cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CTU: Capturing Throughput Dependencies in UWB Networks

The inherent channel characteristics of impulse-based UWB networks affect the MAC layer performance significantly. Previous studies on evaluating MAC protocols are based on prolonged simulations, and do not account for the multiple-access interference that arises due to multipath delay spread. In this work, we develop CTU, an analytical framework that captures the performance of MAC protocols, while taking into account the underlying PHY layer effects. The key attributes that make CTU novel are: (a) It is modular and therefore flexible; it can be easily modified to provide a basis for characterizing and evaluating a wide range of MAC protocols designed for impulse-based UWB networks. The only requirements are that the MAC protocol under study be based on time-hopping, and the modulation scheme be pulse position modulation; these are common design decisions in most impulse based UWB networks, (b) It considers the channel characteristics in addition to MAC layer effects; in particular, CTU correlates probabilistically the multipath delay profile of the channel with the packet error rate. We employ CTU to evaluate the performance of a generic medium access procedure. We compare the results with those from extensive simulations and show the high accuracy of CTU. We use CTU to assess the impact of various system parameters on the MAC layer performance; we make several interesting observations that are discussed in depth.
Effect of Liver Damage on Experimental Renal Hypertension in the Rat

Renal hypertension was produced in 26 test rats and fell to normal levels when they received CCl4. Our data indicate that this is due to liver damage and not to general inanition. These changes are reversible, since cessation of CCl4 injections led to blood pressure rise. Morphologically, only a moderate degree of fatty metamorphosis is necessary to cause the blood pressure to fall from hypertensive levels to normotension. The biochemical change involved variable changes in albumin and globulin.
Commentary: failure-rate functions for doubly-truncated random variables

Navarro and Ruiz (see ibid., vol.45, p.685-90, 1996) express the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (NPMLE) of the distribution of a failure-time random variable as a function of the NPMLE of generalized failure-rate functions. These generalized failure-rate functions are equal to the probability density functions of a doubly-truncated failure-time random variable at the endpoints of the truncating interval. Readers can infer from this paper that this simple estimator can be applied to a doubly-truncated sample of failure times. This commentary explains why that estimator does not apply to the general setting in which the observed failure times are doubly-truncated with subject-specific truncating intervals. A doubly-truncated sample of times to brain tumor progression illustrates the deviation of that estimator from the NPMLE for these data.
THE LIFE EVENTS OF ADOLESCENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL SCHOOL NURSES.

The purpose of this study was to describe life events of rural adolescents and their relationship to depression. The design was a cross sectional survey. The sample included 193 students attending three rural high schools in southwestern Pennsylvania. Measures included The Life Events Checklist and The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS-2). Results showed that the mean number of life events was eighteen. Females reported more life events and more negative life events than males. There was a moderate, linear correlation between negative life events and depression (r = .361; p < 0.0001). Rural school nurses should include adolescents’ recent life events in the health history. Awareness of negative life events as a precipitating factor in depression constitutes appropriate screening and referral by rural school nurses.
On the short‐run allocation of economic resources by the Soviet and post‐Soviet enterprises

The purposes of this paper is purely theoretical. Its goal is to establish some rules governing the short‐run employment of productive resources by the enterprise in the Soviet and post‐Soviet setting. Accordingly, the paper is divided into two parts. The first portion of the paper deals with the behavior of the enterprise as the short‐run user of productive resources within a framework of the Soviet economic model of state ownership of non‐labor economic resources and mandatory central planning. Such an enterprise is termed the Soviet enterprise. In the second part, the paper examines how the former Soviet enterprise exploits factors of production during the current transitional period of the disintegration of the Soviet economic model in modern Russia. This enterprise is called the post‐Soviet enterprise. The paper utilizes the marginalist microeconomic tools of the analysis. In this, the paper applies the traditional neoclassical approach to the nontraditional economic structure of the Soviet and post‐Soviet periods.
On Wine Bullshit: Some New Software?*

The inspiration for the exegesis that follows comes directly from Harry G. Frankfurt, distinguished emeritus professor of philosophy at Princeton University, who recently published an enormously successful essay on the subject of bullshit (Frankfurt, 2005). In the author's view,“One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted. Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it. So the phenomenon has not aroused much deliberate concern. We have no clear understanding of what bullshit is, why there is so much of it, or what functions it serves.” (Frankfurt, 2005, p. 1)A fine philosophical insight into bullshit is provided by Bernie Laplante, played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Hero.”
An ultrasonic ranging system for structural vibration measurements

