cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complications among colorectal cancer survivors: SF-6D preference-weighted quality of life scores.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the United States (excluding skin cancer) and the third leading cause of cancer deaths. About 147,000 new CRC cases were diagnosed in 2008 (1). While surgery is highly effective, it often involves changes to bowel functioning, including loss of control with soiling. This may occur whether the patient has a resection with permanent intestinal stoma (ostomy) or an anastomosis. Many patients refuse or delay colorectal cancer surgery for fear of living with an Ostomy (2, 3), even at the risk of on-going medical problems and cancer progression that will ultimately bring about their demise. An ostomy has pervasive effects on everyday life—wearing an ostomy bag underneath one’s clothing, possibility of repeated skin irritations, difficulties with diet selection and bowel control, as well as reduced social, emotional, sexual and occupational functioning—that combine to reduce overall functioning and quality of life (4–7). Our research has shown that ostomies are associated with substantially poorer HRQOL among CRC survivors (6–8). Despite their importance, economic evaluations of the long-term and late effects of primary cancer surgical procedures among CRC survivors have not been extensively explored. Our primary aim was to examine the determinants of societal preference-weighted HRQOL, as measured by the SF-6D (9–11), among CRC survivors (≥5 years) with and without permanent colostomies. We were particularly focused on whether permanent ostomies had a meaningful effect on SF-6D scores among CRC survivors relative to anastomoses.
A review of the utility of obtaining repeated postoperative radiographs following single-level anterior cervical decompression, fusion, and plate placement.

Object Pseudarthrosis and construct failure following single-level anterior cervical discectomy, fusion, and plate placement (ACDFP) rarely occur. Routine postoperative anteroposterior and lateral radiographs may be an inconvenience to patients and expose them to additional and potentially unnecessary radiation. No standard exists to define when patients should obtain radiographs following an ACDFP. The authors hypothesize that routinely obtaining static anteroposterior and lateral radiographs in patients who recently underwent a single-level ACDFP without new axial neck pain or other neurological complaints or symptoms is unwarranted and does not alter the long-term treatment of the patient. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiographs of patients who underwent a single-level ACDFP between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2005. All patients underwent a single-level ACDFP and had routine cervical radiographs obtained at various intervals after surgery. Results Twenty-one patien...
Homogeneous magnet design using linear programming

We introduce a technique for designing homogeneous magnets using linear programming, We first show that minimum-power homogeneous magnet design can be cast as a linear programming problem. We also show that the method is applicable to minimum conductor mass superconducting magnet design. The method has several advantages over existing techniques including: it allows complete flexibility in arbitrary geometric constraints on both the coil locations and the shape of the homogeneous volume; it guarantees a globally optimal solution; and it offers rapid computation speed (about 30 s). Three resistive magnet design examples and one shielded superconducting magnet design are presented to illustrate the flexibility of the method.
Strain relaxation in InxGa1-xN/GaN quantum well structures

We report on the thickness dependence of strain relaxation in InxGa1-xN/GaN for single and multiple quantum-well structures. For InGaN wells thicker than a certain value gradual relaxation occurs and can be presented by two relaxation mechanisms. The first is related to the relaxation of the InGaN well, and the second to the relaxation of the whole multiple quantum well structure. We have also found that the onset of relaxation of multiple quantum wells depends on the number of quantum wells (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Power‐Assisted Adenoidectomy: Total and Partial Resection

Objective: To describe the surgical technique for power-assisted adenoidectomy and review the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Power-assisted adenoidectomy uses a curved microdebrider shaver blade that conforms to the nasopharynx. The action of the shaver is controlled through visualization using a laryngeal mirror. Power-assisted adenoidectomy is started high in the nasopharynx, with resection beginning in the most superior aspect of the adenoid pad and moving inferiorly to the base of the pad. The cutting edge of the microdebrider remains in view continuously. Results: Between 1998 and 2001, we performed power-assisted adenoidectomy in 677 children and conducted both retrospective and prospective reviews of our experience. No instances of excess intraoperative blood loss (>150 mL), postoperative hemorrhage, velopharyngeal insufficiency, or other complication associated with adenoidectomy have occurred. Conclusion: We have consistently demonstrated that power-assisted adenoidectomy is precise, rapid, and safe.
Potentiation of isoproterenol-induced relaxation of isolated trachea by aminophylline: modulation by desensitization.

