cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison Study of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Quality Assurances Using Portal Dosimetry and MapCHECK 2

A Varian Portal Dosimetry system was compared to an isocentrica lly mounted MapCHECK 2 diode array for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) QA. A Varian TrueBeam STx with an aS-1000 digital imaging panel was used to acquire VMAT QA images for 13 plans using four photon energies (6, 8, 10 and 15 MV). The EPID-based QA images were compared to the Portal Dose Image Prediction calculated in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS). An isocentrically mounted Sun Nuclear MapCHECK 2 diode array with 5 cm water-equivalent buildup was also used for the VMAT QAs and the measurements were compared to a composite dose plane from the Eclipse TPS. A γtest was implemented in the Sun Nuclear Patient software with 10% threshold and absolute comparison at 1%/1 mm (dose difference/distance-to-agreement), 2%/2 mm, and 3%/3 mm criteria for both QA methods. The two-tailed paired Student’s t-test was employed to analyze the statistical significance at 95% confidence level. The average γpassing rates were greater than 95% at 3%/3 mm using both methods for all four energies. The differences in the average passing rates between the two methods were within 1.7% and 1.6% of each other when analyzed at 2%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm, respectively. The EPID passing rates were somewhat better than the MapCHECK 2 when analyzed at 1%/1 mm; the difference was lower for 8 MV and 10 MV. However, the differences were not statistically significant for all criteria and energies (p-values ＞0.05). The EPID-based QA showed large off-axis over-response and dependence of γpassing rate on energy, while the MapCHECK 2 was susceptible to the MLC tongue-and-groove effect. The two fluence-based QA techniques can be an alternative tool of VMAT QA to each other, if the limitations of each QA method (mechanical sag, detector response, and detector alignment) are carefully considered.
The ontogeny and control of incubation behavior in turkeys

Abstract As a consequence of its fundamental role in avian reproduction, incubation behavior has been of great interest to scientists and to turkey breeders and producers of hatching eggs. Incubation behavior in turkey hens continues to be a major hindrance to enhanced reproductive performance in the domestic turkey, resulting in substantial loss of potential egg production. The onset and maintenance of incubation behavior is dependent upon a series of obligatory factors. Nest entry induced by progesterone surges in laying hens, which is dependent on prior estrogen priming, is a prerequisite for prolactin (Prl)-induction of incubation behavior. Thereafter, persistent nesting stimulates Prl secretion and elevated Prl levels maintain incubation activity. The increased Prl secretion in incubating hens is related to a diminished dopaminergic and an increased vasoactive intestinal peptidergic activities in the hypothalamus. An increase in Prl gene expression and Prl releasing capacity of the pituitary may also contribute to the hyperprolactenimic state in the incubating bird.
Multi-Stage Dual Priority Regulator for Photovoltaic Systems

The design and application are investigated of an array shedding voltage regulator for use in photovoltaic (PV) systems with two separate loads of different priority. The multistage dual-priority regulator charges two separate battery systems for high- and low-priority loads. This controller switches the array modules from the main battery to the auxiliary battery as the main battery nears full charge, thus utilizing the PV panels to the maximum without jeopardizing the reliability of the critical load. Both the main and auxiliary voltage settings are adjustable, allowing the use of different types of batteries. A dual-priority voltage regulator is useful in any stand-alone system with multiple loads. Uses include PV-powered homes, medical clinics, and recreational vehicles. >
Impaired prioritization of novel onset stimuli in autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Deficiency in the adaptive allocation of attention to relevant environmental stimuli is an associated feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent evidence suggests that individuals with ASD may be specifically impaired in attentional prioritization of novel onsets. Method: We investigated modulation of attention by novel onset stimuli in 22 children with ASD and 22 age- and IQ-matched typically developing (TD) children using a preview visual search task (Donk & Theeuwes, 2003). In preview search, a subset of search stimuli (old) is presented briefly before the remaining stimuli (new) with the effect that search times for targets appearing among the new elements are typically shorter than for those appearing among the old elements. Results: Whereas the TD group exhibited faster reaction time (RT) to targets occurring as novel search elements, the ASD group performed similarly in target new and old conditions, indicating impaired attentional prioritization of novel onsets. Group differences in eye-movement behavior, including fixation frequency and saccadic error for novel onset stimuli, were consistent with the RT findings. Attentional modulation by novel onsets varied inversely with social-communicative symptom severity in the ASD group. Conclusions: The results provide further evidence of reduced sensitivity to novel onsets in ASD, and suggest that impaired processing of dynamic stimuli, possibly associated with abnormalities in the dorsal visual processing stream, may be implicated in the core symptoms of ASD. Keywords: Autism, eye movements, reaction time, visual attention, visual search.
Coexisting chaotic and periodic dynamics in clock escapements

