cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behçet’s disease: an update on pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of vascular involvement

The objective of this review is to summarize reports of the prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnostic methodology and treatment of vasculitic manifestations of Behcet’s disease (BD). We performed a literature search on vasculitis in BD. Articles were selected which provided insight into the pathogenesis and clinical aspects of vasculitis. Vasculitis underlies many of the clinical features of BD. Small vessel vasculitis is often found in the pathology of the mucocutaneous manifestations of BD. Large vessel vasculitis has been reported in 15-40% of BD patients. Ultrasound, angiography and tomography are applied to confirm the diagnosis when venous involvement is suspected. Endothelial dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of disease. Peripheral arterial involvement in BD occurs in the form of arterial occlusion or aneurysms. Pulmonary arterial involvement is often life-threatening. The cause of cardiac vascular involvement requires an aggressive diagnostic approach. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents have been used successfully in the early stage of large vessel disease and should be used as an adjunct to surgery. An increasing amount of data is available regarding the role of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents for the treatment of BD. Anticoagulant therapy may be hazardous in patients with aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary vascular tree and is not effective in the treatment of venous thrombosis. Inflammation of small and large vessels is very frequent in BD. Both arteries and veins may be involved. Early recognition and appropriate management of large vessel vasculitis in BD is essential to reduce associated morbidity and mortality.
Video Capacity of WLANs With a Multiuser Perceptual Quality Constraint

As wireless local area networks (WLANs) become a part of our network infrastructure, it is critical that we understand both the performance provided to the end users and the capacity of these WLANs in terms of the number of supported flows (calls). Since it is clear that video traffic, as well as voice and data, will be carried by these networks, it is particularly important that we investigate these issues for packetized video. In this paper, we investigate the video user capacity of wireless networks subject to a multiuser perceptual quality constraint. As a particular example, we study the transmission of AVC/H.264 coded video streams over an IEEE 802.11a WLAN subject to a constraint on the quality of the delivered video experienced by r% (75%, for example) of the users of the WLAN. This work appears to be the first such effort to address this difficult but important problem. Furthermore, the methodology employed is perfectly general and can be used for different networks, video codecs, transmission channels, protocols, and perceptual quality measures.
Left ventricular mass and ventricular remodeling among Hispanic subgroups compared with non-Hispanic blacks and whites: MESA (Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling patterns within Hispanic subgroups compared with non-Hispanic whites in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). Background Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority in the U.S., but there are no data on LVH and LV geometry among Hispanic subgroups. Methods Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 4,309 men and women age 45 to 84 years without clinical cardiovascular disease. Hispanics were categorized into subgroups based on self-reported ancestry. LVH was defined as the upper 95th percentile of indexed LV mass in a reference normotensive, nondiabetic, nonobese population, and LV remodeling according to the presence/absence of LVH and abnormal/normal LV mass to LV end-diastolic volume ratio. Results Among Hispanic participants, 574 were of Mexican origin, 329 were of Caribbean origin, and 161 were of Central/South American origin. On unadjusted analysis, only Caribbean-origin Hispanics (prevalence ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 1.4) had greater prevalence of hypertension than non-Hispanic whites. Hispanic subgroups were more likely to have LVH than non-Hispanic whites after adjustment for hypertension and other covariates (Caribbean-origin Hispanics = odds ratio [OR]: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.0; Mexican-origin Hispanics = OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4 to 3.3; Central/South Americans = OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.7 to 3.1). All Hispanic subgroups also had a higher prevalence of concentric and eccentric hypertrophy compared with non-Hispanic whites (p Conclusions Caribbean-origin Hispanics had a higher prevalence of LVH and abnormal LV remodeling compared with non-Hispanic whites. A higher prevalence of LVH and abnormal LV remodeling was also observed among Mexican-origin Hispanics, despite a lower prevalence of hypertension. Differences among Hispanic subgroups regarding LVH and LV remodeling should be taken into account when evaluating cardiovascular risk in this population.
Use of viscodissection and silicone oil in vitrectomy for severe diabetic retinopathy.

Improvement in surgical techniques has led to improved anatomic and functional success rates following surgery for severe complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). We compared the anatomic and functional outcomes of surgery in a non-randomized, consecutive case series of patients with severe PDR. We found that viscodissection using Healon® provides outcomes comparable to conventional pick and scissors dissection. We also found that adjunctive use of silicone oil can salvage selected cases with particularly severe manifestations of PDR (e.g., the fibrinoid syndrome). With proper selection of patients and techniques, the anatomic success rate can exceed 80% even in the most severe cases. The goal of this paper is to show the applicability of using viscodissection and silicone oil infusion during vitrectomy in eyes with severe PDR.
Effects of task characteristics on unimanual and bimanual movement times

Fitts’ law cannot be used to predict movement times (MTs) of bimanual tasks since no empirical relationships associating task difficulty and bimanual MT have been demonstrated yet. Development of a ...
Model-based guided implant insertion for solitary tooth replacement: a pilot study.

