cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cavo-Atrial Anastomosis Technique for Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection to the Superior Vena Cava—The Warden Procedure

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to superior vena cava occurs in about 10 to 15% of all patients with an atrial septal defect. Most commonly one or more pulmonary veins from the right lung connect to the superior vena cava or the right atrium, or both. The usual sinus venosus atrial septal defect occurs above the fossa ovalis immediately beneath the orifice of the superior vena cava, which typically overrides the atrial defect to some extent. Rarely there is no atrial septal defect. 1 Because the clinical manifestationsofbothlesionsaresimilar,itisnotunusualtoencounter anomalous pulmonary veins at the time of operation for presumed uncomplicated secundum atrial septal defect. Idealsurgicalrepairdemandscompleteclosureoftheatrial septal defect and redirection of the anomalous pulmonary veins into the left atrium without pulmonary venous or superior vena cava obstruction and without injury to the sinus node or its blood supply. Normally this is simple when the anomalous pulmonary veins are close to the right atrium. However when they enter further up the superior vena cava, the surgical treatment can be more complex. Various techniques have been described using prosthetic grafts, pericardial patches, or atrial wall flaps to baffle the anomalous pulmonary veins into the left atrium. An alternative atrio-caval anastomosis technique has been utilized at our institution for 42 years to lessen the risk of undesirable complications, particularly sinus node dysfunction.
Short‐Circuiting Azobenzene Photoisomerization with Electron‐Donating Substituents and Reactivating the Photochemistry with Chemical Modification

Azobenzene (AB) undergoes (E) (Z) isomerization upon exposure to light. Whereas the light-induced structural change can be exploited for numerous applications, a second, light-orthogonal switch would facilitate the development of new uses for AB derivatives. Electron-donating groups on the AB ring system change not only the absorption wavelengths, but also the isomerization properties. Experi
Isomeric control of protein recognition with amino acid- and dipeptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles

Amino acid and dipeptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) possessing L/D-leucine and/or L/D-phenylalanine residues have been constructed in order to target the surfaces of alpha-chymotrypsin (ChT) and cytochrome c (CytC). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was conducted to evaluate the binding thermodynamics and selectivity of these NP-protein interactions. The chirality of the NP end-groups substantially affects the resultant complex stability, with up to 20-fold differences seen between particles of identical hydrophobicity, demonstrating that structural information from the ligands can be used to control protein recognition.
Linear programming formulation of the vertex colouring problem

In this paper, we present a first linear programming (LP) formulation of the vertex colouring problem (VCP). The complexity orders of the number of variables and the number of constraints of the proposed LP are O (δ9·ς3) and O (δ8·ς3), respectively, where δ and ς are the number of vertices and the number of available colours in the VCP instance, respectively. Hence, the proposed model represents a reaffirmation of 'P = NP'. First, we develop a bipartite network flow (BNF) based model of the problem. Then, we use a graph-based modelling framework similar to that of Diaby to develop the proposed LP model. A numerical example is used to illustrate the approach.
Förster's resonance excitation transfer theory: not just a formula.

After 65 years of increasing scrutiny and application, Theodor Forster's treatment of resonance excitation transfer is widely quoted and has acquired the acronym FRET, in which "F" originally and rather curiously stood for "fluorescence." In this brief and mostly qualitative survey, we review some of its history, mention its important limitations, and relate some personal encounters with Forster.
HIV-1 RNA Rectal Shedding Is Reduced in Men With Low Plasma HIV-1 RNA Viral Loads and Is Not Enhanced by Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections of the Rectum

Over half (53%) of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection diagnoses in the United States from 2001–2006 were among men who have sex with men (MSM), accounting for almost 100 000 new infections [1]. During this time period, both the incidence and prevalence of HIV among MSM increased significantly after both trends had steadily declined during the 1990s [2–4]. Anal intercourse, principally among MSM, remains the primary mode of HIV transmission in the United States, and insertive anal intercourse among MSM accounts for 28% of new infections [5], making rectal secretions an important potential source of HIV transmission. MSM, including HIV-infected MSM, also experience high incidences of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), notably rectal and oral Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). Although urethral STIs increase HIV shedding in semen, the effect of rectal STIs on HIV shedding into rectal secretions, especially among MSM with suppressed plasma HIV viral loads, is largely undescribed [6–8]. No studies have explored the influence of rectal GC or CT infection on HIV shed in rectal secretions. The vast majority of transmitted HIV is CCR5-tropic for reasons that are incompletely understood [9–11]. There are few data on the molecular characteristics of HIV shed in the rectum, as most previous studies have focused on rectal biopsies or feces [12–15]. Further exploration into the molecular characteristics of HIV in rectal secretions is therefore warranted in light of the potential significant role they play in HIV transmission and as a target for biomedical prevention interventions. One barrier to this research is the difficulty in obtaining clinical samples, as previous methods employed anoscopy [16–19]. Therefore, we sought to determine the applicability of rectal swabs collected without anoscopy for GC and CT screening for measuring HIV shedding in rectal secretions. In addition, we sought to determine the effect of rectal GC or CT infection on HIV rectal viral load in a contemporary US sample of HIV-infected MSM with access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Finally, to enhance our understanding of the molecular factors that contribute to HIV transmission from rectal secretions, we compared HIV coreceptor (CCR5 vs CXCR4) usage between viruses found in plasma and rectal secretions among a subset of men in the cohort.
Integrated dynamic radio resource management

