cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Posturography to Examine the Immediate Effects of Vestibular Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Feasibility Study

ABSTRACTAims: The primary objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using posturography to monitor acute changes in postural control induced by a Sensory Integration (SI) therapy intervention. A secondary objective was to identify which posturography outcome parameters, tests conditions and data analysis methods might be most useful in identifying post-intervention changes. Methods: Five children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and five children with typical development (TD) participated in a 10 min vestibular swing activity and had their postural stability evaluated pre- and post-intervention under four different sensory testing conditions. Sway ranges, mean sway velocity, sway root mean square (RMS), and sample entropy were calculated from center of pressure (COP) data. Results: All five children with ASD demonstrated decreased mean sway velocity in the eyes open/flat plate condition post-intervention with an average decrease of 5.87 ± 2.69 mm/s. Four of the five children with ASD ...
Using a Human-in-the-Loop Evolutionary Algorithm to Create Data-Driven Music

Lindenmayer-systems (L-systems), a formal grammar of symbols and replacement rules, have been used to model plants and create fractal images and musical output depending on the L-system interpreter used. An L-system variant called a Circular L-system (CL-system) adds the capability of receiving numerical data input and providing a musical response in real time. The project described in this paper uses a CL-system to produce a population of musical outputs (compositions) that are optimized by a human-in-the-loop evolutionary algorithm to create an improved composition. The fitness function for this process is the musical taste of the user guided by several musical principles.
Evaluation of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Equation in a Large Diverse Population

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimates facilitate detection of chronic kidney disease. Performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation varies substantially among populations. To describe the performance of the equation in a large, diverse population, estimated GFR (eGFR) was compared to measured GFR (mGFR) in a cross-sectional analysis of 5504 participants in 10 studies that included measurements of standardized serum creatinine and urinary clearance of iothalamate. At eGFR or =60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). The accuracy of the equation, measured by the percent of estimates that fell within 30% of mGFR, was similar for eGFR values above or below 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (82% and 84%, respectively). Differences in performance among subgroups defined by age, sex, race, diabetes, transplant status, and body mass index were small when eGFR was <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). The MDRD Study equation therefore provides unbiased and reasonably accurate estimates across a wide range of subgroups when eGFR is <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). In individual patients, interpretation of GFR estimates near 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) should be interpreted with caution to avoid misclassification of chronic kidney disease in the context of the clinical setting.
Ceramide Regulates Protein Synthesis by a Novel Mechanism Involving the Cellular PKR Activator RAX

The sphingolipid ceramide is an important second signal molecule and potent apoptotic agent. The production of ceramide is associated with virtually every known stress stimulus, and thus, generation of this sphingolipid has been suggested as a universal feature of apoptosis. Recent studies suggest that an important component of cell death following diverse stress stimuli (e.g. interleukin-3 withdrawal, sodium arsenite treatment, and peroxide treatment) is the activation of the double-stranded RNA-activable protein kinase, PKR, resulting in the inhibition of protein synthesis (Ito, T., Jagus, R., and May, W. S. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 91, 7455–7459). The recently discovered cellular PKR activator, RAX, is phosphorylated in association with PKR activation (Ito, T., Yang, M., and May, W. S. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 15427–15432). Since RAX is phosphorylated by an as yet undetermined SAPK and ceramide is a potent activator of SAPKs such as JNK, a role for ceramide in the activation of RAX might be possible. Results indicate that overexpression of exogenous RAX potentiates ceramide-induced killing. Furthermore, ceramide can potently inhibit protein synthesis. Since ceramide potently promotes RAX and eukaryotic initiation factor-2α phosphorylation, a possible role for ceramide in this process may involve the activation of PKR by RAX. Since 2-aminopurine, a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor that has previously been shown to inhibit PKR, blocks both the potentiation of ceramide killing by RAX and ceramide-induced inhibition of protein synthesis, ceramide appears to promote PKR activation, at least indirectly. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel role for ceramide in the regulation of protein synthesis and apoptosis.
Isolated Spring Ligament Failure as a Cause of Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Deformity:

Background:Adult-acquired flatfoot deformity is usually secondary to failure of the tibialis posterior tendon, with secondary injury to the surrounding osseous-ligamentous complex. Rarely, patients...
Heat transfer and effective thermal conductivity analyses in carbon-based foams for use in thermal protection systems

