cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The IEEE Systems. Man, and Cybernetics Society: past, present, and future

Four current and former IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Society presidents consider the past, present, and future of the IEEE SMC Society to commemorate the society's 20th anniversary. The authors address its auspicious beginning, its transition from an incubatee to an incubator society, the breadth of its transactions, the international character of its membership, the appropriateness of the name, the move toward a systems-oriented umbrella organization, the evolving array of research areas, and the challenges and opportunities the society faces in the future. >
Multiscale modeling of dynamic crack propagation

Abstract A multiscale approach is employed to investigate a center-cracked specimen with the purpose to redefine fracture toughness from the atomistic perspective and to simulate different modes of crack propagation. The specimen is divided into three regions: (1) far field, modeled by classical fracture mechanics, (2) near field, modeled by a multiscale field theory and analyzed by a generalized finite element method, and (3) crack tip atomic region, modeled by molecular dynamics (MD). The exact and analytical solution of the far field is utilized to specify boundary conditions at the interface between the far field and the near field. The interaction between the near field and the crack tip region is described by full-blown interatomic forces. In this work, crystals of perovskite (Barium Titanate) and rocksalt (Magnesia) have been studied. Fracture toughness is defined as a material property associated with instability of the MD simulation. Mode I, Mode II, and mixed mode fracture have been investigated and numerical results will be presented and discussed.
The effect of skin-core morphology on the impact fracture of poly(butyline terephthalate)

Variations in the skin-core morphologies of injection-molded poly(butylene terephthalate) samples have been characterized as a function of molding conditions by optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and density measurments. Samples molded from 450 and 510°F melts at mold temperatures ranging from 70 to 250°F were found to have nonspherulitic skins whose thicknesses varied inversely with processing temperature. Very little orientation was observed in the skin or core regions of the molded bars. Density profiles are presented. Impact data obtained on bars with molded-in notches demonstrate that significant increases in impact strength are observed with increasing skin thickness, although the maximum skin thickness remains less than a few hundred microns. This behavior persists through the ductile brittle transition which is centered at ∼50°C. Fracture surface micrographs and high-speed stress-strain curves are presented and used to give a qualitative description of the fracture process. At room temperature the samples appear to deform elastically up to the point of fracture, while at higher temperatures extensive shear deformation is observed. In each case failure ultimately occurs via a craze–crack mechanism.
IBM's Program for Continuing Education

One of the country's most pressing problems is the need for continuing, advanced education-particularly technological education. To create the right atmosphere and to develop the proper employee motivation, IBM Education has an overall goal: to equip its employees to live with change; to anticipate it, to understand it, and then to implement it. Continuing education in industry protects the basic fund of knowledge and challenges the mind. More specifically, it assists in learning and understanding a new assignment and equips the individual for personal and professional growth. College graduation is not the ending; it is indeed the commencement-the point in time when an engineer's education really begins.
Calibration of National Ignition Facility neutron detectors in the energy range E<14 MeV

We examine various options for calibration of the National Ignition Facility neutron detectors in the energy range E<14 MeV. These options include: downscatter of D–T fusion neutrons using plastic targets; nuclear reactions at a Tandem Van de Graaf accelerator; and “white” neutrons from a pulsed spallation source. As an example of the pulsed spallation option, we present calibration data that was recently acquired with a single crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond detector at the Weapons Neutron Research Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Distribution and abundance of the epipelagic mollusk Carinaria japonica in waters off Southern California

The distribution and abundance of the heteropod mollusk Carinaria japonica Okutani is described from midwater trawl records off Southern California (USA) and northern Baja California (Mexico). Maximal numbers of individuals were recorded during August in oceanic waters off Southern California. In oceanic waters near Guadalupe Island, Baja California, low population levels were recorded irrespective of season. In neritic waters over the continental shelf off Southern California, C. japonica were present in low numbers, mainly between July and December when conditions seemed most favorable for their entry into the Southern California Eddy.
The elasticity of demand for rail freight

The study described arrives at an empirical determination of the elasticity of demand for rail freight for a railroad firm. Theoretical approach to the problem and data are discussed.
Graphene oxide interlayers for robust, high-efficiency organic photovoltaics

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials have recently garnered significant attention as enablers of high power conversion efficiency (PCE), low-cost, mechanically flexible solar cells. Nevertheless, further understanding-based materials developments will be required to achieve full commercial viability. In particular, the performance and durability of many current generation OPVs are limited by poorly understood interfacial phenomena. Careful analysis of typical OPV architectures reveals that the standard electron-blocking layer, poly-3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene:poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), is likely a major factor limiting the device durability and possibly performance. Here we report that a single layer of electronically tuned graphene oxide is an effective replacement for PEDOT:PSS and that it significantly enhances device durability while concurrently templating a performance-optimal active layer π-stacked face-on microstructure. Such OPVs based on graphene oxide exhibit PCEs as high as 7.5% whil...
Creatinine clearance but not serum creatinine alone predicts long-term postoperative survival

