cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A physiologically relevant approach to characterize the microbial response to colloidal particles in food matrices within a simulated gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract Colloids on the nanometer size scale are beginning to find increased applications in drinks, foods, food-contact surfaces, and food packaging. While these particles add intrinsic value to the food industry, their potential toxicities warrant careful studies. The physicochemical changes and possible perturbations to microbial communities within the gastrointestinal tract have not been adequately studied. The purpose of this study was to design and perform a simulated digestion protocol to evaluate the effect of colloidal silver in an orange juice suspension when exposed to planktonic bacterial cultures and biofilms. The model system includes four precursor steps in which the silver is exposed to varying pH conditions and incubation times. The gastrointestinally “digested” samples were then incubated with Escherichia coli strains for up to 4 h, the average residence time of foods in the GI tract. The physicochemical changes of the colloids and their corresponding biological effects were characterized at every step. The results showed differences between (1) bacterial cultures versus bacterial biofilms, (2) “digested” versus “undigested” silver on bacteria, and (3) differences between “digested” silver nitrate versus silver colloids on bacteria. We conclude that simulated digestion, as well as manner in which bacterial cells are grown, influences the results of toxicity.
Long-term, high-dose dietary exposure of rainbow trout to butylated hydroxyanisole in non-carcinogenic

The hepatocarcinogenic and/or promotional properties of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) were tested in rainbow trout. Four groups of 100, 21-day-old trout embryos were exposed to 0.5 ppm aqueous aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) for 30 min, and four similar groups were sham treated. After hatching, swim-up, and the onset of vigorous feeding behavior (2 weeks pest swim-up), duplicate groups of 60 AFB1-treated and sham-treated fry were started on a test diet containing 0.6% (6000 ppm) BHA, and the other duplicate groups of treated and untreated fry were fed the control Oregon Test Diet (OTD). After 8 months of feeding BHA or OTD, the fish were necropsied for tumor detection, with particular attention given to the stomach and liver. No tumors were seen in the livers or stomachs of the sham-treated fish fed OTD or BHA, showing that BHA is not carcinogenic to rainbow trout under the conditions of this experiment. Promotional results were equivocal, with one tank of fish having a higher hepatic tumor incidence, but the other the same as the positive AFB1 control. When the tanks were combined, however, there was no statistical difference between the two groups.
Characterization of receptors mediating AVP- and OT-induced glucagon release from the rat pancreas.

We characterized the receptors that mediate arginine vasopressin (AVP)- and oxytocin (OT)-induced glucagon release by use of a number of antagonists in the perfused rat pancreas and the fluorescenc...
A new marketing paradigm for electronic commerce

The World Wide Web possesses unique characteristics that distinguish it in important ways from traditional commercial communications environments. Because the Web presents a fundamentally different environment for marketing activities than traditional media, conventional marketing activities are becoming transformed, as they are often difficult to implement in their present form. In this article, we discuss the idea that these changes portend an evolution in the ''marketing concept'' and argue that in order for marketing efforts to be successful in this new medium, a new business paradigm is required. In this new approach, the marketing function must be reconstructed to facilitate electronic commerce in the emerging electronic society underlying the Web.
The factor of scale in remote sensing

A method that measures the spatial structure of images as a function of spatial resolution is presented for selecting the appropriate scale for remote sensing. Graphs are obtained by imaging the scene at fine resolution and then collapsing the image to successively coarser resolutions while calculating the local variance. For the spatial resolution of SPOT and TM imagery, local image variance is relatively high for forested and urban/suburban environments, indicating that information-extraction techniques using texture, context, and mixture modeling are appropriate for these sensor systems. For agricultural environments where local variance is low, more traditional classifiers are appropriate.
Chlorophyll and light gradients in sun and shade leaves of Spinacia oleracea

Abstract. Light gradients were measured and correlated with chlorophyll concentration and anatomy of leaves in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Light gradients were measured at 450, 550 and 680 nm within thin (455 μm) and thick (630 μm) leaves of spinach grown under sun and shade conditions. The light gradients were relatively steep in both types of leaves and 90% of the light at 450 and 680 nm was absorbed by the initial 140 μm of the palisade. In general, blue light was depleted faster than red light which, in turn was depleted faster than green light. Light penetrated further into the thicker palisade of sun leaves in comparison to the shade leaves. The distance that blue light at 450 nm travelled before it became 90% depleted was 120 μm in sun leaves versus 76 μm in shade leaves. Red light at 680 nm and green light at 550 nm travelled further but the trends were similar to that measured at 450nm. The steeper light gradients within the palisade-of shade leaves were caused by increased scattering of light within the intercellular air spaces and/or cells which were less compact than those in sun leaves. The decline in the amount of light within the leaf appeared to be balanced by a gradient in chlorophyll concentration measured in paradermal sections. Progressing from the adaxial epidermis, chlorophyll content increased through the palisade and then declined through the spongy mesophyll. Chlorophyll content was similar in the palisade of both sun and shade leaves. Chloroplast distribution within both sun and shade leaves was relatively uniform so that the chlorophyll gradient appeared to be caused by greater amounts of chlorophyll within chloroplasts located deeper within the leaf. These results indicate that the anatomy of the palisade may be of special importance for controlling the penetration of photo-synthetically active radiation into the leaf. Changing the structural characteristics of individual palisade cells or their arrangement may be an adaptation that maximizes the absorption of light in leaves with varying mesophyll thickness due to different ambient light regimes.
Cotton Subsidies, the WTO, and the ‘Cotton Problem’: WTO, AND THE ‘COTTON PROBLEM’

