cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Service quality dimensions: an examination of Grönroos’s service quality model

Service quality researchers to date have paid scant attention to the issue of the dimensions of service quality. Much of the earlier work accepted the content measured by the SERVQUAL instrument. Following the argument that SERVQUAL only reflects the service delivery process, the study empirically examines the European perspective (i.e. Gronroos' model) suggesting that service quality consists of three dimensions, technical, functional and image, and that image functions as a filter in service quality perception. The results from a cell phone service sample revealed that Gronroos' model is a more appropriate representation of service quality than the American perspective with its limited concentration on the dimension of functional quality.
Synthesis of mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites through desilication and re-assembly processes

Abstract ZSM-5 zeolite crystals with secondary mesopores were synthesized by alkaline desilication and surfactant-induced re-assembly of dissolved species (i.e., silicates, aluminosilicates and zeolite crystal fragments) originating from the parent ZSM-5 crystals. The meso-zeolite products exhibit a dual-mesopore structure in which the smaller mesopores (ca. 3 nm) are attributed to surfactant-induced micelle formation involving dissolved species, and larger mesopores (ca. 10–30 nm) result from desilication processes occurring under the alkaline reaction conditions. The external surface area (i.e., the surface area due to mesopores, macropores and the external particle surface) of the meso-zeolite materials depends on the Si/Al ratio, the hydroxide concentration and the presence of surfactant, and it reaches values as high as 327 m 2 g −1 when a surfactant is used. The crystallinity of the highest surface-area meso-zeolite is well preserved, maintaining values of ca. 83% (on the basis of micropore volume) or ca. 77% (on the basis of X-ray diffraction intensities) of the parent zeolite structures. Further physicochemical characterization by 27 Al and 29 Si magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, temperature-programmed ammonia desorption measurements, and inductively coupled plasma elementary analysis support the hypothesis that re-assembly of dissolved species of zeolite crystals occurred by surfactant-induced micellization, resulting in the high external surface area of the meso-zeolite materials.
Quantitative Ultrashort Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Postoperative Menisci: a Pilot Study

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization of meniscal signal is particularly challenging as the highly organized ultrastructure of meniscal fibrocartilage yields very short T2 values (∼6 ms) and a paucity of signal intensity during conventional image acquisition.
Racial and ethnic disparities in police-reported intimate partner violence and risk of hospitalization among women

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine racial and ethnic disparities in police-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) and hospitalization rates and rate ratios among women with police-reported IPV relative to those without such reports. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study linked adult male-to-female IPV police records of non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White women residing in a south central US city with regional hospital discharge data. Rates and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated and age-adjusted where the data allowed. RESULTS: Police-reported IPV rates were 2-3 times higher among Black and Hispanic women compared with White women. Overall, hospitalization rates were higher among Black and White victims and lower among Hispanic victims than their counterparts in the comparison group (age-adjusted IRR [aIRR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.41; aIRR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.19-1.79; and aIRR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86, respectively). Rate ratios were significant for victims among 1) White women for any mental disorder (aIRR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.30-3.13) and for episodic mood/depressive disorders in particular (aIRR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.33-3.59); 2) Black and White women for any injury-related diagnosis (aIRR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.48-4.10 and aIRR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.65-6.19, respectively); and 3) all women for intentional injury (IRR, 10.45; 95% CI, 3.56-30.69) and self-inflicted injury (IRR, 4.91; 95% CI, 2.12-11.37). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to IPV as reported to police increases the rate of hospital utilization among Black and White women, but lowers the rate for Hispanic women. Screening for IPV in hospitals may identify a substantial number of IPV-exposed women. Primary and secondary prevention efforts related to IPV should be culturally informed and specific. Language: en
Intracranial free tissue transfer for massive cerebrospinal fluid leaks of the anterior cranial fossa.

Purpose The management of large skull base defects with refractory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks treated with intracranially placed free tissue transfers was examined. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of all cases of CSF leak presenting to the senior author from 1997 to 2008 in a private tertiary care referral practice was performed. Patients with intracranially placed free flaps were specifically examined for this review. Results In total 109 patients with skull base defects larger than 4 cm 2 or intractable CSF leaks were identified. Eighty-eight patients underwent reconstruction with local tissue flaps or free tissue grafts. Persistent massive leaks were repaired with 11 intracranial free tissue transfers. CSF fistulas were successfully closed in each instance, with no cases of flap failure or major complications. Conclusions Intracranial placement of nonskin-bearing free tissue is an excellent treatment alternative for massive CSF leaks and refractory CSF fistulas related to large skull base defects.
The Dance of the Laysan Albatross, Diomedea Immutabilis