The applicability of carbon-based foams as an insulation material in the thermal protection systems (TPSs) of space vehicles is considered using a physical analysis and computer modelling. The heat transfer through the foam is considered through its solid phase and the gas residing in the foam pores via conduction and radiation. As the cellular structure of the foam prevents a large-scale motion of the gas, thermal convection is neglected as a heat transfer mode. The results obtained show that, although the gas-phase conduction and radiation can be ignored at near-room temperatures and at sub-atmospheric pressures, their contributions at high temperatures and at near-atmospheric pressure become very significant. It is also found that one can derive an analytical expression for the effective thermal conductivity (a parameter that combines the contributions of both conduction and radiation) as a function of temperature and pressure. Such an expression is shown to be valid for quite large ranges of temperature, pressure, and insulation thickness and, due to its mathematical simplicity, is very suitable for use in computationally intensive large-scale thermo-mechanical analyses of the entire TPS of a space vehicle.
Failure mechanisms of the head-tape interface during head stepping in a linear tape drive

AbstractImproving the performance of computer tape drives is an ongoing process. The magnetic and tribological performance of metal particle (MP) tape during head stepping was evaluated in a commercial linear tape drive. Head output and head-tape interface friction were monitored during short-pass (10m) shuttling tests with stepping of the head. The test without stepping showed no signs of failure. To evaluate the effect of stepping on the head-tape interface, three different kinds of stepping test, namely normal stepping, reverse stepping and normal stepping with inverted drive, were performed. All these tests with head stepping failed far sooner than the test without stepping. Non-parallelism between the head and tape surfaces caused a reduction in hydrodynamic air bearing pressure. Less spacing between the lower tape edge and the head resulted in high wear of the lower edge of the tape and outer outrigger surfaces of the head. Additional sliding in a direction orthogonal to the tape motion from head st...
Experimental Mouse Teratocarcinoma

Most of the experimental work dealing with the biology of teratocarcinoma has been done using the mouse model. Thus, a short summary of these results seems appropriate in a book devoted to germ cell tumors. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the main experimental approaches and results in the mouse system and to examine whether parallel approaches might provide better insight into the biology of human tumors. Various aspects of mouse teratocarcinoma are elaborated in several extensive reviews (Pierce, 1967; Stevens, 1967a; Damjanov and Solter, 1974; Sherman and Solter, 1975; Graham, 1977; Hogan, 1977; Gachelin, 1978; Solter and Damjanov, 1979a; Martin, 1980; Pierce, 1980; Mintz and Fleischman, 1981; Nicolas et al., 1981).
Factors influencing sexual initiation, multiple partners and condom use among male slum youth in Pune, India

This study examines the factors that influence sexual behaviours among young unmarried males living in urban slums in India, a population characterised by high vulnerability to STI and HIV infections. Data were collected from 600 unmarried male slum youth to examine the relationships between three outcomes of heterosexual behaviour (age at sexual initiation, number of sexual partners and condom use at first intercourse) and factors within the family/household social environment, peer environment and individual level during the respondents' formative years. Regression analyses found factors within the family and peer-level domains such as growing up in a two-parent household, having adequate levels of parental supervision, experiencing violence in the home and having peers who drank significantly impact the age of sexual debut and the subsequent number of lifetime partners. Condom use at first intercourse appears to be significantly influenced by age of sexual debut and type of sexual partner. These findings indicate that in low-resource urban settings, the influence of family and friends as role models can play an important role in determining the initiation of sexual behaviour among male youth and in making behaviour choices that result in favourable health outcomes.
Penetration of Polycrystalline Alumina by Glass at High Temperatures

An analysis of interfacial energies in a solid-liquid system showed that complete penetration of a liquid along grain boundaries in a microstructure forming during liquid-phase sintering is not necessarily associated with complete wetting or spreading at the solid-liquid interface. Investigations were made on the penetration of CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses into dense polycrystalline aluminas. Initial penetration was along three-grain junctions or grain boundaries by a solution/reaction between the liquid and defect-containing alumina along interfaces. Degree of penetration was variable, and it was dependent on internal strain and MgO addition. Extended heat treatments reduced liquid penetration.
The Sucking Lice (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae) of the Northern Fur Seal; Descriptions and Morphological Adaptation

The sucking lice Antarctophthirus callorhini (Osborn) and Proechinophthirius fluctus (Ferris) of the northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus (L.), are described and illustrated. The immature stages of A. callorhini and P. fluctus are fully described and illustrated for the first time. Morphological adaptation of these species is discussed in relation to their microhabitats.
The Relevance Ratio: Evaluating the Probative Value of Expert Testimony in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Part II defines the relevance ratio and explains its relation to probabilistic reasoning. Part Ill uses the ratio to explore the ways in which physicians have misused the term "consistent with sexual abuse" in child abuse cases. Part IV considers whether symptoms "consistent with sexual abuse," although irrelevant for the purpose of proving abuse, may nevertheless be admissible for rebutting the assertion that abuse did not occur. Part V uses the relevance ratio to show that symptoms that are common among abused children may nonetheless have little if any relevance for proving that abuse occurred. Part VI discusses the relevance of clusters of symptoms and reveals ways in which clusters are likely to be less relevant than often believed. Part VII outlines the methodological limitations of existing research on the symptoms of child sexual abuse and explains why they may lead to poor estimates of the relevance ratio. Part VIII uses the relevance ratio to demonstrate that probative asymmetries exist between the presence and absence of various symptoms. Part IX discusses the significance of the existence of symptoms among nonabused children for understanding the significance of those symptoms among abused children.
Skeletal muscle vasodilation at the onset of exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine whether β-adrenergic or muscarinic receptors are involved in skeletal muscle vasodilation at the onset of exercise. Mongrel dogs (n = 7) were instrumented...
A numerical study of microfluidic droplet motions in parallel-plate electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) devices

