cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacotherapy of amphetamine-type stimulant dependence: an update.

Between 2008–2010, about 1.2% or 1.3% of adults worldwide report use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) involving compounds that range from amphetamine to an array of amphetamine analogues, but exclude 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine or ‘ecstasy’. This means that more individuals are estimated to use ATS than heroin or cocaine [1]. In many Asian countries, the prevalence of ATS use precipitating treatment is exceeded only by opioids. In Indonesia, ATS is the primary drug of abuse for more than one-third of people treated for substance use disorders. Indeed, the use of ATS continues to present a significant public health burden worldwide [2]. In Australia, recent (past 30 days) use of ATS (excluding ecstasy) declined among adults from a peak of 3.7% in 1998 to 2.1% in 2010, a rate that still remains one of the highest among other countries [3]. Ecstasy (a short-acting stimulant) also is used frequently by Australian adults (3.0%). In Australia and elsewhere, use of long-acting stimulants, particularly amphetamine and methamphetamine, is disproportionately popular among specific groups, including men who have sex with men [4], women [5] and criminal offenders [6]. Men aged 20–29 remain the group with the highest likelihood of amphetamine use in Australia, despite some evidence of declining rates over the past decade [3]. Methamphetamine use at levels of dependence is associated with multiple morbidities, including HIV infection, hepatitis, cardiac effects, family disruptions and prominent psychiatric consequences including psychosis [7,8]. Societal costs for methamphetamine abuse are high, estimated in 2005 at more than $23 billion in the United States and include premature death, crime, lost productivity, environmental damage, medical conditions, cognitive dysfunction, disruption of family life and infectious disease[7]. The primary interventions with evidence of efficacy are behavioural therapies, which reduce amphetamine use [9–12]. Yet the impact of these treatments is limited in that they require substantial investments in care delivery systems and trained professionals to implement the interventions with fidelity. Behavioural treatments also have moderate effect sizes in terms of abstinence and retention, underscoring the need for additional efficacious strategies, notably pharmacotherapy. This review describes the rationale and targets for pharmacotherapies for abuse or dependence on ATS, reviews the extant evidence for select agents, discusses emerging pharmacogenetic data and proposes directions for future work. A literature search was conducted by the first author using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. An initial search for randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials treating amphetamine or methamphetamine use disorders published from 1980 through July 2012 produced 468 results. Further review identified 21 trials. The authors selectively included brief detoxification trials, human laboratory studies and pre-clinical data where appropriate.
Competitive edge: a strategic management model.

Abstract To assess a firm's strategic position, its managers must collect and interpret data regarding the firm itself, its competitors, its stakeholders, and the industry. Having implement a strategy based on that information, the managers further must measure that strategy's effect. The “competitive-edge model” presented in this article provides a series of questions to guide the strategic decision-making and data-collection process so that managers gain an explicit picture of what is happening with their firm, their competitors, and the industry. Equipped with the requisite information, managers can develop marker and non-marker strategies by matching internal resources with external opportunities. Market-based strategies seek to provide an advantage for the firm over its competitors by appealing to specific customer attributes. Non-market strategies take into account aspects of the environment not directly related to customers, including the actions of government, shareholders, and special interest groups.
Phenotypic and evolutionary plasticity of organ masses in response to voluntary exercise in house mice.

SYNOPSIS. We used a novel mouse model to study the effects of selective breeding for high locomotor activity (14 generations) on relative organ sizes, hematocrit (Hct), and blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. We also examined effects of exercise training and genotype-by-environment interactions by housing animals for 8 weeks with wheels that were either free to rotate or locked. Mice from the four replicate High-Runner (HR) lines were smaller in total body mass but had larger body mass-adjusted kidneys relative to the four Control lines (P , 0.05). Control and HR lines did not differ significantly for mass-adjusted tail length or masses of the ‘‘triceps surae’’ hindlimb muscle group, heart (ventricle), spleen, liver, adrenal glands or gonads. Wheel access caused a reduction in body mass and an increase in relative heart mass. In females only, wheel access caused a reduction in relative spleen mass. Wheel access did not affect relative tail length or relative mass of the triceps surae, liver, adrenal gland or gonads. Significant interactions between selection history and wheel access were observed in females for spleen, liver, and gonad mass as well as Hct and Hb. Wheel access caused increases in both Hct and Hb, mainly in the HR lines. The mini-muscle phenotype, caused by a Mendelian recessive allele that halves hindlimb muscle mass, was significantly associated with several other body composition traits, including reduced body mass, increased tail length, increased heart mass, increased liver mass (females only), increased mean adrenal gland mass (females only), increased mean kidney mass (males only), and reduced Hct (wheel-access females only). Results are discussed in context of the beneficial acclimation hypothesis, genotype-by-environment interactions, and the potential for ‘‘nurture’’ to be self-reinforcing of ‘‘nature’’ in some complex behavioral-physiological phenotypes.
Effect of Microcrystalline Cellulose, Species, and Particle Size on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Particleboard

