cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis in Central California: A Retrospective Case Series

BACKGROUND Coccidioidomycosis, an endemic fungal infection seen throughout the southwestern United States, is not well described in children. METHODS We performed a retrospective observational study of all children admitted to Children's Hospital Central California with coccidioidomycosis from 1 January 2010 to 1 September 2011. RESULTS Thirty-three children, aged 6 months to 17 years, were hospitalized during the study period. These included patients with pneumonia (n = 28), pleural effusion (n = 13), pleural empyema (n = 4), lung abscess (n = 7), pericarditis (n = 2), osteomyelitis (n = 5), meningitis/cerebritis (n = 2), and vocal cord infection (n = 1). Mediastinitis, with radiographic evidence of purulence and necrotic/abscessed lymph nodes in the mediastinum, was present in 7 patients (21%) and tended to occur more often in younger children (median age, 3 years [range, 0.5-11 years] vs 7 years [range, 0.6-17 years] for non-mediastinitis patients; P = .10). Seven patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and 10 required surgical intervention. One patient died of meningitis. Hospitalizations were longer for patients with mediastinitis (median, 130 days [range, 58-200 days] vs 43 days [range, 3-273 days for non-mediastinitis patients]; P < .01) and those with maximum coccidioidal complement fixing antibody titers ≥1:128 (median, 174 days [range, 53-273 days] vs 33 days [range, 3-200 days] for those with maximum titers <1:128; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Coccidioidomycosis causes a substantial disease burden in the children of central California. Mediastinitis is common and tends to occur in younger children. Patients with mediastinitis or elevated coccidioidal complement fixation titers require longer hospitalizations. Further research is needed on the prevention and treatment of this disease.
Overcoming the lack of political will in small scale fisheries

Weak governance is one of the main causes of the present poor condition of fisheries ecosystems. Lack of political will is one of the primary factors characterizing weak governance in fisheries. The purpose of this paper is to better understand what is meant by political will and political capacity, what the lack of these means in reference to small scale fisheries governance, and how to overcome the lack of political will, in particular, in order to improve small scale fisheries governance. The paper demonstrates the importance of political will and political capacity in determining the quality of fisheries management. Existent scholarship has largely conceptualized political will and political capacity as being the same concept, thus muddying our ability to determine exactly what is limiting a state's ability to manage not only fisheries, but also environmental resources more-generally. The paper concludes that even in low capacity states, local champions of fishery management can affect moderate progress on this complicated issue if they use community networks to engage in enforcement of fishery policies.
The Effects of Adulterants and Selected Ingested Compounds on Drugs-of-Abuse Testing in Urine

Household chemicals such as bleach, table salt, laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, vinegar, lemon juice, and eyedrops are used for adulterating urine specimens. Most of these adulterants except eyedrops can be detected by routine specimen integrity tests (creatinine, pH, temperature, and specific gravity); however, certain adulterants such as Klear, Whizzies, Urine Luck, and Stealth cannot. These adulterants can successfully mask drug testing if the concentrations of certain abused drugs are moderate. Several spot tests have been described to detect the presence of such adulterants in urine. Urine dipsticks are commercially available for detecting the presence of such adulterants, along with performance of tests for creatinine, pH, and specific gravity. Certain hair shampoo and saliva-cleaning mouthwashes are available to escape detection in hair or saliva samples, but the effectiveness of such products in masking drugs-of-abuse testing has not been demonstrated. Ingestion of poppy seed cake may result in positive screening test results for opiates, and hemp oil exposure can cause positive results for marijuana. These would be identified as true-positive results in drugs-of-abuse testing even though they do not represent the actual drug of abuse.
Hematuria: An algorithmic approach to finding the cause

Many conditions can cause hematuria, but the differential diagnosis can be simplified with a systematic approach. We discuss the common causes of hematuria and how to evaluate it.
Survival and behavior of Plutella xylostella larvae on cabbages with leaf waxes altered by treatment with S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate

Cabbages (Brassica oleracea L.) treated with S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) herbicide had reduced amounts of leaf surface waxes (40.6~o of controls) and reduced densities of leaf surface wax crystallites (20.8~o of controls). Leaf waxes of EPTC-treated plants chemically and morphologically resembled leaf waxes of genetically glossy cabbages resistant to the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Survival of larvae was significantly reduced on EPTC-treated cabbage plants in three out of four experiments (62.0-15.3 ~o of survival on controls). P. xylostella neonates also moved more rapidly on EPTC-treated plants than on untreated controls (1.84 + 0.16 cm/min on controls vs. 3.94 + 0.24 cm/min on treated plants; P = 0.0001). These results support the hypotheses that reduction in leaf waxes is the basis of resistance to P. xylostelIa in genetically glossy plants and that reduced acceptance by larvae is associated with this resistance. Modification of leaf surface waxes with EPTC or similar compounds may have potential as an economic control for P. xylostella in Brassica crops.
Introduction to Monkey

