cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiosurgery for dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Abstract Objective Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) comprise 10% to 15% of all arteriovenous malformations. Recent studies have demonstrated promising results when radiosurgery is used for DAVFs. We retrospectively analyzed our patients with DAVFs who received stereotactic radiosurgery with or without embolization. Methods Between 1991 and 2002, 18 patients with 23 angiographically confirmed symptomatic DAVFs underwent gamma knife radiosurgery, either alone (n = 8) or in combination with embolization (n = 10). A retrospective chart review was performed to identify DAVF location, venous drainage pattern, radiosurgery dosimetry, clinical outcomes, and imaging results. The series included 9 men and 9 women with a mean age of 65 (range 50-89) years. Nine patients received particulate, coil, and/or absolute ethanol embolization before radiosurgery, and 1 patient received particulate embolization after radiosurgery. The mean duration of clinical follow-up was 43 (range 2-116) months. The mean margin radiosurgery dose was 20 (range 15-30) Gy. Results Nine patients had complete resolution of their presenting symptoms, and 9 patients had resolution of all but 1 of their presenting symptoms. Angiographic follow-up (mean 46 months) was performed on 8 patients demonstrating complete obliteration in all the cases. Seven patients evaluated by magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomography angiography showed no evidence of DAVF (4 patients) or decreased DAVF size (3 patients). After radiosurgery, 1 patient developed a temporary hemiparesis. Two permanent neurological deficits occurred after embolization before radiosurgery. No patient had an intracranial hemorrhage after treatment. Conclusion Stereotactic radiosurgery provides effective long-term relief of symptoms in selected patients with DAVFs.
Athlete Endorsements in Food Marketing

OBJECTIVE: This study quantified professional athletes’ endorsement of food and beverages, evaluated the nutritional quality of endorsed products, and determined the number of television commercial exposures of athlete-endorsement commercials for children, adolescents, and adults. METHODS: One hundred professional athletes were selected on the basis of Bloomberg Business week ’s 2010 Power 100 rankings, which ranks athletes according to their endorsement value and prominence in their sport. Endorsement information was gathered from the Power 100 list and the advertisement database AdScope. Endorsements were sorted into 11 endorsement categories (eg, food/beverages, sports apparel). The nutritional quality of the foods featured in athlete-endorsement advertisements was assessed by using a Nutrient Profiling Index, whereas beverages were evaluated on the basis of the percentage of calories from added sugar. Marketing data were collected from AdScope and Nielsen. RESULTS: Of 512 brands endorsed by 100 different athletes, sporting goods/apparel represented the largest category (28.3%), followed by food/beverages (23.8%) and consumer goods (10.9%). Professional athletes in this sample were associated with 44 different food or beverage brands during 2010. Seventy-nine percent of the 62 food products in athlete-endorsed advertisements were energy-dense and nutrient-poor, and 93.4% of the 46 advertised beverages had 100% of calories from added sugar. Peyton Manning (professional American football player) and LeBron James (professional basketball player) had the most endorsements for energy-dense, nutrient-poor products. Adolescents saw the most television commercials that featured athlete endorsements of food. CONCLUSIONS: Youth are exposed to professional athlete endorsements of food products that are energy-dense and nutrient-poor.
A survey of augmented reality

This paper surveys the field of augmented reality AR, in which 3D virtual objects are integrated into a 3D real environment in real time. It describes the medical, manufacturing, visualization, path planning, entertainment, and military applications that have been explored. This paper describes the characteristics of augmented reality systems, including a detailed discussion of the tradeoffs between optical and video blending approaches. Registration and sensing errors are two of the biggest problems in building effective augmented reality systems, so this paper summarizes current efforts to overcome these problems. Future directions and areas requiring further research are discussed. This survey provides a starting point for anyone interested in researching or using augmented reality.
Near-Inertial Internal Waves and Sea Ice in the Beaufort Sea*

The evolution of the near-inertial internal wavefield from ice-free summertime conditions to ice-covered wintertime conditions is examined using data from a yearlong deployment of six moorings on the Beaufort continental slope from August 2008 to August 2009. When ice is absent, from July to October, energy is efficiently transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean, generating near-inertial internal waves. When ice is present, from November to June, storms also cause near-inertial oscillations in the ice and mixed layer, but kinetic energy is weaker and oscillations are quickly damped. Damping is dependent on ice pack strength and morphology. Decay scales are longer in early winter (November‐January) when the new ice pack is weaker and more mobile, decreasing in late winter (February‐June) when the ice pack is stronger and more rigid. Efficiency is also reduced, as comparisons of atmospheric energy available for internal wave generation to mixed layer kinetic energies indicate that a smaller percentage of atmospheric energy is transferred to nearinertial motions when ice concentrations are .90%. However, large kinetic energies and shears are observed during an event on 16 December and spectral energy is elevated above Garrett‐Munk levels, coinciding with the largest energy flux predicted during the deployment. A significant amount of near-inertial energy is episodically transferred to the internal wave band from the atmosphere even when the ocean is ice covered; however, damping by ice and less efficient energy transfer still leads to low Arctic internal wave energy in the near-inertial band. Increased kinetic energy below 300m when ice is forming suggests some events may generate internal waves that radiate into the Arctic Ocean interior.
Late Quaternary caldera-forming eruptions in the eastern Aleutian arc, Alaska

