Hearing Outcomes after Middle Fossa or Retrosigmoid Craniotomy for Vestibular Schwannoma Tumors

J Neurol Surg B
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1571166

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate hearing outcomes following middle fossa (MF) or retrosigmoid (RS) craniotomy for vestibular schwannoma (VS) removal with the goal of hearing preservation. Design This is a retrospective series. Setting This study was set at a skull base referral center. Participants In this study, 377 sporadic VS patients underwent primary microsurgery for VS from 2002 to 2012 using the MF (n = 305) or RS (n = 72) approaches. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were change in pure-tone average (PTA) and word recognition score from pre- to postoperative and surgical complications. Results Preoperative hearing did not differ between approaches. Tumors were larger in the RS group (mean = 1.78 cm) than the MF group (mean = 0.97 cm) (p ≤ 0.001). Mean times to last audiometric follow-up were MF 1.0 year and RS 0.7 years. Mean decline in hearing from preoperative to last follow-up was greater in the RS group (55.5 dB in PTA and 45.6% in discrimination) than the MF group (38.9 dB and 31.7%) (p ≤ 0.011 and 0.033, respectively). The effect of surgical approach on hearing outcome remained after controlling for tumor size. Facial nerve outcomes and cerebrospinal fluid leak rates were not significantly different. Conclusion Loss of hearing was greater with the RS approach than the MF approach, even when accounting for differences in tumor size. Postoperative facial nerve function and other complications did not differ between approaches.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

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Increased Operative Time for Benign Cranial Nerve Tumor Resection Correlates with Increased Morbidity Postoperatively

J Neurol Surg B
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1572508

Objectives Operative time, previously identified as a risk factor for postoperative morbidity, is examined in patients undergoing benign cranial nerve tumor resection. Design/Setting/Participants This retrospective cohort analysis included patients enrolled in the ACS-NSQIP registry from 2007 through 2013 with a diagnosis of a benign cranial nerve neoplasm. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcomes included postoperative morbidity and mortality. Readmission and reoperation served as secondary outcomes. Results A total of 565 patients were identified. Mean (median) operative time was 398 (370) minutes. The 30-day complication, readmission, and return to the operating room rates were 9.9%, 9.9%, and 7.3%, respectively, on unadjusted analyses. CSF leak requiring reoperation or readmission occurred at a rate of 3.1%. On multivariable regression analysis, operations greater than 413 minutes were associated with an increased odds of overall complication (OR 4.26, 95% CI 2.08–8.72), return to the operating room (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.23–5.67), and increased length of stay(1.6 days, 95% CI 0.94–2.23 days). Each additional minute of operative time was associated with an increased odds of overall complication (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.002–1.006) and increased length of stay (0.006 days, 95% CI 0.004–0.008). Conclusion Increased operative time in patients undergoing surgical resection of a benign cranial nerve neoplasm was associated with an increased rate of complications.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

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Two Defibrillators and Two Cases are Better than One

It was with great enthusiasm that we read the article by Leacock entitled, "Double Simultaneous Defibrillators for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation" (1). Interestingly, we recently also had an extremely similar case describing the simultaneous use of two defibrillators for refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) (2). Our respective case reports are similar in that the maximum defibrillation current (200 Joules [J]) delivered from a single biphasic defibrillator was ineffective, and it was not until the delivery of 400 J of current that the VF was terminated.

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Relationship of the Cricothyroid Space with Vocal Range in Female Singers

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the anterior cricothyroid (CT) space at rest with vocal range in female singers. Potential associations with and between voice categories, age, ethnicity, anthropometric indices, neck dimensions, laryngeal dimensions, vocal data along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were also explored.

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Pelvic Free Fluid in Asymptomatic Pediatric Blunt Abdominal Trauma Patients: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

With focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examinations being performed more commonly on pediatric trauma patients, emergency providers will encounter a positive FAST examination in patients with benign abdominal examinations. This poses a diagnostic dilemma for the provider when deciding whether to obtain a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen/pelvis, observe the patient, or admit the patient.

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Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: The 2014 Practice Analysis

Practice research serves as the certification framework for validating advanced practice roles and updating national qualifying examinations. This national study describes the current practice of the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner (AC PNP) to inform an update of the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Acute Care (CPNP-AC) examination content outline.

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Development of a Rotorcraft Micro air Vehicle for Indoor Flight Research

Abstract

Autonomous flight of micro air vehicles (MAVs) in hostile indoor environments poses significant challenges in terms of control and navigation. In order to support navigation and control research for indoor micro air vehicles, a four-wing tail-sitter type rotorcraft MAV weighing less than 350g has been designed in this paper. In an effort to achieve autonomous indoor flight, an embedded integrated avionic system has been developed. The modeling process has been conducted to obtain accurate six degrees of freedom dynamical model for the designed rotorcraft MAV. In addition, aerodynamic coefficients are evaluated from the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics A PI-ADRC double loop controller with inner-loop outer-loop control scheme has been proposed which takes into account the system's nonlinearities and uncertainties. The proposed flight controller was implemented on the designed rotorcraft MAV that has undergone various simulation and indoor flight tests. Experimental results that demonstrate robustness of the proposed controller with respect to external disturbances and the capabilities of the designed rotorcraft MAV are presented.

