cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientation Dependent Visualization of Fibers in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Advantages of a Circular Source Trajectory

Visualization of fiber-like structures is important in the context of breast imaging. Cooper’s ligaments, vessels, ducts, and spiculations from potentially malignant lesions are all examples of fiber-like features that can be present in the breast. In digital breast tomosynthesis, fiber-like signals appear more conspicuous when aligned perpendicular to the direction of X-ray source travel than when they lie parallel. This in-plane anisotropy results from the use of an arc-shaped source trajectory lying in a plane perpendicular to the detector. In this work, we investigate the use of a circular X-ray source trajectory to mitigate the anisotropic visualization of fiber-like signals. A preliminary simulation study is performed to characterize the orientation-dependence of fiber-like signal conspicuity using both arc-shaped and circular source trajectories. The impact of regularization strength employed in reconstruction is also investigated in both geometries. Reconstructions from the arc-shaped trajectory are seen to exhibit orientation-dependent conspicuity and/or depth blur depending on the regularization strength. Using the circular trajectory, these orientation-dependent phenomena are not observed at any regularization strength.
Fatigue Increases Dynamic Knee Valgus in Youth Athletes: Results From a Field-Based Drop-Jump Test

Purpose To determine whether fatigue increases dynamic knee valgus in adolescent athletes, as measured after a standardized exercise protocol and video-based drop-jump test. A secondary aim was to determine whether individual risk factors place certain athletes at increased risk for dynamic knee valgus. Methods Athletes aged 14 to 18 years were recruited for this video analysis study. Athletes were recorded performing a standard drop-jump to assess dynamic valgus. Participants then completed a standardized exercise protocol. Fatigue was quantified using a maximum vertical jump, which was compared with pre-exercise values. The drop-jump was repeated postexercise. All drop-jump recordings were randomized and scored for dynamic valgus by 11 blinded reviewers. Univariate analysis was performed to identify characteristics that predisposed athletes to increased dynamic valgus. Results Eighty-five (47 female, 38 male) athletes with an average age of 15.4 years were included in this study. Forty-nine percent of athletes demonstrated an increase in dynamic valgus determined by drop-jump assessment after exercise. A significantly greater percentage of athletes were graded “medium or high risk” in jumps recorded after the exercise protocol (68%) as compared with before the exercise protocol (44%; P Conclusions In conclusion, our study found that exercise increases dynamic knee valgus in youth athletes. Female athletes and those older than 15 years of age were most significantly affected by exercise. Greater fatigue levels were found to correlate with an increase in dynamic knee valgus, which may place athletes at greater anterior cruciate ligament injury risk. The field-based exercise drop-jump test is a low-cost and reproducible screening tool to identify at-risk athletes who could possibly benefit from anterior cruciate ligament injury-prevention strategies. Level of Evidence III, Comparative trial.
Cooperative Load Scheduling for Multiple Aggregators Using Hierarchical ADMM

Demand response (DR) serves an important role in improving the efficiency and stability of power systems. In recent years, with advances in communication and smart device technologies, many aggregators have emerged to facilitate end customer participation in DR programs. These aggregators, equipped with customized optimal control algorithms, are capable of providing various grid services. Among them is load scheduling during DR events, namely following a load signal provided by the utility company while minimizing overall customer discomfort. However, as the number of aggregators keeps increasing, it becomes challenging for utility companies to conduct load scheduling for multiple aggregators and generate reference signals for each of them. This paper proposes an optimization framework using hierarchical alternating direction method of multipliers (H-ADMM) to optimally generate load following signals for multiple aggregators. Under this framework, utility and multiple aggregators work in a cooperative manner, aiming at minimizing an overall system cost from different levels of the power system hierarchy, while protecting user privacy. A case study has been conducted in a system with multiple aggregators, based on control of HVAC loads. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
A rare case of chemotherapy induced phrenic neuropathy

