cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First-Principles Molecular Dynamics of Monomethylhydrazine and Nitrogen Dioxide

The exploration of chemical reactions preceding ignition is essential for the development of ideal hypergolic propellants. Unexpected reaction pathways of a hypergolic mixture composed of monomethylhydrazine and nitrogen dioxide are predicted through a cooperative combination of (i) spin-unrestricted ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and (ii) wave packet dynamics of protons. Ensembles of AIMD trajectories reveal a sequence of reaction steps for proton transfer and rupture of the C-N bond. The details of proton transfer are explored by wave packet dynamics on the basis of ab initio potential energy surfaces from AIMD trajectories. The possibility of spontaneous ignition of this hypergolic mixture at room temperature is predicted as a quantized feature of proton-transfer dynamics.
25th Anniversary Retrospective: Gender, Work, and Space Susan Hanson and Geraldine Pratt, 1995

In a gender-fixed workplace, choice is but a farce. Experience and qualifications can only get you so far towards the ideal job field you want. What matters, really, is your gender and where you li...
Fifty Shades of Microglia.

In a recent study, Masuda and colleagues (Nature 2019;566:388–392) used single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile microglia across different anatomical compartments, developmental stages, and types of brain pathology in mice. Moreover, the authors performed a novel transcriptomic characterization of microglia from multiple sclerosis patients and identified phenotypically conserved microglial subsets between species. These findings, together with seminal prior results from various groups, provide valuable insights into the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of microglia during brain development and disease.
The Political Economy of Carbon Capture and Storage Technology Adoption

Carbon sequestration through capture and storage in subsurface porous geologic formations is one potential method for mitigating the problem of climate change due to emission of anthropogenic CO2. ...
The path from scientific discovery to cures for epilepsy

The epilepsies are a complex group of disorders that can be caused by a myriad of genetic and acquired factors. As such, identifying interventions that will prevent development of epilepsy, as well as cure the disorder once established, will require a multifaceted approach. Here we discuss the progress in scientific discovery propelling us towards this goal, including identification of genetic risk factors and big data approaches that integrate clinical and molecular 'omics' datasets to identify common pathophysiological signatures and biomarkers. We discuss the many animal and cellular models of epilepsy, what they have taught us about pathophysiology, and the cutting edge cellular, optogenetic, chemogenetic and anti-seizure drug screening approaches that are being used to find new cures in these models. Finally, we reflect on the work that still needs to be done towards identify at-risk individuals early, targeting and stopping epileptogenesis, and optimizing promising treatment approaches. Ultimately, developing and implementing cures for epilepsy will require a coordinated and immense effort from clinicians and basic scientists, as well as industry, and should always be guided by the needs of individuals affected by epilepsy and their families. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'New Epilepsy Therapies for the 21st Century - From Antiseizure Drugs to Prevention, Modification and Cure of Epilepsy'.
The effects of demographics on physician assistant attitudes and openness towards interprofessional medical collaboration and education

Abstract Objectives Interprofessional medical collaboration is an approach to patient care that involves multiple health care specialists from varying fields coming together to solve difficult medical cases. The World Health Organization has reported that interprofessional collaboration is a key factor for the development of high-quality global health care. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) is used to assess attitudes and openness towards interprofessional collaboration. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of physician assistants towards interprofessional collaboration and whether or not demographics affect attitudes and openness. Design and participants A modified RIPLS was used to evaluate 131 practicing physician assistants. Anonymous participants were able to access the questionnaire through SurveyMonkey during a six-month period in the Spring and Summer of 2017. Participants completed the RIPLS survey and answered demographic questions related to sex, age, and medical specialty field. Results Physician assistant scores reflected favorable attitudes and openness to interprofessional collaboration and education. There were no significant differences associated with any demographic category. Conclusions Results indicate that physician assistants have favorable attitudes and openness to interprofessional collaboration and education regardless of age, sex, or medical specialty field.
Twist-dependent ratchet functioning downstream from Dorsal revealed using a light-inducible degron.

Graded transcription factors are pivotal regulators of embryonic patterning, but whether their role changes over time is unclear. A light-regulated protein degradation system was used to assay temporal dependence of the transcription factor Dorsal in dorsal–ventral axis patterning of Drosophila embryos. Surprisingly, the high-threshold target gene snail only requires Dorsal input early but not late when Dorsal levels peak. Instead, late snail expression can be supported by action of the Twist transcription factor, specifically, through one enhancer, sna.distal. This study demonstrates that continuous input is not required for some Dorsal targets and downstream responses, such as twist, function as molecular ratchets.
Computer engineering handbook

Software issues in hardware development digital logic and design computer arithmetics computer architecture reliability of digital systems digital systems design computer graphics AI expert systems computer architecture for AI and neural networks computer vision principles and applications architectures for image processing and computer vision VLSI systems design VLSI signal processing systems attached vector design parallel computing systems supercomputers neural network computing optical computing.
Integration of choline geranate into electrospun protein scaffolds affords antimicrobial activity to biomaterials used for cutaneous wound healing

