cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of piRNA-Mediated Silencing of Active TEs in Drosophila melanogaster Suggests Limits on the Evolution of Host Genome Defense

The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway defends animal genomes against the harmful consequences of transposable element (TE) infection by imposing small-RNA-mediated silencing. Because silencing is targeted by TE-derived piRNAs, piRNA production is posited to be central to the evolution of genome defense. We harnessed genomic data sets from Drosophila melanogaster, including genome-wide measures of piRNA, mRNA, and genomic abundance, along with estimates of age structure and risk of ectopic recombination, to address fundamental questions about the functional and evolutionary relationships between TE families and their regulatory piRNAs. We demonstrate that mRNA transcript abundance, robustness of "ping-pong" amplification, and representation in piRNA clusters together explain the majority of variation in piRNA abundance between TE families, providing the first robust statistical support for the prevailing model of piRNA biogenesis. Intriguingly, we also discover that the most transpositionally active TE families, with the greatest capacity to induce harmful mutations or disrupt gametogenesis, are not necessarily the most abundant among piRNAs. Rather, the level of piRNA targeting is largely independent of recent transposition rate for active TE families, but is rapidly lost for inactive TEs. These observations are consistent with population genetic theory that suggests a limited selective advantage for host repression of transposition. Additionally, we find no evidence that piRNA targeting responds to selection against a second major cost of TE infection: ectopic recombination between TE insertions. Our observations confirm the pivotal role of piRNA-mediated silencing in defending the genome against selfish transposition, yet also suggest limits to the optimization of host genome defense.
A mm-wave planar microcavity structure for electron linear accelerator system

The muffin-tin cavity structure is planar and well suited for a mm-wave accelerator with silicon etching techniques. A constant impedance travelling-wave structure is considered for design simplicity. The RF parameters are calculated and the shunt impedance is compared with the shunt impedance of a disk loaded cylindrical structure. >
Evidence for a prophage excision gene in λ

Abstract Lysogenic bacteria can be freed of their resident prophage (cured) by super-infection with a heteroimmune phage which has the same attachment site specificity as the prophage. Superinfection curing requires the activity of two genes: int, which has been described previously, and xis which lies between int and exo. The xis function must be supplied by the superinfecting phage, but int function can be supplied either by the superinfecting phage or the prophage. The xis gene product, like the int product, can act in trans because complementation between int and xis mutants is efficient.
Integration of academic and clinical performance-based faculty compensation plans: a system and its impact on an anaesthesiology department

Abstract Background The current economic environment makes it difficult for academic institutions to maintain academic activities with necessary clinical coverage. Productivity-based faculty compensation is reported to improve clinical work output; however, the impact on academic productivity has not been fully described. Methods An academic anaesthesiology department has used a comprehensive clinical and academic performance-based faculty compensation programme as fiscal year (FY) 2004. Faculty choosing to pursue an academic track can devote up to 80% of their time to non-clinical activities. Payment for this time is ‘salary at risk’, which is earned through a merit matrix system, which was newly developed to award points for various academic activities. Unclaimed portions of the salary at risk are absorbed into the department budget at the conclusion of the FY. Clinical activities are measured chiefly based on total hours of anaesthetic care. Results Academic full-time equivalents (FTEs) decreased by 12.0% in FY2005 (FTE of 16.0–14.1) but recovered to the baseline level in FY2006 and remained stable. Clinical FTE also decreased by 6.6% in FY2005 (FTE of 109.1–101.9), then increased in FY2006–FY2010. Increased clinical work output was observed among the clinical and academic faculty members. Each academic faculty member successfully earned their salary at risk in each FY. The annual number of peer-reviewed publications per academic FTE in original research increased from 0.31 (0.18) (FY2001–FY2003) to 0.73 (0.14) (FY2006–FY2011), P=0.024. Conclusions Integration of clinical and academic performance-based faculty compensation systems is feasible and can be efficacious in a large academic anaesthesiology department.
Concurrency in the undergraduate curriculum

Concurrency is a major trend in computer science; it can be taught from the point of view of operating systems, programming languages, algorithm design, database design, software engineering, systems engineering, and computer architecture. The panel will address the following questions among others: When should students be exposed to concurrency? In traditional or non-traditional courses? How many times? What must a programmer know about implementation? Must applications programmers now become experts in operating systems? What are the appropriate paradigms for development of concurrent programming in education?
A New Measure of State Government Ideology, and Evidence that Both the New Measure and an Old Measure Are Valid

We modify Berry et al.’s congressional-delegation-based measure of state government ideology to construct a new measure—which we call the state-legislative-based state government ideology measure—b...
Design of Slepian-Wolf codes by channel code partitioning