Abstract Introduction: End-stage renal disease is a risk factor for perioperative morbidity and shortened survival after major surgery. Given the multiple confounding factors related to serum creatinine, we aimed to determine if estimated creatinine clearance more accurately predicts long-term survival. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the vascular registry at our institution. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine independent predictors of one-, two-, and three-year mortality. Creatinine clearance was calculated as [[140-age(yr)]∗weight(kg)]/[72∗serum Cr(mg/dL)] (multiplied by 0.85 for women). Results: 252 patients underwent infrainguinal bypass procedures between August 1999 and May 2000. Demographics included average age 68 years, 65% male, 74% diabetic, 12% dialysis-dependent, 23% history of CHF, 12% history of stroke, and 20% serum creatinine >2mg/dL. One-, two-, and three-year mortalities were 16%, 25%, and 35%, respectively. Creatinine did not differ between survivors and non-survivors at one year (1.8 vs 1.9, p=0.802), two years (1.8 vs 2.0, p=0.618), or three years (1.8 vs 2.0, p=0.241), and creatinine >2mg/dL did not predict long-term adverse outcomes. In contrast, reduced creatinine clearance (60 ml/min) was an independent predictor of mortality regardless of dialysis statis (1-yr: OR=2.53, p=0.014; 2-yrs: OR=2.46, p=0.004; 3-yrs: OR=2.45, p=0.001), and creatinine clearance was higher for survivors at all three time points (1-yr: 70.2 vs 49.5, p=0.003; 2-yrs: 72.3 vs 51.2, p Conclusions: Regardless of dialysis status, a decreased creatinine clearance, but not elevated creatinine alone, is an independent predictor of postoperative mortality. This measure should be included in preoperative risk evaluations of patients undergoing major surgical procedures.
Matching a cause with self-schema: The moderating effect on brand preferences

The moderating roles of consumer brand involvement type and product type on the effect of a match between consumers' self-schema and the cause a brand supports on consumers' preference for the cause-supporting brand is investigated. The authors show that a schema–cause match enhances consumer preference for a brand engaging in cause-related marketing when (1) consumers' involvement with the brand is of the impression-relevant type (vs. outcome-relevant type) and (2) when the branded product is functional (vs. hedonic). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keyhole limpet hemocyanin contains Gal(β1–3)-GalNAc determinants that are cross-reactive with the T antigen

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is widely used as a carrier molecule to enhance immune responses to administered antigens, and for immunotherapy of bladder and renal carcinoma. In the present study we show, using lectin and antibody binding studies, that native KLH contains Gal(β1–3)GalNAc-bearing oligosaccharides, and that immunization with KLH in Lewis rats induces the production of anti-Gal(β1–3)GalNAc antibodies. This might explain the beneficial effect of KLH in bladder cancers that express crossreactive Gal(β1–3)GalNAc determinants or the T antigen.
Bandemia with Normal White Blood Cell Counts Associated with Infection

Abstract Objective Measuring immature white blood cell forms ("bands") has been considered clinically unnecessary. We performed this study to determine whether elevated band counts, with normal total white blood cells on admission, were associated with infection or in-hospital death. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study including all patients admitted to the Christiana Care Health System 2-hospital, 1100-bed community-based academic health system in 2009 with normal white blood cells (3800-10,800 per mm 3 ) on admission who had manual differentials performed. We defined our band groups as normal (≤10% bands and other immature cells), moderate (11%-19%), or high (≥20%). Via chart review, we ascertained vital signs and culture results for all patients with elevated bands and 407 randomly sampled patients with normal bands. Cultures likely to be contaminants were excluded. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine whether bandemia was predictive of significant positive cultures or death. Results Of 2342 patients, 167 (7.1%) had high bands and 205 (8.6%) had moderate bands. The mean white blood cell count was 7.5 cells/mm 3 , with no difference among groups. Bandemia was associated with increased odds of having any significant positive culture (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.1 for moderate bands; adjusted OR, 2.8, 95% CI, 1.7-4.3 for high bands) and having positive blood cultures (adjusted OR, 3.8, 95% CI, 2.0-7.2 for moderate bands; adjusted OR, 6.2, 95% CI, 3.2-11.8 for high bands). Patients with moderate or high bands also had increased odds of in-hospital death (adjusted OR, 3.2, 95% CI, 1.7-6.1; adjusted OR, 4.7, 95% CI, 2.4-9.0, respectively). Conclusions Even with normal total white blood cells, patients with moderate and high bandemia on admission had significantly increased odds of having positive cultures, including blood cultures, and of in-hospital mortality.
Modified momentum distribution of quarks in a two-nucleon system

Abstract The average quark momentum in a two-nucleon system is calculated using the quark cluster model approach. Its relation to the rescaling model of the EMC effect is discussed. We emphasize that the effect of quark antisymmetrization is supressed by exchange factors for the internal degrees of freedom. Color-magnetic gluon exchange is found to modify the individual nucleon size significantly.
Shifting the focus from accuracy to recallability: A study of informal note-taking on mobile information technologies

