cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PCB-induced changes of a benthic community and expected ecosystem recovery following in situ sorbent amendment

The benthic community was analyzed to evaluate pollution-induced changes for the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)- contaminated site at Hunters Point (HP) relative to 30 reference sites in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. An analysis based on functional traits of feeding, reproduction, and position in the sediment shows that HP is depauperate in deposit feeders, subsurface carnivores, and species with no protective barrier. Sediment chemistry analysis shows that PCBs are the major risk drivers at HP (1,570 ppb) and that the reference sites contain very low levels of PCB contamination (9 ppb). Different feeding traits support the existence of direct pathways of exposure, which can be mechanistically linked to PCB bioaccumulation by biodynamic modeling. The model shows that the deposit feeder Neanthes arenaceodentata accumulates approximately 20 times more PCBs in its lipids than the facultative deposit feeder Macoma balthica and up to 130 times more than the filter feeder Mytilus edulis. The comparison of different exposure scenarios suggests that PCB tissue concentrations at HP are two orders of magnitude higher than at the reference sites. At full scale, in situ sorbent amendment with activated carbon may reduce PCB bioaccumulation at HP by up to 85 to 90% under favorable field and treatment conditions. The modeling framework further demonstrates that such expected remedial success corresponds to exposure conditions suggested as the cleanup goal for HP. However, concentrations remain slightly higher than at the reference sites. The present study demonstrates how the remedial success of a sorbent amendment, which lowers the PCB availability, can be compared to reference conditions and traditional cleanup goals, which are commonly based on bulk sediment concentrations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:1819-1826. # 2011 SETAC
Systems Biology of Vascular Calcification

Vascular calcification, a prevalent and progressive disorder, involves numerous interactive, autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine regulatory mechanisms and is thus ideally suited for analysis using a systems approach. This approach focuses on creating quantitative, testable models of complex biological systems that take into consideration the time dimension. They are usually expressed as mathematical models, and because of their time dependence and complexity, they usually require computer simulation to determine predicted outcomes. Here, we provide an example of such a model used to analyze self-organization and mineralization of vascular stem cells, using partial differential equations capable of accurately predicting experimental outcomes. Such systems-based models are useful in many aspects of cardiovascular medicine.
Effects of short-term supplementation with ascorbate, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 on inflammatory factors and estrogen levels in obese postmenopausal women

Little is known about the effects of commonly used vitamins on serum inflammatory markers and the hormonal balance in obese postmenopausal women. We studied the effects of an 8-week open-label supplementation with vitamins C (500 mg), B6 (25 mg), B12 (1 mg), and folate (5 mg) on C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and estradiol levels in 20 obese (body mass index > or = 30) postmenopausal women. Outcomes were assessed in a blinded fashion. Folate and vitamin B12 levels rose significantly, suggesting that the supplement was well absorbed and that participants adhered to the protocol. Weight, blood pressure, and serum lipids remained stable. C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and leptin levels remained unchanged. Estradiol levels rose from a median of 22.0 pg/mL (IQR = 15.9-25.8) at baseline to a median of 27.8 pg/mL (IQR = 23.1-33.9) at follow-up (p = 0.003). Increments in serum estradiol caused by vitamin supplementation in postmenopausal women have not been previously described and probably merit further investigation.
Image segmentation using situational DCT descriptors

It is of utmost importance in multimedia processing to achieve still image segmentation, i.e., to partition images into regions of coherent color and texture. We present a new image segmentation method using a special visual descriptor. For each pixel p, the discrete cosine transform (DCT) of the block centered on p together with its location in the image is employed as its content descriptor thus resulting int a long vector /spl nu//spl I.oarr//sub p/, referred to as situational DCT descriptors (SDDs). A scalar quantization step is then carried out on the DCT component of SDDs to reflect the fact that the human vision system is not of uniform discrimination to details of different frequencies. Next the principal component analysis is conducted to drastically reduce the dimensionality of SDDs. The adaptive K-mean algorithm is then performed to arrive at the region assignment for each pixel. The final partitioning results are obtained after performing the post-processing step. Experimental results using this method demonstrate encouraging performances.
Source Attribution of Cyanides using Anionic Impurity Profiling, Stable Isotope Ratios, Trace Elemental Analysis and Chemometrics

