cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Management of Stones in Transplanted Kidneys

Objectives Stone disease is a rare complication after renal transplantation, and the management of these stones can be difficult. In many cases, the best modality to treat stones in transplanted kidneys/ureters is with a percutaneous approach. The goal of this study was to review our series of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) to evaluate the success rates and present the key technical points to achieve a successful outcome. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our series of PNL from January 1997 to December 2007 and identified 15 patients who had had PNL performed in a transplanted kidney. We evaluated multiple perioperative variables and how the patients' urolithiasis presented. We also collected intraoperative data. Results A total of 15 patients underwent successful PNL in a transplanted kidney. In all patients, but 3, access into an anterior, upper pole calix was achieved, and access was obtained with ultrasound guidance alone or a combination of ultrasound guidance and fluoroscopy. Ten patients had a pre-existing nephrostomy tube, and this was used in all but 1 patient. Of the 15 patients, 8 (53%) were treated with percutaneous flexible nephroscopy/ureteroscopy, and 7 had tracts dilated to 30F to perform rigid PNL. All patients were rendered stone free at the end of the procedure, no complications developed, and no patient required a blood transfusion. Conclusions Nephrolithiasis in a transplanted kidney can be challenging to diagnose and to treat. PNL is most often the best modality to render patients stone free.
029 Novel Parameters for Computer‐Assisted Image Analysis to Study Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a dynamic process that requires interaction of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. Several methodologies have been used to evaluate this process. The quail chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a suitable model to explore angiogenesis in vivo. Recently, the morphometric parameters of fractal dimension (Df) and grid intersection (ρ) are used to quantify angiogenesis in CAM. However, more information is necessary to understand angiogenic mechanisms. New methods to measure additional parameters such as the average blood vessel thickness, tortuousity, total branch length and complexity (junction node number), are described herein. For the analysis, CAM images were obtained from ex ovo culture of E8-E9 quail embryos. MatLab®(The MathWorks, Natick, MA) software was used for the analyses of branches nodes, thickness and length of the forming branches. Conventional morphometry was done using IPLab (Scanalytics, Fairfax, VA). To validate the new parameters, leptin, VEGF and neutralizing antibodies were evaluated. Leptin and VEGF treated CAM had increased complexity and vascular densities (Df = 1.5 ± 0.005; ρ = 12.3 ± 0.689) and (Df = 1.6 ± 0.006; ρ = 14.3 ± 0.465), respectively, compared to PBS control (Df = 1.3 ± 0.035; ρ = 8.6 ± 0.439). There was a corresponding decrease antileptin and anti-VEGF antibodies. The node-structural map applied to CAM images reveled 53% increase in the number of one-branch nodes and 50% increase in three-branch nodes with leptin compared to controls. Additionally, the total branch length was 30% greater with leptin along with a decrease in vessel thickness, The analyses allowed quantification of branching, tortuousity, thickness, and length of the new blood vessels. Together with the conventional morphometric parameters, these new analyses will help understand the mechanisms exerted by angiogenesis-modulating molecule.
Visual advantage of enhanced flight vision system during NextGen flight test evaluation

Synthetic Vision Systems and Enhanced Flight Vision System (SVS/EFVS) technologies have the potential to provide additional margins of safety for aircrew performance and enable operational improvements for low visibility operations in the terminal area environment. Simulation and flight tests were jointly sponsored by NASA's Aviation Safety Program, Vehicle Systems Safety Technology project and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to evaluate potential safety and operational benefits of SVS/EFVS technologies in low visibility Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) operations. The flight tests were conducted by a team of Honeywell, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and NASA personnel with the goal of obtaining pilot-in-the-loop test data for flight validation, verification, and demonstration of selected SVS/EFVS operational and system-level performance capabilities. Nine test flights were flown in Gulfstream's G450 flight test aircraft outfitted with the SVS/EFVS technologies under low visibility instrument meteorological conditions. Evaluation pilots flew 108 approaches in low visibility weather conditions (600 feet to 3600 feet reported visibility) under different obscurants (mist, fog, drizzle fog, frozen fog) and sky cover (broken, overcast). Flight test videos were evaluated at three different altitudes (decision altitude, 100 feet radar altitude, and touchdown) to determine the visual advantage afforded to the pilot using the EFVS/Forward-Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imagery compared to natural vision. Results indicate the EFVS provided a visual advantage of two to three times over that of the out-the-window (OTW) view. The EFVS allowed pilots to view the runway environment, specifically runway lights, before they would be able to OTW with natural vision.
Balancing factors affecting virtual reference services: identified from academic librarians' perspective

