cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring Issues of Quality of Service in a Next Generation Internet Testbed: A Case Study Using PathMaster

This case study describes a project that explores issues of quality of service (QoS) relevant to the next-generation Internet (NGI), using the PathMaster application in a testbed envi- ronment. PathMaster is a prototype computer system that analyzes digitized cell images from cytol- ogy specimens and compares those images against an image database, returning a ranked set of "similar" cell images from the database. To perform NGI testbed evaluations, we used a cluster of nine parallel computation workstations configured as three subclusters using Cisco routers. This architecture provides a local "simulated Internet" in which we explored the following QoS strate- gies: (1) first-in-first-out queuing, (2) priority queuing, (3) weighted fair queuing, (4) weighted random early detection, and (5) traffic shaping. The study describes the results of using these strategies with a distributed version of the PathMaster system in the presence of different amounts of competing network traffic and discusses certain of the issues that arise. The goal of the study is to help introduce NGI QoS issues to the Medical Informatics community and to use the PathMaster NGI testbed to illustrate concretely certain of the QoS issues that arise. ■ J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2002;9:491-499. DOI 10.1197/jamia.M1030.
Forward kinematic solution and its applications for a 3-DOF parallel kinematic machine (PKM) with a passive link

In this paper, a 3-DOF parallel kinematic machine (PKM) with a passive link is introduced. The forward kinemaic model is established, and a new technique is proposed to solve this model. The developed forward kinematic solver (FKS) is employed in two new applications: the determination of joint workspace and sensor-based real-time monitoring. A joint workspace concept is proposed for the optimization of a PKM structure. It is defined as a reachable area in the joint coordinate system under given ranges of active joint motions. The larger a joint workspace is, the higher utilization of joint motion capacity is. Sensor-based monitoring is applied in real-time system operation, by which a remote user can monitor a PKM through Internet based on the feedbacks of the joint encoders or the on-site stereo camera.
PUNCH: An Evolutionary Algorithm for Optimizing Bit Set Selection

Nearly every nucleotide-based computing problem attempted thus far has involved the prearranged assignment of nucleotide sequences to represent bits. However, no general program is yet available to optimize those bit sequences. Careful selection of bit sequences can promote strong annealing between a bit and its intended complement while at the same time minimizing unintended interactions with other bits. In this paper, we present a program that uses an evolutionary algorithm to generate optimum bit sets using given (changeable) criteria. We also test some properties of the program and discuss future applications.
Political science after Foucault

This article concerns the relevance of postfoundationalism, including the ideas of Michel Foucault, for political science. The first half of the article distinguishes three forms of postfoundationalism, all of which draw some of their inspiration from Foucault. First, the governmentality literature draws on Marxist theories of social control, and then absorbs Foucault’s focus on power/knowledge. Second, the post-Marxists combine the formal linguistics of Saussure with a focus on hegemonic discourses. Third, some social humanists infuse Foucauldian themes into the New Left’s focus on culture, agency and resistance. The second half of the article then describes a research program that may bring together these varieties of postfoundationalism. This research program includes aggregate concepts that overtly allow for the constitutive role of meanings in social life and the contingent nature of these meanings. The concepts are: situated agency, practice and power. A postfoundational research program also needs ...
SU(3) coupling for negative-parity states of 16O

Abstract Results of a shell-model calculation for negative-parity T = 0 states of 16O are reported. Comparison with earlier work on the problem of low-lying collective states suggests that the difficulty in getting these states low enough in energy is probably related to the strong truncations of the vector space.
Bubble rise under an inclined plate

We extend existing measurements of bubble rise velocity or, equivalently, drag in the spherical-cap regime to include the effects of rise under an inclined plate which both changes the bubble shape and the effective buoyancy force in the direction of bubble motion. As found previously for rise in inclined tubes for example (Zukoski 1966) there is an angle of inclination for which the rise velocity is a maximum. We propose, also, an inviscid model that appears to describe the results adequately, as is the case for the spherical-cap regime in an extended fluid (Davies & Taylor 1950).
Macrophage immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides isolated from Opuntia polyacantha

Opuntia polyacantha (prickly pear cactus) has been used extensively for its nutritional properties; however, less is known regarding medicinal properties of Opuntia tissues. In the present study, we extracted polysaccharides from O. polyacantha and used size-exclusion chromatography to fractionate the crude polysaccharides into four polysaccharide fractions (designated as Opuntia polysaccharides C-I to C-IV). The average Mr of fractions C-I through C-IV was estimated to be 733, 550, 310, and 168 kDa, respectively, and sugar composition analysis revealed that Opuntia polysaccharides consisted primarily of galactose, galacturonic acid, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose. Analysis of the effects of Opuntia polysaccharides on human and murine macrophages demonstrated that all four fractions had potent immunomodulatory activity, inducing production of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6. Furthermore, modulation of macrophage function by Opuntia polysaccharides was mediated, at least in part, through activation of nuclear factor κB. Together, our results provide a molecular basis to explain a portion of the beneficial therapeutic properties of extracts from O. polyacantha and support the concept of using Opuntia polysaccharides as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant.
SipA Is Required for Pilus Formation in Streptococcus pyogenes Serotype M3

