cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bargaining Power, Parental Caregiving, and Intergenerational Coresidence

Method. W e use difference-in-difference models applied to Health and Retirement Study-Assets and Health Dynamics of the Elderly data to test the hypothesis that the formation of a joint household between a parent and one of her children raises the bargaining power of non-resident siblings, who then reduce their care to the parent. Similarly, the dissolution of a parent–child household is expected to increase the bargaining power of the child who no longer coresides with the parent relative to her siblings. Results. W e find that children whose parent and sibling begin coresiding during the study period are less likely to provide care and provide fewer hours of care than children whose parents never coresided with a child. Adult children whose parent cease coresiding with a sibling, on the other hand, have a higher likelihood of providing care and provide significantly more hours of care relative to children whose parents either coresided with a sibling in both time periods or never coresided with a child. Discussion. Meeting the needs of the gro wing elderly population while maintaining them in the community is a particular focus of long-term care policy. To the extent that shared living is an important component of such care, the observed sensitivity of non-resident children’s caregiving efforts has implications for the well-being of both disabled parents and their coresiding adult children.
Joints and décollement zones in Middle Devonian shales: Evidence for multiple deformation events in the central Appalachian Plateau

Fractures in oriented Middle Devonian shale cores from the Appalachian Plateau province provide evidence for multiple deformation events associated with the Alleghanian orogeny, post-orogenic stress relaxation, and neotectonic ( ) stresses. The orientation, distribution, and mineral paragenesis of these fractures are used to establish the timing, regional extent, and stress orientation of each deformation event. During the Alleghanian orogeny, the Middle Devonian shale section was a regional decollement zone in the central Appalachian Plateau province. The decollement extends from the Appalachian Structural Front to northwestern Pennsylvania and east-central Ohio. It is defined by abundant joints, veins, and slick-ensided fractures localized within multiple zones of organic-rich brown and black shale. These zones are distributed over tens to hundreds of meters of the Middle Devonian shale section. The shale cores record a continuous counterclockwise rotation of the maximum compressive stress direction in the west-central Appalachians during the Alleghanian orogeny. Three stages are recognized. 68 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
Linking ecologists and traditional farmers in the search for sustainable agriculture

For centuries, traditional farmers have developed diverse and locally adapted agricultural systems, managing them with ingenious practices that often result in both community food security and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. This strategy of minimizing risk stabilizes yields, promotes dietary diversity, and maximizes returns using low levels of technology and limited resources. These microcosms of agricultural heritage still cover no less than 10 million ha worldwide, providing cultural and ecological services not only to rural inhabitants, but to mankind generally. These services include the preservation of traditional farming knowledge, local crop and animal varieties, and native forms of sociocultural organization. By studying these systems, ecologists can enhance their knowledge of the dynamics of complex systems, especially the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function and practical principles for the design of more sustainable agroecosystems appropriate to small farmers. Novel a...
Vocational Assessment and Job Placement

This chapter describes the applications of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) in the vocational assessment and job placement processes of vocational rehabilitation (VR). In addition, the chapter reviews empirical research that has investigated predictors of successful employment outcomes in VR and links this research to the ICF conceptual framework. Implications for job placement are discussed and future directions based on the ICF framework are recommended.
Accommodating Type 2 Diabetes in the Chinese American Family

In this interpretive study, the authors aimed to describe family responses to type 2 diabetes in Chinese Americans as reported by persons with diabetes (PWD) and spouses. Twenty participants representing 16 families completed multiple group interviews. The authors elicited positive and difficult diabetes care narratives and conducted narrative and thematic analysis of transcribed interview texts. Accommodation, the key family response, comprised the enactment of social concerns and practices to balance quality of life for individuals and families with quality of diabetes care. PWDs' accommodation included negotiating disease disclosure, protecting the family's meals, and maintaining ease in family relations despite diabetes symptoms. Accommodation by family members included developing shared diabetes care practices and indirect approaches to disagreements about diabetes management.
Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase I. GENERAL PROPERTIES

