cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ocular dominance columns and retinal projections in new world spider monkeys (Ateles ater)

Retinal projections and the degree of ocular segregation in the striate cortex were examined by transneuronal autoradiography following unilateral intraocular injections of 3H-proline in a New World primate, the spider monkey (Ateles ater). The results show that, within the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), retinal fibers terminate in six principal layers and within the interlaminar spaces adjacent to the magnocellular layers, as well as the S layers ventral to the magnocellular layers. Projections to the superior colliculus, both ipsilateral and contralateral to the injected eye, were patchy and restricted to the superficial gray layer. Our main result shows that, in the striate cortex, LGN projections terminate in well-defined ocular dominance columns in layer IV. Labelled columns were most clearly delimited in layer IVb, where they averaged 373 + 42μm in width in both the ipsilateral and contralateral hemipheres, slightly smaller than those reported originally from electrophysiological studies of striate cortex in spider monkeys (Hubel and Wiesel, '68). Unlabelled intercolumns were significantly narrower than labelled columns, which suggests that there may be overlap between input from the two eyes between columns. Quantitative measures showed above-background label also in cortical layers IIIb, V, and VI. Our results support the idea that among primates, ocular dominance columns are not limited to Old World species. At the same time, it is apparent that spider monkeys are exceptional among New World primates in having sharply delimited columns. The functional significance of the variation in the degree of ocular segregation in the cortex and its relation to primate evolution are discussed.
Parameterization of OPLS–AA force field for the conformational analysis of macrocyclic polyketides

The parameters for the OPLS-AA potential energy function have been extended to include some functional groups that are present in macrocyclic polyketides. Existing OPLS-AA torsional parameters for alkanes, alcohols, ethers, hemiacetals, esters, and ketoamides were improved based on MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations. Nonbonded parameters for the sp(3) carbon and oxygen atoms were refined using Monte Carlo simulations of bulk liquids. The resulting force field predicts conformer energies and torsional barriers of alkanes, alcohols, ethers, and hemiacetals with an overall RMS deviation of 0.40 kcal/mol as compared to reference data. Densities of 19 bulk liquids are predicted with an average error of 1.1%, and heats of vaporization are reproduced within 2.4% of experimental values. The force field was used to perform conformational analysis of smaller analogs of the macrocyclic polyketide drug FK506. Structures that adopted low-energy conformations similar to that of bound FK506 were identified. The results show that a linker of four ketide units constitutes the shortest effector domain that allows binding of the ketide drugs to FKBP proteins. It is proposed that the exact chemical makeup of the effector domain has little influence on the conformational preference of tetraketides.
Competitive advance reservation with bounded path dispersion

Advance channel reservation is emerging as an important feature of ultra high-speed networks requiring the transfer of large files. In this paper, we present two new delay-competitive algorithms for advance reservation, called BatchAll and BatchLim. These algorithms are guaranteed to achieve optimal throughput performance, based on multi-commodity flow arguments. Unlike BatchAll, the BatchLim algorithm returns the completion time of a connection immediately as a request is placed, but at the expense of a slightly looser competitive ratio than that of BatchAll. We propose a simple approach that limits the number of parallel paths used by the algorithms while provably bounding the maximum reduction factor in the transmission throughput. We show that, although the number of different paths can be exponentially large, the actual number of paths needed to approximate the flow is quite small and proportional to the number of edges in the network. According to our simulations for a number of topologies, three to five parallel paths are sufficient to achieve close to optimal performance.
The effect of surfactants on the stability of fluid interfaces during phase transformation

The influence of surface active solutes on the stability of fluids during phase transformation is examined both experimentally and theoretically. Experiments on the interfacial stability of triethanolamine as it steadily evaporates into a partial vacuum verifies that for high surface tension fluids, spontaneous convection induced by differential vapor recoil is stabilized by the addition of surfactants and that the degree of stability increases with the surface activity of the surfactant. The hydrodynamic stability of surfactant solutions undergoing phase transformation is then examined using linear stability analysis. Results reveal that surfactants have a marked stabilizing effect on the differential vapor recoil mechanism but have essentially no effect on the fluid inertia and moving boundary destabilizing mechanisms. Consequently, the maximum stabilizing effect of surface active solutes on liquids evaporating under vacuum is determined by the criterion for fluid inertia instability.
The effect of flow maldistribution on conversion in a catalytic packed-bed reactor. Part II. Experimental studies

