cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
National Fluid Shifts: Fifteen-Year Trends in Paracentesis and Thoracentesis Procedures

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate national trends in paracentesis and thoracentesis procedures and the relative roles of specialty groups providing these services. Methods Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from 1993 to 2008 were analyzed for paracentesis and thoracentesis procedure codes. Using physician specialty identifier codes, procedure volumes were extracted for radiologists, primary care physicians, and surgeons for both procedures. Volume data were extracted for gastroenterologists and pulmonary and critical care medicine physicians, respectively, for paracentesis and thoracentesis. Frequency by site of service was similarly evaluated. Relative changes were calculated. Results Between 1993 and 2008, paracentesis procedures on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries increased by 133% (from 64,371 to 149,699), and thoracentesis procedures decreased by 14% (from 147,363 to 127,444). Services by radiologists increased by 964% (from 10,456 to 111,275) and 358% (from 14,531 to 66,602), respectively, while all other targeted groups experienced declines. For paracentesis, radiologist and gastroenterologist procedure shares changed from 16% and 32%, respectively, in 1993 to 74% and 6% in 2008. For thoracentesis, radiologist and pulmonary and critical care medicine physician shares changed from 10% and 49% to 52% and 27%. Relative shifts in site of service to the hospital outpatient setting occurred for both procedures. Conclusions Since 1993, paracentesis procedures on Medicare beneficiaries have more than doubled, while thoracentesis volumes have declined slightly. Radiologists now far exceed gastroenterologists and pulmonary and critical care medicine physicians, respectively, as the predominant providers of these services. Those shifts are likely attributable to both the incremental safety of imaging guidance and also the unfavorable economics of these procedures.
Alpha interferon treatment of low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The interferons represent an important first member of a family of biologic response modifiers used in treating human malignancies. Activities associated with the interferons include inhibition of viral replication, influence on cellular protein production, direct antiproliferative effects, and a variety of modulatory effects on the immune response. These regulatory functions of interferon underlie the interest in its use as an anticancer agent. Interferon alpha is the most extensively studied interferon species. Although antitumor activity has been seen both in vivo and in vitro in some solid malignancies, the most impressive responses have occurred in the hematologic malignancies. For the low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, response rates of 50%, with 10% to 15% complete responses, have been reported. A response rate of 15% has been reported for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in studies outside of the National Cancer Institute (NCI); in our phase II trials at the NCI, only two (11%) of 18 patients had brief partial responses to recombinant interferon alpha. For patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (mycosis fungoides and the Sezary syndrome), a response rate of 45%, with 10% complete responses, was seen in patients treated with recombinant interferon alpha. Based on such findings, interferon appears to be one of the most effective single agents for cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Further phase II trials are being conducted to determine whether lower doses of interferon alpha are as effective as the high doses used in the previously reported studies. Phase III trials will involve the use of interferons in combination with chemotherapeutic agents as well as in the adjuvant setting.
Benzodiazepine concentrations in brain directly reflect receptor occupancy: studies of diazepam, lorazepam, and oxazepam.

Groups of male CF-1 mice received 3 and 10 µmol/kg diazepam, lorazepam, and oxazepam intravenously. Between 1 min and 24 h after injection, benzodiazepine concentrations were determined by gas chromatography (GLC) in plasma and in one brain hemisphere; in the other hemisphere, ex vivo benzodiazepine receptor occupancy was measured using3H-flunitrazepam displacement. Based on GLC data, diazepam entered brain rapidly, and was also cleared rapidly, yielding desmethyldiazepam and oxazepam as metabolites in plasma and brain. However, lorazepam and oxazepam entered brain slowly, with brain:plasma equilibrium achieved at 30–60 min; thereafter, the drugs were eliminated from plasma and brain in parallel. The time course and extent of ex vivo occupancy were highly consistent with GLC data (for diazepam, GLC levels were expressed as the sum of diazepam, desmethyldiazepam, and oxazepam, with metabolite concentrations, normalized for molecular weight and for in vitro benzodiazepine receptor affinity.) Between-method correlations were 0.95 or higher. Thus benzodiazepine receptor occupancy is highly dependent on benzodiazepine concentrations in brain. Differences in the time-course of onset and duration of pharmacologic activity between the highly lipophilic benzodiazepine diazepam and the less lipophilic hydroxylated derivatives lorazepam and oxazepam are largely explained by differences in systemic kinetics and in the rate of uptake into brain.
Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Elateridae Leach, 1815

