cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of home and self-injection of Sayana® Press in Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Abstract Objective Sayana® Press, 1 1Sayana Press is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. a new subcutaneous formulation and presentation of a popular injectable contraceptive, has the potential to expand non-clinic access to contraception, including home and self-injection (HSI). This study collected information from potential users and stakeholders on their perceptions and preferences, the feasibility of an HSI of Sayana Press program and key policy considerations. Study design PATH conducted 62 interviews and 7 focus groups with family planning users, non-users, physicians, other health care providers and key informants in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Participants watched a demonstration and tested the device on a model mid-interview. The study did not involve product use in humans. Results Women found the product easy to use, liked the simple design and valued the time and expense that could be saved through HSI of Sayana Press (HSI-SP). Of those with inhibitions about their ability to self-inject, most shifted their opinion favorably after demonstration. The majority of other stakeholders also supported HSI-SP and thought it could increase contraceptive use in Ethiopia, and they suggested that any successful program must include proper training and supervision, particularly regarding product storage and waste management. Conclusion The data provide findings to stimulate further research and support future planning. They suggest that HSI-SP may meet the needs of many women if key requirements and challenges are met. It may also be necessary to revise policies and guidelines to integrate the approach with national family planning strategies. Implications This study provides the first available data on perceptions, feasibility and requirements for HSI of Sayana Press in a low-resource setting. Findings provide insights that may guide future implementation strategies, strengthen non-clinic family planning access programs and stimulate continued research.
Performance characteristics of anthropomorphic prosthetic hands

In this paper we set forth a review of performance characteristics for both common commercial prosthetics as well as anthropomorphic research devices. Based on these specifications as well as surveyed results from prosthetic users, ranges of hand attributes are evaluated and discussed. End user information is used to describe the performance requirements for prosthetic hands for clinical use.
Synthetic Lethal Screening Identifies Compounds Activating Iron-Dependent, Nonapoptotic Cell Death in Oncogenic-RAS-Harboring Cancer Cells

We screened small molecules to identify two compounds, which we named RSL3 and RSL5, that have increased lethality in the presence of oncogenic RAS. Counter screening with biologically active compounds defined aspects of the mechanism of action for RSL3 and RSL5, such as a nonapoptotic, MEK-dependent, and iron-dependent oxidative cell death. Erastin, a previously reported compound with RAS-selective lethality, showed similar properties. RNA interference experiments targeting voltage-dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3), a target of erastin, demonstrated that RSL5 is a scaffold that acts through VDACs to activate the observed pathway. RSL3 activated a similar death mechanism but in a VDAC-independent manner. We found that cells transformed with oncogenic RAS have increased iron content relative to their normal cell counterparts through upregulation of transferrin receptor 1 and downregulation of ferritin heavy chain 1 and ferritin light chain.
Operant Rodent Manipulanda Applied with Goldfish1

Abstract Goldfish (Carassius auratus) represent an alternative to using rodents for a psychology learning course. One difficulty, however, in using goldfish as subjects is that of suitable equipment. The present paper investigated the extent to which operant manipulanda designed for rodents could be used with goldfish. Attempts were made to shape the responses of goldfish to an omnidirectional ceiling rod as a manipulandum using a reinforcer pellet intended for mice, which was not successful. A previously described goldfish reinforcer was used successfully to shape a response by two goldfish, maintained by continuous reinforcement to obtain a low but consistent response rate over several sessions. Difficulties associated with the reinforcer as well as the rodent manipulandum appear to limit their utility in a novel application such as the one presented here.
How Can Agricultural and Extension Educators Contribute to a Successful New Green Revolution

Abstract In the middle of the 20th century, many in the world were predicting catastrophic starvation that was halted by the Green Revolution. To address continued population growth and the unsolved problems of the Green Revolution, many hope for a new and different Green Revolution. Supporters of a biotechnology-based revolution claim that it could increase crop quality and solve production problems in marginal lands in a manner that is environmentally benign and also appropriate for low-resource farmers. Critics base their arguments on often-cited secondary consequences of the Green Revolution together with concerns about biotechnology. The purpose of the paper is to present approaches by which agricultural and extension educators can contribute to a successful new Green Revolution. Some of these approaches include analysis of lessons learned in past development programs; working for a ‘technology pull’ instead of a ‘technology push’; researching, educating, and improving extension systems; participatin...
Self-concept and physical activity in athletes with physical disabilities

Abstract Background Few researchers have examined multi-dimensional physical self-concept among athletes with disabilities despite extensive evidence indicating the value of such an approach. Objective To describe multidimensional self-concept and to predict both physical activity (PA) and self-esteem using various dimensions of physical self-concept (e.g., endurance, strength). Methods The study was a one-time cross-sectional design involving self-report questionnaires. Participants (n = 50) were adolescents and adult athletes with physical disabilities (M age = 26.5, SD = 10.1) who completed the short version of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ-S). Results Athletes reported neutral to positive perceptions of multidimensional physical self-concept (M’s ranging from 3.3 to 5.9 of 6). Using multiple regression analyses, we were able account for 29 and 47 percent of the variance in global self-concept and PA, respectively. Conclusions Global physical self-concept and strength self-concept were important in predicting global self-concept and PA, respectively. These findings support the promotion of weight training programs specifically and PA programs more generally for people with disabilities.
Towards a Generalized Stochastic Model of End-to-End Packet-Pair Sampling

