cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The neglect–enrichment continuum: Characterizing variation in early caregiving environments

Abstract The nature and consequences of threat in the caregiving environment have been widely studied and discussed. The construct of psychosocial neglect, however, has received less attention. In this paper, we advance a novel framework for examining the nature and consequences of neglect, which we posit can be represented as variations along a continuum from severe psychosocial neglect to environmental enrichment. Recognizing that caregiving is multi-dimensional, we conceptualize enriching input from caregivers as falling along two dimensions. Specifically, we propose that caregivers vary in their provision of emotional and cognitive input, and that the effects of this input on child development are moderated by caregiver sensitivity. Further, we present preliminary data indicating that emotional and cognitive input are separable. Conceptualizing the caregiving environment along these two dimensions advances the field in terms of (1) characterizing variation in early life experience; (2) understanding predictors of child developmental outcomes; and (3) identifying optimal targets for interventions to improve the well-being of children.
Influences on coastal tourism demand and substitution behaviors from climate change impacts and hazard recovery responses

Climate change impacts can negatively affect tourism demand and, subsequently, local economies by disrupting access and altering physical conditions, including those from adaptation and recovery ef...
Indiscriminate Pathologic Examination of Pediatric Supraglottoplasty Specimens: An Evidence-Based Approach toward Exempt Status.

ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to demonstrate that indiscriminate pathologic evaluation of supraglottoplasty specimens is unnecessary and does not influence postoperative management. Th...
[Application Value of Capillary Electrophoresis in Screeningβ-Thalassemia of Children].

Objective to explore the value of capillary electrophoresis in screening β- thalassemia of children, and to establish the cutoff values of HbA2 and HbF in our laboratory. Methods The data of hemoglobin capillary electrophoresis and genetic diagnosis of β- thalassemia from 886 examined children were retrospectively analyzed. The cutoff values of HbA2 and HbF were determined by ROC curve. Results The cutoff value of HbA2 screening minor β- thalassemia was 3.65%, the specificity was 0.996, and the sensitivity was 0.995. The cut-off value of HbF for screening minor β- thalassemia was 1.45%, specificity was 0.751 and sensitivity was 0.675. Thus, 1 case with codon5 (CCT→C) mutation, 1 case with SEA -HPFH β deletion, 1 case with - 28 (A→G) merger IVS-Ι-128 (T→G) double heterozygous mutations yet were found out, 1 case with 47 bp β gene missing has not yet been reported in literature. Conclusion Capillary electrophoresis has more high sensitivity and specificity in the screening of β- thalassemia in children, especially for the detection of rare β- thalassemia.
Is a Transformed Low Discrepancy Design Also Low Discrepancy

Experimental designs intended to match arbitrary target distributions are typically constructed via a variable transformation of a uniform experimental design. The inverse distribution function is one such transformation. The discrepancy is a measure of how well the empirical distribution of any design matches its target distribution. This chapter addresses the question of whether a variable transformation of a low discrepancy uniform design yields a low discrepancy design for the desired target distribution. The answer depends on the two kernel functions used to define the respective discrepancies. If these kernels satisfy certain conditions, then the answer is yes. However, these conditions may be undesirable for practical reasons. In such a case, the transformation of a low discrepancy uniform design may yield a design with a large discrepancy. We illustrate how this may occur. We also suggest some remedies. One remedy is to ensure that the original uniform design has optimal one-dimensional projections, but this remedy works best if the design is dense, or in other words, the ratio of sample size divided by the dimension of the random variable is relatively large. Another remedy is to use the transformed design as the input to a coordinate-exchange algorithm that optimizes the desired discrepancy, and this works for both dense or sparse designs. The effectiveness of these two remedies is illustrated via simulation.
Engraftment kinetics after transplantation of double unit cord blood grafts combined with haplo-identical CD34+ cells without antithymocyte globulin

Double unit cord blood (dCB) transplantation (dCBT) is associated with high engraftment rates but delayed myeloid recovery. We investigated adding haplo-identical CD34+ cells to dCB grafts to facilitate early haplo-identical donor-derived neutrophil recovery (optimal bridging) prior to CB engraftment. Seventy-eight adults underwent myeloablation with cyclosporine-A/mycophenolate mofetil immunoprophylaxis (no antithymocyte globulin, ATG). CB units (median CD34+ dose 1.1 × 105/kg/unit) had a median 5/8 unit-recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-match. Haplo-identical grafts had a median CD34+ dose of 5.2 × 106/kg. Of 77 evaluable patients, 75 had sustained CB engraftment that was mediated by a dominant unit and heralded by dominant unit-derived T cells. Optimal haplo-identical donor-derived myeloid bridging was observed in 34/77 (44%) patients (median recovery 12 days). Other engrafting patients had transient bridging with second nadir preceding CB engraftment (20/77 (26%), median first recovery 12 and second 26.5 days) or no bridge (21/77 (27%), median recovery 25 days). The 2 (3%) remaining patients had graft failure. Higher haplo-CD34+ dose and better dominant unit-haplo-CD34+ HLA-match significantly improved the likelihood of optimal bridging. Optimally bridged patients were discharged earlier (median 28 versus 36 days). ATG-free haplo-dCBT can speed neutrophil recovery but successful bridging is not guaranteed due to rapid haplo-identical graft rejection.
Persistent Hydrodynamic Cues Elicit Orientation-Specific Behavioral Sensitivities and Kinematic Responses in Dispersed Crab Larvae

