cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Science and Technology Studies and Information Studies

L'A. examine la litterature du domaine interdisciplinaire de la STS (etudes sociales en science et technologie) et ses implications pour les sciences de l'information. La STS, comme les etudes de lieu de travail, s'interesse aux relations entre la connaissance, l'individu, le groupe, les structures sociales et la technologie. L'utilite de la STS pour les etudes en information reside dans une comprehension elargie et resituee des notions de connaissance, d'utilisateur et de systeme d'information, dans l'importance donnee a la pratique et a la materialite du travail de connaissance, dans le rapprochement avec d'autres domaines concernes par la connaissance, dans l'apport des methodes qualitatives et ethnographiques et dans le regard critique.
Proximity-dependent enhancement of Sgs-4 gene expression in D. melanogaster

A weakly expressed allele of Sgs-4 obtained from the Kochi strain of D. melanogaster (Sgs-4K) increases 4-fold in levels of accumulated transcript when paired with a wild-type (Oregon-R) Sgs-4 allele (Sgs-4ORE) and increases 9-fold when paired with a duplication of the wild-type Sgs-4 allele Confluens (Sgs-4Co). There is no enhancement of expression when Sgs-4K is paired with the Sgs-4 null allele Ber-I (Sgs-4BER) or with another weakly expressed Sgs-4 allele, Hikone-R (Sgs-4HIK); there is minimal enhancement when chromosome pairing is disrupted near the Sgs-4 locus by rearrangement of the wild-type Sgs-4 allele. Cytological analysis of third instar salivary gland nuclei from Kochi/Confluens heterozygotes suggests that complete pairing is not essential for Sgs-4K enhancement. Interactions between homologous loci that could produce a trans enhancement effect are discussed and a hypothesis is formulated to test the significance of specific upstream sequences from both alleles in expression enhancement.
The role of retrieval inhibition in the associative memory impairment of schizophrenia

To examine retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) in schizophrenia, subjects studied category-exemplar words taken from either strong or weak categories, and then practiced retrieval by completing category word-stems on half of the word pairs. Patients had reduced recall and recognition, but showed the expected RIF effect of better recall of unpracticed items from unpracticed categories than for unpracticed items from practiced categories. By contrast, patients and controls showed differing RIF for recognition as a function of categorical dominance: whereas controls showed RIF only for dominant category exemplar word pairs, patients showed RIF for both dominant and weak categories. Different patterns of baseline practiced retrieval for weak associate pairs in schizophrenia may explain this finding. The results failed to support faulty RIF in the associative memory impairment of schizophrenia.
Effects of Work Scheduling on Time-Income Tradeoffs

Existing theory and data on work--leisure preferences suggest that how work and free time are scheduled may influence workers' preferences regarding the exchange of income for free time. In general, hours and income are not traded in a strict one-to-one fashion; rather, the value of leisure time is in part a function of the "lumps" in which free time is made available. Exploratory research on an accidental sample of 248 employees in ten work organizations supports this hypothesis. Some societal implications of these findings are discussed.
Effects of Commonly Used Topical Antimicrobial Agents on Acinetobacter baumannii: An In Vitro Study.

Acinetobacter baumannii has recently emerged as an important pathogen among wounded soldiers in Iraq. Because of its ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial agents, wound infections with A. baumannii are difficult to treat and can lead to septicemia and even death. Use of appropriate topical antimicrobial agents in these circumstances could be one of the first steps in the prevention of A. baumannii wound infections. In this study, we present the in vitro effects of seven common topical antimicrobial creams and dressings on A. baumannii. A. baumannii was subjected to sensitivity tests with mupirocin, silver sulfadiazine, mafenide acetate, a double-antibiotic combination of polymyxin and bacitracin, a triple-antibiotic combination of neomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin, and two silver-containing dressings. Zones of inhibition were measured after 24 hours of incubation. Of the evaluated antimicrobial agents, mafenide acetate was the most efficacious, followed by mupirocin and triple- and double-antibiotic combinations (in decreasing order). The silver-containing dressings yielded smaller zones of inhibition, compared to the previously mentioned agents, and no zone of inhibition was observed with silver sulfadiazine. Further in vivo studies on the effects of antimicrobial agents against A. baumannii are necessary to substantiate these findings and to determine the potential clinical relevance of these therapies.
Technical aspects of screen-film radiography, film processing, and quality control.

