cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of microcalcifications in breast tomosynthesis reconstructed with multiscale bilateral filtering regularization

We are developing a CAD system to assist radiologists in detecting microcalcification clusters (MCs) in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using as input to the CAD system an enhanced DBT volume that was reconstructed with the iterative simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) regularized by a new multiscale bilateral filtering (MBiF) method. The MBiF method utilizes the multiscale structures of the breast to selectively enhance MCs and preserve mass spiculations while smoothing noise in the DBT images. The CAD system first extracted the enhancement-modulated calcification response (EMCR) in the DBT volume. Detection of the seed points for MCs and individual calcifications were guided by the EMCR. MC candidates were formed by dynamic clustering. FPs were further reduced by analysis of the feature characteristics of the MCs. With IRB approval, two-view DBT of 91 subjects with biopsy-proven MCs were collected. Seventy-eight views from 39 subjects with MCs were used for training and the remaining 52 cases were used for independent testing. For view-based detection, a sensitivity of 85% was achieved at 3.23 FPs/volume. For case-based detection, the same sensitivity was obtained at 1.63 FPs/volume. The results indicate that the new MBiF method is useful in improving the detection accuracy of clustered microcalcifications. An effective CAD system for microcalcification detection in DBT has the potential to eliminate the need for additional mammograms, thereby reducing patient dose and reading time.
Are Children Still at Risk for Lead Poisoning

Background. The prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) has decreased nationally, creating challenges in identifying children at risk. Methods. In a community known to have lead hazards, we screened children with a field-administered capillary blood lead test and asked parents to complete a questionnaire about lead risk factors. Results. Of the 77 child-parent pairs screened with a blood lead test and a parental questionnaire, 4 had finger stick blood lead levels of ≥10 µg/dL. Of these, one child had a confirmatory venous blood lead level >10 µg/dL (1.3%; 95% CI = 0.0%-4.7%), which is near the US prevalence but less than the historic prevalence for this region. A median of 2 risk factors for each of the environmental, behavioral, and knowledge/awareness domains were noted. Conclusions. Despite a low prevalence of children with EBLL, parental report suggested that approximately 29% of children had lead-based paint in their home environment.
Investigation of short-circuit failure limited by dynamic-avalanche capability in 600-V punchthrough IGBTs

Short-circuit-failure energy of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) is generally known to be constant, depending on the thermal capacity of the devices. However, apart from the intrinsic thermal-failure limit, a premature short-circuit failure was observed for 600-V punchthrough (PT) IGBTs at turn-off transition. The observed failure seems irrelevant to the electrical-failure mode as well as the thermal-failure mode, rather, it depends on the dynamic-breakdown voltage of the device. In this paper, with comprehensive investigations into an instant short-circuit failure, it is shown that the observed short-circuit failure of the PT IGBTs results from insufficient avalanche capability, which is initiated by dynamic-avalanche breakdown and can severely degrade the short-circuit ruggedness of the PT IGBTs independent of the duration of the short-circuit event.
Is the Glass 10% Empty or 90% Full?

Dr Silverman recently wrote another commentary chastising the neonatology profession for its lack of compassion in rescuing “extremely small or severely malformed neonates in the United States.”1 He used as examples of this supposed travesty an anesthesiologist who slashed open the chest of a 23-weeks' gestation infant to give open-chest cardiac massage and quotes from unidentified sources (one from an intensivist claiming that “[we] can bring a peach back from death”) and others from understandably distraught parents whose children had bad outcomes after births that took place nearly 20 years ago. He suggests that this supposedly barbarous subspecialty is being driven by “opportunism” and to fuel “profit centers,” with little evidence of compassion. Are we neonatologists really all that callous, or is this a …
Do women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) report differences in sex-typed behavior as children and adolescents?: Results of a pilot study

Background: The etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is poorly understood, as is the impact of female hyperandrogenism on psychosocial and psychosexual behavior.Aim: The present study sought to test whether women with PCOS self-report more masculine sex-typed behavior in childhood, at adolescence, and as adults.Subjects and methods: Sixty-one women (34 women self-reporting a clinical diagnosis of PCOS and 27 control women not reporting a PCOS diagnosis) completed a questionnaire containing items on childhood sex-typed behavior, adolescent behavior, and present masculinity, femininity and mood.Results: Results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in retrospective self-reports of childhood sex-typed behavior and gender conformity according to PCOS status, with women in the PCOS group reporting less feminine childhood behavior, and less gender-typical behavior. A composite of sex-typed behaviors did not differ according to PCOS status at adolescence, although several individual items did. As adu...
Modeling poly(vinyl alcohol)-stabilized vinyl acetate emulsion polymerization. I. Theory

A mathematical model for particle nucleation and growth in the isothermal semibatch emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate stabilized with poly(vinyl alcohol) is presented. In addition to the particle nucleation and growth mechanisms governing ionically stabilized polymerizations of relatively water-soluble monomers, the model accommodates grafting onto the poly(vinyl alcohol) backbone during nucleation, and polymeric stabilization. The user supplies the emulsion recipe, process conditions and kinetic parameters, and the model predicts the various species concentrations, along with the conversion and particle size and number profiles. In part II, model predictions are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Repression: a mistaken impression?

