cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Children with Heart Disease

Children with acquired and congenital heart disease (CHD) are increasingly surviving to adulthood. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors in children at known risk for early CAD or with severe CHD. We recruited children (8-19 years) at risk for early CAD-Kawasaki disease (KD, N = 36) and coarctation (69) or severe CHD: > 1 cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (60), single ventricle (15), prosthetic valves (13). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and fasting lipid data were compared with summaries from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) publications (1999-2012). Relative risk (RR) ratios were calculated based on age classification and pooled to obtain overall RR. Of 174 subjects, 106 were male (61%) and 138 (79%) had CHD. Compared to NHANES data, hypertension and low HDL were higher in the study cohort [RR 11.7 (CI 6.34-21.6), p < 0.001; and 1.79 (CI 1.36-2.35). p < 0.001] and obesity and elevated total cholesterol were lower [RR 0.59 (CI 0.37-0.96), p = 0.03; and 0.42 (CI 0.19-0.95), p = 0.04]. Elevated non-HDL was similar between groups. Age category had similar RR for all CAD risk factors. Eight subjects had metabolic syndrome. Risk factors were similar between KD versus CHD subgroups. Both coarctation and non-coarctation subjects had increased RR for hypertension. Hypertension is the most common risk factor for children at risk of early CAD and severe CHD. Metabolic syndrome is rare. These patients should be screened and treated for hypertension and current recommendations for universal lipid screening are adequate for follow-up.
Psychotherapeutic Treatment Approaches of Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly

Anxiety disorders among older adults are fairly common but often go undiagnosed and under treated. Unfortunately, untreated anxiety leads to hastened aging, including increased risk for cardiac morbidity and cognitive impairments. First-line treatments for anxiety disorders are typically pharmacological measures, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and benzodiazepines. However, many patients may not accept medications or may experience debilitating side effects. Additionally, anxiety symptoms may not be entirely addressed by medications alone. All of this points to the need for non-pharmacological treatments. When treating anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become the gold standard psychotherapeutic intervention. However, sometimes CBT alone is insufficient in treating anxiety. New innovative approaches, such as mindfulness therapy (MT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), have been developed to augment CBT and have proven to be beneficial in small studies. Additionally, the skills learned in these novel treatment modalities can continue to be used by older adults in managing anxiety long after the treatment sessions have ended.
Head and neck squamous cell cancer as part of the germline p16/INK4a mutation-induced FAMMM syndrome

6052 Background: p16/INK4a constitutes an important cancer susceptibility locus. Germline mutations at this locus have been implicated in several human cancer syndromes, including familial atypical...
The barrier hypothesis and Oncostatin M: Restoration of epithelial barrier function as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory disease

Mucosal epithelium maintains tissue homeostasis through many processes, including epithelial barrier function, which separates the environment from the tissue. The barrier hypothesis of type 2 inflammatory disease postulates that epithelial and epidermal barrier dysfunction, which cause inappropriate exposure to the environment, can result in allergic sensitization and development of type 2 inflammatory disease. The restoration of barrier dysfunction once it's lost, or the prevention of barrier dysfunction, have the potential to be exciting new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory disease. Neutrophil-derived Oncostatin M has been shown to be a potent disrupter of epithelial barrier function through the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This review will discuss these events and outline several points along this axis at which therapeutic intervention could be beneficial for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases.
Benign and tumor parenchyma metabolomic profiles affect compensatory renal growth in renal cell carcinoma surgical patients.

Background and objectives Pre-operative kidney volume is an independent predictor of glomerular filtration rate in renal cell carcinoma patients. Compensatory renal growth (CRG) can ensue prior to nephrectomy in parallel to tumor growth and benign parenchyma loss. We aimed to test whether renal metabolite abundances significantly associate with CRG, suggesting a causative relationship. Design, setting, participants, and measurements Tissue metabolomics data from 49 patients, with a median age of 60 years, were previously collected and the pre-operative fold-change of their contra to ipsi-lateral benign kidney volume served as a surrogate for their CRG. Contra-lateral kidney volume fold-change within a 3.3 +/- 2.1 years follow-up interval was used as a surrogate for long-term CRG. Using a multivariable statistical model, we identified metabolites whose abundances significantly associate with CRG. Results Our analysis found 13 metabolites in the benign (e.g. L-urobilin, Variable Influence in Projection, VIP, score = 3.02, adjusted p = 0.017) and 163 metabolites in the malignant (e.g. 3-indoxyl-sulfate, VIP score = 1.3, adjusted p = 0.044) tissues that significantly associate with CRG. Benign/tumor fold change in metabolite abundances revealed three additional metabolites with that significantly positively associate with CRG (e.g. p-cresol sulfate, VIP score = 2.945, adjusted p = 0.033). At the pathway level, we show that fatty-acid oxidation is highly enriched with metabolites whose benign tissue abundances strongly positively associate with CRG, both pre-operatively and long term, whereas in the tumor tissue significant enrichment of dipeptides and benzoate (positive association), glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, lysolipid and nucleotide sugar pentose (negative associations) sub-pathways, were observed. Conclusion These data suggest that specific biological processes in the benign as well as in the tumor parenchyma strongly influence compensatory renal growth.
Quantitative trait loci for sensitivity to acute ethanol and ethanol consummatory behaviors in rats.