The behavior of the Laysan Albatross, Diomedea immutabilis, was studied on Midway Island for a total of 11 months on three separate occasions. The courtship dance and agonistic behavior were of particular interest. The Laysan performs many individual postures in its dance but most often these are grouped into four posture sets: Eh-Eh Bow-Stare and Whinny-Head Flick-Rapid Bill Clapper, Air Snap-Bill Under Wing-Sky Snap, Stare-Sky Call, and Head Shake and Whine-Stare-Head Flick-Rapid Bill Clapper. Simultaneous displays of Bill Touch and Bow-Clapper separate individual posture and posture set performances throughout a dance. A dance consists of a beginning, a core, and a usually abrupt ending. Tempo is set by the male in the beginning. A general alternating pattern of Air Snap-Bill Under Wing-Sky Snap and Stare-Sky Call is shown by individual birds such that the Air Snap-Bill Under Wing-Sky Snap of one bird is performed simultaneously with the Stare-Sky Call of the other. Head Shake and Whine-Stare-Head Flick-Rapid Bill Clapper disrupts this pattern which may be restored by modification of display performance by one of the dancers. Only non-breeding birds and pairs breeding for the first time dance. An associative period follows dancing, which is similar to that seen after reunion of the breeding pairs before the egg is laid, and prior to nest exchange. Association in unpaired birds is the first definite indication of the establishment of a bond between them. Males actively defend an area termed the home base, established in earlier visits to the colony. Males solicit passing females from it. Territorial directives change to the nest site after its establishment by the female. Pairs return to the same home base throughout the duration of their bond. Two birds in close proximity on one particular spot necessitates a mechanism negating or reducing aggressive tendencies. Among other functions, it is hypothesized that the dance, and the associative period following, effectively reduce the threshold for attack so that the bond may be continued. The behavior of Laysan Albatrosses in their tenacity for particular sites suggest that, in addition to particular individuals, a bond is made to geographical spots. Association of lowered aggression, indicated by successful dancing and the associative period, with a site may serve to bring the female to the site and perpetuate the bond.
Cell cycle inhibition of yeast spheroplasts.

Osmotically stabilized yeast spheroplasts are capable of extensive DNA synthesis. Although the rate of DNA synthesis in spheroplasts is approximately one-third that of intact cells, the relative amounts of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesized by spheroplasts is very similar to the relative amounts synthesized by intact cells. Furthermore, nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA synthesis is inhibited in MATa spheroplasts by the application of the yeast mating pheromone, α-factor. Similarly, DNA synthesis is reversibly temperature-sensitive in spheroplasts created from cdc7 and cdc8 mutant cells.
Management of ischemic stroke in the next decade: stroke centers of excellence.

Stroke has been increasingly recognized as an important and expensive medical and societal problem during the past 10 years. Currently, organized stroke care is delivered to the American population in only a few cities and hospitals that provide an efficient system for rapid transportation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) has recently proposed the concepts of stroke centers of excellence (akin to trauma level I centers), primary stroke centers, and comprehensive stroke center. The U.S. government, with the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry and the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2003, further supports these concepts. Herein, a discussion of the influence that the BAC, the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry, and the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Acts of 2001 and 2003 will have on the future of stroke therapy in this country during the next 10 years is presented. Also discussed are the elements that are crucial to organized stroke care and the formation of stroke centers of excellence. These include triage and diagnosis in the field, transportation, triage and imaging in the emergency department, prompt transfer to a dedicated stroke unit with focused care, rehabilitation, manpower, prevention and research, reimbursement issues, and politics. The importance of multidisciplinary collaboration on the professional and societal levels and, finally, governmentand private sector–sponsored research are also presented.
Comparative vulnerability to predators, and induced defense responses, of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica and non-native Crassostrea ariakensis oysters in Chesapeake Bay

Management agencies are considering introducing the Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis into Chesapeake Bay, USA. It is unknown if the growth of feral populations of this non-native oyster would be regulated by the same predators that once controlled the abundance of the native eastern oyster C. virginica. In laboratory studies, we compared the relative susceptibility of juvenile diploids (shell height < 25 mm) of both oyster species to invertebrate predators of eastern oyster juveniles. Predators included four species of mud crabs [Rhithropanopeus harrisii (carapace width 7–11 mm), Eurypanopeus depressus (6–21 mm), Dyspanopeus sayi (8–20 mm), and Panopeus herbstii (9–29 mm)], the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (35–65 mm), and two sizes of polyclad flatworms (Stylochus ellipticus and possibly Euplana gracilis; planar area ≲5 mm2 and ∼14 to 88 mm2). All four species of mud crab and the blue crab preyed significantly (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05) more on C. ariakensis than on C. virginica, but predation by flatworms of both sizes did not differ significantly between oyster species. The greater susceptibility of C. ariakensis to crab predation was likely due to its shell compression strength being 64% lower than that of C. virginica (P = 0.005). To test for predator-induced enhancement of shell strength, we held oysters of both species for 54 days in the presence of, but protected from, C. sapidus and R. harrisii. Crabs were fed congeneric oysters twice weekly within each aquarium. Compared to controls, shell strength of C. virginica exposed to R. harrisii increased significantly (P < 0.043), as did shell strength of both oyster species exposed to C. sapidus (P < 0.01). Despite the changes in shell strength by both oyster species in the presence of C. sapidus, the shell of C. ariakensis remained 57% weaker than C. virginica. We conclude that, because C. ariakensis exposed to predators continued to have a weaker shell relative to C. virginica, the natural suite of crab and flatworm predators in Chesapeake Bay will likely serve to control the abundance of feral C. ariakensis. We caution that the situation in the natural environment may be sufficiently different in some locations that C. ariakensis may be able to compensate for its greater vulnerability to crab predation and hence become a nuisance species.
Monitoring coastal vessels for environmental applications: Application of Kalman filtering

