cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A chemically bonded adsorbent for separation of antimony, copper and lead

Abstract The new chemically bonded adsorbent designated as ICAA-PPG was synthesized by covalent attachment of pyrogallol to a silica gel ceramic support. The feasibility of this absorbent to separate antimony(III), copper and lead from aqueous solutions has been examined. Results of absorbent syntheses, absorbent characterization, breakthrough curve, regeneration and metal ion separation studies are presented here. The silica surface was functionalized with aromatic amine groups, which were further diazotized to attach the pyrogallol moiety. A pyrogallol surface coverage density of 0.255 mmol/g of functionalized support was achieved. ICAA-PPG showed high antimony(III) removal efficiency over a pH range of 1–10. ICAA-PPG was regenerated by desorbing antimony(III) with 4 M hydrochloric acid and 0.05 M potassium hydrogen tartrate. Stripping solutions with low acidity and high chloride concentration showed high regeneration efficiency. The desorbed antimony can easily be recovered from stripping solutions by precipitation as antimony hydroxide and the stripping solution can be recycled. Concentration factors of 25–30 were achieved. The initial capacity of 21.6 mg/g was achieved at breakthrough volume and the capacity of 19.6 mg/g after 10 adsorption /stripping cycles shows that ICAA-PPG is stable. Antimony(III), copper and lead were separated by selective stripping from the bed saturated with these metal ions. These results indicate that ICAA-PPG has the potential for removal and separation of antimony from dilute aqueous solutions. An ICAA-PPG adsorption process can be employed for the removal of antimony impurity from copper and zinc electrolytes.
Modeling and Role of Leukocytes in Inflammation

Inflammation is a protective response of the body to infection or injury. When the body tissue is damaged by infection or injury, inflammatory response is triggered to remove the foreign invaders or start the healing process. In some diseases, such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory response is triggered inappropriately and the inflammatory cells damage the normal tissues. This suggests that those diseases can be treated by interfering with the inflammatory process.
Reciprocal altruism between male vampire bats, Desmodus rotundus

We conducted a 7-month behavioural study of a captive colony of vampire bats and documented that reciprocal altruism between adult males of low relatedness did occur, was relatively common, and was associated with a very low-intensity, non-linear dominance relationship between males. The experimental group consisted of two male and four female adult vampire bats of four independent maternal lines. We calculated relatedness between members of the colony from genealogies (Krebs & Davies 1978) using data extending back three generations. We determined maternal contributions directly, and determined paternal contributions probabilistically using the number of available potential sires at the times of conception. Relatedness between the two males (32L and 35R) was 0.26 (x41 s~=O.l5 & 0.06 for the whole colony). The males were 51 and 42 months of age, respectively, at the conclusion of the study. Bats were housed in a 0.4-m3 plywood roost box designed to simulate a hollow tree and provide a variety of roosting options in all three dimensions. We subjected the colony to experimental manipulations (unpublished data) intended to promote blood-sharing behaviour and test the extent of reciprocity and effects of ‘cheating’ (i.e. nonreciprocation).
Humidity dependence of the birefringence in poly(methyl methacrylate) waveguides

A humidity-dependent birefringence in a poly(methyl methacrylate) waveguide has been observed. This dependence was determined by coupling both a transverse electric and a transverse magnetic mode into a waveguide and then measuring the relative phase at the output. With this method, values for δTM − δTE were found within the range of 5–90% relative humidity (RH). From the obtained data, Δ(nTE − nTM)/ΔRH as a function of humidity was calculated and plotted.
Training for NOTES

The foundation of skills for the performance of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) lies in the training for general surgery (especially laparoscopy) and flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy. Physicians wishing to practice NOTES need to acquire or have both skill sets, or need to partner together to blend complementary capabilities with colleagues. In the future, however, a new cadre of NOTES specialists may emerge who will have developed individual expertise in the full spectrum of NOTES knowledge base requirements. This article highlights a body of knowledge and skills needed to become a NOTES proceduralist and review the current training paradigms for gastrointestinal endoscopists and surgeons.
Naturally Adaptive Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Slime Mold

Many biological systems are composed of unreliable and noisy components self-organizing efficiently into systems that can solve complex problems. One such example is the true slime mold {\em Physarum polycephalum} which is an amoeba-like organism that seeks food sources and efficiently distributes nutrients throughout the cell body. The cell body can grow to be centimeters in size. The distribution of nutrients is accomplished by a self-assembled resource distribution network of small tubes of varying diameter which can evolve with changing environmental conditions without any global control. In this paper, we use a phenomenological model for tube evolution in slime mold and map it to a path formation protocol for wireless sensor networks. By selecting certain evolution parameters in the protocol, the network will evolve toward single paths connecting data sources to a data sink. In other parameter regimes, the protocol will evolve toward multiple redundant paths. We present detailed analysis of a small model network. A thorough understanding of a simple network leads to design insights into appropriate parameter selection, and also validates the design via large-scale simulation of realistic wireless sensor networks using the QualNet network simulator.
Is pathological aging a successful resistance against amyloid-beta or preclinical Alzheimer’s disease?