Abstract Individuals with a low initial response to alcohol (i.e., ethanol) are at greater risk of developing alcohol abuse or dependence later in life. Similar to humans, individual differences in ethanol sensitivity also can be seen in rats, and several laboratories have used these individual differences to generate selectively bred rats that differ in acute ethanol sensitivity. We have worked with two sets of such rats (Inbred High or Low Alcohol Sensitivity strains, IHAS or ILAS, respectively; Inbred Alcohol Tolerant or Non-Tolerant strains, IAT and IANT, respectively) and have confirmed previously mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these acute differences with the use of recombinant congenic lines; however, the relationship between acute sensitivity and ethanol drinking in these rats has yet to be determined. Thus, here we tested the hypothesis that QTLs underlying variation in initial low sensitivity to ethanol also will modulate variation in ethanol drinking behaviors. Separate groups of selectively inbred parent and congenic rats were tested for the loss of righting response (LORR) and also assessed for ethanol consummatory behavior using either operant self-administration or an intermittent-access two-bottle choice procedure. LORR testing confirmed the presence of a LORR duration QTL in all of the congenics; however, the lack of a corresponding difference in blood ethanol concentration at the regaining of the righting response suggests that these QTLs may be mediating a difference in ethanol metabolism rather than in neuronal sensitivity. IHAS/ILAS-derived congenic rats did not differ from parent rats at any point during operant self-administration. IAT/IANT-derived congenic rats showed small, but significant, increases in ethanol consumption relative to the parent strains only during the initial stages of operant self-administration. In contrast to operant testing, IHAS/ILAS-derived congenic rats showed significantly greater ethanol consumption and preference than parent rats during intermittent-access testing. There were not differences, however, between IAT/IANT congenic and parent rats during intermittent access. These data support the hypothesis that there is a genetic relationship between initial ethanol sensitivity and ethanol consumption, at least for the IHAS/ILAS-derived congenic rats. Our current studies, however, cannot eliminate pharmacokinetic or taste preference factors as contributing to the rats' responses, nor can we eliminate the possibility of a linkage effect because of the fairly large size of the QTL intervals; i.e., distinct genes may be mediating the acute sensitivity and drinking responses.
Part II: Fracture strength and elastic modulus as a function of porosity for hydroxyapatite and other brittle materials

Abstract Part I of this paper discussed the Weibull modulus m , versus porosity P behavior of brittle materials, including HA. While the Weibull modulus m deals with the scatter in fracture strength data, this paper (Part II) focuses on two additional key mechanical properties of porous materials, namely the average fracture strength 〈 σ f 〉 , and Young’s modulus E , for P in the interval from P ≈ zero to P ≈ P G (the porosity of the unfired compacts). The 〈 σ f 〉 versus P data for HA from this study and the literature data for alumina, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and silicon nitride are described well by functions of ϕ , where ϕ = 1 − P / P G = the degree of densification. A similar function of ϕ applies to the 〈 E 〉 versus P behavior of HA from this study and data from the literature for alumina, titanium and YSZ. All of the data analyzed in this study (Part II) are based on partially and fully sintered powder compacts (excluding green powder compacts), thus the 〈 σ f 〉 / σ 0 versus ϕ and 〈 E 〉 / E 0 versus ϕ relationships may apply only to such specimens.
Xenodiagnosis Using Ixodes scapularis Larval Ticks in Humans

Xenodiagnosis is the use of a natural vector to detect the presence of an organism, and xenodiagnosis using Ixodes ticks has long been used by entomologists in Lyme disease research to provide evidence of the host's infectious status with Borrelia burgdorferi. We developed the methodology and performed the first human research study using uninfected larval Ixodes scapularis ticks to assess evidence of B. burgdorferi infection. Here, we describe in detail the methodology used for the procedure. Xenodiagnosis using Ixodes ticks in humans remains an experimental method and must be performed under an approved clinical research protocol.
Teaching teachers: Methods and experiences used in educating doctoral students to prepare preservice music educators:

This investigation addressed methods and experiences used to educate doctoral music education students to work as university college professors. Selected faculty representing every institution offering a Ph.D. in music education in the United States and Canada (N = 46) were sent an online questionnaire concerning (1) the extent respondents believed doctoral music education students should perform student/class observations, teach music education classes, supervise field-teaching experiences, participate in teacher-related activities, and participate in scholarly activities; and (2) whether respondents’ institutions had doctoral music education students perform student/class observations, teach music education classes, supervise field/student teaching experiences, participate in teacher-related activities, and participate in scholarly activities.Respondents strongly believed music education doctoral students should observe and assist in undergraduate classes, supervise field-teaching experiences, and condu...
Primary squamous-cell carcinoma of the cecum: report of a case.

