cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The THEMIS Mission

The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission is the fifth NASA Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX), launched on February 17, 2007 to determine the trigger and large-scale evolution of substorms. The mission employs five identical micro-satellites (hereafter termed “probes”) which line up along the Earth’s magnetotail to track the motion of particles, plasma and waves from one point to another and for the first time resolve space–time ambiguities in key regions of the magnetosphere on a global scale. The probes are equipped with comprehensive in-situ particles and fields instruments that measure the thermal and super-thermal ions and electrons, and electromagnetic fields from DC to beyond the electron cyclotron frequency in the regions of interest. The primary goal of THEMIS, which drove the mission design, is to elucidate which magnetotail process is responsible for substorm onset at the region where substorm auroras map (∼10 RE): (i) a local disruption of the plasma sheet current (current disruption) or (ii) the interaction of the current sheet with the rapid influx of plasma emanating from reconnection at ∼25 RE. However, the probes also traverse the radiation belts and the dayside magnetosphere, allowing THEMIS to address additional baseline objectives, namely: how the radiation belts are energized on time scales of 2–4 hours during the recovery phase of storms, and how the pristine solar wind’s interaction with upstream beams, waves and the bow shock affects Sun–Earth coupling. THEMIS’s open data policy, platform-independent dataset, open-source analysis software, automated plotting and dissemination of data within hours of receipt, dedicated ground-based observatory network and strong links to ancillary space-based and ground-based programs. promote a grass-roots integration of relevant NASA, NSF and international assets in the context of an international Heliophysics Observatory over the next decade. The mission has demonstrated spacecraft and mission design strategies ideal for Constellation-class missions and its science is complementary to Cluster and MMS. THEMIS, the first NASA micro-satellite constellation, is a technological pathfinder for future Sun-Earth Connections missions and a stepping stone towards understanding Space Weather.
Benefits, challenges and obstacles of adaptive clinical trial designs

In recent years, the use of adaptive design methods in pharmaceutical/clinical research and development has become popular due to its flexibility and efficiency for identifying potential signals of clinical benefit of the test treatment under investigation. The flexibility and efficiency, however, increase the risk of operational biases with resulting decrease in the accuracy and reliability for assessing the treatment effect of the test treatment under investigation. In its recent draft guidance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expresses regulatory concern of controlling the overall type I error rate at a pre-specified level of significance for a clinical trial utilizing adaptive design. The FDA classifies adaptive designs into categories of well-understood and less well-understood designs. For those less well-understood adaptive designs such as adaptive dose finding designs and two-stage phase I/II (or phase II/III) seamless adaptive designs, statistical methods are not well established and hence should be used with caution. In practice, misuse of adaptive design methods in clinical trials is a concern to both clinical scientists and regulatory agencies. It is suggested that the escalating momentum for the use of adaptive design methods in clinical trials be slowed in order to allow time for development of appropriate statistical methodologies.
Do You SSRN

Articles published in law reviews and major legal journals are retrievable on line through searchable subscription databases. But articles of general interest in “second tier” legal periodicals would be lost if not for Google-searchable open-access repositories such as the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). This article describes SSRN’s various archiving and research functions. It explains step-by-step how to abstract and upload working papers and published articles. The primary emphasis is on how legal authors can use SSRN as a digital archive of their publications. “Green publishing” - using SSRN’s abstracting eJournals to disseminate and self-publish articles in electronic form - is also described. A bibliography of source materials is provided.
Non-oral reversible contraceptive methods

There are many contraceptives in the world market today. Knowledge of the vast spectrum of contraceptive methods is essential to the everyday practice of healthcare personnel. Such knowledge translates to improved care and access for women so they can obtain and utilize the appropriate contraception for their individual needs. This is a review of non-oral and nonsurgical contraceptive methods.
CHLAINOMONAS KOLII(HARDY ET CURL) COMB. NOV. (CHLOROPHYTA, VOLVOCALES), A REVISION OF THE SNOW ALGA, TRACHELOMONAS KOLII HARDY ET CURL (EUGLENOPHYTA, EUGLENALES)1,2

SUMMARY The snow alga Trachelomonas kolii is transferred from the Euglenophyta (Euglenales) to the Chlorophyta (Volvocales) as Chlainomonas kolii comb. nov. As a result of critical examination of both living and type material, this species was found to have 4 flagella per vegetative cell, true starch, and 1 axial plastid per cell with several peripheral lobes. Vegetative cells of Trachelomonas kolii were described originally as having 1 flagellum, lacking true starch but having paramylum, and as having several parietal plastids per cell. The reticulate markings on the outer envelope of vegetative cells were found to be different from those in the original illustrations. Vegetative cells and resting spores of Chlainomonas kolii and Chlainomonas rubra are compared. The similarities of resting spores of Chlainomonas kolii and Chlamydomonas nivalis are discussed. These are the first records of Chlainomonas kolii from snow in Washington State.
Flexible polymer substrate and tungsten microelectrode array for an implantable neural recording system

