cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Amyloid or Sarcoid Cardiomyopathy: A 10 Year Nationwide Analysis

Background Ischemic Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of heart failure in the United States. Restrictive cardiomyopathy etiologies like sarcoid and amyloid are less common causes of heart failure and in hospital outcome descriptions are scant across the literature. Purpose describe the outcomes of acute heart failure exacerbations in patients with sarcoid or amyloid cardiomiopathy Methods A retrospective analysis using the 2005-2014 United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. Patients above 18 years with primary diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF), systolic heart failure (SHF) and diastolic heart failure (DHF) were included. Secondary diagnosis of Sarcoid Cardiomyopathy (SCM) or Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ACM) was generated. End stage renal disease patients were excluded. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, cost of stay, shock, utilization of mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (AKID), use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), cardiac arrest, and short term mechanical circulatory support. Diagnoses were identified using ICD-9- CM codes . Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, race, gender, hospital location was done using STATA 15. Results 2,821,201 patients with primary diagnosis of AHF were identified. In AHF cohort 2,893 patients had a history of ACM, corresponding to 42% patients with SHF and 58% patients with DHF. The SCM cohort was composed of 1,905 with AHF of which 83% had SHF and 17% had DHF. Mean age in ACM with AHF was 73 years. 63% were males. In the SCM, 52 % males with mean age of 53 years. ACM patients had increased mortality in the AHF(OR 2.5 p Conclusions In patients with AHF, mortality is increased in those with ACM compared to those without. SCM is associated with increased mechanical support use and development of shock
Trajectories of antenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Background Antenatal depression affects approximately 1 of 7 pregnancies, with an increasing prevalence across gestation. Data regarding the associations between antenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes yielded conflicting results. However, previous studies evaluated the cross-sectional prevalence of depression at various time points and not the depressive symptom trajectory across gestation. Objective This study aimed to identify whether the trajectory of antenatal depressive symptoms is associated with different risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study Design This was a secondary analysis of a large multisite prospective cohort of nulliparous women across the United States. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was administered at 2 study visits: between 6 and 14 weeks’ gestation and between 22 and 30 weeks’ gestation. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale score trajectories were categorized as improved, stable, or worsened based on whether the scores changed by at least 1 standard deviation between the 2 visits. The frequencies of adverse pregnancy outcomes (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abruption, cesarean delivery, preterm birth [ie, Results Of the 8784 women who completed the 2 antenatal Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale screens, 1141 (13.0%) had improved, 6663 (75.9%) had stable, and 980 (11.2%) had worsened depressive symptom trajectories across gestation. Compared with women with improved or stable depressive symptoms, those with worsened symptoms were more likely to experience preterm birth (8.3% vs 7.4% vs 9.9%, respectively; P=.018). After controlling for potential confounders, worsened depressive symptoms remained associated with more frequent preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.57). Conclusion Women with depression symptoms that worsen as pregnancy progresses have increased odds of preterm birth. Future research is warranted to optimize and implement effective prevention, screening, and treatment protocols for antenatal depressive symptoms as a strategy to prevent preterm birth.
Quality of end-of-life cancer care at minority-serving US cancer centers: A retrospective study of Medicare claims data.

6507Background: Higher EOL treatment intensity is burdensome and has been defined as low-quality care. We explored cancer centers’ EOL quality outcomes among minority and white patients and evaluat...
Neonatal myocardial infarction: A retrospective study and literature review

Abstract Neonatal myocardial infarction (MI), in the absence of congenital heart disease or cardiac surgery involving the coronaries, is a rare condition with associated high mortality. A cluster of neonatal myocardial infarction cases was observed, leading to an investigation of causes and contributors. We performed a single-center review of neonates >37 weeks between 2011 and 2017 to identify neonates with myocardial infarction. Neonates with prior cardiac surgery, congenital anomalies of the coronaries, or sepsis were excluded. Diagnosis of MI was based on ECG changes, elevated troponin, decreased function or regional wall abnormality, and abnormal coronary angiography. There were 4,583 admissions to the NICU without interval changes in referrals or the incidence of neonatal asphyxia. There were six cases of neonatal myocardial infarction. Of 2,155 admissions in the first three years, there were no cases. The incidence in the next three years was 1.3/1,000, 2.7/1,000, and 3.3/1,000. There was a significant difference (0.03, Fishers exact) between the first and second halves of the study period. All cases underwent catheterization, revealing coronary artery thrombosis requiring thrombolytic therapy. Additionally, obstetric providers were surveyed to determine changes in umbilical cord handling practices. Of 48 obstetric providers, 57% changed their practice of cord clamping since 2014: 13% reported cord milking then clamping; 47% delayed cord clamping for a few minutes; 28% delayed cord clamping until the cord stopped pulsating; and 13% immediate clamping. Only 40% reported routine documentation of cord clamping. In conclusion, there was an increased incidence of neonatal myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombosis. Early diagnosis and initiation of therapy of neonates with myocardial infarction can improve outcomes. A larger study cohort could lead to better understanding of risk factors and outcomes of myocardial infraction in neonates.
Nuclear Scintigraphy (Bone Scan) for the Horse

