cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Videofluoroscopic swallow studies in unilateral cricopharyngeal dysfunction.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Although the cricopharyngeus muscle is a ring-like structure, unilateral cricopharyngeal dysfunction can produce significant dysphagia. This entity has not been well described in the literature. The aims of the study were to identify the characteristic findings on videofluoroscopic swallow studies in patients with dysphagia secondary to unilateral cricopharyngeal dysfunction, to note the associated vagal nerve injury, and to evaluate patient outcomes following ipsilateral cricopharyngeal myotomy. Study Design: Retrospective clinical investigation. Methods: The clinic charts, electromyographic tests, videostroboscopic examinations, and videofluoroscopic swallow studies were reviewed from a series of patients who presented to our institution from 1993 to 2001 with dysphagia and findings on videofluoroscopic swallow studies suggestive of unilateral cricopharyngeal dysfunction on posterior-anterior view. In patients treated with ipsilateral cricopharyngeal myotomy, postoperative findings on swallow studies and patient outcomes were also reviewed. Results: Eighteen patients demonstrated findings characteristic of unilateral cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction on videofluoroscopic swallow study. The common feature was a unilateral shelf-like barrier at the cricopharyngeus on the posterior-anterior view with pooling of liquid bolus in the ipsilateral pyriform sinus and episodic shunting to the contralateral side. Eight patients did not have evidence of cricopharyngeal dysfunction (ie, cricopharyngeal bar) on lateral films. Of the 18 patients, 14 had histories consistent with vagal injury secondary to trauma (n = 2), neoplastic involvement (n = 7), iatrogenic injury (n = 2), or central nervous system disease (n = 3). Results of videostroboscopic examinations demonstrated vocal fold motion impairment in 14 patients, and electromyographic test results confirmed unilateral vagal injuries in those who underwent electromyographic testing (n = 6). In the remaining 4 of 18 patients, videostroboscopic examinations demonstrated normal vocal fold abduction but impaired lengthening with a posterior glottic gap, and electromyographic test results (n = 4) indicated unilateral superior laryngeal nerve involvement. Of the 15 patients treated with ipsilateral cricopharyngeal myotomy, 1 patient required postoperative esophageal dilations for an esophageal stricture distal to the cricopharyngeus, whereas the remaining 14 patients had functional resolution of their dysphagia. Conclusion: In patients presenting with dysphagia and evidence of unilateral vagal injury, careful assessment of posterior-anterior view on videofluoroscopic swallow study should be included to evaluate for unilateral cricopharyngeal dysfunction.
What Determines Corporate Financial Performance

Major U.S. manufacturing firms earn vastly different levels of profitability. A broad range of profit performance occurs annually and average profits change over time. For example, in 1980 75 Fortune 500 firms earned more than 20 percent return-on-equity (ROE), but 29 firms earned less than 5 percent, and 31 made losses.1 The other firms earned intermediate levels of profitability (see Table 1.1). More than a decade later in 1991, the profit distribution was skewed toward overall lower profitability. Sixty-two firms earned an ROE greater than 20 percent, but 59 firms earned less than 5 percent, and a whopping 153 made losses. (Just two years later, the distribution was similar at higher ROE levels, but fewer firms made losses.) Furthermore, the cast of firms changed considerably; only 271 of the Fortune 500 of 1981 were members of the Fortune 500 in 1992,266 in 1994.2
A new genus of small Minnow Mayflies (Insecta : Ephemeroptera : Baetidae) with six new species from New Guinea and New Britain

Papuanatula, n. gen. (Ephemeroptera : Baetidae), is described from New Guinea and New Britain and based on both larvae and adults. Larvae of Papuanatula are distinguished by having basally narrow and distally broad antennal scapes ; glossae shorter than paraglossae ; segment 3 of labial palps more convex laterally than medially ; ventral long, somewhat robust, simple seta subdistally on tarsi ; gills on abdominal segments 2-7 ; reduced medial caudal filament ; and absence of hindwingpads. Adults have double marginal intercalaries in the forewings, lack hindwings, and males possess a sclerotized process between the genital forceps. Five new species are described from New Guinea [P. bessa n. sp., P. copis n. sp., P. lenos n. sp., P. plana n. sp., and P. tuber, n. sp. (type species)] and one new species named from New Britain (P. vaisisi n. sp.). An identification key to the larvae of the six new species is included.
Multiscale Habitat Use and Selection in Cooperatively Breeding Micronesian Kingfishers