Pili are a major surface feature of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]). The T3 pilus is composed of a covalently linked polymer of protein T3 (formerly Orf100 or Fct3) with an ancillary protein, Cpa, attached. A putative signal peptidase, SipA (also called LepA), has been identified in several pilus gene clusters of GAS. We demonstrate that the SipA2 allele of a GAS serotype M3 strain is required for synthesis of T3 pili. Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli showed that SipA2, along with the pilus backbone protein T3 and the sortase SrtC2, is required for polymerization of the T3 protein. In addition, we found that SipA2 is also required for linkage of the ancillary pilin protein Cpa to polymerized T3. Despite partial conservation of motifs of the type I signal peptidase family proteins, SipA lacks the highly conserved and catalytically important serine and lysine residues of these enzymes. Substitution of alanine for either of the two serine residues closest to the expected location of an active site serine demonstrated that these serine residues are both dispensable for T3 polymerization. Therefore, it seems unlikely that SipA functions as a signal peptidase. However, a T3 protein mutated at the P-1 position of the signal peptide cleavage site (alanine to arginine) was unstable in the presence of SipA2, suggesting that there is an interaction between SipA and T3. A possible chaperone-like function of SipA2 in T3 pilus formation is discussed.
ACE: Zen and the art of application building

Task-specific application development environments enable end users to create their own applications. This is advantageous in two ways: users can draw on their own rich task knowledge to create the applications they really want, and reliance on the scarce, expensive expertise of professional programmers is greatly reduced. Extensible systems such as spreadsheets and statistical packages provide a good model for application construction as they allow end users to create complete applications. Such environments eliminate the need for separate user interface builders; the interface is seamlessly created as the application is developed. In this 'Zen' process, there is little difference between application development and user interface development. Further barriers are broken down by creating application development components that can continually be edited and refined, so that distinctions among 'editing', 'building', 'application construction', and 'finished application' begin to disappear. The authors describe ACE, an architecture for building task-specific applications, and the software libraries they have developed to implement this architecture. They show how ACE supports the building of task-specific applications via a range of extension mechanisms from interactive editing by end users to programmer-defined subclassing. >
Genomic features of lactic acid bacteria effecting bioprocessing and health

The lactic acid bacteria are a functionally related group of organisms known primarily for their bioprocessing roles in food and beverages. More recently, selected members of the lactic acid bacteria have been implicated in a number of probiotic roles that impact general health and well-being. Genomic analyses of multiple members of the lactic acid bacteria, at the genus, species, and strain level, have now elucidated many genetic features that direct their fermentative and probiotic roles. This information is providing an important platform for understanding core mechanisms that control and regulate bacterial growth, survival, signaling, and fermentative processes and, in some cases, potentially underlying probiotic activities within complex microbial and host ecosystems.
In vivo spectroscopy of cervical tissue

We have collected in vivo spectroscopy data of cervical lesions from two separate locations. The data are analyzed to determine spectroscopic and colposcopic accuracy as compared to the gold standard of pathology.
Gradual decline in the age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate from STEMI-related cardiogenic shock irrespective of cause, race or gender with persistent higher mortality rates in women despite multivariate adjustment.

BACKGROUND Recent improvements in the care of critically ill patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) should be associated with improved outcomes. The goal of this study was to evaluate the trends of age-adjusted mortality rates for all-cause and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-related CS in the United States. METHODS The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted mortality rate of all-cause and STEMI-related CS from 1996 to 2006. We used specific ICD- 9 codes for CS and STEMI based on race and gender. RESULTS We found a gradual decrease in mortality over the 10-year period in patients suffering from all causes or STEMI-related CS irrespective of gender and race with a persistently higher mortality rates in women and African Americans. However, after multivariate adjustment, only female gender remains associated with persistently higher mortality. The age-adjusted mortality rate from STEMI-related CS in women was 2.2% in 1996, with a gradual reduction to the lowest level of 1.7% in 2006 (P<.01). Likewise, the age-adjusted mortality rate from STEMI-related CS in men was 1.7% in 1996, which declined to the lowest level of 1.4% in 2006 (P<.01). CONCLUSION Regardless of gender and race, age-adjusted in-hospital mortality is gradually declining in patients presenting with all causes or STEMI-related CS. However, as compared to men, women suffer from persistently higher mortality rates in the setting of STEMI-related CS despite multivariate adjustment.
Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 mediate hyperglycemia induced macrovascular aortic endothelial cell inflammation and perturbation of the endothelial glycocalyx