Following an 8-year long dispute over cotton subsidies, Brazil and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 21, 2010, effectively paving the way for settling the dispute. This paperargues that cotton subsidies are just the tip of the iceberg while a number of other, perhaps more important, issues require attention and, indeed, political will. Chief among them is the persistent divergence between cotton prices and the prices of other agricultural commodities, which reflects, for the most part, the large supply response by China and India, a direct consequence of con-version to biotech cotton varieties in these (and other) countries. Such response -- which kept cotton prices low, compared with other commodities -- imposes a competitive disadvantage to non-users of biotech cotton. The paper also highlights two additional constraints faced by the cotton producing countries of West and Central Africa, namely, the structural inefficiencies of their primary processing industries (also known as ginning) and the appreciation of the CFA franc against the US dollar. Without downplaying the importance of subsidy elimination, the paper concludes that these impediments should receive high priority in the policy agenda.
Reframing Public Space Through Digital Mobilization Flash Mobs and Contemporary Urban Youth Culture

Flash mobs have spread, like wildfire, across the globe in recent years fuelling new uses of urban public space. The media has wondered if these events are simply pointless pranks, creative public ...
Morbidity after surgical treatment of isolated intestinal perforation and necrotizing enterocolitis is similar in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g.

Abstract Introduction Isolated intestinal perforation (IIP) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) seem to be separate diseases, though their surgical treatment is similar. We compared the morbidity after surgery for IIP and NEC in preterm infants (birth weight Patients and Methods Isolated intestinal perforation was defined as intestinal perforation with associated necrosis less than 5% of bowel length and NEC as necrosis of 5% or more of bowel length ± perforation. Outcome measures included time to full enteral feeds, incidence of total parenteral nutrition–associated cholestasis, and nutritional and neurologic status up to 60 months of age. Data are quoted as median (range). Main Results Sixty-one surviving patients treated between 1986 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed (IIP: n=32 versus NEC: n=29). Median % resection of small and large bowel in IIP and NEC was 2% (1%-22%) versus 12% (6%-32%), and 5% (2%-13%) versus 7% (2%-25%), respectively ( P Conclusion Surgery in NEC resulted in more extensive intestinal resection than in IIP. However, subsequent morbidity was similar in both groups.
Language in Bilingual Classrooms

The role of language in bilingual classrooms is particularly significant because of the deliberate attempts to manipulate the use of two languages in the instructional process. Language use in bilingual schools is partly affected by the goals of the program and the choice of the instructional model. Studies of language use in Spanish- English bilingual classrooms have focused in four major areas (1) amount of English and Spanish used, (2) functional uses of English, Spanish, and code-switching, (3) language use during verbal interaction, and (4) factors which affect language choice. Various research studies are examined in terms of implications for bilingual education.
Cognitive addition: On the convergence of statistical and conceptual models

Thirty-five children were individually videotaped as they solved simple addition problems. Following Siegler and Robinson’s (1982) method, reaction time (RT) and the strategies used for problem solution were recorded. Structural variables representing counting and memory-retrieval conceptual models for cognitive addition were correlated with RT for trials on which an observable counting strategy or memory-retrieval strategy was invoked for problem solution. A strong convergence between a structural variable representing a counting model and RT for counting trials was found. However, no single variable, representing alternative memory-retrieval models, proved to be the best predictor of RT for memory-retrieval trials. Implications for the interpretation of statistical models for cognitive addition are discussed.
Percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy for thrombosed autogenous fistulae and prosthetic arteriovenous grafts: outcome after aggressive surveillance and endovascular management.