Abstract Information about the interaction between behavior and landscape resources is key to directing conservation management for endangered species. We studied multi-scale occurrence, habitat use, and selection in a cooperatively breeding population of Micronesian kingfishers (Todiramphus cinnamominus) on the island of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. At the landscape level, point-transect surveys resulted in kingfisher detection frequencies that were higher than those reported in 1994, although they remained 15–40% lower than 1983 indices. Integration of spatially explicit vegetation information with survey results indicated that kingfisher detections were positively associated with the amount of wet forest and grass–urban vegetative cover, and they were negatively associated with agricultural forest, secondary vegetation, and upland forest cover types. We used radiotelemetry and remote sensing to evaluate habitat use by individual kingfishers at the home-range scale. A comparison of habitats ...
Psychosocial Influences on Suboptimal Adjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment Adherence Among African American Women: Implications for Education and Intervention

Despite lower incidence, African American women are at increased risk of dying from breast cancer relative to their European American counterparts. Although there are key differences in both screening behavior and tumor characteristics, an additional part of this mortality difference may lie in the fact that African American women receive suboptimal adjuvant chemotherapy and may receive suboptimal hormonal therapy, therapies that are known to increase survival. The authors consider ethnic differences in the psychosocial factors that have been shown to relate to poor screening adherence and consider how they may influence adherence to breast cancer adjuvant treatment, thus the receipt of suboptimal adjuvant chemo or hormonal therapy. To this end, they review ethnic differences in cognitive, emotional, and social network variables. Psychosocial variables should be included in research designed to understand cancer disparities as well interventions that can be tailored to culturally diverse populations to improve treatment adherence.
Potential negative obstacle detection by occlusion labeling

In this paper, we present an approach for potential negative obstacle detection, based on missing data interpretation that extends traditional techniques driven by data only, which capture the occupancy of the scene. The approach is decomposed into three steps: three-dimensional (3D) data accumulation and low level classification, 3D occluder propagation, and context-based occlusion labeling. The approach is validated using logged laser data collected in various outdoor natural terrains and also demonstrated live on-board the Demo-III experimental unmanned vehicle (XUV).
Practice variation in respiratory therapy documentation during mechanical ventilation.

Study objectives: Implementation of new ventilatory strategies such as lung-protective ventilation for ARDS will require a multidisciplinary approach with considerable physician and respiratory therapy (RT) interaction. One of the key factors in this communication is complete and accurate RT documentation of ventilator settings. Few studies have explored the quality and variability of this documentation. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting: Seventeen adult hospitals in King County, WA. Participants/interventions: We compared the blank RT ICU flow sheet for each institution to the 1992 American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for patient-ventilator system checks. We interviewed RT managers at each hospital about their practices. Finally, we reviewed selected charts of patients with acute lung injury (ALI) or ARDS from each hospital to evaluate the documentation. Measurements/results: We found substantial variability in RT documentation practices and in their extent of compliance with the AARC CPGs. Only 15 of 52 items recommended by the AARC CPGs were included on blank RT flow sheets of every hospital in our study, and only 26 of 52 items were found on charts of ALI/ARDS patients at most hospitals (ie, > 10 of 17 hospitals). Only 10 of 17 RT department managers reported using the AARC CPGs as a basis for their documentation policies. Items necessary for the implementation of lung-protective ventilation for ALI/ARDS patients were recorded inconsistently and were not included in the AARC CPGs. Plateau pressure was found on all reviewed charts of ALI/ARDS patients at only 10 of 17 hospitals. Conclusions: Considerable variability exists in RT documentation practices. We suggest that new guidelines be developed for documenting the care of patients receiving mechanical ventilation, in light of recent data on ventilator weaning and the management of ALI/ARDS, and that their effect on practice and outcomes be evaluated. (CHEST 2003; 124:2275–2282)
A new criterion for blind deconvolution of colored input signals

In this paper, a new criterion with memory nonlinearity is introduced for blind deconvolution problems when the input signals are colored. The basic idea is to make use of the autocorrelation of the input sequence as the only statistical knowledge about the data. An adaptive weight algorithm is presented and tested with simulation examples of signals of known autocorrelation function. It is shown that the optimum memory size is directly related to the significant values of the autocorrelation function, and that the new algorithm converges faster than the Godard algorithm. >
Rate heterogeneity in shell character evolution among lophospiroid gastropods

Abstract Hypotheses about constraints, selection, and other evolutionary processes often predict different rates of change among different characters. For example, it is thought that gross soft anatomical characters change less frequently than do general shell characters. However, some shell characters on primitive gastropods, such as the sinus and selenizone, are thought to be linked to soft anatomy. If both premises are true, then selenizone/sinus characters should change less frequently than other characters. Workers also have documented active trends among gastropod shell characters. One explanation is a driven trend, where the rate of change in one direction (i.e., gain or loss, increase or decrease) is greater than the rate of change in the opposite direction. Hypotheses about relative rates and biased change are tested here for lophospiroid gastropods. Likelihood analyses test whether hypotheses positing many different rates predict data significantly better than do hypotheses positing few rates. O...
Displacement, Flexibility, and Mixed Beam – Column Finite Element Formulations for Distributed Plasticity Analysis

