cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Otoplasty Online Information: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Websites and Videos that Patients View Regarding Cosmetic Ear Surgery.

Physicians should be aware of both websites and videos available online regarding the otoplasty procedure to provide quality care. This study systematically analyzes the authorships, reliability, quality, and readability of the websites, as well as the authorships and primary objectives of the videos regarding otoplasty. Validated instruments were used to analyze the reliability, quality, and readability of websites, and videos were systematically categorized and analyzed. A Google search was conducted, and the first five pages of results were included in this study. After excluding unrelated websites, the remaining 44 websites were categorized by authorship (physician, patient, academic, or unaffiliated) and were analyzed using the validated DISCERN instrument for reliability and quality, as well as various other validated instruments to measure readability. A YouTube search was also conducted, and the first 50 relevant videos were included in the study. These videos were categorized by authorship and their primary objective. Website authorships were physician-dominated. Reliability, quality, and overall DISCERN score differ between the four authorship groups by a statistically significant margin (Kruskall-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Unaffiliated websites were the most reliable, and physician websites were the least reliable. Academic websites were of the highest quality, and patient websites were of the lowest quality. Readability did not differ significantly between the groups, though the readability measurements made showed a general lack of material easily readable by the general public. YouTube was likewise dominated by physician-authored videos. While the physician-authored videos sought mainly to inform and to advertise, patient-authored videos sought mainly to provide the patient's perspective. Academic organizations showed very little representation on YouTube, and the YouTube views on otoplasty videos were dominated by the top 20 videos, which represented over 93% of the total views of videos included in this study.
Medicinal chemistry: A support or a driving force in drug research?

What is the role of the organic chemist in modern drug research? This question has been asked repeatedly within the past 5 or 6 years primarily because of the significant developments that have occurred in biotechnology. Intrinsically associated with the birth of molecular biology has been the perception that the predominant force in modern drug discovery is no longer chemistry but biology. Another way to express this is: all drug research is biology driven with chemistry serving as a support to the needs of the biologists. Chemists should not be surprised by this attitude; in fact, it has been expressed directly or indirectly many times both in small groups, at symposia, in board meetings, wherever venture capitalists congregate. Although these impressions are real, they are not necessarily realistic. In fact, in many cases they are based on an illusion of what appears to be the new and emerging science of drug design and discovery. In this essay which will take the form of commentaries to a series of pivotal questions, I shall attempt to outline what is really the evolving approach to drug discovery and the role of organic chemistry therein.
Basic Urologic History and Questionnaires and the Role of Imaging in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

The initial evaluation of a patient with suspect urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse should be quite detailed as there are many aspects to these disorders that tie in to other disease processes throughout the body. A complete and thorough history and physical exam will help the clinician optimize the correct approach to the patient, be it observation or more interventional approaches to management. Initial assessment of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse should evaluate a patient’s signs and symptoms in order to develop a differential diagnosis, determine need for additional testing, and decide possible treatment options. A thorough history and physical exam is necessary for initial evaluation and subsequent testing should be based on clinical suspicion and treatment goals. Further tests should be considered if surgical intervention is planned, conservative therapies are not effective, or there is suspicion for pelvic pathology such as stone, cancer, or fistula. In addition, further testing is valuable if there is a prior history of pelvic surgery or radiation, recurrent UTI, neurologic disease, voiding dysfunction, significant prolapse, pain, or hematuria.
Power Packaging Modeling and Challenges

Modeling and simulation of power electronic packaging design, reliability, and assembly is a multidisciplinary activity that relies on the expertise of the complex processes, almost all the material types, detailed process windows, and are sequence dependent, a very challenging task for both academic people and practicing engineers (The next step in assembly and packaging: system level integration in the package (SiP), 2009; Trends of power electronic packaging and modeling, 2008). Modeling and simulation has been classified in the ITRS Road Map (The international technology road map for semiconductors (IRTS), 2009) in the past years to be one of the cutting-edge technologies that must be mastered to enable rapid progress in this first industry. The importance of modeling and simulation has been witnessed by the increasing number of design engineers in each corporation from 20% in early 1980s to 80% in today in terms of recruited engineers, as it is essential to design and make the product so as to be first time pass.
Madia sativa Mol. (Asteraceae-Heliantheae-Madiinae): An ethnobotanical and geographical disjunct

Madia sativa, a “tarweed” long used in the past for its oily seeds by the natives of both Pacific North America and southern South America where it still grows wild, has potential as a future oil crop.
Coastal Fringe Habitat Monitoring using Kite Aerial Photography: A Remote Sensing-based Case Study