End-to-end packet-pair probing has been used as one of the primary mechanisms to measure bottleneck capacity, cross-traffic intensity, and available bandwidth of end-to-end Internet paths. However, there has been lacking an understanding of what types of information about the path are sampled by packet-pairs and how they are encoded in the corresponding output dispersions. In this paper, we answer these questions by deriving the expression of individual output spacings (i.e., dispersions) in the context of multihop paths and general bursty cross-traffic arrivals. Based on these results, we examine stochastic properties of the sampled signals and derive the statistical mean of the output interpacket spacings as a recursive function of the input spacing. We show that the result is different from what has been obtained in prior work using fluid cross-traffic models and that this discrepancy has a significant adverse impact on the accuracy of packet-pair bandwidth measurement techniques
Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of the current porcine circovirus 2 genotypes after implementation of widespread vaccination programmes in the USA

To determine the prevalence of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) genotypes in the USA during 2010–2011, 5 years after widespread PCV2 vaccination, serum samples from clinically normal pigs that were PCV2 vaccinated (n = 1177), non-vaccinated (n = 378) or of unknown vaccination status (n = 120), and 100 lung samples from pigs diagnosed with PCV-associated disease (PCVAD) were tested. The presence of PCV2, PCV1, PCV1-2a and porcine parvovirus (PPV) DNA was determined by PCR. Determination of the PCV2 genotype was done by differential PCR and sequencing. The prevalence of PCV2a and PCV2b in serum samples was 7.7 % (129/1675) and 8.4 % (141/1675), respectively. PCV2a DNA was only detected in non-vaccinated pigs. For the 100 PCVAD pigs, the prevalence of PCV2a and PCV2b in lung tissues was 13.0 and 65.0 %, respectively. Partial PCV2 ORF2 sequences (9–563 nt) were obtained from 85 PCV2 DNA-positive samples (24 normal pigs and 61 PCVAD cases). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 12.9 % (11/85) of the sequences belonged to the 2E clade and the PCV2a genotype and 87.1 % (74/85) belonged to the 1B clade and the PCV2b genotype. The alignment of putative PCV2 capsid amino acid sequences revealed possible recombination or mutation between PCV2a and PCV2b genotypes. Chimeric PCV1-2a was not detected in any of the samples and the prevalence rates of PCV1 and PPV were low. Our results suggest PCV2b is more prevalent than PCV2a in PCVAD cases and in vaccinated herds PCV2b circulation is common. The data generated in this study provide novel information on the distribution of PCV2 genotypes in vaccinated pig populations.
A Bayesian Approach to Concept Drift

To cope with concept drift, we placed a probability distribution over the location of the most-recent drift point. We used Bayesian model comparison to update this distribution from the predictions of models trained on blocks of consecutive observations and pruned potential drift points with low probability. We compare our approach to a non-probabilistic method for drift and a probabilistic method for change-point detection. In our experiments, our approach generally yielded improved accuracy and/or speed over these other methods.
Multi-physics design and performance of a surface- micromachined Ka-band cavity backed patch antenna

A rectangular coaxial line fed cavity backed patch antenna element for a Ka-band phased array at 36 GHz is presented in this paper. The antenna is fabricated by a sequential microfabrication surface micromachining process with ten structural layers. The patch is 2.8 mm long and 3.2 mm wide and has two slits for impedance matching and six holes for releasing the sacrificial photoresist. It is supported with the feeding probe and two metallic posts located in the plane with zero E-field. The electromagnetic-thermal-stress analysis and design are conducted with the finite element and finite integration codes. Individual antenna elements have impedance bandwidth of about 5.1% around 36 GHz, with simulated gain and radiation efficiency of about 6.8 dBi and 95%, respectively.
ROOT NODULE SYMBIOSIS I. L Endophyte of Myrica cerifera

Abstract Silver, Warren S. (University of Florida, Gainesville). Root nodule symbiosis. I. Endophyte of Myrica cerifera. J. Bacteriol. 87:416–421. 1964.—Electron microscopy of 0.1-μ thick sections of root nodules, fixed with permanganate and embedded with methacrylate, showed that infected plant cells were filled with a mycelial endophyte. The endophyte was filamentous, 1 μ in diameter, septate, and had an enlarged, club-shaped terminus. Although structurally the endophyte strongly resembles an actinomycete, it was not isolated in pure culture on a variety of appropriate media.
Adaptive Thermoregulation for Applications on Reconfigurable Devices