~~~~ ~ Abstract. Continued exposure of many P-adrenoceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase systems to high doses of agonist causes diminished responsiveness, a phenomenon called desensitization. After exposure of isolated guinea pig tracheae to a high concentration of isoproterenol for 30 min, relaxation produced by subsequent challenge by a lower concentration was attenuated, as expected. However, potentiation of isoproterenol-induced relaxation by aminophylline was greater after desensitization as compared to that prior to desensitization. This observation was further investigated using a graphical method that allows quantitative and statistical evaluation of com- binations of synergistically acting drugs. Concentration-relaxation curves (CRC) for isoproterenol alone and in the presence of a fixed concentration of aminophylline were determined in isolated rat trachea. A theoretical additive curve was constructed from the data obtained, and the dis- placement of the isoproterenol CRC from the theoretical additive curve caused by aminophylline in tracheae desensitized by 2.5 hr of exposure to 2 X lo-' M isoproterenol (DESN) was compared to that in tracheae equilibrated for a similar period in physiologic salt solution (CON). Desensi- tization had no significant effect on aminophylline-induced relaxation but caused a marked depression and right-shift of the isoproterenol CRC. In the CON group aminophylline shifted the isoproterenol CRC upward and to the left indicating that the synergistic interaction between the two agents was greater than additive. The left-shift and elevation of the ceiling effect of the iso- proterenol CRC caused by aminophylline were significantly greater in the DESN group vs the CON group. These observations from intact tissue are compared with published data from bio- chemical and broken cell studies. The possibility of increased phosphodiesterase activity as an explanation for the observations reported is discussed. o 1987 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Activation of the (pro)renin receptor in the paraventricular nucleus increases sympathetic outflow in anesthetized rats

To our best knowledge, this study is the first to investigate PVN PRR-mediated ANG II-independent signaling transduction on the control of sympathetic outflow and blood pressure. Our results sugges...
Pseudo-anion gap acidosis.

A 74-year-old Caucasian male was referred to our clinic for low serum bicarbonate levels and a high anion gap (HAG). Past medical history included hypertension, hypothyroidism, iron deficiency anaemia secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding and hyperlipidaemia. He was on Bicitra 30 mL orally three times daily, levothyroxine 75 mcg daily, atorvastatin 10 mg daily, ferrous sulphate 324 mg daily and chlorthalidone 12.5 mg daily. He denied smoking, alcoholism or illegal drug abuse. Physical exam was unremarkable. His laboratory values obtained over the 18 months after our evaluation are outlined in Table 1. Arterial blood gas showed a pH of 7.37, PCO2 of 35 mmHg and PO2 of 87 mmHg when the serum HCO3 level was 12 mEq/L. Serum lactate levels on several occasions were <2.2 mmol/L. Serum ketones were negative and the betahydroxybutyrate level was mildly elevated at 3.60 mg/dL (normal 0–3.0 mg/dL). Salicylate level was <1 mg/dL. D-Lactate levels were immeasurable. Thiamine levels were normal. A serum and urine protein electrophoresis did not reveal any paraproteinaemia. Urinalysis revealed a specific gravity of 1.020, pH 6.0 with negative protein and blood by dipstick. Urine toxicology screens for ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol and isopropanol were negative. His urine organic acid profile was normal and no 5-oxoproline was detected. He was started on various forms of bicarbonate supplementation and atorvastatin was stopped, but neither bicarbonate levels nor anion gap changed significantly (Table 1). In the absence of any apparent explanation for a decrease in serum bicarbonate with an HAG despite extensive work-up, we questioned the validity of the laboratory testing.
Resynthesis of combinational logic circuits for improved path delay fault testability using comparison units

We propose a resynthesis method that modifies a given circuit to reduce the number of paths in the circuit and thus improve its path delay fault testability. The resynthesis procedure is based on replacing subcircuits of the given circuit by structures called comparison units. A subcircuit can be replaced by a comparison unit if it implements a function belonging to the class of comparison functions defined here. Comparison units are fully testable for stuck-at faults and for path delay faults. In addition, they have small numbers of paths and gates. These properties make them effective building blocks for resynthesis to improve the path delay fault testability of a circuit. Experimental results demonstrate considerable reductions in the number of paths and increased path delay fault testability. These are achieved without increasing the number of gates, or the number of gates along the longest path in the circuit. The random pattern testability for stuck-at faults remains unchanged.
The Simulation education Homepage

Both novice and experienced educators across dif ferent disciplines have expressed the need for a tool to help orient them to teach computer simula tion. This paper presents the Simulation Educa tion Homepage (http://www.acs.ilstu.edu/faculty/ dldoss/yurcik/nsfteachsim/indexnew.html) which was initiated as a result of an US National Sci ence Foundation sponsored Simulation Education Workshop held in August 1998 in Washington D.C. With input from leading simulation educa tors, web-based simulation education resources have been linked and cross-referenced in this one "virtual " location which serves as a meeting place for discussion about teaching simulation. After introducing the different categories of resources (software/courses/textbooks/people/etc.), data about categorization and use of the resources is presented. We found clear trends within categories and common characteristics between requests for information and recommendations for new links from all over the world. We also include discus sion of a...