This paper describes the process flow and testing of a substrate for a fully implantable neural recording system. Tungsten microwires are hybrid-packaged on a micromachined flexible polymer substrate forming an intracortical microelectrode array for brain machine interfaces. The microelectrode array is characterized on the bench top and tested in vivo. The microelectrode noise floor is less than 2 μV and acute recording results show a signal to noise ratio of 9.9–17.3 dB. The technique of hybrid fabrication of the electrodes on a flexible substrate provides a general platform for the development of an implantable neural recording system
The stories we tell

Most of what we know, or think we know, we have never personally experienced. We live in a world erected by stories. Stories socialize us into roles of gender, age, class, vocation, and lifestyle, ...
Total Synthesis of LFA-1 Antagonist BIRT-377 via Organocatalytic Asymmetric Construction of a Quaternary Stereocenter

A catalytic route for enantioselective total synthesis of cell adhesion inhibitor BIRT-377 is described. The quaternary stereocenter was constructed through l-proline-derived, tetrazole-catalyzed direct asymmetric α-amination of 3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-methylpropanal with dibenzyl azodicarboxylate. In the course of these studies, a one-pot trifluoro acetylation/selective benzyloxycarbonyl deprotection method was developed.
Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in the Sociology of Mental Health

The growing racial and ethnic heterogeneity of the U.S. population will require mental health researchers to think more seriously about socioculural variation. To date, researchers have not given sufficient attention to how race, ethnicity, and culture are linked to one another and to mental health. For instance, race can be an important factor in predicting exposure and vulnerability to stress, coping strategies, social support, and, in turn, mental health status. Race, however, grossly aggregates people and often hides subtle, and not so subtle, variations in mental health status and functioning. This aggregation masks and perhaps distorts ethnic differences and cultural influences within racial groups. It is neither scientifically nor clinically valid to categorize, sample or theorize about racial groups—such as Whites, Asians, Hispanics, or Blacks—without recognizing the ethnic variation and cultural influences within these populations.
Automated verification using deduction, exploration, and abstraction

Computer programs are formal texts that are composed by programmers and executed by machines. Formal methods are used to predict the execution-time behavior of a program text through formal, symbolic calculation. Automation in the form of computer programs can be used to execute formal calculations so that they are reproducible and checkable. Deduction and exploration are two basic frameworks for the formal calculation of program properties. Both deduction and exploration have their limitations. We argue that these limitations can be overcome through a methodology for automated verification that uses property-preserving abstractions to bridge the gap between deduction and exploration. We introduce models, logics, and verification methods for transition systems, and outline a methodology based on the combined use of deduction, exploration, and abstraction.
Replication of Poliovirus Requires Binding of the Poly(rC) Binding Protein to the Cloverleaf as Well as to the Adjacent C-Rich Spacer Sequence between the Cloverleaf and the Internal Ribosomal Entry Site

The 5' nontranslated region of poliovirus RNA contains two highly structured regions, the cloverleaf (CL) and the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). A cellular protein, the poly(rC) binding protein (PCBP), has been reported to interact with the CL either alone or in combination with viral protein 3CD(pro). The formation of the ternary complex is essential for RNA replication and, hence, viral proliferation. PCBP also interacts with stem-loop IV of the IRES, an event critical for the initiation of cap-independent translation. Until recently, no special function was assigned to a spacer region (nucleotides [nt] 89 to 123) located between the CL and the IRES. However, on the basis of our discovery that this region strongly affects the neurovirulent phenotype of poliovirus, we have embarked upon genetic and biochemical analyses of the spacer region, focusing on two clusters of C residues (C(93-95) and C(98-100)) that are highly conserved among entero- and rhinoviruses. Replacement of all six C residues with A residues had no effect on translation in vitro but abolished RNA replication, leading to a lethal growth phenotype of the virus in HeLa cells. Mutation of the first group of C residues (C(93-95)) resulted in slower viral growth, whereas the C(98-100)A change had no significant effect on viability. Genetic analyses of the C-rich region by extensive mutagenesis and analyses of revertants revealed that two consecutive C residues (C(94-95)) were sufficient to promote normal growth of the virus. However, there was a distinct position effect of the preferred C residues. A 142-nt-long 5'-terminal RNA fragment including the CL and spacer sequences efficiently bound PCBP, whereas no PCBP binding was observed with the CL (nt 1 to 88) alone. Binding of PCBP to the 142-nt fragment was completely ablated after the two C clusters in the spacer were mutated to A clusters. In contrast, the same mutations had no effect on the binding of 3CD(pro) to the 142-nt RNA fragment. Stepwise replacement of the C residues with A residues resulted in impaired replication that covaried with weaker binding of PCBP in vitro. We conclude that PCBP has little, if any, binding affinity for the CL itself (nt 1 to 88) but requires additional nucleotides downstream of the CL for its function as an essential cofactor in poliovirus RNA replication. These data reveal a new essential function of the spacer between the CL and the IRES in poliovirus proliferation.
PARASITE LEVELS OF STOCKED GLASS EEL AND ELVER STAGES OF AMERICAN EEL1

