Psychological impact of colorectal cancer screening.

This article examines the psychological impact of participating in sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer prevention. The 1st study examined psychological well-being at 3 months, in relation to screening outcome, in 4,153 individuals. The 2nd study used longitudinal data to examine changes in psychological functioning from before to after screening in relation both to screening outcome and baseline indicators of vulnerability. There were few psychological differences between those who had received negative results or had polyps detected. These findings were confirmed in the longitudinal study, which also found no evidence for vulnerability to adverse effects among those who were initially most anxious or who perceived their risk of cancer to be higher. The longitudinal data suggested that screening might produce transient positive effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of age, breast density, ethnicity, and estrogen replacement therapy on screening mammographic sensitivity and cancer stage at diagnosis: review of 183,134 screening mammograms in Albuquerque, New Mexico

PURPOSE: To examine how common patient factors affect screening mammographic sensitivity and cancer stage at diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors used a population-based database of 183,134 screening mammograms and a statewide tumor registry to identify 807 breast cancers detected at screening mammography. RESULTS: Sensitivity varied significantly with ethnicity, use of estrogen replacement therapy, mammographic breast density, and age. Sensitivity was 54% (13 of 24) in women younger than 40 years, 77% (121 of 157) in women aged 40-49 years, 78% (224 of 286) in women aged 50-64 years, and 81% (277 of 340) in women older than 64 years. Sensitivity was 68% (162 of 237) for dense breasts and 85% (302 of 356) for nondense breasts and 74% (180 of 244) in estrogen replacement therapy users and 81% (417 of 513) in nonusers. Sensitivity was most markedly reduced with the combination of dense breasts and estrogen replacement therapy use; there was little difference when only one factor was present. Median cancer size and the percentage of early cancers showed little change with any factors. CONCLUSION: Age is a minor determinant of mammographic sensitivity in women aged 40 years or older. Sensitivity is substantially decreased with the combination of higher breast density and estrogen replacement therapy use. There was not a notable shift in cancer outcomes in the groups with lower mammographic sensitivity. These data do not support different screening recommendations in women aged 40-49 years or in estrogen replacement therapy users.     

Analysis of multiphase induction machines with winding faults

The paper shows how the techniques of generalized harmonic analysis may be used to simulate the steady-state behavior of a multiphase cage induction motor with any form of open-circuit or short-circuit fault in the stator winding. The analytical model is verified using a four-pole machine with a 48-slot stator. Each coil of the stator winding of this machine is brought out to a patchboard that enables the stator to be configured for single-phase, two-phase, three-phase, four-phase, six-phase, or 12-phase excitation. Experimental results are compared with computer predictions for a six-phase machine with both open-circuit and short-circuit faults.     

Alpha‐Lipoic Acid Supplementation Reduces mTORC1 Signaling in Skeletal Muscle from High Fat Fed,Obese Zucker Rats

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is hyperactive in liver, adipose and skeletal muscle tissues of obese rodents. Alpha‐lipoic acid (αLA) has been well accepted as a weight‐loss treatment, though there are limited studies on its effect on mTOR signaling in high‐fat fed, obese rodents. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine mTOR signaling and oxidative protein alterations in skeletal muscle of high‐fat fed, obese rats after αLA supplementation. Phosphorylation of the mTOR substrate, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E‐binding protein 1 (4E‐BP1) and eIF4B were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in muscle from αLA supplemented rats. Activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), an mTOR inhibitory kinase, was higher (p < 0.05) in the αLA group. Protein expression of markers of oxidative metabolism, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX IV), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR), and PPAR gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after αLA supplementation compared to non‐supplemented group. Our findings show that αLA supplementation limits the negative ramifications of consuming a high fat diet on skeletal muscle markers of oxidative metabolism and mTORC1 signaling.     

The variation of cage motor losses with skew

A study on the effect of skew on the losses in three different induction motors is presented in this paper. It is shown that skew alters the balance of losses in the motor and that, in larger machines, this can result in an increase in the total losses in the motor.     

The effects of the thaumasite form of sulfate attack on skin friction at the concrete/clay interface

The paper presents the effects of thaumasite sulfate attack (TSA) on skin friction at the concrete/clay interface. Using clay-restrained conditions thaumasite formed attached to the concrete culminating in thaumasite layers of up to 24 mm depending on interface pH and applied pressure. Thaumasite at the interface did not decrease the shear strength including skin friction and cohesion. Therefore it was concluded that TSA occurring at piles or foundation bases does not affect the stability of the superstructure regarding loss of friction and settlements.     

An adaptive IIR filter algorithm based on observers

The output error approach to adaptive IIR filtering is considered from a state observation perspective, and a new algorithm, termed the observer-based regressor filtering (OBRF) algorithm, is developed. The convergence requirements of the OBRF are established as a persistent excitation condition on the regressor and a strict positive reality (SPR) condition on an operator arising in the algorithm. Speed of convergence experiments show that the OBRF algorithm converges more quickly than the related output error algorithm for the hyperstable adaptive recursive filter (HARF), although the OBRF algorithm converges as quickly as typical equation error schemes. The OBRF is shown to compare favorably with equation error with respect to parameter bias in the presence of output measurement noise. Thus, OBRF is a compromise between the equation error and output error approaches. In addition, algorithm parameter selection to satisfy the SPR condition for OBRF is explored and compared with the related conditions for HARF