PURPOSE: To study the outcome of rheolytic thrombectomy for hemodialysis access occlusion. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted of 187 patients (88 men; median age 63 years, range 21-89) with end-stage renal disease treated with the AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy catheter followed by angioplasty (+/- stenting) of the culprit lesions in 285 episodes of arteriovenous graft (n = 261) or fistula (n = 24) thrombosis. Clinical success was defined as at least one successful subsequent hemodialysis session. Graft monitoring and surveillance included clinical and hemodialysis parameters, respectively, to detect a failing/failed access. RESULTS: Rheolytic thrombectomy had a technical (immediate) success rate of 98.2% and a clinical success rate of 95.1%. Technical and clinical success for patients presenting within 2 days of the thrombosis was 99.6% and 96.6%, respectively, compared to 91.8% (p = 0.003, odds ratio 20.8) and 87.8% (p = 0.019, odds ratio 4) for later presentation. The number of stenoses that was managed (median, interquartile range) was significantly higher in grafts (4, 3-4) compared to fistulae (2, 2-3; p<0.001) and in accesses that had been treated for dysfunction or thrombosis in the past (4, 3-4) compared to accesses that had not (3, 3-4; p = 0.07). During follow-up, 95 (36.6%) accesses had no further thrombotic events, 23 (9%) accesses became dysfunctional and were treated with endovascular techniques, 137 (52.3%) developed recurrent thrombosis for which rheolytic thrombectomy was attempted, and 30 (11.5%) were abandoned or removed for infection. Functional assisted primary patency at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months was 72.4%, 45.1%, 30.3%, and 22.4%, respectively. Reintervention and venous outflow stenosis were associated with better and worse outcomes, respectively; multivariate analysis identified patient age, central vein stenosis, and stenting as additional independent predictors of improved patency. CONCLUSION: Rheolytic thrombectomy is a highly successful procedure, with acceptable long-term assisted primary patency. Early referral for thrombectomy should be encouraged.
Stable Free-Radical Polymerization of Styrene in Combination with 2-Vinylnaphthalene Initiation

The elevated temperatures required for the stable free-radical polymerization (SFRP) process lead to thermal initiation of styrene via the classic Mayo mechanism. Studies have shown the utility of styrene thermal initiation in controlled autopolymerization processes. In addition, the thermal polymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene (2VN), a styrenic derivative with an additional fused ring, was examined. An Arrhenius analysis of the 2VN thermal polymerization process using in-situ FT-IR spectroscopy demonstrated a greater propensity for 2VN thermal polymerization compared to styrene. A modified Mayo mechanism was proposed based on additional resonance stabilization in 2VN derived radicals compared to a single ring of resonance stabilization for styrene. The utility of 2VN as an initiator in the SFRP of styrene was investigated. 2VN initiation resulted in polymers that are end-functionalized with a single 2VN unit or a polycyclic unit that results from Diels-Alder reaction in the initiation mechanism. Variation of the styrene/2VN molar ratio in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdinyl-1-oxyl enabled molecular weight control and narrow molecular weight distributions (ca. 1.1-1.2). The integrity of the polymer end groups was confirmed using 1 H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. In addition, the UV-vis absorbance of the 2VN initiating unit was used for construction of a calibration curve for molecular weight prediction based on the intensity of the absorbance at 312 nm associated with 2VN initiation. The observed rate constant for the polymerization initiated with 2VN (1.73 x 10 -5 s -1 ) was comparable to that of benzoyl peroxide (k obs = 1.99 w 10 -5 s -1 ) initiation.
Women's lives after an HIV-positive diagnosis: disclosure and violence.

Objectives: This research addresses four questions: (1) What role do health care providers play in women's disclosure to others of their HIV-positive status? (2) What are women's concerns and experiences with disclosure? (3) What violence do women living with HIV experience? (4) How is the violence related to their diagnosis and disclosures? Methods: Participants were 310 HIV-positive women enrolled in an HIV primary care clinic in an urban teaching hospital. Women were interviewed once using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Women had known they were HIV-positive for an average of 5.8 years; 22% had an HIV-positive partner; 58% had disclosed their status to more than 10 people; and 68% had experienced physical abuse and 32% sexual abuse as an adult. Fifty-seven percent of the sample reported that a health care provider had told them to disclose to their sex partners. Women who were afraid of disclosure-related violence (29%) were significantly more likely than those who were not to report that a health care provider helped them with disclosure (21% vs. 10%). Although 4% reported physical abuse following a disclosure event, 45% reported experiencing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse at some time after their diagnosis. Risk factors for experiencing abuse after diagnosis were a prior history of abuse, drug use, less income, younger age, length of time since diagnosis, and having a partner whose HIV status was negative or unknown. Conclusions: Identifying women at risk for abuse after an HIV-positive diagnosis is important for those who provide HIV testing and care. Routine screening for interpersonal violence should be incorporated into HIV posttest counseling and continuing primary care services.
Multiple domains in the polyomavirus B enhancer are required for productive infection of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells

A point mutation at nucleotide 5258 in the B enhancer of the polyomavirus host range mutant F441 leads to productive infection of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, which are refractory to infection by wild-type polyomavirus. Specific oligonucleotides were used to construct mutations in two other potentially important domains within the B enhancer of F441 DNA. One of these domains is the binding site for a factor present in nuclear extracts of F9 cells, and the other is a region that has sequence similarity to putative core sequences observed in a number of different viral enhancers. Mutation within either of these two domains, even in the presence of the F441 mutation, was detrimental to polyomavirus enhancer activity in F9 cells, as determined by both transfection and infection assays.
The Theories of Statutory Construction and Legislative Process in American Jurisprudence

This chapter will introduce the building blocks underlying statutory interpretation in American jurisprudence: the sources of evidence American judges use to find the meaning of statutory language and the theories of interpretation American judges use when approaching an interpretation question. While at first glance this chapter may seem to be one designed for academics and theorists who argue about which theory is best, it is also designed for lawyers. Grasping the building blocks of statutory interpretation is essential for anyone wishing to make statutory arguments in an American court. Theory matters, but it matters in unusual ways. The sources and theories enable lawyers to “talk the talk”, so to speak. Lawyers do not win cases simply because they argue text to a textualist judge or purpose to a purposivist judge, but a textualist judge will listen more carefully to textual arguments, while a purposivist judge will want to know the statutory purpose. Finally, theory impacts the legislative process, from drafting to enactment; thus, this chapter will examine the role legislative history has had both now and in the past.
How Deep is Your Democracy?: A New Institutional Approach to Measuring Democratization

This paper develops a new alternative methodology for measuring and comparing the depth of national democracies or 'levels of democratization'. It does so by comparing and scoring 12 representative and participatory national-level legislative and executive government institutions across 30 OECD countries during the 2000s. The paper begins with a theoretical exploration of democratic inclusiveness that builds off of recent insights from Arend Lijphart, John Gerring and other empirical scholars of democracy. It then applies these insights by gathering and codifying a new and comprehensive dataset of democratic sub-institutions including but not limited to electoral systems, campaign finance regulations, and voter registration rules in advanced developed countries. The empirical results are then presented in dramatic contradistinction to democratic indices commonly cited in the literature such as Polity and Freedom House. The paper concludes with a reflection on how to better understand and conceptualize the different levels of democratization across countries that are often lumped together into the coarse category of democracies.
Omacetaxine Mepesuccinate for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Omacetaxine mepesuccinate is approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic or accelerated phase resistant to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This review summarizes the mode of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of omacetaxine mepesuccinate. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate has activity in chronic myeloid leukemia, especially in the chronic phase, regardless of the presence of ABL1 kinase domain mutations. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate has distinct but manageable adverse events profile. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate is a treatment option for a subset of patients with refractory chronic myeloid leukemia.
Copper–Peptide Complex Structure and Reactivity When Found in Conserved His-Xaa-His Sequences

Oxygen-activating copper proteins may possess His-Xaa-His chelating sequences at their active sites and additionally exhibit imidiazole group δN vs eN tautomeric preferences. As shown here, such variations strongly affect copper ion’s coordination geometry, redox behavior, and oxidative reactivity. Copper(I) complexes bound to either δ-HGH or e-HGH tripeptides were synthesized and characterized. Structural investigations using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and solution conductivity measurements reveal that δ-HGH forms the CuI dimer complex [{CuI(δ-HGH)}2]2+ (1) while e-HGH binds CuI to give the monomeric complex [CuI(e-HGH)]+ (2). Only 2 exhibits any reactivity, forming a strong CO adduct, [CuI(e-HGH)(CO)]+, with properties closely matching those of the copper monooxygenase PHM. Also, 2 is reactive toward O2 or H2O2, giving a new type of O2-adduct or CuII–OOH complex, respectively.
Immunoreactive Met-Enkephalin in the Canine Adrenal; Response to Acute Hypovolemic Stress:

Immunoreactive met-enkephalin was measured in the adrenal, kidney, liver, and intestine of the dog using radioimmunoassay. Adrenal tissue concentrations were 20 to 200-fold higher than the other tissues studied. In response to acute hypovolemic stress, the concentration of met-enkephalin in the adrenal vein of the dog increased 6-fold over basal peripheral arterial levels. These results suggest that the canine adrenal gland is a rich source of this opioid peptide and that the adrenal releases met-enkephalin in response to acute stress.
Joint Analysis Method of Multiple Search Behaviors

Aiming at the fact that available search behavior analysis methods could only analyze one single type of search behavior,which leads to the problems that the user interest could not be effectively get,a joint analysis method of multiple search behaviors was proposed. By combining the analysis of page dwell time,mouse click times,page revisit times and slider move times using M5 model,clues from more angles other than one single type of user behavior were gained for user interest analysis,and joint analysis of high dimension data composed of multiple user behaviors was realized with timeliness ensured for online behavior analysis. Experiment results show that the proposed method can analyze the behaviors better than compared approaches.
Application of Pulse-field Gel Electrophoresis in the Source-tracking of Food-borne Diseases

