cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ground- and excited-state reactivities of cationic sandwich and half-sandwich complexes of iron(II)

Abstract Irradiation of cationic complexes belonging to the [CpFe(η 6 -arene)] + family (Cp is η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) results in the substitution of arene by solvent or other potential ligands present in solution. In solutions containing an epoxide monomer, this photochemical reaction generates a species that initiates polymerization. While several studies of this commercially important process have been reported, the nature of the active initiating species has remained largely conjectural. We have undertaken an investigation that employs two powerful techniques—ion cyclotron resonance Fourier transform mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry—to elucidate the mechanism of photoinitiated polymerization in systems containing [CpFe(η 6 -arene)] + complexes. These techniques have led to the first direct observation of several cationic photoproducts that can serve as initiators for epoxide polymerization. Our results and their mechanistic implications form the subjects of this article.
Advantages of coupling multivariate data reduction techniques with simultaneous inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectra

Abstract The application of multivariate data reduction to simultaneous inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectra collected with an echelle spectrometer and matched segmented array charge-coupled device (SCD) detector is investigated. An example of the determination of indium in a W/Mo matrix is examined. The combination of simultaneous spectra from the SCD detector and multivariate data reduction permits the discrimination of correlated noise that exists in the background signals of ICP spectra. This leads to improvements in the detection limits not possible with sequentially scanned or direct-reading spectrometers. Detection limits for a group of elements are reported and examined using the signal-to-background ratio relative standard deviation of the background signal approach.
Ethanol/alcohol pathways along with immune, cation and development may play a role in autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder or ASD was studied via copy number variations or CNVs and via windows straddling LoGS loci. We found strong concordance between our prior findings relating to development.
A Halfliar's game

In Ulam's game Paul tries to find one of n possibilities with q yes-no questions, while responder Carole is allowed to lie a fixed number k of times. We consider an asymmetric variant in which Carole must say yes when that is the correct answer (whence the halflie). We show that this variation allows Paul to distinguish between roughly 2k as many possibilities as in Ulam's game.
Relation of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and extracardiac target organ damage to supranormal left ventricular performance in established essential hypertension

Increased cardiac performance has been documented in patients with early systemic hypertension, but its prevalence and determinants in patients with uncomplicated sustained essential hypertension have not been characterized. Radionuclide cineangiography in 116 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension showed that 12 of 116 (10%) had supranormal resting left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (greater than 70%, above the highest value in normal subjects), while 104 patients had a normal resting ejection fraction (45 to 70%). Patients with a high resting ejection fraction had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with patients with normal resting ejection fraction (182 mm Hg vs 169, p less than 0.01, and 110 vs 103, p less than 0.05, respectively), markedly greater echocardiographic LV mass (136 vs 94 g/m2, p less than 0.01), smaller ventricular dimensions in systole (2.5 vs 3.1, p less than 0.01) and diastole (4.4 vs 4.9, p less than 0.05), and higher relative wall thickness (0.61 +/- 0.20 vs 0.39 +/- 0.98, p less than 0.001). Patients with supranormal resting ventricular performance had lower end-systolic wall stress than normal volunteers or patients with normal resting LV function (48 vs 64 vs 74 X 10(3) dynes/cm2, respectively). Patients with an elevated LV ejection fraction also had significantly more abnormal funduscopic examinations and greater proteinuria. Thus, a subset of essential hypertensive patients with moderately to severely elevated blood pressure developed marked concentric LV hypertrophy associated with subnormal end-systolic stress and supranormal LV performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DISASTER CRISIS MANAGEMENT: A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS

The crisis management of disasters does not follow automatically from disaster planning. Research has shown that successful disaster management results primarily from the activities of emergency organizations. In particular, there are management problems with respect to the communication process, the exercise of authority, and the development of co-ordination. There are at least five different areas of difficulties in the communication process, namely, intra- and inter-organizational behaviours between organizations, from organizations to the public, from the public to organizations, and within systems of organizations. Exercise of authority difficulties stem from losses of higher echelon personnel because of over-work, conflict regarding authority over new disaster tasks, and clashes over organizational jurisdictional differences. Co-ordination difficulties come from lack of consensus among organizations, working on common but new disaster-related tasks, and difficulties in achieving overall co-ordination in any community disaster that is of any magnitude. Prior planning can limit these management difficulties but cannot completely eliminate all of them.
Engineering precision RNA molecular switches