A Slepian-Wolf coding scheme that can achieve arbitrary rate allocation among two encoders was outlined in the work of Pradhan and Ramchandran. Inspired by this work, we start with a detailed solution for general (asymmetric or symmetric) Slepian-Wolf coding based on partitioning a single systematic channel code, and continue with practical code designs using advanced channel codes. By using systematic IRA and turbo codes, we devise a powerful scheme that is capable of approaching any point on the Slepian-Wolf bound. We further study an extension of the technique to multiple sources, and show that for a particular correlation model among the sources, a single practical channel code can be designed for coding all the sources in symmetric and asymmetric scenarios. If the code approaches the capacity of the channel that models the correlation between the sources, then the system will approach the Slepian-Wolf limit. Using systematic IRA and punctured turbo codes for coding two binary sources, each being independent identically distributed, with correlation modeled by a binary symmetric channel, we obtain results which are 0.04 bits away from the theoretical limit in both symmetric and asymmetric Slepian-Wolf settings.
Distinguishing between live and dead standing tree biomass on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, USA using small-footprint lidar data

article Accurate estimation of live and dead biomass in forested ecosystems is important for studies of carbon dynamics, biodiversity, wildfire behavior, and for forest management. Lidar remote sensing has been used successfully to estimate live biomass, but studies focusing on dead biomass are rare. We used lidar data, in conjunction with field measurements from 58 plots to distinguish between and map standing live and dead tree biomass in the mixed coniferous forest of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, USA. Lidar intensity and canopy volume were key variables for estimating live biomass, whereas for dead biomass, lidar intensity alone was critical for accurate estimation. Regression estimates of both live and dead biomass ranged between 0 and 600 Mg ha −1
Mechanism of force production for microtubule-dependent movements

Our currentthinkingaboutthedrivingforceforthemovements ofintracellular particles or chromosomes hasbeen dominatedby ourknowledgeofthetwomostcommon contractile systems,thosebasedupon actin-myosininteractions or upon microtubule-dynein interactions .Abundant quantities ofmaterialinwell-ordered arrayshaveallowedconsiderableprogresstobemade intheinvestigation ofthemechanismsresponsible formovement inthesesystems.Thereare many examplesoftheinvolvementofcytoplasmicactinand myosininnonmusclecellmotility(1,2).Evidenceinfavor ofacytoplasmicdyneininmicrotubule-dependent motilityis beginningtoaccumulate,and recentwork fromseverallaboratories hasprovidedpreliminaryevidencethata dyneinlike ATPase ispresentinthemitoticspindleofseaurchineggs (3-5).Inaddressingthequestionofa cytoplasmicdyneinlike ATPase,itisprimarilyimportanttoestablish ageneraldefinitionofdyneinandtocharacterize thosefeatures thatdistinguishitfrom myosinand otherATPases.Dynein hasbeen looselydefinedasan ATPase thatassociates withmicrotubulesand hashighmolecularweightpolypeptides inexcess of300 kdaltons(6).A more meaningfuldefinition includes itsdirectroleingeneratingaforceformovement coupledto thehydrolysis ofATP, whichmust be approachedinterms ofthebiologyaswellasthebiochemistryofthesystem.In thisreviewwe willsummarize theimportantbiochemical properties ofciliary dyneinintermsofa comparisonwith myosinand relatetheresults tothepotentially distinguishing features ofacytoplasmicdynein.
Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on the Outcomes of Noncardiac Surgery: Predictors of Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality

Objectives: We sought to determine the predictors of short-term morbidity and mortality (<30 days) after noncardiac surgery in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).Background: Pulmonary hypert...
Designing the future of collaborative science: Argonne's Futures Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory created its Computing and Communications Infrastructure Futures Laboratory to develop next-generation computing and communications infrastructure systems. An important goal of the Futures Lab project is to understand how to incorporate advanced display and media server systems into scientific computing environments. The objective is to create new collaborative environment technologies that combine advanced networking, virtual-space technology, and high-end virtual environments to construct virtual teams for scientific research. We hope to add new capabilities to scientific computing systems and to accelerate development of virtual organizations to conduct experimental, computational, and theoretical science. Our research focuses largely on developing new technology and integrating it with selected applications projects to demonstrate the technology. We want to drive large-scale supercomputer systems architecture toward more balanced (and human-oriented) systems that support a variety of human interfaces and media systems. Large-scale parallel computing and immersive technology are naturally complementary, so we are striving to develop improved mechanisms for linking parallel supercomputers and immersive displays. The collaborative environments we envision are logical extensions of the classic Internet. The Futures Lab and its associated research projects are a new research focus for Argonne's Mathematics and Computer Science Division. Our approach is both interdisciplinary and collaborative. Two primary projects-the multimedia and collaborative space project and the virtual environments project-are under way, both supported by activities in advanced networking. >
MM5 precipitation verification over the pacific northwest during the 1997-99 cool seasons

