cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Ion Chamber System Used at High Instantaneous Rates

A radiation hard, compact, ion chamber detector system is described. The chambers are planar, with narrow gaps, and are filled with nitrogen gas. They operated at a signal rate equivalent to {approx} 2 x 10{sup 8} minimum ionizing tracks per cm{sup 2}, delivered in pulses 250 ns long, while monitoring an intense scattered electron flux.
Links between patterns of marine growth and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, L.

The hypothesis that marine survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo Salar is linked to marine growth was explored by using inter-circuli distances and total numbers of circuli existing on scales from a population monitored over nearly four decades. The results suggest that marine growth controls survival, particularly during the late summer and early winter of the first year at sea. Recruitment is strongly linked to growth, described as the total number of circuli, but not to inter-circuli distances. This highlights the potential of patterns of circuli number to be considered as proxies for growth. Indications that hatchery populations might be subject to other mortality events, in addition to those experienced by wild populations, are also presented.
Interferometric Tiling of large-aperture gratings for Petawatt laser systems

A tiled-grating assembly with three large-scale gratings is developed with real-time interferometric tiling control for a petawatt laser system. Tiling-parameters sensitivity and focal- spot degradation are analyzed for a compressor composed of four such assemblies.
Accumulation of contaminants of emerging concern in food crops—part 2: Plant distribution

Arid agricultural regions often turn to using treated wastewater (reclaimed water) to irrigate food crops. Concerns arise, however, when considering the potential for persistent contaminants of emerging concern to accumulate into plants intended for human consumption. The present study examined the accumulation of a suite of 9 contaminants of emerging concern into 2 representative food crops, lettuce and strawberry, following uptake via the roots and subsequent distribution to other plant tissues. Calculating accumulation metrics (concentration factors) allowed for comparison of the compartmental affinity of each chemical for each plant tissue compartment. The root concentration factor was found to exhibit a positive linear correlation with the pH-adjusted octanol-water partition coefficient (DOW ) for the target contaminants of emerging concern. Coupled with the concentration-dependent accumulation observed in the roots, this result implies that accumulation of these contaminants of emerging concern into plant roots is driven by passive partitioning. Of the contaminants of emerging concern examined, nonionizable contaminants, such as triclocarban, carbamazepine, and organophosphate flame retardants displayed the greatest potential for translocation from the roots to above-ground plant compartments. In particular, the organophosphate flame retardants displayed increasing affinity for shoots and fruits with decreasing size/octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW ). Cationic diphenhydramine and anionic sulfamethoxazole, once transported to the shoots of the strawberry plant, demonstrated the greatest potential of the contaminants examined to be then carried to the edible fruit portion.
Immunological comparison of desmosomal components from several bovine tissues

A panel of monoclonal antibodies and conventional antisera directed against desmosomal proteins from bovine muzzle epidermis was used Io identify immunologically related proteins from two other bovine stratified squamous epithelia, cornea and esophagus. Desmosome-enriched tissue fractions were prepared from epidermis, cornea, and esophagus. These tissue extracts were electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, blotted onto nitrocellulose paper, and labeled using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Labeling with the conventional antisera demonstrates that each of the previously characterized epidermal desmosomal proteins or protein families has an immunologically cross-reacting counterpart in cornea and esophagus. However, chemical differences between homologous desmosomal proteins in these three tissues have also been detected. The corresponding proteins in the different tissues have similar but not always identical apparent molecular weights. Moreover, tissue-restricted antigenic determinants were detected in two of the desmosomal protein families using four monoclonal antibodies, each of which recognizes a distinct antigenic determinant.
Some convergence properties of median filters

A median filter is a nonlinear digital filter which consists of a window of length 2N + 1 that moves over a signal of finite length. For each input sample, the corresponding output point is the median of all samples in the window centered on that input sample. Any finite length, M -level, signal that ends with constant regions of length N + 1 will converge to an invariant signal in a finite number of passes of this median filter. Such an invariant signal is called a root. The concept of a root signal has proved to be crucial in understanding the properties of the median filter, root signals are to median filters what passband signals are to linear signals. In this paper, two results concerning the rate at which a signal is filtered to a root are developed. For a window of width 3, we derive a recursive formula to count the number of binary signals of length L that converge to a root in exactly m passes of a median filter. Also, we show that, given a window of width 2N + 1 , any signal of length L will converge to a root in at most 3\lceil\frac{(L-2)}{2(N + 2)}\rceil passes of the filter.
Influence of Age and Sex on Footpad Quality and Yield in Broiler Chickens Reared on Low and High Density Diets