Ligand-specific molecular switches composed of RNA were created by coupling preexisting catalytic and receptor domains via structural bridges. Binding of ligand to the receptor triggers a conformational change within the bridge, and this structural reorganization dictates the activity of the adjoining ribozyme. The modular nature of these tripartite constructs makes possible the rapid construction of precision RNA molecular switches that trigger only in the presence of their corresponding ligand. By using similar enzyme engineering strategies, new RNA switches can be made to operate as designer molecular sensors or as a new class of genetic control elements.
Traffic Estimation for Proactive Freeway Traffic Control

Many operating agencies are developing computerized traffic management systems that support traffic operations as part of intelligent transportation system (ITS) user service improvements. To facilitate the prediction, diagnosis, and control decisions made with uncertain information, several numerical analysis methods are available for predictive traffic control. However, these methods cannot predict short-term traffic demand accurately. A neural network approach was proposed to improve short-term traffic demand prediction for the development of advanced traffic control strategies. A promising neural network approach to improving demand prediction and traffic data modeling to support proactive traffic control was examined. Specifically, the use of time-series detector data from a real-world freeway management system that were processed through neural network models was analyzed and the results were compared with real-world observations. In all cases, the proposed neural network approach can successfully p...
Thermodynamic Functions of the Electron Fluid for a Wide Density—Temperature Range

On the basis of the present knowledge on the analytical behaviour of the thermodynamic functions in three regions: dense degenerate electron-fluid, low-density electron gas, and Wigner lattice, Pade approximations are constructed. The proposed formulae cover the entire (non-relativistic) range of density and temperature and are for T = 0 in good agreement with the points found recently by Monte Carlo calculations. Pade Approximationen werden durch Ausnutzung analytischer Resultate fur die thermodynamischen Funktionen fur drei Gebiete: dichte entartete Elektronenflussigkeit, verdunntes Elektronengas und Wigner-Gitter konstruiert. Die vorgeschlagenen Formeln uberstreichen das gesamte (nichtrelativistische) Dichte—Temperatur-Gebiet und sind fur T = 0 in guter Ubereinstimmung mit kurzlich erhaltenen Punkten aus Monte Carlo-Rechnungen.
Assessing the relationship between endosperm type and grain yield potential in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench).

Abstract Sorghum hybrids with waxy endosperm (either homozygous or heterozygous waxy) have lower grain yield potential compared to non-waxy endosperm hybrids. The cause of this yield reduction is not known. From a genetic perspective, the yield reduction could be due to pleiotrophy or genetic linkage between the wx locus and other loci that influence grain yield. The specific cause of the relationship is important because an effective breeding program can alleviate the problem if it is due to linkage. The objective of this study was to determine whether linkage or pleiotrophy is causing the negative relationship between grain yield and waxy endosperm. From each of two F 2 breeding populations segregating for waxy endosperm, between 40 and 50 inbred lines were derived, with equal numbers of waxy and non-waxy endosperm lines. No selection for yield was practiced during the development of these lines. The lines from these two populations and a set of testcross hybrids (derived from one population) were evaluated in four environments in Texas from 1998 to 2000. Across all tests and environments, the combined yield of the waxy genotypes was 17% lower than non-waxy genotypes. While yields were lower in waxy genotypes, analysis of the individual inbred lines and hybrids revealed that several waxy inbred lines were not statistically different from the best non-waxy inbreds. These results imply that selection of high yielding waxy genotypes is possible, but a significant breeding emphasis on their development is required to effectively identify those genotypes.
Effect of protein supplementation during a 6-mo strength and conditioning program on insulin-like growth factor I and markers of bone turnover in young adults

Background: Exercise is beneficial for bone when adequate nutrition is provided. The role of protein consumption in bone health, however, is controversial. Objective: The objective was to ascertain the effect of high protein intake on insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and markers of bone turnover during 6 mo of exercise training. Design: Fifty-one subjects aged 18–25 y (28 men, 23 women) received a protein supplement (42 g protein, 24 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat) or a carbohydrate supplement (70 g carbohydrate) twice daily. Exercise consisted of alternating resistance training and running 5 times/wk. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor–bindingprotein3,serumbonealkalinephosphatase,andurinary N-telopeptide collagen crosslink (NTx) concentrations were measured at 0, 3, and 6 mo after 24 h without exercise and a 12-h fast. Results: Three-day diet records indicated no difference in energy intakebetweenthegroups.Averageproteinintakesaftersupplemen
Analysis and optimization of monolithic inductors and transformers for RF ICs

A fast and accurate approach for analyzing Si IC spiral inductors and transformers is presented. The technique incorporates the substrate in the calculation to fully characterize the devices. Many test structures are fabricated and measured data is used to verify the analysis technique over a broad frequency range. Suitable lumped broadband equivalent circuit models of the structures are presented which can be incorporated into traditional circuit simulators. A custom CAD tool ASITIC is described which is used for the design and optimization of inductors and transformers.
Application of an object-oriented parallel run-time system to a Grand Challenge 3D multi-grid code

