cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
5-French SOFIA: Safe Access and Support in the Anterior Cerebral Artery, Posterior Cerebral Artery, and Insular Middle Cerebral Artery.

Introduction Distal access catheters are an infrequent focus of technical notes in neurointervention. The 5-French SOFIA's unique design allows for compatibility with 6-French guide catheters, while its supple construction allows for remarkably distal access for a catheter with a 0.055-inch inner diameter. Methods The authors reviewed a prospectively maintained endovascular database for cases utilizing the 5-French SOFIA from February 2017 through November 2017. Case type, SOFIA location, microcatheter used, and catheter-related complications were noted. Results Over the evaluated period, the 5-French SOFIA was utilized in 33 cases, including 13 aneurysm treatments, 10 arteriovenous shunt embolizations, 5 stroke thrombectomies, and 5 other cases. Of 5 flow diversion cases, 1 was for a symptomatic cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm necessitating transradial access, another for a ruptured A3 aneurysm, and another for a middle cerebral artery (M2) aneurysm; 2 were more proximal aneurysms. Thrombectomies were for M2 (n = 3) or A2 (n = 2) occlusions. In all cases, the 5-French SOFIA reached its anticipated distal target without complication or the need to utilize a smaller/alternative catheter. Of these 33 cases, there were 10 cases of distal SOFIA target locations: 6 M2/M3, 3 anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), and 1 posterior cerebral artery (PCA). M2/M3 and PCA catheterization was achieved over 2.1-Fr microcatheters; ACA catheterization employed a 2.9-Fr microcatheter for pipeline embolization and a deployed stentriever in the setting of two thrombectomies. Conclusion The 5-French SOFIA can be safely utilized for distal, superselective catheterization in the context of complex neurointervention, including aneurysm and arteriovenous shunt embolization and distal thrombectomy.
Stability of Laminar Diffusion Flames in Compressible Mixing Layers

This review examines the question of stability of laminar diffusion flames embedded in compressible mixing layers. Since stability characteristics depends on the structure of the mean flow, the first portion of this review will discuss our current understanding of the structure of diffusion flames in compressible mixing layers. The second portion of this review will discuss our present understanding of the stability of these flows. In both sections a number of important and little understood problems are also discussed.
Positron Annihilation in Molecular Substances and Ionic Crystals

“Weill I've often seen a cat without a grin,' thought Alice; “but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!'
The Role of Advertising on Attitudes and Consumption of Food and Beverage Products

Advertisements are a central feature of life in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Despite the difficulty of measuring what advertising does, critics sometimes suggest that it is self-evident that the combined effects of advertising expenditures in markets will lead to more sales of the product category in question, whether or not this is the intention. So the argument goes, alcohol advertising in the aggregate makes us drink more than we would otherwise as does food advertising make us eat more. These arguments are not just academic; from a public policy perspective advertising bans in individual product areas are present around the world.
Chemical Signals That Mediate Insect-Fungal Interactions

This chapter reviews the diverse types of chemical communication that mediate interactions between fungi and insects. Both life forms utilize complex chemosensory systems to process environmental cues. As they coexist in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, the consequences of their interactions range from beneficial effects for both partners to adverse ones or even death for one partner. Plants, as an additional life form, also can be involved in these multifaceted relationships. Depending on the volatility of the produced compound(s), chemical cues generally are perceived either by contact or from a distance. Responses of insects to such cues may operate on various levels, including metabolism, immune defense, and behavior. Furthermore, insects may perceive compounds as attractive, repellent, deterrent, or neutral. Fungi, on the other hand, show various metabolic responses to insect-borne chemicals that come into contact with their cell wall. While numerous published reviews and textbooks cover insect-fungal symbiosis, we here present examples of communication systems in which one or more components regulating the signaling events have been identified. These examples include fungal pathogens of insects and plants, mycophagous and fungivorous insects, mutualistic symbioses between fungi and insects, fungal kairomones utilized by insects, and floral and other scent mimicry exploited by fungi.
Shadow Banking in China

Shadow banking and the Chinese economy are two subjects that have independently garnered much attention. A new but actively growing literature is now emerging at their intersection. I review this l...
Real “non-governmental” aid and poverty: comparing privately and publicly financed NGOs in Canada

Due to their perceived efficiency and poverty orientation, NGOs have increasingly served as Official Development Assistance (ODA) channels, leading scholars to question their autonomy. NGO aid allo...
Comorbidity of bipolar I disorder and conduct disorder: a familial risk analysis.

