cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of an occult fracture of the femoral component after total hip arthroplasty. A case report.

Fractures of the femoral component in total hip arthroplasty have been extensively reported1-9. Although some patients with such a fracture have acute symptoms and obvious radiographic findings, we have occasionally seen patients after total hip arthroplasty who have thigh pain and normal radiographic findings. The patient is often vague with regard to the time of the onset and the provocation of the thigh pain. After a period of time, a fracture of the femoral component can be seen on plain radiographs. To the best of our knowledge, the case of our patient is unique because, when we suspected a possible fracture of the femoral component as the cause of the thigh pain, we used magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the integrity of the stem and found an occult fracture of the femoral component. Our patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication. Asixty-two-year-old man presented with a two-week history of intermittent pain in the right hip that occurred primarily with weight-bearing. Ten years previously, he had undergone a right total hip arthroplasty with use of a collarless, normalized, cast cobalt-chromium stem (Osteonics, Allendale, New Jersey) that had been inserted with cement. At the time of the surgery, he was 170 cm tall and weighed 100 kg. To accommodate the dimensions of the femoral canal, one of the smaller stem sizes (number 5) had been used with a 28-mm-diameter head with a +10-mm neck length. The postoperative course had been uncomplicated, and he was satisfied with the result until the pain developed in the thigh. He reported no known inciting trauma and first noted the pain after walking eighteen holes of golf. On physical examination, the patient walked with a mild limp. Pain could not be elicited when the limb was moved …
Issues affecting the reliability of software-cost estimates (trying to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers)

The author discusses a wide range of dynamic factors (many of which are managerial, subjective, and/or nonquantifiable) present in the software development environment that severely inhibit the generation of reliable cost estimates. The wide-ranging results of a comparison of several cost models applied to a hypothetical system are presented to illustrate the basis for low confidence levels in software cost estimating methodologies. Results of a recently conducted empirical application of emerging software size estimation models are also presented. >
Evaluation of 4 new generation portable ventilators.

BACKGROUND: Portable ventilators are increasingly utilized in the intra- and inter-hospital transport of patients. We evaluated 4 portable ventilators, Impact EMV, CareFusion LTV 1200, Newport HT70, and Hamilton T1, in terms of triggering, delivered tidal volume (VT) accuracy, battery duration, delivered FIO2 accuracy, and gas consumption. METHODS: Triggering was tested using a microprocessor controlled breathing simulator that simulated a weak, normal, and aggressive inspiratory effort using muscle pressures of −2, −4, and −8 cm H2O respectively. Delivered VT and FIO2 accuracy were evaluated across a range of operation. To determine gas consumption, the ventilators were attached to an E type oxygen cylinder and operated at an FIO2 of 1.0 until the tank was depleted. Battery duration was tested by operating each ventilator at an FIO2 of 0.21 until the device ceased to operate. RESULTS: Differences remain among devices in several aspects of the testing protocol. Gas consumption ranged from 9.2 to 16 L/min. Battery duration ranged from 101 to 640 min. Triggering performance varied among devices but was consistent breath to breath within the same device, using the fastest and slowest rise time settings. FIO2 accuracy varied at the low range on the 50 mL VT setting with one device, and at the high range on both the 50 mL and 500 mL VT settings with another. CONCLUSIONS: Manufacturers continue to improve the performance of portable ventilators. All the ventilators we tested performed well on VT delivery across a range of settings, using both the internal drive mechanism (FIO2 0.21) and compressed oxygen (FIO2 1.0). Two of the ventilators were unable to deliver accurate FIO2 across the range of VT. None of the devices was clearly superior to the others in all aspects of our evaluation.
On identifiability, maximum-likelihood, and novel HOS based criteria

Considers estimation and classification problems for a stretch of stationary data containing a non-Gaussian linear process and additive Gaussian noise of unknown covariance (AGN/UC). To allow general noncausal and nonminimum phase (NC/NMP) ARMA models, and develop estimation and classification schemes which are immune to AGN/UC higher-order statistics (HOS) are resorted to. Time-domain optimality criteria are discussed which employ a finite set of sample cumulant lags, while the frequency-domain criteria involve sample polyspectral lags. >
Degradation of RH1056 parameters at low total dose

The behavior of the RH1056 JFET input operational amplifier from linear technologies following Co-60 irradiation has been studied at both high and low dose rates. A significant amount of unexpected degradation of the input offset voltage for this radiation hardened part is observed at low doses. The amount of degradation peaks between about 2 and 6 krad(Si) depending on irradiation conditions. At higher doses, above about 20 krad(Si), the input offset voltage recovers to near pre-irradiation values. This degradation at low doses is not anticipated by the manufacturer's data sheet and could present unexpected surprises for missions operating in the total dose range of 2 - 10 krad(Si). This performance also suggests some potential issues with the typical hardness assurance methodology of step-level testing if the steps are too large.
A coding theorem for multiple-access decorrelating channels

We determine a strong coding theorem for decorrelating multiple-access channels without finite memory on past inputs and outputs but with finite memory on inputs only. We use an interleaved code argument to show the probability of error has an upper bound which decreases exponentially with the code length.
Electrocardiographic and blood pressure effects of the ephedra-containing TrimSpa thermogenic herbal compound in healthy volunteers.

