cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON THE NUMBER AND SIZES OF ANIMALS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FAUNAL ASSEMBLAGES

This paper presents a method for dealing with unpaired skeletal elements in order to approach the questions of (1) how many animals are represented in an assemblage; and (2) how large these individuals were. The method is designed for use with fish remains and can easily be extended to paired elements. It is shown how the interplay between the data appropriate to the solution of both problems may be compared in order to provide a method of verification of the results arrived at by standard methods of assessment of the minimum number of individuals.
Impact of Resident Duty-Hour Reform on Faculty Clinical Productivity

Objective Prior data have shown that resident duty-hour reform has not affected faculty work hours; yet the preservation of faculty hours may have been at the expense of productivity. We sought to examine change in clinical productivity. Design Anonymous survey and analysis of faculty relative value units (RVU) database Setting A single, large academic medical center. Participants All clinical faculty in the Department of Surgery. Methods An anonymous survey was distributed to surgical faculty 18 months after reform and compared with surveys taken before and after reform. Opinions regarding productivity and working hours were solicited. P values were determined by chi-square or Student t-tests. Relative value unit data, reflecting clinical productivity, were compared before and after reform. Regression was performed with dependent variable “lnRVU” and independent variables “calendar month,” “pre/post” July 2003, and “surgeon.” The coefficient on “pre/post” reflected average change in RVUs. Results A total of 49 of 73 surveys were returned (67% response). Faculty reported an average of 68.0 ± 7.0 weekly work hours (p = NS compared with previous survey). In the current survey, 35% felt their overall productivity had fallen due to reform. Among these, 83% felt academic productivity had suffered, 11% were unsure, and 1 person (6%) believed academic productivity was preserved. The majority (82%) reported preserved clinical productivity, 6% reported a decrease, and 12% were unsure. Overall, 60% reported doing work previously done by residents. When RVU data were examined, the coefficient on change pre- and post-reform indicated a 5.7% increase in productivity (p = 0.005). However, this effect was driven by 5 surgeons with a greater than 75% increase in productivity, all young faculty, early in practice. Excluding these, there was no significant change (0.6% increase, p = 0.77). Conclusions Faculty have preserved work hours and clinical productivity, despite a tendency to take on work previously done by residents. This suggests that academic activities may have suffered.
Reason for Late-Stage Breast Cancer: Absence of Screening or Detection, or Breakdown in Follow-up?

BACKGROUND Mammography screening increases the detection of early-stage breast cancers. Therefore, implementing screening should reduce the percentage of women who are diagnosed with late-stage disease. However, despite high national mammography screening rates, late-stage breast cancers still occur, possibly because of failures in screening implementation. METHODS Using data from seven health care plans that included 1.5 million women aged 50 years or older, we conducted retrospective reviews of chart and automated data for 3 years before 1995-1999 diagnoses of late-stage (metastatic and/or tumor size > or =3 cm; case subjects, n = 1347) and early-stage breast cancers (control subjects, n = 1347). We categorized the earliest screening mammogram during the period 13-36 months before diagnosis as none (absence of screening), negative (absence of detection), or positive (potential breakdown in follow-up). We compared the proportion of case and control subjects in each category of screening implementation and estimated the likelihood (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of late-stage breast cancer. We also evaluated demographic characteristics associated with absence of screening in women with late-stage disease. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Absence of screening, absence of detection, and potential breakdown in follow-up were distributed differently among case (52.1%, 39.5%, and 8.4%, respectively) and control subjects (34.4%, 56.9%, and 8.8%, respectively) (P = .03). Among all women, the odds of having late-stage cancer were higher among women with an absence of screening (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.84 to 2.56; P<.001). Among case patients, women were more likely to be in the absence-of-screening group if they were aged 75 years or older (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 2.10 to 3.65), unmarried (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.41 to 2.24), or without a family history of breast cancer (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.45 to 2.34). A higher proportion of women from census blocks with less education (58.5% versus 49.4%; P = .003) or lower median annual income (54.4% versus 42.9%; P = .004) were in the absence-of-screening category compared with the proportion for the other two categories combined. CONCLUSIONS To reduce late-stage breast cancer occurrence, reaching unscreened women, including elderly, unmarried, low-income, and less educated women, should be made a top priority for screening implementation.
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope mechanical structure and design

The Large-aperture Synoptic Survey Telescope, LSST, will have an effective aperture of ~6.5 m and a 3 degree field of view. Its 3-mirror optical system with 8.4 m primary, 3.5 m secondary, 4.2 meter tertiary mirrors and a trapped focus offer unique telescope design challenges. The operation of this telescope will require quick slewing, accurate tracking and alignment maintained actively for 0.25 arcsec images in the presence of wind and gravity perturbations. We describe our current design for which finite element models show a lowest frequency resonance above 7 Hertz. Further refinement promises an even stiffer structure. The design has been optimized for low mass (230 tons), minimal inertia (2.4×10 6 kg-m 2 in elevation, 3.2×10 6 kg-m 2 in azimuth) for fast response. It takes advantage of several concepts proven in the Large Binocular Telescope mount, which has shown high performance at low cost. These include elevation motion on C rings placed under the primary mirror, a primary mirror cell built as an integral part of the structure, and the elevation axis placed behind and off to the side of the primary vertex, to achieve balance with minimum mass.
Architecture for reconfigurable MIMO detector and its FPGA implementation

