cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of ultradian periodicity and coalescence at 1 cycle per hour in electroencephalographic activity

Abstract The development of ultradian periodicity at 1 cycle/h in electroencephalogram (EEG) variables and the coalescence of these variables with other somatic and autonomic parameters at hourly periodicities were examined in 23 normal infants at 1 week and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months of age in order to assess the organization of physiologic parameters which underlie the composition of sleep states. Each minute of a 12-h all-night sleep recording was assessed for the median heart and respiratory rate and variability, as well as for the integrated amplitude of the electromyogram, eye movement, and EEG activity at 0 to 1.5, 4 to 7, and 12 to 14 Hz. The amount of hourly periodicity was determined with spectral techniques, and coalescence between variables was examined with coherence procedures. The hourly organization of 12- to 14-Hz EEG activity increased with age, and the hourly organization of low-frequency, 1.5-Hz EEG activity became weaker. Relative to slower ultradian rhythms, however, activity in all three EEG bands increased during the 1- to 3-month period and then declined. The establishment of a high degree of coupling between EEG parameters and other physiologic variables required 3 to 4 months of development, a time frame which parallels the development of stable sleep state organization. Certain variables, such as respiration, showed an earlier time course for increased coherence with EEG parameters than did other parameters. These data suggest that the assessment of coupling between physiologic parameters at the hourly ultradian rhythm may provide an objective assessment of neurological development. They also suggest that the classification of sleep states might be aided by examination of the temporal organization of covarying physiologic parameters.
Describing and Evaluating an Exemplary Mathematics Elementary Staff Development Project

The purpose of this paper is to describe the model of a mathematics and science staff development cooperative and focus on the evaluation of the mathematics component. The Mathematics and Science Education Cooperative (MSEC) was a comprehensive, long-range staff development program to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science at the elementary school level. The special features of MSEC were (a) it provided year-round, multiyear involvement, and (b) each year an affective strand was included. Statistically significant student mathematics results from the years 1998–2000 are presented.
Oxidative Modifications and Aggregation of Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Associated with Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases

Although oxidative stress has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD), the identities of specific protein targets of oxidative damage remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme whose mutations have been linked to autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a major target of oxidative damage in AD and PD brains. By using a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblot analysis, and mass spectrometry, we have identified four human brain SOD1 isoforms with pI values of 6.3, 6.0, 5.7, and 5.0, respectively. Of these, the SOD1 pI 6.0 isoform is oxidatively modified by carbonylation, and the pI 5.0 isoform is selectively accumulated in AD and PD. Moreover, Cys-146, a cysteine residue of SOD1 that is mutated in familial ALS, is oxidized to cysteic acid in AD and PD brains. Quantitative Western blot analyses demonstrate that the total level of SOD1 isoforms is significantly increased in both AD and PD. Furthermore, immunohistochemical and double fluorescence labeling studies reveal that SOD1 forms proteinaceous aggregates that are associated with amyloid senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in AD brains. These findings implicate, for the first time, the involvement of oxidative damage to SOD1 in the pathogenesis of sporadic AD and PD. This work suggests that AD, PD, and ALS may share a common or overlapping pathogenic mechanism(s) that could potentially be targeted by similar therapeutic strategies.
The Possible Role of Symmetric Instability in the Formation of Precipitation Bands

Abstract Fifteen cases of banded and nonbanded precipitation not associated with surface frontal regions are presented. Results from the linear perturbation and parcel theories of symmetric instability are compared to the observed properties of these bands. Symmetric instability can explain many of the features of the bands considered in this study: all of the bands are aligned parallel to the thermal wind; strong shear and near-neutral static stabilities are observed when bands occur; multiple bands have a wavelength that is related to the depth of the unstable region and the slope of moist isentropic surfaces. However, the linear theory of symmetric instability assumes a basic state of unidirectional flow and thermal wind balance, while the observations indicate that in some cases these conditions are not met. This study supports the hypothesis that symmetric instability may be responsible for precipitation bands, but the comparison between theory and observations is hampered by the inability of the pre...
Electron microscopic investigation of the lens capsule and conjunctival tissues in individuals with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Purpose To determine the presence of pseudoexfoliative material in the unaffected eyes of patients with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Design Prospective observational case series. Participants Thirty-two consecutive patients with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome, undergoing routine cataract surgery. Methods Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine conjunctival and anterior lens capsule specimens in affected and unaffected eyes. Main Outcome Measure Presence of characteristic pseudoexfoliation syndrome findings on TEM. Results Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated pseudoexfoliative material on either the anterior capsule or conjunctival sample from the clinically unaffected eye in 26 of the 32 patients with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome (81%; 95% confidence interval, 64%–93%). Conclusion The results suggest that the seemingly uninvolved eye in a patient with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome has an 81% likelihood of being affected ultrastructurally. Several population studies examining conversion rates from unilateral to bilateral disease have found a similar proportion of patients with bilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome in the later decades of life.
Interference Suppression in MC-CDMA Systems by Joint Transceiver Design

Multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) systems are well suited for high data rate wireless multimedia services due to their capability of converting the frequency-selective fading channels to distinct frequency-flat ones with low-complexity fast Fourier transform (FFT) devices. However, in multiuser MC-CDMA systems, the frequency selectivity and variation of the users' geographical locations give rise to the multiuser interference (MUI) which induces a significant performance degradation of the systems. In order to mitigate MUI, we present a joint interference suppression algorithm of transmitter power control, receiver array processing and multiuser detection. In addition to the interference suppression using this algorithm, the frequency selectivity also provides multipath diversity if appropriately exploited. Simulations confirm the outstanding performance improvement of this algorithm compared with existing alternatives in MC-CDMA systems, and also confirm that the algorithm performs better in frequency-selective fading channels than in frequency-flat fading ones due to the multipath diversity.
Site-specific forest-assembly of single-wall carbon nanotubes on electron-beam patterned SiOx/Si substrates

Abstract Based on electron-beam direct writing on the SiOx/Si substrates, favorable absorption sites for ferric cations (Fe3+ ions) were created on the surface oxide layer. This allowed Fe3+-assisted self-assembled arrays of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) probes to be produced. Auger investigation indicated that the incident energetic electrons depleted oxygen, creating more dangling bonds around Si atoms at the surface of the SiOx layer. This resulted in a distinct difference in the friction forces from unexposed regions as measured by lateral force microscopy (LFM). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) affirmed that the irradiated domains absorbed considerably more Fe3+ ions upon immersion into pH 2.2 aqueous FeCl3 solution. This rendered a greater yield of FeO(OH)/FeOCl precipitates, primarily FeO(OH), upon subsequent washing with lightly basic dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. Such selective metal-functionalization established the basis for the subsequent patterned forest-assembly of SWNTs as demonstrated by resonance Raman spectroscopy.
The trojan door: Organizations, work, and the “open black box”

The paper summarizes recent work on organizations, artificial intelligence systems, human-computer interaction, etc., which emphasizes thesituated, distributed, andfluid nature of social systems. This contrasts with the traditional way of writing and thinking about social systems which sees them as disembodied, ideal, formal notions of thought. The implications of this new view of systems for social actors, information, knowledge, and technology are discussed. The literature reviewed offers a new way of talking about systems and their practices.
Spectrin expression in neuroblastoma cells

Mouse neuroblastoma cells express a spectrin-related molecule containing 240 kDal (kiloDalton) and 235 kDal subunits in a 1:1 ratio. The 240 kDal and 235 kDal subunits are nearly identical to the alpha and beta subunits respectively of brain spectrin by two dimensional chymotryptic peptide mapping analysis. The neuroblastoma cells do not express a measureable quantity of a red blood cell (rbc)-type spectrin molecule. Neuroblastoma spectrin has been localized throughout the cell body, and neurites of these cells by indirect immunofluorescence studies. As neuroblastoma cells are homogeneous, neuron-like, available in large quantity, and synthesize a single variant of spectrin which is closely related to brain spectrin(240/235), it is the best available model system for the study of the synthesis, assembly and turnover of a neuronal spectrin subtype.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the forehead and scalp with involvement of the outer calvarial plate: multistaged repair with the use of skin expanders.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEDermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive and infiltrative tumor that requires Mohs' micrographic surgery or wide excision to treat. Adequate excision often leaves a cosmetic disfiguring defect, particularly if the tumor is located on the head and neck. C
Characterization of extracellular minerals produced during dissimilatory Fe(III) and U(VI) reduction at 100°C by Pyrobaculum islandicum