SUMMARY The effect of age and sex on live performance, processing yields, and footpad quality of broiler chickens was evaluated by rearing 2 commercial strain-crosses (SC) to 56 d of age on 2 diets varying in nutrient density. Each strain cross was placed in 10 replicate pens of 50 birds (25 males and 25 females per pen). Equally distributed among the replicate pens were high- and low-density starter (0 to 21 d) and grower (22 to 42 d) diets with a common finisher fed from 43 to 56 d to all birds. Body weights, adjusted feed conversion, and mortality were determined at 21, 42, and 56 d of age. Processing yields, foot weights, and yields, and the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis were evaluated on d 35, 42, 49, and 56. No differences (P > 0.05) were seen in mortality between the SC and diet density treatments throughout the course of the study. Strain-cross had a significant effect on body weights at d 21 and feed conversion at d 42, but no differences remained at d 56. Significant SC effects were present for carcass without giblets at d 35, 42, and 56. Diet density effects were limited to carcass withoutgibletsatd35andabdominalfatcontentatd56.Asexpected,femaleshadhigherabdominal fat yields than males at all ages examined. Foot weight and yields were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by SC and sex at d 42, 49, and 56. As expected, foot weights increased with age. The proportion of birds with footpad dermatitis tendedtoincreaseuntil49dofageafterwhichtheystartedtodecline.Malebroilershadsignificantly higher incidence of footpad dermatitis than female broilers at d 49 and 56. Footpad dermatitis response to diet density and pigmentation of the feet was dependent on SC.
Simultaneous effect of macromixing and micromixing on growth processes

Interaction of macromixing and micromixing in microbiological flow reactors based on a kinetic model of the Michaelis-Menten type has been treated by considering two general types of flow systems: the system of n continuous stirred-tank reactors in series (n-CSTR's in series) and the series combination of a plug-flow reactor and a continuous stirred-tank reactor. Systematic schemes to describe the micromixing conditions of a reactor system are presented. Additional micromixing states are considered besides those proposed by Kramers and those proposed by Zwietering if the systems are employed as empirical models of a flow system. When the number of stirred-reactor units in the system of n-CSTR's in series is small, micromixing has a significant effect on the growth processes. As the number of reactor units increases, the micromixing effect on the growth processes decreases. The effect of micromixing is also important for a system described by a series combination of a plug-flow reactor and a continuous stirred reactor. In addition, the exit concentrations from the system having the same residence time distribution and the same degree of segregation may be different from each other. Information obtained in this study is pertinent in the design of biological flow reactors and sewage treatment systems.
Stabilization of XIAP mRNA through the RNA binding protein HuR regulated by cellular polyamines

The X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is the most potent intrinsic caspase inhibitor and plays an important role in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial integrity. The RNA binding protein, HuR, regulates the stability and translation of many target transcripts. Here, we report that HuR associated with both the 3′-untranslated region and coding sequence of the mRNA encoding XIAP, stabilized the XIAP transcript and elevated its expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Ectopic HuR overexpression or elevated cytoplasmic levels of endogenous HuR by decreasing cellular polyamines increased [HuR/XIAP mRNA] complexes, in turn promoting XIAP mRNA stability and increasing XIAP protein abundance. Conversely, HuR silencing in normal and polyamine-deficient cells rendered the XIAP mRNA unstable, thus reducing the steady state levels of XIAP. Inhibition of XIAP expression by XIAP silencing or by HuR silencing reversed the resistance of polyamine-deficient cells to apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate that HuR regulates XIAP expression by stabilizing its mRNA and implicates HuR-mediated XIAP in the control of intestinal epithelial apoptosis.
Piezoresistive sensors for smart textiles

We have used inkjet printing to deposit silver conducting lines and small PEDOT (conducting polymer) sensors onto fabrics. The printed conductors penetrate into the fabric and can be shown to coat the individual fibers within the yarn, through the full thickness of the cloth. The PEDOT sensor has a resistance in the region of a few kilo-ohms and is connected to measuring equipment by printed silver lines with a resistance of a few ohms. In this way, local strains can be measured at different sites on a fabric. The PEDOT responds to a tensile strain by a reduction in resistance with a gauge factor (change in resistance/strain) from -5 to -20. This compares with conventional strain gauges where the gauge factor is normally +2. These sensors cycle to strains of over 10%. We have measured gauge factors as a function of the orientation of the sensing line to the fabric axes, to the strain axes for different fabric structures. We can correlate the gauge factor with the extent to which the twisted multifilament yarns are expected to become laterally compressed. In preliminary tests we have shown that these printed sensors can be used to monitor knee and wrist motions and so could be used to provide information in applications such as rehabilitation from joint damage.
Pneumatic Networks as Geographs