This paper addresses the nature of noise in machines. As a concrete example, we examine the dynamics of clock escapements from experimental, historical and analytical points of view. Experiments on two escapement mechanisms from the Reuleaux kinematic collection at Cornell University are used to illustrate chaotic-like noise in clocks. These vibrations coexist with the periodic dynamics of the balance wheel or pendulum. A mathematical model is presented that shows how self-generated chaos in clocks can break the dry friction in the gear train. This model is shown to exhibit a strange attractor in the structural vibration of the clock. The internal feedback between the oscillator and the escapement structure is similar to anti-control of chaos models.
Minimal credential disclosure in trust negotiations

The secure release of identity attributes is a key enabler for electronic business interactions. Integrity and confidentiality of identity attributes are two key requirements in such context. Users should also have the maximum control possible over the release of their identity attributes and should state under which conditions these attributes can be disclosed. Moreover, users should disclose only the identity attributes that are actually required for the transactions at hand. In this paper we present an approach for the controlled release of identity attributes that addresses such requirements. The approach is based on the integration of trust negotiation and minimal credential disclosure techniques. Trust negotiation supports selective and incremental disclosure of identity attributes, while minimal credential disclosure guarantees that only the attributes necessary to complete the on line interactions are disclosed.
Proximal Duodenal Obstruction Caused by a Trichophytobezoar in a Horse

Abstract This report describes a case of proximal duodenal obstruction associated with two trichophytobezoars in a horse presenting for mild colic with copious reflux production. The case proved to be a diagnostic challenge, with rectal examination, ultrasonography, gastroscopy, and abdominocentesis failing to ascertain the reason for colic. In the absence of significant findings and the continued production of reflux, the horse was presumed to have a proximal duodenal obstruction. Surgery was not pursued by the owners, and the horse was euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed two trichophytobezoars: one located in the stomach and one in the proximal duodenum. This case report describes the progression of the condition, and the diagnostic difficulties presented a by proximal duodenal obstruction.
Prognostics and Health Management of Electronic Packaging

The current state of the art in managing system reliability is geared toward the development of predictive models for unaged pristine materials. The current state of art allows the prediction of time-to-failure for a pristine material under known loading conditions based on relationships such as the Paris' power law , , the Coffin-Manson relationship [2], [13], [23], [24], and the S-N diagram. There is a need for methods and processes which will allow interrogation of material state in complex systems and subsystems to determine the remaining useful life prior to repair or replacement. This capability of determination of material or system state is called prognosis. In this paper, a methodology for prognostication of electronics has been demonstrated with data of leading indicators of failure for accurate assessment of product damage prior to appearance of any macro indicators of damage. Proxies for leading indicators of failure have been identified. Examples of proxies include microstructural evolution characterized by average phase size and correlated to time and equivalent creep strain rate, and stresses at interface of silicon structures. Structures examined include an electronics package and microelectromechanical systems package and interconnections. The test vehicle includes packages that have been mounted on a metal-backed printed circuit board typical of electronics deployed in harsh environments. In application environment, the metal backing provides thermal dissipation, mechanical stability, and interconnections reliability. Since an aged material knows its state, the research presented in this paper focuses on enhancing the understanding of material damage to facilitate proper interrogation of material state. A mathematical relationship has been developed between phase growth rate and time-to-1-percent failure to enable the computation of damage manifested and a forward estimate of residual life
On- and off-resonance second-harmonic generation in GaAs microdisks

We present a theoretical description of on- and off-resonance, 4¯-quasi-phasematched, second-harmonic generation (SHG) in microdisks made of GaAs or other materials possessing 4¯ symmetry, such as GaP or ZnSe. The theory describes the interplay between quasi-phasematching (QPM) and the cavity-resonance conditions. For optimal conversion, all waves should be resonant with the microdisk and should satisfy the 4¯-QPM condition. We explore χ(2) nonlinear mixing if one of the waves is not resonant with the microdisk cavity and calculate the second-harmonic conversion spectrum. We also describe perfectly destructive 4¯-QPM where both the fundamental and second-harmonic are on-resonance with the cavity but SHG is suppressed.
Rete-netzwerk-red: analyzing and visualizing scholarly networks using the Network Workbench Tool

The enormous increase in digital scholarly data and computing power com- bined with recent advances in text mining, linguistics, network science, and scientometrics make it possible to scientifically study the structure and evolution of science on a large scale. This paper discusses the challenges of this 'BIG science of science'—also called 'computational scientometrics' research—in terms of data access, algorithm scalability, repeatability, as well as result communication and interpretation. It then introduces two infrastructures: (1) the Scholarly Database (SDB) (http://sdb.slis.indiana.edu), which provides free online access to 22 million scholarly records—papers, patents, and funding awards which can be cross-searched and downloaded as dumps, and (2) Scientometrics- relevant plug-ins of the open-source Network Workbench (NWB) Tool (http://nwb.slis. indiana.edu). The utility of these infrastructures is then exemplarily demonstrated in three studies: a comparison of the funding portfolios and co-investigator networks of different universities, an examination of paper-citation and co-author networks of major network science researchers, and an analysis of topic bursts in streams of text. The article concludes with a discussion of related work that aims to provide practically useful and theoretically grounded cyberinfrastructure in support of computational scientometrics research, education and practice.
Phototoxicity in Human Lens Epithelial Cells Promoted by St. John's Wort¶