Study Objective. To determine the effect of an ephedra-containing thermogenic herbal compound (TrimSpa) on rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval duration and systolic blood pressure. Design. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, intent-to-treat study. Setting. Student laboratory at a college of pharmacy. Subjects. Thirteen healthy volunteers (eight men, five women). Intervention. Participants were given TrimSpa, which contains more than 30 ingredients including ephedra 15 mg and caffeine 60 mg, or matching placebo 3 times/day for 7 days in a crossover fashion with a 7-day washout period between treatments. Measurements and Main Results. Each subject's QTc interval and systolic blood pressure were measured on days 1, 4, and 7. These measurements were performed immediately before study drug ingestion (baseline) and 0.5, 1, and 3 hours after ingestion. No differences in these variables were found between the TrimSpa and placebo groups. In one subject taking TrimSpa, the QTc interval increased 96 msec from baseline, more than double the largest increase in the placebo group. Conclusion. Standard doses of TrimSpa did not induce changes in subjects' QTc intervals or systolic blood pressures. However, because the QTc interval dramatically changed in one subject taking TrimSpa, a large study is needed to determine if the effect is an artifact or if the subject represents a subset of people for whom the drug may pose a risk.
A unifying hypothesis of schizophrenia: Abnormal immune system development may help explain roles of prenatal hazards, post-pubertal onset, stress, genes, climate, infections, and brain dysfunction

We propose a unifying hypothesis of schizophrenia to help reconcile findings from many different disciplines. This hypothesis proposes that schizophrenia often involves pre- or perinatal exposure to adverse factors that produce a latent immune vulnerability. When this vulnerability is manifested, beginning around puberty with changes in immune function and involution of the thymus, individuals become more susceptible to infections and immune dysfunctions that contribute to schizophrenia. Our hypothesis suggests theoretical bridges between different lines of evidence on schizophrenia and offers explanations for many puzzling findings about schizophrenia. For example, the hypothesis helps account for why schizophrenia patients tend to have had increased exposure to neurotropic infections, but most individuals with such exposure do not develop schizophrenia, and why prenatal hardships increase risk for schizophrenia, but the onset of symptoms typically does not occur until after puberty. The hypothesis also explains another paradox: lower socioeconomic status and poor prenatal care increase risk for schizophrenia at the same geographic site, but international comparisons indicate that countries with higher per capita incomes and better prenatal care actually tend to have higher schizophrenia prevalences. As the hypothesis predicts, (1) prenatal adversity, which increases risk for schizophrenia, also impairs post-pubertal immune competence, (2) schizophrenia patients experience elevated morbidity from infectious and auto-immune diseases, (3) genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia increase vulnerability to these diseases, (4) factors that exacerbate schizophrenic symptoms also tend to impair immune function, (5) many anti-psychotic medications combat infection, (6) effects of early infections may not appear until after puberty, when they can produce neurologic and psychiatric symptoms, and (7) immune dysfunctions, such as imbalances of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, may contribute to the onset of psychotic symptoms and the progressive loss of brain tissue in schizophrenia. The disruptive effects of prenatal adversity on the development of the immune system may often combine with adverse effects on prenatal brain development to produce schizophrenia. This paper focuses on the adverse immune system effects, because effects on the brain have been extensively discussed in neurodevelopmental theories of schizophrenia. We propose new tests of scientific predictions. We also point out potential clinical implications of the hypothesis; for example, individuals with schizophrenia may often have underlying infections or immune dysfunctions, such as imbalances in inflammatory cytokines, that contribute to the illness. This possibility could be tested experimentally--e.g., by clinical trials in which patients' exposure to infection is reduced or immune function is normalized.
The effects of growth hormone and IGF‐1 deficiency on cerebrovascular and brain ageing

