cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of charge injection and trapping in MOS capacitors formed on p-type silicon substrates

The changes due to charge injection in p-substrate (n-channel) MOS capacitors during accumulation and inversion biasing have been studied. The testing methods used in the study include time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown (constant-voltage-stressed I-t), time-zero-dielectric-breakdown (ramp-voltage-stressed I-V), quasistatic C-V, and high frequency C-V (1-MHz) tests. When device characteristics have been obtained in inversion (positive gate voltage), two different light intensities have been used to vary the number of photogenerated minority carriers (electrons) available to form the inversion layer. Explanations are offered for the differences between the electrical characteristics in the three testing regions: accumulation, inversion under low light, and inversion under high light. >
Review of the problems

Sublethal effects of pollution may be significant to survival of a stock of marine fish or even a species. Such effects sometimes lead to reproductive failure and have been identified so far only in freshwater systems. Atlantic salmon have disappeared from many streams in Europe and eastern North America, partly as a result of pollution in their freshwater spawning areas and in their estuarine nursing grounds. Reductions in populations of marine fishes due to pollution solely have not yet been demonstrated. However, Baltic Sea seals, where reproductive failure is apparently associated with high concentrations of DDT and polychlorinated biphenyl in the blubber, may have suffered a decline owing to the presence of these organochlorines. Sublethal effects of pollutants have been studied in the laboratory, essentially under four categories: (1) physiology (growth, swimming performance, respiration, circulation); (2) biochemistry/cell structure (blood chemistry, enzyme activity, endocrinology, histochemistry); (3) behaviour/neurophysiology; and (4) reproduction. Not all pollutants elicit meaningful responses in all categories, and a response is not always linear with pollutant concentration. For application to survival of populations the response has to be ultimately related to a healthy progression through a full life cycle, including successful reproduction. In recent time, physiological studies have moved into polluted marine environments with mobile laboratories having continuous sampling capability, to observe effects of pollutants in situ on marine organisms. The Controlled Ecosystem Pollution Experiment (Cepex) in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, endeavours to investigate the effects of low concentrations of pollutants on marine organisms in large plastic silos having a slow replacement of water.
Clinical and Laboratory Factors Associated with Shear-dependent Platelet Hyper-reactivity in Patients on Chronic Aspirin Therapy

The Platelet Function Analyzer-100® (PFA-100) assesses agonist-induced platelet aggregation under high shear by measuring the closure time (CT) of a membrane aperture by the formation of a platelet plug [1]. The two agonist cartridges currently available are designed to screen patients for defects in primary hemostasis: The collagen/epinephrine (CEPI) agonist cartridge detects the antiplatelet effects of aspirin and the collagen/ADP (CADP) agonist cartridge, which is not influenced by aspirin, is useful in identifying patients with acquired and congenital platelet disorders such as von Willebrand disease [2]. With both agonist cartridges, prolongation of the CT beyond the normal range indicates inhibited or impaired platelet function. Recent evidence also suggests that the PFA-100 has utility in identifying patients with platelet hyper-reactivity, indicated by an abnormally low CT. In patients with cardiovascular disease, a CEPI CT in the normal range despite aspirin therapy has been associated with an increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events [3,4]. A CADP CT below the normal range, indicative of enhanced global platelet reactivity, has been observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes and found to correlate both with the degree of myocardial damage and with recurrent ischemic events [5–7]. In addition to intrinsic platelet reactivity, the PFA-100 CT is also influenced by a complex interplay of rheologic and plasma factors that support platelet aggregation. As this assay quantifies shear-dependent platelet aggregation in calcium-depleted blood samples, both CEPI and CADP CT are known to be influenced by the plasma concentration and activity of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and the citrate concentration in which the blood is collected [8–11]. Other factors that have been reported to variably influence CT include age, gender, tobacco use, leukocyte count, hematocrit, platelet count, non-aspirin antiplatelet therapy and inflammation [1,8,12]. Understanding the relative contribution of these variables to low CTs in patients with cardiovascular disease is difficult to ascertain, as many were assessed in isolation and often in normal patient populations. The goal of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the relative influences of patient and pre-analytic variables on low CEPI and CADP CTs in patients with known cardiovascular disease on chronic aspirin therapy.
Credit Suisse Group: Managing Equity Research as a Business

In 2003, in the midst of industry turmoil and company-specific challenges, Stefano Natella was named Global Head of Equity Research at Credit Suisse. Over a six year period, Natella implemented and refined a new methodology for valuing equity research analysts, both individually and as a collective unit. Natella's system, known as the 'Scorecard' was also used as the basis for compensating, hiring and promoting analysts. Over time, the Scorecard was refined to allow Credit Suisse to improve its customer service efforts, in a way that maximized profitability for the firm.
Predictors of success and risk factors for attrition in the use of intracavernous injection.