Mobile information technologies are theoretically well-suited to digitally accomodate informal note-taking, with the notes often recorded quickly and under less than ideal circumstances. Unfortunately, user adoption of mobile support for informal note-taking has been hindered in large part by slow text entry techniques. Building on research confirming people's ability to recognize erroneous text, this study explores two simple modifications to Graffiti-based text entry with the goal of increasing text entry speed: disabling text correction and disabling visual feedback. As expected, both modifications improved text entry speed at the cost of recognizability. To address the decrease in recognizability, a multiapproach text-enhancement algorithm is introduced with the goal of modifying the erroneous note to facilitate the process of recalling the event or activity that originally motivated the note. A study with 75 participants confirmed that the proposed approach of discouraging user-initiated error correction during note-taking, enhancing the resulting erroneous notes, and facilitating recall with enhanced alternative lists, increased note-taking speed by 47p with no negative impact on the participants' ability to recall important details about the scenarios which prompted the note-taking activities. This research highlighs the importance and efficacy of shifting the focus from accuracy to recallability when examining the overall efficacy of informal notes. The proposed modifications and adaptations produce significant benefits and have important implications for how mobile technologies are designed to support both informal note-taking and text entry in general.
A Conserved Glutamate Residue in the C-terminal Deaminase Domain of Pentatricopeptide Repeat Proteins is Required for RNA Editing Activity

Many transcripts expressed from plant organelle genomes are modified by C-to-U RNA editing. Nuclear encoded pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins include an RNA binding domain that provides site specificity. In addition, many PPR proteins include a C-terminal DYW deaminase domain with characteristic zinc binding motifs (CXXC, HXE) and has recently been shown to bind zinc ions. The glutamate residue of the HXE motif is catalytically required in the reaction catalyzed by cytidine deaminase. In this work, we examine the activity of the DYW deaminase domain through truncation or mutagenesis of the HXE motif. OTP84 is required for editing three chloroplast sites, and transgenes expressing OTP84 with C-terminal truncations were capable of editing only one of the three cognate sites at high efficiency. These results suggest that the deaminase domain of OTP84 is required for editing two of the sites, but another deaminase is able to supply the deamination activity for the third site. OTP84 and CREF7 transgenes were mutagenized to replace the glutamate residue of the HXE motif, and transgenic plants expressing OTP84-E824A and CREF7-E554A were unable to efficiently edit the cognate editing sites for these genes. In addition, plants expressing CREF7-E554A exhibited substantially reduced capacity to edit a non-cognate site, rpoA C200. These results indicate that the DYW deaminase domains of PPR proteins are involved in editing their cognate editing sites, and in some cases may participate in editing additional sites in the chloroplast.
Advanced interactive visualization for CFD

Abstract New ideas are presented for the visualization of computational fluid dynamics data. These include both unsteady two-dimensional and steady three-dimensional data on either structured or unstructured grids. In addition to presenting some specific algorithm advances, considerable attention is devoted to innovative interactive probes and the appropriate choice of program architecture and internal data structure.
Reaction of Silanes in Supercritical CO2 with TiO2 and Al2O3

Infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the reaction of silanes with TiO2 and Al2O3 using supercritical CO2 (Sc-CO2) as a solvent. It was found that contact of Sc-CO2 with TiO2 leads to partial removal of the water layer and to the formation of carbonate, bicarbonate, and carboxylate species on the surface. Although these carbonate species are weakly bound to the TiO2 surface and can be removed by a N2 purge, they poison the surface, resulting in a lower level of reaction of silanes with TiO2. Specifically, the amount of hexamethyldisilazane adsorbed on TiO2 is about 10% of the value obtained when the reaction is performed from the gas phase. This is not unique to TiO2, as the formation of carbonate species also occurs upon contact of Al2O3 with Sc-CO2 and this leads to a lower level of reaction with hexamethyldisilazane. This is in contrast to reactions of silanes on SiO2 where Sc-CO2 has several advantages over conventional gaseous or nonaqueous methods. As a result, caution needs to be applied wh...
Positron annihilation spectroscopy of methane monolayers adsorbed on graphite.