This paper presents several beam–column finite element formulations for full nonlinear distributed plasticity analysis of planar frame structures. The fundamental steps within the derivation of displacement-based, flexibility-based, and mixed elements are summarized. These formulations are presented using a total Lagrangian corotational approach. In this context, the element displacements are separated into rigid-body and deformational (or natural) degrees of freedom. The element rigid-body motion is handled separately within the mapping from the corotational to global element frames. This paper focuses on the similarities and differences in the element formulations associated with the element natural degrees of freedom within the corotational frame. The paper focuses specifically on two-dimensional elements based on Euler–Bernoulli kinematics; however, the concepts are also applicable to general beam–column elements for three-dimensional analysis. The equations for the consistent tangent stiffness matric...
p16 Expression As a Predictive Biomarker of Hypoxic Cell–Sensitizing Agents in Oropharyngeal Cancer

tamoxifen-resistant breast carcinomas by gene expression profiling. J Clin Oncol 23:732-740, 2005 11. Yu J, Yu J, Cordero KE, et al: A transcriptional fingerprint of estrogen in human breast cancer predicts patient survival. Neoplasia 10:79-88, 2008 12. Oh DS, Troester MA, Usary J, et al: Estrogen-regulated genes predict survival in hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. J Clin Oncol 24:1656-1664, 2006 13. Loi S, Haibe-Kains B, Desmedt C, et al: Predicting prognosis using molecular profiling in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treated with tamoxifen. BMC Genomics 9:239, 2008 14. McGuire WL: Breast cancer prognostic factors: Evaluation guidelines. J Natl Cancer Inst 83:154-155, 1991
Perinatal Nurse Practitioners Health Care Reform

Health care delivery for pregnant women at high risk is changing in response to the nation's need to contain costs and improve care. Perinatal nurse practitioners can provide specialized care to women at high risk in a wide variety of settings. They provide quality, cost-effective care and can improve access to prenatal care for families at risk for untoward pregnancy outcomes.
Inhibition modifies the effects of slow calcium-activated potassium channels on epileptiform activity in a neuronal network model.

Generation of epileptiform activity typically results from a change in the balance between network excitation and inhibition. Experimental evidence indicates that alterations of either synaptic activity or intrinsic membrane properties can produce increased network excitation. The slow Ca2+-activated K+ currents (sIAHP) are important modulators of neuronal firing rate and excitability and have important established and potential roles in epileptogenesis. While the effects of changes in sIAHP on individual neuronal excitability are readily studied and well established, the effects of such changes on network behavior are less well known. The experiments here utilize a defined small network model of multicompartment pyramidal cells and an inhibitory interneuron to study the effects of changes in sIAHP on network behavior. The benefits of this model system include the ability to observe activity in all cells in a network and the effects of interactions of multiple simultaneous influences. In the model with no inhibitory interneuron, increasing sIAHP results in progressively decreasing burst activity. Adding an inhibitory interneuron changes the observed effects; at modest inhibitory strengths, increasing sIAHP in all network neurons actually results in increased network bursting (except at very high values). The duration of the burst activity is influenced by the length of delay in a feedback loop, with longer loops resulting in more prolonged bursting. These observations illustrate that the study of potential antiepileptogenic membrane effects must be extended to realistic networks. Network inhibition can dramatically alter the observations seen in pure excitatory networks.
Chytridiomycosis in Wild Frogs from Southern Costa Rica

In 1993, the amphibian fauna of Las Tablas, Costa Rica, began to decline, and by 1998 ap- proximately 50% of the species formerly present could no longer be found. Three years later, at the Reserva Forestal Fortuna, in western Panama, a site approximately 75 km east southeast of Las Tablas, KRL encoun- tered a mass die-off of amphibians and a subsequent decline in abundance and species richness. The epi- demiological features of the anuran population declines and die-offs at both sites were similar, suggesting a similar cause. Herein we document the presence of the fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in dead and dying wild frogs collected at Las Tablas just prior to population declines of several anuran species.
Corrosion Protection of Al/Au/ZnO Anode for Hybrid Cell Application

