cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond Head of Household: Rethinking the Taxation of Single Parents

Under current law, unmarried taxpayers with children can take advantage of the head of household filing status (HHFS) to reduce their federal income taxes. We argue that the design of the filing status is largely obsolete, geared toward alleviating a “marriage penalty” in the tax code that is much less important than when the filing status was first established. At the same time, the growth in the fraction of Americans raising children outside of traditional two-parent households has dramatically raised the cost of the filing status to the fisc. In this article, we highlight two features of the design of HHFS that undermine its goal of providing support to single parent households. First, because it is designed as a filing status, HHFS provides a larger tax break to high-income taxpayers than to low-income ones: in 2013 HHFS saved qualifying taxpayers in the 25th percentile of the income distribution under $100 a year compared to almost $2,000 a year for qualifying taxpayer in the 75th income percentile. Second, the tax savings provided by HHFS bear no relation to the number of children a taxpayer supports, even though taxpayers supporting more children are likely to have less ability to pay. We propose reforming HHFS by replacing it with an expanded child tax credit for single parents and estimate that a revenue neutral reform along these lines would support a refundable tax credit of approximately $384 per child for households headed by single parents.
Morphology of the Adult Reproductive Systems of the Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis

The internal and external reproductive systems of both sexes of field collected adults of the yellowheaded spruce sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis (Rohwer), are illustrated and described in detail.
The study of archaea: a review and perspectives

Archaea is one of the hot spots in biogeochemistry research nowadays.Archaea could not only survive under extreme conditions such as high temperature,high/low pH values,high salinity and anoxic environments,but also exist in normal marine environments.With its huge abundance,Archaea is playing a highly important role in the biogeochemistry processes on the Earth.The study of Archaea would shed new light on the essential principles for the metabolism of life,and on the illumination of the origin and evolution of life.Besides,it also could benefit the understanding of the interaction between the biosphere and the lithosphere.Furthermore,the study of Archaea could provide a basis for the speculation of outer space life forms.Comments were made on the major achievements in the research of Archaea in the past thirty years,and the major problems on the frontier that need to be solved were discussed.Our purpose is to impress the readers with a clear image of Archaea research,especially for the geologists and biologists who desire for an insight into this fascinating interdisciplinary science.
Site-Specific Modulation of Charge Controls the Structure and Stimulus Responsiveness of Intrinsically Disordered Peptide Brushes.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are an important and emerging class of materials for tailoring biointerfaces. While the importance of chain charge and resultant electrostatic interactions in controlling conformational properties of IDPs is beginning to be explored through in silico approaches, there is a dearth of experimental studies motivated toward a systematic study of these effects. In an effort to explore this relationship, we measured the conformations of two peptides derived from the intrinsically disordered neurofilament (NF) side arm domain: one depicting the wild-type sequence with four lysine–serine–proline repeats (KSP peptide) and another in which the serine residues were replaced with aspartates (KDP peptide), a strategy sometimes used to mimic phosphorylation. Using a variety of biophysical measurements including a novel application of scanning angle interference microscopy, we demonstrate that the KDP peptide assumes comparatively more expanded conformations in solution and forms...
Regulation of sphingosine-activated protein kinases : selectivity of activation by sphingoid bases and inhibition by non-esterified fatty acids

Sphingosine has been shown to activate protein kinases in Jurkat T cell cytosol [Pushkareva, Khan, Alessenko, Sahyoun and Hannun (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 15246-15251]. In this study, two sphingosine-activated protein kinases were distinguished by their substrate specificity, their dose-response to sphingosine and the specificity of their activation by sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine stereoisomers. A p32-sphingosine-activated protein kinase responded to low concentrations of D-erythrosphingosine with an initial activation observed at 2.5 microM and a peak activity at 10-20 microM. This kinase showed a modest specificity for D-erythro-sphingosine over other sphingosine stereoisomers, and a preference for sphingosines over dihydrosphingosines. Phosphorylation of a p18 substrate required higher concentrations of sphingosine (20-100 microM) and showed a significant preference for the erythro isomers of sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine over the threo isomers. The ability of other lipids to modulate sphingosine activation of these kinases was also examined. Oleic acid, but not oleic alcohol or the methyl ester, induced the phosphorylation of a distinct set of substrates (probably through the activation of protein kinase C), and inhibited sphingosine-induced phosphorylation with an IC50 of approximately 20 microM. Oleic anhydride failed to induce changes in basal protein phosphorylation but inhibited sphingosine-activated protein kinases, thus distinguishing the effects of fatty acids on protein kinase C from the inhibition of sphingosine-induced phosphorylation. These studies define two distinct sphingosine-activated protein kinases and reveal an important interaction between two classes of putative lipid second messengers.
Pathology and immunology of acute leukemia

