-pure 2234-phase Tl2Ba2Ca3Cu4O12 were synthesized near the melting point from starting compositions of either Tl2Ba2Ca3.3Cu4Oz or Tl2Ba2Ca4Cu5Oz. Well crystallized 'clusters' of 2234-phase Tl2Ba2Ca3Cu4O12 were also prepared by melting the starting material Tl2Ba2Ca4Cu5Oz. The 2234-phase samples prepared in the present experiment exhibit Tc( rho =0) up to 119 K.
Repeated botulinum-a toxin injection in the treatment of neuropathic bladder dysfunction and poor bladder compliance in children with myelomeningocele†‡

Aims To evaluate the efficacy of intradetrusor injection of Botulinum-A toxin (BoNT/A) in children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction and poor bladder compliance, due to meningomyelocele. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 11 children (mean age 6.7 ± 5.3 years) with neuropathic bladder and poor bladder compliance (mean 7 ml/cmH2O) treated with intradetrusor injection of BoNT/A. After urodynamic evaluation a standardized injection was performed. The authors describe their results in 11 children after the first (5×) or repeated (6×) BoNT/A injections. Re-evaluation was performed 3 and 12 months after each injection. Results Three months after injection detrusor pressure decreased by 17% and bladder capacity increased by 33%. In all but 1 patient bladder compliance stayed poor. Twelve months after treatment patients still had an effect but the values were already reverting towards preoperative levels. With repeated injections we achieved a similar effect on capacity and detrusor pressure as after the first injection. Overall, bladder compliance normalized (>20 cmH2O) in only 1 patient. Conclusions The results confirmed the positive temporary effect of BoNT/A on detrusor pressure and bladder capacity in children with myelomeningocele, even after repeated injections. Nevertheless, bladder compliance stayed severely pathological. Whether an earlier treatment may prevent poor bladder compliance is a yet unanswered question. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30: 1546–1549, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Evaluation of the Use of Digital Study Models in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to determine the diagnostic and treatment planning value of digital models when compared with plaster study casts. In addition, the level of orthodonti...
Codon usage in vertebrates is associated with a low risk of acquiring nonsense mutations

Background: Codon usage in genomes is biased towards specific subsets of codons. Codon usage bias affects translational speed and accuracy, and it is associated with the tRNA levels and the GC content of the genome. Spontaneous mutations drive genomes to a low GC content. Active cellular processes are needed to maintain a high GC content, which influences the codon usage of a species. Loss-of-function mutations, such as nonsense mutations, are the molecular basis of many recessive alleles, which can greatly affect the genome of an organism and are the cause of many genetic diseases in humans. Methods: We developed an event based model to calculate the risk of acquiring nonsense mutations in coding sequences. Complete coding sequences and genomes of 40 eukaryotes were analyzed for GC and CpG content, codon usage, and the associated risk of acquiring nonsense mutations. We included one species per genus for all eukaryotes with available reference sequence. Results: We discovered that the codon usage bias detected in genomes of high GC content decreases the risk of acquiring nonsense mutations (Pearson’s r = -0.95; P < 0.0001). In the genomes of all examined vertebrates, including humans, this risk was lower than expected (0.93 ± 0.02; mean ± SD) and lower than the risk in genomes of non-vertebrates (1.02 ± 0.13; P = 0.019). Conclusions: While the maintenance of a high GC content is energetically costly, it is associated with a codon usage bias harboring a low risk of acquiring nonsense mutations. The reduced exposure to this risk may contribute to the fitness of vertebrates.
Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision: a novel approach to intractable marginal ulcer management

Marginal ulcers are a known complication after Rouxen-Y gastric bypass, with a variable incidence of .6–16% [1,2]. Initial therapy involves elimination of the inciting risk factors [3] and medical management with a proton pump inhibitor and sucralfate therapy [4]. Although most marginal ulcers will heal with such treatment, approximately one third of patients will require operative intervention [5]. Surgery typically involves total revision of the gastrojejunostomy [6]. Revisional bariatric surgery, however, is technically difficult and has been associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. This approach can threaten the integrity of the gastric pouch and potentially necessitate an esophageal anastomosis. We present a case study of an intractable marginal ulcer managed surgically through a nontraditional technique that aims to reduce such risk.
Health Insurance Reform in an Experimental Market: Human Subjects, Agents Combined to Study Complex Regulatory Reform Proposals