The broad goal of quality control (QC) of screen-film radiography and film processing is to provide radiographs of consistent, high quality. Achievement of this goal requires attention to several areas, including QC of the screen-film system and photographic processor, acceptance testing of all components, and skill in analysis of film artifacts to "diagnose" the processor problems causing the aberrations. Methods to reduce waste, recycle by-products, and reuse resources such as silver are also part of the QC process. To optimize the photographic process, one should use the film, chemical solutions, processor, and screens and cassettes produced by one manufacturer or the combination recommended by the film manufacturer. Important variables in film processing (eg, density, density difference, and base plus fog) are recorded on control charts, which plot the variables as a function of time and allow easy analysis of changes in operating levels. Many variables can affect any component in the screen-film imag...
High Plant Richness in Prairie Reconstructions Support Diverse Leafhopper Communities

A primary reason for restoring plant communities is to increase biodiversity to previous levels. It is expected that restoring land with greater plant diversity will increase biodiversity at higher trophic levels, but high diversity seed mixes are expensive. In this study, we used one insect family, leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) to assess the difference in leafhopper communities that result from establishing high compared with low plant richness restorations. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) the added effort of a high richness restoration leads to measurable increases in both diversity and richness of leafhoppers; and (2) that leafhopper community composition is more similar to remnant prairies in high richness than in low plant richness restorations. We found that higher plant richness led to 3- to 7-fold increases in leafhopper and prairie-dependent leafhopper diversity and richness in restorations. Leafhopper communities in high richness restorations were not more similar to remnant prairies, rather they were distinct among high and low richness restorations and prairie interior. Leafhopper richness and diversity correlated with plant richness, and leafhopper community composition differed among plant community assemblages, but not with the occurrence of single plant species. For our sites, species-rich restorations provided better quality habitat for leafhoppers that was comparable to remnant prairie. Our results suggest that restorations with high plant species richness better support animal food webs.
Cooperation between Stat3 and Akt signaling leads to prostate tumor development in transgenic mice.

In this report, we describe the development of a transgenic mouse in which a rat probasin promoter (ARR2Pb) was used to direct prostate specific expression of a constitutively active form of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (i.e., Stat3C). ARR2Pb.Stat3C mice exhibited hyperplasia and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions in both ventral and dorsolateral prostate lobes at 6 and 12 months; however, no adenocarcinomas were detected. The effect of combined loss of PTEN was examined by crossing ARR2Pb.Stat3C mice with PTEN+/- null mice. PTEN+/- null mice on an ICR genetic background developed only hyperplasia and PIN at 6 and 12 months, respectively. ARR2Pb.Stat3C x PTEN+/- mice exhibited a more severe prostate phenotype compared with ARR2Pb.Stat3C and PTEN+/- mice. ARR2Pb.Stat3C x PTEN+/- mice developed adenocarcinomas in the ventral prostate as early as 6 months (22% incidence) that reached an incidence of 61% by 12 months. Further evaluations indicated that phospho-Stat3, phospho-Akt, phospho-nuclear factor κB, cyclin D1, and Ki67 were upregulated in adenocarcinomas from ARR2Pb.Stat3C x PTEN+/- mice. In addition, membrane staining for β-catenin and E-cadherin was reduced. The changes in Stat3 and nuclear factor κB phosphorylation correlated most closely with tumor progression. Collectively, these data provide evidence that Stat3 and Akt signaling cooperate in prostate cancer development and progression and that ARR2Pb.Stat3C x PTEN+/- mice represent a novel mouse model of prostate cancer to study these interactions.
Six misconceptions about reliable distributed computing

This paper describes how experiences with building industrial strength distributed applications have dramatically changed the assumptions about what tools are needed to build these systems.
Manufacturability issues in rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition

Rapid thermal processing (RTP) has been considered from a manufacturing point of view as a potential technology for depositing thin films by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) in a single-wafer manufacturing environment. The results of this study suggest that new chemical processes must be developed to satisfy the throughput requirements of single-wafer manufacturing and the demands of cold-wall reactor design. Issues such as temperature measurement and uniformity are reviewed and reconsidered in the context of LPCVD. New tool requirements for reduced pressure operation are discussed. New advances in tool design are needed (especially in temperature measurement) before rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD) can be considered as a routine manufacturable process. >
Advances in Pediatric Neurocritical Care

Because pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) improve survival for a range of acute diseases, attention has turned toward ensuring the best possible functional outcomes after critical illness. The neurocritical care of children is of increasing interest. However, the pediatric population encompasses a heterogeneous set of neurologic conditions, with several possible models of how best to address them. This article reviews the special challenges faced by PICUs with regards to diseases, technologies, and skills and the progress that has been made in treatment, monitoring, and prognostication. Recent advances in translational research expected to modify the field in the near-term are described.
High temperatures and inverted metamorphism in the schist of Sierra de Salinas, California