We have taken a Grand Challenge 3D multi-grid code, QGMG, initially developed on the Cray C-90 and subsequently parallelized for MPPs, and implemented it using the DUDE object-oriented, runtime system which combines both task and data parallelism. The QGMG code is a challenging application for two reasons. Firstly, as in all multigrid solvers, the most straightforward implementation requires that most of the processors idle at barrier synchronisations. Secondly, the QGMG code is an example of an application that requires both task and data parallelism: two multigrids (task parallelism) must be solved and each multigrid solver contains data parallelism. To address these challenges, DUDE loosens the requirement that all processes must wait at barriers, and provides integrated task parallelism and data parallelism. We describe the QGMG code and the DUDE object-oriented, runtime system in detail, explaining how we parallelized this Grand Challenge application.
Drop Testing of DOE Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters

The National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP) at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory INEEL) prepared four representative Department of Energy DOE) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters for the purpose of drop testing. The first two canisters represented a modified 24- inch diameter standardized DOE SNF canister and the second two canisters represented the Hanford Multi-Canister Overpack MCO). The modified canisters and internals were constructed and assembled at the INEEL. The MCO internal weights were fabricated at the INEEL and assembled into two MCOs at Hanford and later shipped to the INEEL for drop test preparation. Drop testing of these four canisters was completed in August 2004 at Sandia National Laboratories. The modified canisters were dropped from 30 feet onto a flat, essentially unyielding surface, with the canisters oriented at 45 degrees and 70 degrees off-vertical at impact. One representative MCO was dropped from 23 feet onto the same flat surface, oriented vertically at impact. The second representative MCO was dropped onto the flat surface from 2 feet oriented at 60 degrees off-vertical. These drop heights and orientations were chosen to meet or exceed the Yucca Mountain repository drop criteria. This paper discusses the comparison of deformations between the actual dropped canisters and those predicted by pre-drop and limited post-drop finite element evaluations performed using ABAQUS/Explicit. Post-drop containment of all four canisters, demonstrated by way of helium leak testing, is also discussed.
Always-available static and dynamic feedback

Developers who write code in a statically typed language are denied the ability to obtain dynamic feedback by executing their code during periods when it fails the static type checker. They are further confined to the static typing discipline during times in the development process where it does not yield the highest productivity. If they opt instead to use a dynamic language, they forgo the many benefits of static typing, including machine-checked documentation, improved correctness and reliability, tool support (such as for refactoring), and better runtime performance. We present a novel approach to giving developers the benefits of both static and dynamic typing, throughout the development process, and without the burden of manually separating their program into statically and dynamically-typed parts. Our approach, which is intended for temporary use during the development process, relaxes the static type system and provides a semantics for many type-incorrect programs. It defers type errors to run time, or suppresses them if they do not affect runtime semantics. We implemented our approach in a publicly available tool, DuctileJ, for the Java language. In case studies, DuctileJ conferred benefits both during prototyping and during the evolution of existing code.
Thermal desorption/injection characterization of a microfabricated passive preconcentrator/injector for micro gas chromatography

We have developed a microfabricated passive vapor preconcentrator/injector (μPPI) for field-deployable gas chromatographic (GC) analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Interfaced with a properly configured microscale gas chromatograpy (GC) system, the device is designed to permit the analyses in a matter of minutes with high separation performance and detection sensitivity. Following diffusion-driven passive sample collection, the μPPI can be rapidly heated to thermally desorb the captured vapors and inject them with carrier gas to a downstream GC column and detector in a reusable manner for separation and quantification. To quantitatively predict the vapor desorption and injection performance of the device, theoretical models accounting for transient thermal energy transport, vapor desorption kinetics, and vapor flow fluid dynamics have been proposed and experimentally validated in this paper. Data obtained by preliminary tests using a conventional GC instrument are in agreement with model predictions, thus demonstrating the validity of the multi-physics approach used in our modeling study.
Supply and Demand Shifts in the Shorting Market

Using proprietary data on stock loan fees and quantities from a large institutional investor, we examine the link between the shorting market and stock prices. Employing a unique identification strategy, we isolate shifts in the supply and demand for shorting. We find that shorting demand is an important predictor of future stock returns: An increase in shorting demand leads to negative abnormal returns of 2.98% in the following month. Second, we show that our results are stronger in environments with less public information flow, suggesting that the shorting market is an important mechanism for private information revelation.
Modeling the Power Consumption of CMOS Arithmetic Elements