We used human subjects in an agent-based market architecture to examine nine different experimental markets featuring different health care insurance scenarios. We compared a scenario in which no reforms occurred to different combinations of employer-and individual-mandates, restricted rating, and variations in numbers of choices and requirements that employers pay minimum percentages of their employees’ insurance premiums. We then tracked the performance of stakeholders, including employees and large and small employers, as well as firms in high-profit-margin and low-margin markets and their overall revenues and analyzed the resulting data. We found that employee and individual mandates, separately or combined, are not enough by themselves to improve outcomes for all stakeholders. The results show the vulnerability of small-and low-margin employers and their employees to mandate regimes.
What do the theories of Egon Brunswik have to say to medical education

Every day physicians make judgments about patient management and diagnosis based on less than perfect information from many different sources. Judgment and decision-making research has taught us a great deal about such decisions, but these insights rarely find their way into the medical curriculum. One productive line of investigation in the study of judgment and decision making has followed the insights and theories developed by the psychologist, Egon Brunswik. His theories are becoming increasingly relevant to modern judgment problems. In this paper, I outline Brunswik's theories, trace their development over the last 50 years and speculate on what role they should play in medical education.
Mothers and their offspring perceive the tritone paradox in closely similar ways

The tritone paradox is produced when two tones that are related by a half-octave (or tritone) are presented in succession, and the tones are so constructed that their pitch classes (C, C#, D; and so on) are clearly defined but their pitch heights are ambiguous. When listeners judge whether such tone pairs form ascending or descending patterns, their judgments show orderly relationships to the positions of the tones along the pitch-class circle: Tones in one region of the circle are heard as higher and those in the opposite region as lower. However, listeners disagree substantially as to which tones are heard as higher and which as lower, and these perceptual differences correlate with the language or dialect to which the listener has been exposed. In the present study, perceptions of mothers and their offspring were found to be strikingly similar, indicating that the mental representation influencing perception of the tritone paradox is formed early in life and survives into adulthood. It is conjectured that this mental representation is formed during the critical period in which infants acquire the features of their native language.
Maximum Likelihood Diagnosis in Partially Observable Finite State Machines

In this paper we develop a probabilistic approach for fault diagnosis in deterministic finite state machines (FSMs). The proposed approach determines whether the FSM under consideration is faulty or not by observing (part of) its output sequence. The input sequence applied to the FSM does not need to be fully observable but an a priori probabilistic description of the input sequence is assumed to be available. Given the (partially) observed output sequence of the FSM, we compute the a posteriori probability that this sequence was produced by the fault-free FSM and compare it to the a posteriori probability that it was produced by the faulty one. We also discuss how the approach in the paper relates to the more general problem of observation and fault diagnosis in stochastic discrete event systems in (hidden) Markov models
Dispatch of Direct Load Control for Fuel Cost Minimization

The concept, algorithm and the requisite mathematics for the dispatch of Direct Load Control (DLC) for fuel cost-minimization is developed. The dispatch decision is based on the consideration of producing fuel cost savings. The dispatch is integrated with the economic dispatch of conventional generation. The algorithm for the dispatch and coordination of DLC takes into account all operational constraints on the dispatch of DLC. A method is thus provided for rendering the DLC program flexible to changing system requirements. DLC can be integrated into system operations and utilized for peak shaving and/or fuel cost savings, as and when required.
Database damage assessment using a matrix based approach: an intrusion response system

