cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leaf Removal Effects on Cabernet franc and Petit Verdot: I. Crop Yield Components and Primary Fruit Composition

As part of a broader study of the effects of fruit exposure on fruit composition, this study aimed to evaluate how the timing and extent of leaf thinning impacted crop yield components and primary fruit composition of Cabernet franc and Petit Verdot. Treatments consisted of three post-fruit set leaf/lateral shoot removal treatments: (i) no leaf removal (NO); (ii) leaf removal from opposite the basal primary cluster and the node directly above (MED); and (iii) leaf removal from the node directly above the distal primary cluster down to the cordon (HIGH). An additional treatment applied immediately prebloom (P-B) involved removal of leaves and lateral shoots from the basal six nodes of primary shoots. Post-fruit set leaf removal had modest or no effects on crop yield components, whereas prebloom leaf removal reduced most crop yield components in both cultivars relative to the NO treatment. In both cultivars, P-B reduced crop yield by an average of 49 to 50% over two years when compared to NO, and that reduction was primarily driven by reduced cluster weight. Prebloom leaf removal implemented on the same vines in two consecutive seasons caused further reductions in crop yield in both cultivars. Both HIGH and P-B tended to depress juice Brix in Petit Verdot but not in Cabernet franc, and HIGH reduced titratable acidity more consistently than did P-B. Fruit zone leaf thinning after fruit set may balance the competing goals of improving fruit exposure, while avoiding precipitous reductions in crop yield.
Standardized morbidity ratios of four chronic health conditions among World Trade Center responders: Comparison to the National Health Interview Survey

Purpose We conducted external comparisons for the prevalence of asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer among World Trade Center (WTC) general responders using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) as the reference, along with internal comparisons for the incidence of asthma. Methods Standardized Morbidity Ratios (SMRs) were calculated for the prevalence of the health conditions, and risk ratios (RRs) for asthma incidence. Results Relative to the NHIS, asthma prevalence was in excess in responders over the study years (age-adjusted SMRs = 1.3-2.8). Hypertension prevalence began to exceed expected from 2006 while diabetes was lower than expected. An upward trend towards excess cancer prevalence was observed. Internal comparisons showed elevated asthma incidence among protective service and utility workers compared to construction workers; while those who arrived at the WTC site in the morning of 9/11 had a lower asthma risk than those who arrived in the afternoon. Conclusions The use of NHIS data as a reference population demonstrates and reconfirms several important patterns of excess risk in WTC responders. External comparisons are an alternative for disaster cohorts without an established comparison group.
Patients with integrated HPV16 in head and neck cancer show poor survival.

Abstract Objectives We previously reported identifying three categories of HPV16-positive head and neck tumors based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA and DNA sequence data. Category 1 had truly integrated HPV16 genomes, category 2 had simple episomal genomes, and category 3 had novel episomes that were a hybrid between viral and human DNA. Using our categorization, we investigated in this study survival of patients with integrated HPV16 tumors versus patients with episomal HPV16 tumors. Materials and methods The TCGA RNA-Seq sequence reads were used to quantify HPV E2 and E7 gene expression, which was used as a marker for HPV integration. Results The results demonstrate that integration is associated with poor survival; those patients with integrated HPV tumors fared no better than non-HPV tumors in their five-year survival. Integrated HPV in tumors was found strikingly to be prevalent in patients born earlier while episomal HPV was prevalent in patients born later. We also observed a fairly constant incidence of all HPV forms among head and neck cancer patients over the last eight years of this study (2006–2013). Conclusion We propose our characterization of HPV integrated and episomal state is more accurate than previous studies that may have mischaracterized the hybrid HPV-human DNA episomes as integrated. The state of integrated HPV is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Results suggest that the incidence of integrated HPV among all HPV forms peaked and is decreasing. We discuss the importance of our findings for the management of HPV positive head and neck cancer.
Homeowner acceptance of voluntary property acquisition offers

Abstract Property acquisition programs are an important part of government mitigation efforts. Since they are voluntary, understanding how property owners make the decision to accept an offer is critical in determining how best to design such programs and assess their likely success. This paper uses logistic regression analysis of stated preference data collected through a phone survey of residents of Eastern North Carolina to identify the attributes of the property, the homeowner, and the homeowner's attachment to the community that influence the property acquisition decision. The results provide evidence that increased probability of acquisition offer acceptance is associated with location in a floodplain, shorter expected future tenure in the home, having experienced more past hurricanes, less feeling of control, and being White. Additional research is needed to better predict which homeowners will accept a specified offer and overall program participation rates.
Imágenes sexuales en el Popol Vuh

Sexual encounters have received little attention in previous studies of the Popol Vuh. This article is a study of sexual connotations conveyed through figures of speech in four passages of the k’iche’ text. The figures of speech include metaphors, allusions, and double entendres, whose meanings are not evident at first glance. The present analysis is based on studies of the lexicon, combined with comparisons with parallel passages in other myths from Mesoamerica, and comparisons with ethnographic data compiled in modern communities. As noted in multiple studies around the world, literary figures in the Popol Vuh are based primarily on the links between sexuality with food. The identification of sexual contents in these passages opens a new perspective in the study of the Popol Vuh. Sixteenth-century Maya myths are consistent with other Mesoamerican myths, in which the primordial creative processes often involve genesic themes and sexual transgressions.
Hyperpolarized 3He MRI in asthma measurements of regional ventilation following allergic sensitization and challenge in mice--preliminary results.