How do clinical observations of repression square with experimental evidence suggesting that emotionally arousing memories are especially enduring? This discrepancy can be understood by examining three kinds of memory distortions that give the impression in a clinical context, of repression. Potentially traumatic events such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may be subject to ordinary forgetting. Recent research suggests people who fail to understand the sexual nature of CSA report that they remember it less well. In other words, the event occurred and it was forgotten, but not “repressed.” In addition, people may be wrong about experiencing a period of forgetting, i.e. the event occurred but was never forgotten. Finally, people may believe that a particular traumatic event occurred and was repressed when, in fact, it did not happen in the first place. Under certain circumstances, some combination of these distortions could lead to situations that are mistakenly interpreted as repression.
Hierarchical Mixture of Classification Experts Uncovers Interactions between Brain Regions

The human brain can be described as containing a number of functional regions. These regions, as well as the connections between them, play a key role in information processing in the brain. However, most existing multi-voxel pattern analysis approaches either treat multiple regions as one large uniform region or several independent regions, ignoring the connections between them. In this paper we propose to model such connections in an Hidden Conditional Random Field (HCRF) framework, where the classifier of one region of interest (ROI) makes predictions based on not only its voxels but also the predictions from ROIs that it connects to. Furthermore, we propose a structural learning method in the HCRF framework to automatically uncover the connections between ROIs. We illustrate this approach with fMRI data acquired while human subjects viewed images of different natural scene categories and show that our model can improve the top-level (the classifier combining information from all ROIs) and ROI-level prediction accuracy, as well as uncover some meaningful connections between ROIs.
The Metropolitanization and Suburbanization of the U.S. Elderly Population: 1970–1988

Golant describes how the metropolitan-nonmetropolitan and city-suburban locations of the population aged 65 or over changed between 1970 and 1988. He defines the locations of the young-old (ages 65-74) and old- old (ages 75 and over) populations and examines the extent to which young-old and old-old groups are segregated from the total population and from specific population age groups. Analyses are based on data from the Current Population Surveys. Golant finds that the young-old and old-old are now more likely to live in metropolitan areas especially within suburban areas and are occupying residential locations that are less segregated from other age groups. The majority of metropolitan elderly people lived in suburban areas as early as 1977; by 1988 just over 25% of the elderly lived in nonmetropolitan areas. These findings are consistent with modernization and urbanization theories. Recent generations of better-educated older people with predominantly nonagricultural occupations have weaker social and economic links to the primary economic base and natural resources of rural areas. They are also likely to be more attracted by cities greater part-time employment opportunities. Older people may also feel pressured to move to the more and infirmities increase. They may also be moving nearer the metropolitan homes of their children who are more likely than in the past to live in urban areas. Evidence suggests that elderly people who are older widowed and more dependent on their children are more likely to move from nonmetropolitan to metropolitan areas.
An exact treatment of the achievable closed-loop H/sub 2/ performance of sampled-data controllers: from continuous-time to open-loop

One of the first design decisions a control engineer must make concerns the capabilities of the real-time feedback processor. Assuming that the controller will be implemented digitally, processor requirements such as computational capability memory, and I/O speed must be determined. To assess these requirements, it is useful to understand how processor capabilities affect the stability and achievable performance of the closed-loop system, including intersample behavior. Although it seems reasonable to conjecture that closed-loop performance improves as processor speed increases, there exist relatively few results that rigorously document this fact. The purpose of this paper is to make significant progress in this direction by means of a control-design procedure that precisely quantifies the dependence of achievable closed-loop performance on sample rate. The goal of this paper is to develop a sampled-data design methodology that accounts precisely for all sampling effects including intersample behavior. A unique feature of the authors' approach is its unified treatment of both continuous-time and discrete-time controllers. Thus, by appropriate choice of analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) devices, the authors expect to recover continuous-time controller performance as the sample interval h approaches zero and open-loop performance as h approaches infinity. >
High Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Avian Influenza Viruses among Wild Waterfowl in Alaska: Implications for Surveillance

