cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the diffractive bifocal contact lens.

How a diffractive bifocal contact lens works is not intuitively obvious. This is because the diffractive bifocal operates by an unusual blend of refraction and interference. The present article seeks to clarify how it achieves its two focal powers. Most of this article, however, is devoted to the conceptually simpler case of diffraction gratings in order to develop an intuition for how a double focus is produced. Single slit, double slit, and multiple slit gratings are considered using two formalisms: Feynman's «arrow» method (also called phasors) and the Fourier method. When dealing with linear diffraction gratings we are interested in the light intensity in the focal plane
Collisional and Dynamical History of Ida

Abstract The history of Ida is constrained by its membership in the Koronis family, its satellite Dactyl, the record of impacts left on its surface, and other dynamical, morphological, and spectral properties. Models of crater production and comparably effective erasure processes, combined with the current size–frequency distribution of craters, suggest that the age of the surface is either about 50 myr or >1 byr. The younger age may be inconsistent with the degraded appearance of many craters, while the older age conflicts with the collisional life expectancy of Dactyl. Consideration of Dactyl's evolution may resolve this issue as well as shed light on the formation of Dactyl, the density of Ida, and possible source regions for Ida and Dactyl within the Koronis parent body.
Direct Calculation of Line Outage Distribution Factors

Line outage distribution factors (LODFs) are utilized to perform contingency analyses in power systems. Since each contingency requires separate LODFs, a quick calculation of LODFs, especially with multiple-line outages, could speed up contingency analyses and improve significantly the security analyses of power systems. This letter provides two direct proofs for expressing LODFs in terms of power transfer distribution factors (PTDFs) of pre-contingency network. Simple matrix calculations are required in the proposed approach for a fast evaluation of LODFs.
Stereotypes, stereotype threat and ageing : implications for the understanding and treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease

Over the past 15 years, a growing body of research has shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are affected not only by brain neuropathology but also by their reactions to its effects, by the environments in which they live, and by how they are treated by others. Nevertheless, three relatively neglected social influences on people with AD remain to be examined : negative stereotyping, negative self-stereotyping and stereotype threat. Numerous studies reviewed in this paper indicate that : (1) negative self-stereotypes at conscious and unconscious levels can have adverse effects on the performance of healthy elderly people on tasks demanding explicit memory (recall in particular), and (2) the mere threat of being stereotyped negatively can have adverse effects on the performance of healthy elderly people on tasks including those involving memory. In this paper, we discuss the relevance of these phenomena for our understanding and treatment of people with AD who are exposed to negative stereotypes about old age and about AD before and after they are diagnosed. There is evidence to suggest that these influences may have significant effects on people with AD. The paper concludes with recommendations for best practice in the treatment of people with AD in the light of the most apparent effects of negative self-stereotyping and stereotype threat. These include advocacy for an approach that involves aspects of counselling.
Communicative Predictors of Solidarity in the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship

This research examined college students' and their grand-parents' (N= 135 dyads) self-reports of communication behaviors in the grandparent-grandchild (GP-GC) relationship. The research aimed to understand predictors of communication satisfaction, liking, and emotional closeness in the relation-ship from a basis in communication accommodation theory. For grandchildren, predictors included their perceptions of their grandparents' levels of accommodation and overaccommodation to them in interactions, as well as their own levels of accommodative involvement with their grandparents. For grandparents, perceptions of their grandchildren's accommodation to them best predicted solidarity. Neither perceived grandchild overaccommodation nor perceived grandparent underaccommodation were significant predictors in regression analyses, although both were significantly correlated with the criterion measures. Implications of the results for the study of the GP-GC relationship are discussed, and future applications of acc...
Differential Attention-Dependent Response Modulation Across Cell Classes in Macaque Visual Area V4

The cortex contains multiple cell types, but studies of attention have not distinguished between them, limiting understanding of the local circuits that transform attentional feedback into improved visual processing. Parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons can be distinguished from pyramidal neurons based on their briefer action potential durations. We recorded neurons in area V4 as monkeys performed an attention-demanding task. We find that the distribution of action potential durations is strongly bimodal. Neurons with narrow action potentials have higher firing rates and larger attention-dependent increases in absolute firing rate than neurons with broad action potentials. The percentage increase in response is similar across the two classes. We also find evidence that attention increases the reliability of the neuronal response. This modulation is more than two-fold stronger among putative interneurons. These findings lead to the surprising conclusion that the strongest attentional modulation occurs among local interneurons that do not transmit signals between areas.
Determination of location, size, and transmurality of chronic myocardial infarction without exogenous contrast media by using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T.

