Congenital anomalies of the optic nerve in one family.

Journal ArticleWe present three cases of congenital optic disc anomalies in one family who underwent an extensive diagnostic workup to exclude any intracranial pathology. One patient had elevated optic nerve heads and was hospitalized for multiple diagnostic tests including a lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging scan. This patient had a sister with a previous history of having undergone head and orbital computed tomography to evaluate her symptoms of headaches with anomalous optic nerve heads. The third patient was the father of the other two patients who had previously undergone an extensive evaluation for elevated optic nerve heads and was treated for presumed pseudotumor cerebri with fenestration of the optic nerve sheath. These cases underscore the importance of a detailed family history and examination of family members to exclude congenital abnormalities of the optic nerve head before beginning an extensive workup

Super congruences and Euler numbers

Let $p>3$ be a prime. We prove that $$\sum_{k=0}^{p-1}\binom{2k}{k}/2^k=(-1)^{(p-1)/2}-p^2E_{p-3} (mod p^3),$$ $$\sum_{k=1}^{(p-1)/2}\binom{2k}{k}/k=(-1)^{(p+1)/2}8/3*pE_{p-3} (mod p^2),$$ $$\sum_{k=0}^{(p-1)/2}\binom{2k}{k}^2/16^k=(-1)^{(p-1)/2}+p^2E_{p-3} (mod p^3)$$, where E_0,E_1,E_2,... are Euler numbers. Our new approach is of combinatorial nature. We also formulate many conjectures concerning super congruences and relate most of them to Euler numbers or Bernoulli numbers. Motivated by our investigation of super congruences, we also raise a conjecture on 7 new series for $\pi^2$, $\pi^{-2}$ and the constant $K:=\sum_{k>0}(k/3)/k^2$ (with (-) the Jacobi symbol), two of which are $$\sum_{k=1}^\infty(10k-3)8^k/(k^3\binom{2k}{k}^2\binom{3k}{k})=\pi^2/2$$ and $$\sum_{k>0}(15k-4)(-27)^{k-1}/(k^3\binom{2k}{k}^2\binom{3k}k)=K.$

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for Forage Traits in Intermediate Wheatgrass When Grown as Spaced-Plants versus Monoculture and Polyculture Swards

It has been hypothesized that the genetic control of forage traits, especially biomass, for grass plants growing as spaced-plants versus swards is different. Likewise, the genetic control of compatibility in grass–legume polyculture mixtures is assumed to be different than for forage production in a grass monoculture. However, these hypotheses are largely unvalidated, especially at the DNA level. This study used an intermediate wheatgrass mapping population to examine the effect of three competition environments (spaced-plants, polyculture, and monoculture) on classical quantitative genetic parameters and quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification for biomass, morphology, and forage nutritive value. Moderate to high heritable variation was observed for biomass, morphological traits, and nutritive value within all three environments (H ranged from 0.50 to 0.87). Genetic correlations (rG) among environments for morphology and nutritive value were predominantly high, however, were moderately-low (0.30 to 0.48) for biomass. Six biomass QTL were identified, including three on linkage groups (LG) 1, 6, and 15 that were only expressed in the monoculture environment. Moreover, three biomass QTL on LG 10, 14, and 15 exhibited significant QTL by environment interactions. This study verified that the genetic control of grass biomass in a monoculture versus a grass–legume mixture is only partially the same, with additional genes expressed in monoculture, and that biomass in widely spaced-plants versus swards is predominantly under different genetic control. These results indicate that selection for improved grass biomass will be most successful when conducted within the targeted monoculture or polyculture sward environment per se

International Commercial Arbitration: Fifty Years After the New York Convention

a one-day conference held at the Dean Rusk Center on January 30, 2009. The event, co-sponsored by the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, featured Gary Born as keynote speaker and other leaders in the field of international commercial arbitration including Robert Davidson, Executive Director of JAMS Arbitration Practice; William K. Slate, II, President, American Arbitration Association; and Anne Marie Whitesell, Former Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration

Trichinella Surveillance in Black Bears (Ursus Americanus) from Oregon, USA

We used serology and muscle digestion to test black bears (Ursus americanus) from western Oregon, USA, for Trichinella. Results indicate black bears in Oregon are not part of a sylvatic cycle for Trichinella, and risk of human exposure to Trichinella larvae from eating black bear meat from Oregon appears low

Is there a standard procedure for assessing and providing assistive devices for people with neuro-disabling conditions in United Kingdom? A nation-wide survey

Background: Assistive devices are currently provided to people with neuro-disabling conditions to promote or maintain independence in activities of daily living. However, it is unclear whether assessment procedures performed by health care professionals to guide the provision of assistive devices are standardized.  Objective: To explore the assessment and service-delivery processes of assistive devices for people with multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson's disease experiencing physical disability by health care professionals in the United Kingdom.  Methods: A survey was conducted among UK health care professionals working with people with neuro-disabling conditions. Descriptive and content analyses were used to code survey data.  Results: In total, 231 health care professionals completed the survey: 93 occupational therapists, 136 physiotherapists and 2 assistant practitioners. Less than half of the respondents (46%) reported use of local, national, or combined guidelines when assessing a service user's suitability or need for assistive devices. When guidelines were used, they were not consistent and not specifically for assistive devices. The respondents stated that when users were allocated small and portable assistive devices, they were supplied within four weeks. This period increased for large equipment, major home adaptions or if external specialist services and/or funding was needed.  Conclusions: Standardized operating procedures for assistive device provision are not being carried out within the UK. Variable access to assistive devices supplied by the state indicates inequity across regions. Future research should explore potential benefits of developing standardized assessment procedures for the provision of assistive devices and devise methods to reduce current variability in service delivery

Prediction of post-operative necrosis after mastectomy: A pilot study utilizing optical diffusion imaging spectroscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Flap necrosis and epidermolysis occurs in 18-30% of all mastectomies. Complications may be prevented by intra-operative detection of ischemia. Currently, no technique enables quantitative valuation of mastectomy skin perfusion. Optical Diffusion Imaging Spectroscopy (ViOptix T.Ox Tissue Oximeter) measures the ratio of oxyhemoglobin to deoxyhemoglobin over a 1 × 1 cm area to obtain a non-invasive measurement of perfusion (StO₂).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study evaluates the ability of ViOptix T.Ox Tissue Oximeter to predict mastectomy flap necrosis. StO₂measurements were taken at five points before and at completion of dissection in 10 patients. Data collected included: demographics, tumor size, flap length/thickness, co-morbidities, procedure length, and wound complications.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One patient experienced mastectomy skin flap necrosis. Five patients underwent immediate reconstruction, including the patient with necrosis. Statistically significant factors contributing to necrosis included reduction in medial flap StO₂(p = 0.0189), reduction in inferior flap StO₂(p = 0.003), and flap length (p = 0.009).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>StO₂reductions may be utilized to identify impaired perfusion in mastectomy skin flaps.</p

Identifying walking trips from GPS and accelerometer data in adolescent females

Background: Studies that have combined accelerometers and global positioning systems (GPS) to identify walking have done so in carefully controlled conditions. This study tested algorithms for identifying walking trips from accelerometer and GPS data in free-living conditions. The study also assessed the accuracy of the locations where walking occurred compared with what participants reported in a diary. Methods: A convenience sample of high school females was recruited (N = 42) in 2007. Participants wore a GPS unit and an accelerometer, and recorded their out-of-school travel for 6 days. Split-sample validation was used to examine agreement in the daily and total number of walking trips with Kappa statistics and count regression models, while agreement in locations visited by walking was examined with geographic information systems. Results: Agreement varied based on the parameters of the algorithm, with algorithms exhibiting moderate to substantial agreement with self-reported daily (Kappa = 0.33-0.48) and weekly (Kappa = 0.41-0.64) walking trips. Comparison of reported locations reached by walking and GPS data suggest that reported locations are accurate. Conclusions: The use of GPS and accelerometers is promising for assessing the number of walking trips and the walking locations of adolescent females