cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PAST: Probabilistic Authentication of Sensor Timestamps

Sensor networks are deployed to monitor the physical environment in public and vulnerable locations. It is not economically viable to house sensors in tamper-resilient enclosures as they are deployed in large numbers. As a result, an adversary can subvert the integrity of the data being produced by gaining physical access to a sensor and altering its code. If the sensor output is timestamped, then tainted data can be distinguished once the time of attack is determined. To prevent the adversary from generating fraudulent timestamps, the data must be authenticated using a forward-secure protocol. Previous work requires the computation of n hashes to verify the (n + 1)th reading. This paper describes PAST, a protocol that allows timestamps to be authenticated with high probability using a small constant number of readings. In particular, PAST is parameterized so that the metadata overhead (and associated power consumption) can be reduced at the cost of lower confidence in the authentication guarantee. Our protocol allows arbitrary levels of assurance for the integrity of timestamps (with logarithmically increasing storage costs) while tolerating any predefined fraction of compromised base stations. Unlike prior schemes, PAST does not depend on synchronized clocks
Activation Mechanism of the MAP Kinase ERK2 by Dual Phosphorylation

The structure of the active form of the MAP kinase ERK2 has been solved, phosphorylated on a threonine and a tyrosine residue within the phosphorylation lip. The lip is refolded, bringing the phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine into alignment with surface arginine-rich binding sites. Conformational changes occur in the lip and neighboring structures, including the P+1 site, the MAP kinase insertion, the C-terminal extension, and helix C. Domain rotation and remodeling of the proline-directed P+1 specificity pocket account for the activation. The conformation of the P+1 pocket is similar to a second proline-directed kinase, CDK2-CyclinA, thus permitting the origin of this specificity to be defined. Conformational changes outside the lip provide loci at which the state of phosphorylation can be felt by other cellular components.
Airborne network security simulator (ANSS)

ANSS • The ANSS integrates industry and government aeronautical simulators to assess and identify network security threats in airborne network environments and provides a security testbed used to test, calibrate, exercise procedures, and assess potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities in a controlled environment, without endangering people or resources.
Electroreflectance in GeSi alloys under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract From the electroreflectance spectra measured under hydrostatic pressure to 7 kbar we have determined the pressure coefficients for germanium (dE1/dP = 7.8 ± 0.4−6eV/bar, dP = 1.4 ± 0.8 10−6eV/bar), for Si (dE′o/dP = 1 ± 1 10−6eV/bar, dE1dP = 6.2 ± 0.4 10−6eV/bar) and for GeSi alloys in the entire composition region. For the composition 80–100% of Si which is widely discussed in the literature, we could distinguish two maxima with substantially different pressure coefficients. The absolute experimental values of dE/dP agree rather well with theoretical values which, together with composition shift of electroreflectance peaks, enable us to connect the peak E1 predominantly with λ and L and E′o with Г and Δ transitions in the entire composition region.
THE RENAL LESION ASSOCIATED WITH HEMOGLOBINEMIA II. ITS STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE RAT

Histological studies have been performed on experimental acute renal failure induced by intravenous injection of hemoglobin in rats. These have been correlated with alterations in renal excretory function, assessed by the measurement of inulin clearance, at various stages of the lesion. The most prominent morphological changes during the first 24 hr after hemoglobin injection, when inulin clearance is most markedly suppressed, are: the presence of hemoglobin within the lumen of small intrarenal vessels, particularly the vasa recta; hemoglobin cast formation involving predominantly the thick ascending limbs of the loops of Henle; and evidence of injury of the epithelium of the proximal tubules and thick ascending limbs. Notably absent during this stage of the lesion are marked tubular dilatation, interstitial edema, and cast formation in the distal collecting ducts. The considerable recovery of function which occurs at 72 hr is accompanied by a marked reduction in involvement of the vasa recta. Standard sections and microdissection reveal many markedly dilated proximal tubules at this stage of the lesion, suggesting obstruction of filtering nephrons. These data have led to a tentative hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of renal failure in this experimental lesion. It is suggested that renal ischemia and failure of glomerular filtration are the primary factors responsible for the early and severe impairment of renal function, and that these are related to intravascular aggregation of hemoglobin pigment. As this defect recedes, tubular obstruction by hemoglobin casts prevents restitution of excretory function in a variable fraction of the nephrons. The latter accounts for the relatively prolonged, moderate reduction in inulin clearance associated with the late stages of this lesion. These hypotheses form the basis for a continuing study of this renal lesion.
Solid‐Solid and Solid‐Vapor Reactions and a New Phase in the System Mn‐O