In order to gain insight into the significance of biotic metal reduction and mineral formation in hyperthermophilic environments, metal mineralization as a result of the dissimilatory reduction of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide, and U(VI) reduction at 100 °C by Pyrobaculum islandicum was investigated. When P. islandicum was grown in a medium with poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide as an electron acceptor and hydrogen as an electron donor, the Fe(III) oxide was reduced to an extracellular, ultrafine-grained magnetite with characteristics similar to that found in some hot environments and that was previously thought to be of abiotic origin. Furthermore, cell suspensions of P. islandicum rapidly reduced the soluble and oxidized form of uranium, U(VI), to extracellular precipitates of the highly insoluble U(IV) mineral, uraninite (UO2). The reduction of U(VI) was dependent on the presence of hydrogen as the electron donor. These findings suggest that microbes may play a key role in metal deposition in hyperthermophilic environments and provide a plausible explanation for such phenomena as magnetite accumulation and formation of uranium deposits at ca. 100 °C.
Performance in Product versus Service Supplier Relationships

ABSTRACT Today's rapidly changing and competitive marketplace has forced channel members to devote increased attention and resources to providing consumers with a seamless delivery of products and services. This seamless delivery occurs through social integrative relationships between channel members, supported by the application of information technology. Achieving integration is a difficult task that may vary based on whether a product or a service is involved. This paper proposes that manufacturer integrative relationships with product suppliers may develop with lower levels of seamless delivery when compared to manufacturer integrative relationships with service suppliers. Further, the paper discusses how the application of information technology may impact manufacturer-supplier relationships and performance.
Bragg scattering of surface waves by periodic bars: theory and experiment

We extend a recent linearized theory on Bragg scattering of surface waves by periodic sandbars to include second-order effects of the free surface and of the bars. New experiments are performed to verify the existence of the cutoff detuning frequency, the dispersive nature of the first-order wave envelope, and the radiation of second-order long waves. Measured transient and quasi-steady responses to incident wave packets and uniform wavetrains are compared with corresponding theoretical results. For quasi-steady incident waves of relatively small steepness it is found necessary to improve the theory to the second order in bar slope, in order that the calculated short-wave envelopes agree with those measured over the bars.
Salivary cortisol levels in socially phobic adolescent girls.

Anxiety disorders such as social phobia (SP) often have their onset during adolescence and frequently precede the onset of major depression. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is well-documented in major depression. Consequently, there is considerable interest in HPA function in anxiety disorders. We examined salivary cortisol levels in 27 SP adolescent girls and 21 matched controls during normal daily activities, and immediately before and after a modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Both SP subjects and controls showed significant elevations in cortisol levels prior to the TSST, and prior to attending school. These results suggest that salivary cortisol is a sensitive measure of anticipatory anxiety, but we failed to find significant differences between SP subjects and controls. Depression and Anxiety 10:25–27, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gender, Obesity, and Education

Obesity is a health condition, but its consequences extend far beyond the realm of health. To illuminate an important route by which the experience of obesity can filter into the status attainment process, this study drew on nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to test a social psychological model of the gendered link between obesity and education. Obese girls were less likely to enter college after high school than were their nonobese peers, especially when they attended schools in which obesity was relatively uncommon. Additional analyses revealed that increasing rates of internalizing symptoms, self-medication, and academic disengagement explained about one-third of the obese girls' lower odds of college enrollment. Obese boys, on the other hand, did not differ from their peers—no matter what their school context—in college enrollment.
Does Treatment With Calciferol Have a Role in CKD Patients

ITAMIN D, THE ‘‘sunshine vitamin’’, has received a great deal of attention because of its widespread deficiency in the general population and correlations between low vitamin D levels and increased risks for autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and certain cancers. The amount of vitamin D needed to prevent deficiencies remains unclear, and as does the question of how much is too much. This product update will briefly review vitamin D metabolism and sources of vitamin D, and address low vitamin D levels in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population.
Electromagnetically induced transparency and Autler-Townes splitting: Two similar but distinct phenomena in two categories of three-level atomic systems

Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting are two phenomena that could be featured in a variety of three-level atomic systems. The considered phenomena, EIT and AT, are similar ``looking'' in the sense that they are both characterized by a reduction in absorption of a weak field in the presence of a stronger field. In this paper, we explicitly set the threshold of separation between EIT and AT splitting in a unified study of four different three-level atomic systems. Two resonances are studied and compared in each case. A comparison of the magnitudes of the resonances reveals two coupling-field regimes and two categories of three-level system.
Synthesis of an A'B' Precursor to Angelmicin B: Product Diversification in the Suárez Lactol Fragmentation.