Primary squamous-cell carcinoma of the cecum is uncommon. Only four cases have been cited in the literature previously. The fifth case is the subject of this presentation. This tumor has no characteristics, clinical or gross, which would help to distinguish it from the usual adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis is microscopic, and can be aided by keratin and prekeratin stains. The presence of intracellular bridges and negative mucin stains are supportive evidence. These lesions may arise from embryonic nests of undifferentiated epithelium, epidermoid implantation at time of operation, inflammation, or radiation, or they may be teratomatous.
Superstring Theory. By Michael B. Green, John H. Schwarz, and Edward Witten

(1988). Superstring Theory. By Michael B. Green, John H. Schwarz, and Edward Witten. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 95, No. 9, pp. 883-887.
Femtosecond Studies of Intraband Relaxation in GaAs and Related Compounds and Structures

Information on the relaxation of nonequilibrium free carriers is not only important to the understanding of the physics of semiconductors but is also crucial for the design of high-speed semiconductor devices. The corresponding rates that are due to the electron–phonon, carrier-carrier, and plasmon scattering processes are generally in the subpicosecond time domain and have been difficult to measure directly. As a result, much controversy exists in the literature on the relaxation rates of hot carriers in highly excited conduction and valence-band states of semiconductors such as GaAs. GaAs is a particularly important material since it is being considered seriously for use in highspeed electronic devices.
Two Paradoxes in the Theaetetus

The announced aim of the Theaetetus is to define knowledge. After the definition of knowledge as perception has been rebutted, Socrates turns in the second major section of the dialogue to consider whether knowledge may be defined as true belief. This definition receives only brief scrutiny at the end of the section, the major part of which is concerned with a related line of thought. The definition requires, rightly, that if one knows what he believes, his belief must be true. How then to show that there can also be false belief, with which true belief may be contrasted? This paper considers two episodes in Socrates’ discussion of this question. Section I reconstructs a basic difficulty which Socrates sets out at the very beginning of his discussion in what can be called the first paradox at 188a-c; this is a difficulty not with falsity as such but with the falsity of identity judgements, and Socrates will return to it repeatedly as his discussion proceeds. Later parts of his discussion consider positive theories for how false belief can nonetheless occur. The first of these at 189bff.1 is a theory of allodoxia so-called; Socrates’ scrutiny of this notion makes use of the basic difficulty presented in the first paradox, as part of an argument for the conclusion that all false belief whatsoever is impossible. Section II of this paper reconstructs the allodoxia proposal and its refutation, and considers its connection with the first paradox. The arguments themselves go together so closely that it seems worthwhile to consider them in separation from the remaining parts of Plato’s discussion.
Modern Management of the Failed Bladder Exstrophy Closure: A 50-yr Experience

Abstract Background A failed closure of classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) has a negative long-term impact on the patient and the health care system. Objective To investigate the outcomes of CBE patients with failed primary bladder closure. Design, setting, and participants A database of 1317 exstrophy-epispadias complex patients was retrospectively reviewed for CBE patients with failed primary bladder closure from 1965 to 2017 with subsequent repeat closure. Intervention Repeat bladder exstrophy closure and subsequent continence procedure. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Failed exstrophy closures are defined as occurrence of bladder prolapse, dehiscence, vesicocutaneous fistula, outlet obstruction, or combination of these factors. Successful repeat closures are defined as closures that require no further operative intervention as a consequence of these factors. Kaplan-Meier to determine time to successful repeat closure and receiver operator characteristic curve to determine the optimal time for secondary closure were determined. Results and limitations In total, 170 CBE patients had at least one repeat closure following a failed primary closure (115 male/55 female). With continued closure attempts, 166/170 (97.6%) patients were successfully closed. The median time to successful closure from birth was 12.9 mo (95% confidence interval: 11.7–15.7). Furthermore, 52/153 (34%) patients had more than one osteotomy. Of 215 total osteotomies, 50 (29.4%) were performed during the 170 failed primary closures, 128 (75.3%) during the 170 second closures, and 27 (64.3%) during the 42 third closures. Of 96 patients with available continence data, 74 (77.1%) achieved urinary continence. Conclusions A successful repeat closure is possible, especially when used in conjunction with a pelvic osteotomy. Continent urinary diversion yielded the highest continence rate in this cohort. Patient summary We looked at outcomes of classic bladder exstrophy closure in a large population. Successful repeat closure is possible in the majority of cases when used with pelvic osteotomy. A majority of patients achieved urinary continence using a continent diversion.
Sampling for respirable cotton dust