Individuals with pathological aging, a form of cerebral amyloidosis in older people, have widespread extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) senile plaque deposits in the setting of limited neurofibrillary tau pathology. Unlike the characteristic finding of antemortem cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease patients, individuals with pathological aging usually lack cognitive impairment despite similar Aβ senile plaque burdens. It has been hypothesized that protective or resistance factors may underlie pathological aging, thus minimizing or preventing deleterious effects on cognition. Despite increasing interest and recognition, a review of the literature remains challenging given the range of terms used to describe pathological aging. This debate briefly reviews neuropathologic and biochemical evidence that pathological aging individuals have resistance factors to Aβ plaque pathology. Additionally, we will discuss evidence of pathological aging as an intermediate between normal individuals and Alzheimer’s disease patients, and discuss protective or resistance factors against vascular disease and neurofibrillary pathology. Lastly, we will emphasize the need for longitudinal biomarker evidence using amyloid positron emission tomography, which will provide a better understanding of the kinetics of Aβ deposition in pathological aging.
Studies on the biogenesis of smooth endoplasmic reticulum membranes in hepatocytes of phenobarbital-treated rats. II. The site of phospholipid synthesis in the initial phase of membrane proliferation.

The specific activity of the acyltransferases of smooth microsomes of rat liver rose threefold by 12 h after injection of phenobarbital, while the activity of the acyltransferases of the rough microsomes rose slightly to peak at 3–4 h, and subsequently fell. The latter rise was abolished by treatment of the animal with actinomycin D or puromycin, while that of the smooth microsomes was unaffected. Incorporation of [14C]glycerol into phospholipid of smooth microsomes was elevated 100% by phenobarbital, while that of the rough microsomes was elevated 15%, and this could be accounted for by exchange between the microsomal phospholipids. The phospholipid/protein ratio of the smooth microsomes rose 1.5 times 3–4 h after injection of phenobarbital, while that of the rough microsomes fell slightly. The specific activity of NADPH cytochrome c reductase and NADPH diaphorase rose first in the rough microsomes, and subsequently in the smooth microsomes at a time coinciding with the return of the phospholipid/protein ratio to the control level. The rise in phospholipid/protein ratio was unaffected by actinomycin D or puromycin. These results indicate that the proliferating smooth membranes are the site of phospholipid synthesis, and that the phospholipid/protein ratio of these membranes may change independently.
Stability Analysis of a Clock-Driven Rigid-Body SLIP Model for RHex

We apply the stability analysis for hybrid legged locomotion systems, introduced in our companion paper in this issue, to a new simple clock-driven SLIP model inspired by the robot RHex. We adopt in stance phase the three-degrees-of-freedom (3DoF) spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) model introduced in our companion paper to capture RHex’s pitching dynamics in the sagittal plane. The coordinating influence of RHex’s open-loop clock controller is subsumed into a leg placement strategy derived from a bipedal abstraction of RHex. The “symmetric” factorization analysis introduced in our companion paper yields a necessary condition for gait stability expressed in closed form, which can be imposed directly on the clock parameter space. This represents the first reported analytical insight into how a dynamical runner might be stabilized by a completely feed forward rhythmic limb coordination pattern. Correspondence in steady-state gait location and stability characteristics with an appropriately tuned 24DoF m...
PIP2 Activates KCNQ Channels, and Its Hydrolysis Underlies Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of M Currents

KCNQ channels belong to a family of potassium ion channels with crucial roles in physiology and disease. Heteromers of KCNQ2/3 subunits constitute the neuronal M channels. Inhibition of M currents, by pathways that stimulate phospholipase C activity, controls excitability throughout the nervous system. Here we show that a common feature of all KCNQ channels is their activation by the signaling membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-bis-phosphate (PIP(2)). We show that wortmannin, at concentrations that prevent recovery from receptor-mediated inhibition of M currents, blocks PIP(2) replenishment to the cell surface. Moreover, we identify a C-terminal histidine residue, immediately proximal to the plasma membrane, mutation of which renders M channels less sensitive to PIP(2) and more sensitive to receptor-mediated inhibition. Finally, native or recombinant channels inhibited by muscarinic agonists can be activated by PIP(2). Our data strongly suggest that PIP(2) acts as a membrane-diffusible second messenger to regulate directly the activity of KCNQ currents.
A Backstage Sociologist: Autoethnography and a Populist Vision