Abstract New field and thermobarometric work in the Californian Salinian block clarifies current and pre-Tertiary relationships between the schist of Sierra de Salinas and Cretaceous arc-related granitic rocks. The contact is variably preserved as a brittle fault and high-temperature mylonite zone, the Salinas shear zone, which represents the contact between North America and sediments accreted above the Farallon slab between ∼ 76 Ma and ∼ 70 Ma. Near granulite facies, prograde replacement of hornblende with clinopyroxene is associated with deformation of plutonic rocks at the base of the upper plate. In the lower plate, the schist of Sierra de Salinas, garnet–biotite thermometry indicates decreasing temperatures down-section from at least 714 °C to ∼ 575 °C over an exposed thickness of ∼ 2.5 km, consistent with petrologic evidence of an inverted metamorphic gradient. The measured temperatures are significantly higher than observed at shallow levels above subducting slabs or predicted by 2D computational models assuming low shear stresses. Previous workers have called upon shear heating to explain similar observations in the correlative Pelona schist, an unlikely scenario given the results of recent rock deformation experiments which predict that feldspar–quartz–mica aggregates are far too weak to withstand stresses of ∼ 70 MPa required by the shear heating hypothesis. As an alternative, we propose that high temperatures resulted from conductive heating while the leading edge of the schist traveled ∼ 150 km beneath the recently active Salinian continental arc during the initiation of shallow subduction. Weakening of the schist due to high temperatures helped facilitate the collapse of the Salinian arc as the schist was emplaced. Schist emplacement coincided with loss of lower, mafic portions of the arc, and therefore evolution of the Southern California crust towards a more felsic composition.
Anisotropy of the frequency-dependent ultrasonic attenuation in unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite material

Experimental results of the anisotropy of the frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation in unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite are presented. A sample with flat and parallel faces was interrogated in reflection mode with 5-MHz longitudinal and transverse wave contact transducers. The results show that for the nine waves generated (three longitudinal and six transversal) the signal loss was approximately linearly dependent on frequency over the useful bandwidth of the measurement system. Thus, a least-squares line fit to the data divided by the total propagation length in the sample provided the slope of attenuation. The slope of attenuation for longitudinal waves propagating parallel to the fibers was substantially less than those with propagation perpendicular to the fibers. In contrast, for transverse waves, the slopes of attenuation associated with either propagation or polarization parallel to the fibers were larger than those corresponding to both polarization and propagation perpendicular to the fibers. >
Genetics of Pattern Formation

Over the last few decades, studies of pattern formation in Drosophila imaginal discs have been proceeding along two rather separate lines. One line of research includes the studies initiated by Vogt, Bodenstein and the Hadorn group on the experimental embryology of imaginal discs, where the ability of disc fragments to grow, to regenerate, and to duplicate has been documented (see Bryant, 1978 for review). This has led to a number of theories involving first, gradients of developmental capacity (Bryant, 1971) and second, a polar coordinate system in which any discontinuities are eliminated by intercalation (French, Bryant, and Bryant, 1976).
The Lucky Dragon幸运的龙– Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China

The Lucky Dragon is a vitamin, Chinese medicine and nutraceutical company located in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. Although the company was ran for 50 years by the Ng family, after the patriarch Mr. Ng Shu Chorn passed away, his children decided to sell it, as none of the three children were interested in managing the store or sourcing products and selling them to other shops. Increasingly, competition from mainland China had been eroding profit margins of similar businesses in Hong Kong, and each of the siblings had respectable jobs, so cashing in was the best course of action. Anderson Products LLC, a health and wellness company headquartered in Provo, Utah, had hoped to expand to the seemingly lucrative Chinese market, but they were inexperienced with international business and afraid of mainland China regulations. They saw the advertisement for the sale of The Lucky Dragon as a great opportunity to get their feet in the door, under the more auspicious regulations that Hong Kong could offer.
Case-Control Study of Antihypertensive and Diuretic Use by Women With Malignant and Benign Breast Lesions Detected in a Mammography Screening Program

A significant but low-level association (relative odds, 2.0; P less than 0.05) was observed between the occurrence of breast cancer and the use of rauwolfia derivatives for 5 or more years in the study of 481 breast cancer cases and 1,268 controls from a joint national mammography screening project of the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. This association was confined to women over age 50 years who were also heavier than average. No confounding effects could be held responsible for this association after adjustment was made for variables such as presence of hypertension, weight, age at first pregnancy, and other breast cancer risk factors. Other antihypertensive and diuretic drugs as well as multiple drug use also exhibited some suggestive associations with breast cancer. Another group of 421 women with benign lesions at breast biopsy were also compared to the 1,268 controls. They showed a significant association between benign lesions and use of thiazides for 5 or more years (relative odds, 2.4; P less than 0.001) whether employed to treat edema or hypertension. Other antihypertensive and diuretic agents also seemed to show this association, but most of them were being used together with thiazides.
The Incredible Shrinking Domain of Corporate Stock