Radio resource management techniques play a pivotal role in the quality and capacity of personal communications networks. For small cells with high user densities, future schemes will have to adapt dynamically to the rapidly changing traffic and interference. Existing systems perform several radio resource management tasks including admission control, channel assignment, power control, and handoff. The paper examines these processes simultaneously and adopts signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) as a decision criterion for handoff and admission control. Key results show that integrated radio resource management can increase system capacity within specified quality constraints. SIR is an appropriate criterion for it reflects the actual traffic conditions and channel usage patterns in the system. However, there are limitations to the use of SIR alone as an admission control criterion for reducing call dropping. The interaction of the power control and the SIR based handoff causes cell dragging and inhibits handoffs near geographical cell boundaries. This provides a motivation for future study of a handoff algorithm that is based on both SIR and transmitted power.
Alterations in 3H-estradiol distribution following portacaval shunt

-t n male cirrhotic patients, “feminization” has long been noted as a hallmark of chronic Xiver disease and is generally accepted as being secondary to decreased inactivation of circulating estrogen.ls Some changes in estro,gen metabolism have indeed been noted in severe cirrhosis,s~ BJ but not in all situations. Furthermore, correlation between clinical signs and urinary hormone excretion data has not been impressive. When radioactive estrogen is administered systemically to rats, it tends to concentrate in those organs concerned with reproduction, :such as the uterus, vagina, anterior pituitary, and hypothaIamus .sl l5 This is a highly specific process affected by various pharmacologic agents resembling estrogen in structure and limited in capacity, being saturated with microgram doses of estrogen administered.lO* I2 It has been shown that the uterusz2 and the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus131 I4 have protein-containing macromolelsules with a high affinity for estradiol. In previous studies of rats following portacaval shunts, we noted massive hypertrophy of estrogen-sensitive organs, such as the uterus and vagina, as if very high levels of circulating endogenous estrogens were present. In an attempt to document the high concentrations of estrogens in plasma and in
Anoa depressicornis depressicornis (Lowland anoa)

Skin biopsies of one male and one female animal were obtained from the San Diego Zoological Park, San Diego, California, USA. These animals originated from a colony kept in the Surabaja Zoo, Indonesia. Nelson-Rees had previously studied lymphocytes and marrow of two females and one male from the same colony with the same results. The X chromosome was identified with the help of G-banding, and the Y chromosome was not found to show bright fluorescence with quinacrine staining. Koulischer studied a mountain anoa of the Antwerp Zoo (Anoa depressicornis fergusoni) and found 2n=46 with seven pairs of submetacentrics.
Gen chairs

Welcome to the Eleventh IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR 2012)! We are excited that this year's symposium is being held on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, at Georgia Tech's Hotel and Conference Center. Located in the center of Altanta, Georgia, USA, Georgia Tech is one of the top public research universities in the United States, and a nationally ranked leader in many of the academic disciplines that form the heart of ISMAR: Computer Science, Engineering, HCI, Robotics & Computer Vision, and Digital Media. Atlanta is one of the largest cities in the United States, often considered the “capital of the South” and played a central role in the American Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. With a diverse and young population, Atlanta is a dynamic city with many cultural and historic attractions, restaurants, shopping, sports and outdoor activities. Atlanta is served by Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the worlds busiest airport.
Ion beam lithographic fabrication of ordered VO2 nanoparticle arrays

Long-range ordered arrays of vanadium dioxide nanoparticles are fabricated by pulsed laser deposition in a patterned layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) resist. The two- dimensional arbitrary pattern is created by focused ion beam exposure of the resist, followed by pulsed laser deposition and thermal annealing. Interaction of light with the nanoparticles is controlled by their geometrical arrangement as well as by the difference in optical properties displayed between the metallic and semiconducting phases of VO2. Arrays like this open opportunities to study optical resonances and interactions for nanoparticles in close proximity, in the framework of the metal-semiconductor phase transition in VO2.
REVISION OF "FALCO" RAMENTA WETMORE AND THE NEOGENE EVOLUTION OF THE FALCONIDAE

