cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progressive Multiple Bilateral Cranial Nerve Palsies Due to Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST) are rare tumours that usually do not involve cranial nerves. The case we report is to the best of our knowledge the first description of bilateral progressive cranial nerve palsies due to a MPNST in a patient without evidence of Neurofibromatosis.
Fine Structure of Anterior Horns in Patients Without Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Light and electron microscopic study of the anterior horns in nine patients without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disclosed several features usually described in ALS. Central chromatolysis and spheroids with fine structure identical to that seen in ALS were observed in three cases. Rare honeycomb-like structures, dense filamentous aggregates, dense granular deposits, stubby mitochondria and membranebound aggregates of spherical and tubular particles were also observed. No typical Bunina bodies or focal argyrophilia of the chromatolytic neurons were found.
Ternary phase diagram studies in Ti–Zr–Ni alloys

Abstract Equilibrium phase formation is reported for ternary Ti–Zr–Ni alloys near the i-phase-forming composition, for temperature slices between 500 and 700°C. Selected microstructural results in as-cast and annealed samples are discussed. Dominant equilibrium phases identified are the C 14 -like Laves phase, a Ti 2 Ni-like phase, α(Ti/Zr), the b.c.c. 1/1 W-phase and the i-phase. The i-phase forms over a small compositional range from a high-temperature equilibrium phase mixture of the Laves and α(Ti/Zr) solid solution phases. Lower annealing treatments have not been found to transform the i-phase, suggesting that in this alloy, the quasicrystal phase might be the ground state phase. Additions of small amounts of Pb and Pd, 1–2 at.%, are demonstrated to substantially effect the equilibrium phase formation for the i-phase and the W-phase. The addition of 1 at.% of Pb significantly orders the i-phase structure.
Contemporary clinical practice of shock wave lithotripsy: a reevaluation of contraindications.

ABSTRACTPurpose: The current practice of shock wave lithotripsy is reviewed, specifically regarding patients in whom the presence of presumed absolute or relative contraindications may preclude treatment.Materials and Methods: Peer reviewed basic scientific and clinical studies on shock wave lithotripsy in patients with urinary stones and concomitant conditions that might contraindicate treatment reported between 1982 and 1996 were critically reviewed.Results: The exclusion of patients with conditions previously believed to contraindicate shock wave lithotripsy has almost always been empiric rather than based on experimental or clinical studies showing adverse effects in those settings. The contemporary literature suggests that shock wave lithotripsy in patients with proximate calcified aneurysms, implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, and bleeding diatheses can be accomplished safely and effectively with careful treatment and monitoring before, during and after shock wave lithotripsy. Likewise,...
Adult versus Child L2 Acquisition: An Information‐Processing Approach

This article assumes that adult L2 learners cannot achieve the same degree of proficiency in their L2 that child L2 learners can. An information-processing approach to this phenomenon is presented; the aspects of unitization, faulty or incomplete declarative knowledge, and limited working memory space are used to account for the deficiencies often found in adult learners' L2 competence. Once L1 procedural-knowledge productions have become unitized, it is difficult to alter them. If an L2 production responds to the same cue as does an L1 production, interference from the L1 often occurs. Conscious effort is required to overcome these problems, as well as correct and complete declarative knowledge; however, in an actual communicative situation, conscious effort is focused most often on the semantics of the communication, rather than on the mechanical forms, and the strongest unitized (automatic) productions take over. Moreover, if the learner is able to focus on forms, he/she may not have all of the declarative-knowledge of the L2 he or she needs or enough working memory space to manipulate all that is required. Justification for the application of a cognitive psychology model to L2 language learning is given. In addition, the information-processing model is compared to a model that requires a totally separate language acquisition device to account for the same phenomenon.
Perceived Teaching Problems, Self-Efficacy, and Commitment to Teaching among Preservice Teachers

AbstractThis study compared the perceived teaching problems of preservice elementary and secondary teachers of both sexes with the perceived teaching problems of beginning teachers in the 83 studies reviewed by Veenman (1984). Results indicate that the rank order of teaching problems of preservice and beginning teachers are dissimilar. Beginning teachers stress problems with classroom discipline, assessing student work, and relationships with parents, whereas preservice teachers stress problems with subject matter. Both groups, however, shared strong concern about motivating students. Elementary and secondary preservice teachers differed on some of the rankings of problem seriousness. Meaningful relationships between preservice teachers’ total levels of concern for problems and their scores on measures of teacher efficacy and commitment to teaching were not observed. Implications for teacher education are discussed
Dissolution of Salicylic Acid and Polyvinylpyrrolidone from Compressed Mixtures

