cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dual-frequency endoscopic transducer for imaging vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is among the most deadly of cancers, with surgery being typically the only curative option. Tumor resectability is typically determined via endoscopic ultrasound imaging, however, many patients who may be eligible for resection are not offered surgery due to the difficulty in determining vascular or lymphatic invasion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging may address this problem. We describe the development of a single element dual-frequency transducer for rotational endoscopic imaging designed to operate at 4/20 MHz to image microbubble superharmonics. The ability of the developed transducer to image in a tissue mimicking phantom at depths from 1.0 cm (CTR = 21.6 dB) to 2.5 cm (CTR = 11.4 dB) is demonstrated. The completed 4-Fr transducer is also capable of imaging microbubbles in a 200 µm-diameter tube through the wall of a ∼1 cm-diameter porcine artery, suggesting such a device may be suitable for direct visualization of small vessels from within the lumen of larger vessels such as the portal vein.
Feasibility of Yttrium 90 (90Y) Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin®) Radioimmunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure.

Yttrium 90 ( 90 Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy is an emerging treatment option for B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) upon relapse or refractory status. Ibritumomab tiuxetan has been shown to produce high rates of response in heavily pretreated patients with NHL. Due to the potential for altered biodistribution, the administration of ibritumomab tiuxetan has been restricted to patients having acceptable renal function (serum creatinine 111 In) ibritumomab tiuxetan (53 h) was within the expected range for patients with normal renal function. Analyses of whole blood samples, obtained immediately before and after hemodialysis, indicated that there was not a significant clearance of 111 In ibritumomab tiuxetan in the dialysate. Ibritumomab tiuxetan 32 mCi was administered on day 7. Platelet count (15,000 cells/mm 3 ) and ANC (200 cells/mm 3 ) nadir occurred at 8 and 10 weeks after therapy, with grade 3/4 cytopenia lasting 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. Both hematopoietic and growth factors were administered to support platelet and neutrophil recovery. Minimal safety precautions are required for ibritumomab tiuxetan administration, consequently shielding of hospital personnel or equipment was not needed during hemodialysis. Radioactive contamination of the dialysis equipment was not detected, and all components exposed to radiation were disposable. Additional measures beyond universal dialysis precautions were unnecessary. The patient had a partial response to 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy lasting approximately 6 months. One month following treatment he experienced improvements in renal pathologic adenopathy as detected by transaxial CT examination. However, some months later there was evidence of renal progression. In November 2003, the patient died of sepsis. This case illustrates that 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy is feasible and may achieve responses in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL who have concurrent chronic renal failure and are undergoing hemodialysis. Radiation safety concerns related to hemodialysis were minimal and easily managed. The biodistribution of 111 In ibritumomab tiuxetan was relatively normal, thereby permitting administration of the therapeutic dose.
SOME ASPECTS OF TEACHING BIOSTATISTICAL CONSULTING

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a few aspects of teaching biostatistical consulting in the context of a course by the name of Supervised Biostatistical Consulting taught at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States. Consulting experiences in this course for the year were reviewed both with respect to types of clients and the statistical topics. The chapter presents a summary of that review. It also discusses few important components of the student–client interaction and explains few quality control procedures. In the Department of Biostatistics located with the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, student education involves theoretical and applied statistics. The applied statistics experience can be divided into four components: (1) applied statistics courses—advanced biometry, regression analysis, design of clinical trials, survival analysis, categorical data analysis, epidemiology, multivariate analysis, programming; (2) research assistantships in various substantive research areas, providing intensive prolonged exposure to research problems with large data sets; (3) biology project; and (4) supervised biostatistical consulting. As students and teachers review the course at the end of each quarter, revisions and improvements are made. Few turn out to be impractical, while others are genuine improvements and retained. In this way, there is constant striving to improve the teaching of consulting, and all three main characters—teacher, student, and client—are enriched.
Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi into Agriculture

In the natural ecosystem, rhizospheric soils have various biological organisms to favour the plant growth, nutrient absorption, stress tolerance, disease prevention, carbon capturing and many more. These organisms include mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, etc. which solubilize nutrients and assist the plants in uptaking by roots. Among them, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have key importance in natural ecosystem, but high rate of chemical fertilizer in agricultural fields is diminishing its importance. In this chapter, indigenous AM fungi efficiency is discussed with various doses of chemical fertilizer against number of cereal, cash, horticultural and fruit crops. Moreover, their effects on the plant growth, yield enhancement, fruit quality and soil quality are discussed. In the rhizosphere, AM fungi have main interaction with multipurpose bacteria such as phosphorus solubilizing bacteria, nitrogen fixers, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and stress tolerance bacteria. AM fungi contribute in building rhizospheric carbon stock, and, recently, addition of biochar in the soil for enhancing soil physicochemical properties and nutrient release has been studied with AM fungi. In order to manage the indigenous AM fungal spores, soil and crop management is important in association with carbon amendments for soils. One of the greatest challenges for the society is food insecurity, which should be changed into ‘food security’ by improving our knowledge and practicality to double the food production through sustainable farming approaches.
Integrating visual damage simulation, virtual inspection, and collapse capacity to evaluate post‐earthquake structural safety of buildings