Wound healing attempts to maintain homeostasis in the wound while minimizing the risk of infection to the tissue by foreign agents, such as opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Biofilms established by these pathogens are a common cause of chronic infections that slow the healing process. Preparation of skin wound healing devices comprised of electrospun proteins associated with skin have been shown to accelerate the healing process relative to conventional wound dressings. In this work, we have developed electrospinning methods to incorporate the antimicrobial ionic liquid/deep eutectic solvent choline geranate (CAGE) into these devices. Integration of CAGE into the dressing material was verified via 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and the effect on the material property of the resultant devices were assessed using scanning electron microscopy. CAGE-containing devices demonstrate a concentration-dependent inactivation of exogenously applied solutions of both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens (Enterococcus sp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively), but maintain their ability to serve as a compatible platform for proliferation of human dermal neonatal fibroblasts.
Adam Smith on the Main Cause of Recessions and Depressions: Bubbles Resulting From Bank Loans and Credit Made Available to Projectors, Imprudent Risk Takers and Prodigals

Adam Smith recognized that there was a severe problem in all free market economies that no “Invisible Hand of the Market” could ever deal with effectively. Based on his readings of Plato (Socrates) and Aristotle, Smith explicitly identified a certain segment of upper income class individuals in The Wealth of Nations whose behavior greatly endangered the rest of society as a whole. Smith identified them specifically as Prodigals, Imprudent risk takers, and Projectors. These types of individual were described by Keynes as Wall Street speculators and rentiers in the General Theory. Marx used the term bourgeoisie to categorize them. Veblen called them Captains of Finance. Smith was very clear in The Wealth of Nations that the only solution was the proactive one that required the Government or Central Bank to prevent Prodigals, Imprudent risk takers, and Projectors from obtaining access to bank loans and credit in the first place. Smith’s solution was a version of the proverb that an ounce of prevention (credit restriction) is worth a pound of cure (bank bailouts). Without bank loans and credit, the Prodigals, Imprudent risk takers, and Projectors would be forced to rely on their own wealth to try to manipulate markets, such as land, real estate, stocks and other financial markets. This is precisely what they do not wish to do. They seek to use other people’s money to make money by financial manipulation only. Jeremy Bentham, who is the real founder of the Chicago school of economics, directly opposed Smith. Bentham believed that there was no role for government to play in the economy except the laissez faire one of “be(ing) quiet” and to “stay out of my sunlight”. Bentham desperately sought to discredit Smith’s position by redefining the term projector to mean innovator. This should not be surprising since Bentham’s fortune can be traced indirectly to the behavior of one of the greatest projector firms of all time, the British East India Company, in which he served. Bentham was thus opposed to any attempt by government at preventing the private behavior of the Prodigals, Imprudent risk takers, and Projectors from endangering the public. The problems that have surfaced since the late 1970’s in the American and world economies can be traced precisely to the same category of individual identified by Smith in 1776 in The Wealth of Nations as Prodigals, Imprudent risk takers, and Projectors.
A De Novo Missense Variant of SCN2A: Implications and Limitations for Understanding Clinical Phenotype and Treatment Recommendations.

ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a variety of genetic findings. We report a heterozygous de novo missense variant of SCN2A, the gene coding a voltage-gated sodium ion channel enriched in the axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier of "immature" neocortical pyramidal neurons. With further understanding of the neurodevelopmental and functional effects of this missense variant on neuronal excitability and neocortical circuitry, there may be targeted pharmacotherapeutic interventions, potentially with "disease-modifying effects."
Structure of the Tool

This chapter lays the foundation for the other chapters which describe the elements within the tool in more detail. It describes the structure and layout of the tool while establishing that e-Learning adoption affects the entire organization as a system. e-Learning readiness is affected by support systems which include the organizational environment, human resources, and technology. These support systems affect learner readiness and content selection. The design of the tool involved examining the initial purpose and eventual function of the tool which included many variables.
Discovering disease-disease associations using electronic health records in The Guideline Advantage (TGA) dataset.

Certain diseases have strong comorbidity and co-occurrence with others. Understanding disease-disease associations can potentially increase awareness among healthcare providers of co-occurring conditions and facilitate earlier diagnosis, prevention and treatment of patients. In this study, we utilized the valuable and large The Guideline Advantage (TGA) longitudinal electronic health record dataset from 70 outpatient clinics across the United States to investigate potential disease-disease associations. Specifically, the most prevalent 50 disease diagnoses were manually identified from 165,732 unique patients. To investigate the co-occurrence or dependency associations among the 50 diseases, the categorical disease terms were first mapped into numerical vectors based on disease co-occurrence frequency in individual patients using the Word2Vec approach. Then the novel and interesting disease association clusters were identified using correlation and clustering analyses in the numerical space. Moreover, the distribution of time delay (Δt) between pair-wise strongly associated diseases (correlation coefficients ≥ 0.5) were calculated to show the dependency among the diseases. The results can indicate the risk of disease comorbidity and complications, and facilitate disease prevention and optimal treatment decision-making.
Home Dust Allergen Exposure is Associated with Outcomes Among Sensitized Individuals with COPD.