The veterinarians of the University of Florida Equine Lameness & Imaging Service specialize in the treatment and rehabilitation of poor performance in sport horses. This series of one-page full color fact sheets describes various diagnostic and imaging services available for diagnosing and treating lameness issues in horses. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_equine_lameness_and_imaging_service
Drivers of post-disaster relocations: The case of Moore and Hattiesburg tornados

Abstract Post-disaster relocation may occur in the aftermath of major disasters, either unplanned or through buyout programs. There is an extensive research on recovery of affected population. However, research on the factors which cause the households to decide in favor of relocation or reconstruction is still in its infancy. This paper suggests a framework for classification and prediction of households' recovery decisions based on their attributes. To achieve this objective, data was collected through a telephone survey of residents affected by the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma and Hattiesburg, Mississippi tornados. The analysis was implemented using conditional inference trees and revealed the significance of level of damage, pre- and post-disaster homeownership, and housing type on the households' relocation decisions. The model can help with devising data-driven recovery policies tailored to a community's characteristics.
Chapter 15 – Transesophageal Echocardiography

Advances in monitoring and specifically in echocardiography have enabled anesthesiologists to use a gold standard technology across various clinical scenarios encountered in neurosurgical anesthesia. Transesophageal echocardiography in the hands of anesthesiologists enhances patient monitoring and aims to reduce intraoperative adverse cardiac events, such as venous air embolism and intraoperative cardiac dysfunction in high risk patients.
Humanized GPRC6A KGKY is a gain-of-function polymorphism in mice.

GPRC6A is proposed to regulate energy metabolism in mice, but in humans a KGKY polymorphism in the third intracellular loop (ICL3) is proposed to result in intracellular retention and loss-of-function. To test physiological importance of this human polymorphism in vivo, we performed targeted genomic humanization of mice by using CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9) system to replace the RKLP sequence in the ICL3 of the GPRC6A mouse gene with the uniquely human KGKY sequence to create Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice. Knock-in of a human KGKY sequence resulted in a reduction in basal blood glucose levels and increased circulating serum insulin and FGF-21 concentrations. Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice demonstrated improved glucose tolerance, despite impaired insulin sensitivity and enhanced pyruvate-mediated gluconeogenesis. Liver transcriptome analysis of Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice identified alterations in glucose, glycogen and fat metabolism pathways. Thus, the uniquely human GPRC6A-KGKY variant appears to be a gain-of-function polymorphism that positively regulates energy metabolism in mice.
Management of obstructive sleep apnea in children with achondroplasia: Outcomes of surgical interventions

Abstract Introduction Children with achondroplasia are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), however little is known regarding surgical interventions and outcomes for this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of OSA in children with achondroplasia and report outcomes of surgical interventions using polysomnography (PSG) parameters. Methods Retrospective chart review of children with achondroplasia with documented OSA from 2002 to 2018 that had pre- and post-operative PSG results. Additional data extracted included age, gender, and type of surgical interventions. The primary outcome was change in postoperative obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI). Results Twenty-two children with achondroplasia were identified that underwent formal PSG before and after confirmed OSA. The median age was 12 months (range 4 days–15.3 years, IQR 2 years) at time of initial PSG evaluation. The majority (72.7%) of patients had severe OSA with a median preoperative OAHI of 14.25 (IQR 9.4). The most common surgical intervention was adenotonsillectomy (n = 15). Multilevel surgical intervention was required in 9 (41.0%) patients. Post-operatively, 16 (72.7%) children experienced a reduction in OAHI, of which four (18.2%) had complete OSA resolution. OAHI scores increased in six (27.3%) children. Patients with the most severe OSA at baseline had greater improvements in post-operative OAHI (P Conclusions Treatment of OSA in children with achondroplasia remains challenging. Although reduction of OAHI is possible, caregivers should be counseled about the likelihood of persistent OSA and the potential for multilevel airway surgery.
sEMG: A Window Into Muscle Work, but Not Easy to Teach and Delicate to Practice—A Perspective on the Difficult Path to a Clinical Tool