Objective To investigate the association between pediatric bipolar I (BP-I) disorder and conduct disorder (CD) using familial risk analysis. Method We compared diagnoses in relatives of youth in four proband groups defined by the presence or absence of BP-I and CD: (1) probands with neither CD nor BP-I (probands: N = 550; relatives: N = 1656), (2) probands with CD and without BP-I (probands: N = 40; relatives: N = 127), (3) probands with BP-I and without CD (probands: N = 197; relatives: N = 579), and (4) probands with both CD and BP-I (probands: N = 176; relatives: N = 488). All subjects were evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews, and diagnoses of relatives were made blind to the diagnoses of probands. Results Relatives of probands with BP-I disorder had high rates of BP-I, and relatives of probands with CD had high rates of CD irrespective of the comorbidity with the other disorder. Relatives of probands with the combined condition of CD and BP-I had high rates of the combined condition. Conclusion The finding of cosegregation between BP-I disorder and CD is consistent with the hypothesis that the combined condition represents a distinct subtype of either disorder.
The initiative and the referendum in 1925 and 1926

A review of the use and the results of I. and R. in 1925 and 1926, with tables of votes on measures
Seizure Prophylaxis in the Immediate Post-Hemorrhagic Period in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Introduction Seizures are a well-known complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and occur most commonly in the immediate posthemorrhagic period. Most commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for seizure prophylaxis in aSAH include phenytoin and levetiracetam. There is no reliable data available on the safety and efficacy of restricting AED prophylaxis only till the aneurysm is secured. Methods We retrospectively chart reviewed patients admitted to our neurosciences intensive care unit (NICU) with aSAH during the past two years. Seizure incidence was studied in patients treated with phenytoin versus levetiracetam and in patients treated for 3-7 days vs. those where AED was discontinued immediately after aneurysm was secured. Results In 28 patients, AED prophylaxis was discontinued immediately after the aneurysm was secured, and in 21 patients, it was continued for 3-7 days. Of the 28 patients who received AED prophylaxis for less than or equal to two days, phenytoin was used in 20 patients and levetiracetam was used in eight patients. In patients receiving AED prophylaxis for 3-7 days, phenytoin was used in eight cases and levetiracetam was used in 13 cases. None of these patients had seizures reported during hospitalization or at three-month follow-up. Conclusion Stopping the AED prophylaxis immediately after aneurysm coiling is not associated with increased risk of seizures. Seizures at presentation in patients with aSAH are not associated with development of epilepsy at three months. Both phenytoin and levetiracetam are well tolerated in patients with aSAH when limited to the immediate posthemorrhagic period.
Co-authorship network analysis of prevention research centers: an exploratory study.

Objective:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) collaborate on public health activities with community agencies and organizations. We evaluated these c...
Dynamic Assessment of Cerebral Blood Flow and Intracranial Pressure During Inversion Table Tilt Using Ultrasonography

Abstract Context Inversion tables are used as treatment for back pain, but there is a lack of agreement on systemic effects of inversion. Objective To assess intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral blood flow using ultrasonography during inversion table tilt. Methods Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), heart rate (HR), blood pressure, internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow of participants were measured in 3 positions: supine before inversion, during inversion with head down, and supine post-inversion. ONSD was evaluated with ocular ultrasonography and blood flow (ICA and MCA) with Doppler ultrasonography. Results The ONSD changed significantly between the supine position, at 3 min of inversion, and after returning to supine position (all P Conclusion Inversion caused significant changes in ICP and blood flow. Thus, increased chance of complications may exist when using inversion as a therapeutic tool or during surgical procedures in patients with previous history of elevated ICP. These results demonstrate that inversion therapy should be used with caution.
Long-term Administration of Intrathecal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple System Atrophy – A Compassionate Use Experience (S18.004)

Objective: To explore the long-term safety of repeated intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as therapeutic approach to multiple system atrophy (MSA). Background: We recently completed a phase I/II dose-escalation study of intrathecally administered autologous, adipose-derived MSCs in MSA. The study showed a favorable safety-profile and treatments were well tolerated up to a dose of 5 × 107 cells per injection. There were compelling clinical and biomarker efficacy signals supporting continued exploration of this approach. Design/Methods: Patients who completed the original phase I/II study were invited to receive additional intrathecal MSC administrations of 5 × 107 cells per injection every 6 months. Exclusion criteria included faster than expected disease progression and an advanced disease stage unlikely to benefit from this compassionate extension. Patients were followed with serial clinical, laboratory, and MRI surveillance. Primary endpoints were frequency and type of adverse events (AEs); secondary endpoints included measures of disease progression (Unified MSA Rating Scale, UMSARS). Results: Of 16 patients invited for this study extension all chose to participate. The protocol is ongoing and patients have received up to 7 additional injections. Repeated injections have shown a similarly favorable AE profile as the original trial. Main AEs continue to be abnormalities on MRI imaging of the cauda equina and self-limited low back discomfort, in none of the patients troublesome enough to decline further treatments. The observed rate of disease progression in the first year of this extension study (UMSARS Total 43.4±12.6 at baseline vs. 48.3±14.2 at 12 months) remained slower than expected, but the efficacy signal seemed weaker as the disease progressed. Conclusions: Repeated, long-term intrathecal MSC administration in MSA is safe and well tolerated. The efficacy signal observed at early disease stages continues to be seen but seems to decline at later disease stages. Disclosure: Dr. Singer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dietz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zeller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gehrking has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schmelzer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sletten has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gehrking has nothing to disclose. Dr. Coon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sandroni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Benarroch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bower has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hassan has nothing to disclose. Dr. McKeon has received research support from Medimmune, Euroimmun, Grifols and Alexion. Dr. Schmeichel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Minota has nothing to disclose. Dr. Low has nothing to disclose.
Combating the Opioid Epidemic in Acute General Surgery: Reframing Inpatient Acute Pain Management.