Glass eel and elver stages of American eel (Anguilla rostrata) collected for a commercial aquaculture facility from Cooper River, South Carolina, were examined for parasites. Glass eels (n=130) were infected with two species, Myxidium giardi (56.9%) and an unidentified glochidium (1.5%). M. giardi occurred as immature trophozoites in the gall bladder. Five phyla and 8 genera of parasites were recovered from elvers (n=199). Frequently occurring species included M. giardi (65.3%), Trichodina sp. (45.7%) and Bothriocephalus scorpii (21.1%). In elvers, M. giardi occurred as immature and mature trophozoites in gall bladders, and as cysts in gill filaments. Elvers were treated prophylactically with 100 mg/liter formalin for one hour before stocking ponds. Occurrence of Trichodina decreased from 80.0 to 21.1% and intensity decreased from 12.1 to 8.3 Trichodina per elver after treatment. Significant declines in infestation were not observed in other parasites after treatment.
Retinoids, Carotenoids, and Human Breast Cancer Cell Cultures: A Review of Differential Effects

Cancer of the breast is the most common incident cancer and cause of death from cancer in women. Several epidemiologic studies have reported a significant inverse relationship between the intake of vitamin A and/or provitamin A-rich foods and the incidence of certain cancers, including breast cancer. A large number of studies have been conducted to determine the effect of retinoids (all-trans-retinoic acid, in particular), and to a lesser extent of carotenoids, on breast cancer using cell culture models. In general, the results of these studies demonstrate beneficial effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on different breast cancer cells. This review compares studies conducted in different laboratories using retinoids and carotenoids as treatments for breast cancer cells and suggests what may be the underlying reasons for the differential effects of these compounds on the same cell lines.
Be Serious: Posttraumatic Endophthalmitis

An 82-year-old man with dementia presented to his primary care physician with a chief complaint of left eye swelling for 2 days. He was prescribed ciprofloxacin ophthalmic drops. A few days later, his symptoms had not improved, and he presented to the emergency department at an outside hospital with ongoing eye pain. He had loss of vision in his left eye. He noted that he may have fallen approximately 2 weeks earlier but did not seek medical care. Antimicrobial therapy with intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin was initiated. MRI demonstrated detachment of the left retina, significant inflammation of the circumference of the eye, and an irregular globe contour that was of concern for rupture. On the basis of these findings, he was transferred to our hospital for further management; an emergent ophthalmology consultation revealed fulminant endophthalmitis. The patient's antimicrobial therapy was changed to intravenous cefazolin. An evisceration of his left eye was performed the following day without complication. An ocular swab was sent to the microbiology laboratory for aerobic culture and Gram stain, and the intraocular contents were sent to pathology. Pathology confirmed acute panophthalmitis, and bacilli were documented in the sample with Gomori methenamine silver stain. Gram stain of material from the swab showed abundant polymorphonuclear leukocytes but no organisms. The next day, rare β-hemolytic colonies were noted on 5% sheep's blood agar (Remel) and rare gray colonies were growing on chocolate agar plate (Remel). The organism was determined to be a catalase-positive, spore-forming, gram-positive Bacillus . The organism was identified as Bacillus anthracis by MALDI-TOF MS (MALDI Biotyper, Bruker Daltonics) with a confidence score value that would be acceptable for a species-level identification. In accordance with laboratory protocols for identification of select agents (potential biothreat/bioterrorism agents), the case was brought to the attention of the medical director. The isolate …
Reinforcing for a Rectangular Opening in a Plate

A plate, containing a sizeable rectangular opening with circular corner fillets, subjected to uniaxial tension, is analyzed by a finite element method. Values are obtained for the maximum stress in an unreinforced plate, a plate with a ring of reinforcing around the edge of the opening, and for several cases with strips of reinforcing parallel to the direction of the applied load. These values are used as a measure of the effectiveness of the various reinforcing configurations studied. Experimental confirmation of the magnitude of the maximum stress is presented for the unreinforced plate and for one reinforced case. The results presented give some insight into the relative effectiveness of the different reinforcing configurations in reducing the maximum stresses occurring in the plate.
Economic Shocks, Early Life Circumstances and Later Life Outcomes: Introduction