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system is a key technology for future high speed wireless communication standards like 802.11n, WIGWAM, and WiMax. These standards require support for multiple modulation and coding schemes. Hence, the receiver hardware should be able to accomodate these schemes preferably on a single reconfigurable architecture. Current MIMO detector implementations are constrained by the throughput and dynamic reconfigurability requirements. This paper presents an FPGA implementation of a novel MIMO detector architecture which addresses these issues. The proposed design is able to reconfigure on the fly without significant latency overhead and delivers quasi-optimal Bit Error Rate(BER). The regularity of the architecture makes it suitable for a highly parallel and pipelined implementation. Our design is implemented on a Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGA, and has a parallelism factor of four with four pipeline stages. Additionally, the design does not use multipliers, and has minimal control overhead(0.3%). Our detector achieves a throughput of 280 Mbps for QPSK, 140 Mbps for 16-QAM, and 52.5 Mbps for 64-QAM. The detector, with a non-processor based control unit, has many qualities of a systolic architecture which makes it highly suitable for ASIC implementation.
Wrappers for Processed Cheese

Summary From the foregoing discussion it is evident that there are a number of factors which play a part in the darkening of the tin foil. The use of phosphate emulsifying salts appears to accelerate the discoloration, especially when the reaction of the cheese-quinhydrone paste is more alkaline than pH 5.8. The results presented in this paper were obtained from investigations on Cheddar cheese, and it is probable that other types of cheese might show different reaction values which are connected with the darkening of the tin foil. It is also probable that there may be some other factors involved, which may be studied at a later date. It is also evident that the metal foils are still superior to any other type of foils as a wrapper for processed cheese. For general use with all types of cheese tin foil is probably more satisfactory than aluminum foil, but when relative costs are considered there may be types of cheese with which aluminum foil, properly coated to prevent corrosion, may offer distinct advantages. In conclusion the authors wish to express their thanks to Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., for the fellowship under which this investigation has been conducted and also to those who supplied samples of wrappers for this experiment.
Aquinas on Natural Law and the Virtues in Biblical Context: Homosexuality as a Test Case

Marriagelike homosexual relationships expose a division among ethicists following Aquinas. Those emphasizing natural law may call such relationships unnatural; those emphasizing the virtues may approve of relationships fostering love and justice. Natural law, the virtues, and homosexuality all show up in Aquinas's Commentary on Romans—untranslated and hardly cited. Romans 1:18 opens a discussion of justice. Verse 20 provides Aquinas's chief warrant for natural law. Verse 26 applies virtue and law to “the vice against nature.“ But Aquinas's account also depends on Paul as an exemplar of virtue and on Aquinas's high regard for the Bible. Aquinas deploys natural law as a mode of biblical exegesis, not an alternative to it. In the De potentia, Aquinas considers how to proceed when nature and Scripture seem to conflict. The account does not settle, but rather makes more room for, dispute.
Deregulation and labor earnings

Cross-sectional data drawn from the March CPS from 1968 to 1988 and the May CPS from 1973 to 1988 are used to estimate the impact of deregulation on labor earnings in trucking, telephones, bus transportation, airlines, and railroads. Both average differentials and union-nonunion differentials are computed. Contrary to popular belief, deregulation does not reduce earnings in many of these industries. Implications for theories of regulatory impact are discussed.
Race and Peremptory Challenges

This is a draft of a column, published in the October 2005 issue of Trial Magazine. It concerns the Supreme Court's decision in Miller El v. Dretke (125 S.Ct. 2317). It supports Justice Breyer's sole concurrence, arguing that the only way to avoid Batson problems is to eliminate peremptory challenges altogether.
Chasing the American Dream: Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes

The United States has been epitomized as a land of opportunity, where hard work and skill can bring personal success and economic well-being. The American Dream has captured the imagination of people from all walks of life, and to many, it represents the heart and soul of the country. But there is another, darker side to the bargain that America strikes with its people -- it is the price we pay for our individual pursuit of the American Dream. That price can be found in the economic hardship present in the lives of millions of Americans. In Chasing the American Dream, leading social scientists Mark Robert Rank, Thomas A. Hirschl, and Kirk A. Foster provide a new and innovative look into a curious dynamic -- the tension between the promise of economic opportunities and rewards and the amount of turmoil that Americans encounter in their quest for those rewards. The authors explore questions such as: -What percentage of Americans achieve affluence, and how much income mobility do we actually have? -Are most Americans able to own a home, and at what age? -How is it that nearly 80 percent of us will experience significant economic insecurity at some point between ages 25 and 60? -How can access to the American Dream be increased? Combining personal interviews with dozens of Americans and a longitudinal study covering 40 years of income data, the authors tell the story of the American Dream and reveal a number of surprises. The risk of economic vulnerability has increased substantially over the past four decades, and the American Dream is becoming harder to reach and harder to keep. Yet for most Americans, the Dream lies not in wealth, but in economic security, pursuing one's passions, and looking toward the future. Chasing the American Dream provides us with a new understanding into the dynamics that shape our fortunes and a deeper insight into the importance of the American Dream for the future of the country.
Nursing Home 5-Star Rating System Exacerbates Disparities In Quality, By Payer Source

Market-based reforms in health care, such as public reporting of quality, may inadvertently exacerbate disparities. We examined how the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services’ five-star rating ...
The Spectral Theorem for Real Symmetric Matrices

(1970). The Spectral Theorem for Real Symmetric Matrices. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 862-863.
Long-Term Outcome in Childhood-Onset Epilepsy

The value of early seizure frequency and etiology in the prediction of long-term seizure and mortality outcome in a population-based cohort of 102 children was determined in a study at University of Turku, Finland, and Epilepsy Research Group, Berlin, Germany.
SU-F-T-520: Dosimetric Comparison of Radiation Treatment Plans for Whole Breast Irradiation Between 3D Conformal in Prone and Supine Positions Vs. VMAT and IMRT in Supine Positions

Purpose: The target volume for Whole Breast Irradiation (WBI) is dictated by location of tumor mass, breast tissue distribution, and involvement of lymph nodes. Dose coverage and Organs at Risk (OARs) sparing can be difficult to achieve in patients with unfavorable thoracic geometries. For these cases, inverse-planned and 3D-conformal prone treatments can be alternatives to traditional supine 3D-conformal plans. A dosimetric comparison can determine which of these techniques achieve optimal target coverage while sparing OARs. Methods: This study included simulation datasets for 8 patients, 5 of whom were simulated in both supine and prone positions. Positioning devices included breast boards and Vaclok bags for the supine position, and prone breast boards for the prone position. WBI 3-D conformal plans were created for patients simulated in both positions. Additional VMAT and IMRT WBI plans were made for all patients in the supine position. Results: Prone and supine 3D conformal plans had comparable PTV coverage. Prone 3D conformal plans received a significant 50% decrease to V20, V10, V5 and V30% for the ipsilateral lung in contrast to the supine plans. The heart also experienced a 10% decrease in maximum dose in the prone position, and V20, V10, V5 and V2 had significantly lower values than the supine plan. Supine IMRT and VMAT breast plans obtained comparable PTV coverage. The heart experienced a 10% decrease in maximum dose with inverse modulated plans when compared to the supine 3D conformal plan, while V20, V10, V5 and V2 showed higher values with inverse modulated plans than with supine 3D conformal plans. Conclusion: Prone 3D-conformal, and supine inverse planned treatments were generally superior in sparing OARs to supine plans with comparable PTV coverage. IMRT and VMAT plans offer sparing of OARs from high dose regions with an increase of irradiated volume in the low dose regions.
Addressing the Revisionists Regarding Fania Fénelon’s Holocaust Memoir

Whenever doubt is cast on the veracity of a Holocaust memoir, such as Fania Fenelon’s Playing for Time, there is often a reluctance to challenge the account. However, if any areas of concern are not addressed, such accounts become fodder for historical revisionists who deny the Holocaust. In this chapter Eischeid examines several other prominent memoirs which have subsequently been discredited (Wilkomirski, Defonseca, Rosenblat), as well as respected memoirs such as Elie Wiesel’s Night which have endured their share of criticism. Eischeid explores the similarities and differences in Fenelon’s account to all these works, and thereby reinforces her critical examination of the memoir.
Utility and Subjective Probability: Empirical Studies

This article describes empirical studies of utility and subjective probability, two fundamental constructs in risky choice. Although most theories of risky choice assume that utilities are independent of subjective probabilities, numerous studies show that these constructs interact. Holding objective probability constant, the subjective probability of a less desirable outcome is often perceived as larger than the subjective probability of a more desirable outcome. People are pessimistic about the odds of a possible outcome if that outcome is bad. In addition to this interaction, utilities and subjective probabilities interact across options. The perceived value of an option often depends on the other option with which it is compared. Theoretical accounts are discussed.
Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Hydrogenolysis of Furfural and the Impact of Homogeneous Side Reactions of Furanic Compounds in Acidic Electrolytes

