cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large scale snow water equivalent status monitoring: comparison of different snow water products in the upper Colorado Basin

We illustrate the ability to monitor the status of snow water content over large areas by using a spatially distributed snow accumulation and ablation model that uses data from a weather forecast model in the upper Colorado Basin. The model was forced with precipitation fields from the National Weather Service (NWS) Multi-sensor Precip- itation Estimator (MPE) and the Tropical Rainfall Measur- ing Mission (TRMM) data-sets; remaining meteorological model input data were from NOAA's Global Forecast System (GFS) model output fields. The simulated snow water equiv- alent (SWE) was compared to SWEs from the Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) and SNOwpack TELeme- try system (SNOTEL) over a region of the western US that covers parts of the upper Colorado Basin. We also com- pared the SWE product estimated from the special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) and scanning multichannel mi- crowave radiometer (SMMR) to the SNODAS and SNO- TEL SWE data-sets. Agreement between the spatial distri- butions of the simulated SWE with MPE data was high with both SNODAS and SNOTEL. Model-simulated SWE with TRMM precipitation and SWE estimated from the passive microwave imagery were not significantly correlated spa- tially with either SNODAS or the SNOTEL SWE. Average basin-wide SWE simulated with the MPE and the TRMM data were highly correlated with both SNODAS (r = 0.94 and r = 0.64; d.f. = 14 - d.f. = degrees of freedom) and SNO- TEL (r = 0.93 and r = 0.68; d.f. = 14). The SWE estimated from the passive microwave imagery was significantly corre- lated with the SNODAS SWE (r = 0.55, d.f. = 9, p = 0.05) but was not significantly correlated with the SNOTEL-reported SWE values (r = 0.45, d.f. = 9, p = 0.05).The results indicate the applicability of the snow energy balance model for mon- itoring snow water content at regional scales when coupled with meteorological data of acceptable quality. The two snow water contents from the microwave imagery (SMMR and SSM/I) and the Utah Energy Balance forced with the TRMM precipitation data were found to be unreliable sources for mapping SWE in the study area; both data sets lacked dis- cernible variability of snow water content between sites as seen in the SNOTEL and SNODAS SWE data. This study will contribute to better understanding the adequacy of data from weather forecast models, TRMM, and microwave im- agery for monitoring status of the snow water content.
Soil and crop response to harvesting corn residues for biofuel production

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is considered one of the prime lignocellulosic feedstocks for biofuel production. While producing renewable energy from biomass is necessary, impacts of harvesting corn stover on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, agricultural productivity, and environmental quality must be also carefully and objectively assessed. We conducted a 2 1/2 year study of stover management in long-term (N8 yr) no-tillage (NT) continuous corn systems under three contrasting soils in Ohio to determine changes in SOC sequestration, CO2 emissions, soil physical properties, and agronomic productivity. These measurements were made on a Rayne silt loam (RSL) (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) with 6% slope, Celina silt loam (CSL) (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Hapludalfs) with 2% slope, and Hoytville clay loam (HCL) (fine, illitic, mesic Mollic Epiaqualfs) with b1% slope. Stover treatments consisted of removing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of corn stover following each harvest. At the start of the experiment in May 2004, these percentages of removal corresponded to 5, 3.75, 2.5, 1.25, and 0M g ha −1 yr −1 of stover left on the soil surface, respectively. Annual stover removal rate of N25% reduced SOC and soil productivity, but the magnitude of impacts depended on soil type and topographic conditions. Stover removal rate of 50% reduced grain yield by about 1.94 Mg ha −1 , stover yield by 0.97 Mg ha −1 , and SOC by 1.63 Mg ha −1 in an unglaciated, sloping, and erosion-prone soil (Pb0.05). The initial water infiltration rates were significantly reduced by N25% of stover removal on a RSL and CSL. Plant available water reserves and earthworm population were significantly reduced by 50% of stover removal at all soils. Increases in soil compaction due to stover removal were moderate. Stover removal impacts on SOC, crop yield, and water infiltration for HCL were not significant. Results from this study following 2 1/2 yr of stover management suggest that only a small fraction (≤25%) of the total corn stover produced can be removed for biofuel feedstocks from sloping and erosion-prone soils.
Detecting Fractures in Classifier Performance

A fundamental tenet assumed by many classification algorithms is the presumption that both training and testing samples are drawn from the same distribution of data - this is the stationary distribution assumption. This entails that the past is strongly indicative of the future. However, in real world applications, many factors may alter the One True Model responsible for generating the data distribution both significantly and subtly. In circumstances violating the stationary distribution assumption, traditional validation schemes such as ten-folds and hold-out become poor performance predictors and classifier rankers. Thus, it becomes critical to discover the fracture points in classifier performance by discovering the divergence between populations. In this paper, we implement a comprehensive evaluation framework to identify bias, enabling selection of a "correct" classifier given the sample bias. To thoroughly evaluate the performance of classifiers within biased distributions, we consider the following three scenarios: missing completely at random (akin to stationary); missing at random; and missing not at random. The latter reflects the canonical sample selection bias problem.
Farm-based modelling of regional structural change: A cellular automata approach