Positron annihilation lifetime and Doppler-broadening energy spectra have been measured between 13 and 95 K for 0, 0.50, and 0.81 submonolayers of methane adsorbed on graphite. Both the surface positron lifetimes (\ensuremath{\sim}0.31 ns) and S parameter (central) of the Doppler-broadening energy spectra are sensitive to the solid-solid, solid-liquid, and liquid--hypercritical-fluid phase transitions. Activation energies of 0.017\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 eV and 0.007\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 eV were obtained for surface-defect formation for n=0.5 and 0.81, respectively, in two-dimensional methane on graphite surfaces. Applications of positron annihilation spectroscopy to study physisorption phenomena are discussed.
Identification of a Copper-Inducible Promoter for Use in Ectopic Expression in the Fungal Pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum

Despite the existence of a number of genetic tools to study the fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum, strategies for conditional gene expression have not been developed. We used microarray analysis to identify genes that are transcriptionally induced or repressed by the addition of copper sulfate (CuSO4) to H. capsulatum yeast cultures. One of these genes, CRP1, encodes a putative copper efflux pump that is significantly induced in the presence of CuSO4. The upstream regulatory region of CRP1 was sufficient to drive copper-regulated expression of two reporter genes, lacZ and the gene encoding green fluorescent protein. Microarray experiments were performed to determine a copper concentration that triggers accumulation of the CRP1 transcript without significant perturbation of global gene expression. These studies show that the CRP1 upstream regulatory region can be used for ectopic expression of heterologous genes in H. capsulatum. Furthermore, they demonstrate the strategic use of microarrays to identify conditional promoters that confer induction in the absence of large-scale shifts in gene expression.
Aurophilic interactions in μ-p-phenylenediethynyl-bis-[(trimethyl phosphite)gold(I)] dichloromethane hemisolvate

The title compound, [Au 2 (C 10 H 4 )(C 3 H 9 O 3 P) 2 ].0.5CH 2 Cl 2 , is a linear monomer in which each Au atom is coordinated by one acetylene and one phosphite group. Molecules are connected through aurophilic interactions, one short and one longer, approximately perpendicular to the intramolecular di(gold acetylide) unit, with an Au...Au(x, 1 - y, 1 2 + z) distance of 3.1733 (2) A and an Au...Au(-x, y, 1 2 - z) distance of 3.5995 (3) A. Comparison with related compounds exhibiting aurophilic interactions shows that the packing architecture is not determined by steric factors alone.
Regional Responsiveness of the Tibia to Intermittent Administration of Parathyroid Hormone as Affected by Skeletal Unloading

To determine whether the acute inhibition of bone formation and deficit in bone mineral induced by skeletal unloading can be prevented, we studied the effects of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration (8 micrograms/100 g/day) on growing rats submitted to 8 days of skeletal unloading. Loss of weight bearing decreased periosteal bone formation by 34 and 51% at the tibiofibular junction and tibial midshaft, respectively, and reduced the normal gain in tibial mass by 35%. Treatment with PTH of normally loaded and unloaded animals increased mRNA for osteocalcin (+58 and +148%, respectively), cancellous bone volume in the proximal tibia (+41 and +42%, respectively), and bone formation at the tibiofibular junction (+27 and +27%, respectively). Formation was also stimulated at the midshaft in unloaded (+47%, p < 0.05), but not loaded animals (-3%, NS). Although cancellous bone volume was preserved in PTH-treated, unloaded animals, PTH did not restore periosteal bone formation to normal nor prevent the deficit in overall tibial mass induced by unloading. We conclude that the effects of PTH on bone formation are region specific and load dependent. PTH can prevent the decrease in cancellous bone volume and reduce the decrement in cortical bone formation induced by loss of weight bearing.
Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Pediatric Spanish–English Speech Perception Task

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a task to evaluate children's English and Spanish speech perception abilities in either noise or competing speech maskers. Method Eight bilingual Spanish–English and 8 age-matched monolingual English children (ages 4.9–16.4 years) were tested. A forced-choice, picture-pointing paradigm was selected for adaptively estimating masked speech reception thresholds. Speech stimuli were spoken by simultaneous bilingual Spanish–English talkers. The target stimuli were 30 disyllabic English and Spanish words, familiar to 5-year-olds and easily illustrated. Competing stimuli included either 2-talker English or 2-talker Spanish speech (corresponding to target language) and spectrally matched noise. Results For both groups of children, regardless of test language, performance was significantly worse for the 2-talker than for the noise masker condition. No difference in performance was found between bilingual and monolingual children. Bilingual children performed signifi...
An oxidation-reduction buffer for evaluating the physiological response of plants to root oxygen stress.

Abstract Zea mays and Spartina patens were grown in nutrient solution containing either an oxidized (+4) or a reduced (+3) form of titanium citrate. Low oxidation-reduction conditions in the nutrient solution as a result of titanium (+3) citrate reduced photosynthetic activity of Zea mays. Photosynthetic activity of flood-tolerant S. patens was initially reduced by the addition of titanium (+3) citrate but subsequently increased, indicating the existence of adaptation mechanisms in S. patens. Titanium citrate was non-toxic since titanium (+4) citrate (oxidized form) added to rooting medium resulted in no reduction in photosynthetic activity of either species. Titanium (+3) citrate may be an excellent non-toxic oxidation-reduction buffering system for evaluating wetland plant response to root oxygen stress.
Studies of Natural Populations of White-Footed Mice: Reduction of Reproduction at Varying Densities