Surface electromyography (sEMG) may not be a simple 1,2,3 (muscle, electrodes, signal)-step operation. Lists of sEMG characteristics and applications have been extensively published. All point out the noise mimicking perniciousness of the sEMG signal. This has resulted in ever more complex manipulations to interpret muscle functioning and sometimes gobbledygook. Hence, as for all delicate but powerful tools, sEMG presents challenges in terms of precision, knowledge, and training. The theory is usually reviewed in courses concerning sensorimotor systems, motor control, biomechanics, ergonomics, etc., but application requires creativity, training, and practice. Software has been developed to navigate the essence extraction (step 4); however, each software requires some parametrization, which returns back to the theory of sEMG and signal processing. Students majoring in Ergonomics or Biomedical Engineering briefly learn about the sEMG method but may not necessarily receive extensive training in the laboratory. Ergonomics applications range from a simple estimation of the muscle load to understanding the sense of effort and sensorimotor asymmetries. In other words, it requires time and the basics of multiple disciplines to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to perform these studies. As an example, sEMG measurements of left/right limb asymmetries in muscle responses to vibration-induced activity of proprioceptive receptors, which vary with gender, provide insight into the functioning of sensorimotor systems. Beyond its potential clinical benefits, this example also shows that lack of testing time and lack of practitioner's sufficient knowledge are barriers to the utilization of sEMG as a clinical tool.
An epistemological challenge to ontological bruteness

It is often assumed that the first stage of many classical arguments for theism depends upon some version of the Principal of Sufficient Reason (PSR) being true. Unfortunately for classical theists, PSR is a controversial thesis that has come under rather severe criticism in the contemporary literature. In this article, I grant for the sake of argument that every version of PSR is false. Thus, I concede with the critics of PSR, that it is possible that there is, at least, one fact that is ontologically brute. I then proffer an epistemological challenge to ontological bruteness. Specifically, I argue that whenever a knowledge seeker, S, perceives some unexplained fact, F, it is never reasonable for S to believe F is ontologically brute. I conclude that, even if PSR is false, it is more reasonable to believe that the key premise in the first stage of classical arguments for theism is true.
The Begging Game: On the Power of the Ask in Monetary Giving

The literature on monetary giving has largely focused on the psychological mechanisms that underlie prosocial giving behaviors. Yet in practice giving is almost always done in response to a solicitation or "ask." In this paper we study solicitation strategy, providing evidence that the "ask" may alter the nature of an exchange relationship in a manner that favors recipients relative to giving situations in which the recipient is passive. We introduce a variant of the dictator game called the "begging game" in which an individual can ask for some or all of an amount of money bestowed upon another individual. Our results indicate that both the asked for and received amounts in the begging game are systematically higher than typically shown in dictator games, while asks of half yield the best result in expectation. When counter-offers are allowed, 87.5% ask for half or more of the total sum, with 80% receiving at least some money. Hence large asks are often not punished. Our combined results help quantify the "power of the ask."
Job Seeking and Daily Workforce Experiences of Autistic Librarians

Anecdotal accounts suggest that librarianship is a rewarding career for some autistic adults, though no empirical evidence exists to support such claims. Additionally, barriers may exist for autistic librarians, both in job seeking and in on-the-job experiences. As autistic adults are un- and underemployed more than their neurotypical peers, it is important to understand the role that libraries can play in supporting their employment. In this qualitative study, ten librarians with graduate degrees, who self-identify as autistic, describe their experiences in job seeking and daily working experiences in the library field through interviews in multiple formats. Results indicate issues around disclosure and accessibility, and that librarians thrive when their skills are prioritized and when they feel like they are helping or doing meaningful work. Additionally, these librarians find their way into the profession through exposure to libraries and take comfort in working with like-minded people. Finally, autistic librarians in this study describe the hope that hiring managers and library supervisors have at least some knowledge and understanding of autism, along with the willingness to learn more.
InSight Entry, Descent, and Landing Preflight Performance Predictions

On 26 November 2018, the Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander successfully touched down on the surface of Mars. Over its more than seven ye...
Siege Starvation: A War Crime of Societal Torture