Research studies clearly indicate that age-related changes in cellular and tissue function are linked to decreases in the anabolic hormones, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. Although there has been extensive research on the effects of these hormones on bone and muscle mass, their effect on cerebrovascular and brain ageing has received little attention. We have also observed that in response to moderate calorie restriction (a treatment that increases mean and maximal lifespan by 30–40%), age-related decreases in growth hormone secretion are ameliorated (despite a decline in plasma levels of IGF-1) suggesting that some of the effects of calorie restriction are mediated by modifying the regulation of the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis. Recently, we have observed that microvascular density on the surface of the brain decreases with age and that these vascular changes are ameliorated by moderate calorie restriction. Analysis of cerebral blood flow paralleled the changes in vasculature in both groups. Administration of growth hormone for 28 d was also found to increase microvascular density in aged animals and further analysis indicated that the cerebral vasculature is an important paracrine source of IGF-1 for the brain. In subsequent studies, administration of GHRH (to increase endogenous release of growth hormone) or direct administration of IGF-1 was shown to reverse the age-related decline in spatial working and reference memory. Similarly, antagonism of IGF-1 action in the brains of young animals impaired both learning and reference memory. Investigation of the mechanisms of action of IGF-1 suggested that this hormone regulates age-related alterations in NMDA receptor subtypes (e.g. NMDAR2A and R2B). The beneficial role of growth hormone and IGF-1 in ameliorating vascular and brain ageing are counterbalanced by their well-recognised roles in age-related pathogenesis. Although research in this area is still evolving, our results suggest that decreases in growth hormone and IGF-1 with age have both beneficial and deleterious effects. Furthermore, part of the actions of moderate calorie restriction on tissue function and lifespan may be mediated through alterations in the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis.
A novel CMOS digital clock and data decoder

A novel CMOS digital clock and data decoder (DCDD) is described. The DCDD has been implemented in a commercial Ethernet serial interface (ESI) integrated circuit for the CSMA/CD standard. As a digital implementation, the DCDD is as manufacturable as conventional CMOS digital circuits, unlike decoders based on analog phase-locked loops, which are sensitive to CMOS processing parameters and are, hence, difficult to manufacture. A 32-tap synchronous delay line (SDL) provides the timing reference for the DCDD with a resolution equivalent to that provided by a 320-MHz clock. This phase information is used to digitally recover, using waveform synthesis performed at a 320-MHz rate, the clock and data information from the input data. The DCDD meets the jitter-tolerance requirements of the CSMA/CD standard with the consistency demanded of a commercial integrated circuit. >
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in children

Abstract Background Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMFT) is an uncommon neoplasm in children. Methods Retrospective review from 1993 to 2014 of patients ≤18years of age with a histopathologic diagnosis of IMFT treated at two tertiary centers. Results Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with IMFT. Mean (±SD) age was 9.3±5.7years at diagnosis. Tumor location was variable: abdomen/pelvis (28%), head/neck region (22%), intrathoracic (22%), genitourinary (9%), bowel (6%) liver (6%), and musculoskeletal (6%). Median follow-up was 2.6±4.6years, with 3 recurrences and 2 deaths, which occurred only after recurrence. Positive microscopic margin after resection was associated with recurrence, compared to those that had a negative margin (40% vs. 0%, p =0.04). Recurrence was associated with increased mortality (67% vs 0%, p =0.01). Time from first symptoms to resection was shorter in those with recurrence (25.8±22 vs. 179±275days, p =0.01) and in nonsurvivors (44.0±8.0 vs. 194.3±53.4days, p =0.02). Adjuvant chemotherapy, not including steroid monotherapy, either given before or after resection, was administered more often to nonsurvivors (100% vs 4%, p =0.009), and use of corticosteroids was also higher in the nonsurvivors (100% vs. 15%, p =0.04). Conclusions IMFT is a rare pediatric neoplasm with variable locations. Complete excision is critical for cure. Proposed guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of theses tumors in children are reported.
Consulting Engineering Graduate Education

A method of improving educational opportunities for graduate students seeking careers in the consulting engineering profession is proposed. Support for these graduate students by the consulting engineering profession is justified. Support includes stipends for students and assistance from the consultants in identifying research project suitable for individual, thesis-type study by these students. The projects are expected to benefit directly the supporting consulting engineering organizations because they will address problems currently facing these organizations. Students, training to begin careers in the consulting engineering field, will benefit from the financial support, but more importantly from participation in projects which address problems similar to those they will face in their chosen profession. The net effect of consultant’s support of these programs will be higher quality graduate engineering education, and the development of a larger pool of young engineers better trained to enter the consulting engineering profession.
Self-Efficacy and Literacy: A Paired Difference Approach to Estimation of Over-/Under-Confidence in Mathematics- and Science-Related Tasks.

AbstractSubject-specific self-efficacy is a measure of confidence in one’s own ability to complete tasks related to that subject. This confidence does not necessarily reflect actual ability in the subject and can be an over- or underestimate of true ability. We use nationally representative samples of 15-year-old students from the US to measure the degree of over-/under-confidence in mathematics and science, and explore its relationship with student demographic characteristics such as gender, grade and race. Our results suggest that white students consistently underestimate their ability, whereas black and Hispanic students consistently overestimate it. This pattern in over-/under-confidence persists even after controlling for student and school level differences. Implications are discussed.
‘A higher degree of scholarship’: Pagans and the language of scholarly authority