Twenty-five years ago, Johnson notes, the best tax vehicle for a business enterprise was clearly growth stock, in which the corporation accumulated its earnings. The growth stock strategy was so advantageous that shareholders could tolerate managers taking rents out of the corporation in excess of the value they added. With the drop in individual rates, however, using a corporation subject to section 11 tax is getting very hard to justify. Corporate stock is clearly rational only as an estate-planning device for investments that will benefit from the step-up in basis at death. For very-long-term investments, Johnson explains, corporate stock might be justified if it causes sufficiently higher pretax return to the enterprise, if it convinces investors to accept sufficiently lower after-tax returns, or if corporations have sufficiently better access to tax shelters. As the term of the investment gets shorter, however, the tax barriers to use of corporate stock get higher. At investment terms of, say, five years, Johnson concludes that the barriers to use of the corporate form look insurmountable.
Leveraging the Power of Cloud for Reliable Wide Area Communication

We make a case for judicious use of cloud infrastructure -- as an overlay to aid IP's best effort service. As an example, we propose ReWAN, a packet recovery service for real time, wide area communication. ReWAN uses cloud-based edge proxies that exchange "recovery" packets, which are used only in case of packet loss. ReWAN leverages the cloud provider's well-connected, global data center network, and its ability to handle many concurrent users. To minimize bandwidth cost, it uses coding to generate a small number of recovery packets that are sent across the inter data center network. The recovery packets use both FEC, which is applied within a user stream, and network coding, which is applied across user streams. If a small fraction of packets within the user stream are lost, ReWAN uses the FEC packets for recovery; for other losses, ReWAN recovers them with the help of other receivers and the network coded packets. Preliminary measurements show the promise of ReWAN in providing a fast and cost effective packet recovery service.
Barrel shaped droplet movement at junctions of perpendicular fibers with different orientations to the air flow direction

Abstract Droplet movements on surfaces are of significant interest in a wide range of practical applications. In contrast to the widely studied motion of droplets on rough and smooth surfaces in a flat configuration, knowledge of the motion across fiber junctions is sparse, despite its significance in filters. Crossed fibers at various angles to flow are a fundamental structure within a complex fibrous medium. This work presents the experimental results of a microscopic study of liquid droplet movement on crossed fibers when subjected to air flow. The crossed fibers were positioned to create different angles, within a plane, relative to the airflow direction. Crossed fibers at various angles to flow are a fundamental structure within a complex fibrous medium. The liquid droplets were placed on the intersection point using a previous method developed by the authors for single fibers. A comparison was made between different fiber layouts in terms of Reynolds number of the gas flow. A mathematical correlation for the minimum Reynolds number of gas at which the droplets began to move was developed. This correlation predicts the gas flow conditions required to start the movement of drops at the fiber junction.
Modeling the porosity of a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer using crosswell GPR and seismic tomography

Summary Hydrogeological problems often require the estimation of aquifer parameters in highly heterogeneous environments, where parameters can change significantly at the centimeter scale. Both seismic and GPR crosswell tomography can be used to produce high-resolution velocity models in the near-surface, and these velocity models can be transformed to porosity models using appropriate porosity-velocity models. In this study, porosity between a pair of wells in a shallow alluvial aquifer was predicted from seismic and GPR crosswell data.
Sounds Vs. Patterns: A Case Comparison of Approaches for Articulation Therapy

Traditional sound-level approaches for remediation of multiple sound errors in children have several limitations. Approaches which focus on remediation of patterns of errors may be more effective in such cases; however, only sparse information is available on such approaches. In the present study a traditional (sound-level) program for articulation intervention was compared to a phonemic contrasting (pattern) program to determine which was more efficient in remediation of multiple sound errors demonstrated by one child. Three indices were employed to judge clinical efficiency: 1) number of trials required to complete the program, 2) improvement on an articulation test after each phase of the program, and 3) improvement in spontaneous speech after each phase of the program. Results indicated that the pattern approach was more efficient in all areas.
An in Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Study During NH3 Ambient Annealing of Cu-Cr Thin Films

Nitridation of Cu-Cr alloy films under an NH3 ambient was studied using in situ transmission electron Microscopy. Cu-Cr thin films (40–100 nm) were deposited on a single crystal NaCl substrate by electron beam coevaporation, and were heat treated up to 750°C at 2.5–3.0 Torr NH3. The films were also vacuum (10 -6 Torr) annealed under the same conditions for comparison. Initial observation of Cu and Cr crystallization occurred at 470°C for both environmental conditions. The nitridation process of Cr to form CrN was observed initially at 580°C and was followed by evolution of faceted Cu grain growth in the CrN Matrix.
Low-NaCl diet increases H-K-ATPase in intercalated cells from rat cortical collecting duct

Extracellular K+-dependent H+ extrusion after an acute acid load, an index of H/K exchange, was monitored in intercalated cells (ICs) from rat cortical collecting tubule (CCT) using ratiometric flu...
Gender, Migration, and the U.S. West: America Is in the Heart, Barrio Boy, and Tomorrow’s Memories