Diversity in Peru: 8 subfamilies, 43 genera, 164 species. Recognition: The beetles of this family are immediately recognized by their generally elongate and narrow body, a disproportionately large and loosely attached prothorax that rapidly articulates with the mesothorax to “snap” the body for predator escape and self-righting; serrate to pectinate antennae; large prosternum; large subtriangular hypomeron; large subquadrate metaventrite; and slender legs with long pentamerous tarsus, usually with ventral setal brushes or membranous pads. Habitat: Elaterids are found primarily in forests, savannas, thorn-forests, and scrublands, with different taxa between wet and dry vegetation types. Some are specialized by larval adaptions to arboreal and terrestrial bromeliads, epiphyte mats on large tree limbs, sandy riparian soils, grassland soils, or various stages of internal decay of dead and dying trees. Adult activity is short-lived and mostly crepuscular and nocturnal, especially in warm to hot environments. Mid and upper elevation species are often diurnal. They feed at high-carbohydrate sources such as plant wounds and weeps, floral and extra-floral nectaries, decaying fruits, plant glandular exudates, but also predate on small plant-feeding arthropods. Larvae are mostly predators under loose bark, within decaying wood, among roots and rhizomes of epiphytes, leaf axils of bromeliads, and in soil. Some species are rhizophages in soil. Notes: The checklist of Elateridae is based on Gemminger and Harold (1869),
Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Intravenous Sildenafil in Two Subjects with Child–Turcotte–Pugh Class C Cirrhosis and Renal Dysfunction

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors have been used successfully in patients with cirrhosis to treat porto-pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, in cirrhosis, PDE-5 inhibitors can potentially improve portal hypertension and renal hemodynamics. No pharmacokinetics and tolerability studies of intravenous (IV) sildenafil have been conducted in Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C cirrhosis and renal dysfunction. We report two subjects with CTP class C cirrhosis and estimated glomerular filtration rate of 25.8 and 22.4 ml/min/1.73m2 treated with a single-dose, IV bolus injection of 2.5 mg sildenafil. Both subjects had diuretic-refractory ascites with model for end-stage liver disease scores of 25 and 35. Both subjects tolerated IV Sildenafil without side effects. The observed maximum concentrations of plasma sildenafil were 35 and 20.6 ng/ml, with modeled pharmacokinetic estimates for clearance (11.9 and 14.9 L/hr), volumes of distribution (72.8 and 77.3 L) and half-life (4.2 and 3.6 hrs). N-desmethyl sildenafil concentrations ranged from 3 to 40% of the parent concentrations. Our results showed that in CTP class C cirrhosis and renal dysfunction, IV bolus injection of 2.5 mg sildenafil is safe and tolerable.
THE CONTROL OF EMERGENCE AND METABOLISM BY EXTERNAL OSMOTIC PRESSURE AND THE ROLE OF FREE GLYCEROL IN DEVELOPING CYSTS OF ARTEMIA SALINA.

1. The effects of external osmotic pressure on the rates of development and emergence, respiration, and on changes in glycogen, glycerol, and trehalose concentrations have been studied in cysts of Artemia salina . 2. The only measured effect of external osmotic pressures less than 30 atm. on emergence and development is to determine the time required for the embryo to emerge from the cyst. Above this value the onset, rate, and final percent of emergence decrease. No emergence occurs at osmotic pressures greater than about 65 atm. 3. The oxygen consumption decreases with increased osmotic pressure, and is negligible at about 65 atm. 4. Several lines of evidence show that trehalose is the respiratory substrate, that most of the trehalose present in the dormant embryo is converted to glycogen and glycerol during development, and that the direction and extent of these conversions are controlled by the external osmotic pressure. 5. Glycerol appears to be present in at least two distinct locations in the cyst: within the embryo, and between the embryo and shell. Glycerol in the latter location is released into the medium at the time of emergence; the embryonic glycerol is rapidly metabolized after emergence. 6. The physiological significance of glycerol and trehalose in the emergence process is discussed.
1008 THE ASSOCIATION OF KERNICTERUS (KI) WITH BACTERIAL SEPSIS

The only cases of KI detected at autopsy in neonates at this institution from 1971 through 1976 occurred in 3 infants with antemortem culture proven sepsis. During this period there were 14,210 deliveries, 387 transferred-in babies, 250 neonatal deaths and 178 autopsies. All 3 of the infants with KI weighed more than 2250 grams and had gestational ages of 36 or 37 weeks. Group B beta hemolytic streptococcal sepsis and meningitis was diagnosed in one infant, but the baby was never icteric. The second infant developed Klebsiella sepsis following spontaneous gastric perforation. The peak total serum bilirubin concentration (SBC) in this baby was 8.6 mg/dl. The third infant manifested E.coli sepsis at 8 hours of age and deteriorated despite appropriate antibiotic therapy; the peak total SBC was 15.6 mg/dl. The direct-reacting SBC in cases 2 and 3 never exceeded 1 mg/dl. All Apgar scores were at least 7 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes. During this period of time only 4 cases (3 with KI) were documented in which sepsis was proven prior to death and a subsequent autopsy was performed. The 3 infants with KI all died with their infection as the primary cause of death. The infant without KI, a 32 week 1850 gram baby, died of a massive CNS hemorrhage. This suggests that persistant bacterial sepsis may be a critical predisposing factor in the development of KI even in the presence of low serum bilirubin concentrations.
Nondestructive Measurement of Interphase Processes Using Impedance Spectroscopy

