cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Right Turn from Driveways Followed by U-Turn on Four-Lane Arterials: Is It Safer Than Direct Left Turn?

This paper evaluated the safety effects of right turns followed by U-turns (RTUT) at signalized intersections and at unsignalized median openings as an alternative to direct left turns (DLT) from driveways or side streets on four-lane arterials. The safety of both alternatives was evaluated on the basis of traffic conflict analysis. Nine types of conflicts were used for this study. Five of the conflict types were related to RTUT movements, while the rest were related to DLT movements. More than 500 h of data were collected at 16 sites with the help of video recording equipment. Data collection sites were divided into two sets by geometric criteria. At the first set of sites, the drivers had to complete the U-turn movement of RTUT at a signalized intersection. In contrast, at the second set of sites, the U-turns were at unsignalized median openings. At signalized intersection sites, DLT movements generated two times as many conflicts per hour as RTUT movements. When the effects of traffic volumes were taken into consideration, RTUT movements had a 5% higher conflict rate than DLT movements. Severity comparison of DLT and RTUT movements indicated that RTUT-related conflicts were less severe than DLT-related conflicts. At unsignalized median opening sites, DLT movements generated 10% more conflicts per hour than RTUT movements. Furthermore, another conflict rate (conflicts per 1,000 vehicles involved), which takes the effect of traffic volumes into consideration, was 62% higher for DLT movements than for RTUT movements. Severity analysis results indicated that DLT movements had higher average severity scores than RTUT movements.
A World Leader in Medicine

Professor Anna Suk-Fong Lok, MD is the Alice Lohrman Andrews Research Professor in Hepatology, Director of Clinical Hepatology, and the Associate Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System. Dr. Lok obtained her medical degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1977 and her hepatology training under the late Dame Sheila Sherlock at the Royal Free Hospital in London, UK in 1982-83. She rose through the ranks at the University of Hong Kong until she moved to the United States in 1992. More than 30 fellows and junior faculty from all over the world have been trained by Dr Lok. She has received many awards throughout her career, including the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Distinguished Women Scientist Award from the American Gastroenterological Association and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Dr. Lok is the true triple threat having received awards from the University of Michigan for research excellence in 2011, distinguished mentor in 2012, and clinical excellence in 2013 (Anna Suk-Fong Lok. 2013. Available from: http://www.uofmhealth.org/profile/425/ anna-suk-fong-lok-md. Cited 2013 Dec 18; Councilor 2013-2015 Anna Suk-Fong Lok. 2013. Available from: https://www.aasld. org/aboutus/leadership/Pages/lok.aspx. Cited 2013 Dec 18).
Child maltreatment, trauma-related psychopathology, and eyewitness memory in children and adolescents

Two experiments were conducted to examine eyewitness memory in children and adolescents (9- to 15-years-old) with and without known histories of maltreatment (e.g., physical abuse, exposure to domestic violence). In Experiment 1, participants (N = 35) viewed a positive film clip depicting a congenial interaction between family members. In Experiment 2, participants (N = 31) watched a negative film clip in which a family argument was shown. Younger age and higher levels of trauma-related psychopathology significantly predicted commission errors to direct questions when the positive family interaction had been viewed, but not when the negative family interaction had been shown. Maltreatment history was not a significant unique predictor of memory performance for the positive or negative film clip. Implications for a scientific understanding of the effects of child maltreatment on memory are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Renewable energy transportation technologies

Abstract The need for alternative and renewable transportation fuels continues to be high on the nation's agenda. Substituting these fuels for petroleum can reduce dependence on foreign oil imports, improve air quality, and mitigate greenhouse gases. Renewable fuels offer the same advantages as nonrenewable alternative fuels, and, in addition, provide an inexhaustible supply. The largest potential for significant quantities of liquid renewable fuels is from the production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass such as wastes and energy crops. Advanced vehicles will provide dramatic fuel efficiency improvements and will likely have electric drive systems. An evolution of vehicles is expected to occur, beginning with an electric vehicle that fills niche markets in the near term, to hybrid vehicles by the year 2000, to fuel cell vehicles after the year 2005. With the combination of renewable fuels and high efficiency, advanced vehicles can move the nation toward a sustainable transportation system.
Interaction between 1,2-dichloroethane and disulfiram. I. Toxicologic effects.