AbstractPurpose: We identified potential predictors, a high risk period and reasons for attrition, as well as the therapeutic alternatives chosen by men who discontinued intracavernous injection.Materials and Methods: After patients had followed the protocol of evaluation and a home trial, they were given prostaglandin E1; a triple mixture of papaverine, phentolamine and prostaglandin E1; papaverine and phentolamine, or papaverine and prostaglandin E1. Data on the 1,089 patients enrolled in the pharmacological erection program from 1988 to 1996 were retrospectively reviewed to compare characteristics of active patients and those who discontinued therapy.Results: Our attrition rate was 37.6% overall and 27.5% among prostaglandin E1 users. Patients who continued active therapy remained in the program for a mean of 26 months. We could identify no risk factor for erectile dysfunction or associated condition as a risk factor for attrition. More than 50% of men who discontinued therapy did so within the first 2...
Multilingual acoustic models for speech recognition and synthesis

In this paper, we review the design of a common phone alphabet for up to fifteen languages and describe its application in two important components of a seamless multilingual conversational system, namely speech recognition and synthesis. We report on experiments that demonstrate the advantages of multilingual acoustic models both for the recognition of foreign names and non-native speech, and describe the usefulness of a common phone alphabet for the construction of unit selection based mono- and bilingual speech synthesis systems.
Invasion efficiency as a measure of efficacy of the entomogenous nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae).

Potential of entomogenous nematodes for biological control generally is assessed by host mortality; nematode efficacy often is estimated by LC50. Nematode invasion efficiency (i.e., the percentage of the infective-stage juveniles that invade and establish in the host) has been proposed as an alternative to LC50 as a measure of nematode efficacy. The relationship between these two measurements of nematode efficacy was explored in studies with Mexican and All strains of Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) tested against last instars of three lepidopteran species: Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), and Galleria mellonella (L.). Estimates of LC50 ranged from 4 to 91 infective-stage juveniles (infectives) per host. Invasion efficiency (percentage invading) ranged from 11 to 31% among the six host-nematode combinations when concentrations of 10 to 100 infectives per host larva were tested and ranged from 1 to 28% when single infectives were tested against individual larvae in one-on-one bioassays. We observed no obvious host- or nematode strain-related patterns in invasion efficiency and no correlation between LC50 estimate and invasion efficiency. We recommend that determinations of percentage host mortality and nematode invasion efficiency be done simultaneously for assessments of nematode efficacy.
Can we control the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Abstract The carbon dioxide generated by burning fossil fuels can theoretically be controlled by growing trees. Quantitative estimates are made of the size and cost of a plant-growing program designed to halt the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Comparison of 3D set partitioning methods in hyperspectral image compression featuring an improved 3D-SPIHT

Summary form only given. Hyperspectral images were generated through the collection of hundreds of narrow and contiguously spaced spectral bands of data producing a highly correlated long sequence of images. An investigation and comparison was made on the performance of several three-dimensional embedded wavelet algorithms for compression of hyperspectral images. These algorithms include 3D-SPIHT, AT-3DSPIHT, 3D-SPECK (three-dimensional set partitioned embedded block), and JPEG2000. 3D-SPIHT is the three-dimensional extension of the state-of-the-art SPIHT (set partitioning in hierarchical trees) image compression algorithm. AT-SPIHT uses the same coding algorithms as 3D-SPIHT, but utilizes a more efficient, asymmetric tree structure. 3D-SPECK is a version of two-dimensional SPECK modified to encode 3D subband blocks. For an image sequence, 3D-DWT was applied to obtain a wavelet coefficient prism. This prism is partitioned into small code blocks with different sizes, and each subband is treated as a code block. A block splitting algorithm is used on the individual code blocks to test their significance. Compression performance was conducted on the mentioned algorithms using several AVIRIS (Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer) image sequences. The rate distortion performances were compared by means of the peak signal-to noise ratio (PSNR). The visual effect is considered a primary concern of hyperspectral imagery so an analysis of every algorithm's visual effect is in order. Through experimentation, AT-3DSPIHT provided high quality reconstructed images even at very low bit rate such as 0.4 bpp. A comparison was also conducted on JPEG200 and other algorithms concerning JPEG2000's multi-component images. The results have shown that AT-3DSPIHT, 3D-SPIHT and 3D-SPECK outperform JPEG2000 by the approximate range of 1 to 2.5 dB PSNR, depending on the image sequence.
Young Adulthood, Transitions, and Dis/ability

This chapter focuses on the transitional experiences of youth with dis/ability labels and highlights how a critical orientation to dis/ability can inform adult educators.
Holocaust as Public Policy: The Third Reich

Genocide as public policy appears directly connected to the maintenance of the nation-state, but the Holocaust is a specifically German phenomenon. The Nazis defined the Jews as nonhuman and proceeded in their highly industrialized state to liquidate nearly this entire group. The features relevant to the German case are: an extended history of anti Semitism, an extremely stressful situation during the Weimar years, resulting in increased aggression coupled with a documented virulent prejudice, and, finally, the metamorphosis of the state founded on legally defined rights and duties into a state based upon Hitler's personal will. Psychological and bureaucratic dynamics served as the foundation for this transition.
Loca l cHief Exec Uti Ves Roles in the Intergovernmental Administrative Process