When an attacker or a malicious user updates a database, the resulting damage can spread to other parts of the database through valid users. A fast and accurate damage assessment must be performed as soon as such an attack is detected. In this paper, we have discussed two approaches for damage assessment in an affected database. While the first one uses transaction dependency relationships to determine affected transactions, the second approach considers data dependency relationships to identify affected data items for future recovery. These relationships are stored in a matrix format for faster manipulation.
Photoemission studies of self-energy effects in cuprate superconductors

Abstract Recent instrumentation developments in photoemission are providing new insights into the physics of complex materials. With increased energy and momentum resolution, it has become possible to examine in detail different contributions to the self-energy or inverse lifetime of the photohole created in the photoexcitation process. In studies of a metallic system such as Mo it is possible to isolate and identify the different contributions to the quasi-particle lifetime including electron–electron, electron–phonon and electron–impurity scattering. In contrast, studies of the high T c superconductor, Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ , show that the material at optimal doping behaves like a non-Fermi liquid rather a Fermi liquid.
Bolus transit assessed by an esophageal stress test in postfundoplication dysphagia

Introduction. Dysphagia is common after Nissen fundoplication but the relationship between dysphagia and bolus transit is poorly defined. This study compared bolus transit of fundoplication patients to normal individuals. Methods. Twelve fundoplication patients and 20 healthy volunteers rated their ability to swallow eight bolus consistencies from no difficulty (0) to extreme difficulty (3) to compute a dysphagia score (range 5 0 ‐24). A 16-lumen manometric assembly was positioned across the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and subjects were imaged fluoroscopically in a supine posture while swallowing 5 cc liquid barium and a 5-cc marshmallow-like viscoelastic barium bolus. Videofluoroscopic images were analyzed for total esophageal transit time and the fraction of time required to cross the EGJ. Manometric tracings were analyzed for the intrabolus pressure proximal to the EGJ, intragastric pressure, and distal peristaltic amplitude for each bolus. Results. Dysphagia scores for fundoplication patients were significantly higher (7.3 6 5.1, range 5 1‐17) than for normals (0.5 6 0.6, range 5 0 ‐2). This correlated with longer total transit times for liquids and solids (r 5 0.60, P < 0.01) and a greater percentage of transit time attributable to the EGJ transit. Retrograde flow at the EGJ (escape of bolus proximally up the esophagus) and peristaltic dysfunction were more frequent in fundoplication patients. However, no differences existed in manometric parameters between groups. Conclusions. Fundoplication impairs both liquid and solid esophageal bolus transit. Dysphagia perceived by fundoplication patients correlated with increased transit time, particularly across the EGJ. Combined quantitative evaluation with manometry and fluoroscopy reveals functional defects in fundoplication subjects, which are not evident by either modality alone. © 2000 Academic Press
Voronoi diagram and medial axis algorithm for planar domains with curved boundaries I. Theoretical foundations

In this first installment of a two-part paper, the underlying theory for an algorithm that computes the Voronoi diagram and medial axis of a planar domain bounded by free-form (polynomial or rational) curve segments is presented. An incremental approach to computing the Voronoi diagram is used, wherein a single boundary segment is added to an existing boundary-segment set at each step. The introduction of each new segment entails modifying the Voronoi regions of the existing boundary segments, and constructing the Voronoi region of the new segment. We accomplish this by (i) computing the bisector of the new segment with each of the current boundary segments; (ii) updating the Voronoi regions of the current boundary segments by partitioning them with these bisectors; and (iii) constructing the Voronoi region of the new segment as a union of regions obtained from the partitioning in (ii). When all boundary segments are included, and their Voronoi regions have been constructed, the Voronoi diagram of the boundary is obtained as the union of the Voronoi polygons for each boundary segment. To construct the medial axis of a planar domain, we first compute the Voronoi diagram of its boundary. The medial axis is then obtained from the Voronoi diagram by (i) removing certain edges of the Voronoi diagram that do not belong to the medial axis, and (ii) adding certain edges that do belong to the medial axis but are absent from the Voronoi diagram; unambiguous characterizations for edges in both these categories are given. Details of algorithms based on this theory are deferred to the second installment of this two-part paper.
Effects of the affiliation of banking and commerce on the firm’s investment and the bank’s risk