Abstract Precipitation forecasts from the Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5) are verified for the 1997–98 and 1998–99 cool seasons over the Pacific Northwest. The MM5 precipitation at 36-, 12-, and 4-km horizontal resolution is compared with over 250 NOAA cooperative observer, snow telemetry (SNOTEL), avalanche, and National Weather Service sites in order to evaluate the effects of increasing horizontal resolution and to document spatial variations in model skill. A noticeable improvement in bias, equitable threat, and root-mean-square (rms) error scores occurs as horizontal resolution is increased from 36- to 12-km resolution; however, going from 12- to 4-km resolution improvements in skill are restricted to the heavy precipitation events (>5.08 cm in 24 h). For light to moderate precipitation events, both the 12- and 4-km domains have significant overprediction over the upper windward slopes of the higher terrain. In contrast, fo...
G protein mRNA expression in renal microvessels from spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats

The exaggerated sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) renal microvasculature to angiotensin II (ANG II) may be due to an imbalance between the effectiveness of Gαs-utilizing vasodilat...
DONUT: A Threshold Gate Computer

During the past few years there has been a considerable amount of literature concerned with the realization of threshold logic. However, there are a number of questions concerning such factors as sensitivity and component savings which cannot be completely answered by such theoretical studies. DONUT (Digitally Operated Network Using Thresholds) is a small general purpose digital computer which was designed and constructed to evaluate the feasibility of using threshold gates as the basic logical element. Exclusive of memory the computer consists of about 500 threshold gates. The design was carried out for five different values of component tolerances and the tightest tolerance version was constructed. Component savings for the constructed machine are about a factor of four compared with the loosest tolerance NOR gate realization. Experiments were made to verify that the power supply and logical voltages were within tolerances in the system environment.
Intracellular Calcium Release Channels

Two classes of intracellular calcium release channels have been identified, the ryanodine receptor and the inositol 1, 4, 5-trispliospliate (InsP3) receptor. Characterizations of each receptor at the single channel level has shown that the channel types are functionally distinct. These two channels differ in the relative density and localization within the cell, in the mechanism of activation, in the regulation by Ca and ATP, and the sensitivity to pharmacological agents. The differences in the properties and regulation of the two types of intracellular calcium release channels are important for determining cell-specific responses to stimuli and allows the cell to adjust Ca signalling to the needs of the physiological state of the cell.
Fundamental Limits on the Subthreshold Slope in Schottky Source/Drain Black Phosphorus Field-Effect Transistors

The effect of thickness, temperature, and source–drain bias voltage, VDS, on the subthreshold slope, SS, and off-state properties of black phosphorus (BP) field-effect transistors is reported. Locally back-gated p-MOSFETs with thin HfO2 gate dielectrics were analyzed using exfoliated BP layers ranging in thickness from ∼4 to 14 nm. SS was found to degrade with increasing VDS and to a greater extent in thicker flakes. In one of the thinnest devices, SS values as low as 126 mV/decade were achieved at VDS = −0.1 V, and the devices displayed record performance at VDS = −1.0 V with SS = 161 mV/decade and on-to-off current ratio of 2.84 × 103 within a 1 V gate bias window. A one-dimensional transport model has been utilized to extract the band gap, interface state density, and the work function of the metal contacts. The model shows that SS degradation in BP MOSFETs occurs due to the ambipolar turn on of the carriers injected at the drain before the onset of purely thermionic-limited transport at the source. Th...
On the Development of a 3D Printer for Combinatorial Structural Composite Research

Bioinspired materials have enabled the fabrication of tough lightweight structures for load- and impact-bearing applications of which an example is fiber-reinforced plastics use in aerospace. If applied to the field of construction, biomimicked composites can save lives, otherwise lost to earthquakes and other disasters that cause collapse of buildings. The main culprit is the low resistance of structures exposed to dynamic shear stresses, typical of earthquakes. Recent work on the application of biomimicry to structural composites has clearly shown the advantage of these materials in resisting dynamic shear. Adding natural or synthetic reinforcement fibers may alleviate the need for conventional steel rebars and make it possible to print buildings by conventional 3D printing technology. The main hurdles are to find the right type of composite that is compatible with 3D printing and the right process for deposition of such material. In the past, combination of carbon fiber, glue and concrete has been demonstrated to enhance the toughness of resulting structural composites. Inspired by the microstructure of oyster and mother of pearl, layering of these materials mitigates the localization of deformation by distributing the imposed displacement over a large area. The intricate structure of these layers, and the minute details of the interfaces are important for affecting good dynamic shear resistance. In nacre, a partial slip of sandwiched layers occurs before it stops and deformation is transferred to the adjacent area. This energy-absorption capability underlies the high-toughness behavior of nacre and similar structures. By mimicking nacre, bone and tooth, it is possible to benefit from their good properties, however, it is important to determine the type of material, layering scheme, geometry, and other factors that affect mechanical properties. A recently-developed medium-sized 3D printer was developed to deposit structural materials. These include cement, plaster, polymer and clay. Combinatorial structural composite research (CSCR) comprising the simultaneous fabrication and characterization of multiple specimens with different microstructures allows fair comparison of mechanical properties of various structural composites. Novel application of deposition techniques to the extrusion of plaster, cement and clay paves the way to layer these materials along with glue and fibers in desired schemes. Use of ANOVA tables in the selection of various types of ceramics, polymers and reinforcement materials for the fabrication of different composites will be discussed. In addition to selection of the type of the materials, deposition schemes such as those of solid and hollow structures, different layer thickness applications, and the effect of timing will be elucidated. Microscopy conducted on the fractured surfaces enables the investigation of the mechanisms of fracture and failure for these CSCR composites. The details of experiments conducted, microscopy performed and the results of mechanical tests will be presented.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Cattle Grub Insecticide Efficacy and Effects on Weight-Gain Performance on Feeder Calves in Nebraska