St. John’s Wort (SJW), an over-the-counter antidepressant, contains hypericin, which absorbs light in the UV and visible ranges and is phototoxic to skin. To determine if it also could be phototoxic to the eye, we exposed human lens epithelial cells to 0.1–10 lM hypericin and irradiated them with 4 J/cm 2 UV-A or 0.9 J/cm 2 visible light. Neither hypericin exposure alone nor light exposure alone reduced cell viability. In contrast, cells exposed to hypericin in combination with UV-A or visible light underwent necrosis and apoptosis. The ocular antioxidants lutein and N-acetyl cysteine did not prevent damage. Thus, ingested SJW is potentially phototoxic to the eye and could contribute to early cataractogenesis. Precautions should be taken to protect the eye from intense sunlight while taking SJW.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of nosocomial and community-acquired S. maltophilia infections is of particular concern for immunocompromised individuals, as this bacterial pathogen is associated with a significant fatality/case ratio. S. maltophilia is an environmental bacterium found in aqueous habitats, including plant rhizospheres, animals, foods, and water sources. Infections of S. maltophilia can occur in a range of organs and tissues; the organism is commonly found in respiratory tract infections. This review summarizes the current literature and presents S. maltophilia as an organism with various molecular mechanisms used for colonization and infection. S. maltophilia can be recovered from polymicrobial infections, most notably from the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients, as a cocolonizer with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Recent evidence of cell-cell communication between these pathogens has implications for the development of novel pharmacological therapies. Animal models of S. maltophilia infection have provided useful information about the type of host immune response induced by this opportunistic pathogen. Current and emerging treatments for patients infected with S. maltophilia are discussed.
Outcomes of a Hepatitis C Screening Protocol in At-Risk Adults With Prior Cardiac Surgery

Background:Symptoms associated with hepatitis C infection often do not develop until an advanced stage of liver disease. Prior to 1992, reliable testing for hepatitis C was unavailable, resulting i...
Gendering the migraine market: do representations of illness matter?

Migraine is a common, debilitating and costly disorder. Yet help-seeking for and rates of diagnosis of migraine are low. Drawing on ethnographic observations of pharmaceutical marketing practices at professional headache conferences and a content analysis of migraine advertising, principally in the USA, this paper demonstrates: (1) that the pharmaceutical industry directs its marketing of migraine medication to women; and (2) as part of this strategy, pharmaceutical advertisements portray women as the prototypical migraine sufferer, through representations that elicit hegemonic femininity. This strategy creates the impression that migraine is a ‘‘women’s disorder’’, which, in turn, exacerbates gender bias in help seeking and diagnosis of migraine and reifies presumptions about the epidemiology of the disorder. I conclude that these pharmaceutical marketing practices have a paradoxical effect: even as they educate and raise awareness about migraine, they also create barriers to help seeking and diagnosis. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Major U.S. Dam Failures: Their Cause, Resultant Losses, and Impact on Dam Safety Programs and Engineering Practice

Some of the most catastrophic floods in the United States, in terms of property damage, have occurred along major river networks and have resulted from rain and/or snowmelt. Dam failures cause flooding much different from natural flooding. A flood from a dam failure may arrive before any warning or evacuation can take place and the “wall-of-water” makes evacuation based on limited environmental cues very problematic. The failure of large dams results in flooding with enough energy to damage or destroy residences and other structures. Every dam failure in the United States that resulted in more than 25 fatalities is presented. Included is information on the dam, purpose, dam size characteristics, and failure cause and losses. The dams causing 25 or more fatalities include:
Military Commissions and the Conundrum of Classified Evidence: A Semi-Panglossian Solution

This article argues that the classified evidence procedures in the Military Commissions Act of 2009 are a flawed solution to the problems posed by classified information in military commissions. On paper, they are superior to procedures in the Classified Information Procedures Act or the Military Rules of Evidence, but they are forever flawed because of three irreparable defects in the military commissions. First, the detainees are still monitored and treated as active sources of intelligence in the War of Terror, thereby generating an endless flow of new classified information to be processed. Second, many detainees cannot adequately defend themselves without disclosing classified information pertaining to their own interrogations or those of other witnesses. Third, serious separation of powers issues exist because all parties involved with decisions to declassify, disclose, or admit into evidence classified information are part of the Executive Branch. Executive Branch intelligence agencies, therefore, exercise a disproportionate influence over information flow in military commissions that they would not be able to exert in an Article III court.
Administration of a survey to evaluate the attitudes of house staff physicians towards antimicrobial resistance and the antimicrobial stewardship programme at a community teaching hospital

Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are used in numerous institutions in an effort to promote safe and effective antimicrobial use. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess physicians' perceptions, attitudes and knowledge about antimicrobial use, resistance and the ASP at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) and (ii) measure physicians' beliefs and attitudes to the current system of prior authorisation of antimicrobials. A 75-item, anonymous, voluntary, traditional paper and pencil survey was distributed to resident physicians at TBHC. Multiple-choice, 5-point Likert scale and knowledge-based questions were utilised. Of the 261 residents, 129 (49%) completed the survey. The respondents significantly believed that antibiotics are overused more frequently nationally vs. locally [117/129 (91%) vs. 91/129 (71%); P=0.0001]. Although 49% (63/129) felt that other providers overprescribe antibiotics, only 26% (34/129) agreed that they themselves were contributing to the current problem (P=0.0003). Fifty-seven percent of respondents agreed that individual patient care is improved by having an antibiotic approval programme; however, 45% of respondents reported that the antibiotic approval programme limits their autonomy in choosing antibiotics. Compared with surgical residents, medical residents were more likely (33% vs. 13%; P=0.02) to feel that the antibiotic approval programme forced them to choose an inappropriate antibiotic. On the antibiotic knowledge assessment segment of the survey, there was no difference in score when stratified by specialty or years of postgraduate training. Based on the survey results, house staff are supportive of antimicrobial stewardship and feel that the ASP is valuable for patient care.
Formulations of an accurate and stable matrix-free time-domain method in 2-D unstructured meshes

In this paper, we present detailed 2-D formulations of a new time-domain method that is naturally matrix free, i.e. requiring no matrix solution, in an unstructured mesh. Numerical experiments demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the proposed matrix-free method in arbitrary 2-D unstructured triangular meshes.
Study of the self-management level of Xinjiang Uigur patients with coronary heart disease and its influencing factors

Objective To investigate the self-management status of Xinjiang Uigur patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) and its influencing factors.Methods A total of 255 cases of patients with CHD were investigated with Self-efficacy Scale,Perceived Social Support Scale and a self-designed self-management questionnaire.Results The overall level of self-management of Uigur patients with CHD was moderate and the score of self-management was(69.00±13.00).The main influencing factors were age,occupation,history of disease,self-efficacy,family inner and outer supports and social support.Conclusion The self-management of Uighur patients with CHD is affected by many factors.Therefore,we should improve their self-management level by targeted intervention,delay and control the development of CHD so as to improve the quality of life.
Passive Integration Technology and Application of Low Temperature Co-fired Ferrite

Low temperature co-fired ferrite technlolgy is briefly introduced, and the key process, main applications and development trend are reported.
“Kid Thugs Are Spreading Terror Through the Streets”: Youth, Crime, and the Expansion of the Juvenile Justice System in Los Angeles, 1973-1980:

Over the course of the 1970s, liberal and conservative officials in Los Angeles worked to reform a juvenile justice system they believed to be too lenient on children and teenagers who committed cr...
Safety and Immunogenicity of Gelatin-free Freeze-dried Live Attenuated Varicella Vaccine

Objective To observe the safety and immunogenicity of gelatin-free freeze-dried live attenuated varicella vaccine.Methods A random,double-blinded control trial was performed in 1 398 children aged 1 ～ 12 years.The 1 398 children were randomly divided into trial and control groups,then inoculated with gelatin-free and gelatin-containing freeze-dried live attenuated varicella vaccines respectively and observed for safety,of whom 733 were determined for varicella antibody levels by fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen(FAMA) method to observed the immunogenicity of vaccine.Results The systemic reaction rates of children in trial and control groups were 11.49% and 14.96% respectively,which showed no significant difference(P 0.05).The systemic reactions were mainly fever.The moderate fever(37.6 ～ 39.0℃) rate of children in trial group(0.57%) was significantly lower than that in control group(1.71%)(P 0.05).The local reaction rates of children in trial(3.02%) and control(2.99%) groups showed no significant difference(P 0.05).The local reactions were mainly expressed as pain,redness and swelling as itch.The GMTs of varicella antibodies of trial and control groups were 1 ∶ 5.83 and 1 ∶ 6.04 before immunization,and 1 ∶ 89.15 and 1 ∶ 94.44 after immunization,respectively.The antibody positive conversion rates of trial and control groups were 98.91% and 98.37% respectively,which showed no significant difference(P 0.05).Conclusion The immunogenicity of gelatin-free freeze-dried live attenuated varicella vaccine was equivalent to that of gelatin-containing vaccine,while the moderate fever rate decreased significantly.
Antifreeze proteins govern the precipitation of trehalose in a freezing-avoiding insect at low temperature