A recent amendment to the Statute of the International Criminal Court has drawn unprecedented attention to the war crime of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. It comes at a time when mass starvation in war is resurgent, devastating populations in Yemen, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria, and elsewhere. The practice has also drawn the scrutiny of the United Nations Security Council. And yet, despite this heightened profile and sharpened urgency, what precisely is criminally wrongful about starvation methods remains underspecified. A common way of thinking about the criminal wrong is as a form of killing or harming civilians. Although its differentiating particularities matter, the basic wrongfulness of the crime inheres, on this view, in it being an attack on those who ought not be attacked. For some, this supports a broad interpretation of the starvation ban. However, for others, the graduality of starvation preserves the continuous possibility of the avoidance or minimization of civilian death or harm in a way that direct kinetic attacks do not. In combination with the method’s purported military utility, this distinctive incrementalism has underpinned arguments for the permissibility of certain forms of siege and other deprivation and a narrow interpretation of the starvation crime. Drawing on the moral philosophy of torture, this Article offers a different normative theory of the crime. Starvation, like torture, is peculiarly wrongful in its distortion of victims’ biological imperatives against their capacities to formulate and act on higher-order desires, political commitments, and even love. This process does not merely raise the cost of fulfilling those commitments. Instead, starvation tears gradually at the very capacity of those affected to prioritize their most fundamental commitments, regardless of whether they would choose to do so under the conditions necessary to evaluate matters with a “contemplative attitude.” Rather than palliating, the slowness of starvation methods is at the crux of this torturous wrong. Recognizing this redefines the meaning and place of the crime in the framework of international criminal law.
Targeting inflammation in metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is comprised of a cluster of closely related risk factors, including visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, hypertension, high triglyceride, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; all of which increase the risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A chronic state of inflammation appears to be a central mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and MetS. In this review, we summarize recent research which has provided insight into the mechanisms by which inflammation underlies the pathophysiology of the individual components of MetS including visceral adiposity, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. On the basis of these mechanisms, we summarize therapeutic modalities to target inflammation in the MetS and its individual components. Current therapeutic modalities can modulate the individual components of MetS and have a direct anti-inflammatory effect. Lifestyle modifications including exercise, weight loss, and diets high in fruits, vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and low-fat dairy and low in saturated fat and glucose are recommended as a first line therapy. The Mediterranean and dietary approaches to stop hypertension diets are especially beneficial and have been shown to prevent development of MetS. Moreover, the Mediterranean diet has been associated with reductions in total and cardiovascular mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor α agonists lower high levels of triglyceride; their role in targeting inflammation is reviewed. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and aldosterone blockers comprise pharmacologic therapies for hypertension but also target other aspects of MetS including inflammation. Statin drugs target many of the underlying inflammatory pathways involved in MetS.
MIXING SOLUTIONS IN INKJET FORMED VESICLES

Controlling the contents of liposomes and vesicles is essential for their use in medicine, biotechnology, and basic research. Cargos such as proteins, DNA, and RNA are of growing interest for therapeutic applications as well as for fundamental studies of cellular organization and function, but controlled encapsulation and mixing of biomolecules within vesicles has been a challenge. Recently, microfluidic encapsulation has been shown to efficiently load arbitrary solutions of biomolecules into unilamellar vesicles. This method utilizes a piezoelectrically driven liquid jet to deform a planar bilayer and form a vesicle, with the fluid vortex formed by the jet mixing the solution in the jet with the surrounding solution. Here, we describe the equipment and protocol used for loading mixtures within unilamellar vesicles by microfluidic encapsulation, and we measure the encapsulated fraction to be 79+/-5% using a falling vesicle technique. Additionally, we find that the presence of a continuous flow from the nozzle and changes in actuation voltage polarity do not significantly affect the encapsulated fraction. These results help to guide current applications and future development of this microfluidic encapsulation technique for forming and loading unilamellar vesicles.
Regional Therapy of Cancer

Surgical resection is the primary treatment and typically the only curative therapy for most solid malignancies. Throughout this surgical textbook, virtually all chapters dealing with individual organs have a variable portion of that chapter devoted to the surgical treatment of primary cancer at that site. For example, Chapter 78 on breast disease primarily discusses the treatment of cancer as this is by far the predominant surgical disease in that organ. On the other hand, Chapter 31 on the small intestine has a much smaller proportion concerned with cancer because primary malignancies comprise a smaller fraction of the surgical diseases involving the small intestine. A specialized type or category of surgical treatment for cancer can be categorized as regional therapy. As opposed to straightforward surgical resection, in this type of therapy a specific region or area of the body is treated. Regional therapy is primarily applicable to metastatic disease limited to one site or area of the body. There are two broad categories of regional therapy of cancer: (1) vascular-based treatments and (2) intracavitary treatments. The most successfully treated areas of the body by vascular means are the extremities and the liver. There is also potential to treat other sites such as the lung or pelvis. The peritoneal cavity and the pleural cavity are areas amenable to intracavitary treatments.
The Text and Textualization of Codex BJ 168: Legal Culture in Transition at the High Court of Magdeburg Law at the Castle of Kraków

The Text and Textualization of Codex BJ 168: Legal Culture in Transition at the High Court of Magdeburg Law at the Castle of Krakow “Text and Textualization” examines the various symbolic and practical uses of a law book possessed by the High Cour
Production of H2O2 in CO2 and its use in the direct synthesis of propylene oxide