Tremendous advances in our understanding of acute leukemia have been made through the development of new technologies and close collaboration between immunologists, molecular biologists, and clinical oncologists. These technological advances have included the development of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) reactive with surface antigens on leukemic cells which can help confirm the lineage and diagnosis of acute leukemia. More importantly, MoAb in conjunction with morphology and cytochemical stains have led to the identification of FAB-MO and the more common recognition of FAB-M7. MoAbs have also helped define prognostic groups, e.g., T-cell leukemia, mature B-cell leukemia, and rare groups such as CD7+ AML. However, the greatest advances in our understanding of acute leukemia has occurred with the application of genetic techniques. Disregulation of genes responsible for normal growth and differentiation initiates the molecular events that lead to the transformation and proliferation of cells recognized clinically as leukemia. Non-random cytogenetic abnormalities apparently contribute to this gene disregulation and specific abnormalities are associated with clinically important subgroups. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the t(9;22), t(1;19), and t(4;11) appear to have a poor prognosis. In acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), -7/7q-;-5/5q-, 11q23 abnormalities have poor outcomes while t(15;17) and in some series t(9;11), t(8;21), and inv(16) have a good response to therapy. Molecular studies of somatic cell (immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor) gene rearrangements have assisted in the diagnosis and classification of ALL. The application of the polymerase chain reaction technique to specific gene rearrangements has provided a useful approach to minimal residual disease. Specific gene activation (N-myc, evi-1) or fusion genes such as the alpha retinoic acid receptor (alpha RAR) and pml have been identified as the specific cause of some cases of leukemia. The cloning of specific chromosomal breakpoints identified in leukemia (as has been done for CML) will result in specific probes which can be used to make the diagnosis rapidly at the molecular level. Because of the tremendous number of recent developments, this paper will focus only on major developments that will soon have a clinical impact.
Immune response in irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review of systemic and mucosal inflammatory mediators

Objective To systematically review the available data on cytokine and immune cells in the peripheral blood and mucosal biopsy samples from patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods From a review of the literature, data on cytokines and immune cells that had been assayed in at least three independent studies were collated and trends examined. Results Levels of interleukin (IL)-10 tended to be decreased and those of IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β increased in the systemic circulation in IBS, while in the mucosa, IL-10 was decreased and IL-8, mast cells, enterochromaffin cells and CD3+ T lymphocytes were increased. However, these findings were not consistent across all studies and, in some instances, were limited to certain IBS sub-populations. Conclusions The interpretation of this literature is limited by several factors, such as the intrinsic heterogeneity of IBS and a lack of standardization in study design. While a number of intriguing immunological observations have been made in IBS, more work is needed before a compelling case can be made for a role for immune-mediated events in the etiology of IBS.
Selective suppression of antisense transcription by Set2-mediated H3K36 methylation

Maintenance of a regular chromatin structure over the coding regions of genes occurs co-transcriptionally via the 'chromatin resetting' pathway. One of the central players in this pathway is the histone methyltransferase Set2. Here we show that the loss of Set2 in yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, results in transcription initiation of antisense RNAs embedded within body of protein-coding genes. These RNAs are distinct from the previously identified non-coding RNAs and cover 11% of the yeast genome. These RNA species have been named Set2-repressed antisense transcripts (SRATs) since the co-transcriptional addition of the H3K36 methyl mark by Set2 over their start sites results in their suppression. Interestingly, loss of chromatin resetting factor Set2 or the subsequent production of SRATs does not affect the abundance of the sense transcripts. This difference in transcriptional outcomes of overlapping transcripts due to a strand-independent addition of H3K36 methylation is a key regulatory feature of interleaved transcriptomes.
An Observational Study of Provider Perspectives on Alternative Payment Models

Abstract Over the past decade, reimbursement in the US health care system has undergone rapid transformation. The Affordable Care Act and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act are some of the many changes challenging traditional modes of practice and raising concerns about practitioners' ability to adapt. Recently, physician satisfaction was proposed as an addition to the Triple Aim in acknowledgment of how the physician's attitude can affect outcomes. To understand how physicians perceive alternative payment models (APMs) and how those perceptions may vary by their organizational role, non-leader physicians (N = 31), physician leaders (N = 67), and health system leaders (N = 49) were surveyed using a mixed-methods approach. Respondents to the electronic survey, who were identified from a Jefferson College of Population Health program participant database, rated their organizations' responses to APMs and provided commentary. Analysis of the Likert scale quantitative data indicates a significant...
The Role of Race and Ethnicity in the Clinical Outcomes of Severe Hemophilia A Patients with Inhibitors.