Abstract Objectives Hyperglycemia-induced inflammation is central to the vascular complications in diabetes. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in regulating inflammatory responses. There are sparse data on the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in regulating human macrovascular aortic endothelial cells (HMAECs) inflammation and glycocalyx dysfunction under hyperglycemia. We examined the role of TLR2/4 in the above dysfunctions in HMAEC under high glucose (HG) conditions. Methods HMAECs were treated with high or normal glucose and TLR-2, TLR-4, MyD88, IRF3, TRIF, nuclear NF-κB p65, IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1, sVCAM-1, monocyte adhesion to HMAECs, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid were measured. Results HG upregulated TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA and protein and increased both MyD88 and non-MyD88 pathways, NF-κB p65, inflammatory biomediators, and monocyte adhesion to HMAECs. Heparan sulfate protein expression was reduced and hyaluronic acid secretion was increased on HG exposure. Inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 signaling by inhibitory peptides and knockdown of TLR-2 and TLR-4 gene expression by siRNA attenuated HG induced inflammation, leukocyte adhesion and glycocalyx dysfunction. An increase in ROS paralleled the increase in TLR-2/4 and antioxidants treatment reduced TLR-2/4 expression and downstream inflammatory biomediators. Conclusion Thus hyperglycemia induces HMAEC inflammation and glycocalyx dysfunction through TLR-2/4 pathway activation via increased ROS.
The Impact of Index Funds in Commodity Futures Markets: A Systems Approach

This article addresses the debate regarding the role of index funds in commodity futures markets. Many have argued that index funds are speculators that are responsible for bubbles in commodity futures prices. The argument is based on the premise that the sheer size of index investment can overwhelm the normal functioning of these markets. Importantly, an empirical linkage must be made between commodity index fund positions and prices, or there is no obvious mechanism by which a bubble can form. The authors’ empirical analysis uses new data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission contained in the “Disaggregated Commitments of Traders” report. Grangerstyle causality regressions provide no convincing evidence that positions held by swap dealers impact market returns. Surprisingly, the results do suggest that larger commodity index positions are associated with declining market volatility, although these results may be market specific.
Simulation and Analysis of Enclosure Voltage Transient Characteristic Caused by Disconnector Operation in Ultra High Voltage Gas Insulated Switch

The ultra-high voltage(UHV) system has the properties of high voltage grade,huge transmission capacity and rather severe electromagnetic transient problems.In order to study the transient characteristics of enclosure voltage while the disconnector operating in ultra high voltage gas insulated substation(GIS) and to provide references for the construction and insulation coordination of UHV GIS,we analyzed the calculation theory of transient enclosure voltage(TEV) of UHV GIS by taking a 1 100 kV GIS in China as an example,calculated transient enclosure voltages at each point of GIS by using multi-conductor transmission line model,and analyzed the voltage frequency spectrum.Moreover,we analyzed factors affecting transient enclosure voltage such as operation modes,operation phases,grounding pattern of the disconnector,and so on.Simulation results show that the maximum value of TEV occurs at different positions due to different operation modes and the amplitude of TEV has symmetry due to layout symmetry of GIS outlet section.
The Current Situation and Development of Boron and Boride

Boron and boride have been widely applied to modern industry. The paper analyzes the distribution and characteristic of boron ores in China. The approaches to comprehensive utilization of boron and boride are emphatically summarized. The utilization status of boron and boride is introduced in some fields such as metallurgical indusry, ceramics indusry, permanent-magnet material, superconducting material, whisker material, RE material, etc. And in the end, the development trend of boron and boride are discussed.
Robust and Accurate Features for Detecting and Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders.

In this paper, we report experiments on the Interspeech 2013 Autism Challenge, which comprises of two subtasks ‐ detecting children with ASD and classifying them into four subtypes. We apply our recently developed algorithm to extract speech features that overcomes certain weaknesses of other currently available algorithms [1, 2]. From the input speech signal, we estimate the parameters of a harmonic model of the voiced speech for each frame including the fundamental frequency (f0). From the fundamental frequencies and the reconstructed noise-free signal, we compute other derived features such as Harmonicto-Noise Ratio (HNR), shimmer, and jitter. In previous work, we found that these features detect voiced segments and speech more accurately than other algorithms and that they are useful in rating the severity of a subject’s Parkinson’s disease [3]. Here, we employ these features, along with standard features such as energy, cepstral, and spectral features. With these features, we detect ASD using a regression and identify the sub-type using a classifier. We find that our features improve the performance, measured in terms of unweighted average recall (UAR), of detecting autism spectrum disorder by 2.3% and classifying the disorder into four categories by 2.8% over the baseline results. Index Terms: speech analysis, autism spectrum disorder
Structural and functional studies of membrane remodeling machines