Monitoring coastal ecosystem resilience for climatic and/or anthropogenic vulnerabilities is challenging with moderately resolution Landsat images. A simple, low-cost Kite Aerial Photograph platform (KAP) was vital to obtain high-resolution images for a small area to develop coastal GIS models. This study examines post-tsunami relief in two coastal shrub ecosystem and a mangrove ecosystem in terms of vegetation bioshield mass and sea level rise perspectives. A KAP platform was created using two light-weight automatic cameras with dual bandpass Red-NIR filters, a Picavet stabilizing rig, a GPS tracker and a Parafoil Kite. The KAP images were processed to build mosaic images, orthorectified and geo-referenced Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using structure-from motion (SFM) and remote sensing software (Agisoft PhotoScan and ENVI respectively). KAP has been utilised for coastal mapping under three scenarios: (i) object-orient feature extraction for discriminate Prosopis juliflora, an invasive alien species, and texture analysis for coastal shrub and herbaceous vegetation classification (ii) DEM for sea level rise, and (iii) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for mangrove bioshield mass estimation. The image processing produced a point cloud with an average density of 35 points/m2; a DEM with 17 cm resolution; and an orthophoto mosaic with an average resolution of 4.0 cm. The results showed that object orient feature extraction can discriminate Prosopis juliflora from the coastal shrubs with 62% accuracy, while supervised classification accuracy was 51%. Mangrove vegetation in Rekawa was discriminated from grassland and other coastal shrub vegetation types at ≥4 NDVI threshold resulted in 0.33 ha of mangroves (28% of 1.15 ha of the total area). The Kahandamodara beach coastal vegetation was dominant by Ipomoea pes-capre with 26% coverage. In conclusion, KAP has a wide potential to bridge science with high spatial/temporal resolution in-situ data for coastal habitat mapping, where the researchers can utilize the data within a low-cost budget. Keywords: kite mapping, coast, DEM, mangrove, NDVI
Safety of outpatient unilateral medialization laryngoplasty across two academic institutions

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Unilateral ML is a commonly performed surgery for dysphonia secondary to glottic insufficiency. The safety of this procedure performed in the outpatient setting has not been extensively examined. The purpose of the study was to assess the safety of outpatient unilateral ML in adults and determine the incidence and timing of postoperative complications across two tertiary-care academic medical centers. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review, METHODS: A review of patients undergoing unilateral ML at two tertiary-care academic centers from 2011 to 2017 was performed. Patients undergoing bilateral medialization laryngoplasty, revision surgery, or those undergoing additional laryngeal framework procedures including arytenoid adduction were excluded. Patient demographics, operative details, and perioperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Comparisons were made between those individuals who underwent inpatient versus outpatient ML. RESULTS One hundred three total procedures met inclusion criteria. Fifty-seven were performed as outpatient procedures, and 46 individuals were observed for at least 23 hours following surgery. Silastic or Gore-Tex implants were used in all but two surgeries. There were no postoperative complications in either setting, including hematoma, dyspnea, wound infections or seromas. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of adverse events during and immediately following unilateral ML is very low. Patients can be discharged safely the day of surgery without geographic restrictions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 129:1647-1649, 2019.
Developmental biology: the hole picture.

What's the best way to make a tube? Roll up a sheet? Hollow out a solid rod? Some innovative movies show how the problem is tackled during the development of blood vessels in embryos.
Dissemination of Information on Neutropenic Diet by Top US Cancer Centers: In-line with the Evidence?

Aim: The neutropenic diet is commonly prescribed to cancer patients with neutropenia with the goal of reducing infections. However, multiple randomized trials have proved no benefit with neutropeni...
Electron Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition (EE-ALD)

Electron enhanced atomic layer deposition (EE-ALD) can dramatically reduce the temperatures required for film growth. Temperature reduction is possible because of electron stimulated desorption (ESD) of surface species. The desorption process creates highly reactive "dangling bond" surface sites. Precursors can then adsorb efficiently on the dangling bonds. Our work has demonstrated the EE-ALD of GaN, BN, Si and Co at room temperature. Film growth was performed using alternating exposures of chemical precursors and low energy electrons. In situ ellipsometry measurements have monitored linear film growth versus number of reaction cycles. Additionally, we have observed the dependence ofthe EE-ALD growth rates on electron energy. Maximum growth rates have varied from 0.3 A/cycle for Si films at 100-150 eV to 3.2 A/cycle for BN films at 80-160 eV. Recent measurements have also obtained maximum growth rates of 0.5 A/cycle for Co films at 125 eV. EE-ALD is also topographically selective. This area selectivity is derived from the directionality of the electron flux. Surfaces normal to the incident electrons receive full electron flux, whereas surfaces parallel to the incident electrons receive no electron flux. EE-ALD should be useful for the bottom-up fill of high aspect ratio structures.
2689 Exploring Patient Characteristics in Adnexal Torsion after Hysterectomy