Abstract An improved method is described for the preparation of crystalline dihydroorotate dehydrogenase which is electrophoretically homogeneous. The enzyme exhibits an s20,w value of 7.45 S at infinite dilution, and its molecular weight is 115,000 ± 7,000. It contains 2 moles of FAD, 2 moles of FMN, 4 g atoms of iron, and 4 moles of acid-labile sulfide per mole of enzyme. Apparent Km values were determined for DPNH, orotate, and dihydroorotate. Orotate and oxidized enzyme yield a complex characterized by its absorption spectrum. Thermodynamic parameters for the dissociation of this complex are presented. Substrate specificity was studied with a series of pyrimidine derivatives. The ring hydroxyl and carboxyl substituents are essential for binding and oxidation of reduced enzyme. Halogen substitution at Position 5 increases both Km and Vmax. Reduction of the enzyme by reducing substrates is evidenced by bleaching at 450 mµ and the appearance of long wave length absorption. Reduction by DPNH proceeds rapidly; reduction by dihydroorotate is slow and proceeds to about one-half the extent found with DPNH. However, reduction of the enzyme by dihydroorotate in the presence of DPN is as complete, and perhaps as rapid, as that by DPNH. A large Cotton effect, observed in the visible region of the spectrum, was markedly altered by dithionite or reducing substrate and was shifted to lower wave lengths by 3.5 m urea. A flavin-free iron-protein was obtained which exhibited an absorption spectrum similar to that of iron-proteins from other iron-flavoproteins and to that of spinach ferredoxin. Three techniques were used to demonstrate the formation of an oxygen free radical when enzyme, reduced by substrate, is reoxidized by oxygen. Treatment with cysteine is required for reactions involving orotate or dihydroorotate, but not for DPNH oxidase activity. Similarly, treatment with mercuribenzoate destroyed orotate reductase and dihydroorotate oxidase activity while inhibiting DPNH oxidase activity only slightly. A tentative scheme for the internal electron transport system of this enzyme is presented.
Bifurcation of the Pacific North Equatorial Current in a wind-driven model: response to climatological winds

The sensitivity of the bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the Pacific to different wind products is investigated. Variations of the bifurcation latitude with season is simulated in a purely wind-driven model and is found to be in agreement with recent observations. The seasonal cycle is nearly independent of the wind climatology, but the annual average latitude depends on the wind stress curl. It is also shown that in the upper ocean, the poleward shift in bifurcation latitude with depth is realistic in our simple model. This implies that given a stratification close to the observed, it is primarily the wind forcing that determines the location of the bifurcation and its seasonal variation.
What does it mean to manage 'knowledge': implications for the strategic management of knowledge in firms

Knowledge has emerged as a central theme in strategy and organisational research. However, there is still no consensus as to what constitutes knowledge and where it resides. Different perspectives on what constitute knowledge therefore offer a challenge to firms that are earnest in their efforts to effectively and efficiently manage knowledge. This paper is an effort to examine and situate the conceptual discourses on knowledge. Such a discussion offers a framework about the various conceptual categories of knowledge that firms could focus on. This has implications on the strategic directives for managing knowledge in firms.
Acute myelogenous leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogenous disease with outcomes dependent upon several factors, including patient age, karyotype, mutational status, and comorbid conditions. For younger patients, approximately 60% to 80% achieve complete remission with standard therapy involving cytarabine and an anthracycline. However, only 20% to 30% have long-term disease-free survival. For adults older than 60 years of age, only 40% to 55% achieve a complete remission, with dismal long-term survival rates. Unfortunately, the median age at diagnosis for AML is 70 years. Significant advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of AML have led to newer therapies that specifically target molecular abnormalities. Examples of such therapies include the immunoconjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, DNA hypomethylating agents, multidrug-resistance inhibitors, BCL-2 inhibitors, antiangiogenesis agents, and various nucleoside analogs. This review summarizes the standard treatments for AML and discusses the role of novel therapies.
The relationship of Type A behavior and its components to all-cause mortality in an elderly subgroup of men from the Western Collaborative Group Study

This study examined prospectively the relationship of Type A behavior and its components to all-cause mortality in 1,118 men (age 60 to 86) who participated in a 27-year follow-up examination of the Western Collaborative Group Study. Global Type A/B behavior was assessed in these subjects using a modified version of the Structured Interview. Additional psychological data that related to this construct were obtained from self-report questionnaires. The relationship of these data, controlling for other biological risk factors, to 6-year all-cause mortality was investigated by means of a tree-structured survival analysis (TSSA). Using age, Type A behavior, Cook-Medley hostility, ever smoking, and cancer status at follow-up, TSSA identified 6 subgroups that differed in survival rates and associated risk factor profiles. The most favorable survival was experienced by 2 subgroups, one composed of older Type A subjects who scored the lowest on anger-hostility and depression, the other consisting entirely of Type B subjects who had never smoked. The worst survival was experienced by subjects with diagnosed cancer at the 27-year follow-up, and intermediate survival rates were experienced by 3 subgroups that differed markedly on age, smoking, Type A/B behavior, and Cook-Medley hostility. The present study is the first to characterize Type A's with favorable and unfavorable survival rates among the elderly.
Fecundity and sex ratio of offspring in an infertile cohort.