Chemical attribution signatures (CAS) for chemical threat agents (CTAs), such as cyanides, are being investigated to provide an evidentiary link between CTAs and specific sources to support criminal investigations and prosecutions. Herein, stocks of KCN and NaCN were analyzed for trace anions by high performance ion chromatography (HPIC), carbon stable isotope ratio (δ(13)C) by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The collected analytical data were evaluated using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), Fisher-ratio (F-ratio), interval partial least-squares (iPLS), genetic algorithm-based partial least-squares (GAPLS), partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), K nearest neighbors (KNN), and support vector machines discriminant analysis (SVMDA). HCA of anion impurity profiles from multiple cyanide stocks from six reported countries of origin resulted in cyanide samples clustering into three groups, independent of the associated alkali metal (K or Na). The three groups were independently corroborated by HCA of cyanide elemental profiles and corresponded to countries each having one known solid cyanide factory: Czech Republic, Germany, and United States. Carbon stable isotope measurements resulted in two clusters: Germany and United States (the single Czech stock grouped with United States stocks). Classification errors for two validation studies using anion impurity profiles collected over five years on different instruments were as low as zero for KNN and SVMDA, demonstrating the excellent reliability associated with using anion impurities for matching a cyanide sample to its factory using our current cyanide stocks. Variable selection methods reduced errors for those classification methods having errors greater than zero; iPLS-forward selection and F-ratio typically provided the lowest errors. Finally, using anion profiles to classify cyanides to a specific stock or stock group for a subset of United States stocks resulted in cross-validation errors ranging from 0 to 5.3%.
The W3C web cryptography API: motivation and overview

The W3C Web Cryptography API is the standard API for accessing cryptographic primitives in Javascript-based environments. We describe the motivations behind the creation of the W3C Web Cryptography API and give a high-level overview with motivating use-cases while addressing objections.
Where there is no hope: a teacher’s experience with homelessness

Stereotypical notions of who experiences homelessness frame how educational institutions approach policy and program development. This life history of a teacher challenges assumptions by providing an in-depth look at a mother’s struggle to find stability.
Digitized Spiral Drawing Analysis Discriminates Parkinson Disease from Control (P04.191)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the discriminative value of digitized spiral analysis in distinguishing Parkinson9s disease (PD) from controls. BACKGROUND: Spiral analysis is a clinical non-invasive test that objectively characterizes kinematic and physiologic features using calculated indices derived from hand-drawn spiral shape and motor execution. While it correlates with Unified Parkinson9s Disease Rating Scale motor scores in PD, and may be more sensitive in detecting early changes in motor performance, its ability to discriminate PD from controls has not been established. DESIGN/METHODS: 139 PD subjects and 155 controls drew ten spirals with each hand on a digitizing tablet. Spiral analysis derived indices included: (1) global degree of severity score (DOS), a measure of overall spiral execution and spatial irregularity, (2) second order smoothness (SOS), (3) first order Z crossing (ZCR), (4) tightness, (5) mean speed and (6) spiral width variability index (SWVI). Linear mixed effect and logistic models adjusting for age, gender and handedness comparing these indices between cases and controls, and a three-fold cross-validation study were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was applied to examine the discriminative ability of the combined indices for PD. RESULTS: All spiral indices except ZCR were significantly different between cases and controls (DOS: p CONCLUSIONS: Spiral analysis accurately discriminates PD and early PD from controls , and may be useful as a biomarker in discerning PD. Further assessment is needed to determine its discriminatory abilities in differentiating tremor disorders such as ET from PD. Disclosure: Dr. San Luciano has received personal compensation for activites with Merz Pharmaceuticals as a consultant. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boschung has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stanley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bressman has received a royalty, liscense fee or contractual rights payment from Beth Israel/Mount Sinai/Athena. Dr Lipton has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan, Inc., Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cognimed, Colucid, Eli Lilly & Company, eNeura Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., MAP, Merck, Nautilus Neuroscience, Novartis, and NuPathe. Dr. Lipton holds stock and/or stock options in eNeura Therapeutics. Dr. Pullman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saunders-Pullman has nothing to disclose.
Purpose, Cause, and Supervenience

This is an extended review of Teleological Realism, Scott Sehon’s argument for the independence of explanations of human action.
Reference state estimation of breast computed tomography for registration with digital mammography

Understanding the deformation of the breast is a fundamental aspect to lesion localization in multi-view and multimodality imaging. Finite element methods (FEMs) are commonly used to model the deformation process of the breast. In FEM, ideally a reference state of the breast with no loading conditions is available as a starting point and then appropriate imaging-modality-based loading conditions for a specific application can be applied to the breast in the reference state. We propose an iterative method to estimate the reference state configuration between a gravity loaded uncompressed breast computed tomography (BCT) volume and a compressed breast using the corresponding digital mammograms (DM) as a guide. The reference state breast model is compressed between two plates similar to mammographic imaging. A DM-like image is generated by forward ray-tracing. The iterative method applies pressure in the anterior-to-posterior direction of the breast and uses information from the DM geometry and measurements to converge on a reference state of the breast. The process of reference state estimation and breast compression was studied using BCT cases from small to large breast sizes and breast densities consisting of scattered, heterogeneous and extremely dense categories. The breasts were assumed to be composed of non-linear materials based on Mooney-Rivlin models. The effects of the material properties on the estimation process were analyzed. The Frechet distance between the edges of the DM-like image and the DM image was used as a performance measure.
Kinetic Study of the Reaction of Re(a6S5/2) with O2, NO, N2O, and CH4