Are city mayors. county commission chairpersons, and city managers involved in the intergovernmental administrative process? What is the frequency of their involvement, what is the intent of their involvement, and what is the route of their involvement? These are the questions addressed in this article through a survey of such officials in eight states. The literature suggests that the centralization of the federal system and the development of vertical federalism has excluded local chief executives from the process. The responses of 665 local chief executives in the eight states indicate they contact a broad range of agencies for various purposes, but especially for their resources. Explanations for the manner of contact (direct, legislator involvement, or a combination of both) used by the various officials are explored.
Joint electrical load modeling and forecasting based on sparse Bayesian Learning for the smart grid

Electrical load modeling and forecasting are critically important in the electrical network and smart grid. The sparse Bayesian Learning (SBL) algorithm can be utilized to model and forecast the electrical load behavior. The SBL algorithm can solve a sparse weight vector with respect to a kernel matrix for modeling electricity consumption. However, traditional SBL can only handle an electricity consumption record of one user at a time period. In this paper, we propose a joint SBL algorithm to model and forecast multi-users electricity consumption at multiple time periods. The spatial and historical similarity in multi-users electricity consumption records are exploited and integrated in the joint SBL algorithm for accurate prediction and good modeling. Experimental results based on real data show that the proposed joint SBL algorithm can produce much better prediction accuracy than the traditional SBL algorithm.
Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Induces NLRP3-Dependent Lysosomal Damage and Inflammasome Activation

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome drives many inflammatory processes and mediates IL-1 family cytokine release. Inflammasome activators typically damage cells and may release lysosomal and mitochondrial products into the cytosol. Macrophages triggered by the NLRP3 inflammasome activator nigericin show reduced mitochondrial function and decreased cellular ATP. Release of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to subsequent lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). NLRP3-deficient macrophages show comparable reduced mitochondrial function and ATP loss, but maintain lysosomal acidity, demonstrating that LMP is NLRP3 dependent. A subset of wild-type macrophages undergo subsequent mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and die. Both LMP and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization are inhibited by potassium, scavenging mitochondrial ROS, or NLRP3 deficiency, but are unaffected by cathepsin B or caspase-1 inhibitors. In contrast, IL-1β secretion is ablated by potassium, scavenging mitochondrial ROS, and both cathepsin B and caspase-1 inhibition. These results demonstrate interplay between lysosomes and mitochondria that sustain NLRP3 activation and distinguish cell death from IL-1β release.
Mechanisms of oxygen isotopic exchange and isotopic evolution of 18 O/ 16 O-depleted periclase zone marbles in the Alta aureole, Utah: insights from ion microprobe analysis of calcite

Oxygen isotope ratios have been measured by ion microprobe and millimeter-scale dental drill along detailed sampling traverses across the boundary between periclase-bearing (δ18O = 11.8‰) and periclase-free (δ18O = 17.2‰) marble layers in the periclase (Per) zone of the Alta Stock aureole, Utah. These data define a steep, coherent gradient in δ18O that is displaced a short distance (~4 cm) into the periclase-free (Cal + Fo) layer. SEM and ion microprobe analyses show two isotopically and texturally distinct types of calcite at the grain scale. Clear (well polished) calcite grains are isotopically homogeneous (within analytical uncertainty; ±0.27‰, 2SD). More poorly polished (pitted), texturally retrograde ‘turbid’-looking calcite has lower and more variable δ18O values, and replaces clear calcite along fractures, cleavage traces or grain boundaries. Despite significant lowering of the δ18O values in calcite throughout both layers during prograde metamorphism, ion microprobe analyses indicate that individual clear calcite grains are now isotopically homogeneous across the entire gradient in δ18O. Diffusion calculations indicate that conservative time scales required for isotopic homogenization of calcite grains by volume diffusion, 30,000–62,000 years at 575–600°C, exceed significantly the timescale (~1,250 years) estimated for the prograde development of the δ18O gradient at the boundary between these two marble layers. The ion microprobe data and these diffusion calculations suggest instead that surface reaction mechanisms accompanying recrystallization are responsible for the observed oxygen isotope homogeneity of these calcite grains. Thus, the ion microprobe data are consistent with the formation of calcite in oxygen isotope exchange equilibrium with infiltrating fluid during prograde reaction and recrystallization.
Comparison of high gamma electrocorticography and fMRI with electrocortical stimulation for localization of somatosensory and language cortex.