An ultrasonic ranging system (URS) that can be used to measure vibratory displacements in structures is described. A pair of ultrasonic transducers is used in a transmit-receive mode to acquire the motion of a point on a flexible structure. The structure's oscillating motion modulates the phase angle between the transmitted and received acoustic signals. A simple phase detector and low-pass filter combination demodulate the phase signal, thus extracting information about the motion of the point on the structure. The results reported concentrate on some design issues of the URS and its use as a potential displacement measuring device for flexible structures. The URS accurately distinguished four vibration frequencies of a simple cantilevered aluminum beam, with the highest frequency near 50 Hz. >
Passive Immunization of the Vagina Protects Mice against Vaginal Transmission of Genital Herpes Infections

Vaginal application of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) antiserum, complement-inactivated antiserum, or IgG purified from antiserum protected mice (P < .001, P < .001, and P < .01, respectively) from visible signs of genital HSV-2 infection after subsequent vaginal inoculation with HSV-2 (10 ID50). Vaginal application of an anti-HSV-2 monoclonal antibody (MAb III-174) also protected mice against infection. This MAb, a neutralizing mouse IgG2A against glycoprotein D, prevented infection as determined by viral shedding from the vagina (P < .05), blocked 50% of visible signs of genital herpes infection at a vaginal dose of approximately 10 ng, and blocked 100% of visible signs of infection at a vaginal dose of 1 microgram (P < .001). These results suggest that vaginal applications of anti-HSV antibodies may help prevent sexual transmission of genital herpes infection.
Blind and semi-blind equalization for generalized space-time precoding

This paper presents a general framework for space-time codes that encompasses a number of recently proposed schemes as special cases. The space-time codes considered are block codes that employ arbitrary redundant linear precoding of a given data sequence together with embedded training symbols, if any. The redundancy introduced by the linear precoding imposes structure on the received data that under certain conditions can be exploited for blind or semi-blind estimation of the transmitted sequence (direct approach) or a linear equalizer that recovers the sequence in a second step (indirect approach). Algorithms based on this observation are developed for the flat-fading case, and then extended to handle frequency-selective fading.
Jaundice occurring after resolution of heat stroke

Presented is the case of a 19-year-old midshipman at the United States Naval Academy who developed heat stroke. After appropriate therapy and apparent resolution of the heat-related illness, the patient re-presented with jaundice and biochemical evidence of severe hepatitis. He improved with supportive care and was asymptomatic when discharged. The differential diagnosis and clinical course are described, and hepatic and metabolic effects of thermal injury are discussed.
Flame-assisted fuel cell operating with methane for combined heating and micro power

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) operating in a Flame-assisted Fuel Cell (FFC) setup have potential for Combined Heating and micro Power applications. The feasibility of a FFC furnace operating with natural gas is investigated by using methane/ air flames. The confrontation between the FFCs operating temperature and fuel concentration under various conditions was investigated which uncovered the complex performance behavior. Variations in the fuel/ air equivalence ratio, fuel flow rate and distance between the FFC anode and burner outlet were studied. A critical distance for FFC placement above the burner outlet was uncovered, which has a significant impact on the FFCs performance. A high power density of 791mW.cm−2 was achieved which is comparable to the dual chamber SOFC and single chamber SOFC. Carbon coking was observed on the anode surface, but was not detrimental to FFC performance during testing.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Tooth retention in cladodont sharks: with a comparison between primitive grasping and swallowing, and modern cutting and gouging feeding mechanisms

Abstract Continuous replacement of teeth throughout their lifetimes is a well known phenomenon in modern sharks. The mechanism involves the continuous generation of embryonic teeth internally on the inner surface of the jaws, and their subsequent displacement on a moving mat of connective tissue in “assembly-line” fashion. The fully-formed teeth erupt from the gum at the outer jaw margin, are functional for a short time, and are shed as the next tooth in the series takes its place. This study reports a specimen of a Devonian cladodont shark, Ctenacanthus, in which the dentition was not shed at the jaw margin, but instead migrated beneath the skin on the outside of the head. A survey of additional specimens demonstrates that tooth retention was present in cladoselachians as well, and may have been a feature of cladodont sharks in general. Tooth retention in the cladodonts (the top-level predacious sharks of their day) seems to have been a problem that had to be overcome before the development of the modern...
Just where does local food live? Assessing farmers’ markets in the United States

Participation in the local food movement has grown dramatically in the United States, with the farmers’ market being one of its most widespread and heavily promoted forums. Proponents argue that the interactions and transactions that occur at farmers’ markets benefit market participants, but, more importantly, have broader benefits for the neighborhoods they are located in and for society itself. The promise of these benefits raises several important questions, notably: where are farmers’ markets located and who has access to them? While many works have examined the characteristics of individuals who frequent markets, few have examined the areas and inhabitants hosting these markets. Using data from the USDA and US Census, I explore the location of farmers’ markets areas across several geographic measurements, including at the national, census division, and census tract levels. Results reveal the following: (1) Perhaps not being as white of a movement as critics have suggested, farmers’ markets are almost exclusively a middle to middle-upper class phenomenon; and (2) Farmers’ markets are very unlikely to be found in neighborhoods with lower than average socio-economic statuses indicators, in specific divisions of the US, and in rural areas. Results from this research further illuminate our understanding of where farmers’ markets are located throughout United States while presenting some interesting questions for the local food movement as it continues to moves forward.
Investigational New Drugs: Application, Process, and Trial