The gas-phase reactivity of ground-state Re(a6S5/2) with O2, NO, N2O, and CH4 is reported. Rhenium atoms were produced by the photodissociation of Re(CO)5Cl and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The reaction rate of the a6S5/2 state with O2 is slow and temperature-dependent. The reaction is pressure-independent, indicating a bimolecular abstraction reaction. The bimolecular rate constant from 296 to 548 K is described in Arrhenius form by (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10-11 exp(−11.6 ± 0.6 kJ/mol/RT) where the uncertainties represent ±2σ. The reaction rate of the a6S5/2 state with NO is pressure-dependent, indicating adduct formation. The limiting low-pressure third-order, k0, and limiting high-pressure second-order, k∞, room-temperature rate constants with NO in nitrogen buffer are (3.7 ± 0.8) × 10-30 cm6 s-1 and (7.0 ± 0.8) × 10-12 cm3 s-1, respectively. There is no evidence of chemical reaction for the ground state of rhenium with N2O or CH4 up to a temperature of 548 K.
‘BENT’: A COLONIAL SUBVERSIVE AND INDIAN BROADCASTING

L'A. evoque la personnalite et la carriere de Lionel Fielden qui fut charge en 1935 de moderniser la chaine de radio indienne de la BBC : All India Air. Il rappelle que celui-ci fut un adversaire du colonialisme et qu'il s'est efforce, des son arrivee en Inde, de nouer des relations avec les principaux leaders nationalistes, notamment avec Gandhi, Jawaharlal et Nehru. Il analyse les rapports de Fielden avec les autorites coloniales britanniques. Ces dernieres manifesterent une grande animosite et une grande suspicion a son encontre. Il montre que All India Air a toujours tente de faire preuve d'une relative independance vis-a-vis des regles edictees par le pouvoir colonial concernant l'organisation des medias. Fielden, quant a lui, dut assumer la contradiction entre les obligations liees a sa charge et ses convictions personnelles. L'A. analyse l'influence de Fielden au sein de la radio indienne et pakistanaise post-coloniale.
Closed-loop control of power system transient stability(5):calculation of control quantity

The geometric analysis of trajectory convexity shows the slope of unstable phase trajectory increases gradually along with the angle. In order to stabilize the unstable trajectory,its slope should be controlled to become continuously smaller before the power balance point. A method is proposed to approximately calculate the minimum control quantity based on the phase trajectory slope of control point and the angle of power balance point. The equivalent power balance point is calculated approximately based on the measurements. A single machine infinite bus system and an interconnected system are taken as the examples to verify the validity of the introduced theory.
Nonequilibrium Carrier Dynamics in GaAs Semiconductors Induced by Energetic Ions

Energetic ions interact with semiconductor devices to produce ionization tracks that consist of dense plasmas of free carriers. These ion tracks generally penetrate through the active regions of the device into the substrate, as is shown schematically in Figure 1. The penetration depth depends on the material, the energy of the ion, and the characteristic rate of energy transfer from the ion to the material (dE/dx, commonly referred to as the stopping power). The charge created by such interactions can collect on various circuit nodes and produce transient errors in integrated circuit (IC) memories and latches that are commonly referred to as single event upsets (SEU’s), or soft fails. Single event upsets pose a serious reliability problem for space-based digital circuitry because of the large flux of energetic ions in cosmic rays and the earth’s radiation belts, and become more significant in later generation IC’s which are faster and more densely packed than their predecessors. A better understanding of basic charge collection mechanisms and their relationship to SEU phenomena is thus of considerable interest. One of the important parameters not yet fully understood is the temporal dependence of the ion-induced current transients.
Indications and Preoperative Evaluation for Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty

Anatomic shoulder arthroplasty is a reliable treatment option that improves pain and functional outcomes in patients with shoulder pain, stiffness, and articular surface damage. Indications for shoulder arthroplasty include primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis, and post-capsulorrhaphy arthritis due to shoulder instability. Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is contraindicated in those with irreparable rotator cuff tears, active infection, deltoid insufficiency, and insufficient glenoid bone stock to support a glenoid component. Hemiarthroplasty (HHR) may be considered for certain patients not eligible for anatomic TSA, including those with rotator cuff arthropathy with preserved active range of motion. A trial of medical management is always reasonable prior to proceeding with shoulder arthroplasty. Preoperative planning includes a thorough history and physical exam, radiographs, laboratory studies, and advanced imaging in some cases. Appropriate preoperative planning can help improve outcomes and reduce complications.
Effect of Cassia occidentalis on Parthenium hysterophorus by way of secondary metabolites