A biological organism's ability to sense and adapt to its environment is essential to-its survival. Likewise, environmentally aware computing systems avail themselves to a longer operational life and a wider range of applications than traditional systems. In this paper, we propose a novel circuit design methodology that allows parameterizable hardware to self-regulate its temperature. We apply this methodology to an image recognition system on an Xilinx Virtex 4 FX100 field programmable gate array (FPGA). The image recognition system sustains a safe operational temperature by automatically adjusting its frequency and output quality. The circuit sacrifices output performance and quality to lower its internal temperature as the ambient temperature increases, and can leverage cooler temperatures by increasing output performance and quality. Furthermore, the circuit will shutdown if the ambient temperature becomes too hot for the device to function properly. A performance evaluation of our adaptive circuit under various thermal conditions shows up to a 4x factor increase in performance and a 2x factor increase in quality over a system without dynamic thermal control.
Enhanced diffusion by electrical deactivation of arsenic and its implications for bipolar devices

In this paper, we present experiments designed to show enhanced diffusion of dopants due to the electrical deactivation of implanted arsenic or arsenic in-diffused from polysilicon. Results show a clear enhancement of diffusion in a nearby boron layer as well as an enhancement for the arsenic itself at an annealing temperature of 750/spl deg/C. At 500/spl deg/C, more typical of backend processing, no enhancement is detected in accordance with the very slow deactivation process at this temperature. Implications for bipolar devices were also investigated. Large differences in device characteristics were measured due to the enhanced diffusion. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis and simulation confirmed that enhanced diffusion of both arsenic and boron is the cause for the change in device characteristics. Evidence is also presented demonstrating that the order of the anneals is crucial, thereby rejecting the hypothesis of a full coupled diffusion effect as seen for phosphorus.
Relationships among Wechsler adult intelligence scale, Goodenough-Harris, and Peabody picture vocabulary tests with institutionalized retarded adults.

Summary.-Test data for 150 adult institutionalized retardates were subjected to a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures (tests) on one factor. The matched male (n = 32) and female (n = 32) groups showed no sex differences but significant test differences. On the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Man, the Woman Point scale mean IQs were lower than the Man Point scale means. The Point scale means were significantly lower than the Quality scale means for all three drawings (Man, Woman, Self). Correlations of the Goodenough-Harris 1Qs with WAIS and PPVT IQs were lower for women rhan for men. The Goodenough-Harris IQ scores correlated better with the WAIS Performance scale IQ than with the Verbal scale IQ. PPVT IQs tended to fall between the WAIS Verbal and Performance scale IQs but correlated better with the Verbal scale than with the Performance scale. The PPVT, a vocabulary measure, was a somewhat better over-all predictor of the WAIS IQ than the Goodenough-Harris drawings.
Fuzzy control of an automotive active suspension

This paper describes a fuzzy logic control method for automotive active suspension. Active suspension has the merit of flexibility in force control but also has the difficulty in trading off the acceleration of the body, suspension deflection, and tire deflection to improve performance. The performance of fuzzy logic controlled active suspension is compared with that of an optimal controller in several simulated scenarios.
Genomewide Screen and Identification of Gene-Gene Interactions for Asthma-Susceptibility Loci in Three U.S. Populations: Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma

The genomewide screen to search for asthma-susceptibility loci, in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA), has been conducted in two stages and includes 266 families (199 nuclear and 67 extended pedigrees) from three U.S. populations: African American, European American, and Hispanic. Evidence for linkage with the asthma phenotype was observed for multiple chromosomal regions, through use of several analytical approaches that facilitated the identification of multiple disease loci. Ethnicity-specific analyses, which allowed for different frequencies of asthma-susceptibility genes in each ethnic population, provided the strongest evidence for linkage at 6p21 in the European American population, at 11q21 in the African American population, and at 1p32 in the Hispanic population. Both the conditional analysis and the affected-sib-pair two-locus analysis provided further evidence for linkage, at 5q31, 8p23, 12q22, and 15q13. Several of these regions have been observed in other genomewide screens and linkage or association studies, for asthma and related phenotypes. These results were used to develop a conceptual model to delineate asthma-susceptibility loci and their genetic interactions, which provides a promising basis for initiation of fine-mapping studies and, ultimately, for gene identification.
Don’t Get Married to the Results: Managing Library Change in the Age of Metrics

Presentation at the ABLD-EBSLG-APBSLG Joint Meeting 2016 at Singapore Management University in Singapore (May 2016)
Abstract 5: Angiotensin II-induced Alterations of T Cell Receptor Vβ Chain Usage in Kidney and Mesenteric Vasculature