We examined seroprevalence (presence of detectable antibodies in serum) for avian influenza viruses (AIV) among 4,485 birds, from 11 species of wild waterfowl in Alaska (1998–2010), sampled during breeding/molting periods. Seroprevalence varied among species (highest in eiders (Somateria and Polysticta species), and emperor geese (Chen canagica)), ages (adults higher than juveniles), across geographic locations (highest in the Arctic and Alaska Peninsula) and among years in tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus). All seroprevalence rates in excess of 60% were found in marine-dependent species. Seroprevalence was much higher than AIV infection based on rRT-PCR or virus isolation alone. Because pre-existing AIV antibodies can infer some protection against highly pathogenic AIV (HPAI H5N1), our results imply that some wild waterfowl in Alaska could be protected from lethal HPAIV infections. Seroprevalence should be considered in deciphering patterns of exposure, differential infection, and rates of AIV transmission. Our results suggest surveillance programs include species and populations with high AIV seroprevalences, in addition to those with high infection rates. Serologic testing, including examination of serotype-specific antibodies throughout the annual cycle, would help to better assess spatial and temporal patterns of AIV transmission and overall disease dynamics.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: Patient Perspective and Polysomnographic Results:

Abstract Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the outcomes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery based on the patient perspective and polysomnographic data. Study Design: Fifty-six patients with severe OSA completed the 2-phase reconstructive protocol. A minimum of 6 months after the phase II surgery and after the postoperative polysomnography, questionnaires with visual analog scales (VAS 0-10) were mailed to the patients to assess their perceptions of treatment results. Results: Forty-two (75%) questionnaires were returned. The mean patient age was 46.3 years. The mean respiratory disturbance index improved from 58.7 to 10.0. The mean lowest oxygen saturation improved from 76.3 to 87.3%. All 42 patients reported improved sleep (VAS 8.7). Although 10 patients reported changes in speech, the changes were insignificant, with 9 of the patients scoring 0 on the VAS (VAS 0.08 ± 0.3). Five patients reported changes in swallowing, and their VAS scores were 0.5, 0.9, 1.0, 2.7, and 6.9 (mean VAS 2.4 ± 2.7). Forty patients (95%) were satisfied with their results and would undergo the reconstruction again. Conclusion: Surgical airway reconstruction for severe OSA is a highly effective treatment option base on the objective as well as the subjective assessment. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:572-5.)
A Behavioral Analysis of Spatial Neglect and its Recovery After Stroke

In a longitudinal study of recovery of left neglect following stroke using reaction time computerized assessment, we find that lateralized spatial deficits of attention and perception to be more severe than disturbance of action. Perceptual-attention deficits also show the most variability in the course of recovery, making them prime candidates for intervention. In an anatomical analysis of MRI findings, ventral frontal cortex damage was correlated with the most severe neglect, reflecting impaired fronto-parietal communication.
Parshall Flume Discharge Corrections: Wall Staff Gauge and Centerline Measurements

Parshall flumes were developed in the early 1900s as a simple and inexpensive way to provide accurate flow measurement in open channels. Unfortunately, many Parshall flumes in use today do not follow essential design parameters that prevent them from accurately measuring flow. Two design parameters that are commonly overlooked are: the need to measure upstream head in the correct location and the need to have appropriate entrance wingwalls attached to the flume. With recent advancements in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), numerical modeling has made it possible to accurately model nonstandard Parshall flume designs of varying sizes without extensive financial commitments for physical modeling. This paper utilizes numerical modeling to create a correction procedure for 2–8-ft nonstandard Parshall flumes. Basic background information regarding Parshall flumes and the numerical model used are presented. In addition, the results and correction procedures determined when head measurements are taken at any l...
Behavior of sulfentrazone in ionic exchange resins, electrophoresis gels, and cation-saturated soils

Abstract Sulfentrazone persistence in soil requires many crop rotational restrictions. The sorption and mobility of sulfentrazone play an important role in its soil persistence. Thus, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to mimic the soil properties of cation and anion exchange with different intermediates. The molecular characterization and ionization shift of sulfentrazone from a neutral molecule to an anion were determined using a three-dimensional graphing technique and titration curve, respectively. Sorption and mobility of 2.6 × 10−5 M 14C-sulfentrazone were evaluated using a soil solution technique with ion exchange resins and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Solution pH ranged from 4.0 to 7.4. As pH increased, sulfentrazone sorption to an anion resin increased and its sorption to a cation resin decreased. Percent sulfentrazone in solution was pH-dependent and ranged between 0 to 18% and 54 to 88% for the anion and cation resins, respectively. Mobility of sulfentrazone...
Primate-Specific Multi-Functional Androgen Receptor Coregulator and Proto-Oncogene Melanoma Antigen-A11 (MAGE-A11)