The modeling equations formulated for a catalytic packed-bed reactor with distributed resistance to flow have been applied to the alumina catalyzed isomerization of 1-butene to cis- and trans-2-butene. Flow maldistribution was deliberately created in a 5.25 cm I.D. reactor by packing different radial sections with alumina particles of different size. Effluent gas composition, monitored by gas chromatography, was found to vary with radial position in a manner consistent with the modeling equations and with the reaction rate constant previously established in a microreactor.
Matrix Metalloproteinases Promote Arterial Remodeling in Aging, Hypertension, and Atherosclerosis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, which are highly activated by inflammatory signaling, including that of angiotensin II (Ang II; Figure).1,2 Activated MMPs are able to degrade collagen, elastin, and other extracellular molecules,2 probably resulting in aging, hypertension, and atherosclerotic effects within the arterial wall (for reviews).1,2 The modified extracellular matrix and its context of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators via cleavage by MMPs creates a proinflammatory microenvironment that shifts the phenotypes of endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs; for reviews).1,2 These phenotypic shifts in which cells become secretory, migratory, proliferative and senescent facilitate arterial remodeling such as intimal-medial thickening (IMT), fibrosis, calcification, and aneurysms that are associated with a decrease in endothelial-dependent vasodilation and an increase in stiffness (for reviews).1,2 Impressively, MMP inhibition effectively retards/alleviates arterial structural remodeling, decreases stiffness, and improves vascular endothelial function in animal models,3–8 providing a rationale for the translation of MMP actions to therapeutic approaches in aging humans to curb the epidemic of cardiovascular disease. Figure. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation plays a central role in arterial proinflammatory remodeling and stiffening, which is a structural and functional signature of aging, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. BM indicates basement membrane; EC, endothelial cell; ECM, extracellular matrix; IMT, intimal-medial thickening; and VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell. MMP activation facilitates arterial remodeling during aging (Figure; Table). View this table: Table. MMP Activation is Involved in Arterial Remodeling and Functional Changes ### Endothelial Inflammation Increased MMP activity facilitates endothelial inflammation, such as EC senescence/apoptosis/necrosis, thrombosis, and dysfunction (Figure; Table). MMP-1 enhances EC senescence via p53 activation.9 MMP-2 cleaves the intercellular and cell–matrix junctions, including vascular endothelial–cadherin and β- and γ-catenin, which initiates EC apoptosis or necrosis mediated by activated caspase 3, contributing to increased …
Dielectric properties of bentonite water pastes used for stable loads in microwave thermal processing systems

Abstract The dielectric properties of bentonite water pastes relevant to microwave thermal processing were measured over 300–3000 MHz and 22–120 °C. Effects of bentonite content (7.5–25%, wb), salt (NaCl) content (0.3–1.2%, wb), vegetable oil content (5–15%, wb) and sucrose content (30%, wb) on dielectric properties were investigated. Regression equations were developed to reveal the influences of temperature and different ingredients on the dielectric properties of bentonite pastes at 915 and 2450 MHz. Results illustrated that dielectric properties of bentonite pastes could be adjusted with different ingredients to match those of a wide range of food materials with similar response to increasing temperature. Vegetable oil and salt were good additives to reduce dielectric constant and increase loss factor, respectively. Adding sucrose reduced both dielectric constant and loss factor. Derived from the regression equations, the influence factor of each ingredient was calculated to reveal its influence on the changing rate of dielectric properties with increasing temperature. The bentonite pastes can be formulated with stable dielectric properties and be used as dummy loads for evaluating performance of industrial microwave assisted thermal processing systems.
Systemic chemotherapy does not increase the risk of gastrointestinal perforation

ABSTRACT Background Gastrointestinal perforation is a rare complication of gastric cancer. Although there is the perception of chemotherapy aggravating the perforation risk, the rate of perforation in patients with gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy is unknown. This study describes the incidence and clinical course of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) carcinoma who experience a perforation while receiving chemotherapy. Patients and methods The records of patients with gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma over a 6-year period who received chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic disease were reviewed. Extracted information included demographics, treatment received, and overall survival was calculated. Results 1032 patients at MSKCC received systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic gastric or GEJ carcinoma; 11 patients experienced a perforation (1.1%, 95% CI 0.5–1.9%); 5/11 (45%) patients received further chemotherapy and had a median survival of 5.6 months. Conclusions The rate of perforation in patients with advanced GEJ/gastric adenocarcinoma receiving chemotherapy is 1.1%, which is the same rate as in surgical series of patients presenting with perforation. Chemotherapy does not significantly add to the risk of gastrointestinal perforation.
Controlled protein delivery from biodegradable tyrosine-containing poly(anhydride-co-imide) microspheres