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Development of a Rotorcraft Micro air Vehicle for Indoor Flight Research

Abstract

Autonomous flight of micro air vehicles (MAVs) in hostile indoor environments poses significant challenges in terms of control and navigation. In order to support navigation and control research for indoor micro air vehicles, a four-wing tail-sitter type rotorcraft MAV weighing less than 350g has been designed in this paper. In an effort to achieve autonomous indoor flight, an embedded integrated avionic system has been developed. The modeling process has been conducted to obtain accurate six degrees of freedom dynamical model for the designed rotorcraft MAV. In addition, aerodynamic coefficients are evaluated from the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics A PI-ADRC double loop controller with inner-loop outer-loop control scheme has been proposed which takes into account the system's nonlinearities and uncertainties. The proposed flight controller was implemented on the designed rotorcraft MAV that has undergone various simulation and indoor flight tests. Experimental results that demonstrate robustness of the proposed controller with respect to external disturbances and the capabilities of the designed rotorcraft MAV are presented.

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Response Strategy to Environmental Cues for Modular Robots with Self-Assembly from Swarm to Articulated Robots

Abstract

This paper proposes a strategy for a group of swarm robots to self-assemble into a single articulated(legged) structure in response to terrain difficulties during autonomous exploration. These articulated structures will have several articulated legs or backbones, so they are well suited to walk on difficult terrains like animals. There are three tasks in this strategy: exploration, self-assembly and locomotion. We propose a formation self-assembly method to improve self-assembly efficiency. At the beginning, a swarm of robots explore the environment using their sensors and decide whether to self-assemble and select a target configuration from a library to form some robotic structures to finish a task. Then, the swarm of robots will execute a self-assembling task to construct the corresponding configuration of an articulated robot. For the locomotion, with joint actuation from the connected robots, the articulated robot generates locomotive motions. Based on Sambot that are designed to unite swarm mobile and self-reconfigurable robots, we demonstrate the feasibility for a varying number of swarm robots to self-assemble into snake-like and multi-legged robotic structures. Then, the effectiveness and scalability of the strategy are discussed with two groups of experiments and it proves the formation self-assembly is more efficient in the end.

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Recurrent rhabdoid meningioma with lymph node, pulmonary and bone metastases: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Abstract

Rhabdoid meningioma is a rare meningioma variant, classified as WHO grade III. Although this tumor is known for its aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, extracranial metastasis is rare. We report the rare case of a 31-year-old patient with rhabdoid meningioma which recurred several times despite gross total resection, radiation therapy, and gamma knife radiosurgery, and the last recurrence was associated with metastases to lungs, lymph node and bone. The patient showed no response to paclitaxel–carboplatin, or vincristine–cyclophosphamide–adriamycin chemotherapy, and succumbed to the disease. Metastases from rhabdoid meningioma prove to be a diagnostic challenge, and treatment for metastatic meningiomas is not optimized, thus necessitating documentation and interdisciplinary consensus on management protocols.

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Modular Robotic Systems: Characteristics and Applications

Abstract

Employing Modular Robotic Systems (MRS) in different application domains confronts a large number of challenging problems in design, optimization, and planning, and so identifying characteristics of such problems is an important step toward finding proper solution approaches for them. In this paper, we address this issue and provide a comprehensive study on MRS through a structured survey about MRS characteristics and their applications. A novel framework called MITE is proposed to characterize both the properties and applications of MRS from four perspectives of Module, Information, Task, and Environment, based on more than 120 domain-specific features, supplemented by a mapping scheme for describing the interrelations of the four basic aspects of the Task component, namely, Application (for describing high-level tasks such as navigation and rescue), Behavior (for referring to constitutive behaviors like locomotion and manipulation which bring about Applications), Goal (for characterizing the way Behaviors are accomplished), and Operation (for designating activities specific to modular robots, such as self-reconfiguration and gait control). Also, by providing a methodical review on modular robotics, the paper deals with some analyses on recent trends, research gaps and challenges, as well as open problems in the field of MRS.

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Vision-aided Estimation of Attitude, Velocity, and Inertial Measurement Bias for UAV Stabilization

Abstract

This paper studies vision-aided inertial navigation of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in GPS-denied environments. The objectives of the navigation system are to firstly online estimate and compensate the unknown inertial measurement biases, secondly provide drift-free velocity and attitude estimates which are crucial for UAV stabilization control, and thirdly give relatively accurate position estimation such that the UAV is able to perform at least a short-term navigation when the GPS signal is not available. For the vision system, we do not presume maps or landmarks of the environment. The vision system should be able to work robustly even given low-resolution images (e.g., 160 ×120 pixels) of near homogeneous visual features. To achieve these objectives, we propose a novel homography-based vision-aided navigation system that adopts four common sensors: a low-cost inertial measurement unit, a downward-looking monocular camera, a barometer, and a compass. The measurements of the sensors are fused by an extended Kalman filter. Based on both analytical and numerical observability analyses of the navigation system, we theoretically verify that the proposed navigation system is able to achieve the navigation objectives. We also show comprehensive simulation and real flight experimental results to verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed navigation system.

