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Objectives: This study surveyed the views of breast screening readers in the UK on how to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into breast screening mammography. Methods: An online questionnaire was circulated to the UK breast screening readers. Questions included their degree of approval of four AI implementation scenarios: AI as triage, AI as a companion reader/reader aid, AI replacing one of the initial two readers, and AI replacing all readers. They were also asked to rank five AI representation options (discrete opinion; mammographic scoring; percentage score with 100% indicating malignancy; region of suspicion; heat map) and indicate which evidence they considered necessary to support the implementation of AI into their practice among six options offered. Results: The survey had 87 nationally accredited respondents across the UK; 73 completed the survey in full. Respondents approved of AI replacing one of the initial two human readers and objected to AI replacing all human readers. Participants were divided on AI as triage and AI as a reader companion. A region of suspicion superimposed on the image was the preferred AI representation option. Most screen readers considered national guidelines (77%), studies using a nationally representative dataset (65%) and independent prospective studies (60%) as essential evidence. Participants' free-text comments highlighted concerns and the need for additional validation. Conclusions: Overall, screen readers supported the introduction of AI as a partial replacement of human readers and preferred a graphical indication of the suspected tumour area, with further evidence and national guidelines considered crucial prior to implementation. Key points: Surveyed UK breast screening readers supported the introduction of AI. Respondents approved of the replacement of one of the two initial readers. Participants objected to the replacement of all human readers. Respondents preferred the AI to graphically indicate the suspected tumour area. Screen readers preferred forms of evidence based on national guidelines, national representative datasets, and independent prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hydrogen Unconfined Combustion Test Apparatus (HUCTA) was designed and built to study the blast waves produced from unconfined hydrogen/oxygen deflagrations. The HUCTA uses evacuated balloons of up to 2 m in diameter which are filled with a combustible combination of gaseous hydrogen–oxygen mixtures. The well-mixed gases are ignited with an electric spark at the center of the sphere, resulting in a gaseous deflagration propagating through the mixture and a shock wave produced in the air. The combinations of balloon size and fuel/oxidizer ratios allow for a wide range of blast waves to be produced. Overpressures are measured with standard blast gauges at a variety of locations, demonstrating a high degree of radial symmetry and repeatability in the shock wave pressures, as well as the ability to produce non-ideal shock wave pressure profiles under some conditions. The range of peak pressures and explosive impulses obtainable is described as a function of mixture ratio. High-speed retroreflective shadowgraphy is used to visualize shock wave propagation and coalescence in individual frames and digital streak images. Since HUCTA is elevated approximately 2 m off the ground, there is a significant area around the apparatus where non-noisy, un-reflected, symmetric blast waves propagate; this area is ideal for testing items whose response to blast waves is desired for safety considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive intervention studies have reported improvements in various domains of cognition as well as a transfer effect of improved function post training. Despite the availability of web based cognitive training programs, most intervention studies have been performed under the supervision of researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to first, examine the feasibility of a six week home based computerized cognitive training (CCT) program in a group of community dwelling older adults and, second, to determine if a CCT program which focused on set shifting, attention, and visual spatial ability impacted fall risk measure performance. Design: This pilot study used a pretest/posttest experimental design with randomization by testing site to an intervention or control group. Participants: Community dwelling older adults (mean age = 74.6 years) participated in either the control (N=25) or the intervention group (N=19). Intervention: Intervention group subjects participated in 6 weeks of home based CCT 3x/week for an average of 23 minutes/session, using an online CCT program. Measurements: Comparisons of mean scores on three measures of physical function (usual gait speed, five times sit to stand, timed up and go) were completed at baseline and week 7. Results: Following the completion of an average of 18 sessions of CCT at home with good adherence (86%) and retention (92%) rates, a statistically significant difference in gait speed was found between groups with an average improvement of 0.14m/s in the intervention group. Conclusion: A home based CCT program is a feasible approach to targeting cognitive impairments known to influence fall risk and changes in gait in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the identification of a novel pheromone structure from males of the cerambycid beetle Tylonotus bimaculatus Haldeman (Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini), a species native to eastern North America. Volatiles collected from adult males contained (2 S,4 E)-2-hydroxyoct-4-en-3-one (71 %), (3 R,4 E)-3-hydroxyoct-4-en-2-one (15 %), ( E)-4-octen-2,3-dione (13 %), and 2,3-octanedione (1.5 %). Four independent field bioassays with synthetic compounds confirmed that adults of both sexes were attracted by the racemate of the major component, ( E)-2-hydroxyoct-4-en-3-one. No other cerambycid species were attracted in significant numbers. Attraction of both sexes is consistent with the male-produced pheromones of many other species in the subfamily Cerambycinae, but T. bimaculatus is unusual in having a pheromone chemistry that is so far unique among species in that subfamily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:This study is a systematic review.Objectives:Brain death (BD) is a clinical diagnosis, made by documenting absent brainstem functions, including unresponsive coma and apnea. Cervical spinal cord dysfunction would confound clinical diagnosis of BD. Our objective was to determine whether cervical spinal cord dysfunction is common in BD.Methods:A case of BD showing cervical cord compression on magnetic resonance imaging prompted a literature review from 1965 to 2008 for any reports of cervical spinal cord injury associated with brain herniation or BD.Results:A total of 12 cases of brain herniation in meningitis occurred shortly after a lumbar puncture with acute respiratory arrest and quadriplegia. In total, nine cases of acute brain herniation from various non-meningitis causes resulted in acute quadriplegia. The cases suggest that direct compression of the cervical spinal cord, or the anterior spinal arteries during cerebellar tonsillar herniation cause ischemic injury to the cord. No case series of brain herniation specifically mentioned spinal cord injury, but many survivors had severe disability including spastic limbs. Only two pathological series of BD examined the spinal cord; 56–100% of cases had upper cervical spinal cord damage, suggesting infarction from direct compression of the cord or its arterial blood supply.Conclusions:Upper cervical spinal cord injury may be common after brain herniation. Cervical spinal cord injury must either be ruled out before clinical testing for BD, or an ancillary test to document lack of brainstem blood flow is required in all cases of suspected BD. BD may not be a purely clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discriminant analysis (DA) models were developed and applied to examine the use of prey-stage preference (Tetranychus urticae Koch egg versus larval prey) in the classification of phytoseiid mites into life-style types. Prey-stage preferences and developmental times when preying on T. urticae, and relative ovipositional rates on six food categories were determined for four phytoseiid species occurring on apple in central and eastern Oregon, USA: Galendromus flumenis (Chant), Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt), Metaseiulus citri (Garman and McGregor) and Typhlodromus caudiglans Schuster. In terms of all three aspects studied, the phytoseiid species showed a consistent polarization of G. occidentalis ≤ G. flumenis ≤ T. caudiglans ≤ M. citri. Specifically, G. occidentalis ('The Dalles' strain) had a significant preference for eggs, G. flumenis had no preference, and T. caudiglans and M. citri had significant preferences for larvae; G. occidentalis had the shortest developmental time, followed by G. flumenis and T. caudiglans, while M. citri had the longest developmental time; and diet breadth was most narrow for G. occidentalis and progressively broader from G. flumenis, T. caudiglans through M. citri, which was able to sustain oviposition on the broadest range of prey and pollens. Species were classified somewhat differently depending on which traits were considered in a given DA. Prey-stage preference was not included as an indicator in the parsimonious DA model when all species and all traits were considered, but in general this trait performed well as an indicator alone (single-trait DA) and somewhat improved the classifications of multitrait discriminant analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several traits are useful for identifying life-style types of predaceous phytoseiid mites when either 2 (diet generalist-specialist) or 4 (specialist I and II-generalist III and IV) type models [McMurtry J.A. and Croft B.A. 1997. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 42: 291-321] are considered. Traits useful for both models are developmental time and oviposition rates when feeding on several food types. Discriminating for the 2-types model are dorsal shield setae lengths, and intra- and inter-specific predation. Another trait useful for both models is feeding preferences of adult female phytoseiids on eggs versus larvae of Tetranychus urticae Koch. In this paper, we review established and other traits that need more study such as mouthpart types, other morphological features, spider mite webbing effects, distributions relative to prey-foods, plant-host relationships including domatia and sap feeding, density-dependent responses to prey and predator-prey ratios required for biological control. Uses of life-style data in biological control decision-making are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the behavior of jerking in larvae among seven species of phytoseiid mites. Factors affecting the behavior in the species; Species which have a higher tendency of jerking.