Formalizing Visualization Design Knowledge as Constraints: Actionable and Extensible Models in Draco.

There exists a gap between visualization design guidelines and their application in visualization tools. While empirical studies can provide design guidance, we lack a formal framework for representing design knowledge, integrating results across studies, and applying this knowledge in automated design tools that promote effective encodings and facilitate visual exploration. We propose modeling visualization design knowledge as a collection of constraints, in conjunction with a method to learn weights for soft constraints from experimental data.

Ulnar neuropathy and medial elbow pain in women's fastpitch softball pitchers: a report of 6 cases.

Background: Elite-level women's fastpitch softball players place substantial biomechanical strains on the elbow that can result in medial elbow pain and ulnar neuropathic symptoms. There is scant literature reporting the expected outcomes of the treatment of these injuries. This study examined the results of treatment in a series of these patients.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis accounting for exposure levels.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most commonly used selective herbicides in the world. A number of epidemiology studies have found an association between 2,4-D exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) but these results are inconsistent and controversial. A previous meta-analysis found no clear association overall but did not specifically examine high-exposure groups.

Cobalt-iron (oxy)hydroxide oxygen evolution electrocatalysts: the role of structure and composition on activity, stability, and mechanism.

Cobalt oxides and (oxy)hydroxides have been widely studied as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). For related Ni-based materials, the addition of Fe dramatically enhances OER activity. The role of Fe in Co-based materials is not well-documented.

Contributions to activity enhancement via Fe incorporation in Ni-(oxy)hydroxide/borate catalysts for near-neutral pH oxygen evolution.

Ni-borate materials are oxygen evolution catalysts that operate at near-neutral pH and have been found previously to improve due to structural changes induced via anodic conditioning. We find that this increased activity after conditioning at 0.856 V vs.

[4-(Bromo-methyl)-benz-yl]triphenyl-phospho-nium bromide acetonitrile monosolvate.

In the title compound, C(26)H(23)BrP(+)·Br(-)·C(2)H(3)N, the dihedral angles between the plane of the benzylic phenyl ring attached to the P atom and the planes of the three directly attached phenyl rings are 34.04 (12), 45.48 (13) and 87.

RuleBender: integrated modeling, simulation and visualization for rule-based intracellular biochemistry.

Background: Rule-based modeling (RBM) is a powerful and increasingly popular approach to modeling cell signaling networks. However, novel visual tools are needed in order to make RBM accessible to a broad range of users, to make specification of models less error prone, and to improve workflows.

Results: We introduce RuleBender, a novel visualization system for the integrated visualization, modeling and simulation of rule-based intracellular biochemistry.

RuleBender: a visual interface for rule-based modeling.

Summary: Rule-based modeling (RBM) is a powerful and increasingly popular approach to modeling intracellular biochemistry. Current interfaces for RBM are predominantly text-based and command-line driven. Better visual tools are needed to make RBM accessible to a broad range of users, to make specification of models less error prone and to improve workflows.

Low profile fixation of radial head and neck fractures: surgical technique and clinical experience.

Radial head preservation with internal fixation is the preferred treatment for displaced radial head and neck fractures. Although plate fixation has been used successfully, concerns remain about loss of forearm rotation. A technique of low-profile fixation using obliquely oriented screws from the radial head into the shaft has been developed to avoid distal dissection of the soft tissues and placement of hardware in an already-constrained area adjacent to the annular ligament and lateral ligamentous structures.

Patient perceptions of open and arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Purpose: There has been a significant increase in surgeon as well as patient interest in arthroscopic treatment of shoulder pathology. We hypothesize that patients have a strong preference for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Currently, there are no data in the literature reporting on how people perceive open versus arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Early complications of operatively treated proximal humeral fractures.

Minimal information exists regarding early complications after operatively treated proximal humeral fractures. Of the 82 shoulders that had osteosynthesis, 42 had a (nonmedical) complication, with 21 requiring further surgery. Of 42 shoulders with complications, 12 were related to incomplete reduction, 16 had loss of anatomic fracture fixation, 9 had delayed healing, 3 had an infection, 1 had rotator cuff failure, and 1 had loose bodies.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff debridement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

There is little information available concerning the results of rotator cuff debridement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We performed a review of 16 shoulders with underlying RA that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff tear debridement; there were 10 full-thickness tears and 6 partial-thickness tears. Of the 10 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, 8 had unsatisfactory results, whereas none of the patients with partial-thickness tears had unsatisfactory results.