Background— Late-gadolinium–enhanced (LGE) cardiac MRI (CMR) is a powerful method for characterizing myocardial infarction (MI), but the requisite gadolinium infusion is estimated to be contraindicated in ≈20% of patients with MI because of end-stage chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether T1 CMR obtained without contrast agents at 3 T could be an alternative to LGE CMR for characterizing chronic MIs using a canine model of MI. Methods and Results— Canines (n=29) underwent CMR at 7 days (acute MI [AMI]) and 4 months (chronic MI [CMI]) after MI. Infarct location, size, and transmurality measured by using native T1 maps and LGE images at 1.5 T and 3 T were compared. Resolution of edema between AMI and CMI was examined with T2 maps. T1 maps overestimated infarct size and transmurality relative to LGE images in AMI ( P =0.016 and P =0.007, respectively), which was not observed in CMI ( P =0.49 and P =0.81, respectively) at 3 T. T1 maps underestimated infarct size and transmurality relative to LGE images in AMI and CMI ( P 0.20) at both field strengths. Histology showed extensive replacement fibrosis within the CMI territories. CMI detection sensitivity and specificity of T1 CMR at 3 T were 95% and 97%, respectively. Conclusions— Native T1 maps at 3 T can determine the location, size, and transmurality of CMI with high diagnostic accuracy. Patient studies are necessary for clinical translation.
Effects of age and race on skin condition and bacterial counts on hands of neonatal ICU nurses

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between demographic factors such as age and race and skin condition and bacterial counts on hands of nurses. Methods Nurses (n = 111) working in 1 of 2 neonatal ICUs in New York City were surveyed regarding reported hand care practices and demographics, the condition of their hands was assessed by a trained observer and by themselves using validated instruments, and a hand culture was obtained. Results There were no significant differences in any skin care practices by race, but nurses who wore powder-free gloves were significantly younger than those who did not (P = .004). There were no significant differences in bacterial counts on hands of black or white nurses (mean log colony-forming units 3.49 and 3.61 respectively, P = .63) and no significant correlation between age and microbial counts (r = 0.04, P = .72). In a logistic regression analysis, race, but not age, was a significant predictor of skin health. By both observer (P = .02) and self-assessment (P = .004) black nurses had healthier skin. Conclusion Physiochemical differences in skin associated with demographic factors such as age and race may be exacerbated among those in disciplines such as nursing, for whom the skin of the hands is continually stressed by occupational practices such as frequent hand hygiene. Such demographic factors need be considered when assessing skin condition and when advocating for appropriate strategies to maximize skin health. The recommendations of the new CDC Hand Hygiene Guideline for Healthcare Settings 23 regarding maintaining skin health and providing moisturizers and products that are milder to the skin are timely and should be followed.
Review: magnesium prophylaxis after cardiac surgery reduces the risk of arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation.

Shiga T, Wajima Z, Inoue T, et al . Magnesium prophylaxis for arrhythmias after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Med 2004;117:325–33. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Q Does magnesium prophylaxis after cardiac surgery reduce the risk of arrhythmia? ### ![Graphic][5] Data sources: Medline (1966 to June 2003), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1980 to June 2003), Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 3, 2003), and hand searches of references of reports and reviews. ### ![Graphic][6] Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in any language that compared a single, fixed dose of prophylactic magnesium (intravenous, central, or intracoronary administration) with control (placebo or routine care) after cardiac surgery. 2 independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of individual trials using the 5 point Jadad scale. ### ![Graphic][7] Outcomes: atrial fibrillation (AF), supraventricular arrhythmia (SA) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA), serum magnesium concentration on postoperative day 1, length of hospital stay, myocardial infarction (MI), and mortality. 17 RCTs (n = 2069) met the selection criteria. 9 studies had … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BAmerican%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bmedicine%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.aulast%253DShiga%26rft.auinit1%253DT.%26rft.volume%253D117%26rft.issue%253D5%26rft.spage%253D325%26rft.epage%253D333%26rft.atitle%253DMagnesium%2Bprophylaxis%2Bfor%2Barrhythmias%2Bafter%2Bcardiac%2Bsurgery%253A%2Ba%2Bmeta-analysis%2Bof%2Brandomized%2Bcontrolled%2Btrials.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.amjmed.2004.03.030%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F15336582%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.amjmed.2004.03.030&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=15336582&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F8%2F2%2F55.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000223777500006&link_type=ISI [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif
Maximum Exercise after Aortic Valve Replacement with Pulmonary Autograft

Patients describe excellent exercise tolerance after aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure) but objective data regarding exercise ability has not been available. This report describes testing of maximum exercise performance at least one year after operation. Four athletic males underwent aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft. Exercise to exhaustion was performed on a bicycle ergometer. Measurements of oxygen consumption and echocardiography were carried out. High levels of work energy were achieved (230 to 331 watts). Oxygen consumption increased from a range of 1.7 to 5.1 mL·kg−1·min−1 at rest to 33 to 45.1 mL·kg−1·min−1 at peak exercise. Pressure gradients over the left ventricular outflow tract were calculated by echocardiography as 10 to 14 mm Hg after maximum exercise. These data indicate that high levels of exercise and excellent hemodynamic performance can be achieved after the Ross procedure allowing unrestricted aerobic athletic activities.
Spontaneous Facial Motility in Infancy: A 3D Kinematic Analysis