Impedance spectroscopy (IS) was used as a nondestructive technique to measure the interphase processes of encapsulated microelectronic substrates exposed to high relative humidity. The advantages of IS include: sensitivity of IS to chemical kinetics, ability of in-situ testing of encapsulated packages and non-destructive nature. Samples undergoing contamination under high relative humidity, produce frequency responses resembling those found for electrochemical cells. This suggests that the presence of hygroscopic residues induce surface water uptake resulting in the formation of surface electrochemical cells and decreased interphase impedance. Samples undergoing a process of “supercleaning” using argon plasma and exposed to high relative humidity, produce frequency responses that more closely approach responses characteristic of dry samples than do conventionally cleaned or contaminated samples.
Correlates of Voting Behavior in a Union Decertification Election

The article presents a study pertaining to the relationship between selected demographic and attitudinal variables and employee voting behavior in a union decertification election. The study was co...
Queues with Nonexponential Failure Times

AbstractThere are two difficulties with the inclusion of nonexponential failure times in queueing models. The first effect is that the failures will change the mean and variance (as well as higher moments) of the effective service times. The second difficulty is less obvious in that nonexponential failures will eliminate the stochastic independence between successive service times. Using phase-type distributions to model failure and repair times, it is relatively simple to model an M/M/1 queueing systems with failures; however, the “curse of dimensionality” takes over for G/G/1 systems with failures. Therefore, we propose in this paper to use an M/M/1 model with server failures as the basis for an approximation to more general systems.
Relation of Age at Insult to Outcome of Brain Injury

Cognitive and behavioral outcomes for children who sustain early brain insult (EBI) were evaluated in relation to age at insult in a study at Royal Children’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Effects of Simvastatin on transient ischemic attack and its influence on lipids

Objective: To analyze the effects of Simvastatin on transient ischemic attack.Methods: A total of 92 patients with TIA were randomly divided into two groups,group A(45 patients) were given enteric-coated aspirin tablets,group B(47 patients) were treated with simvastatin.Therapeutic effects of the both groups were observed.Results:89.36% patients of group A showed improvement,higher than the 73.33% of group B(P0.05).After treatment,TC,TG,LDL level of group B was lower than that in group A,but HDL level was higher(P both0.05).In group B,the rate of cerebral infarction,and TIA recurrence rate were 6.38% and 10.64%,respectively,both were lower 22.22% and 28.89% of group A(P0.05).Conclusion: Simvastatin shows great effects on transient ischemic attack,it can significantly decrease lipid levels to reduce cerebral infarction incidence and recurrence rate,which is good for patients' prognosis.
Pathogen surveillance and clinical characteristics analysis of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Changping District of Beijing in 2013

[Objective]To understand the pathogenic composition and the clinical characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease(HFMD) in Changping District of Beijing in 2013.[Methods]The questionnaire data and test results of HFMD patients were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological method.[Results]47 samples were positive among 98 oropharyngeal swabs,and the positive rate of CoxA6 was 44. 68%(21 /47),while the positive rate of EV71 and CoxA16 was 46. 81%(22 /47). The clinical manifestations were fever,rash /herpes,nail loss,peeling phenomenon,pigmentation,symptoms of respiratory tract and digestive tract. The proportion of patients whose body temperature was 38 ℃ or above in CoxA6-positive group was 76. 19%(16 /21),which was higher than that in non-CoxA6-positive group(χ2= 10. 58,P 0. 01). The incidence of nail loss in CoxA6-positive group was 28. 57%(6/21),which was higher than that in non-CoxA6-positive group(χ2= 18. 73,P 0. 01). The incidence of peeling phenomenon in CoxA6-positive group was 66. 67%(14 /21),which was higher than that in non-CoxA6-positive group(χ2= 49. 46,P 0. 01).[Conclusion]The pathogenic composition of HFMD has obviously changed in Changping District,and CoxA6 has gradually become the dominant strain of HFMD. Except the clinical symptoms of respiratory tract and digestive tract,there are typical nail loss,peeling phenomenon and pigmentation,and the proportion of patient whose body temperature is 38℃ or above has increased.
Effect of adenosine deaminase on cardiac interstitial adenosine.

Adenosine deaminase was infused into isolated perfused guinea pig hearts to determine its effect on myocardial adenosine levels. The enzyme was administered during constant coronary flow perfusion ...
Characterization of prazosin-sensitive alpha 2 B-adrenoceptors expressed by cultured rat IMCD cells