Objective To determine whether male and female subfecundity is associated with the gender ratio. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Reproductive endocrinology clinics in California. Patient(s) A cohort of 30,448 women who sought infertility treatment or evaluation in California between 1990 and 1998 was identified. A fertile comparison group was assembled after matching data from vital statistics records. Intervention(s) Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the odds of a male birth based on fertility status. Result(s) We identified 5,293 infertile women and 6,730 fertile matched women in the live-birth and fetal death records. There were 6,178 children born to women evaluated and/or treated for infertility, compared with 9,131 born to fertile women, for a total of 15,309 births. There was no significant difference in the secondary sex ratio between births in the infertile cohort and the fertile cohort or on the basis of male factor infertility versus female factor infertility. After controlling for confounding factors, there was no difference in sex ratio based on the use of advanced reproductive technologies, duration of infertility treatment, or the type of infertility. Conclusion(s) This study found no statistical evidence to support an association between infertility and secondary sex ratio.
Building a roadmap to biomarker qualification: challenges and opportunities

The traditional route for regulatory acceptance of biomarkers in drug development is through submission of biomarker data in drug approval submissions in the context of a single drug development program. The US FDA's Critical Path Initiative called for establishment of a biomarker qualification process to enable progress in the drug development paradigm. In response to this, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) established a Biomarker Qualification Program (BQP) to qualify a biomarker for a specific context of use (COU). The qualified biomarker can then be used in multiple drug development programs for this COU without re-review. Here, we describe some of the features of the BQP and two new initiatives that have the potential to aid biomarker development through early interactions with the FDA. Finally, we discuss some of the feedback the FDA has received from submitters and the BQP's actions to strengthen the program.
Role of the D1-D2 Linker of Human VCP/p97 in the Asymmetry and ATPase Activity of the D1-domain

Human AAA+ protein p97 consists of an N-domain and two tandem ATPase domains D1 and D2, which are connected by the N-D1 and the D1-D2 linkers. Inclusion of the D1-D2 linker, a 22-amino acid peptide, at the end of p97 N-D1 truncate has been shown to activate ATP hydrolysis of its D1-domain, although the mechanism of activation remains unclear. Here, we identify the N-terminal half of this linker, highly conserved from human to fungi, is essential for the ATPase activation. By analyzing available crystal structures, we observed that the D1-D2 linker is capable of inducing asymmetry in subunit association into a p97 hexamer. This observation is reinforced by two new crystal structures, determined in the present work. The effect of D1-D2 linker on the ATPase activity of the D1-domain is correlated to the side-chain conformation of residue R359, a trans-acting arginine-finger residue essential for ATP hydrolysis of the D1-domain. The activation in D1-domain ATPase activity by breaking perfect six-fold symmetry implies functional importance of asymmetric association of p97 subunits, the extent of which can be determined quantitatively by the metric Asymmetric Index.
On Continuous NOx Reduction of Aero-propulsion Engines

A comprehensive assessment has been made of the ICAO Engine Emissions Data with special emphasis on the Low-Emissions and Rich-Quench-Lean Combustors, LEC/RQL. Since the middle to late 1970’s, more than 50% reduction has been achieved in NOx, CO and smoke along with 95% reduction in the unburned hydrocarbons. All the engine original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) through their highly inventive approaches have produced similar results as summarized in this paper. This provides an incentive for the team to define a gas turbine Relevant Combustion Simulator, RCS to reproduce gaseous and particulate emissions characteristics of LEC/RQL combustors with potential to provide guidance for developing future-gen fuel-flex, ultra-clean energy efficient engines.
Trimethylaluminum as the Metal Precursor for the Atomic Layer Etching of Al2O3 Using Sequential, Self-Limiting Thermal Reactions

Trimethylaluminum (TMA, Al(CH3)3) was used as the metal precursor, together with HF, for the atomic layer etching (ALE) of Al2O3 using sequential, self-limiting thermal reactions. Al2O3 ALE using TMA demonstrates that other metal precursors, in addition to Sn(acac)2, can be employed for Al2O3 ALE. The use of TMA for Al2O3 ALE is especially interesting because TMA can also be used for Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD). Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments monitored Al2O3 ALE at temperatures from 250 to 325 °C. The Al2O3 ALE was linear versus the number of HF and TMA reaction cycles. The QCM studies showed that the sequential HF and TMA reactions were self-limiting versus reactant exposure. The Al2O3 etching rates increased at higher temperatures. The QCM analysis measured mass change per cycle (MCPC) values that varied from −4.2 ng/(cm2 cycle) at 250 °C to −23.3 ng/(cm2 cycle) at 325 °C. These MCPCs correspond to Al2O3 etch rates from 0.14 A/cycle at 250 °C to 0.75 A/cycle at 325 °C. X-ray refle...
Office Lighting for Lighting Education