A population of white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis ) on an 11-ha area was studied monthly during 1983–1989 with 600 live-traps and with 254 wooden nest boxes attached to trees. I hypothesized that regulation of population growth would occur each year in the same area at markedly different numerical levels and that the characteristics of reproductive curtailment would be similar between animals in populations of widely different densities. More than 90% of the population known to be alive were captured each month; <20% of suckling young recorded in nest boxes subsequently were captured in traps. The number of adults in the population varied from 22.9/ha in March 1983 to 0.3/ha in November 1984. Significantly more adult males (56.7%) than adult females (43.3%) were captured during the study and a smaller percentage of males than females was reproductively mature in 58 of 72 monthly comparisons. A yearly bimodal curve of reproduction was noted over 7 years with significantly lower proportions of males and females in reproductive condition during May, June, and July than during February–April and August–October. Correlation coefficients between the number of adults of each sex and the percentage in reproductive condition from April 1984 through November 1989 were negative for females at P ≤ 0.01 and for males at P ≤ 0.1. Yearly correlations between the same measurements generally were negative for both sexes, but at widely different densities. No consistent pattern of change in body weight in males and nonpregnant females was noted. Weights of testes, seminal vesicles, ovaries, and uteri generally were significantly smaller in May, June, and July than in March, April, August, September, and October. Factors producing this significant retardation of reproduction at widely different density levels are unknown and are not related to density per se.
Group decision program: a videodisc-based group decision support system

Abstract In recent years group decision support systems have been developed to improve the process of group decision-making and improve its outcomes. This paper describes Group Decision Program (GDP), an interactive videodisc-based GDSS. GDP is a topic-independent system designed to provide a computer-based, structured process to direct the pattern, timing, and content used in group decision-making. Based on the structure of Nominal Group Technique (NGT), it is designed around a multi-phase process that includes an optional tutorial, idea collection, idea ranking, and report generation.
CAN WE DETERMINE THE BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY OF SEDIMENT-BOUND TRACE ELEMENTS?

It is clear from available data that the susceptibility of biological communities to trace element contamination differs among aquatic environments. One important reason is that the bioavailability of metals in sediments appears to be altered by variations in sediment geochemistry. However, methods for explaining or predicting the effect of sediment geochemistry upon metal bioavailability are poorly developed. Experimental studies demonstrate that ingestion of sediments and uptake from solution may both be important pathways of metal bioaccumulation in deposit/detritus feeding species. Relative importance between the two is geochemistry dependent. Geochemical characteristics of sediments also affect metal concentrations in the tissues of organisms collected from nature, but the specific mechanisms by which these characteristics influence metal bioavailability have not been rigorously demonstrated. Several prerequisites are necessary to better understand the processes that control metal bioavailability from sediments. 1) improved computational or analytical methods for analyzing distribution of metals among components of the sediments; 2) improved computational methods for assessing the influences of metal form in sediments on sediment-water metal exchange; and 3) a better understanding of the processes controlling bioaccumulation of metals from solution and food by metazoan species directly exposed to the sediments. Such capabilities would allow mechanistic explanations essential to the development of practical tools sought for determining sediment quality criteria for metals.
Phagocytosis of protein coated colloidal-gold-agarose-gelatin microbeads by cultured uterine glandular epithelial and stromal cells.

A procedure for fixing and immunostaining whole cells from primary cultures of ovine and bovine uterine gland fragments was used to identify keratin in intermediate filaments of epithelial cells to distinguish them from stromal cells. Colloidal gold encapsulated aga-rose-gelatin microbeads were coated with different proteins and used to investigate uptake by epithelial and stromal cells in culture. Micro-beads were taken up by stromal cells and by epithelial cells on the outskirts of colonies. These cells formed ridges where they contacted and grew above stromal cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the microbeads had been internalized and appeared to be nontoxic. Individual cells could harbor more than 90 microbeads within their cytoplasm for at least seven to ten days with no apparent harm. Some cells with microbeads were seen to divide.
Patient satisfaction with a nurse-led, telephone-based disease management service in Birmingham

In April 2006, a nurse-led telephone-based service was launched in Birmingham to improve the health outcomes of up to 2000 patients with high-risk, long-term conditions. Patients received regular telephone calls and educational materials selected according to their conditions. In August 2006, 506 questionnaires with 30 five-point Likert-type questions were sent to patients and 128 were returned within four weeks (25% response rate). The results showed that 96% of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the quality of service being provided by the care managers. The educational material (care books) was found to be informative, easy to read and easy to understand. The qualitative feedback indicated that patients perceived the service to be useful, accessible and helped them to be more efficient in taking care of themselves. More than 40% of the patients agreed that the service reduced their need to go to hospital. Using a telephone-based disease management service seems to b...
Abstract 4272: NanoLucTMas an improved BRET donor to monitor EGFR interactions within living cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC As a small, versatile protein fusion reporter, NanoLuc™ luciferase offers superior brightness and sensitivity compared to any luciferase described to date. The small size and enhanced brightness of NanoLuc™ makes it ideally suited as an energy donor for Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) to a variety of fluorescent acceptors within living cells. By combining genetic reporters such as NanoLuc™ luciferase and HaloTag™ fluorescent labelling technology, it is possible to monitor the interactions of cell surface receptors such as EGFR with adapter proteins in response to growth factor stimulation. In addition to demonstrating inducible protein interactions, it may also be possible to apply this foundational BRET system to the measurement of ligand or small molecule binding events within living cells. Citation Format: Matthew B. Robers, Thomas Machleidt, Thomas Kirkland, Carolyn Woodroofe, Frank Fan, Mei Cong, Keith Wood. NanoLucTM as an improved BRET donor to monitor EGFR interactions within living cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4272. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4272
MEASURING UNCERTAINTY IN ROUGH SET THEORY