Feeder calves (917) were treated for control of cattle grubs, Hypoderma spp. with fenthion 1% feed additive, 2% and 3% pour-ons, 10% water additive; 4% coumaphos pour-on; and 8% trichlorfon paur-on; 448 calves were left untreated to serve as controls in the 6 separate trials. Of the untreated calves, 63% were infested with an average of 8 grubs per calf. The effect of grub treatment upon rate of gain and for grub control was not consistent among trials. However, on an average the treated calves gained 1.04 pounds per day as opposed to 0.92 pounds per day (significant at P 0.01% level) for nontreated calves. If computed for a 100-day feeding trial these finding, on an average, mean a difference of 12 pounds per calf more gain for calves treated for cattle grubs.
Rotational effects on the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of wind turbine airfoils

This paper describes numerical simulations of the eects of rotation on the sectional performance characteristics of wind turbine airfoils. In the present paper, only sectional calculations are performed, but in three dimensions. However, the equations are not averaged in the radial direction. Instead, a quasi-periodic behavior is assumed in the spanwise direction that allows for a spanwise flow to develop. The present sectional simulations provide comparisons between non-rotating and rotating cases. It is argued that this gives insight into the eects of rotation on the airfoil performance characteristics, especially at high angles of attack and stalled conditions, without the need for full rotating blade simulations, which would be computationally more expensive. The three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations in generalized coordinates are solved numerically. A short-time Reynolds averaging and Favre averaging is performed on the governing equations in order to permit the simulation of a high Reynolds number turbulent flow. Dierent closure schemes are used to model the additional terms that arise due to the averaging. The rotational eects are modeled by adding terms to the governing equations. The equations of conservation of mass and conservation of energy remain unchanged. A Detached Eddy Simulation used for turbulence modeling. It is based on the one-equation Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. Three sets of simulations of the S809 airfoil at a blade spanwise location of 80 percent of the UAE PHASE VI experiment are conducted with and without rotational eects. Each set has been performed at angles of attack of 12.23, 13.22 and 15.24 degrees. The results show that the eect of rotation is to delay stall relative to the non-rotating case. Noise predictions are made using a Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings solver.
The unity of knowledge and the diversity of knowers : Science as an agent of cultural integration in the United States between the two world wars

During the 1930s the emigre philosophers of the Vienna Circle launched an ambitious program to create a more scientific culture, but they proved to be largely blind to indigenous American efforts along similar lines. Those scholars who study the Vienna Circle have too often ignored the intellectual power and broad appeal of these American efforts as led by John Dewey, Thorstein Veblen, Morris Cohen, and Sinclair Lewis. The emigres developed as their chief enterprise The International Encyclopedia of Unified Science, which was dwarfed in size, appeal, and longterm historical significance by The International Encyclopedia of Unified Science brought out at the same historical moment by followers of Dewey. Both encyclopedias and the circles of intellectuals who sustained them illustrate the special appeal of scientific culture for The Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences intellectuals of Jewish origin throughout the North Atlantic West between the two World Wars.
The Indigenous Movement in Ecuador: The Struggle for a Plurinational State

The indigenous movement in Ecuador has been among the most successful new social movements in Latin America since the late 1980s. Its success may be attributed to its formulation and persistent advocacy of an alternative to the changing manifestations of the capitalist order—the “plurinational state.” This position has organized and motivated the movement for the past 20 years, in the course of which it has gained access to the center of economic policy for a time and more recently has operated with greater autonomy. The struggle for plurinationalism remains at the core of the indigenous movement’s approach to the current progressive government of President Rafael Correa and provides a distinctly anticapitalist alternative. Though the new constitution embodies elements of the movement’s program, there remain fundamental areas of disagreement on the meaning and realization of the plurinational state.
Kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in an anisotropic CMB model: Measuring low multipoles of the CMB at higher redshifts using intensity and polarization spectral distortions