The estuarine mud crab Panopeus herbstii navigates a complex, but structured, hydrodynamic environment throughout its life history. The effects of hydrodynamic cues associated with turbulent flows on larval behavior are relatively well understood in the context of selective tidal stream transport (STST) phenomena during the dispersed (pelagic) larval stages preceding benthic settlement. In contrast, the potential relevance of hydrodynamic cues associated with spatiotemporally persistent flow features, which are typical of estuarine regions of enhanced productivity such as fronts and clines, remains much less certain. To investigate the behavioral relevance of persistent hydrodynamic cues, larval assays were conducted in a flume system that uses a laminar slot jet to produce steady fluid shear layers. Further, to ascertain whether or not the spatial orientation of the shear layers relative to gravity significantly affected larval behavior, assays were conducted in upwelling, downwelling, and horizontal shear flows, corresponding to the direction of the bulk flow produced by the jet. The flow was quantified using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and tuned to produce ecologically-relevant hydrodynamic conditions for larval assays. Changes in larval swimming kinematics show a distinct response to shear flows in all orientations relative to no-flow conditions, and the macro effect of these changes is to enhance depth-keeping and induce area-restricted search behaviors. Furthermore, the specifics of larval behavioral responses depend on the directional orientation of the shear flow, and the statistical properties of the strength of the hydrodynamic cue (vorticity) eliciting these responses are also shown to be shear flow orientation-specific. Orientation-specific hydrodynamic sensitivity and behavioral response strategies in the presence of persistent hydrodynamic cues may enable larvae to effectively forage and sample to locate and exploit nearby resource patches, while also inducing dispersal trajectories towards favorable benthic settlement habitats through depth regulation and effective STST. In this regard, hydrodynamic cues associated with spatiotemporally persistent flow features are likely fundamental drivers of decapod crab larvae behavior and may act as another mechanism of larval patchiness by directly impacting finescale population distributions and resultant dispersal trajectories.
Ramelteon for Decreasing Delirium in Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients

In intensive care unit (ICU) patients, delirium contributes to prolonged hospitalization, long-term cognitive impairment and increased mortality. Sleep disturbance, a risk factor for delirium, has ...
ELABORAÇÃO DE UM PROCEDIMENTO DE GESTÃO DE EPI NA VISITAÇÃO DOMICILIÁRIA EM CONTEXTO COVID19

Objective: To describe the process of elaboration, by the team of the Community Care Unit Vallis Longus, of a procedure for the handling of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during homecare visits (HCV) within the scope of COVID19. Method: The preparation of the PPE handling procedure in the context of HCV followed the following steps sequentially: a) review of the available literature; b) team discussion on the respondent's viability in the previous point; c) theoretical elaboration of the procedure; d) practical test of the procedure; e) preparation of the final version of the procedure; f) development of a video demonstrating the procedure. Results and discussion: The elaboration of the PPE management procedure in the context of the HV implies the assessment of its viability, both in terms of the necessary material resources and in terms of the use of the procedure in the real context of home care provision. The described phases made it possible to adapt what was described in the literature, so that it could be fully implemented in the daily organization of the unit and, consequently, in the direct provision of care. The production of a video facilitated the training actions related to the procedure, which mostly acquired a virtual character due to the pandemic COVID19. Conclusion: The context of the COVID19 pandemic created the need to review the PPE handling procedures inherent in HV to prevent the spread of infection. The development, in a discussion team, of a procedure based on the combination of the literature and the practical feasibility of its implementation allowed to put into operation an effective and sustainable PPE management model.
Acute Kidney Disease to Chronic Kidney Disease.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease are common interconnected syndromes that represent a public health problem. Acute kidney disease (AKD) is defined as the post-AKI status of acute or subacute kidney damage/dysfunction manifested by persistence of AKI beyond 7 to 90 days after the initial AKI diagnosis. Limited clinical data exist regarding AKD epidemiology but its incidence is observed in ∼25% of AKI survivors. Useful risk-stratification tools to predict risk of AKD and its prognosis are needed. Interventions on fluid management, nephrotoxic exposure, and follow-up care hold promise to ameliorate the burden of AKD and its complications.
Intraosseous administration of hydroxocobalamin after enclosed structure fire cardiac arrest.