Abstract Inhalation and intraperitoneal (ip) studies with 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) using Sprague-Dawley rats fed 0.15% disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide; Antabuse; DSF) in AIN-76 diet [approx. (79 ± 11) mg DSF/kg body wt/day] resulted in the observation of a toxic interaction relative to either agent alone. The combination treatment caused testicular atrophy and histopathology in the liver and testes at 1,2-DCE inhalation concentrations >300 ppm (an estimated dose of 194 mg/kg body wt/day) administered 5 days/week for 30 days or at ip doses of 150 mg 1,2-DCE/kg body wt/day over 30 days, 7 days/week. DSF lowered the 1,2-DCE dose at which liver enlargement, decreased liver/body weight ratios, and decreased body weight gains appeared relative to exposure to the 1,2-DCE alone. For the ip study, a decrease in spleen weight also occurred. Testicular atrophy and liver pathology had previously been observed in rats exposed to 20 ppm of ethylene dibromide (EDB) and fed 0.05% DSF in rat chow diet; EDB or DSF alone did not elicit testicular atrophy. These toxic effects indicate that 1,2-DCE may interact with DSF as does EDB, but at a much higher dose.
Insight Into Illness and Attitudes Toward Medications Among Inpatients With Schizophrenia

This study assessed symptoms, severity of illness functional level, insight into illness, and attitudes toward medication in a sample of psychiatric patients who were newly admitted to a state hospital. The patients were evaluated before and after treatment with atypical, conventional, or mixed (atypical plus conventional) antipsychotic medication regimens with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Clinical Global Impression, the Global Assessment of Functioning, the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder, and the Drug Attitude Inventory. Overall, the patients showed significant improvement in symptoms, severity of illness, functional level, and insight into their illness during the course of hospitalization. Their attitudes toward medications changed minimally during treatment. Only the patients who were treated with conventional antipsychotics showed significant improvement in their attitudes toward medication. However, the change was not large enough to differentiate the conventional a...
Promoting Numeracy in an Online College Algebra Course through Projects and Discussions

This research stems from efforts to infuse quantitative literacy (QL) in an online version of college algebra. College algebra fulfills the QL requirement of many college’s general education programs, and is a terminal course for most who take it. In light of the course’s traditional content and teaching methods, students often leave with few QL gains. An online problem-based learning environment provides a unique means of engaging students in quantitative discussions and research, yet little research exists on online courses in the context of QL. This study examined a lecture-based college algebra course versus an online, QL-focused section.Students in each section took the QLRA and responded to an open-ended prompt regarding their mathematical disposition during the first and final weeks of the fall 2014 semester. There were statistically significant gains in the online students’ QLRA performance but none for the face-to-face students. Qualitative analysis of the responses revealed drastic differences in students’ attitudes and their outlook on what utility mathematics has to offer. Implications include that project-based learning in an online environment is a promising strategy for fostering QL in terminal math courses; the study also highlights the need for accountability of QL outcomes in math departments nationwide.
Population subdivision among desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) ewes revealed by mitochondrial DNA analysis

We used behavioural observations and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence analysis to examine demographic and genetic structure within and among home-range groups of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) ewes in the Peninsular Ranges of southern California, USA. We identified substantial genetic variation in the first 515 bp of the mtDNA control region and determined that seven haplotypes were distributed in a nonrandom fashion among these ewe subpopulations. Although a significant (P < 0.01) amount of mtDNA variation (33%) was partitioned among home-range groups, we did not find strong evidence for matrilineal substructuring within these groups. Based on analyses of molecular variance, and comparisons of behavioural associations and distances between centres of activity, we concluded that within a given home-range group, bighorn sheep ewes generally associate with other ewes based on their availability rather than their matrilineal relationships. Our results also supported the conclusion that multiple ewe subpopulations exist within the Peninsular Ranges, and that these subpopulations are the most basic demographic and genetic units.
Obstacles and opportunities for the future of genomic medicine.

The pace of the advancement of genomic sequencing over the last decade – especially within the last 5 years – has been astounding. What initially required billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of person-hours spread out over dozens of institutes in multiple countries can now be accomplished more accurately by one person over the course of a week, for the cost of about a thousand dollars (Lander et al. 2001; Hayden 2014). And concerns about the “thousand dollar genome” requiring an analysis costing hundreds of times that are being supplanted by the ability to leverage existing clinical/research infrastructures and through improved pipelines (Dewey et al. 2014). These pipelines include commercial offerings that allow rapid and highly sophisticated analyses based on proprietary literature curation and private variant databases (Mardis 2010).
Phase II study of celecoxib and trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer patients who have progressed after prior trastuzumab-based treatments.