alpha 2-Adrenoceptor subtype expression was investigated in cultured rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells using radioligand binding studies, Northern blot analysis, and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) assays. [3H]rauwolscine bound to a single class of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with high affinity [Kd = 1.7 +/- 0.3 nM, maximum binding (Bmax) = 45.2 +/- 10.8 fmol/mg protein]. alpha 2-Adrenoceptor ligands inhibited [3H]rauwolscine binding with a rank order of potency characteristic of interaction with the alpha 2B-adrenoceptor [inhibitory constant (Ki) values (in nM) rauwolscine (1.95) greater than ARC-239 (8.52) greater than prazosin (237) greater than oxymetazoline (30,000)]. Northern blot analysis was performed using poly(A)+ RNA isolated from 90% confluent rat IMCD cells and probes derived from alpha 2-adrenoceptor DNA sequences from the rat nonglycosylated alpha 2B-adrenoceptor and the human alpha 2A-adrenoceptor. The alpha 2B probe hybridized to a 4.2-kb band under high stringency conditions, but the alpha 2A-adrenoceptor probe did not hybridize to this band. In functional studies, the full alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists epinephrine and UK-14,304 potently inhibited vasopressin-stimulated cAMP accumulation by 50 to 70% [half-maximal response (EC50) (in nM) epinephrine = 11.2, UK-14,304 = 6.4]. Guanabenz and clonidine were partial agonists, inhibiting cAMP accumulation by 30 to 40% and were less potent than the full agonists [EC50 (in nM) 56.0 guanabenz and 94.5 clonidine]. Epinephrine-induced inhibition of cAMP accumulation was blocked by rauwolscine, prazosin, and ARC-239 but not by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist corynanthine. We conclude that rat IMCD cells in primary culture express functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors of the alpha 2B-subtype.
Iran's Political Economy since the Revolution: Energy and the Islamic Republic

In March 1979, when Iran's nascent Islamic Republic resumed crude oil exports after sixty-nine days of revolutionary disruptions, it seemed to herald a new era. Iranian oil workers had played a central role in driving the shah from the throne, and issues related to Iran's oil sector had mobilized Iranian oppositionists for nearly half a century. A government established through popular action now had not simply authority over the formidable instruments of state power, but also – for the first time in Iran's history – unqualified authority over the country's foremost asset, its petroleum endowments. From its outset, the Islamic Republic realized the objective that had eluded the determined efforts of Reza Shah, Mosaddeq, and Mohammad Reza himself. At the ceremony that marked the resumption of exports, Hassan Nazih, a human rights lawyer who initially led the postrevolutionary national oil company, became emotional at the revolution's early achievement. “This is the greatest moment of my life.… I hope it is an omen of a bright future for our country and our people.” Unfortunately, Nazih's optimism proved premature. He was quickly purged for ideological differences, and the new state's sway over the country's incredible resources has not translated into the propitious future that he envisioned. Instead, Iran's oil production has never returned to its prerevolutionary heights, and the sector has been battered by government policy, sanctions, war, and political risk. The energy sector is ground zero for all of the revolutionary state's dilemmas. It represents the wellspring of modern nationalism and continues to generate the bulk of Iran's foreign exchange, as well as its access to and prominence within the global economy. The Islamic Republic's founders sought to reconfigure the role of energy in the postrevolutionary economy, so that the country's new authorities maintained a decisive upper hand over the international oil companies, as proxies for Western power, and the sector's revenues were used to advance Islamic values and sustainable growth, rather than exploitation, immorality, and the monarchy's apish ambitions.
Clarifying Parents' and Pediatricians' Views of Partnership

Purpose: Given the importance of partnership in improving health care outcomes among children, there is a substantial need to understand better what partnership means to parents and physicians. The goal of this study was to develop a partnership survey that was based on parents9 and pediatricians9 opinions about the key concepts of partnership. Methods: Parents of patients visiting an affluent suburban private practice and a federally qualified health center, and 2 groups of pediatricians, were asked to review 61 partnership concepts and identify those they considered as being important to partnership. Results: Parents and pediatricians from both practices agreed that 42 (68.9%) of the concepts were important to partnership. Sixteen of these concepts were dropped because they were redundant. Parents from both the suburban practice and health center identified 5 (8.2%) concepts that they believed contributed to partnership. Seven (11.5%) concepts were viewed as important to parents and pediatricians from the suburban practice but not to parents from the health center. Significant socioeconomic differences between the 2 parent groups suggested factors that explained the differences between parent groups. Conclusion: The 38 concepts endorsed by parents and pediatricians provided a nuanced view of partnership and formed the Parent Pediatrician Partnership Survey.
Outcome of intensive outpatient rehabilitation and bracing in an adult patient with Scheuermann's disease evaluated by radiologic imaging-a case report.