We describe a synthetic strategy for the angelimicin family of anthraquinoid natural products that involves converting a central highly oxygenated decalin intermediate to the AB and A'B' subunits. Herein, we report the synthesis of the bicyclic A'B' subunit that complements our earlier route to the tricyclic AB framework. The differentiating tact in the two syntheses focused on controlling the Suarez radical fragmentation of lactol precursors by modulating the substrate's structural rigidity. A more flexible lactol gave the tricyclic AB framework, whereas a more rigid substrate led to the bicyclic A'B' precursor, presumably through divergent pathways from the radical produced in the initial fragmentation step. These results establish a versatile advanced synthetic precursor for the angelimicins, and on a more general note, illustrate strategies for applying the Suarez fragmentation to diverse and complex molecular frameworks.
Femtosecond resonant pulse propagation in quantum cascade lasers: Evidence of coherent effects

Ultrafast upconversion is employed to investigate pulse propagation in quantum cascade lasers. The authors have observed advances of the pulse peak to early times, pulse re-shaping, and evidence of a coherent contribution to pulse propagation.
Effect of machine compliance on mold deflection during injection and packing of thermoplastic parts

Minimizing mold deflection is essential when manufacturing plastic parts to tight tolerances. Both the mold and the machine are compliant and deform upon loading, which can affect the part quality. Therefore, understanding mold deflection during injection molding is critical for determining the final geometry of the part. It is also critical for secondary processes such as the in-mold coating process. This article presents work in quantifying both mold deflection during an injection-molding cycle and the effect of machine compliance on mold behavior. The mold cavity pressure obtained using MoldFlow™ was used as input for the subsequent finite element mold deflection analysis. Two different structural models were used: the first model included only the mold, the mold base units and the ejector platen; the second model included the effect of the injection-molding machine compliance. To validate the model, strain gage rosettes were placed on the mold and the machine. Validating experiments were conducted using process parameters identical to those used in the simulations. A comparison of the experimental and simulation results for both models is presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:844–852, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers
Obesity, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and free fatty acids

High levels of free fatty acids have emerged as a major link between obesity and insulin resistance/Type 2 diabetes. In pancreatic β cells, free fatty acids potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion precisely to the extent needed to compensate for the free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. It is postulated that this prevents the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the majority of obese, insulin-resistant individuals who have free fatty acid-mediated insulin resistance. In individuals with inherited defects of β-cell function (prediabetics), this compensation fails and hyperglycemia develops. Elevated levels of free fatty acids also activate the proinflammatory and proatherogenic nuclear factor κB pathway. Thus, elevated plasma levels of free fatty acid in obese people can produce a low-grade inflammatory state, which may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease, strokes and peripheral arterial disease) and to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; these conditions are increased in obesity.
Synthesizing sounds from physically based motion

This paper describes a technique for approximating sounds that are generated by the motions of solid objects. The technique builds on previous work in the field of physically based animation that uses deformable models to simulate the behavior of the solid objects. As the motions of the objects are computed, their surfaces are analyzed to determine how the motion will induce acoustic pressure waves in the surrounding medium. Our technique computes the propagation of those waves to the listener and then uses the results to generate sounds corresponding to the behavior of the simulated objects.
COMPARATIVE ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF CELLULAR IMMUNE REACTIONS AND TUMORIGENESIS IN DROSOPHILA

Cellular immunity in insects is mediated by blood cells, or hemocytes, which eliminate invading foreign organisms by phagocytosis and encapsulation (Salt, 1963, 1970; Poinar, 1969, 1974; Whitcomb et al., 1974; Nappi, 1974, 1975a). Encapsulation reactions are typically characterized by the aggregation and adhesion of hemocytes forming multilayered capsules which melanize around foreign surfaces too large to be engulfed by a single host cell. Although many significant contributions have been made to the study of insect immunity, important questions concerning the mechanism of hemocyte activation and the specificity of cellular interactions with various infectious and oncogenic agents still remain unanswered. An elementary understanding of how immuno-competent cells differentiate between ‘self’ and ‘not-self’ and react to eliminate foreignness necessitates a working knowledge of the origin and diverse functions of specific cell types, and of the mechanisms which regulate their activity throughout development and under various pathological conditions. Unfortunately, little of this information is available for insects, and only for a very few species.
The Conceptual Structure of German Impersonal Constructions

German impersonal constructions manifest an array of morphosyntactic properties, such as so-called expletive dummy subjects, 3rd person singular verb agreement, and, in some cases, experiencer nominals bearing “quirky” case (usually dative), that have traditionally been regarded as purely accidental, idiosyncratic, or semantically vacuous. This article argues that these properties typically associated with impersonal constructions in German can be semantically motivated and explained within the theoretical framework of Cognitive Grammar (see Langacker 1987a, 1991a, 1991b). Within this framework, it is assumed that morphosyntactic markers are meaningful and polysemous: they are complex conceptual categories with distinct but related senses radiating from a prototypical sense. As a result, impersonal constructions and their component substructures are seen to be meaningful in their own right in reflecting a particular way of construing a scene, rather than as epiphenomena of autonomous syntactic processes.I would like to acknowledge the perceptive and helpful feedback of the anonymous JGL reviewers. I have tried to follow their suggestions wherever possible. Of course, I take full responsibility for any errors or lack of clarity that may remain.
Fast and Flexible Conversion of Geohash Codes to and from Latitude/Longitude Coordinates