Abstract Background While chemotherapeutic agents result in an improvement in both disease-free and overall survival in cancer patients, treatment can result in short and long-term complications. One well-known complication is neuropathy which can result from a number of chemotherapeutic agents. However, chemotherapy-induced phrenic neuropathy is an exceedingly rare phenomenon with few cases reported in the literature. Case A 34-year-old male with metastatic testicular cancer presented with progressive dyspnea on exertion after initiation of chemotherapy with bleomycin, cisplatin, and etoposide. Multiple diagnostic studies were performed including pulmonary function testing, chest computed tomography, fluoroscopic sniff evaluation, in addition to phrenic nerve electromyography. Based on results of these tests, the diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced phrenic neuropathy was made. Conclusion Chemotherapy-induced phrenic neuropathy, although rare, should be considered as a cause of dyspnea in cancer patients following initiation of chemotherapy.
Exploring message framing to engage parents in early screening for autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Objective With the average age of diagnosis of autism hovering between 4 and 5 years of age, many children do not receive critical early intervention. Health information messages may be useful for increasing parents’ understanding of the importance of early autism screening. Methods Messages promoting autism screening were presented to 282 parents in a 2 (message frame: gain, loss) x 3 (evidence type: narrative, statistical, and hybrid), online, between-participants factorial design. Participants’ involvement, affective responses, perceived threat to behavioral freedom, attitudes, and intentions to discuss screening with a healthcare provider were analyzed. Results Loss-framed messages that included a hybrid of first-person narrative and statistical evidence were related to favorable ratings for most outcomes. Levels of perceived threat to behavioral freedom partially mediated involvement and attitudes, in a negative direction, for loss-framed narrative messages. Conclusion Results of this preliminary study supported the inclusion of both evidence types in messages developed to encourage parents to engage in early screening for autism, and partially supported focusing these messages on the potential costs of not screening. Practice implications Effective use of messaging with parents could help to increase knowledge and facilitate shared decision-making with health care providers to engage in early screening for autism.
Association of Hydroxychloroquine use and Hemolytic Anemia in Patients With Low Levels of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase.

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) is linked to hemolytic anemia with certain medications and is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide. Although the American College of Rheumatology does not recommend routine testing for G6PD prior to initiation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the package insert for HCQ does recommend careful use in patients with G6PD deficiency. Methods We identified eligible subjects seen at our tertiary care, urban medical center between 1997 and 2018. Case records were analyzed for G6PD deficiency, HCQ use, length of exposure to HCQ, demographic characteristics, and laboratory evidence of hemolysis. Results We found 5264 patients who were prescribed HCQ, of which 49.5% (2605 patients) were screened for G6PD deficiency. Of the screened patients, 36 were found to be G6PD-deficient. Of the G6PD-deficient patients, 18 were exposed to HCQ. No evidence of hemolysis was found in these exposed patients. Conclusions Despite more than 500 months of cumulative exposure time to HCQ, there were no cases of hemolysis. These findings are in line with recently published data and suggest that this interaction is not associated with clinically significant hemolysis in our population of mainly African American and Hispanic patients. Limitations to our study are potential bias due to case review design and lack of prior assessment of episodes of hemolysis before HCQ exposure. A high proportion of our patients were Hispanic, suggesting no increase of adverse events in this subgroup. A larger longitudinal trial would be needed to definitively answer the question of the safety of HCQ in G6PD-deficient patients.
Community Attachment, Communication Mediation, and Nonprofit Participation: An Integrated Community Communication Approach

Nonprofit participation in the form of giving and volunteering has long been viewed as the building blocks of participatory democracy. Yet, prior research has rarely treated nonprofit participation as a distinctive form from the general construct of civic participation. Extending Communication Mediation Model, we examine nonprofit participation behaviors within community-based communication possesses. We use structural equation modeling to investigate the paths of influence among community attachment variables, nonprofit-specific media use and discussion, and individuals’ volunteering and giving behaviors. Results highlight the importance of nonprofit-specific discussion in (1) directly promoting giving and volunteering behaviors (2) mediating the influence of nonprofit-specific traditional media use, and (3) translating community attachment into greater giving and volunteering activities. Different community and communication mechanisms are identified to predict nonprofit giving versus volunteering.
Progression/remission of COVID-19: data-driven recommendations for repeating SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests.

Aims This short study was performed to better understand the time frame associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing and provide recommendations for repeat testing. Recommendations are useful as little guidance is available for repeat testing in patients being followed expectantly for changes in disease. Methods A review of laboratory data of tests for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was performed selecting patients who had changing results. Time between changes in test results was determined to provide guidance for repeat testing. Results The Interquartile Range (IQR) of data for patients who had a negative to positive change in laboratory testing (progression) was 6–16 days (median=9 days). The IQR of data for patients who had a positive to negative change in test results (remission) was 9–21 days (median=14 days). Conclusion Because sampling of the nares or nasopharynx can be variable, repeat testing should be performed swiftly when symptomatic patients are negative. The data in this short study vary widely, so authors recommend repeat testing during a period of time associated with the IQR or median (see results above).
Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease and Unique Pregnancy-Associated Risk Factors in Women

