cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential Unintended Consequences of Tobacco-Control Policies on Mothers Who Smoke: A Review of the Literature

Background Secondhand smoke poses risks to children, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Recently, there has been an increase in tobacco-control policies designed to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke, including interventions to change parental smoking behaviors. However, little attention has been paid to understanding potential unintended consequences of such initiatives on mothers who smoke. As such, the objectives of this paper are to explore the potential consequences of tobacco-control policies designed to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke on socially disadvantaged mothers who smoke and to provide recommendations for research, policy, and practice. Evidence acquisition A theory-guided, qualitative narrative review of the perceived discrimination, stigma, and stress and coping literature was conducted. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched to identify relevant articles from 1980 to October 2008 for review. Evidence synthesis There is evidence that strategies designed to reduce secondhand smoke have contributed to smoking stigmatization. However, there is little research on the consequences of these initiatives or how they affect low-income mothers who smoke. Stigmatization research suggests that such policies may have unanticipated outcomes for socially disadvantaged mothers who smoke, such as decreased mental health; increased use of cigarettes or alcohol; avoidance or delay in seeking medical care; and poorer treatment by healthcare professionals. Recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are presented. Conclusions Further research is needed to understand how initiatives to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as broader tobacco-control initiatives, can be designed to minimize potential harm to mothers who smoke.
Activation of pancreatic-duct-derived progenitor cells during pancreas regeneration in adult rats

The adult pancreas has considerable capacity to regenerate in response to injury. We hypothesized that after partial pancreatectomy (Px) in adult rats, pancreatic-duct cells serve as a source of regeneration by undergoing a reproducible dedifferentiation and redifferentiation. We support this hypothesis by the detection of an early loss of the ductal differentiation marker Hnf6 in the mature ducts, followed by the transient appearance of areas composed of proliferating ductules, called foci of regeneration, which subsequently form new pancreatic lobes. In young foci, ductules express markers of the embryonic pancreatic epithelium – Pdx1, Tcf2 and Sox9 – suggesting that these cells act as progenitors of the regenerating pancreas. The endocrine-lineage-specific transcription factor Neurogenin3, which is found in the developing embryonic pancreas, was transiently detected in the foci. Islets in foci initially resemble embryonic islets in their lack of MafA expression and lower percentage of β-cells, but with increasing maturation have increasing numbers of MafA+ insulin+ cells. Taken together, we provide a mechanism by which adult pancreatic duct cells recapitulate aspects of embryonic pancreas differentiation in response to injury, and contribute to regeneration of the pancreas. This mechanism of regeneration relies mainly on the plasticity of the differentiated cells within the pancreas.
Technology Use and Performance: A Field Study of Broker Workstations*

Organizations invest in technology with the expectation that it will contribute to performance, and members of the organization must use technology for it to make a contribution. For this reason, it is important for managers and designers to understand and predict system use. This paper develops a model of workstation use in a field setting where the use of the system is an integral part of the user's job. The model is based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which we extended to include social norms, user performance, and two control variables. Brokers and sales assistants in the privateclient group of a major investment bank provided data to test our extended model. The core perception variables in TAM do not predict use in this study. Social norms and one's job requirements are more important in predicting use than workers' perceptions about ease of use and usefulness. The paper discusses the implications of these findings and suggests directions for future research.
Pt ∕ C – WO3 Electrocatalysts for Degradation Mitigation in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Carbon-tungsten oxide (C-WO 3 ) and platinum/carbon-tungsten oxide (Pt/C-WO 3 ) catalysts were prepared by chemical methods. The WO 3 loading in the catalyst was 15 wt %. C-WO 3 catalysts produced ∼60% less hydrogen peroxide than baseline C and Pt/C-WO 3 electrocatalysts produced ∼30% less hydrogen peroxide formation than baseline Pt/C. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were prepared using Pt/C and Pt/C-WO 3 electrocatalysts and subjected to accelerated durability tests at 90°C and 30% relative humidity (RH) at open circuit with hydrogen as fuel and oxygen as oxidant. The fluoride emission rate (in μmol F - /h-cm 2 ) over 24 h was found to be reduced by ∼70% at the anode and ∼60% at the cathode condensate when Pt/C-WO 3 replaced Pt/C in the electrode. Fuel cell polarization data was obtained using Pt/C and Pt/C-WO 3 in the cathode at 80°C and 75, 50, and 25% RH, with air and oxygen as oxidants and hydrogen as fuel. For all the test conditions, the performance of MEAs with Pt/C-WO 3 was found to be lower than that of MEAs with Pt/C. Through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments and polarization data analysis, the lower performance was attributed to (i) lower catalytic activity, and (ii) higher ionic and transport resistances in the electrodes.
Evaluation of a CCSM3 Simulation with a Finite Volume Dynamical Core for the Atmosphere at 1° Latitude × 1.25° Longitude Resolution