Smoke inhalation is the most common cause of acute cyanide poisoning in the developed world. Hydroxocobalamin is an antidote for cyanide poisoning. There is little published about human intraosseous antidote administration. We present a case of intraosseous hydroxocobalamin administration in an adult smoke inhalation victim, found in cardiac arrest inside her burning manufactured home. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved after 20 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Five grams of hydroxocobalamin were subsequently given intraosseously. On hospital arrival, patient was found to have a respiratory-metabolic acidosis. She had red-coloured urine without haematuria, a known sequela of hydroxocobalamin administration. Patient's neurological status deteriorated, and she died 4 days after admission. This case highlights that intraosseously administered hydroxocobalamin seems to adequately flow into the marrow cavity and enter the circulatory system despite the non-compressible glass antidote vial. This appears to be only the second reported human case of intraosseous hydroxocobalamin administration.
Social and leisure activity are associated with attenuated cortical loss in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration.

Abstract Behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) is clinically characterized by progressive decline in social and executive domains. Previous work suggests that early lifestyle factors such as education and occupational attainment may relate to structural integrity and moderate the rate of cognitive decline in bvFTD, but the role of other cognitively stimulating activities is understudied. We sought to investigate the effect of such activities on cortical thickness (CT) in bvFTD. bvFTD patients (n = 31) completed a baseline MRI scan, and informants for the patients completed the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ), which measures specific activities considered to be undertaken primarily within one particular life phase, such as education (young-life), occupation (mid-life), and social/leisure activity (late-life). At baseline, linear models assessed the effect of LEQ scores from each life phase on regional CT. A subset (n = 19) of patients completed longitudinal MRI, and to evaluate the association of LEQ with longitudinal rates of CT decline, we derived individualized slopes of decline using linear mixed effects models and these were related to LEQ scores from each life phase. At baseline, a higher late-life LEQ score was associated with less atrophy in left superior and inferior anterior temporal regions as well as right middle temporal gyrus. Longitudinally, we observed that higher late-life LEQ scores were associated with an attenuated rate of CT loss in insular cortex. Late-life LEQ score was positively associated with both relatively preserved CT early in bvFTD and a slower rate of cortical loss in regions important for social functioning. These findings suggest that social and leisure activities may contribute to a form of resilience against pathologic effects of disease.
Exit this way: afterward

I wish I could say that when my colleague Paula McDowell approached me about having a McLuhan symposium at New York University that I had been supportive, or at least warily accepting in the practi...
A Guidebook to the Soul

It would please me to go back, I'm thinking, looking off the balcony at the moonlight flaking over the Pacific Ocean. Turns out, they can take that away from you as well, Jenny says, one leg over the rail. And yes, I agree, as in some of Frost's happier poetry. And folk speech, don't forget, Peter reminds us from behind the potted plant. Something's ending then, we can tell. We're just not sure what, like when I first saw her and began to understand hunger. And it's funny how we're not other people by now. In purely personal terms. So she hates him because of her hurt, though hate's too strong a word. Love, maybe. By the same token, we veer easily into sentimental ity and often repeat ourselves. Repeating ourselves is another of the ways in which we resemble each other, particularly about the eyes. It makes her little forehead get all crinkly. Weather's rolling in, we say, looking off the balcony at the weather rolling in, one in pentatonic and one in modal. Whitman does so very often, Peter says, trying to make it up to her. It was an experience whose crucial moral character we can only surmise. But what of the palms that had just begun to flourish? as I often don't know what else there is. OK, let's return to an earlier moment then, a time when we're elegant conversationalists who survive by special devices. And our rich inner lives.
Aging alters Mitochondrial Respiratory Capacity and Function in Human Skeletal Muscle

Mitochondrial health is critical to physiological function, particularly in tissues with high ATP turnover, such a striated muscle. It has been postulated that derangements in mitochondrial functio...
Order selection for ARMA parametric spectrum estimation