Objective: The impact of the implant position on the restorative outcome could justify guided surgery even for the single implants particularly in the aesthetic zone and especially when a simplified concept is available. Material and methods: Based on a plaster model, on which the soft tissues were mimicked (according to the thickness measured on a Cone-Beam CT), a tooth-supported, surgical template was prepared. The latter guided all drills so that even flapless implant insertion became possible. All implants were placed by students of the master-after-master training program in Periodontology. Results: The prospective cohort included a total of 34 implants, all of AstraTech (Osteospeed®) type, which were successfully inserted in 29 patients, 16 flapless, 32 onestage. The marginal bone along the integrated implants remained stable over time, with 0.13 mm loss during the first year. The aesthetic parameters were reassuring. Conclusions: This simple model-based concept seems to be reliable for the guided placement of single implants and the pre-operative preparation of their restorations. To cite this article: Marcelis K, Vercruyssen M, Naert I, Teughels W, Quirynen M. Model-based guided implant insertion for solitary tooth replacement: a pilot study. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23, 2012; 999–1003 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2011.02242.x
A Markov decision process model case for optimal maintenance of serially dependent power system components

Purpose – Using a case study for electrical power equipment, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of dependence between series-connected system components in maintenance decisions. Design/methodology/approach – A continuous-time Markov decision model is formulated to find a minimum cost maintenance policy for a circuit breaker as an independent component while considering a downstream transformer as a dependent component. Maintenance of the dependent component is included implicitly in terms of the costs associated with certain state-action pairs. For policy and cost comparisons, a separate model is also formulated that considers only the circuit breaker as the independent component. After uniformizing the continuous-time models to discrete time, standard methods are used to solve for the average-cost-optimal policies of each model. Findings – The optimal maintenance policy and its cost differ significantly depending on whether or not the dependent component is considered. Research l...
Design and construction a full copper photocathode RF gun

The design and construction of an all copper S-band one-and-half cell photocathode electron gun without a choke joint is described. The methods utilized to determine the field balance at the operational frequency without usage of the bead pulling perturbation measurement is given together with the computational data. >
Geometry-dependent connectivity indices for the characterization of molecular structures

Abstract Geometry-dependent connectivity indices are proposed based on the Euclidian connectivity distances between the nuclei for characterizing the molecular structures. It is shown that these indices are directly related to the compactness of molecules in the three-dimensional space and thus these indices differentiate structures which otherwise may not be differentiated by graph-theoretical indices as exemplified with chrysene and benzo(c)phenanthrene.
Surgical resection of endolymphatic sac tumors in von Hippel-Lindau disease: findings, results, and indications.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To define the surgical treatment and outcomes of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs), we analyzed consecutive VHL patients who underwent ELST resection. Study Design: Retrospective investigation of consecutive VHL patients who underwent resection of ELSTs at a clinical research center between 1999 and 2010. Methods: Analysis of serial clinical examinations, audiograms, imaging studies, and operative findings were analyzed. Results: Thirty-one consecutive patients with ELSTs (15 males, 16 females) underwent resection of 33 tumors (mean follow-up, 49.9 ± 48.0 months; range, 1.0–116 months). One patient had bilateral ELST resections and one patient underwent reoperation for recurrence. Mean age at surgery was 38.2 ± 10.2 years (range, 12–67 years). Whereas 29 ears (88%) had direct radiographic evidence of an ELST, four ears (12%) did not. Mean tumor size was 1.3 ± 1.1 cm (range, 0.2–5.2 cm). Whereas two patients (two ears, 6%) were asymptomatic, 29 patients (31 ears, 94% of ears) had associated audiovestibular symptoms, including sensorineural hearing loss (28 ears, 84%), tinnitus (24 ears,73%), and vertigo (21 patients, 68%). Postoperatively, hearing was stabilized (27) or improved (three) in 97% of 31 ears. Complete tumor resection was achieved in 30 ears (91% of 33 ears). Complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak in two ears (6%) and transient lower cranial nerve palsy in one ear (3%). Conclusions: Surgical resection of ELSTs can be performed with hearing preservation and a reduction in audiovestibular dysfunction. Early surgical resection can prevent or decrease disabling audiovestibular symptoms, enhance the opportunity for complete resection, and preserve hearing. Laryngoscope, 2012
Field-based phenomics for plant genetics research

