cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rallying the exocyst as an autophagy scaffold

Protein scaffolds coordinate the assembly of many multicomponent signaling complexes. Bodemann et al. (2011) now show that the exocyst, a protein complex involved in tethering transport vesicles to the plasma membrane, provides an assembly and activation platform for components of the autophagy machinery via a process requiring the GTPase RalB.
Hall-Effect Thruster Channel Surface Properties Investigation

Surface properties of Hall-effect thruster channel walls play an important role in the performance and lifetime of the device. Physical models of near-wall effects are beginning to be incorporated into thruster simulations, and these models must account for evolution of channel surface properties due to thruster operation. Results from this study show differences in boron nitride channel surface properties from beginning-of-life and after 100’s of hours of operation. Two worn thruster channels of different boron nitride grades are compared with their corresponding pristine and shadow-shielded samples. Pristine HP grade boron nitride surface roughness is 9000±700 A, while the worn sample is 110,900±8900 A at the exit plane. Pristine M26 grade boron nitride surface roughness is 18400±1400 A, while the worn sample is 52300±4200 A at the exit plane. Comparison of pristine and worn channel surfaces also show surface properties are dependent on axial position within the channel. For example, surface roughness increases by as much as a factor of 5.4 and surface atom fraction of carbon and metallic atoms decreases by a factor of 2.9 from anode to exit plane. Macroscopic striations at the exit plane angled 10o to 30 o from axial are found to be related to the electron gyroradius and give rise to anisotropic surface roughness. Smoothing of ceramic grains at the microscopic level is also evident.
An annotated bibliography of the remarried, the living together, and their children.

This bibliography was developed by the Remarried Consultation Center of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services of New York City for our own use. Because there is a growing interest in remarriage and the new types of families this social phenomenon creates, we became convinced that the meager number of articles and books in this area would be of interest to others. We have focused our attention on the now common phenomenon of the remarried and those living together in a committed relationship situation. Some articles that were not designed as studies of remarriage situations are included because their content is pertinent to our subject. The bibliography is divided into six sections to facilitate reference use. It should be noted, however, that these sections are not rigid and that some items could readily have been included under two or more sections. Articles included cover publication dates through April 1978. The six sections are: L Demography; II. Remarried Couples; III. Stepparents and Stepchildren; IV. Divorce as a Precursor to Remarriage; V. Children of Divorce in Relation to Remarriage; VI. Remarriage — Prophylactic and Therapeutic Aspects. Unfortunately we did not find sufficient material to warrant a section on theoretical aspects. We have tried to make this bibliography as complete as possible using two computer retrieval systems as well as our own search of the literature. If you are familiar with references we have missed, we should appreciate hearing from you.
Inorganic/organic host-guest materials : Surface and interclay reactions of styrene with copper (II)-exchanged hectorite

Many important layered silicate–polymer nanocomposite materials may be synthesized using an in-situ polymerization process. Using this technique, organic monomers are intercalated into the interlayer regions of the hosts, where subsequent polymerization may then occur. In this paper, we report on the in-situ polymerization of styrene in Cu(II)-exchanged hectorite thin films. Scanning force microscopy (SFM) images of the polymer surface reveal that the surface polystyrene is generally aggregated into groups of elongated strands. SFM imaging of the interclay regions, in conjunction with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron spin resonance (ESR) data, indicates that approximately 20–30% of these regions contain polystyrene, with minimal reduction in the majority of Cu2+ sites observed. XRD data shows little or no intercalation of the monomer into the true intergallery regions. Instead, the polymer likely forms in intercrystallite or planar defect regions. In addition, two distinct phases of polymeric material are found within these defect regions, a highly polymerized polystyrene in addition to a polystyrene form exhibiting greater material stiffness. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 673–679, 1998
Constraints on North Atlantic upper mantle anisotropy from S and SS phases

Several analyses of SSH-SH differential travel-times disagree on whether these data contain evidence for azimuthal anisotropy in the North Atlantic upper mantle. To explore possible explanations for these discrepant results, we calculated the azimuthal variation in SSH-SH travel-times predicted by an anisotropic upper mantle model. Theoretical travel-times were obtained by cross-correlating S and SS phases on transverse-component reflectivity synthetic seismograms. We determined that predicted azimuthal travel-time patterns are sensitive to the relative amplitudes of radial and transverse particle motions incident on the anisotropic medium. If a large variation in the relative incident amplitudes exists in a dataset, the overlap of different azimuthal travel-time patterns may obscure anisotropic signatures. We analyzed shear-wave splitting in a dataset of 12 SS and 10 S phase observations to constrain the presence of anisotropy in the North Atlantic upper mantle. A comparison of SS splitting parameters with S and SKS particle motions suggests that shear wave splitting apparent in the SS phases is at least partially due to anisotropy in the vicinity of their bounce-points, although contributions from anisotropy in the source and station regions cannot be ruled out. Observed SS splitting is consistent with an olivine model in which horizontal a-axes are aligned at an average of N24°W in the central North Atlantic (15°–40°N), and at an average of N23°E in the northern North Atlantic (40°–50°N).
Are we there yet? The golden age of American family vacations