Anatomy of raccoon (Procyon lotor) and coati (Nasua narica and N. nasua) forearm and leg muscles: Relations between fiber length, moment-arm length, and joint-angle excursion

Muscle architecture, moment arms, and locomotor movements in the distal limb segments of the procyonids Nasua (coati) and Procyon (raccoon) are analyzed with reference to patterns of muscle fiber length. This study addresses the hypothesis that relative fiber lengths among muscles in a muscle group can be predicted on the basis of correlates of muscle tension. The results include the following: consistent patterns of fiber length of muscles in a muscle group exist within and between the two genera. Differences in fiber length between muscles can be accounted for by two principal correlates of muscle excursion--length of a muscle's moment arm about a joint and joint-angle excursion. Muscle fiber pinnation permits increased tendon excursion, but this effect is relatively small in comparison to the effects of moment-arm length and joint-angle excursion. Corollary action between two or more joints (or lack thereof) is an important factor in determination of fiber lengths.
Self-verification 360°: Illuminating the Light and Dark Sides

Self-verification theory assumes that people actively work to preserve their self-views, even if these self-views are negative. This article considers the benefits and drawbacks of receiving self-verification. Direct benefits of self-verification include psychological coherence, reduced anxiety, and improved health. Indirect benefits include greater intimacy and trust in relationships and more harmonious social interactions. Drawbacks of self-verification strivings are limited to people with negative self-views, who may find that self-verifying evaluations help perpetuate low self-esteem and depression and stabilize unhealthy relationships. Elucidating the processes underlying self-verification may bring more light to its dark side; specifically, it may reveal insights about raising self-esteem and building happiness.
Combustion reactions of paraffin components in liquid transportation fuels using generic rates

The approach of mechanism generation is the accepted one of assigning generic rates to reactions in the same class. The procedure has been successfully applied to higher paraffins that include detailed sub-models of n-hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane, n-decane, n-dodecane, and n-hexadecane and semi-detailed sub-models of iso-octane and methyl cyclohexane, in addition to reactions of aromatic formation and oxidation. Comparison between predictions and experimental data were found to be satisfactory for n-heptane, iso-octane, n-decane and gasoline premixed flames. The mechanism was also able to reproduce the measured concentrations for a n-hexadecane experiment in a jet stirred reactor. The numerical accuracy in predicting the flame structures of soot precursors, including acetylene and benzene, is one of the major foci of this study. The predicted maximum concentrations of acetylene and benzene are within 20% for most flames in this study.
Numerical study of viscous flow in rotating rectangular ducts

A numerical study of the laminar flow of an incompressible viscous fluid in rotating ducts of rectangular cross-section is conducted. The full time-dependent nonlinear equations of motion are solved by finite-difference techniques for moderate to relatively rapid rotation rates where both the convective and viscous terms play an important role. At weak to moderate rotation rates, a double-vortex secondary flow appears in the transverse planes of the duct whose structure is relatively independent of the aspect ratio of the duct. For Rossby numbers Ro c 100 this secondary flow is shown to lead to substantial distortions of the axial velocity profiles. For more rapid rotations (Ro c l), the Secondary flow (in a duct with an aspect ratio of two) is shown to split into an asymmetric configuration of four counter-rotating vortices similar to that which appears in curved ducts. It is demonstrated mathematically that this effect could result from a disparity in the symmetry of the convective and Coriolis terms in the equations of motion. If the rotation rates are increased further, the secondary flow restabilizes to a slightly asymmetric double-vortex configuration and the axial velocity wumes a Taylor-Proudman configuration in the interior of the duct. Comparisons with existing experimental results are quite favourable.
Evaluation of Proxy Responses to the Stroke Impact Scale

Background and Purpose— The purposes of this study were to compare proxy-patient responses on each domain of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and the SIS-16, estimate the bias, and evaluate the validity of proxy scores. Methods— Two hundred eighty-seven patient and proxy pairs from the Kansas City Stroke Registry participated in the study. All patients were assessed in their home or nursing facility between 90 and 120 days after stroke with the use of the modified Rankin Scale Motricity Index (strength), Barthel Index (activities of daily living), Lawton assessment (instrumental activities of daily living), Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (cognition), and the SIS. Eligible proxies were individuals who were aged ≥18 years, had known the patient for at least 1 year, and saw the patient at least once each week. All proxy interviews were conducted within 7 days of (before or after) the patient’s interview. Results— Three hundred seventy-seven patients from the Kansas City Stroke Registry were eligible for...