A major challenge for crop research in the 21st century is how to predict crop performance as a function of genetic architecture. Advances in “next generation” DNA sequencing have greatly improved genotyping efficiency and reduced genotyping costs. Methods for characterizing plant traits (phenotypes), however, have much progressed more slowly over the past 30 years, and constraints in phenotyping capability limit our ability to dissect the genetics of quantitative traits, especially those related to harvestable yield and stress tolerance. As a case in point, mapping populations for major crops may consist of 20 or more families, each represented by as many as 200 lines, necessitating field trials with over 20,000 plots at a single location. Investing in the resources and labor needed to quantify even a few agronomic traits for linkage with genetic markers in such massive populations is currently impractical for most breeding programs. Herein, we define key criteria, experimental approaches, equipment and data analysis tools required for robust, high-throughput field-based phenotyping (FBP). The focus is on simultaneous proximal sensing for spectral reflectance, canopy temperature, and plant architecture where a vehicle carrying replicated sets of sensors records data on multiple plots, with the potential to record data throughout the crop life cycle. The potential to assess traits, such as adaptations to water deficits or acute heat stress, several times during a single diurnal cycle is especially valuable for quantifying stress recovery. Simulation modeling and related tools can help estimate physiological traits such as canopy conductance and rooting capacity. Many of the underlying techniques and requisite instruments are available and in use for precision crop management. Further innovations are required to better integrate the functions of multiple instruments and to ensure efficient, robust analysis of the large volumes of data that are anticipated. A complement to the core proximal sensing is high-throughput phenotyping of specific traits such as nutrient status, seed composition, and other biochemical characteristics, as well as underground root architecture. The ability to “ground truth” results with conventional measurements is also necessary. The development of new sensors and imaging systems undoubtedly will continue to improve our ability to phenotype very large experiments or breeding nurseries, with the core FBP abilities achievable through strong interdisciplinary efforts that assemble and adapt existing technologies in novel ways.
Production and transport of gaseous 18F-synthons: 18F-acyl fluorides

Abstract Fluorine-18 ( 18 F, T 1/2 = 109.7 min) is a positron-emitting isotope that has found extensive application as a radiolabel for positron emission tomography (PET). Although gaseous 11 C CO 2 and 11 C CH 4 are practically transported from cyclotron to radiochemistry processes, 18 F-fluoride is routinely transported in aqueous solution because it is commonly produced by proton irradiation of 18 O-enriched water. In most cases, subsequent dry-down steps are necessary to prepare reactive 18 F-fluoride for radiofluorination. In this work, a simple module was designed to generate gaseous 18 F-acyl fluorides from aqueous 18 F-fluoride solution by solid phase 18 F-radiofluorination of acyl anhydride. The gaseous 18 F-acyl fluorides were purified through a column containing Porapak Q/Na 2 SO 4 , resulting in high yields (>86%), purities (>99%) and specific activities (>1200 GBq/μmol). Prototypic 18 F-acetyl fluoride ( 18 F-AcF) was readily transported through 15 m of 0.8 mm ID polypropylene tubing with low (0.64 ± 0.12%) adsorption to the tubing. Following dissolution of 18 F-AcF in solvent containing base, highly reactive 18 F-flouride was generated immediately and used directly for 18 F-labeling reactions. These data indicate that 18 F-acyl fluorides represent a new paradigm for preparation and transport of anhydrous, reactive 18 F-fluoride for radiofluorinations.
Fundamental Frequency of Shear Flexible Buildings

This technical note presents an analytical lower bound for the fundamental frequency of certain shear flexible structures. The lower bound is shown to be as accurate as the upper bound of Rayleigh’s method. Upon achieving familiarity with the presented method, it may be extended to structures with more than one step change in column stiffness. The approximate lower bound also may be used as a check of the natural frequencies from a computer program
Domestic Political Problems and Strategic Engagement

Extant research has not produced consistent findings on the relationship between domestic political problems and the use of force abroad. We argue that this ambiguity results from incomplete theorizing and flawed empirical tests. Diversionary arguments that focus on the rally-around-the-flag mechanism fail to take into account the strategic incentives of the diversionary target. The rationalist version of diversionary theory fails to fully analyze target incentives to avoid a possible diversionary use of force. We advance understanding of diversionary uses of force by introducing the concept strategic engagement. This concept clarifies the political incentives each actor has to engage in conflict and leads to several novel hypotheses. For example, targets that are very strong or have their own domestic problems will not strategically avoid a potential diverter. Empirical tests of the hypotheses for the period 1946-2000 are consistent with the argument.
Unanticipated Consequences of the Case-finding System in Hospital Social Service