The nature of sampling from a dust cloud containing fine dust and lint fragments is reviewed. The definition of “respirable cotton dust” in the OSHA Cotton Dust Standard is compared and contrasted with the quantity measured by the NIOSH (Lumsden-Lynch) vertical elutriator (VE) cotton dust sampler. Theoretical and empirical factors that affect the accuracy and precision of VE measurements are discussed. Technologies for alternative sampling strategies and for improving VE sampling are described.
DOES RESTING CARDIAC POWER EFFICIENCY AFFECT SURVIVAL POST TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Cardiac Power to left ventricular mass (LVM) ratio, also termed cardiac efficiency (CE), reflects the rate of cardiac work delivered with respect to the potential energy stored in LVM. We sought to assess the association between baseline resting CE and survival post transcatheter aortic valve
A new method and insights for estimating phenological events from herbarium specimens

Premise of the Study A novel method of estimating phenology of herbarium specimens was developed to facilitate more precise determination of plant phenological responses to explanatory variables (e.g., climate). Methods and Results Simulated specimen data sets were used to compare the precision of phenological models using the new method and two common, alternative methods (flower presence/absence and ≥50% flowers present). The new "estimated phenophase" method was more precise and extracted a greater number of significant species-level relationships; however, this method only slightly outperformed the simple "binary" (e.g., flowers present/absent) method. Conclusions The new method enables estimation of phenological trends with greater precision. However, when time and resources are limited, a presence/absence method may offer comparable results at lower cost. Using a more restrictive approach, such as only including specimens in a certain phenophase, is not advised given the detrimental effect of decreased sample size on resulting models.
Evaluating hydrocarbon-in-place and recovery factor in a hybrid petroleum system: Case of Bakken and three forks in North Dakota

AbstractAn integrated workflow to estimate the hydrocarbon-in-place and recovery factor is applied in the Bakken-Three Forks petroleum system. Evaluating factors that control the generation and sto...
Preferred Appearance of Captions Generated by Automatic Speech Recognition for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Viewers

As the accuracy of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) nears human-level quality, it might become feasible as an accessibility tool for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) to transcribe spoken language to text. We conducted a study using in-person laboratory methodologies, to investigate requirements and preferences for new ASR-based captioning services when used in a small group meeting context. The open-ended comments reveal an interesting dynamic between: caption readability (visibility of text) and occlusion (captions blocking the video contents). Our 105 DHH participants provided valuable feedback on a variety of caption-appearance parameters (strongly preferring familiar styles such as closed captions), and in this paper we start a discussion on how ASR captioning could be visually styled to improve text readability for DHH viewers.
Functional language in curriculum genres: Implications for testing international teaching assistants

Abstract U.S. universities have been employing international teaching assistants (ITAs) for more than thirty years, and their interest in using large-scale language proficiency test scores for the purpose of screening and certification of prospective ITAs has markedly grown. Although previous research generated evidence supporting the validity of such test uses, no studies closely examined the nature of ITAs’ classroom discourse in terms of functional language needed to accomplish teaching tasks and convey knowledge in instructional encounters with undergraduate students. This study approaches this gap in academic English assessment by investigating an ITA corpus of laboratory, recitation, and lecture curriculum genres. With the underlying purpose of describing the target domain of ITA language use from a functional perspective, cross-genre and cross-discipline comparisons were conducted based on corpus data annotated using the Knowledge Framework (Mohan, 1986) in Systemic Functional Linguistics. The results revealed distinguishable patterns of functional language use in the three genres and three disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, English), also indicating that the linguistic choices are bound to knowledge structures rather than genre or discipline variables. The implications are relevant for the validation of EAP assessments intended for use in ITA contexts, and potentially for ITA training.
American Womanhood and The New Woman: A Rhetorical Consideration of the Development and Circulation of Female Stereotypes, 1890-1920

This article studies the emerging trope of the American “New Woman” in the popular press dating from 1890-1920. The New Woman served as the aggregate stereotype of modern women during the progressive era. Magazines and newspapers depicted the New Woman as a sharp distinction from the esteemed Victorian “True” Woman, who was submissive, pious, and virtuous. Using archival examination of Progressive Era newspapers and magazines, and feminist rhetorical historiography, this project found that this discussion possessed the same argumentative features as the conversation about True Womanhood—women were lumped together as a whole and were all thought to be following the same roles. In addition, the term was derisively enacted. The rhetoric surrounding the New Woman has been understudied by rhetorical scholars; rhetorical analyses of feminist conversations in history bear a significance today in understanding the appeals used in feminist movements and in understanding how current notions of gendering are heavily influenced by the past.
The ABCDEF Rule: Combining the "ABCDE Rule" and the "Ugly Duckling Sign" in an Effort to Improve Patient Self-Screening Examinations.