Integrating classical and microbial food web concepts: evolving views from the open-ocean tropical Pacific

Over the past half-century, and particularly the last two decades, new paradigms, perspectives and technological capabilities have greatly advanced our understanding of open-ocean pelagic ecosystems. Major new insights have come from the microbial loop concept and related discoveries, the iron limitation hypothesis and ocean time series. Focusing mainly on the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean, I review the influences of these new perspectives on classical views of food web complexity, phytoplankton regulation and diversity, and temporal dynamics. ``Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) are responsible for about 95% of the CO2evolved into the atmosphere, while animals contribute about 5%. These estimates are based on figures from terrestrial environments, but there is every reason to believe that microorganisms are relatively as important in the oceans''. (Lecture Note Handouts, OCN 434, Winter, 1971)
Inflammatory mediators are perpetuated in macrophages resistant to apoptosis induced by hypoxia

A hypoxic/anoxic microenvironment has been proposed to exist within a vascular lesion due to intimal or medial cell proliferation in vascular diseases. Here, we examined whether hypoxia alters macrophage function by exposing murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 (RAW) cells to hypoxia (2% O2). When cells were exposed to hypoxia, a significant number of RAW cells underwent apoptosis. Additionally, small subpopulations of RAW cells were resistant to hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Through repeated cycles of hypoxia exposure, hypoxia-induced apoptosis-resistant macrophages (HARMs) were selected; HARM cells demonstrate >70% resistance to hypoxia-induced apoptosis, as compared with the parental RAW cells. When heat shock protein (HSP) expression was examined after hypoxia, we observed a significant decrease in constitutive heat shock protein 70 (HSC 70) in RAW cells, but not in HARMs, as compared with the control normoxic condition (21% O2). In contrast, the expression level of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP 78) in RAW and HARM cells after hypoxia treatment was not altered, suggesting that HSC 70 and not GRP 78 may play a role in protection against hypoxia-induced apoptosis. When tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production was examined after hypoxic treatment, a significant increase in TNF-alpha production in HARM but decrease in RAW was observed, as compared with cells cultured in normoxic conditions. HARM cells also exhibit a much lower level of modified-LDL uptake than do RAW cells, suggesting that HARMs may not transform into foam cells. These results suggest that a selective population of macrophages may adapt to potentially pathological hypoxic conditions by overcoming the apoptotic signal.
Evaluation of viral removal by nanofiltration using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Nanofiltration is commonly introduced into purification processes of biologics produced in mammalian cells to serve as a designated step for removal of potential exogenous viral contaminants and endogenous retrovirus-like particles. The LRV (log reduction value) achieved by nanofiltration is often determined by cell-based infectivity assay, which is time-consuming and labour-intensive. We have explored the possibility of employing QPCR (quantitative PCR) to evaluate LRV achieved by nanofiltration in scaled-down studies using two model viruses, namely xenotropic murine leukemia virus and murine minute virus. We report here the successful development of a QPCR-based method suitable for quantification of virus removal by nanofiltration. The method includes a nuclease treatment step to remove free viral nucleic acids, while viral genome associated with intact virus particles is shielded from the nuclease. In addition, HIV Armored RNA® was included as an internal control to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the method. The QPCR-based method described here provides several advantages such as better sensitivity, faster turnaround time, reduced cost and higher throughput over the traditional cell-based infectivity assays.
Modeling Turbulent Flow in an Urban Central Business District

The Realistic Urban Spread and Transport of Intrusive Contaminants (RUSTIC) model has been developed as a simplified computational fluid dynamics model with a k– turbulence model to be used to provide moderately fast simulations of turbulent airflow in an urban environment. RUSTIC simulations were compared with wind tunnel measurements to refine and “calibrate” the parameters for the k– model. RUSTIC simulations were then run and compared with data from five different periods during the Joint Urban 2003 experiment. Predictions from RUSTIC were compared with data from 33 near-surface sonic anemometers as well as 8 sonic anemometers on a 90-m tower and a sodar wind profiler located in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, central business district. The data were subdivided into daytime and nighttime datasets and then the daytime data were further subdivided into exposed and sheltered sonic anemometers. While there was little difference between day and night for wind speed and direction comparisons, there was considerable difference for the turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) comparisons. In the nighttime cases, RUSTIC overpredicted the TKE but without any correlation between model and observations. On the other hand, for the daytime cases, RUSTIC underpredicted the TKE values and correlated well with the observations. RUSTIC predicted both winds and TKE much better for the exposed sonic anemometers than for the sheltered ones. For the 90-m tower location downwind of the central business district, RUSTIC predicted the vertical profile of wind speed and direction very closely but underestimated the TKE.
Genetic Variations and Physical Activity as Determinants of Limb Bone Morphology: An Experimental Approach Using a Mouse Model

To gain insight into past human physi- cal activity, anthropologists often infer functional loading history from the morphology of limb bone remains. It is assumed that, during life, loading had a positive, dose- dependent effect on bone structure that can be identified despite other effects. Here, we investigate the effects of genetic background and functional loading on limb bones using mice from an artificial selection experiment for high levels of voluntary wheel running. Growing males from four replicate high runner (HR) lines and four rep- licate nonselected control (C) lines were either allowed or denied wheel access for 2 months. Using lCT, femoral morphology was assessed at two cortical sites (mid-dia- physis, distal metaphysis) and one trabecular site (distal metaphysis). We found that genetic differences between the linetypes (HR vs. C), between the replicate lines within linetype, and between individuals with and with- out the so-called ''mini-muscle'' phenotype (caused by a Mendelian recessive gene that halves limb muscle mass) gave rise to significant variation in nearly all morpholog- ical indices examined. Wheel access also influenced fem- oral morphology, although the functional response did not generally result in enhanced structure. Exercise caused moderate periosteal enlargement, but relatively greater endocortical expansion, resulting in significantly thinner cortices and reduced bone area in the metaphy- sis. The magnitude of the response was independent of distance run. Mid-diaphyseal bone area and area moments, and trabecular morphology, were unaffected by exercise. These results underscore the strong influ- ence of genetics on bone structure and the complexity by which mechanical stimuli may cause alterations in it. Am J Phys Anthropol 148:24-35, 2012. V C
Predictive factors in early arthritis: long-term follow-up.