■ In an exploratory study of 121 aging ward patients, Mount Sinai Medical Center's Social Service Department examined its case-finding procedures, revealing the dominance of the medical profession in case referrals. Two unanticipated consequences of this system were the possible selectivity biases of referring physicians and the timing of intervention between the second and third weeks of hospitalization rather than immediately after admission, the crucial period for patient and family. By accepting this system, social work has relinquished the right to set its own priorities. ■
Ultrasensitive Antibody Detection by Agglutination-PCR (ADAP)

Antibodies are widely used biomarkers for the diagnosis of many diseases. Assays based on solid-phase immobilization of antigens comprise the majority of clinical platforms for antibody detection, but can be undermined by antigen denaturation and epitope masking. These technological hurdles are especially troublesome in detecting antibodies that bind nonlinear or conformational epitopes, such as anti-insulin antibodies in type 1 diabetes patients and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies associated with thyroid cancers. Radioimmunoassay remains the gold standard for these challenging antibody biomarkers, but the limited multiplexability and reliance on hazardous radioactive reagents have prevented their use outside specialized testing facilities. Here we present an ultrasensitive solution-phase method for detecting antibodies, termed antibody detection by agglutination-PCR (ADAP). Antibodies bind to and agglutinate synthetic antigen–DNA conjugates, enabling ligation of the DNA strands and subsequent quantificatio...
Overwintering Habitats of the Boll Weevil in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Three yr of sampling for overwintering boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, in debris from habitats adjacent to cotton fields near Brownsville, TX showed a density ranking of habitats, in descending order, of hackberry trees ( Celtis laevigata Willd.), granjeno bushes ( C. pallida Torr. ), and open grassy areas. However, more total weevils were found in grassy areas, which were the most abundant of the habitats. Populations of overwintering weevils were lowest the winter after the cotton crop had been harvested and plowed under by Aug. 31.
Phenology of Field Populations of Corn Rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Relative to Calendar Date and Heat Units

Seasonal occurrence of corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte and D. barberi (Smith and Lawrence), larvae and pupae was monitored in a total of eight corn-planting dates from 1980 to 1982, while adult emergence was characterized in a total of 11 planting dates from 1979 to 1982. Delayed planting was associated with a proportionate delay in occurrence of larvae, pupae, and adults. After adjusting for the effects of corn-planting date, population phenologies were described as functions of calendar date and heat-unit (HU) accumulations. The first predictable event was peak occurrence of second instars. Seasonal occurrence of third instars, pupae, and adults appeared equally consistent and predictable with respect to calendar date and soil HU (base, 11°C). Models based on air HU (base, 16°C) were judged to have little applicability. Simple linear models for predicting the occurrence of larvae, pupae, and adults based on calendar date or soil HU are presented. The similarities in predictability between the calendar date and soil HU models indicated that relating phenology to Julian date may provide the simplest and best estimates of the seasonal occurrence of corn rootworms. Quantifying the effects of other factors that directly or indirectly affect soil temperature and development of corn rootworms (e.g., soil type, moisture, and tillage) might increase the utility of soil-HU models.
Charge transport and charge recombination processes in organic semiconductors

The operations of devices using organic semiconductors as active elements rely on a number of common processes, among which charge transport and charge recombination / separation play major roles. Here, we provide a theoretical understanding of these processes at the microscopic level, based on the application of electron transfer theory.
Monitoring fatigue-induced transverse matrix cracks in laminated composites using built-in acousto-ultrasonic techniques:

This work investigated the use of ultrasonic wave propagation in a composite laminate to monitor transverse matrix cracking. It was found that the change in the signal’s power spectral density correlates to crack density increase, and its sensitivity was dependent on the actuator to sensor orientation. This orientation dependence was found to be the same as that of the laminate’s stiffness degradation. A crack density damage index model was developed that relates signal changes to laminate stiffness degradation due to transverse matrix cracks. With this damage index model, a matrix cracking monitoring system was proposed, implemented, and validated. The developed system requires a calibration test for the composite layup of interest and a minimum of one actuator and two sensors at different angle orientations. The calibration test and general approach steps are described and validated. The system’s crack density estimates match experimentally measured crack density values within established error bounds.
SAT0256 Analytical and Functional Assessments When Developing Biosimilar Candidates