Rationale Environmental exposures have been associated with adverse outcomes in COPD. Approximately one third of individuals with COPD have allergic sensitization, but it is unknown whether exposure to allergens in the home are associated with outcomes. Objectives To determine the prevalence and associations of allergen sensitization with exposure to common indoor allergens with symptoms and exacerbation risk in COPD. Methods Allergen sensitization to five common indoor allergens was assessed in former smokers with COPD. Home settled dust was assessed for presence of corresponding allergens. Sensitization and exposure status were determined and associations evaluated in adjusted models with longitudinal outcomes including symptoms, lung function and exacerbations. Interactions were assessed between sensitization/exposure status and lung function. Measurements and Main Results One hundred eighty-three individuals studied were on average 67.3 years old (SD 8.22) with average FEV1 of 53.2 % (SD 17.6%). Seventy-seven percent of participants were exposed to at least one tested allergen, and 17% had sensitization with corresponding allergen exposure. After adjustment, sensitization with exposure was associated with lower lung function (β -8.29, 95% CI -14.80 to -1.77), higher SGRQ (β 6.71, 95% CI 0.17 to 13.25) and higher exacerbation risk (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.79). Associations appeared to be more pronounced among individuals with lower lung function. Conclusions Allergen exposures are common in COPD and associated with adverse outcomes among those with concomitant allergen sensitization. This study establishes allergens as an important home exposure that potentially could be addressed with comprehensive home environmental modification strategies to improve COPD outcomes.
Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved

Problems with the Concept of Executive Functioning. The Extended Phenotype: A Foundation for Modeling Executive Functioning. Executive Functioning as an Extended Phenotype. The Instrumental-Self-Directed Level. The Methodical-Self-Reliant Level. The Tactical-Reciprocal Level. The Strategic-Cooperative Level. The Extended Utilitarian Zone. Implications for Understanding Executive Functioning and Its Disorders. Implications for the Assessment and Clinical Management of Deficits in Executive Functioning. References. Index.
The anatomic and physiological properties of the semilunar valves

Since its introduction in clinical surgery in 1962 (2, 26) and in 1966, (27) respectively, implantation of aortic valve allografts in the systemic and pulmonary circulations has become a standard procedure in patients with congenital and acquired heart valve diseases. Currently, the pulmonary autograft and allograft valves, following their clinical use in 1967 and 1983 by Ross as valve substitutes in the systemic and pulmonary circulation, respectively, have been receiving much more attention and interest among cardiac surgeons (10, 12, 13, 18, 28).
Scam Detection in Twitter

Twitter is one among the fastest growing social networking services.This growth has led to an increase in Twitter scams (e.g., intentional deception). There is relatively little effort in identifying scams in Twitter. In this chapter, we propose a semi-supervised Twitter scam detector based on a small labeled data. The scam detector combines self-learning and clustering analysis. A suffix tree data structure is used. Model building based on Akaike and Bayes Information Criteria is investigated and combined with the classification step. Our experiments show that 87 % accuracy is achievable with only 9 labeled samples and 4000 unlabeled samples, among other results.
Effect of Depression on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival of Older Women with Breast Cancer

Depression is associated with impaired recovery from a number of medical illnesses, such as stroke, hip fracture, and myocardial infarction.1–7 The exact mechanisms whereby depression influences recovery from illness have not been delineated but presumably involve multiple pathways.8,9 Breast cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Breast cancer care has evolved from a relatively straightforward single therapy of modified radical mastectomy into a more complex process involving multiple medical providers and extending over a prolonged time. A large number of studies have demonstrated deficiencies in breast cancer care, including delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatments. Factors that are associated with less-than-optimal breast cancer care include advanced age, minority ethnicity, cognitive impairment, and poor social support.10–17 It was hypothesized that patients with depression would also experience difficulty in breast cancer care, resulting in delays in diagnosis (i.e., increased size and stage at diagnosis), less-than-definitive treatment, and decreased survival. The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) tumor registry, which has been linked to Medicare charge data at the National Cancer Institute, was used.18 In women with breast cancer, Medicare Part A and B charge data for the 2 years before diagnosis were searched for any diagnosis of depression, and stage at diagnosis, choice of treatment, and survival of women with breast cancer with or without a prior diagnosis of depression were compared.
Hypercalcemia, Anemia, and Acute Kidney Injury: A Rare Presentation of Sarcoidosis