This paper presents a new type of spatial and dynamic model for analysing structural change in agriculture. The model is based on a number of individually acting farms located at different points in an agricultural region. Like a cellular automation, the region is subdivided into a number of spatially ordered plots. The farms compete for these plots and compete on different markets. Farms are allowed to engage in different production possibilities and they can use several investment alternatives. They optimise their activities with respect to their objective function by considering their expectations, financial state and existing assets. Copyright 1997 by Oxford University Press.
Ultrasonic radiative transfer in polycrystalline media: Effects of a fluid–solid interface

In previous derivations of the ultrasonic radiative transfer equation (URTE) for the modeling of multiply scattered diffuse ultrasound in polycrystalline media, the boundary conditions appropriate to experiments performed in a water bath were not used. In the present work, this fluid–solid boundary condition is discussed as it applies to the URTE. An interpolation scheme is developed that is consistent with the discrete ordinates method used for the solution of the URTE. Steady‐state and time‐dependent results are presented for the solution of the URTE with a fluid–solid boundary condition. The steady‐state results show that diffusive behavior is exhibited nearer the specimen surface than before. The time‐dependent results show the qualitative change one might expect from such a boundary condition.
Integrating virtual environments with high performance computing

Virtual environments will be naturally integrated with high performance computing (HPC) since: (a) advanced grand challenge type simulations will benefit from dynamic virtual environment front-ends, and (b) advanced virtual environments will require simulation engines based on high performance computing resources. Such an integration minimally requires interoperability and standardized interfaces between both components. The discussion of these requirements is extended and it is shown how relevant design issues can be elegantly addressed by the multilashing object-oriented visual interactive environment (MOVIE) system, currently under development at North Parllel Architectures Center as an infrastructure layer for dynamic interactive HPC. >
Clinical Versus Administrative Data

Clinical and administrative databases have become increasingly utilized in the fields of pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiac surgery for research, health policy activities, quality improvement, and evaluation of hospital performance. This chapter reviews the attributes of both types of datasets and discusses their strengths and weaknesses with regard to case ascertainment, risk adjustment, and outcomes assessment.
Genetic Differentiation of Lineages of Tubifex tubifex from the San Juan River, New Mexico

Abstract Among sympatric populations of lineages I, III, and VI of Tubifex tubifex, lineage VI recently was shown to exhibit resistance to Myxobolus cerebralis, the causative agent of whirling disease in salmonids. Determining the genetic differentiation exhibited among T. tubifex from different habitats and among lineages is key to understanding the etiology of whirling disease. This study examined genetic divergence within two lineages (III and VI) of T. tubifex from shallow and deep habitats in a tailwater at Navajo Dam in the San Juan River, New Mexico. Starch-gel electrophoresis was used to delineate alleles of T. tubifex from deep and shallow habitats. Cellulose-acetate electrophoreses was used to delineate alleles of lineages III and VI of T. tubifex. Of the seven allozymes analyzed, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) differentiated between lineages III and VI. The LAP allele ‘A’ was exhibited only within lineage III whereas both alleles ‘A’ and ‘B’ were exhibited within lineage VI. Furthermore, lineages...
Gay-Related Rejection Sensitivity as a Risk Factor for Condomless Sex

Gay-related rejection sensitivity has been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, but its relationship to condomless sex remains unexamined. The present study investigated the role of gay-related rejection sensitivity as a predictor of condomless sex. Gay and bisexual men completed questionnaires measuring rejection sensitivity and condom use self-efficacy as well as a timeline followback interview regarding past 90-day sexual behaviors. Gay-related rejection sensitivity was positively associated with the number of condomless anal sex acts with casual partners, and condom use self-efficacy mediated this association. These findings have important implications for effective HIV prevention efforts among this at-risk population.
Abstract Representations of Plot Structure

Since the 18th century, the novel has been one of the defining forms of English writing, a mainstay of popular entertainment and academic criticism. Despite its importance, however, there are few computational studies of the large-scale structure of novels—and many popular representations for discourse modeling do not work very well for novelistic texts. This paper describes a high-level representation of plot structure which tracks the frequency of mentions of different characters, topics and emotional words over time. The representation can distinguish with high accuracy between real novels and artificially permuted surrogates; characters are important for eliminating random permutations, while topics are effective at distinguishing beginnings from ends.
Taxonomy of Pathways to Dangerous AI.

