Three-category System Research Articles

Surgical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy based on the three-category system: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundCesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), a distinct form of ectopic pregnancy, presents challenges in effective management. It is categorized into three subtypes according to the location of placental implantation and the thickness of the myometrium at the uterine scar. Nevertheless, the optimal choice of treatment modalities for these subtypes remains largely unexamined.MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, we investigated the cases of 130 patients diagnosed with CSP who underwent diverse treatment approaches, namely ultrasound-guided dilation and curettage (D&C), hysteroscopic surgery alone or in combination with laparoscopic surgery (HCoLC), or uterine artery embolization (UAE) followed by curettage. Clinical data were meticulously retrieved from medical records and follow-up data, and a comparative analysis of relevant indicators was carried out across the different CSP subtypes.ResultsFrom January 2017 to December 2021, 35 patients underwent D&C, 85 underwent HCoLC, and 10 received UAE as a pretreatment. In the D&C group, the success rates for Type I and Type II CSP were 64.29% (18/28) and 14.28% (1/7), respectively. Significant differences were observed between the success and failure groups in terms of gestational sac size and clinical classification. Compared to Type I CSP, Type II CSP exhibited significantly longer surgical durations and higher hospitalization costs (P < 0.05). Three patients classified as Type III underwent simultaneous hysteroscopic evacuation of cesarean scar pregnancy and laparoscopic repair of the cesarean scar defect, achieving a 100% success rate in their initial treatment. HCoLC showed no significant differences in surgical duration and hospitalization costs but had higher success rates and shorter hospital stays compared to the D&C and UAE groups (P < 0.05). The UAE group had significantly longer surgical durations, higher hospitalization costs, and a higher incidence of postoperative complications (P < 0.05). However, these factors did not result in improved surgical success rates.ConclusionThe classification of CSP and the measurement of gestational sac are of crucial importance in determining the most appropriate surgical intervention strategy. For patients diagnosed with Type I CSP, D&C and hysteroscopy are reliable treatment choices. In cases with larger gestational sacs or Type II CSP, hysteroscopy, either alone or in combination with laparoscopy, is regarded as a reliable and effective treatment approach. In patients with type III CSP, lesion excision with uterine repair is the recommended treatment.

Managing surgical waiting lists through dynamic priority scoring

Prioritising elective surgery patients under the Australian three-category system is inherently subjective due to variability in clinician decision making and the potential for extraneous factors to influence category assignment. As a result, waiting time inequities can exist which may lead to adverse health outcomes and increased morbidity, especially for patients deemed to be low priority. This study investigated the use of a dynamic priority scoring (DPS) system to rank elective surgery patients more equitably, based on a combination of waiting time and clinical factors. Such a system enables patients to progress on the waiting list in a more objective and transparent manner, at a rate relative to their clinical need. Simulation results comparing the two systems indicate that the DPS system has potential to assist in managing waiting lists by standardising waiting times relative to urgency category, in addition to improving waiting time consistency for patients of similar clinical need. In clinical practice, this system is likely to reduce subjectivity, increase transparency, and improve overall efficiency of waiting list management by providing an objective metric to prioritise patients. Such a system is also likely to increase public trust and confidence in the systems used to manage waiting lists.

Shedder status-An analysis over time and assessment of various contributing factors.

The shedder status of a person is an important consideration when evaluating probabilities of DNA transfer during activity-level assessments. As an extension of our previously published study, the shedder statuses of 38 individuals were reassessed 1 year later. The study found that shedder status may change over time for some individuals and was associated with one's gender, number of items touched, and mobile phone usage. In 29% of touch events, no DNA allele was detected and in 99% of touch events, the amount of DNA deposited was <2 ng. The study also found that in 0.6% of touch events, the participant could be excluded as a contributor of the observed DNA profile, with another person being included. Additionally, our investigations suggest that the current three-category system for shedder status classification may require further refinement to better represent the individuals' shedder status in a population.