The first part is an autoethnographer’s account of a madcap journey through America's disciplinary institutions, ranging from a Mennonite colony and prison to the counterculture and mental hospitals, and on to political organizations and universities. Using Goffman’s distinction between front stage and backstage as a metaphor, the author is an embodied and embedded eyewitness—covertly conducting institutional ethnographies (Merleau-Ponty 2012 [1945]). With a backstage perspective, this rogue researcher pierces the front-stage veneer of social-control institutions. The second part is an audacious revisionist history of American sociology, a confounding counter-narrative that demystifies mainstream sociology’s hegemonic tale of self-congratulation. The author narrates and deciphers the successive sociological generations of the founders, scientific professionals, Sixties' insurgents, and the new, poseur public sociologists. The article concludes with a renewed vision of a populist sociology.​
Evaluation of the Haltere as a Biologically Inspired Inertial Rate Measurement Sensor

Since as early as the 1940’s, specialized structures on dipteran insects have been recognized as necessary for inertial measurement associated with basic flight stability. These structures, called halteres, have been suggested to act as vibrating structure gyroscopes, measuring strains proportional to Coriolis accelerations. As a miniature, robust means for stabilizing flight, this biological inertial measurement system is not only of interest to biologists, but also to designers of biomimetic robotic systems. However, the accuracy with which a pair of halteres can reconstruct the full body rate vector had not been clearly ascertained in previous studies. In addition, only one potential mechanism to decouple the rate components, using frequency decomposition of the haltere mechanical response, has been generally adopted. The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of the halteres as a rate measurement sensor through dynamic simulation of the halteres across a full range of body angular rates. Based on this analysis, a simple alternative mechanism is proposed for decoupling the body rate components, and, assuming the use of this proposed mechanism, an error analysis is presented for the halteres as a three dimensional linear rate measurement system.
Production of Gonadotrophin Antibodies in Mouse Peritoneal Fluid

SummaryAntibodies to a sheep anterior pituitary (SAP) preparation and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) have been developed in mouse ascites fluid. The ascites fluid was biologically assayed by the rat ovarian weight response to concurrently injected gonadotrophin. The anti-SAP ascites fluid contained antibody capable of completely blocking the biological activity of rat pituitary gonadotrophin. Likewise, the anti-HCG ascites fluid completely inhibited the activity of as much as 10 IU of HCG. Anti-HCG ascites fluid did not inhibit the biological activity of either SAP powder or rat pituitary gonadotrophin.
MORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION IN RESPONSE TO FLUCTUATING SELECTION.

A central issue in the study of evolution in natural populations is how morphology evolves in response to environmental complexity, especially when environmental variation results in contrasting selective pressures (Levins 1968; Boyce 1979; Gomulkiewicz and Kirkpatrick 1992). In birds, contrasting selective pressures associated with seasonal fluctuations are common (e.g., Fretwell 1972; Newton 1972; Baker and Baker 1973; Price and Grant 1984; Schluter and Smith 1986). Here, we explore the consequences of seasonal fluctuations on the evolution of morphological traits related to foraging in the red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). Crossbills are highly specialized for foraging on seeds in conifer cones (Benkman 1988, 1993; Benkman and Lindholm 1991) and rely on conifer seeds year-round (Newton 1972; Benkman 1987a, 1990, 1992). In seed-eating birds, bill size is the likely target of selection and so provides a logical focal trait for a study of the evolution of morphology related to foraging (e.g., Grant 1986). Here, we consider the evolution of bill size of one sibling species of red crossbill (L. curvirostra complex) that Groth (1993) designates as type 5. ("Call types" are recognized by their vocalizations, but also differ in bill and body size; Groth 1993.) Morphological traits associated with avian foraging ecology are, with few exceptions (e.g., Smith 1993), polygenically inherited (Boag and van Noordwijk 1987; Grant and Grant 1989). To make predictions concerning the evolution of quantitative traits, estimates of both the amount of genetic variation for the trait and the pattern of selection acting on the trait are needed. In this study, we assume that evolution of bill size is not genetically constrained and is determined mostly by selection. Based on the results of other studies of seed-eating birds (Boag and van Noordwijk 1987; Grant and Grant 1989) this simplifying assumption is unlikely to interfere with our predictions. The form of selection depends on the relationship between the trait and fitness. Field estimates of fitness are difficult to obtain for nomadic species such as red crossbills. Therefore, we make use of the partitioning suggested by Arnold (1983) where first the relationship between the trait and some measure of performance is estimated and then performance is related to fitness. We use the time to extract seeds from cones as a measure of performance, which can be measured in aviaries (Benkman 1993). Furthermore, we adjust foraging ef-
(+)-α-Selinene, and enantiomeric eudesmane fromChiloscyphus polyanthus (L.) corda

Nachweis des optischen Isomeren eines Sesquiterpens im LebermoosChiloscyphus polyanthus mit (+)-α-Selinen als Hauptanteil.
On People? s Prison Police Viewed in Sociology