Early spontaneous orofacial movements have rarely been studied experimentally, though the motor experiences gained from these behaviors may influence the development of motor skills emerging for speech. This investigation quantitatively describes developmental changes in silent, spontaneous lip and jaw movements from 1 to 12 months of age using optically based 3D motion capture technology. Twenty-nine typically developing infants at five ages (1, 5, 7, 9, and 12 months) were studied cross-sectionally. Infants exhibited spontaneous facial movements at all ages studied. Several age-related changes were detected in lip and jaw kinematics: the occurrence of spontaneous movements increased, movement speed increased, the duration of movement epochs decreased and movement coupling among different facial regions increased. Additionally, evidence for stereotypic movements was not strong. The present findings suggest that, during the first year of life, early spontaneous facial movements undergo significant developmental change in the direction of skill development for speech.
Waldenström macroglobulinemia and autoimmunity: what's the connection?

Patients with Waldenstr o m macroglobulinemia (WM) have been shown to have an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders, and chronic immune stimulation has also been associated with the development of WM. Previous population-based registries have compared patients with WM to matched control subjects as well as fi rst-degree relatives, and shown a signifi cantly increased risk of developing WM in patients with a personal history of autoimmune diseases, specifi cally systemic sclerosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, polymyalgia rheumatica, Sj o gren syndrome or giant cell arteritis [1]. In this issue of Leukemia and Lymphoma , Atienza et al . present a single-center experience showing that infl ammatory and immune-related conditions are associated with WM [2]. In a small cohort of 12 patients with WM, they show that more than half of the patients had an associated autoimmune disorder. In this cohort of patients, 57% had more than one autoimmune disorder. Th ey found that patients had Hashimoto thyroiditis, pernicious anemia and immune thrombocytopenia as well as cold agglutinin disease. Chronic infl ammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis were also seen in these patients. Recent fi ndings in WM have shed some light on the potential reason for an association between autoimmune
Self-Determination in Action in the Classroom

This article addresses the ongoing need for parents, professionals, and individuals with disabilities to access the power of self-determination in their everyday lives. A practical definition for self-determination is provided, along with a description of key components. Self-determination is a series of developmental activities, attitudes, and beliefs that can be infused in a dynamic way within the environment of individuals with high-incidence disabilities. Specific examples are provided for implementing effective self-determination skills through the use of a case study, an action plan, and a list of best practices.
The effects of age on initiation of mental health treatment after positive PTSD screens among Veterans Affairs primary care patients

Abstract Objective The objective was to examine differences by age in mental health treatment initiation in Veterans Health Administration (VA) primary care patients after positive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screens. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 71,039 veterans who were administered PTSD screens during primary care encounters in 2007 at four Pacific Northwest VA medical center sites and who had no specialty mental health clinic visits or PTSD diagnoses recorded in the year before screening. Main outcome measures were attendance of any specialty mental health clinic visits or receipt of any antidepressant medication in the year after a positive PTSD screen. Results Older veterans, compared with veterans less than 30 years old, were less likely to attend any specialty mental health visits after positive PTSD screens [adjusted odds ratios (ORs) ranged from .57 to .12, all P P Conclusions Initiation of mental health treatment among veterans who screen positive for PTSD varies significantly by age. Further research should examine whether this is due to differences in base rates of PTSD, treatment preferences, provider responses to screens or other age-related barriers to mental health treatment.
A Study of Adaptive Relevance Feedback - UIUC TREC-2008 Relevance Feedback Experiments

Abstract : In this paper, we report our experiments in the TREC 2008 Relevance Feedback Track. Our main goal is to study a novel problem in feedback, i.e., optimization of the balance of the query and feedback information. Intuitively, if we over-trust the feedback information, we may be biased to favor a particular subset of relevant documents, but under-trusting it would not take advantage of feedback. In the current feedback methods, the balance is usually controlled by some parameter, which is often set to a fixed value across all the queries and collections. However, due to the difference in queries and feedback documents, this balance parameter should be optimized for each query and each set of feedback documents. To address this problem, we present a learning approach to adaptively predict the balance coefficient (i.e., feedback coefficient). First, three heuristics are proposed to characterize the relationships between feedback coefficient and other measures, including discrimination of query, discrimination of feedback documents, and divergence between the query and the feedback documents. Then, taking these three heuristics as a road map, we explore a number of features and combine them using a logistic regression model to predict the feedback coefficient. Experiments show that our adaptive relevance feedback is more robust and effective than the regular fixed-coefficient relevance feedback.
Ultra-sensitive and quantitative characterization of proteomes