Summary A methodology is introduced to assess the post-earthquake structural safety of damaged buildings using a quantitative relationship between observable structural component damage and the change in collapse vulnerability. The proposed framework integrates component-level damage simulation, virtual inspection, and structural collapse performance assessment. Engineering demand parameters from nonlinear response history analyses are used in conjunction with component-level damage simulation to generate multiple realizations of damage to key structural elements. Triggering damage state ratios, which describe the fraction of components within a damage state that results in an unsafe placard assignment, are explicitly linked to the increased collapse vulnerability of the damaged building. A case study is presented in which the framework is applied to a 4-story reinforced concrete frame building with masonry infills. The results show that when subjected to maximum considered earthquake level ground motions, the probability of experiencing enough structural damage to trigger an unsafe placard, leading to building closure, is more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than the risk of collapse.
Identifying Clinically Significant Irritability in Early Childhood

Objective Advances in developmentally sensitive measurement have enabled differentiation of normative versus clinically salient irritability in early childhood. However, clinical application of these measures is still nascent. The authors developed an optimized model of clinically salient irritable behaviors at preschool age. Based on this model, the authors derived an empirically based cutoff in relation to concurrent DSM-5 irritability-related disorders (i.e., oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, other depressive disorders) and used longitudinal models to test the predictive validity of the cutoff for impairment and irritability trajectories and later DSM disorders. Method Preschool children oversampled for irritability were followed over 3 time points into early school age (N = 425; mean age at baseline 4.7 years, mean follow-up 2.9 years). Mothers reported on children’s irritability using the developmentally validated Multidimensional Assessment of Profile of Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB) Temper Loss scale, impairment using the Family Life Impairment Scale, and DSM categories using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia–Present and Lifetime Version. Results Of 22 MAP-DB Temper Loss behaviors, 2 behaviors—1 normative (easily frustrated) and 1 rare dysregulated (destructive tantrums)—were uniquely related to cross-domain impairment. At baseline, these 2 irritability items identified diagnostic status (oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, other depressive disorders) with good sensitivity (70–73%) and specificity (74–83%). Children above the irritability cutoff at baseline also exhibited more persistent irritability and impairment and greater likelihood of DSM disorders in early school age. Conclusion Clinical identification of early-onset irritability can be enhanced using brief, developmentally optimized indicators. Further research to apply these findings to tiered early intervention is important.
Metastatic Prostate Cancer Manifesting as Cholestatic Jaundice: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A paraneoplastic syndrome can often present as the first manifestation of an underlying malignancy. We report a patient who presented with cholestatic jaundice as a paraneoplastic syndrome from his newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer. He received initial treatment with androgen deprivation therapy followed by six cycles of docetaxel resulting in resolution of his cholestatic process, normalization of liver enzyme levels, and excellent biochemical and radiographic response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of metastatic prostate cancer with cholestatic jaundice as a paraneoplastic phenomenon to be safely treated with androgen deprivation therapy and upfront docetaxel, reflecting the latest shift in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.
Mucinous appendiceal neoplasms: pathologic classification, clinical implications, imaging spectrum and mimics

Mucinous appendiceal neoplasms are uncommon, but important to recognize with imaging due to malignant potential. Peritoneal seeding and pseudomyxoma peritonei can occur with both frankly malignant as well as low-grade appendiceal neoplasms. Prospective imaging identification of potential appendiceal neoplasm is paramount to clinical/surgical management. When a mucinous appendiceal neoplasm is suspected, a right hemicolectomy with lymph node dissection is the preferred surgical management. Unfortunately, accurate preoperative diagnosis can be challenging due to a wide range of clinical presentations and overlapping imaging appearances of appendiceal neoplasms with benign entities. Using the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) pathologic classification as a framework, we provide a comprehensive multi-modality pictorial essay detailing the broad array of imaging findings of mucinous appendiceal neoplasms and common imaging mimics.
Anatomy of the Pudendal Nerve and Other Neural Structures Around the Proximal Hamstring Origin in Males.