Abstract Background The devastating effects of the opioid epidemic are well documented. We implemented a surgeon/pharmacist opioid reduction initiative at an academic medical center that incorporated multimodal pain therapy in an attempt to reduce total inpatient opioids prescribed. We hypothesized that less opioids would be used postoperatively without affecting pain scores or length of stay. Methods This single-center observational cohort analysis included patients admitted to the acute general surgical service and had one of 10 emergent general surgical (nontrauma) procedures. Patients who underwent surgery before the opioid reduction initiative were compared with patients who underwent surgery postinitiative. The primary objective was to evaluate differences in daily oral morphine equivalents and average pain scores in patients before and after implementation of the surgeon/pharmacist initiative. Results Eighty-three patients in the preopioid reduction initiative group and 92 patients in the postopioid reduction initiative group met inclusion criteria. Oral morphine equivalents were significantly different at 24 h before discharge when comparing across both year (P = 0.032) and number of procedures (P = 0.013). Our results showed decreased opioid utilization in the postopioid reduction initiative group on all observed postoperative days with unaffected pain scores. Conclusions An opioid reduction initiative showed promise in lowering the number of opioids used during inpatient admission without affecting pain scores in emergent general surgical procedures. This initiative can be easily reproduced at other institutions to help combat the opioid epidemic.
Mapping the Structural and Dynamic Determinants of pH-sensitive Heparin Binding to Granulocyte Macrophage-colony Stimulating Factor

GMCSF is an immunomodulatory cytokine that is harnessed as a therapeutic. GMCSF is also known to interact with other clinically important molecules, such as heparin, suggesting endogenous and administered GMCSF has potential to interfere with orthogonal treatment outcomes. Thus, molecular level characterization of GMCSF and its interactions with other biologically active compounds is critical to understanding these mechanisms and predicting clinical outcomes. Here we dissect the molecular motions and structural contributions that facilitate the GMCSF-heparin interaction, that was previously shown to be pH-dependent, using NMR spectroscopy, SPR, and molecular docking. We find that GMCSF and heparin binding is related to a change in flexibility reflected in the dynamic profile of GMCSF at acidic pH. The molecular motions driving this interaction largely occur on the ms-us timescale. Interestingly, we find that GMCSF and heparin binding is not only pH-dependent but is also heparin chain length dependent. We propose a mechanism where a positive binding pocket that is not fully solvent accessible at neutral pH becomes more accessible at acidic pH, allowing heparin to dock with the protein.
A Fraction of Recommended Practices: Implementation of the FIFA 11+ in NCAA Soccer Programs.

Background and Objectives: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer coaches implement numerous warm-up and flexibility strategies to prepare athletes for training and competition. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) developed the 11+ injury prevention program to reduce non-contact injuries. This study aimed to analyze the level of familiarity with and implementation of the evidence-based FIFA 11+ amongst NCAA Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) men’s and women’s soccer coaches. Materials and Methods: NCAA soccer coaches in the United States received an Institutional Review Board—approved survey hyperlink. A total of 240 coaches completed the survey. The respondents represented 47.5% men’s and 52.5% women’s teams distributed within DI and DIII programs. Descriptive statistics are reported as frequency counts and mean ± standard deviation where applicable. Pearson’s chi-square tests were performed to assess potential differences with a significance level set at α < 0.05. Results: The results indicated that approximately 62% of the respondents reported being familiar with the FIFA 11+ program. Of those coaches familiar with the program, 15.0% reported full implementation, 57.5% reported partial implementation, and 27.5% reported no implementation. Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences in FIFA 11+ implementation based upon division level (χ2 = 4.56, p = 0.033) and coaching certification levels (χ2 = 13.11, p = 0.011). Conclusions: This study indicates that there is a gap between FIFA 11+ knowledge and actual implementation. To reduce the risk of non-contact injury, there is a need to educate coaches and athletic trainers on the purpose of the FIFA 11+ program and how to perform the exercises correctly.
ARQUEOLOGIA HISTÓRICA E SERTANEJA NO SERIDÓ POTIGUAR: O Sítio Culumins, Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

