cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress and Coping Strategies in the Lives of Recent Immigrants: A Grounded Theory Model.

A grounded theory was utilized to develop a model of stress and coping experienced by recent immigrants to the United States. Maximum variation sampling was used to gather data from 20 leaders within immigrant and refugee communities in a Midwest U.S. city. A theoretical model was developed by identifying causal conditions, contexts, intervening conditions, and consequences related to experiences of stress and coping. Specific propositions in regard to the process of stress, coping, and adaptation among recent immigrants were made. Implications for clinical services and research with this population are considered.
Surgical management of erectile dysfunction.

Since the introduction of sildenafil citrate, oral systemic therapy has become the first line of therapy for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Men who are not candidates for or who fail treatment with an oral agent may choose second-line therapies such as intraurethral prostaglandins, penile injection therapy, sex therapy, or a vacuum erection device. These second-line therapies may be unpalatable or inadequate for some men, and these men constitute the candidates for surgical intervention for ED. This article reviews surgical management of vascular ED, surgical management of Peyronie’s disease, and penile prosthesis implantation. At the current time, the appropriate candidate for penile revascularization is a young man with proven arterial insufficiency resulting from pelvic trauma. Results in other populations are disappointing. Peyronie’s disease with curvature significant enough to interfere with intercourse may be managed with tunical lengthening or shortening procedures in potent men and with prosthetic implantation in men with ED. Modern three-piece penile prostheses are associated with excellent device reliability, high rates of patient satisfaction, and acceptably low complication rates.
NEW METHOD FOR MEASURING STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE PULSES

A new digital detection system is described for measuring pulsating partial discharges (PDs). The PD detection system can continuously record all PD pulses that occur over extended periods of time, with a minimum inter-pulse time separation of 6 μs and a vertical amplitude resolution of 12 bits. Earlier PD detection systems detected PD pulse amplitude and time using complex custom-designed hardware while the present system continuously records the complete electrical waveform that carries the PD pulses using a commercial data acquisition board and extracts, in real time, the time and amplitude information of all PD pulses in software. The current approach considerably reduces the development and maintenance cost of the PD detection system, significantly increases the system portability, and may prove to be a crucial step for transferring the digital PD detection and analysis technology developed in laboratories to industry. The features of the new system are illustrated by the study of dc-excited PD pulses occurring in a point-to-plane gap in air. A new surface-mediated burst mode of PDs is discovered in which a PD pulse has a certain probability to induce another pulse. The probability is determined for several gap voltages and is found to vary strongly with the applied voltage.
Effect of intramolecular disorder and intermolecular electronic interactions on the electronic structure of poly-p-phenylene vinylene

We investigate the role of intramolecular conformational disorder and intermolecular electronic interactions on the electronic structure of disorder clusters of poly-$p$-phenylene vinylene (PPV) oligomers. Classical molecular dynamics is used to determine probable molecular geometries, and first-principles density functional theory calculations are used to determine electronic structure. Intramolecular and intermolecular effects are disentangled by contrasting results for densely packed oligomer clusters with those for ensembles of isolated oligomers with the same intramolecular geometries. We find that in PPV electron trap states are induced primarily by intramolecular configuration disorder, while the hole trap states are generated primarily from intermolecular electronic interactions.
Stereociliary bundles reorient during hair cell development and regeneration in the chick cochlea.

Abstract We have examined changes in the orientation of Stereociliary bundles of hair cells in the cochlear sensory epithelium that occur during normal embryonic development and during the regeneration of hair cells that follows acoustic trauma. At the time when hair cell surfaces become recognizable in the embryonic cochlea, the bundles of stereocilia exhibit a range of orientations, as indicated by the position of the kinocilium and later, by the location of the tallest row of stereocilia. With time, the orientations of bundles on neighboring hair cells become more uniform, a condition that is maintained in the adult. Changes in stereocilia orientation are also observed during the regeneration of hair cells after acoustic trauma. When new hair cells first differentiate at sites of trauma in the recovering sensory epithelium, their Stereociliary bundles are not uniformly oriented. Then as the cells mature over a period of days, the bundles become aligned both with the neighboring bundles in the region of the previous lesion and with the pre-existing bundles that surround the site of regeneration. We conclude that the Stereociliary bundles of hair cells are reorienting as the cells differentiate. A common mechanism may guide reorientation both during embryonic development and during regeneration. Observations in living cochleae indicate that differentiating Stereociliary bundles establish asymmetric linkages to the extracellular matrix of the developing tectorial membrane. During the growth of the tectorial membrane, its progressive extension across the surface of the sensory epithelium may exert traction forces through those asymmetric linkages that pull the bundles of the hair cells into uniform alignment.
R&D Portfolio and Market Structure*

