cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical outcomes and cost comparison of carotid artery angioplasty with stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background Recently, carotid angioplasty with stenting (CAS) has evolved as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the treatment of carotid occlusive disease. Some concerns have arisen regarding the high cost of stents and neuroprotection devices, which may inflate the overall procedural costs relative to CEA. We report here a review and analysis contrasting the clinical outcomes and associated hospital costs incurred for patients treated with either CAS or CEA. Methods Ninety-four consecutive patients with surgically amenable carotid stenosis were offered CAS or CEA. Forty-six patients elected CAS, and 48 patients underwent CEA. CAS was performed with the Smart Precise or Acculink stents, and all procedures included neuroprotection (Filter Wire or Accunet). CEA was performed with patients under general anesthesia with routine shunting and with Dacron or bovine pericardium patches. Clinical outcomes such as perioperative mortality, major adverse events (myocardial infarction, stroke, and death), length of stay, and the incidence of hemodynamic instability were analyzed. Total costs, indirect costs, and direct procedural costs associated with hospitalization were also reviewed. Results CAS was associated with a shorter length of stay compared with CEA (1.2 vs 2.1 days; P = .02). Differences in perioperative mortality (0% vs 2%; P = NS), major adverse events (2% vs 10%; P = .36), strokes (2% vs 4%; P = NS), myocardial infarctions (0% vs 4%; P = .49), and hypotension necessitating pressor support (21% vs 18%; P = NS) were not statistically significant. By using cost to charge ratio methodology according to the Medicare report, CAS was associated with higher total procedural costs ($17,402 vs $12,112; P = .029) and direct costs ($10,522 vs $7227; P = .017). The differences in indirect costs were not significant ($6879 vs $4885; P = .063). Conclusions CAS with neuroprotection was associated with clinical outcomes equivalent to those with CEA but had higher total hospital costs. These higher costs reflect the addition of expensive devices that have improved the technical success and the clinical outcomes associated with CAS.
The Wheatstone bridge as an alignment test structure

A new test structure for the electrical measurement of level-to-level registration is introduced. This structure, based on the Wheatstone bridge measurement principle, offers improved accuracy over the conventional U-shaped test structure. With the described Wheatstone bridge method, the registration error (misalignment) is directly proportional to a single voltage. In contrast, the misalignment of the U-shaped structure is calculated from the difference of two voltages, an operation that can result in poor precision. The paper describes a two-by-twelve contact pad module, which includes two Wheatstone bridge structures to measure the misalignment in the X- and Y-directions, two calibration structures to determine the zero- and full-scale accuracy, and a Van der Pauw structure to measure the sheet resistance of the conducting material as required for the alignment measurement. The mathematical expressions are derived, and actual test results are discussed.
Work in progress - integrating technology for e-diagnosis of automated manufacturing system

Manufacturing automation and control technologies are critical for engineering education and essential to our national economic competitiveness. However, education in these subjects is often hindered by high student-to-faculty ratios, limited access to labs, and limited/outdated equipment to support lab assignments. Information technology can not only alleviate equipment access problems, but also make a variety of innovative and effective instructional approaches and technologies available to educators. This paper describes an ongoing effort to establish the feasibility of remote monitoring, operation, and diagnosis of an existing automated assembly system, to identify the issues involved in doing so, and to extend the system so that it can be used for tele-training. This will allow us to make manufacturing automation and control education available to anyone, anytime, anywhere. This paper focuses on the retrofitting of existing automated system, and integrating technologies include LabView software, a field-point communication module, a Web based simulation model, and a Webcam.
Using Climate Change as a Teaching Tool

Climate change, like many other controversial issues, is an ideal pedagogical tool for encouraging a number of desirable outcomes in environmental education. It serves as an excellent context for teaching the science of complex systems, or chaos, as well as a wide variety of more traditional content. Chaos is a powerful paradigm for building understanding of how the world works. It also empowers students to take individual action on large, seemingly insurmountable problems. Climate change can help make learning relevant; it is the ideal arena for debating the merits and application of the precautionary principle, and for giving students the opportunity to find their own voice in a key public dialog of our time. This process develops a host of desirable learning goals, including problem solving and conflict resolution. Teaching climate change is also challenging. Educators must be flexible and allow, even encourage, a diversity of opinions. Assessment should to be driven by student success in performing specific tasks, rather than by arrival at a “correct” answer. Resume Comme plusieurs autres enjeux controverses, le changement climatique est un outil pedagogique ideal pour favoriser de nombreux resultats souhaitables dans l’education environnementale. Ce phenomene fournit un contexte pour enseigner la science de systemes complexes, ainsi qu’un large eventail de contenu plus traditionnel. Le chaos est un puissant paradigme pour engendrer une comprehension du fonctionnement du monde. Il habilite en outre les eleves a agir individuellement face a des problemes d’envergure et, selon toute apparence, insurmontables. Le changement climatique peut aider a rendre l’apprentissage pertinent. C’est l’arene de choix pour debattre des merites et de l’application du principe de precaution et pour donner aux eleves l’occasion de
Using subtle reminders of love to foster healthy snack choices