Background Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are expressed in unique host cell systems and without knowledge of specific process conditions, which are proprietary to the innovator. A biosimilar developer may choose to express a biosimilar mAb in a cell expression system of a similar lineage as the innovator, or one that is quite different. The choice of expression system can have an impact on many aspects of the molecule, including the N-linked glycosylation of the mAb, which may ultimately affect efficacy, safety or immunogenicity. Thus, multiple factors must be considered in choosing an appropriate expression system and process, with the ultimate goal of producing a mAb with highly similar analytical properties to the innovator mAb, and most importantly matching all functional aspects of the molecule, whether or not they are thought to be involved in the mechanisms of action. Objectives The studies were designed to characterize analytical similarities and differences in mAbs produced in differing cellular expression systems, and to identify the optimal expression system for achieving functional similarity of two mAbs. Methods Two case studies are presented, one examining the production of a proposed biosimilar mAb in a similar host expression system, and the other case examining production of a proposed biosimilar in a different host expression system. In the first case both mAbs are produced in cells of the CHO lineage, and in the second case a mAb produced in NS2/0 is compared to a mAb produced in CHO cells. The glycan profile of innovator and proposed biosimilar mAb are assessed, as well as resulting ADCC and CDC activity of the molecules. Results Characterization of mAb1 demonstrates that two mAbs of the same amino acid sequence and expressed in the same parental expression system can result in differences in glycan distribution. These differences in glycans could not be resolved with process development, and had significant impact on functional activity of mAb1. In contrast, characterization of mAb2 illustrates the ability to match functional activity between an innovator mAb and proposed biosimilar, even with differences in choice of cellular expression system and the expected underlying differences in glycan distribution. Conclusions Analytical differences, especially with respect to the N-linked glycan profile, should be expected between a biosimilar mAb and the innovator mAb, as well as between different biosimilar mAbs compared to each other. In a step-wise approach to biosimilar development, analytical differences between the proposed biosimilar mAb and the innovator should be carefully characterized, and functional similarity should be demonstrated, before proceeding with clinical studies. Disclosure of Interest T. Born Shareholder of: AMGEN, Employee of: AMGEN, V. Fung Shareholder of: AMGEN, Employee of: AMGEN DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5532
On strategies to exploit the information resources of journals in the network environment

In today's highly developed information technology,this paper deals with the features and resource security of the information from library journals,and puts forth the major strategies to explore the journal information resources in the network environment,including contents report,selective dissemination of information and literature transmission services.
Study on New Technology of Magnetic Particle Testing for Large Casting Valve Crack

By analyzing the existing casting valve magnetic powder detection technical shortcomings and limitations,the magnetic particle testing large profiled casting valve was studied.According to the research results,the detection technology for new casting valve magnetic powder is formulated,so that the personnel inspection is more effective for casting valve.
FDA Regulation of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices: Access to Safe and Effective Neurotechnologies for All Americans

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that patients in the U.S. have access to safe and effective medical devices. The Division of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices reviews medical technologies that interface with the nervous system. This article addresses how to navigate the FDA's regulatory landscape to successfully bring medical devices to patients.
Efectos geomorfológicos del tsunami de Chile de 2010 frente a la zona de máximo slip, revelados por imágenes satelitales y observaciones de campo: El caso del litoral arenoso La Trinchera, Región del Maule

The analysis of satellite images together with field observations, allowed the identification and description of the geomorphological consequences of the Chilean tsunami of 2010 in La Trinchera. La Trinchera is a sandy coastline located in front of the area of the earthquake’s maximum slip. The tsunami opened breaches and built fans in beach ridges and dunes; eroded vegetated dunes and formed pedestals; produced a retreat of the coastline of hundreds of meters; formed flood scours up to 350 m long in the southern bank of the Mataquito and Huenchullami rivers; and almost entirely eroded the sand spits of the Mataquito River estuary and part of the sand bar of Huenchullami river. Both the direct effects of the tsunami and the scope of the inundation were controlled by the dominant type of dune which corresponds to barchans and parabolic dunes. Since the tsunami several processes have been observed, such as proliferation of sand sheets, transformations in the morphology of dunes and rapid recovery of the sand spits of the Mataquito River estuary. All of these processes suggest an alteration in the exchange of sediment in the beach-dune system.
Law Libraries as Publishers: Producing Articles Instead of Issues

Essay discussing how journals publishing articles singly rather than in issues increases their flexibility.
Prognosticating Functional Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: The ICHOP Score

Background The morbidity, mortality, and monetary cost associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is devastatingly high. Several scoring systems have been proposed to prognosticate outcomes after ICH, although the original ICH Score is still the most widely used. However, recent research suggests that systemic physiologic factors, such as those included in the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, may also influence outcome. In addition, no scoring systems to date have included premorbid functional status. Therefore, we propose a scoring system that incorporates these factors to prognosticate 3-month and 12-month functional outcomes. Methods We used the Random Forest machine-learning technique to identify factors from a dataset of more than 200 data points per patient that were most strongly affiliated with functional outcome. We then used linear regression to create an initial model based on these factors and modified weightings to improve accuracy. Our scoring system was compared with the ICH Score for prognosticating functional outcomes. Results Two separate scoring systems (Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes Project 3 [ICHOP3] and ICHOP12) were developed for 3-month and 12-month functional outcomes using Glasgow Coma Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and hematoma volume (3-month only). Patient outcomes were dichotomized into good (mRS score, 0–3) and poor (mRS score, 4–6) categories based on functional status. Areas under the curve in the derivation cohort for predicting mRS score were 0.89 (3-month) and 0.87 (12-month); both were significantly more discriminatory than the original ICH Score. Conclusions The ICHOP scores may provide more comprehensive evaluation of a patient's long-term functional prognosis by taking into account systemic physiologic factors as well as premorbid functional status.
Closing the Clinical Knowledge Gap: Achieving Collaborative Nursing Education Between Hospitalists and Nurses