Abstract Background: Repeatedly, it has been observed that inhibitors to factor VIII are more frequent in African American (AA) and Hispanic (H) patients with severe congenital hemophilia A than in Caucasian (C) patients. Large retrospective reviews have shown that the mortality rates between African American and Caucasian patients with hemophilia have been similar, although non-whites had significantly more bleeding complications, need for hospitalizations and joint limitations. One possible explanation suggested that whites were more likely to receive aggressive treatment strategies such as home infusion. In none of the above reviews were patients stratified by inhibitor status. Few non-white patients have been included in large studies of inhibitor development and natural history. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of race and ethnicity on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of inhibitors in patients with severe hemophilia A. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the repository database of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS). Due to skewed distributions, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for racial differences. Results: The HTRS database captured data from 658 hemophilia patients since January 2000. Within the HTRS registry, there were 562 patients with severe hemophilia A: 68.1% (n=383) Caucasian, 21.0% (n=118) African American, and 10.9% (n=61) Hispanic. In comparison to Caucasians, Hispanics had a higher age at hemophilia diagnosis (p-value Conclusion: While the HTRS database did not assess overall bleeding complications, it did show a significantly higher incidence of ICH in African-Americans versus Caucasian inhibitor patients, which could not be confirmed in non-inhibitor patients. It also appears, that fewer African-Americans and Hispanics are receiving immune tolerance therapy and that they have a lower success rate than Caucasians. However, there were insufficient patients studied to reach statistically significant conclusions. Hispanics did report significantly higher level of function. However, the HTRS survey does not use a very intricate, detailed tool to assess function. The above data proposes further investigation of bleeding risk across race/ethnicity in inhibitor vs. non-inhibitor populations. It also prompts us to look at larger databases to assess use and outcome of immune tolerance across races. Thirdly, it poses the question, whether there is a racial/ethnic difference in functional status and whether there could be variation in severity and outcome of bleeds.
Abstract 90: Akt Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction Involves Mitochondrial Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Translocation

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease characterized by uncontrolled pulmonary vascular cell proliferation. Mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) of pulmonary endothelial cells (EC) was shown to be one of the primary events implicated into proliferative, apoptosis resistant cell phenotype. However, the particular molecular mechanisms responsible for MD remain unclear. The development of PH in patients is associated with severe nitrosative stress, leading to post-translational protein modifications. Thus, we have recently found that Akt is susceptible to nitration of tyrosine Y350 residue. We hypothesize that nitration of Akt induces activation of Akt signaling and contributes to the development of MD. Nitrosative stress in EC was initiated by eNOS uncoupler ADMA or peroxynitrite donor SIN-1 and resulted in significant Akt nitration and activation (1.5±0.1 fold control; p=0.007; N=3-4), as well as activation of anti-apoptotic (BAD phosphorylation), and proliferative (mTOR phosphorylation) signaling cascades. Increased Akt signaling induced phosphorylation of eNOS at serine S615 (1.47±0.08 fold control, p=0.005, N=3) and S1177 (0.22±0.04 vs. 0.47±0.07, p=0.029, N=3). Phosphorylation of eNOS resulted in its translocation to mitochondria (3± 0.3 fold control; p=0.003; N=3) which, in turn, significantly decreased basal mitochondrial respiration (oxygen consumption rate, pmol/min: untransfected cells 1022±96 vs. mitochondrial targeted phospho-mimetic eNOS mutants S615D 102±9 and S1177D 117±7, p
Electro-membrane fractionation of antioxidant peptides from protein hydrolysates of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) byproducts

Abstract Fish protein hydrolysates are an important source of antioxidant peptides. Electrically driven membrane fractionation called electrodialysis with filtration membrane (EDFM) is a separation technology based on molecular charge and mass, which can fractionate active peptides from complex hydrolysates. This work aimed to evaluate the feasibility of sequential EDFM process for separation of cationic (CP) and anionic (AP) peptides from rainbow trout frame protein hydrolysate, and determine their antioxidant properties. The concentrations of CP and AP increased in the recovery solution, reaching 156 and 85 μg/mL, respectively, after 4-hour treatment, with migration rates of 19.55 ± 2.19 and 10.94 ± 0.39 g/m 2 h. The CP separation was approximately 50% energy efficient than AP. Both CP and AP fractions were enriched with peptides with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging properties. The results showed that two-step EDFM process is feasible for recovery and concentration of antioxidant peptides from rainbow trout protein hydrolysate. Industrial relevance The electro-membrane fractionation developed in this study is a two-step process, which is able to selectively separate antioxidant peptides from enzymatic protein hydrolysates based on charge and size. With this particular raw material as the feed, we have shown that using this approach lead to the highest peptide migration rate and a significant improvement in antioxidant activities of both peptide fractions. In addition, this technique is very selective, and environmental friendly as it requires no use of solvent and consumes less energy compared to conventional chromatographic techniques, and thus can be used as a green technology for the fractionation of bioactive peptides from a complex mixture of protein hydrolysates.
Clinical outcomes following conservative management of chronic traumatic cervical myelopathy: A case report.