Polymer microspheres capable of the controlled release of macromolecules for periods ranging from days to over a month were developed. The microspheres were made using a new family of anhydride polymers: tyrosine-containing poly(anhydride-co-imides), specifically poly[trimellitylimido-L-tyrosine-co-sebacic acid-co-1,3-bis(carboxphenoxy)propane] anhydrides [poly(TMA-Tyr:SA:CPP)]. These polymers may be of particular interest for controlled delivery of vaccine antigens due to the incorporation of an immunological adjuvant, L-tyrosine, into their backbone. Microspheres were produced from a variety of polymer compositions using a double-emulsion solvent-evaporation technique, and tested for their ability to provide controlled release of a model protein, bovine serum albumin, in vitro. The microspheres are spherical with smooth surfaces and encapsulate greater than 70% of the protein. Protein release rates from polymers of identical composition could be varied from 0.3 to over 125 micrograms per mg spheres per month by changing the amount of protein encapsulated. This effect can be magnified by using polymers with various monomer ratios. A close correlation between protein release and polymer weight loss was observed, suggesting a release mechanism controlled mainly by polymer erosion. Bovine serum albumin release from poly(TMA-Tyr:SA:CPP) microspheres is also pH sensitive, being enhanced at high pH and depressed under acidic conditions.
Effects of Orchard Host Plants on the Oviposition Preference of the Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Recently, the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has emerged as a major problem on apples (Malus spp.) grown in the mid-Atlantic and midwestern United States, despite its historically important and frequent occurrence as a peach (Prunus spp.) pest. It is possible that host-driven biological phenomena may be contributing to changes in G. molesta population dynamics resulting in outbreaks in apple. Studies were designed to examine the effects of host plants on oviposition behavior, in an effort to clarify the host association status of eastern U.S. populations and also to gain insight into how pest modeling and management efforts may be altered to take into account various host-associated effects. G. molesta adults exhibited ovipositional preference for nonbearing peach trees over nonbearing apple trees in close-range choice tests conducted in the field, regardless of the larval host origin. A significant preference for peach shoots over apple shoots was observed on six of 12 sampling dates with a wild G. molesta population at the interface of adjacent peach and apple blocks. Numbers of eggs found on apple fruit were higher after peach fruit were harvested and apple fruit began to approach maturity (during the flight period for third and fourth brood adults). Possible implications for population modeling and integrated management of G. molesta are discussed.
Fiducial Markers, Saline, and Balloons to Locate and Stabilize the Prostate during Proton Therapy

Abstract Purpose: To determine the value of fiducials in daily image-guided prostate targeting for proton therapy (PT), to compare intrafraction motion between two stabilization strategies (rectal saline and balloon), and to determine the respective impacts of these combined strategies on planning target volume (PTV) expansions and smearing margins. Materials and Methods: Forty patients were randomly selected from a pool of low-risk prostate cancer patients with intraprostatic fiducials treated with proton therapy between 2006 and 2012, including 20 with intrarectal saline or 20 with endorectal balloons for daily prostate stabilization. Daily pre- and post-treatment orthovoltage (kV) films and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) were analyzed to determine prostate interfraction displacement, intrafraction motion, daily residual setup error in three axial dimensions (anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and left-right), necessary population PTV expansions using van Herk's formula (2.5Σ + 0.7σ), an...
The Björk-Shiley heart valve prosthesis. Flow characteristics of the new 70 degrees model.

Thrombus formation on the outlow face and tissue overgrowth along the sewing ring adjacent to the minor outflow region are major clinical pathologic problems observed with the Bjork–Shiley tilting disc valve. In the hope of reducing these pathologic conditions the convexo-concave Bjork-Shiley valve was designed. A new modification to the convexo-concave model has further improved most of the fluid dynamic characteristics of the valve. In vitro flow studies indicate an average improvement in pressure drop characteristics of about 20 to 30%. Velocity measurements made with a laser-Doppler anemometer in the immediate downstream vicinity of the modified convexo-concave valve indicate that the design changes have further reduced the size of the stagnation zone near the outflow face of disc. It was observed, however, that the regurgitation across the valve increased by about one to two percentage points.
Quantitative analysis of interfacial strain in InAs/GaSb superlattices by aberration-corrected HRTEM and HAADF-STEM.