Late Quaternary calderas have been identified at 12 of 40 volcanic centers in the eastern Aleutian arc, and sufficient radiocarbon dates and geologic information have now been obtained to either date or constrain the timing of the climactic caldera-forming eruptions. At least eight major caldera-forming events, each characterized by estimated eruption volumes of more than 10 km 3 , occurred at seven different volcanic centers in the Holocene, and as many as six of these had estimated eruption volumes of more than 50 km 3 . Eruptions of similar magnitude formed two other calderas in Wisconsin time. The dating of these hitherto little-known events adds significantly to the previously existing chronology of large prehistoric eruptions. This refined chronology is important in understanding eruption-induced climate changes, in assessing volcanic hazards, and in developing a tephrochronology for northwestern North America.
Effect of palladium on the corrosion behavior of titanium

Abstract The effects of palladium (Pd) additions on the localized and uniform corrosion of titanium (Ti) were examined by comparing the corrosion behavior of Ti Grade 2 (UNS R50400) to that of Pd-bearing Ti Grade 7 (UNS R52400). Pd additions were found to increase the pitting ( E pit ) and repassivation ( E rp ) potentials such that E pit for Ti Grade 2 was significantly lower than E rp for Grade 7 in chloride (Cl − ) solutions. The effect of Pd on Ti can be explained through the effects Pd has on the hydrogen evolution reaction. Though Pd additions did significantly affect the localized corrosion resistance of Ti, Pd did not appear to influence the passive corrosion rate nor did it mitigate the deleterious effects of fluoride (F − ). Fluoride was found to dramatically increase the measured corrosion current above a critical concentration of about 0.5 mM.
Airline customer satisfaction and loyalty: impact of in-flight service quality

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the in-flight service quality on airline customer satisfaction and loyalty. This study analyzed the data from passengers of two classes: prestige (business) and economy. The results suggest that there are different factors of in-flight service quality that are important according to the customer seat class. In the case of the prestige class, there were six service quality factors of importance: alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage, responsiveness and empathy, reliability, assurance, presentation style of food, and food quality; while the economy class showed five important service quality factors: responsiveness and empathy, food quality, alcoholic beverage, non-alcoholic beverage, and reliability. These findings imply that airline companies’ in-flight service should have different delivery strategies based on the customer seat class.
Continuous Medial Representation for Anatomical Structures

The m-rep approach pioneered by Pizer (2003) is a powerful morphological tool that makes it possible to employ features derived from medial loci (skeletons) in shape analysis. This paper extends the medial representation paradigm into the continuous realm, modeling skeletons and boundaries of three-dimensional objects as continuous parametric manifolds, while also maintaining the proper geometric relationship between these manifolds. The parametric representation of the boundary-medial relationship makes it possible to fit shape-based coordinate systems to the interiors of objects, providing a framework for combined statistical analysis of shape and appearance. Our approach leverages the idea of inverse skeletonization, where the skeleton of an object is defined first and the object's boundary is derived analytically from the skeleton. This paper derives a set of sufficient conditions ensuring that inverse skeletonization is well-posed for single-manifold skeletons and formulates a partial differential equation whose solutions satisfy the sufficient conditions. An efficient variational algorithm for deformable template modeling using the continuous medial representation is described and used to fit a template to the hippocampus in 87 subjects from a schizophrenia study with sub-voxel accuracy and 95% mean overlap
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers in Patients with ACE Inhibitor–Induced Angioedema

OBJECTIVE:To determine the safety of using angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients who have experienced angioedema following treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.DATA SOURCES:Clinical literature identified through MEDLINE (January 1966–August 1999). Key search terms included angioneurotic edema, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, receptors–angiotensin, and losartan.DATA SYNTHESIS:ACE inhibitor–induced angioedema occurs with an incidence of 0.1–0.5%. Alternative therapy is necessary for patients who experience this potentially life-threatening adverse effect. Since angiotensin II receptor blockers do not increase concentrations of bradykinin, the proposed mechanism of ACE inhibitor–induced angioedema, they were presumed to be safe alternatives. Recent case reports, however, document angioedema following therapy with angiotensin II receptor blockers; 32% of the reported patients experienced a prior episode of angioedema attributed to ACE inhibitor therapy.CONCLUSIONS:Unt...
Miniaturized stripline circuitry utilizing low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) technology