Purpose: Preclinical studies demonstrate a link between overexpression of HER-2/ neu and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. To explore the possibility that COX-2 is a therapeutic target, we conducted a phase II study of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and trastuzumab in patients with HER-2/ neu -overexpressing metastatic breast cancer that had progressed while receiving trastuzumab. Experimental Design: Eligible patients had bi-dimensionally measurable or evaluable HER-2/ neu -overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. HER-2/ neu overexpression, defined as 2+ or 3+ by the HercepTest, was required. Patients had to have progressed despite prior trastuzumab-based therapy. Treatment consisted of celecoxib (400 mg twice daily) and trastuzumab. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled (42% status post 1 regimen for metastatic disease 58% status post > 2 prior regimens (range of 2–6). Eleven patients were evaluable. There were no responses. Median duration of treatment was 9 weeks. One patient had stable disease at 3 months but progressed at 6 months. A second patient stopped treatment at 3 months because of unresolved grade 2 rash, felt to be related to celecoxib. Toxicities were generally grade 1 or 2. One patient (8%) experienced grade 3 toxicity (abdominal pain). Conclusions: Celecoxib combined with trastuzumab is well tolerated. However, this combination in patients with HER2/neu-overexpressing, trastuzumab-refractory disease, was not active.
Assessing Attachment Security at Age Three: Q‐sort Home Observations and the MacArthur Strange Situation Adaptation

The construction of developmentally appropriate and valid assessments is central to the study of attachment relationships beyond infancy. A common procedure has been that of validating new measures for older children against strange situation classifications obtained in infancy. Although reasonable, a key criterion against which to validate new measures should include concurrent secure base behavior in naturalistic settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether three-year-olds' (N = 45) ability to use their mother as a secure base at home was related to their strange situation classifications when using the MacArthur classification system. Behavior in the strange situation was coded by two experts, and independent observers described secure base behavior at home with the attachment Q-Set. Results indicated that strange situation classifications were not related to either global q-set security scores or specific scale scores that reflect the quality of child–mother interactions at home.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CYTOPLASMIC ACTIN DNA SEQUENCES FROM SIX SPECIES OF PLANORBIDAE (GASTROPODA: BASOMMATOPHORA).

Full-length actin-encoding sequences were PCR-amplified from genomic DNA of six planorbid species; Biomphalaria glabrata (Say; M-line strain), B. alexandrina (Ehrenberg), B. pfeifferi (Krauss), B. tenagophila (Orbigny), B. obstructa (Morelet) and Helisoma trivolvis (Say), using primers designed from a previously reported B. glabrata cytoplasmic (� ) actin cDNA. The amplified sequences contained two conserved exons (126 nt and 1005 nt, respectively), separated by an intron that varied in size between snail species (ranging from 671 to 794 nt). Sequence similarities occurred between the introns of the actin genes from B. glabrata, B. alexandrina and B. pfeifferi and between those from B. tenagophila and B. obstructa, yet considerable differences were evident between these two groups and the intron derived from H. trivolvis. Analysis of exons for sequence similarities, the presence of conserved residues (deduced amino acids), and construction of gene trees indicated that these planorbid genes encode cytoplasmic (� ) actins rather than muscular (� ) actins. Southern blotting and hybridisation experiments suggested that B. glabrata and H. trivolvis may have multiple (up to 5) actin genes, and it can not be ruled out that actin sequences obtained from different planorbid species were derived from paralogous genes. Interestingly however, the gene trees resolved actins derived from gastropod, cephalopod and bivalve molluscs. The sequences presented add to the growing body of information on the molecular biology of planorbid snails.
Screening women for intimate partner violence: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force commissioned this systematic review to inform the upcoming update of its recommendation on intimate partner violence (IPV). The review focused on the effecti...
Health profiles and quality of life of 518 survivors of thyroid cancer.

Background. Available literature describes the long-term outcome of thyroid cancer survivors with respect to thyroid cancer but not their overall medical and social well-being. Methods. Five hundred eighteen thyroid cancer survivors responded to a survey regarding medical and social impacts of their cancer experience. Results. All had surgery, and 417 (80.5%) also had some radiation. Two thirds (64.5%) reported that cancer created health effects varying by gender and passage of time; neurologic, musculoskeletal, and psychologic problems seemed most prominent. They reported more memory loss and psychologic problems than other cancer survivors and more migraine headaches than both other cancer survivors and the general population. Regarding family and work, they integrated well in society overall. However, unsolicited comments by 24.5% of responders disclosed symptoms reminiscent of thyroid hormone imbalance. Conclusion. Thyroid cancer survivors generally report good health long term but describe distinct, lasting medical problems including symptoms of thyroid dysregulation. The extent and manner in which cancer therapy contributes to the health profile of the group merits further inquiry. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 000–000, 2003
PCR-based detection and identification of insect symbionts