This article analyses how firms allocate their resources when they compete for multiple patents in heterogeneous research projects simultaneously. A simple model shows that firms’ resource allocation is biased away from risky and basic research, even when imitation is not possible and firms are fully rational. Therefore a market may lack major innovations despite large aggregate research expenditure and strong patent protection. This article also shows that as a market becomes more competitive, firms invest relatively less in basic research but more in risky research. These results provide a novel explanation for an ambiguous empirical relationship between innovation and market concentration.
Preliminary evaluation of MEMS devices for early age concrete property monitoring

Early age concrete properties and strength gain are mainly related to the hydration of cement and moisture transfer. In this paper we will present a new technique that is currently under development for monitoring concrete setting and hardening. The new monitoring technique consists of embedding MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) devices into concrete during construction to wirelessly monitor certain key parameters affecting the early age behavior of concrete structures such as in-place strength and shrinkage stresses. To test the feasibility of the proposed devices in monitoring temperature, moisture and early age shrinkage stresses as well as to evaluate their durability when embedded into concrete, experimental tests were performed and preliminary results are presented in this paper.
Microglia: Immune Network in the CNS

In recent years much progress has been made toward a better understanding of the nature and function of microglial cells. This review summarizes new developments and attempts to provide a perspective for future avenues to take in microglial research. Microglia are considered to play an active role in a variety of neurological diseases. Their function in forming a network of immune competent cells within the CNS is discussed.
Restricted private information provision during short sale bans

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the 2008 SEC short selling ban on financial firms and whether this ban negatively impacted private information provision in these short‐restricted equities.Design/methodology/approach – This paper employs the French and Roll Variance Ratio (VR) as a proxy for private information provision in both an unconditional and conditional analysis. The unconditional analysis examines the VR across trading characteristics, firm characteristics, and time regimes. The conditional analysis models the VR in an event study framework where exogenous determinants of private information provision are held constant.Findings – Empirical results indicate that private information provision increased due to the 2007 US financial crisis while information provision decreased due to the 2008 short selling ban. This study concludes that the 2007 financial crisis enticed informed short sellers into the market which then increased information provision. Further, the 2008 short selling ...
Alcohol-Related Diagnoses and All-Cause Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients: A Longitudinal Analysis of United States Veterans from 1997 to 2011

Individuals with HIV infection are living substantially longer on antiretroviral therapy, but hospitalization rates continue to be relatively high. We do not know how overall or diagnosis-specific hospitalization rates compare between HIV-infected and uninfected individuals or what conditions may drive hospitalization trends. Hospitalization rates among United States Veterans were calculated and stratified by HIV serostatus and principal diagnosis disease category. Because alcohol-related diagnoses (ARD) appeared to have a disproportional effect, we further stratified our calculations by ARD history. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to assess the relative risk of hospitalization controlling for demographic and other comorbidity variables. From 1997 to 2011, 46,428 HIV-infected and 93,997 uninfected patients were followed for 1,497,536 person-years. Overall hospitalization rates decreased among HIV-infected and uninfected patients. However, cardiovascular and renal insufficiency admissions increased for all groups while gastrointestinal and liver, endocrine, neurologic, and non-AIDS cancer admissions increased among those with an alcohol-related diagnosis. After multivariable adjustment, HIV-infected individuals with an ARD had the highest risk of hospitalization (hazard ratio 3.24, 95 % CI 3.00, 3.49) compared to those free of HIV infection and without an ARD. Still, HIV alone also conferred increased risk (HR 2.08, 95 % CI 2.04, 2.13). While decreasing overall, risk of all-cause hospitalization remains higher among HIV-infected than uninfected individuals and is strongly influenced by the presence of an ARD.
On stop conditions about methods to obtain polygonal approximations relied on break point suppression

In this work, we propose a new unsupervised stop condition for heuristic methods that employ break point suppression to obtain polygonal approximations. Using a stop condition, these heuristic methods delete redundant break points until a required level of approximation is satisfied. The new stop condition is based on the optimisation of the F2 measure. Comparisons with original stop conditions of several methods show that the new stop condition yields a measurable improvement in the approximation. The polygonal approximations obtained with the new stop condition are more efficient and better adjusted to the original contours. The new stop condition can be combined with supervised optimal methods to obtain a reference approximation of the original contour with a minimum number of points. In this case, the resulting methods are unsupervised methods. Highlights? In this work a new stop condition for the Carmona et al. method (2010a), and Masood methods (2008a, 2008b) is proposed. ? This new stop condition can be used to improve these methods, or any other method based on break point suppression. ? This idea can be used to transform supervised optimal methods into unsupervised methods.
Pulsed remote Raman system for daytime measurements of mineral spectra.