LTCC substrate material has been successfully used to fabricate a 4-GHz 20-dB stripline coupler with 20-dB directivity and a low second harmonic 4-GHz stripline edge coupled filter. These circuits provide mechanical, size, performance, and cost advantages when compared to stripline assemblies made from softboard or nonhomogeneous materials. Measured results for both circuits are presented and design recommendations are discussed. >
A novel meta-analysis method exploiting consistency of high-throughput experiments

Motivation: Large-scale biological experiments provide snapshots into the huge number of processes running in parallel within the organism. These processes depend on a large number of (hidden) (epi)genetic, social, environmental and other factors that are out of experimentalists' control. This makes it extremely difficult to identify the dominant processes and the elements involved in them based on a single experiment. It is therefore desirable to use multiple sets of experiments targeting the same phenomena while differing in some experimental parameters (hidden or controllable). Although such datasets are becoming increasingly common, their analysis is complicated by the fact that the various biological elements could be influenced by different sets of factors. Results: The central hypothesis of this article is that biologically related elements and processes are affected by changes in similar ways while unrelated ones are affected differently. Thus, the relations between related elements are more consistent across experiments. The method outlined here looks for groups of elements with robust intra-group relationships in the expectation that they are related. The major groups of elements may be identified in this way. The strengths of relationships per se are not valued, just their consistency. This represents a completely novel and unutilized source of information. In the analysis of time course microarray experiments, I found cell cycle-and ribosome-related genes to be the major groups. Despite not looking for these groups in particular, the identification of these genes rivals that of methods designed specifically for this purpose. Availability: A C++ implementation is available at http://www.rinst.org/ICS/ICS_Programs.tar.gz. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Grasping curved objects through rolling

Grasping a curved object free in the plane may be done through rolling a pair of fingers on the object's boundary. Each finger is equipped with a tactile sensor able to record any instantaneous point contact with the object. Contact kinematics reveal a relationship between the amount of finger rotations and the total curvatures of the boundary segments of the fingers and the object respectively traversed by the two contact points during the same period of rolling. Such relationship makes it possible to localize both fingers relative to the object from a few pairs of simultaneously taken finger contacts at different time instants. A least squares formulation of this localization problem can then be solved by the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Simulation results are presented. After localization, a simple open loop strategy is used to control the continual rolling of the fingers until they simultaneously reach two locations on the object's boundary where a grasp is finally performed.
Sudden Death of Chicken Embryos with Hereditary Riboflavin Deficiency

Riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) mediates the deposition of riboflavin during the formation of eggs in birds. Hens of a strain of Single-Comb White Leghorn chickens, which are genetically unable to produce RfBP, lay eggs containing insufficient riboflavin to sustain embryogenesis beyond 13 or 14 d of incubation. Embryos in these eggs grow normally until the day of death, and their heart rate is normal to within an hour of death. The effects of riboflavin-deficiency first appear after d 10 of incubation when embryos become severely hypoglycemic and begin to accumulate intermediates of fatty acid oxidation. Although the activities of flavin-dependent enzymes are reduced generally, the 80% reduction in the activity of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase further suggests that the major metabolic consequence of riboflavin deficiency is a severe impairment of fatty acid oxidation. The riboflavin-deficient strain provides numerous insights into the metabolism of normal hens and chicken embryos and may be a useful model for sudden death syndromes in humans.
The mechanism of sodium chloride uptake in hyperregulating aquatic animals.

SUMMARY The emphasis in this review will be on Na + absorption across the skin and gills of vertebrates and the gills of crustaceans. However, some recent studies of Cl – uptake, especially in crustaceans, will also be described.
Translating a Lab Based Spreadsheet Modeling Course to an Online Format: Experience from a Natural Experiment

Spreadsheet modeling courses are a common feature of business school curricula. We describe how a lab based spreadsheet modeling course was translated for online delivery. Both the online and lab based versions of the course were offered in the same semester, and we report encouraging results of a comparison of the two delivery modes with respect to student performance, student activity level, and student evaluations. A Moodle based demonstration version of the course website, including almost all of the course content, has been created as a supplement to this paper.
A 3-D Force and Moment Motor for Small-Scale Biomechanics Experiments

The inability to identify 3-D force and moment components for actuators and sensors is a major limiting factor in the study of 3-D force interactions with small-scale biological structures. While recent advances have been made in the measurement of stimulating forces using load cells and atomic-force microscopy in experimental preparations of biological structures such as mammalian temporal bones, these techniques have mostly been limited to one or two dimensions. In this paper, a method is described for stimulating biological structures using a small magnet (2 mg Sm2Co17 ) and a nearby current-conducting coil (46 gauge, 50 turns), that allows the 3-D Lorentz forces and moments acting on the magnet to be calculated. To make these calculations possible, the dimensions and placements of the magnet and coil are accurately determined (within 10 mum for in vitro preparations) using high-resolution micro-CT imaging. This noncontact force motor method has been used to study the mechanics of the malleus-incus complex in the mammalian middle ear in addition to basilar membrane mechanics and fluid flow inside the cochlea, and it can also be applied to the study of other biomechanical structures.
Why Are Peer Review Outcomes Less Favorable for Clinical Science than for Basic Science Grant Applications