We discuss a case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with substernal chest pain. She was found to have elevated calcium levels, anemia, and acute kidney injury. The hypercalcemia persisted despite therapy with fluids and bisphosphonates. She was found to have nonparathyroid hormone (PTH) mediated hypercalcemia. The chest X-ray did not reveal any pathology. Our Initial impression was likely underlying hematologic malignancy such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma. A bone marrow biopsy was performed that revealed nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation. Further workup revealed elevated vitamin 1,25 dihydroxy level, beta-two microglobulin level, and ACE levels. Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan of chest showed bilateral apical bronchiectasis, but did not show any lymphadenopathy or evidence of malignancy. Subsequently, a fiber optic bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy showed nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation consistent with sarcoidosis. After initiating glucocorticoid therapy, the patient's hypercalcemia improved and her kidney function returned to baseline.
Hydrogen sulfide treatment attenuates Ang-II induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition in renal fibrosis in aged mice (857.2)

Advanced age and hypertension are risk factors for chronic kidney disease. Emerging evidence suggests endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) as a possible source of renal myofibroblasts which ...
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? An Examination of Exposure to Economic Theory and Opportunistic Behavior

Authors have claimed that economics theory acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing those who study it to become more like "economic actors," seeking to maximize their own wealth at the expense of others. Such authors claim that economic theory thus leads to unethical and scandalous behavior in business. Evidence on the effects of studying economics is mixed. We report the results of a quasi-experiment to test whether exposure to economics theory contributes to opportunistic behavior. In the first stage of our study, participants first played a game designed to invoke a competitive, wealth-maximizing economic frame or a cooperative, non-economic frame. In the second stage, participants engaged in tasks that required decisions to be made with ethical components (requesting funds in a budgeting task where untruthful reporting would be undetected and would result in financial gain; reallocating employee bonuses as a result of favoritism; putting workers out of jobs to boost earnings). We find an increase in opportunism among participants who were exposed to economics theory in either an experimental manipulation or prior economics coursework. We also find that prior coursework and our experimental manipulation function as substitutes for one another. We thus find some support for the claim that economics theory is a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, we do not find evidence that the self-fulfilling prophecy effect of economics theory results from decreased recognition of ethical issues among participants who have been exposed to economics theory. Our study contributes to our understanding of the effects of economics theory. Typical undergraduate microeconomics coursework produces opportunism effects similar to those generated by experimental manipulations done in the laboratory setting. This finding deserves further study.
Genome-wide expression profiling of intracellular bacteria: The interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with macrophages

Publisher Summary This chapter describes genome-wide expression profiling of intracellular bacteria. The number of fully sequenced bacterial genomes is large and increasing. The value of genome sequences is, however, limited by the fact that functional information is not available for 30% or more of the open reading frames (orfs) in any given genome. The genome-wide expression profile of a cell is a complex description of its physiological status that includes most of the cell's metabolic activities, and therefore gives access to an unusually holistic approach to the analysis of biological systems. While genome-wide expression profiling contributes to a more complete understanding of cellular physiology, it also demands a careful experimental design. All steps of an experimental protocol have to be investigated with respect to their impact on the expression profile because even routine procedures, such as the concentration of bacteria by centrifugation, can change the expression profile. The chapter focuses on the application of microarrays for the analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis inside host cells. It also describes the design of genome-wide expression profiling experiments and discusses the infection of macrophages with M. tuberculosis . The preparation and labeling of RNA from intracellular M. tuberculosis is also described in the chapter.
Multiple target tracking and stationary object detection in video with Recursive-RANSAC and tracker-sensor feedback

In this paper, we explore the concept of a tracker-sensor feedback loop, i.e., how tracker output can inform sensor processing, and investigate whether it can improve multiple target tracking performance and enable stationary object detection in video. Our implementation of the tracker-sensor feedback loop is based on the Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) foreground detector. We modify the standard GMM algorithm by measuring target extent directly from the foreground mask and by zeroing out the background update rate of pixels associated with valid tracks. Our tracker-sensor feedback loop is incorporated into the Recursive-RANSAC framework. Recursive-RANSAC, a novel multiple target tracker, is enhanced with the inclusion of the probabilistic data association filter and nearly constant jerk motion model. We apply our algorithm to several pseudo-aerial videos that are similar to what might be captured from a UAV platform. The multiple object tracking precision and accuracy (MOTP and MOTA) and optimal sub-pattern assignment (OSPA) metrics are used to measure tracking performance. Tracker-sensor feedback is shown to produce a significant improvement in the number of missed detections, false positives, and track label switches. In terms of stationary object detection, we demonstrate our method's ability to indefinitely detect parking cars and abandoned luggage (from the PETS 2006 dataset) despite frequent occlusions and other detection challenges.
Pizza: Teaching US History through Food and Place.