Cassia occidentalis is an extensive growing weed in India with some medicinal value. It has been reported to show strong biochemical interaction causing inhibition of Parthenium hysterophorus which is an obnoxious weed of today. The present study was performed to confirm its inhibition on Parthenium . Biological parameters like Seed germination, Germination velocity index, Shoot length and Root length of 10 days old Parthenium seedlings was recorded. Fresh weight (FW), Dry weight (DW) and Relative water content% (RWC) was recorded after treating the mature Parthenium plant with various aqueous leaf leachates of Cassia occidentalis . Aqueous leaf leachates of Cassia occidentalis which were prepared in different concentrations showed significant inhibition in all biological parameters on Parthenium . This study gives a strong clue regarding the potential of suppressive effect of allelochemicals present in Cassia on Parthenium .
Nitinol laser cutting: microstructure and functional properties of femtosecond and continuous wave laser processing

Thermal processing can affect the properties of smart materials, and the correct selection of the best manufacturing technology is fundamental for producing high tech smart devices, containing embedded functional properties. In this work cutting of thin superelastic Nitinol plates using a femtosecond (fs) and continuous wave (CW) laser was studied. Diamond shaped elements were cut to characterize the kerf qualitative features; microstructural analysis of the cross sections allowed identification of thermal damage characteristics introduced into the material during the laser processes. A thermally undamaged microstructure was observed for fs laser cutting, while CW was seen to be characterized by a large heat-affected zone. Functional properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing of laser cut microelements and of the reference material. It was seen that the martensitic transformation behavior of Nitinol is not affected by fs regime, while cw cutting provokes an effect equivalent to a high temperature thermal treatment in the material surrounding the cutting kerf, degradating the material properties. Finally, tensile testing indicated that superelastic performances were guaranteed by fs regime, while strong reduction of the recoverable strain was detected in the CW processed sample.
The Owegbe Cult: Political and Ethnic Rivalries in Early Postcolonial Benin City

Nigeria is a heterogeneous society with various distinct ethnicities, religions, and languages represented in the population. As a precondition to an integrative process of nationhood, political ideologies and economic interests often retreat along and into traditional or revised ethnic loyalties. The Owegbe cult is a case in point. Traditionally, Owegbe is a fortifying ritual that offers spiritual armor against physical harm. But it is also a socially transformative group enterprise that inducted entrants into a powerful organization to serve collective political ends. Documents from the courts and the Alexander Commission suggest that Owegbe’s social, political, and ethnic functions emerged in the volatile atmosphere of Nigeria’s Midwest State Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. This chapter uses the ethnic theories of the time, government reports, and popular press accounts to examine Owegbe as a secret society in a contentious regional environment. Owegbe served economic aspirations in a region once dominated by a dynastic political kingship system that, by the 1960s, included increasingly sophisticated and educated entrepreneurial and political elites; Yoruba, Igbo, and Edo national interests; as well as the patrimonial interests of the palace. Recently, Owegbe has functioned as a university student secret society.
Professional Speech and the Content-Neutrality Trap

The Eleventh Circuit’s en banc decision in Wollschlaeger v. Florida is remarkable for embracing content neutrality as a tenet of First Amendment doctrine in the realm of professional speech. A new form of aggressive content neutrality is on the rise in First Amendment jurisprudence. Reed v. Town of Gilbert, a seemingly innocuous case about a municipal sign ordinance, ushered in what may turn out to be a dramatic shift in the way courts employ content neutrality as a core principle of the First Amendment. But content neutrality should not be thought of as axiomatic across the First Amendment. This Essay illustrates the dangers of falling into the content-neutrality trap in the context of professional speech. Professional speech communicates the profession’s insights to the client for the purpose of providing professional advice. The value of professional advice critically depends on its content. The First Amendment therefore may not require regulation to be blind to the content of professional speech.
Disintegration of Meatball Electrodes for LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 Cathode Materials