The electrochemical hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis (ECH) of furfural (FF) on a copper electrocatalyst has been investigated to produce biofuels and fine chemicals in an H-type batch reactor at room temperature. We report a systematic study of ECH of FF to gain a better understanding of the relationships between products and reaction conditions: current density, electrolyte, and cosolvent ratio in acidic solutions. The acidity of electrolytes had the most significant impact on the product distribution. Mildly acidic electrolytes mainly produced furfuryl alcohol (FA), while strongly acidic electrolytes produced both 2-methyl furan (MF) and FA. Also, the yield of products depended on the current density and reaction time when equivalent charge was transferred to the reaction. However, the mole balance accounting for FF, MF, and FA was not higher than 70% in any reaction condition when the theoretical amount of electrons for complete MF production from FF (e–/FF = 4) was transferred to the system. The inves...
New genetic insights into brain size

Abnormal intracranial volume has been associated with various human disorders. In the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association (GWAS) data involving 32,438 adults, the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) and Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE
Are face recognition methods useful for classifying ships

Face recognition research has gained significant interest in recent years which has resulted in the development of many state-of-the-art methods. However, it is not well-known how domain specific these methods are to the problem of face recognition. Could these algorithms be used to classify and identify other objects, such as ships seen from electro-optical satellite imagery? Face recognition research shares many of the same challenges with many other types of classification research, such as illumination, pose and resolution variation. Therefore, a study of this type is warranted. We present a comparison of several classical (e.g. eigenfaces and fisherfaces) as well as recent state-of-the-art face recognition methods (e.g. sparse representation and local binary patterns) using one standard face database and two databases of ship images collected from satellite imagery. An analysis of these results as well as future directions conclude the paper.
Targeted Delivery of Glucan Particle Encapsulated Gallium Nanoparticles Inhibits HIV Growth in Human Macrophages.

Glucan particles (GPs) are hollow, porous 3–5 μm microspheres derived from the cell walls of Baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The 1,3-β-glucan outer shell provides for receptor-mediated uptake by phagocytic cells expressing β-glucan receptors. GPs have been used for macrophage-targeted delivery of a wide range of payloads (DNA, siRNA, protein, small molecules, and nanoparticles) encapsulated inside the hollow GPs or bound to the surface of chemically derivatized GPs. Gallium nanoparticles have been proposed as an inhibitory agent against HIV infection. Here, macrophage targeting of gallium using GPs provides for more efficient delivery of gallium and inhibition of HIV infection in macrophages compared to free gallium nanoparticles.
The Redentin Easter Play. Translated from the Low German of the Fifteenth Century with Introduction and Notes by A. E. Zucker: New York: Columbia University Press. 1941. Pp. xi, 134. $2.00.

(1943). The Redentin Easter Play. Translated from the Low German of the Fifteenth Century with Introduction and Notes by A. E. Zucker. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 223-225.
Molecular Subtyping and Source Attribution of Campylobacter Isolated from Food Animals

Campylobacter spp. commonly cause gastrointestinal illness in humans. Poultry meats have long been considered the predominant source of these infections, but few in-depth Campylobacter source attribution studies have been completed. We analyzed more than 1,300 Campylobacter isolates recovered from a number of animal and food sources, including dairy and beef cattle, pigs, poultry, and retail poultry meat, and compared them with Campylobacter isolates recovered from human clinical samples. Each isolate was subtyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with SmaI and queried against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PulseNet database to identify human isolates with indistinguishable patterns. Half (49.5%) of the PFGE patterns from poultry animal and retail meat isolates were indistinguishable from patterns of at least one human isolate. Among the isolates from beef and dairy cows, 56.6 and 65.0%, respectively, of their PFGE patterns were indistinguishable from those of human isolates. Only a small portion of the PFGE patterns of Campylobacter isolated from pigs (9.5%) were found to have PFGE patterns in common with human isolates. These data imply that cattle may be larger contributors to Campylobacter infections than previously recognized and help further our understanding of potential sources of human campylobacteriosis.
Northwestern University Flexible Subischial Vacuum Socket for persons with transfemoral amputation: Part 2 Description and Preliminary evaluation.

Background:Current transfemoral prosthetic sockets are problematic as they restrict function, lack comfort, and cause residual limb problems. Development of a subischial socket with lower proximal ...
Effect of heliostats reflectivity on the cost of solar thermal tower power plant

This paper presents a simulation based approach to analyze the effect of solar concentrator's reflectivity on initial cost of the solar thermal tower power plant (STTPP). It discusses the reflectivity of different materials used as solar concentrators in STTPP. TRNSYS software is used to simulate the power plant and effect of using different reflective material is observed. It is found that with 0.9 reflectivity of solar mirror, 10300 heliostats are required to produce 40 MW of electricity which cost 13000 Million PKR while a small increase in the reflectance from 0.9 to 0.94 has decrease the cost to 11292 Million PKR. RETScreen software is used for cost analysis of this system. It is observed that 5.4 percent of the initial cost is reduced and payback period is decreased from 13 to 9 years.
Brain mitochondrial iron accumulates in Huntington's disease, mediates mitochondrial dysfunction, and can be removed pharmacologically.