Discriminative Few Shot Learning of Facial Dynamics in Interview Videos for Autism Trait Classification

Autism is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social and communicative behaviors. The possible connections between autism and facial expression recognition have been studied in the literature recently. However, most works are based on facial images or short videos. Few works aim at Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) videos due to their complexity (e.g., interaction between interviewer and interviewee) and length (e.g., usually last for hours). In this paper, we attempt to fill this gap by developing a novel discriminative few shot learning method to analyze hour-long video data and exploring the fusion of facial dynamics for the trait classification of ASD. Leveraging well-established computer vision tools from spatio-temporal feature extraction and marginal fisher analysis to few-shot learning and scene-level fusion, we have constructed a three-category system to classify an individual into Autism, Autism Spectrum, and Non-Spectrum. For the first time, we have shown that certain interview scenes carry more discriminative information for ASD trait classification than others. Experimental results are reported to demonstrate the potential of the proposed automatic ASD trait classification system (reaching 91.72% accuracy on Caltech ADOS video dataset) and the benefits of few-shot learning and scene-level fusion strategy by extensive ablation studies.

Prediction of Eye Colour in Scandinavians Using the EyeColour 11 (EC11) SNP Set.

Description of a perpetrator’s eye colour can be an important investigative lead in a forensic case with no apparent suspects. Herein, we present 11 SNPs (Eye Colour 11-EC11) that are important for eye colour prediction and eye colour prediction models for a two-category reporting system (blue and brown) and a three-category system (blue, intermediate, and brown). The EC11 SNPs were carefully selected from 44 pigmentary variants in seven genes previously found to be associated with eye colours in 757 Europeans (Danes, Swedes, and Italians). Mathematical models using three different reporting systems: a quantitative system (PIE-score), a two-category system (blue and brown), and a three-category system (blue, intermediate, brown) were used to rank the variants. SNPs with a sufficient mean variable importance (above 0.3%) were selected for EC11. Eye colour prediction models using the EC11 SNPs were developed using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) in an independent data set of 523 Norwegian individuals. Performance of the EC11 models for the two- and three-category system was compared with models based on the IrisPlex SNPs and the most important eye colour locus, rs12913832. We also compared model performances with the IrisPlex online tool (IrisPlex Web). The EC11 eye colour prediction models performed slightly better than the IrisPlex and rs12913832 models in all reporting systems and better than the IrisPlex Web in the three-category system. Three important points to consider prior to the implementation of eye colour prediction in a forensic genetic setting are discussed: (1) the reference population, (2) the SNP set, and (3) the reporting strategy.

Novel prognostic scoring system for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.

We studied 2,528 patients with upfront autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) from 2008-2017 to develop a prognostic model to predict outcomes. High-risk cytogenetics included t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), del13q on karyotype, del17p, +1q or 1pdel. A Cox model identified factors prognostic of progression/relapse in a training subset (n = 1,246). A weighted score using these factors was assigned to a validation cohort (n = 774). Presence of high-risk cytogenetics [hazard ratio, (HR) 1·68 (1·3-2·17)] and pre-AHCT bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) ≥10% [1·68 (1·33-2·12)] were assigned 4 points each; albumin at diagnosis <3·5 g/dl [1·31 (1·07-1·61)] 2; standard risk cytogenetics 1, and no cytogenetics abnormality, BMPCs <10% at AHCT and albumin ≥3·5 g/dl at diagnosis 0 points each. A three-category system with low risk (0-3), intermediate risk (4-8) and high risk (9-10) showed 3-year progression-free survival in the low vs. intermediate vs. high risk of 58% (95% CI: 52-63) vs. 49% (95% CI: 43-56) vs. 31% (95% CI: 12-51), P < 0.001 respectively, and 3-year OS in low vs. intermediate vs. high risk of 88% (95% CI: 84-91) vs. 81% (95% CI: 76-86) vs. 64% (95% CI: 39-80); P < 0·001. Our prognostic scoring system can identify MM patients at risk for early relapse after AHCT.