Insights extracted from spatial queries in geodatabase systems introduce significant opportunities for business intelligence. However, geodatabases are unable to keep up with the required performance due to the massive (and sky-rocketing) amounts of data generated from embedded location-enabled devices. In this paper, we focus on geographic information systems that make use of geohash, specifically, we tackle the kernel of converting geohash codes to and from longitude/latitude pairs. We present the first hardware implementation of a geohash conversion engine operating at wire speed. The presented geohash converter is further enhanced with runtime flexibility with respect to characteristics of the data it can process, furthermore, the architecture allows the user to compromise on performance when limited by hardware resources (design time flexibility). Experimental results of the geohash conversion engine on a Xilinx XC7K325T FPGA show >13X (end-to-end) speedup compared to optimized industry-grade software running on 16 CPU hardware threads.
Adverse Effects of Nifedipine Therapy on Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

A 62-year-old man with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was given sublingual nifedipine, 10 mg, during invasive hemodynamic monitoring. After 15 minutes, his left ventricular outflow gradient increased from 22 to 80 mm Hg while arterial pressure fell from 152/70 to 122/64 mm Hg. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 15 to 22 mm Hg. These adverse hemodynamic responses may have been a result of vasodilation of the peripheral circulation induced by nifedipine. Thus, some patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy may develop serious hemodynamic compromise when treated with nifedipine.
The Fall of Humanity: Weakness of the Will and Moral Responsibility in the Later Augustine

I. INTRODUCTION: THE PROBLEM Akrasia (or, weakness of the will), often defined as “the moral state of agents who act against their better judgment”—a definition first given by Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics, depicts one of the most human of predicaments. Risto Sarrinen, Weakness of the Will in Medieval Thought: From Augustine to Buridan (New York: E. J. Brill, 1994), p. 1. Similar definitions can be found in, e.g., Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics VII, 1045b10–15; Donald Davidson, “How is Weakness of the Will Possible?” in Moral Concepts, ed. J. Feinberg (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1970) p. 93; William Charlton, Weakness of Will (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1988), p. 1. We know what we ought to do, and we try. But, for one reason or other, we sometimes choose to act contrary to our better judgment. Being influenced by Socratic reasoning, some philosophers have argued that, in principle, one cannot freely and intentionally choose to act against one’s better judgment, if (1) one rationally judges what is best for oneself, (2) one prefers to act according to one’s rational judgment, and (3) one is free to make one’s own choice. See, e.g., Davidson, “How is Weakness,” pp. 93–113; and R. M. Hare, Freedom and Reason (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963), pp. 78–79. Despite the logical difficulty, many believe that weakness of the will is a fact.
Control system design and evaluation for robust autonomous rotorcraft guidance

Abstract This paper describes the design and performance analysis of a control system for rotorcraft with an emphasis on the requirements called for by autonomous guidance. To be able to track trajectories, such as those generated by a guidance system, a path following controller is used in combination with a velocity control augmentation. The path following system is motivated by nonlinear stability analysis. The velocity control augmentation follows a loop-shaping design for the inner-loop attitude control and a dynamic inversion velocity control design for the outer-loop. The identified model of the dynamics along with the uncertainties is used to determine the robustness and performance of the velocity control system. Finally, the paper presents a novel method to evaluate the overall performance of the control system in terms of the tracking error statistics. These results are then used to determine a tracking error model, which can be used to predict the tracking error for a given reference.
Less testing is needed in the emergency room after a first afebrile seizure.

