cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Pricing Strategies for Multi-Product Revenue Management Problems

This chapter reviews multi-product dynamic pricing models for a revenue maximizing monopolist firm. The baseline model studied in this chapter is of a seller that owns a fixed capacity of a resource that is consumed in the production or delivery of some type of product. The seller selects a dynamic pricing strategy for the offered product so as to maximize its total expected revenues over a finite time horizon. We then review how this model can be extended to settings where the firm is selling multiple products that consume this firm's capacity, and finally highlight a connection between these dynamic pricing models and the closely related model where prices are fixed, and the seller dynamically controls how to allocate capacity to requests for the different products. Methodologically, this chapter reviews the dynamic programming formulations of the above problems, as well as their associated deterministic (fluid) analogues. It highlights some of the key insights and pricing heuristics that are known for these problems, and briefly mentions possible extensions and areas of current interest.
Effect of Occlusal Trauma on Interstitial Pressure in the Periodontal Ligament

Tissue fluid pressure in the periodontal ligament was measured in dog canine teeth placed in traumatic occlusion for 48 hours. The pressure in experimental teeth was 19 mm Hg, which is significantly higher than the 10 mm Hg recorded for contralateral control teeth.
Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

IN BRIEF Along with the epidemic of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States, additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes among these age groups are becoming increasingly apparent. This article discusses the case of a young adolescent with multiple risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Issues relevant to the diagnosis and classification of diabetes in many young patients are explored, along with the importance of initiating therapy that will allow rapid attainment of glycemic control.
Spatiotemporal analysis of wolverine Gulo gulo harvest in Alaska

(wolverines/1,000 km 2 ) that were higher in South-central (0.35) than in Arctic/West (0.11; P 5 0.009) and Interior (0.19; P 5 0.001), but no other regional comparisons were significant. Geographic region, time period and number of harvesters were all significant covariates for describing wolverine harvest (P , 0.001 for each). Wolverine harvest densities at the local level indicated that areas with higher harvest densities were well distributed, but that areas with light or no reported harvest also were common and widespread. Our results also indicated that proximity to human population centers or roadways did not necessarily affect harvest densities at a local level. We reviewed the importance of areas with no or light harvest as potential refugia to maintain a sustainable harvest of wolverines.
Long-term Outcomes of a Cell Phone–Delivered Intervention for Smokers Living With HIV/AIDS

Background. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS (PLWHA) have a substantially higher prevalence of cigarette smoking compared to the general population. In addition, PLWHA are particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects of smoking. Our primary objective was to design and test the efficacy over 12 months of a smoking cessation intervention targeting PLWHA. Methods. Participants were enrolled from an urban HIV clinic with a multiethnic and economically disadvantaged patient population. Participants received smoking cessation treatment either through usual care (UC) or counseling delivered by a cell phone intervention (CPI). The 7-day point prevalence abstinence was evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months using logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models. Results. We randomized 474 HIV-positive smokers to either the UC or CPI group. When evaluating the overall treatment effect (7-day abstinence outcomes from 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups), participants in the CPI group were 2.41 times (P = .049) more likely to demonstrate abstinence compared to the UC group. The treatment effect was strongest at the 3-month follow-up (odds ratio = 4.3, P .05). Conclusions. Cell phone–delivered smoking cessation treatment has a positive impact on abstinence rates compared to a usual care approach. Future research should focus on strategies for sustaining the treatment effect in the long term.
Improving speech-in-noise recognition for children with hearing loss: potential effects of language abilities, binaural summation, and head shadow.

AbstractObjective: This study examined speech recognition in noise for children with hearing loss, compared it to recognition for children with normal hearing, and examined mechanisms that might explain variance in children's abilities to recognize speech in noise. Design: Word recognition was measured in two levels of noise, both when the speech and noise were co-located in front and when the noise came separately from one side. Four mechanisms were examined as factors possibly explaining variance: vocabulary knowledge, sensitivity to phonological structure, binaural summation, and head shadow. Study sample: Participants were 113 eight-year-old children. Forty-eight had normal hearing (NH) and 65 had hearing loss: 18 with hearing aids (HAs), 19 with one cochlear implant (CI), and 28 with two CIs. Results: Phonological sensitivity explained a significant amount of between-groups variance in speech-in-noise recognition. Little evidence of binaural summation was found. Head shadow was similar in magnitude f...
Bones of Contention: Bone Mineral Density Recovery in Celiac Disease—A Systematic Review