The present study was initiated to describe quantitatively the dissolution mechanism of a polyphase mixture of drug and water-soluble polymer. The release pattern of both salicylic acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was described quite well by the theoretical model for the dissolution of two noninteracting phases. The PVP dissolution rates from various mixtures, as determined by a weight-loss method, were in excellent agreement with a model describing dissolution of nonbarrier solid. The dissolution rates of salicylic acid over a wide composition range were essentially invariant but lower than the intrinsic dissolution rate of salicylic acid.
Baby on board: what you need to know about pregnancy in the hemoglobinopathies

Pregnancy poses a unique challenge to patients with sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, who often have exacerbations of hemolysis or anemia during the gestational period, experience higher rates of obstetric and fetal complications, and may have distinct underlying comorbidities related to vasculopathy and iron overload that can endanger maternal health. Optimal management of pregnant women with hemoglobinopathies requires both an understanding of the physiologic demands of pregnancy and the pathophysiology of disease-specific complications of inherited blood disorders. A multidisciplinary team of expert hematologists and high-risk obstetricians is therefore essential to ensuring appropriate antenatal maternal screening, adequate fetal surveillance, and early recognition of complications. Fortunately, with integrated and targeted care, most women with sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia can achieve successful pregnancy outcomes.
Not Immune: Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Among Medicaid-Covered Youth With Mental Retardation

Youth with mental retardation* (MR) have experienced increasing levels of participation in community life over the last 30 years. This freedom has facilitated access to community life beyond school...
MIOCENE PALEOMAGNETISM OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR; EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN MEXICO

An apparent lower to middle Miocene paleomagnetic pole at 85.4°N, 71.2°E (α 95 = 6.2°) has been determined from measurements of the remanent magnetization in volcanic rocks at 16 sites in Baja California Sur. This pole is not significantly different from the reference middle Tertiary paleomagnetic pole for the North American craton; hence, probably no more than the 2° latitudinal northward movement of Baja California relative to interior North America has occurred since the Miocene, as indicated by magnetic anomalies in the mouth of the Gulf of California. Previous paleomagnetic studies have shown that Miocene and older rocks from mainland Mexico display a significant counterclockwise rotation with respect to Miocene paleomagnetic directions from both Baja California and cratonic North America. It is likely that the mainland Mexican counterclockwise shift occurred after the 12 m.y. initiation of Gulf of California rifting and did not affect the Baja California peninsula. Right-lateral shear along the peninsula associated with Gulf development may have caused localized Pliocene to Recent clockwise rotation in Baja California Sur with respect to mainland Mexico.
A sequence mutation in the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene associated with altered lignification in loblolly pine.

Summary Evidence for the molecular basis of a null allele of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) has been discovered in the loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) clone 7-56. The mutation is a twobase pair adenosine insertion located in exon 5 that causes a frame-shift which is predicted to result in premature termination of the protein. For routine detection of the mutation, a diagnostic assay was developed utilizing T emplate-directed D ye-terminator I ncorporation and F luorescence P olarization detection (FP-TDI). Loblolly pine is the most important commercial tree species in the USA, being harvested for pulp and solid wood products. Chemical pulping could be increased in efficiency by selecting for trees having a two-base pair adenosine insertion, by use of the rapid diagnostic assay developed in this study.
Workload Impact on Shingled Write Disks: All-Writes Can Be Alright

The data density of magnetic disk has been growing at 30% to 50% per year. However, physical limitations will slow this growth unless creative recording techniques can be found. Shingled writing is a promising technique that trades off the inability to update in-place for narrower tracks and thus a much higher data density. In this paper, we look at a variety of potential workloads, drawn from real-world traces, and evaluate their impact on a shingled write disk model. Specifically, we demonstrate the dramatically different effects that different workloads can have upon the opposing approaches of remapping and restoring blocks, and how write-heavy workloads can result in a performance advantage for a shingled-write disk.
Dopaminergic modulation of working memory for spatial but not object cues in normal humans