Abstract Background Because recent-onset inflammatory arthritis exhibits considerable clinical and prognostic variability, it is important to attempt to predict which patients are likely to have a poor prognosis as early as possible. Most prognostic studies have looked at patients who fulfilled proposed criteria for a definite diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other well-defined conditions; less information exists concerning predictive factors for other types of early arthritis. Objectives To examine prognosis in early arthritis, the authors assessed the long-term outcome in a cohort of patients who presented with inflammatory arthritis of short duration. Associations between outcome and patient clinical characteristics were analyzed to determine possible prognostic factors. Methods Since 1968, patients were selected to be followed up in 2 early-arthritis clinics if they had evidence of inflammatory joint disease and symptom duration was Results A total of 121 patients were included in this analysis. Mean disease duration to the first evaluation was 3 months, and median follow-up was 5 years (range, 1 to 30 months). Twenty-one patients (17%) had transient disease defined as total duration of Conclusions Our findings indicate that prognosis in early inflammatory arthritis is generally good, with more than half of all patients achieving remission in our cohort. Patients with unclassified arthritis fared better than those meeting criteria for RA or spondylarthropathy. Of the many clinical variables examined as possible prognostic factors, hand involvement was the strongest predictor of a poor outcome. Relevance The long follow-up of these patients with early arthritis provides clues for the clinician to the likely course and shows that many patients will do well.
Monitoring of Representative Particle Size Distributions and Gross Solids from Roadways and Application to SCM Design

Road runoff treatment is a challenge due to lack of space in the right-of-way. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the quality of runoff from roadways so that efficient stormwater control measures (SCMs) may be designed. In terms of TSS control, the particle size distribution of sediment in the runoff controls the amount of sediment (based on Stokes’ Law) that may be removed through settling in a typical SCM. For best treatment of TSS, the flow depth in vegetated SCMs during the design storm should be limited to the height of the vegetation. Typical roadside stormwater controls (vegetated filter strips and swales) could be designed for water quality by calculating a hydraulic retention time for a particular removal of sediment. In order to do so, an understanding of average particle size distributions (PSDs) was needed for roads across North Carolina (NC). A field monitoring study was conducted during MayNovember 2012 to obtain PSDs from roads in the three ecoregions of NC: mountains, piedmont, and coastal plain. Two sites in the mountains, six in the piedmont, and four in the coastal plain were monitored for TSS concentrations and PSDs for a minimum of six storms apiece. Roadway types were distributed across Interstate highways (6 sites), four lane divided highways (1 site), four lane primary roads (3 sites), and secondary roads (2 sites) to determine the effects that annual average daily traffic have on runoff PSDs. At the Interstate highway sites, two monitoring locations had a permeable friction course (PFC) overlay and one site had a NovaChip overlay, which may modify the expected PSD from a highway. Since nutrients are a concern in NC, nutrient concentrations (TN and TP) were monitored at four sites both in the stormwater and sorbed to the sediment. This will allow for modelling of nutrient removal performance for typical roadway SCMs by estimation of TSS removal from Stokes’ Law. Gross solids (trash, debris, and particles greater than 5 mm in diameter) are often overlooked in loading of nutrients to waterways. Automated stormwater samplers are not able to capture most gross solids, and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for these pollutants have been established for some watersheds. Monitoring for gross solids was undertaken at four sites: one in the mountains, two in the piedmont, and one in the coastal plain. Three sites were Interstate highways while one was a divided four lane highway. Dry mass of gross solids as well as nitrogen and phosphorus content were determined in the laboratory. It was determined that gross solids are a substantial portion of the nutrient load, and that they cannot be disregarded in stormwater sampling for nutrient load estimation.
Inverse computational feedback optimization imaging applied to time varying changes in a homogeneous structure

The technique of inverse computational feedback optimization imaging allows for the imaging of varying tissue without the continuous need of a complex imaging systems such as an MRI or CT. Our method trades complex imaging equipment for computing power. The objective is to use a baseline scan from an imaging system along with finite element method computational software to calculate the physically measurable parameters (such as voltage or temperature). As the physically measurable parameters change the computational model is iteratively run until it matches the measured values. Optimization routines are implemented to accelerate the process of finding the new values. Presented is a computational model demonstrating how the inverse imaging technique would work with a simple homogeneous sample with a circular structure. It demonstrates the ability to locate an object with only a few point measurements. The presented computational model uses swarm optimization techniques to help find the object location from the measured data (which in this case is voltage).