“I was very fond of strange stories when I was a child. In my village-school days, I used to buy stealthily the popular novels and historical recitals. Fearing that my father and my teacher might punish me for this and rob me of these treasures, I carefully hid them in secret places where I could enjoy them unmolested.
Age, Psychological Skills, and Golf Performance: A Prospective Investigation

This study explored the influence of age in understanding mental skills utilization in the context of performance at a major national golf competition. Participants, who ranged in age and in skill level, included 1,150 male and 170 female amateur golfers competing in the Dupont World Amateur Golf Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Measures targeted general mental skills used in competitions, golf-specific skills, and competitive trait anxiety. Hierarchical linear regression was utilized to explore the potential moderating role that chronological age may play in influencing the impact of psychological skills and anxiety on competitive tournament performance across the adult life span. Findings suggested no significant age-moderating effects and instead pointed to the importance of developing golf-specific psychological skills to enhance or maintain performance, irrespective of age. Although automaticity (performance feels “automatic”) predicted performance for all golfers, commitment to the game and confidence in one’s putting did so only for the men. These findings reinforce the age-irrelevant role of such skills in fostering the experience of peak performance in a competitive sport context and underscore the importance of interventions targeting older players to help maintain or facilitate the use of psychological skills in helping them manage their games.
The unconventional myosin, Myo2p, is a calmodulin target at sites of cell growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Myo2p is an unconventional myosin required for polarized growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Four lines of evidence suggest that (a) Myo2p is a target of calmodulin at sites of cell growth, and (b) the interaction between Myo2p and calmodulin is Ca2+ independent. First, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, the distributions of Myo2p and calmodulin are nearly indistinguishable throughout the cell cycle. Second, a genetic analysis indicates that mutations in CMD1 show allele-specific synthetic lethality with the myo2-66 conditional mutation. Mutations that inactivate the Ca(2+)-binding sites of calmodulin have little or no effect on strains carrying myo2-66, whereas an allele with a mutation outside the Ca(2+)-binding sites dramatically increases the severity of the phenotype conferred by myo2-66. Third, Myo2p coimmunoprecipitates with calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+ or EGTA. Finally, we used a modified gel overlay assay to demonstrate direct interaction between calmodulin and fusion proteins containing portions of Myo2p. Calmodulin binds specifically to the region of Myo2p containing six tandem repeats of a motif called an IQ site. Binding occurs in either Ca2+ or EGTA, and only two sites are required to observe binding.
Primate malarias: Diversity, distribution and insights for zoonotic Plasmodium.

Protozoans within the genus Plasmodium are well-known as the causative agents of malaria in humans. Numerous Plasmodium species parasites also infect a wide range of non-human primate hosts in tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Studying this diversity can provide critical insight into our understanding of human malarias, as several human malaria species are a result of host switches from non-human primates. Current spillover of a monkey malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi, in Southeast Asia highlights the permeability of species barriers in Plasmodium. Also recently, surveys of apes in Africa uncovered a previously undescribed diversity of Plasmodium in chimpanzees and gorillas. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis to quantify the global distribution, host range, and diversity of known non-human primate malaria species. We used published records of Plasmodium parasites found in non-human primates to estimate the total diversity of non-human primate malarias globally. We estimate that at least three undescribed primate malaria species exist in sampled primates, and many more likely exist in unstudied species. The diversity of malaria parasites is especially uncertain in regions of low sampling such as Madagascar, and taxonomic groups such as African Old World Monkeys and gibbons. Presence–absence data of malaria across primates enables us to highlight the close association of forested regions and non-human primate malarias. This distribution potentially reflects a long coevolution of primates, forest-adapted mosquitoes, and malaria parasites. The diversity and distribution of primate malaria are an essential prerequisite to understanding the mechanisms and circumstances that allow Plasmodium to jump species barriers, both in the evolution of malaria parasites and current cases of spillover into humans.
The Evolution of Sex and Recombination in a Varying Environment

Theoretical models of the evolutionary advantages of sex and genetic recombination in a temporally varying environment are analyzed. The models assume a quantitative trait controlled by many additive genes and subject to nor-optimal selection. The optimal value of the trait is assumed either to move steadily in one direction or to follow an autocorrelated linear Markov process. The consequences for population mean fitness of a reduction in genetic variance, due to a shift from sexual to asexual reproduction, are examined. It is shown that a large reduction in mean fitness can result from such a shift in the case of a steadily moving optimum, under light conditions. The conditions are much more stringent with a randomly varying environment, especially if the autocorrelation is low. The conditions for spread of a rare modifier affecting the rate of genetic recombination are also examined, and the strength of selection on such a modifier is determined. Again, the case of a steadily moving optimum is more favorable than a random optimum for the evolution of increased recombination.
Case Report: Metastatic Carcinoma of Unknown Primary: Complete Response to Second-Line Treatment with Plicamycin