We have previously shown that T cells play a critical role in the genesis of hypertension, and that activated T cells infiltrate the vasculature and the kidney to promote vasoconstriction and sodium retention. Stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) with a specific antigen leads to clonal expansion of cells with identical TCRs. In contrast, if multiple antigens are presented, T cells with multiple TCRs proliferate. We sought to determine if hypertension promotes a mono- or polyclonal T cell response. TCR Vβ chain gene transcript length can be used to examine T cell clonality. We produced hypertension in C57Bl/6 mice by chronic (2 week, 490 ng/kg/min) infusion of angiotensin II and used vehicle infused mice as controls. PCR was employed to amplify the 24 TCR Vβ chain subfamilies in the kidney and mesenteric vasculature. PCR products were subjected to high-resolution capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis to determine TCR Vβ chain transcript length. Eleven of the 24 Vβ length profiles exhibited greater than 20% skewing with angiotensin II infusion in kidney and 6 of 24 exhibited greater than 20% skewing in mesentery. Dominant transcript lengths were present with angiotensin II infusion for Vβ 1 (30 ± 5 vs. 51 ± 7), 3 (29 ± 3 vs. 51 ± 12) and 20 (0 ± 0 vs. 41 ± 18) in kidney and 1 (30 ± 2 vs. 43 ± 4), 4 (27 ± 4 vs. 45 ± 3) and 20 (15 ± 3 vs. 46 ± 6) in mesentery (data are expressed as % ± S.E.M. of TCR transcripts of a given length within each Vβ family, sham vs. angiotensin II, n = 5 per group). These results suggest that hypertension results in oligoclonal T cell expansion in the kidney and mesentery. Alterations in Vβ 1 and 20 in both kidney and mesentery suggest a common TCR response between tissues.
Perceptions of Parental Responsibilities for Child Rearing and Children’s Career Development

SynposisCommunity perceptions of parental responsibilities set the context in which parents develop their roles and evaluate their performance. This paper compares Australian with previously published American responses to the Perceptions of Parental Roles Scales, which were designed to comprehensively cover the important areas of parental responsibility. An additional scale, the Career Development Scale, was included. The Australian results indicate that Career Development is recognised as an important aspect of parental responsibility, and also show substantial agreement with American perceptions of the relative importance of the other areas of responsibility. Results indicate a general ideology of shared responsibility between mothers and fathers, but fathers are viewed as more responsible for career development than for other aspects of parenting. Males tend to see girls’ career development as less important than that of boys.
Influence of Oxygen and Nitrate on Fe (Hydr)oxide Mineral Transformation and Soil Microbial Communities during Redox Cycling

Oscillations between reducing and oxidizing conditions are observed at the interface of anaerobic/oxic and anaerobic/anoxic environments, and are often stimulated by an alternating flux of electron donors (e.g., organic carbon) and electron acceptors (e.g., O2 and NO3(-)). In iron (Fe) rich soils and sediments, these oscillations may stimulate the growth of both Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) and Fe-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB), and their metabolism may induce cycling between Fe(II) and Fe(III), promoting the transformation of Fe (hydr)oxide minerals. Here, we examine the mineralogical evolution of lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite, and the adaptation of a natural microbial community to alternating Fe-reducing (anaerobic with addition of glucose) and Fe-oxidizing (with addition of nitrate or air) conditions. The growth of FeRB (e.g., Geobacter) is stimulated under anaerobic conditions in the presence of glucose. However, the abundance of these organisms depends on the availability of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides. Redox cycling with nitrate results in decreased Fe(II) oxidation thereby decreasing the availability of Fe(III) for FeRB. Additionally, magnetite is detected as the main product of both lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite reduction. In contrast, introduction of air results in increased Fe(II) oxidation, increasing the availability of Fe(III) and the abundance of Geobacter. In the lepidocrocite reactors, Fe(II) oxidation by dissolved O2 promotes the formation of ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite, whereas in the ferrihydrite reactors we observe a decrease in magnetite stoichiometry (e.g., oxidation). Understanding Fe (hydr)oxide transformation under environmentally relevant redox cycling conditions provides insight into nutrient availability and transport, contaminant mobility, and microbial metabolism in soils and sediments.
Cardiovascular risks and benefits with oral drugs for Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects approximately 321 million people worldwide. It is estimated that about half of these patients will die from cardiovascular complications. In spite of these statistics, medications for diabetes are approved based not on outcomes, but on surrogate markers such as blood glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin. In recent years, however, the safety of diabetes medications has come under scrutiny, and more studies are being undertaken to determine the effect(s) of the medications on actual outcomes. In this review the authors review available study results for all of the currently approved classes of oral medications for Type 2 diabetes, and discuss the possible mechanisms for the findings. More studies are necessary for many of these classes, however, to make definitive recommendations regarding their cardiovascular effects.
The relationship between cellulose nanocrystal dispersion and strength

Abstract This paper studies the agglomeration of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and uses ultrasonication to disperse CNCs in cement pastes in an attempt to improve strength. Rheological measurements show that when the concentration of CNCs exceeds 1.35% by volume in deionized water, agglomerates start to develop. This experimental finding is comparable to the value obtained from a geometrical percolation model (1.38% by volume). When the matrix phase (deionized water) is replaced with a simulated cement paste pore solution, the CNCs begin to agglomerate at a lower concentration (approximately 0.18% by volume). The CNC concentration of 0.18% corresponds to the concentration of CNCs in cement paste where the maximum strength is reached. Tip ultrasonication was found to effectively disperse the CNCs and the cement pastes obtained strength improvements of up to 50%, which is significantly better than the strength improvement of raw CNCs alone (20–30%).
537 WOMEN'S HEALTH PROMOTION IN BELGRADE, MONTANA.