Employing three experiments with US college students, we examined how subtle reminders of companionate and sexual love affect consumers' healthy snack choices. Two different symbols of companionate and sexual love were used as manipulations. Results from the studies suggest that exposure to subtle reminders of companionate love lead to a greater likelihood of making healthy eating choices than subtle reminders of sexual love. These choices are likely driven by the activation of distal and proximal temporal construals. Interestingly, subtle reminders of sexual love appear to mimic a choice setting with no manipulation. This research should enlighten marketers who are interested in fostering healthy consumption. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast robust perspective transform estimation for automatic image registration in disaster response applications

While automatic image registration has been extensively studied in other areas of image processing, it is still a complex problem in the framework of remote sensing for disaster response. This problem is difficult because there can be substantial change in the image content between the two images, and the time of day and lighting typically are different between the two images. In this work, we propose a two-step approach to achieve fast and robust registration of before- after-disaster aerial image pairs. First, the images are coarsely registered using a phase-correlation based algorithm. In the second step, transformed images are finely registered by matching features across grids and estimating the perspective transform. Our proposed algorithm is evaluated for robustness, accuracy and speed. It is found to achieve 100% registration success on 23 image pairs which proved challenging to either of the component approaches.
Efficient analysis of frequency selective surfaces using the Ewald transform

A novel approach to analyze FSS structures is used whereby the Ewald transform technique, in conjunction with a particular choice of basis function, is shown to reduce the complexity of the problem formulation and greatly improve the convergence rate of the MoM solution for periodic structures. In particular, we consider wire-type geometries, which need not be confined to a single plane configuration, to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
Host Selection of Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Comparative Response to Fruit-Infesting and Gall-Forming Tephritid Flies

Responses of the opiine larval parasitoid Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron) to the fruit-feeding Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and the gall-forming lantana gall fly, Eutreta xanthochaeta Aldrich, were evaluated in greenhouse and open-door laboratory cages. In greenhouse cages, coffee plants containing C. capitata-infested fruit and lantana twigs containing E. xanthochaeta galls were presented to gravid D. tryoni under both choice and no-choice conditions. Regardless of the type of assay, D. tryoni strongly preferred landing on infested coffee plants to landing on galled lantana twigs. The wasp also strongly preferred landing on C. capitata-infested coffee fruits to E. xanthochaeta galls. In addition, when released directly onto a host-habitat complex, parasitoids had significantly stronger probing responses to C. capitata-infested coffee fruit than to E. xanthochaeta galls. However, the stronger probing response to coffee (shorter latency and longer duration) by D. tryoni did not result in higher rates of attack on C. capitata larvae than on gall fly larvae. When measured by the number of host larvae attacked per unit time spent probing, D. tryoni was significantly more efficient in attacking lantana gall fly larvae in stem galls than C. capitata larvae in coffee berries. When lantana patches containing galls were presented to D. tryoni in open-door laboratory cages under different regimes of availability of C. capitata or its fruit hosts, rates of attack on lantana gall flies by D. tryoni were significantly reduced by the presence of coffee plants containing C. capitata-infested berries. This result suggests that host switching of D. tryoni from C. capitata to lantana gall fly in the field is likely to be affected by the spatial and temporal distributions of the two hosts and their plant habitats. Relevance of our findings to host-switching of D. tryoni and the risk of significantly impacting populations of nontarget lantana gall flies are discussed.
High-Temperature SiC MOSFET Gas Sensors

Due to tightening restrictions on combustion exhaust emissions, low-cost sensors are desired for monitoring NOx production in high-temperature exhaust streams. This paper reports the characterization of Silicon Carbide MOSFET NO sensors for use in combustion exhaust monitoring. SiC depletion-mode MOSFETs were fabricated using a thermally-grown silicon dioxide gate dielectric and a Pt catalytic metal gate electrode. SiC MOSFET gas sensors were characterized at temperatures as high as 525°C in an ambient of synthetic air and NO (50–200 ppm) for 30 hours with no degradation.
Relative Reactivity Volume Criterion for Cross-Linking: Application to Vinyl Ester Resin Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to create a series of cross-linked vinyl ester resins. The cross-link density was varied at constant conversion. Thermodynamic and mechanical properties were calculated as a function of the cross-link density. A new relative reactivity volume (RRV) algorithm was developed to generate the cross-linking network by incorporating the correct regioselectivity (head-to-tail chain propagation) and monomer reactivity ratios. This is the first application of reactivity ratios for free radical addition polymerization in MD simulations. Prior cross-linking simulations were performed on step-growth epoxy resin curing. Vinyl esters studied here cure by free radical addition copolymerization. Cross-linked networks with double bond conversions up to 98% were achieved. Volume shrinkage, glass transition temperatures, and tensile elastic constants were calculated. Predicted Young’s moduli were compared with experimental data. This RRV method can generate other thermoset and th...
Publishing Opportunities: The Manuscript Review Process for Medical Technologists