Rationale and Objectives Quantitative regional measurement of physiological parameters of lung may improve both early detection of asthma and its response to treatment by elucidating the characteristics of airway obstruction. Recent emergence of hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging as a sensitive pulmonary imaging tool has shown great potential in capturing important structural and functional aspects of normal and diseased lungs. The objective of this study was to investigate regional ventilation changes in the mouse lung following allergen sensitization and challenge. Materials and Methods A murine model of allergic airway inflammation was created in mice following allergen challenge using Af and IgE-mediated asthma. The creation of model was verified using pulmonary function test and histology. Regional fractional ventilation was then measured in the animals using hyperpolarized 3He MRI on a pixel-by-pixel basis with a planar resolution of 0.24 mm. The sensitized and healthy animals were then compared statisticall to assess the potential sensitivity of this technique in detection of such pulmonary abnormalities. Results In this work, we have demonstrated for the first time the quantitative measurement of regional ventilation in normal and asthmatic mice. Results of this study show significant changes in regional ventilation in murine model of allergic airway sensitization compared with that in normal control animals. Conclusion Further development of this technique can potentially serve as a quantitative marker to investigate the physiology of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and to assist in disease treatment and prevention.
Rethinking High-Level Waste Disposal: Separate Disposal of High-Heat Radionuclides (90Sr and 137Cs)

An alternative approach for disposal of high-level waste (HLW) is proposed. HLW would be separated into two fractions: (a) the high-heat radionuclides (HHRs), e.g., {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs, and (b) the low-heat radionuclides (LHRs), which are all the remaining radionuclides. These two categories of waste would be disposed of separately in different sections of the repository or different facilities.The LHRs in the HLW contain the long-lived radionuclides that control the repository performance requirements that in turn necessitate (a) expensive waste packages (WPs) and (b) limiting the repository temperatures to avoid repository performance degradation. To limit repository temperature, the amount of HLW per WP is limited and the WPs are spread over a large area. If the decay-heat-generating HHRs are removed from HLW, the repository design is not controlled by decay heat. The resultant LHR repository size (area, number of WPs, total tunnel length) may be reduced to <20% of the size of a conventional repository. With a waste partitioning and transmutation process that includes removal of the minor actinides (americium and curium) from the LHR wastes, significant further reductions in repository size are possible. The minor actinides are the next largest heat generators in LHR wastes.Separate management of HHRsmore » does require (a) separation of the HHRs from the HLW and (b) a separate HHR disposal facility. The HHRs are disposed of in a separate lower-cost facility made possible by the limited lifetimes (T{sub 1/2} {approx} 30 yr) of the HHRs. There are potentially significant gains in economics and repository performance for separate management of HHRs and LHRs in some types of fuel cycles.« less
Effect of an elongation bending derotation brace on the infantile or juvenile scoliosis.

A wide variety of braces are commercially available designed for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but very few braces for infantile scoliosis (IS) or juvenile scoliosis (JS). The goals of this study were: 1) to briefly introduce an elongation bending derotation brace (EBDB) in the treatment of IS or JS; 2) to investigate changes of Cobb angles in the AP view of X-ray between in and out of the EBDB at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months; 3) to compare differences of Cobb angles (out of brace) in 3, 6, 9, and12 month with the baseline; 4) to investigate changes (out of brace) in JS and IS groups separately. Thirty-eight patients with IS or JS were recruited retrospectively for this study. Spinal manipulation was performed using a stockinet. This was done simultaneously with a surface topography scan. The procedure was done in the operating room for IS, or in a clinical setting for JS. The brace was edited and fabricated using CAD/CAM method. Radiographs were recorded in and out of bracing approximately every 3 months from baseline to 12 months. A linear mixed effects model was used to compare in and out of bracing, and out of brace Cobb angle change over the 12 month period. Overall, 37.5% of curves are corrected and 37.5% stabilized after 12 months (Thoracic curves 48% correction, 19% stabilization; thoracolumbar curves 33% correction, 56% stabilization and lumbar curves 29% correction, 50% stabilization). The juvenile group had 25.7% correction and 42.9% stabilization, while the infantile group had 50% correction and 32.1% stabilization. There was a significant Cobb angle in-brace reduction in the thoracic (11°), thoracolumbar (12°), and lumbar (12°) (p 0.05). No patients required surgery within the 12 month span. This study describes a new clinical protocol in the development of the EBDB. Short-term results show brace is effective in preventing IS or JS curve progression over a 12 month span.
Resource booms and crime: Evidence from oil and gas production in Colorado