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the feature on topics including economic development, human capital, and health in China, Germany, and U.S.
Nonsystemic Causes of the Downer Cow Syndrome

Traditionally, the downer cow has been considered a metabolic problem. This viewpoint cannot account for the pelvic limb predilection of the condition. Whatever the primary cause of recumbency, all recumbent animals are susceptible to pressure damage. The extensive literature on pressure damage in human beings and horses is reviewed. Miscellaneous causes of and contributing factors to bovine recumbency are reviewed. Concepts and details of diagnosis, prevention, management, and therapy are discussed.
Nepal and Bhutan in 2012: Uncertain Democratic Consolidation

Nepal’s political transition switched into crisis mode as the Constituent Assembly (CA) dissolved on May 27 without delivering a constitution. While new elections for the CA appeared most likely, people’s confidence in the ability of ever-feuding politicians to lead the troubled nation plunged to a new low. Anticipations grew in Bhutan over parliamentary elections in 2013. Bhutan’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was a historic milestone.
Integration of Safety in Design through the Use of Building Information Modeling

The construction industry has incurred the most fatalities of any industry in the private sector in recent years. It is partly because of the fact that the designers usually lack design for construction safety knowledge, which results in many safety hazards manifesting themselves at any given stage during the construction process. In this research study, the researchers devised a design for construction worker safety tool which makes designing for safety suggestions available to designers and constructors in an efficient way, which will effectively alleviate the potential hazards on construction sites. This research study looks at formalizing the collected design for construction worker suggestions. A dictionary and a constraint model are then developed to store these formalized suggestions. These can then be used by a model checking software package to conduct designing for construction worker safety checking during the design process. These tools make it possible for architects to optimize the drawings to ensure minimization of safety hazards during construction. In the meantime, constructors can take protective procedures to eliminate the construction site hazards from the beginning of the project. Therefore in both the design and construction phases, significant improvements to construction worker safety could be realized by using this designing for safety tool.
Child Obesity and Mental Health: A Complex Interaction

Prevalence rates of childhood obesity have risen steeply over the last 3 decades. Given the increased national focus, the frequency of this clinical problem, and the multiple mental health factors that coexist with it, make obesity a public health concern. The complex relationships between mental health and obesity serve to potentiate the severity and interdependency of each. The purpose of this review is to create a contextual connection for the 2 conditions as outlined by the research literature and consider treatment options that affect both health problems.
Characterization of Different Microsoft Kinect Sensor Models

This experimental study investigates the performance of three different models of the Microsoft Kinect sensor using the OpenNI driver from Primesense. The accuracy, repeatability, and resolution of the different Kinect models' abilities to determine the distance to a planar target was explored. An ANOVA analysis was performed to determine if the model of the Kinect, the operating temperature, or their interaction were significant factors in the Kinect's ability to determine the distance to the target. Different sized gauge blocks were also used to test how well a Kinect could reconstruct precise objects. Machinist blocks were used to examine how well the Kinect could reconstruct objects setup on an angle and determine the location of the center of a hole. All the Kinect models were able to determine the location of a target with a low standard deviation (<;2 mm). At close distances, the resolutions of all the Kinect models were 1 mm. Through the ANOVA analysis, the best performing Kinect at close distances was the Kinect model 1414, and at farther distances was the Kinect model 1473. The internal temperature of the Kinect sensor had an effect on the distance reported by the sensor. Using different correction factors, the Kinect was able to determine the volume of a gauge block and the angles machinist blocks were setup at, with under a 10% error.
Cellulose Nanofibers as a Nucleating Template for Interfacial Crystallization of Poly (Ethylene)-b-Poly (Ethylene Glycol)

We investigated cellulose nanofibers as a unique template to provide nucleating surface for interfacial crystallization of a block copolymer. Cellulose microfibers were ultrasonically dispersed to generate cellulose nanofibers in the size range of ~ 20-30 nm in diameter, while the block copolymer was crystallized using a solution crystallization approach. The polymer was crystallized on the surface of the cellulose nanofibers as periodically arranged lamellar crystals. The crystal morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the crystallization behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the chemical structure of cellulose-copolymer hybrid system. The crystallinity and the morphology of the polymer varied according to the composition and the concentration of the polymer, respectively. Biological activity of the hybrid system was studied using simulated body fluid (SBF), and the results obtained using osteoblasts cells suggests a novel strategy and potential biomaterial for tissue engineering applications.
Lymphocyte subsets and abnormalities in retrovirally infected mice.

