cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic security approach in wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networking has emerged as a key technology to provide wide-coverage broadband networking. It benefits both service providers with low cost in network deployment, and end users with ubiquitous access to the Internet from anywhere at anytime. Wireless mesh networks are vulnerable to malicious attacks due to the nature of wireless communication and the lack of centralized network infrastructure. Meanwhile, the capacity of multi-radio multi-channel communication, the need for heterogeneous network integration, and the demand for multi-hop wireless communication often make traditional security mechanisms inefficient or infeasible. Therefore, wireless mesh networks pose new challenges and call for more effective and applicable solutions. In this work, we identify the requirement for a systematic security framework to protect wireless mesh networks and provide a security system with heterogeneity-aware intrusion prevention mechanism, cross-layer based intrusion detection technique, and a generic intrusion response model. Our major contributions lie in the following: (1) We identify the architecture heterogeneity of wireless mesh networks and proposed a novel heterogeneity-aware group key management framework which combines the logical key hierarchical technique together with the localized threshold-based technique. (2) To leverage link-aware routing characteristics, we present a cross-layer based anomaly detection model which utilizes machine learning algorithms for profile training and intrusion detection. (3) We address the automatic intrusion response problem in wireless mesh network by providing a generic response model to describe the dependency of system services and resources. The dependency graph is later used for damage cost assessment and response cost evaluation. (4) We build a wireless mesh network testbed and implemented a system prototype for intrusion detection system. Our simulation and experiment results show that our solutions outperform existing ones and are practical for wireless mesh networks in terms of communication overhead and performance speed.
Systolic Click and Late Systolic Murmur in a Young Woman

An asymptomatic young woman with a systolic click and late systolic murmur is discussed. Phonocardiograms, multiple cardiograms, carotid tracing, and echocardiogram revealed a prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet. Angiocardiogram confirmed the diagnosis made by use of the noninvasive methods.
Generating Revenue Using a 3 vs. 3 Soccer Tournament

Described here is a 3 vs. 3 soccer tournament that is being used on an annual basis to produce income for a college campus recreation center and its programs. It is a two-day event that incorporate...
The study of electrochemistry with ambient mass spectrometry

Abstract Ambient ionization methods, which can be used to ionize samples directly with no or little preparation under ambient conditions, are a new generation of ionization technologies for mass spectrometry (MS). In this article, we review the coupling of electrochemistry (EC) and MS using ambient ionization methods, such as liquid-sample desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), nanospray DESI and flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA). With these novel coupling interfaces, unique applications could be realized, such as online reduction and analysis of disulfide bond-containing proteins and peptides, and investigation of electrochemical reactions on electrode surfaces.
Multinomial trust in presence of uncertainty and adversaries in DSA networks

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) networks allow opportunistic spectrum access to license exempt secondary nodes. Usually secondary nodes employ a cooperative sensing mechanism to correctly infer spectrum occupancy. However, the possibility of falsification of locally sensed occupancy report, also known as secondary spectrum data falsification (SSDF) can cripple the operation of secondary networks. In this paper, we propose a multivariate Bayesian trust model for secondary nodes in a distributed DSA network. The proposed model accurately incorporates anomalous behavior as well as monitoring uncertainty that might arise from an anomaly detection scheme. We also propose possible extensions to the SSDF attack techniques. Subsequently, we use a machine learning approach to learn the thresholds for classifying nodes as honest or malicious based on their trust values. The threshold based classification is shown to perform well under different path loss environments and with varying degrees of attacks by the malicious nodes. We also show the trust based fusion model can be used by nodes to disregard a node's information while fusing the individual reports. Using the fusion scheme, we report the improvements of cooperative spectrum decisions for various multi-channel SSDF techniques.1
Evaluation of changes in epicardial blood flow in experimental animals by cardiothermography.

When exposed to ambient air, the heart loses heat and its epicardial temperature becomes mainly perfusion dependent. Cardiothermography was used in this study to identify the extent and degree of epicardial cooling following reduction of coronary blood flow in 21 open chested dogs. The cold-ischemic area was easily identified by the dark color, reflecting lower epicardial temperature. Differences in temperature could be accurately identified (± 0.2 °C) by isotherm analysis. Six unipolar ECG electrodes were sutured to the epicardium 2–3 mm apart, between the normal and the ischemic zone. Following complete occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), a cold area was detected within 11.7 ± 2.3 s. Within 60 s the ischemic area reached its maximum size. Myocardial cooling was 2.0 ± 0.4 °C from control state and reached its lowest value within 2 min. The zone of myocardial cooling corresponded precisely in all dogs with the ischemic area detected by ECG. ST elevation at the border of the ischemic zone was 4.5 ± 2.0 m V while toward the ischemic zone it was 14.1 ± 4.6 m V. Cooling of the epicardium was seen when coronary blood flow was reduced beyond 40–50%; this coincided with the ECG ST elevation. Further decrease of coronary blood flow increased the size of the ischemic area. Between 70–100% of coronary blood flow reduction, the size of the ischemic zone did not change although there was a slight further drop in the temperature at complete occlusion. The capability of cardiothermography to detect changes in the size of the ischemic area was tested under two interventions. Hypotension, induced by bleeding, caused a marked increase in the size of the cold-ischemic area in four dogs after LAD occlusion, while elevation of blood pressure after LAD occlusion induced by methoxamine caused a decrease in the size ofischemic area in six out of eight dogs studied. It is concluded that changes in epicardial temperature are useful indicators of myocardial ischemia, and that cardiothermography can assess the degree and extent of myocardial ischemia in experimental animals.
Simultaneous Spatial and Temporal Focusing in Nonlinear Microscopy