Abstract The strain distribution across interfaces in InAs/GaSb superlattices grown on (100)-GaSb substrates is investigated by aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy. Atomic resolution images of interfaces were obtained by conventional high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), using the negative spherical-aberration imaging mode, and by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), using the high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging mode. The local atomic displacements across interfaces were determined from these images using the peak pair algorithm, from which strain maps were calculated with respect to a reference lattice extracted from the GaSb substrate region. Both techniques yield consistent results, which reveal that the InAs-on-GaSb interface is nearly strain balanced, whereas the GaSb-on-InAs interface is in tensile strain, indicating that the prevalent bond type at this interface is Ga–As. In addition, the GaSb layers in the superlattice are compressively strained indicating the incorporation of In into these layers. Further analysis of the HAADF-STEM images indicates an estimated 4% In content in the GaSb layers and that the GaSb-on-InAs interface contributes to about 27% of the overall superlattice strain. The strain measurements in the InAs layers are in good agreement with the theoretical values determined from elastic constants. Furthermore, the overall superlattice strain determined from this analysis is also in good agreement with the measurements determined by high-resolution X-ray diffraction.
Implantable left ventricular assist devices

Congestive heart failure affects about 1 percent of adults in the United States1 and is a contributing factor in over 250,000 deaths annually.2 It is diagnosed in 400,000 Americans each year3 and is the primary diagnosis for over 900,000 hospitalizations per year.4 In 1990 the age-adjusted death rate from congestive heart failure was 106.4 per 100,000,5 more than that from breast cancer and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome combined.6,7 The median survival after diagnosis is 1.7 years in men and 3.2 years in women, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50 percent.8 Even though medical therapies have improved . . .
Identifying Cell Populations in Flow Cytometry Data Using Phenotypic Signatures

Single-cell flow cytometry is a technology that measures the expression of several cellular markers simultaneously for a large number of cells. Identification of homogeneous cell populations, currently done by manual biaxial gating, is highly subjective and time consuming. To overcome the shortcomings of manual gating, automatic algorithms have been proposed. However, the performance of these methods highly depends on the shape of populations and the dimension of the data. In this paper, we have developed a time-efficient method that accurately identifies cellular populations. This is done based on a novel technique that estimates the initial number of clusters in high dimension and identifies the final clusters by merging clusters using their phenotypic signatures in low dimension. The proposed method is called SigClust . We have applied SigClust to four public datasets and compared it with five well known methods in the field. The results are promising and indicate higher performance and accuracy compared to similar approaches reported in literature.
Radical mediated thiol-ene/yne dispersion polymerizations

Abstract We report the synthesis of polymeric particles using radical mediated step-growth thiol-ene and thiol-yne ‘click’ dispersion polymerizations in alcoholic solvents. Various alkene, alkyne and thiol monomers were used, and thermal, photo- or redox initiation methods were all shown to be effective means to initiate polymerization. Polymer particles typically were formed with diameters in the range of several hundred nanometers, with narrow size distributions though broader than typical free-radical chain-growth dispersion polymerizations. Photoinitiation yielded the smallest sizes due to the rapid nucleation of particles as compared to redox and thermal initiation methods. Reaction kinetics were monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy for aliquot samples taken at various reaction durations. The reaction achieved full conversion in photoinitiated systems within five minutes, while it took three hours for both thermal and redox initiation to be completed. The effects of polymerization conditions on particle size particularly the impact of monomer, stabilizer, and initiator concentrations were studied. Generally, average particle size increased with higher monomer concentration and decreased with additional stabilizer or initiator. Combinations of monomers with varying number of functional groups were investigated to form particles of various mechanical and physical behavior, including both linear and crosslinked systems.
Validation, quality control, and compliance practice for mass spectrometry assays in the clinical laboratory

Abstract Clinical laboratory assays using mass spectrometry are invariably developed in-house. Careful attention must therefore be given to both regulatory requirements and standards of professional practice regarding the validation, quality control, and competency/compliance aspects of offering, such assays. Here we review multiple guidelines and sources of information regarding this process: from federal requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), accreditation requirements of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance related to the pharmaceutical industry, and recommendations/reviews from the literature. We also discuss proposals for new FDA regulations regarding laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) that may have dramatic impact on clinical laboratories that utilize mass spectrometry. Only liquid and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry are discussed in this chapter.
Morphology and mechanisms of picosecond ablation of metal films on fused silica substrates

The ablation of magnetron sputtered metal films on fused silica substrates by a 1053 nm, picosecond class laser was studied as part of a demonstration of its use for in-situ characterization of the laser spot under conditions commonly used at the sample plane for laser machining and damage studies. Film thicknesses were 60 and 120 nm. Depth profiles and SEM images of the ablation sites revealed several striking and unexpected features distinct from those typically observed for ablation of bulk metals. Very sharp thresholds were observed for both partial and complete ablation of the films. Partial film ablation was largely independent of laser fluence with a surface smoothness comparable to that of the unablated surface. Clear evidence of material displacement was seen at the boundary for complete film ablation. These features were common to a number of different metal films including Inconel on commercial neutral density filters, stainless steel, and aluminum. We will present data showing the morphology of the ablation sites on these films as well as a model of the possible physical mechanisms producing the unique features observed.
Development and Alternate Form Reliability of the Complex Task Performance Assessment (CTPA) for People With Mild Stroke