Domestication in the Theater of the Monstrous

Scholarship on monstrosity has often focused on those beings that produce fear, terror, anxiety, and other forms of unease. However, it is clear from the semantic range of the term “monster” that the category encompasses beings who evoke a wide range of emotions. I suggest that scholars have largely displaced first-person accounts of the monstrous and those accounts which do not rely upon horror or anxiety, and I propose a three-category system to correct this displacement. These categories draw from Derrida’s notion of the domestication of the monster and Žižek’s notion of a “fantasy screen” for the monstrous. These categories encourage further research, both between categories of the monstrous and categories that would not typically fit within this descriptor.

Scientific risk reporting in medical journals can bias expert judgment: Comparing surgeons' risk comprehension across reporting formats.

A recent systematic search of orthopedic surgery literature suggests that scientific risk reporting often deviates from best practices in specific ways (Petrova, Joeris, Sanchez, Salamanca-Fernandez, & Garcia-Retamero, 2018). These deviations could cause dangerous biases in health professionals' risk interpretations and risk communication practices. To investigate potential vulnerabilities, we conducted the first comparative study estimating the effects of common reporting formats on the judgment of experienced orthopedic surgeons during risk evaluations (i.e., interpreting medical research on the risk of suffering postsurgical side effects in patients). Results indicate that highly trained surgeons were often misled and strongly biased by the most commonly used formats identified in the systematic review. In contrast, less common formats following best practice standards (e.g., transparent visual aids) typically reduced or eliminated judgment biases by helping surgeons identify and compare essential information, streamlining deliberation and reducing subjective confusion. Discussion focuses on implications including additional analyses showing that the use of misleading formats in scientific medical literature is frequent, even in recent years, and it is independent of many other factors (e.g., journal impact, study quality). A broad three-category system for characterizing the probable impact of specific risk reporting formats is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Patient Age Is an Independent Risk Factor of Relapse of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma and Improves the Performance of the American Thyroid Association Stratification System.

Background: The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines proposed a three-category system for estimating the risk of recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). This system includes several perioperative features, but not age at diagnosis. However, age has traditionally been recognized as a critical factor in the survival of DTC patients, and the eighth edition of TNM stated that patients older than 55 years were at higher risk of death. In this study, we raised the question of whether age at DTC diagnosis impacts on its risk of recurrence. Specifically, the present study aimed to (i) evaluate the association between age at diagnosis and structural recurrence and (ii) investigate whether age at diagnosis could improve the performance of the ATA system. Methods: During the study period, four institutions selected DTC patients treated with both thyroidectomy and radioiodine and who had follow-up for at least one year. Patients with proven structural evidence of disease during follow-up were identified, and disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated accordingly. Results: The study involved 1603 DTC patients with a median age of 49 years and DFS of 44 months. Disease recurred in 8%. The shortest DFS was found in the oldest patients. The Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated for each decade of age, and there was a significant association with DFS (p = 0.0014). Patients older than 55 years had significantly higher risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.23-2.56]). The Kaplan-Meier curves of DFS in high-, intermediate- and low-risk groups showed a significant association only in the high-risk group (p = 0.0058). Patients older than 55 years had significantly higher risk of relapse over time only in the high-risk group (HR 2.15 [CI 2.01-4.53]). Cox's proportional analysis showed that the age cutoff of 55 years and the ATA system were significant predictors of relapse. Adding age at diagnosis above 55 years to the ATA system identified a subgroup of patients at highest risk for relapse. Conclusions: The age threshold adopted in the eighth edition of TNM staging system for DTC patients' prognosis also identifies cases at higher risk of relapse. Applying age at diagnosis, with a cutoff of 55 years, to the ATA risk stratification system identifies cases at highest risk of relapse.