First, in order to explore the relevance and significance of these perturbations, the present state of knowledge concerning lymphoid compartments and the regulation and differentiation of lymphoid compartments and the regulation and differentiation of lymphoid cells during normal immune activation is reviewed. Second, the impact of viral infections on human health and immune function, particularly the AIDS virus, is examined. Third, several animal model systems are described that have been utilized to study how viruses alter cellular interactions and immunoregulatory functions
Effects of Transportation Hazards on Barrier Properties of Gas Flushed Retort Pouches

Clear high-barrier retort pouches were filled with water and gas flushed with nitrogen. Headspace volumes utilized for this study were 200 and 400 cm3. Retort pouches were fitted with an OxyDot® as a non-invasive measurement technique to monitor percent package headspace oxygen. The retort pouches were packaged inside regular slotted containers and subjected to laboratory simulated transportation performance tests for small parcel and unit load delivery systems. To evaluate the effects of the simulated transport tests, control retort pouches of each variable were used for comparison. Headspace oxygen levels were measured for all retort pouches (test and control) for 63 days. Results indicated that there were significant differences in all variables when comparing the simulated transport samples to the control samples. Comparing headspace volumes, the 400 cm3 pouches yielded less oxygen ingress into the pouch as compared with the 200 cm3 pouches in the small parcel simulation (p < 0.05). There were not significant differences for the two headspace volumes in the unit load simulation. Results from this study indicate packaged products being distributed through small parcel supply chains, which are handled more vigorously than those being shipped palletized, the increased headspace volume protected against oxygen ingress for certain distribution channels.
Unpredictable and Uncontrollable Aversive Events

Publisher Summary Aversive events occur frequently in the life histories of all organisms. Long-lasting behavior pecularities, emotional illnesses, and anomalies of perception and thinking are attributed to such events. Apart from genetic or constitutional variables that might lead to individual differences in reactivity to aversive stimuli, there are a host of environmental variables that help to understand such individual differences. Two such environmental variables are the predictability and controllability of aversive events. This chapter reviews some of the behavioral and physiological consequences of aversive events that are either unpredictable, uncontrollable by a subject, or both. Unpredictable painful events turn out to be more distressing than are predictable ones. They generate more ulcers and intensify subjective reports of painfulness and anxiety. Both people and animals choose, if given the choice, predictable painful events over unpredictable ones. Uncontrollable painful events can interfere with an organism's ability later to solve problems to escape or avoid these events. They can lead to a phenomenon labeled “helplessness.” The chapter discusses the current status of research and theory concerning these phenomena. It describes a two-dimensional representation of the operations involved in instrumental training and Pavlovian conditioning. The chapter further reviews a number of theoretical interpretations of the effects of uncontrollable shocks on subsequent escape/avoidance learning and discusses the theoretical interpretations of the effects of unpredictable shocks on behavioral and physiological responses: the preparatory response hypothesis and the safety signal hypotheses.
CASE RECORDS of the MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. Case 24-2016. A 66-Year-Old Man with Malaise, Weakness, and Hypercalcemia.

A 66-year-old man presented with malaise, weakness, hypercalcemia, and acute kidney injury. CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed no evidence of cancer; CT of the chest revealed a sclerotic lesion of the eighth rib. Additional tests were performed, and a diagnosis was made.
How security prices respond to a surge in investor attention: Evidence from Google Search of ADRs