Abstract Mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction is involved in neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD). Iron is critical for normal mitochondrial bioenergetics but can also contribute to pathogenic oxidation. The accumulation of iron in the brain occurs in mouse models and in human HD. Yet the role of mitochondria-related iron dysregulation as a contributor to bioenergetic pathophysiology in HD is unclear. We demonstrate here that human HD and mouse model HD (12-week R6/2 and 12-month YAC128) brains accumulated mitochondrial iron and showed increased expression of iron uptake protein mitoferrin 2 and decreased iron-sulfur cluster synthesis protein frataxin. Mitochondria-enriched fractions from mouse HD brains had deficits in membrane potential and oxygen uptake and increased lipid peroxidation. In addition, the membrane-permeable iron-selective chelator deferiprone (1 μM) rescued these effects ex-vivo , whereas hydrophilic iron and copper chelators did not. A 10-day oral deferiprone treatment in 9-week R6/2 HD mice indicated that deferiprone removed mitochondrial iron, restored mitochondrial potentials, decreased lipid peroxidation, and improved motor endurance. Neonatal iron supplementation potentiates neurodegeneration in mouse models of HD by unknown mechanisms. We found that neonatal iron supplementation increased brain mitochondrial iron accumulation and potentiated markers of mitochondrial dysfunction in HD mice. Therefore, bi-directional manipulation of mitochondrial iron can potentiate and protect against markers of mouse HD. Our findings thus demonstrate the significance of iron as a mediator of mitochondrial dysfunction and injury in mouse models of human HD and suggest that targeting the iron-mitochondrial pathway may be protective.
Diverging Destinies Revisited

In her 2004 presidential address to the Population Association of American, Sara McLanahan argued that in the USA and other Western countries, the second demographic transition was leading to two very different trajectories for women—with very different implications for children. Whereas for children born to mothers with a college degree, the changes in family behavior were associated with gains in parental resources, for children born to less educated mothers, the changes were associated with relative and, in some instances, absolute losses in resources. The authors extend the 2004 paper by updating the evidence with recent trends in the USA and new analyses from other countries, including Japan, Australia, and the EU countries, and by reviewing evidence on the causes of change. They conclude by noting that the changes in family formation are associated with negative outcomes for parents, children, and society and by discussing possible solutions to the growing disparities in family behaviors.
Double Approximation Methods for the Solution of Fredholm Integral Equations

A double approximation method with error bounds is presented for the numerical solution of Fredholm integral equations. The method embraces standard finite rank and projections methods which, when applied to the Fredholm equation (I − K)x = y, yield approximations (I − Km)xm = y equivalent to matrix problems. However, the matrix elements are integrals which almost always must be done numerically. This is equivalent to a double approximation scheme (I − K)x n m = y, where x n m is the solution computed numerically. Under typical conditions, K n m → K pointwise as m, n → = ∞, K is compact, {K n m } is collectively compact, and an available operator approximation theory yields convergence theorems and error bounds for the approximate solutions. Optimal choices for m relative to n are also considered.
Defective NF-kappaB signaling in dedifferentiated hepatoma cells.

Dedifferentiated rat hepatoma cells contain defects that result in the loss of hepatic gene expression, including the liver-enriched HNF4/HNF1α pathway. We examined induction of NF-κB, a key mediator of the inflammatory response, in hepatoma and dedifferentiated hepatoma cells. We show that exposure of dedifferentiated hepatoma cells, but not rat and human hepatoma cell lines, to proinflammatory cytokines or lipopolysaccharide resulted in rapid and sustained NF-κB induction. IκB-β levels, but not NF-κB subunit p65 or IκB-α levels, were elevated compared with those for parental hepatoma cells. Interestingly, LPS-mediated activation of NF-κB was found to be independent of degradation of IκB-α or IκB-β. Thus, these results suggest that loci responsible for maintaining hepatic gene expression also influence cellular responses to inflammatory agents.
First Opioid Prescription and Subsequent High-Risk Opioid Use: a National Study of Privately Insured and Medicare Advantage Adults.