Are we there yet? The golden age of American family vacations, by Susan Sessions Rugh, Lawrence KS, University Press of Kansas, 2008, 252 pp., US$29.95 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-7006-1588-9 / US$17.95...
ASSESSING THE CANDIDATE AS A WHOLE: A HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR PERSONNEL DECISION MAKING

Although individual assessment is a thriving area of professional practice in industry, it receives little, if any, attention from textbooks on industrial psychology or personnel management. This article is an attempt to establish individual assessment's place in the history of personnel selection, and to examine why the practice has survived despite receiving little attention in research and graduate training. It is argued that the clinical, holistic approach that has characterized individual-assessment practice has survived primarily because the “elementalistic” testing approach, focusing on traits and abilities, has often been dismissed as inadequate for addressing the complexities of the executive profile. Moreover, public displeasure with standard paper-and-pencil testing in the 1960s and 1970s made the holistic approach to assessment an attractive, alternative. The article contrasts individual assessment practice with the current state of knowledge on psychological assessment and personnel decision making. Like psychotherapy in the 1950s, individual psychological assessment appears to have achieved the status of functional autonomy within psychology.
Effect of Soil Moisture on Dimethylselenide Transport and Transformation to Nonvolatile Selenium

Volatilization of dimethylselenide (DMSe) to the atmosphere has been extensively studied, but little is known on its fate in soil environments. This study examined the transport and transformation of DMSe in soil. The transport of DMSe in soil columns was related to the soil moisture content. About 87--96% of the total injected DMSe in air-dried soil was volatilized to the air, whereas in a moist and flooded soil, only 20--88% and 4.3--16.8% were emitted to the air, respectively. After incubation of 40 days, about 13.1--38.8% of the total DMSe was converted to nonvolatile Se in moist soils. This transformation increased with increasing soil moisture content and was also much higher in soil amended with MnO{sub 2} in which about 95% of the total DMSe was converted to nonvolatile Se. Oxidized dimethylated Se (ODMSe), which included dimethyl selenoxide (DMSeO) and/or dimethyl selenone (DMSeO{sub 2}), was the dominant form of nonvolatile Se, accounting for 43.5--53% in the moist soil and 80--90% in the flooded soils. The percentage of other Se species in the experimental soils followed a general descending order: Se[0,{minus}II] > Se[IV] > organic Se > Se[VI]. This study showed that accumulation and transformation of DMSe may be important processes responsiblemore » for a low volatilization rate of DMSe in flooded soils and sediments.« less
Pig-spleen pyridine transglycosidase. I. Purification and properties.

Abstract A pyridine transglycosidase has been solubilized by the use of trypsin from pig-spleen and purified 160-fold. The purified enzyme has been shown to have a lower K m for TPN than DPN; however, the maximal velocity of hydrolysis for both DPN and TPN was the same. Evidence is presented that both activities are associated with a single enzyme. The purified enzyme was shown to be active as a transglycosidase which catalyzed the synthesis of isonicotinic acid hydrazide-DPN. The characteristics of the purified enzyme such as pH optima, effect of heavy metals, effect of nicotinamide and energy of activation for the hydrolysis of DPN are described.
Indirect cyclopexy for treatment of a chronic traumatic cyclodialysis cleft with hypotony

Cyclodialysis cleft is a rare clinical finding and therefore, reports on surgical repair techniques in the literature are limited. Additionally, hypotony can make repair technically challenging. We share a novel, simple surgical approach to management of a case of chronic traumatic cyclodialysis cleft with a successful outcome.
Visualization of Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm With Panoramic Transesophageal Echocardiography

The diagnosis and precise delineation of a pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle have important implications regarding surgical planning and operative repair. A 68-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with the incidental finding of a large pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle 6 months after a St. Jude mitral valve replacement performed for partial papillary muscle rupture after an acute myocardial infarction. Panoramic transesophageal echocardiography provided a full depiction of the left ventricle and the adjoining pseudoaneurysm, enhancing the preoperative evaluation of the extent of the defect. A successful repair was undertaken with a pericardial patch.
Steroid hormone secretion during the ovulatory cycle and pregnancy in farmed Alaskan reindeer.