Abstract Objective We investigated the contribution of electrocortical stimulation (ECS), induced high gamma electrocorticography (hgECoG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for the localization of somatosensory and language cortex. Methods 23 Epileptic patients with subdural electrodes underwent a protocol of somatosensory stimulation and/or an auditory semantic decision task. 14 Patients did the same protocol with fMRI prior to implantation. Results ECS resulted in the identification of thumb somatosensory cortex in 12/16 patients. Taking ECS as a gold standard, hgECoG and fMRI identified 53.6/33% of true positive and 4/12% of false positive contacts, respectively. The hgECoG false positive sites were all found in the hand area of the post-central gyrus. ECS localized language-related sites in 7/12 patients with hgECoG and fMRI showing 50/64% of true positive and 8/23% of false positive contacts, respectively. All but one of the hgECoG/fMRI false positive contacts were located in plausible language areas. Four patients showed post-surgical impairments: the resection included the sites positively indicated by ECS, hgECoG and fMRI in 3 patients and a positive hgECoG site in one patient. Conclusions HgECoG and fMRI provide additional localization information in patients who cannot sufficiently collaborate during ECS. Significance HgECoG and fMRI make the cortical mapping procedure more flexible not only by identifying priority cortical sites for ECS or when ECS is not feasible, but also when ECS does not provide any result.
Cafeteria diet-induced sleep is blocked by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy in rats

Feeding rats a cafeteria diet results in increased food intake and excess sleep. Furthermore, vagal afferent activity is altered by a variety of gastrointestinal factors, and vagal stimulation can ...
Representative and Misrepresentative Associations of Birth Defects in Livebirths Conditions under which Relative Risks Greater than Unity in Livebirths Necessarily Imply Relative Risks Greater than Unity in All Conceptuses

One may express the relative risk of defect in all conceptuses, r(def), as a function of the relative risk of defect in livebirths, r(def,lb), and in embryonic and fetal deaths, r(def,efd), as r(def) = C(lb)r(def,lb) + C(efd)r(def,efd), where C(lb) and C(efd) are coefficients defined in terms of conceptus and defect viability and lethality. If the relative risk of birth defect in livebirths, r(def,lb), is greater than unity, but the relative risk of defect in all conceptuses, r(def), is equal to or less than unity (or the reverse pattern holds), then the relative risk of defects in livebirths may be said to be "distorting" or "misrepresentative" because it does not reflect the nature of the association in all conceptuses. The authors define and present an explicit expression for a boundary upon the relative risk of defect in livebirths. If the relative risk of defect in livebirths is (validly) greater than this boundary value, then the relative risk in all conceptuses must be greater than unity and the observed relative risk of defect in births is "representative" and not distorting. The authors show that the boundary value is equal to 1/C(lb), where C(lb) is a simple function of the lethality of all unexposed conceptuses, the lethality of unexposed conceptuses with defect, and the relative risk of any embryonic and fetal death. Tables of the boundary relative risk for various values of these variables are presented. Over a very wide range of reference variables, a (valid) relative risk of defect in livebirths of 3.5 or greater implies a positive association with defect in all (recognized) conceptuses in the population studied.
TRILOBITE ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE CHOUTEAU FORMATION (KINDERHOOKIAN) OF CENTRAL MISSOURI

Three distinct trilobite associations can be recognized in the Chouteau Formation (Tournaisian, Early Carboniferous) of central Missouri. These associations appear to be lithologically and environmentally sensitive. Association A, the stratigraphically lowest association, contains six genera and is among the most diverse Carboniferous trilobite associations known in North America. This association is dominated numerically by Proetides colemani and exhibits a restricted geographic and stratigraphic distribution. The association is found only in the basal 20 cm of the Chouteau Formation at one locality, in strata representing transgressive subtidal deposits. Association B is found within subtidal and open shelf lithologies and is dominated by two trilobite species, Breviphillipsia sampsoni and Breviphillipsia ? swallowi. Breviphillipsia sampsoni, an apparently eurytopic species, is found in both shaly and carbonate strata but is predominately recovered from the shaly partings and interbeds. Breviphillipsia ? swallowi, a more stenotopic species, occurs primarily in the more carbonate-rich intervals. In addition, five trilobite species, subordinate in numbers, are only locally common in Association B. The sparse trilobite fauna of Association C is dominated numerically by Namuropyge ? armata, and is contained within open shelf sediments that interfinger with mud biostrome lithologies. Early Carboniferous adaptive radiation of trilobites resulted from the creation of new ecospace by transgression. This allowed initially eurytopic trilobites to move into and occupy certain niches that may have been unavailable to them prior to the Frasnian extinctions. With continued deepening, niche-specialized associations developed in more offshore settings.
Probing the Diversity of T Cell Dysfunction in Cancer

T cell dysfunction in cancer comes in many forms, with two new varieties reported in this issue. Daley et al. find that T cells expressing γδ T cell receptors (TCR) promote pancreatic tumor growth by inhibiting activation of T cells with conventional TCRs. Singer et al. characterize dysfunctional tumor infiltrating lymphocytes to reveal a role for zinc homeostasis in anti-tumor immunity.
Mapping Among Number Words, Numerals, and Nonsymbolic Quantities in Preschoolers