Building cells from their component parts will hinge upon our ability to reconstitute biochemical compartmentalization and exchange between membrane-delimited organelles. By contrast with our understanding of other cellular events, the mechanisms that govern membrane trafficking has lagged because the presence of phospholipid bilayers complicates the use of standard methods. This chapter describes in vitro methods for purifying, reconstituting, and visualizing membrane remodeling activities directly by electron cryomicroscopy.
Role of vesicular transport in ADH-stimulated aggregate delivery

It has been assumed from studies in toad bladder that antidiuretic hormone (ADH)-stimulated particle delivery to the luminal membrane is mediated by particle-carrying tubular structures (aggrephores). We report studies in frog and toad urinary bladder showing that vesicles, rather than aggrephores, appear to play the major role in particle delivery in the frog and that vesicle and aggrephore delivery proceed in parallel in the toad. Our principal evidence for this view is that in the frog, transmission electron microscopy shows virtually no fused aggrephores. Supporting evidence includes the following. 1) Freeze-fracture studies show that the diameters of fusion events delivering particles can be quite small, indicating that they are formed by fused vesicles rather than fused aggrephores. 2) A significant population of small fusion events is also seen in the toad, along with larger fusion events related to both aggrephores and large vesicles. 3) Surface aggregate areas in both species are small, consistent with vesicular delivery. 4) Freeze-fracture replicas indicate delivery from shallow pits. We propose a system of transport of particles in which aggrephores act largely as intermediate storage organelles in the frog and as storage and fusion organelles in the toad.
The Usefulness of Microdata and some Strategies for the Storing, Using, and Disposing of it

The storage and retrieval of microdata involve serious problems because of the complex documentation required. The changing computer technology and the complex data-manipulation are statistical procedures. At best, secondary use will remain expensive, and its funding a problem. Reductions in cost of access require investments in anticipation of later use which may be self justifying (by increasing that use) but cannot be funded by those future users. A stepwise procedure for access will probably involve securing and reading the initial published analysis, then securing volumes of printed documentation (code books are not enough) and ultimately securing a data file. Now there is a problem of knowing who else has worked, or is working, on the same data.
Protein kinase C mechanisms that contribute to cardiac remodelling

Protein phosphorylation is a highly-regulated and reversible process that is precisely controlled by the actions of protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Factors that tip the balance of protein phosphorylation lead to changes in a wide range of cellular responses, including cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases sits at nodal points in many signal transduction pathways; PKC enzymes have been the focus of considerable attention since they contribute to both normal physiological responses as well as maladaptive pathological responses that drive a wide range of clinical disorders. This review provides a background on the mechanisms that regulate individual PKC isoenzymes followed by a discussion of recent insights into their role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer. We then provide an overview on the role of individual PKC isoenzymes in the regulation of cardiac contractility and pathophysiological growth responses, with a focus on the PKC-dependent mechanisms that regulate pump function and/or contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure.
Pragmatic Explicature Theories

In this chapter we will investigate views agreeing with the implicature theory that negative sentences have only one meaning, and that some interpretations are pragmatically derived, while denying that the term ‘implicature’ applies to the pragmatically derived interpretations. On one view they are instead “pragmatic explicatures.” On another, they are “implicitures.” In many cases, there is no substantive difference from what I have called implicature theories: the term ‘implicature’ is simply given a narrower definition. We have already seen that the irregular interpretations cannot be “pragmatically derived” using either Gricean or Relevance theory. They might still be pragmatic explicatures in the sense that they are directly expressed or meant but not linguistically encoded. We will observe that clear examples of pragmatic explicatures in this sense involve either indexicality or syntactic ellipsis, which are not involved in irregular negatives. The thesis that negative sentences are general in meaning or underspecified, so that the regular interpretations are pragmatic explicatures in this sense too, will also be seen to be untenable.
Anticoagulation management during cross-clamping and bypass.

Anticoagulation is required for successful implementation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), as well as for surgeries requiring temporary aortic occlusion. It is well established that both coagulation and fibrinolysis are activated during CPB (Teufelsbauer et al., 1992) [1]. Appropriate dosing, monitoring, and maintenance of anticoagulation are essential to prevent devastating thrombosis of the CPB circuit or the occluded aorta and to minimize the activation of the hemostatic system. Although numerous novel anticoagulants have been developed over the past decade, unfractionated heparin remains the primary anticoagulant utilized during these types of procedures, with monitoring systems primarily based upon the activated clotting time and/or heparin concentration. This article will review the current state of anticoagulation management during cross-clamp and CPB.
Response to Comment on The Look AHEAD Research Group. Prospective Association of GLUL rs10911021 With Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: The Look AHEAD Study. Diabetes 2016;65:297-302.