Particleboards made from both sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) and southern pine ( Pinus spp.) were made at a small and large particle size and at 0 and 10% microcrystalline cellulose loading. Modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, work to maximum force, and thickness swell (after 2 and 24 h) were measured for all treatment combinations. An increase in particle size had a positive influence on mechanical properties but also allowed for more thickness swell, particularly for the southern pine furnish. Conversely, adding cellulose actually decreased mechanical properties, increased thickness swell, and decreased springback. In the field, the ability to manipulate particle size to control particleboard mechanical properties is perhaps more cost-effective and practical than cellulose addition. Replacing southern pine with sweetgum was viable with equal or better mechanical and physical properties. This suggests that the hardwood species could be a feasible substitute for pine as the demand for woody resources in the southern US continues to grow.
Endeavor: Creating a Global Movement for High-Impact Entrepreneurship

This case describes a critical inflection point in the growth of an international development "mentor capitalist" nonprofit, Endeavor. As Endeavor aims to scale its high-impact entrepreneurship model globally, founder Linda Rottenberg must determine what success looks like for the organization and which growth option will most effectively take Endeavor in that direction. The case begins with a panel of business leaders selecting a new class of Jordanian entrepreneurs to join the ranks of Endeavor's prestigious portfolio. Their decision forces them to wrestle with the questions: "What is high impact entrepreneurship, and how will it contribute to the economic development of a country like Jordan?"
The Legality of Opportunistically Timing of Public Company Disclosures in the Context of SEC Rule 10b5-1

Commentators have discovered that executives who engage in securities transactions purportedly under the shield of a Rule 10b5-1 Plan, so that their trades do not constitute unlawful insider trading, achieve abnormal returns. There is speculation that these returns may be achieved by influencing the timing of corporate disclosures, so that, for example, bad news is withheld at the corporate level until after a Plan sale occurs. This Article concludes that so long as this delay in disclosure does not violate an SEC mandated disclosure requirement, Rule 10b-5 is not violated, nor could the SEC expand Rule 10b-5 to reach disclosure timing of this type. The Article also addresses the application of the common law to disclosure timing. The use of corporate information to time corporate disclosure for a personal benefit, to achieve a more favorable outcome in personal securities trading pursuant to a Plan, may be a breach of duty under the corporate common law of some states, including Delaware, applying established principles of the common law of insider trading. It is unlikely, if not impossible, however, that state regulatory authorities could or would pursue such conduct.If remedial action is needed to discourage, and effectively preclude, disclosure timing, it should be in the nature of SEC mandated disclosures of information regarding Rule 10b5-1 Plans, something the SEC proposed more than ten years ago and then abandoned without explanation, and the exclusion of those who engage in disclosure timing from the benefits of Rule 10b5-1 by amending that rule itself.
Perl as a database tool: using DBI

This tutorial will demonstrate how to access databases using Perl's DBI module. Participants are expected to be somewhat familiar with Perl and programming in general. (The Introduction to Perl Tutorial should be sufficient introduction to the Perl language for this tutorial.) Topics will include connecting to databases such as Oracle and MySQL, executing queries, retrieving results, and executing SQL commands from a Perl program.
Performance Optimization of a Contention Based Broadcasting Algorithm in VANETs

Sharing emergency messages amongst vehicles on the road can greatly reduce traffic accidents. In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) to share these emergency messages, fast and reliable message dissemination is the key objective in a highly dynamic VANET environment. This research proposes a novel broadcasting protocol to achieve these goals by introducing handshake-less broadcasting, ACK Decoupling and efficient collision resolution mechanism. A key contribution of this paper is to analyze and optimize the broadcasting algorithm using thorough mathematical modeling with extensive simulations. With the suggested optimization process, the message propagation delay can be significantly reduced.
Species specificity of thromboplastin; role of the cothromboplastin reaction.