As casas de fazenda, suas estruturas associadas e demais vestigios presentes nesses lugares, foram escolhidos como forma de desenvolver visoes sobre as populacoes sertanejas que habitaram territorios do atual Serido norte-riograndense, desde as ultimas decadas do seculo XVIII ate a primeira metade do seculo XX. A partir de pesquisas arqueologicas produziram-se dados sobre a tralha domestica que relacionam o sitio arqueologico Culumins com outros sitios de populacoes sertanejas, mas ao mesmo tempo o diferencia entre esses devido ao contexto de casa sede de fazenda, abrindo espaco para hipoteses de trabalho sobre o sertao e os sertanejos no Serido Potiguar. HISTORICAL ARCHEOLOGY AND BACKGROUND IN SERIDO POTIGUAR: The Sitio Culumins, Caico, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil ABSTRACT Farmhouses and their spaces, their associated structures and other traces present, were chosen as a way to develop visions on the “sertanejos” that inhabited territories of the current Serido “norte-riograndens”, from the last decades of the 18 th century to the first half of the 20 th century. Based on archaeological research, the data on domestic waste at the Culumins archaeological site relate this space to other sites of “sertanejos”, but also different them among them in view of their household context, opening space for working hypotheses about the “sertao” and the “sertanejos” in Serido Potiguar. Keywords : Serido; Farmhouse; Archaeology; History; Sertao
Lower Gastrointestinal Syphilis: Case Series and Literature Review.

Background Syphilis infections are increasing globally. Lower gastrointestinal syphilis (LGIS) is a rare manifestation of early syphilis transmitted through anal sexual contact. Misdiagnosis of LGIS as inflammatory bowel disease may result from clinician underawareness. Methods We searched the literature for articles describing cases of LGIS, and identified additional cases diagnosed within our institution. Data were extracted from the articles and medical records and analyzed to provide a summative account. Results Fifty-four cases of LGIS were identified in 39 articles published between 1958 and 2020. Eight additional cases were diagnosed at our institution between 2011 and 2020, totaling 62 cases. All cases were described in men and transwomen aged 15-73 years. Fifty (93%) individuals reported having sex with men. In 26 cases (52%), the individuals were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected. LGIS presented most commonly with hematochezia (67%) and anal pain (46%). The most common physical examination findings were rectal mass (38%), lymphadenopathy (31%), and rash (26%). Nontreponemal titers ranged from 1:2 to 1:1024. Of the 52 cases in which endoscopy was reported, 22 (42%) showed anorectal mass and 18 (35%) showed anorectal ulcer. In 44 cases (75%), histopathology revealed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate with a prominent lymphocyte component (45%) and/or plasma cells (36%). Seventy-eight percent of specimens to which a tissue stain was applied were positive for spirochetes. Conclusions LGIS should be suspected in men and transwomen presenting with a lower gastrointestinal symptom or mucosal abnormality. A sexual history must be elicited and guide testing. Misdiagnosis can delay treatment and threatens patient and public health.
Managing Trade Policy for Development

The policies which have led to the recent high growth rates of some East Asian countries are not based on a brand new approach to development economics. This paper shows that the basic Japanese contribution to de­ velopment policy combines two strands of thought from the past with the application of some insights acquired in the 1950s. The 'productivity' theory of trade, that can be traced back to Adam Smith, and Hamilton's and List's nationalistic and protectionist recommendations, when combined with the export elasticities analysis of Prebisch and Singer, provide us with the basic ingredients of the export-oriented growth policy and explain a large part of the apparent success of the Japanese and Korean economies.
Enforcing the Clean Water Act: The effect of state-level corruption on compliance

Abstract This paper uses an event study to examine the transition from federal to state management of the Clean Water Act (CWA). I find that, overall, the transition from federal to state control has little effect on facility compliance, measured by the violation rate. However, states with a long run prevalence of corruption see a large decrease in the violation rate after authorization relative to states without corruption. Alternative specifications support these findings. I explore whether the response to transition to state control differs across political ideology, GDP and income per capita, government size, environmental preferences and government management performance. None of these alternative state level characteristics seem to account for the observed difference.
Opportunities and challenges for off-shore farming.

: It is widely acknowledged that future increases in seafood production will likely come from farming, not fishing. The growth of land-based and near-shore marine aquaculture in many developed countries is constrained by space, economics, and environmental concerns. Open ocean waters offer a tremendous potential for expansion of the marine farming sector and developments to date indicate that it is indeed feasible to install, maintain, and operate culture systems for finfish and shellfish in high-energy off-shore waters to produce high-quality seafood. Despite the evidence that off-shore farming is possible, production to date has been limited, and a number of technical, operational, economic, and political challenges must be addressed before large-scale production in true open ocean conditions can be realized.
Determinants of Management Ownership of Unrestricted Equity: Overconfidence versus Tax Explanations