It appears that functionally segregated visual pathways exist in the primate brain for the processing of visuospatial versus nonspatial information. Functional segregation has been demonstrated for the early associative processing of sensory information but may also exist at higher levels of cognitive analysis. Namely, connections between the dorsal visual system and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) appear to mediate spatial working memory, which is modulated by dopamine receptor fields in the principal sulcal region of the PFC. It is speculated that nonspatial working memory may be modulated within connections between ventral visual processing regions and the inferior convexity of the PFC. Whether dopamine facilitates nonspatial memory through connections between the ventral visual system and ventral PFC has not been examined. In this study, normal humans completed spatial and nonspatial working memory tasks under pharmacological challenges with a dopamine receptor agonist (bromocriptine) and antagonist (haloperidol) in a double-blind placebcxontrolled repeated measures design. Findings indicated facilitation of spatial delayed working memory functions by bromocriptine and impairment of spatial working memory functions by haloperidol. Neither drug was effective in manipulating nonspatial memory performance. Control tasks were included to measure drug effects on basic sensorimotor and attentional processes. Findings suggest that separate processing mechanisms for remembering “What” versus “Where” an object is may exist at structural, but also neurochemical, levels in the human brain.
Predicting patterns of epicardial potentials during ventricular fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a fatal cardiac arrhythmia, characterized by uncoordinated propagation of activation wavefronts in the ventricular myocardium. Short-term predictions of epicardial potential fields during VF in pigs were attempted using linear techniques, and prediction accuracy was measured at various stages during sustained episodes. VF was induced in five pigs via premature electrical stimulation. Unipolar electrograms were recorded from an epicardial array of 506 electrodes in a 22/spl times/23 array with 1-mm spacing. Optimal spatial basis functions (modes) and time-varying weighting coefficients were found using the Karhunen-Loeve decomposition. Linear autoregressive (AR) models incorporating the dynamics of only a few spatial modes led to predicted patterns that were qualitatively similar to observed patterns. Predictions were made 0.256 s into the future, based on 0.768 s of past data, over an area of approximately 5 cm/sup 2/ on the ventricular epicardium. The mean squared error of predictions varied from as much as 1.23 to as little as 0.14, normalized to the variance of the actual data. Inconsistency in long-term forecasts is partly due to the limitations of linear AR models. Changes in predictability, however, were consistent. Predictability varied inversely with spatial complexity, as measured by the mean squared error of a five-mode approximation. Predictability also increased significantly during the first minute of VF. >
Privatization and Corporate Governance: The Lessons from Securities Market Failure

This paper analyzes the comparative experiences of Poland and the Czech Republic with voucher privatization. Because of a number of similarities between these two transitional economies, it finds their comparative experience to provide a useful natural experiment, with the critical distinguishing variable being their different approaches to regulatory controls. However, while their experiences have been very different, their substantive corporate law was very similar. The true locus of regulatory differences appears then to have been the area of securities market regulation, where their approaches differed dramatically. Re-examining the work of LaPorta, Lopez-de-Silanos, Shleifer & Vishny, this paper submits that (1) the homogenity of both common law systems and civil law systems has been overstated; (2) common law systems in particular differ widely in terms of substantive corporate law, but have converged functionally at the level of securities regulation; (3) dispersed ownership will likely not persist under civil law systems that contemplate concentrated ownership and hence do not address or discourage rent-seeking corporate control contests or other forms of expropriation from minority shareholders; and (4) such "winner-take-all" control contests are probably most feasibly addressed through "self-enforcing" structural protections, such as (following the Polish model) the transitional use of state-created controlling shareholders. Reformulating the thesis originally advanced by LaPorta, et al., this article argues that civil law systems are not inherently unprotective of minority shareholders, but rather protect shareholders only against the forms of abuse that were well-known in systems of concentrated ownership (i.e., typically, abuse by a dominating parent) and not against the abuses that typically characterize systems of dispersed ownership (i.e., managerial expropriation and theft of the control premium). Ultimately, there is a conceptual mismatch between civil law systems and the dispersed ownership created by voucher privatization.
Joint angle tracking with inertial sensors

Many wearable inertial systems have been used to continuously track human movement in and outside of a laboratory. The number of sensors and the complexity of the algorithms used to measure position and orientation vary according to the clinical application. To calculate changes in orientation, researchers often integrate the angular velocity. However, a relatively small error in measured angular velocity leads to large integration errors. This restricts the time of accurate measurement to a few minutes. We have combined kinematic models designed for control of robotic arms with state space methods to directly and continuously estimate the joint angles from inertial sensors. These algorithms can be applied to any combination of sensors, can easily handle malfunctions or the loss of some sensor inputs, and can be used in either a real-time or an off-line processing mode with higher accuracy.
Exploration of a free-space optical communications system for sounding rocket sub-payloads

The results of an exploration regarding the novel use of free-space optics (FSO) between sounding rockets and their sub-payloads are presented. This includes an evaluation of optoelectronic and optical devices against environmental and system level criteria. A preliminary test using available in-house components and bench-top equipment was also performed to determine potential distances and data rates of FSO in this environment. Using a light emitting diode with an optical power output of approximately six milliwatts, and a photomultiplier tube originally purposed for use on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, a pulse rate of ten kilohertz was transmitted over a distance of four-hundred meters in-atmosphere. Transmission distance was increased to five-hundred meters using an optical bandpass filter, and nine-hundred meters using a baffle. It is expected that even greater distances and data rates can be achieved in the final design by using more transmitters, each with greater optical power output.
Dynamic Visualization of Coexpression in Systems Genetics Data