Purpose Early detection remains the best way of preventing mortality from breast and cervical cancers; however, mammography, breast examinations, and Papanicolaou tests remain widely underused, especially among low-income women, leading to decreased survival in this group. Within Gallatin County, Montana, nearly 22% of the Belgrade population lives below the poverty level; people with lower incomes have greater health risks. Methods A literature review on MEDLINE emphasized the importance of patient education by health care providers as well as the need for early detection via cancer screening studies. Numerous free health services exist for Gallatin County residents that remain unused. An educational gathering was offered to women in the Gallatin Valley during which they were introduced to the Montana Breast & Cervical Health Program and learned the eligibility requirements. In order to overcome barriers previously prohibiting women from applying, paper copies were provided and eligible women were assisted with applications. Additionally, women were instructed on techniques for breast self-exam (BSE) and given BSE shower cards, and questions about cervical cytology were addressed. An article highlighting services for low-income women was submitted to The Belgrade News. Results Women were receptive to conversations about health improvement and education about free services. Seven eligible women were assisted with their applications for the Montana Breast & Cervical Health Program. Conclusion By providing affordable screening services and education, deaths due to breast and cervical cancer will be reduced. This project exposed Belgrade women to previously unknown resources and has, as a result, empowered them as advocates of their health.
Population size extinction and speciation the fission effect in neogene bivalvia

The extinction of a species represents reduction of both geographic range and population size to zero. Most workers have focused on geographic range as a variable strongly affecting the vulnerability of established species to extinction, but Lyellian percentages for Neogene bivalve faunas of California and Japan suggest that population size is a more important variable along continental shelves. The data employed to reach this conclusion are Lyellian percentages for latest Pliocene (-2 ma old) bivalve faunas of California and Japan (N = 245 species). These regions did not suffer heavy extinction during the recent Ice Age, and for each region the Lyellian percentage is 70%-7 1%. Discrepancies in population size appear to explain the following differences in survivorship to the Recent (Lyellian percentage) for three pairs of subgroups: (1) burrowing nonsiphonate species (42%) versus burrowing siphonate species (84%), which suffer less heavy predation; (2) burrowing nonsiphonate species of small size (73%) versus burrowing nonsiphonate species of large body size (96%); (3) Pectinacea (30%) versus other epifauna (71%), which suffer less heavy predation. During the Mesozoic Era, when predation was less effective in benthic settings, mean species duration for the Pectinacea was much greater (- 20 ma). Along the west coast of North and Central America, mean geographic range is greater for siphonate species of large body size than for siphonate species of small body size and greater still for pectinacean species. These ranges are inversely related to mean species longevity for the three groups, which indicates that geographic range is not of first-order importance in influencing species longevity. Species with non- planktotrophic development neither exhibit narrow geographic ranges along the west coast of North and Central America nor have experienced high rates of extinction in California and Japan. Rates of extinction are so high for Neogene pectinaceans and nonsiphonate burrowers that without enjoying high rates of speciation these groups could not exist at the diversities they have maintained during the Neogene Period. They are apparently speciating rapidly because of thefission efect: the relatively frequent generation of new species from populations that are fragmented by heavy predation. Thus, ironically, there may be a tendency for high rates of speciation to be approximately offset by high rates of extinction. Only if mean population size for species in a particular group becomes extremely small is it likely to result in a high rate of extinction and a low rate of speciation-and hence a dramatic decline of the group. The fission effect may contribute to the general correlation in the animal world between rate of speciation and rate of extinction.
Role of MAPK in Chronic Cerebral Vasospasm

Many extracellular stimuli (including growth factors, hormones, stress, elevated temperature and G-protein coupled receptor agonists) initialize the phosphorylation cascades leading to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK) [2]. p44/42 MAPK activation may lead to an expression of the early genes, such as c-jun or c-fos, thus leading to the cellular proliferation [3]. p44/42 MAPK can cause the phosphorylation of caldesmon, thus promoting prolonged contraction [1]. It has been reported in several in vitro studies that p44/42 MAPK is involved in the prolonged contraction of the cerebral arteries, caused by hemolysate [8] and endothelin-1 [9], the most important causative agents for vasospasm. The levels of c-fos, and c-jun were increased in the presence of hemolysate, reaching maximum expression between 30 and 60 minutes in rat aorta smooth muscle cells [7].
Anisometry of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in the Setting of Patella Alta and Increased Tibial Tubercle-Trochlear Groove (TT-TG) Distance