Background and Purpose: There is limited evidence supporting the conservative management of patients with cervical myelopathy. The purpose of this report is to describe the intervention and outcome...
Advance Protection for Three Phase Induction Motor using Microcontroller Atmega32

A low cost and reliable protection scheme has been designed for a three phase induction motor against unbalance voltages, under voltage, over voltage, short circuit and overheating protection. Taking the cost factor into consideration the design has been proposed using microcontroller Atmega32, MOSFETs, relays, small CTs and PTs. However the sensitivity of the protection scheme has been not compromised. The design has been tested online in the laboratory for small motors and the same can be implemented for larger motors by replacing the i-v converters and relays of suitable ratings.
Competitive effects of cultivar and wild switchgrass on other native grasses

There is mounting concern that selection and breeding of native grasses for greater biomass production could promote weediness. Yet little is known about the invasion potential or ecological impacts of such selectively bred native grasses. Here we focus on cultivars of native switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) that have undergone selection, breeding, and intraspecific hybridization to improve agronomic traits for biomass production. We evaluated the competitive effects of switchgrass cultivars (EG-2101 and ‘Trailblazer’) and wild switchgrass populations on two native prairie grasses [sideoats grama, Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr., and Canada wild rye, Elymus canadensis L.] across a gradient of switchgrass density in a greenhouse. Cultivars produced 48–128% more biomass and reduced sideoats grama biomass by 25–59% more than wild switchgrass. Effects of switchgrass cultivars on Canada wild rye were minimal compared to sideoats grama. Later flowering and larger seed size of cultivars may be contributing to their greater biomass and competitive effects on sideoats grama. These data suggest that breeding switchgrass for enhanced biomass yield may increase competitive effects on some native grasses. Further studies are merited to test the potential for switchgrass biomass cultivars to spread and impact species diversity of restored and remnant native plant communities.
A review of electrohydrodynamic casting energy conversion polymer composites

This paper provides a brief review on manufacturing polymer composite materials through the nontraditional electrohydrodynamic (EHD) casting approach. First, the EHD technology will be introduced. Then, typical functional polymer composite materials including thermoelectric and photoelectric energy conversion polymers and their composites will be presented. Specifically, how to make composite materials containing functional nanoparticles will be discussed. Converting polymeric fibers into partially carbonized fiber composites will also be shown. The latest research results of polymeric composite materials with energy conversion and sensing functions will be given.
Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran

Almost forty years after the 1979 revolution in Iran, we are witnessing the emergence of a new generation of scholarly writings on the revolution itself and post-revolutionary Iran. Soundtrack of t...
Muscle as a Metabolic Factory for Gene Therapy

Since the identification of gene transfer vectors that can efficiently transduce skeletal muscles, the muscle has been targeted in gene therapy strategies to act as a factory of therapeutic gene expression for the treatment of metabolic diseases. The easy accessibility of the skeletal muscle for vector delivery procedures and the ability of the muscle cells to both express and secrete proteins encoded in gene therapy vectors makes the muscle an ideal platform on which to develop gene therapy strategies for the treatment of metabolic diseases of the muscle as well as those diseases that do not involve muscle pathology. We discuss herein current gene therapy strategies focused on using the muscle as a biosynthetic factory. In particular, we will discuss preclinical work for two metabolic myopathies, McArdle and Pompe diseases, and updates on muscle-targeted gene therapy clinical trials for the treatment of other inborn errors of metabolism, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and hemophilia B.
Relationships among locus of control, learned helpless, and mathematical literacy in PISA 2012: focus on Korea and Finland

The purpose of this research is to gather empirical evidence for attribution theory (Weiner in J Educ Psychol 71(1):3–25. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.71.1.3 , 1979) to explain students’ feelings of helplessness when learning mathematics. The relationships between mathematics literacy in PISA 2012 and learned helplessness were also observed. Korean and Finnish students’ responses were analyzed with ordinal and linear regression analyses. Similar patterns were found between the two countries when students attributed their failure to either ability or task difficulty, but different relationships were found for other attributions. The findings indicated necessity of cultural factors in addition to the attribution theory to understand students’ helplessness in learning mathematics better.
Evolution of DNA Transposons in Eukaryotes