Purpose To define the anatomy of the pudendal nerve in relationship to the proximal hamstring and other nearby neurological structures during proximal hamstring repair. Methods Six fresh-frozen human cadaveric hemi-pelvises from male patients ages 64.0 ± 4.1 years were dissected in prone position with hips in 10° flexion to identify the relationship of proximal hamstring origin to surrounding neurologic structures including the pudendal nerve, sciatic nerve, and posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. Two independent observers used digital calipers to measure distances. Results The pudendal nerve emerged at the inferior border of the piriformis muscle 6.3 ± 1.4 cm from the superior aspect of the proximal hamstring origin. It passed the superior border of the sacrotuberous ligament 3.0 ± 0.6 cm from the superior aspect and 3.9 ± 0.7 cm from the medial aspect of the hamstring origin. It crossed the inferior border of the sacrotuberous ligament 3.0 ± 0.4 cm from the superior aspect and 2.7 ± 0.7 cm from the medial aspect of the proximal hamstring origin. The shortest distance from the hamstring origin to the pudendal nerve was 2.6 ± 0.5 cm from the superior aspect and 2.3 ± 0.8 cm from the medial aspect. The shortest distance from the hamstring origin to the pudendal nerve was located deep to the sacrotuberous ligament in all cadavers. The sciatic nerve was an average of 1.1 ± 0.1 cm lateral to the lateral aspect of the proximal hamstring origin. The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve was located between the hamstring origin and the sciatic nerve, 0.7 ± 0.2 cm lateral to the lateral aspect of the proximal hamstring origin. Conclusions The proximal hamstring origin lies in close proximity to surrounding nerves, including the pudendal, sciatic, and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves. Clinical Relevance Knowledge that the pudendal nerve lies 2 to 3 cm superior and medial to the proximal hamstring origin may help to prevent iatrogenic damage during surgical dissection and retraction when performing proximal hamstring repair or deep gluteal space endoscopy.
1/F NOISE IN ALPHA-PARTICLE RADIOACTIVE DECAY OF 94 Pu 239 , 95 Am 241 , AND 96 Cm 244

Data obtained from extensive measurements on counting techniques for alpha particle radioactive decay from a source containing 94 Pu 239 , 95 Am 241 and 96 Cm 244 are presented. These data show that the statistics are non-Poissonian for large counting times (of the order of 1000 minutes) contrary to the popular belief that alpha decay is an example of Poissonian statistics. Measurements of the Allan variance indicated the presence of a slow Lorentzian flicker noise and of 1/f noise, and the magnitude of the noise for large counting times is considerably larger than that predicted by Poissonian statistics.
Free fatty acids and monoglycerides: anti-infective agents produced during the digestion of milk fat by the newborn.

Milk provides immune as well as non-immune protection against disease. Indeed, the newborn of many species receives maternal antibodies through colostrum and milk. Milk provides, in addition, protection by means of an array of components with antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoan action, such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, glycoproteins, cells, and lipids1.
A Retrospective on Twelve Years of LISA Proceedings

We examine two models for categorizing tasks performed by system administrators. The first model is the traditional task based model. The second model breaks tasks down by the source of the problem. We then look at the historical trends of the last 12 years of LISA proceedings based on these models. Finally, we analyze some of the more important tasks done by system administrators and propose future research in those areas. Our hope is that some of the academic rigor in analyzing research can be brought to systems administration without losing the practicality that makes the research valuable.
Imagery Processing During Hypnosis: Relationships to Hypnotizability and Cognitive Strategies

One of the basic phenomena of hypnosis is the involvement in suggestion-related imaginings, with an accompanying cessation or significant decrease in reality testing. Certain cognitive abilities must exist in order for an individual to respond to a hypnotic induction and to experience subsequent suggestions. One such ability which is necessary, but certainly not sufficient, is the aptitude for imaginal processing. Once in hypnosis the responsive individual commonly reports enhancements or changes in imaginal processing--the images are more vivid and real, they tend to be more holistic, and they come more effortlessly. In this paper this author shall explore research that has examined (a) the correlates between hypnotic responsiveness and imaginal processing abilities, and (b) changes or shifts in imaginal processing and cognitive strategies during hypnosis.
On Closed Form Capacities of Discrete Memoryless Channels

While capacities of discrete memoryless channels are well studied, it is still not possible to obtain a closed form expression of the capacity for an arbitrary discrete memoryless channel. This paper shows an elementary technique based on Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions to obtain a closed form expression for a good upper bound of an arbitrary discrete memoryless channel. Furthermore, using this technique, we are able to obtain the closed form expressions for the capacities of channels whose channel matrices satisfy a number of conditions.
Durability Results of Non-Myeloablative (NMA) Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (alloSCT) for Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma: 17- Year Experience