A study was conducted to generate comparative data on the manuscript review process of various journals in order to identify refereed journals and the process that editors of these journals use in selecting manuscripts for publication. A questionnaire was sent to 21 journals selected by the medical technology faculty. All of the responding journals had some type of peer review process and could be classified as refereed. The results of this study will assist professionals in identifying publishing opportunities, in understanding the review process, and in documenting the quality of their publications to the more traditional faculty members.
Operative Mortality After Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture and Hospital Volume

Background:The purpose of the present study is to use a statewide, population-based data set to identify mortality rates at 30-day and 1-year postoperatively following total hip arthroplasty (THA) ...
Tubularized Neourethra Following Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

AbstractA 1.5cm. tubularized neourethra was formed using an anterior bladder flap as part of bladder neck reconstruction after radical retropubic prostatectomy in 69 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (study group). Postoperative continence (defined as requiring no protection for any activity) was assessed by history at 3 months (all men) and 6 months (45 of 69 men). Continence in the study group was compared to that of 45 men with 6 months of followup who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy without tubularization of the anterior bladder (control group). At 3 months 38 of 69 men (55%) were continent in the study group and 14 of 45 (31%) were continent in the control group (p <0.03). At 6 months 39 of 45 men (87%) were continent in the study group compared to 21 of 45 (47%) in the control group (p <0.01). Upright cystograms performed on men with and without the tubularized neourethra after radical retropubic prostatectomy suggest that a neourethra proximal to the external...
Radiant Energy, Its Receipt and Disposal

Every organism, plant or animal, on the surface of the earth is immersed in a radiation environment consisting of solar radiation and of longwave thermal energy from nearby surfaces. The total radiation flux within a given site is highly variable, changing with time of day, season, weather and other factors. The variation of the total radiation flux from one site to another on the earth’s surface is enormous and the plant and animal distribution responds accordingly.
Basic Biology: Ovarian Anatomy and Physiology

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a description of the basic biology of ovarian failure, offering a deeper understanding of the fertility concerns of older women prior to menopause, as well as the endocrinologic changes that occur at this time. The primary problem in the dominant follicle that leads to decreased fecundity in older women is the susceptibility of the egg to meiotic nondisjunction and aneuploidy. A potentially important theory to explain the problem is developed. The evidence indicates that an age-related decrease in the production of ovary inhibin leads to a monotropic rise in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn is reflected in the acceleration of the loss of ovarian reserve (OR) by virtue of accelerating the rate of recruitment. Further, specific interactions between granulosa-derived activin and increased FSH receptor and ligand may act synergistically to accelerate the rate of granulosa and oocyte cytodifferentiation. This functional response might then lead to accelerated development of the dominant follicle, which in turn is reflected in the age-related shortening of the follicular phase. At the level of the oocyte, these changes are reflected in an increased potential for aneuploidy.
Methods for Sampling and Analyzing Wetland Algae

Algae are a biologically diverse group of aquatic photosynthetic organisms, and are often common in wetlands. Algal species vary in their optimal environmental conditions, thus the taxonomic identity of algae present in a wetland can be used to make inferences about the environmental characteristics (e.g., water quality) of the wetland in which they are found. Algae also play important roles in the ecology of wetlands. They can be highly abundant and productive, thereby supporting wetland food webs and affecting wetland biogeochemical cycles. It is hoped that this chapter will provide a useful reference for wetland scientists and managers, and also serve to introduce students to appropriate methods for the sampling and analysis of wetland algae.
Psychometric Properties of the Four-Item Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale among Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Participants