The availability of genomic sequences from all kingdoms of life and sophisticated searching algorithms has revolutionized our ability to detect distantly related transposons purely on the basis of sequence similarity, thus improving our understanding of their macroevolutionary trends. This chapter focuses on DNA transposons in eukaryotic genomes and particularly the four available genomes from plants and animals. Phylogenetic analysis of such a megafamily is fraught with difficulties because only this shared D,D35E domain can be employed, and even then the alignment of many of the amino acids in-between is uncertain without structural information, which is only available for several integrases and the Tn5 transposase. An interesting feature of this superfamily is that the transposase genes of members of the pogo family have occasionally been recruited to perform host functions. The genomic sequences from Arabidopsis and Oryza have also revealed many sequences encoding related proteins. Bacterial transposons experience a very different host environment from those in eukaryotes, and even among eukaryotes, there is huge variation in these dynamics due to vagaries of the transposonhost interaction. The chapter focuses what recent eukaryotic genomic sequences tell us about the history of DNA transposons. Many other DNA transposons exist at relatively low copy numbers, for example, in filamentous fungi, and have multiple lineages in particular hosts, for example, the Mutator-like elements of plants; however, these situations require extensive analysis of large sequence sets within species and consideration of the evolution of the transposon family across species.
Discriminatory features of acute eosinophilic dermatitis with oedema (Wells‐like syndrome) and sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's‐like syndrome) in dogs

Background Canine acute eosinophilic dermatitis with oedema (CAEDE) and sterile neutrophilic dermatosis have overlapping clinical and histopathological features. Hypothesis/objectives The objective of this study was to identify features that differentiate these entities. Animals Forty dogs. Methods and materials Retrospective case series. Forty cases with diagnoses of either CAEDE and/or sterile neutrophilic dermatosis were included based on histopathological review. Medical records (29 of 40 dogs) were reviewed for clinical findings and historical data. Commercially available immunohistochemical stains for granulocytes and a Luna stain were performed (40 of 40 dogs) to assess the granulocytic infiltrate. Results Nineteen cases had been previously diagnosed as CAEDE, seven cases had been designated as sterile neutrophilic dermatosis and 14 cases had overlapping features. Based on review and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, 30 cases with >12% eosinophils, enumerated by Luna staining, were diagnosed as eosinophilic dermatitis and oedema. Ten cases were diagnosed as sterile neutrophilic dermatosis. Dogs with CAEDE frequently had gastrointestinal signs (24 of 30;80%) and pruritus (11 of 30;33%). In dogs with sterile neutrophilic dermatosis, five of 10 (50%) had diagnoses of or histories compatible with immune-mediated polyarthropathy. Conclusions and clinical importance In this case series, CAEDE was encountered more frequently than neutrophilic dermatosis and could be distinguished by the eosinophilic infiltrate, aided by a Luna stain. Concurrent arthralgia was more frequently identified with neutrophilic dermatosis. It remains unclear whether CAEDE and sterile neutrophilic dermatosis are separate disease entities or varied manifestations of the same disease.
Two-Sample Rank Procedures for Location

The previous chapters dealt with inference procedures applicable in one-sample (or paired-sample) problems. We now consider the situation where there are two mutually independent random samples, one from each of two populations. We discuss tests which apply to the null hypothesis that the two populations are identical and the confidence procedures related to these tests.
Methods and Advances in the Forensic Analysis of Contaminated Rivers

Trace metals and metalloids are a common and persistent form of riverine (river) contamination and are derived from a wide variety of sources, including mining and milling operations, industrial activities, urban runoff, agricultural chemicals, and atmospheric pollution, among a host of others. Documentation of trace metal sources and dispersal pathways in riverine ecosystems is essential to mitigate their potentially harmful effects to human and ecosystem health and is often required from a legal (environmental forensic) perspective to assess liability for the costs of remediation. Unfortunately, documenting the sources and source contributions of trace metals in rivers has proven difficult, time-intensive, and costly. Herein, a four-component, interdisciplinary framework is proposed to efficiently identify the sources and source contributions of trace metals in alluvial sediments where multiple natural and/or anthropogenic sources exist. The components include (1) the analysis of the river’s alluvial stratigraphic architecture and geomorphic history, (2) the temporal correlation of geochemically characterized alluvial deposits to potential anthropogenic trace metal sources, (3) the analysis of the spatial variations in selected geochemical parameters, and (4) the use of geochemical and/or isotopic tracers to quantitatively estimate the contributions of trace metals from the defined natural and anthropogenic sources. The four components are not intended to be exhaustive; the framework may require modification following multiple lines of evidence approach, in which additional methods and data are added to the investigation until there is confidence that all trace metal sources and their contributions have been effectively defined.
What Is Prudent Governance of Human Genome Editing

CRISPR technology has made questions about how best to regulate human genome editing immediately relevant. A sound and ethical governance structure for human genome editing is necessary, as the consequences of this new technology are far-reaching and profound. Because there are currently many risks associated with genome editing technology, the extent of which are unknown, regulatory prudence is ideal. When considering how best to create a prudent governance scheme, we can look to 2 guiding examples: the Asilomar conference of 1975 and the German Ethics Council guidelines for human germline intervention. Both models offer a path towards prudent regulation in the face of unknown and significant risks.
Promoting Adolescent and Maternal Health through School-Based and Community-Based Interventions.