SummarySpecies specificity of thromboplastin is largely eliminated by brief treatment of the thromboplastin with dilute homologous serum. This appears to be an example of the cothromboplastin reaction.
Thermoregulatory Behavior of the Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris

Observations on a colony of northern elephant seals on Guadalupe Island, Mexico, revealed that group patterns of sand flipping and migration to the surf were correlated with weather conditions. These behaviors were interrupted by a partial solar eclipse or by intermittent clouds. The occurrence of both behavioral patterns was essentially absent on overcast or rainy days. Sand flipping and wetting with water both create a favorable gradient for heat loss as shown by comparisons of temperatures at the skin surface. Wetting with sea water is the more effective in involving the largest surface for evaporative cooling. The efficacy of evaporative cooling is illustrated by an experiment in which periodic sprinkling of individuals with sea water prevented the behavioral sequence while it was occurring in un-wetted animals. Considerable thermolability, while on land, is indicated from telemetry data, which revealed a range in stomach temperature for two weanling seals of 35.7 to 39.1 and 37.2 to 39.6°C. The highest temperatures were associated with vigorous physical activity and exposure to direct sun (or both), whereas the lowest were recorded when individuals had been wetted at surfs edge or were relatively inactive and not exposed to intense sunlight. Sand flipping does not appear to occur at a specific deep-body temperature, but is most likely initiated through peripheral receptors sensitive to the rate of peripheral heating. While on land and under thermal loading from endogenous or exogenous sources, purely physiological mechanisms for heat dissipation (peripheral vasodilation, sweating, respiratory evaporative cooling) appear to be inadequate in maintaining a stable core temperature. On a clear day the behavioral sequence is typically: 1) exposure of the most reflective surface (belly up); 2) prone position followed by flipping of moist sand to the dorsum; and 3) migration to the edge of the surf where wetting and evaporative cooling occur. Elephant seals seem physiologically adapted to sea temperatures, their repertoire of purely physiological thermoregulatory mechanisms being insufficient to meet the thermal loads often encountered on land.
Host-parasite relationships in experimental airborne tuberculosis. V. Lack of hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to the lungs in animals vaccinated with Bacille Calmette-Guérin.

The influence of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on the pathogenesis of experimental airborne tuberculosis was studied. In a model that approximates the conditions under which man is vaccinated and infected, BCG-vaccinated and unvaccinated guinea pigs were infected by the respiratory route with an inoculum that resulted in the inhalation and retention (by each animal) of approximately three virulent tubercle bacilli (Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv). Hematogenous seeding of the lungs occurred in unvaccinated animals about three weeks after aerosol infection but did not occur in BCG-vaccinated animals. Furthermore, the lungs of BCG-vaccinated animals failed to kill H37Rv that was introduced intravenously; however, evidence of mycobacteriostatic activity was found throughout the lungs. In view of the importance of hematogenous dissemination to the apex of the lungs in the establishment of pulmonary tuberculosis in man, the foregoing observations suggest a means by which vaccination with BCG may confer acquired resistance to tuberculosis.
Feasibility of Portable Acoustic Emission Approach for Prognosis of Stress Fractures

Repetitive mechanical loading induces microscale damage in bone to accumulate and may lead to stress fractures [1]. People with weakened bones due to disuse or disease, or, healthy people who have excessive exercise regimes (soldiers and athletes) experience these fractures [2]. Stress fractures interrupt training, reduce fitness and may even lead to discharge from the military in certain occasions [3]. Therefore, early prognosis and prevention of stress fractures would be desirable. Currently, following methods are being used for diagnosis: plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The sensitivity of plain radiography is very low, 15–35% [4]. CT is less sensitive than radiography except some very special and rare cases of stress fractures [5]. Among these diagnostic methods, scintigraphy and MRI are more sensitive. However, the former lacks specificity because it may confound infections, tumors, bone infarctions, periostisis and osteonecrosis [2,5]. Furthermore, it is radioactive [5]. MRI has immense economical and logistical limitations [6].© 2008 ASME
The Impact of Organismal Innovation on Functional and Ecological Diversification

