factor nsf sorting: Topics by Science.gov

Sample records for factor nsf sorting

Variable Stars as an Introduction to Computational Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cash, Jennifer; Walter, Donald K.

2017-01-01

As a part of larger effort to enhance the research activity at SC State and involve more undergraduates in research activities, we present our efforts to develop an introductory research experience where the goal is a balance of astrophysical understanding, general research skills, and programming skills which the students can carry into a wide variety of future research activities. We have found that variable stars are a very good topic for this sort of introductory experience due to a combination of factors including: accessibility of data, easily understandable physical processes, and a relatively straight forward data analysis process. We will present an outline of our research experiences to guide a student from the very initial stages of learning to final presentation of the student's work.“This work was supported in part by NSF PAARE award AST-1358913 and NSF HBCU-UP award HRD-1332449 to SCSU.”
Synaptic Vesicle Mobility and Presynaptic F-Actin Are Disrupted in a N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive Factor Allele of Drosophila

PubMed Central

Nunes, Paula; Haines, Nicola; Kuppuswamy, Venkat; Fleet, David J.

2006-01-01

N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) can dissociate the soluble NSF attachment receptor (SNARE) complex, but NSF also participates in other intracellular trafficking functions by virtue of SNARE-independent activity. Drosophila that express a neural transgene encoding a dominant-negative form of NSF2 show an 80% reduction in the size of releasable synaptic vesicle pool, but no change in the number of vesicles in nerve terminal boutons. Here we tested the hypothesis that vesicles in the NSF2 mutant terminal are less mobile. Using a combination of genetics, pharmacology, and imaging we find a substantial reduction in vesicle mobility within the nerve terminal boutons of Drosophila NSF2 mutant larvae. Subsequent analysis revealed a decrease of filamentous actin in both NSF2 dominant-negative and loss-of-function mutants. Lastly, actin-filament disrupting drugs also decrease vesicle movement. We conclude that a factor contributing to the NSF mutant phenotype is a reduction in vesicle mobility, which is associated with decreased presynaptic F-actin. Our data are consistent with a model in which actin filaments promote vesicle mobility and suggest that NSF participates in establishing or maintaining this population of actin. PMID:16914524
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is associated with hypophosphataemia: a case-control study.

PubMed

Bernstein, Elana J; Isakova, Tamara; Sullivan, Mary E; Chibnik, Lori B; Wolf, Myles; Kay, Jonathan

2014-09-01

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is an iatrogenic fibrosing disorder that primarily affects individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) following exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). Derangements of calcium and phosphorus have been reported in patients with NSF. The aim of this study was to investigate potential factors in addition to GBCA exposure that may be involved in the pathogenesis of NSF. We hypothesized that patients with stage 5 CKD and NSF would manifest greater alterations in calcium, phosphorus and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels than those who do not have NSF. Levels of phosphorus, calcium, FGF23 and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D were measured in 10 patients with stage 5 CKD and biopsy-proven NSF and in 19 patients with stage 5 CKD without NSF. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. Patients with NSF had significantly lower phosphorus levels compared with controls (P = 0.01). There were no significant differences between NSF patients and controls in calcium, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone or FGF23 levels. Differences in phosphorus metabolism may exist between patients with stage 5 CKD and NSF compared with patients with stage 5 CKD without NSF. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Determinants of Broader Impacts Activities: A Survey of NSF-Funded Investigators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nagy, Dianne

2016-01-01

This study investigated the factors that shape the broader impacts activities of NSF grant recipients. A random sample of NSF grantees was surveyed about the type and quality of their broader impacts activities, their views on knowledge production and the democratization of science, their experience and training, and the existence of a supportive…
A Two-Factor Model Better Explains Heterogeneity in Negative Symptoms: Evidence from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

PubMed

Jang, Seon-Kyeong; Choi, Hye-Im; Park, Soohyun; Jaekal, Eunju; Lee, Ga-Young; Cho, Young Il; Choi, Kee-Hong

2016-01-01

Acknowledging separable factors underlying negative symptoms may lead to better understanding and treatment of negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. The current study aimed to test whether the negative symptoms factor (NSF) of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) would be better represented by expressive and experiential deficit factors, rather than by a single factor model, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Two hundred and twenty individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders completed the PANSS; subsamples additionally completed the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) and the Motivation and Pleasure Scale-Self-Report (MAP-SR). CFA results indicated that the two-factor model fit the data better than the one-factor model; however, latent variables were closely correlated. The two-factor model's fit was significantly improved by accounting for correlated residuals between N2 (emotional withdrawal) and N6 (lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation), and between N4 (passive social withdrawal) and G16 (active social avoidance), possibly reflecting common method variance. The two NSF factors exhibited differential patterns of correlation with subdomains of the BNSS and MAP-SR. These results suggest that the PANSS NSF would be better represented by a two-factor model than by a single-factor one, and support the two-factor model's adequate criterion-related validity. Common method variance among several items may be a potential source of measurement error under a two-factor model of the PANSS NSF.
Control of very low-density lipoprotein secretion by N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor and miR-33.

PubMed

Allen, Ryan M; Marquart, Tyler J; Jesse, Jordan J; Baldán, Angel

2014-06-20

Several reports suggest that antisense oligonucleotides against miR-33 might reduce cardiovascular risk in patients by accelerating the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. However, conflicting reports exist about the impact of anti-miR-33 therapy on the levels of very low-density lipoprotein-triglycerides (VLDL-TAG). We test the hypothesis that miR-33 controls hepatic VLDL-TAG secretion. Using therapeutic silencing of miR-33 and adenoviral overexpression of miR-33, we show that miR-33 limits hepatic secretion of VLDL-TAG by targeting N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), both in vivo and in primary hepatocytes. We identify conserved sequences in the 3'UTR of NSF as miR-33 responsive elements and show that Nsf is specifically recruited to the RNA-induced silencing complex following induction of miR-33. In pulse-chase experiments, either miR-33 overexpression or knock-down of Nsf lead to decreased secretion of apolipoproteins and TAG in primary hepatocytes, compared with control cells. Importantly, Nsf rescues miR-33-dependent reduced secretion. Finally, we show that overexpression of Nsf in vivo increases global hepatic secretion and raises plasma VLDL-TAG. Together, our data reveal key roles for the miR-33-NSF axis during hepatic secretion and suggest that caution should be taken with anti-miR-33-based therapies because they might raise proatherogenic VLDL-TAG levels. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.
Particle-in-cell simulations on graphic processing units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, C.; Zhou, X.; Li, J.; Huang, M. C.; Zhao, Y.

2014-10-01

We will show our recent progress in using GPU's to accelerate the PIC code OSIRIS [Fonseca et al. LNCS 2331, 342 (2002)]. The OISRIS parallel structure is retained and the computation-intensive kernels are shipped to GPU's. Algorithms for the kernels are adapted for the GPU, including high-order charge-conserving current deposition schemes with few branching and parallel particle sorting [Kong et al., JCP 230, 1676 (2011)]. These algorithms make efficient use of the GPU shared memory. This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FC02-04ER54789 and by NSF under Grant No. PHY-1314734.
Visual Arrestin 1 Acts as a Modulator for N-Ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor in the Photoreceptor Synapse

PubMed Central

Huang, Shun-Ping; Brown, Bruce M.; Craft, Cheryl M.

2010-01-01

In the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) phototransduction cascade, visual Arrestin1 (Arr1) binds to and deactivates phosphorylated light-activated opsins, a process that is critical for effective recovery and normal vision. In this report, we discovered a novel synaptic interaction between Arr1 and N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) that is enhanced in a dark environment when mouse photoreceptors are depolarized and the rate of exocytosis is elevated. In the photoreceptor synapse, NSF functions to sustain a higher rate of exocytosis, in addition to the compensatory endocytosis to retrieve and to recycle vesicle membrane and synaptic proteins. Not only does Arr1 bind to the junction of NSF N-terminal and its first ATPase domains in an ATP-dependent manner in vitro, but Arr1 also enhances both NSF ATPase and NSF disassembly activities. In vivo experiments in mouse retinas with the Arr1 gene knocked out, the expression levels of NSF and other synapse-enriched components, including vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGLUT1), excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (EAAT5), and vesicle associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), are markedly reduced, which lead to a substantial decrease in the exocytosis rate with FM1-43. Thus, we propose that the Arr1 and NSF interaction is important for modulating normal synaptic function in mouse photoreceptors. This study demonstrates a vital alternative function for Arr1 in the photoreceptor synapse and provides key insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of inherited retinal diseases, such as Oguchi disease and Arr1-associated retinitis pigmentosa. PMID:20631167
Nasoseptal flap necrosis: a rare complication of endoscopic endonasal surgery.

PubMed

Chabot, Joseph D; Patel, Chirag R; Hughes, Marion A; Wang, Eric W; Snyderman, Carl H; Gardner, Paul A; Fernandez-Miranda, Juan C

2018-05-01

OBJECTIVE The vascularized nasoseptal flap (NSF) has become the workhorse for skull base reconstruction during endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) of the ventral skull base. Although infrequently reported, as with any vascularized flap the NSF may undergo ischemic necrosis and become a nidus for infection. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's experience with NSF was reviewed to determine the incidence of necrotic NSF in patients following EES and describe the clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and risk factors associated with this complication. METHODS The electronic medical records of 1285 consecutive patients who underwent EES at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between January 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. From this first group, a list of all patients in whom NSF was used for reconstruction was generated and further refined to determine if the patient returned to the operating room and the cause of this reexploration. Patients were included in the final analysis if they underwent endoscopic reexploration for suspected CSF leak or meningitis. Those patients who returned to the operating room for staged surgery or hematoma were excluded. Two neurosurgeons and a neuroradiologist, who were blinded to each other's results, assessed the MRI characteristics of the included patients. RESULTS In total, 601 patients underwent NSF reconstruction during the study period, and 49 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. On endoscopic exploration, 8 patients had a necrotic, nonviable NSF, while 41 patients had a viable NSF with a CSF leak. The group of patients with a necrotic, nonviable NSF was then compared with the group with viable NSF. All 8 patients with a necrotic NSF had clinical and laboratory evidence indicative of meningitis compared with 9 of 41 patients with a viable NSF (p < 0.001). Four patients with necrotic flaps developed epidural empyema compared with 2 of 41 patients in the viable NSF group (p = 0.02). The lack of NSF enhancement on MR (p < 0.001), prior surgery (p = 0.043), and the use of a fat graft (p = 0.004) were associated with necrotic NSF. CONCLUSIONS The signs of meningitis after EES in the absence of a clear CSF leak with the lack of NSF enhancement on MRI should raise the suspicion of necrotic NSF. These patients should undergo prompt exploration and debridement of nonviable tissue with revision of skull base reconstruction.
N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor interacts with the serotonin transporter and modulates its trafficking: implications for pathophysiology in autism

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Changes in serotonin transporter (SERT) function have been implicated in autism. SERT function is influenced by the number of transporter molecules present at the cell surface, which is regulated by various cellular mechanisms including interactions with other proteins. Thus, we searched for novel SERT-binding proteins and investigated whether the expression of one such protein was affected in subjects with autism. Methods Novel SERT-binding proteins were examined by a pull-down system. Alterations of SERT function and membrane expression upon knockdown of the novel SERT-binding protein were studied in HEK293-hSERT cells. Endogenous interaction of SERT with the protein was evaluated in mouse brains. Alterations in the mRNA expression of SERT (SLC6A4) and the SERT-binding protein in the post-mortem brains and the lymphocytes of autism patients were compared to nonclinical controls. Results N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) was identified as a novel SERT-binding protein. NSF was co-localized with SERT at the plasma membrane, and NSF knockdown resulted in decreased SERT expression at the cell membranes and decreased SERT uptake function. NSF was endogenously co-localized with SERT and interacted with SERT. While SLC6A4 expression was not significantly changed, NSF expression tended to be reduced in post-mortem brains, and was significantly reduced in lymphocytes of autistic subjects, which correlated with the severity of the clinical symptoms. Conclusions These data clearly show that NSF interacts with SERT under physiological conditions and is required for SERT membrane trafficking and uptake function. A possible role for NSF in the pathophysiology of autism through modulation of SERT trafficking, is suggested. PMID:24834316
A Nutrition Screening Form for Female Infertility Patients.

PubMed

Langley, Susie

2014-12-01

A Nutrition Screening Form (NSF) was designed to identify lifestyle risk factors that negatively impact fertility and to provide a descriptive profile of 300 female infertility patients in a private urban infertility clinic. The NSF was mailed to all new patients prior to the initial physician's visit and self-reported data were assessed using specific criteria to determine if a nutrition referral was warranted. This observational study revealed that 43% of the women had a body mass index (BMI) <20 or ≥25 kg/m(2), known risks for infertility. Almost half reported a history of "dieting" and unrealistic weight goals potentially limiting energy and essential nutrients. A high number reported eating disorders, vegetarianism, low fat or low cholesterol diets, and dietary supplement use. Fourteen percent appeared not to supplement with folic acid, 13% rated exercise as "extremely" or "very active", and 28% reported a "high" perceived level of stress. This preliminary research demonstrated that a NSF can be a useful tool to identify nutrition-related lifestyle factors that may negatively impact fertility and identified weight, BMI, diet, exercise, and stress as modifiable risk factors deserving future research. NSF information can help increase awareness among health professionals and patients about the important link between nutrition, fertility, and successful reproductive outcomes.
Three-variable solution in the (2+1)-dimensional null-surface formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harriott, Tina A.; Williams, J. G.

2018-04-01

The null-surface formulation of general relativity (NSF) describes gravity by using families of null surfaces instead of a spacetime metric. Despite the fact that the NSF is (to within a conformal factor) equivalent to general relativity, the equations of the NSF are exceptionally difficult to solve, even in 2+1 dimensions. The present paper gives the first exact (2+1)-dimensional solution that depends nontrivially upon all three of the NSF's intrinsic spacetime variables. The metric derived from this solution is shown to represent a spacetime whose source is a massless scalar field that satisfies the general relativistic wave equation and the Einstein equations with minimal coupling. The spacetime is identified as one of a family of (2+1)-dimensional general relativistic spacetimes discovered by Cavaglià.
Measuring Science Literacy in College Undergraduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Impey, Chris David; Buxner, S. R.; Antonellis, J.; King, C.; Johnson, E.; CATS

2010-01-01

Initial results from a major study of scientific literacy are presented, involving nearly 10,000 undergraduates in science classes at a large Southwestern Land Grant public university over a 20-year period. The science content questions overlap with those in the NSF's Science Indicators series. About 10% of all undergraduates in the US take a General Education astronomy course, and NSF data and the work of Jon Miller show that the number of college science courses taken is the strongest predictor of civic scientific literacy. Our data show that gains in knowledge on any particular item through the time students graduate are only 10-15%. Among students who have taken most or all of their science requirements, one-in-three think that antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria, one-in-four think lasers work by focusing sound waves, one-in-five think atoms are smaller than electrons, and the same fraction is unaware that humans evolved from earlier species of animals and that the Earth takes a year to go around the Sun. The fraction of undergraduates saying that astrology is "not at all” scientific increases from 17% to a still-low 34% as they move through the university. Equally worrying, half of all science majors say that astrology is "sort of” or "very” scientific. Education majors - the cohort of future teachers - perform worse than average on most individual questions and in terms of their overall scientific literacy. Assuming the study institution is representative of the nation's higher education institutions, our instruction is not raising students to the level we would expect for educated citizens who must vote on many issues that relate to science and technology. We acknowledge the NSF for funding under Award No. 0715517, a CCLI Phase III Grant for the Collaboration of Astronomy Teaching Scholars (CATS) Program.
Dopamine D1A directly interacts with otoferlin synaptic pathway proteins: Ca2+ and phosphorylation underlie an NSF-to-AP2mu1 molecular switch.

PubMed

Selvakumar, Dakshnamurthy; Drescher, Marian J; Deckard, Nathan A; Ramakrishnan, Neeliyath A; Morley, Barbara J; Drescher, Dennis G

2017-01-01

Dopamine receptors regulate exocytosis via protein-protein interactions (PPIs) as well as via adenylyl cyclase transduction pathways. Evidence has been obtained for PPIs in inner ear hair cells coupling D1A to soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-related proteins snapin, otoferlin, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), and adaptor-related protein complex 2, mu 1 (AP2mu1), dependent on [Ca 2+ ] and phosphorylation. Specifically, the carboxy terminus of dopamine D1A was found to directly bind t-SNARE-associated protein snapin in teleost and mammalian hair cell models by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and pull-down assays, and snapin directly interacts with hair cell calcium-sensor otoferlin. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, competitive pull-downs, and co-immunoprecipitation indicated that these interactions were promoted by Ca 2+ and occur together. D1A was also found to separately interact with NSF, but with an inverse dependence on Ca 2+ Evidence was obtained, for the first time, that otoferlin domains C2A, C2B, C2D, and C2F interact with NSF and AP2mu1, whereas C2C or C2E do not bind to either protein, representing binding characteristics consistent with respective inclusion or omission in individual C2 domains of the tyrosine motif YXXΦ. In competitive pull-down assays, as predicted by K D values from SPR (+Ca 2+ ), C2F pulled down primarily NSF as opposed to AP2mu1. Phosphorylation of AP2mu1 gave rise to a reversal: an increase in binding by C2F to phosphorylated AP2mu1 was accompanied by a decrease in binding to NSF, consistent with a molecular switch for otoferlin from membrane fusion (NSF) to endocytosis (AP2mu1). An increase in phosphorylated AP2mu1 at the base of the cochlear inner hair cell was the observed response elicited by a dopamine D1A agonist, as predicted. © 2017 The Author(s); published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.
Twenty-Year Survey of Scientific Literacy and Attitudes Toward Science: Students’ Acceptance of Astrology and Pseudoscience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugarman, Hannah R.; Impey, C.; Buxner, S.; Antonellis, J.

