Basket Type Research Articles

Complications of Stone Baskets: 14-Year Review of the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database

We categorized trends in failure of the stone baskets as reported in the United States Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database. We queried the online database using the code for stone baskets (FFL) from January 1996 to December 2009. Variables extracted were the type of basket, malfunction and treatment, and patient outcome. We identified 556 adverse events related to stone baskets. The device configuration was tipped in 48% of cases, tipless in 36%, forceps in 8% and the Stone Cone™ in 8%. Malfunction type included detachment of a portion of the basket in 49% of cases, breakage without detachment in 39% and inability to withdraw the basket in 12%. Compared to the early period studied (1996 to 2004) there was a 3-fold increase in adverse events from 2005 to 2007 and a 6-fold increase from 2008 to 2009. Of adverse events 79% and 11% were managed by endoscopy and open surgery, respectively. Of the patients 42 experienced serious complications requiring major surgery, including ureteral reconstruction in 7, reimplantation in 4 and nephrectomy in 7. With the increased use of stone baskets in the upper collecting system the number of adverse events has increased. Urologists should remain vigilant to prevent, recognize and manage these events.

IMPROVED SULFUR DIOXIDE FUMIGATION OF FRESH LONGAN USING A VERTICAL FORCED-AIR TECHNIQUE

ISHS International Symposium Postharvest Pacifica 2009 - Pathways to Quality: V International Symposium on Managing Quality in Chains + Australasian Postharvest Horticultural Conference IMPROVED SULFUR DIOXIDE FUMIGATION OF FRESH LONGAN USING A VERTICAL FORCED-AIR TECHNIQUE

Profile and Frequency of Microbial Contamination of Contact Lens Cases

To evaluate the frequency level and profile of contact lens storage case contamination in asymptomatic contact lens wearers and to examine whether different areas of the same lens case may show a different rate and profile of contamination. The relationship between lens storage case contamination and the age of the lens storage case was also examined. Sixty-four lens cases and case age information were collected from asymptomatic contact lens wearers. Lens cases were sampled at two locations, the upper rim and the lower base. The samples underwent microbiological investigation for recovery of bacteria and fungi. Contamination rate between the two sampling locations and the relationship between the contamination levels and the age of the lens case were analyzed. Contamination occurred in 58% (37 of 64) of lens cases. The most frequently recovered microorganisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (51%, 19 of 37), Bacillus spp. (43%,16 of 37), and fungi (27%,10 of 37). For flat-well lens cases, higher numbers of microorganisms were recovered from the upper rim than that from the lower base (p = 0.02), and a greater variety of Gram-negative bacteria were recovered from the upper rim. A higher recovery rate of Micrococcus spp. (p = 0.02; in flat cases) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (p = 0.01; for both flat and basket type cases) was found from the base of the case well compared with the upper rim. For stand-up cases, higher numbers of microorganisms were recovered from the lens basket compared to the upper hinge (p = 0.047). Lens cases that were <9 months of age had lower levels of contamination (p = 0.013) than older cases. Frequent replacement of lens cases may reduce microbial contamination. Future studies should specify the areas swabbed in the lens case. Better lens storage case design and additional hygiene attention need to be introduced to reduce contamination in these "risky" areas.

Electrolytic Reduction of Solid SiO2 in Molten CaCl2 for the Production of Solar-grade Silicon

The direct electrolytic reduction of solid SiO2 has been investigated in molten CaCl2 at 1123 K aiming at the production of solar grade Si. The target impurity levels for Si in the present study were calculated from the acceptable impurity levels for SOG-Si and the segregation coefficients for the impurity elements. New types of SiO2 contacting electrodes, in which SiO2 directly contacts with only Si, were devised to reduce metal contaminations in the produced Si. By using the new SiO2 contacting electrodes and a quartz vessel, most of the metal impurities were significantly reduced to be below the target levels. When NH4OH/H2O2/H2O, HCl/H2O2/H2O and HF/H2O2/H2O were used as a cleaning solution, remaining CaCl2 and some metal impurities in the produced Si were removed effectively. A basket type electrode was also tested for the reduction of granular SiO2.