This is the fourth article in a four-part series of nuclear medicine updates. Upon completion of this article, the reader will have: (1) an understanding of the various phases involved in investigational new drugs (IND), (2) a reference for preparing an IND, and (3) an awareness of the common pitfalls associated with preparing and fulfilling the commitment of an IND.
Mother Earth as Metaphor: A Healing Pattern of Grieving and Giving Birth

Mother Earth is often revered as a goddess in world mythology, but seldom recognized as also an important metaphor in the biblical theology of Old and New Testaments. The image of the earth as grieving mother is a recurrent theme, used in Scripture to symbolize the movement from tragedy and loss to the beginnings of hope. It is an image rich in implications for a theological approach to ecological questions, a search for human and sexual wholeness in a technological age, and a study of the relationship of biblical thought to the universal process of mythogenesis. More than this, however, it touches most deeply the human quest for the lost mother and the role of Christ's passion in the renewal of spiritual connectedness to the natural world.
Judicial Impartiality in International Courts

The essence of the Rule of Law is ordering affairs according to principle rather than prerogative. Thus the essence of judging is decision-making dominated by principle rather than preference. It would be foolhardy to expect any human to exclude preference entirely from her decision processes, but the dominant concern when confronted with a problem or a dispute must be principle gleaned from some recognized authoritative source, not the judge’s own preferences or national identity. Therein lies a challenge for judges of the many proliferating international courts. As others have pointed out, the initial assumption behind the creation of international courts was that judges would be selected by nationality and that balance in the court would be achieved by balancing the nationalities of the panels. If the world is to take the Rule of Law seriously, it is time to abandon that assumption in favor of professional standards by which each judge is assessed according to his or her performance on the basis of principle above national preference.
Fay-Prince trap baited with CO2 for monitoring adult abundance of Aedes sierrensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

The Fay-Prince trap augmented with carbon dioxide (F-P/CO2) collected high numbers of male and female Aedes sierrensis (Ludlow). The F-P/CO2 trap collected 15–20 times more males, but statistically similar numbers of females as did a rabbit-baited CO2 trap (R/CO2). Carbon dioxide was essential to the successful operation of the F-P/CO2 trap for the collection of male and female Ae. sierrensis . A repeated measures ANOVA with polynomial contrasts found no significant differences in the population trends of female Ae. sierrensis measured by the two traps. Trap location also was a major source of variability, with one of the four locations accounting for 50% of all Ae. sierrensis collected. These results indicated that the F-P/CO2 trap was a simple but effective method for sampling Ae. sierrensis .
The Research of On-site Detection Device of AC Sampling Based on Digital Compensation Technology

According to the real situation of lack of effective detection equipment for the AC sampling device in china,this paper introduces a kind of embedded system based on spot inspection device,puts forward the digital compensation technology in the field of AC sampling detection device used in method.The device consists of standard data acquisition device under test,data acquisition,test process management,data management,external device control and user interaction data management part.Based on the digital compensation technology of current clamp,after sampling,conditioning,data conversion,digital compensation and a series of processing steps can reach 0.05 level accuracy.Through the embedded PC platform and the high accuracy current clamp effective combination,on-site inspection device can realize on-site virtual load and load testing process.For the power network,the device provides a new technology and field detection means.
Cosmological simulations of dwarf galaxies with cosmic ray feedback

We perform zoom-in cosmological simulations of a suite of dwarf galaxies, examining the impact of cosmic-rays generated by supernovae, including the effect of diffusion. We first look at the effect of varying the uncertain cosmic ray parameters by repeatedly simulating a single galaxy. Then we fix the comic ray model and simulate five dwarf systems with virial masses range from 8-30 $\times 10^{10}$ Msun. We find that including cosmic ray feedback (with diffusion) consistently leads to disk dominated systems with relatively flat rotation curves and constant star formation rates. In contrast, our purely thermal feedback case results in a hot stellar system and bursty star formation. The CR simulations very well match the observed baryonic Tully-Fisher relation, but have a lower gas fraction than in real systems. We also find that the dark matter cores of the CR feedback galaxies are cuspy, while the purely thermal feedback case results in a substantial core.
Performance Enhancement in Bipolar Junction Transistors Using Uniaxial Stress on (100) Silicon