The fluid dynamics of microwater droplet transport in a parallel-plate electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device have been investigated via a numerical model. The transient governing equations are solved by a finite volume scheme with a two-step projection method on a fixed computational domain. The interface between liquid and gas is tracked by a coupled level set and volume-of-fluid method. A continuum surface force model is employed to evaluate surface tension at the interface. A simplified model is adopted for the viscous stresses exerted by the parallel plates at the gas–liquid interface in conjunction with contact angle hysteresis implemented as a crucial element in EWOD modeling. Excellent agreement has been achieved between the numerical and published experimental results. Special attention has been focused on some localized areas near the ON/OFF electrode border where the transport process is primarily influenced. A dimensionless curvature has been introduced and a critical value has been identified beyond which the droplet would split during the transport. A parametric study has been performed in which the effects of several crucial parameters including initial droplet shape, static contact angles, contact angle hysteresis, viscous stress, channel height and electrode size on the transport process have been revealed.
Inter- and Intrafractional Positional Uncertainties in Pediatric Radiotherapy Patients With Brain and Head and Neck Tumors

Purpose To estimate radiation therapy planning margins based on inter- and intrafractional uncertainty for pediatric brain and head and neck tumor patients at different imaging frequencies. Methods Pediatric patients with brain ( n = 83) and head and neck ( n = 17) tumors (median age=7.2 years) were enrolled on an internal review board–approved localization protocol and stratified according to treatment position and use of anesthesia. Megavoltage cone-beam CT (CBCT) was performed before each treatment and after every other treatment. The pretreatment offsets were used to calculate the interfractional setup uncertainty (SU), and posttreatment offsets were used to calculate the intrafractional residual uncertainty (RU). The SU and RU are the patient-related components of the setup margin (SM), which is part of the planning target volume (PTV). SU data was used to simulate four intervention strategies using different imaging frequencies and thresholds. Results The SM based on all patients treated on this study was 2.1 mm (SU = 0.9 mm, RU=1.9 mm) and varied according to treatment position (supine = 1.8 mm, prone=2.6 mm) and use of anesthesia (with = 1.7 mm, without=2.5 mm) because of differences in the RU. The average SU for a 2-mm threshold based on no imaging, once per week imaging, initial five images, and daily imaging was 3.6, 2.1, 2.2, and 0.9 mm, respectively. Conclusion On the basis of this study, the SM component of the PTV may be reduced to 2 mm for daily CBCT compared with 3.5 mm for weekly CBCT. Considering patients who undergo daily pretreatment CBCT, the SM is larger for those treated in the prone position or smaller for those treated under anesthesia because of differences in the RU.
Consciousness and Theoretical Behaviorism

There are three domains of experience that concern students of behavior: Domain 1. The domain of felt experience, the phenomenological domain. Domain 2. The domain of physiology, the real-time functioning of the brain. Domain 3. The domain of behavioral data, “intersubjectively verifiable” reports and judgments by experimental subjects. Consciousness has meanings in each of these domains. Domain 1 consciousness is beyond the reach of science as public knowledge. Empathy and plausible inference may tell us that our spouse, or our dog, is as conscious as we are. Science cannot. Research in Domains 2 and 3 permits us to infer similarities and differences between human and non-human psychology. Unfortunately, these will never permit us to know ‘what it is like’ to be another creature. An example from the study of motion perception illustrates the point that the fruitless attempt to answer this question can actually impede the objective study of behavioral processes we share with non-human animals.
Jesus and the Anti-Injunction Act