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Robust Model Predictive Flight Control of Unmanned Rotorcrafts

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of robust flight control of unmanned rotorcrafts, by proposing and experimentally evaluating a real–time robust model predictive control scheme in various challenging conditions, aiming to capture the demanding nature of the potential requirements for their efficient and safe integration in real–life operations. The control derivation process is based on state space representations applicable in most rotorcraft configurations and incorporate the effects of external disturbances. Exploiting this modeling approach, two different unmanned rotorcraft configurations are presented and experimentally utilized. The formulated control strategy consists of a receding horizon scheme, the optimization process of which employs the minimum peak performance measure, while incorporating and accounting for the modeled dynamics and input and state constraints. This strategy aims to ensure the minimum possible deviation subject to the worst–case disturbance, while robustly respecting and satisfying the physical limitations of the system, or a set of mission-related requirements, as encoded in the constraints. The proposed framework is further augmented in order to provide obstacle avoidance capabilities into a unified scheme. Multiparametric methods were utilized in order to provide an explicit solution to the controller computation optimization problem, therefore allowing for fast real–time execution and seamless integration into any digital avionics system. The efficiency of the proposed strategy is validated via several experimental case studies on the two unmanned rotorcraft platforms. The experiments set consists of: trajectory tracking subject to atmospheric disturbances, slung load operations, fast highly disturbed maneuvers, collisions handling, as well as avoidance of known obstacles.

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A Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robot with Enhanced Locomotion Performances: Design, Modeling, Simulations, and Experiments

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of a modular self-reconfigurable robot with enhanced locomotion capabilities. It is a small hexahedron robot which is 160 mm × 140 mm × 60 mm in size and 405 g in weight. The robot is driven by three omnidirectional wheels, with up and down symmetrical structure. The robot can perform rectilinear and rotational locomotion, and turn clockwise and counterclockwise without limitation. A new docking mechanism that combines the advantages of falcula and pin-hole has been designed for attaching and detaching different modules. The communication and image data transmission are based on a wireless network. The kinematics and dynamics of the single module has been analyzed, and the enhanced locomotion capabilities of the prototype robot are verified through experiments. The maximum linear velocity is 25.1cm/s, which is much faster than other modular self-reconfigurable robots. The mobility of two connected modules is analyzed in the ADAMS simulator. The locomotion of the docking modules is more flexible. Simulations on the wheel and crawling locomotion are conducted, the trajectories of the robot are shown, and the movement efficiency is analyzed. The docking mechanisms are tested through docking experiments, and the effectiveness has been verified. When the transmission time interval between the adjacent packets is more than 4 ms, the wireless network will not lose any packet at the maximum effective distance of 37 m in indoor environments.

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Humanoid Posture Selection for Reaching Motion and a Cooperative Balancing Controller

Abstract

Our goal in this research was to develop a motion planning algorithm for a humanoid to enable it to remove an object that is blocking its path. To remove an object in its path, a humanoid must be able to reach it. Simply stretching its arms, which in a humanoid are shorter than its body and legs, is not sufficient to reach an object located at some distance away or on the ground. Therefore, reachability has to be ensured by a combination of motions that include kneeling and orienting the pelvis. However, many posture selection options exist because of the redundancy of a humanoid. In this research, we focused on the optimization of the posture of a humanoid that is reaching toward a point. The posture selected depends on the initial posture, the location of the point, and the desired manipulability of the humanoid's arms. A cooperative balancing controller ensures the stability of the reaching motion. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for reaching posture selection and a balancing controller for humanoids, and we present the results of several experiments that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and controller.

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Foot Force Based Reactive Stability of Multi-Legged Robots to External Perturbations

Abstract

Many environments and scenarios contain rough and irregular terrain and are inaccessible or hazardous for humans. Robotic automation is preferred in lieu of placing humans at risk. Legged locomotion is more advantageous in traversing complex terrain but requires constant monitoring and correction to maintain system stability. This paper presents a multi-legged reactive stability control method for maintaining system stability under external perturbations. Assuming tumbling instability and sufficient friction to prevent slippage, the reactive stability control method is based solely on the measured foot forces normal to the contact surface, reducing computation time and sensor information. Under external perturbations, the reactive stability control method opts to either displace the CG or the foot contacts of the robot based on the measured foot force distribution. Details describing the reactive stability control method are discussed including algorithms and an implementation example. An experimental demonstration of the reactive stability control method is presented. The experiment was conducted on a hexapod robot platform retrofitted with a tiny computer and force sensitive resistors to measure the foot forces. The experimental results show that the presented reactive stability control strategy prevents the robot from tipping over under external perturbation.

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Cooperative Tracking a Moving Target Using Multiple Fixed-wing UAVs

Abstract

A cooperative tracking scheme is presented in this paper for multiple fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to track an uncooperative, moving target. It is comprised of a target loitering algorithm and a formation flight algorithm. The loitering algorithm enables a constant speed UAV to circle around a moving target, whose speed is allowed to vary up to the UAV's speed. The formation algorithm enables cooperative tracking using multiple UAVs by keeping them flying in a circular formation with equal inter-vehicle angular separation. Under this formation algorithm, the formation center can be controlled independently to perform target loitering, and the admissible range of the target's speed would not be affected for given UAVs. The performance of the proposed tracking system is verified in numerical simulations.