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry combined with high efficiency capillary liquid chromatography provides high sensitivity and broad dynamic range measurements for the characterization of biological macromolecules in complex matrices, and is an increasingly powerful analytical tool for systems biology research.
Superdirective radiation from finite gratings of rectangular grooves

In this paper, the superdirective property of arrays comprising a finite number of rectangular grooves is studied by using the modal approach, which is a simple but powerful technique for analyzing these gratings. Numerical results show that when a specific characteristic mode of the structure referred to as the /spl pi/ mode is excited, the intensity of the field scattered in the specular direction exhibits a maximum, which becomes sharper and narrower as the number of grooves is increased. The far-field patterns exhibit superdirectivity at these resonant frequencies as evidenced by their beamwidths that are narrower than those expected from apertures of comparable size. The model-based parameter estimation (MBPE) technique has been employed to help locate extremely narrow resonances that are characteristic of superdirective arrays and its usefulness has been demonstrated.
Identifying Botnets Using Anomaly Detection Techniques Applied to DNS Traffic

Bots are compromised computers that communicate with a botnet command and control (C& C) server. Bots typically employ dynamic DNS (DDNS) to locate the respective C&C server. By injecting commands into such servers, botmasters can reuse bots for a variety of attacks. We evaluate two approaches for identifying botnet C&C servers based on anomalous DDNS traffic. The first approach consists in looking for domain names whose query rates are abnormally high or temporally concentrated. High DDNS query rates may be expected because botmasters frequently move C&C servers, and botnets with as many as 1.5 million bots have been discovered. The second approach consists in looking for abnormally recurring DDNS replies indicating that the query is for an inexistent name (NXDOMAIN). Such queries may correspond to bots trying to locate C&C servers that have been taken down. In our experiments, the second approach automatically identified several domain names that were independently reported by others as being suspicious, while the first approach was not as effective.
Identification and molecular characterization of a novel flavin-free NADPH preferred azoreductase encoded by azoB in Pigmentiphaga kullae K24

Microbial degradation of azo dyes is commonly initiated by the reduction of the azo bond(s) by a group of NADH or NADPH dependant azoreductases with many requiring flavin as a cofactor. In this study, we report the identification of a novel flavin-free NADPH preferred azoreductase encoded by azoB in Pigmentiphaga kullae K24. The deduced amino acid sequence of azoB from P. kullae K24 showed 61% identity to a previously studied azoreductase (AzoA) from the same strain. azoB encoded a protein of 203 amino acids and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 22 kDa. Both NADH and NADPH can be used as an electron donor for its activity with 4-(4-hydroxy-1-naphthylazo) benzenesulfonic acid (Orange I) as substrate. The apparent Km values for both NADH and Orange I were 170 and 8.6 μM, respectively. The Km of NADPH for the enzyme is 1.0 μM. When NADPH served as the electron donor, the activity of the enzyme is 63% higher than that when NADH was used. The pH and temperature optima for activity of the enzyme with Orange I as the substrate were at pH 6.0 and between 37 and 45°C. Phylogenetic analysis shows that AzoB belongs to the flavin-free azoreductase group which has a key fingerprint motif GXXGXXG for NAD(P)H binding at the N-terminus of the amino acid sequences. The 3D structure of AzoB was generated by comparative modeling approach. The structural combination of three conserved glycine residues (G7xxG10xxG13) in the pyrophosphate-binding loop with the Arg-32 explains the preference for NADPH of AzoB. The biochemical and structural properties of AzoB from P. kullae K24 revealed its preference for NADPH over NADH and it is a member of the monomeric flavin-free azoreductase group. Our studies show the substrate specificity of AzoB based on structure and cofactor requirement and the phylogenetic relationship among azoreductase groups.
The usage model: describing product usage during design and development

A usage model is a collection of data that describes system usage within a stated context. The usage model data describe the interactions between the user and the system at a level that identifies the system's benefits to the user
The weak evidence for batterer program alternatives

Abstract In the midst of the debate over batterer program effectiveness, several alternative approaches have been promoted: psychodynamic treatment for attachment disorders, diversified programming for batterer types, motivational techniques addressing readiness to change, specialized counseling for African-American men, and couples counseling for mutual violence. A critical overview of the research on these alternative approaches exposes weak or insufficient supporting evidence. There is also strong generic evidence for the predominant cognitive-behavioral approach in batterer programs, and a focus on system implementation might account for improved outcomes. While the innovations are encouraging, an “evidence-based practice” for batterers has yet to be clearly established.
Selective Predation by Four Darter (Percidae) Species on Larval Chironomids (Diptera) from a Mississippi Stream