Ecology of Food and Nutrition (EFN) promotes scholarly discussion and engagement on the holistic and cross-cultural dimensions of the study of food and nutrition. Articles published in this journal...
Smart Home Energy Management System With Optimal Source Selection in a Real-Time Pricing Environment

Smart home energy management system (HEMS) are being employed to optimize the consumption of electricity based on load demand and renewable forecast. It is essential for a smart HEMS to ensure the right energy mix by optimizing the power consumption from the local resources and the main grid in order to improve efficiency and reduce overall cost of the system. The smart HEMS proposed here implements this idea using an optimal source selection algorithm. The proposed system comprises of two input sources which are namely, a PV-battery duo source and the main electricity grid. The system takes into consideration the electricity price information, user load profile, solar irradiance profile and, the battery power output information. The input information is used to select the right power source for every home load to ensure the right energy mix and reduce the overall cost for the electricity. Hardware implementation of the proposed smart HEMS was successfully tested on a small-scale prototype in the laboratory.
Cardiogenic Shock Spectrum: Outcomes Utilizing VA ECMO with or without Axillary Impella 5.0: Single Center Experience

Purpose VA ECMO is often used as a rescue therapy for rapid hemodynamic stabilization due to acute refractory cardiogenic shock, while elective Impella 5.0 is often a planned strategy as part of a long-term heart failure surgical option. The objective of this study is to evaluate the differences in outcomes depending on which form of mechanical support was used. Methods Retrospective review of all patients with an Impella 5.0 or VA ECMO between January 2018 to September 2019. Results A total of 138 patients were placed on either VA ECMO or Impella 5.0. Of these, 39 patients received an Impella, 116 patients were placed on VA ECMO, and 17 patients received an Impella with concurrent VA-ECMO (EC-Pella). Of the 22 Impella 5.0 only patients, survival to discharge was 90% (n= 20) of which 55% (n= 12) had durable LVAD, 27% (n= 6) heart transplant. Survival to discharge was 58% for VA ECMO patients (n= 57), and 53% in patients requiring EC-Pella (n= 9). Though the survival to discharge rate decreased for both VA ECMO and EC-Pella when compared to Impella 5.0 alone, the acuity of patients requiring ECMO support was considerably higher than patients on Impella 5.0 alone. Conclusion VA ECMO is often utilized in patients in rapid hemodynamic decline and improves survival, however, the addition of Impella 5.0 did not significantly change the survival if there is no long term exit strategy.
How to use and how not to use certified reference materials in industrial chemical metrology laboratories

As a producer of certified reference materials (CRMs), NIST faces high demand for Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The demand is exacerbated by widespread misuse of CRMs. When should one use CRMs? When should one not use CRMs? Must labs always use NIST SRMs? How can labs demonstrate analytical capabilities for their accreditation scopes? Why so many questions? Standards developers, laboratory accreditors, and laboratory staff must be able to understand these topics with respect to quality systems in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025. They must calibrate and validate test methods and document traceability to the International System of Units (SI). Many people working in laboratory accreditation and under the umbrella of a quality system do not fully understand what these things are, let alone the language of chemical metrology. On average, they have little training in analytical chemistry, elemental analysis, and reference material development. It is hoped this paper will impress upon the reader the need for understanding how CRMs can be best used in the laboratory. This paper provides a brief background on the above problems and then looks at some of the support and reference information provided by NIST to metals and mining industries labs, commercial CRM producers, and accrediting bodies. The concepts and guidance apply broadly to chemical metrology and fundamental analytical chemistry. The paper includes examples (some from X-ray fluorescence spectrometry) to illustrate concepts.
POSSIBLE STATISTICAL-MODEL EXPLANATION FOR THE $sup 26$Mg(p,t)$sup 24$Mg REACTION AT E/sub p/ = 26 MeV.

A simplified Hauser-Feshbach treatment of angular distributions of the $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}(p,t)^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ reaction populating levels in $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ up to 7.59-MeV excitation energy yields good agreement with the data for several of the states above the 1.37-MeV ${2}^{+}$ level. In particular, it is not necessary to invoke a direct two-step process to explain the magnitude and shape of the ${3}^{+}$ level at 5.22 MeV excitation as suggested by Shepard, Kraushaar, and Baer.
Detection of Intramural Excitable Substrate With Frequency Analysis of Unipolar Electrograms: A Novel Application of Unipolar Electrogram Mapping.