Biologists hope to address grand scientific challenges by exploring the abundance of data made available through modern microarray technology and other high-throughput techniques. The impact of this data, however, is limited unless researchers can effectively assimilate such complex information and integrate it into their daily research; interactive visualization tools are called for to support the effort. Specifically, typical studies of gene co-expression require novel visualization tools that enable the dynamic formulation and fine-tuning of hypotheses to aid the process of evaluating sensitivity of key parameters. These tools should allow biologists to develop an intuitive understanding of the structure of biological networks and discover genes residing in critical positions in networks and pathways. By using a graph as a universal representation of correlation in gene expression, our system employs several techniques that when used in an integrated manner provide innovative analytical capabilities. Our tool for interacting with gene co-expression data integrates techniques such as: graph layout, qualitative subgraph extraction through a novel 2D user interface, quantitative subgraph extraction using graph-theoretic algorithms or by compound queries, dynamic level-of-detail abstraction, and template-based fuzzy classification. We demonstrate our system using a real-world workflow from a large-scale, systems genetics study of mammalian gene coexpression.
Conditions Associated with Premature Exfoliation of Primary Teeth or Delayed Eruption of Permanent Teeth

Although exfoliation of primary teeth and the subsequent eruption of the permanent successors usually occur in a systematic fashion, there are numerous conditions that can impact this developmental process. These conditions can be broadly grouped into the following categories: 1. Environmental factors 2. Genetic conditions 3. Endocrine conditions 4. Immunological conditions 5. Gestational factors
A high surface area magnetic photocatalyst with controlled pore size

Magnetic photocatalysts have the benefit of recoverability or even confinement/agitation using an oscillating magnetic field. A high surface area magnetic photocatalyst (HSAMP) was developed consisting of silica-coated barium ferrite and Degussa P25 titanium dioxide dispersed in an acid catalyzed silica xerogel. Through modifying the concentration of hydrofluoric acid catalyst during synthesis, three types of HSAMPs were developed with resulting BET specific surface areas of 374, 543, and 550 m2/g. These HSAMPs were assessed for their photocatalytic activity by oxidizing a 6.5 mg/L phenol solution in comparison to Degussa P25 alone. The resulting extent of photocatalysis was greater for the HSAMP than for Degussa P25 although the latter demonstrated a more rapid removal of the phenol parent compound. The HSAMP was capable of removing nearly 100% of the nonpurgeable dissolved organic carbon for 6 repeated uses. Nearly 99% of the HSAMP mass was recoverable with a permanent magnet. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010
Thoughts on Deterrence: Evolution of a Theoretical Perspective

Research on deterrence has proliferated in recent years. This article reviews the development of deterrence thought through four historical epochs, delineating the context and assumptions of each. Theoretical and empirical advance of the last two decades are summarized and critiqued.
Escherichia coli inactivation kinetics in anaerobic digestion of dairy manure under moderate, mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures

Batch anaerobic digestion experiments using dairy manure as feedstocks were performed at moderate (25°C), mesophilic (37°C), and thermophilic (52.5°C) temperatures to understand E. coli, an indicator organism for pathogens, inactivation in dairy manure. Incubation periods at 25, 37, and 52.5°C, were 61, 41, and 28 days respectively. Results were used to develop models for predicting E. coli inactivation and survival in anaerobic digestion. For modeling we used the decay of E. coli at each temperature to calculate the first-order inactivation rate coefficients, and these rates were used to formulate the time - temperature - E. coli survival relationships. We found the inactivation rate coefficient at 52.5°C was 17 and 15 times larger than the inactivation rate coefficients at 25 and 37°C, respectively. Decimal reduction times (D10; time to achieve one log removal) at 25, 37, and 52.5°C, were 9 -10, 7 - 8 days, and < 1 day, respectively. The Arrhenius correlation between inactivation rate coefficients and temperatures over the range 25 -52.5°C was developed to understand the impacts of temperature on E. coli inactivation rate. Using this correlation, the time - temperature - E. coli survival relationships were derived. Besides E. coli inactivation, impacts of temperature on biogas production, methane content, pH change, ORP, and solid reduction were also studied. At higher temperatures, biogas production and methane content was greater than that at low temperatures. While at thermophilic temperature pH was increased, at mesophilic and moderate temperatures pH were reduced over the incubation period. These results can be used to understand pathogen inactivation during anaerobic digestion of dairy manure, and impacts of temperatures on performance of anaerobic digesters treating dairy manure.
Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) Fluidic Cell to Study Electrochemistry of Microelectrodes on Silicon Substrate

