Use of a jumbo plate in dogs greater than 50 kg following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy does not prevent increase in tibial plateau angle through convalescence.

Objective: To investigate the use of a locking 3.5/4.0-mm jumbo tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) plate in maintaining the postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) in giant-breed dogs weighing > 50 kg and to report the associated complications.

Extended p_{3/2} Neutron Orbital and the N=32 Shell Closure in ^{52}Ca.

The one-neutron knockout from ^{52}Ca in inverse kinematics onto a proton target was performed at ∼230  MeV/nucleon combined with prompt γ spectroscopy. Exclusive quasifree scattering cross sections to bound states in ^{51}Ca and the momentum distributions corresponding to the removal of 1f_{7/2} and 2p_{3/2} neutrons were measured. The cross sections, interpreted within the distorted-wave impulse approximation reaction framework, are consistent with a shell closure at the neutron number N=32, found as strong as at N=28 and N=34 in Ca isotopes from the same observables.

Pairing Forces Govern Population of Doubly Magic ^{54}Ca from Direct Reactions.

Direct proton-knockout reactions of ^{55}Sc at ∼220  MeV/nucleon were studied at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Populated states of ^{54}Ca were investigated through γ-ray and invariant-mass spectroscopy. Level energies were calculated from the nuclear shell model employing a phenomenological internucleon interaction.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout from ^{54}Ca Corroborates Arising N=34 Neutron Magic Number.

Exclusive cross sections and momentum distributions have been measured for quasifree one-neutron knockout reactions from a ^{54}Ca beam striking on a liquid hydrogen target at ∼200  MeV/u. A significantly larger cross section to the p_{3/2} state compared to the f_{5/2} state observed in the excitation of ^{53}Ca provides direct evidence for the nature of the N=34 shell closure. This finding corroborates the arising of a new shell closure in neutron-rich calcium isotopes.

How Robust is the N=34 Subshell Closure? First Spectroscopy of ^{52}Ar.

The first γ-ray spectroscopy of ^{52}Ar, with the neutron number N=34, was measured using the ^{53}K(p,2p) one-proton removal reaction at ∼210  MeV/u at the RIBF facility. The 2_{1}^{+} excitation energy is found at 1656(18) keV, the highest among the Ar isotopes with N>20. This result is the first experimental signature of the persistence of the N=34 subshell closure beyond ^{54}Ca, i.

First Spectroscopy of the Near Drip-line Nucleus ^{40}Mg.

One of the most exotic light neutron-rich nuclei currently accessible for experimental study is ^{40}Mg, which lies at the intersection of the nucleon magic number N=28 and the neutron drip line. Low-lying excited states of ^{40}Mg have been studied for the first time following a one-proton removal reaction from ^{41}Al, performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN Nishina Center with the DALI2 γ-ray array and the ZeroDegree spectrometer. Two γ-ray transitions were observed, suggesting an excitation spectrum that shows unexpected properties as compared to both the systematics along the Z=12, N≥20  Mg isotopes and available state-of-the-art theoretical model predictions.

Visuospatial skills are better predictors than dexterity for basic ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic skills in veterinary students.

Radiological skills including ultrasonography and fluoroscopy, require a combination of manual dexterity and visuospatial skill to develop competency. The ability to detect veterinary students with an interest in radiology but who are deficient in these skills, may permit more individual adaptations to training programs, allowing for students training in radiology to achieve maximal potential. The objective of this cohort study was to investigate whether innate dexterity and visuospatial skill could be used to predict performance of basic ultrasound and fluoroscopic skills in veterinary students.

First Direct Mass Measurements of Nuclides around Z=100 with a Multireflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrograph.

The masses of ^{246}Es, ^{251}Fm, and the transfermium nuclei ^{249-252}Md and ^{254}No, produced by hot- and cold-fusion reactions, in the vicinity of the deformed N=152 neutron shell closure, have been directly measured using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. The masses of ^{246}Es and ^{249,250,252}Md were measured for the first time. Using the masses of ^{249,250}Md as anchor points for α decay chains, the masses of heavier nuclei, up to ^{261}Bh and ^{266}Mt, were determined.

Investigating the impact of innate dexterity skills and visuospatial aptitude on the performance of baseline laparoscopic skills in veterinary students.

Objective: To determine if manual dexterity and visuospatial skills can be used to predict baseline laparoscopic surgery skills in veterinary students.

Study Design: Pilot study.

Methods: Veterinary students (n = 45) from years 1-4 volunteered for this study.

Muscular workload of veterinary students during simulated open and laparoscopic surgery: A pilot study.