No studies examine the efficacy of intensive specific physical therapy (PT) exercises along with brace for the adult with Scheuermann’s kyphosis (SK). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of intensive PT based on the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) and SpinoMed brace on a 76-year-old female with SK. A 76-year-old female, diagnosed with SK as an adolescent, presented in October 2014 with thoracic hyperkyphosis T1 to T12 Cobb angle of 85° and lumbar hyper lordosis L1 to L5 Cobb angle of 70°. Lumbar scoliosis T12-L5 with 21° Cobb and vertebral rotation 2. Trunk translation in the sagittal plan was 4.5 cm. Intermittent low back pain 6/10 at worst. Quality-of-life score was 3.8 (SRS 22 questionnaire). The PT regimen included one-hour Schroth exercise sessions three times per week for 6 months. In addition, a home exercise program (HEP) was recommended. Patient also wore a SpinoMed brace for 2 h per day. All tests and measurements were recorded before and after treatment. After a six-month treatment period the kyphosis Cobb angle was reduced to 70° and the lordosis Cobb angle improved to 57°. A recent x-ray (October 2015) showed another improvement in the sagittal plane with thoracic kyphosis measuring 64° and lumbar lordosis 55°. Lumbar curvature decreased to 12° and vertebral rotation to 1. The quality-of-life score showed improvement with a score of 4.5 on the SRS 22. Pain score diminished to 2. Trunk deviation improved by 2.2 cm. These findings suggest that intensive and specific PT and bracing were successful for the treatment of this adult patient with SK.
Engineering Recombinant Protein Sensors for Quantifying Histone Acetylation.

H3K14ac (acetylation of lysine 14 of histone H3) is one of the most important epigentic modifications. Aberrant changes in H3K14ac have been associated with various diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders. Tools that enable detection and quantification of H3K14ac levels in cell extracts and in situ are thus of critical importance to reveal its role in various biological processes. Current detection techniques of specific histone modifications, however, are constrained by tedious sample pretreatments, lack of quantitative accuracy, and reliance on high quality antibodies. To address this issue, we engineered recombinant sensors that are suitable for probing histone acetylation levels using various biological samples. The protein sensor contains recongition domain(s) with sequences derived from the bromodomain of human polybromo-1 (PB1), a natural H3K14ac reader domain. Various sensor designs were tested using nuclear extracts and live cells. The sensor containing dimeric repeats of bromodoma...
Agreement Between Serum Assays Performed in ED Point-of-Care and Hospital Central Laboratories.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) testing allows for more time-sensitive diagnosis and treatment in the ED than sending blood samples to the hospital central laboratory (CL). However, many ED patients have blood sent to both, either out of clinical custom, or because clinicians do not trust the POC values. Objective: To examine the level of agreement between POC and CL values in a large cohort of ED patients. Methods: In an urban, Level One ED that sees approximately 120,000 patients/year, all patients seen between March 1st, 2013 and October 1st, 2014 who had blood sent to POC and CL labs had levels of agreement measured between serum sodium, potassium, BUN, creatinine, and hematocrit. Data were extracted from the hospital's clinical information system. Agreement was analyzed with the use of Bland-Altman plots, defining both 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and more conservative CIs based on clinical judgment. Results: Out of 163,661 patients seen during the study period, 14,567 had blood samples sent both for POC and CL analysis. Using clinical criteria, the levels of agreement for sodium were 98.6% (within 5mg/dL), for potassium 90.7% (0.5 mmol/L), for BUN 89.0% (within 5 mg/dL), for creatinine 94.5% (within 0.3 mg/dL), for hematocrit 96.5% (within 5 g/dL). Conclusion: Agreement between POC and CL values is excellent. Restricting the analysis to clinically important levels of agreement continues to show excellent agreement. The data suggest that sending a serum sample to the hospital CL for duplicate assays is unnecessary. This may result in substantial savings and shorter ED lengths of stay.
Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by limb ischemic preconditioning: underlying mechanisms and clinical effects

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important complication following diagnostic radiographic imaging and interventional therapy. It results from administration of intravascular iodinated contr...
Strict Liability and the Paradoxes of Proportionality

This essay explores the case against strict liability offenses as part of the more general debate about proportional punishment. This debate takes on a very different look in light of a formal result derived by the authors elsewhere, that is briefly summarized and whose implications are pursued here. Traditional objections that consequentialists have mounted against the deontologists’/retributivists’ defense of proportionality fall by the wayside, but a new threat to the proportionality requirement replaces it: the ease with which any such requirement can be circumvented.
Contribution of transposable elements and distal enhancers to evolution of human-specific features of interphase chromatin architecture in embryonic stem cells.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in publishing the panel C for Figures 3, 5 and 6.
Amantadine: A new treatment for refractory electrical status epilepticus in sleep.

Abstract Purpose Electrical status epilepticus in sleep (ESES) is an electrographic abnormality linked to language abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction and specifically associated with Landau–Kleffner syndrome (LKS), the syndrome of continuous spike and wave in slow-wave sleep (CSWS), and autistic regression with epileptiform EEG (AREE). As first-line therapies for treatment of ESES display inadequate efficacy and confer substantial risk, we set out to describe our center's experience with amantadine in the treatment of ESES. Methods Patients with video-EEG-confirmed ESES who received amantadine were retrospectively identified in a clinical EEG database. Spike–wave index, before and after amantadine exposure, was compared in a pairwise fashion. In an exploratory analysis, we cataloged reported changes in language functioning, cognition, and autistic features, which accompanied treatment. Results We identified 20 patients with ESES-associated syndromes. Median cumulative weighted average amantadine dosage was 2.1 mg/kg/d (interquartile range (IQR): 1.1, 4.5), and median duration of therapy was 11.5 months (IQR: 7.8, 26.6). In comparison with median baseline spike–wave index (76%), post-amantadine spike–wave index (53%) was reduced, with P = 0.01. Six (30%) patients exhibited complete (or nearly complete) resolution of ESES. A majority of patients exhibited subjective cognitive, linguistic, or behavioral benefit. Amantadine was generally well-tolerated despite substantial dosage and duration of therapy. Conclusions This study suggests that amantadine may be effective in the treatment of ESES-associated syndromes but warrants replication in a more rigorous study.
Variations in Clinical Disease During Replication of Lentiviruses