The Jordan–Sylvester graph center theorem provides an established and well-known method for calculating the center of a graph. We visualize this theorem in the context of a historical network, the Berlin Rohrpost of 1901, and interpret that visualization using contemporary visualization tools (Google Earth). Technology serves to bridge a visualization gap over time and, through this example, suggests direction for updating other historical studies. It also serves to guide further the direction of methodological research in regard to space filling as Fractalyse software offers planners ideas of how densely packed, with network nodes, an urban environment might become over time. El teorema del centro del grafico de Jordan-Sylvester (Jordan 1869), proporciona un metodo establecido y bien conocido para calcular el centro de un grafico. Visualizamos este teorema en el contexto de una red historica, la de Berlin Rohrpost de 1901 e interpretamos dicha visualizacion utilizando herramientas contemporaneas de visualizacion (Google Earth). La tecnologia sirve para llenar el vacio de visualizacion a traves del tiempo y a traves de este ejemplo indica la direccion para actualizar otros estudios historicos. Tambien sirve para guiar la investigacion metodologica en lo que respecta a la ocupacion de espacios ya que el software de Fractales ofrece a los planeadores ideas acerca de que tan densamente ocupado de nodos puede un medio urbano volverse con el tiempo. Jordan–Sylvester 图中心理论(Jordan 1869)提供了一种确定的且广为人知的图中心计算方法。本文在1901年的柏林Rohrpost的历史网络中对该理论进行了可视化，并利用现代可视化工具（Google Earth）对可视化结果进行了说明。本文填补了早期研究中可视化技术的缺失，为提升其他历史研究提供了方向。同时也为空间填充方法研究指引了新方向，由于Fractalyse软件能不规划人员提供网络节点密集填充方案，这样可以演示一个城市环境随着时间逐渐形成的过程。
Alterations of Brain Levels of Phosphoinositidase-C–Linked Gqα/G11α Proteins and Motor Function in Rats After Cardiac Arrest

Background and Purpose Phosphoinositidase-C–linked Gqα and G11α proteins have only recently been characterized. Second messenger systems are known to be affected by hypoxia-ischemia. However, the effects of hypoxia-ischemia on the brain levels of Gqα and G11α proteins are not known. Therefore, in the present studies, the effects of hypoxia-ischemia on Gqα and G11α proteins in rats were investigated with quantitative immunoblot analysis. Methods Cardiac arrest was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by an intracardial injection of KCl. Resuscitation began 10 minutes afterwards. At various time points after resuscitation, animals were killed and the cerebral cortex, striatum, and cerebellum were dissected. Levels of Gqα and G11α proteins were investigated by quantitative immunoblot analysis. Results At 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after resuscitation, Gqα and G11α protein levels remained unaltered. However, a significant reduction of these proteins was seen in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rats 3 and 14 day...
Wireless ambulatory pH studies: manometric or endoscopic guidance?

SUMMARY Wireless pH studies are widely used to assess the presence and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease. We hypothesized that sedation or air insufflation during a preceding endoscopy may systematically alter results. A retrospective review of ambulatory pH studies completed between January 2008 and April 2010 was performed. The pH capsule was placed 6 cm above the endoscopically determined location of the squamocolumnar junction or 5 cm above the manometrically localized upper border of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). A total of 356 patients (65% women) underwent pH studies using the BRAVO system (GIVEN Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel). In 186 patients (E-P), the capsule was placed during endoscopy. In 170 patients (M-P), capsule placement was based on manometric determination of LES boundaries using pharyngeal anesthesia only. Endoscopic placement was successful in all cases, whereas two patients could not tolerate capsule insertion with topical anesthesia only. The mean recording time did not differ between the two groups (E-P: 2468 ± 38 min; M-P: 2415 ± 40 min). The number of patients with abnormal findings on day 1 but normal results for day 2 was similar with 15% for E-P compared with 11% for M-P. However, there was a significant difference in total acid exposure times between days 1 and 2 for endoscopically (day 1: 7.3 ± 1.2; day 2: 4.8 ± 0.5; P < 0.01), but not manometrically based placement (day 1: 7.7 ± 0.7; day 2: 7.2 ± 0.6). There was no difference in the number of symptoms between days or groups (E-P day 1:13.4 ± 1.3; E-P day 2: 16.0 ± 1.6; M-P day 1: 14.1 ± 2.1; M-P day 2: 15.7 ± 2.0). Similarly, the symptom sensitivity index did not differ significantly between days and groups (E-P: day 1: 4.1 ± 0.5; day 2: 5.9 ± 0.8; M-P: day 5.3 ± 0.8; day 2: 5.7 ± 0.8). The majority of patients tolerate insertion of a wireless pH monitoring capsule without sedation. Unsedated placement did not negatively affect total recording times. Although endoscopy resulted in higher acid exposure on day one it did not significantly increase the overall fraction of abnormal tests. If confirmed in prospective studies, the more consistent findings and a potential to lower cost favor manometrically guided capsule placement.
Perfect data reconstruction algorithm of time interleaved ADCs

This paper analyzes the effects of gain, phase and timing imperfections in a time interleaved ADC structure by building a mathematical model, proposes a complete and perfect solution by solving equations, and validates the solution with data from real hardware.
Correction for Santander et al., Fur-regulated iron uptake system of Edwardsiella ictaluri and its influence on pathogenesis and immunogenicity in the catfish host.