Metabolic bone disease is a frequent co-morbidity in newly diagnosed adults with celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of dietary gluten. This systematic review of studies looked at the efficacy of the gluten-free diet, physical activity, nutrient supplementation, and bisphosphonates for low bone density treatment. Case control and cohort designs were identified from PubMed and other academic databases (from 1996 to 2015) that observed newly diagnosed adults with CD for at least one year after diet treatment using the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Only 20 out of 207 studies met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Strengthening of the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement checklist. Gluten-free diet adherence resulted in partial recovery of bone density by one year in all studies, and full recovery by the fifth year. No treatment differences were observed between the gluten-free diet alone and diet plus bisphosphonates in one study. For malnourished patients, supplementation with vitamin D and calcium resulted in significant improvement. Evidence for the impact of physical activity on bone density was limited. Therapeutic strategies aimed at modifying lifestyle factors throughout the lifespan should be studied.
Eulemur, me lemur: the evolution of scent-signal complexity in a primate clade

Signal complexity has been linked to social complexity in vocal, but not chemical, communication. To address this gap, we examined the chemical complexity of male and female glandular secretions in eight species of Eulemur. In this diverse clade of macrosmatic primates, species differ by social or mating system and dominance structure. We applied principal component and linear discriminate analyses to data obtained by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Beyond the significant effects on chemical signals of gland type, sex, season and species, we found effects of social variables and phylogeny. Notably, female odours were more chemically complex in multimale–multifemale species than pair-bonded species, whereas male odours were more chemically complex in codominant species than female-dominant species. Also, the traditional sexual dimorphism, whereby male signal complexity exceeds that of females, was present in codominant species, but reversed in female-dominant species. Lastly, a positive relationship between the species' pairwise chemical distances and their pairwise phylogenetic distances supported a gradual, but relatively fast mode of signal evolution. We suggest that the comparative method can be a powerful tool in olfactory research, revealing species differences relevant to the understanding of current signal utility and evolutionary processes. In particular, social complexity in lemurs may have selected for olfactory complexity.
Linear system models for ultrasonic imaging: application to signal statistics

Linear equations for modeling echo signals from shift-variant systems forming ultrasonic B-mode, Doppler, and strain images are analyzed and extended. The approach is based on a solution to the homogeneous wave equation for random inhomogeneous media. When the system is shift-variant, the spatial sensitivity function-defined as a spatial weighting function that determines the scattering volume for a fixed point of time-has advantages over the point-spread function traditionally used to analyze ultrasound systems. Spatial sensitivity functions are necessary for determining statistical moments in the context of rigorous image quality assessment, and they are time-reversed copies of point-spread functions for shift variant systems. A criterion is proposed to assess the validity of a local shift-invariance assumption. The analysis reveals realistic situations in which in-phase signals are correlated to the corresponding quadrature signals, which has strong implications for assessing lesion detectability. Also revealed is an opportunity to enhance near- and far-field spatial resolution by matched filtering unfocused beams. The analysis connects several well-known approaches to modeling ultrasonic echo signals.
Residential Perceptions of Environmental Exposures and Associated Health Effects in the Fresno, Texas, Community

Background: Environmental contaminants are often located in areas heavily populated by African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and the poor. In many communities, the discovery of environmental hazards occurs following concern and investigation by its constituents. The residents of Fresno, Texas, which is a predominantly minority community located near Houston, Texas, have long-standing undocumented concerns related to potential environmental exposures and associated health effects. To begin to document the concerns of the members of the Fresno community, we used focus group methodology to examine the resident’s perceptions of the environment in the Fresno community, potential routes and sources of environmental exposures, and how Fresno residents perceived that these environmental hazards could affect their health. Methods: Focus group methodology was used to assess the Fresno communities’ perceptions of environmental exposure, perceived routes of exposure, and perceived adverse health affects. Nineteen Fresno residents took part in four focus group discussions that were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis. Results: The residential participants overwhelmingly described poor water quality in the Fresno community. While some residents perceived that the air quality was good or clear, others described the air as poor or potentially dangerous. Some residents identified the local chemical companies, a landfill, chlorination, and a lack of public water supply as potential sources of contamination in the Fresno community. The residents perceived that environmental exposures could potentially affect their health status, in particular the drinking water. Conclusions: The findings of our study convey the concerns of the members of the Fresno community. Potential environmental exposures were identified along with sources of environmental hazards. Although there were differing perceptions of air quality, the perceptions of water quality and sources of contamination were consistent. These findings should be used in developing a larger-scale environmental health assessment in the Fresno community to examine self-reported health status and measure contaminant levels in the residential drinking water.
The diopside-kyanite joint at high pressures and temperatures

