Obi had never forgotten the sounds of his mother's screams on the day he was sold away from her. Making plans to run away to find her was a secret game he played with friend Buka, an old African who lived at the edge of the farm.

When the Civil War began, Obi knew it was time to run -- or be sold again. If he was caught, he'd be killed...or worse. But if he stayed, he might never know freedom.

Amir shares his feelings and concerns in letters with his friend, Doris, who lives in his old Bronx neighborhood. While Amir has been reunited with his youngest brother, he wants to find his other siblings he was separated from when his parents died.

Marcus walked into Langston High School that morning determined to turn his life around. He'd stay in school all day, go to his classes and he had no pot to sell. Finally, he understood the warnings from his grandmother, his mother and his girlfriend. He'd learned his lesson, but was it too late? Ever since Marcus had moved to the Bronx from his home on the beautiful island of St. Cruz, and entered high school, he faced challenges. His biggest challenge that fateful morning was Eddie, his enemy, who nearly caused Marcus to destroy his plans to start anew.

Assurance of Sterility for Sensitive Combination Products and Materials: New Paradigms for the Next Generation of Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals discusses the medical device industry and the difficult challenge it faces with regard to developments in the exciting new world of sensitive combination products (SCPs) and the terminal sterilization of these devices. Traditional sterilization technologies, validation methodologies, and regulatory frameworks that have worked well for more than three decades do not meet the current challenges for these new classes of products.

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