Maritime domain awareness is important for coastal nations in terms of applications to coastal conservancy, security, fishery and stewardship of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Maritime situational awareness involves knowing the location, speed and bearing of ships and boats in the EEZ. HF radar is a useful tool in providing ship information in real time. It is especially effective when combined with information from ship-borne AIS beacons. Our previously developed HF radar and AIS ship detection models estimate signal to noise ratio (SNR) as a function of range, including ducted propagation for the AIS radio signals. However, ship detection is hampered by false targets related to wave echoes, interference and the high variability of HF echoes from ships. This is due in part to the aspect and frequency dependence of ship radar cross-section and to the presence of clutter bands at known Doppler shifts from both the ground and ocean surfaces. Distinguishing ship echoes from false alarm echoes is significantly aided by identifying radar targets with ship-like behavior. Thus, tracking ships using their HF radar echoes becomes an important means for effectively monitoring the presence of ships in the coastal ocean. We demonstrate the application of Kalman filtering to the ship-tracking problem with examples using data from the COCMP HF radar network along the California coast. As with other radar tracking problems, the Kalman approach proves effective in this application as well.
Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound and anorectal manometry in children with anorectal malformations: new discoveries

Abstract Background/Purpose Fecal incontinence and constipation are common problems in follow-up of anorectal malformations (ARMs). We evaluated the anal sphincters using the 3-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D-EAUS) and the anorectal manometry after ARMs repair. Methods Seventeen patients, divided into 3 groups according to Wingspread classification, underwent anorectal manometry and 3D-EAUS. Clinical, manometric, and endosonographic scoring systems were used. Results The average anal resting pressure (aARP) was significantly higher in low ARMs than in intermediate and high ARMs. The anal squeeze pressure was not statistically different between the 3 groups. Three-dimensional EAUS visualized internal anal sphincter (IAS) disruptions in 7 of 17 patients and absence of IAS in 6 of 17 children with high ARMs. Scars of the external anal sphincter were localized in low ARMs and generalized in the other groups. In the case of IAS disruption with aARP greater than 20 mm Hg, fecal incontinence and constipation improved with biofeedback and/or laxatives, whereas daily enemas were necessary in absence of IAS with aARP less than 20 mm Hg. Statistical correlation was observed between endosonographic and manometric findings and clinical outcomes. Conclusions Lesions of the anal sphincter are common in ARMs. Three-dimensional EAUS and anorectal manometry ensure a complete assessment of the anal sphincter and could provide useful information to define the most appropriate treatments to improve the quality of life.
Catalan's intriguing factorial problem

This article investigates the numbers , originally studied by Catalan. We re-confirm that they are indeed integers. Using the close relationship between them and the Catalan numbers C n , we develop some divisibility properties for C n . In particular, we establish that , where f k denotes the kth Fermat number and M k the kth Mersenne number 2 k − 1. Finally, we develop an explicit formula for X m,n using Pascal's triangle and Catalan numbers, and extract several interesting byproducts from it.
Overdraft: The Political Cost of Congressional Malfeasance

This research focuses on the aggregate effects of the House Banking Scandal on the 1992 elections for the U.S. House of Representatives. While many commentators felt the scandal would transform the House of Representatives through massive displacement of members, we argue that the literature on scandals in Congress should have made us more cautious in our prognostications. We focus on three different stages of reelection for incumbents and conclude that the House Banking Scandal had only a nominal effect on those who wrote bad checks.
Bilateral Teleoperation of Multiple Cooperative Robots over Delayed Communication Networks: Theory