Initial mixes of composition (molecular proportions) 2 anorthite: 2 enstatite: diopside have been crystallized at 1200°C over a pressure range of 13.5–36 kb. The stable mineral assemblage changes from anorthite+clinopyroxene solid solution +orthopyroxene at 13.5 kb to clinopyroxene solid solution +garnet+ minor quartz at 18 kb to clinopyroxene solid solution+ garnet+ minor quartz+minor kvanite at 22.5–36 kb. The proportion of garnet and its grossular content increases with increasing pressure. On addition of 1/2, 1 and 2 moles of jadeite to the initial mix, crystallization of garnet is markedly inhibited and the grossular content decreases. This study has application to the relative stability of clinopyroxene-kvanite or garnet-quartz assemblages in natural rocks such as eclogites and grospydites from kimberlite pipes.
Environmental Control of Tropical Cyclone Intensity

The influence of various environmental factors on tropical cyclone intensity is explored using a simple coupled ocean‐atmosphere model. It is first demonstrated that this model is capable of accurately replicating the intensity evolution of storms that move over oceans whose upper thermal structure is not far from monthly mean climatology and that are relatively unaffected by environmental wind shear. A parameterization of the effects of environmental wind shear is then developed and shown to work reasonably well in several cases for which the magnitude of the shear is relatively well known. When used for real-time forecasting guidance, the model is shown to perform better than other existing numerical models while being competitive with statistical methods. In the context of a limited number of case studies, the model is used to explore the sensitivity of storm intensity to its initialization and to a number of environmental factors, including potential intensity, storm track, wind shear, upper-ocean thermal structure, bathymetry, and land surface characteristics. All of these factors are shown to influence storm intensity, with their relative contributions varying greatly in space and time. It is argued that, in most cases, the greatest source of uncertainty in forecasts of storm intensity is uncertainty in forecast values of the environmental wind shear, the presence of which also reduces the inherent predictability of storm intensity.
Structural and energetic differences between insertions and substitutions in staphylococcal nuclease

In a previous study, the small protein staphylococcal nuclease was shown to readily accommodate single alanine and glycine insertions, with average losses in stability comparable to substitutions at the same sites (PROT. 7:29–305, 1990). To more fully explore this unexpected adaptability to changes in residue spacing, 2 double amino acid insertions (alanyl-glycine, glycyl-glycine) and 3 additional single amino acid insertions with dissimilar side chains (proline, leucine, and glutamine) were constructed at 10 of the sites previously studied. At 8 of these sites, the type of amino acid side chain on the inserted residue significantly influenced the stability of the mutant protein. However, at 9 of the 10 sites, the double insertions were found to be no more destabilizing than the single alanine or glycine insertions. In contrast, double substitution mutations of staphylococcal nuclease, which replace two adjacent residues with alanine, do not show this striking degree of non-additivity. A comparison of the effects of single glutamine and single glycine insertions with alanyl-glycine insertions indicates that insertion of alanine into the peptide backbone is, on average, less destabilizing than appending the equivalent atoms onto the side chain of a glycine insertion. To explain their very different energetic effects, we propose that, unlike most substitutions, the inserted residue(s) must induce lateral displacements of the polypeptide chain, forcing the folded conformation away from that of wild type. The resulting obligatory shifts in the positioning of residues flanking the insertion generate a large number of degrees of freedom around which the mutant structure can relax. From the many alternative packing and bonding arrangements thus made available to the polypeptide chain, the energetically most favorable is selected. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reconstruction of Ancient Molecular Phylogeny

Support for contradictory phylogenies is often obtained when molecular sequence data from different genes is used to reconstruct phylogenetic histories. Contradictory phylogenies can result from many data anomalies including unrecognized paralogy. Paralogy, defined as the reconstruction of a phylogenetic tree from a mixture of genes generated by duplications, has generally not been formally included in phylogenetic reconstructions. Here we undertake the task of reconstructing a single most likely evolutionary relationship among a range of taxa from a large set of apparently inconsistent gene trees. Under the assumption that differences among gene trees can be explained by gene duplications, and consequent losses, we have developed a method to obtain the global phylogeny minimizing the total number of postulated duplications and losses and to trace back such individual gene duplications to global genome duplications. We have used this method to infer the most likely phylogenetic relationship among 16 major higher eukaryotic taxa from the sequences of 53 different genes. Only five independent genome duplication events need to be postulated in order to explain the inconsistencies among these trees.
Molecular cloning and characterization of a human uronyl 2-sulfotransferase that sulfates iduronyl and glucuronyl residues in dermatan/chondroitin sulfate.