Increased collaboration between physicians and nurses may translate into improved patient outcomes. We explored the feasibility of an innovative educational program for nurses taught by physicians in their own medical team. It was designed as 15-min sessions on five relevant clinical topics imparted during nurses’ shift change. We assessed confidence at dealing with conditions included in education sessions, knowledge on topics and subjective general impressions, and perceived barriers. We found that nurses reported increased confidence at dealing with the conditions included in the educational program and had gained knowledge in some areas. Participants described the program as very successful from multiple angles; it was perceived as helpful, practical, and more importantly, it was perceived as an invaluable opportunity for collaboration in benefit of patients. Instructors also reported improved understanding of nurses’ responsibilities, role, and challenges. Improved communication and understanding between health care team providers may translate into improved patient outcomes, including quality of care and patient satisfaction. Although our study is a pilot, the results provide preliminary evidence that integrating a program like this into an already constantly busy, fast-paced hospital environment is feasible, and it is perceived as an opportunity to improve nurse-physician collaboration.
Thyroid Medication Use and Birth Defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

BACKGROUND Thyroid disorders are common among reproductive-aged women, with hypothyroidism affecting 2 to 3% of pregnancies, and hyperthyroidism affecting an additional 0.1 to 1%. We examined associations between thyroid medications and individual birth defects using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). METHODS The NBDPS is a multisite, population-based, case-control study that included pregnancies with estimated delivery dates from 1997 to 2011. We analyzed self-reported thyroid medication use from mothers of 31,409 birth defect cases and 11,536 unaffected controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression for birth defects with five or more exposed cases, controlling for maternal age, race/ethnicity, and study center. Crude ORs and exact 95% CIs were estimated for defects with 3 to 4 exposed cases. RESULTS Thyroid hormone was used by 738 (2.3%) case and 237 (2.1%) control mothers, and was associated with anencephaly (OR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.03-2.73), holoprosencephaly (OR = 2.48; 95% CI, 1.13-5.44), hydrocephaly (1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-2.95) and small intestinal atresia (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.04-3.15). Anti-thyroid medication was used by 34 (0.1%) case and 10 (<0.1%) control mothers, and was associated with aortic valve stenosis (OR = 6.91; 95% CI, 1.21-27.0). CONCLUSION While new associations were identified, our findings are relatively consistent with previous NBDPS analyses. Our findings suggest thyroid medication use is not associated with most birth defects studied in the NBDPS, but may be associated with some specific birth defects. These results should not be interpreted to suggest that medications used to treat thyroid disease are teratogens, as the observed associations may reflect effects of the underlying thyroid disease. Birth Defects Research 109:1471-1481, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Communicated Sense-making After Miscarriage: A Dyadic Analysis of Spousal Communicated Perspective-Taking, Well-being, and Parenting Role Salience

Grounded in communicated sense-making (CSM) theorizing, we investigated communicated perspective-taking (CPT; i.e., conversational partners' attendance to and confirmation of each other's views) in association with individual and relational well-being in married couples who had miscarried (n = 183; N = 366). Actor-partner interdependence modeling revealed husbands' perceptions of wives' CPT were positively related to husbands' positive affect about the miscarriage and both spouses' relational satisfaction, as well as negatively associated with wives' positive affect. Wives' perceptions of husbands' CPT related positively to their own relational satisfaction and negatively to husbands' negative affect. Analyses revealed identification as a parent to the miscarried child (i.e., "parenting role salience") positively moderated the relationship between CPT and relational satisfaction. Implications for advancing CSM theorizing in health contexts and practical applications are explored.
Androgens and Androgenic Progestins