2010-01-01

Our survey used to collect data during a twenty-year long investigation into the science literacy of undergraduates (see Impey et al., this meeting), contains several questions addressing how students conceptualize astrology, and other pseudoscientific ideas. This poster presents findings from the quantitative analysis of some of these question responses from almost 10,000 undergraduate students enrolled in introductory astronomy courses from 1989 to 2009. The results from our data reveal that a large majority of students (78%) and half of science majors (52%) consider astrology either "very” or "sort of” scientific. Students performed comparatively better on all other pseudoscientific questions, demonstrating that belief in astrology is pervasive and deeply entrenched. We compare our results to those obtained by the NSF Science Indicators series, and suggest possible reasons for the high susceptibility to belief in astrology. These findings call into question whether our education system is adequately preparing students to be scientifically literate adults. You can help! Stop by our poster and fill out a new survey that will give us important parallel information to help us continue to analyze our valuable data set. We acknowledge the NSF for funding under Award No. 0715517, a CCLI Phase III Grant for the Collaboration of Astronomy Teaching Scholars (CATS) Program.
Functional Analyses of NSF1 in Wine Yeast Using Interconnected Correlation Clustering and Molecular Analyses

PubMed Central

Bessonov, Kyrylo; Walkey, Christopher J.; Shelp, Barry J.; van Vuuren, Hennie J. J.; Chiu, David; van der Merwe, George

2013-01-01

Analyzing time-course expression data captured in microarray datasets is a complex undertaking as the vast and complex data space is represented by a relatively low number of samples as compared to thousands of available genes. Here, we developed the Interdependent Correlation Clustering (ICC) method to analyze relationships that exist among genes conditioned on the expression of a specific target gene in microarray data. Based on Correlation Clustering, the ICC method analyzes a large set of correlation values related to gene expression profiles extracted from given microarray datasets. ICC can be applied to any microarray dataset and any target gene. We applied this method to microarray data generated from wine fermentations and selected NSF1, which encodes a C2H2 zinc finger-type transcription factor, as the target gene. The validity of the method was verified by accurate identifications of the previously known functional roles of NSF1. In addition, we identified and verified potential new functions for this gene; specifically, NSF1 is a negative regulator for the expression of sulfur metabolism genes, the nuclear localization of Nsf1 protein (Nsf1p) is controlled in a sulfur-dependent manner, and the transcription of NSF1 is regulated by Met4p, an important transcriptional activator of sulfur metabolism genes. The inter-disciplinary approach adopted here highlighted the accuracy and relevancy of the ICC method in mining for novel gene functions using complex microarray datasets with a limited number of samples. PMID:24130853
An Investigation of How Black STEM Faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities Approach the National Science Foundation Merit Review Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rankins, Falcon

This qualitative inquiry explored the ways in which US-born, Black faculty member participants in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) interact with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Eight Black HBCU STEM faculty members with a range of involvement in NSF-related activities were individually interviewed. Topics of discussion with participants included their prior experiences with NSF, their understanding of the merit review process, and their understanding of their personal and institutional relationships with NSF and the STEM community. Two broad findings emerged from the conversations. The first was that issues of communities and social identity were important to the participants' work as research scientists. Participants prioritized advancing people and communities over advancing the knowledge of ambiguous, disembodied scientific disciplines, and some participants were motivated by interests in social justice. However, participants maintained strong identities as scientists and the discussions provided no evidence that other social factors influenced their application of the scientific method. The second major finding dealt with the role participants perceived their institutions playing in their involvement with NSF. All participants described challenges associated with pursuing research in HBCU environments and, in some cases, the institutional challenges served as the motivation for participants' projects, with varying consequences. The participants' discussions about their institutions also raised important questions about how well-aligned participants' visions are with the visions of their institutional leadership, regarding how research should be incorporated into the HBCU mission. Finally, this study developed and refined a theoretical framework for explaining the underrepresentation of HBCUs in NSF funding streams. In developing this framework, a brief history of the origination of HBCUs, NSF, and the NSF merit review process is presented.
Regulation of platelet granule exocytosis by S-nitrosylation

PubMed Central

Morrell, Craig N.; Matsushita, Kenji; Chiles, Kelly; Scharpf, Robert B.; Yamakuchi, Munekazu; Mason, Rebecca J. A.; Bergmeier, Wolfgang; Mankowski, Joseph L.; Baldwin, William M.; Faraday, Nauder; Lowenstein, Charles J.

2005-01-01

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates platelet activation by cGMP-dependent mechanisms and by mechanisms that are not completely defined. Platelet activation includes exocytosis of platelet granules, releasing mediators that regulate interactions between platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells. Exocytosis is mediated in part by N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), an ATPase that disassembles complexes of soluble NSF attachment protein receptors. We now demonstrate that NO inhibits exocytosis of dense granules, lysosomal granules, and α-granules from human platelets by S-nitrosylation of NSF. Platelets lacking endothelial NO synthase show increased rolling on venules, increased thrombosis in arterioles, and increased exocytosis in vivo. Regulation of exocytosis is thus a mechanism by which NO regulates thrombosis. PMID:15738422
UBE4B Protein Couples Ubiquitination and Sorting Machineries to Enable Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Degradation*

PubMed Central

Sirisaengtaksin, Natalie; Gireud, Monica; Yan, Qing; Kubota, Yoshihisa; Meza, Denisse; Waymire, Jack C.; Zage, Peter E.; Bean, Andrew J.

2014-01-01

The signaling of plasma membrane proteins is tuned by internalization and sorting in the endocytic pathway prior to recycling or degradation in lysosomes. Ubiquitin modification allows recognition and association of cargo with endosomally associated protein complexes, enabling sorting of proteins to be degraded from those to be recycled. The mechanism that provides coordination between the cellular machineries that mediate ubiquitination and endosomal sorting is unknown. We report that the ubiquitin ligase UBE4B is recruited to endosomes in response to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation by binding to Hrs, a key component of endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) 0. We identify the EGFR as a substrate for UBE4B, establish UBE4B as a regulator of EGFR degradation, and describe a mechanism by which UBE4B regulates endosomal sorting, affecting cellular levels of the EGFR and its downstream signaling. We propose a model in which the coordinated action of UBE4B, ESCRT-0, and the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8 enable the endosomal sorting and lysosomal degradation of the EGFR. PMID:24344129
Status and understanding of groundwater quality in the North San Francisco Bay Shallow Aquifer study unit, 2012; California GAMA Priority Basin Project (ver. 1.1, February 2018)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bennett, George L.

2017-07-20

Groundwater quality in the North San Francisco Bay Shallow Aquifer study unit (NSF-SA) was investigated as part of the Priority Basin Project of the California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. The study unit is in Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties and included two physiographic study areas: the Valleys and Plains area and the surrounding Highlands area. The NSF-SA focused on groundwater resources used for domestic drinking water supply, which generally correspond to shallower parts of aquifer systems than that of groundwater resources used for public drinking water supply in the same area. The assessments characterized the quality of untreated groundwater, not the quality of drinking water.This study included three components: (1) a status assessment, which characterized the status of the quality of the groundwater resources used for domestic supply for 2012; (2) an understanding assessment, which evaluated the natural and human factors potentially affecting water quality in those resources; and (3) a comparison between the groundwater resources used for domestic supply and those used for public supply.The status assessment was based on data collected from 71 sites sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey for the GAMA Priority Basin Project in 2012. To provide context, concentrations of constituents measured in groundwater were compared to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water regulatory and non-regulatory benchmarks for drinking-water quality. The status assessment used a grid-based method to estimate the proportion of the groundwater resources that has concentrations of water-quality constituents approaching or above benchmark concentrations. This method provides statistically unbiased results at the study-area scale and permits comparisons to other GAMA Priority Basin Project study areas.In the NSF-SA study unit as a whole, inorganic constituents with human-health benchmarks were detected at high relative concentrations (RCs) in 27 percent of the shallow aquifer system, and inorganic constituents with secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCL) were detected at high RCs in 24 percent of the system. The inorganic constituents detected at high RCs were arsenic, boron, fluoride, manganese, nitrate, iron, sulfate, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Organic constituents with human-health benchmarks were detected at high RCs in 1 percent of the shallow aquifer system. Of the 148 organic constituents analyzed, 30 constituents were detected, although only 1, chloroform, had a detection frequency greater than 10 percent.Natural and anthropogenic factors that could affect the groundwater quality were evaluated by using results from statistical testing of associations between constituent concentrations and values of potential explanatory factors. Groundwater age class (modern, mixed, or pre-modern), redox class (oxic or anoxic), aquifer lithology class (metamorphic, sedimentary, or volcanic), and dissolved oxygen concentrations were the explanatory factors that explained distribution patterns of most of the inorganic constituents best. Groundwater classified primarily as pre-modern or mixed in age was associated with higher concentrations of arsenic and fluoride than waters classified as modern. Anoxic or mixed redox conditions were associated with higher concentrations of boron, fluoride, and manganese. Similar patterns of association with explanatory variables were seen for inorganic constituents with aesthetic-based benchmarks detected at high concentrations. Nitrate and perchlorate had higher concentrations in oxic than in the anoxic redox class and were positively correlated with urban land use.The NSF-SA water-quality results were compared to those of the GAMA North San Francisco Bay Public-Supply Aquifer study unit (NSF-PA). The NSF-PA was sampled in 2004 and covers much of the same area as the NSF-SA, but focused on the deeper public-supply aquifer system. The comparison of the NSF-PA to the NSF-SA showed that there were more differences between the Valleys and Plains study areas of the two study units than between the Highlands study areas of the two study units. As expected from the shallower depth of wells, the NSF-SA Valleys and Plains study area had a lesser proportion of pre-modern age groundwater and greater proportion of modern age groundwater than the NSF-PA Valleys and Plains study area. In contrast, well depths and groundwater ages were not significantly different between the two Highlands study areas. Arsenic, manganese, and nitrate were present at high RCs, and perchlorate was detected in greater proportions of the NSF-SA Valleys and Plains study area than the NSF-PA Valleys and Plains study area.

Research of grasping algorithm based on scara industrial robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Tao; Zuo, Ping; Yang, Hai

2018-04-01

As the tobacco industry grows, facing the challenge of the international tobacco giant, efficient logistics service is one of the key factors. How to complete the tobacco sorting task of efficient economy is the goal of tobacco sorting and optimization research. Now the cigarette distribution system uses a single line to carry out the single brand sorting task, this article adopts a single line to realize the cigarette sorting task of different brands. Using scara robot special algorithm for sorting and packaging, the optimization scheme significantly enhances the indicators of smoke sorting system. Saving labor productivity, obviously improve production efficiency.
Viable cell sorting of dinoflagellates by multi-parametric flow cytometry.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Electronic cell sorting for isolation and culture of dinoflagellates and other marine eukaryotic phytoplankton was compared to the traditional method of manually picking of cells using a micropipette. Trauma to electronically sorted cells was not a limiting factor as fragile dinoflagellates, such a...
Demographic, dietary, and urinary factors and 24-h urinary calcium excretion.

PubMed

Taylor, Eric N; Curhan, Gary C

2009-12-01

Higher urinary calcium is a risk factor for nephrolithiasis. This study delineated associations between demographic, dietary, and urinary factors and 24-h urinary calcium. Cross-sectional studies were conducted of 2201 stone formers (SF) and 1167 nonstone formers (NSF) in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (men) and Nurses' Health Studies I and II (older and younger women). Median urinary calcium was 182 mg/d in men, 182 mg/d in older women, and 192 mg/d in younger women. Compared with NSF, urinary calcium as a fraction of calcium intake was 33 to 38% higher in SF (P values < or =0.01). In regression analyses, participants were combined because associations with urinary calcium were similar in each cohort and in SF and NSF. After multivariate adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of calcium intake excreted 18 mg/d more urinary calcium than those in the lowest (P trend =0.01). Caffeine and family history of nephrolithiasis were positively associated, whereas urinary potassium, thiazides, gout, and age were inversely associated, with urinary calcium. After multivariate adjustment, participants in the highest quartiles of urinary magnesium, sodium, sulfate, citrate, phosphorus, and volume excreted 71 mg/d, 37 mg/d, 44 mg/d, 61 mg/d, 37 mg/d, and 24 mg/d more urinary calcium, respectively, than participants in the lowest (P values trend < or =0.01). Intestinal calcium absorption and/or negative calcium balance is greater in SF than NSF. Higher calcium intakes at levels typically observed in free-living individuals are associated with only small increases in urinary calcium.
Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor mediates receptor axon sorting and extension in the developing olfactory system of the moth Manduca sexta.

PubMed

Gibson, Nicholas J; Tolbert, Leslie P

2006-04-10

During development of the adult olfactory system of the moth Manduca sexta, olfactory receptor neurons extend axons from the olfactory epithelium in the antenna into the brain. As they arrive at the brain, interactions with centrally derived glial cells cause axons to sort and fasciculate with other axons destined to innervate the same glomeruli. Here we report studies indicating that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in axon ingrowth and targeting. Blocking the EGFR kinase domain pharmacologically leads to stalling of many axons in the sorting zone and nerve layer as well as abnormal axonal fasciculation in the sorting zone. We also find that neuroglian, an IgCAM known to activate the EGFR through homophilic interactions in other systems, is transiently present on olfactory receptor neuron axons and on glia during the critical stages of the sorting process. The neuroglian is resistant to extraction with Triton X-100 in the sorting zone and nerve layer, possibly indicating its stabilization by homophilic binding in these regions. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby neuroglian molecules on axons and possibly sorting zone glia bind homophilically, leading to activation of EGFRs, with subsequent effects on axon sorting, pathfinding, and extension, and glomerulus development. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gadolinium-based compounds induce NLRP3-dependent IL-1β production and peritoneal inflammation.

PubMed

Schmidt-Lauber, Christian; Bossaller, Lukas; Abujudeh, Hani H; Vladimer, Gregory I; Christ, Anette; Fitzgerald, Katherine A; Latz, Eicke; Gravallese, Ellen M; Marshak-Rothstein, Ann; Kay, Jonathan

2015-11-01

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a progressive fibrosing disorder that may develop in patients with chronic kidney disease after administration of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs). In the setting of impaired renal clearance of GBCAs, Gd deposits in various tissues and fibrosis subsequently develops. However, the precise mechanism by which fibrosis occurs in NSF is incompletely understood. Because other profibrotic agents, such as silica or asbestos, activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and initiate interleukin (IL)-1β release with the subsequent development of fibrosis, we evaluated the effects of GBCAs on inflammasome activation. Bone marrow derived macrophages from C57BL/6, Nlrp3(-/-) and Asc(-/-) mice were incubated with three Gd-containing compounds and IL-1β activation and secretion was detected by ELISA and western blot analysis. Inflammasome activation and regulation was investigated in IL-4- and interferon (IFN)γ-polarised macrophages by ELISA, quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR and NanoString nCounter analysis. Furthermore, C57BL/6 and Nlrp3(-/-)mice were intraperitoneally injected with GBCA and recruitment of inflammatory cells to the peritoneum was analysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Free Gd and GBCAs activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and induce IL-1β secretion in vitro. Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid also induces the recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes to the peritoneum in vivo. Gd activated IL-4-polarised macrophages more effectively than IFNγ-polarised macrophages, which preferentially expressed genes known to downregulate inflammasome activity. These data suggest that Gd released from GBCAs triggers a NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent inflammatory response that leads to fibrosis in an appropriate clinical setting. The preferential activation of IL-4-differentiated macrophages is consistent with the predominantly fibrotic presentation of NSF. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
NSF Support for Physics at the Undergraduate Level: A View from Inside

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McBride, Duncan

2015-03-01

NSF has supported a wide range of projects in physics that involve undergraduate students. These projects include NSF research grants in which undergraduates participate; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) centers and supplements; and education grants that range from upper-division labs that may include research, to curriculum development for upper- and lower-level courses and labs, to courses for non-majors, to Physics Education Research (PER). The NSF Divisions of Physics, Materials Research, and Astronomy provide most of the disciplinary research support, with some from other parts of NSF. I recently retired as the permanent physicist in NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE), which supports the education grants. I was responsible for a majority of DUE's physics grants and was involved with others overseen by a series of physics rotators. There I worked in programs entitled Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI); Course and Curriculum Development (CCD); Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI); Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education (TUES); and Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE). NSF support has enabled physics Principal Investigators to change and improve substantially the way physics is taught and the way students learn physics. The most important changes are increased undergraduate participation in physics research; more teaching using interactive engagement methods in classes; and growth of PER as a legitimate field of physics research as well as outcomes from PER that guide physics teaching. In turn these have led, along with other factors, to students who are better-prepared for graduate school and work, and to increases in the number of undergraduate physics majors. In addition, students in disciplines that physics directly supports, notably engineering and chemistry, and increasingly biology, are better and more broadly prepared to use their physics education in these fields. I will describe NSF support for undergraduate physics with both statistics and examples. In addition I will talk about trends in support for undergraduate physics at NSF and speculate about directions such support might go. Contents of this paper reflect the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.
Demographic, Dietary, and Urinary Factors and 24-h Urinary Calcium Excretion

PubMed Central

Curhan, Gary C.

2009-01-01

Background and objectives: Higher urinary calcium is a risk factor for nephrolithiasis. This study delineated associations between demographic, dietary, and urinary factors and 24-h urinary calcium. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Cross-sectional studies were conducted of 2201 stone formers (SF) and 1167 nonstone formers (NSF) in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (men) and Nurses' Health Studies I and II (older and younger women). Results: Median urinary calcium was 182 mg/d in men, 182 mg/d in older women, and 192 mg/d in younger women. Compared with NSF, urinary calcium as a fraction of calcium intake was 33 to 38% higher in SF (P values ≤0.01). In regression analyses, participants were combined because associations with urinary calcium were similar in each cohort and in SF and NSF. After multivariate adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of calcium intake excreted 18 mg/d more urinary calcium than those in the lowest (P trend =0.01). Caffeine and family history of nephrolithiasis were positively associated, whereas urinary potassium, thiazides, gout, and age were inversely associated, with urinary calcium. After multivariate adjustment, participants in the highest quartiles of urinary magnesium, sodium, sulfate, citrate, phosphorus, and volume excreted 71 mg/d, 37 mg/d, 44 mg/d, 61 mg/d, 37 mg/d, and 24 mg/d more urinary calcium, respectively, than participants in the lowest (P values trend ≤0.01). Conclusions: Intestinal calcium absorption and/or negative calcium balance is greater in SF than NSF. Higher calcium intakes at levels typically observed in free-living individuals are associated with only small increases in urinary calcium. PMID:19820135
Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit Graduates Show Persistent Difficulties in an Intradimensional Shift Card Sort

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kittler, Phyllis M.; Brooks, Patricia J.; Rossi, Vanessa; Karmel, Bernard Z.; Gardner, Judith M.; Flory, Michael J.