Abstract A partial-length human cDNA with a predicted amino acid sequence homologous to a previously described heparan sulfate iduronyl 2-sulfotransferase (Kobayashi, M., Habuchi, H., Yoneda, M., Habuchi, O., and Kimata, K. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 13980–13985) was obtained by searching the expressed sequence-tagged data bank. Northern blot analysis was performed using this homologous cDNA as a probe, which demonstrated ubiquitous expression of messages of 5.1 and 2.0 kilobases in a number of human tissues and in several human cancer cell lines. Since the human lymphoma Raji cell line had the highest level of expression, it was used to isolate a full-length cDNA clone. The full-length cDNA was found to contain an open reading frame that predicted a type II transmembrane protein composed of 406 amino acid residues. The cDNA in a baculovirus expression vector was expressed in Sf9 insect cells, and cell extracts were then incubated together with 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phospho[35S]sulfate and potential glycosaminoglycan acceptors. This demonstrated substantial sulfotransferase activity with dermatan sulfate, a small degree of activity with chondroitin sulfate, but no sulfotransferase activity with desulfated N-resulfated heparin. Analysis of [35S]sulfate-labeled disaccharide products of chondroitin ABC, chondroitin AC, and chondroitin B lyase treatment demonstrated that the enzyme only transferred sulfate to the 2-position of uronyl residues, which were preponderantly iduronyl residues in dermatan sulfate, but some lesser transfer to glucuronyl residues of chondroitin sulfate.
Legalists, Visionaries, and New Names: Sectarianism and the Search for Apocalyptic Origins in Isaiah 56–66

This essay re-examines the difficult questions concerning the origins of apocalyptic literature and the rise of Jewish sectarianism. Since the publication of O. Ploger’s Theokratie und Eschatologie...
Using Ontologies for Adaptive Information Security Training

Information security awareness training is a valuable tool for organizations to reinforce member commitment to the security tenants of the organization. This training is usually presented in a standardized format with little attribution to the individual users interest or need for training. This paper presents various topics of ongoing research to meet the challenges of individualized and effective information security awareness training through the use of ontologies.
Increased Sensitivity to Oxidative Challenges Associated with topA Deletion in Escherichia coli

Deletion of topA in Escherichia coli was found to result in a higher level of killing after treatment with either hydrogen peroxide or N-ethylmaleimide. This effect on oxidative challenge response represents a new role for E. coli DNA topoisomerase I in addition to prevention of excessive negative supercoiling of DNA.
New quasi-square wave and multi-resonant integrated magnetic zero voltage switching converters

A new family of quasi-square wave and multiresonant zero voltage switching (ZVS) converters featuring integrated magnetics is introduced. These converters combine the advantages of the high frequency zero voltage switching of the resonant approach and the zero-ripple property of the integrated magnetics approach. The proposed quasi-square wave ZVS converters have a wider voltage conversion range than previous quasi-square wave converters. The key to these topologies is the fact that all magnetic devices such as tank inductor, filter inductors, and transformer are effectively in parallel. Therefore, all of these elements can be wound on the same core, with core size determined by the requirements of the tank inductor. Hence, the size of the converter can be reduced dramatically. Simulation and experimental results are presented. >
The Informal Economy and Family Preservation in Africa

This paper focuses on the experience of using management and social science to empower the poor and build economic self-reliance among indigenous families in the informal economy of Africa. We describe a strategy which eventually became registered as a non-profit or NGO, Care for Life, and has drawn on the research and managerial skills of business faculty and students to assess and improve the organization over the years. Building on human and financial capital, the NGO has had considerable success in developing social innovations, accelerating its growth, and changing the world in Mozambique.
Clopidogrel hyporesponsiveness and the FDA boxed warning: detection and management of patients with genetic polymorphisms.

In March 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a boxed warning cautioning physicians and patients on the diminished effectiveness of clopidogrel in patients considered poor metabolizers, which may encompass up to 40% of all patients, though the rate varies based on race.[1][1],[2][2]
Primary spine tumors: diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Primary tumors are rare and those localized to a single location offer the potential for cure. To achieve this, early recognition of the primary tumor and proper workup and treatment are essential. Methods: The authors reviewed the literature and best practices to provide recommendations on primary spine tumor treatment. Appropriate workup of primary spine tumors and treatment algorithms are also discussed. Results: Patients suspected of a primary spine tumor should undergo fine-needle aspirate biopsy following consultation with the surgical team to ensure the biopsy tract is surgically resectable should the need arise. Once pathology is confirmed, metastatic workup should be performed to guide the level of treatment. If a localized lesion with poor radiation and chemotherapeutic response is diagnosed, then en bloc resection may be required for cure. If en bloc resection is not feasible or metastatic lesions are present, then radiation and medical oncology specialists must work in conjunction with the surgical team to determine the best treatment options. Conclusions: Patients with suspected primary tumors of the spine should be treated in a multidisciplinary fashion from the outset. With thoughtful management, these lesions offer the opportunity for surgical cure.
Distribution of Genetic Polymorphisms of Glutathione S transferase M1 and T1 in Cantonese Speaking Area of Southern China