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women. Beyond conventional cardiovascular risk factors, women additionally face sex-specific cardiovascular disease risk factors, which include a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes include the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational age delivery. Here, we review sex differences in cardiovascular disease with an emphasis on pregnancy-associated risk factors and discuss implications for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, have been linked to diverse cardiovascular conditions, accelerated cardiovascular aging, and multimorbidity. Chronic hypertension appears to be a key mediator of accelerated cardiovascular disease risk in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Recent genetic analyses suggest a shared genetic predisposition between adverse cardiometabolic traits and development of hypertension in pregnancy. Mechanisms linking gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, small-for-gestational age delivery, and infertility to cardiovascular disease are less well understood. The mechanisms linking adverse pregnancy outcomes to future cardiovascular disease remain incompletely understood. Further research is needed to better understand this relationship and the implications of adverse pregnancy outcomes for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Current data show no signal of Ebola virus adapting to humans

Gire et al. (Science 345:1369--1372, 2014) analyzed 81 complete genomes sampled from the 2014 Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) outbreak and claimed that the virus is evolving far more rapidly in the current outbreak than it has been between previous outbreaks. This assertion has received widespread attention, and many have perceived Gire et al. (2014)'s results as implying rapid adaptation of EBOV to humans during the current outbreak. Here, we show that, on the contrary, sequence divergence in EBOV is rather limited, and that the currently available data contain no signal of rapid evolution or adaptation to humans. Gire et al.'s findings resulted from an incorrect application of a molecular-clock model to a population of sequences with minimal divergence and segregating polymorphisms. Our results highlight how indiscriminate use of off-the-shelf analysis techniques may result in highly-publicized, misleading statements about an ongoing public health crisis.
Survival outcomes for head and neck patients with Medicaid: A health insurance paradox.

Purpose Privately insured patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) typically have better outcomes; however, differential outcome among Medicaid versus the uninsured is unclear. We aimed to describe outcome disparities among HNC patients uninsured versus on Medicaid. Methods A cohort of 18-64-year-old adults (n = 57 920) with index HNC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database (2007-2015) was analyzed using Fine and Gray multivariable competing risks proportional hazards models for HNC-specific mortality. Results Medicaid (sdHR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.58, 1.72) and uninsured patients (sdHR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.46, 1.65) had significantly greater mortality hazard than non-Medicaid patients. Medicaid patients had increased HNC mortality hazard than those uninsured. Conclusion Compared with those uninsured, HNC patients on Medicaid did not have superior survival, suggesting that there may be underlying mechanisms/factors inherent in this patient population that could undermine access to care benefits from being on Medicaid.
Ambient air pollution and cardiovascular disease: learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambient air pollution has been recognized as the largest reversible cause of both disability and premature death across the globe [1]. Mounting scientific evidence has allowed us to gain a better u...
Deep learning based solar radiation micro forecast by fusion of infrared cloud images and radiation data

Abstract Solar irradiance forecasting has been gaining paramount importance in recent years due to its impact on power grids. However, solar energy harvesting over shorter periods also brings new challenges due to its intermittent and uncertain attributes. Hence, accurate forecasting has become an indispensable aspect of the effective management of power system operations. The existing models focus on using only time-series data for solar radiation forecasting. But during cloudy time instances, it fails to quickly capture the nonlinear Spatio-temporal variations in the data for shorter periods. To bridge this gap, in this paper, a multi-modal fusion network is developed for studying solar irradiance micro forecasts by using both infrared images and past solar irradiance data. Here both spatial and temporal information is extracted parallelly and fused using a fully connected neural network. The solar forecasts of the proposed methods are evaluated against benchmark models in terms of Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and other qualitative measures. The experimental results illustrate that the multi-modal fusion networks outperform the existing methods while predicting solar irradiance for cloudy days as well as mixed days (both cloudy and sunny days). Hence a transfer learning-based classifier with 99.23% accuracy is developed to categorize the cloudy days from sunny days. In the case of higher horizon forecasts, the proposed models show the optimum trade-off between performance and test time. Moreover, the Multiple Image Convolutional Long Short Term Memory Fusion Network (MICNN-L) shows a 46.42% improvement in MAPE whereas the Convolutional Long Short Term Memory Fusion Network (CNN-L) has a 42.02% increase when compared to the benchmark machine learning and deep learning models.
Differences in hypertension prevalence and hypertension control by urbanization among adults in the United States, 2013-2018.