2013-01-01

Neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) graduates, a group at risk for attention problems and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, performed an intradimensional shift card sort at 34, 42, 51, and 60 months to assess executive function and to examine effects of individual risk factors. In the "silly" game, children sorted cards…
Regulation of cargo transfer between ESCRT-0 and ESCRT-I complexes by flotillin-1 during endosomal sorting of ubiquitinated cargo

PubMed Central

Meister, M; Bänfer, S; Gärtner, U; Koskimies, J; Amaddii, M; Jacob, R; Tikkanen, R

2017-01-01

Ubiquitin-dependent sorting of membrane proteins in endosomes directs them to lysosomal degradation. In the case of receptors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), lysosomal degradation is important for the regulation of downstream signalling. Ubiquitinated proteins are recognised in endosomes by the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) complexes, which sequentially interact with the ubiquitinated cargo. Although the role of each ESCRT complex in sorting is well established, it is not clear how the cargo is passed on from one ESCRT to the next. We here show that flotillin-1 is required for EGFR degradation, and that it interacts with the subunits of ESCRT-0 and -I complexes (hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs) and Tsg101). Flotillin-1 is required for cargo recognition and sorting by ESCRT-0/Hrs and for its interaction with Tsg101. In addition, flotillin-1 is also required for the sorting of human immunodeficiency virus 1 Gag polyprotein, which mimics ESCRT-0 complex during viral assembly. We propose that flotillin-1 functions in cargo transfer between ESCRT-0 and -I complexes. PMID:28581508
Adolescent Sex Offenders' Rankings of Therapeutic Factors Using the Yalom Card Sort

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sribney, Christine L.; Reddon, John R.

2008-01-01

Following 11-98 weeks of inpatient residential treatment, 69 male adolescent sex offenders completed the 60-item, 12-factor Yalom Card Sort. The rank orders were compared to adult sex offenders and a psychiatric adult outpatient group. Relative to adult psychiatric outpatients, the adolescent sex offenders had rated Instillation of Hope three…
Detection of ionized gas molecules in air by graphene and carbon nanotube networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Ji; Li, Bo; Yung, Hyun Young; Liu, Fangze; Hong, Sanghyung; Jung, Yung Joon; Kar, Swastik

The liquid phase ions sensing by graphene and carbon nanotube has been demonstrated in many publications due to the minimum gate voltage easily shift induced by ionic gating effect, but it is still unclear for vapor phase ions sensing. Here we want to report that the ionized gas molecules in air can be also very sensitively detected by graphene and carbon nanotube networks under very low applied voltage, which shows the very high charge to current amplification factor, the value can be up to 108 A/C, and the direction of current-change can be used to differentiate the positive and negative ions. In further, the field effect of graphene device induced by vapor phase ions was discussed. NSF ECCS 1202376, NSF ECCS CAREER 1351424 and NSF DMREF 1434824, a Northeastern University Provost's Tier-1 seed Grant for interdisciplinary research, Technology Innovation Program (10050481) from Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy of Republic of Korea.
Performance Study of Salt Cavern Air Storage Based Non-Supplementary Fired Compressed Air Energy Storage System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaotao; Song, Jie; Liang, Lixiao; Si, Yang; Wang, Le; Xue, Xiaodai

2017-10-01

Large-scale energy storage system (ESS) plays an important role in the planning and operation of smart grid and energy internet. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is one of promising large-scale energy storage techniques. However, the high cost of the storage of compressed air and the low capacity remain to be solved. This paper proposes a novel non-supplementary fired compressed air energy storage system (NSF-CAES) based on salt cavern air storage to address the issues of air storage and the efficiency of CAES. Operating mechanisms of the proposed NSF-CAES are analysed based on thermodynamics principle. Key factors which has impact on the system storage efficiency are thoroughly explored. The energy storage efficiency of the proposed NSF-CAES system can be improved by reducing the maximum working pressure of the salt cavern and improving inlet air pressure of the turbine. Simulation results show that the electric-to-electric conversion efficiency of the proposed NSF-CAES can reach 63.29% with a maximum salt cavern working pressure of 9.5 MPa and 9 MPa inlet air pressure of the turbine, which is higher than the current commercial CAES plants.
NSF Director Bloch Stresses Effectiveness and Efficiency.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lepkowski, Wil

1985-01-01

The text of an interview with Erich Bloch, National Science Foundation (NSF) director, is provided. Among the topics/issues explored are NSF's role in policy research, mission and goals of NSF, establishment of NSF Engineering Research Centers, and national security issues involving access to supercomputers in universities that NSF is funding. (JN)
Microspherical photonics: Sorting resonant photonic atoms by using light

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maslov, Alexey V., E-mail: avmaslov@yandex.ru; Astratov, Vasily N., E-mail: astratov@uncc.edu

2014-09-22

A method of sorting microspheres by resonant light forces in vacuum, air, or liquid is proposed. Based on a two-dimensional model, it is shown that the sorting can be realized by allowing spherical particles to traverse a focused beam. Under resonance with the whispering gallery modes, the particles acquire significant velocity along the beam direction. This opens a unique way of large-volume sorting of nearly identical photonic atoms with 1/Q accuracy, where Q is the resonance quality factor. This is an enabling technology for developing super-low-loss coupled-cavity structures and devices.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of sulfur-nitrogen-fluorine compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beach, D.B.; Jolly, W.L.; Mews, R.

1984-11-21

The gas-phase core binding energies of NSF, NSF/sub 3/, and several compounds of the types NSF/sub 2/R and F/sub 2/SNR have been determined. Qualitative interpretation of the data shows that N(p..pi..) ..-->.. S(d..pi..) bonding is probably important in the NSF/sub 2/R compounds and in NSF/sub 3/, that the bonding of the sulfur atom in NSF is similar to that in SO/sub 2/, and that the nitrogen atom of NSF/sub 3/ is more negatively charged than that of NSF (in spite of a stronger N-S bond in NSF/sub 3/). Quantitative interpretation of the data for NSF and NSF/sub 3/, together withmore » literature valence ionization potentials, shows that the HOMO of each molecule has principally nitrogen 2p character and is stabilized by interaction with a higher lying sulfur 3d orbital. The approximate atomic orbital contributions to the other molecuar orbitals of these molecules are deduced.« less
Standard practice for cell sorting in a BSL-3 facility.

PubMed

Perfetto, Stephen P; Ambrozak, David R; Nguyen, Richard; Roederer, Mario; Koup, Richard A; Holmes, Kevin L

2011-01-01

Over the past decade, there has been a rapid growth in the number of BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories in the USA and an increase in demand for infectious cell sorting in BSL-3 laboratories. In 2007, the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) Biosafety Committee published standards for the sorting of unfixed cells and is an important resource for biosafety procedures when performing infectious cell sorting. Following a careful risk assessment, if it is determined that a cell sorter must be located within a BSL-3 laboratory, there are a variety of factors to be considered prior to the establishment of the laboratory. This chapter outlines procedures for infectious cell sorting in a BSL-3 environment to facilitate the establishment and safe operation of a BSL-3 cell sorting laboratory. Subjects covered include containment verification, remote operation, disinfection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and instrument-specific modifications for enhanced aerosol evacuation.
Standard Practice for Cell Sorting in a BSL-3 Facility

PubMed Central

Perfetto, Stephen P.; Ambrozak, David R.; Nguyen, Richard; Roederer, Mario; Koup, Richard A.; Holmes, Kevin L.

2016-01-01

Over the past decade, there has been a rapid growth in the number of BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories in the USA and an increase in demand for infectious cell sorting in BSL-3 laboratories. In 2007, the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) Biosafety Committee published standards for the sorting of unfixed cells and is an important resource for biosafety procedures when performing infectious cell sorting. Following a careful risk assessment, if it is determined that a cell sorter must be located within a BSL-3 laboratory, there are a variety of factors to be considered prior to the establishment of the laboratory. This chapter outlines procedures for infectious cell sorting in a BSL-3 environment to facilitate the establishment and safe operation of a BSL-3 cell sorting laboratory. Subjects covered include containment verification, remote operation, disinfection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and instrument-specific modifications for enhanced aerosol evacuation. PMID:21116997
Sorting nexin-2 is associated with tubular elements of the early endosome, but is not essential for retromer-mediated endosome-to-TGN transport

PubMed Central

Carlton, Jez G.; Bujny, Miriam V.; Peter, Brian J.; Oorschot, Viola M. J.; Rutherford, Anna; Arkell, Rebecca S.; Klumperman, Judith; McMahon, Harvey T.; Cullen, Peter J.

2006-01-01

Summary Sorting nexins are a large family of phox-homology-domain-containing proteins that have been implicated in the control of endosomal sorting. Sorting nexin-1 is a component of the mammalian retromer complex that regulates retrieval of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. In yeast, retromer is composed of Vps5p (the orthologue of sorting nexin-1), Vps17p (a related sorting nexin) and a cargo selective subcomplex composed of Vps26p, Vps29p and Vps35p. With the exception of Vps17p, mammalian orthologues of all yeast retromer components have been identified. For Vps17p, one potential mammalian orthologue is sorting nexin-2. Here we show that, like sorting nexin-1, sorting nexin-2 binds phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate, and possesses a Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs domain that can sense membrane curvature. However, in contrast to sorting nexin-1, sorting nexin-2 could not induce membrane tubulation in vitro or in vivo. Functionally, we show that endogenous sorting nexin-1 and sorting nexin-2 co-localise on high curvature tubular elements of the 3-phosphoinositide-enriched early endosome, and that suppression of sorting nexin-2 does not perturb the degradative sorting of receptors for epidermal growth factor or transferrin, nor the steady-state distribution of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. However, suppression of sorting nexin-2 results in a subtle alteration in the kinetics of cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor retrieval. These data suggest that although sorting nexin-2 may be a component of the retromer complex, its presence is not essential for the regulation of endosome-to-trans Golgi network retrieval of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. PMID:16179610
Ground reaction forces and bone parameters in females with tibial stress fracture.

PubMed

Bennell, Kim; Crossley, Kay; Jayarajan, Jyotsna; Walton, Elizabeth; Warden, Stuart; Kiss, Z Stephen; Wrigley, Tim

2004-03-01

Tibial stress fracture is a common overuse running injury that results from the interplay of repetitive mechanical loading and bone strength. This research project aimed to determine whether female runners with a history of tibial stress fracture (TSF) differ in ground reaction force (GRF) parameters during running, regional bone density, and tibial bone geometry from those who have never sustained a stress fracture (NSF). Thirty-six female running athletes (13 TSF; 23 NSF) ranging in age from 18 to 44 yr were recruited for this cross-sectional study. The groups were well matched for demographic, training, and menstrual parameters. A force platform measured selected GRF parameters (peak and time to peak for vertical impact and active forces, and horizontal braking and propulsive forces) during overground running at 4.0 m.s.(-1). Lumbar spine, proximal femur, and distal tibial bone mineral density were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Tibial bone geometry (cross-sectional dimensions and areas, and second moments of area) was calculated from a computerized tomography scan at the junction of the middle and distal thirds. There were no significant differences between the groups for any of the GRF, bone density, or tibial bone geometric parameters (P > 0.05). Both TSF and NSF subjects had bone density levels that were average or above average compared with a young adult reference range. Factor analysis followed by discriminant function analysis did not find any combinations of variables that differentiated between TSF and NSF groups. These findings do not support a role for GRF, bone density, or tibial bone geometry in the development of tibial stress fractures, suggesting that other risk factors were more important in this cohort of female runners.
High Field Magnetic Circular Dichroism in Ferromagnetic InMnSb and InMnAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meeker, M. A.; Magill, B. A.; Khodaparast, G. A.; Saha, D.; Stanton, C. J.; McGill, S.; Wessels, B. W.

An understanding of the fundamental interactions in narrow gap ferromagnetic semiconductors such as InMnAs and InMnSb has been developed primarily from static magnetization and electrical transport measurements. In this study, to provide a better understanding of the coupling of the Mn impurities to the conduction and valence bands through the sp-d exchange interactions, we have performed magnetic circular dichroism measurements (MCD) on MOVPE grown InMnAs and InMnSb. In our samples, the Mn content varies from 2% to 10.7% and all the samples have Curie temperatures above 300 K. The samples were photo-excited using a Quartz Tungsten Halogen lamp with energies ranging between 0.92-1.45 eV, and in magnetic fields up to 31 T. The temperatures ranged from 15-190 K. Comparison of the observed MCD with theoretical calculations provides a direct method to probe the band structure including the temperature dependence of the spin-orbit split-off bandgap and g-factors, as well as a means to estimate the sp-d coupling constants. Supported by the AFOSR through grant FA9550-14-1-0376, NSF-Career Award DMR-0846834 , NSF-DMR-60035274 , NSF-DMR-1305666, NSF MRI program (DMR-1229217).

Longitudinal Nanotechnology Development (1991-2002): National Science Foundation Funding and its Impact on Patents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zan; Chen, Hsinchun; Yan, Lijun; Roco, Mihail C.

2005-10-01

Nanotechnology holds the promise to revolutionize a wide range of products, processes and applications. It is recognized by over sixty countries as critical for their development at the beginning of the 21st century. A significant public investment of over 1 billion annually is devoted to nanotechnology research in the United States. This paper provides an analysis of the National Science Foundation (NSF) funding of nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) and its relationship to the innovation as reflected in the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) patent data. Using a combination of bibliometric analysis and visualization tools, we have identified several general trends, the key players, and the evolution of technology topics in the NSF funding and commercial patenting activities. This study documents the rapid growth of innovation in the field of nanotechnology and its correlation to funding. Statistical analysis shows that the NSF-funded researchers and their patents have higher impact factors than other private and publicly funded reference groups. This suggests the importance of fundamental research on nanotechnology development. The number of cites per NSF-funded inventor is about 10 as compared to 2 for all inventors of NSE-related patents recorded at USPTO, and the corresponding Authority Score is 20 as compared to 1.8.
Cell-Free Reconstitution of Multivesicular Body Formation and Receptor Sorting

PubMed Central

Sun, Wei; Vida, Thomas A.; Sirisaengtaksin, Natalie; Merrill, Samuel A.; Hanson, Phyllis I.; Bean, Andrew J.

2010-01-01

The number of surface membrane proteins and their residence time on the plasma membrane are critical determinants of cellular responses to cues that can control plasticity, growth and differentiation. After internalization, the ultimate fate of many plasma membrane proteins is dependent on whether they are sorted for internalization into the lumenal vesicles of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), an obligate step prior to lysosomal degradation. To help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying MVB sorting, we have developed a novel cell-free assay that reconstitutes the sorting of a prototypical membrane protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor, with which we have probed some of its molecular requirements. The sorting event measured is dependent on cytosol, ATP, time, temperature and an intact proton gradient. Depletion of Hrs inhibited biochemical and morphological measures of sorting that were rescued by inclusion of recombinant Hrs in the assay. Moreover, depletion of signal-transducing adaptor molecule (STAM), or addition of mutated ATPase-deficient Vps4, also inhibited sorting. This assay reconstitutes the maturation of late endosomes, including the formation of internal vesicles and the sorting of a membrane protein, and allows biochemical investigation of this process. PMID:20214752
Estimating random errors due to shot noise in backscatter lidar observations.

PubMed

Liu, Zhaoyan; Hunt, William; Vaughan, Mark; Hostetler, Chris; McGill, Matthew; Powell, Kathleen; Winker, David; Hu, Yongxiang

2006-06-20

We discuss the estimation of random errors due to shot noise in backscatter lidar observations that use either photomultiplier tube (PMT) or avalanche photodiode (APD) detectors. The statistical characteristics of photodetection are reviewed, and photon count distributions of solar background signals and laser backscatter signals are examined using airborne lidar observations at 532 nm using a photon-counting mode APD. Both distributions appear to be Poisson, indicating that the arrival at the photodetector of photons for these signals is a Poisson stochastic process. For Poisson- distributed signals, a proportional, one-to-one relationship is known to exist between the mean of a distribution and its variance. Although the multiplied photocurrent no longer follows a strict Poisson distribution in analog-mode APD and PMT detectors, the proportionality still exists between the mean and the variance of the multiplied photocurrent. We make use of this relationship by introducing the noise scale factor (NSF), which quantifies the constant of proportionality that exists between the root mean square of the random noise in a measurement and the square root of the mean signal. Using the NSF to estimate random errors in lidar measurements due to shot noise provides a significant advantage over the conventional error estimation techniques, in that with the NSF, uncertainties can be reliably calculated from or for a single data sample. Methods for evaluating the NSF are presented. Algorithms to compute the NSF are developed for the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations lidar and tested using data from the Lidar In-space Technology Experiment.
Estimating Random Errors Due to Shot Noise in Backscatter Lidar Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Zhaoyan; Hunt, William; Vaughan, Mark A.; Hostetler, Chris A.; McGill, Matthew J.; Powell, Kathy; Winker, David M.; Hu, Yongxiang

2006-01-01

In this paper, we discuss the estimation of random errors due to shot noise in backscatter lidar observations that use either photomultiplier tube (PMT) or avalanche photodiode (APD) detectors. The statistical characteristics of photodetection are reviewed, and photon count distributions of solar background signals and laser backscatter signals are examined using airborne lidar observations at 532 nm using a photon-counting mode APD. Both distributions appear to be Poisson, indicating that the arrival at the photodetector of photons for these signals is a Poisson stochastic process. For Poisson-distributed signals, a proportional, one-to-one relationship is known to exist between the mean of a distribution and its variance. Although the multiplied photocurrent no longer follows a strict Poisson distribution in analog-mode APD and PMT detectors, the proportionality still exists between the mean and the variance of the multiplied photocurrent. We make use of this relationship by introducing the noise scale factor (NSF), which quantifies the constant of proportionality that exists between the root-mean-square of the random noise in a measurement and the square root of the mean signal. Using the NSF to estimate random errors in lidar measurements due to shot noise provides a significant advantage over the conventional error estimation techniques, in that with the NSF uncertainties can be reliably calculated from/for a single data sample. Methods for evaluating the NSF are presented. Algorithms to compute the NSF are developed for the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) lidar and tested using data from the Lidar In-space Technology Experiment (LITE). OCIS Codes:
Streptococcus pyogenes Sortase Mutants Are Highly Susceptible to Killing by Host Factors Due to Aberrant Envelope Physiology

PubMed Central

Raz, Assaf; Tanasescu, Ana-Maria; Zhao, Anna M.; Serrano, Anna; Alston, Tricia; Sol, Asaf; Bachrach, Gilad; Fischetti, Vincent A.

2015-01-01

Cell wall anchored virulence factors are critical for infection and colonization of the host by Gram-positive bacteria. Such proteins have an N-terminal leader sequence and a C-terminal sorting signal, composed of an LPXTG motif, a hydrophobic stretch, and a few positively charged amino acids. The sorting signal halts translocation across the membrane, allowing sortase to cleave the LPXTG motif, leading to surface anchoring. Deletion of sortase prevents the anchoring of virulence factors to the wall; the effects on bacterial physiology however, have not been thoroughly characterized. Here we show that deletion of Streptococcus pyogenes sortase A leads to accumulation of sorting intermediates, particularly at the septum, altering cellular morphology and physiology, and compromising membrane integrity. Such cells are highly sensitive to cathelicidin, and are rapidly killed in blood and plasma. These phenomena are not a loss-of-function effect caused by the absence of anchored surface proteins, but specifically result from the accumulation of sorting intermediates. Reduction in the level of sorting intermediates leads to a return of the sortase mutant to normal morphology, while expression of M protein with an altered LPXTG motif in wild type cells leads to toxicity in the host environment, similar to that observed in the sortase mutant. These unanticipated effects suggest that inhibition of sortase by small-molecule inhibitors could similarly lead to the rapid elimination of pathogens from an infected host, making such inhibitors much better anti-bacterial agents than previously believed. PMID:26484774
Latent structure of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: a confirmatory factor analytic study.