We document frequent and large selling of equity by CEOs. Such selling is designed not simply to offset the current year grant of options and stock. We find that the tax burden associated with the sale and (various measures of CEO) overconfidence both decrease CEOs' propensity to sell their vested equity. However, the effect of taxes on a CEO's decision to sell equity is far more pronounced than overconfidence. We also find that taxable institutional investors and CEOs both respond to taxes, although the CEOs appear to be less tax-sensitive. Other determinants affect the selling decisions largely as predicted in the existing literature.
Structural studies on polynuclear osmium carbonyl hydrides: XXXIV. Elucidation of the molecular structure from a crystal structure of disordered (μ-H)5Os3Re(CO)12

Abstract The complex (μ-H)5Os3Re(CO)12 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric hexagonal space group P63/m (C26h; No. 176) with a 19.087(5), c 10.963(1) A, V 3459(3) A3, and Z = 6. Diffraction data were collected on a Syntex P21 automated four-circle diffractometer (Mo-Kα radiation, 2θ = 4.5–45.0°) and the structure was refined to RF = 7.9% for all 1480 unique reflections (RF = 5.4% for those 1007 data with ¦Fo¦ > 6σ(¦Fo¦)). The molecule contains a tetrahedral core of metal atoms each associated with three terminal carbonyl ligands. It is bisected by a crystallographic mirror plane. Although the hydride ligands were not located, a consideration of metal-metal distances allows the distinction between osmium and rhenium atoms and suggests that the structure is subject to a subtle form of two-fold disorder.
Sympathetic axons pathfind successfully in the absence of target

To determine whether sympathetic axons require the presence of a peripheral target to grow to the correct destination, we examined the developing footpad innervation in tabby mutant mice which lack sweat glands. Despite the absence of sweat glands, noradrenergic sympathetic axons are transiently present in the presumptive target area and avoid the more distal epidermal/dermal domain occupied by sensory axons. Since sympathetic axon pathfinding was not dependent upon the target tissue, we compared the subsequent development of sweat gland axons in tabby footpads with that in control footpads. In wild-type mice, the gland-associated axonal plexus expands considerably as the secretory tubule enlarges and coils. This expansion, however, does not occur in tabby mice. The sweat gland innervation of wild-type mice loses catecholamines and acquires AChE activity and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunoreactivity. In tabby mutant mice, catecholaminergic fibers remain in the glandless footpads for 2 weeks and fail to acquire AChE or vasoactive intestinal peptide. In contrast to the altered development of gland innervation in tabby, the development of the innervation of footpad blood vessels was unaffected. Our observations indicate that the target is not required to direct sympathetic axons to the presumptive gland region of the footpad. In the absence of the target tissue, however, gland-targeted sympathetic axons retain an immature morphology and transmitter phenotype and then disappear.
Tracking Three Dimensional Ultrasound with Immunity from Ferro-Magnetic Interference

Magnetic field tracking devices offer many advantages over other methods for tracking transducer location and orientation during ultrasound image acquisition. The disadvantage is sensitivity to ferromagnetic interference. We evaluated an “immune” tracking device that uses a flat plate magnetic field transmitter to shield the tracking volume from interference from the hospital bed. When we compared its accuracy with that of Ascension Technology, Inc.’s Flock of Birds(, we found that the immune device performed as well on a hospital bed as the Bird in a control environment. We conclude that the flat plate transmitter enables three-dimensional ultrasound by the freehand scanning approach in a clinical environment.
Blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid alterations following neural transplantation.

Publisher Summary The advent of a foreign graft can alter certain vascular properties and constituents of the host brain—namely, the blood-brain (BBB) or blood-cerebrospinal fluid (BCB) barriers. This chapter describes and demonstrates the changes in vascular permeability histochemically after grafting of fetal central nervous system (CNS) tissue or adrenal medullary tissue. The chapter also presents data concerning alterations in the BCB utilizing the technique of high-performance immunoaffinity chromatography (HPIAC) of CSF samples, and focuses on the vascular process in brain grafts and the effects of such neovascularization on the barrier properties in both host and graft. The transplantation of fetal CNS is quite different from autonomic tissue transplants, both physiologically and developmentally. When fetal brain is placed into host brain, particularly at brain surfaces where pial vessels have BBB properties, there appears to be a phenotypic change in certain endothelial cell properties following the neovascularization process. Entry of the potentially neuroactive compounds from the blood into the extracellular fluid (ECF) or CSF could change the host brain's controlled fluid environment, and it would seem likely that endogenous blood borne compounds also have access to the brain. However, how graft-produced products enter into the brain remains to be determined.
Incidence of aflatoxin in California almonds.