Study Objective To describe the characteristics of patients with adnexal torsion after previous hysterectomy. Design Retrospective case-series Setting Academic tertiary care hospital. Patients or Participants Patients with a history of hysterectomy, who subsequently presented with confirmed adnexal torsion from 2006-2019. Interventions Electronic medical records were searched using ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes, to identify patients with a history of adnexal torsion. Charts were manually reviewed for history of hysterectomy, patient and operative characteristics. Measurements and Main Results A total of 36 surgically confirmed adnexal torsions occurred in 35 patients with a prior surgical history of hysterectomy. This represents 16% of all patients identified with adnexal torsion (219) during the study period. Of those with post-hysterectomy torsion, the most common surgical approach to hysterectomy was laparoscopic (including robotic-assisted laparoscopy). Route of hysterectomy for patients with subsequent torsion included 86% laparoscopic, 9% abdominal and 6% vaginal. Most common indications for hysterectomy were abnormal uterine bleeding (23/35), uterine fibroids (10/35), and chronic pelvic pain/endometriosis (14/35). Median time from hysterectomy to torsion was 2.5 years. Torsion was managed via laparoscopic approach in 35 of the 36 cases. Ipsilateral or bilateral fallopian tubes were present at the time of torsion in 55.6% (20/36) of cases. All of these patients underwent concurrent salpingectomy during surgical management of torsion. Conclusion Incidence of adnexal torsion after hysterectomy may be higher than previously described. Providers should maintain a suspicion for adnexal torsion in patients with clinical signs and symptoms, even after prior hysterectomy. The majority of adnexal torsions occurred after hysterectomy via laparoscopic approach. Further study may identify patient characteristics and operative factors at time of hysterectomy, which increase the risk of future torsion.
From consumerism to wellbeing: toward a cultural transition?

Abstract As it becomes evident that technology alone is unlikely to fully counteract the ecological impacts of consumer society, the debate increasingly focuses on a need to shift beyond the consumerist economy and culture. This paper considers how a cultural shift toward less consumerist lifestyle choices might originate, driven not by moral imperatives or environmental movements, but by the core pursuit of human wellbeing. Our goal is to jumpstart a serious conversation about plausible pathways to change, grounded theoretically and empirically. The history of consumer society is a reminder that cultural transformation of that magnitude could occur in a relatively short period of time. We hypothesize, drawing on demographic and economic trends, that technologically connected, educated, and open to change millennials might lead the way in that transition. Their diminishing interest in suburban life in favor of cities, constricted economic opportunities, and their size and interconnectedness all point in that direction. We envision a scenario in which the core understanding of wellbeing will change through the combined effects of changing lifestyles, adaptation to the economic, technological and demographic realities, and emerging new social practices. Extensive research on wellbeing suggests that such reframing can readily incorporate a shift away from consumerist lifestyles. To succeed, this shift needs government support at all levels through policies that enable young urban families to thrive. This paper is about the United States because it a global leader in the creation of the consumer society, with a per-capita ecological footprint about twice that of Europe, and with many emulators across the world. We contend that the US-grounded analysis presented in this paper has relevance for other parts of the world, and that it can inform research and debate on similar cultural transitions in other national contexts.
Bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with NY-ESO-1 glioma-associated antigens induce maturation of native dendritic cells.

Glioblastoma prognosis remains grim despite maximal, multimodal management. Recent literature has demonstrated an increase in research devoted to experimental treatments, particularly those relying on the foundations of active immunotherapy with promising results. We hypothesize that the utilization of bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with glioma-associated antigens, such as the NY-ESO-1 peptide, may be capable of stimulating native dendritic cell (DC) maturation and inducing an anti-tumor response. Immature DCs were cultured from the bone marrow of 4–6-week-old C57BL/6 mice. The three treatment groups consisted of: (1) DC and media, (2) DC with mCherry vault, and (3) DC with NYESO and vault. DC maturity was assessed via flow cytometric evaluation of CD11c, CD86, and MHC-II. Increase in CD86 Median Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) was analyzed in the CD11c+CD86+MHC-II+ population to determine the extent of maturation Our findings suggest that CP-MVP-NY-ESO-1-INT recombinant vault nanoparticles are efficiently bioengineered with exceptional integrity, are quickly internalized by immature DCs for antigen processing, and result in DC maturation. This study reports our preliminary results, which demonstrate the feasibility and progress regarding our immunotherapeutic technique utilizing NY-ESO-1 packaged vault nanoparticles to prime DCs for subsequent anti-cancer therapies.
Nanoparticle Enhanced Crystallization of Sorbitol PCMs for Latent Heat and Temperature Control