A remote Raman system has been developed utilizing a 532 nm pulsed laser and gated intensified charged couple device (ICCD) detector in the oblique geometry. When the system is set for 50 m sample distance it is capable of measuring Raman spectra of minerals located at distances in the range of 10–65 m from the telescope. Both daytime and nighttime operations are feasible and the spectra of minerals can be measured in a short period of time, of the order of a few seconds. In oblique geometry, measured sampling depth is more than 30 m, during which the system maintains very high performance without any adjustments. Much longer sampling depth (0.1–120 m) has been observed when the system is configured in the coaxial geometry. Clear advantages of using a gated detection mode over the continuous (CW) mode of operation in reducing the background signal and eliminating long-lived fluorescence signals from the Raman spectra are presented. The performance of the pulsed Raman system is demonstrated by measuring spectra of Raman standards including benzene (C6H6) and naphthalene (C10H8), a low Raman cross section silicate mineral muscovite (KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2), and a medium Raman cross section mineral calcite (CaCO3). © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The urinary excretion of corticosteroid sulfates by cancer patients

Urinary excretions of free cortisol and corticosteroid sulfates were determined in 31 female controls, 77 breast cancer patients, 14 cases of colonic cancer, and 7 patients with bronchial carcinoma. Elevated corticosteroid sulfate excretion was present in38% of patients with locally recurrent breast cancer and 30% of those with distant metastases, but in only 13% of the “early” breast cancer cases. A similar abnormality was seen in colonic cancer. Urinary free cortisol was usually normal. ACTH stimulation in a normal subject produced marked increases of both urinary free cortisol and corticosteroid sulfates. It is concluded that elevated corticosteroid sulfate excretion in cancer patients arises from an increased cortisol production rate combined with increased sulfurylation of the steroid. In bronchial carcinoma patients, changes similar to those occurring in the ACTH–treated normal subject may have resulted from ectopic ACTH production in the tumor.
X-ray diffraction study of changes in stress-strain distributions during the fatigue of a two-phase alloy

Abstract In annealed two-phase brass, push-pull fatigue at loads near the endurance limit produces residual stresses only in the softer majority α phase and not in the β phase. These stresses are balanced between undeformed α phase regions and a small fraction of deformed α; the β phase is not involved in this balance. The uniform deformation produced by peening becomes inhomogeneous during fatigue, especially in the softer α phase. This inhomogeneity of deformation is greater after fatigue of the peened specimens than after fatigue of annealed material.
A comparison of somatostatin and neuropeptide Y distribution in monkey brain

The concentrations of both somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPYLI) were measured in all major cortical and subcortical regions of monkey brain. High concentrations of both SLI and NPYLI were found in cerebral cortex where they were significantly correlated, supporting a colocalization of the two peptides in cortical neurons. There were no significant differences between the right and left hemispheres. Subdissections of the basal ganglia showed that concentrations of both SLI and NPYLI were 3-fold higher in the nucleus accumbens than in the remainder of the striatum, where concentrations of the peptides were evenly distributed. SLI and NPYLI levels were significantly correlated in the striatum, supporting a colocalization of the two neuropeptides in striatal neurons. Concentrations were low in the globus pallidus. Limbic system nuclei including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and substantia innominata had relatively high concentrations of both SLI and NPYLI. In several subcortical regions concentrations of the neuropeptides were dissociated, suggesting separate neuronal populations. The distribution of both neuropeptides in monkey brain closely resembles that in human brain. The high levels in cerebral cortex and basal ganglia suggest that somatostatin and neuropeptide Y may play a role both in cognition and in normal motor function.
Building Community One Relationship at a Time: Consequences for the Seeking and Acceptance of Help

Three studies test the hypothesis that a perceived relationship is relevant to seeking and accepting help. The results first indicate a direct effect for a perceived relationship on the extent to which people are willing to seek and accept help. The findings further indicate that perceiving a relationship increases the importance of procedural justice judgments in shaping the decision to seek and accept help. This was true both in vertical relations (e.g., student–professor, resident–police officer) and in horizontal ones (e.g., student–student). The research extends prior findings showing that common group membership increases the influence of procedural justice judgments on whether people cooperate with fellow group members. The results show a parallel with the effects of a perceived relationship, suggesting a comparability between “relational” and “collective” levels of identity.
Sequential egg mass sampling plans for gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) management in urban and suburban habitats

Sequential sampling plans for gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), management programs in urban and suburban habitats were developed from 0.01-ha fixed-radius plot samples collected in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties in Virginia. Urban and suburban habitats are defined as areas with a housing density ranging from 0.247 houses per hectare to 12.35 houses per hectare. The sampling plans were developed from Wald’s sequential probability ratio test and are based on a negative binomial distribution. Operating characteristic and average sample number curves were calculated for a range of k (index of aggregation) values and used to determine the acceptability of the sampling plans. Three sampling plans were developed for the action thresholds of 618, 1,236, and 2,471 egg masses per hectare based on a k value of 0.527. Validation of the sampling plans resulted in the same treatment decisions as using a much higher set number of samples in 90-100% of the areas and a savings in samples of 31-49% of the areas.
Early stages of bordered pit formation in radiata pine