Objectives:Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is a common procedure to treat recurrent patellofemoral instability. However, the effects of an elevated tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and patella alta, as measured by the Caton-Deschamps (C/D) ratio, on MPFL isometry remain unclear. We hypothesized that increased lateralization and proximalization of the tibial tubercle (TT) will have increasingly adverse effects on the isometry of the MPFL.Methods:Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were placed on a custom testing fixture, with a fixed femur and tibia mobile through 120 degrees of flexion. The quadriceps tendon was loaded with 10.8 N in an anatomic direction using a weighted pulley system. A 0.2 N patellar lateral displacement load was used to simulate an intact lateral retinaculum to avoid over-medializing the patella. A tunnel was drilled under fluoroscopic guidance from Schottle’s point on the medial distal femur through the lateral cortex. A suture anchor was placed at ...
Conceptual basis for use of chemotherapeutic agents and their pharmacology.

In order to plan an optimal anticancer therapeutic regimen, the physician must consider many factors such as the biochemistry, cellular composition, and proliferative state of the tumor; the physiological status of the host; and the toxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent on normal and malignant tissues. The biophysical and biochemical characteristics of these factors are discussed, and mechanisms of action and significant side effects of major chemotherapeutic agents are elucidated.
Electroencephalogram Coherence Patterns in Autism: An Updated Review.

Electrophysiologic studies suggest that autism spectrum disorder is characterized by aberrant anatomic and functional neural circuitry. During normal brain development, pruning and synaptogenesis facilitate ongoing changes in both short- and long-range neural wiring. In developmental disorders such as autism, this process may be perturbed and lead to abnormal neural connectivity. Careful analysis of electrophysiologic connectivity patterns using EEG coherence may provide a way to probe the resulting differences in neurological function between people with and without autism. There is general consensus that electroencephalogram coherence patterns differ between individuals with and without autism spectrum disorders; however, the exact nature of the differences and their clinical significance remain unclear. Here we review recent literature comparing electroencephalogram coherence patterns between patients with autism spectrum disorders or at high risk for autism and their nonautistic or low-risk for autism peers.
Optimal smoothing length scale for actuator line models of wind turbine blades based on Gaussian body force distribution

The actuator line model (ALM) is a commonly used method to represent lifting surfaces such as wind turbine blades within large-eddy simulations (LES). In the ALM, the lift and drag forces are replaced by an imposed body force that is typically smoothed over several grid points using a Gaussian kernel with some prescribed smoothing width e. To date, the choice of e has most often been based on numerical considerations related to the grid spacing used in LES. However, especially for finely resolved LES with grid spacings on the order of or smaller than the chord length of the blade, the best choice of e is not known. In this work, a theoretical approach is followed to determine the most suitable value of e, based on an analytical solution to the linearized inviscid flow response to a Gaussian force. We find that the optimal smoothing width eopt is on the order of 14%-25% of the chord length of the blade, and the center of force is located at about 13%-26% downstream of the leading edge of the blade for the cases considered. These optimal values do not depend on angle of attack and depend only weakly on the type of lifting surface. It is then shown that an even more realistic velocity field can be induced by a 2-D elliptical Gaussian lift-force kernel. Some results are also provided regarding drag force representation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychometric Properties and Characteristics of the North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview in Parkinson's Disease.

Author(s): Holiday, Kelsey A; Pirogovsky-Turk, Eva; Malcarne, Vanessa L; Filoteo, J Vincent; Litvan, Irene; Lessig, Stephanie L; Song, David; Schiehser, Dawn M | Abstract: BackgroundVisual Hallucinations (VH) are a common symptom experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD); however, a validated measure of VH has yet to be established for this population. The North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview (NEVHI), a promising VH measure, has not been well validated in PD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity of the NEVHI as well as the proportional identification and characteristics of VH in PD.MethodsOne hundred seventeen individuals with PD completed the NEVHI as well as evaluations of psychological, cognitive, motor, and visual functioning as measures of convergent and divergent validity. The hallucination items from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Scale (MDS-UPDRS) were used to assess convergent validity.ResultsThe NEVHI identified 20.5% of PD patients with VH, which consisted of all individuals detected by the MDS-UPDRS and NPI and nine additional individuals not detected by the other measures. The NEVHI was strongly correlated with the MDS-UPDRS hallucinations item, and weakly correlated with the NPI VH item. Weak to non-significant correlations were found between the NEVHI and measures of psychological, cognitive, motor, visual, and demographic characteristics.DiscussionThe NEVHI identified a greater number of individuals with VH than either the MDS-UPDRS or NPI. Results demonstrated good convergent validity between the NEVHI and a clinician-administered-to-patient-report measure of VH and excellent divergent validity, supporting the NEVHI as a valid and preferable measure for assessing the presence of VH in PD.
Feasibility and Validation of 4-D Pulse Wave Imaging in Phantoms and In Vivo