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Development of a Rotorcraft Micro air Vehicle for Indoor Flight Research

Abstract

Autonomous flight of micro air vehicles (MAVs) in hostile indoor environments poses significant challenges in terms of control and navigation. In order to support navigation and control research for indoor micro air vehicles, a four-wing tail-sitter type rotorcraft MAV weighing less than 350g has been designed in this paper. In an effort to achieve autonomous indoor flight, an embedded integrated avionic system has been developed. The modeling process has been conducted to obtain accurate six degrees of freedom dynamical model for the designed rotorcraft MAV. In addition, aerodynamic coefficients are evaluated from the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics A PI-ADRC double loop controller with inner-loop outer-loop control scheme has been proposed which takes into account the system's nonlinearities and uncertainties. The proposed flight controller was implemented on the designed rotorcraft MAV that has undergone various simulation and indoor flight tests. Experimental results that demonstrate robustness of the proposed controller with respect to external disturbances and the capabilities of the designed rotorcraft MAV are presented.

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Response Strategy to Environmental Cues for Modular Robots with Self-Assembly from Swarm to Articulated Robots

Abstract

This paper proposes a strategy for a group of swarm robots to self-assemble into a single articulated(legged) structure in response to terrain difficulties during autonomous exploration. These articulated structures will have several articulated legs or backbones, so they are well suited to walk on difficult terrains like animals. There are three tasks in this strategy: exploration, self-assembly and locomotion. We propose a formation self-assembly method to improve self-assembly efficiency. At the beginning, a swarm of robots explore the environment using their sensors and decide whether to self-assemble and select a target configuration from a library to form some robotic structures to finish a task. Then, the swarm of robots will execute a self-assembling task to construct the corresponding configuration of an articulated robot. For the locomotion, with joint actuation from the connected robots, the articulated robot generates locomotive motions. Based on Sambot that are designed to unite swarm mobile and self-reconfigurable robots, we demonstrate the feasibility for a varying number of swarm robots to self-assemble into snake-like and multi-legged robotic structures. Then, the effectiveness and scalability of the strategy are discussed with two groups of experiments and it proves the formation self-assembly is more efficient in the end.

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Recurrent rhabdoid meningioma with lymph node, pulmonary and bone metastases: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Abstract

Rhabdoid meningioma is a rare meningioma variant, classified as WHO grade III. Although this tumor is known for its aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, extracranial metastasis is rare. We report the rare case of a 31-year-old patient with rhabdoid meningioma which recurred several times despite gross total resection, radiation therapy, and gamma knife radiosurgery, and the last recurrence was associated with metastases to lungs, lymph node and bone. The patient showed no response to paclitaxel–carboplatin, or vincristine–cyclophosphamide–adriamycin chemotherapy, and succumbed to the disease. Metastases from rhabdoid meningioma prove to be a diagnostic challenge, and treatment for metastatic meningiomas is not optimized, thus necessitating documentation and interdisciplinary consensus on management protocols.

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Multiple Model Q-Learning for Stochastic Asynchronous Rewards

Abstract

This paper investigates reinforcement learning problems where a stochastic time delay is present in the reinforcement signal, but the delay is unknown to the learning agent. This work posits that the agent may receive individual reinforcements out of order, which is a relaxation of an important assumption in previous works from the literature. To that end, a stochastic time delay is introduced into a mobile robot line-following application. The main contribution of this work is to provide a novel stochastic approximation algorithm, which is an extension of Q-learning, for the time-delayed reinforcement problem. The paper includes a proof of convergence as well as grid world simulation results from MATLAB, results of line-following simulations within the Cyberbotics Webots mobile robot simulator, and finally, experimental results using an e-Puck mobile robot to follow a real track despite the presence of large, stochastic time delays in its reinforcement signal.

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Towards quantitative cut-offs for insomnia: how current diagnostic criteria mischaracterize remission.

• Many insomniacs stop meeting diagnostic criteria despite continued sleep disturbance (≥ 31 minutes of SOL/WASO).• 'Remission' in these cases is attributable instead to tolerance of sleep symptoms.• Incorporating quantitative criteria for nocturnal insomnia symptoms may help solve this problem.

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Kisses for your Valentine

Serratia marcencens and Corynebacterium xerosis on TSA make for a great valentine for any microbiologist!

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Happy Valentine's Day

Scientists need a sweetheart too! Use Kocuria rhizophila, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on TSA to show your Valentine how much you care.

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8th grader petri dishes - seeking help to identify colonies

I did a study of hand washing and hand sanitizer. Is anyone on the list willing to help me identify what grew from my unwashed and even washed hands? I attach three photos representing the yellow, white and orange growths found after several days on agar plates. Thank you so much in advance.

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Inhibition-based first-generation electrochemical biosensors: theoretical aspects and application to 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid detection

Abstract

In this work, several theoretical aspects involved in the first-generation inhibition-based electrochemical biosensor measurements have been discussed. In particular, we have developed a theoretical-methodological approach for the characterization of the kinetic interaction between alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) as representative inhibitor studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Based on these findings, a biosensor for the fast, simple, and inexpensive determination of 2,4-D has been developed. The enzyme has been immobilized on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). To optimize the biosensor performances, several carbon-based SPEs, namely graphite (G), graphene (GP), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been evaluated. AlP was immobilized on the electrode surface by means of polyvinyl alcohol with styryl-pyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ) as cross-linking agent. In the presence of ascorbate 2-phosphate (A2P) as substrate, the herbicide has been determined, thanks to its inhibition activity towards the enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of A2P to ascorbic acid (AA). Under optimum experimental conditions, the best performance in terms of catalytic efficiency has been demonstrated by MWCNTs SPE-based biosensor. The inhibition biosensor shows a linearity range towards 2,4-D within 2.1–110 ppb, a LOD of 1 ppb, and acceptable repeatability and stability. This analysis method was applied to fortified lake water samples with recoveries above 90 %. The low cost of this device and its good analytical performances suggest its application for the screening and monitoring of 2,4-D in real matrices.