This paper demonstrates that collector current ( $I_{C}$ ), dc current gain ( $\beta $ ), cutoff frequency ( $f_{T}$ ), and maximum oscillation frequency ( $f_{\max }$ ) of bipolar transistors (BJTs) can be improved by uniaxial stress. A unified modeling approach that includes a piezoresistive model for changes in mobility and a deformation potential model for changes in intrinsic carrier concentration was used to analyze the stress effects. This approach provides clear insight into the dominant effects of stress on BJT parameters. Experimental results of uniaxial in-plane normal stress are compared with simulation results. Our analysis reveals that for a vertical npn, substantial enhancement in $I_{C}$ , $\beta $ , $f_{T}$ and $f_{\max }$ can be achieved using a uniaxial in-plane compressive or out-of-plane tensile stress. In a vertical pnp, considerable improvement in $I_{C}$ can be achieved with an in-plane or out-of-plane compressive stress while the changes in $\beta $ , $f_{T}$ , and $f_{\max }$ are minimal. These results show that stress analysis/prediction for different current-stress orientations can be performed with this model and the outcome can be used as a guide for strain engineering in BJTs.
Fleet deployment optimization models.Part 2

The fleet deployment problem for the one origin,one destination fixed-price contract requiring the transport of a given total amount of cargo within a given period is formulated and solved for the case that one or more cost components are given staircase functions of time. A computer program has been developed to implement the solution of this problem. The fleet deployment problem with one or more costs being random variables with known probability density functions is also formulated. Analytical expressions for hte basic probabilistic quantities, i.e the probability density function,the mean and the variance of the total operating cost, are presented. Finally, sample results are presented and discussed and some extensions for further research are suggested.
Synthetic Biological Protein Nanowires with High Conductivity

Genetic modification to add tryptophan to PilA, the monomer for the electrically conductive pili of Geobacter sulfurreducens, yields conductive protein filaments 2000-fold more conductive than the wild-type pili while cutting the diameter in half to 1.5 nm.
Differential regulation of autophagy and mitophagy in pulmonary diseases

Lysosomal-mediated degradation of intracellular lipids, proteins and organelles, known as autophagy, represents a inducible adaptive response to lung injury resulting from exposure to insults, such as hypoxia, microbes, inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion, pharmaceuticals (e.g., bleomycin), or inhaled xenobiotics (i.e., air pollution, cigarette smoke). This process clears damaged or toxic cellular constituents and facilitates cell survival in stressful environments. Autophagic degradation of dysfunctional or damaged mitochondria is termed mitophagy. Enhanced mitophagy is usually an early response to promote survival. However, overwhelming or prolonged mitochondrial damage can induce excessive/pathological levels of mitophagy, thereby promoting cell death and tissue injury. Autophagy/mitophagy is therefore an important modulator in human pulmonary diseases and a potential therapeutic target. This review article will summarize the most recent studies highlighting the role of autophagy/mitophagy and its molecular pathways involved in stress response in pulmonary pathologies.
Species traits and catchment‐scale habitat factors influence the occurrence of freshwater mussel populations and assemblages

Summary Conservation of freshwater unionid mussels presents unique challenges due to their distinctive life cycle, cryptic occurrence and imperilled status. Relevant ecological information is urgently needed to guide their management and conservation. We adopted a modelling approach, which is a novel application to freshwater mussels to enhance inference on rare species, by borrowing data among species in a hierarchical framework to conduct the most comprehensive occurrence analysis for freshwater mussels to date. We incorporated imperfect detection to more accurately examine effects of biotic and abiotic factors at multiple scales on the occurrence of 14 mussel species and the entire assemblage of the Tar River Basin of North Carolina, U.S.A. The single assemblage estimate of detection probability for all species was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.36–0.47) with no species- or site-specific detection effects identified. We empirically observed 15 mussel species in the basin but estimated total species richness at 21 (95% CI, 16–24) when accounting for imperfect detection. Mean occurrence probability among species ranged from 0.04 (95% CI, 0.01–0.16) for Alasmidonta undulata, an undescribed Lampsilis sp., and Strophitus undulatus to 0.67 (95% CI, 0.42–0.86) for Elliptio icterina. Median occurrence probability among sites was <0.30 for all species with the exception of E. icterina. Site occurrence probability generally related to mussel conservation status, with reduced occurrence for endangered and threatened species. Catchment-scale abiotic variables (stream power, agricultural land use) and species traits (brood time, host specificity, tribe) influenced the occurrence of mussel assemblages more than reach- or microhabitat-scale features. Our findings reflect the complexity of mussel ecology and indicate that habitat restoration alone may not be adequate for mussel conservation. Catchment-scale management can benefit an entire assemblage, but species-specific strategies may be necessary for successful conservation. The hierarchical multispecies modelling approach revealed findings that could not be elucidated by other means, and the approach may be applied more broadly to other river basins and regions. Accurate measures of assemblage dynamics, such as occurrence and species richness, are required to create management plans for effective conservation.
The Society for the Arts of Corporation: An invitation