Seasonal endocrine changes in 5 nonbred and 10 pregnant Alaskan reindeer have been documented. Blood samples were collected from early September until early May, spanning the breeding season, gestation, or the anovulatory period. Plasma was analyzed by RIA for progesterone (P 4 ), estradiol-17β, estrone, and estrone sulfate. Elevated P 4 in 80% of the reindeer at the onset of the study indicated that ovarian activity had been initiated. The median date for the onset of the first recorded full-length ovulatory cycle was September 23. In nonbred reindeer, the mean ovulatory cycle length from September to May was 24 ± 1 d (range 18 to 29 d). Nonbred females continued to cycle throughout the winter, displaying 6 to 8 ovulatory cycles after the beginning of blood sampling. Cycle length (mean 22 to 24 d) did not vary between individuals (P = 0.170) or over the course of the winter (P = 0.244). In early April, ovulatory cycles ceased with normal demise of the corpus luteum in 2 females, whereas the remaining 3 females formed apparently persistent corpora lutea. Natural service breeding occurred between September 10 and October 2, and P 4 profiles indicated that all breeding females conceived to the first mating. Concentrations of P 4 rose steadily after conception and remained elevated throughout gestation, with mean concentrations not varying significantly (P = 0.104) from 4 to 28 wk of gestation. Estrogens all followed patterns similar to each other, remaining at baseline concentrations until approximately 24 wk of gestation and rising coincidently as P 4 declined just before parturition. There was a continual overlap throughout the winter in peak P 4 concentrations observed in cycling and pregnant reindeer. Calving occurred between April 8 and May 2, resulting in a mean gestation length of 211 ± 2.2 d (range 198 to 221 d). Information from this study can be used by Alaskan reindeer producers to improve management and profitability of reindeer production.
The mechanism and regulation of fast axonal transport

Recent in vitro studies of microtubule-dependent organelle movement have provided a great deal of information on the molecular mechanism of fast axonal transport. Microtubule-dependent organelle movement occurs in most cells, but in neurons active transport is absolutely necessary for materials to travel from the cell body to the synapse. Since fast transport is crucial for neuronal survival, it is likely that specialized regulatory mechanisms have been developed. It is clear that the microtubule-based motors, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein are the enzymes that power organelle motility; however, additional cytoplasmic components are required to create an 'organelle translocation complex' that is competent for transport. Organelle transport might be regulated at the level of any of these components, i.e. the motors, their accessory factors, or the organelle binding sites. The direction of organelle movement is probably governed by the membrane binding site. In this review we discuss these topics and consider the mechanism of transport of the retrograde motor, cytoplasmic dynein, to the nerve terminal, and possible ways that unidirectional transport could occur on the non-polarized array of microtubules found in some dendrites.
Spatial and Temporal Trends of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Other Traffic-Related Airborne Pollutants in New York City

Traffic-related air pollutants have been associated with adverse health effects. We hypothesized that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), elemental carbon (EC, diesel indicator), particulate matter (PM2.5), and a suite of metals declined from 1998 to 2006 in NYC due to policy interventions. PAH levels from personal monitoring of pregnant mothers participating in the Columbia’s Center for Children’s Environmental Health birth cohort study, and EC, PM2.5, and metal data from five New York State Department of Environmental Conservation stationary monitors were compared across sites and over time (1998-2006). Univariate analysis showed a decrease in personal PAHs exposures from 1998 to 2006 (p < 0.0001). After controlling for environmental tobacco smoke, indoor heat, and cooking, year of personal monitoring remained a predictor of decline in S8PAHs (s = -0.269, p < 0.001). Linear trend analysis also suggested that PM2.5 declined (p = 0.09). Concentrations of EC and most metals measured by stationary site monitors, as measured by ANOVA, did not decline. Across stationary sites, levels of airborne EC and metals varied considerably. By contrast PM2.5 levels were highly intercorrelated (values ranged from 0.725 to 0.922, p < 0.01). Further policy initiatives targeting traffic-related air pollutants may be needed for a greater impact on public health.
Alien coins and foreign exchange banking in a medieval commune: Thirteenth-century Lucca

The tithing returns sent to Rome in 1296 from the dioceses of Tuscany reveal a variety of coins, foreign to each particular episcopate, included in the mix. This article deals with the presence, and presumably prior circulation, of coins of foreign provenence in thirteenth-century Lucca as indicated in the Lucchese notarial materials of the period. The results are analyzed and then compared with the representation of the types of coins included in Lucca's 1296 tithe, and explanations set forth as to why certain coins, e.g. the gros tournois, should be conspicuously under-represented in comparison with other Tuscan dioceses while the Venetian groat was over-represented. It is further argued that the determining factor for the lack or abundance of certain alien coins in Lucca turns on the availability or absence of routine mechanisms for the transfer of obligations abroad through foreign exchange banking which obviated the need for significant shipments of physical specie or bullion.
An application of the Rao-Blackwell theorem in preliminary test estimators

Abstract Preliminary test estimators are defined for estimating vector parameters. This note illustrates the use of the Rao-Blackwell theorem for uniformly reducing the risk of these estimators when one is based upon the sufficient statistic. The results given are valid for a class of risk functions, including the generalized mean squared error, the trace, and the largest characteristic root.
A Triticum tauschii protein kinase related to wheat PKABA1 is associated with ABA signaling and is distributed between the nucleus and cytosol