Conventional criteria of order selection have concentrated on so called "consistency" of selecting the "true" order. However, the "consistent" order model, in general, differs from the optimal model that produces the best application effect. In an effort towards an optimal order selection for the ARMA parametric spectrum estimation, the model spectral distance (MSD) is proposed to measure the difference of two concerned models. The distinction between the consistent and the optimal orders is illustrated by simulation examples in terms of the MSD. The parameter estimation error is evaluated through the MSD. The MSD from the lower to the higher order model is utilized as a measurement of possible accuracy improvement and the difference between the higher model associated parameter estimation error and the lower model associated parameter estimation error is used as a measure of possible accuracy loss, when the order increases. Thus, a novel order selection criterion, namely the model spectral distance criterion (MSDC) is proposed based on a comparison between this possible improvement and loss. Theoretical work has shown that the orders selected by this criterion are optimal or suboptimal. Its excellent performance has also been shown by extensive simulations.
Remedies and Damages: Legal Aspects

Damages levels vary across countries. The size of damages awards in the United States became an issue of debate stemming from asserted civil liability crises. Little evidence exists that damages awards have substantially increased over time and one longitudinal 40-year data set shows no real growth over four decades. Punitive damages in the United States may be the most controversial area of damages. The best available evidence is that punitive damages awards are infrequent: punitive damages are requested in about 10% of completed trials and awarded in about one-third of the cases in which plaintiffs won and they were requested. Growth in punitive damages award levels has not followed a clear trend. The relation between punitive and compensatory awards is highly statistically significant, contrary to claims that punitive damages amounts are random.
Malingering psychosis: guidelines for assessment and management.

Purpose The purposes of this paper are to (a) identify theoretical underpinnings of malingering, (b) to discuss interview and intervention techniques based on pertinent literature, and (c) to offer an organized mnemonic to help clinicians easily identify possible malingered psychosis presentations. Conclusion Detecting the malingering of psychotic symptoms is a challenging task for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. Diagnosing a patient of malingering requires caution on the clinician's part. Practice Implications A thorough understanding of potential signs of malingering vs. genuine psychosis is needed as well as knowledge of legal ramifications.
Biochemical properties of the outer membrane of Treponema denticola.

The outer membranes (OMs) from serovars a, b, and c of Treponema denticola, originally isolated from periodontal patients, were prepared. Dialysis of the OMs against 20 mM MgCl2 yielded the aggregable (A) and the nonaggregable (NA) moieties of the OMs. The absence of muramic acid, adenosine triphosphatase, hexokinase, and nucleic acid as well as electron microscopy indicated that the OM preparations were homogeneous. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the A and NA moieties of the OMs showed approximately 25 Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 stain-positive bands or 47 silver-stained polypeptides. The relative molecular masses ranged between 14 and 97 kDa. The electrophoretic polypeptide profiles of the A and NA moieties shared many similarities among serovars a, b, and c. However, they exhibited variation in the overall pattern, intensity, or location of the polypeptide stained zones. This was especially true for serovar b. Two-dimensional electrophoretic studies showed an excess of 100 silver-stained spots with isoelectric points of 4.6 to 7.0 and relative molecular masses in the 14- to 97-kDa range. The OMs contained simple proteins, glycoproteins, and lipoproteins. The NA moieties of the OMs contained 4 to 6, 10 to 12, and 4 to 6 glycopeptides as well as two, seven, and two lipoprotein bands for serovars a, b, and c, respectively. The A moieties of the OMs showed 7 to 9, 11 to 13 and 5 to 6 glycopeptides as well as four, five, and three lipoprotein bands for serovars a, b, and c, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide was detected in the OMs of the three serovars following removal of proteins with proteinase K, pronase and silver staining of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, or removal of lipopolysaccharide from the OMs by hot phenol extraction. The 66- and 53-kDa bands were present in serovars b and c, while a band with a relative molecular mass of 45 kDa was present only in serovar c. Endotoxin-like activity was also shown in the OMs of the three serovars by the Limulus amebocyte clotting assay and the chick embryo lethality test. This is the first report on selected biochemical properties of the OM macromolecules of three known serovars of T. denticola. Images
Inverse problems of agglomeration kinetics: II. Binary clustering coefficients from self-preserving spectra

Abstract An inverse problem is formulated to estimate bivariate kinetic coefficients for irreversible aggregation processes from measurements of transient size spectra. The approach is applicable in situations where the transient spectra exhibit similarity behavior. No assumptions regarding the physical nature of the agglomeration process or any properties of the coagulation kernel are made. The formulation is a generalization of our earlier one for homogeneous agglomeration frequencies. In view of the fact that the inverse problem is ill-posed, regularization techniques are employed to facilitate inversion. Numerical examples for homogeneous as well as nonhomogeneous agglomeration kernels are presented to illustrate the methodology. The results indicate that accurate data can yield good estimates of the frequency. It is thus shown that self-preserving spectra can be used effectively to estimate the binary clustering coefficients in situations where they are unknown.
Empirical analysis of the planform curvature‐migration relation of meandering rivers