We present in this paper our recent theoretical and experimental work on simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing in nonlinear microscopy.
Procedure for the Analysis of Technical-Grade Parathion in Waterplants by an Anticholinesterase (AutoAnalyzer) Method

An automated analysis system for anticholinesterase compounds was introduced by Winter (1960), and was later discussed by Gunther (1962) as well as by Winter and Ferrari (1964).
Optimization of the spectral radius of nonnegative matrices

In a recent paper by Axtell, Han, Hershkowitz, and the present authors, one of the main questions that was considered was finding n×n doubly stochastic matrices P and Q which solve the multiplicative extremal spectral radius problems minS∈Ωn ρ(SA) and maxS∈Ωn ρ(SA) , respectively. Here A ∈ Rn,n is an arbitrary, but fixed, n × n nonnegative matrix, ρ(·) is the spectral radius of a matrix, and Ωn is the set of all n × n doubly stochastic matrices. It was shown there that the solution to both problems is attained at some permutation matrix. In this paper we consider an additive version of these problems, namely, of solving the additive extremal spectral radius problems minS∈Ωn ρ(S + A) and maxS∈Ωn ρ(S + A) . As a by product of, actually, solutions to more general spectral radius optimization problems, we obtain here that the solution to both additive spectral radius optimization problems is, once again, attained at some permutation matrix. One of the more general spectral radius optimization problems that we consider here is that of replacing the constrains that the optimization be done on the doubly stochastic matrices by the weaker constraint of optimizing just on the n × n column or row stochastic matrices. Mathematics subject classification (2000): 15A48, 15A18.
The Effects of Risk and Protective Factors on Juvenile Delinquency in South Korea

This study focused on the influence of risk and protective factors on juvenile delinquency in South Korea. The study also investigated the relationship between risk and protective factors. The first wave of data in the Korea Youth Panel Survey included 3,449 adolescents. Data analysis included exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis, and analysis of variance. Analysis revealed that parental monitoring and teacher attachment as protective factors were both associated with lower levels of delinquency. Moreover, delinquent peers and poor parenting as risk factors were associated with high levels of delinquency. The relationships between parent attachment and delinquency and between academic performance and delinquency were found to be nonsignificant. Finally, protective factors mitigated risk factor effects on delinquency levels.
Majority vs. Opposition in the French National Assembly, 1956–1965: A Guttman Scale Analysis *

A series of significant developments in French politics has recently touched off speculation about the possibility that a major transformation of the structure and behavioral patterns of the system of political parties is taking place.' The most salient developments from 1958 until 1967 can be briefly listed: (1) the unprecedented longevity of governmental coalitions throughout the entire span of life of the Fifth Republic (only one Government overthrown in eight years); (2) the near singleparty majority attained by the Gaullist UNR in the November, 1962 elections; (3) the ability of five major non-Gaullist parties to coalesce their forces behind only two candidates opposing General de Gaulle in the December, 1965 presidential election, with the resulting necessity for a second ballot; (4) the subsequent merging of forces on the moderate left and the moderate right into combinations2 bent upon
Exercise for Hospitalized Older Adults

Older adults are at high risk for deconditioning as a result of bed rest during hospitalization. Deconditioning results in loss of function and discharge to higher levels of care, such as a nursing home, even after short or elective hospital stays. Older adults can participate in walking, resistance exercises, and early rehabilitation programs without increasing adverse events during acute hospitalization. Geriatric acute hospital units using comprehensive geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary teams, and interventions targeted to preserving function and mobility have the strongest evidence for reducing decline. Older adults for whom exercise may present significant risk or for whom exercise is not possible may benefit from passive range of motion and changes in position. System-wide interventions, such as changing the default activity order to out of bed, are recommended by experts yet require more study.
Surveillance and analysis on immune levels of children as target population of immunization program in Nanhai District,Foshan City,China