AbstractThrough an exploration of the intellectual history and contemporary writings of the Pagan movement, this study will examine the lineage of ‘knowledge-based’ authority in contemporary Paganism. In particular, it will illuminate how the intellectual lineage of Pagan writings helped contemporary writers respond to a moment of crisis in Paganism, and it will provide an explanation for the traditionalised use of the rhetorical modes of scholarly authority among Pagan writers.
Notes on the Bionomics of Six Species of Apion (Curculionidae, Coleoptera)1

This paper represents a part of an extended study made in 1949–1951 on the bionomics of Curculionidae found associated with plants in East Central Illinois in Champaign County. Six species of the genus Apion are treated particularly in reference to their association with the host plants.
Mutations in Collagen Genes as a Cause of Connective-Tissue Diseases

FOR more than 10 years, my colleagues and I have been testing the relatively simple hypothesis that the degeneration of connective tissue characteristic of many diseases is the result of genetic defects in the collagens that provide most of the strength of the normal tissues. We and others first examined this hypothesis in relatively rare genetic diseases in which bone, cartilage, and other tissues can be so fragile as to be life-threatening early in life. More recently, we have tried to see whether the same hypothesis applies to more common diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and aortic aneurysms. Structure, Function, . . .
Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence (TRAPS): An Illustrative Series of 13 Cases

Twin reversed-arterial-perfusion sequence (TRAPS) is a rare and severe complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies. It usually occurs in the setting of monochorionic placentation, when the heart of a normal appearing twin serves as the pump for one or more dysmorphic twins whose head, thoracic organs, and upper extremities do not fully develop or do not develop at all and thus lack cardiac activity. Anomalous vascular placental architecture causes a shift in arterial flow towards the acardiac twin(s). The exact physiopathologic mechanisms that lead to this devastating phenomenon are not well known. We reviewed the maternal history and the surgical pathology reports of the fetuses and placentas of 13 different cases of TRAPS that were collected in a 23-year study period at a single institution. Herein we summarize the characteristic findings and illustrate specific mechanical feto-placental circulation issues that appear to be instrumental in the development of TRAPS.
A Systematic Approach for Multidimensional, Closed-Form Analytic Modeling: Minority Electron Mobilities in Ga1-xAlxAs Heterostructures.

A significant, practical challenge, which arises in developing computationally efficient physical models for use in computer simulations of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices (for example, transistors in digital cellular phones and lasers in optical networks, respectively), is to represent vast amounts of numerical data for transport properties in two or more dimensions in terms of closed form analytic expressions. In this paper, we present a general methodology to achieve the above goal for a class of numerical data in a bounded two-dimensional space. We then apply this methodology to obtain a closedform analytic expression for the minority electron mobilities at 300 K in p-type Ga1x Alx As as functions of the acceptor density NA between 10 16 cm 3 and 10 20
An introduction to the theory of dielectric loss in plastics

Perhaps the most familiar property of a dielectric material is the capacitance increase observed when a sheet of dielectric is inserted between the plates of an “air” capacitor. In fact, the ratio of dielectric to air-filled capacitance is often used to define the dielectric constant e'. Defined in this way, its magnitude becomes a property of the material, independent of the measuring voltage or geometry of the test capacitor. The range of values for polymers is not large. The lower limit is in the neighborhood of 2 and it is rare to see one as high as 10.
Hip Hop Battles and Facial Intertexts

Hip hop dance battles are organized around a face-to-face danced exchange and, although dancers mobilize a diverse range of facial expression, scarcely any scholarly work addresses the face as a choreographic device. Several scholars, however, have noted that hip hip battles are dialogic or conversational in style, and I assert that dancers strategically employ facial expression to challenge and comment upon their opponents. In this article, I draw on the theory of intertextuality, and in particular Henry Louis Gates's concept of signifyin(g), to show how dancers deploy facial choreography as a mode of embodied articulation. Based on an ethnography of hip hop battles in Philadelphia, I examine the choreography of facial expression in four particular ways: as a strategy to signal generic particularity; to make commentary on the actions of other body parts; to create dialogic exchange between other faces at the battle event; and to reference facial intertexts from the broader popular culture.
A PRELIMINARY PALEOMAGNETIC RESULT OF THE DANFENG OPHIOLITE FORMATION OF THE SHANGDAN ZONE IN THE QINLING BELT (CHINA)