[1] Meandering rivers are among the most dynamic Earth surface systems, exhibiting progressive change in channel location as they migrate across their floodplains over time. Theoretical models of meandering have defined the influence of planform curvature on meandering in the form of a spatial convolution function that expresses migration at any point along the channel as a weighted aggregate of local, upstream, and, most recently, downstream curvature. This study evaluates empirically the spatial planform curvature-migration relation of meandering rivers using data obtained from natural meandering rivers with varying degrees of planform complexity and compares the empirical results with the assumed relationships embodied in the theoretical meander migration models. The study is based on a framework that views a meandering river as a dynamical input-output system where the migration process is characterized by a spatial filter through which planform curvature produces migration. Discrete signal processing is used to derive the spatial planform curvature-migration relation for each study reach and to analyze the characteristics of this relation via transfer function models. The results demonstrate that the spatial structure of the planform curvature effect on migration rates depends on the complexity of the planform geometry. A first-order difference equation, in which the planform curvature effect is characterized as an exponential decay, can satisfactorily describe the migration process of a planform containing simple bends, but a high-order difference equation, which includes oscillatory terms superimposed on exponential decay, is necessary to capture the development of complex meander forms. The findings support recent theoretical studies that suggest that high-order terms are required in spatial convolution models to generate complex bend geometries.
Formation of resonantly stabilised free radicals via the reactions of atomic carbon, dicarbon, and tricarbon with unsaturated hydrocarbons: theory and crossed molecular beams experiments

Resonance stabilised free radicals (RSFRs) play an important role in the growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ultimately in the production of soot and carbonaceous particles in combustion flames, in the interstellar medium, and in planetary atmospheres. This article reviews extensive experimental crossed molecular beams and theoretical ab initio/Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus studies in the last two decades of the reactions of atomic carbon, C(3P), dicarbon, C2(X1Σg+/a3Πu), and tricarbon, C3(X1Σg+), with unsaturated hydrocarbons, from acetylene to benzene, showing that the reactions form various types of RSFR via Cn(n = 1–3)-for-H, Cn-for-CH3, and Cn-for-CxHy exchange mechanisms. The RSFRs produced in these reactions include CxH (x = 1–8), propargyl (C3H3) and its substituted analogues, 2,4-pentadiynyl-1 (i-C5H3) and 1,4-pentadiynyl-3 (n-C5H3) together with their methyl substituted counterparts, butatrienyl (i-C4H3) and its substituted analogues, and hexenediynyl, i-C6H3, as well as cyclic five-,...
Cortical activation of accumbens hyperpolarization-active NMDARs mediates aversion-resistant alcohol intake

The authors show that optogenetic inhibition of inputs from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) or insula to the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) inhibits aversion-resistant alcohol intake. Alcohol-drinking rats showed increased hyperpolarization-active NMDARs at mPFC and insula inputs to NAcore medium spiny neurons. Knocking down these receptors in the NAcore inhibited aversion-resistant alcohol intake.
Some experimental observations on localized shear bands in plane-strain

In spite of the frequency with which shear bands have been observed in inelastically deforming solids (e.g. metals, metallic glasses, polymeric glasses, granular and rock-like materials) and the attention that has been given to their study, our state of understanding of the various features of the shear band localization phenomenon appears to be in its infancy. In what follows the authors review the recent experimental work of Anand and Spitzig who have conducted systematic experiments and made quantitative comparisons between experimental observations of certain features of shear localization and corresponding theoretical predictions obtained from anaylses in the framework provided by the analytical developments of Hill and Hutchinson, Rudnicki and Rice, and Rice. This theoretical framework views the initiation of localized shear bands as a bifurcation of deformation in a previously homogeneously deforming homogeneous and rate-independent elastic-plastic body. As has been emphasized by Rice, not all localization phenomena can be expected to fit within this theoretical framework. In particular, a bifurcation analysis cannot take into account the important role of material inhomogeneitiesin initiating shear bands. Also, it cannot handle situations where localization is precipitated by the sudden onset of new physical mechanisms which abruptly degrade the strength of a material (e.g.more » the Luders band type of localizations which are usually attributed either to the rapid multiplication of new dislocations in metals with initially low dislocation densities or to the sudden breaking free of dislocations from impurity atmospheres in some alloys). dependent on the details of the constitutive equations used in the analysis.« less
Comparison of surgical outcomes between teaching and nonteaching hospitals in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Objective To determine whether the investment in postgraduate education and training places patients at risk for worse outcomes and higher costs than if medical and surgical care was delivered in nonteaching settings. Background Data The Veterans Health Administration (VA) plays a major role in the training of medical students, residents, and fellows. Methods The database of the VA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was analyzed for all major noncardiac operations performed during fiscal years 1997, 1998, and 1999. Teaching status of a hospital was determined on the basis of a background and structure questionnaire that was independently verified by a research fellow. Stepwise logistic regression was used to construct separate models predictive of 30-day mortality and morbidity for each of seven surgical specialties and eight operations. Based on these models, a severity index for each patient was calculated. Hierarchical logistic regression models were then created to examine the relationship between teaching versus nonteaching hospitals and 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity, after adjusting for patient severity. Results Teaching hospitals performed 81 % of the total surgical workload and 90% of the major surgery workload. In most specialties in teaching hospitals, the residents were the primary surgeons in more than 90% of the operations. Compared with nonteaching hospitals, the patient populations in teaching hospitals had a higher prevalence of risk factors, underwent more complex operations, and had longer operation times. Risk-adjusted mortality rates were not different between the teaching and nonteaching hospitals in the specialties and operations studied. The unadjusted complication rate was higher in teaching hospitals in six of seven specialties and four of eight operations. Risk adjustment did not eliminate completely these differences, probably reflecting the relatively poor predictive validity of some of the risk adjustment models for morbidity. Length of stay after major operations was not consistently different between teaching and nonteaching hospitals. Conclusion Compared with nonteaching hospitals, teaching hospitals in the VA perform the majority of complex and high-risk major procedures, with comparable risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rates. Risk-adjusted 30-day morbidity rates in teaching hospitals are higher in some specialties and operations than in nonteaching hospitals. Although this may reflect the weak predictive validity of some of the risk adjustment models for morbidity, it may also represent suboptimal processes and structures of care that are unique to teaching hospitals. Despite good quality of care in teaching hospitals, as evidenced by the 30-day mortality data, efforts should be made to examine further the structures and processes of surgical care prevailing in these hospitals.
Angiogenesis in malignancies of the female genital tract.

