Law enforcement-applied tourniquets: a case series of life-saving interventions.

PubMed

Callaway, David W; Robertson, Joshua; Sztajnkrycer, Matthew D

2015-01-01

Although the epidemiology of civilian trauma is distinct from that encountered in combat, in both settings, extremity hemorrhage remains a major preventable cause of potential mortality. The current paper describes the largest case series in the literature in which police officers arriving prior to emergency medical services applied commercially available field tourniquets to civilian victims of violent trauma. Although all 3 patients with vascular injury arrived at the receiving emergency department in extremis, they were successfully resuscitated and survived to discharge without major morbidity. While this outcome is likely multifactorial and highlights the exceptional care delivered by the modern trauma system, tourniquet application appears to have kept critically injured patients alive long enough to reach definitive trauma care. No patient had a tourniquet-related complication. This case series suggests that law enforcement officers can effectively identify indications for tourniquets and rapidly apply such life-saving interventions.

Word Processing in Elementary Schools: Seven Case Studies. Education and Technology Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murray, Jack; And Others

As a result of preliminary observations of word processing in elementary level language the seven case studies presented in this report reveal the effectiveness of current word processing (WP) activities within their respective instructional contexts. Each study is presented separately, detailing the classroom context, tasks and outcomes, program…

Repetitive deliberate fires: Development and validation of a methodology to detect series.

PubMed

Bruenisholz, Eva; Delémont, Olivier; Ribaux, Olivier; Wilson-Wilde, Linzi

2017-08-01

The detection of repetitive deliberate fire events is challenging and still often ineffective due to a case-by-case approach. A previous study provided a critical review of the situation and analysis of the main challenges. This study suggested that the intelligence process, integrating forensic data, could be a valid framework to provide a follow-up and systematic analysis provided it is adapted to the specificities of repetitive deliberate fires. In this current manuscript, a specific methodology to detect deliberate fires series, i.e. set by the same perpetrators, is presented and validated. It is based on case profiles relying on specific elements previously identified. The method was validated using a dataset of approximately 8000 deliberate fire events collected over 12 years in a Swiss state. Twenty possible series were detected, including 6 of 9 known series. These results are very promising and lead the way to a systematic implementation of this methodology in an intelligence framework, whilst demonstrating the need and benefit of increasing the collection of forensic specific information to strengthen the value of links between cases. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Summary of: Regenerative endodontics.

PubMed

Clark, Stephen J

2014-03-01

Significant advances in our understanding of the biological processes involved in tooth development and repair at the cellular and molecular levels have underpinned the newly emerging area of regenerative endodontics. Development of treatment protocols based on exploiting the natural wound healing properties of the dental pulp and applying tissue engineering principles has allowed reporting of case series showing preservation of tissue vitality and apexogenesis. To review current case series reporting regenerative endodontics. Current treatment approaches tend to stimulate more reparative than regenerative responses in respect of the new tissue generated, which often does not closely resemble the physiological structure of dentine-pulp. However, despite these biological limitations, such techniques appear to offer significant promise for improved treatment outcomes. Improved biological outcomes will likely emerge from the many experimental studies being reported and will further contribute to improvements in clinical treatment protocols.

Publication Ethics: A Case Series with Recommendations According to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

PubMed

Fazly Bazzaz, Bibi Seddigheh; Sadeghi, Ramin

2012-09-01

Ethical misconduct is not a new issue in the history of science and literature. However, ethical misconducts in science have grown considerably in the modern era which is due to emphasis on the scientific proliferation in research institutes and gauging scientists according to their publications. In the current case series, several misconducts occurring over the previous years in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Mashhad, Iran) either for Journals or Faculty members were gathered and specific recommendations were provided to avoid similar events in the future. All recommendations are according to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Analysis in natural time domain of geoelectric time series monitored prior two strong earthquakes occurred in Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramírez-Rojas, A.; Flores-Marquez, L. E.

2009-12-01

The short-time prediction of seismic phenomena is currently an important problem in the scientific community. In particular, the electromagnetic processes associated with seismic events take in great interest since the VAN method was implemented. The most important features of this methodology are the seismic electrical signals (SES) observed prior to strong earthquakes. SES has been observed in the electromagnetic series linked to EQs in Greece, Japan and Mexico. By mean of the so-called natural time domain, introduced by Varotsos et al. (2001), they could characterize signals of dichotomic nature observed in different systems, like SES and ionic current fluctuations in membrane channels. In this work we analyze SES observed in geoelectric time series monitored in Guerrero, México. Our analysis concern with two strong earthquakes occurred, on October 24, 1993 (M=6.6) and September 14, 1995 (M=7.3). The time series of the first one displayed a seismic electric signal six days before the main shock and for the second case the time series displayed dichotomous-like fluctuations some months before the EQ. In this work we present the first results of the analysis in natural time domain for the two cases which seems to be agreeing with the results reported by Varotsos. P. Varotsos, N. Sarlis, and E. Skordas, Practica of the Athens Academy 76, 388 (2001).

Series resonant converter with auxiliary winding turns: analysis, design and implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Bor-Ren

2018-05-01

Conventional series resonant converters have researched and applied for high-efficiency power units due to the benefit of its low switching losses. The main problems of series resonant converters are wide frequency variation and high circulating current. Thus, resonant converter is limited at narrow input voltage range and large input capacitor is normally adopted in commercial power units to provide the minimum hold-up time requirement when AC power is off. To overcome these problems, the resonant converter with auxiliary secondary windings are presented in this paper to achieve high voltage gain at low input voltage case such as hold-up time duration when utility power is off. Since the high voltage gain is used at low input voltage cased, the frequency variation of the proposed converter compared to the conventional resonant converter is reduced. Compared to conventional resonant converter, the hold-up time in the proposed converter is more than 40ms. The larger magnetising inductance of transformer is used to reduce the circulating current losses. Finally, a laboratory prototype is constructed and experiments are provided to verify the converter performance.

dc properties of series-parallel arrays of Josephson junctions in an external magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lewandowski, S.J.

1991-04-01

A detailed dc theory of superconducting multijunction interferometers has previously been developed by several authors for the case of parallel junction arrays. The theory is now extended to cover the case of a loop containing several junctions connected in series. The problem is closely associated with high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} superconductors and their clusters of intrinsic Josephson junctions. These materials exhibit spontaneous interferometric effects, and there is no reason to assume that the intrinsic junctions form only parallel arrays. A simple formalism of phase states is developed in order to express the superconducting phase differences across the junctions forming amore » series array as functions of the phase difference across the weakest junction of the system, and to relate the differences in critical currents of the junctions to gaps in the allowed ranges of their phase functions. This formalism is used to investigate the energy states of the array, which in the case of different junctions are split and separated by energy barriers of height depending on the phase gaps. Modifications of the washboard model of a single junction are shown. Next a superconducting inductive loop containing a series array of two junctions is considered, and this model is used to demonstrate the transitions between phase states and the associated instabilities. Finally, the critical current of a parallel connection of two series arrays is analyzed and shown to be a multivalued function of the externally applied magnetic flux. The instabilities caused by the presence of intrinsic serial junctions in granular high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} materials are pointed out as a potential source of additional noise.« less

Tuberculosis Case Finding in Benin, 2000–2014 and Beyond: A Retrospective Cohort and Time Series Study

PubMed Central

Ade, Serge; Békou, Wilfried; Adjobimey, Mênonli; Adjibode, Omer; Ade, Gabriel; Harries, Anthony D.; Anagonou, Séverin

2016-01-01

Objective. To determine any changes in tuberculosis epidemiology in the last 15 years in Benin, seasonal variations, and forecasted numbers of tuberculosis cases in the next five years. Materials and Methods. Retrospective cohort and time series study of all tuberculosis cases notified between 2000 and 2014. The “R” software version 3.2.1 (Institute for Statistics and Mathematics Vienna Austria) and the Box-Jenkins 1976 modeling approach were used for time series analysis. Results. Of 246943 presumptive cases, 54303 (22%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. Annual notified case numbers increased, with the highest reported in 2011. New pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (NPBCT) represented 78%  ± SD 2%. Retreatment cases decreased from 10% to 6% and new pulmonary clinically diagnosed cases increased from 2% to 8%. NPBCT notification rates decreased in males from 2012, in young people aged 15–34 years and in Borgou-Alibori region. There was a seasonal pattern in tuberculosis cases. Over 90% of NPBCT were HIV-tested with a stable HIV prevalence of 13%. The ARIMA best fit model predicted a decrease in tuberculosis cases finding in the next five years. Conclusion. Tuberculosis case notifications are predicted to decrease in the next five years if current passive case finding is used. Additional strategies are needed in the country. PMID:27293887

Exercise in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Nathan, Indira; Norton, Christine; Czuber-Dochan, Wladyslawa; Forbes, Alastair

2013-01-01

There is increasing evidence that exercise may improve symptoms in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to explore issues that clinicians may need to consider when giving advice on exercise to such individuals. Limited existing evidence suggests that low to moderate physical activity may improve symptoms without any adverse effects in individuals with IBD. This is largely supported by the findings of the current case series of "exercising" individuals with IBD who reported that low- to moderate-intensity exercise (most commonly walking) had a positive effect on their mood, fatigue, weight maintenance, and osteoporosis. Overexertion was reported as a potential problem. Scant advice regarding exercise had been given by their healthcare professionals according to participants. The current literature and findings of this small case series suggest that exercise is likely to be beneficial and safe for individuals with IBD. However, more research is required on which recommendations for exercise could be based.

Vertebral artery dissection in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a case series and literature review.

PubMed

Shanmugalingam, Renuka; Reza Pour, Nina; Chuah, Siang Chye; Vo, Thi Mong; Beran, Roy; Hennessy, Annemarie; Makris, Angela

2016-07-16

Arterial dissection is a rare complication of pregnancy and puerperium. There have been reports of aortic, coronary and cervical artery dissection in association with preeclampsia, however, vertebral artery dissection is rarely reported particularly in the antenatal setting in the presence of a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy (HDP).The general annual incidence of symptomatic spontaneous cervicocephalic arterial dissection is 0.0026 % and a data registry reported that 2.4 % of these occurred in the post-partum period. The actual incidence of vertebral artery dissection in HDP is unknown as the current literature consists of case series and reports only with most documenting adverse outcomes. Given the presence of collateral circulation, unilateral vertebral artery dissections may go unrecognised and may be more common than suspected. We present a case series of four patients with vertebral artery dissection in association with HDP, two of which occurred in the antenatal setting and two in the post-partum setting. All our patients had favourable outcome with no maternal neurological deficit and live infants. Our discussion covers the proposed pathophysiology of vertebral artery dissection in HDP and the management of it. Our case series highlights the need to consider VAD an important differential diagnosis when assessing pregnant women with headache and neck pain particularly in the context of HDP.

DRG Spinal Cord Stimulation as Solution for Patients With Severe Pain Due to Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome: A Case Series.

PubMed

Mol, Frédérique Mathilde Ulrike; Roumen, Rudi M H

2018-04-01

Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES) is a debilitating neuropathic pain condition. A small portion of patients do not respond to any currently available treatment modalities. These patients, often young women, might benefit from targeted spinal cord stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). This retrospective case series describes five ACNES patients who were referred from a Dutch dedicated tertiary referral center to collaborating sites with extensive experience in DRG stimulation to be implanted with a DRG Axium System (St. Jude/Abbott, IL, USA) in the period of 2013-2016. Numeric pain rating scores at routine 6- and 12-month follow-up visits were analyzed. Three patients experienced >50% pain reduction at 12 months follow-up. Four patients experienced device-related complications, such as lead dislocation, lead breakage, pain at the battery site, and overstimulation. This case series suggests DRG spinal cord stimulation can be safe and effective for some patients with persistent pain due to ACNES. © 2017 International Neuromodulation Society.

True random bit generators based on current time series of contact glow discharge electrolysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rojas, Andrea Espinel; Allagui, Anis; Elwakil, Ahmed S.; Alawadhi, Hussain

2018-05-01

Random bit generators (RBGs) in today's digital information and communication systems employ a high rate physical entropy sources such as electronic, photonic, or thermal time series signals. However, the proper functioning of such physical systems is bound by specific constrains that make them in some cases weak and susceptible to external attacks. In this study, we show that the electrical current time series of contact glow discharge electrolysis, which is a dc voltage-powered micro-plasma in liquids, can be used for generating random bit sequences in a wide range of high dc voltages. The current signal is quantized into a binary stream by first using a simple moving average function which makes the distribution centered around zero, and then applying logical operations which enables the binarized data to pass all tests in industry-standard randomness test suite by the National Institute of Standard Technology. Furthermore, the robustness of this RBG against power supply attacks has been examined and verified.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aldridge, David F.; Bartel, Lewis C.

Program LETS calculates the electric current distribution (in space and time) along an electrically energized steel-cased geologic borehole situated within the subsurface earth. The borehole is modeled as an electrical transmission line that “leaks” current into the surrounding geology. Parameters pertinent to the transmission line current calculation (i.e., series resistance and inductance, shunt capacitance and conductance) are obtained by sampling the electromagnetic (EM) properties of a three-dimensional (3D) geologic earth model along a (possibly deviated) well track.

Model for the respiratory modulation of the heart beat-to-beat time interval series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capurro, Alberto; Diambra, Luis; Malta, C. P.

2005-09-01

In this study we present a model for the respiratory modulation of the heart beat-to-beat interval series. The model consists of a set of differential equations used to simulate the membrane potential of a single rabbit sinoatrial node cell, excited with a periodic input signal with added correlated noise. This signal, which simulates the input from the autonomous nervous system to the sinoatrial node, was included in the pacemaker equations as a modulation of the iNaK current pump and the potassium current iK. We focus at modeling the heart beat-to-beat time interval series from normal subjects during meditation of the Kundalini Yoga and Chi techniques. The analysis of the experimental data indicates that while the embedding of pre-meditation and control cases have a roughly circular shape, it acquires a polygonal shape during meditation, triangular for the Kundalini Yoga data and quadrangular in the case of Chi data. The model was used to assess the waveshape of the respiratory signals needed to reproduce the trajectory of the experimental data in the phase space. The embedding of the Chi data could be reproduced using a periodic signal obtained by smoothing a square wave. In the case of Kundalini Yoga data, the embedding was reproduced with a periodic signal obtained by smoothing a triangular wave having a rising branch of longer duration than the decreasing branch. Our study provides an estimation of the respiratory signal using only the heart beat-to-beat time interval series.

Time series smoother for effect detection.

PubMed

You, Cheng; Lin, Dennis K J; Young, S Stanley

2018-01-01

In environmental epidemiology, it is often encountered that multiple time series data with a long-term trend, including seasonality, cannot be fully adjusted by the observed covariates. The long-term trend is difficult to separate from abnormal short-term signals of interest. This paper addresses how to estimate the long-term trend in order to recover short-term signals. Our case study demonstrates that the current spline smoothing methods can result in significant positive and negative cross-correlations from the same dataset, depending on how the smoothing parameters are chosen. To circumvent this dilemma, three classes of time series smoothers are proposed to detrend time series data. These smoothers do not require fine tuning of parameters and can be applied to recover short-term signals. The properties of these smoothers are shown with both a case study using a factorial design and a simulation study using datasets generated from the original dataset. General guidelines are provided on how to discover short-term signals from time series with a long-term trend. The benefit of this research is that a problem is identified and characteristics of possible solutions are determined.

Time series smoother for effect detection

PubMed Central

Lin, Dennis K. J.; Young, S. Stanley

2018-01-01

In environmental epidemiology, it is often encountered that multiple time series data with a long-term trend, including seasonality, cannot be fully adjusted by the observed covariates. The long-term trend is difficult to separate from abnormal short-term signals of interest. This paper addresses how to estimate the long-term trend in order to recover short-term signals. Our case study demonstrates that the current spline smoothing methods can result in significant positive and negative cross-correlations from the same dataset, depending on how the smoothing parameters are chosen. To circumvent this dilemma, three classes of time series smoothers are proposed to detrend time series data. These smoothers do not require fine tuning of parameters and can be applied to recover short-term signals. The properties of these smoothers are shown with both a case study using a factorial design and a simulation study using datasets generated from the original dataset. General guidelines are provided on how to discover short-term signals from time series with a long-term trend. The benefit of this research is that a problem is identified and characteristics of possible solutions are determined. PMID:29684033

Comprehensive innovative solution for resident education using the Intranet Journal of Chest Radiology.

PubMed

Nishino, Mizuki; Wolfe, Donna; Yam, Chun-Shan; Larson, Michael; Boiselle, Phillip M; Hatabu, Hiroto

2004-10-01

Because of the rapid increase in clinical workload in academic radiology departments, time for teaching rotating residents is getting more and more limited. As a solution to this problem, we introduced the Intranet Journal of Chest Radiology as a comprehensive innovative tool for assisting resident education. The Intranet Journal of Chest Radiology is constructed using Microsoft FrontPage version 2002 (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA) and is hosted in our departmental web server (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA). The home page of the intranet journal provides access to the main features, "Cases of the Month," "Teaching File," "Selected Articles for Residents," "Lecture Series," and "Current Publications." These features provide quick access to the selected radiology articles, the interesting chest cases, and the lecture series and current publication from the chest section. Our intranet journal has been well utilized for 6 months after its introduction. It enhances residents' interest and motivation to work on case collections, to search and read articles, and to generate interest in research. Frequent updating is necessary for the journal to be kept current, relevant, and well-utilized. The intranet journal serves as a comprehensive innovative solution for resident education, providing basic educational resources and opportunities of interactive participation by residents.

Does surgical sympathectomy improve clinical outcomes in patients with refractory angina pectoris?

PubMed

Holland, Luke C; Navaratnarajah, Manoraj; Taggart, David P

2016-04-01

A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: In patients with angina pectoris refractory to medical therapy, does surgical sympathectomy improve clinical outcomes? A total of 528 papers were identified using the search protocol described, of which 6 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. There were 5 case series and 1 prospective cohort study. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. All 5 of the case series demonstrated an improvement in symptoms, exercise tolerance or quality of life in patients undergoing surgical sympathectomy. An early case series investigating an open approach had a high morbidity and mortality rate, but the 4 other series used a minimally invasive technique and had low morbidity and zero perioperative mortality rates. The cohort study compared surgical sympathectomy with transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) and concluded TMR to be superior. However, this study looked only at unilateral sympathectomy, whereas all 5 case series focused on bilateral surgery. We conclude that the best currently available evidence does suggest that patients report an improvement in their symptoms and quality of life following surgical sympathectomy, but the low level of this evidence does not allow for a statistically proved recommendation. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Hepatitis E in Singapore: A Case-Series and Viral Phylodynamics Study.

PubMed

Teo, Esmeralda Chi-Yuan; Tan, Boon-Huan; Purdy, Michael A; Wong, Pui-San; Ting, Pei-Jun; Chang, Pik-Eu Jason; Oon, Lynette Lin-Ean; Sue, Amanda; Teo, Chong-Gee; Tan, Chee-Kiat

2017-04-01

AbstractThe incidence of hepatitis E in Singapore appears to be increasing. A retrospective case-series study of patients diagnosed with hepatitis E in a tertiary hospital from 2009 to 2013 was conducted. Of 16 cases, eight (50%) were solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), and 14 (88%) were found infected by genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV-3). Bayesian inferences based on HEV subgenomic sequences from seven cases suggest that HEV-3 strains were introduced to Singapore as two principal lineages. Within limitations of the study, it can be inferred that one lineage, in the 3efg clade, emerged about 83 years ago, probably originating from Japan, whereas the other, in the 3abchij clade, emerged about 40 years ago, from the United States. Establishment and subsequent transmissions of strains from these two lineages likely contribute to the current endemicity of hepatitis E in Singapore.

Harvard University: Green Loan Fund. Green Revolving Funds in Action: Case Study Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foley, Robert

2011-01-01

The Green Loan Fund at Harvard University has been an active source of capital for energy efficiency and waste reduction projects for almost a decade. This case study examines the revolving fund's history from its inception as a pilot project in the 1990s to its regeneration in the early 2000s to its current operations today. The green revolving…

Risk of Deep vein thrombosis in neurosurgery: State of the art on prophylaxis protocols and best clinical practices.

PubMed

Ganau, Mario; Prisco, Lara; Cebula, Helene; Todeschi, Julien; Abid, Houssem; Ligarotti, Gianfranco; Pop, Raoul; Proust, Francois; Chibbaro, Salvatore

2017-11-01

To analytically discuss some protocols in Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary Embolism (PE) prophylaxis currently use in Neurosurgical Departments around the world. Analysis of the prophylaxis protocols in the English literature: An analytical and narrative review of literature concerning DVT prophylaxis protocols in Neurosurgery have been conducted by a PubMed search (back to 1978). 80 abstracts were reviewed, and 74 articles were extracted. The majority of DVT seems to develop within the first week after a neurosurgical procedure, and a linear correlation between the duration of surgery and DVT occurrence has been highlighted. The incidence of DVT seems greater for cranial (7.7%) than spinal procedures (1.5%). Although intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices provided adequate reduction of DVT/PE in some cranial and combined cranial/spinal series, low-dose subcutaneous unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) further reduced the incidence, not always of DVT, but of PE. Nevertheless, low-dose heparin-based prophylaxis in cranial and spinal series risks minor and major postoperative haemorrhages: 2-4% in cranial series, 3.4% minor and 3.4% major haemorrhages in combined cranial/spinal series, and a 0.7% incidence of major/minor haemorrhages in spinal series. This analysis showed that currently most of the articles are represented by case series and case reports. As long as clear guidelines will not be defined and universally applied to this diverse group of patients, any prophylaxis for DVT and PE should be tailored to the individual patient with cautious assessment of benefits versus risks. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Management of uncommon disorders in pregnancy: Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Gitelman syndrome, and Nutcracker syndrome.

PubMed

Merhi, Basma; Miller, Margaret; Lanis, Aviya; Katz, Brittany; Hsu, Tiffany; Tong, Iris

2017-09-01

Uncommon renal disorders in pregnancy can be challenging to manage given limited evidence in the literature to guide management. We present a series of three uncommon renal disorders in pregnancy: Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Gitelman syndrome, and Nutcracker syndrome. Previously published case reports with differing outcomes offer some guidance to the management of these disorders in pregnancy. In this case series, we address the management of these syndromes during pregnancy and discuss the maternal and fetal outcomes. All three of our patients had good maternal and fetal outcomes, which will contribute to current data on maternal and fetal outcomes in these rare diseases, which is limited.

Energy breakdown in capacitive deionization.

PubMed

Hemmatifar, Ali; Palko, James W; Stadermann, Michael; Santiago, Juan G

2016-11-01

We explored the energy loss mechanisms in capacitive deionization (CDI). We hypothesize that resistive and parasitic losses are two main sources of energy losses. We measured contribution from each loss mechanism in water desalination with constant current (CC) charge/discharge cycling. Resistive energy loss is expected to dominate in high current charging cases, as it increases approximately linearly with current for fixed charge transfer (resistive power loss scales as square of current and charging time scales as inverse of current). On the other hand, parasitic loss is dominant in low current cases, as the electrodes spend more time at higher voltages. We built a CDI cell with five electrode pairs and standard flow between architecture. We performed a series of experiments with various cycling currents and cut-off voltages (voltage at which current is reversed) and studied these energy losses. To this end, we measured series resistance of the cell (contact resistances, resistance of wires, and resistance of solution in spacers) during charging and discharging from voltage response of a small amplitude AC current signal added to the underlying cycling current. We performed a separate set of experiments to quantify parasitic (or leakage) current of the cell versus cell voltage. We then used these data to estimate parasitic losses under the assumption that leakage current is primarily voltage (and not current) dependent. Our results confirmed that resistive and parasitic losses respectively dominate in the limit of high and low currents. We also measured salt adsorption and report energy-normalized adsorbed salt (ENAS, energy loss per ion removed) and average salt adsorption rate (ASAR). We show a clear tradeoff between ASAR and ENAS and show that balancing these losses leads to optimal energy efficiency. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Energy breakdown in capacitive deionization

DOE PAGES

Hemmatifar, Ali; Palko, James W.; Stadermann, Michael; ...

2016-08-12

We explored the energy loss mechanisms in capacitive deionization (CDI). We hypothesize that resistive and parasitic losses are two main sources of energy losses. We measured contribution from each loss mechanism in water desalination with constant current (CC) charge/discharge cycling. Resistive energy loss is expected to dominate in high current charging cases, as it increases approximately linearly with current for fixed charge transfer (resistive power loss scales as square of current and charging time scales as inverse of current). On the other hand, parasitic loss is dominant in low current cases, as the electrodes spend more time at higher voltages.more » We built a CDI cell with five electrode pairs and standard flow between architecture. We performed a series of experiments with various cycling currents and cut-off voltages (voltage at which current is reversed) and studied these energy losses. To this end, we measured series resistance of the cell (contact resistances, resistance of wires, and resistance of solution in spacers) during charging and discharging from voltage response of a small amplitude AC current signal added to the underlying cycling current. We performed a separate set of experiments to quantify parasitic (or leakage) current of the cell versus cell voltage. We then used these data to estimate parasitic losses under the assumption that leakage current is primarily voltage (and not current) dependent. Our results confirmed that resistive and parasitic losses respectively dominate in the limit of high and low currents. We also measured salt adsorption and report energy-normalized adsorbed salt (ENAS, energy loss per ion removed) and average salt adsorption rate (ASAR). As a result, we show a clear tradeoff between ASAR and ENAS and show that balancing these losses leads to optimal energy efficiency.« less

The Case for Focusing on Millennial Retention.

PubMed

Koppel, Jenna; Deline, Marisa; Virkstis, Katherine

A concern for nurse leaders is rapid turnover of engaged, early-tenure millennial nurses. In this 1st article in a 2-part series, the authors describe why leaders should supplement their organization's current investments in engagement with retention strategies targeted at millennial nurses.

EEG-NIRS based assessment of neurovascular coupling during anodal transcranial direct current stimulation--a stroke case series.

PubMed

Dutta, Anirban; Jacob, Athira; Chowdhury, Shubhajit Roy; Das, Abhijit; Nitsche, Michael A

2015-04-01

A method for electroencephalography (EEG) - near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based assessment of neurovascular coupling (NVC) during anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal tDCS modulates cortical neural activity leading to a hemodynamic response, which was used to identify impaired NVC functionality. In this study, the hemodynamic response was estimated with NIRS. NIRS recorded changes in oxy-hemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxy-hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations during anodal tDCS-induced activation of the cortical region located under the electrode and in-between the light sources and detectors. Anodal tDCS-induced alterations in the underlying neuronal current generators were also captured with EEG. Then, a method for the assessment of NVC underlying the site of anodal tDCS was proposed that leverages the Hilbert-Huang Transform. The case series including four chronic (>6 months) ischemic stroke survivors (3 males, 1 female from age 31 to 76) showed non-stationary effects of anodal tDCS on EEG that correlated with the HbO2 response. Here, the initial dip in HbO2 at the beginning of anodal tDCS corresponded with an increase in the log-transformed mean-power of EEG within 0.5Hz-11.25Hz frequency band. The cross-correlation coefficient changed signs but was comparable across subjects during and after anodal tDCS. The log-transformed mean-power of EEG lagged HbO2 response during tDCS but then led post-tDCS. This case series demonstrated changes in the degree of neurovascular coupling to a 0.526 A/m(2) square-pulse (0-30 s) of anodal tDCS. The initial dip in HbO2 needs to be carefully investigated in a larger cohort, for example in patients with small vessel disease.

Endocrine and metabolic consequences due to restrictive carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes: An illustrative case series.

PubMed

de Bock, Martin; Lobley, Kristine; Anderson, Donald; Davis, Elizabeth; Donaghue, Kim; Pappas, Marcelle; Siafarikas, Aris; Cho, Yoon Hi; Jones, Timothy; Smart, Carmel

2018-02-01

Low carbohydrate diets for the management of type 1 diabetes have been popularised by social media. The promotion of a low carbohydrate diet in lay media is in contrast to published pediatric diabetes guidelines that endorse a balanced diet from a variety of foods for optimal growth and development in children with type 1 diabetes. This can be a source of conflict in clinical practice. We describe a series of 6 cases where adoption of a low carbohydrate diet in children impacted growth and cardiovascular risk factors with potential long-term sequelae. These cases support current clinical guidelines for children with diabetes that promote a diet where total energy intake is derived from balanced macronutrient sources. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Multidisciplinary management of Paget-Schroetter syndrome. A case series of eight patients.

PubMed

Rosa Salazar, Vladimir; Otálora Valderrama, Sonia Del Pilar; Hernández Contreras, María Encarnación; García Pérez, Bartolomé; Arroyo Tristán, Andrés Del Amor; García Méndez, María Del Mar

2015-08-01

Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) in the context of upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is an uncommon but potentially very serious condition affecting young, healthy adults, in which secondary post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) can be a complication with major implications. The best treatment option remains controversial, with current guidelines recommending anticoagulation for at least 3 months. However, an incidence of PTS of approximately 50% after 6 months, 30% after 1 year and 25% after 2 years has been found using this therapeutic approach. Consequently, specialized units recommend local thrombolysis and early decompressive surgery. We describe a series of eight cases treated in this way. None of the patients showed signs of complications, and an early return to regular activities with no PTS was observed in 90% of cases. Copyright © 2014 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

IMPLEMENTING NONPROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN HUMAN SERVICES. MANPOWER TRAINING SERIES.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

SCHMAIS, AARON

SPECIFIC PROCESSES FOR UTILIZING NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES IN HUMAN SERVICES ARE PRESENTED. THE BACKGROUND, CURRENT STATUS, AND PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED. THE ELEMENTS CONSIDERED ARE RECRUITMENT, SCREENING AND SELECTION, TRAINING, PLACEMENT, SUPERVISION, UPGRADING, AND EVALUATION. EXAMPLES OF NONPROFESSIONAL POSITIONS INCLUDE THE CASE AIDE IN SOCIAL…

ASSESSING MULTIMEDIA/MULTIPATHWAY EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC USING A MECHANISTIC SOURCE-TO-DOSE MODELING FRAMEWORK

EPA Science Inventory

A series of case studies is presented focusing on multimedia/multipathway population exposures to arsenic, employing the Population Based Modeling approach of the MENTOR (Modeling Environment for Total Risks) framework. This framework considers currently five exposure routes: i...

Progress Report on the Airborne Metadata and Time Series Working Groups of the 2016 ESDSWG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, K. D.; Northup, E. A.; Chen, G.; Conover, H.; Ames, D. P.; Teng, W. L.; Olding, S. W.; Krotkov, N. A.

2016-12-01

NASA's Earth Science Data Systems Working Groups (ESDSWG) was created over 10 years ago. The role of the ESDSWG is to make recommendations relevant to NASA's Earth science data systems from users' experiences. Each group works independently focusing on a unique topic. Participation in ESDSWG groups comes from a variety of NASA-funded science and technology projects, including MEaSUREs and ROSS. Participants include NASA information technology experts, affiliated contractor staff and other interested community members from academia and industry. Recommendations from the ESDSWG groups will enhance NASA's efforts to develop long term data products. The Airborne Metadata Working Group is evaluating the suitability of the current Common Metadata Repository (CMR) and Unified Metadata Model (UMM) for airborne data sets and to develop new recommendations as necessary. The overarching goal is to enhance the usability, interoperability, discovery and distribution of airborne observational data sets. This will be done by assessing the suitability (gaps) of the current UMM model for airborne data using lessons learned from current and past field campaigns, listening to user needs and community recommendations and assessing the suitability of ISO metadata and other standards to fill the gaps. The Time Series Working Group (TSWG) is a continuation of the 2015 Time Series/WaterML2 Working Group. The TSWG is using a case study-driven approach to test the new Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) TimeseriesML standard to determine any deficiencies with respect to its ability to fully describe and encode NASA earth observation-derived time series data. To do this, the time series working group is engaging with the OGC TimeseriesML Standards Working Group (SWG) regarding unsatisfied needs and possible solutions. The effort will end with the drafting of an OGC Engineering Report based on the use cases and interactions with the OGC TimeseriesML SWG. Progress towards finalizing recommendations will be presented at the meeting.

Investigation of Severe Craniomaxillofacial Battle Injuries Sustained by U.S. Service Members: A Case Series

PubMed Central

Brown Baer, Pamela R.; Wenke, Joseph C.; Thomas, Steven J.; Hale, Colonel Robert G.

2012-01-01

This case series describes craniomaxillofacial battle injuries, currently available surgical techniques, and the compromised outcomes of four service members who sustained severe craniomaxillofacial battle injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Demographic information, diagnostic evaluation, surgical procedures, and outcomes were collected and detailed with a follow-up of over 2 years. Reconstructive efforts with advanced, multidisciplinary, and multiple revision procedures were indicated; the full scope of conventional surgical options and resources were utilized. Patients experienced surgical complications, including postoperative wound dehiscence, infection, flap failure, inadequate mandibular healing, and failure of fixation. These complications required multiple revisions and salvage interventions. In addition, facial burns complicated reconstructive efforts by delaying treatment, decreasing surgical options, and increasing procedural numbers. All patients, despite multiple surgeries, continue to have functional and aesthetic deficits as a result of their injuries. Currently, no conventional treatments are available to satisfactorily reconstruct the face severely ravaged by explosive devices to an acceptable level, much less to natural form and function. PMID:24294409

The Social and Economic Status of the Black Population in the United States 1974. Current Population Reports, Special Studies, Series P-23, No. 54.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKenney, Nampeo D.R.; And Others

This population report presents current census and other governmental and private agency statistics on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the black population in the United States for 1974. Recent trends dating from 1970 to 1974 (and in the case of income and labor force, including early 1975 figures) are examined for…

Acute kidney injury as the presenting manifestation of sarcoidosis: A case series and review of literature.

PubMed

Rajkumar, Theepika; Lea-Henry, Tom; Chacko, Bobby

2018-06-01

Acute kidney injury is rarely the presenting feature of sarcoidosis. We present a case series of patients whose diagnosis of sarcoidosis was only brought to light by the development of renal impairment. Concurrent hypercalcaemia was noted, prompting further investigation. The patients discussed experienced a significant and rapid improvement in both renal function and hypercalcaemia in response to therapy with prednisolone. This is out of keeping with previous reports of sarcoidosis-induced renal impairment. Our case series highlights the importance of testing for hypercalcaemia in the context of acute kidney injury. Sarcoidosis is primarily a disease of the lungs and reticuloendothelial system; however, the prevalence of renal involvement with sarcoidosis may be under-recognized. The renal manifestations of sarcoidosis are discussed in the context of the current literature. Furthermore, from our experience, we postulate that in the context of sarcoidosis-induced renal injury, concurrent hypercalcaemia may present prior to the development of chronic renal injury and therefore these patients may be more likely to recover renal function. © 2017 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.

Outcomes for patients with congenital hepatoblastoma.

PubMed

Trobaugh-Lotrario, Angela D; Chaiyachati, Barbara H; Meyers, Rebecka L; Häberle, Beate; Tomlinson, Gail E; Katzenstein, Howard M; Malogolowkin, Marcio H; von Schweinitz, Dietrich; Krailo, Mark; Feusner, James H

2013-11-01

Congenital hepatoblastoma, diagnosed in the first month of life, has been reported to have a poor prognosis; however, a comprehensive evaluation of this entity is lacking. We retrospectively reviewed two patients from the senior authors' personal series and 25 cases identified in the databases of several multicenter group studies (INT-0098, P9645, 881, P9346, HB 89, HB94, and HB 99). We compared this series with cases of congenital hepatoblastoma previously published in the literature. The 3-year survival in our case series was 86% (18/21) with a follow-up of 44-230 months (median 85.5 months). Presentation and treatment were not substantially different from hepatoblastoma cohorts unselected for age. Survival was comparable to the reported disease free survival for a similar cohort of hepatoblastoma patients unselected for age between 1986 and 2002 (82.5%) [von Schweinitz et al., Eur J Cancer 1997; 33:1243-1249]. The 2-year survival of cases reported in the literature was 0% (0/9) and 42% (10/24) for patients reported before and after 1990, respectively. Congenital hepatoblastoma does not appear to confer a worse prognosis. The improved survival of our current series of patients, collected from the past 20 years of German and American multicenter trials and personal series, suggests that the outcome of hepatoblastoma at this young age is much better than has been historically reported. More rigorous analysis should be conducted in future multicenter trials. It is possible that congenital hepatoblastoma should be treated like all other patients with hepatoblastoma provided that the child is stable enough to proceed with surgery and chemotherapy. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Permutation entropy of finite-length white-noise time series.

PubMed

Little, Douglas J; Kane, Deb M

2016-08-01

Permutation entropy (PE) is commonly used to discriminate complex structure from white noise in a time series. While the PE of white noise is well understood in the long time-series limit, analysis in the general case is currently lacking. Here the expectation value and variance of white-noise PE are derived as functions of the number of ordinal pattern trials, N, and the embedding dimension, D. It is demonstrated that the probability distribution of the white-noise PE converges to a χ^{2} distribution with D!-1 degrees of freedom as N becomes large. It is further demonstrated that the PE variance for an arbitrary time series can be estimated as the variance of a related metric, the Kullback-Leibler entropy (KLE), allowing the qualitative N≫D! condition to be recast as a quantitative estimate of the N required to achieve a desired PE calculation precision. Application of this theory to statistical inference is demonstrated in the case of an experimentally obtained noise series, where the probability of obtaining the observed PE value was calculated assuming a white-noise time series. Standard statistical inference can be used to draw conclusions whether the white-noise null hypothesis can be accepted or rejected. This methodology can be applied to other null hypotheses, such as discriminating whether two time series are generated from different complex system states.

Evaluating the Feasibility of RESCUE: An Adjunctive HAI-Based Intervention for Veterans with PTSD

DTIC Science & Technology

This report documents accomplishment of the following tasks: a) Completed case series, conducted qualitative interviews, and refined the protocol...Continued active recruitment of participants; currently on track with our projected recruitment targets. As of April 2018, 76 participants have been

Energy conservation indicators. 1982 annual report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belzer, D.B.

A series of Energy Conservation Indicators were developed for the Department of Energy to assist in the evaluation of current and proposed conservation strategies. As descriptive statistics that signify current conditions and trends related to efficiency of energy use, indicators provide a way of measuring, monitoring, or inferring actual responses by consumers in markets for energy services. Related sets of indicators are presented in some 40 one-page indicator summaries. Indicators are shown graphically, followed by several paragraphs that explain their derivation and highlight key findings. Indicators are classified according to broad end-use sectors: Aggregate (economy), Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Transportation andmore » Electric Utilities. In most cases annual time series information is presented covering the period 1960 through 1981.« less

Effects due to induced azimuthal eddy currents in a self-exciting Faraday disk homopolar dynamo with a nonlinear series motor. I.. Two special cases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hide, Raymond; Moroz, Irene M.

1999-10-01

The elucidation of the behaviour of physically realistic self-exciting Faraday-disk dynamos bears inter alia on attempts by theoretical geophysicists to interpret observations of geomagnetic polarity reversals. Hide [The nonlinear differential equations governing a hierarchy of self-exciting coupled Faraday-disk homopolar dynamos, Phys. Earth Planet. Interiors 103 (1997) 281-291; Nonlinear quenching of current fluctuations in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo, Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics 4 (1998) 201-205] has introduced a novel 4-mode set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations to describe such a dynamo in which a nonlinear electric motor is connected in series with the coil. The applied couple, α, driving the disk is steady and the Lorentz couple driving the motor is a quadratic function, x(1-ɛ)+ɛσx 2, of the dynamo-generated current x, with 0≤ɛ≤1. When there are no additional biasing effects due to background magnetic fields etc., the behaviour of the dynamo is determined by eight independent non-negative control parameters. These include ρ, proportional to the resistance of the disk to azimuthal eddy currents, and β, an inverse measure of the moment of inertia of the armature of the motor. When β=0 (the case when the motor is absent and ɛ and σ are redundant) and ρ -1≠0 , the 4-mode dynamo equations reduce to the 3-mode Lorenz equations, which can behave chaotically [E. Knobloch, Chaos in the segmented disc dynamo, Phys. Lett. A 82 (1981) 439-440]. When β≠0 but ρ -1=0 , the 4-mode set of equations reduces to a 3-mode dynamo [R. Hide (1997), see above], which can also behave chaotically when ɛ=0 [R. Hide, A.C. Skeldon, D.J. Acheson, A study of two novel self-exciting single-disk homopolar dynamos: theory, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 452 (1996) 1369-1395] but not when ɛ=1 [R. Hide (1998), see above]. In the latter case, however, all persistent fluctuations are completely quenched [R. Hide (1998), see above]. In this paper we investigate two limiting cases of ɛ=0 and ɛ=1 in the 4-mode dynamo when azimuthal eddy currents are allowed to flow i.e. cases when ρ -1=0 ; in a companion paper [I.M. Moroz, R. Hide, Effects due to induced azimuthal eddy currents in the Faraday disk self-exciting homopolar dynamo with a nonlinear series motor: II The general case, 1999, submitted] we extend the present analysis to the general case of 0≤ɛ≤1. When ɛ=0, chaotic behaviour occurs even more extensively in parameter space in the presence of azimuthal eddy currents than in their absence. When ɛ=1, the quenching of chaotic and all other non-steady dynamo action is no longer complete, for aperiodic solutions are found within limited regions of parameter space where β is very small and α is very large.

AMTEC vapor-vapor series connected cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Underwood, Mark L. (Inventor); Williams, Roger M. (Inventor); Ryan, Margaret A. (Inventor); Nakamura, Barbara J. (Inventor); Oconnor, Dennis E. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

An alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) having a plurality of cells structurally connected in series to form a septum dividing a plenum into two chambers, and electrically connected in series, is provided with porous metal anodes and porous metal cathodes in the cells. The cells may be planar or annular, and in either case a metal alkali vapor at a high temperature is provided to the plenum through one chamber on one side of the wall and returned to a vapor boiler after condensation at a chamber on the other side of the wall in the plenum. If the cells are annular, a heating core may be placed along the axis of the stacked cells. This arrangement of series-connected cells allows efficient generation of power at high voltage and low current.

Toward assessing the diagnostic influence of dose reduction in pediatric CT: a study based on simulated lung nodules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiang; Samei, Ehsan; DeLong, David M.; Jones, Robert P.; Colsher, James G.; Frush, Donald P.

2008-03-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of reduced tube current, as a surrogate for radiation dose, on lung nodule detection in pediatric chest multi-detector CT (MDCT). Normal chest MDCT images of 13 patients aged 1 to 7 years old were used as templates for this study. The original tube currents were between 70 mA and 180 mA. Using proprietary noise addition software, noise was added to the images to create 13 cases at the lowest common mA (i.e. 70 mA), 13 cases at 35 mA (50% reduction), and 13 cases at 17.5 mA (75% reduction). Three copies of each case were made for a total of 117 series for simulated nodule insertion. A technique for three-dimensional simulation of small lung nodules was developed, validated through an observer study, and used to add nodules to the series. Care was taken to ensure that each of three lung zones (upper, middle, lower) contained 0 or 1 nodule. The series were randomized and the presence of a nodule in each lung zone was rated independently and blindly by three pediatric radiologists on a continuous scale between 0 (definitely absent) and 100 (definitely present). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the data showed no general significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the reduced mA values and 70 mA, suggesting a potential for dose reduction with preserved diagnostic quality. To our knowledge, this study is the first controlled, systematic, and task-specific assessment of the influence of dose reduction in pediatric chest CT.

Politicising Curriculum Implementation: The Case of Primary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Molapo, Moyahabo Rodgers; Pillay, Venitha

2018-01-01

Since 2012, the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) comprise the new National Curriculum Statement currently implemented in South African schools. CAPS encapsulates a series of radical curriculum changes since the dawn of a new democratic dispensation in 1994. This study aims to understand how Grade Three educators in Limpopo, South…

Teaching Strategy: Using the Civil Law Poster.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Update on Law-Related Education, 1997

1997-01-01

Presents a series of instructional activities to be used in conjunction with a poster that identifies types of cases and processes associated with civil law. Includes procedures for the instructional activities, objectives, a poster, and student handouts using tables and graphs to illustrate current facts about tort law. (MJP)

Forgotten Places: Uneven Development in Rural America. Rural America Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyson, Thomas A., Ed.; Falk, William W., Ed.

This book examines predominantly rural regions of the United States that lag behind the rest of the country in income, employment, access to services, and measures of education and health. Case studies of nine regions examine historical background; current economic and social conditions (including demography, educational attainment, and…

Estimating Slope and Level Change in N = 1 Designs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solanas, Antonio; Manolov, Rumen; Onghena, Patrick

2010-01-01

The current study proposes a new procedure for separately estimating slope change and level change between two adjacent phases in single-case designs. The procedure eliminates baseline trend from the whole data series before assessing treatment effectiveness. The steps necessary to obtain the estimates are presented in detail, explained, and…

Starting characteristics of direct current motors powered by solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singer, S.; Appelbaum, J.

1989-01-01

Direct current motors are used in photovoltaic systems. Important characteristics of electric motors are the starting to rated current and torque ratios. These ratios are dictated by the size of the solar cell array and are different for the various dc motor types. Discussed here is the calculation of the starting to rated current ratio and starting to rated torque ratio of the permanent magnet, and series and shunt excited motors when powered by solar cells for two cases: with and without a maximum-power-point-tracker (MPPT) included in the system. Comparing these two cases, one gets a torque magnification of about 3 for the permanent magnet motor and about 7 for other motor types. The calculation of the torques may assist the PV system designer to determine whether or not to include an MPPT in the system.

So-called massive retinal gliosis: A critical review and reappraisal.

PubMed

Jakobiec, Frederick A; Thanos, Aristomenis; Stagner, Anna M; Grossniklaus, Hans E; Proia, Alan D

2016-01-01

Massive retinal gliosis, a nonneoplastic retinal glial proliferation, was first described in detail over 25 years ago, before the era of immunohistochemistry, in a series of 38 cases-to which can be added 30 case reports or small series (no more than 3 cases) subsequently. We analyze a new series of 3 nontumoral intraretinal glioses and 15 cases of tumoral retinal gliosis, not all of which, strictly speaking, were massive. The data from this series are compared with the findings in previously published cases. Included are 2 cases of massive retinal gliosis diagnosed from evisceration specimens. In reviewing all published and current cases, we were able to establish 3 subgroups of retinal tumoral glioses rather than a single "massive" category: focal nodular gliosis, submassive gliosis, and massive gliosis. Among 43 reported cases, including the present series, but excluding the previous large series of 38 cases in which substantial clinical data were omitted, there were 19 men and 24 women. Their mean and median ages were 36.2 years and 36 years, respectively, with a range of 2 to 79 years. All lesions were composed of mitotically quiet, compact spindled fibrous astrocytes devoid of an Alcian blue-positive myxoid matrix. The most common associated ocular conditions were phthisis bulbi and congenital diseases or malformations. Histopathologically, all 3 tumoral categories were accompanied by progressively more extensive fibrous and osseous metaplasia of the pigment epithelium, the latter forming a clinically and diagnostically useful, almost continuous, outer rim of eggshell calcification in the submassive and massive categories that should be detectable with appropriate imaging studies. In decreasing order of frequency, microcysts and macrocysts, vascular sclerosis, exudates, calcospherites, and Rosenthal fibers were observed among the proliferating fibrous astrocytes. Immunohistochemistry was positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein in all cases and nestin in most (an intermediate cytoplasmic filament typically restricted to embryonic and reparative neural tissue). The nonneoplastic nature of all categories of gliosis was confirmed by absent TP53 (tumor suppressor gene) dysregulation, Ki-67 negativity, and intact p16 expression (the protein product of the p16 tumor suppressor gene) in the overwhelming majority of cases. These findings indicate an intrinsic attempt to regulate and maintain a low level of glial cell proliferation that becomes unsuccessful as the disease evolves. The categories of tumoral proliferation appeared to constitute a spectrum. We conclude that focal nodular tumors encompass lesions previously called retinal vasoproliferative lesions, which display the same histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings as 3 major categories of retinal gliosis characterized herein. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multidimensional stock network analysis: An Escoufier's RV coefficient approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Gan Siew; Djauhari, Maman A.

2013-09-01

The current practice of stocks network analysis is based on the assumption that the time series of closed stock price could represent the behaviour of the each stock. This assumption leads to consider minimal spanning tree (MST) and sub-dominant ultrametric (SDU) as an indispensible tool to filter the economic information contained in the network. Recently, there is an attempt where researchers represent stock not only as a univariate time series of closed price but as a bivariate time series of closed price and volume. In this case, they developed the so-called multidimensional MST to filter the important economic information. However, in this paper, we show that their approach is only applicable for that bivariate time series only. This leads us to introduce a new methodology to construct MST where each stock is represented by a multivariate time series. An example of Malaysian stock exchange will be presented and discussed to illustrate the advantages of the method.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis and management of inguinal lymphogranuloma venereum: important lessons from a case series.

PubMed

Oud, Emerentiana Veronica; de Vrieze, Nynke Hesselina Neeltje; de Meij, Arjan; de Vries, Henry John C

2014-06-01

Current lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) guidelines mainly focus on anorectal infections. Inguinal LGV infections have been rare in the current epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM), but might require a different approach not yet recommended in current guidelines for the treatment and diagnosis of LGV. We describe 4 inguinal LGV cases. Three MSM developed inguinal LGV infection several weeks after a previous consultation, of which two had received azithromycin after being notified for LGV. Three failed the recommended 21 days doxycycline treatment. These inguinal LGV cases highlight 3 pitfalls in the current standard management of LGV: (1) Urethral chlamydia infections in MSM can be caused by LGV biovars that in contrast to non-LGV biovars require prolonged antibiotic therapy. (2) The recommended one gram azithromycin contact treatment seems insufficient to prevent established infections. (3) Inguinal LGV may require prolonged courses of doxycycline, exceeding the currently advised 21 days regimen. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Pattern Recognition Application of Support Vector Machine for Fault Classification of Thyristor Controlled Series Compensated Transmission Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yashvantrai Vyas, Bhargav; Maheshwari, Rudra Prakash; Das, Biswarup

2016-06-01

Application of series compensation in extra high voltage (EHV) transmission line makes the protection job difficult for engineers, due to alteration in system parameters and measurements. The problem amplifies with inclusion of electronically controlled compensation like thyristor controlled series compensation (TCSC) as it produce harmonics and rapid change in system parameters during fault associated with TCSC control. This paper presents a pattern recognition based fault type identification approach with support vector machine. The scheme uses only half cycle post fault data of three phase currents to accomplish the task. The change in current signal features during fault has been considered as discriminatory measure. The developed scheme in this paper is tested over a large set of fault data with variation in system and fault parameters. These fault cases have been generated with PSCAD/EMTDC on a 400 kV, 300 km transmission line model. The developed algorithm has proved better for implementation on TCSC compensated line with its improved accuracy and speed.

Case Series in Cognitive Neuropsychology: Promise, Perils and Proper Perspective

PubMed Central

Rapp, Brenda

2012-01-01

Schwartz & Dell (2010) advocated for a major role for case series investigations in cognitive neuropsychology. They defined the key features of this approach and presented a number of arguments and examples illustrating the benefits of case series studies and their contribution to computational cognitive neuropsychology. In the Special Issue on “Case Series in Cognitive Neuropsychology” there are six commentaries on Schwartz and Dell (2010) as well as a response to the six commentaries by Dell and Schwartz. In this paper, I provide a brief summary of the key points made in Schwartz and Dell (2010) and I review the promise and perils of case series design as revealed by the six commentaries. I conclude by placing the set of papers within a broader perspective, providing some clarification of the historical record on case series and single case approaches, raising some cautionary notes for case series studies and situating both case series and single case approaches within the larger context of theory development in the cognitive sciences. PMID:22746685

Design and Development of a Series Switch for High Voltage in RF Heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Himanshu K.; Shah, Deep; Thacker, Mauli; Shah, Atman

2013-02-01

Plasma is the fourth state of matter. To sustain plasma in its ionic form very high temperature is essential. RF heating systems are used to provide the required temperature. Arching phenomenon in these systems can cause enormous damage to the RF tube. Heavy current flows across the anode-cathode junction, which need to be suppressed in minimal time for its protection. Fast-switching circuit breakers are used to cut-off the load from the supply in cases of arching. The crowbar interrupts the connection between the high voltage power supply (HVPS) and the RF tube for a temporary period between which the series switch has to open. The crowbar shunts the current across the load but in the process leads to short circuiting the HVPS. Thus, to protect the load as well as the HVPS a series switch is necessary. This paper presents the design and development of high voltage Series Switch for the high power switching applications. Fiber optic based Optimum triggering scheme is designed and tested to restrict the time delay well within the stipulated limits. The design is well supported with the experimental results for the whole set-up along with the series switch at various voltage level before its approval for operation at 5.2 kV.

Assessment of the incidence of GDV following splenectomy in dogs.

PubMed

Goldhammer, M A; Haining, H; Milne, E M; Shaw, D J; Yool, D A

2010-01-01

To establish if splenectomy increases the incidence of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) in dogs. Two case-series studies of cases and controls were performed. Records of dogs that had undergone splenectomy (37 cases) were compared with records of dogs that had undergone other abdominal surgery (43 cases). Records of dogs that presented for non-elective gastropexy (33 cases) were compared with records of dogs presented to the hospital for unrelated reasons (39 cases). Survival following splenectomy and development of GDV in the first 12 months following surgery were retrieved from the clinical records and by questionnaire-based canvassing of the referring clinician. The incidence of GDV following splenectomy was established and the association between a current episode of GDV and previous splenectomy was assessed. There was no evidence that splenectomy was associated with an increased incidence of subsequent GDV (P=0.469). No association between a current episode of GDV and previous splenectomy was found. Splenectomy is not associated with an increase in the incidence of GDV.

Asthma caused by potassium aluminium tetrafluoride: a case series.

PubMed

Laštovková, Andrea; Klusáčková, Pavlina; Fenclová, Zdenka; Bonneterre, Vincent; Pelclová, Daniela

2015-01-01

The objective of this study is to describe a case-series of potassium aluminium tetrafluoride (KAlF(4))-induced occupational asthma (OA) and/or occupational rhinitis (OR). The study involves five patients from a heat-exchanger production line who were examined (including specific inhalation challenge tests) for suspected OA and/or OR caused by a flux containing almost 100% KAlF(4) - with fluorides' workplace air concentrations ranging between 1.7 and 2.8 mg/m(3). No subject had a previous history of asthma. All five patients had a positive specific challenge test (three patients were diagnosed with OA alone, one with OR and one with both OR and OA). At the follow-up visit, after three years on average, all patients needed permanent corticosteroid therapy (four topical, one oral). After elimination from the exposure, only one of the observed subjects gave an indication of an improvement, two subjects stabilized and two worsened. Our case series focuses on the correlation between patients' exposure to fluorides in air-conditioner production and the subsequent occurrence of OR/OA. Currently, it is uncertain whether these OR/OA were caused by hypersensitivity or irritation.

Asthma caused by potassium aluminium tetrafluoride: a case series

PubMed Central

LAŠTOVKOVÁ, Andrea; KLUSÁČKOVÁ, Pavlina; FENCLOVÁ, Zdenka; BONNETERRE, Vincent; PELCLOVÁ, Daniela

2015-01-01

The objective of this study is to describe a case-series of potassium aluminium tetrafluoride (KAlF4)-induced occupational asthma (OA) and/or occupational rhinitis (OR). The study involves five patients from a heat-exchanger production line who were examined (including specific inhalation challenge tests) for suspected OA and/or OR caused by a flux containing almost 100% KAlF4 − with fluorides’ workplace air concentrations ranging between 1.7 and 2.8 mg/m3. No subject had a previous history of asthma. All five patients had a positive specific challenge test (three patients were diagnosed with OA alone, one with OR and one with both OR and OA). At the follow-up visit, after three years on average, all patients needed permanent corticosteroid therapy (four topical, one oral). After elimination from the exposure, only one of the observed subjects gave an indication of an improvement, two subjects stabilized and two worsened. Our case series focuses on the correlation between patients’ exposure to fluorides in air-conditioner production and the subsequent occurrence of OR/OA. Currently, it is uncertain whether these OR/OA were caused by hypersensitivity or irritation. PMID:26212411

Creating Cultures of Integrity: Ethics Education in UK Business Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Emma; Caulfield, Paul; Hibbert, Paul; Jennings, Paul

2014-01-01

Recent corporate scandals and responses by regulators have created an environment in which there is a heightened awareness of business ethics. This report presents a series of case studies exploring how the current curricula in UK business schools could be scoped differently to give new business leaders the tools required for strong ethical…

Examining the Practicum Experience to Increase Counseling Students' Self-Efficacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ikonomopoulos, James; Vela, Javier Cavazos; Smith, Wayne D.; Dell'Aquila, Julia

2016-01-01

Counseling graduate students may begin practicum with low self-efficacy regarding their counseling abilities and skills. In the current study, we implemented a small-series (N = 11) single-case research design to assess the effectiveness of the practicum experience to increase counseling students' self-efficacy. Analysis of participants' scores on…

Recent trends in preservative treatments for timber bridges

Treesearch

James P. Wacker

2004-01-01

An overview of wood preservatives currently used for timber bridges is presented through a series of case studies from different regions of the United States. New wood species and preservative treatment options for timber bridges have made choosing the appropriate preservative more complicated. The compatibility of wood species and preservative treatment is often...

What Case Managers Should Know About Their Roles and Functions: A National Study From the Commission for Case Manager Certification: Part 1.

PubMed

Tahan, Hussein M; Watson, Annette C; Sminkey, Patrice V

2015-01-01

The purpose of this national role and function study was to identify the essential activities and necessary knowledge areas for effective case manager practice from the perspective of those currently functioning in various care settings and across diverse professional disciplines. The national study covered all case management practices and/or work settings across the full continuum of health care. This cross-sectional descriptive study used the practice analysis method and online survey research design. It employed a purposive sample of case managers, in which 52,370 individuals received an invitation to participate. Data collection completed over a 4-week period, resulting in 7,668 useable survey responses (nearly a 15% response rate). The study identified the common activities and knowledge areas necessary for competent and effective performance of case managers, as is highlighted in this article, which is the first of a 2-part series on the role and function study. The results informed the needed update of the test specifications for the Certified Case Manager (CCM) certification examination, as will be delineated in Part 2 of the article series, to ensure that it continues to be substantiated in current practice. Of special note are the emergence of specific activity and knowledge domains in the area of case management ethical, legal, and practice standards, and an increase in the number of employers requiring certified case managers to fill vacant positions and compensating them financially for such qualifications. This study helps keep the CCM credentialing examination evidence-based and maintain its validity for evaluating competency of case managers. Specifically, the study identified essential activities and knowledge domains that define competent case management practice. Findings can be used for developing programs and curricula for the training and development of case managers. The study instrument also can be used for further research of case management practice.

The otolaryngologic manifestations of Sotos syndrome.

PubMed

Gaudreau, Philip; Zizak, Vincent; Gallagher, Thomas Q

2013-11-01

Soto's syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the NSD1 gene. It is characterized by excessive growth in early life. It features craniofacial abnormalities, developmental delay, hypotonia and advanced bone age. A review of the current literature reveals only chronic otitis media and conductive hearing loss as otolaryngologic manifestations of Soto's syndrome. Our objective was to determine if there are additional manifestations relevant to the otolaryngologist. We performed a retrospective case series in which the Department of Defense electronic medical record was searched for ICD 9 code 253.0 (acromegaly/gigantism). Records were reviewed for genetic testing indicative of Soto's syndrome. These records were further analyzed for evidence of otolaryngologic problems. Seventeen patients were identified with five having confirmed NSD1 mutations consistent with Soto's syndrome. Of these, 4/5 had otolaryngologic problems such as conductive hearing loss, aspiration, laryngomalacia, obstructive sleep apnea and sensorineural hearing loss. Currently there is no description in the literature of these additional manifestations of Soto's syndrome. We present this case series to support the idea that an otolaryngologist should be involved in the multidisciplinary care required for these patients. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Neurology cases evaluated by the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine 2000-2012.

PubMed

Hesselbrock, Roger; Heaton, John

2014-05-01

Historically, neurologic conditions are a major cause for removing aviators from flying status. Early neuropsychiatry studies included psychiatric conditions along with neurologic disorders. Previously reported data specifically addressing neurologic conditions in aviators are limited. And there is little current neurology-specific data reported. A retrospective review was done on patients with diagnoses evaluated by Neurology at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Aeromedical Consultation Service (ACS) between 2000 and 2012 using ACS records and databases to identify cases. Patient demographics, major diagnoses with associated International Classification of Diseases (9th rev.) codes, and aeromedical disposition recommendations were abstracted into a separate database for analysis. In total, 871 cases were identified. Patients were predominantly male (91%) with average age 34 and were predominantly pilots (69%). The top neurology-related diagnoses found in our series were headaches, head injuries, and radiculopathies. Of the cases evaluated, 570 aviators (65%) were recommended by ACS to return to flying status. Waiver authorities accepted 88% of ACS recommendations. Current patterns in neurologic conditions in the selected population of cases evaluated by the ACS were presented. Of the neurologic diagnoses seen, a novel finding was the prominence of head injuries in our series not seen in previous studies. This may be due to more stringent aeromedical standards with advances in medical practice and underscores that this issue is not just about disability but affects aircrew operational readiness. Most cases of neurologic disease evaluated by the ACS were recommended for return to flying status.

Usefulness of Novel Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Idiopathic Recurrent Pericarditis.

PubMed

Lotan, Dor; Wasserstrum, Yishay; Fardman, Alexander; Kogan, Michael; Adler, Yehuda

2016-03-01

Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP) is a debilitating illness which leads to great suffering and multiple hospitalizations. Management of acute pericarditis and subsequent recurrences has evolved significantly as the use of colchicine-based strategies become more prevalent, yet there still remains a subset of patients who remain refractory to colchicine therapy, and these patients require prolonged corticosteroid (CS) therapy for the control of symptoms. Since the 1960s, there have been reports of successful management of these cases with immunosuppressive therapy. Current guidelines support the use of anakinra, intravenous immunoglobulins, and azathioprine for management of IRP, with the goals of both control of symptoms and withdrawal of CS. Recent reports supply evidence for both auto-inflammatory and autoimmune activity in these patients. We herein review the current available reports regarding the evidence regarding the pathophysiology and reported cases and case series of IRP cases managed with immunomodulation therapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The solution of the point kinetics equations via converged accelerated Taylor series (CATS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganapol, B.; Picca, P.; Previti, A.