Designers are faced with the task of designing circuits and systems which must use minimum power dissipation. By providing the designer with accurate estimates of the power dissipation of CMOS adders and multipliers, this research aids in the initial circuit choice, thus reducing the number and length of the design iterations. Simulation and direct measurement of the performance of test chips is used to evaluate their characteristics, and the results are used to rank the circuits on dynamic power dissipation.
A two-stage statistical procedure for feature selection and comparison in functional analysis of metagenomes

Motivation: With the advance of new sequencing technologies producing massive short reads data, metagenomics is rapidly growing, especially in the fields of environmental biology and medical science. The metagenomic data are not only high dimensional with large number of features and limited number of samples but also complex with a large number of zeros and skewed distribution. Efficient computational and statistical tools are needed to deal with these unique characteristics of metagenomic sequencing data. In metagenomic studies, one main objective is to assess whether and how multiple microbial communities differ under various environmental conditions. Results: We propose a two-stage statistical procedure for selecting informative features and identifying differentially abundant features between two or more groups of microbial communities. In the functional analysis of metagenomes, the features may refer to the pathways, subsystems, functional roles and so on. In the first stage of the proposed procedure, the informative features are selected using elastic net as reducing the dimension of metagenomic data. In the second stage, the differentially abundant features are detected using generalized linear models with a negative binomial distribution. Compared with other available methods, the proposed approach demonstrates better performance for most of the comprehensive simulation studies. The new method is also applied to two real metagenomic datasets related to human health. Our findings are consistent with those in previous reports. Availability: R code and two example datasets are available at http://cals.arizona.edu/∼anling/software.htm Contact: ude.anozira.liame@gnilna Supplementary information: Supplementary file is available at Bioinformatics online.
Optimal self-recovering microarchitecture synthesis

The authors propose a novel ILP model for the scheduling problem in self-recovering microarchitecture synthesis. A self-recovering microarchitecture, on detecting a (transient), fault, roll back to a previously known correct state - the checkpoint - and retries the computation. The maximum distance between adjacent checkpoints - the retry period - is determined by the transient fault rate as well as the average lifetime of a transient fault. At a checkpoint, the results of intermediate computations are compared (using voters), and if correct saved in registers. Consequently, associated with each checkpoint, there is a time overhead due to comparison and an area overhead due to the fault-tolerant nature of the voters. The authors formulate time-constrained scheduling as minimizing either the number of voters or the overall hardware, subject to constraints on the number of clock cycles, the retry period, and the number of checkpoints. Moreover, they develop a model for resource-constrained scheduling wherein both the overall system performance as well as the recovery time overhead are optimized subject to hardware constraints.
Recreational Use of Erectile Dysfunction Medications in Undergraduate Men in the United States: Characteristics and Associated Risk Factors

Mounting evidence indicates that erectile dysfunction medications (EDMs) have become increasingly used as a sexual enhancement aid among men without a medical indication. Recreational EDM use has been associated with increased sexual risk behaviors, an increased risk for STIs, including incident HIV infection, and high rates of concomitant illicit drug use. The aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristics and associated risk factors for recreational EDM use among young, healthy, undergraduate men. A cross-sectional sample of 1,944 men were recruited from 497 undergraduate institutions within the Unites States between January 2006 and May 2007. The survey assessed patterns of EDM use, as well as demographic, substance use, and sexual behavior characteristics. Four percent of participants had recreationally used an EDM at some point in their lives, with 1.4% reporting current use. The majority of recreational EDM users reported mixing EDMs with illicit drugs and particularly during risky sexual behaviors. Recreational EDM use was independently associated with increased age, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation, drug abuse, lifetime number of sex partners, and lifetime number of “one-night stands.” Recreational EDM users also reported a 2.5-fold rate of erectile difficulties compared to nonusers. Overall, recreational use of EDMs was associated with sexual risk behaviors and substance abuse; however, a relatively small proportion of undergraduates reported using EDMs. Results also suggest that a sizable portion of recreational EDM users are heterosexual men, and that use does not solely occur within the environments of venues that cater to men having sex with men.
School Librarians and Book Selection: What Do Letters to the Editor Tell Us?