Objective To survey and immune levels of children as target population of immunization program in Nanhai District,Foshan City,China,evaluate the immune effect of vaccine and provide a scientific basis for strengthening of immunization program.Methods During 2009 ～ 2011,a total of 420 children aged 1 ～ 7 years in Nanhai District were selected by stratified random sampling method,and determined for the antibody levels against various diseases included in immunization program,such as hepatitis B(HB),poliomyelitis,diphtheria,tetanus,pertussis and measles,and the results were analyzed statistically.Results The positive rates of antibodies against HBsAg,poliomyelitis of typesⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,pertussis,diphtheria,tetanus and measles of the children were 73.33%,96.43%,95.95%,97.38%,60.71%,78.57%,85.48% and 98.33%,respectively.Conclusion The poliomyelitis and measles antibodies of the children were maintained at high levels,indicating that stable and effective immune barriers were established.The diphtheria and tetanus antibody levels reached the standards for control of epidemic.However,the antibody positive rates against HB(anti-HBs) and pertussis were relatively low,indicating unstable immune barriers and potential risks of epidemics.
Serendipitous discovery of peritoneal mesothelioma

We present the case of a 64-year-old patient with a history of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, polycystic kidney disease treated with renal transplantation in May 2013, and multiple types of skin cancers, including malignant melanoma. He presented for lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel lymph node identification of the melanoma. Subsequent biopsy of the right axillary sentinel lymph node yielded a diagnosis of epithelial type malignant mesothelioma without a known primary tumor. Follow-up positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-(fluorine-18)fluoro-D-glucose integrated with computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) demonstrated several suspicious hypermetabolic abdominal masses that were later confirmed to be epithelial-type mesothelioma via percutaneous biopsy.
Hydraulic fracturing and the environment: risk assessment for groundwater contamination from well casing failure

A system approach is used to investigate the potential risk of groundwater contamination from a failure associated with hydraulic fracturing. The focus is on the role of permeability anisotropy, initial saturation of the medium, leakage depth and leakage rate in controlling the contamination risk at environmentally sensitive locations. We numerically simulate the fluid flow and chemical transport in the geological formations, and use the Monte Carlo algorithm to quantify uncertainty. Geological and operational parameters are selected as random variables. We develop a risk framework to assess three environmental performance metrics: the solute concentration, the arrival times from source to receptor, and the ingestion hazard of the contaminated aquifer. We define risk as the probability of exceeding a certain threshold level for each metric. The effect of parametric uncertainty in risk is also analyzed. The results show that risk strongly depends on water saturation and the anisotropy of the permeability distribution. Furthermore, the measured risk value is more sensitive to leakage depth and leakage rate when compared to the hydrogeological properties. Findings of this study may be applied to situations with more stringent well integrity requirements to ensure that hydraulic fracturing is practiced in an environmentally safe and sound manner, with minimal risk to water contamination.
Le VIe traité du Theophrastus redivivus: Nature, Raison, bonheur et liberté?

In 1937, the scholar Spink (1909–1985) discovered at the Bibliotheque nationale de France a bulky anonymous manuscript, written in Latin, with an impressive title: Theophrastus redivivus, sive historia de iis quae dicuntur de diis, de mundo, de religione, de anima, de inferis et daemonibus, de contemnenda morte, de vita secundum naturam. Opus ex philosophorum opinionibus constructum et doctissimis theologis ad diruendum propositum. That text supposedly dated back to 1659. Translated, presented and annotated by Ostrowiecki-Bah, the VIth and last treatise of the Theophrastus (Life According to Nature), is reproduced in Volume II of, Libertins du XVIIe siecle. It is on that latter part that my study rests. That libertine voice, as eloquent as it is anonymous, is resolutely atheistic. From the outset, the author lists several philosophical doctrines from Antiquity, rejecting them one after the other because he finds them tainted with religion (rather surprising, especially for epicureanism). The only philosophical school he finds acceptable is stoicism, because it preaches that the sovereign good is to live according to virtue, that is “according to the experience of what conforms to that nature common to all animate beings and to Man…” For the Theophrastus, all that conforms to Nature also conforms inevitably to Reason, to which it attributes an absolute axiarchy, paradoxically resulting, in the end, in a tyranny just as oppressive as that of religion.
Ultrathin fiber optic probe for OCT imaging

We developed and validated a novel method to fabricate ultrathin fiber-optic probe with integrated focusing elements. The probe fabrication technique allowed us to control the lateral resolution and depth of focus for OCT imaging.
Strategies for differential sensory responses mediated through the same transmembrane receptor

Trg mediates chemotaxis of Escherichia coli to galactose and ribose by recognition of respective, sugar-occupied binding proteins. Although both attractants act through one transmembrane receptor, maximal response is approximately 50% greater to ribose. This phenomenon was investigated by mutational analysis of a 20-residue segment of Trg implicated in ligand interaction and signalling. Among 17 defective receptors, responses to the two chemoattractants were reduced equivalently for seven and differentially for 10, in some cases reversing the preference order. Mutational substitutions with equivalent effects occurred throughout the segment, but those with a greater effect on galactose or ribose response were segregated to the amino-terminal two-thirds or the carboxy-terminal one-third, respectively, a segregation corresponding in large part to a functional division based on signalling phenotypes. A model for binding protein-mediated recognition revealed two strategies for differential responses. The wild-type preference for ribose probably reflects a balance of receptor affinities and a limiting supply of binding proteins. Mutants with reversed preference probably have differentially reduced receptor affinities and those with an accentuated ribose preference probably have altered signalling abilities. Two-step recognition of ligand allows functional separation of detection and response.
Careful Economics: Integrating Caring Activities and Economic Science