This paper deals with finding accurate solutions of the point kinetics equations including non-linear feedback, in a fast, efficient and straightforward way. A truncated Taylor series is coupled to continuous analytical continuation to provide the recurrence relations to solve the ordinary differential equations of point kinetics. Non-linear (Wynn-epsilon) and linear (Romberg) convergence accelerations are employed to provide highly accurate results for the evaluation of Taylor series expansions and extrapolated values of neutron and precursor densities at desired edits. The proposed Converged Accelerated Taylor Series, or CATS, algorithm automatically performs successive mesh refinements until the desired accuracy is obtained, making usemore » of the intermediate results for converged initial values at each interval. Numerical performance is evaluated using case studies available from the literature. Nearly perfect agreement is found with the literature results generally considered most accurate. Benchmark quality results are reported for several cases of interest including step, ramp, zigzag and sinusoidal prescribed insertions and insertions with adiabatic Doppler feedback. A larger than usual (9) number of digits is included to encourage honest benchmarking. The benchmark is then applied to the enhanced piecewise constant algorithm (EPCA) currently being developed by the second author. (authors)« less

Clinical Decision Making in the Management of Patients With Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Case Series.

PubMed

Jung, Francis C; Mathew, Sherin; Littmann, Andrew E; MacDonald, Cameron W

2017-11-01

Study Design Case series. Background Although growing recognition of cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) is emerging, there is still no gold standard for the diagnosis of CGD. The purpose of this case series is to describe the clinical decision making utilized in the management of 7 patients presenting with CGD. Case Description Patients presenting with neck pain and accompanying subjective symptoms, including dizziness, unsteadiness, light-headedness, and visual disturbance, were selected. Clinical evidence of a temporal relationship between neck pain and dizziness, with or without sensorimotor disturbances, was assessed. Clinical decision making followed a 4-step process, informed by the current available best evidence. Outcome measures included the numeric rating scale for dizziness and neck pain, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and global rating of change. Outcomes Seven patients (mean age, 57 years; range, 31-86 years; 7 female) completed physical therapy management at an average of 13 sessions (range, 8-30 sessions) over a mean of 7 weeks. Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in the numeric rating scale for dizziness (mean difference, 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.0, 7.5), neck pain (mean difference, 5.4; 95% CI: 3.8, 7.1), and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (mean difference, 32.6; 95% CI: 12.9, 52.2) at discontinuation. Patients also demonstrated overall satisfaction via the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (mean difference, 9) and global rating of change (mean, +6). Discussion This case series describes the physical therapist decision making, management, and outcomes in patients with CGD. Further investigation is warranted to develop a valid clinical decision-making guideline to inform management of patients with CGD. Level of Evidence Diagnosis, therapy, level 4. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(11):874-884. Epub 9 Oct 2017. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7425.

Fuzzy Inference System Approach for Locating Series, Shunt, and Simultaneous Series-Shunt Faults in Double Circuit Transmission Lines

PubMed Central

Swetapadma, Aleena; Yadav, Anamika

2015-01-01

Many schemes are reported for shunt fault location estimation, but fault location estimation of series or open conductor faults has not been dealt with so far. The existing numerical relays only detect the open conductor (series) fault and give the indication of the faulty phase(s), but they are unable to locate the series fault. The repair crew needs to patrol the complete line to find the location of series fault. In this paper fuzzy based fault detection/classification and location schemes in time domain are proposed for both series faults, shunt faults, and simultaneous series and shunt faults. The fault simulation studies and fault location algorithm have been developed using Matlab/Simulink. Synchronized phasors of voltage and current signals of both the ends of the line have been used as input to the proposed fuzzy based fault location scheme. Percentage of error in location of series fault is within 1% and shunt fault is 5% for all the tested fault cases. Validation of percentage of error in location estimation is done using Chi square test with both 1% and 5% level of significance. PMID:26413088

Exact Green's function method of solar force-free magnetic-field computations with constant alpha. I - Theory and basic test cases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiu, Y. T.; Hilton, H. H.

1977-01-01

Exact closed-form solutions to the solar force-free magnetic-field boundary-value problem are obtained for constant alpha in Cartesian geometry by a Green's function approach. The uniqueness of the physical problem is discussed. Application of the exact results to practical solar magnetic-field calculations is free of series truncation errors and is at least as economical as the approximate methods currently in use. Results of some test cases are presented.

[Post-therapeutic evolution and prognostic factors of intestinal lymphomas, Retrospective analysis of 42 cases].

PubMed

Sánchez-Fayos, M P; Hernández Guío, C; Rivas, M C; Outeiriño, J; González-Campos, C; Lobo, F

1993-12-01

To evaluate in retrospect the response to therapy and long-term evolution of a series of primitive intestinal lymphomas. The series was comprised of 42 patients diagnosed in our hospital during 1960-1962. The mean age was 34.5 years (range, 3-73), the M/F ratio was 21/21, and the histopathology distributes as follows: high grade (HG), 24 cases, low grade (LG), 12 cases, and mixed (LG/HG), 6 cases. B/T immunophenotype: 40/2. Staging: IE1,29 cases, IIE2-IV, 11 cases. The treatment applied in the series was classified in various types: ample surgical resection (aSR), 21 cases; partial surgical resection (pSR), 9 cases; abdominal radiation therapy (RT), 7 cases; monochemotherapy (MCT), 7 cases, and polychemotherapy (PCT), 28 cases. The correlation of clinicobiological variables with immediate response to treatment was evaluated by means of the chi square test, and the acturial post-therapeutic survival curves in accordance to the life tables, differences being calculated by the log rank test. Small intestine was the commonest site of involvement, 31 cases; ileocecal region, 7 cases; colon, 2 cases, and colon plus small intestine, 2 cases. Regardless of therapy type, complete remission (CR) was attained in 20 patients (47.5%), partial remission in 5; 11 cases were unresponsive (26.5%) and early death occurred in 6 instances (14.2%). The acturial post-therapeutic survival offered an 8-year expectancy of 47%. The correlation between immediate complete response and 16 clinico-biologic variables showed favourable significance for tumoral proliferation index (i.e., Pc10-positive cells < 15%) and for therapeutic regimens including PCT+aSR. On the other hand, the necessity of emergency surgery for diagnosis was a poor-risk factor. The correlation between a post-therapeutic survival and 19 other variables showed the following as favorable data: female sex, tumour proliferative index (i.e., Pc10-positive cells < 15%), the use of PCT+aSR, and attaining CR. Poor-risk factors were the need of emergency surgery, multicentric lymphomatous involvement and serum LDH rates 350 UI/L. Although immediate response (CR) and long-term results (survival) were better in the patients with favourable histology (LG+LG/HG) and in those with loco-regional disease (stages IE-IE1), the differences had no statistical significance, possibly due to the low number of cases. 1) Even though these findings should be carefully evaluated, dut to lack of homogeneity of the series and the fact of being a retrospective study, the rate of CR in this series (47.5%) is similar to that of current studies. 2) Female sex, type of therapy, multifocal involvement, the need of emergency surgery and high LDH levels have significant value in univariate analyses.

Design considerations for case series models with exposure onset measurement error.

PubMed

Mohammed, Sandra M; Dalrymple, Lorien S; Sentürk, Damla; Nguyen, Danh V

2013-02-28

The case series model allows for estimation of the relative incidence of events, such as cardiovascular events, within a pre-specified time window after an exposure, such as an infection. The method requires only cases (individuals with events) and controls for all fixed/time-invariant confounders. The measurement error case series model extends the original case series model to handle imperfect data, where the timing of an infection (exposure) is not known precisely. In this work, we propose a method for power/sample size determination for the measurement error case series model. Extensive simulation studies are used to assess the accuracy of the proposed sample size formulas. We also examine the magnitude of the relative loss of power due to exposure onset measurement error, compared with the ideal situation where the time of exposure is measured precisely. To facilitate the design of case series studies, we provide publicly available web-based tools for determining power/sample size for both the measurement error case series model as well as the standard case series model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Deformation of Cases in High Capacitance Value Wet Tantalum Capacitors under Environmental Stresses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2016-01-01

Internal gas pressure in hermetic wet tantalum capacitors is created by air, electrolyte vapor, and gas generated by electrochemical reactions at the electrodes. This pressure increases substantially with temperature and time of operation due to excessive leakage currents. Deformation of the case occurs when the internal pressure exceeds pressure of the environments and can raise significantly when a part operates in space. Contrary to the cylinder case wet tantalum capacitors that have external sealing by welding and internal sealing provided by the Teflon bushing and crimping of the case, no reliable internal sealing exists in the button case capacitors. Single seal design capacitors are used for high capacitance value wet tantalum capacitors manufactured per DLA L&M drawings #04003, 04005, and 10011, and require additional analysis to assure their reliable application in space systems. In this work, leakage currents and case deformation of button case capacitors were measured during different environmental test conditions. Recommendations for derating, screening and qualification testing are given. This work is a continuation of a series of NEPP reports related to quality and reliability of wet tantalum capacitors.

Aconite poisoning over 5 years: a case series in Hong Kong and lessons towards herbal safety.

PubMed

Chen, Sammy Pak Lam; Ng, Sau Wah; Poon, Wing Tat; Lai, Chi Kong; Ngan, Teresa Man Shan; Tse, Man Li; Chan, Thomas Yan Keung; Chan, Albert Yan Wo; Mak, Tony Wing Lai

2012-07-01

Aconite poisoning is a severe, life-threatening poisoning related to the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Despite current legislation, repeated poisoning cases are steadily encountered. The aim of the study was to summarize the clinical features and to elucidate the causative and contributory factors leading to aconite poisoning. This study was conducted within the Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, which is the sole tertiary referral clinical toxicology laboratory in Hong Kong. This retrospective study reviewed all confirmed aconite poisoning cases handled by a clinical toxicology laboratory between April 2004 and July 2009. The diagnosis in all cases was confirmed biochemically by detecting aconitum alkaloids in urine specimens. Additionally, herbal specimens were morphologically identified and herbal formulae were studied and transcribed. The cause of poisoning for each case was determined whenever possible. Fifty-two cases were examined in this aconite poisoning case series. Neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal toxicities were encountered in 49 (94.2%), 46 (88.5%) and 31 (59.6%) patients, respectively. The poisoning was severe in 6 (11.5%) patients, moderate in 17 (32.7%) patients and mild in 29 (55.8%) patients. Amongst 44 patients (84.6%) in whom the underlying reasons of poisoning could be determined, four major causes were found. These included overdose - prescription of a higher than recommended dosage of aconite herbs in 17 (32.7%) cases; 'hidden' poisoning (the aconite herb was not prescribed but dispensed inadvertently) in 17 (32.7%) cases; usage of inadequately processed herbs in 7 (13.5%) cases; and dispensary error in 2 (3.9%) cases. No case fatality was recorded. In the majority of cases in this series, the causes of poisoning can be traced to poor-quality herbs, poor quality of prescription practice, or dispensary errors. The quality issues of TCM practice should be critically addressed to minimize this poisoning threat.

Saturating time-delay transformer for overcurrent protection. [Patent application

DOEpatents

Praeg, W.F.

1975-12-18

Electrical loads connected to dc supplies are protected from damage by overcurrent in the case of a load fault by connecting in series with the load a saturating transformer that detects a load fault and limits the fault current to a safe level for a period long enough to correct the fault or else disconnect the power supply.

Syntheses of the current model applications for managing water and needs for experimental data and model improvements to enhance these applications

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This volume of the Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling series presents 14 different case studies of model applications to help make the best use of limited water in agriculture. These examples show that models have tremendous potential and value in enhancing site-specific water management for ...

CBT for Medication Adherence and Depression (CBT-AD) in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Methadone Maintenance Therapy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soroudi, Nafisseh; Perez, Giselle K.; Gonzalez, Jeffrey S.; Greer, Joseph A.; Pollack, Mark H.; Otto, Michael W.; Safren, Steven A.

2008-01-01

For individuals with HIV who are current or former injection drug users, depression is a common, distressing condition that can interfere with a critical self-care behavior--adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The present study describes the feasibility and outcome, in a case series approach, of cognitive behavioral therapy to improve adherence…

Saturating time-delay transformer for overcurrent protection

DOEpatents

Praeg, Walter F.

1977-01-01

Electrical loads connected to d-c supplies are protected from damage by overcurrent in the case of a load fault by connecting in series with the load a saturating transformer that detects a load fault and limits the fault current to a safe level for a period long enough to correct the fault or else disconnect the power supply.

High definition spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in three patients with solar retinopathy and review of the literature.

PubMed

Chen, Kevin C; Jung, Jesse J; Aizman, Alexander

2012-01-01

To describe ocular findings in 3 cases of solar retinopathy using high definition, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and review the literature for optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics associated with worse vision. Case series and retrospective review of clinical features and Spectralis SD-OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Vista, California, United States of America). A literature review of OCT findings in cases of solar retinopathy reported on MEDLINE was also performed and analyzed. Six eyes of 3 patients with solar retinopathy revealed significant foveal pathology. Visual acuity ranged from Snellen 20/30 to 20/50. High definition SD-OCT demonstrated defects at the level of the inner and outer segment junction of the photoreceptors as well as in the inner high reflective layer. There was a significant correlation between chronic disruption of the inner photoreceptor junction with worse vision based on the current case series and literature review. Screening patients with exposure to central foveal damage from solar retinopathy with high definition SD-OCT improves diagnosis and assessment of photoreceptor damage and vision loss.

The role of alternative (advanced) conscious sedation techniques in dentistry for adult patients: a series of cases.

PubMed

Robb, N

2014-03-01

The basic techniques of conscious sedation have been found to be safe and effective for the management of anxiety in adult dental patients requiring sedation to allow them to undergo dental treatment. There remains great debate within the profession as to the role of the so called advanced sedation techniques. This paper presents a series of nine patients who were managed with advanced sedation techniques where the basic techniques were either inappropriate or had previously failed to provide adequate relief of anxiety. In these cases, had there not been the availability of advanced sedation techniques, the most likely recourse would have been general anaesthesia--a treatment modality that current guidance indicates should not be used where there is an appropriate alternative. The sedation techniques used have provided that appropriate alternative management strategy.

FINITE ELEMENT MODEL FOR TIDES AND CURRENTS WITH FIELD APPLICATIONS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Walters, Roy A.

1988-01-01

A finite element model, based upon the shallow water equations, is used to calculate tidal amplitudes and currents for two field-scale test problems. Because tides are characterized by line spectra, the governing equations are subjected to harmonic decomposition. Thus the solution variables are the real and imaginary parts of the amplitude of sea level and velocity rather than a time series of these variables. The time series is recovered through synthesis. This scheme, coupled with a modified form of the governing equations, leads to high computational efficiency and freedom from excessive numerical noise. Two test-cases are presented. The first is a solution for eleven tidal constituents in the English Channel and southern North Sea, and three constituents are discussed. The second is an analysis of the frequency response and tidal harmonics for south San Francisco Bay.

Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome: A Review of Current Literature, Clinical Approach, and 23-Patient Case Series.

PubMed

Goodspeed, Kimberly; Newsom, Cassandra; Morris, Mary Ann; Powell, Craig; Evans, Patricia; Golla, Sailaja

2018-03-01

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare, genetic disorder caused by a molecular variant of TCF4 which is involved in embryologic neuronal differentiation. PTHS is characterized by syndromic facies, psychomotor delay, and intellectual disability. Other associated features include early-onset myopia, seizures, constipation, and hyperventilation-apneic spells. Many also meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Here the authors present a series of 23 PTHS patients with molecularly confirmed TCF4 variants and describe 3 unique individuals. The first carries a small deletion but does not exhibit the typical facial features nor the typical pattern of developmental delay. The second exhibits typical facial features, but has attained more advanced motor and verbal skills than other reported cases to date. The third displays typical features of PTHS, however inherited a large chromosomal duplication involving TCF4 from his unaffected father with somatic mosaicism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first chromosomal duplication case reported to date.

Time-evolution of photon heat current through series coupled two mesoscopic Josephson junction devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Wen-Ting; Zhao, Hong-Kang; Wang, Jian

2018-03-01

Photon heat current tunneling through a series coupled two mesoscopic Josephson junction (MJJ) system biased by dc voltages has been investigated by employing the nonequilibrium Green’s function approach. The time-oscillating photon heat current is contributed by the superposition of different current branches associated with the frequencies of MJJs ω j (j = 1, 2). Nonlinear behaviors are exhibited to be induced by the self-inductance, Coulomb interaction, and interference effect relating to the coherent transport of Cooper pairs in the MJJs. Time-oscillating pumping photon heat current is generated in the absence of temperature difference, while it becomes zero after time-average. The combination of ω j and Coulomb interactions in the MJJs determines the concrete heat current configuration. As the external and intrinsic frequencies ω j and ω 0 of MJJs match some specific combinations, resonant photon heat current exhibits sinusoidal behaviors with large amplitudes. Symmetric and asymmetric evolutions versus time t with respect to ω 1 t and ω 2 t are controlled by the applied dc voltages of V 1 and V 2. The dc photon heat current formula is a special case of the general time-dependent heat current formula when the bias voltages are settled to zero. The Aharonov-Bohm effect has been investigated, and versatile oscillation structures of photon heat current can be achieved by tuning the magnetic fluxes threading through separating MJJs.

A Fault Location Algorithm for Two-End Series-Compensated Double-Circuit Transmission Lines Using the Distributed Parameter Line Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kang, Ning; Gombos, Gergely; Mousavi, Mirrasoul J.

A new fault location algorithm for two-end series-compensated double-circuit transmission lines utilizing unsynchronized two-terminal current phasors and local voltage phasors is presented in this paper. The distributed parameter line model is adopted to take into account the shunt capacitance of the lines. The mutual coupling between the parallel lines in the zero-sequence network is also considered. The boundary conditions under different fault types are used to derive the fault location formulation. The developed algorithm directly uses the local voltage phasors on the line side of series compensation (SC) and metal oxide varistor (MOV). However, when potential transformers are not installedmore » on the line side of SC and MOVs for the local terminal, these measurements can be calculated from the local terminal bus voltage and currents by estimating the voltages across the SC and MOVs. MATLAB SimPowerSystems is used to generate cases under diverse fault conditions to evaluating accuracy. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is qualified for practical implementation.« less

A series of 240 odontogenic keratocysts: Should we continue to use the terminology of 'keratocystic odontogenic tumour' for the solid variant of odontogenic keratocyst?

PubMed

Kahraman, Devrim; Gunhan, Omer; Celasun, Bulent

2018-04-11

Most of the odontogenic keratocysts show an indolent behaviour like non-neoplastic lesions. For this reason, the odontogenic keratocyst was reclassified within the odontogenic cysts category in the WHO 2017 classification. Some odontogenic keratocysts may contain satellite cysts or solid squamoid islands within their wall. Recently, a solid form of odontogenic keratocyst has also been described which is composed entirely of multiple epithelial islands and small cysts in a collagenous stroma. The true nature of this variant is unclear yet. In this article, we present a series of 204 odontogenic keratocyst cases. Clinical and histologic findings of the cases in this series were described. These were also categorised according to the presence of satellite lesions. Additionally, the features of two cases of the solid form of odontogenic keratocysts were compared with those of the previous reports and other histologically similar odontogenic lesions. Current evidence suggests that this variant may be neoplastic and it differs from other odontogenic keratocysts, at least histologically. We believe diagnosing a solid lesion as a cyst is counterintuitive and the term "keratocystic odontogenic tumour" better describes this particular variant. Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Augmentation of Psychotherapy through Alternative Preconscious Priming: A Case Series Exploring Effects on Residual Symptoms

PubMed Central

Zidani, Melha; Audet, Jean-Sébastien; Borgeat, François; Aardema, Frederick; O’Connor, Kieron Philip; Khazaal, Yasser

2017-01-01

The current paper describes a case series using a new strategy for facilitating change based on Augmentation of Psychotherapy through Alternative Preconscious Priming (APAP) (1) in the treatment of eight treatment-resistant patients suffering from social phobia or generalized anxiety disorder. The patients had previously only shown a partial response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) despite good treatment adherence. The patients completed APAP using a computerized program, which consisted of three steps during which alternative, more functional thoughts and beliefs relevant to the idiosyncratic difficulties experienced by the patients were formulated. Subsequently, these formulations were recorded and mixed with masking relaxing music, which the patient listened to in a passive state twice daily for 20 min for a period of 8 weeks. This case series aimed to assess the effect and acceptability of APAP using quantitative and qualitative measures administered before, after, and 16 weeks’ posttreatment. Results showed a reduction in dysfunctional idiosyncratic thoughts reported by most patients, as well as mild improvements in anxiety and important improvements in quality of life. APAP could be a valuable addition to CBT by facilitating or enhancing cognitive and symptom change. Further studies are needed to confirm these promising results. PMID:28197107

Assessment of a bidirectional reflectance distribution correction of above-water and satellite water-leaving radiance in coastal waters.

PubMed

Hlaing, Soe; Gilerson, Alexander; Harmel, Tristan; Tonizzo, Alberto; Weidemann, Alan; Arnone, Robert; Ahmed, Samir

2012-01-10

Water-leaving radiances, retrieved from in situ or satellite measurements, need to be corrected for the bidirectional properties of the measured light in order to standardize the data and make them comparable with each other. The current operational algorithm for the correction of bidirectional effects from the satellite ocean color data is optimized for typical oceanic waters. However, versions of bidirectional reflectance correction algorithms specifically tuned for typical coastal waters and other case 2 conditions are particularly needed to improve the overall quality of those data. In order to analyze the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of case 2 waters, a dataset of typical remote sensing reflectances was generated through radiative transfer simulations for a large range of viewing and illumination geometries. Based on this simulated dataset, a case 2 water focused remote sensing reflectance model is proposed to correct above-water and satellite water-leaving radiance data for bidirectional effects. The proposed model is first validated with a one year time series of in situ above-water measurements acquired by collocated multispectral and hyperspectral radiometers, which have different viewing geometries installed at the Long Island Sound Coastal Observatory (LISCO). Match-ups and intercomparisons performed on these concurrent measurements show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the algorithm currently in use at all wavelengths, with average improvement of 2.4% over the spectral range. LISCO's time series data have also been used to evaluate improvements in match-up comparisons of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite data when the proposed BRDF correction is used in lieu of the current algorithm. It is shown that the discrepancies between coincident in-situ sea-based and satellite data decreased by 3.15% with the use of the proposed algorithm. This confirms the advantages of the proposed model over the current one, demonstrating the need for a specific case 2 water BRDF correction algorithm as well as the feasibility of enhancing performance of current and future satellite ocean color remote sensing missions for monitoring of typical coastal waters. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Word Saliency and Frequency of Academic Words in Textbooks: A Case Study in the "New Standard College English"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liqin, Yan; Xinlu, Gao

2014-01-01

Though textbooks are one of the main vocabulary input resources for domestic college students and core contents of learning and testing (Liu, 2013), few empirical studies are done to evaluate learning opportunities provided by textbooks. This empirical study is designed to analyze what learning opportunity is provided in a currently used series of…

78 FR 26526 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-07

... base-case model using nine years of an acoustic survey biomass index as well as catches to estimate the scale of the current hake stock. The 2012 acoustic-trawl survey result was a relative biomass 1,380,000... series. The age-composition data from the aggregated fisheries (1975-2012) and the acoustic survey...

The Role of Emotionality in Teacher Change: The Case of Chinese Language Teachers in Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loh, Elizabeth K. Y.; Tam, Loretta C. W.

2017-01-01

Over the past decade, Chinese language teachers in Hong Kong have experienced a series of educational reforms. They are now expected to design and implement their own school-based Chinese language curriculum, and adopt innovative pedagogies and customized materials in the classroom. The current literature suggests that some teachers are not ready…

On the equivalence of case-crossover and time series methods in environmental epidemiology.

PubMed

Lu, Yun; Zeger, Scott L

2007-04-01

The case-crossover design was introduced in epidemiology 15 years ago as a method for studying the effects of a risk factor on a health event using only cases. The idea is to compare a case's exposure immediately prior to or during the case-defining event with that same person's exposure at otherwise similar "reference" times. An alternative approach to the analysis of daily exposure and case-only data is time series analysis. Here, log-linear regression models express the expected total number of events on each day as a function of the exposure level and potential confounding variables. In time series analyses of air pollution, smooth functions of time and weather are the main confounders. Time series and case-crossover methods are often viewed as competing methods. In this paper, we show that case-crossover using conditional logistic regression is a special case of time series analysis when there is a common exposure such as in air pollution studies. This equivalence provides computational convenience for case-crossover analyses and a better understanding of time series models. Time series log-linear regression accounts for overdispersion of the Poisson variance, while case-crossover analyses typically do not. This equivalence also permits model checking for case-crossover data using standard log-linear model diagnostics.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patel, Rakesh P., E-mail: rpatel9@nhs.net; Katsargyris, Athanasios, E-mail: kthanassos@yahoo.com; Verhoeven, Eric L. G., E-mail: Eric.Verhoeven@klinikum-nuernberg.de

The chimney technique in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (Ch-EVAR) involves placement of a stent or stent-graft parallel to the main aortic stent-graft to extend the proximal or distal sealing zone while maintaining side branch patency. Ch-EVAR can facilitate endovascular repair of juxtarenal and aortic arch pathology using available standard aortic stent-grafts, therefore, eliminating the manufacturing delays required for customised fenestrated and branched stent-grafts. Several case series have demonstrated the feasibility of Ch-EVAR both in acute and elective cases with good early results. This review discusses indications, technique, and the current available clinical data on Ch-EVAR.

Two Papers on Canadian Indians; Education and Economic Development: The Case of Indian Reserves in Canada. [and] The Capitalization of a Traditional Pursuit: The Case of Wild Rice in Manitoba. Center for Settlement Studies, Series 5: Occasional Papers Nos. 5 and 6.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deprez, Paul; Lithman, Yngve Georg

The first paper aims to give a certain relativity to the significance of education and to indicate the limitations of any educational effort. The thinking underlying the current approach to the economic development of native communities and reserves is discussed as well as the implications and consequences of such thinking. It is argued that the…

Evidence-Based Advances in Reptile Medicine.

PubMed

Mitchell, Mark A; Perry, Sean M

2017-09-01

Evidence-based medicine allows veterinarians to practice high-quality medicine, because the basis for all decision making is quantitative, objective, and reproducible. Case reports and case series are limited in their scope and application. Cross-sectional studies, likewise, cannot provide answers to specific variable testing with a temporal application. It is essential for the reptile specialty to expand into case-control studies, cohort studies, and experimental/intervention studies. Unfortunately, much of the reptile literature remains limited to descriptive studies. This article reviews current evidence-based topics in reptile medicine and shares how everyone practicing in the field can contribute to improving this specialty. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Non-linear quenching of current fluctuations in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo, proved by feedback system theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Paor, A. M.

Hide (Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics, 1998) has produced a new mathematical model of a self-exciting homopolar dynamo driving a series- wound motor, as a continuing contribution to the theory of the geomagnetic field. By a process of exact perturbation analysis, followed by combination and partial solution of differential equations, the complete nonlinear quenching of current fluctuations reported by Hide in the case that a parameter ɛ has the value 1 is proved via the Popov theorem from feedback system stability theory.

Nerve lesioning with direct current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravid, E. Natalie; Shi Gan, Liu; Todd, Kathryn; Prochazka, Arthur

2011-02-01

Spastic hypertonus (muscle over-activity due to exaggerated stretch reflexes) often develops in people with stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Lesioning of nerves, e.g. with phenol or botulinum toxin is widely performed to reduce spastic hypertonus. We have explored the use of direct electrical current (DC) to lesion peripheral nerves. In a series of animal experiments, DC reduced muscle force by controlled amounts and the reduction could last several months. We conclude that in some cases controlled DC lesioning may provide an effective alternative to the less controllable molecular treatments available today.

Elbow hemiarthroplasty for the management of distal humeral fractures: current technique, indications and results.

PubMed

Phadnis, Joideep; Watts, Adam C; Bain, Gregory I

2016-07-01

There has been a growing recent interest in the use of elbow hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of distal humeral trauma in select patients. However, the current available evidence regarding outcome after elbow hemiarthroplasty is limited to case series and biomechanical data. Consequently, the procedure remains unfamiliar to many surgeons. The aim of the present review is to outline the evidence regarding elbow hemiarthroplasty and to use this, along with the author's experience, to better describe the indications, surgical technique and outcomes after this procedure.

Elbow hemiarthroplasty for the management of distal humeral fractures: current technique, indications and results

PubMed Central

Watts, Adam C; Bain, Gregory I

2016-01-01

There has been a growing recent interest in the use of elbow hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of distal humeral trauma in select patients. However, the current available evidence regarding outcome after elbow hemiarthroplasty is limited to case series and biomechanical data. Consequently, the procedure remains unfamiliar to many surgeons. The aim of the present review is to outline the evidence regarding elbow hemiarthroplasty and to use this, along with the author’s experience, to better describe the indications, surgical technique and outcomes after this procedure. PMID:27583016

Pregnancy outcomes after maternal use of thiocolchicoside: A case series.

PubMed

Kaplan, Yusuf C; Keskin-Arslan, Elif; Küçüksolak, Gözde; Akyol, Fatih; Karadas, Barış; Görgel, Sacit Nuri; Kaya-Temiz, Tijen

2018-03-01

The 2014 report by European Medicines Agency (EMA) restricted the use of thiocolchicoside for all reproductive-age women. In this study, we aim to expand the systematically-collected human data and discuss it within the frame provided by this report. We identified and evaluated the outcomes of 48 prospectively recorded pregnancies referred to Terafar (Teratology Information Service, Izmir, Turkey). Of 42 pregnancies with first-trimester exposure and known outcomes, 31 resulted in live births, four in miscarriage and seven ended with elective terminations. There were 26 normal outcomes, two major and three minor congenital malformations among the live births. Despite a number of limitations, our results and previous case series collectively strengthen the view that thiocolchicoside is unlikely to be a major teratogen. EMA's 2014 report should be revised to reflect this finding, while current restrictions on use should continue until more detailed safety information is available. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Theoretical and experimental studies of error in square-law detector circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanley, W. D.; Hearn, C. P.; Williams, J. B.

1984-01-01

Square law detector circuits to determine errors from the ideal input/output characteristic function were investigated. The nonlinear circuit response is analyzed by a power series expansion containing terms through the fourth degree, from which the significant deviation from square law can be predicted. Both fixed bias current and flexible bias current configurations are considered. The latter case corresponds with the situation where the mean current can change with the application of a signal. Experimental investigations of the circuit arrangements are described. Agreement between the analytical models and the experimental results are established. Factors which contribute to differences under certain conditions are outlined.

Esthetic and functional reconstruction after parotidectomy in pediatric patients - A case series.

PubMed

Bryant, Lucas M; Cognetti, David; Baker, Adam; Roy, Sudeep; Johnston, Douglas R; Curry, Joseph; Krein, Howard

2015-12-01

Parotidectomy is a mainstay of treatment for benign and malignant parotid lesions in children and adults. Depending on surgical methods used and tumor size, parotidectomy may result in significant facial disfigurement as well as functional challenges. We describe a series of four pediatric patients, ages 13-16 who presented to our clinic with a parotid mass. All patients underwent parotidectomy with immediate reconstruction by local tissue rearrangement or free fat graft. Esthetic and functional reconstruction after parotidectomy is not well described in pediatric otolaryngology literature. A review of current literature and description of reconstructive methods is included. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hindfoot arthroscopic surgery for posterior ankle impingement: a systematic surgical approach and case series.

PubMed

Smyth, Niall A; Murawski, Christopher D; Levine, David S; Kennedy, John G

2013-08-01

Hindfoot arthroscopic surgery has been described as a minimally invasive surgical treatment for posterior ankle impingement syndrome. The current article describes a systematic approach for identifying relevant hindfoot structures as well as the clinical results of a case series. To present a structured systematic surgical approach for identifying relevant anatomic structures and abnormalities during hindfoot arthroscopic surgery. In addition, we report the clinical results of a case series. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. The systematic surgical approach divides the extra-articular structures of the hindfoot into quadrants as defined by the intermalleolar ligament. Twenty-two patients underwent hindfoot arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of posterior ankle impingement syndrome. The mean follow-up time was 25 months (range, 14-35 months). Standard patient-reported outcome questionnaires of the foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) general health survey were administered at standard time points after surgery. Return to sporting activities was also calculated as the time period from the date of surgery until the patient was able to participate at their previous level of activity. The mean FAOS score improved from 59 (range, 22-94) preoperatively to 86 (range, 47-100) postoperatively (P < .01). The mean SF-12 score showed similar improvement with a mean of 66 (range, 42-96) preoperatively to 86 (range, 56-98) postoperatively (P < .01). Nineteen patients reported competing at some level of athletic sport before surgery. All patients returned to their previous level of competition after surgery. The mean time to return to sporting activities was 12 weeks (range, 6-16 weeks). Two complications were reported postoperatively: 1 wound infection and 1 case of dysesthesia of the deep peroneal nerve. Hindfoot arthroscopic surgery is a safe and effective treatment strategy for posterior ankle impingement syndrome. In addition, it allows the patients a rapid return to sporting activities.

Electron series resonance in a magnetized 13.56 MHz symmetric capacitive coupled discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, J. K.; Binwal, S.; Karkari, S. K.; Kumar, Sunil

2018-03-01

A 13.56 MHz capacitive coupled radio-frequency (RF) argon discharge under transverse magnetic field has been investigated. The discharge is operated in a push-pull mode using a 1:1 isolation transformer with its centre tap grounded to a RF generator. The power delivered to the plasma has been calculated from phase-calibrated RF current/voltage waveforms measured on the secondary side of the isolation transformer. An equivalent electrical circuit of the discharge has been described to determine the net plasma impedance. It is found that in the presence of magnetic field, the discharge impedance exhibits a series resonance as the RF power level is increased gradually. However, in the un-magnetized case, the discharge remains entirely capacitive. A qualitative discussion has been given to explain the role of external magnetic field in achieving the series resonance.

Chondral Rib Fractures in Professional American Football: Two Cases and Current Practice Patterns Among NFL Team Physicians.

PubMed

McAdams, Timothy R; Deimel, Jay F; Ferguson, Jeff; Beamer, Brandon S; Beaulieu, Christopher F

2016-02-01

Although a recognized and discussed injury, chondral rib fractures in professional American football have not been previously reported in the literature. There currently exists no consensus on how to identify and treat these injuries or the expected return to play for the athlete. To present 2 cases of chondral rib injuries in the National Football League (NFL) and discuss the current practice patterns for management of these injuries among the NFL team physicians. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Two cases of NFL players with chondral rib injuries are presented. A survey regarding work-up and treatment of these injuries was completed by team physicians at the 2014 NFL Combine. Our experience in identifying and treating these injuries is presented in conjunction with a survey of NFL team physicians' experiences. Two cases of rib chondral injuries were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and treated with rest and protective splinting. Return to play was 2 to 4 weeks. NFL Combine survey results show that NFL team physicians see a mean of 4 costal cartilage injuries per 5-year period, or approximately 1 case per year per team. Seventy percent of team physicians use CT scanning and 43% use magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of these injuries. An anesthetic block is used acutely in 57% and only electively in subsequent games by 39%. A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose chondral rib injuries in American football. CT scan is most commonly used to confirm diagnosis. Return to play can take up to 2 to 4 weeks with a protective device, although anesthetic blocks can be used to potentially expedite return. Chondral rib injuries are common among NFL football players, while there is no literature to support proper diagnosis and treatment of these injuries or expected duration of recovery. These injuries are likely common in other contact sports and levels of competition as well. Our series combined with NFL team physician survey results can aid team physicians in identifying these injuries, obtaining useful imaging, and counseling players and coaches and the expected time of recovery.

Fractals, Vigilance, and Adolescent Diabetes Management: A Case for when Regulation May Be Difficult to Measure with the Current Medical Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butner, Jonathan; Story, T. Nathan; Berg, Cynthia A.; Wiebe, Deborah J.

2011-01-01

Temporal patterning in blood glucose (BG) consistent with fractals--how BG follows a repetitive pattern through resolutions of time--was used to examine 2 different samples of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (10-14 years). Sample 1 contained 10 adolescents with longtime series for accurate estimations of long-term dependencies associated with…

Cotard's Syndrome in a Patient with Schizophrenia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Ledesma-Gastañadui, Mario

2016-01-01

Jules Cotard described, in 1880, the case of a patient characterized by delusions of negation, immortality, and guilt as well as melancholic anxiety among other clinical features. Later this constellation of symptoms was given the eponym Cotard's syndrome, going through a series of theoretical vicissitudes, considering itself currently as just the presence of nihilistic delusions. The presentation of the complete clinical features described by Cotard is a rare occurrence, especially in the context of schizophrenia. Here we present the case of a 50-year-old male patient with schizophrenia who developed Cotard's syndrome. The patient was treated with aripiprazole, showing improvement after two weeks of treatment. A review of the literature is performed about this case. PMID:28053798

Cotard's Syndrome in a Patient with Schizophrenia: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Huarcaya-Victoria, Jeff; Ledesma-Gastañadui, Mario; Huete-Cordova, Maria

2016-01-01

Jules Cotard described, in 1880, the case of a patient characterized by delusions of negation, immortality, and guilt as well as melancholic anxiety among other clinical features. Later this constellation of symptoms was given the eponym Cotard's syndrome, going through a series of theoretical vicissitudes, considering itself currently as just the presence of nihilistic delusions. The presentation of the complete clinical features described by Cotard is a rare occurrence, especially in the context of schizophrenia. Here we present the case of a 50-year-old male patient with schizophrenia who developed Cotard's syndrome. The patient was treated with aripiprazole, showing improvement after two weeks of treatment. A review of the literature is performed about this case.

How are you feeling?: A personalized methodology for predicting mental states from temporally observable physical and behavioral information.

PubMed

Tuarob, Suppawong; Tucker, Conrad S; Kumara, Soundar; Giles, C Lee; Pincus, Aaron L; Conroy, David E; Ram, Nilam

2017-04-01

It is believed that anomalous mental states such as stress and anxiety not only cause suffering for the individuals, but also lead to tragedies in some extreme cases. The ability to predict the mental state of an individual at both current and future time periods could prove critical to healthcare practitioners. Currently, the practical way to predict an individual's mental state is through mental examinations that involve psychological experts performing the evaluations. However, such methods can be time and resource consuming, mitigating their broad applicability to a wide population. Furthermore, some individuals may also be unaware of their mental states or may feel uncomfortable to express themselves during the evaluations. Hence, their anomalous mental states could remain undetected for a prolonged period of time. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the ability of using advanced machine learning based approaches to generate mathematical models that predict current and future mental states of an individual. The problem of mental state prediction is transformed into the time series forecasting problem, where an individual is represented as a multivariate time series stream of monitored physical and behavioral attributes. A personalized mathematical model is then automatically generated to capture the dependencies among these attributes, which is used for prediction of mental states for each individual. In particular, we first illustrate the drawbacks of traditional multivariate time series forecasting methodologies such as vector autoregression. Then, we show that such issues could be mitigated by using machine learning regression techniques which are modified for capturing temporal dependencies in time series data. A case study using the data from 150 human participants illustrates that the proposed machine learning based forecasting methods are more suitable for high-dimensional psychological data than the traditional vector autoregressive model in terms of both magnitude of error and directional accuracy. These results not only present a successful usage of machine learning techniques in psychological studies, but also serve as a building block for multiple medical applications that could rely on an automated system to gauge individuals' mental states. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessment of a Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Correction of Above-Water and Satellite Water-Leaving Radiance in Coastal Waters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hlaing, Soe; Gilerson, Alexander; Harmal, Tristan; Tonizzo, Alberto; Weidemann, Alan; Arnone, Robert; Ahmed, Samir

2012-01-01

Water-leaving radiances, retrieved from in situ or satellite measurements, need to be corrected for the bidirectional properties of the measured light in order to standardize the data and make them comparable with each other. The current operational algorithm for the correction of bidirectional effects from the satellite ocean color data is optimized for typical oceanic waters. However, versions of bidirectional reflectance correction algorithms specifically tuned for typical coastal waters and other case 2 conditions are particularly needed to improve the overall quality of those data. In order to analyze the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of case 2 waters, a dataset of typical remote sensing reflectances was generated through radiative transfer simulations for a large range of viewing and illumination geometries. Based on this simulated dataset, a case 2 water focused remote sensing reflectance model is proposed to correct above-water and satellite water-leaving radiance data for bidirectional effects. The proposed model is first validated with a one year time series of in situ above-water measurements acquired by collocated multispectral and hyperspectral radiometers, which have different viewing geometries installed at the Long Island Sound Coastal Observatory (LISCO). Match-ups and intercomparisons performed on these concurrent measurements show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the algorithm currently in use at all wavelengths, with average improvement of 2.4% over the spectral range. LISCO's time series data have also been used to evaluate improvements in match-up comparisons of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite data when the proposed BRDF correction is used in lieu of the current algorithm. It is shown that the discrepancies between coincident in-situ sea-based and satellite data decreased by 3.15% with the use of the proposed algorithm.

Legionella pneumonia cases over a five-year period: a descriptive, retrospective study of outcomes in a UK district hospital.

PubMed

Wingfield, Tom; Rowell, Sam; Peel, Alex; Puli, Deeksha; Guleri, Achyut; Sharma, Rashmi

2013-04-01

As the recent outbreaks in Edinburgh and Camarthen, UK, have shown, Legionella pneumonia (LP) remains a significant public health problem, which is not only confined to those who have travelled abroad. In both outbreaks and sporadic cases, diagnosis can go unrecognised. We reviewed the demographics, comorbidities, diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcome of LP cases over five years in a district general hospital in northwest England. Over half of LP cases were UK acquired and 'classic' clinical features were common. Clinical criteria for diagnosing LP were confirmed, but few sputum samples were sent to reference laboratories, limiting further essential epidemiological mapping of UK cases. Following current UK community-acquired pneumonia guidance would have missed nearly one quarter of LP cases in our series, potentially leading to further morbidity and mortality.

Several cases of work-related allergic contact dermatitis caused by isocyanates at a company manufacturing heat exchangers.

PubMed

Engfeldt, Malin; Isaksson, Marléne; Zimerson, Erik; Bruze, Magnus

2013-03-01

A 43-year-old woman was referred by her occupational health service with suspected occupational contact dermatitis. In connection with the investigation, a workplace visit was undertaken at her company, which used an adhesive based on pre-polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate in one of its units. During the visit, we became aware of six other employees with skin problems who were then referred to our department for investigation. To investigate the seven employees complaining about skin problems. Seven employees were patch tested with a baseline series, an isocyanate series, and a series with work material. Five of seven patients had occupational contact allergy. Four reacted to isocyanate-related test preparations, and one to a cleanser used at the workplace. Workplace visits constitute an important part of an occupational investigation, as they might give a broader picture of the problems at a company. In this case, it was found that 5 of 100 employees currently had or had previously had occupation-related skin problems. Owing to 'healthy worker selection', some of these patients might have been missed if we had not performed a full-scale workplace visit. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Robot-assisted technique for boari flap ureteral reimplantation: is robot assistance beneficial?

PubMed

Do, Minh; Kallidonis, Panagiotis; Qazi, Hasan; Liatsikos, Evangelos; Ho Thi, Phuc; Dietel, Anja; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe

2014-06-01

Ureteral reconstructive surgery necessitates adequate exposure of the ureteral lesion and results in large abdominal incisions. Robot assistance allows the performance of complex ureteral reconstructive surgery through small incisions. The current series includes only cases of Boari flaps performed by robot assistance and attempts to describe in detail the technique, review the literature, as well as to expand the experience in the current literature. Eight patients underwent ureteral reimplantation by Boari flap technique. The indications for the performance of the procedure included ureteral stricture from iatrogenic injury in three patients, recurrent ureteral stricture after multiple endoscopic stone management procedures in one patient, ureteral stricture from previous malignant disease in the pelvis or abdomen in three patients, and ureteral stricture due to trauma in one patient. Five cases were located in the left side and three cases in the right side. A variety of parameters were recorded in a prospective database including the time for robot docking and total operative time as well as catheterization and drainage time. The follow-up of the patients included the performance of renal ultrasonography 4 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. Mean age of the patients was 50.8 (range 39-62) years and mean body mass index was 26.2 (range 23.22-29.29) kg/m(2). Operative time ranged 115 and 240 (mean 171.9) minutes. Mean blood loss was 161.3 (50-250) mL. Conversion to open surgery did not take place in the current series. No intraoperative complications were observed. Postoperative complications included one case of prolonged anastomotic leakage. The robot-assisted approach is efficient in the performance of ureteral reimplantation with Boari flap. Low blood loss, short catheterization time, low complication rate, and excellent reconstructive outcome are associated with the approach. Robot assistance seems to be beneficial for ureteral reconstructive surgery.

Intraoral scanners in dentistry: a review of the current literature.

PubMed

Mangano, Francesco; Gandolfi, Andrea; Luongo, Giuseppe; Logozzo, Silvia

2017-12-12

Intraoral scanners (IOS) are devices for capturing direct optical impressions in dentistry. The purpose of this narrative review on the use of IOS was to: (1) identify the advantages/disadvantages of using optical impressions compared to conventional impressions; (2) investigate if optical impressions are as accurate as conventional impressions; (3) evaluate the differences between the IOS currently available commercially; (4) determine the current clinical applications/limitations in the use of IOS. Electronic database searches were performed using specific keywords and MeSH terms. The searches were confined to full-text articles written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2007 and June 2017. One hundred thirty-two studies were included in the present review; among them, 20 were previous literature reviews, 78 were in vivo clinical studies (6 randomized controlled/crossover trials, 31 controlled/comparative studies; 24 cohort studies/case series; 17 case reports) and 34 were in vitro comparative studies. Optical impressions reduce patient discomfort; IOS are time-efficient and simplify clinical procedures for the dentist, eliminating plaster models and allowing better communication with the dental technician and with patients; however, with IOS, it can be difficult to detect deep margin lines in prepared teeth and/or in case of bleeding, there is a learning curve, and there are purchasing and managing costs. The current IOS are sufficiently accurate for capturing impressions for fabricating a whole series of prosthetic restorations (inlays/onlays, copings and frameworks, single crowns and fixed partial dentures) on both natural teeth and implants; in addition, they can be used for smile design, and to fabricate posts and cores, removable partial prostheses and obturators. The literature to date does not support the use of IOS in long-span restorations with natural teeth or implants. Finally, IOS can be integrated in implant dentistry for guided surgery and in orthodontics for fabricating aligners and custom-made devices.

Poliovirus excretion among persons with primary immune deficiency disorders: summary of a seven-country study series.

PubMed

Li, Li; Ivanova, Olga; Driss, Nadia; Tiongco-Recto, Marysia; da Silva, Rajiva; Shahmahmoodi, Shohreh; Sazzad, Hossain M S; Mach, Ondrej; Kahn, Anna-Lea; Sutter, Roland W

2014-11-01

Persons with primary immune deficiency disorders (PID), especially those disorders affecting the B-cell system, are at substantially increased risk of paralytic poliomyelitis and can excrete poliovirus chronically. However, the risk of prolonged or chronic excretion is not well characterized in developing countries. We present a summary of a country study series on poliovirus excretion among PID cases. Cases with PID from participating institutions were enrolled during the first year and after obtaining informed consent were tested for polioviruses in stool samples. Those cases excreting poliovirus were followed on a monthly basis during the second year until 2 negative stool samples were obtained. A total of 562 cases were enrolled in Bangladesh, China, Iran, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia during 2008-2013. Of these, 17 (3%) shed poliovirus, including 2 cases with immunodeficient vaccine-derived poliovirus. Poliovirus was detected in a single sample from 5/17 (29%) cases. One case excreted for more than 6 months. None of the cases developed paralysis during the study period. Chronic polioviruses excretion remains a rare event even among individuals with PID. Nevertheless, because these individuals were not paralyzed they would have been missed by current surveillance; therefore, surveillance for polioviruses among PID should be established. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Designing a 25-kilowatt high frequency series resonant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robson, R. R.

1984-01-01

The feasibility of processing 25 kW of power with a single, transistorized, 20 kHz, series resonant converter stage has been demonstrated by the successful design, development, fabrication, and testing of such a device. It employs four Westinghouse D7ST transistors in a full-bridge configuration and operates from a 250-to-350-Vdc input bus. The unit has an overall worst-case efficiency of 93.5% at its full rated output of 1000 V and 25 A dc. A solid-state dc input circuit breaker and output-transient-current limiters are included in and integrated into the design. Circuit details of the converter are presented along with test data.

A Smoothing Technique for the Multifractal Analysis of a Medium Voltage Feeders Electric Current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Santis, Enrico; Sadeghian, Alireza; Rizzi, Antonello

2017-12-01

The current paper presents a data-driven detrending technique allowing to smooth complex sinusoidal trends from a real-world electric load time series before applying the Detrended Multifractal Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA). The algorithm we call Smoothed Sort and Cut Fourier Detrending (SSC-FD) is based on a suitable smoothing of high power periodicities operating directly in the Fourier spectrum through a polynomial fitting technique of the DFT. The main aim consists of disambiguating the characteristic slow varying periodicities, that can impair the MFDFA analysis, from the residual signal in order to study its correlation properties. The algorithm performances are evaluated on a simple benchmark test consisting of a persistent series where the Hurst exponent is known, with superimposed ten sinusoidal harmonics. Moreover, the behavior of the algorithm parameters is assessed computing the MFDFA on the well-known sunspot data, whose correlation characteristics are reported in literature. In both cases, the SSC-FD method eliminates the apparent crossover induced by the synthetic and natural periodicities. Results are compared with some existing detrending methods within the MFDFA paradigm. Finally, a study of the multifractal characteristics of the electric load time series detrendended by the SSC-FD algorithm is provided, showing a strong persistent behavior and an appreciable amplitude of the multifractal spectrum that allows to conclude that the series at hand has multifractal characteristics.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a review of the current literature.

PubMed

Uzun, Gunalp; Mutluoglu, Mesut; Ersen, Omer; Yildiz, Senol

2016-01-01

To review the current literature on the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). We searched PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), EMBASE, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL and MEDLINE through April 2015. We hand-searched relevant textbooks, conference proceedings and the reference lists of review articles and clinical studies Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies (cohort study, case-control study, case series) that reported the outcome of patients who received HBO₂therapy for ONFH were included. Only English-language articles were included. Study quality was not used as an exclusion criterion. Two authors independently assessed trials for inclusion, extracted data and presented to other authors. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. We identified eight clinical studies; two randomized controlled trials (RCTs); one historically controlled study; and five case series. The majority of the studies were small-scale, heterogeneous and methodologically weak. In four of the studies HBO₂therapy was combined with other treatment modalities, making it impossible to draw firm conclusions on the specific effects of HBO₂therapy. Hip survivorship in studies wherein HBO₂therapy was used alone was 95.5% in Steinberg Stage I lesions, 89% in Steinberg Stage II lesions and 100% in Ficat Stage II lesions. There is a room for HBO₂therapy in the management ONFH. Further RCTs, however, are required to better elucidate the role of HBO₂therapy in the treatment of ONFH.

Missing metastases as a model to challenge current therapeutic algorithms in colorectal liver metastases.

PubMed

Lucidi, Valerio; Hendlisz, Alain; Van Laethem, Jean-Luc; Donckier, Vincent

2016-04-21

In oncosurgical approach to colorectal liver metastases, surgery remains considered as the only potentially curative option, while chemotherapy alone represents a strictly palliative treatment. However, missing metastases, defined as metastases disappearing after chemotherapy, represent a unique model to evaluate the curative potential of chemotherapy and to challenge current therapeutic algorithms. We reviewed recent series on missing colorectal liver metastases to evaluate incidence of this phenomenon, predictive factors and rates of cure defined by complete pathologic response in resected missing metastases and sustained clinical response when they were left unresected. According to the progresses in the efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimen, the incidence of missing liver metastases regularly increases these last years. Main predictive factors are small tumor size, low marker level, duration of chemotherapy, and use of intra-arterial chemotherapy. Initial series showed low rates of complete pathologic response in resected missing metastases and high recurrence rates when unresected. However, recent reports describe complete pathologic responses and sustained clinical responses reaching 50%, suggesting that chemotherapy could be curative in some cases. Accordingly, in case of missing colorectal liver metastases, the classical recommendation to resect initial tumor sites might have become partially obsolete. Furthermore, the curative effect of chemotherapy in selected cases could lead to a change of paradigm in patients with unresectable liver-only metastases, using intensive first-line chemotherapy to intentionally induce missing metastases, followed by adjuvant surgery on remnant chemoresistant tumors and close surveillance of initial sites that have been left unresected.

The education of informationists, from the perspective of a library and information sciences educator

PubMed Central

Detlefsen, Ellen G.

2002-01-01

This article explores the background of, and some of the current models for the education of, the individuals known as “informationists.” A definition, an historical overview, and a literature review are followed by a description of the current practices in a variety of institutions and organizations. A series of five “case reports” illustrates some of the possible tracks that individuals seeking education as informationists may follow. A proposal for a rigorous planning process is made, followed by a list of recommendations for this planning process. PMID:11838461

Learning curve in robotic rectal cancer surgery: current state of affairs.

PubMed

Jiménez-Rodríguez, Rosa M; Rubio-Dorado-Manzanares, Mercedes; Díaz-Pavón, José Manuel; Reyes-Díaz, M Luisa; Vazquez-Monchul, Jorge Manuel; Garcia-Cabrera, Ana M; Padillo, Javier; De la Portilla, Fernando

2016-12-01

Robotic-assisted rectal cancer surgery offers multiple advantages for surgeons, and it seems to yield the same clinical outcomes as regards the short-time follow-up of patients compared to conventional laparoscopy. This surgical approach emerges as a technique aiming at overcoming the limitations posed by rectal cancer and other surgical fields of difficult access, in order to obtain better outcomes and a shorter learning curve. A systematic review of the literature of robot-assisted rectal surgery was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The search was conducted in October 2015 in PubMed, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, for articles published in the last 10 years and pertaining the learning curve of robotic surgery for colorectal cancer. It consisted of the following key words: "rectal cancer/learning curve/robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery". A total of 34 references were identified, but only 9 full texts specifically addressed the analysis of the learning curve in robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery, 7 were case series and 2 were non-randomised case-comparison series. Eight papers used the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method, and only one author divided the series into two groups to compare both. The mean number of cases for phase I of the learning curve was calculated to be 29.7 patients; phase II corresponds to a mean number 37.4 patients. The mean number of cases required for the surgeon to be classed as an expert in robotic surgery was calculated to be 39 patients. Robotic advantages could have an impact on learning curve for rectal cancer and lower the number of cases that are necessary for rectal resections.

Sawflies and ponderosa pine: hypothetical response surfaces for pine genotype, ontogenic stage, and stress level

Treesearch

Michael R. Wagner

1991-01-01

Patterns that occur in nature are the result of a complex set of current and historical factors that interact with one another and the adaptive plasticity of plants. Scientists are forced to assess such processes on the basis of series of "snapshots" over a relatively short time that represent only part of the grand pattern. In the case of insects interacting...

Higher Education and Employment: The Changing Relationship. The Case of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Expert Contribution: Norway. The Humanities, Social Sciences and Employment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eide, Kjell

This report, one of a series of country studies on higher education and employment, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, looks at the employment of social science and humanities graduates in Norway. The paper opens by briefly sketching some major interrelated developments in current society such as shifts in the economy, changes in…

Case reports and case series in prehospital emergency care research.

PubMed

Patterson, P Daniel; Weaver, Matthew; Clark, Sunday; Yealy, Donald M

2010-11-01

Research begins with a clearly stated question, problem or hypothesis. The selection of a study design appropriate to the task is the next key step. This paper provides guidance for the use of case report and case series designs by describing the 'what', 'when' and 'how' of both designs. Also described is the use of case reports and case series study designs in prehospital emergency research and the quality of published literature from 2000 to mid-2008.

Correlations of stock price fluctuations under multi-scale and multi-threshold scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Guo; Li, Huajiao; Feng, Sida; Liu, Xueyong; Jiang, Meihui

2018-01-01

The multi-scale method is widely used in analyzing time series of financial markets and it can provide market information for different economic entities who focus on different periods. Through constructing multi-scale networks of price fluctuation correlation in the stock market, we can detect the topological relationship between each time series. Previous research has not addressed the problem that the original fluctuation correlation networks are fully connected networks and more information exists within these networks that is currently being utilized. Here we use listed coal companies as a case study. First, we decompose the original stock price fluctuation series into different time scales. Second, we construct the stock price fluctuation correlation networks at different time scales. Third, we delete the edges of the network based on thresholds and analyze the network indicators. Through combining the multi-scale method with the multi-threshold method, we bring to light the implicit information of fully connected networks.

Employment as a welder and Parkinson disease among heavy equipment manufacturing workers.

PubMed

Marsh, Gary M; Gula, Mary Jean

2006-10-01

We investigated whether employment as a welder with potential exposure to manganese and other substances is associated with Parkinson disease (PD), parkinsonism or related neurological disorders, or accelerates the age of onset of PD. We selected cases and controls from 12,595 persons ever employed at three Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) plants between 1976 and 2004 with potential to make a medical insurance claim between 1998 and 2004. Cases had filed a claim for 1) PD, 2) "secondary parkinsonism", 3) "other degenerative diseases of the basal ganglia" or 4) "essential and other specific forms of tremor". Cases were grouped by claims: Group 1-claims 1 and 2 and Group 2-claims 1 to 4, and as study period incident (SPI) or prevalent. Each case was matched to two series of 10 controls each on date of case's first claim, year of birth, race and sex. Series I was also matched on plant. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the variable, "ever welder in any CAT plant" were: Group 1-SPI Cases: Series I (OR = .76, CI = .26-2.19), Series II (OR = .81, CI = .29-2.25); Group 1- Prevalent Cases: Series I (OR = .82, CI = .36-1.86), Series II (OR = .97, CI = .42-2.23); Group 2- SPI Cases: Series I (OR = 1.03, CI = .57-1.87), Series II (OR = 1.21, CI = .67-2.20) Group 2-Prevalent Cases: Series I (OR = 1.02, CI = .62-1.71), Series II (OR = .86, CI = .51-1.43). Our finding of no statistically significant associations for welding employment was maintained following adjustment for potential confounding and evaluation of possible effect modification. Employment as a welder did not accelerate the age of onset of PD. Our study supported the conclusion that employment as a welder is not associated with Parkinson disease, parkinsonism or a related neurological disorder.

Power factor improvement in three-phase networks with unbalanced inductive loads using the Roederstein ESTAmat RPR power factor controller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diniş, C. M.; Cunţan, C. D.; Rob, R. O. S.; Popa, G. N.

2018-01-01

The paper presents the analysis of a power factor with capacitors banks, without series coils, used for improving power factor for a three-phase and single-phase inductive loads. In the experimental measurements, to improve the power factor, the Roederstein ESTAmat RPR power factor controller can command up to twelve capacitors banks, while experimenting using only six capacitors banks. Six delta capacitors banks with approximately equal reactive powers were used for experimentation. The experimental measurements were carried out with a three-phase power quality analyser which worked in three cases: a case without a controller with all capacitors banks permanently parallel connected with network, and two other cases with power factor controller (one with setting power factor at 0.92 and the other one at 1). When performing experiments with the power factor controller, a current transformer was used to measure the current on one phase (at a more charged or less loaded phase).

The Therapeutic Role of Interleukin-1 Inhibition in Idiopathic Recurrent Pericarditis: Current Evidence and Future Challenges

PubMed Central

Lazaros, George; Antonatou, Katerina; Vassilopoulos, Dimitrios

2017-01-01

Recurrent pericarditis is a common complication of acute pericarditis (15–30%) for which, in most cases, no underlying etiology is found [idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP)]. IRP is currently viewed as an autoinflammatory disease with characteristic recurrent episodes of sterile inflammation. According to the most recent Guidelines, the initial treatment regimen consists of a combination of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with colchicine followed by the addition of corticosteroids in resistant or intolerant cases. Despite this treatment approach, a number of patients either do not respond or cannot tolerate the above therapies. For this refractory group, small case series and a recent randomized controlled trial have shown that interleukin-1 inhibition with anakinra is a rapidly acting, highly efficient, steroid-sparing, and safe therapeutic intervention. In this perspective, we discuss the available clinical evidence and our own clinical experience as well as the future prospects of this novel therapeutic approach for patients with IRP. PMID:28660191

Blind tests of methods for InSight Mars mission: Open scientific challenge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clinton, John; Ceylan, Savas; Giardini, Domenico; Khan, Amir; van Driel, Martin; Böse, Maren; Euchner, Fabian; Garcia, Raphael F.; Drilleau, Mélanie; Lognonné, Philippe; Panning, Mark; Banerdt, Bruce

2017-04-01

The Marsquake Service (MQS) will be the ground segment service within the InSight mission to Mars, which will deploy a single seismic station on Elysium Planitia in November 2018. The main tasks of the MQS are the identification and characterisation of seismicity, and managing the Martian seismic event catalogue. In advance of the mission, we have developed a series of single station event location methods that rely on a priori 1D and 3D structural models. In coordination with the Mars Structural Service, we expect to use iterative inversion techniques to revise these structural models and event locations. In order to seek methodological advancements and test our current approaches, we have designed a blind test case using Martian synthetics combined with realistic noise models for the Martian surface. We invite all scientific parties that are interested in single station approaches and in exploring the Martian time-series to participate and contribute to our blind test. We anticipate the test will can improve currently developed location and structural inversion techniques, and also allow us explore new single station techniques for moment tensor and magnitude determination. The waveforms for our test case are computed employing AxiSEM and Instaseis for a randomly selected 1D background model and event catalogue that is statistically consistent with our current expectation of Martian seismicity. Realistic seismic surface noise is superimposed to generate a continuous time-series spanning 6 months. The event catalog includes impacts as well as Martian quakes. The temporal distribution of the seismicity in the timeseries, as well as the true structural model, are not be known to any participating parties including MQS till the end of competition. We provide our internal tools such as event location codes, suite of background models, seismic phase travel times, in order to support researchers who are willing to use/improve our current methods. Following the deadline of our blind test in late 2017, we plan to combine all outcomes in an article with all participants as co-authors.

Case Series Investigations in Cognitive Neuropsychology

PubMed Central

Schwartz, Myrna F.; Dell, Gary S.