The development of bordered pit sites in the cambium of Pinus radiata D. Don was studied using light and electron microscopy. No primary pit fields occur in the fusiform initials and no plasmodesmatal connections were seen in radial walls of undifferentiated cambial cells or differentiating tracheids. Thin areas bounded by a thick rim appear in the radial walls of these cells once enlargement is under way. They appear to result from a redistribution of wall material which, it is suggested, is brought about by some agent which penetrates the primary wall. The thin areas, which are the sites of bordered pits, are common to the cells joined by the affected wall, and the rim which protrudes symmetrically into each cell provides a template on which the border is subsequently formed. This mechanism would explain how symmetrical pit pairs can be formed in the absence of plasmodesmata.
Ex utero intrapartum treatment with placement on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for fetal thoracic masses

Abstract Purpose We describe our experience with fetuses diagnosed with life-threatening chest masses who were delivered by ex utero intrapartum treatment with placement on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EXIT-to-ECMO). Methods The first fetus presented with a cystic mediastinal mass and enlarging echogenic lungs. Bronchoscopic evaluation during ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) revealed complete airway obstruction secondary to a carinal bronchogenic cyst. The second fetus presented with a massive left congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation. The EXIT procedure was performed because of significant mediastinal shift, severe compression of the normal lung parenchyma, and signs of fetal distress. Results In both cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated while on placental support. The fetuses were then delivered, and a definitive resection of their thoracic lesions was successfully performed. There were no major perioperative complications. Both children made expedient recoveries without significant cardiopulmonary sequelae. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the successful use of EXIT-to-ECMO as a bridge to definitive resection of large chest masses diagnosed in utero. EXIT-to-ECMO is a novel and effective management strategy for stabilizing patients with profound respiratory compromise secondary to congenital thoracic lesions.
Current problems in anti-parasite chemotherapy

Abstract Parasitic diseases are the most serious problems of today in human health. However, recent progress in biochemical research has led to a better understanding of drug action and a few successful and rational approaches to anti-parasite chemotherapy.
Computed tomography in the diagnosis and management of abdominal abscesses

Computed tomography (CT) is effective in demonstrating abdominal abscesses and their relation to surrounding structures. The CT signs of abscess are not unlike those demonstrable radiographically and include an abnormal mass, obliteration and displacement of surrounding organs, inappropriate gas, and peripheral enhancement after intravenous contrast. Axial imaging permits selection of safe approaches through which percutaneous needle aspiration can be performed for diagnosis and therapy. When techniques similar to those employed in angiography are used, a catheter can be inserted, the abscess evacuated, and the catheter left in place as a drain. Combined with intravenous antibiotics, this method of abscess drainage has been successful in curing abscesses without surgery. Representative examples are shown.
Serum parathyroid hormone and blood minerals: interrelationships in normal children.

Extract: Simultaneous measurements of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in serum were performed in 120 normal subjects who ranged from 6 months to 20 years of age. When plotted as a function of age, these extracellular indices of calcium homeostasis showed changes throughout the growth period and differences in their interrelationships in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Mean serum concentration of minerals was highest during early childhood and decreased parallel to decreases in iPTH and alkaline phosphatase. Between the ages of 6 and 12 years, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus tended to plateau, iPTH was lower, and alkaline phosphatase increased. During adolescence, calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase decreased to adult values, magnesium showed no change, and iPTH increased to adult values. Plasma ionized calcium, which was higher in middle childhood (mean, 4.59 mg/100 ml) than at ages 12 to 20 years (mean, 4.33 mg/100 ml), showed the expected negative correlation with iPTH (P < 0.005). Total serum calcium did not correlate with iPTH; however, the pattern of decrease of serum calcium with age was similar to growth velocity curves, especially in girls, in whom mean serum calcium was higher (9.93 mg/100 ml) between 8 and 16 years than in boys (9.75 mg/100 ml). Speculation: Parathyroid hormone is important in maintaining the concentration of plasma ionized calcium in normal children, but the regulation of total serum calcium is different from that in adults. The total serum calcium or factors regulating it may have a direct or indirect influence on the growth process.
The perturbation of electron beam dose distributions at medium interfaces