Detailed paleomagnetic study was performed on the Danfeng Ophiolite Formation (Ordo-vician age) of the Shangdan Zone in the Qinling Belt, China. Twenty-six specimens (8 hand-samples) from the Guojiagou section (33.7°N, 110.3°E) at Danfeng County and 21 specimens (7 handsamples) from the Sanshilipu section (33.8°N, 109.8°E) at Shangxian County were measured in Beijing and Paris respectively. Stepwise thermal demagnetization and principal component analysis revealed that there were three distinct remanent components in about 60% of the specimens. The other 40% specimens which were well crystallized with coarse crystal grains, despite their higher intensity of NRM, decreased in intensity by 50% at about 150-200℃ and gave unstable directions. The magnetic beavior of the specimens showed that the ferromagnetic minerals in coarse-grains rocks are goethkes and in fine-grains rocks are magnetites which have three distinct components. The distribution of the high temperature component for all the specimens (n= 30) of the two section were calculated using standard Fisher statistics. The mean direction after tectonic correction is D = 11.5°,I=-23.1°,α95 = 6.0°, which gives a positive fold test at 99% level. The paleopole positions (43.0°N, 274.5°E) and paleolatitude (12.0°S) of the Danfeng Formation are considered to be from the primary remanence on the basis of analysis of origin and formation age of the remanence which was formed before the principal orogenic period, as well as the impact of metamorphism and deformation of rocks on the characteristic component. Comparison of the pole position and paleolatitude with those from the North and South China Blocks of early-Paleozoic age shows wide differences between them, and thus the Danfeng Formation with the Shangdan Zone represented probably a independent terrane which was a relic of a Qinling-ocean-plate.
Proton Transport in Condensed Matter

This paper consists of some of my discussion comments on several issues regarding proton transport. The list in this paper is by no means exhaustive. Rather, it reflects a few of the issues that are of interest at the present time, as well as ones in which the author has done some work.
Preparation of Recombinant Centromeric Nucleosomes and Formation of Complexes with Nonhistone Centromere Proteins

Centromeres are present on each chromosome to direct proper segregation during cell division. The understanding of how the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, epigenetically marks the location of the centromere on the chromosome has been advanced, in part, through the study of histone complexes, nucleosomes, and nucleosomal complexes with nonhistone centromere proteins. In this chapter, we describe the preparation of recombinant versions of these complexes. The methodology is firmly rooted in classic nucleosome reconstitution methods, but we highlight the aspects of the preparations that diverge from those used for the methods established with canonical histones. We also provide a method for producing PCR-amplified nucleosomal DNA sequences in milligram quantities that is particularly useful for studies where multiple sequences and/or chemical modifications are desired. Lastly, we describe our approach to assemble and analyze a complex between the recombinant human CENP-A nucleosome and one of its binding partners, CENP-C.
Alternative family education programming for adults with chronic aphasia.

Serious psychological consequences and limited social access are significant effects of chronic aphasia due to stroke. There appears to be a need for ongoing family education and counseling through...
Rituximab Therapy for Treatment of Chronic Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a disorder in which auto antibodies are directed against red blood cells resulting in severe anemia. It is a relatively uncommon disorder with an estimated incidence of 1–3 cases per 100,000 persons per year. These disorders are classified as either warm AIHA or cold AIHA depending on the temperature at which the auto antibodies show maximal binding. First line therapy for patients (pts) with warm AIHA is corticosteroids, 20% achieve complete remission most patients require maintenance treatment. Splenectomy is the usual second line treatment. Cytotoxic and immunosuppressive medications can be tried. Rituximab a monoclonal antibody against CD 20 has also shown efficacy in pt with chronic AIHA. In this study we retrospectively studied 2 cases of chronic warm AIHA. Case 1 was a female diagnosed with AIHA at the age of 15 years with a history of vasculitis. AIHA had a relapsing and a remitting course. She was treated with steroids, splenectomy, cytotoxic therapy with cyclophosphamide and immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine with no long-term remission. At 36 yr of age she had a relapse, steroids induced a minimal response, cyclophosphamide induced a partial response. She developed hemorrhagic cystitis hence cyclophosphamide was discontinued. Rituximab was administered at 375mg/m2 weekly for 3 doses with minimal response. After 4 weeks she was given 3 more doses of weekly rituximab with minimal response. 2 weeks after the last Rituximab dose, pt developed pancytopenia, gram-negative sepsis and died. Case 2 was also a female who was diagnosed with AIHA at the age of 21 years, etiology was considered idiopathic. She had a relapsing remitting course as well. She had been treated with steroids, splenectomy, cytotoxic therapy and immunosuppressive therapy. At 41 years of age she relapsed, this episode was, not responsive to steroids, Rituximab 375mg/m2 was infused weekly for 3 weeks with minimal improvement, after 6 weeks, 3 more doses of Rituximab were infused. She had a gradual improvement of her hemoglobin over 4 months and pt has been in remission since. She has had a sustained response for over 24 months. There have been a few case series published about the effects of Rituximab in pt with warm AIHA, with an estimated complete response ranging from 40 – 100%. The toxicities of this therapy in this pt population has been not been well documented. We conclude that Rituximab must be used cautiously in pt with AIHA. Prospective Randomized clinical trails are needed to assess the efficacy of Rituximab in pt with warm AIHA.
An evaluation of systemic therapy beyond second-line therapy in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

e19129 Background: Current treatment guidelines advocate the use of first and second line therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but suggest entry into a clinical trial or bes...
Small incision guarded hydroaspiration of iris lesions