2011-01-01

Case series methodology involves the systematic assessment of a sample of related patients, with the goal of understanding how and why they differ from one another. This method has become increasingly important in cognitive neuropsychology, which has long been identified with single-subject research. We review case series studies dealing with impaired semantic memory, reading, and language production, and draw attention to the affinity of this methodology for testing theories that are expressed as computational models and for addressing questions about neuroanatomy. It is concluded that case series methods usefully complement single-subject techniques. PMID:21714756

Caregiver Use of the Core Components of Technology-Enhanced Helping the Noncompliant Child: A Case Series Analysis of Low-Income Families

PubMed Central

Anton, Margaret T.; Jones, Deborah J.; Cuellar, Jessica; Forehand, Rex; Gonzalez, Michelle; Honeycutt, Amanda; Khavjou, Olga; Newey, Greg; Edwards, Alex; Jacobs, Mary; Pitmman, Sarah

2016-01-01

Children from low-income families are more likely to develop early-onset disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) compared to their higher income counterparts. Low-income families of children with early-onset DBDs, however, are less likely to engage in the standard-of-care treatment, behavioral parent training (BPT), than families from other sociodemographic groups. Preliminary between-group findings suggested technology-enhanced BPT was associated with increased engagement and boosted treatment outcomes for low-income families relative to standard BPT. The current study used a case series design to take this research a step further by examining whether there was variability in use of, and reactions to, the smartphone enhancements within technology-enhanced BPT and the extent to which this variability paralleled treatment outcome. Findings provide a window into the uptake and use of technology-enhanced service delivery methods among low-income families, with implications for the broader field of children’s mental health. PMID:27795664

Approaches to quantifying long-term continental shelf sediment transport with an example from the Northern California STRESS mid-shelf site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Courtney K.; Wiberg, Patricia L.

1997-09-01

Modeling shelf sediment transport rates and bed reworking depths is problematic when the wave and current forcing conditions are not precisely known, as is usually the case when long-term sedimentation patterns are of interest. Two approaches to modeling sediment transport under such circumstances are considered. The first relies on measured or simulated time series of flow conditions to drive model calculations. The second approach uses as model input probability distribution functions of bottom boundary layer flow conditions developed from wave and current measurements. Sediment transport rates, frequency of bed resuspension by waves and currents, and bed reworking calculated using the two methods are compared at the mid-shelf STRESS (Sediment TRansport on Shelves and Slopes) site on the northern California continental shelf. Current, wave and resuspension measurements at the site are used to generate model inputs and test model results. An 11-year record of bottom wave orbital velocity, calculated from surface wave spectra measured by the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) Buoy 46013 and verified against bottom tripod measurements, is used to characterize the frequency and duration of wave-driven transport events and to estimate the joint probability distribution of wave orbital velocity and period. A 109-day record of hourly current measurements 10 m above bottom is used to estimate the probability distribution of bottom boundary layer current velocity at this site and to develop an auto-regressive model to simulate current velocities for times when direct measurements of currents are not available. Frequency of transport, the maximum volume of suspended sediment, and average flux calculated using measured wave and simulated current time series agree well with values calculated using measured time series. A probabilistic approach is more amenable to calculations over time scales longer than existing wave records, but it tends to underestimate net transport because it does not capture the episodic nature of transport events. Both methods enable estimates to be made of the uncertainty in transport quantities that arise from an incomplete knowledge of the specific timing of wave and current conditions. 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Remodelling of the pinna in myxoid degeneration of the ear.

PubMed

Kean, J; Stewart, K J

2010-07-01

Idiopathic deformation of the pinna is not widely reported in the current literature. We present a series of cases in which patients have required surgery for spontaneous thickening and deformation of the auricular cartilage, and a description of a technique for surgical correction. Four cases of idiopathic deformation of the pinna are reported. Our preferred technique of scaphoid rim incision and anterior carving of the cartilage is described, with intra-operative photographs. Each patient reported spontaneous swelling of the upper poles of the ears beginning in the second or third decade of life. In 3 cases the deformity was bilateral, although in each of these cases one side was more severely affected than the other. Histology for these cases was reported as myxoid degeneration of the ear. All of the reported patients were pleased with the aesthetic outcome of their auricular remodelling. Currently, there are no typical patient demographics for idiopathic myxoid degeneration of the ear. We have achieved good aesthetic results by hand carving the anterior aspect of the deformed cartilage via scaphoid rim incisions. Copyright 2009 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Review of current therapies for secondary hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy.

PubMed

Nguyen, Sheila; Hojjati, Mehrnaz

2011-01-01

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a disabling condition that may occur secondarily to primary lung cancer. It is characterized by digital clubbing, arthralgia/arthritis, and periostosis of the tubular bones. The pain associated with HOA can be disabling and often refractory to conventional analgesics. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature using the PubMed database on treatment modalities available for HOA. We found 52 relevant articles-40 case reports, six case series, two review papers, and four combined case series and review papers. There were no randomized controlled trials reported. We then classified treatments used for HOA into two categories: (1) treatment of primary cause (i.e., resection of tumor, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, treatment of infection, etc.) and (2) symptomatic treatments (i.e., bisphosphonates, octreotide, NSAIDs, vagotomy, etc.). Subsequently, we summarized the main findings for each treatment. Although the clinical diagnosis of HOA has existed for over 100 years, the pathogenesis mechanism has not yet been elucidated, and treatment options for this condition remain experimental. Primary treatment is the most widely reported modality to be efficacious. In cases which primary therapy is not possible, several symptomatic treatment modalities are suggested, with various degree of success. Further research is needed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanism of HOA as to appropriately direct therapy.

Use of asenapine as add-on therapy in the treatment of bipolar disorder: a comprehensive review and case series.

PubMed

Dell'Osso, Bernardo; Cremaschi, Laura; Palazzo, Maria Carlotta; Spagnolin, Gregorio; Cattaneo, Alma; Grancini, Benedetta; Maggi, Matteo; Altamura, Alfredo Carlo

2014-09-01

Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs), conducted in schizophrenic and bipolar patients, have documented the efficacy and tolerability of asenapine as monotherapy both for short- and long-term treatment. However, evidence on its augmentative use is more limited and related to the manic/mixed phase of bipolar disorder (BD). The present article reviews augmentative asenapine efficacy and safety/tolerability in the treatment of BD. It also includes some original cases of bipolar patients treated with add-on asenapine in the short- and long-term. To date, only a single RCT with manic/mixed patients with partial response to mood-stabilizer monotherapy supports the efficacy and safety/tolerability of augmentative asenapine to lithium/valproate, both in acute and long-term treatment. Additionally, two case reports confirm the overall effectiveness of augmentative asenapine to clozapine and valproate. Our case series, consisting of 4 bipolar patients treated with adjunctive asenapine to mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics - with treatment duration ranging from 1 to 14 months - provided clinical results that are consistent with literature data. Taken as a whole, available evidence seems to support the efficacy and safety of adjunctive asenapine in bipolar patients, though additional studies with active comparators are requested to confirm the current body of evidence.

Direct current electrical stimulation of acupuncture needles for peripheral nerve regeneration: an exploratory case series.

PubMed

Inoue, Motohiro; Katsumi, Yasukazu; Itoi, Megumi; Hojo, Tatsuya; Nakajima, Miwa; Ohashi, Suzuyo; Oi, Yuki; Kitakoji, Hiroshi

2011-06-01

To examine the therapeutic effect of a novel therapeutic method based on electroacupuncture with intermittent direct current (DCEA) and associated adverse events in patients with peripheral nerve damage and a poor clinical prognosis. In seven older patients with peripheral nerve damage (neurapraxia 2, axonotmesis 4, neuromesis 1), an acupuncture needle connected to an anode electrode was inserted proximal to the site of the injury along the route of the nerve, while the cathode electrode was inserted into the innervated muscle, and DCEA was performed (100 Hz for 20 min, weekly). Muscular paralysis was evaluated weekly with manual muscle testing, the active range of motion of joints related to the muscular paralysis and, when necessary, needle electromyography. Adverse events were also recorded during the course of the treatment. Complete functional recovery was observed in the two cases with neurapraxia and two with axonotmesis, while one axonotmesis case achieved improvement and the other showed reinnervation potential without functional recovery. No improvement was observed in the neurotmesis case. Pigmentation of the skin where the anode needle was inserted occurred in three cases. Although there was no definite causal link, one case showed excessive formation and resorption of bone in the area close to the cathode needle site. Accelerated nerve regeneration caused by DCEA may contribute to recovery. The skin pigmentation and callus formation suggest that the shape of the anode electrode, current intensity and other factors should be examined to establish a safer treatment method.

Integrating Policies and Systems for Early Childhood Education and Care: The Case of the Republic of Korea. Early Childhood and Family Policy Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Na, Jung; Moon, Mugyeong

Noting that young children in the Republic of Korea have received institutional education and care for more than 100 years, this report provides an in-depth analysis of Korea's reform of its early childhood education and care (ECEC) system. The analysis focuses on how ECEC has evolved, the current system, why Korea has attempted to reform the…

The use of electroconvulsive therapy in atypical psychotic presentations: a case review.

PubMed

Montgomery, John H; Vasu, Devi

2007-10-01

Convulsive therapy and its progeny, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), were originally used for the treatment of catatonic schizophrenia, and there is little doubt that ECT remains an effective intervention for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, current practice tends to favor the use of ECT in severe or treatment refractory affective disorders, and its use in schizophrenia and other nonaffective (atypical) psychotic disorders has become controversial.CASE REPORTS HAVE SUGGESTED A ROLE FOR ECT IN TWO SPECIFIC ATYPICAL PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS: Cotard's syndrome and cycloid psychosis. In this article, we review the atypical psychotic disorders and report a series of five case examples that signify the role of ECT in atypical psychotic presentations, particularly when the symptoms resemble those found in Cotard's syndrome and cycloid psychosis.

Pattern analysis of fraud case in Taiwan, China and Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kusumo, A. H.; Chi, C.-F.; Dewi, R. S.

2017-11-01

The current study analyzed 125 successful fraud cases happened in Taiwan, China, and Indonesia from 2008 to 2012 published in the English online newspapers. Each of the case report was coded in terms of scam principle, information media (information exchange between fraudsters and victim), money media (media used by fraudsters to obtain unauthorized financial benefit) and other additional information which was judged to be relevant. The Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was applied to the coded data of information, scam principle and money media to find a subset of predictors that might derive meaningful classifications. A series of flow diagrams was constructed based on CHAID result to illustrate the flow of information (scam) travelling from information media to money media.

Implemented Lomb-Scargle periodogram: a valuable tool for improving cyclostratigraphic research on unevenly sampled deep-sea stratigraphic sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pardo-Iguzquiza, Eulogio; Rodríguez-Tovar, Francisco J.

2011-12-01

One important handicap when working with stratigraphic sequences is the discontinuous character of the sedimentary record, especially relevant in cyclostratigraphic analysis. Uneven palaeoclimatic/palaeoceanographic time series are common, their cyclostratigraphic analysis being comparatively difficult because most spectral methodologies are appropriate only when working with even sampling. As a means to solve this problem, a program for calculating the smoothed Lomb-Scargle periodogram and cross-periodogram, which additionally evaluates the statistical confidence of the estimated power spectrum through a Monte Carlo procedure (the permutation test), has been developed. The spectral analysis of a short uneven time series calls for assessment of the statistical significance of the spectral peaks, since a periodogram can always be calculated but the main challenge resides in identifying true spectral features. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this program, two case studies are presented: the one deals with synthetic data and the other with paleoceanographic/palaeoclimatic proxies. On a simulated time series of 500 data, two uneven time series (with 100 and 25 data) were generated by selecting data at random. Comparative analysis between the power spectra from the simulated series and from the two uneven time series demonstrates the usefulness of the smoothed Lomb-Scargle periodogram for uneven sequences, making it possible to distinguish between statistically significant and spurious spectral peaks. Fragmentary time series of Cd/Ca ratios and δ18O from core AII107-131 of SPECMAP were analysed as a real case study. The efficiency of the direct and cross Lomb-Scargle periodogram in recognizing Milankovitch and sub-Milankovitch signals related to palaeoclimatic/palaeoceanographic changes is demonstrated. As implemented, the Lomb-Scargle periodogram may be applied to any palaeoclimatic/palaeoceanographic proxies, including those usually recovered from contourites, and it holds special interest in the context of centennial- to millennial-scale climatic changes affecting contouritic currents.

[The case-case-time-control study design].

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Zhuo, Lin; Zhan, Siyan

2014-12-01

Although the 'self-matched case-only studies' (such as the case-cross-over or self-controlled case-series method) can control the time-invariant confounders (measured or unmeasured) through design of the study, however, they can not control those confounders that vary with time. A bidirectional case-crossover design can be used to adjust the exposure-time trends. In the areas of pharmaco-epidemiology, illness often influence the future use of medications, making a bidirectional study design problematic. Suissa's case-time-control design combines the case-crossover and the case-control design which could adjust for exposure-trend bias, but the control group may reintroduce selection bias, if the matching does not go well. We propose a "case-case-time-control" design which is an extension of the case-time-control design. However, rather than using a sample of external controls, we choose those future cases as controls for current cases to counter the bias that arising from temporal trends caused by exposure to the target of interest. In the end of this article we will discuss the strength and limitations of this design based on an applied example.

77 FR 42040 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-17

... comparable to the obligations proposed in this filing: Market-Makers % Time % Series Classes CBOE (current........ 60 All classes collectively. PMMs % Time % Series Classes CBOE (current rule) 99% of the time... % Time % Series Classes CBOE (current rule) 99% of the time required to 90% * Class-by-class. provide...

Hypophosphataemia among Severely-malnourished Children: Case Series

PubMed Central

Chisti, Mohammod Jobayer; Hossain, Md. Iqbal; Islam, Md. Munirul; Fukushima, Takashi; Wagatsuma, Yukiko; Smith, Jonathan Harvey; Sumazaki, Ryo; Ahmed, Tahmeed

2012-01-01

Phosphorus is an essential substance in our body, and hypophosphataemia (HP) is well-described in rickets, refeeding syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and in chronic alcohol-abuse. However, to our knowledge, HP among severely-malnourished children has not been studied in detail, and information on prevalence, severity, and treatment is scarce. Currently, there are only a few published case reports of HP. This case series describes three cases of HP that presented to Dhaka Hospital of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Our first case required mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress associated with severe hypokalaemia (K 1.1 mmol/L) and moderate hypophosphataemia (P 2.1 mg/dL). The second case presented with severe sepsis which was associated with symptomatic hypocalcaemia (Ca 1.68 mmol/L), hypokalaemia (K 1.82 mmol/L), and severe hypophosphataemia (P 0.9 mg/dL). The third case presented with pneumonia and sepsis which were complicated by hypokalaemia (K 2.05 mmol/L) and severe hypophosphataemia (P 1.1 mg/dL). Marked lethargy and severe hypotonia were associated with HP in all of these cases. Manifestations of HP are diverse and can occur in association with other electrolyte imbalances, especially among malnourished children. Malnutrition, combined with sepsis, is one of the major killers of children younger than 5 years of age, and both malnutrition and sepsis can cause HP. It is concluded that the underlying causes of morbidity, including HP, should be actively sought and treated to reduce the mortality of children aged below five years. PMID:23304916

Hypophosphataemia among severely-malnourished children: case series.

PubMed

Yoshimatsu, Shoji; Chisti, Mohammod Jobayer; Hossain, Md Iqbal; Islam, Md Munirul; Fukushima, Takashi; Wagatsuma, Yukiko; Smith, Jonathan Harvey; Sumazaki, Ryo; Ahmed, Tahmeed

2012-12-01

Phosphorus is an essential substance in our body, and hypophosphataemia (HP) is well-described in rickets, refeeding syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and in chronic alcohol-abuse. However, to our knowledge, HP among severely-malnourished children has not been studied in detail, and information on prevalence, severity, and treatment is scarce. Currently, there are only a few published case reports of HP. This case series describes three cases of HP that presented to Dhaka Hospital of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Our first case required mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress associated with severe hypokalaemia (K 1.1 mmol/L) and moderate hypophosphataemia (P 2.1 mg/dL). The second case presented with severe sepsis which was associated with symptomatic hypocalcaemia (Ca 1.68 mmol/L), hypokalaemia (K 1.82 mmol/L), and severe hypophosphataemia (P 0.9 mg/dL). The third case presented with pneumonia and sepsis which were complicated by hypokalaemia (K 2.05 mmol/L) and severe hypophosphataemia (P 1.1 mg/dL). Marked lethargy and severe hypotonia were associated with HP in all of these cases. Manifestations of HP are diverse and can occur in association with other electrolyte imbalances, especially among malnourished children. Malnutrition, combined with sepsis, is one of the major killers of children younger than 5 years of age, and both malnutrition and sepsis can cause HP. It is concluded that the underlying causes of morbidity, including HP, should be actively sought and treated to reduce the mortality of children aged below five years.

Accurate expressions for solar cell fill factors including series and shunt resistances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Martin A.

2016-02-01

Together with open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, fill factor is a key solar cell parameter. In their classic paper on limiting efficiency, Shockley and Queisser first investigated this factor's analytical properties showing, for ideal cells, it could be expressed implicitly in terms of the maximum power point voltage. Subsequently, fill factors usually have been calculated iteratively from such implicit expressions or from analytical approximations. In the absence of detrimental series and shunt resistances, analytical fill factor expressions have recently been published in terms of the Lambert W function available in most mathematical computing software. Using a recently identified perturbative relationship, exact expressions in terms of this function are derived in technically interesting cases when both series and shunt resistances are present but have limited impact, allowing a better understanding of their effect individually and in combination. Approximate expressions for arbitrary shunt and series resistances are then deduced, which are significantly more accurate than any previously published. A method based on the insights developed is also reported for deducing one-diode fits to experimental data.

Clinical Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Novel Supportive Therapies for Oral Bone Regeneration

PubMed Central

O'Valle, Francisco; Lanis, Alejandro; Dohan Ehrenfest, David M.; Wang, Hom-Lay; Galindo-Moreno, Pablo

2015-01-01

Bone regeneration is often needed prior to dental implant treatment due to the lack of adequate quantity and quality of the bone after infectious diseases, trauma, tumor, or congenital conditions. In these situations, cell transplantation technologies may help to overcome the limitations of autografts, xenografts, allografts, and alloplastic materials. A database search was conducted to include human clinical trials (randomized or controlled) and case reports/series describing the clinical use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the oral cavity for bone regeneration only specifically excluding periodontal regeneration. Additionally, novel advances in related technologies are also described. 190 records were identified. 51 articles were selected for full-text assessment, and only 28 met the inclusion criteria: 9 case series, 10 case reports, and 9 randomized controlled clinical trials. Collectively, they evaluate the use of MSCs in a total of 290 patients in 342 interventions. The current published literature is very diverse in methodology and measurement of outcomes. Moreover, the clinical significance is limited. Therefore, the use of these techniques should be further studied in more challenging clinical scenarios with well-designed and standardized RCTs, potentially in combination with new scaffolding techniques and bioactive molecules to improve the final outcomes. PMID:26064899

Augmentin duo™ in the treatment of childhood blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

PubMed

Cehajic-Kapetanovic, Jasmina; Kwartz, Jeff

2010-01-01

To report the use of Augmentin Duo 400/57 (GlaxoSmithKline, Middlesex, UK) in the treatment of childhood blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC). This is a retrospective interventional case series. The case notes of 7 consecutive patients treated with Augmentin Duo 400/57 for BKC during 18 months were reviewed. Diagnostic criteria for BKC were blepharitis including recurrent chalazia and meibomian gland dysfunction, eyelid margin telangiectasia and facial rosacea, recurrent episodes of chronic red eye, photophobia, watering, punctate superficial keratopathy, corneal neovascularization, and corneal ulcers. Seven children (age range: 6 to 14 years) were diagnosed as having BKC. All children received systemic Augmentin Duo 400/57 and showed considerable improvement within the first month of therapy. Six children had no recurrences during a mean follow-up of 6 months. No patients experienced any side effects from this treatment. Augmentin Duo 400/57 has not previously been reported in the treatment of BKC in children. In this case series, Augmentin Duo 400/57 proved to be at least as effective as current treatments with systemic erythromycin or doxycycline with the advantage of a twice-daily dosage and a superior side-effect profile. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.

N-state random switching based on quantum tunnelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernardo Gavito, Ramón; Jiménez Urbanos, Fernando; Roberts, Jonathan; Sexton, James; Astbury, Benjamin; Shokeir, Hamzah; McGrath, Thomas; Noori, Yasir J.; Woodhead, Christopher S.; Missous, Mohamed; Roedig, Utz; Young, Robert J.

2017-08-01

In this work, we show how the hysteretic behaviour of resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs) can be exploited for new functionalities. In particular, the RTDs exhibit a stochastic 2-state switching mechanism that could be useful for random number generation and cryptographic applications. This behaviour can be scaled to N-bit switching, by connecting various RTDs in series. The InGaAs/AlAs RTDs used in our experiments display very sharp negative differential resistance (NDR) peaks at room temperature which show hysteresis cycles that, rather than having a fixed switching threshold, show a probability distribution about a central value. We propose to use this intrinsic uncertainty emerging from the quantum nature of the RTDs as a source of randomness. We show that a combination of two RTDs in series results in devices with three-state outputs and discuss the possibility of scaling to N-state devices by subsequent series connections of RTDs, which we demonstrate for the up to the 4-state case. In this work, we suggest using that the intrinsic uncertainty in the conduction paths of resonant tunnelling diodes can behave as a source of randomness that can be integrated into current electronics to produce on-chip true random number generators. The N-shaped I-V characteristic of RTDs results in a two-level random voltage output when driven with current pulse trains. Electrical characterisation and randomness testing of the devices was conducted in order to determine the validity of the true randomness assumption. Based on the results obtained for the single RTD case, we suggest the possibility of using multi-well devices to generate N-state random switching devices for their use in random number generation or multi-valued logic devices.

Fibrinolytic agents in the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants: the evidence.

PubMed

Haines, S J; Lapointe, M

1999-05-01

The objective of this study was to review current literature on the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants with intraventricular administration of fibrinolytic agents; to this end a literature search was carried out electronically. The keywords used were "intraventricular hemorrhage" or "posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus" in combination with "fibrinolytic agent," "urokinase," "streptokinase," or "recombinant tissue plasminogen activator" and "intraventricular administration"; the search covered the years 1966-1998 and was restricted to English language papers and human subjects. It was supplemented by a search through the reference lists of the articles identified. Articles dealing with intracerebral hemorrhage or hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage in adults, nontherapeutic issues and laboratory research were excluded. The articles included are summarized in evidence and evaluation tables. Five scientific publications evaluating the use of a fibrinolytic agent to manage posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus were retrieved. In the studies described in these reports, a total of 62 neonates received streptokinase, urokinase or r-tPA intraventricularly. No two of the regimens were identical in the drug used, method of administration and duration of therapy. The time before therapy was started ranged from 2 to 35 days after the ictus. Among the case series reported, three were small series with a total of 38 neonates. One other case series of 18 neonates compared the treatment group with an historical control group. All case series showed that endoventricular fibrinolytic therapy was practical. The proportion of cases in which shunt placement was performed ranged from 11% to 100%. Only one small prospective, randomized, controlled study was identified. That study was too small to allow useful conclusions. Overall, 3 cases of secondary intraventricular hemorrhage were reported. However, it was not possible to determine with certainty whether these episodes were related to the drug therapy itself. The reports suffer from inadequate study design, lack of descriptive information and short follow-up period. There is insufficient evidence to justify the claim that fibrinolytic agents administered intraventricularly in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus are safe and effective. More evidence is needed to prove or disprove the effectiveness and safety of this form of therapy.

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair with chimney and snorkel grafts: indications, techniques and results.

PubMed

Patel, Rakesh P; Katsargyris, Athanasios; Verhoeven, Eric L G; Adam, Donald J; Hardman, John A

2013-12-01

The chimney technique in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (Ch-EVAR) involves placement of a stent or stent-graft parallel to the main aortic stent-graft to extend the proximal or distal sealing zone while maintaining side branch patency. Ch-EVAR can facilitate endovascular repair of juxtarenal and aortic arch pathology using available standard aortic stent-grafts, therefore, eliminating the manufacturing delays required for customised fenestrated and branched stent-grafts. Several case series have demonstrated the feasibility of Ch-EVAR both in acute and elective cases with good early results. This review discusses indications, technique, and the current available clinical data on Ch-EVAR.

Psychiatric disorders related to menstrual bleeding among an ultra-orthodox population: case series and literature review.

PubMed

Vishne, Tali; Misgav, Sagit; Bunzel, Michael E

2008-05-01

The relationship between menstrual cycle and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been documented in the past and is related to sexual hormone changes. In the ultra-orthodox Jewish population menstrual bleeding is associated both with meticulous rituals of cleanliness and with stressful meanings related to sin, impurity and punishment. Those aspects of the menstrual cycle can be related to specific OCD symptoms among ultra-orthodox women. The current study presents three cases related to the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in relation to the menstrual cycle among ultra-orthodox women, and discusses the biological and social-cultural basis of the disorder.

Facial fractures caused by less-lethal rubber bullet weapons: case series report and literature review.

PubMed

Amaral, Marcio Bruno Figueiredo; Bueno, Sebastião Cristian; Abdala, Icaro Buchholz; da Silveira, Roger Lanes

2017-09-01

The present study aims to describe three cases of patients inflicted by rubber bullets with severe facial fractures. In addition, a review of English-language literature involving facial fractures by rubber bullets from 1975 to 2016 was performed. This current study demonstrated that the use of the LLRBW is unsafety even when applied by police enforcements exclusively. Management of facial fractures caused by LLRBW is done in a usual manner with closed or open reduction associated with bone mini-plates or reconstruction plates when indicated. Special initial wound care should be done to avoid secondary infection and additional procedures.

Institutional Experience in the Management of Hilar Liver Obstruction- A Series of 13 Cases.

PubMed

Pathanki, Adithya Malolan; Naragund, Adithya V; Mahadevappa, Basant

2016-12-01

Neoplastic hilar obstruction to the liver outflow presents a unique challenge to the surgeon, wherein, the balance between a curative and possibly larger resection has to be achieved against a more conservative local resection. These are often technically demanding and have thus, far produced equivocal outcomes on both ends. The present case series is on 13 patients who presented with hilar obstruction. They all underwent resections with possible curative intent. The focus of our review is on the technical nuances and the strategies we used, intra- and peri-operatively to make resections possible in these patients, who at first look were deemed inoperable. Among the 13, 10 had hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) while the others had a more benign diagnosis e.g., Hydatid disease. We did not encounter any peri-operative mortality in our series. Two of our patients had to be re-explored for intra-abdominal complications. Among the 13, we encountered two deaths. The rest of the patients are still on follow-up as of April 2016. Hilar CCA continue to be rare and challenging tumours for the Hepato Pancreato Biliary (HPB) surgeon to manage. Outlooks are currently changing as we try to resect bigger and more complicated hilar liver tumours with better results.

Comparison of Intraoperative Portable CT Scanners in Skull Base and Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Single Center Case Series

PubMed Central

Conley, David B.; Tan, Bruce; Bendok, Bernard R.; Batjer, H. Hunt; Chandra, Rakesh; Sidle, Douglas; Rahme, Rudy J.; Adel, Joseph G.; Fishman, Andrew J.

2011-01-01

Precise and safe management of complex skull base lesions can be enhanced by intraoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning. Surgery in these areas requires real-time feedback of anatomic landmarks. Several portable CT scanners are currently available. We present a comparison of our clinical experience with three portable scanners in skull base and craniofacial surgery. We present clinical case series and the participants were from the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Three scanners are studied: one conventional multidetector CT (MDCT), two digital flat panel cone-beam CT (CBCT) devices. Technical considerations, ease of use, image characteristics, and integration with image guidance are presented for each device. All three scanners provide good quality images. Intraoperative scanning can be used to update the image guidance system in real time. The conventional MDCT is unique in its ability to resolve soft tissue. The flat panel CBCT scanners generally emit lower levels of radiation and have less metal artifact effect. In this series, intraoperative CT scanning was technically feasible and deemed useful in surgical decision-making in 75% of patients. Intraoperative portable CT scanning has significant utility in complex skull base surgery. This technology informs the surgeon of the precise extent of dissection and updates intraoperative stereotactic navigation. PMID:22470270

Severe Propanil [N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) propanamide] Pesticide Self-Poisoning

PubMed Central

Eddleston, Michael; Rajapakshe, Manjula; Roberts, Darren; Reginald, K; Sheriff, M H Rezvi; Dissanayake, Wasantha; Buckley, Nick

2007-01-01

Background propanil pesticide poisoning can produce methaemoglobinaemia, tissue hypoxia, and depression of CNS and respiratory system. It has been recorded only rarely worldwide and most current poison texts consider propanil to be of low toxicity. However, propanil self-poisoning is a significant clinical problem in parts of Sri Lanka and a not uncommon cause of death. Aim of study to report the clinical features and management of severe propanil poisoning. Patients and Methods we report a retrospective case series of patients who were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of and/or died in Anuradhapura General Hospital between 1998 and early 2002. Results sixteen patients were identified. Common manifestations of toxicity included confusion, reduced conscious level, cyanosis, and respiratory depression. Marked haemolysis was noted in several patients. Nine deaths occurred due to respiratory depression and cardiorespiratory arrest. Management was difficult given the lack of IV methylene blue, inability to measure methaemoglobin levels, and paucity of ICU beds. Conclusions this series indicates that propanil poisoning can be a severe form of self-poisoning, particularly in resource-poor settings. We have now initiated the establishment of a prospective series of propanil poisoned patients to further describe its clinical features, responsiveness to therapy, and case fatality rate. PMID:12507053

ACT HEALTHY: A Combined Cognitive-Behavioral Depression and Medication Adherence Treatment for HIV-Infected Substance Users

PubMed Central

Daughters, Stacey B.; Magidson, Jessica F.; Schuster, Randi M.; Safren, Steven A.

2011-01-01

The two most common comorbid conditions with HIV are substance use disorders and depression, and individuals with comorbid HIV, depression, and substance dependence face a more chronic and treatment-resistant course. As an example of how to adapt evidence-based approaches to a complex comorbid population, the current case study examined the integration of a combined depression and HIV medication adherence treatment. The resulting intervention, ACT HEALTHY, combines a brief behavioral activation approach specifically developed to treat depression in individuals receiving residential substance abuse treatment (LETS ACT; Daughters et al., 2008) with a brief cognitive-behavioral approach to improving HIV medication adherence (Life-Steps; Safren et al., 1999; Safren et al., 2009). The current case series demonstrates the use of ACT HEALTHY among 3 depressed HIV-positive, low-income African Americans entering residential substance abuse treatment. PMID:21709737

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infections: The importance of the intestinal microbiota

PubMed Central

Zanella Terrier, Marie Céline; Simonet, Martine Louis; Bichard, Philippe; Frossard, Jean Louis

2014-01-01

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a leading cause of antibiotic-associated and nosocomial diarrhea. Despite effective antibiotic treatments, recurrent infections are common. With the recent emergence of hypervirulent isolates of C. difficile, CDI is a growing epidemic with higher rates of recurrence, increasing severity and mortality. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an alternative treatment for recurrent CDI. A better understanding of intestinal microbiota and its role in CDI has opened the door to this promising therapeutic approach. FMT is thought to resolve dysbiosis by restoring gut microbiota diversity thereby breaking the cycle of recurrent CDI. Since the first reported use of FMT for recurrent CDI in 1958, systematic reviews of case series and case report have shown its effectiveness with high resolution rates compared to standard antibiotic treatment. This article focuses on current guidelines for CDI treatment, the role of intestinal microbiota in CDI recurrence and current evidence about FMT efficacy, adverse effects and acceptability. PMID:24966611

Experimental study on the evolution of Peregrine breather with uniform-depth adverse currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, B.; Ma, Y.; Ma, X.; Dong, G.

2018-05-01

A series of laboratory experiments were performed to study the evolution of Peregrine breather (PB) in a wave flume in finite depth, and wave trains were initially generated in a region of quiescent water and then propagated into an adverse current region for which the current velocity strength gradually increased from zero to an approximately stable value. The PB is often considered as a prototype of oceanic freak waves that can focus wave energy into a single wave packet. In the experiment, the cases were selected with the relative water depths k0h (k0 is the wave number in quiescent water and h is the water depth) varying from 3.11 through 8.17, and the initial wave steepness k0a0 (a0 is the background wave amplitude) ranges between 0.065 and 0.120. The experimental results show the persistence of the breather evolution dynamics even in the presence of strong opposing currents. We have shown that the characteristic spectrum of the PB persists even on strong currents, thus making it a viable characteristic for prediction of freak waves. It was also found that the adverse currents tend to shift the focusing point upstream compared to the cases without currents. Furthermore, it was found that uniform-depth adverse currents can reduce the breather extension in time domain.

Robotic hepatobiliary surgery: update on the current status.

PubMed

Carr, A D; Ali, M R; Khatri, V P

2013-10-01

An update on the current status of robotic hepatobiliary surgery based on a review of the available literature. A literature search was performed using the PubMed database with search phrases "robotic hepatectomy", "robotic liver resection", "robotic liver surgery", "robotic hepatobiliary surgery", and "robotic biliary reconstruction". We selected articles with high volume case series or case controlled series. As a result of our literature search we will focus on the 9 major articles on robotic liver resection (RLR) with 235 patients undergoing RLR for a total of 244 liver resections. In addition a brief update on robotic biliary reconstruction will also be presented based on the above articles and recent review articles. Indications for robotic liver resection included both benign (N.=72, 29.5%) and malignant disease (N.=172, 70.5%). The most common indication was colorectal liver metastasis (N.=87, 50.6%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (N.=57, 33%). The most common type of resection was subsegmental (N.=55, 22.5%), with a significant number of major hepatectomies (N.=80, 32.8%). Overall conversion rate was 7.8%, with majority converted to open (N.=18) and one converted to hand assisted. The overall complication rate was 11.8% (N.=29). No perioperative mortality was reported. Preliminary results show that robotic assisted laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery has materialized as a new technique that combines the advantages of laparoscopy with the dissection, suturing and articulation of robotics. This more closely approximates open surgery. The preliminary data demonstrates that RLR can be applied in major hepatobiliary centers safely. Future comparative studies are needed to determine if this is of significant benefit over current open techniques.

Module Five: Relationships of Current, Voltage, and Resistance; Basic Electricity and Electronics Individualized Learning System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, DC.

This module covers the relationships between current and voltage; resistance in a series circuit; how to determine the values of current, voltage, resistance, and power in resistive series circuits; the effects of source internal resistance; and an introduction to the troubleshooting of series circuits. This module is divided into five lessons:…

Gastric Emphysema a Spectrum of Pneumatosis Intestinalis: A Case Report and Literature Review

PubMed Central

López-Medina, Guillermo; Castillo Díaz de León, Roxana; Heredia-Salazar, Alberto Carlos; Hernández-Salcedo, Daniel Ramón

2014-01-01

The finding of gas within the gastric wall is not a disease by itself, rather than a sign of an underlying condition which could be systemic or gastric. We present the case of a woman identified with gastric emphysema secondary to the administration of high doses of steroids, with the purpose of differentiating emphysematous gastritis versus gastric emphysema due to the divergent prognostic implications. Gastric emphysema entails a more benign course, opposed to emphysematous gastritis which often presents as an acute abdomen and carries a worse prognosis. Owing to the lack of established diagnostic criteria, computed tomography is the assessment method of choice. Currently no guidelines are available for the management of this entity, since the evidence is limited to a few case series and a considerable number of single case reports. PMID:25093129

Semiclosed thromboendoarterectomy on femoro-popliteal tract revisited after a fourteen years experience on 595 cases.

PubMed

Vercellio, G; Castelli, P; Coletti, M; Carlesi, R; Agrifoglio, G

1986-01-01

In the seventies atherosclerotic femoropopliteal lesions were extensively treated by means of retrograde semiclosed thromboendarterectomy (FP-TEA) an analytic follow-up of cases, until 1980, induced the modification of the indications to FP-TEA. Currently the FP-TEA technique is only employed for patients at the 2nd Fontaine's stage with disabling claudication (generally less than 100 mt) with a good distal run-off (at least 2 tibial vessels patent). The report deals with a series of 595 cases operated in the period January 1971-December 1984. In 45% of cases FP-TEA was associated with a proximal revascularization. In an attempt to focus on the factors that may influence the outcome, the patients operated in 1976, 1980, 1984, were assessed and the results related to clinical stage, angiographic pattern and postoperative treatment.

Cognitive neuropsychology and its vicissitudes: The fate of Caramazza's axioms.

PubMed

Shallice, Tim

2015-01-01

Cognitive neuropsychology is characterized as the discipline in which one draws conclusions about the organization of the normal cognitive systems from the behaviour of brain-damaged individuals. In a series of papers, Caramazza, later in collaboration with McCloskey, put forward four assumptions as the bridge principles for making such inferences. Four potential pitfalls, one for each axiom, are discussed with respect to the use of single-case methods. Two of the pitfalls also apply to case series and group study procedures, and the other two are held to be indirectly testable or avoidable. Moreover, four other pitfalls are held to apply to case series or group study methods. It is held that inferences from single-case procedures may profitably be supported or rejected using case series/group study methods, but also that analogous support needs to be given in the other direction for functionally based case series or group studies. It is argued that at least six types of neuropsychological method are valuable for extrapolation to theories of the normal cognitive system but that the single- or multiple-case study remains a critical part of cognitive neuropsychology's methods.

Measurement and analysis of solar cell current-voltage characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olsen, Larry C.; Addis, F. William; Doyle, Dan H.; Miller, Wesley A.

1985-01-01

Approaches to measurement and analysis of solar cell current-voltage characteristics under dark and illuminated conditions are discussed. Measurements are taken with a computer based data acquisition system for temperatures in the range of -100 to +100 C. In the fitting procedure, the various I(oi) and C(i) as well as R(S) and R(SH) are determined. Application to current-voltage analyses of high efficiency silicon cells and Boeing CdS/CuInSe2 are discussed. In silicon MINP cells, it is found that at low voltages a tunneling mechanism is dominant, while at larger voltages the I-V characteristics are usually dominated by emitter recombination. In the case of Boeing cells, a current transport model based on a tunneling mechanism and interface recombination acting in series has been developed as a result of I-V analyses.

Image-based diagnostic aid for interstitial lung disease with secondary data integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Depeursinge, Adrien; Müller, Henning; Hidki, Asmâa; Poletti, Pierre-Alexandre; Platon, Alexandra; Geissbuhler, Antoine

2007-03-01

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a relatively heterogeneous group of around 150 illnesses with often very unspecific symptoms. The most complete imaging method for the characterisation of ILDs is the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest but a correct interpretation of these images is difficult even for specialists as many diseases are rare and thus little experience exists. Moreover, interpreting HRCT images requires knowledge of the context defined by clinical data of the studied case. A computerised diagnostic aid tool based on HRCT images with associated medical data to retrieve similar cases of ILDs from a dedicated database can bring quick and precious information for example for emergency radiologists. The experience from a pilot project highlighted the need for detailed database containing high-quality annotations in addition to clinical data. The state of the art is studied to identify requirements for image-based diagnostic aid for interstitial lung disease with secondary data integration. The data acquisition steps are detailed. The selection of the most relevant clinical parameters is done in collaboration with lung specialists from current literature, along with knowledge bases of computer-based diagnostic decision support systems. In order to perform high-quality annotations of the interstitial lung tissue in the HRCT images an annotation software and its own file format is implemented for DICOM images. A multimedia database is implemented to store ILD cases with clinical data and annotated image series. Cases from the University & University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) are retrospectively and prospectively collected to populate the database. Currently, 59 cases with certified diagnosis and their clinical parameters are stored in the database as well as 254 image series of which 26 have their regions of interest annotated. The available data was used to test primary visual features for the classification of lung tissue patterns. These features show good discriminative properties for the separation of five classes of visual observations.

EFFECTS OF FOREFOOT RUNNING ON CHRONIC EXERTIONAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME: A CASE SERIES

PubMed Central

Gregory, Robert; Alitz, Curtis; Gerber, J. Parry

2011-01-01

Introduction: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition that occurs almost exclusively with running whereby exercise increases intramuscular pressure compromising circulation, prohibiting muscular function, and causing pain in the lower leg. Currently, a lack of evidence exists for the effective conservative management of CECS. Altering running mechanics by adopting forefoot running as opposed to heel striking may assist in the treatment of CECS, specifically with anterior compartment symptoms. Case Description: The purpose of this case series is to describe the outcomes for subjects with CECS through a systematic conservative treatment model focused on forefoot running. Subject one was a 21 y/o female with a 4 year history of CECS and subject two was a 21 y/o male, 7 months status-post two-compartment right leg fasciotomy with a return of symptoms and a new onset of symptoms on the contralateral side. Outcome: Both subjects modified their running technique over a period of six weeks. Kinematic and kinetic analysis revealed increased step rate while step length, impulse, and peak vertical ground reaction forces decreased. In addition, leg intracompartmental pressures decreased from pre-training to post-training. Within 6 weeks of intervention subjects increased their running distance and speed absent of symptoms of CECS. Follow-up questionnaires were completed by the subjects at 7 months following intervention; subject one reported running distances up to 12.87 km pain-free and subject two reported running 6.44 km pain-free consistently 3 times a week. Discussion: This case series describes a potentially beneficial conservative management approach to CECS in the form of forefoot running instruction. Further research in this area is warranted to further explore the benefits of adopting a forefoot running technique for CECS as well as other musculoskeletal overuse complaints. PMID:22163093

An approach to checking case-crossover analyses based on equivalence with time-series methods.

PubMed

Lu, Yun; Symons, James Morel; Geyh, Alison S; Zeger, Scott L

2008-03-01

The case-crossover design has been increasingly applied to epidemiologic investigations of acute adverse health effects associated with ambient air pollution. The correspondence of the design to that of matched case-control studies makes it inferentially appealing for epidemiologic studies. Case-crossover analyses generally use conditional logistic regression modeling. This technique is equivalent to time-series log-linear regression models when there is a common exposure across individuals, as in air pollution studies. Previous methods for obtaining unbiased estimates for case-crossover analyses have assumed that time-varying risk factors are constant within reference windows. In this paper, we rely on the connection between case-crossover and time-series methods to illustrate model-checking procedures from log-linear model diagnostics for time-stratified case-crossover analyses. Additionally, we compare the relative performance of the time-stratified case-crossover approach to time-series methods under 3 simulated scenarios representing different temporal patterns of daily mortality associated with air pollution in Chicago, Illinois, during 1995 and 1996. Whenever a model-be it time-series or case-crossover-fails to account appropriately for fluctuations in time that confound the exposure, the effect estimate will be biased. It is therefore important to perform model-checking in time-stratified case-crossover analyses rather than assume the estimator is unbiased.

[Laparoscopic aspect and clinical relevance of cholangiofibromas].

PubMed

Henning, H; Friedrich, K; Lüders, C J

1982-12-01

In a current series of 1160 laparoscopies in 38 cases (3.2%) we found cholangiofibromas. The picture of single, sporadic and multiple cholangiofibromas as well as cholangiofibromatosis is both described and documented by laparoscopic photography. Clinically it seems remarkable that only patients with alcohol- or drug-induced liver injury showed such alterations. The prevalence of cholangiofibromas in toxic liver damage suggests that we are here not dealing with embryonal aberrations (hamartomas) but apparently with cellular inductive phenomena.

Nonlinear pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis among migrants at entry in Kuwait: 1997–2006

PubMed Central

Akhtar, Saeed; Mohammad, Hameed GHH

2008-01-01

Background There is a paucity of published data on the pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis among migrant workers entering Middle Eastern countries particularly Kuwait. The objectives of this study were to use routine health surveillance data i) to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among migrant workers at entry in Kuwait and ii) to determine the occurrence of any time trends in the proportions of pulmonary tuberculosis positive workers over the study period. Methods The monthly aggregates of daily number of migrants tested and the number of pulmonary tuberculosis cases detected during routine health examinations of migrant workers from tuberculosis high-prevalence countries were used to generate the monthly series of proportions (per 100,000) of pulmonary tuberculosis cases over 120 months between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006 and analysed using time series methods. Results The overall prevalence (per 100,000) of documented pulmonary tuberculosis cases among screened migrants was 198 (4608/2328582). Year-specific prevalence (per 100,000) of tuberculosis cases consistently declined from 456 (95% CI: 424 – 490) in 1997 to 124 (95% CI: 110 – 140) in 2002 before showing a steady increase up to 183 (95% CI: 169–197) in 2006. The second-order polynomial regression model revealed significant (P < 0.001) initial decline, followed by a significant (P < 0.001) increasing trend thereafter in monthly proportions of tuberculosis cases among migrant workers. Conclusion The proportions of documented tuberculosis cases among migrant workers showed a significant nonlinear pattern, with an initial decline followed by a significant increasing trend towards the end of the study period. These findings underscore the need to maintain the current policy of migrants' screening for tuberculosis at entry. The public health authorities in Kuwait and perhaps other countries in the region may consider complementing the current screening protocol with interferon-γ assays to detect migrants with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. An appropriate curative or preventive chemotherapy of detected tuberculosis cases may help in further minimizing the risk of local transmission of M. tuberculosis, while contributing in global efforts to control this public health menace. PMID:18667057

Relapsing Painful Ophthalmoplegic Neuropathy: No longer a "Migraine," but Still a Headache.

PubMed

Smith, Stacy V; Schuster, Nathaniel M

2018-06-14

Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON), formerly known as ophthalmoplegic migraine, is an uncommon disorder with repeated episodes of ocular cranial nerve neuropathy associated with ipsilateral headache. This review discusses the clinical presentation, current understanding of the pathophysiology, key differential diagnoses, and evaluation and treatment of RPON. The literature is limited due to the rarity of the disorder. Recent case reports and series continue to suggest the age of first attack is most often during childhood or adolescence as well as a female predominance. Multiple recent case reports and series demonstrate focal enhancement of the affected cranial nerve, as the nerve root exits the brainstem. This finding contributed to the current classification of the disorder as a neuropathy, with the present understanding that it is due to a relapsing-remitting inflammatory or demyelinating process. The link to migraine remains a cause of disagreement in the literature. RPON is a complex disorder with features of inflammatory neuropathy and an unclear association with migraine. Regardless, the overall prognosis is good for individual episodes, but permanent nerve damage may accumulate with repeated attacks. A better understanding of the pathogenesis is needed to clarify whether it truly represents a single disorder and to guide its treatment. Until that time, a combined approach with acute and preventive therapies can mitigate acute symptoms as well as attempt to limit recurrence of this disabling syndrome.

Animal bites and rabies exposure in Australian travellers.

PubMed

Mills, Deborah J; Lau, Colleen L; Weinstein, Philip

2011-12-19

To examine the circumstances of animal exposure in a case series of Australian travellers who required rabies postexposure prophylaxis, and to assess the appropriateness of current guidelines for rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Prospective case series of 65 returned travellers who presented to four Australian travel medicine clinics between 1 April 2009 and 31 July 2010 for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Demographic characteristics associated with risk of injury; countries where injuries occurred; circumstances of the injuries; and travellers' experiences of obtaining postexposure prophylaxis overseas. Animal bites and scratches occurred most commonly among travellers aged 20-29 years. Most injuries occurred in Bali, Indonesia (30 [46%]) and Thailand (21 [32%]), and the most common animals responsible for the injuries to the 65 travellers were monkeys (29 travellers [45%]) and dogs (27 [42%]). Thirty-nine of the travellers (60%) initiated contact with the animal. Forty travellers (62%) were able to commence rabies vaccination overseas, but only nine (14%) were able to obtain rabies immunoglobulin overseas. Most travellers had difficulty obtaining rabies postexposure prophylaxis overseas, resulting in significant delays in appropriate treatment. We recommend that current National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines for at-risk persons be broadened, and that the risk of rabies and the option of pre-exposure vaccination be discussed with all travellers to rabies-endemic areas.

Systematic review of the methodological and reporting quality of case series in surgery.

PubMed

Agha, R A; Fowler, A J; Lee, S-Y; Gundogan, B; Whitehurst, K; Sagoo, H K; Jeong, K J L; Altman, D G; Orgill, D P

2016-09-01

Case series are an important and common study type. No guideline exists for reporting case series and there is evidence of key data being missed from such reports. The first step in the process of developing a methodologically sound reporting guideline is a systematic review of literature relevant to the reporting deficiencies of case series. A systematic review of methodological and reporting quality in surgical case series was performed. The electronic search strategy was developed by an information specialist and included MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Methods Register, Science Citation Index and Conference Proceedings Citation index, from the start of indexing to 5 November 2014. Independent screening, eligibility assessments and data extraction were performed. Included articles were then analysed for five areas of deficiency: failure to use standardized definitions, missing or selective data (including the omission of whole cases or important variables), transparency or incomplete reporting, whether alternative study designs were considered, and other issues. Database searching identified 2205 records. Through the process of screening and eligibility assessments, 92 articles met inclusion criteria. Frequencies of methodological and reporting issues identified were: failure to use standardized definitions (57 per cent), missing or selective data (66 per cent), transparency or incomplete reporting (70 per cent), whether alternative study designs were considered (11 per cent) and other issues (52 per cent). The methodological and reporting quality of surgical case series needs improvement. The data indicate that evidence-based guidelines for the conduct and reporting of case series may be useful. © 2016 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Head and neck teratomas in children--A series of 23 cases at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

PubMed

Alexander, Victoria Rebecca Carol; Manjaly, Joseph George; Pepper, Christopher M; Ifeacho, Sonna N; Hewitt, Richard J; Hartley, Benjamin E J

2015-12-01

Head and neck teratomas are rare and malignant change is rarer still. This is a report detailing all of the teratomas treated by the ear, nose and throat or craniofacial teams over the last 28 years at our institution. Examining the common presenting and radiological features as well as our success rates compared to the current literature. A retrospective review of all cases presenting to our institution with a head and neck teratoma were analysed. Data regarding the following characteristics were collected: antenatal history, clinical features, biological serum makers, radiological and pathological characteristics. Surgical treatment, rates of reoccurrence and the degree of post-operative follow up were also analysed. 23 cases in total were included: 8 cervical, 6 nasopharyngeal, 5 thyroid, 2 thymus, 2 temporal. One had malignant change. The majority of children presented at birth with respiratory distress, 5 cases were picked up antenatally and one case presented at 10 years of age. All were treated surgically; with complete excision in 20 patients. No clinical recurrence occurred but further surgery was performed for radiologically suspected residual disease in one case. This is the largest detailed case series in literature in regard to head and neck teratomas. Illustrating that this is frequently a benign disease process disease in the head and neck region and has an excellent long term prognosis following surgery. In the situation of incomplete resection careful meticulous follow up with radiological imaging and a multidisciplinary team approach is a safe and viable alternative. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impedance matching for repetitive high voltage all-solid-state Marx generator and excimer DBD UV sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yonggang; Tong, Liqing; Liu, Kefu

2017-06-01

The purpose of impedance matching for a Marx generator and DBD lamp is to limit the output current of the Marx generator, provide a large discharge current at ignition, and obtain fast voltage rising/falling edges and large overshoot. In this paper, different impedance matching circuits (series inductor, parallel capacitor, and series inductor combined with parallel capacitor) are analyzed. It demonstrates that a series inductor could limit the Marx current. However, the discharge current is also limited. A parallel capacitor could provide a large discharge current, but the Marx current is also enlarged. A series inductor combined with a parallel capacitor takes full advantage of the inductor and capacitor, and avoids their shortcomings. Therefore, it is a good solution. Experimental results match the theoretical analysis well and show that both the series inductor and parallel capacitor improve the performance of the system. However, the series inductor combined with the parallel capacitor has the best performance. Compared with driving the DBD lamp with a Marx generator directly, an increase of 97.3% in radiant power and an increase of 59.3% in system efficiency are achieved using this matching circuit.

TBIdoc: 3D content-based CT image retrieval system for traumatic brain injury

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shimiao; Gong, Tianxia; Wang, Jie; Liu, Ruizhe; Tan, Chew Lim; Leong, Tze Yun; Pang, Boon Chuan; Lim, C. C. Tchoyoson; Lee, Cheng Kiang; Tian, Qi; Zhang, Zhuo

2010-03-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. Computed Tomography (CT) scan is widely used in the diagnosis of TBI. Nowadays, large amount of TBI CT data is stacked in the hospital radiology department. Such data and the associated patient information contain valuable information for clinical diagnosis and outcome prediction. However, current hospital database system does not provide an efficient and intuitive tool for doctors to search out cases relevant to the current study case. In this paper, we present the TBIdoc system: a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system which works on the TBI CT images. In this web-based system, user can query by uploading CT image slices from one study, retrieval result is a list of TBI cases ranked according to their 3D visual similarity to the query case. Specifically, cases of TBI CT images often present diffuse or focal lesions. In TBIdoc system, these pathological image features are represented as bin-based binary feature vectors. We use the Jaccard-Needham measure as the similarity measurement. Based on these, we propose a 3D similarity measure for computing the similarity score between two series of CT slices. nDCG is used to evaluate the system performance, which shows the system produces satisfactory retrieval results. The system is expected to improve the current hospital data management in TBI and to give better support for the clinical decision-making process. It may also contribute to the computer-aided education in TBI.

Introduction: Science, Sexuality, and Psychotherapy: Shifting Paradigms.

PubMed

Cerbone, Armand R

2017-08-01

This introduction presents an overview of the current issue (73, 8) of Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. This issue features a series of articles, with clinical cases, each presented to illustrate the challenges faced by individuals and couples whose sexual and gender identities and expressions do not comport with traditional and cultural norms. These articles also document the challenges to the therapists who treat them. Considered individually, each article underscores the need to recognize the importance of evidence in guiding psychotherapy in cases involving sexuality. The discussions in each article offer recommendations meant to help and guide psychotherapists. Considered collectively, they raise important questions and considerations about shifting paradigms of human sexuality. Implications for assessment and treatment of cases involving sexuality and gender identity are discussed and recommended. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An unanticipated allergic reaction to a hypnotic suggestion for anesthesia: a brief communication and commentary.

PubMed

Guttman, Kenneth; Ball, Thomas S

2013-01-01

During a demonstration of hypnotically induced anesthesia and following a suggestion for a Novocain-like numbness, a totally unanticipated and dramatic swelling of 1 cheek appeared. The participant had forgotten to inform the psychologist that she had experienced the identical reaction to Novocain when she received an injection a few weeks earlier. The swelling was quickly removed by a countersuggestion based upon a simulated injection of the antidote previously administered by the dentist. This case report is relevant to current research and theorizing on the interaction of hypnosis with the immune system. The fact that it was retrospectively recognized as a single-case time-series B-A-B design significantly enhances its scientific value beyond that afforded by the traditional case report.

Some contributions of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Kurtzke, J F

2008-09-01

The first class 1 treatment trial ever conducted in multiple sclerosis (MS) was a Veterans Administration Cooperative Study. This led us to explore MS in the military-veteran populations of the United States in three main series: Army men hospitalized with final diagnoses of MS in World War II, all veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict, and veterans of later service up to 1994. In each series, all cases had been matched with pre-illness military peers. These series provide major information on its clinical features, course and prognosis, including survival, by sex and race (white men and women; black men), as well as risk factors for occurrence, course, and survival. They comprise the only available nationwide morbidity distributions of MS in the United States. Veterans who are service-connected for MS by the Department of Veterans Affairs and matched with their military peers remain a unique and currently available resource for further clinical and epidemiological study of this disease.

Coupling detrended fluctuation analysis for analyzing coupled nonstationary signals.

PubMed

Hedayatifar, L; Vahabi, M; Jafari, G R

2011-08-01

When many variables are coupled to each other, a single case study could not give us thorough and precise information. When these time series are stationary, different methods of random matrix analysis and complex networks can be used. But, in nonstationary cases, the multifractal-detrended-cross-correlation-analysis (MF-DXA) method was introduced for just two coupled time series. In this article, we have extended the MF-DXA to the method of coupling detrended fluctuation analysis (CDFA) for the case when more than two series are correlated to each other. Here, we have calculated the multifractal properties of the coupled time series, and by comparing CDFA results of the original series with those of the shuffled and surrogate series, we can estimate the source of multifractality and the extent to which our series are coupled to each other. We illustrate the method by selected examples from air pollution and foreign exchange rates.

Coupling detrended fluctuation analysis for analyzing coupled nonstationary signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hedayatifar, L.; Vahabi, M.; Jafari, G. R.

2011-08-01

When many variables are coupled to each other, a single case study could not give us thorough and precise information. When these time series are stationary, different methods of random matrix analysis and complex networks can be used. But, in nonstationary cases, the multifractal-detrended-cross-correlation-analysis (MF-DXA) method was introduced for just two coupled time series. In this article, we have extended the MF-DXA to the method of coupling detrended fluctuation analysis (CDFA) for the case when more than two series are correlated to each other. Here, we have calculated the multifractal properties of the coupled time series, and by comparing CDFA results of the original series with those of the shuffled and surrogate series, we can estimate the source of multifractality and the extent to which our series are coupled to each other. We illustrate the method by selected examples from air pollution and foreign exchange rates.

Multicultural Music Represented in Current Elementary Music Textbooks: A Comparative Study of Two Published Music Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Emily

2010-01-01

Research investigating music textbook series is limited and has primarily focused on series no longer in publication, on two grade levels, and/or on limited cultures. The purpose of this study is to examine what countries are and have been represented in current music textbook series. Additional questions in the study pertain to frequency and…

Methods and apparatus for controlling respective load currents of multiple series-connected loads

DOEpatents

Datta, Michael; Lys, Ihor

2014-05-27

A lighting apparatus (100) includes one or more first LEDs (202) for generating a first spectrum of radiation (503), and one or more second LEDs (204) for generating a second different spectrum radiation (505). The first and second LEDs are electrically connected in series between a first node (516A) and a second node (516B), between which a series current (550) flows with the application of an operating voltage (516) across the nodes. A controllable current path (518) is connected in parallel with one or both of the first and second LEDs so as to at least partially divert the series current, such that a first current (552) through the first LED(s) and a second current (554) through the second LED(s) are different. Such current diversion techniques may be employed to compensate for shifts in color or color temperature of generated light during thermal transients, due to different temperature-dependent current-to-flux relationships for different types of LEDs.

Nail gun injuries to the head with minimal neurological consequences: a case series.

PubMed

Makoshi, Ziyad; AlKherayf, Fahad; Da Silva, Vasco; Lesiuk, Howard

2016-03-16

An estimated 3700 individuals are seen annually in US emergency departments for nail gun-related injuries. Approximately 45 cases have been reported in the literature concerning nail gun injuries penetrating the cranium. These cases pose a challenge for the neurosurgeon because of the uniqueness of each case, the dynamics of high pressure nail gun injuries, and the surgical planning to remove the foreign body without further vascular injury or uncontrolled intracranial hemorrhage. Here we present four cases of penetrating nail gun injuries with variable presentations. Case 1 is of a 33-year-old white man who sustained 10 nail gunshot injuries to his head. Case 2 is of a 51-year-old white man who sustained bi-temporal nail gun injuries to his head. Cases 3 and 4 are of two white men aged 22 years and 49 years with a single nail gun injury to the head. In the context of these individual cases and a review of similar cases in the literature we present surgical approaches and considerations in the management of nail gun injuries to the cranium. Case 1 presented with cranial nerve deficits, Case 2 required intubation for low Glasgow Coma Scale, while Cases 3 and 4 were neurologically intact on presentation. Three patients underwent angiography for assessment of vascular injury and all patients underwent surgical removal of foreign objects using a vice-grip. No neurological deficits were found in these patients on follow-up. Nail gun injuries can present with variable clinical status; mortality and morbidity is low for surgically managed isolated nail gun-related injuries to the head. The current case series describes the surgical use of a vice-grip for a good grip of the nail head and controlled extraction, and these patients appear to have a good postoperative prognosis with minimal neurological deficits postoperatively and on follow-up.

Bidirectional reflectance function in coastal waters: modeling and validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilerson, Alex; Hlaing, Soe; Harmel, Tristan; Tonizzo, Alberto; Arnone, Robert; Weidemann, Alan; Ahmed, Samir

2011-11-01

The current operational algorithm for the correction of bidirectional effects from the satellite ocean color data is optimized for typical oceanic waters. However, versions of bidirectional reflectance correction algorithms, specifically tuned for typical coastal waters and other case 2 conditions, are particularly needed to improve the overall quality of those data. In order to analyze the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of case 2 waters, a dataset of typical remote sensing reflectances was generated through radiative transfer simulations for a large range of viewing and illumination geometries. Based on this simulated dataset, a case 2 water focused remote sensing reflectance model is proposed to correct above-water and satellite water leaving radiance data for bidirectional effects. The proposed model is first validated with a one year time series of in situ above-water measurements acquired by collocated multi- and hyperspectral radiometers which have different viewing geometries installed at the Long Island Sound Coastal Observatory (LISCO). Match-ups and intercomparisons performed on these concurrent measurements show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the algorithm currently in use at all wavelengths.

Oral lichen planus in childhood: a case series.

PubMed

Cascone, Marco; Celentano, Antonio; Adamo, Daniela; Leuci, Stefania; Ruoppo, Elvira; Mignogna, Michele D

2017-06-01

Although the exact incidence of pediatric oral lichen planus (OLP) is unknown, the oral mucosa seems to be less commonly involved, and the clinical presentation is often atypical. The aim of the study is to present a case series of OLP in childhood. From our database, we retrospectively selected and analyzed the clinical data of OLP patients under the age of 18 where the diagnosis had been confirmed by histopathological analysis. The case series from our database shows eight patients, four males and four females. The mean (±SD) age at the time of diagnosis of the disease was 13.5 (±2.73) years, ranging in age from 9 to 17. Clinically, a reticular pattern was present in six patients (75%), and the tongue was the most commonly involved oral site (six cases, 75%). We also report the first case of OLP in a 9-year-old girl affected by autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. We report the largest case series of pediatric OLP published in literature thus far. Differences in the disease between adults and pediatric patients have been detected, but further investigation and a larger case series are needed to establish any detailed differences in clinical outcomes. © 2017 The International Society of Dermatology.