This article analyzes Carlos Bulosan’s America Is in the Heart and Ernesto Galarza’s Barrio Boy in tandem with Angeles Monrayo’s Tomorrow’s Memories . While both America Is in the Heart and Barrio Boy are considered foundational texts in ethnic studies, Tomorrow’s Memories (which offers Monrayo’s personal reflections about life as a Filipina in Hawai‘i and California during the 1920s) is less well known. Each of these books highlights a young narrator who is migrating under U.S. empire. Their narratives underscore the protagonists’ constant movement through the U.S. West in the search for labor and education, their growing independence from the core family unit, as well as their evolving political consciousness. A comparison of the books enables us to consider how gender shapes migration, place, and space, especially because Monrayo’s experience illuminates the male privilege of Bulosan’s and Galarza’s protagonists.
Effect of Feedstock Components on Thermophilic Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion of Yard Trimmings

Solid-state anaerobic digestion of yard trimmings, composed of wood chips, lawn grass, and maple leaves, was conducted at 22% total solids at 55 °C for 45 days. Results showed digestion of mixed feedstocks generated earlier peaks and more methane than digestion of single components. The favorable peaking time (14 days) and methane yield (143 L/kg of VS) were achieved with equal fractions of the three components, increasing the methane yield by 80–200% compared to digestion of single components. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia varied with component ratios and correlated with system performance. While organic components in mixtures were degraded differently, they were mostly degraded within 24 days and agreed with the methane yield. A mixture design model was established to predict the methane yield, and results showed that all interactions were synergistic, with the ternary interaction having the strongest effect. The model was verified using experimental data, which showed good agreement.
Semester-Long Inquiry-Based Molecular Biology Laboratory: Transcriptional Regulation in Yeast.

A single semester molecular biology laboratory has been developed in which students design and execute a project examining transcriptional regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three weeks of planning are allocated to developing a hypothesis through literature searches and use of bioinformatics. Common experimental plans address a cell process and how three genes that encode for proteins involved in that process are transcriptionally regulated in response to changing environmental conditions. Planning includes designing oligonucleotides to amplify the putative promoters of the three genes of interest. After the PCR, each product is cloned proximal to β-galactosidase in a yeast reporter plasmid. Techniques used include agarose electrophoresis, extraction of DNA from agarose, plasmid purification from bacteria, restriction digestion, ligation, and bacterial transformation. This promoter/reporter plasmid is then transformed into yeast. Transformed yeast are cultured in conditions prescribed in the experimental design, lysed and β-galactosidase activity is measured. The course provides an independent research experience in a group setting. Notebooks are maintained on-line with regular feedback. Projects culminate with the presentation of a poster worth 60% of the grade. Over the last three years, about 65% of students met expectations for experimental design, data acquisition, and analysis. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2016.
Magnetic Resonance Elastography of the Hippocampus in Mesial Temporal Sclerosis: Initial Results (P4.188)

Objective: To develop a biomarker for lateralization of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) epilepsy based on hippocampal stiffness measured noninvasively with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Background: MTS is the most common form of pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Surgical resection of the epileptogenic hippocampus is the most promising treatment for MTS. However, the lack of definitive imaging evidence of seizure onset lateralization often impedes the use of surgery. In this work we explore the use of MRE as a biomarker for lateralization in MTS based on the hypothesis that hippocampal stiffness will be altered ipsilateral to seizure onset. Methods: Four patients (2M/2F; age 29-61) with confirmed MTS each completed an MRI session that included MRE and a high-resolution T1-weighted image for volumetric analysis. We used a specific high-resolution MRE method to best investigate the hippocampus. From the MRE protocol we obtained stiffness values for both the left (ipsilateral to seizure onset in all patients) and right hippocampi (contralateral). We also calculated hippocampal volumes from anatomical images using FreeSurfer. Results: We found that in our initial population, the hippocampus ipsilateral to seizure onset was 11.3[percnt] stiffer than contralateral. This result suggests that chronic seizure activity and extensive scarring may stiffen the hippocampal tissue. In contrast, we found the ipsilateral hippocampus to be 5.1[percnt] smaller than contralateral. The effect size from the MRE measure, Cohen’s d, was more than double that from volume - 1.05 vs. 0.44 - suggesting that hippocampal stiffness may be a more sensitive measure than hippocampal volume. Conclusions: We have provided initial evidence that hippocampal stiffness, as measured by MRE, is a sensitive marker for the lateralization of seizure onset in MTS. Future work will further explore its efficacy with the goal of establishing the technique as a reliable biomarker that can better enable surgical treatments for MTS. Disclosure: Dr. Johnson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schwarb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Olivero has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wszalek has nothing to disclose. Dr. Huesmann has nothing to disclose.
Does EVAR Improve Outcomes or Quality of Life in Patients Unfit for Open Surgery