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between urbanization and hypertension, stage II hypertension, and hypertension control. METHODS Data on 16,360 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension), stage II hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mm Hg), and hypertension control (BP < 130/80 mm Hg among hypertensives) by urbanization, classified by levels of metropolitan statistical areas as large MSAs (population ≥ 1,000,000), medium to small MSAs (population 50,000-999,999), and non-MSAs (population <50,000)). RESULTS All prevalence ratios (PRs) were compared with large MSAs and adjusted for demographics and risk factors. The PRs of hypertension were 1.07 (95% CI= 0.99-1.14) for adults residing in medium to small MSAs and 1.06 (95% CI=0.99- 1.13) for adults residing in non-MSAs, For stage II hypertension, the PRs were higher for adults residing in medium to small MSAs 1.21 (95% CI =1.06-1.36) but not for adults residing in non-MSAs 1.06 (95% CI= 0.88-1.29). For hypertension control, the PRs were 0.96 (95% CI=0.91-1.01) for adults residing in medium to small MSAs and 1.00 (95% CI=0.93-1.06) for adults residing in non-MSAs. CONCLUSION Among U.S. adults, urbanization was associated with stage II hypertension.
Physical Activity for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy

Despite the fact that cerebral palsy affects the balance, coordination, muscles, and movements of individuals, adaptive sports can be used to help individuals with cerebral palsy stay physically active. High-quality physical education and movement opportunities can integrate children with cerebral palsy into movement programing, as to enable children with cerebral palsy to achieve goals related to cognitive skills associated with exploring physical health, maintaining physical health, as well as affective values towards physical health, movement, play, and general wellbeing. Cerebral palsy has not prevented some people from being athletes who have managed to compete on the international stage. Sports is one way to encourage people with cerebral palsy to socialize, be fit, stay healthy, and, most importantly, have fun. Enjoyment of physical activity can improve the self-efficacy of individuals with cerebral Palsy. It can motivate them to override pain and sustain their participation. This article details the considerations, recommendations, safety concerns, and facilitation protocols for individuals with cerebral palsy participating in adapted sport.
Data Provenance and Accountability on the Web

Decentralized information-sharing mediums, such as the Web, have been designed to share information by merely creating a document on a web server and linking it from another document. As the Web has grown exponentially in its existence for over three decades, we have come to face many tough questions on the data and content shared on the Web. Some of these questions include how do we characterize data on the Web, who owns the data, how does ownership help decide anything? If we own data, how do we give consent for uncertain future analyses or activities? How can we use data for purposes beyond its intended use ethically and responsibly? Furthermore, what is the meaning of morally responsible data collection, usage, and sharing? As users can anonymously or pseudonymously engage in activities, the lack of an individual’s identity on the Web is further complicated because consent on data usage changes in value, especially concerning confidentiality over time. While there are no simple answers to these challenging questions, there have been several technological advances to provide Web-based data provenance and accountability on the Web. This chapter reviews some of the underlying problems that give rise to data reuse and accountability issues on the Web, and features technical solutions with provenance by utilizing the Resource Description Framework (RDF).
Pregnancy decision-making in women with physical disabilities.

Abstract Background Women with physical disabilities experience barriers to knowledge about pregnancy and adequate reproductive healthcare, which impedes decision-making processes and negatively impacts their pregnancy planning. Objective The purpose of this study was to learn more about pregnancy decision-making in women with physical disabilities. Methods We conducted a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with women with physical disabilities. We asked questions regarding pregnancy, parenting, reproductive health, relationships and interactions with the healthcare system. We utilized interview transcripts and notes to form a codebook regarding pregnancy and parenting decision-making, knowledge, and fears. We then organized codes into themes based on pre-existing literature regarding fertility and conceptualization of the self. Results We completed and analyzed 16 interviews. Themes overall reflected the participants grappling with their own baseline assumptions that they were infertile, as well as managing similar assumptions from others. However, many of the participants recall an exact point where they began to contemplate the fact that having children was possible for them. Finally, disability-related parenting challenges are considered very early in pregnancy decision-making process. Conclusions Women with physical disabilities experience barriers to contemplating pregnancy including inadequate information on pregnancy and reproductive healthcare that affects their decision-making regarding pregnancy and parenting. All healthcare providers should talk to patients with disabilities about family planning and address possible barriers to contemplating pregnancy.
Experience with POL Environment

During the past decade use of digital computers in civil engineering has progressed in amount of use and in ease of use. The advent of the Problem-Oriented Language (POL) was of tremendous importance to the profession, but the method of implementing processors for POLs was for some time a stumbling-block to the proliferation of the languages. In 1966, the writers (with S. J. Fenves) published a paper describing a new approach to the implementation of POLs, an environment which promised to simplify the production of processors and encourage the creation of POLs for many phases of civil engineering. The environment has now been in use for approximately four years, in various forms, from a prototype batch-mode version to a conversational, real-time, time-share version. The present paper is a progress report on the status of the environment for POLs (both proposed and actual) and the experience gained in this endeavor.
Current Neurosurgical Treatments for Parkinson's Disease. Where Did They Come From?