Abstract The 21st century oil and gas boom is drastically changing life in the American West. While previous literature has examined how resource booms affect household income and infant health, the effects of resource booms on crime remain largely unstudied. We develop a simple model that demonstrates an oil and gas boom could increase or decrease crime as employment opportunities, inequality, and other aspects of the local economy change. Combining well data provided by drillinginfo.com and FBI incident-level crime data; we examine intra-county changes in both property and violent crime in Colorado as wells open and shut down. We find a positive relationship between the well density of a county and both violent and property crimes. This suggests that while counties in resource intense areas may receive a financial windfall from a rapidly expanding industry base, increased public safety spending may be needed to counteract increases in crime.
A maximum likelihood approach to power calculations for stepped wedge designs of binary outcomes

In stepped wedge designs (SWD), clusters are randomized to the time period during which new patients will receive the intervention under study in a sequential rollout over time. By the study's end, patients at all clusters receive the intervention, eliminating ethical concerns related to withholding potentially efficacious treatments. This is a practical option in many large-scale public health implementation settings. Little statistical theory for these designs exists for binary outcomes. To address this, we utilized a maximum likelihood approach and developed numerical methods to determine the asymptotic power of the SWD for binary outcomes. We studied how the power of a SWD for detecting risk differences varies as a function of the number of clusters, cluster size, the baseline risk, the intervention effect, the intra-cluster correlation coefficient, and the time effect. We studied the robustness of power to the assumed form of the distribution of the cluster random effects, as well as how power is affected by variable cluster size. % SWD power is sensitive to neither, in contrast to the parallel cluster randomized design which is highly sensitive to variable cluster size. We also found that the approximate weighted least square approach of Hussey and Hughes (2007, Design and analysis of stepped wedge cluster randomized trials. Contemporary Clinical Trials 28, 182-191) for binary outcomes under-estimates the power in some regions of the parameter spaces, and over-estimates it in others. The new method was applied to the design of a large-scale intervention program on post-partum intra-uterine device insertion services for preventing unintended pregnancy in the first 1.5 years following childbirth in Tanzania, where it was found that the previously available method under-estimated the power.
[P119] Dosimetric measurements of the personnel in children’s nuclear medicine unit

Purpose Our study involves the dosimetric measurements of the personnel working at Children’s hospital nuclear medical unit. The daily work of the unit involves SPECT/CT as well as PET/CT examinations. The personnel of the unit consist of three medical doctors, six technologists, one nurse and two medical physicists. Lack of previous data regarding dosimetric measurements of the personnel involved in pediatric examinations illustrated the necessity for such data. Methods All staff was carrying chest as well as finger’s (TLD) dosimeters during daily practices. Dosimeters’ reading were analyzed by the National Committee of Atomic Energy and the values of personal depth dose equivalent H p (10) for chest dosimeters and H p (0.07) for finger dosimeters were reported in a monthly basis. The handling of children during the injection of the dose and the imaging process can be long time processes that can affect the involved personnel regarding dosimetry levels. Results In SPECT/CT examinations the administrated doses range between 0.1 – 20 mCi and in PET/CT 0.9–12 mCi. The exposure of personnel to radiation is increased due to the handling of examined children during: the administration of the dose, where children proved to be ‘difficult’ to handle patients and during the actual imaging process, where children react due to claustrophobia, pain, clinical condition, psychological status, etc. risking to jeopardize imaging data. During the procedure, each staff member is involved in different – specific stages: physicists and some technologists measuring and preparing doses, medical doctors as well as nurse to locate vein and administer the prescribed dose and finally, technologists, nurse and medical doctors handling children during the imaging stage. Therefore, personal depth dose equivalent H p was varied. Although, all measured annual doses are well within national limits, recorded relatively high doses of personnel involved in a specific step of the chain procedure would flag the need for consideration of further radioprotection measures. Conclusions Nuclear medicine examinations in children population require longer exposure time periods to radiation either during the dose injection or during the imaging process. Relatively high doses that correspond to specific procedures indicate that further radioprotection measures need to be considered and applied.
A Novel Injury Site-Targeted Complement Inhibitor Which Protects against Lung Transplant Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Purpose Self-reactive natural Abs initiate complement activation and injury following ischemia and reperfusion of certain tissues, but their role in post-ischemic lung injury is unknown. Here, we investigated the expression of two previously identified post-ischemic neoepitopes, namely a modified annexin IV epitope recognized by B4 IgM mAb, and an epitope consisting of a subset of phospholipids recognized by C2 IgM mAb, and additionally determined their role in lung transplant ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Lungs from C57Bl/6 mice were orthotopically transplanted into Rag1-/- (antibody-deficient) mice reconstituted with either B4 and C2 mAbs. Results Rag1-/- mice were protected from lung IRI, but reconstitution with either B4 or C2 natural IgM mAbs restored lung IRI. The C2 mAb was more effective than the B4 mAb at restoring injury, as determined by histological and micro-CT analysis. Based on this information, we developed and characterized a therapeutic strategy that exploited the post-ischemia recognition system of natural antibodies. We constructed a single-chain antibody (scFv) derived from C2 mAb and linked it to Crry, an inhibitor of C3 activation (C2scFv-Crry). In models of syngeneic (B6-B6) and allogeneic (Balb/c-B6) lung transplant models in which recipients contain a full natural antibody repertoire, a single post-transplant injection of C2scFv-Crry blocked the binding of endogenous IgM to the graft, inhibited complement activation, and significantly reduced graft inflammation and injury as determined by histology, μCT, and immunhistochemical analysis. The severity of IRI is associated with the onset of acute rejection. Conclusion We identified pathophysiologically important epitopes expressed within the lung after lung ischemia and reperfusion post transplantation. We further describe a novel translatable strategy for complement inhibition that is specifically targeted to the transplanted lung, and that has several advantages over currently available approaches that rely on systemic complement inhibition. Significantly, the C2 epitope has been identified in both mouse and man, increasing the translational relevance of the approach.
New troubles for inflation