Perception of blue and brown eye colours for forensic DNA phenotyping

Eye colour is a prominent visible trait in Europeans and is of significance in forensic genetics. Eye colour is most commonly categorised in a three-category system comprising brown, intermediate, and blue eye colours. However, the general perception of eye colour categories has not been explored. Here, we categorised eye colour based on the subjective evaluation of 442 digital close-up photos of eyes assessed by 30 Danish volunteers. The participants were asked to categorise each eye in a three-category (brown, intermediate, blue) and a two-category (brown, blue) system. We found that the two-category system corresponded best with the perception of eye colour. Disagreements in the eye colour categorisation by at least 10% of the participants were observed for 33% of the eye pictures using the three-category system. In comparison, only 10% of the pictures were categorised differently by at least 10% of participants when using the two-category system. The genetic basis for distinction between blue and brown eye colour primarily depends on a single SNP, rs12913832. Likelihood ratios based on the genotype of rs12913832 and the two-category system were: LR = P(rs12913832:GG|brown)/P(rs12913832:GG|blue) = 0.1, LR = P(rs12913832:AA|brown)/P(rs12913832:AA|blue) = 54, and LR = P(rs12913832:GA|brown)/P(rs12913832:GA|blue) = 19. This SNP is included in the Precision ID Ancestry panel used for ancestry inference, which enables genetic ancestry profiles to be accompanied by prediction of blue or brown eye colour.

Level of detail, information and accuracy in building information modelling of existing and heritage buildings

PurposeOver the past decade, national and international organisations concerned with regulating the architecture, engineering, construction and operations industry have been working to create guidelines for the integration of building information modelling (BIM) through the establishment of benchmarks to measure the quality and quantity of information in a given model. Until recently, these benchmarks – and BIM guidelines in general – have been developed for the design and construction of new projects, providing very little guidance for using BIM in the context of conservation and rehabilitation. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new benchmark specific to existing and heritage buildings developed by Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS).Design/methodology/approachTo create the new benchmark, CIMS conducted a critical evaluation of established and emerging BIM guidelines including: Level of Development Specification 2016 (BIMFORUM), architecture, engineering and construction (Can) BIM Protocol (CanBIM), PAS 1102-2: Specification for Information Management for the Capital Delivery Phase of Construction Projects Using BIM (British Standards Institution) and Level of Accuracy Specification Guide (US Institute of Building Documentation).FindingsUsing the authors’ on-going work at the Parliament Hill National Historic Site in Ottawa, Canada, the CIMS created and applied a three-category system that evaluated the level of detail, information and accuracy within the building information model independently.Originality/valueIn this paper, the authors discuss the CIMS’ work to date and propose next steps.

Validation and Refinement of the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin Index in Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: An Effective Tool for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.

We aimed to validate and refine the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin (ACA) index in elderly Chinese patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and propose a more effective method for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Patients ≥65 years of age who had been diagnosed with de novo DLBCL in the Institute of Hematology, Beijing Hospital, were screened for eligibility (n = 99). Based on the ACA index, 39, 31, 26, and 3 patients were categorized into the "excellent," "good," "moderate," and "poor" groups, respectively. The 2-year treatment-related mortality rate was significantly higher and the survival rates poorer in the ACA "moderate to poor" group compared with those of the ACA "good" and "excellent" groups. Multivariable model analysis identified two independent predictors of overall survival: the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale and the ACA index. IADL scores of 6 to 7 and the ACA "good" group were assigned 1 point; IADL scores ≤5 and the ACA "moderate to poor" group were assigned 2 points. Based on these data, we created a three-category system (IADL ACA index [IACA index]): low risk, score 0; intermediate risk, score 1 to 2; and high risk, score 3 to 4. The IACA index could effectively discriminate the response rates, overall survival, and progression-free survival rates in elderly patients with DLBCL. We observed that the ACA index could partially predict the clinical outcomes of elderly DLBCL patients in China. Based on this index, we proposed the IACA index as an effective tool for CGA in DLBCL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most frequent types of malignant lymphoma in elderly people, and identifying patients suitable for curative therapy is critical in the improvement of clinical outcomes. Recently, some authors proposed the Age, Comorbidities, and Albumin (ACA) index. Combining the use of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale and the ACA index, this article describes the IADL ACA index (IACA index), which is an effective tool for comprehensive geriatric assessment in DLBCL.

Illicit Drug Use, Illicit Drug Use Disorders, and Drug Overdose Deaths in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas - United States.

