cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Takers, Risk Makers: Small Farmers and Non-Traditional Agro-Exports in Kenya and Costa Rica

This article examines the effects of small farmers’ competitive strategies on production relations in the non-traditional agro-export sector of the developing world. It uses a comparative case study approach involving cases with different commodity, institutional, and socio-historical features: one involving snow pea production in Kenya, the other involving chayote production in Costa Rica. Despite the contrasting characteristics of each case, small farmers in both areas responded to production and marketing risks by utilizing alternative markets. These strategies, however, decreased their ability to guarantee supply and quality to agro-export firms, which compelled such firms to develop alternative production arrangements that side-stepped small farmers. The findings reveal the limitations of non-traditional agro-export production as a rural development strategy. They also call into question the value of certain strategies as risk-reduction mechanisms for small farmers.
Cross-layer path management in multi-path transport protocol for mobile devices

MPTCP is a new transport protocol that enables mobile devices to use several physical paths simultaneously through multiple network interfaces, such as WiFi and cellular. However, wireless path characteristics change frequently in mobile environments, causing challenges for MPTCP: For example, WiFi associated paths often become unavailable as devices move, since WiFi has intermittent connectivity caused by the short signal range and susceptibility to interference. In this work, we improve MPTCP to manage path usage based on the associated link status. This variant, called MPTCP-MA, uses MAC-Layer information to locally estimate path quality and connectivity. By suspending/releasing paths based on their quality, MPTCP-MA can more effectively utilize restored paths. We have implemented and deployed MPTCP-MA in Linux and Android. Our experimental results show that MPTCP-MA can efficiently utilize an intermittently available path, with Wifi throughput improvements of up to 72 percent.
Asymptotic bias in the linear mixed effects model under non‐ignorable missing data mechanisms

Summary. In longitudinal studies, missingness of data is often an unavoidable problem. Estimators from the linear mixed effects model assume that missing data are missing at random. However, estimators are biased when this assumption is not met. In the paper, theoretical results for the asymptotic bias are established under non-ignorable drop-out, drop-in and other missing data patterns. The asymptotic bias is large when the drop-out subjects have only one or no observation, especially for slope-related parameters of the linear mixed effects model. In the drop-in case, intercept-related parameter estimators show substantial asymptotic bias when subjects enter late in the study. Eight other missing data patterns are considered and these produce asymptotic biases of a variety of magnitudes.
Situational Context and the Meaning of Drinking

Since most drinking takes place within a social context, a study was designed in which the described situational context of drinking could be systematically varied on the basis of three at least potentially basic contextual characteristics: type of activity or situation, presence of others, and mood. All three variables were found to have strong effects on reactions to or perceptions of drinking as measured by a set of 10 semantic differential scales. Of most importance were the interaction effects which clearly supported the assertion that drinking behavior is a function of culturally structured contexts—that it is learned and situation-specific. Not only did fine distinctions occur in evaluative reactions (including normative expectations) to the various contexts, but perceptions of the effects or impact of alcohol were related to situational context. Futhermore, the appropriateness of focusing exclusively on either the individual drinker or the situational context was addressed. Both sorts of variables...
Size-Associated Morphological Variation in the Red Tree Vole (Arborimus longicaudus)

Abstract We examined patterns of size-associated morphological variation within the Red Tree Vole (Arborimus longicaudus) for the purposes of 1) identifying differences between the Red Tree Vole and the Dusky Tree Vole (A. l. silvicola), a putative subspecies of the Red Tree Vole; and 2) examining spatial patterns of morphological variation across the species' range. Our results illustrate subtle, but significant, morphological differences across the boundary that has been proposed to delimit the ranges of the Dusky Tree Vole and Red Tree Vole. However, the morphological characters examined have virtually no diagnostic utility for distinguishing between subspecies. We also performed a series of linear regressions that revealed correlations between morphological variation and latitude. Ultimately, these findings indicated that morphological variation in Red Tree Voles is in good agreement with Bergmann's Rule and Allen's Rule, 2 well-established ecographic principles that dictate relationships between envi...
Null Mutation of c-fos Impairs Structural and Functional Plasticities in the Kindling Model of Epilepsy