Purpose: We have previously reported the outcomes of NMA alloSCT in 47 patients with relapsed/chemosensitive follicular lymphoma (FL) who received a matched sibling donor (MSD) after FCR conditioning (Khouri, Blood 2008;111:5530). In subsequent trials, eligibility was expanded to include transplants from matched unrelated donors (MUDs) using a 90yttrium ibritumomab tiuxetan (90YIT)-based regimen (Khouri, Blood 2012 ;119:6373) or, more recently, BFR (bendamustine, fludarabine, rituximab; Khouri, Blood 20014;124:2306) conditioning. Herein we report on long-term outcomes in 98 FL patients treated on these 3 consecutive trials between 1999-2017. Methods: The BFR regimen (N=20) consisted of bendamustine 130 mg/m2 IV daily on days -5 to - 3 prior to transplantation, thus substituting for the cyclophosphamide in the FCR regimen (N=47) . The dose and schedule of fludarabine (30 mg/m2 IV daily x3) and rituximab (375 mg/m2 IV on day -13 and 1000 mg/m2 on days -6, +1, and +8) were similar in both regimens. 90YIT-regimens (N=31) : A diagnostic dose of 111In-ibritumomab was administered on day-14, followed by a fixed dose of 0.4 mCi/kg 90YIT on day -7; FC or BF chemo was then administered at the same dose and schedule (days -5 to -3) as described above. Tacrolimus and methotrexate was used for GVHD prophylaxis. In addition, thymoglobulin of 1 mg/kg was given on days -2, -1 in patients receiving a MUD transplant. Results: Median age was 53 years (range, 29-71) and 24 patients (24%) were >60 years. Twenty-eight patients (29%) had a HCT-CI of ≥ 3. The median prior number of treatments was 3 (range, 2-9); 51 patients (52%) had rituximab-chemo induction at diagnosis. Seventy-one patients (72%) relapsed within 2 years of their induction treatment and median duration of last remission prior to alloSCT was 0.5 x 109/L a median of 0 days (range 0-16) for the BFR groups vs. 10 days (range, 0-17) and 11 days (range, 5-17) for the FCR and 90YIT-regimen groups, respectively (p 1st relapse, >2 prior chemotherapies, duration of last remission prior to alloSCT Disclosures Jabbour:Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding. Oran:AROG pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; ASTEX: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Champlin:Otsuka: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding.
The Roles of Job-Related Psychosocial Factors and Work Meaningfulness in Promoting Nurses’ Bridge Employment Intentions:

This study examined the relationships between preretirement job-related psychosocial factors (i.e., generativity opportunities, workplace incivility, and relational job crafting) and older workers’...
Ortho-Novum® 1/50-28 (Ortho Pharm.)

Ortho-Novum is a combination oral contraceptive preparation. It acts mainly through the mechanism of gonadotropin suppression due to the estrogenic and progestational activity of the constituents. The predominant effect of estrogen is to inhibit secretion of FSH, while continued action of progesterone (related, but not equated to progestins) is to inhibit LH. Alterations in the genital tract, such as changes in the cervical mucus and the endometrium, may also contribute to the contraceptive effectiveness.
Proposal for gravitational direct detection of dark matter

The only coupling dark matter is guaranteed to have with the standard model is through gravity. Here we propose a concept for direct dark matter detection using only this gravitational coupling. We suggest that an array of quantum-limited mechanical impulse sensors may be capable of detecting the correlated gravitational force created by a passing dark matter particle. We consider the effects of irreducible noise from couplings of the sensors to the environment and noise due to the quantum measurement process. We show that the signal from Planck-scale dark matter is in principle detectable using a large number of gram-scale sensors in a meter-scale array with sufficiently low quantum noise and discuss some experimental challenges en route to achieving this target.
Energy Optimization For Wireless Video Transmission Employing Hybrid ARQ

In this paper we investigate energy-optimized wireless video transmission employing a hybrid automatic repeat request. We formulate the problem as maximizing the video quality, subject to a constraint on the wireless transmission energy consumption. We consider multiple parameters in multiple layers in a wireless video transmission system: transmit power, alphabet size, FEC code rate, maximum number of transmissions, and unequal video data importance. An analytical framework is proposed to include these parameters, which allows us to divide this problem into two sub-problems: data transmission and unequal error protection. The problem is tackled by solving the two sub-problems, which are done by exhaustive search and convex optimization, respectively. Simulations of different videos show that the proposed scheme outperforms methods using conventional data transmission and/or unequal error protection.
Constitutive Modelling of Wound Healing

Wound healing is a complex process spanning several temporal and spatial scales and requiring precise coordination of cell populations through mechanical and biochemical regulatory networks. The dermis, which is the load bearing layer of the skin, is rebuilt after injury by fibroblasts through collagen deposition and active contraction. Fibroblast activity is controlled by cytokine gradients established during the initial inflammatory response, as well as by mechanical cues. However, even though we know the individual components of the wound healing system, in particular the factors associated with fibroblast-driven remodeling, we are still unable to achieve perfect skin regeneration and, instead, wounds lead to scars with inferior mechanical properties compared to healthy skin. Computational models offer the unique ability to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of wound healing in order to attain a deeper understanding of this system. Here we show a continuum framework to describe the essential bio-chemo-mechanical couplings during wound healing, together with a finite element implementation of a model problem. We account for nonlinear mechanical behavior and anisotropy of skin through a microstructure-based strain energy function, as well as the split of the deformation gradient into elastic and permanent deformations. These microstructure features evolve in time according to the spatiotemporal evolution of cell and cytokine concentration fields, which obey reaction diffusion differential equations. The model problem exhibits emergent features of wound healing dynamics, such as wound contraction by fibroblasts in the periphery of the injury. Moreover, the proposed framework can be readily extended to more comprehensive regulatory networks and used to simulate other realistic geometries. Thus, we expect that the formulation presented here will enable further advances in wound healing research.
Socioeconomic Status and Diet Quality in College Students.