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this work was to review current knowledge pertaining to angiogenesis in malignancies of the female genital tract. Methods. We identified studies published in the English language regarding angiogenesis in gynecologic malignancies. The studies were obtained from a MEDLINE search from 1966 through June 1998; additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. Results. A growing body of evidence confirms the ability of vulvar and cervical squamous cell carcinomas and endometrial and ovarian adenocarcinoma to induce angiogenesis. In vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia a correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, microvessel density (MVD), and progression of dysplasia has been demonstrated. In invasive vulvar carcinoma, high VEGF expression and MVD portend poor prognosis. Currently a debate exists regarding the ability of cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia to induce angiogenesis. Most studies, however, indicate angiogenesis to be of prognostic value in patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The ability of complex endometrial hyperplasia to induce angiogenesis has been demonstrated. A direct correlation between angiogenesis, higher grade and depth of invasion in Stage I adenocarcinoma, and prognostic value in Stage I and II and recurrent disease has been noted. In ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma, higher microvessel counts in the primary ovarian tumor or omental metastases may serve as a prognostic indicator for survival. Conclusions. Similar to other malignant diseases, angiogenesis appears to play an important role in disease progression and survival in patients with gynecologic malignancies. Preliminary data indicate angiogenesis may serve as a prognostic indicator in vulvar and cervical squamous cell carcinomas and endometrial and ovarian adenocarcinomas. These findings may lead to future application of therapeutic trials with antiangiogenic factors.
Super-global distortion correction for a rotational C-arm x-ray image intensifier

Image intensifier (II) distortion changes as a function of C-arm rotation angle because of changes in the orientation of the II with the earth’s or other stray magnetic fields. For cone-beam computed tomography(CT), distortion correction for all angles is essential. The new super-global distortion correction consists of a model to continuously correct II distortion not only at each location in the image but for every rotational angle of the C arm. Calibration bead images were acquired with a standard C arm in 9 in. II mode. The super-global (SG) model is obtained from the single-plane global correction of the selected calibrationimages with given sampling angle interval. The fifth-order single-plane global corrections yielded a residual rms error of 0.20 pixels, while the SG model yielded a rms error of 0.21 pixels, a negligibly small difference. We evaluated the accuracy dependence of the SG model on various factors, such as the single-plane global fitting order, SG order, and angular sampling interval. We found that a good SG model can be obtained using a sixth-order SG polynomial fit based on the fifth-order single-plane global correction, and that a 10° sampling interval was sufficient. Thus, the SG model saves processing resources and storage space. The residual errors from the mechanical errors of the x-ray system were also investigated, and found comparable with the SG residual error. Additionally, a single-plane global correction was done in the cylindrical coordinate system, and physical information about pincushion distortion and S distortion were observed and analyzed; however, this method is not recommended due to a lack of calculational efficiency. In conclusion, the SG model provides an accurate, fast, and simple correction for rotational C-arm images, which may be used for cone-beam CT.
Reverse Halo Sign on Chest Imaging in a Renal Transplant Recipient.

