Adjustable diameter TIPS in the pediatric patient: the constrained technique

Placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is necessary in children with portal hypertension complicated by variceal bleeding or ascites. However, placement of adult-sized endografts may be problematic due to the smaller anatomy of pediatric patients. On the other hand, placement of fixed diameter smaller stents have the corresponding problem of not accommodating future growth of the child. We describe a novel method to create an adjustable diameter TIPS as a technical solution to these problems. In this technique, a balloon expandable bare metal stent is placed concentrically around the ePTFE TIPS endograft, creating an intentional narrowing in the shunt diameter than can be expanded with balloon dilation at future procedures as needed. This allows for optimal calibration of shunt hemodynamics according to the child’s growth and prevents the potential need for placement of additional shunts or technically challenging TIPS reduction procedures

North Lufkin Neighborhood - Community Centric Design

In the moderate-sized east Texas City of Lufkin, the T.T.L. Temple Foundation and non-profit organization, Impact Lufkin, began with a vision to make a difference in their community. Their goal was to provide the predominantly low-income area of northern Lufkin with space where residents could have access to resources they needed and a place to enjoy recreational activities. Together, these two organizations sought out the technical assistance of Texas Target Communities and the Texas A&M College of Architecture to aid in the design and development of what would become the North Lufkin Neighborhood Resource Center. The vision for the North Lufkin Neighborhood Resource Center was to create a space that was at once innovative, relevant, and meaningful to the community. With community-centric design principles as a guide, the goal was to develop a design solution that reflected the unique characteristics and values of the community while providing them with the resources they needed.Texas Target Communities worked with the T.T.L. Temple Foundation and non-profit organization, Impact Lufkin, to design a community center space where residents could have access to resources they needed and a place to enjoy recreational activities.Texas Target Communitie

Preparing Classroom-Ready Teacher Candidates: Alignment of University Instructional Materials with District Reading Curricula and Assessments

This study is a step toward closing the perceived gap between the preparation of elementary educators for teaching literacy and the expectations of districts. By identifying curriculum and assessments used in cooperating districts, informed faculty can incorporate specific clinical tools into teacher preparation coursework. By providing a seamless connection between the theory, pedagogy, and practice found in the university classroom and that found in elementary classrooms, candidates become more “classroom ready”. The teacher preparation will be better prepared to provide the evidence of program outcomes required by NCATE ( what candidates know and can do ). Faculty, schools, and students will have a common knowledge base and language regarding literacy instruction and assessment

Premium Wireless

Our work implements an inventory system and appointment system for the Premium Wireless phone company. It includes separate views for employees to manage inventory and view appointments for the day and the near future and allows customers to view all current inventory and set an appointment

Evaluation of Dark Fire-Cured Tobacco Varieties

On the campus of Murray State University, we have five acres of dark fire-cured tobacco for research test plots. To better enable dark-fired tobacco producers to select the best varieties of tobacco, we have conducted replicated trials to compare the advantages and disadvantages of current commercial dark tobacco varieties during the 2002 season. The varieties tested include DF 485, DF 911, DT 583, DT 595, DT 508, DT 518, DT 592, KY 160, KY 171, KY 190, TN D94, TN D950, VA 355, VA 359, VA 309, Little Crittenden, TR Madole, Jordan Madole, Smith Madole, Narrow-leaf Madole, Elliott Madole, and Black Mammoth. The two experimental breeding lines also included in the trial were SN 2105 and SN 2108. The layout of the test plots was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Each plot was 300 ft2 , with 4,350 plants per acre. The following herbicides were applied: 1.1 pounds of pendimethalin per acre and 4 ounces of sulfentrazone per acre. The amount of fertilizer applied was 300 lbs. N, 200 lbs. P2O5, and 200 lbs. K2O per acre, respectively. The plots were transplanted into the field on June 4. No irrigation was applied to these plots. On August 1, the plants were detopped. Suckers were controlled by applying a butralin and fatty alcohol mix to each plant. The plants were harvested, or housed in the barn on September 10, 11, and 12. We will be reporting the overall yields, yield of each leaf grade, and the quality of the leaves from each variety. Statistical analysis will be conducted to determine differences between the varieties

Four Studies Concerning Tobacco Experimental Varieties

On the campus of Murray State University, we have five acres of dark fire-cured tobacco for research test plots. In the Donoho, Chandler, Hayden, and Williams study, the research plots were used to increase the quality and yield for future tobacco production. Replicated trials were used to compare the advantages and disadvantages of experimental breeding lines. Tests were conducted in hopes of improving the amount of disease resistance, gross pounds per acre, and leaf quality. The goal of the Lowe, Jackson, Hall, and Morgan study was to help producers to select the best varieties of tobacco to grow. They conducted replicated trials to compare the advantages and disadvantages of conventional and experimental tobacco varieties during the 2003 growing season. They will be reporting the overall yields, yield of each leaf grade, and the quality of the leaves from each variety. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine differences between the varieties. Hall, Gray, and Ferguson will be presenting the results of two studies performed on herbicide applications on dark tobacco. The first involves the sulfonylerea herbicides CGA362622 trioxysulfuron-sodium and halosulfuron-methyl. The second study involved applications of Clomazone and dimethenamid-p. Data collected included visual ratings of crop tolerance and weed control, plant height, and leaf yield by stalk. The last study, Hicks, Monroe, and Bowman involved an attempt to discern optimal nitrogen levels for dark-fired tobacco. Required rates of nitrogen are usually between 200 and 300 pounds per acre. Typically, farmers use more than 300 pounds per acre in an attempt to increase yields. Although nitrogen rates vary depending on weather conditions, too much nitrogen can result in delayed maturity and curing problems

Greater resistance to footshock punishment in female C57BL/6J mice responding for ethanol.

BACKGROUND: One characteristic of alcohol use disorder is compulsive drinking or drinking despite negative consequences. When quinine is used to model such aversion-resistant drinking, female rodents typically are more resistant to punishment than males. Using an operant response task where C57BL/6J responded for ethanol mixed with quinine, we previously demonstrated that female mice tolerate higher concentrations of quinine in ethanol than males. Here, we aimed to determine whether this female vulnerability to aversion-resistant drinking behavior is similarly observed with footshock punishment. METHODS: Male and female C57BL/6J mice were trained to respond for 10% ethanol in an operant task on a fixed-ratio three schedule. After consistent responding, mice were tested in a punishment session using either a 0.25 mA or 0.35 milliamp (mA) footshock. To assess footshock sensitivity, a subset of mice underwent a flinch, jump, and vocalize test in which behavioral responses to increasing amplitudes of footshock (0.05 to 0.95 mA) were assessed. In a separate cohort of mice, males and females were trained to respond for 2.5% sucrose and responses were punished using a 0.25 mA footshock. RESULTS: Males and females continued to respond for 10% ethanol when paired with a 0.25 mA footshock. Females alone continued to respond for ethanol when a 0.35 mA footshock was delivered. Both males and females reduced responding for 2.5% sucrose when punished with a 0.25 mA footshock. Footshock sensitivity in the flinch, jump, and vocalize test did not differ by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Females continue to respond for 10% ethanol despite a 0.35 mA footshock, and this behavior is not due to differences in footshock sensitivity between males and females. These results show that female C57BL/6J mice are generally more resistant to punishment in an operant self-administration paradigm. The findings add to the literature characterizing aversion-resistant alcohol-drinking behaviors in females