This essay explains the thinking behind ‘The Society for the Arts of Corporation,’ a non-profit organization for scholars and members of the general public that encourages research into public art pertaining to the nature of corporations as group persons and models of political life. The essay takes up the problem of ‘art’ and of ‘generalization’ as procedures for thinking and working with ideas, arguments and materials of all kinds, comparing these to classical discussions of ars and techne and to the work of Sidney, Bacon and Shakespeare.
Real-time identification of state-of-charge in battery systems: Dynamic data-driven estimation with limited window length

This paper presents a symbolic dynamic method for real-time estimation of battery state-of-charge (SOC). In the proposed method, symbol strings are generated by partitioning (finite-length) time windows of synchronized input-output (e.g., current-voltage) pairs in the respective two-dimensional space. Then, a special class of probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA), called D-Markov machine, is constructed from the symbol strings to extract pertinent features. The SOC estimation is formulated as a sequential estimation scheme with adaptive acceptance of new features to circumvent the problem of having potential outliers. A major challenge is that SOC value is continuously varying during the operation. While modeling and analysis of such time-varying problems is computationally intensive, the data-driven approach requires adequate length of time series data for statistically significant analysis. From these perspectives, a critical aspect is to determine an optimal (or suboptimal) length of the analysis window to make a tradeoff between estimation accuracy and dynamic sensitivity. The proposed method has been validated on experimental data of a commercial-scale lead-acid battery.
PR2S2Clust: Patched RNA-seq read segments' structure-oriented clustering.

RNA-seq, the next generation sequencing platform, enables researchers to explore deep into the transcriptome of organisms, such as identifying functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and quantify their expressions on tissues. The functions of ncRNAs are mostly related to their secondary structures. Thus by exploring the clustering in terms of structural profiles of the corresponding read-segments would be essential and this fuels in our motivation behind this research. In this manuscript we proposed PR2S2Clust, Patched RNA-seq Read Segments’ Structure-oriented Clustering, which is an analysis platform to extract features to prepare the secondary structure profiles of the RNA-seq read segments. It provides a strategy to employ the profiles to annotate the segments into ncRNA classes using several clustering strategies. The system considers seven pairwise structural distance metrics by considering short-read mappings onto each structure, which we term as the “patched structure” while clustering the segments. I...
Relationship Between Knee Pain and Patient Preferences for Joint Replacement: Health Care Access Matters

NIH, a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services [N01-AR-2-2258, N01-AR-2-2259, N01-AR-2-2260, N01-AR-2-2261, N01-AR-2-2262]; Merck Research Laboratories; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; GlaxoSmithKline; Pfizer
Female Micro-Entrepreneurship: The Key to Economic Growth and Development in Islamic Economies

This chapter compares an Islamic economic system to capitalist and socialist economic systems, focusing on property rights, incentive mechanisms, interest rates, decision-making structures, and mechanisms for information and coordination. Islamic entrepreneurship has received little attention; recognizing the role of entrepreneurship in Islamic economies is crucial for growth and development. The chapter examines the theoretical foundations of Islamic entrepreneurship, and explores ways entrepreneurship can stimulate economic growth and development in predominantly Muslim nations. Building a new class of female micro-entrepreneurs should be an important element of economic development in Muslim nations. The role of female entrepreneurs in development should not be underestimated as women can be fully independent and contribute to the welfare of the Islamic economy. The chapter emphasizes that Islamic micro-finance is a missing component of Islamic banking. With micro-financing, Islamic banks can finance female micro-entrepreneurs, leading to long-term growth. Although well-established in Islamic countries, women’s entrepreneurship has not reached its potential due to high barriers to obtaining financial capital; most startup capital for Islamic female entrepreneurs comes from personal savings, family, and friends. Muslim nations should help build efficient micro-financial systems with competitive and diverse financial service providers, especially for women.
Diagnosis, Staging, and Treatment of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains the primary cause of non–relapse-related morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and the incidence of cGVHD continues to rise [1]. Evolving transplantation practices, including the use of mobilized peripheral stem cells, transplantation of older recipients, and more frequent use of mismatched transplants, may explain the occurrence of this vexing problem.
Epstein-Barr Virus and Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus Lytic Cycle Induction with Bortezomib Is a Response to ER Stress