To the editor: Regular self-skin examinations by patients have been shown to decrease the depth of melanomas at the time of diagnosis and facilitate a lower risk of melanoma when coupled with regular visits with a physician.1 Accordingly, the American Academy of Dermatology has sought to improve patient awareness of melanoma through its SPOT Skin Cancer campaign.2 At our institution, we counsel patients to perform regular self-skin examinations in an effort to expedite identification and appropriate treatment of suspicious melanocytic lesions. To aid patients in identifying possible melanoma, we often recommend the use of either the “ABCDE rule” or the “ugly duckling sign.” The ABCDE rule, first introduced in 1985 as the ABCD rule3 and then expanded in 2004 to the ABCDE rule,4 encompasses several clinical features of melanoma, including Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation (both intralesional color variation as well as a color that is different from the patient’s other nevi), Diameter greater than 6mm, and Evolving (a new or changing lesion). An alternative to the ABCDE rule, the “ugly duckling sign,” was later developed to address the limitations of the ABCDE rule.5 It states that the “spot” that is unlike the others is often the most suspect for malignancy. Their limitations aside, both of these methods provide an easy, general framework from which patients may work in order to identify potential melanomas. Due to time constraints or personal preference, dermatologists often choose to counsel patients on one of these guidelines while neglecting the other. However, the shortcoming of using only one of these criteria is that the ABCDE and “ugly duckling” rules are complementary to one another and are not necessarily equal alternatives to one another. That is, the ABCDE rule does not account for the added screening benefits of using the “ugly duckling rule,” and vice versa. Therefore, we propose a modification to the ABCDE rule in order to combine the benefits of this rule with that of the “ugly duckling sign.” The addition of the letter “F,” which stands for “Funny looking,” nicely incorporates the “ugly duckling rule” into one, unified tool—the ABCDEF rule—for patients to use when evaluating their moles at home. The “Funny looking” mole, like the “ugly duckling sign,” implies that there is an overall gestalt one can have about a spot being suspicious. The addition of another letter to the currently widely used ABCDE rule does not seem to overly complicate the mnemonic for patients. Indeed, in our experience in counseling patients about the ABCDEF rule, we have found that the inclusion of a somewhat humorous and unexpected “capstone” to the mnemonic has been very well received. The ABCDEF rule improves upon the previous iteration of the mnemonic and may prove to be a useful tool for patients and physicians alike in identifying worrisome melanocytic lesions.
Simplified Green‐Ampt model, imbibition‐based estimates of permeability, and implications for leak‐off in hydraulic fracturing

Author(s): Tokunaga, TK | Abstract: Predicting water imbibition into porous materials is important in a wide variety of fields, and hydraulic fracturing of low permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs has emerged as an application that is imposing a large water footprint. Reliable predictions of imbibition are needed to better manage water use, yet are challenging because of uncertainties in both the permeability and capillary pressure driving force. Here, this uncertainty is reduced through evaluating correlations between the permeability and the effective capillary pressure associated with the wetting front, Pc,f. These correlations allow elimination of Pc,f from the Green and Ampt equation and concentrate all uncertainties in fluxes on the effective permeability k. Over a wide range of k and porosities n, imbibition scales approximately with k1/3. Although Leverett k1/4 scaling for predicting Pc,f is shown to be inferior when tested with data spanning a wide range of n, it nevertheless predicted imbibition fairly well. From simple imbibition measurements, both the empirical and Leverett scaling approaches allow estimates of k that have root-mean-square deviations of about one order of magnitude relative to measurements that ranged over 10 orders of magnitude in k.
Comparison of mini flank incision and laparoscopy in the treatment of infants with ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Objective Comparison of the efficacy of mini flank incision and laparoscopy in the treatment of infants with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 85 cases of infants with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in our hospital from Jan. 2016 to Jan. 2018, all the patients underwent dismembered pyeloplasty. According to the surgical approach, they were divided into two groups: There were 45 cases in the mini flank incision group, including 39 males and 6 females, aged from 1 month to 3 years, with a median age of 4 months, and 40 patients in the laparoscopy group, including 33 males and 7 females, aged from 2 months to 3 years, with a median age of 9 months. The clinical effects of the two groups were compared. Results The patients were followed up for 12-24 months. The operation time[(68.0±15.3)min vs.(79.6±18.8)min], fasting time[(5±1)h vs.(14±8)h] and indwelling time of peri-renal drainage tube[(3.1±1.4)d vs.(4.3±2.2)d] in the mini flank incision group were shorter than those in the laparoscopy group (P 0.05). The recurrence rate[0 vs.5%(2/40)] and the incidence of complications[11.1%(5/45)vs. 17.5%(7/40)] in the mini flank incision group were lower than those in the laparoscopy group, but there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). Conclusions Pyeloplasty via mini flank incision or laparoscopy are both safe, effective and cosmetic.Mini flank incision surgery has the advantage of short operation time, easy to master and less disturbance of physiological function. Pyeloplasty via mini flank incision it is one of the reasonable options for the treatment of infants with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Key words: Ureteral obstruction; Ureteropelvic junction obstruction(UPJO); Laparoscopy; Pyeloplasty; Minimally invasive; Infant
Outcomes of Poly-4-hydroxybutyrate Mesh in Ventral Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