In a survey of California almonds, aflatoxin was found in 14% of 74 samples of unsorted, in-shell almonds as received by the processor in 1972, but it occurred at very low levels (below 20 parts per billion [ppb]) in 90% of the contaminated samples. The overall proportion of individual nuts contaminated was especially low and is estimated with 95% probability to have been in the range of 1 nut/55,300 nuts to 1 nut/14,700 nuts. Aflatoxin contamination is not restricted to any particular section of the almond-growing region of California. Commercial sorting procedures are effective in removing most aflatoxin-contaminated nutmeats, since none of 26 samples of processed, whole nutmeats contained aflatoxin. In contrast, 13 of 27 samples of diced almonds were contaminated, but nine of these 13 samples contained less than 20 ppb. Only one of 25 samples of sliced nutmeats contained aflatoxin (4 ppb). Thus, aflatoxin incidence in almonds varies greatly with the category of finished product. The apparent high incidence in diced nutmeats is probably due mostly to the more uniform distribution of aflatoxin occurring in this product (because of its small particle size) than that occurring in the other products. Sample size requirements for monitoring aflatoxin in almonds are discussed.
Developing a Safety Training Program

Training is pivotal in the development of library employees. A comprehensive plan should include safety training. While safety preparation is never a substitute for calling 911 to summon emergency medical assistance, library employees must be prepared to respond to emergencies. Safety training may include personal safety, building safety, and user safety, but for any or all to be successful, library administrative support is essential. A safety training program can teach library employees skills that can help reduce stress, prevent injury, and save lives not only in a library setting but also in the broader community in which they live.
Estimating diurnal to annual ecosystem parameters by synthesis of a carbon flux model with eddy covariance net ecosystem exchange observations

We performed a synthetic analysis of Harvard Forest net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) time series and a simple ecosystem carbon flux model, the simplified Photosynthesis and Evapo-Transpiration model (SIPNET). SIPNET runs at a half-daily time step, and has two vegetation carbon pools, a single aggregated soil carbon pool, and a simple soil moisture sub-model. We used a stochastic Bayesian parameter estimation technique that provided posterior distributions of the model parameters, conditioned on the observed fluxes and the model equations. In this analysis, we estimated the values of all quantities that govern model behavior, including both rate constants and initial conditions for carbon pools. The purpose of this analysis was not to calibrate the model to make predictions about future fluxes but rather to understand how much information about process controls can be derived directly from the NEE observations. A wavelet decomposition enabled us to assess model performance at multiple time scales from diurnal to decadal. The model parameters are most highly constrained by eddy flux data at daily to seasonal time scales, suggesting that this approach is not useful for calculating annual integrals. However, the ability of the model to fit both the diurnal and seasonal variability patterns in the data simultaneously, using the same parameter set, indicates the effectiveness of this parameter estimation method. Our results quantify the extent to which the eddy covariance data contain information about the ecosystem process parameters represented in the model, and suggest several next steps in model development and observations for improved synthesis of models with flux observations.
Use of thermodynamic solubility parameters for the characterization of liquid phases

Abstract The differential enthalpy of evaporation from solution (AH???) is reported the following functional groups: CH2, OH, O , C O, CHO, OC(O)H, and OC(O)CH3. These values are reported on seventy-five liquid phases using fifty solutes. The functional groupAH values for the liquid phases have been used to rank the selectivity of the liquid phase towards each functional group.
Personality in Scientific and Technical Writing

Textbooks describing scientific or technical writing as “impartial” or “objective” are too restrictive. As advances in the history of science have familiarized us with the importance of the human e...
Viral sequences required for neurovirulence of poliovirus.

Polioviruses of reduced neurovirulence contain point mutations in the viral RNA that are responsible for the attenuated phenotype. Two such point mutations have been identified in the genomes of the Sabin live oral vaccine strains, one in the 5′-noncoding region of the viral RNA, and one in capsid polypeptide VP3.
Performance and scaling of a novel locomotor structure: adhesive capacity of climbing gobiid fishes

Many species of gobiid fishes adhere to surfaces using a sucker formed from fusion of the pelvic fins. Juveniles of many amphidromous species use this pelvic sucker to scale waterfalls during migrations to upstream habitats after an oceanic larval phase. However, adults may still use suckers to re-scale waterfalls if displaced. If attachment force is proportional to sucker area and if growth of the sucker is isometric, then increases in the forces that climbing fish must resist might outpace adhesive capacity, causing climbing performance to decline through ontogeny. To test for such trends, we measured pressure differentials and adhesive suction forces generated by the pelvic sucker across wide size ranges in six goby species, including climbing and non-climbing taxa. Suction was achieved via two distinct growth strategies: (1) small suckers with isometric (or negatively allometric) scaling among climbing gobies and (2) large suckers with positively allometric growth in non-climbing gobies. Species using the first strategy show a high baseline of adhesive capacity that may aid climbing performance throughout ontogeny, with pressure differentials and suction forces much greater than expected if adhesion were a passive function of sucker area. In contrast, large suckers possessed by non-climbing species may help compensate for reduced pressure differentials, thereby producing suction sufficient to support body weight. Climbing Sicyopterus species also use oral suckers during climbing waterfalls, and these exhibited scaling patterns similar to those for pelvic suckers. However, oral suction force was considerably lower than that for pelvic suckers, reducing the ability for these fish to attach to substrates by the oral sucker alone.
Motivational influence of behavioral desirability on actors' and observers' attributions