The remarkable adaptive strategies of insects to extreme environments are linked to the biochemical compounds in their body fluids. Trehalose, a versatile sugar molecule, can accumulate to high levels in freeze-tolerant and freeze-avoiding insects, functioning as a cryoprotectant and a supercooling agent. Antifreeze proteins (AFPs), known to protect organisms from freezing by lowering the freezing temperature and deferring the growth of ice, are present at high levels in some freeze-avoiding insects in winter, and yet, paradoxically are found in some freeze-tolerant insects. Here, we report a previously unidentified role for AFPs in effectively inhibiting trehalose precipitation in the hemolymph (or blood) of overwintering beetle larvae. We determine the trehalose level (29.6 ± 0.6 mg/mL) in the larval hemolymph of a beetle, Dendroides canadensis, and demonstrate that the hemolymph AFPs are crucial for inhibiting trehalose crystallization, whereas the presence of trehalose also enhances the antifreeze activity of AFPs. To dissect the molecular mechanism, we examine the molecular recognition between AFP and trehalose crystal interfaces using molecular dynamics simulations. The theory corroborates the experiments and shows preferential strong binding of the AFP to the fast growing surfaces of the sugar crystal. This newly uncovered role for AFPs may help explain the long-speculated role of AFPs in freeze-tolerant species. We propose that the presence of high levels of molecules important for survival but prone to precipitation in poikilotherms (their body temperature can vary considerably) needs a companion mechanism to prevent the precipitation and here present, to our knowledge, the first example. Such a combination of trehalose and AFPs also provides a novel approach for cold protection and for trehalose crystallization inhibition in industrial applications.
Extra Vesical versus Leadbetter-Politano Ureteroneocystostomy: A Comparison of Urological Complications in 320 Renal Transplants

AbstractThe urological complications of 320 consecutive renal transplants performed at our institution between October 17, 1985 and November 10, 1989 are reviewed. The Leadbetter-Politano technique of ureteroneocystostomy was used in the first 160 patients (group 1) and an anterior extravesical technique modified from the methods of Witzel, Sampson and Lieh was performed in the second 160 patients (group 2). Urological complications occurred in 15 patients (9.4%) in group 1 and 6 (3.7%) in group 2 (p = 0.04). Ureterovesical junction obstruction occurred in 6 patients (3.7%) in group 1 and 1 (0.6%) in group 2 (p = 0.05). Complications of leakage, ureteral necrosis and ureteral stricture were comparable in the 2 groups. Therefore, we advocate the use of the anterior extravesical technique over Leadbetter-Politano ureteral reimplantation based on the lower incidence of urological complications and various technical advantages, including less operative time, avoidance of a separate cystotomy, less hematuria a...
Aortico–Left Ventricular Tunnel

Aortico–left ventricular tunnel is a rare congenital anomaly, the incidence of which is estimated to be 1 in 1000 infants born with congenital heart disease. It is characterized by an abnormal, direct, paravalvular, endothelialized communication between the ascending aorta and the left ventricle. Most cases arise upstream of the right coronary sinus, above the sinotubular junction; origin from the left coronary sinus is rare. Patients present with symptoms of congestive heart failure in the first year of life owing to the physiologic effects of the tunnel, which amount to severe para-aortic regurgitation.
2016 Russell Ross Memorial Lecture in Vascular Biology: Molecular-Cellular Mechanisms in the Progression of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is initiated by the subendothelial accumulation of apoB-lipoproteins, which initiates a sterile inflammatory response dominated by monocyte-macrophages but including all classes of innate and adaptive immune cells. These inflammatory cells, together with proliferating smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix, promote the formation of subendothelial lesions or plaques. In the vast majority of cases, these lesions do not cause serious clinical symptoms, which is due in part to a resolution-repair response that limits tissue damage. However, a deadly minority of lesions progress to the point where they can trigger acute lumenal thrombosis, which may then cause unstable angina, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, or stroke. Many of these clinically dangerous lesions have hallmarks of defective inflammation resolution, including defective clearance of dead cells (efferocytosis), necrosis, a defective scar response, and decreased levels of lipid mediators of the resolution response. Efferocytosis is both an effector arm of the resolution response and an inducer of resolution mediators, and thus its defect in advanced atherosclerosis amplifies plaque progression. Preclinical causation/treatment studies have demonstrated that replacement therapy with exogenously administered resolving mediators can improve lesional efferocytosis and prevent plaque progression. Work in this area has the potential to potentiate the cardiovascular benefits of apoB-lipoprotein-lowering therapy.
Assessment of roles for the Rho-specific guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor Ly-GDI in platelet function: a spatial systems approach