Abstract A new member of the cereal PKABA1 subfamily of protein kinases, TtPK1, was isolated from Triticum tauschii, a diploid progenitor of hexaploid wheat, Triticum aestivum. The full-length TtPK1 cDNA was cloned from a library derived from vegetative tissues from 26 d old light grown T. tauschii seedlings. TtPK1 cDNA hybridizes to transcripts that are upregulated in dehydrated leaves and are abundant in coleoptile tissue of 7 d old T. aestivum seedlings. TtPK1 mRNA has nucleotide identities of 82 and 79% to PKABA1 and TaPK3, respectively, and deduced amino acid sequence identities of 84 and 83% to PKABA1 and TaPK3, respectively. TtPK1 is similar to members of the SnRK2 subfamily of protein kinases in that it contains a unique acidic domain at the carboxyl terminus, and all twelve of the conserved subdomains found in serine/threonine protein kinases. Functional analyses of TtPK1 transiently over-expressed by bombarding barley half-grains showed that TtPK1 could suppress gibberellic acid inducible alpha-amylase gene expression, a suppressive activity similar to that of both PKABA1 and ABA. When transiently expressed in barley aleurone protoplasts, TtPK1-GFP accumulates in the nucleus and cytosol while a mutant TtPK1-GFP was localized only to the cytoplasm and vacuoles.
The Treatment of Cardiac Causes of Sudden Death, Syncope, and Seizure

The treatment for pediatric causes for sudden cardiac death can either be general and supportive or, in 2005, can be much more etiology specific. While antiarrhythmic therapy and activity restriction have been for years the mainstay of therapy, newer technologies such as radiofrequency ablation and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICDs) are now more commonly applied for certain disease entities. The evolving role for clinical genetic testing to determine the specific etiology of pediatric sudden cardiac death continues to evolve. Further improvements in risk stratification will allow us to determine which patients are at greatest risk, so that aggressive treatment can be delivered to these subgroups. In the future, there may be gene-specific therapies and/or genetic modification.
Effects of Verbal Regulation and Age on Rule Acquisition and Transfer

The ability of 119 children (mean ages 6.2, 8.2, 10.1, and 12.3) to perform rule learning and subsequent transfer tasks was observed utilizing three experimental conditions: overt-verbal, covert-verbal, and control. The performance of the subjects suggests that the child who is forced to verbalize his conceptual strategies will reach criterion faster in the rule acquisition task, and will also be more successful in his attempts to transfer the acquired rule. With regard to the transfer tasks specifically, it was found that overt-verbal learning was significantly more effective than covert-learning, and that the covert-verbal condition yielded significantly higher scores than did the control condition. These results point to the effectiveness of verbal strategies in the acquisition and transfer of learning.
Use of videophones to deliver a cognitive-behavioural therapy to hospice caregivers.

We investigated the feasibility of videophones for the delivery of problem-solving therapy (PST) for informal hospice caregivers. Informal hospice caregivers were randomly assigned to receive PST from researchers using videophones, instead of communicating in face-to-face sessions. Outcome measures included caregiver anxiety, quality of life and problem-solving abilities, technical quality of videosessions and satisfaction of participants (including both subjects and researchers). A total of 42 hospice caregivers were enrolled (mean age 62 years). A total of 112 videocall attempts were documented. Of these, 100 (89%) resulted in successful videocalls and 12 (11%) were cases in which a call was not established. The average videocall duration was 38 min (range 18–84 min). The overall technical quality of the videocalls was very good. Caregivers reported a slightly higher quality of life post-intervention than at baseline, although this was not significant. Caregivers reported lower levels of anxiety post-in...
Improving physician-patient communication about cancer pain with a tailored education-coaching intervention.

Objective: This study examined the effect of a theoretically grounded, tailored education-coaching intervention to help patients more effectively discuss their pain-related questions, concerns, and preferences with physicians. Methods: Grounded in social-cognitive and communication theory, a tailored education-coaching (TEC) intervention was developed to help patients learn pain management and communication skills. In a RCT, 148 cancer patients agreed to have their consultations audio-recorded and were assigned to the intervention or a control group. The recordings were used to code for patients’ questions, acts of assertiveness, and expressed concerns and to rate the quality of physicians’ communication. Results: Patients in the TEC group discussed their pain concerns more than did patients in the control group. More active patients also had more baseline pain and interacted with physicians using participatory decision-making. Ratings of physicians’ information about pain were higher when patients talked more about their pain concerns. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the efficacy of a theoretically grounded, coaching intervention to help cancer patients talk about pain control. Practice implications: Coaching interventions can be effective resources for helping cancer patients communicate about their pain concerns if they are theoretically grounded, can be integrated within clinical routines, and lead to improve health outcomes.
Overexpression of PKCε sensitizes LNCaP human prostate cancer cells to induction of apoptosis by bryostatin 1