National guidelines make recommendations regarding the initial opioid prescriptions, but most of the supporting evidence is from the initial episode of care, not the first prescription. To examine associations between features of the first opioid prescription and high-risk opioid use in the 18 months following the first prescription. Retrospective cohort study using data from a large commercial insurance claims database for 2011–2014 to identify individuals with no recent use of opioids and follow them for 18 months after the first opioid prescription. Privately insured patients aged 18–64 and Medicare Advantage patients aged 65 or older who filled a first opioid prescription between 07/01/2011 and 06/30/2013. High-risk opioid use was measured by having (1) opioid prescriptions overlapping for 7 days or more, (2) opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions overlapping for 7 days or more, (3) three or more prescribers of opioids, and (4) a daily dosage exceeding 120 morphine milligram equivalents, in each of the six quarters following the first prescription. All three features of the first prescription were strongly associated with high-risk use. For example, among privately insured patients, receiving a long- (vs. short-) acting first opioid was associated with a 16.9-percentage-point increase (95% CI, 14.3–19.5), a daily MME of 50 or more (vs. less than 30) was associated with a 12.5-percentage-point increase (95% CI, 12.1–12.9), and a supply exceeding 7 days (vs. 3 or fewer days) was associated with a 4.8-percentage-point increase (95% CI, 4.5–5.2), in the probability of having a daily dosage of 120 MMEs or more in the long term, compared to a sample mean of 4.2%. Results for the Medicare Advantage patients were similar. Long-acting formulation, high daily dosage, and longer duration of the first opioid prescription were each associated with increased high-risk use of opioids in the long term.
Comments on the neglected nymphs of mud crickets in the genus Mirhipipteryx (Caelifera: Tridactyloidea: Ripipterygidae).

Mud crickets (family Ripipterygidae) comprise a small family of orthopterans distributed throughout much of the Neotropics, but knowledge of this groups' biology, ecology and distribution remains poor in comparison to most orthopteran taxa. Here we review the state of knowledge of nymphs in the genus Mirhipipteryx Gunther 1969 and report the genus from Belize for the second time in 86 years. Because information about nymphs in this family is so scarce and nymphs are often neglected in species descriptions, we include comments on the coloration of nymphs for Mirhipipteryx pulicaria (Saussure 1896). Caution is suggested for the use of adult characters for the identification of immatures stages in the group. Nymphs of Mirhipipteryx pulicaria pulicaria are similar in coloration patterns to the adults, but lighter. Mirhipipteryx lobata Gunther 1977 is designated a nomen nudum.
Stable Orbits for a Simple Passive walker Experiencing Foot Slip

We present a method for calculating the derivative of the Poincare return map for hybrid arcs and apply this technique to a simple model of bipedal walking with foot slip. It turns out that there is a trade off in terms of stability. The smaller the steps taken, the more robust the stability of the periodic orbit becomes. However, as the steps become larger the eigenvalues of the (derivative of the) Poincare map become smaller, i.e. faster exponential stability to the periodic orbit. In addition to determining which parameters (one of which is the stride angle) result in the existence of a periodic orbit, we explore which initial conditions for a fixed set of parameters lead to periodic motion, that is we find the basin of attraction for the periodic orbits. We end this paper with a way to approximate the boundary of this set.
“Give me actual music stuff!”: The nature of feedback in a collegiate songwriting class:

This study aimed to understand the nature of feedback that students and teacher exchanged in a workshop-based collegiate songwriting course. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What kinds ...
Rapid evolution of invasive traits facilitates the invasion of common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Invasive alien plants, together with organisms introduced for biological control, are ideal study systems with which to address questions of whether, and how fast, organisms adapt to changing environments. We compared populations of common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, from native (USA) and introduced (China) ranges at similar latitudes, together with herbivores introduced for biological control, to understand the rate of evolutionary adaptive response of an invasive plant to novel environments. Evolution of phenotypic traits associated with invasiveness was assessed by comparing differentiation in quantitative traits (QST) to that of neutral microsatellite genetic loci (FST) and through climate data. A common‐garden experiment estimated quantitative genetic variation associated with competition with grasses and biological control history by beetles. Three growth traits (height, total and stem biomass) and plasticity associated with additional nutrients were significantly greater in invasive compared to native populations and differed from expectations from genetic drift alone. Native, but not invasive, populations exhibited traits showing evidence of past selection and correlations with climate, consistent with the recent timing of introductions. Competition experiments between invasive populations and a US bunch grass showed reduced competitive ability in populations with a history of biological control that might indicate a trade‐off between competitive ability and herbivore resistance in invasive populations. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate the rapid rate at which traits favouring invasion can evolve in invasive weeds, such as A. artemisiifolia, but also that adaptation may reflect joint effects of release from specialist herbivores and novel climatic conditions.
2043 Where do Women Draw the Line? Choosing Surgery for Endometriosis After Hormonal Medication Use

Study Objective Identify the number and duration of hormonal management modalities utilized by patients with endometriosis prior to undergoing initial surgical evaluation. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary care academic hospital. Patients or Participants Forty-four patients with pathology proven endometriosis. Interventions Patients were provided with a standardized questionnaire regarding the use of preoperative hormonal medical therapy. Medical therapy categories included: combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP), progesterone only pills (POPs), progesterone intrauterine devices (IUD), injections, implants, gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH), selective progesterone receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, danazol, and GnRH antagonists. Measurements and Main Results Of 111 patients screened with pathology proven endometriosis, 52 patients met eligibility criteria. The response rate was 84.62% (n=44). Median age of patients was 33 years old. Mean number of gynecologic procedures patients had was 2.6. The mean use of medication was Conclusion Despite available medical management options for endometriosis treatment, many patients do not use any hormonal medications before choosing surgical intervention. Although multiple modalities exist for medical management, this cohort mainly used progesterone based methods. These medications are used for many years and patients with endometriosis are at high risk for multiple gynecologic procedures.
Use of a Macro as Nudge Factor in Communication Between Radiologists and Referring Physicians.