Aim To describe the technique and results of a minimally invasive surgical technique for resection of small iris lesions. Methods Consecutive case series of 22 patients with localised, small iris lesions that were resected using the described surgical technique that composed of multiple, small corneal incisions created to allow for internal iris resection with 23-gauge horizontal vitrectomy scissors, followed by guarded tumour aspiration through a clear plastic tubing (diameter 3.5 mm) primed with viscoelastic agent. Results The mean largest basal diameter was 3.0 mm (range 1.5–5.0 mm; median 3.0 mm) and mean thickness was 1.3 mm (range 0.5–2.5 mm; median 1.0 mm). Use of multiple (2–4) small corneal incisions (range 2.0–3.0 mm; mean 2.8 mm) allowed reduced postoperative morbidity (significant hyphema (0%), hypotony (0%), wound leak (0%), >2 line change in best corrected visual acuity at postoperative 1 week (4.5%) and mean corneal astigmatism of 1.0 D (range 0.14–2.99 D; median 0.8 D) at postoperative 4–12 weeks. The tumour could be resected with clear surgical margins in all neoplastic cases (benign (2), borderline (1) and malignant (16)). Local recurrence or metastases were not observed in any melanoma case over a mean follow-up of 33.0 months (range 1.0–90.0 months; median 33.5 months). Conclusions Small incision guarded hydroaspiration is a minimally invasive surgical technique for resection of select small iris lesions. Use of multiple small corneal incisions avoids morbidity associated with a single large corneoscleral incision, and use of guarded aspiration may eliminate the risk of wound contamination by the malignant tumour.
Gas-Phase Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Internal Isomerization in Perfluoro-2-Azapropene: Comparison of Experimental and Computed Kinetic Parameters

Abstract Rate constants obtained from total line-shape analysis of five temperature-dependent gas-phase NMR spectra of perfluoroazapropene yielded the kinetic barrier to internal isomerization: G ‡ 298 = 66.9 (0.4) kJ mol −1 . Five temperature-dependent liquid spectra (5 mol% in CDCl 3 ) yielded G ‡ 298 = 67.4 (0.8) kJ mol −1 . Ab initio calculations performed using the compound methods Complete Basis Set (CBS-4M, QB3, APNO), Gaussian (G1-4), and Weizmann (W1U, WBD) gave results consistent with a transition state corresponding to nitrogen inversion. The values that best matched the experimental G ‡ 298 value for each compound method were 63.9 kJ mol −1 (CBS-APNO), 66.1 kJ mol −1 (G2), and 65.6 kJ mol −1 (W1BD).
Line shape parameters of helium-broadened 12C16O transitions in the 3 → 0 overtone band near 1.57 µm

Abstract Frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy was used to determine helium-broadened 12C16O line shape parameters for eleven lines in the 3 → 0 vibrational overtone band, including helium pressure broadening and pressure shifting. The spectra provided evidence of two non-Voigt mechanisms affecting line shape: collisional (Dicke) narrowing and speed dependence of the line broadening. Multispectrum fits of the speed dependent Nelkin-Ghatak profile (with the quadratic approximation for speed dependence) enabled precise determinations of the line shape parameters associated with these two mechanisms. The measured line shape parameters are presented and are compared to past work for helium-broadened 12C16O transitions in the 3 → 0 vibrational band (broadening coefficients) and in the 1 → 0 fundamental vibrational band (broadening and shifting coefficients). Significant reductions in the uncertainty of the broadening coefficients are demonstrated, along with the first determinations of helium pressure shifting and narrowing parameters for this transition. Analysis of the spectra at elevated pressure reveals evidence of line mixing with fitted first-order line mixing parameters that are consistent with literature values.
Band Structures of Selected Semiconductors and Their Alloys

This chapter is devoted to quantitative calculations of band structures of semiconductors and their alloys using a hybrid pseudopotential and tight-binding band model. This method is capable of producing accurate band structures for the pure constituent semiconductors and allows the execution of the alloy theory discussed in Chapter 5. Detailed band structures and Hamiltonian parameters are derived for a number of semiconductors, and the results are used in an extensive study of alloy systems.
Functional Anorectal Pain/Tenesmus

There are many causes of anorectal pain. This section will focus on three patients in whom chronic or recurrent anorectal pain occurs in the absence of a biologic disease marker. Chronic anorectal pain disorders, proctalgia fugax, and idiopathic tenesmus are all categorized as functional pain disorders and can greatly impair quality of life.
Endocrine Disruption of the Thyroid and its Consequences in Development

Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for normal human development. This is particularly true for the brain, but it is also true for other organs and systems. Despite the universally held recognition that TH is required for brain development, the specific role of TH in brain development is incompletely understood at best. In part, the difficulty in understanding the role of TH in brain development is due to the complexity of the processes whereby biologically active TH is delivered to target cells and to the complexity of TH action on its receptors. The fetus does not produce sufficient TH for its needs prior to about 20 weeks gestation in the human (about 18 days in the rodent). During this period, a complex interaction of transporters and enzymes is required to deliver TH to the fetal brain. Once at the site of action, the effects of TH are mediated by nuclear receptors that bind to DNA regulatory elements and interact with a complex of other proteins to influence the expression of specific target genes. Studies are beginning to reveal the developmental processes affected by TH and the mechanisms underlying these effects. Given the complexity of TH action on development, it is not surprising that environmental chemicals that interfere with TH action will likewise have complex effects. However, it is essential to recognize that industrial chemicals are being found that influence TH action in unexpected ways. Molecular studies that focused on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), bisphenol-A (BPA), and others indicate that a number of chemicals to which the human population is routinely exposed during development can interfere both directly and indirectly with TH action, producing consequences that are not identical to thyroid disease itself. These studies have profound implications for public health and for global strategies to protect the public by applying modern science in regulatory domains charged with chemical safety. In addition, the literature describing the environmental effects of perchlorate exposure on the thyroid system may be showing us that short-term, high-dose studies to characterize the risk of adverse health outcome to these exposures are not capable of predicting the risk of long-term, low-dose exposures. Considering the importance of the thyroid system in directing development, it will be essential to clarify these issues.
The Asymptotic Integer Algorithm

This chapter discusses the idea and development of the asymptotic algorithm. In integer linear programs, given that the continuous optimum is non-integer, the integer optimum is determined by seeking an interior point of the continuous solution space. In the enumeration and branch-and-bound methods, this is achieved by partitioning the solution space into continuous sub-problems in such a way that their optimum solutions characterize those promising interior points. In the cutting methods, the promising points are sought by modifying the continuous space so that the optimum integer point is identified with the optimum extreme point of the modified continuous space. Another idea for affecting the same result is to recognize that the determination of the optimum integer point is equivalent to assigning positive values to some of the non-basic variables that are associated with the current continuous optimum solution. This idea is used in connection with the rounding procedure. However, only slack variables are allowed to assume positive values; otherwise, the simple rounding procedure becomes incapable of coping with the interaction that might result from elevating other non-basic variables above zero values. To alleviate the problem, a convenient representation of the problem becomes necessary and it is called “asymptotic algorithm.”
System and Observer in Semiotic Modeling: An Essay on Semiotic Realism

While it is my goal to consider semiotics in relation to both humanistic and scientific thought, I wish initially to advance my concerns by means of a fairly simple example, the relationship between salt and sodium chloride. In a sense sodium chloride is the chemist’s name for salt; that sense is, if you will, naive. On a more sophisticated reading salt and sodium chloride turn out to be two different things. And then we must consider the relationship between the naive and sophisticated readings which is, I argue, analogous to the relationship between semiotics as a study of man and semiotics as a study of Homo sapiens sapiens.
The effects of time, temperature and plant variety on pollen viability and its implications for gene flow risk.

Pollen viability affects the probability that a pollen grain deposited on a plant's stigma will produce a viable seed. Because a mature seed is needed before a gene flow event can occur, pollen viability will influence the risk of escape for genetically engineered (GE) crops. Pollen viability was measured at intervals for up to 2 h following removal of the pollen from the anthers. It was quantified at three temperatures and for different alfalfa varieties, including both conventional and Roundup Ready (RR) varieties. Pollen viability was assessed using in vitro germination. Time since removal from the anthers was the most prevalent factor affecting pollen viability in alfalfa. Pollen viability declined with increasing time at all three temperatures and for all varieties tested. Pollen viability was not affected by temperatures ranging between 25 and 37 °C and did not vary among plant varieties, including conventional and RR varieties. Bee foraging behaviour suggested pollen viability within the first 10 min following pollen removal from a flower to most affect seed production. Pollen longevity was predicted to have little impact on seed set and gene flow. Linking pollinator behaviour to pollen viability improved our understanding of its impact on gene flow risk.
Impact of precarious work on neighborhood health: Concept mapping by a community/academic partnership.

Objective As part of community-based participatory research (CBPR) examining precarious employment and community health, academic, and community researchers used concept mapping to explore how residents in two high hardship neighborhoods perceive the impact of work on health. Methods Between January and May 2017, 292 individuals who lived or worked in two contiguous Chicago neighborhoods were engaged in brainstorming, sorting, and rating activities. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied, and findings were interpreted by a community-academic partnership. Results Brainstorming resulted in 55 unique ways that work impacts health, each of which was rated on its perceived impact on health and prevalence in the neighborhood. Four major themes emerged: Healthy Aspects of Work, Systemic/Structural Injustices, Lack of Control/Exploitation, and Psychological/Physical Stress, which was a multidimensional, cross-cutting theme. Conclusion These findings provide critical insight into community perceptions of the mechanisms by which work influences health, providing a basis for community-driven, sustainable, work-focused interventions that promote community health.
Pipe flow of sphere suspensions having a power-law-dependent fluid matrix