Pulse wave imaging (PWI) is a noninvasive technique for tracking the propagation of the pulse wave along the arterial wall. The 3-D ultrasound imaging would aid in objectively estimating the pulse wave velocity (PWV) vector. This paper aims to introduce a novel PWV estimation method along the propagation direction, validate it in phantoms, and test its feasibility in vivo . A silicone vessel phantom consisting of a stiff and a soft segment along the longitudinal axis and a silicone vessel with a plaque were constructed. A 2-D array with a center frequency of 2.5 MHz was used. Propagation was successfully visualized in 3-D in each phantom and in vivo in six healthy subjects. In three of the healthy subjects, results were compared against conventional PWI using a linear array. PWVs were estimated in the stiff (3.42 ± 0.23 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ ) and soft (2.41 ± 0.07 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ ) phantom segments. Good agreement was found with the corresponding static testing values (stiff: 3.41 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ and soft: 2.48 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ ). PWI-derived vessel compliance values were validated with dynamic testing. Comprehensive views of pulse propagation in the plaque phantom were generated and compared against conventional PWI acquisitions. Good agreement was found in vivo between the results of 4-D PWI (4.80 ± 1.32 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ ) and conventional PWI (4.28±1.20 m $\cdot ~\text{s}^{-1}$ ) ( $n=3$ ). PWVs derived for all of the healthy subjects ( $n = 6$ ) were within the physiological range. Thus, the 4-D PWI was successfully validated in phantoms and used to image the pulse wave propagation in normal human subjects in vivo .
Albuterol Delivery Efficiency in a Pediatric Model of Noninvasive Ventilation With Double-Limb Circuit.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is used to treat respiratory failure in patients with concomitant need for aerosol delivery. Limited pediatric data are available on aerosol delivery efficiency, and none at all regarding aerosol delivery efficiency with a double-limb circuit. We compared the effect of position in the double-limb ventilator circuit, types of nebulizer, and ventilator settings on aerosol delivery efficiency in a pediatric model of NIV. We hypothesized that placing a vibrating mesh nebulizer at the ventilator and using the highest inspiratory pressures would increase aerosol delivery efficiency. METHODS: A breathing simulator was connected in series to a low dead-space filter holder (lung dose) and to an anatomically correct head/airway model of a 5-year-old child. A non-vented mask connected the model to a ventilator operated on noninvasive bi-level mode and assembled with a double-limb, heated-wired adult circuit. Inspiratory pressures of either 15 or 20 cm H 2 O and an expiratory pressure of 5 cm H 2 O were used. Two different vibrating mesh nebulizers and 2 different jet nebulizers loaded with albuterol solution were studied. Albuterol was measured with spectrophotometry. Aerosol delivery efficiency was calculated as lung dose expressed as a percentage of the nominal dose. RESULTS: A vibrating mesh nebulizer before the mask or Y-piece provided the highest delivery efficiency and outperformed a vibrating mesh nebulizer integrated into the mask. Vibrating mesh nebulizers delivered more drug than jet nebulizers, regardless of their position in the circuit. Increasing the inspiratory pressure only improved aerosol delivery efficiency with a jet nebulizer placed at the ventilator. CONCLUSIONS: In a pediatric model of NIV, the effect of nebulizer position on aerosol delivery efficiency depends on the type of device and its placement in the ventilator circuit. A vibrating mesh nebulizer placed at the mask or before the Y-piece of the double-limb circuit provided the highest aerosol drug delivery during NIV. Data generated with invasive ventilation models should not be generalized to NIV models.
Unique biochemical and biological features of cathepsin D in rodent lymphoid tissues.

During the course of studies on lysosomes in rat thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL), it was found that cathepsin D, a typical lysosomal enzyme in most cells and tissues, did not show the same distribution as the other lysosomal acid hydrolases after fractionation. In this paper, we report some of our findings concerning the unique properties of this rat TDL enzyme.
Oscillatory activity in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic neural circuits in Parkinson's disease.

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that maintains the balance within the basal ganglia between the direct pathway, which promotes movement, and the indirect pathway, which inhibits movement. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra increases the influence of the indirect pathway, resulting in motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). The direct and indirect pathways are composed of basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei, which are interconnected via independent parallel loop circuits with cortical areas and often referred to as cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic (CBT) neural circuits. CBT circuits have been useful in generating hypotheses to describe slowness in PD. Recent work has focused on aberrant neural oscillations within CBT circuits. Although beta (13-30 Hz) oscillations are a common feature of the CBT network, there is growing evidence that abnormally exaggerated beta oscillations, observed after dopamine loss in the CBT circuits, may contribute to motor symptoms of PD. Disruption of abnormal beta oscillations has been associated with the improvement of motor functions during pharmacological treatments, surgical lesions, and electrical stimulation. However, it is not clear how abnormal oscillations originate in the CBT motor network and resonate specifically in the beta band after the loss of dopamine. Most studies have addressed these questions by simultaneous recordings of oscillations in the motor cortex, basal ganglia nuclei, and motor regions of the thalamus in animal models of parkinsonism as well as in PD patients. This review further discusses previous and current studies of the changes in oscillatory activity at the level of CBT neural network in PD.
Political Science and Chinese Political Studies—Where Is Chinese Political Science Headed?