On activation at sites of vascular injury, platelets undergo morphological alterations essential to hemostasis via cytoskeletal reorganizations driven by the Rho GTPases Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA. Here...
Acute Onset Ocular Hypotony after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Importance: The purpose of this case report is to evaluate risk factors associated with post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) ocular hypotony compared to post-CABG ischemic optic neuropathy. Observations: The patient described here is a single case at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, from July 2016. This case demonstrates the rare incidence of acute post-CABG ocular hypotony and vision loss in a patient with prior history of optic atrophy. Both vision loss and hypotony resolved completely to baseline without intervention within 3 days postoperatively. Conclusions and Relevance: Severe anemia and large fluctuations in central venous pressure and blood pressure can occur in any patient undergoing CABG surgery. These hemodynamic shifts can cause transient ischemia to pressure controlling systems such as the ciliary body and reduce episcleral venous pressure. Other risk factors for acute hypotony in the setting of CABG surgery also include the use of hypertonic agents, cardiopulmonary bypass, and intravenous anesthesia.
AptaCluster --- A Method to Cluster HT-SELEX Aptamer Pools and Lessons from Its Application

Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment SELEX is a well established experimental procedure to identify aptamers - synthetic single-stranded ribonucleic molecules that bind to a given molecular target. Recently, new sequencing technologies have revolutionized the SELEX protocol by allowing for deep sequencing of the selection pools after each cycle. The emergence of High Throughput SELEX HT-SELEX has opened the field to new computational opportunities and challenges that are yet to be addressed. To aid the analysis of the results of HT-SELEX and to advance the understanding of the selection process itself, we developed AptaCluster. This algorithm allows for an efficient clustering of whole HT-SELEX aptamer pools; a task that could not be accomplished with traditional clustering algorithms due to the enormous size of such datasets. We performed HT-SELEX with Interleukin 10 receptor alpha chain IL-10RA as the target molecule and used AptaCluster to analyze the resulting sequences. AptaCluster allowed for the first survey of the relationships between sequences in different selection rounds and revealed previously not appreciated properties of the SELEX protocol. As the first tool of this kind, AptaCluster enables novel ways to analyze and to optimize the HT-SELEX procedure. Our AptaCluster algorithm is available as a very fast multiprocessor implementation upon request.
Erythropoietin, iron, and erythropoiesis

Recent knowledge gained regarding the relationship between erythropoietin, iron, and erythropoiesis in patients with blood loss anemia, with or without recombinant human erythropoietin therapy, has implications for patient management. Under conditions of significant blood loss, erythropoietin therapy, or both, iron-restricted erythropoiesis is evident, even in the presence of storage iron and iron oral supplementation. Intravenous iron therapy in renal dialysis patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy can produce hematologic responses with serum ferritin levels up to 400 microg/L, indicating that traditional biochemical markers of storage iron in patients with anemia caused by chronic disease are unhelpful in the assessment of iron status. Newer measurements of erythrocyte and reticulocyte indices using automated counters show promise in the evaluation of iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Assays for serum erythropoietin and the transferrin receptor are valuable tools for clinical research, but their roles in routine clinical practice remain undefined. The availability of safer intravenous iron preparations allows for carefully controlled studies of their value in patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy or experiencing blood loss, or both.
‘El Agua es Vida/Water Is Life’: Community Watershed Reserves in Intag, Ecuador, and Emerging Ecological Identities

Intag, Ecuador, is a unique area for its biodiversity, international attempts to extract resources, and the local mobilization against mining. Its inhabitants, known as Intenos, live in scattered communities, hamlets, and farms, and have indigenous, African, and mixed – mestizo – origins. For the most part, Intenos depend upon the natural world for their livelihoods and have developed a unique culture that stresses values of mutual interdependence that complement collective and individual rights. The northwestern subtropical Andes Mountains are steep, rugged, and interspersed with abundant rivers and streams. The sound of flowing water is always near. When local interests clashed with attempts to extract mineral by powerful transnational mining companies, a culture of political ecology emerged. ‘We can’t sell our children’s future by letting a ­mining company come in and contaminate our beautiful river’, Carmen Proano, community president of Rio Verde, proclaimed on August 14, 2009.
Introduction to Basic Attribution Theories

While this book is about perspectives on attribtion theory and research and while we at times will refer to “attribution theory,” we would like to point out that there is no monolithic theory in this domain of work. As soon will become evident to the reader, there are no well-accepted, singular sets of assumptions or hypotheses, nor are there general conclusions concerning attribution processes that are tied together in a coherent logical network. Rather, there are several theoretical approaches to causal attribution processes, each of which has some similarities to and differences from the others. In addition to these attribution conceptions which are concerned primarily with the process of making an attribution, there are a number of analyses that are concerned primarily with the consequences of arriving at a given attribution. Kelley (1978) has termed these latter analyses attributional theories and has commented, “That’s what most of the research is about—attribution-based theories of emotion, achievement, motivation, affiliation, helping, revenge, equity” (p. 375). Indeed, we have already noted the diverse and extensive phenomena to which attribution conceptions have been applied. In the first section of this book we will examine attribution theories, and in the next section we will focus on attributional theories; however, the reader should not be misled into believing that there is more theoretical coherence in this area than there really is.
A litany for change.