We determined seasonal foraging modes of four sympatric darter species, Etheostoma lynceum, E. stigmaeum, E. swaini and Percina nigrofasciata, from Beaverdam Creek, Mississippi (USA) at two scales of taxonomic resolution: (1) chironomid prey identified to family and (2) chironomid prey identified to genus/species. When chironomids were identified to family, high proportional similarity (PS) and low niche breadth (NB) values suggested the darters fed opportunistically on a relatively small number of available prey taxa. In contrast, when chironomids were identified to genus/species, concordant low PS and NB values suggested the darters fed like classic specialists, selecting a small number of prey taxa relative to prey availability in the resource base. The darters selected just one to four chironomid taxa from 52 available taxa across seasons. Our study shows that the scale of taxonomic resolution used to identify darter prey may influence the characterization of darter foraging modes.
In vitro metabolic engineering of hydrogen production at theoretical yield from sucrose

Abstract Hydrogen is one of the most important industrial chemicals and will be arguably the best fuel in the future. Hydrogen production from less costly renewable sugars can provide affordable hydrogen, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and achieve nearly zero net greenhouse gas emissions, but current chemical and biological means suffer from low hydrogen yields and/or severe reaction conditions. An in vitro synthetic enzymatic pathway comprised of 15 enzymes was designed to split water powered by sucrose to hydrogen. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were spontaneously generated from sucrose or glucose and water mediated by enzyme cocktails containing up to15 enzymes under mild reaction conditions (i.e. 37 °C and atm). In a batch reaction, the hydrogen yield was 23.2 mol of dihydrogen per mole of sucrose, i.e., 96.7% of the theoretical yield (i.e., 12 dihydrogen per hexose). In a fed-batch reaction, increasing substrate concentration led to 3.3-fold enhancement in reaction rate to 9.74 mmol of H 2 /L/h. These proof-of-concept results suggest that catabolic water splitting powered by sugars catalyzed by enzyme cocktails could be an appealing green hydrogen production approach.
Failure of supraclavicular block under ultrasound guidance: clinical relevance of anatomical variation of cervical vessels

We describe a case with partial analgesia after ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block for elbow surgery. The failure of the block was caused by the limited spread of local anesthetic because of blockage by a vessel (either transverse cervical artery or dorsal scapular artery) running through the brachial plexus. Anesthesiologists should be aware that cervical anatomy is complex and has anatomical variations. Thus, careful ultrasound screening of anatomical structure, especially using color Doppler, is important in performing brachial plexus block.
Optimal carbon monoxide criteria to confirm 24-hr smoking abstinence.

INTRODUCTION Smoking cessation is typically verified biochemically by expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) levels below 9 ppm (i.e., ≤8 ppm), but this CO criterion may lead many who have smoked within 24hr to be misclassified as abstinent. METHODS Adult dependent smokers (N = 261; 124 men, 137 women) prospectively recorded each cigarette smoked and provided CO on five consecutive days during each of two short-term attempts to quit smoking. Participants were those recruited for crossover tests of the effects of placebo versus medication (nicotine patch or varenicline) on the ability to initiate 24-hr abstinence. All had either a high or low interest in permanently quitting smoking soon (within 3 months) and were randomized to the presence or absence of daily ($12) monetary reinforcement of abstinence. RESULTS Total accuracy of sensitivity to detect smoking (83%) plus specificity to verify abstinence (87%) was optimal at a CO criterion for abstinence below 5 ppm (≤4 ppm), compared with below 9 ppm (sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 97%). Overall CO detection of sensitivity and specificity was higher in those with high versus low quit interest, but reinforcement of abstinence made no difference. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate a CO criterion half that used in most clinical research may optimally validate 24-hr cessation and reduce misclassification of smokers as "abstinent."
Active Learning for Function Approximation

We develop a principled strategy to sample a function optimally for function approximation tasks within a Bayesian framework. Using ideas from optimal experiment design, we introduce an objective function (incorporating both bias and variance) to measure the degree of approximation, and the potential utility of the data points towards optimizing this objective. We show how the general strategy can be used to derive precise algorithms to select data for two cases: learning unit step functions and polynomial functions. In particular, we investigate whether such active algorithms can learn the target with fewer examples. We obtain theoretical and empirical results to suggest that this is the case.
Biliary stenting is more effective than sphincterotomy in the resolution of biliary leaks