The use of faculty offices to demonstrate lighting systems is an innovative way to enhance lighting education for students. The lighting of Peter Kiewit Institute 206A, a faculty office, was designed with the intent of exposing students to different illuminated environments and techniques. The lighting systems to be described include direct, indirect, combined direct-indirect, wall lighting, and a theatrical scrim ceiling. The direct and indirect lighting systems expose students to the visual impact of these systems and combination of them. The wall lighting provides direction of focus. The theatrical scrim ceiling is used to expose the infrastructure when surfaces above the ceiling are illuminated and to act as a ceiling when illuminated from below the ceiling. This paper will include a detailed technical description of the lighting in the space, photographs, and measurements of the space.
Insulation Coordination Performance of Externally Gapped Line Arresters for Transmission Lines

To compare the Chinese standards of externally gapped line arresters(EGLA) with their counterparts in other countries, and to assess the EGLA designs in China, referring to relevant standards from worldwide and taking the characteristics of Chinese electric power systems into consideration, we tested and calculated the insulation coordination, tolerance performance, and energy handling capability of a typical Chinese 110~500 kV design of EGLA. The results show that the typical Chinese design focuses on meeting the requirements of insulation coordination between EGLAs and their insulators installed in parallel, but it has relatively weak withstanding ability, especially in fault occasions. The breakdown voltage of 3‰ probability under switching impulse of the typical design is lower than the withstanding voltage under switching impulse prescribed in DL/T 620—1997 by 18.0%~31.6%. Therefore, it is suggested that, in the formulated Chinese standards, requirements of EGLA's overvoltage withstanding ability need be added according to Chinese electric power system's characteristics so as to reasonably select EGLA.
A Theology of Transformation: Catholic Sisters and the Visual Practice of Church

This article argues that visual practices, including image production and use, promote a theology of transformation. To discern the theological implications of these visual practices, this article employs ethnographic research and material analysis of images created and/or used by the Congregation of St. Joseph, a Roman Catholic women’s religious community in the United States. First, it examines the sisters’ prayer with or creation of images as a source of theological reflection. Second, it investigates the deployment of images in various ministries as a means of inviting others into the sisters’ vision of the church. Third, it assesses the commodification of images by the Congregation as a form of evangelisation that engages and challenges the global world. This article concludes that visual practices potentially inspire action for justice and compassion as well as reveal the challenge of manifesting a theology of transformation in a global and plural world.
Small cell lung cancer associated with multiple paraneoplastic syndromes

We report the case of a patient presenting with multiple severe electrolyte disturbances who was subsequently found to have small cell lung cancer. Upon further evaluation, she demonstrated three distinct paraneoplastic processes, including the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, Fanconi syndrome, and an inappropriate elevation in fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23). The patient underwent one round of chemotherapy, but she was found to have progressive disease. After 36 days of hospitalization, the patient made the decision to enter hospice care and later she expired.
“I Can Get Through This and I Will Get Through This”: The unfolding journey of teenage motherhood in and beyond foster care

Using a series of 18 in-depth qualitative interviews from six participants, the present study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore emerging conceptualizations of mothe...
Post-processing finite-horizon parameterizing manifolds for optimal control of nonlinear parabolic PDEs

The goal of this article is to propose an efficient way of empirically improving suboptimal solutions designed from the recent method of finite-horizon parameterizing manifolds (PMs) introduced in [1] and concerned with the (sub)optimal control of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs). Given a finite horizon [0;T] and a reduced low-mode phase space, a finite-horizon PM provides an approximate parameterization of the high modes by the low ones so that the unresolved high-mode energy is reduced — in an L2-sense — when this parameterization is applied. In [1], various PMs were constructed analytically from the uncontrolled version of the underlying PDE that allow for the design of reduced systems from which low-dimensional suboptimal controllers can be efficiently synthesized. In this article, the analytic approach from [1] is briefly recalled and an empirical post-processing procedure is introduced to improve the PM-based suboptimal controllers. It consists of seeking for a high-mode parametrization aiming to reduce the energy contained in the high modes of the PDE solution, when the latter is driven by a PM-based suboptimal controller. This is achieved by solving simple regression problems. The skills of the resulting empirically post-processed suboptimal controllers are numerically assessed for an optimal control problem associated with the Burgers-Sivashinsky equation.
Generalizable Learning: Practice Makes Perfect — But at What?