Publisher Summary It is clear that androgens have significant effects on bone. In addition, both endogenous progesterone and androgenic progestins may have significant skeletal effects. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the role of sex steroids in bone metabolism must include a consideration of androgens and progestins. Therein also lie potential opportunities for improved therapy of osteoporosis, including possible non-skeletal benefits of these agents, as for example on libido and muscle mass. This chapter reviews briefly the potential role of androgens and progesterone on bone metabolism in animals and humans and then focuses on the potential therapeutic uses of these agents in the treatment of osteoporosis. While androgens and progestins have significant skeletal effects, their role in the management of osteoporosis remains to be clearly defined. There appears to be little doubt that hypogonadal men likely achieve skeletal and other benefits from testosterone replacement. Beyond this, however, much more work is needed to define the potential utility of testosterone replacement in aging men with mild degrees of hypogonadism, the role of androgen replacement in regimens of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, and the possible skeletal effects of dehydroepiandrosterone. While progesterone may have skeletal effects in certain situations, only the androgenic progestins have clearly been shown to enhance the skeletal response to estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. The future development of tissue-specific androgenic and progestogenic compounds may significantly improve the risk/benefit profile of these agents.
AREVA Developments for an Efficient and Reliable use of Monte Carlo codes for Radiation Transport Applications

In the context of the rising of Monte Carlo transport calculations for any kind of application, AREVA recently improved its suite of engineering tools in order to produce efficient Monte Carlo workflow. Monte Carlo codes, such as MCNP or TRIPOLI, are recognized as reference codes to deal with a large range of radiation transport problems. However the inherent drawbacks of theses codes - laboring input file creation and long computation time - contrast with the maturity of the treatment of the physical phenomena. The goals of the recent AREVA developments were to reach similar efficiency as other mature engineering sciences such as finite elements analyses (e.g. structural or fluid dynamics). Among the main objectives, the creation of a graphical user interface offering CAD tools for geometry creation and other graphical features dedicated to the radiation field (source definition, tally definition) has been reached. The computations times are drastically reduced compared to few years ago thanks to the use of massive parallel runs, and above all, the implementation of hybrid variance reduction technics. From now engineering teams are capable to deliver much more prompt support to any nuclear projects dealing with reactors or fuel cycle facilities from conceptual phase to decommissioning.
Advancing test compression to the physical dimension

Test Compression ratios are currently stalled at 100–200X. A new 2-dimensional physically-aware sequential Compressor-Decompressor design addresses the severe wiring congestion as well as the test coverage droop and pattern spike at the highest compression ratios. Results on some commonly used industrial designs shows a 2X reduction in routing overhead and congestion associated with Test Compression logic. The target test coverage is maintained while achieving up to 3.7X reduction in test data volume and test application time beyond the conventional methods.
From Roseanne Barr to Amy Poehler: Comediennes, Memoirs, and Feminism

In a 2010 The Daily Telegraph article, Robert Collins proclaims that autobiography is “a literary genre that has been hijacked by a swarm of comedians, television presenters and reality-show contes...
Optical modeling of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors using the transfer matrix method: publisher's note.

This publisher’s note amends the Funding and Acknowledgment sections in Appl. Opt.57, 4872 (2018)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.57.004872.
Crohn's colitis in infancy.

Crohns disease is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disorder involving any region of the alimentary tract from the mouth to the anus. Its pathogenesis is not known but immunological disturbance has been suggested by many authors. In Crohns colitis the inflammatory process tends to be eccentric and segmental with normal regions of bowel between inflamed areas ("skip areas"). Colonic involvement alone occurs in 10% (granulomatous colitis). Although there are many similarities between ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease there are also major differences in the clinical course and distribution of the disease in the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of Crohns disease has been increasing over the past 10 years and it was reported to be 3-4/100 000. It may rarely present in the first year of life. We report a case of Crohns colitis because it is rare at this age and appeared at our hospital in an infant for the first time. (excerpt)
Attentional Capacity and Limitations

Individual sensory, representational, and motor systems throughout the human information processing system are subject to capacity limits imposed by local structure and competitive interactions. Peripheral attentional mechanisms embedded in these systems allow the prioritization of some information over other information such that the most task-relevant or salient information is not lost to these capacity limits. Central attention mechanisms located in the lateral prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices exert attentional control over peripheral attention systems and also are critical for temporal attentional selection, working memory encoding, and response selection. Both peripheral and central attention systems are themselves capacity-limited.
Motion coordination for multi-agent networks

Motion coordination is an extraordinary phenomenon in biological systems, such as schools of fishes, as well as a remarkable tool for man-made groups of robotic vehicles and active sensors. Even though each individual agent has no global knowledge of the system, complex coordinated behaviors emerge from local interactions. In this talk I will describe some recently-developed models, algorithms and tools for motion coordination. Building on concepts from distributed computation, robotics and control theory, I investigate notions of robotic network, joint control and communication laws, and time complexity of coordination tasks. From an algorithmic viewpoint, the focus is on various coordination problems such as network deployment over a given region, rendezvous at a point, and vehicle routing. The proposed control and communication laws achieve the various coordination objectives requiring only spatially-distributed information.
Green Infrastructure Retrofits with Impervious Area Reduction by Property Type: Potential Improvements to Urban Stream Quality