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced apoptosis of androgen sensitive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells is a well known phenomenon that involves prolonged translocation of multiple protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes to nonnuclear membranes. We have shown recently that PMA-induced death of C4-2 cells, androgen hypersensitive derivatives of LNCaP cells, requires both PKCδ and a redundant pathway that includes PKCs α and e. In contrast, it has been reported that overexpression of murine PKCe in LNCaP cells renders those cells resistant to PMA-induced death, as well as androgen insensitive. Here we report that inducible or constitutive overexpression of human PKCe does not alter the sensitivity of LNCaP cells to either PMA or androgen, nor does it alter expression of caveolin-1 or phosphorylated Rb, reported effects of overexpression of murine PKCe. Moreover, overexpression of very high amounts of PKCe sensitized LNCaP cells to induction of apoptosis by bryostatin 1, a non tumor-promoting activator and down-regulator of PKC isozymes that blocks PMA-induced apoptosis of parental LNCaP cells, mimicked our previous results with overexpression of PKCα in LNCaP cells. Given reports that overexpression of PKCe is frequent in human prostate tumors, our results may have important implications for a potential prostate cancer therapy. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
All Optical Switching With a Single Quantum Dot Strongly Coupled to a Photonic Crystal Cavity

We theoretically analyze the optical nonlinearity present at very low optical power in a system consisting of a quantum dot strongly coupled to a cavity, and show that this system can be used for ultralow power and high-speed all-optical switching. We also present numerical simulation results showing both the detailed temporal behavior of such switch and the time-integrated energy transmission through the cavity. We use two different approaches-a quantum optical one and a semiclassical one-to describe the system's behavior, and observe reasonable agreement between the outcomes of numerical simulations based on these two approaches.
MEMS for integrated timing and spectral processing

This paper presents a review of micro-electromechanical devices for frequency references and RF spectral processing. The application of high-Q pure silicon and AlN-on-silicon bulk acoustic wave resonators in low phase-noise reference oscillators is discussed and compensation challenges are described. Low-loss piezo-acoustic filters and high-Q tunable and switchable silver passives are presented for applications in multi-mode front-end modules and spectral processors.
Mechanisms behind the failure of residents' longitudinal primary care to promote disclosure and discussion of psychosocial issues.

Context Longitudinality (care by a single physician over time) and continuity (receipt of most care from a single physician) are believed to enhance patient-physician relationships and facilitate disclosure of emotional distress, but some studies suggest this potential goes unrealized. Objectives To determine whether care in a pediatric residents' continuity clinic promotes, over time, increased discussion, disclosure, and detection of parents' social and emotional distress and to understand physicians' communication behaviors underlying changes with time. Design Longitudinal, observational study of parent-physician interaction over the course of 1 year. Participants One hundred ninety parents (90% African American) and their infants' primary care physicians (31 [4 Asians and 27 whites] first- and second-year pediatric residents). Main Outcome Measures Frequency with which parents and physicians raised topics related to parental mood and family or social functioning; proportion of distressed parents discussing mood or functioning; and physicians' detection of parent distress. Results Physician initiation of psychosocial topics fell in the course of longitudinal relationships (odds of initiation in visits ≥6 vs odds of initiation in visits 1-5 = 0.46 [95% confidence limits, 0.31%, 0.67%]); parent initiation did not change over time nor was it increased by greater levels of continuity. Length of relationship was not associated with increased physician detection of parental distress or with increased rates of disclosure by distressed parents. Physicians' positively framed leading questions, and their avoidant responses to prior parental disclosures were significantly associated with decreased odds of problem disclosure. In contrast, visits in which parents or physicians raised psychosocial topics were characterized, on average, by 40% higher levels of physicians' "patient-centeredness" (increases of about 100 utterances per visit [95% confidence limits, 65.7%, 133.9%]). Conclusions Longitudinal relationships between residents and patients may not be sufficient to promote the discussion, disclosure, and detection of psychosocial issues. Training in communication skills may help residents achieve the potential and goals of longitudinal care.
Influence Attempts When Competing Views Are Gender-Related: Sex as Credibility

A study was conducted to examine the effect of sex of subject, sex of majority and minority influence source, and male or female relatedness of the issue on conformity, Male and female subjects indicated their agreement (or disagreement) with male and female related statements following an influence attempt by either four male or four female confederates. The sex of the majority opinion was juxtaposed with a minority opinion held by an opposite-sexed confederate. Two major findings were obtained. First, for male related issues, subjects conformed more when the majority influence source was male than when female. Likewise, on female-related issues, subjects conformed more when the majority influence source was female than when male. Second, male subjects conformed more than female subjects on the female related issues whereas on male related issues they tended to conform less. The theoretical and practical significance of these findings is discussed.
The toxicity of energy drinks: myth or reality?