Cognitive impairment is a common consequence of mild stroke. Current performance-based assessments for mild stroke can detect mild impairments in executive function but lack alternate forms to be used as outcome measures. This study aimed to develop an alternate form of the Complex Task Performance Assessment (CTPA-Alt), a performance-based assessment of executive function, and to establish the alternate form reliability of the CTPA-Alt. A repeated-measures study was conducted with 26 community participants. Participants were screened for eligibility and administered both forms of the CTPA; administration order was alternated. Overall performance was significantly correlated (rs = .44, p = .03), but pattern of scoring differed by CTPA form and order of administration. Our results indicate that the CTPA forms were similar but that the specific tasks in each form were different. The CTPA may be used as an ecologically valid outcome assessment with further considerations.
Socioeconomic status and the development of atrial fibrillation in Hispanics, African Americans and non-Hispanic whites.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite having a higher burden of traditional AF risk factors, African American and Hispanic minorities have a lower incidence of AF when compared to non-Hispanic whites, referred to as the “racial paradox.” Hypothesis Lower SES among Hispanics and African Americans may help to explain the lower incidence rates of AF compared to non-Hispanic whites. Methods An electrocardiogram/electronic medical records database in New York State was interrogated for individuals free of AF for development of subsequent AF from 2000 to 2013. SES was assessed per zip code via a composite of 6 measures Z-scored to the New York State average. SES was reclassified into decile groups. Cox regression analysis controlling for all baseline differences was used to estimate the independent predictive ability of SES for AF. Results We identified 48 631 persons (43% Hispanic, 37% African Americans, and 20% non-Hispanic white; mean age 59 years; mean follow-up of 3.2 years) of which 4556 AF cases occurred. Hispanics and African Americans had lower AF risk than whites in all SES deciles (P < 0.001 by log-rank test). Higher SES was borderline associated with lower AF risk (hazard ratio: 0.990, 95% confidence interval: 0.980-1.001, P = 0.061). P trend analysis was not significant by any race/ethnic group by SES deciles for AF. Conclusions Our study suggests that non-Hispanic whites were at higher risk for AF compared to nonwhites, and this was independent of SES.
Playing With Ideas: Evaluating the Impact of the Ultimate Block Party, a Collective Experiential Intervention to Enrich Perceptions of Play

Parental attitudes shape play opportunities afforded to children in home, community, and school settings. This study presents evaluation of an intervention designed to enrich parent's conception of play and its relationship with socially valued skills and capacities. On the basis of data from 291 racially and ethnically diverse parents/caregivers of young children (median age between 3 and 6) attending an event in NYC, we find the intervention helped parents conceptualize play in complex ways and altered perceptions of its impact on children's current—but not future—lives. Multivariate analyses reveal the causal pathway for these changes as exposure to multiple play sites, rather than time at the event—a finding with direct implications for exposing parents to developmental science in community settings.
Changes in the plasma membrane in metabolic disease: impact of the membrane environment on G protein-coupled receptor structure and function

Drug development targeting GPCRs often utilizes model heterologous cell expression systems, reflecting an implicit assumption that the membrane environment has little functional impact on these receptors or on their responsiveness to drugs. However, much recent data have illustrated that membrane components can have an important functional impact on intrinsic membrane proteins. This review is directed toward gaining a better understanding of the structure of the plasma membrane in health and disease, and how this organelle can influence GPCR structure, function and regulation. It is important to recognize that the membrane provides a potential mode of lateral allosteric regulation of GPCRs and can affect the effectiveness of drugs and their biological responses in various disease states, which can even vary among individuals across the population. The type 1 cholecystokinin receptor is reviewed as an exemplar of a class A GPCR that is affected in this way by changes in the plasma membrane. Linked articles This article is part of a themed section on Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.21/issuetoc.
Classifying problems to explain patterns of correlation on the 1988 advanced placement computer science exam

To explore the types of conceptual understanding necessary for novice programmers, we developed a coding scheme for multiple-choice questions from the 1988 AP Computer Science Exam. We used a variety of statistical techniques to compare patterns of students' performance on these questions [3] and overlap in categories for these questions. We found that Bloom's cognitive domain, "Application," was a possible strategy for solving the majority of questions. Additionally, the presence of code in a question was the most significant contributor to correlations between questions. This suggests that perhaps there is a core skill to solving problems that include code, which is independent of the specific content of the code.
Doppler warp correction for wideband burst communications