In order to properly handle a dangerous Artificially Intelligent (AI) system it is important to understand how the system came to be in such a state. In popular culture (science fiction movies/books) AIs/Robots became self-aware and as a result rebel against humanity and decide to destroy it. While it is one possible scenario, it is probably the least likely path to appearance of dangerous AI. In this work, we survey, classify and analyze a number of circumstances, which might lead to arrival of malicious AI. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to systematically classify types of pathways leading to malevolent AI. Previous relevant work either surveyed specific goals/meta-rules which might lead to malevolent behavior in AIs (Ozkural, 2014) or reviewed specific undesirable behaviors AGIs can exhibit at different stages of its development (Alexey Turchin, July 10 2015, July 10, 2015).
Cardiologists Are Accountable to Determine the Need for ICD Therapy After Myocardial Infarction.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) who have severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction [(1,2)][1], and survival curves continue to separate during long-term follow-up [(3)][2]. Even though the
Field Efficacy and Persistence of Entomogenous Nematodes in the Management of White Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Turf and Pasture

The entomogenous nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and Heterorhabditis Heliothidis (Khan, Brooks &; Hirschmann) were used to control white grubs in turf and pasture. In the turf trial, nematode concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, or 1 million nematodes per m2 were evaluated. Only 12% of the grubs were killed by the nematodes at all three concentrations. In the pasture trial, nematode concentrations of 0.5 and 1.5 million per m2 were applied alone or in combination with diazinon (2.25 kg [AIl/ha). Comparisons (t tests) of the mean number of grubs recovered from each treatment area 2-4 wk after application showed significant reductions in the grub populations in both trials after certain nematode treatments. When applied at a rate of 1.5 million per m2, nematodes persisted for 8 wk after application in the pasture trial. In other tests of persistence, nematodes survived as long as 5 wk after application. Nematophagous fungi were recovered from treated areas and untreated plots; however, no significant increases in numbers of propagules occurred after application. Predaceous mite populations did significantly increase after application in one trial. Many of these mites are considered nematophagous.
In vivo radiometric analysis of glucose uptake and distribution in mouse bone

Bone formation and remodeling occurs throughout life and requires the sustained activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, particularly during periods of rapid bone growth. Despite increasing evidence linking bone cell activity to global energy homeostasis, little is known about the relative energy requirements or substrate utilization of bone cells. In these studies, we measured the uptake and distribution of glucose in the skeleton in vivo using positron-emitting (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]-FDG) and non-invasive, high-resolution positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and ex vivo autoradiography. Assessment of [(18)F]-FDG uptake demonstrated that relative to other tissues bone accumulated a significant fraction of the total dose of the glucose analog. Skeletal accumulation was greatest in young mice undergoing the rapid bone formation that characterizes early development. PET/CT imaging revealed that [(18)F]-FDG uptake was greatest in the epiphyseal and metaphyseal regions of long bones, which accords with the increased osteoblast numbers and activity at this skeletal site. Insulin administration significantly increased skeletal accumulation of [(18)F]-FDG, while uptake was reduced in mice lacking the insulin receptor specifically in osteoblasts or fed a high-fat diet. Our results indicated that the skeleton is a site of significant glucose uptake and that its consumption by bone cells is subject to regulation by insulin and disturbances in whole-body metabolism.
Parasitoids and Pathogens of Green Cloverworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on an Uncultivated Spring Host (Vetch, Vicia spp.) and a Cultivated Summer Host (Soybean, Glycine max)

Parasitoids and pathogens of green cloverworm, Plathypena scabra (F.), were studied during the spring on a wild host (vetch, Vicia spp.) and during the summer on a cultivated host (soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill) at four locations in Louisiana during 1984 and 1985. Six species of primary parasitoids and one species of hyperparasitoid representing a total of four families were encountered during the study. Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) was the most abundant parasitoid collected during the spring of 1984, while Rogas nolophanae Ashmead was the most common in the spring of 1985. Parasitism during the spring of 1984 and 1985 totaled 12.8 and 36.4%, respectively, whereas parasitism rates during the summer of those years were 10.4 and 6.0%, respectively. Cotesia marginiventris was the prevalant parasitoid during the summer in both years of the study. Two entomopathogens were collected from green cloverworm— Nomuraea rileyi Samson and a granulosis virus were collected in the spring, while only N. rileyi was collected during the summer.
Understanding antimicrobial stewardship: Disease severity treatment thresholds and antimicrobial alternatives among organic and conventional calf producers