For decades, concerns have arisen over the robustness of the clinical research enterprise and the erosion of the cadre of new and experienced clinical investigators (1–8). In 1996, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) responded to these concerns by impaneling a group of experienced clinical investigators and teaching hospital administrators to recommend policy changes regarding clinical research (9). Subsequently, NIH implemented a number of the panel’s recommendations, including increased support of clinical research training programs and the establishment of NIH–sponsored educational debt relief programs for clinical investigators (10,11). Re-engineering the clinical research enterprise is a major theme of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, launched in 2003 (12). Despite these initiatives in support of clinical research, clinical investigators often perceive that clinical research grant applications may be disadvantaged in the NIH peer review process. Several reports have indicated that priority scores and funding rates are lower for clinical than for non-clinical applications (8, 13–15). Comparable differences between clinical and non-clinical applications were observed in applications reviewed in 1994 and 2004. Anecdotally, it has been suggested that these differences reflect inherent limitations of clinical studies, e.g., clinical studies are more difficult to control and it is difficult to determine causality from the results. Based on an analysis of the relationship of review outcomes in 2004 to study section assignment and the professional backgrounds of study section members, we previously reported the assignment of priority scores for clinical and non-clinical applications did not differ for reviewers with or without experience conducting clinical research (15). The less favorable review outcomes for clinical applications were also not accounted for by the “density” of clinical applications reviewed in a study section or by the greater requested costs for clinical research (15). Our preliminary observations, based on data from two funding cycles, suggested that human subject concerns contributed to the overall less favorable review outcomes for clinical applications (14). We undertook an analysis to further evaluate potential explanations for the difference in peer review outcomes between clinical and non-clinical applications. Specifically, we focused on the impact of rates of submission and outcomes of amended and competing renewal applications submitted by new and established investigators and human subject protection concerns raised at the time of review.
A differential-delay SAW correlator for combined DSSS despreading and DPSK demodulation

The design of a novel SAW (surface-acoustic-wave) component for the noncoherent detection of DS/SS (direct-sequence spread-spectrum) signals with a DPSK (differential phase-shift keying) modulation format is presented. In the considered differential-delay correlator, both the correlation function for despreading and the delay function for DPSK demodulation are merged into a single device. Due to the absence of a separate delay line, no bandwidth-limiting effects no high insertion losses occur in the delay branch of the DPSK demodulator. In addition, an exact match between the correlator output and its one-symbol-delayed replica is obtained. Experiments on an ST-quartz differential-delay correlator with a center frequency of 98.5 MHz, a chip rate of 12.3 MHz and a symbol rate of 195.4 kb/s demonstrated the operation of the device. >
The interaction between Z-DNA and the Zab domain of double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase characterized using fusion nucleases.

Abstract Zab is a structurally defined protein domain that binds specifically to DNA in the Z conformation. It consists of amino acids 133–368 from the N terminus of human double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase, which is implicated in RNA editing. Zab contains two motifs with related sequence, Zα and Zβ. Zα alone is capable of binding Z-DNA with high affinity, whereas Zβ alone has little DNA binding activity. Instead, Zβ modulates Zα binding, resulting in increased sequence specificity for alternating (dCdG)n as compared with (dCdA/dTdG)n. This relative specificity has previously been demonstrated with short oligonucleotides. Here we demonstrate that Zab can also bind tightly to (dCdG)nstabilized in the Z form in supercoiled plasmids. Binding was assayed by monitoring cleavage of the plasmids using fusion nucleases, in which Z-DNA-binding peptides from the N terminus of double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase are linked to the nuclease domain of FokI. A fusion nuclease containing Zα shows less sequence specificity, as well as less conformation specificity, than one containing Zab. Further, a construct in which Zβ has been replaced in Zab with Zα, cleaves Z-DNA regions in supercoiled plasmids more efficiently than the wild type but with little sequence specificity. We conclude that in the Zab domain, both Zα and Zβ contact DNA. Zα contributes contacts that produce conformation specificity but not sequence specificity. In contrast, Zβ contributes weakly to binding affinity but discriminates between sequences of Z-DNAs.
Artificial photosynthesis in lamellar assemblies of metal poly(pyridyl) complexes and metalloporphyrins

Abstract Multilayer films composed of inorganic colloids (α-zirconium phosphate or HTiNbO 5 ) and organic polycations can be grown in almost any desired sequence on surfaces by electrostatic self-assembly. Control of the edge chemistry of the anionic sheets is essential to the preparation of well organized monolayers and multilayers. Examples are given of layer sequences that incorporate electron donors and acceptors, which undergo photoinduced electron transfer reactions across inorganic spacer layers. Similar stacking sequences can be used to couple light harvesting assemblies, containing energy donors and acceptors, to electron donor-acceptor dyads.
Cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: 2016 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management.