A stereotype of the aftermath of a child’s first afebrile seizure seems to be that the child and the panicked parents are brought to the emergency department by ambulance, an IV in place. Most often the seizure has stopped. Blood work is obtained, a computed tomography (CT) scan is done, and then a history and a physical examination are performed—in that order. A neurologist often is then consulted. This sequence usually is followed by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and an electroencephalogram (EEG) scheduled for the following week, because they are difficult to obtain immediately. The cost of such an evaluation is not trivial (Fig 1), and the benefits are dubious. And yet, such a full-press evaluation seems common. Fig 1. *Costs are those of the Johns Hopkins Emergency Department. Charges will vary with the individual emergency department. Amino acids, metabolic work-up etc are additional, and rarely needed. Physicians staffing emergency departments are often trained in adult care where tumors and vascular events are far more common causes of initial seizures. The evaluation of a child with a new-onset afebrile seizure is often erroneously extrapolated from the adult protocols. Physicians are afraid of being “less than complete,” lest there be subsequent malpractice litigation if everything that could be done is not done. But children are not small adults. The causes of first seizures in children and adolescents, their proper evaluation, their consequences, and their treatment should be different from the adult’s treatment. Seventy percent of seizure disorders start in childhood. Two percent of all emergency department visits to the Boston Children’s Hospital over a 33-month period were for children who had had a seizure. Eighteen percent (500 children) had a first nonfebrile seizure. These 500 children are the subject of the study of the value of emergency neuroimaging in this issue by …
The Multiple Forms of Neurofibromatosis

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF)1 has multiple forms in several senses. First, there is the matter of heterogeneity: There is more than one disease designated by the term NF, for example "classical" NF as originally described by Von Recklinghausen2 and "acoustic" NF characterized by bilateral acoustic neunomas.3,4 Second, there is the matter of marked variability in the overall severity and progression of classical NF, the disorder to be considered in this review. NF can cause serious problems, and even death in the newborn period,5 or be associated with only a relatively mild or modest burden into the seventh decade and beyond. In almost all patients NF becomes obvious in the first year of life and some form of specific problems or compromise develops before age 20 years. NF is a heritable disorder, with a frequency of 1 in 3,000.6 This means it affects at least 80,000 Americans, making it much more common than is ordinarily supposed. Indeed, it is more common than Huntington chorea, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Tay-Sachs disease combined.4 However, in spite of its commonness,6-10 a realistic appreciation of NF9s importance for pediatrics, and for medical care and research in general, is only a recent development. This long overdue change in emphasis reflects a recognition that NF9s pathogenesis has bearing on a number of issues in basic biology, including neural crest embryology and genetic influences on the origin of cancer,1 the establishment of several NF clinical research programs, and the activities of several NF patient self-help groups.
Parastrachiinae (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) raised to family level

Abstract Parastrachia, with its two species P. japonensis (Scott) and P. nagaensis Distant, has been placed as a subfamily (Parastrachiinae) in Cydnidae. Those who placed it there [C. W. Schaefer, Dolling, W. R., and S. Tachikawa. 1988, The shieldbug genus Parastrachia and its position within the Pentatomoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 93: 283–311] expressed their doubts at the time. We confirm those doubts after comparing Parastrachia with several pentatomoid groups, including Pentatomidae and Cydnidae. We conclude that the genus warrants family-level rank, as Parastrachiidae Oshanin, 1922.
Predictors of retained hemothorax after trauma and impact on patient outcomes

Hemo/pneumothoraces are a common result of thoracic injury. Some of these injuries will be complicated by retained hemothorax (RH), which has previously been shown to be associated with longer hospitalizations. It has been proposed that early versus delayed intervention with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital and ICU LOS, and costs in patients with RH. However, little is known regarding the effect of RH on these outcomes relative to patients with uncomplicated hemo/pneumothoraces. The aim of our study was to characterize factors present on admission that may be associated with RH and assess the impact of RH on outcomes. A retrospective chart review was conducted and included all patients who underwent tube thoracostomy (TT) for traumatic hemo/pneumothorax admitted to a single urban adult and pediatric level I trauma center from January 2008 to September 2013. The study cohort included 398 patients, 17.6 % developed RH. RH was associated with significantly longer total duration of TT drainage (p < 0.001), hospital LOS (p < 0.001), and total hospital charges (p < 0.001). These associations remained significant in a subgroup analysis excluding patients with traumatic brain injury. Patients with bilateral injuries (OR 4.25, p < 0.001) and patients intubated on the day of admission (OR 2.30, p = 0.002) were significantly more likely to develop RH. There was also a small, but highly significant, association between increasing ISS and the development of RH (OR 1.07, p < 0.001). Our study suggests patients requiring ventilator support on admission and those with bilateral injuries are at increased risk of developing RH. Early identification of patients at risk for RH may allow for earlier intervention and potential benefits to the patient.
Psychosociale aspecten van reumatische aandoeningen