It has been suggested that expression of the immediate early gene c-fos links fleeting changes in neuronal activity to lasting modifications of neuronal structure and function in the mammalian nervous system. To test this idea, we examined behavioral and electrophysiological indices of kindling development and kindling-induced sprouting of hippocampal granule cell axons in wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), and homozygous (−/−) mice carrying a null mutation of c-fos. The rate of kindling development was significantly attenuated in −/− compared with +/+ mice, as evidenced by both electrophysiological and behavioral measures. Kindling-induced granule cell axon sprouting as measured by the Timm stain was also attenuated in homozygous null mutants compared with +/+ mice, with an intermediate effect in +/− mice. The impairment of kindling-induced axonal sprouting in the null mutants could not be attributed to either detectable loss of dentate hilar neurons or reduced activation of the dentate granule cells by seizures. Instead, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the null mutation of c-fos attenuates a pathological activity-determined functional plasticity (kindling development) as well as a structural plasticity (mossy fiber reorganization). We favor the hypothesis that this “fos-less phenotype” is attributable to impaired seizure-induced transcriptional activation of one or more growth-related genes.
Flavonolignans from Aspergillus iizukae, a Fungal Endophyte of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Silybin A (1), silybin B (2), and isosilybin A (3), three of the seven flavonolignans that constitute silymarin, an extract of the fruits of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), were detected for the first time from a fungal endophyte, Aspergillus iizukae, isolated from the surface-sterilized leaves of S. marianum. The flavonolignans were identified using a UPLC-PDA-HRMS-MS/MS method by matching retention times, HRMS, and MS/MS data with authentic reference compounds. Attenuation of flavonolignan production was observed following successive subculturing of the original flavonolignan-producing culture, as is often the case with endophytes that produce plant-based secondary metabolites. However, production of 1 and 2 resumed when attenuated spores were harvested from cultures grown on a medium to which autoclaved leaves of S. marianum were added. The cycle of attenuation followed by resumed biosynthesis of these flavonolignans was replicated in triplicate.
Social Facilitation Effects in Shopping Behavior

Unobtrusive observation was used to compare time in the store and load size of lone and group shoppers. Consistent with social facilitation theory, groups spent more time in the store and purchased larger loads than did lone individuals. The larger loads of group shoppers held up with shopping time controlled. Women and older people spent more time in the store and bought larger loads than did men and younger people.
Use of Stereolithographic Templates for Surgical and Prosthodontic Implant Planning and Placement. Part II. A Clinical Report

Eight implants were placed in the posterior part of the mandible using computer-generated stereolithographic templates. Preoperative implant simulation was done on a 3D computer model created by reformatted computerized tomography data. The surgeon and the prosthodontist positioned the simulated implants in the most favorable position addressing all concerns with regard to anatomy, biomechanics, and esthetics. The length and diameter of each implant along with the angulation/collar of abutments required for a screw-retained prosthesis were determined. Stereolithographic templates were then fabricated by incorporating the precise spatial position of the implants within the bone as previously planned during the computer simulation. The templates were fabricated to seat directly on the bone and were stable. The first template was used to complete osteotomies with a 2-mm twist drill followed by the second template for the 3-mm drill. Implants were placed and allowed to integrate for 4 months. After second-stage surgery, the definitive abutments were torqued into place followed by insertion of the definitive screw-retained prostheses. Dimensions of all implants and abutments were the same as planned during the computer simulation. J Prosthodont 2006;15:117-122. Copyright C � 2006 by The American College of Prosthodontists.
Can Diagrams Predict Essay Grades

Diagrammatic models of argument have grown in prominence in recent years. While they have been applied in a number of tutoring contexts, it has not yet been shown that student-produced diagrams can be used to effectively grade students or predict their future performance. We show that manually-assigned diagram grades and automatic structural features of argument diagrams can be used to predict students’ future essay grades, thus supporting the use of argument diagrams for instruction. We also show that the automatic features are competitive with expert human grading despite the fact that semantic content was ignored in automatic processing.
A UAV Model Parameters Identification Method

Dynamics modeling of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is an important step for design and performance evaluation of UAV control systems. Many advanced control strategies for nonlinear dynamical or robotic systems which are applicable to UAVs also rely on known dynamics models or properties. The accuracy of a dynamics model depends not only on the mathematical formulation or computational algorithms of the model but also on the values of the involved model parameters. Many model parameters of a UAV are very difficult to measure and they may also change from time to time. This paper presents the results of a simulation-based study of an in-flight model parameters identification method. Assuming the motion state of a flying UAV is directly or indirectly measureable, the method can identify unknown inertia parameters such as the mass, the location of mass center and the moments of inertia of the UAV. The method is capable of updating the model parameters while the vehicle is in flight. Simulation examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Nomenclature
Imprinted polymers for the removal of heavy metal ions from water

In wastewater treatment, the removal of heavy metals is difficult due to the limited affinity of heavy metal ions to ion exchange resins. Here imprinting polymerization is used to develop resins with high capacity and selectivity for heavy metal ions for water treatment. A random copolymer of methacrylate and methacrylamide was found to be most effective for the removal of hydrophilic metal complexes, like CdCl2, ZnCl2, and the metalloid NaH2AsO4, particularly when the porosity of these resins is increased. For hydrophobic complexes imprinting emulsion polymerization was developed and data for the effective removal of mercury dithizonate will be described. Complete removal for up to 80 ppm of cadmium and mercury with only 200 mg of imprinted resin was obtained; competition and co-imprinting experiments are described as well.
Abstract P3-04-03: Investigating the therapeutic use of estrogen receptor β agonists in breast cancer