In the very early Universe, gravity may briefly have become repulsive. The ensuing period of rapid expansion, called ‘inflation’, could account for such fundamental matters as the origin of galaxies and galaxy clusters. But if a new analysis of the cosmic microwave background stands up, inflation either cannot be so simple, or must be discarded.
Quantifying autophagic flux in kidney tissue using structured illumination microscopy

Kidney disease is estimated to affect 15% of the world's population. Autophagy is a key homeostatic pathway in eukaryotic cells, which has been linked to numerous pathological states. In the kidney, autophagy has been shown to modulate both acute and chronic injuries. Despite the importance of autophagy in kidney disease, few techniques to precisely monitor autophagic flux in kidney tissue are available. Here we describe an improved technique to quantify autophagic flux using an RFP-GFP-LC3 reporter mouse and super-resolution microscopy. Using structured illumination microscopy, we can resolve individual autophagosomes within kidney tubular cells. We describe the preparation of slides, staining, imaging and data processing. 3D surface rendering is utilized to categorize and quantify autophagosomes by number, size, fluorescence and autophagic flux in response to ischemia.
People with current major depression resemble healthy controls on flash Electroretinogram indices associated with impairment in people with stabilized schizophrenia

Abstract Flash electroretinography (fERG) has been used to identify anomalies in retinal functioning in several psychiatric disorders. In schizophrenia (SCZ), fERG abnormalities are reliably observed, but findings from studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) have been less consistent. In this study, fERG data were recorded from MDD patients in a current major depressive episode (n = 25), and compared to data from SCZ patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (HC; n = 25), to determine the degree to which fERG anomalies in acute MDD overlap or contrast with those observed in stabilized (though not symptom free) SCZ. The primary variables of interest were a-wave (photoreceptor activity), b-wave (bipolar-Muller cell activity), and photopic negative response (PhNR; ganglion cell activity) amplitudes and implicit times. Across most conditions, there were no significant differences between the MDD and HC groups in a- or b-wave response, but the SCZ group consistently demonstrated reduced amplitudes. Interestingly, MDD patients demonstrated an increase in photopic a-wave implicit time relative to SCZ patients, and a decrease in PhNR implicit time relative to controls. Correlations between BDI-II scores and fERG metrics were not significant for either patient group. Overall, these data indicate that, using an fERG protocol that distinguishes SCZ patients from controls, MDD patients experiencing a current depressive episode closely resemble healthy controls in their fERG responses. Therefore, MDD-related fERG changes may be more subtle than those observed in SCZ and detectable only with larger sample sizes than we employed and/or using a different set of fERG test parameters.
Manufacturing Nanoporous Materials for Energy-Efficient Separations: Application and Challenges

Abstract Chemical separations account for approximately 45%–55% of the US industrial energy use. The energy and associated carbon costs for fluid separation processes can be substantially reduced by avoiding thermally driven technologies. Advanced separation techniques such as membranes and pressure swing adsorption can debottleneck or even replace conventional thermally driven separation processes such as distillation, evaporation, or crystallization. Nanoporous membranes and adsorbents are particularly well-positioned to achieve this lofty goal due to their ability to provide exquisite size-, shape-, and affinity-based separations. Membrane materials separate mixtures utilizing the difference in molecular diffusivities within confined nanopores and the difference in molecular interactions with the membrane materials, while adsorption materials complete this task via selective adsorption of a certain species instead of others. Emerging and existing nanoporous materials utilized in membrane and adsorption applications will be presented, including zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, porous polymers, and carbon molecular sieves. A majority of this chapter is devoted to the manufacturing processes for nanoporous membrane and adsorbent materials. Spinning of hollow fiber membranes and sorbent fibers, fabrication of thin film composites, and polymeric membrane pyrolysis will be discussed in detail. This chapter also provides an introduction to sustainability-focused industrial applications of nanoporous materials for a variety of chemical separations, including carbon capture, gas separations, and organic solvent separations.
Transmastoid trans-facial canal approach to facial nerve tumors