A listing of the health and social needs of children is provided in an attempt to stimulate a demand for increased attention to youth of our country. Child abuse, violence, infant mortality, health care disparity and lack of insurance, working parents, poverty, adverse living conditions and arrangements, and increasing numbers of disadvantaged and/or minority children are some of the most pressing needs facing the youngest segment of our society today.
Expected differences in diversity and rarity between communities containing sexually versus asexually reproducing taxa

Recent studies evaluating the community structures of microorganisms and macro-organisms have found greater diversity and rarity within micro-scale communities, compared to macro-scale communities. However, reproductive method has been a confounding factor in these comparisons; the microbes considered generally reproduce asexually, while the macro-organisms considered generally reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction imposes the constraint of mate finding, which can have significant demographic consequences by depressing birth rates at low population sizes. Here, I examine theoretically how the effects of mate finding in sexual populations translate to the emergent community properties of diversity, rarity, and dominance. Using continuous-time Markov chain models, I compare communities with and without constraints of mate limitation. In mate-limited sexual populations, the decreased growth rates at low population densities translates to a much higher extinction rate. In communities consisting of sexually reproducing taxa, the increased extinction rate due to mate limitation decreases expected diversity. Furthermore, mate limitation has a disproportionately strong effect on taxa with low population density, leading to fewer rare taxa. These shifts in community structure mirror recent empirical studies of micro versus macro communities, indicating that reproductive method may contribute to observed differences in emergent properties between communities at these two scales.
Searching for Wholeness Amidst Traumatic Grief: The Role of Spiritual Practices that Reveal Compassion in Embodied, Relational, and Transcendent Ways

How can body-centered spiritual practices help those experiencing traumatic grief? Research on trauma recovery using Porges’s polyvagal theory demonstrates the central role of body-centered practices in helping survivors experience safety before they can search for meanings. Research on religious coping and trauma emphasizes the search for meanings but does not pay as much attention to the role of spiritual practices. This article argues that spiritual practices revealing compassion and benevolence in embodied, relational, and transcendent ways help people in their search for meanings that are flexible, integrated, and complex enough to bear the weight of traumatic grief. The author illustrates this by describing the role of a spiritual practice in her grieving the death by suicide of her 27-year-old son. Listening to sacred choral music evoked grief and an embodied sense of being held within a relational web of love, which became a safe space to experience lament and religious struggles arising from her religiously multiple identity. The conclusion describes how intercultural, spiritually oriented care can help people find intrinsically meaningful body-aware spiritual practices that compassionately energize a collaborative search for meanings amidst traumatic grief.
Cerebral microbleeds: Prevalence and relationship to amyloid burden.

Objective To describe the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and determine the association between CMBs and β-amyloid burden on PET. Methods From the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, 1,215 participants (53% male) underwent 3-tesla MRI scans with T2* gradient recalled echo sequences from October 2011 to February 2017. A total of 1,123 participants (92%) underwent 11 C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)-PET scans. The prevalence of CMBs was derived by adjusting for nonparticipation and standardizing to the Olmsted County, MN, population. The relationship between β-amyloid burden and CMB presence and location was tested using logistic regression models. Ordinal logistic models tested the relationship between CMB frequency and β-amyloid burden. Results Two hundred seventy-four participants (22.6%) had at least one CMB. CMB frequency increased with age by decade (11% aged 60–69 years, 22% 70–79 years, and 39% 80 years and older). After adjusting for age, sex, and hypertension, PiB standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was associated with increased odds of a CMB. The association between PiB SUVR and CMBs was location-specific; PiB SUVR was associated with lobar CMBs but not deep CMBs. Age, hypertension, and PiB SUVR were associated with increasing CMB count. CMB density was greatest in parietal and occipital regions; β-amyloid burden correlated with concentration of CMBs in all lobar regions. Among participants with multiple CMBs, greater PiB uptake occurred in the pre- and postcentral gyri superiorly, the superior parietal lobe and precuneus, the angular gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, and temporal poles. Conclusions The prevalence of CMBs increases with age. In this population-based sample, β-amyloid load was associated with lobar but not with deep CMBs.
Failure Analysis of Additively Manufactured Polyester Test Specimens Exposed to Various Liquid Media

Additive manufacturing platforms that rely on thermoplastic feedstock materials are now expected to fabricate components intended for deployment in a wide variety of environments, necessitating an understanding of the ability of a material to perform within a broad range of conditions. The work presented here explored the effect of submerging two polyester materials widely used in fused filament fabrication processes in five common liquid media: distilled water, apple cider vinegar, Mexican Coca-cola, 200 proof ethanol and distilled white vinegar for a seven day duration. Mechanical testing, dynamic mechanical analysis and characterization of the fracture surfaces via scanning electron microscopy were used to understand the effect of liquid media exposure. The effects of polymer degradation due to hygroscopic and hydrolytic mechanisms effects were documented. The need for specific procedures for the testing of the environmental effects on the degradation of additively manufactured polymeric components is also highlighted.
The Anthropology of Populism: Beyond the Liberal Settlement