A simulation of the present-day climate by the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3) that uses a Finite Volume (FV) numerical method for solving the equations governing the atmospheric dynamics is presented. The simulation is compared to observations and to the well-documented simulation by the standard CCSM3, which uses the Eulerian spectral method for the atmospheric dynamics. The atmospheric component in the simulation herein uses a 1° latitude 1.25° longitude grid, which is a slightly finer resolution than the T85-grid used in the spectral transform. As in the T85 simulation, the ocean and ice models use a nominal 1-degree grid. Although the physical parameterizations are the same and the resolution is comparable to the standard model, substantial testing and slight retuning were required to obtain an acceptable control simulation. There are significant improvements in the simulation of the surface wind stress and sea surface temperature. Improvements are also seen in the simulations of the total variance in the tropical Pacific, the spatial pattern of ice thickness distribution in the Arctic, and the vertically integrated ocean circulation in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The results herein demonstrate that the FV version of the CCSM coupled model is a state-of-the-art climate model whose simulation capabilities are in the class of those used for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments. The simulated climate is very similar to that of the T85 version in terms of its biases, and more like the T85 model than the other IPCC models.
On the validity of assumptions used to model local area networks

The accuracy of analytical and simulation models of local area networks (LANs) is dependent on underlying assumptions about traffic characteristics, and protocols. The authors present a comparison of some of these assumptions about LAN behavior against empirical data on the actual behavior of several LANs. Data concerning the packet size distribution, interarrival distribution, and traffic pattern are presented graphically, showing that the actual packet size distribution and traffic pattern do not follow the simplified distributions assumed in the models. However, the packet interarrival time distribution somewhat resembles the assumed exponential distribution. The accuracy of analytical models and simulations that rely on assumptions about the packet arrival process is assessed by comparing the results of simulations using the assumed distributions with simulations driven by the trace of an actual arrival process. Performance measures are compared and the difference is tested for statistical significance. Techniques for generating realistic loads that are higher than those observed, yet are based on actual observations, are presented and evaluated. >
A unified linear theory of homogeneous and stratified rotating fluids

A unified picture of the linear dynamics of rotating fluids with given arbitrary stratification is presented. The range of stratification which lies outside the region of validity of both the theories of homogeneous fluids, and the strongly stratified fluids, σS > E½, is studied, where σS = vαgΔT/κΩ2L and E =v/ΩL2. The transition from one dynamics to the other is elucidated by a detailed study of the intermediate region E2/3 < σS < E½. It is shown that, within this intermediate stratification range, the dynamics differs from that of either extreme case, except in the neighbourhood of horizontal boundaries where Ekman layers are present. In particular the side wall boundary layer exhibits a triple structure and is made up of (i) a buoyancy sublayer of thickness (σS)−1/4 E½ in which the viscous and buoyancy forces balance, (ii) an intermediate hydrostatic, baroclinic layer of thickness (σS)½ and (iii) an outer E¼-layer which is analogous to the one occurring in a homogeneous fluid. In the interior, the dynamics is mainly controlled by Ekman-layer suction, but displays hybrid features; in particular the dynamical fields can be decomposed into a ‘homogeneous component’ which satisfies the Taylor-Proudman theorem, and into a ‘stratified component’ which is baroclinic and which satisfies a thermal wind relation. In all regions the structure of the flow is displayed in detail.
A statistical technique for processing radio interferometer data

The output of a radio interferometer is the Fourier transform of the object under investigation. Due to the limited coverage of the Fourier plane the reconstruction of the image of the source is blurred by the beam of the synthesized array. In this paper a maximum-likelihood processing technique is described that uses the statistical properties of the received noise-like signals. This technique has been used extensively in the processing of large aperture seismic arrays. This inversion method results in a synthesized beam that is more uniform, has lower sidelobes, and higher resolution than the normal Fourier transform methods. The maximum-likelihood method (MLM) algorithm was applied successfully to very long baseline (VLB) and short baseline interferometric data.
Analysis of SLC16A11 variants in 12,811 American Indians: genotype-obesity interaction for type 2 diabetes and an association with RNASEK expression