This paper aims to discuss the ongoing academic debate on the new developments in Chinese political studies over the past three decades, and how the discipline will advance knowledge about Chinese politics in the future. In the debate some scholars emphasize the scientific, universal, and cosmopolitan nature and orientation of political research, while others have challenged the applicability of western paradigms, theories, concepts, and methods for studying China. They emphasize the unique, particular, national, and local characteristics and orientation of Chinese political research, advocating to establish localized Chinese political science or a Chinese school in the Chinese context. This suggests that the discipline might be at a crossroads. How to evaluate the current state, problems, challenges, and future directions—scientification or localization, universality or particularity, or coordination between the two, and so on— would influence how we study Chinese politics, public policy, and foreign policy, thus, have long-term impacts on the future directions of the political science discipline in China.
Checklist of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) From Managed Emergent Wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas

Background Here we present the results from a two-year bee survey conducted on 18 managed emergent wetlands in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas, USA. Sample methods included pan traps, sweep netting and blue-vane traps. We document 83 bee species and morphospecies in 5 families and 31 genera, of which 37 species represent first published state records for Arkansas. The majority of species were opportunistic wetland species; only a small number were wetland-dependent species or species largely restricted to alluvial plains. New information We present new distributional records for bee species not previously recorded in managed emergent wetlands and report specimens of thirty-seven species for which no published Arkansas records exist, expanding the known ranges of Ceratina cockerelli, Diadasia enavata, Lasioglossum creberrimum, Svastra cressonii and Dieunomia triangulifera. We also distinguish opportunistic wetland bee species from wetland-dependent and alluvial plain-restricted species.
Flame spectroscopy of the rare earth elements

It was found that by using a fuel-rich oxygen-acetylene flame of a Beckman integral aspirator-burner and absolute ethanol as the solvent all of the rare earths except cerium emit moderate to strong atomic lines. The exact wavelengths of over 1200 of these lines were measured and their relative intensities estimated. Using these lines, analytical methods were developed for the determination of Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu, and Sc in complex mixtures of rare earths. The detection limits and possible interferences were assessed for the strong lines of each element. The data indicate that only lanthanum, cerium, and perhaps gadolinium cannot be determined by this method. The degree of enhancement of the atomic lines in the fuel-rich oxygen-acetylene flame varies with each element, ranging from a factor or 3.4 for europium up to greater than 6000 for neodymium. The greatest enhancements were observed for those elements which form the most stable monoxides. Effective electronic temperature measurements using atomic iron lines indicate that the oxygen-acetylene flame which produces maximum rare earth line emission is operating at a temperature of 3050 deg K. Electronic equilibrium appeared to be established in this flame. The maximum temperature attained with the oxygen-acetylene flame was 3185 degmore » K. The flame produced line emission significantly lower in intensity than the more fuel- rich flame. An effective electronic temperature of 2900 deg K was found for the oxygen-hydrogen flame.« less
Approximation by Exponential Families

In this chapter we give an extension of some of the results of Chapters 10 and 11, replacing the Gaussian shift families used there by other exponential families. The results obtained cover only a restricted domain. To go further, much additional work appears necessary.
Academic radiology and the emergency department: does it need changing?

Rational and Objectives The increasing importance of imaging for both diagnosis and management in patient care has resulted in a demand for radiology services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, especially in the emergency department (ED). We hypothesized the resident preliminary reports were better than generalist radiology interpretations, although inferior to subspecialty interpretations. Materials and Methods Total radiology volume through our Level I pediatric and adult academic trauma ED was obtained from the radiology information system. We conducted a literature search for error and discordant rates between radiologists of varying experience. For a 2-week prospective period, all preliminary reports generated by the residents and final interpretations were collected. Significant changes in the report were tabulated. Results The ED requested 72,886 imaging studies in 2004 (16% of the total radiology department volume). In a 2-week period, 12 of 1929 (0.6%) preliminary reports by residents were discordant to the final subspecialty dictation. In the 15 peer-reviewed publications documenting error rates in radiology, the error rate between American Board of Radiology (ABR)−certified radiologists is greater than that between residents and subspecialists in the literature and in our study. However, the perceived error rate by clinicians outside radiology is significantly higher. Conclusion Sixteen percent of the volume of imaging studies comes through the ED. The residents handle off-hours cases with a radiology-detected error rate below the error rate between ABR-certified radiologists. To decrease the perceived clinician-identified error rate, we need to change how academic radiology handles ED cases.