ABSTRACT In selected groups of patients, metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary (MCUP) is highly responsive to cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. These therapeutic responses usually are partial and shortlived. The authors report the case of a 41-year-old man whose MCUP relapsed after responding to cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide. Alternateday treatment with plicamycin induced a second complete remission (CR) in this patient with minimal hematologic and metabolic toxicity. Plicamycin may prove effective in enhancing CR rate, prolonging CR duration, and salvaging cisplatin failures in MCUP.
Real-Time Dynamics of Carrier Multiplication in Ultrafast Photocurrent of Device-Grade Quantum Dot Films

Carrier multiplication, that is, generation of multiple excitons by single photons is observed for the first time directly in ultrafast photocurrent of films of coupled PbSe quantum dots excited by sub-picosecond laser pulses.
“To Tell My Story” Grief and Self-Disclosure in Hamlet

Self-disclosure, telling the story of their loss to an empathic listener, helps bereaved men and women work through the pain of their grief, integrating their loss into the narrative of their lives. This article examines Shakespeare's Hamlet in this context, describing how dramatic self-disclosure may have helped Shakespeare work through his grief after the death of his son in 1596 and his father in 1601. As we now know, writing can be an effective means of self-disclosure, helping people express and heal painful emotions. Not only did writing Hamlet in the wake of his loss enable Shakespeare to portray emotions of intense grief in his protagonist, but performing the play added the dimension of public self-disclosure, informing the play with unprecedented emotional depth. Language: en
Breeding of Indica CMS Line Jindao 13A Characterized by Interactive Weak Photosensitivity

Jindao 13A is developed by crossing the maintainer plants from the progeny of Jin 23B/Bo B to Bo A followed by successive backcrosses.It is a WA-type indica CMS line with the characteristic of interactive weak photosensitivity in rice.It has stable male sterility,good plant type,high combining ability,large panicles with many spikelets,an intermediate amylose content,soft gel consistency,low gelatinization temperature and good flowering habits with a high outcrossing rate and multiplication and hybrid seed production yield.In October,2006,it was technically identified in Guangdong Province.Its hybrids show the characteristics of weak photosensitivity,high yield,good grain quality,good cold tolerance and insenescence in late growing stages.Among them,Jindaoyou 122,Jindaoyou 368 and Jindaoyou 998 were certified and released to commercial production by Guangdong Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2008,2009 and 2010,respectively.
Comparison of GPS Height Modernization Surveys Using OPUS-Projects and Following NGS-58 Guidelines

AbstractIn 1997, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) published static global positioning system (GPS) surveying guidelines for determining ellipsoidal heights on marks. These guidelines, commonly referred to as NGS-58, are used today in the United States for modernizing heights on marks. Later, in 2013, the NGS released OPUS-Projects, a web-based tool for processing GPS surveys. To evaluate OPUS-Projects and compare it with NGS-58, a static GPS survey was conducted in Oregon. The data were used to develop four different networks. For the most part, the recommendations in NGS-58 worked well, but the 1-h observations did not always produce accurate ellipsoidal heights for baselines longer than 7 km. For the other networks that consisted of 5-h observations or greater, the resulting ellipsoidal heights on all of the marks agreed within ± 1 cm. For these networks, the estimated network accuracy of the ellipsoidal height for each mark was less than 1.2 cm at 95% confidence. Such consistent results indicate that...
Is it Your Disease or the Patient’s?☆

6 Sou .com The issue of apostrophe “s” in eponyms has frequently arisen during our Journal Clubs and other seminars. On multiple occasions, we have encountered an eponym of a particular disease or syndrome including an “s” with an apostrophe by certain medical writers and without an “s” apostrophe by other medical writers. By the way, these 2 terms (disease and syndrome) too are sometimes used interchangeably. Generally speaking, when the illness has several clinical features or laboratory findings or both, but not all are present in every patient or are required to establish the diagnosis, it is usually called a syndrome rather than a disease. Let us go back to the controversy of the incorrect use of apostrophe “s,” which has prevailed throughout scientific writings and oral presentations. Over the years, the medical literature has been inconsistent, predominated by the incorrect use. Strictly speaking, apostrophe “s” reflects possessiveness. It is correct when the syndrome or disease is named after the first described patient (e.g., Lou Gehrig’s disease, Job’s syndrome or Duncan’s disease). Much more commonly, a syndrome or disease has been linked to the name of the physician or the scientist who first described it, as an honorific eponym (e.g., Bruton hypogammaglobulinemia, Churg-Strauss syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, Hodgkin lymphoma, Sjogren syndrome and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome). In such instances, an apostrophe or an “s” should not be used. The same applies to physical signs, microorganisms, procedures or tests. Apostrophe before or after the “s” would be inappropriate in cases like Wilms tumor and Coombs test because the “s” here is a part of the name of the scientist. By searching the history of common eponyms in a variety of textbooks, Wikipedia and other sources, we created a list (Table) of common eponyms with
“The Living Me”: Unmasking Poisonous Pedagogies by Playing and Postcolonializing in Pastoral Theology