Innovations in organismal functional morphology are thought to be a major force in shaping evolutionary patterns, with the potential to drive adaptive radiation and influence the evolutionary prospects for lineages. But the evolutionary consequences of innovation are diverse and usually do not result in adaptive radiation. What factors shape the macroevolutionary impact of innovations? We assert that little is known in general about the macroevolutionary outcomes associated with functional innovations and we discuss a framework for studying biological innovations in an evolutionary context. Innovations are novel functional mechanisms that enhance organismal performance. The ubiquity of trade-offs in functional systems means that enhanced performance on one axis often occurs at the expense of performance on another axis, such that many innovations result in an exchange of performance capabilities, rather than an expansion. Innovations may open up new resources for exploitation but their consequences for functional and ecological diversification depend heavily on the adaptive landscape around these novel resources. As an example of a broader program that we imagine, we survey five feeding innovations in labrid fishes, an exceptionally successful and ecologically diverse group of reef fishes, and explore their impact on the rate of evolution of jaw functional morphology. All of the innovations provide performance enhancements and result in changes in patterns of resource use, but most are not associated with subsequent functional diversification or substantial ecological diversification. Because selection acts on a specific performance enhancement and not on the evolutionary potential of an innovation, the enhancement of diversity may be highly serendipitous. The macroevolutionary potential of innovations depends critically on the interaction between the performance enhancement and the ecological opportunity that is exposed.
Novel Therapies in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Over the past several years, there have been significant advances in treatments and outcomes in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), with multiple new drugs with varying mechanisms gaining U.S. FDA approval. Despite these improvements, treatment resistance emerges within 1–2 years and metastatic CRPC remains incurable. Novel, rationally designed drugs and combination strategies are under investigation to further improve outcomes. Here we discuss a selection of these promising therapies in metastatic CRPC. Trials of immunotherapy with checkpoint blockade in CRPC are underway to try to match the success already found in melanoma and lung cancer. New drugs are being designed to target the AR-V7 splice variant, which has provided a mechanism for disease evasion of current hormonal therapies such as abiraterone and enzalutamide. Antibody-drug conjugates are being designed to allow for more specific delivery of drug to cancer cells in hopes of improving efficacy while decreasing systemic toxicity. Targeting stemness pathways such as Hedgehog and Notch signaling may provide a way to block self-renewing stem-like cells. Treatment with antisense oligonucleotides may be used to turn off genes of the cancer itself. Finally, identifying each drug’s appropriate place in the treatment algorithm, as well as obtaining synergy through combination therapy, will continue to improve outcomes for men with CRPC.
Light Scattering Technology for Food Property, Quality and Safety Assessment

Light Scattering Technology for Food Property, Quality and Safety Assessment discusses the development and application of various light scattering techniques for measuring the structural and rheological properties of food, evaluating composition and quality attributes, and detecting pathogens in food. The first four chapters cover basic concepts, principles, theories, and modeling of light transfer in food and biological materials. Chapters 5 and 6 describe parameter estimation methods and basic techniques for determining optical absorption and scattering properties of food products. Chapter 7 discusses the spatially-resolved measurement technique for determining the optical properties of food and biological materials, whereas Chapter 8 focuses on the time-resolved spectroscopic technique for measuring optical properties and quality or maturity of horticultural products. Chapter 9 examines practical light scattering techniques for nondestructive quality assessment of fruits and vegetables. Chapter 10 presents the theory of light transfer in meat muscle and the measurement of optical properties for determining the postmortem condition and textural properties of muscle foods and meat analogs. Chapter 11 covers the applications of spatially-resolved light scattering techniques for assessing quality and safety of animal products. Chapter 12 looks into light scattering for milk and dairy processing. Chapter 13 examines the applications of dynamic light scattering for measuring the microstructure and rheological properties of food. Chapter 14 shows the applications of a biospeckle technique for assessing the quality and condition of fruits and vegetables. Chapter 15 provides a detailed description of Raman scattering spectroscopic and imaging techniques in food quality and safety assessment. Chapter 16, the final chapter, focuses on applications of light scattering techniques for the detection of food-borne pathogens.
Nanoelectronic neurocomputing: Status and prospects

Potential advantages of specialized hardware for neuromorphic computing had been recognized several decades ago (see, e.g., Refs. [1, 2]), but the need for it became especially acute recently, due to significant advances of the computational neuroscience and machine learning. The most vivid example is given by the deep learning in convolution neuromorphic networks [3]: the recent dramatic progress of this technology, with it's rapid extension to several important applications, was enabled by the use of modern GPU clusters [4, 5]. Even higher performance and lower power consumption has been recently demonstrated using FPGAs [5-7] and custom digital circuits [5, 8].
How Does Voting in Village Elections Influence Democratic Assessment in China

How does voting in village elections affect one’s assessment of China’s democracy? In a time when a majority of the Chinese people believe that China is a democracy, this question has important implications for the prospects of bottom-up democratization. Village elections may play a positive role if they can bring people to realize that China is not a democracy. By contrast, village elections may play a negative role if they reinforce the belief that China is already a democracy. Using the China data of the ABS II, I show that voting in village elections does lead to more negative democratic assessment, but this does not imply a positive role of village elections for bottom-up democratization, because the negative effect of voting is only detected in elections of poor quality. In free and fair elections, voting has no influence.
The Inner City Intern, Part I: Culture and Memory

In my first year as a doctoral intern, I worked at an African American social service agency in Portland, Oregon, and it was there that I came to understand that cultural memory is anything but private—it is something we live into together. Simply put, “Memory is relational” (Ullman, 2011, p. 269) and “everything but static and past tense” (Stern, 2011). I also learned that cultural memory and collective identity are political in ways we do not understand.
A common bacterial metabolite elicits prion-based bypass of glucose repression