Bacterial symbionts of insects are very common and, in many instances, can have profound effects on the physiology of their host insect. Many of them live intracellularly in modified host cells (mycetocytes) and all are transmitted from one insect generation to the next with great fidelity. In some cases these agents are required for the survival of their host, presumably by supplying the insect with required nutrients. Examples of these mutualistic associations include the extracellular symbionts of the triatomine bug, Rhodnius prolixus (Baines, 1956), and the intracellular mycetocyte associated bacteria of tsetse flies (Southwood et al., 1975; Aksoy et al., 1995). These symbionts are found in 100% of host insects and their removal by antibiotics can lead to slower growth, sterility and ultimately death. In addition to this traditional class of insect mutualists, a number of examples of bacterial symbionts which exert a more parasitic effect on their insect host have also been described. Among the best studied is the rickettsia-like microorganism Wolbachia pipientis (O’Neill et al., 1992). This agent, while providing no direct benefit to its insect host, commonly maintains itself in host populations at extremely high frequencies by drastically lowering the reproductive success of female insects that do not carry the microorganism (O’Neill, 1995). When uninfected females mate with infected males, nearly all of their eggs die due to a process known as cytoplasmic incompatibility. In contrast, infected females are fully compatible with both infected and uninfected males. This indirectly benefits infected females which pass the symbiont to the next generation in their eggs.
Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm for Satellite Solar Occultation and Infrared Emission Measurements

A multi-wavelength, multi-sensor Look-Up-Table (LUT) algorithm has been developed to retrieve information about stratospheric aerosols from satellite-based observations of particulate extinction. Specifically, the LUT algorithm combines extinction measurements from SAGE II with similar measurements from the CLAES instrument, and uses the composite spectra in month-latitude-altitude bins to retrieve values and uncertainties of particle effective radius, surface area, volume and size distribution width.
The Effects of Land Use Change on the Terrestrial Carbon Budgets of New England

A regional scale examination of the effects of land use change on the terrestrial carbon budgets of New England from 1700 to 2100 indicates New England has been a carbon sink since about 1900 because of agricultural land abandonment that began in the mid 1800s and subsequent forest regrowth. However, recent land use change for new development has resulted in forest loss in New England, reversing the previous trend of increasing forest area. Analysis of Landsat data from 1990 to 2005 shows consistent patterns of forest loss. Preliminary results of a bookkeeping carbon model indicate a net release of 207 TgC for the period 1700-2005. Since 1900, New England has been a carbon sink and will continue to be one until around 2075. The loss of forest area due to urban growth reduces the magnitude of the current sink and length of time New England will be a carbon sink.
Automatic text decomposition and structuring

Sophisticated text similarity measurements are used to determine relationships between natural-language texts and text excerpts. The resulting linked hypertext maps can be decomposed into text segments and text themes, and these decompositions are usable to identify different text types and text structures, leading to improved text access and utilization. Examples of text decomposition are given for expository and non-expository texts.
Real-Time Predictions of the U.S. Federal Government Budget: Expenditures, Revenues and Deficits

This paper proposes a forecasting procedure involving a combination of MIDAS-type regression models, allowing one to use high frequency predictors with different sampling frequencies to predict the U.S. Federal Government Expenditures (Net Outlays), Revenues and Deficits all of which are low frequency (quarterly/annual) variables. Evidence shows that forecast combinations of MIDAS regression models provide forecast gains over the traditional models. It is also shown that one-step ahead real-time predictions from MIDAS regressions of annual expenditures and revenues have smaller forecast errors than one-step ahead projections provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for the fiscal years of 1998-2010. Moreover, MIDAS regressions with leads employed to have real-time forecast updates of the current quarter (nowcasting) federal expenditures and revenues are found to have improved forecast performance compared to MIDAS regressions without leads.
CiteSeerX: AI in a digital library search engine

CiteSeerX is a digital library search engine that provides access to more than 4 million academic documents with nearly a million users and millions of hits per day. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are used in many components of CiteSeerX e.g. to accurately extract metadata, intelligently crawl the web, and ingest documents. We present key AI technologies used in the following components: document classification and deduplication, document and citation clustering, automatic metadata extraction and indexing, and author disambiguation. These AI technologies have been developed by CiteSeerX group members over the past 5-6 years. We also show the usage status, payoff, development challenges, main design concepts, and deployment and maintenance requirements. While it is challenging to rebuild a system like CiteSeerX from scratch, many of these AI technologies are transferable to other digital libraries and/or search engines.
Programming fine-grained reconfigurable architectures