School librarians are often the only information professional in a school building. While collaboration with other teachers and administrators is valued, communication with other school librarians is also essential for support and professional growth. One area that separates teachers and teacher-librarians is the responsibility of materials selection for the school library. School librarians consider many issues when selecting materials. Increasing formats and types of infor- mation products compete for the attention of young people complicating the selection process for librarians. Decreasing budgets in school and public libraries force tougher decision making about expenditures. The education of librarians and an abundance of selection resources empower the library profession with proficiency in the selection process, however, in day to day practice, librarians often rely on communication with peers to inform the decision making process. Little research exists that gives voice to the peer communication among librarians who select materials for children and young adults. One example of peer communication, letters to the editor, is a form of communication known for eliciting strong opinions on issues of concern and a form of communication still evident in the Library & Information Science literature. Thus, I under- took a content analysis of the letters to the editor published in the well known, professional selection tool: School Library Journal in search of the issues and trends related to the selection of materials for children and young adults. The results indicate the existence of many issues and concerns related to the selection of library materials for children and young adults. A demographic portrait of the professional community that participates in this form of communication was also revealed.
The privilege of revolution: Gender, class, space, and affect in Egypt

In this commentary, I challenge assumptions about political transformation by contrasting women's experiences at home during the Egyptian revolution with the image of the iconic male revolutionary in Tahrir Square. I call attention to the way that revolution is experienced and undertaken in domestic spaces, through different forms of affect, in ways deeply inflected by gender and class. [Egypt, revolution, gender, class, space, affect, generation]
Expressed Values of 4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders: Implications for Rural Teachers and 4-H Staff

Historically, the collaborative efforts between rural teachers and 4-H have provided enhanced opportunities for youth that would not have been otherwise possible. As resources continue to diminish in rural communities, this collaboration is valuable to both schools and the 4-H organization. Currently rural schools are concentrating on the increased demand for academic accountability through performance testing and other evaluation instruments. This trend has resulted in less time for the elective outlets that have traditionally been an important part of school. At a time when 4-H could help fill an important gap in rural communities, changes within the organization have left some volunteers feeling overwhelmed. This article offers a theoretical framework for understanding the feelings and values of rural 4-H volunteers during a period of dramatic organizational change.
Elephant censusing via geophone arrays: A visual approach for linear arrays

The problem of censusing elephants via geo-phone recordings of their footsteps along a linear array positioned along a path leading to a watering hole is considered. We propose an intuitive and graphically motivated technique that delineates passings of herds of elephants. Additionally, a measure of dispersion of the localization estimates is proposed that correlates to the size of the passing herd. We illustrate the methods using both real data and a simulation study.
Evaluation of automated synthesis for chain and step-growth polymerizations: Can robots replace the chemists?

This article explores current challenges in the use of automated parallel synthesizers in polymeric materials research. Four types of polymerizations were investigated: carbodiimide-mediated polyesterification, diphenol phosgenation, free radical, and reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT). Synthetic challenges of condensation polymerization, such as liquid and solid dispensing accuracy, dropwise addition, and toxic chemical handling, were successfully met using the automated synthesizer. Both solid and liquid dosing of the diphenol and diacid were successful for polyarylate synthesis. The high precision of liquid dispensing made it possible to achieve stoichiometric balance using reagent stock solutions. For all reactions, molecular weights and their reproducibility were comparable to those obtained with manual synthesis. For RAFT polymerizations, solvent and mol ratio of chain transfer reagent to initiator were successfully optimized on the automated synthesizer and a library of over 60 polymethacrylate copolymer compositions was generated. Considerable savings in time relative to manual methods were achieved when generating polymer libraries (e.g., 4.5x faster for 96 polymethacrylates and 20x faster for 45 for polycarbonates).
Speed and Direction Shear in the Stable Nocturnal Boundary Layer

Numerous previous works have shown that vertical shear in wind speed and wind direction exist in the atmospheric boundary layer. In this work, meteorological forcing mechanisms, such as the Ekman spiral, thermal wind, and inertial oscillation, are discussed as likely drivers of such shears in the statically stable environment. Since the inertial oscillation, the Ekman spiral, and statically stable conditions are independent of geography, potentially significant magnitudes of speed and direction shear are hypothesized to occur to some extent at any inland site in the world. The frequency of occurrence of non-trivial magnitudes of speed and direction shear are analyzed from observation platforms in Lubbock, Texas and Goodland, Indiana. On average, the correlation between speed and direction shear magnitudes and static atmospheric stability are found to be very high. Moreover, large magnitude speed and direction shears are observed in conditions with relatively high hub-height wind speeds. The effects of speed and direction shear on wind turbine power performance are tested by incorporating a simple steady direction shear profile into the fatigue analysis structures and turbulence simulation code from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In general, the effect on turbine power production varies with the magnitude of speed and direction shearmore » across the turbine rotor, with the majority of simulated conditions exhibiting power loss relative to a zero shear baseline. When coupled with observational data, the observed power gain is calculated to be as great as 0.5% and depletion as great as 3% relative to a no shear baseline. The average annual power change at Lubbock is estimated to be -0.5%« less
InGaN lattice constant engineering via growth on (In,Ga)N/GaN nanostripe arrays