Within the past decade, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) biosynthetic mesh has been introduced as a potential alternative to traditional biologic and synthetic mesh in ventral hernia repair (VHR). The aim of this study was to systematically assess clinical outcomes with the P4HB in VHR. Methods A literature search identified all articles published in 2000 involving the use of P4HB in VHR. Descriptive statistics were used to synthesize collective data points, including postoperative outcomes. A pooled analysis of postoperative outcomes was performed using chi-square test and Fisher exact test. Results Across 7 studies, the P4HB was used in 453 patients. The mean rate of surgical site infection (SSI) was 6.8% (31/453), reoperation 10.7% (30/281), and recurrence 9.1% (41/453). At an average follow-up of 26.8 months, the incidence of recurrence was 10.4% (28/270). Onlay was significantly associated with increased recurrence (14.2% versus 4.4%, P = 0.001). Among sublay placements, there was no difference in recurrence in clean (Center for Disease Control [CDC] 1) or contaminated (CDC >1) wounds (2.7% versus 6.1%, P = 0.585), but contaminated wounds were associated with increased SSI (2.7% versus 15.2%, P = 0.028). Ventral Hernia Working Group grade 2 and 3 did not have different incidences of recurrence (8.0% versus 5.1%, P = 0.526) nor SSI (5.1% versus 14.6%, P = 0.265). Conclusions Overall, clinical outcomes of the P4HB mesh in VHR are acceptable. The P4HB mesh serves as a reliable alternative to traditional synthetic and biologic mesh across a range of defect characteristics and patient health conditions. Further research is needed to better understand the conditions in which it may provide a clinical benefit over traditional mesh types.
Tribal Policies and Emerging Legal Perspectives

Laws and policies that are clearly comprehended and supported by community members are more likely to be self-enforcing and therefore requiring fewer resources to monitor and in the process reducing the chances for negative community relations about the law or policy. At the most basic level, a policy is a plan or course of action designed to influence and determine decisions. Policies can be written or unwritten. They often take the form of laws, regulations, resolutions, executive orders, and other types of legal policies. Community members should be involved from the outset and throughout the entire policy development process. Community engagement includes the process of collecting local input and information to establish the need for the law or policy and help design it. It also includes the process of educating community members and stakeholders about why a law or policy is needed, and how it will address the problem or issue it targets. An effective community engagement process helps ensure that the policy developed will address actual priorities coming from within a community. It also helps to identify the key stakeholders — expected and unexpected — connected with those priorities. Tribal rights (in a legal sense) offer a position through which to explore how these contradictory social forces shape the making and working of the law. In the immediate post-independence period, the law served as an important instrument of the state in recognizing Tribal rights. The most significant article in the Constitution vis-a-vis Tribal rights is Article 244. The logic of Article 244, is that for the traditions and culture of scheduled tribe communities to be respected scheduled areas should function autonomously. The fifth schedule allows the president to declare areas as scheduled and the governor the power by public notification to not apply acts of Parliament or modify them in accordance with the needs of 18 scheduled tribe communities The present paper is a commentary on the emerging legal perspectives vis a vis the Tribal policies in South Rajasthan.
Devices to enhance organ perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The recommended method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been closed-chest cardiac compressions, but the development of CPR adjunctive devices has called into question the efficacy and rol...
Phase 1: Determining an Initial Feasible Solution

In this chapter we present phase 1 of our two-phase method for partitioning the parameter space. Specifically, we show how to compute an initial full dimensional invariancy region that can be used as a starting point for phase 2.
A Survey of Modern Roadside Unit Deployment Research

Smart cities is a broad field that has been gaining traction in research in recent years. One particular topic that has been the subject of research for a number of years but is beginning to appear on the consumer market is intelligent transportation systems (ITS). As ITS become more common on roadways, infrastructure such as Roadside Units (RSUs) will be needed to support and improve them. RSUs are used to pass information between vehicles which can then be used to improve the safety and efficiency of the system. The placement of RSUs can greatly effect the efficiency of the infrastructure, which is crucial when the deployment of such systems can be expensive. Recent research has focused on a broad range of variables and methods to optimize the deployment of RSUs. The goal of this paper is to discuss recent research trends in the field and present a brief overview of a number of recent papers on the topic.
Survey of Best Management Practices in Container Production Nurseries