Arrangements of human telomere DNA quadruplex in physiologically relevant K + solutions

The arrangement of the human telomeric quadruplex in physiologically relevant conditions has not yet been unambiguously determined. Our spectroscopic results suggest that the core quadruplex sequence G3(TTAG3)3 forms an antiparallel quadruplex of the same basket type in solution containing either K+ or Na+ ions. Analogous sequences extended by flanking nucleotides form a mixture of the antiparallel and hybrid (3 + 1) quadruplexes in K+-containing solutions. We, however, show that long telomeric DNA behaves in the same way as the basic G3(TTAG3)3 motif. Both G3(TTAG3)3 and long telomeric DNA are also able to adopt the (3 + 1) quadruplex structure: Molecular crowding conditions, simulated here by ethanol, induced a slow transition of the K+-stabilized quadruplex into the hybrid quadruplex structure and then into a parallel quadruplex arrangement at increased temperatures. Most importantly, we demonstrate that the same transitions can be induced even in aqueous, K+-containing solution by increasing the DNA concentration. This is why distinct quadruplex structures were detected for AG3(TTAG3)3 by X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichrosim spectroscopy: Depending on DNA concentration, the human telomeric DNA can adopt the antiparallel quadruplex, the (3 + 1) structure, or the parallel quadruplex in physiologically relevant concentrations of K+ ions.

“Do You Still Not Understand?” Mark 8:21 and the Mission to the Gentiles

Recounting the numbers of baskets remaining after each of the multiplications of loaves in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus demands of his disciplies: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:21). The message which the Markan Jesus presents through this sequence of the two feedings is both clear and important to the Gospel's author. A comparison of the Greek words used for “basket” in the first and the second feedings, and of the number of each type of basket filled with bread fragments left over from the multiplications, suggests that the Gospel's author employs the sequence of feedings to symbolize the extension of Jesus' ministry to the gentiles. This conclusion is strengthened by the placement of the multiplications in the larger structure of Mark's narrative.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of theophylline anhydrous bioadhesive tablets

The aim of the current study was to design oral controlled release (CR) theophylline anhydrous bioadhesive tablets and to optimize the drug release profile and in vitro bioadhesion strength. Different types of natural hydrophilic polymers such as xanthun gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, karaya gum, and their combinations were used to formulate matrix tablets. Tablets of anhydrous theophylline were prepared by the direct compression method and were subjected to in vitro drug dissolution for 12 hours using the USP dissolution apparatus basket type at a speed of 100 rpm and temperature of 37 ± 0.5°C using gastric fluid (pH 1.2). The bioadhesive strength of the tablets was measured as the force of detachment against the porcine gastric mucosa. The in vitro release study as well as the retention time of the bioadhesive tablets on the mucous membrane were investigated to develop a bioadhesive polymer-based CR delivery system and to evaluate the performance of such a delivery device. The combination of karaya gum:guar gum (6:4) tablet showed a greater bioadhesive strength as compared with a single gum and other gum combination tablets. Karaya gum:guar gum-loaded tablets were not discharged from the mucous membrane and were dissolved in the gastric fluid. An increase in the gum concentration increases the drug release profile beyond 12 hours whereas there is no significant effect of gum concentration on the bioadhesive strength of the tablet.

Costs of a basic food basket for celiac patients in Chile

Celiac disease requires a strict gluten free diet for life for proper recovery. This results in higher feeding costs. To analyze the cost of basic food basket (BFB) compared to a basket especially designed for celiac patients in Chile and to estimate the increment in food spending that these patients experience. The cost of a daily BFB was calculated using the National Socioeconomic Characterization Enquiry (CASEN) methodology of the Ministry of Planning and the food prices delivered by the National Institute of Statistics for consumers, adjusted according to consumer prices at june 2007. To calculate the cost of the basket for celiac disease, equivalent foods without gluten were considered. Their daily and monthly values and the percentage difference between them were analyzed, by food groups and type of basket. The monthly value of BFB and a basket for a celiac is, at June 2007, Ch $ 30.251 and Ch $ 57.250, respectively. This represents an increase in feeding costs for celiac patients of 89%. The greater cost of food without gluten represents limitation in the budget of celiac patients.