Planar (In,Ga)N layers were grown on nanostripe arrays composed of InGaN/GaN multi quantum wells (MQWs) by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. The MQW nanostripe arrays with height to width aspect ratios of about 0.5 and 1 were fabricated from planar coherently strained InGaN/GaN MQW samples. Independent of their aspect ratio, the nanostripes exhibited elastic relaxation perpendicular to the stripe direction after pattern fabrication, resulting in an a⊥ lattice constant perpendicular to the stripe direction larger than that of the GaN base layer. In a subsequent step, (In,Ga)N layers were grown on top of the nanostripe arrays, leading to the formation of planar films with a similar a⊥ lattice constant as the MQW stripes beneath. Bright luminescence was recorded from the planar, partially relaxed re-grown (In,Ga)N layers grown on the stripe arrays with an aspect ratio of 1. Plastic relaxation of the MQW stripes was observed after (In,Ga)N regrowth for samples with a stripe aspect ratio of 0.5, leading to luminescence quenching.
Compartmentalization of an all-e. coli cell-free expression system for the construction of a minimal cell

Cell-free expression is a technology used to synthesize minimal biological cells from natural molecular components. We have developed a versatile and powerful all-E. coli cell-free transcription-translation system energized by a robust metabolism, with the far objective of constructing a synthetic cell capable of self-reproduction. Inorganic phosphate iP, a byproduct of protein synthesis, is recycled through polysugar catabolism to regenerate ATP adenosine triphosphate and thus supports long-lived and highly efficient protein synthesis in vitro. This cell-free TX-TL system is encapsulated into cell-sized unilamellar liposomes to express synthetic DNA programs. In this work, we study the compartmentalization of cell-free TX-TL reactions, one of the aspects of minimal cell module integration. We analyze the signals of various liposome populations by fluorescence microscopy for one and for two reporter genes, and for an inducible genetic circuit. We show that small nutrient molecules and proteins are encapsulated uniformly in the liposomes with small fluctuations. However, cell-free expression displays large fluctuations in signals among the same population, which are due to heterogeneous encapsulation of the DNA template. Consequently, the correlations of gene expression with the compartment dimension are difficult to predict accurately. Larger vesicles can have either low or high protein yields.
Face-to-face versus virtual teams: What have we really learned?

The present article reviews results from the rich experimental literature on virtual teams and compares them with results from emerging field research on virtual teams. The experimental literature has largely reported negative results for virtual teams, whereas field investigations and case studies of real virtual teams employed by business organizations report positive outcomes for virtual teams. One potential reason for this discrepancy may be that experimental research tends to lack ecological validity, as it has generally failed to simulate the conditions under which real virtual teams work well. Despite the wide differences in results reported by experimental versus field studies, and despite the general lack of ecological validity in experimental studies, however, the present article notes that both literatures have revealed negative attitudes toward virtual communication media.
Editorial Endnotes from Burning Cane

(1991). Editorial Endnotes from Burning Cane. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 129-132.
Centrist by Comparison: Extremism and the Expansion of the Political Spectrum

While it is well understood that policy suggestions outside the range of mainstream debate are prevalent in various policy domains of American politics, their effects remain unexplored. In this paper, we suggest that proposing policies far from the political mainstream can re-structure voter perceptions of where alternatives lie in the ideological space. We provide support for this hypothesis using results from six survey experiments. We find that the introduction of extreme alternatives into the public discourse makes mainstream policies on the same side of the spectrum look more centrist in the public eye, thus increasing support for these moderate alternatives.
A high-throughput multiobjective genetic-algorithm workflow for in situ training of reactive molecular-dynamics force fields

The reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) method has enabled large-scale simulations of chemical reactions involving multimillion atoms, but its reliability is severely limited by the quality of reactive force fields (ReaxFF). For accurate RMD simulations, we have proposed a dynamic approach, where ReaxFF is trained by directly fitting RMD trajectories against a quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) trajectory on the fly, instead of a conventional approach of fitting a quantum-mechanical database of static quantities. To do so, multiobjective genetic algorithms (MOGA) were previously implemented using file-based communications between RMD, QMD and genetic-algorithm computations. However, this file-based approach is not scalable for a high-throughput workflow involving hundreds of concurrent RMD simulations. Here, we present a scalable in situ MOGA (iMOGA) workflow that eliminates the file I/O bottleneck using interprocess communications but with minimal modification of the original parallel RMD code. For a population of 120 RMD simulations, the new iMOGA workflow has achieved a speed-up of factor 2.15 over the original MOGA workflow. Furthermore, iMOGA exhibits a weak-scaling parallel efficiency of 0.848 on 120 processors, which is much higher than 0.720 of MOGA.
Identifying the Transgender Population in the Medicare Program.