Graphical Abstract

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Fractionating power and outlet stream polydispersity in asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation. Part I: isocratic operation

Abstract

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (As-FlFFF) has become the most commonly used of the field-flow fractionation techniques. However, because of the interdependence of the channel flow and the cross flow through the accumulation wall, it is the most difficult of the techniques to optimize, particularly for programmed cross flow operation. For the analysis of polydisperse samples, the optimization should ideally be guided by the predicted fractionating power. Many experimentalists, however, neglect fractionating power and rely on light scattering detection simply to confirm apparent selectivity across the breadth of the eluted peak. The size information returned by the light scattering software is assumed to dispense with any reliance on theory to predict retention, and any departure of theoretical predictions from experimental observations is therefore considered of no importance. Separation depends on efficiency as well as selectivity, however, and efficiency can be a strong function of retention. The fractionation of a polydisperse sample by field-flow fractionation never provides a perfectly separated series of monodisperse fractions at the channel outlet. The outlet stream has some residual polydispersity, and it will be shown in this manuscript that the residual polydispersity is inversely related to the fractionating power. Due to the strong dependence of light scattering intensity and its angular distribution on the size of the scattering species, the outlet polydispersity must be minimized if reliable size data are to be obtained from the light scattering detector signal. It is shown that light scattering detection should be used with careful control of fractionating power to obtain optimized analysis of polydisperse samples. Part I is concerned with isocratic operation of As-FlFFF, and part II with programmed operation.

Graphical abstract

The dash-dotted blue curve describes an assumed log-normal sample molecular weight distribution (right axis). The full black curves show predicted outlet polydispersity (left axis) at discrete elution times of 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, and 10.5 minutes during an isocratic As-FlFFF analysis

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Biological trait analysis and stability of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

House flies, Musca domestica L., (Diptera: Muscidae), are pests of poultry and have the ability to develop resistance to insecticides. To design a strategy for resistance management, life history traits based on laboratory observations were established for lambda-cyhalothrin-resistant, susceptible and reciprocal crosses of M. domestica strains. Bioassay results showed that the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain developed a resistance ratio of 98.34 compared to its susceptible strain. The lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain had a relative fitness of 0.26 and lower fecundity, hatchability, lower number of next generation larvae, and net reproductive rate compared with its susceptible strain. Mean population growth rates, such as intrinsic rate of population increase, and biotic potential were lower for the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain compared to its susceptible strain. Resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin, indoxacarb, and abamectin was unstable while resistance to bifenthrin and methomyl was stable in the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain of M. domestica. Development of resistance can cost considerable fitness for the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain. The present study provided useful information for making potential management strategies to delay resistance development in M. domestica.

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Relationship of the Cricothyroid Space with Vocal Range in Female Singers

Publication date: Available online 13 February 2016
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Beverley Pullon
ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the relationship between the anterior cricothyroid (CT) space at rest with vocal range in female singers. Potential associations with and between voice categories, age, ethnicity, anthropometric indices, neck dimensions, laryngeal dimensions, vocal data along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were also explored.Study DesignThis is a cohort study.MethodsLaryngeal dimensions anterior CT space and heights of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages were measured using ultrasound in 43 healthy, classically trained, female singers during quiet respiration. Voice categories (soprano and mezzo-soprano), age, ethnicity, weight, height, body mass index, neck circumference and length, anterior thyroid and cricoid cartilage heights, practice and performance vocal range, lowest and highest practice and performance notes along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were collected.ResultsThe main finding was that mezzo-sopranos have a significantly wider resting CT space than sopranos (11.6 mm versus 10.4 mm; P = 0.007). Mezzo-sopranos also had significantly lower "lowest and highest" performance notes than sopranos. There was no significant correlation between the magnitudes of the anterior CT space with vocal range. The participants with the narrowest and widest anterior CT space had similar vocal ranges.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the CT space is not the major determinant of performance vocal range.

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Questionable Necessity for Removing Submandibular Gland in Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Abstract

To assess whether submandibular gland is involved by metastasis in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. It was a retrospective study, where we reviewed the records of the patients who underwent neck dissections for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity. It included 112 patients who had undergone 115 neck dissections (three patients had undergone bilateral neck dissection), either therapeutic or prophylactic. No pathologic evidence of metastasis to submandibular gland was seen in any of the case. Preservation of submandibular glands can be a good technique for reducing future complications in a patient undergoing Neck Dissection wherever feasible. Therefore, if there is no need to expose large oral cavity tumors through the submandibular triangle, or when there is no direct extension of the primary and/or regional lymph nodes into the submandibular gland, it may be safe to preserve the submandibular gland.

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Questionable Necessity for Removing Submandibular Gland in Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Abstract

To assess whether submandibular gland is involved by metastasis in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. It was a retrospective study, where we reviewed the records of the patients who underwent neck dissections for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity. It included 112 patients who had undergone 115 neck dissections (three patients had undergone bilateral neck dissection), either therapeutic or prophylactic. No pathologic evidence of metastasis to submandibular gland was seen in any of the case. Preservation of submandibular glands can be a good technique for reducing future complications in a patient undergoing Neck Dissection wherever feasible. Therefore, if there is no need to expose large oral cavity tumors through the submandibular triangle, or when there is no direct extension of the primary and/or regional lymph nodes into the submandibular gland, it may be safe to preserve the submandibular gland.