The human androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor expressed on the X chromosome and activated by high affinity binding of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. AR transcriptional activity is modulated by the androgen-dependent NH2- and carboxyl-terminal (N/C) interaction between the AR NH2-terminal FXXLF motif and the activation function 2 surface of the ligand binding domain. The N/C interaction stabilizes AR and modulates activity from two major activation domains. Naturally occurring loss-of-function AR germline mutations interfere with the AR N/C interaction and inhibit male genital development in utero, whereas gain-of-function AR somatic mutations in the ligand binding domain contribute to prostate cancer growth. The AR NH2-terminal FXXLF motif also serves as an interaction site for melanoma antigen-A11 (MAGE-A11), a primate-specific steroid receptor coregulator and cancer-testis antigen expressed on the human X chromosome. MAGE-A11 binding to the AR FXXLF motif competes with the AR N/C interaction and increases AR transcriptional activity by stabilizing AR dimer-dimer interactions and recruiting p300 and p160 nuclear receptor coactivators. MAGE-A11 increases transcriptional activity of human progesterone receptor-B in an isoform-specific manner through an interaction with a unique NH2-terminal motif, and interacts with p107 of the retinoblastoma family to increase E2F1 transcriptional activity. MAGE-A11 is hormone regulated in normal tissues of the human reproductive tract and is over-expressed in castration-recurrent prostate cancer. The increased expression of MAGE-A11 in prostate cancer and its function as a steroid receptor coregulator and requirement for prostate cancer cell growth suggest that MAGE-A11 is a proto-oncogene.
Service-Related Exposures and Physical Health Trajectories Among Aging Veteran Men

Purpose of the study We examined the association of military service-related exposures (SREs) with physical health trajectories to establish whether combat and other hazards have lasting connections to health in later life. We also examined potential confounders and mechanisms to further understand the associations. Design and methods We used the 2013 HRS Veterans Mail Survey linked to the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine military service experiences and health over a decade (2000-2010) among veteran men. We employed latent class analysis to disaggregate trajectories of health in later life. Results Most veteran men experienced good health over the decade. Although we found a connection between combat and later health, it was driven primarily by hazardous or traumatic exposures. Service-related disability, current health behaviors, and mental health were not likely explanations for these associations. Implications The measurement of service experiences is primary in understanding health implications of military service and projecting the health service needs of aging veterans. SREs are varied and complex and have differential connections to health. These connections remain unexplained by current behaviors and mental health, suggesting the need to examine earlier life course pathways and mechanisms.
First acquisition of data from a prototype 3-D position sensitive CZT PET system

This study presents the first system characterization results of a novel 1 mm resolution small animal PET system based on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). The 3-D position-sensitive dual-CZT detector module and readout electronics previously developed in our lab were scaled up to complete significant portions of the final PET system. This sub-system was configured as two opposing detection panels containing a total of twelve 40 mm × 40 mm × 5 mm monolithic CZT crystals for proof of concept. System-level characterization studies, including optimizing the trigger threshold of each channel's comparators, were performed to bring the system to an acceptable operating point. 68Ge and 137Cs radioactive isotopes were used to characterize the anode energy resolution of all channels in the system. The mean measured global 511 keV photopeak energy resolution over 240 anode channels was found to be 8.03 ± 0.96% FWHM.
Some aspects of the relationship between plasma and urine erythropoietin.

Summary and conclusionsSimultaneous assays of plasma and urinary EPF were done in animals with varying degrees of anemia induced by bleeding or phenylhydrazine. Likewise comparisons of plasma and urine, collected after similar intervals of hypoxia from the same rabbits, were carried out. Diverse results were seen in the rabbits with induced anemia. a) Bled anemic rabbits showed distinct EPF elevations in plasma at hematocrit levels of 15 and 10% Only minimal corresponding elevation appeared in the urine, occurring only at the 15% hematocrit level. b) Phenylhydrazine anemic rabbits showed marked elevation of plasma EPF at all hematocrit levels from 25 to 10%. Urinary EPF was also present, although in lesser amounts, at these same hematocrit levels. At no time, in either the bled or phenylhydrazine anemic groups, were EPF levels as high in urine as in plasma.The time of appearance and potency of EPF in plasma and urine of hypoxic rabbits were strikingly similar. Highest levels were present in both plasma an...
Integrating Winter Annual Cereal Rye or Triticale into a Corn Forage Biofuel Production System

ABSTRACTIntegrating cover crops into the corn (Zea mays L.) forage-production system could enhance growers’ profitability and improve ecosystem services. Field plots were established at two locations in Michigan during 2012--2014 to evaluate ethanol production, estimate carbon and energy balance, and the economics of corn forage plus cover crop, cropping systems. In the 2012--2013 crop cycle, which was characterized by a summer drought, the cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), and triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), winter annual cover crops increased cropping system biomass yield by 44%, and total ethanol yield by 28% relative to the no-cover control. During the 2012--2013 cycle, cover crops provided sufficient biomass (6.5 and 8.1 Mg ha−1, respectively, for cereal rye and triticale) to result in a profitable harvest as a biofuel feedstock. However, following a harsh winter, such as that experienced in the 2013--2014 cycle, cover crop yield (1.6 and 1.2 Mg ha−1, respectively, for cereal rye and triticale)...
Intramural Officiating—The Sport Club Concept