We present a novel mathematical formalism that allows us to easily compute the expected kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich (kSZ) signal in intensity and polarization due to an anisotropic primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB). We derive the expected intensity and polarization distortions in the direction of nonmoving galaxy clusters, and then we generalize our calculations for nonzero peculiar velocity. We show that, in the direction of moving clusters, low CMB multipoles impose intensity and polarization spectral distortions with different frequency dependences. The polarization signal primarily probes the quadrupole moment of the CMB, with a significant contribution from the primordial dipole and octupole moments. For a typical cluster velocity of $1000\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}$, corrections to the quadrupole-induced polarization of a nonmoving cluster are of the order of 2%--10% between 200--600 GHz, and depend on cluster's position on the sky, velocity magnitude, and direction of motion. We also find that the angular dependence of the signal varies with frequency of observation. The distinct frequency and angular dependences of the polarization induced by the primordial dipole and octupole can be exploited to measure them despite other physical effects and foregrounds. Contrary to polarization, intensity distortions are affected by all the CMB multipoles, so they cannot be readily used to probe the low multipoles at higher redshifts. However, correlations between intensity and polarization signals can be used to enhance the signal to noise ratio for the measurements of the primordial dipole, quadrupole, and octupole. The more general calculation of the aberration kernel presented in this work has applications reaching beyond the SZ cluster science addressed here. For example, it can be exploited to the deboost/deaberrate CMB multipoles as observed in our local frame.
SU-F-T-413: Calculation Accuracy of AAA and Acuros Using Cerrobend Blocks for TBI at 400cm

Purpose: It is essential to assess the lung dose during TBI to reduce toxicity. Here we characterize the accuracy of the AAA and Acuros algorithms when using cerrobend lung shielding blocks at an extended distance for TBI. Methods: We positioned a 30×30×30 cm3 solid water slab phantom at 400 cm SSD and measured PDDs (Exradin A12 and PTW parallel plate ion chambers). A 2 cm thick, 10×10 cm2 cerrobend block was hung 2 cm in front of the phantom. This geometry was reproduced in the planning system for both AAA and Acuros. In AAA, the mass density of the cerrobend block was forced to 9.38 g/cm3 and in Acuros it was forced to 8.0 g/cm3 (limited to selecting stainless steel). Three different relative electron densities (RED) were tested for each algorithm; 4.97, 6.97, and 8.97. Results: PDDs from both Acuros and AAA underestimated the delivered dose. AAA calculated that depth dose was higher for RED of 4.97 as compared to 6.97 and 8.97 but still lower than measured. There was no change in the percent depth dose with changing relative electron densities for Acuros. Conclusion: Care should be taken before using AAA or Acuros with cerrobend blocks as the planning system underestimates dose. Acuros limits the ability to modify RED when compared to AAA.
A brief history of the search for the protein(s) involved in the acute regulation of steroidogenesis

The synthesis of steroid hormones occurs in specific cells and tissues in the body in response to trophic hormones and other signals. In order to synthesize steroids de novo, cholesterol, the precursor of all steroid hormones, must be mobilized from cellular stores to the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) to be converted into the first steroid formed, pregnenolone. This delivery of cholesterol to the IMM is the rate-limiting step in this process, and has long been known to require the rapid synthesis of a new protein(s) in response to stimulation. Although several possibilities for this protein have arisen over the past few decades, most of the recent attention to fill this role has centered on the candidacies of the proteins the Translocator Protein (TSPO) and the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR). In this review, the process of regulating steroidogenesis is briefly described, the characteristics of the candidate proteins and the data supporting their candidacies summarized, and some recent findings that propose a serious challenge for the role of TSPO in this process are discussed.
Cyclic strain increases endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity.

Background. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an important enzyme that controls the production of a potent vascular smooth muscle relaxing factor, nitric oxide. However, the role of hemodynamic forces (blood pressure, cyclic strain, and shear stress) on the regulation of eNOS has not been fully elucidated. Recently, we showed that cyclic strain increases eNOS gene and protein in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (EC)
Testing high speed ethernet & fibre channel avionics switches

Modern avionics systems are increasingly employing the use of high speed serial data networks. High capacity Ethernet and Fibre Channel switch fabrics are commonly found at the core of theses avionics networks and it is typical to find a mix of both copper and optical media interfaces as well as multiple data link bit rates within a single aircraft system. As these switching fabrics become integral pieces of avionic suites, functional test system must be developed with the capacity to replicate the combined data streams of multiple avionics end points when the fabric is off the aircraft and becomes the Unit Under Test (UUT). This paper provides a brief technical overview of the common principals of high speed avionics Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks and switch fabrics and also addresses several key items that must be addressed when designing a test and simulation system targeted to support high speed switch UUTs.
Can functional traits predict plant community response to global change