Publisher Summary The understanding of the pathophysiology of the Parkinson's disease (PD), advances in surgical technique, and the development of imaging technology has led to the development of current surgical approaches for the treatment of this disease. This chapter reviews early empirical studies of surgical therapy and the evolution that has led to present neurosurgical approaches for the treatment of PD. These includes the effects of retrograde anatomical tracing studies in the hands of Hassler, implementation of the stereotaxis, advancements in neuroradiology from early ventriculography to CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Also important are the implementation of microelectrode physiology, the development of neurostimulator technologies, and now gene and transplant therapies. Advances in neuroscience have played a crucial role in the progress of this field, laying the groundwork for the understanding of the separate functions of the pyramidal and extrapyramidal motor systems, the role of dopaminergic neurons in PD.
Michael O'Loughlin. The Subject of Childhood

Developmental theory was an entry point into early childhood education for most of us and, for many, it remains the backbone of our field. Michael O'Loughlin—a psychoanalyst who is also a teacher e...
Using Queue Time Predictions for Processor Allocation

When a malleable job is submitted to a space-sharing parallel computer, it must choose often whether to begin execution on a small, available cluster, or wait in queue for more processors to become available. To make this decision, it must predict how long it will have to wait for the larger clsuter. We propose statistical techniques for predicting these queue times, and develop an allocation strategy that uses these predictions. We present a workload model based on the environment we have observed at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and use this model to drive simulations of various allocation strategies. We conclude that prediction-based allocation not only improves the average turnaround time for the jobs; it also improves the utilization of the system as a whole.
How many individuals will need to be screened to increase colorectal cancer screening prevalence to 80% by 2018?

BACKGROUND A recent study estimates that 277,000 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and 203,000 CRC deaths will be averted between 2013 and 2030 if the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable goal of increasing CRC screening prevalence to 80% by 2018 is reached. However, the number of individuals who need to be screened (NNS) to achieve this goal is unknown. In this communication, the authors estimate the NNS to achieve 80% by 2018 nationwide and by state. METHODS The authors estimated the NNS by subtracting adults aged 50 to 75 years who would need to be screened to achieve an 80% CRC screening prevalence from the number who are currently guideline-compliant from population estimates for this age group. The 2013 National Health Interview Survey and the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to estimate CRC screening prevalence and data from the US Census Bureau were used to estimate population projections. The NNS were age-standardized and sex-standardized. RESULTS Nationwide, 24.39 million individuals (95% confidence interval, 24.37-24.41 million) aged 50 to 75 years will need to be screened to achieve 80% by 2018. By state, the NNS ranged from 45,400 in Vermont to 2.72 million in California. The majority of individuals who need to be screened are aged 50 to 64 years and the largest subgroup is privately insured. CONCLUSIONS The authors estimated that at least 24.4 million additional individuals in the United States will need to be screened to achieve the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable goal of increasing CRC screening prevalence to 80% by 2018. To reach this goal, improving facilitators of CRC screening, including physician recommendation and patient awareness, is needed. Cancer 2015;121:4258–4265. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Somatic mutations of the PPP2R1B candidate tumor suppressor gene at chromosome 11q23 are infrequent in ovarian carcinomas.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated frequent allelic losses of distal chromosome 11q in ovarian carcinomas. The tumor suppressor gene(s) presumably targeted by these losses have not yet been identified. PPP2R1B is a candidate tumor suppressor gene at 11q23 that has recently been shown to be mutated in a subset of colorectal and lung cancers. We evaluated 5 ovarian carcinoma cell lines and 27 primary ovarian carcinomas for allelic losses of 11q23 and for mutations in the open reading frame of PPP2R1B . We also evaluated the primary tumors for allelic losses at 17p13, another chromosomal region frequently affected by losses of heterozygosity (LOH) in ovarian cancers. 11q23 and 17p13 allelic losses were identified in 25% and 74% of the carcinomas, respectively. No mutations within PPP2R1Bcoding sequences were found. These findings indicate that mutations of the PPP2R1B gene are infrequent in ovarian cancer and that deletions affecting the distal portion of chromosome 11q in ovarian cancer likely target inactivation of other genes.
The steady-state diffraction of electromagnetic radiation by an obstacle in an inhomogeneous anisotropic conducting medium