Recently, several systems based on reconfigurable logic have been designed and built. These systems permit arbitrary digital logic functions to be configured in hardware. This ability to dynamically configure such circuits promises to provide the flexibility of a software based system with the performance of custom hardware. This dissertation proposes a high level language approach to programming reconfigurable logic based machines. This approach uses a data parallel variant of the Clanguage. To support this high level language approach, a novel reconfigurable logic device is described. These devices are in turn interfaced to a memory system and used to perform computation. To demonstrate the validity of this approach, several computationally intensive algorithms are implemented and simulated. Among these algorithms are cellular automata, image processing, neural networks, the Mandelbrot set and the Fourier transform. In addition, selected portions of the Livermore FORTRAN kernels are simulated. Estimates of performance and required system resources are reported for each algorithm.
Solvent Effects on Morphologies of Mesoporous Silica Spheres Prepared by Pseudomorphic Transformations

In surfactant-induced, pseudomorphic transformations of submicrometer-sized nonporous spheres to mesoporous silica spheres, the surface morphologies of the products depend on the solvent used during the initial Stober synthesis. After hydrothermal transformations employing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant, pseudomorphic products of parent silica spheres synthesized in ethanol (HT-SiO2-EtOH) are mesoporous throughout and have smooth surfaces. In contrast, products from spheres synthesized in isopropanol (HT-SiO2-iPrOH) or butanol (HT-SiO2-BuOH) possess highly corrugated shells surrounding a nonporous core. On the basis of 29Si solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra, this significant change in surface morphology after the hydrothermal transformation is related to small differences in the degree of condensation of the parent silica spheres. In the case of HT-SiO2-EtOH, the higher degree of condensation of the parent spheres limits sphere dissolution, and the transformation is...
Wafer Curvature Studies of Strengthening Mechanisms in Thin Films on Substrates

The effects of film thickness and passivation on plasticity of thin metal films on substrates have been studied using gold films as a model system. Wafer curvature/thermal cycling measurements were used to study plasticity in films ranging in thickness from 0.2 to 2.5 micrometers. We were able to describe these stress-temperature curves using a simple phenomenological model for linear kinematic hardening. The yield stresses revealed by the modeling were inversely proportional to the film thickness for thicknesses greater than about one micrometer. This relationship is expected from a dislocation model of plasticity. However, the residual stresses in thinner films are substantially lower than this relationship would predict and on unloading, these films show stress-temperature plots not predicted by the model. Stress-temperature curves were also measured after a tungsten passivation was deposited on the gold surface. Films thinner than one micrometer were substantially strengthened by this passivation and could then be described by the linear kinematic model. The observed stresses are only minimally affected for films thicker than about a micrometer. This strengthening effect on thinner films is consistent with the complete blocking of grain boundary diffusion near the free surface of the film.
Mexican Americans are Less Likely to Return to Work Following Stroke: Clinical and Policy Implications

Background Greater poststroke disability and U.S. employment policies may disadvantage minority stroke survivors from returning to work. We explored ethnic differences in return to work among Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) working at the time of their stroke. Methods Stroke patients were identified from the population-based BASIC (Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi) study from August 2011 to December 2013. Employment status was obtained at baseline and 90-day interviews. Sequential logistic regression models were built to assess ethnic differences in return to work after accounting for the following: (1) age ( Results Of the 729 MA and NHW stroke survivors who completed the baseline interview, 197 (27%) were working at the time of their stroke, of which 125 (63%) completed the 90-day outcome interview. Forty-nine (40%) stroke survivors returned to work by 90 days. MAs were less likely to return to work (OR = .45, 95% CI .22-.94) than NHWs. The ethnic difference became nonsignificant after adjusting for NIHSS (OR = .59, 95% CI .24-1.44) and further attenuated after adjusting for education (OR = .85, 95% CI .32- 2.22). Conclusions The majority of stroke survivors did not return to work within 90 days of their stroke. MA stroke survivors were less likely to return to work after stroke than NHW stroke survivors which was due to their greater neurological deficits and lower educational attainment compared with that of NHW stroke survivors. Future work should focus on clinical and policy efforts to reduce ethnic disparities in return to work.
IMPLICATIONS OF PARTICULATE CONTAMINATION IN E-BEAM LITHOGRAPHY

Experiments were made to compare chromium spot and pinhole defects on finished photomasks written with Manufacturing Electron Beam Lithography Systems (MEBES®). The experiments were performed while adding particulate contamination naturally during blank manufacture, packaging, storage, and by the writing process. In addition, particulate contamination that was added purposely before or after exposure was compared to chromium spot and pinhole defects found on finished experimental plates.
Access and barriers to implementing yoga-based interventions for at-risk adolescent youth.