Without proper treatment, the mortality of pulmonary mucormycosis is nearly 100%. Although the diagnosis is often made histologically, it can be suspected when patients have a reverse halo sign on computed tomography (CT) of the chest, along with the right clinical findings. We describe the case of a woman 7 months post renal transplant who presented with fevers, malaise, and chest pain. Her chest CT revealed a round, focal area of ground-glass attenuation surrounded by a complete rim of consolidation in the left upper lobe, consistent with the reverse halo sign. Pulmonary mucormycosis was diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy. She was successfully treated with combined medical and surgical therapies. In the context of this case, we provide a brief review of the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis, with a focus on radiographic and pathologic findings.
Population differences in behaviour and morphology in the snail Littorina saxatilis: phenotypic plasticity or genetic differentiation?

The ovoviviparous Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) can be found in many intertidal habitats. Winkles from different habitats have different morphologies and behaviours, which are usually argued to reflect adaptations. Whether the different forms are caused by genetic differentiation or due to phenotypic plasticity is, however, less discussed. Our aim was to document morphological and behavioural differences among one exposed rock poulation, one sheltered boulder population, and one mud flat population, and we reared offspring in a common laboratory environment to see if the differences persisted. We used principal component analysis (PCA), based on 19 measurements, to compare size and shape differences. We also used PCA and linear regression to study allometry and compare growth trajectories. Behavioural differences were studied in three laboratory trials. Littorina saxatillis from the rock were relatively small, had small aperture lips, thin shells, blunt spires, and wide columellae. They preferred to stay in cracks and to be above the water surface, and they quickly emerged out of their shells after disturbance. L. saxatillis from the boulder shore were relatively large, had large lips, thick shells, pointed spires, and narrow columellae. They preferred open surfaces, submergence, and after disturbance they slowly emerged out of the shell. L. Saxatilis from the mud flat were relatively small, had small lips, think shells, pointed spires, and narrow columellae and most behaved similarly to the boulder shore snails. Although less pronounced, most of these morphological and behavioural differences persisted in the snails that we reared in the common environment. This indicates some genetic differentiation. All groups grew allometrically, and most groups differed in growth trajectories, Despite similar ages, the reared females were generally larger than the reared males, indicating higher growth rate in females. Sexual maturation seemed to be reached at a certain size rather than at a certain age. Theories predict genetic diferentiation in intertidal snail species with low dispersal, but some investigations show results that contradict the theories, while others agree with them. Our study confirms the prediction that L. saxatilis should be genetically differentiated.
Issues Encountered by Physicians During International Travel With Youth National Soccer Teams

A skilled physician traveling with a team can help prevent some injuries and illnesses and promptly treat those that do occur. Language barriers and cultural differences can be eliminated, and the team can maintain a desired standard and continuity of care while away. These benefits may translate into team success.1,10 The “Team Physician Consensus Statement”14 provides guidelines for choosing a qualified team physician and outlines the duties expected of this position. A study of all team physician encounters with intercollegiate athletes at a major university over 2 years found that 73% of initial evaluations were musculoskeletal and 27% were general medical problems.13 A traveling team physician may play multiple roles, including “a public health advisor, sports psychologist, emergency medical technician, general practitioner, and a musculoskeletal specialist.”3 Studies of the frequency and types of consultations at the Olympic Games5,11,12 are of limited relevance to the typical traveling team because of the unique nature and scope of an Olympiad. Multiple studies have looked at injury rates associated with international soccer tournaments.4,7,8 Only Babwah and Rogers2 reported noninjury complaints and staff needs with a men’s team but included domestic training camps. Additional information about the health care needs of a traveling sports team is needed to guide organizations in the selection and preparation of team physicians, the development of policies and protocols, and the provision of medical supplies.
Atrial fibrillation after cardiac operation: risks, mechanisms, and treatment.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of cardiac operations that leads to increased risk for thromboembolism and excessive health care resource utilization. Advanced age, previous AF, and valvular heart operations are the most consistently identified risk factors for this arrhythmia. Dispersion of repolarization leading to reentry is believed to be the mechanism of postoperative AF, but many questions regarding the pathophysiology of AF remain unanswered. Treatment is aimed at controlling heart rate, preventing thromboembolic events, and conversion to sinus rhythm. Multiple investigations have examined methods of preventing postoperative AF, but the only firm conclusions that can be drawn is to avoid β-blocker withdrawal after operation and to consider β-blocker therapy for other patients who may tolerate these drugs. Preliminary investigations showing sotalol and amiodarone to be effective in preventing postoperative AF are encouraging, but early data have been limited to selective patient populations and have not adequately evaluated safety. Newer class III antiarrhythmic drugs under development may have a role in the treatment of postoperative AF, but the risk of drug-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia must be considered. Nonpharmacologic interventions under consideration for the treatment of AF in the nonsurgical setting, such as automatic atrial cardioversion devices and multisite atrial pacing, may eventually have a role for selected cardiac surgical patients.
The Kinetic Monte Carlo method : Foundation, implementation, and application