Abstract Objective To investigate the existence and trajectory of diet disparities among college students from different socioeconomic statuses (SESs). Methods A random sample of freshman and sophomore students was invited to participate in an online survey on eating behaviors. Ordinary least squares regressions were fit to 148 complete responses to examine the association between family income ≤200% of the federal poverty level and overall, healthy, and unhealthy food consumption. Results Low-SES students reported eating significantly more unhealthy food during their freshman year than their non–low-SES peers. This difference is not statistically significant for second-year students and robust to on-campus spending power. Conclusions and Implications Disparities in diets for students from different socioeconomic backgrounds that were observed in the freshman year of college were absent in the sophomore year. Awareness of these disparities and trend is important to broadly promote healthy eating.
Defining features of diabetes resilience in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Background Emerging adulthood presents unique challenges for type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. Barriers to achieving optimal diabetes outcomes have been studied but less is known about how emerging adults overcome these challenges. Characterizing emerging adults' protective factors may help guide T1D care during this developmental period. We anticipated identifying social, cognitive, and behavioral protective factors and were open to additional themes. Methods We analyzed transcripts from semi-structured qualitative interviews with 62 emerging adults (age 18-24 years) with T1D using hybrid thematic analysis. Interviews queried about participants' perspectives on diabetes management challenges, how they overcome challenges, and diabetes resilience. Results We categorized responses into three types of protective factors: (1) Social: Interpersonal strategies such as obtaining tangible support (especially from parents) and emotional support from friends, medical professionals, and community leaders. (2) Cognitive: Believing one can live a "normal" life with T1D, benefit-finding, and viewing diabetes management as an important part of life. (3) Behavioral: Proactively planning for diabetes challenges, maintaining a consistent routine while allowing for flexibility, balancing diabetes and non-diabetes activities, and using diabetes-specific and general technologies to support self-management. Conclusions The adaptive approaches emerging adults with T1D use to handle the challenges of diabetes include seeking interpersonal support, managing their thoughts about T1D, and taking specific actions to prevent or resolve challenges. Helping emerging adults identify and strengthen their protective factors has potential to affect clinical outcomes. Strengths-based assessment and clinical attention to protective factors may prepare adolescents to successfully manage the challenges of transition to adult care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Muscle Strains in Football

Muscle strains account for about one-third of total sports-related injuries and about 20% of all practice injuries at the collegiate level, with nearly 50% occurring within the thigh. Risk factors typically include muscles that cross two joints and a high percentage of fast-twitch fibers. Acute muscle injury typically presents with acute muscular pain during eccentric loading of a strenuous activity. MRI is the recommended imaging modality when it is necessary to evaluate the severity of injury. Treatment strategies vary from conventional management with rest, ice, compression, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy to more recent therapies with platelet-rich plasma and stem-cell therapies. Surgical management is also indicated for specific injuries depending on the location and severity of injury. Appropriate and timely management is essential to ensure prompt and safe return to play, a decision that is heavily based on restoration of strength and range of motion in order to prevent complications such as reinjury.
Exploratory Reading Groups: A Scalable Approach to Creative, Relational, and Student-Driven Exploration in CS Education

Most CS education initiatives focus primarily on teaching raw computational skills and domain knowledge. While this is certainly important, it ignores the creative and real-world aspects that are needed for applying skills to societal problems, and for attracting more diverse populations of students. One way to impart this type of learning is through undergraduate research. Unfortunately, these opportunities are limited and hard to scale due to their need for mentorship. In this paper, we introduce exploratory reading groups as a way to support creativity and intrinsic motivation in a scalable manner. In contrast to graduate journal clubs, exploratory reading groups are designed for broad exploration of ideas, and their lightweight, student-driven nature makes them easily scalable. We present design patterns for structuring groups learned over a two-year time period of running and iterating on exploratory reading groups through a user-centered process. This time period saw the program grow from a group of 6 students to having served over 260 students, all participating completely voluntarily. In surveys and interviews of participants, we found that students valued the experience tremendously, but that successful exploration took on diverse meanings. We found that surprisingly strong relational ties developed from a simple intervention, and describe three clusters of participant motivations and experiences that emerged.
Presumptive malignant transformation of chronic polypoid cystitis into an apical transitional cell carcinoma without BRAF mutation in a young female dog