A robust fixture is designed as a fluidic cell, for studying electrochemistry of planar nano/microelectrodes and electrolyte interface. The microelectrode is fabricated using standard silicon micromachining processes on a silicon wafer. The fluidic cell is built using polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The PEEK structure is machined with alignment pins and the silicon wafer is fabricated with complementary alignment fields. This ensures that the electrodes on the silicon wafer are precisely aligned to the fluidic channel and there is minimal parasitic capacitance due to the overlap of the electrode with the conducting electrolyte in the system. The set-up was used to measure current flow across the electrode-electrolyte interface. Using the set-up gold-thiol interface of area with an opening of diameter 1 μm was characterized. © 2015 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0021510ssl] All rights reserved.
Existence Results for some Quasilinear Elliptic Equations

In this paper we shall establish some existence results for the boundary value problem: $$ (0.1)\left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}{{\vartriangle _m}u + f\left( {x,u} \right) = 0 in\Omega } \\ { u > 0 in\Omega } \\ {u \in D_0^{1,m}\left( \Omega \right) .} \end{array}} \right. $$
Physiological Compensation for Toxic Actions of Organophosphate Insecticides

The neurochemical changes which could serve as physiological compensatory mechanisms during recovery from a high level acute intoxication with an organophosphate anticholinesterase were studied concurrently with behavioral deficits resulting from the intoxication. Paraoxon, the active metabolite of the common insecticide parathion, was administered to male rats at lethal (antidoted with atropine) and high sub-lethal levels. Brain acetylcholinesterase, the target enzyme, was inhibited about 90% on the day of treatment, and recovered slowly over the next several days. Rats displayed some relatively small and transient behavioral deficits 1 and 2 days after treatment with paraoxon in an active avoidance protocol. Of four neurochemical parameters in the brain which could have helped compensate for the cholinergic hyperactivity induced by the acetylcholinesterase inhibition (high affinity choline uptake, choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholine release and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors), none showed definitive changes at the time points monitored. Thus, unlike the response to chronic exposures to organophosphate anticholineterases, an acute intoxication, even at high dose levels, does not seem to result in the employment of cholinergic compensatory mechanisms despite persistent acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
In situ surface functionalization of reverse osmosis membranes with biocidal copper nanoparticles

Abstract Biofouling may lead to severe operational challenges that can significantly impair membrane desalination processes. In recent years, copper-based nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) have gained increased attention as a potentially viable anti-biofouling agent in membrane processes, due to their strong antibacterial activity and relatively low cost. This study presents a novel and facile method to attach biocidal Cu-NPs on the surface of a thin-film composite reverse osmosis membrane. Herein, we suggest a method for membrane surface functionalization with Cu-NPs that is performed without disassembling the membrane module, which highlights its practicality and potential application for reverse osmosis desalination plants. The loading of Cu-NPs on the membrane was confirmed both by scanning electron microscope imaging and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, indicating that the deposited nanoparticles were composed of either metallic copper or copper-oxide. The impact of the in situ Cu-NP modification on membrane transport properties was found to be minor, with only a slight increase of the water and salt permeability. Furthermore, except for a slight increase in hydrophobicity, the modified membrane exhibited surface properties comparable to those of the pristine membrane. Finally, the in situ formed Cu-NPs imparted a strong antibacterial activity to the membrane surface, leading to 90% reduction in the number of attached live Escherichia coli bacteria on the modified membrane compared to the pristine reverse osmosis membrane. This study demonstrates that in situ grafting of Cu-NPs on reverse osmosis membranes is a potential alternative to reduce biofouling.
Structural Characterization of P-I-N Diode Superlattice Structures Grown on , , and Orientation Si Substrates

P-I-N diodes whose intrinsic region consists of strained layer superlattices (SLS), separated by 40 nm Si spacers, have been grown by MBE on Si substrates with , , and orientations. These structures have been characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The dual periodicities in these structures produced unique XRD effects and the quality was highly dependent on substrate orientation. The sample was in general free of defects, whereas the and specimens contained significant numbers of twins and dislocations.
Small Diameter, High Surface Energy Carbon Nanofiber Formulations that Selectively Increase Osteoblast function

The objective of the presentin vitro study was to investigate the potential of carbon nanofibers, which have nanometer dimensions similar to hydroxyapatite crystals in physiological bone, for orthopedic applications. Studies of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition by osteoblasts (the bone-synthesizing cells) were performed on both nanophase (less than 100 nm) and conventional (greater than 100 nm) diameter carbon nanofibers. Results provided the first evidence of a strong correlation between decreased carbon fiber diameter and both increased alkaline phosphatase activity and increased calcium deposition by osteoblasts at early time points (specifically, 7 days), but not at later time points (specifically, 14 and 21 days). Results of early calcium deposition by osteoblasts on carbon nanofibers are promising and consistent with the desired rapid formation of natural bone at the implant interface.
Reappraisal of the neotropical treehopper genus Eunusa fonseca (Homoptera: Membracidae), with ecological notes