Pizza serves as a powerful example of historical themes such as immigration, cultural exchange and urbanization. In the post-WWII United States, Trenton, NJ, and other cities were gradually being transformed by suburbanization, the rise of fast food, and changes in family living related to women's entry in large numbers into the paid workforce. This case study of an Italian neighborhood in Trenton, Chambersburg, and its well-known pizza restaurants offers teachers a model for using the history of food and place to investigate their own communities.
System architectures and environment modeling for high-speed autonomous navigation

Successful high-speed autonomous navigation requires integration of tools from robotics, control theory, computer vision, and systems engineering. This thesis presents work that develops and combines these tools in the context of navigating desert terrain. A comparative analysis of reactive, behavior-based, and deliberative control architectures provides important guidelines for design of robotic systems. These guidelines depend on the particular task and environment of the vehicle. Two important factors are identified which guide an effective choice between these architectures: dynamic feasibility for the vehicle, and predictability of the environment. This is demonstrated by parallels to control theory, illustrative examples, simulations, and analysis of Bob and Alice---Caltech's full-scale autonomous ground vehicle entries in the 2004 and 2005 Grand Challenge races, respectively. Further, new model-based methods are developed for constructing and maintaining estimates of terrain elevation and road geometry. These are demonstrated in simulation and in fully autonomous operation of Alice, including accurate detection and tracking of the centerline of desert roads at speeds up to 5 m/s. Finally, Alice's navigation architecture is presented in full along with experimental results that demonstrate its capabilities.
Parameter evaluation of the inverse power-law spectrum of heart rate: A quantitative approach for ECG arrhythmia analysis

Abstract A preliminary study was performed to ensure reliable R-wave detection and fiducial mark location. A generalized phase-sampling model for spectral estimation was then used, based on an interest in beat-to-beat variations. Heart rate spectrum characteristics of 32 presumed-normal subjects and 44 records from the MIT-BIH electrocardiographic database (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA) were analyzed and three parameters were calculated: regression line slope, intercept, and cross correlation between the spectral data and the regression lines. Evaluation of these inverse power-law spectrum parameters provides a potential quantitative approach for characterizing erratic fluctuations of heart rate and is possibly used to distinguish between healthy and abnormal subjects. From the 44 recordings in the MIT-BIH database, a V-shaped curve was found in a plot of the regression line slope versus cross correlation. The results for both unmedicated and medicated patients with normal sinus rhythm cluster in the top left region of the graph. Also, 29 of the presumed-normal subjects cluster in the same region. Patients with premature ventricular contraction beats cluster in the top right region of the V-shaped curve. The rest of the recordings from the variety of arrhythmia cases in the database have low slopes and cross correlations, so they cluster near the apex of the V-shaped curve. Three volunteers who each had more than 32 atrial premature contraction and premature ventricular contraction beats also fall in this region of the graph. The results from 10 young volunteers from the United States and 15 volunteers from seven other countries cluster into different regions. Also, presumed-normal subjects plot in different locations during relaxation and under stress, as well as when they are asleep or awake. Many patients in the MIT-BIH database have regression line slopes greater than those from the presumed-normal subjects, leading to a conclusion that abnormal rhythm may decrease in low-frequency fluctuations or increase in high-frequency fluctuations. Also, heart rate frequency spectrum distributions were analyzed for three different temporal lengths of each electrocardiogram to investigate the hypothesis of temporal self-similarity. These results do not support this hypothesis.
Factors Related to Mentor Reports of Mentoring Functions Provided: Gender and Relational Characteristics

In this study we examined the relationship between mentor gender, protege gender, mentorship characteristics (e.g., mentorship type, mentorship duration, mentor experience), and mentoring functions provided as reported by mentors. Drawing on research regarding diversified mentorships and interpersonal relationships, we proposed that mentoring effectiveness would vary as a function of the gender of the mentorship participants and the characteristics of the relationship. As hypothesized, several interesting gender differences emerged from the data. Male mentors reported providing more career mentoring to their proteges, whereas female mentors reported providing more psychosocial mentoring. Contrary to expectations, mentors in informal mentorships did not report providing more mentoring than did mentors in formal mentorships. The findings demonstrate the importance of examining mentoring from the perspective of the mentor.
Plague in the United States: the “Black Death” is still alive

Plague is endemic in the western United States, but patients may present with plague anywhere in the country. Although human infections are rare, a missed diagnosis carries a mortality rate exceeding 50%, whereas prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment reduce the case fatality rate to less than 5%. We present the case of a 55-year-old man treated for plague and review the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of plague.
The Effect of Food Stamps on Food Security: A Panel Data Approach