Thermal management plays an important role in maintaining reliable functionality in electronic systems. As electronic packaging scales for increased power density, the need for cost effective heat removal becomes vital to electronic system design. Conventional systems, such as heat pipes, fans, and liquid cooling methods, require significant energy input, resulting in reduction of total system efficiencies. Phase change materials (PCMs) offer a safe and efficient passive thermal management approach that can supplement traditional cooling methods such as air and liquid cooling. PCMs can help absorb thermal energy during temperature spikes and with the addition of current cooling systems, can aid in cooling applications to increase the reliability of electronic devices. Within the broad PCM characterization, sugar alcohols have displayed promising thermal properties such as high specific latent heat (W/g), which is a useful metric for determining maximum thermal heat absorption, and the appropriate phase transition temperatures for electronic systems. These properties have been shown to be altered with nanoparticle inclusion, leading to more effective and efficient nanocomposites for thermal management.This study examines the impact of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles on the latent heat, melting temperature, and crystalline properties of D-Sorbitol (promising sugar alcohol). Particle size, concentration, and spatial density are discussed for their effects in changing the properties of the PCM. The particle induced augmentation was evaluated using various crystallographic, mechanical, fluid, and thermal characterization techniques, to illustrate the mechanism of PCM enhancement. The structure of Sorbitol is polycrystalline, but it can be shown that nanoparticle inclusion introduces controllable crystalline ordering. This work encompasses what trends can be seen with the change in certain properties within sorbitol using nanoparticles. The increase in latent heat is dependent on the preferred crystalline structure of the nanocomposite based on the changes introduced by the nanoparticles. Furthermore, liquid-to-solid formation kinetics were also observed through rheology and shear stress induced crystallization. The focus of this paper will be on the crystalline changes present in the new nanocomposites and the relationship between structure and thermal characteristics as controlled by varying nanoparticle properties.
General Aspects in the Pathology of the Diaphragm

The diaphragm is the main muscle of respiration with a unique muscular component and central tendinous component. Diaphragmatic pathologies can be a result of congenital etiologies or an acquired disease process. The majority of diaphragmatic pathologies are discovered incidentally on routine chest X-ray. Subsequent confirmatory tests depend on the diaphragm pathology. Diagnostic modalities include fluoroscopy, electromyography, CT scan, ultrasound and MRI. Advances in surgical technique as well as technology have improved the field in diagnosing and treating patients with diaphragm pathologies. This chapter covers the most common diaphragm pathologies and highlights the most recent updates in diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic problems.
Evaluating Student Participation in Undergraduate Information Technology Programs in the U.S.

Enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of undergraduate students in Information Technology (IT) programs are useful measures of institutional performance. Disaggregated by demographics characteristics, such as gender, race, and ethnicity, analysis of student data across IT programs in the U.S. supports the exploration of the breadth and diversity of student participation in IT. Evaluating undergraduate IT programs is particularly challenging for multiple factors, including: IT programs are not always titled "Information Technology"; IT programs are not always ABET-accredited; and IT programs may be housed in various academic units, such as business, computing, engineering, technology, or information sciences.This paper builds on prior work used to identify IT programs in the U.S., including the National Center for Education Statistics' Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes, specifically CIP code 11 that designates IT and other computing programs. It also refines CIP code-based program identification and then analyzes 2017-2018 student data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to evaluate IT programs through a student participation lens. The in-depth analysis of student enrollment, retention, and graduation is intended to support IT programs with designing more inclusive learning environments that increase participation of all students, in particular women and racial and ethnic minority students. This paper finally signals the importance of CIP codes that designate IT programs and focuses attention to the role that faculty, IT programs, and SIGITE community at large need to have in CIP code selection to further advance research in IT education.
Postoperative resuscitation with hypertonic saline or hyperoncotic albumin in patients following cardiac surgery: A review of the literature

Background Over-resuscitation in postcardiac surgery patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a growing interest in hyperoncotic albumin and hypertonic saline for resuscitation in patients following cardiac surgery. In this article, we will review the use of hyperosmolar fluid therapies for resuscitation in postcardiac surgical patients from the current literature. Methods A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed) utilizing keywords, narrowing publications from 2009 to 2020. Results Patients receiving concentrated albumin after cardiac surgery required less fluid bolus therapy, less time on vasopressors, and had a lower positive fluid balance compared with patients receiving crystalloids. There was no difference in mortality in those given 20% albumin compared with crystalloids postcardiac surgery. Patients administered hypertonic saline following cardiac surgery had increased urinary output but its effect on total fluid and body weight was not significantly different compared with crystalloids. Conclusions In this analysis, publications on resuscitation with hyperoncotic albumin and hypertonic saline in patients following cardiac surgery were reviewed. While there is data supporting the use of alternative fluid therapies in other critically ill populations, the limited literature focused on concentrated albumin and hypertonic saline for resuscitation following cardiac surgery is equivocal.
Automated assessment of longitudinal biomarker changes at abdominal CT: correlation with subsequent cardiovascular events in an asymptomatic adult screening cohort