(1980). Intramural Officiating—The Sport Club Concept. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 71-71.
EFFECT OF DIVERSIFICATION ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF MERGED INSTITUTIONS

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of diversification on the financial performance of merged institutions. Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methodology research design. The study population included all the 51 merged financial service institutions in Kenya. Purposive sampling was used. Primary data was obtained from questionnaires and a secondary data collection template was also used. The researcher used quantitative techniques in analyzing the data. Descriptive analysis for the study included the use of means, frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics such as correlation analysis was also used. Panel data analysis was also applied. Further, a pre and post merger analysis was used. Results: Diversification had no significant effect on financial performance of merged institutions. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study findings call for a re-assessment of the literature on diversification. Further research is necessary to study why sometimes the diversification-performance relationship is positive, others negative, and often quadratic. Further research is needed to investigate whether diversification effects on performance depends on the industries considered. This study recommends that companies with a weak and unstable capital base should seek to consolidate their establishments through mergers and acquisitions. Through mergers and acquisitions, these companies will be able to extend their market share and revenue base hence increase their profitability. In addition, mergers and acquisition leads to a higher CAR which improves the financial soundness of the companies.
Microwear textures of Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus molars in relation to paleoenvironment and diet.

Abstract The importance of diet in primate ecology has motivated the use of a variety of methods to reconstruct dietary habits of extinct hominin taxa. Dental microwear is one such approach that preserves evidence from consumed food items. This study is based on 44 specimens of Australopithecus africanus from Makapansgat and Sterkfontein, and 66 specimens of Paranthropus robustus from Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Drimolen. These samples enable examination of potential differences between the two assemblages of A. africanus, and among the various assemblages of P. robustus in relation to the paleoenvironmental reconstructions that have been proffered for each fossil site. Sixteen microwear texture variables were recorded for each specimen from digital elevation models generated using a white-light confocal profiler. Only two of these differ significantly between the Makapansgat and Sterkfontein samples of A. africanus. None of the microwear texture variables differs significantly among the samples of P. robustus. On the other hand, P. robustus has significantly higher values than A. africanus for 11 variables related to feature complexity, size, and depth; P. robustus exhibits rougher surfaces that comprise larger, deeper features. In contrast, A. africanus has smoother, simpler wear surfaces with smaller, shallower and more anisotropic features. As for possible habitat differences among the various sites, only a relatively small number of subtle differences are evident between the specimens of A. africanus from Makapansgat and Sterkfontein, and there are none among the specimens of P. robustus from various deposits. As such, it is reasonable to conclude that, while subtle differences in microwear textures may reflect differences in background habitats, the wear fabric differences between P. robustus and A. africanus are most reasonably interpreted as having been driven by dietary differences.
Examples of Urea Modeling

The following examples illustrate typical applications of urea modeling. Clinical “cases” represented by all data pertinent to urea modeling, such as dialyzer clearance and BUN, are presented with variables calculated from different models. Sometimes the technical conditions are exaggerated to emphasize a point, such as the effect of fluid gain. The cases illustrate practical clinical problems and how urea modeling is used to solve them. An “ideal” patient is presented first, followed by selected modifications to demonstrate the effect of residual clearance, schedule variations, large weight changes, dietary noncompliance, high-flux dialysis, errors in measurement of dialyzer clearance, and variations in patient size. All data are displayed in tables, so no calculator or computer is required to examine the cases in this chapter. In the tables, significant changes due to manipulation of patient or dialysis variables are underlined. Explanations for the underlined changes are found in the text.
Large deformation mechanics of a soft elastomeric layer compressed by a finite flat rigid punch for tactile sensor applications