We thank Drs. Tang and Gao for their letter (1) in response to our article (2) describing the association of rs10911021 with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight/obese participants with type 2 diabetes in the the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial. Their letter questioned whether it was appropriate for our study to ascribe the association of rs10911021 with CVD on the basis of allelic differences in the …
A Compact, High Power Capable, and Tunable High Directivity Microstrip Coupler

A coupler is an indispensable component to sample the forward and reflected power for the real-time radio frequency (RF) power monitoring system. The directivity of a coupler is a critical factor to achieve accurate RF power measurements. This paper proposes a microstrip coupler with a tunable high directivity circuit to accurately measure the reflected RF power. The directivity tuner composed of passive components adjusts the phase and amplitude of the coupled RF signal, and cancels out the leakage signal from the RF input port at the coupled reflection port. The experimental results, which agree with the simulation results, show that the microstrip coupler with the directivity tuner circuit has a compact size ( $\sim 0.07\lambda _{g} \times 0.05~\lambda _{g}$ ), high power capability (up to 1 kW), and high directivities (more than 40 dB) at the operating frequency bands ( $f = 297.3$ , 400, and 447 MHz, respectively) for magnetic resonance imaging applications.
Quantum optimal control via gradient ascent in function space and the time-bandwidth quantum speed limit

A gradient ascent method for optimal quantum control synthesis is presented that employs a gradient derived with respect to the coefficients of a functional basis expansion of the control. Restricting the space of allowable controls to weighted sums of the Slepian sequences efficiently parametrizes the control in terms of bandwidth, resolution, and pulse duration. A bound showing minimum time evolutions scaling with the inverse of the control bandwidth [S. Lloyd and S. Montangero, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 010502 (2014)] is recovered and the method is shown to achieve the scaling predicted by the bound on entangling two-qubit quantum gates.
Improving Decannulation and Swallowing Function: A Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Approach to Post-Tracheostomy Care

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary tracheostomy teams have been successful in improving operative outcomes; however, limited data exist on their effect on postoperative care. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary tracheostomy service alone and following implementation of a post-tracheostomy care bundle on rates of decannulation and tolerance of oral diet before discharge. METHODS: Prospective data on all subjects requiring tracheostomy by any trauma/critical care surgeon were collected from January 2011 to December 2013 following development of a tracheostomy service and continued following implementation of the post-tracheostomy care bundle. Rates of decannulation and tolerance of oral diet were compared between all groups: pre-tracheostomy service (baseline, historical control), tracheostomy service alone, and tracheostomy service with post-tracheostomy care bundle. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-three subjects met the criteria for analysis with 61 in the baseline group, 124 following initiation of a tracheostomy service, and 208 after the addition of the post-tracheostomy care bundle. There were significant overall differences between all groups in the proportion of subjects decannulated, proportion of subjects tolerating oral diet, and number of subjects receiving speech evaluations. Pairwise comparisons showed no differences in decannulation or tolerance of oral diet following implementation of the tracheostomy service alone but significant improvement with the addition of the post-tracheostomy care bundle compared with baseline. (P = .002 and P = .005, respectively). Likewise, the number of speech language pathologist consults significantly increased compared with baseline only after the post-tracheostomy care bundle (P = .004). Time to speech evaluation significantly decreased with the post-tracheostomy care bundle compared with baseline and tracheostomy service (P CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a post-tracheostomy care bundle to a multidisciplinary tracheostomy service significantly improved rates of decannulation and tolerance of oral diet.
The Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Gefitinib Restricts Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth through Increased Lysosomal Biogenesis and Modulation of Cytokine Signaling.

Host-directed therapeutics have the potential to combat the global tuberculosis pandemic. We previously identified gefitinib, an inhibitor of EGFR, as a potential host-targeted therapeutic effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of macrophages and mice. Here we examine the functional consequences of gefitinib treatment on M. tuberculosis infected macrophages. Using phosphoproteomic and transcriptional profiling, we identify two mechanisms by which gefitinib influences macrophage responses to infection to affect cytokine responses and limit replication of M. tuberculosis in macrophages. First, we find that gefitinib treatment of M. tuberculosis infected macrophages inhibits STAT3, a transcription factor known to repress effective immune responses to M. tuberculosis in vivo. Second, we find that gefitinib treatment of M. tuberculosis infected macrophages leads to increased expression of genes involved in lysosomal biogenesis and function and an increase of functional lysosomes in gefitinib tr...
Race and the construction of city and nature

Recent scholarship in critical urban theory, urban political ecology, and related fields has emphasized the “hybridity” of urban–environmental systems. This argument is contrasted with the socially...
Representing Rurality: Cider Mills and Agritourism