A well justified measure of uncertainty for rough set theory is presented along with an axiomatic derivation. The connection between this measure and classical measures of uncertainty is provided.
Photoemission using femtosecond laser pulses

Successful operation of short wavelength FEL requires an electron bunch of current >100 A and normalized emittance < 1 mm-mrad. Recent experiments show that RF guns with photocathodes as the electron source may be the ideal candidate for achieving these parameters. To reduce the emittance growth due to space charge and RF dynamics effects, the gun may have to operate at high field gradient (hence at high RF frequency) and a spot size small compared to the aperture. This may necessitate the laser pulse duration to be in the subpicosecond regime to reduce the energy spread. We will present the behavior of metal photocathodes upon irradiation with femtosecond laser beams, comparison of linear and nonlinear photoemission, and scalability to high currents. Theoretical estimate of the intrinsic emittance at the photocathode in the presence of the anomalous heating of the electrons, and the tolerance on the surface roughness of the cathode material will be discussed.
Neimark–Sacker bifurcations in a non-standard numerical scheme for a class of positivity-preserving ODEs

We discuss the nature of Neimark–Sacker bifurcations occurring in a non-standard numerical scheme, for a class of positivity-preserving systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which undergoes a corresponding Hopf bifurcation. Extending previous work (Alexander & Moghadas 2005a Electron. J. Diff. Eqn. Conf. 12, 9–19), it is shown that the type of Neimark–Sacker bifurcation (supercritical or subcritical) may be affected by the integration time-step ð[Þ. The general form of the scheme in the vicinity of a fixed point is given, from which the expression for the first Lyapunov coefficient for two-dimensional systems, valid for arbitrary time-step, is explicitly derived. The analysis shows that this coefficient undergoes an Oð[Þ shift with respect to the corresponding coefficient of the original ODE. This could lead to a type of bifurcation which differs from the corresponding Hopf bifurcation in the ODE, due to changes in the sign of the first Lyapunov coefficient as [ varies. This is especially problematic in the vicinity of certain types of degenerate Hopf bifurcation, at which this coefficient may vanish. We also present a general method to eliminate the possible Oð[Þ shift in the bifurcation parameter of the scheme; however, the first Lyapunov coefficient may still be subjected to an Oð[Þ shift, leading to a possibly erroneous type of bifurcation. Examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results of the paper with applications to mathematical biology.
Tribal nations, transnational Indigenous movements, and D'Arcy McNickle

Indigenous activism faces the compelling dilemma of how to manage the relationship between the strength of polities defined around distinct tribal identities and building pan-tribal and increasingly transnational Indigenous coalitions. Resembling their Native North American nationalist counterparts, many Latin American Indigenous communities call for the autonomy and self-determination of what I call tribal nations. Yet the inspiration and the strategies for this demand for tribal nationhood are often transnational in origin. Discussing the work of Indigenous activists throughout the Americas, this article examines how tribal nations are conceptualized in contemporary Native politics. Lastly, it investigates how the dynamics of specific tribal identities and the need to organize across tribal differences informed the work of the Native writer and public intellectual D'Arcy McNickle.
A DNS study of laminar bubbly flows in a vertical channel

Direct numerical simulations are used to examine laminar bubbly flows in vertical channels. For equal size nearly spherical bubbles the results show that at steady state the number density of bubbles in the center of the channel is always such that the fluid mixture there is in hydrostatic equilibrium. For upflow, excess bubbles are pushed to the walls, forming a bubble rich wall-layer, one bubble diameter thick. For downflow, bubbles are drawn into the channel center, leading to a wall-layer devoid of bubbles, of a thickness determined by how much the void fraction in the center of the channel must be increased to reach hydrostatic equilibrium. The void fraction profile can be predicted analytically using a very simple model and the model also gives the velocity profile for the downflow case. For the upflow, however, the velocity increase across the wall-layer must be obtained from the simulations. The slip velocity of the bubbles in the channel core and the velocity fluctuations are predicted reasonably well by results for homogeneous flows.
Exact solution for spontaneous emission in the presence of N atoms

$N$ two-level "atoms" are considered in interaction with a single-mode resonant electromagnetic field. The exact solution is given nonrelativistically for all times for the case of spontaneous emission, when only one atom is initially excited. The solution is given for the general case of the $N$ atoms in inequivalent mode positions.
A six-armed oligomer isolated from cell surface fibronectin preparations