Abstract This paper examines how the affiliation of banking and commerce affects the firm’s investment efficiency and the bank’s risk exposure. The bank’s holding of a borrowing firm’s equity reduces the agency conflict between the firm and the bank, but increases the monitoring need of uninformed debtholders. Thus, the firm’s investment efficiency is maximized when the bank’s equity share is between zero and its debt share. The bank’s risk exposure can increase in two ways. With a large equity share, the bank has more incentives to allow the firm to undertake risky projects. The firm, when it has control over the bank, may force the bank to finance its risky projects.
PhiC31 integrase mediates integration in cultured synovial cells and enhances gene expression in rabbit joints

Background Gene transfer to synovium in joints has been shown to be an effective approach for treating pathologies associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and related joint disorders. However, the efficiency and duration of gene delivery has been limiting for successful gene therapy for arthritis. The transient gene expression that often accompanies non-viral gene delivery can be prolonged by integration of vector DNA into the host genome. We report a novel approach for non-viral gene therapy to joints that utilizes phage φC31 integrase to bring about unidirectional genomic integration. Methods Rabbit and human synovial cells were co-transfected with a plasmid expressing φC31 integrase and a plasmid containing the transgene and an attB site. Cells were cultured with or without G418 selection and the number of neo-resistant colonies or eGFP cells determined, respectively. Plasmid rescue, PCR query, and DNA sequence analysis were performed to reveal integration sites in the rabbit and human genomes. For in vivo studies, attB-reporter gene plasmids and a plasmid expressing φC31 integrase were intra-articularly injected into rabbit knees. Joint sections were used for histological analysis of β-gal expression, and synovial cells were isolated to measure luciferase expression. Results We demonstrated that co-transfection of a plasmid expressing φC31 integrase with a plasmid containing the transgene and attB increased the frequency of transgene expression in rabbit synovial fibroblasts and primary human RA synoviocytes. Plasmid rescue and DNA sequence analysis of plasmid-chromosome junctions revealed integration at endogenous pseudo attP sequences in the rabbit genome, and PCR query detected integration at previously characterized integration sites in the human genome. Significantly higher levels of transgene expression were detected in vivo in rabbit knees after intra-articular injection of attB-reporter gene plasmids and a plasmid expressing φC31 integrase. Conclusion The ability of φC31 integrase to facilitate genomic integration in synovial cells and increase transgene expression in the rabbit synovium suggests that, in combination with more efficient DNA delivery methods, this integrase system could be beneficial for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other joint disorders. Copyright  2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disparities in obesity rates: Analysis by ZIP code area

Obesity in the United States has been linked to individual income and education. Less is known about its geographic distribution. The goal of this study was to determine whether obesity rates in King County, Washington State, at the ZIP code scale were associated with area-based measures of socioeconomic status and wealth. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed. At the ZIP code scale, crude obesity rates varied six-fold. In a model adjusting for covariates and spatial dependence, property values were the strongest predictor of the area-based smoothed obesity prevalence. Geocoding of health data provides new insights into the nature of social determinants of health. Disparities in obesity rates by ZIP code area were greater than disparities associated with individual income or race/ethnicity.
[m.m]Metallocenophanes: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

Metallocenophanes are metallocenes in which the cyclopentadienyl ligands are linked intramolecularly through CmHn or CmHnX (X = heteroatom) chains. Two main classes of metallocenophanes are known: in [m]metallocenophanes the ligands of one metallocene are connected by a bridge (or by several bridges); in [m.n]metallocenophanes two (or more) metallocenes are brought together into one molecule by bridging groups. This article briefly describes the first class (mononuclear complexes) and then concentrates on the second (binuclear complexes). The [1.1]metallocenophanes, which are produced by linking two metallocene moieties through two C1, bridges, are of particular interest and are characterized by a variety of unusual and useful properties: they are very flexible conformationally; hydride abstraction from the CH2 bridges produces carbenium ions that are greatly stabilized by the adjacent metallocene moieties; deprotonation of one of the CH2 bridges is surprisingly easy and leads to the unusual situation that an intramolecular CHċC hydrogen bond stabilizes a carbanion; protonation of both metallocene moieties causes the liberation of one mole of hydrogen per mole of [1.1]metallocenophane, thereby allowing the use of these compounds as catalysts for the formation of hydrogen in acidic aqueous solutions.
Sequential V˙a/Q˙ distributions in the normal rabbit by micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry

We developed micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MMIMS) probes to rapidly measure inert-gas partial pressures in small blood samples. The mass spectrometer output was linearly related to in...
Offshore Outsourcing: Will the Robust Growth Continue?

The growth in offshore outsourcing of jobs from the United States and European Union has been robust. Low-cost countries such as India and China have attracted employment with their impressive skill attainment and cost structure. While the exact number of jobs moved to offshore locations since the beginning of the New Millennium is unknown, it is modest compared to forecasts of more than 15 million by 2015. The reasons for this growth are compelling. Organizations initially viewed offshore outsourcing as a method for reducing costs, especially in their non-core operations, thereby leveraging their resources for more productive, higher-level deployment. In addition to wage and salary levels that were often a fraction of onshore levels, employers were able to shed the high costs of health care, pensions, unionization, and many other expenses that typically accompany employment in Western businesses. The study concluded that, while offshoring will remain attractive, the growth is likely to slow. In the vendor nations, upward wage pressures and a diminishing number of qualified workers will limit growth. In the offshoring nations, political pressures against offshoring will mount as Western economies slow, worker debt levels rise, and well-paying job opportunities decline.
Body Dissatisfaction Among Sexual Minority Men: Psychological and Sexual Health Outcomes

Body dissatisfaction is common among sexual minority (i.e., gay and bisexual) men; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and psychosexual health variables among this population. The data that do exist are exclusively cross-sectional, casting uncertainty regarding temporal associations. Thus, the aims of the current study were to assess the prospective relationship between body dissatisfaction and psychological and sexual health outcomes. Participants were 131 gay and bisexual men who completed a battery of self-report measures across two time points (baseline and 3-month follow-up), including assessment of body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, and sexual health variables (sexual self-efficacy and sexual anxiety). Generalized linear modeling was employed to assess the prospective relationship between body dissatisfaction and outcomes variables, accounting for non-normal distributions. Body dissatisfaction significantly predicted elevated depressive symptoms (B = .21, p = .01), lower sexual self-efficacy (B = -.22, p = .04), and elevated sexual anxiety (B = .05, p = .03). Elevated body dissatisfaction is prospectively associated with negative psychological and sexual health outcomes. Given the high prevalence of body image concerns in sexual minority men, depression and/or HIV/STI prevention programs may benefit from routinely assessing for body dissatisfaction among this population, and addressing those who report concerns.
Assessing progression of keratoconus: novel tomographic determinants

Several methods have been described in the literature to both evaluate and document progression in keratoconus, but there is no consistent or clear definition of ectasia progression. The authors describe how modern corneal tomography, including both anterior and posterior elevation and pachymetric data can be used to screen for ectatic progression, and how software programs such as the Enhanced Reference Surface and the Belin-Ambrosio Enhanced Ectasia Display (BAD) can be employed to detect earlier changes. Additionally, in order to describe specific quantitative values that can be used as progression determinants, the normal noise measurement of the three parameters (corneal thickness at the thinnest point, anterior and posterior radius of curvature (ARC, PRC) taken from the 3.0 mm optical zone centered on the thinnest point), was assessed. These values were obtained by imaging five normal patients using three different technicians on three separate days. The 95 % and 80 % one-sided confidence intervals for all three parameters were surprisingly small (7.88/4.03 μm for corneal thickness, 0.024/0.012 mm for ARC, and 0.083/0.042 mm for PRC), suggesting that they may perform well as progression determinants.
Gastrointestinal peptides and itch sensation.