Application of Electrochemical Reduction to Produce Metal Fuel Material from Actinide Oxides

The electrochemical reduction process has been recently developed for converting oxide nuclear fuels to metals. In order to characterize the reduction mechanism and to investigate appropriate conditions for improving the reduction rate, several reduction tests were conducted in a LiCl-Li2O electrolyte at 650°C using various types of cathode baskets containing 10 to 100 g of UO2. The reduction progressed from the outside to the center of the cathode basket, and the reduction rate might be determined by the transportation of oxygen ion to the bulk salt. It was verified that feeding in small UO2 particles and reducing the thickness of the UO2 layer in the cathode basket improved the reduction rate. The completion of UO2 reduction was indicated by the open circuit potential of the cathode basket exhibiting lithium deposition potential for a long time. A salt distillation test was conducted using the reduction product comprising a mixture of porous uranium metal particles and the electrolyte. The reduction product loaded in an yttria crucible was heated to 1400°C in an argon stream. The residue in the crucible consisted of a uranium metal ingot and a small amount of dross. The adhering LiCl seemed to be completely removed. Consequently, it was demonstrated in the electrochemical reduction followed by the salt distillation that a uranium metal ingot could be produced from the UO2 feed with a high degree of efficiency.

THE RESEARCH INTO HEAD INJURY CRITERIA DEPENDENCE ON CAR SPEED

There are many ways of car collisions which depend on car motion modes before and after crashes, speed, kinds of baskets, their heights, weights and rigidity. The machinery of the occupant's movement at the moment of the crash is even more difficult. In order to find out precisely the chance of body injury, it is important to measure not only parameters that were mentioned above but also occupant's height, weight, age, position of sitting, condition of body, whether there was any protection system used. The largest number of car crashes happen at the moment of Frontal Crash. This article's aim is to analyse the types of Frontal Crashes and their repartition, to diagnose what part in occupant's safety the protection system's use takes, and also to analyse head injury coefficient dependence on car speed and show critical injuries and fatality limits in cases when driver is driving with no seat‐belts in and while the car is without airbag. The research is done at the moment of ideal Frontal Crash by simulating distance from the occupant body to the wheel in different types of baskets.

Searching study for the suitable ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide derivative in the electrochemical telomerase assay

Interaction of ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide 1 with the tetraplex oligonucleotide, AGGG(TTAGGG)3, which is a part of human telomere sequence, was studied in 0.1 M AcONa-AcOH (pH 5.5) containing 0.1 M NaCl coupled with 22-meric single and double stranded oligonucleotides using spectrophotometric titration experiment to search for the more suitable tetraplex DNA-binding ligand to achieve the electrochemical telomerase assay. CD spectra and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that this tetraplex oligonucleotide kept to the single conformational structure of basket type G-quadruplex under these conditions. Scatchard analysis showed that 1 can bind to the tetraplex oligonucleotide with the binding constant of 10(5) M(-1) order, which was the highest value among the other oligonucleotides. Binding number of 1 for these oligonucleotides were ca. 2, 11, and 3 for tetraplex, double stranded, and single stranded oligonucleotides, respectively. These values were reasonable when considering with the binding mode of 1 as a threading intercalator.