Mechanical degradation of Li-ion batteries caused by the repetitive swelling and shrinking of electrodes upon electrochemical cycles is now well recognized. Structural disintegration of the state-of-art cathode materials of a hierarchical structure is relatively less studied. We track the microstructural evolution of different marked regimes in LiNi x Mn y Co z O2 (NMC) electrodes after lithiation cycles. Decohesion of primary particles constitutes the major mechanical degradation in the NMC materials, which results in the loss of connectivity of the conductive network and impedance increase. We find that the structural disintegration is largely dependent on the charging rate – slow charging causes more damage, and is relatively insensitive to the cyclic voltage window. We use finite element modeling to study the evolution of Li concentration and stresses in a NMC secondary particle and employ the cohesive zone model to simulate the interfacial fracture between primary particles. We reveal that microcracks accumulate and propagate during the cyclic lithiation and delithiation at a slow charging rate.
Endocrine Markers of Cancer

Specific “endocrine” markers (polypeptide hormones and biogenic amines) have for several decades now played a vital role in the clinical evaluation and management of patients with a wide range of endocrine tumors. Some of these hormones, such as ACTH, gastrin, insulin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and serotonin are responsible for the production of specific and often dramatic clinical syndromes. Others, such as calcitonin, a highly sensitive marker for the spectrum of thyroid C-cell proliferative disorders, are not associated with any known clinical syndromes. Ectopic (inappropriate) endocrine syndromes in patients with non- endocrine tumors have likewise been recognized for several decades. The earliest appreciation of inappropriate endocrine activity by tumors dates back to the 1920s (Klemperer, 1923; Brown, 1928), and over the ensuing years, numerous examples of inappropriate endocrine syndromes have been noted in patients with non-endocrine tumors (Meador et al., 1962; Lipsett et al., 1964; Liddle et al., 1969; And erson, 1973; Ratcliff and Rees, 1974; Blackman et al., 1978; Trump and Baylin, 1979). In 1948, it was first appreciated that humoral factors might be involved in these endocrine syndromes (Albright and Reifenstein, 1948).
Spin glass behavior in some ternary metal chalcogens

The magnetic properties of some amorphous metallic materials of the formula M2SnTe4, where M=Cr, Mn, and Fe, are presented. The materials exhibit anomalous magnetic behavior at low temperatures. The field cooled and zero field cooled d.c. magnetic susceptibilities show different behavior when measured below the transition temperature. The materials exhibit a thermal remanent magnetization and isothermal remanent magnetization that is consistent with that of a spin glass. The spin glass freezing temperatures for these materials are 18 K, 11 K, and 12 K for M=Cr, Mn, andFe, respectively.
Mechanism of Nitrogenase H2 Formation by Metal-Hydride Protonation Probed by Mediated Electrocatalysis and H/D Isotope Effects.

Nitrogenase catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to two ammonia (NH3) at its active site FeMo-cofactor through a mechanism involving reductive elimination of two [Fe–H–Fe] bridging hydrides to make H2. A competing reaction is the protonation of the hydride [Fe–H–Fe] to make H2. The overall nitrogenase rate-limiting step is associated with ATP-driven electron delivery from Fe protein, precluding isotope effect measurements on substrate reduction steps. Here, we use mediated bioelectrocatalysis to drive electron delivery to the MoFe protein allowing examination of the mechanism of H2 formation by the metal-hydride protonation reaction. The ratio of catalytic current in mixtures of H2O and D2O, the proton inventory, was found to change linearly with the D2O/H2O ratio, revealing that a single H/D is involved in the rate-limiting step of H2 formation. Kinetic models, along with measurements that vary the electron/proton delivery rate and use different substrates, reveal that the rate-limiting step under ...
Progress in Methods for More Rapid Isolation of Agents Responsible for Bacteremia

The processing of blood cultures is undergoing rapid change, as is apparent from a steady proliferation of information regarding blood volumes, media, media volumes, blood to media ratios, media additives, subculturing philosophy, collection systems, and media container permutation, as well as innovative total system approaches.
Efficient FFT Simulation of Digital Time Sequences

A stacked inverse finite Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is presented that will efficiently synthesize a discrete random time sequence of N values from only N/2 complex values having a desired known spectral representation. This stacked inverse FFT algorithm is compatible with the synthesis of discrete random time sequences that are used with the more desirable periodic-random type of dynamic testing systems used to compute complex-valued transfer functions by the frequency-sweep method. An application to the generation of large random surface gravity waves by a hinged wavemaker in a large-scale wave flume demonstrates excellent agreement between the desired theoretical spectral representation and the smoothed, measured spectral representation for two types of two-parameter theoretical spectra as a result of the lengthier realization made possible by the stacked FFT algorithm.
Heterotic Strings and Compactification

The most pressing problem facing string theory is the question of breaking a 26- or 10-dimensional theory down to a realistic four-dimensional theory. Until such a dimensional reduction can be made, the theory lacks any real contact with physically measurable quantities.
A Post-Truth Manifesto