Disease overview Approximately one-fourth of cutaneous lymphomas are B-cell derived and are generally classified into three distinct subgroups: primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL), primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), and primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL, LT). Diagnosis Diagnosis and disease classification is based on histologic review and immunohistochemical staining of an appropriate skin biopsy. Pathologic review and an appropriate staging evaluation are necessary to distinguish primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas from systemic B-cell lymphomas with secondary skin involvement. Risk-stratification Disease histology remains the most important prognostic determinant. Both PCFCL and PCMZL are indolent lymphomas that infrequently disseminate to extracutaneous sites and are associated with 5-year survival rates that exceed 95%. In contrast, PCDLBCL, LT is an aggressive lymphoma with an inferior prognosis. Risk-adapted therapy PCFCL and PCMZL patients with solitary or relatively few skin lesions may be affectively managed with local radiation therapy. While single-agent rituximab may be employed for patients with more widespread skin involvement, multiagent chemotherapy is rarely appropriate. In contrast, management of patients with PCDLBCL, LT is comparable to the management of patients with systemic DLBCL. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1052–1055, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cultivating a Compliance Culture: An Alternative Approach for Addressing the Tax Gap

This article examines the social science research concerning why individuals comply (or fail to comply) with their taxpaying obligations. The relevant empirical scholarship on the economic, behavioral and psychological aspects of compliance indicates that multiple factors are at work in fostering voluntary compliance with a person's taxpaying obligations and demonstrates that more than just economic self-interest is at work. The confluence of these factors can be viewed as creating a kind of taxpaying ethos, which explains why most Western democracies have a much higher rate of tax compliance than is predicted by purely economic models. Understanding the factors that shape and promote this taxpaying ethos provides valuable insights into the most effective means for fostering voluntary tax compliance. After reviewing the underpinnings that help create a taxpaying ethos, the article examines how this conceptual understanding of tax compliance can be employed practically to help reduce the level of systemic noncompliance (the so called tax gap) by focusing on altering the taxpaying culture in a specific segment of the population (self-employed individuals and small businesses) that has historically shown high levels of noncompliance.
Evaluation of ORF-1658, a New Formulation for Sequential Oral Contraceptive Therapy

The effectiveness and safety of a new sequential oral contraceptive formulation was evaluated. The subjects received 14 80 mcg tablets of mestranol followed by 6 tablets of 2 mg 3-desoxyacetoxymethyl progesterone (ORF-1658) plus mestranol. The overall pregnancy rate was .25 + or - .24/100 woman-years of exposure. The discontinuation rate for drug-related reasons was 2.5%. Amenorrhea (6.3%) headache (5.2%) and dizziness (3.4%) were the most commonly reported side effects. This sequential therapy is recommended over the combined therapy regimen because of a lower incidence of irregular bleeding premenstrual tension syndrome and increased weight gain. However in cases of menorrhagia or dysmenorrhea the combined therapy is recommended.
Identification and Quantification of Flavonoids from Two Southern Italian Cultivars of Allium cepa L., Tropea (Red Onion) and Montoro (Copper Onion), and Their Capacity to Protect Human Erythrocytes from Oxidative Stress.

Onions (Allium cepa) are consumed worldwide and represent an important source of dietary phytochemicals with proven antioxidant properties, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, thiosulfinates, and anthocyanins. Epidemiological and experimental data suggest that regular consumption of onions is associated with a reduced risk of degenerative disorders. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the biological properties of different varieties of onions. Here, we characterized for the first time a variety of onion, called Ramata di Montoro (coppery onion from Montoro), grown in a niche area in southern Italy, and compared its phenolic profile and antioxidant properties to a commercial ecotype of red onion, Tropea, also present in southern Italy. An analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detection and mass spectrometry was used to separate and characterize the phenolic fraction (anthocyanins and flavonols) extracted from both coppery and red types. The main compounds...
Ultra-Low Power Digitally Operated Tunable MEMS Accelerometer

This paper presents the concept as well as fabrication and measurement results for a new class of MEMS accelerometers that can be operated directly by a digital processor without the need for an analog front end. Elimination of the analog front end for such digitally operated accelerometers can significantly lower the sensor power consumption. The accelerometer consists of a proof mass and a number of parallel plate electrostatic actuators that can be turned ON and OFF in a sequential manner by a digital controller. Consequently, an ON or OFF output is provided for each input condition based on an output electrode making contact with the biased proof mass. Following a simple switching algorithm, a binary search can be performed by the digital controller to find the acceleration as a binary number. Furthermore, this paper also estimates the operating power consumption for such an accelerometer. A simple 2-b version of such accelerometers has been successfully fabricated and operated in the 0-1-g range. The same device concept and the configuration can be enhanced to higher number of bits.
The protean aspects of posterior urethral valves.