Summary Practising a task can produce learning that generalizes to other tasks. Measurement of such generalization is complicated by how generalization doesn't always manifest simply as better performance on the new task, but also in the form of faster learning.
Ultrafast laser eyewear protection: Measurements and precautions

Ultrafast laser systems are becoming more widespread throughout the research and industrial communities, yet eye protection for these high power, bright pulsed sources still requires scrupulous characterization and testing before use. Femtosecond lasers, with pulses naturally possessing a broad-bandwidth and high average power with a variable repetition rate, can exhibit spectral side-bands and subtly changing center wavelengths, which may unknowingly affect eyewear safety protection. Pulse spectral characterization and power diagnostics are presented for a 80 MHz, Ti+3:Sapphire, ≈800 nm, and ≈40 fs oscillator system. Power and spectral transmission for 22 test samples are measured to determine whether they fall within manufacturer specifications.
Impact of the Dexteria™ Application Use on Visual-Motor Integration in Elementary-Age Children.

Use of iPad technology in the classroom may facilitate learning, engagement, motivation, and interest (Crescenzi, Jewitt, & Price, 2014). The Dexteria™ iPad application was implemented into first g...
Prevalence of honey bee (Apis mellifera) parasites across Texas

We conducted a statewide study, in June and July 2016, of feral colonies and domesticated hives to understand the current and potential impacts of invasive parasites and pests on honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations in Texas. We identify the subspecies for each colony sampled in addition to reporting the presence of parasites. The most common subspecies found were Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera carnica, and Apis mellifera ligustica. We confirmed the presence of Apis mellifera syriaca and Apis mellifera macedonica in Texas. Varroa destructor and Nosema ceranae were the most common parasites, found in eight and nine ecoregions, respectively. Aethina tumida was found in only 4 of the 10 ecoregions.
The sharing economy and digital platforms: A review and research agenda

Abstract Over the last few years the sharing economy has been changing the way that people share and conduct transactions in digital spaces. This research phenomenon has drawn scholars from a large number of disparate fields and disciplines into an emerging research area. Given the variety of perspectives represented, there is a great need to collect and connect what has been done, and to identify some common themes, which will serve as a basis for future discussions on the crucial roles played by digital platforms in the sharing economy. Drawing on a collection of 435 publications on the sharing economy and related terms, we identify some trends in the literature and underlying research interests. Specifically, we organize the literature around the concept of platform mediation, and draw a set of essential affordances of sharing economy technologies from the reviewed literature. We present the notion of platform centralization/decentralization as an effective organizing principle for the variety of perspectives on the sharing economy, and also evaluate scholars' treatment of technology itself. Finally, we identify important gaps in the existing literature on the relationship between digital platforms and sharing economy, and provide directions for future investigations.
Grazer deterrence and fungal inhibition by the invasive marsh grass Phragmites australis and the native sedge Bolboschoenus robustus in a mesohaline marsh

Tidal marsh habitats provide many important functions to coastal areas and are a valuable economic resource. Polyhaline marshes dominated by Spartina alterniflora can experience top-down control by the snail Littoraria irrorata who primarily impact Spartina through facilitating fungal growth on wounds they create. This grazing pressure may have selected for the production of chemical defenses in Spartina and other polyhaline marsh plants that deter snail feeding and fungal growth. Both Spartina and Littoraria can co-occur in mesohaline marshes that line the Chesapeake Bay, but little is known about interactions between this snail and plants in this habitat. Plant diversity, identity, and consumer abundance can differ between poly- and mesohaline marshes, and this may yield different patterns in the two marsh types. We investigated whether two abundant plants in a Chesapeake Bay mesohaline marsh of salinity ~ 13ppt deterred snail feeding and inhibited fungal growth. Through a bioassay-guided fractionation approach, we assessed palatability to snails and growth of the fungus Phaeosphaeria spartinae in response to chemical components in the invasive marsh grass Phragmites australis and the native sedge Bolboschoenus robustus. Both plants possessed chemicals that significantly deterred snail feeding compared to Spartina chemicals. In addition, both plants inhibited fungal growth, mediated by multiple metabolites. Snail density in this marsh was low (25 snails m−2), but may be enough to select for defenses in Bolboschoenus, or deterrent and inhibitory metabolites may be selected for by other consumers or factors. Chemical defenses in invasive Phragmites may contribute to its success in the Chesapeake Bay.
Impact of a structured lifestyle programme on patients with metabolic syndrome complicated by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background Lifestyle interventions are first-line therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aims To examine the prevalence of NAFLD among participants of the University of Michigan Metabolic Fitness (MetFit) Programme and to assess the impact of this programme on weight, metabolic and liver-related parameters among patients with and without NAFLD. Methods Adults who completed the programme between 2008 and 2016 were included. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at enrolment, and at 12 and 24 weeks. NAFLD was defined based on liver biopsy, imaging or clinical diagnosis. Results The cohort (N = 403; 253 12-week, 150 24-week) consisted primarily of middle-aged (median 54 years) white (88%) men (63%) with severe obesity (median BMI 37.4). 47.6% met criteria for NAFLD. At baseline, NAFLD patients were younger (52 vs 55 years), had higher weights and more metabolic derangements (higher fasting insulin and triglyceride, lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol). At programme completion, 30% achieved weight reduction ≥5%, 62% resolution of hypertriglyceridaemia, 33% resolution of low HDL, 27% resolution of impaired fasting glucose and 43% normalisation of alanine aminotransferase. Endpoints were unaffected by NAFLD. Longer programme duration (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.6-12.3) and white race (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.04-1.76) were independent predictors of ≥5% weight loss. Conclusions Nearly half of the patients referred to a structured lifestyle programme for metabolic syndrome had NAFLD. Although baseline metabolic derangements were more pronounced among NAFLD patients, the programme was equally efficacious in achieving weight loss and resolving metabolic syndrome components. Programme duration was the most important predictor of response.
Support vector machine