In breast cancer, estrogen receptor status reflects the biology of the tumor and is used to determine the likelihood of responding to endocrine therapy. 70% of all breast cancers express Estrogen Receptor α, which is indicative of estrogen dependence for growth. Current therapies aim to lower estrogen levels, or inhibit estrogen receptor signaling to ultimately prevent recurrence. However, only two-thirds of ERα-positive respond to endocrine therapy. The Estrogen Receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors with similar structures that slightly differ in their DNA binding sites and ligand binding domains. Estrogen Receptor α has been shown to induce the proliferation of mammary gland cells, whereas Estrogen Receptor β exhibits tumor suppressive properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of selective ERβ agonists as a treatment for breast cancer. Using different breast cancer models, we investigated the effects of ERβ agonist treatment on growth, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and gene expression. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment with ERβ agonist results in inhibition of cell growth and migration. Additionally, treatment also impacts cell cycle distribution and affects key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation. We also demonstrate an increase in ERβ mRNA and protein levels upon treatment. This shift in the ERβ to ERα ratio, represents a viable targeting strategy in the treatment of breast cancer. To determine if our finding translate in-vivo, we employed xenograft and syngeneic mouse models. Our in-vivo studies demonstrated reduced tumor volumes in mice treated with ERβ agonists in combination with conventional therapy, confirming the growth inhibitory activity of ERβ agonists. Selective activation of ERβ, through the use of ERβ agonists has enabled us to exploit its tumor suppressive function and investigate the utility as a treatment for breast cancer. This study suggest that activation of ERβ signaling is a valuable strategy to inhibit breast cancer growth and progression. Citation Format: Samayoa C, Krishnegowda NK, Vadlamudi R, Tekmal RR. Investigating the therapeutic use of estrogen receptor β agonists in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-04-03.
Anal Cancer: With Special Reference to the Cloacogenic Variety

Cancers arising in this anatomically complex region show a variety of histologic patterns. The entodermal and ectodermal elements that contribute to the development of the anal canal are separated by the cloacal membrane; from the vestigial remnants, transitional cloacogenic carcinomas arise. While the general pattern of diagnosis and the guidelines of care are similar for squamous and cloacogenic cancers, the cloacogenic variety behaves in a manner that simulates that of the more aggressive group of epidermoid cancers in the canal. A series of 30 cases is reported.
SIMPLE ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE

This chapter explains simple analysis of variance. The simplest case of analysis of variance is that in which there is a collection of samples of data. The chapter describes gathering data in such a way that one is able to break up the total sum of squares of the deviations of the measurements from the grand mean into separate parts. These separate parts enable one to study the main effects of input factors and also their joint effects or interactions. The within-cell variances, which may be used to form the mean square error, can also is used to test for homogeneity of variances, that is, whether σ ɛ 2 is constant, via the Q test or Bartlett's test. Thus, there are natural generalizations of the t test for y 1 versus y 2 , and the F test for s 1 2 versus s 2 2 ..
Utilizing on- and off-line monitoring tools to follow a kinetic resolution step during flow synthesis

In situ reaction monitoring tools offer the ability to track the progress of a synthetic reaction in real time to facilitate reaction optimization and provide kinetic/mechanistic insight. Herein, we report the utilization of flow NMR, flow IR, and other off-line spectroscopy tools to monitor the progress of a flow chemistry reaction. The on-line and off-line tools were selected to facilitate the stereoselective kinetic resolution of a key racemic monomer, which lacked a chromophore, making conventional reaction monitoring difficult. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intimate partner abuse

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects approximately 30% of women in their lifetime, with deleterious health and mental health consequences. IPV disproportionately affects women and, often, women who experience IPV face oppression across multiple domains. Feminist advocates have successfully increased awareness and services; yet, for women in abusive relationships, becoming and remaining violence free is challenging. It is important that interventions focus on survivor strengths and attend to women's self-determination. Keywords: gender; violence against women; violence
Millenials in our midst: panel discussion