The model of food- borne disease outbreaks has changed; moreover, it shows multistate homologous outbreaks or`irrelevant' sporadic trend. It will cause directly or potential hazards to human health and bring new challenge to the government for prevention and control of food- borne diseases. Pulsed- field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)can evaluate the relationship of strains isolated from different resources, depending on their biochemical traits or genomic characteristics, so we can trace back the source of the infection. Therefore, it can make a definitive diagnosis and play a role in the early warning. This article introduces the principles of PFGE,influencing factors, result analysis, and makes a review of the application of PFGE in the source- tracking of food- borne diseases.
Comparision of transthoracic and prepump intraoperative transeophageal echocardiography in the grading assessment of mitral regurgitation

Objective:The agreements between preoperative transthoracic echocardiography(POTTE) and prepump intraoperative transeophageal echocardiography(IOTEE) were examined in the grading assessment of mitral regurgitation(MR) and variables associated with grading discrepancies.Method:The POTTE and prepump IOTEE studies of 200 MR patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were compared.Agreement and correlation in assessment of MR severity were evaluated.Result:The concordance between two techniques in MR grading was fair(Kappa=0.56,r=0.71,P0.01).Comparing POTTE,in 143 cases(71.5%) the grading of MR by IOTEE kept same,however 19 cases(9.5%) worsen and 38 cases(19%) improved.The discrepancies were found especially in patients with eccentric jet or functional MR.The hemodynamics changed significantly(P0.01) during IOTEE with effects on severity of MR.Generally trend in grading of MR by IOTEE reduced due to anesthesia.Conclusion:There was fair agreement in MR assessment between POTTE and prepump IOTEE,but these two techniques can not be replaced by each other.The grading of MR by POTTE is under physical loading with guidance for surgical procedure.Prepump IOTEE was used to confirm preoperative diagnosis however anesthetic induced changes in apparent the severity of MR.Cardiac surgeon and anesthesiologist should be aware of the difference between these two methods to make perfect decision.
Accuracy in the tennis forehand drive: cinematographic analysis

(1968). Accuracy in the Tennis Forehand Drive: Cinematographic Analysis. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 776-779.
Hardness Testing of Urinary Calculi

With the advent of electrohydraulic and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, it is important to document the mechanical properties of urinary calculi. Since the success of both techniques is affected by the compressive and tensile strength of the calculus, we have compared the hardness of a variety of urinary calculi. This information may be important in understanding the limitations of these new techniques.
The Stringent Response and Arginine Metabolism Play Key Roles in Streptococcus Agalactiae Toxin Expression

Bacterial adaptive responses to environmental fluctuations, such as decreased nutrient availability, can trigger changes in virulence. Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a common commensal organism of the gastrointestinal and vaginal tracts, where it rarely causes disease in healthy hosts. In some cases, however, vaginal colonization during pregnancy can lead to chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, and neonatal sepsis. We hypothesize that perinatal changes in micronutrient availability lead to upregulation of the pigmented GBS toxin beta-hemolysin/cytolysin (βHC), which we have shown to be important in the pathogenesis of ascending chorioamnionitis. …
The Personal Documentary

It was once assumed that documentary films were impersonal records of real events or people: you set up the camera, shoot the situation, and it might appear on the TV news. Critics like Andre Bazin nourished this theory by stressing that the lens (called the objectif in French) is “impassive” and that “between the originating object and its reproduction there intervenes only the instrumentality of a nonliving agent.” The underlying fallacy here – as anyone who has ever taken a photograph can attest – is that framing, camera angle, lighting, and proximity to subject are “objective.” The selection of high-angle versus low-angle, for example, results in a different image: the subject might be the same, but the camera placement determines whether it seems insignificant, threatening, or neutral. The corollary assumption was that a fiction film is an artificial construct, strongly plotted into a linear narrative progression, using actors, sets, visual tricks, and so on. Such oversimplified categories no longer hold, especially after the advent of Italian neorealism. This film movement in postwar Italy eschewed polished scripts, professional actors, makeup, studios, and addressed itself to the daily problems of impoverished Italians. Films like The Bicycle Thief, Open City , and La Terra Trema ascribed a new dignity to “reality” and to the notion of the cinema as a sensitizing mirror. The closest analogue in American culture is perhaps Let Us Now Praise Famous Men , in which Walker Evans's stark photographs of American sharecroppers in the 1930s are animated and deepened by the direct perceptions of James Agee's rich prose.
Highly multiplexed nanophotonic probes with independently controllable emitters for optogenetic brain stimulation

We present visible-wavelength photonic probes that implement WDM method for delivery of complex illumination patterns with cellular-scale spatial resolution deep within brain tissue. Neuron activation is verified by extracellular electrical recordings, and by two-photon functional imaging.
Non-routine Discharge From Military Service: Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicidality.