Genetic variants in SLC16A11 were recently reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes in Mexican and other Latin American populations. The diabetes risk haplotype had a frequency of 50% in Native Americans from Mexico but was rare in Europeans and Africans. In the current study, we analyzed SLC16A11 in 12,811 North American Indians and found that the diabetes risk haplotype, tagged by the rs75493593 A allele, was nominally associated with type 2 diabetes (P = 0.001, odds ratio 1.11). However, there was a strong interaction with BMI (P = 5.1 × 10(-7)) such that the diabetes association was stronger in leaner individuals. rs75493593 was also strongly associated with BMI in individuals with type 2 diabetes (P = 3.4 × 10(-15)) but not in individuals without diabetes (P = 0.77). Longitudinal analyses suggest that this is due, in part, to an association of the A allele with greater weight loss following diabetes onset (P = 0.02). Analyses of global gene expression data from adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and whole blood provide evidence that rs75493593 is associated with expression of the nearby RNASEK gene, suggesting that RNASEK expression may mediate the effect of genotype on diabetes.
Combining world and interaction models for human-robot collaborations

As robotic technologies mature, we can imagine an increasing number of applications in which robots could soon prove to be useful in unstructured human environments. Many of those applications require a natural interface between the robot and untrained human users or are possible only in a human-robot collaborative scenario. In this paper, we study an example of such scenario in which a visually impaired person and a robotic “guide” collaborate in an unfamiliar environment. We then analyze how the scenario can be realized through language- and gesture-based human-robot interaction, combined with semantic spatial understanding and reasoning, and propose an integration of semantic world model with language and gesture models for several collaboration modes. We believe that this way practical robotic applications can be achieved in human environments with the use of currently available technology.
Prostate Cancer in Elderly Men: Screening, Active Surveillance, and Definitive Therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common medical condition in the United States, with an estimated 16% of men receiving a diagnosis during their lifetime. Although it is the second leading cause of cancer-specific deaths among men, PCa will not be the cause of death for most men who are diagnosed with it. Although there are notable improvements recently, the relative dearth of high-quality data concerning PCa screening and treatment in older men calls for a thoughtful approach to evaluating such men for screening, diagnosis, and treatment options. This article offers guidance to an approach here.
Chapter 11 The Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide: An Overview and Future Directions

Publisher Summary Studies of the catalyzed hydrogenation of carbon monoxide play a pivotal role in modern catalyst science. The reaction is exothermic whether it produces methane, methanol, high molecular weight hydrocarbons or alcohols. Thus, it makes fuels and chemicals from the synthetic gas feedstock, CO, and H 2 that can be produced readily from methane or by the steam gasification of coal. By the early seventies, modern surface science reached such a level of maturity that its various techniques were employed for the CO hydrogenation studies. Low energy electron diffraction and electron microscopy were used to explore the catalyst surface structure, and electron spectroscopies (X-ray photoelectron, Auger and U.V. photoelectron-spectroscopies) were used to determine the surface composition and the oxidation states of surface atoms. Vibrational spectroscopies (high resolution electron energy loss and Fourier transform infrared) determined the structure of chemisorbed molecules, reaction intermediates, and molecular fragments. Solid state NMR and radioisotope labeling techniques were also employed extensively, and single crystal model catalysts explored the elementary reaction steps, the structure sensitivity of chemisorption, bond breaking, and bond formation. All these scientific investigations and the discovery of novel oxide supports, titanium oxide and zeolites permitted the development of new technologies that produce fuels or the desired chemicals with excellent selectivity. The transition metal or transition metal compound catalyst was used to control the elementary reaction, alkane, alkene or alcohol formation. The support oxide accelerated the metal catalyzed reaction steps or controlled the secondary reactions, the polymerization of the CH x fragments to produce linear or cyclic, aromatic products.
Carbon Nanotube Field-Emission X-Ray-Based Micro-computed Tomography for Biomedical Imaging

Conventional X-ray sources face limitations due to their reliance upon thermionic emission for electron generation. A recently developed X-ray source avoids this problem by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a cathode material for field emission of electrons instead of a heated tungsten filament. This CNT X-ray source is built compactly and is capable of high flux and excellent temporal resolution, and it is well suited for a variety of biomedical imaging applications. Here, we discuss the design of a micro-computed tomography system employing a CNT field-emission X-ray tube and its applications for live small-animal imaging in preclinical studies of human illness such as cancer and cardiac disease.
de Haas–van Alphen measurements of mixed valent CeSn3 (invited)

We present the first Fermi surface measurements of a mixed valent metal, CeSn3. We find a complex Fermi surface with at least nine separate frequency branches. The measured effective masses are very large, ranging from 4.2 to 9.2. The results directly confirm the existence of coherent Bloch states in CeSn3 and strongly support an itinerant model of mixed valence based on hybridized energy bands. We compare the Fermi surface properties of CeSn3 to those of LaSn3, a non‐mixed valent reference metal, and discuss how the comparison allows various proposed models of mixed valence to be tested. Preliminary band calculations using only exchange in the density functional are able to reproduce many of the qualitative features of the CeSn3 data.
Light-Intensity Physical Activity and Medical Multimorbidity.