PubMed

Greve, Kevin W; Stickle, Timothy R; Love, Jeffrey M; Bianchini, Kevin J; Stanford, Matthew S

2005-05-01

The present study represents the first large scale confirmatory factor analysis of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The results generally support the three factor solutions reported in the exploratory factor analysis literature. However, only the first factor, which reflects general executive functioning, is statistically sound. The secondary factors, while likely reflecting meaningful cognitive abilities, are less stable except when all subjects complete all 128 cards. It is likely that having two discontinuation rules for the WCST has contributed to the varied factor analytic solutions reported in the literature and early discontinuation may result in some loss of useful information. Continued multivariate research will be necessary to better clarify the processes underlying WCST performance and their relationships to one another.
Through our eyes: exploring African-American men's perspective on factors affecting transition to manhood.

PubMed

Bharmal, Nazleen; Kennedy, David; Jones, Loretta; Lee-Johnson, Charles; Morris, D'Ann; Caldwell, Ben; Brown, Anthony; Houston, Tina; Meeks, Charlene; Vargas, Roberto; Franco, Idalid; Razzak, A Rab; Brown, Arleen F

2012-02-01

Premature mortality and disparities in morbidity observed in African-American men may be associated with factors in their social, economic, and built environments that may be especially influential during the transition to adulthood. To have young, African-American men from Los Angeles County identify and prioritize factors associated with their transition to manhood using photovoice methodology and pile-sorting exercises. Qualitative study using community-based participatory research (CBPR) and photovoice Twelve African-American men, ages 16-26 years, from Los Angeles County, California. We used CBPR principles to form a community advisory board (CAB) whose members defined goals for the partnered project, developed the protocols, and participated in data collection and analysis. Participants were given digital cameras to take 50-300 photographs over three months. Pile-sorting techniques were used to facilitate participants' identification and discussion of the themes in their photos and selected photos of the group. Pile-sorts of group photographs were analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis to systematically compare participants' themes and identify patterns of associations between sorted photographs. Sub-themes and related quotes were also elicited from the pile-sorting transcripts. The CAB and several study participants met periodically to develop dissemination strategies and design interventions informed by study findings. Four dominant themes emerged during analysis: 1) Struggles face during the transition to manhood, 2) Sources of social support, 3) Role of sports, and 4) Views on Los Angeles lifestyle. The project led to the formation of a young men's group and community events featuring participants. CBPR and photovoice are effective methods to engage young, African-American men to identify and discuss factors affecting their transition to manhood, contextualize research findings, and participate in intervention development.
Particle-in-cell simulations with charge-conserving current deposition on graphic processing units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Chuang; Kong, Xianglong; Huang, Michael; Decyk, Viktor; Mori, Warren

2011-10-01

Recently using CUDA, we have developed an electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell (PIC) code with charge-conserving current deposition for Nvidia graphic processing units (GPU's) (Kong et al., Journal of Computational Physics 230, 1676 (2011). On a Tesla M2050 (Fermi) card, the GPU PIC code can achieve a one-particle-step process time of 1.2 - 3.2 ns in 2D and 2.3 - 7.2 ns in 3D, depending on plasma temperatures. In this talk we will discuss novel algorithms for GPU-PIC including charge-conserving current deposition scheme with few branching and parallel particle sorting. These algorithms have made efficient use of the GPU shared memory. We will also discuss how to replace the computation kernels of existing parallel CPU codes while keeping their parallel structures. This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy under Grant Nos. DE-FG02-06ER54879 and DE-FC02-04ER54789 and by NSF under Grant Nos. PHY-0903797 and CCF-0747324.
Modeling Island-Growth Capture Zone Distributions (CZD) with the Generalized Wigner Distribution (GWD): New Developments in Theory and Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pimpinelli, Alberto; Einstein, T. L.; González, Diego Luis; Sathiyanarayanan, Rajesh; Hamouda, Ajmi Bh.

2011-03-01

Earlier we showed [PRL 99, 226102 (2007)] that the CZD in growth could be well described by P (s) = asβ exp (-bs2) , where s is the CZ area divided by its average value. Painstaking simulations by Amar's [PRE 79, 011602 (2009)] and Evans's [PRL 104, 149601 (2010)] groups showed inadequacies in our mean field Fokker-Planck argument relating β to the critical nucleus size. We refine our derivation to retrieve their β ~ i + 2 [PRL 104, 149602 (2010)]. We discuss applications of this formula and methodology to experiments on Ge/Si(001) and on various organics on Si O2 , as well as to kinetic Monte Carlo studies homoepitaxial growth on Cu(100) with codeposited impurities of different sorts. In contrast to theory, there can be significant changes to β with coverage. Some experiments also show temperature dependence. Supported by NSF-MRSEC at UMD, Grant DMR 05-20471.
Membrane-trafficking sorting hubs: cooperation between PI4P and small GTPases at the trans-Golgi Network

PubMed Central

Santiago-Tirado, Felipe H.; Bretscher, Anthony

2011-01-01

Cell polarity in eukaryotes requires constant sorting, packaging, and transport of membrane-bound cargo within the cell. These processes occur in two sorting hubs: the recycling endosome for incoming material, and the trans-Golgi Network for outgoing. Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and 4–5 phosphate are enriched at the endocytic and exocytic sorting hubs, respectively, where they act together with small GTPases to recruit factors to segregate cargo and regulate carrier formation and transport. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how these lipids and GTPases directly regulate membrane trafficking, emphasizing the recent discoveries of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate functions at the trans-Golgi Network. PMID:21764313
NSF's Career-Life Balance Initiative and the NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ajhar, Edward A.

2013-01-01

In the fall of 2011, the National Science Foundation (NSF) began the Career-Life Balance Initiative to support graduate students, postdoctoral students, and early-career researchers in STEM fields. NSF is focusing first on its most prestigious programs for early-career scientists---the CAREER program and the postdoctoral programs, including the NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF)---where career-life balance opportunities can help retain a significant fraction of early career talent. Subject to budget constraints, NSF plans to further integrate and enhance career-life balance opportunities over time through other programs, like the Graduate Research Fellowships Program and ADVANCE, and subsequently through the broader portfolio of NSF activities. In addition, to comply with Title IX, NSF has regulations to ensure that educational programs that receive NSF funds are free of gender discrimination and harassment. A primary goal of this presentation is to put facts about NSF into the hands of students, faculty, staff, administrators and other policy makers to benefit the advancement of career-life balance in the astronomical community. The presentation focus areas will (1) address common misconceptions about NSF rules regarding parental leave; (2) discuss benefits already available through the AAPF program, Graduate Research Fellowships, and other programs; and (3) listen to community concerns and issues to bring these back to the foundation for consideration. Did you know that NSF allows paid parental leave under many circumstances? For example, the AAPF program currently allows two months of paid parental leave during the fellow's tenure. What are the rules for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships? Come to the session and find out; the answers to such questions might surprise you.
The EARP Complex and Its Interactor EIPR-1 Are Required for Cargo Sorting to Dense-Core Vesicles

PubMed Central

Topalidou, Irini; Cattin-Ortolá, Jérôme; MacCoss, Michael J.

2016-01-01

The dense-core vesicle is a secretory organelle that mediates the regulated release of peptide hormones, growth factors, and biogenic amines. Dense-core vesicles originate from the trans-Golgi of neurons and neuroendocrine cells, but it is unclear how this specialized organelle is formed and acquires its specific cargos. To identify proteins that act in dense-core vesicle biogenesis, we performed a forward genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans for mutants defective in dense-core vesicle function. We previously reported the identification of two conserved proteins that interact with the small GTPase RAB-2 to control normal dense-core vesicle cargo-sorting. Here we identify several additional conserved factors important for dense-core vesicle cargo sorting: the WD40 domain protein EIPR-1 and the endosome-associated recycling protein (EARP) complex. By assaying behavior and the trafficking of dense-core vesicle cargos, we show that mutants that lack EIPR-1 or EARP have defects in dense-core vesicle cargo-sorting similar to those of mutants in the RAB-2 pathway. Genetic epistasis data indicate that RAB-2, EIPR-1 and EARP function in a common pathway. In addition, using a proteomic approach in rat insulinoma cells, we show that EIPR-1 physically interacts with the EARP complex. Our data suggest that EIPR-1 is a new interactor of the EARP complex and that dense-core vesicle cargo sorting depends on the EARP-dependent trafficking of cargo through an endosomal sorting compartment. PMID:27191843
Caveolin Transfection Results in Caveolae Formation but Not Apical Sorting of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored Proteins in Epithelial Cells

PubMed Central

Lipardi, Concetta; Mora, Rosalia; Colomer, Veronica; Paladino, Simona; Nitsch, Lucio; Rodriguez-Boulan, Enrique; Zurzolo, Chiara

1998-01-01

Most epithelial cells sort glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins to the apical surface. The “raft” hypothesis, based on data mainly obtained in the prototype cell line MDCK, postulates that apical sorting depends on the incorporation of apical proteins into cholesterol/glycosphingolipid (GSL) rafts, rich in the cholesterol binding protein caveolin/VIP21, in the Golgi apparatus. Fischer rat thyroid (FRT) cells constitute an ideal model to test this hypothesis, since they missort both endogenous and transfected GPI- anchored proteins to the basolateral plasma membrane and fail to incorporate them into cholesterol/glycosphingolipid clusters. Because FRT cells lack caveolin, a major component of the caveolar coat that has been proposed to have a role in apical sorting of GPI- anchored proteins (Zurzolo, C., W. Van't Hoff, G. van Meer, and E. Rodriguez-Boulan. 1994. EMBO [Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.] J. 13:42–53.), we carried out experiments to determine whether the lack of caveolin accounted for the sorting/clustering defect of GPI- anchored proteins. We report here that FRT cells lack morphological caveolae, but, upon stable transfection of the caveolin1 gene (cav1), form typical flask-shaped caveolae. However, cav1 expression did not redistribute GPI-anchored proteins to the apical surface, nor promote their inclusion into cholesterol/GSL rafts. Our results demonstrate that the absence of caveolin1 and morphologically identifiable caveolae cannot explain the inability of FRT cells to sort GPI-anchored proteins to the apical domain. Thus, FRT cells may lack additional factors required for apical sorting or for the clustering with GSLs of GPI-anchored proteins, or express factors that inhibit these events. Alternatively, cav1 and caveolae may not be directly involved in these processes. PMID:9456321
Activation of EGF Receptor Mediates Receptor Axon Sorting and Extension in the Developing Olfactory System of the Moth Manduca sexta

PubMed Central

Gibson, Nicholas J.; Tolbert, Leslie P.

2008-01-01

During development of the adult olfactory system of the moth Manduca sexta, olfactory receptor neurons extend axons from the olfactory epithelium in the antenna into the brain. As they arrive at the brain, interactions with centrally-derived glial cells cause axons to sort and fasciculate with other axons destined to innervate the same glomeruli. Here we report studies that indicate that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in axon ingrowth and targeting. Blocking the EGFR kinase domain pharmacologically leads to stalling of many axons in the sorting zone and nerve layer, as well as abnormal axonal fasciculation in the sorting zone. We also find that neuroglian, an IgCAM known to activate the EGFR through homophilic interactions in other systems, is transiently present on olfactory receptor neuron axons and on glia during the critical stages of the sorting process. The neuroglian is resistant to extraction with Triton X-100 in the sorting zone and nerve layer, possibly indicating its stabilization by homophilic binding in these regions. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby neuroglian molecules on axons and possibly sorting zone glia bind homophilically, leading to activation of EGFRs with subsequent effects on axon sorting, pathfinding, and extension, and glomerulus development. PMID:16498681
Disease resistance through impairment of α-SNAP–NSF interaction and vesicular trafficking by soybean Rhg1

PubMed Central

Bayless, Adam M.; Smith, John M.; Song, Junqi; McMinn, Patrick H.; Teillet, Alice; August, Benjamin K.

2016-01-01

α-SNAP [soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor) attachment protein] and NSF proteins are conserved across eukaryotes and sustain cellular vesicle trafficking by mediating disassembly and reuse of SNARE protein complexes, which facilitate fusion of vesicles to target membranes. However, certain haplotypes of the Rhg1 (resistance to Heterodera glycines 1) locus of soybean possess multiple repeat copies of an α-SNAP gene (Glyma.18G022500) that encodes atypical amino acids at a highly conserved functional site. These Rhg1 loci mediate resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN; H. glycines), the most economically damaging pathogen of soybeans worldwide. Rhg1 is widely used in agriculture, but the mechanisms of Rhg1 disease resistance have remained unclear. In the present study, we found that the resistance-type Rhg1 α-SNAP is defective in interaction with NSF. Elevated in planta expression of resistance-type Rhg1 α-SNAPs depleted the abundance of SNARE-recycling 20S complexes, disrupted vesicle trafficking, induced elevated abundance of NSF, and caused cytotoxicity. Soybean, due to ancient genome duplication events, carries other loci that encode canonical (wild-type) α-SNAPs. Expression of these α-SNAPs counteracted the cytotoxicity of resistance-type Rhg1 α-SNAPs. For successful growth and reproduction, SCN dramatically reprograms a set of plant root cells and must sustain this sedentary feeding site for 2–4 weeks. Immunoblots and electron microscopy immunolocalization revealed that resistance-type α-SNAPs specifically hyperaccumulate relative to wild-type α-SNAPs at the nematode feeding site, promoting the demise of this biotrophic interface. The paradigm of disease resistance through a dysfunctional variant of an essential gene may be applicable to other plant–pathogen interactions. PMID:27821740
Geoscience Digital Data Resource and Repository Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayernik, M. S.; Schuster, D.; Hou, C. Y.

2017-12-01

The open availability and wide accessibility of digital data sets is becoming the norm for geoscience research. The National Science Foundation (NSF) instituted a data management planning requirement in 2011, and many scientific publishers, including the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society, have recently implemented data archiving and citation policies. Many disciplinary data facilities exist around the community to provide a high level of technical support and expertise for archiving data of particular kinds, or for particular projects. However, a significant number of geoscience research projects do not have the same level of data facility support due to a combination of several factors, including the research project's size, funding limitations, or topic scope that does not have a clear facility match. These projects typically manage data on an ad hoc basis without limited long-term management and preservation procedures. The NSF is supporting a workshop to be held in Summer of 2018 to develop requirements and expectations for a Geoscience Digital Data Resource and Repository Service (GeoDaRRS). The vision for the prospective GeoDaRRS is to complement existing NSF-funded data facilities by providing: 1) data management planning support resources for the general community, and 2) repository services for researchers who have data that do not fit in any existing repository. Functionally, the GeoDaRRS would support NSF-funded researchers in meeting data archiving requirements set by the NSF and publishers for geosciences, thereby ensuring the availability of digital data for use and reuse in scientific research going forward. This presentation will engage the AGU community in discussion about the needs for a new digital data repository service, specifically to inform the forthcoming GeoDaRRS workshop.
Trade-Off between Effectiveness and Equity? An Analysis of Social Sorting between Classrooms and between Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferrer-Esteban, Gerard

2016-01-01

This article analyzes whether school social segregation, derived from policies and practices of both between-school student allocation and within-school streaming, is related to the effectiveness of the Italian education system. Hierarchical regression models are used to set out territorially aggregated factors of social sorting influencing…
Why Study Abroad? Sorting of Chinese Students across British Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cebolla-Boado, Héctor; Hu, Yang; Soysal, Yasemin Nuhog¯lu

2018-01-01

This research contributes to the booming literature on the mobility of international students in higher education. We analyse university-level factors that affect the sorting of Chinese international students across British universities. We produced a unique data-set merging university-level data from the 2014 UK Higher Education Statistics Agency…
Seed availability constrains plant species sorting along a soil fertility gradient

Treesearch

Bryan L. Foster; Erin J. Questad; Cathy D. Collins; Cheryl A. Murphy; Timothy L. Dickson; Val H. Smith

2011-01-01

1. Spatial variation in species composition within and among communities may be caused by deterministic, niche-based species sorting in response to underlying environmental heterogeneity as well as by stochastic factors such as dispersal limitation and variable species pools. An important goal in ecology is to reconcile deterministic and stochastic perspectives of...
Emerging roles of ARHGAP33 in intracellular trafficking of TrkB and pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders

PubMed Central

Nakazawa, Takanobu; Hashimoto, Ryota; Sakoori, Kazuto; Sugaya, Yuki; Tanimura, Asami; Hashimotodani, Yuki; Ohi, Kazutaka; Yamamori, Hidenaga; Yasuda, Yuka; Umeda-Yano, Satomi; Kiyama, Yuji; Konno, Kohtarou; Inoue, Takeshi; Yokoyama, Kazumasa; Inoue, Takafumi; Numata, Shusuke; Ohnuma, Tohru; Iwata, Nakao; Ozaki, Norio; Hashimoto, Hitoshi; Watanabe, Masahiko; Manabe, Toshiya; Yamamoto, Tadashi; Takeda, Masatoshi; Kano, Masanobu

2016-01-01

Intracellular trafficking of receptor proteins is essential for neurons to detect various extracellular factors during the formation and refinement of neural circuits. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the trafficking of neurotrophin receptors to synapses remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a brain-enriched sorting nexin, ARHGAP33, is a new type of regulator for the intracellular trafficking of TrkB, a high-affinity receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. ARHGAP33 knockout (KO) mice exhibit reduced expression of synaptic TrkB, impaired spine development and neuropsychiatric disorder-related behavioural abnormalities. These deficits are rescued by specific pharmacological enhancement of TrkB signalling in ARHGAP33 KO mice. Mechanistically, ARHGAP33 interacts with SORT1 to cooperatively regulate TrkB trafficking. Human ARHGAP33 is associated with brain phenotypes and reduced SORT1 expression is found in patients with schizophrenia. We propose that ARHGAP33/SORT1-mediated TrkB trafficking is essential for synapse development and that the dysfunction of this mechanism may be a new molecular pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders. PMID:26839058

Information Technology Research and Education at NSF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wink, Donald J.