Reply

We appreciate the constructive critique of the Editorial Comment. The force required to avulse the ureter is a function of the tissue properties, and the size of the stone or type of basket used should have no bearing on this force. Similarly, the force required to perforate a ureter will depend only on the surface area of the tip of the instrument. It is likely ureteral pathologic features such as inflammation or fibrosis would alter both of these forces, and a smart device would only be an adjunct to clinical acumen. One can extrapolate the “range” of force required to avulse a human ureter from the pig measurements, although the comments are correct that additional studies are needed of the human ureter to accurately define this force. This limitation, however, does not make the goal of a smart device unrealistic. Although avulsion and perforation is rare in 2007, it is not extinct. It is up to us to be advocates with industry to invest in patient outcomes. The cost of preventing a ureteral avulsion? Priceless!

CORRELATED DEFAULTS IN INTENSITY‐BASED MODELS

This paper presents an intensity‐based model of correlated defaults with application to the valuation of defaultable securities. The model assumes that the intensities of the default times are driven by common factors as well as other defaults in the system. A recursive procedure called the “total hazard construction” is used to generate default times with a broad class of correlation structures. This approach is compared to standard reduced‐form models based on conditional independence as well as alternative approaches involving copula functions. Examples are given for the pricing of defaultable bonds and credit default swaps of the regular and basket type.

Periodontopathic bacterial endotoxin-induced tumor necrosis factor α production was inhibited by exercise in mice

The effects of exercise on serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were investigated using mice. Five-week-old female BALB/c mice (Th2-biased) and C57BL/6 mice (Th1-biased) were divided into exercise and control groups. The exercise group was exercised in a rotating basket type treadmill for 1 h (5 r.p.m.). Blood was collected and the serum was separated immediately after exercise. The serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were measured using an Endogen ELISA kit. Exercise significantly increased the serum interleukin-6 level in the two strains of mice (P<0.05 and P<0.01). The tumor necrosis factor alpha level was decreased in the exercise group. Next, periodontopathic bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) was administered after exercise, and the effects of exercise on the lipopolysaccharide-induced serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were investigated. Exercise inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha production, suggesting it has a defensive action against endotoxin shock.

"If It's Not a Tlingit Basket, Then What is It?": Toward The Definition of an Alutiiq Twined Spruce Root Basket Type

In this article I describe a twined spruce root basket type formerly attributed to the Tlingit Indians but now accepted as made by the Alutiiq (Pacific Eskimo or Chugach Eskimo) populations of Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island, although a few were also collected in Sitka because of the frequent relocation of Alutiiqs during the Russian occupation of Alaska. The research was carried out in several European museums having early Alaskan collections. For the research, I compared documented Tlingit baskets with those collected from the Alutiiqs as early as the 1778 voyage of Capt. James Cook and as late as the 1950s. The two have been found to differ in several ways, most notably in design motifs and their placement on the baskets. The research owes much to ethnographic data from Frederica de Laguna's long-term research in Prince William Sound.

Environmentally-conscious gypsum dewatering

Mike Mellers demonstrates how the use of specialised basket type centrifuges can provide an effective gypsum dewatering and washing process - resulting in substantial environmental and cost-saving benefits.

Correlated Defaults in Intensity-Based Models

This paper presents an intensity-based model of correlated defaults with application to the valuation of defaultable securities. The model assumes that the intensities of the default times are driven by common factors as well as other defaults in the system. A recursive procedure called the total hazard construction is used to generate default times with a broad class of correlation structures. This approach is compared to standard reduced-form models based on conditional independence as well as alternative approaches involving copula functions. Examples are given for the pricing of defaultable bonds and credit default swaps of the regular and basket type.