The univariant equilibrium pressure-temperature curve along which β-MnO2, Mn2O3, and O2 are stable together has been determined up to a Po2 of 200 atmospheres with a trace of water as a catalyst. The analogous curve for the assemblage Mn2O3, Mn3O4, and O2 has also been determined. In both cases the experimental data differ considerably from the thermodynamic calculations. Interconversion studies of the γ, ρ, ɛ and ramsdellite phases indicate only that γ-MnO, is probably not a poorly crystallized ramsdellite. A new phase probably containing mainly trivalent manganese has been obtained under a wide variety of conditions. The absence of any consistent X-ray diffraction line shifts in either the MnO or Mn3O4 phases when they were prepared with different stoichiometries raises some question regarding the extent of stable solid solution in these two phases in the system Mn-O.
Life cycle testing of a sealed 42-Ah, 24-V nickel-cadmium aircraft battery

Extensive research has been conducted in the design and manufacture of very long life sealed maintenance free nickel-cadmium aircraft batteries. This study presents preliminary data on a 100% DOD life test performed on a nominal capacity 42 Ah battery. The purpose of this study is to validate design concepts, determine the life characteristics of the newly designed sealed Ni-Cd cells, and develop baseline information on failure rates and mechanisms. Failure mechanisms and their impacts on battery performance are examined. The data from this experiment can be used to compare depth of discharge versus battery life with similar tests such as the lower DOD experiments performed on aerospace batteries. This information is important in the ongoing development of long life batteries and in developing failure models for life prediction. >
High-resolution anatomic, diffusion tensor, and magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging of the optic chiasm at 3T.

Purpose To evaluate techniques for anatomical and physiological imaging of the intracranial optic nerve (ON), optic chiasm (OC), and optic tract (OT) at 3T with the aim of visualizing axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods Imaging was performed on a 3T scanner employing a custom-designed head coil that consisted of a coil array with four coils (30 × 30 cm2). Oblique fast spin echo (FSE) images, magnetization transfer (MT)-enhanced 3D gradient-echo (GRE) time-of-flight (TOF) images, and line scan diffusion images (LSDI) were obtained. Full diffusion tensor (DT) analysis was performed, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), and fiber direction maps were obtained. Results FSE anatomic images were obtained with an in-plane resolution of 0.39 × 0.52 mm2. The in-plane resolution of the MT and LSDI images was 0.78 × 0.78 mm2. The OC, intracranial ON, and OT can be seen on these images. The dominant fiber orientations in the OC, ON, and OT, as derived from the DT images, are displayed. Conclusion This study shows that by using 3T and a custom-designed, four-channel head coil, it is possible to acquire high-resolution anatomical and physiological images of the OC, ON, and OT. The pilot results presented here pave the way for imaging the anterior visual pathway in patients with MS. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;22:302–306. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Gaussian process model of quasar spectral energy distributions

We propose a method for combining two sources of astronomical data, spectroscopy and photometry, that carry information about sources of light (e.g., stars, galaxies, and quasars) at extremely different spectral resolutions. Our model treats the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the radiation from a source as a latent variable that jointly explains both photometric and spectroscopic observations. We place a flexible, nonparametric prior over the SED of a light source that admits a physically interpretable decomposition, and allows us to tractably perform inference. We use our model to predict the distribution of the redshift of a quasar from five-band (low spectral resolution) photometric data, the so called "photoz" problem. Our method shows that tools from machine learning and Bayesian statistics allow us to leverage multiple resolutions of information to make accurate predictions with well-characterized uncertainties.
Safe and effective use of prostacyclins to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, incurable disease of the small pulmonary arteries that results in right ventricular failure and, ultimately, death if the patient does not receive a lung transplant.[1][1] Significant advances in the management of PAH over the past two decades
Catalytic Control of SiO2 Sol-Gel Kinetics - a Mechanistic Study of Bases

The aim of this research was to determine the relative effects of three different base catalysts (NaOH, NH4OH, and RbOH) on the rate of gelation of SiO2 from reactive silicon ethoxide solutions in alcohol (the sol/gel method). The time to gelation was determined using a reaction protocol which assured that condensation was the rate controlling step. NMR spectroscopy was used to verify that the nature of the reacting polymers remained similar as the base catalyst was varied. It was determined that under these conditions the condensation reactions avoid diffusional limitations. Furthermore, the base catalyst serves to modulate both the activation energy and also the Arrhenius preexponential factor. This leads to the proposal of a new condensation mechanism.
Modal Logic and Contingentism: A Comment on Timothy Williamson’s Modal Logic as Metaphysics