Facial nerve tumors within the temporal bone present several surgical challenges due to the tortuous course of the facial nerve and the nerve’s close relationship to other important structures. Sur...
The UV-phosphor strontium fluorooxoborate Sr[B5O7F3]:Eu

The fluorooxoborates Sr[B₅O₇F₃] (Ccm2₁ (no. 36), Z = 4, a = 864.777(3) pm, b = 1001.037(4) pm, c = 810.110(5) pm, 630 refl., 68 param., RF = 0.061, RBᵣₐgg = 0.051) and Sr[B₅O₇F₃]:Eu²⁺ were synthesized via solid-state reactions from Sr(BF₄)₂ and B₂O₃. Doping was achieved by adding EuF₃, which was reduced to its divalent state during the synthesis. Sr[B₅O₇F₃] was investigated by infrared spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra of the doped compound revealed an Eu²⁺ 5d-4f emission in the UV regime peaking at 371 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 21 nm upon excitation at 239 nm, which proves a weak coordination of europium by the anionic fluorooxoborate network.
Toward an imaging capability with the Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer

The Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer (SCSI) is an intensity interferometer that is designed to use correlated photon arrival times to determine the geometry of stars. Originally a low-cost, two-telescope instrument that used a 1-pixel single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector at the focal plane of each telescope to record photon events, it is now being upgraded to include a third telescope. This will allow for the simultaneous detection of the photon correlation at three baselines, and thus the ability to map out the two-dimensional geometry of the source much more efficiently than with the two-telescope arrangement. Recent papers in the literature suggest that it may be possible to derive phase information in the Fourier domain from such triple correlations for the brightest stars, potentially giving SCSI an imaging capability. Prior to investigating this possibility, steps must be taken to maximize the observing efficiency of the SCSI. We present here our latest efforts in achieving better pointing, tracking, and collimation with our telescopes, and we discuss our first modeling results of the three-telescope situation in order to understand under what conditions the upgraded SCSI could retrieve imaging information.
Associations of left atrial function and structure with supraventricular ectopy: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Background High levels of supraventricular ectopy are associated with greater risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke, and death. Little information is available about differences by race/ethnicity in ...
A rational model of people’s inferences about others’ preferences based on response times

There's a difference between someone instantaneously saying "Yes!" when you ask them on a date compared to "…yes." Psychologists and economists have long studied how people can infer preferences from others' choices. However, these models have tended to focus on what people choose and not how long it takes them to make a choice. We present a rational model for inferring preferences from response times, using a drift diffusion model to characterize how preferences influence response time, and Bayesian inference to invert this relationship. We test our model's predictions for three experimental questions. Matching model predictions, participants inferred that a decision-maker preferred a chosen item more if the decision-maker spent less time deliberating (Experiment 1), participants predicted a decision-maker's choice in a novel comparison based on inferring the decision-maker's relative preferences from previous response times and choices (Experiment 2), and participants could incorporate information about a decision-maker's mental state of cautious or careless (Experiments 3, 4A, and 4B).
Using the Objective Structured Teaching Ecounter to Assess Resident Teaching Skills.

Background and objectives Residents are often the primary educators for medical students during their clinical years. Residency training programs are therefore responsible for providing resident educator training. This, in turn, requires an assessment tool to ensure residents demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for their teaching responsibilities. To this end, a rating scale was developed and applied during an objective structured teaching encounter (OSTE). The purposes of this study were to gather qualitative impressions of family medicine residents regarding participation in the OSTE and reliability evidence for the OSTE instrument. Methods All 41 family medicine residents participated in the study. Prior to the OSTE, residents received instruction on the five microskills clinical teaching model. Medical students assisted as standardized learners for the encounter and faculty served as assessors. We conducted focus groups to solicit resident feedback. Results Residents demonstrated evidence of the five microskills. Feedback on the OSTE process from the interns was positive, noting that the experience helped increase their confidence to teach, as well as provided a useful method to practice a teaching strategy. The assessment tool evidenced good internal consistency and interrater reliability. Conclusions The OSTE is an easy-to-implement and reliable method for resident educator skill assessment that left residents feeling more confident and better equipped to give constructive feedback during teaching encounters.
Private Tabular Survey Data Products through Synthetic Microdata Generation