OBJECTIVES No study has examined the association between objectively measured light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) and multimorbidity (≥2 chronic diseases) in a national sample of US adults. I undertook this examination. METHODS Data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used (N = 2048 adults 20 years old and older). Physical activity was assessed via accelerometry, with multimorbidity assessed via physician diagnosis and biometric screening. RESULTS In a multivariable linear regression and after adjustments, for every 60-minute/day increase in LIPA, participants had a lower multimorbidity index (βadjusted = -0.09, 95% confidence interval -0.12 to -0.05, P < 0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression and after adjustments, for every 60-minute/day increase in LIPA, participants had 13% (odds ratioadjusted 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.96, P = 0.01) reduced odds of being multimorbid (ie, having ≥2 morbidities). CONCLUSIONS LIPA, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, is associated with reduced odds of multimorbidity. As such, promotion of LIPA, as well as moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, may be a sensible strategy to help prevent and treat multimorbidity.
The seamless garment: is a 'consistent life ethic' without consideration of the environment inconsistent?

Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, before his death in 1996, was one of the strongest proponents of the concept of the "seamless garment of life" or a consistent life ethic. This is a crosscutting concept in U.S. social and political discourse and a measure that has been used to evaluate politicians of all stripes: Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives. In a nutshell, the seamless garment or the consistent life ethic calls upon its adherents to value human life from conception to natural death. The Seamless Garment is an allusion to the Christian scriptures wherein at the time of the execution of Jesus the Roman guards threw dice to determine who got his cloak; something that was considered too valuable to split. It is a philosophy that has attracted people from across not only Christianity, but a broader spectrum of believers. The consistent life ethic calls not just for opposition to abortion, euthanasia and war, but to capitol punishment and torture. Adherents to the ethic call for the dignity of the human person to be recognized at all stages of life and the relief of human suffering to be at a premium. This standard is a difficult one for politicians in the United States to adhere to at this time. Traditional allegiances to political liberalism and conservatism and the platforms and doctrines of the leading political parties conflict with it at one level or another. This paper addresses the question of the role of the Environment from a moral and ethical standpoint in relation to the 'consistent life ethic' and the potential repercussions for its inclusion in the current American political calculus.
MATING BEHAVIOR AND SPAWNING OF THE BANDED CORAL SHRIMP STENOPUS HISPIDUS IN THE LABORATORY

Mating behavior and relative fecundity, egg weight, and egg volume were investigated in the banded coral shrimp Stenopus hispidus. The effect of fluctuating temperature (4-6?C and 1.5-2?C difference between day and night) on fecundity was also tested. The relative fecundity was 1,229 ? 467 (mean ? SD) eggs/brood/g of female (wet body weight, WBW); egg volume was 0.0628 ? 0.0050 mm3 (mean ? SD); and dry egg weight was 35.1 ? 2.9 jug/egg (mean ? SD). Linear relationship between total length of the shrimp and relative fecundity was significant (P = 0.01), and there was a significant negative relationship between egg volume and relative fecundity (P = 0.03). High temperature fluctuation (4-6?C) resulted in lower dry egg weight (P = 0.0079). Mating behavior in Stenopus hispidus is described for the first time. It occurs in the following sequence: antennule contact, erection of female body, grasping, mating, and spawning. Females can mate successfully within 24 h after molting. Cleaner shrimps remove and consume parasites, injured tissue, and possibly considerable food particles from fishes, such as the white-spotted moray and blue tang in coral reef systems (Limbaugh et al., 1961; Jonasson, 1987), and thus play a vital role in the system. Because of their colorful body and the relative ease with which they can be maintained in a marine aquarium environment, adult cleaner shrimps are popular in the marine aquarium industry. However, removal of cleaner shrimps from the natural environment will result in a reduction of reef fish abun
The Effects of a Stretcher-Carry Harness on Soldier Performance: A Mass Casualty Simulation

This study investigated whether the use of a shoulder harness and team size would affect stretcher-carry performance, post-carry rifle marksmanship, and post-carry fine-motor coordination during a mass casualty simulation. Twelve male and eleven female soldiers volunteered. Soldiers carried stretchers in two- and four-person teams, with and without a shoulder harness in a 15-minute bout of rapid, short stretcher-carries and lifts. Soldiers completed as many carries as possible within the alloted period. Soldiers completed a marksmanship and fine-motor coordination task before and after each 15-minute period. Analysis of Variance and post hoc Newman-Keuls Comparison of Means revealed significant rifle shooting impairments after stretcher-carrying (p < 0.02). Men completed more carries than women (p < 0.0001), and more four-person hand carries were completed than other team size x harness combinations (p < 0.01). Women's rifle marksmanship was better when carrying in four-person teams (p < 0.05), while men'...
Analysis on Contamination Status of Listeria monocytogenes in Food in Jianggan District