Falco" ramenta Wetmore 1936 is redescribed and moved to a new genus as Pedlofiierax ramenta (Wetmore). In addition to the holotypical distal end of the tarsometa- tarsus, this species is now known from a complete tarsometatarsus, humerus, and coracoid from mid-Miocene (Late Hemingfordian and Early Barstovian) fossil localities in the Sheep Creek and Olcott formations, northwestern Nebraska. Pediolfferax n. gen. is the primitive sister group of the Falconinae. The earliest fossil records now known of the Falconinae are a species of ?Falco from the late Miocene of Idaho and Falco medius from the late Miocene of the Ukrainian S.S.R. Received 5 June 1986, accepted 4 November 1986. WETMORE (1936) described "Falco" ramenta based on the distal end of a single right tarso- metatarsus from a mid-Miocene locality in Ne- braska. The holotype of this species apparently was compared only with Falco columbarius and F. sparverius, and differed from the former in having the distal vascular foramen of the tar- sometatarsus more elevated on the shaft in posterior view (Wetmore 1936). The incom- plete, minimally diagnostic nature of the ho- lotype has since caused the systematic position and validity of this species to be questioned (Jollie 1977). ! describe here new material from correlative mid-Miocene fossil localities in Nebraska of "Falco" ramenta, revise the systematic position of this species, document its stratigraphic range, and review all known Neogene records of the family Falconidae. MATERIAL AND METHODS
Impact of the Arg 16 allele of the B2AR gene on the effect of withdrawal of LABA in patients with moderate to severe asthma

AbstractIntroduction: Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) are effective for controlling asthma, however questions about their safety have led to concerns over use. Genetic polymorphisms at the 16 amino acid position of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor gene (B2AR) may be associated with increased risk. Methods: A randomized, double blind study was conducted in patients with moderate to severe asthma being treated with combined inhaled corticosteroids/LABA (ICS/LABA), comparing the effect of LABA continuation versus withdrawal on asthma outcomes among patients stratified by B2AR genotype (Arg/Arg vs. Gly/Gly at the 16th amino acid position). Results: 67 participants (31 Arg/Arg, 36 Gly/Gly) were randomized to receive fluticasone alone (F) or continue combined fluticasone/salmeterol (F/S) after a run-in period on F/S. Among Gly/Gly subjects, those in the F/S treatment group showed improvement in AM PEFR (+ 8.4 L/s) whereas those receiving F alone experienced a reduction in AM PEFR over the study period (−14.4 L/...
GREY RELATIONAL ANALYSIS OF ORDER ARRANGEMENT AND GROUPING BY MULTIPLE METHODS

To optimize the multi-objective plans better, grouping methods of grey relational analysis is presented based on current grouping methods through multiple order arrangements. The results of calculation and analysis show that this method is more correct and scientific.
Human pathologic correlation with PET in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy

To assess the correlation between myocardial perfusion, metabolism and histologic findings in patients with cardiomyopathy, we evaluated myocardial perfusion and metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET) with 13NH3 (ammonia) and 18FDG (fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose) in nine patients prior to undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Four patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy (ISCM) and five had nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NISCM). Normalized circumferential profile analyses of representative mid-ventricular perfusion and metabolism PET images were performed for each patient. A corresponding mid-ventricular transaxial slice was obtained from the formalin fixed explanted heart and processed for routine histology. Hematoxylin-eosin stained and Masson trichrome stained sections were evaluated and the percentage of the slice occupied by infarct was determined planimetrically at 10-degree intervals in a circumferential manner. A significant correlation was found between circumferential normalized PET count density profile of perfusion and metabolism in both the ischemic and nonischemic groups (ISCM range r = 0.65-0.75; NISCM range, r = 0.70-0.87). Furthermore, there was a correlation in the ISCM group between the extent of matched perfusion/metabolism defects and transmural infarct involvement (r = 0.66-0.88). PET perfusion and metabolic data closely correlate with pathologic infarction in human hearts of ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.
Experimental Ureteral Obstruction in the Fetal Opossum: Histologic Assessment

AbstractIn the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana unilateral complete ureteral obstruction (ECO) and partial unilateral (EPO) ureteral obstruction were created during the early meta- nephric stage of kidney development in pups attached to the teat (approximately 4.5cm. long, 20 days old). At 70 days of pouch life (full-term equivalent in the human) some completely obstructed ureters were unobstructed with reanastomosis to the bladder (RECO). Other pups underwent unilateral complete ureteral ligation at this full-term equivalent (70 days of pouch life) and constituted the late obstruction (LCO) group. Unoperated animals constituted the control (C) group. All animals were harvested when full grown (.7 to 2.2kg.), and paraffin sections of the kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s Trichrome. In each a semiquantitative assessment of 24 histologic features was made and a digital score assigned. All experimental groups except EPO demonstrated significant epithelial and mesenchyma...
RNA Modifying Enzymes