Purpose of review To highlight the most recent advances regarding gastrointestinal peptides and their relation to chronic itch, with focus on gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), substance P, and their respective receptors. Recent findings GRP and its high-affinity GRP receptor (GRPR) have been identified as key regulators in the spinal cord itch pathway and may be involved in the maintenance of chronic itch sensation. Several neuropeptides including GRP, neuromedin B, and substance P regulate itch signals in a cooperative or inhibitory manner on the spinal level. Small clinical studies show that neurokinin 1 receptor antagonists might be of benefit in the treatment of chronic itch. Summary Chronic itch is a burdensome clinical problem, for which no specific treatment is available. Studies on the mechanisms of pruriceptive sensation and its signaling to the central nervous system (CNS) via the spinal cord have elucidated a number of peptides that are implicated in the regulation of itch-specific signaling pathways. Among those, GRP and its high-affinity GRP receptor have been proposed as key elements in the itch-specific neuronal pathways.
A Revision of the Genus Cotinis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Nineteen species, in 2 subgenera, are recognized in the genus Cotinis Burmeister, ranging from the United States through Central America to northern South America. These are keyed, described, and illustrated, and their distributions and relationships are discussed. Ten specific, 10 subspecific, and 13 varietal names are placed in new synonymy. C. (Cotinis) fuscopicea from Mexico and Guatemala, and C . ( CRINIFLAVA ) boylei from Texas, are new taxa. C. terminata (Gory & Percheron), C. smaragdinea (Gory & Percheron), and C. nitidicollis Moser are transferred from Cotinis to Heterocotinis Martinez, and C. amazonica Thomson from Cotinis to Allorhina Burmeister.
Interacting with Connected Devices through a Drawable User Interface

The massive increase in connected devices and the opportunities they present makes it essential to give users a tool to manage the complexity of such systems. This new landscape creates the need to memorize multiple relations and connections, between different objects and their functionalities. Thus, a big mental load is required for the user in order to interact with these devices. In this paper, we present a novel approach using a drawable user interface. We explain the capabilities of drawing to interact with connected devices and how they empower users to define the functions of their system based on their personal, local and often task-specific needs. We also explore different applications for this type of interaction as well as its implementation. Finally, we discuss how to use our concept in order to design a drawable programming language.
217 A RE-EVALUATION OF TISSUE VIABILITY OF TRANSVERSE RECTUS ABDOMINIS MUSCULOCUTANEOUS FLAPS DURING UNILATERAL MASTECTOMY BREAST RECONSTRUCTION.

Purpose One out of every eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most prevalent type of cancer in women. A significant portion of women choose to undergo mastectomy; the subsequent deformities lead to the desire for breast reconstruction. The options for breast reconstruction include prosthetic implant, autologous tissue, or a combination of both. The transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap (TRAM) is a well-known technique that has been established as one of the mainstays of autogenous breast reconstruction. Evaluation of the TRAM flap viability is a highly desired criterion, but one that is clinically difficult to assess intraoperatively. A new technique which employs the novel device the ODISseyTM Tissue Oximeter (Optical Imaging and Diffusion Spectroscopy), which measures tissue oxygenation saturation at the capillary level, allows real-time evaluation of blood perfusion and therefore provides a tangible measurement of perfusion to each zone. Methods Three patients who had previously undergone a unilateral mastectomy desired reconstruction using autologous tissue and were felt to be good candidates for a TRAM flap reconstruction. Measurements for tissue oxygenation were taken with the ODISsey Tissue Oximeter prior to elevation of the flap and after ligation of the inferior epigastric artery in each of the four zones. Results The pre-ligation numbers were similar in all four zones as would be expected. However, the tissue oxygen saturation was consistently higher in zone III than in zone II. Conclusion In our studies the use of the ODISsey Tissue Oximeter was shown to be a quick and safe technique to reliably evaluate blood perfusion to a particular area of tissue. Our analysis shows that although Zone II has traditionally been thought to have better perfusion than zone III, we found that, in fact, Zone III had better perfusion after ligation of the inferior epigastric artery. This allowed us to preserve more tissue for breast reconstruction. Further studies are currently under way to re-define the perfusion zones.
Numerical Simulation of Deflagration to Detonation Transition of Two-phase Detonation Wave