Nonsuppurative arthritis in goats and chronic dyspnea (maedi) and paralysis with wasting (visna) in sheep are slowly progressive diseases that are preceded by unusually long incubation periods and are caused by viruses that persist indefinitely and replicate at a slow restricted rate (1). Named to emphasize their slow pathogenic process, the agents have been designated “lentiviruses”. The lentiviruses of sheep and goats are prototypes of a taxonomic group of viruses that have similar pathogenic processes in other species. The group includes the viruses that cause infectious anemia and immune complex disease in equidae (equine infectious anemia virus, EIAV) and lymphadenopathy and acquired immunodeficiency disease in macaques and humans (human immunodeficiency virus, HIV) (2).
Mismatch Stress Effects on Microstructure-Flaw Size Dependence of KIC and Strength of Metal Bonded Carbides

This paper addresses two related effects of the mismatch stresses due to differences in thermal expansion between metal and carbide phases. First, a mathematical model, developed for the microstructural dependence of fracture energy, due to mismatch strains that exist between noncubic grains in a single phase body, is extended to such mismatch strains in two phase bodies, such as Co bonded WC. The combination of mismatch strains and the applied stress in the vicinity of a crack tip are treated as the source of microcracking in, or between, WC grains and local plastic deformation in the Co phase. Resultant calculations show good comparison with literature data on fracture energy, as well as strength data for flaws sufficiently larger than the microstructure.
1-Butyl-3-ethyl-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium tetra­fluoro­borate

In the title salt, C13H19N2+·BF4−, an ionic liquid, the butyl and ethyl substituents bonded to the N atoms of the imidazole ring [r.m.s. deviation = 0.019 (1) A] adopt equatorial positions. The crystal structure exhibits slipped π–π inter­actions between the imidazole and benzene rings of neighbouring mol­ecules [centroid–centroid distance = 3.529 (2) A]. In the tetra­fluoro­borate anion, the B and F atoms are disordered over two sets of sites with site-occupancy factors of 0.813 (7) and 0.187 (7).
Alteration of T cell lineage commitment by expression of a hybrid CD8/CD4 transgene.

Thymocyte differentiation and the subsequent production of peripheral functional T cells involve positive and negative selection events on developing thymocytes expressing a number of specific surface molecules, including the T cell receptor (TCR) and the coreceptor molecules CD4 and CDS. At least two different mechanisms may be responsible for the effects of CD4 and CDS on T cell development. CD4 binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II proteins1 and CDS binding to MHC class I proteins2 may increase the strength of interaction between the cells involved in the selection processes.3 Signal transduction through these coreceptors may also play an important role during thymocyte development. Recent evidence indicates that CD4 and CDS play important roles in signal transduction during T cell activation.4-9
Pathways Approach to Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common chronic illnesses and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Comorbidity among the physical illnesses in this category and mood and anxiety disorders is very high. Management of symptoms of shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, fatigue, or a sense of malaise are signals requiring attention first by the patient experiencing the symptoms; then the patient must have the ability to decide whether emergency medical attention is necessary. Interference by low mood or high anxiety in the decision-making process can have serious consequences. This chapter considers cardiovascular disorders from the Pathways perspective. The first case is that of a middle-aged physician who struggles to adjust to his diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The second case describes a traumatic reaction to heart surgery, necessitating treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. In each case, the Pathways Model organizes, step-wise interventions facilitating active involvement of the individual in his/her own health care. The effects of mood and anxiety on symptom management, response to treatment and outcome are explored. Both individuals achieve enhanced well-being in spite of the presence of a chronic cardiovascular condition.
No incidence of glenohumeral joint dislocation in a review of 220 paediatric proximal humerus fractures

Abstract Purpose Proximal humerus fractures in adults are approached with a high suspicion for potential associated glenohumeral dislocation. Axillary views of the shoulder can be painful and possi...
How older adults with multimorbidity manage their own care within a formal care coordination program