This chapter examines how apple cider mills represent rurality and agriculture within the context of farm tourism. We draw upon qualitative data analysis of cider mills in Michigan. Some of these mills specialize in producing a more traditional raw cider product, while others have transformed their business model by incorporating fermented and/or distilled specialty products. In this chapter, we show how cider mill operators choreograph, stage, and perform representations of rurality that accentuate and enact the rural idyll. This is accomplished via cider mill names, marketing, architecture, staging, and consumption. We consider how such representations are disconnected from the modern complexities of rural life and as such present challenges addressing rural social problems and advancing producer/consumer relations.
Secure live virtual machine migration through runtime monitors

In this paper, we propose a new model for live migration of virtual machines (VMs) in a secure environment. The live migration of a VM is the process of moving the VM from one physical host to another without interrupting any of the VM running services. We review the stages of the live migration process and identify the threats to it. Also, we propose our migration model that fulfills the most security requirements for secure live VM migration process.
Abstract P6-08-19: Outcomes of patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC) refusing standard cancer treatments: 10-year analysis of the National cancer data base (NCDB)

Breast cancer treatments (Rx) are becoming more individualized; however, there remain patients (pts) who refuse recommended standard Rx. There is paucity of data defining the characteristics of these pts. Our study objective was to identify socioeconomic characteristics of pts who refuse recommended Rx and analyze their outcome. Female pts diagnosed with IBC from 2004-2014 were selected from the NCDB. Socioeconomic characteristics and overall survival (OS) of pts who refused standard Rx (surgery, chemotherapy, anti-estrogen therapy, or radiation) were compared with an exact number of randomly matched patients who received recommended Rx. Frequency statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression were used in statistical analyses. There were 1772260 IBC pts; 11164 (0.6%) refused surgery; 108,486 (6.1%) refused chemotherapy; 68,995 (3.9%) refused anti-estrogen; 52,081 (2.9%) refused radiation. Pts who refused recommended Rx were significantly more likely to die, to be older, non-Caucasian race, lower income, and surprisingly higher education than pts who received recommended Rx (p Results reveal that older age, non-Caucasian race, and lower income were correlated with refusal of recommended Rx for IBC and consequently significantly worse OS compared to matched pts that received recommended Rx. When putting this into national perspective, this data reveals that almost 10% (˜25,000/yr) of newly diagnosed pts with IBC may choose to refuse one or more of recommended standard Rx. Further study is necessary to identify reasons for refusal and ways to minimize these events. Citation Format: Orucevic A, Heidel RE, Bell JL. Outcomes of patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC) refusing standard cancer treatments: 10-year analysis of the National cancer data base (NCDB) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-08-19.
RANKL/RANK Pathway and Its Inhibitor RANK-Fc in Uterine Leiomyoma Growth

Context Uterine leiomyomas are the most common type of gynecologic tumor in women. Objective To determine the role of the cytokine receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-Β ligand (RANKL); its receptor, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-Β (RANK); and the RANKL/RANK pathway inhibitor RANK-Fc in leiomyoma growth. Design Messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein levels of RANKL, RANK, and proliferation markers cyclin D1 and Ki67 were assessed in various leiomyoma tissues and cell populations. Human xenograft experiments were performed to determine the effects of RANK-Fc on leiomyoma growth in vivo. Setting Research laboratory. Patients Twenty-four regularly cycling premenopausal women (age 28 to 49 years) who were not receiving hormone therapy. Interventions None. Main outcome measure Tumor growth in a murine xenograft model following targeting of the RANKL/RANK pathway with RANK-Fc. Results RANKL mRNA levels in leiomyoma were significantly higher than those in myometrial tissues. The highest RANK levels were found in the leiomyoma stem cell population, which is deficient in progesterone receptor (PR). Conversely, the highest RANKL levels were found in the PR-rich leiomyoma intermediate cell (LIC) population. R5020, a PR agonist, specifically increased RANKL expression in LICs. RANK-Fc blocked RANKL-induced expression of the proliferative gene cyclin D1. Treatment with RANK-Fc also significantly decreased tumor growth in vivo and diminished the expression of proliferation marker Ki67 in tumors (P Conclusions Treatment with the RANKL/RANK pathway inhibitor RANK-Fc significantly decreased human leiomyoma cell proliferation and tumor growth. This suggests that the RANKL/RANK pathway could serve as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of uterine leiomyoma.
Biophysical characterization of actin bundles generated by the Chlamydia trachomatis Tarp effector