BACKGROUND AIM: To investigate the distribution of glutathione -S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1, GSTT1)genetic polymorphisms in Cantonese people of Guangdong Province,and tentative analysis on the relationship between gene polymorphisms and the family history of some diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The healthy population of 606 people in Xinxing county and Guangzhou city in Guangdong province were selected based on the intension of the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-2% agarose gel electrophoresis was applied to distinguish the genotype of the GSTM1 and GSTT1. RESULTS: The frequencies of homozygote for GSTM1(-/-) (n=597)and GSTT1(-/-)(n=579)were 56.8% and 42.1%, respectively. The frequency of homozygotes for both GSTM1(-/-) and GSTT1(-/-) was 22.8%(n=570). CONCLUSION: There was no linkage between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes. The difference of GSTM1 gene distribution in populations from two different areas was significant. The results of chi-square test showed that there was significant correlation between the distribution of GSTT1 genotype and the family history of coronary artery disease among the study population. GSTT1 null genotype was significantly increased in those who had a history of CHD family.
A multi-player Markov stopping game for delay-tolerant and opportunistic resource sharing networks

Opportunistic resources are often present in various resource sharing networks for the users to exploit, but their qualities often change over time. Fortunately, many user tasks are delay-tolerant, which offers the network users a favorable degree of freedom in waiting for and accessing the opportunistic resource at the time of its best quality. For such delay-tolerant and opportunistic resource sharing networks (DT-ORS-Net), the corresponding optimal accessing strategies developed in existing literature mainly focus on the single-user scenarios, while the potential competition from other peer users in practical multi-user DT-ORS-Net is often ignored. Considering this, a multi-player Markov stopping game (M-MSG) is developed in this work, and the derived Nash equilibrium (NE) strategy of this M-MSG can guide network users to properly handle the potential competition from other peers and thus exploit the time diversity of the opportunistic resource more effectively, which in turn further improves the resource utilization efficiency. Applications in the cloud-computing and the mobile crowdsourcing networks are demonstrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and simulation results show that using the NE strategy of the proposed M-MSG can provide substantial performance gain as compared to using the conventional single-user optimal one.
Attentive Surveillance: A Preliminary Study of Prioritizing Mothering Standards in the Face of Intimate Partner Violence

A retrospective qualitative constant comparative analysis of the stories of English speaking women (N==22) who mothered children age 6 or under, while experiencing abuse at the hands of a male partner, was conducted. The emergent theory of Attentive Surveillance (AS), a vital, proactive, complex process of monitoring and prioritizing, was identified. Two non-linear and interrelated stages emerged. One, Understanding Circumstances (UC) is a gradual increase of awareness that the family environment and a woman’s ability to achieve her mothering standards are affected by her partner’s behavior. The second stage, Prioritizing Standards (PS), is a deliberate or a subconscious balancing act of assessing needs, adapting, and ranking mothering standards while still mothering as close to the original standards as possible. Recommendations for professionals, based on AS, in supporting mothers existing capacities to foster mother-child relationships and healthy child outcomes in the context of intimate partner violence are provided.
Liver Transplantation: Historical Perspective

Liver transplantation has undergone a remarkable evolution in the past five decades since it was explored by a few inspiring pioneers who dreamed and believed that the replacement of the diseased liver was exactly what was needed for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Clinical outcome was not satisfactory during the experimental stage (1963–1981) due to inadequately preserved cadaveric organs, coagulopathy including fibrinolysis and excessive activation of coagulation, and difficulty in maintaining the balance between immunosuppression and infection control. It was accepted as a clinical therapy during the developmental stage (1982–1988) with the improved surgical technique using venovenous bypass and application of clinical research results in patient care. During the maturation stage (1989–2000), various types of liver transplantation was performed including xenotransplantation and living-donor liver transplantation, and anesthesiologists were able to care medically challenging patients. In the proliferation stage (2001–present), liver transplantation centers are developed in most medical centers as liver transplantation became manageable with 1-year survival of up to 90 %. This evolution was made possible by the joint effort of dedicated physicians, scientists, and health care workers of diverse medical fields. International Liver Transplantation Society has been another contributor for this successful endeavor.
Viscosity of shale gas