The monotypic genus Eunusa Fonseca is redescribed and transferred from the tribe Acutalini (Smiliinae) to the tribe Membracini (Membracinae). A lectotype is designated for E. concolor Fonseca. The male and immature stages, previously unknown, are described and illustrated. Unusual features of Eunusa , with respect to other genera of the Membracini, include the free Cu vein of the hind wing, the blade-shaped, serrate second valvula of the female, and the bifurcate process of the aedeagal atrium of the male. The known range, Brazil, is extended to include Guyana, Venezuela, and Panama. Aggregations (including eggs, nymphs, and adults) of E. concolor were attended by Azteca ants in soil shelters on Vismia and two unidentified plants in disturbed rain forest habitats, and two adults have been collected from Luehea seemannii .
Orthopedic Surgery Applicants: What They Want in an Interview and How They Are Influenced by Post–Interview Contact

Objectives Common strategies for orthopedic residency programs to attract competitive applicants include optimizing the interview day and contacting favorably ranked applicants postinterview. The purpose of this work was to determine (1) applicants’ perspectives on the ideal interview day, (2) how frequently applicants are contacted postinterview, and (3) the influence of this contact on rank order lists (ROL). Design Prospective Comparative Survey Setting Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rochester, MN, USA Participants A survey was completed by 312 successfully matched orthopedic surgery residency applicants following the 2015 match regarding their views of the ideal interview day, components they valued most, post–interview contact, and how that contact influenced their ROL. Results Applicants stated they preferred interviews that lasted 15 (55%) minutes, a mean of 1.7 (range: 1-5) interviewers present per interview, 5 total interviews (range: 1-10) in a day, an interview with residents (96%), and interviews days lasting only a half day (88%). The majority (94%) desire a social event attended by only residents (54%) or staff and residents (46%). Few wanted an assessment of surgical skills (36%) or orthopedic knowledge (23%). The interview day was rated very valuable in determining their ROL (4.4 out of 5.0). Applicants told a mean of 1.7 (range: 0-11) programs they were “ranking the program highly” and 0.8 (range: 0-5) programs they were “going to rank them #1.” Of the 116 (40%) applicants contacted by programs following interviews, 24 (21%) moved programs higher and 3 (3%) moved programs lower on their ROL. Conclusions Orthopedic Surgery applicants have clear preferences for what they consider to be the ideal interview day and many alter their ROL following post–interview contact. These data may be beneficial to programs looking to optimize the interview experience for applicants.
Epidemiological analysis of new smear positive tuberculosis in Yangzhou during 2008-2012

Objective To analyze the epidemic situation of new smear positive TB patients in Yangzhou from 2008 to 2012and provide scientific evidence for the further control and management of tuberculosis cases.Methods According to Yangzhou TB reporting system and national TB management information system,classified statistic analysis was used on the data of the new smear positive TB cases.Results During 2008-20l2,there were 5 950 cases of new smear positive TB patients reported in Yangzhou,annual incidence rate in an average was 25.9/100 000.The new smear positive TB cases were reported and registered per month;and cases registration in male were greater than female,ratio of male to female was 3.33:1,statistical difference was meaningful(P0.05);ages distribution of male and female were major in the 65-74 year age group and 55-64 year age group,respectively.In the occupational structure,farmers and rural laborers were dominant,accounting for 71.98%.Meaningful statistical difference was shown on registration rate of the new smear positive TB cases between urban and suburb(P0.05);79.6% patients were detected by referral or tracing and cure rate raised steadily.On an average,the annual cure rate is 94.49%.Conclusion Registration rate of new smear positive tuberculosis cases showed decline trend in Yangzhou.It should be paid more attention on tuberculosis prevention for the aged population in rural areas of Yangzhou and to control the tuberculosis epidemic situation by using the modern tuberculosis control strategy.
AGENT-TH scheme: New thermal hydraulics (TH) code coupled with the AGENT neutronics code for light water reactors modeling and analysis