(2004). Careful Economics: Integrating Caring Activities and Economic Science. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 1106-1108.
Foraging Ecology of Livestock on the Tibetan Changtang: A Comparison of Three Adjacent Grazing Areas

In a high-altitude (above 4860 m), semiarid grazing ecosystem in western Tibet, only 28% of summer grazing areas supported aboveground net primary productivity greater than 10 g m-2. The frequencie...
Neo-Orthodox Masculinities on Man Caves:

Male exclusive spaces enable and dismiss discussion of misogynist violence, as they did during the 2017 U.S. presidential election. In the decade and a half prior, men-only, homosocial, domestic “man caves” became a cultural trend. Given man caves’ popularity and potential to enable patriarchal oppression, we ask: what do man caves suggest about masculinity’s vitality in an era wherein patriarchy reigns, but challenges to hegemonic masculinity are evident? To answer, we textually analyze Man Caves, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cable channel’s renovation reality show. From a feminist perspective, we examine how Man Caves constructs “neo-orthodox masculinity,” our term for masculinity that recovers and challenges old forms of masculine capital. Through mutually contradictory themes, Man Caves makes over masculinity in ways that respond to feminism as a movement to end patriarchy. We conclude by considering how feminist anger, hope, and activism may exploit the vulnerabilities that neo-orthodox masculinity highlights.
Repeated Low Intensity Blast Exposure Is Associated with Damaged Endothelial Glycocalyx and Downstream Behavioral Deficits.

Current clinical research into mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has focused on white matter changes as identified by advanced MRI based imaging techniques. However, perivascular tau accumulation in the brains of individuals diagnosed with mTBI suggests that the vasculature plays a key role in the pathology. This study used a rat model to examine whether the endothelial glycocalyx, a layer of the vasculature responsible for sensing luminal shear forces, is damaged by exposure to repeated low intensity blast, and whether this layer is associated with observed behavioral deficits. The blast exposure used consisted of 12, 40kPa blast exposures conducted with a minimum of 24 hours between blasts. We found that repeated blast exposure reduced glycocalyx length and density in various brain regions indicating damage. This blast exposure paradigm was associated with a mild performance decrement in the Morris water maze (MWM) which assesses learning and memory. Administration of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that binds to and degrades hyaluronan (a major structural component of the glycocalyx) prior to blast exposure reduced the observed behavioral deficits and induced a thickening of the glycocalyx layer. Taken together these findings demonstrate that the endothelial glycocalyx degradation following repeated blast is associated with behavioral decrements which can be prevented by treatment with hyaluronidase.
Protein separations using enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography

Enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography (EFLC) methods using methanol/H2O/CO2 and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) were explored for the separation of proteins and peptides. EFLC is a separation mode that uses a mobile phase made of conventional solvents combined with liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) in subcritical conditions. The addition of liquid CO2 enhances diffusivity and decreases viscosity while maintaining mixture polarity, which typically results in reduced time of analysis. TFA additive and elevated temperature were leveraged as key factors in the separation of a 13-analyte intact protein mixture in under 5min. Under these conditions EFLC showed modest improvement in terms of peak asymmetry and analysis time over the competing ACN/H2O separation. Protein analytes detected by electrospray ionization - quadrupole time of flight, were shown to be unaffected by the addition of CO2 in the mobile phase. Herein, the feasibility of separating hydrophilic proteins up to 80kDa (with transferrin) is demonstrated for CO2-containing mobile phases.
Effects of unknown shadowing and non-line-of-sight on indoor tracking using visible light

Indoor target tracking has garnered interest as communication systems and mobile device capabilities advance. Visible light communication (VLC) is an alternative to RF methods that uses light emitting diodes. In this paper, probabilistic filtering algorithms (particle and extended Kalman filters) are used for indoor tracking. The performance of the filters is compared with an another positioning method: trilateration. Probabilistic filtering methods are shown to be more reliable than trilateration for indoor tracking when non-line-of-sight components are significant. The probabilistic filtering algorithms require a light intensity map that is collected as a fingerprint map prior to tracking. The effect of unpredictable shadowing as the conditions change is examined in a scenario where one of the lamps has been shadowed. Our algorithm tracks the user equipment with less error than trilateration. The results also show that the tracking accuracy for our algorithms is on the order of the grid resolution of the fingerprint map for high signal-to-noise ratio environments.
Immediate application of vacuum assisted closure dressing over free muscle flaps in the lower extremity does not compromise flap survival and results in decreased flap thickness