Approximately 100 chemically distinct, modified nucleosides occur in nucleic acids, with the vast majority seen in RNA. According to estimates, 5% of the Escherichia coli genome codes for the enzymes responsible for RNA modification. After the discovery of pseudouridine (pseudoU) in 1957, progress has been made to chemically identify the modified nucleosides themselves, their occurrence in RNA, and more recently to probe the enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis and incorporation into RNA. The chapter briefly touches the history of many aspects of RNA modification (referring to previous reviews); however, it focuses on progress made during the past decade. There has been significant success in the determination of the X-ray crystal structures of many modification enzymes, often with their RNA and cofactor substrates bound. These structures have helped to clarify mechanisms, substrate recognition, and have provided insights regarding the evolutionary origins of modern RNA modifying enzymes. Comparative genomics in concert with careful enzymological characterization has elucidated the biochemical pathways for a number of the more complex modified nucleosides. Detailed studies have clarified mechanistic issues for a number of enzymes and, in one case, have actually caused a re-consideration of a mechanism that was previously thought to be understood. As technology advances, it seems likely that, a large number of nucleoside modifications will be found in a more diverse set of RNA species. It will become increasingly more important to characterize both the mechanism and substrate recognition for the enzymes responsible for generating these interesting natural products.
Neuroimaging in Leukemia

Leukemias are a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies that results from uncontrolled neoplastic proliferation of undifferentiated or partially differentiated hematopoietic cells. Patients with acute leukemia can have a variety of craniocerebral complications, which can result from direct leukemic involvement, secondary to cerebrovascular or infectious complications of leukemia, or can be treatment related. Imaging plays a central role in evaluating the central nervous system during treatment in patients with leukemia. CT scan is usually considered an effective initial imaging modality to evaluate for cerebrovascular complications. MRI is considered the imaging modality of choice due to its versatility.
Iatrogenic, blunt, and penetrating trauma to the biliary tract

Iatrogenic and traumatic bile leaks are uncommon. However, given the overall increase in number of hepatobiliary surgeries and the paradigm shift toward nonoperative management of patients with liver trauma, they have become more prevalent in recent years. Imaging is essential to establishing early diagnosis and guiding treatment as the clinical signs and symptoms of bile leaks are nonspecific, and a delay in recognition of bile leaks portends a high morbidity and mortality rate. Findings suspicious for a bile leak at computed tomography or ultrasonography include free or contained peri- or intrahepatic low density fluid in the setting of recent trauma or hepatobiliary surgery. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with hepatobiliary contrast agents can be used to detect active or contained bile leak. MRCP with hepatobiliary contrast agents has the unique ability to reveal the exact location of bile leak, which often governs whether endoscopic management or surgical management is warranted. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and fluoroscopy via an indwelling catheter that is placed either percutaneously or surgically are useful modalities to guide percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain placement which can provide biliary drainage and/or diversion in the setting of traumatic biliary injury. Surgical treatment of a bile duct injury with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is warranted if definitive treatment cannot be accomplished through percutaneous or endoscopic means.
Theoretical Antecedents of Standing at Work: An Experience Sampling Approach Using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Time spent sitting has been associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cancer, obesity, and mental health impairments. However, 75% of Americans spend most of their days sitting, with work-sitting accounting for 63% of total daily sitting time. Little research examining theory-based antecedents of standing or sitting has been conducted. This lack of solid groundwork makes it difficult to design effective intervention strategies to decrease sitting behaviors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as our theoretical lens to better understand factors related with beneficial standing behaviors already being practiced, we examined relationships between TPB constructs and time spent standing at work among “positive deviants” (those successful in behavior change). Experience sampling methodology (ESM), 4 times a day (midmorning, before lunch, afternoon, and before leaving work) for 5 consecutive workdays (Monday to Friday), was used to assess employees’ standing time. TPB scales assessing attitude (α = 0.81–0.84), norms (α = 0.83), perceived behavioral control (α = 0.77), and intention (α = 0.78) were developed using recommended methods and collected once on the Friday before the ESM surveys started. ESM data are hierarchically nested, therefore we tested our hypotheses using multilevel structural equation modeling with Mplus. Hourly full-time university employees (n = 50; 70.6% female, 84.3% white, mean age = 44 (SD = 11), 88.2%in full-time staff positions) with sedentary occupation types (time at desk while working ≥6 hours/day) participated. A total of 871 daily surveys were completed. Only perceived behavioral control (β = 0.45, p < 0.05) was related with work-standing at the event-level (model fit: just fit); mediation through intention was not supported. This is the first study to examine theoretical antecedents of real-time work-standing in a naturalistic field setting among positive deviants. These relationships should be further examined, and behavioral intervention strategies should be guided by information obtained through this positive deviance approach to enhance perceived behavioral control, in addition to implementing environmental changes like installing standing desks
Fetal stomach and gallbladder in contact with the bladder wall is a common ultrasound sign of stomach-down left congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify sonographic (US) findings that can assist in prenatal diagnosis of stomach-down left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), specifically related to positioning of the abdominal contents including the stomach, bladder, and gallbladder. Methods All US examinations with a postnatally confirmed diagnosis of stomach-down left CDH over a 13-year period were retrospectively reviewed for abnormal position of the abdominal contents, including whether the fetal stomach was in contact with the urinary bladder. Normal fetuses that underwent comprehensive US surveys were similarly evaluated for comparison in a 2:1 ratio. Results Twenty-two fetuses with stomach-down left CDH were identified in a cohort of 278 fetuses with left CDH. In 15/22 (68.2%) cases of stomach-down left CDH, the bladder and stomach walls were in contact. Contact of the fetal gallbladder with the fetal bladder wall was also observed and was present even more commonly (17/22 cases [77.3%]). There was no case of either the stomach or gallbladder in contact with the bladder wall in the normal fetal cohort (n = 44). Conclusions Recognition of the fetal stomach and/or gallbladder in contact with the bladder wall can help in the detection of stomach-down left CDH. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:8–13, 2017
MicroRNA-21 Ablation Exacerbates Aldosterone-Mediated Cardiac Injury, Remodeling and Dysfunction