Background: Biliary fistulae may occur following surgical injury, abdominal trauma, or inadequate closure of a cystic duct stump. These leaks are most often managed by drainage of the associate biloma and either endoscopic sphincterotomy or placement of a biliary endoprosthesis to decrease the pressure gradient between the bile duct and the duodenum created by the muscular contraction of the ampullary sphincter. In a previous study, we demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in ductal pressures following stent placement as compared to sphincterotomy. The goal of this present study was to determine if reduction in ductal pressures correlates clinically with the resolution of biliary leaks in an animal model. Methods: Fourteen mongrel dogs underwent laparotomy, cholecystectomy without closure of the cystic stump, and a lateral duodenotomy to identify the major papilla. The dogs were then randomized into three groups. Group I (n = 5) was a control group undergoing closure of the duodenotomy only. Group II (n = 4) underwent sphincterotomy. Group III (n = 5) underwent placement of a 7 Fr × 5 cm biliary endoprosthesis prior to duodenotomy closure. A drain was placed adjacent to the cystic duct stump in all groups. Drain output was recorded daily. The biliary leak was considered resolved when the output was <10 cc/day. Regardless of suspected fistula closure, the drains were not removed until 2 weeks postprocedure. Necropsy was performed to identify undrained intraperitoneal bile. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s paired t test. Results: All dogs had bile leaks identified on postoperative day 1. The number of days required for resolution of bile leak in group I (mean ± SEM) was 7.60 ± 0.87 days, as compared to 6.75 ± 0.80 days for group II and 2.60 ± 0.24 days for group III. There was no significant difference in the duration of bile leak between groups I and II (p= 0.445). Group III, however, had a significant reduction in the duration of biliary fistulae as compared to both groups I and II (p < 0.005). At autopsy, persistent bilomas were identified in 80% of group I, 25% of group II, and 0% of group III. None of the dogs showed evidence of dehisence of the duodenotomy closure site as a source of bile leak. Conclusions: Biliary stenting significantly reduces the time to resolution of cystic duct leaks as compared to sphincterotomy in a canine model. The results obtained in this study support the use of biliary endoprostheses in the management of biliary leaks and fistulae.
What Can We Learn From Resident Selection Interviews

In this issue of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, Stephenson-Famy and colleagues1 report the findings of their literature review on the use of interviews in resident selection. Through demonstrating the generalized use of interviews across specialties and program types, the authors highlight issues common to the selection of residents across all specialties. Medical educators should view this type of review as an opportunity to consider both the results of the individual studies and what the aggregate conclusions might mean for the practice of resident selection.
Improved Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Corn following Soybean in Irrigated Sandy Loams

Crop rotation influences yield through its effects on nutrient and pest cycles, soil C, water availability, and soil physical and chemical properties. A cropping system study was conducted from 2004 to 2008 near Brunswick, NE, on sandy loam (Haplustolls) soils to evaluate improvements of irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) yield and N use efficiency (NUE) when following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2 yr as corn following soybean (CS) or in 3 yr as first-year corn following soybean (C1) and second-year corn following soybean (C2) compared with continuous corn (CC). SPAD readings at V10 and R2 were approximately 3 to 4% greater in CS than CC, indicating more in-season N availability. Corn grain yield of CS (12.1 Mg ha⁻¹) was 20% greater than CC (10.1 Mg ha⁻¹), with 69 and 57% greater NUE and N recovery efficiency, respectively. At zero N applied, corn harvest index was 15% greater in CS with 37% increased plant N uptake at harvest compared with CC. In CS, fertilizer replacement value estimated soybean N credits of 66 and 49 kg N ha⁻¹ based on grain yield and plant N uptake, respectively. The difference in N rates needed to produce maximum grain yield of CS vs. CC was estimated at 32 kg ha⁻¹ soybean N credit. The average soybean N credit was 49, 41, and 26 kg N ha⁻¹ for the corn in CS, C1, and C2, respectively. Both the 2- and 3-yr corn–soybean rotations on loamy sand soils improved corn yield and NUE.
Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of neurofilament proteins in retinal ganglion cell neurons in vivo.

The cytoskeleton of most higher eukaryotic cells is composed of three filamentous systems, which serve varying dynamic and structural roles in cellular function. Two of these systems, the 80 A microfilaments and the 230 A microtubules, are composed of subunit proteins that are phylogenetically highly conserved. By contrast, the 100 A intermediate filaments are encoded by a large multigene family, the members of which are differentially expressed in different tissues (Fuchs and Hanukoglu, 1983). On the basis of biochemical and immunological criteria, five major classes of intermediate filaments have been defined (Lazarides, 1980). These include keratin filaments, found in cells of epithelial origin; desmin filaments, predominantly found in smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle cells; vimentin filaments, present in cells of mesenchymal origin; glial filaments, constituents of certain glial cell types; and neurofilaments, present in many differentiated neurons of vertebrates and invertebrates. This classification emphasizes the tissue specificity of intermediate filaments, although it is now known that subunits from more than one class may coexist in some tissues at certain developmental stages (Osborn et al., 1980; Drager, 1983).
Error statistical modeling and inference: Where methodology meets ontology