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the reliability and factorial validity of the four-item Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS) among Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study participants. Methods We used the cross-sectional visit 5 data from the ARIC Study to assess the measurement properties of the MGLS. We measured the internal consistency using Cronbach α (where α > 0.70 is considered reliable for group-level measurement), the response frequency, and the inter item correlation. Factor analysis of the MGLS and five other adherence items in the survey was conducted using a polychoric correlation matrix to examine the dimensionality that underlies the MGLS. A vanishing tetrad test was conducted to assess conformity with an effect indicator model. Results Among the ARIC visit 5 participants, 6,261 (96%) responded to the MGLS and other questions related to medication adherence in the survey (mean age 76 ± 5 years, 59% women). The Cronbach α for the MGLS was 0.47. The inter-item correlations ranged from 0.11 to 0.26. In the factor analysis of the medication adherence survey questions, a three-factor solution was used. One factor captured the extent of nonadherence, whereas other factors focused on the reasons for nonadherence. The MGLS items spread out across the factors that reflect the extent of as well as the reasons for nonadherence. The results of the vanishing tetrad test indicated that the MGLS consists of items other than effect indicators (P Conclusions The low reliability together with the factor analysis findings imply that the MGLS may reflect causes as well as the extent of medication adherence. The findings suggest that the MGLS, as presently used, lacks consistency in an elderly population.
Exploring the Nexus of Nonprofit Financial Stability and Financial Growth

Taking a unified approach to studying nonprofit financial health, this research tackles a key question that has remained unexplored in the literature: “What lies at the intersection of the two key dimensions of financial health–financial stability and financial growth?” Specifically, we identify and compare nonprofits that exhibit high levels of financial stability and growth (high financially performing) to those that exhibit low levels (low financially performing)? Overall, we find that high financial performers (HFPs) tend to be older and larger organizations (in terms of unrestricted net assets and total revenue). HFPs are also more likely to report capital assets, and report high levels of compensation. Finally, HFPs tend to contain their overhead spending by exercising efficiency by investing in talented officers (paying more than the rest), but limiting the share of officer compensation, administrative, and fundraising expenses, as a percentage of total expenses. The results of the study should be informative to stakeholders attempting to understand the profile of an organization that is successfully able to achieve both capacity growth and financial stability.
Carbamazepine Toxicity with Generic Substitution

Two 6-year-old children with carbamazepine (CBZ) toxicity, reported from the University of Miami School of Medicine, were found to have 22% and 41% increases in serum CBZ levels after substitution of Tegretol with the generic brand, Epitol, because of insurance company policies.
Effects of Aggregate Properties on Rheology of Self-Consolidating Concrete

Compared with conventionally vibrated concrete (CVC), the rheological properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) should be closely controlled in order to satisfy fresh property requirements. Rheology of concrete is normally described by Bingham model. To investigate the effects of various aggregate properties on rheology of SCC, 25 mixtures were studied. It was found that higher aggregate volume, higher fine aggregate to coarse aggregate ratio, smaller aggregate size, and lower aggregate packing density may increase yield stress of SCC mixture. Aggregate size has an insignificant effect on plastic viscosity. Mixtures with slump flow less than 580 mm exhibited anti-thixotropy manner, whereas mixtures with slump flow 630 mm or higher showed thixotropy manner. No clear correlation was observed between plastic viscosity and T50 and Tf in the slump-flow test.
The biological role of hemolymph lectins in Episesarma tetragonum

The hemolymph of the mangrove crab, E. tetragonum contains lectins specific for NeuGcα 2, 3Gal β1-4 GluNAc β1 linkage and O-acetyl sialic acids. The role of sialic acid specific lectins on natural immunity of the crab is studied by using several kinds of mammalian erythrocytes as pathogen model. Injection of erythrocytes showing differential agglutinability with the lectins, induced augmentation of hemagglutinating activity suggesting an increase in the circulating lectins. A significant correlation was observed between in vivo clearances of exogenous erythrocytes with the extent of erythrocyte agglutination by the lectins. Another correlation was observed between the susceptibility of erythrocytes to lectin dependent hemocyte mediated hemolysis and the extent of lectin mediated erythrocyte agglutination. This study documents that opsonization of foreign pathogen by the native lectins is an important step in hemocyte recognition, hemolysis and clearance of the pathogen.
A Two-Process Model for Circadian and Sleep-Dependent Modulation of Pain Sensitivity

Pain sensitivity is strongly modulated by time of day and by prior sleep behavior. These two factors, governed by the circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep drive, respectively, likewise dictate the timing and duration of sleep. The fields of sleep and circadian research have identified much of the physiology underlying the circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep drive with mathematical modeling playing an important role in understanding how these two processes interact to affect sleep behavior. We hypothesize that the daily rhythm of pain sensitivity and its sleep-dependent modulation reflect an interaction of the circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep drive. To investigate this hypothesis, we adapt the formalism of a classic mathematical model for the regulation of sleep behavior by the circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep drive, called the Two-Process model, to simulate the interaction of these two processes on pain sensitivity. To construct the model, we utilize data from experimental reports on the daily rhythmicity of pain sensitivity in humans to define a “daily pain sensitivity” function. We decompose this function into two processes: a sleep-dependent processS(t) that follows the homeostatic sleep drive and a circadian processC(t) that is dictated by the circadian rhythm. By simulating different sleep schedules with the original Two-Process model, we compute changes in the sleep-dependent processS(t) that modulates pain sensitivity. By combiningS(t) with the circadian processC(t), our model predicts resultant changes in the daily pain sensitivity rhythm. We illustrate model predictions for changes in pain sensitivity due to sleep deprivation, sleep restriction and shift work schedules. We believe that this model may be a useful tool for pain management by providing predictions of the variations in pain sensitivity due to changing sleep schedules.
Update from the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours: Oropharynx.