We communicate with each other using speech, writing and physical gestures. But how do bacteria, yeast and other single-celled microbes communicate? In 2014, researchers reported a new example of communication between bacteria and yeast in which the bacteria send a chemical message that has a very long-lasting effect on how the yeast grow in certain environments. This in turn also affected the ability of the bacteria to survive in these environments. The identity of the chemical message produced by the bacteria, however, was not known. Garcia, Dietrich et al. – including one of the researchers from the previous study – used biochemical and genetic approaches to identify the chemical message. The experiments show that the message is a molecule called lactic acid, which is very common in nature and is produced by many bacteria. Garcia, Dietrich et al. found out how much lactic acid is needed to alter the growth of brewer’s yeast, and which genes in yeast are involved in responding to the message from the bacteria. Further experiments suggest that the ability of yeast and bacteria to communicate using lactic acid is likely to have existed for hundreds of millions of years. The next step following this work will be to identify other chemical messages used by microbes. The human body is packed with billions of bacterial cells, and in some cases yeast can also take up residence. A future challenge will be to find out if bacteria and yeast inside the human body are able to communicate with each other in ways that could affect our health.
Relationships between outgoing longwave radiation and diabatic heating in reanalyses

This study investigates relationships between daily variability in National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), as a proxy for deep convection, and the global diabatic heat budget derived from reanalysis data sets. Results are evaluated based on data from ECMWF Reanalysis (ERA-Interim), Japanese 55-year Reanalysis (JRA-55) and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA2). The diabatic heating is separated into components linked to ‘physics’ (mainly latent heat fluxes), plus longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) radiative tendencies. Transient variability in deep convection is highly correlated with diabatic heating throughout the troposphere and stratosphere. Correlation patterns and composite analyses show that enhanced deep convection (lower OLR) is linked to amplified heating in the tropical troposphere and in the mid-latitude storm tracks, tied to latent heat release. Enhanced convection is also linked to radiative cooling in the lower stratosphere, due to weaker upwelling LW from lower altitudes. Enhanced transient deep convection increases LW and decreases SW radiation in the lower troposphere, with opposite effects in the mid to upper troposphere. The compensating effects in LW and SW radiation are largely linked to variations in cloud fraction and water content (vapor, liquid and ice). These radiative balances in reanalyses are in agreement with idealized calculations using a column radiative transfer model. The overall relationships between OLR and diabatic heating are robust among the different reanalyses, although there are differences in radiative tendencies in the tropics due to large differences of cloud water and ice content among the reanalyses. These calculations provide a simple statistical method to quantify variations in diabatic heating linked to transient deep convection in the climate system.
Some issues and subtleties in numerical simulation of X-ray FELs

Part of the overall design effort for x-ray FEL's such as the LCLS and TESLA projects has involved extensive use of particle simulation codes to predict their output performance and underlying sensitivity to various input parameters (e.g. electron beam emittance). This paper discusses some of the numerical issues that must be addressed by simulation codes in this regime. We first give a brief overview of the standard approximations and simulation methods adopted by time-dependent(i.e. polychromatic) codes such as GINGER, GENESIS, and FAST3D, including the effects of temporal discretization and the resultant limited spectral bandpass,and then discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies of these codes in predicting incoherent spontaneous emission (i.e. the extremely low gain regime).
SYSTEMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING MODELING REQUIREMENTS FOR SISO AND MIMO FEEDBACK CONTROL PROBLEMS

Abstract This paper presents a methodology by which the issue of modeling requirements for SISO and MIMO control of linear time-invariant plants is analyzed in a fundamental manner. The main result is the formulation of a Control-Relevant Parameter Estimation Problem (CRPEP) which explictly incorporates control considerations such as set point /disturbance directions and desired closed-loop transfer functions. The CRPEP is solved via prefiltered estimation of MIMO ARX models (model reduction case) and a state-space frequency-weighted estimation method (system identification case). Reduced-order and model predictive controllers obtained from these estimation techniques are demonstrated on a subset of the Shell Heavy Oil Fractionator problem.
Mitral Valve Disease: a Comprehensive Review.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of mitral valve disease, both mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation, starting with an overview of the valve anatomy. The advent of three-dimensional imaging has allowed a better representation of the valve anatomy. Rheumatic disease is still the number one cause of mitral stenosis worldwide and percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty remains the therapy of choice when indicated and in anatomically eligible patients. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is classified as primary (i.e., lesion in the mitral apparatus) or secondary (caused by left ventricular geometrical alterations). While surgery, preferably repair, is still the recommended therapy for severe primary MR, percutaneous approaches to repair and/or replace the mitral valve are being extensively investigated. Mitral valve disease is common. A careful understanding of mitral valve anatomy and the disease processes that affect the valve are crucial for providing optimal patient care.
Radioactivity in wild-growing mushrooms of the Calabria region, south of Italy