Hydrogen peroxide is generally considered to be a green oxidant, as it is relatively non-toxic and breaks down in the environment to non-toxic by-products. However, the current method for production, the sequential hydrogenation and oxidation of an alkyl anthraquinone, is capital-intensive, produces significant volumes of waste, and consumes sizeable quantities of energy during the purification and concentration of the product. We have designed CO2-soluble catalysts, and have successfully generated H2O2 from H2 and O2 in carbon dioxide–water mixtures. The use of CO2 as solvent allows for use of reasonable concentrations of H2 and O2 without danger of explosion, and homogeneous catalysis eliminates diffusional limitations to reaction. Although aqueous hydrogen peroxide is an important product in its own right, H2O2 is also a benign intermediate for a variety of oxidation reactions. We have shown that H2O2 generated in situ from H2 and O2 in CO2 cleanly epoxidizes propylene to propylene oxide (PO). PO is currently produced either via the chlorohydrin route, which produces two pounds of waste per pound of PO, or via one of several “peroxidation” processes, where a co-product must be produced with the desired PO and hence waste volumes and energy requirements are much higher than desired. Because those factors that render the current AQ process for H2O2 less than green also contribute to its relatively high cost, generation of H2O2 from H2 and O2 in CO2 not only permits green synthesis of an important commodity, but also opens other applications for use of this green oxidant.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 oriL is not required for virus replication or for the establishment and reactivation of latent infection in mice.

Abstract During the course of experiments designed to isolate deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the gene encoding the major DNA-binding protein, ICP8, a mutant, d61, that grew efficiently in ICP8-expressing Vero cells but not in normal Vero cells was isolated (P. K. Orberg and P. A. Schaffer, J. Virol. 61:1136-1146, 1987). d61 was derived by cotransfection of ICP8-expressing Vero cells with infectious wild-type viral DNA and a plasmid, pDX, that contains an engineered 780-base-pair (bp) deletion in the ICP8 gene, as well as a spontaneous approximately 55-bp deletion in oriL. Gel electrophoresis and Southern blot analysis indicated that d61 DNA carried both deletions present in pDX. The ability of d61 to replicate despite the deletion in oriL suggested that a functional oriL is not essential for virus replication in vitro. Because d61 harbored two mutations, a second mutant, ts+7, with a deletion in oriL-associated sequences and an intact ICP8 gene was constructed. Both d61 and ts+7 replicated efficiently in their respective permissive host cells, although their yields were slightly lower than those of control viruses with intact oriL sequences. An in vitro test of origin function of isolated oriL sequences from wild-type virus and ts+7 showed that wild-type oriL, but not ts+7 oriL, was functional upon infection with helper virus. In an effort to determine the requirement for oriL in latency, ts+7 was compared with wild-type virus for its ability to establish, maintain, and be reactivated from latent infection in a murine eye model. The mutant was reactivated as efficiently as was wild-type virus from trigeminal ganglia after cocultivation with permissive cells, and each of the seven reactivated isolates was shown to carry the approximately 150-bp deletion characteristic of ts+7. These observations demonstrate that oriL is not required for virus replication in vitro or for the establishment and reactivation of latent infection in vivo.
A STABLE "BILIRUBIN" STANDARD.

An aqueous solution of N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride has been successfully employed as a routine secondary "bilirubin" standard. It possesses a stability which is, unfortunately, not a characteristic of bilirubin itself.
A behavioral taxonomy of obese female participants in a weight-loss program

To create a behavioral classification of obesity, 2-wk baseline food diaries were obtained from 236 obese women entering weight-loss programs. Subjects monitored food intake along with the social, environmental, and emotional context in which each meal occurred. Variables representing situation-specific eating behaviors were statistically extracted from greater than 11,000 eating episodes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified five distinct groups of subjects on the basis of similarity of eating patterns. The five groups were (1) moderately healthy eating habits, (2) chronic food restrictors, (3) alternating diet-binge eaters, (4) emotional overeaters, (5) unrestricted meal overeaters. The five groups differed on questionnaire measures of emotional adjustment and eating behavior but did not differ on dropout rates, amount of weight lost, or exercise compliance. The chronic food restrictors had significantly less lean body mass, lower resting metabolic rates, and higher waist-to-hip ratios than did the unrestricted meal overeaters.
Phase Space Reconstruction from Econommic Time Series Data: Improving Models of Complex Real-World Dynamic Systems