Excess aldosterone (ALDO) causes hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation and fibrosis that lead to cardiac dysfunction. We previously reported that ALDO/SALT increases left ventricle (LV) miR-21 expression, but whether this upregulation is protective, deleterious or a bystander is unknown. We used mice with genetic ablation of miR-21 to study its role in ALDO/SALT-mediated cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and dysfunction. Uninephrectomized male miR-21 knockout (miR21KO) or wild-type (WT) mice were treated with ALDO (0.15 µg/h) and SALT (1.0 % NaCl + 0.3 % KCl) or vehicle for 2 or 8 weeks (N=24/group). Analysis of cardiac tissue by weight and WGA staining revealed ALDO/SALT exacerbated LV hypertrophy (4.6 vs. 4.1 mg/g BW, p<0.05) and LV cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (208 vs. 195 µm2, p<0.01) in miR21KO vs. WT mice, respectively. Upregulation of fibrosis markers (Ctgf, collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, lysyl oxidase), quantified by qRT-PCR, was exacerbated by ALDO/SALT in miR21KO LV (2- to...
Respondent-Driven Sampling and Spatial Autocorrelation

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a type of sampling method used to survey rare and hard-to-reach populations. RDS was developed to address the issue of bias associated with snowball sampling in qualitative research. Although, RDS has evolved by addressing major issues involved with the snowball sampling method, the issue of how the presence of spatial autocorrelation (SA) affects RDS had not been studied. SA refers to the clustering of similar attribute values in geographic space. Quantitative studies show that the presence of positive SA leads to an underestimation of the appropriate sample size. If RDS is not affected by SA, then the samples are expected to be dispersed in geographic space and not clustered around a sampling seed that initiates a sequence of respondents. This chapter presents impacts of SA on RDS when a social network displays a geographic pattern. The geographic distribution of the samples and associated socioeconomic and demographic variables are analyzed with respect to sequences of respondents. Social network RDS data for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are analyzed. Previous research indicates that, in these social network RDS data, samples are clustered around their initial seeds and do not spread out in geographic space as the sequence of respondents progresses. This tendency may result in increased sampling variance, which raises a concern about appropriate sample size determination in RDS.
Psychological Distress in Parents and School-Functioning of Adolescents: Results from the World Trade Center Registry

Poor school-functioning can be indicative of parent and adolescent mental health and adolescent behavior problems. This study examined 472 adolescents enrolled in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry, with a two-step path analysis, using regression-based models, to unravel the relationships between parent and adolescent mental health, adolescent behavior problems, and adolescent unmet healthcare need (UHCN) on the outcome school-functioning. WTC exposure was associated with UHCN and parental mental health was a significant mediator. There was no evidence that family WTC exposure was associated with UHCN independent of its effect on parental mental health. For the second path, after accounting for the effects of adolescent mental health, behavioral problems, and UHCN, there remained a significant association between parental mental health and school-functioning. Interventions for poor school-functioning should have multiple components which address UHCN, mental health, and behavioral problems, as efforts to address any of these alone may not be sufficient.
Clinical significance of MYC expression in acute myeloid leukemia.