Nonphysical Reverse Currents in Transient Finite-Element Magnetics Simulation

We are concerned with the simulation of low-frequency transient magnetic fields and currents in conductors as modeled by the vector diffusion equation. In particular, the key topic of this paper is the diffusion of fields and currents into a conductor due to a rapidly varying magnetic field in the surrounding air. As an example, an explosive magnetic flux compression generator may be designed to produce an exponentially increasing magnetic field in the in the air gap between armature and stator. As a second example, in a standard railgun the motion of the armature causes a rapidly increasing magnetic field in the air ahead of the armature, inducing currents in the rails ahead of the armature. It has been observed that for these types of transient magnetics problems finite-element simulations can produce nonphysical ldquoreverse currentsrdquo in conductors, currents that are flowing in the wrong direction. In this paper the root cause of these nonphysical reverse currents is explained, and several mitigation strategies are discussed.
Retroperitoneal Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Posterior Renal Masses Is Associated with Earlier Hospital Discharge: A Single-Institution Retrospective Comparison.

Abstract Purpose: To compare perioperative outcomes, specifically hospital length of stay (LOS), after retroperitoneal and conventional transperitoneal robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively compared consecutive patients with a posterior renal mass undergoing retroperitoneal RAPN (n=116) versus transperitoneal RAPN (n=97) at our institution between July 2007 and March 2014. The surgical approach was based on patient and tumor characteristics, history of abdominal surgery, and surgeon preference. The primary outcome was postoperative LOS, and secondary outcomes included complication rate, inpatient narcotic pain medication use, and inpatient antiemetic use. Results: Baseline patient and tumor characteristics were similar between groups. A significantly great proportion of patients undergoing retroperitoneal RAPN had LOS equal to 1 day (57% vs 10%, P<0.01). Complication rates were similar between groups (P=0.37). Median pain medication use was also similar betwee...
Progestogens in Preterm Labour

Pre-term birth (PTB) is a major health challenge to-day. Perinatal mortality is increased more than three times and PTB is the leading cause of short and long-term neonatal/infant morbidity. Many are the risk factors, previous PTB, cervical effacement or dilatation on clinical vaginal examination or shortening of the length of the cervical canal on ultrasound are major predisposing factors.
Evaluation of extended wear soft and rigid contact lens use by Army aviators.

Aviation systems incorporating sophisticated electro-optical displays frequently are designed without provision for use by spectacle-wearing pilots. Contact lenses offer a solution to the compatibility problems experienced by Army aviators, approximately 18% of whom wear corrective lenses. Under a waiver from The Surgeon General, 44 helicopter pilots performed flying duties while wearing extended-wear soft and rigid lenses. Pilots remained in the study for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 24 months. Six experienced temporary discontinuance of wear (4-19 days); and six withdrew from the study. An overall wearing success rate of 86% was achieved. No pilot was grounded due to contact lens-related problems. Subjectively, extended wear contact lenses favorably affected job performance. This is the first major field evaluation of contact lens use by U.S. Army aviators while flying military aircraft.
Temperature−field phase diagram of extreme magnetoresistance

Abstract The recent discovery of extreme magnetoresistance (XMR) in LaSb introduced lanthanum monopnictides as a new platform to study this effect in the absence of broken inversion symmetry or protected linear band crossing. In this work, we report XMR in LaBi. Through a comparative study of magnetotransport effects in LaBi and LaSb, we construct a temperature−field phase diagram with triangular shape that illustrates how a magnetic field tunes the electronic behavior in these materials. We show that the triangular phase diagram can be generalized to other topological semimetals with different crystal structures and different chemical compositions. By comparing our experimental results to band structure calculations, we suggest that XMR in LaBi and LaSb originates from a combination of compensated electron−hole pockets and a particular orbital texture on the electron pocket. Such orbital texture is likely to be a generic feature of various topological semimetals, giving rise to their small residual resistivity at zero field and subject to strong scattering induced by a magnetic field.
Research in Cross-Cultural Psychiatry in Latin America

The theme of this paper is a focused review of psychiatric research in the field of cross-cultural psychiatry as manifested in the decade 1973–1983 by one type of objective data, namely, articles in selected psychiatric journals covering a selected subfield within psychiatry.