Effective protection of power sources from corrosion is critical in the development of abiotic fuel cells, biofuel cells, hybrid cells and biobateries for implantable bioelectronics. Corrosion of these bioelectronic devices result in device inability to generate bioelectricity. In this paper Al/Au/ZnO was considered as a possible anodic substrate for the development of a hybrid cell. The protective abilities of corrosive resistant aluminum hydroxide and zinc phosphite composite films formed on the surface of Al/Au/ZnO anode in various electrolyte environments were examined by electrochemical methods. The presence of phosphate buffer and physiological saline (NaCl) buffer allows for the formation of aluminum hyrdroxide and zinc phosphite composite films on the surface of the Al/Au/ZnO anode that prevent further corrosion of the anode. The highly protective films formed on the Al/Au/ZnO anode during energy harvesting in a physiological saline environment resulted in 98.5% corrosion protective efficiency, thereby demonstrating that the formation of aluminum hydroxide and zinc phosphite composite films are effective in the prevention of anode corrosion during energy harvesting. A cell assembly consisting of the Al/Au/ZnO anode and platinum cathode resulted in an open circuit voltage of 1.03 V. A maximum power density of 955.3 mW/ cm² in physiological saline buffer at a cell voltage and current density of 345 mV and 2.89 mA/ cm², respectively.
Dialectical behavior therapy and domains of functioning over two years

Individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) tend to have a significant degree of functional impairment across a range of social and occupational spheres including difficulty finding and maintaining satisfying employment, housing, or relationships. Understanding what factors are associated with functional impairment will enable treatment providers to move those diagnosed with BPD beyond symptomatic recovery and toward a life worth living. This paper investigated the trajectories and predictors of functional outcomes for suicidal women with BPD (N = 99) during a treatment outcome study of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Results revealed that participants had statistical and clinical improvements in functioning. Individuals with high emotion dysregulation displayed poorer psychosocial functioning at the subsequent assessment period and slower rates of change, which was also seen in reverse for one psychosocial functioning variable. Skills use was not related to individual trajectories in functioning. This study highlights the relationship of emotion dysregulation to functioning within a sample of suicidal women with BPD as well as the importance researching multiple domains in functioning.
Nano-ceria pre-infiltration improves La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3−x infiltrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell cathode performance

Abstract Here, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermo-gravimetric analysis experiments show that the pre-infiltration of Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 1.95 (GDC) nano-particles reduces the average size of La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.8 Fe 0.2 O 3−x (LSCF) produced from the subsequent infiltration of precursor nitrate solutions containing the surfactant Triton X-100 or the chelating agent citric acid. In contrast, GDC pre-infiltration has no effect on the average size of LSCF particles produced from precursor solutions containing only lanthanum, strontium, cobalt, and iron nitrate. Consistent with the observed particle size trends, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements show that GDC pre-infiltration improves the performance of Triton X-100 Derived (TXD) LSCF–GDC cathodes and Citric Acid Derived (CAD) LSCF–GDC cathodes, but has no effect on the performance of Pure Nitrate Derived (PND) LSCF–GDC cathodes. In particular, TXD LSCF–GDC cathodes with more than ∼5 vol% of GDC pre-infiltration display average LSCF particle sizes of 21 nm and open-circuit polarization resistance values of 0.10 Ωcm 2 at 540 °C, compared to 48 nm and 640 °C without GDC pre-infiltration. Results suggest that this 100 °C reduction in cathode operating temperature is caused solely by LSCF particle size reductions. 7.4 vol% GDC pre-infiltrated TXD LSCF–GDC cathodes also display lower 540 °C degradation rates than conventionally infiltrated PND LSCF–GDC cathodes.
The Challenge of Heterogeneity and Complexity in Dual Diagnosis

Several articles in this issue examine the complexity and heterogeneity of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. One ubiquitous problem in the field is that these patients typica...
Chapter 14 – Surface and Solution Speciation of AgI in a Heterogeneous Ferrihydrite-Solution System with Thiosulfate

The presence of thiosulfate modifies the adsorptive characteristics of Ag(I) on ferrihydrite through the formation of a ternary surface complex which adsorbs in a ligand-like manner, directly overmapping the adsorption edge profile of thiosulfate itself. Experimental data are modeled using the Triple Layer Surface Complexation Model implemented in the code HYDRAQL. Modeling evaluated several alternative reaction stoichiometries for both inner sphere and outer sphere surface complexes, taken singly and two at a time. Modeling results suggest AgS{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup -} is bound as an inner sphere ternary complex at low pH, overlapping the monodentate Ag(I) outer sphere surface complex which increases in a metal-like manner with increasing pH. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of the ternary inner-sphere surface complex based on a condensation reaction leading to the transition from an outer-sphere to an inner sphere ternary surface species. The proposed mechanism is initiated by the approach of the AgS{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup -} species towards the protolyzed surface moiety, and the formation of hydrogen bonds which is enhanced by charge stabilization of the S{sub 2}O{sub 3} molecule by Ag. Coordination of an O atom and subsequent bond formation facilitates H{sub 2}O as a leaving group completing the condensation reaction.
"Spoilsport" in drama in education vs. dialogic pedagogy