Problem/ConditionDrug overdoses are a leading cause of injury death in the United States, resulting in approximately 52,000 deaths in 2015. Understanding differences in illicit drug use, illicit drug use disorders, and overall drug overdose deaths in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas is important for informing public health programs, interventions, and policies.Reporting PeriodIllicit drug use and drug use disorders during 2003–2014, and drug overdose deaths during 1999–2015.Description of DataThe National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) collects information through face-to-face household interviews about the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among the U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian population aged ≥12 years. Respondents include residents of households and noninstitutional group quarters (e.g., shelters, rooming houses, dormitories, migratory workers’ camps, and halfway houses) and civilians living on military bases. NSDUH variables include sex, age, race/ethnicity, residence (metropolitan/nonmetropolitan), annual household income, self-reported drug use, and drug use disorders.National Vital Statistics System Mortality (NVSS-M) data for U.S. residents include information from death certificates filed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Cases were selected with an underlying cause of death based on the ICD-10 codes for drug overdoses (X40–X44, X60–X64, X85, and Y10–Y14). NVSS-M variables include decedent characteristics (sex, age, and race/ethnicity) and information on intent (unintentional, suicide, homicide, or undetermined), location of death (medical facility, in a home, or other [including nursing homes, hospices, unknown, and other locations]) and county of residence (metropolitan/nonmetropolitan).Metropolitan/nonmetropolitan status is assigned independently in each data system. NSDUH uses a three-category system: Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) of ≥1 million persons; CBSA of <1 million persons; and not a CBSA, which for simplicity were labeled large metropolitan, small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan. Deaths from NVSS-M are categorized by the county of residence of the decedent using CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics 2013 Urban-Rural Classification Scheme, collapsed into two categories (metropolitan and nonmetropolitan).ResultsAlthough both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas experienced significant increases from 2003–2005 to 2012–2014 in self-reported past-month use of illicit drugs, the prevalence was highest for the large metropolitan areas compared with small metropolitan or nonmetropolitan areas throughout the study period. Notably, past-month use of illicit drugs declined over the study period for the youngest respondents (aged 12–17 years). The prevalence of past-year illicit drug use disorders among persons using illicit drugs in the past year varied by metropolitan/nonmetropolitan status and changed over time. Across both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, the prevalence of past-year illicit drug use disorders declined during 2003–2014.In 2015, approximately six times as many drug overdose deaths occurred in metropolitan areas than occurred in nonmetropolitan areas (metropolitan: 45,059; nonmetropolitan: 7,345). Drug overdose death rates (per 100,000 population) for metropolitan areas were higher than in nonmetropolitan areas in 1999 (6.4 versus 4.0), however, the rates converged in 2004, and by 2015, the nonmetropolitan rate (17.0) was slightly higher than the metropolitan rate (16.2).InterpretationDrug use and subsequent overdoses continue to be a critical and complicated public health challenge across metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas. The decline in illicit drug use by youth and the lower prevalence of illicit drug use disorders in rural areas during 2012–2014 are encouraging signs. However, the increasing rate of drug overdose deaths in rural areas, which surpassed rates in urban areas, is cause for concern.Public Health ActionsUnderstanding the differences between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in drug use, drug use disorders, and drug overdose deaths can help public health professionals to identify, monitor, and prioritize responses. Consideration of where persons live and where they die from overdose could enhance specific overdose prevention interventions, such as training on naloxone administration or rescue breathing. Educating prescribers on CDC’s guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain (Dowell D, Haegerich TM, Chou R. CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain—United States, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;66[No. RR-1]) and facilitating better access to medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone could benefit communities with high opioid use disorder rates.

Classification of changes occurring in lung patient during radiotherapy using relative γ analysis and hidden Markov models.