Many digital libraries are providing Virtual Reference Services (VRS). There could be various approaches to increase the quality of VRS. In this study, we focused on two key factors; improving helpfulness and reducing user's feeling of intrusiveness. Studies indicated that librarian-initiated attempts for help may increase user's feeling of intrusiveness [2] [3]. It is challenging to provide high helpfulness along with less intrusiveness in VRS. This study aimed to identify factors that contribute to improving helpfulness and reducing intrusiveness. Data were collected based on a survey using systemic random sample approach. Our initial results indicated that awareness, timing, and transparency were key factors affecting the helpfulness and intrusiveness.
Size effects in multiferroic BiFeO 3 nanodots: A first-principles-based study

An effective Hamiltonian scheme is developed to investigate structural and magnetic properties of ${\text{BiFeO}}_{3}$ nanodots under short-circuit-like electrical boundary conditions. Various striking effects are discovered. Examples include (a) scaling laws involving the inverse of the dots' size for the magnetic and electric transition temperatures; (b) the washing out of some structural phases present in the bulk via size effects; (c) the possibility of tailoring the difference between the Neel and Curie temperatures, by playing with the size and electrical boundary conditions; and (d) an universal critical thickness of the order of 1.6 nm below which the dots do not possess any long-range ordering for the electrical and magnetic dipoles, as well as, for the oxygen octahedral tiltings.
High efficiency direct methanol fuel cell based on poly(styrenesulfonic) acid (PSSA)–poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite membranes

Abstract semi -Interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) composite membranes consisting of poly(styrenesuflonic) acid (PSSA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been prepared and evaluated as proton exchange membrane electrolytes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The membranes fabricated were evaluated in terms of their proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and their performance characteristics in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). PSSA–PVDF membranes demonstrated decreased methanol crossover during operation of direct methanol fuel cells compared to state-of-art Nafion ® -H membranes, yielding improved efficiency. PSSA–PVDF membranes have been demonstrated to operate efficiently in 1 in. × 1 in. and 2 in. × 2 in. direct methanol fuel cells. Fuel cells operating with PSSA–PVDF membranes were observed to have dramatically lower crossover rates compared to Nafion ® 117 systems. Greater than 95% reduction in crossover was observed in some cases. These properties of PSSA–PVDF membranes resulted in improved fuel performance and fuel cell efficiencies for direct methanol fuel cells. It was also observed that the PSSA–PVDF membranes behave quite differently compared with Nafion ® -based systems in terms water management characteristics at the cathode. The best performance with the new membranes was observed with very low oxygen or air flow rates at the cathode which is in contrast to Nafion ® -based systems, which generally require higher flow rates due to excessive water accumulation at the cathode, resulting in flooding.
Role of uncoupling protein 3 in ischemia-reperfusion injury, arrhythmias, and preconditioning.

Overexpression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in cultured cardiomyocytes. However, it is not known whether UCPs play an essential role in c...
Statistical Inference and Patterns of Inequality in the Global North

Cross-national inequality trends have historically been a crucial field of inquiry across the social sciences, and new methodological techniques of statistical inference have recently improved the ability to analyze these trends over time. This paper applies Monte Carlo, bootstrap inference methods to the income surveys of the Luxembourg Income Study database to identify patterns of distributional change in the global North from 1980 to 2000. While it is now generally accepted that inequality has increased in the United States and United Kingdom during this period, the extent to which other wealthy nations have been able to avoid this trend (or not) has generated some debate. This paper presents new evidence to address this discussion, demonstrating along the way how the ability to conduct formal statistical inference with statistics such as the Gini index provides an effective and important new evaluative tool for comparative research.
The essential oil of Salvia dorisiana Standley

ABSTRACT The essential oil of stems and leaves of Salvia dorisiana, analyzed by GC/MS, was found to contain perillyl acetate (26.97±1.31%), methyl perillate (17.35±0.64%) and β-caryophyllene (10.25±1.35%).
A TRANSGENE ENCODING A PLASMA MEMBRANE H+-ATPASE THAT CONFERS ACID RESISTANCE IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA SEEDLINGS

Proton pumps (H+-ATPases) are the primary active transport systems in the plasma membrane of higher plant cells. These enzymes are encoded by a large gene family expressed throughout the plant, with specific isoforms directed to various specialized cells. While their involvement in membrane energetics has been suggested by a large body of biochemical and physiological studies, a genetic analysis of their role in plants has not yet been performed. We report here that mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants containing a phloem-specific transgene encoding a plasma membrane H+-ATPase with an altered carboxy terminus show improved growth at low pH during seedling development. These observations provide the first genetic evidence for a role of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase in cytoplasmic pH homeostasis in plants.
Characterizing the Nature of Work and Forces for Decision Making in Emergency Care