One primary goal at the intersection of community ecology and global change biology is to identify functional traits that are useful for predicting plant community response to global change. We used observations of community composition from a long-term field experiment in two adjacent plant communities (grassland and coastal sage shrub) to investigate how nine key plant functional traits were related to altered water and nitrogen availability following fire. We asked whether the functional responses of species found in more than one community type were context dependent and whether community-weighted mean and functional diversity were significantly altered by water and nitrogen input. Our results suggest varying degrees of context dependency. We found that plants with high leaf nitrogen concentration (specifically nitrogen fixers), shallow roots, and low leaf mass per unit area and plant-level transpiration were similarly negatively influenced by added nitrogen across community types. In contrast, responses to water manipulations exhibited greater context dependency; plants with high water-use efficiency, lower plant-level transpiration rates, and shallower roots were negatively impacted by simulated drought in the shrub-dominated community, but there was no significant relationship between these traits and changes in water inputs in the grassland community. Similarly, we found context dependency in community-wide trait responses to global change. Functional diversity tended to be higher in plots with reduced water as compared to those with added water in grassland, while the opposite trend was observed in coastal sage scrub. Our results indicate that some traits are strong predictors of species and community response to altered water and nitrogen availability, but the magnitude and direction of the response may be modulated by the abiotic and biotic context.
Reactive stepping with functional neuromuscular stimulation in response to forward-directed perturbations.

Implanted motor system neuroprostheses can be effective at increasing personal mobility of persons paralyzed by spinal cord injuries. However, currently available neural stimulation systems for standing employ patterns of constant activation and are unreactive to changing postural demands. In this work, we developed a closed-loop controller for detecting forward-directed body disturbances and initiating a stabilizing step in a person with spinal cord injury. Forward-directed pulls at the waist were detected with three body-mounted triaxial accelerometers. A finite state machine was designed and tested to trigger a postural response and apply stimulation to appropriate muscles so as to produce a protective step when the simplified jerk signal exceeded predetermined thresholds. The controller effectively initiated steps for all perturbations with magnitude between 10 and 17.5 s body weight, and initiated a postural response with occasional steps at 5% body weight. For perturbations at 15 and 17.5% body weight, the dynamic responses of the subject exhibited very similar component time periods when compared with able-bodied subjects undergoing similar postural perturbations. Additionally, the reactive step occurred faster for stronger perturbations than for weaker ones (p < .005, unequal varience t-test.) This research marks progress towards a controller which can improve the safety and independence of persons with spinal cord injury using implanted neuroprostheses for standing.
Risk Factors Associated With Reoperation and Disease-Specific Mortality in Patients With Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Importance The association of initial neck dissection with recurrence in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has not been evaluated on a population level to date. Objective To elucidate risk factors associated with reoperation in MTC and disease-specific mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis was performed of hospital data obtained from the California Cancer Registry and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2012. The dates of the analysis were January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2012. A population-based sample of 953 patients with MTC was identified. Patients who underwent thyroid surgery and had a minimum postoperative follow-up of 2 years (n = 609) were included in the analysis. Exposure Initial neck dissection in MTC. Main Outcomes and Measures Recurrent MTC leading to reoperation and disease-specific mortality. Results Of the 609 patients with MTC who underwent thyroid surgery, the mean (SD) patient age at diagnosis was 52.6 (17.5) years, and 60.8% (n = 370) of the patients were female. The mean (SD) tumor size was 2.8 (2.0) cm. Although initial central neck dissection is recommended by published MTC guidelines, only 35.5% (216 of 609) of patients underwent central neck dissection at the time of the initial thyroidectomy. The rate of reoperation was 16.3% (99 of 609), and the median time to reoperation was 6.4 months. The presence of lymph node metastasis increased the risk of reoperation (hazard ratio [HR], 3.43; 95% CI, 2.00-5.90), while central and lateral neck dissection performed at the initial operation was protective (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.93). In patients who underwent reoperation, 45.5% (45 of 99) were disease free at a median follow-up of 7.7 years. Five-year disease-specific mortality for the entire cohort was 13.5% (82 of 609). Independent risk factors for disease-specific mortality included older age (HR, 1.36 per decade; 95% CI, 1.17-1.59), tumor size greater than 2 cm (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.08-7.44 for >2 to 4 cm and HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.09-7.71 for >4 cm), and regional (HR, 4.77; 95% CI, 2.29-9.94) and metastatic (HR, 21.08; 95% CI, 9.90-44.89) disease. Reoperation was not associated with increased mortality. Conclusions and Relevance Lymph node dissection may decrease recurrence leading to reoperation for patients with MTC. Reoperation is a viable strategy to achieve long-term disease-free survival in appropriately selected patients. Central neck dissection remains underused.
Science and research policy at the end of Moore’s law