De verbeterde medicamenteuze behandeling heeft ertoe geleid, waarschijnlijk in combinatie met een grotere nadruk in de behandeling op het leiden van een actief en waardevol leven, dat het welbevinden en functioneren van mensen met sommige reumatische aandoeningen in de afgelopen jaren zijn verbeterd. Toch is het voor veel patienten nog steeds een hele opgave om te leren omgaan met de lichamelijke, psychische en sociale gevolgen van ontsteking, pijn en moeheid. Dit hoofdstuk bespreekt: (1) cytokinen, gedrag, cognities, sociale steun en onbegrip als determinanten van welbevinden en functioneren, (2) de prevalentie van moeheid, fysieke handicaps, depressie en angst en (3) manieren om het welbevinden en functioneren te verhogen, namelijk zelfregulatie met nadruk op actieplannen, cognitieve gedragstherapie, bewegingsinterventies en de behandeling van depressie en angst. Het hoofdstuk eindigt met een recept voor het omgaan met een reumatische aandoening: ‘Geniet van bewegen, doe leuke dingen, verdriet is toegestaan en pluk het uur (carpe horam)’.
Finding the Road to the Last Mile: Civil-Military Operations and Effects of Mitigation on Stability and Reconstruction Operations (Nation-Building) in Iraq

AbstractInitial US efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate Iraq were a failure. This failure was all but guaranteed by the mistaken confidence that senior levels of the US Government held in Iraqi Government capacity. Once the inability of the Iraqi Government to govern was realised, efforts to take over their responsibilities were equally fraught due to a lack of planning and properly skilled personnel. By this time, much critical time had been lost in establishing an effective information management plan, and insurgent propaganda had taken root. Substantial sums of money and prodigious effort were employed to rectify the governance and information problems, but to limited effect due to a further lack of planning. Having identified these problems and learned some difficult lessons, the US V Corps formed an integrated, synchronised “C24” cell at MNF-I, incorporating the C7 (Engineer), C8 (Comptroller) and C9 (Civil Military Operations, or CMO) positions into a “one stop shop” for CMO, synchronising its effort...
Textual summarization of events leading to health alerts

Extracting information from the sensors installed in the homes of elderly pose a unique set of challenges. Add to it the short amount of time the clinicians and nurses have to analyze this data, and the problem becomes more complicated. A system already in place at an “Aging in Place” facility monitors the activities of residents through multiple non-intrusive sensors and sends alerts on detecting an unusual event. We present an approach to generate textual summaries of events leading to the alerts. We analyze our system using four case studies and also list the comments provided by collaborators in healthcare domain. The system was then iterated to take some of those suggestions into account to give a glimpse of what an ideal system should look like.
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PEPTIDOGLYCAN RECOGNITION PROTEIN-1 AND ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE EVENTS IN THE DALLAS HEART STUDY

Peptidoglycan recognition protein-1 (PGLYRP-1) is a pro-inflammatory molecule in the innate immune system that binds peptidoglycan, a bacterial cell wall constituent known to be present in human atheroma. Circulating PGLYRP-1 levels are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in humans. We
Abstract 4721: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is not required for breast to lung metastasis but contributes to chemoresistance

The role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in metastasis is a longstanding source of controversy, largely due to an inability to monitor transient and reversible EMT phenotypes in vivo. We have established a novel and unique EMT lineage tracing system in spontaneous breast to lung metastasis models. In these models, mesenchymal-specific Cre-mediated recombination initiates permanent switch of fluorescent markers in tumor cells undergoing EMT. This allows us to track EMT tumor cells in the primary tumor, circulation and distant organs following the trail of breast to lung metastasis in vivo. We confirmed that within a predominantly epithelial primary tumor, a small portion of tumor cells undergo EMT. Strikingly, lung metastases were mainly comprised of non-EMT tumor cells maintaining their epithelial phenotype. Inhibiting EMT by overexpressing miR-200 did not impact lung metastasis development. However, EMT cells significantly contribute to recurrent lung metastasis formation after chemotherapy. These cells survived cyclophosphamide treatment due to reduced proliferation, apoptotic tolerance, and elevated expression of chemoresistance-related genes. This study suggests the potential of an EMT-targeting strategy, in conjunction with conventional chemotherapies, in the treatment of breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Kari R. Fischer, Anna Durrans, Sharrell Lee, Jianting Sheng, Hyejin Choi, Fuhai Li, Stephen Wong, Nasser K. Altorki, Vivek Mittal, Dingcheng Gao. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is not required for breast to lung metastasis but contributes to chemoresistance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4721. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4721
An integrative review of physical activity/exercise intervention effects on function and health-related quality of life in older adults with heart failure