Healthcare as a complex system [1] is exemplified in emergency medicine [2, 3]. Emergency Departments (EDs) are dynamic, adaptive, and self-organizing. Additionally, ED providers are faced with inherent unpredictability regarding the number and severity of patients, concurrent management of multiple individuals requiring timely responses, and a need to cope with limited resources all within a life-critical, interruption-laden environment [4]. The layered complexity of such units includes the functions of the work, the implementation of technology, the people, the activities and workflows jointly performed by the people and the technology, as well as the social, physical, cultural, and organizational environment in which the ED is embedded. Managing the cognitive, physical, spatial, and temporal resources in such systems is crucial for patient safety and quality of care. Understanding the interaction of the complexity of this work and the environment, particularly as it relates to decision-making, is a first step in engineering solutions to support physician efforts.
The Role of Neuroplasticity and the Immune System in Recovery from Strokes and Other Forms of Brain Trauma

Plastic changes play an important role in the recovery of motor and sensory functions after ischemic strokes and other forms of injury to the central nervous system. The deficits from ischemia may be exacerbated by immune reactions from the decay products of cells that have died as a result of the ischemia. Recovery from deficits after strokes is mainly achieved through activation of neural plasticity. Recent studies have shown that enhancing activation of neuroplasticity through vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has a beneficial effect on recovery. It has been also shown that suppression of the immune reaction through administration of minocycline can improve recovery from deficits significantly. The role of the vagus nerve in controlling the immune system suggests that VNS may also be beneficial in reducing injuries to the brain caused by harmful immune reactions.
Gastrointestinal Complications of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

Case presentation: A 59-year-old man with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking was hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome requiring emergency percutaneous coronary intervention with 4 drug-eluting stents. His discharge medications included dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin 325 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d. Three weeks after discharge, he returned to the Emergency Department with bloody stools and a hematocrit of 23% (previously 36%) and required 3 U of packed red blood cells. Endoscopy showed a bleeding duodenal ulcer with adherent clot (Figure). Endoscopic image of bleeding duodenal ulcer with clot on top. This image was taken in a patient with a history similar to that of our patient. Arrow points to the base of duodenal ulcer with active bleeding. Picture contributed by Sarathchandra Reddy, MD, and Edwin Chun Ouyang, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass. We prescribe dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel to prevent and treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. According to American Heart Association statistics, 700 000 patients had stroke, 13 million had coronary artery disease, and 8 to 12 million suffered from peripheral arterial disease in 2002. Each year, 1.2 million patients in the United States receive dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents. The number of patients in the United States who receive dual antiplatelet therapy for various vascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, transient ischemic attack, thrombotic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease probably exceeds several million. The use of aspirin compared with placebo reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from vascular causes by ≈25%.1 In the Clopidogrel Versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events (CAPRIE) trial, administration of clopidogrel decreased the relative risk of vascular events by 8.7% compared with aspirin.2 The …
School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior

OBJECTIVES. This study examines the amount of recess that children 8 to 9 years of age receive in the United States and compares the group classroom behavior of children receiving daily recess with that of children not receiving daily recess. METHODS. This is a secondary analysis of a public-use data set, the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998 –1999, third-grade data set. Children were categorized into 2 levels of recess exposure, that is, none/minimal break (1 break of 15 minutes/day) or some recess. Some recess was further categorized into 5 levels on the basis of frequency and duration of recess. Child, parent, school, and classroom characteristics of those with and without recess were compared. The group classroom behavior was assessed by using the teacher’s rating of class behavior. RESULTS. Complete data were available for 10 301 to 11 624 children 8 to 9 years of age. There were equal numbers of boys and girls (boys: 50.3%). Children exposed to none/minimal break (30%) were much more likely to be black, to be from families with lower incomes and lower levels of education, to live in large cities, to be from the Northeast or South, and to attend public school, compared with those with recess. Teacher’s rating of classroom behavior scores were better for children with some recess than for those with none/minimal break. This finding was maintained in multivariate regression analysis. However, among children receiving daily recess, the teacher’s rating of class behavior scores did not differ significantly according to the level of exposure. CONCLUSIONS. These results indicated that, among 8- to 9-year-old children, having 1 daily recess period of 15 minutes in length was associated with better teacher’s rating of class behavior scores. This study suggests that schoolchildren in this age group should be provided with daily recess. Pediatrics 2009;123:431–436
What Defines an Intensive Care Unit?: Implications for Organizational Structure

Critical care medicine combines physicians, nurses, and allied health professional in the coordinated and collaborative management of patients with life-threatening single- or multiple-organ failures, including stabilization after surgical interventions.1 Critical care medicine requires the continuous (i.e., 24 h) monitoring and support of failing or threatened organ systems while at the same time treating the patients’ underlying disease process. The common goals of the intensive care unit (ICU) are to restore and maintain the function of vital organs, to enhance the patient’s chance of survival, and to achieve an acceptable clinical outcome.
Dual-band balun with fully matched performance