The changes for oropharyngeal lesions in the 2017 edition of the WHO/IARC Classification of Head and Neck Tumours reference book are dramatic and significant, largely due to the growing impact of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). The upcoming edition divides tumours of the oral cavity and oropharynx into separate chapters, classifies squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oropharynx on the basis of HPV status, abandons the practice of histologic grading for oropharyngeal SCCs that are HPV positive, recognizes small cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, and combines polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma and cribriform adenocarcinoma of tongue and minor salivary glands under the single term “polymorphous adenocarcinoma.” This review not only calls attention to these changes, but describes the rationale driving these changes and highlights their implications for routine clinical practice.
Creating digital videos in an ESL learning community to develop communication skills and content area knowledge

Abstract This activity requires students enrolled in an English as a second language (ESL) learning community to learn to create digital videos to demonstrate their speaking and writing skills and content area knowledge. Students create their digital video through submitting script drafts, voice recording demos, and by collecting visual images both on campus and on the go. Students receive feedback on their writing, speaking, and course content application, while instructors observe the various student drafts and voice demos to gauge students’ development as speakers, writers, and learners. The video project helps ESL students express themselves more clearly when extemporaneous speaking and writing may still pose challenges. Students encourage and help each other through feedback via a classroom social media platform. This assignment requires instructors to coordinate their lessons and materials as they share responsibility for helping students with different aspects of this one video that will demonstrate learning representing all of the learning community’s courses. The videos focus on a shared theme that changes as the learning community’s content courses change and can range from the dimensions of health, the artistic process, the psychology of personality, or the sociology of migration.
High-Fidelity Modeling and Simulation for a High Flux Isotope Reactor Low-Enriched Uranium Core Design

A high-fidelity model of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) with a low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel design and a representative experiment loading has been developed to serve as a new reference mo...
Preparation of tritium‐labeled PF‐622, a novel fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor

To make a detailed characterization of the mechanism of inhibition and selectivity of a novel fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor PF-622, 3 tritium isotopomers were prepared. [3 H]PF-622a labeled at the piperazine ring B and [3 H]PF-622b labeled at both the ring B and phenyl ring A were synthesized via catalytic H(hydrogen)-T(tritium) exchange, utilizing 1 equiv and excess of Crabtree's catalyst, respectively. The preparation of [3 H]PF-622c labeled only at the phenyl ring A was achieved via tritiodebromination of the bromide precursor, using Pd(PPh3 )4 as a catalyst. The observations from these tritiation reactions might open a new perspective in the labeling for the targets having a similar moiety.
Metagenome sequence clustering with hash-based canopies.

Metagenomics is the collective sequencing of co-existing microbial communities which are ubiquitous across various clinical and ecological environments. Due to the large volume and random short sequences (reads) obtained from community sequences, analysis of diversity, abundance and functions of different organisms within these communities are challenging tasks. We present a fast and scalable clustering algorithm for analyzing large-scale metagenome sequence data. Our approach achieves efficiency by partitioning the large number of sequence reads into groups (called canopies) using hashing. These canopies are then refined by using state-of-the-art sequence clustering algorithms. This canopy-clustering (CC) algorithm can be used as a pre-processing phase for computationally expensive clustering algorithms. We use and compare three hashing schemes for canopy construction with five popular and state-of-the-art sequence clustering methods. We evaluate our clustering algorithm on synthetic and real-world 16S a...
Ureteral Obstruction Due to Radiolucent Atazanavir Ureteral Stones.