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major public health concern, and automated methods can potentially capture relevant longitudinal changes on CT for opportunistic CV screening purposes. Fully-automated and validated algorithms that quantify abdominal fat, muscle, bone, liver, and aortic calcium were retrospectively applied to a longitudinal adult screening cohort undergoing serial non-contrast CT examination between 2005 and 2016. Downstream major adverse events (MI/CVA/CHF/death) were identified via algorithmic EHR search. Logistic regression, ROC curve, and Cox survival analyses assessed for associations between changes in CT variables and adverse events. Final cohort included 1949 adults (942 M/1007F; mean age, 56.2 ± 6.2 years at initial CT). Mean interval between CT scans was 5.8 ± 2.0 years. Mean clinical follow-up interval from initial CT was 10.4 ± 2.7 years. Major CV events occurred after follow-up CT in 230 total subjects (11.8%). Mean change in aortic calcium Agatston score was significantly higher in CV(+) cohort (591.6 ± 1095.3 vs. 261.1 ± 764.3), as was annualized Agatston change (120.5 ± 263.6 vs. 46.7 ± 143.9) (p 500 was 2.8 (95% CI 1.5–4.0) relative to < 500. Agatston score change was the only significant univariate CT biomarker in the survival analysis. Changes in fat and bone measures added no meaningful prediction. Interval change in automated CT-based abdominal aortic calcium load represents a promising predictive longitudinal tool for assessing cardiovascular and mortality risks. Changes in other body composition measures were less predictive of adverse events.
The First Law of Thermodynamics for Closed Systems: Derivation and Sample Problems

The material presented in this lecture is adapted from Chapter 3 of T&M. First, we will discuss mechanical work done on a rigid body. We will also introduce other types of work, including surface, electric, and magnetic. Second, we will extend the concept of mechanical work done on a rigid body to that associated with a thermodynamic system, for example, work done by a gas expanding against the atmosphere in a cylinder-piston assembly in the presence of friction. Third, we will discuss a key result that the work done by a system on the environment is equal to minus the work done by the environment on the system. We will stress that work is a mode of energy transfer which exists only at the boundary between a system and the environment. In the system or in the environment, there is only energy, which we will introduce through Postulate III as work done on the system under adiabatic conditions. Fourth, we will introduce heat absorbed by the system as the difference between the work done on the system under adiabatic conditions and the actual work done on the system. Like work, heat is a form of energy transfer which exists solely at the boundary between the system and the environment. Fifth, after we introduce work, energy, and heat, the First Law of Thermodynamics for a closed system will emerge naturally. Finally, we will solve Sample Problems 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 to help crystallize the material taught.
Survival impact of C-Arm cone-beam computed tomography on hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing chemoembolization

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the use of C-arm cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for tumor targeting for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and its impact on overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Material and Methods: Two groups were retrospectively evaluated according to the date of the first TACE session before and after C-arm CBCT installation in late 2005 (group A [n = 34], 2004–2005; group B [n = 104], 2008+). The years 2006 and 2007 were excluded to allow for the incorporation of this new imaging technology into clinical practice. The vessel selection order was recorded for all TACE sessions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact on and predictors of survival. Results: The average TACE selection order for each patient was significantly higher in group B than in group A (P < 0.0001). The median OS was significantly longer in group B (29.34 months) than in group A (19.65 months; P = 0.0088), and the difference in duration was most pronounced in patients with tumor burdens < 25% (n = 93; P = 0.0075), in whom the 3-year survival rate was 56.1% in group B and 15.3% in group A. In these 93 patients, the OS was significant longer (P = 0.018) for high (41.07 months) versus low (19.65 months) vessel selection order across both groups. In multivariate analyses, both the period in which TACE was performed (P = 0.022) and the use of C-arm CBCT (P = 0.0075) were significant predictors of improved OS. Conclusion: Use of advanced C-arm CBCT during TACE enhances the operating physician’s ability to deliver targeted, effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, an aggressive approach that favorably impacts survival.
Temperament is Linked to Avoidant Responses to Stuttering Anticipation.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the degree to which certain temperament constructs predict individual differences in three types of behavioral responses to anticipation among children and adults who stutter (CWS and AWS, respectively): avoidance, physical change, and approach. Methods Participants included 64 CWS (9- to 17-years-old) and 54 AWS (18- to 50-years-old) who completed an online survey package including a temperament questionnaire (Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire–Revised for the CWS; Adult Temperament Questionnaire for the AWS) and the Stuttering Anticipation Scale. The data were analyzed separately for CWS and AWS using multivariate multiple regressions to assess how each temperament construct predicted avoidance, physical change, and approach responses to anticipation. Results CWS who reported higher levels of shyness were more likely to engage in avoidant behavioral responses when they anticipate an upcoming moment of stuttering. AWS who reported higher levels of orienting sensitivity were more likely to engage in avoidant behavioral responses when they anticipate an upcoming moment of stuttering. No temperament constructs predicted physical change or approach responses to anticipation among either age group. Conclusion Specific aspects of temperament appear to be linked to the degree that CWS and AWS engage in avoidant behavioral responses to stuttering anticipation. These findings support the continued study of how individual differences impact the internal experience and outward manifestation of stuttering behaviors.
Echocardiography to Diagnose an Evolving Sinus of Valsalva Fistula From Infective Endocarditis.