In mathematically literate societies, numerical information is represented in 3 distinct codes: a verbal code (i.e., number words); a digital, symbolic code (e.g., Arabic numerals); and an analogical code (i.e., quantities; Dehaene, 1992). To communicate effectively using these numerical codes, our understanding of number must involve an understanding of each representation as well as how they map to other representations. In the current study, we looked at 3- and 4-year-old children’s understanding of Arabic numerals in relation to both quantities and number words. The results suggest that the mapping between quantities and numerals is more difficult than the mapping between numerals and number words and between number words and quantities. Thus, we compared 2 competing models designed to investigate how children represent the meanings of Arabic numbers—whether numerals are mapped directly to the quantities they represent or instead if numerals are mapped to quantities indirectly via a direct mapping to ...
Treatment matching : Theoretic basis and practical implications

An extensive knowledge base supports the development of treatment matching methods for alcohol and other drug abuse. Many matching variables have been identified that relate to specific modalities of treatment and to specific levels of care. Physicians and other providers can use many putative matching variables to address patients' substance use problems on a highly individualized basis. These variables include demographic factors (age, gender, culture), typology and severity (age of onset; severity of intoxication; withdrawal; quantity, recency, frequency of substance use), intrapersonal characteristics (psychiatric diagnosis, cognitive function, self-efficacy, stage of change), and interpersonal function (social stability). The evolution of formal criteria for patient placement such as the ASAM criteria is a beneficial, adaptive process that is underway in numerous states, managed care entities, professional provider societies, and provider groups. Currently, matching approaches rely more heavily on consensus recommendations than on empiric matching data. The technology for conducting psychosocial treatment matching studies is rapidly increasing in sophistication. Although predictive validity has not yet been fully demonstrated on a large, multisite basis, the national research portfolio on treatment matching is expanding in size and complexity. This is an essential public health need, given dramatic cost pressures, if addiction services are to continue to grow in quality and availability.
A Wide Lock-in Range PLL using Self-Calibrating Technique for Processors

A wide lock-in range PLL using a self-calibrating technique is proposed. This technique realizes a wide lock-in range and good jitter characteristics by performing the digital calibration at the start of the operation. However, self-calibration with a large number of digital control steps increases the test costs and circuit scale. In this paper, by estimating the margin for self-calibrating operation, the minimum number of digital control steps was determined. A PLL with a low test cost, a wide lock-in range and low jitter was designed and implemented using a 0.15 mum 1.5 V CMOS process. The measured PLL lock-in range is 80 MHz - 630 MHz with four digital calibration steps. The peak-to-peak jitter at 380 MHz is 100 ps
Recognition of B2GPI by the Lipoprotein Receptors.

Abstract 851 Lipoprotein receptors of the LDLR family serve as clearance receptors for beta2-glycoprotein-I (B2GPI) and as signaling receptors for the B2GPI/antibody complexes in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). B2GPI binds lipoprotein receptors through its domain V (B2GPI-DV) and the lipoprotein receptors use the LA modules to interact with B2GPI. The LA modules, which are about 40 residues each, are arranged in sequence to form the ligand-binding domains of the receptors. The LA modules have little sequence homology both within a single receptor and between different receptors, but adopt a very similar three dimensional structure. We have investigated the structural features of the contact interface in the B2GPI-DV/LA complexes and the characteristic features of the LA modules required for efficient binding to B2GPI. Using solution NMR spectroscopy, we have demonstrated that three different LA modules bind to the same site on B2GPI-DV and that the binding site for B2GPI-DV on these LA modules is centered on the residues involved in coordination of the calcium ion. The dissociation constants measured for different LA complexes are in the range from 1 mM to approximately 100 mM. The difference in binding affinity is attributed to the auxiliary contacts that augment the interactions of the residues at the core of the binding interface. We have solved the structure of the B2GPI-DV/LA4 complex by molecular docking guided by NMR-derived restraints and have validated the structure by four independent experimental observations based on mutagenesis, solution NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence polarization and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence measurements. The structure identified three lysine residues of B2GPI-DV, Lys308, Lys317 and Lys282, as critical for binding the LA modules. Our data shows that not all the LA modules can bind B2GPI-DV and that those LA modules capable of binding B2GPI-DV will interact with it in a similar fashion as observed in the B2GPI-DV/LA4 complex. Whether an LA module is capable of binding B2GPI could be distinguished based on the primary sequence in the vicinity of the calcium-coordinating residues. According to the current hypothetical model, the binding of B2GPI to anionic phospholipids in the presence of APS-related antibodies is the first event leading to the pathology of APS. However, we have shown that the LA modules interfere with binding of B2GPI-DV to cardiolipin indicating that B2GPI-DV cannot simultaneously bind to anionic phospholipids and lipoprotein receptors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A macrophyte bioassessment approach linking taxon-specific tolerance and abundance in north temperate lakes.