Postcolonializing role play represents a pedagogical strategy in pastoral theology to support emerging communal–contextual and intercultural paradigms. This article reviews the pedagogical function of role play within pastoral theology. Postcolonializing role play is then situated within a larger project of decolonizing theological education. The article describes two examples of postcolonializing role play from the author’s pastoral theology pedagogy. Finally, the author proposes four questions and subsequent practices for debriefing postcolonializing role play in order to empower more liberative pastoral theology pedagogy.
Racial Differences in Atrial Fibrillation-Related Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Importance The adverse outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) have been studied in predominantly white cohorts. Racial differences in outcomes associated with AF merit continued investigation. Objective To evaluate the race-specific associations of AF with stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease (CHD), and all-cause mortality in a community-based cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study is a prospective, observational cohort. From 1987 through 1989, the ARIC Study enrolled 15 792 men and women and conducted 4 follow-up examinations (2011-2013) with active surveillance for vital status and hospitalizations. Race was determined by self-report and categorized as white, black, or other. Main Outcomes and Measures Atrial fibrillation (adjudicated using electrocardiograms, hospital discharge codes, and death certificates), stroke, heart failure, CHD, and mortality. Results After exclusions, 15 080 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.2 [5.8] years; 8290 women [55.5%]; 3831 black individuals [25.4%]) were included in this analysis. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 20.6 (6.2) years, there were 2348 cases of incident AF. The incident rates of AF per 1000 person-years were 8.1 (95% CI, 7.7-8.5) in white individuals and 5.8 (95% CI, 5.2-6.3) in black individuals. The rates of stroke, heart failure, CHD, and mortality were higher in black individuals with AF than white individuals with AF. The association of AF with these outcomes, estimated with rate differences (rate of the end point in those with AF minus the rate in those without AF per 1000 person-years), also differed by race. The rate difference for stroke in individuals with AF was 10.2 (95% CI, 6.6-13.9) in white individuals and 21.4 (95% CI, 10.2-32.6) in black individuals. For heart failure and CHD, the rate differences were 1.5- to 2.0-fold higher in black individuals than white individuals. White individuals with AF had a rate difference of 55.9 (95% CI, 48.1-63.7) for mortality compared with black individuals, who had a rate difference of 106.0 (95% CI, 86.0-125.9). Conclusions and Relevance In the prospective ARIC Study, the outcome of AF on the rates of stroke, heart failure, CHD, and mortality was considerably larger in black individuals than white individuals. These results indicate the vulnerability and increased risk in black individuals with AF. Continued investigation of racial differences in AF and its related adverse outcomes are essential to identify and mitigate racial disparities in the treatment of AF.
The Miocene hominoid radiation

Introduction The earliest known hominoid is Rukwapithecus fleaglei , which comes from an Oligocene site in Tanzania dated to 25.2 mya (Stevens et al ., 2013). It is known only from the type specimen. The genus Kamoyapithecus is far older (27.8–23.9 mya), but its attribution is uncertain—it is known only from isolated teeth. The first appearance of abundant hominoids is heralded by the genus Proconsul , which appears at 22.5–20 mya. Hominoids thus have a respectably ancient evolutionary history. Midway through this history, they experience an evolutionary radiation. As a set, they are currently teetering on the edge of extinction. Thus, the rise and fall of hominoids has been compressed within the last 15 million years. The DNA of humans and their closest living relatives, all large-bodied hominoids, has obviously received intense scrutiny. Changes or mutations in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA have been used to construct hominoid phylogenetic trees. However, when hominoids are compared to other primate lineages, the branching length for hominoid lineages is much shorter. This is caused by a decrease in mutation rate per year in the hominoids. Humans, for example, have amassed 30 percent fewer mutations than baboons since their divergence from a last common ancestor (Scally & Durbin, 2012). The decrease in hominoid mutation rate has been termed the “hominoid slowdown,” and it is known to have been caused by an increase in body size itself. Increasing body size increases generation length, and this alone creates a fall in mutation rate, because it lowers the population size of hominoid species. Hence the appearance of relatively large body size in hominoids, beginning in the Early Miocene about 20 mya, has fundamentally reduced the abundance of hominoid species.
The Dynamics of Description