Abstract In this paper a newly developed thermal hydraulics (TH) code coupled with the state-of-the-art neutronics deterministic code AGENT (Arbitrary Geometry Neutron Transport) is presented. This coupled system is called the AGENT-TH scheme. The neutronics AGENT code uniquely combines the method of characteristics (MOC) and R -function geometrical modeling to solve the 2D/3D neutron transport in nuclear reactors of current or future designs. Commonly, the cross sections are prepared using the SCALE code system. The implementation of the TH code with AGENT enables coupled thermal-hydraulic and neutronics analysis in providing the average reactor fuel temperatures. This allows for an accurate overall power profiling within the reactor system, which affects reactor coolant temperature, neutron flux, and other associated reactor parameters. The two main types of LWRs are boiling water reactors (BWRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The BWRs operate at lower pressures than PWRs, which results in a higher void fraction, or fraction of coolant flow which is vapor versus liquid. Performances of PWRs, with a higher operating pressure, may be obtained using the homogeneous equilibrium mixture (HEM) model, which assumes a slip relation equal to one between the coolant liquid and vapor phases. To account for the higher void fraction in the BWR coolant, the BWRs properties are assessed based on the drift flux model. The thermal hydraulics drift flux model is developed as a part of the TH code, to address the two-phase flow associated with two-phase heat transfer (including subcooled nucleation and saturated boiling) as found in BWR systems. This is accomplished based on the drift flux equations in 1D steady-state conditions, which permits fast computation times without sacrificing final accuracy. The TH code is benchmarked against the reactor simulation code TRACE for a single pin to assess the thermal-hydraulics capabilities of the drift flux model for the fluid void fraction, flow quality, pressure, saturation temperature, and mixture temperature along the axial height of the pin. The drift flux thermal hydraulics module is coupled with AGENT using a radial heat transfer model taking into account heat transfer from the fuel centerline to the bulk fluid. Fuel temperatures calculated in the TH code are used to update cross sections from the SCALE code system to account for thermal feedback. Reasonable agreements are obtained between the AGENT-TH and TRACE for the presented benchmark examples.
Significance of composition and particle size on the shear flow properties of wheat flour.

Size-based fractionation of flour particles is an important process in wheat milling. Inter-particle cohesion could affect the dynamic separation process and result in loss in throughput. This study quantifies the effect of particle properties that includes physical and chemical characteristics on the shear flow behavior of wheat flour.; Results: The cohesion and flow function values of wheat flour at three moisture contents (10%, 12%, and 14%), three particle sizes (75-106, 45-75, and <45 µm) and three sifter loads (0.5, 1.0, and 1.0 kPa) were significantly different (P < 0.05). The triggering moisture content and particle size where the flowability shifts from 'easy flowing' to 'very cohesive' were found to be 12% (wet basis) and 45 µm, respectively.; Conclusion: The high correlation observed between the chemical composition (damaged starch, protein, and fat) on the physical (bulk and tapped densities) and flow properties (cohesion, flow function, and angle of internal friction) demonstrates that chemical composition significantly contributes towards the differences in dynamic flowability of wheat flours. In addition, fat composition had a significant effect on the differences in flowability of wheat flours due to the increased inter-particulate cohesion. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Econutrition: Preventing Malnutrition with Agrodiversity Interventions

Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies continue to be serious problems in lower income countries. Based on available published studies, agrodiversity interventions can significantly improve nutritional outcomes, and these results improve further with well-planned designs as well as with additional inputs above and beyond physical inputs (e.g., nutrition education and gender considerations). There exists a strong micronutrient bias in the agrodiversity literature, favoring vitamin A over iron in the vast majority of projects undertaken. Home gardening: there is a strong rationale for its status as the preferred agrodiversity intervention, yet more investments in scale-up projects are essential. There are many incentives for—and challenges to—investing in agrodiversity interventions. There is great need to infuse studies with uniform, quality methodology and to utilize indigenous expertise and crops in the design and implementation stages. Interventions should be tailored to the specific needs and realities of environments and cultures, and interdisciplinary cooperation among researchers is essential. Study quality, capital investments, education, new market opportunities, and gender considerations are all important when designing an ideal agrodiversity intervention.
Unidirectional and sustained delivery of the proresolving lipid mediator resolvin D1 from a biodegradable thin film device

Resolvin D1 (RvD1) belongs to a family of endogenously derived proresolving lipid mediators that have been shown to attenuate inflammation, activate proresolution signaling, and promote homeostasis and recovery from tissue injury. In this study we present a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based thin-film device composed of layers of varying ratios of lactic and glycolic acid that elutes RvD1 unidirectionally to target tissues. The device demonstrated sustained release in vitro for 56 days with an initial burst of release over 14 days. The asymmetric design of the device released 98% of RvD1 through the layer with the lowest molar ratio of lactic acid to glycolic acid, and the remainder through the opposite side. We validated structural integrity of RvD1 released from the device by mass spectrometry and investigated its bioactivity on human vascular endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle cells (VSMC). RvD1 released from the device attenuated VSMC migration, proliferation, and TNF-α induced NF-κB activation, without evidence of cytotoxicity. Delivery of RvD1 to blood vessels was demonstrated ex vivo in a flow chamber system using perfused rabbit aortas and in vivo in a rat carotid artery model, with the devices applied as an adventitial wrap. Our results demonstrate a novel approach for sustained, local delivery of Resolvin D1 to vascular tissue at therapeutically relevant levels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 31-41, 2017.
Patient and Perioperative Variables Affecting 30-Day Readmission for Surgical Complications After Hip and Knee Arthroplasties: A Matched Cohort Study.