This research seeks to estimate the effect of Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation on food security. The FSP is the U.S. Federal Government's largest intervention against hunger and food insecurity. In fiscal year 2002, the program provided more benefits ($18 billion) and served more people on average each month (19.1 million) than the federal cash assistance program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The federal government classifies a household as "food secure" if all household members have, at all times, access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Official food security estimates are based on eighteen survey items about symptoms of food hardship in the past twelve months. Increasing food security is an official FSP goal and a centerpiece of food stamp policy debate. Yet, measuring the program's impact on food security has proven difficult. Unobserved factors may influence measured food security and the FSP participation decision. The potential problem of selection bias is stark. This research for the first time exploits the longitudinal structure of the federal government's flagship food security survey to control for household-level "fixed effects"-constant unobserved factors that may influence both program participation and measured food security. For example, if some households are simply more susceptible to food hardships, they may be more likely to participate in the FSP and to be classified as "food insecure." This research also controls for observable time-varying household conditions, such as the number of employed persons in the household and a rough measure of income. The empirical model does not control for unobserved factors that are time-varying,
HIV-1 Tat interaction with RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) and a dynamic association with CDK2 induce CTD phosphorylation and transcription from HIV-1 promoter.

Human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), Tat protein activates viral gene expression through promoting transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). In this process Tat enhances phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII by activating cell cycle-dependent kinases (CDKs) associated with general transcription factors of the promoter complex, specifically CDK7 and CDK9. We reported a Tat-associated T-cell-derived kinase, which contained CDK2. Here, we provide further evidence that CDK2 is involved in Tat-mediated CTD phosphorylation and in HIV-1 transcription in vitro. Tat-mediated CTD phosphorylation by CDK2 required cysteine 22 in the activation domain of Tat and amino acids 42–72 of Tat. CDK2 phosphorylated Tat itself, apparently by forming dynamic contacts with amino acids 15–24 and 36–49 of Tat. Also, amino acids 24–36 and 45–72 of Tat interacted with CTD. CDK2 associated with RNAPII and was found in elongation complexes assembled on HIV-1 long-terminal repeat template. Recombinant CDK2/cyclin E stimulated Tat-dependent HIV-1 transcription in reconstituted transcription assay. Immunodepletion of CDK2/cyclin E in HeLa nuclear extract blocked Tat-dependent transcription. We suggest that CDK2 is part of a transcription complex that is required for Tat-dependent transcription and that interaction of Tat with CTD and a dynamic association of Tat with CDK2/cyclin E stimulated CTD phosphorylation by CDK2.
Stress control of polycrystalline 3C-SiC films in a large-scale LPCVD reactor using 1,3-disilabutane and dichlorosilane as precursors

Control of residual stress and strain gradient of polycrystalline SiC films deposited via low-pressure chemical vapor deposition on 100 mm Si wafers is achieved by varying dichlorosilane (DCS) and 1,3-disilabutane (DSB) fractions in the inlet gas mixture. For films deposited at 800 °C and 45 sccm DSB, stress decreases from 1.2 GPa tensile with no added DCS to 240 MPa tensile with 40 sccm DCS added to the inlet gas stream. The lowest magnitude strain gradient achieved is 3.1 × 10−5 µm−1 with 20 sccm DCS added. Electron probe microanalysis indicates that the films change from being slightly carbon-rich in the absence of DCS to successively more silicon-rich with the addition of DCS.
Effect of Remote Hydrogen Plasma Treatment on ZnO Single Crystal Surfaces

We have studied the effects of hydrogen plasma treatment on the defect characteristics in single crystal ZnO grown at Eagle-Picher by chemical vapor transport. Depth-dependent cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra, temperature-dependent (9–300 K) and excitation intensity-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra reveal significant changes resulting from unannealed exposure of n-type ZnO to a remote hydrogen plasma. Low temperature PL spectra show that this hydrogen exposure effectively suppresses the free-exciton transition and redistributes intensities in the bound-exciton line set and two-electron satellites with their phonon replicas. The resultant spectra after hydrogenation exhibit a new peak feature at 3.366 eV possibly related to a neutral donor bound exciton. A simple thermal analysis of the activation energy for the 3.366 eV line yields 5–10 meV. Hydrogenation also produces a violet 100 meV-wide peak centered at 3.16 eV. Remote plasma hydrogenation produces similar changes in room-temperature CL spectra: near-band edge emission intensity increases with hydrogenation. Furthermore, this new emission increases with proximity to the free ZnO surfaces, i.e., with decreasing the energy of the incident electron beam from 3.0 down to 0.5 keV. Subsequent annealing at 450 °C completely restores both the PL and CL spectra in the sub-band gap range. The appearance of a new bound-exciton feature at 3.366 eV with H plasma exposure, the near-surface nature of the spectral changes, and the reversibility of spectral features with annealing indicate a direct link between H indiffusion and appearance of a shallow donor.
Changes in algal assemblages along observed and experimental phosphorus gradients in a subtropical wetland, U.S.A.