We propose three synthetic microdata approaches to generate private tabular survey data products for public release. We adapt a disclosure risk based-weighted pseudo posterior mechanism to survey data with a focus on producing tabular products under a formal privacy guarantee. Two of our approaches synthesize the observed sample distribution of the outcome and survey weights, jointly, such that both quantities together possess a probabilistic differential privacy guarantee. The privacy-protected outcome and sampling weights are used to construct tabular cell estimates and associated standard errors to correct for survey sampling bias. The third approach synthesizes the population distribution from the observed sample under a pseudo posterior construction that treats survey sampling weights as fixed to correct the sample likelihood to approximate that for the population. Each by-record sampling weight in the pseudo posterior is, in turn, multiplied by the associated privacy, risk-based weight for that record to create a composite pseudo posterior mechanism that both corrects for survey bias and provides a privacy guarantee for the observed sample. Through a simulation study and a real data application to the Survey of Doctorate Recipients public use file, we demonstrate that our three microdata synthesis approaches to construct tabular products provide superior utility preservation as compared to the additive-noise approach of the Laplace Mechanism. Moreover, all our approaches allow the release of microdata to the public, enabling additional analyses at no extra privacy cost.
Smartphone-Based Dual-Channel Immunochromatographic Test Strip with Polymer Quantum Dot Labels for Simultaneous Detection of Cypermethrin and 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid

Currently, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS) are the primary methods used to detect pesticides and their metabolites for biomonitoring of exposure. Although GC-MS and LC-MS can provide accurate and sensitive measurements, these techniques are not suitable for point-of-care or in-field biomonitoring applications. The objective of this work is to develop a smartphone-based dual-channel immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) for on-site biomonitoring of exposure to cypermethrin by simultaneous detection of cypermethrin and its metabolite, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). Polymer carbon dots (PCDs) with ultrahigh fluorescent brightness were synthesized and used as a signal amplifier in ICTS assay. Cypermethrin (a representative pyrethroid pesticide) and its major metabolite 3-PBA were simultaneously detected to provide more comprehensive analysis of cypermethrin exposure. After competitive immunoreactions between the target sample and the coating antigens preloaded on the test line, the tracer antibody (PCD-conjugated antibody) was quantitatively captured on the test lines. The captured PCDs were inversely proportional to the amount of the target compound in the sample. The red fluorescence on the test line was then recorded using a smartphone-based device capable of conducting image analysis and recording. Under optimal conditions, the sensor showed excellent linear responses for detecting cypermethrin and 3-PBA ranging from 1 to 100 ng/mL and from 0.1 to 100 ng/mL, respectively, and the limits of detection were calculated to be ∼0.35 ng/mL for cypermethrin and ∼0.04 ng/mL for 3-PBA. The results demonstrate that the ICTS device is promising for accurate point-of-care biomonitoring of pesticide exposure.
An Exploratory Study of Acculturation and Reproductive Health Among Haitian and Haitian-American Women in Little Haiti, South Florida.

There is unmet contraceptive need among Haitian immigrants and Haitian-American women (Haitian women). The study explored associations of three measures of acculturation with contraceptive/reproductive health history among Haitian women residing in the Little Haiti community of Miami. This was a cross-sectional, exploratory study among 57 Haitian women. We conducted descriptive univariate analyses, then bivariate analyses to investigate the association of acculturation with reproductive health risk behavior including contraceptive use, tampon use, and parity, as well as interest in a female-initiated barrier contraceptive method. The most commonly ever-used contraceptive methods were male condoms (78.9 %) and oral contraceptives (OC 19.3 %). Women who primarily spoke Creole at home were less likely than those who did not to use OC (11.9 vs. 42.9 %, p = .01). Among women who resided in the U.S. ≥10 years, tampon use was 51.9 % compared to 16.7 % among those who were in the U.S. for less time (p = .005). Among U.S. born women, 60 % were tampon users compared to 22.7 % among those born in Haiti (p = .05). Women not speaking primarily Creole at home (p = .06) and those born in U.S. (p = .008) had fewer children. Contraceptive use was low among Haitian women but influenced by acculturation, where greater acculturation was associated with protective reproductive health behavior. Despite traditional norms discouraging contraceptive use, and little experience with female barriers, Haitian women indicated an interest in learning about and using a female-initiated barrier contraceptive. Increasing contraceptive uptake of potential multipurpose technologies is a potential point of intervention for decreasing HIV/STI transmission in this at-risk population.
Dissecting Abstract Recursion