Jones and Nisbett’s (1971) proposition that actors favor environmental attribution and observers personal attribution was investigated. Participants attributed causality from 2 perspectives (observer versus role-playing actor) for verbally-described behaviors which varied in desirability (low versus moderate versus high). The results suggested that motivational considerations mediated actor-observer attributional differences. While observers attributed more personal cause than did actors at all levels of desirability, this actor-observer difference was attenuated as behavioral desirability increased. Actor-observer differences were not evidenced on environmental attribution, suggesting that perspective differences represent a differential salience of personal causes for actors and observers.
Rare structural variants in schizophrenia: one disorder, multiple mutations; one mutation, multiple disorders

Recent studies have established an important role for rare genomic deletions and duplications in the etiology of schizophrenia. This research suggests that the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric disorders includes a constellation of rare mutations in many different genes. Mutations that confer substantial risk for schizophrenia have been identified at several loci, most of which have also been implicated in other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Genetic heterogeneity is a characteristic of schizophrenia; conversely, phenotypic heterogeneity is a characteristic of all schizophrenia-associated mutations. Both kinds of heterogeneity probably reflect the complexity of neurodevelopment. Research strategies must account for both genetic and clinical heterogeneity to identify the genes and pathways crucial for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.
High temperature viscoplastic ratchetting - Material response or modeling artifact

Some of the basic issues of ratchetting behavior that are being addressed by the viscoplastic modeling community are discussed. Some of the shortcomings of existing viscoplastic models are examined in the light of the difficulty involved in using established viscoplastic modeling techniques to predict ratchetting accurately.
Desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from field-contaminated soil to a two-dimensional hydrophobic surface before and after bioremediation

Abstract Dermal exposure can represent a significant health risk in settings involving potential contact with soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, there is limited work on the ability of PAHs in contaminated soil to reach the skin surface via desorption from the soil. We evaluated PAH desorption from a field-contaminated soil to a two-dimensional hydrophobic surface (C18 extraction disk) as a measure of potential dermal exposure as a function of soil loading (5–100 mg dry soil cm −2 ), temperature (20–40 °C), and soil moisture content (2–40%) over periods up to 16 d. The efficacy of bioremediation in removing the most readily desorbable PAH fractions was also evaluated. Desorption kinetics were described well by an empirical two-compartment kinetic model. PAH mass desorbed to the C18 disk kept increasing at soil loadings well above the estimated monolayer coverage, suggesting mechanisms for PAH transport to the surface other than by direct contact. Such mechanisms were reinforced by observations that desorption occurred even with dry or moist glass microfiber filters placed between the C18 disk and the soil. Desorption of all PAHs was substantially reduced at a soil moisture content corresponding to field capacity, suggesting that transport through pore air contributed to PAH transport to the C18 disk. The lower molecular weight PAHs had greater potential to desorb from soil than higher molecular weight PAHs. Biological treatment of the soil in a slurry-phase bioreactor completely eliminated PAH desorption to the C18 disks.
Crystal Growth, Structural Motifs, and Optical Properties of Molecular and Polymeric Cerium Halide Materials

A series of seven compounds, Ce2Br6(CH3OH)8 (1), Ce2Br6(C2H5OH)8 (2), CeCl3(CH3OH)2(H2O) (3a), CeCl3(CH3OH)2(H2O) (3b), CeBr3((CH3)2CHOH)2(H2O) (4), Ce4Br10((CH3)2CHOH)10 (H2O)2(OH)2 (5), and CeCl3((CH3)2CHOH)2(H2O) (6) were synthesized via slow evaporation of CeBr3 or CeCl3 dissolved in an alcohol. This series structurally consists of two dimers, four polymeric chains, and one tetramer. The presence of water and/or hydroxide ions during synthesis profoundly affects the product structure by enhancing the formation of bridging halides, thus leading to polymeric rather than molecular structures. Each of the polymeric chains (3a, 3b, 4, 6) formed in response to the presence of water, to which cerium will preferentially coordinate over an alcohol. The tetrameric compound 5 formed in response to the presence of both water and hydroxide ions. These seven compounds, six of which are new compounds, demonstrate the diversity of these seemingly simple materials, which are described herein and were analyzed for thei...
Preliminary studies on the crystallization of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase by vapor diffusion.

Abstract Beef heart cytochrome c oxidase has been crystallized in its native and delipidated forms, using the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. The delipidated oxidase, which is subunit III deficient, can be crystallized in rosettes using this method from a medium containing zinc chloride as well as ammonium sulfate. The crystals give a protein ‘powder’ pattern on preliminary X-ray analysis. The crystals initially grow rapidly but stop growing at a small size probably as a result of addition of heterogeneous material at the crystal surface.
Effect of age at first childbirth on risk of developing specific histologic subtype of breast cancer.