Volume 80, no. 8, p. [2689–2703][1], 2012. Page 2698: Figure 8 should appear as shown below. ![Figure][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/IAI.00013-12 [2]: pending:yes
Suppression of Metabolic Resistance Through Chemical Structure Modification

One of the major causes for the development of resistance to the toxic action of insecticides is the ability of the insect to modify or detoxify the insecticide at a rate fast enough to prevent critical buildup of the active material at the target site. This insecticide detoxification may occur by means of a variety of metabolic processes in which the parent material is converted into a nontoxic form or into a form that can be rapidly eliminated from the insect body. These processes are well described elsewhere in this volume.
Suicidal Ideation and Behavior as Adverse Events of Prescribed Medications: An Update for Pharmacists

Abstract Objectives Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled more than 125 prescription drugs for potential adverse effects of suicidal ideation and behavior. Several are in the top 200 for highest dispensed volume, including the entire class of antiepileptics. Also included are drugs used to treat urinary incontinence, an antibiotic, and smoking cessation agents. We describe the importance of pharmacists' identification and management of these complex adverse events and conclude with the potential for Department of Veterans Affairs and other big data longitudinal clinical research projects to provide additional insight into the complex causes of this adverse event. Summary Questions persist about causality (pharmacologic provocation of suicide) in the context of psychiatric treatment response (treatment emergence) and the multifactorial pathogenesis of suicidal behavior, which is distinct from suicidal ideation. In the future, big data with the use of medical records (rather than claims) may provide valuable insights into this question. Conclusion Pharmacists are encouraged to file adverse event reports for suicide and suicide attempts resulting in death, disability, or hospitalization via MedWatch even if the reports are incomplete. Resources to support pharmacists managing patients at risk include hotlines, chatlines, texting, and free federally funded online training.
Assessment of the Level of Satisfaction and Unmet Data Needs for Specialty Drug Formulary Decisions in the United States

BACKGROUND: Formulary management within a limited budget is critical, especially for specialty drugs, which are used for serious medical conditions and are very expensive. Despite attempts to summarize the pertinent evidence, it is uncertain whether data needs of formulary decision makers for specialty drugs are satisfied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of satisfaction of specialty drug formulary decision makers with regards to the strength of current available data sources and unmet needs regarding clinical, economic, and unpublished evidence. METHODS: This study targeted pharmacists and physicians involved with formulary decision making at health plans or pharmacy benefit management companies at the national, large regional, and local levels. 95 individuals were invited to participate (without compensation) in a 21-item, web-based survey (Qualtrics), which was open from June 14 to July 31, 2014. The responses were coded for descriptive and statistical analysis. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-...
Seeding with a Diamond Suspension for Growth of Smooth Polycrystalline Diamond Surfaces

A number of techniques have been used to smooth polycrystalline diamond films. Recent work in substrate seeding with nanocrystalline diamond powder, alone or in a carrier fluid, has shown that diamond seeding improves nucleation density and reduces diamond surface roughness. In this work, silicon substrates were seeded using a commercially available water-based 0.1 micrometer diamond polishing suspension. Growth was achieved using conventional hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). Films were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface profilometry. The resulting diamond films exhibited well-faceted crystals, small grain size and minimal surface roughness. Additionally, the silicon substrate was chemically etched in order to permit examination of the backside of the diamond film. Results show that the diamond surface at the silicon-diamond interface is ultra-smooth. Comparison of the backside of these surfaces with those prepared using conventional diamond grit abrasion indicates that a significant improvement in surface quality is achieved using this diamond seeding technique.
Ruled by attention: A case study of professional digital attention agents at Sina.com and the Chinese blogosphere

Much has been written about the crucial role attention plays in the digital economy and how to enhance technological features to better sustain user attention for commercial applications. However, ...
Structural Analyses of Metal/GaAs Contacts and Ge/GaAs and AlAs/GaAs Heterojunctions

Cross-sectional observations of interface structures at high magnification by TEM and STEM offer excellent lateral and depth resolution which are not available by other analytical techniques. This technique has recently been applied by the author to study metal/GaAs contacts and MBE-grown semiconductor heterojunctions. Specific observations on alloyed Au-Ni-Ge/GaAs and Pd/GaAs interfaces and on epitaxially grown Ge-GaAs and AlAs-GaAs superlattice structures are reviewed in this paper. The high spatial resolution of the energy dispersive x-ray analysis performed in a STEM is most useful in the studies of complicated metal/ GaAs interfacial reactions. However, to resolve on an atomic scale the compositional profile across a heterojunction, one has to rely on diffraction technique. The detailed analyses of these interfacial reactions and structures are shown to be essential to the understanding and control of the electronic behavior associated with these interfaces.
On-Orbit Experience with the Spitzer Space Telescope Optical System