Abstract : The diffraction of time-harmonic electromagnetic radiation by perfectly conducting obstacles immersed in an inhomogeneous, anisotropic, con ducting medium is discussed. A mathematical formulation of the problem is presented which is applicable to obstacles of arbitrary shape and to a very general class of media, and the existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on the data of the solution is demonstrated.
Management of respiratory compromise caused by cervical osteophytes: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background context: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a common condition in the aging spine. DISH is associated with large anterior osteophytes of the cervical spine, which can cause complications by compressing adjoining structures. Dysphagia is reported in up to 28% of patients, but respiratory compromise is rare. There have been no published recommendations for treatment. Purpose: To report that resection of cervical osteophytes, without cervical fusion, can be successful in the treatment of severe respiratory distress. Study design: This report describes the management of a patient with DISH and severe respiratory distress resulting from large anterior cervical osteophytes. Methods: A team approach was used with collaboration between the orthopedic spine surgeons and the otolaryngologists. Results: This patient was found to have compression of her posterior pharyngeal wall by the osteophytes. Tracheostomy was required for the management of the airway. The patient was dependent on the tracheostomy until the osteophytes were resected. The patient was then able to breathe normally. Treatment recommendations were developed based on this case of osteophyte-induced respiratory compromise as well as the previously published accounts of osteophyte-induced dysphagia. Conclusions: Airway obstruction resulting from DISH can be treated according to the same principles as dysphagia resulting from DISH: surgical excision of osteophytes if conservative support fails.
Effects of heat treatment on the potentiostatic polarization behavior of an 18%Ni maraging steel

Abstract The effect of heat treatment on potentiostatic polarization behavior of an 18%Ni maraging steel was investigated. In H 2 , sat. 1N H 2 SO 4 active-passive behavior was observed. The passive current density was found to vary with aging treatment; overaging resulted in the largest passive current density. This effect was interpreted as resulting largely from the appearance of age-hardening precipitates and not from the formation of reverted austenite. In 3%NaCl solutions where active-passive behavior did not exist, the polarization curves were essentially unaffected by heat treatment. The only observable effect of aging was a slight shift of the corrosion potential in the active direction.
QLC-based design of reference tracking controllers for systems with asymmetric saturating actuators

Quasilinear Control (QLC) is a set of methods for designing reference tracking and disturbance rejection controllers for systems with nonlinear actuators and sensors. While most QLC methods are applicable to systems with symmetric nonlinearities, the current paper provides a technique for asymmetric ones, specifically, asymmetric saturating actuators. As in the symmetric case, the approach is based on the method of stochastic linearization, which reduces nonlinear systems to quasilinear ones. In the symmetric case, each nonlinear element is replaced by a gain. In the asymmetric case, however, each nonlinear element is replaced not only by a gain, but also by a bias. The latter leads to steady state errors incompatible with the usual error coefficients. Therefore, the performance of these quasilinear systems must be characterized not only by a root locus, but by another locus as well - the tracking error locus. In this paper these performance loci are characterized, methods for their calculation and sketching are presented, and the results are utilized for tracking controllers design.
Effect of various cell-dispersing methods on ability of mouse fetal liver to protect irradiated mice. I. Cultured fetal liver.

SummaryCells from mouse fetal liver were dispersed by various methods and tested for their ability to protect lethally irradiated mice. Intravenous injection of 105, 106 or 107 cells dispersed by means of trypsin plus methocel protected well. Cells dispersed by forcing tissue through a 27-gauge needle or by exposure to pancreatin plus methocel protected well only when 107 cells were injected. Cells obtained by forcing fetal liver through monel mesh did not protect as well as cells dispersed by trypsin plus methocel when either 106 or 107 cells were injected. From the results of these experiments it is concluded that dispersion of mouse fetal liver cells by means of trypsin and methocel permits more multipotential cells to remain viable and that these cells are very susceptible to manipulation.
Effects of variable hydroperiods and water level fluctuations on denitrification capacity, nitrate removal, and benthic-microbial community structure in constructed wetlands

The hydrologic character of wetlands is one of the attributes by which they are defined. There are, however, conflicting reports about the detrimental versus beneficial responses of wetland systems to water level fluctuations and variable hydroperiods. We conducted water level and hydroperiod fluctuation studies in full-scale experimental wetlands in order to determine the effects of hydraulic operation on wetland performance (in terms of nutrient removal), and benthic-bacterial community function (in terms of denitrification potential, DNP) and structure (via terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms, T-RFLP). In our comparison, detention time was the controlling factor for nitrate removal at the system level. However, widely fluctuating water levels and variable hydroperiods did not diminish either the nitrate removal capacity of the experimental wetlands, or the size or composition of benthic-bacterial communities relative to the more stable water level systems. Rather, significant differences in denitrification potential rates, bacterial cell densities, and benthic community structure were a function of sampling location within the experimental wetlands regardless of hydraulic operation. The results of this study support the need for reconsidering the hydraulic criteria for wetland delineation.
The elastin-like protein matrix of lamprey branchial cartilage is cross-linked by lysyl pyridinoline.