Abstract In this chapter, we explore Support Vector Machine (SVM)—a machine learning method that has become exceedingly popular for neuroimaging analysis in recent years. Because of their relative simplicity and flexibility for addressing a range of classification problems, SVMs distinctively afford balanced predictive performance, even in studies where sample sizes may be limited. In brain disorders research, SVMs are typically employed using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) because their relative simplicity carries a lower risk of overfitting even using high-dimensional imaging data. More recently, SVMs have been used in the context of precision psychiatry, particularly for applications that involve predicting diagnosis and prognosis of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. In the last section of this chapter, we review a number of recent studies that use SVM for such applications.
LTE Is Vulnerable: Implementing Identity Spoofing and Denial-of-Service Attacks in LTE Networks

Recent years have witnessed the rapid growth of mobile users, which further accelerates the deployment of mobile communication networks, especially LTE networks, due to its high data rate, as well as comprehensive functionality. Compared to its predecessors, LTE networks have incorporated a number of security measures specified by 3GPP, including amalgamation of temporary identities, mutual authentication, and enhanced signaling procedures, which are meant to protect the system and individual subscribers against various forms of attacks. However, as we show in this paper, flaws in real-world implementation render commercial LTE systems vulnerable to several attacks, including identity spoofing and denial-of-service (DoS), which have severe impacts on subscriber's data integrity, QoS, and even privacy. Specifically, we identify the vulnerabilities by carefully analyzing LTE specifications, list possible attacks targeting these vulnerabilities, and successfully implement two attacks on a commercial LTE network with a USRP-based testbed. Our work reveals severe security risks in real-world LTE systems, which call for immediate enhancement from both standardization organizations and cellular service providers.
Placental lncRNA expression associated with placental cadmium concentrations and birth weight

Heavy metal exposures, such as cadmium, can have negative effects on infant birth weight (BW)-among other developmental outcomes-with placental dysfunction potentially playing a role in these effects. In this study, we examined how differential placental expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be associated with cadmium levels in placenta and whether differences in the expression of those lncRNAs were associated with fetal growth. In the Rhode Island Child Health Study, we used data from Illumina HiSeq whole transcriptome RNA sequencing (n = 199) to examine association between lncRNA expression and measures of infant BW as well as placental cadmium concentrations controlled for appropriate covariates. Of the 1191 lncRNAs sequenced, 46 demonstrated associations (q < 0.05) with BW in models controlling for infant sex, maternal age, BMI, maternal education, and smoking during pregnancy. Furthermore, four of these transcripts were associated with placental cadmium concentrations, with MIR22HG and ERVH48-1 demonstrating increases in expression associated with increasing cadmium exposure and elevated odds of small for gestational age birth, while AC114763.2 and LINC02595 demonstrated reduced expression associated with cadmium, but elevated odds of large for gestational age birth with increasing expression. We identified relationships between lncRNA expression with both placental cadmium concentrations and BW. This study provides evidence that disrupted placental expression of lncRNAs may be a part of cadmium's mechanisms of reproductive toxicity.
Changing Gambling Behavior through Experiential Learning

This paper tests experiential learning as a debiasing tool to reduce gambling in South Africa, through a randomized field experiment. The study implements a simple, interactive game that simulates ...
Employer expectations for graduates from Haiti’s agricultural universities