Exposure of the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region without sectioning the gluteus maximus: Analysis of a series of 18 cases

PubMed Central

Socolovsky, Mariano; Masi, Gilda Di

2012-01-01

Background: Dissecting through the gluteus maximus muscle by splitting its fibers, instead of complete sectioning of the muscle, is faster, involves less damage to tissues, and diminishes recovery time. The objective of the current paper is to present a clinical series of sciatic nerve lesions where the nerve was sufficiently exposed via the transgluteal approach. Methods: We retrospectively selected 18 traumatic sciatic nerve lesions within the buttock, operated upon from January 2005 to December 2009, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. In all patients, a transgluteal approach was employed to explore and reconstruct the nerve. Results: Ten males and eight females, with a mean age of 39.7 years, were studied. The etiology of the nerve lesion was previous hip surgery (n = 7), stab wound (n = 4), gunshot wound (n = 3), injection (n = 3), and hip dislocation (n = 1). In 15 (83.3%) cases, a motor deficit was present; in 12 (66.6%) cases neuropathic pain and in 12 (66.6%) cases sensory alterations were present. In all cases, the transgluteal approach was adequate to expose the injury and treat it by neurolysis alone (10 cases), neurolysis and neurorrhaphy (4 cases), and reconstruction with grafts (4 cases; three of these paired with neurolysis). The mean pre- and postoperative grades for the tibial nerve (LSUHSC scale) were 1.6 and 3.6, respectively; meanwhile, for the peroneal division, preoperative grade was 1.2 and postoperative grade was 2.4. Conclusions: The transgluteal approach adequately exposes sciatic nerve injuries of traumatic origin in the buttock and allows for adequate nerve reconstruction without sectioning the gluteus maximus muscle. PMID:22439106

The Use of Milrinone in Patients with Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Lannes, Marcelo; Zeiler, Frederick; Guichon, Céline; Teitelbaum, Jeanne

2017-03-01

The purpose of this article is to provide a systematic review of the evidence supporting the use of milrinone for the management of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Primary outcomes were functional neurological status and the incidence of cerebral infarction. Search strategies adapted to the different databases were developed by a professional librarian. Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library database, Web of Science, SCOPUS, BIOSIS, Global Health, Health Star, Open SIGLE, Google Scholar and the New York Academy of Medicine Gray Literature were searched as well as clinical trials databases and the proceedings of several scientific meetings. Quality of the evidence for these outcomes across studies was adjudicated using the GRADE Working Group criteria. The search resulted in 284 citations after elimination of duplicates. Of those 9 conference proceedings and 15 studies met inclusion criteria and consisted of case reports, case series and two comparative studies: one non-randomized study with physiological outcomes only and a case series with historical controls. There was considerable variation in dosing and in co-interventions and no case control or randomized controlled studies were found. There is currently only very low quality evidence to support the use of milrinone to improve important outcomes in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Further research is needed to clarify the value and risks of this medication in patients with SAH.

Neurotization to innervate the deltoid and biceps: 3 cases.

PubMed

Dy, Christopher J; Kitay, Alison; Garg, Rohit; Kang, Lana; Feinberg, Joseph H; Wolfe, Scott W

2013-02-01

To describe our experience using direct muscle neurotization as a treatment adjunct during delayed surgical reconstruction for traumatic denervation injuries. Three patients who had direct muscle neurotization were chosen from a consecutive series of patients undergoing reconstruction for brachial plexus injuries. The cases are presented in detail, including long-term clinical follow-up at 2, 5, and 10 years with accompanying postoperative electrodiagnostic studies. Postoperative motor strength using British Medical Research Council grading and active range of motion were retrospectively extracted from the clinical charts. Direct muscle neurotization was performed into the deltoid in 2 cases and into the biceps in 1 case after delays of up to 10 months from injury. Two patients had recovery of M4 strength, and the other patient had recovery of M3 strength. All 3 patients had evidence on electrodiagnostic studies of at least partial muscle reinnervation after neurotization. Direct muscle neurotization has shown promising results in numerous basic science investigations and a limited number of clinical cases. The current series provides additional clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence that direct muscle neurotization can successfully provide reinnervation, even after lengthy delays from injury to surgical treatment. Microsurgeons should consider direct muscle neurotization as a viable adjunct treatment and part of a comprehensive reconstructive plan, especially for injuries associated with avulsion of the distal nerve stump from its insertion into the muscle. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prophylactic Antibiotics for Enucleation and Evisceration: A Retrospective Study and Systematic Literature Review.

PubMed

Pariseau, Brett; Fox, Barry; Dutton, Jonathan J

To report surgical site infection (SSI) rates of eviscerations and enucleations with implants performed without perioperative intravenous (IV) antibiotics or postoperative oral antibiotics, and to give SSI prevention recommendations. A single-center retrospective chart review was performed after obtaining institutional review board approval. Charts were found by Current Procedural Terminology codes. Demographics, surgical indication, procedure, implant, antibiotic use, and postoperative course were recorded. SSIs occurring within 30 days after surgery were reviewed and postoperative infection rates were determined. Four hundred eighty-one cases from January 1999 to December 2015 were analyzed. There were 102 eviscerations with implants, 314 enucleations with implants, 23 enucleations without implants, 23 implant exchanges, 15 implants placed secondarily after enucleation, and 4 implant removals. Seventy cases (14.6%) were given perioperative IV antibiotics, and in this group one periorbital infection occurred unrelated to orbital surgery (1.4%). Of the 411 cases (85.4%) not given perioperative IV antibiotics, 1 of 87 eviscerations with implants developed an SSI (1.1%), 2 of 273 enucleations with implants developed SSIs (0.7%), and none of the 13 enucleations without implants developed SSIs. To our knowledge, this is the first published case series reporting SSI rates of enucleations and eviscerations with implants performed without perioperative IV antibiotics or postoperative oral antibiotics. With infection rates comparing favorably to other case series where antibiotics were given, the routine use of perioperative IV antibiotics and postoperative oral antibiotics for enucleations and eviscerations may not be indicated.

Inverse scattering theory: Inverse scattering series method for one dimensional non-compact support potential

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yao, Jie, E-mail: yjie2@uh.edu; Lesage, Anne-Cécile; Hussain, Fazle

2014-12-15

The reversion of the Born-Neumann series of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation is one of the standard ways to solve the inverse acoustic scattering problem. One limitation of the current inversion methods based on the reversion of the Born-Neumann series is that the velocity potential should have compact support. However, this assumption cannot be satisfied in certain cases, especially in seismic inversion. Based on the idea of distorted wave scattering, we explore an inverse scattering method for velocity potentials without compact support. The strategy is to decompose the actual medium as a known single interface reference medium, which has the same asymptoticmore » form as the actual medium and a perturbative scattering potential with compact support. After introducing the method to calculate the Green’s function for the known reference potential, the inverse scattering series and Volterra inverse scattering series are derived for the perturbative potential. Analytical and numerical examples demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this method. Besides, to ensure stability of the numerical computation, the Lanczos averaging method is employed as a filter to reduce the Gibbs oscillations for the truncated discrete inverse Fourier transform of each order. Our method provides a rigorous mathematical framework for inverse acoustic scattering with a non-compact support velocity potential.« less

Wide bandwidth transimpedance amplifier for extremely high sensitivity continuous measurements.

PubMed

Ferrari, Giorgio; Sampietro, Marco

2007-09-01

This article presents a wide bandwidth transimpedance amplifier based on the series of an integrator and a differentiator stage, having an additional feedback loop to discharge the standing current from the device under test (DUT) to ensure an unlimited measuring time opportunity when compared to switched discharge configurations while maintaining a large signal amplification over the full bandwidth. The amplifier shows a flat response from 0.6 Hz to 1.4 MHz, the capability to operate with leakage currents from the DUT as high as tens of nanoamperes, and rail-to-rail dynamic range for sinusoidal current signals independent of the DUT leakage current. Also available is a monitor output of the stationary current to track experimental slow drifts. The circuit is ideal for noise spectral and impedance measurements of nanodevices and biomolecules when in the presence of a physiological medium and in all cases where high sensitivity current measurements are requested such as in scanning probe microscopy systems.

Changes in electrical and thermal parameters of led packages under different current and heating stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayawardena, Adikaramge Asiri

The goal of this dissertation is to identify electrical and thermal parameters of an LED package that can be used to predict catastrophic failure real-time in an application. Through an experimental study the series electrical resistance and thermal resistance were identified as good indicators of contact failure of LED packages. This study investigated the long-term changes in series electrical resistance and thermal resistance of LED packages at three different current and junction temperature stress conditions. Experiment results showed that the series electrical resistance went through four phases of change; including periods of latency, rapid increase, saturation, and finally a sharp decline just before failure. Formation of voids in the contact metallization was identified as the underlying mechanism for series resistance increase. The rate of series resistance change was linked to void growth using the theory of electromigration. The rate of increase of series resistance is dependent on temperature and current density. The results indicate that void growth occurred in the cap (Au) layer, was constrained by the contact metal (Ni) layer, preventing open circuit failure of contact metal layer. Short circuit failure occurred due to electromigration induced metal diffusion along dislocations in GaN. The increase in ideality factor, and reverse leakage current with time provided further evidence to presence of metal in the semiconductor. An empirical model was derived for estimation of LED package failure time due to metal diffusion. The model is based on the experimental results and theories of electromigration and diffusion. Furthermore, the experimental results showed that the thermal resistance of LED packages increased with aging time. A relationship between thermal resistance change rate, with case temperature and temperature gradient within the LED package was developed. The results showed that dislocation creep is responsible for creep induced plastic deformation in the die-attach solder. The temperatures inside the LED package reached the melting point of die-attach solder due to delamination just before catastrophic open circuit failure. A combined model that could estimate life of LED packages based on catastrophic failure of thermal and electrical contacts is presented for the first time. This model can be used to make a-priori or real-time estimation of LED package life based on catastrophic failure. Finally, to illustrate the usefulness of the findings from this thesis, two different implementations of real-time life prediction using prognostics and health monitoring techniques are discussed.

Prazosin for Prophylaxis of Chronic Post Traumatic Headaches in OEF/OIF/OND Service Members and Veterans with Mild TBI

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE October 2017 2. REPORT TYPE...comes from a large open-label case series in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans with mTBI and posttraumatic headaches and data from a placebo- controlled trial...will be accomplished by conducting a randomized placebo- controlled double blind trial of prazosin vs placebo in 160 Iraq/Afghanistan active-duty

Assessment of a Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Correction of Above-Water and Satellite Water-Leaving Radiance in Coastal Waters

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-10

water and satellite water-leaving radiance data for bidirectional effects. The proposed model is first validated with a one year time series of in situ... model is proposed to correct above-water and satellite water-leaving radiance data for bidirectional effects. The proposed model is first validated with...proposed model over the current one, demonstrating the need for a specific case 2 water BRDF correction algorithm as well as the feasibility of enhancing

Nandrolone decanoate for the treatment of erythropoietin refractory anemia: a case series.

PubMed

Chawla, Bobby; Iqbal, Fahad M; Chawla, Manjeet S

2009-01-01

Erythropoietin refractory anemias represent a continuing and increasing burden on the healthcare system. The current practice of providing these patients with rHuEPO does not seem to be working. Fewer than 50% of patients respond in some studies. We demonstrate that androgens have multiple benefits in this population. They control anemia and stop transfusion dependence and improve nutritional parameters. In some patients, they also have a salutary effect on both white blood cell and platelet counts.

Rebalance to the Pacific: A Case for Greater Amphibious Capabilities in the US Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-21

gas and 200 billion barrels of oil potentially exist.73 Currently, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) establishes an...are highly destructive, thus enabling a quick political decision. The doctrine of “Local War under Conditions of Informatization ” codifies the PLA’s...of Informatization ,” the PLA is improving their ability to operate as a joint force. In 2013, the PLA conducted in a series of joint exercises

Nonequilibrium dynamic phases in driven vortex lattices with periodic pinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichhardt, Charles Michael

1998-12-01

We present the results of an extensive series of simulations of flux-gradient and current driven vortices interacting with either random or periodically arranged pinning sites. First, we consider flux-gradient-driven simulations of superconducting vortices interacting with strong randomly-distributed columnar pinning defects, as an external field H(t) is quasi-statically swept from zero through a matching field Bsb{phi}. Here, we find significant changes in the behavior of the local flux density B(x, y, H(t)), magnetization M(H(t)), critical current Jsb{c}(B(t)), and the individual vortex flow paths, as the local flux density crosses Bsb{phi}. Further, we find that for a given pin density, Jsb{c}(B) can be enhanced by maximizing the distance between the pins for B < Bsb{phi}. For the case of periodic pinning sites as a function of applied field, we find a rich variety of ordered and partially-ordered vortex lattice configurations. We present formulas that predict the matching fields at which commensurate vortex configurations occur and the vortex lattice orientation with respect to the pinning lattice. Our results are in excellent agreement with recent imaging experiments on square pinning arrays (K. Harada et al., Science 274, 1167 (1996)). For current driven simulations with periodic pinning we find a remarkable number of dynamical plastic flow phases. Signatures of the transitions between these different dynamical phases include sudden jumps in the current-voltage curves, hysteresis, as well as marked changes in the vortex trajectories and vortex lattice order. These phases are outlined in a series of dynamic phase diagrams. We show that several of these phases and their phase-boundaries can be understood in terms of analytical arguments. Finally, when the vortex lattice is driven at varying angles with respect to the underlying periodic pinning array, the transverse voltage-current V(I) curves show a series of mode-locked plateaus with the overall V(I) forming a devil's staircase structure.

Definitive treatment of the negative vector orbit.

PubMed

Mommaerts, Maurice Y

2018-05-09

In a negative vector orbit, the most anterior globe portion protrudes past the malar eminence. As bulging eyes are considered unaesthetic, patients usually seek correction. However, most current correction techniques produce suboptimal results. Here, we present a surgical technique that sets back the globe and protrudes the malar bone using an intraoral approach. All five patients (aged 17-41 years) in our case series reported being satisfied with the improvement achieved using this technique. Based on our experience, a transoral approach to malar augmentation by valgisation osteotomy may address the bulging eyes aspect through transantral orbital fat reduction in select cases. Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mitral stenosis due to dynamic clip-leaflet interaction during the MitraClip procedure: Case report and review of current knowledge.

PubMed

Singh, Gagan D; Smith, Thomas W; Rogers, Jason H

2017-06-01

The goal of MitraClip therapy is to achieve mitral regurgitation reduction without iatrogenic creation of clinically significant MS. In some series, up to 35% of patients are left with mild MS. There are many contributors to the final transmitral gradient achieved in patients undergoing MitraClip therapy. Additionally, there are many modalities used for the intraprocedural assessment of MS with no one modality considered to be the benchmark. We herein describe a case which illustrates the dynamic nature of clip-leaflet interaction, and review intraprocedural techniques for invasively and noninvasively assessing MS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bone augmentation in dental implantology using press-fit bone cylinders and twin-principle diamond hollow drills: a case series.

PubMed

Draenert, Florian Guy; Huetzen, Dominic; Kämmerer, Peer; Wagner, Wilfried

2011-09-01

Bone transplants are mostly prepared with cutting drills, chisels, and rasps. These techniques are difficult for unexperienced surgeons, and the implant interface is less precise due to unstandardized preparation. Cylindrical bone transplants are a known alternative. Current techniques include fixation methods with osteosynthesis screws or the dental implant. A new bone cylinder transplant technique is presented using a twin-drill principle resulting in a customized pressfit of the transplant without fixation devices and combining this with the superior grinding properties of a diamond coating. New cylindrical diamond hollow drills are used for customized press fit bone transplants in a case series of five patients for socket reconstruction in the front and molar region of maxilla and mandibula with and without simultaneous implant placement. The technical approach was successful without intra or postoperative complications during the acute healing phase. The customized press fit completes a technological trias of bone cylinder transplant techniques adding to the assisted press fit with either osteosynthesis screws or the dental implant itself. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electroconvulsive therapy in the intensive care unit for the treatment of catatonia: a case series and review of the literature.

PubMed

Dessens, Femke M; van Paassen, Judith; van Westerloo, David J; van der Wee, Nic J; van Vliet, Irene M; van Noorden, Martijn S

2016-01-01

Catatonia is an underdiagnosed syndrome that may occur in severely ill patients. The malignant subtype, consisting of motor symptoms, autonomic instability and fever, is associated with high mortality rates, though exact current mortality rates are unknown. This subtype requires a fast detection and treatment with high doses of a benzodiazepine or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), preferably in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Case series and qualitative literature review. This paper presents four patients admitted to the ICU of an academic hospital diagnosed with malignant catatonia. All patients received ECT after an ineffective trial of high-dose intravenous benzodiazepine treatment. The duration of ECT ranged from 6 to 23 treatments after which the catatonic features partially or fully remitted. In addition, we have reviewed the diagnostic challenges, neurobiology, possible causes, differential diagnosis and treatment options of catatonia, focusing on the treatment with ECT and the importance of detection and multidisciplinary collaboration. Malignant catatonia is an underdiagnosed, potentially life-threatening syndrome that requires fast recognition and prompt treatment, preferably in an ICU setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Time series prediction in the case of nonlinear loads by using ADALINE and NAR neural networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghiormez, L.; Panoiu, M.; Panoiu, C.; Tirian, O.

2018-01-01

This paper presents a study regarding the time series prediction in the case of an electric arc furnace. The considered furnace is a three phase load and it is used to melt scrap in order to obtain liquid steel. The furnace is powered by a three-phase electrical supply and therefore has three graphite electrodes. The furnace is a nonlinear load that can influence the equipment connected to the same electrical power supply network. The nonlinearity is given by the electric arc that appears at the furnace between the graphite electrode and the scrap. Because of the disturbances caused by the electric arc furnace during the elaboration process of steel it is very useful to predict the current of the electric arc and the voltage from the measuring point in the secondary side of the furnace transformer. In order to make the predictions were used ADALINE and NAR neural networks. To train the networks and to make the predictions were used data acquired from the real technological plant.

ICASE/LaRC Workshop on Adaptive Grid Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

South, Jerry C., Jr. (Editor); Thomas, James L. (Editor); Vanrosendale, John (Editor)

1995-01-01

Solution-adaptive grid techniques are essential to the attainment of practical, user friendly, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. In this three-day workshop, experts gathered together to describe state-of-the-art methods in solution-adaptive grid refinement, analysis, and implementation; to assess the current practice; and to discuss future needs and directions for research. This was accomplished through a series of invited and contributed papers. The workshop focused on a set of two-dimensional test cases designed by the organizers to aid in assessing the current state of development of adaptive grid technology. In addition, a panel of experts from universities, industry, and government research laboratories discussed their views of needs and future directions in this field.

Validation of a new algorithm for a quick and easy RT-PCR-based ALK test in a large series of lung adenocarcinomas: Comparison with FISH, immunohistochemistry and next generation sequencing assays.

PubMed

Marchetti, Antonio; Pace, Maria Vittoria; Di Lorito, Alessia; Canarecci, Sara; Felicioni, Lara; D'Antuono, Tommaso; Liberatore, Marcella; Filice, Giampaolo; Guetti, Luigi; Mucilli, Felice; Buttitta, Fiamma

2016-09-01

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have been described in 3-5% of lung adenocarcinomas (ADC) and their identification is essential to select patients for treatment with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors. For several years, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) has been considered as the only validated diagnostic assay. Currently, alternative methods are commercially available as diagnostic tests. A series of 217 ADC comprising 196 consecutive resected tumors and 21 ALK FISH-positive cases from an independent series of 702 ADC were investigated. All specimens were screened by IHC (ALK-D5F3-CDx-Ventana), FISH (Vysis ALK Break-Apart-Abbott) and RT-PCR (ALK RGQ RT-PCR-Qiagen). Results were compared and discordant cases subjected to Next Generation Sequencing. Thirty-nine of 217 samples were positive by the ALK RGQ RT-PCR assay, using a threshold cycle (Ct) cut-off ≤35.9, as recommended. Of these positive samples, 14 were negative by IHC and 12 by FISH. ALK RGQ RT-PCR/FISH discordant cases were analyzed by the NGS assay with results concordant with FISH data. In order to obtain the maximum level of agreement between FISH and ALK RGQ RT-PCR data, we introduced a new scoring algorithm based on the ΔCt value. A ΔCt cut-off level ≤3.5 was used in a pilot series. Then the algorithm was tested on a completely independent validation series. By using the new scoring algorithm and FISH as reference standard, the sensitivity and the specificity of the ALK RGQ RT-PCR(ΔCt) assay were 100% and 100%, respectively. Our results suggest that the ALK RGQ RT-PCR test could be useful in clinical practice as a complementary assay in multi-test diagnostic algorithms or even, if our data will be confirmed in independent studies, as a standalone or screening test for the selection of patients to be treated with ALK inhibitors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identifying Human Trafficking Victims on a Psychiatry Inpatient Service: a Case Series.

PubMed

Nguyen, Phuong T; Lamkin, Joanna; Coverdale, John H; Scott, Samuel; Li, Karen; Gordon, Mollie R

2018-06-01

Human trafficking is a serious and prevalent human rights violation that closely intersects with mental health. Limited empirical attention has been paid to the presentations and identification of trafficking victims in psychiatric settings. The primary goal of this paper is to describe the varied presentations of trafficking victims on an urban inpatient psychiatric unit. A literature review was conducted to identify relevant empirical articles to inform our examination of cases. Adult inpatient cases meeting criteria for known or possible human trafficking were systematically identified and illustrative cases were described. Six cases were identified including one male and five females. Two had been labor trafficked and four were suspected or confirmed to have been sex trafficked. The cases demonstrated a tremendous diversity of demographic and psychiatric identifying factors. These cases indicate the importance of routinely screening for trafficking victims in inpatient psychiatry settings. Identification of cases is a requisite step in providing informed and evidence-based treatments and enabling the secondary prevention of re-exploitation. Additional research is warranted given the limited current empirical research on this topic area.

Real-life experience with the specific reversal agent idarucizumab for the management of emergency situations in dabigatran-treated patients: a series of 11 cases.

PubMed

Vosko, Milan R; Bocksrucker, Christof; Drwiła, Rafał; Dulíček, Petr; Hauer, Tomas; Mutzenbach, Johannes; Schlimp, Christoph J; Špinler, David; Wolf, Thomas; Zugwitz, Daša

2017-04-01

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have a favorable benefit-risk profile compared with vitamin K antagonists. However, the lack of specific reversal agents has made the management of some patients receiving long-term treatment with NOACs problematic in emergency situations such as major bleeding events or urgent procedures. Idarucizumab, a fully humanized Fab antibody fragment that binds specifically and with high affinity to dabigatran, was recently approved for use in adult patients treated with dabigatran when rapid reversal of its anticoagulant effect is required. Clinical experience with idarucizumab is currently limited. We report 11 real-life clinical cases in which idarucizumab was used after multidisciplinary consultation in a variety of emergency situations including severe postoperative bleeding, emergency high-bleeding-risk surgery (hip/spine surgery and neurosurgery), invasive diagnostic testing (lumbar puncture), intracranial bleeding (pre-pontine subarachnoid hemorrhage and lobar intracerebral hemorrhage) and thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke. This case series illustrates the role of idarucizumab in improving patient safety in rare emergency situations requiring rapid reversal of the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran, while highlighting the importance of information and education about the availability and appropriate use of this recently approved specific reversal agent.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy following gastrectomy reconstructed with Billroth II or Roux-en-Y method: Case series and literature review.

PubMed

Kawamoto, Yusuke; Ome, Yusuke; Kouda, Yusuke; Saga, Kennichi; Park, Taebum; Kawamoto, Kazuyuki

2017-01-01

The ideal reconstruction method for pancreaticoduodenectomy following a gastrectomy with Billroth II or Roux-en-Y reconstruction is unclear. We reviewed a series of seven pancreaticoduodenectomies performed after gastrectomy with the Billroth II or Roux-en-Y method. While preserving the existing gastrojejunostomy or esophagojejunostomy, pancreaticojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy were performed by the Roux-en-Y method using a new Roux limb in all cases. Four patients experienced postoperative complications, although the specific complications varied. A review of the literature revealed 13 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy following gastrectomy with Billroth II or Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Three patients out of six (50%) in whom the past afferent limb was used for the reconstruction of the pancreaticojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy experienced afferent loop syndrome, while 14 previous and current patients in whom a new jejeunal limb was used did not experience this complication. The Roux-en-Y method, using the distal intestine of previous gastrojejunostomy or jejunojejunostomy as a new jejunal limb for pancreaticojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy, may be a better reconstruction method to avoid the complication of afferent loop syndrome after previous gastrectomy with Billroth II or Roux-en-Y reconstruction if the afferent limb is less than 40cm. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Successful use of right unilateral ECT for catatonia: a case series.

PubMed

Cristancho, Pilar; Jewkes, Delaina; Mon, Thetsu; Conway, Charles

2014-03-01

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome involving motor signs in association with disorders of mood, behavior, or thought. Bitemporal electrode placement electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a proven effective treatment for catatonia, and this mode of ECT delivery is the preferred method of treatment in this condition. Studies in major depressive disorder have demonstrated that suprathreshold, nondominant (right) hemisphere, unilateral electrode placement ECT has fewer adverse effects, especially cognitive adverse effects, than bitemporal ECT. This case series describes the use of right unilateral (RUL) ECT in 5 patients with catatonia. Before ECT, all 5 patients in this series initially failed therapy with benzodiazepines and psychotropic medications. Each catatonic patient received a series of 8 to 12 RUL ECT in an every-other-day series. After ECT, 4 of the 5 patients had a full recovery from catatonia. One patient achieved only partial response to RUL ECT, and no additional benefit was obtained with bitemporal ECT. All patients in this case series tolerated RUL ECT without major adverse effects. This case series illustrates successful use of RUL ECT in patients with catatonia and adds to the early literature demonstrating its effective use in treating this complex condition.

The Effects of the Reverse Current Caused by the Series Compensation on the Current Differential Protection

PubMed Central

Tang, Cui; Yin, Xianggen; Qi, Xuanwei; Zhang, Zhe

2014-01-01

The series capacitor compensation is one of the key technologies in the EHV and UHV long distance power transmission lines. This paper analyzes the operation characteristics of the main protection combined with the engineering practice when the transmission line overcompensation due to the series compensation system is modified and analyzes the influence of the transition resistance and the system operation mode on the current differential protection. According to the simulation results, it presents countermeasure on improving the sensitivity of differential current protection. PMID:25247206

What's in a Name? The Incorrect Use of Case Series as a Study Design Label in Studies Involving Dogs and Cats.

PubMed

Sargeant, J M; O'Connor, A M; Cullen, J N; Makielski, K M; Jones-Bitton, A

2017-07-01

Study design labels are used to identify relevant literature to address specific clinical and research questions and to aid in evaluating the evidentiary value of research. Evidence from the human healthcare literature indicates that the label "case series" may be used inconsistently and inappropriately. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion of studies in the canine and feline veterinary literature labeled as case series that actually corresponded to descriptive cohort studies, population-based cohort studies, or other study designs. Our secondary objective was to identify the proportion of case series in which potentially inappropriate inferential statements were made. Descriptive evaluation of published literature. One-hundred published studies (from 19 journals) labeled as case series. Studies were identified by a structured literature search, with random selection of 100 studies from the relevant citations. Two reviewers independently characterized each study, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Of the 100 studies, 16 were case series. The remaining studies were descriptive cohort studies (35), population-based cohort studies (36), or other observational or experimental study designs (13). Almost half (48.8%) of the case series or descriptive cohort studies, with no control group and no formal statistical analysis, included inferential statements about the efficacy of treatment or statistical significance of potential risk factors. Authors, peer-reviewers, and editors should carefully consider the design elements of a study to accurately identify and label the study design. Doing so will facilitate an understanding of the evidentiary value of the results. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Anesthetic management of placenta accreta in a low-resource setting: a case series.

PubMed

Muñoz, L A; Mendoza, G J; Gomez, M; Reyes, L E; Arevalo, J J

2015-11-01

Current recommendations for the anesthetic management of placenta accreta support a conservative approach with neuraxial anesthesia and uterine artery embolization. These are based on case series from experienced centers in developed countries. The aim of this study was to describe the anesthetic management of placenta accreta in a low-resource setting. A retrospective case note review was performed. From 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2011 placentas from cases of suspected placenta accreta were reassessed histologically to confirm the diagnosis. Patient charts were reviewed and information on anesthetic technique, monitoring, blood transfusion, maternal and fetal outcomes was extracted. Thirty-nine cases were identified. Mean (± SD) maternal age was 33 ± 5.4 years. Hysterectomy was performed at the time of cesarean section in all cases. Thirty-four patients received neuraxial anesthesia, of whom 15 required conversion to general anesthesia. Invasive blood pressure monitoring was used in all patients and a central venous catheter was inserted in 33 cases. Complications associated with monitoring occurred in five patients. Median [IQR] blood loss was 2000 [1100-2700] mL and the median [IQR] number of units of red blood cell transfused was 2 [0-6]. Vasoactive medication was used in 14 patients and 15 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit postoperatively. No maternal or newborn deaths occurred. A multidisciplinary approach can prove valuable when placenta accreta is suspected before delivery. In low-resource settings, lack of interventional radiology services and prenatal diagnostic capability may have an impact on anesthetic management in patients with placenta accreta. However, other than greater blood loss, our study demonstrated that good maternal and neonatal outcomes are possible in spite of limited resources. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Decadal GPS Time Series and Velocity Fields Spanning the North American Continent and Beyond: New Data Products, Cyberinfrastructure and Case Studies from the EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) and Other Regional Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, D. A.; Herring, T.; Melbourne, T. I.; Murray, M. H.; Szeliga, W. M.; Floyd, M.; Puskas, C. M.; King, R. W.; Boler, F. M.; Meertens, C. M.; Mattioli, G. S.

2017-12-01

The Geodesy Advancing Geosciences and EarthScope (GAGE) Facility, operated by UNAVCO, provides a diverse suite of geodetic data, derived products and cyberinfrastructure services to support community Earth science research and education. GPS data and products including decadal station position time series and velocities are provided for 2000+ continuous GPS stations from the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) and other networks distributed throughout the high Arctic, North America, and Caribbean regions. The position time series contain a multitude of signals in addition to the secular motions, including coseismic and postseismic displacements, interseismic strain accumulation, and transient signals associated with hydrologic and other processes. We present our latest velocity field solutions, new time series offset estimate products, and new time series examples associated with various phenomena. Position time series, and the signals they contain, are inherently dependent upon analysis parameters such as network scaling and reference frame realization. The estimation of scale changes for example, a common practice, has large impacts on vertical motion estimates. GAGE/PBO velocities and time series are currently provided in IGS (IGb08) and North America (NAM08, IGb08 rotated to a fixed North America Plate) reference frames. We are reprocessing all data (1996 to present) as part of the transition from IGb08 to IGS14 that began in 2017. New NAM14 and IGS14 data products are discussed. GAGE/PBO GPS data products are currently generated using onsite computing clusters. As part of an NSF funded EarthCube Building Blocks project called "Deploying MultiFacility Cyberinfrastructure in Commercial and Private Cloud-based Systems (GeoSciCloud)", we are investigating performance, cost, and efficiency differences between local computing resources and cloud based resources. Test environments include a commercial cloud provider (Amazon/AWS), NSF cloud-like infrastructures within XSEDE (TACC, the Texas Advanced Computing Center), and in-house cyberinfrastructures. Preliminary findings from this effort are presented. Web services developed by UNAVCO to facilitate the discovery, customization and dissemination of GPS data and products are also presented.

Aspergillus fumigatus colonization of punctal plugs.

PubMed

Tabbara, Khalid F

2007-01-01

Punctal plugs are used in patients with dry eye syndrome to preserve the tears. In this report, I present two cases of Aspergillus fumigatus colonization of punctal plugs. Observational series of two cases. Approval was obtained from the institutional review board. Two men aged 29 and 31 years developed black spots inside the hole of punctal plug, which looked like eyeliner deposits. The deposits inside the hole of the plug in each patient were removed and cultured. Cultures of the two punctal plugs black deposits grew A fumigatus. Bacterial cultures were negative. Colonization of the punctal plug hole with A fumigatus was observed in two cases. It is recommended that punctal plugs be removed in patients undergoing refractive or intraocular procedures or in patients who are receiving topical corticosteroids. Current punctal plugs should be redesigned to avoid the presence of an inserter hole.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: report of seven cases and review of literature.

PubMed

Urs, Latha; Qualman, Stephen J; Kahwash, Samir B

2009-01-01

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare, aggressive, clonal hematopoietic disorder of childhood with features of both myelodysplasia (thrombocytopenia, anemia) and myeloproliferation (leukocytosis, monocytosis). In most cases there is marrow hypercellularity, splenomegaly, and extramedullary involvement. In 1997 an international consensus on terminology was reached and guidelines/criteria for diagnosis were proposed. A recent World Health Organization classification described the current diagnostic criteria of JMML. Although the diagnosis of JMML has been facilitated, it can be challenging, especially in the early stages or when it 1st presents as an extramedullary tumor. We report a series of 7 cases diagnosed over a period of 10 years (from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2005). Two cases had interesting associated findings that would potentially lead to delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Two other cases had extramedullary involvement with symptoms referable to the organs of involvement at presentation. Clinical and pathologic findings are summarized with a review of relevant literature.

Informatics in radiology (infoRAD): Vendor-neutral case input into a server-based digital teaching file system.

PubMed

Kamauu, Aaron W C; DuVall, Scott L; Robison, Reid J; Liimatta, Andrew P; Wiggins, Richard H; Avrin, David E

2006-01-01

Although digital teaching files are important to radiology education, there are no current satisfactory solutions for export of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images from picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in desktop publishing format. A vendor-neutral digital teaching file, the Radiology Interesting Case Server (RadICS), offers an efficient tool for harvesting interesting cases from PACS without requiring modifications of the PACS configurations. Radiologists push imaging studies from PACS to RadICS via the standard DICOM Send process, and the RadICS server automatically converts the DICOM images into the Joint Photographic Experts Group format, a common desktop publishing format. They can then select key images and create an interesting case series at the PACS workstation. RadICS was tested successfully against multiple unmodified commercial PACS. Using RadICS, radiologists are able to harvest and author interesting cases at the point of clinical interpretation with minimal disruption in clinical work flow. RSNA, 2006

Plasmapheresis for Preventing Complication of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

PubMed

Costantini, Nicoletta; Mameli, Antonella; Marongiu, Francesco

2016-01-01

Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a common indication for the need of plasma exchange in treatment of hypertriglyceridemic-induced pancreatitis when normal therapies fail to garner a response. Application of plasmapheresis to prevent complication of hypertriglyceridemia is limited because of its cost and availability. We present a case of a 44-year-old man with metabolic syndrome and a medical history of secondary polycythemia in obesity hypoventilation syndrome, whose laboratory tests revealed a triglycerides value of 3965 mg/dL. To prevent the complication of pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia, we performed plasma exchange 3 times when conventional treatments did not sufficiently reduce the high level of triglycerides. A review of the current available literature was therefore conducted to provide an overview of the present data on apheretic treatment for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Several case reports and case series have used plasmapheresis in acute treatment of hypertriglyceridemia pancreatitis related. In our case, the choice of plasmapheresis was applied in prevention of possible complications of hypertriglyceridemia.

Q-Vax Q fever vaccine failures, Victoria, Australia 1994-2013.

PubMed

Bond, Katherine A; Franklin, Lucinda J; Sutton, Brett; Firestone, Simon M

2017-12-18

Q-Vax®, a whole cell formalin inactivated vaccine, is currently the only licensed Q fever vaccine for humans world-wide. Efficacy is high, although vaccine failures have been described for those vaccinated within the incubation of a naturally acquired infection. In Australia, it is widely used to prevent occupational acquisition of Q fever and is the mainstay for outbreak control. A retrospective review of all notified cases of acute Q fever to the Victorian department of health, 1993-2013, revealed 34 of 659 cases were previously vaccinated and 10 cases were positive on pre-vaccination screening, precluding vaccination. Twenty-one cases described high-risk exposures for C. burnetii prior to and within 15 days post vaccination and are likely to have been vaccinated within the incubation period of a natural infection. Thirteen cases described symptom onset more than 15 days post vaccination and thus may represent the first described series of Q-Vax vaccine failures following appropriate vaccination. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Descriptive Analysis of Tactical Casualty Care Interventions Performed by Law Enforcement Personnel in the State of Wisconsin, 2010-2015.

PubMed

Stiles, Chad M; Cook, Christopher; Sztajnkrycer, Matthew D

2017-06-01

Introduction Based upon military experience, law enforcement has developed guidelines for medical care during high-threat conditions. The purpose of the current study was to provide a descriptive analysis of reported outcomes of law enforcement medical interventions. This was a descriptive analysis of a convenience sample of cases submitted to the Wisconsin Tactical Medicine Initiative (Wisconsin USA), after the provision of successful patient care, between January 2010 and December 2015. The study was reviewed by the Mayo Foundation Institutional Review Board (Rochester, Minnesota USA) and deemed exempt. Nineteen agencies submitted information during the study period. Of the 56 episodes of care reported, four (7.1%) cases involved care provided to injured officers while 52 (92.9%) involved care to injured civilians, including suspects. In at least two cases, on-going threats existed during the provision of medical care to an injured civilian. Law enforcement rendered care prior to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrival in all but two cases. The current case series demonstrates the life-saving potential for law enforcement personnel trained and equipped under current Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)/ Committee on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (C-TECC) tactical casualty care guidelines. Although originally developed to save the lives of wounded combat personnel, in the civilian sector, the training appears more likely to save victims rather than law enforcement personnel. Stiles CM , Cook C , Sztajnkrycer MD . A descriptive analysis of tactical casualty care interventions performed by law enforcement personnel in the State of Wisconsin, 2010-2015. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(3):284-288.

Effects of bending on the superconducting critical current density of monofilamentary Nb3Sn wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiho, K.; Luhman, T. S.; Suenaga, M.; Sampson, W. B.

1980-02-01

Variations in the superconducting current density Jc of the Nb3Sn wires upon bending were measured for a series of monofilamentary wires in which the ratio Rv of the matrix (Cu+Sn) to the core (Nb3Sn,Nb) was changed from 0 to 58. In most cases Jc was found to increase slightly until the bending strain exceeded a value of ɛirrB , beyond which it severely and irreversibly degraded. For wires with intermediate values of Rv (˜2 to 10), ɛirrB , calculated by geometrical considerations, was substantially lower than the measured value of the tensile strain ɛirrT which was required to irreversibly degrade the critical current. The influence of bending strains on Jc can qualitatively be described by considering residual prestrains in the matrix and the core.

Method and apparatus to produce and maintain a thick, flowing, liquid lithium first wall for toroidal magnetic confinement DT fusion reactors

DOEpatents

Woolley, Robert D.

2002-01-01

A system for forming a thick flowing liquid metal, in this case lithium, layer on the inside wall of a toroid containing the plasma of a deuterium-tritium fusion reactor. The presence of the liquid metal layer or first wall serves to prevent neutron damage to the walls of the toroid. A poloidal current in the liquid metal layer is oriented so that it flows in the same direction as the current in a series of external magnets used to confine the plasma. This current alignment results in the liquid metal being forced against the wall of the toroid. After the liquid metal exits the toroid it is pumped to a heat extraction and power conversion device prior to being reentering the toroid.

Equalizer system and method for series connected energy storing devices

DOEpatents

Rouillard, Jean; Comte, Christophe; Hagen, Ronald A.; Knudson, Orlin B.; Morin, Andre; Ross, Guy

1999-01-01

An apparatus and method for regulating the charge voltage of a number of electrochemical cells connected in series is disclosed. Equalization circuitry is provided to control the amount of charge current supplied to individual electrochemical cells included within the series string of electrochemical cells without interrupting the flow of charge current through the series string. The equalization circuitry balances the potential of each of the electrochemical cells to within a pre-determined voltage setpoint tolerance during charging, and, if necessary, prior to initiating charging. Equalization of cell potentials may be effected toward the end of a charge cycle or throughout the charge cycle. Overcharge protection is also provided for each of the electrochemical cells coupled to the series connection. During a discharge mode of operation in accordance with one embodiment, the equalization circuitry is substantially non-conductive with respect to the flow of discharge current from the series string of electrochemical cells. In accordance with another embodiment, equalization of the series string of cells is effected during a discharge cycle.

Module Twelve: Series AC Resistive-Reactive Circuits; Basic Electricity and Electronics Individualized Learning System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, DC.

The module covers series circuits which contain both resistive and reactive components and methods of solving these circuits for current, voltage, impedance, and phase angle. The module is divided into six lessons: voltage and impedance in AC (alternating current) series circuits, vector computations, rectangular and polar notation, variational…

76 FR 71341 - BASINS and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools: Case Study Guide to Potential Applications

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-17

... report presents a series of short case studies designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for... change impacts on water. This report presents a series of short case studies using the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools. The case studies are designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for...

Analysis of series resonant converter with series-parallel connection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Bor-Ren; Huang, Chien-Lan

2011-02-01

In this study, a parallel inductor-inductor-capacitor (LLC) resonant converter series-connected on the primary side and parallel-connected on the secondary side is presented for server power supply systems. Based on series resonant behaviour, the power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors are turned on at zero voltage switching and the rectifier diodes are turned off at zero current switching. Thus, the switching losses on the power semiconductors are reduced. In the proposed converter, the primary windings of the two LLC converters are connected in series. Thus, the two converters have the same primary currents to ensure that they can supply the balance load current. On the output side, two LLC converters are connected in parallel to share the load current and to reduce the current stress on the secondary windings and the rectifier diodes. In this article, the principle of operation, steady-state analysis and design considerations of the proposed converter are provided and discussed. Experiments with a laboratory prototype with a 24 V/21 A output for server power supply were performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.

Systematic assessment of the various controversies, difficulties, and current trends in the reestablishment of lost occlusal planes in edentulous patients.

PubMed

Sahoo, S; Singh, D; Raghav, D; Singh, G; Sarin, A; Kumar, P

2014-05-01

Accurate occlusal plane orientation is an essential factor in the fabrication of complete denture prosthesis. Over the years, it has received a number of methodologies by several researchers utilizing various anatomical landmarks however none of them is considered as perfect that could orient ideal occlusal plane. The presented literature review is an attempt to enlighten historical perspectives, pioneer researches, different controversies, difficulties and current trends for re-establishment of lost occlusal plane in edentulous patients. An extensive literature search was performed using Medline/PubMed interface and other scholarly research bibliographic databases using Medical Subject Headings. Studies describing research studies, case series and assorted clinical reports were retrieved and evaluated from 1963 to 2013. Most of the studies have suggest and evidence to consider Camper's plane for artificial orientation of occlusal plane however there is a substantial lack of genuine long term studies and authentic data that could recommend a single reliable landmark for perfect occlusal plane reorientation in a variety of cases.

High voltage DC power supply

DOEpatents

Droege, T.F.

1989-12-19

A high voltage DC power supply having a first series resistor at the output for limiting current in the event of a short-circuited output, a second series resistor for sensing the magnitude of output current, and a voltage divider circuit for providing a source of feedback voltage for use in voltage regulation is disclosed. The voltage divider circuit is coupled to the second series resistor so as to compensate the feedback voltage for a voltage drop across the first series resistor. The power supply also includes a pulse-width modulated control circuit, having dual clock signals, which is responsive to both the feedback voltage and a command voltage, and also includes voltage and current measuring circuits responsive to the feedback voltage and the voltage developed across the second series resistor respectively. 7 figs.

High voltage DC power supply

DOEpatents

Droege, Thomas F.

1989-01-01

A high voltage DC power supply having a first series resistor at the output for limiting current in the event of a short-circuited output, a second series resistor for sensing the magnitude of output current, and a voltage divider circuit for providing a source of feedback voltage for use in voltage regulation is disclosed. The voltage divider circuit is coupled to the second series resistor so as to compensate the feedback voltage for a voltage drop across the first series resistor. The power supply also includes a pulse-width modulated control circuit, having dual clock signals, which is responsive to both the feedback voltage and a command voltage, and also includes voltage and current measuring circuits responsive to the feedback voltage and the voltage developed across the second series resistor respectively.

Cervical spine injury from gunshot wounds.

PubMed

Beaty, Narlin; Slavin, Justin; Diaz, Cara; Zeleznick, Kyle; Ibrahimi, David; Sansur, Charles A

2014-09-01

Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the cervical spine have been examined in a limited number of case series, and operative management of this traumatic disease has been sparsely discussed. The current literature supports and the authors hypothesize that patients without neurological deficit need neither surgical fusion nor decompression. Patients with GSWs and neurological deficits, however, pose a greater management challenge. The authors have compiled the experience of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland, over the past 12 years, creating the largest series of such injuries, with a total number of 40 civilian patients needing neurosurgical evaluation. The current analysis examines presenting bone injury, surgical indication, presenting neurological examination, and neurological outcome. In this study, the authors characterize the incidence, severity, and recovery potential of cervical GSWs. The rate of unstable fractures requiring surgical intervention is documented. A detailed discussion of surgical indications with a treatment algorithm for cervical instability is offered. A total of 144 cervical GSWs were retrospectively reviewed. Of these injuries, 40 had documented neurological deficits. No neurosurgical consultation was requested for patients without deficit. Epidemiological and clinical information was collected on patients with neurological deficit, including age, sex, timing, indication, type of surgery, initial examination after resuscitation, follow-up examination, and imaging data. Twenty-eight patients (70%) presented with complete neurological deficits and 12 patients (30%) presented with incomplete injuries. Fourteen (35%) of the 40 patients underwent neurosurgical intervention. Twelve patients (30%) required intervention for cervical instability. Seven patients required internal fixation involving 4 anterior fusions, 2 posterior fusions, and 1 combined approach. Five patients were managed with halo immobilization. Two patients underwent decompression alone for neurological deterioration and persistent compressive injury, both of whom experienced marked neurological recovery. Follow-up was obtained in 92% of cases. Three patients undergoing stabilization converted at least 1 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) grade and the remaining operative cases experienced small ASIA motor score improvement. Eighteen patients underwent inpatient MRI. No patient suffered complications or neurological deterioration related to retained metal. Three of 28 patients presenting with AIS Grade A improved to Grade B. For those 12 patients with incomplete injury, 1 improved from AIS Grade C to D, and 3 improved from Grade D to E. Spinal cord injury from GSWs often results in severe neurological deficits. In this series, 30% of these patients with deficits required intervention for instability. This is the first series that thoroughly documents AIS improvement in this patient population. Adherence to the proposed treatment algorithm may optimize neurological outcome and spine stability.

Learning from Multiple Cases: A New Paradigm for Investigating the Effects of Clinical Experience on Knowledge Restructuring and Knowledge Acquisition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boshuizen, Henny P. A.; Bongaerts, Maureen Machiels; van de Wiel, Margaretha W. J.; Schmidt, Henk G.

The effects of experience with a series of similar cases on the knowledge restructuring and learning from text were studied in a longitudinal design. Two groups of fourth-year medical students were confronted with a series of cases, part of them having the same underlying disease. The cases were interspersed with fillers, and each set of cases had…

[Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma with cervicofacial expression. Modulation of the radiotherapy-chemotherapy combination according to the cytological class].

PubMed

Bolla, M; Sotto, J J; Sotto, M F; Junien Lavillauroy, C; Bryon, J P; Vrousos, C; Holland, D

1984-01-01

An analysis was conducted in March 1983, after a mean follow up of 40 months, of cases of cervicofacial stages I and II non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma in 3 children and 41 adults (mean age: 51 years, range: 6-90 years) treated between 1969 and March 1981. According to the Working Formulation malignancy was low in 4 cases, intermediate in 24 and high in 13; 3 cases could not ne classified retrospectively. Cytologic classification showed 13 of class 1 of low malignancy, 7 of class 2 of high malignancy with leukemic potential, and 16 of class 3 of high malignancy with a course leading to tumor formation. The cavum was involved in 10 cases, the tonsils in 9, the parotids in 1, the uvula in 1, isolated cervical adenopathies in 14, multiple unilateral adenopathies in 3 and bilateral cervical adenopathies in 5 cases. Therapy varied according to the series: in the first series (1969-1975) the 23 cases were treated by radiotherapy alone (40-55 Gy). In the second series (1976-1981) of 21 cases, chemotherapy was given as a function of the cytologic class: prophylactic chemotherapy for 6 months after radiation for classes 1 and 2, initial chemotherapy for 6 weeks, cerebral radiation and methotrexate intrathecally, and maintenance chemotherapy for 3 months in class 3. The failure rate for radiated zones was identical in the 2 series (less than 10%). Adjusted 5-year survival rate was 60% for series 1 against 70% for series 2 (p = 0.9), and adjusted remission rate was 43% against 64% (p = 0.8).

Rituximab for Treatment of Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis and C3 Glomerulopathies

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a histological pattern of injury resulting from predominantly subendothelial and mesangial deposition of immunoglobulins or complement factors with subsequent inflammation and proliferation particularly of the glomerular basement membrane. Recent classification of MPGN is based on pathogenesis dividing MPGN into immunoglobulin-associated MPGN and complement-mediated C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) and dense deposit disease (DDD). Current guidelines suggest treatment with steroids, cytotoxic agents with or without plasmapheresis only for subjects with progressive disease, that is, nephrotic range proteinuria and decline of renal function. Rituximab, a chimeric B-cell depleting anti-CD20 antibody, has emerged in the last decade as a treatment option for patients with primary glomerular diseases such as minimal change disease, focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis, or idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, data on the use of rituximab in MPGN, C3GN, and DDD are limited to case reports and retrospective case series. Patients with immunoglobulin-associated and idiopathic MPGN who were treated with rituximab showed partial and complete responses in the majorities of cases. However, rituximab was not effective in few cases of C3GN and DDD. Despite promising results in immunoglobulin-associated and idiopathic MPGN, current evidence on this treatment remains weak, and controlled and prospective data are urgently needed. PMID:28573137

Do Current Basal Series Use Clear Explanations and Correct Exemplars in Teaching Prefixes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Volpe, Myra Elaine

A study (replicating a similar 1977 study by S. Stotsky), examined whether current basal series teach prefixion clearly. Teacher's guides, student texts, and workbooks of nine popular basal reader series were examined to ascertain whether they offered a clear definition of the term "prefix" and whether that definition was reinforced by…

Contribution of Human papillomavirus in neuroendocrine tumors from a series of 10,575 invasive cervical cancer cases.

PubMed

Alejo, Maria; Alemany, Laia; Clavero, Omar; Quiros, Beatriz; Vighi, Susana; Seoud, Muhieddine; Cheng-Yang, Chou; Garland, Suzanne M; Juanpere, Nuria; Lloreta, Josep; Tous, Sara; Klaustermeier, Jo Ellen; Quint, Wim; Bosch, F Xavier; de Sanjosé, Silvia; Lloveras, Belen

2018-06-01

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the cervix are rare tumors with a very aggressive course. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to its etiology. The objective of this study is to describe HPV prevalence and genotype distribution of NET. Forty-nine tumors with histological neuroendocrine features were identified among 10,575 invasive cervical cancer (ICC) cases from an international study. HPV DNA detection was done using SPF10/DEIA /LiPA 25 system. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56) and for p16 INK4a as a surrogate for HPV transforming infection was performed. In 13 samples with negative IHC for all 3 neuroendocrine markers studied, it was possible to conduct electron microscopy (EM). NET represented 0.5% of the total ICC series and HPV was detected in 42 out of 49 samples (85.7%, 95%CI:72.8%,94.1%). HPV16 was the predominant type (54.8%), followed by HPV18 (40.5%). p16 INK4a overexpression was observed in 38/44 cases (86.4%). Neuroendocrine IHC markers could be demonstrated in 24/37 (64.9%) cases. EM identified neuroendocrine granules in 8 samples with negative IHC markers. Our data confirms the association of cervical NET with HPV and p16 INK4a overexpression. Specifically, HPV16 and 18 accounted together for over 95% of the HPV positive cases. Current HPV vaccines could largely prevent these aggressive tumors. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dental anomalies in 14 patients with IP: clinical and radiological analysis and review.

PubMed

Santa-Maria, Fernanda D; Mariath, Luiza Monteavaro; Poziomczyk, Cláudia S; Maahs, Marcia A P; Rosa, Rafael F M; Zen, Paulo R G; Schüller-Faccini, Lavínia; Kiszewski, Ana Elisa

2017-06-01

Current knowledge on dental anomalies in patients with incontinentia pigmenti (IP) has been obtained by examining case reports; however, an overall characterization of such alterations remains lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency, type and location of dental alterations in IP using a case series. Fourteen patients (9 children and 5 adults) with a clinical diagnosis of IP who presented dental anomalies were included in this study. All patients were administered a clinical questionnaire, dental examination and radiological investigation. In the present case series, agenesis of primary dentition was present in 60 % of patients and agenesis of permanent tooth was present in 92.8 % of patients. Most cases were missing at least 6 teeth. Second molar agenesis was present in 13 patients (92.8 %). Anomalies in dental crowns occurred in 71.4 % of cases, and the central incisor was most frequently affected. Two adult patients still had primary teeth. Malocclusion was found in 10 patients (71.4 %). High-arched palate was observed in 7 (50 %) patients. Patients with IP present alterations in both primary and permanent dentition. Because the agenesis of permanent teeth is more common, primary teeth are not always replaced. In addition, the durability of primary dentition appears to be greater in IP. This study shows that patients with IP experience significant loss of teeth, especially in permanent dentition, and have an increased risk of high-arched palate compared to the general population. Prophylactic care of primary teeth in IP is relevant for improving functional and aesthetic outcomes until dental prostheses are implanted.

A systematic review of psychological interventions for adult and pediatric patients with vocal cord dysfunction.

PubMed

Guglani, Loveleen; Atkinson, Sarah; Hosanagar, Avinash; Guglani, Lokesh

2014-01-01

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) or paradoxical vocal-fold motion (PVFM) is a functional disorder of the vocal cords that requires multidisciplinary treatment. Besides relaxation techniques, the use of psychological interventions can help treat the underlying psychological co-morbidities. There is currently no literature that examines the effectiveness of psychological interventions for VCD/PVFM. To review the evidence for psychological interventions used for the treatment of patients with VCD/PVFM. We searched electronic databases for English medical literature using Pubmed (Medline), PsycInfo, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov. The date range for our search is from June 1964 to June 2014. We included studies that reported the use of psychological interventions in both adults and children diagnosed with VCD/PVFM. We included randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, retrospective chart reviews, prospective case series, and individual case reports. Most reported studies are small case series or individual case reports that have described the use of interventions such as psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, and hypnotherapy in conjunction with breathing exercises taught by speech therapists for symptomatic relief. Among the various psychological interventions that have been reported, there is no data regarding effectiveness and/or superiority of one approach over another in either adult or pediatric patients. Psychological interventions have a role to play in the management of adult and pediatric patients with VCD/PVFM. Future prospective studies using uniform approaches for treatment of associated psychopathology may help address this question.

The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Atypical Psychotic Presentations

PubMed Central

Vasu, Devi

2007-01-01

Convulsive therapy and its progeny, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), were originally used for the treatment of catatonic schizophrenia, and there is little doubt that ECT remains an effective intervention for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, current practice tends to favor the use of ECT in severe or treatment refractory affective disorders, and its use in schizophrenia and other nonaffective (atypical) psychotic disorders has become controversial. Case reports have suggested a role for ECT in two specific atypical psychotic disorders: Cotard's syndrome and cycloid psychosis. In this article, we review the atypical psychotic disorders and report a series of five case examples that signify the role of ECT in atypical psychotic presentations, particularly when the symptoms resemble those found in Cotard's syndrome and cycloid psychosis. PMID:20428309

Cortical basis of communication: local computation, coordination, attention.

PubMed

Alexandre, Frederic

2009-03-01

Human communication emerges from cortical processing, known to be implemented on a regular repetitive neuronal substratum. The supposed genericity of cortical processing has elicited a series of modeling works in computational neuroscience that underline the information flows driven by the cortical circuitry. In the minimalist framework underlying the current theories for the embodiment of cognition, such a generic cortical processing is exploited for the coordination of poles of representation, as is reported in this paper for the case of visual attention. Interestingly, this case emphasizes how abstract internal referents are built to conform to memory requirements. This paper proposes that these referents are the basis for communication in humans, which is firstly a coordination and an attentional procedure with regard to their congeners.

REPRODUCTIVE NEOPLASMS IN WILD AND LONG-TERM CAPTIVE FEMALE FLORIDA MANATEES (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS).

PubMed

Smith, Lauren N; Rotstein, David S; Ball, Ray L; Gerlach, Trevor J; Kinsel, Michael; Rodriguez, Maya; de Wit, Martine

2015-12-01

Few reports of neoplastic diseases in manatees exist in the veterinary literature. This case series presents reproductive neoplasia noted in eight wild and long-term captive female Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) obtained through carcass recovery and animal rehabilitation programs between April 2009 and May 2014. All cases were evaluated histologically, and diagnoses of uterine carcinoma (n = 1), granulosa cell tumor (n = 2), ovarian adnexal tumor (n = 1), and leiomyoma (n = 5) were made. The underlying cause of tumor development and effects on reproductive success is currently unknown, but possible asymmetric reproductive aging and/or a correlation between obesity and reproductive disorder in long-term nonreproductive female manatees are of interest and warrant further investigation.

Short- and long-term results following standing fracture repair in 34 horses.

PubMed

Payne, R J; Compston, P C

2012-11-01

Standing fracture repair in the horse is a recently described surgical procedure and currently there are few follow-up data. This case series contains 2 novel aspects in the standing horse: repair of incomplete sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx and medial condylar repair from a lateral aspect. To describe outcome in a case series of horses that had lower limb fractures repaired under standing sedation at Rossdales Equine Hospital. Case records for all horses that had a fracture surgically repaired, by one surgeon at Rossdales Equine Hospital, under standing sedation and local anaesthesia up until June 2011, were retrieved. Hospital records, owner/trainer telephone questionnaire and the Racing Post website were used to evaluate follow-up. Thirty-four horses satisfied the inclusion criteria. Fracture sites included the proximal phalanx (incomplete sagittal fracture, n = 14); the third metacarpal bone (lateral condyle, n = 12, and medial condyle, n = 7); and the third metatarsal bone (lateral condyle, n = 1). One horse required euthanasia due to caecal rupture 10 days post operatively. Twenty horses (66.7% of those with available follow-up) have returned to racing. Where available, mean time from operation to return to racing was 226 days (range 143-433 days). Standing fracture repair produced similar results to fracture repair under general anaesthesia in terms of both the number of horses that returned to racing and the time between surgery and race. Repair of lower limb fracture in the horse under standing sedation is a procedure that has the potential for tangible benefits, including avoidance of the inherent risks of general anaesthesia. The preliminary findings in this series of horses are encouraging and informative when discussing options available prior to fracture repair. © 2012 EVJ Ltd.

Case Series of a Knowledge Translation Intervention to Increase Upper Limb Exercise in Stroke Rehabilitation.

PubMed

Connell, Louise A; McMahon, Naoimh E; Tyson, Sarah F; Watkins, Caroline L; Eng, Janice J

2016-12-01

Current approaches to upper limb rehabilitation are not sufficient to drive neural reorganization and maximize recovery after stroke. To address this evidence-practice gap, a knowledge translation intervention using the Behaviour Change Wheel was developed. The intervention involves collaboratively working with stroke therapy teams to change their practice and increase therapy intensity by therapists prescribing supplementary self-directed arm exercise. The purposes of this case series are: (1) to provide an illustrative example of how a research-informed process changed clinical practice and (2) to report on staff members' and patients' perceptions of the utility of the developed intervention. A participatory action research approach was used in 3 stroke rehabilitation units in the United Kingdom. The intervention aimed to change 4 therapist-level behaviors: (1) screening patients for suitability for supplementary self-directed arm exercise, (2) provision of exercises, (3) involving family and caregivers in assisting with exercises, and (4) monitoring and progressing exercises. Data on changes in practice were collected by therapy teams using a bespoke audit tool. Utility of the intervention was explored in qualitative interviews with patients and staff. Components of the intervention were successfully embedded in 2 of the 3 stroke units. At these sites, almost all admitted patients were screened for suitability for supplementary self-directed exercise. Exercises were provided to 77%, 70%, and 88% of suitable patients across the 3 sites. Involving family and caregivers and monitoring and progressing exercises were not performed consistently. This case series is an example of how a rigorous research-informed knowledge translation process resulted in practice change. Research is needed to demonstrate that these changes can translate into increased intensity of upper limb exercise and affect patient outcomes. © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Effects of forefoot running on chronic exertional compartment syndrome: a case series.

PubMed

Diebal, Angela R; Gregory, Robert; Alitz, Curtis; Gerber, J Parry

2011-12-01

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition that occurs almost exclusively with running whereby exercise increases intramuscular pressure compromising circulation, prohibiting muscular function, and causing pain in the lower leg. Currently, a lack of evidence exists for the effective conservative management of CECS. Altering running mechanics by adopting forefoot running as opposed to heel striking may assist in the treatment of CECS, specifically with anterior compartment symptoms. The purpose of this case series is to describe the outcomes for subjects with CECS through a systematic conservative treatment model focused on forefoot running. Subject one was a 21 y/o female with a 4 year history of CECS and subject two was a 21 y/o male, 7 months status-post two-compartment right leg fasciotomy with a return of symptoms and a new onset of symptoms on the contralateral side. Both subjects modified their running technique over a period of six weeks. Kinematic and kinetic analysis revealed increased step rate while step length, impulse, and peak vertical ground reaction forces decreased. In addition, leg intracompartmental pressures decreased from pre-training to post-training. Within 6 weeks of intervention subjects increased their running distance and speed absent of symptoms of CECS. Follow-up questionnaires were completed by the subjects at 7 months following intervention; subject one reported running distances up to 12.87 km pain-free and subject two reported running 6.44 km pain-free consistently 3 times a week. This case series describes a potentially beneficial conservative management approach to CECS in the form of forefoot running instruction. Further research in this area is warranted to further explore the benefits of adopting a forefoot running technique for CECS as well as other musculoskeletal overuse complaints.

A pragmatic regional interdependence approach to primary frozen shoulder: a retrospective case series.

PubMed

Wong, Christopher Kevin; Strang, Bryanna L; Schram, Galen A; Mercer, Elizabeth A; Kesting, Rebecca S; Deo, Kabi S

2018-05-01

Although the shoulder is known to move together with the scapula and other upper quarter joints, the current frozen shoulder clinical practice guidelines describe only physical therapy study treatments directed to the shoulder. None received a strong recommendation, highlighting the need for alternate interventions. This retrospective case series describes a pragmatic regional interdependence approach to frozen shoulder with impairment and functional outcomes, noting whether final ROM approached normal. Five consecutive patients referred with frozen shoulder diagnoses attended 11-21 sessions over 5-10 weeks with one physical therapist. Treatment addressed inter-related regions (shoulder, shoulder girdle, scapulothoracic/humerothoracic, and spine) following a pragmatic approach using impairment-based interventions (joint/soft tissue mobilization, muscle stretching/strengthening) as well as patient education, modalities and warm up that addressed individual presentations. All patients improved on all outcomes. Mean shoulder ROM at discharge, the impairment outcome, demonstrated large effect size increases: flexion (117 ± 10-179 ± 12, d  = 5.9), abduction (74 ± 8-175 ± 9, d  = 9.3), external rotation (23 ± 7-89 ± 2, d  = 12.0). The Disability of Arm Shoulder Hand functional outcome score upon follow up demonstrated a large effect size improvement ( d  = 1.5) from 40.0 ± 19.4-6.2 ± 3.7. Final ROM approached normal. This case series utilized a regional interdependence approach to frozen shoulder that included manual therapy interventions directed to consistent upper quarter body segments. Shoulder ROM was returned to near normal with functional improvements evident months after discharge. A pragmatic regional interdependence approach addressing multiple joints related to shoulder function may benefit other people with frozen shoulder. 4.

Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet on body composition and bone mineralization in GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome: a case series.

PubMed

Bertoli, Simona; Trentani, Claudia; Ferraris, Cinzia; De Giorgis, Valentina; Veggiotti, Pierangelo; Tagliabue, Anna

2014-06-01

The only known treatment of glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT-1 DS) is a ketogenic diet (KD), which provides the brain with an alternative fuel. Studies in children with intractable epilepsy have shown that a prolonged KD can induce a progressive loss of bone mineral content associated with poor bone health status, probably as a consequence of a chronic acidic environment. The aim of this study is to determine the long-term effects of a KD on body composition and bone mineral status of patients with GLUT-1 DS, is currently unknown. In this case series, we report the changes in body composition and bone mineral status observed in three adult patients with GLUT-1 DS who have been treated with a KD for more than 5 y. A long-term KD did not produce appreciable changes in weight and body composition of adults with GLUT-1 DS. Moreover, we found no evidence of potential adverse effects of a KD on bone health. In summary, this case series contributes to a small but growing body of literature that investigated the potential long-term effects of a KD on bone health. Our data suggest that maintaining a KD for more than 5 y does not pose any major negative effects on body composition, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density in adults with GLUT-1 DS, a finding that is at variance with previous reports focusing on children with intractable epilepsy. Further studies with larger sizes are needed to confirm and expand our findings. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Case Study Approaches for Implementing the 2007 NRC Report “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and A Strategy”

PubMed Central

Andersen, Melvin E.; Clewell, Harvey J.; Carmichael, Paul L.; Boekelheide, Kim

2013-01-01

The 2007 report “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and A Strategy” argued for a change in toxicity testing for environmental agents and discussed federal funding mechanisms that could be used to support this transformation within the USA. The new approach would test for in vitro perturbations of toxicity pathways using human cells with high throughput testing platforms. The NRC report proposed a deliberate timeline, spanning about 20 years, to implement a wholesale replacement of current in-life toxicity test approaches focused on apical responses with in vitro assays. One approach to accelerating implementation is to focus on well-studied prototype compounds with known toxicity pathway targets. Through a series of carefully executed case studies with four or five pathway prototypes, the various steps required for implementation of an in vitro toxicity pathway approach to risk assessment could be developed and refined. In this article, we discuss alternative approaches for implementation and also outline advantages of a case study approach and the manner in which the cases studies could be pursued using current methodologies. A case study approach would be complementary to recently proposed efforts to map the human toxome, while representing a significant extension toward more formal risk assessment compared to the profiling and prioritization approaches offered by programs such as the EPA’s ToxCast effort. PMID:21993955

On Sums of Numerical Series and Fourier Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pavao, H. Germano; de Oliveira, E. Capelas

2008-01-01

We discuss a class of trigonometric functions whose corresponding Fourier series, on a conveniently chosen interval, can be used to calculate several numerical series. Particular cases are presented and two recent results involving numerical series are recovered. (Contains 1 note.)

Delivering Hubble Discoveries to the Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenhamer, B.; Villard, R.; Weaver, D.; Cordes, K.; Knisely, L.

2013-04-01

Today's classrooms are significantly influenced by current news events, delivered instantly into the classroom via the Internet. Educators are challenged daily to transform these events into student learning opportunities. In the case of space science, current news events may be the only chance for educators and students to explore the marvels of the Universe. Inspired by these circumstances, the education and news teams developed the Star Witness News science content reading series. These online news stories (also available in downloadable PDF format) mirror the content of Hubble press releases and are designed for upper elementary and middle school level readers to enjoy. Educators can use Star Witness News stories to reinforce students' reading skills while exposing students to the latest Hubble discoveries.

A complete dc characterization of a constant-frequency, clamped-mode, series-resonant converter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsai, Fu-Sheng; Lee, Fred C.

1988-01-01

The dc behavior of a clamped-mode series-resonant converter is characterized systematically. Given a circuit operating condition, the converter's mode of operation is determined and various circuit parameters are calculated, such as average inductor current (load current), rms inductor current, peak capacitor voltage, rms switch currents, average diode currents, switch turn-on currents, and switch turn-off currents. Regions of operation are defined, and various circuit characteristics are derived to facilitate the converter design.

Dancing sprites: Detailed analysis of two case studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soula, Serge; Mlynarczyk, Janusz; Füllekrug, Martin; Pineda, Nicolau; Georgis, Jean-François; van der Velde, Oscar; Montanyà, Joan; Fabró, Ferran

2017-03-01

On 29-30 October 2013, a low-light video camera installed at Pic du Midi (2877 m), recorded transient luminous events above a very active storm over the Mediterranean Sea. The minimum cloud top temperature reached -73°C, while its cloud to ground (CG) flash rate exceeded 30 fl min-1. Some sprite events have long duration and resemble to dancing sprites. We analyze in detail the temporal evolution and estimated location of two series of sprite sequences, as well as the cloud structure, the lightning activity, the electric field radiated in a broad range of low frequencies, and the current moment waveform of the lightning strokes. (i) In each series, successive sprite sequences reflect time and location of corresponding positive lightning strokes across the stratiform region. (ii) The longer time-delayed (>20 ms) sprite elements correspond to the lower impulsive charge moment changes (iCMC) of the parent strokes (<200 C km), and they are shifted few tens of kilometers from their SP + CG stroke. However, both short and long time-delayed sprite elements also occur after strokes that produce a large iCMC and that are followed by a continuing current. (iii) The long time-delayed sprite elements during the continuing current correspond to surges in the current moment waveform. They occur sometimes at an altitude apparently lower than the previous short time-delayed sprite elements, possibly because of changes in the local conductivity. (iv) The largest and brightest sprite elements produce significant current signatures, visible when their delay is not too short ( 3-5 ms).

Association Between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Microscopic Colitis.

PubMed

Law, Ernest H; Badowski, Melissa; Hung, Yu-Ting; Weems, Kimberly; Sanchez, Angelica; Lee, Todd A

2017-03-01

Microscopic colitis (MC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that is characterized by chronic, watery, nonbloody diarrhea. Concern regarding a potential association between proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and MC has recently emerged. We sought to systematically review and summarize the evidence for the potential association between PPIs and MC. We systematically searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Google Scholar using the terms proton-pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, or esomeprazole), microscopic colitis, collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis. Full-text, English-language reports of case reports/series, observational studies, experimental studies, and systematic reviews/meta-analyses published between January 2000 to August 2016 were included. Bibliographies from pertinent publications were reviewed for additional references. Outcome was defined as the development of biopsy-confirmed MC. A total of 19 publications were identified: 5 case control studies and 14 case reports/series (encompassing a total of 32 cases). All studies were limited by small sample sizes. Risk of MC by dose or specific PPI agent was not investigated in any of the studies. A review of the current body of evidence reveals a possible association between PPIs and MC. There is a need for large observational studies of high quality to examine the differential effect of specific PPIs and whether the magnitude of association is dose dependent. Given their widespread use, clinicians should routinely question whether patients are receiving unnecessary treatment with PPIs and discontinue therapy where appropriate.

Orthostatic Tremor: An Update on a Rare Entity

PubMed Central

Benito-León, Julián; Domingo-Santos, Ángela

2016-01-01

Background Orthostatic tremor (OT) remains among the most intriguing and poorly understood of movement disorders. Compared to Parkinson’s disease or even essential tremor, there are very few articles addressing more basic science issues. In this review, we will discuss the findings of main case series on OT, including data on etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, treatment strategies, and outcome. Methods Data for this review were identified by searching PUBMED (January 1966 to August 2016) for the terms “orthostatic tremor” or “shaky leg syndrome,” which yielded 219 entries. We did not exclude papers on the basis of language, country, or publication date. The electronic database searches were supplemented by articles in the authors’ files that pertained to this topic. Results Owing to its rarity, the current understanding of OT is limited and is mostly based on small case series or case reports. Despite this, a growing body of evidence indicates that OT might be a progressive condition that is clinically heterogeneous (primary vs. secondary cases) with a broader spectrum of clinical features, mainly cerebellar signs, and possible cognitive impairment and personality disturbances. Along with this, advanced neuroimaging techniques are now demonstrating distinct anatomical and functional changes, some of which are consistent with neuronal loss. Discussion OT might be a family of diseases, unified by the presence of leg tremor, but further characterized by etiological and clinical heterogeneity. More work is needed to understand the pathogenesis of this condition. PMID:27713855

31 CFR 352.7 - Issues on exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... States Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) at their current redemption values for Series HH bonds. Series E.... The total current redemption value of the eligible securities submitted for exchange in any one transaction was required to be $500 or more. If the current redemption value was an even multiple of $500...

31 CFR 352.7 - Issues on exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... States Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) at their current redemption values for Series HH bonds. Series E.... The total current redemption value of the eligible securities submitted for exchange in any one transaction was required to be $500 or more. If the current redemption value was an even multiple of $500...

31 CFR 352.7 - Issues on exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... States Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) at their current redemption values for Series HH bonds. Series E.... The total current redemption value of the eligible securities submitted for exchange in any one transaction was required to be $500 or more. If the current redemption value was an even multiple of $500...

31 CFR 352.7 - Issues on exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... States Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) at their current redemption values for Series HH bonds. Series E.... The total current redemption value of the eligible securities submitted for exchange in any one transaction was required to be $500 or more. If the current redemption value was an even multiple of $500...

Development of the NEDO implantable ventricular assist device with Gyro centrifugal pump.

PubMed

Yoshikawa, M; Nonaka, K; Linneweber, J; Kawahito, S; Ohtsuka, G; Nakata, K; Takano, T; Schulte-Eistrup, S; Glueck, J; Schima, H; Wolner, E; Nosé, Y

2000-06-01

The Gyro centrifugal pump, PI (permanently implantable) series, is being developed as a totally implantable artificial heart. Our final goal is to establish a "functional TAH," a totally implantable biventricular assist system (BiVAS) with centrifugal pumps. A plastic prototype pump, Gyro PI 601, was evaluated through in vitro and in vivo studies as a single ventricular assist device (VAD). Based upon these results, the pump head material was converted to a titanium alloy, and the actuator was modified. These titanium Gyro pumps, PI 700 series, also were subjected to in vitro and in vivo studies. The Gyro PI 601 and PI 700 series have the same inner dimensions and characteristics, such as the eccentric inlet port, double pivot bearing system, secondary vane, and magnet coupling system; however, the material of the PI 700 is different from the PI 601. The Gyro PI series is driven by the Vienna DC brushless motor actuator. The inlet cannula of the right ventricular assist system (RVAS) specially made for this system consists of 2 parts: a hat-shaped silicone tip biolized with gelatin and an angled wire reinforced tube made of polyvinylchloride. The pump-actuator package was implanted into 8 calves in the preperitoneal space, bypassing from the left ventricle apex to the descending aorta for the left ventricular assist system (LVAS) and bypassing the right ventricle to the main pulmonary artery for the RVAS. According to the PI 601 feasibility protocol, 2 LVAS cases were terminated after 2 weeks, and 1 LVAS case and 1 RVAS were terminated after 1 month. The PI 700 series was implanted into 4 cases: 3 LVAS cases survived for a long term, 2 of them over 200 days (72-283 days), and 1 RVAS case survived for 1 month and was terminated according to the protocol for a short-term antithrombogenic screening and system feasibility study. Regarding power consumption, the plastic pump cases demonstrated from 6.2 to 12.1 W as LVAS and 7.3 W as RVAS, the titanium pump cases showed from 10.4 to 14.2 W as LVAS and 15.8 W as RVAS. All cases exhibited low hemolysis. The renal function and the liver function were maintained normally in all cases throughout these experimental periods. In the 2 RVAS cases, pulmonary function was normally maintained. No calves demonstrated thromboembolic signs or symptoms throughout the experiments except Case 1 with the plastic pump. However, in the plastic pump cases, bilateral renal infarction was suspected in 2 cases during necropsy whereas no abnormal findings were revealed in the titanium pump cases. There were also no blood clots inside the PI 700 series. As for the 601, the explanted pumps demonstrated slight thrombus formations at the top and bottom pivots except in 1 case. The Gyro PI series, especially the PI 700 series, demonstrated superior performance, biocompatibility, antithrombogenicity and low hemolysis. Also, the durability of the actuator was demonstrated. Based on these results, this titanium centrifugal pump is suitable as an implantable LVAS and RVAS. It is likely that the Gyro PI series is a feasible component of the BiVAS functional TAH.

How Do Tides and Tsunamis Interact in a Highly Energetic Channel? The Case of Canal Chacao, Chile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winckler, Patricio; Sepúlveda, Ignacio; Aron, Felipe; Contreras-López, Manuel

2017-12-01

This study aims at understanding the role of tidal level, speed, and direction in tsunami propagation in highly energetic tidal channels. The main goal is to comprehend whether tide-tsunami interactions enhance/reduce elevation, currents speeds, and arrival times, when compared to pure tsunami models and to simulations in which tides and tsunamis are linearly superimposed. We designed various numerical experiments to compute the tsunami propagation along Canal Chacao, a highly energetic channel in the Chilean Patagonia lying on a subduction margin prone to megathrust earthquakes. Three modeling approaches were implemented under the same seismic scenario: a tsunami model with a constant tide level, a series of six composite models in which independent tide and tsunami simulations are linearly superimposed, and a series of six tide-tsunami nonlinear interaction models (full models). We found that hydrodynamic patterns differ significantly among approaches, being the composite and full models sensitive to both the tidal phase at which the tsunami is triggered and the local depth of the channel. When compared to full models, composite models adequately predicted the maximum surface elevation, but largely overestimated currents. The amplitude and arrival time of the tsunami-leading wave computed with the full model was found to be strongly dependent on the direction of the tidal current and less responsive to the tide level and the tidal current speed. These outcomes emphasize the importance of addressing more carefully the interactions of tides and tsunamis on hazard assessment studies.

Selection of Worst-Case Pesticide Leaching Scenarios for Pesticide Registration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vereecken, H.; Tiktak, A.; Boesten, J.; Vanderborght, J.

2010-12-01

The use of pesticides, fertilizers and manure in intensive agriculture may have a negative impact on the quality of ground- and surface water resources. Legislative action has been undertaken in many countries to protect surface and groundwater resources from contamination by surface applied agrochemicals. Of particular concern are pesticides. The registration procedure plays an important role in the regulation of pesticide use in the European Union. In order to register a certain pesticide use, the notifier needs to prove that the use does not entail a risk of groundwater contamination. Therefore, leaching concentrations of the pesticide need to be assessed using model simulations for so called worst-case scenarios. In the current procedure, a worst-case scenario represents a parameterized pesticide fate model for a certain soil and a certain time series of weather conditions that tries to represent all relevant processes such as transient water flow, root water uptake, pesticide transport, sorption, decay and volatilisation as accurate as possible. Since this model has been parameterized for only one soil and weather time series, it is uncertain whether it represents a worst-case condition for a certain pesticide use. We discuss an alternative approach that uses a simpler model that requires less detailed information about the soil and weather conditions but still represents the effect of soil and climate on pesticide leaching using information that is available for the entire European Union. A comparison between the two approaches demonstrates that the higher precision that the detailed model provides for the prediction of pesticide leaching at a certain site is counteracted by its smaller accuracy to represent a worst case condition. The simpler model predicts leaching concentrations less precise at a certain site but has a complete coverage of the area so that it selects a worst-case condition more accurately.

Scaly scalp associated with crusted scabies: case series.

PubMed

Anbar, T S; El-Domyati, M B; Mansour, H A; Ahmad, H M

2007-07-13

The diagnosis of crusted scabies is becoming more relevant due to the increase in number of immunocompromised patients. To date, more than 200 cases have been reported in the literature. However, crusted scabies seems to be under-diagnosed because of its unusual presentations. In this case series we present history, clinical manifestations, KOH smear, and histopathological findings of a series of four patients with crusted scabies. Scaly scalp was a prominent feature of the disease in all cases. Examination of and treatment of the scalp of patients with suspected crusted scabies should not be neglected. A KOH smear from the scalp offers a simple and reliable technique for diagnosis.

Using surface displacement derived from GRACE to constrain the water loading signal in cGPS measurements in the Amazon Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jose, L.; Bennett, R. A.; Harig, C.

2017-12-01

Currently, cGPS data is well suited to track vertical changes in the Earth's surface. However, there are annual, semi-annual, and interannual signals within cGPS time series that are not well constrained. We hypothesize that these signals are primarily due to water loading. If this is the case, the conventional method of modeling cGPS data as an annual or semiannual sinusoid falls short, as such models cannot accurately capture all variations in surface displacement, especially those due to extreme hydrologic events. We believe that we can better correct the cGPS time series with another method we are developing wherein we use a time series of surface displacement derived from the GRACE geopotential field instead of a sinusoidal model to correct the data. Currently, our analysis is constrained to the Amazon Basin, where the signal due to water loading is large enough to appear in both the GRACE and cGPS measurements. The vertical signal from cGPS stations across the Amazon Basin show an apparent spatial correlation, which further supports our idea that these signals are due to a regional water loading signal. In our preliminary research, we used tsview for Matlab to find that the WRMS of the corrected cGPS time series can be reduced as much as 30% from the model corrected data to the GRACE corrected data. The Amazon, like many places around the world, has experienced extreme drought, in 2005, 2010, and recently in 2015. In addition to making the cGPS vertical signal more robust, the method we are developing has the potential to help us understand the effects of these weather events and track trends in water loading.

Electrochemistry in Near-Critical and Supercritical Fluids. 5. The Dimerization of Quinoline and Acridine Radical Anions and Dianions in Ammonia from -70C to 150C.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-07-01

electrons and a homologous series of diaza-aromatics (pyrazine, quinoxaline and phenazine ) in ammonia from 25 to 1500 C at vapor pressures of 0 to...and the anion radicals, and the dianion in the case of phenazine , were stable on the cyclic voltammetric time scale. The purpose of the current...found for the uncocpli catec second electron transfers of phenazine and quinoxaline is manifested in the oin-ammetry of :. "f a line Irawn between the

Defined contribution defined: health insurance for the next century.

PubMed

Marhula, D C; Shannon, E G

2001-01-01

The consumerism movement will dramatically affect the current payer model and present a new series of challenges for managed care organizations. Employers will fuel the changes, as they create health benefit programs that are modeled after retirement programs. In these cases, employers will shift a major portion of financial responsibility to employees, who will be asked to make buying decisions often previously determined by managed care organizations. New business entities known as health navigators will be formed to aid consumers. However, many structural and policy obstacles may slow or transform the consumerism movement.

The science and questions surrounding chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

PubMed

Ban, Vin Shen; Madden, Christopher J; Bailes, Julian E; Hunt Batjer, H; Lonser, Russell R

2016-04-01

Recently, the pathobiology, causes, associated factors, incidence and prevalence, and natural history of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) have been debated. Data from retrospective case series and high-profile media reports have fueled public fear and affected the medical community's understanding of the role of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the development of CTE. There are a number of limitations posed by the current evidence that can lead to confusion within the public and scientific community. In this paper, the authors address common questions surrounding the science of CTE and propose future research directions.

Achieving Good Perioperative Outcomes After Pancreaticoduodenectomy in a Low-Volume Setting: A 25-Year Experience

PubMed Central

Chedid, Aljamir D.; Chedid, Marcio F.; Winkelmann, Leonardo V.; Filho, Tomaz J. M. Grezzana; Kruel, Cleber D. P.

2015-01-01

Perioperative mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy has improved over time and is lower than 5% in selected high-volume centers. Based on several large literature series on pancreaticoduodenectomy from high-volume centers, some defend that high annual volumes are necessary for good outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy. We report here the outcomes of a low annual volume pancreaticoduodenectomy series after incorporating technical expertise from a high-volume center. We included all patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy performed by a single surgeon (ADC.) as treatment for periampullary malignancies from 1981 to 2005. Outcomes of this series were compared to those of 3 high-volume literature series. Additionally, outcomes for first 10 cases in the present series were compared to those of all 37 remaining cases in this series. A total of 47 pancreaticoduodenectomies were performed over a 25-year period. Overall in-hospital mortality was 2 cases (4.3%), and morbidity occurred in 23 patients (48.9%). Both mortality and morbidity were similar to those of each of the three high-volume center comparison series. Comparison of the outcomes for the first 10 to the remaining 37 cases in this series revealed that the latter 37 cases had inferior mortality (20% versus 0%; P = 0.042), less tumor-positive margins (50 versus 13.5%; P = 0.024), less use of intraoperative blood transfusions (90% versus 32.4%; P = 0.003), and tendency to a shorter length of in-hospital stay (20 versus 15.8 days; P = 0.053). Accumulation of surgical experience and incorporation of expertise from high-volume centers may enable achieving satisfactory outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy in low-volume settings whenever referral to a high-volume center is limited. PMID:25875555

Pitted keratolysis: a clinical review.

PubMed

Bristow, Ivan R; Lee, Yong Leng H

2014-03-01

Pitted keratolysis is a bacterial infection that affects the plantar epidermis. Despite the condition being reported in many countries affecting both shod and unshod populations, there is little guidance for clinicians providing evidence or best practice guidelines on the management of this often stubborn infection. Using a structured search of a range of databases, papers were identified that reported treatments tested on patients with the condition. Most of the literature uncovered was generally of a low level, such as case-based reporting or small case series. Studies were focused mainly on the use of topical antibiotic agents, such as clindamycin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, and mupirocin, often in combination with other measures, such as hygiene advice and the use of antiperspirants. From the limited evidence available, the use of topical antibiotic agents shows some efficacy in the treatment of pitted keratolysis. However, there is currently no suggestion that oral antibiotic drug therapy alone is effective in managing the condition. Currently, there is no consensus on the most effective approach to managing pitted keratolysis, but a combination of antimicrobial agents and adjunctive measures, such as antiperspirants, seems to demonstrate the most effective approach from the current literature available.

The Lesson Plan of the Month. Series 3. 10 Lesson Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity International, Granada Hills, CA. Public Service Center.

Focusing on current topics germane to law-related education (LRE), this guide features ten LRE lessons. As part of a series of lesson plans compiled by Phi Alpha Delta, this collection presents a lesson plan on current issues for each month of the school year. Intended for high school and middle school with adaptations for elementary school, the…

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment in Patients with Down Syndrome: A Case Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutor, Bruce; Hansen, Mark R.; Black, John L.

2006-01-01

In this case series we report four cases of patients with Down syndrome with symptoms consistent with obsessive compulsive disorder. Each patient experienced substantial reduction in compulsive behaviors with pharmacotherapy of an SSRI alone or with the addition of risperidone to SSRI therapy. None of the patients experienced significant side…

Intensive (Daily) Behavior Therapy for School Refusal: A Multiple Baseline Case Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tolin, David F.; Whiting, Sara; Maltby, Nicholas; Diefenbach, Gretchen J.; Lothstein, Mary Anne; Hardcastle, Surrey; Catalano, Amy; Gray, Krista

2009-01-01

The following multiple baseline case series examines school refusal behavior in 4 male adolescents. School refusal symptom presentation was ascertained utilizing a functional analysis from the School Refusal Assessment Scale (Kearney, 2002). For the majority of cases, treatment was conducted within a 15-session intensive format over a 3-week…

Knocked by the shuttlecock: twelve sight-threatening blunt-eye injuries in Australian badminton players.

PubMed

Jao, Kathy K; Atik, Alp; Jamieson, Michael P; Sheales, Mariana P; Lee, Matthew H; Porter, Ashley; Roufas, Athena; Goldberg, Ivan; Zamir, Ehud; White, Andrew; Skalicky, Simon E

2017-07-01

Non-penetrating ocular injuries from badminton shuttlecocks can result in severe damage and life-long complications. This case series highlights the morbidity of such injuries, particularly in regard to post-traumatic glaucoma. This is a retrospective case series of 12 patients with shuttlecock-related blunt eye injuries sustained during badminton play without eye protection. By approaching colleagues through conference presentations and networking, the authors have attempted to gather all known cases of shuttlecock ocular injury managed in tertiary ocular emergency departments or private ophthalmological clinics in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia in 2015. This is the first multicentre case series to describe badminton-related ocular injuries in Australia. Our case series demonstrates, in particular, long-term glaucoma-related morbidity for patients over a large age range (16 to 77 years), with one patient requiring ongoing management 26 years following their initial injury. The cases reported further add to the literature promoting awareness of badminton-related ocular injury. We encourage player education and advocacy on badminton-related eye injuries and appropriate use of eye protection to reduce associated morbidity. © 2016 Optometry Australia.

Severe vulvovaginitis as a presenting problem of type 2 diabetes in adolescent girls: a case series.

PubMed

Curran, Jacqueline; Hayward, Jenette; Sellers, Elizabeth; Dean, Heather

2011-04-01

This article describes the presentation of 4 adolescent girls who sought medical attention for severe vulvovaginitis and were subsequently found to have type 2 diabetes. Symptomatic vulvovaginitis is rare in adolescent girls, and its presence should alert health care providers to test for underlying hyperglycemia. These 4 girls represent 8.5% of the females with new-onset type 2 diabetes during a 3-year period (2007-2009). The 4 cases fulfilled the current Canadian Diabetes Association screening criteria for type 2 diabetes in youth, yet none of these girls had been screened. These cases highlight the need for better awareness of screening criteria for type 2 diabetes in adolescents. Consideration should be given in clinical practice guidelines to including the presence of unusual or severe infections as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in youth.

Two-, three-, and four-poster jets in cross flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vukits, Thomas J.; Sullivan, John P.; Murthy, S. N. B.

1993-01-01

In connection with the problems of the ingestion of hot exhaust gases in engines of V/STOL and STOVL aircraft in ground effect, a series of studies have been undertaken. Ground impinging, two- and three-poster jets operating in the presence of cross flow were studied. The current paper is divided into two parts. The first part is a comparison of the low speed, two-, three-, and four-poster jet cases, with respect to the flowfield in the region of interaction between the forward and the jet flows. These include cases with mass balanced inlet suction. An analysis of the inlet entry plane of the low speed two- and three-poster jet cases is also given. In the second part, high speed results for a two jet configuration without inlet suction are given. The results are based on quantitative, marker concentration distributions obtained by digitizing video images.

Tsunami Detection by High Frequency Radar Beyond the Continental Shelf: II. Extension of Time Correlation Algorithm and Validation on Realistic Case Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grilli, Stéphan T.; Guérin, Charles-Antoine; Shelby, Michael; Grilli, Annette R.; Moran, Patrick; Grosdidier, Samuel; Insua, Tania L.

2017-08-01

In past work, tsunami detection algorithms (TDAs) have been proposed, and successfully applied to offline tsunami detection, based on analyzing tsunami currents inverted from high-frequency (HF) radar Doppler spectra. With this method, however, the detection of small and short-lived tsunami currents in the most distant radar ranges is challenging due to conflicting requirements on the Doppler spectra integration time and resolution. To circumvent this issue, in Part I of this work, we proposed an alternative TDA, referred to as time correlation (TC) TDA, that does not require inverting currents, but instead detects changes in patterns of correlations of radar signal time series measured in pairs of cells located along the main directions of tsunami propagation (predicted by geometric optics theory); such correlations can be maximized when one signal is time-shifted by the pre-computed long wave propagation time. We initially validated the TC-TDA based on numerical simulations of idealized tsunamis in a simplified geometry. Here, we further develop, extend, and apply the TC algorithm to more realistic tsunami case studies. These are performed in the area West of Vancouver Island, BC, where Ocean Networks Canada recently deployed a HF radar (in Tofino, BC), to detect tsunamis from far- and near-field sources, up to a 110 km range. Two case studies are considered, both simulated using long wave models (1) a far-field seismic, and (2) a near-field landslide, tsunami. Pending the availability of radar data, a radar signal simulator is parameterized for the Tofino HF radar characteristics, in particular its signal-to-noise ratio with range, and combined with the simulated tsunami currents to produce realistic time series of backscattered radar signal from a dense grid of cells. Numerical experiments show that the arrival of a tsunami causes a clear change in radar signal correlation patterns, even at the most distant ranges beyond the continental shelf, thus making an early tsunami detection possible with the TC-TDA. Based on these results, we discuss how the new algorithm could be combined with standard methods proposed earlier, based on a Doppler analysis, to develop a new tsunami detection system based on HF radar data, that could increase warning time. This will be the object of future work, which will be based on actual, rather than simulated, radar data.

Case series: toxicity from 25B-NBOMe--a cluster of N-bomb cases.

PubMed

Gee, Paul; Schep, Leo J; Jensen, Berit P; Moore, Grant; Barrington, Stuart

2016-01-01

Background A new class of hallucinogens called NBOMes has emerged. This class includes analogues 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe and 25B-NBOMe. Case reports and judicial seizures indicate that 25I-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe are more prevalently abused. There have been a few confirmed reports of 25B-NBOMe use or toxicity. Report Observational case series. This report describes a series of 10 patients who suffered adverse effects from 25B-NBOMe. Hallucinations and violent agitation predominate along with serotonergic/stimulant signs such as mydriasis, tachycardia, hypertension and hyperthermia. The majority (7/10) required sedation with benzodiazepines. Analytical method 25B-NBOMe concentrations in plasma and urine were quantified in all patients using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Peak plasma levels were measured between 0.7-10.1 ng/ml. Discussion The NBOMes are desired by users because of their hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. They are often sold as LSD or synthetic LSD. Reported cases of 25B- NBOMe toxicity are reviewed and compared to our series. Seizures and one pharmacological death have been described but neither were observed in our series. Based on our experience with cases of mild to moderate toxicity, we suggest that management should be supportive and focused on preventing further (self) harm. High doses of benzodiazepines may be required to control agitation. Patients who develop significant hyperthermia need to be actively managed. Conclusions Effects from 25B-NBOMe in our series were similar to previous individual case reports. The clinical features were also similar to effects from other analogues in the class (25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe). Violent agitation frequently present along with signs of serotonergic stimulation. Hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury were also observed.

Lenticular neovascularization subsequent to traumatic cataract formation.

PubMed

Kabat, Alan G

2011-09-01

To report a series of cases involving neovascularization within the human crystalline lens-a normally avascular structure-after ocular trauma. This is a retrospective, consecutive observational case series with review of the prevailing literature. Four individuals with a history of ocular trauma and subsequent cataract development were examined between May 2004 and April 2007. All had hypermature cataracts and intraocular inflammation, presumably secondary to phacolysis; two of the four had concurrent hyphema and ocular hypertension in the involved eye. All subjects in this series were found to display a discrete network of blood vessels within the structure of the crystalline lens, just beneath the anterior lens capsule. Neovascularization of the crystalline lens has received little attention in the ophthalmic literature, having been described only rarely in individual case reports. This manuscript details the first known case series involving lenticular neovascularization, and offers insight into its possible developmental mechanism.

Amniotic fluid embolism mortality rate.

PubMed

Benson, Michael D

2017-11-01

The objective of this study was to determine the mortality rate of amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) using population-based studies and case series. A literature search was conducted using the two key words: 'amniotic fluid embolism (AFE)' AND 'mortality rate'. Thirteen population-based studies were evaluated, as well as 36 case series including at least two patients. The mortality rate from population-based studies varied from 11% to 44%. When nine population-based studies with over 17 000 000 live births were aggregated, the maternal mortality rate was 20.4%. In contrast, the mortality rate of AFE in case series varies from 0% to 100% with numerous rates in between. The AFE mortality rate in population-based studies varied from 11% to 44% with the best available evidence supporting an overall mortality rate of 20.4%. Data from case series should no longer be used as a basis for describing the lethality of AFE. © 2017 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Transbronchial cryobiopsy for diffuse parenchymal lung disease: a state-of-the-art review of procedural techniques, current evidence, and future challenges.

PubMed

Lentz, Robert J; Argento, A Christine; Colby, Thomas V; Rickman, Otis B; Maldonado, Fabien

2017-07-01

Transbronchial lung biopsy with a cryoprobe, or cryobiopsy, is a promising new bronchoscopic biopsy technique capable of obtaining larger and better-preserved samples than previously possible using traditional biopsy forceps. Over two dozen case series and several small randomized trials are now available describing experiences with this technique, largely for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), in which the reported diagnostic yield is typically 70% to 80%. Cryobiopsy technique varies widely between centers and this predominantly single center-based retrospective literature heterogeneously defines diagnostic yield and complications, limiting the degree to which this technique can be compared between centers or to surgical lung biopsy (SLB). This review explores the broad range of cryobiopsy techniques currently in use, their rationale, the current state of the literature, and suggestions for the direction of future study into this promising but unproven procedure.

Precision increase in electric drive speed loop of robotic complexes and process lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tulegenov, E.; Imanova, A. A.; Platonov, V. V.

2018-05-01

The article presents the principles of synthesis of control structures for highprecision electric drives of robotic complexes and manipulators. It has been theoretically shown and experimentally confirmed that improved characteristics of speed maintenance in the zone of significant overloads are achieved in systems of series excitation. They are achieved due to the redistribution of control signals both in the zone of setting the armature current and in the excitation currents. At the same time, the characteristic of the electromagnetic torque becomes linear because the demagnetizing effect of the armature response is compensated by the setting of the excitation current. It is recommended in those cases when it is necessary to extend the range of speed control with a significant reduction in load to apply structures with two-zone speed control. The regulation of the weakening of the excitation flow is more convenient as a function of the voltage in the armature windings.

Rapid resolution of chronic shoulder pain classified as derangement using the McKenzie method: a case series

PubMed Central

Aytona, Maria Corazon; Dudley, Karlene

2013-01-01

The McKenzie method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is primarily recognized as an evaluation and treatment method for the spine. However, McKenzie suggested that this method could also be applied to the extremities. Derangement is an MDT classification defined as an anatomical disturbance in the normal resting position of the joint, and McKenzie proposed that repeated movements could be applied to reduce internal joint displacement and rapidly reduce derangement symptoms. However, the current literature on MDT application to shoulder disorders is limited. Here, we present a case series involving four patients with chronic shoulder pain from a duration of 2–18 months classified as derangement and treated using MDT principles. Each patient underwent mechanical assessment and was treated with repeated movements based on their directional preference. All patients demonstrated rapid and clinically significant improvement in baseline measures and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (QuickDASH) scores from an average of 38% at initial evaluation to 5% at discharge within 3–5 visits. Our findings suggest that MDT may be an effective treatment approach for shoulder pain. PMID:24421633

Update on treatment for idiopathic hypersomnia.

PubMed

Evangelista, Elisa; Lopez, Régis; Dauvilliers, Yves

2018-02-01

Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a poorly characterized orphan central disorder of hypersomnolence responsible for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), prolonged nighttime sleep and sleep inertia that often require long-term symptomatic stimulant medication. To date, no drug has currently the authorization for the treatment of IH patients worldwide. Areas covered: The authors reviewed data on pharmacological treatment of IH obtained from published literature (Medline/PubMed/Web of Science) and Clinicaltrial.gov database from 1997 to 2017. Most of data on treatment of IH derived from observational studies and case series with only three well-designed clinical trials available. Expert opinion: In two recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, modafinil improves EDS in IH. Most of other wakefulness-promoting agents labeled for narcolepsy have similar efficacy in cases series of IH patients. Pitolisant and sodium oxybate show promising results in two retrospective studies. The efficacy of γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor antagonists on objective EDS needs to be clarified. All these medications are used off-label for the management of EDS in IH. Specific clinical instruments and objective tests are required in IH to better evaluate the severity of EDS and responsiveness to medications, but also prolonged sleep and sleep inertia, to optimize the whole management of IH patients.

The Efficacy of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Combined with Tibial Tuberosity Transfer in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Instability

PubMed Central

Downham, Christopher; Bassett, James; Thompson, Peter; Sprowson, Andrew

2016-01-01

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction combined with tibial tuberosity transfer (TTT) in the treatment of patellofemoral instability. Using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a systematic search was carried out to identify and review the published literature pertinent to MFPL reconstruction combined with TTT. Relevant studies were critically appraised with narrative data synthesis. Studies that met the eligibility criteria were suitable for appraisal and consisted of case series and therapeutic series (levels IV & III). All studies had inherent variations in outcomes reporting and limited follow-up. Combined treatment offers restoration of normal anatomy, thus adding clinical value to the currently recommended anatomic approach to MPFL reconstruction. Nevertheless, the current body of evidence does not determine the threshold at which patellofemoral axis requires the need for adjunctive distal realignment as opposed to MPFL reconstruction alone. This review highlighted numerous recurring limitations in the conduct and presentation of the studies, which inadvertently mitigated the interpretation of their results. Future priority should be awarded to larger randomised controlled trials utilising validated patient reported outcome measures. PMID:27274466

The Interplanetary Magnetic Field and Magnetospheric Current Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

El-Alaoui, Mostafa

2003-01-01

We have performed systematic global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation studies driven by an idealized time series of solar wind parameters to establish basic cause and effect relationships between the solar wind variations and the ionosphere parameters. We studied six cases in which the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) rotated from southward to northward in one minute. In three cases (cases A, B, and C) we ran five hours of southward IMF with Beta(sub Zeta) = 5 nT, followed by five hours of northward IMF with Beta(sub Zeta) = 5 nT. In the other three cases (cases D, E, and F) the magnetic field magnitude was increased to 10 nT. The solar wind parameters were: For cases A and D a density of 5 cm(exp -3), a thermal pressure of 3.3 nPa, and a solar wind speed 375 km/s, for cases B and E a density of 10 cm(exp -3), a thermal pressure of 9.9 nPa, and a solar wind speed 420 km/s, while for cases C and F a density of 15 cm(exp -3), a thermal pressure of 14.9 nPa, and a solar wind speed of 600 km/s.

Facebook and Twitter vaccine sentiment in response to measles outbreaks.

PubMed

Deiner, Michael S; Fathy, Cherie; Kim, Jessica; Niemeyer, Katherine; Ramirez, David; Ackley, Sarah F; Liu, Fengchen; Lietman, Thomas M; Porco, Travis C

2017-11-01

Social media posts regarding measles vaccination were classified as pro-vaccination, expressing vaccine hesitancy, uncertain, or irrelevant. Spearman correlations with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-reported measles cases and differenced smoothed cumulative case counts over this period were reported (using time series bootstrap confidence intervals). A total of 58,078 Facebook posts and 82,993 tweets were identified from 4 January 2009 to 27 August 2016. Pro-vaccination posts were correlated with the US weekly reported cases (Facebook: Spearman correlation 0.22 (95% confidence interval: 0.09 to 0.34), Twitter: 0.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.06 to 0.34)). Vaccine-hesitant posts, however, were uncorrelated with measles cases in the United States (Facebook: 0.01 (95% confidence interval: -0.13 to 0.14), Twitter: 0.0011 (95% confidence interval: -0.12 to 0.12)). These findings may result from more consistent social media engagement by individuals expressing vaccine hesitancy, contrasted with media- or event-driven episodic interest on the part of individuals favoring current policy.

Tidal and residual currents measured by an acoustic doppler current profiler at the west end of Carquinez Strait, San Francisco Bay, California, March to November 1988

USGS Publications Warehouse

Burau, J.R.; Simpson, M.R.; Cheng, R.T.

1993-01-01

Water-velocity profiles were collected at the west end of Carquinez Strait, San Francisco Bay, California, from March to November 1988, using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). These data are a series of 10-minute-averaged water velocities collected at 1-meter vertical intervals (bins) in the 16.8-meter water column, beginning 2.1 meters above the estuary bed. To examine the vertical structure of the horizontal water velocities, the data are separated into individual time-series by bin and then used for time-series plots, harmonic analysis, and for input to digital filters. Three-dimensional graphic renditions of the filtered data are also used in the analysis. Harmonic analysis of the time-series data from each bin indicates that the dominant (12.42 hour or M2) partial tidal currents reverse direction near the bottom, on average, 20 minutes sooner than M2 partial tidal currents near the surface. Residual (nontidal) currents derived from the filtered data indicate that currents near the bottom are pre- dominantly up-estuary during the neap tides and down-estuary during the more energetic spring tides.

Magnetically coupled magnet-spring oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donoso, G.; Ladera, C. L.; Martín, P.

2010-05-01

A system of two magnets hung from two vertical springs and oscillating in the hollows of a pair of coils connected in series is a new, interesting and useful example of coupled oscillators. The electromagnetically coupled oscillations of these oscillators are experimentally and theoretically studied. Its coupling is electromagnetic instead of mechanical, and easily adjustable by the experimenter. The coupling of this new coupled oscillator system is determined by the currents that the magnets induce in two coils connected in series, one to each magnet. It is an interesting case of mechanical oscillators with field-driven coupling, instead of mechanical coupling. Moreover, it is both a coupled and a damped oscillating system that lends itself to a detailed study and presentation of many properties and phenomena of such a system of oscillators. A set of experiments that validates the theoretical model of the oscillators is presented and discussed.

Transdiagnostic Treatment of Bipolar Disorder and Comorbid Anxiety with the Unified Protocol: A Clinical Replication Series

PubMed Central

Ellard, Kristen K.; Deckersbach, Thilo; Sylvia, Louisa G.; Nierenberg, Andrew A.; Barlow, David H.

2013-01-01

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, debilitating disorder with recurrent manic and depressive episodes. Over 75% of bipolar patients have a current or lifetime diagnosis of a comorbid anxiety disorder. Comorbid anxiety in BD is associated with greater illness severity, greater functional impairment, and poorer illness-related outcomes. Effectively treating comorbid anxiety in individuals with BD has been recognized as one of the biggest unmet needs in the field of bipolar disorder. Recently, the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) was developed to be applicable to the full range of anxiety and mood disorders, based upon converging evidence from genetics, cognitive and affective neuroscience, and behavioral research suggesting common, core emotion-related pathology. Here, we present a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of the UP for the treatment of BD with comorbid anxiety, in a clinical replication series consisting of three cases. PMID:22822175

Coupling effects for separate spatial solitons in a biased series centrosymmetric photorefractive crystal circuit considering grey solitons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katti, Aavishkar; Yadav, Ram Anjore

2018-02-01

The existence and coupling of grey-grey, grey-bright and grey-dark separate spatial solitons in a biased series centrosymmetric photorefractive crystal circuit is investigated for the first time. The numerical solution of the separate spatial solitons is presented. The coupling between the two separate spatial solitons is analysed for all three cases of separate coupled solitons, namely grey-grey, grey-bright, and grey-dark. Changing the intensity of the soliton in one crystal affects the soliton in both crystals due to flow of the light induced current through the circuit. The effect of the background intensity of each crystal on both the spatial solitons is investigated. Also, the effect of changing the temperature of one crystal affects the soliton in both crystals due to the coupling effect. The soliton width dependence on the temperature is different for each crystal.

Crew Exploration Vehicle Launch Abort Controller Performance Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sparks, Dean W., Jr.; Raney, David L.

2007-01-01

This paper covers the simulation and evaluation of a controller design for the Crew Module (CM) Launch Abort System (LAS), to measure its ability to meet the abort performance requirements. The controller used in this study is a hybrid design, including features developed by the Government and the Contractor. Testing is done using two separate 6-degree-of-freedom (DOF) computer simulation implementations of the LAS/CM throughout the ascent trajectory: 1) executing a series of abort simulations along a nominal trajectory for the nominal LAS/CM system; and 2) using a series of Monte Carlo runs with perturbed initial flight conditions and perturbed system parameters. The performance of the controller is evaluated against a set of criteria, which is based upon the current functional requirements of the LAS. Preliminary analysis indicates that the performance of the present controller meets (with the exception of a few cases) the evaluation criteria mentioned above.

A Fourier Method for Sidelobe Reduction in Equally Spaced Linear Arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safaai-Jazi, Ahmad; Stutzman, Warren L.

2018-04-01

Uniformly excited, equally spaced linear arrays have a sidelobe level larger than -13.3 dB, which is too high for many applications. This limitation can be remedied by nonuniform excitation of array elements. We present an efficient method for sidelobe reduction in equally spaced linear arrays with low penalty on the directivity. The method involves the following steps: construction of a periodic function containing only the sidelobes of the uniformly excited array, calculation of the Fourier series of this periodic function, subtracting the series from the array factor of the original uniformly excited array after it is truncated, and finally mitigating the truncation effects which yields significant increase in sidelobe level reduction. A sidelobe reduction factor is incorporated into element currents that makes much larger sidelobe reductions possible and also allows varying the sidelobe level incrementally. It is shown that such newly formed arrays can provide sidelobe levels that are at least 22.7 dB below those of the uniformly excited arrays with the same size and number of elements. Analytical expressions for element currents are presented. Radiation characteristics of the sidelobe-reduced arrays introduced here are examined, and numerical results for directivity, sidelobe level, and half-power beam width are presented for example cases. Performance improvements over popular conventional array synthesis methods, such as Chebyshev and linear current tapered arrays, are obtained with the new method.

Tsunami detection by high-frequency radar in British Columbia: performance assessment of the time-correlation algorithm for synthetic and real events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guérin, Charles-Antoine; Grilli, Stéphan T.; Moran, Patrick; Grilli, Annette R.; Insua, Tania L.

2018-05-01

The authors recently proposed a new method for detecting tsunamis using high-frequency (HF) radar observations, referred to as "time-correlation algorithm" (TCA; Grilli et al. Pure Appl Geophys 173(12):3895-3934, 2016a, 174(1): 3003-3028, 2017). Unlike standard algorithms that detect surface current patterns, the TCA is based on analyzing space-time correlations of radar signal time series in pairs of radar cells, which does not require inverting radial surface currents. This was done by calculating a contrast function, which quantifies the change in pattern of the mean correlation between pairs of neighboring cells upon tsunami arrival, with respect to a reference correlation computed in the recent past. In earlier work, the TCA was successfully validated based on realistic numerical simulations of both the radar signal and tsunami wave trains. Here, this algorithm is adapted to apply to actual data from a HF radar installed in Tofino, BC, for three test cases: (1) a simulated far-field tsunami generated in the Semidi Subduction Zone in the Aleutian Arc; (2) a simulated near-field tsunami from a submarine mass failure on the continental slope off of Tofino; and (3) an event believed to be a meteotsunami, which occurred on October 14th, 2016, off of the Pacific West Coast and was measured by the radar. In the first two cases, the synthetic tsunami signal is superimposed onto the radar signal by way of a current memory term; in the third case, the tsunami signature is present within the radar data. In light of these test cases, we develop a detection methodology based on the TCA, using a correlation contrast function, and show that in all three cases the algorithm is able to trigger a timely early warning.

Cross-contact chain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lieneweg, Udo (Inventor)

1988-01-01

A system is provided for use with wafers that include multiple integrated circuits that include two conductive layers in contact at multiple interfaces. Contact chains are formed beside the integrated circuits, each contact chain formed of the same two layers as the circuits, in the form of conductive segments alternating between the upper and lower layers and with the ends of the segments connected in series through interfaces. A current source passes a current through the series-connected segments, by way of a pair of current tabs connected to opposite ends of the series of segments. While the current flows, voltage measurements are taken between each of a plurality of pairs of voltage tabs, the two tabs of each pair connected to opposite ends of an interface that lies along the series-connected segments. A plot of interface conductances on a normal probability chart, enables prediction of the yield of good integrated circuits from the wafer.

Cross-contact chain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lieneweg, U. (Inventor)

1986-01-01

A system is provided for use with wafers that include multiple integrated circuits that include two conductive layers in contact at multiple interfaces. Contact chains are formed beside the integrated circuits, each contact chain formed of the same two layers as the circuits, in the form of conductive segments alternating between the upper and lower layers and with the ends of the segments connected in series through interfaces. A current source passes a current through the series-connected segments, by way of a pair of current tabs connected to opposite ends of the series of segments. While the current flows, voltage measurements are taken between each of a plurality of pairs of voltage tabs, the two tabs of each pair connected to opposite ends of an interface that lies along the series-connected segments. A plot of interface conductances on normal probability chart enables prediction of the yield of good integrated circuits from the wafer.

The short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China: comparison of time-series and case-crossover analyses.

PubMed

Ren, Meng; Li, Na; Wang, Zhan; Liu, Yisi; Chen, Xi; Chu, Yuanyuan; Li, Xiangyu; Zhu, Zhongmin; Tian, Liqiao; Xiang, Hao

2017-01-13

Few studies have compared different methods when exploring the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. This study assesses the association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality with both time-series and time-stratified-case-crossover designs. The generalized additive model (GAM) and the conditional logistic regression model were used to assess the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality. Stratified analyses were performed by age, sex, and diseases. A 10 μg/m 3 increment in SO 2 level was associated with an increase in relative risk for all respiratory disease mortality of 2.4% and 1.9% in the case-crossover and time-series analyses in single pollutant models, respectively. Strong evidence of an association between NO 2 and daily respiratory disease mortality among men or people older than 65 years was found in the case-crossover study. There was a positive association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. Both time-series and case-crossover analyses consistently reveal the association between three air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality. The estimates of association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality from the case-crossover analysis displayed greater variation than that from the time-series analysis.

The short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China: comparison of time-series and case-crossover analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Meng; Li, Na; Wang, Zhan; Liu, Yisi; Chen, Xi; Chu, Yuanyuan; Li, Xiangyu; Zhu, Zhongmin; Tian, Liqiao; Xiang, Hao

2017-01-01

Few studies have compared different methods when exploring the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. This study assesses the association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality with both time-series and time-stratified-case-crossover designs. The generalized additive model (GAM) and the conditional logistic regression model were used to assess the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality. Stratified analyses were performed by age, sex, and diseases. A 10 μg/m3 increment in SO2 level was associated with an increase in relative risk for all respiratory disease mortality of 2.4% and 1.9% in the case-crossover and time-series analyses in single pollutant models, respectively. Strong evidence of an association between NO2 and daily respiratory disease mortality among men or people older than 65 years was found in the case-crossover study. There was a positive association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. Both time-series and case-crossover analyses consistently reveal the association between three air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality. The estimates of association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality from the case-crossover analysis displayed greater variation than that from the time-series analysis.

Technique-Dependent Errors in the Satellite Laser Ranging Contributions to the ITRF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlis, Erricos C.; Kuzmicz-Cieslak, Magdalena; König, Daniel

2013-04-01

Over the past decade Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) has focused on its unique strength of providing accurate observations of the origin and scale of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The origin of the ITRF is defined to coincide with the center of mass of the Earth system (geocenter). SLR realizes this origin as the focal point of the tracked satellite orbits, and being the only (nominally) unbiased ranging technique, it provides the best realization for it. The goal of GGOS is to provide an ITRF with accuracy at epoch of 1 mm or better and a stability of 0.1 mm/y. In order to meet this stringent goal, Space Geodesy is taking a two-pronged approach: modernizing the engineering components (ground and space segments), and revising the modeling standards to take advantage of recent improvements in many areas of geophysical modeling for system Earth components. As we gain improved understanding of the Earth system components, space geodesy adjusts its underlying modeling of the system to better and more completely describe it. Similarly, from the engineering side we examine the observational process for improvement of the calibration and reduction procedures that will enhance the accuracy of the individual observations thence the final SLR products. Two areas that are currently under scrutiny are (a) the station-dependent and tracking-mode-dependent correction of the observations for the "center-of-mass-offset" of each satellite target, and (b) the station- and pass-dependent correction for the calibrated delay that refers each measurement to the nominal "zero" of the instrument. The former affects primarily the accuracy of the scale definition, while the latter affects both, the scale and the origin. However, because of the non-uniform data volume and non-symmetric geographic locations of the SLR stations, the major impact of the latter is on the definition of the origin. The ILRS is currently investigating the quality of models available for the correction of the center-of-mass offset for the primary targets contributing to the ITRF and the impact of their application on the final products, which we will discuss with examples. The second source of error is more complex, primarily due to the fact that almost each of the current stations is a unique case and quality of the applied delays must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We will examine typical series of these corrections for some of the most important sites of the network. The current practice in SLR contribution to ITRF is to provide a "snapshot" ITRF realization from the analysis of arcs spanning one week, selected as a compromise between the requirement for an accurate enough realization of the site positions and a short enough interval to minimize biasing the estimate from mass redistributions over that interval. A comparison of these weekly realizations to the static definition of the ITRF origin results in the so-called "geocenter variation" time series. Fitting a model for the dominant frequencies in the series, allows one to extend this model for future and past time-intervals not covered by the observations. We will present and compare geocenter variations series based on different modeling underlying our SLR analysis, using the ITRF2008 as the reference.

Technique-dependent Errors in the Realization of the ITRF Origin From Satellite Laser Ranging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlis, E. C.; Kuzmicz-Cieslak, M.

2012-12-01

Over the past decade Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) has focused on its unique strength of providing accurate observations of the origin and scale of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The origin of the ITRF is defined to coincide with the center of mass of the Earth system (geocenter). SLR realizes this origin as the focal point of the tracked satellite orbits, and being the only (nominally) unbiased ranging technique, it provides the best realization for it. The goal of GGOS is to provide an ITRF with accuracy at epoch of 1 mm or better and a stability of 0.1 mm/y. In order to meet this stringent goal, Space Geodesy is taking a two-pronged approach: modernizing the engineering components (ground and space segments), and revising the modeling standards to take advantage of recent improvements in many areas of geophysical modeling for system Earth components. As we gain improved understanding of the Earth system components, space geodesy adjusts its underlying modeling of the system to better and more completely describe it. Similarly, from the engineering side we examine the observational process for improvement of the calibration and reduction procedures that will enhance the accuracy of the individual observations thence the final SLR products. Two areas that are currently under scrutiny are (a) the station-dependent and tracking-mode-dependent correction of the observations for the "center-of-mass-offset" of each satellite target, and (b) the station- and pass-dependent correction for the calibrated delay that refers each measurement to the nominal "zero" of the instrument. The former affects primarily the accuracy of the scale definition, while the latter affects both, the scale and the origin. However, because of the non-uniform data volume and non-symmetric geographic locations of the SLR stations, the major impact of the latter is on the definition of the origin. The ILRS is currently investigating the quality of models available for the correction of the center-of-mass offset for the primary targets contributing to the ITRF and the impact of their application on the final products, which we will discuss with examples. The second source of error is more complex, primarily due to the fact that almost each of the current stations is a unique case and quality of the applied delays must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We will examine typical series of these corrections for some of the most important sites of the network. The current practice in SLR contribution to ITRF is to provide a "snapshot" ITRF realization from the analysis of arcs spanning one week, selected as a compromise between the requirement for an accurate enough realization of the site positions and a short enough interval to minimize biasing the estimate from mass redistributions over that interval. A comparison of these weekly realizations to the static definition of the ITRF origin results in the so-called "geocenter variation" time series. Fitting a model for the dominant frequencies in the series, allows one to extend this model for future and past time-intervals not covered by the observations. We will present and compare geocenter variations series based on different modeling underlying our SLR analysis, using the ITRF2008 as the reference.

CD30 Expression by B and T Cells: A Frequent Finding in Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma and Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma-Not Otherwise Specified.

PubMed

Onaindia, Arantza; Martínez, Nerea; Montes-Moreno, Santiago; Almaraz, Carmen; Rodríguez-Pinilla, Socorro M; Cereceda, Laura; Revert, Jose B; Ortega, César; Tardio, Antoni; González, Lucía; García, Sonia; Camacho, Francisca I; González-Vela, Carmen; Piris, Miguel A

2016-03-01

CD30 expression in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is currently of great interest because therapy targeting CD30 is of clinical benefit, but the clinical and therapeutic relevance of CD30 expression in these neoplasms still remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to better quantify CD30 expression in AITL and PTCL-not otherwise specified (NOS). The secondary objective was to determine whether CD30 cells exhibit a B-cell or a T-cell phenotype. Gene expression profiling was studied in a series of 37 PTCL cases demonstrating a continuous spectrum of TNFRSF8 expression. This prompted us to study CD30 immunohistochemical (IHC) expression and mRNA levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a different series of 51 cases (43 AITLs and 8 PTCL-NOSs) in routine samples. Double stainings with PAX5/CD30, CD3/CD30, and LEF1/CD30 were performed to study the phenotype of CD30 cells. Most (90%) of the cases showed some level of CD30 expression by IHC (1% to 95%); these levels were high (>50% of tumoral cells) in 14% of cases. CD30 expression was not detected in 10% of the cases. Quantitative RT-PCR results largely confirmed these findings, demonstrating a moderately strong correlation between global CD30 IHC and mRNA levels (r=0.65, P=1.75e-7). Forty-four of the positive cases (98%) contained CD30-positive B cells (PAX5), whereas atypical CD30-positive T cells were detected in 42 cases (93%). In conclusion, our data show that most AITL and PTCL-NOS cases express CD30, exhibiting very variable levels of CD30 expression that may be measured by IHC or RT-PCR techniques.

Interchangeability of counts of cases and hours of cases for quantifying a hospital's change in workload among four-week periods of 1 year.

PubMed

Dexter, Franklin; Epstein, Richard H; Ledolter, Johannes; Wanderer, Jonathan P

2018-05-16

Recent studies have made longitudinal assessments of case counts using State (e.g., United States) and Provincial (e.g., Canada) databases. Such databases rarely include either operating room (OR) or anesthesia times and, even when duration data are available, there are major statistical limitations to their use. We evaluated how to forecast short-term changes in OR caseload and workload (hours) and how to decide whether changes are outliers (e.g., significant, abrupt decline in anesthetics). Observational cohort study. Large teaching hospital. 35 years of annual anesthesia caseload data. Annual data were used without regard to where or when in the year each case was performed, thereby matching public use files. Changes in caseload or hours among four-week periods were examined within individual year-long periods using 159 consecutive four-week periods from the same hospital. Series of 12 four-week periods of the hours of cases performed on workdays lacked trend or correlation among periods for 49 of 50 series and followed normal distributions for 50 of 50 series. These criteria also were satisfied for 50 of 50 series based on counts of cases. The Pearson r = 0.999 between hours of anesthetics and cases. For purposes of time series analysis of total workload at a hospital within 1-year, hours of cases and counts of cases are interchangeable. Simple control chart methods of detecting sudden changes in workload or caseload, based simply on the sample mean and standard deviation from the preceding year, are appropriate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transvestism as a Symptom: A Case Series.

PubMed

Anupama, M; Gangadhar, K H; Shetty, Vandana B; Dip, P Bhadja

2016-01-01

Transvestism, commonly termed as cross-dressing, means to dress in the clothing of opposite sex. We describe a series of three cases with transvestism as one of their primary complaints. The discussion sheds light on the various ways in which transvestism as a symptom can present in Psychiatry. In the first two cases, there was lower intelligence. In first and third case, there were other paraphilia along with transvestism. Second case had co-morbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and had good response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Case Series: Chikungunya and Dengue at a Forward Operating Location

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

Journal Article 3. DATES COVERED (From – To) November 2014 – January 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Case Series: Chikungunya and Dengue at a Forward...series and discusses the significance of this disease in the Americas and diagnostic challenges when other arboviruses such as dengue are present. 15...SUBJECT TERMS Chikungunya, dengue , mosquitoes 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT SAR 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 3

Crotaline Fab antivenom appears to be effective in cases of severe North American pit viper envenomation: An integrative review

PubMed Central

Lavonas, Eric J; Schaeffer, Tammi H; Kokko, Jamie; Mlynarchek, Sara L; Bogdan, Gregory M

2009-01-01

Background In 2000, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (hereafter, FabAV), "for the management of patients with minimal to moderate North American Crotalid envenomation." Because whole-IgG pit viper antivenom is no longer available in the United States, FabAV is currently the only specific treatment option available to United States clinicians treating snakebite victims of any severity. No clinical trial data are available concerning the effectiveness of FabAV for treatment of severe snakebite, but several published articles describe its use in this setting. Methods We performed a comprehensive review of the English-language medical literature to identify all publications (1996 to July, 2008) containing data about the administration of FabAV. Two trained reviewers separately extracted case-level data concerning the administration of FabAV to patients with severe envenomation by North American crotaline snakes to a standardized form. Descriptive statistics were used. In addition, we hand-searched the US National Poison Data System reports for the years 2000–2006 to identify and describe any reports of death that occurred after FabAV administration. Results The literature review found 147 unique publications regarding FabAV. Twenty-four evaluable cases of severe human envenomation treated with FabAV were identified in 19 publications. Seven cases were described in five cohort studies, and 17 cases were described in 14 single patient case reports or non-cohort case series. Sixty-five specific severe venom effects were reported in these 24 patients, of which 50 effects (77%) improved or resolved after FabAV therapy. Initial control of all severe venom effects was achieved in 12 patients (50%). The rate at which initial control was achieved was significantly higher among patients reported in the cohort series than in the case series and non-cohort reports (100% vs. 29%, P = 0.005). The median dose of FabAV used to obtain initial control was 6 vials (range: 4 – 18 vials). Nine patients had severe venom effects that persisted despite FabAV therapy. Recurrent and/or delayed-onset severe defibrination syndrome occurred in 12 patients, most of whom did not receive recommended maintenance FabAV dosing. No patient developed systemic bleeding. Conclusion In this structured literature review, FabAV appears to be effective in the management of severe crotaline snake envenomation. Incomplete response to therapy, recurrence of venom effects, and delayed-onset venom effects were reported in case reports, but not reported in cohort studies. PMID:19545426

Effectiveness of an Anger Intervention for Military Members with PTSD: A Clinical Case Series.

PubMed

Cash, Richard; Varker, Tracey; McHugh, Tony; Metcalf, Olivia; Howard, Alexandra; Lloyd, Delyth; Costello, Jacqueline; Said, David; Forbes, David

2018-03-23

Problematic anger is a significant clinical issue in military personnel, and is further complicated by comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite increasing numbers of military personnel returning from deployment with anger and aggression difficulties, the treatment of problematic anger has received scant attention. There are currently no interventions that directly target problematic anger in the context of military-related PTSD. The aim of this case series is to examine the effectiveness of an intervention specifically developed for treating problematic anger in current serving military personnel with comorbid PTSD. Eight Australian Defence Force Army personnel with problematic anger and comorbid PTSD received a manualized 12-session cognitive behaviorally based anger intervention, delivered one-to-one by Australian Defence Force mental health clinicians. Standardized measures of anger, PTSD, depression, and anxiety were administered pre- and post-treatment. The initial mean severity scores for anger indicated a high degree of pre-treatment problematic anger. Anger scores reduced significantly from pre to post-treatment (d = 1.56), with 88% of participants exhibiting meaningful reduction in anger scores. PTSD symptoms also reduced significantly (d= 0.96), with 63% of participants experiencing a clinically meaningful reduction in PTSD scores. All of those who took part in the therapy completed all therapy sessions. This brief report provides preliminary evidence that an intervention for problematic anger not only significantly reduces anger levels in military personnel, but can also significantly reduce PTSD symptoms. Given that anger can interfere with PTSD treatment outcomes, prioritizing anger treatment may improve the effectiveness of PTSD interventions.