In this paper I compare and contrast two educational paradigms that both attempt to overcome alienation often experienced by students in the conventional education. These two educational paradigms are embodied in different educational practices: First, Drama in Education in its widest definition, is based on the Vygotskian views that human cognitive, semantic (meaning-making), and social-emotional development happens in or through play and/or imagination, thus within the imagined worlds. Second, Critical Ontological Dialogic Pedagogy, is based in the Bakhtin inspired approach to critical dialogue among the “consciousnesses of equal rights” (Bakhtin, 1999), where education is assumed to be a practice of examination of the world, the others and the self. I reveal implicit and explicit conceptual similarities and differences between these two educational paradigms regarding their understanding the nature of learning; social values that they promote; the group dynamics, social relationships and the position of learners’ subjectivity. I aim to uncover the role and legitimacy of the learners’ disagreement with the positions of others, their dissensus with the educational events and settings, and the relationships of power within the social organization of educational communities in these two diverse educational approaches. I explore the legitimacy of dissensus in these two educational approaches regarding both the participants’ critical examination of the curriculum, and in regard to promoting the participants’ agency and its transformations. In spite of important similarities between the educational practices arranged by these two paradigms, the analysis of their differences points to the paradigmatically opposing views on human development, learning and education. Although both Drama in Education and Dialogic Pedagogy claim to deeply, fully and ontologically engage the learners in the process of education, they do it for different purposes and with diametrically opposite ways of treating the students and their relationship to the world, each other and their own developing selves.
Cost-Effectiveness of Triple Therapy Versus Etanercept Plus Methotrexate in Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of all 4 interventions in the Treatment of Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis (TEAR) clinical trial: immediate triple (IT), immediate etanercept (IE), step-up triple (ST), and step-up etanercept (SE). Step-up interventions started with methotrexate and added either etanercept or sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine to patients with persistent disease activity. Methods We built a Markov cohort model that uses individual-level data from the TEAR trial, published literature, and supplemental clinical data. Costs were in US dollars, benefits in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), perspective was societal, and the time horizon was 5 years. Results The immediate strategies were more efficacious than step-up strategies. SE and IE were more costly than ST and IT, primarily due to treatment cost differences. In addition, IT was the least expensive and most effective strategy when the time horizon was 1 and 2 years. When the time horizon was 5 years, IE was marginally more effective than IT (3.483 versus 3.476 QALYs), but IE was substantially more expensive than IT ($148,800 versus $52,600), producing an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $12.5 million per QALY. These results were robust to both one-way deterministic and joint probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Conclusion IT was highly cost-effective in the majority of scenarios. Although IE was more effective in 5 years, a substantial reduction in the cost of biologic agents was required in order for IE to become cost-effective in early aggressive RA under willingness-to-pay thresholds that most health care settings may find acceptable.
Current approaches in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias

The article has summarized the studies and ongoing trials looking at the significance and treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In most instances, the presence of these arrhythmias is associated with an increased risk of future arrhythmic events. Electrophysiologic studies are helpful in risk stratification in patients with coronary artery disease but can be misleading in the setting of dilated cardiomyopathy and often produce nonspecific results in patients with HCM. The need for an invasive electrophysiologic study is crucial in the diagnosis of certain ventricular arrhythmias that are amenable to cure with radiofrequency catheter ablation, such as idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and BBR-VT. The correct approach for patients with SVT not amenable to catheter ablation remains to be determined. In deciding whether to use a device or drug therapy, however, one should take into consideration the degree of left ventricular dysfunction and the overall health status of the patient. For example, device implantation clearly reduces sudden death in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction but may not change total mortality because these same patients may die of congestive heart failure. Device therapy might be more cost-effective for patients with less severe depression of left ventricular function.
Real competence and conformity in a compound stimuli paired-associate learning situation

Subjects’ choice of stimulus type in a paired-associates learning task was either unanimously opposed by two confederates or was opposed by one and supported by the other. In learning a second list, significantly more Ss switched stimulus types in the unanimous opposition condition. The relationship between real competence and conformity did not reach significance, both when competence was divided at the median S and at the extreme quartiles, although all tests were in the predicted direction. By administering response tests at a subsequent session, it was discovered that the private attitudes of Ss corresponded to their public attitudes.
Estimating Secondary Delay Effects for New York Area Departures

Secondary delay may be defined as the additional waiting time experienced when a flight is behind a flight subject to a departure flow control restriction. For example, given a queue for a departure runway, flight “A” may be the first in line, yet is not immediately cleared for take-off, due to a miles-in-trail or minutes-in-trail restriction. Flights behind A, if unable to pass, must likewise accrue this delay. In recent benefits analyses of a departure management prototype for the New York area, a simple queuing model was employed. Analysts suspected that the results of the model were understating total delay, since secondary delay was not represented. In this paper, we demonstrate that (1) flexibility in arranging queue order, facilitated by airport surface design, impacts delay, and (2) secondary delay is a real phenomenon and can be measured in operational data.
Investigation on cockroach density and its killing method in the hospital