Abstract Sinus of Valsalva (SOV) fistulas are rare entities and have been infrequently described after episodes of aortic valve (AV) infective endocarditis (IE). Patients with SOV fistulas or ruptured SOV aneurysms can present with varying symptoms and physical exams. Identification of SOV fistulas is crucial, with frequent need for surgical intervention due to risk of congestive heart failure or cardiogenic shock. We present a case of a SOV-to-right atrial (RA) fistula from AV IE that was diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Management included AV replacement (AVR) and aortic root debridement, tricuspid valve annular debridement and annuloplasty, and closure of the fistula tract using a pericardial patch.
Colonic Volvulus in Children: Surgical Management of a Challenging Condition.

Colonic volvulus (CV) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition with unclear etiopathogenesis. To date, less than 80 pediatric cases have been described. Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is associated with CV in 17% of cases, representing a significant risk factor. Non-HD CV is an even more complex entity. The aim of this study is to describe a series of patients with CV to accentuate some peculiar aspects of this disease. We performed a retrospective study (period: 2012–2021) collecting information of patients with CV. Data analyzed included: demographics, medical history, presenting symptoms and radiological and surgical details. Eleven patients (12.5 ± 2.8 years; 7F/4M) had CV (eight sigmoid, two transverse colon, one total colon). Five patients had associated anomalies and three had HD. A two-step approach with volvulus endoscopic/radiological detorsion followed by intestinal resection was attempted in eight cases (one endoscopic approach failed). Three patients required surgery at admission. At follow-up, two patients developed recurrent intestinal obstruction, one of whom also had anastomotic stenosis. Colonic volvulus is a challenging condition that requires prompt patient care. A missed diagnosis could lead to severe complications. The evaluation of the patient should include a careful histological examination (searching for HD and alpha-actin deficiency), immunologic and metabolic screening, neurological tests and detection of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). Lifelong follow-up is mandatory for the early recognition and treatment of progressive diseases involving the proximal gastrointestinal tract.
Impact of fiber distribution and cyclic loading on the bond behavior of steel-reinforced UHPC

Abstract Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a class of concrete materials that exhibits high compressive strength (over 150 MPa) and is seeing increasing applications around the world. Current reinforced UHPC (R/UHPC) bond studies mostly adopt non-flexural setups, i.e., pull-out tests and tension-lap-splice tests. The bond behavior of R/UHPC in flexure remains largely unknown, which is a fundamental aspect of designing R/UHPC flexural elements. Additionally, the impact of fiber distribution and cyclic loading on R/UHPC bond is little understood, which is important for guiding the casting and design of R/UHPC structures especially in earthquake zones. This study experimentally investigates the impact of fiber volume, cast flow direction, and cyclic loading on R/UHPC bond behavior under a simulated flexural stress state. Results from twenty-five beam-end tests are discussed. Specimens cast with flow perpendicular to the bar exhibited a 9%–26% higher bond strength than specimens cast with the flow parallel to the bar due to the resulting higher fiber-bridging capacity across the splitting crack plane. Compared to the monotonically-loaded specimens, cyclic loading minimally impacts R/UHPC bond strength and accelerates bond-degradation after bond softening occurs. Current R/UHPC bond strength prediction methods are evaluated on the test results from this study and the literature. An energy-based R/UHPC bond-slip model is developed. This model captures the cyclic bond degradation of R/UHPC and other types of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) with a mean absolute error under 13%.
The Use of Benchmarking as an Integral Part of TQM in Marketing Departments

Marketing departments, like most major U.S. corporations, are going through a significant time period of analysis, change, and reorganization. As Bruce Stern commented, “the winds of change” are occurring in both American business and business education (1992a). Business schools and marketing departments are talking more about the meaning of “quality education.” The new Dean at the University of Illinois College of Commerce, Howard Thomas, discussed his goals with alumni. The first priority he mentioned was to “emphasize quality.” With this desire to improve, many schools are realizing the need to measure their current quality level and effectiveness.
Relaxation methods for transonic flow about wing-cylinder combinations and lifting swept wings