Anyone who has ever seen David Lean’s wonderful film of Oliver Twist, with its warrens and winding narrow streets through which urchins run like rats in the dark, has to know that no clear and simple Christian rhetoric can dispel that image of a confused and confusing world. There is a rhetoric of description, as critics from Charles Lamb, who talked about the ‘dumb rhetoric of the scenery’, to Robert Garis, who, describing Mrs Jellyby’s house in Bleak House, concluded that ‘every detail is a judgement’ understood.2 Even when we encounter what might appear to be simple, straightforward description of person or place, because of Dickens’s style of reportage, we can be fairly sure that it will begin to shade off immediately into something else: rhetorical admonition to social action or consciousness, or an invitation to escape into a world of fantasy.
Simplified method for Euler buckling load of closely star-battened angle column about Y axis

Abstract The Euler buckling load of a column is an important parameter to decide its ultimate axial compressive capacity by the column curves. When the closely star-battened angle column under compressive force is designed as an integrated single column according to the British and Chinese Codes, its Euler buckling load about Y axis is greatly overestimated. To solve this problem, firstly, a basic element of this column is seen as a frame composed of beams and the formula of its shear stiffness is derived based on the principle of virtual work. The formulas show that: (1) The shear rigidity of the column is not infinitely large as the integrated single columns; (2) The inflection point is not in the middle of the chord angle as the not closely battened column. Secondly, the method to calculate the Euler buckling load including the two properties is proposed. Finally, the above two properties are demonstrated vividly by a finite element model of beam elements, and the accuracy of the proposed method is proven by another finite element model of shell elements.
Social Complexity II: Laws

Laws describe; theories explain. This chapter introduces the reader to laws of social complexity. These are formal descriptive relations that exist among components and variables of complex social systems. The approach in this chapter is to divide the study of laws of social complexity into two classes: structural laws and distributional laws. Structural laws of social complexity describe how social complexity depends on organizational architecture. The two fundamental patterns of structural architecture in structural laws of social complexity are serial and parallel, which correspond to conjunctive and disjunctive events in the performance of social systems and processes. The most complex social systems are ultimately based on these fundamental patterns. By contrast, distributional laws of social complexity describe how social complexity depends on nonequilibrium dynamics. The fundamental pattern of nonequilibrium dynamics in social complexity is the power law, which assumes various forms in different social systems and processes. Some of the most intriguing complex social phenomena (language, conflict, wealth, urbanization) are based on power laws and nonequilibrium dynamics.
Analysis of raw biofluids by mass spectrometry using microfluidic diffusion-based separation

Elucidation and monitoring of biomarkers continues to expand because of their medical value and potential to reduce healthcare costs. For example, biomarkers are used extensively to track physiology associated with drug addiction, disease progression, aging, and industrial processes. While longitudinal analyses are of great value from a biological or healthcare perspective, the cost associated with replicate analyses is preventing the expansion of frequent routine testing. Frequent testing could deepen our understanding of disease emergence and aid adoption of personalized healthcare. To address this need, we have developed a system for measuring metabolite abundance from raw biofluids. Using a metabolite extraction chip (MEC), based upon diffusive extraction of small molecules and metabolites from biofluids using microfluidics, we show that biologically relevant markers can be measured in blood and urine. Previously it was shown that the MEC could be used to track metabolic changes in real-time. We now demonstrate that the device can be adapted to high-throughput screening using standard liquid chromatography mass spectrometry instrumentation (LCMS). The results provide insight into the sensitivity of the system and its application for the analysis of human biofluids. Quantitative analysis of clinical predictors including nicotine, caffeine, and glutathione are described.
Performance Analysis for Pressure Retarded Osmosis: Experimentation With High Pressure Difference and Varying Flow Rate, Considering Exposed Membrane Area

Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a process for renewable energy conversion that makes use of a salinity gradient between two bodies of water. A semipermeable membrane separates two solutions: the draw solution, with higher salinity, and the feed solution, with lower salinity. In this study, three system design choices for bench-scale PRO systems were investigated: mesh spacer opening area, hydraulic pressure difference, and relative flow rates. Mesh spacers provide mechanical support to the membrane, but can reduce the water flux. Moreover, the water flux behavior at high hydraulic pressure difference is shown to be nonlinear, departing from the theoretically predicted water flux, which is based on a linear model. The ratio of feed solution flow rate to draw solution flow rate also determines PRO performance. Experimental data from a bench-scale system is used to present design-relevant information for optimizing PRO systems toward higher power densities.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
H. J. Muller and the “Competition Hoax”