The integrated circuit is today synonymous with the concept of technological progress. In the seven decades since the invention of the transistor at Bell Labs, relentless progress in the development of semiconductor devices — Moore’s law — has been achieved despite regular warnings from industry observers about impending limits. Here, drawing on technical and organizational archival work and oral histories, we argue that the current technological and structural challenges facing the industry are unprecedented and undermine the incentives for continued collective action in research and development, which has underpinned the past 50 years of transformational worldwide economic growth and social advance. We conclude by arguing that the lack of private incentives, due in part to a splintering of technology trajectories and short-term private profitability of many of these new splinters, creates a case for greatly increased public funding and the need for leadership beyond traditional stakeholders. This Perspective argues that the challenges facing the semiconductor industry are unprecedented and undermine incentives for continued collective action in research and development, potentially threatening world-wide economic growth; significantly increased public funding, as well as leadership beyond traditional stakeholders, is required.
Investigations of 2,4-D and Multiple Herbicide Resistance in a Missouri Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) Population

Research was conducted from 2015 to 2017 to investigate the potential for 2,4-D and multiple herbicide resistance in a waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] population from Missouri (designated MO-Ren). In the field, visual control of the MO-Ren population with 0.56 to 4.48 kg 2,4-D ha-1 ranged from 26% to 77% in 2015 and from 15% to 55% in 2016. The MO-Ren population was highly resistant to chlorimuron, with visual control never exceeding 7% either year. Estimates of the 2,4-D dose required to provide 50% visual control (I50) of the MO-Ren population were 1.44 kg ha-1 compared with only 0.47 kg 2,4-D ha-1 for the susceptible population. Based on comparisons to a susceptible population in dose–response experiments, the MO-Ren population was approximately 3-fold resistant to 2,4-D, and 7-, 7-, 22-, and 14-fold resistant to atrazine, fomesafen, glyphosate, and mesotrione, respectively. Dicamba and glufosinate were the only two herbicides that provided effective control of the MO-Ren population in these experiments. Examinations of multiple herbicide resistance at the individual plant level revealed that 16% of the plants of the MO-Ren population contained genes stacked for six-way herbicide resistance, and only 1% of plants were classified as resistant to a single herbicide (glyphosate). Results from these experiments confirm that the MO-Ren A. tuberculatus population is resistant to 2,4-D, atrazine, chlorimuron, fomesafen, glyphosate, and mesotrione, making this population the third 2,4-D-resistant A. tuberculatus population identified in the United States, and the first population resistant to six different herbicidal modes of action.
Comparison of Dental Students’ PAT Scores with Their Performance in Preclinical Technique Courses: Identifying the Need for Early Interventions

The aim of this study was to determine if lower scores on the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) predicted which dental students required remediation in three preclinical restorative dentistry courses at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The academic records of 489 dental students from the graduating Classes of 2010 through 2015 were evaluated. The results showed that, for all three courses (Preclinical General Dentistry I, Preclinical General Dentistry II, and Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics), the remediating students had significantly lower mean PAT scores than did the passing students. A one-unit decrease in a student’s PAT score was associated with a 43% increase in the odds of remediating the Preclinical General Dentistry I lab, a 29% increase in the odds of remediating the Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics lab, and a 47% increase in the odds of remediating the Preclinical General Dentistry II lab. The mean PAT score for passing students was 18.84 (standard deviation 2.35), and the mean PAT score for students requiring remediation was 17.03 (standard deviation 2.18). Studies like this can be useful because if students at risk of failing these courses are identified early and appropriate supports are provided, the need for remediation may be reduced if not eliminated.
The Role of Financial Professionals and Charitable Donations on Inter Vivos Gifting

Inter vivos gifts result in lower net-of-tax transfer taxes than transfers at death. However, few individuals make taxable gifts, even if they are very likely to have a taxable estate. Using the 2007 administration of the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), we explore the role that financial professionals (e.g. lawyers, accountants, and financial planners) and charitable donations have on probability of inter vivos gifting. We find that having a financial planner is positively associated with the probability of inter vivos gifting, suggesting that financial planners play a role in helping households minimize transfer taxes. Charitable donations are also correlated with inter vivos gifting, suggesting that altruistic households derive utility from the consumption of family and friends as well as charitable beneficiaries. Among high net worth households, having a lawyer decreases the probability of making an inter vivos gift. Because concern about the cost of transferring wealth may not be as great for high net worth households, lawyers may instead help households who are more concerned about control over their assets.
Adolescents with Medical Illness