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has emerged as the preferred treatment for most patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A less invasive procedure, EVAR would seem to be a suitable method to treat AAAs in patients who are unfit for open surgery. However, recent studies have called into question the utility of EVAR in this patient population. Though there is a group of patients that do not benefit from EVAR because of either unacceptably high perioperative risk or poor long-term survival, this group is not well defined in the literature. Patients who have high-risk anatomy for EVAR and patients who have a decreased quality of life after EVAR may also not benefit. Ultimately, the complex decision making process to proceed with EVAR in any high-risk patient will require a frank discussion of the risks and benefits between the surgeon and the patient.
Twenty years of social capital and health research: a glossary

Research on social capital in public health is approaching its 20th anniversary. Over this period, there have been rich and productive debates on the definition, measurement and importance of social capital for public health research and practice. As a result, the concepts and measures characterising social capital and health research have also evolved, often drawing from research in the social, political and behavioural sciences. The multidisciplinary adaptation of social capital-related concepts to study health has made it challenging for researchers to reach consensus on a common theoretical approach. This glossary thus aims to provide a general overview without recommending any particular approach. Based on our knowledge and research on social capital and health, we have selected key concepts and terms that have gained prominence over the last decade and complement an earlier glossary on social capital and health.
A Bright Future for Serial Femtosecond Crystallography with XFELs

X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) have the potential to revolutionize macromolecular structural biology due to the unique combination of spatial coherence, extreme peak brilliance, and short duration of X-ray pulses. A recently emerged serial femtosecond (fs) crystallography (SFX) approach using XFEL radiation overcomes some of the biggest hurdles of traditional crystallography related to radiation damage through the diffraction-before-destruction principle. Intense fs XFEL pulses enable high-resolution room-temperature structure determination of difficult-to-crystallize biological macromolecules, while simultaneously opening a new era of time-resolved structural studies. Here, we review the latest developments in instrumentation, sample delivery, data analysis, crystallization methods, and applications of SFX to important biological questions, and conclude with brief insights into the bright future of structural biology using XFELs.
High-risk HPV genotype distribution in HPV co-test specimens: study of a predominantly Midwestern population

Introduction High-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genoprevalence was assessed in cytologic specimens co-tested for HR-HPV in a predominantly Midwestern U.S. population, of which there are limited current data. These baseline data will aid in determining future shifts in HR-HPV genoprevalence. Methods A total of 40,739 cervical/endocervical samples collected in PreservCyt (ThinPrep) media at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, underwent HR-HPV co-testing between January 2014 and December 2016 in women aged 30-98 years. This included 37,656 negative for intraepithelial lesion (NIL), 1696 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), 159 atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), 911 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 188 high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and 129 atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) cases. Roche cobas 4800 classified HR-HPV genotypes as 16, 18, or “other” (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68). Results Of 40,739 co-tested specimens, 3786 were positive for at least one HR-HPV strain. “Other” only genotypes were most prevalent (74.3% of all HR-HPV cases). HPV16 and/or HPV18 were more common in the more significant diagnoses and were present in 59.1% of HSIL. HPV16-only was second most prevalent, with highest prevalence in HSIL (33.3%) and ASC-H (20.6%). HPV16 combined with “other” was third most prevalent, except in AGUS. HR-HPV (all genotypes) was most prevalent in those aged 30-39 years, decreasing with age (P Conclusions HR-HPV “other” combination was most prevalent in all diagnoses except HSIL, in which HPV16 and/or HPV18 (exclusive of “other” genotypes) were most prevalent.
Rapid Detection and Identification of Uveitis Pathogens by Qualitative Multiplex Real-Time PCR.

Purpose Infectious uveitis is a serious sight-threatening infection commonly caused by herpesviruses and Toxoplasma gondii. Etiologic diagnosis based on the clinical evaluation is often challenging. We developed and validated a multiplex real-time PCR assay coupled with high-resolution melting (HRM) for rapid detection and identification of herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and T. gondii. Methods The assay was designed to target pathogen genome regions that yield products with distinct melting temperatures. Analytical specificity, sensitivity, and precision of HRM identification were determined. Clinical validation was performed by testing 108 intraocular fluids collected from eyes suffering with infectious uveitis (n = 30) and controls (n = 78). Results A nonoverlapping high-precision profile for each pathogen was generated following HRM (coefficient of variation 0%). The assay was highly sensitive, with a limit of detection of 20 genome copies for herpesviruses and 200 genome copies for T. gondii. The intra- and interassay variability of cycle threshold (Ct) measurement was ≤4% and ≤6%, respectively. Thirteen intraocular specimens collected from suspected cases of infectious uveitis were positive (mean Ct values varied from 19.4 to 27.7). Melting profiles of positive cases were consistent with HSV-2 (n = 5), VZV (n = 5), CMV (n = 2), and T. gondii (n = 1). Amplicon identities were confirmed by sequencing. Control intraocular samples from patients without a clinical diagnosis of infectious uveitis were all negative. Conclusions This assay allows rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection and identification of the most common known causes of infectious uveitis, making early pathogen information-based intervention possible.
Assembling the Pieces of a Systematic Review: A Guide for Librarians