A Case History Introducing the Oregon Ag Seminar Series-Keys to Program and Research-to-Practice Success.

PubMed

Harrington, Marcy J; Lloyd, Kirk

2017-01-01

This case history of Oregon state's Ag Seminar Series is consistent with the Socio-Ecological Model, demonstrating how policy at a state level can influence an organizational approach with impacts that ultimately influence safety practices on the farm. From modest beginnings, the Ag Seminar Series, offered through a workers compensation insurance company, now serves over 2,300 Oregon farmers annually in English and Spanish. This case offers unique but also replicable methods for educators, insurers, and researchers in safety education, safety motivators, and research-to-practice (r2p).

Improving short-term forecasting during ramp events by means of Regime-Switching Artificial Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallego, C.; Costa, A.; Cuerva, A.

2010-09-01

Since nowadays wind energy can't be neither scheduled nor large-scale storaged, wind power forecasting has been useful to minimize the impact of wind fluctuations. In particular, short-term forecasting (characterised by prediction horizons from minutes to a few days) is currently required by energy producers (in a daily electricity market context) and the TSO's (in order to keep the stability/balance of an electrical system). Within the short-term background, time-series based models (i.e., statistical models) have shown a better performance than NWP models for horizons up to few hours. These models try to learn and replicate the dynamic shown by the time series of a certain variable. When considering the power output of wind farms, ramp events are usually observed, being characterized by a large positive gradient in the time series (ramp-up) or negative (ramp-down) during relatively short time periods (few hours). Ramp events may be motivated by many different causes, involving generally several spatial scales, since the large scale (fronts, low pressure systems) up to the local scale (wind turbine shut-down due to high wind speed, yaw misalignment due to fast changes of wind direction). Hence, the output power may show unexpected dynamics during ramp events depending on the underlying processes; consequently, traditional statistical models considering only one dynamic for the hole power time series may be inappropriate. This work proposes a Regime Switching (RS) model based on Artificial Neural Nets (ANN). The RS-ANN model gathers as many ANN's as different dynamics considered (called regimes); a certain ANN is selected so as to predict the output power, depending on the current regime. The current regime is on-line updated based on a gradient criteria, regarding the past two values of the output power. 3 Regimes are established, concerning ramp events: ramp-up, ramp-down and no-ramp regime. In order to assess the skillness of the proposed RS-ANN model, a single-ANN model (without regime classification) is adopted as a reference model. Both models are evaluated in terms of Improvement over Persistence on the Mean Square Error basis (IoP%) when predicting horizons form 1 time-step to 5. The case of a wind farm located in the complex terrain of Alaiz (north of Spain) has been considered. Three years of available power output data with a hourly resolution have been employed: two years for training and validation of the model and the last year for assessing the accuracy. Results showed that the RS-ANN overcame the single-ANN model for one step-ahead forecasts: the overall IoP% was up to 8.66% for the RS-ANN model (depending on the gradient criterion selected to consider the ramp regime triggered) and 6.16% for the single-ANN. However, both models showed similar accuracy for larger horizons. A locally-weighted evaluation during ramp events for one-step ahead was also performed. It was found that the IoP% during ramps-up increased from 17.60% (case of single-ANN) to 22.25% (case of RS-ANN); however, during the ramps-down events this improvement increased from 18.55% to 19.55%. Three main conclusions are derived from this case study: It highlights the importance of considering statistical models capable of differentiate several regimes showed by the output power time series in order to improve the forecasting during extreme events like ramps. On-line regime classification based on available power output data didn't seem to contribute to improve forecasts for horizons beyond one-step ahead. Tacking into account other explanatory variables (local wind measurements, NWP outputs) could lead to a better understanding of ramp events, improving the regime assessment also for further horizons. The RS-ANN model slightly overcame the single-ANN during ramp-down events. If further research reinforce this effect, special attention should be addressed to understand the underlying processes during ramp-down events.

A proposal to create an extension to the European baseline series.

PubMed

Wilkinson, Mark; Gallo, Rosella; Goossens, An; Johansen, Jeanne D; Rustemeyer, Thomas; Sánchez-Pérez, Javier; Schuttelaar, Marie L; Uter, Wolfgang

2018-02-01

The current European baseline series consists of 30 allergens, and was last updated in 2015. To use data from the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA) to propose an extension to the European baseline series in response to changes in environmental exposures. Data from departmental and national extensions to the baseline series, together with some temporary additions from departments contributing to the ESSCA, were collated during 2013-2014. In total, 31689 patients were patch tested in 46 European departments. Many departments and national groups already consider the current European baseline series to be a suboptimal screen, and use their own extensions to it. The haptens tested are heterogeneous, although there are some consistent themes. Potential haptens to include in an extension to the European baseline series comprise sodium metabisulfite, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, additional markers of fragrance allergy, propolis, Compositae mix, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. In combination with other published work from the ESSCA, changes to the current European baseline series are proposed for discussion. As well as addition of the allergens listed above, it is suggested that primin and clioquinol should be deleted from the series, owing to reduced environmental exposure. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Periorbital edema: a puzzle no more?

PubMed

Sobel, Rachel K; Carter, Keith D; Allen, Richard C

2012-09-01

Periorbital edema is a common problem that deserves scrutiny. Although a variety of healthcare providers may see this clinical entity, ophthalmologists are often consulted along the way toward diagnosis. It can challenge even the most astute clinicians. A diagnosis may reveal merely a bothersome issue or potentially a sight-threatening or life-threatening problem. Comprehensive reviews on this topic are scarce. Textbooks are brief. There are, however, many studies in the scientific literature of notable cases of periorbital edema. The causes generally fall into the categories of infectious, inflammatory or tumors, medication related, and postsurgical or trauma. This article synthesizes the current literature on the topic with a case series from our institution. It aims to provide a thorough resource for all practitioners to make the prospect of triaging, diagnosing, and treating periorbital edema less daunting.

Integrating Efficiency of Industry Processes and Practices Alongside Technology Effectiveness in Space Transportation Cost Modeling and Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zapata, Edgar

2012-01-01

This paper presents past and current work in dealing with indirect industry and NASA costs when providing cost estimation or analysis for NASA projects and programs. Indirect costs, when defined as those costs in a project removed from the actual hardware or software hands-on labor; makes up most of the costs of today's complex large scale NASA space/industry projects. This appears to be the case across phases from research into development into production and into the operation of the system. Space transportation is the case of interest here. Modeling and cost estimation as a process rather than a product will be emphasized. Analysis as a series of belief systems in play among decision makers and decision factors will also be emphasized to provide context.

Supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release: surgical technique with prospective case series.

PubMed

Ecker, J; Perera, N; Ebert, J

2015-02-01

Current techniques for endoscopic carpal tunnel release use an infraretinacular approach, inserting the endoscope deep to the flexor retinaculum. We present a supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release technique in which a dissecting endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, which improves vision and the ability to dissect and manipulate the median nerve and tendons during surgery. The motor branch of the median nerve and connections between the median and ulnar nerve can be identified and dissected. Because the endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, the median nerve is not compressed before division of the retinaculum and, as a result, we have observed no cases of the transient median nerve deficits that have been reported using infraretinacular endoscopic techniques. © The Author(s) 2014.

Use of the levonorgestrel 52-mg intrauterine system in adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant recipients: a case series.

PubMed

Huguelet, P S; Sheehan, C; Spitzer, R F; Scott, S

2017-04-01

This case series reports on the safety and efficacy of the levonorgestrel 52-mg intrauterine system in adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant recipients. All patients used the device for contraception, with no documented cases of disseminated pelvic infection or unplanned pregnancy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

27 CFR 19.490 - Numbering of packages and cases filled in processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... cases filled in processing. 19.490 Section 19.490 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND... Marks Marking Requirements for Spirits § 19.490 Numbering of packages and cases filled in processing. (a... any series reaches “1,000,000”, the proprietor may begin a new series with “1” but must add an...

Etiologies of Autism in a Case-Series from Tanzania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mankoski, Raymond E.; Collins, Martha; Ndosi, Noah K.; Mgalla, Ella H.; Sarwatt, Veronica V.; Folstein, Susan E.

2006-01-01

Most autism has a genetic cause although post-encephalitis cases are reported. In a case-series (N = 20) from Tanzania, 14 met research criteria for autism. Three (M:F = 1:2) had normal development to age 22, 35, and 42 months, with onset of autism upon recovery from severe malaria, attended by prolonged high fever, convulsions, and in one case…

Design of magnets inside cylindrical superconducting shields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rigby, K. W.

1988-01-01

The design of magnets inside closed, cylindrical, superconducting shields is discussed. The Green function is given for the magnetic vector potential for cylindrically symmetric currents inside such a shield. The magnetic field everywhere inside the shield can be obtained from this function, which includes the effects of the induced shield currents exactly. The field is given for a thin solenoid as an example and the convergence of the series solution for this case is discussed. The shield can significantly reduce the strength and improve the homogeneity of a magnet. The improvement in homogeneity is of particular importance in the design of correction coils. These effects, and the maximum field on the shield, are examined for a typical solenoid. The results given are also useful, although not exact, for long shields with one or two open ends.

An unusual case of isolated, serial metastases of gallbladder carcinoma involving the chest wall, axilla, breast and lung parenchyma

PubMed Central

Jeyaraj, Pamela; Sio, Terence T.; Iott, Matthew J.

2013-01-01

In the English literature, only 9 cases of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder with cutaneous metastasis have been reported so far. One case of multiple cutaneous metastases along with deposits in the breast tissue has been reported. We present a case of incidental metastatic gallbladder carcinoma with no intra-abdominal disease presenting as a series of four isolated cutaneous right chest wall, axillary nodal, breast, and pulmonary metastases following resection and adjuvant chemoradiation for her primary tumor. In spite of the metastatic disease coupled with the aggressive nature of the cancer, this patient reported that her energy level had returned to baseline with a good appetite and a stable weight indicating a good performance status and now is alive at 25 months since diagnosis. Her serially-presented, oligometastatic diseases were well-controlled by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and stereotactic radiation therapy. We report this case study because of its rarity and for the purpose of complementing current literature with an additional example of cutaneous metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. PMID:23772306

Method of minimizing the effects of parasitic currents

DOEpatents

Chi, Michael C.; Carr, Peter

1983-02-01

A method of minimizing the effect of parasitic currents in secondary batteries having a plurality of cells connected electrically in series and a common electrolyte in communication with the cells is described. Specifically, the parasitic currents flowing through the battery cause a cell imbalance over the charge/discharge cycle. This cell imbalance is minimized by first separating the cells of the battery into two equal groups. Then the battery is charged with the two groups of cells connected electrically in series, and subsequently discharged with the two groups of cells reconnected electrically in series in an inverted sequence.

The Columbia Thyroid Eye Disease-Compressive Optic Neuropathy Formula.

PubMed

Callahan, Alison B; Campbell, Ashley A; Oropesa, Susel; Baraban, Aryeh; Kazim, Michael

2018-06-13

Diagnosing thyroid eye disease-compressive optic neuropathy (TED-CON) is challenging, particularly in cases lacking a relative afferent pupillary defect. Large case series of TED-CON patients and accessible diagnostic tools are lacking in the current literature. This study aims to create a mathematical formula that accurately predicts the presence or absence of CON based on the most salient clinical measures of optic neuropathy. A retrospective case series compares 108 patients (216 orbits) with either unilateral or bilateral TED-CON and 41 age-matched patients (82 orbits) with noncompressive TED. Utilizing clinical variables assessing optic nerve function and/or risk of compressive disease, and with the aid of generalized linear regression modeling, the authors create a mathematical formula that weighs the relative contribution of each clinical variable in the overall prediction of CON. Data from 213 orbits in 110 patients derived the formula: y = -0.69 + 2.58 × (afferent pupillary defect) - 0.31 × (summed limitation of ductions) - 0.2 × (mean deviation on Humphrey visual field testing) - 0.02 × (% color plates). This accurately predicted the presence of CON (y > 0) versus non-CON (y < 0) in 82% of cases with 83% sensitivity and 81% specificity. When there was no relative afferent pupillary defect, which was the case in 63% of CON orbits, the formula correctly predicted CON in 78% of orbits with 73% sensitivity and 83% specificity. The authors developed a mathematical formula, the Columbia TED-CON Formula (CTD Formula), that can help guide clinicians in accurately diagnosing TED-CON, particularly in the presence of bilateral disease and when no relative afferent pupillary defect is present.

Fragrance contact allergy: a 4-year retrospective study.

PubMed

Cuesta, Laura; Silvestre, Juan Francisco; Toledo, Fernando; Lucas, Ana; Pérez-Crespo, María; Ballester, Irene

2010-08-01

Fragrance chemicals are the second most frequent cause of contact allergy. The mandatory labelling of 26 fragrance chemicals when present in cosmetics has facilitated management of patients allergic to fragrances. The study was aimed to define the characteristics of the population allergic to perfumes detected in our hospital district, to determine the usefulness of markers of fragrance allergy in the baseline GEIDAC series, and to describe the contribution made by the fragrance series to the data obtained with the baseline series. We performed a 4-year retrospective study of patients tested with the Spanish baseline series and/or fragrance series. There are four fragrance markers in the baseline series: fragrance mix I (FM I), Myroxylon pereirae, fragrance mix II (FM II), and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde. A total of 1253 patients were patch tested, 117 (9.3%) of whom were positive to a fragrance marker. FM I and M. pereirae detected 92.5% of the cases of fragrance contact allergy. FM II and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde detected 6 additional cases and provided further information in 8, enabling improved management. A fragrance series was tested in a selected group of 86 patients and positive results were obtained in 45.3%. Geraniol was the allergen most frequently found in the group of patients tested with the fragrance series. Classic markers detect the majority of cases of fragrance contact allergy. We recommend incorporating FM II in the Spanish baseline series, as in the European baseline series, and using a specific fragrance series to study patients allergic to a fragrance marker.

Information mining over heterogeneous and high-dimensional time-series data in clinical trials databases.

PubMed

Altiparmak, Fatih; Ferhatosmanoglu, Hakan; Erdal, Selnur; Trost, Donald C

2006-04-01

An effective analysis of clinical trials data involves analyzing different types of data such as heterogeneous and high dimensional time series data. The current time series analysis methods generally assume that the series at hand have sufficient length to apply statistical techniques to them. Other ideal case assumptions are that data are collected in equal length intervals, and while comparing time series, the lengths are usually expected to be equal to each other. However, these assumptions are not valid for many real data sets, especially for the clinical trials data sets. An addition, the data sources are different from each other, the data are heterogeneous, and the sensitivity of the experiments varies by the source. Approaches for mining time series data need to be revisited, keeping the wide range of requirements in mind. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for information mining that involves two major steps: applying a data mining algorithm over homogeneous subsets of data, and identifying common or distinct patterns over the information gathered in the first step. Our approach is implemented specifically for heterogeneous and high dimensional time series clinical trials data. Using this framework, we propose a new way of utilizing frequent itemset mining, as well as clustering and declustering techniques with novel distance metrics for measuring similarity between time series data. By clustering the data, we find groups of analytes (substances in blood) that are most strongly correlated. Most of these relationships already known are verified by the clinical panels, and, in addition, we identify novel groups that need further biomedical analysis. A slight modification to our algorithm results an effective declustering of high dimensional time series data, which is then used for "feature selection." Using industry-sponsored clinical trials data sets, we are able to identify a small set of analytes that effectively models the state of normal health.

Hypoplasia or Absence of Posterior Leaflet: A Rare Congenital Anomaly of The Mitral Valve in Adulthood - Case Series.

PubMed

Parato, Vito Maurizio; Masia, Stefano Lucio

2018-01-01

We present a case series of two adult patients with almost complete absence of the posterior mitral valve leaflet and who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, with two different degrees of mitral regurgitation.

Use of cantilever mechanics for impacted teeth: case series.

PubMed

Paduano, Sergio; Spagnuolo, Gianrico; Franzese, Gerardo; Pellegrino, Gioacchino; Valletta, Rosa; Cioffi, Iacopo

2013-01-01

This paper describes the orthodontic treatment, and the biomechanics of cantilevers for the impaction of permanent teeth in youngs, adolescents, and adults. In these case series, multibracket straightwire fixed appliances, together with cantilever mechanics, were used to treat the impaired occlusion.

Characteristics of lightning flashes generating dancing sprites above thunderstorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soula, Serge; Mlynarczyk, Janusz; Füllekrug, Martin; Pineda, Nicolau; Georgis, Jean-François; van der Velde, Oscar; Montanyà, Joan; Fabro, Ferran

2017-04-01

During the night of October 29-30, 2013, a low-light video camera at Pic du Midi (2877 m) in the French Pyrénées, recorded TLEs above a very active storm over the Mediterranean Sea. The minimum cloud top temperature reached -73˚ C at ˜1600 UTC while its cloud to ground (CG) flash rate reached ˜30 fl min-1. Some sprite events with long duration are classified as dancing sprites. We analyze in detail the temporal evolution and estimated location of sprite elements for two cases of these events. They consist in series of sprite sequences with a duration that exceeds 1 second. By associating the cloud structure, the lightning activity, the electric field radiated in a broad range of low frequencies and the current moment waveform of the lightning strokes, some findings are highlighted: (i) In each series, successive sprite sequences reflect the occurrence time and location of individual positive lightning strokes across the stratiform region. (ii) The longer time-delayed (> 20 ms) sprite elements correspond to the lower impulsive charge moment changes (iCMC) of the parent stroke (< 200 C km) and they are shifted few tens of kilometres from their SP+CG stroke. However, both short and long time-delayed sprite elements also occur after strokes that produce a large iCMC and that are followed by a continuing current. (iii) The long time-delayed sprite elements produced during the continuing current correspond to surges in the current moment waveform. They occur sometimes at an altitude apparently lower than the previous short time-delayed sprite elements, possibly because of the lowered altitude of the ionosphere potential. (iv) The largest and brightest sprite elements produce significant current signatures, visible when their delay is not too short (˜3-5 ms).

The influence of wave-, wind- and tide-forced currents on headland sand bypassing - Study case: Santa Catarina Island north shore, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira da Silva, Guilherme; Toldo, Elírio E., Jr.; Klein, Antonio H. da F.; Short, Andrew D.

2018-07-01

Investigations of headland sand bypassing are still an under-reported subject in the literature. This paper aims to understand the contribution of currents forced by different mechanisms such as tides, winds (i.e. local wind acting over the ocean surface generating currents, without considering wave generation) and waves (as they approach/break on the coast) to headland sand bypassing. The study was carried out in an area comprising a series of seven headlands with varying wave exposure due to changes in shoreline orientation and increasing tidal influence close to a relatively large bay. This paper uses a calibrated and validated process-based model (Delft3D) to simulate a series of scenarios including spring and neap tides during flood and ebb conditions and a range of wind and wave scenarios that encompass both average and extreme conditions. The results indicate that waves are the main driving force for the headland bypassing as they transport sand at rates two orders of magnitude higher than tide- or wind-driven sediment transport. The tide-driven currents can only transport sediment during spring tides in locations where the currents are intensified. It is also demonstrated that the wave direction plays an important role in sediment transport. In exposed areas with larger headlands a combination of wave directions is required to first transport sediment offshore (out of the beach) and secondly to transport sediment alongshore and back to the next beach. Whereas in areas with little variation in wave direction exposure, the same oblique wave direction is responsible for the entire headland bypassing process. This is the first time the contribution of tide-, winds- and wave-generated sediment transport to headland bypassing have been studied.

Vitamin D toxicity of dietary origin in cats fed a natural complementary kitten food

PubMed Central

Crossley, Victoria J; Bovens, Catherine PV; Pineda, Carmen; Hibbert, Angie; Finch, Natalie C

2017-01-01

Case series summary This case series describes two young sibling cats and an additional unrelated cat, from two separate households, that developed hypercalcaemia associated with hypervitaminosis D. Excessive vitamin D concentrations were identified in a natural complementary tinned kitten food that was fed to all three cats as part of their diet. In one of the cases, there was clinical evidence of soft tissue mineralisation. The hypercalcaemia and soft tissue mineralisation resolved following withdrawal of the affected food and medical management of the hypercalcaemia. Relevance and novel information This case series demonstrates the importance of obtaining a thorough dietary history in patients presenting with hypercalcaemia and the measurement of vitamin D metabolites when investigating such cases. Complementary foods may have the potential to induce nutritional toxicity even when fed with complete, nutritionally balanced diets. PMID:29270305

75 FR 5692 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model 747-200C and -200F Series Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-04

... all Model 747-200C and -200F series airplanes. This AD requires a high frequency eddy current (HFEC... on July 6, 2009 (74 FR 31894). That NPRM proposed to require a high frequency eddy current inspection..., whichever occurs later: Do an open-hole high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection of all the fastener...

PubMed Central

Petithory, J. C.; Ambroise-Thomas, P.; De Loye, J.; Pelloux, H.; Goullier-Fleuret, A.; Milgram, M.; Buffard, C.; Garin, J. P.

1996-01-01

Reported are the results of a multicentre study involving 40 laboratories that was carried out in France to assess all the currently available methods used for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. For this purpose 10 batches of control sera were prepared with titres in the range 0-260 IU per ml. These sera were tested in nine laboratories using immunofluorescence methods; in three laboratories using dye tests; in forty laboratories using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; in four laboratories using direct agglutination and haemagglutination; in seven laboratories using the high-sensitivity IgG agglutination test; and in three laboratories using the latex agglutination test. In this way, 70 series of titrations were carried out using seven procedures and the results were compared with those obtained using the WHO reference serum in 15 cases, with the French national E6 serum in 16 other cases, and in 39 cases using 15 reference sera supplied by the reagent manufacturers. Rigorous comparison of the tests was not possible in all cases because one aim of the study was to ensure that the tests were carried out under the usual working conditions that prevailed in the participating laboratories. The results obtained indicate that the serological tests currently available for toxoplasmosis are acceptable for its serodiagnosis. Presentation of the titres in IU has advantages; however, caution is required since the definition of IU varies according to the test and reagents used. It is therefore essential that the conditions and limits for a positive reaction be carefully defined in each case, especially for commercially available kits. PMID:8829878

The many faces of intestinal tract gastric heterotopia; a series of four cases highlighting clinical and pathological heterogeneity.

PubMed

Nasir, Aqsa; Amateau, Stuart K; Khan, Sabina; Simpson, Ross W; Snover, Dale C; Amin, Khalid

2018-04-01

Gastric heterotopia of the intestinal tract can have a diverse clinicopathologic presentation, resulting in a diagnostic dilemma. We present a series of four cases, two male and two female patients with age range of 31-82 years, found in the duodenum, jejunum, and transverse colon. The most common and rather unusual clinical presentation was iron deficiency anemia, seen in three cases, while one patient presented with abdominal pain. Endoscopically, two cases were visualized as pedunculated polyps and two as sessile/plaque-like lesions. Polypectomy was performed in three patients, and one patient underwent biopsy followed by resection. Two cases showed oxyntic-type epithelium, and two cases exhibited pyloric-type gastric epithelium. Three patients were relieved of their presenting symptoms after therapeutic procedures with no evidence of recurrence noted on follow-up. Follow-up was not available on one patient. This case series highlights a diverse clinicopathologic spectrum of gastric heterotopia. Accurate diagnosis is essential for proper management. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

On a General Class of Trigonometric Functions and Fourier Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pavao, H. Germano; Capelas de Oliveira, E.

2008-01-01

We discuss a general class of trigonometric functions whose corresponding Fourier series can be used to calculate several interesting numerical series. Particular cases are presented. (Contains 4 notes.)

BestPractices Corporate Energy Management Case Study: Alcoa Teams with DOE to Reduce Energy Consumption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

2004-05-01

This is the first in a series of DOE Industrial Technologies Program case studies on corporate energy management. The case study highlights Alcoa Aluminum's successful results and activities through its corporate energy management approach and collaboration with DOE. Case studies in this series will be used to encourage other energy-intensive industrial plants to adopt a corporate strategy, and to promote the concept of replicating results with a company or industry.

Assessment Guide for Educators: A Content Comparison--2002 Series Test and the Current GED® Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

GED Testing Service, 2017

2017-01-01

This report provides a content comparison for the 2002 Series GED® test and the current GED® for the following test topic areas: (1) Mathematical Reasoning; (2) Reasoning through Language Arts; (3) Science; and (4) Social Studies.

Use of Cantilever Mechanics for Impacted Teeth: Case Series

PubMed Central

Paduano, Sergio; Spagnuolo, Gianrico; Franzese, Gerardo; Pellegrino, Gioacchino; Valletta, Rosa; Cioffi, Iacopo

2013-01-01

This paper describes the orthodontic treatment, and the biomechanics of cantilevers for the impaction of permanent teeth in youngs, adolescents, and adults. In these case series, multibracket straightwire fixed appliances, together with cantilever mechanics, were used to treat the impaired occlusion. PMID:24511332

Killing two birds with one stone: successful opioid monotherapy in intractable migraine-triggered epilepsy, a case series

PubMed Central

Derakhshan, Iraj

2017-01-01

The novel concept explored in this case series is the primacy of headaches in generating seizures in those patients who suffer from migraine-triggered epilepsy. In this series, once the migraine headaches were fully suppressed, via daily scheduled opioid therapy, the seizures also stopped. Seizures returned, however, after the patients stopped the opiate regimen for any reason. The above pharmacological scenario is reminiscent of a similar but naturalistic course of events reported on the salutary effects of ketogenic diet, or changes in life style, in similar cases of migraine-triggered epilepsy. The primacy of migraine in treating what has been named ‘seizure headaches’ is seen in two other scenarios (i.e. the salutary effect of ketogenic diet and lifestyle changes resulting in restoration of one’s sleeping pattern) thus stopping the migraine as well as the seizures associated with the same. This case series recounts the same phenomenon via utilizing around-the-clock maintenance opioid therapy. PMID:28203347

Killing two birds with one stone: successful opioid monotherapy in intractable migraine-triggered epilepsy, a case series.

PubMed

Derakhshan, Iraj

2017-01-01

The novel concept explored in this case series is the primacy of headaches in generating seizures in those patients who suffer from migraine-triggered epilepsy. In this series, once the migraine headaches were fully suppressed, via daily scheduled opioid therapy, the seizures also stopped. Seizures returned, however, after the patients stopped the opiate regimen for any reason. The above pharmacological scenario is reminiscent of a similar but naturalistic course of events reported on the salutary effects of ketogenic diet, or changes in life style, in similar cases of migraine-triggered epilepsy. The primacy of migraine in treating what has been named 'seizure headaches' is seen in two other scenarios (i.e. the salutary effect of ketogenic diet and lifestyle changes resulting in restoration of one's sleeping pattern) thus stopping the migraine as well as the seizures associated with the same. This case series recounts the same phenomenon via utilizing around-the-clock maintenance opioid therapy.

Pediatric and adolescent gynecology learned via a Web-based computerized case series.

PubMed

De Silva, Nirupama K; Dietrich, Jennifer E; Young, Amy E

2010-04-01

To increase resident knowledge in pediatric and adolescent gynecology via a Web-based self-tutorial. Prospective cohort involving 11 third- and fourth-year residents in a large university program. Residents were asked to complete a Web-based teaching series of cases involving common topics of pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG). A pretest and a posttest were completed to assess knowledge gained. Residents were asked to give feedback regarding improvements to the Web-based series for future case development. University-affiliated residency program in a major metropolitan area. Resident physicians in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Introduction of a Web-based teaching series to enhance resident education. Improvement of resident knowledge in PAG. All residents improved their knowledge in PAG after reviewing the series of cases. The pretest group mean score was 50%. The posttest group score was 69% (P < .05). All (100%) of participants said that this tool was an effective way to improve resident knowledge in PAG. A computer-based self-tutorial in pediatric and adolescent gynecology is a feasible and satisfactory teaching adjunct to PAG. Copyright 2010 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Systematic Assessment of the Various Controversies, Difficulties, and Current Trends in the Reestablishment of Lost Occlusal Planes in Edentulous Patients

PubMed Central

Sahoo, S; Singh, D; Raghav, D; Singh, G; Sarin, A; Kumar, P

2014-01-01

Accurate occlusal plane orientation is an essential factor in the fabrication of complete denture prosthesis. Over the years, it has received a number of methodologies by several researchers utilizing various anatomical landmarks however none of them is considered as perfect that could orient ideal occlusal plane. The presented literature review is an attempt to enlighten historical perspectives, pioneer researches, different controversies, difficulties and current trends for re-establishment of lost occlusal plane in edentulous patients. An extensive literature search was performed using Medline/PubMed interface and other scholarly research bibliographic databases using Medical Subject Headings. Studies describing research studies, case series and assorted clinical reports were retrieved and evaluated from 1963 to 2013. Most of the studies have suggest and evidence to consider Camper's plane for artificial orientation of occlusal plane however there is a substantial lack of genuine long term studies and authentic data that could recommend a single reliable landmark for perfect occlusal plane reorientation in a variety of cases. PMID:24971200

Muscarinic agonists for the treatment of cognition in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Sellin, Angela K; Shad, Mujeeb; Tamminga, Carol

2008-11-01

It is widely accepted that cholinergic activity at muscarinic receptors is required to maintain cognitive functions, including learning and memory. Memory domains are especially impaired in schizophrenia, which may explain difficulties in psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals with this illness. However, little is known about the mechanism of this impairment. To understand our current knowledge, we reviewed the literature since 1990 via a PubMed search for the terms "muscarinic", "schizophrenia", "cognition", "memory", "learning", and "agonist" in combination. We found 89 basic science/laboratory studies, case reports/series, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, standardized controlled animal trials, standardized controlled human trials, and reviews. Although further research is required to fully understand the neuropharmacology of the cholinergic system in cognitive function in schizophrenia, we have examined the data currently available. In general, these data suggest that agonist activity at acetylcholine muscarinic type 1 (M1) receptors would enhance memory and learning in schizophrenia. We present an overview of likely side effects of muscarinic agonists. We outline the anticholinergic activity of several available antipsychotics and review the available M1 muscarinic agonists.

Partial discharge measurements on 110kV current transformers. Setting the control value. Case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, C.; Morar, R.

2017-05-01

The case study presents a series of partial discharge measurements, reflecting the state of insulation of 110kV CURRENT TRANSFORMERS located in Sibiu county substations. Measurements were performed based on electrical method, using MPD600: an acquisition and analysis toolkit for detecting, recording, and analyzing partial discharges. MPD600 consists of one acquisition unit, an optical interface and a computer with dedicated software. The system allows measurements of partial discharge on site, even in presence of strong electromagnetic interferences because it provides synchronous acquisition from all measurement points. Therefore, measurements, with the ability to be calibrated, do render: - a value subject to interpretation according to IEC 61869-1:2007 + IEC 61869-2:2012 + IEC 61869-3:2011 + IEC 61869-5:2011 and IEC 60270: 2000; - the possibility to determine the quantitative limit of PD (a certain control value) to which the equipment can be operated safely and repaired with minimal costs (relative to the high costs implied by eliminating the consequences of a failure) identified empirically (process in which the instrument transformer subjected to the tests was completely destroyed).

Transvestism as a Symptom: A Case Series

PubMed Central

Anupama, M.; Gangadhar, K. H.; Shetty, Vandana B.; Dip, P. Bhadja

2016-01-01

Transvestism, commonly termed as cross-dressing, means to dress in the clothing of opposite sex. We describe a series of three cases with transvestism as one of their primary complaints. The discussion sheds light on the various ways in which transvestism as a symptom can present in Psychiatry. In the first two cases, there was lower intelligence. In first and third case, there were other paraphilia along with transvestism. Second case had co-morbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and had good response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). PMID:27011411

A series of forensic toxicology and drug seizure cases involving illicit fentanyl alone and in combination with heroin, cocaine or heroin and cocaine.

PubMed

Marinetti, Laureen J; Ehlers, Brooke J

2014-10-01

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office Toxicology Section and the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab (MVRCL) Drug Chemistry Section have been receiving case work in drug seizures, death cases and human performance cases involving products marketed as heroin or as illicit fentanyl. Upon analysis by the Drug Chemistry Section, these products were found to contain various drug(s) including illicit fentanyl only, illicit fentanyl and heroin, illicit fentanyl and cocaine and illicit fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Both the Chemistry and Toxicology Sections began seeing these combinations starting in late October 2013. The percentage of the combinations encountered by the MVRCL as well as the physical appearance of the product, and the results of presumptive screening tests will be discussed. The demographics of the users and the results of toxicology and autopsy findings on the decedents will also be discussed. According to regional drug task force undercover agents, there is evidence that some of the products are being sold as illicit fentanyl and not just as a heroin product. Also, there is no evidence to support that the fentanyl source is being diverted from pharmaceutical grade fentanyl. The chemistry section currently has over 109 confirmed cases, and the toxicology section currently has 81 confirmed drug deaths, 8 driving under the influence of drugs and 1 suicidal hanging. Both sections are continuing to see these cases at the present time. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Voltage and Current Clamp Transients with Membrane Dielectric Loss

PubMed Central

Fitzhugh, R.; Cole, K. S.

1973-01-01

Transient responses of a space-clamped squid axon membrane to step changes of voltage or current are often approximated by exponential functions of time, corresponding to a series resistance and a membrane capacity of 1.0 μF/cm2. Curtis and Cole (1938, J. Gen. Physiol. 21:757) found, however, that the membrane had a constant phase angle impedance z = z1(jωτ)-α, with a mean α = 0.85. (α = 1.0 for an ideal capacitor; α < 1.0 may represent dielectric loss.) This result is supported by more recently published experimental data. For comparison with experiments, we have computed functions expressing voltage and current transients with constant phase angle capacitance, a parallel leakage conductance, and a series resistance, at nine values of α from 0.5 to 1.0. A series in powers of tα provided a good approximation for short times; one in powers of t-α, for long times; for intermediate times, a rational approximation matching both series for a finite number of terms was used. These computations may help in determining experimental series resistances and parallel leakage conductances from membrane voltage or current clamp data. PMID:4754194

Inner ear damage following electric current and lightning injury: a literature review.

PubMed

Modayil, P C; Lloyd, G W; Mallik, A; Bowdler, D A

2014-05-01

Audiovestibular sequelae of electrical injury, due to lightning or electric current, are probably much more common than indicated in literature. The aim of the study was to review the impact of electrical injury on the cochleovestibular system. Studies were identified through Medline, Embase, CINAHL and eMedicine databases. Medical Subject Headings used were 'electrical injury', 'lightning', 'deafness' and 'vertigo'. All prospective and retrospective studies, case series and case reports of patients with cochlear or vestibular damage due to lightning or electrical current injury were included. Studies limited to external and middle ear injuries were excluded. Thirty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen reported audiovestibular damage following electric current injury (domestic or industrial); a further 15 reported lightning injuries and five concerned pathophysiology and management. There were no histological studies of electrical current injury to the human audiovestibular system. The commonest acoustic insult after lightning injury is conductive hearing loss secondary to tympanic membrane rupture and the most frequent vestibular symptom is transient vertigo. Electrical current injuries predominantly cause pure sensorineural hearing loss and may significantly increase a patient's lifetime risk of vertigo. Theories for cochleovestibular damage in electrical injury include disruption of inner ear anatomy, electrical conductance, hypoxia, vascular effects and stress response hypothesis. The pathophysiology of cochleovestibular damage following electrical injury is unresolved. The mechanism of injury following lightning strike is likely to be quite different from that following domestic or industrial electrical injury. The formulation of an audiovestibular management protocol for patients who have suffered electrical injuries and systematic reporting of all such events is recommended.

Pharmacokinetics and Dosing of Anti-infective Drugs in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Review of the Current Literature.

PubMed

Sherwin, Jennifer; Heath, Travis; Watt, Kevin

2016-09-01

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a cardiopulmonary bypass device that is used to temporarily support the most critically ill of patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Infection and its sequelae may be an indication for ECMO or infections may be acquired while on ECMO and are associated with a mortality >50%. Effective therapy requires optimal dosing. However, optimal dosing can be different in patients on ECMO because the ECMO circuit can alter drug pharmacokinetics. This review assessed the current literature for pharmacokinetic data and subsequent dosing recommendations for anti-infective drugs in patients on ECMO. We searched the PubMed and Embase databases (1965 to February 2016) and included case reports, case series, or studies that provided pharmacokinetic data for anti-infective drugs including antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals being used to treat patients of all age groups on ECMO. Pharmacokinetic parameters and dosing recommendations based on these data are presented. The majority of data on this topic comes from neonatal studies of antibiotics from the 1980s and 1990s. These studies generally demonstrate a larger volume of distribution due to ECMO and therefore higher doses are needed initially. More adult data are now emerging, but with a predominance of case reports and case series without comparison with critically ill controls. The available pharmacokinetic analyses do suggest that volume of distribution and clearance are unchanged in the adult population, and therefore dosing recommendations largely remain unchanged. There is a lack of data on children older than 1 year of age. The data support the importance of therapeutic drug monitoring when available in this population of patients. This review found reasonably robust dosing recommendations for some drugs and scant or no data for other important anti-infectives. In order to better determine optimal dosing for patients on ECMO, a systematic approach is needed. Approaches that combine ex vivo ECMO experiments, animal studies, specialized pharmacokinetic modeling, and human clinical trials are being developed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.

Constructing Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chinta, Gautam; Gunnells, Paul E.

2010-01-01

Let Phi be a reduced root system of rank r . A Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series for Phi is a Dirichlet series in r complex variables s_1,dots,s_r , initially converging for {Re}(s_i) sufficiently large, that has meromorphic continuation to {{C}}^r and satisfies functional equations under the transformations of {{C}}^r corresponding to the Weyl group of Phi . A heuristic definition of such a series was given by Brubaker, Bump, Chinta, Friedberg, and Hoffstein, and they have been investigated in certain special cases by others. In this paper we generalize results by Chinta and Gunnells to construct Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series by a uniform method and show in all cases that they have the expected properties.

Hypoplasia or Absence of Posterior Leaflet: A Rare Congenital Anomaly of The Mitral Valve in Adulthood – Case Series

PubMed Central

Parato, Vito Maurizio; Masia, Stefano Lucio

2018-01-01

We present a case series of two adult patients with almost complete absence of the posterior mitral valve leaflet and who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, with two different degrees of mitral regurgitation. PMID:29629259

75 FR 38061 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B4-600 Series Airplanes; Model A300 B4-600R Series...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-01

... dimensional measurement of the holes, and doing corrective actions if necessary; doing an eddy current... dimensional measurement of the holes, doing an eddy current inspection of the holes for cracking, doing a cold... the effective date of this AD, prior to doing any cold working process, determine if an eddy current...

The short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China: comparison of time-series and case-crossover analyses

PubMed Central

Ren, Meng; Li, Na; Wang, Zhan; Liu, Yisi; Chen, Xi; Chu, Yuanyuan; Li, Xiangyu; Zhu, Zhongmin; Tian, Liqiao; Xiang, Hao

2017-01-01

Few studies have compared different methods when exploring the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. This study assesses the association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality with both time-series and time-stratified–case-crossover designs. The generalized additive model (GAM) and the conditional logistic regression model were used to assess the short-term effects of air pollutants on respiratory disease mortality. Stratified analyses were performed by age, sex, and diseases. A 10 μg/m3 increment in SO2 level was associated with an increase in relative risk for all respiratory disease mortality of 2.4% and 1.9% in the case-crossover and time-series analyses in single pollutant models, respectively. Strong evidence of an association between NO2 and daily respiratory disease mortality among men or people older than 65 years was found in the case-crossover study. There was a positive association between air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality in Wuhan, China. Both time-series and case-crossover analyses consistently reveal the association between three air pollutants and respiratory disease mortality. The estimates of association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality from the case–crossover analysis displayed greater variation than that from the time-series analysis. PMID:28084399

31 CFR 359.55 - How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series I savings bonds?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... for book-entry Series I savings bonds? 359.55 Section 359.55 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations... DEBT OFFERING OF UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES I Book-Entry Series I Savings Bonds § 359.55 How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series I savings bonds? We base current redemption...

31 CFR 351.70 - How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series EE savings bonds?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... for book-entry Series EE savings bonds? 351.70 Section 351.70 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations... DEBT OFFERING OF UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES EE Book-Entry Series EE Savings Bonds § 351.70 How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series EE savings bonds? We base current redemption...

31 CFR 351.70 - How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series EE savings bonds?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... for book-entry Series EE savings bonds? 351.70 Section 351.70 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations... DEBT OFFERING OF UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES EE Book-Entry Series EE Savings Bonds § 351.70 How are redemption values calculated for book-entry Series EE savings bonds? We base current redemption...

Allergic risks of consuming edible insects: A systematic review.

PubMed

Ribeiro, José Carlos; Cunha, Luís Miguel; Sousa-Pinto, Bernardo; Fonseca, João

2018-01-01

The expected future demand for food and animal-derived protein will require environment-friendly novel food sources with high nutritional value. Insects may be one of such novel food sources. However, there needs to be an assessment of the risks associated with their consumption, including allergic risks. Therefore, we performed a systematic review aiming to analyse current data available regarding the allergic risks of consuming insects. We reviewed all reported cases of food allergy to insects, and studied the possibility of cross-reactivity and co-sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites. We analysed a total of 25 articles - eight assessing the cross-reactivity/co-sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites; three characterizing allergens in edible insects and 14 case reports, describing case series or prevalence studies of food allergy caused by insects. Cross-reactivity/co-sensitisation between edible insects and crustaceans seems to be clinically relevant, while it is still unknown if co-sensitisation between house dust mites and edible insects can lead to a food allergy. Additionally, more information is also needed about the molecular mechanisms underlying food allergy to insects, although current data suggest that an important role is played by arthropod pan-allergens such as tropomyosin or arginine kinase. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Comparison of Laboratory Experimental Data to XBeach Numerical Model Output

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demirci, Ebru; Baykal, Cuneyt; Guler, Isikhan; Sogut, Erdinc

2016-04-01

Coastal zones are living and constantly changing environments where both the natural events and the human-interaction results come into picture regarding to the shoreline behavior. Both the nature of the coastal zone and the human activities shape together the resultants of the interaction with oceans and coasts. Natural extreme events may result in the need of human interference, such as building coastal structures in order to prevent from disasters or any man-made structure throughout a coastline may affect the hydrodynamics and morphology in the nearshore. In order to understand and cope with this cycle of cause and effect relationship, the numerical models developed. XBeach is an open-source, 2DH, depth average numerical model including the hydrodynamic processes of short wave transformation (refraction, shoaling and breaking), long wave (infragravity wave) transformation (generation, propagation and dissipation), wave-induced setup and unsteady currents, as well as overwash and inundation and morphodynamic processes of bed load and suspended sediment transport, dune face avalanching, bed update and breaching (Roelvink et al., 2010). Together with XBeach numerical model, it is possible to both verify and visualize the resultant external effects to the initial shorelines in coastal zones. Recently, Baykal et al. (2015) modelled the long term morphology changes with XBeach near Kızılırmak river mouth consisting of one I-shaped and one Y-shaped groins. In order to investigate the nature of the shoreline and near shore hydrodynamic conditions and morphology, the five laboratory experiments are conducted in the Largescale Sediment Transport Facility at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in order to be used to improve longshore sand transport relationships under the combined influence of waves and currents and the enhancement of predictive numerical models of beach morphology evolution. The first series of the experiments were aimed at generating data sets for testing and validation of sediment transport relationships for sand transport in the presence of waves and currents. In these series, there is no structure in the basin. The second and third series of experiments were designed to generate data sets for development of tombolos in the lee of detached 4m-long rubble mound breakwater that is 4 m from the initial shoreline. The fourth series of experiments are conducted to investigate tombolo development in the lee of a 4m-long T-head groin with the head section in the same location of the second and the third tests. The fifth series of experiments are used to investigate tombolo development in the lee of a 3-m-long rubble-mound breakwater positioned 1.5 m offshore of the initial shoreline. In this study, the data collected from the above mentioned five experiments are used to compare the results of the experimental data with XBeach numerical model results, both for the "no-structure" and "with-structure" cases regarding to sediment transport relationships in the presence of only waves and currents as well as the shoreline changes together with the detached breakwater and the T-groin. The main purpose is to investigate the similarities and differences between the laboratory experimental data behavior with XBeach numerical model outputs for these five cases. References: Baykal, C., Sogut, E., Ergin, A., Guler, I., Ozyurt, G.T., Guler, G., and Dogan, G.G. (2015). Modelling Long Term Morphological Changes with XBeach: Case Study of Kızılırmak River Mouth, Turkey, European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 12-17 April 2015. Gravens, M.B. and Wang, P. (2007). "Data report: Laboratory testing of longshore sand transport by waves and currents; morphology change behind headland structures." Technical Report, ERDC/CHL TR-07-8, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. Roelvink, D., Reniers, A., van Dongeren, A., van Thiel de Vries, J., Lescinski, J. and McCall, R., (2010). XBeach Model Description and Manual. Unesco-IHE Institute for Water Education, Deltares and Delft University of Technology. Report June, 21 2010 version 6.

ESIP's Emerging Provenance and Context Content Standard Use Cases: Developing Examples and Models for Data Stewardship

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramdeen, S.; Hills, D. J.

2013-12-01

Earth science data collections range from individual researchers' private collections to large-scale data warehouses, from computer-generated data to field or lab based observations. These collections require stewardship. Fundamentally, stewardship ensures long term preservation and the provision of access to the user community. In particular, stewardship includes capturing appropriate metadata and documentation--and thus the context of the data's creation and any changes they underwent over time --to enable data reuse. But scientists and science data managers must translate these ideas into practice. How does one balance the needs of current and (projected) future stakeholders? In 2011, the Data Stewardship Committee (DSC) of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) began developing the Provenance and Context Content Standard (PCCS). As an emerging standard, PCCS provides a framework for 'what' must be captured or preserved as opposed to describing only 'how' it should be done. Originally based on the experiences of NASA and NOAA researchers within ESIP, the standard currently provides data managers with content items aligned to eight key categories. While the categories and content items are based on data life cycles of remote sensing missions, they can be generalized to cover a broader set of activities, for example, preservation of physical objects. These categories will include the information needed to ensure the long-term understandability and usability of earth science data products. In addition to the PCCS, the DSC is developing a series of use cases based on the perspectives of the data archiver, data user, and the data consumer that will connect theory and practice. These cases will act as specifications for developing PCCS-based systems. They will also provide for examination of the categories and content items covered in the PCCS to determine if any additions are needed to cover the various use cases, and also provide rationale and indicate priorities for preservation. Though the use cases currently focus on two areas, 'creating' a data set and 'using' a data set, the use cases will eventually cover the full data lifecycle. Currently developing a template to be used in future use case creation, the DSC is also preparing and testing more use case scenarios. This presentation will introduce the ESIP use cases based on the PCCS. It will at once expand stakeholder participation and show the application of these materials beyond the ESIP community in which they were developed. More information about the ESIP use case activities can be found on the DSC wiki - http://wiki.esipfed.org/index.php/Preservation_Use_Case_Activity.

Isolated Lactobacillus chronic prosthetic knee infection.

PubMed

Bennett, David M; Shekhel, Tatyana; Radelet, Matt; Miller, Michael D

2014-01-01

Lactobacillus is a gram-positive rod bacteria found primarily in the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. Prosthetic infections in implants are being increasingly reported. The authors present a case of a 58-year-old patient with Lactobacillus septic prosthetic knee joint infection. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of chronic prosthetic knee infection with isolated Lactobacillus species. Lactobacillus has been most commonly implicated with bacteremia and endocarditis and rarely with pneumonia, meningitis, and endovascular infection, and a vast majority of the cases are reported in immunocompromised patients. In the current case, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, malnutrition, anemia, and liver failure were comorbid conditions, placing the patient at increased risk of infection. The findings suggest that further case series are necessary to establish the significance of Lactobacillus as an etiologic agent in chronic low-virulence, and potentially vancomycin-resistant, prosthetic joint infection. The need also exists for further research aimed at the risk of prosthetic joint infection with oral intake of certain probiotic foods and supplements. The goal of this case report is to bring to light the potential of this organism to be a cause of subtle chronic prosthetic joint infection.

Teen Addiction. Current Controversies Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winters, Paul A., Ed.

The Current Controversies series explores social, political, and economic controversies that dominate the national and international scenes today from a variety of perspectives. Recent surveys have shown that, after years of decline, drug use among teenagers has increased during the 1990s, and that alcohol and tobacco use have remained…

Laparoendoscopic single site in pelvic surgery

PubMed Central

Sanchez-Salas, Rafael; Clavijo, Rafael; Barret, Eric; Sotelo, Rene

2012-01-01

Laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) has recently gained momentum as feasible techniques for minimal access surgery. Our aim is to describe the current status of laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) in pelvic surgery. A comprehensive revision of the literature in LESS pelvic surgery was performed. References for this manuscript were obtained by performing a review of the available literature in PubMed from 01-01-01 to 30-11-11. References outside the search period were obtained selected manuscript΄s bibliography. Search terms included: pelvic anatomy, less in gynecology, single port colectomy, urological less, single port, single site, NOTES, LESS and single incision. 314 manuscripts were initially identified. Out of these, 46 manuscripts were selected based in their pelvic anatomy or surgical content; including experimental experience, clinical series and literature reviews. LESS drastically limit the surgeon's ability to perform in the operative field and the latter becomes hardened by the lack of space in anatomical location like the pelvis. Potential advantages of LESS are gained with the understanding that the surgical procedure is more technically challenging. Pelvic surgical procedures related to colorectal surgery, gynecology and urology have been performed with LESS technique and information available is mostly represented by case reports and short case series. Comparative series remain few. LESS pelvic surgery remain in its very beginning and due to the very specific anatomical conditions further development of LESS surgery in the mentioned area can be clearly be facilitated by using robotic technology. Standardization ad reproducibility of techniques are mandatory to further develop LESS in the surgical arena.. PMID:22557719

Test Results for Rotordynamic Coefficients of the SSME HPOTP Turbine Interstage Seal with Two Swirl Brakes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Childs, Dara W.; Baskharone, Erian; Ramsey, Christopher

1991-01-01

Test results are presented for the HPOTP Turbine Interstage Seal with both the current and an alternate, aerodynamically designed, swirl brake. Tests were conducted at speeds out to 16,000 rpm, supply pressures up to 18.3 bars, and the following three inlet tangential velocity conditions: (1) no preswirl; (2) intermediate preswirl in the direction of rotation; and (3) high preswirl in the direction of rotation. The back pressure can be controlled independently and was varied to yield the following four pressure ratios: 0.4, 0.45, 0.56, and 0.67. The central and simplest conclusion to be obtained from the test series is that the alternate swirl brake consistently outperforms the current swirl brake in terms of stability performance. The alternate swirl brake's whirl frequency ratio was generally about one half or less than corresponding values for the current design. In many cases, the alternate design yielded negative whirl frequency ratio values in comparison to positive values for the current design. The alternate design can be directly substituted into the space currently occupied by the current design. There is no change in leakage performance.

Alive with the sound of music: a case series on patients presenting with musical hallucinations in a general hospital.

PubMed

Kinson, Rochelle Melina; Lim, Wen Phei; Rahman, Habeebul

2015-01-01

Musical hallucinations are a rare phenomenon that renders appropriate identification and treatment a challenge. This case series describes three women who presented with hearing complex, familiar melodies in the absence of external stimuli on a background of hearing impairment.

Alcoa Teams with DOE to Reduce Energy Consumption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2004-05-01

This is the first in a series of DOE Industrial Technologies Program case studies on corporate energy management. The case study highlights Alcoa Aluminum's successful results and activities through its corporate energy management approach and collaboration with DOE. Case studies in this series will be used to encourage other energy-intensive industrial plants to adopt a corporate strategy, and to promote the concept of replicating results with a company or industry.

BASINS and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This draft report supports application of two recently developed water modeling tools, the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools. The report presents a series of short case studies designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for conducting scenario based assessments of the potential future effects of climate change on water resources. This report presents a series of short, illustrative case studies using the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools.

Ischemic Gastritis: A Multicenter Case Series of a Rare Clinical Entity and a Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Elwir, Saleh; Shaukat, Aasma; Mesa, Hector; Colbach, Christine; Dambowy, Paul; Shaw, Michael

2016-10-01

To report a case series of ischemic gastritis and discuss its etiology, management, and associated mortality according to our results and the published English literature. Ischemic gastritis is rare, given the rich blood supply of the stomach. It has been reported in isolated case reports and small case series. Most cases are vascular in origin and associated with a high mortality. Pathology databases from 3 hospitals affiliated with the University of Minnesota Medical School were searched for cases of ischemic gastritis in the last 10 years. Patients' demographics, clinical course, and 1-month and 1-year mortalities were collected from electronic medical records. A total of 12 patients were identified (age range, 32.1 to 83.2), the largest series reported to date. The presenting symptom was gastrointestinal bleeding (8), abdominal pain (2), nausea (1), and symptomatic anemia (1). The etiology included postinterventional radiology embolization (2), hemodynamic changes in the setting of celiac axis stenosis (2), vasculitis (1), systemic hypotension (1), and unknown (6). Treatment included steroid therapy, revascularization by interventional radiology, surgery, or supportive treatment. Thirty-day and 1-year mortalities were 33% and 41%, respectively. Ischemic gastritis is rare, but associated with a high mortality. Evaluation for treatable etiologies should be sought and corrected if present.

Homeopathic Treatment of Vitiligo: A Report of Fourteen Cases

PubMed Central

Mahesh, Seema; Mallappa, Mahesh; Tsintzas, Dionysios; Vithoulkas, George

2017-01-01

Case series Patient: — Final Diagnosis: — Symptoms: Skin lesions Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Dermatology Objective: Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment Background: Vitiligo, also known as leukoderma, is an autoimmune skin condition that results in the loss of melanin pigment. Vitiligo is not a rare condition but is difficult to treat and is associated with psychological distress. Case Reports: A series of 14 cases of vitiligo are presented that were treated with individualized homeopathic remedies that were based on plant, animal, or mineral compounds. There were 13 women and one man in the case series, with a mean age 29.8 years, and a mean follow-up from treatment of 58 months. The mean time between the onset of the appearance of vitiligo and the first consultation at our clinic was 96 months. Homeopathic treatment for patients is holistic and was performed on an individualized basis as described in this case series. Photographic images of the skin are presented before and after treatment. Conclusions: In 14 patients with vitiligo treated with individualized homeopathy, the best results were achieved in the patients who were treated in the early stages of the disease. We believe that homeopathy may be effective in the early stages of vitiligo, but large controlled clinical studies are needed in this area. PMID:29196612

Intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome associated with use of antipsychotic drugs.

PubMed

Matsuo, Masato; Sano, Ichiya; Ikeda, Yoshifumi; Fujihara, Etsuko; Tanito, Masaki

2016-08-01

We report 3 cases of intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery in patients without a history of selective α1-blocker use but with a long-term history of antipsychotic drug use. We reviewed previously reported cases of antipsychotic drug-associated IFIS cases. Observational case series. In case 1, bilateral IFIS developed in a 39-year-old man with chronic angle-closure glaucoma. He had used several classes of antipsychotic drugs to treat schizophrenia, including the first-generation antipsychotic drugs haloperidol and chlorpromazine, the dopamine system stabilizer aripiprazole, the dopamine serotonin antagonists olanzapine and quetiapine, and the serotonin dopamine antagonists risperidone and blonanserin for 7 years. In case 2, a 63-year-old woman with schizophrenia had used aripiprazole, quetiapine, and risperidone for more than 10 years. In case 3, a 65-year-old woman with an organic mental disorder had used haloperidol for more than 10 years. At least 5 cases of antipsychotic drug-induced IFIS have been reported in the literature. Any class of antipsychotic drugs can cause IFIS. Although antipsychotic drug-induced IFIS can be mild, surgeons should be alert to the possibility of IFIS when they treat patients with current and past use of antipsychotic drugs. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Using interrupted time series design to analyze changes in hand, foot, and mouth disease incidence during the declining incidence periods of 2008-2010 in China.

PubMed

Yu, Shi Cheng; Hao, Yuan Tao; Zhang, Jing; Xiao, Ge Xin; Liu, Zhuang; Zhu, Qi; Ma, Jia Qi; Wang, Yu

2012-12-01

To identify patterns of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) incidence in China during declining incidence periods of 2008, 2009, and 2010. Reported HFMD cases over a period of 25 months were extracted from the National Disease Reporting System (NDRS) and analyzed. An interrupted time series (ITS) technique was used to detect changes in HFMD incidence rates in terms of level and slope between declining incidence periods of the three years. Over 3.58 million HFMD cases younger than 5 years were reported to the NDRS between May 1, 2008, and May 31, 2011. Males comprised 63.4% of the cases. ITS analyses demonstrated a significant increase in incidence rate level (P<0.0001) when comparing the current period with the previous period. There were significant changes in declining slopes when comparing 2010 to 2009, and 2010 to 2008 (all P<0.005), but not 2009 to 2008. Incremental changes in incidence rate level during the declining incidence periods of 2009 and 2010 can potentially be attributed to a few factors. The more steeply declining slope in 2010 compared with previous years could be ascribed to the implementation of more effective interventions and preventive strategies in 2010. Further investigation is required to examine this possibility. Copyright © 2012 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preoperative Onyx embolization of hypervascular head, neck, and spinal tumors: experience with 100 consecutive cases from a single tertiary center.

PubMed

Rangel-Castilla, Leonardo; Shah, Ankit H; Klucznik, Richard Paul; Diaz, Orlando M

2014-01-01

Preoperative embolization of head, neck, and spinal tumors is frequently used to control tumor bleeding, reduce operative time, and achieve better resection. Numerous embolic materials have been used. The use of the liquid embolic agent Onyx is rapidly increasing but current experience is limited to small case series. Our purpose was to evaluate the indications, techniques, angiographic devascularization, blood loss, outcome, and general efficacy of preoperative tumor embolization with Onyx in a large series. Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases of head, neck, and spinal tumors embolized with Onyx and prospective follow-up. 100 patients (63 women, 37 men) were included. Tumors included 39 meningiomas, 23 metastases, 16 parangliomas, five juvenile nasal angiofibromas, five giant cell bone tumors, three Ewing's sarcomas, three hemangiomas, three hemangioblastomas, two multiple myelomas, and one osteoblastoma. In all patients, angiographic analysis of the feeding arteries and branches was performed and all embolizations were completed in a single session. Additional materials were used in 28 patients. No mortality or major complications were observed. Minor complications were seen in 11 patients. 85 patients underwent surgery; 79 within the next 48 h and six of them 4-188 days after embolization. Embolization of intracranial, head, neck, and spinal tumors with Onyx is effective and safe by a transarterial route or by direct puncture. Onyx penetrates well into the tumor capillary with less arterial catheterization. Studies are necessary to establish long term utility in adjunct or palliative tumor embolization.

Pulp regeneration after non-infected and infected necrosis, what type of tissue do we want? A review.

PubMed

Andreasen, Jens O; Bakland, Leif K

2012-02-01

Regeneration (revitalization) of infected necrotic pulp tissue has been an important issue in endodontics for more than a decade. Based on a series of case reports, there appears to be evidence that new soft tissue can enter the root canal with a potential for subsequent hard tissue deposition resulting in a narrowing of the root canal. Very little is presently known about the exact nature of this tissue growing into the canal and how it may behave in the long term. In the case of regeneration of necrotic non-infected pulp tissue, a series of clinical and histological studies have shown that such events may take place in four variants: (i) Revascularization of the pulp with accelerated dentin formation leading to pulp canal obliteration. This event has a good long-term prognosis. (ii) Ingrowth of cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL). The long-term prognosis for this event is not known. (iii) Ingrowth of cementum, PDL, and bone. The long-term prognosis is only partly known, but cases developing an internal ankylosis have been described. (iv) Ingrowth of bone and bone marrow is a rare phenomenon and the long-term prognosis does not appear to be good. Based on current knowledge, expectations with respect to pulp regeneration (revitalization) of infected necrotic dental pulps are difficult to predict; more information than now available is needed before procedures for pulpal regeneration can be routinely recommended with a predictable long-term prognosis. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Systematic review of the efficacy of fat grafting and platelet-rich plasma for wound healing.

PubMed

Smith, Oliver J; Kanapathy, Muholan; Khajuria, Ankur; Prokopenko, Max; Hachach-Haram, Nadine; Mann, Haroon; Mosahebi, Ash

2018-05-09

Adipose-derived stem cells found in fat grafts may have significant healing properties. When fat is combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), there may be enhanced healing effects due to the pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of PRP. This study aimed to evaluate the current evidence on fat grafting in combination with PRP for wound healing to establish the efficacy of this technique. A comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Science Citation Index, and Google Scholar databases (to March 2017) was conducted to identify studies on fat grafting and PRP for wound healing. Case series of less than 3 cases and studies only describing harvest technique were excluded. The database identified 571 articles, of which 3 articles that used a combination of fat and PRP for wound healing (1 RCT and 2 case series) were included in this review. A total of 69 wounds in 64 patients were treated with an average wound size of 36.32cm 2 . Of these, 67% of wounds achieved complete healing. When reported, the mean time to healing was 7.5 weeks for those who underwent a single treatment. There were no significant complications in any patients. The combination of fat grafting and PRP may achieve adequate wound healing with relatively quick wound healing time compared with standard wound management options. However, evidence is extremely limited, and further studies are required to evaluate its efficacy for wound healing. © 2018 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

31 CFR 315.31 - Series H bonds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Series H bonds are current income bonds issued at par (face amount). Interest on a Series H bond is paid... the Public Debt for recognition as voluntary guardian for the purpose of receiving and collecting the...

31 CFR 315.31 - Series H bonds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Series H bonds are current income bonds issued at par (face amount). Interest on a Series H bond is paid... the Fiscal Service for recognition as voluntary guardian for the purpose of receiving and collecting...

31 CFR 315.31 - Series H bonds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Series H bonds are current income bonds issued at par (face amount). Interest on a Series H bond is paid... the Public Debt for recognition as voluntary guardian for the purpose of receiving and collecting the...

31 CFR 315.31 - Series H bonds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Series H bonds are current income bonds issued at par (face amount). Interest on a Series H bond is paid... the Public Debt for recognition as voluntary guardian for the purpose of receiving and collecting the...

The Fregoli delusion: a disorder of person identification and tracking.