This paper reviews randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) that have used a physical activity/exercise intervention in older adults with heart failure and reported outcomes of physical function and/or health-related quality of life. An integrative review was necessary because a literature search indicated no reviews have been done regarding these outcomes which are deemed very important by the older adult population. Computerized database search strategies by authors between 2002 and 2015 resulted in 163 studies, with 12 meeting inclusion criteria. Interventions were performed in clinic and home-based, group and/or individual settings with durations from three to 12 months. Interventions were varied. Common methodological weaknesses of the studies include lack of theory guiding the intervention, small sample and low minority representation. Strengths included detailed intervention methods. There was a moderate effect of interventions with no reported adverse effects. Further work is essential to identify successful strategies to support older adults with heart failure to increase their physical activity levels.
Fabrication of Drug Delivery Systems Using Self-Assembled Peptide Nanostructures

Peptides offer several molecular attributes that enable their unique use for drug delivery. Their chemical design versatility, in combination with their ability to adopt specific secondary structures, provides a unique platform for the design of biomaterials with well-defined structural and biological features. Here we provide a brief review on the use of peptide-based self-assembling nanostructures as carriers to deliver small molecule hydrophobic drugs. We will first outline the rational design principles for constructing a drug delivery system, and then analyze several peptide-based systems that harness such designs.
Local Time, Excursions, and Additive Functionals

Semi-martingale local time, Tanaka’s formula, space-time regularity, occupation measure and density, extended Ito formula, regenerative sets and processes, excursion law, excursion local time and Poisson process, approximations of local time, inverse local time as a subordinator, Brownian excursion, Ray–Knight theorem, continuous additive functionals, Revuz measure, potentials, excessive functions, additive-functional local time, additive functionals of Brownian motion.
Effect of nutrients on biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel

The effect of nutrients on the development of biofilms by Listeria monocytogenes was investigated using semicontinuous culture in a chemically defined minimal medium (modified Welshimer's broth, MWB). Inoculated slides were used for the development of biofilms for 12 days at 21°C under various nutrient conditions. Biofilms were quantified by measuring the percentage of area covered by cells, using computerized image analysis. MWB allowed slow development of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms. Glucose levels between 1 and 20 g/l did not affect biofilm development. A reduction or increase in phosphate level from that occurring in MWB (37.52 g/l) reduced biofilm development. The degree to which biofilms initially developed was associated with amino acid concentration within the range of 0.12 to 6 g/l; however, after 12 days of incubation, the amount of biofilm produced was not affected by amino acid concentration. Replacement of amino acids in MWB with tryptone initially enhanced biofilm development, but the effect was not significant after 12 days of incubation. Of five carbohydrates tested, mannose and trehalose enhanced biofilm development.
Disseminated Cryptococcal Disease with Diffuse Pulmonary Infiltrates in a Non-HIV Host.

Background A diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock has been shown to significantly increase mortality rate independent of other factors. Research has revealed all cause hospital case fatality rates have declined yet the percentage of severe sepsis cases continues to increase and age-adjusted mortality rates from severe sepsis and septic shock has significantly increased during the same time period. Patients with severe sepsis demonstrate ongoing mortality rate increases for up to 2 years following hospitalization when compared to aged matched controls of nonseptic patients. International guidelines with mortality benefit for the management of severe sepsis and septic shock have been illustrated in the latest surviving sepsis campaign. Objective The objective of this study was to increase the percentage of patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock who met guidelines based on surviving sepsis campaign. Methodology A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted to UHC from January 2016 to present to identify cases with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock, and whether they met guidelines set forth by surviving sepsis campaign both before and after an intervention program which included interviews with providers failing to meet protocol, educational sessions on guidelines to meet protocol, resident led quality improvement workshops to address barriers to meeting protocol, and development of an EMR power plan to assist providers on meeting protocol. Results 139 cases with a diagnosis, or meeting criteria for, severe sepsis or septic shock were identified during the period of 1/1/2016-9/30/2016 with an average of 43 percent of total cases which met guidelines. Trend analysis revealed increased compliance following resident lead intervention program with 31 percent and 49 percent before and after intervention, respectively. ICU data is currently being analyzed for meeting guidelines and have not been included in current data. The most common reason for failing guidelines was failure to obtain or repeat lactic acid on time (46 percent ); and failure to give timely antibiotics (22 percent );. Conclusions The percentage of patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock at UHC meeting guidelines set forth by surviving sepsis campaign has improved following resident lead intervention program. Intervention strategies to further improve compliance with guidelines with a goal >60 percent are currently being analyzed.