Objective To understand the contamination status of Listeria monocytogenes in food in Jianggan District.Method By the consideration of the national standard method and the imported chromogenic culture medium,Listeria monocytogenes were separated from 4 kinds of foods, and biochemical identification and serological identification were made. Results 15 (13.8%) strains of Listeria monocytogenes were isolated from 109 samples. The contamination rates detected in raw meats、raw fruits and vegetables were 36.8% and 5.9%, respectively. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in cooked meats and aquatic products. The 15 Listeria monocytogenes belonged to 2 serum types, among them, 1/2b serum type accounting for 73.3%,1/2a serum type accounting for 26.7%.Conclusion Foods in Jianggan district of Hangzhou city were contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes,particularly in raw meats. The supervision and administration on food quality should be strengthened.
BP180 (type XVII collagen) and its role in cutaneous biology and disease.

BP180 is a key component of the epidermal anchoring complex and functions to maintain adherence of the epidermis to the basement membrane. Structural studies have revealed that BP180 is a type II transmembrane protein with a long carboxy-terminal collagenous domain that projects into the extracellular region beneath the epidermal hemidesmosome. The collagenous domains have the characteristic tripeptide repeat, Gly-X-Y. A normal proteolytic processing event results in the shedding of the BP180 extracellular domain (LAD1) from the keratinocyte cell surface. The biologic relevance of this process is not yet known. The interactions of BP180 with other constituents of the anchoring complex have been extensively studied and underscore the importance of BP180 in the assembly and functioning of this cell-matrix adhesion structure. In addition to its role in maintaining the integrity of the dermal-epidermal junction, there is evidence that BP180 is involved in transmembrane signal transduction and in the regulation of keratinocyte differentiation. BP180 mutations are responsible for certain forms of JEB and a rare subform of epidermolysis bullosa simplex. In addition, 5 acquired blistering disorders (i.e. BP, HG, CP, LAD and LPP) are associated with an autoimmune response to BP180. In vivo and in vitro disease model systems have clearly established the pathogenic relevance of autoantibodies directed against specific sites on the BP180 extracellular domain. Molecular and cellular analyses of the autoimmune response in BP and HG have been unable to distinguish these 2 diseases, supporting the notion that HG can be considered a pregnancy-associated form of BP. In contrast, the anti-BP180 immune response of the other 3 disease--CP, LAD, and LPP--can be immunologically distinguished from BP and HG. The distinctions lie within the isotype and subclass of the autoantibodies, as well as in differences in their fine specificities or complement-fixing properties, or both. These differences are thought to account for the heterogeneous phenotypes observed in this family of autoimmune diseases.
Myelomeningocele and Medical Ethics

Throughout history, the treatment of infants born with serious neurological and physical medical ailments has been debated: to treat or not to treat? In the early nineteenth century, little could be done for these infants who often either died during the perinatal period or succumbed to the natural progression of their disease. With improvements in medical diagnosis and treatment, a shift in attitude has led to more aggressive medical intervention in the treatment of affected newborns and an ability to treat certain conditions in the prenatal period [1, 2, 3]. Despite our success in treating younger and younger babies, some cases nevertheless result in children with a degree of physical or mental disability, many of whom could not have been treated as recently as 50 years ago [4]. Social and financial stresses are thus imposed on the families of these children as well as on society as a result of these “successful” treatments. Furthermore, a conflict remains between the benefits that the child gains from being sustained, albeit in a disabled state, and the quality of life the child experiences because of the treatments necessitated by his/her disease. Critical issues and arguments must be considered on all sides of the debate when considering medical intervention in severely ill infants.
Eukaryotic replication origins: Strength in flexibility

The eukaryotic replicative DNA helicase, Mcm2-7, is loaded in inactive form as a double hexameric complex around double-stranded DNA. To ensure that replication origins fire no more than once per S phase, activation of the Mcm2-7 helicase is temporally separated from Mcm2-7 loading in the cell cycle. This 2-step mechanism requires that inactive Mcm2-7 complexes be maintained for variable periods of time in a topologically bound state on chromatin, which may create a steric obstacle to other DNA transactions. We have recently found in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that Mcm2-7 double hexamers can respond to collisions with transcription complexes by sliding along the DNA template. Importantly, Mcm2-7 double hexamers remain functional after displacement along DNA and support replication initiation from sites distal to the origin. These results reveal a novel mechanism to specify eukaryotic replication origin sites and to maintain replication origin competence without the need for Mcm2-7 reloading.
Hippocampal arterial cerebral blood volume in early psychosis.