Mechanism of Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) of liquid octane/air mixture is studied by using the theory of one-dimension reaction flow, particle-trajectory model and two-step reaction model, of which the numerical formulation is described on the Sγα,β scheme of"gasdynamic"step and a second-order accurate Adams method of"chemical"step in Lagrangian mass coordination system, based on which code-CPTD is developed. The paper investigates numerically the generation, evolution, propagation and basic properties of liquid-fueled detonation structure. Simulations reveal that due to latent heat of vaporization required and drag force of fuel droplets the characteristic parameters of two phase detonation wave, such as peak pressure and propagation velocity are below theoretical values. It's found that the numerical results are in good agreement with experimental ones, which shows that a feasible numerical method has been provided here to simulate pulse detonation engine operation processes including DDT phenomena.
Pathology of Premalignant and Malignant Disease of the Esophagus

Like most structures of the alimentary canal, the esophagus is a tubular muscular structure that contains a mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria, and surrounding connective tissue (termed adventitia in the esophagus). Anatomically, the esophagus extends from the cricopharyngeal muscle, which forms the upper esophageal sphincter, to the lower esophageal junction, where the stomach originates. Histologically, the mucosa consists of a stratified non-keratinizing squamous epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae. The squamous epithelium sits atop a basement membrane that separates it from the lamina propria. The lamina propria is composed of loose fibroconnective tissue, lymphatic spaces, and capillary vessels. The muscularis mucosae is a thin muscular layer that separates the mucosa from the submucosa. The submucosa is composed of dense irregular fibrovascular connective tissue admixed with scattered mucin-producing glands (esophageal submucosal glands) and ducts, which aid in the passage of food.
EVALUATION OF DYSPNEA IN THE ELDERLY PATIENT

The symptom of dyspnea in the elderly person should not be considered part of the "normal aging process." Instead, the history, examination, and testing should focus on cardiac disease, respiratory disease, and deconditioning as the most likely causes. Because respiratory sensation is diminished with aging, breathlessness may not develop until a more advanced stage of disease or dysfunction. Clinical measurement of dyspnea is important to assess its severity and to evaluate response to treatment. Specific treatment should be directed toward the pathophysiology of the underlying disease. General strategies for relieving dyspnea include breathing techniques, exercise training and reconditioning, oxygen therapy, improved nutrition, and, in selective cases, psychotropic medication.
Percutaneous management of ureteral fistulas.

SUMMARY Ureteral occlusion with proximal urinary diversion is often required when treating patients with ureteral fistulas secondary to advanced neoplastic disease. Recent endourologic advancements have stemmed from the high morbidity and mortality associated with formal surgical reconstruction in this population. Endourologic management may be accomplished by a transrenal or retroperitoneal approach. To date, no study has clearly demonstrated the superiority of any one approach because of the small numbers of patients and the uniformly short-term follow-up.
A First-Order Assessment of Direct Aerosol Radiative Effect in the Southeastern U.S. Using Over a Decade Long Multisatellite Data Record