Purpose: research has identified the efficacy of yoga as an effective regulatory and intervention tool for adolescent youth, particularly those likely at risk for engagement in or exposure to a range of risk behaviors. However, limited research exists on both the availability and feasibility of yoga as an intervention to promote engagement in positive health practices. In this present exploratory work, we therefore identify the current availability of such yoga-based programs across the United States (US) targeting adolescent youth and identify barriers to effective program implementation. Methods: a sample of 13 organizations providing yoga-based programming to at-risk youth across the US was generated. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with the directors of each organization. Data were transcribed and thematically coded. Results: results identified the limited availability of yoga-based programming available to at-risk adolescent youth and described several barriers to effective prog...
First principles study of twisted bilayer MoS 2 through band unfolding

Two dimensional(2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) are exciting candidates for electronic and optoelectronic device applications[1, 2]. In particular, there is growing interest in stacked 2D materials that often arise naturally, and also provide added possibilities for desired functionalities with varying thickness and composition. It is essential to understand the electronic properties of stacked 2D materials such as twisted multilayer TMDs and TMD het-erostructures are sensitive to inter-layer interactions [3,4]. The translational symmetry of a twisted multilayer TMD is compromised due to the twist angle. Consequently a supercell much larger than the primitive unit cell needs to be considered, creating a spaghetti-like band structure from band folding[6]. The challenge for theoretical studies of twisted multilayer systems is to extract inter-layer interactions from the folded band structures. In this work, band structures of twisted bilayer TMDs are studied using first principles calculations. In order to extract the band-edge splittings relavent to inter-layer interactions, we apply a band unfolding technique [5, 6] to the twisted bilayer TMDs. Multi-valley effective mass models are then created to model the bandedges at the Γ point as well as indirect conduction bands along K directions.
The Activation of c-Src Tyrosine Kinase: Conformational Transition Pathway and Free Energy Landscape

Tyrosine kinases are important cellular signaling allosteric enzymes that regulate cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and migration. Their activity must be tightly controlled, and malfunction can lead to a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src, a prototypical model system and a representative member of the Src-family, functions as complex multidomain allosteric molecular switches comprising SH2 and SH3 domains modulating the activity of the catalytic domain. The broad picture of self-inhibition of c-Src via the SH2 and SH3 regulatory domains is well characterized from a structural point of view, but a detailed molecular mechanism understanding is nonetheless still lacking. Here, we use advanced computational methods based on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent to advance our understanding of kinase activation. To elucidate the mechanism of regulation and self-inhibition, we have computed the pathway and the free ener...
Nonlinear adaptive current control for linear vapor compressors

Linear vapor compressors are becoming more widely utilized in refrigeration applications due to their high efficiency as compared with traditional rotary devices. The nature of the free piston in a linear compressor allows the system resonant frequency to vary with the force of gas compression. In order to ensure efficient operation of the compressor the motor must be excited in such a way as to ensure that the frequency of the motor current matches the system resonant frequency. To this end a nonlinear tracking controller is developed for motor current which overcomes two types of uncertainty, the time-varying uncertainty of an unknown back EMF, as well as the parametric uncertainty of unknown machine parameters. A robust integral of sign of error (RISE) term is used to overcome the first, with an adaptive scheme incorporated to overcome the second. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis is provided which proves boundedness and convergence of the controller in a semi-global domain. Simulation results further validate this approach.
Dependence of conductivity on thickness within the variable-range hopping regime for Coulomb glasses

Abstract In this paper, we provide some computational evidence concerning the dependence of conductivity on the system thickness for Coulomb glasses. We also verify the Efros–Shklovskii law and deal with the calculation of its characteristic parameter as a function of the thickness. Our results strengthen the link between theoretical and experimental fields.
Are THC Levels in Oral Fluids and Blood Plasma Comparable after Oral Ingestion of Edibles Containing Cannabis or THC