To present a new automated patient classification method based on relative gamma analysis and hidden Markov models (HMM) to identify patients undergoing important anatomical changes during radiation therapy. Daily EPID images of every treatment field were acquired for 52 patients treated for lung cancer. In addition, CBCT were acquired on a regular basis. Gamma analysis was performed relative to the first fraction given that no significant anatomical change was observed on the CBCT of the first fraction compared to the planning CT. Several parameters were extracted from the gamma analysis (e.g., average gamma value, standard deviation, percent above 1). These parameters formed patient-specific time series. Data from the first 24 patients were used as a training set for the HMM. The trained HMM was then applied to the remaining 28 patients and compared to manual clinical evaluation and fixed thresholds. A three-category system was used for patient classification ranging from minor deviations (category 1) to severe deviations (category 3) from the treatment plan. Patient classified using the HMM lead to the same result as the classification made by a human expert 83% of the time. The HMM overestimate the category 10% of the time and underestimate 7% of the time. Both methods never disagree by more than one category. In addition, the information provided by the HMM is richer than the simple threshold-based approach. HMM provides information on the likelihood that a patient will improve or deteriorate as well as the expected time the patient will remain in that state. We showed a method to classify patients during the course of radiotherapy based on relative changes in EPID images and a hidden Markov model. Information obtained through this automated classification can complement the clinical information collected during treatment and help identify patients in need of a plan adaptation.

Adverse events following cervical manipulative therapy: consensus on classification among Dutch medical specialists, manual therapists, and patients

Objectives: To obtain consensus-based agreement on a classification system of adverse events (AE) following cervical spinal manipulation. The classification system should be comprised of clear definitions, include patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives, and have an acceptable number of categories.Methods: Design: A three-round Delphi study. Participants: Thirty Dutch participants (medical specialists, manual therapists, and patients) participated in an online survey. Procedure: Participants inventoried AE and were asked about their preferences for either a three- or a four-category classification system. The identified AE were classified by two analysts following the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Participants were asked to classify the severity for all AE in relation to the time duration.Results: Consensus occurred in a three-category classification system. There was strong consensus for 16 AE in all severities (no, minor, and major AE) and all three time durations [hours, days, weeks]. The 16 AE included anxiety, flushing, skin rash, fainting, dizziness, coma, altered sensation, muscle tenderness, pain, increased pain during movement, radiating pain, dislocation, fracture, transient ischemic attack, stroke, and death. Mild to strong consensus was reached for 13 AE.Discussion: A consensus-based classification system of AE is established which includes patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives and has three categories. The classification comprises a precise description of potential AE in accordance with internationally accepted classifications. After international validation, clinicians and researchers may use this AE classification system to report AE in clinical practice and research.

Number Knowledge and Error Types of Elementary Portuguese Students: Implications for Instruction

In the present study, we examined number knowledge skills of 697 Portuguese elementary students from first to fourth grade. Students completed three number knowledge tasks: 1) translating numbers into words, 2) symbolic magnitude (i.e., number comparison), and 3) decomposing numbers. We evaluated students’ answers by means of error analysis using a three-category coding system adopted from specific error types were computed by grade level. Results showed that there were significant differences among grades and that the prerequisite linguistic error type (i.e., pre linguistic rules or principles of the cardinal number system), particularly in the magnitude tasks, significantly contributed to students’ performance on number knowledge tasks. This is important for instruction because learning difficulties in mathematics have been associated with weaknesses in intermediate number knowledge competencies (e.g., number comparison). Our qualitative data analyses suggest that instruction, intervention, or remediation need to consider systematic instructing students the prelinguistic rules of the number system, specifically the principles related to larger numbers.

A SCORING SYSTEM TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING AND OUTCOMES IN THE ADAPTATION OF RECENTLY CAPTURED WHITE RHINOCEROSES (CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM) TO CAPTIVITY.