Abstract Introduction/Methods: Radiologists provide value through communication of imaging findings. We outline a quality improvement effort using a dedicated dictation macro as a behavioral nudge to increase direct communication between radiologists and referring physicians. Use of the macro was encouraged by departmental leadership and publicised widely prior to implementation. Monthly data regarding the use of the macro and corresponding departmental volumes were acquired over a 24 month period. Results: Over the 24-month study period, there were 1,334,555 total exams performed and 52,276 total communications (3.90%; monthly range 2.21-4.67%). The greatest increase in adoption rate occurred during the initial 4-month period, with sustained rates of communication achieved after month 4. Results were more frequently communicated to a clinician when a resident trainee was involved in the dictation process. The greatest number of documented communications was for x-ray, followed by Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound (US), and nuclear medicine. Inpatient studies (7.23%) were communicated at a statistically significantly higher rate than Emergency Department (ED) (3.86%) or Outpatient (OP) studies (1.31%), P Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that simple interventions to increase the rate of documented communication can have durable results, and highlight the critical role radiologists play in timely and effective patient care delivery. Introduction of a communication macro coupled with departmental nudges resulted in increased direct communication of imaging results. This effort has promoted mutual engagement between radiologists and their colleagues, and demonstrates the active role of radiologists in direct imaging consultation.
An analysis of microlitter and microplastics from Lake Superior beach sand and surface-water.

Abstract The abundance of microplastics in natural systems is a concern even in relatively pristine areas such as Lake Superior, on the border between the United States and Canada. In this study, beach sand and surface water were sampled in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS) in May and July 2018. Additional sand samples were collected at non-APIS beaches in western Lake Superior in May 2018. Microlitter particles (
Adaptations to Cold in Bird Chicks

Adult birds maintain high body temperatures in cold environments by thick insulation (West 1972, Dawson and Carey 1976, Dawson et al. 1983), huddling and communal roosting (Knorr 1957, Mackenzie 1959), use of protected microsites (Kendeigh 1961, Mayer et al. 1982), and high capacity for thermogenesis. Several studies have shown that basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases with latitude (Weathers 1979, Ellis 1984), that temperature tolerances vary seasonally (Barnett 1970) and geographically (Blem 1973) owing to increased insulation as well as thermogenic capacity (Hart 1962, Dawson and Carey 1976, Dawson et al. 1983), particularly shivering thermogenesis of the flight muscles (Hart 1962, West 1965).
Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Sport-related Concussions in Children.

Concussion is a worldwide health concern among children and adolescents. Over the decades concussion has been gradually better recognized as an entity that accounts for a significant disability pos...
Chemical Potential Driven Reorganization of Anions between Stern and Diffuse Layers at the Air/Water Interface

Ion adsorption and transfer at charged interfaces play key roles in various industrial and environmental processes. Molecular scale details of ion-ion, ion-water, and ion-surface interactions and their dependence on the character of the ion (ion-specific effects) are still debated. Complex ions, such as SCN- and SeCN-, are particularly interesting due to their unexpected adsorption trends which are ascribed to their permanent dipole moment and non-spherical shape. Here, we combine vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy and surface sensitive synchrotron X-ray studies to provide a detailed description of SeCN- adsorption at a charged surfactant monolayer at the air/aqueous interface. The results show that the increasing chemical potential may lead to further reorganization of the adsorbed ions, even though the total interfacial ion population does not change.
Mistaken Identity: Many Diagnoses are Frequently Misattributed to Lyme Disease.