Chlamydia trachomatis entry into host cells is mediated by pathogen-directed remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. The chlamydial type III secreted effector, translocated actin recruiting phosphoprotein (Tarp), has been implicated in the recruitment of actin to the site of internalization. Tarp harbors G-actin binding and proline rich domains required for Tarp-mediated actin nucleation as well as unique F-actin binding domains implicated in the formation of actin bundles. Little is known about the mechanical properties of actin bundles generated by Tarp or the mechanism by which Tarp mediates actin bundle formation. In order to characterize the actin bundles and elucidate the role of different Tarp domains in the bundling process, purified Tarp effectors and Tarp truncation mutants were analyzed using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. Our data indicate that Tarp mediated actin bundling is independent of actin nucleation and the F-actin binding domains are sufficient to bundle actin filaments. Additionally, Tarp-mediated actin bundles demonstrate distinct bending stiffness compared to those crosslinked by the well characterized actin bundling proteins fascin and alpha-actinin, suggesting Tarp may employ a novel actin bundling strategy. The capacity of the Tarp effector to generate novel actin bundles likely contributes to chlamydia's efficient mechanism of entry into human cells.
Tunable acoustic energy dissipation by fluid-structure interaction in elastomeric, resonant metamaterials

Helmholtz resonators are a classic means to absorb low frequency acoustic waves with great effectiveness and straightforward implementation. Yet, traditional Helmholtz resonators are tuned to absorb a specific frequency of wave energy and are unable to adaptively tailor damping capability. On the other hand, recent research on elastomeric metamaterials offers concepts for large and tunable damping properties using internal constituents that buckle to trap large elastic energy when subjected to geometric or load constraints. The research reported here draws from the principles of Helmholtz resonance and constrained metamaterials to device a resonant metamaterial with tunable acoustic energy dissipation. Using the fluid-structure interaction of an internal beam-like member with the resonator chamber, the metamaterial absorbs acoustic waves at a target frequency and tailors energy dissipation by changing external constraints that relatively magnify or suppress the interaction between acoustic pressure and damped beam member. An analytical model is developed to qualitatively characterize the behavior of the metamaterial observed in the laboratory. From the combined experimental and analytical studies, it is found that the metamaterial may significantly reduce the sound pressure level at the targeted frequency range while modulating the broadness of the absorption effect by way of external load control.Helmholtz resonators are a classic means to absorb low frequency acoustic waves with great effectiveness and straightforward implementation. Yet, traditional Helmholtz resonators are tuned to absorb a specific frequency of wave energy and are unable to adaptively tailor damping capability. On the other hand, recent research on elastomeric metamaterials offers concepts for large and tunable damping properties using internal constituents that buckle to trap large elastic energy when subjected to geometric or load constraints. The research reported here draws from the principles of Helmholtz resonance and constrained metamaterials to device a resonant metamaterial with tunable acoustic energy dissipation. Using the fluid-structure interaction of an internal beam-like member with the resonator chamber, the metamaterial absorbs acoustic waves at a target frequency and tailors energy dissipation by changing external constraints that relatively magnify or suppress the interaction between acoustic pressure and da...
Environmentally Induced Variation in Plant DNA and Associated Phenotypic Consequences

The organization of the life cycle of plants affects the interpretation of their genetic behavior. The higher plant cannot be considered to be a single organism as it is, in reality, an assemblage of competing units, the meristems, each of which is capable of contributing to the next generation. The orderly growth of the plant is achieved by the interaction of the competing meristems, usually through apical dominance. However, damage to the dominant meristem can result in the release of alternative units which can subsequently contribute to the next generation. Thus, in higher plants, there is no clear separation of the germ line and the soma. The consequence of this is that genetic variation arising from a mutation in any somatic cell has the potential to be transmitted to the next generation. This form of life strategy and its consequences for variation in higher plants has been reviewed recently (Walbot and Cullis 1985: Walbot 1986 ).
Atomicity, Serialization and Recovery in the Island-Based File System

We discuss the consistency protocol in the island-based file system [6], a cluster file system designed to provide highly available and scalable data storage to Internet applications. The goal of availability is to maximize the percentage of client requests that succeed despite the failure of one or more islands, the building blocks of the file system. A small portion of the directory system is replicated across islands to allow independent accesses to data in each island. As in any other systems where data replication and updates to replicated data are present, the island-based file system faces the challenge of keeping its replicated directory system consistent across islands.
Optimized labeling of 13CHD2 methyl isotopomers in perdeuterated proteins: potential advantages for 13C relaxation studies of methyl dynamics of larger proteins.