Failure of economic models to anticipate the global financial crisis illustrates the need for modeling to better capture complex real-world dynamics. Conventional models—in which economic variables evolve toward equilibria or fluctuate about equilibria in response to exogenous random shocks—are ill-equipped to portray complex real-world dynamics in which economic variables may cycle aperiodically along low-dimensional ‘strange attractors’. We present a method developed in the physics literature—‘phase space reconstruction’—that reconstructs strange attractors present in real-world dynamical systems using time series data on a single variable. Phase space reconstruction provides pictures of real-world dynamics that can guide model specification.
Methods for Assessing Social Validity of Behavioral Intervention Plans for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Although behavioral interventions are powerful tools for parents and teachers, they are unlikely to result in lasting change if the intervention agents find them unacceptable. After developing effective behavior intervention plans for classroom use, we compared social validity of those interventions using three measures: concurrent-chains selections from the intervention consumer (students), verbal report of the intervention agent (teachers), and maintenance of the intervention over time. All three measures of social validity identified an intervention that was acceptable to the intervention consumer and intervention delivery agent. These findings are discussed in terms of applied implications for assessing social validity.
Antipeptide Antibodies as Probes of Subunit-Dependent Structural Changes in the Regulatory Domain of the Gamma-Subunit of Phosphorylase Kinase☆

Abstract The γ-subunit of phosphorylase kinase contains a protein kinase catalytic domain (residues 20–276) and a regulatory domain (residues 276–386). The purpose of the present investigation was to develop monospecific antibodies against four synthetic γ-subunit regulatory domain peptides (PhK1: 362–386; PhK5: 342–366; PhK9: 322–346; PhK13: 302–326) to use as probes to study the structure of the regulatory domain. Each affinity-purified antibody was characterized with regard to its ability to bind three different structural forms of the γ-subunit: the isolated γ-subunit, the γ-δ complex, and the holoenzyme complex (αβδγ) 4 . Of the four antibodies, binding of affinity-purified anti-PhK13 was most affected by alterations in γ-subunit interactions. Taken together, the data from this investigation indicate that the regulatory domain of the γ-subunit can assume different immunochemically distinguishable conformations as the result of interactions among the α-, β-, γ-, and δ-subunits of phosphorylase kinase.
Development of a failure criterion for asphalt mixtures under fatigue loading

The failure criterion defines the applicable region associated with the continuum damage model and is important in characterising the service life of asphalt mixtures. A proper failure criterion should consistently predict the failure of the material that reaches macro-fracture. A previously developed criterion that uses the viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model exhibits high variability and is considered to be inefficient because it requires calibration tests at different temperatures. In this paper, a new concept that involves released pseudo strain energy is introduced. This released pseudo strain energy concept focuses on the dissipated energy that is related to stiffness reduction only and is fully compatible and predictable using the VECD model. A characteristic relationship is found between the stable rate of pseudo energy release during testing and the final fatigue life of the same mixture, independent of strain amplitude and temperature. Based on these observations, a new failure criterion ...
Viscosity Approximating Solutions to ODE Systems That Admit Shocks, and Their Limits

We study nonlinear systems of ordinary differential equations that arise when considering stationary one-dimensional systems of conservation laws with forcing terms defined in a bounded interval. We construct weak entropy solutions of bounded variation which are pointwise and L^1 limits of solutions of regularized, i.e., viscous, systems, where the limit is taken in the viscosity parameter. In particular, no oscillations occur either for the viscous solutions or for the inviscid one. We also discuss the possible formation of boundary layers when boundary values are prescribed for the viscous regularized equations. As applications, first we show the existence of transonic solutions of bounded variation with strong shocks for the equation of stationary gas flow in a duct of variable area as a pointwise limit of artificial viscosity solutions. We analyze their properties depending on the kind of duct as well as on the boundary data of the regularized problem. Second we show that the model applies to the hydrodynamic modeling for semiconductor devices for some particular heat conduction terms and added diffusion to the energy equation. In particular, we show that under the assumption of bounds for the state variables, there exists a regular solution for that particular viscous heat conducting model. Also, if the bounds for the state variables are uniform in the vanishing parameters, we obtain the existence of an inviscid weak entropy solution of bounded variation as a pointwise limit of the regular ones.
Myeloperoxidase propagates damage and is a potential therapeutic target for subacute stroke

Few effective treatment options exist for stroke beyond the hyperacute period. Radical generation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) have been implicated in stroke. We investigated whether pharmacologic reduction or gene deletion of this highly oxidative enzyme reduces infarct propagation and improves outcome in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model (MCAO). Mice were treated with 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (ABAH), a specific irreversible MPO inhibitor. Three treatment regimens were used: (1) daily throughout the 21-day observational period, (2) during the acute stage (first 24 hours), or (3) during the subacute stage (daily starting on day 2). We found elevated MPO activity in ipsilateral brain 3 to 21 days after ischemia. 4-Aminobenzoic acid hydrazide reduced enzyme activity by 30% to 40% and final lesion volume by 60% (P<0.01). The MPO-knockout (KO) mice subjected to MCAO also showed a similar reduction in the final lesion volume (P<0.01). The ABAH treatment or MPO-KO mice also improved neurobehavioral outcome (P<0.001) and survival (P=0.01), but ABAH had no additional beneficial effects in MPO-KO mice, confirming specificity of ABAH. Interestingly, inhibiting MPO activity during the subacute stage recapitulated most of the therapeutic benefit of continuous MPO inhibition, suggesting that MPO-targeted therapies could be useful when given after 24 hours of stroke onset.
Functional Reconstitution of a Tunable E3-Dependent Sumoylation Pathway in Escherichia coli

SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) is a reversible post-translational protein modifier that alters the localization, activity, or stability of proteins to which it is attached. Many enzymes participate in regulated SUMO-conjugation and SUMO-deconjugation pathways. Hundreds of SUMO targets are currently known, with the majority being nuclear proteins. However, the dynamic and reversible nature of this modification and the large number of natively sumoylated proteins in eukaryotic proteomes makes molecular dissection of sumoylation in eukaryotic cells challenging. Here, we have reconstituted a complete mammalian SUMO-conjugation cascade in Escherichia coli cells that involves a functional SUMO E3 ligase, which effectively biases the sumoylation of both native and engineered substrate proteins. Our sumo-engineered E. coli cells have several advantages including efficient protein conjugation and physiologically relevant sumoylation patterns. Overall, this system provides a rapid and controllable platform for studying the enzymology of the entire sumoylation cascade directly in living cells.
Seasonal variation of enteric infections and inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The time trends of inflammatory bowel disease are characterized by short-term variations that affect Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis alike. The aim of the present study was to test whether these variations might be related to exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease secondary to superimposed gastrointestinal infection. Methods: The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) comprises a data set of all patients admitted to hospitals throughout England, which includes inpatients and day cases. This data set was used to analyze the monthly variations in all hospital admissions for Crohn's disease (ICD10 code K50), ulcerative colitis (K51), bacterial intestinal infections (A04), viral intestinal infections (A08), diarrhea and infectious gastroenteritis (A09), upper respiratory infections (J06), pneumonia secondary to unspecified organism (J18), and unspecified acute lower respiratory infection (J22). Results: The temporal analysis revealed similar monthly fluctuations of hospital admissions for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and bacterial intestinal infections. Viral intestinal infections and infectious gastroenteritis were characterized by different seasonal variations that showed no relationship with any of the fluctuations of inflammatory bowel disease or bacterial intestinal infections. Similarly, respiratory infections resulted in marked cyclical variations in hospital admissions unrelated to any changes in inflammatory bowel disease or enteric infections. Conclusions: The similarity in the time trends of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and bacterial intestinal infections suggests that superinfection by intestinal bacteria are responsible for the fluctuations in hospital admissions for inflammatory bowel disease. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008)
Surgical-site infection due to Staphylococcus aureus among elderly patients: mortality, duration of hospitalization, and cost.

Objectives:To examine the impact of surgical-site infection (SSI) due to Staphylococcus aureus on mortality, duration of hospitalization, and hospital charges among elderly surgical patients and the impact of older age on these outcomes by comparing older and younger patients with S. aureus SSI.Design:A nested cohort study.Setting:A 750-bed, tertiary-care hospital and a 350-bed community hospital.Patients:Ninety-six elderly patients (70 years and older) with S. aureus SSI were compared with 2 reference groups: 59 uninfected elderly patients and 131 younger patients with S. aureus SSI.Results:Compared with uninfected elderly patients, elderly patients with S. aureus SSI were at risk for increased mortality (odds ratio [OR], 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.5-20.1), postoperative hospital-days (2.5-fold increase; CI95, 2.0-3.1), and hospital charges (2.0-fold increase; CI95, 1.7-2.4; $85,648; P < .001).Conclusions:Among elderly surgical patients, S. aureus SSI was independently associated with increased mortality, hospital-days, and cost. In addition, being at least 70 years old was a predictor of death in patients with S. aureus SSI.
Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism, Memory, and Hippocampal Volume in the Elderly: Association and Interaction with Cortisol