Biblical scholars have debated the story of the resurrection for millennia. Some read the story literally, others with greater consideration to the purpose the story-writers had in reciting the story. In the recent case of National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. the high priests of the law declared that section 7421 (the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA)) did not bar federal courts from hearing a challenge to what Congress called a penalty, codified in section 5000A. The penalty will be imposed on taxpayers who fail to obtain requisite health insurance starting in 2014. What is striking to me is the Supreme Court’s literalist approach. The nub of its reasoning is that the AIA only applies to suits involving a tax, and Congress called section 5000A a penalty. Although I understand the desire of all parties — and apparently all the Supreme Court justices — to get to the fun constitutional stuff, the myopic focus on the word ‘‘tax’’ obscures the law. Although the AIA’s purpose cannot be untethered from its words, neither should those words be read in isolation from its purpose. Both text and purpose provide the limits of rational interpretation.The thesis of this article is by ignoring the purpose of the AIA, as demonstrated by its legal history, the Court's literalist interpretation becomes a mischievous exercise in word-chopping. While I continue to believe that the Court misinterpreted the AIA, my point in this article is that there was a sounder basis for deciding that the AIA did not apply.Part A of this article gives the legal history of the AIA. Part B sketches out the two issues presented to the Court and how the Court resolved them, showing the tension between a literalist and purposeful interpretation of the statute. Part C considers the practical implications of the Court’s holding for future AIA cases. It points out how some taxpayers can now avoid the AIA, not only regarding the section 5000A penalty but also other ‘‘penalties’’ in the code. It explains how a purposeful approach would have been a superior rationale. Although both a literalist and purposeful approach allow the Court to get to the constitutional merits in this case, their differences, though small, are both profound and perennial — much like the risen Jesus problem.
Can we use Conventional Seismics in Unconventional Resource Plays

Unconventional resource plays are currently driven by advances in drilling and completion technology, rather than in exploration technology. In order to increase the efficiency of operations in these fields, it is necessary to actually explore for the best places, the 'sweet spots', to drill and frac. This will require unconventional geophysics, to match these unconventional rock formations. In particular, the exploration techniques of acquisition, processing, and interpretation will recognize the fact that these formations are anisotropic, both seismically and electromagnetically.
Energy harvesting communication using limited battery with efficiency

We consider an energy harvesting point-to-point communication system where the transmitter is powered by an energy arrival process and is equipped with a finite battery of size Bmax, which has limited efficiencies for storing energy into the battery and withdrawing energy from the battery. We assume a discrete i.i.d. energy arrival process where at each time step, energy of size Ai is harvested with probability pi, ∀i ∈ {1, 2;…, K}, independent of the other time steps. We provide upper and lower bounds on the information-theoretic capacity of this channel. These bounds are within a constant gap for K = 2 and a special case (with perfect battery efficiencies) for K = 3.
PGE2 Regulates Pancreatic Stellate Cell Activity Via The EP4 Receptor

Objectives—Pancreatic stellate cells are source of dense fibrotic stroma, a constant pathological feature of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We observed correlation between levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the extent of pancreatic fibrosis. Aim of this study was to delineate the effects of PGE2 on immortalized human pancreatic stellate cells (HPSC) and to identify the receptor involved. Methods—IHC, RT-PCR and Q-RT-PCR were used to assess COX-2, extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) gene expression. Eicosanoid profile was determined
Risk of lymph node metastasis and recommendations for elective nodal treatment in squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus: a SEER analysis

AbstractBackground: Risk of nodal involvement in patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus has not been well defined, especially by risk factors beyond local T-stage. Additional criteria defining patients at highest risk, as well as specific nodal levels at highest risk, has been limited in small retrospective series. We describe a population-based assessment of specific nodal involvement in this group.Material and methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2010 identified 1283 eligible patients with SCC of the nasal cavity or maxillary sinus. Neck involvement and individual nodal level involvement at presentation were assessed, and comparison made with a contemporaneous cohort of patients with a borderline clinically significant risk of nodal involvement and recurrence.Results: Among 1283 patients, 182 (14.2%) had nodal involvement at presentation (4–27% by site and local extension). T-stage alone was associated with hig...
Cognitive Outcome with Epilepsy and Malformations

To determine the relationship between malformations of cortical development and intellectual functioning (IQ), 54 children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy who later underwent cortical resection were studied at the Miami Children’s Hospital, FL.
Protocol support for audio streaming between Bluetooth devices