Logic, as standardly conceived, is the science of consequence: a logic tells us which claims follow from which. Quantified modal logic (QML) is supposed to tell us which claims follow from which in a language which provides the means to express both metaphysical modality and quantification. One might think on this basis that we can determine which is the correct QML independently of substantive questions of science and metaphysics: modal logic, on this view, cannot tell us whether it is possible that there be no numbers; nor can it tell us whether, necessarily, everything is at bottom physical. At most, it might be held, logic can tell us what follows from these claims. We might dub this view neutralism about QML, since it holds that the correct QML must be neutral on substantive disputes in modal metaphysics. It is difficult to find an extended, full-throated defense of neutralism in the literature. But Timothy Williamson’s Modal Logic as Metaphysics provides an extended, full-throated criticism. Williamson aims to show how, in particular, the model theory of QML bears on a substantive, if highly abstract, dispute in modal metaphysics. Consider one of the most obvious things about the Sun: it is such that there is something identical to it. More briefly, it is something. Being something, of course, does not make it unique. It shares this feature with everything. Is 1Of course, there are applications of the study of the formally specified languages of QML in which ‘ ’ is interpreted as something other than metaphysical modality. Those applications of the formalism are irrelevant to our discussion. 2Perhaps [Kaplan, 1989, pp. 42-43] offers a defense.
A new approach for identifying starch granules of wild food plants from arid western North America

Taxonomic identification of starch granules is critical to understanding dietary patterns from archaeological contexts, but achieving high levels of confidence around such identifications has been problematic. This study highlights a statistical approach to morphometric and morphological characteristics that reduces uncertainties when making comparisons to reference material. Emphasizing starch granules with eccentric hila (those produced by underground storage organs), four taxa with ethnobotanical significance were examined from arid western North America. It was determined that the frequency distributions of granule size were bimodal or otherwise non-normal, thus, requiring log-transformation prior to making comparisons of means and measures of variance. Granule sizes in the upper 10 and 20% provided the most confident differentiation of starch granules among taxa. Significant and positive correlations of starch granule size to morphological characteristics (lamellae, aggregation, longitudinal fissure, shape) suggested that small granules are less likely to exhibit diagnostic features. Using this approach, the Four Corners potato (Solanum jamesii) could be readily distinguished from the three liliaceous taxa (Erythronium grandiflorum, Calochortus nuttallii, and Fritillaria pudica) by its large granule size and maximum fissure width. Identification of starch granules from archaeological contexts, therefore, requires improved recovery methods that increase yields (sample sizes) from artifacts and the probability of including larger granules that display diagnostic characteristics.
Transforming Bloom's Taxonomy into Classroom Practice: A Practical yet Comprehensive Approach to Promote Critical Reading and Student Participation.

ABSTRACTThis article presents the Critical Reading Topics approach, a pedagogical method employed to promote deep thinking in a variety of politics courses. Derived from principles articulated in active learning, critical thinking, backward design, and flipped classroom literature, this method utilizes Bloom’s Taxonomy as the scaffolding for students to create and evaluate pointed and relevant discussion topics written by themselves and their peers. By utilizing this method, faculty can increase students’ contemplation of the course texts, enhance students’ classroom contributions and quickly gauge the extent to which students understand the readings’ main ideas. This approach also enables students to gain authorship of the material, and it gives them additional in-class time to process the complex information they encounter. Evidence collected from six different political science courses is provided to document the approach’s effectiveness. Key findings include an improvement in the quality of relevant a...
Device-level and module-level three-dimensional integrated circuits created using oblique processing

This paper demonstrates that another class of three-dimensional integrated circuits (3-D-ICs) exists, distinct from through-silicon-via-centric and monolithic 3-D-ICs. Furthermore, it is possible to create devices that are 3-D “at the device level” (i.e., with active channels oriented in each of the three coordinate axes), by performing standard CMOS fabrication operations at an angle with respect to the wafer surface into high aspect ratio silicon substrates using membrane projection lithography (MPL). MPL requires only minimal fixturing changes to standard CMOS equipment, and no change to current state-of-the-art lithography. Eliminating the constraint of two-dimensional planar device architecture enables a wide range of interconnect topologies which could help reduce interconnect resistance/capacitance, and potentially improve performance.
Rotational spectrum and structural analysis of CH⋯F interactions in the vinyl fluoride⋯1,1-difluoroethylene dimer