Objective To kill and control cockroaches effectively in hospita1.Methods Controlling cockroaches using integrated management which included insecticides and environmental control measurement.Using cockroaches adhesive killing method.Results There were 133 rooms in the hospital.The density of cockroaches was 2.21 pieces in every room,the invasion rate was 79.69%.After management,the density reduced to 0.10 pieces in every room,the invasion rate was 1.55%.The decline rate of cockroach density was 98.06% after the integrated prevevtion by the combination of surrounding management and chemical pesticide application.Conclusion It is serious of cockroaches in the hospital and integrated management should be taken to control the cockroaches.
Value and method of color Doppler echocardiography in detecting total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Objective:To explore the imaging characteristics of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC) in color Doppler echocardiography(CDE). Methods:Data of CDE in 16 patients with TAPVC confirmed by surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Result:The CDE characteristics were as follows:①the pulmonary veins join to form a confluence channel that drains back to the RA rather than to the LA. ②In the supracardiac form of TAPVC it drains to the left vertical vein, to the innominate vein to the RSVC or drains to the SVC directly. In the intracardiac form of TAPVC it drains to the coronary sinus(CS). In the infracardiac form of TAPVC drains to the descending vertical vein, to the hepatic system. Mixed form of TAPVC occur in which the PV drains to two separate systemic venous sets(left vertical vein and CS). ③Right to left shunt at atrial level. Sixteen cases were accurately diagnosed by CDE imaging with the diagnostic accuracy rate of 100%, connection sites were correctly diagnosed 94%. Conclusion:CDE has important clinical value in detecting TAPVC.
Degradation of 3 kinds of chlorinated phenols by nanoscale Fe~0.

Nanoscale Fe0 particle was prepared adopting chemical reductive method and the reductive action of three kinds of chlorinated phenols(2-CP,3-CP,4-CP)by nanoscale Fe0 under different conditions was studied.Nanoscale Fe0 possessed good removal effect of chlorinated phenols(CPs).The main degrading way was dechlorination first,and then cleavage of benzene ring took place,realizing the electron transfer between chlorinated phenol molecule and iron atoms,reaching the efficiency of reductive dechlorination.The dechlorination degree of 3 kinds of CPs was 2-CP 3-CP4-CP.The dechlorination reaction activity was related with their energy of lowest unoccupied molecular orbit(ELUMO).With the increase of initial concentration of CPs,its relative removal rate decreased a little;but its absolute quantity increased more greatly.Temperature could influence not only the dechlorination rate,but also influence the reaction pathway.Dechlorination was first and then the cleavage of benzene ring at higher temperature;but the oxidation product was formed more easily at lower temperature.
Using Component Trees to Explore Biological Structures

An understanding of the three-dimensional structure of a macromolecular complex is essential to fully understand its function. This chapter introduces the reader to the concept of a component tree, which is a compact representation of the structural properties of a multidimensional image (such as a molecular density map of a biological specimen), and then presents ongoing research on the use of such component trees in interactive tools for exploring biological structures. Component trees capture essential structural information about a biological specimen, irrespective of the process that was used to obtain an image of the specimen and the resolution of that image. We present various scenarios in which component trees can help in the exploration of the structure of a macromolecular complex. In addition, we discuss ideas for a docking methodology that uses component trees.
Abstract 3860: The repurposed anthelmintic mebendazole in combination with trametinib suppresses refractory NRASQ61K melanoma

Structure-based drug repositioning in addition to random chemical screening is now a viable route to rapid drug development. Proteochemometric computational methods coupled with kinase assays showed that MBZ binds and inhibits kinases important in cancer, especially both BRAFWT and BRAFV600E. We find that MBZ synergizes with the MEK inhibitor trametinib to inhibit growth of dabrafenib-resistant BRAFWT-NRASQ61K melanoma cells in culture and in xenografts, and markedly decreased MEK and ERK phosphorylation in vivo. RPPA and immunoblot analyses show that both trametinib and MBZ inhibit the MAPK pathway, and cluster analysis revealed a protein cluster showing strong MBZ+trametinib - inhibited phosphorylation of MEK and ERK within 10 minutes, and its direct and indirect downstream targets related to stress response and translation, including ElK1 and RSKs within 30 minutes. Downstream ERK targets for cell cycle, including cMYC, were downregulated, consistent with S phase suppression by MBZ+trametinib, while apoptosis markers, including cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP and a sub-G1 population, were all increased with time. These data suggest that MBZ, an off-patent approved drug with no major side effects, should be considered as a therapeutic option in combination with trametinib, for patients with NRASQ61mut or other non-V600E BRAF mutant melanomas. Citation Format: Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal, Sivanesan Dakshanamurthy, Anirudh Gaur, You-Shin Chen, Rena Shimizu, Maryam AbdusSumad, Hengbo Zhou, John Zapas, Valerie Calvert, Emaneul F. Petricoin, Michael B. Atkins, Stephen W. Byers, Dean S. Rosenthal. The repurposed anthelmintic mebendazole in combination with trametinib suppresses refractory NRASQ61K melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3860.
A Framework for Synthetic Control Methods With High-Dimensional, Micro-Level Data: Evaluating a Neighborhood-Specific Crime Intervention