AbstractBuilding on concepts that relate stream health to extent of watershed impervious area and the capability of green infrastructure (GI) measures that remove runoff volume to reduce effective ...
Künstliche Intelligenz bei Amazon Spitzentechnologie im Dienste des Kunden

Amazon forscht und entwickelt intensiv an Kunstlicher Intelligenz (KI), insbesondere im Bereich des Maschinellen Lernens. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit kommen schon heute den Kunden zugute – etwa indem Systeme auf Grundlage von Daten aus der Vergangenheit Nachfrage-Prognosen erstellen; oder indem der Frischegrad von Obst und Gemuse automatisch erkannt wird. Das sorgt fur schnellere Lieferung, weniger Mull, verringerte Lagerkosten und gunstigere Preise. In diesem Kapitel beschreibt Ralf Herbrich, Director of Machine Learning bei Amazon und Geschaftsfuhrer des Amazon Development Centers in Berlin, wie Kunstliche Intelligenz bei Amazon zum Einsatz kommt und welche Potenziale und Limitationen das Unternehmen sieht.
Planning affectively: Power, affect, and images of the future:

This article addresses the deficit between affect theory and planning scholarship. In doing so, we focus on three intertwined theoretical ideas, all of which underlie the practical experiences of n...
Sources of math and science self-efficacy in rural Appalachia: A convergent mixed methods study

Abstract Rural living, particularly in economically distressed areas, may reduce students’ educational opportunities and alter their self-beliefs. According to social cognitive theory, the contexts in which people live influence how they feel about their capabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences that raise and lower the math and science self-efficacy of students living in a rural, high-poverty area in Central Appalachia. A convergent mixed methods design was used to examine quantitative and qualitative survey data from 673 students in Grades 6–12 who took part in a multi-year study on academic motivation (Year 1 = 511; Year 2 = 391; Year 3 = 418). In the quantitative phase, structural equation models showed that Year 1 mastery experience raised and physiological states lowered students’ math and science self-efficacy in Year 2. Deductive coding of students’ responses to 4 open-ended questions in Year 3 indicated that other sources were also salient and differed by domain, their effect on self-efficacy, and student gender. Integrative analyses showed that students consider information from multiple sources when judging their capabilities. This research extends findings related to the sources of self-efficacy to the understudied population of rural learners, the less-studied context of science, and to the factors that not only increase but decrease perceived efficacy.
A Tutorial on Sim-ATAV: Simulation-based Adversarial Testing Framework for Autonomous Vehicles.

Testing autonomous vehicles in simulation environments is crucial. Sim-ATAV is an open-source framework developed for experimenting with different test generation techniques in simulation environments for research purposes. This document provides a tutorial on Sim-ATAV with a running example.
P20 Culinary Nutrition Class for College Students: Cooking with Herbs and Spices

Background Campus-based programming, which incorporates both hands-on cooking and nutrition education, has emerged as a means to improve cooking and eating behaviors and self-efficacy related to cooking skills and healthy eating practices. Objective Evaluate the impact of a 15-week Culinary Nutrition class on student behaviors and self-efficacy in cooking and eating healthy foods. Study Design, Settings, and Participants A pre- and post-intervention model was used. A 15-week Culinary Nutrition class was developed using a conceptual framework of healthy cooking with the following constructs: frequency, techniques/methods, minimal usage, additions/replacements and flavoring. The program included experiential skill acquisition through hands-on cooking classes, as well as home practices. Each student received a chef knife and weekly herb/spice sample to help facilitate home practice. The culinary nutrition component was presented through online presentations, delivered prior to each lesson. Each cooking practice reinforced nutrition and cooking concepts and introduced at least one herb/spice and cooking skill. Students (18) registered for the Culinary Nutrition class participated in the study. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Data from pre- and post-intervention surveys was used to assess changes in frequency of home cooking, frequency of cooking with fruits/vegetables, and self-efficacy for cooking healthy food, recipe modification, use of herbs and spices and knife skills. Changes in frequency of cooking and using fruits/vegetables were analyzed by paired sample t-tests. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze changes in self-efficacy. Results Analyses of pre- and post-intervention surveys indicated that participants experienced significant increases in self-efficacy for cooking healthy food (P = .001), recipe modification (P = .003), use of herbs and spices (P = .003) and knife skills (P = .001), and increases in frequency of home cooking (P = .045) and use of fruits and vegetables in cooking (P = .029). Conclusion Culinary nutrition classes with an online nutrition component can be an effective intervention to increase home cooking and self-efficacy for healthy cooking and eating for college age students. Funding None.