Abstract Background: Protease inhibitors (PIs) are a well-documented cause of nephrolithiasis. Although medications such as indinavir are known to increase risk of stone formation, the association ...
Lycopene-mediated potentiation of docetaxel on prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo is IGF-I receptor dependent

4769 Docetaxel is FDA approved as the first line chemotherapy for patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). The use of lycopene supplements is popular among these patients. It is prudent to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using lycopene supplementation in combination with docetaxel-based chemotherapy in patients with HRPC. We found that the inhibitory effects of lycopene on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines, including LNCaP, 22Rv1, LAPC4, DU145 and PC-3, was positively associated with their expression levels of insulin growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR, r=0.58). In addition, transfected LNCaP cells stably expressing high levels of IGF-IR were approximately 450-fold more sensitive to lycopene than parental LNCaP cells (IC 50 for lycopene in LNCaP/IGF-IR was 0.08 μM versus an IC 50 of 36 μM for parental LNCaP cells). Similarly, for lycopene and docetaxel combinations, lycopene treatment at a physiological concentration (1μM) enhanced the growth inhibitory effect of docetaxel more effectively on DU145 cells that expressed higher levels of IGF-IR than on LNCaP, 22Rv1, LAPC4 and PC-3 cells which have lower levels of IGF-IR. While single agent lycopene and docetaxel slightly increased the protein expression of IGF-IR in prostate cancer cells, their combination down-regulated IGF-IR protein expression, leading to a decrease in survivin and an increase in p21/WAF1. To examine whether lycopene enhanced or interfered with the anti-tumor efficacy of docetaxel in animal models, nude mice bearing DU145 tumors (about 200 mm 3 in volume) were randomized to four different treatment groups including (1) vehicle control, (2) i. p. injection of docetaxel weekly for 3 doses, (3) oral administration of 15 mg/kg/day lycopene (Lycovit 10% CWD; BASF, Edison, NJ) for 24 days, and (4) lycopene plus docetaxel. Our results showed that lycopene alone did not inhibit the growth of DU145 xenografts, but that docetaxel alone and docetaxel plus lycopene significantly inhibited the growth of DU145 xenografts. Compared to docetaxel alone, docetaxel plus lycopene caused tumor regression, with a 36% increase in anti-tumor efficacy (P=0.047). Taken together, our studies suggest that the use of lycopene may benefit docetaxel-based chemotherapy in prostate cancer patients who have IGF-IR overexpressing tumors.
Remote Mentoring of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Skills to Inexperienced Operators Using Multiple Telemedicine Platforms: Is a Cell Phone Good Enough?

Objectives Telemedicine technology contributes to the teaching of point-of-care ultrasound (US); however, expensive equipment can limit its deployment in resource-challenged settings. We assessed 3 low-cost telemedicine solutions capable of supporting remote US training to determine feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness. We also explored the value of instructional videos immediately before telementoring. Methods Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to receive US mentoring in 1 of 3 telemedicine conditions: multiple fixed cameras, a smartphone, and traditional audio with a live US stream. Participants were then asked to perform a standardized US examination of the right upper quadrant under remote guidance. We measured observer's global ratings of performance along with the mentor's and student's rating of effort and satisfaction to determine which of the 3 approaches was most feasible, acceptable, and effective. During the second phase, students were randomized to watch an instructional video or not before receiving remote coaching on how to complete a subxiphoid cardiac examination. Effort, satisfaction, and performance from the independent observer's and student's perspective were surveyed. Results There was no significant difference between the different telemedicine setups from the observer's perspective; however, the mentor rated the smartphone significantly worse (P = .028-.04) than other technologies. Platforms were rated equivalent from the student's perspective. No benefit was detected for watching an instructional video before the mentored task. Conclusions Remote US skills can be taught equally effectively by using a variety of telemedicine technologies. Smartphones represent a viable option for US training in resource-challenged settings.
Review: The importance of overall body fat content in horses

ABSTRACT In several livestock species, body condition can positively affect reproductive function. In horses, predictions of body fat (BF, %) are useful in achieving maximum reproductive efficiency, cost-effective nutritional management, and management of obesity-related health conditions. For decades, BF in horses has been predicted by an equation using ultrasonic scans of rump fat thickness, but the most commonly used practice by producers to evaluate energy status is the BCS system. However, the BCS system is subjective and exposed to variation, sometimes to a great extent, among evaluators. Recently, deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution has been validated as an accurate, objective, and minimally invasive method to estimate BF in ponies. Similarly, strong correlations have been observed between D2O estimations of BF and BF determined by near-infrared spectroscopic analysis. Reported in only a few studies, the relationship between BCS and BF is inconclusive. In moderate to obese ponies, BCS was not found to be a sensitive indicator of BF. Conversely, data from 24 stock-type horses in our study indicated that BCS might be useful in estimating BF. In addition, research suggests that physical measurements and peripheral leptin concentrations may be used to assess energy status in horses. More investigation in these areas is warranted because there is currently limited lipid research in the equine industry.
Inadequacy of the PHQ-2 depression screener for identifying suicidal primary care patients.