13CHD2 methyl isotopomers are particularly useful to study methyl dynamics in proteins because, as compared with other methyl isotopomers, the 13C relaxation mechanism for this isotopomer is straightforward. However, in the case of proteins, where (ωτ)2 ≫ 1, the refocused INEPT pulse sequence does not completely suppress unwanted 13CH3 signals. The presence of weak 13CH3 peaks is usually not a serious problem for smaller proteins because there are relatively few methyl signals and they are sharp; however, signal overlap becomes more common as the size of the protein increases. We overcome this problem by preparing a protein using a 98% D2O cell culture medium containing 3-13C pyruvic acid, 50–60% deuterated at the 3-position, and 4-13C 2-ketobutyric acid, 98% and 62% deuterated at the 3- and 4-positions, respectively. This approach significantly reduces the population of the CH3 isotopomer while optimizing the production of 13CHD2, the isotopomer desired for 13C relaxation measurements. In larger proteins where the deuterium T2 may be too short to measure accurately, we also suggest the alternative measurement of the proton T2 of the 13CH2D methyl isotopomer, because these protons are well-isolated from other protons in these highly deuterated samples.
Where to Look for a Job After Residency

Finding a job after finishing training can be a daunting process at first but can certainly be facilitated by the utilization of several resources. Figuring out what type of practice and geographical location first may help narrow down to help your decision process. Using headhunters or signing up for a short-term locums position may also be options. Utilizing your professional contacts is always helpful.
The Open Access Citation Advantage: Does It Exist and What Does It Mean for Libraries?

The last literature review of research on the existence of an Open Access Citation Advantage (OACA) was published in 2011 by Philip M. Davis and William H. Walters. This paper reexamines the conclusions reached by Davis and Walters by providing a critical review of OACA literature that has been published 2011, and explores how increases in OA publication trends could serve as a leveraging tool for libraries against the high costs of journal subscriptions.
Comparing outcomes of concurrent chemotherapy regimens in patients 65 years old or older with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Background The comparative efficacy of cisplatin (CDDP), carboplatin, and cetuximab (CTX) delivered concurrently with radiation for locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma continues to be evaluated. Methods The linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was used to identify and compare patient and disease profiles, mortality, toxicity, and overall cost for patients with oropharynx cancer undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiation with CDDP, carboplatin, or CTX between 2006 and 2011. The human papillomavirus status was unknown. The primary outcome was 2-year overall survival (OS). Results Four hundred nine patients receiving concurrent CDDP (n = 167), carboplatin (n = 69), or CTX (n = 173) were included. Those who were older, those who were nonwhite, and those with a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 2 were less likely to receive CDDP. Two-year OS was inferior with CTX (hazard ratio [HR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.60; P = .020) and no different with carboplatin (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.73-2.35; P = .362) in a Cox proportional hazards model (reference CDDP). There was no statistically significant difference between carboplatin and CTX (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.77-2.14; P = .891). Rates of antiemetic use and hospital visits for nausea/emesis/diarrhea or dehydration were statistically higher with CDDP. Pneumonia rates were higher with carboplatin. In the multivariate model, the corrected mean per-patient spending was significantly higher for CTX and carboplatin than CDDP ($61,133 and $65,721 vs $48,709). Conclusions Patients who received CDDP had improved OS. CDDP was also associated with slightly lower overall costs and higher antiemetic usage and hospital visit rates, although a strong selection bias was observed because those receiving CTX and carboplatin were older and had higher comorbidity scores.
The Insurance Business in Transition to the Physical-Cyber Market: Communication, Coordination and Harmonization of Cyber Risk Coverages

This investigative study examines the business of insurance from a loss exposure and coverage development perspective and compares its findings with current market practices dealing with cyber risk(s). It discusses the importance of government regulation of data and privacy protection for the public, in general, and insurance buyers, in particular. Evidence shows incomplete communication among information technology professionals, risk managers and insurance underwriters. Their efforts are inadequately coordinated, and each industry seems to have its own set of risk management guidelines. Evidence shows that insurance policies – including risk classification and policy wording – are not standardized, likely resulting in coverage gaps and a litigious claims environment. More importantly, the insurance market treats all insurable loss exposures and the parties exposed to them in cyberspace using a single policy approach – an approach for a world of risk in which human activities, artificial intelligence and machine-learning become complicated and are increasingly interconnected. This multiplicity-in-cause, multiplicity-in-outcome nature of the risks in the cyber world, of which coverages every individual and business will need, requires the insurance industry to evaluate whether this single policy approach is appropriate, and separately to agree on meaningful standardization of coverages. Finally, this study proposes that, as the cyber world adds more risks on top of cybersecurity-related loss exposures, the business of insurance is in transition to operations in the physical-cyber market.
The Comparative Study in the Performance of Bifacial and Monofacial c-Si Photovoltaic Modules under the Specific Sequential Tests

Comparative study of bifacial and monofacial c-Si module performance under specific sequential tests were demonstrated in this article. The tests in each sequence include preconditioning, UV exposure, dynamic mechanical load test, thermal cycling, humidity freeze and damp heat according to qualification protocol IEC 61215, IEC TS 62782 and IEC 62892 (draft). In addition, the effect of long term temperature cycling and extended damp heat were used to assess the material failure induced power degradation in both bifacial and monofacial c-Si modules.