In empirical modeling, an important desiderata for deeming theoretical entities and processes as real is that they can be reproducible in a statistical sense. Current day crises regarding replicability in science intertwines with the question of how statistical methods link data to statistical and substantive theories and models. Different answers to this question have important methodological consequences for inference, which are intertwined with a contrast between the ontological commitments of the two types of models. The key to untangling them is the realization that behind every substantive model there is a statistical model that pertains exclusively to the probabilistic assumptions imposed on the data. It is not that the methodology determines whether to be a realist about entities and processes in a substantive field. It is rather that the substantive and statistical models refer to different entities and processes, and therefore call for different criteria of adequacy.
Effect of calcium marination on biochemical and textural properties of peri-rigor chicken breast meat

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of marinades containing varying calcium concentrations on the biochemical and texture characteristics of peri-rigor chicken breast fillets. Breast muscles from 200 broiler chickens were excised immediately post-mortem and marinated in 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mM CaCl2. The treatments had no effect on meat pH either before or after cooking, but as calcium concentration increased, the normal post-mortem conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP) increased, according to the IMP:ATP ratios (R-values). Calcium treatment at all levels tested improved meat tenderness, but both marinade absorption and cooking losses increased as the calcium concentration in the marinades increased. It was concluded that although treating peri-rigor breast muscle with calcium might be useful in reducing or eliminating the conditioning period to assure tender chicken, methods must be developed for restoring the moisture binding properties that are damaged by the calcium.
Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Patella Mimicking Patellofemoral Syndrome: A Case Report.

Anterior knee pain is one of the most common causes for orthopaedic referral1,2. The term describes a clinical presentation for which the differential diagnosis includes numerous derangements of the anterior portion of the knee; however, most cases are secondary to a limited number of conditions1. Although common, the etiology and pathophysiology of individual patients’ symptoms often remain elusive3. Clinicians must have a thorough understanding of knee anatomy, physiology, mechanics, and radiographic imaging to delineate the etiology and appropriate management for affected patients1,4. We report the case of a young athlete who presented to his primary care physician with the symptom of knee pain that mimicked routine patellofemoral syndrome. This patient failed to respond to routine patellofemoral syndrome management; additional workup yielded a cystic tumor within the patella. Patellar tumors are rare occurrences, and this case demonstrates the importance of accurate and timely interpretation of radiographic studies in addition to obtaining a thorough musculoskeletal history and physical examination. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. A thirty-three-year-old male runner presented with insidious onset of diffuse pain about the left knee. The discomfort had increased initially with stair climbing and activities that emphasized forceful knee extension against resistance. He had localized the pain to the anterior aspect of the knee and initially had attributed the symptoms to overuse. Three months of self-imposed activity modification and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications had failed to manage the symptoms. He then sought the attention of his primary care physician. At that time, he was having discomfort with routine walking. Radiographs were obtained …
In situ TEM observations of the lithiation of molybdenum disulfide

The lithiation of molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) has been directly studied in situ in the TEM by observing specimens with the viewing direction parallel to the basal planes. The MoS 2 lamella was characterized by bright-field imaging during the lithiation, and both selected-area diffraction and high-resolution imaging before and after. An overall expansion of ∼5% along the c -direction was observed with concurrent local contraction. The contraction can be related to the expulsion of Mo as Li reduces it to form Li 2 S.
Congenital pouch colon.

A 1-day-old newborn male was brought to the nursery emergency department with a complaint of absent anal opening. The baby was born through spontaneous vaginal delivery in a village and had a weight of 2.8 kg. Apart from massive abdominal distension, there were no other significant features in the history and clinical examination. Roentgenograms revealed a massive gas shadow in the abdomen (Figures 1 and 2). A diagnosis of congenital pouch colon (CPC) was made. At laparotomy, the entire colon was in the form of a pouch, and ileum directly opened into the pouch from the right side (Figure 3). There was a large fistula between CPC and the urinary bladder of the patient. The fistula was separated and repaired, and the pouch was excised in toto with an end ileostomy. The patient had an uneventful recovery.1 Congenital pouch colon is an anomaly in which the entire colon or its part becomes converted to a pouchshaped structure, filled with2 meconium, having a big fistula with genitourinary system. The most suitable preoperative diagnosis in a newborn presented with imperforate anus, massive abdominal distension, and massive gas shadow on roentgenograms should be congenital pouch colon. Radiographic diagnosis of CPC is
A Mean-Value Property of Cubic Polynomials without Mean Values

(1992). A Mean-Value Property of Cubic Polynomials—without Mean Values. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 123-124.
2.5D dictionary learning based computed tomography reconstruction