The perturbation of electron beam dose distributions in the vicinity of medium interfaces is calculated. Two different solutions to the Boltzmann equation, one an energy averaged solution and the other a diffusion approximation solution, are presented for the calculation of the electron distribution in the vicinity of interfaces. An extension of the energy averaged formalism is presented for media with high atomic number. A new effective depth approximation is introduced to calculate the beam conditions beneath the interface. The transformation from electron distribution to dose distribution is made and dose calculations are compared with published electron beam dose measurements.
Differentiation of Aflatoxigenic and Non-Aflatoxigenic Strains of Aspergilli by FT-IR Spectroscopy:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a well-established and widely accepted methodology to identify and differentiate diverse microbial species. In this study, FT-IR was used to differentiate 20 strains of ubiquitous and agronomically important phytopathogens of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. By analyzing their spectral profiles via principal component and cluster analysis, differentiation was achieved between the aflatoxin-producing and nonproducing strains of both fungal species. This study thus indicates that FT-IR coupled to multivariate statistics can rapidly differentiate strains of Aspergilli based on their toxigenicity.
Pathways From Middle School to College: Examining the Impact of an Urban, Precollege Preparation Program

This study is based on a 2-year evaluation of the Pathways Partnership, a precollege preparation program involving one school district, multiple colleges and universities, and several major businesses in a Midwestern metropolitan area. The week-long summer program cultivates youth leadership and the exploration of higher education through various student activities. The program also involves parents in an orientation at the beginning of the week and a graduation ceremony at its culmination, and it sponsors workshops on college choice and access for teachers in the district throughout the academic year. Through quantitative and qualitative methods we conclude that a program like Pathways has a positive effect on the academic self-efficacy and college aspirations of urban youth. Factors useful in predicting the likelihood with which urban middle school students hold postsecondary aspirations include peer norms, parental involvement, and academic self-efficacy. Our study contributes to the need for systemati...
Child language with mother and with stranger at home and in the laboratory: a methodological study.

This methodological study in 33 two-year-olds shows that child speech (total utterances, word roots, MLU) occurs at about the same level in different settings (the familiar home vs. the unfamiliar laboratory), but that children speak more and in more differentiated ways with different people (mother vs. stranger). Child speech also shows significant short- term stability. Girls use more different word roots and speak in longer utterances than do boys. In spontaneous child speech, cross-context generalizations appear warranted, but they also depend on conversational partner and gender of child.
Nonlinear Mie scattering: electrostrictive coupling of light to droplet acoustic modes.

Nonlinear Mie scattering at 532 nm was observed from 23-μm-diameter ethanol droplets excited by picosecond light pulses. Low-order optical modes (l = 2–4), normally hidden at low intensity, became visible as new peaks in elastic scattering spectra at 2 GW/cm2. When higher-Q resonances were selectively excited, the scattered light showed an amplitude-modulated time dependence. The data are explained by electrostrictive generation of acoustic modes of the droplet by the incident radiation and subsequent coupling of the acoustic disturbance back onto the light field.
Radiation Therapy Alters Tumor Cell Phenotypes and Enhances the Immune Response

anecdotal data suggest an interaction between checkpoint blockade and radiation therapy (RT). Using a murine model of melanoma, we tested the hypothesis that RT alters immune checkpoint ligand expression on tumor cells, and modulates immune checkpoint expression on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Materials/Methods: The B16 melanoma cell line was maintained in DMEM + 10% FBS. Two times 10 B16 cells were injected SQ into C57BL/6 mice. Tumors were treated to 10 Gy x 1 using a small animal irradiator (SARRP). In some studies mice were treated with PD-1 antibody blockade (10 mg/kg). Tumors were harvested following treatment and TIL were isolated for flow cytometry. Results: Splenic and tumor-draining lymph node lymphocytes did not express PD-1, TIM-3, or LAG-3; however, TIL upregulated PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3 (p< 0.05). RT resulted in an obvious increase in CD8 TIL (p< 0.05); in addition, RT increased the proportion of CD8 TIL expressing TNF-a and IFN-g (p < 0.05), consistent with activation. However, a high proportion (50-80%) of TIL continued to express the negative regulatory checkpoint proteins PD-1 and TIM-3. Interestingly, LAG-3 expression was significantly decreased post-RT (p Z 0.05). B16 melanoma expressed the checkpoint ligand PD-L1, and RT (in vitro) further increased expression 24-48 hr post-RT (p < 0.05). When mice received PD-1 blockade, RT, or combined therapy, significant tumor growth inhibition occurred: PD-1 blockade 45 16%; RT 33 6%; combined therapy 22 5% (p < 0.05). PD-1 blockade as single-therapy failed to significantly increase tumor infiltration of lymphocytes, whereas combined PD-1 blockade with RT resulted in increased TIL compared to PD-1 blockade or no treatment (p < 0.05). However, with combined therapy, TIL expressed TIM-3 and PD-1 in high frequency (30-60%), and LAG-3 to a lesser extent (10%). Conclusions: RT-mediated lymphocyte migration to the tumor microenvironment resulted in upregulation of the negative regulatory checkpoint molecules PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3. RT + PD-1 blockade increased TIL, but with continued expression of negative checkpoints. Additionally, RT upregulated PD-L1 on tumor cells. These data provide a rationale for combining RT with the blockade of multiple checkpoints simultaneously, especially PD-1/PD-L1. Author Disclosure: T.J. Harris: None. C. Jackson: None. N. Gandhi: None. P. Tran: None. C.G. Drake: G. Consultant; Bristol-Myers Squibb in the past.
Anterior cruciate ligament graft fixation