Fibronectins are adhesive glycoproteins thought to mediate the attachment of cells to various substrates1,2. Plasma fibronectin (PFN) is a dimer comprising subunits of molecular weight 220,000, connected by one or two disulphide bonds. Electron microscopy shows that PFN is a long, flexible strand, 2–3 nm in diameter and 140 nm long3,4. Many cells in tissue culture elaborate an extracellular matrix of insoluble (highly cross-linked by disulphide bonds) fibronectin, and a variable amount of ‘cell surface fibronectin’ (CSFN) that can be extracted by mild urea treatment. This CSFN, soluble in 1 M urea and at high pH, is a mixture of dimers and disulphide-bonded oligomers5–7. In the present study we have examined the structure of these molecules by electron microscopy. Oligomers were separated from dimers and contaminating proteins by zone sedimentation through glycerol gradients. We report that the CSFN dimers are identical in structure to PFN. In contrast, the oligomers have an elaborate and well defined structure that we call a ‘hexabrachion’: six arms emanating from a central globular particle. The arms are similar to PFN in being long, thin and flexible, but have several distinctly different features.
Template-directed synthesis of high molecular weight polynucleotide analogues.

A GREAT deal is known about the structures of nucleic acids and the mechanisms involved in nucleic acid replication. This relatively new knowledge has led a number of authors to speculate that other linear heteropolymers might be able to serve as carriers of genetic information. A number of polynucleotide analogues have been synthesised by chemical or enzymatic methods1–7 and one of them has been used as a template for RNA polymerase4. Two studies, in particular, have some relationship to the present work. 3′–5′-Linked polynucleotides derived from 2′-amino-2′-deoxynucleoside 5′-phosphates have been synthesised enzymatically7. Letsinger et al.5,6 reported the chemical and enzymatic formation of polydeoxyribonucleotides containing N5′–O3′-phosphoramidate linkages. Here we discuss nucleic acid analogues derived from 2′-amino-2′-deoxynucleotides that we believe may be capable of non-enzymatic replication, and describe some experimental results which, although they are far from establishing the principle of self-replication, do show that it is possible to synthesise fairly long oligomers on templates in aqueous solution.
Neuronal activity in human right lateral temporal cortex related to visuospatial memory and perception

Neuronal activity was recorded extracellularly from 22 neurons in the right lateral temporal cortex of 12 patients undergoing awake craniotomy for surgical treatment of epilepsy during tests of visuospatial function. These included: measures of short-term visuospatial memory; face, complex figure and line matching; labeling of facial emotional expressions; and a language task, object naming. Six neurons demonstrated significant changes during one or more of the three 1.3-s epochs following test presentation. All 6 of these neurons demonstrated inhibition during short-term visuospatial memory entry, or retrieval, or both. Four of the neurons also showed significant changes during one or more matching tasks; 8 of 10 of these changes were excitatory. One neuron also demonstrated excitation with labeling of facial emotional expression and another with naming. These data demonstrate in human right lateral temporal cortex a pattern of inhibition of neuronal activity during short-term visuospatial memory that contrasts with excitation during other functions, particularly figure matching.
Word category aphasia

Summary The syndrome of word category aphasia is characterized by a non-modalityspecific anomia plus a comprehension defect limited to words in specific semantic categories. This defect may be found in the absence of other aphasic disturbances. In particular, spontaneous speech, repetition of -spoken language, oral written language comprehension may be intact, aside from the limited defects described. Analysis of the unusual case described in this report permits the following tentative suggestions: 1) There may be a two-step mechanism in the process of the comprehension of spoken language: word-sound perception and word-meaning comprehension. 2) Categories, such as body parts, room objects, or colors, may have a more or less -independent existence in the complex neuropsychological process of meaning decoding.
Structure and reactivity of benzoylnitrene radical anion in the gas phase.

The open-shell benzoylnitrene radical anion, readily generated by electron ionization of benzoylazide, undergoes unique chemical reactivity with radical reagents and Lewis acids in the gas phase. Reaction with nitric oxide, NO, proceeds by loss of N2 and formation of benzoate ion. This novel reaction is also observed to occur with phenylnitrene anion, forming phenoxide. Similar reactivity was observed in the reaction between benzoylnitrene radical anion and NO2, forming benzoate ion and nitrous oxide. Electronic structure calculations indicate that the reaction has a high-energy barrier that is overcome by the energy released by bond formation. Benzoylnitrene radical anion also transfers oxygen anion to NO and NO2 as well as to CS2 and SO2. In contrast, phenylnitrene anion reacts with carbon disulfide by C+ or CS+ abstraction, forming S- or S2-. Electronic structure calculations indicate that benzoylnitrene in the ground state resembles a slightly polarized benzoate anion, but with a free radical localize...
Organizational longevity ‐ Integrating systems thinking, learning and conceptual complexity