Human capacity building in Haiti’s agricultural sector can be utilized to reduce the country’s food insecurity. Haitian agricultural university and technical schools are responsible for supplying workforce ready graduates and therefore play a role in poverty reduction. Previous research has been conducted to assess these institutions from the perspective of faculty, students, and farmers. However, the employer perspective has not been considered, which could lead to a disconnect between what employers and the university believe are essential skills for graduates to obtain. This study focused on identifying the perceptions of the Haitian agricultural workforce regarding the ability of technical schools to produce graduates. This study used a basic qualitative design involving interviews of Haitian agricultural employers. The interviews revealed employers perceptive of curriculum strengths and weaknesses as well as desired employer skills for graduates. Employers also provided insight into the current job opportunities for graduates as well as what makes an “ideal” employee. We found a disconnect between jobs available and the skills being taught to graduates to fill these jobs. While employers desire employees with strong soft skills, there is a need for more technical skills to be taught at the agricultural schools.
Nutrition, one-carbon metabolism and arsenic methylation in Bangladeshi adolescents

Abstract Background Over 57 million people in Bangladesh are chronically exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Ingested inorganic arsenic (InAs) undergoes hepatic methylation generating monomethyl- (MMAs) and dimethyl- (DMAs) arsenic species in a process that facilitates urinary As (uAs) elimination. One-carbon metabolism (OCM), a biochemical pathway that is influenced by folate and vitamin B12, facilitates the methylation of As. OCM also supports nucleotide and amino acid synthesis, particularly during periods of rapid growth such as adolescence. While folate supplementation increases As methylation and lowers blood As (bAs) in adults, little data is available for adolescents. Objectives To examine the associations between OCM-related micronutrients and As methylation in Bangladeshi adolescents chronically exposed to As-contaminated drinking water. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 679 Bangladeshi adolescents, including 320 boys and 359 girls aged 14–16 years. Nutritional status was assessed by red blood cell (RBC) folate, plasma folate, plasma B12 and homocysteine (Hcys). Arsenic-related outcomes included blood arsenic (bAs), urinary arsenic (uAs), and urinary arsenic metabolites expressed as a percentage of total urinary As: %InAs, %MMAs, %DMAs. Results Boys had significantly lower B12, higher Hcys, higher bAs, higher uAs, higher %MMAs, and a trend toward lower RBC folate compared to girls. Therefore, regression analyses controlling for water As and BMI were sex stratified. Among girls, RBC folate was inversely associated with bAs, plasma B12 was inversely associated with uAs, and plasma Hcys was inversely associated with %MMA. Among boys, plasma folate was inversely associated with %InAs and positively associated with %DMA, RBC folate was inversely associated with %InAs and positively associated with %MMA, while Hcys was positively associated with %InAs. Conclusions These findings suggest that associations between OCM nutritional status, bAs, and distribution of As metabolites in adolescents are similar to previously reported observations in adults and in children. The As methylation findings are statistically significant among boys but not among girls; this may be related to estrogen which more strongly influences OCM in females. The inverse association between Hcys and %MMA in girls is somewhat unexpected given that Hcys is known to be an indicator of impaired OCM and low folate/B12 in adults. Overall, these results indicate that the associations between OCM-related micronutrients and arsenic methylation in adolescents are generally similar to prior findings in adults, though these associations may differ by sex. Additionally, these findings suggest that more investigation into the role of Hcys in adolescent physiology is needed, perhaps particularly for girls. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the impact of OCM and As methylation on As-related adverse health outcomes (such as cancer and cardiovascular disease) in people exposed to As during adolescence.
A Revealed Preference Approach for Ranking City Quality of Life

This paper presents a new method for ranking city quality of life. I use data from the 1980 and the 1990 Census of Population and Housing to rank cities. My approach relaxes the standard "hedonic" method's assumptions that all city local public goods are observed and that the implicit prices of all skills and apartment attributes are equal across cities. I find that Los Angeles and San Francisco have higher quality of life than Chicago and Houston in both 1980 and 1990. I find that quality of life in New York City fell during the 1980s.
A surrogate approach for estimating vehicle-related emissions under heterogenous traffic conditions.