Abstract Purpose: To identify and describe the transgender population in the Medicare program using administrative data. Methods: Using a combination of International Classification of Diseases ninth edition (ICD-9) codes relating to transsexualism and gender identity disorder, we analyzed 100% of the 2013 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) “final action” claims from both institutional and noninstitutional providers (∼1 billion claims) to identify individuals who may be transgender Medicare beneficiaries. To confirm, we developed and applied a multistage validation process. Results: Four thousand ninety-eight transgender beneficiaries were identified, of which ∼90% had confirmatory diagnoses, billing codes, or evidence of a hormone prescription. In general, the racial, ethnic, and geographic distribution of the Medicare transgender population tends to reflect the broader Medicare population. However, age, original entitlement status, and disease burden of the tra...
Abstract 075: Novel Role for GRK2 in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure

During heart failure (HF), cardiac levels and activity of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase (GRK) GRK2 are elevated, increasing phosphorylation, desensitization and down-regulation of β-adrenergic receptors (βARs) and other cardiac GPCRs. Increased GRK2 has been shown to participate in adverse remodeling and contractile dysfunction during HF, while GRK2 inhibition via a carboxy-terminal peptide, βARKct, enhances heart function and can prevent HF development. Mounting evidence supports the idea of a dynamic GRK2 “interactome” in which GRK2 can uncouple GPCRs via novel protein-protein interactions. Several novel GRK2 interacting partners are important for adaptive and maladaptive myocyte growth including Gq, the signaling trigger for maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy, leading to HF. Importantly, GRK2 contains a putative amino-terminal Regulator of G protein Signaling (RGS) domain (termed βARK-RGS). This domain directly interacts with Gq and appears to inhibit signaling without altering Gq enzymatic activity. Therefore, this domain of GRK2 may alter hypertrophic responses in the heart and represent a novel role for GRK2 and also a potential therapeutic target to limit maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy. We have begun to address this by generation of novel transgenic mice with cardiac-specific expression of the RGS domain of GRK2. Data from mice with cardiac expression of βARK-RGS demonstrate anti-hypertrophic effects in a trans-aortic constriction (TAC) model of pressure overload hypertrophy. Echocardiographic analysis post-TAC revealed reduced left ventricular posterior wall thickness in βARK-RGS compared to non-transgenic littermate controls (1.34 vs 1.57 mm LVPWd at 4 weeks). RT-PCR analysis found decreased hypertrophic factor transcripts, such as ANF for which the nearly 18-fold increase post TAC was completely inhibited in βARK-RGS mice. Other hypertrophic phenotypic markers have been studied and mechanistic characterization is underway. These data support our hypothesis that the RGS domain of GRK2 may serve as a non-canonical inhibitor of Gq-mediated hypertrophic signaling in the heart and highlight how this research may pave the way for novel GRK2-based therapeutic approaches to prevent hypertrophy and HF.
Fluidparticle dynamics for passive tracers advected by a thermally fluctuating viscoelastic medium

Many biological fluids, like mucus and cytoplasm, have prominent viscoelastic properties. As a consequence, immersed particles exhibit subdiffusive behavior, which is to say, the variance of the particle displacement grows sublinearly with time. In this work, we propose a viscoelastic generalization of the LandauLifschitz NavierStokes fluid model and investigate the properties of particles that are passively advected by such a medium. We exploit certain exact formulations that arise from the Gaussian nature of the fluid model and introduce analysis of memory in the fluid statistics, marking an important step toward capturing fluctuating hydrodynamics among subdiffusive particles. The proposed method is spectral, meshless and is based on the numerical evaluation of the covariance matrix associated with individual fluid modes. With this method, we probe a central hypothesis of passive microrheology, a field premised on the idea that the statistics of particle trajectories can reveal fundamental information about their surrounding fluid environment.
Gender differences in mental and physical health conditions in U.S. veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study.

Objectives To characterize gender differences in the prevalence of mental and physical health conditions and evaluate the moderating effect of assaultive trauma on risk for these conditions in a nationally representative sample of male and female U.S. veterans.
Temporal expression profiling of plasma proteins reveals oxidative stress in early stages of Type 1 Diabetes progression