We propose a control framework for the bilateral teleoperation between a single master robot and multiple cooperative slave robots with communication-delay in the master-slave communication channel. Using passive decomposition, we first decompose the dynamics of multiple slaves into two decoupled systems while preserving energetic passivity: the shape system describing cooperative grasping aspect, and the locked system representing overall behavior of the multiple slaves. Then, by locally controlling the decoupled shape system with the cancellation of disturbances on it, secure and tight (and possibly fixtureless) cooperative grasping can be achieved regardless of the communication-delay and human command. We also construct a bilateral teleoperation loop between the master and the locked system s.t., by operating the master, a human operator can control the overall behavior of the multiple slaves and the grasped object while perceiving environmental forces acting on them. Scattering-based communication is used to passify the master-slave communication-delay. By exploiting the passivity property of the decomposition and scattering-based communication, energetic passivity of the closed-loop system can be ensured, thus, interaction stability and safety are improved significantly. In a companion paper [1], simulation and semi-experiment (i.e. real master and simulated slaves) are performed to illustrate properties of this proposed framework.
Surface studies of aqueous methanol solutions by vibrational broad bandwidth sum frequency generation spectroscopy

Neat methanol (CH3OH) and aqueous methanol solutions were investigated using broad bandwidth sum frequency generation (BBSFG), Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. BBSFG results indicate a net orientation of methanol molecules at the air−liquid interfaces of neat methanol and aqueous methanol solutions. However, as the methanol concentration increases above 0.57 methanol mole fraction the methanol molecules become less ordered, i.e., a larger distribution of orientation angles of the CH3 transition moment about the surface normal exists. This was further verified by the BBSFG results from partially deuterated methanol (CD3OH) aqueous solutions. A red-shift of the CH3 symmetric stretch (CH3−SS) frequency with the increase of methanol concentration observed by BBSFG, Raman, and FTIR spectroscopy suggests a changing hydrogen-bonding configuration between the methanol and the water molecules at the surface and in the bulk. Moreover, the surface studies strongly suggest that methanol is a more efficient ...
Hospital Charges and Practice Patterns for General and Regional Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

Background:Anesthetic use for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may display variability in hospital charges and utilization in the United States.Purpose:To evaluate pract...
State Law Mandates for Reporting of Healthcare-Associated Clostridium difficile Infections in Hospitals

US state and territorial laws were reviewed to identify Clostridium difficile infection reporting mandates. Twenty states require reporting either under state law or by incorporating federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' reporting requirements. Although state law mandates are more common, the incorporation of federal reporting requirements has been increasing.
Biomolecular solid state NMR: advances in structural methodology and applications to peptide and protein fibrils.

▪ Abstract Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods can provide atomic-level structural constraints on peptides and proteins in forms that are not amenable to characterization by other high-resolution structural techniques, owing to insolubility, high molecular weight, noncrystallinity, or other characteristics. Important examples include peptide and protein fibrils and membrane-bound peptides and proteins. Recent advances in solid state NMR methodology aimed at structural problems in biological systems are reviewed. The power of these methods is illustrated by experimental results on amyloid fibrils and other protein fibrils.
Snow grain size retrieved from near-infrared radiances at multiple wavelengths

A comprehensive forward radiative transfer model is used to construct a snow grain size retrieval algorithm that relies on the use of NIR radiances. Data collected by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) at the wavelengths 0.86, 1.05, 1.24 and 1.73 µm are used to retrieve snow grain size. Based on a single-layer (homogeneous) snow model, the retrieved snow grain size appears to depend on wavelength. The photon penetration depth defined as the e-folding flux attenuation depth has be computed for different snow grain sizes and different wavelengths. It reveals that this apparent wavelength dependence occurs because (i) the snow grain size generally increases with depth, and (ii) the photon penetration depth decreases with increasing wavelength. The results show that the wavelength dependence of the photon penetration depth can be used to retrieve the depth dependence of the snow grain size.
Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Gene CD33 Inhibits Microglial Uptake of Amyloid Beta

The transmembrane protein CD33 is a sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin that regulates innate immunity but has no known functions in the brain. We have previously shown that the CD33 gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we observed increased expression of CD33 in microglial cells in AD brain. The minor allele of the CD33 SNP rs3865444, which confers protection against AD, was associated with reductions in both CD33 expression and insoluble amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) levels in AD brain. Furthermore, the numbers of CD33-immunoreactive microglia were positively correlated with insoluble Aβ42 levels and plaque burden in AD brain. CD33 inhibited uptake and clearance of Aβ42 in microglial cell cultures. Finally, brain levels of insoluble Aβ42 as well as amyloid plaque burden were markedly reduced in APP(Swe)/PS1(ΔE9)/CD33(-/-) mice. Therefore, CD33 inactivation mitigates Aβ pathology and CD33 inhibition could represent a novel therapy for AD.
ATR-Dependent Phosphorylation of FANCM at Serine 1045 Is Essential for FANCM Functions