Background Free muscle flaps are a mainstay for reconstruction of distal third leg wounds and for large lower extremity wounds with exposed bone. However a major problem is the significant postoperative flap swelling, which may take months to resolve. We studied the efficacy and safety of immediate application of a vacuum assisted closure (VAC) dressing after a free muscle flap to the lower extremity. Methods Over a 19 months period, all consecutive free muscle flaps for lower extremity reconstruction at a Level I trauma center were evaluated prospectively for postoperative flap thickness, complications and flap survival. Immediate application of a VAC dressing was performed in 9 patients, while the flap was left exposed for monitoring in 8 patients. Results There was no statistically significant difference in flap survival between both cohorts. Mean flap thickness at postoperative day 5 for the VAC group was 6.4±6.4 mm, while flap thickness for the exposed flap group was 29.6±13.5 mm. Flap thickness was significantly decreased at postoperative day 5 for the VAC dressing group. Conclusions Immediate application of VAC dressing following free muscle flaps to the lower extremity does not compromise flap survival or outcomes and results in decreased flap thickness and a better aesthetic outcome.
Paternal Cocaine Disrupts Offspring Circadian Clock Function in a Sex-Dependent Manner in Mice.

Abstract The present study is the first to explore the multigenerational effects of mammalian paternal cocaine intake on offspring (F1) circadian clock regulation. Parental cocaine use poses significant health risks to the offspring, through both maternal and paternal drug influences. With respect to the latter, recent evidence suggests that a paternal mode of cocaine inheritance involves epigenetic germ line actions that can ultimately disrupt offspring behavior. Based on our previous report in mice that free-running circadian period (tau) is chronically lengthened following withdrawal from long-term cocaine treatment, the present study was undertaken to explore potential epigenetic effects of paternal exposure to cocaine over the ∼40-day murine spermatogenic cycle on F1 circadian regulatory functions. Here we show that, although withdrawal of sires from the cocaine treatment lengthened their tau, such an effect did not persist in adult F1 male or female offspring born from drug-naive dams. Notably, however, there was a distinct deficit in the ability of F1 cocaine-sired males, but not females, to undergo light-induced phase delay shifts of the circadian clock. In contrast, F1 cocaine-sired females, but not males, had suppressed circadian phase advance shifting responses to two non-photic stimuli: acute i.p. injections of cocaine and the serotonin agonist ([+]8-OH-DPAT). The reduced cocaine shifting in females was not due to suppressed cocaine-induced behavioral arousal. Collectively, these results reveal that a father’s cocaine use can disrupt major circadian entrainment mechanisms in his adult progeny in a sex-dependent manner.
Medical Student Perception of Resident Versus Attending Contributions to Education on Co-Supervised Shifts During the Emergency Medicine Clerkship.

Objective The objective was to assess medical student perception of resident and attending contributions to nine Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education educational objectives during their emergency medicine (EM) clerkship. Methods This was a prospective survey study of fourth-year medical students during their EM clerkship in a single academic emergency department. Students anonymously completed end-of-shift surveys if supervised by both resident and attending physicians. Students estimated the relative educational contribution from resident and attending on a 100-point visual analog scale (-50 to 50) with -50 = 100% resident contribution, +50 = 100% attending contribution, and 0 = equal contributions by resident and attendings. Nine educational objectives were surveyed: evidence-based medicine (EBM), clinical knowledge, chart documentation, bedside teaching, patient throughput, interpersonal communication, oral patient presentations, efficiency, and procedural instruction. Results We collected 274 surveys from 65 students. Of the nine objectives, students perceived that residents contributed more than attendings in eight of nine (results reported as mean values with 95% confidence intervals): clinical knowledge -4.5 (-7.3 to -1.7), chart documentation -8.0 (-12.0 to -4.0), bedside teaching -8.6 (-12.0 to -5.2), throughput -13.0 (-16.4 to -9.6), oral presentations -14.2 (-17.3 to -11), efficiency -14.4 (-17.6 to -11.3), procedural instruction -20.2 (-24.0 to -16.5), and interpersonal communication -13.5 (-17.7 to -9.4). The sole outlier favoring attendings was EBM: 5.5 (1.9 to 9.1). Conclusions Medical students perceive resident physicians to contribute more than attendings for most of their EM educational objectives, with faculty providing the greatest contribution to their EBM training.
Cross-border ties, nativity, and inflammatory markers in a population-based prospective study of Latino adults