Patient and physician-assessed shoulder function after arthroplasty.

Background: We found no information in the literature regarding the relationship between patient and physician-derived outcome assessments with a shoulder questionnaire. In this study, we examined a group of patients who were assessed with patient and physician-administered questionnaires following shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods: From August 2003 to February 2004, sixty-seven consecutive patients who had been followed for a minimum of six months after shoulder arthroplasty were evaluated with a self-administered and an identical physician-directed shoulder questionnaire that assessed clinical and functional outcomes at the time of routine follow-up.

Arthroscopic shoulder synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: Currently, there is little information available concerning the results of shoulder synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, it remains difficult to assess the success of shoulder synovectomy because of a high association of rotator cuff tears in rheumatoid patients. We hypothesized that synovectomy in patients with a functionally intact rotator cuff would provide durable pain relief.

Complications of operative fixation of proximal humeral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Currently, there is no information in the literature on operative treatment of proximal humeral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Eleven patients underwent osteosynthesis of the proximal humerus from December 1987 to December 2002. Nine patients were treated for acute fractures, and two were treated for nonunions.

Outcomes are poor after treatment of sepsis in the rheumatoid shoulder.

Currently, there is little information regarding treatment of shoulder sepsis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This study examines the prognosis and outcome after operative treatment of native shoulder infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Seventeen patients were retrospectively reviewed (20 shoulders) after surgical intervention for shoulder sepsis between 1982 and 2002.

Rotator cuff repair in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Currently, there is very little information available regarding the results of rotator cuff repair in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, we reviewed our experience to determine the results, the risk factors for an unsatisfactory outcome, and the rates of failure of this procedure.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had undergone repair of a rotator cuff tear at our institution from 1988 to 2002.

Vascular changes of the hand in professional baseball players with emphasis on digital ischemia in catchers.

Background: Repetitive trauma to the hand is a concern for baseball players. The present study investigated the effects of repetitive trauma and the prevalence of microvascular pathological changes in the hands of minor league professional baseball players. In contrast to previous investigators, we documented the presence of abnormalities in younger, asymptomatic individuals.

The "moving valgus stress test" for medial collateral ligament tears of the elbow.

Background: The diagnosis of a painful partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in overhead-throwing athletes is challenging, even for experienced elbow surgeons and despite the use of sophisticated imaging techniques.

Hypothesis: The "moving valgus stress test" is an accurate physical examination technique for diagnosis of medial collateral ligament attenuation in the elbow.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Management of peripheral nerve defects: external fixator-assisted primary neurorrhaphy.

Background: Controlled joint extension followed by gradual distraction with use of an external fixator may facilitate primary repair of peripheral nerve defects by permitting end-to-end repair without tension. The hypothesis of the present study was that gradual lengthening of nerve repairs with use of incremental distraction would provide superior results compared with grafting or repair under tension.

Methods: A median nerve segment measuring four times the diameter of the nerve was resected in thirty-six rabbits to create a 7-mm gap in the nerve.

Arthroscopic resection of the common extensor origin: anatomic considerations.

This study examines the intra-articular anatomy and safe zones for arthroscopic resection of the common extensor origin for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. The extensor complex was arthroscopically debrided in 7 cadaveric elbows to determine the percentage of each tendinous origin that was resectable. Elbow stability was assessed, and safe zones of resection were determined.

Construction of recombinant S-layer proteins (rSbsA) and their expression in bacterial ghosts--a delivery system for the nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae antigen Omp26.

This study has investigated the feasibility of a combination of recombinant surface layer (S-layer) proteins and empty bacterial cell envelopes (ghosts) to deliver candidate antigens for a vaccine against nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) infections. The S-layer gene sbsA from Bacillus stearothermophilus PV72 was used for the construction of fusion proteins. Fusion of maltose binding protein (MBP) to the N-terminus of SbsA allowed expression of the S-layer in the periplasm of Escherichia coli.