Abstract Background: Prior studies have demonstrated that Lyme disease is frequently over-diagnosed. However, few studies describe which conditions are misdiagnosed as Lyme disease. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study evaluated patients referred for Lyme disease to a Mid-Atlantic academic center between 2000-2013 who lacked evidence for Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The primary outcome is clinically described diagnoses contributing to symptoms. Secondary outcomes included symptom duration and determination whether diagnoses were new or attributed to existing medical conditions. Results: Of 1261 referred patients, 1061 (84%) had no findings of active Lyme disease, with 690 (65%) receiving other diagnoses resulting in 405 (59%) having newly diagnosed medical conditions, 134 (19%) attributed to pre-existing medical issues, and 151 (22%) had both new and pre-existing conditions. Among the 690 patients, the median symptom duration was 796 days, and a total of 139 discrete diagnoses were made. Infectious disease diagnoses comprised only 3.2%. Leading diagnoses were anxiety/depression 222 (21%), fibromyalgia 120 (11%), chronic fatigue syndrome 77 (7%), migraine disorder 74 (7%), osteoarthritis 62 (6%) and sleep disorder/apnea 48 (5%). Examples of less frequent but non-syndromic diseases newly diagnosed included multiple sclerosis (11), malignancy (8), Parkinson's disease (8), sarcoidosis (4) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (4). Conclusions: Most patients with long-term symptoms have either new or pre-existing disorders accounting for their symptoms other than Lyme disease, suggesting overdiagnosis in this population. Patients referred for consideration of Lyme disease for chronic symptoms deserve careful assessment for diagnoses other than Borrelia burgdorferi infection.
The Impedance of the Organ of Corti

In previous papers (Zweig 1987, 1988) the impedance of the organ of Corti was deduced from measurements of basilar membrane motion. That impedance is the starting point for this paper. The power transfer between the organ of Corti and its harmonic traveling waves is calculated. The time delays of forces presumed to originate in outer hair cells are estimated.
Angiotensin I-converting enzyme from guinea pig lung and serum. A comparison of some kinetic and inhibition properties.

Abstract The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (peptidyldipeptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) was isolated from both guinea pig lung and serum; K m and V values were determined using both angiotensin I and hippurylhistidylleucine as substrates. K m values for the lung enzyme were 3.1 mM for hippurylhistidylleucine and 0.078 mM for angiotensin I. Serum enzyme K m values were 2.9 mM for hippurylhistidylleucine and 0.076 mM for angiotensin I. Inhibition studies were performed and I 50 values were obtained with the following inhibitors: angiotensin II (lung, 1.9 · 10 −5 M; serum, 1.7 · 10 −5 M), bradykinin (lung, 2.6 · 10 −6 M; serum, 2.1 · 10 −6 M), and pyrrolidone-Lys-Trp-Ala-Pro (lung, 7.9 · 10 −8 M; serum, 5.6 · 10 −8 M). Both enzymes were glycoproteins and were inhibited by concanavalin A. A maximum inhibition of 35% initial enzymatic activity was observed for both enzymes at a concanavalin A concentration of 4 · 10 −4 M suggesting that the sugar moieties of each enzyme are similar. Both enzymes required NaCl for activity and were inhibited by EDTA. A comparison of kinetic and inhibition properties indicates that both enzymes are quite similar.
Bad and Not-so-Bad Arguments for Shareholder Primacy

Since the public corporation first evolved as a business form, there has been a lively debate over whether its proper purpose always is to maximize shareholder wealth, or whether directors sometimes can consider the interests of creditors, employees, and other corporate stakeholders. This article reviews why two of the arguments traditionally used to justify strict shareholder primacy - that shareholders own the corporation, and that shareholders are the sole residual claimants of corporations - are bad arguments, in the sense that they are demonstrably incorrect from both an economic and a legal perspective. The article then explores a third and better argument for shareholder primacy: that requiring corporate directors to serve only shareholders is the best way to keep directors from imposing excessive agency costs on firms. This agency cost argument recognizes that in an ideal world, directors would take account of the interests of both shareholders and other stakeholders. Indeed, allowing this can provide ex ante benefits to shareholders by encouraging nonshareholder groups to make firm-specific commitments to corporate team production. Nevertheless (the argument goes), a rule of strict shareholder primacy remains preferable, because it permits corporations to monitor and reward director performance according to a single easily-observed metric: stock price. While plausible in theory, the agency cost argument for strict shareholder primacy suffers from a serious weakness. In practice, the business world displays a strong revealed preference for corporate governance rules that grant directors discretion to serve stakeholder groups, even at shareholders' ex post expense. What's more, this pattern is observed when firms are first incorporated and brought public, a time when corporate promoters have every incentive to cater to shareholder interests. Such observations suggest that business participants believe the ex ante benefits of allowing directors to consider stakeholder interests outweigh the ex post harms in terms of greater agency costs. They also raise serious questions about the empirical strength of the agency cost argument for ex post shareholder primacy.
Waste management practices : municipal, hazardous, and industrial

Preface HISTORICAL AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENT Introduction A Brief History of Waste Management Regulatory Development SOLID WASTES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT Characterization of Solid Waste Municipal Solid Waste Collection Recycling Solid Wastes MSW Processing Materials Recovery Facilities Composting MSW Incineration of MSW The Sanitary Landfill HAZARDOUS WASTES Identification of Hazardous Waste Hazardous Waste Generator Requirements Hazardous Waste Transportation Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility Requirements Incineration of Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Waste Treatment Land Disposal of Hazardous Waste SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF WASTE Universal Wastes Management of Used Oil Medical and Infectious Wastes Construction and Demolition Debris Electronics Waste Appendix