The first commercially available energy drink named Krating Daeng was introduced and sold in Thailand in 1976. Krating Daeng served as the inspiration for the creation of Red Bull® in 1987 which is...
Environmental Cracking of Amorphous Alloys

Six amorphous metals have been tested in liquid metal environments or while charging with hydrogen. Differences in sensitivity to each environment are correlated with fractographic features. Evidence in support of enhanced shear as the mechanism of environmental cracking is presented.
STABILITY COMPUTATIONS FOR NILPOTENT HOPF BIFURCATIONS IN COUPLED CELL SYSTEMS

Vanderbauwhede and van Gils, Krupa, and Langford studied unfoldings of bifurcations with purely imaginary eigenvalues and a nonsemisimple linearization, which generically occurs in codimension three. In networks of identical coupled ODE these nilpotent Hopf bifurcations can occur in codimension one. Elmhirst and Golubitsky showed that these bifurcations can lead to surprising branching patterns of periodic solutions, where the type of bifurcation depends in part on the existence of an invariant subspace corresponding to partial synchrony. We study the stability of some of these bifurcating solutions. In the absence of partial synchrony the problem is similar to the generic codimension three problem. In this case we show that the bifurcating branches are generically unstable. When a synchrony subspace is present we obtain partial stability results by using only those near identity transformations that leave this subspace invariant.
A comment on "Estimating the standard deviation from extreme Gaussian values"

This letter relates to a paper (Stark and Brankov, IEEE Signal Process. Lett., vol.11, no.3, p.320-2, March 2004) that used extreme Gaussian values to estimate the standard deviation. We show that the estimator given in the aforementioned paper is a special case of relevant ones previously obtained in the literature about which the authors are unaware. Also, some slight errors in the paper are pointed out and corrected.
The NIH National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics (NCIBI)

The National Center for Integrative and Biomedical Informatics (NCIBI) is one of the eight NCBCs. NCIBI supports information access and data analysis for biomedical researchers, enabling them to build computational and knowledge models of biological systems to address the Driving Biological Problems (DBPs). The NCIBI DBPs have included prostate cancer progression, organ-specific complications of type 1 and 2 diabetes, bipolar disorder, and metabolic analysis of obesity syndrome. Collaborating with these and other partners, NCIBI has developed a series of software tools for exploratory analysis, concept visualization, and literature searches, as well as core database and web services resources. Many of our training and outreach initiatives have been in collaboration with the Research Centers at Minority Institutions (RCMI), integrating NCIBI and RCMI faculty and students, culminating each year in an annual workshop. Our future directions include focusing on the TranSMART data sharing and analysis initiative.
Comparative Study on the Corrosion Resistance of Fe-Based Amorphous Metal, Borated Stainless Steel and Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd Alloy

Iron-based amorphous alloy Fe49.7Cr17.7Mn1.9Mo7.4W1.6B15.2C3.8Si2.4 was compared to borated stainless steel and Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd alloy on their corrosion resistance in various high-[Cl-] solutions. The melt-spun ribbon of this iron-based amorphous alloy have demonstrated a better corrosion resistance than the bulk borated stainless steel and the bulk Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd alloy, in high-[Cl-] brines at temperatures 90oC or higher.
hp -Adaptive Finite Elements for Maxwell’s Equations

This is a progress report on our current work on hp-adaptive finite elements for Maxwell’s equations. I recall the main definitions [2], and show how the recent progress on the ftp interpolation error estimates [3] has led to a fully automatic ftp adaptivity based on the idea of minimizing the ftp-interpolation error for a reference solution corresponding to a globally ftp-refined grid [5]. Critical to the implementation of these ideas is a our new data structure for ftp discretizations [4], supporting anisotropic refinements, and the calculation of prolongation operator for multigrid operations.
Eye movement evidence that readers maintain and act on uncertainty about past linguistic input

In prevailing approaches to human sentence comprehension, the outcome of the word recognition process is assumed to be a categorical representation with no residual uncertainty. Yet perception is inevitably uncertain, and a system making optimal use of available information might retain this uncertainty and interactively recruit grammatical analysis and subsequent perceptual input to help resolve it. To test for the possibility of such an interaction, we tracked readers9 eye movements as they read sentences constructed to vary in (i) whether an early word had near neighbors of a different grammatical category, and (ii) how strongly another word further downstream cohered grammatically with these potential near neighbors. Eye movements indicated that readers maintain uncertain beliefs about previously read word identities, revise these beliefs on the basis of relative grammatical consistency with subsequent input, and use these changing beliefs to guide saccadic behavior in ways consistent with principles of rational probabilistic inference.
Acid mucopolysaccharide (glycosaminoglycan) at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface of mouse embryo salivary glands.