This drawing features a section through an armature serving in a more ecologically sustainable process of artificial island dredging in the reefs of the South China Sea. In recent years, the Spratl...
The Impact of a Randomized Sleep Education Intervention for College Students

Study Objectives:Sleep deprivation can impair attention, mood, and performance; however, few effective sleep education programs are available. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a sl...
New Martian climate constraints from radar reflectivity within the north polar layered deposits

The north polar layered deposits (NPLD) of Mars represent a global climate record reaching back millions of years, potentially recorded in visible layers and radar reflectors. However, little is known of the specific link between those layers, reflectors, and the global climate. To test the hypothesis that reflectors are caused by thick and indurated layers known as “marker beds,” the reflectivity of three reflectors was measured, mapped, and compared to a reflectivity model. The measured reflectivities match the model and show a strong sensitivity to layer thickness, implying that radar reflectivity may be used as a proxy for short-term accumulation patterns and that regional climate plays a strong role in layer thickness variations. Comparisons to an orbitally-forced NPLD accumulation model show a strong correlation with predicted marker bed formation, but dust content is higher than expected, implying a stronger role for dust in Mars polar climate than previously thought.
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy: demographics, clinical presentation, and functional outcomes

Retrospective cohort study. To describe the demographics, clinical presentation, and functional outcomes of fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM). Academic inpatient rehabilitation unit in the midwestern United States. We retrospectively searched our database to identify patients admitted between January 1, 1995 and March 31, 2016, with a high probability of FCEM. Demographic, clinical, and functional outcome measures, including Functional Independence Measure (FIM) information was obtained by chart review. We identified 31 patients with findings suggestive of FCEM (52% male), which was 2% of the nontraumatic spinal cord injury population admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. The age distribution was bimodal, with peaks in the second and sixth-to-seventh decades. The most common clinical presentation was acute pain and rapid progression of neurologic deficits consistent with a vascular myelopathy. Only three patients (10%) had FCEM documented as a diagnostic possibility. Most patients had paraplegia and neurologically incomplete injuries and were discharged to home. Nearly half of the patients required no assistive device for bladder management at discharge, but most were discharged with medications for bowel management. Median FIM walking locomotion score for all patients was 5, but most patients were discharged using a wheelchair for primary mobility. Median motor FIM subscale score was 36 at admission and 69 at discharge, with a median motor efficiency of 1.41. FCEM may be underdiagnosed and should be considered in those with the appropriate clinical presentation, because their functional outcomes may be more favorable than those with other causes of spinal cord infarction.
Beyond Liability: Rewarding Effective Gatekeepers

This Article adds to the emerging literature on rewards to promote effective capital market gatekeeping. Capital market gatekeeping theory traditionally relies heavily on threats of legal liability for failure to perform legally mandated functions (along with a presumed constraint imposed by reputation effects). The ineffectiveness of many gatekeepers in the past decade revealed limitations of the liability strategy and yet reforms continue to emphasize legal duties and liability for gatekeepers. This emphasis also has the negative side-effect of discouraging gatekeepers from willingness to perform desired functions - such as to detect for fraud. Using rewards can induce gatekeepers to perform desired functions and add positive incentives to encourage them to be more effective in vetting enterprises seeking access to capital.
Citizens (and Tax Inspectors) Against the State: Tracking Changes in Attitudes towards Tax Compliance in Russia, 2001-2008

The paper addresses the changes in attitudes towards tax compliance on the part of tax payers and tax inspectors. The research utilizes a series of nationwide surveys, conducted initially in 2001 and repeated in 2008. The findings demonstrate that lower level inspectors initially had divergent views from the policies of higher-level authorities. The street-level bureaucrats’ attitudes were closely aligned with those of the tax payers who generally viewed the capacity of tax administration as low and inefficient. Aggressive reforms which focused on the passing of the tax code, changes to tax audit procedures and extension of links with the population appeared to have made a difference in shifting the attitudes of tax inspectors in line with the views of policy-makers as reflected in the repeat surveys conducted in 2008. At the same time, no such change was recorded on the part of the tax payers who continue to maintain largely negative views about the system of tax administration in Russia
Critical technical factors affecting the standardized uptake value (SUV) calculation for FDG PET