Burst communications in a wideband environment subject to Doppler, multipath, and noise is challenging. An example is the Underwater Acoustic (UWA) channel. Compared to the over-the-air radio frequency (RF) channel, the UWA channel is subject to severe distortions due to Doppler as well as multipath. The challenge of interest is wideband burst communications in such an environment. Thereto the effect of Doppler is modeled as a quadratic time warp. A procedure is developed to estimate the parameters of the time warp based on observed burst signal components, so that subsequently the Doppler time warp can be undone. Two different methods are compared. The first technique uses sinusoids in a pre- and in a post-amble to a communications burst, while the second technique uses out of band (communication signal bandwidth) sinusoids present during the burst. The results, from over-the-air acoustic proxy experiments, show that performance improvements can be realized using the Doppler time warp model and correction process.
A concept of medical expertise pooling by tele sensing and manipulation: Emergency medicine case

Physicians are not evenly distributed throughout the United States. To overcome this physical limitation, we propose a concept of medical expertise pooling, which will redistribute the expertise throughout the nation more evenly. To establish this concept, we are proposing a system with emerging tele sensing and manipulation technologies over the network. In case of emergency, the proposed system can particularly be more important as it will provide more efficient support in the critical battle against time for diagnosis and treatment of a patient. Despite the physical constraint of long distance between the physician and the patient, the system will provide the visual, body sound and tactile feedback to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment that can contribute to increase in survival rates. While the proposed system utilizes existing technologies and resources, it is highly innovative as it implements a medical expert pooling paradigm that can lead to significant advancements in patient care.
Unusual seizure evolution: Focal-general-focal-general

Seizure types have been described that do not conform to traditional classification schemes. We present another unusual type characterized by focal onset with secondary generalization, that is followed immediately by continued focal activity that generalizes again without an intervening break. Better understanding of these seizure types may allow improved targeted therapies and help shed light on the mechanistic underpinnings of epilepsy.
Central venous catheter repair is highly successful in children with intestinal failure.

Abstract Purpose Damaged central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly repaired to avoid line replacement and preserve vascular access. However, limited data suggest an increased risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) associated with the repair procedure. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes of CVC repairs among parenteral nutrition (PN) dependent children with intestinal failure (IF). Methods A 2-year retrospective review was performed on children with IF on home PN > 6 months. Outcomes of interest were repair success and postrepair CLABSI incidence. Descriptive statistics included medians and frequencies. Results A total of 36 pediatric IF patients underwent 96 CVC repairs during the study period. The median CVC repair count was 1.5 repairs/patient (range, 1 to 16 repairs/patient) with > 1 repair in half the patients. Ninety-four broken catheters (98%) were successfully repaired with restoration of function. Of the unsuccessful repairs (2%), the two catheters eventually required surgical removal and replacement. One repair (1%) was followed by a CLABSI with Enterococcus faecalis in an immunocompromised patient. Conclusion CVC repair is a highly successful procedure with a low risk for infection. Catheter repair should be considered whenever possible as it may extend the lifetime of the catheter and decrease the risk for vascular access loss. Level of evidence Treatment study; level IV.
Random Variables: Working with Uncertain Numbers

A random variable may be defined as a specification or description of a numerical result from a random experiment. The value itself is called an observation. For example, “next quarter’s sales” is a random variable because it specifies and describes the number that will be produced by the random experiment of waiting until next quarter’s numbers are in and computing the sales. The actual future value, $3,955,846, is an observation of this random variable. Note the distinction between a random variable (which refers to the random process involved) and an observation (which is a fixed number, once it has been observed). The pattern of probabilities for a random variable is called its probability distribution. Many random variables have a mean and a standard deviation. In addition, there is a probability for each event based on a random variable. We will consider two types of random variables: discrete and continuous. It is easier to work with a discrete random variable because you can make a list of all of its possible values. You will learn about two particular distributions that are especially useful: the binomial distribution (which is discrete) and the normal distribution (which is continuous). Furthermore, in many cases, you may use a (much simpler) normal probability calculation as a close approximation to a binomial probability.
Common Nonvenereal Genital Lesions

There are a wide variety of local and systemic skin diseases that produce lesions in the genitoanal region. These lesions may resemble those produced by sexually transmitted microorganisms. The purpose of this article is to make physicians aware of the common skin diseases that produce lesions on the genitalia to avoid the inappropriate diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease.
Silicone-induced T cell proliferation in mice.