Cannabis and its products are the most widely used illicit drugs world-wide, with the majority of countries currently harboring consumers and producers. Medicalization and legalization of the drug have gained traction in a number of countries, despite mounting evidence of the potential hazards associated with its use (1–3). In the US, cannabis legalization has been approved in 8 states and the District of Columbia, with the majority of other states permitting dispensaries to sell cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD)-enriched2 cannabis preparations for medicinal uses. Dispensary and legal cannabis are available in a broad range of products, including those that can be smoked, inhaled as vapors, consumed in food (brownies, candies) or beverages, or topically applied in ointments. Preparations differ in bioavailability, with peak effects and potencies based on the percent composition of the main psychoactive cannabinoid THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol). In the mostly unregulated cannabis industry, THC content can range from 1%–90% in various preparations (4, 5). In the immediate aftermath of cannabis use and as a function of THC content, it is well established that the drug impairs attention, working memory, the ability to learn and memorize information. Thus, policy changes that increase marijuana use are likely to generate a broad spectrum of unintended consequences, including impaired cognition and perception, which can compromise driving, performance in the workplace, and other elements of daily life. Accurate analytical data on THC content in cannabis and on THC pharmacokinetic properties and metabolism are essential for identifying root causes and setting standards for legal consequences of traffic accidents or fatalities, workplace injuries, compromised productivity, safe dose limits, medical or psychiatric consequences, and for evaluating compliance with the fledgling regulatory oversight of cannabis use. In states with legalized cannabis, traffic safety has ascended the scale of immediate urgency, because cannabis-associated traffic …
Impulsive Rats Exhibit Blunted Dopamine Release Dynamics during a Delay Discounting Task Independent of Cocaine History

The inability to wait for a large, delayed reward when faced with a small, immediate one, known as delay discounting, has been implicated in a number of disorders including substance abuse. Individual differences in impulsivity on the delay discounting task are reflected in differences in neural function, including in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core. We examined the role of a history of cocaine self-administration, as well as individual differences in impulsivity, on rapid dopamine (DA) release dynamics in the NAc core. Rats with a history of cocaine or water/saline self-administration were tested on delay discounting while being simultaneously assayed for rapid DA release using electrochemical methods. In controls, we found that cue DA release was modulated by reward delay and magnitude, consistent with prior reports. A history of cocaine had no effect on either delay discounting or DA release dynamics. Nonetheless, independent of drug history, individual differences in impulsivity were related to DA release in the NAc core. First, high impulsive animals exhibited dampened cue DA release during the delay discounting task. Second, reward delay and magnitude in high impulsive animals failed to robustly modulate changes in cue DA release. Importantly, these two DAergic mechanisms were uncorrelated with each other and, together, accounted for a high degree of variance in impulsive behavior. Collectively, these findings demonstrate two distinct mechanisms by which rapid DA signaling may influence impulsivity, and illustrate the importance of NAc core DA release dynamics in impulsive behavior.
Future Directions for Computational Toxicology for Risk Assessment

As in many fields of scientific endeavor, computational toxicology represents a broad and expanding group of activities. This chapter attempts to summarize ongoing efforts for a number of computational approaches and suggest ways in which these methods could be applied effectively for improving risk assessment practice going forward in time. Generic issues include QA/QC of data used for computational modeling, graduate education programs for training the next generation of computational modelers with a common language among themselves, and the training in translation of computational toxicology terms for scientists in other related fields and the lay public so that effective communication of modeling data is achieved. Communication with scientists involved in systems biology approaches will be of particular importance. In this regard, it will also be essential to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) programs into future risk assessment programs for the evolution of this field in order to more fully integrate systems biology into mode of action risk analysis. Expanded use of data mining programs for development of testable hypotheses and to facilitate the incorporation of “green chemistry” approaches will reduce the number of chemicals in need of post-manufacture toxicology testing and risk assessment. In summary, it is hoped that the key elements identified in this chapter will help this field to continue to develop in a robust manner and provide the risk assessment community with a much needed set of modern scientific tools.
Muslim Innovations in American Exceptionalist Rhetoric: Linda Sarsour's American Jeremiad

This article focuses on the rhetoric of American Muslim activist Linda Sarsour. Sarsour makes use of social media to pose a critique of American society, in the style of an American jeremiad. Sarso...
Comparative analysis of G1 glycoprotein-coding sequences of Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae: Bunyavirus) isolates.

The complete 4463 nucleotide sequence for the medium segment viral RNA of Cache Valley virus has been cloned and sequenced in four isolates; in addition, the G1 glycoprotein extracellular coding domains are completed for nine additional isolates, including two subtypes, Ft. Sherman (86MSP18) and Tlacotalpan (61D240) viruses. The 13 represent isolations spanning over 45 years and a large geographic area, including the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Panama. Glycosylation sites in G1 are generally conserved among all except the Ft. Davis, Panama (90P686) isolate, which loses a site otherwise conserved within the serogroup. Comparison of the G1 coding regions indicates a number of shared amino acid substitutions within a centrally located 70 amino acid hypervariable domain, which seems to fall outside the primary antigenic domains of G1, most of which are found within the amino half of the protein, while a less antigenic region is predicted for the carboxyl half of the protein encoded beyond the hypervariable domain. Numerous amino acid substitutions are found within various antigenic regions, which may be an indication of altered neutralization or hemagglutination sites. Putative phosphorylation sites are indicated, most of which are well conserved, with the exception of the absence of a specific protein kinase C site for the prototype (6V633) virus isolated in Utah. The overall nucleotide identity between isolates ranges from 91% (Ft. Sherman subtype, 86MSP18) to 99.4% (North Dakota, 1508-A52) as compared to the prototype virus (Utah, 6V633).
Inotropic therapy: an important role in the treatment of advanced symptomatic heart failure