The people? s prison police are not only the executioner of the national criminal penalty, but also a kind of vocation in society and provided with the specific vocational requirements. Analysis of the character norm and social status has an important meaning for the building of people? s prison police and the vocational standardization.
Pre-Cystectomy Radiation for Carcinoma of the Bladder: 17-Year Experience

Abstract Our experience with pre-cystectomy radiation for carcinoma of the bladder from July 1959 through June 1976 is presented. Pre-cystectomy radiation would appear to be beneficial in the management of patients with invasive bladder cancer. There is an impressive improvement in survival rates in those patients demonstrating reduction in staging after radiation. Our experience correlates well with other comparative series. Based on this 17-year experience guide lines are outlined for the subsequent management of patients with bladder cancer.
Patient, Caregiver, and Physician Work in Heart Failure Disease Management: A Qualitative Study of Issues That Undermine Wellness

Abstract Objective To identify factors underlying heart failure hospitalization. Methods Between January 1, 2012, and May 31, 2012, we combined medical record reviews and cross-sectional qualitative interviews of multiple patients with heart failure, their clinicians, and their caregivers from a large academic medical center in the Midwestern United States. The interview data were analyzed using a 3-step grounded theory–informed process and constant comparative methods. Qualitative data were compared and contrasted with results from the medical record review. Results Patient nonadherence to the care plan was the most important contributor to hospital admission; however, reasons for nonadherence were complex and multifactorial. The data highlight the importance of patient education for the purposes of condition management, timeliness of care, and effective communication between providers and patients. Conclusion To improve the consistency and quality of care for patients with heart failure, more effective relationships among patients, providers, and caregivers are needed. Providers must be pragmatic when educating patients and their caregivers about heart failure, its treatment, and its prognosis.
Posaconazole Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Cats after Oral and Intravenous Administration.

Background Posaconazole is the most active available azole antifungal drug, but absorption and pharmacokinetics are not available to guide dosing regimens in cats. Objective To determine the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole in cats given an IV solution and PO suspension. Animals Six healthy, adult research cats. Methods After a 12-hour fast, each cat received 15 mg/kg of posaconazole PO suspension with food. Four cats also received 3 mg/kg IV posaconazole after a 7-day washout period. Plasma was collected at predetermined intervals for analysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Concentration data were analyzed using a 2-compartment pharmacokinetic analysis for IV administration data and a 1-compartment analysis with first-order input for PO administration data using Phoenix® software. Results After IV dosing, volume of distribution (VSS) was 1.9 (0.3) L/kg (mean, standard deviation), terminal half-life (T½) was 57.7 (28.4) hours, and clearance was 28.1 (17.3) mL/kg/h. After PO dosing, peak concentration (CMAX) was 1.2 (0.5) μg/mL and T½ was 38.1 (15.0) hours. Bioavailability of PO suspension was 15.9% (8.6). No adverse effects were observed with either route of administration. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Despite low PO absorption, these data allow for simulation of PO dosage regimens that could be explored in clinical studies. Two regimens can be considered to maintain targeted trough concentrations of 0.5–0.7 μg/mL as extrapolated from studies in humans: (1) 30 mg/kg PO loading dose followed by 15 mg/kg q48h, or (2) 15 mg/kg PO loading dose followed by 7.5 mg/kg q24h.
Talking back in cyberspace: self-love, hair care, and counter narratives in Black adolescent girls’ YouTube vlogs

ABSTRACTWhile the ‘natural hair movement’ has grown in popularity and criticism, educational researchers have not attended to how Black adolescent girls with all textures of natural hair are navigating the implications of foregoing chemical alterations to their curl patterns. This article reports on an investigation of self-talk in 56 internet video logs constructed by Black adolescent girls with natural hair, describing the messages of self-love, hair care, and counter narratives to dominant discourse that emerged from an in-depth ethnographic content analysis. Hair politics may seem irrelevant to the field of education, but findings suggest that the topic should matter to anyone who cares deeply about the social and academic worlds of Black adolescent girls.
Passionate Producers: Corporate Interventions in Expanding the Promise of the Information Society

Based on ethnographic research in New Delhi, this article explores the culture of corporate intervention in India through a focus on the “social sector” work of new middle-class IT professionals. It focuses on the well-recognized Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) initiatives of the transnational IT education and training firm International Training Institute. The article argues that corporate professionals are “passionate producers” who create a contradictory work ethos that incorporates both neoliberal principles and development initiatives. These professionals train workers to absorb appropriate “values” and to acquire “skills” that ultimately prevent these workers from realizing their aspirations. The ICTD project reinforces divisions of class, caste, and gender in India's globally acclaimed information society.
Phosphino-polycarboxylic acid modified inhibitor nanomaterial for oilfield scale control: Synthesis, characterization and migration