Unipolar electrogram (UE) mapping was initially applied in the mid-1990s to predict myocardial viability and guide revascularization procedures ([1][1],[2][2]). At that time, viability assessment was mainly based on evaluation of myocardial blood flow or metabolism performed separately from the
Enhancing Soil Aggregation in No-Till Farming Systems

Improving soil physical properties, such as aggregate stability, is essential to reducing soil erodibility, stabilizing C and nutrients, improving water, air, and heat fluxes, and supporting root growth. No-till (NT) farming generally improves soil aggregate stability near the soil surface, but the extent of this improvement can depend on the companion practices used with NT, including crop residues, cover crops, crop rotations, organic amendments (i.e., manure, biochar), inorganic fertilization, or one-time or strategic tillage. The objective of this paper is to discuss how companion practices to NT affect soil aggregate stability (a sensitive indicator of changes in soil structure), as compared to NT without such companion practices. Research indicates that companion practices can differently affect aggregate stability in NT soils relative to NT without companion practices. For example, inorganic fertilization does not affect aggregate stability in 70% of cases, but animal manure can increase aggregate stability in 60% of cases. Crop residue baling at high rates can reduce near-surface aggregate stability by 7–64%, particularly in the long term (> 3 years). This reduction can be especially large at low rates of inorganic fertilization. Practices such as strategic tillage and moderate crop residue grazing ( 5 years), particularly in low organic matter (<2.5%). While the latter practices offer much promise to enhance aggregate stability, challenges associated with cover crop management, biochar production, and others should be addressed. In sum, adding cover crops, animal manure, biochar, and using intensified crop rotations can enhance the potential of no-till to further enhance soil aggregation, especially when such practices are targeted to low organic matter, eroded or degraded NT soils.
Graduate Student Literature Review: Potential mechanisms of interaction between bacteria and the reproductive tract of dairy cattle

Although the presence of bacteria has been characterized throughout the reproductive tracts of multiple species, how these bacteria may interact with the host has yet to be described. Previous reviews have described how pathogenic bacteria interact with the reproductive tract to cause infections such as metritis. This review aimed to summarize the knowledge related to pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria in various locations of the bovine reproductive tract and the possible mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions during gametogenesis and early pregnancy. Lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus seem to be beneficial in multiple areas of the reproductive tract: they have been associated with increased oocyte quality when in follicular fluid and secrete reactive oxygen species that are beneficial during placental angiogenesis. However, other bacteria, including Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus, may modulate T helper cells that inhibit maternal recognition of pregnancy. Available data on the reproductive microbiome focus on variations in microbial communities and their associations with reproductive performance. However, research on these host-microbiome interactions may provide more insight on how bacteria affect fertility.
Assessing dental student perceptions after engaging in a longitudinal interprofessional education curriculum: A preliminary study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES Baseline IPE perceptions for dental students were gathered prior to the implementation of a 2-year formalised IPE curriculum at a US institution. The goal was to establish a baseline of student perceptions and, in the future, continue to track student IPE perception data with IPE engagement as one measure of outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to analyse two dental student cohort perceptions of IPE after engaging in a 2-year longitudinal curriculum. METHODS First- and second-year students were required to participate in a 2-year IPE curriculum. As a requirement of the curriculum, students were asked to complete a validated IPE assessment, the Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education-Revised instrument, version 2 (SPICE-R2). Students completed the SPICE-R2 survey, using a retrospective pretest/post-test design, after engaging in the 2-year curriculum. RESULTS Sixty-four students in cohort 2017 and 70 students in cohort 2018 completed the entire SPICE-R2. Statistically significant positive changes (p < .05) were found in both dental student cohorts after engagement in the 2-year longitudinal IPE curriculum. CONCLUSION(S) A longitudinal IPE curriculum has the potential to impact student IPE perceptions. Additional longitudinal multi-institutional research is needed to determine best practices in delivery and learning.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Roll Over Beethoven”: Tom Stoppard and Critical Legal Studies

In 1969-70 or thereabouts several Yale Law School students set up a “commune” in the courtyard between what were then residential halls. At roughly the same time David Trubek and Rick Abel were holding a reading group on law and development with a heavy dose of social theory, a harbinger of what became critical legal studies. The two events can be taken as representative of alternative paths to social transformation – roughly, the cultural path and the path to change through self-consciously directed political action. In this short paper, originally prepared for a conference on the intellectual history of critical legal studies at Princeton University in February 2020, I read two works as dialogues about those paths, Tom Stoppard’s play “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which looks at Czechoslovakia from 1968 through 1989 – from the Prague Spring through the Soviet occupation to the collapse of the Soviet empire – and “Roll Over Beethoven,” a discussion between “Peter Gabel” and “Duncan Kennedy” about some controversies in the early years of critical legal studies.
Mandatory Access Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Prescription Drug Abuse