Abstract Bioassessment methods are critically needed to evaluate and monitor lake ecological condition. Aquatic macrophytes are good candidate indicators, but few lake bioassessment methods developed in North America use them. The few macrophyte bioassessment methods that do exist suffer from problems related to subjectivity and discernibility along disturbance gradients. We developed and tested a bioassessment approach for 462 north temperate lakes. The approach links macrophyte abundance to lake ecological condition via estimates of taxon-specific abundance-weighted tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance. Using variables related to eutrophication, urban development and agriculture, we calculated abundance-weighted tolerance ranges for 59 macrophyte taxa and clustered them according to their tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance. We also created a composite index of anthropogenic disturbance using 20 variables related to population density, land cover and water chemistry. We used a statistical approach to set ecological condition thresholds based on the observed abundance of sensitive, moderately tolerant and tolerant taxa in each lake. The resulting lake condition categories were usually stable across multiple survey events and largely agreed with condition rankings assigned using expert judgment. We suggest using this macrophyte bioassessment method for federal water quality reports, restoration and management on north temperate lakes.
Gender Identity and Sex Roles

Although infants are born with an identifiable gender, they must acquire a gender-role identity. Recent trends toward feminism, along with an increased emphasis on studying human development across the lifespan, have made it clear that an individual’s gender-role identity involves more than simply recognizing oneself as male or female. Further, adoption of attitudes and behaviors that are associated with gender roles is a lifelong process, one that profoundly influences the nature of an individual’s transactions with others.
Evidence of Echocardiographic Markers of Pulmonary Vascular Disease in Asymptomatic Infants Born Preterm at One Year of Age.

Objective To test the hypothesis that echocardiographic markers of pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) exist in asymptomatic infants born preterm at 1-year corrected age. Study design We conducted a prospective cohort study of 80 infants born preterm ( Results At 1 year, there were no differences between conventional measures of pulmonary hypertension in the infants born at term and preterm. All infants born preterm had significantly lower values of PAAT than infants born at term (73 ± 8 milliseconds vs 98 ± 5 milliseconds, P Conclusions In comparison with infants born at term, infants born preterm exhibit abnormal PAAT at 1-year corrected age irrespective of neonatal lung disease status, suggesting the existence of PVD beyond infancy. PAAT measurements offer a reliable, noninvasive tool for screening and longitudinal monitoring of pulmonary hemodynamics in infants.
Polynomial coefficients. Application to spin-spin splitting by N equivalent nuclei of spin I > 1/2.

The NMR intensity pattern of a nucleus split by N identical nuclei of spin 1/2 is given by the binomial coefficients. These are conveniently obtained from Pascal's triangle, equivalent to the chemist's branching diagram. Much less well-known is the pattern from splitting by N identical nuclei of spin I > 1/2. This was originally presented in terms of multinomial coefficients, but polynomial coefficients are more convenient. These describe the number of ways that N objects can be distributed to 2I + 1 numbered boxes. They arise in the polynomial expansion and are conveniently obtained from generalizations of Pascal's triangle. Examples and predictions are given.
Somatosensory Receptive Fields

Understanding the receptive field structures of neurons has played an important role in deciphering how information about the external world is represented and transformed along the pathways leading to perception. We first describe the receptive fields of the peripheral afferents that innervate the skin of the hand. We show that of these mechanoreceptive afferents only the slowly adapting type 1 and rapidly adapting afferents provide information about two-dimensional spatial form. We then show the receptive fields of neurons in primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortex and demonstrate that the receptive fields become much larger and more elaborate as the information flows centrally, with neurons in cortex containing regions of excitation and inhibition that extract information about features of the stimuli.
Recent Advances in Optical Microscopy and its Application to the Characterization of Polymers

An optical microscope is perhaps one of the most used imaging instruments in a variety of disciplines to ‘see’ things at high magnification. One of the limitations of traditional optical microscopy techniques (far-field techniques) is its diffraction-limited resolution.1 Despite the limited resolution, its widespread use as an imaging instrument is due to its simplicity and a unique variety of available contrast mechanisms. Examples of such contrast mechanisms are absorption, polarization, phase contrast, dark-field, and fluorescence, to name just a few. Fluorescence microscopy in particular has revolutionized cell biology, allowing one to obtain images of cells and organelles in exquisite detail. Such advances have been made by combining lasers, electronic cameras, and digital image analysis. In view of the advantages provided by various contrast mechanisms and the ease of use, efforts to push the resolution (both spatial and axial) of the optical microscope well beyond that of the diffraction limit have produced a number of very useful techniques, such as confocal microscopy,2 standing-wave fluorescence microscopy (SWFM)3 (where one is able to visualize structure in 3D by optical sectioning of the object being viewed), solid immersion microscopy (SIM),4 photon tunneling microscopy (PTM),5, 6 and, at a higher spatial resolution, near-field optical microscopy (NSOM).7–10 All of these techniques, by virtue of using light at visible wavelengths, provide information that is not accessible by other high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy and the recent family of probe microscopes (scanning tunneling microscopy and force microscopy).11–14 We will not dwell on such forms of microscopy and will refer the reader to excellent reviews and books that have been written.14
Supersymmetry Breaking in Wess-Zumino Models