In this paper, a dual-band balun matched at all of the three ports is discussed. Explicit design equations are given. The design concept is verified by measurement results. It is worth pointing out the proposed dual-band balun is also suitable for 20 / 44 GHz application.
The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Trichostatin A Has Genotoxic Effects in Human Lymphoblasts In Vitro

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a class of putative chemotherapeutic agents for which the mechanism of toxicity has not been fully identified. To explore the possibility that HDACi are genotoxic, human TK6 lymphoblastoid cells were exposed to trichostatin A (TSA) and genetic damage was measured. TSA caused a dose-dependent increase of G1-arrested cells at 24 h that correlated with increasing levels of p21 and apoptosis. Significantly elevated frequencies of structural chromosomal aberrations in cells exposed to TSA were observed using both the kinetochore-antibody micronucleus assay and nonbanding metaphase chromosome analysis. Increased tail intensities, indicative of elevated levels of DNA damage, were observed using the alkaline comet assay. Elevated levels of phosphorylated histone gammaH2AX protein were observed as early as 3 h following TSA exposure and peaked at 12 h for 200nM TSA. Significant levels of aneuploidy at the 200nM TSA dose were observed using metaphase analysis, but interestingly, kinetochore-positive micronuclei were not detected at any dose using the kinetochore micronucleus assay, suggesting that TSA induces aneuploidy via a nondisjunction event rather than chromosome lagging. Increases in chromosomal loss and breakage were observed using simultaneous FISH metaphase analysis of chromosomes 5, 7, 8, and 21, consistent with data obtained from the micronucleus and metaphase chromosome analyses. We conclude that TSA is both a clastogen and aneugen in the TK6 cell line and propose that the observed cytostatic and apoptotic properties of TSA may partially be due to this genotoxicity.
Clock synchronization and dispersion

We present a method to defeat effects of dispersion of timing signals when synchronizing clocks. It is based on the recently proposed 'conveyor belt synchronization' scheme and on the quantum dispersion cancellation effect.
Dual-Energy Multi–Detector Row CT with Virtual Monochromatic Imaging for Improving Patient-to-Patient Uniformity of Aortic Enhancement during CT Angiography: An in Vitro and in Vivo Study

Our study results suggest that virtual monochromatic imaging improves patient-to-patient uniformity of aortic enhancement during multi–detector row CT angiography.
Interpreting Pitch Accents in Online Comprehension: H* vs. L+H*

Although the presence or absence of a pitch accent clearly can play an important role in signaling the discourse and information structure of an utterance, whether the form of an accent determines the type of information it conveys is more controversial. We used an eye-tracking paradigm to investigate whether H*, which has been argued to signal new information, evokes different eye fixations than L+H*, which has been argued to signal the presence of contrast. Our results demonstrate that although listeners interpret these accents differently, their interpretive domains overlap. L+H* creates a strong bias toward contrast referents whereas H* is compatible with both new and contrast referents.
Evaluation of Environmental Sampling and Culture to Determine Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis Distribution and Herd Infection Status on US Dairy Operations

The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in the environment and assess the relationship between the culture status of MAP in the farm environment and herd infection status. The National Animal Health Monitoring System's Dairy 2002 study surveyed dairy operations in 21 states. One component of the study involved collection and culturing of environmental samples for MAP from areas on farms where manure accumulated from a majority of a herd's cows. Operations were selected for inclusion based on perceived risk factors for MAP infection identified in a previously administered questionnaire. Individual animal and environmental samples were collected and used to determine the efficiency of environmental sampling for determination of herd infection status. Individual animal fecal, serum, and milk samples were used to classify herds as infected or not infected based on the presence of at least one test-positive animal in the herd. A total of 483 environmental samples (approximately 5 per farm) were collected, and 218 (45.1%) were culture-positive for MAP. A similar percentage of environmental cultures collected from all designated areas were positive [parlor exits (52.3%), floors of holding pens (49.1%), common alleyways (48.8%), lagoons (47.4%), manure spreaders (42.3%), and manure pits (41.5%)]. Of the 98 operations tested with the environmental sample culture, 97 had individual serum ELISA results, 60 had individual fecal culture results, and 34 had individual milk ELISA results. Sixty-nine of the 98 operations (70.4%) had at least one environmental sample that was culture-positive. Of the 50 herds classified as infected by fecal culture, 38 (76.0%) were identified by environmental culture. Two of the 10 operations classified as not infected based on individual animal fecal culture were environmental culture-positive. Of the 80 operations classified as infected based on serum ELISA-positive results, 61 (76.3%) were identified as environmental-positive, whereas 20 of the 28 (71.4%) operations identified as infected based on milk ELISA were detected by environmental sampling. Environmental sample culturing is less costly than individual animal sampling, does not require animal restraint, and identified more than 70% of infected operations. Environmental sampling is another diagnostic tool that veterinarians and dairy producers can use to determine herd infection status for MAP.
Parenteral Nutrition Utilization After Implementation of Multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Team Oversight: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Multidisciplinary nutrition teams can help guide the use of parenteral nutrition (PN), thereby reducing infectious risk, morbidity, and associated costs. Starting in 2007 at Harborview Medical Center, weekly multidisciplinary meetings were established to review all patients receiving PN. This study reports on observed changes in utilization from 2005-2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients who received PN from 2005-2010 were followed prospectively. Clinical data and PN utilization data were recorded. Patients were grouped into cohorts based on exposure to weekly multidisciplinary nutrition team meetings (from 2005-2007 and from 2008-2010). Patients were also stratified by location, primary service, and ultimate disposition. RESULTS In total, 794 patients were included. After initiation of multidisciplinary nutrition meetings, the rate of patients who started PN decreased by 27% (relative risk [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.84). A reduction in the number of patients receiving PN was observed in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and on the acute care floor (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53-0.77 and RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99, respectively). The rate of patients with short-duration PN use (PN duration of <5 days) declined by 30% in the ICU (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97) and by 27% on acute care floors (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-1.03). CONCLUSIONS Weekly multidisciplinary review of patients receiving PN was associated with reductions in the number of patients started on PN, total days that patients received PN, and number of patients who had short-duration (<5 days) PN use.
Monitoring the presence and expression of transgenes in living plants