We plan to facilitate a conversation about what a millennial is and what different generations may have in common. Some ideas about millenials: Millennials like to chase `bright, shiny objects', in a school/work context and outside it. How do we motivate a millennial to participate, how do we help to retain and develop them within the University?
Abstract 634: Apelin as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a major cause for perinatal fetal and maternal morbidities and mortalities. The endogenous apelin system is an emerging target for the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis; however, its role in pregnancy is not well understood. Apelin and its receptor are expressed in placental trophoblasts and fetal endothelial cells. We have reported that total immunoreactive apelin was lower in the placenta of preeclamptic women (PRE) compared to normotensive women (NT). The processing of the apelin precursor is complex and may yield a number of bioactive forms of the peptide. Presently, it is not known whether differences exist in the expression of the various molecular forms of apelin in the human placenta and whether the distribution pattern of apelin is altered in PRE. To address this issue, placental samples were pooled from NT (n=4) or PRE (n=4) at 37-38 weeks of gestation and the apelin forms resolved by HPLC coupled to an apelin radioimmunoassay (RIA). Total apelin content was lower in the placenta of PRE compared to NT (4.2 vs. 6.1 pg/mg wet weight). The HPLC analysis revealed negligible levels of apelin-36 from the placentas of NT (0.09 pg/mg wet weight) and PRE (0.11 pg/mg wet weight). A peak of apelin-17 was detected in both NT and PRE samples, but the shorter forms of apelin were more abundant. Therefore, separation conditions were tailored to achieve greater resolution of the lower molecular weight forms of apelin. This analysis revealed that the predominant apelin in both PRE and NT placentas was pyroglutamylated apelin-13 (Pyr-apelin-13; NT: 7.1 and PRE: 6.6 pg/mg wet weight); however, apelin-12 and apelin-13 were lower in PRE vs. NT placentas (1.8 and 22 fold, respectively). Lower expression of apelin-13 may reflect an inability to effectively influence blood pressure in PRE. Indeed, we further show that systemic infusion of apelin-13 (2 mg/kg/day) from day 13 to 20 of gestation reduced mean blood pressure (144±1 vs. 163±5 mmHg, n=4-6, p
Counterfeiting in Cryptocurrency: An Emerging Problem

Abstract This chapter presents the current legal environment of crypto-counterfeiting as it relates to virtual currencies. Considering historical examples of traditional financial instrument mishaps, issues associated with the use of cryptocurrencies are discussed. From past experience, the three most pressing issues are (a) ownership, (b) regulation, and (c) dispute resolution. In essence, the security and success of any cryptocurrency are contingent upon its utility as a financial instrument, which has traditionally been philosophically rooted in the security of ownership and protection against counterfeiting of that instrument.
Clinical and Radiographic Predictors of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcome.

Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents 10-15% of all stroke cases in the US annually. Fewer than 40% of these patients ever reach long-term functional independence, and mortality rate is roughly 40% at 1 month. Due to the high morbidity and mortality rates after ICH, early detection of high-risk patients would be beneficial in directing the management course and goals of care. This review aims to discuss relevant clinical and radiographic characteristics that can serve as predictors of poor prognosis and examine their efficacy in predicting patient outcomes after ICH. Summary A literature review was conducted on various clinical and radiographic factors. They were examined for their predictive value in relation to ICH outcome. Studies that focused on each of these factors were included, and their results analyzed for trends with regard to incidence, patient outcome, and mortality rate. Key message In this review, we examined clinical and radiographic characteristics that have been found to be significantly associated to a varying degree with poor outcome. Clinical and radiographic predictors of poor patient outcome are invaluable when it comes to identifying high-risk patients and triaging accordingly as well as guiding decision-making.
In Vivo Quantitative Monitoring of Subunit Stoichiometry for Metabolic Complexes.

Metabolic pathways often employ assemblies of individual enzymes to facilitate substrate channeling to improve thermodynamic efficiency and confer pathway directionality. It is often assumed that subunits to multienzyme complexes are coregulated and accumulate at fixed levels in vivo, reflecting complex stoichiometry. Such assumptions can be experimentally tested using modern tandem mass spectrometry, and herein we describe such an approach applied toward an important metabolic complex. The committed step of de novo fatty acid synthesis in the plastids of most plants is catalyzed by the multienzyme, heteromeric acetyl-CoA carboxylase (hetACCase). This complex is composed of four catalytic subunits and a recently discovered regulatory subunit resembling the biotin carboxyl carrier protein but lacking the biotinylation motif necessary for activity. To better understand this novel form of regulation, a targeted tandem mass-spectrometry-based assay was developed to absolutely quantify all subunits to the Arab...
Prosodic end-weight reflects phrasal stress

Prosodic end-weight refers to the well-documented tendency of prosodically heavier constituents to be preferred at the ends of domains when other factors (e.g. semantics, accessibility, and syntactic complexity) are controlled. Various explanations for prosodic end-weight have been put forth, including complexity deferral, final lengthening, rhythm, phonotactics, and nuclear stress. This article adduces several new arguments for phrasal stress as a unified explanation for prosodic end-weight and proposes a constraint-based theory of the stress-weight interface in sentential prosody.
Implausible, Yet Intriguing: Business in the Outer Solar System