Assembling the Pieces of a Systematic Review: A Guide for Librarians is a well-written book by qualified authors that serves as a manual for conducting reviews or forming and managing a review service, regardless of skill level.
Influence of incubation water content on oxygen uptake in embryos of the Burmese python ( Python molurus bioittatus )

Flexible-shelled reptilian eggs exchange water via two routes; 1) diffusive water vapor loss through shell interstices and 2) liquid water imbibition from incubation substrate in response to a water potential gradient. Uptake of liquid water may result in the filling of some of the shell interstices which would in turn increase shell O2 diffusion resistance. We measured whole-egg mass changes, water vapor conductance (\({G_{{H_2}O}}\)), O2 consumption, trans-shell \({P_{{O_2}}}\) gradient, incubation period, and hatchling weights in four groups of Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) eggs incubated in substrates with estimated water potentials of −360, −220, −130 and −80 kPa respectively. O2 consumption among the four groups did not differ significantly throughout incubation. Trans-shell \({P_{{O_2}}}\) gradients measured during the periods of maximum O2 consumption varied from 34 ± 6 (s.e.) torr in eggs incubated in the driest substrate to 64 ± 9 torr in eggs incubated in the wettest substrate, and O2 conductance values calculated from trans-shell \({P_{{O_2}}}\) and O2 consumption data were only about one-tenth of that predicted from \({G_{{H_2}O}}\). Thus, the incubating Burmese python egg has a functional water layer in the shell, and the embryos are subject to hypoxia comparable to that observed in developing chicken embryos. This does not appear to compromise tissue O2 delivery, however, because hatchling weights and O2 consumption are not adversely affected by increased incubation substrate water content.
Training educational managers to use information systems: a three phase approach

Training educational managers to make better use of information technology (IT) is an imperative for increasing school productivity. Recommendations for training managers in IT are culled from the literature. This article describes a three phase approach to training. Phase I focuses on IT literacy. Phase II focuses on competence with application software. Phase III focuses on building information systems and data analysis skills. The authors argue that Phase III training, a complex undertaking, should be the work of graduate management programs.
Propulsion control experience used in the Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control (HIDEC) program

The highly integrated digital electronic control (HIDEC) program will integrate the propulsion and flight control systems on an F-15 airplane at NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility. Ames-Dryden has conducted several propulsion control programs that have contributed to the HIDEC program. The digital electronic engine control (DEEC) flight evaluation investigated the performance and operability of the F100 engine equipped with a full-authority digital electronic control system. Investigations of nozzle instability, fault detection and accommodation, and augmentor transient capability provided important information for the HIDEC program. The F100 engine model derivative (EMD) was also flown in the F-15 airplane, and airplane performance was significantly improved. A throttle response problem was found and solved with a software fix to the control logic. For the HIDEC program, the F100 EMD engines equipped with DEEC controls will be integrated with the digital flight control system. The control modes to be implemented are an integrated flightpath management mode and an integrated adaptive engine control system mode. The engine control experience that will be used in the HIDEC program is discussed.
Is VSEPR valid

A chief tenet of VSEPR (valence shell electron pair repulsion theory) is that very electronegative atoms or groups attached to a central atom pull electrons toward themselves. These electron pairs, being farther apart, exert less repulsion, and consequently the bond angles involving them are decreased. A comparison of 37 pairs of common compounds shows that this rule holds only for hydrogen compounds. For other molecules, the size of the attached groups determines the bond angles.
Detection of Building Damage Using Helmholtz Tomography

High‐rise buildings with dense permanent installations of continuously recording accelerometers offer a unique opportunity to observe temporal and spatial variations in the propagation properties of seismic waves. When precise, floor‐by‐floor measurements of frequency‐dependent travel times can be made, accurate models of material properties (e.g., stiffness or rigidity) can be determined using seismic tomographic imaging techniques. By measuring changes in the material properties, damage to the structure can be detected and localized after shaking events such as earthquakes. Here, seismic Helmholtz tomography is applied to simulated waveform data from a high‐rise building, and its feasibility is demonstrated. A 52‐story dual system building—braced‐frame core surrounded by an outrigger steel moment frame—in downtown Los Angeles is used for the computational basis. It is part of the Community Seismic Network and has a three‐component accelerometer installed on every floor. A finite‐element model of the building based on structural drawings is used for the computation of synthetic seismograms for 60 damage scenarios in which the stiffness of the building is perturbed in different locations across both adjacent and distributed floors and to varying degrees. The dynamic analysis loading function is a Gaussian pulse applied to the lowest level fixed boundary condition, producing a broadband response on all floors. After narrowband filtering the synthetic seismograms and measuring the maximum amplitude, the frequency‐dependent travel times and differential travel times are computed. The travel‐time and amplitude measurements are converted to shear‐wave velocity at each floor via the Helmholtz wave equation whose solutions can be used to track perturbations to wavefronts through densely sampled wavefields. These results provide validation of the method’s application to recorded data from real buildings to detect and locate structural damage using earthquake, explosion, or ambient seismic noise data in near‐real time.
Logical form, mathematical practice, and Frege's Begriffsschrift