As the number of older adults with multimorbidity increases, care coordination programs are being designed to streamline the complex care older adults receive from multiple providers by improving health and reducing unnecessary costs. Well-coordinated care requires actions by both patients and providers. Yet little attention is paid to the what older adults do to manage their own care alongside a formal Care Coordination Program (CCP). This paper presents a qualitative descriptive study that explored what actions older adults took on their own to manage their care. Findings from this study identified that there were two actions older adults took to manage their care; they lived within their limits and they lived with grit. This study suggests that by recognizing what older adults do to self-manage their care within the context of a CCP, nurses can build on older adults' actions and provide person-centered strategies for care coordination.
An Embedded Tracking System with Neural Network Accelerator

With robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being more and more employed in real-life scenarios for monitoring and surveillance, there is a increasing demand for deploying various video processing applications in mobile systems. However, with limited on-board computational resources and power consumption, the application in this domain requires that the tracking platforms equipped should have outstanding computing power to handle the tasks in real-time with high-accuracy, while at the same time, fit the highly constrained environment of small size, light weight, and low power consumption (SWaP) for the purpose of long-term surveillance. In this paper, we proposed a new autonomous object tracking system based on an embedded platform, leveraging the emerging neural network hardware which is capable of massive parallel pattern recognition processing and demands only a low level power consumption. Further, a prototype of the tracking system that combines a low-power neural network chip, CogniMem, and an embedded development board, BeagleBone, is developed. Our experimental results show that the power consumption for the entire system is only about 2. 25W, which signifies a promising future of applying ultra-low-power neuromorphic hardware as a accelerator in recognition tasks.
Estimation and Targeting of Residential Households for Hour-Ahead Demand Response Interventions – A Case Study in California

We evaluate the causal effect of hour-ahead price interventions on the reduction of residential electricity consumption, using a large-scale experiment on 7,000 households in California. In addition to this experimental approach, we also develop a non-experimental framework that allows for an estimation of the desired treatment effect on an individual level by estimating user-level counterfactuals using time-series prediction. This approach crucially eliminates the need for a randomized experiment. Both approaches estimate a reduction of ≈0.10 kWh (11%) per Demand Response event and household. We also analyze an adaptive targeting scheme, which assigns customized interventions to users based on their histories to increase the reduction-per-payout ratio by 107%.
A cognitive framework for understanding development of the ability to deceive

Abstract A large research literature shows how the ability to deceive improves from early childhood on. For instance, growth in Theory of Mind allows older children to infer accurately others’ mental states, enabling plausible lying. However, theoretical frameworks for integrating these findings are scarce. We expand a cognitive theory of adult high-stakes deception for this purpose: Activation-Decision-Construction-Action Theory (ADCAT). According to ADCAT, deception typically involves four components: activation of the truth, a decision to lie if sharing the truth is sufficiently negative and if conveying a deception is sufficiently positive, construction of a lie that achieves goals, and then acting the deception out. Each component is elaborated developmentally, predictions are generated, and possible tests are proposed. The core developmental principle is that with age deceivers will discover more effective ways to reduce the cognitive load of deception. Expanded ADCAT organizes and explains many research findings and suggests dimensions for understanding deception development throughout the lifespan.
Language strategies of the Enlightenment: the image of ʽPolandʼ in French Napoleonic Press

In this article, we reconstructed a generalized image of Poland and Poles within the framework of the multidisciplinary concept of “mental mapping”. The most popular daily newspaper of Napoleon’s time “Journal de l’Empire” (1804–1814) used distinctive linguistic markers of the Enlightenment to depict Poland and its inhabitants in French society, such as, “civilization”, “barbarity”, “culture”, “tradition” (“religion”), “childhood of nation”. Content analysis has been applied as an auxiliary method to the press sources which allowed to determine the nature and the impact of political propaganda on the public imagination.
mDia2 formin selectively interacts with catenins and not E-cadherin to regulate Adherens Junction formation

Abstract Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells disseminate within the peritoneal cavity, in part, via the peritoneal fluid as single cells, clusters, or spheroids. Initial single cell egress from a tumor can involve disruption of cell-cell adhesions as cells are shed from the primary tumor into the peritoneum. In epithelial cells, Adherens Junctions (AJs) are characterized by homotypic linkage of E-cadherins on the plasma membranes of adjacent cells. AJs are anchored to the intracellular actin cytoskeletal network through a complex involving E-cadherin, p120 catenin, β-catenin, and αE-catenin. However, the specific players involved in the interaction between the junctional E-cadherin complex and the underlying F-actin network remains unclear. Recent evidence indicates that mammalian Diaphanous-related (mDia) formins plays a key role in epithelial cell AJ formation and maintenance through generation of linear actin filaments. Binding of αE-catenin to linear F-actin inhibits association of the branched-actin nucleator Arp2/3, while favoring linear F-actin bundling. We previously demonstrated that loss of mDia2 was associated with invasive single cell egress from EOC spheroids through disruption of junctional F-actin. Results In the current study, we now show that mDia2 has a role at adherens junctions (AJs) in EOC OVCA429 cells and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells through its association with αE-catenin and β-catenin. mDia2 depletion in EOC cells leads to reduction in actin polymerization and disruption of cell-cell junctions with decreased interaction between β-catenin and E-cadherin. Conclusions Our results support a necessary role for mDia2 in AJ stability in EOC cell monolayers and indicate a critical role for mDia formins in regulating EOC AJs during invasive transitions.
Testing case number of coronavirus disease 2019 in China with Newcomb-Benford law