A combination of index theory [1,2] and multiphase analysis [3,4] should lead to an understanding of the vacuum structure of the weakly coupled two-dimensional Wess-Zumino model in infinite volume. The supersymmetric interaction is |V′(φ)|2 + V″(φ)\(\bar{\psi }\) ψ, where for the N = 1 model φ,ψ are real, while for the N = 2 model φ,ψ are ocmplex. We take V to be a polynomial of degree ni and scale it as V(Ф) → λ−2 V(λФ) with λ small. If V′has n−1 distinct zeros, then |V′|2 has n−1 minima at zero. At small λ multiphase expansion should be possible, leading as in [4] to a construction of the stable vacua. The index theorems proven in [5] should help determine the number of stable vacua. For example, in the N = 2 model the periodic partition function is equal to n−1, so the free energy must be zero and so supersymmetry is unbroken. A careful analysis of the expansion should lead to the further conclusion that all n−1 possible vacua are stable thermodynamically [3]. These conclusions must be modified in the N = 1 case because the Pffaffian in the measure of alternates in sign from one minimum to the next.
Differential mRNA accumulation in three cultivars of bean in response to elicitors from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

Abstract Extracellular components from the α race of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum exhibited differential elicitor activity on three bean cultivars. A purified carbohydrate-rich elicitor induced higher accumulations of phenolics, phytoalexins (kievitone, phaseollinisoflavan and phaseollin) and mRNAs corresponding to the enzymes phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) in two incompatible bean cultivars compared with a compatible bean cultivar. Two peak periods of PAL and CHS mRNA accumulation in incompatible cultivars were observed in an 8 h period. Treatment of the same incompatible bean cultivars with less homogeneous elicitor preparations resulted in different proportions of mRNA accumulating during the two peak periods. Elicitor treatments did not always induce coordinate increases in PAL and CHS mRNAs. Enhanced phenolic synthesis was not always correlated with increases in phytoalexins. These observations suggest that any relationship between elicitor activity and specificity in a plant-microbe interaction is highly complex.
Mechanistic Features of the Oxidation–Reductive Coupling of Alcohols Catalyzed by Oxo-Vanadium Complexes

The oxo-vanadium-catalyzed redox disproportionation of activated alcohols (oxidation–reductive coupling, Ox–RC) produces carbonyl compounds and hydrocarbon dimers. A mechanistic study of this novel...
Impact of one‐time testing for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies among blood donors in the United States

BACKGROUND US blood donors are tested for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies only at their first presentation, based on studies, reviewed here, demonstrating the absence of incident infections. Reports of autochthonous human transmissions of the parasite in Texas have raised concern about the safety of one-time testing. METHODS Positive donation frequencies were evaluated among first-time blood donations from 2007 to 2015. Rates and their temporal changes were evaluated in an area of high T. cruzi infection and compared with rates elsewhere. Donors with positive results were surveyed for risk factors and relevant demographic characteristics. RESULTS Data from 9.1 million first-time donations were analyzed; 585 (1:15,544) were confirmed positive by radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) or concordantly positive with a second screening test/licensed assay. Seroprevalence in first-time donors in Southern California (an area of high endemicity) was 1:2,747, or 5.7-fold higher than the overall rate. Rates did not change over time nationally but showed a nonsignificant consistent downward trend in Southern California. The majority (92%) of donors who responded to a questionnaire had one or more T. cruzi endemic-area risk factors. Five donors with likely autochthonous infection were identified (2007-2013); nine additional donors had RIPA false positivity. CONCLUSION T. cruzi seroprevalence among donors nationally and in an area of high enzootic infection were stable or declining. Almost all interviewed seropositive donors had known risk factors indicating likely infection years earlier while residing in T. cruzi-endemic areas. In the United States, there was no evidence of increased T. cruzi prevalence among first-time donors.
The Dream World of Wonderland

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll creates a whimsical, alternative reality based on arbitrary rules and nonsense to express his ideas regarding the nature of dreams. While the original illustrations of the text were created by 19th-century English artist and satirist John Tenniel, famed surrealist Salvador Dali provides a more expressionistic and psychological exploration of the mind through his own illustrations of Carroll’s work in the 1969 Maegenus Press edition of Alice. In order to understand Dali’s interpretation of the text, it is important to trace his interests in dreams back to its origins in Sigmund Freud and Surrealism, which came to light during the early 20th-century and focused on new forms of expression that sought to unhinge the supposed creativity trapped in the unconscious mind. Although Carroll, Dali, and Freud were all from different time periods, their individual beliefs about the nature of dreams allow for a better understanding of how to analyze Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as a whole.
Multimodality Information Fusion for Aging Pipe Strength and Toughness Estimation Using Bayesian Networks