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genome-instability syndrome that has been associated with both cancer predisposition and bone-marrow failure. FA proteins are involved in cellular response to replication stress in which they coordinate DNA repair with DNA replication and cell cycle progression. One regulator of the replication stress response is the ATP-dependent DNA translocase FANCM which we have shown to be hyperphosphorylated in response to various genotoxic agents. However, the significance of this phosphorylation remained unclear. Here we show that genotoxic stress-induced FANCM phosphorylation is ATR dependent and that this modification is highly significant for the cellular response to replication stress. We identified serine (S1045) residue of FANCM that is phosphorylated in response to genotoxic stress and this effect is ATR dependent. We show that S1045 is required for FANCM functions including its role in FA pathway integrity, recruiting FANCM to the site of interstrand cross links, preventing the cells from entering mitosis prematurely, and efficient activation of the CHK1 and G2/M checkpoints. Overall, our data suggest that an ATR-FANCM feedback loop is present in the FA and replication-stress-response pathways, and that it is required for both efficient ATR/CHK1-checkpoint activation and FANCM function.
Synthesis of annulated gamma-carbolines by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular iminoannulation.

A variety of N-substituted 2-bromo-1H-indole-3-carboxaldehydes incorporating an alkyne-containing tether on the indole nitrogen have been converted to the corresponding tert-butylimines, which have been subjected to palladium-catalyzed intramolecular iminoannulation, affording various annulated γ-carbolines in excellent yields.
A simple algorithm for principalization of monomial ideals

In this paper, we give a simple constructive proof of principalization of monomial ideals and the global analog. This also gives an algorithm for principalization.
Microrotation-augmented Energy-Minimization for 3D Nanocrystalline Cu Structures

Molecular dynamics simulations are frequently used to study deformation mechanisms at the nanoscale. However, the lattice orientations of grains in the starting nanocrystalline (nc) configurations are typically based on either random orientations (Van Swygenhoven and Derlet [1]; Schiotz et al. [2]) or orientations specifically chosen to be high angle grain boundaries (Yamakov et al. [3]), which may not be either global or local minimum energy configurations. Our hypothesis is that global or local minimum energy configurations are more representative of actual nc grain structures.
Factors Influencing the Selection of Decision Support Systems for Emergency Management: An Empirical Analysis of Current Use and User Preferences

Computer-aided decision support systems can be valuable tools in crisis response and preparedness training for emergency management professionals. However, to realize their full value, these tools must be designed with the needs of a broad range of potential users in mind. This paper describes preliminary research to determine how decision support systems are used by emergency managers and other officials as well as specific user needs for decision support in the planning, response and recovery from natural hazards and other extreme events. It seeks to identify which attributes of these systems are most desired by emergency management practitioners, the benefits and drawbacks as perceived by both users and non-users of the systems and areas where improvements are desired.
Histologic Observations in Human Hepatitis Non-A, Non-B

Specimens from 57 patients with acute or chronic hepatitis non-A, non-B (HNANB), mostly mild to moderate, were studied by light and, in 22 instances, by electron microscopy. They were compared to specimens of hepatitis A and hepatitis B on file or obtained simultaneously with the HNANB cases. In the HNANB material, two types of light-microscopic lesions were noted in the lobular parenchyma singly or in combination. One was an eosinophilic alteration of the hepatocytic cytoplasm associated with many acidophilic bodies. Conspicuous alteration were often accompanied by microvesicular steatosis. This lesion was associated with nuclear particles detectable by electron microscopy. The second lesion consisted of sinusoidal cell activation which was prominent in some cases. From experiences with chimpanzees, these features were tentatively considered to be stages of the same process. Both lesions were associated with portal and usually mild periportal inflammation which was not related to the degree and type of parenchymal reaction. They were also observed in chronic stages, making the differentiation between acute and chronic HNANB difficult. Active hepatitis B seems to differ from HNANB primarily by the conspicuous presence of lymphocytes in the lobular parenchyma often in contact with hepatocytes, acidophilic bodies, and a more uniform portal inflammatory reaction. In hepatitis A, hepatocellular injury was conspicuously periportal. In HNANB, a cytopathic effect rather than lymphocytic immune attack appears to be of greater significance than in the other forms of viral hepatitis. The recurrence of lobular mainly eosinophilic changes may explain chronicity.
How Do Science and Technology Affect International Affairs

Science and technology influence international affairs by many different mechanisms. Both create new issues, risks and uncertainties. Advances in science alert the international community to new issues and risks. New technological capabilities transform war, diplomacy, commerce, intelligence, and investment. This paper identifies six basic patterns by which advances in science and technology influence international relations: (1) as a juggernaut or escaped genie with rapid and wide-ranging ramifications for the international system; (2) as a game-changer and a conveyer of advantage and disadvantage to different actors in the international system; (3) as a source of risks, issues and problems that must be addressed and managed by the international community; (4) as key dimensions or enablers of international macro phenomena; (5) as instruments of foreign policy or sources of technical information for the management of an ongoing international regime; (6) as the subject of projects and institutions whose planning, design, implementation and management provide grist for the mill of international relations and diplomacy.
Reentrant superfluidity in 4He films adsorbed on graphite.