The possibilities of future business opportunities that might exist within the outer solar system are explored. Fictional accounts of development within space are used to provide context between imagined paths of exploration and what is more likely within the foreseeable future. Additional observations as to the nature and extent of how business might develop are discussed. Although business creation within the realm of the outer solar system is likely to remain a distant possibility, it is not without terrestrial precedents. It is also probable that business opportunities would occur at a pace faster than expected if either the resources discovered among the planets and moons proved to be of greater value than anticipated or if technology made exploitation less difficult and more cost effective. It is not if but when and how the resources of the outer solar system will be utilized in the future. In the near-term, business among the outer solar system will continue to be implausible until both opportunity and technology change significantly and catch up with the intriguing vision set forth by science fiction and business visionaries.
Protein-based fiber materials in medicine: A review

Fibrous materials have garnered much interest in the field of biomedical engineering due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, porosity, and tunability. Specifically, in the field of tissue engineering, fiber meshes have been used to create biomimetic nanostructures that allow for cell attachment, migration, and proliferation, to promote tissue regeneration and wound healing, as well as controllable drug delivery. In addition to the properties of conventional, synthetic polymer fibers, fibers made from natural polymers, such as proteins, can exhibit enhanced biocompatibility, bioactivity, and biodegradability. Of these proteins, keratin, collagen, silk, elastin, zein, and soy are some the most common used in fiber fabrication. The specific capabilities of these materials have been shown to vary based on their physical properties, as well as their fabrication method. To date, such fabrication methods include electrospinning, wet/dry jet spinning, dry spinning, centrifugal spinning, solution blowing, self-assembly, phase separation, and drawing. This review serves to provide a basic knowledge of these commonly utilized proteins and methods, as well as the fabricated fibers’ applications in biomedical research.
Innovation in aeronautics through Lean Engineering

Abstract: The dynamics of innovation theory indicate that, for products as mature as aircraft, process innovation is an important contributor to product success and innovation. Many aerospace companies have adopted Lean Thinking as an enterprise-wide continuous improvement strategy. This chapter extends Lean Thinking to the engineering domain with a Lean Engineering framework based upon observational findings from a decade of research in the aerospace domain, published works on Toyota and Southwest Airlines, and practitioner input. Examples illustrate how the framework maybe be applied. Lean Engineering is not totally new to aerospace, and it continues to evolve. Future challenges are briefly summarized.
Trace Element Composition of Modern Human Bone

The utilization of trace elements in medical, biological, anthropological, and/or geographic provenance studies of human biominerals requires an understanding of trace element incorporation into human bones. While the majority of research has focused on the incorporation of a select group of elements (F, Sr, Pb, K, Mg, Zn, and Na), little information exists on the abundance and incorporation of most geologically significant trace and rare earth elements, specifically those that may have a utility for geographic provenance studies. Because trace element patterns vary according to geological processes, the chemical composition of different geographic areas are often distinguishable. As a result, trace elements may be useful for dietary or forensic geographic provenance studies. However, trace element incorporation into bone depends also upon dietary and metabolic processes in addition to the chemical composition of an individual's geographic domicile. We use ICP-MS analyses for 38 trace elements in cortical bone tissues of 58 patients who underwent hip replacement surgery to investigate trace and rare earth element incorporation into modern human bones. We develop a standard system for the evaluation of trace elements including incorporation coefficients (Ki) and ratios of incorporation (Ri) that allow comparison of the levels of incorporation for various trace elements and develop systematics to determine which elements are controlled by metabolic activity as opposed to dietary or environmental factors. Elements that are not strongly affected by metabolic activity (e.g., oxyanions, REEs, Ba, U, and Th) may be directly linked to geographic location or dietary inputs. We find that trace element incorporation occurs systematically according to predictable physiochemical parameters including ionic radius, valence state, and solubility. Ratios of incorporation (Ri) values for trace element concentrations in bone quantify the relative deviation for each trace element from the theoretical geological standard for average soil composition of the continents (UCC).
Influence of the thyroid gland on ovarian function in the aging rat.

There is a dramatic decline in regular ovarian cycles with increasing age in rats. The anovulatory conditions which develope are associated with characteristic changes in the vaginal epithelium and have been termed constant estrus (CE) or repetitive pseu-dopregnancy (RPP). Several studies have demonstrated that this disruption of ovarian function is primarily due to age-related changes that occur within the brain and pituitary. For example, ovulation can be induced in old female rats following systemic injections of luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (Aschheim, 1965), or luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (Aschheim, 1976). In addition reinstatement of regular ovarian and/ or vaginal cycles has been observed in response to electrical stimulation of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) (Clemens, Amenomore, Jenkins and Meites, 1969; Everett, Eolzinger, Zeilmaker, Redmond and Quinn, 1970), or by systemic injection of L-tyrosine, L-dopa, epinephrine, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Clemens et al., 1969; Quadri, Kledzik and Meites, 1973; Linnoila and Cooper, 1976), and low doses of progesterone (Everett, 1940). Specific environmental changes will also reinstate ovarian cycles in both CE and RPP rats.
Bandwidth and Energy-Aware Resource Allocation for Cloud Radio Access Networks