ABSTRACTThe synthetic control method is an increasingly popular tool for analysis of program efficacy. Here, it is applied to a neighborhood-specific crime intervention in Roanoke, VA, and several novel contributions are made to the synthetic control toolkit. We examine high-dimensional data at a granular level (the treated area has several cases, a large number of untreated comparison cases, and multiple outcome measures). Calibration is used to develop weights that exactly match the synthetic control to the treated region across several outcomes and time periods. Further, we illustrate the importance of adjusting the estimated effect of treatment for the design effect implicit within the weights. A permutation procedure is proposed wherein countless placebo areas can be constructed, enabling estimation of p-values under a robust set of assumptions. An omnibus statistic is introduced that is used to jointly test for the presence of an intervention effect across multiple outcomes and post-intervention tim...
Abstract WMP104: Pediatric Cortical Vein Thrombosis: Frequency and Association With Venous Infarction

Introduction: Cortical vein thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon site of involvement in cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). Few reports have described pediatric CVT, and none have described its unique features. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic features of a cohort of children with CSVT, comparing those with CVT to those without CVT. Hypothesis: Children with CVT are more likely to experience acute restricted diffusion and chronic venous infarction, as compared to those without CVT. Methods: Children diagnosed with CSVT from 2006 to 2014 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study at a single tertiary care center. Inclusion criteria comprised confirmation of CSVT on acute imaging with MRI/MRV or CTV, and availability of follow-up imaging at subacute and chronic time periods. Patients were separated into two groups: those with CVT (CVT group) and those without (non-CVT group). Patient demographics, clinical presentation, and imaging findings were collected and analyzed using a two-tailed Fisher's exact test. Scans were reviewed for clot location and parenchymal abnormalities. Results: Fifty patients met inclusion criteria, including 12 with CVT. In both groups, children frequently presented with headache and focal neurological deficits. However, the CVT group was more likely to present with seizure (P = 0.0271), altered mental status (P = 0.0271), and a family history of clotting disorder (P = 0.0477). Acute imaging of the CVT group more commonly demonstrated concurrent superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (P = 0.0024) and restricted diffusion (P < 0.0001); and follow-up imaging in the CVT group more commonly showed venous infarction (P = 0.0007). Conclusions: The presence of CVT in our pediatric CSVT cohort was significantly associated with seizures at presentation, venous-territory restricted diffusion on acute imaging, and venous infarction at follow up. While further work is needed to confirm our results, involvement of cortical veins in CSVT appears to be associated with an increased risk of infarction in children.
Kinematics of posterior cruciate ligament-retaining and -sacrificing mobile bearing total knee arthroplasties

Abstract The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-retaining, meniscal bearing and the PCL-sacrificing rotating platform designs of the LCS prosthesis (DePuy, Warsaw, IN) were designed to minimally constrain knee kinematics while minimizing bone-cement-prosthesis interface stresses and polyethylene wear. The kinematics and stability of the knee following arthroplasty with these devices rely on adequate tensioning of the remaining soft tissues by management of the flexion/extension gaps at the time of surgery. In this in vitro study, the knee kinematics and the function of the quadriceps mechanism for 8 cadaveric knees were measured quantitatively before and after implantation of these 2 prosthesis designs. Following implantation of the PCL-retaining, meniscal bearing prosthesis, anterior translations during anterior drawer testing were significantly greater ( P in vitro model. Patients receiving the PCL-sacrificing prosthesis may experience difficulty in those activities requiring quadriceps power near full extension, such as rising from a chair or ascending or descending stairs.
A Study of Global Health Elective Outcomes: A Pediatric Residency Experience

Background and Objectives: To identify the effects of global health electives over a decade in a pediatric residency program. Methods: This was an anonymous email survey of the Boston Combined Residency alumni funded for global health electives from 2002 to 2011. A test for trend in binomial proportions and logistic regression were used to document associations between elective and participant characteristics and the effects of the electives. Qualitative data were also analyzed. Results: Of the 104 alumni with available email addresses, 69 (66%) responded, describing 94 electives. Elective products included 27 curricula developed, 11 conference presentations, and 7 academic publications. Thirty-two (46%) alumni continued global health work. Previous experience, previous travel to the site, number of global electives, and cumulative global elective time were associated with postresidency work in global health or with the underserved. Conclusions: Resident global electives resulted in significant scholarship and teaching and contributed to long-term career trajectories.
Fugitive emissions control total quality management