Abstract A facile synthesis approach is reported to prepare scale inhibitor nanomaterial for oilfield scale control. The presence of a polymeric scale inhibitor can considerably change the morphology of the nanomaterial with a reduced particle size and an enhanced particle stability. In addition, the presence of electrolyte and sonication methods can impact the morphology and stability of the nanomaterial as well. Laboratory transport experiments suggest that the inhibitor nanomaterial has the future potential for oilfield mineral scale control. This is the first report of the synthesis and characterization of a template-free scale inhibitor nanomaterial combining both phosphonate and polymeric scale inhibitors.
Gene and Operon Fusions

Gene and operon fusions provide means to easily study the expression of genes. Rather than directly measuring the protein of interest, the gene encoding this protein is replaced with a reporter gene, encoding as easily assayable product. Fusions are of two types: transcriptional and translational. In transcriptional fusions, also called operon fusions, expression of the reporter gene is dependent on the promoter of the target gene. In translational or gene fusions, the reporter is fused in frame with the gene of interest. Expression is dependent on both transcription and translation of the target gene and results in the production of a hybrid protein.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic artificial urinary sphincter and MACE procedure on a pediatric patient.

Summary Objective To describe robotic-assisted laparoscopic artificial urinary sphincter (RAL-AUS) placement and a Malone antegrade continent enema (MACE) procedure on a 6-year-old girl. Patients and results Our patient is a 6-year-old girl with myelomeningocele. She was totally incontinent of urine and chronic constipated despite aggressive bowel regimen. Preoperative workup included renal and bladder ultrasound showing normal findings. Video-urodynamics was also obtained showing low leak point pressure (25 cm H2O) with no reflux. RAL-AUS was performed totally intra-corporally with no complications. The total operative time was 5 h 42 min. Estimated blood loss was minimal. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4 with the AUS deactivated. Follow-up cystoscopy and activation of the AUS was done 6 weeks later. At 3-month follow-up, the patient was fully recovered and remained completely dry between voids. Also her bowel movements improved significantly with the MACE. Both patient and family appeared comfortable in using the AUS. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first case described of RAL-AUS placement in the pediatric population. We believe this can be safely accomplished with good outcomes. The robotic approach provides an advantage in performing deep pelvic surgeries and facilitates concomitant intra-abdominal procedures.
Professional growth and development: A lifetime endeavor.

After decades of defining the nurse practitioner (NP) role, expanding scope of practice, defending turf, and encountering obstacle after obstacle, the NP “old guard” is preparing to sit down and rest. To take our place, a new generation of NPs must be prepared to do battle with regulatory, education
Lability and Basicity of Bipyridine-Carboxylate-Phosphonate Ligand Accelerate Single-Site Water Oxidation by Ruthenium-Based Molecular Catalysts

A critical step in creating an artificial photosynthesis system for energy storage is designing catalysts that can thrive in an assembled device. Single-site catalysts have an advantage over bimolecular catalysts because they remain effective when immobilized. Hybrid water oxidation catalysts described here, combining the features of single-site bis-phosphonate catalysts and fast bimolecular bis-carboxylate catalysts, have reached turnover frequencies over 100 s–1, faster than both related catalysts under identical conditions. The new [(bpHc)Ru(L)2] (bpH2cH = 2,2′-bipyridine-6-phosphonic acid-6′-carboxylic acid, L = 4-picoline or isoquinoline) catalysts proceed through a single-site water nucleophilic attack pathway. The pendant phosphonate base mediates O–O bond formation via intramolecular atom-proton transfer with a calculated barrier of only 9.1 kcal/mol. Additionally, the labile carboxylate group allows water to bind early in the catalytic cycle, allowing intramolecular proton-coupled electron transf...
Mimicry in design: the urban form of development

This paper investigates the diffusion of Western-like built environments in rapidly urbanizing regions. It draws from Marshall Berman’s seminal treatise on modernity, which uses Goethe’s Faust as a metaphor. In the Chinese context, Berman’s analogy understands Faust as the consumer who craves the Western city. A further structural approach is suggested, in which Faust is also the State that encourages mimicry by pursuing fast development and creating artificial market dynamics. The Faustian metaphor thus explains the spread of simulacrascapes, which limits local inventiveness, participation and expertise. The conclusions of this paper recommend an endogenous approach to the design of urban form.
Why myth could matter (but probably shouldn’t) in public administration

Against the various literatures asserting that myths serve administrators well in varying ways, this paper takes a decidedly skeptical stance. While myth is a tool that may be well or poorly used, its use to fashion administrative theory, or to construct an administrative order, or to enhance administrative thought is most often a poor use indeed. What serves Public Administration best involves the much more difficult effort of constructing theories of historical causation that derive directly from the experiences that practitioners have with the problems they find it necessary or desirable to solve.
A Conceptual Framework for Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning at Work