The Spitzer Space Telescope operates at wavelengths between 3.6 and 160 microns. This paper describes the on-orbit performance of the beryllium optical system which was launched warm and radiatively cooled to cryogenic temperatures.
An analysis and monitoring of plague host animails and species of its vectors in Guangzhou from 2001 to 2010

Objectives In this study,the constitution,distribution and population densities of plague host animails and vectors in Guangzhou were analyzed.Such information can be used to formulate policies and plans for the prevention and control of plague.Methods Rodents were captured by cages which were placed in the evening at different locations in the 12 districts,counties of Guangzhou.The rodents which had been captured and the fleas living on the rodents' body were studied.Then the population densities of rodents,percentage of rodents carrying fleas,and flea index were calculated.Plague F1 antibody was tested by IHA.Results A total of 8891 rodents,which belonged to 2 orders(including 8 285 Rodentia and 606 Insectivora),2 families,4 genera and 9 species,were captured in 10 years time.The total density of rodents(the rate of the captured) was 11.29%.243 out of 1185 rodents were found to have fleas.The 811 fleas collected belonged to 4 species,mainly Xenopsylla cheopis.The percentage of rodents carrying fleas was 20.51%,and the total flea index was 0.68.Plague F1 antibody was negative.Conclusions There was no evidence of plague exposure in rodents in Guangzhou.The major rodent species in Guangzhou was Rattus norvegicus,and the major flea species was Xenopsylla cheopis.
Follow-up Testing for Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Analysis of Massachusetts Surveillance Data, 2007–2010:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) identified cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection reported from 2007 through 2010 to assess evidence of appropriate follow-up testing for the diagnosis of active HCV infection. Surveillance data were used to assess the number of people with reported HCV who had an antibody test and nucleic acid test (NAT) for HCV, to determine the time between tests, and to identify demographic characteristics. Out of the 34,005 cases of HCV reported with laboratory results during the study period, 45% (n=15,279) had only an antibody test reported and 55% (n=18,726) had a NAT reported, with differences by age, gender, and region of residence. Nearly half of those with reported cases of HCV infection in Massachusetts did not have a NAT reported to MDPH, indicating that these individuals may not have received appropriate diagnostic testing. Analysis of demographics suggests differences by age, gender, and region.
Review: ACE inhibitors reduce mortality and cardiovascular endpoints in stable coronary artery disease.

Source Citation Danchin N, Cucherat M, Thuillez C, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease and absence of heart failure or left ventricular systolic...
Crosstalk of HNF4 α with extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways in the regulation of hepatic metabolism of drugs and lipids.

The liver is essential for survival due to its critical role in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Metabolism of xenobiotics, such as environmental chemicals and drugs by the liver protects us from toxic effects of these xenobiotics, whereas metabolism of cholesterol, bile acids (BAs), lipids, and glucose provide key building blocks and nutrients to promote the growth or maintain the survival of the organism. As a well-established master regulator of liver development and function, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) plays a critical role in regulating a large number of key genes essential for the metabolism of xenobiotics, metabolic wastes, and nutrients. The expression and activity of HNF4α is regulated by diverse hormonal and signaling pathways such as growth hormone, glucocorticoids, thyroid hormone, insulin, transforming growth factor-β, estrogen, and cytokines. HNF4α appears to play a central role in orchestrating the transduction of extracellular hormonal signaling and intracellular stress/nutritional signaling onto transcriptional changes in the liver. There have been a few reviews on the regulation of drug metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, and inflammation by HNF4α. However, the knowledge on how the expression and transcriptional activity of HNF4α is modulated remains scattered. Herein I provide comprehensive review on the regulation of expression and transcriptional activity of HNF4α, and how HNF4α crosstalks with diverse extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways to regulate genes essential in liver pathophysiology.
School Textbooks, US and Them

The books in this series have tried to surface “the hidden political, social, and economic curriculum of schools” in particular national contexts through the lens of school textbooks. The first volume looked at the portrayal of the nation, how textbooks appear to establish and maintain the legitimacy of the state, especially in periods of rapid change.
Role Dynamics in Encounters