A range of bio- and nanotechnologies have been developed that could be adapted towards monitoring the presence and expression of transgenes, in real time and in the field, in plants of agronomic and ecological importance. Transgene escape from crop hosts to wild relatives or landraces is one example in which monitoring might be useful, depending on the ecological impact of the transgene. In addition, there might be non-biosafety-related practical reasons to monitor transgene expression. Transgenes can be tagged with green fluorescent protein and imaged or measured using instruments designed to detect fluorescence signals on the plant. In addition, nanotechnologies using aptamers, quantum dots and molecular beacons are rapidly evolving and could also be used for post hoc (after transformation) in vivo monitoring. These nanotechnologies have the benefit of being useful on a post hoc basis.
Evaluation of a school-based treatment program for young adolescents with ADHD

OBJECTIVE: This study compared 2 school-based training interventions for adolescents with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): the Challenging Horizons Program-after school version (CHP-AS) and Challenging Horizons Program-mentoring version (CHP-M) with each other and with a community care (CC) condition. METHOD: Participants were 326 students (sixth through eighth grade) diagnosed with ADHD. Interventions were conducted for 1 academic year. CHP-AS occurred twice weekly and included organization, social functioning, and academic study skills interventions. In CHP-M, students were paired with a mentor (e.g., teacher) who was trained by a consultant and delivered a subset of the CHP-AS interventions during school. No direct intervention was provided in CC. Participants were assessed at pretreatment, 4 occasions during the intervention year, posttreatment, and at a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Intent-to-treatment analyses using hierarchical linear modeling to compare outcomes between the 3 conditions indicate participation in the CHP-AS intervention is associated with moderate effect size improvements in parent-rated organization and time-management skills, homework problems, and ADHD symptoms of inattention, and with small improvements in overall academic functioning and grade point average (GPA). These improvements were in comparison to CC and to CHP-M. Gains were sustained into the next school year and even increased in magnitude for several of the measures. CONCLUSIONS: The CHP-AS program leads to significant benefits for adolescents with ADHD compared with the services provided in the CHP-M and CC. The persistence of improvements over time supports the use of training interventions that teach skills for adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record Language: en
Small Immunoglobulin Domain Proteins at Synapses and the Maintenance of Neuronal Features

The integrity of neural circuits must be maintained throughout the lifetime of an organism. In this issue of Neuron, Cherra and Jin (2016) characterize a small, two-Ig domain protein, ZIG-10, and its role in maintaining synaptic density in a specific set of C. elegans neurons.
Discrimination between Optical Coherent States via a Closed-Loop Quantum Measurement

I will describe progress toward implementing optical quantum state discrimination at the minimum quantum error probability via a closed-loop quantum measurement. The procedure highlights the enabling role of continuous feedback in quantum information theoretic procedures.
Refrigeration by Small Cryocoolers

Small cryocoolers are important tools to maintain cryogenic environment for industrial applications of superconducting magnet and cryoelectronics. In this lecture, basic understanding of thermodynamic cycles and efficiency, configuration of practical cryocoolers and several comments for users are presented.
Efficacy of four commercially available heartworm preventive products against the JYD-34 laboratory strain of Dirofilaria immitis