Introduction The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) depression screener has been praised for its brevity and ability to identify depressed primary care patients. Additionally, it is often used as the first of a two-step screening process for suicide risk. Despite its decent performance as a depression screener, the PHQ-2 cannot be assumed to be an adequate screener for suicide risk. In the present study, we examine the utility of the PHQ-2 for identifying suicidal patients. Method We examined data from 548 adult primary care patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the mid-Southern region of the United States who completed the PHQ-2 as part of the full administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results Cross-tabulation analyses revealed 22 of the 157 (14.0%) patients endorsing suicidal ideation fell below the conventional clinical cutoff of 3 on the PHQ-2. Logistic regression analyses indicated a positive screen on the PHQ-2 did not improve explanation of suicidal ideation beyond the base model, and only 3 items from the first 8 PHQ-9 questions (depressed mood, feeling like a failure, and psychomotor retardation/agitation) were significant explanatory variables for suicidal ideation. Discussion Providers should consider asking about suicide directly, rather than relying on depression screeners to identify suicidal patients. We also recommend providers pay particular attention to any indication that patients feel like a failure or like they have let their loved ones down, in addition to endorsement of depressed mood. (PsycINFO Database Record
Assessment of Overhaul Effectiveness and Usage-based Inference using Bayesian Networks

The process of assessment of effectiveness of the existing overhaul practices determined that the historical usage of assets provides valuable contextual information. Usage data is typically highly reliable, but not in legacy fleets, featuring older vehicles with missing, incomplete, inconsistent, and contradictory data. This paper describes two methods for usage estimation from noisy data by exploiting two data sources: 1) unreliable, manually-entered usage data and 2) part replacements. The first method employs a probabilistic model to reconcile missing and inconsistent data entries; the second is based on the replacement of consumable components. The probabilistic model, fully and uniquely specified by the probabilistic variables (with their distributions) and deterministic variables, is validated using synthetic datasets because the real ground truth associated with the field data does not exist. Disproportional impact of an incorrect initial data point is mitigated by training the model in both forward and reverse directions. The motivating hypothesis for usage estimation from part replacements is based on a plausible assumption that specific consumables, e.g. brake pads, have reasonably repeatable replacement patterns which can be related to usage. For many vehicles mean time between failures of a component was even longer than the average data collection time span. But for assets with sufficiently longer data records, the cumulative replacements of components are well-correlated with the probabilistic usage estimates, providing additional reinforcement for the inference.
Women’s Health Issues and Ileal Pouch Surgery

Abstract Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical treatment of choice for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenoma polyposis. This surgical intervention allows resection of colon, while offering intestinal continuity with fecal continence, discontinuation of most UC-related medications and reduction in the risk of colitis-associated neoplasia. As a proportion of these patients are women of child-bearing age, it is important to understand the impact on reproductive health and function. Although limited data exists, RPC and IPAA do not seem to adversely affect menstrual function. In general, sexual function is reported to improve post-surgery with the ability to achieve orgasm unaltered. However, dyspareunia is commonly reported post RPC and IPAA. Of concern, there are data to suggest that fertility is decreased post IPAA. The reasons stated are pelvic adhesions and obstruction of fallopian tubes. Laparoscopic approach may improve fertility outcomes by reducing postoperative adhesions as compared with the open approach. Once achieved, pregnancy in patients with IPAA is characterized by a transient increase in stool frequency that resolves postdelivery. Whether vaginal delivery or Cesarean section is preferred route of delivery in these patients is still controversial. However, Cesarean section is advocated for patients post IPAA to prevent anal sphincter injury and long-term effects on pouch function. All of these issues should be included in the discussion with women who are contemplating IPAA, so they are well aware of them before deciding on the best management plan.
Optimization of nucleic acid scaffold design using fluorescence measurements

The current work focuses on optimizing aptamer scaffolds that are tailored to allow for the formation of binding pockets for both a redox active signaling molecule and the target miR-92a. These newly designed allosteric nucleic acid systems are studied for efficacy to undergo a target based conformational switch. Two hairpin scaffolds were designed with differing stem stabilities and were explored using fluorescence quenching measurements. The dose dependent data for the detection of miR-92a shows the importance of scaffold design where the stability of the intra-molecular hairpin structure has to be optimized for target binding. Additional experiments explored the selectivity of the aptamer scaffolds in the presence of competing miR’s and mismatched sequences. These results provide an important precursor to constructing nucleic acid scaffolds for the detection of miR’s using label-free redox signaling.
Inter-Rater Reliability of the Modified Radiographic Union Score for Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures With Bone Defects.

Objectives:To evaluate inter-rater reliability of the modified Radiographic Union Score for Tibial (mRUST) fractures among patients with open, diaphyseal tibia fractures with a bone defect treated with intramedullary nails (IMNs), plates, or definitive external fixation (ex-fix).Design:Retrospective
Brain Diffusion Imaging Findings May Predict Clinical Outcome after Cardiac Arrest.