We report on torsional oscillator studies of superfluidity in the second and higher layers of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ films adsorbed on basal plane graphite. Our measurements reveal several novel features. We observe a reentrant superfluid phase in the second layer of adsorbed helium. Superfluidity disappears before the completion of the second layer and reappears early in the third layer. A well-defined plateau in the transition temperature occurs at the beginning of the fourth layer.
Investigation of Photobioreactor Design for Biomass Production by Green Microalgae

In order to improve biological processes involved in biofuel production from microalgae, photobioreactors (PBR) should be adapted to control the production in optimal conditions. It should be first to study and control adapted reactors to model the entire process and facilitate the decision on the choice of raw material and design means, and finally to demonstrate the experimental feasibility of the process and allow biomass conversion for energy.
Huanghe Institute of Science and Technology (a): Hu Dabai's Dream

This case tells the story of Hu Dabai and her husband, Yan Zhongyao, and how they built the first private college in Henan, China.
Outlaw Gangs of the Middle Border: American Social Bandits

mericans have often regarded western outlaws as heroes. In popular culture-legend, folksongs, and movies-the American West might as well be Sherwood Forest; its plains and prairies teem with what E. J. Hobsbawm has called social bandits. Driven outside the law because of some act sanctioned by local conventions but regarded as criminal by the state or local authorities, the social bandit has been forced to become an outlaw. Members of his community, however, still consider him an honorable and admirable man. They protect him and are ready to reassimilate him if persecution by the state should stop. The social bandit is a man who violates the law but who still serves a
Application of Optical Fiber Thermometry in Intelligent Transformers

This paper describes the necessity of the optical fiber thermometry applied in the intelligant transformers,as the direct measurement for transformer winding and oil temperature.In the project of Shanghai luding 220 kV Intelligent substation,the optical fibeer thermometry was applced in the transformers.This paper focus on the application research in terms of the technical requirement,layout of measuctment points and application function.The basic requirements are listed as to the application of optical fiber thermometry in the intelligent transformers in combined with other transformers.
How to Sociologically Read a Movie

Movies embody cultural values; those of class, gender, ethnicity, region, and nation come immediately to mind. They also reflect deeper civilizational assumptions such as Enlightenment values of moral redemption through human agency toward social progress that will be examined here by comparing the movies Avatar (2009) and District 9 (2009). The methodology is to identify backstage cultural assumptions that have to be assumed to make sense out of frontstage plot development. The idea of “species jumping” is introduced to illustrate the deteriorating idea that distinctly human agency is capable of producing a better social world and attaining secular moral redemption as the protagonists in both films reincarnate into alien species.
Estimating scatter in cone beam CT with striped ratio grids: A preliminary investigation

Purpose: To propose a new method for estimating scatter in x-ray imaging. Conventional antiscatter grids reject scatter at an efficiency that is constant or slowly varying over the surface of the grid. A striped ratio antiscatter grid, composed of stripes that alternate between high and low grid ratio, could be used instead. Such a striped ratio grid would reduce scatter-to-primary ratio as a conventional grid would, but more importantly, the signal discontinuities at the boundaries of stripes can be used to estimate local scatter content. Methods: Signal discontinuities provide information on scatter, but are contaminated by variation in primary radiation. A nonlinear image processing algorithm is used to estimate the scatter content in the presence of primary variation. We emulated a striped ratio grid by imaging phantoms with two sequential CT scans, one with and one without a conventional grid. These two scans are processed together to mimic a striped ratio grid. This represents a best case limit of the striped ratio grid, in that the extent of grid ratio modulation is very high and the scatter contrast is maximized. Results: In a uniform cylinder, the striped ratio grid virtually eliminates cupping. Artifacts from scatter are improved in an anthropomorphic phantom. Some banding artifacts are induced by the striped ratio grid. Conclusions: Striped ratio grids could be a simple and effective evolution of conventional antiscatter grids. Construction and validation of a physical prototype remains an important future step.
Birth Defects Among Fetuses and Infants of US Women With Evidence of Possible Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy.