Abstract Background Changes in reimbursement for total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA and TKA) have placed increased financial burden of early readmission on hospitals and surgeons. Our purpose was to characterize factors of 30-day readmission for surgical complications after THA and TKA at a single, high-volume orthopedic specialty hospital. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and who were readmitted within 30 days of their unilateral primary THA or TKA procedure between 2010 and 2014. Readmitted patients were matched to nonreadmitted patients 1:2. Patient and perioperative variables were collected for both cohorts. A conditional logistic regression was performed to assess both the patient and perioperative factors and their predictive value toward 30-day readmission. Results Twenty-one thousand eight hundred sixty-four arthroplasties (THA = 11,105; TKA = 10,759) were performed between 2010 and 2014 at our institution, in which 60 patients (THA = 37, TKA = 23) were readmitted during this 5-year period. The most common reasons for readmission were fracture (N = 14), infection (N = 14), and dislocation (N = 9). Thirty-day readmission for THA was associated with increased procedure time ( P = .05), length of stay (LOS) shorter than 2 days ( P = .04), discharge to a skilled nursing facility ( P = .05), and anticoagulation use other than aspirin ( P = .02). Thirty-day readmission for TKA was associated with increased tourniquet time ( P = .02), LOS P P = .02). In the combined THA/TKA model, a diagnosis of depression increased 30-day readmission (odds ratio 3.5 [1.4-8.5]; P Conclusion Risk factors for 30-day readmission for surgical complications included short LOS, discharge destination, increased procedure/tourniquet time, potent anticoagulation use, and preoperative diagnosis of depression. A focus on risk factor modification and improved risk stratification models are necessary to optimize patient care using readmission rates as a quality benchmark.
Nutritional Management for Patients with Nausea and Vomiting and Gastroparesis or Dumping Syndrome

Chronic unexplained nausea and vomiting oftentimes result in caloric and vitamin deficiencies with or without weight loss. Patients with gastroparesis and nausea and vomiting have nutritional deficits, but few have had dietary counseling. Nutritional management can help to (1) improve caloric and vitamin intake in patients with gastroparesis or dumping syndrome and (2) reduce the postprandial symptoms of nausea and abdominal fullness and discomfort. In this chapter, we review approaches to nutritional management that allows patients with gastroparesis or dumping syndrome to reduce postprandial nausea by making diet choices each day based on key principles of gastric physiology and nutrition. Innovative ways to supplement diets for patients with nausea and gastric emptying abnormalities who have weight loss, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, or who need enteral or parenteral nutrition support are reviewed.
Circadian Rhythm Estimator Using Adaptive Notch Filter and Its Application to Locomotor Activity of Drosophila Melanogaster

The traditional method of circadian rhythm estimation is based on a double actogram that provides phase estimation on a daily basis, but not continuously and also fails to effectively filter noise. Our goal is to develop a circadian rhythm estimator that accurately and continuously estimates circadian phase while filtering noise. The estimator is a modified Adaptive Notch Filter (ANF), which is commonly used in signal processing. Drosophila Activity Monitor boxes house Drosophila fruit flies previously entrained to the same phase and contain sensors that measure the activity of flies. The actogram and ANF convert the raw data to a phase response curve (PRC), which describes the relationship between a stimuli (light) and circadian rhythm phase shift. White noise-corrupted data was also introduced to determine filtering effects. The PRC obtained from the actogram and ANF methods were nearly identical and also matched with literature values. With noise-corrupted data, the ANF PRC had an average error of 0.57 hours while the actogram PRC’s average error was 1.84 hours. The modified ANF is shown to be a valid and accurate method of modeling circadian rhythm continuously. The ANF was also able to successfully reject noise and the error against noise was very small compared to that of the actogram. Continuous circadian phase estimation allows more complex study of human circadian rhythm and further opens the possibility of personalized circadian rhythm estimation and light therapy.
Symbolic ethnicity and Herbert Gans: race, religion, and politics in the twenty-first century

ABSTRACTThis article attempts to assess some of Herb Gans’s influential contributions, not only in his important paper on symbolic ethnicity, but also his wider discussion of the changing role of race, ethnicity, and religion in American society. In a period spanning more than half a century, he has helped to raise key questions and to suggest avenues of research that have stimulated debates and the re-evaluation of a complex, controversial, and highly dynamic field of social science research and policy.