Acid mucopolysaccharide (glycosaminoglycan) has been demostrated at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface of mouse embryo submandibular glands by (a) specific staining for polymeric sulfate with Alcian blue 8 GX at various magnesium concentrations, (b) specific staining for polymeric uronic acid by selective oxidation of these residues to Schiff-reactive compounds, (c) electron microscope localization of ruthenium red staining, (d) radioautographic localization of glucosamine-3H and 35SO4, and (e) by susceptibility of the glucosamine radioactivity at the interface to digestion with protease-free hyaluronidase. Moreover, material labeled with glucosamine-3H and 35SO4 and with chemical characteristics identical with those of acid mucopolysaccharide were isolated from the glands. Acid mucopolysaccharide is distributed over the entire epithelial surface. The amount of acid mucopolysaccharide, as revealed by the staining procedures, is nearly equivalent at all sites. In contrast, the rate of accumulation of glucosamine-labeled mucopolysaccharide is greater at the surface of the distal ends of the growing and branching lobules. This distribution of newly synthesized acid mucopolysaccharide at the sites of incipient cleft formation suggests that surface-associated acid mucopolysaccharide is involved in the morphogenetic process. A mechanism of branching morphogenesis is proposed which accounts for the distribution of collagen fibers and total and newly synthesized acid mucopolysaccharide at the epithelial surface.
Regenerative energy saving in multi-axis servo-motor-drives

A method for the regenerative energy saving in multi-axis servo-motor-drives is presented in this paper. This energy management is achieved through a proper time-coordination between the speed commands of multi-axis drives. Moreover, the proposed approach significantly limits the peak value of the ac input current in these systems. It is mathematically proved that a time-delay can significantly increase the amount of utilized regenerative energy and consequently decreases the amount of dissipated energy. In this paper, a set of closed-form formulas is developed, where the motor losses are neglected. The findings of this investigation were experimentally verified using a two-axis permanent-magnet (PM) motor-drive system, and the results are presented in this paper. The experimental results are in remarkable agreement with the developed closed-form formulas.
Tectonics of Artemis Chasma: A Venusian "Plate" Boundary

Abstract Artemis Chasma, an ∼2600-km-diameter arcuate trough located in southwestern Aphrodite Terra, Venus, has been the site of
CD36 participates in the phagocytosis of rod outer segments by retinal pigment epithelium

Mechanisms of phagocytosis are complex and incompletely understood. The retinal pigment epithelium provides an ideal system to study the specific aspects of phagocytosis since an important function of this cell is the ingestion of packets of membranous discs that are normally discarded at the apical ends of rod and cone cells during outer segment renewal. Here we provide evidence that rod outer segment phagocytosis by retinal pigment epithelium is mediated by CD36, a transmembrane glycoprotein which has been previously characterized on hematopoietic cells as a receptor for apoptotic neutrophils and oxidized low density lipoprotein. Immunocytochemical staining with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies demonstrated CD36 expression by both human and rat retinal pigment epithelium in transverse cryostat sections of normal retina and in primary cultured cells. By western blot analysis of retinal pigment epithelial cell lysates, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to CD36 recognized an 88 kDa protein which comigrated with platelet CD36. Furthermore, the synthesis of CD36 mRNA by retinal pigment epithelium was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-PCR using specific CD36 oligonucleotides. The addition of CD36 antibodies to cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells reduced the binding and internalization of 125I-labeled rod outer segments by 60%. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy confirmed that outer segment uptake was significantly diminished by an antibody to CD36. Moreover, we found that transfection of a human melanoma cell line with CD36 cDNA enabled these cells to bind and internalize isolated photoreceptor outer segments as seen by double immunofluorescent staining for surface bound and total cell-associated rod outer segments, and by measurement of cell-associated 125I-labeled rod outer segments. We conclude that the multifunctional scavenger receptor CD36 participates in the clearance of photoreceptor outer segments by retinal pigment epithelium and thus, participates in the visual process.
The US military in uncertain times: Organizations, ambiguity, and strategic adjustment

(1997). The US military in uncertain times: Organizations, ambiguity, and strategic adjustment. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 41-74.
Utilization of Location Information in Cognitive Wireless Networks

Location awareness is an essential characteristic of cognitive radios as well as networks. In this article a location awareness engine architecture is proposed for the realization of location awareness in cognitive radios and networks. The proposed architecture consists of location estimation and/or sensing, seamless positioning and interoperability, statistical learning and tracking, security and privacy, mobility management, and location-based applications. However, the focus of this article is on location-based applications where we demonstrate the utilization of location information in cognitive wireless networks by presenting some representative location-assisted network optimization applications such as location-assisted spectrum management, network planning and expansion, and handover. Our study unveils that location information can be used in cognitive wireless networks to optimize network performance. Possible solutions to the implementation issues are proposed, and the remaining open issues are also addressed.
Effects of agricultural management systems on soil organic carbon in aggregates of Ustolls and Usterts