Importance Understanding the risk of birth defects associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy may help guide communication, prevention, and planning efforts. In the absence of Zika virus, microcephaly occurs in approximately 7 per 10 000 live births. Objective To estimate the preliminary proportion of fetuses or infants with birth defects after maternal Zika virus infection by trimester of infection and maternal symptoms. Design, Setting, and Participants Completed pregnancies with maternal, fetal, or infant laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection and outcomes reported in the continental United States and Hawaii from January 15 to September 22, 2016, in the US Zika Pregnancy Registry, a collaboration between the CDC and state and local health departments. Exposures Laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection in a maternal, placental, fetal, or infant sample. Main Outcomes and Measures Birth defects potentially Zika associated: brain abnormalities with or without microcephaly, neural tube defects and other early brain malformations, eye abnormalities, and other central nervous system consequences. Results Among 442 completed pregnancies in women (median age, 28 years; range, 15-50 years) with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection, birth defects potentially related to Zika virus were identified in 26 (6%; 95% CI, 4%-8%) fetuses or infants. There were 21 infants with birth defects among 395 live births and 5 fetuses with birth defects among 47 pregnancy losses. Birth defects were reported for 16 of 271 (6%; 95% CI, 4%-9%) pregnant asymptomatic women and 10 of 167 (6%; 95% CI, 3%-11%) symptomatic pregnant women. Of the 26 affected fetuses or infants, 4 had microcephaly and no reported neuroimaging, 14 had microcephaly and brain abnormalities, and 4 had brain abnormalities without microcephaly; reported brain abnormalities included intracranial calcifications, corpus callosum abnormalities, abnormal cortical formation, cerebral atrophy, ventriculomegaly, hydrocephaly, and cerebellar abnormalities. Infants with microcephaly (18/442) represent 4% of completed pregnancies. Birth defects were reported in 9 of 85 (11%; 95% CI, 6%-19%) completed pregnancies with maternal symptoms or exposure exclusively in the first trimester (or first trimester and periconceptional period), with no reports of birth defects among fetuses or infants with prenatal exposure to Zika virus infection only in the second or third trimesters. Conclusions and Relevance Among pregnant women in the United States with completed pregnancies and laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika infection, 6% of fetuses or infants had evidence of Zika-associated birth defects, primarily brain abnormalities and microcephaly, whereas among women with first-trimester Zika infection, 11% of fetuses or infants had evidence of Zika-associated birth defects. These findings support the importance of screening pregnant women for Zika virus exposure.
Tectonic drivers of the Wrangell block: Insights on fore-arc sliver processes from 3-D geodynamic models of Alaska

Intracontinental shear zones can play a key role in understanding how plate convergence is manifested in the upper plate in regions of oblique subduction. However, the relative role of the driving forces from the subducting plate and the resisting force from within intracontinental shear zones is not well understood. Results from high-resolution, geographically referenced, instantaneous 3D geodynamic models of flat slab subduction at the oblique convergent margin of Alaska are presented. These models investigate how viscosity and length of the Denali fault intracontinental shear zone as well as coupling along the plate boundary interface modulate motion of the Wrangell block forearc sliver and slip across the Denali fault. Models with a weak Denali fault (1017 Pa s) and strong plate coupling (1021 Pa s) were found to produce the fastest motions of the Wrangell block (∼10 mm/yr). The 3D models predict along strike variation in offs et along the Denali fault, changing from dextral strike-slip motion in the eastern segment to oblique convergence towards the fault apex. Models further show that the flat slab drives oblique motion of the Wrangell block and contributes to 20% (models with a short fault) and 28% (models with a long fault) of the observed Quaternary slip rates along the Denali fault. The 3D models provide insight into the general processes of forearc sliver mechanics and also offer a 3D framework for interpreting hazards in regions of flat slab subduction.
Abstract 3426: miR-133a function in the pathogenesis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma

Background: Sarcomas are malignant heterogeneous tumors of mesenchymal derivation. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) exhibits aggressive biological behavior with an 80% local recurrence rate and the development of metastasis in approximately 20% of patients. To identify and characterize the molecular alterations that contribute to the development and progression of DDLPS, our laboratory characterized a unique miRNA expression signature associated with human DDLPS tissue compared to paired subjacent normal tissue. We found that several muscle-specific miRNAs (myomiRs), miR-1, -133a, and -206, were significantly underexpressed in liposarcoma tissues. Interestingly, these miRNAs have recently been shown to have tumor suppressor functions in many human cancers. The objective of this study is to characterize the biological and molecular consequences of miR-133a in DDLPS. Methods: Taqman real-time PCR was used to evaluate expression levels of myomiRs in human DDLPS tissue, normal fat tissue, and available human DDLPS cell lines. To evaluate the effects of miR-133a expression on DDLPS cell line behavior in vitro, cells were stably transduced with miR-133a vector or empty lentiviral vector and the effects on cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were assessed. Agilent Seahorse Bioanalyzer system was used to assess metabolism. We performed an in silico search for predicted targets of miR-133a using target prediction databases and compared these target genes to known genes that are highly expressed in human DDLPS tissue. Results: The expression levels of myomiRs were significantly decreased in human DDLPS tissue compared to normal human fat as well as in human DDLPS cell lines compared to a human preadipocyte cell lines. Overexpression of miR-133a decreased cell proliferation, decreased glycolysis, and increased spare respiratory capacity. There was no significant effect on cell cycle, apoptosis, or migration. Using in silico target gene analysis, we identified 18 potential targets of miR-133a. These preliminary results suggest that miR-133a regulates metabolism and proliferation, and its dysregulation might contribute to the oncogenic phenotype of DDLPS. Significance: We have demonstrated that enforced expression of miR-133a decreased proliferation and metabolism in human DDLPS cells. We have identified putative gene targets of miR-133a and are currently dissecting the molecular mechanism by which miR-133a may mediate proliferation and metabolism in DDLPS cell lines. Taken together, these data suggest that miR-133a might play a tumor suppressor role in DDLPS, thereby generating new potential targets for therapeutic intervention to alter the course of this disease. Citation Format: Peter Y. Yu, Hans Iwenofu, Raphael E. Pollock, Denis C. Guttridge. miR-133a function in the pathogenesis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3426. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3426
First selective 12-LOX inhibitor, ML355, impairs thrombus formation and vessel occlusion in vivo with minimal effects on hemostasis