Inotropic therapy remains an option in the management of patients with advanced heart failure symptoms from systolic dysfunction who do not respond to conventional therapies. The decision to use this class is largely predicated on an accurate evaluation of the patient's fluid and perfusion status. Selection of the appropriate agent and dosing regimens requires an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure and concomitant therapy. Most important, the goals of care should be stated clearly, given inherent risks associated with this class of drug.
Respected or Rejected: Perceptions of Women Who Confront Sexist Remarks

This study explored perceptions of women as a function of their reactions to a sexist remark. One hundred and twenty college students (60 women and 60 men) were asked to read a transcript of a conversation among 3 friends (2 men and 1 woman). As part of a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design, male and female participants read a scenario in which one of the men made either a sexist remark or an ambiguous remark, which the woman then either ignored or confronted. The results showed that female participants both liked and respected the target woman more when she confronted the sexist remark than when she did not confront it. However, although male participants' respect for the target was not affected by her response to the sexist remark, they liked the target woman less when she confronted the sexist remark than when she did not confront it. Previous research (J. K. Swim & L. L. Hyers, 1998) suggests that although women often want to confront sexist remarks, in practice they may remain silent because of self-presentational concerns. Our results confirmed that women's fears of negative repercussions are somewhat justified, at least as far as men are concerned.
Rural women. Lifestyle and health status

This article presented a "snapshot" of the concerns and issues confronting America's rural women. The discussion highlighted demographic, economic, and sociocultural factors that impact the health status of women living in diverse rural environments. Recommendations were proposed to assist nurses to better address the health concerns of these women.
Predictable interregional movements by female northern pintails during winter

-Factors influencing initiation of regional and interregional movements by nonbreeding ducks are poorly understood, especially during winter. During winters 1990-1991 through 1992-1993, we radiotagged 347 female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) in southwestern Louisiana and monitored their movements to three regions: (1) the Gulf Coast Region of Louisiana and Texas (outside of southwestern Louisiana), (2) the Rice Prairie Region of Texas, and (3) the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. We found that adult females were 1.9 times more likely than were immatures to emigrate from southwestern Louisiana during winter. During winters 1990-1991 and 1991-1992, females were more likely to emigrate during stormy than during fair weather, whereas they were more likely to emigrate during fair weather in 1992-1993. Females were more likely to emigrate during duck-hunting seasons than during nonhunting seasons, regardless of weather. Daily emigration probabilities did not differ in relation to body condition when released (body mass adjusted for body size) or to number of previous emigration events. Each winter, large numbers of females consistently moved from the Gulf Coast Region to areas with abundant rice (Oryza sativa) agriculture within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. We conclude that destination of interregional movements by this population of Northern Pintails is highly predictable, and that initiation of such movements is influenced by female age and long-term winter precipitation patterns in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Furthermore, timing of these movements is predictable, based not on calendar date, but rather on duck-hunting seasons and, usually, the environmental cues to habitat availability provided by stormy weather. Received 5January 2000, accepted 1 April 2000.
Theories of risk perception: Who fears what and why ?

In social science rival theories seeking to answer the same questions rarely confront one another. Indeed, a variety of perspectives has been employed in research on public perception of risk, but alternative formulations remain largely untested. Missing most of all is a focused comparison of rival hypotheses. One could hardly find many subjects that are better known or considered more important to more people nowadays than the controversies over harm to the natural environment and the human body attributed to modern technology, whether this be from chem ical carcinogens or nuclear power or noxious products introduced by industry into the land, sea, or air, or into water or food supplies. Thus we ask: Why are products and practices once thought to be safe (or
Disruption of VEGF Mediated Flk-1 Signaling Leads to a Gradual Loss of Vessel Health and Cardiac Function During Myocardial Infarction: Potential Therapy With Pellino-1

Background The present study demonstrates that the ubiquitin E3 ligase, Pellino‐1 (Peli1), is an important angiogenic molecule under the control of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) recepto...