Abstract This study examines the day-to-day impact of a surge in investor attention on security prices within a four-week investment horizon. Focusing on a sample of ADRs traded in the U.S. stock markets between 2004 and 2015, we measure the surge in investor attention by constructing a dummy variable based on the Search Volume Index (SVI) obtained from Google Trends. We find strong evidence that a surge in investor attention is associated with a same-day positive abnormal return. But the positive association between investor attention and stock return disappears or even reverses quickly after day zero. ADRs originated from developing countries and developed countries appear to be equally responsive to a surge in investor attention.
Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Symptomatic Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a well established method for treatment of single compartment arthritis. However, a subset of patients still present with continued pain after their procedure in the setting of a normal radiographic examination. We propose the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a useful modality in determining the etiology of symptoms in symptomatic unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. Materials & Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective analysis of 300 consecutive unicompartmental knee arthroplasties between 2008–2010 found 28 cases symptomatic for continued pain. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a 1.5 T Surface Coil unit after clinical and radiographic assessment. MRI evaluation included assessment for osteoarthritis, synovitis, osteolysis, and loosening. Validated questionnaires including PAQ, WOMAC and UCLA Activity Score were used for clinical assessment Results: The average age at surgery was 56.1 ± 10.9 years (34–79). Imaging results indicated progressive arthritis in 28 patients (100%), synovitis in 17 patients (61%), osteolysis in 9 patients (32.0%), and loosening in 3 patients (11%). Based on these results and other clinical findings, a revision or conversion to a TKR was advised for 10 patients and 18 were recommended for nonoperative therapies. One patient received treatment at a separate hospital, and another was lost to follow-up. At post-operative follow-up of 1.4 ± 0.9 years, 7 of the 10 patients (70%) in the operative group experienced improvement in pain and function. The mean PAQ, UCLA and WOMAC index scores for these patients were 8.0 ± 1.4 (7–9), 5.5 ± 6.4 (1–10), and 2.0 ± 2.8 (0–4), respectively. In the nonoperative group, 11 of the 18 patients (61%) experienced improvement in pain and function. Among these patients, the mean PAQ, UCLA and WOMAC index scores were 7.6 ± 3.7 (0–10), 5.9 ± 3.2 (1–10) and 8.9 ± 12.0 (0–28), respectively. Conclusion: The use of MRI as an imaging modality for symptomatic arthroplasty patients is becoming more commonly used. This study shows how MRI with sound clinical judgment can influence treatment decisions and supports the use of high quality MRI as a diagnostic tool for the symptomatic unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
Pharmacological Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in the Elderly

Due to the early age of onset, bipolar disorder is most commonly studied in younger adults, among whom the prevalence is 3.9% in adults aged 18–30 years. Unfortunately, relatively less attention has been paid to the unique needs of older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD), despite clinical complexities that include medical comorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive decline, and phase of life losses of occupation and social identity. Furthermore, impaired cognitive performance in some older adults may limit the ability to stabilize mood episodes and interfere with the individual’s engagement in multi-modal treatment. Many OABD may also struggle with impairments in their independent activities of daily living (IADLs) which can lead to greater psychiatric, medical, psychological, financial, or social sequelae of mood episodes. Further complicating this picture is the fact that most OABD are treated by general psychiatrists or family practitioners due to a worldwide shortage of geriatric psychiatrists. This will become increasingly common as the mean life expectancy continues to increase. It is therefore incumbent on all general practitioners to understand the phases of bipolar disorder and the associated treatment options throughout the lifespan. Treatment of manic or depressive episodes focuses on symptomatic remission primarily through pharmacotherapy and neurotherapeutics. Management of the maintenance phase focuses on optimizing pharmacotherapy while reducing subclinical symptoms, treating comorbid illness, preventing relapse, and restoring psychosocial functioning and intacts identity through multimodal approaches including psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, diet, and lifestyle modifications. Comprehensive care for OABD is best achieved through close collaboration with the affected individual, the family physician, pharmacist, family members, and social supports.
Investigating Ligand Binding to HCN Channels by Surface Plasmon Resonance

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channels control cardiac and neuronal rhythmicity. HCN channels contain cyclic nucleotide-binding (CNB) domain in their C-terminal region linked to the pore-forming transmembrane segment with a C-linker. The C-linker couples the conformational changes caused by the direct binding of cyclic nucleotides in the CNB domain to the pore opening. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a powerful biophysical tool for quantitatively investigating ligand-protein and protein-protein interactions. Here we used SPR to detect ligand binding to the isolated C-linker/CNB domain of HCN channels. The isolated C-linker/CNB domains of wild-type (WT) and L586W mutant HCN2 channels were immobilized on a NTA sensor chip and cAMP was injected over the protein coated surface. The mutant C-linker/CNB domain has been used before for ligand binding studies based on the changes in the fluorescence of the introduced tryptophan upon ligand binding. From the cyclic nucleotide concentration dependent SPR responses, we determined the binding affinity for cAMP to be 6.3 + 2.6 μM for the WT and 10.8 + 2.3μM for the mutant C-linker/CNB domains. The binding affinity determined for the mutant L586W C-linker-CNB domains determined with SPR is in agreement with the binding affinity of 13 + 2 μM determined with the fluorescence-based method. These results indicate that SPR is well suited for the detection of binding of known HCN channel ligands. Therefore, SPR can be used to identify novel HCN channel regulators for treatment of diseases associated with abnormal functions of these channels, such as epilepsy and cardiac arrhythmias.
Are Graduating Residents Trained and Prepared to Engage in Medical Home Activities in Practice

A national, random sample of 1000 graduating pediatric residents was surveyed in 2014 on receipt of training in medical home activities and preparedness to engage in same in practice. Of 602 survey...
Can we better predict the biologic behavior of incidental IPMN? A comprehensive analysis of molecular diagnostics and biomarkers in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas

Predicting the biologic behavior of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) remains challenging. Current guidelines utilize patient symptoms and imaging characteristics to determine appropriate surgical candidates. However, the majority of resected cysts remain low-risk lesions, many of which may be feasible to have under surveillance. We herein characterize the most promising and up-to-date molecular diagnostics in order to identify optimal components of a molecular signature to distinguish levels of IPMN dysplasia. A comprehensive systematic review of pertinent literature, including our own experience, was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. Molecular diagnostics in IPMN patient tissue, duodenal secretions, cyst fluid, saliva, and serum were evaluated and organized into the following categories: oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, glycoproteins, markers of the immune response, proteomics, DNA/RNA mutations, and next-generation sequencing/microRNA. Specific targets in each of these categories, and in aggregate, were identified by their ability to both characterize a cyst as an IPMN and determine the level of cyst dysplasia. Combining molecular signatures with clinical and imaging features in this era of next-generation sequencing and advanced computational analysis will enable enhanced sensitivity and specificity of current models to predict the biologic behavior of IPMN.
Epidemiology, Characteristics, and Outcomes of ICU-Managed Homeless Patients: A Population-Based Study.

Background. The population-level demand for critical care services among the homeless (H) remains unknown, with only sparse data on the characteristics and outcomes of those managed in the ICU. Methods. The Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File and annual federal reports were used to identify H hospitalizations and annual estimates of the H population between 2007 and 2014. The incidence of ICU admissions in the H population, the characteristics of ICU-managed H, and factors associated with their short-term mortality were examined. Results. Among 52,206 H hospitalizations 15,553 (29.8%) were admitted to ICU. The incidence of ICU admission among state H population rose between 2007 and 2014 from 28.0 to 96.6/1,000 , respectively. Adults aged ≥ 45 years and minorities accounted for 70.2% and 57.6%, respectively, of the growth in volume of ICU admissions. Short-term mortality was 3.2%, with odds of death increased with age, comorbidity burden, and number of failing organs. Conclusions. The demand for critical care services was increasingly high among the H and was contrasted by low short-term mortality among ICU admissions. These findings, coupled with the persistent health disparities among minority H, underscore the need to effectively address homelessness and reduce barriers to longitudinal appropriate prehospital care among the H.
Acinetobacter: Epidemiology and Control

Microscopic examination of gram stained members of Acinetobacter may reveal several morphologies including short, plump rods, longer rods and coccoid forms depending on various parameters including the stage of cell growth and whether beta-lactam antibiotics are present. The cells may be in pairs and/or clusters, are frequently gram-variable, and occasionally exhibit large halos indicating the presence of a capsule. Biochemically, members of the genus Acinetobacter are nonfermenting strict aerobes that are oxidase negative and catalase positive. Growth at different temperatures and on MacConkey agar may vary, as do results of assimilation tests, even within a species of Acinetobacter (1). The API 20 NE®system (bioMerieux Vitek, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo., USA) is widely used for the identification of Acinetobacter species and consists of 8 conventional biochemical tests and 12 assimilation tests (2). Since phenotypic differences are sometimes observed within a species, genetic techniques including DNA-DNA hybridization and PCR must be used to definitively assign Acinetobacter isolates to a specific genomospecies (1).
The Influence of the Food Environment on Food Intake and Weight Regulation in Children

Abstract Obesogenic eating environments promote food choices and eating habits among young children that can lead to excessive intake relative to needs. This chapter considers dimensions of the current food environment, such as food energy density, portion size, and variety that may have adverse effects on children's energy intake and weight outcomes. Drawing from a socioecological perspective, children exposure to obesogenic food properties will be viewed within the broader context of home, school, neighborhoods environments in which children routinely eat. Implications for changing environments to promote appetite regulation in children will be discussed.
Inhibition of angiogenesis and xenograft tumor growth by AMG 273 a novel multi-kinase inhibitor