Abstract Abstract 1736 EBV and KSHV are associated with a variety of lymphoid malignancies. Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is among the most potent activators of EBV and KSHV lytic infection and is active at nanomolar concentrations. Studying EBV Burkitt's cell lines, KSHV primary effusion lymphoma cell lines and EBV myeloma cell lines, we found that lytic gene expression is a class effect shared by other proteasome inhibitors, such as MG-132 and epoxomicin. Proteasome inhibition results in IKB stabilization and inhibition of NFKB activity and this effect has been implicated in many of the effects of bortezomib. We studied the promoters of EBV and KSHV immediate early viral protein reporters (EBV Zta and KSHV Rta) and found that IKB super-repressor did not activate promoter reporters suggesting that other pathways must be important in activation. Therefore, we sought to better understand the drug's impact on viral gene expression in virus-associated tumor cells. ER stress has been implicated in bortezomib's antitumor effects. Thapsigargin and tunicamycin are classic activators of ER stress that do not act through proteasomal inhibition. These agents were found to be potent activators of the EBV and KSHV lytic cycle. Previous studies have identified C/EBP family members (C/EBP alpha and beta) as activators of EBV and KSHV immediate early gene expression. In other studies, C/EBP family members (C/EBP beta, CHOP10) have been implicated in regulating the ER stress response. We found that bortezomib, thapsigargin and tunicamycin increased levels of the activating C/EBP beta LAP isoform as assessed by immunoblot and by real-time RT-PCR. Treatment also led to increase in ATF4, XBP1(s), CHOP10, and ATF6 cleavage, all consistent with induction of the ER stress response. Additionally, we showed that treatment with bortezomib increased C/EBP beta binding to previously characterized binding sites in the Zta promoter and expression of C/EBP beta LAP isoform was sufficient to activate EBV immediate early lytic promoters. Finally, we demonstrated that in tumor cell lines with C/EBP beta silenced by doxycycline regulated siRNA, induction of EBV lytic induction by bortezomib and thapsigargin was blocked. These results demonstrate that both human lymphoma associated herpesviruses (EBV and KSHV) are activated into lytic cycle by bortezomib and that these effects are mediated through ER stress pathways and specifically involve C/EBP beta. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The link between discrimination and telomere length in African American adults.

Objective Prior work shows that discrimination is associated with a wide array of negative health outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms through which this link occurs require more study. We evaluated the association between discrimination and leukocyte telomere length (LTL; a biological marker of systemic aging). Method Cross-sectional data were from the Health and Retirement study, a study of people aged 51+ in the United States, and included 595 African American males and females. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate whether discrimination was independently associated with LTL. We also considered the role of potential confounders including sociodemographic factors, health factors, depressive symptoms, and stress. Results High discrimination was associated with shorter LTL after controlling for sociodemographic factors (b = -.034, SE = 0.14, p = .017). This association persisted in analyses that further adjusted for health factors, depressive symptoms, and stress. Conclusion Results suggest that discrimination experiences accelerate biological aging in older African American males and females, alike. This finding helps advance our understanding of how discrimination generates greater disease vulnerability and premature death in African Americans. (PsycINFO Database Record
Understanding the Runaway Tuition Phenomenon: Credence Goods in an Age of Skepticism

Seeking to explain why college tuitions are so rapidly increasing, and finding nothing compelling in the usually-offered stories, the author stumbles upon the answer in plain sight. Because of the kind of product higher education is (a credence good) sellers must go to heroic lengths to keep up the semblance that the product is worth all that is charged for it. Money and resources of other kinds must be directed to this end to the limit of their availability, which can never be satiated no matter how much is spent. The economist Howard Bowen seems to have had the basic insight in 1980. The present paper, however, argues that the driving force behind the phenomenon isn’t competition but rather a rational fear, that even a monopolist might have, that the public will stop believing in the worthiness of the product.
Assessing uncertainties in prevailing methodologies for modeling radiative transfer in simulations of oxygen-enriched methane flames

The fidelities and uncertainties associated with prevailing radiative transfer modeling methodologies and practices during simulations of oxygen-enriched flames where the gas temperature exceeds 2500 K are examined. Reference data in representative furnace environments characteristic of methane combustion at oxidizer oxygen concentrations of 30–100% were generated employing the spectral-line-based-weighted-sum-of-gray-gas model (SLWSGGM). Parametric uncertainties associated with two commonly employed WSGGM were assessed. While predictions from the exponential wide band model (EWBM) based WSGGM formulation agreed very well against reference data, significant errors in the radiative source term predictions resulted when the HITEMP-based WSGGM formulation was employed in high temperature regions beyond its intended application. The epistemic uncertainties associated with the wall temperature profiles decreased with oxygen enrichment. However, fully coupled combustion simulations of 100% O2–methane flames for a range of fuel inlet Reynolds numbers (2600–14,000) resulted in identical gas temperature profiles employing both the EWBM and HITEMP WSGG models. Further, their incident wall radiative flux predictions were within 10% of each other. Epistemic errors resulting from neglecting CO as a radiatively participating specie could become significant. Aleatoric uncertainties resulting from turbulence radiation interaction modeling were pronounced when flame radiation was the dominant contributor to the wall fluxes.
Magnetic Resonance Microscopy of the Mouse Kidney

Clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is now an established routine procedure. With conventional spin-echo, the in-plane image resolution can be as high as 313 x 313 µm with a slice thickness of 3 mm [5]. Beyond this, special approaches must be used, for example, reducing the field-of-view and/or increasing field gradient strengths, both of which can be achieved with the implementation of special software and hardware. The signal-to-noise ratio can be further improved by imaging at high magnetic fields in conjunction with small radiofrequency coils. High-contrast microimages can therefore be acquired. Using a combination of these techniques, Aguayo and coworkers [1] have demonstrated MR microscopy with a modified high-field MR spectrometer. They were able to obtain images of a frog egg with an in-plane resolution of 10 × 13 µm. This method has been extended to the examination of enucleated human and animal eyes and tumors in mice [2, 3, 10] and mapping of water and 13C metabolites in the diabetic lens [4]. In vivo microscopy of acute tubular necrosis in the rat kidney resulting from toxicity has been carried out by Farmer et al. [7]. They implanted inductively coupled coils around the kidneys, and with which voxels of 117 × 117 × 2000 µm were obtained with spin-echo that allowed visualization of the cortex, the inner and outer medulla, and the major vasculature. In this article, we demonstrate microimaging of the mouse kidney at 35 × 35 × 500 µm resolution and investigate the hydrodynamic behavior of water in the kidney at the same time.
We Dream Together: Dominican Independence, Haiti, and the Fight for Caribbean Freedom by Anne Eller

Eller, Anne. We Dream Together: Dominican Independence, Haiti, and the Fight for Caribbean Freedom . Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2016. Review by Bekeh Utietiang.
Building an e-Learning Center from the Ground Up: The Challenges and Lessons Learned

e-Learning has become an essential component of the academic strategy at many institutions. As a result, institutions are challenged by the decisions they must make as to where distance education or e-learning fits within their current organizational structure. This chapter will help readers make decisions as to the best approach to establishing an e-learning center “from the ground up.” The topics discussed will illustrate the challenges in creating an e-learning center and offer practical guidance from leaders in the field on how to overcome those challenges. This chapter will cover topics ranging from decisions to establish an e-learning center, assigning roles and services to the center, organizational development, administration and management, and infrastructure and resources. The goal is to provide concrete examples from practitioners that can be applied to numerous institutions.
Thermoplastic composites for bridge structures

Abstract: The primary objective of this chapter is first to introduce and demonstrate the application of thermoplastic (woven glass reinforced polypropylene) in the design of modular fiber-reinforced bridge decks, and next the development of jackets for confining concrete columns against compression and impact loading. The design concept and manufacturing processes of the thermoplastic bridge deck composite structural system are presented by recognizing the structural demands required to support highway traffic. Then the results of the small-scale static cylinder tests and the impact tests of concrete columns are presented, demonstrating that thermoplastic reinforcement jackets act to restrain the lateral expansion of the concrete that accompanies the onset of crushing, maintaining the integrity of the core concrete, and enabling much higher compression strains (compared to CFRP composite wraps) to be sustained by the compression zone before failure occurs.
The Bükk Mountain Szeletian: Old and New Views on “Transitional” Material from the Eponymous Site of the Szeletian

The Szeletian refers to Central and Eastern European artifact assemblages that have been interpreted as “transitional” phenomena between the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. The term Szeletian derives from material found at Szeleta Cave in the Bukk Mountains of northern Hungary. A reconsideration of the criteria employed to justify the classification of this material as “transitional” is presented together with the impact of recent research on the transitional argument. The impact of these investigations on the meaning of the term “Szeletian” is discussed, as is the legitimacy of the term with regard to hypothesized “transitional” industries in the region.
Within-session effects of selected physical rehabilitation interventions for a dysfunctional arm post-stroke on arm movement and muscle firing patterns