Ninety-four subadult and adult white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) were captured between February and October, 2009-11, in Kruger National Park and placed in holding bomas prior to translocation to other locations within South Africa. A simple three-category system was developed based on appetite, fecal consistency/volume, and behavior to assess adaptation to bomas. Individual animal and group daily median scores were used to determine trends and when rhinoceroses had successfully adapted to the boma. Seventeen rhinoceroses did not adapt to boma confinement, and 16 were released (1 mortality). No differences in boma scores were observed between rhinoceroses that adapted and those that did not, until day 8, when the first significant differences were observed (adapted score=13 versus nonadapted score=10). The time to reach a boma score determined as successful adaptation (median 19 d) matched subjective observations, which was approximately 3 wk for most rhinoceroses. Unsuccessful adaptation was indicated by an individual boma score of less than 15, typically during the first 2 wk, or a declining trend in scores within the first 7-14 d. This scoring system can be used for most locations and could also be easily adapted to other areas in which rhinoceroses are held in captivity. This tool also provides important information for assessing welfare in newly captured rhinoceroses.

Predicting Take-All Severity in Second-Year Wheat Using Soil DNA Concentrations of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici Determined with qPCR.

The lack of accurate detection of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici inoculum in soil has hampered efforts to predict the risk of severe take-all for wheat growers. The current study used a molecular method to quantify soil G. graminis var. tritici concentrations in commercial wheat fields in New Zealand and to compare them with the proportion of crops surpassing the thresholds for visible and moderate to severe take-all over three growing seasons. The study evaluated a soil G. graminis var. tritici DNA-based take-all prediction system developed in Australia, with four take-all risk categories. These categories were found to be useful for predicting disease severity in second wheat but did not clearly separate risk between fields in medium- and high-risk categories. A sigmoidal relationship was identified between inoculum concentration and the proportion of fields exceeding the two disease thresholds. A logistic response curve was used to further examine this relationship and evaluate the boundaries between take-all risk categories. G. graminis var. tritici boundaries between medium- and high-risk categories were clustered near or within the upper plateau of the relationship. Alternative G. graminis var. tritici boundaries for a three-category system were identified that provided better separation of take-all risk between categories. This information could improve prediction of the risk of severe take-all.

Book Reviews

# Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering {#article-title-2} (Editors: Wei Wu and Ronaldo I. Borja) Review by: Benjamin R. Black As evidenced by the recent and seemingly more frequent occurrences of damaging earthquakes, the topic of earthquake geotechnical engineering would appear to be taking on a larger role in the efforts to develop earthquake-resistant structures. In this text, Professor Towhata has compiled a rather large volume of research data related to the occurrence, frequency, and distribution of earthquakes, as well as information collected over many years of field investigation, laboratory testing, and analysis of earthquakes. In the preface, Professor Towhata outlines some of the background and basis for his book. Professor Towhata developed the text from a compilation of his notes and handouts from university courses he has taught since 1985. As noted in the preface, one of the major problems with the text is the vast amount of information that it contains. The bulk of the case studies presented in the text and most of the specific examples of procedures and policies relate directly to Japan. This regional focus does not necessarily detract from the topics offered in the book, nor does it minimize the importance of the case studies, but it could limit the text's use in other regions of the world, especially the United States. The text is composed of 27 chapters broken up into three separate parts—Part 1: Knowledge of Soil Mechanics, Part 2: Problems Concerning Shaking of Soft Ground Undergoing Earthquake Loading, and Part 3: Liquefaction—and each chapter is then broken down further into short sections. In order to help guide readers of different backgrounds and levels of understanding Professor Towhata has used a three-category classification system—elementary, advanced, and miscellaneous. I did not find this classification system to be that helpful; however, other readers may. The text also includes both Japanese and English …

Rasch-modeling the Portuguese SOCRATES in a clinical sample.

The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) assesses motivation for treatment in the drug-dependent population. The development of adequate measures of motivation is needed in order to properly understand the role of this construct in rehabilitation. This study probed the psychometric properties of the SOCRATES in the Portuguese population by means of the Rasch Rating Scale Model, which allows the conjoint measurement of items and persons. The participants were 166 substance abusers under treatment for their addiction. Results show that the functioning of the five response categories is not optimal; our re-analysis indicates that a three-category system is the most appropriate one. By using this response category system, both model fit and estimation accuracy are improved. The discussion takes into account other factors such as item format and content in order to make suggestions for the development of better motivation-for-treatment scales.