Vehicle emission analysis currently faces a trade-off between easy-to-use, low-accuracy macroscopic models, and computationally intensive, high-accuracy microscopic models. In this study, we develop a surrogate model that leverages microscopic traffic and emission simulations to predict link-level emission rates. The input variables are obtained by aggregating 1 Hz simulated vehicle trajectories into hourly traffic condition factors (e.g., link average/variation of speed, truck fleet percentage, road grade, etc.). The emission ground truth data are generated using the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) opmode-based analysis module. We explore different parameter and machine learning model structures to establish the statistical relationship of the input variables and the link-level emission rates. We demonstrate the ability of our model to accurately estimate vehicle-related emissions by using the Columbia, South Carolina road network as an example. This model can serve as a high-level planning tool to assess the impacts of emissions from transportation projects.Implications: Vehicle emission analysis is facing trade-offs between easy-to-use macroscopic emission models with low accuracy and computationally intensive microscopic models with high accuracy. Existing studies attempted to cope with the trade-off by pre-selecting representative emission rates but are still subject to the risk of not considering differentiated traffic patterns by using single emission rate. To fill in the knowledge gap in the literature, we develop a surrogate approach that fully integrates driving trajectories of heterogenous traffic patterns into a link-level emissions estimation model considering road characteristics. The model can achieve high accuracy and utilize publicly available traffic data in vehicle emission prediction. We apply the proposed model in a middle size city road network and demonstrate its capability to capture and quantify the impacts of traffic patterns on link-level vehicle-related emissions. Additionally, the proposed model can serve as a sketch planning tool for researchers and transportation air quality practitioners to quickly assess bounds of emissions benefits due to traffic operational and transportation strategies.
Cuticle and skin cell walls have common and unique roles in grape berry splitting

The skin protects a fruit from environmental stresses and supports the fruit’s structure. Failure of the skin leads to fruit splitting and may compromise commercial production for fruit growers. The mechanical properties of the cuticle and skin cell walls might influence the splitting susceptibility of fleshy fruits. Thin shell theory and fracture mechanics were utilized in this study to target the potential factors contributing to splitting susceptibility. The study analyzed the structure of the cuticle and epidermis in ripening grape berries and examined the temporal dynamics of berry splitting. Cuticular waxes were partially removed, and skin cell walls were manipulated using wall stiffening and loosening solutions that altered reactions involving hydrogen peroxide. A more than twofold difference in cuticle thickness among grape cultivars did not account for their differences in splitting resistance. However, while removing predominantly epicuticular wax did not alter the berries’ splitting resistance, their surface appearance and increasing yield strength following partial wax removal support the notion that cuticular waxes contribute to berry mechanical properties. Immersing berries in H2O2-based cell wall loosening solutions increased the splitting probability and accelerated berry splitting, whereas cell wall stiffening solutions decreased the splitting probability and delayed berry splitting. These results showed that both cuticle and skin cell walls contribute to the mechanical properties of grape berries and to their splitting resistance. The results also suggest that the two current explanations for fruit splitting, the critical turgor model and the zipper model, should be viewed as complementary rather than incompatible.
Moving Across Mississippi: Young Children's enjoyment and teachers' perceptions of standards-based physical activity videos

Abstract This study examined a standards-based physical activity video platform which integrated English language arts and mathematics with physical activity. Participants included five Pre-K4 and five first-grade teachers from five schools across Mississippi with 157 student participants. Data were collected through a mixed methods sequential explanatory approach, using both a smiley face Likert survey and online teacher feedback. Findings revealed that both Pre-K4 and first-grade children expressed greater enjoyment for videos with higher levels of sensorimotor experiences over those with less movement integration, while teachers perceived the calming and less active videos as more impactful from their perspective.
Apoptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are a group of age-dependent, progressive disorders that exhibit prominent neuronal death. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are mainly sporadic, whereas Huntington’s disease is entirely genetic. Studies on human postmortem brains highlighted the possible involvement of apoptosis and autophagy in neuron death in the diseases. Studies using genetically engineered mouse models confirmed contributions of key apoptosis genes in disease progression in these experimental systems. In addition, mouse models confirmed that neurotoxins may accelerate and exacerbate disease progression. A better understanding of neuron death mechanisms in these diseases will help design better treatment strategies.
The Paradigm Shift in India’s River Policies: From Sacred to Transferable Waters

The beliefs and practices of Hinduism are directly tied to many public uses of rivers across India and have been central to the reverence for rivers appearing in religious worship for centuries and nationalist movements and rallies over the last 50 years. There are also a multitude of public uses of rivers apart from widespread worship rituals: washing persons, clothes, and animals; general household consumption; fishing; transportation; and small-scale industry. These combined with small- and large-scale Hindu ritual bathing practices constitute public uses of rivers in India and are distinct from industrial or urban uses in that they are unpriced and sometimes essential to subsistence. Citizens are usually not prevented from using river waters, but the times when and places where they can attain access are sometimes regulated. With the development of private water and hydroelectric projects and the supporting state controls, one might expect that these public uses will be threatened or restricted over time.
Review of: Mass Fatality and Casualty Incidents. A Field Guide

The author recommends that you read through this entire “field guide,” and that you ask yourself how you or your agency fits into the response to mass fatality and casualty incidents. This seemed like strange advice for a book with a “field guide” format, including numerous lists and outlines of procedures. However, having followed the author's advice, I concur with his recommendation.