Abstract Nanofluidics, which analyzes fluid transport through sub 100-nm conduits, has fascinated engineers in different fields and we petroleum engineers are no exception. This field gained a significant interest in petroleum engineering only when hydrocarbon production from shales became economically feasible. The basic transport properties of the fluid change for this range of conduit size. With this in mind, we analyze the effective gas viscosity of a shale at different pore pressures. Our objective is not to derive detailed information about the gas transport at a pore or a sub-pore scale, but rather to discuss the implications of pore-scale simulations on the effective gas viscosity at the core scale. We use an acyclic pore model to account for the effective connectivity of the pore space at the core scale. The acyclic model is physically representative because it can capture capillary pressure measurements of the drainage obtained from mercury intrusion experiments. We present the effective gas viscosity with respect to the nominal value, under unconfined conditions. Our analysis shows that the reported permeability in a pressure-driven flow has to be considered an effective transport property if nominal viscosity and density are used for interpretation. That is, we have to modify viscosity and permeability simultaneously in our reservoir model. Our study has major implications for building a realistic reservoir model for shales based on petrophysical measurements.
Practices and Approaches of Out-of-School Time Programs Serving Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Opportunity to participate in an out-of-school time program may be a meaningful support mechanism towards school success and healthy development for immigrant and refugee children. This study extends existing research on best practices by examining the on-the-ground experiences of supporting immigrant and refugee youth in out-of-school time programs. Findings from semi-structured interviews with program directors in 17 Massachusetts and New Hampshire programs suggest a number of program strategies that were responsive to the needs of immigrant and refugee students, including support for the use of native language as well as English, knowing about and celebrating the heritage of the students’ homeland, including on staff or in leadership individuals with shared immigrant background, and giving consideration to the academic priorities of parents. The development of such intentional approaches to working with immigrant and refugee youth during the out-of-school time hours will encourage enrollment of, and enhance effectiveness with, this vulnerable population.
Authority and whole-class proving in high school geometry: The case of Ms. Finley

Abstract Students’ experiences with proving in schools often lead them to see proof as a static product rather than a negotiated process that can help students justify and make sense of mathematical ideas. We investigated how authority manifested in whole-class proving episodes within Ms. Finley’s high school geometry classroom. We designed a coding scheme that helped us identify the proving actions and interactions that occurred during whole-class proving and how Ms. Finley and her students contributed to those processes. By considering the authority over proof initiation, proof construction, and proof validation, the episodes illustrate how whole-class proving interactions might relate to students’ potential development (or maintenance) of authoritative proof schemes. In particular, the authority of the teacher and textbook limited students’ opportunities to engage collectively in proving and sometimes allowed invalid arguments to be accepted in the public discourse. We offer suggestions for research and practice with respect to authority and proof instruction.
Improved pKa Prediction of Substituted Alcohols, Phenols, and Hydroperoxides in Aqueous Medium Using Density Functional Theory and a Cluster-Continuum Solvation Model.

Acid dissociation constants (pKa’s) are key physicochemical properties that are needed to understand the structure and reactivity of molecules in solution. Theoretical pKa’s have been calculated for a set of 72 organic compounds with −OH and −OOH groups (48 with known experimental pKa’s). This test set includes 17 aliphatic alcohols, 25 substituted phenols, and 30 hydroperoxides. Calculations in aqueous medium have been carried out with SMD implicit solvation and three hybrid DFT functionals (B3LYP, ωB97XD, and M06-2X) with two basis sets (6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p)). The effect of explicit water molecules on calculated pKa’s was assessed by including up to three water molecules. pKa’s calculated with only SMD implicit solvation are found to have average errors greater than 6 pKa units. Including one explicit water reduces the error by about 3 pKa units, but the error is still far from chemical accuracy. With B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and three explicit water molecules in SMD solvation, the mean signed error...
A “Toll Bridge” for Tumor-Specific T Cells

Toll-like receptors are among the fundamental molecules that alert the immune system to the presence of an infection by recognizing pathogen-associated molecules. The engagement of TLRs results in the activation of the adaptive immune system and the production of inflammatory molecules and various chemokines. Much of our understanding regarding TLR function stems from the study of innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. However, emerging studies from various groups, including ours, have shown that TLRs are expressed on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and can function as costimulatory molecules. The engagement of TLRs on various T cell subsets enhances cell survival, proliferation, and/or increases the production of cytokines and effector molecules. These findings reveal a novel role for TLR agonists and may inspire new approaches in the development of immunotherapies and vaccines that are more effective by targeting or manipulating TLR signaling within T cells.
Distortion-rate analysis for distributed estimation with wireless sensor networksy