Abstract Blood markers other than islet autoantibodies are greatly needed to indicate the pancreatic beta cell destruction process as early as possible, and more accurately reflect the progression of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D). To this end, a longitudinal proteomic profiling of human plasma using TMT-10plex-based LC-MS/MS analysis was performed to track temporal proteomic changes of T1D patients (n = 11) across 9 serial time points, spanning the period of T1D natural progression, in comparison with those of the matching healthy controls (n = 10). To our knowledge, the current study represents the largest (> 2000 proteins measured) longitudinal expression profiles of human plasma proteome in T1D research. By applying statistical trend analysis on the temporal expression patterns between T1D and controls, and Benjamini-Hochberg procedure for multiple-testing correction, 13 protein groups were regarded as having statistically significant differences during the entire follow-up period. Moreover, 16 protein groups, which play pivotal roles in response to oxidative stress, have consistently abnormal expression trend before seroconversion to islet autoimmunity. Importantly, the expression trends of two key reactive oxygen species-decomposing enzymes, Catalase and Superoxide dismutase were verified independently by ELISA. Biological significance The temporal changes of > 2000 plasma proteins (at least quantified in two subjects), spanning the entire period of T1D natural progression were provided to the research community. Oxidative stress related proteins have consistently different dysregulated patterns in T1D group than in age-sex matched healthy controls, even prior to appearance of islet autoantibodies – the earliest sign of islet autoimmunity and pancreatic beta cell stress.
Using Graphing Calculators to Graph Quadratics

Insufficient classroom time to provide mastery to Algebraic content and intense requirements to meet state and national standards create challenges for many secondary (ages 14–17) mathematics educators. Additional test driven impetus to include graphing calculators in the teaching of quadratics and polynomials, along with teacher evaluations tied to student proficiency on mandated exams provide many points for heated discussions among mathematics educators. A culmination of two studies at a large Midwestern United States secondary school combines the findings of graphing calculator use in a secondary course of Algebra while introducing the graphing of quadratics with high stakes testing standards and their combined impact on secondary mathematics teachers. The author believes that using graphing calculators as daily tools can ease the tensions in mathematics education and enrich the mathematical learning in students.
Oxygenating the way for enhanced chemophototherapy

Hypoxia is behind tumor resistance in both chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. This editorial highlights a study by Cai et al. [12] that a hemoglobin and human serum albumin hybrid protein nanoparticle can simultaneously deliver O2, chemotherapeutics, and photosensitizers to tumors for enhanced chemophototherapy.
The Domain of Tense

The syntactic domain of tense is the clause: tense appears in some form in every clause of a tensed language. Semantic interpretation of tense requires information from context, however. This has been clear at least since Partee’s (1984) demonstration of the anaphoric properties of tense. In this chapter, I will show that the facts about context are quite complex, perhaps more so than has been appreciated. There are three patterns of tense interpretation according to the type of discourse context in which a clause appears. I will introduce the notion of discourse mode to account for the different types of context. I offer an interpretation of tense in Discourse Representation Theory, a framework that is organized to deal with information from the context. I also show that a syntactically based theory can handle contextually based tense interpretation.
Optics and Plasmonics: Fundamental Studies and Applications

During the last decade, nanotechnology has become one of the major driving forces for basic and applied research [1– 3]. The extraordinary physicochemical properties of metal particles as they approach the nanometer scale have increased the interest of physicists and chemists in nanoscience [4]. Matter at this size scale has been demonstrated to outperform in a wide variety of applications, such as catalysis [5], environmental [6], biological labeling and sensing [7, 8], surface Raman scattering [9], nonlinear absorption processes [10], photonics [11], and optoelectronics [12]. Nanoscience has additionally had a strong impact in biophotonics through radiative decay engineering (RDE) of organic dye molecules in the close vicinity of conducting metal surfaces or covalently attached to them [13–15]. Most of the applications explored so far are based on the well-known surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect [16].
Nuclear Receptors and Thymocyte Apoptosis: Shaping the Immune Repertoire

Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a critical role in the generation of the antigen-specific immune repertoire. Both the T cell receptor (TCR) ligand-binding chains and immunoglobulin are generated randomly from the rearrangement of independent gene segments. While this process ensures the diversity of the immune cell receptor repertoire, it also results in the generation of T cells that express receptors that recognize self antigens in the context of self major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded molecules with high affinity. The most effective way to deal with these potentially autoreactive cells is to eliminate them, a process referred to as “negative selection”. Deletion of potentially autoreactive T cells usually occurs in the thymus. Use of anti-TCR antibodies or bacterial superantigens (which mimic receptor occupancy by a natural ligand) during fetal thymic organ cultures results in PCD of immature CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes1,2, as does exposure of thymocytes from TCR-transgenic mice to the appropriate antigen3,4. The dying thymocytes manifest the classic apoptotic phenotype: membrane blebbing, cytoplasmic condensation, and chromatin clumping, accompanied by endonuclease-mediated cleavage of internucleosomal DNA1. Injection of cyclosporin A, which blocks activation-induced T cell hybridoma and thymocyte apoptosis5,6, prevents the deletion of a population of autoreactive T cells when the thymus regenerates after sublethal irradiation7,8.