Wild-growing mushrooms are a complementary foodstuff, widely consumed as a delicacy, in Italy. They are considered excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution and the accumulation of radionu...
High-Flow, Heated, Humidified Air Via Nasal Cannula Treats CPAP-Intolerant Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Study objectives Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective but challenging for children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). High-flow air via open nasal cannula (HFNC) as treatment in children remains controversial. We report the efficacy of HFNC in children with OSA and CPAP intolerance, a titration protocol, and a discussion of potential mechanisms. Methods Patients aged 1 to 18 years with OSA (defined by obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [OAHI] greater than 1 event/h) and CPAP intolerance were enrolled. Routine polysomnography data obtained during 1 night wearing HFNC was compared with diagnostic data by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Ten school-age subjects (representing all patients attempting HFNC at our institution to date) with varied medical conditions, moderate to severe OSA, and CPAP intolerance wore HFNC from 10 to 50 L/min of room air with oxygen supplementation if needed (room air alone for 6 of the 10). HFNC reduced median OAHI from 11.1 events/h (interquartile range 8.7-18.8 events/h) to 2.1 events/h (1.7-2.2 events/h; P = .002); increased oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) mean from 91.3% (89.6% to 93.5%) to 94.9% (92.4% to 96.0%; P Conclusions High-flow nasal cannula reduces respiratory events, improves oxygenation, reduces heart rate, and may be effective for CPAP intolerant children with moderate to severe OSA. Our data suggest HFNC warrants further study and consideration by payers as OSA therapy.
Perseverance in the Parish?: Religious Attitudes from a Black Catholic Perspective

African American Catholics, though small in number and historically the targets of racial intolerance, are now the backbone of the church. The vast majority of African American Catholics do not perceive racial marginalization and intolerance in the church. African American Catholics are among the strongest religious identifiers in the church, while whites show a more fragile Catholic identity. The Catholic church may have finally overcome its racist past for the vast majority of African American Catholics, but serious concerns remain for white Catholics. Based on data from a national religion survey, this book explores religious attitudes from an African American Catholic perspective.
Predictors of Partial Hospital Readmission for Young Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

This study aimed to: (1) examine rates of readmission among young children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) following discharge from a psychiatric partial hospital treatment program, and (2) examine child factors (i.e., age, sex, co-occurring diagnoses, suicidality) and family factors (i.e., parental depression, stress) as prospective predictors of readmission. Participants were 261 children (ages 3–7 years) who entered the study at the time of their initial program admission and who met DSM-IV criteria for ODD. Of these 261 children, 61 (23%) were subsequently readmitted, with most readmissions occurring within 1 year. Cox regression survival analyses demonstrated that younger child age, child suicidal thoughts and behavior, and child PTSD diagnosis were associated with decreased time to readmission. Findings suggest that young children with ODD who present with co-occurring suicidality or PTSD are at risk for readmission following partial hospitalization, with implications for treatment and aftercare planning.
365 EVALUATION OF A REMEDIATION PROGRAM IN AN INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY.

Introduction “Problem residents” are a common phenomenon in internal medicine residency programs. The most frequently identified cause is due to a deficiency in medical knowledge. One objective measure of medical knowledge is the American Board of Internal Medicine In-training Exam (ABIM ITE). Residents who score less than the 35th percentile on the ABIM ITE have a negative predictive value of 83% to fail the ABIM certifying examination. This study evaluates the effects of the implementation of a formal remediation program on study habits and achievement on the ABIM certification examination at a university-based internal medicine residency. Methods Second- and third-year residents during the academic years 2004-2005 were divided into a remediation group and a control group. The remediation group consisted of residents that scored less than the 35th percentile on the ABIM ITE. The control group consisted of residents who scored greater than the 35th percentile on the ABIM ITE. The remediation program consisted of mandatory monthly examinations composed of questions from the Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program. Prior to initiation of the remediation program, both groups were given a survey to determine their current study habits. On completion of the remediation program (typically at graduation), the residents repeated the same survey. Results The remediation group consisted of seven residents. The control group consisted of 12 residents. Preintervention, both groups had similar length of hours allocated to studying on a daily basis: 1.4 hours for the remediation group and 1.6 for the control group. Postintervention study hours increased, 2.4 hours daily for the remediation group and 1.78 hours daily for the control group. Via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with n = 4, there is no possible value that the sum of signed ranks would be significant at a baseline p ≤ .05. Of note, 75% of the residents in the remediation program who took the ABIM certifying examination passed and 100% of the residents in the control group who took the ABIM certifying examination passed. Discussion Residency programs have been challenged in finding interventions to help their residents in gaining the medical knowledge necessary to pass the ABIM certification examinations as well as to be competent physicians. Previous studies have not shown any proven benefit of a remediation program. Even though the increase in study time was not statistically significant, the majority of residents in the remediation group who took their ABIM certifying examination passed on their first attempt. Limitations of the study included small sample size and some bias as the remediation group had a lower ITE score at baseline compared with the control group.
Nonparametric inference for the spectral measure of a bivariate pure-jump semimartingale