Abstract Twenty-four nurseries producing container-grown plants were surveyed along the coastal zone of south Alabama to determine Best Management Practices (BMPs) implemented since 1988. All nurseries utilized multiple BMPs. Seventy-five percent of all nurseries surveyed have the capability to capture runoff water; however, larger nurseries (medium 4.5–16.6 ha (11–40 A); large 16.6+ ha (40+A)) were more likely to capture runoff than smaller nurseries 0.4–4.1 ha (1–10 A). Since 1988, 78% of all collection ponds have been built with 44% of those being built in the past 5 years. Other BMPs widely used included installation of grass filter/erosion strips, having specific personnel devoted to water management, use of control release fertilizers, scouting for pests, use of horticultural oils, and staggered herbicide applications.
End-Point Controller Design for an Experimental Two-Link Flexible Manipulator using Convex Optimization

Recent results in linear controller design are used to design an end-point controller for an experimental two-link flexible manipulator. A nominal 14 state LQG controller was augmented with a 528 tap FIR filter designed using convex optimization techniques. The resulting 278 state controller produced improved end-point trajectory tracking and disturbance rejection in both simulation and experimentally in real-time.
Microcomputers in the Teaching of Astronomy

There are many ways to use computers in teaching. This paper discusses one of those ways: as an adjunct to the introductory astronomy course as taught in the United States. The computer allows the demonstration of phenomena in a graphic dynamic manner, so its use can enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the material than they might when they passively listen to a lecture, look at slides, or study a textbook. In a very real sense, material presented in a computer is similar to that presented by film or video, but with one major difference: viewing movies is essentially a passive experience while interacting with a computer is an active one. Using computer simulations, the user can vary initial conditions and observe the effect of changes. This ability is the case whether the person doing the interacting is the instructor during a lecture or the student during a lab or while independently executing a homework exercise.
Complete Pathologic Response Following Multimodality Therapy for a Recurrent, High-Grade Phyllodes Tumor

Introduction: Phyllodes tumor is a rare mesenchymal tumor of the breast for which surgical resection is the primary therapy. Despite adequate surgical resection, local recurrence rates of up to 40% are observed in patients with high-grade tumors. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy for phyllodes tumor to improve local and systemic control is not well established. However, several small studies have shown improvements in local control rates with adjuvant radiation therapy. The management of aggressive local phyllodes tumor recurrences can be a clinical challenge and multimodality therapy should be considered in these cases for optimal results. Case presentation : We present the case of a high-grade phyllodes tumor that recurred in the radiation field after adjuvant radiation therapy. The patient was treated with neoadjuvant hyperfractionated, accelerated radiotherapy in combination with hyperthermia and chemotherapy followed by radical surgical resection. A completed pathologic response was observed. Conclusion: This multimodality approach may be a successful treatment algorithm for high-grade tumors that reoccur in a prior radiation field.
Obesity, Smoking, and Frontal Brain Dysfunction

Obesity, smoking, and conduct problems have all been associated with decrements in brain function. However, their additive and interactive effects have rarely been examined. To address the deficiency, we studied P300a and P300b electroencephalographic potentials in 218 women grouped by the presence versus absence of: (1) a BMI ≥30 kg/m2; (2) recent smoking; and (3) ≥2 childhood conduct problems. Analyses revealed smaller P300a and P300b amplitudes over the posterior scalp among recent smokers versus nonsmokers. No corresponding group differences were found in P300 latencies or frontal scalp amplitudes. The most interesting analysis result was an interaction between conduct problems and obesity limited to the frontally-generated P300a component: its latency was significantly greater in women with both attributes than in those with either or neither attribute. An exploratory ANOVA, substituting the genotype of a GABRA2 SNP for conduct problems, also demonstrated the interaction. It is hypothesized that conduct problems, and a conduct-problem-associated GABRA2 genotype, decrease the age-of-onset and/or increase the lifetime duration of obesity. As a result, they may potentiate the adverse effects of obesity on frontal white matter and thereby increase P300a latency. Smoking may affect brain function by a different mechanism to reduce posterior scalp P300a and P300b amplitudes while preserving frontal scalp P300a latency and amplitude.
The Past, Present, and Future of Nicotine Addiction Therapy

The tobacco addiction treatment field is progressing through innovations in medication development, a focus on precision medicine, and application of new technologies for delivering support in real time and over time. This article reviews the evidence for combined and extended cessation pharmacotherapy and behavioral strategies including provider advice, individual counseling, group programs, the national quitline, websites and social media, and incentives. Healthcare policies are changing to offer cessation treatment to the broad population of smokers. With knowledge of the past and present, this review anticipates what is likely on the horizon in the clinical and public health effort to address tobacco addiction.
Effects of Oral Exposure to Fungicides on Honey Bee Nutrition and Virus Levels