A 3-year-old spayed female English Springer Spaniel was presented twice 4 months apart for investigation of hematuria and pollakiuria without urinary tract infection. Both ultrasound examinations identified a stable craniodorsal bladder wall thickening. The first cystoscopic biopsy samples indicated lymphoplasmacytic cystitis and the second polypoid cystitis. The dog was represented 8 months later for recurrent clinical signs despite medical management. Although the ultrasound examination showed stable disease, repeat cystoscopic biopsy identified transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), confirmed on tissue removed by partial cystectomy. No BRAF mutation was ever detected in urine or tissue samples. To our knowledge, this case represents the first report of presumptive malignant transformation of polypoid cystitis into an apical TCC in a dog. Dogs with polypoid cystitis should be followed closely and surgical management considered if rapid resolution is not achieved with medical management.
Scenarios to improve CT head utilization in the emergency department delineated by critical results reporting.

Increasing use of advanced imaging in the emergency department (ED) has resulted in higher cost without better outcomes. Our goal was to evaluate the yield of CT head exams by scenario to guide efforts at improving patient selection. We performed a retrospective study at an academic medical center over 4 years (1/1/2014–12/31/2017). The chief complaint, imaging order, and exam result text were obtained for all adult ED encounters. For the 50 most common chief complaints leading to CT head exams, the ratio of exams to total encounters and ratio of critical results to imaging studies were calculated. Significant difference in “yield” was assessed via binomial test. Over 708,145 adult ED encounters, 58,783 CT head exams were ordered, with an overall critical result yield of 8.0%. The three most common chief complaints had higher yield (p 65 years old (7.1%), syncope (5.3%), seizure with known epilepsy (4.8%), chest pain (3.7%), head injury (4.9%), headache re-evaluation (7.0%), alcohol intoxication (2.5%), fatigue (6.5%), headache—recurrent or in the setting of known migraines (5.2%), hypertension (4.4%), lethargy (5.8%), loss of consciousness (5.3%), migraine (3.2%), psychiatric evaluation (2.9%), near syncope (4.6%), drug problem (3.1%), symptomatically decreased blood sugar (3.2%), and suicidal (1.7%). Our study provides a priority list of low yield scenarios of CT head use for improvement of patient selection.
Recent Advances in Skin Cancer Treatment in Older Adults

Skin cancer rates are increasing in the USA, and the risk of skin cancer increases with age. This chapter reviews the evidence behind the growing number of treatment options available to treat basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, and highlights issues of particular concern to older adults. Research gaps are also discussed.
Reduction of the Risk of Recurring Heart Failure Events With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: MADIT-CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)

Objectives The evaluation of the risk of recurring heart failure events (HFEs) was a pre-specified substudy of MADIT-CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy). Background There are limited data regarding the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) on the occurrence of recurring heart failure episodes after a first post-implantation HFE. Methods Data with regard to recurring HFEs were prospectively collected for all 1,820 MADIT-CRT participants. The CRT-D versus defibrillator-only risk for nonfatal first- and subsequent-HFEs was assessed by Cox proportional hazards and Andersen-Gill proportional intensity regression modeling, respectively, in efficacy analyses recognizing active device-type during follow-up. Results Multivariate analysis showed that CRT-D was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of a first HFE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44 to 0.67, p Conclusions In the MADIT-CRT trial, the benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy for the reduction in recurring HFEs was maintained after the occurrence of a first post-enrollment event. The occurrence of HFEs greatly increased the risk of death. (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; NCT00180271)
Extinguishing disaster in Alpine France: The fate of reforestation as technocratic debacle

In 19th-century France, concepts of alpine degradation formed the basis of ambitious state policies to reforest the Alps, Pyrenees, and Massif Central. Responding to the reality of large-scale flooding and to assumptions about the destructiveness of agro-pastoralism, both the Second-Empire and early Third-Republic regimes formulated legislation allowing for both voluntary and mandatory alpine reforestation projects. The latter regime's law of 1882 on the restoration and conservation of alpine lands was more conciliatory toward alpine agro-pastoralists; however, two case studies demonstrate that foresters attempted to overstep the limits of this more restrictive law. These actions conduced to rural protest which stymied the reforestation schemes. Although foresters could claim victory following the amended reforestation law of 1913, reduced budgets and a reduced forestry corps after World War One prevented its full implementation. Ultimately, geographers and some foresters revised scientific thinking about the history of deforestation, alpine ecology, and the place of humans in the mountains.
Intraventricular and Pineal Region Tumors

Intraventricular and pineal region tumors represent 2% of all primary central nervous system tumors but have many unique features. Because many patients present with symptomatic hydrocephalus, urgent treatment of the tumor or hydrocephalus is often needed. Both benign and malignant tumors can arise in these regions, and often radiographic imaging is non-diagnostic. Surgery remains the main therapeutic approach for these tumors but is complicated by the central location of these lesions. A successful resection of intraventricular and pineal region tumors is based on a thorough knowledge of the relevant cerebral anatomy and the deep vascular system, avoidance of functionally eloquent areas and use of limited retraction.
Kmart and ESL Investments (A)

A major bankrupt retailer is poised to emerge from Chapter 11. Two activist hedge funds ("vulture investors") will own over 50% of reorganized Kmart's common stock, based on prior investments in Kmart's debt claims, and an infusion of new equity financing. The chapter 11 process has generated both costs and benefits for the company. Its future profitability, and the value of the reorganized business, are both highly uncertain.
An ethnographic study of attending rounds in general paediatrics: understanding the ritual.