Abstract Even after migration, immigrants and their descendants may continue to have ties to family and friends who remain in places of origin. Recent research suggests that these cross-border social ties have implications for health, although this scholarship has been limited to self-reported outcomes. Using data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA), we estimate associations between cross-border social ties and inflammatory biomarkers among Latino adults (n = 1786). We find that immigrants who maintained any cross-border connection to family and friends in Latin America had significantly lower levels of baseline interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to their US-born counterparts with no cross-border ties. These results held for values of CRP at five-year follow-up for men only. In contrast, US-born women with cross-border ties to family and friends in Latin America had both significantly higher levels of CRP and significantly lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) at five-year follow-up relative to their US-born counterparts with no cross-border ties. We find descriptively that men who have cross-border ties are also less likely to be socially isolated within local contexts. Considering place-of-origin social connections may contribute critical nuance to studies of immigrant health, including disparities in inflammatory markers that may serve as indicators of underlying chronic disease.
Universal Approximation Functions for Fast Learning to Rank: Replacing Expensive Regression Forests with Simple Feed-Forward Networks

Learning to rank is a key component of modern information retrieval systems. Recently, regression forest models (i.e., random forests, LambdaMART and gradient boosted regression trees) have come to dominate learning to rank systems in practice, as they provide the ability to learn from large scale data while generalizing well to additional test queries. As a result, efficient implementations of these models is a concern in production systems, as evidenced by past work. We propose an alternate method for optimizing the execution of learned models: converting these expensive ensembles to a feed-forward neural network. This simple neural architecture is quite efficient to execute: we show that the resulting chain of matrix multiplies is quite efficient while maintaining the effectiveness of the original, more-expensive forest model. Our neural approach has the advantage of being easier to train than any direct neural models, since it can match the previously-learned regression rather than learn to generalize relevance judgments directly. We observe CPU document scoring speed improvements of up to 400x over traditional algorithms and up to 10x over state-of-the-art algorithms with no measurable loss in mean average precision. With a GPU available, our algorithm is able to score every document in a batch in parallel for another 10-100x improvement. While we are not the first work to observe that neural networks are efficient as well as being effective, our application of this observation to learning to rank is novel and will have large real-world impact.
Behavioral Medicine Interventions with Older Adults

Behavioral medicine is an area that has flourished since the 1960s. In large part, this is due to the fact that the primary conditions that have led to death and illness since then have involved significant psychosocial or biobehavioral risk factors (Goreczny, 1995b). Despite the growth in the area of behavioral medicine in general, until recently there had been only very scant references to behavioral medicine interventions with older adults. There may be several reasons for this. First, many health care professionals shy away from treating older adults. Second, some thought it difficult, if not impossible, to teach older adults the strategies often used in behavioral medicine interventions, including techniques such as biofeedback, relaxation training, and disease self-management. The view that older adults cannot learn these techniques was prevalent among health care professionals and prospective patients alike. Third, some initial research studies provided apparent proof that older adults could not benefit from behavioral medicine interventions. Thus, for quite some time, although researchers usually did not exclude older adults from studies, there was very little attempt to study this population independently of their younger cohorts. Studies that did include older adults usually statistically adjusted for demographic factors such as age rather than examining the effects of these factors outright.
The Philosopher’s Reaction to the Vulgar: Imagined Causes Revisited

In Part II of this book, we saw that Hume thinks that we always imagine ideas of objects that admit of perfect identity—by way of transcendental causation. However, while explaining the “philosopher’s” position in 1.4.2, Hume claims that we only imagine causes in reaction to the vulgar, where we do not employ transcendental causation. In this chapter, we examine the philosophical position in detail. In Sect. 1, I explain why vulgar perspective II falls apart—at the hands of the philosophers. In Sect. 2, I explain why the philosophers think that it is reasonable to think that mind-independent objects exist. In Sect. 3, I explain why Hume thought the philosophers were mistaken.
Curves with abnormally many integral points

i. It is well known that if f(x) is a polynomial with integer coefficients and if for each integer z, f(z) is an m-th power, then f(x) = hm(x), where h(x) is a polynomial with integer coefficients. There are several ways one could hope to generalize this result. The most obvious is to ask what relation must exist between polynomials f, g with integer coefficients, if f(~) c g(Z). (Here we let denote the ring of rational integers, ~ the field of rational numbers, ~p the field of p-adic integers, ~p the ring of p-adic integers, ~ the complex field and f(x) the set [f(~) I ~ ranges over X].) In particular, is f(x) = g(h(x)) for some polynomial h(x)? The answer is no if we require h to have integer coefficients as is demonstrated by the example: f = x(x + i), g = 2x. However, the answer is yes provided we allow h to have rational coefficients. In that case h is an integer valued function at integer points. Actually, the hypothesis can be relaxed considerably and the same conclusion obtained.
On the origin of stratified debris in ice cores from the bottom of the Antarctic ice sheet