The cranial skeleton of the lamprey, a primitive vertebrate, consists of cartilaginous structures that differ from vertebrate cartilages in having a noncollagenous extracellular matrix. Novel matrix proteins found in these cartilages include lamprin in the annular cartilage and an unidentified protein in the branchial cartilages. Both show biochemical similarities to elastin. The inextractability of these proteins, even to chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, indicates a polymer with extensive covalent cross-linking. Here we report on the type of cross-linking. Lysyl pyridinoline was found in high concentration in the elastin-like protein of lamprey branchial cartilage at a ratio of 7:1 to hydroxylysyl pyridinoline, the form that dominates in vertebrate collagens. Both forms of pyridinoline cross-link were absent from annular cartilage and desmosine cross-links, which are characteristic of vertebrate elastin, were not detected in either form of lamprey cartilage. Pyridinoline cross-links are considered to be characteristic of collagen, so their presence in an elastin-like protein in a primitive cartilage poses evolutionary questions about the tissue, the protein, and the cross-linking mechanism.
Consolidation of Combustion‐Synthesized Titanium Diboride‐Based Materials

The quasi-static consolidation in uniaxial compression of combustion-synthesized TiB{sub 2}-based materials was investigated. Consolidation was carried out in insulated containers upon completion of the combustion reaction, while the porous reaction products were ductile. Since the consolidation is not an isothermal process, the temperature change during consolidation was monitored and recorded. The effect of the addition of metallic elements to the elemental powders was established, and it was found that nickel and chromium provide the best compact integrity. The partial densification is sufficient to show significant differences between the effects of metallic additives. A phenomenological (not based on the micromechanisms of densification) constitutive model was applied to the hot and porous reaction products incorporating the temperature dependence of flow stress. The activation energy for the temperature dependence of the flow stress is established and indicates that, in addition to diffusion-induced plastic deformation, other processes occur, such as fracturing of ligaments.
Optimal harvesting in an integrodifference population model

We consider the harvest of a certain proportion of a population that is modelled by an integrodifference equation. This model is discrete in time and continuous in the space variable. The dispersal of the population is modelled by an integral of the population density against a kernel function. The control is the harvest, and the goal is to maximize the profit. The optimal control is characterized by introducing an adjoint function. This paper gives the first optimal control result in integrodifference equations. Numerical results and interpretations are given for four different kernels. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A constructivist perspective on knowledge management

Can knowledge be isolated, captured, and transferred between individuals within an organization? From an interdisciplinary perspective, grounded in recent information systems research, this paper presents an overview of knowledge management, describes a constructivist view of knowledge, and draws a clear distinction between the concepts of 'data', 'information', and 'knowledge'. Based upon this framework, the author discusses the implications of such a perspective on knowledge management. While this outlook demands a variable, contextual, and constructed view of knowledge, it also underscores the importance of persuasive communication as a means to shape an individual's understanding.
Students’ Perceptions of Academic Dishonesty: A Nine-Year Study from 2005 to 2013

Students from a small, private, religious college and a large, public university completed questionnaires asking their perceptions of academic dishonesty at their institution. The questionnaires used a 5-point Likert scale to determine whether the students felt it was acceptable to cheat for a specific reason such as plagiarizing or copying homework both using and not using technology. Between fall 2005 and fall 2013, 1792 usable questionnaires were collected using similar methodology, questionnaires and respondents to control for possible extraneous variables. An analysis of the data provides indications that student acceptance of many types of academic dishonesty has decreased over the past 9 years.
Will the real Cowden syndrome please stand up (again)? Expanding mutational and clinical spectra of the PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome

PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome Since consensus operational diagnostic criteria for Cowden syndrome (MIM 158350) were first established in 1995, our understanding of this complex disease—and the spectrum of disorders related to it by virtue of also having germline mutations in the PTEN tumour suppressor gene—has continued to evolve. This was reflected in a commentary1 in this journal in 2000 in which it was proposed that endometrial cancer and renal cell carcinoma be added to the operational diagnostic criteria for Cowden syndrome (table 1). This updated commentary is intended to provide a review of significant changes in our understanding of the growing group of disorders, which are known to be caused by germline mutations in PTEN on 10q23.3, and which have been termed the PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. View this table: Table 1 International Cowden Consortium operational criteria for the diagnosis of Cowden syndrome. Ver 2000 Cowden syndrome is a complex disorder with malignant and benign (hamartomatous) lesions affecting derivatives of all three germ cell layers. Major organs involved include the breast, thyroid, uterus, brain, and mucocutaneous tissues.2 It has been estimated to affect about 1 in 200 000 individuals,3,4 although this is probably an underestimate given the difficulty in diagnosis presented by this highly variable disease and the fact that many component features in and of themselves can occur in the general population. Penetrance is related to age, with most patients presenting by their late twenties with at least the mucocutaneous lesions of this disorder, which are reportedly seen in 99% of affected individuals. The lifetime risk for breast cancer in Cowden syndrome is estimated to be 25–50%, with an average age of diagnosis between 38 and 46 years old.2,5 The risk for thyroid cancer (typically follicular, but occasionally papillary) is approximately 10%, while the risk for endometrial cancer, …
Measurement of χ \(3\) for Doubly Vibrationally Enhanced Four Wave Mixing Spectroscopy