Cloud radio access network (C-RAN) is emerging as a transformative paradigmatic architecture for the next generation of cellular networks. In this paper, a novel resource allocation solution that optimizes the energy consumption of a C-RAN is proposed. First, an energy consumption model that characterizes the computation energy of the base band unit (BBU) pool is introduced based on the empirical results collected from a programmable C-RAN testbed. Then, the resource allocation problem is split into two subproblems—namely the bandwidth power allocation (BPA) and the BBU energy-aware resource allocation (EARA). The BPA, which is first cast via mixed-integer nonlinear programming and then reformulated as a convex problem, aims at assigning a feasible bandwidth and power to serve all users while meeting their quality of service (QoS) requirements. The second subproblem, i.e., the BBU EARA, is defined as a bin-packing problem that aims at minimizing the number of active virtual machines in the BBU pool to save energy. Simulation results coupled with the real-time experiments on a small-scale C-RAN testbed show that the proposed resource allocation solution optimizes the energy consumption of the network while meeting practical constraints and QoS requirements, and outperforms competing algorithms, such as best fit decreasing, RRH-clustering, and SINR-based.
Elementary social studies: A place to start changing the world

“Our children are watching…Our children are listening” (p. xvi). No words have rung so true as these. Issues of inequity and injustice are surrounding us, and smothering us, in our daily lives. Tim...
Disparities and Trends in Genetic Testing and Erlotinib Treatment among Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Background: Despite reports of socioeconomic disparities in rates of genetic testing and targeted therapy treatment for metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), little is known about whether such disparities are changing over time. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis to identify disparities and trends in genetic testing and treatment with erlotinib. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, we identified 9,900 patients with stage IV NSCLC diagnosed in 2007 to 2011 at age 65 or older. We performed logistic regression analyses to identify patient factors associated with odds of receiving a genetic test and erlotinib treatment, and to assess trends in these differences with respect to diagnosis year. Results: Patients were more likely to receive genetic testing if they were under age 75 at diagnosis [odds ratio (OR), 1.55] independent of comorbidity level, and this age-based gap showed a decrease over time (OR, 0.93). For untested patients, erlotinib treatment was associated with race (OR, 0.58, black vs. white; OR, 2.45, Asian vs. white), and was more likely among female patients (OR, 1.45); for tested patients, erlotinib treatment was less likely among low-income patients (OR, 0.32). Most of these associations persisted or increased in magnitude. Conclusions: Race and sex are associated with rates of erlotinib treatment for patients who did not receive genetic testing, and low-income status is associated with treatment rates for those who did receive testing. The racial disparity remained stable over time, while the income-based disparity grew larger. Impact: Attention to reducing disparities is needed as precision cancer treatments continue to be developed.
Regulation of Gene Expression of Wnt signaling Pathway by Dietary High Fat and Effects on Colon Epithelia of Male Mice

Diet induced obesity (DIO), resulting from long-term consumption of a high fat diet, modifies multiple signaling pathways. Wnt signaling pathway is one of these response pathways that is closely as...
Studies of celiac disease. I. The apparent identical and specific nature of the duodenal and proximal jejunal lesion in celiac disease and idiopathic sprue.

Summary In order to investigate systematically the possible relationship between celiac disease and idiopathic sprue, 230 suction biopsies of the duodenum and proximal jejunum were taken from 26 patients with celiac disease, 16 patients with idiopathic sprue, and 73 controls (3 months to 77 years old). The controls consisted of normals, patients with other types of malabsorption, and persons with situations which might theoretically cause an intestinal mucosal abnormality. A small diameter, highly flexible instrument was developed which enabled biopsies to be taken with equal facility from infants and adults. The absorptive surface of the fresh, unsectioned specimen was studied microscopically during fixation. The controls were covered with delicate villi, each of which contained numerous villous capillaries, whereas the abnormal specimens were more or less bald and had a disorganized, sparse vasculature. These findings were confirmed by the appearance of the tissue sections. The most constant diagnostic feature was the reduction in epithelial surface, with varying degrees of blunting or loss of villi. Infiltration of the lamina propria with round cells and abnormalities of the epithelial cells at the luminal surface were frequent but not invariable findings. Perfectly oriented serial sections were evaluated histologically by three observers independently and without clinical foreknowledge. A fourth observer evaluated them by a quantitative technique. This histologic interpretation and obj ective quantitativn agreed with the proved clinical diagnosis in every instance. The appearance of the proximal intestinal abnormality in celiac disease and idiopathic sprue is identical. The celiac-sprue lesion is apparently specific for it was not found in any of the controls. The normalcy of the ileal mucosa was demonstrated in 1 adult celiac patient and 1 idiopathic sprue patient, despite the fact that the proximal j ej unal biopsies in both cases were severely abnormal. The characteristic lesion in the duodenum and proximal jejunum in celiac disease and idiopathic sprue is probably pathognomonic.
Parameters of photic resetting of the circadian system of a durnal rodent, the nile grass rat