Cores from the bottom 4.83 m of the Antarctic ice sheet at Byrd Station contain abundant stratified debris ranging from silt-sized particles to cobbles. The nature and disposition of the debris, together with measurements of the physical properties of the inclosing ice, indicate that this zone of dirt-laden ice originated by “freezing-in” at the base of the ice sheet. The transition from air-rich glacial ice to ice practically devoid of air coincided precisely with the first appearance of debris in the ice at 4.83 m above the bed. Stable-isotope studies made in conjunction with gas-content measurements also confirm the idea of incorporation of basal debris by adfreezing of melt water at the ice―rock interface. It is suggested that the absence of air from basal ice may well constitute the most diagnostic test for discriminating between debris incorporated in a melt―refreeze process and debris entrapped by purely mechanical means, e.g. shearing. We conclude from our observations on bottom cores from Byrd Station that “freezing-in” of basal debris is the major mechanism by which sediment is incorporated into polar ice sheets.
167 Basal and maximal oxygen consumption of oocytes from young and old mares

Mitochondria play a critical role in oocyte developmental competence by providing energy to the oocyte through oxidative phosphorylation. We hypothesised that oxygen consumption, a measure of mitochondrial function, would be lower in the oocytes of old versus young mares as a potential mechanism of reduced developmental competence associated with equine aging. To test this hypothesis, we used a novel electrochemical sensor device to compare basal and maximal oxygen consumption rates of oocytes obtained from mares aged 6 to 12 years (Young, n = 8 from 7 mares) and = 20 years (Old, n = 12 from 8 mares). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected by transvaginal, ultrasound-guided follicular aspirations of dominant follicles (35 mm) during oestrus and at 16 ± 2 h after induction of follicular maturation (2000 IU of hCG and 0.75 mg of deslorelin acetate). Recovered COC were incubated in medium [TCM-199; Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA) with 10% fetal calf serum, 25 mg mL−1 gentamicin, and 0.2 mM pyruvate] at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 and air for 26 ± 2 h. After maturation, COC were stripped of cumulus cells and checked for the presence of an extruded polar body before electrochemical measurements using amperometry. A microchamber with a 3-electrode system (working, counter, and reference electrodes) was filled with 120 µL of medium (G-MOPS™, Vitrolife, Englewood, CO, USA) and overlaid with 120 µL of paraffin oil (OVOIL™, Vitrolife). The baseline current was measured before adding the oocyte through the oil layer and over the centre of the working electrode. Oxygen consumption was monitored as the linear decrease in the oxygen reduction current over time, which was converted to femtomoles of O2 consumed per second (fmol s−1) using a calibration curve for the sensor. Basal (nonstimulated) oxygen consumption was measured for 5 min, followed by assessment of maximal noncoupled respiratory capacity obtained by titrating 1 µM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) at 8-min intervals. The highest value observed during CCCP titrations was considered the maximal oxygen consumption. Two-tailed Student’s t-tests were used to analyse data. Oocytes from young mares had higher basal oxygen consumption compared with old mares, respectively (mean ± s.e.m., 1.74 ± 0.18 and 1.27 ± 0.09 fmol s−1; P = 0.04) as well as higher maximal oxygen consumption (2.67 ± 0.19 and 2.05 ± 0.12 fmol s−1; P = 0.016). Mitochondrial efficiency (maximal/basal oxygen consumption) was not different for Young and Old, respectively (1.62 ± 0.13 and 1.65 ± 0.07; P = 0.9). In summary, we used a novel electrochemical sensor device to measure basal and maximal oxygen consumption of oocytes and to confirm our hypothesis that aging impairs mitochondrial respiratory capacity in equine oocytes, which may contribute to age-associated changes in equine fertility.
Review of Victor Nuovo's John Locke: The Philosopher as Christian Virtuoso

A review of Victor Nuovo's recent book John Locke: The Philosopher as Christian Virtuoso (New York: Oxford University Press, 2017).
The effects of minority stressors in the workplace on same-sex relationships: A collective case study of female couples

The purpose of this study is to explore the relational effects of minority stress processes experienced at work by female sexual minority employees. Lesbians, in particular, warrant attention in the work environment, as their experiences with homophobia may be exacerbated by sexist overtones. While scholars have linked hostility in the work environment to individual health and employment outcomes for LGBQ employees, less attention has been given to the cross-contextual effects from work to family life. This collective case study examines the experiences of three lesbian employees and their partners in various workplaces using minority stress border theory. Results show that, for these women, there are negative effects on their same-sex relationships; surprisingly though, several women also discussed positive changes in their relationship as a result of experiences with minority stress processes in the workplace. Implications for future research are discussed.
Trends in Prices of Popular Brand-Name Prescription Drugs in the United States.