Abstract We develop a nonparametric estimator for the spectral density of a bivariate pure-jump Ito semimartingale from high-frequency observations of the process on a fixed time interval with asymptotically shrinking mesh of the observation grid. The process of interest is locally stable, i.e., its Levy measure around zero is like that of a time-changed stable process. The spectral density function captures the dependence between the small jumps of the process and is time invariant. The estimation is based on the fact that the characteristic exponent of the high-frequency increments, up to a time-varying scale, is approximately a convolution of the spectral density and a known function depending on the jump activity. We solve the deconvolution problem in Fourier transform using the empirical characteristic function of locally studentized high-frequency increments and a jump activity estimator.
An Observational Cohort Study of Clostridium difficile Ribotype 027 and Recurrent Infection

ABSTRACT Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) frequently complicates recovery from CDI. Accurately predicting rCDI would allow judicious allocation of limited resources, but published models have met with limited success. Thus, biomarkers predictive of recurrence have been sought. This study tested whether PCR ribotype independently predicted rCDI. Stool samples from nonpregnant inpatients ≥18 years of age with diarrhea were included from October 2010 to January 2013 after the patients tested positive for C. difficile in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Per guidelines, the rCDI was defined as a positive test for C. difficile at >2 weeks but ≤8 weeks from the index episode. For each sample, a single colony of C. difficile was isolated by anaerobic culture, confirmed to be toxigenic by PCR, and ribotyped. Simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regression were used to model the primary outcome of rCDI, incorporating a wide range of clinical parameters. In total, 927 patients with 968 index episodes of CDI were included, with 110 (11.4%) developing rCDI. Age and use of proton pump inhibitors or concurrent antibiotics did not increase the risk of rCDI. Low serum bilirubin levels and ribotype 027 were associated with increased risk of rCDI on unadjusted analysis, with health care-associated CDI being inversely associated. In the final multivariable model, ribotype 027 was the strongest independent predictor of rCDI (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 3.56; P = 0.002). Ribotype 027 is an independent predictor of rCDI. IMPORTANCE CDI is a major public health issue, with over 400,000 cases per year in the United States alone. Recurrent CDI is common, occurring in approximately one in five individuals after a primary episode. Although interventions exist that could reduce the risk of recurrence, deployment in all patients is limited by cost, invasiveness, and/or an undetermined long-term safety profile. Thus, clinicians need risk stratification tools to properly allocate treatments. Because prior research on clinical predictors has failed to yield a reliable, reproducible, and effective predictive model to assist treatment decisions, accurate biomarkers of recurrence would be of great value. This study tested whether PCR ribotype independently predicted rCDI, and the data build upon prior research in showing that ribotype 027 is associated with rCDI.
Histamine distribution in human basophil secretory granules undergoing FMLP-stimulated secretion and recovery.

We examined subcellular histamine localizations in purified human basophils that were stimulated to degranulate with FMLP using an ultrastructural enzyme-affinity technique. Basophils were collected at early (0, 20 seconds, 1 minute) and late (10 minutes to 6 hours) time points poststimulation and were prepared for routine ultrastructural and diamine oxidase-gold (DAO-gold) cytochemical analysis. Histamine was present in unaltered cytoplasmic secretory granules (30.77 gold particles per square micrometer; P < .001 compared with background); specificity controls (histamine absorption, diamine oxidase digestion) abrogated granule labeling for histamine. Altered granules in stimulated cells were not significantly labeled for histamine, as compared with background (P = not significant); unaltered granules in the same cells contained more histamine than altered granules (P < .05). During recovery times, spanning 10 minutes to 6 hours, granules again appeared to be electron-dense and contained histamine (33.49/microns2; P = not significant as compared with unaltered granules in 1-minute FMLP-stimulated cells, and P < .05 as compared with altered granules in 1-minute FMLP-stimulated samples). Other structures devoid of histamine in actively secreting cells included extruded granules and intragranular and extruded Charcot-Leyden crystals. Recovering basophils displayed morphologic evidence of material and membrane conservation, granule content condensation, and biosynthesis. Subcellular histamine-rich sites in actively recovering basophils included condensing granules and collections of cytoplasmic vesicles in three locations: beneath the plasma membrane, adjacent to granules, and in the Golgi region. These studies show that unaltered granules of actively releasing human basophils, as well as similar granules that are reconstituted after FMLP-stimulated degranulation, contain histamine, but that altered granules in stimulated cells undergoing degranulation are devoid of histamine. Reconstitution of histamine-rich granules is associated with DAO-gold-positive cytoplasmic vesicles, suggesting transport of histamine derived from either new synthesis, re-uptake of released histamine, or both, to reconstituted granules.
Experimental Models of Colorectal Carcinogenesis