7094 Background: MYC, a transcription factor controlling DNA replication, is overexpressed in many cancers, yet rarely investigated in myeloid neoplasms, where its clinical significance is unknown....
Some After-the-War Problems in Agriculture

The after-the-war problems in agriculture are not strikingly different in kind from the pre-war problems. But the war has made the problems more acute. We are now going through a period of reconstruction of ideas. All that is, is questioned. New theories on every subject receive a ready hearing. The world is in flux. That which is done may last for years. That which is not done may not be accomplished in years. If farmers do not now plan ahead, they may find that plans have been made as plans in the past so often have been made on the assumption that the problems of mankind begin at the city terminal of the railroad. The Fundamental Rural Problem1.-The fundamental problem in agriculture is to make and keep conditions of farm life such that a fair proportion of the intelligent and able citizens of the nation will continue to live on farms. Farm families are larger than city families. It, therefore, follows that whatever the farm population is, the nation will become. The strongest safeguard that the nation can have is an independent, foreward-looking and self-respecting farm population. Methods of Meeting the Problem.-There are two theories as to the best way to solve the farm problem. One method is to search the world for persons who will be content with farm conditions as they are. This method has many powerful advocates. Some would bring in Chinese. Considerable agitation for this procedure is constantly going on. Others would bring in the backward races of Europe and Asia to work our farms-peoples so backward that to them our worst farm conditions would seem like luxury. The same idea often takes the form of complaint against the desire of the American farmer to share in the American standard of living. The conclusion is reached that the farmer should be replaced by a peasant family whose housekeeping is so simple that all members of the family work in the fields and whose desires for education are so slight that the children are kept out of school to work.
Dosimetry and Physics Quality Assurance

Careful attention to detail for radiation treatment planning and quality assurance is paramount to achieve best results from treatment. Reproducible patient setup, thin-sliced quality imaging during simulation preferably utilizing 4D CT or fluoroscopy for motion evaluation, motion management and image-guidance during treatment delivery, adherence to standardized treatment volume definitions, and attention to published dose-volume limits are all important components in radiation treatment planning and delivery. Prospective peer-review and quality assurance also have been shown to improve radiation therapy for patients. This chapter outlines key considerations for quality assurance programs for 3D CRT, IMRT/VMAT, SBRT, and Proton Therapy.
The elective affinity between post-truth communication and populist politics

Here I propose an ‘elective affinity’ between populism and post-truth communication. Trends in public communication, specifically the breakdown of the twentieth century mass media order and the con...
Assessment of low- and high-level task performance in people with transtibial amputation using crossover and energy-storing prosthetic feet: A pilot study.

Background:Crossover feet incorporate features of energy-storing feet and running-specific feet. As such, crossover feet may be suitable for both daily ambulation and participation in physically de...
Opinions and practices among providers regarding sexual function: Do we ask the questions?

Abstract There is a paucity of current literature exploring provider attitudes toward discussing sexual function in routine gynecological care. Our objective in this study was to evaluate provider attitudes about the importance of taking a sexual history, and perceived barriers to doing so. Additionally, we evaluated whether patients consider a sexual function history important to their care. Residents, attending physicians, and midwives at the University of New Mexico completed anonymous questionnaires, including demographic data as well as questions regarding attitudes and practices toward taking a sexual history. Patients presenting for routine gynecological care were asked what their expectations are of their provider in taking a sexual history. Despite demographic differences, all providers reported that time limitations and language barriers were the main reasons why they don’t ask patients about their sexual function. The majority of providers reported that they seldom know where to refer patients with sexual dysfunction. All providers underestimated the percentage of women having sexual dysfunction compared with the literature (P
Potassium Homeostasis in Obstructive Uropathy and Interstitial Nephritis

Potassium homeostasis can be perturbed with both obstructive uropathy and interstitial nephritis. Hypokalemia can develop during the diuretic phase that accompanies relief of urinary tract obstruction and also been reported in association with acute interstitial nephritis. More typically, hyperkalemia is found in patients with chronic obstructive uropathy and is observed frequently in patients with Tubolointerstitial nephropathies. Both hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and primary defects in tubular secretion of potassium account for the development of hyperkalemia. Hyperchloremic acidosis (Type 4 RTA) frequently accompanies these hyperkalemic syndromes. Current concepts regarding the pathophysiology of both hyperkalemia and Type 4 RTA are considered.
Electromagnetic spin creates torsion

It is shown the intrinsic spin, and only the spin, of the electromagnetic field creates torsion. The struggle raged for decades: How to reconcile the facts that photons have spin, but minimal coupl...
Fuel sharing in expeditionary operations

Abstract Expeditionary units operate beyond the normal supply chain. We examine a situation in which expeditionary units are dispersed and moving forward to achieve some mission objective. The logistics decision must be made: should resources (fuel) be shared between those expeditionary units. Our criterion is mission risk, or the probability the expeditionary mission succeeds. Mission risk is modeled as a function of both logistics risk and operational risk. We present a model of fuel sharing which incorporates this balance of risks and we demonstrate the effectiveness of fuel sharing in an extended numerical example, based on historical data from the Ardennes campaign in WWII.
Leavitt path algebras with bases consisting solely of units