Aerosols comprise a critical portion of the Earth’s climate due to their radiative properties. More emphasis is now being placed upon understanding radiative effects of aerosols on a regional scale. The primary goal of this research is to estimate the aerosol direct radiative effect (DRE) and examine its dynamical nature in the Southeastern U.S. based on satellite data obtained from the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) instruments onboard the Terra satellite from 2000 to 2011. This 12-year analysis utilizes satellite measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD), surface albedo, cloud fraction, and single-scattering albedo over the Southeastern U.S. as inputs to a first-order approximation of regional top of the atmosphere DRE. Results indicate that AOD is the primary driver of DRE estimates, with surface albedo and single-scattering albedo having some appreciable effects as well. During the cooler months, the minima (less negative) of DRE vary between –6 and –3 W/m², and during the warmer months, there is more variation with DRE maxima varying between –24 and –12.6 W/m² for MODIS and –22.5 and –11 W/m² for MISR. Yet if we take an average of the monthly DRE over time (12 years), we estimate ΔF = –7.57 W/m² for MODIS and ΔF = –5.72 W/m² for MISR. Regional assessments of the DRE show that background levels of DRE are similar to the 12-year average of satellite-based DRE, with urbanized areas having increased levels of DRE compared to background conditions. Over the study period, DRE has a positive trend (becoming less negative), which implies that the region could lose this protective top of the atmosphere cooling with the advancement of climate change impacting the biogenic emissions of aerosols.
Optimization of regularization parameter in a reconstruction algorithm

In computerized tomography, one of the major problems in most optimization algorithms that use some form of regularization is to determine the weighting parameter (RP) for the regularizing component within the objective function. Typically this parameter is selected manually by some previous experimentation that involves varying the RP values, a highly time consuming process. The objective of this work was to present an iterative algorithm that dynamically optimizes RP within each iteration and eliminates the need for performing any exhaustive experimentation to find proper regularization parameter values.
Can a manager dope? Match analysis in the digital age:

In his influential book on the evolution of sport, historian Allen Guttmann highlights quantification as a key characteristic of the modern era. Though football has long been believed to be too fluid for statistical analysis, the recent proliferation of performance metrics has challenged traditional ways of understanding the game. This has been spurred in large part by the design of ‘smart’ technologies that offer insights into a side’s positional tendencies or physical capacities. Hence, an endeavour that typically rested on the intellect of a manager has now shifted, in some sense, to the computer. This paper connects match analysis systems to the scholarly discourse on performance enhancement and two prominent issue areas related to doping: the ethos of sport and harm.
Groove Pancreatitis: Report of Three Cases with Brief Review of Literature

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a rare type of segmental pancreatitis, and it remains largely an unfamiliar entity to most physicians. It is often misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer and autoimmune pancreatitis. With better understanding of radiological findings, preoperative differentiation is often possible. If there is preoperative diagnosis of GP, one can employ non-surgical treatment. But most of the patients ultimately require surgery. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the surgical treatment of choice. We report three cases of GP that were treated by Whipple's operation at our unit. All the three patients had a history of long-standing alcohol intake. In the first and third patients, we had a preoperative diagnosis of GP. But, in the second patient, our pre-operative and intra-operative diagnosis was a pancreatic head malignancy. Diagnosis of GP was made only after histopathological examination. All the three patients had uneventful postoperative recovery and were well at 55-, 45- and 24-month follow-up respectively. In addition to detail descriptions of our three cases, a detailed review of the current literature surrounding this clinical entity is also provided in this article.
New device and method for measuring thermal conductivity of thin-films

Abstract Thermal sensitive paints (TSPs) are used for global nonintrusive detection of boundary layer transition in flow over the surface of wind tunnel research models. Since the transition is a transient process, the TSP should have a fast response characteristic. A low paint thermal conductivity is required for fast response. A thin-film thermal conductivity meter (TFTCM) was designed and built to measure thermal conductivity of the TSPs, which are typically between 50 and 150/μm thick. In this paper, the design and operating features of the TFTCM are described. Measurement of the thermal conductivity with this TFTCM of three standard thin-film low conductivity specimens, Kapton, Teflon, and Borofloat glass, showed good agreement with the manufacturer quoted values, thus validating the instrument and the procedure. Consistently repeatable values for thermal conductivity ( k =0.41±0.02 W/mK) were also obtained for the TSP specimen (TSB-B, 75 /μm) tested.
Carlisle Indian Industrial School: Indigenous histories, memories, & reclamations, edited by Jacqueline Fear-Segal and Susan D. Rose

The past treatment of Indigenous children in government run or financed boarding schools, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia, has received increased attention since the United Na...