Background and purpose We aim to correlate the patterns of brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map in post cardiac arrest (PCA) patients with clinical outcomes. Methods Thirty-eight adult patients with PCA (mean age, 52.8 years; range 18-87 years) whose DWI obtained within 5 days of PCA were retrospectively reviewed. The visual DWI/ADC map categories include: Group 1: Normal; Group 2a: Mild [restricted diffusion (RD) and 2/3 CI); and Group 3: Embolic (scattered, discrete foci of RD). Clinical outcomes were categorized according to cerebral performance categories (CPC) and modified Rankin scale (mRS). Results The most common DWI/ADC map pattern was Group 1 (28.9%, n = 11). The incidence of other DWI patterns such as Group 2a, 2b, 2c, and 3 were 21% (n = 8), 10.5% (n = 4), 21% (n = 8), and 18.4% (n = 7), respectively. Twenty-seven patients (71%) were CPC-5/mRS-6 and died or were category CPC-4/mRS-5, and 4 patients were CPC-1/mRS 0-1 (10.5%). Interobserver agreement for visual classification of DWI/ADC map patterns was excellent (kappa = .8795). There was moderate positive correlation between clinical outcomes and visual DWI classification (r = .461, P = .00358). The positive predictive value of this qualitative classification on DWI/ADC in predicting a poor clinical outcome (CPC-4/mRS-5 and CPC-5/mRS-6) was 81.4 % in the presence of restricted diffusion. Conclusion Simple visual categorization system using DWI/ADC map may be helpful and practical in estimating the clinical outcome of PCA patients.
Supersymmetry on a euclidean spacetime lattice 2. Target theories with eight supercharges

We formulate euclidean spacetime lattices whose continuum limits are supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories with eight supercharges in two and three dimensions. The lattice actions are themselves supersymmetric.
Stalk rot resistant sorghum genotypes are resilient to pathogen-mediated photosystem II quantum yield retardation

Abstract Globally, stalk rots are among the highest priority grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) diseases. This study examined the variation of leaf chlorophyll index and photosystem II quantum yield (Fv/Fm ratio) of sorghum genotypes after inoculation with two stalk rot fungi. In 2014, 2015, two resistant and two susceptible sorghum genotypes were evaluated in the field. Fusarium thapsinum (FT) and Macrophomina phaseolina (MP) are fungal pathogens that cause Fusarium stalk rot and charcoal rot, respectively. Plant stalks were inoculated with FT, MP, or phosphate-buffered saline (control). Flag leaves were measured for chlorophyll index (using soil and plant development meter: SPAD) and Fv/Fm ratio at three developmental stages (soft and hard dough, and physiological maturity). Both pathogens significantly reduced Fv/Fm ratio (P
Type I interferon induction by respiratory viruses in vivo

Type I interferons (IFN) are induced by virus infection of virtually all cell types, but the amount and duration of IFN-α/β synthesis can vary with the individual pathogen. In patients Influenza A ...
Development and first clinical use of a novel anatomical and biomechanical testing platform for scoliosis.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that, by using various three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies, synthetic spine models can be manufactured to mimic a human spine in its gross and radiographic anatomy and the biomechanical performance of bony and ligamentous tissue. These manufacturing processes have not, however, been used in combination to create a long-segment, biomimetic model of a patient with scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a biomimetic scoliosis model and early clinical experience using this model as a surgical planning and education platform. Methods: Synthetic spine models were printed to mimic the anatomy and biomechanical performance of 2 adult patients with scoliosis. Preoperatively, the models were surgically corrected by the attending surgeon of each patient. Patients then underwent surgical correction of their spinal deformities. Correction of the models was compared to the surgical correction in the patients. Results: Patient 1 had a preoperative coronal Cobb angle of 40° from L1 to S1, as did the patient’s synthetic spine model. The patient’s spine model was corrected to 17.6°, and the patient achieved a correction of 17.3°. Patient 2 had a preoperative mid-thoracic Cobb angle of 88° and an upper thoracic Cobb angle of 43°. Preoperatively, the patient’s spine model was corrected to 19.5° and 9.2° for the mid-thoracic and upper thoracic curves, respectively. Immediately after surgery, the patient’s mid-thoracic and upper thoracic Cobb angles measured 18.7° and 9.5°, respectively. In both cases, the use of the spine models preoperatively changed the attending surgeon’s operative plan. Conclusions: A novel synthetic spine model for corrective scoliosis procedures is presented, along with early clinical experience using this model as a surgical planning platform. This model has tremendous potential not only as a surgical planning platform but also as an adjunct to patient consent, surgical education, and biomechanical research.