2000-11-01

The NSF has been a leader in the development of new information technologies, including support for work in education and technology. Often, opportunities for educators are found in larger efforts. This is the case for the Information Technology Research (ITR) program. It has now been extended to education areas, as announced in NSF Publication 00-126. Links to the program announcement in multiple formats are found at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf00126.
Raman-Activated Droplet Sorting (RADS) for Label-Free High-Throughput Screening of Microalgal Single-Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Xixian; Ren, Lihui; Su, Yetian; Ji, Yuetong; Liu, Yaoping; Li, Chunyu; Li, Xunrong; Zhang, Yi; Wang, Wei; Hu, Qiang; Han, Danxiang; Xu, Jian; Ma, Bo

2017-11-21

Raman-activated cell sorting (RACS) has attracted increasing interest, yet throughput remains one major factor limiting its broader application. Here we present an integrated Raman-activated droplet sorting (RADS) microfluidic system for functional screening of live cells in a label-free and high-throughput manner, by employing AXT-synthetic industrial microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) as a model. Raman microspectroscopy analysis of individual cells is carried out prior to their microdroplet encapsulation, which is then directly coupled to DEP-based droplet sorting. To validate the system, H. pluvialis cells containing different levels of AXT were mixed and underwent RADS. Those AXT-hyperproducing cells were sorted with an accuracy of 98.3%, an enrichment ratio of eight folds, and a throughput of ∼260 cells/min. Of the RADS-sorted cells, 92.7% remained alive and able to proliferate, which is equivalent to the unsorted cells. Thus, the RADS achieves a much higher throughput than existing RACS systems, preserves the vitality of cells, and facilitates seamless coupling with downstream manipulations such as single-cell sequencing and cultivation.
48 CFR 2515.215-70 - NSF negotiation authorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 true NSF negotiation authorities... CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Negotiation Authorities 2515.215-70 NSF negotiation authorities. (a) Authorities. Citation: 42 U.S.C. 1870(c). (b) Application. When an NSF contract...
Sperm sorting procedure induces a redistribution of Hsp70 but not Hsp60 and Hsp90 in boar spermatozoa.

PubMed

Spinaci, Marcella; Volpe, Sara; Bernardini, Chiara; de Ambrogi, Marco; Tamanini, Carlo; Seren, Eraldo; Galeati, Giovanna

2006-01-01

Heat shock proteins, besides their protective function against stresses, have been recently indicated as key factors for sperm fertilizing ability. Since sexing sperm by high-speed flow-cytometry subjects them to different physical, mechanical, and chemical stresses, the present study was designed to verify, by immunofluorescence and Western blot, whether the sorting procedure induces any modification in the amount and cellular distribution of heat shock proteins 60, 70, and 90 (Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90). Immunolocalization and Western blot quantification of both Hsp60 and Hsp90 did not reveal differences between unsorted and sorted semen. On the contrary, a redistribution of Hsp70 immunoreactivity from the equatorial subsegment toward the equator of sperm cells was recorded after sorting; this relocation suggests capacitation-like changes of sperm membrane. This modification seems to be caused mainly by incubation with Hoechst 33342, while both passage of sperm through flow cytometer and laser beam represent only minor stimuli. A further Hsp70 redistribution seems to be due to the final steps of sperm sorting, charging, and deflection of drops, and to the dilution during collection. On the other hand, staining procedure and mechanical stress seem to be the factors most injurious to sperm viability. Moreover, Hsp70 relocation was deeply influenced by the storage method. In fact, storing sexed spermatozoa, after centrifugation, in a small volume in presence of seminal plasma induced a reversion of Hsp70 redistribution, while storage in the diluted catch fluid of collection tubes caused Hsp70 relocation in most sorted spermatozoa.
Origin of the Giant Honeycomb Network of Quinones on Cu(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einstein, T. L.; Kim, Kwangmoo; Wyrick, Jon; Cheng, Zhihai; Bartels, Ludwig; Berland, Kristian; Hyldgaard, Per

2011-03-01

We discuss the factors that lead to the amazing regular giant honeycomb network formed by quinones on Cu(111). Using a related lattice gas model with many characteristic energies, we can reproduce many experimental features. These models require a long-range attraction, which can be attributed to indirect interactions mediated by the Shockley surface state of Cu(111). However, Wyrick's preceding talk gave evidence that the network self-selects for the size of the pore rather than for the periodicity of the superstructure, suggesting that confined states are the key ingredient. We discuss this phenomenon in terms of the magic numbers of 2D quantum dots. We also report calculations of the effects of anthraquinones (AQ) in modifying the surface states by considering a superlattice of AQ chains with various separations. We discuss implications of these results for tuning the electronic states and, thence, superstructures. Supported by (TLE) NSF CHE 07-50334 & UMD MRSEC DMR 05-20471, (JW & LB) NSF CHE NSF CHE 07-49949, (KB & PH) Swedish Vetenskapsrådet VR 621-2008-4346.
Research Funding Set for NSF, NASA, EPA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chemical and Engineering News, 1982

1982-01-01

Funds (1983) for National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research programs include $1,092,200,000 (NSF), $5.5 billion (NASA), and $119 million (EPA). NSF's science education activities were raised to $30 million in spite of the Administration's plan to phase…
An Alternative Approach for the Analyses and Interpretation of Attachment Sort Items

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirkland, John; Bimler, David; Drawneek, Andrew; McKim, Margaret; Scholmerich, Axel

2004-01-01

Attachment Q-Sort (AQS) is a tool for quantifying observations about toddler/caregiver relationships. Previous studies have applied factor analysis to the full 90 AQS item set to explore the structure underlying them. Here we explore that structure by applying multidimensional scaling (MDS) to judgements of inter-item similarity. AQS items are…
Emotion Regulation among School-Age Children: The Development and Validation of a New Criterion Q-Sort Scale.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shields, Ann; Cicchetti, Dante

1997-01-01

Two studies examined psychometric properties of a new criterion Q-sort for children's emotion regulation and autonomy. Multitrait-multimethod matrix and factor analyses indicated impressive convergence among the emotion regulation Q-scale and established affect regulation measures. The new scale was not discriminable from measures of related…
National Science Foundation proposed budget could see another increase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-03-01

President Barack Obama's proposed budget for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for fiscal year (FY) 2013 would provide the agency with $7.37 billion, a $340 million increase, 4.8% above the FY 2012 estimated budget under which NSF has been operating. NSF has fared well during previous budget cycles, and the Obama administration's budget document for FY 2013 states that “NSF plays a critical role in the implementation of the President's Plan for Science and Technology.” With federal agencies operating under tighter budgets in a difficult financial climate, NSF director Subra Suresh said the budget includes substantial increases for core programs, frontier science, education, and human resources. “I am confident that NSF merits the $7.4 billion the president proposed. I'm optimistic Congress will approve the budget,” Suresh said at a 13 February NSF budget briefing.
Exploring student preferences with a Q-sort: the development of an individualized renal physiology curriculum

PubMed Central

Roberts, John K.; Hargett, Charles W.; Nagler, Alisa; Jakoi, Emma

2015-01-01

Medical education reform is underway, but the optimal course for change has yet to be seen. While planning for the redesign of a renal physiology course at the Duke School of Medicine, the authors used a Q-sort survey to assess students' attitudes and learning preferences to inform curricular change. The authors invited first-year medical students at the Duke School of Medicine to take a Q-sort survey on the first day of renal physiology. Students prioritized statements related to their understanding of renal physiology, learning preferences, preferred course characteristics, perceived clinical relevance of renal physiology, and interest in nephrology as a career. By-person factor analysis was performed using the centroid method. Three dominant factors were strongly defined by learning preferences: “readers” prefer using notes, a textbook, and avoid lectures; “social-auditory learners” prefer attending lectures, interactivity, and working with peers; and “visual learners” prefer studying images, diagrams, and viewing materials online. A smaller, fourth factor represented a small group of students with a strong predisposition against renal physiology and nephrology. In conclusion, the Q-sort survey identified and then described in detail the dominant viewpoints of our students. Learning style preferences better classified first-year students rather than any of the other domains. A more individualized curriculum would simultaneously cater to the different types of learners in the classroom. PMID:26330030
Exploring student preferences with a Q-sort: the development of an individualized renal physiology curriculum.

PubMed

Roberts, John K; Hargett, Charles W; Nagler, Alisa; Jakoi, Emma; Lehrich, Ruediger W

2015-09-01

Medical education reform is underway, but the optimal course for change has yet to be seen. While planning for the redesign of a renal physiology course at the Duke School of Medicine, the authors used a Q-sort survey to assess students' attitudes and learning preferences to inform curricular change. The authors invited first-year medical students at the Duke School of Medicine to take a Q-sort survey on the first day of renal physiology. Students prioritized statements related to their understanding of renal physiology, learning preferences, preferred course characteristics, perceived clinical relevance of renal physiology, and interest in nephrology as a career. By-person factor analysis was performed using the centroid method. Three dominant factors were strongly defined by learning preferences: "readers" prefer using notes, a textbook, and avoid lectures; "social-auditory learners" prefer attending lectures, interactivity, and working with peers; and "visual learners" prefer studying images, diagrams, and viewing materials online. A smaller, fourth factor represented a small group of students with a strong predisposition against renal physiology and nephrology. In conclusion, the Q-sort survey identified and then described in detail the dominant viewpoints of our students. Learning style preferences better classified first-year students rather than any of the other domains. A more individualized curriculum would simultaneously cater to the different types of learners in the classroom. Copyright © 2015 The American Physiological Society.
Assessment of factors influencing preservation of dignity at life's end: creation and the cross-cultural validation of the preservation of dignity card-sort tool.

PubMed

Periyakoil, Vyjeyanthi S; Noda, Arthur M; Kraemer, Helena Chmura

2010-05-01

Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing preservation of dignity in the last chapter of life. We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 2 main themes, 5 subthemes, and 10 individual factors that were used to create the preservation of dignity card-sort tool (p-DCT). The 10-item rank order tool was administered to a cohort of community dwelling Filipino Americans (n = 140, age mean = 61.3, 45% male and 55% female). A Spearman correlation matrix was constructed for all the 10 individual factors as well as the themes and subthemes based on the data generated by the subjects. The individual factors were minimally correlated with each other indicating that each factor was an independent stand-alone factor. The median, 25th and 75th percentile ranks were calculated and "s/he has self-respect" (intrinsic theme, self-esteem subtheme) emerged as the most important factor (mean rank 3.0 and median rank 2.0) followed by "others treat her/him with respect" (extrinsic theme, respect subtheme) with a mean rank = 3.6 and median = 3.0. The p-DCT is a simple, rank order card-sort tool that may help clinicians identify patients' perceptions of key factors influencing the preservation of their dignity in the last chapter of life.
Selective Sorting of Cargo Proteins into Bacterial Membrane Vesicles*

PubMed Central

Haurat, M. Florencia; Aduse-Opoku, Joseph; Rangarajan, Minnie; Dorobantu, Loredana; Gray, Murray R.; Curtis, Michael A.; Feldman, Mario F.

2011-01-01

In contrast to the well established multiple cellular roles of membrane vesicles in eukaryotic cell biology, outer membrane vesicles (OMV) produced via blebbing of prokaryotic membranes have frequently been regarded as cell debris or microscopy artifacts. Increasingly, however, bacterial membrane vesicles are thought to play a role in microbial virulence, although it remains to be determined whether OMV result from a directed process or from passive disintegration of the outer membrane. Here we establish that the human oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis has a mechanism to selectively sort proteins into OMV, resulting in the preferential packaging of virulence factors into OMV and the exclusion of abundant outer membrane proteins from the protein cargo. Furthermore, we show a critical role for lipopolysaccharide in directing this sorting mechanism. The existence of a process to package specific virulence factors into OMV may significantly alter our current understanding of host-pathogen interactions. PMID:21056982
NSF Factbook. Guide to National Science Foundation Programs and Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Renetzky, Alvin, Ed.; Flynn, Barbara J., Ed.

This publication is a thorough guide to National Science Foundation (NSF) programs and activities. Research activities and science education programs supported by NSF during the fiscal year 1970 are reviewed in part one of this volume. Comprehensive listings of NSF grants and awards are presented in the second section which includes a list of…
45 CFR 689.5 - Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. 689.5... FOUNDATION RESEARCH MISCONDUCT § 689.5 Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. (a) NSF staff who learn of alleged misconduct will promptly and discreetly inform OIG or refer informants to OIG. (b) The identity of...
45 CFR 689.5 - Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. 689.5... FOUNDATION RESEARCH MISCONDUCT § 689.5 Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. (a) NSF staff who learn of alleged misconduct will promptly and discreetly inform OIG or refer informants to OIG. (b) The identity of...
45 CFR 689.5 - Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. 689.5... FOUNDATION RESEARCH MISCONDUCT § 689.5 Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. (a) NSF staff who learn of alleged misconduct will promptly and discreetly inform OIG or refer informants to OIG. (b) The identity of...
45 CFR 689.5 - Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. 689.5... FOUNDATION RESEARCH MISCONDUCT § 689.5 Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. (a) NSF staff who learn of alleged misconduct will promptly and discreetly inform OIG or refer informants to OIG. (b) The identity of...
45 CFR 689.5 - Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. 689.5... FOUNDATION RESEARCH MISCONDUCT § 689.5 Initial NSF handling of misconduct matters. (a) NSF staff who learn of alleged misconduct will promptly and discreetly inform OIG or refer informants to OIG. (b) The identity of...
National Medal of Science nominations sought

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2013-03-01

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting nominations for the 2013 National Medal of Science until 1 April 2013. Congress established the medal in 1959 as a presidential award for individuals "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences." Later, Congress expanded the recognition to include the social and behavioral sciences. NSF notes, "We are especially interested in identifying women, members of minority groups, and persons with disabilities for consideration." More information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp and http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/nsf_2013nationalmedalofscience_callfornominations.pdf. For more details, contact the Medal of Science program manager at nms@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040.

Effects of straw processing and pen overstocking on the growth performance and sorting characteristics of diets offered to replacement Holstein dairy heifers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effects of pen-stocking density and straw processing on the growth performance of Holstein dairy heifers housed in a free-stall system are not well understood. Our objectives were to evaluate these factors on the growth performance, feed-bunk sorting behaviors, daily behavioral traits, and hygie...
Application of seminal plasma in sex-sorting and sperm cryopreservation.

PubMed

de Graaf, S P; Leahy, T; Marti, J; Evans, G; Maxwell, W M C

2008-11-01

Substantial dilution of boar semen during processing decreased the concentration of seminal plasma, perhaps contributing to the decline in sperm quality after cryopreservation and sex-sorting. Results of replacing seminal plasma in investigations from many laboratories have been contradictory. Results and discussion here suggest that whereas membrane status can be influenced by seminal plasma, the action of its various components, both positive and negative, is determined in part by the membrane status of the spermatozoa to which it is being exposed. Although progress has been made in identifying components of seminal plasma responsible for its protective effect (notably PSP-I/II spermadhesin for sex-sorted boar spermatozoa), little is known (in any species) regarding how external factors may influence their levels, and their functionality, in seminal plasma. It is noteworthy that seminal plasma is beneficial to post-thaw quality of sex-sorted ram spermatozoa only when added before freezing, not after thawing. Therefore, the action of seminal plasma and its components is dependent on sperm-related factors, in particular the type of processing to which they have been previously exposed. Further research is needed to unravel these biological complexities, and then characterise and synthesise useful proteins within seminal plasma.
Factors associated with fertility of nulliparous dairy heifers following a 10-day fixed-time artificial insemination program with sex-sorted and conventional semen.

PubMed

Noonan, E J; Kelly, J C; Beggs, D S

2016-05-01

To examine factors associated with fertility on dairy farms that used a common fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) program in yearling heifers. Records were analysed from 954 yearling heifers on 10 south-west Victorian dairy farms that used a common FTAI program, involving the insertion of a 1.9-g progesterone-releasing device for 10 days; 2 mg oestradiol benzoate at insertion; 500 µg cloprostenol on day 7; and FTAI 48 h after device removal. Weight, age, expression of oestrus, sire, semen type (frozen sex-sorted or frozen conventional) and timing of insemination were examined for their relationship with first-service conception rates. Heifers over 300 kg body weight were 1.18-fold more likely to express oestrus during the FTAI program. For every extra 1 kg, there was a 1.5% increase in the likelihood of expressing oestrus. First-service conception rates were 40.3% and 56.0% for sex-sorted and conventional semen, respectively, and were significantly higher when oestrus was expressed. The difference was greater for sex-sorted semen (3.4-fold) compared with conventional semen (1.5-fold). The interval from device removal to insemination varied between 47 and 51.4 h and had no significant effect on conception rates. However, there was a trend towards a higher conception rate for sex-sorted semen when inseminations were performed >50 h after device removal. Increased fertility was associated with larger heifers and heifers that expressed oestrus, particularly when sexed-sorted semen was used. Variation in the timing of AI with respect to device removal between 47 and 51.4 h did not adversely affect conception rates. © 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.
National Service Framework for Older People: stroke coordinators.

PubMed

McDonald, Paul S; Mayer, Peter; Dunn, Linda

The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People aims to develop integrated stroke services with specialized treatment, carer involvement, secondary prevention and rehabilitation. There is an emphasis upon the role of stroke coordinators. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between stroke coordinators and other agencies involved in stroke care, and to describe stroke coordinators' current roles. Interviews with 11 stroke coordinators across the West Midlands region took place and were evaluated using a grounded theory approach. The roles of stroke coordinators and the perceived levels of integration among stroke services varied between localities. In a few areas, a number of 'adhesive' factors helped bond the coordinator role to successful integration, while in most areas the absence of all or some of these factors made the role less effective. To meet the demands of the NSF, a stroke coordinator's role needs to be a high profile, corporate function, requiring a higher level of autonomy, accountability and responsibility, and demanding creativity and innovation from post holders.
Nominations for NSF, NSB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

President Ronald Reagan plans to nominate William J. Merrell, Jr., to be assistant director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Astronomical, Atmospheric, Earth, and Ocean Sciences (AAEO), according to an announcement by NSF. The President also has announced his intention to nominate Craig C. Black and Charles L. Hosier to the National Science Board (NSB), NSF said. The president's nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.
Optical Science and Engineering. New Directions and Opportunities in Research and Education. NSF Workshop (Arlington, VA, May 23-24, 1994).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) workshop on Optical Science and Engineering was organized to examine approaches NSF could use to identify opportunities in optical science, engineering, and education that meet both the mission of NSF and its broader national goals. The workshop participants identified opportunities where optical science and…
Evaluation of recycling programmes in household waste collection systems.