Measurement and prediction of suspension flow properties in cylindrical geometries represent a significant challenge for both the experimentalist and modeler. In this paper, results of a computational study of the suspension flow in a pipe geometry using a computational method based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics are presented. Flow fields and the spatial distribution of solid spherical inclusions for the case of pipe flow will be shown as a function of the matrix fluid properties (including Newtonian, shear thinning, and shear thickening), driving force, and volume fraction of particles. Simulation results of suspension flow are consistent with a previous work of suspensions with a Newtonian fluid matrix. A strong effective slip phenomenon is shown for the case of a suspension with a shear thinning fluid matrix despite adherence to no-slip boundary conditions. A simple scaling ansatz is given to describe the change of flow rate with driving force. At a volume fraction of approximately 40 % and higher, there is strong evidence of ordering. This feature is illuminated using a small-angle scattering algorithm and compared to experimental studies using neutron scattering. Issues related to proper experimental characterization of rheological properties for pumping and printing of cement-based materials are discussed.Measurement and prediction of suspension flow properties in cylindrical geometries represent a significant challenge for both the experimentalist and modeler. In this paper, results of a computational study of the suspension flow in a pipe geometry using a computational method based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics are presented. Flow fields and the spatial distribution of solid spherical inclusions for the case of pipe flow will be shown as a function of the matrix fluid properties (including Newtonian, shear thinning, and shear thickening), driving force, and volume fraction of particles. Simulation results of suspension flow are consistent with a previous work of suspensions with a Newtonian fluid matrix. A strong effective slip phenomenon is shown for the case of a suspension with a shear thinning fluid matrix despite adherence to no-slip boundary conditions. A simple scaling ansatz is given to describe the change of flow rate with driving force. At a volume fraction of approximately 40 % and ...
Models of Consultation in Primary Care Settings

Pediatric psychologists have a long and rich history in a variety of medical settings, including pediatric primary care. Pediatric primary care settings provide the opportunity to extend beyond traditional inpatient-based models and provide impactful consultation, assessment, and intervention strategies to a cross section of children, families, and integrated clinical team members. Consider this: at least half of mental health problems present initial symptoms by the age of 14 (Kessler et al., 2007), yet there are many barriers that can impede effective screening, assessment, and intervention in pediatric primary care settings. Children and families who are offered on-site behavioral health care are twice as likely to initiate treatment than those who are referred elsewhere for treatment (Kolko et al., Pediatrics 133:e981–e992, 2014).
CHAPTER 5 – Gelation

Publisher Summary The hydrolysis and condensation reactions lead to the growth of clusters that eventually collide and link together into a gel. Gels are sometimes defined as strong or weak according to whether the bonds connecting the solid phase are permanent or reversible. The chemical reactions that bring about gelation continue long beyond the gel point, permitting flow and producing gradual changes in the structure and properties of the gel. This chapter describes the changes that occur in the vicinity of the gel point and it reviews the theories that have been proposed to explain gelation. The simplest picture of gelation is that the clusters grow by condensation of polymers or aggregation of particles until the clusters collides. Then, links form between the clusters to produce a single giant cluster that is called a gel. At the moment that the gel forms, many clusters would be present in the sol phase, entangled in but not attached to the spanning cluster; with time, they progressively become connected to the network and the stiffness of the gel will increase.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Firearm Injuries in Emergency Department Patients.

This is a single-center cross-sectional study of consecutive patients who presented to an urban emergency department (ED) with firearm injuries between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients in this cohort and identify those at risk of firearm re-injury to inform future interventions. Patients in this cohort with both initial and recidivistic firearm injures were found to be predominately young, African American men. Objective To describe the characteristics of patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with firearm injuries and identify those at risk of firearm re-injury. Methods This is a single-center cross-sectional study of consecutive patients who presented to the ED with firearm injuries between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016. We collected data on patient demographics, history of previous traumatic injury including firearm injury, and whether the firearm injury was self-inflicted. We also evaluated characteristics of patients in this cohort who returned to the ED with firearm re-injury within a one year follow-up period. Results This study included 1226 unique patients. Our data demonstrate that patients presenting to the ED for firearm injury were predominately young, African American males. Fourteen percent had a history of a previous firearm injury and 20% had a history of other non-firearm assault. Patients who had been shot previously were more likely to be African American, male, uninsured, unemployed, and have a history of other non-accidental trauma. Eight percent of firearm injuries were self-inflicted. All 35 patients who sustained a new firearm injury within 1 year of the index injury were African American males with a median age of 23. Conclusions Among patients treated in the ED for firearm injuries, young, African American males are disproportionately at risk of firearm injury and re-injury. ED visits for traumatic injury represent an opportunity to provide social work, case work, and counseling-based interventions to help disrupt the cycle of violence in high-risk individuals.