In recent years, we have experienced a strong demand for ubiquitous information access anywhere, anytime. The emergence of wireless networks (IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth) and mobile devices of varying sizes and form factor (handheld, cellular telephone) are playing a fundamental role in enabling users' seamless connectivity to the Internet and achieve this ubiquitous information access. One of the most popular applications deployed over the last decade is audio/video streaming. With IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth networks frequently used as extensions to the Internet, it is imperative that these networks provide efficient audio streaming support for optimal end-to-end continuous media streaming. We focus on the design and implementation of an architecture that provides audio streaming protocol support between devices residing on a Bluetooth network by exploiting the audio/video distribution transport protocol (AVDTP) standard specified for Bluetooth. Our architecture enables Bluetooth users to perform audio streaming between a Bluetooth-enabled device such as headset and other devices connected to the Bluetooth network or the Internet.
Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a prevalent disorder that can result in substantial impairment. This chapter reviews theoretical bases and empirical support for psychotherapeutic interventions for social anxiety disorder in an effort to inform evidence-based practice. Specifically, treatments that have received the most support will be discussed. In addition, this chapter will highlight which common practices have shown to be ineffective, as well as discuss some practices that have yet to be empirically evaluated. Treatments reviewed include cognitive behavior therapy, social skills training, interpersonal therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Keywords: social anxiety disorder; social phobia; treatment; psychotherapy; evidence-based practice; empirically supported treatment; cognitive behavior therapy
Praxisbeispiel General Electric: Diversity-orientierte Beurteilung von Führungskräften

General Electric (GE) ist als eines der grosten, diversifizierten Unternehmen der Welt sowohl in den Bereichen Technologie und Fertigung tatig als auch Anbieter verschiedenster Dienstleistungsprodukte. 340.000 Mitarbeiter sind weltweit in 100 Landern beschaftigt und erwirtschaften einen Gewinn von 10,7 Mrd. USD bei einem Umsatz von 111,6 Mrd. USD. Im Jahr 2000 wurde GE zum dritten Mal in Folge in einer Umfrage der Financial Times bei uber 700 Chief Executives zur „most respected company of the world“gewahlt.
Fiber modification enhancement augments antitumor effect of conditionally replicative adenovirus upon systemic administration in orthotopic pancreatic cancer model

2990 Pancreatic cancer is most often diagnosed at an unresectable stage due to metastasis. Thus, there is a high demand for the development of novel therapeutic modalities for systemic usage. While conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) is promising candidate, poor expression of adenoviral primary receptor has been a large obstacle for getting requisite tumor transduction in this tumor context. We have reported that the incorporation of RGD4C motif into adenoviral HI-loop (RGD modification) and substitution of Ad5 fiber-knob region with Ad3 knob (Ad5/3 modification) enhances the CRAd efficiency upon intratumoral injection. However, it has been questioned if the infectivity enhancement is really beneficial for in vivo anti-tumor effect in the condition closer to the patient situation. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the adenoviral fiber modifications upon systemic vector administration by using orthotopic pancreatic cancer xenograft model. In order to analyze tumor transduction efficiency, the luciferase expression vectors with normal-Ad5, RGD-modified, and Ad5/3 modified fibers were employed. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 promoter-based CRAd and its fiber modified versions were used for the analyses of in vivo anti-tumor effect. To establish the orthotopic pancreatic cancer model, an Hs766T subcutaneous xenograft was established in a nude mouse first. Then, the small pieces (1mm 3 ) made from this parental tumor were transplanted into pancreatic bed of other nude mice. The viruses were injected from tail vein 3 days after tumor transplantation. For transduction assay, luciferase activity was analyzed 2 days after vector administration. For the anti-tumor effect, the mice were sacrificed 28 days after CRAd administration. In vitro , 5/3 modified CRAds exhibited remarkably higher viral replication compared to fiber unmodified counterparts in pancreatic cancer cell lines. As for in vivo tumor transduction, only Ad5/3 modified vector showed significantly (8 times) higher transduction compared to the background. This tumor transduction enhancement was also observed in pancreatic cancer subcutaneous xenografts upon systemic vector administration. When CRAds were injected systemically to assess the therapeutic effect in the mice with orthotopic tumors, the volume of the tumor treated with 5/3 CRAd COX-2 was significantly lower than that with non-replicative control virus, and comparable to non-selectively replicating wild type Ad. In the harvested tumors, the viral copy number of the 5/3 COX-2 CRAd was significantly high, even in comparison with non-selective wild type Ad. In conclusion, Ad5/3 modification enhanced the therapeutic effect of systemically administered CRAd. This result suggests the benefits of adenoviral tropism modification as a way to achieve therapeutic effect in clinically relevant settings.
Difficult conversations: Discussing prognosis with children with cystic fibrosis.