Abstract Recent studies of patients in the early stage of psychosis have revealed increased cerebral blood volume (CBV) in specific subfields of the anterior hippocampus. These studies required injection of a contrast agent to measure steady state CBV. Here we used a novel, non-invasive method, inflow-based-vascular-space-occupancy with dynamic subtraction (iVASO-DS), to measure the arterial component of CBV (aCBV) in a single slice of the hippocampus. Based on evidence from contrast-enhanced CBV studies, we hypothesized increased aCBV in the anterior hippocampus in early psychosis. We used 3 T MRI to generate iVASO-derived aCBV maps in 17 medicated patients (average duration of illness = 7.6 months) and 25 matched controls. We did not find hemispheric or regional group differences in hippocampal aCBV. The limited spatial resolution of the iVASO-DS method did not allow us to test for aCBV differences in specific subfields of the hippocampus. Future studies should investigate venous and arterial CBV changes in the hippocampus of early psychosis patients.
Diversity in the D.C. area: findings from the 2016 D.C. area survey

Washington, D.C. and its surrounding neighborhoods have become more racially diverse in recent years. Whereas the funk band, Parliament, once famously christened Washington “Chocolate City” and sang about its “vanilla suburbs,” many city and suburban neighborhoods today are interracially integrated. Anger and inequality that arose from Washington’s segregation boiled over into riots that rocked the city in 1968, making today’s racial integration all the more astounding. To investigate how D.C.-area residents perceive and experience racial diversity in their lives, American University conducted a comprehensive survey of their attitudes. We named the study the DC Area Survey (DCAS) and conducted it over 2 months during 2016 in some of the region’s most diverse neighborhoods. This report provides initial findings from that study.
Evaluating the Genetic Distinctiveness of the Salmon River Drainage Bighorn Sheep and their Connectivity to Neighboring Populations

Rocky mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) were historically abundant in Idaho, but currently population levels remain low. Bighorn Sheep (BHS) in the Salmon River drainage are considered one of Idaho’s only remaining native sheep populations because they were never completely extirpated from their historic range. In addition, there has been little or no genetic influence via translocation of sheep from outside the drainage potentially making this BHS population genetically unique to Idaho. Contrastingly, surrounding populations to the west and east were extirpated or severely reduced and have subsequently been reintroduced or heavily augmented through use of translocations from Canada and several western states. There is presumably some degree of population connectivity between the Salmon River sheep and surrounding areas but to date, this has not been investigated using genetic data. To assess the genetic distinctiveness of Salmon River bighorns and their connectivity to other populations, we have collected genetic data from 15 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci for 256 BHS using blood and horn shaving samples across a 33,786-km2 study area in central Idaho. The number of BHS genetic groups will be determined using Bayesian clustering algorithms, and the degree of connectivity between populations will be examined using Fst and assignment tests. Future directions include comparing radio-location data and genetic information to investigate structure/connectivity and potential for disease transmission of SRD bighorns as well as examining relationship between lamb productivity/ survival and genetic diversity/gene flow.
Endothelin as a Mediator of Blood-Brain Barrier Function

Brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC), the principal components of the blood—brain barrier (BBB) are interconnected by tight junctions, possess polar membranes and a paucity of pinocytotic vesicles in contrast to capillaries in peripheral organs.1 BCEC’s unique features embrace specialized transport and carrier systems as well as enzymes associated with various metabolic pathways that are essential to sustain the dynamic homeostasis of the brain. Many of these processes are thought to be neuronally regulated. There are a number of excellent reviews regarding the specific function of the BBB and regulation of the cerebral circulation by endothelium.2–4 It is now widely accepted that BCEC not only constitute a permeability barrier to ions and organic molecules (e.g., water, electrolytes, proteins, neurotransmitters), but are also an important secretory organ. BCEC produce agents and factors that may be involved in autocrine and paracrine regulation of the microvascular function of the brain. In general, the substances [e.g., prostacyclin, nitric oxide (NO), and adenosine] produced by these cells are considered to be cytoprotective. However, several other agents which are formed in BCEC and when released in excess may impair perfusion, alter BBB permeability and/or mediate cellular injury (i.e., endothelin I, angiotensin II, thromboxane, leukotrienes, platelet—activating factor, and Superoxide radicals). The secretory function of BCEC can also be modulated by substances released from adjacent cellular elements (other vascular cells, blood and/or brain). There is ample evidence that many of these events play a role in regulating vascular tone, permeability, hemostasis and blood pressure under normal conditions. However, in some pathologic conditions an “oversupply” of some of these agents may adversely affect the BBB permeability and/or surface expression of adhesion molecules (i.e., ICAM—1, VCAM—1, P—selectin) which facilitate binding and ultimately extravasation of circulating leukocytes.
Minor craniofacial anomalies among a Negro population. II. Prevalence of tongue anomalies.