A large number of different experimental models of large bowel carcinogenesis have been used to study colorectal neoplasia (Autrup and Williams 1983; Rogers and Nauss 1985; Pozharisski et al. 1979; LaMont and O’Gorman 1978; Amberger 1986; Gilbert 1987). The importance of these models lies in their potential relevance to human colorectal neoplasia. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment have been addressed in experimental models.
Radiologic Diagnosis and Intervention for Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to bleeding anywhere along the GI tract from the mouth to the anus. GI bleeding can broadly be divided into an upper or lower GI bleeding depending on if it occurs proximal or distal to the ligament of Treitz, respectively. Differentiating between these two groups is important for directing evaluation and treatment of the source of bleeding. There are several potential radiologic studies that can be ordered when GI bleeding is suspected to aid in the detection and localization of the bleeding source, including CT angiography, 99mTc-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy (tagged RBC scan), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). However, these are usually performed only after investigation with esophagoduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy—both of which can be diagnostic and therapeutic if a source is found. Once a bleeding source is identified, endovascular therapeutic interventions such as transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) can often be performed promptly and effectively with successful outcomes in the interventional radiology suite.
Efficient Prediction of Liver Disease using Selected Attributes

Liver plays a vital role in the human body that performs several crucial life functions. A number of liver diseases exist and it is a challenging task to diagnose the liver disease at its early stage. In recent years, several data mining techniques have been used in medical field for prediction but there can be further improvements for quick and accurate diagnose of liver disease. In this paper, a variety of Classifiers have been experimented on Indian liver disease patients dataset which is publicly available on Kaggle. Attribute subset selection is performed to identify significant attributes and the resulting dataset is named as Selected Attributes Dataset (SAD). SAD provides more accuracy in less computation time using Random forest classification algorithm and improved system including these parameters i.e., the efficiency of the system can be increased, early decision making, less time and space required. This research work will provide help to predict liver disease with less amount of data, i.e., number of attributes.
Federal League Baseball Club of Baltimore v National League et al. 259 US 200 (1922)

The claimant, a baseball club, sought review of a decision of the United States Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, which reversed a judgment awarding the club damages for a conspiracy by the defendants to monopolise the baseball industry in violation of federal antitrust/competition law, namely the Sherman Act 1890. The claimants alleged that the defendants had conspired by purchasing or inducing all other clubs in the claimant’s former league to leave that league. The United States Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the US Court of Appeals and held that the conduct charged against the defendants was not an interference with interstate commerce as prohibited by, and within the meaning of, the Sherman Act. The US Supreme Court’s rationale was that, although competitions between the various clubs required extensive and repeated travel across state lines by players and officials, such travel was merely incidental to baseball competitions. The business of providing and organising public baseball games for profit between professional clubs in rival league formats was not interstate commerce: baseball was purely a state affair and thus America’s “national game” was not subject to federal antitrust law.
Financial Overview of an LVAD Program under Global Bundled Payment Model

Purpose LVADs decrease mortality but have high hospitalization costs. Maryland operates the nation's only global bundled payment (GBP) model with an all-payer system where insurers reimburse at similar rates. The financial impact on LVAD volume is unclear. We hypothesized that the GBP model would not financially limit LVAD program growth. Method We performed a retrospective review of LVAD patients at a single center. We analyzed direct variable charges relative to patients’ characteristics and lengths of stay (LOS). Charges were those incurred from index LVAD implant admission and readmissions. Results Between 12/15 and 8/17, 50 patients had LVAD implants, 45 had available data. Median age was 56 years, median support 150 days (IQ 92-275), and 77.4% had less than a college education. By 8/17, 26 (57.8%) remained on LVAD support, 13 (28.9%) were transplanted, and 5 died (11%). Most had government insurance that paid at 93% of charges (Figure A) with a payment:cost ratio > 1. Total charges are $17,753,728. LOS from implant to discharge was 16 days (IQ 12-28). Median charge of LVAD implant admission was $322,058. For each extra hospital day, charge increased by $5585 (R2 = 0.7348, p Conclusion The GBP model may not limit LVAD program growth given payment:cost ratio > 1 by non-commercial insurance. LVAD implant in less sick patients and reduced readmissions likely result in net positive income for a program under the GBP model.