PubMed

Dahlén, Lisa; Lagerkvist, Anders

2010-07-01

A case study and a literature review have been carried out to address the two questions: how can waste flow data from collection systems be interpreted and compared? and which factors are decisive in the results of recycling programmes in household waste collection systems? The aim is to contribute to the understanding of how recycling programmes affect the quantity of waste and sorting activities. It is shown how the results from various waste sorting systems can be interpreted and made comparable. A set of waste flow indicators is proposed, which together with generic system descriptions can facilitate comparisons of different collections systems. The evaluation of collection systems depends on the system boundaries and will always be site-specific to some degree. Various factors are relevant, e.g. environmental objectives, technical function, operating costs, types of recyclable materials collected separately, property-close collection or drop-off systems, economic incentives, information strategies, residential structure, social codes, etc. Kerbside collection of recyclables and weight-based billing led to increased waste sorting activities in the case study. Forty-three decisive factors are listed and discussed.
The NSF and the geosciences community: Rotating program officers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batiza, Rodey; Rea, David K.; Rumble, Douglas, III

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a federal agency charged with the care and feeding of basic scientific research in U.S. colleges and universities. NSF is a major contributor toward the support of research in Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences, disciplines of great importance to AGU members.NSF makes a regular practice of employing scientists from universities, nonprofit research organizations, industry, and state or local governments as temporary program officers (“rotators”) with terms of service from 1 to 2 years. There are several reasons for the use of rotators: It brings to NSF people who have firsthand, recent knowledge of "what it is really like" beyond the Washington, D.C. beltway. Knowledge of new ideas, recent graduates, and a fresh look at the system are worth considerably more than the problems that arise owing to inexperienced program officers.It sheds some sunshine on internal NSF procedures when the rotator returns with his tales to his home institution.It provides NSF management with considerable flexibility in coping with changing staff requirements.
NSB organizational changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

To increase its involvement in National Science Foundation (NSF) policy and program oversight, the National Science Board (NSB), which is the NSF governing body, has instituted a number of changes in its committee structure and operations.One reason for the changes, according to Roland Schmitt, senior vice president for corporate research and development at the General Electric Company and chairman of NSB, is to move away from approval of NSF awards as the primary mechanism for NSB oversight of NSF programs. By law, NSB must approve awards that are above a certain dollar value. Most awards above that limit come from only a few NSF programs. The new changes will allow NSB to review programs and projects throughout NSF earlier in the review process and to affect major program decisions when they are being made.
NSF Commits to Supercomputers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waldrop, M. Mitchell

1985-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has allocated at least $200 million over the next five years to support four new supercomputer centers. Issues and trends related to this NSF initiative are examined. (JN)
Town Meeting on Plasma Physics at the National Science Foundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2015-11-01

We invite you to the Town Meeting on the role of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in supporting basic and applied research in Plasma Physics in the U.S. The overarching goal of NSF is to promote the progress of science and to enable training of the next generation of scientists and engineers at US colleges and universities. In this context, the role of the NSF Physics Division in leading the nearly 20 year old NSF/DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering serves as an example of the long history of NSF support for basic plasma physics research. Yet, the NSF interest in maintaining a healthy university research base in plasma sciences extends across the Foundation. A total of five NSF Divisions are participating in the most recent Partnership solicitation, and a host of other multi-disciplinary and core programs provide opportunities for scientists to perform research on applications of plasma physics to Space & Solar Physics, Astrophysics, Accelerator Science, Material Science, Plasma Medicine, and many sub-disciplines within Engineering. This Town Meeting will provide a chance to discuss the full range of relevant NSF funding opportunities, and to begin a conversation on the present and future role of NSF in stewarding basic plasma science and engineering research at US colleges and universities. We would like to particularly encourage early career scientists and graduate students to participate in this Town Meeting, though everyone is invited to join what we hope to be a lively discussion.
Assessment of Factors Influencing Preservation of Dignity at Life's End: Creation and the Cross-Cultural Validation of the Preservation of Dignity Card-Sort Tool

PubMed Central

Noda, Arthur M.; Chmura Kraemer, Helena

2010-01-01

Abstract Background Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing preservation of dignity in the last chapter of life. Methods We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 2 main themes, 5 subthemes, and 10 individual factors that were used to create the preservation of dignity card-sort tool (p-DCT). The 10-item rank order tool was administered to a cohort of community dwelling Filipino Americans (n = 140, age mean = 61.3, 45% male and 55% female). A Spearman correlation matrix was constructed for all the 10 individual factors as well as the themes and subthemes based on the data generated by the subjects. Results The individual factors were minimally correlated with each other indicating that each factor was an independent stand-alone factor. The median, 25th and 75th percentile ranks were calculated and “s/he has self-respect” (intrinsic theme, self-esteem subtheme) emerged as the most important factor (mean rank 3.0 and median rank 2.0) followed by “others treat her/him with respect” (extrinsic theme, respect subtheme) with a mean rank = 3.6 and median = 3.0. Conclusion The p-DCT is a simple, rank order card-sort tool that may help clinicians identify patients' perceptions of key factors influencing the preservation of their dignity in the last chapter of life. PMID:20420549
The Tri-Agency Climate Education (TrACE) Catalog: Promoting collaboration, effective practice, and a robust portfolio by sharing educational resources developed across NASA, NOAA & NSF climate education initiatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDougall, C.; Martin, A.; Givens, S. M.; Yue, S.; Wilson, C. E.; Karsten, J. L.

2012-12-01

The Tri-Agency Climate Education (TrACE) Catalog is an online, interactive, searchable and browsable web product driven by a database backend. TrACE was developed for and by the community of educators, scientists, and Federal agency representatives involved in a tri-agency collaboration for climate education. NASA, NOAA, and NSF are working together to strategically coordinate and support a portfolio of projects focused on climate literacy and education in formal and informal learning environments. The activities of the tri-agency collaboration, including annual meetings for principal investigators and the ongoing development of a nascent common evaluation framework, have created a strong national network for effectively engaging diverse audiences with the principles of climate literacy (see Eos Vol. 92, No. 24, 14 June 2011). TrACE is a tool for the climate education community that promotes the goals of the tri-agency collaboration to leverage existing resources, minimize duplicate efforts, and facilitate communication among this emergent community of scientists and educators. TrACE was born as "The Matrix," a product of the 2011 Second Annual NASA, NOAA and NSF Climate Change Education Principal Investigators Meeting (see McDougall, Wilson, Martin & Knippenberg, 2011, Abstract ED21B-0583 presented at 2011 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA.) Meeting attendees were asked to populate a pen-and-paper matrix with all of the activities or deliverables they had created or anticipated creating as part of their NOAA/NASA/NSF-funded project. During the 2012 Third Annual Tri-Agency PI Meeting, projects were given the opportunity to add and update their products and deliverables. In the intervening year, the dataset comprising the Matrix was converted to a MySQL database, with a standardized taxonomy and minimum criteria for inclusion, and further developed into the interactive TrACE Catalog. In the fall of 2012, the TrACE Catalog web product will be made publicly available. The catalog currently contains information about 204 educational products and resources, representing 81 federally funded projects, categorized by audience type (e.g., K-12 students, public, decision makers, scientists) and resource type (e.g., curriculum, electronic media & tools, exhibits). The web interface will allow for searching, sorting, and browsing of available educational resources by audience type, product type, funding agency, and geographical region. Using this tool, PIs working on similar efforts or in similar bioregions will be able to locate, learn from, and collaborate with each other. The dataset is also useful for visualizing and assessing the breadth and depth of the tri-agency portfolio. In this poster presentation, representatives from the three collaborating agencies will demonstrate the functionality of the TrACE Catalog and the dataset that drives it. We will invite others who are working on similar efforts to add their anticipated/existing products.
Waterman Award nominations sought

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-10-01

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting nominations for the 2013 Alan T. Waterman Award. The award, established in 1975 to commemorate NSF's first director, is the foundation's highest honor for promising, early-career researchers. Nominees are accepted from all sources, from any field of science and engineering that NSF supports. In addition to receiving a medal, the award recipient will also receive a $1,000,000 grant over 5 years for scientific research or advanced study in any field of science or engineering supported by NSF. Completed nomination packages are due by 31 October. For more information, see http://www.nsf.gov/od/waterman/waterman.jsp.
NSF appointment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

President Ronald Reagan has announced his intention to nominate Richard S. Nicholson as assistant director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for mathematical and physical sciences. Nicholson has been acting deputy director and staff director of NSF since 1983.A research chemist by training, Nicholson was an associate professor of chemistry at Michigan State University before joining NSF in 1970. He served in a number of capacities at NSF, including executive director of the National Science Board commission on precollege education in mathematics, science, and technology, deputy assistant director for the mathematical and physical sciences, and senior planning officer for mathematical and physical sciences. The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
NSF- and SNARE-mediated membrane fusion is required for nuclear envelope formation and completion of nuclear pore complex assembly in Xenopus laevis egg extracts.

PubMed

Baur, Tina; Ramadan, Kristijan; Schlundt, Andreas; Kartenbeck, Jürgen; Meyer, Hemmo H

2007-08-15

Despite the progress in understanding nuclear envelope (NE) reformation after mitosis, it has remained unclear what drives the required membrane fusion and how exactly this is coordinated with nuclear pore complex (NPC) assembly. Here, we show that, like other intracellular fusion reactions, NE fusion in Xenopus laevis egg extracts is mediated by SNARE proteins that require activation by NSF. Antibodies against Xenopus NSF, depletion of NSF or the dominant-negative NSF(E329Q) variant specifically inhibited NE formation. Staging experiments further revealed that NSF was required until sealing of the envelope was completed. Moreover, excess exogenous alpha-SNAP that blocks SNARE function prevented membrane fusion and caused accumulation of non-flattened vesicles on the chromatin surface. Under these conditions, the nucleoporins Nup107 and gp210 were fully recruited, whereas assembly of FxFG-repeat-containing nucleoporins was blocked. Together, we define NSF- and SNARE-mediated membrane fusion events as essential steps during NE formation downstream of Nup107 recruitment, and upstream of membrane flattening and completion of NPC assembly.
NASA/NSF Workshop on Antarctic Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Connors, Mary M.

1990-01-01

Viewgraphs that accompanied an Ames Research Center presentation address Ames' currently-supported life sciences activities. These include crew factor issues such as human, automation, and telecommunication systems; strategic behavior and workloads; sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms; and virtual reality and spatial instrumentation. The need, background, and examples of pertinent research are provided.
Evaluating Computer-Related Incidents on Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothschild, Daniel; Rezmierski, Virginia

2004-01-01

The Computer Incident Factor Analysis and Categorization (CIFAC) Project at the University of Michigan began in September 2003 with grants from EDUCAUSE and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project's primary goal is to create a best-practices security framework for colleges and universities based on rigorous quantitative analysis of…
The Federal Role in Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloch, Erich

The role of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in supporting college science and engineering education at the undergraduate level is discussed, along with important factors in the national environment, including economic challenges facing the country, and the foundation's relationship to research and education. Because of a shift to a global…
Linking Humans to Data: Designing an Enterprise Architecture for EarthCube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, C.; Yang, C.; Meyer, C. B.

2013-12-01

National Science Foundation (NSF)'s EarthCube is a strategic initiative towards a grand enterprise that holistically incorporates different geoscience research domains. The EarthCube as envisioned by NSF is a community-guided cyberinfrastructure (NSF 2011). The design of EarthCube enterprise architecture (EA) offers a vision to harmonize processes between the operations of EarthCube and its information technology foundation, the geospatial cyberinfrastructure. (Yang et al. 2010). We envision these processes as linking humans to data. We report here on fundamental ideas that would ultimately materialize as a conceptual design of EarthCube EA. EarthCube can be viewed as a meta-science that seeks to advance knowledge of the Earth through cross-disciplinary connections made using conventional domain-based earth science research. In order to build capacity that enables crossing disciplinary chasms, a key step would be to identify the cornerstones of the envisioned enterprise architecture. Human and data inputs are the two key factors to the success of EarthCube (NSF 2011), based upon which three hypotheses have been made: 1) cross disciplinary collaboration has to be achieved through data sharing; 2) disciplinary differences need to be articulated and captured in both computer and human understandable formats; 3) human intervention is crucial for crossing the disciplinary chasms. We have selected the Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF, CIO Council 2013) as the baseline for the envisioned EarthCube EA, noting that the FEAF's deficiencies can be improved upon with inputs from three other popular EA frameworks. This presentation reports the latest on the conceptual design of an enterprise architecture in support of EarthCube.

Quantitative assessment of distance to collection point and improved sorting information on source separation of household waste.

PubMed

Rousta, Kamran; Bolton, Kim; Lundin, Magnus; Dahlén, Lisa

2015-06-01

The present study measures the participation of households in a source separation scheme and, in particular, if the household's application of the scheme improved after two interventions: (a) shorter distance to the drop-off point and (b) easy access to correct sorting information. The effect of these interventions was quantified and, as far as possible, isolated from other factors that can influence the recycling behaviour. The study was based on households located in an urban residential area in Sweden, where waste composition studies were performed before and after the interventions by manual sorting (pick analysis). Statistical analyses of the results indicated a significant decrease (28%) of packaging and newsprint in the residual waste after establishing a property close collection system (intervention (a)), as well as significant decrease (70%) of the miss-sorted fraction in bags intended for food waste after new information stickers were introduced (intervention (b)). Providing a property close collection system to collect more waste fractions as well as finding new communication channels for information about sorting can be used as tools to increase the source separation ratio. This contribution also highlights the need to evaluate the effects of different types of information and communication concerning sorting instructions in a property close collection system. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ALG-2 activates the MVB sorting function of ALIX through relieving its intramolecular interaction

PubMed Central

Sun, Sheng; Zhou, Xi; Corvera, Joe; Gallick, Gary E; Lin, Sue-Hwa; Kuang, Jian

2015-01-01

The modular adaptor protein ALIX is critically involved in endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-mediated multivesicular body (MVB) sorting of activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); however, ALIX contains a default intramolecular interaction that renders ALIX unable to perform this ESCRT function. The ALIX partner protein ALG-2 is a calcium-binding protein that belongs to the calmodulin superfamily. Prompted by a defined biological function of calmodulin, we determined the role of ALG-2 in regulating ALIX involvement in MVB sorting of activated EGFR. Our results show that calcium-dependent ALG-2 interaction with ALIX completely relieves the intramolecular interaction of ALIX and promotes CHMP4-dependent ALIX association with the membrane. EGFR activation induces increased ALG-2 interaction with ALIX, and this increased interaction is responsible for increased ALIX association with the membrane. Functionally, inhibition of ALIX activation by ALG-2 inhibits MVB sorting of activated EGFR as effectively as inhibition of ALIX interaction with CHMP4 does; however, inhibition of ALIX activation by ALG-2 does not affect cytokinetic abscission or equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) budding. These findings indicate that calcium-dependent ALG-2 interaction with ALIX is specifically responsible for generating functional ALIX that supports MVB sorting of ubiquitinated membrane receptors. PMID:27462417
Expediting evidence synthesis for healthcare decision-making: exploring attitudes and perceptions towards rapid reviews using Q methodology

PubMed Central

Moher, David; Clifford, Tammy J.

2016-01-01

Background Rapid reviews expedite the knowledge synthesis process with the goal of providing timely information to healthcare decision-makers who want to use evidence-informed policy and practice approaches. A range of opinions and viewpoints on rapid reviews is thought to exist; however, no research to date has formally captured these views. This paper aims to explore evidence producer and knowledge user attitudes and perceptions towards rapid reviews. Methods A Q methodology study was conducted to identify central viewpoints about rapid reviews based on a broad topic discourse. Participants rank-ordered 50 text statements and explained their Q-sort in free-text comments. Individual Q-sorts were analysed using Q-Assessor (statistical method: factor analysis with varimax rotation). Factors, or salient viewpoints on rapid reviews, were identified, interpreted and described. Results Analysis of the 11 individual Q sorts identified three prominent viewpoints: Factor A cautions against the use of study design labels to make judgements. Factor B maintains that rapid reviews should be the exception and not the rule. Factor C focuses on the practical needs of the end-user over the review process. Conclusion Results show that there are opposing viewpoints on rapid reviews, yet some unity exists. The three factors described offer insight into how and why various stakeholders act as they do and what issues may need to be resolved before increase uptake of the evidence from rapid reviews can be realized in healthcare decision-making environments. PMID:27761324
Enhanced nitrogen removal with an onsite aerobic cyclic biological treatment unit.

PubMed

Babcock, Roger W; Senthill, Atiim; Lamichhane, Krishna M; Agsalda, Jessica; Lindbo, Glen D

2015-01-01

Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA, Section 6217) necessitate the requirement that onsite wastewater disposal units located near impaired surface waters or groundwater to provide at least 50% nitrogen removal. Approximately 38% of Hawaii households use onsite systems including septic tanks and cesspools that cannot meet this requirement. Upgrades to aerobic treatment units (ATUs) are a possible compliance solution. In Hawaii, ATUs must meet National Sanitation Foundation Standard 40 (NSF40) Class I effluent criteria. Previously, a multi-chamber, flow-through, combined attached/suspended growth type ATU (OESIS-750) and presently, a sequencing batch type ATU (CBT 0.8KF-210) were evaluated for NSF40 compliance, nutrient removal capability (NSF245), and adaptability for water reuse (NSF350). Both units easily achieved the NSF40 Class I effluent criteria. While the OESIS-750 achieved only 19% nitrogen removal, the CBT unit achieved 81% nitrogen removal, meeting the NSF245 criteria and CZARA requirements for applications in critical wastewater disposal areas. In addition, the CBT consistently produced effluent with turbidity less than 2 NTU (NSF350) and UVT254 greater than 70%, facilitating the production of unrestricted-use recycled water.
75 FR 6651 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-10

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92- 463, 86... on scientific priorities within the field of basic nuclear science research. Tentative Agenda: Agenda...
Exploring the underlying factors influencing e-learning adoption in nurse education.

PubMed

Petit dit Dariel, Odessa; Wharrad, Heather; Windle, Richard

2013-06-01

To report a study undertaken to explore the underlying factors influencing e-learning adoption in nurse education. Despite e-learning's high profile it has not been readily integrated into teaching practice in nurse education. Previous research has identified generic, cross-disciplinary factors but has left out 'soft' factors. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive design. Q-methodology was used to explore e-learning adoption in a Division of Nursing located in an institution of Higher Education in the UK. Between September-December 2009, 38 participants were recruited to participate in Q-sorts and post-sort interviews. The Q-sort data were factor analysed and the interviews were coded to their respective factors to develop in-depth narratives. Four factors were identified: 'E-learning advocates' saw e-learning's potential to improve nurse education and prepare future nurses for their evolving role; the 'Humanists' had avoided e-learning because they valued human interaction; the 'Sceptics' doubted that technology could improve learning outcomes; and the 'Pragmatics,' only used e-learning as a tool to post lecture notes online to supplement what they covered in class. The findings point to the variety of responses existing among nurse academics faced with integrating e-learning into their teaching. Moving beyond the binary labels commonly attributed to those considered either 'early adopters' or 'laggards,' the findings contribute to the literature by revealing a wider breadth of views and responses towards technology. Acknowledging these views can inform future e-learning strategies and lead to improvement in e-learning use in nurse education. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Particle shape-controlled sorting and transport behaviour of mixed siliciclastic/bioclastic sediments in a mesotidal lagoon, South Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flemming, Burghard W.