Importance High and continually increasing pharmaceutical drug spending is a major health and health policy concern in the United States. Objective To demonstrate trends in prices among popular brand-name prescription drugs. Design, Setting, and Participants This economic evaluation of drug prices focuses on 49 top-selling brand-name medications in the United States. Pharmacy claims data from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017, were obtained from Blue Cross Blue Shield Axis, a database that includes data from more than 35 million individuals with private pharmaceutical insurance. Drugs that exceeded $500 million in US sales or $1 billion in worldwide sales were examined. Main Outcomes and Measures The median sum of out-of-pocket and insurance costs paid by patients or insurers for common prescriptions, presented annually and monthly, was the primary outcome. Results In total, 132 brand-name prescription drugs were identified in 2017 that met the inclusion criteria. Of this total, the study focused on 49 top-selling drugs that exceeded 100 000 pharmacy claims. Substantial cost increases among these drugs was near universal, with a 76% median cost increase from January 2012 through December 2017, and almost all drugs (48 [98%]) displaying regular annual or biannual price increases. Of the 36 drugs that have been available since 2012, 28 (78%) have seen an increase in insurer and out-of-pocket costs by more than 50%, and 16 (44%) have more than doubled in price. Insulins (ie, Novolog, Humalog, and Lantus) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (ie, Humira and Enbrel) demonstrated highly correlated price increases, coinciding with some of the largest growth in drug costs. Relative price changes did not differ between drugs that entered the market in the past 3 to 6 years and those that have been on the market longer (number of drugs, 13 vs 36; median, 29% increase from January 2015 through December 2017;P = .81) nor between drugs with or without a Food and Drug Administration–approved therapeutic equivalent (number of drugs, 17 vs 32; median, 79% vs 73%;P = .21). Changes in prices paid were highly correlated with third-party estimates of changes in drug net prices (ρ = 0.55;P = 3.8 × 10−5), suggesting that the current rebate system, which incentivizes high list prices and greater reliance on rebates, increases overall costs. Conclusions and Relevance The growth of drug spending in the United States associated with government-protected market exclusivity is likely to continue; greater price transparency is warranted.
Log-Transformed Electromyography Amplitude-Power Output Relationship: Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Versus Single-Leg Cycle Ergometry

Noble, EB, Pilarski, JM, Vora, HK, Zuniga, JM, and Malek, MH. Log-transformed electromyography amplitude-power output relationship: single-leg knee-extensor versus single-leg cycle ergometry. J Strength Cond Res 33(5): 1311-1319, 2019-Comparing and contrasting motor unit recruitment and activation for the same muscles for multiple versus single-joint exercise may provide a better understanding of neuromuscular fatigue. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to compare the slope and y-intercept terms for the 3 superficial quadriceps femoris (QF) (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis) muscles derived from the log-transformed electromyography (EMG) amplitude-power output relationship between the single-leg knee-extensor ergometry (KE) and the single-leg cycle ergometry (CE). Ten healthy college-aged men who engaged in regular physical activity visited the laboratory on 2 occasions separated by 7 days to perform either single-leg CE or single-leg KE in a randomized order. For each visit, subjects performed incremental exercise until voluntary fatigue. Electromyography electrodes were placed on the superficial QF muscles. The slope and y-intercept terms, for each muscle, for the EMG amplitude versus power output relationship was examined using the log-transformed model for each subject's data. The results indicated no significant (p > 0.05) mean differences for either slope or y-intercept terms between exercise modes and across muscles. In addition, separate repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to determine mean differences for the slope and y-intercept values between the 3 muscles. In addition, separate 2 (mode: CE or KE) × intensity (intensity: 30, 60, and 90% of maximal workload) repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted for each muscle. There was a significant (p < 0.05) mode × exercise intensity interaction for each muscle. Follow-up testing indicated that in most cases, the normalized EMG amplitude was significantly higher for single-leg KE than single-leg CE. These results indicated that incremental single-leg KE activates the superficial QF muscles significantly greater than single-leg CE.
Collaborative Clinical Practice: An Alternate Field Experience.

Clinical practice experiences profoundly influence the professional dispositions and skills that candidates in teacher education programs adopt as their own. Enhancing the practicum experience for both the cooperating teacher and the teacher candidate leads to greater learning within the placement and may ensure future placements within that school and classroom. Finding placements proves difficult, and diverse placements, even more so; therefore, alternative arrangements warrant examination and discussion. This research follows twelve candidates who were placed in pairs in the same classroom for one practicum. The primary purpose of this study was to examine how collaboration enriched the clinical practice experience for candidates and the cooperating teachers. Pairing candidates in one placement allowed them to learn from each other through the provision of peer feedback and collaboration in planning. This paper reports on the benefits of collaborative clinical practice for the candidate, the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor.
Interconnections in Environmental Sustainability: Food, Transportation, Energy, and Ecosystems

The production of food is highly tied to our modern transportation networks, energy, and the health or decline of ecosystems. Modern agriculture has transformed farming into a big business, and farms now are larger than they ever have been before. They require a complex transportation network consisting of truck, rail, boat, and plane to move food around to provide rapid transport of food for the global market. Grocery stores in wealthy parts of the world can find food from all over the planet that was freshly harvested or butchered, while markets in poorer areas tend to have cheaper processed food that can be shipped and stored over long periods of time. Many activists have critiqued this new form of agribusiness and promote initiatives like small local farms, farmers’ markets, and slow food. Three case studies are presented to demonstrate the linkages among food, energy, transportation, and ecosystems by looking at corn, citrus, and shrimp production.