Background Despite the chronic, progressive, and life-threatening nature of cystic fibrosis (CF), there are no guidelines for when and how to communicate prognosis to children with CF. Methods Semi-structured interviews with young adults with CF, parents of young adults with CF, and multidisciplinary CF health care providers assessed recall of and practices for communicating about prognosis. Recommendations for improvements were also solicited. Results Young adults with CF recalled learning that life expectancy is limited by CF between the ages of 8 and 16 years, and that CF is a progressive disease between the ages of 7 and 19 years. They reported that the information often came from CF physicians or from online resources. Patients and parents reported earlier knowledge of prognosis than providers assumed. While learning about prognosis caused sadness and stress for some patients and families, others denied negative feelings. Interestingly, most patients reported that disclosure of prognosis had minimal impact on their adherence and treatment goals. Patients and parents reported wanting physicians to be involved in conversations about prognosis. However, providers noted several barriers to discussing prognosis, including their own reluctance, time limitations, and uncertainty about appropriate timing and content of communication. Conclusions Communication about prognosis is important but also difficult for providers, patients, and families. Appropriately timed conversations, using tools to facilitate communication, could ensure patients receive timely, accurate information.
Detection of retinal hemorrhage in fundus images using ANFIS classification and FCM with cuckoo search optimization algorithm

In the fundus image screening framework, reliable detection of retinal hemorrhage is required. Retinal hemorrhages are created by diabetic retinopathy and hypertension. In our study propose to build up the retinal discharge fundus images by the method for pre-processing, feature extraction, classification, and segmentation by different strategies and methodologies. By utilizing ANFIS the affected and non-affected images are accurately divided and the affected images are segmented by FCM-CS optimization methods. From that, the accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, FAR and FRR are broke down for that segmented images. The outcomes demonstrate that the proposed system achieves the greatest accuracy and performs optimal value contrasted with existing methodologies.
Developing biocomposites as scaffolds in regenerative medicine

Abstract The development is discussed of biocomposites as scaffolds for regenerative medicine, particularly in reconstructive procedures for bone and osteochondral defects. After a brief introduction on the solutions and technologies currently adopted in the repair and regeneration of bone and osteochondral tissue, the most recent innovative solutions are illustrated, following two different approaches. First, the exploitation of biologically inspired biomineralization processes yields materials for bone substitution in the form of graded multi-functional scaffolds mimicking the osteochondral regions. Second, natural composites, such as wood, silk and cuttlefish are used as templates to convey peculiar intrinsic properties to the final designed scaffold. Examples are pre-processed lignocellulose fibre products treated by vapour-phase infiltration and current deposition techniques, which offer an elegant way to manufacture lightweight scaffolds with hierarchically organized pores, channels and fibrillar struts. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo tests are reported, showing the great potential of these new classes of materials.
Variation in Arterial Inflow Temperature: A Regional Quality Improvement Project

Peer-reviewed evidence (Class IIa, Level B) suggests that arterial blood temperature should be limited to 37 degrees C during cardiopulmonary bypass. We implemented a regional quality improvement initiative to reduce regional variability in our performance around this recommendation at four northern New England medical centers between January 2006 and June 2010. Cardiovascular perfusionists at four medical centers collaborated by conference calls regarding blood temperature management. Evidence from the recommendations were reviewed at each center, and strategies to prevent hyperthermia and to improve performance on this quality measure were discussed. Centers submitted data concerning highest arterial blood temperatures among all isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures between 2006 through June 2010. Scope and focus of local practice changes were at the discretion of each center. The timing of each center's quality improvement initiatives was recorded, and adherence to thresholds of 37 degrees C and 37.5 degrees C were analyzed. Data were collected prospectively through our regional perfusion registry. Data were available for 4909 procedures (1645 before interventions, 3264 after interventions). Prior to the quality improvement interventions, 90% of procedures had elevated arterial line temperatures (37 degrees C or more), and afterwards it was 69% (p < .001) for an absolute difference of 21%. Prior to the intervention, 53% of procedures had temperatures beyond a threshold of 37.5 degrees C versus 19% subsequent to interventions, for an absolute difference of 34% (p < .001). This regional effort to reduce patient exposure to elevated arterial line temperatures resulted in a significant sustained reduction in high arterial outflow temperatures at three of the four centers. A regional registry provides a means for assessing performance against evidence-based recommendations, and evaluating short and long-term success of quality improvement initiatives.
People and Social Interaction: Drivers of Service Innovation

Building an understanding of service innovation and how to foster it continues to be an important topic to academics and practitioners alike. This chapter examines service innovation from the vantage point of the service team. We introduce a research framework utilizing digital trace data from service team interaction and activity system analysis. An example research scenario illustrates the application of the research framework using email, meeting transcripts, and system application logs to work towards a broad and more real-time perspective of team interaction to identify innovation. We note that changes in the ebb-and-flow of service team activity and the appearance of unique signals may be a starting point. The challenge is to determine which metrics in the analyses are representative of innovation and how to automate the aggregated view to create a timeline of activity that will identify the emergence and impact of innovation. Future research opportunities include automated activity system analysis, the development and validation of metrics to measure service innovation, and the incorporation of an economic perspective.
Endogenous cannabinoids mediate the effect of BDNF at CA1 inhibitory synapses in the hippocampus