OBJECTIVES Teaching at the bedside during attending rounds is considered to be fundamental to medical education. We conducted an ethnographic case study to investigate such teaching in general paediatrics as a social phenomenon and to explore change over time in both the meaning of rounds and the context in which rounds take place. METHODS We conducted a case study from January to August 2006 on a 22-bed general paediatric unit in an urban children's hospital and focused our observation on interns, senior residents and attending physicians. We observed the medical team during its normal activities on the study unit and conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of attendings, interns and senior residents. We compiled a list of codes that emerged from patterns in the data and constructed a rich description of rounds according to the principles of inductive analysis. RESULTS Four themes emerged from the data: (i) attending rounds are a pervasive and routine part of clinical education; (ii) interns, senior residents and attending physicians hold assumptions about what should happen on rounds; (iii) tension exists between interns', senior residents' and attending physicians' assumptions about bedside teaching during rounds and the reality imposed by contextual factors, and (iv) bedside teaching during rounds is impacted, but not prohibited, by contextual factors. CONCLUSIONS Our case study provides evidence that bedside teaching during rounds is a pedagogical ideal entrenched in medical education. Participants readily acknowledged teaching at the bedside during rounds as something they perceived should happen, although, in actuality, it was infrequently achieved. This study revealed a telling inconsistency in language and behaviour: 'bedside rounds' was embedded in the participants' ordinary language, but the activity was not necessarily part of their ordinary behaviour. We propose that the practice of bedside teaching is best explained as a ritual. Considering bedside teaching as a ritual helps to explain why rounds are sacrosanct and helps to develop more appropriate expectations for rounds.
Density Relaxation of Liquid–Vapor Critical Fluids in Earth's Gravity

Experimental results of the density relaxation of a liquid–vapor critical fluid in Earth's gravity over a temperature regime of severe density stratification are presented. A 10-mm-diameter × 1-mm-thick disk-shaped sample of SF6 was placed in a Twyman–Green phase shifting interferometer with a phase uncertainty of 1/65 of a wavelength over 60 h. Relaxations to equilibrium stratification were observed for a temperature range from 1.0 to 29.6 mK above Tc, where Tc is the critical temperature. The interferometry provided a density distribution history over the full extent of the sample cell. Two types of initial density states were established before stepping to the final temperature (density) states for relaxation: (1) the two-phase state at Tc−50 mK and (2) the equilibrium state at Tc+100 mK. Upper and lower portions of the cell relaxed differently for these two initial states. For the Tc+100 mK initial state, relaxation to T<Tc+3 mK showed an early density overshoot followed by an additional long-time relaxation not seen in the other relaxation sequences. Otherwise, relaxations were faster and increasingly nondiffusive (without a unique exponential description) as the final state became closer to the critical temperature.
Temporal effects in priming of masked and degraded speech.

When listeners know the content of the message they are about to hear, the clarity of distorted or partially masked speech increases dramatically. The current experiments investigated this priming phenomenon quantitatively using a same-different task where a typed caption and auditory message either matched exactly or differed by one key word. Four conditions were tested with groups of normal-hearing listeners: (a) natural speech presented in two-talker babble in a non-spatial configuration, (b) same as (a) but with the masker time reversed, (c) same as (a) but with target-masker spatial separation, and (d) vocoded sentences presented in speech-spectrum noise. The primary manipulation was the timing of the caption relative to the auditory message, which varied in 20 steps with a resolution of 200 ms. Across all four conditions, optimal performance was achieved when the initiation of the text preceded the acoustic speech signal by at least 400 ms, driven mostly by a low number of “different” responses to Same stimuli. Performance was slightly poorer with simultaneous delivery and much poorer when the auditory signal preceded the caption. Because priming may be used to facilitate perceptual learning, identifying optimal temporal conditions for priming could help determine the best conditions for auditory training.
Evidence for a multiplicity of capsular types among Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Abstract The Smith diffuse variant and the wound mucoid strain of Staphylococcus aureus were shown to exhibit serologically distinct capsules. The Welwood and K-6 strains of S. aureus were tested to determine their capsular types. Both Welwood and K-6 were found to be representative of the Smith capsular type. An additional 13 isolates of S. aureus from mice were tested. Gel double-diffusion tests and immunoelectrophoresis of staphylococcal antigens disclosed the possible existence of at least two additional capsular types. Passive hemagglutination tests carried out with cells sensitized with 1 mg of antigen per ml showed a multiplicity of cross-reacting antigens. However, cells sensitized either with 0.1 or 0.05 mg of antigen per ml and reacted with antisera absorbed with 10 or 1 μg/ml showed the presence of a specific antigen in each strain of S. aureus. Corroborative evidence for a multiplicity of capsular types was obtained by the specific capsular reaction. At least four capsular types of S. aureus were found. The prototypic strains for these antigens are the RLM or wound strain, the Smith diffuse strain, and mouse strains designated 36T and 43R. We propose to designate these types 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.
Integrating Web and database information for collaboration through explicit metadata