ACL reconstruction, when performed correctly, has become a reliable, reproducible surgical technique with a predictable outcome. Successful results can be achieved via anatomic reconstruction with rigid fixation of a strong graft. Fixation techniques continue to evolve, with biologic fixation of graft constructs gaining popularity over the past several years. The choice of fixation should be one that provides a firm construct where accelerated rehabilitation can be achieved on all isolated primary ACL reconstructions. The results should be reproducible and, most important, the surgeon should be comfortable and confident with the fixation device. Prior to selecting a particular fixation device, the surgeon should not only be aware of any potential problems noted on biomechanical testing but also have familiarity with the proper use of the device and any clinical follow-up studies in the literature.
Abstract 2396: Widespread occurrence of extrachromosomal microDNAs in normal and cancerous vertebrate tissues and cell lines

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA MicroDNAs are small (<400 base pairs in length) single- or double-stranded extrachromosomal circular DNAs that are derived by excision from tens of thousands of sites within the mammalian genome. Thus far, microDNAs have been detected in several mouse tissues, mouse and human cell lines, and both normal and malignant cells. Here, we examine the properties of microDNAs across ten tissue types (brain, heart, lung, liver, thymus, spleen, kidney, skeletal muscle, testis and sperm) from normal adult mice, chicken cell lines and human cancer cell lines. We observed microDNAs in all tissue types, originating from thousands of unique genomic loci. As was previously described, these microDNAs are small circles (100 to 400 base pairs), possess a high GC content and are enriched in genic regions. Hot spots of microDNA generation were noted across all tissue types and correlate with high gene density and GC content. Previously, we suggested that the release of microDNAs leaves behind microdeletions within the source genomic loci, resulting in somatically mosaic cells. Our results confirm this possibility by demonstrating that microDNAs are universally present across cell and tissue types in vertebrates. Interestingly, we found altered distribution patterns in the human cancer cell lines. In addition, short (2-15 bp) direct repeats that usually flank the genomic loci yielding microDNAs lead us to hypothesize that DNA damage repair pathways may be involved in microDNA generation. A survey of microDNAs in cell lines defective in proteins required for many DNA repair pathways revealed that the homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining pathways are dispensable for microDNA formation. However, deletion of two proteins, MSH3 and AID, resulted in a significant increase of microDNA originating from CpG islands. These observations combined with those in the cancer cell lines suggest that perturbation of normal cellular processes can alter the generation of microDNA. Citation Format: Laura Dillon, Pankaj Kumar, Yoshiyuki Shibata, Anindya Dutta. Widespread occurrence of extrachromosomal microDNAs in normal and cancerous vertebrate tissues and cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2396. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2396
Predicting success for new flavors with information known pre-launch: A flavored snack food case study

Abstract Success in the marketplace is the goal of every product launch. Knowing what data to collect before launching a product that could predict success would be valuable to companies. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether success of new line extensions for a multi-flavored snack product available internationally could be predicted from information available before launch. Staff from 15 countries completed a questionnaire for each product and included questions related to authenticity, familiarity, and capturing current trends, packaging and market place issues such as product competition and pricing. Using 63 flavors, a discriminant function correctly identified 75.8% successful products as successful and 66.7% unsuccessful products as unsuccessful. Stepwise comparison determined the variables necessary to correctly categorize the snack products: being a trendy flavor, new to the category, based off foods from restaurants or traditional foods. These variables assisted in predicting in market success for this product category.
I Can Trust You Now … But Not Later: An Explanation of Testimonial Knowledge in Children

Children learn and come to know things about the world at a very young age through the testimony of their caregivers. The challenge comes in explaining how children acquire such knowledge. Since children indiscriminately receive testimony, their testimony-based beliefs seem unreliable, and, consequently, should fail to qualify as knowledge. In this paper I discuss some attempted explanations by Sandy Goldberg and John Greco and argue that they fail. I go on to suggest that what generates the problem is a hidden assumption that the standards for testimonial knowledge are invariant between children and cognitively mature adults. I propose that in order to adequately explain how children acquire testimonial knowledge we should reject this hidden assumption. I then argue that understanding knowledge in terms of intellectual skills gives us a plausible framework to do so.
EUS/EUS-FNA for suspected pancreatic cancer: influence of chronic pancreatitis and clinical presentation with or without obstructive jaundice on performance characteristics.