2006 Objectives: To evaluate technical factors that can affect the Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) used to determine if a lesion identified with increased FDG activity is benign or malignant. Errors in PET scanner, patient, and technologist factors were considered. Errors from the PET scanner and from factors under the technologist’s control should be limited to within 20%, if possible. Partial volume effects and region-of-interest definitions in measuring SUV are not considered in this study. Methods: The SUV is defined as the mean region activity (mCi/ml) divided by the injected activity/body weight (mCi/g). Each component of the SUV formula was evaluated to determine variables that affect the SUV. The PET scanner factors include its sensitivity calibration and the reconstruction algorithm that corrects for attenuation, scatter, dead time, and randoms. Three large phantoms, including an anthropomorphic phantom with lung and tumor inserts were arranged end-to-end to simulate a 70 cm patient torso and head. The purpose was to determine the accuracy of the PET scanner for measuring region activity concentrations. Additional factors that determine the mean region activity are the patient’s blood glucose level and hydration status, FDG uptake time, and motion. The technologist is responsible for recording the injected activity, the time of assay, and the patient body weight. Other responsibilities include maintaining PET scanner calibrations and providing patient instructions during the uptake period and scan. Results: The range of measured SUV in all phantom compartments, including simulated tumors, under high and low count rate conditions and varying phantom configurations, was within +15% of the true value. The true activity concentrations were independently measured by counting 10 ml samples of phantom compartments on a gamma camera. Errors of other factors under the technologist’s control must then be less than 5%. The major factors are as follows: (1) no error can be tolerated in determining and recording the injected activity, assay time, and patient weight; (2) the FDG uptake time must be held constant; (3) blood glucose levels should be in an ideal range (60-130 mg/dl); (4) consistent patient hydration must be maintained during the uptake period; and (5) patient motion should be held to a minimum during the uptake period and during the scan. An overall error of 20% implies that a true SUV of 2.5, indicative of cancer, lies between 2.0 and 3.0. Conclusions: Precise adherence to protocol along with accurate documentation will create high quality images suitable for obtaining an accurate SUV. Attention to technical detail is the key to accurate calculations of the SUV.
Abstract 1298: Mapping the comprehensive landscape of missense-mutation neoantigens across the human genome

Specific somatic mutations in cancer genomes result in amino acid alterations and derivative novel immunogenic peptides called neoantigens. The MHC molecule mediates the immunologic presentation of these cancer mutation-derived peptides. Based on a limited number of polymorphisms, the configuration of the MHC molecule is one of the major factors in determining whether mutated peptides can elicit immune response or not. To provide insight in the full diversity of potential neoantigens across the entire human genome, we identified all possible amino acid substitutions and estimated their potential binding affinities to the 86 MHC genotypes. As a first step, we evaluated every possible nucleotide changes at every single position using exons and related alternative transcripts as defined by the Consensus Coding Sequence (CCDS) resource. We evaluated 159 million (M) possible nucleotide changes among ~31,000 autosomal transcripts from ~ 19,000 genes. Overall, this comprised a genome sequence “space” of 53 M nucleotides. Among this coding regions space, we evaluated 123 M candidate nonsynonmous mutations. Among these mutations, we identified short mutated peptides of nine amino acids in length across this mutation space. We estimated the binding affinity of all mutated peptides across 86 MHG polymorphisms. Based on the predicted binding affinity, 0.6% ~ 1.0 % were found to be potential strong binders to the one of MHC molecules while 1.7% ~ 2.5% of them are weak binder to the one of MHC molecules. HLA-A0201 had the high number of potential candidate neoantigens. The KRAS cancer had candidate epitopes that binds to >50 different MHC molecules include KRAS D12V, which is very hot spot, that make epitopes that binds to 30 MHC molecules. In addition, we mapped the frequencies of missense mutations observed in TCGA and COSMIC to these candidate neoantigens. For releasing the results of our study, we are developing the “Immunogenomic Explorer” available at http://genomeportal.stanford.edu/immune. This portal enables users to explore the potential immunogenic epitopes from genes of their interest such as KRAS. Users can search by HLA genotypes as well. This web interface allows researchers to address important questions regarding their immunotherapy or cancer vaccine. Citation Format: HoJoon Lee, Stephanie U. Greer, Hanlee P. Ji. Mapping the comprehensive landscape of missense-mutation neoantigens across the human genome [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1298.
Genetics and mechanisms underlying transmission of Wheat streak mosaic virus by the wheat curl mite.

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV, genus Tritimovirus; family Potyviridae) is the most economically important virus of wheat in the Great Plains region of the USA. WSMV is transmitted by the eriophyid wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella Keifer. In contrast to Hemipteran-borne plant viruses, the mode and mechanism of eriophyid mite transmission of viruses have remained poorly understood, mostly due to difficulty of working with these ∼200 μm long microscopic creatures. Among eriophyid-transmitted plant viruses, relatively extensive work has been performed on population genetics of WCMs, WSMV determinants involved in WCM transmission, and localization of WSMV virions and inclusion bodies in WCMs. The main focus of this review is to appraise readers on WCM, WSMV encoded proteins required for WCM transmission and further details and questions on the mode of WSMV transmission by WCMs, and potential advances in management strategies for WCMs and WSMV with increased understanding of transmission.
Kidney Stones and Risk of Narcotic Use.