Despite its importance to sociological analysis, the concept of roles remains rather vaguely conceptualized. Part of the reason for this vagueness is that roles organize the behaviors through which other microdynamic processes operate; and as a consequence, role dynamics become complex. Just listing the many dimensions of roles can best bring home this point. For instance, roles are cultural in that there is usually a script or set of expectations for how individuals should behave in a particular situation or in a status position (Linton 1936; Goffman 1959, 1967); roles are cognitive in that persons carry in their stocks of knowledge inventories of roles and elements of roles that they use to interpret the actions of others and to orchestrate their behaviors in order to make a role for themselves (Turner 1962, 1988, 2002); roles are the mechanism by which persons come to understand the dispositions and to anticipate the likely actions of others during the course of interaction (Mead 1934); roles are the anchor that gives individuals a sense that they are experiencing the same reality (Schutz 1932 [1967]); roles are played on a stage or in an ecological location and often involve the use of props to bring off a line of conduct (Goffman 1959); roles are what give meaning to ecological settings, props, and use-spaces (Goffman 1963, 1967, 1971); roles are used strategically to bring off a performance and to secure resources, and conversely, roles can be the means by which resources are mobilized for exchanges with others and, at times become a resource in and of themselves (Callero 1994); roles are the vehicle by which individuals verify their various levels of self (Burke 1980; Burke and Stets 2009; Stryker 1980); roles are also the vehicle by which other transactional needs are realized, allowing persons to secure resources in exchange, to feel included in ongoing activity, to achieve a sense of trust, and to experience a sense of facticity (Turner 2002, 2008); roles are the means for signaling which elements of culture to what degree are relevant in normatizing encounters (Turner 1962, 1968, 2002); roles are both behavioral adjuncts to status (Park 1926) and the means and resources for asserting status (Clark 1990); and roles are the vehicle by which emotions are often displayed to others (Moreno 1934 [1953]; Turner 2008).
The Need for Cultural Considerations in Examining and Facilitating Puerto Ricans' Financial Retirement Planning

Although research suggests that ethnicity is one of the variables that significantly affects an individual's preparation for retirement, little systematic effort has been devoted to retire­ment planning among ethnic groups. Puerto Ricans, in particular, have received very little attention. Yet, the available literature gives evidence of poor planning and lack of financial preparedness for retirement by this population group. This paper is prompted by research analyses that attribute the poor financial planning for retirement among Puerto Ricans to economic variables. However, economic factors alone do not explain the lack of preretirement planning by most Puerto Ricans. The author explores some key cultural variables that underlie preretirement planning processes and decisions, and that help serve as an alternative explanation for the lack of planning. A bet­ter understanding of the cultural variables discussed in this paper may lead to development of a more sensitive and coherent alternative framework for policy makers and helping pro­fessionals to employ as they work to assist Puerto Ricans to prepare for a reasonably sound quality of life upon retirement.
Timing and rate of global contraction on Mercury

Impact bombardment and global contraction due to planetary cooling have both shaped the surface of Mercury over very long time scales. Landforms associated with these processes, i.e., impact craters and thrust fault-related escarpments, and their mutual geologic relationships were analyzed to gain insight into the temporal relationships between the two. We assess stratigraphic relationships of ~6000 thrust fault-related landforms with all 20-km-diameter and larger craters to statistically evaluate the timing and rate of contraction on Mercury. Geometric probabilities were computed for thrust faults cross-cutting craters of different degradation stages that correspond to different time-stratigraphic systems, which allow determination of the onset and time derivative of global contraction. Results show that this process had begun after the late heavy bombardment of the inner solar system and likely gradually slowed toward the present. Implications arise for thermal history models as well as slip rates and quake recurrence intervals along thrust faults on Mercury.
Effect of different alumina supports on performance of cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts

Abstract Four identically-prepared 20 wt% cobalt/0.15 wt% ruthenium Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, supported on different aluminas, were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation, characterized, and compared based on their performance under standard Fischer-Tropsch synthesis conditions. Three alumina supports were obtained from commercial sources (Sasol, St. Gobain, and Alfa Aesar), while the fourth was made using a published technique that included 5 wt% silica. The silica-stabilized alumina catalyst produced superior Fischer-Tropsch rates of 49 mmol CO/gcat h, compared to the other catalysts on the commercial supports with rates of 26–39 mmol CO/gcat h. The improved performance of the silica-stabilized alumina support compared to the commercially available aluminas is ascribed to a bimodal pore structure with larger average diameters and enhanced thermal stability. The support can be thermally treated to higher temperatures (e.g., 1100 °C) without transformation into α-alumina, allowing dehydroxylation of the surface prior to impregnation to stabilize a nearly ideal dispersion of cobalt crystallites.
Measuring and Evaluating Convergence Processes Across a Series of Group Discussions

As groups develop, members’ knowledge and expectations regarding the task and the group tend to converge. Such convergence allows members to anticipate and coordinate their own and others’ actions, facilitating productive group work. Using zero-history laboratory groups, this study analyzes the presence and trajectory of cognitive convergence as groups worked on a series of three similar tasks. We focus on two types of convergence: anticipatory expectations for future work, and reflective assessments regarding previous group discussions. Results indicate immediate convergence for reflective cognitions but delayed convergence for anticipatory cognitions. Associations among the different types of convergence also vary at the group- and individual-levels of analysis. The discussion addresses measurement implications of both types of convergence in regard to emergence of group-like cognitive structures.
A periodic table for benzenoid hydrocarbons

The formulas for all benzenoid hydrocarbons are found in Table PAH6 which has x,y-coordinates of (d s , NIc). Recursive construction of this table was accomplished using an aufbau principle. This table complies to a sextet rule analogous to the octet rule for the periodic table of elements, and d s is analogous to the outer-shell electronic configuration and NIc is analogous to the principle quantum number associated with the periodic table of elements. The aufbau principle and the excised internal structure and strictly pericondensed concepts were evolved in conjunction with the formula periodic table for benzenoid hydrocarbons and represent new ideas formulated by this author. These fundamentals led to the first examples of enumeration of the strictly peri-condensed, non-Kekulean, and total resonant sextet benzenoid groups and has lead to the identification of many topological properties characteristic of benzenoids.
Biopsy Strategies—How Many and Where?