An examination of organizational Darwinism – survival of the fittest – via systems theory provides the foundation for a related analysis of the learning organization and the kinds of leaders necessary to pilot organizations through uncertain environments fraught with turbulence. Such environmental changes include the revolutionization of information, fast‐paced technological change, the dissolution of national boundaries and cultural barriers to communication, and changing values.
The influence of cryostructure on the creep behavior of ice-rich permafrost

Abstract Unconfined constant stress creep (CSC) tests were performed in order to look at the influence of cryostructure on the creep behavior of ice-rich undisturbed permafrost soils and remolded frozen soils within the temperature range from − 1 °C to − 2 °C. Undisturbed ice-rich permafrost soils were sampled from a Pleistocene age yedoma or “ice-complex” permafrost deposit in Interior Alaska. Cryostructure or the pattern of ice inclusions within a frozen soil is a direct indicator of the geologic and cryogenic genesis of permafrost soils. The data indicate that cryostructure influences the creep behavior of permafrost soils. Undisturbed soils with massive cryostructure showed higher induced creep strains and minimum strain rates than the more ice-rich undisturbed soils. Remolded soils with massive cryostructure experienced significantly lower creep strains and lower strain rates than the undisturbed soils. Deformation rates increase rapidly above a threshold stress value for remolded soils. From an engineering viewpoint, use of creep rates from remolded soils is non conservative and under predicts the creep rates of undisturbed soils. The orientation of ice lenses can facilitate motion along the ice lens–soil contact. Similarly, folding of ice lenses may occur, thus inducing anisotropic lateral strains. The ice facies tested indicate that for the temperature and stress range tested, ice creeps at a slower rate than frozen soils.
80 THE NON-MEDICAL COSTS OF CHRONIC AND CATASTROPHIC CON DITIONS IN CHILDREN: THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN PRICE

“Non-Medical costs” appear at first to mean the out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the child's condition such as transportation, food, lodging, etc. These can be a great burden on the family since they have to be paid immediately and are rarely reimbursed by insurance. There are, however, other non-medical costs that are emotional in nature and may lead to a temporary overload of the coping ability of the family. While these human and emotional costs cannot be alleviated by dollars and cents alone, counseling and other support services that may assist families in need will have to be financed. It appears imperative that both the financial and human non-medical costs of illness be taken into account in future health care planning. Data documenting such costs is scanty or nonexistent. The authors have contacted parents of children with five randomly selected conditions, in a pilot mailing, in preparation for a later nationwide inquiry. The questionnaires are well accepted by parents. Preliminary results show gaps in the financing of vital equipment and services.
The effect of adrenergic agonists on the systemic response to hemorrhage.

Purpose: Systemic blood loss elicits a variety of reflex cardiovascular responses, which preserve cardiac out-put as possible and preserve arterial blood pressure when cardiac output decreases. When compensatory venoconstriction is exhausted, hemorrhage reduces oxygen delivery (Qo2), and systemic vasoconstriction competes with local metabolic vasodilation to preserve tissue oxygen uptake (Vo2). Through their effects on vascular tone and blood flow distribution, adrenergic agents might interfere with the physiological responses to reduced 02 delivery. This study was designed to determine the effects of dobutamine and norepinephrine on oxygen extraction and systemic vascular resistance during progressive hemorrhage. Methods: We infused dobutamine or norepinephrine into anesthetized, ventilated dogs and measured the systemic vascular resistance, oxygen consumption, and oxygen extraction ratio as oxygen delivery (blood flow) was reduced by blood withdrawal. Four groups were compared: control (saline), dobutamine (10 μg/ kg/min), high-dose norepinephrine (1.0 gg/kg/min), and low-dose norepinephrine (0.1 μg/kg/min). Results: High-dose norepinephrine increased oxygen demand but did not alter extraction significantly at the critical point. Neither low-dose norepinephrine nor dobutamine affected oxygen extraction during hemorrhage. Dobutamine and norepinephrine both ablated the increase in systemic vascular resistance that accompanies hemorrhage. Low-dose norepinephrine was not different from control. Conclusions: Norepinephrine and dobutamine appear to block reflex vasoconstriction, and mechanistic explanations for this finding remain speculative. Despite inhibition of reflex vasoconstriction, neither dobutamine nor norepinephrine significantly impaired oxygen extraction during hemorrhage.
Beliefs about relationships in relation to television viewing, soap opera viewing, and self-monitoring

Undergraduates (n=188) completed: a survey of television and soap opera viewing habits; the Relationship Beliefs Inventory, measuring dysfunctional relationship beliefs; and Snyder's Self-Monitoring Scale. It was hypothesized was that there would be positive associations between viewing habits and endorsement of dysfunctional relationship beliefs. Results supported this hypothesis. High television viewing was associated with the belief “the sexes are different,” and high soap opera viewing was associated with the belief “mindreading is expected” between partners. High self-monitors watched television more for escape than low self-monitors. Implications for research on dysfunctional relationship beliefs are discussed.