The s allele variant of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) has recently been observed to moderate the relationship of stress to depression and anxiety. To date no study has considered interactive effects of 5-HTT genotype, stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function on cognition in healthy, older adults, which may reflect developmental, functional or neurodegenerative effects of the serotonin transporter polymorphism. We investigated whether 5-HTT genotype interacts with cumulative life stress and HPA-axis measures of waking and diurnal cortisol slope to impact cognition in 154 non-depressed, older adults. Structural images of hippocampal volume were acquired on a subsample of 56 participants. The 5-HTT s allele was associated with both significantly lower delayed recall and higher waking cortisol levels. Presence of the s allele interacted with higher waking cortisol to negatively impact memory. We also observed a significant interaction of higher waking cortisol and the s allele on lower hippocampal volume. Smaller hippocampi and higher cortisol were associated with lower delayed recall only in s allele carriers. No impact or interactions of cumulative life stress with 5-HTT or cortisol were observed. This is the first investigation to identify an association of the 5-HTT s allele with poorer memory function in older adults. The interactive effects of the s allele and waking cortisol levels on reduced hippocampal volume and lower memory suggest that the negative effect of the serotonin polymorphism on memory is mediated by the HPA axis. Further, given the significant association of the s allele with higher waking cortisol in our investigation, future studies may be needed to evaluate the impact of the serotonin transporter polymorphism on any neuropsychiatric or behavioral outcome which is influenced by HPA axis function in older adults.
On the relation of the cosmological constraints on neutrino flavors to the width of the Z0

Abstract The relationship between big bang nucleosynthesis constraints on the number of types of neutrinos and the width of the Z0 is discussed. The standard model with mν ⪡ mZ has a well known relationship between the width of the Z0, ΓZ, and the number of neutrinos, Nν. However, for a heavy neutrino, with 1 MeV ≲ mν
Linear bending analysis of a thin toroidal propellant tank - A caution to designers.

where K\ = 1.0 for self-inflating concepts or 1.5 for advanced concepts, and 0 < tn < 300 sec. Equation (3) shows that an optimum design velocity exists to give maximum range for a given allowable weight fraction. This optimum surface velocity will be compatible with the optimum velocity at altitude if all or part of the maneuver operation is conducted at other than surface conditions. Analysis of the curves resulting from these equations allows the following simplifications of the range equations for use at the surface in preliminary mission analysis effort with errors within ±10%:
Acquisition of behavioral control by the auditory features of an imprinting object

Presentations of a visible moving object immediately suppressed ongoing distress vocalization in newly hatched ducklings, but presentations of only the auditory features of the object initially had no effect. However, as the ducklings received more and more exposure to the visible moving object, the object’s auditory features gradually acquired the ability to suppress distress calls themselves. These auditory features failed to develop suppressive properties in ducklings which received prolonged exposure to those features but never saw the object in motion. The gradual acquisition of behavioral control by the auditory features of a moving object is taken to represent the essence of the imprinting process.
Analysis of Steady Heat Conduction in Regions with Circular Holes by a Special Boundary-integral Method

Utilisation d'equations integrales aux limites presentees anterieurement pour l'analyse de problemes de conduction thermique permanente dans des regimes presentant des trous circulaires. Presentation de solutions approchees pour trois problemes a arrangement symetrique des trous a l'interieur d'un cercle
Enhanced Raman Scattering by Adsorbates Including the Nonlocal Response of the Metal and the Excitation of Nonradiative Modes

The enhanced Raman scattering from a molecule adsorbed on a metal surface is calculated by use of classical electrodynamics. The metal response function is modeled with a local interband term plus a nonlocal free-electron term. The important effects are the image enhancement of the effective dipole and the roughness coupling of the near fields of the dipole and its image. These combine to give estimated gains \ensuremath{\approx} ${10}^{6}$.
Thermal conductivity of superconducting niobium

The thermal conductivity of single-crystal superconducting niobium has been measured in the temperature range 0.04-4 K. No evidence is found either for thermal transport or for phonon scattering by electrons associated with a second energy gap.
Jamming attacks against OFDM timing synchronization and signal acquisition

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is used in many modern communications systems. Timing and frequency synchronization in an OFDM system are critical to performance and must be carried out early and often. Current synchronization methods, such as those developed by Schmidl and Cox [1], were not designed to be robust to adversarial signals. A series of attacks against the preamble synchronization stage have been developed and demonstrated to debilitate OFDM receivers. Multiple attacks against the symbol timing estimation stage are discussed, and some possible improvements to OFDM synchronization algorithms are suggested.
Imagery rescripting and exposure group treatment of posttraumatic nightmares in Veterans with PTSD.

This study details results of an open trial of a group psychological treatment for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic posttraumatic nightmares called “Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Therapy” (IRET). IRET is a variant of a successful imagery rescripting treatment for civilian trauma-related nightmares that was modified to address the needs of the Veteran population. Thirtyseven male U.S. Veterans with PTSD and nightmares attended 6 multicomponent group sessions. Findings indicated that the intervention significantly reduced frequency of nightmares and PTSD severity, as well as increased hours of sleep. Unlike the few open trials examining treatment of nightmares in Veterans, effect sizes in this study were similar to those that have been found in the civilian randomized controlled trial. These preliminary findings suggest that a nightmares treatment can be adapted to successfully reduce distress associated with combat Veterans’ chronic nightmares. Clinical and research implications are discussed. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.