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Variability in aerosol optical properties over an urban site, Kanpur, in the Indo-Gangetic Plain: A case study of haze and dust events

Publication date: 15 June 2016
Source:Atmospheric Research, Volumes 174–175
Author(s): Kirpa Ram, Sunita Singh, M.M. Sarin, A.K. Srivastava, S.N. Tripathi
In this study, we report on three important optical parameters, viz. absorption and scattering coefficients (babs, bscat) and single scattering abledo (SSA) based on one-year chemical-composition data collected from an urban site (Kanpur) in the Indo-Gangetic-Plain (IGP) of northern India. In addition, absorption Ängstrom exponent (AAE) was also estimated in order to understand the wavelength dependence of absorption and to decipher emission sources of carbonaceous aerosols, in particular of black carbon. The absorption and scattering coefficients ranged between 8.3 to 95.2Mm−1 (1Mm−1=10−6m−1) and 58 to 564Mm−1, respectively during the study period (for n=66; from January 2007 to March 2008) and exhibit large seasonal variability with higher values occurring in winter and lower in the summer. Single scattering albedo varied from 0.65 to 0.92 whereas AAE ranged from 0.79 to 1.40 during pre-monsoon and winter seasons, respectively. The strong seasonal variability in aerosol optical properties is attributed to varying contribution from different emission sources of carbonaceous aerosols in the IGP. A case study of haze and dust events further provide information on extreme variability in aerosol optical parameters, particularly SSA, a crucial parameter in atmospheric radiative forcing estimates.

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Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Chronic migraine is defined as having more than 15 headache days in a month, half of these showing migraine features, for at least 3 months. It is a chronic painful syndrome with aspects such as psychiatric comorbid, decreased quality of life, and environmental and intrinsic psychological factors that make face-to-face treatment difficult. Children and adolescent migraine differ from adults as a result of growing brain and evolving disorder. In this paper, we will emphasize the definition, diagnosis, epidemiology, burden of life, and management of chronic migraine in children and adolescent.

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Questionable Necessity for Removing Submandibular Gland in Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Abstract

To assess whether submandibular gland is involved by metastasis in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. It was a retrospective study, where we reviewed the records of the patients who underwent neck dissections for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity. It included 112 patients who had undergone 115 neck dissections (three patients had undergone bilateral neck dissection), either therapeutic or prophylactic. No pathologic evidence of metastasis to submandibular gland was seen in any of the case. Preservation of submandibular glands can be a good technique for reducing future complications in a patient undergoing Neck Dissection wherever feasible. Therefore, if there is no need to expose large oral cavity tumors through the submandibular triangle, or when there is no direct extension of the primary and/or regional lymph nodes into the submandibular gland, it may be safe to preserve the submandibular gland.

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Ancient Wisdom in the Age of the New Science: Histories of Philosophy in England, c. 1640–1700, Dmitri Levitin. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2015)

Publication date: Available online 13 February 2016
Source:Journal of Historical Geography
Author(s): Robert J. Mayhew

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Ancient Wisdom in the Age of the New Science: Histories of Philosophy in England, c. 1640–1700, Dmitri Levitin. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2015)

Publication date: Available online 13 February 2016
Source:Journal of Historical Geography
Author(s): Robert J. Mayhew

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Spasmodic research as executive duties permit: Space, practice, and the localization of forest management expertise in British Columbia, 1912–1928

Publication date: April 2016
Source:Journal of Historical Geography, Volume 52
Author(s): David Brownstein
What are the mechanisms by which local knowledge spreads across space? By focusing on the methods that British Columbia foresters used to learn of the province's trees, we see that the Forest Branch performed the scientific work necessary to localize management models for use in a new place. With little authority and vulnerable to outside criticism, the Branch had to generate quality knowledge that would withstand the scrutiny of a powerful but fractious industry reluctant to submit to regulation. It also had to satisfy a general public becoming increasingly horrified by a landscape peppered with clearcuts growing in size. The urgency of forest regeneration problems in a context of increased logging pressured the Branch to transform its research from a spasmodic shared burden to the exclusive activity of a few individuals. Such centralization coincided with the birth of non-governmental forest policy critics, the societies and associations that would rail against forest management practices for decades to come. This necessitated a transformed structure from a dispersed, egalitarian network to a more centralized activity. These findings confirm observations regarding the spread of nineteenth-century environmental concerns, stress how unique ecologies constrained and shaped forestry more than simplified histories suggest, and contradict the assumption that German forestry science was hegemonic by the end of the nineteenth century.

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Incidental findings of uncertain significance: To know or not to know – that is not the question

Abstract

Background

Although the "right not to know" is well established in international regulations, it has been heavily debated. Ubiquitous results from extended exome and genome analysis have challenged the right not to know. American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Recommendations urge to inform about incidental findings that pretend to be accurate and actionable. However, ample clinical cases raise the question whether these criteria are met. Many incidental findings are of uncertain significance (IFUS). The eager to feedback information appears to enter the field of IFUS and thereby threaten the right not to know. This makes it imperative to investigate the arguments for and against a right not to know for IFUS.