2017-08-01

This study investigates the effect of particle shape on the transport and deposition of mixed siliciclastic-bioclastic sediments in the lower mesotidal Langebaan Lagoon along the South Atlantic coast of South Africa. As the two sediment components have undergone mutual sorting for the last 7 ka, they can be expected to have reached a highest possible degree of hydraulic equivalence. A comparison of sieve and settling tube data shows that, with progressive coarsening of the size fractions, the mean diameters of individual sediment components increasingly depart from the spherical quartz standard, the experimental data demonstrating the hydraulic incompatibility of the sieve data. Overall, the spatial distribution patterns of textural parameters (mean settling diameter, sorting and skewness) of the siliciclastic and bioclastic sediment components are very similar. Bivariate plots between them reveal linear trends when averaged over small intervals. A systematic deviation is observed in sorting, the trend ranging from uniformity at poorer sorting levels to a progressively increasing lag of the bioclastic component relative to the siliciclastic one as overall sorting improves. The deviation amounts to 0.8 relative sorting units at the optimal sorting level. The small textural differences between the two components are considered to reflect the influence of particle shape, which prevents the bioclastic fraction from achieving complete textural equivalence with the siliciclastic one. This is also reflected in the inferred transport behaviour of the two shape components, the bioclastic fraction moving closer to the bed than the siliciclastic one because of the higher drag experienced by low shape factor particles. As a consequence, the bed-phase development of bioclastic sediments departs significantly from that of siliciclastic sediments. Systematic flume experiments, however, are currently still lacking.
Administration's Proposed NSF Budget Includes a 5.5% Increase for Geosciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2013-04-01

The fiscal year (FY) 2014 proposed federal budget for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is $7.63 billion, 7.3% above the FY 2012 actual amount. NSF acting director Cora Marrett said the budget reflects the administration's recognition of NSF and the importance of funding basic research. "We are pleased about where we stand and hope that Congress will be just as pleased with the budget proposal and will help move things forward," she said during a meeting of the NSF Advisory Committee for Geosciences on 11 April. Budget comparisons are to FY 2012 because the 2013 appropriations were enacted at the end of March, less than 2 weeks before President Barack Obama sent the proposed budget to Congress.
NSF Geosciences Committee Focuses on Program and Budget Issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2014-04-01

The spring meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advisory Committee for the Geosciences (AC GEO), held on 3-4 April, was filled with firsts. It was the first time that AC GEO met as a body after merging with NSF's polar advisory committee in 2012. In addition, it was the first time that France Córdova, sworn in as the new NSF director on 31 March and sworn in again during a special ceremony in the atrium at NSF headquarters on 3 April, met with AC GEO in her new capacity. Córdova, who is president emerita of Purdue University, previously was a distinguished professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Riverside, and NASA chief scientist.
48 CFR 2515.215-70 - NSF negotiation authorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false NSF negotiation... FOUNDATION CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Negotiation Authorities 2515.215-70 NSF negotiation authorities. (a) Authorities. Citation: 42 U.S.C. 1870(c). (b) Application. When...
48 CFR 2515.215-70 - NSF negotiation authorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false NSF negotiation... FOUNDATION CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Negotiation Authorities 2515.215-70 NSF negotiation authorities. (a) Authorities. Citation: 42 U.S.C. 1870(c). (b) Application. When...
48 CFR 2515.215-70 - NSF negotiation authorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false NSF negotiation... FOUNDATION CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Negotiation Authorities 2515.215-70 NSF negotiation authorities. (a) Authorities. Citation: 42 U.S.C. 1870(c). (b) Application. When...
48 CFR 2515.215-70 - NSF negotiation authorities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false NSF negotiation... FOUNDATION CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Negotiation Authorities 2515.215-70 NSF negotiation authorities. (a) Authorities. Citation: 42 U.S.C. 1870(c). (b) Application. When...
77 FR 51791 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-27

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... on scientific priorities within the field of basic nuclear science research. Tentative Agenda: Agenda...
76 FR 31945 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-02

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... the field of basic nuclear science research. Tentative Agenda: Agenda will include discussions of the...
75 FR 63450 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-15

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory...
Student Global Mobility: An Analysis of International STEM Student Brain Drain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gesing, Margaret E.

2017-01-01

This study seeks to understand global mobility patterns of international graduate STEM students studying in the United States. Using data from the NSF Graduate Students in Science Survey (GSSS), this study investigates the political, economic, and social factors affecting students' intent to stay or go, identifying differences based on students'…
78 FR 58569 - Notice of Meeting; NSF Synchrotron Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Mathematical and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-24

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Meeting; NSF Synchrotron Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Mathematical and Physical Sciences The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the...--Patricia Dehmer, DOE 3. Biology/biomaterials talk--importance of materials research facilities--Pupa...
78 FR 716 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-04

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee AGENCY: Office of Science, DOE. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science... Energy and the National Science Foundation on scientific priorities within the field of basic nuclear...
76 FR 19986 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-11

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S...

78 FR 62609 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-22

... Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) will be renewed for a two-year period. The Committee will provide advice and... research. Additionally, the renewal of the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee has been determined...
76 FR 62050 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-06

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of Science. ACTION: Notice of renewal. SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 14(a)(2)(A) of the Federal... Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC...
News Focus: NSF Director Erich Bloch Discusses Foundation's Problems, Outlook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chemical and Engineering News, 1987

1987-01-01

Relates the comments offered in an interview with Erich Bloch, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director. Discusses issues related to NSF and its funding, engineering research centers, involvement with industry, concern for science education, computer centers, and its affiliation with the social sciences. (ML)
Pulsed laser activated cell sorter (PLACS) for high-throughput fluorescent mammalian cell sorting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yue; Wu, Ting-Hsiang; Chung, Aram; Kung, Yu-Chung; Teitell, Michael A.; Di Carlo, Dino; Chiou, Pei-Yu

2014-09-01

We present a Pulsed Laser Activated Cell Sorter (PLACS) realized by exciting laser induced cavitation bubbles in a PDMS microfluidic channel to create high speed liquid jets to deflect detected fluorescent samples for high speed sorting. Pulse laser triggered cavitation bubbles can expand in few microseconds and provide a pressure higher than tens of MPa for fluid perturbation near the focused spot. This ultrafast switching mechanism has a complete on-off cycle less than 20 μsec. Two approaches have been utilized to achieve 3D sample focusing in PLACS. One is relying on multilayer PDMS channels to provide 3D hydrodynamic sheath flows. It offers accurate timing control of fast (2 m sec-1) passing particles so that synchronization with laser bubble excitation is possible, an critically important factor for high purity and high throughput sorting. PLACS with 3D hydrodynamic focusing is capable of sorting at 11,000 cells/sec with >95% purity, and 45,000 cells/sec with 45% purity using a single channel in a single step. We have also demonstrated 3D focusing using inertial flows in PLACS. This sheathless focusing approach requires 10 times lower initial cell concentration than that in sheath-based focusing and avoids severe sample dilution from high volume sheath flows. Inertia PLACS is capable of sorting at 10,000 particles sec-1 with >90% sort purity.
A Guide to NSF Science/Engineering Resources Data.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Directorate for Scientific, Technological and International Affairs.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Science Resources Services designs and conducts surveys related to, and supports other data collection activities dealing with, science resources. The data from these surveys and data collection efforts are used by NSF and others to analyze various research and development (R&D) funding and…
Graduate Research Fellowships: A Directory of Coordinating Officials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duby, Susan W., Comp.

This directory is intended to assist National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellows in contacting the coordinating official appointed at each institution of higher education to handle NSF Graduate Research Fellowship matters and lists all institutions who have recently had NSF fellows studying on their campuses. Officials are listed…
77 FR 4027 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-26

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25/ Germantown Building, 1000...
76 FR 8358 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-14

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25/ Germantown Building, 1000...
75 FR 57463 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-21

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25/ Germantown Building, 1000...
78 FR 69839 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-21

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy...
78 FR 14087 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel: Correction

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-04

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel: Correction AGENCY: Office of..., the Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of open meeting for the DOE/NSF High Energy Physics... FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S...
76 FR 41234 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-13

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy.../NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86... Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25/ Germantown Building, 1000...
Identification of the anti-terminator qO111:H)- gene in Norwegian sorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:NM.

PubMed

Haugum, Kjersti; Lindstedt, Bjørn-Arne; Løbersli, Inger; Kapperud, Georg; Brandal, Lin Thorstensen

2012-04-01

Sorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:NM (SF O157) is an emerging pathogen suggested to be more virulent than nonsorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H7 (NSF O157). Important virulence factors are the Shiga toxins (stx), encoded by stx1 and/or stx2 located within prophages integrated in the bacterial genome. The stx genes are expressed from p(R) (') as a late protein, and anti-terminator activity from the Q protein is necessary for read through of the late terminator t(R) (') and activation of p(R) (') . We investigated the regulation of stx2(EDL933) expression at the genomic level in 17 Norwegian SF O157. Sequencing of three selected SF O157 strains revealed that the anti-terminator q gene and genes upstream of stx2(EDL933) were identical or similar to the ones observed in the E. coli O111:H- strain AP010960, but different from the ones observed in the NSF O157 strain EDL933 (AE005174). This suggested divergent stx2(EDL933) -encoding bacteriophages between NSF O157 and the SF O157 strains (FR874039-41). Furthermore, different DNA structures were detected in the SF O157 strains, suggesting diversity among bacteriophages also within the SF O157 group. Further investigations are needed to elucidate whether the q(O111:H) (-) gene observed in all our SF O157 contributes to the increased virulence seen in SF O157 compared to NSF O157. An assay for detecting q(O111:H) (-) was developed. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effects of drinking water quality on urinary parameters in men with and without urinary tract stones.

PubMed

Mirzazadeh, Majid; Nouran, Mina Ghadimi; Richards, Kyle A; Zare, Mariam

2012-03-01

There is some controversy regarding the impact of water hardness on stone risk. Our study addresses this issue in a controlled setting. Fifteen stone-former (SF) and 14 non-stone-former (NSF) males participated in this study in 3 intervals of 2 days each. Subjects collected a 24-hour urine sample while consuming a self-selected diet. They were then administered controlled diets. During the first 2 days, patients consumed water of minimal hardness (WMH), followed by tap water (TW) with moderate hardness on days 3 and 4, and mineral water (MW) on the final 2 days. Calcium (Ca), phosphorus, uric acid, oxalate, citrate, magnesium (Mg), sodium, potassium, and creatinine (Cr) content were measured in 24-hour urine samples on days 2, 4, and 6. Differences in water hardness and analytes were statistically significant among the different water types (P < .05). Urinary output in both groups increased during intervention with all 3 varieties of water (P < .05). Specific gravity of urine decreased in both groups drinking WMH and TW (P < .05) but not with MW. Mg/g Cr level was higher in NSF at baseline (P < .01), WMH (P < .05), and TW (P < .05). With the increase in drinking water hardness, Ca/g Cr ratio increased in SF but not in NSF (P < .05). NSF had significantly higher urinary Mg/g Cr excretion rate before intervention than SF (P < .01). Increasing drinking water hardness while controlling for all other factors increased Ca/g Cr ratio in SF, rendering them at least theoretically more inclined to stone formation. Copyright Â© 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Indocyanine Green Fluorescence to Evaluate Nasoseptal Flap Viability in Endoscopic Endonasal Cranial Base Surgery.

PubMed

Kerr, Edward E; Jamshidi, Ali; Carrau, Ricardo L; Campbell, Raewyn G; Filho, Leo F Ditzel; Otto, Bradley A; Prevedello, Daniel M

2017-10-01

Objectives The pedicled nasoseptal flap (NSF) has dramatically reduced postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage following endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) surgery. Although rare, its arterial supply may be damaged during harvest or may be preoperatively damaged for numerous reasons. Early recognition permits harvesting a contralateral flap before sacrificing its pedicle as part of the surgical exposure or use of an alternative flap. Design Technical feasibility study and case series. Setting Tertiary care university-associated medical center. Participants Five patients requiring an EEA with NSF reconstruction. Main Outcome Measures During NSF harvest, intravenous indocyanine green (IVICG) was administered, and a customized endoscopic system was used to visualize the emerging fluorescence. At the end of each case, just before final positioning of the NSF, additional IVICG was administered, and the custom endoscope was again introduced to evaluate fluorescence. Results In four patients, the entire NSF fluoresced brightly with IVICG on initial harvest and before final positioning. One patient showed heterogeneous fluorescence of the pedicle and distal parts of the NSF at both stages. All NSFs healed well without complication. Conclusion IVICG facilitates real-time evaluation NSF's arterial supply. This may provide early recognition of arterial compromise, allowing the harvest of alternate flaps or modification of surgery.
Micro-optomechanical trampoline resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pepper, Brian; Kleckner, Dustin; Sonin, Petro; Jeffrey, Evan; Bouwmeester, Dirk

2011-03-01

Recently, micro-optomechanical devices have been proposed for implementation of experiments ranging from non-demolition measurements of phonon number to creation of macroscopic quantum superpositions. All have strenuous requirements on optical finesse, mechanical quality factor, and temperature. We present a set of devices composed of dielectric mirrors on Si 3 N4 trampoline resonators. We describe the fabrication process and present data on finesse and quality factor. The authors gratefully acknowledge support from NSF PHY-0804177 and Marie Curie EXT-CT-2006-042580.
Safe use of iodinated and gadolinium-based contrast media in current practice in Japan: a questionnaire survey.

PubMed

Tsushima, Yoshito; Ishiguchi, Tsuneo; Murakami, Takamichi; Hayashi, Hiromitsu; Hayakawa, Katsumi; Fukuda, Kunihiko; Korogi, Yukunori; Sugimoto, Hideharu; Takehara, Yasuo; Narumi, Yoshifumi; Arai, Yasuaki; Kuwatsuru, Ryohei; Yoshimitsu, Kengo; Awai, Kazuo; Kanematsu, Masayuki; Takagi, Ryo

2016-02-01

To help establish consensus on the safe use of contrast media in Japan. Questionnaires were sent to accredited teaching hospitals with radiology residency programs. The reply rate was 45.4% (329/724). For contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), chronic and acute kidney diseases were considered a risk factor in 96.7 and 93.6%, respectively, and dehydration in 73.9%. As preventive actions, intravenous hydration (89.1%) and reduction of iodinated contrast media dose (86.9%) were commonly performed. For nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), chronic and acute kidney diseases were considered risk factors in 98.5 and 90.6%, respectively, but use of unstable gadolinium-based contrast media was considered a risk factor in only 55.6%. A renal function test was always (63.5% in iodinated; 65.7% in gadolinium) or almost always (23.1; 19.8%) performed, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was the parameter most frequently used (80.8; 82.6%). For the patients with risk factors for acute adverse reaction (AAR), steroid premedication or/and change of contrast medium were frequent preventive actions, but intravenous steroid administration immediately before contrast media use was still performed. Our questionnaire survey revealed that preventive actions against CIN were properly performed based on patients' eGFR. Preventive actions against NSF and AAR still lacked consensus.
Impact of Applying Sex Sorted Semen on the Selection Proportion of the Sire of Dams Selection Pathway in a Nucleus Program.

PubMed

Joezy-Shekalgorabi, Sahereh

2017-11-03

In a nucleus breeding scheme, the sire of dams pathway plays an important role in producing genetic improvement. Selection proportion is the key parameter for predicting selection intensity, through truncating the normal distribution. Semen sexing using flowcytometrie reduces the number of vials of sperm that can be obtained from a proved bull. In addition, a lower fertility of this kind of sperm is expected because of the lower sperm dosage in sex sorted semen. Both of these factors could affect the selection proportion in the sire of dams pathway (pSD). In the current study, through a deterministic simulation, effect of utilizing sex sorted semen on selection (pSD) was investigated in three different strategies including 1: continuous use of sex sorted semen in heifers (CS), 2: the use of sex sorted semen for the first two (S2) and 3: the first (S1) inseminations followed by conventional semen. Results indicated that the use of sex sorted semen has a negative impact on the sire of dams (SD) pathway due to increase in selection proportion. Consequently selection intensity was decreased by 10.24 to 20.57, 6.38 to 8.87 and 3.76 to 6.25 percent in the CS, S2 and S1 strategies, respectively. Considering the low effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in dam pathways, it is necessary to consider the joint effect of using sex sorted semen on the sire and dams pathway to estimate about the real effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in a nucleus breeding scheme.
Urban adolescent high-risk sexual behavior: corroboration of focus group discussions through pile-sorting. The AIDS Youth Research Team.

PubMed

Stanton, B F; Aronson, R; Borgatti, S; Galbraith, J; Feigelman, S

1993-01-01

Risk activities for acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain prevalent among urban adolescents. While interdisciplinary approaches to examine the variables contributing to risk/protective behaviors have been promoted, strategies for such explorations require further formulation. Recently we employed focus group discussions to explore factors placing urban adolescents at risk for engaging in HIV risk behaviors. The focus group format enables substantial interaction on a topic in a limited time period, but does not always provide expression of the full range of behavioral options. In this study we investigated the use of pile-sorts for confirmation of impressions from focus group discussions among 57 urban youths aged 10-14. The pile-sorts revealed some support for most of the views expressed in the group discussions. However, the sorts revealed more variability in views than was expressed in the group discussions. Substantial gender and age-based differences in perceptions were revealed with potentially important intervention implications.
Similarities and differences in mothers' and observers' ratings of infant security on the Attachment Q-Sort.