Despite the significant cost of prescription (Rx) drug abuse and calls from policy makers for effective interventions, there is limited research on the effects of policies intended to limit such abuse. This study estimates the effects of prescription drug monitoring (PDMP) programs which is a key policy targeting the non-medical use of Rx drugs. Based on objective indicators of abuse as measured by substance abuse treatment admissions related to Rx drugs, estimates do not suggest any substantial effects of instituting an operational PDMP. We find, however, that mandatory-access provisions, which raised PDMP utilization rates by actually requiring providers to query the PDMP prior to prescribing a controlled drug, are significantly associated with a reduction in Rx drug abuse. The effects are driven primarily by a reduction in opioid abuse, generally strongest among young adults (ages 18-24), and underscore important dynamics in the policy response. Robustness checks are consistent with a causal interpretation of these effects. We also assess potential spillovers of mandatory PDMPs on the use of other illicit drugs, and find a complementary reduction in admissions related to cocaine and marijuana abuse.
Modernism, Imperialism and the Historical Sense

Modernist art and literature sought to engage with the ideas of different cultures without eradicating the differences between them. In Modernism, Imperialism and the Historical Sense, Paul Stasi explores the relationship between high modernist aesthetic forms and structures of empire in the twentieth century. Stasi's text offers new readings of James Joyce, Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf by situating their work within an early moment of globalization. By combining the insights of Marxist historiography, aesthetic theory and postcolonial criticism, Stasi's careful analysis reveals how these authors' aesthetic forms responded to, and helped shape, their unique historical moment. Written with a wide readership in mind, this book will appeal especially to scholars of British and American literature as well as students of literary criticism and postcolonial studies.
Differential Modulation of Single-Unit Activity in the Striatum of Freely Behaving Rats by D1 and D2 Dopamine Receptors

Continuous release of endogenous dopamine (DA) is believed to modulate both the activity of striatal neurons and their responsiveness to phasic fluctuations in glutamate (GLU). To determine the role of DA receptor subfamilies in these neuromodulatory effects, we combined single-unit recording with pharmacological blockade of either the D1 or D2 subfamily and assessed the effects of DA and GLU iontophoresis in rats. To ensure testing under naturally occurring physiological conditions, all data were obtained from freely behaving animals. Injection of SCH-23390 (0.2 mg/kg, sc), a D l antagonist, elevated basal firing rate and blocked the weak inhibitory response to iontophoretic DA. This drug also enhanced the excitatory effect of GLU iontophoresis. In contrast, eticlopride (0.2 mg/kg, sc), a D2 antagonist, had a slightly inhibitory effect on basal firing rate and failed to alter the neuronal response to DA iontophoresis. Eticlopride also reduced the magnitude of GLU-induced excitations. A combination of both SCH-23390 and eticlopride increased basal firing rate and blocked the effect of DA iontophoresis, but both effects were smaller than after SCH-23390 alone. The combination attenuated, rather than enhanced, the GLU response. Collectively, these results suggest that DA acts mainly via D1 receptors to exert a tonic stabilizing influence on striatal activity, including phasic excitations induced by GLU.
Supercritical water oxidation of a model fecal sludge without the use of a co-fuel

A continuous supercritical water oxidation reactor was designed and constructed to investigate the conversion of a feces simulant without the use of a co-fuel. The maximum reactor temperature and waste conversion was determined as a function of stoichiometric excess of oxygen in order to determine factor levels for subsequent investigation. 48% oxygen excess showed the highest temperature with full conversion. Factorial analysis was then used to determine the effects of feed concentration, oxygen excess, inlet temperature, and operating pressure on the increase in the temperature of the reacting fluid as well as a newly defined non-dimensional number, NJa representing heat transfer efficiency. Operating pressure and stoichiometric excess oxygen were found to have the most significant impacts on NJa. Feed concentration had a significant impact on fluid temperature increase showing an average difference of 46.4°C between the factorial levels.
The metabolic determinant underlying the rate of energy use during prolonged fasting for the diamondback watersnake, Nerodia rhombifer (1101.4)

During prolonged bouts of fasting, tissues and organs lose mass as a function of their metabolic expenditure and differences in the allocation of endogenous energy. We previously observed considerable variation in the rate at which individual diamondback watersnakes (Nerodia rhombifer) lose body and fat mass during extended fasts. It has also been found that these snakes exhibit variation in their standard metabolic rate (SMR). We therefore hypothesized that individual variation in SMR is responsible for the observed variation in body mass and body fat loss with fasting. Predictably, snakes with relatively high SMR would metabolize fat stores at a greater rate (therefore loss body mass faster) than snakes that possess relatively low SMR. We explored the causal relationships between SMR and body and fat loss during extended bouts of fasting for the diamondback watersnake by examining variation in SMR and differential loss of body, fat, and organ mass over six months of fasting. Baseline SMR and body mass w...