Chemical Structures of Swine-Manure Chars Produced under Different Carbonization Conditions Investigated by Advanced Solid-State 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy†

Two types of swine-manure chars, hydrothermally produced hydrochar and slow-pyrolysis pyrochar, and their raw swine-manure solid were characterized using advanced solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In comparison to raw swine-manure solid, both hydrochars and pyrochar displayed significantly different structural features, with lower alkyl carbons, NCH, OCH3, O-alkyl, and COO/N−C═O groups but higher aromatic/olefinic and aromatic C−O groups. The chemical structures of four hydrochars varied with different processing conditions. In comparison to the hydrochar with only water wash (HTC-swine W), washing hydrochar with acetone (HTC-swine A) removed the soluble intermediates deposited on the hydrochar, as shown by the decrease of O-alkyl (primarily carbohydrates), corresponding increase of aromatic/olefinic carbons and complete removal of OCH3 groups. With citric acid prewash and acetone wash (HTC-AW-swine A), aromatic C−O and aromatics/olefinics were increased and alkyls were decrea...
Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and new routes for the preparation of certain dithiocarbonates and sulfides from potassium cyanodithioimidocarbonate

Abstract The reaction of potassium cyanodithioimidocarbonate with 3-chloro-2,4-pentanedione, ethyl α-chloroacetoacetate, chloroacetone, or 2,3-dichloro 1,4-napthoquinone afforded novel heterocyclic compounds (2), (3), and (4) and (6). The reaction of the potassium salt with p-chlorophenyl chlorothioformate, 4-chloro-3-nitro or 3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride or dimethylthiocarbamoyl chloride furnished new routes for the synthesis of S,S′-bis-p-chlorophenyl dithiocarbonate (7) and the sulfides (8), (9) and (10). Possible mechanisms and supporting NMR and mass spectra are discussed.
Lisinopril Use in a Large Military Medical Center

The results of a drug use evaluation of lisinopril at a large teaching military medical center are reported. Indicators and thresholds were developed and approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. The medical charts of 227 patients for whom lisinopril was prescribed from June 1991 to June 1992 were reviewed for appropriateness of prescribing, appropriateness of monitoring, occurrence of any adverse drug reactions, and detection of drug interactions. Prescribing was appropriate in 97% and monitoring was appropriate in all reviewed cases. The most common adverse drug reactions detected were cough (7%), hypotension (3%), and rash (2%). Patients were also prescribed several drugs that may interact with lisinopril. Lisinopril appeared to be well tolerated and efficacious. Forty patients (18%) experienced adverse drug reactions related to lisinopril. There did not appear to be any major deficiencies with lisinopril prescribing and no corrective action needed to be taken other than educational activities for the appropriate use of lisinopril. Information from this drug use evaluation is useful in formulary decision making.
[Analysis on the imported measles cases in Beijing, 2014].

Objective To analyze the imported measles cases who came to Beijing seeking for better medical services and to explore the feasible strategies for prevention and control of the situation. Methods Descriptive analysis was conducted for all the measles cases noted from the Measles Surveillance System, between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Results 3 328 measles cases were reported in Beijing, including 2 397 (2 397/3 328, 72.0%) native residents and 931 (931/3 328, 28.0%) came from other provinces. Peak of the imported cases appeared earlier than those native cases, with 934 cases (934/2 397, 39.0%) having had hospital exposure 7-21 days prior to the onset of the disease. Majority of the imported were children, including 718 of them (718/931, 77.1%) under the age of 15. Most cases were reported from 3 infectious disease hospitals (567/1 156 person-time, 49.0%) and 2 children's hospitals (445/1 156 person-time, 38.5%). Original addresses of the imported cases distributed in 24 provinces, with 705 of them (705/931, 75.7%) coming from Beijing's neighboring province (Hebei). Clinic symptoms with epidemiological information were analyzed on 712 cases. 704 cases (704/712, 98.9%) presented rash at home town while another 621 cases (621/712, 87.2%) developed rash 4 days after arriving in Beijing and were still in the infectious period. Conclusion There was a big amount of imported measles cases in Beijing that called for the elimination of the disease in a urgent phase. It is necessary to timely develop and conduct targeted prevention and control measures on the disease in Beijing. Key words: Measles; Outpatients; Surveillance
Optical Polishing Using Fiber Based Tools

Abstract Novel, polymer based fiber tools were utilized to polish BK7 glass. Initial tests with these tools investigated the factors affecting the material removal rates. Fiber type and count, polishing pressure and tool rotational speed were all found to affect the removal rates. Abrasive particle size affects the effective contact length whereby smaller particles resulted in narrower tool processing widths. On a sample with an imparted sinusoidal pattern (amplitude = 100 nm, wavelength = 2 mm), it was found that the surface roughness on the higher regions were higher than the lower regions thus emphasizing the importance of the fiber-abrasive interaction.