Abstract An algebra is said to be an invertible algebra if it has a basis consisting solely of units. Given a field K and a finite graph E, we give a condition on E that is equivalent to that of the Leavitt path algebra L K ( E ) being an invertible K-algebra. We derive from this a necessary and sufficient condition for the Cohn path algebra C K ( E ) to be an invertible K-algebra. In addition, given a unital commutative ring R, sufficient conditions on E for the Leavitt path algebra L R ( E ) to be an invertible R-algebra are given.
Life History Narratives from the P.S. Club

This chapter presents the colorful narratives of seven participants in a consumer-run organization (CRO), called the P.S. Club. The narratives illustrate how the lives of participants developed over time and how their involvement in the P.S. Club changed their life course. The extensive use of quotes helps to provide an insiders’ understanding of the challenges people with mental health problems face and the nature of CRO participation. Documentary photography helps bring each narrative to life, providing informative visual information that cannot be communicated through words. To enhance the contextual description, the chapter also provides a narrative describing life inside the local mental health system and a narrative specifically exploring the P.S. Club as an organization.
Politicization in the EU: between national politics and EU political dynamics

The EU has become increasingly politicized not only at the bottom, due to polarized debates, divided electorates, declining mainstream parties, and rising Euroskeptic populism; or from the bottom u...
The anti-rheumatic potential of a series of 2,4-di-substituted-4H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitriles

Abstract A new series of naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitriles with enhanced stability under acid conditions has been synthesised and examined for antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity. 4-(3-nitrophenyl)-2-(N-succinimido)-4H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitrile, 10, has proved to be acid stable and still retains biological activity.
Del Nido cardioplegia in coronary surgery: a propensity-matched analysis.

Objectives Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) has been shown to be safe in adults with normal coronary arteries who are undergoing valve surgery. This study compared the effects of DNC versus traditional blood-based cardioplegia on postoperative complications in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 863 patients who underwent CABG with DNC (n = 420) or control cardioplegia (CC) (n = 443) between 2014 and 2017. The full cohort of DNC and CC recipients, as well as propensity score-matched pairs, was compared regarding preoperative risk variables and outcomes. Results The DNC and CC groups showed no significant differences in mean cardiopulmonary bypass time (53.09 vs 52.10 min, P = 0.206) or aortic cross-clamp time (32.82 vs 33.28 min, P = 0.967). The groups also showed no difference in operative mortality (2.1% vs 2.5%, P = 0.734); however, DNC use resulted in lower rates of overall infections (1.7% vs 4.3%, P = 0.024), total sternal infections (0.9% vs 3.2%, P = 0.023), postoperative atrial fibrillation (23.8% vs 30.7%, P = 0.023) and postoperative ventricular tachycardia (0.5% vs 3.4%, P = 0.002). A propensity-matching analysis (n = 335 pairs) showed similar statistically significant decreases with DNC. Conclusions In this large cohort of CABG patients, DNC was shown as a safe alternative to CC and was associated with lower postoperative dysrhythmia and infection rates. These findings show that DNC is safe and effective in patients whose operative interventions may require only single-dosing cardioplegia; its use in longer cases should be further explored given its low complication rate.
Alterations in pancreatic islet cell function in response to small bowel resection

After 50% proximal small bowel resection (SBR) in mice, we have demonstrated hepatic steatosis, impaired glucose metabolism without insulin resistance, and increased pancreatic islet area. We sought to determine the consequences of SBR on pancreatic β-cell morphology, proliferation, and expression of a key regulatory hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). C57BL/6 mice underwent 50% SBR or sham operation. At 10 wk, pancreatic insulin content and secretion was measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine structural alterations in pancreatic α-and β-cells. Western blot analysis was used to measure GLP-1R expression, and immunoassay was used to measure plasma insulin and GLP-1. Experiments were repeated by administering a GLP-1 agonist (exendin-4) to a cohort of mice following SBR. After SBR, there was pancreatic islet hypertrophy and impaired glucose tolerance. The proportion of α and β cells was not grossly altered. Whole pancreas and pancreatic islet insulin content was not significantly different; however, SBR mice demonstrated decreased insulin secretion in both static incubation and islet perfusion experiments. The expression of pancreatic GLP-1R was decreased approximately twofold after SBR, compared with sham and serum GLP-1, was decreased. These metabolic derangements were mitigated after administration of the GLP-1 agonist. Following massive SBR, there is significant hypertrophy of pancreatic islet cells with morphologically intact α- and β-cells. Significantly reduced pancreatic insulin release in both static and dynamic conditions demonstrate a perturbed second phase of insulin secretion. GLP-1 is a key mediator of this amplification pathway. Decreased expression of serum GLP-1 and pancreatic GLP-1R in face of no change in insulin content presents a novel pathway for enteropancreatic glucose regulation following SBR.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Metabolic changes occur following intestinal resection; however, the effects on pancreatic function are unknown. Prior studies have demonstrated that glucagon-like protein-1 (GLP-1) signaling is a crucial player in the improved insulin sensitivity after bariatric surgery. In this study, we explore the effect of massive small bowel resection on gut hormone physiology and provide novel insights into the enteropancreatic axis.
Soil Sampling at Sword Beach in Normandy, France, 1943: How Geotechnical Engineering Influenced the D-Day Invasion