Epidemiologic variables related to breast cancer risk were assessed in a case-control study of 332 women with breast carcinoma and 1353 comparison women. Risk factors for breast cancer as a whole included nulliparity, late age at first childbirth, early age at menarche, late age at menopause, personal history of benign breast disease, family history of breast cancer, and among postmenopausal women, body weight. These risk factors were then analyzed with respect to histologic subtype of breast cancer involved, i.e., duct-derived or lobular tumors, to determine whether the association between any of the risk factors and breast cancer varied according to histopathologic subtype. Histologic subtype for the 316 cases reviewed included 284 duct cancers and 32 lobular carcinomas. Although slight differences were noted among some of the risk factors and the variety of cancer, none of the differences was marked except for the variable age at birth birth. For ductal carcinoma, the risk was highest among nulliparous women and decreased the younger a woman was at the time she gave birth to her first child. The risk of infiltrating lobular carcinoma, however, was lowest among nulliparous females or those who had given birth at a young age and increased the older a woman was when she gave birth to her first child.
Bupivacaine injection during midurethral sling and postoperative pain: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction and hypothesis The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of retropubic injection of 0.125% bupivacaine during midurethral sling placement on postoperative pain.
Assuming Risk: A Critical Analysis of a Soldier's Duty to Prevent Collateral Casualties

Recent discussions in the just war literature suggest that soldiers have a duty to assume certain risks in order to protect the lives of all innocent civilians. I challenge this principle of risk by arguing that it is justified neither as a principle that guides the conduct of combat soldiers, nor as a principle that guides commanders in the US military. I demonstrate that the principle of risk fails on the first account because it requires soldiers both to violate their strict duty of obedience and loyalty and to exceed their special obligations to protect their fellow comrades, the state, the state's constituents and other protected civilians. I then illustrate that the principle of risk fails on the second account since it conflicts with the commander's primary obligation to protect and promote the welfare and lives of his or her soldiers. I conclude by arguing that we cannot reasonably expect soldiers and commanders to adhere to the principle of risk until there is a radical, institutional-level trans...
Interactions of Phagocytes with the Lyme Disease Spirochete: Role of the Fc Receptor

The phagocytic capacity of murine and human mononuclear and polymorphonuclear phagocytes (including peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils), rabbit and murine peritoneal exudate cells, and the murine macrophage cell line P388D1 against the Lyme disease spirochete was studied. All of these cells were capable of phagocytosing the spirochete; phagocytosis was measured by the uptake of radiolabeled spirochetes, the appearance of immunofluorescent bodies in phagocytic cells, and electron microscopy. Both opsonized and nonopsonized organisms were phagocytosed. The uptake of opsonized organisms by neutrophils was blocked by a monoclonal antibody specific for the Fc receptor and by immune complexes; these findings suggested that most phagocytosis is mediated by the Fc receptor. Similarly, the uptake of opsonized organisms by human monocytes was inhibited by human monomeric IgG1 and by immune complexes. These results illustrate the role of immune phagocytosis of spirochetes in host defense against Lyme disease.
Best piecewise monotone uniform approximation

Abstract The problem considered is that of finding a best uniform approximation to a real function f ∈ C [ a , b ] from the class of piecewise monotone functions. The existence, characterization, and nonuniqueness of best approximations are established.
Analyzing the representativeness of internet political participation

Political participation researchers have developed several evaluative techniques to assess the representativeness of political participation patterns. Yet, while the Internet has become a mainstream avenue for political participation in the United States, current assessments of online participation insufficiently apply these methods. To incorporate these methods we begin by drawing upon resource theory to inform two-stage ordered-logit models of online and offline political participation. Our results suggest that the factors predicting online participation often differ from the factors that predict offline participation. Even so, we find that those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds tend to disproportionately possess these distinct online determinants. Next, we use a wide spectrum of political opinion questions to determine whether online participators’ opinions reflect or distort those of the general population. Overall, we find that online participation tends to relate moderately with liberal preferences. However, because offline participation relates to political attitudes similarly, the Internet only marginally advantages the political voice of liberals. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results.
Improving reliability of Aircraft Electric Power Distribution system

In an Aircraft Electric Power Distribution (EPD) system, the power is distributed from generators to loads, sensors and actuators through AC and DC distribution buses using control switches. Over the years, with the increase demands of loads and its power requirement, EPD system must be optimized in order to operate the system efficiently. In this paper, we propose a synthesis tool based on a need-based design method to obtain optimal topology of EPD system considering maximum reliability, continuous connectivity, power requirement, minimal cost, and node failure. We treat the EPD system as an optimization problem by using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to achieve maximum reliability while satisfying a set of constraints.