Abstract The structure of the weakly bound dimer of 1,1-difluoroethylene with vinyl fluoride was studied using Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy in the 6–19 GHz range. In the observed dimer structure each monomer acts as both a weak bond donor and acceptor, giving a cyclic arrangement of C H⋯F contacts. The difluoroethylene C C bond is roughly perpendicular to the vinyl fluoride C C bond, forming the cross of a T-shaped carbon atom framework, resembling the lowest energy structure predicted by MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) calculations. Observed C H⋯F distances are similar to those of vinyl fluoride and 1,1-difluoroethylene complexes with difluoromethane and HCCH. The dipole moment of the dimer was measured using the Stark effect, giving values of μa = 0.9003(19) D, μb = 0.030(8) D and μtotal = 0.9008(22) D. A second ab initio structure, with the C C bonds in a slipped parallel arrangement, was predicted to be about 38 cm−1 higher in energy than the T-shaped conformation. This higher energy arrangement has not been observed experimentally..
Individual and Store Characteristics Associated with Brand Choices in Select Food Category Redemptions among WIC Participants in Virginia.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) often allows participants to redeem food benefits for various brands at different costs. To aid the program’s food cost containment efforts, it is important to understand the individual and store characteristics associated with brand choices. This study used the WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) data for 239,062 Virginia WIC participants’ brand choices in infant fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) and whole grain bread in May 2014–February 2015, one of the first such data sets available in the U.S. for research purposes. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the choice of higher-priced brands over lower-priced brands. Minority participants were significantly more likely to redeem higher-priced brands of infant F&Vs, but more likely to choose lower-priced brands of bread. Participants shopping in urban stores or midsized stores (with 5–9 registers) were less likely to choose higher-priced brands compared to rural stores or large stores (with 9+ registers). Race/ethnicity and store characteristics may be significant factors in participants’ brand choices. The results can help develop interventions that encourage targeted participants to redeem lower-priced but equivalently healthy brands. This may not only help contain WIC program costs, but help participants manage their own non-WIC food expenses as well.
Seasonal Movements of the Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) in Western North America as Revealed by Satellite Telemetry

The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread raptor whose abundance and distribution fluctuates in response to the varying amplitudes of its prey, which are predominately microtines. Previous efforts to describe the seasonal movements of Short-eared Owls have been hindered by few band recoveries and the species' cryptic and irruptive behavior. We attached satellite transmitters to adult Short-eared Owls at breeding areas in western and interior Alaska in June 2009 and July 2010, and tracked their movements for up to 19 mo. Owls initiated long-distance southward movements from Alaska and most followed a corridor east of the Rocky Mountains into the Prairie provinces and Great Plains states. Four owls followed a coastal route west of the Rocky Mountains, including one owl that crossed the Gulf of Alaska. Completed autumn migration distances ranged from 3205–6886 km (mean = 4722 ± 1156 km [SD]). Wintering areas spanned 21° of latitude from central Montana to southern Texas, and 24° of longitude from central California to western Kansas. Subsequent seasonal migrations were generally northward in spring and southward in autumn; these movements were comparatively short-distance (mean = 767.5 ± 517.4 km [SD]) and the owls exhibited low site fidelity. The Short-eared Owls we tracked from two relatively local breeding areas in Alaska used a patchwork of diverse open habitats across a large area of North America, which highlights that effective conservation of this species requires a collaborative, continental-scale focus.
Observation of ρ-ω Interference in Antiproton Annihilations

Evidence for structure near the ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{0}$ mass in the (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) mass spectrum from the reaction $\overline{p}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, at incident momenta from 1.26 to 1.65 GeV/c, is presented. We interpret this structure as arising from $\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\omega}$ interference in the $2\ensuremath{\pi}$ decay mode, with a statistical significance of about 3.5 standard deviations. The effect can be well fitted by a partial width $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi})$ in the range 0.18 to 5.3 MeV (95% confidence level). Alternatively, if $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi})$ is taken from ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ colliding-beam results, our data can be used to study both the relative phase and coherence of $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ production in $\overline{p}p$ annihilation.
Airway Mucin Concentration as a Marker of Chronic Bronchitis.

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitic and emphysematous components. In one biophysical model, the concentration of mucin on the airway surfaces is hypothesized to be a key variable that controls mucus transport in healthy persons versus cessation of transport in persons with muco-obstructive lung diseases. Under this model, it is postulated that a high mucin concentration produces the sputum and disease progression that are characteristic of chronic bronchitis. MethodsWe characterized the COPD status of 917 participants from the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS) using questionnaires administered to participants, chest tomography, spirometry, and examination of induced sputum. Total mucin concentrations in sputum were measured with the use of size-exclusion chromatography and refractometry. In 148 of these participants, the respiratory secreted mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B were quantitated by means of mass spectrome...
Soil and Groundwater Contamination

ALEX S. MAYER and S. MAJID HASSANIZADEH. American Geophysical Union (2005). This timely manuscript is Water Resources Monograph 17 in AGU's series of topical contributions to water resources management. It provides an introductory treatment of the subject of nonaqueous phase liquids (petroleum
A bead–spring chain as a one-dimensional polyelectrolyte gel

The physical principles underlying expansion of a single-chain polyelectrolyte coil caused by Coulomb repulsions among its ionized groups, and the expansion of a cross-linked polyelectrolyte gel, are probably the same. In this paper, we analyze a “one-dimensional” version of a gel, namely, a linear chain of charged beads connected by Hooke's law springs. In the Debye–Huckel range of relatively weak Coulomb strength, where counterion condensation does not occur, the springs are realistically stretched on a nanolength scale by the repulsive interactions among the beads, if we use a spring constant normalized by the inverse square of the solvent Bjerrum length. The persistence length and radius of gyration counter-intuitively decrease when Coulomb strength is increased, if analyzed in the framework of an OSF-type theory; however, a buckling theory generates the increase that is consistent with bead–spring simulations.
Complications of Cervical Laminectomy, How to Avoid Them, Diagnosis and Treatment