AbstractThirty-six patients were evaluated and treated for posterior urethral valves. Of these patients 16 with mild valvular obstruction presented with voiding dysfunction, including 14 (88 per cent) whose symptoms resolved following transurethral valve fulguration. The excretory urograms were normal. The 10 patients with moderate sized valves had symptoms of urinary retention or urinary tract infections. Ureteral surgery was necessary in 4 patients. Following valve resection 6 of the 10 patients with severe valves were managed by diverting loop cutaneous ureterostomies. They did well clinically but dense urethral strictures developed in 3 patients. No other complications of valve resection were seen. Posterior urethral valves have protean aspects requiring individualized treatment.
Islamic Revival as Third Worldism

The recent revival of Islamic movements in politics, of which the Iranian revolution of 1978–9 is thus far the most important and dramatic example, has given rise to a host of brief scholarly and journalistic studies in the West. In general, these studies have concentrated on the revival as such — discussing its local causes and manifestations and sometimes venturing to predict its future. There has, however, been little in the way of comparison of Islamic revival with other kinds of movements — comparisons that might make the Muslim revival appear less unique and incomprehensible, and in part as one of a type of movement that the world has already experienced and whose general causes and ideological manifestations may usefully be compared.
AJKD Atlas of Renal Pathology: Minimal Change Disease.

Minimal change disease (MCD) is characterized by nephrotic syndrome. It is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children aged 1 to 7 years and remains a cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Kidney function is usually preserved, except for occasional cases with acute kidney injury. MCD is typically responsive to steroids with excellent long-term prognosis. Light microscopy: Unremarkable glomeruli. Of note, global glomerulosclerosis is a nonspecific finding that can be seen. Immunofluorescence microscopy: No deposits (may have nonspecific immunoglobulin M [IgM]). Electron microscopy: Extensive foot process effacement.
Learning datives: The Tolerance Principle in monolingual and bilingual acquisition:

We study the learnability problem concerning the dative alternations in English (Baker, 1979; Pinker, 1989). We consider how first language learners productively apply the double-object and to-dati...
Developing dually optimal LCA features in sensory and action spaces for classification

Appearance based methods have utilized a variety of techniques such as Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-means clustering, and sparse autoencoders to extract training-data dependent features from static images — by static images, we mean, foreground objects and backgrounds are present in static images as snapshots. The Developmental Networks (DN) use Lobe Component Analysis (LCA) features developed not only from the image space X but also the action space Z. Since, Z can be taught to represent a set of trainer specified meanings (e.g., type and location), a DN treats these meanings in a unified way for both detection and recognition for objects in dynamic cluttered backgrounds. However, the DN method has not been applied to publicly available datasets and compared with well-known major techniques. In this work, we fill this void. We describe how the Z information enables the features to be more sensitive to trainer specified output meanings (e.g., type and location). The reported experiments fall into two extensively studied categories — global template based object recognition and local template based scene classification. For the datasets used, the performance of the DN method is better or comparable to some major local template based methods but the DNs also provide statistics-based location information about the object in a cluttered scene.
Admission preoperative glucose is predictive of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients who require immediate operative intervention.

Although there have been reports in the surgical literature regarding the negative effects of preoperative hyperglycemia on outcome, the impact of elevated preoperative serum glucose levels in trauma patients is unknown. Our objectives were to determine whether preoperative hyperglycemia was associated with a greater morbidity and mortality in trauma patients who underwent surgical intervention upon admission. Prospective data was collected on 252 consecutive nondiabetic trauma patients admitted for > or =3 days who went directly to the OR from the resuscitation area. Patients were stratified by preoperative serum glucose level ( or =200 mg/dL) age, gender, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and other preexisting risk factors. Outcome was measured by incidence of infection, hospital (HLOS) and ICU (ILOS) length of stay, and mortality. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate serum glucose in relation to other preoperative risk factors. Blunt trauma accounted for the majority (86%) of the injuries. Orthopedic procedures were the most common (36%) followed by neurosurgical (22%), abdominal (22%), and thoracic (6%). Patients with elevated serum glucose had a significantly greater incidence of infection, HLOS, ILOS, and mortality matched per age and ISS. Elevated serum glucose on admission is an accurate predictor of postoperative infection, HLOS, ILOS, and mortality. A randomized prospective trial evaluating the impact of preoperative glucose control is warranted.
What is the mechanism of Ketamine's rapid-onset antidepressant effect? A concise overview of the surprisingly large number of possibilities.