PubMed

Langdon, Robyn; Connaughton, Emily; Coltheart, Max

2014-10-01

Fregoli delusion is the mistaken belief that some person currently present in the deluded person's environment (typically a stranger) is a familiar person in disguise. The stranger is believed to be psychologically identical to this known person (who is not present) even though the deluded person perceives the physical appearance of the stranger as being different from the known person's typical appearance. To gain a deeper understanding of this contradictory error in the normal system for tracking and identifying known persons, we conducted a detailed survey of all the Fregoli cases reported in the literature since the seminal Courbon and Fail (1927) paper. Our preliminary reading of these cases revealed a notable lack of definitional clarity. So, we first formulated a classification scheme of different person misidentification delusions so as to identify those cases that qualified as instances of Fregoli according to the above characterization: the mistaken belief that a known person is present in the environment in a different guise to his or her typical appearance. We identified 38 clear cases of this type and set out to answer a series of questions motivated by current hypotheses about the origin of the Fregoli delusion. We asked whether the patients misidentified particular strangers, made reference to the misidentified known persons using wigs or plastic surgery (or other techniques to disguise their appearance), misidentified many different strangers or only one, showed other symptoms (in particular, other misidentification delusions), and made inferences about the motives of the known persons in disguise. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for current hypotheses concerning the origin of the Fregoli delusion. Copyright © 2014 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Solitary Fibrous Tumors of the Orbit and Central Nervous System: A Case Series Analysis

PubMed Central

Brum, Marisa; Nzwalo, Hipólito; Oliveira, Edson; Pelejão, Maria Rita; Pereira, Pedro; Farias, João Paulo; Pimentel, José

2018-01-01

Introduction: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is rarely diagnosed in clinical practice. Since its initial descriptions in the central nervous system (CNS) and the orbits, very few case reports and small case series have expanded their clinical and pathological characterization. We sought to describe a cases series of SFT from a single laboratory of neuropathology belonging to a tertiary university hospital. Methods: Retrospective clinical and histopathological description of eight cases of CNS and orbital SFT diagnosed over a 21-year period of time. Results: Median age was 47.3 years and four were males. Clinical presentation was related to local mass effect in all. Tumors occurred in the orbits (5/62.5%), intracranial dura attached (2), and the spinal medulla (1). The neuropathology showed the presence of hemangiopericytoma type (2), classic type (3), and mixed type (3). Histological anaplasia was present in two cases. Widespread/total immunoreactivity for vimentin, CD34, and Bcl-2 was present in all. Gross total removal was conducted in the majority (6/75%) and subtotal removal in 2 (25%). Three patients were submitted to adjuvant treatment (radiosurgery and radiotherapy). Recurrence occurred in four patients, 13–120 months after surgical intervention. Anaplasia was present in one case of recurrence. Conclusion: Our case series confirms the clinical and neuropathological diversity of CNS and orbital SFTs. Studies with longer follow-up periods are necessary to better understand the clinical behavior and prognosis of the SFT in the CNS and orbits. PMID:29682031

Army Aviation Maintenance Career Management Field 67 Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-08

Occupational Specialties (MOS) Specifications 121 Current Inventory Impacts 121 MOS Substitutability 122 Elimination of MOS 67W 123 *ilization of Females in CMF...Operating Strength 67 3-6 Impact of New MACRIT on TOE 78 3-7 67 Series Authorizations Without Technical Supervision 81 3-8 68 Series Authorizations...restructuring and duty realignment necessitated the development of new MOS duty descriptions. (6) CURRENT INVENTORY IMPACT . A comparison of current and

Clinicopathologic features and surgical management of primary umbilical melanoma: a case series.

PubMed

Di Monta, Gianluca; Caracò, Corrado; Marone, Ugo; Grimaldi, Antonio Maria; Anniciello, Anna Maria; Di Marzo, Massimiliano; Simeone, Ester; Mori, Stefano

2015-04-15

Primary umbilical melanoma is an uncommon tumor that is poorly described in the medical literature. The umbilical region is a particular anatomic site owing to the presence of embryonal remnants, which can be a potential metastatic pathway, as well as the braided lymphatic network drainage. Hence, primary malignant neoplasms affecting the umbilicus require a different and more radical surgical approach compared with other melanomas. In this report, we describe a series of three patients of Caucasian ethnicity who presented with primary umbilical melanoma at the National Cancer Institute of Naples, Italy. All patients underwent wide excision of the tumor including the underlying peritoneum. No surgical complications, either immediate or delayed, were observed in any of the patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative in two cases. Two of the patients developed metastatic disease and died after systemic medical therapy. The other patient is currently in follow-up, and remains disease-free after 21 months. The umbilicus has vascular and embryological connections with the underlying peritoneum, so that early visceral involvement is more likely to occur with primary umbilical melanomas. As such, tumor resection including the underlying peritoneum is required to avoid local relapse, whilst sentinel lymph node biopsy appears to be of poor diagnostic value.

Extending (Q)SARs to incorporate proprietary knowledge for regulatory purposes: A case study using aromatic amine mutagenicity.

PubMed

Ahlberg, Ernst; Amberg, Alexander; Beilke, Lisa D; Bower, David; Cross, Kevin P; Custer, Laura; Ford, Kevin A; Van Gompel, Jacky; Harvey, James; Honma, Masamitsu; Jolly, Robert; Joossens, Elisabeth; Kemper, Raymond A; Kenyon, Michelle; Kruhlak, Naomi; Kuhnke, Lara; Leavitt, Penny; Naven, Russell; Neilan, Claire; Quigley, Donald P; Shuey, Dana; Spirkl, Hans-Peter; Stavitskaya, Lidiya; Teasdale, Andrew; White, Angela; Wichard, Joerg; Zwickl, Craig; Myatt, Glenn J

2016-06-01

Statistical-based and expert rule-based models built using public domain mutagenicity knowledge and data are routinely used for computational (Q)SAR assessments of pharmaceutical impurities in line with the approach recommended in the ICH M7 guideline. Knowledge from proprietary corporate mutagenicity databases could be used to increase the predictive performance for selected chemical classes as well as expand the applicability domain of these (Q)SAR models. This paper outlines a mechanism for sharing knowledge without the release of proprietary data. Primary aromatic amine mutagenicity was selected as a case study because this chemical class is often encountered in pharmaceutical impurity analysis and mutagenicity of aromatic amines is currently difficult to predict. As part of this analysis, a series of aromatic amine substructures were defined and the number of mutagenic and non-mutagenic examples for each chemical substructure calculated across a series of public and proprietary mutagenicity databases. This information was pooled across all sources to identify structural classes that activate or deactivate aromatic amine mutagenicity. This structure activity knowledge, in combination with newly released primary aromatic amine data, was incorporated into Leadscope's expert rule-based and statistical-based (Q)SAR models where increased predictive performance was demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nuclear rapprochement in Argentina and Brazil: Workshop summary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

James E. Doyle

1999-10-01

On October 21 and 22, 1998, the Center for International Security Affairs at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Center for Global Security and Cooperation at Science Applications International Corporation hosted the first of a series of work-shops on states that have chosen to roll back their pursuit of nuclear arms. The objective of the workshop series is to conduct a systematic evaluation of the roles played by U.S. nonproliferation policy in cases of nuclear rollback or restraint and to provide recommendations for future nonproliferation efforts based on lessons learned. Key attendees at the workshop included officials and former officialsmore » from the foreign ministries of Argentina and Brazil, and current and former officials from the U.S. Department of State, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). Scholars and independent researchers who have examined nuclear policy in Argentina and Brazil also participated. This workshop report includes important background information that helps set the stage for assessing nuclear policies in Argentina and Brazil. It describes national perspectives and areas of consensus and debate among the participants, particularly on the questions of lessons learned and their salience to proliferation challenges in other states. It also summarizes key questions and propositions regarding the roles played in these cases by U.S. nonproliferation policy.« less

Sativex Associated With Behavioral-Relapse Prevention Strategy as Treatment for Cannabis Dependence: A Case Series.

PubMed

Trigo, Jose M; Soliman, Alexandra; Staios, Gregory; Quilty, Lena; Fischer, Benedikt; George, Tony P; Rehm, Jürgen; Selby, Peter; Barnes, Allan J; Huestis, Marilyn A; Le Foll, Bernard

2016-01-01

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug; a substantial minority of users develop dependence. The current lack of pharmacological treatments for cannabis dependence warrants the use of novel approaches and further investigation of promising pharmacotherapy. In this case series, we assessed the use of self-titrated dosages of Sativex (1:1, Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]/cannabidiol [CBD] combination) and motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (MET/CBT) for the treatment of cannabis dependence among 5 treatment-seeking community-recruited cannabis-dependent subjects. Participants underwent a 3-month open-label self-titration phase with Sativex (up to 113.4 of THC/105 mg of CBD) and weekly MET/CBT, with a 3-month follow-up. Sativex was well-tolerated by all participants (average dosage 77.5 THC/71.7 mg CBD). The combination of Sativex and MET/CBT reduced the amount of cannabis use and progressively reduced craving and withdrawal scores. THC/CBD metabolite concentration indicated reduced cannabis use and compliance with medication. In summary, this pilot study found that with Sativex in combination with MET/CBT reduced cannabis use while preventing increases in craving and withdrawal in the 4 participants completing the study. Further systematic exploration of Sativex as a pharmacological treatment option for cannabis dependence should be performed.

Primary invasive squamous carcinoma of the vagina

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pride, G.L.; Schultz, A.E.; Chuprevich, T.W.

1979-02-01

Forty-three cases of primary vaginal squamous cell cancer were treated at the University of Wisconsin Hospital between 1956 and 1971. These cases comprised of 1.2% of patients admitted to the University Hospital with female genital tract cancer. Evidence is presented to support a modification of the currently accepted FIGO staging system for vaginal carcinoma (Stage II disease). Radiation therapy using both external beam and brachyradium equivalents or interstitial implantation of suitable isotopes was an effective method for the treatment of patients having early and locally advanced invasive vaginal cancer. The 5-year absolute survival rate for the entire series was 37.2%.more » Absolute survival rate by modified FIGO clinical staging was 66% for Stages I and IIA, 31% for Stage IIB, 25% for Stage III, and 0% for Stage IV.« less

Cointegration and Nonstationarity in the Context of Multiresolution Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Worden, K.; Cross, E. J.; Kyprianou, A.

2011-07-01

Cointegration has established itself as a powerful means of projecting out long-term trends from time-series data in the context of econometrics. Recent work by the current authors has further established that cointegration can be applied profitably in the context of structural health monitoring (SHM), where it is desirable to project out the effects of environmental and operational variations from data in order that they do not generate false positives in diagnostic tests. The concept of cointegration is partly built on a clear understanding of the ideas of stationarity and nonstationarity for time-series. Nonstationarity in this context is 'traditionally' established through the use of statistical tests, e.g. the hypothesis test based on the augmented Dickey-Fuller statistic. However, it is important to understand the distinction in this case between 'trend' stationarity and stationarity of the AR models typically fitted as part of the analysis process. The current paper will discuss this distinction in the context of SHM data and will extend the discussion by the introduction of multi-resolution (discrete wavelet) analysis as a means of characterising the time-scales on which nonstationarity manifests itself. The discussion will be based on synthetic data and also on experimental data for the guided-wave SHM of a composite plate.

Web-based access to near real-time and archived high-density time-series data: cyber infrastructure challenges & developments in the open-source Waveform Server

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, J. C.; Vernon, F. L.; Newman, R. L.; Steidl, J. H.

2010-12-01

The Waveform Server is an interactive web-based interface to multi-station, multi-sensor and multi-channel high-density time-series data stored in Center for Seismic Studies (CSS) 3.0 schema relational databases (Newman et al., 2009). In the last twelve months, based on expanded specifications and current user feedback, both the server-side infrastructure and client-side interface have been extensively rewritten. The Python Twisted server-side code-base has been fundamentally modified to now present waveform data stored in cluster-based databases using a multi-threaded architecture, in addition to supporting the pre-existing single database model. This allows interactive web-based access to high-density (broadband @ 40Hz to strong motion @ 200Hz) waveform data that can span multiple years; the common lifetime of broadband seismic networks. The client-side interface expands on it's use of simple JSON-based AJAX queries to now incorporate a variety of User Interface (UI) improvements including standardized calendars for defining time ranges, applying on-the-fly data calibration to display SI-unit data, and increased rendering speed. This presentation will outline the various cyber infrastructure challenges we have faced while developing this application, the use-cases currently in existence, and the limitations of web-based application development.

Seasonal to Decadal-Scale Variability in Satellite Ocean Color and Sea Surface Temperature for the California Current System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mitchell, B. Greg; Kahru, Mati; Marra, John (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Support for this project was used to develop satellite ocean color and temperature indices (SOCTI) for the California Current System (CCS) using the historic record of CZCS West Coast Time Series (WCTS), OCTS, WiFS and AVHRR SST. The ocean color satellite data have been evaluated in relation to CalCOFI data sets for chlorophyll (CZCS) and ocean spectral reflectance and chlorophyll OCTS and SeaWiFS. New algorithms for the three missions have been implemented based on in-water algorithm data sets, or in the case of CZCS, by comparing retrieved pigments with ship-based observations. New algorithms for absorption coefficients, diffuse attenuation coefficients and primary production have also been evaluated. Satellite retrievals are being evaluated based on our large data set of pigments and optics from CalCOFI.

Childhood Enuresis: Current Diagnostic Formulations, Salient Findings, and Effective Treatment Modalities.

PubMed

Thurber, Steven

2017-06-01

Enuresis constitutes a frequently encountered problem area for children that may adversely affect social and emotional adjustment. This type of incontinence has been of concern to the human family for centuries. A brief history of enuresis is presented followed by current conceptualizations, diagnostic criteria, prevalence rates and psychiatric comorbidities. Historic notions of causation together with ineffective, sometimes barbaric treatments are then discussed, ending with a presentation of evidence-based treatment modalities, with the urine alarm being an essential element of effective treatment. An intervention termed dry bed training combines the urine alarm with a series of procedures designed in part to reduce relapse potential and should be a primary consideration for implementation by treatment professionals. Finally, a brief case study is presented illustrating special etiological and treatment considerations with juvenile psychiatric patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Valentino, Eleonora Di; Mersini-Houghton, Laura, E-mail: valentin@iap.fr, E-mail: mersini@physics.unc.edu

The 2015 Planck data release has placed tight constraints on the allowed class of inflationary models. The current data favors concave downwards inflationary potentials while offering interesting hints on possible deviations from the standard picture of CMB perturbations. We here test the predictions of the theory of the origin of the universe from the landscape multiverse, against the most recent Planck data, for the case of concave downwards inflationary potentials, such as the Starobinsky model of inflation. By considering the quantum entanglement correction of the multiverse, we can place a lower limit on the local 'SUSY breaking' scale b >more » 1.2 × 10{sup 7} GeV at 95% c.l. from Planck TT+lowTEB. We find that this limit is consistent with the range for b that allows the landscape multiverse to explain a serie of anomalies present in the current data.« less

Bypass apparatus and method for series connected energy storage devices

DOEpatents

Rouillard, Jean; Comte, Christophe; Daigle, Dominik

2000-01-01

A bypass apparatus and method for series connected energy storage devices. Each of the energy storage devices coupled to a common series connection has an associated bypass unit connected thereto in parallel. A current bypass unit includes a sensor which is coupled in parallel with an associated energy storage device or cell and senses an energy parameter indicative of an energy state of the cell, such as cell voltage. A bypass switch is coupled in parallel with the energy storage cell and operable between a non-activated state and an activated state. The bypass switch, when in the non-activated state, is substantially non-conductive with respect to current passing through the energy storage cell and, when in the activated state, provides a bypass current path for passing current to the series connection so as to bypass the associated cell. A controller controls activation of the bypass switch in response to the voltage of the cell deviating from a pre-established voltage setpoint. The controller may be included within the bypass unit or be disposed on a control platform external to the bypass unit. The bypass switch may, when activated, establish a permanent or a temporary bypass current path.

Angiofibroma of the nasal cavity in 13 dogs.

PubMed

Burgess, K E; Green, E M; Wood, R D; Dubielzig, R R

2011-12-01

This case series describes a rare entity, nasal angiofibroma, in 13 dogs that were presented to the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine from 1988 to 2000. All dogs in this case series presented with clinical signs and radiographic changes that were strongly suggestive of a locally invasive neoplasm. However, histopathology completed on transnostral core biopsy samples revealed benign appearing vascular proliferation with secondary lymphosuppurative inflammation was established despite cytologic criteria of malignancy present in five dogs. On the basis of the outcomes in this case series, nasal angiofibroma should be considered a differential for dogs presenting with clinical signs consistent with a malignant nasal tumour. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Treatment of actinic cheilitis with the Er:YAG laser.

PubMed

Armenores, Paul; James, Craig L; Walker, Patrick C; Huilgol, Shyamala C

2010-10-01

Actinic cheilitis is a common condition with the potential to develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Current treatments have varying cure rates and complications. The role of the erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser in the treatment of actinic cheilitis has not been widely published, despite offering theoretical advantages over current treatment modalities. To evaluate the outcome of a series of patients treated with the Er:YAG laser for actinic cheilitis. This was a retrospective, interventional, nonrandomized, sequential case series set in a tertiary referral, dermatologic surgery unit. Ninety-nine consecutive patients with actinic cheilitis treated with the Er:YAG laser between January 2001 and June 2008 underwent a case note review, of which 77 went on to a structured telephone interview. The main outcome measures were a subjective improvement in lip symptoms related to actinic cheilitis and objective improvement in the lips at routine follow-up. Mean time to interview follow-up was 65.7 months. Of those interviewed, 92.2% believed there had been an improvement in the cosmetic appearance of their lips; one hundred percent believed the function of their lips had improved or remained unchanged; and 84.8% remained completely disease free at the time of follow-up. The majority of patients (93.5%) were satisfied with the laser treatment. Scarring as a direct result of the laser occurred in 5.1% of patients. Retrospective nature of data collection; inability to interview all patients who underwent treatment. The Er:YAG laser is a successful modality for the treatment of actinic cheilitis with good functional and cosmetic results and only a small risk of long-term scarring. It should be considered as a first-line treatment for the disease. Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conservative chiropractic management of urinary incontinence using applied kinesiology: a retrospective case-series report.

PubMed

Cuthbert, Scott C; Rosner, Anthony L

2012-03-01

The purpose of this case series is to describe the chiropractic management of 21 patients with daily stress and occasional total urinary incontinence (UI). Twenty-one case files of patients 13 to 90 years of age with UI from a chiropractic clinic were reviewed. The patients had a 4-month to 49-year history of UI and associated muscle dysfunction and low back and/or pelvic pain. Eighteen wore an incontinence pad throughout the day and night at the time of their appointments because of unpredictable UI. Patients were evaluated for muscle impairments in the lumbar spine, pelvis, and pelvic floor and low back and/or hip pain. Positive manual muscle test results of the pelvis, lumbar spine muscles, and pelvic floor muscles were the most common findings. Lumbosacral dysfunction was found in 13 of the cases with pain provocation tests (applied kinesiology sensorimotor challenge); in 8 cases, this sensorimotor challenge was absent. Chiropractic manipulative therapy and soft tissue treatment addressed the soft tissue and articular dysfunctions. Chiropractic manipulative therapy involved high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation; Cox flexion distraction manipulation; and/or use of a percussion instrument for the treatment of myofascial trigger points. Urinary incontinence symptoms resolved in 10 patients, considerably improved in 7 cases, and slightly improved in 4 cases. Periodic follow-up examinations for the past 6 years, and no less than 2 years, indicate that for each participant in this case-series report, the improvements of UI remained stable. The patients reported in this retrospective case series showed improvement in UI symptoms that persisted over time.

Acute Esophageal Necrosis: A Case Series

PubMed Central

Mavilia, Marianna G; Gurvits, Grigoriy E

2018-01-01

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a particularly rare syndrome with an incidence of only 0.1-0.28%, whose appearance is notable for proximal extensions of black, necrotic appearing mucosa extending proximally in the esophagus and abruptly interrupted at the gastroesophageal junction. In this case series, we explore the cases of two males: one middle-aged and one elderly, who after presenting with emesis, were found to have acute esophageal necrosis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. PMID:29850386

Clustering Financial Time Series by Network Community Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piccardi, Carlo; Calatroni, Lisa; Bertoni, Fabio

In this paper, we describe a method for clustering financial time series which is based on community analysis, a recently developed approach for partitioning the nodes of a network (graph). A network with N nodes is associated to the set of N time series. The weight of the link (i, j), which quantifies the similarity between the two corresponding time series, is defined according to a metric based on symbolic time series analysis, which has recently proved effective in the context of financial time series. Then, searching for network communities allows one to identify groups of nodes (and then time series) with strong similarity. A quantitative assessment of the significance of the obtained partition is also provided. The method is applied to two distinct case-studies concerning the US and Italy Stock Exchange, respectively. In the US case, the stability of the partitions over time is also thoroughly investigated. The results favorably compare with those obtained with the standard tools typically used for clustering financial time series, such as the minimal spanning tree and the hierarchical tree.

[Automated detection of estrus and mastitis in dairy cows].

PubMed

de Mol, R M

2001-02-15

The development and test of detection models for oestrus and mastitis in dairy cows is described in a PhD thesis that was defended in Wageningen on June 5, 2000. These models were based on sensors for milk yield, milk temperature, electrical conductivity of milk, and cow activity and concentrate intake, and on combined processing of the sensor data. The models alert farmers to cows that need attention, because of possible oestrus or mastitis. A first detection model for cows, milked twice a day, was based on time series models for the sensor variables. A time series model describes the dependence between successive observations. The parameters of the time series models were fitted on-line for each cow after each milking by means of a Kalman filter, a mathematical method to estimate the state of a system on-line. The Kalman filter gives the best estimate of the current state of a system based on all preceding observations. This model was tested for 2 years on two experimental farms, and under field conditions on four farms over several years. A second detection model, for cow milked in an automatic milking system (AMS), was based on a generalization of the first model. Two data sets (one small, one large) were used for testing. The results for oestrus detection were good for both models. The results for mastitis detection were varying (in some cases good, in other cases moderate). Fuzzy logic was used to classify mastitis and oestrus alerts with both detection models, to reduce the number of false positive alerts. Fuzzy logic makes approximate reasoning possible, where statements can be partly true or false. Input for the fuzzy logic model were alerts from the detection models and additional information. The number of false positive alerts decreased considerably, while the number of detected cases remained at the same level. These models make automated detection possible in practice.

Scanning electron microscopy observations of failures of implant overdenture bars: a case series report.

PubMed

Waddell, J Neil; Payne, Alan G T; Swain, Michael V; Kieser, Jules A

2010-03-01

Soldered or cast bars are used as a standard of care in attachment systems supporting maxillary and mandibular implant overdentures. When failures of these bars occur, currently there is a lack of evidence in relation to their specific etiology, location, or nature. To investigate the failure process of a case series of six failed soldered bars, four intact soldered bars, and one intact cast milled bar, which had been supporting implant overdentures. A total of 11 different overdenture bars were removed from patients with different configuration of opposing arches. A failed bar (FB) group (n = 6) had failed soldered overdenture bars, which were recovered from patients following up to 2 years of wear before requiring prosthodontic maintenance and repair. An intact bar (IB) group (n = 5) had both soldered bars and a single cast milled bar, which had been worn by patients for 2 to 5 years prior to receiving other aspects of prosthodontic maintenance. All bars were examined using scanning electron microscopy to establish the possible mode of failure (FB) or to identify evidence of potential failure in the future (IB). Evidence of a progressive failure mode of corrosion fatigue and creep were observed on all the FB and IB usually around the solder areas and nonoxidizing gold cylinder. Fatigue and creep were also observed in all the IB. Where the level of corrosion was substantial, there was no evidence of wear from the matrices of the attachment system. Evidence of an instantaneous failure mode, ductile and brittle overload, was observed on the fracture surfaces of all the FB, within the solder and the nonoxidizing gold cylinders, at the solder/cylinder interface. Corrosion, followed by corrosion fatigue, appears to be a key factor in the onset of the failure process for overdenture bars in this case series of both maxillary and mandibular overdentures. Limited sample size and lack of standardization identify trends only but prevent broad interpretation of the findings.

Music therapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive literature review.

PubMed

Ostermann, Thomas; Schmid, Wolfgang

2006-04-01

Coping with multiple sclerosis symptoms still remains a challenge for each patient suffering from this chronic inflammatory disease. Therefore, patients often turn to using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In this review, the authors aimed to investigate the current state of literature of music therapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Medline, PubMed, Embase, AMED, CAMbase and the Music Therapy World Journal Index were searched for the terms MS and 'music therapy'. In addition, an internet search using Google Scholar was performed. The authors found seven case-reports/series and seven studies on music therapy for MS-patients. Both the case reports and studies presented here are pioneer work. Most of the studies are naturally predominated by the use of qualitative and uncontrolled research designs. Nevertheless, the results of the studies as well as the case reports demonstrate patients' improvement in the domains of self-acceptance, anxiety and depression. The results of the studies as well as the case reports define a sufficient basis for further music therapeutical work as they show a variety of psychosocial and emotional benefits for MS patients.

Conservative management of extradural hematoma: A report of sixty-two cases.

PubMed

Zwayed, A Rahim H; Lucke-Wold, Brandon

2018-06-01

Extradural hematomas (EDH) are considered life threatening in that the risk for brain herniation is significant. The current accepted understanding within the literature is to treat EDH via surgical evacuation of the hematoma. In this case-series we report 62 cases of EDH managed conservatively without surgical intervention. Inclusion criteria were: Glasgow comma scale score 13-15, extradural hematoma confirmed by CT being less than 40 mm, less than 6 mm of midline shift, and no other surgical lesions present. Patients were initially observed in a surgical intensive care unit prior to discharge and had closely scheduled follow-up. Of the 62 cases none required emergent intervention and the majority had interval resolution of the epidural hematoma over time. Resolution was apparent by 21 days and definitive by 3 to 6 months. Patients with EDH who have a high Glasgow comma scale score 13-15, volume <40 mm, and less than 6 mm of midline shift should be considered for conservative management. Our study indicates that these patients will have interval resolution of hematoma over time without worsening of symptoms.

A Study of the Impact of Thirteen Celebrity Suicides on Subsequent Suicide Rates in South Korea from 2005 to 2009

PubMed Central

Fu, King-wa; Chan, C. H.

2013-01-01

A number of ecological studies have found a pattern of increasing suicide rates after suicides of several Asian entertainment celebrities. However, the finding may be subject to positive outcome bias where cases with no perceived impact may be routinely excluded. In this study, we deploy interrupted time-series analysis using ARIMA transfer function models to investigate systematically the impact of thirteen celebrity suicides on subsequent suicide rates in South Korea. We find that three out of eleven cases were found to be followed by a significant increase in suicide rate, while controlling for seasonality, secular trends, and unemployment rates. Such significant increases could last for nine weeks. Non-significance cases may be attributable to the small amount of media coverage, the “displacement” effect of preceding case, and the negative connotation of celebrity deaths. We therefore conclude that whether or not the impacts were detected may be largely conditioned by various contextual factors. Current evidence based on ecological studies is insufficient to draw a firm conclusion. Further studies using multiple approaches should be developed. PMID:23342026

When domestic goes capital: Juror decision making in capital murder trials involving domestic homicide.

PubMed

Richards, Tara N; Smith, M Dwayne; Fogel, Sondra J; Bjerregaard, Beth

2015-08-01

Prior research suggests that homicide cases involving familial offenders and victims are subject to a "domestic discount" that reduces sentencing severity. However, the operation of a domestic discount in regard to death penalty sentencing has been rarely examined. The current research uses a near-population of jury decisions in capital murder trials conducted in North Carolina from 1991 to 2009 (n = 800), and a series of logistic regression analyses to determine whether there is (a) a direct effect between offender-victim relationship (e.g., domestic, friend/acquaintance, and stranger) and jury decision making, and/or (b) whether domestic offender-victim relationship (as well as other offender-victim relationships) moderates the effect of legal and extralegal case characteristics on jury assessment of the death penalty. Our findings revealed no empirical support for a "domestic discount" whereby juries are less likely to impose death sentences in cases involving domestic homicides. However, substantial differences in predictors of death sentencing were found across offender-victim dyads; most notably, domestic homicide cases demonstrated the most legalistic model of jury decisions to impose death sentences. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Issues in midterm analysis and forecasting 1998

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1998-07-01

Issues in Midterm Analysis and Forecasting 1998 (Issues) presents a series of nine papers covering topics in analysis and modeling that underlie the Annual Energy Outlook 1998 (AEO98), as well as other significant issues in midterm energy markets. AEO98, DOE/EIA-0383(98), published in December 1997, presents national forecasts of energy production, demand, imports, and prices through the year 2020 for five cases -- a reference case and four additional cases that assume higher and lower economic growth and higher and lower world oil prices than in the reference case. The forecasts were prepared by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), using EIA`smore » National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). The papers included in Issues describe underlying analyses for the projections in AEO98 and the forthcoming Annual Energy Outlook 1999 and for other products of EIA`s Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting. Their purpose is to provide public access to analytical work done in preparation for the midterm projections and other unpublished analyses. Specific topics were chosen for their relevance to current energy issues or to highlight modeling activities in NEMS. 59 figs., 44 tabs.« less

Separation of metadata and pixel data to speed DICOM tag morphing.

PubMed

Ismail, Mahmoud; Philbin, James

2013-01-01

The DICOM information model combines pixel data and metadata in single DICOM object. It is not possible to access the metadata separately from the pixel data. There are use cases where only metadata is accessed. The current DICOM object format increases the running time of those use cases. Tag morphing is one of those use cases. Tag morphing includes deletion, insertion or manipulation of one or more of the metadata attributes. It is typically used for order reconciliation on study acquisition or to localize the issuer of patient ID (IPID) and the patient ID attributes when data from one domain is transferred to a different domain. In this work, we propose using Multi-Series DICOM (MSD) objects, which separate metadata from pixel data and remove duplicate attributes, to reduce the time required for Tag Morphing. The time required to update a set of study attributes in each format is compared. The results show that the MSD format significantly reduces the time required for tag morphing.

Negative pressure wound therapy with Bio-Dome dressing technology in the treatment of complex wounds: a case series.

PubMed

Penny, H L; Spinazzola, J; Green, A; Rifkah, M; Faretta, M; Youshaw, D; Weaver, A; Zaki, P

2014-04-01

The treatment of complex wounds is difficult and not always effective. Various treatment options are used with varying degrees of success. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a cost-efficient and effective way to help treat these wounds. The use of a vacuum device applies the negative pressure to the site of the wound and promotes waste removal and increases circulation and tissue formation. While various NPWT systems are currently on the market, we utilised the ConvaTec Engenex® system with Bio-DomeTM technology; however, our case study is not intended to advocate the specific use of this system, but instead focuses on the use of NPWT as a viable option for wound healing. Each of the following case study patients presented with difficult-to-heal wounds that failed traditional therapeutic approaches. Through the use of NPWT, our patients saw major wound size reductions. Each patient exhibited at least a 94% reduction in wound area, wound volume or both.

Case study: use of problem-based learning to develop students' technical and professional skills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warnock, James N.; Mohammadi-Aragh, M. Jean

2016-03-01

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogy that has attracted attention for many biomedical engineering curricula. The aim of the current study was to address the research question, 'Does PBL enable students to develop desirable professional engineering skills?' The desirable skills identified were communication, teamwork, problem solving and self-directed learning. Forty-seven students enrolled in a biomedical materials course participated in the case study. Students worked in teams to complete a series of problems throughout the semester. The results showed that students made significant improvements in their problem-solving skills, written communication and self-directed learning. Students also demonstrated an ability to work in teams and communicate orally. In conclusion, this case study provides empirical evidence of the efficacy of PBL on student learning. We discuss findings from our study and provide observations of student performance and perceptions that could be useful for faculty and researchers interested in PBL for biomedical engineering education.

Managing central venous obstruction in cystic fibrosis recipients--lung transplant considerations.

PubMed

Otani, Shinji; Westall, Glen P; Levvey, Bronwyn J; Marasco, Silvana; Lyon, Stuart; Snell, Gregory I

2015-03-01

The superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is rare, but presents unique challenges in the peri-transplant period. We reviewed our experience of SVC syndrome in CF recipients undergoing lung transplantation. This is a retrospective case series from a single center chart-review. SVC obstruction is defined by clinically significant stenosis or obstruction of the SVC as detected by contrast studies. We identified SVC obstruction in seven post-transplant cases and one pre-transplant case. All eight patients had previous or current history of indwelling central venous catheters. Three recipients experienced operative complications. Five of the seven recipients suffered at least one episode of post-operative SVC obstruction or bleeding despite prophylactic anticoagulation. At a median follow-up of 29 months, six of the seven patients transplanted are well. Strategies are available to minimize the risks of intra/peri-operative acute life-threatening SVC obstruction in CF patients. Copyright © 2014 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Calculations of Hubbard U from first-principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aryasetiawan, F.; Karlsson, K.; Jepsen, O.; Schönberger, U.

2006-09-01

The Hubbard U of the 3d transition metal series as well as SrVO3 , YTiO3 , Ce, and Gd has been estimated using a recently proposed scheme based on the random-phase approximation. The values obtained are generally in good accord with the values often used in model calculations but for some cases the estimated values are somewhat smaller than those used in the literature. We have also calculated the frequency-dependent U for some of the materials. The strong frequency dependence of U in some of the cases considered in this paper suggests that the static value of U may not be the most appropriate one to use in model calculations. We have also made comparison with the constrained local density approximation (LDA) method and found some discrepancies in a number of cases. We emphasize that our scheme and the constrained local density approximation LDA method theoretically ought to give similar results and the discrepancies may be attributed to technical difficulties in performing calculations based on currently implemented constrained LDA schemes.

Determining the optimal approach to identifying individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The DOC study.

PubMed

Ronaldson, Sarah J; Dyson, Lisa; Clark, Laura; Hewitt, Catherine E; Torgerson, David J; Cooper, Brendan G; Kearney, Matt; Laughey, William; Raghunath, Raghu; Steele, Lisa; Rhodes, Rebecca; Adamson, Joy

2018-06-01

Early identification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) results in patients receiving appropriate management for their condition at an earlier stage in their disease. The determining the optimal approach to identifying individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (DOC) study was a case-finding study to enhance early identification of COPD in primary care, which evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a series of simple lung function tests and symptom-based case-finding questionnaires. Current smokers aged 35 or more were invited to undertake a series of case-finding tools, which comprised lung function tests (specifically, spirometry, microspirometry, peak flow meter, and WheezoMeter) and several case-finding questionnaires. The effectiveness of these tests, individually or in combination, to identify small airways obstruction was evaluated against the gold standard of spirometry, with the quality of spirometry tests assessed by independent overreaders. The study was conducted with general practices in the Yorkshire and Humberside area, in the UK. Six hundred eighty-one individuals met the inclusion criteria, with 444 participants completing their study appointments. A total of 216 (49%) with good-quality spirometry readings were included in the analysis. The most effective case-finding tools were found to be the peak flow meter alone, the peak flow meter plus WheezoMeter, and microspirometry alone. In addition to the main analysis, where the severity of airflow obstruction was based on fixed ratios and percent of predicted values, sensitivity analyses were conducted by using lower limit of normal values. This research informs the choice of test for COPD identification; case-finding by use of the peak flow meter or microspirometer could be used routinely in primary care for suspected COPD patients. Only those testing positive to these tests would move on to full spirometry, thereby reducing unnecessary spirometric testing. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Acute quadriplegic myopathy with myosin-deficient muscle fibres after liver transplantation: defining the clinical picture and delimiting the risk factors.

PubMed

Miró, O; Salmerón, J M; Masanés, F; Alonso, J R; Graus, F; Mas, A; Grau, J M

1999-04-27

In the last few years, rare cases of acute quadriplegic myopathy (AQM*) with myosin-deficient muscle fibres occurring after solid organ transplantation has been reported. The aim of the present study was to review all cases of AQM with myosin deficient fibres seen at our institution among a large series of patients after orthotopic liver transplants (OLT), with special attention to clinical aspects and associated risk factors. Additionally, an extensive review of all ultrastructurally demonstrated cases of AQM in transplant recipients is also included. Among patients involved in 281 consecutive liver transplant procedures performed in a 4-year period, 3 men and 1 woman developed an arreflexic, flaccid quadriplegia in the immediate postoperative period of OLT. After ruling out other causes of weakness, a muscle biopsy was performed and a loss of thick (myosin) filaments was confirmed by ultrastructural analysis in all cases. Accurate clinical, epidemiological, and evolutive data were recorded. Corticosteroids had been used at usual dosage given to liver transplant recipients; all four patients had several intra- and postoperative complications leading to receiving significantly higher amounts of hemoderivates, to develop renal failure in all cases, and to require a significantly higher number of reoperations within a few days after transplantation than our contemporaneous global series of liver transplant recipients. AQM patients required a significantly longer intensive care unit and hospital stay. Muscular recovery was the rule, but currently a mild myopathic gait remains in three patients. These and other reported cases of AQM do not histologically and clinically differ from AQM seen in other critically ill patients who have not had transplants. Patients with a complicated intra- and postoperative course of OLT who develop newly acquired acute muscle weakness should be suspected as having acute AQM with myosin-deficient muscle fibres. In this setting, differential diagnosis with other causes of weakness should be carried out, because the prognosis of this myopathy is good with early muscle rehabilitation therapy.

Single-Case Time Series with Bayesian Analysis: A Practitioner's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, W. Paul

2003-01-01

This article illustrates a simplified time series analysis for use by the counseling researcher practitioner in single-case baseline plus intervention studies with a Bayesian probability analysis to integrate findings from replications. The C statistic is recommended as a primary analysis tool with particular relevance in the context of actual…

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis: a case series.

PubMed

Nandedkar, Shirish; Malukani, Kamal; Nayak, Renu; Patidar, Ekta

2014-03-01

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a relatively rare cause of intestinal obstruction characterized by total or partial encapsulation of the small intestine by a thick fibrous membrane and is a difficult preoperative diagnosis. A series of seven cases of SEP is reported. Modalities of preoperative diagnosis along with clinical presentation, operative findings, and histopathology are discussed.

The Right to Live and Die. Canadian Critical Issues Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eisenberg, John; Bourne, Paula

One of a series adapted from the Canadian Public Issues Project, this book is designed to stimulate discussion and reflection about controversial issues through case studies. The book is based on high school units originally drawn from cases in newspapers, journals, books, legal documents, and government reports. Conflicts from issues arising over…

The Recurring Author: William Shakespeare, a Case Study through Content Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Robert L., Jr.

The "recurring author" is one whose works appear many times at different levels in instructional units found in literature textbook series. A descriptive case study discussed the treatment of a recurring author, William Shakespeare, using units in a sample of six literature textbook series. Developed to describe, to code, and to analyze…

Equivalence testing using existing reference data: An example with genetically modified and conventional crops in animal feeding studies.

PubMed

van der Voet, Hilko; Goedhart, Paul W; Schmidt, Kerstin

2017-11-01

An equivalence testing method is described to assess the safety of regulated products using relevant data obtained in historical studies with assumedly safe reference products. The method is illustrated using data from a series of animal feeding studies with genetically modified and reference maize varieties. Several criteria for quantifying equivalence are discussed, and study-corrected distribution-wise equivalence is selected as being appropriate for the example case study. An equivalence test is proposed based on a high probability of declaring equivalence in a simplified situation, where there is no between-group variation, where the historical and current studies have the same residual variance, and where the current study is assumed to have a sample size as set by a regulator. The method makes use of generalized fiducial inference methods to integrate uncertainties from both the historical and the current data. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Experimental measurement of the plasma conductivity of Z93 and Z93P thermal control paint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hillard, G. Barry

1993-01-01

Two samples each of Z93 and Z93P thermal control paint were exposed to a simulated space environment in a plasma chamber. The samples were biased through a series of voltages ranging from -200 volts to +300 volts and electron and ion currents measured. By comparing the currents to those of pure metal samples of the same size and shape, the conductivity of the samples was calculated. Measured conductivity was dependent on the bias potential in all cases. For Z93P, conductivity was approximately constant over much of the bias range and we find a value of 0.5 micro-mhos per square meter for both electron and ion current. For Z93, the dependence on bias was much more pronounced but conductivity can be said to be approximately one order of magnitude larger. In addition to presenting these results, this report documents all of the experimental data as well as the statistical analyses performed.

Reviews on current carbon emission reduction technologies and projects and their feasibilities on ships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Haibin; Zhou, Peilin; Wang, Zhongcheng

2017-06-01

Concern about global climate change is growing, and many projects and researchers are committed to reducing greenhouse gases from all possible sources. International Maritime (IMO) has set a target of 20% CO2 reduction from shipping by 2020 and also presented a series of carbon emission reduction methods, which are known as Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Operation Indicator (EEOI). Reviews on carbon emission reduction from all industries indicate that, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an excellent solution to global warming. In this paper, a comprehensive literature review of EEDI and EEOI and CCS is conducted and involves reviewing current policies, introducing common technologies, and considering their feasibilities for marine activities, mainly shipping. Current projects are also presented in this paper, thereby illustrating that carbon emission reduction has been the subject of attention from all over the world. Two case ship studies indicate the economic feasibility of carbon emission reduction and provide a guide for CCS system application and practical installation on ships.

Toward a more materialistic medicine: the value of authentic materialism within current and future medical practice.

PubMed

Leder, Drew; Krucoff, Mitchell W

2011-09-01

Modern medicine is often accused by diverse critics of being "too materialistic" and therefore insufficiently holistic and effective. Yet, this critique can be misleading, dependent upon the ambiguous meanings of "materialism." The term can refer to the prevalence of financial concerns in driving medical practice. Alternatively, it can refer to "mechanistic materialism," the patient viewed as a body-machine. In each case, this article shows that this represents not authentic "materialism" at play, but a focus upon high-level abstractions. "Bottom-line" financial or diagnostic numbers can distract practitioners from the embodied needs of sick patients. In this sense, medical practice is not materialist enough. Through a series of clinical examples, this article explores how an authentic materialism would look in current and future practice. The article examines the use of prayer/comfort shawls at the bedside; hospitals and nursing homes redesigned as enriched healing environments; and a paradigmatic medical device--the implantable cardioverter defibrillator--as it might be presented to patients, in contrast to current practice.

Epidemiology of measles in Southwest Nigeria: an analysis of measles case-based surveillance data from 2007 to 2012.

PubMed

Fatiregun, Akinola A; Adebowale, Ayodeji S; Fagbamigbe, Adeniyi F

2014-03-01

In Nigeria, a system of measles case-based surveillance with laboratory confirmation of suspected cases was introduced in 2005 as one of the strategies for the control of measles morbidity and mortality. In this report, we provide an epidemiological distribution of confirmed cases of measles reported from the southwest of the country between 2007 and 2012, and predict the expected number of cases for the ensuing years. A descriptive analysis of persons and place and time of confirmed measles cases (laboratory and epidemiological link) reported in the case-based surveillance data was carried out. Using an additive time series model, we predicted the expected number of cases to the year 2015, assuming that current interventional efforts were sustained. From the 10 187 suspected cases investigated during the time period, 1631 (16.0%) cases of measles were confirmed. The annual incidence rose from <1 case per million in 2007 to 23 cases per million in 2011. Cases were confirmed from all six states within the zone and most (97.4%) were in individuals aged less than 20 years. Seasonal variation existed with peaks of infection in the first and second quarters of the year. There was an increasing trend in the number of expected cases based on projections. Case-based surveillance provided an insight into understanding the epidemiology of measles infection in Southwest Nigeria. There is a need to work out alternate strategies for control of measles and to strengthen the surveillance system.

17 CFR 232.313 - Identification of investment company type and series and/or class (or contract).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... company type and series and/or class (or contract). 232.313 Section 232.313 Commodity and Securities... series and/or class (or contract). (a) Registered investment companies and business development companies... keep current, information concerning their existing and new series and/or classes (or contracts, in the...

17 CFR 232.313 - Identification of investment company type and series and/or class (or contract).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... company type and series and/or class (or contract). 232.313 Section 232.313 Commodity and Securities... series and/or class (or contract). (a) Registered investment companies and business development companies... keep current, information concerning their existing and new series and/or classes (or contracts, in the...

Vitamin B6 in Health Supplements and Neuropathy: Case Series Assessment of Spontaneously Reported Cases.

PubMed

van Hunsel, Florence; van de Koppel, Sonja; van Puijenbroek, Eugène; Kant, Agnes

2018-05-08

In the literature, vitamin B 6 has been linked to the development of polyneuropathy. Most often, these complaints were seen when taking high doses of vitamin B 6 for a long time. Evidence as to whether a lower dosage range of vitamin B 6 (< 50 mg/day) can also induce neuropathy is scarce. We aim to comprehensively describe the cases of neuropathy associated with vitamin B 6 received by the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb and to assess the case series concerning the use of vitamin B 6 and neuropathic complaints. We describe the number and nature of the reported cases, including suspect product, dosage, duration of use, and vitamin B 6 serum levels. In addition, we describe the causality for the individual cases (Naranjo Probability Scale) and for the entire case series (Bradford Hill criteria). In total, 90 reports on products containing vitamin B 6 included at least one adverse drug reaction in the standardized Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA ® ) query (SMQ; broad) 'peripheral neuropathy'. The amount of vitamin B 6 in the products varied between 1.4 and 100 mg per tablet. The serum vitamin B 6 level was known in 36 cases (88-4338 nmol/l), and the mean serum vitamin B 6 level was 907 nmol/l. However, no statistical correlation between dosage and vitamin B 6 blood levels was found. Causality assessment of the case series of 90 reports to Lareb shows it is plausible for the vitamin B 6 supplements to have caused complaints such as neuropathies. This is especially the case with higher dosages and prolonged use, but dosages < 50 mg/day also cannot be excluded.

Enabling the use of climate model data in the Dutch climate effect community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Som de Cerff, Wim; Plieger, Maarten

2010-05-01

Within the climate effect community the usage of climate model data is emerging. Where mostly climate time series and weather generators were used, there is a shift to incorporate climate model data into climate effect models. The use of climate model data within the climate effect models is difficult, due to missing metadata, resolution and projection issues, data formats and availability of the parameters of interest. Often the climate effect modelers are not aware of available climate model data or are not aware of how they can use it. Together with seven other partners (CERFACS, CNR-IPSL, SMHI, INHGA, CMCC, WUR, MF-CNRM), KNMI is involved in the FP7 IS ENES (http://www.enes.org) project work package 10/JRA5 ‘Bridging Climate Research Data and the Needs of the Impact Community. The aims of this work package are to enhance the use of Climate Research Data and to enhance the interaction with climate effect/impact communities. Phase one is to define use cases together with the Dutch climate effect community, which describe the intended use of climate model data in climate effect models. We defined four use cases: 1) FEWS hydrological Framework (Deltares) 2) METAPHOR, a plants and species dispersion model (Wageningen University) 3) Natuurplanner, an Ecological model suite (Wageningen University) 4) Land use models (Free University/JRC). Also the other partners in JRA5 have defined use cases, which are representative for the climate effect and impact communities in their country. Goal is to find commonalities between all defined use cases. The common functionality will be implemented as e-tools and incorporated in the IS-ENES data portal. Common issues relate to e.g., need for high resolution: downscaling from GCM to local scale (also involves interpolation); parameter selection; finding extremes; averaging methods. At the conference we will describe the FEWS case in more detail: Delft FEWS is an open shell system (in development since 1995) for performing hydrological predictions and the handling of time series data. The most important capabilities of FEWS are importing of meteorological and hydrological data and organizing the workflows of the different models which can be used within FEWS, like the Netherlands Hydrological Instrumentarium (NHI). Besides predictions, the system is currently being used for hydrological climate effects studies. Currently regionally downscaled data are used, but using model data will be the next step. This coupling of climate model data to FEWS will open a wider rage of climate impact and effect research, but it is a difficult task to accomplish. Issues to be dealt with are: regridding, downscaling, format conversion, extraction of required data and addition of descriptive metadata, including quality and uncertainty parameters. Finding an appropriate solution involves several iterations: first, the use case was defined, then we just provided a single data file containing some data of interest provided via FTP, next this data was offered through OGC services. Currently we are working on providing larger datasets and improving on the parameters and metadata. We will present the results (e-tools/data) and experiences gained on implementing the described use cases. Note that we are currently using experimental data, as the official climate model runs are not available yet.

Advances of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of cartilage defects: a systematic review.

PubMed

Gopal, Kaliappan; Amirhamed, Haji Alizadeh; Kamarul, Tunku

2014-06-01

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies represent a new option for treating damaged cartilage. However, the outcomes following its clinical application have seldom been previously compared. The present paper presents the systematic review of current literatures on MSC-based therapy for cartilage repair in clinical applications. Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar online databases were searched using several keywords, which include "cartilage" and "stem cells". Only studies using bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC) to treat cartilage defects clinically were included in this review. The clinical outcomes were compared, and the quality of the tissue repair was analysed where possible. Of the 996 articles, only six (n = 6) clinical studies have described the use of BM-MSC in clinical applications. Two studies were cohort observational trials, three were case series, and one was a case report. In the two comparative trials, BM-MSCs produced superior repair to cartilage treatment without cells and have comparable outcomes to autologous chondrocyte implantation. The case series and case-control studies have demonstrated that use of BM-MSCs resulted in better short- to long-term clinical outcomes with minimal complications. In addition, histological analyses in two studies have resulted in good repair tissue formation at the damaged site, composed mainly of hyaline-like cartilage. Although results of the respective studies are highly indicative that BM-MSC-based therapy is superior, due to the differences in methods and selection criteria used, it was not possible to make direct comparison between the studies. In conclusion, published studies do suggest that BM-MSCs could provide superior cartilage repair. However, due to limited number of reports, more robust studies might be required before a definitive conclusion can be drawn.

Zika virus infection in pregnancy: a systematic review of disease course and complications.

PubMed

Chibueze, Ezinne C; Tirado, Veronika; Lopes, Katharina da Silva; Balogun, Olukunmi O; Takemoto, Yo; Swa, Toshiyuki; Dagvadorj, Amarjargal; Nagata, Chie; Morisaki, Naho; Menendez, Clara; Ota, Erika; Mori, Rintaro; Oladapo, Olufemi T

2017-02-28

To characterize maternal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and complement the evidence base for the WHO interim guidance on pregnancy management in the context of ZIKV infection. We searched the relevant database from inception until March 2016. Two review authors independently screened and assessed full texts of eligible reports and extracted data from relevant studies. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) tool for observational studies and case series/reports, respectively. Among 142 eligible full-text articles, 18 met the inclusion criteria (13 case series/reports and five cohort studies). Common symptoms among pregnant women with suspected/confirmed ZIKV infection were fever, rash, and arthralgia. One case of Guillain-Barré syndrome was reported among ZIKV-infected mothers, no other case of severe maternal morbidity or mortality reported. Complications reported in association with maternal ZIKV infection included a broad range of fetal and newborn neurological and ocular abnormalities; fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, and perinatal death. Microcephaly was the primary neurological complication reported in eight studies, with an incidence of about 1% among newborns of ZIKV infected women in one study. Given the extensive and variable fetal and newborn presentations/complications associated with prenatal ZIKV infection, and the dearth of information provided, knowledge gaps are evident. Further research and comprehensive reporting may provide a better understanding of ZIKV infection in pregnancy and attendant maternal/fetal complications. This knowledge could inform the creation of effective and evidence-based strategies, guidelines and recommendations aimed at the management of maternal ZIKV infection. Adherence to current best practice guidelines for prenatal care among health providers is encouraged, in the context of maternal ZIKV infection.

Observing and Understanding Tropospheric Ozone Changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Logan, Jennifer; Schultz, Martin; Oltmans, Samuel

2010-03-01

Tropospheric Ozone Changes Workshop; Boulder, Colorado, 14-16 October 2009; Prompted by the lack of consensus on, and the need to assess current understanding of, long-term changes in tropospheric ozone, a workshop was held in Colorado to (1) evaluate the consistency of data records; (2) assess robust long-term changes; (3) determine how to combine observations and model studies; and (4) define research and observation needs for the future. At the workshop, long-term ozone records from regionally representative surface and mountain sites, ozonesondes, and aircraft were reviewed by region. In western Europe there are several time series of ˜15-40 years from all platforms. Overall, they show a rise in ozone into the middle to late 1990s and a leveling off, or in some cases declines, in the 2000s, in general agreement with precursor emission changes. However, significant differences in detail in the time series from nearby locations provide less confidence in changes before the late 1990s.

Current Status of Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery in Urologic Surgery

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Since the introduction of laparoscopic surgery, the promise of lower postoperative morbidity and improved cosmesis has been achieved. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) potentially takes this further. Following the first human urological LESS report in 2007, numerous case series have emerged, as well as comparative studies comparing LESS with standard laparoscopy. However, comparative series between conventional laparoscopy and LESS for different procedures suggest a non-inferiority of LESS over standard laparoscopy, but the only objective benefit remains an improved cosmetic outcome. Challenging ergonomics, instrument clashing, lack of true triangulation, and in-line vision are the main concerns with LESS surgery. Various new instruments have been designed, but only experienced laparoscopists and well-selected patients are pivotal for a successful LESS procedure. Robotic-assisted LESS procedures have been performed. The available robotic platform remains bulky, but development of instrumentation and application of robotic technology are expected to define the actual role of these techniques in minimally invasive urologic surgery. PMID:22866213

An Extended IEEE 118-Bus Test System With High Renewable Penetration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pena, Ivonne; Martinez-Anido, Carlo Brancucci; Hodge, Bri-Mathias

This article describes a new publicly available version of the IEEE 118-bus test system, named NREL-118. The database is based on the transmission representation (buses and lines) of the IEEE 118-bus test system, with a reconfigured generation representation using three regions of the US Western Interconnection from the latest Western Electricity Coordination Council (WECC) 2024 Common Case [1]. Time-synchronous hourly load, wind, and solar time series are provided for over one year (8784 hours). The public database presented and described in this manuscript will allow researchers to model a test power system using detailed transmission, generation, load, wind, and solarmore » data. This database includes key additional features that add to the current IEEE 118-bus test model, such as: the inclusion of 10 generation technologies with different heat rate functions, minimum stable levels and ramping rates, GHG emissions rates, regulation and contingency reserves, and hourly time series data for one full year for load, wind and solar generation.« less

The efficacy of medicinal leeches in plastic and reconstructive surgery: a systematic review of 277 reported clinical cases.

PubMed

Whitaker, Iain S; Oboumarzouk, Omar; Rozen, Warren M; Naderi, Naghmeh; Balasubramanian, S P; Azzopardi, Ernest A; Kon, Moshe

2012-03-01

Although there are numerous case reports and small case series describing the experiences of leech therapy in various circumstances, there are relatively few large studies evaluating the effectiveness of leeching to relieve venous congestion. The therapeutic value of leeching is illustrated by these reports but the current literature lacks a cohesive summary of previous experiences. An electronic search of PubMed, the Cochrane library and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination between 1966 and 2009 was used to retrieve human studies published in the English language evaluating outcomes following leech therapy. The "success" and "failure" of leech therapy were the primary outcome measures and secondary outcomes included complications, number of leeches used, pharmacological adjuncts and blood transfusion requirements. In total, out of 461 articles, 394 articles met the exclusion criteria. The 67 included papers reported on 277 cases of leech use with an age range of 2-81 years and a male to female ratio of almost 2:1. The overall reported "success" rate following leech therapy was 77.98% (216/277). In terms of secondary outcome measures, 49.75% of cases (N = 101) required blood transfusions, 79.05% received antibiotics (N = 166) and 54.29% received concomitant anticoagulant therapy. The overall complication rate was 21.8%. In the absence of robust randomized controlled trials on which the evidence may be based, this synthesis of current best evidence guides clinicians during the process of consenting patients and using leeches in their practice. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Review of Differences in Clinical Characteristics between Tardive Syndrome Induced or Improved by Aripiprazole Treatment.

PubMed

Chen, Yen-Wen; Tseng, Ping-Tao

2016-09-15

Tardive syndrome is a troublesome complication secondary to the long-term usage of antipsychotic medication. At present, there is a lack of effective treatment for tardive syndrome. Aripiprazole has been used in the treatment of tardive syndrome, with some reports of a good response. However, other reports have suggested that tardive syndrome can actually be induced by aripiprazole. The aim of current study was to investigate whether aripiprazole is beneficial or harmful for the treatment of tardive syndrome in specific patients. We performed a thorough literature search via PubMed. We included all of the studies discussing the relationship between tardive syndrome and aripiprazole, either with regards to "inducing" or "improving" the disease. None of the included studies were well-designed clinical trials, and all were case reports or case series. A total of 26 articles were included in which aripiprazole induced tardive syndrome, and another 24 in which tardive syndrome was improved by aripiprazole treatment. In the "improved" group, there were significantly more cases of schizophrenia than in the "induced" group (p=0.002). However, there were significantly more cases with other miscellaneous diagnoses in the "induced" group than in the "improved" group (p=0.003). In addition, the cases in the "induced" group had a significantly longer duration of aripiprazole usage than those in the "improved" group (p=0.001). Current study is important for clinicians to pay attention to the risk of tardive syndrome when prescribing aripiprazole in patients with a diagnosis other than a psychiatric illness or in the long-term administration of aripiprazole.

The Reduction of Measles Transmission During School Vacations.

PubMed

Klinkenberg, Don; Hahné, Susan J M; Woudenberg, Tom; Wallinga, Jacco

2018-07-01

Historically, measles incidence has shown clear seasonal patterns driven by the school calendar, but since the start of mass vaccination in developed countries there are only occasional outbreaks, which may have changed the effect of school vacations on transmission. In 2013-2014, a large measles epidemic took place in a low vaccination coverage area in The Netherlands, allowing us to quantify current-day measles transmission and the effect of school vacations. We fitted a dynamic transmission model to notification and hospitalization time series data of the Dutch 2013-2014 measles epidemic. Our primary aim was to estimate the reduction in contact rate during school vacations and the number of cases averted due to the vacation. In addition, because the summer vacations were time-staggered in three regions, we could distinguish within-region from across-region effects of school vacations. We estimated a 53% (95% credible interval: 45%, 60%) reduction in contact rate during school vacations, resulting in 4900 (3400-7100) averted cases (estimated outbreak size: 16,600 [12,600-23,200]). There was a shift from mainly local transmission during school term to mainly cross-regional transmission during vacations. With seroprevalence data, we derived a current-day estimate of 15 to 27 for R0 (number of secondary cases per primary case in a susceptible population). School vacations are associated with greatly reduced overall measles transmission. However, transmission is not eliminated, and increased long-distance travel may even promote spread to other areas. Therefore, we estimate that school closure is unlikely to prevent measles epidemics unless there are still few cases and the community is well vaccinated.

Comparison of time series models for predicting campylobacteriosis risk in New Zealand.

PubMed

Al-Sakkaf, A; Jones, G

2014-05-01

Predicting campylobacteriosis cases is a matter of considerable concern in New Zealand, after the number of the notified cases was the highest among the developed countries in 2006. Thus, there is a need to develop a model or a tool to predict accurately the number of campylobacteriosis cases as the Microbial Risk Assessment Model used to predict the number of campylobacteriosis cases failed to predict accurately the number of actual cases. We explore the appropriateness of classical time series modelling approaches for predicting campylobacteriosis. Finding the most appropriate time series model for New Zealand data has additional practical considerations given a possible structural change, that is, a specific and sudden change in response to the implemented interventions. A univariate methodological approach was used to predict monthly disease cases using New Zealand surveillance data of campylobacteriosis incidence from 1998 to 2009. The data from the years 1998 to 2008 were used to model the time series with the year 2009 held out of the data set for model validation. The best two models were then fitted to the full 1998-2009 data and used to predict for each month of 2010. The Holt-Winters (multiplicative) and ARIMA (additive) intervention models were considered the best models for predicting campylobacteriosis in New Zealand. It was noticed that the prediction by an additive ARIMA with intervention was slightly better than the prediction by a Holt-Winter multiplicative method for the annual total in year 2010, the former predicting only 23 cases less than the actual reported cases. It is confirmed that classical time series techniques such as ARIMA with intervention and Holt-Winters can provide a good prediction performance for campylobacteriosis risk in New Zealand. The results reported by this study are useful to the New Zealand Health and Safety Authority's efforts in addressing the problem of the campylobacteriosis epidemic. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Superconducting matrix fault current limiter with current-driven trigger mechanism

DOEpatents

Yuan; Xing

2008-04-15

A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a "variable impedance" device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.

Imaging ac losses in superconducting films via scanning Hall probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinner, Rafael B.; Moler, Kathryn A.; Feldmann, D. Matthew; Beasley, M. R.

2007-04-01

Various local probes have been applied to understanding current flow through superconducting films, which are often surprisingly inhomogeneous. Here, we show that magnetic imaging allows quantitative reconstruction of both current density J and electric field E resolved in time and space in a film carrying subcritical ac current. Current reconstruction entails inversion of the Biot-Savart law, while electric fields are reconstructed using Faraday’s law. We describe the corresponding numerical procedures, largely adapting existing work to the case of a strip carrying ac current, but including other methods of obtaining the complete electric field from the inductive portion determined by Faraday’s law. We also delineate the physical requirements behind the mathematical transformations. We then apply the procedures to images of a strip of YBa2Cu3O7-δ carrying an ac current at 400Hz . Our scanning Hall probe microscope produces a time series of magnetic images of the strip with 1μm spatial resolution and 25μs time resolution. Combining the reconstructed J and E , we obtain a complete characterization including local critical current density, E-J curves, and power losses. This analysis has a range of applications from fundamental studies of vortex dynamics to practical coated conductor development.

Surrogacy: outcomes for surrogate mothers, children and the resulting families-a systematic review.

PubMed

Söderström-Anttila, Viveca; Wennerholm, Ulla-Britt; Loft, Anne; Pinborg, Anja; Aittomäki, Kristiina; Romundstad, Liv Bente; Bergh, Christina

2016-01-01

Surrogacy is a highly debated method mainly used for treating women with infertility caused by uterine factors. This systematic review summarizes current levels of knowledge of the obstetric, medical and psychological outcomes for the surrogate mothers, the intended parents and children born as a result of surrogacy. PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases up to February 2015 were searched. Cohort studies and case series were included. Original studies published in English and the Scandinavian languages were included. In case of double publications, the latest study was included. Abstracts only and case reports were excluded. Studies with a control group and case series (more than three cases) were included. Cohort studies, but not case series, were assessed for methodological quality, in terms of risk of bias. We examined a variety of main outcomes for the surrogate mothers, children and intended mothers, including obstetric outcome, relationship between surrogate mother and intended couple, surrogate's experiences after relinquishing the child, preterm birth, low birthweight, birth defects, perinatal mortality, child psychological development, parent-child relationship, and disclosure to the child. The search returned 1795 articles of which 55 met the inclusion criteria. The medical outcome for the children was satisfactory and comparable to previous results for children conceived after fresh IVF and oocyte donation. The rate of multiple pregnancies was 2.6-75.0%. Preterm birth rate in singletons varied between 0 and 11.5% and low birthweight occurred in between 0 and 11.1% of cases. At the age of 10 years there were no major psychological differences between children born after surrogacy and children born after other types of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or after natural conception. The obstetric outcomes for the surrogate mothers were mainly reported from case series. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were reported in between 3.2 and 10% of cases and placenta praevia/placental abruption in 4.9%. Cases with hysterectomies have also been reported. Most surrogate mothers scored within the normal range on personality tests. Most psychosocial variables were satisfactory, although difficulties related to handing over the child did occur. The psychological well-being of children whose mother had been a surrogate mother between 5 and 15 years earlier was found to be good. No major differences in psychological state were found between intended mothers, mothers who conceived after other types of ART and mothers whose pregnancies were the result of natural conception. Most studies reporting on surrogacy have serious methodological limitations. According to these studies, most surrogacy arrangements are successfully implemented and most surrogate mothers are well-motivated and have little difficulty separating from the children born as a result of the arrangement. The perinatal outcome of the children is comparable to standard IVF and oocyte donation and there is no evidence of harm to the children born as a result of surrogacy. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution. To date, there are no studies on children born after cross-border surrogacy or growing up with gay fathers. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Unilateral hypertrophy of the labia minora: A case series.