Abstract Reductions in livestock antimicrobial use (AMU) can be achieved through identification of effective antimicrobial alternatives as well as accurate and stringent identification of cases requiring antimicrobial therapy. Objective measurements of selectivity that incorporate appropriate case definitions are necessary to understand the need and potential for reductions in AMU through judicious use. The objective of this study was to measure selectivity using a novel disease severity treatment threshold for calf diarrhea, and identify predictors of more selective application of antimicrobials among conventional dairy producers. A second objective of this study was to describe the usage frequency and perceptions of efficacy of common antimicrobial alternatives among conventional and organic producers. The cross-sectional survey was mailed to Michigan and Ohio, USA dairy producers and contained questions on AMU attitudes, AMU practices, veterinary-written protocols, and antimicrobial alternatives. The treatment threshold, defined based on the case severity where the producer would normally apply antimicrobials, was identified with a series of descriptions with increasing severity, and ordinal multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between the treatment threshold and individual or herd characteristics. The response rate was 49% (727/1488). Overall, 42% of conventional producers reported any veterinary-written treatment protocol, and 27% (113/412) of conventional producers had a veterinary-written protocol for the treatment of diarrhea that included a case identification. The majority (58%, 253/437) of conventional producers, but a minority (7%) of organic producers disagreed that antibiotic use in agriculture led to resistant bacterial infections in people. Among conventional producers, the proportion of producers applying antimicrobials for therapy increased from 13% to 67% with increasing case severity. The treatment threshold was low, medium, and high for 11% (47/419), 57% (251/419), and 28% (121/419) of conventional producers, respectively. Treatment threshold was not significantly associated with the use of protocols or frequency of veterinary visits; however, individuals with more concern for the public health impact of livestock AMU had a significantly higher treatment threshold (i.e. more selective) (p 60%) of organic producers. Overall, findings from this study highlight the need for research on antimicrobial alternatives, wider application of treatment protocols, and farm personnel education and training on diagnostic criteria for initiation of antimicrobial therapy.
On Risk

As we move toward an era of the Internet of Things, loss of security and privacy becomes a greater risk, and responsible programming becomes a greater concern. It's only a matter of time until programmers are held accountable for the quality and safety of their work, so how can the industry plan accordingly?
Beyond the Mask: Analysis of Error Patterns on the KTEA-3 for Students With Giftedness and Learning Disabilities

An understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, and achievement profiles of students with giftedness and learning disabilities (GL n = 69) and specific learning disability (SLD) students (n = 90). Several one-way MANCOVAs were conducted with subtest error factor scores as dependent variables and grouping variable (G&LD, GT, or SLD) as the independent variable. The G&LD means scores across subtests were in between the two control groups. On many higher level thinking tasks, the G&LD group scored similar to the gifted group. The results support the use of error analysis to gain further understanding into the profile of students with G&LD.
Mycobacterium genavense‐induced spindle cell pseudotumor in a pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient: Case report and review of the literature

We describe the first reported pediatric patient to our knowledge with a spindle cell pseudotumor caused by Mycobacterium genavense in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient, and review the literature of such an entity in the transplant population.
Ramanujan's Lost Notebook: Part II

In the spring of 1976, George Andrews of Pennsylvania State University visited the library at Trinity College, Cambridge, to examine the papers of the late G.N. Watson. Among these papers, Andrews discovered a sheaf of 138 pages in the handwriting of Srinivasa Ramanujan. This manuscript was soon designated, "Ramanujan's lost notebook." Its discovery has frequently been deemed the mathematical equivalent of finding Beethoven's tenth symphony.This volume is thefourthof fivevolumes thatthe authors plan to write on Ramanujans lost notebook.In contrast to thefirst three books on Ramanujan's Lost Notebook, the fourth book does not focus on q-series. Most of the entries examined in this volume fall under the purviews of number theory and classical analysis. Several incomplete manuscripts of Ramanujan published by Narosa with the lost notebook are discussed. Three of the partial manuscripts are on diophantine approximation, and others are in classical Fourier analysis and prime number theory. Most of the entries in number theory fall under the umbrella of classical analytic number theory. Perhaps the most intriguing entries are connected with the classical, unsolved circle and divisor problems.Reviewfrom the second volume:"Fans of Ramanujan's mathematics are sure to be delighted by this book. While some of the content is taken directly from published papers, most chapters contain new material and some previously published proofs have been improved. Many entries are just begging for further study and will undoubtedly be inspiring research for decades to come. The next installment in this series is eagerly awaited."- MathSciNetReview from the first volume:"Andrews and Berndt are to be congratulated on the job they are doing. This is the first step...on the way to an understanding of the work of the genius Ramanujan. It should act as an inspiration to future generations of mathematicians to tackle a job that will never be complete."- Gazette of the Australian Mathematical Society
Aortic Aneurysm and Stent Graft Assessment