Definitive prostate cancer diagnosis can only be made through histologic evaluation of prostate tissue. Transrectal ultrasound—guided, 10- to 12-core biopsy is the gold standard for practicing urologists and should be routinely used in initial evaluation because this examination contributes significantly to risk stratification models for men with localized cancer. Anterior biopsies may be less significant than other samples in extended biopsy schemes. A greater number of lateral and transition zone—directed needle biopsies may be recommended in men with critical risk factors such as advanced age, substantially elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, or prostate volume >50 cc. PSA density and PSA transition zone density are also useful in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Perioperative Challenges During Stereotactic Neurosurgery and Deep Brain Stimulator Placement

Stereotactic surgery is based on three-dimensional coordinates, which accurately localize the area of interest. With the advancement of radiology, essentially any specific region within an organ can be localized with stereotactic equipment. In neurosurgery, stereotactic technique is especially beneficial since the localization allows for conduct of minimally invasive surgery, thereby preserving other important structures in brain.
Prevention of Springboard and Platform Diving Injuries

This article focuses on the prevention of some of the more common injuries that can occur in competitive diving. A systematic approach to the kinds of injuries is utilized so the practitioner can focus on the mechanisms of injury to different areas of the body. Mention is also made of the physical natures of pools and diving surfaces and their importance in the prevention of injuries.
Twentieth Century Materials and Process Essentials

The 20th century will be remembered by its images. We are among the first generations to let pictures and motion media tell the story. We know not only the story of Al Capone, but we can place him in the scenes associated with Chicago and the Prohibition. The flag raising by U. S. Marines at Iwo Jima, post-World War II celebrations in Time Square, McCarthy, Elvis, the missile crisis in Cuba, the man on the moon, Saturday Night Fever , hostage crises in Munich and Iran, World Series victories and the ball that got by, Reagan, a return to space and the day that lives “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God” are images that flash in memory. The remarkable ingenuity of the creative 20th century inventors enabled memories to be recorded by ordinary individuals. That is what is special and unique about this period in time. Photo albums, picture frames, shoe boxes, and desk drawers, around the world, contain stories of birthdays, graduations, weddings, new birthdays, retirement, and memorials through images. The 20th century will most likely be known as the “film era.” Those closer to the technology will remember it as the silver halide era. Either way, most have been touched by photography largely due to the developments of materials and methods during this time period.
Role for growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) in hormone-dependent cancers

Sex hormones play important roles in the onset and progression of several cancers, such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Although drugs targeting sex hormone function are useful in treating cancer, tumors often develop resistance. Thus, we need to define the downstream effectors of sex hormones in order to develop new treatment strategies for these cancers. Recent studies unearthed one potential mediator of steroid hormone action in tumors: growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1 (GREB1). GREB1 is an early estrogen-responsive gene, and its expression is correlated with estrogen levels in breast cancer patients. Additionally, GREB1 responds to androgen in prostate cancer cells, and can stimulate the proliferation of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that GREB1 also responds to progesterone in human endometrial cells, suggesting that GREB1 is a pan steroid-responsive gene. This mini-review examines evidence that GREB1 participates in several hormone-dependent cancers and could be targeted to treat these cancers.
Rare variants in the splicing regulatory elements of EXOC3L4 are associated with brain glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases that causes problems related to brain function. To some extent it is understood on a molecular level how AD arises, however there are a lack of biomarkers that can be used for early diagnosis. Two popular methods to identify AD-related biomarkers use genetics and neuroimaging. Genes and neuroimaging phenotypes have provided some insights as to the potential for AD biomarkers. While the field of imaging-genomics has identified genetic features associated with structural and functional neuroimaging phenotypes, it remains unclear how variants that affect splicing could be important for understanding the genetic etiology of AD. In this study, rare variants (minor allele frequency < 0.01) in splicing regulatory element (SRE) loci from whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort, were used to identify genes that are associated with global brain cortical glucose metabolism in AD measured by FDG PET-scans. Gene-based associated analyses of rare variants were performed using the program BioBin and the optimal Sequence Kernel Association Test (SKAT-O). The gene, EXOC3L4, was identified as significantly associated with global cortical glucose metabolism (FDR (false discovery rate) corrected p < 0.05) using SRE coding variants only. Three loci that may affect splicing within EXOC3L4 contribute to the association. Based on sequence homology, EXOC3L4 is likely a part of the exocyst complex. Our results suggest the possibility that variants which affect proper splicing of EXOC3L4 via SREs may impact vesicle transport, giving rise to AD related phenotypes. Overall, by utilizing WGS and functional neuroimaging we have identified a gene significantly associated with an AD related endophenotype, potentially through a mechanism that involves splicing.
Healthy behaviors competing for time: associations of sleep and exercise in working Americans.