Heartworm disease in dogs can be severe and life threatening. Resistance to available heartworm preventives was considered among potential causes of increased reports of failed heartworm prevention in dogs. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy of four commercially available heartworm disease preventives against the JYD-34 strain of D. immitis. Forty laboratory-reared dogs approximately 6 months old were used. Each dog was infected with fifty, third-stage heartworm larvae on study day (SD) -30. On SD-1, the dogs were randomized to five groups of eight dogs each. On SD-0, dogs in groups 1–4 were treated as follows: Group 1: ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate chewable tablets; Group 2: milbemycin oxime/spinosad tablets; Group 3: selamectin topical solution; and Group 4: imidacloprid/moxidectin topical solution. Dogs in Group 5 were not treated and served as controls. The dogs were treated according to their current body weights and labelled dose banding for each product. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were retreated with their respective products and current body weights on SD 31 and 60. On SDs 124–126 the dogs were euthanized and necropsied for recovery of adult heartworms. Adult heartworms were recovered at necropsy from each of the dogs in the control group (13–32 worms/dog, geometric mean (GM) = 18.4 worms/dog). Adult heartworms and/or worm fragments were also recovered from each of the dogs treated with ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate, milbemycin oxime/spinosad or selamectin. Geometric means of worms recovered from dogs in each of these groups were 13.1, 8.8, and 13.1, resulting in efficacies compared to controls of 29.0, 52.2, and 28.8 %, respectively. All dogs in Group 4 (imidacloprid/moxidectin) were free of adult heartworms (100 % efficacy). The combination of imidacloprid/moxidectin was 100 % effective in this study in preventing development of JYD-34 laboratory strain of D. immitis in dogs following a single treatment, while three monthlytreatments of the three other commercial products provided less than 100 % efficacy. The high efficacy achieved with imidacloprid/moxidectin was likely due to the unique pharmacokinetic properties of the topical formulation delivering greater and sustained drug concentrations necessary to prevent development of D. immitis larvae.
Assay of a formulated herbal capsule and comparison of preparation with the standard decoction

A HPLC method for determination of baicalin in a formulated herbal capsule, which was used in treatment of perennial allergic rhinnitia, was established to evaluate the new preparation and to control its quality. Validation tests were studied and the method was applied for assay of the active component in the capsules and its original standard decoction. The experiment shows that extraction of baicalin with hot or boiling water from crude drugs is a powerful method for preparations. The solubility of baicalin in water was 1.56 mg·mL (37℃) when it was mixed in the extract. The content of the marker component in the standard decoction of daily dose was found to be much higher than those in concentrated herbal capsules. The result indicates that a concentrated herbal preparation should make a comparison of chemistry and efficacy with its original standad decoction to optimizing the herbal formula and its product.
Monitoring and Analysis of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cases in Winter and Spring during 2006—2009 in Hefei City

[Objectives]To study the epidemiological characteristics of non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning in Hefei city,provide scientific basis for the establishment of active monitoring mechanism for non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning.[Methods]According to Emergency Plan against Non-occupational Carbon Monoxide Poisoning,the monitoring of non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning cases was performed.[Results]The cases of non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning increased since late November,and majority of cases occurred from beginning of January to beginning of February in the next year (P0.01).The main cause was coal heating,bad indoor ventilation,resulting in the accumulation of carbon monoxide.There was not obvious difference among different age groups,female cases were slightly more than male cases,and most of the cases were found in urban area (P0.01).[Conclusion]In order to ensure the public health and life safety,monitoring and reporting of non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning should be strengthened,and early warning should be performed timely when risk factors existed.
Survey on the Awareness Rate of STD Knowledge Among 5 Groups of People,Binzhou,Dezhou Cities,2012

Objective To understand the awareness rate on STD knowledge among 5groups of people(urban residents, rural residents,students,migrants,commercial sex workers and MSM)in Binzhou and Dezhou cities. Methods During August-October,2012,a total of 1 172people in Binzhou and Dezhou cities,aged 15-49year old,including urban residents, rural residents,students,migrants,high-risk groups,were surveed. Results The five groups of 1 172people were surveyed,the urban residents 303people,301rural residents,299students,188floating population,commercial sex workers and MSM 81people.The total STD prevention knowledge awareness rate was 57.48%.The awareness rate of knowledge, urban residents was 57.03%,rural residents was 50.23%,school students was 62.98%,the floating population was 51.65%,the high risk population was 79.14%. Conclusion The awareness rate of STD knowledge is low among the 5 groups of people especially among the floating population and rural residents in Binzhou and Dezhou cities.
Carpal valgus in llamas and alpacas: Retrospective evaluation of patient characteristics, radiographic features and outcomes following surgical treatment