PubMed

Boulos, Scarlett; Rubin, Adam I; Yan, Albert C; McMahon, Patrick J; Perman, Marissa J

2018-05-01

Asymmetric hypertrophy of the labia minora is a variant of normal anatomy that has not been described in the pediatric dermatology literature. Although often asymptomatic, in some cases, it can cause functional, emotional, and psychological problems. We report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of four children who presented with unilateral labium minus hypertrophy. This case series aims to establish awareness of this condition among pediatric dermatologists and provide recommendations regarding management. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modified technique for correction of isolated radial head dislocation without apparent ulnar bowing: a retrospective case study

PubMed Central

Tan, Lei; Li, Yan-Hui; Sun, Da-Hui; Zhu, Dong; Ning, Shu-Yan

2015-01-01

Objective: There is currently no general consensus on the optimal treatment of chronic radial head dislocation. Material and Methods: Considering that the annular ligament is important in maintaining elbow stability, we developed a modified method for annular ligament reconstruction in pediatric cases of radial head dislocation without ulnar bowing. We retrospectively investigated the therapeutic outcomes of this technique in a series of cases. We used our modified technique for the treatment of five patients between January 2006 and January 2012. The average age of the patients at the time of injury was 9 years (range, 6-14 years), and the patients were followed up for 1 to 3 years. Results: The perioperative and follow-up data of the patients were examined. All five surgical procedures were completed uneventfully and had been tolerated well by the patients, with minimal complications. Remarkable improvement was noted in all the cases at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions: Our modified technique for annular ligament reconstruction was effective in achieving good reduction of the radial head dislocation with minimal complications in pediatric cases of isolated radial head dislocation without apparent ulnar bowing. PMID:26770420

The treatment of occipital neuralgia: Review of 111 cases.

PubMed

Finiels, P-J; Batifol, D

2016-10-01

To present the current treatment options for occipital neuralgia based on a retrospective series of 111 patients, who were offered one or more treatment methods, not mutually exclusive. All patients, who previously had their diagnosis confirmed by undergoing an anesthetic nerve block (0.25mL bupivacaine/2mL cortivazol), were treated by radiofrequency denaturation in 78 cases, injection of botulinum toxin in 37 cases and implantation of a nerve stimulation system in 5 cases. Two serious complications (1 death, 1 permanent hemiplegia) were observed after radiofrequency denaturation, the other methods did not result in any significant complications. Radiofrequency denaturation resulted in 89.4% of good and very good results beyond 6 months, as compared to 80% for the botulinum toxin and 80% after nerve stimulation, no other significant difference occurred between the three techniques, with reservations about the reliability of interpretation for the small sample size in the case of nerve stimulation. If radiofrequency denaturation seems to remain the leading treatment for occipital neuralgia, in terms of innocuousness and production costs, botulinum toxin could, in principle, represent the preferred initial treatment for this type of pathology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

27 CFR 19.594 - Numbering of packages and cases in processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... trade name, all series in use at that time shall be continued. However, for a change in proprietorship... spirits and denatured spirits shall, when filled, be consecutively numbered in a separate series by the proprietor commencing with “1” in each series of serial numbers, except that any series of such numbers in...

Towards a study of synoptic-scale variability of the California current system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

A West Coast satellite time series advisory group was established to consider the scientific rationale for the development of complete west coast time series of imagery of sea surface temperature (as derived by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer on the NOAA polar orbiter, and near-surface phytoplankton pigment concentrations (as derived by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner on Nimbus 7). The scientific and data processing requirements for such time series are also considered. It is determined that such time series are essential if a number of scientific questions regarding the synoptic-scale dynamics of the California Current System are to be addressed. These questions concern both biological and physical processes.

Acetazolamide: A New Treatment for Visual Vertigo.

PubMed

Sluch, Ilya M; Elliott, Michael S; Dvorak, Justin; Ding, Kai; Farris, Bradley K

2017-12-01

Visual vertigo is a disorder characterised by symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, disorientation, and general discomfort induced by visual triggers. It is currently treated with vestibular rehabilitation therapy, with no effective pharmacotherapy available for treatment-resistant cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral acetazolamide in improving symptoms of visual vertigo. A comparative case series of adult patients clinically diagnosed with visual vertigo was conducted from January 1992 to May 2015. Patients without a full neurologic or otorhinolaryngologic work-up, negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and an organic cause for their symptoms were excluded. The identified patients were then contacted by phone to complete a voluntary symptom survey. Main outcome was the subjective reported percentage in symptom improvement. Secondary outcomes were subjective improvement by symptom triggers. The participants were retrospectively divided into three groups based on their treatment with acetazolamide: currently on acetazolamide, terminated acetazolamide, or never initiated acetazolamide. Fifty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria and were willing to complete the phone survey (19 currently on acetazolamide, 27 terminated acetazolamide, and 11 never initiated therapy). Overall symptomatic improvement was reported by 18 (94.7%) patients currently on acetazolamide, 18 (66.7 %) who terminated acetazolamide, and 5 (45.5%) who never initiated therapy, varying significantly by group ( p = 0.0061). Greatest improvement was reported in symptoms triggered by being a passenger in a car. These results show that acetazolamide has a positive association with improvement of symptoms of visual vertigo.

Physical connectivity between Pulley Ridge and Dry Tortugas coral reefs under the influence of the Loop Current/Florida Current system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kourafalou, V. H.; Androulidakis, Y. S.; Kang, H.; Smith, R. H.; Valle-Levinson, A.

2018-07-01

The Pulley Ridge and Dry Tortugas coral reefs are among the most pristine, but also fragile, marine ecosystems of the continental United States. Understanding connectivity processes between them and with surrounding shelf and deep areas is fundamental for their management. This study focuses on the physical processes related to the connectivity of these reefs. Unprecedented in situ time series were used at these specific reef locations, together with satellite observations and numerical simulations, to investigate the dynamics controlling local circulation on the Southwestern Florida Shelf (SWFS) under oceanic influence. The approach of the Loop Current and Florida Current (LC/FC) system to the SWFS slope can induce 0.5 to 1 m/s offshore flows impacting the Pulley Ridge and Dry Tortugas reefs. On the other hand, when the LC/FC system retreats from the slope, onshore flows can carry open-sea waters over the coral reefs. Local formation of cyclonic eddies is possible near the Dry Tortugas reefs in the LC approach case and passage of upstream LC Frontal Eddies is possible in the LC retreat case. Offshore currents ∼1 m/s over the SWFS slope were also found during periods of anticyclonic LC Eddy separation. A novel finding is the shedding and northward propagation of mesoscale anticyclonic eddies from the core of the LC along the West Florida Shelf. Eddy shedding may have a broader effect on the dynamics of the shelf around the study reef areas. Long periods of LC/FC domination over these coral reefs (reaching several weeks to months) are characterized by strong (∼1 m/s) along-shelf currents and continuous upwelling processes, which may weaken the slope stratification and bring colder, deeper waters over the shelf-break and toward the shallower shelf region.

Evolution of the Instructional Design in a Series of Online Workshops

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patry, Anne; Brown, Elizabeth Campbell; Rousseau, Rémi; Caron, Jeanette

2015-01-01

This case recounts the story of the design and production of a series of online workshops for French-speaking healthcare professionals in Canada. The project spans a couple of years and, despite encountering some challenges, succeeds in large part because of its strong foundation: the instructional design. This case study features an instructional…

Advantages of the Multiple Case Series Approach to the Study of Cognitive Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Towgood, Karren J.; Meuwese, Julia D. I.; Gilbert, Sam J.; Turner, Martha S.; Burgess, Paul W.

2009-01-01

In the neuropsychological case series approach, tasks are administered that tap different cognitive domains, and differences within rather than across individuals are the basis for theorising; each individual is effectively their own control. This approach is a mainstay of cognitive neuropsychology, and is particularly suited to the study of…

The Understanding Words Reading Intervention: Evidence from a Case Series Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Craig; Conlon, Elizabeth G.; Wright, Michalle

2012-01-01

Using a case-series design with double baseline and 10-week maintenance phase, 5 struggling readers from middle- to high-income families (age range 6.4-7.9 years) completed a 5-times-weekly intervention (96 sessions) administered by a parent. All participants completed the intervention with phonological decoding, text-reading accuracy and reading…

Case Studies: Persecution/Genocide. The Human Rights Series. Volume III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Litynsky, Walter; And Others

A continuation of the study of those factors that lead to persecutions and acts of genocide is presented. As students read the materials included in the case studies, they should be referred to the organizing concepts discussed in "Teaching about the Holocaust and Genocide: Introduction. The Human Rights Series, Volume I." Unit 1 in that…

Brief Report: Retrospective Case Series of Oxcarbazepine for Irritability/Agitation Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Douglas, Jessica F.; Sanders, Kevin B.; Benneyworth, M. Hannah; Smith, Jessica L.; DeJean, Virginia M.; McGrew, Susan G.; Veenstra-VanderWeele, Jeremy

2013-01-01

We examined response to oxcarbazepine prescribed for irritability/agitation symptoms in a retrospective case series of 30 patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The average patient was 12.0 years old (range 5-21) and taking two other psychotropic medications (range 0-4). Fourteen patients (47 %) had a clinical global impression of…

Intake Interview Skills for Rehabilitation Counselors: A Typescript Manual. Advanced Facilitative Case Management Series, Training Package I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubin, Stanford E.; Farley, Roy C.

This guide is the case study manual for the first in a series of instructor-assisted training modules for rehabilitation counselors, supervisors, and graduate students. This typescript manual for the first module focuses on basic intake interviewing skills consisting of: (1) systematic interview programming including attracting, planning and…

Assessing Outcome in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Child Depression: An Illustrative Case Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eckshtain, Dikla; Gaynor, Scott T.

2009-01-01

Recent meta-analytic data suggest a need for ongoing evaluation of treatments for youth depression. The present article calls attention to a number of issues relevant to the empirical evaluation of if and how cognitive behavior therapy for child depression works. A case series of 6 children and a primary caregiver received treatment--individual…

Manualized Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Le Grange, Daniel; Binford, Roslyn; Loeb, Katharine L.

2005-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe a case series of children and adolescents (mean age = 14.5 years, SD = 2.3; range 9-18) with anorexia nervosa who received manualized family-based treatment for their eating disorder. Method: Forty-five patients with anorexia nervosa were compared pre- and post-treatment on weight and menstrual…

Clinical Practice as Natural Laboratory for Psychotherapy Research: A Guide to Case-Based Time-Series Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borckardt, Jeffrey J.; Nash, Michael R.; Murphy, Martin D.; Moore, Mark; Shaw, Darlene; O'Neil, Patrick

2008-01-01

Both researchers and practitioners need to know more about how laboratory treatment protocols translate to real-world practice settings and how clinical innovations can be systematically tested and communicated to a skeptical scientific community. The single-case time-series study is well suited to opening a productive discourse between practice…

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia in a Mexican pediatric hospital.

PubMed

Dorantes-Acosta, Elisa; Medina-Sanson, Aurora; Jaimes-García, Yanet; López-Martínez, Briceida

2013-01-01

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a distinct type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by chromosomal translocations involving the retinoid acid receptor α (RARA) gene on chromosome 17. APL is a relatively rare blood disease that is highly curable with current treatment strategies; however, patient outcomes are heterogeneous in countries with limited resources. Promyelocytic leukemia accounts for 20-25% of all AML cases in Latin American countries. We conducted a study from July 2007 to July 2012 and applied the IC-APL2006 protocol. This case study reports the results from eleven patients with AML M3 (five males and six females). In all cases, the diagnoses were made by aspirating bone marrow and evaluating the t(15:17) or t(11:17) transcript. In eight cases, the molecular biology-based diagnostics for the PLM-RARa transcript were positive, and they were negative in two cases. One patient was positive for the PLZF-RARa transcript. The mean WBC at the time of diagnosis was 10.1 x 10(9)/L, and the mean platelet count was 17.1 x 10(9)/L. The mean percentage of abnormal promyelocytes in the bone marrow aspirates was 68%. Of the eleven patients, four presented with disseminated intravascular coagulation. All of the patients began treatment with transretinoic acid (ATRA) (45 mg/m(2)/day), which led to 4 cases of ATRA syndrome. There were 2 relapses, and the patient died in one case. The remaining ten patients were alive after the median follow-up period of 33.6 months (range from 11 to 60 months). The authors report on a series of cases involving pediatric patients with AML M3 seen at a single institution; the patients were stratified and treated with a standard protocol to obtain satisfactory results. Although the number of patients is limited, the health outcomes are relevant. To our knowledge, this is the first series of pediatric APL patients in Mexico who were treated with the IC-APL2006 protocol.

Drug reformulations and repositioning in the pharmaceutical industry and their impact on market access: regulatory implications

PubMed Central

Murteira, Susana; Millier, Aurélie; Ghezaiel, Zied; Lamure, Michel

2014-01-01

Background Repurposing has become a mainstream strategy in drug development, but it faces multiple challenges, amongst them the increasing and ever changing regulatory framework. This is the second study of a series of three-part publication project with the ultimate goal of understanding the market access rationale and conditions attributed to drug repurposing in the United States and in Europe. The aim of the current study to evaluate the regulatory path associated with each type of repurposing strategy according to the previously proposed nomenclature in the first article of this series. Methods From the cases identified, a selection process retrieved a total of 141 case studies in all countries, harmonized for data availability and common approval in the United States and in Europe. Regulatory information for each original and repurposed drug product was extracted, and several related regulatory attributes were also extracted such as, designation change and filing before or after patent expiry, among others. Descriptive analyses were conducted to determine trends and to investigate potential associations between the different regulatory paths and attributes of interest, for reformulation and repositioning cases separately. Results Within the studied European countries, most of the applications for reformulated products were filed through national applications. In contrast, for repositioned products, the centralized procedure was the most frequent regulatory pathway. Most of the repurposing cases were approved before patent expiry, and those cases have followed more complex regulatory pathways in the United States and in Europe. For new molecular entities filed in the United States, a similar number of cases were developed by serendipity and by a hypothesis-driven approach. However, for the new indication's regulatory pathway in the United States, most of the cases were developed through a hypothesis-driven approach. Conclusion The regulations in the United States and in Europe for drug repositionings and reformulations allowed confirming that repositioning strategies were usually filed under a more complex regulatory process than reformulations. Also, it seems that parameters such as patent expiry and type of repositioning approach or reformulation affect the regulatory pathways chosen for each case. PMID:27226839

Calcification of different designs of silicone intraocular lenses in eyes with asteroid hyalosis.

PubMed

Stringham, Jack; Werner, Liliana; Monson, Bryan; Theodosis, Raymond; Mamalis, Nick

2010-08-01

To describe the association between calcification of older and newer designs of silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) and asteroid hyalosis. Case series with clinicopathologic correlation. Sixteen silicone IOLs explanted because of decreased visual acuity associated with opacifying deposits on the posterior optic surface. All 16 lenses underwent gross and light microscopic analyses. Selected lenses underwent alizarin red staining or scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy for elemental composition. Clinical data in each case were obtained by a questionnaire sent to the explanting surgeons. Clinical data in relation to 111 hydrophilic acrylic lenses explanted because of calcification also were assessed for comparison. Deposit morphologic features and location were evaluated under gross and light microscopy. The calcified nature of the deposits was assessed by histochemical staining and surface analyses. Clinical data obtained included age at IOL implantation, gender, implantation and explantation dates, as well as history of neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser treatment. The presence of asteroid hyalosis in the affected eye was investigated for the explanted silicone and hydrophilic acrylic lenses. The 16 lenses were of 8 designs manufactured from different silicone materials, which were explanted 9.21+/-3.66 years after implantation. Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser applications performed in 12 cases partially removed deposits from the lens, followed by a gradual increase in their density after the procedures. The presence of asteroid hyalosis was confirmed in 13 cases; no notes regarding this condition were found in patient charts in the other 3 cases. The deposits were only on the posterior optic surface of the silicone lenses and were composed of calcium and phosphate. A history of asteroid hyalosis was not found in relation to any of the 111 cases of postoperative calcification of hydrophilic acrylic lenses. Including this current series, there are 22 cases of calcification of silicone lenses involving 8 designs manufactured from different silicone materials described in the literature. The presence of asteroid hyalosis was confirmed in 86.4% of cases. These findings may be added to the list of pros and cons surgeons consider when selecting or recommending an IOL. Copyright 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Testing the effectiveness of family therapeutic assessment: a case study using a time-series design.

PubMed

Smith, Justin D; Wolf, Nicole J; Handler, Leonard; Nash, Michael R

2009-11-01

We describe a family Therapeutic Assessment (TA) case study employing 2 assessors, 2 assessment rooms, and a video link. In the study, we employed a daily measures time-series design with a pretreatment baseline and follow-up period to examine the family TA treatment model. In addition to being an illustrative addition to a number of clinical reports suggesting the efficacy of family TA, this study is the first to apply a case-based time-series design to test whether family TA leads to clinical improvement and also illustrates when that improvement occurs. Results support the trajectory of change proposed by Finn (2007), the TA model's creator, who posits that benefits continue beyond the formal treatment itself.

Effective assessment of egfr mutation status in bronchoalveolar lavage and pleural fluids by next-generation sequencing.

PubMed

Buttitta, Fiamma; Felicioni, Lara; Del Grammastro, Maela; Filice, Giampaolo; Di Lorito, Alessia; Malatesta, Sara; Viola, Patrizia; Centi, Irene; D'Antuono, Tommaso; Zappacosta, Roberta; Rosini, Sandra; Cuccurullo, Franco; Marchetti, Antonio

2013-02-01

The therapeutic choice for patients with lung adenocarcinoma depends on the presence of EGF receptor (EGFR) mutations. In many cases, only cytologic samples are available for molecular diagnosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pleural fluid, which represent a considerable proportion of cytologic specimens, cannot always be used for molecular testing because of low rate of tumor cells. We tested the feasibility of EGFR mutation analysis on BAL and pleural fluid samples by next-generation sequencing (NGS), an innovative and extremely sensitive platform. The study was devised to extend the EGFR test to those patients who could not get it due to the paucity of biologic material. A series of 830 lung cytology specimens was used to select 48 samples (BAL and pleural fluid) from patients with EGFR mutations in resected tumors. These samples included 36 cases with 0.3% to 9% of neoplastic cells (series A) and 12 cases without evidence of tumor (series B). All samples were analyzed by Sanger sequencing and NGS on 454 Roche platform. A mean of 21,130 ± 2,370 sequences per sample were obtained by NGS. In series A, EGFR mutations were detected in 16% of cases by Sanger sequencing and in 81% of cases by NGS. Seventy-seven percent of cases found to be negative by Sanger sequencing showed mutations by NGS. In series B, all samples were negative for EGFR mutation by Sanger sequencing whereas 42% of them were positive by NGS. The very sensitive EGFR-NGS assay may open up to the possibility of specific treatments for patients otherwise doomed to re-biopsies or nontargeted therapies.

Time lag between immigration and tuberculosis rates in immigrants in the Netherlands: a time-series analysis.

PubMed

van Aart, C; Boshuizen, H; Dekkers, A; Korthals Altes, H

2017-05-01

In low-incidence countries, most tuberculosis (TB) cases are foreign-born. We explored the temporal relationship between immigration and TB in first-generation immigrants between 1995 and 2012 to assess whether immigration can be a predictor for TB in immigrants from high-incidence countries. We obtained monthly data on immigrant TB cases and immigration for the three countries of origin most frequently represented among TB cases in the Netherlands: Morocco, Somalia and Turkey. The best-fit seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model to the immigration time-series was used to prewhiten the TB time series. The cross-correlation function (CCF) was then computed on the residual time series to detect time lags between immigration and TB rates. We identified a 17-month lag between Somali immigration and Somali immigrant TB cases, but no time lag for immigrants from Morocco and Turkey. The absence of a lag in the Moroccan and Turkish population may be attributed to the relatively low TB prevalence in the countries of origin and an increased likelihood of reactivation TB in an ageing immigrant population. Understanding the time lag between Somali immigration and TB disease would benefit from a closer epidemiological analysis of cohorts of Somali cases diagnosed within the first years after entry.

Central neuraxial anaesthesia presenting with spinal myoclonus in the perioperative period: a case series

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Introduction Perioperative spinal myoclonus is extremely rare. Many anaesthetists and perioperative practitioners may not diagnose or manage this complication appropriately when it occurs. This case report of unusual acute spinal myoclonus following regional anaesthesia highlights certain aspects of this rare complication that have not previously been published. Case presentations A series of four consecutive patients who developed acute lower-limb myoclonus following spinal or epidural anaesthesia are described. The case series occurred at three different hospitals and involved four anaesthetists over a 3-year period. Two Caucasian men, aged 90-years-old and 67-years-old, manifested unilateral myoclonus. Two Caucasian women, aged 64-years-old and 53-years-old, developed bilateral myoclonus. Myoclonus was self-limiting in one patient, treated with further regional anaesthesia in one patient and treated with intravenous midazolam in two patients. The overall outcome was good in all patients, with no recurrence or sequelae in any of the patients. Conclusion This case series emphasizes that spinal myoclonus following regional anaesthesia is rare, has diverse pathophysiology and can have diverse presentations. The treatment of perioperative spinal myoclonus should be directed at the aetiology. Anaesthetists and perioperative practitioners who are unfamiliar with this rare complication should be reassured that it may be treated successfully with midazolam. PMID:19830168

Efficacy and Safety of Gabapentin in the Treatment of Chronic Cough: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Shi, Guanglin; Shen, Qin; Zhang, Caixin; Ma, Jun; Mohammed, Anaz; Zhao, Huan

2018-06-19

Despite recent clinical guidelines, the optimal therapeutic strategy for the management of refractory chronic cough is still a challenge. The present systematic review was designed to assess the evidence for efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of chronic cough. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, and publications cited in bibliographies was performed. Articles were searched by two reviewers with a priori criteria for study selection. Seven relevant articles were identified, including two randomized controlled trials, one prospective case-series designed with consecutive patients, one retrospective case series of consecutive patients, one retrospective case series with unknown consecutive status, and two case reports comprising six and two patients, respectively. Improvements were detected in cough-specific quality of life (Leicester Cough Questionnaire score) and cough severity (visual analogue scale score) following gabapentin treatment in randomized controlled trials. The results of prospective case-series showed that the rate of overall improvement of cough and sensory neuropathy with gabapentin was 68%. Gabapentin treatment of patients with chronic cough showed superior efficacy and a good safety record compared with placebo or standard medications. Additional randomized and controlled trials are needed. Copyright©2018. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.

Optimal modeling of 1D azimuth correlations in the context of Bayesian inference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Kock, Michiel B.; Eggers, Hans C.; Trainor, Thomas A.

2015-09-01

Analysis and interpretation of spectrum and correlation data from high-energy nuclear collisions is currently controversial because two opposing physics narratives derive contradictory implications from the same data, one narrative claiming collision dynamics is dominated by dijet production and projectile-nucleon fragmentation, the other claiming collision dynamics is dominated by a dense, flowing QCD medium. Opposing interpretations seem to be supported by alternative data models, and current model-comparison schemes are unable to distinguish between them. There is clearly need for a convincing new methodology to break the deadlock. In this study we introduce Bayesian inference (BI) methods applied to angular correlation data as a basis to evaluate competing data models. For simplicity the data considered are projections of two-dimensional (2D) angular correlations onto a 1D azimuth from three centrality classes of 200-GeV Au-Au collisions. We consider several data models typical of current model choices, including Fourier series (FS) and a Gaussian plus various combinations of individual cosine components. We evaluate model performance with BI methods and with power-spectrum analysis. We find that FS-only models are rejected in all cases by Bayesian analysis, which always prefers a Gaussian. A cylindrical quadrupole cos(2 ϕ ) is required in some cases but rejected for 0%-5%-central Au-Au collisions. Given a Gaussian centered at the azimuth origin, "higher harmonics" cos(m ϕ ) for m >2 are rejected. A model consisting of Gaussian +dipole cos(ϕ )+quadrupole cos(2 ϕ ) provides good 1D data descriptions in all cases.

Performance documentation of the engineering model 30-cm diameter thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bechtel, R. T.; Rawlin, V. K.

1976-01-01

The results of extensive testing of two 30-cm ion thrusters which are virtually identical to the 900 series Engineering Model Thruster in an ongoing 15,000-hour life test are presented. Performance data for the nominal fullpower (2650 W) operating point; performance sensitivities to discharge voltage, discharge losses, accelerator voltage, and magnetic baffle current; and several power throttling techniques (maximum Isp, maximum thrust/power ratio, and two cases in between are included). Criteria for throttling are specified in terms of the screen power supply envelope, thruster operating limits, and control stability. In addition, reduced requirements for successful high voltage recycles are presented.

Isolated lower brachial plexus (Klumpke) palsy with compound arm presentation: case report.

PubMed

Buchanan, Edward P; Richardson, Randal; Tse, Raymond

2013-08-01

Klumpke palsy has yet to be clearly documented in the newborn, because previous reports lack any description of the obstetrical history, clinical progression, or outcome. Based on a high incidence of breach presentation in the few clinical series that report Klumpke palsy, hyperabduction with arm overhead during delivery has been the presumed mechanism. We report a child with isolated lower brachial plexus palsy and Horner syndrome who presented at birth with a vertex compound arm presentation. Recognition of this condition and details of the clinical progression and outcome are important, because guidelines for management are currently not available. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The 25 kW resonant dc/dc power converter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robson, R. R.

1983-01-01

The feasibility of processing 25-kW of power with a single, transistorized, series resonant converter stage was demonstrated by the successful design, development, fabrication, and testing of such a device which employs four Westinghouse D7ST transistors in a full-bridge configuration and operates from a 250-to-350 Vdc input bus. The unit has an overall worst-case efficiency of 93.5% at its full rated output of 1000 V and 25 A dc. A solid-state dc input circuit breaker and output-transient-current limiters are included in and integrated into the design. Full circuit details of the converter are presented along with the test data.

The influence of the noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) resection diagnosis on the false-positive thyroid cytology rate relates to quality assurance thresholds and the application of NIFTP criteria.

PubMed

Ohori, N Paul; Wolfe, Jenna; Carty, Sally E; Yip, Linwah; LeBeau, Shane O; Berg, Aaron N; Schoedel, Karen E; Nikiforov, Yuri E; Seethala, Raja R

2017-09-01

Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is a newly defined entity and recent studies have suggested a decrease of a few percentage points in the rate of malignancy (ROM) for the positive-for-malignancy (PFM) cytology category as a result of NIFTP implementation. However, the distinction between a diagnosis of PFM and one of suspicious for malignancy (SFM) may depend on a variety of factors. In the current study, the authors investigated the ROM for the PFM and SFM diagnoses before and after histologic NIFTP reclassification. Cytology cases with PFM and SFM diagnoses and subsequent surgical resection specimens were searched in the files of the study institution from September 2008 to September 2016. The surgical pathology cases of noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma were reexamined to determine whether they qualified for NIFTP. The distinct ROMs for the PFM and SFM cases were calculated accordingly. The authors' search identified 338 cases of PFM and 139 cases of SFM with a resection outcome. Before NIFTP reclassification, the PFM cases had a ROM of 99.4%; after NIFTP reclassification, the ROM was 99.1% (P = .6861). The ROM of the SFM cases decreased from 75.5% to 66.9% with NIFTP reclassification (P = .1402). One case in the PFM group and 6 cases in the SFM group could not be verified due to insufficient sampling. In the current large series, NIFTP reclassification did not appear to significantly alter the high ROM for the PFM diagnosis. The authors attribute this finding to a strict quality assurance policy, an emphasis on key cytologic criteria, and systematic application of the NIFTP criteria to follicular-patterned lesions. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:692-700. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Intradiscal injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide for acute, subacute, and chronic sciatica. Results at 3 months an open-prospectus study of 30 cases and review of the literature.

PubMed

Bertin, P; Rochet, N; Arnaud, M; Treves, R; Desproges Gotteron, R; Charissoux, J L

1990-09-01

The authors report an open study of 30 cases of intradiscal injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide in the treatment of sciatica. The patients were monitored at months 1 and 3. The results were judged to be good in 36.6% of the cases, moderate in 36.6% and poor in 26.7% of the cases. Two adverse effects were reported: 1 case of reversible urinary retention and 1 case of deficiency of the dorsiflexor muscles of the foot. The good results reported in previous series were only found in this study when the indications were restricted to certain favourable prognostic factors: duration of sciatica less than 6 months and CAT-scan appearance of discal hernia. This technique has the advantage of being simple, economical and nonallergic. On the basis of the encouraging results of the initial series, this technique should be considered as an interesting therapeutic alternative in sciatica. Larger series and double-blind studies, however, are necessary to confirm the initial results.

Conservative chiropractic management of urinary incontinence using applied kinesiology: a retrospective case-series report

PubMed Central

Cuthbert, Scott C.; Rosner, Anthony L.

2012-01-01

Objective The purpose of this case series is to describe the chiropractic management of 21 patients with daily stress and occasional total urinary incontinence (UI). Clinical Features Twenty-one case files of patients 13 to 90 years of age with UI from a chiropractic clinic were reviewed. The patients had a 4-month to 49-year history of UI and associated muscle dysfunction and low back and/or pelvic pain. Eighteen wore an incontinence pad throughout the day and night at the time of their appointments because of unpredictable UI. Intervention and Outcome Patients were evaluated for muscle impairments in the lumbar spine, pelvis, and pelvic floor and low back and/or hip pain. Positive manual muscle test results of the pelvis, lumbar spine muscles, and pelvic floor muscles were the most common findings. Lumbosacral dysfunction was found in 13 of the cases with pain provocation tests (applied kinesiology sensorimotor challenge); in 8 cases, this sensorimotor challenge was absent. Chiropractic manipulative therapy and soft tissue treatment addressed the soft tissue and articular dysfunctions. Chiropractic manipulative therapy involved high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation; Cox flexion distraction manipulation; and/or use of a percussion instrument for the treatment of myofascial trigger points. Urinary incontinence symptoms resolved in 10 patients, considerably improved in 7 cases, and slightly improved in 4 cases. Periodic follow-up examinations for the past 6 years, and no less than 2 years, indicate that for each participant in this case-series report, the improvements of UI remained stable. Conclusion The patients reported in this retrospective case series showed improvement in UI symptoms that persisted over time. PMID:22942842

Time Series Analysis of Onchocerciasis Data from Mexico: A Trend towards Elimination

PubMed Central

Pérez-Rodríguez, Miguel A.; Adeleke, Monsuru A.; Orozco-Algarra, María E.; Arrendondo-Jiménez, Juan I.; Guo, Xianwu

2013-01-01

Background In Latin America, there are 13 geographically isolated endemic foci distributed among Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador. The communities of the three endemic foci found within Mexico have been receiving ivermectin treatment since 1989. In this study, we predicted the trend of occurrence of cases in Mexico by applying time series analysis to monthly onchocerciasis data reported by the Mexican Secretariat of Health between 1988 and 2011 using the software R. Results A total of 15,584 cases were reported in Mexico from 1988 to 2011. The data of onchocerciasis cases are mainly from the main endemic foci of Chiapas and Oaxaca. The last case in Oaxaca was reported in 1998, but new cases were reported in the Chiapas foci up to 2011. Time series analysis performed for the foci in Mexico showed a decreasing trend of the disease over time. The best-fitted models with the smallest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) were Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models, which were used to predict the tendency of onchocerciasis cases for two years ahead. According to the ARIMA models predictions, the cases in very low number (below 1) are expected for the disease between 2012 and 2013 in Chiapas, the last endemic region in Mexico. Conclusion The endemic regions of Mexico evolved from high onchocerciasis-endemic states to the interruption of transmission due to the strategies followed by the MSH, based on treatment with ivermectin. The extremely low level of expected cases as predicted by ARIMA models for the next two years suggest that the onchocerciasis is being eliminated in Mexico. To our knowledge, it is the first study utilizing time series for predicting case dynamics of onchocerciasis, which could be used as a benchmark during monitoring and post-treatment surveillance. PMID:23459370

Simulation of Ground Winds Time Series for the NASA Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adelfang, Stanley I.

2008-01-01

Simulation of wind time series based on power spectrum density (PSD) and spectral coherence models for ground wind turbulence is described. The wind models, originally developed for the Shuttle program, are based on wind measurements at the NASA 150-m meteorological tower at Cape Canaveral, FL. The current application is for the design and/or protection of the CLV from wind effects during on-pad exposure during periods from as long as days prior to launch, to seconds or minutes just prior to launch and seconds after launch. The evaluation of vehicle response to wind will influence the design and operation of constraint systems for support of the on-pad vehicle. Longitudinal and lateral wind component time series are simulated at critical vehicle locations. The PSD model for wind turbulence is a function of mean wind speed, elevation and temporal frequency. Integration of the PSD equation over a selected frequency range yields the variance of the time series to be simulated. The square root of the PSD defines a low-pass filter that is applied to adjust the components of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of Gaussian white noise. The first simulated time series near the top of the launch vehicle is the inverse transform of the adjusted FFT. Simulation of the wind component time series at the nearest adjacent location (and all other succeeding next nearest locations) is based on a model for the coherence between winds at two locations as a function of frequency and separation distance, where the adjacent locations are separated vertically and/or horizontally. The coherence function is used to calculate a coherence weighted FFT of the wind at the next nearest location, given the FFT of the simulated time series at the previous location and the essentially incoherent FFT of the wind at the selected location derived a priori from the PSD model. The simulated time series at each adjacent location is the inverse Fourier transform of the coherence weighted FFT. For a selected design case, the equations, the process and the simulated time series at multiple vehicle stations are presented.

Historical and current roles of insects and pathogens in eastern Oregon and Washington forested landscapes.

Treesearch

P.F. Hessburg; R.G. Mitchell; G.M. Filip

1994-01-01

This paper examines by climax conifer series, historical and current roles of many important pathogens and insects of interior Northwest coniferous forests, and their unique responses to changing successional conditions resulting from management. Insects and pathogens of the subalpine fir and mountain hemlock series historically reduced inter-tree competition for site...

Precision Tests of a Quantum Hall Effect Device DC Equivalent Circuit Using Double-Series and Triple-Series Connections

PubMed Central

Jeffery, A.; Elmquist, R. E.; Cage, M. E.

1995-01-01

Precision tests verify the dc equivalent circuit used by Ricketts and Kemeny to describe a quantum Hall effect device in terms of electrical circuit elements. The tests employ the use of cryogenic current comparators and the double-series and triple-series connection techniques of Delahaye. Verification of the dc equivalent circuit in double-series and triple-series connections is a necessary step in developing the ac quantum Hall effect as an intrinsic standard of resistance. PMID:29151768

(Meth)Acrylate Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Nail Salon Workers: A Case Series.

PubMed

DeKoven, Samuel; DeKoven, Joel; Holness, D Linn

Recently, many cases of acrylate-associated allergic contact dermatitis have appeared among nail salon workers. Common acrylate-containing products in nail salons include traditional nail polish, ultraviolet-cured shellac nail polish, ultraviolet-cured gel nails, and press-on acrylic nails. Nail salon technicians seen in the occupational medicine clinic in 2015 and 2016 were identified, and their patch test results and clinical features were summarized. Patch testing was done with the Chemotechnique (Meth)Acrylate nail series, and either the North American Standard series or the North American Contact Dermatitis Group screening series. Six patients were identified, all women, ages 38 to 58. Common presentations included erythematous dermatitis of the dorsa of the hands, palms, and forearms and fissures on the fingertips. Less common sites of eruptions included the periorbital region, cheeks, posterior ears, neck, sacral area, lateral thighs, and dorsa of the feet. All patients reacted to hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and 5 patients reacted to ethyl acrylate. Each patient also reacted to (meth)acrylates that are not found on either standard series, including ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. The authors report 6 cases of allergic contact dermatitis to acrylates in nail technicians seen over the past year, representing a new trend in their clinic. These cases are reflective of a growing trend of nail technicians with allergic contact dermatitis associated with occupational (meth)acrylate exposure. Efforts to improve prevention are needed.

Rare case-series of electrocautery burn following off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

PubMed Central

Sabzi, Feridoun; Niazi, Mojtaba; Ahmadi, Alireza

2014-01-01

Abstract: With an increasing number of off-pump coronary artery surgery procedures in high-risk patients with coagulopathy, including renal failure, hepatic failure and anticoagulant drug-using patients, the frequency of related complications such as repeated exploration for bleeding is also increasing. The associated co-morbidity and repeated use of electrocautery in postoperative bleeding leaves patients susceptible to electrocautery ulcers. In this case series, rare cases of cautery burn with unique causative mechanisms are described. PMID:23669602

miniSEED: The Backbone Data Format for Seismological Time Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahern, T. K.; Benson, R. B.; Trabant, C. M.

2017-12-01

In 1987, the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN), adopted the Standard for the Exchange of Earthquake Data (SEED) format to be used for data archiving and exchange of seismological time series data. Since that time, the format has evolved to accommodate new capabilities and features. For example, a notable change in 1992 allowed the format, which includes both the comprehensive metadata and the time series samples, to be used in two additional forms: a container for metadata only called "dataless SEED", and 2) a stand-alone structure for time series called "miniSEED". While specifically designed for seismological data and related metadata, this format has proven to be a useful format for a wide variety of geophysical time series data. Many FDSN data centers now store temperature, pressure, infrasound, tilt and other time series measurements in this internationally used format. Since April 2016, members of the FDSN have been in discussions to design a next generation miniSEED format to accommodate current and future needs, to further generalize the format, and to address a number of historical problems or limitations. We believe the correct approach is to simplify the header, allow for arbitrary header additions, expand the current identifiers, and allow for anticipated future identifiers which are currently unknown. We also believe the primary goal of the format is for efficient archiving, selection and exchange of time series data. By focusing on these goals we avoid trying to generalize the format too broadly into specialized areas such as efficient, low-latency delivery, or including unbounded non-time series data. Our presentation will provide an overview of this format and highlight its most valuable characteristics for time series data from any geophysical domain or beyond.

CAV3 mutations causing exercise intolerance, myalgia and rhabdomyolysis: Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of caveolinopathies.

PubMed

Scalco, Renata Siciliani; Gardiner, Alice R; Pitceathly, Robert D S; Hilton-Jones, David; Schapira, Anthony H; Turner, Chris; Parton, Matt; Desikan, Mahalekshmi; Barresi, Rita; Marsh, Julie; Manzur, Adnan Y; Childs, Anne-Marie; Feng, Lucy; Murphy, Elaine; Lamont, Phillipa J; Ravenscroft, Gianina; Wallefeld, William; Davis, Mark R; Laing, Nigel G; Holton, Janice L; Fialho, Doreen; Bushby, Kate; Hanna, Michael G; Phadke, Rahul; Jungbluth, Heinz; Houlden, Henry; Quinlivan, Ros

2016-08-01

Rhabdomyolysis is often due to a combination of environmental trigger(s) and genetic predisposition; however, the underlying genetic cause remains elusive in many cases. Mutations in CAV3 lead to various neuromuscular phenotypes with partial overlap, including limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 1C (LGMD1C), rippling muscle disease, distal myopathy and isolated hyperCKemia. Here we present a series of eight patients from seven families presenting with exercise intolerance and rhabdomyolysis caused by mutations in CAV3 diagnosed by next generation sequencing (NGS) (n = 6). Symptoms included myalgia (n = 7), exercise intolerance (n = 7) and episodes of rhabdomyolysis (n = 2). Percussion-induced rapid muscle contractions (PIRCs) were seen in five out of six patients examined. A previously reported heterozygous mutation in CAV3 (p.T78M) and three novel variants (p.V14I, p.F41S, p.F54V) were identified. Caveolin-3 immunolabeling in muscle was normal in 3/4 patients; however, immunoblotting showed more than 50% reduction of caveolin-3 in five patients compared with controls. This case series demonstrates that exercise intolerance, myalgia and rhabdomyolysis may be caused by CAV3 mutations and broadens the phenotypic spectrum of caveolinopathies. In our series, immunoblotting was a more sensitive method to detect reduced caveolin-3 levels than immunohistochemistry in skeletal muscle. Patients presenting with muscle pain, exercise intolerance and rhabdomyolysis should be routinely tested for PIRCs as this may be an important clinical clue for caveolinopathies, even in the absence of other "typical" features. The use of NGS may expand current knowledge concerning inherited diseases, and unexpected/atypical phenotypes may be attributed to well-known human disease genes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

HMGCR-associated myositis: a New Zealand case series and estimate of incidence.

PubMed

Kennedy, N; Keating, P; O'Donnell, J

2016-05-01

Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in New Zealand, with 525 772 or 16.5% of the adult New Zealand population prescribed a statin between June 2013 and July 2014. While generally well-tolerated, statins are known to cause a range of muscle-related side effects, ranging from myalgia to life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. Recently, it has been recognised that in rare instances, statins can induce an immune-mediated necrotising myositis with antibodies against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), the enzymatic target of statins. In 2014, anti-HMGCR antibody testing was introduced to Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL), with this being the only laboratory in New Zealand performing this test during the period of this case series. This article describes an index case and characterises the clinical features of a subsequent 12-month series. From this series, we estimated the yearly incidence of HMGCR-associated myositis at 1.7/million/year or ~1/90 000 New Zealand statin users. © 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

A quantity characterizing variation of observed magnetic twist in solar active regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yu

2018-03-01

An alternative parameter RJz is introduced as the ratio of one of two kinds of opposite-sign current to the total current and is used to investigate the relationship between this quantity and the hemispheric helicity sign rule (HSR) that has been established by a series of previous statistical studies. The classification of current in each hemisphere obeys the following rule: if the product of the current and the corresponding longitudinal field component contributes a consistent sign with respect to the HSR, it is called “HSR-compliant” current, otherwise it is called “HSR-noncompliant” current. Firstly, consistency between the butterfly diagram of RJz and current helicity was obtained in a statistical study. Active regions with RJz smaller than 0.5 tend to obey the HSR whereas those with RJz greater than 0.5 tend to disobey it. The “HSR-compliant” current systems have a 60% probability of realization compared to 40% for “HSR-noncompliant” current systems. Overall, the HSR is violated for active regions in which the “HSR-noncompliant” current is greater than the “HSR-compliant” current. Secondly, the parameter RJz was subsequently used to study the evolution of current systems in the case analyses of flare-productive active regions NOAA AR 11158 and AR 11283. It is found that there is a “RJz -quasi-stationary” phase that is relatively flare quiescent and “RJz -dynamic” phase that is characterized by the occurrence of large flares.

Conducted electrical weapons or stun guns: a review of 46 cases examined in casualty.

PubMed

Becour, Bertrand

2013-06-01

Low-lethality weapons are intended to neutralize a person with maximum security and with minimal risk of injury or death to the user of the weapon, the person arrested, and the witnesses. Under the same circumstances, the use of a firearm is causing mortality of 50%. Marketed since 1974, the Taser X26 is currently staffing services in the French police and gendarmerie. The Taser device has 3 damaging mechanisms: the direct effect of electric current on the tissues, the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy, and the injuries caused by the general muscle contraction and resulting fall. The study aimed to analyze the specificities of the conducted electrical weapon-related injuries treated in a emergency department on a series of 46 cases. The study population was predominantly middle-aged men. The circumstances of use of the Taser X26 were most often related to an arrest. The frequency of consultation after a shot by Taser X26 was stable. The management is essentially an outpatient because of frequent and benign lesions. The impacts of electrical impulse mainly affect the chest and abdomen. This distribution of impact zones is inhomogeneous, depending on the circumstances of use.

High-dose prazosin for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

PubMed Central

Koola, Maju Mathew; Fawcett, Jan A.

2014-01-01

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently symptomatic despite being on medications currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for PTSD. There is evidence to support the notion that prazosin is effective for PTSD nightmares. However, PTSD-related nightmares often do not resolve completely on a low dose of prazosin. The capacity of prazosin to treat daytime symptoms of PTSD which are distressing to patients has not been well studied. Clinicians are reluctant to increase the dose of prazosin due to side effect concerns. To date, the highest reported dose of prazosin used for PTSD is 16 mg daily. We illustrate two case reports using high-dose (up to 30 and 45 mg) prazosin for PTSD with comorbid treatment-resistant mood disorders. We report that high-dose prazosin was safe, tolerable and effective for PTSD in adults. To our knowledge, this is the first case series to highlight the importance of using high-dose prazosin for the treatment of PTSD. In patients with partial response to currently available medications for PTSD, greater utilization of high-dose prazosin for the management of PTSD may lead to better outcomes. PMID:24490030

Atmospheric Pressure and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture: Results From a Time Series Analysis and Case-Crossover Study.

PubMed

Penning de Vries, Bas B L; Kolkert, Joé L P; Meerwaldt, Robbert; Groenwold, Rolf H H

2017-10-01

Associations between atmospheric pressure and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk have been reported, but empirical evidence is inconclusive and largely derived from studies that did not account for possible nonlinearity, seasonality, and confounding by temperature. Associations between atmospheric pressure and AAA rupture risk were investigated using local meteorological data and a case series of 358 patients admitted to hospital for ruptured AAA during the study period, January 2002 to December 2012. Two analyses were performed-a time series analysis and a case-crossover study. Results from the 2 analyses were similar; neither the time series analysis nor the case-crossover study showed a significant association between atmospheric pressure ( P = .627 and P = .625, respectively, for mean daily atmospheric pressure) or atmospheric pressure variation ( P = .464 and P = .816, respectively, for 24-hour change in mean daily atmospheric pressure) and AAA rupture risk. This study failed to support claims that atmospheric pressure causally affects AAA rupture risk. In interpreting our results, one should be aware that the range of atmospheric pressure observed in this study is not representative of the atmospheric pressure to which patients with AAA may be exposed, for example, during air travel or travel to high altitudes in the mountains. Making firm claims regarding these conditions in relation to AAA rupture risk is difficult at best. Furthermore, despite the fact that we used one of the largest case series to date to investigate the effect of atmospheric pressure on AAA rupture risk, it is possible that this study is simply too small to demonstrate a causal link.

Drug induced liver injury with analysis of alternative causes as confounding variables.

PubMed

Teschke, Rolf; Danan, Gaby

2018-04-01

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is rare compared to the worldwide frequent acute or chronic liver diseases. Therefore, patients included in series of suspected DILI are at high risk of not having DILI, whereby alternative causes may confound the DILI diagnosis. The aim of this review is to evaluate published case series of DILI for alternative causes. Relevant studies were identified using a computerized search of the Medline database for publications from 1993 through 30 October 2017. We used the following terms: drug hepatotoxicity, drug induced liver injury, hepatotoxic drugs combined with diagnosis, causality assessment and alternative causes. Alternative causes as variables confounding the DILI diagnosis emerged in 22 published DILI case series, ranging from 4 to 47%. Among 13 335 cases of suspected DILI, alternative causes were found to be more likely in 4555 patients (34.2%), suggesting that the suspected DILI was probably not DILI. Biliary diseases such as biliary obstruction, cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis were among the most missed diagnoses. Alternative causes included hepatitis B, C and E, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, ischemic hepatitis, cardiac hepatopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and alcoholic liver disease. In more than one-third of published global DILI case series, alternative causes as published in these reports confounded the DILI diagnosis. In the future, published DILI case series should include only patients with secured DILI diagnosis, preferentially established by prospective use of scored items provided by robust diagnostic algorithms such as the updated Roussel Uclaf causality assessment method. © 2018 The British Pharmacological Society.

Acute liver injury following Garcinia cambogia weight-loss supplementation: case series and literature review.

PubMed

Crescioli, Giada; Lombardi, Niccolò; Bettiol, Alessandra; Marconi, Ettore; Risaliti, Filippo; Bertoni, Michele; Menniti Ippolito, Francesca; Maggini, Valentina; Gallo, Eugenia; Firenzuoli, Fabio; Vannacci, Alfredo

2018-05-25

Herbal weight-loss supplements are sold as self-medication products, and are often used under the misconception that their natural origin guarantees their safety. Food supplements are not required to provide any benefit/risk profile evaluation before marketing; however, possible risks associated with use of herbal extracts in food supplements are becoming more and more documented in the literature. Some herbs are listed as the leading cause of herb-induced liver injury, with a severe or potentially lethal clinical course, and unpredictable herb-drug interactions. Garcinia cambogia (GC) extract and GC-containing products are some of the most popular dietary supplements currently marketed for weight loss. Here, we present four cases of acute liver failure in women taking GC extract for weight loss, and a literature review of clinical evidences about hepatic toxicity in patients taking dietary supplements containing GC extract.

Reservoirs performances under climate variability: a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longobardi, A.; Mautone, M.; de Luca, C.

2014-09-01

A case study, the Piano della Rocca dam (southern Italy) is discussed here in order to quantify the system performances under climate variability conditions. Different climate scenarios have been stochastically generated according to the tendencies in precipitation and air temperature observed during recent decades for the studied area. Climate variables have then been filtered through an ARMA model to generate, at the monthly scale, time series of reservoir inflow volumes. Controlled release has been computed considering the reservoir is operated following the standard linear operating policy (SLOP) and reservoir performances have been assessed through the calculation of reliability, resilience and vulnerability indices (Hashimoto et al. 1982), comparing current and future scenarios of climate variability. The proposed approach can be suggested as a valuable tool to mitigate the effects of moderate to severe and persistent droughts periods, through the allocation of new water resources or the planning of appropriate operational rules.

Interventional and surgical therapeutic strategies for pulmonary arterial hypertension: Beyond palliative treatments.

PubMed

Sandoval, Julio; Gomez-Arroyo, Jose; Gaspar, Jorge; Pulido-Zamudio, Tomas

2015-10-01

Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatments, pulmonary arterial hypertension remains an incurable disease with an unreasonably high morbidity and mortality. Although specific pharmacotherapies have shifted the survival curves of patients and improved exercise endurance as well as quality of life, it is also true that these pharmacological interventions are not always accessible (particularly in developing countries) and, perhaps most importantly, not all patients respond similarly to these drugs. Furthermore, many patients will continue to deteriorate and will eventually require an additional, non-pharmacological, intervention. In this review we analyze the role of atrial septostomy and Potts anastomosis in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, we summarize the current worldwide clinical experience (case reports and case series), and discuss why these interventional/surgical strategies might have a therapeutic role beyond that of a "bridge" to transplantation. Copyright © 2015 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modeling Sound Propagation Through Non-Axisymmetric Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leib, Stewart J.

2014-01-01

A method for computing the far-field adjoint Green's function of the generalized acoustic analogy equations under a locally parallel mean flow approximation is presented. The method is based on expanding the mean-flow-dependent coefficients in the governing equation and the scalar Green's function in truncated Fourier series in the azimuthal direction and a finite difference approximation in the radial direction in circular cylindrical coordinates. The combined spectral/finite difference method yields a highly banded system of algebraic equations that can be efficiently solved using a standard sparse system solver. The method is applied to test cases, with mean flow specified by analytical functions, corresponding to two noise reduction concepts of current interest: the offset jet and the fluid shield. Sample results for the Green's function are given for these two test cases and recommendations made as to the use of the method as part of a RANS-based jet noise prediction code.

Mesothelioma associated with use of drywall joint compound: a case series and review of literature.

PubMed

Dahlgren, James; Peckham, Trevor

2012-01-01

Drywall joint compound contained asbestos fibers, primarily chrysotile, in the 1950s through the 1970s. Workers in a variety of construction trades and homeowners were exposed to respirable asbestos from the use of these products, including during handling, mixing, sanding, and sweeping. Disturbance of in-place asbesto-containing joint compound continues to be a potential source of exposure during demolition or repair of wallboard. Studies from the 1970s and 1980s report air fiber measurements above current and historic regulatory limits during intended usage, and typical asbestos-related disease in drywall construction workers. We present three cases of mesothelioma in which the only known exposure to asbestos was from joint compound and review the literature on exposure circumstances, dose and fiber types. Physicians treating mesothelioma patients should obtain a history of exposure to these products during work or home remodeling.

Outcome of single-trajectory rigid endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy in the management algorithm of pineal region tumors: a case series and review of the literature.

PubMed

Abbassy, Mahmoud; Aref, Khaled; Farhoud, Ahmed; Hekal, Anwar

2018-05-28

Tumors within the pineal region represent 1.5 to 8.5% of the pediatric brain tumors and 1.2% of all brain tumors. A management algorithm has been proposed in several publications. The algorithm includes endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and biopsy in cases presenting with hydrocephalus. In this series, we are presenting the efficacy of a single-trajectory approach for both ETV and biopsy. Eleven cases were admitted to Alexandria main university hospital from 2013 to 2016 presenting with pineal region tumors and hydrocephalus. Mean age at diagnosis was 11 years (1-27 years). All cases had ETV and biopsy using rigid ventriculoscope through a single trajectory from a burr hole planned on preoperative imaging. Follow-up period was 7-48 months. All 11 cases presented with hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure manifestations. Histopathological diagnosis was successful in 9 out of 11 cases (81.8%). Three cases were germ-cell tumors, two cases were pineoblastomas, two cases were pilocytic astrocytomas, and two cases were grade 2 tectal gliomas. Five of the ETV cases (45.5%) failed and required VPS later on. Other complications of ETV included one case of intraventricular hemorrhage and a case with tumor disseminated to the basal cisterns. In our series, we were able to achieve ETV and biopsy through a single trajectory and a rigid endoscope with results comparable to other studies in the literature.

Spacecraft System Failures and Anomalies Attributed to the Natural Space Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bedingfield, Keith, L.; Leach, Richard D.; Alexander, Margaret B. (Editor)

1996-01-01

The natural space environment is characterized by many complex and subtle phenomena hostile to spacecraft. The effects of these phenomena impact spacecraft design, development, and operations. Space systems become increasingly susceptible to the space environment as use of composite materials and smaller, faster electronics increases. This trend makes an understanding of the natural space environment essential to accomplish overall mission objectives, especially in the current climate of better/cheaper/faster. This primer provides a brief overview of the natural space environment - definition, related programmatic issues, and effects on various spacecraft subsystems. The primary focus, however, is to catalog, through representative case histories, spacecraft failures and anomalies attributed to the natural space environment. This primer is one in a series of NASA Reference Publications currently being developed by the Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch, Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Testing predictions of the quantum landscape multiverse 1: the Starobinsky inflationary potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Valentino, Eleonora; Mersini-Houghton, Laura

2017-03-01

The 2015 Planck data release has placed tight constraints on the allowed class of inflationary models. The current data favors concave downwards inflationary potentials while offering interesting hints on possible deviations from the standard picture of CMB perturbations. We here test the predictions of the theory of the origin of the universe from the landscape multiverse, against the most recent Planck data, for the case of concave downwards inflationary potentials, such as the Starobinsky model of inflation. By considering the quantum entanglement correction of the multiverse, we can place a lower limit on the local `SUSY breaking' scale b > 1.2 × 107 GeV at 95% c.l. from Planck TT+lowTEB. We find that this limit is consistent with the range for b that allows the landscape multiverse to explain a serie of anomalies present in the current data.

Vegetation cover dynamics of the Mongolian semiarid zone according to multi-temporal LANDSAT imagery (the case of Darkhan test range)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zharnikova, M. A.; Alymbaeva, ZH B.; Ayurzhanaev, A. A.; Garmaev, E. ZH

2016-11-01

At present much attention is given to the spatio-temporal dynamics of plant communities of steppes to assess their response to the current climate changes. In this study, a mapping of a selected modeling polygon was carried out on the basis of data decoding and field surveys of vegetation cover in the semi-arid zone. The resulting large-scale map of actual vegetation reflects the current state of the vegetation cover and its horizontal structure. It is a valuable material for monitoring of changes in the chosen area. With multi-temporal satellite Landsat imagery we consider the vegetation cover dynamics of the test range. To analyze the transformation of the environment by the climatic factors, we compared series of NDVI versus the precipitation and of NDVI versus the temperatures. Then we calculated the degree of correlation between them.

Global Endometrial Ablation in the Presence of Essure® Microinserts

PubMed Central

Aldape, Diana; Chudnoff, Scott G; Levie, Mark D

2013-01-01

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) affects 30% of women at some time during their reproductive years and is one of the most common reasons a woman sees a gynecologist. Many women are turning to endometrial ablation to manage their AUB. This article reviews the data relating to the available endometrial ablation techniques performed with hysteroscopic sterilization, and focuses on data from patients who had Essure® (Conceptus, San Carlos, CA) coils placed prior to performance of endometrial ablation. Reviewed specifically are data regarding safety and efficacy of these two procedures when combined. Data submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for the three devices currently approved are reviewed, as well as all published case series. Articles included were selected based on a PubMed search for endometrial ablation (also using the brand names of the different techniques currently available), hysteroscopic sterilization, and Essure. PMID:24358407

Radiation-MHD simulations for the development of a spark discharge channel.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Niederhaus, John Henry; Jorgenson, Roy E.; Warne, Larry K.

The growth of a cylindrical s park discharge channel in water and Lexan is studied using a series of one - dimensional simulations with the finite - element radiation - magnetohydrodynamics code ALEGRA. Computed solutions are analyzed in order to characterize the rate of growth and dynamics of the spark c hannels during the rising - current phase of the drive pulse. The current ramp rate is varied between 0.2 and 3.0 kA/ns, and values of the mechanical coupling coefficient K p are extracted for each case. The simulations predict spark channel expansion veloc ities primarily in the range ofmore » 2000 to 3500 m/s, channel pressures primarily in the range 10 - 40 GPa, and K p values primarily between 1.1 and 1.4. When Lexan is preheated, slightly larger expansion velocities and smaller K p values are predicted , but the o verall behavior is unchanged.« less

N-Acetyl Cysteine in the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Oliver, Georgina; Dean, Olivia; Camfield, David; Blair-West, Scott; Ng, Chee; Berk, Michael; Sarris, Jerome

2015-01-01

Objective Obsessive compulsive and related disorders are a collection of debilitating psychiatric disorders in which the role of glutamate dysfunction in the underpinning neurobiology is becoming well established. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a glutamate modulator with promising therapeutic effect. This paper presents a systematic review of clinical trials and case reports exploring the use of NAC for these disorders. A further objective was to detail the methodology of current clinical trials being conducted in the area. Methods PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library Database were searched for human clinical trials or case reports investigating NAC in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or obsessive compulsive related disorders. Researchers with known involvement in NAC studies were contacted for any unpublished data. Results Four clinical trials and five case reports/series were identified. Study durations were commonly 12-weeks, using 2,400–3,000 mg/day of NAC. Overall, NAC demonstrates activity in reducing the severity of symptoms, with a good tolerability profile and minimal adverse effects. Currently there are three ongoing randomized controlled trials using NAC for OCD (two adults and one pediatric), and one for excoriation. Conclusion Encouraging results have been demonstrated from the few pilot studies that have been conducted. These results are detailed, in addition to a discussion of future potential research. PMID:25912534

Managing Nonoperable Intracranial Bleeding Associated With Apixaban: A Series of 2 Cases.

PubMed

Faust, Andrew C; Tran, Dang M; Lo, Catherine; Lai, Sophia; Sheperd, Lyndsay; Liu, Mary; Denetclaw, Tina

2018-02-01

To report 2 cases of nonoperable intracranial bleeding associated with apixaban managed by 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC3). Case 1 presented with a 1.3-cm left parieto-occipital hemorrhage and a thin subdural hematoma (SDH) on the left tentorium of the brain about 6 hours after his last dose of apixaban. Case 2 presented with a 4-mm left parafalcine SDH with time of most recent apixaban dose unknown. The patients received 24.9 to 25.5 U/kg of PCC3 with none to 1 U fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and demonstrated minimal or no progression in lesions measured by repeat computed tomography (CT) after treatment. One patient was discharged to a skilled nursing facility after 8 days; the other patient was discharged to home after 18 days. Apixaban has no specific antidote. Current bleeding management strategies are based on expert opinion. The risks and benefits for differing strategies are unclear, and little clinical experience for managing apixaban-associated intracranial bleeding has been reported to date. These cases describe the clinical use of PCC3 to manage parieto-occipital and subdural hemorrhage associated with apixaban in events not requiring surgical intervention. In these 2 cases, 25 U/kg PCC3, with none to one unit FFP, ceased apixaban-associated intracranial bleeding without apparent thrombogenic complications.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in Colombia: where do we stand now?

PubMed

Mahecha, María P; Ojeda, Ernesto; Vega, Daniel A; Sarmiento-Monroy, Juan C; Anaya, Juan-Manuel

2017-02-01

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapid-onset muscle weakness disease caused by the immune-mediated damage of the peripheral nervous system. Since there is an increase incidence of GBS cases in Latin America, particularly in Colombia, and most of them are currently preceded by Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, we aimed to assess the available evidence of the disease in Colombia through a systematic literature review. Out of 51 screened abstracts, only 16 corresponded to articles that met inclusion criteria, of which 15 were case reports or case series. A total of 796 cases of GBS were reported in the included articles. The majority of patients were males (66.8 %) and younger than 50 years old (94 %). An infectious disease before the onset of GBS was registered in 31 % of patients, with gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms being the most frequently observed. In those cases in which electrodiagnostic tests were performed, the most common subphenotype was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (17 %). Death was reported in 15 % of patients. Data regarding GBS in Colombia is scant and heterogeneous. Taking into account the burden of the disease and the recent rise of GBS cases associated with ZIKV, a careful patient evaluation and a systematic collection of data are warranted. A form to data gathering is proposed.

Therapeutic Assessment for Preadolescent Boys with Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Replicated Single-Case Time-Series Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Justin D.; Handler, Leonard; Nash, Michael R.

2010-01-01

The Therapeutic Assessment (TA) model is a relatively new treatment approach that fuses assessment and psychotherapy. The study examines the efficacy of this model with preadolescent boys with oppositional defiant disorder and their families. A replicated single-case time-series design with daily measures is used to assess the effects of TA and to…