Sublethal exposure to fungicides can affect honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in ways that resemble malnutrition. These include reduced brood rearing, queen loss, and increased pathogen levels. We examined the effects of oral exposure to the fungicides boscalid and pyraclostrobin on factors affecting colony nutrition and immune function including pollen consumption, protein digestion, hemolymph protein titers, and changes in virus levels. Because the fungicides are respiratory inhibitors, we also measured ATP concentrations in flight muscle. The effects were evaluated in 3- and 7-d-old worker bees at high fungicide concentrations in cage studies, and at field-relevant concentrations in colony studies. Though fungicide levels differed greatly between the cage and colony studies, similar effects were observed. Hemolymph protein concentrations were comparable between bees feeding on pollen with and without added fungicides. However, in both cage and colony studies, bees consumed less pollen containing fungicides and digested less of the protein. Bees fed fungicide-treated pollen also had lower ATP concentrations and higher virus titers. The combination of effects we detected could produce symptoms that are similar to those from poor nutrition and weaken colonies making them more vulnerable to loss from additional stressors such as parasites and pathogens.
Discrete event modeling and massively parallel execution of epidemic outbreak phenomena

In complex phenomena such as epidemiological outbreaks, the intensity of inherent feedback effects and the significant role of transients in the dynamics make simulation the only effective method for proactive, reactive or post facto analysis. The spatial scale, runtime speed, and behavioral detail needed in detailed simulations of epidemic outbreaks cannot be supported by sequential or small-scale parallel execution, making it necessary to use large-scale parallel processing. Here, an optimistic parallel execution of a new discrete event formulation of a reaction-diffusion simulation model of epidemic propagation is presented to facilitate a dramatic increase in the fidelity and speed by which epidemiological simulations can be performed. Rollback support needed during optimistic parallel execution is achieved by combining reverse computation with a small amount of incremental state saving. Parallel speedup of over 5,500 and other runtime performance metrics of the system are observed with weak-scaling execution on a small (8,192-core) Blue Gene/P system, while scalability with a weak-scaling speedup of over 10,000 is demonstrated on 65,536 cores of a large Cray XT5 system. Scenarios representing large population sizes, with mobility and detailed state evolution modeled at the level of each individual, exceeding several hundreds of millions of individuals in the largest cases, are successfully exercised to verify model scalability.
Dynamic Model of Electron Beam Induced Deposition (EBID) of Residual Hydrocarbons in Electron Microscopy

Adsorbed species surface diffusion Electron beam induced deposition (EBID) of residuals carbon can be either a contamination problem or can provide a basis for 3-D nanofabrication and nanoscale metrology. In this process a solid deposit is formed at the point of impact of the electron beam due to the decomposition of residual hydrocarbon species adsorbed on the solid substrate. The first observation of EBID can be traced to miscroscopists who noticed the growth of thin films of carbon while imaging using an electron microscope. The process was referred to as "contamination" because of its adverse effects on the microscope's imaging quality. Later, it has been demonstrated that with appropriate control of the electron beam this problematic contamination can be exploited to deposit three dimensional nanostructures with the spatial resolution down to 10nm. Numerous researchers have experimentally explored various factors influencing EBID growth rate and geometry of the deposit. To date, the most comprehensive theoretical model predicting the shape of the deposit in EBID is due to Silvis-Cividjian[1]. However, this model accounts for electron transport only. A few, fairly rudimentary models have also been developed for mass transport in EBID, but usually limited to rather simplistic treatment of electron transport. To this end, we have developed a comprehensive dynamic model of EBID coupling mass transport, electron transport and scattering, and species decomposition to predict deposition of carbon nano-dots. The simulations predict the local species and electron density distributions, as well as the 3-D profile and the growth rate of the deposit. Since the process occurs in a high vacuum environment surface diffusion is considered as the primary transport mode of surface-adsorbed hydrocarbon precursor. Transport, scattering, and absorption of primary electron as well as secondary electron generation are treated using the Monte Carlo methods. Low energy secondary electrons (SE) are the major contributors to hydrocarbon decomposition due to their energy range matching peak dissociation reaction cross section energies for precursor molecules. The local SE flux at the substrate and at the free surface of the growing deposit is computed using the Fast Secondary Electron (FSE) model. When combined with the total dissociation reaction corssection and the local hydrocarbon surface concentration, this allows us to compute the local deposition rate. The deposition rates are then used to predict the shape profile evolution of the deposit. Simulation results are compared with an AFM imaging of carbon EBID.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Nest site selection and aspects of the reproductive biology of the pygmy sculpin (Cottus paulus) in Coldwater Spring, Calhoun County, Alabama

– Imperiled pygmy sculpins are known from only one locality in Alabama, USA. One conservation strategy for the species is the creation of another population by introducing the species into a suitable habitat. Before such action is considered, however, an understanding of the life history, including reproductive biology and habitat use, of the species must be obtained. In this study, nesting of pygmy sculpins was found to peak in July, although the species has an extended reproductive period. Preferred nesting sites had higher flow and shallower water depth than the surrounding habitat. Pygmy sculpins readily used artificial nest substrates that were introduced into the spring run, where natural nest substrate was uncommon.Note