Summary 1 We wanted to determine if changes in algae in the Everglades were due to increased phosphorus (P) loading. Epiphytic algae, water chemistry, and surface sediment chemistry were characterized from 32 sloughs along a P gradient in the Everglades and changes in the algal assemblages along the P gradient were compared with those along an experimental P gradient of in situ mesocosms. The sloughs are the wettest open water habitats characterized by floating and submerged aquatic plants in the Everglades. 2 Algal species composition was much more sensitive to P concentration than algal biomass. The diatom species variance among sloughs, captured by 1st ordination axis, was more highly correlated with total P (TP) in surface sediments (r = - 0.79), than soluble reactive P (SRP) (r = - 0.08) and TP (r = - 0.48) in the water column. Algal biomass (µg chl a cm-2) was not significantly correlated with P (SRP: r = 0.22, TP: r = 0.19, sediment TP: r = 0.07) along the P gradient in the Everglades. Cluster analysis classified diatom species assemblages in 32 sloughs into three groups (TWIN I, II, III), which corresponded to three zones along the P gradient. Dominant diatom species shifted from Mastogloia smithii (40.3%), Cymbella scotica (22.3%), and Fragilaria synegrotesca (21.8%) in TWIN I to Nitzschia amphibia (22.4%) and C. microcephala (12.4%) in TWIN III. TP in surface sediments and TP in epiphyton assemblages increased 4- and 5-fold from TWIN I to TWIN III, respectively. 3 Patterns in epiphytic assemblages along the experimental P gradient in the mesocosms were very similar to those along the Everglades P gradient. Shannon diversity indices and species richness significantly increased along both P gradients. TN : TP ratio in epiphyton assemblages significantly decreased as sediment TP increased along both P gradient. Ordination analysis showed that diatom assemblages in the impacted zone (TWIN III) were ordinated closely to the assemblages from the highest P treatments in the mesocosms. The assemblages from the less impacted zone (TWIN I) were ordinated closely to the assemblages from controls in the mesocosms. 4 Concurrence between results of our survey and experiments suggest that changes in epiphytic assemblages along the P gradient in the Everglades are caused by increases in P concentrations.
Capillary condensation refrigerator.

In a system consisting of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, and a porous material, manipulation of the $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ chemical potential leads to modification of the $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ configurations. Changes in the $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ configuration change the phase space available to the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and the entropy of the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ changes accordingly. This system can be operated as a refrigerator by judicious choice of its parameters.
A Synoptic Case Study of Elevated Layers of High Airborne Sulfate Concentration

Abstract A synoptic analysis is performed to identify the source and characteristics of an elevated layer of high airborne sulfate concentrations observed over southeast Wisconsin on 23–24 August 1976. The setting of the episode was the interaction of a weak, dry cold front with a slow moving weak anticyclone over the eastern United States. Although several explanations of the layer formation are possible, it appears likely that the layers form as the top of a deep mixed layer is lifted in a frontal zone and later become parts of subsidence inversions.
Novel bridgehead bicyclic lactams: (a) Molecules predicted to have O-protonated and N-protonated tautomers of comparable stability; (b) hyperstable lactams and their O-protonated tautomers

Abstract The N- and O-protonated tautomers of 1-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one are predicted computationally to be comparable in stability. This was experimentally verified. The same theoretical models are employed to explore a wider range of bridgehead bicyclic lactams. Some additional examples are identified: some slightly preferring N-protonation and some O-protonation. Winkler–Dunitz parameters are employed to see if a pattern in geometry would emerge to help in the prediction of protonation preference. A number of larger bicyclic lactams are identified as possibly being hyperstable in O-protonation.
Lectin May Contribute to the Atherogenicity of Peanut Oil

Peanut oil is unexpectedly atherogenic for rats, rabbits, and primates. The lesions it produces are more fibrous than fatty. The mechanism underlying the atherogenicity of peanut oil has been elusive. Randomization of peanut oil reduces significantly its atherogenic properties, but native and randomized peanut oils have similar rates of lipolysis, and rats fed the two oils absorb and transport lipids in a similar fashion. Peanut oil differs from other oils in having a relatively high lectin content, and the randomization process markedly reduces the lectin content as well. The biologically active lectin of peanut oil has an affinity for glycoproteins found specifically on arterial smooth muscle cells. Peanut lectin has been shown to stimulate growth of smooth muscle and pulmonary arterial cells. Vigorous washing of peanut oil reduces its lectin content by 46%. Compared to rabbits fed cholesterol and peanut oil, rabbits fed cholesterol and washed peanut oil exhibited less severe atherosclerosis in the aortic arch (by 9%) and in the thoracic aorta (by 31%). The data suggest that peanut oils' endogenous lectin may contribute significantly to its atherogenic properties.
Can wholism reconcile the inaccuracy of theory with the accuracy of prediction