Objective: To compare upper extremity muscle activity and workload between simulated open surgery, multiple port laparoscopic surgery (MLS), and single incision laparoscopic surgery (SLS) techniques in veterinary students.

Study Design: Pilot study.

Population: Veterinary students (n = 10) from years 1 to 4.

First Evidence of Shape Coexistence in the ^{78}Ni Region: Intruder 0_{2}^{+} State in ^{80}Ge.

The N=48 ^{80}Ge nucleus is studied by means of β-delayed electron-conversion spectroscopy at ALTO. The radioactive ^{80}Ga beam is produced through the isotope separation on line photofission technique and collected on a movable tape for the measurement of γ and e^{-} emission following β decay. An electric monopole E0 transition, which points to a 639(1) keV intruder 0_{2}^{+} state, is observed for the first time.

First bite syndrome following ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy.

First bite syndrome (FBS) is characterized by unilateral pain in the parotid region after the first bite of each meal, usually following ipsilateral neck surgery. The proposed mechanism is sympathetic denervation of the parotid gland, from iatrogenic injury to the sympathetic trunk supplying this gland. Local botulinum toxin injection has emerged as a promising treatment option with favorable results.

Measurement of deeply virtual compton scattering beam-spin asymmetries.

The beam-spin asymmetries in the hard exclusive electroproduction of photons on the proton (e p-->epgamma) were measured over a wide kinematic range and with high statistical accuracy. These asymmetries result from the interference of the Bethe-Heitler process and of deeply virtual Compton scattering. Over the whole kinematic range (x(B) from 0.

Measurement of deeply virtual compton scattering with a polarized-proton target.

The longitudinal target-spin asymmetry AUL for the exclusive electroproduction of high-energy photons was measured for the first time in ep-->e;'pgamma. The data have been accumulated at JLab with the CLAS spectrometer using 5.7 GeV electrons and a longitudinally polarized NH3 target.

Search for Theta++ pentaquarks in the exclusive reaction gammap-->K+K-p.

The reaction gammap --> pK+K- was studied at Jefferson Lab with photon energies from 1.8 to 3.8 GeV using a tagged photon beam.

Search for the Theta+ Pentaquark in the gammad--> DeltanK+ reaction measured with the CLAS spectrometer.

For the first time, the reaction gammad-->DeltanK+ has been analyzed in order to search for the exotic pentaquark baryon Theta+(1540). The data were taken at Jefferson Laboratory, using the Hall-B tagged-photon beam of energy between 0.8 and 3.

Search for the Theta+ pentaquark in the reaction gammad --> pK-K+n.

A search for the Theta+ in the reaction gammad --> pK-K+n was completed using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. A study of the same reaction, published earlier, reported the observation of a narrow Theta+ resonance. The present experiment, with more than 30 times the integrated luminosity of our earlier measurement, does not show any evidence for a narrow pentaquark resonance.

Distinct signalling particles containing ERK/MEK and B-Raf in PC12 cells.

Although several multiprotein complexes containing MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) have been identified using overexpression of kinases and scaffold proteins, the components of the complexes and their physical properties at endogenous expression levels have not been defined. We characterized a large protein complex containing a nerve-growth-factor-activated ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. This protein complex fractionated into a high-speed pellet and was resistant to non-ionic detergent treatments that solubilized membranes.

Effect of breast surgery on serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding protein-3) in women with benign and malignant breast lesions.

Background: There is evidence that insulin-like growth factors play a role in the development of breast cancer. Antiestrogens reduce circulating levels of IGF-I, but the influence of other breast cancer treatments, including surgery, is unknown and is investigated in this study.

Methods: Circulating serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were measured before and after breast surgery in 31 patients with breast cancer and 12 controls with benign breast lesions.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in benign and malignant breast disease.

Background: The insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II and their major binding protein IGFBP-3 influence the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro. Some benign non-breast tumours appear to be associated with increased serum IGFBP-3 levels which would tend to reduce bioactive-free IGF concentrations. The present study investigates whether this pattern also occurs in neoplastic breast disease.

The changing role of the nurse teacher.

The training of nurses has changed significantly in recent years, as have the role and expectations of nurse teachers and lecturers. In this article, the author suggests the development of a new role which could satisfy the requirements of educators, clinicians and students.

Preparing for course validation.

This paper provides the reader with a step-by-step guide to the process of validation. It is argued that validation should provide a forum for the constructive discussion and rigorous scrutiny of all aspects of the proposed course. This is an essential part of any educational institution's quality assurance program.