Growth, magic behavior, and electronic and vibrational properties of Cr-doped Si clusters

Silicon clusters doped with a Cr atom have been studied using ab initio plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential and Gaussian methods. The most stable structures and magic clusters have been determined for ${\mathrm{Si}}_{n\mathrm{Cr}}$ $(n=8--17)$ starting from many initial configurations. Our results show that for $n=8--11$ the number of Si atoms is not enough to surround a Cr atom fully and therefore the structures of these clusters are basket type in which the Cr atom has a bare part. A cage structure is formed for $n=12$. $\mathrm{Cr}@{\mathrm{Si}}_{12}$ and $\mathrm{Cr}@{\mathrm{Si}}_{15}$ show magic behavior. Among the charged clusters, anion of $\mathrm{Cr}@{\mathrm{Si}}_{12}$ and cation of $\mathrm{Cr}@{\mathrm{Si}}_{13}$ have high stability. The ionization potentials and electron affinities have been calculated. The dynamical stability of clusters is studied from vibrational calculations. The results of Raman activities and infrared intensities are presented for selected clusters. These can be used to identify the structures from experiments. The bonding nature in $\mathrm{Cr}@{\mathrm{Si}}_{n}$ clusters is found to change depending on the structure even when the cluster size is the same.

Reliability, cost-effectiveness, and safety of reuse of ancillary devices for ERCP

The choice between reusable and single-use devices for ERCP depends on various medical and economic criteria. This study evaluated the reliability and the safety (risk of cross-contamination) of reusable devices. A cost analysis of the use of reusable devices also was conducted. All patients referred for ERCP that required use of a sphincterotome or a retrieval basket were eligible for inclusion in a clinical study of 4 different devices (3 types of sphincterotome, 1 type of retrieval basket). All devices were steam sterilized. Before each use, each device was subjected to bacteriologic and virologic tests (hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus markers). Devices were examined before and after each procedure. The numbers of safe and efficient procedures that could be performed with each device were assessed. Three strategies were compared in a cost analysis: internal reprocessing (strategy 1), external reprocessing (strategy 2), and single-use (strategy 3). Inputs used were the results of the clinical study, hospital data for 1 year of endoscopic activity, and market prices. A total of 342 patients underwent the following procedures: sphincterotomy (248 patients), stent insertion (59 patients), use of basket without sphincterotomy (14 patients), and diagnostic ERCP/unsuccessful cannulation (21 patients). At the time of ERCP, 36 patients had viral or bacterial infection. Fifty instruments were used (20 single-lumen sphincterotomes, 10 double lumen sphincterotomes, 20 retrieval baskets). Overall, the median number of efficient uses per device was 10. The median number of efficient uses by each type of device was the following: single-lumen sphincterotome, 12; double-lumen sphincterotome, 8; and, retrieval baskets, 10. All virologic and bacteriologic tests for all instruments were negative. The cost-optimization analysis found that strategy 1 is cost effective (euro37,283/y) compared with strategy 2 (euro40,101/y) and especially with Strategy 3 (euro115,210/y). Reuse of the sphincterotomes and baskets evaluated in this study during ERCP is safe in terms of infectious hazards. Because they endure numerous uses, reusable instruments are cost effective, especially when compared with single-use accessories.

Hypergraph Models and Algorithms for Data-Pattern-Based Clustering

In traditional approaches for clustering market basket type data, relations among transactions are modeled according to the items occurring in these transactions. However, an individual item might induce different relations in different contexts. Since such contexts might be captured by interesting patterns in the overall data, we represent each transaction as a set of patterns through modifying the conventional pattern semantics. By clustering the patterns in the dataset, we infer a clustering of the transactions represented this way. For this, we propose a novel hypergraph model to represent the relations among the patterns. Instead of a local measure that depends only on common items among patterns, we propose a global measure that is based on the cooccurences of these patterns in the overall data. The success of existing hypergraph partitioning based algorithms in other domains depends on sparsity of the hypergraph and explicit objective metrics. For this, we propose a two-phase clustering approach for the above hypergraph, which is expected to be dense. In the first phase, the vertices of the hypergraph are merged in a multilevel algorithm to obtain large number of high quality clusters. Here, we propose new quality metrics for merging decisions in hypergraph clustering specifically for this domain. In order to enable the use of existing metrics in the second phase, we introduce a vertex-to-cluster affinity concept to devise a method for constructing a sparse hypergraph based on the obtained clustering. The experiments we have performed show the effectiveness of the proposed framework.