Objective—Adequate platelet reactivity is required for maintaining hemostasis. However, excessive platelet reactivity can also lead to the formation of occlusive thrombi. Platelet 12(S)-lipoxygenas...
“Provoking conversations”: case studies of organizations where Option Grid™ decision aids have become ‘normalized’

Implementing patient decision aids in clinic workflow has proven to be a challenge for healthcare organizations and physicians. Our aim was to determine the organizational strategies, motivations, and facilitating factors to the routine implementation of Option Grid™ encounter decision aids at two independent settings. Case studies conducted by semi-structured interview, using the Normalization Process Theory (NPT) as a framework for thematic analysis. Twenty three interviews with physicians, nurses, hospital staff and stakeholders were conducted at: 1) CapitalCare Medical Group in Albany, New York; 2) HealthPartners Clinics in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ‘Coherent’ motivations were guided by financial incentives at CapitalCare, and by a ‘champion’ physician at HealthPartners. Nurses worked ‘collectively’ at both settings and played an important role at sites where successful implementation occurred. Some physicians did not understand the perceived utility of Option Grid™, which led to varying degrees of implementation success across sites. The appraisal work (reflexive monitoring) identified benefits, particularly in terms of information provision. Physicians at both settings, however, were concerned with time pressures and the suitability of the tool for patients with low levels of health literacy. Although both practice settings illustrated the mechanisms of normalization postulated by the theory, the extent to which Option Grid™ was routinely embedded in clinic workflow varied between sites, and between clinicians. Implementation of new interventions will require attention to an identified rationale (coherence), and to the collective action, cognitive participation, and assessment of value by organizational members of the organization.
Late Holocene oceanographic and climatic variability recorded by the Perseverance Drift, northwestern Weddell Sea, based on benthic foraminifera and diatoms

Abstract The Perseverance Drift, located in the Joinville-D' Urville Trough, northwestern Weddell Sea, records changes in ocean and sea ice conditions throughout the middle to late Holocene, with a record extending back to ca. 3400 yr BP. The 2562-cm composite record collected from a water depth of 806 m, documents the uppermost section of the 90-m thick sediment drift. Spring-blooming diatoms (Chaetoceros subg. Hyalochaete) are abundant through the sedimentary record. The greater proportion of Chaetoceros vegetative valves compared to resting spores indicates that the marine environment is highly productive, and nutrients generally are not limiting. Epiphytic diatoms, dominated by Cocconeis spp., are observed throughout JKC36, suggesting transport of algal detritus from shallower regions to the benthos. Three foraminiferal assemblages (FAs): Miliammina spp., Globocassidulina spp., and Paratrochammina bartami/Paratrochammina lepida/Portatrochammina antarctica characterize the benthic foraminiferal fauna and reflect affinities with water masses circulating across the Perseverance Drift and tolerance to corrosive bottom waters. The interval 3400–1800 yr BP is marked by high abundances of Globocassidulina spp., indicating incursions of Weddell Sea Transitional Water over the drift site. This interval implies a period of “freshening” of the water column, coinciding with an open-marine or seasonally open-marine environment during the middle-to-late Holocene Climatic Optimum. The interval 1800 yr BP to the present displays characteristics of slightly colder conditions, as indicated by the absence of the calcareous Globocassidulina spp. FA, and the pronounced presence of agglutinated P. bartami/P. lepida/P. antarctica FA, along with other agglutinated species that are indicative of the presence of sea ice. Therefore, this interval is interpreted to represent the onset of Neoglaciation at the northeastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The consistent presence of Miliammina spp. FA corroborates that the sedimentary record represents a productive, open-marine setting with seasonally variable sea ice extent. The Drift is a unique geologic archive that provides an excellent target for future coring based on the preservation of abundant carbonate material for radiocarbon dating and the potential to develop a multi-proxy data set that could offer a robust understanding of the Holocene depositional and paleoclimatic conditions of the northwestern Weddell Sea.