2134 Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical for tumor blood vessel formation and inhibition of VEGF receptors is a proven therapeutic strategy with promise for a wide range of human malignancies. AMG 273 is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of VEGF receptors, as well as PDGF receptors and c-Kit. We have examined the effect of AMG 273 on endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and on vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and tumor growth in animal models. Materials and Methods: The effect of AMG 273 on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation was determined using a CyQuant assay. HUVECs were pretreated with AMG 273 for 2 hrs, followed by incubation for 72 hr in media containing either VEGF or bFGF. Proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was used to determine the potency of AMG 273 against PDGFR. VEGF signaling in vivo was assessed by examining levels of phosphorylated Flk-1 in the lungs of mice after a single dose of AMG 273 (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg). A VEGF-dependent vascular permeability assay was performed in the mouse skin. VEGF expressing cells were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice and 24 hr later mice received a single dose of AMG 273 (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg). Extravasated Evan’s Blue dye was measured 6 hr later. A rat corneal angiogenesis assay was also performed using VEGF as the neovascular stimulus. After treatment with AMG 273 (1, 3, 5 or 10 mg/kg) for 7 days, new blood vessel formation was quantified. Finally, the activity of AMG 273 (up to doses of 100mg/kg) was determined in A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma) and HT-29 (human colon carcinoma) tumor xenograft models in nude mice. Results: AMG 273 inhibited VEGF-induced HUVEC proliferation with an IC50 of 0.012 µM, whereas it had little effect against bFGF-induced proliferation (IC50 > 3 µM). AMG 273 inhibited PDGF-stimulated NHDF proliferation with an IC50 of 0.103 µM. Treatment with AMG 273 completely inhibited both VEGF-induced vascular permeability and Flk-1 phosphorylation in mouse lungs. In addition, once daily administration of AMG 273 for 7 days significantly inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis in the rat corneal model with an ED50 of 2.3 mg/kg (p Conclusions: AMG 273 is a novel, orally available inhibitor of VEGF, PDGF and c-Kit receptor tyrosine kinases that effectively blocks endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and demonstrates significant anti-tumor activity in animal models.
A consistent finite element model for the two-dimensional continuum

The finite element approximation to the continuum problem is examined from the viewpoint of the principle of virtual work. It is shown that the usual nodal equilibrium equations for triangular elements are a consistent consequence of a piecewise constant strain field, thus guaranteeing that many results of general continuum theory can be directly applied to the finite element model, and also clarifying the relation between the two models.
Return Fire: An En Banc Hearing in Wollschlaeger v. Governor of Florida Is Necessary to Protect the First Amendment Rights of Physicians

In 2014, in Wollschlaeger v. Governor of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held that a Florida ban on physician speech about firearm ownership was a valid regulation of professional conduct. The court reasoned that because the speech took place within the physician-patient relationship it should be treated as professional conduct that may be regulated by the state and not subject to First Amendment scrutiny. This Comment argues that the Eleventh Circuit mischaracterized the speech as conduct and that an en banc hearing should be granted to reverse this decision to avoid a negative impact on physicians’ First Amendment rights.
Development of a Small Shaped Charge Insensitive Munitions Threat Test

Abstract Rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shaped charge attack threats are of particular concern for Insensitive Munitions (IM) development. In response to these threats, the U.S. Project Engineering Office for Ammunition (PEO Ammo) worked with ARDEC to develop a highly reproducible and well characterized standardized 81 mm shaped charge jet initiation test configuration. This test was adopted by the U.S. DoD for RPG threat testing as specified in MIL-STD-2105D and is completed as per STANAG 4526. Recent U.S. Insensitive Munitions shaped charge initiation attention has been focused on realistic smaller shaped charge threats. STANAG 4526 discusses standardized threats related to “Top Attack Bomblets” and SCJ with “Characteristics of 50 mm Rockeye”. As a representative shaped charge for smaller size threats than the RPG, the 50 mm Rockeye munition has been commonly recommended for testing. However, recent testing of the 50 mm Rockeye munitions has shown a large undesirable variability of jet tip characteristics. This large variability in jet tip characteristics would be consistent with a large variability in munitions response to the 50 mm Rockeye jet attack. Additionally, it has become clear that this shaped charge does not represent a commonly observed threat. For this reason, an effort is currently underway to identify a dominant smaller shaped charge threat and to develop a surrogate small shaped charge threat test configuration that provides very reproducible jet characteristics. The result to date is that 40 mm grenades have been identified as a dominant smaller shaped charge threat and a surrogate consistent in approach with previous efforts has been designed.
Elementary ASC Programs

Chapters 1 and 2 introduced basic SIMD and associative programming concepts. Chapter 3 introduced ASC statements and showed how the search, process, retrieve cycle of SITDAC associative programming can be used to build structured associative high-level statements. This chapter illustrates the use of ASC statements for conventional programming tasks. The initial programs are for simple arithmetic, conditional, and iterative tasks. Examples of a number of input options and north-south grid communication are given. The second program illustrates the use of count and them. The next section explains how to implement associative stacks and queues. The third section presents an elementary dataflow interpreter that introduces the mask and broadcast-communication technique. The last program is for a minimal-spanning-tree algorithm. It illustrates the use of the mindex function, the use of parallel-index variables as indexes into associations, and the use of logical parallel variables as flags for execution control. The ASC version is contrasted with a conventional C version to illustrate the difference in programming style.