We deal with centralized and distributed rate-constrained estimation of random signal vectors using a network of wireless sensors communicating with a fusion center. Specifically, we determine lower and upper bounds for the Distortion-Rate (D-R) function. The lower bound is obtained by considering centralized estimation with a single-sensor setup, for which we determine the D-R function in closed-form, and specify an estimator that achieves it. Furthermore, we derive a novel alternating scheme that numerically determines an achievable upper bound of the D-R function for general distributed estimation using multiple sensors. Numerical examples confirm that the algorithm performs well and yields D-R upper bounds which are tight.
Bovine Papillomavirus Shuttle Vectors

The papillomaviruses are widespread in nature and induce benign squamous epithelial tumors in a wide variety of higher vertebrates. The proliferative lesions induced by most papillomaviruses are limited to the squamous epithelium. There is a subgroup of papillomaviruses, however, which includes the bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV-1 and BPV-2), the ovine papillomavirus, and the deer papillomavirus which induce fibropapillomas consisting both of a proliferative dermal fibroblastic component as well as a proliferative squamous epithelial component. The full vegetative cycle of the papillomaviruses is expressed only in terminally differentiating squamous epithelial cells comprising the papilloma. Although these self-limiting tumors generally regress, some papillomas may undergo malignant progression.
Understanding young consumers' personal-level cultural orientation and shopping intentions: Implications for small-town retailers

This research compared the shopping motivations and behaviors of young consumers toward small-town retailing based on their personal-level cultural orientation: idiocentrism (personal-level individualism) or allocentrism (personal-level collectivism). A total of 493 usable data were collected from U.S. consumers under the age of 30 using an online survey. Six shopping motivations (assortment-seeking, uniqueness-seeking, convenience-seeking, price comparison, social interactions, and browsing) and two shopping intentions (physical store shopping and mobile shopping) were compared between the two consumer groups. The results confirmed that idiocentric and allocentric consumers differ in motivations and intentions to shop at retailers in small towns. Thus, marketing efforts to promote small-town retailing could be specific to consumers’ personal-level cultural orientations and should emphasize small-town retailing as a convenient and economic shopping option to buy unique and different kinds of products.
Effects of Gender on Skin Physiology and Biophysical Properties

While there are countless studies on the biophysical properties of human skin, there are fewer that examine gender differences. Many studies are sponsored by the cosmetic industry and not surprisingly focus on women and often compare effects of aging or photoaging. Unfortunately, the literature that explores gender differences does not always present a clear picture as will be seen. This contribution will review sebum production, skin pH, barrier function as assessed by transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration measured by electrical properties and skin viscoelasticity and facial wrinkle formation. Studies consistently show lower sebum production in women especially after the onset of menopause. Several studies have shown women to have higher skin pH compared to men but many have found no difference and at least one has shown higher pH in males. Results on TEWL, elasticity and wrinkle formation are also inconsistent and differences in all these parameters vary with body site. Other confounding factors such as skin care habits and practices, history of sun exposure, diet and exposure to either first or second hand tobacco smoke are discussed.
1639b Occupational pesticide exposure among egyptian adolescents: changes over time

Introduction While the impact of acute high exposures (i.e., poisoning) to organophosphorus insecticides is well understood, the impact of low level exposures, particularly on neurobehavioral functioning, is still under debate. Even less information is available regarding cumulative exposure, particularly among adolescents who may be working in agriculture. The goal was to examine the impact of chlorpyrifos exposure on biomarkers of exposure and neurobehavioral performance in adolescents across an application season. Methods Male Egyptian adolescents (applicators and non-applicators) were assessed 35 times before, during and after the pesticide application season. At each session, participants (n=89) completed a neurobehavioral test battery and urine was collected for analysis of the chlorpyrifos metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2 pyridinol (TCPy) (biomarker of exposure). Cumulative urinary TCPy over the study period was used to classify participants into low ( Results Urinary TCPy increased during application with recovery following the end of application. High exposed participants had significantly elevated metabolite levels throughout the 10 month study period. Deficits in motor skills and slower reaction times, along with deficits in executive function and short-term memory were found between the high and low exposure groups. Changes in neurobehavioral performance across the application season indicate a pattern of impaired performance among the high exposed compared to the low exposed. Deficits increased during the application season and remained for months after application ended. Conclusion The findings indicate that neurobehavioral deficits increase during the application season, as exposure also increases, and remain after the application ends, even when the biomarkers of exposure are reduced. This is particularly important when considering the developmental changes that occur during adolescence. An intervention to reduce pesticide exposure has been implemented in this population. (Supported by NIEHS and the Fogarty Institute R21 ES017223 and R01 ES022163, Rohlman).
Instrumentation and Experimental Procedures