Research on circadian rhythms has been hampered by the lack of a suitable rodent model with diurnal habits. The goal of this study was to characterize the parameters of photic entrainment of the circadian system of the Nile grass rat, a small rodent that can potentially serve as a model for the study of circadian rhythms in diurnal animals. The state of the circadian system was accessed through the rhythm of running-wheel activity and manipulated by photic stimulation (white light). The results indicated that the grass rat exhibits a robust rhythm of running-wheel activity with a mean free-running period of 23.9 hours (range: 23.6 to 24.3 hours). The animal is clearly diurnal and starts activity daily approximately 50 minutes before lights-on under an L12:D12 light-dark cycle. Its photic phase-response curve shows a dead zone during most of subjective day, a phase delay region during early subjective night (maximal delay: 1.5 hours), and a phase advance region during late subjective night (maximal advance: 2.2 hours). When exposed to constant illumination, the grass rat exhibits longer circadian periods as the intensity of illumination increases, with a ceiling between 100 and 1,000 lux. Finally, its range of entrainment extends from at least 23.0 to 25.0 hours (from 22.0 to 25.5 in some animals).
On the Relation Between Security Models for HB-like Symmetric Key Authentication Protocols

The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis and comprehensive view for evaluating security models in the context of HB-like symmetric key authentication protocol development. We consider the man-in-the-middle security in the concurrent setting and proposed a new security notion, c2MIM, which we believe is simple and nature. A number of existing security models including our c2MIM are summarized and compared. Some general considerations for designing and using security models are presented.
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide of Persons With Dementia in the Netherlands

Abstract Objective To describe the characteristics of persons with dementia receiving euthanasia/assisted suicide (EAS) and how the practice is regulated in the Netherlands. Designs Qualitative directed content analysis of dementia EAS reports published by the Dutch euthanasia review committees between 2011 and October 5, 2018. Results Seventy-five cases were reviewed: 59 concurrent requests and 16 advance requests. Fifty-three percent (40/75) were women, and 48% (36/75) had Alzheimer disease. Advance request EAS patients were younger, had dementia longer, and more frequently had personal experience with dementia. Some concurrent request EAS patients were quite impaired: 15% (9/59) were deemed incompetent by at least one physician; in 24% (14/59), patients’ previous statements or current body language were used to assess competence. In 39% (29/75), patients’ own physicians declined to perform EAS; in 43% (32/75), the physician performing EAS was new to them. Physicians disagreed about patients’ eligibility in 21% (16/75). All advance request and 14 (25%) concurrent request patients had an advance euthanasia directive but the conditions of applicability often lacked specificity. In 5 of 16 advance request EAS and 2 of 56 concurrent request EAS cases, EAS procedure was modified (e.g., premedication). Twenty-five percent (4/16) of advance request cases did not meet legal due care criteria, in particular the “unbearable suffering” criterion. Conclusions Advance and concurrent request EAS cases differ in age, duration of illness, and past experience. Advance request EAS cases were complicated by ambiguous directives, patients being unaware of the EAS procedure, and physicians’ difficulty assessing “unbearable suffering.” Notably, some concurrent request patients were quite impaired yet deemed competent by appeals to previous statements.
Abstract MP37: Association of Acculturation With Six-year Change in Systolic Blood Pressure Across Diverse Hispanic/Latino Background Groups, the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, 2008-2017

Introduction: Among US Hispanics/Latinos, greater acculturation to US society is associated with higher blood pressure. However, the extent to which this relationship varies across diverse Hispanic...
Silver Nanoparticle-Infused Cotton Fiber: Durability and Aqueous Release of Silver in Laundry Water

Although the application of silver nanoparticles to commercial antibacterial items is well-established, there have been increasing concerns that such particles might leach out, particularly into laundry water from textile products. A recently developed process wherein silver nanoparticles are synthesized in situ within the cotton fiber itself promises, however, to achieve the desired washing durability. In this study, the silver release behavior of the silver nanoparticle-infused cotton fabric during consecutive launderings in water and a detergent solution was analyzed. Silver nanoparticles (12 ± 3 nm in diameter) were uniformly produced throughout the entire volume of cotton fiber with a concentration of 3017 ± 56 mg/kg. A combination of colorimetric, spectroscopic, and elemental analyses showed (1) nonlinear silver release behavior, with a rapid release from externally formed nanoparticles during the initial washing and a plateau-like release from internally formed nanoparticles during extended washing, and (2) superior nanoparticle-leach resistance compared to those in commercial and laboratory-prepared textiles analyzed in the literature. The internal nanoparticles immobilized within cotton fiber exhibited persistent antibacterial activity after 50 home laundering cycles.
Sex-dimorphic effects of biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 deficiency on mouse perinatal brain development