Aortic aneurysms have a high incidence rate within the United States and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With the emergence of technical advances in CT technology, Multi-detector row technology with high-resolution CTA and postprocessing has become the standard of care in the pretreatment evaluation and follow-up of patients being considered for endovascular aortic repair. The aim of this chapter is to provide details for CT/CTA diagnosis of aortic aneurysms, with focus on the pre- and postoperative evaluation of TEVAR and EVAR.
Interconnected state-space modeling for turboelectric aircraft

Due to their recent success in the automotive and marine industries, electric propulsion systems are being revisited within the aviation industry as a potential solution for meeting its increasing consumer demand. Although a nominal electric propulsion system design may be proposed based on the average aircraft power requirements, experience from terrestrial power systems suggests that this design may be more or less conservative depending on power dynamics. To begin to explore this idea, this paper presents a state-space modeling approach that interconnects the propulsion dynamics with the vehicle dynamics. Specifically, this paper demonstrates how, starting from the non-linear dynamics of a medium-sized transport aircraft equipped with turboelectric propulsion, an equilibrium and the linearized dynamics about it are computed. This modeling approach is derived generally in terms of propulsion and aircraft parameters so that it can be used for conducting system level requirements analysis that account for dynamics.
Granular Approach to Data Processing Under Probabilistic Uncertainty

The existing algorithms for data processing under probabilistic uncertainty often require too much computation time. Sometimes, we can speed up the corresponding computations if we take into account the fact that in many real-life situations, uncertainty can be naturally described as a combination of several components, components which are described by different granules. In such situations, to process this uncertainty, it is often beneficial to take this granularity into account by processing these granules separately and then combining the results. In this paper, we show that granular computing can help even in situations when there is no such natural decomposition into granules, namely we can often speed up processing of uncertainty if we first (artificially) decompose the original uncertainty into appropriate granules.
From Eternity to Here: Divine Accommodation and the Lost Language of Law

This paper asserts that the discourse of religious accommodation has stopped making sense, and that the reason it has stopped making sense is because our terminology (including such terms as "religion," "accommodation," and "secularism") is inherited from tradition of political theological discourse that has been forgotten: the theology of divine accommodation. The paper reconstructs the content of that tradition of political theology in broad strokes, arguing that the birthplace of secularism and the birthplace of liberalism both lie here and that, once we recognize that, a number of doctrinal and conceptual puzzles can be solved, including how to define religion, whether to characterize secular humanism as a religion, and whether to accept the broad (virtually boundless) conception of a right to religious accommodation now being promoted by religious conservatives. The answers proposed are that (a) religion, from the standpoint of this tradition of political theology, refers to beliefs about the content and source of the moral law, and is not contingent on continued belief in a deity; (b) secular humanism is a religion in this sense, and is indeed the religion promoted by accommodationist political theology; (c) the broad conception of a right to religious accommodation must be rejected for the same reasons that the "religion" of secular humanism must be accepted. The paper further argues, as a matter of political theory/history of political thought, that locating the origins of liberalism and secularism in the tradition of divine accommodation reveals conservative political theology and liberal political theory to be one and the same. Finally, it underscores the centrality of law to the humanist tradition and the centrality of humanism to law.
What Words Are Worth: National Science Foundation Grant Abstracts Indicate Award Funding:

Can word patterns from grant abstracts predict National Science Foundation (NSF) funding? In an analysis of over 7.4 million words covering 19,569 proposals, this article presents evidence that the...
Vertical power devices enabled by bulk GaN substrates

The realization of next-generation vertical GaN devices relies heavily on advances in both epitaxial growth of GaN drift layers on commercially available GaN substrates and selective area n-type and p-type doping in a planar process. Although homoepitaxial GaN is expected to provide more control over growth characteristics (e.g. crystallinity and doping), its reliability and reproducibility suffer at the hand of the native GaN substrates available to date. The variations in commercial GaN substrates span defect density, surface roughness, wafer bow, and photoluminescence properties. Thus, elucidating the role of GaN substrate properties on the growth and characteristics of resulting homoepitaxial GaN films has emerged as a new challenge towards next-generation GaN power devices. . In many other semiconductor materials such as Si and SiC, ion implantation is a routine step in most processing sequences for selective area doping and greatly facilitates manufacturing by avoiding the complicated etch/regrowth process. The ability to implant and activate dopants, particularly p-type dopants, in GaN still remains a challenge though. The NRL-developed symmetric multicycle rapid thermal annealing (SMTRA) technique has been shown to activate up to ~10% of the implanted Mg dopant atoms using a combination of a temporary thermally stable capping layer, annealing in a nitrogen overpressure, and performing a well-optimized annealing temperature profile including multiple spike anneals. This paper will present an assessment of substrate-dependent effects on the quality of homoepitaxial GaN films, evaluate ion implantation processing for selective area doping, address basic vertical devices to identify process module development toward practical MOSFET devices.
The Chemoattractant Receptor Ebi2 Drives Intranodal Naive CD4+ T Cell Peripheralization to Promote Effective Adaptive Immunity.