A mixed elliptic-hyperbolic relaxation method has been applied to the study of a nonlinear small perturbation equation modeling steady, three-dimensional transonic flow. Certain nonlifting wing-body combinations were computed without difficulty, and a numerical procedure for treating lifting wings without bodies was presented. In an effort to simplify the treatment of swept and tapered wings with blunt leading edges, a coordinate transformation has been introduced to map the wing planform into a rectangle. Certain difficulties introduced by this transformation were explored, and results found from its use under valid circumstances were presented and compared with experiment.
Computer organization in the breadth-first course

The topic of computer organization in the breadth-first CS course is addressed. A set of materials and a particular ordering of sub-topics is suggested to maximize the “cognitive hooks” for students. A new entry point to computer organization based on a natural physical metaphor of knobs and switches is introduced. The K&S Model 1 machine simulator is developed based on the knob and switch metaphor. The K&S simulator starts as a simple datapath and is built up in several carefully planned increments until a complete stored program machine is constructed. The use of the K&S machine simulator is placed in context by a short discussion of how it is used to motivate the investigation of binary representation, arithmetic, logic gates and combinational logic circuits. An intuitive model for CMOS technology is introduced and used to demonstrate the tie between logic gates and transistors in the computer. Finally, some qualitative observations are offered and improvements are suggested.
Genetic risk alleles associated with autoantibody production and responsible for initial breach in tolerance to self-antigens in normal individuals (HUM2P.331)

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are serological hallmarks of SLE. Studies have shown that healthy individuals also develop ANA, raising questions on relevance of ANA positivity and autoimmune disease. We screened 2223 healthy controls (HC) and 143 SLE patients for ANA by ELISA and found that 26% HC are ANA positive, with 17% moderate (20-40 AU) and 9% high (>40 AU) ANA levels. To elucidate the autoantibody profiles associated with ANA in HC and SLE, we performed autoantigen arrays to profile over 90 autoAbs and found that ANA positive HC make significant amount of IgG and IgM autoAbs against many antigens with high frequency to non-nuclear antigens such as collagens and phospholipids. We noticed stronger autoAb signatures in females than males. We then genotyped 1583 HC with high and low ANA by Immunochip and did quantitative association test using ANA as dependent variable. Seven genomic loci showed suggestive genomewide association (p=1.00E-05) with ANA. Multiple independent association signals were observed in HLA class I, II and III region and the strongest association mapped to HLA-DR alleles where peak SNP rs9268832 in HLA-DRA gene reached p value 7.63606E-07. The impact of ANA risk alleles on HLA-DR gene expression was studied in B cells and macrophages from healthy donors by RNA-seq and results show that ANA risk haplotype is associated with up regulation of HLA-DRB1 gene which could be associated with initial breach in tolerance to self-antigens in general population.
Expression of Toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and MD-2 in the normal equine cornea, limbus, and conjunctiva

Objective Human corneal cells have detectable levels of TLRs 1-10. TLRs 2 and 4 are the major corneal receptors, recognizing the PAMPs associated with fungal invasion in humans. The conjunctiva and limbus contain TLRs 2, 4, and 9. Our purpose was to determine the expression of TLRs 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and MD-2 in the normal equine cornea, conjunctiva, and limbus. Methods Corneal, limbal, and conjunctival tissues were collected from seven euthanized horses having no evidence of ocular disease. RNA extraction with DNase-1 digestion was performed followed by RT-PCR to determine expression of TLRs 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and MD-2. Products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gels and visualized using ethidium bromide staining. Results Expression of TLRs 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and MD-2 was present in the cornea, limbus, and conjunctiva of each horse, except one horse, where TLR3 expression was unable to be demonstrated in the dorsal and ventral conjunctiva. Conclusions Confirming the expression of TLRs in equine ocular tissues is an initial step in identifying how they play a role in infectious keratitis, particularly fungal. The results further support the use of equine ocular tissues as a model for human fungal keratitis. Studies of the TLR expression together with their cytokine profile induced during equine fungal keratitis may help further clarify the pathogenesis of the disease and possibly lead to the development of new treatment protocols for both equines and humans.
The \(\overline \partial \)-Operator in Smoothly Bounded Domains

Let Ω be a bounded open subset of C n . We are essentially concerned with the following problem: Given a form f of type (0,1) on Ω with ∂f=0, find a function u on Ω such that ∂u=f.
Accessibility of Registration Mechanisms in Social Networking Sites

This paper discusses the use of social networking sites in higher education and the accessibility issues which arise for students using assistive technologies when they register for these systems. Many instructors incorporate social networking into their daily teaching by creating learning groups, enabling collaborative work, or just by simply synchronizing course items with students' personal sites within these networks. This study examines the registration process for several social networking sites. Sites were evaluated according to their compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act; evaluation also included the use of CAPTCHAs and the use of email for user identification. The paper concludes with a summary of the current status of registration processes for social networking sites and recommendations on how to improve the situation considering their application in higher education.
National survey of extended-interval aminoglycoside dosing in pediatric cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations.