A computationally efficient 2.5D dictionary learning (DL) algorithm is proposed and implemented in the model- based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) framework for low-dose CT reconstruction. MBIR is based on the minimization of a cost function containing data-fitting and regularization terms to control the trade-off between data-fidelity and image noise. Due to the strong denoising performance of DL, it has previously been considered as a regularizer in MBIR, and both 2D and 3D DL implementations are possible. Compared to the 2D case, 3D DL keeps more spatial information and generates images with better quality although it requires more computation. We propose a novel 2.5D DL scheme, which leverages the computational advantage of 2D-DL, while attempting to maintain reconstruction quality similar to 3D-DL. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this new 2.5D DL scheme for MBIR in low-dose CT. By applying the 2D DL method in three different orthogonal planes and calculating the sparse coefficients accordingly, much of the 3D spatial information can be preserved without incurring the computational penalty of the 3D DL method. For performance evaluation, we use baggage phantoms with different number of projection views. In order to quantitatively compare the performance of different algorithms, we use PSNR, SSIM and region based standard deviation to measure the noise level, and use the edge response to calculate the resolution. Experimental results with full view datasets show that the different DL based algorithms have similar performance and 2.5D DL has the best resolution. Results with sparse view datasets show that 2.5D DL outperforms both 2D and 3D DL in terms of noise reduction. We also compare the computational costs, and 2.5D DL shows strong advantage over 3D DL in both full-view and sparse-view cases.
Investigation on prevailing factors synthesized control measures of endemic fluorosis in Longyan City

Objective To explore the prevailing factors and synthesized prevention and control measure of endemic fluorosis in Longyan City.Methods The successive data of investigation,monitoring,inspection,and correlative research were statistically analyzed on fluorosis in the city.Results Ten fluorine endemic areas were identified in Longyan City.The prevalence rate of dental fluorine was 55.88%.The prevalence rate of skeletal fluorine 0.44%.The prevalence related to the high content of fluorine in drinking water,in some areas,to such factors as manufacturing bean curd with and taking bath in spring water containing high fluorine,agricuhuring in high fluorine environment.The prevention and control effect was achieved adopting synthesized measures,such as defluoriding.The basic goal of control fluorosis had been achieved in the ten endemic areas in the city. Conclusions The prevailing factors of endemic fluorosis have been investigated in Longyan City.The synthesized prevention and control measures are appropriate and feasible,leading to a remarkable effect.
Discussing on Developing Social Work in College Conducted by Private Organization

The problem could be relatively more complicated in college conducted by private organization.However,the simple management system of education and psychological consultation could not be able to solve those complex and comprehensive issues.Therefore,it is more emergently that social work is developed in college.This essay aimed to discuss the issues concerning study and daily life occurs in college conducted by private organization while the model of social work is inserted into college.
GATEWAY Demonstrations: Trial Demonstration of Area Lighting Retrofit, Yuma Border Patrol, Yuma, Arizona

Along the Yuma Sector Border Patrol Area in Yuma, Arizona, the GATEWAY program conducted a trial demonstration in which the incumbent quartz metal halide area lighting was replaced with LED at three pole locations at the Yuma Sector Border Patrol Area in Yuma, Arizona. The retrofit was documented to better understand LED technology performance in high-temperature environments.
Preoperative External Beam Radiotherapy Followed by Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Primary or Recurrent Renal Malignancies

AbstractPatients with local persistence or local regional recurrence of cancer after nephrectomy for renal cell cancer are unlikely to respond well to systemic therapy or external irradiation alone. In this analysis, patients with locally recurrent (9) or persistent (2) cancer following nephrectomy (renal cell cancer in 8, transitional cell or squamous cell cancer in 3) usually received 4,500 to 5,040cGy. preoperative external beam irradiation followed by maximal surgical debulking and intraoperative electron irradiation (1,000 to 2,500cGy.). Of 8 renal cell cancer patients 6 were alive and 4 were without disease progression at 15 to 50 months (3 of 4 at 29 months or longer). One patient died free of disease at 10.5 months and 3 had metastases (regional in 1 and distant in 3). Of the 3 transitional or squamous cell carcinoma patients 1 died free of disease 28.5 months after initiation of treatment for recurrence and 2 died of disease progression (liver in 1 and local in 1). It appears that select patients...
Crystallization of cow α-lactalbumin

Abstract Three new crystal forms of cow α-lactalbumin are described. A trigonal form in space group P3121 or P3221 has unit cell dimensions: a = b = 57.4 A , c = 75.0 A . A hexagonal form in space group P622 has unit cell dimensions: a = b = 94.0 A , c = 67.1 A . A second trigonal form grown in the presence of calcium ions belongs to space group P321 with unit cell dimensions: a = b = 93.7 A , c = 66.9 A . The significance of these new crystal forms to the structure determination of cow α-laetalbumin is discussed.
Pharmacological management of cancer-related pain

BackgroundPain occurs in 50% of patients with cancer at the time of diagnosis, and nearly 80% of patients with advanced stage cancer have moderate to severe pain. Assessment of pain requires the he...