SummaryWhat is known and objective Abundant clinical data now confirm that ketamine produces a remarkable rapid-onset antidepressant effect – hours or days – in contrast to the delayed onset (typically weeks) of current antidepressant drugs. This surprising and revolutionary finding may lead to the development of life-saving pharmacotherapy for depressive illness by reducing the high suicide risk associated with the delayed onset of effect of current drugs. As ketamine has serious self-limiting drawbacks that restrict its widespread use for this purpose, a safer alternative is needed. Our objective is to review the proposed mechanism(s) of ketamine's rapid-onset antidepressant action for new insights into the physiological basis of depressive illness that may lead to new and novel targets for antidepressant drug discovery. Methods A search was conducted on published literature (e.g. PubMed) and Internet sources to identify information relevant to ketamine's rapid-acting antidepressant action and, specifically, to the possible mechanism(s) of this action. Key search words included ‘ketamine’, ‘antidepressant’, ‘mechanism of action’, ‘depression’ and ‘rapid acting’, either individually or in combination. Information was sought that would include less well-known, as well as well-known, basic pharmacologic properties of ketamine and that identified and evaluated the several hypotheses about ketamine's mechanism of antidepressant action. Results Whether the mechanistic explanation for ketamine's rapid-onset antidepressant action is related to its well-known antagonism of the NMDA (N-Methyl-d-aspartate) subtype of glutamate receptor or to something else has not yet been fully elucidated. The evidence from pharmacologic, medicinal chemistry, animal model and drug-discovery sources reveals a wide variety of postulated mechanisms. What is new and conclusion The surprising discovery of ketamine's rapid-onset antidepressant effect is a game-changer for the understanding and treatment of depressive illness. There is some convergence on NMDA receptor antagonism as a likely, but to date unproven, common mechanism. The surprising number of other mechanisms, and the several novel biochemical aetiologies of depression proposed, suggests exciting new drug-discovery targets.
A 7nm CMOS platform technology featuring 4 th generation FinFET transistors with a 0.027um 2 high density 6-T SRAM cell for mobile SoC applications

For the first time, a leading edge 7nm CMOS platform technology for mobile SoC applications is presented. This technology provides >3.3X routed gate density and 35%∼40% speed gain or >65% power reduction over our 16nm FinFET technology. A fully functional 256Mb SRAM test-chip with the smallest high density SRAM cell of 0.027um2 is demonstrated down to 0.5V. The 4th generation FinFET transistors are optimized with device mismatch reduction by 25%∼35% and multi-Vt device options to enable low power and high performance design requirements.
Sun-protective behaviors in patients with cutaneous hyperpigmentation: A cross-sectional study.

Background Disorders of hyperpigmentation are seen commonly in clinical practice. Despite numerous studies investigating sun-protective habits among healthy persons, little is known about these behaviors within patient populations with hyperpigmentation disorders. Objective We sought to examine photo-protective behaviors and their associations in individuals with disorders of hyperpigmentation. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 404 adults who complained of cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Results About 67.5% reported using a product containing sunscreen, and 91% endorsed using one with a sun protection factor of 21 or higher. Among the participants, 48.5% were not sure if their sunscreen provided broad-spectrum protection, and only 7.6% reapplied every 2 hours. The odds of a patient with melasma using sunscreen were 6.7 times the odds of a patient with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation using sunscreen ( P P = .0004) and disease duration of ≥1 year (OR = 2.1, P = .003). In a multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of sunscreen use among African Americans compared to whites was 0.31 ( P = .008). Limitations Limitations included recall bias, question misinterpretation, and reporter bias. Conclusion Patients diagnosed with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, men, and those with disease duration
Research in organizational interventions to improve well-being: Perspectives on organizational change and development

Introduction It is a long recognized “truth” that organizations must change to survive (e.g. Armenakis and Harris, 2009). Organizational change can be stressful for employees (Rafferty and Griffi n, 2006), which sets up a double bind situation. For organizations to remain healthy, they must manage change in such a way that employees’ well-being is not compromised. Further, some organizational changes may be necessitated to prevent employee ill-health and promote employee well-being. This chapter reviews the change management and organizational development literature to provide frameworks for guiding organizational interventions to enhance the health and well-being of organizations and their employees.
The Little Hierarchy Problem or Fine-Tuning

Supersymmetric theories were invoked to solve the gauge hierarchy problem, i.e. to explain why the weak scale is so much smaller than the Planck or GUT scales. It does this by extending the chiral symmetry of fermions to their bosonic superpartners. Without supersymmetry one must fine-tune the Higgs mass squared by one part in 1028. But the question in the literature is how much fine-tuning is acceptable. The answer to this question is clearly subjective. Is one part in 100 too much or is one part in 1000 acceptable? Either way, the fine-tuning to 1 part in 1028 is avoided.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