Soil erosion contributes to the removal and redistribution of soil organic C from cultivated fields. The soil organic C content of wind erodible and water unstable aggregates is an important factor in determining the amount of carbon loss occurring in erosion processes. The relative distribution of organic carbon among aggregate size fractions may also affect the response of soils to erosion. Soil organic C distribution is dependent on the chosen management system. The effects of no-till, till, and grassland management systems on organic C content of erodible and non-erodible aggregates were examined in six Ustolls and two Usterts of central South Dakota. Organic C contents were related to dry- and wet-sieving to represent the potential influence of wind and water erosion on C loss in the absence of vegetative cover. Loss of aggregate stability in cultivated soils was associated with organic C loss. Most structural characteristics developed under tilled systems persisted after 6‐16 years of notill. Changes in distribution of organic C due to management systems were most evident in Ustolls where cultivation resulted in net soil C losses. Soil organic C was not significantly increased by the no-tillage practices applied in this on-farm study (in Ustolls 49 Mg ha � 1 in no-till versus 41 Mg ha � 1 in till, for 0‐0.20 m depth). Soil properties of Usterts were less affected by land use and management practices due to the high shrink swell action and self-mixing. In both soil orders the greater concentration of organic C in the wind erodible (<1 mm) dry aggregate size fraction implies a high potential for organic C loss by erosion in addition to organic C loss from mineralization after tillage. Grassland when compared to cultivated topsoil showed the largest amounts of organic carbon stored and the minimal potential for erosion loss of soil organic C. # 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.
White paper: value of specialty certification in pharmacy.

ABSTRACT Objective To address the value of Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) certification, particularly as perceived by different stakeholders (pharmacists, employers, government, and academia), and to draw a parallel between specialization and certification in pharmacy and in medicine. Data Sources Electronic databases (Medline, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts), associations/health care organizations Web sites, outside reports, and clinical pharmacists involved in certification processes. Study Selection Studies and reports that addressed the value of specialty certification were selected by the authors. Data Extraction By the authors. Data Synthesis Pharmacists with specialty certification report enhanced feelings of self-worth, improved competence, and greater marketability. Other values of certification include increased acceptance by health care professionals, salary increases, and job promotions. Employers have acknowledged board-certified pharmacists through public recognition, increase in responsibility, and some types of monetary compensation. In some governmental organizations, certified pharmacists receive salary raises and are granted prescribing authority. However, the overall value of specialty certification in pharmacy as perceived by the public or payers lags behind when compared with the status of specialty certification in medicine. Conclusion Board-certified pharmacists appreciate the value of pharmacy specialty certification, and in a number of organizations and practice settings, board-certified pharmacists are perceived as valuable. Still, unlike board-certified physicians, board-certified pharmacists are not widely recognized outside or even within the pharmacy profession. To address this challenge, board-certified pharmacists ought to market their services to assure that other stakeholders recognize their value.
Input of wind-dispersed seeds into light-gaps and forest sites in a neotropical forest

A total of 52,467 wind-dispersed seeds from 14 tree and 32 liana species fell into 1720 seed traps in 43 paired light-gap and adjacent forest sites on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Summed at the community level, many more wind-dispersed seeds were collected from light-gaps (61%) than from forest sites (39%). They accumulated from March through May, 1984 to a density of 328 m-2 in gaps and 207 m-2 in forest sites. In contrast, only 33% of the total of 2782 non-wind-dispersed seeds were collected in gaps. Due to the extreme heterogeneity of the seed rain, these differences between gap and forest sites were not statistically significant at the community-level. Gap sites received more wind-dispersed seeds than adjacent forest sites in only 20 of 43 locations and in 13 of 20 species, especially those with individuals of high fecundity near gap sites. Of the estimated 105 million wind-dispersed seeds contributing to the seed rain of the 50 ha study plot, only 4.1% were dispersed to the rare gap sites that enhance the establishment and growth of seedlings for many of these species.
The effect of correlated shadowing on power control error in satellite CDMA systems

Power control process tries to counter balance the power fluctuations in the channel and keep the received power within the prescribed limits. This process has to be accurate in CDMA systems, where all mobile user signals must be received at the same power level in order to maximize the system capacity. In a land mobile satellite channel, if the shadowing autocorrelation changes very rapidly, the length of the round trip propagation delay inherent in the satellite channel would make it difficult for the power control algorithm to track the power variations in the received signal, resulting in an unacceptable performance. In the literature, it is well known that the magnitude of variability (i.e. sigma) of the shadowing process has a crucial effect on the performance of adaptive power control. In this paper, it is demonstrated that in addition to the magnitude of variability, shadowing autocorrelation property also significantly affects the power control performance and it should be taken into account in the mobile satellite system performance evaluations
0.5-femtosecond-resolution measurement of optical resonant tunneling time

Summary form only given. As recently reported by Ebbesen et al. (1998), a subwavelength hole array in a metallic film shows extraordinary transmission of light at wavelengths much larger than the hole size. This unusual effect was attributed to the resonantly enhanced coupling of the incident beam into the surface plasmon polaritons. We report the measurement of the delay of a short pulse when transmitted through the hole array. This delay time is important because it directly verifies the resonant nature of the transmission through subwavelength holes.