Discussion

This article investigates how the various arguments for and against a right not to know hold for IFUS. The main investigated arguments are: hypothetical utilitarianism, the right-based argument, the feasibility argument, the value of knowledge argument, the argument from lost significance, the empirical argument, the duty to disclose argument, the avoiding harm argument; the argument from principle, from autonomy, from privacy, as well as the argument from the right to an open future. The analysis shows that both sides in the debate have exaggerated the importance of incidental findings.

Summary

Opponents of a right not to know have exaggerated the importance of IFUS, while proponents have exaggerated the need to be protected from something that is not knowledge. Hence, to know or not to know is not the question. The question is whether we should be able to stay ignorant of incidental findings of uncertain significance, if we want to. The answer is yes: As long as the information is not accurate and/or actionable: ignorance is bliss. When answering questions that are not asked, we need to think twice.

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Ancient Wisdom in the Age of the New Science: Histories of Philosophy in England, c. 1640–1700, Dmitri Levitin. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2015)

Publication date: Available online 13 February 2016
Source:Journal of Historical Geography
Author(s): Robert J. Mayhew

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Hypoxia induce TFE3 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Authors: Sun ZJ, Yu GT, Huang CF, Bu LL, Liu JF, Ma SR, Zhang WF, Liu B, Zhang L Abstract To assess the role of transcription factor μE3 (TFE3) in the tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), human HNSCC tissue arrays were investigated for TFE3 expression. Human HNSCC tissues with neoadjuvant inductive chemotherapey (docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil, TPF) and mice HNSCC tissues from transgenic mice model were evaluated for TFE3 expression and the hypoxia pathway. The roles of EGF/EGFR mediated hypoxia in TFE3 nuclear expression were analyzed in vitro and in vivo. TFE3 expression was higher in human HNSCC tissues compared with that in normal oral mucosa. Moreover, high TFE3 expression was related to HIF-1α, PAI-1, and EGFR, which demonstrated the activa…

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Experiences of Participants in a Self-Management Program for Employees with Complaints of the Arm, Neck or Shoulder (CANS): A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the experiences of participants of a self-management program for employees with complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder (CANS). The program consisted of six group sessions combined with an eHealth module. Methods Semi-structured interviews with the first 31 consecutive participants of the intervention group participating in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were interviewed after their last group session. Semi-structured interviews were guided by an interview guide and audio-recorded. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and the emerging themes were discussed. All participants in the intervention group were asked about their experiences with a questionnaire at three (n = 58) and 12-months (n = 53) follow-up. Results Most participants appreciated the diversity of the program and benefited from the interaction with their peers. The eHealth module, although not used by everyone, was generally experienced as positive, especially the section with the physical exercises. Participants obtained more insight into their complaints and increased awareness, which contributed to the acceptance of and coping with the complaints. There was also criticism about the content of the program and the lack of a follow-up session. Results of the questionnaires showed that participants had a high level of satisfaction. Conclusions In general, the intervention fitted the needs of employees with CANS. Participants obtained more knowledge and insight into their complaints, as well as increased awareness; all this contributed to a behavioral change and improved coping. Many participants made changes at work and during their leisure time, whereas some felt that continuing their 'changed' behavior would be a challenge.

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Classification of Food Allergens and Cross-Reactivity

Abstract

Patients with specific food allergies are commonly sensitized to related foods, for example, shrimp with other shellfish and peanut with other legumes. In some instances, this represents a true allergy to the related food, defined as cross-reactivity, while in other instances, it represents a positive skin or IgE test only, in a patient who can eat the related food without difficulty. This is defined as cross-sensitization. It is extremely important that the clinician recognize these patterns of cross-sensitization and cross-reactivity, both to counsel patients on foods that should be avoided and to make sure that foods are not unnecessarily restricted from the diet. In fact, it is very common for patients to be instructed to avoid entire food groups based just on positive tests, which leads to unnecessary dietary restrictions with effects on food choices, nutrition, and quality of life.

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A propensity score matching analysis of survival following segmentectomy or wedge resection in early-stage lung invasive adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSION: Survival following segmentectomy or wedge resection was generally equivalent in lung invasive adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. However, invasive adenocarcinoma patients who were ≤ 65 years or had tumors ≤ 2 cm in size may have improved survival outcomes after segmentectomy. PMID: 26871600 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] (Source: Oncotarget)

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Standardization and Regulation of Allergen Products in the European Union

Abstract

Product-specific standardization is of prime importance to ensure persistent quality, safety, and efficacy of allergen products. The regulatory framework in the EU has induced great advancements in the field in the last years although national implementation still remains heterogeneous. Scores of methods for quantification of individual allergen molecules are developed each year and also the challenging characterization of chemically modified allergen products is progressing. However, despite the unquestionable increase in knowledge and the subsequent improvements in control of quality parameters of allergen products, an important aim has not been reached yet, namely cross-product comparability. Still, comparison of allergen product potency, either based on total allergenic activity or individual allergen molecule content, is not possible due to a lack of standard reference preparations in conjunction with validated standard methods. This review aims at presenting the most recent developments in product-specific standardization as well as activities to facilitate cross-product comparability in the EU.