Abstract A sample of 956 North American Negroes was examined for lingual abnormalities. The following frequencies were found: fissured tongue, 5.34 per cent; geographic tongue, 1.99 per cent; ankyloglossia, 2.20 per cent; median rhomboid glossitis, 0.42 per cent; and black hairy tongue, 0.31 per cent. The prevalence of fissured tongue increased with age. An association of fissured tongue and geographic tongue was noted.
PUTTING ROMAN DAMS IN CONTEXT: A VIRTUAL APPROACH

Abstract. Water resources and management have become a critical global issue. During the half-millennium of its existence, the Roman Empire developed numerous strategies to cope with water management, from large-scale urban aqueduct systems, to industrial-scale water mills designed to cope with feeding growing city populations. Roman engineers encountered, adopted, and adapted indigenous hydraulic systems, and left lasting imprints on the landscape of the Mediterranean and temperate Western Europe by employing a range of water technologies. A recent academic study has enabled the identification of remains of and references to seventy-two dams from the Roman era, constructed in Spain between the 1st and 4th century AD. Such unique heritage, without comparisons in the Mediterranean makes Spain an emblematic case study for the analysis of Roman hydraulic engineering and water management policies. Fifty dams have been located and detailed. The twenty-two outstanding, although identified on the ground, have not been able to be acceptably characterized, due in some cases to their being ruins in a highly degraded state, others due to their being masked by repairs and reconstructions subsequent to the Roman era. A good example of such neglected dams is the buttress dam of Consuegra , in Toledo province (Castilla-La Mancha). Dating to the 3rd - 4th century AD, the Dam of Consuegra, on the basin of the Guadiana, with its over 600 metres length and 4,80 metres height, is a remarkable case of Roman engineering mastery. It had a retaining wall upstream, numerous buttresses and perhaps an embankment downstream, of which no remains are left. The application of 3D digital imaging technique to create a high quality virtual model of such monuments has proved to be successful especially for the study of the technological aspects related its construction. The case study of the Roman dam of Muel (Zaragoza) has shown, in fact, as best practices in digital archaeology can provide an original and innovative perspective on a long time studied monument. In this paper it will be explored how deploying recent computer technologies to the Roman dam at Consuegra can advance our understanding of the history of local and regional landscape change and the technology of water management. In summer 2016, the dam has been documented with terrestrial laser scanning with two FARO Focus 3D x330 and aerial photogrammetry image capturing with a DJI Phantom 4 drone. Data was processed in various 3D software applications to generate 3D representations of the dam including 3D point clouds, animations, and meshed models.
After poverty reduction: trajectories of U.S. urban neighborhoods that escaped high poverty during the 1990s

Based on the Neighborhood Change Database, this study tracks U.S. urban neighborhoods that escaped the high-poverty category during the poverty reduction trend in the 1990s and explores their pover...
Transnational Linked Fate and Identity in Support for a Mexico-U.S. Political Union

Este estudio consiste en un analisis empirico que emplea datos de encuestas sobre las actitudes y orientaciones de la diaspora mexicana en Estados Unidos para explicar su apoyo a una union politica entre los dos paises. El autor articula una teoria de identidad y afinidad compartida para explicar las visiones de esa poblacion sobre esta cuestion. Un analisis de regresion revela que un destino vinculado transnacional, la creencia de que lo que les sucede a los mexicanos en Mexico afecta la vida de las personas de origen mexicano en Estados Unidos y la identidad latina son factores independientes y significativos que predicen el apoyo a una union politica de Mexico y Estados Unidos. Estos hallazgos senalan la importancia de las experiencias de los mexicanos en Estados Unidos para conocer las actitudes hacia la politica norteamericana.
CHAPTER VI – Limits

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the limits and presents a general theory. The economy to prove one theorem in the general setting and to extract appropriate corollaries in the various particular situations is a part of the reason for the construction. The chapter presents the limit concept in its various guises. It further presents several examples of directions and directed functions; the purpose being not only to cement the ideas but also to display the power and flexibility of the generalized limit theory. The chapter discusses the problem of placing the Riemann integral into the generalized limit scheme. It provides an introduction to a generalized theory of limits.
Technology of Electron-Bombardment Ion Thrusters

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the technology of electron-bombardment ion thrusters. The function of the ion source in electric propulsion is to generate an ion current of moderate, but nearly uniform current density, and to do this with low losses of energy and neutrals. The production of ions in an electron-bombardment thruster takes place within the ion or discharge chamber volume. In a typical operation, electrons are emitted by the ion chamber cathode, which is maintained 30–40 V negative of the anode for mercury propellant. The emitted electrons are constrained by the ends of the chamber, which are at cathode potential and by a magnetic field, which is usually approximately parallel to the axis of the ion chamber. This chapter emphasizes the basic thruster technology. The discussion is made general to facilitate the use of this information in all potential applications. Bombardment thrusters have been operated for the most part with mercury propellant, so work with that propellant is emphasized. Theory and experimental performance of ion production is discussed. Concepts related to electrostatic acceleration are elaborated. Basics of neutralization, thruster efflux, and electron emission are also explained.
Media work, identity, and the motivations that shape branding practices among journalists: An explanatory framework:

This study offers a new way of understanding the motivations that influence media workers’ impression management (or branding) in the social media era. Amid the growing insecurity of media work gen...
Nonparametric Sharpe Ratio

Sharpe ratio is a widely accepted tool for comparing the portfolio performance. In this paper we have proposed a nonparametric measure of the Sharpe rule. The statistical properties of this nonparametric measure and the standard Sharpe ratio are then developed under both normality and non-normality of observations. Further thebias corrected measures are given. An empirical application is also provided.
hiPSCs in cardio-oncology: deciphering the genomics

The genomic predisposition to oncology-drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity has been postulated for many decades. Only recently has it become possible to experimentally validate this hypothesis via the use of patient-specific human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and suitably powered genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Identifying the individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) responsible for the susceptibility to toxicity from a specific drug is a daunting task as this precludes the use of one of the most powerful tools in genomics: comparing phenotypes to close relatives, as these are highly unlikely to have been treated with the same drug. Great strides have been made through the use of candidate gene association studies (CGAS) and increasingly large GWAS studies, as well as in vivo whole-organism studies to further our mechanistic understanding of this toxicity. The hiPSC model is a powerful technology to build on this work and identify and validate causal variants in mechanistic pathways through directed genomic editing such as CRISPR. The causative variants identified through these studies can then be implemented clinically to identify those likely to experience cardiovascular toxicity and guide treatment options. Additionally, targets identified through hiPSC studies can inform future drug development. Through careful phenotypic characterization, identification of genomic variants that contribute to gene function and expression, and genomic editing to verify mechanistic pathways, hiPSC technology is a critical tool for drug discovery and the realization of precision medicine in cardio-oncology.
Causal Inference About Good and Bad Outcomes.

People learn differently from good and bad outcomes. We argue that valence-dependent learning asymmetries are partly driven by beliefs about the causal structure of the environment. If hidden cause...
Factors Associated With Geriatric Frequent Users of Emergency Departments.

Study objective Frequent users of the emergency department (ED) are often associated with increased health care costs. Limited research is devoted to frequent ED use within the increasing senior population, which accounts for the highest use of health care resources. We evaluate patient characteristics and patterns of ED use among geriatric patients. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study of ED visits among geriatric patients older than 65 years in 2013 and 2014. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations with frequent users. The setting was a nonpublic statewide database in California, which includes 326 licensed nonfederal hospitals. We included all geriatric patients within the database who were older than 65 years and had an ED visit in 2014, for a total of 1,259,809 patients with 2,792,219 total ED visits. The main outcome was frequent users, defined as having greater than or equal to 6 ED visits in a 1-year period, starting from their last visit in 2014. Results Overall, 5.7% of geriatric patients (n=71,449) were identified as frequent users of the ED. They accounted for 21.2% (n=592,407) of all ED visits. The associations of frequent ED use with the largest magnitude were patients with an injury-related visit (odds ratio 3.8; 95% confidence interval 3.8 to 3.9), primary diagnosis of pain (odds ratio 5.5; 95% confidence interval 5.4 to 5.6), and comorbidity index score greater than or equal to 3 (odds ratio 7.2; 95% confidence interval 7.0 to 7.5). Conclusion Geriatric frequent users are likely to have comorbid conditions and be treated for conditions related to pain and injuries. These findings provide evidence to guide future interventions to address these needs that could potentially decrease frequent ED use among geriatric patients.
Rheological and Curing Properties of Unsaturated Polyester Resin Nanocomposites

Abstract The rheological properties of thermoset polymers have an established influence on their suitability for manufacturing methods ranging from manual composite lay-up to emerging additive manufacturing methodologies. In the case of nanocomposites, both nanomaterial microstructure in uncured resin and the effects of nanomaterials on curing can have profound effects on the processability and properties of the final cured composite. However, compared to epoxy resins, there have been relatively few publications on the use of rheology to understand unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) nanocomposites. This chapter provides a framework for using rheological methods to understand nanomaterial–UPR dispersion microstructures and stabilities including low shear aggregation tendencies, percolated network formation, the nature of nanomaterial flocs, the relative strength of nanomaterial–nanomaterial versus nanomaterial–resin attraction, and the effects of nanomaterials on curing. In order to concisely exemplify the utility of these methods, this chapter is focused on carbon nanomaterial–UPR composites. However, the methods and results described in this chapter are based on fundamental colloid and polymer science principles; therefore, they are broadly applicable.