Abstract In this study, we develop a large deformation analytical–empirical model for a flat finite punch pinching on an incompressible, polymeric layer under plane strain conditions. The model could further advance the predictive capabilities of enhanced tactile sensor response models. The aforementioned model is developed based on the analytical model for an infinitely long layer under uniform compression which has been presented in Kalayeh and Charalambides (2015). Related non-linear finite element (FE) simulations with large strain, large deformation assumptions are carried out in this study. Using the FE finite flat punch simulations, the uniform layer compression model is properly adjusted to predicting the finite punch layer response. The mechanics of the polymeric layer in the vicinity of the symmetry plane, under the application of a flat finite rigid punch is fully analyzed and an expression for the indentation force as a function of the applied top surface deformation is developed. The relevance of this result to modeling the non-linear tactile sensor response over a broad sensing range is discussed. The reported results are compared to FE simulations for applied surface deformation levels of up to 40 percent of the layer initial thickness, and punch half-length to layer thickness ratios of 1 to 2. Great agreement is found to exist between the analytical–empirical model and the FE simulations. For completeness, this new semi-analytical model is fully summarized in the Appendix of this work.
Acquired von Willebrand Disease in a Child With Wilms’ Tumor: Implications for Postoperative Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthetic techniques including epidural anesthesia are a safe and effective method of providing postoperative analgesia while avoiding the potential adverse physiologic effects of systemic opioids. However, clinical scenarios or co-morbid conditions such as abnormal coagulation function may preclude the use of neuraxial analgesia. We present a 2-year-old boy who presented for nephrectomy due to Wilms’ tumor disease. Preoperative evaluation of coagulation function revealed an elevated partial thromboplastin related to acquired von Willebrand disease and therefore a wound catheter was used instead of epidural analgesia. Coagulation function guidelines for epidural anesthesia are reviewed and alternative techniques such as a wound catheter are discussed. J Med Cases. 2018;9(10):345-347 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3143w
Farmers' irrigation practices in a high rainfall area: Effects on soil moisture

Recent droughts in the humid southeastern United States have focused attention on the need for and use of supplemental irrigation. Total annual rainfall amounts are sufficient for most crops in the region. However, erratic distribution of rainfall and the low water-holding capacities of most soils in the region cause frequent drought stresses in many crops. An on-farm study was conducted in southeastern Alabama to evaluate the effects of farmers' irrigation scheduling decisions on soil moisture variations in peanut fields irrigated with center-pivot irrigation systems. The study showed that the way irrigation was practiced in this high rainfall area often caused soil moisture deficit (SMD) level higher than the desired SMD limit during over 20% of the 140-day growing season. This is partially due to farmers' tendency to delay irrigation in anticipation of rainfall which may or may not occur, as rainfall during the growing season is often erratic and local. In contrast SMD in non-irrigated fields was higher than the SMD limit for half of the growing season.
Novel methods of oestrogen deprivation for treatment of breast diseases

The breast can be deprived of oestrogen by blockade of the synthesis of oestradiol or of its precursors. In postmenopausal women, oestrogen synthesis occurs almost exclusively in extraglandular tissues. Thus, liver, muscle and fat, as well as other tissues, convert precursor androgens such as androstenedione and testosterone of adrenal origin to oestrone and oestradiol through the enzyme, aromatase. Breast cancer tissue and its surrounding stroma also contain aromatase which could potentially convert a biologically important amount of androgen to oestrogen. Sulphatases are present in multiple tissues including breast and act to reform free oestrogens from their conjugated derivatives. Each of the steps outlined (i.e. precursor androgen formation, aromatase, and sulphatase), serve as potential sites of blockade of oestrogen synthesis. Aromatase can be inhibited by either suicide or competitive inhibitors. In our studies, an imidazole inhibitor of aromatase which acts competitively (i.e. CGS 16949A) is 1000-fold more potent than aminoglutethimide and ten-fold more potent than 4-hydroxyandrostenedione in vitro . In sixteen postmenopausal women, doses 500-fold less than standard doses of aminoglutethimide inhibited plasma and urinary oestrogens measured by radioimmunoassay or GLC mass spectrometry to the same extent as with aminoglutethimide. The use of sulphatase inhibitors, another means of oestrogen deprivation, may potentially be feasible. Sulphatase inhibitors are active in vitro but currently lack potency and specificity for the sulphatase in breast cancer tissue itself. In premenopausal women, the oestrogens are directly aromatised from androgens in ovarian tissues through the stimulatory influence of LH and FSH. Suppression of these gonatrophins with or without additional aromatase inhibitors provides a means of inhibiting oestrogen in premenopausal women. Aromatase inhibition, alone, will probably not be effective because of the reflex rise in LH and FSH observed. Our studies indicate effective suppression of oestradiol in premenopausal women with the GnRH superagonist analogue, Leuprolide. However, combined use of this superagonist analogue plus an aromatase inhibitor would have the advantage of blocking synthesis of oestrogen, both in ovary and in extraglandular sites.
Assessing vulnerability of bycatch species in the tuna purse-seine fisheries of the eastern Pacific Ocean