This article suggests that although there is not much of an explicitly defined anthropology of populism, anthropologists have nevertheless been working for many years on the things we talk about wh...
Oscillator strengths for the beryllium isoelectronic sequence

Oscillator strengths for the outer shells of the beryllium isoelectronic sequence are obtained using the relativistic random phase approximation in which the relativistic effects are included nonperturbatively. The results agree well with other accurate calculations that have been carried out for low-Z elements. For high-Z elements, our results should be very reliable. Both length and velocity formulas are used to calculate the oscillator strengths. The velocity formula is very sensitive to the weak inner-shell coupling, whereas the length formula is not. Inner-shell excitation energies and oscillator strengths are examined and compared with the helium isoelectronic sequence to show the effect of outer-shell screening.
Comparison of the laparoscopic and open surgery for incarcerated inguinal hernia in children

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of incarcerated inguinal hernia in children.Methods From March 2010 to June 2011,111 patients with incarcerated inguinal hernia were admitted to this department and underwent surgery.Among them,56 patients were perfortcd laparoscopic surgery,and the other 55 underwent open surgery via inguinal oblique incision.The perioperative perimeters and short term outcome were retrospectively analyzed to compare the safety and efficacy of the 2 procedures.Results On the 3 of the 56 patients with laparoscopic surgery,laparoscopic surgery was converted to open surgery for failed man ual reduction of hernia after anesthesia.The mean operative time was 31.4 ± 10.2 minutes.The mean postoperative ventilation time was 7.8 ± 2.9 hours.The mean length of hospital stay was 3.3 ± 1.1 days.All patients recovered well without any complications.The surgical incision was healed primarily.Less postoperative swelling of the scrotum or labia was notcd,and no hematoma occurred.No reoccurrence of hernia was observed during 1 to 15 months' follow up.OOf the 55 patients underwent open surgery,the mean operative time was 40.7 ± 11.6 minutes.The mean postoperative ventilation time was 15.3 ± 2.8 hours.The mean length of hospital stay was 5.8 ± 1.4 days.The scar appearance of incision was more obvious on the patients with open surgery.More severe postoperative swelling of the scrotum or labia was also noted,and scrotal hematoma occurred on 7 patients.During 2 to 17 months' follow-up,small incision exudate was noted on 3 patients,wound infection on 1,hernia recurrence on 2,occurrence of contralateral hcrnia on 8.Conclusions laparoscopic surgery is a safe,reliable and effective procedure for the treatment of incarcerated inguiual hcrnia in children. Key words: laparoscopic surgery operation; Hernia, inguinal
Enhanced co-expression extrapolation (COXEN) gene selection method for building anticancer drug response prediction models.

e14073Background: Accurate prediction of tumor response to a drug treatment is of paramount importance for precision oncology. The co-expression extrapolation (COXEN) gene selection approach has be...
3D RAM Modeling and Simulation in a Model Based Systems Engineering Environment

A critical aspect of a Model Based Systems Engineering environment is the ability to insert and interact with dimensionally accurate 3D models to support multi-disciplinary analyses. This paper provides an overview of how immersive environments are effectively used to perform platform and systems level reliability and maintainability analyses and training. It further highlights lessons learned on how to make 3D modeling and simulation a catalyst for improving Model Based Systems Engineering environments.
Surgical Decision-Making in the Elderly with Serious Surgical Illness: The Role of Palliative Care

These sobering, cautionary words are the basis for this chapter. To highlight our surgical “success” in older age patients, with serious and advanced illness, is a noble cause. It is both a wonderful and an empathetic achievement if placed in the proper context. However, judging outcome based solely on traditional metrics such as survival, length of stay, and complications, without assessing quality of life (QoL) and patient-wellness for older age patients, is misguided. A comprehensive approach, incorporating the entire personal and clinical situation, is required. To neglect these critical elements is at best shortsighted and, at worse, potentially harmful to all of the involved parties from patient to family to the clinical providers. This book examines the surgeries and miracles we perform in the growing geriatric surgical population. The goal of surgical palliative care (SPC) is not to belittle, prevent, or deter from these accomplishments but, rather, to raise the discourse by asking important questions of QoL and wellness and to place them in the context of the patient as a “whole.” It is easy to make surgical decisions in a vacuum, focusing on pathology and surgical treatments. The challenge is to incorporate the entire patient’s values and incorporate SPC appropriately so that treatment never violates the patient’s values in the name of surgical treatment. This is especially important in the realm of the vulnerable geriatric medicine (GM) population which is as unique, complex, and heterogenous as any other group of patients in medicine. The barriers to the SPC decision-making paradigm are both real and formidable. These barriers will be elucidated and solutions proposed. Only then can we provide the highest levels of “whole” patient care, compassion, and humanism.