This study evaluated outcomes of surgical treatment for carpal valgus in New World camelids and correlated successful outcome (absence of carpal valgus determined by a veterinarian) with patient characteristics and radiographic features. Univariable and multivariable analyses of retrospective case data in 19 camelids (33 limbs) treated for carpal valgus between 1987 and 2010 revealed that procedures incorporating a distal radial transphyseal bridge were more likely (P = 0.03) to result in success after a single surgical procedure. A greater degree of angulation (> 19°, P = 0.02) and younger age at surgery (< 4 months, P = 0.03) were associated with unsuccessful outcome. Overall, 74% of limbs straightened, 15% overcorrected, and 11% had persistent valgus following surgical intervention. To straighten, 22% of limbs required multiple procedures, not including implant removal. According to owners, valgus returned following implant removal in 4 limbs that had straightened after surgery.
Effects of a Novel Fish Transport System on the Health of Adult Fall Chinook Salmon

Abstract Movement past hydroelectric dams and related in-river structures has important implications for habitat connectivity and population persistence in migratory fish. A major problem is that many of these structures lack effective fish passage facilities, which can fragment spawning and rearing areas and negatively impact recruitment. While traditional fish passage facilities (e.g., ladders, trap and haul) can effectively enable fish to pass over barriers, their capital or operational costs can be significant. We evaluated the utility of a novel transport device that utilizes a flexible tube with differential internal air pressure to pass fish around in-river barriers. We apportioned a total of 147 adult fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) nearing maturation to three treatments and a control group. In two of the treatments, adult fall Chinook salmon were transported through the device via two lengths of tube (12 or 77 m) and we compared their injury, stress, and immune system responses and...
On the origins of enigmatic stellar populations in Local Group galactic nuclei

We consider the origins of enigmatic stellar populations in four Local Group galactic nuclei, specifically the Milky Way, M31, M32 and M33. These are centrally concentrated blue stars, found in three out of the four nuclear star clusters (NSCs) considered here. Their origins are unknown, but could include blue straggler (BS) stars, extended horizontal branch stars and young recently formed stars. Here, we calculate order-of-magnitude estimates for various collision rates, as a function of the host NSC environment and distance from the cluster centre. These rates are sufficiently high that BSs, formed via collisions between main sequence (MS) stars, could contribute non-negligibly ($\sim$ 1-10% in mass) to every surface brightness profile, with the exception of the Milky Way. Stellar evolution models show that the envelopes of red giant branch (RGB) stars must be nearly completely stripped to significantly affect their photometric appearance, which requires multiple collisions. Hence, the collision rates for individual RGB stars are only sufficiently high in the inner $\lesssim$ 0.1 pc of M31 and M32 for RGB destruction to occur. Collisions between white dwarfs and MS stars, which should ablate the stars, could offer a steady and significant supply of gas in every NSC in our sample. The gas could either fragment to form new stars, or accrete onto old MS stars already present. Thus, collisional processes could contribute significantly to the observed blue excesses in M31 and M33; future studies should be aimed at better constraining theoretical predictions to compliment existing and future observational data.
The Art of Medicine in Early China: The Ancient and Medieval Origins of a Modern Archive

In this book, Miranda Brown investigates the myths that acupuncturists and herbalists have told about the birth of the healing arts. Moving from the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and Song (960–1279) dynasties to the twentieth century, Brown traces the rich history of Chinese medical historiography and the gradual emergence of the archive of medical tradition. She exposes the historical circumstances that shaped the current image of medical progenitors: the ancient bibliographers, medieval editors, and modern reformers and defenders of Chinese medicine who contributed to the contemporary shape of the archive. Brown demonstrates how ancient and medieval ways of knowing live on in popular narratives of medical history, both in modern Asia and in the West. She also reveals the surprising and often unacknowledged debt that contemporary scholars owe to their pre-modern forebears for the categories, frameworks, and analytic tools with which to study the distant past.
Analysis of radioactive strontium-90 in food by Čerenkov liquid scintillation counting

A simple liquid scintillation counting method using DGA/TRU resins for removal of matrix/radiometric interferences, Cerenkov counting for measuring 90Y, and EDXRF for quantifying Y recovery was validated for analyzing 90Sr in various foods. Analysis of samples containing energetic β emitters required using TRU resin to avoid false detection and positive bias. Additional 34% increase in Y recovery was obtained by stirring the resin while eluting Y with H2C2O4. The method showed acceptable accuracy (±10%), precision (10%), and detectability (~0.09Bqkg-1).
Silver/polymer coated hollow glass waveguides for mid-IR transmission