Background The clinical utility of EUS-FNA is debated in patients with obstructive jaundice (ObJ) because of a very high pretest probability of pancreatobiliary malignancy (PBM) and biliary stent-induced inflammation that can potentially confound EUS-FNA diagnosis. EUS-FNA also has lower accuracy in patients with underlying chronic pancreatitis (CP). Objective Our purpose was to determine the clinical value of EUS-FNA for PBM diagnosis based on clinical presentation and presence of CP. Design Retrospective analysis of prospective database. Setting University hospital. Patients Patients who underwent EUS-FNA from 2002 to 2006 for suspected PBM based on (1) ObJ with biliary stricture or a mass lesion or (2) abnormal pancreatic imaging by CT/MRI: a focal pancreatic "mass" lesion; dilated pancreatic duct ± common bile duct; or an enlarged head of pancreas. Interventions EUS was performed with a radial echoendoscope followed by a linear echoendoscope if a focal pancreatic lesion was identified. Fine-needle aspirates were assessed immediately by an attending cytopathologist. Main outcome measurements (1) Prevalence of cancer and (2) performance characteristics of EUS-FNA. Results PBM was diagnosed in 73.9% of patients with ObJ and biliary stricture or pancreatic mass, in 49.6% of patients with pancreatic mass, and in 7.0% of patients with an enlarged head of pancreas or dilated pancreatic duct ± common bile duct. The prevalence of PBM was lower in all 3 presentations with associated CP. Both CP and presentation with ObJ lowered performance characteristics of EUS-FNA, but CP did so only in the subset of patients with ObJ. All except 1 false-negative diagnoses were due to cytologic misinterpretation. Limitation Retrospective design. Conclusion Among patients with suspected PBM, the accuracy of EUS-FNA is significantly lower only in a subset of patients with ObJ with underlying CP, largely as a result of difficulty in cytologic interpretation.
Comparative study of behavioral methods of treating severe self‐injury

Nine retarded or autistic persons exhibiting very serious self-injury were treated with several types of reinforcement procedures in a comparative study. During the baseline level of instructional prompting, self-injury occurred during 55% of the observation intervals, 57% during social extinction, 34% during differential reinforcement for non-self-injury (DRO), 28% during differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI), 25% during response interruption, and 6% during combined DRI-Interruption. Extended application of the DRI-Interruption procedure in the ward and class situations showed a mean level of 12% self-injury on the first day and 0–10% each month for durations up to 48 months while performed by the regular institutional staff. The DRI-Interruption procedure was more effective than the alternatives for most subjects and within 4% of the next most effective procedure for the others. The DRI-Interruption procedure offers a training method that is fairly rapid, applicable to diverse and severe cases, substantial in the degree of benefit, enduring in effectiveness under extended maintenance, and more effective than the alternatives considered here. Its principal disadvantages appear to be the greater training time required as compared with physical punishment and the extensive manual contact required by the interruption component.
Ion beam analysis applied to new and innovative technologies

Ion beam analysis is used to analyze nickel and cobalt silicides formed in a cavity applicator microwave system with a magnetron power of 1200 W and a frequency of 2.45 GHz. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, four point probe measurements and rump simulation software are used to identify the silicide species present, phases, resistivities and layer thicknesses in samples processed in air, argon and evacuated mediums. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry is also used to confirm that the heating mechanism of the samples in microwaves appears not differ appreciably from that of conventional annealing. Electrical resistivity is used to explain microwave power absorption and demonstrate how to tailor a robust process in which thin film reactions can be attained.
Structural differentiation of microhabitats of sympatricmacaca fascicularis andM. nemestrina in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Macaca nemestrina andM. fascicularis coexist through much of their geographic ranges in Southeast Asia, but locally they segregate into drier hilly terrain and wetter alluvial riverine terrain respectively. SinceM. fascicularis travel arboraally andM. nemestrina, travel terrestrially, structural characteristics of habitats on the two different substrates may explain local segregation of these two species. This paper reports measures comparing habitat structure ofM. fascicularis fascicularis andM. nemestrina nemestrina at the Mentoko site in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Results show that (1) ground cover is thicker; (2) there are fewer gaps in the canopy; and (3) the foliage of the canopy is more dense in habitat occupied by arborealM. f. fascicularis than in habitat occupied byM. n. nemestrina. These differences in habitat structure appear to explain segregation of the two species at the Mentoko. Similar differences in habitat may permit coexistence of the two species throughout their geographical ranges.
Effect of interwall spacing and fluid flow inlet conditions on a corrugated-wall heat exchanger