The silicone polymers used in mammary implants have been linked anecdotally to the development of autoimmune connective tissue diseases in women (1–7). Although, retrospective studies do not indicate an increased risk of developing autoimmune disease in women with silicone gel breast implants (8–10), there remains a legitimate concern among physicians and plastic surgeons alike regarding whether silicone gel breast augmentation induces and/or enhances the development of autoimmune diseases in the 1% of the population who are estimated to be genetically-susceptible. Recent studies by other labs indicate that silicone gel can enhance the production of anti-BSA antibodies in Sprague-Dawley rats and, therefore, function in an adjuvant-like manner to stimulate B cell responses (11). In this study, we demonstrate that silicone gel induces an in vitro T cell proliferative response in certain inbred strains of mice, i.e., BALB/cAnPt, (BALB/cAnPt x DBA/2N)F1 and C57BL/6, but not in DBA/2N and BALB/cJax. This response is mediated by silicone-induced peritoneal cells, which stimulate spleen, lymph and mesenteric lymph nodes cells from syngeneic mice injected subcutaneously with silicone gel, pristane or thioglycollate but not with Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS). In contrast, pristane, thioglycollate or HBSS-generated peritoneal cells do not induce T-cell proliferation. In BALB/c mice, this response is dose dependent, enhanced by enrichment of CD4+ cells (stimulation index > 9.0) and inhibited with antibodies to either IL-2 or IL-4. Environmental factors play a critical role in the development of a T cell response, since neither specific pathogen-free (SPF)-BALB/c mice nor conventionally-housed (CON) BALB/c mice maintained on a low-fat diet respond well to silicone. These results demonstrate that silicone-induced T cell proliferation in mice is mediated nonspecifically by CD4+ Th cells and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Paediatric migraine: evidence-based management and future directions

Migraine is prevalent in children and adolescents and constitutes an important cause of disability in this population. Early, effective treatment of paediatric migraine is likely to result in improved outcomes. Findings from the past few years suggest that a biopsychosocial approach that uses interdisciplinary multimodal care is most effective for treatment of migraine in the paediatric population. Key elements of this management include effective and timely acute pharmacological interventions (such as NSAIDs and/or triptans), education of patients regarding self-management techniques, and psychological interventions such as biofeedback, relaxation and cognitive-behavioural therapy. The efficacy of current pharmacological or nutraceutical interventions for migraine prevention in children and adolescents is unclear, although reported placebo response patterns suggest that the effect of pill-taking behaviour is positive. As such, clinicians can consider adding a preventive intervention that involves a daily pill-taking behaviour to evidence-based non-pharmacological first-line preventive interventions (such as cognitive-behavioural therapy). More rigorous research is needed to delineate the role of pharmacological and nutraceutical interventions, the mechanisms of the clinically relevant placebo response, and interventions that enhance this response for migraine prevention in this population. Given the prevalence of migraine, cost-effective and efficacious strategies are needed for the large-scale delivery of interdisciplinary multimodal paediatric migraine care.
Temporal trends in age at ischemic stroke onset by ethnicity.

Abstract Purpose To explore temporal trends in age at first-ever ischemic stroke onset in a bi-ethnic, population-based study. Methods Cases of first-ever ischemic stroke (n = 3252) were identified in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project (2000–2012). Demographics and risk factors were abstracted from medical records. Trends in age at stroke onset were assessed overall and by ethnicity (Mexican American [MA] and non-Hispanic white [NHW]) using generalized additive models. Differences by ethnicity were tested by including an interaction term between time and ethnicity. Models were run unadjusted and adjusted for age of the population at risk for stroke. Results Mean age at first-ever ischemic stroke significantly decreased from an average of 71.7 years in 2000 to an average of 69.3 years in 2012 (p = .0043). Ethnicity significantly modified the temporal trends (p Conclusions Average age at first-ever stroke onset declined over time in this community. Efforts should be made to prevent stroke by controlling risk factors before and during midlife.
A new method to trace three-dimensional magnetic field structure within molecular clouds using dust polarization

The complete three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field within molecular clouds has eluded determination despite its high value in determining controlling factors in the star formation process, as it cannot be directly probed observationally. Considering that inclination of the magnetic field relative to the plane of sky is one of the major sources of depolarization of thermal emission from dust in molecular clouds, we propose here a new method to estimate the inclination angle of the cloud-scale magnetic field based on the statistical properties of the observed polarization fraction. We test this method using a series of Monte Carlo experiments, and find that the method works well provided that deviations of magnetic field direction from the averaged values are small. When applied to synthetic observations of numerical simulations of star-forming clouds, our method gives fairly accurate measurements of the mean magnetic field inclination angle (within $10^\circ-25^\circ$), which can further be improved if we restrict our technique to regions of low dispersion in polarization angles ${\cal S}$. We tested our method on the BLASTPol polarimetric observations of the Vela C molecular cloud complex, which suggests that the magnetic field of Vela C has a high inclination angle ($\sim 60^\circ$), consistent with previous analyses.
Pulse-rate discrimination deficit in cochlear implant users: is the upper limit of pitch peripheral or central?