Abstract Ecological risk assessment (ERA), including Productivity-Susceptibility Analysis (PSA), is becoming increasingly used to assess the relative vulnerability of data-limited non-target species to the impacts by fishing. PSA was developed for the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) tuna purse-seine fishery to assess the vulnerability of incidentally-caught species for three set types, “dolphin sets”, “unassociated sets” and “floating-object sets”, during 2005–2013. Because of operational differences between these set types, susceptibility values were combined for each species across the three set types to produce an overall fleet-wide susceptibility estimate. Vulnerability was highest for elasmobranchs, namely the giant manta ray, bigeye and pelagic thresher sharks, smooth and scalloped hammerhead sharks, and silky shark. Billfishes, dolphins, other rays, ocean sunfish, and yellowfin and bigeye tunas were classified as moderately vulnerable while the remaining species, all teleosts, had the lowest vulnerability scores. This purse-seine fleet-wide PSA identified potentially vulnerable species that can be compared with PSAs for other fisheries operating in the EPO, once detailed catch information becomes available for those fisheries. Such information can assist managers with prioritising fishery- and species-specific research programs and/or mitigation measures.
Coded Caching with Heterogeneous User Profiles

Coded caching has been proven to be a useful technique for reducing traffic in networks with point-to-multipoint links. The key idea is to pre-fetch popular content at the end users during off-peak hours, and encode transmissions when resources are scarce in such a way that different users can obtain different information from the same packet.Prior works have proposed placement and delivery algorithms to address a wide range of scenarios with varying file popularities, file sizes, and cache capacities. Both centralized and distributed algorithms have been proposed, and their performance limits have been characterized in terms of peak and average transmission rates. However, existing works have focused on the case where all the end users present an identical distribution of requests; in other words, the popularity of a given file is identical for all users. This assumption is overly simplistic in modern networks, where network operators often build detailed individual profiles on each user.This paper proposes and compares the peak rate of three coded caching schemes when the end users can be classified into distinct groups with different distribution of demands. Specifically, the first scheme ignores the differences between user profiles, the second performs independent caching and delivery of each class of files, and the third ignores the similarities between user profiles. The second scheme derives a method to partition the cache between widely popular files and files that may only be requested by a subset of the users. Our analysis yields some counter-intuitive results.
Clinical and demographic correlates of stigma in first-episode psychosis: the impact of duration of untreated psychosis

Objective To evaluate the relationships between perceived stigma and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), demographic characteristics, and clinical and psychosocial functioning in persons with a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Method A total of 399 participants with FEP presenting for treatment at 34 sites in 21 states throughout the United States were evaluated using standardized instruments to assess diagnosis, symptoms, psychosocial functioning, perceived stigma, wellbeing, and subjective recovery. Results Perceived stigma was correlated with a range of demographic and clinical variables, including DUP, symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and subjective experience. After controlling for symptom severity, perceived stigma was related to longer DUP, schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, more severe depression, and lower wellbeing and recovery. The associations between stigma and depression, wellbeing, and recovery were stronger in individuals with long than short DUP, suggesting the effects of stigma on psychological functioning may be cumulative over the period of untreated psychosis. Conclusion The findings suggest that independent of symptom severity, perceived stigma may contribute to delay in seeking treatment for FEP, and this delay may amplify the deleterious effects of stigma on psychological functioning. The results point to the importance of reducing DUP and validating interventions targeting the psychological effects of stigma in people with FEP.
Some Thoughts on the Origin of Cosmic Inhomogeneities

Abstract The fundamental problems associated with a physical origin of cosmic inhomogeneities are discussed. Two alternative pictures are considered: the selective survival of random chaotic fluctuations by nonlinear hydrodynamic effects and a possible gravithermal first-order transition at decoupling. Current results do not favour a completely chaotic hydrodynamic picture.
A Real-Time Optimization with Warm-Start of Multiperiod AC Optimal Power Flows

Abstract We present a real-time optimization strategy based on warm-start for solving a moving horizon of multiperiod AC optimal power flow (ACOPF) problems. In each horizon, ACOPFs are temporally interlinked via generator ramp constraints, and we assume that each horizon needs to be solved every few seconds or minutes. We introduce two approximate tracking schemes that closely follow a solution path consisting of strongly regular points. We present theoretical results bounding the tracking error by the square of the parameter changes between time periods. Experimental results for networks of sizes up to 9K buses show a fast computation time while maintaining a good solution quality, thus making our approach well suited for real-time circumstances.
Size, concentration, coating, and exposure time effects of silver nanoparticles on the activities of selected soil enzymes