The Kinetic Monte Carlo method provides a simple yet powerful and flexible tool for exercising the concerted action of fundamental, stochastic, physical mechanisms to create a model of the phenomena that they produce. This manuscript contains an overview of the theory behind the method, some simple examples to illustrate its implementation, and a technologically relevant application of the method to model the refinement of grains during polycrystalline thin film deposition. The objective is to provide an introduction to the method and its basics, and to present useful examples that might be followed to achieve its implementation for solving practical problems.
A Note on the Consequences of Monopsony When Goods are Jointly Produced in Fixed Proportions

The usual analysis of joint supply presumes that all relevant markets are competitive. In this paper, we introduce monopsony into the market for one of two products jointly supplied in fixed proportions. We provide an analysis of the monopsonist’s profit maximizing behavior, the welfare effects of monopsony, and an adaptation of the Lerner Index to this case.
Bilateral cannula system for intracranial chemical microinjection in small animals

An easily constructed and inexpensive bilateral cannula assembly for microinjection of chemicals into neural tissue in small animals is described. It reduces problems sometimes encountered with commercially available units, making it useful in both research and teaching laboratory settings. Suggestions for implant procedures and modifications for use in unique applications are suggested.
Microstructure, adhesion and growth kinetics of protective scales on metals and alloys

Currentunderstanding of the complex interrelationships among growth kinetics, microstructure, and adhesion of protective Cr2O3 and Al2O3 scales is critically reviewed. Similarities and differences in the behavior of these two systems are highlighted. The morphology of the alloy-scale interface appears to be a critical factor. Recent ideas are advanced to interpret the effect of oxygen-active elements on the development of a tortuous interface conducive to improved scale tenacity.
Society for Neuro-Oncology 2014 annual meeting updates on central nervous system metastases

Introduction The 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) took place in November of 2014. The focus of many abstracts, as well as the Education Day, was on recent advances in the study of central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Tumor biology Key studies evaluating the factors in tumors and their microenvironment associated with the development and growth of brain metastases are reviewed. Prognostication Studies investigating the factors that independently influence survival in participants with brain metastases are presented. Response assessment The Response Assessment for Neuro-Oncology criteria for brain metastases (RANO-BM) and the Neurological Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) criteria, which were both presented, are recapped. Radiotherapy Studies are reviewed evaluating factors that influence survival outcomes in participants with brain metastases who were treated with radiotherapy. Studies investigating the potential risk of radiation necrosis with the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapies are presented. Systemic therapies Brain metastases-focused subset analyses from the ASCEND-1 trial for ALK-translocated non-small cell lung cancer are presented. Preclinical and clinical work on solid tumor leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is also covered. Sequelae of central nervous system metastases and their treatments An overview is provided of treatment- related toxicities as well as important concepts that may influence strategies to protect against these toxicities. Conclusions Key concepts regarding tumor biology, prognostication, response assessment, therapeutic management, and sequelae of treatment for CNS metastases are summarized. Advances in our understanding of the basic and clinical science of CNS metastases have the potential to improve outcomes for patients.
Head Circumference Standards in Neonates

Head circumference at birth is an important measure of intrauterine growth, reflecting accurately brain growth and predicting subsequent development. Standards need to reflect the population and th...
The Neuropsychology of Autobiographical Memory

This special issue of Cortex focuses on the relative contribution of different neural networks to memory and the interaction of 'core' memory processes with other cognitive processes. In this article, we examine both. Specifically, we identify cognitive processes other than encoding and retrieval that are thought to be involved in memory; we then examine the consequences of damage to brain regions that support these processes. This approach forces a consideration of the roles of brain regions outside of the frontal, medial-temporal, and diencephalic regions that form a central part of neurobiological theories of memory. Certain kinds of damage to visual cortex or lateral temporal cortex produced impairments of visual imagery or semantic memory; these patterns of impairment are associated with a unique pattern of amnesia that was distinctly different from the pattern associated with medial-temporal trauma. On the other hand, damage to language regions, auditory cortex, or parietal cortex produced impairments of language, auditory imagery, or spatial imagery; however, these impairments were not associated with amnesia. Therefore, a full model of autobiographical memory must consider cognitive processes that are not generally considered 'core processes,' as well as the brain regions upon which these processes depend.