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), traditionally known for promoting neuronal growth and development, is also a modulator of synaptic transmission. In addition to the well-characterized effects at excitatory synapses, BDNF has been shown to acutely suppress inhibitory neurotransmission; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We have previously shown that at inhibitory synapses in layer 2/3 of the somatosensory cortex, BDNF induces the mobilization of endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs) that act retrogradely to suppress GABA release. Here, we hypothesized that in the hippocampus, BDNF acts similarly via eCB signaling to suppress GABAergic transmission. We found that the acute application of BDNF reduced the spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) via postsynaptic TrkB receptor activation. The suppressive effects of BDNF required eCB signaling, as this effect on sIPSCs was prevented by a CB1 receptor antagonist. Further, blocking the postsynaptic eCB release prevented the effect of BDNF, whereas eCB reuptake inhibition enhanced the effect of BDNF. These results suggest that BDNF triggers the postsynaptic release of eCBs. To identify the specific eCB release by BDNF, we tested the effects of disrupting the synthesis or degradation of 2-arachidonoylcglycerol (2-AG). Blocking 2-AG synthesis prevented the effect of BDNF and blocking 2-AG degradation enhanced the effect of BDNF. However, there was no change in the effect of BDNF when anandamide degradation was blocked. Collectively, these results suggest that in the hippocampus, BDNF-TrkB signaling induces the postsynaptic release of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-AG, which acts retrogradely on the presynaptic CB1 receptors to suppress GABA release.
Contact angles: From past mistakes to new developments through liquid-solid adhesion measurements

Abstract A contact angle observed for a liquid-solid system is not necessarily a unique value and a few different contact angles need to be carefully considered in relation to liquid spreading, adhesion and phase separation. Despite the conceptual simplicity of the contact angle and over 200 years of investigation, interpretations of experimental contact angles remain controversial, and mistakes are quite common. Here, the physics behind equilibrium contact angles are restated and their misuse in modern literature is briefly discussed. Selected advances made in the 20th century that shaped current interpretations of experimental contact angles are also critically reviewed and evaluated. Understanding of contact angles for liquids on solids has improved in the last two decades and this progress is driven by advanced imaging techniques and improved methodologies in contact angle measurements, often in tandem with direct force measurements for liquid droplets in contact with solids. In our laboratory, a microelectronic balance system is employed to measure the force of liquid droplet spontaneous spreading and the water-solid adhesion forces at different stages of droplet retraction and separation. A microbalance equipped with a camera and data acquisition software measures these forces directly, monitors droplet-surface separation including distances over which the droplet stretches, and collects optical images simultaneously. The images are used to analyze capillary and surface tension forces based on measured droplet dimensions, shapes of surfaces and values of contact angles. These force measurements have significantly furthered our fundamental understanding of advancing, receding and most stable contact angles, and their correlations with adhesion, and are summarized in this review.
Internal consistency and factor structure of a brief scale assessing sensitivity to blood, injury, and mutilation

US Army soldiers and military veterans experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, PTSD risk factors are not fully understood. Sensitivity to blood, injury, and mutilation (SBIM), which includes fear of being injured, seeing another person injured, and exposure to mutilation-relevant stimuli (e.g., blood, wounds) may be a PTSD risk factor that is identifiable prior to trauma exposure. Building on previous research that used a subset of items from the Mutilation Questionnaire (MQ), the aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of two brief scales assessing SBIM. Data from two independent samples of male, US Army soldiers, was utilized to examine a brief 10-item SBIM measure (MQ-SBIM-10) and a shorter version 5-item SBIM measure (MQ-SBIM-5). Internal consistency was indexed by the Kuder–Richardson 20 formula. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and results obtained from each sample, and from a combined sample. The MQ-SBIM-10 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and the hypothesized one-factor structure. Although the MQ-SBIM-5 explained a substantial amount of the variance in the 10-item measure and had a one-factor structure, internal consistency of the 5-item measure was poor. Analyses supported the MQ-SBIM-10 as a reliable and cohesive measure of sensitivity to blood, injury, and mutilation.
A New Approach to Validate GaN FET Reliability to Power-Line Surges Under Use-Conditions

The robustness of FETs to power-line surges has a tremendous impact on field reliability and is an important consideration for the adoption of new technologies like GaN. The methodology for silicon FETs, however, is not suitable for GaN because of the low avalanching energy capability of present-day GaN FETs. However, GaN FETs have better transient overvoltage capability than Si FETs, providing the ability to operate through surge without avalanching. This paper defines, for the first time, a methodology for the surge rating of GaN FETs using their superior transient overvoltage capability. It leads to a device-level surge parametric specification, an important consideration for the design of surge-robust power supplies using GaN. GaN FETs are shown to be robust to power line surges under actual operating conditions for the first time. This seminal work results in a comprehensive methodology for surge-robust power supply design with GaN.
Spinal Anesthesia with Isobaric Lidocaine 2% and the Effect of Phenylephrine