In this paper the complications of cervical laminectomy in both the seated position and in the prone position will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the performance of laminectomy for decompression of the spinal cord and nerve roots secondary to spinal stenosis and spondyloarthrosis.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, and Queer Youth: The Challenge for Child Welfare

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, and queer youth (LGBTQ or sexual minority youth) experience elevated risks to their safety, well-being, and permanency compared to heterosexual youth. Current evidence paints a picture of sexual minority youth as being disproportionately overrepresented in the child welfare system and as frequently receiving disparate, inappropriate, and unsafe treatment. In order to adequately provide services to LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system, policy makers, administrators, supervisors, and workers need to understand not only the higher risks experienced by these youth but also their particular developmental needs and how to deliver and access culturally competent services and supports for them.
The Association of Changes in Pain Acceptance and Headache-Related Disability.

Background Migraine accounts for substantial suffering and disability. Previous studies show cross-sectional associations between higher pain acceptance and lower headache-related disability in individuals with migraine, but none has evaluated this association longitudinally during migraine treatment. Purpose This study evaluated whether changes in pain acceptance were associated with changes in headache-related disability and migraine characteristics in a randomized controlled trial (Women's Health and Migraine) that compared effects of behavioral weight loss (BWL) treatment and migraine education (ME) on headache frequency in women with migraine and overweight/obesity. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of 110 adult women with comorbid migraine and overweight/obesity who received 16 weeks of either BWL or ME. Linear and nonlinear mixed effects modeling methods were used to test for between-group differences in change in pain acceptance, and also to examine the association between change in pain acceptance and change in headache disability. Results BWL and ME did not differ on improvement in pain acceptance from baseline across post-treatment and follow-up. Improvement in pain acceptance was associated with reduced headache disability, even when controlling for intervention-related improvements in migraine frequency, headache duration, and pain intensity. Conclusions This study is the first to show that improvements in pain acceptance following two different treatments are associated with greater reductions in headache-related disability, suggesting a potential new target for intervention development. Clinical trials information NCT01197196.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Exposed to Sublethal Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide Mounts a Complex Transcriptional Response.

ABSTRACT Neisseria gonorrhoeae mounts a substantial transcriptional program in response to hydrogen peroxide (HP), a prominent reactive oxygen species (ROS) encountered during infection. We tested which strain FA1090 genes show differential transcript abundance in response to sublethal amounts of HP to differentiate HP-responsive signaling from widespread cellular death and dysregulation. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) revealed that 150 genes were significantly upregulated and 143 genes downregulated following HP exposure. We annotated HP-responsive operons and all transcriptional start sites (TSSs) and identified which TSSs responded to HP treatment. We compared the HP responses and other previously reported genes and found only partial overlapping of other regulatory networks, indicating that the response to HP involves multiple biological functions. Using a representative subset of responsive genes, we validated the RNA-Seq results and found that the HP transcriptome was similar to that of sublethal organic peroxide. None of the genes in the representative subset, however, responded to sublethal levels of HOCl or O2-. These results support the idea that N. gonorrhoeae may use variations in HP levels as a signal for different stages of infection. IMPORTANCE The strict human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the only causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. This bacterium encounters hydrogen peroxide produced from host cells during infection, but the organism survives in the presence of this antimicrobial agent. This work shows that the bacterium responds to hydrogen peroxide by regulating the expression of many genes involved in multiple processes.
PD-1/PD-L1 Monoclonal Antibody Development for Canine Cancer Therapy

PD-1 is an inhibitory receptor that binds to PD-L1 on the surface of tumor and antigen presenting cells in the tumor microenvironment, causing suppression of T-cell activity and tumor progression. Human clinical trials with anti PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 30% to 40% with melanoma and 87% with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Here, we have explored the development of canine PD-1/PD-L1 reagents for potential veterinary applications. An S2 insect cell expression system was utilized to produce recombinant canine PD-1Ig and PD-L1Ig and antigen-specific B cells were enriched using PD-1 and PD-L1 tetramers. Enriched B cells were fused and resulting hybridomas were screened for specific reactivity to PD-1 and PD-L1. Then, antibodies capable of blocking PD-1Ig and PD-L1Ig were selected. A total of 5 monoclonal antibodies were generated from the two rounds of immunizations and are being studied for in vitro activity in T cell assays. These canine reagents have multiple diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the context of canine oncology.
Marine Reservoir Effects in Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) from Southwestern Florida, USA