Purpose:The rise in opioid related deaths and addiction has been linked to physician prescribing. Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients with renal colic due to nephrolithiasis. The aim of thi...
Dielectric behavior of functional paint/PMN-PT nanocomposite films

AbstractThe detailed functionality of 0-3 paint/lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) composite films is investigated in terms of their dielectric and electric transport characteristics. Th...
Alarming Trends in Mortality from Firearms Among United States Schoolchildren

Abstract Background Mortality from firearms among US schoolchildren is an increasingly major clinical and public health crisis. We explored temporal trends in mortality from firearms among US schoolchildren from 1999 to 2017 by age and race. Methods We used the Multiple Cause of Death Files of the United States National Center for Health Statistics; PubMed searches, and joinpoint regressions for trend analyses and calculated mortality rates and 95% confidence limits. Results From 1999 to 2017, the 38,942 deaths due to firearms in school-age children ranged from 340 per year at ages 5-14 to 2050 at 15-18 years. One epidemic among 5- to 14-year-olds began in 2009 and another among 15- to 18-year-olds began in 2014. The listed intents were 61% assault, 32% suicide, 5% accidental, and 2% undetermined. Blacks accounted for 41% of overall deaths, but only 17% of the school-age deaths. 86% of all deaths were boys. Conclusions Mortality from firearms in US schoolchildren is increasing at alarming rates, especially among blacks and those aged 15-18 years. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to quantify these recent epidemics. Although federal laws prohibited them until recently, analytic studies designed a priori to do so are necessary to test the hypotheses generated by these descriptive data. We believe that combatting the epidemic of mortality from firearms among US schoolchildren without addressing firearms is analogous to combatting the epidemic of mortality from lung cancer from cigarettes without addressing cigarettes.
Screening Echocardiography and Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predict Late Pulmonary Hypertension in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Through this study, we aimed to assess the ability of routine neonatal screening at time of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) diagnosis to predict the development of late pulmonary hypertension (PHTN). This is a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 37 premature infants with BPD assessing the utility of screening serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiograms performed at the time of BPD diagnosis (‘early PHTN’) to predict ‘late PHTN’ at the last follow-up. Screening evaluation demonstrated early PHTN in 9/37 patients. At an average follow-up interval of 52.7 ± 38.7 weeks, 4/9 had late PHTN; one patient without early PHT had late PHT. At initial screening, infants with late PHTN were significantly more likely to have demonstrated elevated BNP values (p = 0.003), and echocardiographic evidence of right atrial dilatation (p = 0.01), right ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.01), lower right ventricular area change percentage (p = 0.03), and larger main pulmonary artery Z-scores (p = 0.02). Serum BNP and echocardiographic evaluation performed at the time of BPD diagnosis can detect patients at increased risk of late PHTN. Large, prospective studies are necessary to further address this question.
A review of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide.Areas covered: Recent methods to identify and manage treatment-warranted vascularly active ROP are...
Teaching Diversified Organic Crop Production Using the Community Supported Agriculture Farming System Model

An organic garden operated as a community supported agriculture (CSA) venture on the New Mexico State University (NMSU) main campus was begun in January 2002. Students enroll in an organic vegetable production class during spring and fall semesters to help manage and work on the project. The CSA model of farming involves the sale of shares to members who receive weekly assortments of the farm’s output. This is the first organic garden on the NMSU main campus, the first organic vegetable production class, and the first CSA venture in southern New Mexico. This article focuses on the main class activities, how the class has evolved, and future challenges. In particular, the article explores how the class operates within the context of a functioning organic CSA farm with teaching, research, and extension objectives that sometimes are in conflict.
Enhancement of water collection and transport in bioinspired triangular patterns from combined fog and condensation

Abstract Living nature exists in arid deserts in spite of scarce water supply. In most cases, water supply is supplemented by fog and condensation. Water collection from fog is a promising method to supplement fresh water supply. Due to the short duration of fog, attempts should be made to increase the fog water collection before it vanishes. In addition, the condensation process can be added to increase the water collection. In this study, water collection was carried out using both fog and condensation. The water collection process in the combined system was investigated on surfaces with bioinspired triangular patterns. As the patterned surface was cooled to 5 °C in the fog flow, because of condensation, the water collection rate increased to approximately two times the amount collected in the fog alone. The approach to combine the collection of fog and condensation can be used to develop efficient water collection systems.
Diverse perspectives on action for positive social and environmental change

AbstractThis article presents an exploration of diverse adults’ motivations for action to promote social and environmental change at a California public university. Semi-structured interviews with ...