This chapter identifies challenges for computer-supported collaborative learning at work (CSCL@Work) by arguing that learning at work transcends our current understanding of learning, which is framed primarily by either school learning or current practices in adult education. The chapter develops a number of themes defining a conceptual framework for CSCL@Work, which is fundamentally concerned with the challenge of helping individuals and organizations learn when the answer is not known. It includes aspects of distributed cognition, integrated problem framing and problem solving, communities of interest, meta-design, cultures of participation, and social creativity. The framework is illustrated with two narratives that jointly identify trade-offs and barriers for CSCL@Work. Future research and development of CSCL@Work are considered in the conclusions.
Standard, Complementary, and Future Treatment Options for Tics

Tics occur in up to 20% of children and are a defining feature of Tourette syndrome (TS). When treatment is necessary, there are many options available. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the standard, complementary/alternative medicine (CAM), and emerging treatments of tics and provide examples of the current evidence supporting these therapies. Behavioral therapy and conventional pharmacotherapy are the mainstays of treatment and have the strongest evidence to support their use. CAM is common, but there are few rigorous randomized, controlled trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of these modalities. Several novel pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments targeting specific pathways thought to be involved in TS are currently being studied with the hope of expanding future treatment options. We conclude that there is an ongoing need for new evidence-based approaches for safe and effective treatment of tics.
The Growth of Fatigue Short Cracks Emanating From Small Holes in 16Mn Steel Specimens

Short fatigue crack growth, from small holes at 16 Mn steel specimens, was studied under rotating bending and constant amplitude loading conditions. A plastic replica technique was employed for monitoring the process of crack growth. It was observed that the crack growth rates had a strong wavy nature for a crack size less than some critical length Lo and the crack growth rate was close to a straight line for a crack size more than Lo. The relative experimental results are given and analytical expressions for the crack growth rates for two types of constant amplitude fatigue loads are presented in this paper.
On crossing numbers and linguistic structures

A spelling net for a phrase consists of the multigraph whose points are labelled with the set of distinct letters in the phrase and whose lines lie on the Eulerian path obtained in "spelling out" the phrase between the (lettered) points. Spelling nets can also use phonemes or words as labels. An eodermdrome is a non-planar spelling net. Thus, the study of structural properties of eodermdromes is the study of non-planar Eulerian multigraphs.
Millennials' green consumption behaviour: Exploring the role of social media

Several studies have investigated millennials' perceptions of sustainable products, and the factors that make these products appealing. Yet insight into the green purchase intentions of this demographic and influencing factors is limited. This study investigates the influence of social media usage and online interpersonal influence on green purchase intentions among millennials in the USA. In addition, the study considers how the cultural dimensions of individualism–collectivism and masculinity–femininity moderate the relationship between social media usage, online interpersonal influence, and green purchase intentions. Results indicate that social media usage and online interpersonal influence have significant, positive relationships with green purchase intentions. Masculinity was found to exert a weakening effect on the relationships in the study, while the effects of individualism were found to be insignificant. Results have important managerial implications for firms' sustainability strategy and provide a framework for investigating green purchase intentions in additional cultures around the world.
Rivoluzioni visuali, in forma di cosa: cronaca di un evento (in)tempestivo

Simposio internazionale Poesia in forma di cosa. Concretismo e Visualita in Italia e Belgio negli anni Sessanta e Settanta – Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Bruxelles, 24-25 maggio 2018.
Anesthetic management of parturients with Arnold Chiari malformation-I: a multicenter retrospective study.

Abstract Background Consensus regarding the safest mode of delivery and anesthetic management for parturients with Arnold Chiari malformation-I (ACM-I) remains controversial. This study assessed their anesthetic management and reported anesthetic complications during hospitalization for delivery. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of patients with ACM-I undergoing vaginal or cesarean delivery. Data were obtained from the electronic databases of four United States academic institutions using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes from 2007–2017 at three sites and 2004–2017 at one site. The primary outcome was anesthetic complications. Results Data were analyzed for 185 deliveries in 148 patients. Diagnosis of ACM-I was made prior to delivery in 147 (80%) cases. Pre-delivery neurosurgical consultation for management of ACM-I was performed in 53 (36%) patients. Pre-existing symptoms were recorded for 89 (48%) of the deliveries. Vaginal deliveries occurred in 80 (43%) cases, and 62 women (78%) received neuraxial labor analgesia. Cesarean delivery was performed in 105 (57%) cases, of which 70 women (67%) had neuraxial anesthesia and 34 (32%) received general anesthesia. Post-dural puncture headache was reported in three (2%) patients who had neuraxial anesthesia, and in two (12%) patients with syringomyelia. There was one (3%) reported case of aspiration pneumonia with general anesthesia. Conclusions The findings suggest that anesthetic complications occur infrequently in patients with ACM-I regardless of the anesthetic management. Although institutional preference in anesthetic and obstetric care appears to drive patient management, the findings suggest that an individualized approach has favorable outcomes in this population.
A Response to the Special Issue Contributors

Upon reading the papers, it quickly became apparent the order in which I should respond to them. For they followed more or less a chronological line beginning with my early work leading up to the p...
A COOPERATIVE HEALTH-AGRICULTURE-INDUSTRY APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF SANITATION

The need continues to exist for cooperation among involved agencies concerned with sanitation. Problems change with progress. Some of the current problems of sanitation are closely associated with ...
Retinal Artery Occlusion in Young Patients: A 6-Year Review:

Purpose:This article describes the characteristics, management, and etiology of retinal artery occlusions (RAOs) in young patients.Methods:A retrospective chart review of patients <50 years of age ...
Seniors' Media Preference for Receiving Internet Security Information: A Pilot Study.