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have a wide variety of applications in consumer products and can directly or indirectly leak into environmental compartments such as soil. The environmental risks associated with AgNPs must be assessed to assist in the development of regulatory guidelines. Because they are linked to numerous soil ecosystem functions, soil enzyme activities are very sensitive to any changes in soil management caused by environmental or human factors. Therefore, changes in soil enzymatic activities upon exposure to AgNPs can serve as early indicators of any adverse effect that these particles might have on soil quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the concentration of AgNPs (1, 10, and 100 mg kg−1 soil), size of particles (30, 80, and 200 nm), nanoparticle coatings (citrate, lipoic acid, and polyvinylpyrrolidone), and contact time between nanoparticles and soil (3 h, 3 d, and 30 d) on two soil enzymes, phenol oxidase and arylamidase, in a silt loam soil. Soil samples were treated with silver ions with similar treatments, and enzyme assays were performed to understand how the enzyme activities differed under the influence of ionic silver and nano-silver. The results revealed that the effect of AgNPs and silver ions on the soil enzymatic activities depended on the Ag dose and length of exposure more than on the particle size and coating. Soil arylamidase and phenol oxidase activities were generally inhibited in the presence of a high concentration of AgNPs and AgNO3 (100 mg kg−1 soil), though in low Ag concentrations, there was no significant inhibition. The levels of inhibition varied notably in relation to the enzyme type, wherein the arylamidase activity was affected severely compared to phenol oxidase. The effect of silver ions dissolved from AgNPs was not significant, indicating that the adverse effects on enzyme functioning was caused by the AgNPs themselves.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch limits the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in mice by inhibiting macrophage polarization.

Summary Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage loss, associated with synovial inflammation. We recently reported increased pro-inflammatory macrophages in murine post-traumatic OA (PTOA) joints, and blockade of the ubiquitin-proteasome system alleviates PTOA progression. However, the mechanisms whereby protein ubiquitination influences PTOA pathology are not well studied. We hypothesized that loss of the negative regulator of inflammation, E3 ligase Itch, in macrophages contributes to joint OA tissue damage by promoting pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. Methods Mice deficient Itch in macrophages (MΔItch) were generated by crossing Itchfl/fl mice with LysM-Cre mice. PTOA surgery was performed on global Itch knockout, Itch−/−, mice and MΔItch mice. Joint tissue damage and synovial macrophages were examined. Itch−/− cells were treated with IL-1 and pro-inflammatory polarization was determined. Expression of Itch protein and mRNA in PTOA synovium were assessed at different time points post PTOA. Results Similar to Itch−/− mice, MΔItch mice developed more severe joint damage than control mice following PTOA surgery (mean difference of OARSI score: 1.17 (95% CI 0.31–2.03) between MΔItch and Itchfl/fl mice), accompanied by increased the inflammatory macrophage infiltration in the synovium (mean difference of % F4/80 + CD86 + CD36-inflammatory macrophages: 14.81 (95% CI 8.90–20.73) between MΔItch and Itchfl/fl mice). Itch−/− macrophages exerted pro-inflammatory phenotype in response to IL-1β treatment. Itch protein, but not mRNA levels decreased during PTOA progression. Conclusion The negative regulator of inflammation, Itch, limits PTOA progression by inhibiting macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization. Itch protein degradation may contribute to PTOA pathology.
Leveraging the Twitch Platform and Gamification to Generate Home Audio Datasets

Training AI systems requires large datasets. While there are a range of existing methods for collecting such data, such as paid work on crowdsourcing platforms, the strengths and weaknesses of each method leads us to believe that new, complementary methods are needed. The Polyphonic project contributes a novel method for collecting real-world data by piggybacking on game streaming communities such as Twitch, which capture over a trillion minutes of viewer attention a year. By embedding activities within the sociotechnical context of the stream, we can leverage some of this attention for data collection and processing. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a proof-of-concept system for collecting home audio data. We conducted a field study in four live streams and found that our proof-of-concept effectively supports data capture. We also contribute further design insights about stream-based data collection systems.
Menu Engineering and Dietary Behavior Impact on Young Adults' Kilocalorie Choice.

The obesity pandemic is associated with increased consumption of restaurant food. Labeling of menus is an intervention used to provide consumers with kilocalorie (calorie) information in hopes of them making healthier food choices. This study evaluated the relationship between young adults’ calorie choices on restaurant menus and menu design, dietary behaviors, and demographic characteristics. A 3 (fast-casual restaurants) × 4 (menu-designs based on menu engineering theories) between-subjects (n = 480, 18–24-year olds) experimental design was used. The relationship between the participants’ calorie choices (high versus low) and menu design, stage of change, gender, race, educational level and weight status was evaluated using logistic regression. All independent variables had at least one category that had greater odds (CI 95% ± 5%) of subjects choosing a lower calorie entree, except education level and race/ethnic group. Normal weight and overweight subjects had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees than those that were obese. In addition, subjects that had started to control their calorie intake for less than six months or had sustained this change for at least six months, had greater odds of choosing lower calorie entrees compared to others. Including a green symbol and calories on fast casual restaurant menus may influence some young adults to choose lower calorie entrees.
Grief and Loss During Care Transitions: Experiences of Direct Care Workers.

Direct Care Workers (DCW) provide both personal care to patients and emotional support to patients and caregivers in hospice and palliative care. DCWs often develop close ties and are then expected...