> How much is evolution accelerated by sexual reproduction? (15 min.) [Muller (1958b)][1] Anecdotal, Historical and Critical Commentaries on Genetics Edited by James F. Crow and William F. Dove HERMAN Joseph Muller—Joe, as he preferred to be called in his later life—is best known for his
Safety and efficacy of Virkon® aquatic as a control tool for invasive Molluscs in aquaculture

Abstract Virkon® Aquatic is a broad-spectrum disinfectant used in aquaculture as a disinfectant for footwear, nets, and equipment for protection from bacteria, viruses and one fungus. Recent studies provided data to support Virkon® Aquatic as a tool to kill invasive molluscs and other organisms in aquaculture and field settings. This study reports the efficacy of Virkon® Aquatic to kill New Zealand mudsnails Potamopyrgus antipodarum and quagga mussels Dreissena rostriformis bugensis from aquaculture facilities. To address the safety of Virkon® Aquatic used in aquaculture and field settings, the safety limits of Virkon® Aquatic to Steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were tested. Short-term emersion of fingerlings for up to 3.5 h in diluted concentrations of 30 mg/L showed no observable toxic effects. Smaller fry were somewhat less tolerant but survived exposures for up to 5 h in 10 mg/L. We conclude that the risks to fish are low if residues of the chemical remained on equipment, or if containers with disinfecting concentrations of 20 g/L were spilled into raceways or around fish holding systems. We suggest that this and additional studies may be helpful to support a label claim of this disinfectant for targeted invasive invertebrate species.
Batch Composite Transactions in Stream Processing

Stream processing is about processing continuous streams of data by programs in a workflow. Continuous execution is discretized by grouping input stream tuples into batches and using one batch at a time for the execution of programs. As source input batches arrive continuously, several batches may be processed in the workflow simultaneously. Ensuring correctness of these concurrent executions is important. As in databases and several advanced applications, the transaction concept can be applied to regulate concurrent executions and ensure their correctness in stream processing. The first step is defining transactions corresponding to the executions in a meaningful way. A general requirement in stream processing is that each batch be processed completely in the workflow. That is, all the programs triggered by the batch, directly and transitively, in the workflow must be executed successfully. Then, considering each program execution as a transaction, all the transactions involved in processing a batch can be grouped into a single batch composite transaction, abbreviated as BCT, and transactional properties applied to these BCTs. This works well when a batch is processed individually and completely in isolation. However, when the batches are split, merged or overlapped along the workflow computation, the resulting BCTs will have some transactions in common and applying transactional properties for them becomes complicated. We overcome the problems by defining nonblocking BCTs that have disjoint collections of transactions. They satisfy some properties analogous to those of the database transactions and facilitate (i) defining correctness of concurrent executions in terms of equivalent serial executions of composite transactions and (ii) processing each batch either completely or not at all, and rolling back partially processed batches without affecting the processing of other batches. We also suggest an appropriate roll back mechanism.
Modified dipole–dipole interactions on optically excited pair transitions

The absorption of single photons by coupled pairs of ions in rare-earth solids was first observed by Varsanyi and Dieke.1 They noticed that weak absorption of light occurred in PrCl3 at frequencies close to the sum of transition frequencies of individual Pr ions, giving rise to rare-earth fluorescence. This effect was explained by the perturbation theory of Dexter.2 He showed that weak multipole or exchange interactions between rare-earth ions permitted the simultaneous promotion of two ions to excited states by the action of one absorbed photon in an electric dipole allowed transition. Similarly, two ions initially in excited states could emit one sum frequency photon in a cooperative manner.
The Trauma of Unemployment and its Consequences

A study of the jobless reveals how unemployment affects self-esteem, family and social relationships, and emotional well-being. It suggests specific ways in which social agencies can take a leaders...
Goal Directed Synthesis of Serial Manipulators Based on Task Descriptions

Computing the optimal geometric structure of manipulators is one of the most intricate problems in contemporary robot kinematics. Robotic manipulators are designed and built to perform certain predetermined tasks. There is a very close relationship between the structure of the manipulator and its kinematic performance. It is therefore important to incorporate such task requirements during the design and synthesis of the robotic manipulators. Such task requirements and performance constraints can be specified in terms of the required end-effector positions, orientations and velocities along the task trajectory. In this work, we present a comprehensive method to develop the optimal geometric structure (DH parameters) of a non-redundant six degree of freedom serial manipulator from task descriptions. This methodology is devised to investigate possible manipulator configurations that can satisfy the task performance requirements under imposed joint constraints. Out of all the possible structures, the structures that can reach all the task points with the required orientations selected. Next, these candidate structures are then tested to see if they can attain end-effector velocities in arbitrary directions within the user defined joint constraints, so that they can deliver the best kinematic performance. Finally, the synthesized structures are tested to see if they perform the task under the operating constraints. In this work, we also present a novel approach for computing the inverse kinematics using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).
Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery: A diagnostic dilemma