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the recursiveness on the natural numbers and hyperarithmeticalness on the natural numbers. The latter differs from the former in that a quantification-over-ω scheme is admitted. A study of recursiveness and hyperarithmeticalness may tend to be prejudiced by preconceptions based on usual recursiveness and hyperarithmeticalness on the natural numbers. However, with some investigation, these potential prejudices can be isolated and one can discover that they seem to be five in number, which can be denoted by C (constant), E (equality), S (search), A (for all), I (for infinitely many). For C-scheme, constant functions should be recursive. This scheme is true for ω because it is finitely generated by 0, s. For E-scheme, equality relation should be recursive. This scheme holds for ω because 0, s generate ω, s is one-one and 0 can be distinguished from successor numbers. For S-scheme, unordered search operator should be recursive. The situation of ω is particularly nice in that one has not only an unordered search operator but even an ordered one. This is because ω is finitely generated by 0, s. For A-scheme, the universal-quantifier operator should be “recursive”. This certainly holds for hyperarithmeticity on ω. For I-scheme, the operator introducing the quantifer “for infinitely many” should be “recursive”. This certainly holds for hyperarithmeticity on ω.
Curt Schilling's Next Pitch (B)

As his major-league pitching career was starting to wind down in 2006, baseball all-star Curt Schilling decided to become an entrepreneur. Looking to focus his tenacity and his passion for online role-playing games on a new challenge, he founded an online gaming venture, which later became known as 38 Studios. During the venture's first two years, he built a team of 70 people, including an executive team of business and industry veterans, and learned key lessons about the challenges faced by industry-changing entrepreneurs. Wanting to self-fund the venture initially, and later finding it hard to raise outside money, he put a substantial percentage of his net worth on the line to build 38 Studios. Now he is facing a critical acquisition decision that could either double his problems or help solve them.
Distribution of a Take-All Suppressive Strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens on Seminal Roots of Winter Wheat.

An antibiotic-resistant strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, that suppresses take-all of wheat, was used to study the distribution of the bacteria on seminal roots of wheat after being introduced onto seeds. Cells of P. fluorescens were isolated from the entire length of the root, and density of the introduced bacteria declined with the distance from the base of the root. Maximum populations of 105 to 106 CFU and 103 to 105 CFU per cm of root were detected on sections of roots near the seed and root tip, respectively. The introduced bacteria competed well with indigenous bacteria, comprising at least 25% of the fluorescent pseudomonads detected by plate counts for 48 days after planting.
Cell Culture Assay for Transient Replication of Human and Animal Papillomaviruses

Abstract This unit contains protocols for evaluation of replication functionality of papillomavirus genomes or subgenomic fragments. Replication is measured after transient cotransfection of the genome (or subgenomic fragment) with expression vectors encoding the viral E1 and E2 proteins. Input DNA is methylated at the adenine of GATC sequences by propagation in E. coli. DNA that replicates in mammalian cells will lose the adenine methylation and become DpnI-resistant, while residual methylated input DNA will remain DpnI-sensitive. After transfection, DNA extraction, and DpnI digestion, replicated DNA can be detected by Southern blotting as a full-length plasmid, since it is resistant to digestion. This assay can be used to map the genomic location of a functional origin or to evaluate replication activity of mutations in either the origin DNA sequences or the E1 or E2 proteins.
U.S. Soft Power and the “China Threat”: Multilevel Analyses

This study investigates the impact of U.S. “soft power” in the international system. Specifically, it examines how American soft power affects individuals' perceptions of the “China threat.” Based on the theoretical model developed by Rousseau (2006), the present research considers how citizens develop their perceptions of China in relation to the United States. Multilevel analyses relying on the Pew Global Attitudes Project 2007 verify the view highlighting the compatibility of these two states in the international system. The analyses find that the diffusion of U.S. soft power in each state significantly reduces the urgency of the China threat. Implications from this study contribute to our understanding of U.S-China relations in rapidly changing international environments.
Interpreting Sloppy Stick Figures with Constraint-Based Subgraph Matching

Machine systems for understanding hand-drawn sketches must reliably interpret common but sloppy curvilinear configurations. The task is commonly expressed as finding an image model in the image data, but few approaches exist for recognizing drawings with missing model parts and noisy data. In this paper, we propose a two-stage structural modeling approach that combines computer vision techniques with constraint-based recognition. The first stage produces a data graph through standard image analysis techniques augmented by rectification operations that account for common forms of drawing variability and noise. The second stage combines CLP(FD) with concurrent constraint programming for efficient and optimal matching of attributed model and data graphs. This approach offers considerable ease in stating model constraints and objectives, and also leads to an efficient algorithm that scales well with increasing image complexity.
Recent progress in understanding reactor pressure vessel steel embrittlement

Abstract This paper reviews the current understanding of the basic mechanisms of irradiation embrittlement in reactor pressure vessel steels. Radiation enhanced diffusiona at operating temperatures around 290°C leads to the formation of various ultrafine scale hardening phases, including copper rich and copper catalysed manganese-nickel rich precipitates. Other nanofeatures that do not require copper, so-called matrix defects, include alloy phosphides and carbonitrides as well as defect cluster-solute complexes. Matrix defects that are thermally unstable (anneal) under irradiation play a very important role in mediating flux and temperature effects. The balance of features depends on the composition of the steel and the irradiation conditions. Copper enriched phases, which are the dominant embrittling feature in alloys containing significant trace quantities of this element, are fairly well understood. In contrast, the detailed identity and etiology of the matrix defects and manganese-nickel rich phases t...
Second Born approximation with the Coulomb Green's function: Electron capture from a hydrogenlike ion by a bare ion