Summary Lymph nodes (LNs) play critical roles in adaptive immunity by concentrating in one location the antigens, antigen-presenting cells, and antigen-responsive lymphocytes involved in such responses. Recent studies have revealed nonrandom localization of innate and adaptive immune cells within these organs, suggesting that microanatomical positioning optimizes responses involving sparse cooperating cells. Here, we report that the peripheral localization of LN cDC2 dendritic cells specialized for MHC-II antigen presentation is matched by a similarly biased paracortical distribution of CD4+ T cells directed by the chemoattractant receptor Ebi2. In the absence of Ebi2, CD4+ T cells lose their location bias and are delayed in antigen recognition, proliferative expansion, differentiation, direct effector activity, and provision of help for CD8+ T cell-mediated memory responses, limiting host defense and vaccine responses. These findings demonstrate evolutionary selection for distinct niches within the LN that promote cellular responses, emphasizing the critical link between fine-grained tissue organization and host defense.
Analysis of an epidemiological model structured by time-since-last-infection

Abstract Modeling time-since-last-infection (TSLI) provides a means of formulating epidemiological models with fewer state variables (or epidemiological classes) and more flexible descriptions of infectivity after infection and susceptibility after recovery than usual. The model considered here has two time variables: chronological time (t) and the TSLI (τ), and it has only two classes: never infected ( N ) and infected at least once (i). Unlike most age-structured epidemiological models, in which the i equation is formulated using ( ∂ ∂ τ + ∂ ∂ t ) i ( τ , t ) , ours uses a more general differential operator. This allows weaker conditions for the infectivity and susceptibility functions, and thus, is more generally applicable. We reformulate the model as an age dependent population problem for analysis, so that published results for these types of problems can be applied, including the existence and regularity of model solutions. We also show how other coupled models having two types of time variables can be stated as age dependent population problems.
Higgs phase as a spin glass and the transition between varieties of confinement

We propose that the Higgs phase of a gauge Higgs theory is the phase of spontaneously broken custodial symmetry, and we present a new gauge invariant order parameter for custodial symmetry breaking which is very closely analogous to the Edwards-Anderson order parameter for spin glasses. Custodial symmetry is a global symmetry acting on the Higgs field alone, and we show here that the spin glass transition in gauge Higgs theories, from a QCD-like phase to a Higgs phase of broken custodial symmetry, coincides with the transition between two distinct types of confinement. These are color confinement in the Higgs phase and a stronger version of confinement, which we have termed ``separation of charge'' confinement, in the QCD-like phase.
On being racially enough: a duoethnography across minoritized racial identities

For much of our lives, we have struggled with not feeling enough in our racial identities, believing one could identify as an Asian or Black person in the “right” way. This quest toward racial auth...
Resilience in adolescence: Prospective Self moderates the association of early life adversity with externalizing problems.

Abstract Introduction Early life adversity (ELA) can result in negative behavioral outcomes, including internalizing and externalizing problems. Evidence suggests that adolescence is a critical developmental period for processing ELA. Identity formation, which is crucial to this developmental period, may moderate the effect between ELA and these problems. One potential moderating variable associated with identity formation is the latent construct Prospective Self, comprised of future-oriented attitudes and behaviors. Methods Participants are from the first wave of an ongoing longitudinal study designed to characterize behavioral and cognitive correlates of risk behavior trajectories. A community sample of 10th and 12th grade adolescents (N = 2017, 55% female) were recruited from nine public school districts across eight Southeastern Michigan counties in the United States. Data were collected in schools during school hours or after school via self-report, computer-administered surveys. Structural equation modeling was utilized to assess Prospective Self as a latent construct and to evaluate the relationship between ELA, internalizing and externalizing problems, and Prospective Self. Results Preliminary findings indicated a satisfactory fit for the construct Prospective Self. The predicted negative associations between Prospective Self and internalizing and externalizing problems were found and evidence of moderation was observed for externalizing problems, such that the effects of ELA (i.e., childhood maltreatment) on externalizing problems were lower for individuals with higher levels of Prospective Self. Conclusions These results indicate that Prospective Self may play a role in supporting resilience against externalizing problems associated with ELA among adolescents.
Experimental validation of a proposed bio-inspired control algorithm for civil infrastructure