It shall be the guiding purpose of this chapter to answer the question: What do I, as an experimentalist, need to get my job done? The answer to this question is indeed one of the overriding goals of the whole book, but in this chapter we shall concentrate our attention on the technical aspects of the problem. We shall first break down the basic operations of an electron spectrometer into their various components and discuss for each element the different ways in which the operation can be accomplished, and which of the ways is preferable in terms of results desired and cost, both in time and money. What can and cannot be done will be indicated, and at the conclusion I shall do some crystal-ball-gazing into what one might expect for the future in the way of new equipment and techniques.
Integrating Oscillatory General Second-Order Initial Value Problems Using a Block Hybrid Method of Order 11

In some cases, high-order methods are known to provide greater accuracy with larger step-sizes than lower order methods. Hence, in this paper, we present a Block Hybrid Method (BHM) of order 11 for directly solving systems of general second-order initial value problems (IVPs), including Hamiltonian systems and partial differential equations (PDEs), which arise in multiple areas of science and engineering. The BHM is formulated from a continuous scheme based on a hybrid method of a linear multistep type with several off-grid points and then implemented in a block-by-block manner. The properties of the BHM are discussed and the performance of the method is demonstrated on some numerical examples. In particular, the superiority of the BHM over the Generalized Adams Method (GAM) of order 11 is established numerically.
A state-based approach to context modeling and computing

Context-aware computing is one of the most essential computing paradigms in pervasive computing and Internet of Things (IoT) areas. However, current context-aware computing is still in lack of good representation models, particularly in modeling proactive behaviors and historical context data. State diagrams have proven to be an effective modeling method for modeling system behaviors. For context-aware computing, explicitly putting forward states of high-level context can be beneficial and intrigue new angles of understanding and modeling activities. In this paper, we firstly propose a state-based context model, and based on the model, we introduce Context Mealy State Machines (CMSM) for simulating state changes of context attribute, situation, and context, which imply important behaviors of context. Examples are given to illustrate how to build simple CMSMs and how to use our approach for supporting context prediction.
Technical report: design and operation of a new transportable laboratory for emissions testing of heavy duty trucks and buses

A significant number of city buses, city tractors and utility trucks are already operating on alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol and natural gas. In response to the need for reliable emissions data from these vehicles, a transportable laboratory has been constructed and has operated on six different dates over the past nine months. This laboratory consists of a semi–trailer incorporating a chassis rolls dynamometer and a second trailer containing the necessary emissions and controls equipment. The semi–trailer can be lowered to the ground using specially designed hydraulic jacks and the vehicle to be tested is driven up ramps onto the rolls. Power is taken from the vehicle to flywheels and air–cooled eddy–current absorbers which simulate inertia and road load. The vehicle is driven through a speed–time cycle by a driver receiving a prompt on a screen, and vehicle speed is monitored by shaft encoders at three locations. The load applied to the vehicle is found using a road load equation: part of this energy is dissipated in rotating component parasitic losses determined during a calibration procedure and the remainder is dissipated by the computer–controlled power absorbers. Tailpipe emissions are ducted to a dilution tunnel, powered by a blower with critical flow venturies, while probes in the tunnel draw continuous samples to an analyser bench. Total hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are all monitored, while a composite particulate matter sample is obtained on a filter. A bank of such data for methanol, diesel, jet fuel and natural gas powered buses operating primarily on the Central Business District Cycle is presently being gathered and analysed.
EXPANSION-CONTRACTION BEHAVIOR IN THE SEA ANEMONE METRIDIUM SENILE: ENVIRONMENTAL CUES AND ENERGETIC CONSEQUENCES

ABSTRACT Field observations on a population of Metridium senile indicate that a greater percentage of the anemones is expanded when the tide is running than at slack water. Observations of anemones subjected to different current velocities and food concentrations in a laboratory flow tank reveal that current has the greatest effect on tentacle expansion and column elongation, and that the interaction of current and food is also highly significant. Food alone is scarcely effective, and the response of anemones to it depends on their expansion state prior to the start of the experiment. The role of current as the principal cause of expansion in Metridium is discussed in terms of the animal's body plan and what is known of its sensory receptors. Energetic considerations suggest that this current-related behavior maximizes the amount of food-carrying water filtered per unit time and minimizes maintenance costs, since expanding to assume the feeding posture causes an increased metabolic rate. The energy savings may be manifested in the high growth efficiencies in sea anemones relative to actively-swimming coelenterates.