Introduction Mental illness and substance use disorders among newly returned military service members pose challenges to successful reintegration into civilian life and, in extreme cases, may lead to outcomes such as incarceration, homelessness, and suicide. One potential early indicator for these difficulties is non-routine discharge from military service. Methods Using data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for 443,360 active duty service Veterans who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and subsequently utilized VHA services between Fiscal Years 2004 and 2013, this study examined risk for receiving a VHA-documented diagnosis of mental illness, substance use disorders, and suicidality as a function of discharge type, controlling for demographic and military service covariates. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Results In total, 126,314 Veterans (28.5%) had a non-routine military service discharge. Compared with routinely discharged Veterans, odds for nearly all diagnostic outcomes were significantly greater among Veterans discharged for disqualification or misconduct, including personality disorders (AOR=9.21 and 3.29, respectively); bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.98 and 3.40); alcohol/substance use disorders (AOR=1.55 and 4.42); and suicidal ideation and behaviors (AOR=2.81 and 2.77). Disability-discharged Veterans had significantly higher odds for diagnoses of anxiety disorders (AOR=1.97) and bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.93). Conclusions Non-routine service discharge strongly predicts VHA-diagnosed mental illness, substance use disorders, and suicidality, with particularly elevated risk among Veterans discharged for disqualification or misconduct. Results emphasize the importance of discharge type as an early marker of adverse post-discharge outcomes, and suggest a need for targeted prevention and intervention efforts to improve reintegration outcomes among this vulnerable subpopulation.
Statistical Literacy, Reasoning, and Learning: A Commentary

Similarities and differences in the articles by Rumsey, Garfield and Chance are summarized. An alternative perspective on the distinction between statistical literacy, reasoning, and thinking is pr...
The Electronic Structure of Alloys

Publisher Summary The chapter presents a discussion on the electronic properties of binary substitutional alloys within the single particle approximation. The transport and magnetic properties of such alloys have received a great deal of attention, the chapter presents a discussion on the didactic exposition of the equilibrium properties. The theoretical approach to be developed is that of multiple scattering theory. This approach has a long history, having been used extensively in earlier work dealing with acoustic and electromagnetic wave propagation in random media. Its application to the electronic properties of alloys has proceeded rapidly during recent years, beginning with several works. Of the various types of disordered systems, substitutional binary alloys are among the simplest. In the absence of short range order, the two constituents A and B of an alloy AxB1-x, having a concentration x of A atoms, are placed randomly on a periodic point lattice. Thus, even though Bloch's theorem does not apply, an effective medium theory akin to the Weiss theory of ferromagnetism can still be formulated. Within certain approximations, this theory retains some of the features of the periodic potential problem. However, in contrast to the perfect crystal, the electronic states have complex energies. This distinction is essential. The chapter begins by reviewing the early alloy theories and their relationship to some more recent experimental results, which illustrate their limitations.
Transoral Approaches to Midline Skull Base Tumors

Abstract Transoral approaches have a significant advantage in providing the most direct route to ventral skull base pathology. Extended transoral approaches such as palatotomy, mandibular split, and mandibuloglossotomy can be used for increased rostrocaudal surgical access. Although these approaches give the easiest access to the lower craniocervical junction, the risks of postoperative infection and cerebrospinal fluid leak have to be considered. Preoperative management of dental disease, meticulous intraoperative reconstruction, and postoperative antibiotics assist in managing these complications. Combining endoscopic transoral and endonasal approaches provides improved surgical access and decreases the morbidity associated with the extended transoral approaches.
Protocol and Mapping Techniques Prior to Hemodialysis Access Planning

Successful hemodialysis access placement is of utmost importance for patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, and it is optimized by preoperative evaluation and planning. This evaluation includes history and physical examination by the surgeon as well as noninvasive imaging. In this chapter, we discuss the preoperative workup for hemodialysis access including vein mapping of the superficial and deep venous systems of the upper extremity as well as segmental pressures, pulse-volume recording, and arterial duplex imaging. Each test is used preoperatively with the goal of improving outcomes for hemodialysis access placement.
The sensitivity of ground-reflected GNSS signals to near-surface soil moisture, as recorded by spaceborne receivers

Spatial and temporal variations in near-surface soil moisture are important to measure for climate studies, numerical weather forecasts, and drought monitoring. Several previous studies have shown success in using ground-reflected Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals as a form of bistatic radar to sense soil moisture. However, the ability of this type of data to sense soil moisture variations from space is still a nascent field of study. In the past two years, three satellites have been launched that were either designed to capture ground-reflected GNSS signals or have been modified to record these signals. The data provided by these satellites are giving scientists an unprecedented opportunity to investigate their ability to detect changes in Earth's land surface, including but certainly not limited to near-surface soil moisture. This paper will present spaceborne observations of ground-reflected GNSS signals and evaluate their sensitivity to near-surface soil moisture. This sensitivity will be compared to empirical and theoretical sensitivities of monostatic L-band radar measurements to soil moisture. We will also comment on possibilities for retrieval algorithm development, using techniques employed for monostatic radar as a guide.
LIBERALIZATION OR JUST DOLLARIZATION? Twenty-first-Century Economic Reform in Ecuador:

In this article, I review the state of Ecuadorean economic policy in the twenty-first century, emphasizing the impact of and national reaction to liberal economic policy in the nation, especially d...
Mitochondrial RNA in Xenopus laevis: I. The expression of the mitochondrial genome

Abstract The bulk of RNA in mitochondria isolated from eggs and ovaries of Xenopus laevis is represented by the large and small mitochondrial rRNA and by 4 s RNA. The molar ratios of large rRNA to small rRNA to 4 s RNA are 1 : 1 : 25 in these mitochondria. Mitochondrial rRNA and 4 s RNA are homologous to M-DNA and share no detectable sequence homologies with cytoplasmic rRNA or 4 s RNA. Hybridization experiments indicate that each circle of M-DNA of a molecular weight of 11.7 × 106 contains one sequence, or gene, for each mitochondrial rRNA molecule, and about 15 genes for mitochondrial 4 s RNA molecules. Together, the rRNA and 4 s RNA sequences account for about 20% of the information content of M-DNA. Other uncharacterized mitochondrial RNA components represent an additional 16% of the mitochondrial information. The remaining two-thirds of population of RNA in X. laevis mitochondria. The large and small mitochondrial rRNA molecules and most 4 s RNA molecules are transcribed from one strand of the DNA, the H-strand. These results suggest that coding for mitochondrial rRNA and 4 s RNA is a major, and possibly the only, function of animal M-DNA.
Progress in Clean-Up and Technological Developments in U.S. Superfund Program

Cost-effective and improved technologies are essential to expedite the clean-up of the nation’s contaminated sites, which is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. The development and commercialization of new technologies by the private sector and federal and state agencies will be necessary if we are to meet future challenges. EPA has focused on five areas for removing barriers, such as the lack of available cost and performance data, to the use of innovative technologies. While some technologies have been more readily acccepted, such as bioremediation and soil vapor extraction, treating groundwater and soil contaminated with heavy metals continues to pose a technological challenge.
Radiation Therapy (Primary and Recurrent Disease)

Radiation therapy (RT) plays an essential role in the multimodal treatment of all stages of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In this chapter, we review the clinical and laboratory evidence demonstrating the radiosensitivity of MCC, the basis for current treatment recommendations for primary MCC, and principles for oncologic decision-making for recurrent and metastatic MCC. Case examples are presented to illustrate the role of RT in management. Evidence-based findings regarding definitive and adjuvant (postoperative) RT are discussed. Key studies are reviewed, including those that demonstrate local and regional control as well as overall survival. Finally, future directions and new techniques under development are described.
The Platelet Transcriptome in Health and Disease

Platelets carry a diverse repertoire of coding and noncoding RNAs that together make up the platelet transcriptome. Because most RNAs are known to be made from DNA in the nucleus, and platelets are born without a nucleus or nuclear DNA, the origin, purpose, and fate of platelet RNAs have been the subject of investigation for more than 70 years. Classic RNA analysis techniques and next-generation technologies have yielded significant insights into the types of RNAs that are expressed by platelets, their source, their relationship to proteins, and how they change according to genetics, environment, and disease. Analysis of RNA expression and structure, in association with platelet physiology in health, and hematologic or non-hematologic disease has garnered new knowledge regarding the diverse physiological roles of platelets, the genetics and mechanisms of platelet function, and how platelets function in health and disease. Here we review the history and impact of platelet RNA on hematologic research. Our review is divided into three main sections that include: (1) The history of RNA-based studies that have contributed to our understanding of the platelet transcriptome; (2) The basics of gene expression that underlie the origins and properties of megakaryocyte and platelet RNAs; and (3) Knowledge gained by defining the platelet transcriptome in health and disease.
Relationships between perfectionism, self‐report impulsivity measures and delay discounting

Perfectionism and impulsivity are multidimensional constructs. While different perfectionism dimensions are exclusively measured through self-reports, different impulsivity dimensions can be measured through self-report or behaviour via preferences for different rewards. This study explored differential associations between perfectionism and impulsivity based on both dimension and measurement modality (self-report/behavioural). We then examined whether adaptive or maladaptive perfectionism would be differentially associated with impulsivity. Two-hundred and six students completed two perfectionism and three impulsivity measures (two self-report; one behavioural). Two self-report impulsivity measures were associated with specific perfectionism dimensions, whereas the behavioural measure was not associated with perfectionism. Maladaptive perfectionism was associated with decreasing impulsivity, whereas adaptive perfectionism was associated with increasing impulsivity. Perfectionism related to impulsivity differently depending on how each construct was measured.
Human iPSC-Derived Neurons and Cerebral Organoids Establish Differential Effects of Germline NF1 Gene Mutations