Due to the increasing use of Internet by older adults and their low computer and Internet security literacy, their susceptibility to online fraud has also increased. This suggests in turn that there are still too few Internet education materials targeting seniors. We take a first step towards developing interactive security information materials for seniors by determining which media they prefer and can easily comprehend. We studied the reception of two media, text and audio, as they communicated information about email-based phishing attacks. Our preliminary study of 34 seniors shows that the participants personally preferred the text over the audio. However, the comprehension score was not significantly different for participants who read the phishing training text script as compared to the participants who listened to the phishing training audio script.
Management of Helicobacter pylori in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia.

There is an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and few studies have suggested that eradicative treatment of H. pylori infection may improve platelet counts in patients with ITP. Conventional treatments for ITP include immunosuppressive agents, and more recently thrombopoietic agents. However, based on clinical reports of association between H. pylori and ITP, several medical societies increasingly suggest detection and eradication of H. pylori as a treatment for ITP. In this article, we reappraise recent medical literature to determine the effectiveness of platelet response after treatment of H. pylori infection in patients with ITP. We searched two online databases (MEDLINE and Google Scholar) for full articles published between January 2008 and May 2018, and found a total of 11 studies that presented data and outcomes of treatment of H. pylori infection in ITP patients. All the studies administered triple therapy (amoxicillin 500 mg, clarithromycin 250 mg and a proton-pump inhibitor each given twice daily for either 7- or 14-day course) for eradication of H. pylori. Median overall platelet response ranged from 27 to 69.2% with a complete response rate ranging from 0 to 65.4% and a partial response rate ranging from 0 to 29.4%. Although there is variability in the effectiveness between different populations, it appears to be of benefit to ITP patients with concomitant H. pylori infection when treated with triple therapy. However, further studies to understand the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated ITP is necessary for the development of new therapeutic approaches for ITP.
Trace Elements in Gluten-free Pastas and Flours from Markets Located in the Las Vegas, Nevada Area

The popularity of gluten-free foods has been increasing across the United States and abroad. A significant reason for this trend involves marketing efforts targeted towards individuals seeking to avoid the consequences of celiac disease or a perceived gluten intolerance. Many gluten-free food products originate in regions of the world where irrigation with metal-contaminated waters is common. Calcium, Fe, Mg, Ti and Zn were detected at various levels across all foods products. Cadmium was detected in 96.8% of U.S. and 54.5% of Asian gluten-free foods with gluten containing foods above reported averages (216 μg kg-1 Cd); as was Co (140μg kg-1) in 48.4 % of U.S., 72.7% of Asian gluten-free foods, and 40% of the gluten containing foods; Cr was in 54.8% of the U.S., 72.5% of Asian gluten-free foods, and 100% of gluten containing food products; while Ca, Fe, Mg, Ti and Zn were greater than 10,000 μg kg-1 with Ba, Cd, Co, Mo, and Ni above reported averages. Finally, trace metals were more commonly detected in the gluten containing foods overall. It was found that trace elements were more commonly found in the gluten containing products; however, none of the higher than expected levels pose a significant health risk to consumers.
Nitric oxide imaging in cancer enabled by steric relaxation of a photoacoustic probe platform

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Over the past few decades it has become clear that the microenvironment and concentration of NO are critically linked to its bioactivity. Direct visualization of NO in vivo remains difficult due to a lack of sensitive analytical tools with deep tissue compatibility. Herein, we report the optimization of an activatable photoacoustic probe for NO by planarizing the boron-azadipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) dye platform via steric relaxation. The lead compound, SR-APNO-3, exhibits maximal absorption at 790 and 704 nm before and after N-nitrosation with NO, respectively, and a 4.4-fold increase in the theoretical maximal ratiometric response compared to the non-sterically relaxed parent compound, APNO-5. This circa 30 nm red-shift enabled direct visualization with the laser system commonly employed in commercially available photoacoustic tomographers and a 1.1-fold increase in sensitivity within an intramuscular lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation model. Moreover, this optimization facilitated the detection of endogenously produced NO in an allograft murine breast cancer model, where steady-state concentrations are several orders of magnitude less than during the immune response.
Winners are not keepers: Characterizing household engagement, gains, and energy patterns in demand response using machine learning in the United States