When the World paused last summer to remember the 75th anniversary of D-Day, many of us were gripped by stories, both heroic and horrific, told about the Allied invasion of Normandy’s beaches. One of these stories, effectively dramatized in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 Academy-award winning film, Saving Private Ryan, had to do with the return of a U.S. Army private to his mother, an Iowa farm wife who had already lost three sons to the war. The factual narrative that provided inspiration for Saving Private Ryan is documented in historian Stephen Ambrose’s (1994) definitive account, D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II.
College Admissions Scandal’s Real Harm: Concept of Fairness

Getting into college is hard enough without worrying that your seat might be taken by someone deemed a “special admit”. These students, allegedly, have a talent or ability that will bring a university more value than other students. The University of California reserves two percent of its seats for special admissions, which are supposed to be reserved for exceptional, nontraditional, or disadvantaged students. However, in reality, these slots have been utilized by most schools for student athletes, who, in many cases, do not have the grades or test scores to qualify for admission.
Risk factors for prolonged ventilation after the modified Fontan procedure.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the risk factors associated with prolonged ventilation after Fontan surgery. DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Tertiary childrens hospital. PATIENTS We included 123 children who underwent Fontan surgery without delayed sternal closure or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between 2011 and 2017. INTERVENTION Fontan surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Prolonged ventilation was defined as intubation for more than 24 hours after surgery. Preoperative, intraoperative, and perioperative data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for prolonged ventilation. The median age and weight of patients were 2.2 years and 10.0 kg, respectively. Seventeen per cent of the patients (n = 21) received prolonged mechanical ventilation, and the median intubation period was 2.9 days. There were no 90-day or in-hospital deaths. The independent predictors of prolonged ventilation identified were fenestration (p < 0.01), low pulmonary artery index (p = 0.02), and advanced atrioventricular regurgitation (p < 0.01). The duration of ICU stay was significantly longer in the prolonged ventilation group than in the early extubation group (10 days versus 6 days, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Fenestration, low pulmonary artery index, and significant atrioventricular regurgitation are risk factors for prolonged ventilation after Fontan surgery. Careful preoperative and perioperative management that considers the risk factors for prolonged ventilation in each individual is important.
Investigating the Role of Auditory Processing Abilities in Long-Term Self-Reported Hearing Aid Outcomes among Adults Age 60+ Years.

BACKGROUND Self-reported hearing aid outcomes among older adults are variable and important to improve. The extent of the role of auditory processing in long-term hearing aid outcomes is not well understood. PURPOSE To determine how auditory processing abilities are related to self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit along with either aided audibility alone or exploratory factors suggested by previous literature. RESEARCH DESIGN Descriptive analyses and multiple regression analyses of cross-sectional self-reported outcomes. STUDY SAMPLE Adult participants, >60 years (n = 78), fitted with bilateral hearing aids to treat symmetric, mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Participants were recruited from a single audiology clinic to complete a series of questionnaires, behavioral assessments, and obtain data from their hearing aids, including real ear measures and data logging of hearing aid use. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the amount of variance explained by predictive factors in self-reported hearing aid satisfaction and benefit. The primary predictive factors included gap detection threshold, spatial advantage score, dichotic difference score, and aided audibility. Exploratory factors included personality, self-efficacy, self-report of disability, and hearing aid use. All interpretations of statistical significance used p < 0.05. Effect sizes were determined using Cohen's f2 with a medium effect suggesting clinical relevance. RESULTS Gap detection threshold was a statistically significant predictor in both primary regression models with a medium effect size for satisfaction and a small effect size for benefit. When additional exploratory factors were included in the regression models with auditory processing abilities, gap detection and self-efficacy were both significant predictors of hearing aid satisfaction with medium effect sizes, explaining 10 and 17% of the variance, respectively. There were no medium effect sizes found for other predictor variables in either the primary or exploratory hearing aid benefit models. Additional factors were statistically significant in the models, explaining a small amount of variance, but did not meet the medium effect size criterion. CONCLUSION This study provides initial evidence supporting the incorporation of measures of gap detection ability and hearing aid self-efficacy into clinical practice for the interpretation of postfitting long-term hearing aid satisfaction.