Abstract Heat transfer, pressure drop, and patterns of fluid flow were determined experimentally for water flowing in a corrugated-wall duct. Consideration was given to the effects of varying the spacing between the corrugated walls and of different fluid flow inlet conditions; the role of the noncorrugated side walls in the evaluation of the heat transfer coefficient was also examined. The increase of the interwall spacinggave rise to a substantial increase in the fully developed Nusselt number (30% for the investigated spacing variation), but the friction factor increased to a greater extent (more than a factor of two). Performance evaluations were carried out for three different constraints-fixed pumping power, fixed pressure drop, and fixed mass flow. For all of these cases, the heat transfer coefficient for the larger interwall spacing was slightly lower than that for the smaller interwall spacing, but the pressure drop was also lower. Fluid inlet configurations were employed which created different degrees of turning of the flow. It was found that the greater the turning, the higher the entrance region heat transfer coefficients.
The Evolution of a College Course through Teacher Educator Action Research

Abstract A significant body of literature has accumulated about teachers' experiences as action researchers. This literature highlights the insights teachers have when they study their own teaching and their students' learning. However, until recently action research has been confined almost exclusively to the school sector. Although teacher educators write extensively about the importance of action research, there have been few descriptions of action research projects conducted by teacher educators and little systematic attention has been paid to the kinds of insights teacher educators have when they study their own practice. This article describes changes in the perspectives and practices of two teacher educators as a result of a series of action research projects conducted over a six-year period. The article demonstrates how action research has helped us question some taken-for-granted assumptions about our purposes and practices and radically revise our teacher education course.
Basic information for microcomputer data base management

Abstract Paper-based information systems are cumbersome and inefficient. The microcomputer is an attractive, affordable, and powerful alternative to traditional paper-based record keeping. This article reviews fundamentals of data base management and microcomputer technology for the surgeon interested in microcomputer-based information systems. (J V ASC S URG 1984;1:585-9.)
Effects of silicate, sulfate, and carbonate on arsenic removal by ferric chloride

Abstract Effects of silicate, sulfate, and carbonate on the removal of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] by coprecipitation with ferric chloride were studied. Silicate significantly decreased As(III) removal when Si concentration was higher than 1 mg/l and the pH was greater than 5. The removal of As(V) was decreased moderately by silicate in 0.04 M KNO3 solution. Addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ to the KNO3 solution reduced the adverse affect of silicate on As(V) removal. In the presence of 10 mg/l Si and at a pH of approximately 6.8, the adsorption capacity of ferric hydroxide for As(V) and As(III) was reduced from 864 and 116 μg/mg to 274 and 23 μg/mg Fe, respectively. Sulfate and carbonate had a negligible effect on the removal of As(III) and As(V). The triple layer model was used with site binding reactions to describe As(III) and As(V) removal by ferric hydroxide in the presence of silicate. The results obtained in the present study suggest that silicate in natural water can significantly decrease the efficiency of As(III) removal by coagulation treatment with ferric chloride.
Supporting the collaboration of special educators and general educators to teach students who struggle with mathematics: An overview of the research

Special education and mathematics teachers are under pressure to respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse range of students in mathematics. One way for them to meet the instructional needs of struggling learners is through collaboration where, ideally, the knowledge one teacher brings can address the gaps of the other. However, the differing perspectives and approaches they bring to the collaborative effort may also impede it. The purpose of this article is to describe a sampling of the recent research within both the mathematics and special education fields. This is done to enable collaborating teachers to create an effective learning environment for students who struggle in mathematics. Fifty recent studies focused on struggling learners in mathematics, were identified, and then analyzed to highlight the similarities and differences between the educational fields. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lifting Induction Theorems

Abstract We show that—in some suitable sense—any induction theorem for the character ring of a finite group can be lifted to an induction theorem for the Green ring. (A precise statement see Theorem A herein.) This provides a uniform proof of important induction theorems, as, for example, the ones of Conlon and Dress. Moreover, we prove an analogue of Brauer's induction theorem for the Green ring (cf. Theorem B herein).
MRI for evaluation of perianal inflammation

We describe the value of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in six distinct clinical settings often encountered in cases of perirectal inflammatory disease. MRI was performed on six patients with known perianal inflammatory disease; the number, anatomic extent, location, and signal intensities of various lesions and their associated complications were assessed. MRI is a noninvasive technique that is useful in the diagnosis and management of perirectal inflammatory disease. In patients with known fistulas, MRI may determine the lesion's anatomic extent, localize unsuspected fistulas, and confirm or exclude the inflammation of the fistulous tract(s). Information obtained by MRI examination may, in turn, be used to determine treatment of patients with perirectal inflammatory lesions and can be a useful adjunct in following results of therapy.