The coronavirus disease 2019 bursted out about two months ago in Wuhan has caused the death of more than a thousand people China is fighting hard against the epidemics with the helps from all over the world On the other hand, there appear to be doubts on the reported case number In this article, we propose a test of the reported case number of coronavirus disease 2019 in China with Newcomb-Benford law We find a p-value of 92 8% in favor that the cumulative case numbers abide by the Newcomb-Benford law Even though the reported case number can be lower than the real number of affected people due to various reasons, this test does not seem to indicate the detection of frauds
Assessment of household-level food-energy-water nexus vulnerability during disasters

Abstract Water, energy, and food systems are highly interconnected, where disruptions in one system have direct or indirect impacts on others. Little has been studied regarding the nexus interactions at the household level, let alone in a disaster setting. Measuring household vulnerability to their disruptions is an important determinant of resilience and societal risk in the face of natural hazards. This study proposes a new framework based on disaster risk theory and Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus systems thinking to analyze the collective influence of integrated infrastructure disruptions and socioeconomic factors on household vulnerability during disasters. ANOVA one-way tests are used to determine the disparity in disaster risk measures across non-vulnerable and highly vulnerable households. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to test the proposed relationships between infrastructure disruptions, urban attributes, household preparation behaviors in the context of the 2017 Hurricane Harvey in Harris County, Texas. Overall, the pre-existing conditions of communities in terms of its physical attributes, preparation behaviors, and the coupled durations of FEW infrastructure disruptions were each found to have statistically significant associations with heightened household vulnerability to FEW service disruptions. Physical attributes (β = 0.134, p = 0.001) and prior experience with disasters (β = -0.103, p = 0.000) were found to be the most significant indicators of poor preparation behavior. households with children, racial minority status, and low income and educational attainment of households were associated with having lower levels of preparedness. The framework developed in this study can serve as a foundation to expand the transdisciplinary research of infrastructure and community resilience to better address the needs of the population in an emergency.
Training Learning Strategies to Promote Self-Regulation and Transfer: The Knowledge, Belief, Commitment, and Planning Framework:

Surveys indicate that at all educational levels students often use relatively ineffective study strategies. One potential remedy is to include learning-strategy training into students' educational experiences. A major challenge, however, is that it has proven difficult to design training protocols that support students' self-regulation and transfer of effective learning strategies across a range of content. In this article we propose a practical theoretical framework called the knowledge, belief, commitment, and planning (KBCP) framework for guiding strategy training to promote students' successful self-regulation of effective learning strategies. The KBCP framework rests on the assumption that four essential components must be included in training to support sustained strategy self-regulation: (a) acquiring knowledge about strategies, (b) belief that the strategy works, (c) commitment to using the strategy, and (d) planning of strategy implementation. We develop these assumptions in the context of pertinent research and suggest that each component alone is not sufficient to promote sustained learning-strategy self-regulation. Our intent in developing this learning-strategy training framework is to stimulate renewed interest and effort in investigating how to effectively train learning strategies and their self-regulation and to guide systematic research and application in this area. We close by sketching an example of a concrete training protocol based on the KBCP framework.
Energetics Dictates Deposition at Metal/Solid Electrolyte Interfaces

Solid electrolytes are promising toward utilizing lithium metal anodes with high specific capacity and low redox potential. The solid electrolytes are expected to provide a mechanical barrier, ther...
Referent-Based Instruction to Strengthen the Verbal Behavior of Early Learners with Autism and Related Language Disorders

The current study evaluated the use of precision teaching to address the verbal behavior deficits of children with autism and other language disorders. From 2013 to 2018, a high-research-activity doctoral university in the south-central United States operated a free clinic that provided applied behavior anlaysis services to early learners in the local community. Participants received referent-based verbal behavior instruction to strengthen their functional language skills by systematically transferring stimulus control across 4 primary verbal operants: mands, echoics, tacts, and sequelics. Referent-based instruction is premised on the notion that proportionate levels of strength among these 4 operants provide the relational flexibility of naturalistic speaking observed in typical language development. This article details the language gains made by 49 participants who received 13 weeks of intervention for 90 min a day, 4 days a week. Relative strengths and weaknesses were identified in the verbal repertoire of each participant, and individualized fluency aims were subsequently developed. Results of pretest and posttest comparisons show that there was a large effect size within the verbal behavior gains of participants who received precision teaching. Implications for implementing referent-based instruction, as well as future areas of research, are discussed.
Imagination and Fantasy: Correlates of Preschoolers’ Science Relevant Inquisitiveness:

One early manifestation of science inquiry skills may be inquisitiveness; that is, children’s tendency to ask questions about science relevant information. Little is known about individual differen...