Loosely structured Web-based collections and more highly structured database resources have value to the extent that they convey meaning, understanding, and usable information. Metadata, or 'data about data' is the means of conveying this meaning, and thus it is an essential ingredient for successful collaboration involving diverse and distributed information. We characterize three dimensions of metadata and then develop a unified metadata representation that spans heterogeneous database systems. Our ubiquitous representation also incorporates structured documents and Web-based information. This is in contrast with the current approach of having a different metadata representation for each data model, such as relational, object-oriented, etc. Our extensible representation also supports knowledge-based representation of semantics. We believe this approach will substantially enhance collaboration over diverse information resources.
PROGRESS OF COMMON ENVELOPE EVOLUTION

The current understanding of the common envelope binary phase of evolution is presented. The results obtained from the detailed computations of the hydrodynamical evolution of this phase demonstrate that the deposition of energy by the double core via frictional processes is sufficiently rapid to drive a mass outflow, primarily in the equatorial plane of the binary system. Specifically, recent calculations suggest that large amounts of mass and angular momentum can be lost from the binary system in a such a phase. Since the time scale for mass loss at the final phase of evolution is much shorter than the orbital decay time scale of the companion, the tranformation of binary systems from long orbital periods (>month) to short orbital periods (<day) is likely. The energy efficiency factor for the process is estimated to lie in the range between 0.3 and 0.6.
Investigations on the detrimental effect of prostaglandin F2α-regulated estrus on the number and condition of sperm in the reproductive tract of the ewe

Abstract Ewes in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle were treated with prostaglandin F2α (PGF), mated to rams at the ensuing estrus 2 days later, and necropsied at 2 or 23 hr after mating. At 2 hr after mating, ewes in PGF-regulated estrus had significantly fewer sperm in the middle and anterior one-thirds of the cervix and in the uterus than did ewes mated during natural estrus. At 23 hr, soon after ovulation, significantly fewer ewes in PGF-regulated estrus had sperm in the oviducts than did ewes in natural estrus. In Experiment 2, ewes in PGF-regulated or natural estrus were laparotomized, inseminated by deposition of semen in the uterine lumen, and necropsied 2 or 23 hr later. Intrauterine insemination prevented most of the reduction in sperm numbers in the reproductive tract at PGF-regulated estrus. In Experiment 3, ewes in PGF-regulated or natural estrus were either mated to rams or inseminated in the uterine lumen and necropsied 2 hr later. Sperm were recovered from three segments of the cervix and were counted and evaluated for motility, response to live-dead staining, and acrosomal morphology. Intrauterine insemination again reduced the detrimental effect of PGF-regulated estrus on sperm numbers. However, the percentages of sperm recovered from the cervix that were motile, live, and had normal acrosomes were much lower in ewes in PGF-regulated estrus than in ewes in natural estrus. Compared with natural mating, intrauterine insemination reduced but did not eliminate the detrimental effects of PGF-regulated estrus on the viability and morphology of sperm. Regulating estrus with PGF resulted in damage to sperm in the cervix regardless of whether sperm reached the cervix from the vagina or from the uterus.
Maximum reflectance difference for incident p- and s-polarized light at air–dielectric interfaces

New features related to the reflection of p- and s-polarized light at optically isotropic air-dielectric interfaces are determined. The intensity reflectance difference, RD = Rs - Rp, is maximum at an angle of incidence (AOI) ϕ = ϕMD in the range between the Brewster angle and grazing incidence. Both ϕMD and (Rs - Rp)max are calculated as functions of substrate refractive index n. Explicit expressions are obtained for the two angles of incidence, one below and one above the Brewster angle, at which the condition Rs = 2Rp is satisfied. Measurement of such angles enables the determination of n of transparent materials using a simple null-seeking spectroscopic ellipsometer with a ϕ-2ϕ goniometer. Finally, the AOI at which Rp'' = 0 (point of inflection in the Rp-versus-ϕ curve) is identified, and the equation that determines such an angle is also derived analytically.