Hollow glass waveguides (HGWs) have been successfully employed in surgical lasers, temperature and chemical sensors, and other applications requiring transmission of broadband, high-power infrared radiation. The design ofHGWsallows for fine-tuning of the optical response through the deposition of high-quality thin films within the hollowcore. One method of fabricatingHGWs for effective transmission in the infrared is to deposit a reflective metallic layer of silver, and then one or several dielectric layers on top of the silver layer. The addition of appropriate dielectric, or highly transmissive, layers to the HGW has shown to improve throughput and fibers can be modified to transmit optimally at particular wavelengths by altering the types of dielectrics used as well as their individual thicknesses. Increasingly, research in dielectric thin films for HGWs has gravitated towards polymers due to their inertness, ease of deposition, and thickness of film adjusted with concentration of solution instead of deposition kinetics. Poly (methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, and Chemours™ Teflon™ AF are three polymers previously untested as dielectric films in hollow waveguides in the mid-infrared. This work aims to assess the feasibility of these polymers as viable dielectric films in dichroic and multilayer thin-film stack waveguide applications. The three polymers were implemented as HGW dielectric thin films, and the resulting waveguides’ straight and bending losses were measured at CO2 (λ= 10.6 μm) and Er:YAG (λ= 2.94μm) laser wavelengths.
An Intelligent Interface for Organizing Online Opinions on Controversial Topics

An enormous amount of posts and comments are shared in online social forums, which often organize these online social opinions based on semantic contents. However, for controversial topics, people with different attitudes and stances often have very distinct perspectives, reactions, and emotions to the same post. Organization by semantic contents often encourages selective exposure to information, which may exacerbate opinion polarization. To address this problem, we design a novel interface that allows people to better understand and appreciate people with different stances in social forums. Our interface was developed to allow interactive visualization and categorization of original posts about a controversial topic with crowd workers' reactions and emotions from different stances. We evaluated the interface using Reddit posts about US presidential candidates. Results demonstrate that the interface can mitigate selective exposure and help users to adopt a broader spectrum of opinions than the traditional Reddit interface.
Compulsive and Impulsive Shoppers: Hoarding of Fast Fashion Products

Although anecdotal evidence suggests that fast fashion is made of low quality materials, little research has been done to understand how perceptions of fast fashion quality affects consumer purchasing frequency. Furthermore, studies have identified that compulsive and impulsive shopping is tied to hoarding behavior including difficulty discarding and value oriented hoarding. The connection between fast fashion purchasing frequency and compulsive, impulsive and hoarding behaviors has not been, a gap in the research which this study sought to fill. To understand impulsive and compulsive consumers' fast fashion purchasing frequency and the effects that the apparel quality had on hoarding behaviors, an online survey was conducted with a random nationwide sample of 500 women ages 18-59. This homogenous sample was evenly distributed across ages and the resulting racial ethnicities closely represented US population. Results are discussed and implications are provided.
The Hope and Hype of CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing: A Review.

Importance Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) has garnered a great degree of attention since its first reported uses in mammalian cells in early 2013 due to its perceived impact with respect to potential research applications and, especially, therapeutic applications. Observations CRISPR-Cas9 is being widely used in the laboratory and has greatly improved the ability to generate genetically modified animal models of human diseases. First steps have been reported with respect to proof-of-concept cardiovascular therapeutic applications in mouse models—which might eventually lead to new treatments for patients—as well as modification of human embryos, which raises a host of social, ethical, and legal questions. Conclusions and Relevance CRISPR-Cas9 is already having a substantial effect on cardiovascular basic science research. Although the first steps toward potential therapies have been taken, there are substantial obstacles that will need to be overcome if CRISPR-Cas9 is to be used in the practice of cardiovascular medicine.
The Optimal Treatment Plan to Avoid Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients Differs by Surgical Strategy and Tumor Subtype

Strategies to reduce the likelihood of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) include application of Z0011 or use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Indications for ALND differ by treatment plan, and nodal pathologic complete response rates after NAC vary by tumor subtype. This study compared ALND rates for cT1-2N0 tumors treated with upfront surgery versus those treated with NAC. The ALND rates for cT1-2N0 breast cancer patients were compared by tumor subtype among women undergoing upfront surgery to NAC. Multivariable analysis with control for age, cT stage, and lymphovascular invasion, and stratification by subtype was performed. The study identified 1944 cancers in 1907 women who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy with or without ALND (669 upfront breast-conserving surgeries [BCSs], 1004 upfront mastectomies, 271 NACs). Compared with the NAC group, the ALND rates in the BCS group were lower for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor-positive (PR+), human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2−) tumors (15 vs 34%; p < 0.001). The ALND rates in the upfront mastectomy group were higher than in the NAC group for HER2+ or TN tumors. In the multivariable analysis, receipt of NAC compared with upfront BCS remained significantly associated with higher odds of ALND in the ER/PR+ HER2− subtype (hazard ratio [HR], 3.35; p < 0.001), whereas NAC versus upfront mastectomy remained significantly associated with lower odds of ALND in the HER2+ and TN subtypes (HR for HER2+, 0.19, p < 0.001; HR for TN, 0.25, p = 0.007). The study showed that ALND rates differ according to surgery type and tumor subtype secondary to differing ALND indications and nodal response to NAC. These factors can be used to personalize treatment planning to minimize ALND risk for patients with early-stage breast cancer.