Environmental problems such as control of emissions have become increasingly important for manufacturers, so that, for Union Carbide, they have been elevated to the centre of the company's policies. This article shows how, through a firm resolve and the application of total quality management, companies can work towards solving these environmental problems.
Conceptual Design and Technical Realization

In this dissertation, culture-related behaviors are integrated into the behavioral models of virtual characters. The conceptual design and technical realization carried out for this purpose are further described in this chapter.
The Scope of Genetic Analyses

This book has its origin in a week-long intensive course on methods of twin data analysis taught on several occasions over the last few years at the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven in Belgium and the Institute for Behavioral Genetics, Boulder, in Colorado. Our principal aim here is to help those interested in the genetic analysis of individual differences to realize that there are more challenging questions than simply “Is trait X genetic?” or “What is the heritability of X?” and that there are more flexible and informative methods than those that have been popular for more than half a century. We shall achieve this goal primarily by considering those analyses of data on twins that can be conducted with the LISREL program. There are two main reasons for this restriction: 1) the basic structure and logic of the twin design is simple and yet can illustrate many of the conceptual and practical issues that need to be addressed in any genetic study of individual differences; 2) the LISREL program is well-documented, commercially available for personal computers and can be used to apply most of the basic ideas we shall discuss. These limitations not withstanding, however, we believe that the material to be presented will open many new horizons to investigators in a wide range of disciplines and provide them with the tools to begin to explore their own data more fruitfully.
Epidemiology and Natural History of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has emerged over the past 2 decades as a major cause of upper gastrointestinal morbidity. Over this time, the epidemiology of EoE has also rapidly evolved. EoE has transformed from a rare case-reportable condition to disease that is commonly encountered in the gastroenterology clinic, hospital emergency room, and endoscopy suite. The incidence and prevalence are increasing at rates that outpace increased disease recognition. Current incidence estimates range from 5 to 10 cases per 100,000, and current prevalence estimates range from 0.5 to 1 case per 1000. We review the data and potential reasons behind this increase, examine risk factors, and identify important areas for research into disease etiology. The article also discusses the progression of EoE from an inflammatory to fibrostenotic phenotype. An accurate view of the natural history of EoE is central to discussions with patients regarding disease prognosis and decisions about long-term use of medical, endoscopic, and diet therapies. Progressive remodelling appears to be gradual, but not universal, and the duration of untreated disease is the best predictor of stricture risk. Ultimately, prospective, long-term outcome studies focusing on multiple aspects of disease activity are needed to fully understand the natural history of EoE.
Abstract A18: Association of anthropometric factors with risk of colorectal neoplasia in the Black Women's Health Study

Evidence for the association of anthropometric factors with colorectal neoplasms is limited for African Americans. Association of 6 anthropometric measures with the risk of both colorectal adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC) in the ongoing Black Women9s Health Study cohort was examined. Using a nested case-control design for the adenoma analyses, 954 cases of colorectal adenoma were compared with 3,816 controls without a colorectal polyp, matched on age and follow-up time. For the CRC analyses, 413 incident CRC cases were identified over a 16-year follow up (802,783 person-years). Cases of adenoma and CRC were verified by medical record review. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses (for adenoma) and Cox proportional hazards analyses (for CRC) that included anthropometric exposures and selected confounders. Among postmenopausal women, risk of adenoma increased by 10% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.22), 11% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.29), and 9% (1.00, 1.19) with 1 standard deviation increase in body mass index, waist circumference, and weight change since age 18 , respectively. Anthropometric factors were not associated with adenoma risk among premenopausal women. None of the anthropometric factors were associated with CRC risk among either pre- or postmenopausal women. Future research should attempt to replicate the modest association of obesity with colon adenoma risk but not CRC risk among postmenopausal African American women. Citation Format: Chiranjeev Dash, Lynn Rosenberg, Jeffrey Yu, Sarah Nomura, Julie Palmer, Lucile L. Adams-Campbell. Association of anthropometric factors with risk of colorectal neoplasia in the Black Women9s Health Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr A18.
Coordinating Distributed Memory: An Environmental Engineer’s Proposal-Writing Process Using a Product Calculator

This case study of an environmental engineer’s proposal-writing process reveals how the engineer (Beatrice) reifies, archives, and accesses her distributed memory across physical and digital source...
Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Est-6 Locus in Drosophila melanogaster

An understanding of the effect of natural selection on a particular locus often depends upon a detailed knowledge of the function of the locus. Indeed, a mechanistic understanding of the biochemical and physiological role(s) of a gene product can reveal complexities which are vital to a full comprehension of the myriad effects of selection. This view is well expressed in the following quotation from Watt (1985, p. 124) which has its origins in a research strategy advocated by Clarke (1975) and Koehn (1978).