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare malignancy arising from the multipotential mesenchymal cell of the intima of the pulmonary artery. Due to its rarity and nonspecific clinical symptoms, the correct diagnosis and proper management are often delayed. Furthermore, it is frequently misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism, mediastinal mass, pulmonary stenosis and lung cancer. Therefore, it is important to consider primary leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery a possibility when a persistent filling defect is present in the pulmonary artery and there is no response to optimal anticoagulation treatment. Radiologic findings such as a unilateral mass continuously filling the pulmonary artery, inhomogenous enhancement, vascular distension, extravascular invasion into adjacent structure or uptake in the area of tumor on the FDG-PET can be helpful when differentiating pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) from chronic thromboembolism.
Human Factors Redesign and Test of a Graphics System

This paper describes two versions of a small interactive graphics system. The two versions have essentially the same function, but differ in the design of the man-machine interface. The first version was designed from the “inside out”, without explicit consideration given to ease-of-use. The second version was redesigned specifically from the “outside in” with major emphasis on human factors considerations. Behavioral experiments comparing the two versions showed significant differences in ease of learning the two systems. The intent of the paper is 1) to make explicit in a small, easily understandable example, the rationale behind some of the human factors design decisions, and 2) to show that differences in human interface design can result in measurable differences in ease of use.
Estimating Sample Heterogeneity and Expected Scatter Due to Cracking in Packed Powder Samples Using a Two-Phase Model

High-precision Hugoniot measurements of heterogeneous materials are a key tool in creating accurate equations of state, but such measurements are prone to larger uncertainties than their homogeneous counterparts. To efficiently reduce these uncertainties one must estimate the relative contributions of different error sources. Sample cracking is one likely source. Here we estimate its contribution through modeling, using computed tomography scans of powdered single crystal quartz samples to estimate typical packing variation within and between samples. Samples were prepared using the same materials and methods. Cracks were prominent in the samples. We describe a simple model to estimate shock transit time variation for a single shot due to cracking, and estimate that up to 3% variation can be attributed to these structures. This suggests that decreasing variation requires addressing such packing heterogeneities during target fabrication rather than experimental diagnostics.
Chapter 23 – Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder characterized by low bone mass, decreased bone strength, increased bone fragility, and shortened stature. Autosomal dominant osteogenesis imperfecta is caused by mutations in the type I collagen genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2), whereas recessive osteogenesis imperfecta is caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in collagen modification (CRTAP, LEPRE1, PPIB), processing (BMP1), or folding (SERPINH1, FKBP10), as well as in SERPINF1, the mechanism for which is still unclear. Recent progress in understanding the heterogeneity of osteogenesis imperfecta has provided a more comprehensive picture of the molecular pathology involved in the etiology of the disease. Together with ongoing analyses of murine models, these advances have the potential to enable researchers to define better, the pathological mechanisms involved in this debilitating bone dysplasia. Clinical and diagnostic aspects are discussed, as are current and potential drug regimens and cell therapy treatments.
Reviewing Media Literacy Intervention Studies for Validity

This study is an examination of validity in published articles that have provided tests of the effectiveness of media literacy interventions. We identified 88 published tests of media literacy interventions then analyzed their content using five coding variables that indicated the degree to which authors of those studies established basic validity. We first conducted a meaning analysis to identify the definitions that authors of those studies presented for media literacy. Then we used those definitions to determine the extent to which those authors provided a complete (content validity) and accurate (face validity) operationalization in the design of their measures.
Breakdown of Democratic Norms? Understanding the 2016 US Presidential Election Through Online Comments:

This study examined how comments posted on news stories about the 2016 presidential election reflected the disruptive discourses of the campaign itself. A quantitative content analysis and a qualit...
Studies on methoxylation in the 7H‐naphtho[1,2,3‐I,j][2,7]naphthyridin‐7‐one system

Studies on methoxylation in the 7H-naphtho[1,2,3-i,j][2,7]naphthyridin-7-one (sampangine) system represented by 3-bromo- and 4-bromosampangine as well as sampangine itself are described. We have found that regioselectivity of nucleophilic substitution in the sampangine system can be directed by reaction conditions. Under kinetic control (lower temperatures) substitution at C-4 is the predominant reaction, regardless of whether 3-bromo or 4-bromosampangine were used. At higher temperatures, when the reaction is thermodynamically controlled, substitution of the bromine atom at C-3 predominates. This is the first reported example of nucleophilic substitution in ring A of the 7H-naphtho[1,2,3-i,j][2,7]naphthyridin-7-one system.
Understanding the Relations Between Internal Controls, Trust, and Cooperation Within an Organization