We have applied the second Born approximation with the Coulomb Green's function to the calculation of the cross section for electron capture from a hydrogenlike ion of high atomic number ${Z}_{T}$ by a bare ion of atomic number ${Z}_{P}$ moving with a high speed $v$. With the aid of a peaking approximation, which is valid when $\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}v}{{e}^{2}}\ensuremath{\gg}{Z}_{P}$ and ${Z}_{T}\ensuremath{\gg}{Z}_{P}$, we reduced the second Born amplitude to a one-dimensional integral which was evaluated numerically for $1s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1s$ capture. It was found that by using the Coulomb Green's function, rather than the free Green's function, the second Born cross section is greatly reduced (and is comparable in size to the first Born cross section) when $\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}v}{{e}^{2}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{Z}_{T}$.
The Effect of Spectral Pre-Treatments on the Partial Least Squares Modelling of Agricultural Products:

Spectral pre-treatment, such as scatter correction, smoothing and derivatisation is considered, to the point of being almost folklore, an integral component to the development of near infrared (NIR) partial least squares (PLS) regression equations. This study was undertaken to examine the importance of pre-treatments. Diffuse reflectance NIR (1100–2500 nm) spectra of ground wheat and forages were separately analysed. For ground wheat, the effect of spectral pre-treatment on the PLS equations for protein content and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) sedimentation volume (a protein quality index) was examined. For forages, similar examinations were performed on crude protein content and lignin content. Results indicate that while pre-treatment is indeed important, statistical significance, as determined by the F-test of correlated variances, is often not established. Protein content calibrations tend to be enhanced by scatter correction, as opposed to smoothing or derivatisation, whereas the SDS sedimentation v...
The displacement of hydrogen by carbon monoxide on the (100) face of tungsten: A photoemission and thermal desorption study

Abstract Photoelectron spectra ( hv = 21.22 eV) and thermal desorption data were obtained for CO and H coadsorbed on W(100) at 80 K. When the clean surface is exposed to a saturation dose of H 2 , subsequent exposure to CO results in the formation of a state whose emission spectrum is similar to that of molecular α-CO. Upon heating to ~280 K, a structural rearrangement occurs in which most of the adsorbed CO is converted to the strongly bound β form as the hydrogen is simultaneously desorbed. These data plus the observation that H 2 cannot be adsorbed to any significant degree on a saturated layer of β-CO suggest that adsorbed β-CO and H occupy the same atomic sites on the W(100) surface. The distinction between long and short range repulsive COH interactions is discussed. For CO adsorbed on clean W(100), the range of activation energies for vigin to β conversion is calculated from the UPS data to be 45–62 kJ/mol.
Effects of Rearing Density on the Stress Response and Growth of Rainbow Trout

Abstract One-year-old rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were reared for 8 weeks at a density of either 56 or 267 g fish/L (based on the volume of net-pens), equivalent to density indexes of 2.3 and 11.1 g fish/L-cm total fish length), respectively. The fish were held in 0.6 × 0.3-m netpens submerged to a depth of 0.15 m. Two net-pens for each fish density were suspended in each of three 3,040-L circular tanks provided with sufficient flow to maintain loading rates in the tanks at less than 800 g/(L-min). The fish were then subjected to an acute handling stress by being removed from the water for 60 s. No differences in the time course of changes in serum cortisol levels or hematocrits were observed over a 12-h period between fish in the two density groups. There were also no differences between the two groups of fish in weight, length, body condition factor (weight/length3), interrenal nuclear diameter, or the percentage of the anterior stomach that was mucosa. These results indicate that if high water qu...
Income Inequality, Race, and Child Well-Being: An Aggregate Analysis in the 50 United States.

Interest in income inequality as a predictor of health has exploded since the mid-1990s. Recent analyses suggest, however, that the effect of income inequality on population health is not robust to a control for the racial composition of the population. That observation raises two interpretational questions. First, does income inequality have an independent effect on population health? Second, what does the effect of racial composition on population health mean? We use data from the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism project and the Kids Count Databook to evaluate the aggregate effects of income inequality on diverse measures of child well-being (e.g., infant mortality, high school drop-out rates) in the 50 U.S. states. We replicate the finding that, net of the racial/ethnic composition of the population, the effects of income inequality are not significant. Moreover, the effects of racial composition on child well-being appear to be compositional (i.e., they reflect the less positive outcomes observed among racial/ethnic minorities) rather than contextual (i.e., representing the independent influence of social context). Whereas cross-level effects are still possible, our results cast doubt on the health relevance of these aggregate characteristics of the population.