Chronic immunosuppression does not potentiate the malignant progression of mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions

Abstract Background Premalignant mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions (mPCLs) are increasingly identified. Aims In this study, we aim to assess the effect of selected immunosuppressive therapies on the progression of mPCLs, including side-branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and mucinous cystic neoplasms. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with mPCLs diagnosed over a 24-year period who received chronic immunosuppression. Controls were matched on age at cyst diagnosis (±11 yrs) and cyst size (±8 mm). Measured outcomes included increase in cyst size, development of “worrisome features” as defined by consensus guidelines, progression to malignancy, and rate of surgical resection. Results 39 patients (mean age 60 yrs) with mPCLs were on immunosuppression. Leading indications for immunosuppression were solid organ transplant (n = 14), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 6), and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 5). 33% were on biologics, 77% on antimetabolites and 79% on multiple medications. Mean cyst size increased from 12.6 mm to 17.8 mm over a median of 16.5 months. 6 patients elected for surgical resection, and none ultimately developed malignancy. 26 cases with follow-up were matched to control subjects, with no significant differences among cases and controls in initial cyst size (12.8 mm vs 11.9 mm, P = 0.69), mean size increase (6.9 mm vs 5 mm, P = 0.47), follow-up interval (24.3 months vs 21.5 months, P = 0.44). No significant differences in the rate of worrisome features, malignancy, or surgical resection. Conclusions Patients with mPCLs exposed to immunosuppressive medications did not have higher rates of malignancy or development worrisome features in the short term. This suggests that patients with mPCLs can be initiated or maintained on these agents without changes to surveillance practices.
On media and politics in India: An interview with Paranjoy Guha Thakurta

John Maynard Keynes once wrote that practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually slaves of some defunct economist. It is through ideas that...
Evidence-based management of chylothorax in infants.

Abstract Purpose Management guidelines for infants with chylothorax lack substantial evidence. We sought to identify variables that impact outcomes in these patients in order to develop an evidence-based management algorithm. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all infants diagnosed with chylothorax from June 2005 to December 2014 at our institution. Data collected included demographics, chest tube output (CTO), medical and dietary interventions, surgical procedures, and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC). Outcomes analyzed included death, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), requiring surgery, and success of therapy, defined as CTO decrease by >50% within 7days. Results Of 178 neonates with chylothorax, initial therapy was high medium chain triglyceride (MCT) feedings in 106 patients, nothing by mouth (NPO), total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in 21, and NPO/TPN plus octreotide in 45. Octreotide use in addition to NPO/TPN revealed no significant differences in any outcome including success (47% vs. 43%, p =0.77). Initial CTO and ALC correlated with needing surgery ( p =0.002 and p =0.006, respectively), and with death ( p =0.028 and p =0.043, respectively). ALC also correlated with sepsis ( p Conclusions Octreotide has no advantage over NPO/TPN alone in infants with chylothorax. CTO and ALC predict requiring surgery. We propose a management guideline based on CTO and ALC without a role for octreotide. Type of study Retrospective case–control study. Level of evidence 3
The Culture of Sport, Bodies of Desire, and the Body of Christ

ABSTRACTThe culture of sport plays a persuasive role in the shaping of cultural conceptions of identity, the body, and what constitutes being human. The author gives a cultural exegesis of sport to highlight its authoritative influence on societal ideation about the body, and how society views, values, and valorizes ability as a dominant attribute of what constitutes being human in particular. Running in the foreground of this article is a theological critique of the ways in which the dominant portrayal of the body within sport is marked with homogeneous proportions of ableist expression, representing the able body as ideal and normal; a representation that is at odds with the place of other bodies that constitute the body of Christ, the church. Central to these aims is the hope that bringing to light ableist visions of human flourishing implicit in and enforced through the cult of sport can both foil any further cultural conversion of Christians to its spirit and power and provide a lens by which Christi...
Spectral Analysis and Other Pairwise Techniques

The examination of data entails spectral analysis, a time series approach in the frequency domain. The issue of de-trending data is discussed in terms of high-pass filtering. Spectral analysis will be discussed. This includes an exposition of the power spectrum, phase, and coherence. Innovations in the areas of adjusted gain, cohesion, and synchronicity are also outlined. The latter is a new measure that complements cohesion. Long-run relations are assessed using unit root tests. These are discussed in terms of recent innovations in pairwise econometric work due to Pesaran.
Sketching Biological Phenomena and Mechanisms

In many fields of biology, both the phenomena to be explained and the mechanisms proposed to explain them are commonly presented in diagrams. Our interest is in how scientists construct such diagrams. Researchers begin with evidence, typically developed experimentally and presented in data graphs. To arrive at a robust diagram of the phenomenon or the mechanism, they must integrate a variety of data to construct a single, coherent representation. This process often begins as the researchers create a first sketch, and it continues over an extended period as they revise the sketch until they arrive at a diagram they find acceptable. We illustrate this process by examining the sketches developed in the course of two research projects directed at understanding the generation of circadian rhythms in cyanobacteria. One identified a new aspect of the phenomenon itself, whereas the other aimed to develop a new mechanistic account. In both cases, the research resulted in a paper in which the conclusion was presented in a diagram that the authors deemed adequate to convey it. These diagrams violate some of the normative "cognitive design principles" advanced by cognitive scientists as constraints on successful visual communication. We suggest that scientists' sketching is instead governed by norms of success that are broadly explanatory: conveying the phenomenon or mechanism.