OBJECTIVES The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recently deemed the use of extended-interval dosing (EID) of aminoglycosides acceptable for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations,...
Diffuse Pigmentation of Maxillary Attached Gingiva: Four Cases of the Cultural Practice of Gingival Tattoo

Background: Gingival pigmentation is a common finding, may be of endogenous or exogenous origin, and can have diagnostic significance. Diffuse gingival pigmentation may be physiologic in nature or can be due to environmental factors, drugs, endocrine disorders, or genetic conditions. We present four cases of diffuse gingival pigmentation due to traditional gingival tattooing and review the literature on this practice. Methods: Four black females (aged 19 to 56 years) of West African origin (Mauritania and Senegal), representing three different ethnic groups (Fulani, Mandinka, and Soninke) presented with various chief complaints. All exhibited diffuse pigmentation of the maxillary vestibular gingiva extending to the second premolar areas, without any associated radiographic abnormalities. The color ranged from intense blue gray to light gray or grayish pink. One case was biopsied for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Questioning revealed that the women had had one or more sessions of traditional gingival tattooing. In one case, the procedure was performed in a dental office. The color range appeared to depend on the time that elapsed since the last procedure. The biopsy exhibited dense fibrous connective tissue containing aggregates of foreign material consistent with a foreign body tattoo. Conclusions: Gingival tattooing, a cultural practice prevalent in certain African ethnic groups, results in diffuse pigmentation. Outside of Africa, it may be misinterpreted as racial pigmentation or pose a diagnostic puzzle. The color and distribution pattern of diffuse gingival pigmentation often are quite suggestive, and the clinical diagnosis should be confirmed by patient history. In selected cases, biopsy may be necessary to exclude other diagnostic considerations.
The Appearance of Blacks on the Early Modern Stage: Love’s Labour’s Lost ’s African Connections to Court

While scholarship is certain that white actors did appear in blackface on the Elizabethan stages, this paper argues for the additional possibility of actual moors and blacks appearing on stage in early modern London. Examining the positive social, political, and economic implications of using in performance these bodies perceived as exotic, I argue for the appearance of blacks in Love’s Labour’s Lost as a display of courtly power in its 1597-8 showing for Elizabeth I. Building on this precedent, Queen Anna’s staging of herself as black in the 1605 Masque of Blackness , I argue, worked to assert the new Jacobean court’s power.
Michael-Type Reactions of Tenulin, a Biologically Active Sesquiterpene Lactone

The antitumor pseudoguaianolide tenulin has been exposed to a wide variety of biological and model nucleophilic reagents and has been shown to react exclusively with sulfur nucleophiles in a Michael-like fashion. The biological implications of these results are discussed.
The Effect of HAVA on Late-to-Innovate States: External Influence on Election Reform in Arizona and Illinois

As election reform diffused across the American states, there was considerable variation in the states' willingness to innovate, their timing in doing so, and the influence of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Through the lens of the policy-diffusion literature, this article examines the reform processes in Arizona and Illinois, two representatives of the handful of states that were late in innovating, in order to test for effects of HAVA on state decision making. These “late-to-innovate” states were unique compared with the preponderance of other states that innovated earlier. Typical internal variables explained why Arizona and Illinois fell into gridlock over election reform initially, but we must turn to other (external) explanations to understand the ultimate decisions to innovate. Also, although they are similar in being late to innovate, these two states display interesting differences as well. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Dispersal across continuous and binary representations of landscapes

Abstract Many simulations of plant or animal dispersal across landscapes fragmented by human activity have represented the environment as habitat or non-habitat. Here, the consequences of representing habitat on grids as a continuous surface (0–1) versus as binary (0, 1) are examined for such models. Simulated landscapes with mean habitat quality of 0.5, with different variance, and with 50% each of habitat and non-habitat are compared. Random and non-random patterns are simulated. Dispersal can be directionally biased. Dispersal across continuous landscapes is more frequent and faster than across binary landscapes. On continuous landscapes, pattern matters, with success and speed reduced as local heterogeneity increases. Increased variance also reduces success and speed. The degree to which a species uses the landscape as a continuum of habitat, versus as either/or, will improve its response to forces that require increased movement for survival, such as habitat fragmentation and climatic change. The range of representations from binary to continuous will affect models including spread of disturbances, but the importance of heterogeneity will vary with the species or phenomena being modeled.
Erdheim–Chester disease

Erdheim–Chester disease is characterized by long bone pain and symmetric sclerosis of the diametaphyseal portions of the long bones. It is an important differential diagnosis of sclerotic disease of the bones.