In southwestern Florida, USA, terraformed landscapes built almost entirely of oyster shells (Crassostrea virginica) reflect a unique pre-Columbian tradition of shell-built architecture. The ability to reliably date oyster shells is essential to identifying spatial, temporal, and functional relationships among shellworks sites, yet to date there has been no systematic attempt to quantify or correct for carbon reservoir effects in this region. Here we present 14 radiocarbon (14C) ages for 5 known-age, pre-bomb oyster shells collected between AD 1932–1948, as well as 6 14C ages for archaeological oyster/charcoal pairs from the Turner River Mound Complex, Everglades National Park. We report our current best estimate of ΔR = 92 ± 74 yr for Greater Southwest Florida, and ΔR = –15 ± 42 yr for the Turner River archaeological site. Future research should focus on paired archaeological specimens to obtain spatially and temporally relevant estimates of ΔR.
“I Know Where the Rest of My Life Is Going”: Attitudinal and Behavioral Dimensions of Resilience for Homeless Emerging Adults

This study contributes to a growing literature about the resilience of youth experiencing homelessness by examining the strengths of a diverse sample of emerging adults with unstable housing. The s...
Effect of Metabolic Traits on the Risk of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Cancer in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background and aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver condition. Predicting its progression could help clinicians manage and potentially prevent complications. We evaluated the independent and joint effects of metabolic traits on the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with NAFLD. Approach and results We assembled a retrospective cohort of patients with NAFLD diagnosed at 130 facilities in the Veterans Administration between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008, with follow-up through December 31, 2015. We performed competing risk-adjusted cause-specific Cox models to evaluate the effects of metabolic traits (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity) as additive or combined indicators on time to develop cirrhosis or HCC or a composite endpoint of both. Of the 271,906 patients, 22,794 developed cirrhosis, and 253 developed HCC during a mean of 9 years follow-up. At baseline, the mean body mass index was 31.6 (SD, 5.6), 28.7% had diabetes, 70.3% had hypertension, and 62.3% had dyslipidemia with substantial overlap among these traits. The risk of progression was the lowest in patients with only one or no metabolic trait. There was a stepwise increase in risk with each additional metabolic trait. Compared with patients with no metabolic trait, patients with both hypertension and dyslipidemia had 1.8-fold higher risk of progression to cirrhosis/HCC (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.59-2.06); the risk was 2.6-fold higher in patients with diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (HR = 2.6, 95% CI = 2.3-2.9). These associations were stronger for HCC. Diabetes had the strongest association with HCC in this cohort. Conclusions Each additional metabolic trait increased the risk of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with NAFLD. Diabetes conferred the highest risk of progression to HCC. Patients with diabetes and coexisting hypertension and obesity may be important targets for secondary prevention.
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae on soil microbial populations and associated plant performance of the salt marsh grass Spartina patens

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on soil microbial populations and on growth performance of the high salt marsh plant Spartina patens was investigated in a AM suppression study on field-collected soil cores with S. patens. The application of benomyl resulted in a significant reduction of AM colonization on roots of S. patens, but did not completely suppress AM. Non-treated cores had significantly greater colonization (26 ± 6%) than either benomyl- (12 ± 7%) or benomyl-phosphorus-treated (7 ± 3%) cores at a depth of 2.5 cm. Colonization differences between cores declined with depth (5.0 and 7.5 cm), however, so that at 7.5 cm there was no difference between treatments. This decline was attributed to a reduction in oxygen availability with depth as evidenced by decreasing redox potential. Basic environmental conditions generally resembled those found at the field site. There were no environmental differences between treatments at the depths examined. Cell numbers and specific biomass of DAPI-stained organisms as well as members of the Domain Bacteria were significantly higher when AM colonization was suppressed, while those of the Domains Eucarya and Archaea were not significantly influenced. The increase in both microbial and bacterial population size and biomass in the presence of lower levels of AM colonization is most likely due to increases in carbon exudation to soil and rhizosphere populations that accompany AM suppression. PCR-RFLP analysis of nifH amplicons in bulk soil and rhizosphere at varying depths through the soil cores showed differences in banding patterns between rhizosphere and soil material in the presence of AM. The lack of such strong differences in the benomyl-treated cores suggests that AM colonization more strongly affects the nitrogen-fixing population than do physicochemical conditions (e.g. redox potential) alone. Plant growth performance assessed by analyzing root and leaf biomass, as well as excitation transfer efficiency of open photosynthesis system II (PS II) reaction centers (Fv/Fm) was not significantly influenced by AM. Significant differences were found between treatments for C/N ratios and nitrogen content in leaf tissue, indicating that suppression of AM increased plant nitrogen acquisition.
Black Hole Entropy: A Closer Look

In many papers in the literature, author(s) express their perplexity concerning the fact that the ( 3 + 1 ) black-hole ‘thermodynamical’ entropy appears to be proportional to its area and not to its volume, and would therefore seemingly be nonextensive, or, to be more precise, subextensive. To discuss this question on more clear terms, a non-Boltzmannian entropic functional noted S δ was applied [Tsallis and Cirto, Eur. Phys. J. C 73, 2487 (2013)] to this complex system which exhibits the so-called area-law. However, some nontrivial physical points still remain open, which we revisit now. This discussion is also based on the fact that the well known Bekenstein-Hawking entropy can be expressed as being proportional to the event horizon area divided by the square of the Planck length.
Fear of Crime Out West: Determinants of Fear of Property and Violent Crime in Five States.