Abstract Objective Exercise and sleep are two important health promoting behaviors, but large parts of the population do not exercise or are chronically sleep deprived. We investigated to what degree exercise and sleep compete with each other and with other waking activities for time. Methods Analyses are based on 2003-2016 American Time Use Survey data of a representative sample of N = 47,862 working Americans aged 18-65 years interviewed on weekdays. Models were adjusted for various sociodemographic variables and time spent working on the interview day. Results Long work hours and several sociodemographic variables were associated both with short sleep and low exercise rates. Respondents who exercised slept on average 15.5 min less (95% CI: -18.4 min; -12.7 min, P Conclusions These results confirm that exercise and sleep compete with each other for time. However, exercise regimens that follow current guidelines are unlikely to curtail sleep substantially, especially since exercise has been shown to positively affect sleep structure and quality. Public health efforts should nevertheless emphasize the importance of both exercise and sleep, and of not sacrificing one activity for the other.
CHANGE IN FUNCTIONAL MITRAL REGURGITATION POST TAVR IN PATIENTS WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION

Significant functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients with reduced ejection fraction and is associated with increased mortality. Previous studies have demonstrated improvement in the degree of MR in TAVR recipients regardless of its etiology and baseline ejection fraction (EF). This
Early Complement and Fibrinolytic Activation in a Rat Model of Blast-Induced Multi-Organ Damage.

Objective Blast injury is associated with multi-organ failure (MOF), causing significant morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. However, the pathogenesis of blast-induced MOF still remains obscure. In this study, we evaluate the pathophysiological changes related to blast-induced MOF in a clinically relevant rat model of blast injury. Methods A moderate blast overpressure was applied to induce injury in anesthetized rats. Pathological changes were evaluated by H&E staining. Complement activation, plasminogen, and myeloperoxidase levels were analyzed by complement hemolytic assay (CH50) and/or ELISA in blood samples. Results Analysis of lung, brain, and liver tissue at 24 hour after blast overpressure revealed severe injuries. The level of complement components C3 and C1q decreased in parallel with the reduction of CH50 level in injured animals at 1, 3, and 6 hours after blast. Consumption of plasminogen was also detected as early as 1 hour post-injury. Myeloperoxidase levels were elevated within 1 hour of blast injury. Conclusion Our data reveal that blast injury triggers the complement and fibrinolytic systems, which likely contribute to blast-induced MOF. Conceivably, therapies that target these systems early may improve clinical outcomes in blast patients.
Ontology, difference, and the antimicrobial resistance timeline

Abstract Despite warnings at the start of the industrial antibiotic era seventy years ago, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly intransigent health issue. AMR can be claimed as a social, political, technological, or economic problem. But multidisciplinary, co-evolutionary perspectives are necessary to trace the complexity allowing it to persist. We link the concept of difference to anticipatory systems theory to show how the AMR issue is a negotiation between representations and forces that destabilize them. Drawing from governmental publications and journal articles, we provide examples of representational and non-representational difference spanning the social and biological entanglements of AMR. Just as social theory and future studies recognize a tension between stabilized categories and the latent potentials for their disruption, so does biology in that organisms are adapting yet also robust, capable of change but also stable. We illustrate how the reification of one or the other of these two types of difference can contribute to AMR’s entrenchment, yet their interaction also forms the basis for strategies to address it. Difference illuminates how solving AMR is not likely, but knowledge to approach closure requires working simultaneously, even contradictorily, with representational ontologies that provide predictability and the instabilities that unsettle them.
Intimacy and Access: Clone Culture, Exclusion, and the Politics of Friendship

This chapter revisits Foucault’s brief, influential interview “Friendship as a Way of Life” in order to interrogate what his figuration of friendship means for trans, intersex, of color, and otherwise non-homonormative subjects who are so often relegated to the outskirts of the circuits of homonormative intimacies—fetishized and spectacularized while debarred from comprehension as legible sexual partners. It examines the centrality of cisgender male homoeroticism in Foucault’s theorization of queer friendship and explores the implications of the presumption of bodily sameness at work in his meditations on the interplay between sex and friendship. Ultimately, the chapter argues that the ascesis of queer friendship that Foucault found a site of such rich possibility was also predicated on the exclusion of trans, femme, non-binary, fat, disabled, and non-white bodies, thus deeply informed by forms of privilege left uninterrogated by Foucault. A contemporary account of queer friendship as a way of life necessitates that we think through the legacy of such exclusions, and the material traces they’ve left on queer forms of sociality.