Introduction/Background Upper extremity (UE) impairments and activity limitations are a common problem in individuals following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Eighty-five percent of individuals with CVA report UE functional limitations that are associated with decreased health-related quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) approaches are typically aimed to treat impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions following a CVA. This study examines the effects of five therapeutic approaches on upper extremity (UE) movement and muscle activation patterns in persons with CVAs: (1) proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF); (2) neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT); (3) functional electrical stimulation (FES); (4) weight-bearing and (5) modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT). Material and method This is a case report involving a 61-year-old male who underwent 30-minute intervention sessions for each approach stated above. Electromyography (EMG) and 3D motion capture data were collected pre- and post-intervention and at 30 minute follow-up. Data were analyzed for reaching a cup at waist level, maximum shoulder flexion, and moving cup to mouth as in drinking. Results No significant differences were seen for UE movements across all interventions for kinematic or EMG data. There appears to be a trend towards normal elbow movement following NMES, mCIMT and PNF and increased variability in shoulder flexion in mCIMT and NDT interventions. Weight-bearing provided the least amount of evidence for improved kinematic motion. Improvement in elbow kinematics may indicate proximal stability following PNF, FES, and mCIMT allows for increased distal mobility at the elbow. Conclusion Some interventions produced trends that indicate better UE movement. Increased proximal stability may have caused better distal mobility as shown by improved elbow movement. Increased variability of shoulder flexion may indicate the participant learned different options to perform the same movement. Further research is needed o provide a more transparent understanding of the efficacy of interventions for individuals with hemiparesis following a CVA.
Can User Generated Content Predict Restaurant Survival: Deep Learning of Yelp Photos and Reviews

Despite the substantial economic impact of the restaurant industry, large-scale empirical research on restaurant survival has been sparse. We investigate whether consumer-posted photos can serve as a leading indicator of restaurant survival above and beyond reviews, firm characteristics, competitive landscape, and macro conditions. We employ machine learning techniques to extract features from 755,758 photos and 1,121,069 reviews posted on Yelp between 2004 and 2015 for 17,719 U.S. restaurants. We also collect data on restaurant characteristics (e.g., cuisine type; price level), competitive landscape, as well as entry and exit (if applicable) time from each restaurant’s Yelp/Facebook page, own website, or Google search engine. Using a predictive XGBoost algorithm, we find that consumer-posted photos are strong predictors of restaurant survival. Interestingly, the informativeness of photos (e.g., the proportion of food photos; the proportion of photos with helpful votes) relates more to restaurant survival than do photographic attributes (e.g., composition; brightness). Additionally, photos carry more predictive power for independent, young or mid-aged, and medium-priced restaurants. Assuming that restaurant owners possess no knowledge about future photos and reviews, photos predict restaurant survival for up to three years, while reviews are only predictive for one year. We further employ causal forests to facilitate the interpretation of our predictive results. Among photo content variables, the proportion of food photos has the largest positive association with restaurant survival, followed by proportions of outside and interior photos. Among others, the proportion of photos with helpful votes also positively relates to restaurant survival.
Reconfiguring Black Motherhood: Michelle Obama and the “Mom-in-Charge Trope”

Using historical analysis, textual analysis and communication studies, this chapter explores how Obama’s working-class background, family upbringing, her understanding of her Blackness and her knowledge of the maligning of Black girls and women informed her decision as First Lady to inhabit The Mom in Charge, Cult of True Motherhood and Cult of True Womanhood tropes. Seniors look at African American women, White supremacist feminists and the media’s response to Michelle Obama, and explore their reaction to her claiming these tropes.
Measuring Mediation and Separation Brokerage Orientations: A Further Step Toward Studying the Social Network Brokerage Process

Brokerage has assumed an increasingly important role in social network research and organizing more generally. Social network research has traditionally defined brokerage in structural terms as a b...
Geographical variation in the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among US adolescents

BACKGROUND Among adolescents, obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) contribute to adult cardiovascular disease risk. By parent report, obesity prevalence in the USA was highest in the South. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and MetS by US division and region. METHODS We used in-person assessment of 4600 US adolescents age 12-19 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2014. RESULTS Prevalence of obesity was highest in the East North Central division (21.3%) and the three census divisions in the South (all >20%), compared with lower prevalence in the Mountain and New England divisions (both 10%) and lowest in the Mountain and New England divisions (both <6%). For the amount of obesity in each division, there was a higher prevalence of MetS in the West North Central division (obesity 17.1%, MetS 13.6%) and lower prevalence in the East South Central (obesity 23.5%, MetS 6.6%) and South Atlantic divisions (obesity 20.4%, MetS 6.7%). CONCLUSIONS The degree of obesity-related and MetS-related risk among adolescents in the Midwest is higher than suggested from previous parent-reported weight data. The Midwest and South may warrant particularly strong cardiovascular disease prevention efforts.
Diet-regulated behavior: FVB/N mice fed a lean diet exhibit increased nocturnal bouts of aggression between littermates:

The hyperactive FVB/N inbred mouse strain is widely used for transgenic research applications, although rarely for behavioral studies. These mice have visual impairments via retinal degeneration, b...