Fear of crime research has been around for decades, and many studies of its extent, nature, and consequences have been published. In this study, we build upon existing research to examine the effec...
6 – Temperature Control

Thermometer, silicone oil, oil bath, hotplate, heating mantle, microwave heating, dielectric loss tangent, multimode, monomode, superheating, cryogen, liquid nitrogen, dewar.
A pH-dependent switch mediates conformational masking of SARS-CoV-2 spike

SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a global pathogen, sparking urgent vaccine development efforts with the trimeric spike. However, the inability of antibodies like CR3022, which binds a cryptic spike epitope with nanomolar affinity, to neutralize virus, suggests a spike-based means of neutralization escape. Here, we show the SARS-CoV-2 spike to have 10% the unfolding enthalpy of a globular protein at physiological pH, where it is recognized by antibodies like CR3022, and up to 10-times more unfolding enthalpy at endosomal pH, where it sheds such antibodies, suggesting that the spike evades potentially neutralizing antibody through a pH-dependent mechanism of conformational masking. To understand the compatibility of this mechanism with ACE2-receptor interactions, we carried out binding measurements and determined cryo-EM structures of the spike recognizing up to three ACE2 molecules at both physiological and endosomal pH. In the absence of ACE2, cryo-EM analyses indicated lower pH to reduce conformational heterogeneity. Single-receptor binding domain (RBD)-up conformations dominated at pH 5.5, resolving into a locked all-down conformation at lower pH through lowering of RBD and refolding of a pH-dependent switch. Notably, the emerging Asp614Gly strain partially destabilizes the switch that locks RBD down, thereby enhancing functional interactions with ACE2 while reducing evasion by conformational masking.
Dynamics of laminar ethylene lifted flame with ozone addition

Abstract The effect of ozone (O3) addition on ethylene (C2H4) non-premixed jet flames is investigated. Stable C2H4 lifted flames are established with oxygen/nitrogen co-flow at reduced oxygen content conditions. It is observed in the experiments that after O3 addition, the flame liftoff height could either increase or decrease, depending on the initial value of the flame liftoff height before O3 is added. Formaldehyde (CH2O) planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurement shows that prompt ozonolysis reaction between C2H4 and O3 produces large amounts of CH2O upstream of the flame. In contrast to previous studies of O3 addition on lifted flames—with saturated hydrocarbon fuels in which O3 decomposition dominates—the ozonolysis reaction between C2H4 and O3 changes the chemical composition of flow even at room temperature. Such chemical reaction causes the simultaneous increase of both the triple flame propagation speed of lifted flame and the axial jet velocity along the stoichiometric contour, which also therefore changes the dynamic balance between these two values to stabilize the flame. While the increase of triple flame propagation speed tends to decrease the flame liftoff height, the increase of axial jet velocity along the stoichiometric contour tends to have the opposite effect. A competing kinetic-dynamic process forms, and the final location of the flame depends on the degree of ozonolysis reaction, which is determined by the initial flame liftoff height before O3 is added.
We are here for you: infertility clinic communication during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To study how SART-member fertility clinics communicated via clinic websites during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following publication of ASRM COVID-19 Task Force recommendations. SART-member fertility clinic websites were systematically surveyed for the presence of an REI-specific COVID-19 message (REI-CM) and analyzed for their adherence to ASRM guidance. Of the 381 active clinic websites, 249 (65.3%) had REI-specific COVID messaging. The presence of REI-CM was more common in private than in academic practices (73% vs 38%, p 1000 cycles (p 1000 cycles a year (18%, p = 0.009). Clinics treating all-comers were less likely to cite ASRM than other clinics (41% vs 62%, p = 0.045). However, 75% (n = 14) cited COVID-19 guidance from WHO, CDC, and state and local governments. Clinic response to ASRM recommendations during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic was heterogeneous. Although academic practices were more likely to follow ASRM guidance, there was a lower extent of patient-facing messaging among academic practices than private clinics. In event of further escalations of this and future pandemics, clinics can learn from experiences to provide clear messaging to patients.
A Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Organ-Specific Lupus Flares in Relation to Fine Particulate Matter Pollution and Temperature