1. Lindsay F. Eilers, MD* 2. William B. Kyle, MD* 3. Hugh D. Allen, MD* 4. Athar M. Qureshi, MD* 1. *The Lillie Frank Abercrombie Section of Cardiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery and the aorta. In fetal life, gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is undertaken by the maternal placenta and not the fetal lungs. The small amount of blood that passes through the pulmonary circulation is important for vascular growth but not for gas exchange. When oxygenated blood returns from the placenta via the umbilical vein to the fetal heart, it may take 1 of 2 pathways to bypass the pulmonary circulation. First, most of the fetal blood volume is shunted right to left (right atrium to left atrium) across the foramen ovale, bypassing the right heart and pulmonary circulation completely. The remaining blood in the right atrium crosses the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, then courses across the right ventricular outflow tract to the main pulmonary artery. Most of this blood is then shunted right to left (pulmonary artery to aorta) across the DA into the descending aorta, supplying oxygenated blood to the lower half of the body. After delivery to the tissues, deoxygenated blood returns to the placenta via the umbilical arteries, and the cycle repeats. Typically, after a term birth, the lungs inflate with the first breath and pulmonary blood flow increases. With the increased oxygen content of circulating blood and chemical changes, the DA spontaneously constricts, causing functional ductal closure within the first several days after birth, soon followed by complete anatomical closure. When this process fails to occur normally, especially in the absence of persistently elevated pulmonary artery pressures or significant cyanotic congenital heart disease, the …
Article 13: Acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation: what does recent evidence really say?1

Abstract Objective: To reexamine recent stroke-acupuncture studies using “relative improvement” on outcome measures, as opposed to simple endpoint raw score, as the primary clinical outcome. Data Sources: Using the recent Sze meta-analysis published in Stroke (2002) as an organizing schema, clinical trials involving stroke patients by Gosman-Hedstrom (1998), Johansson (1993, 2001), Sallstrom (1996), Sze (2002), and Wong (1999) were reexamined. Study selection: Studies were evaluated using the criterion of “relative improvement” as the primary outcome measure. The studies focused on the use of acupuncture compared with various control conditions across studies, including sham acupuncture, shallow acupuncture, transcutaneous electroneural stimulation, and subliminal electric stimulation. Data Extraction: Relative improvement on standardized measures used in the studies reviewed, focusing on disability (eg, FIM™ instrument) and impairment (eg, Fugl-Meyer Assessment). Data Synthesis: Evidence that acupuncture is effective in stroke rehabilitation is stronger when using relative improvement as a criterion than when using endpoint raw scores only—the procedure used by most recent researchers. Conclusions: Acupuncture may be helpful as an adjunct rehabilitation treatment. A number of methodologic issues need to be addressed in future research, including the most appropriate definition of a stroke clinical outcome, and the timeframe within which acupuncture effects are observed.
Mitotic Cycle Regulation in the Meristem of Cultured Roots: The Principal Control Point Hypothesis

This paper was deliberately limited to the concept of and experimental evidence for two principal control points in the mitotic cycle of root meristem cells. The root meristem has been the vehicle for much research in cell population kinetics. The work of Laughlin9,10, with Allium in 1919 and Brown1 with Pisum in 1951 on temperature effects on the mitotic cycle attest to an early recognition of its advantages for such studies. Even today few experiments match the precision, breadth, and insight of Gray and Scholes2 in their growth and cellular analysis of Vicia faba roots. The work of Gray and Scholes and that of Lea11 undoubtedly contributed to the formulation of the universally accepted Howard and Pelc4 model of the mitotic cycle. The model coupled with the tools of radioisotope and high resolution auto-radiography, also developed with Vicia 14, and the theory of Quast1er12 and Quastler and Sherman13 formed the foundation of what is currently known as cell population kinetics. Wimber26 was one of the first to use these tools to describe the mitotic cycle of Tradescantia root tip cells and since the first experiments, much information has been gathered about the cell division cycle in plants.
Can State Courts Influence Public Opinion? The Case of Same-Sex Marriage

In this paper, I investigate whether institutional differences among state courts, specifically differences in judicial selection methods, influence public responses to state court decisions. Using original survey data, I find that respondents are less likely to express support for state court decisions favoring same-sex marriage when the supreme court justices in their states are elected. I also test other potential explanations for public reactions to state court decisions, including knowledge of courts, levels of diffuse support, and personal values. The findings are important because they suggest that the impact of state courts is variable depending on how state courts are designed.
The Limit Laws and the Renormalising Functions

For the duration of this chapter f(n) will denote a real strongly-additive arithmetic function.