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Clinical and pathologic considerations of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of lupus nephritogenic autoantibodies: A comprehensive review

Publication date: Available online 12 February 2016
Source:Journal of Autoimmunity
Author(s): Mariele Gatto, Luca Iaccarino, Anna Ghirardello, Leonardo Punzi, Andrea Doria
Autoantibodies are key mediators in determining the clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The mechanisms by which antibodies may be harmful to self tissues encompass complement mediated inflammation, cell apoptosis and immune-complexes mediated damage, however the precise cooperation of antibodies in SLE have not been unravelled so far.Lupus nephritis (LN) is a protean feature of SLE resulting in wide variety of symptoms including asymptomatic proteinuria, mild renal disease until end-stage renal failure which are triggered by complex autoantibody interactions.Novel clues concerning development and self-maintenance of LN have come to light in recent times, pointing straight to a multistep inflammatory process which is incited by anti-chromatin antibodies, the best known being anti-DNA and anti-nucleosome antibodies, culminating in a self-maintaining inflammatory loop with spreading of glomerular inflammation. In the maintenance of the inflammatory process pro-inflammatory antibodies are involved, among which anti-C1q are thought to play a major role, whereas hindrance of the nephritic process could be actively mediated by protective autoantibodies.Despite being so relevant in occurrence of LN, nor anti-chromatin neither anti-C1q antibodies have been precisely characterized in terms of origin, antigen specificity and mechanisms of action.Moreover, novel autoantibodies are emerging in LN which can modify disease course, whereas the pathogenic value of a myriad of cross-reactive antibodies has been progressively challenged.The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive view of known and emerging autoantibody reactivities involved in renal inflammation and damage going over their origin, mechanisms of action and interactions in determining LN course.

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Questionable Necessity for Removing Submandibular Gland in Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Abstract

To assess whether submandibular gland is involved by metastasis in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. It was a retrospective study, where we reviewed the records of the patients who underwent neck dissections for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity. It included 112 patients who had undergone 115 neck dissections (three patients had undergone bilateral neck dissection), either therapeutic or prophylactic. No pathologic evidence of metastasis to submandibular gland was seen in any of the case. Preservation of submandibular glands can be a good technique for reducing future complications in a patient undergoing Neck Dissection wherever feasible. Therefore, if there is no need to expose large oral cavity tumors through the submandibular triangle, or when there is no direct extension of the primary and/or regional lymph nodes into the submandibular gland, it may be safe to preserve the submandibular gland.

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Variability in aerosol optical properties over an urban site, Kanpur, in the Indo-Gangetic Plain: A case study of haze and dust events

Publication date: 15 June 2016
Source:Atmospheric Research, Volumes 174–175
Author(s): Kirpa Ram, Sunita Singh, M.M. Sarin, A.K. Srivastava, S.N. Tripathi
In this study, we report on three important optical parameters, viz. absorption and scattering coefficients (babs, bscat) and single scattering abledo (SSA) based on one-year chemical-composition data collected from an urban site (Kanpur) in the Indo-Gangetic-Plain (IGP) of northern India. In addition, absorption Ängstrom exponent (AAE) was also estimated in order to understand the wavelength dependence of absorption and to decipher emission sources of carbonaceous aerosols, in particular of black carbon. The absorption and scattering coefficients ranged between 8.3 to 95.2Mm−1 (1Mm−1=10−6m−1) and 58 to 564Mm−1, respectively during the study period (for n=66; from January 2007 to March 2008) and exhibit large seasonal variability with higher values occurring in winter and lower in the summer. Single scattering albedo varied from 0.65 to 0.92 whereas AAE ranged from 0.79 to 1.40 during pre-monsoon and winter seasons, respectively. The strong seasonal variability in aerosol optical properties is attributed to varying contribution from different emission sources of carbonaceous aerosols in the IGP. A case study of haze and dust events further provide information on extreme variability in aerosol optical parameters, particularly SSA, a crucial parameter in atmospheric radiative forcing estimates.

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Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Chronic migraine is defined as having more than 15 headache days in a month, half of these showing migraine features, for at least 3 months. It is a chronic painful syndrome with aspects such as psychiatric comorbid, decreased quality of life, and environmental and intrinsic psychological factors that make face-to-face treatment difficult. Children and adolescent migraine differ from adults as a result of growing brain and evolving disorder. In this paper, we will emphasize the definition, diagnosis, epidemiology, burden of life, and management of chronic migraine in children and adolescent.

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Questionable Necessity for Removing Submandibular Gland in Neck Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

Abstract

To assess whether submandibular gland is involved by metastasis in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. It was a retrospective study, where we reviewed the records of the patients who underwent neck dissections for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity. It included 112 patients who had undergone 115 neck dissections (three patients had undergone bilateral neck dissection), either therapeutic or prophylactic. No pathologic evidence of metastasis to submandibular gland was seen in any of the case. Preservation of submandibular glands can be a good technique for reducing future complications in a patient undergoing Neck Dissection wherever feasible. Therefore, if there is no need to expose large oral cavity tumors through the submandibular triangle, or when there is no direct extension of the primary and/or regional lymph nodes into the submandibular gland, it may be safe to preserve the submandibular gland.

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Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Chronic migraine is defined as having more than 15 headache days in a month, half of these showing migraine features, for at least 3 months. It is a chronic painful syndrome with aspects such as psychiatric comorbid, decreased quality of life, and environmental and intrinsic psychological factors that make face-to-face treatment difficult. Children and adolescent migraine differ from adults as a result of growing brain and evolving disorder. In this paper, we will emphasize the definition, diagnosis, epidemiology, burden of life, and management of chronic migraine in children and adolescent.

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