Objectives: We performed a spatial-time cluster analysis of the Hopkins Lupus Cohort with the goal of identifying potential clusters of SLE organ specific flares and their relation to temperature changes and fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5). Methods: 1261 patients who fulfilled the SLICC classification criteria for SLE and who had recorded home addresses were included in the analysis. Disease activity was expressed as the Lupus Activity Index. Assessment of rash, joint involvement, serositis, neurologic, pulmonary, renal, and hematologic activity was quantified on a 0-3 VAS. An organ specific flare was defined as an increase in visual analogue scale (VAS) of 1 point or more compared to the previous visit. Average temperature and PM2.5 exposure over a period of 10 days prior to patient visit were obtained. Spatiotemporal cluster detection was conducted using the SaTScan software. Regression models were used for adjustment and included age, sex, and race, as well as PM2.5 and temperature. Results: Three statistically significant (p<0.05) unadjusted clusters were identified for joint flares, four rash flare clusters, one hematologic flare cluster, four neurologic flare clusters, three serositis flare clusters, four renal flare clusters, and five pulmonary flare clusters. Most of the identified clusters changed in significance, temporal, or spatial extent after adjusting for temperature, PM2.5 concentration, and individual covariates. Conclusions: We describe the first space-time clusters of lupus organ-specific disease activity. Seasonal, as well as multi-year cluster patterns were identified, differing in extent and location for the various organ-specific flare types. Further study focusing on each individual lupus organ-specific activity will be required to better understand the driving forces behind these observed changes. Funding Statement: The Hopkins Lupus Cohort is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH AR 43727 and 69572). This publication was also made possible by Grant Number UL1 RR 025005 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. Dr. George Stojan is a Jerome L. Greene Foundation Scholar. Dr. Frank Curriero is supported by NIH grant R01AI123931. Declaration of Interests: The authors state: "None." Ethics Approval Statement: The Hopkins Lupus Cohort has been approved by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
RbsR Activates Capsule but Represses the rbsUDK Operon in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus capsule is an important virulence factor that is regulated by a large number of regulators. Capsule genes are expressed from a major promoter upstream of the cap operon. A 10-bp inverted repeat (IR) located 13 bp upstream of the −35 region of the promoter was previously shown to affect capsule gene transcription. However, little is known about transcriptional activation of the cap promoter. To search for potential proteins which directly interact with the cap promoter region (Pcap), we directly analyzed the proteins interacting with the Pcap DNA fragment from shifted gel bands identified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. One of these regulators, RbsR, was further characterized and found to positively regulate cap gene expression by specifically binding to the cap promoter region. Footprinting analyses showed that RbsR protected a DNA region encompassing the 10-bp IR. Our results further showed that rbsR was directly controlled by SigB and that RbsR was a repressor of the rbsUDK operon, involved in ribose uptake and phosphorylation. The repression of rbsUDK by RbsR could be derepressed by d-ribose. However, d-ribose did not affect RbsR activation of capsule. IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen which produces a large number of virulence factors. We have been using capsule as a model virulence factor to study virulence regulation. Although many capsule regulators have been identified, the mechanism of regulation of most of these regulators is unknown. We show here that RbsR activates capsule by direct promoter binding and that SigB is required for the expression of rbsR. These results define a new pathway wherein SigB activates capsule through RbsR. Our results further demonstrate that RbsR inhibits the rbs operon involved in ribose utilization, thereby providing an example of coregulation of metabolism and virulence in S. aureus. Thus, this study further advances our understanding of staphylococcal virulence regulation.
Hamiltonian Formulation of Beam Dynamics

Particles in electromagnetic fields behave like oscillators and are conservative systems as long as we ignore statistical effects like the emission of quantized photons in the form of synchrotron radiation. Even in such cases particles can be treated as conservative systems on average. In particular, particle motion in beam transport systems and circular accelerators is oscillatory and can be described in terms of perturbed oscillators. The Hamiltonian formalism provides a powerful tool to analyze particle motion and define conditions of stability and onset of instability. In this chapter we will derive the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism with special consideration to particle beam dynamics.
How many reference frames

There is considerable cross-disciplinary confusion concerning the taxonomy of reference frames and no standard of comparison for reference frame usage exists to allow reliable comparison of cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, and task-specific variation. This paper proposes that we examine reference frame selection in terms of the underlying component operations. The selection of these operations can be mapped out in a multi-dimensional space defined in terms of the scalar properties of the reference objects and their relationship to the speaker/viewer.
Bi-CMOS Circuits for High Performance VLSI

A circuit technique combining CMOS and bipolar circuits to achieve high performance at low power has been demonstrated. The circuits have been fabricated and measurement results showed the performance is substantially better than CMOS. Applications of this technique to gate arrays and standard cell based VLSI are discussed.