Coletti, Sedatole, and Towry (2005) provide seminal evidence that controls can increase trust and cooperation. Garrett, Livingston, and Tayler (2018) replicate and extend Coletti et al. (2005), providing evidence that the results extend to different tasks and to individuals in non-interactive settings. We discuss the contribution of Garrett et al. (2018) against the backdrop of the current state of the literature on internal controls, trust, and cooperation, and provide a number of possible extensions researchers might pursue to learn more about the boundaries of controls.
Accurate pKa Evaluations for Complex Bio-Organic Molecules in Aqueous Media

Despite the numerous computational efforts on estimating acid dissociation constant (pKa’s), an accurate estimation of pKa’s of bio-organic molecules in the aqueous medium is still a challenge. The...
It's all Downhill from Here: A forecast of subsidence rates in the lower Mississippi River industrial corridor

Abstract Southeast Louisiana is susceptible to the impact of subsidence due to natural and anthropogenic processes including sediment compaction and loading, fluid withdrawal, and faulting. Subsidence rates in Southeast Louisiana are higher than anywhere else in the United States, and the impact of subsidence rates on industrial complexes has not been studied. Spatial interpolation methods were analyzed to determine the best fit for subsidence rates and to create a predictive surface for the lower Mississippi River Industrial corridor (LMRIC). Empirical Bayesian kriging, ordinary kriging, universal kriging, and inverse distance weighted interpolation methods were applied to the 2004 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published Technical Report #50 dataset and cross-validation methods were utilized to determine the accuracy of each method. The mean error and root mean square error were calculated for each interpolation method, then used to detect bias and compare the predicted value with the actual observation value. Cross-validation estimates are comparable for each method statistically and visually; however, the results indicate the empirical Bayesian kriging interpolation method is the most accurate of the methods using the lowest mean error and root mean square error scores. Digital elevation models for the years 2025, 2050, and 2075 were developed based on the predictive surface of subsidence rates using the results from the empirical Bayesian kriging interpolation method. Results indicate that by 2025, 31.4% of landmass in the LMRIC will be below 0 m NAVD88, with 40.4% below 0 m NAVD88 by 2050, and 51.8% by 2075. Subsidence rates in the LMRIC range from approximately 16 mm to less than one mm per year. Nine of the 122 industrial complexes located in the LMRIC are estimated to be below 0 m NAVD88 by the year 2075. Limited economic impacts can be inferred based on the number of facilities impacted; however, service disruptions due to subsidence impacting infrastructure surrounding these industrial complexes would have catastrophic economic impacts on a regional, state, and national level.
Association of DASH and Depressive Symptoms with BMI over Adulthood in Racially and Socioeconomically Diverse Adults Examined in the HANDLS Study.

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is linked to slower weight gain over time. Elevated depressive symptoms may lead to poor quality diets, potentially increasing Body Mass Index (BMI). This study explored these pathways using longitudinal data extracted from 1201–1458 Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study participants. DASH mean score was computed using four 24 h recalls [visits(v)1 + v2/2: 2004–2013] and depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale (v1 + v2/2: 2004–2013). BMI was measured at v2: 2009–2013 and v3: 2013–2017. Multiple linear mixed regression and mediation modeling were conducted, linking CES-D(mean) and DASH(mean) to BMI [v2 and annualized change ΔBMI (v3-v2)] and exploring mediation of the CES-D(mean)–BMI(v3) and DASH(mean)–BMI(v3) associations through DASH(mean) and CES-D(mean), respectively. Models were further stratified by sex, race and poverty status. Inverse cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of DASH(mean) with BMI(v2) and ΔBMI were detected, mainly in women and <125% of poverty participants. CES-D(mean) was not associated with BMI(v3); no mediation was detected through DASH(mean) in all socio-demographic strata. Moreover, the inverse DASH(mean)–BMI(v3) total effect was not mediated through CES-D(mean). Future studies should explore other pathways aside from depressive symptoms by which DASH can have a preventive effect on weight status over time.
Organizing the oocyte: RNA localization meets phase separation

RNA localization is a key biological strategy for organizing the cytoplasm and generating both cellular and developmental polarity. During RNA localization, RNAs are targeted asymmetrically to specific subcellular destinations, resulting in spatially and temporally restricted gene expression through local protein synthesis. First discovered in oocytes and embryos, RNA localization is now recognized as a significant regulatory strategy for diverse RNAs, both coding and non-coding, in a wide range of cell types. Yet, the highly polarized cytoplasm of the oocyte remains a leading model to understand not only the principles and mechanisms underlying RNA localization, but also links to the formation of biomolecular condensates through phase separation. Here, we discuss both RNA localization and biomolecular condensates in oocytes with a particular focus on the oocyte of the frog, Xenopus laevis.