Accurate estimation of the mechanical property of aging pipes is critical to maintain the safety and to scheduling maintenance. Destructive testing for mechanical properties measurement is very expensive and sometime impossible. Inference methods are needed for estimating the bulk properties by multimodality surface material measurements from nondestructive testing, such as chemical composition, volume fraction and hardness. Bayesian network modeling is utilized to integrate the information from various types of surface measurements for a more accurate bulk mechanical property estimation. To improve the approximation of the actual underlying model and avoid the risk of overfitting, Bayesian model averaging (BMA) of Bayesian networks is implemented to account for Bayesian network model uncertainty. The models considered are weighted based on the posterior model probability. Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling provides an effective way for numerically computing the marginal likelihoods, which are essential for obtaining the posterior model probabilities. The predictive performance of single best model and BMA are compared by logarithmic scoring rule. The predictive capability of the proposed method is evaluated. It is shown that the Bayesian network and model averaging approach can provide more reliable results in predicting the bulk mechanical properties of the pipelines.
Reoviridae transcription is more than an open-and-shut case.

Segmented, double-stranded RNA viruses of the Reoviridae family tightly regulate the activity of encapsidated polymerases to mediate the transition between genome replication and iterative rounds of multipartite transcription within a particle. By resolving multiple in situ structures of the transcribing complex, a new study reveals enzyme conformational changes and RNA trajectories during specific transcriptional states that support an ‘ouroboros’ model of conservative transcription for a member of the Reoviridae family.
Linking gene expression patterns with survival studies elucidates adaptive potential in changing environments

A major goal in ecology, evolution and conservation biology is understanding how species adapt to changing conditions and using that information to improve conservation actions. Primary to advancing our understanding of adaptation and adaptive potential is determining the causes and consequences of the genetic and phenotypic intraspecific variation that allows for adaptation. However, few studies have been able to link the variation present in molecular process under differing conditions to intraspecific variation in survival. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Harder et al explore the relationship between molecular process and survival to understand the adaptive variation underlying tolerance to low thiamine (vitamin B1, an essential micronutrient) conditions in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Thiamine is required for metabolic functioning, including energy production and nervous and cardiovascular system functioning. By combining controlled breeding and phenotyping with a survival study and transcriptomics, the authors are able to quantify among-family differences in survival under low thiamine conditions. They find wide variation in survival among families, and this survival is linked to differences in gene expression patterns. Their study elucidates the importance of combining different data types to characterize within-population phenotypic variation and understand how that variation may lead to genetic adaptation under stressful conditions.
Comparing greenhouse gas emissions associated with food away from home versus food at home in the United States

Abstract Food consumption patterns continue to shift away from food at home (FAH) to food away from home (FAFH), and the prevalence of FAFH is significant in the developed world, so the comparative greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) of FAH and FAFH are predicted in this study. The GHGE per mass of food acquisition in the U.S. is predicted to be 4.3 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e)/kg food and 2.7 kg CO2e/kg food for FAFH and FAH, respectively, which is attributed to higher chicken and beef consumption in FAFH. Predictions also suggest that 23% of total food acquisition by mass is by FAFH, with nearly half of the FAFH consumption in the form of beverages. FAFH was predicted to account for 33% of total food GHGE, which is nearly identical to the portion of daily energy intake by FAFH, and both FAFH and FAH meals are estimated to have a nearly constant value of 1.3 g CO2e/kcal. FAFH meals are shown to be, on average, 330% higher in cost, 60% higher in GHGE, and 70% higher in energy content than FAH meals by mass. FAFH meals are also predicted to be higher in GHGE per mass than the 2,000 calorie USDA recommended diet. The larger relative cost compared to relative GHGE suggests that the financial burden of shifting to FAFH mitigates the growth in GHGE attributed to the overall food system.
Combined Effects of Standing and Passive Heating on Attenuating Sitting-Induced Vascular Dysfunction

Recent evidence suggests prolonged sitting strains the arteries through angulations that create turbulent blood flow. This turbulent flow reduces flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a key indicator of vascular health. The purpose of this study was to determine if arterial angulations (through sitting or standing), shear stress (through local heating), or a combination of these factors affected vascular function. In addition, we sought examined the impact of biological sex on these responses. Methods: Twenty-six healthy, young (18-40 years old) males (n=13) and females (n=13) participated. Participants completed two experimental trials (2-h sitting and 2-h standing), and, in a randomized fashion, one leg was passively heated. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) at the superficial femoral artery (SFA), and central and peripheral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) were measured using vascular ultrasound. Results: There was a non-significant decrease in FMD (-1.48%; p = .06) during sitting and the decline in FMD was not different between biological sexes (-1.96% vs -0.93%; p = .49, males and females respectively). Passive heating (1.42%; p