Ensuring that pregnancies are anticipated and intended is particularly important for young women with medical illness. Many chronic diseases heighten the risk for adverse obstetrical and birth outcomes, while pregnancy may also exacerbate illness severity. This chapter covers contraceptive management in illnesses that are either commonly encountered among adolescents and young women or that are of such medical significance that they have great clinical and social impact on a young woman’s daily life, particularly in the setting of pregnancy. We provide an overview of the adolescent and young adult epidemiology of and recommended and contraindicated contraceptive methods for the following illnesses: asthma, history of bariatric surgery, cardiac anomalies, cystic fibrosis, deep vein thrombosis risk factors, diabetes, depression, disordered eating, epilepsy, headache disease (including tension and migraine), hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, sickle cell disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and von Willebrand disease.
Two Approaches for Enhancing Radioimmunotherapy: ∝ Emitters and Hyperthermia

The lack of specificity of chemotherapy and external beam radiation frequently results in toxicity to normal organs, limiting doses to below those at which tumor control would be reached. Because of its potential for increasing the specificity of cytotoxic effects, radioimmunotherapy is a conceptually appealing approach for cancer treatment. Assuming that an antibody can be generated that is specific for the cancer in question, then combining this antibody with an appropriate radionuclide should yield a treatment modality with a high therapeutic index. Unfortunately, with the exception of highly radiosensitive tumors (Eary et al. 1990), results from most clinical trials indicate that the promise of antibody-mediated radiotherapy has not been realized. The lack of efficacy for radioimmunotherapy is not surprising since only a small fraction of labeled antibody has been reported to localize in tumor following intravenous administration (generally between 0.001% and 0.01% injected dose per gram), and significant accumulation in normal tissues also has been observed (Carrasquillo 1989; Zalutsky et al. 1990).
Applications of Classical and Simultaneous Equations Techniques and Related Problems

In this chapter we shall examine some applications of the techniques developed earlier and discuss some of the problems arising in such applications. We shall be led to consider inter alia certain elementary aspects of specification error theory, the relevance of canonical correlations in appraising the “goodness of fit” of simultaneous equations systems, and the application of principal component theory in the estimation of economy-wide (large) econometric models.
A Mathematical Modeling of Exploitations and Mitigation Techniques Using Set Theory

One of the most challenging problems in computer security is formalization of vulnerabilities, exploits, mitigations and their relationship. In spite of various existing researches and theories, a mathematical model that can be used to quantitatively represent and analyze exploit complexity and mitigation effectiveness is still in absence. In this work, we introduce a novel way of modeling exploits and mitigation techniques with mathematical concepts from set theory and big O notation. The proposed model establishes formulaic relationships between exploit primitives and exploit objectives, and enables the quantitative evaluation of vulnerabilities and security features in a system. We demonstrate the application of this model with two real world mitigation techniques. It serves as the first step toward a comprehensive mathematical understanding and modeling of exploitations and mitigations, which will largely benefit and facilitate the practice of system security assessment.
Correlations for the Graetz problem in convection – Part 2: For ducts of arbitrary cross-section

Abstract A general correlation is proposed for the laminar Graetz problem associated with convection in ducts of arbitrary cross-section. The correlation assumes knowledge of fully developed transport constants, specifically the product of fully developed friction factor and Reynolds number, and the fully developed value of Nusselt number, whose values are particular to the duct geometry and wall condition. The new correlation is suitable for ducts having a convective surface equal to the wetted perimeter, and for ducts having a wall condition of either constant temperature or constant heat flux. For the majority of solutions to the Graetz problem found in the literature for various duct geometries, the new correlation is generally found to be within ±5% of first principle calculations.
Nitrate reductase from Penicilliumchrysogenum: Kinetic mechanism at sub-optimum pH

Abstract The steady-state kinetics of the NADPH + FAD-dependent reduction of nitrate by nitrate reductase from Penicillium chrysogenum was studied at pH 6.18. At this sub-optimum pH, Vmax was about 83 units × mg protein−1 compared with 225 units × mg protein−1 at pH 7.20. All initial velocity reciprocal plot patterns at pH 6.18 as well as the NADP+/nitrate product inhibition pattern were intersecting. In contrast, the NADP(H)/nitrate plots at pH 7.20 were parallel ( Renosto, F. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 256 , 8616, 1981 ). A major effect of lowering the assay pH was to change the Km for FAD from 0.17 μM at pH 7.20 to 4 μM at pH 6.18. The results suggest that nitrate reductase has a steady-state random kinetic mechanism in which kcat in the forward direction at pH 7.20 (ca. 375 sec−1) is greater that koff for the dissociation of one or more substrates. Several observations suggest that koff for FAD is extremely small at pH 7.20.
Heavy Quark Production in Hadron Collisions

I discuss the production of heavy quarks (or, more generally, other heavy colored particles.) By “heavy,” I mean that the quark mass MQ is large compared to the 1 GeV scale of the strong interactions. When the quark mass is heavy, QCD perturbation theory is applicable to the calculation of the production cross section [1]. (I will discuss the issues involved in QCD calculability more fully later in this talk.) Presumably, the bottom quark is heavy enough for this purpose, but the charm quark is to be treated with extreme caution.