We report the measurement of the third order susceptibility ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ for doubly vibrationally enhanced four wave mixing in the model system, acetonitrile. Two resonances multiplicatively increase the mixing efficiency if there is mode coupling and provide an additional spectral dimension for vibrational spectroscopy that greatly improves its resolution. Such methods promise to have important applications for vibrational spectroscopy of complex materials.
Analysis of Operation of AVC System in Fuzhou Power Grid

Through the statistics of AVC system equipment availability, closed loop rate, action number and success rate, analyses the operation of AVC system in Fuzhou power grid, there are still many problems, such as closed loop rate is not high, some AVC substation remote low success rate.In order to effectively improve the pertinent measures from the design, operation and maintenance, fixed value management etc..
Auditory Conflict Resolution Correlates with Medial–Lateral Frontal Theta/Alpha Phase Synchrony

When multiple persons speak simultaneously, it may be difficult for the listener to direct attention to correct sound objects among conflicting ones. This could occur, for example, in an emergency situation in which one hears conflicting instructions and the loudest, instead of the wisest, voice prevails. Here, we used cortically-constrained oscillatory MEG/EEG estimates to examine how different brain regions, including caudal anterior cingulate (cACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC), work together to resolve these kinds of auditory conflicts. During an auditory flanker interference task, subjects were presented with sound patterns consisting of three different voices, from three different directions (45° left, straight ahead, 45° right), sounding out either the letters “A” or “O”. They were asked to discriminate which sound was presented centrally and ignore the flanking distracters that were phonetically either congruent (50%) or incongruent (50%) with the target. Our cortical MEG/EEG oscillatory estimates demonstrated a direct relationship between performance and brain activity, showing that efficient conflict resolution, as measured with reduced conflict-induced RT lags, is predicted by theta/alpha phase coupling between cACC and right lateral frontal cortex regions intersecting the right frontal eye fields (FEF) and DLPFC, as well as by increased pre-stimulus gamma (60–110 Hz) power in the left inferior fontal cortex. Notably, cACC connectivity patterns that correlated with behavioral conflict-resolution measures were found during both the pre-stimulus and the pre-response periods. Our data provide evidence that, instead of being only transiently activated upon conflict detection, cACC is involved in sustained engagement of attentional resources required for effective sound object selection performance.
The immediate antecedents of sudden death.

A 5 yr prospective survey of 1839 coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths, in 260.000 employed men aged 20–65 – and a detailed study of 142 deaths of all causes in 1020 men aged 40–65 who were observed for 5 yrs with repeated examinations and 24 hr ECG recordings shows the following: 60.4% of CHD deaths were «sudden» (SD) in <1 hr; 42.5% of SDs were in men not previously known to have heart disease. The cardiac phenomena of all deaths could be classified as «arrhythmic» (ARD) or «circulatory failture» (CFD). 91% of SDs in <1 hr and 85% of SDs in <24 hrs were ARDs. ARDs and CFDs occurred under different conditions with different precipitating causes and different predictive «risk factors». At time of death 85% of ARDs were asleep, 88% awake and 42% active. 92.5% had myocardial disease: occlusions of major coronary vessels, scarring or fibrosis; recent acute MI or CO; hypertrophy 400 gms 80%; congestive heart failure 45%; cardiac dilatation 23%. 25% had severe anemia or anoxemia. 85% had major chronic disorders of rhythm or conduction (VPCs 10/1000 36%; pairs of PVC 15%; EC VPCs 23%; QRS . 11 sec 28 %). At time of death 100% of CFDs were comatose and not arousable. 48% had no clinical evidence of heart disease. 57% had myocardial disease: definite CHD 26%; hypertrophy 400 gms 47%; chronic CHF 29%; cardiac dilatation 13%. 27% had major disorders of rhythm or conduction (VPC 10/1000 20%; pairs of PVC 10%; EC VPCs none; QRS. 11 sec 10%). ARDs were precipitated by activities known to be associated with vagal effects on heart in 17.1% of the men; by activities known to be associated with sympathetic effects of heart in 34.1%, episodes of acute myocardial ischemia in 14.6%; or occurred during no apparent precipitating event in 34.1%. CFDs were precipitated by hemorrhage, trauma, infection, stroke, or other cause of peripheral vascular failure (87%), and by myocardial failure (13%). Risk factors at age 55 for ARD in 5 years are confounded and interact. Men with combinations have higher risk. A risk factor for CFD is the presence of potentially fatal non-cardiac disease likely to cause coma or peripheral vascular collapse.