Abstract For over a century we have been reading Frege's Begriffsschrift notation as a variant of standard notation. But Frege's notation can also be read differently, in a way enabling us to understand how reasoning in Begriffsschrift is at once continuous with and a significant advance beyond earlier mathematical practices of reasoning within systems of signs. It is this second reading that I outline here, beginning with two preliminary claims. First, I show that one does not reason in specially devised systems of signs of mathematics as one reasons in natural language; the signs are not abbreviations of words. Then I argue that even given a system of signs within which to reason in mathematics, there are two ways one can read expressions involving those signs, either mathematically or mechanically. These two lessons are then applied to a reading of Frege's proof of Theorem 133 in Part III of his 1879 logic, a proof that Frege claims is at once strictly deductive and ampliative, a real extension of our knowledge. In closing, I clarify what this might mean, and how it might be possible.
Birth Anomalies in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins: Results From the California Twin Registry.

Background Inherited factors and maternal behaviors are thought to play an important role in the etiology of several congenital malformations. Twin studies can offer additional evidence regarding the contribution of genetic and lifestyle factors to common birth anomalies, but few large-scale studies have been reported. Methods We included data from twins (20,803 pairs) from the population-based California Twin Program. We compared concordance in monozygotic (MZ) to dizygotic (DZ) twins for the following birth anomalies: clubfoot, oral cleft, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, deafness, cerebral palsy, strabismus, and congenital heart defects. Each birth anomaly was also examined for the associations with birth characteristics (birthweight and birth order) and parental exposures (age, smoking, and parental education). Results The overall prevalence of any selected birth anomaly in California twins was 38 per 1,000 persons, with a slightly decreasing trend from 1957-1982. For pairwise concordance in 6,752 MZ and 7,326 like-sex DZ twin pairs, high MZ:DZ concordance ratios were observed for clubfoot (CR 5.91; P = 0.043) and strabismus (CR 2.52; P = 0.001). Among the total 20,803 pairs, parental smoking was significantly associated with risk of spina bifida (OR 3.48; 95% CI, 1.48-8.18) and strabismus (OR 1.61; 95% CI, 1.28-2.03). A significant quadratic trend of increasing risk for clubfoot, spina bifida, and strabismus was found when examining whether father smoked, mother smoked, or both parents smoked relative to non-smoking parents (P = 0.029, 0.026, and 0.0005, respectively). Conclusions Our results provide evidence for a multifactorial etiology underlying selected birth anomalies. Further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms.
Toward Base Heterogenization: A Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework/Dendrimer or Polymer Mixture for Rapid Hydrolysis of a Nerve-Agent Simulant

The base heterogenization is crucial for the practical applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as catalytic filters, such as masks or protective suits, for the deconstruction of chemical wa...
Tobacco use increases risk of food insecurity: An analysis of continuous NHANES data from 1999 to 2014.

Abstract Tobacco use is a major health disparities issue in the United States; it is much more common in less-educated and lower-income groups. These groups also experience a higher prevalence of food insecurity. Previous studies analyzing the association between tobacco use and food insecurity have focused on only cigarettes. We assessed the relationship between food insecurity and use of cigarettes, alternative tobacco products (cigars, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco), any tobacco product, and multiple tobacco products. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2014, we built multinomial logistic regression models predicting degree of food security (i.e., food security, low food security, very low food security) for use of different tobacco product types, any product, and multiple products. After adjustment, use of any product, relative to no use, was significantly associated with increased odds of both food insecurity outcomes: low (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–1.4) and very low (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2) food security. In a separate model, single product use, relative to no use, was significantly associated with increased odds of low (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.3–1.7) and very low (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.9–2.6) food security. For multiple product use the magnitude of association was higher for very low food security (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.8–4.0). The significant associations identified here can inform researchers and policymakers developing interventions to prevent tobacco- and food insecurity-related diseases. To be effective in reducing either health risk, interventions may need to target both tobacco use and food insecurity.
Movement Times for Jab and Cross-Over Steps by High School Football Players.

Abstract High school football players (N=13) were tested on 10 separate days to determine the effects of the jab step and cross-over step on running speed. The 2 types of steps were executed from a 3-point, staggered football stance. The subjects were timed running both to the left and to the right. Times were recorded at 3, 10, and 15 yd. The differences in time between the 2 steps were analyzed by multivariate ANOVA. The crossover step was found to be significantly faster (.036 sec) for the first 3 yd. The jab step resulted in significantly faster (.023 sec) times for the interval from 3 to 10 yd.