Structural control of civil infrastructure in response to large external loads, such as earthquake or wind, is still not widely employed due to several key issues, such as latency in the system and challenges with information exchange. To promote information flow, wireless sensor networks have emerged as a potential solution that is also a low-cost alternative to the traditional wired sensing and actuation infrastructure. However, these systems also introduce additional challenges such as latency in the wireless communication channel and computational inundation at individual sensing nodes. Inspiration can be drawn from the real-time sensing and actuation capabilities of the biological central nervous system to overcome some of these challenges experienced by wireless sensor nodes. A novel bio-inspired wireless sensor node was developed that is capable of real-time time-frequency decomposition of a sensor signal, thus drawing inspiration from the frequency selectivity of certain neurons. Similar to the functionality of neurons, the node uses asynchronous sampling based on the content of the perceived signal, resulting in large power savings and compressed data communication. In this study, the bio-inspired wireless sensor node is utilized for a feedback control application in order to overcome the challenges currently seen in wireless control. The sensor node is able to transmit frequency- specific data in real-time to a controller node which constructs a control force using minimal computational resources. This study validates that performance of the bio-inspired wireless feedback control architecture on a one-story partial- scale shear structure that is seismically excited and controlled via active mass actuators.
Liberalizing trade, and its impact on poverty and inequality in Nicaragua.

The Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations stalled in 2008 owing in no small degree to a lack of agreement on the terms of substantially reducing trade-distorting support for agricultural products and to what extent this will be beneficial to developing countries. Nicaragua presents an interesting case in point, being one of the poorest economies in Latin America with still a relatively large agricultural sector and high degrees of rural poverty. In 2005, the country signed a free trade agreement with the United States. This chapter provides a quantitative analysis addressing that question. It does so using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for Nicaragua coupled with a micro-simulation methodology. The first section provides background information on trade reform policies and macroeconomic trends in Nicaragua, with special reference to the agricultural sector and rural poverty. The section that follows describes the main features of the CGE model and the micro-simulation methodology used to assess the impact on poverty and inequality. The author then lay out the model scenarios considered, which include liberalizations of agricultural and all merchandise goods trade by the rest of the world and by Nicaragua itself. That is followed by a summary analysis of results. This analysis includes tests for the sensitivity of the results with respect to assumptions regarding the responsiveness of trade to price liberalization, as identified through the relevant trade elasticities. The final section provides conclusions and possible policy implications.
Chapter 2 Bio-molecular devices for terahertz frequency sensing

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of bio-molecular devices for terahertz (THz) frequency sensing. The chapter presents a bio-molecular electronic architecture that offers an enhanced capability for sensing THz-frequency bio-signatures. The basic methodology is to incorporate the target biomolecular agents directly into the electronic architecture and to utilize their THz-frequency characteristics directly into the function of the sensor platform. The chapter illustrates how new sensor platforms can utilize combinations of electrical (conductive), THz, and optical or electro-THz-optical (ETO)-based communication and control to refine the process of collecting THz bio-signatures; and to define approaches for increasing the available number of THz spectral features through Multi-State Spectral Sensing (MS3). Modeling and simulation results are presented for an initial set of bio-molecules that illustrates a procedure through which optical excitation can be used to control the molecular conformational state.
Open courseware and computer science education

The recent enthusiastic reception of the MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) project has significantly improved the general awareness of Open Courseware (OC). However, many other lesser known projects and resources can also be classified as OC. The OC movement can potentially provide a vast pool of resources to satisfy diverse needs of Computer Science (CS) educators. However, there are only limited discussions on the possible meanings of OC to CS education. This paper elaborates several important facets of OC. It describes how CS educators can utilize raw educational materials from OC and how OC can support a continuum of approaches on constructing courseware. The impact of OC on CS educators will likely be greater than that of Open Source Software (OSS), since CS educators are more likely developers of course contents but only users of OSS. Thus, this paper suggests deeper and broader studies on the opportunities and challenges of OC provided to CS education.
Surface structure of gliding bacteria after freeze-etching

Ultrastructural studies of gliding bacteria demonstrate 10- to 11-nm beads on the inner surface of the outer bilayer of Cytophaga columnaris. These were not found in Myxococcus xanthus. On treatment with glutaraldehyde and ethanol, the beads appear in linear arrays.
Abstract 17674: Cell Damage and Even Death Detected in Peripheral T-Lymphocytes in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography

Background: It is well known that radiation can cause cell damage and even cell death at high doses. Whether a similar albeit less pronounced effect exists at low dose remains unclear. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether low dose radiation from cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is associated with cellular damage. Methods: Blood was collected from 56 adult patients immediately before and after CCTA. Changes in protein phosphorylation and gene expression were analyzed by quantitative flow cytometry and single cell gene expression profiling, respectively. The presence of cell death was analyzed by flow cytometry in a subset of patients (n=25). Results: Activation of multiple proteins and genes were detected by quantitative flow cytometry and single cell expression profiling after exposure to ≥25 mSv of radiation in vitro. Similarly, blood collected from patients undergoing CCTA showed increased protein (i.e., H2AX, p53, and ATM) and gene (i.e., p53, BAX, MDM2, CDK4, ATF6, and DDB2) activation. A linear-dose response relationship was found in phosphorylated ATM, CDK4 and DDB2 in vivo. Sixty-eight percent (n=17/25; average % cell death 1.4%±0.9%; n=100,000 events) of patients had evidence of T-lymphocyte death after exposure. Patients with DNA damage (i.e. affected patients) as indicated by phosphorylation of H2AX, ATM and/or p53 had more cell death than those without DNA damage (3.7 vs. 1.09 fold, p=0.005) (Figure 1A). Patients with increased cell death were exposed to higher amounts of radiation (38.5 ± 18.4 mSv vs. 15.1 ± 13.4 mSv, p=0.004). With the exception of two patients, most patients who had significant cell death (i.e., >2 fold) had exposure to at least 20 mSv of radiation (Figure 1B). Conclusion: Radiation exposure from CCTA activates multiple proteins and genes involved in the DNA damage response pathway. Cell death was detected in over half of the patients although the magnitude was small. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Accelerometer and fiber optic gyro measurements of an instrumented cylinder used to study impact burial

The impact burial of anti-ship bottom mines in soft seafloors is dependent on the sediment properties and the velocity and orientation of the mine at the time of impact. A full-scale instrumented mine has been constructed to measure descent trajectory and velocity for ground truthing of hydrodynamic model predictions. A dynamic measurement unit (DMU) supplied by Crossbow Technology is the primary sensor employed for this measurement. The six channels of data provided by the DMU are three orthogonal DC coupled accelerations, and three angular rates (about the axis system defined by the accelerometers). We develop a signal processing algorithm that converts the raw DMU data into a time history of the mine's position and orientation during deployment. The algorithm is then tested on DMU data gathered from well-characterized instrument motion to quantify the accuracy of our measurement capability.
Taiwan's WTO Membership and its International Implications

In contrast to other international organizations, the World Trade Organization does not require its members to be states. This constitutional feature has allowed Taiwan to join the WTO alongside China. As a result, the WTO is now the only major international organization in which Taiwan can participate as a full member. This article explores some implications of this unique situation for Taiwan, for the WTO, and for international law. The article contends that Taiwan's membership in the WTO is not itself a bilateral treaty with China and does not itself change the legal relationship between Taiwan and China. What Taiwan's membership does do, however, is to establish some rule of law between Taiwan and China and to give Taiwan standing in an international tribunal should it wish to assert that China has violated WTO rules. The parallel memberships of Taiwan and China also provide a neutral international forum for those two governments to meet and negotiate if needed. The article also points out some dangers to the WTO that stem from Taiwan's exclusion from international standard-setting organizations. The article recommends that the WTO do more to assist Taiwan in carrying out its WTO obligations that involve the international community. In joining the WTO, Taiwan has enhanced its sovereignty in the modern sense of being able to participate in world governance. So far, Taiwan's membership in the WTO has not facilitated its quest for a capacity to participate in the World Health Organization.
Agency and Single Mothers in Uganda

This paper will examine the effects of government and social policy on single mothers in Uganda from the perspectives of the single mothers. Discussions of feminization of poverty do not typically look situations from the viewpoints of single mothers, nor do they examine the potential agency of the mothers, look at the stereotypes/roles single mothers are expected to fill, or look at issues of types of poverty other than economic. This paper - based on research that will be carried out in June/July 2013 in Uganda - will discuss single mothers' viewpoints of various government and donor policies which affect them, as well as their experiences as single mothers. While areas of Uganda have long histories of women raising children on their own, the numbers of single mothers are rapidly growing, while political and religious rhetoric are increasingly critical of women in these circumstances. This paper will analyze these dynamics from the viewpoints of the mothers themselves.
Removal of Mercury from Wastewater Using a Constructed Wetland

Removal of mercury from municipal wastewater using a constructed wetland was studied. Wastewater, wetland plant, and sediment samples were analyzed using an advanced mercury analyzer AMA-254. Average concentrations of total mercury in inflow and outflow water were 0.157 and 0.057 μg L−1, respectively. Significant fraction of mercury (38.2 %) was removed from wastewater during pretreatment. Mercury concentrations in vegetation (Phragmites australis) varied in the range of 0.0099−0.0105 and 0.0079−0.0086 mg kg−1 for the above and belowground biomass, respectively. Total mercury concentrations in the constructed wetland sediments were 0.151 and 0.103 mg kg−1 at distances 1 and 10 m from the inflow zone. Mercury can be precipitated and deposited at the initial part of the wetland bed and thus removed from wastewater. The formation of volatile mercury species is another mechanism of its removal. On the other hand, assimilation of Hg in wetland plants does apparently not contribute to mercury removal from wastewater.