Summary Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a spectrum of distinct germline NF1 gene mutations, traditionally viewed as equivalent loss-of-function alleles. To specifically address the issue of mutational equivalency in a disease with considerable clinical heterogeneity, we engineered seven isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell lines, each with a different NF1 patient NF1 mutation, to identify potential differential effects of NF1 mutations on human central nervous system cells and tissues. Although all mutations increased proliferation and RAS activity in 2D neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and astrocytes, we observed striking differences between NF1 mutations on 2D NPC dopamine levels, and 3D NPC proliferation, apoptosis, and neuronal differentiation in developing cerebral organoids. Together, these findings demonstrate differential effects of NF1 gene mutations at the cellular and tissue levels, suggesting that the germline NF1 gene mutation is one factor that underlies clinical variability.
CRISPR RNA-guided integrases for high-efficiency and multiplexed bacterial genome engineering

Tn7-like transposons are pervasive mobile genetic elements in bacteria that mobilize using heteromeric transposase complexes comprising distinct targeting modules. We recently described a Tn7-like transposon from Vibrio cholerae that employs a Type I-F CRISPR–Cas system for RNA-guided transposition, in which Cascade directly recruits transposition proteins to integrate donor DNA downstream of genomic target sites complementary to CRISPR RNA. However, the requirement for multiple expression vectors and low overall integration efficiencies, particularly for large genetic payloads, hindered the practical utility of the transposon. Here, we present a significantly improved INTEGRATE (insertion of transposable elements by guide RNA-assisted targeting) system for targeted, multiplexed, and marker-free DNA integration of up to 10 kilobases at ~100% efficiency. Using multi-spacer CRISPR arrays, we achieved simultaneous multiplex insertions in three genomic loci, and facile multi-loci deletions when combining orthogonal integrases and recombinases. Finally, we demonstrated robust function in other biomedically- and industrially-relevant bacteria, and developed an accessible computational algorithm for guide RNA design. This work establishes INTEGRATE as a versatile and portable tool that enables multiplex and kilobase-scale genome engineering.
Improved Understanding of Acute Incisional Hernia Incarceration: Implications for Addressing the Excess Mortality of Emergent Repair.

Background Incisional hernia develops in up to 20% of patients undergoing abdominal operations. We sought to identify characteristics associated with poor outcomes after acute incisional hernia incarceration. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with incisional hernias undergoing elective repair or with acute incarceration between 2010 and 2017. The primary end point was 30-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds associated with 30-day mortality. The American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator was used to estimate outcomes had these patients undergone elective repair. Results A total of 483 patients experienced acute incarceration; 30-day mortality was 9.52%. Increasing age (adjusted odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08) and bowel resection (adjusted odds ratio 3.18; 95% CI, 1.45 to 6.95) were associated with mortality. Among those with acute incarceration, 231 patients (47.9%) had no documentation of an earlier surgical evaluation and 252 (52.2%) had been evaluated but had not undergone elective repair. Among patients 80 years and older, 30-day mortality after emergent repair was high (22.9%) compared with estimated 30-day mortality for elective repair (0.73%), based on the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator. Estimated mortality was comparable with observed elective repair mortality (0.82%) in an age-matched cohort. Similar mortality trends were noted for patients younger than 60 years and aged 60 to 79 years. Conclusions Comparison of predicted elective repair and observed emergent repair mortality in patients with acute incarceration suggests that acceptable outcomes could have been achieved with elective repair. Almost one-half of acute incarceration patients had no earlier surgical evaluation, therefore, targeted interventions to address surgical referral can potentially result in fewer incarceration-related deaths.
Quinine cardiotoxicity: a mechanism for sudden death in narcotic addicts.

Narcotic abuse has reached alarming proportions in many areas of the United States, carrying with it a pernicious morbidity and a tragic mortality. The latter is estimated to be approximately 0.7 percent of the addict population per annum. There were over 1000 such deaths annually in 1969 and 1970 in New York City alone. Eighty percent of these fatalities in New York are attributed to “immediate acute reactions” following administration (usually intravenous) of narcotics. In Dade County (Metropolitan Miami), Florida, 86 of 87 narcotic-related fatalities, excluding 13 violent deaths in the reported series, “collapsed and died following the injection of a narcotic”. The mechanisms of sudden death in this circumstance are complex and have not been elucidated completely. Several possible explanations include narcotic overdosage with respiratory depression, narcotic induced postural hypotension, hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reaction, idiosyncratic reaction to unspecified material(s), adverse response to intravenous injection of colloid or particulate material (“colloidoclastic crisis”), or adverse reactions to adulterants in narcotic packets which are purchased “on the street”.