Lidocaine 2% with and without phenylephrine was used to produce spinal anesthesia in 89 male patients scheduled for cystoscopic procedures. The latent period, extent of analgesia, and duration of analgesia and motor block were recorded and compared for the dose of lidocaine with and without phenylephrine. Increasing doses of lidocaine and the addition of phenylephrine increased the duration of analgesia and motor block but did not consistently influence the extent of analgesia. We concluded that lidocaine 2% produced reliable anesthesia to the lower thoracic segments for 1 to 3 hours depending on the dose and the addition of phenylephrine.
What is Critical Theory in CMS

This paper studies the use of critical theory in Critical Management Studies, by turning to an influential textbook on the subject. The paper is concerned with the manner in which critical theory i...
Platelets are critical for survival and tissue integrity during murine pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection

Beyond their canonical roles in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets function in the innate immune response by interacting directly with pathogens and by regulating the recruitment and activation of immune effector cells. Thrombocytopenia often coincides with neutropenia in patients with hematologic malignancies and in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, patient groups at high risk for invasive fungal infections. While neutropenia is well established as a major clinical risk factor for invasive fungal infections, the role of platelets in host defense against human fungal pathogens remains understudied. Here, we examined the role of platelets in murine Aspergillus fumigatus infection using two complementary approaches to induce thrombocytopenia without concurrent neutropenia. Thrombocytopenic mice were highly susceptible to A. fumigatus challenge and rapidly succumbed to infection. Although platelets regulated early conidial phagocytosis by neutrophils in a spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)-dependent manner, platelet-regulated conidial phagocytosis was dispensable for host survival. Instead, our data indicated that platelets primarily function to maintain hemostasis and lung integrity in response to exposed fungal antigens, since thrombocytopenic mice exhibited severe hemorrhage into the airways in response to fungal challenge in the absence of overt angioinvasion. Challenge with swollen, heat-killed, conidia was lethal in thrombocytopenic hosts and could be reversed by platelet transfusion, consistent with the model that fungus-induced inflammation in platelet-depleted mice was sufficient to induce lethal hemorrhage. These data provide new insights into the role of platelets in the anti-Aspergillus host response and expand their role to host defense against filamentous molds.
Assessing Residents' Skills in Psychiatric Reasoning: the Tufts Test of Formulation and Treatment Planning.

The authors aimed to develop an easily administered and scored written test of clinical reasoning for psychiatry residents and to explore its internal reliability and correlation with parameters of training. The authors developed a case-based, multiple-choice test comprising 83 questions related to data gathering and interpretation, diagnosis, hypothesis generation and testing, and treatment planning. Postgraduate years 1–4 residents at 18 diverse residency programs, along with their Program Directors and/or Associate Program Directors, took the test. Outcome measures included internal reliability statistics, performance across levels of training, performance in different test categories, performance in programs with high vs. low emphasis on integrative case formulation, and performance in native English speakers vs. others. A total of 359 residents and 23 faculty members participated. The KR-20 statistic of 0.78 indicated that the test was internally reliable. Faculty performed better than residents, who began to approach faculty level only in their fourth year. Residents in programs with high emphasis on formulation and treatment planning tended to score better than those from low emphasis programs on hypothesis generation and testing, but not other categories of question. There was no evidence that non-native English speakers were at a disadvantage on the test. A novel test of formulation and treatment planning has met criteria for internal reliability and provided preliminary data about development of reasoning skills in residents. The authors hope that taking and discussing it will also be useful as a training exercise in integrative case formulation.
A Radical Pastoral Theology for the Anthropocene Era: Thinking and Being Otherwise

The Anthropocene Age will usher in more frequent natural and political disasters. These looming catastrophes invite critically reimaging our theologies. This article sketches out a radical pastoral...
A comparison of learning rate selection methods in generalized Bayesian inference

Generalized Bayes posterior distributions are formed by putting a fractional power on the likelihood before combining with the prior via Bayes's formula. This fractional power, which is often viewed as a remedy for potential model misspecification bias, is called the learning rate, and a number of data-driven learning rate selection methods have been proposed in the recent literature. Each of these proposals has a different focus, a different target they aim to achieve, which makes them difficult to compare. In this paper, we provide a direct head-to-head comparison of these learning rate selection methods in various misspecified model scenarios, in terms of several relevant metrics, in particular, coverage probability of the generalized Bayes credible regions. In some examples all the methods perform well, while in others the misspecification is too severe to be overcome, but we find that the so-called generalized posterior calibration algorithm tends to outperform the others in terms of credible region coverage probability.