Abstract Demand-response programs can help utilities manage rapidly evolving electric grids, but these programs are subject to the complexities of human behavior. This paper explores a novel method for uncovering heterogeneity in households. We use a machine-learning method known as a Conditional Inference Tree (c-tree) algorithm to categorize households based on their energy behavior characteristics collected via smart meters, and explore how this translates through into heterogeneity in their real-world response to a DR program. Using data from randomized controlled trial, we generate estimates of the changes in energy use caused by the program within each household group. Our results show that the c-tree approach differentiates households by their energy-use characteristics in a way that increases the spread in enrollment rates and critical peak reduction among household groups, compared with the spreads achieved via several conventional segmentation methods. Thus, the c-tree analysis enables the most tailored targeting of major potential energy savers and could provide the greatest increase in cost-effectiveness of household recruitment into DR programs. Our results also offer fresh insights into the relationships between household energy behavior characteristics – such as peak energy use and “structural winningness” (the ability to save money under a DR program without changing energy-use behaviors) – and household decisions about enrolling in DR programs and reducing energy use. Our research also demonstrates the potential of smart meter data, combined with machine learning and econometric methods, to provide significant value to utilities, program implementers, researchers, and other stakeholders.
End-of-Life Care among US Adults with ESKD Who Were Waitlisted or Received a Kidney Transplant, 2005-2014.

Background The care of patients in the United States who have ESKD is often shaped by their hopes and prognostic expectations related to kidney transplant. Little is known about how patients' engagement in the transplant process might relate to patterns of end-of-life care. Methods We compared six measures of intensity of end-of-life care among adults in the United States with ESKD who died between 2005 and 2014 after experiencing differing exposure to the kidney transplant process. Results Of 567,832 decedents with ESKD, 27,633 (5%) had a functioning kidney transplant at the time of death, 14,653 (3%) had a failed transplant, 16,490 (3%) had been removed from the deceased donor waitlist, 17,010 (3%) were inactive on the waitlist, 11,529 (2%) were active on the waitlist, and 480,517 (85%) had never been waitlisted for or received a transplant (reference group). In adjusted analyses, compared with the reference group, patients exposed to the transplant process were significantly more likely to have been admitted to an intensive care unit and to have received an intensive procedure in the last 30 days of life; they were also significantly more likely to have died in the hospital. Those who died on the transplant waitlist were also less likely than those in the reference group to have been enrolled in hospice and to have discontinued dialysis before death. Conclusions Patients who had engaged in the kidney transplant process received more intensive patterns of end-of-life care than other patients with ESKD. These findings support the relevance of advance care planning, even for this relatively healthy segment of the ESKD population.
Increased Growth Velocity and/or Tall Stature

Tall stature is defined as linear height above the 97th percentile or more than two standard deviations above the mean for age and sex. While tall stature is most commonly a variant of normal, pathological causes do exist, making recognition by the pediatrician imperative for early diagnosis and treatment. More than a single height measurement enables calculation of growth velocity, or linear growth over time, which provides invaluable information about a child’s overall growth and can be the first clue to pathology. An unexplained acceleration in the growth rate, or a child’s height plotting in a growth percentile much higher than the family height, should prompt careful evaluation. This chapter will review causes of tall stature and increased growth velocity including familial/constitutional tall stature and overgrowth syndromes with a focus on key findings, initial workup, and when to refer to a pediatric endocrinologist. Most children with tall stature but normal growth rate and no concerning findings on history and physical will not require further laboratory evaluation or referral.
Rewriting activism: the NFL takes a knee

On September 22nd, 2017, President Trump described any National Football League (NFL) player who protested during the national anthem as a “son of a bitch” deserving to be fired. In response, durin...
Mapping Vulnerability to Weather Extremes: Heat and Flood Assessment Approaches

Assessing present social and biophysical conditions of communities that are at risk of injury due to extreme weather events is an important component of creating future visions of resilience. Spatial patterns of vulnerability to extreme events are manifestations of structural injustice that leave their mark on the built environment and in socio-spatial segregation patterns. Socio-spatial inequity often arises from development practices that favor particular racial and ethnic social groups over others. These segregation patterns are aligned with patterns of exposure to pollution, extreme weather events, and other types of environmental hazards. Spatial vulnerability assessments can be powerful tools for prioritizing where and how cities should make investments for mitigating the impacts of extreme events, and can provide an entry point for asking more fundamental questions about the processes that produce patterns of climate inequity, as well as how to avoid reproducing such processes in the future. Maps express uneven distributions of risk and manifestations of structural inequality in social–ecological–technological systems (SETS). They enable communities to visualize distributional injustice, consider ways in distributions that may be misaligned with cultural values, and develop adaptive practices toward climate justice. Here, we demonstrate approaches for assessing vulnerability to extreme flooding and heat, and show how vulnerability distributions are embedded in landscape patterns that produce uneven risk.