The function(s) of the Biogenesis of Lysosome-related Organelles Complex-1 (BLOC-1) during brain development is to date largely unknown. Here, we investigated how its absence alters the trajectory of postnatal brain development using as model the pallid mouse. Most of the defects observed early postnatally in the mutant mice were more prominent in males than in females and in the hippocampus. Male mutant mice, but not females, had smaller brains as compared to sex-matching wild types at postnatal day 1 (P1), this deficit was largely recovered by P14 and P45. An abnormal cytoarchitecture of the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus was observed in P1 pallid male, but not female, or juvenile mice (P45), along with severely decreased expression levels of the radial glial marker Glutamate-Aspartate Transporter. Transcriptomic analyses showed that the overall response to the lack of functional BLOC-1 was more pronounced in hippocampi at P1 than at P45 or in the cerebral cortex. These observations suggest that absence of BLOC-1 renders males more susceptible to perinatal brain maldevelopment and although most abnormalities appear to have been resolved in juvenile animals, still permanent defects may be present, resulting in faulty neuronal circuits, and contribute to previously reported cognitive and behavioral phenotypes in adult BLOC-1-deficient mice.
Nitrogenase Bioelectrocatalysis: ATP-Independent Ammonia Production Using a Redox Polymer/MoFe Protein System

Nitrogenase is the only biological catalyst that is known to be able to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia. In microorganisms, the MoFe catalytic protein of nitrogenase is reduced by a transient Fe pr...
Investigating fracture propagation characteristics in shale using sc-CO2 and water with the aid of X-ray Computed Tomography

Abstract The further development of unconventional resources is anticipated to increase the intensity of hydraulic fracturing operations. Injecting water-based fracturing fluids into shale formations, especially shales producing gas, may have adverse impacts of water blocking, scale formation, and water-sensitive clay minerals. Accordingly, nonaqueous candidates such as carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) need to be explored to avoid injection of millions of gallons of water and to increase the effectiveness of stimulation jobs. This study investigates fracturing behavior accompanying supercritical carbon dioxide (sc- CO 2 ) injection compared to water. A High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) triaxial cell was utilized to conduct shale breakdown experiments under reservoir-like conditions. Furthermore, the experimental setup allows continuous monitoring of in situ details using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). Here, CT images were utilized for the first time to investigate and confirm the breakdown pressure using Fast Iterative Digital Volume Correlation (FIDVC) that permits visualization of in situ deformation and strain. One inch diameter Green River shale samples were fractured under triaxial stress conditions. Results demonstrated a roughly 2 to 3 times greater breakdown pressure for sc- CO 2 compared to water for the samples studied. Compressive infiltration stress might explain such behavior, and mineralogy is believed to be a major contributor to such differences between injectants. Under isotropic horizontal stresses, sc- CO 2 induces fractures propagating almost independent of bedding planes. This is a promising finding for probable larger stimulated volume achieved by sc- CO 2 . CT imaging to monitor fracture propagation demonstrated excellent performance in detecting fracture propagation. We anticipate this technique to help significantly when monitoring fracture propagation mechanisms for laboratory samples with slow pressurization as well as studies of slip on pre-existing fractures.
Critical evaluation of additively manufactured metal lattices for viability in advanced heat exchangers

Abstract The advantages offered by the stochastic metal foams when used in high-performance compact heat exchangers is evident in the open literature. Recently, there has been a surge in investigations on regular metal lattices which can be manufactured additively, because of their “potential” to provide multifunctional and tunable characteristics to heat exchangers. These lattices are also reported to lend superior mechanical properties as well. The literature, however, lacks in the critical assessment of these additively manufactured regular lattices in terms of the quality of printed parts (defects, surface roughness, etc.), their compatibility in compact heat exchangers, flow and thermal transport characteristics, and whether or not they are viable alternatives to the commercial metal foams conventionally manufactured. This paper reports different manufacturing routes for the fabrication of conventional stochastic and regular lattices and additively manufactured regular lattices, and how these technologies have evolved over the years. The additively manufactured lattices different from the commercial TKD may result in significantly higher interstitial heat transfer coefficient. Further, the design freedom allows different porosities through which higher effective thermal conductivity can be achieved. The usage of regular lattices in tube-heat exchangers, as wicks in heat pipes, heat transfer enhancement features in boiling heat transfer and transpiration cooling mechanisms of turbine blades as an alternative to conventional technologies is promising. The role of inherent surface roughness in dictating the thermal and flow transport in additively manufactured lattices, especially for multi-phase flow applications, should be studied in more detail.