Abstract Cochlear implant (CI) users do not reliably associate an increase in pulse rate above 300 pulses per second (pps) with an increase in pitch. The locus of this upper limit of pitch remains unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that this deficit resides at least initially at the auditory nerve. The hypothesis was tested by comparing pulse rate discrimination in different neural excitation patterns, in which a large versus small population of auditory nerve fibers was activated. If poorer pulse rate discrimination was found under conditions where narrower spread of neural excitation (SOE) was anticipated where a relatively small neural population was activated, then it would support the hypothesis that the rate processing deficit found in CI users is related to peripheral neural degeneration. Nine listeners (12 ears) implanted with the Cochlear Americas Nucleus® devices participated in the study. Different SOE conditions were created by (1) selecting electrodes that showed narrow versus broad forward-masked psychophysical spatial tuning curves, and (2) by measuring these electrodes in monopolar (MP) and narrow bipolar (BP0) electrode configurations. Rate discrimination difference limen (DL) was measured at the selected electrodes in two electrode configurations at three base rates (200, 300 and 500 pps). Consistent with the prediction, group mean DL was better (1) at stimulation sites measured with broader tuning, and (2) in MP relative to BP stimulation. These effects were more salient at the more challenging base rates. There was a weak relationship between rate discrimination (above thresholds) and the effect of rate on detection thresholds. Finally, rate discrimination at rates above the known upper limit (i.e., 500 pps) was correlated with duration of deafness and highly predicted the subjects’ speech recognition performance in noise. These findings support that pulse rate discrimination depends, at least partially, on neural conditions at the auditory periphery and this peripheral limit predicts speech recognition outcomes with a CI.
Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Macana Tigrina, Gymnotus javari (Gymnotidae, Gymnotiformes)

Gymnotiform electric fishes exhibit many forms of sexual dimorphism, including sexual size dimorphism (SSD), aspects of head, jaw, and electric organ morphology, and electric signal waveform. However, sexual dimorphism is poorly documented in banded electric fishes (Gymnotus), where most species are monomorphic in external appearance and electric signal waveforms. Gathering comparative data on species of Gymnotus has historically been hampered by their predatory and territorial lifestyles, in that they are usually dispersed in their preferred habitats and often collected individually. Here data are presented from a population of G. javari from the Peruvian Amazon, examined for SSD (n = 55) and electric organ discharge (EOD) amplitude (n = 162). These results are compared with a syntopic population of G. carapo (n = 61), and also with G. omarorum (n = 24) from a population in Uruguay. Unlike most congeners, G. javari exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in total length and body weight, and EOD pulse amplitude is correlated with total length. A review of several ecological hypotheses on body-size distributions of each sex as a balance of multiple competing selection pressures finds none of these hypotheses adequately explain SSD in G. javari. Examining SSD in biogeographic and phylogenetic contexts leads to the conclusion that selection across different environments (e.g., local habitats, geographic regions) and through evolutionary time may have contributed to the evolution of SSD in some but not all lineages of Gymnotus.
A Python Library For Empirical Calibration

Dealing with biased data samples is a common task across many statistical fields. In survey sampling, bias often occurs due to unrepresentative samples. In causal studies with observational data, the treated versus untreated group assignment is often correlated with covariates, i.e., not random. Empirical calibration is a generic weighting method that presents a unified view on correcting or reducing the data biases for the tasks mentioned above. We provide a Python library EC to compute the empirical calibration weights. The problem is formulated as convex optimization and solved efficiently in the dual form. Compared to existing software, EC is both more efficient and robust. EC also accommodates different optimization objectives, supports weight clipping, and allows inexact calibration, which improves usability. We demonstrate its usage across various experiments with both simulated and real-world data.
La réanimation aux États-Unis. Grandeur et vicissitudes

Les soins de reanimation aux Etats-Unis restent prodigues de facon extremement heterogene. La reanimation n’est pas reconnue comme une specialite distincte et independante. Pres de la moitie des unites de reanimation n’ont aucun medecin, reanimateur ou non, dedie specifiquement aux soins des patients, et seuls ≤20 % sont diriges et geres a plein temps par un (des) medecin(s) reanimateur(s). Cette revue tente d’expliquer les differents problemes auxquels sont confrontes la specialite et ses medecins.w
Thermodynamic Solution and Mixing Models: Non-electrolytes

This chapter deals with Solution Models that permit rational expression of the activity of a component in a solution in terms of mole fractions and activity coefficients (γi), and Mixing Models that enable analytical expressions of γi in terms of interaction energy between the species in a solution. A variety of such models for non-electrolyte solutions have been discussed with emphasis on those that have been found to be useful in the treatment of geologically important systems. These models provide the bridge between simple and tractable laboratory systems and the complex natural systems that motivate the laboratory investigations.