Work by social constructionists over the past decade and a half has reenforced the epistemological pessimist's despair that our system of science could ever be a mirror of nature. Realists argue that the amazing success of modern science at precise prediction and control indicates just the contrary. In response, social constructionists often point out that these successes seldom apply to the world as it comes naturally, but only as it is reconstructed in the scientist's laboratory. But this does not explain how scientific accounts, which are as wide of the mark as constructionists suppose in their general descriptions of the natural world, could be so effective in a limited environment, even if that environment is as benignly constructed as possible. This paper suggests that a more wholistic view of nature than modern science usually presupposes may provide an answer.
VEHICLE TESTING OF NEAR-TERM BATTERIES

Vehicles test results are reported for nickel-iron, nickel-zinc, and improved lead-acid batteries developed under the Near-Term Battery Program sponsored by the Department of Energy. The batteries have demonstrated a range improvement of up to 90% over current lead-acid batteries due to improved energy density and ampere-hour capacity, combined with relatively small weight and volume. However, the nickel-iron battery requires a substantial development effort in packaging the circulating electrolyte system and handling the generated hydrogen volume, while the nickel-zinc batteries tested suffer from short cycle life.
Mycobacterium haemophilum and Histoplasma capsulatum Coinfection in a Renal Transplant Patient

ABSTRACT We report the case of a 22-year-old man who presented with a Mycobacterium haemophilum and Histoplasma capsulatum coinfection occurring 21 years after a living-donor-related renal transplant.
A Study of Alkyl Chain Conformational Changes in Self-Assembled n-Octadecyltrichlorosilane Monolayers on Fused Silica Surfaces

The adsorption and conformational changes of n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayers on fused silica surfaces are monitored by a nonlinear optical technique, sum-frequency genera...
Habitat linkages in conservation biological control: Lessons from the land–water interface

Abstract Terrestrial landscapes, including those with embedded agroecosystems, are a mosaic of cover types varying in size. Creating or maintaining habitats that support natural enemy populations to combat agricultural pests is the primary method of conservation biological control. Non-crop habitats can be managed in an attempt to maximize the exchange of natural enemies with adjacent agroecosystems with the expectation that they will suppress damaging pest outbreaks. Despite this goal, current habitat management relying on natural enemy spillover into crops has been unreliably effective at reducing pest abundance or increasing crop yield. Furthermore, the expansion and intensification of agriculture and changes in global climate patterns threaten the foundations of conservation biological control in future agroecosystems. However, the aquatic–terrestrial interface offers a natural boundary similar to the one between agroecosystems and their neighboring non-crop habitats that can provide useful insights to the challenges facing growers. Research of the exchanges between water and land suggests general biological and physical processes that govern the movement of organisms between disparate habitats. We propose that like aquatic insects moving from water to land, natural enemy dispersal from non-crop donor habitats into recipient crop patches on the landscape is a function of (1) the production of natural enemies in the source habitat which establishes the abundance of organisms that can disperse, (2) how and why mobile natural enemies disperse themselves into neighboring recipient habitats, and (3) the configuration of donor and recipient habitats on the landscape. We suggest that conservation biological control practitioners can focus on these main components of natural enemy production and dispersal to predict the effectiveness of conservation biological control measures and guide their adaptation to future global change.
SU(2) ⊗ U(1) gauge theories of the generalized σ model for π0, η, η' → γγ decays

Abstract By embedding the chiral current-mixing gauge theories in the SU(2) L ⊗ SU(2) R generalized σ model, it is shown that the correct sign and magnitude for π 0 → γγ decay, as well as the SU(3) relation of π 0 , η , η ' → γγ decays can be obtained within the framework of SU(2) ⊗ U(1) gauge theories of weak and electromagnetic interactions.
Effect of moisture on the traction-separation behavior of cellulose nanocrystal interfaces

Interfaces and stress transfer between cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) dictate the mechanical properties of hierarchical cellulose materials such as neat films and nanocomposites. An interesting question that remains is how the behavior of these interfaces changes due to environmental stimuli, most notably moisture. We present analyses on the traction-separation behavior between Iβ CNC elementary fibrils, providing insight into how the presence of a single atomic layer of water at these interfaces can drastically change the mechanical behavior. We find that molecular water at the interface between hydrophilic CNC surfaces has a negligible effect on the tensile separation adhesion energy. However, when water cannot hydrogen bond easily to the surface (i.e., hydrophobic surface), it tends to maintain hydrogen bonds with other water molecules across the interface and form a capillary bridge that serves to increase the energy required to separate the crystals. Under shear loading, water lowers the energy barriers to sliding by reducing the atomic friction and consequently the interlayer shear modulus between crystals. Our simulations indicate that these nanoscale interfaces and physical phenomena such as interfacial adhesion, interlayer shear properties, and stick-slip friction behavior can be drastically altered by the presence of water.