PubMed

Tarabulsy, George M; Provost, Marc A; Larose, Simon; Moss, Ellen; Lemelin, Jean-Pascal; Moran, Greg; Forbes, Lindsey; Pederson, David R

2008-01-01

This study examined the similarities and differences in maternal and observer Attachment Behavior Q-Sort ratings (AQS; Waters, 1995) and their relations to dimensions of the developmental ecology - maternal sensitivity, infant irritability, parental stress and psychosocial risk. Data was gathered from low risk (adult mothers; N=44) and high risk mother-infant dyads (adolescent mothers; N=83) when infants were aged 6, 10 and 15 months old, attachment being assessed at 15 months by both mothers and independent observers. A common factor was extracted from both sorts and served to operationalize the similarities between mother and observer ratings. Regressions were conducted to extract maternal and observer AQS scores that were unrelated to each other to represent the difference between the two sorts. Correlation analyses indicated that the common AQS factor was moderately linked to maternal sensitivity and parental stress, and showed a weak association to psychosocial risk and infant irritability. Residual maternal scores showed greater correlations with infant irritability and parental stress than did observer residual scores. Observer scores showed a greater correlation with psychosocial risk than maternal scores. Results suggest that common AQS variance presents a pattern of associations with ecological variables that is coherent with attachment research. Variance related to irritability, stress and risk appear to drive the differences between maternal and observer observations.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO TMDLS-PART 2

EPA Science Inventory

This study will to sort out the natural factors that tend to be associated with different assemblages of fishes in shallow streams in West Virginia. These environmental factors include seasonal stream temperature, site elevation, stream gradient, quantity of water, and geology. ...
45 CFR 650.14 - Request for conveyance of title to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Request for conveyance of title to NSF. 650.14 Section 650.14 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PATENTS § 650.14 Request for conveyance of title to NSF. (a) The procedures established by this...
45 CFR 650.14 - Request for conveyance of title to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Request for conveyance of title to NSF. 650.14 Section 650.14 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PATENTS § 650.14 Request for conveyance of title to NSF. (a) The procedures established by this...
45 CFR 650.14 - Request for conveyance of title to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Request for conveyance of title to NSF. 650.14 Section 650.14 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PATENTS § 650.14 Request for conveyance of title to NSF. (a) The procedures established by this...
Perhaps the NSF Is a Model, but Perhaps Not ... .

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glidden, Robert

1990-01-01

Responds to Charles Fowler's article, "Arts Education and the NEA: Does the National Science Foundation Point the Way?" Recommends that the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) work together to promote intellectual values in schooling. Suggests that the NEA follow the NSF in its commitment to…
Knapp confirmed as NSF Director

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edward A. Knapp was confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on April 15 as the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Senate vote followed a confirmation hearing by the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. Knapp, who was nominated by President Reagan to head the foundation in November, had been assistant director for NSF's mathematical and physical sciences (MPS) directorate since July 1982.Allegations that he has been politicizing NSF have beleaguered Knapp since he asked for resignations or firm commitments to leave from three NSF top administrators in December (two of these administrators had been planning to leave, though no resignation dates had been set). Knapp assured the Senate committee during the April 13 confirmation hearings that he made the decision to ask for the resignations and that, although he had discussed his plan with Office of Science and Technology Policy officials, they did not request that certain people be removed in exchange for particular increases in the NSF budget. Knapp consistently has defended himself against the allegations by saying that he wants his own team at the agency.
'An exploration of the health beliefs of Chinese nurses' and nurse academics' health beliefs: A Q-methodology study'.

PubMed

Cai, Dan; Stone, Teresa E; Petrini, Marcia A; McMillan, Margaret

2016-03-01

Q-methodology was used to investigate the health beliefs of Chinese clinical nurses and nurse academics. Twenty-eight participants from one hospital and nursing school in China were involved. The four stages of this study included: (i) concourse development from literature review, Internet searches, and key informant interviews; (ii) A pilot study to develop the Q-sample from the concourse; (iii) participants sorted the Q-sample statements along a continuum of preference (Q-sorting); and (iv) PQ data analysis using principal component analysis and varimax rotation. Five viewpoints were revealed: (i) factor 1--health management and the importance of evidence; (ii) factor 2--challenging local cultural belief, and Eastern and Western influences; (iii) factor 3--commonsense; (iv) factor 4--health and clinical practice; and (v) factor 5--health and nursing education. This study presents a need for nurses and nurse academics to think critically, examine their long-held health beliefs, and promote the use of evidence-based practice. © 2016 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
Different Effects of NSF and PCE Superplasticizer on Adsorption, Dynamic Yield Stress and Thixotropy of Cement Pastes

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

This study compares the differences and similarities of two types of superplasticizers—NSF (Naphthalene Sulfonate Formaldehyde) and PCE (PolyCarboxylate Ester)—in fresh cement paste systems, in terms of adsorption, dynamic yield stress, and thixotropic index. Results show that with either NSF or PCE addition, the more superplasticizer is added, the more it is adsorbed and the more it remains in the interstitial pore solution. The dynamic yield stress and thixotropic index also decrease with increasing addition the amount of either superplasticizer. However, NSF is less efficient in decreasing the dynamic yield stress than PCE. More importantly, the decreasing patterns of dynamic yield stress and thixotropic index are different with NSF and PCE additions; this is tied to the adsorption and dispersing mechanisms of these two types of superplasticizers. PMID:29710782
Foot Kinematics Differ Between Runners With and Without a History of Navicular Stress Fractures

PubMed Central

Becker, James; James, Stanley; Osternig, Louis; Chou, Li-Shan

2018-01-01

Background: A navicular stress fracture (NSF) is a common and high-risk injury in distance runners. It is not clear whether there are differences in foot structure and function between runners who have and those who have not sustained an NSF. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study compared foot structure, range of motion, and biomechanics between runners with a history of unilateral NSFs and runners who had never sustained this injury. The hypothesis was that runners with a history of NSFs will have less dorsiflexion and subtalar range of motion in a clinical examination and greater rearfoot eversion and higher eversion velocity while running than either the noninvolved feet or healthy controls. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Seven runners who sustained an NSF were matched with 7 controls without this injury history. Participants underwent a clinical orthopaedic examination, followed by a 3-dimensional running gait analysis. Clinical examination variables, foot kinematics, and ground-reaction forces were compared between injured and noninjured feet within the NSF group and between the NSF group and control group. Results: The NSF group demonstrated less plantar flexion on the clinical examination than the control group (P = .034, effect size [ES] = 0.69). The involved feet of the NSF group demonstrated greater rearfoot eversion excursion, greater eversion velocity, and reduced forefoot abduction excursion than either the noninvolved feet of the NSF group (P = .015, ES = 1.73; P = .015, ES = 1.86; and P = .015, ES = 0.96, respectively) or the control group (P = .012, ES = 1.40; P = .016, ES = 0.49; and P = .005, ES = 1.60, respectively). Conclusion: There are differences in foot kinematics but not ground-reaction forces, foot structure, or passive range of motion between runners who have and those who have not sustained an NSF. Runners who demonstrate increased rearfoot eversion and reduced forefoot abduction during stance may be more at risk for developing NSFs. PMID:29780837
NSF Director to resign

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richman, Barbara T.

Edward A. Knapp, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) since late 1982, will resign his post later this year to return to research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. President Ronald Reagan has announced his intention to nominate Erich Bloch, vice president for technical personnel development at the IBM Corp., as Knapp's successor.Following formal nomination by President Reagan, the Senate must confirm Bloch as NSF director. If Bloch is confirmed, he is likely to bring to NSF the greater emphasis on engineering that the agency has sought in response to requests from Congress and the engineering community during the last year.
MEMS Terahertz Focal Plane Array With Optical Readout

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

heat sink via a thermal insulator (pure SiO2 ) and two bi-material legs formed by Al and SiO2 as shown in Figure 12. 13 Figure 12. THz...The primary doublet lens is made of two different pieces of glass (E- BAF11 and N-SF11) which are cemented together. The respective indices of...BAF11 glass 1.6725 n2 (N-SF11) Index of refraction of N-SF11 glass 1.7975 t1 (E-BAF11) Thickness of E-BAF11 glass 20 mm t2 (N-SF11) Thickness of N
Care for a break? An investigation of informal caregivers' attitudes toward respite care using Q-methodology.

PubMed

van Exel, Job; de Graaf, Gjalt; Brouwer, Werner

2007-10-01

To investigate informal caregivers' attitudes toward respite care. Interviews with informal caregivers during open-house support groups (three) for informal caregivers, conducted late 2004 at Informal Care Support Centres in the city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A Q-methodological study was conducted. Informal caregivers were asked to rank-order 39 statements regarding motivation for providing informal care; supporting capacity; physical, psychological, practical, financial, relational and social obstacles; subjective burden; need for support; experienced support; and propensity and impediments to make use of respite care. In addition, respondents explained their Q-sort in writing and completed a questionnaire regarding characteristics of the caregiver, the care recipient, and the objective and subjective burden of their care giving situation. Individual Q-sorts were analysed using PQMethod 2.11 (statistical method factor analysis with a varimax rotation). Objective of Q-analysis was to reveal a limited number of corresponding ways the statements were sorted. For the factors identified, composite sorts were determined. Factors were interpreted and described using the composite sorts, differences and similarities in rank value of statements between factors and the explanations by respondents. We found three distinct groups of caregivers: informal caregivers who need and ask for respite care, those who need but won't ask for respite care, and those that do not need respite care. Caregivers in the first two groups experience substantial burden, while those in the third group enjoy sufficient support and appear to manage pretty well. Caregivers in the second and third group derive considerable satisfaction from care giving. On balance, caregivers in the first two groups would sometimes rather have someone else take over their task. The first group feels misunderstood and undervalued by health and welfare organisations and has problems obtaining respite. The desire for respite of caregivers in the second group is not unambiguous, affected by care recipient resistance against respite. Respite care programmes should target caregivers in the first two groups. Regarding the second group, effort should be directed to both caregiver and care recipient. They need to be convinced that it is in their mutual interest to make the care giving task manageable in the long run, because they report serious burden from care giving coupled with a resistance to respite care.
National Science Foundation Fiscal Year 1986 Awards (by State and NSF Directorate).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.

Provided is a listing of National Science Foundation (NSF) program grants and contracts awarded in Fiscal Year 1986. Data, current as of Feburary 13, 1987, are arranged as follows: (1) by state, with totals for each state (foreign countries are alphabetized with states); (2) by NSF Directorate, with award and dollar totals for each NSF…
45 CFR 674.6 - Submission of information to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Submission of information to NSF. 674.6 Section 674.6 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ANTARCTIC METEORITES § 674.6 Submission of information to NSF. A copy of the written procedures developed by expedition organizers pursuant to § 674.5(...
45 CFR 674.6 - Submission of information to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Submission of information to NSF. 674.6 Section 674.6 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ANTARCTIC METEORITES § 674.6 Submission of information to NSF. A copy of the written procedures developed by expedition organizers pursuant to § 674.5(...
45 CFR 674.6 - Submission of information to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Submission of information to NSF. 674.6 Section 674.6 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ANTARCTIC METEORITES § 674.6 Submission of information to NSF. A copy of the written procedures developed by expedition organizers pursuant to § 674.5(...
45 CFR 607.9 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Refunds. 607.9 Section 607.9 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.9 Refunds. (a) NSF will promptly refund to an employee any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to NSF when the debt is waived, found not owed to NSF, or...
45 CFR 674.6 - Submission of information to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Submission of information to NSF. 674.6 Section 674.6 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ANTARCTIC METEORITES § 674.6 Submission of information to NSF. A copy of the written procedures developed by expedition organizers pursuant to § 674.5(...
Report on the Partnership for Excellence in Teacher Education: An NSF Funded Project (NSF DUE-9343612).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blake, Sally; Tchoshanov, Mourat; Della-Piana, Connie Kubo; Pacheco, Arturo; Brady, Tom

2001-01-01

Reports on the Partnership for Excellence in Teacher Education (PETE), an NSF-funded project to promote reform in mathematics and science teacher preparation that features the redesign of teacher preparation to reflect current research on learning and teaching. Concludes that new tools of technology have the potential for enhancing education but…
Advancing Evaluation of STEM Efforts through Attention to Diversity and Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mertens, Donna M.; Hopson, Rodney K.

2006-01-01

In 1980, the U.S. Congress charged the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a mission to lead development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for all of its citizens. Joseph Bordogna, deputy director of NSF, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to the mission when he stated that NSF needs to broaden participation in the…

76 FR 4659 - Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public Teleconference of the Science...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-26

...://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/ sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr--activities/ FL%20Estuaries%20TSD?OpenDocument'' should read ``http:// yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr--activites/ FL%20Estuaries%20TSD?OpenDocument.'' 2.../sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr--activities/ FL%20Estuaries%20TSD?OpenDocument'' should read ``http:// yosemite.epa...
45 CFR 681.6 - When may NSF issue a complaint?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... may NSF issue a complaint? NSF may issue a complaint: (a) If the Attorney General (or designee) approves the referral of the allegations for adjudication; and (b) In a case of submission of false claims, if the amount of money or the value of property or services demanded or requested in a false claim...
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2014

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-19

microbial contamination.29 In FY2012, four agencies—NSF, NIH, NASA , and USDA —issued a joint solicitation to provide research funding for next...Table 10. NSF Funding by Major Account .................................................................................... 38 Table 11. NASA R&D...National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ), 8.1%; National Science Foundation (NSF), 4.3%; Department of Commerce (DOC), 1.9%; and
Retaining undergrads, and preparing grads for academic jobs: the PFPF program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, Gay

2001-04-01

When we embarked upon an NSF supported curriculum development project, it became clear that the greatest need for educational reform to be sustained was for future faculty to be prepared to be as professional about roles as educators as roles as researchers. A new faculty member may find themselves preparing to teach a class for the first time, with little guidance. Complaints employers have about those hired for research positions involve interpersonal skills. More researchers are being called upon to do outreach. Teaching and outreach activities develop these skills. We are adding these kinds of activities to the graduate program, with the same sort of mentoring that accompanies the development of research skills, without extending the time to degree. Also, a new MA for those that find themselves unmotivated by research, but still loving physics, provides a route straight into teaching at very low resource cost. These interests helped us become one of four pilot sites for the Preparing Future Physics Faculty program. The early results of our efforts will be presented: increased undergraduate enrollment and satisfaction with the departmental climate, recognition from the university administration for doing a superior job in student preparation, and graduate students more comfortable in the classroom.
Retaining undergrads, and preparing grads for academic jobs: the PFPF program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, Gay

2001-03-01

When we embarked upon an NSF supported curriculum development project, it became clear that the greatest need for educational reform to be sustained was for future faculty to be prepared to be as professional about roles as educators as roles as researchers. A new faculty member may find themselves preparing to teach a class for the first time, with little guidance. Complaints employers have about those hired for research positions involve interpersonal skills. More researchers are being called upon to do outreach. Teaching and outreach activities develop these skills. We are adding these kinds of activities to the graduate program, with the same sort of mentoring that accompanies the development of research skills, without extending the time to degree. Also, a new MA for those that find themselves unmotivated by research, but still loving physics, provides a route straight into teaching at very low resource cost. These interests helped us become one of four pilot sites for the Preparing Future Physics Faculty program. The early results of our efforts will be presented: increased undergraduate enrollment and satisfaction with the departmental climate, recognition from the university administration for doing a superior job in student preparation, and graduate students more comfortable in the classroom.
That is Cool: the Nature Of Aesthetics in Fluid Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hertzberg, Jean

2013-11-01

Aesthetics has historically been defined as the study of beauty and thus as a metric of art. More recently, psychologists are using the term to describe a spectrum of responses from ``I hate it'' to ``I love it.'' In the context of fluid physics, what is beautiful? What elicits a ``Wow! Awesome! Cool!'' response versus a snore? Can we use aesthetics to deepen or change students' or the public's perceptions of physics and/or the world around them? For example, students seem to appreciate the aesthetics of destruction: environmental fluid dynamics such as storms, tornadoes, floods and wildfires are often responsible for massive destruction, yet humans draw pleasure from watching such physics and the attendant destruction from a safe distance. Can this voyeurism be turned to our advantage in communicating science? Observations of student and Facebook Flow Visualization group choices for fluid physics that draw a positive aesthetic response are sorted into empirical categories; the aesthetics of beauty, power, destruction, and oddness. Each aesthetic will be illustrated with examples drawn from flow visualizations from both the Flow Visualization course (MCEN 4151) taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and sources on the web. This work is supported by NSF: EEC 1240294.
Inertial migration of elastic particles in a pressure-driven power-law fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowie, Samuel; Alexeev, Alexander

2016-11-01

Using three-dimensional computer simulations, we study the cross-stream migration of deformable particles in a channel filled with a non-Newtonian fluid driven by a pressure gradient. Our numerical approach integrates lattice Boltzmann method and lattice spring method in order to model fluid structural interactions of the elastic particle and the surrounding power fluid in the channel. The particles are modeled as elastic shells filled with a viscous fluid that are initially spherical. We focus on the regimes where the inertial effects cannot be neglected and cause cross-stream drift of particles. We probe the flow with different power law indexes including both the shear thickening and thinning fluids. We also examine migration of particles of with different elasticity and relative size. To isolate the non-Newtonian effects on particle migration, we compare the results with the inertial migration results found in the case where the channel is filled with a simple Newtonian fluid. The results can be useful for applications requiring high throughput separation, sorting, and focusing of both synthetic particles and biological cells in microfluidic devices. Financial support provided by National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant No. CMMI1538161.
Cellular Particle Dynamics simulation of biomechanical relaxation processes of multi-cellular systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCune, Matthew; Kosztin, Ioan

2013-03-01

Cellular Particle Dynamics (CPD) is a theoretical-computational-experimental framework for describing and predicting the time evolution of biomechanical relaxation processes of multi-cellular systems, such as fusion, sorting and compression. In CPD, cells are modeled as an ensemble of cellular particles (CPs) that interact via short range contact interactions, characterized by an attractive (adhesive interaction) and a repulsive (excluded volume interaction) component. The time evolution of the spatial conformation of the multicellular system is determined by following the trajectories of all CPs through numerical integration of their equations of motion. Here we present CPD simulation results for the fusion of both spherical and cylindrical multi-cellular aggregates. First, we calibrate the relevant CPD model parameters for a given cell type by comparing the CPD simulation results for the fusion of two spherical aggregates to the corresponding experimental results. Next, CPD simulations are used to predict the time evolution of the fusion of cylindrical aggregates. The latter is relevant for the formation of tubular multi-cellular structures (i.e., primitive blood vessels) created by the novel bioprinting technology. Work supported by NSF [PHY-0957914]. Computer time provided by the University of Missouri Bioinformatics Consortium.
Number of women faculty in the geosciences increasing, but slowly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolfe, Cecily J.

Why are there so few women faculty in the geosciences, while there are large numbers of women undergraduate and graduate students? According to National Science Foundation (NSF) estimates [e.g.,NSF, 1996] for 1995 in the Earth, atmospheric, and oceanic sciences, women made up 34% of the bachelor's degrees awarded, 35% of the graduate students enrolled, and 22% of the doctorates granted. Yet progress has been slower in achieving adequate representation of women geoscientists in academia, where women represent only 12% of the faculty. The barriers confronting the advancement of women scientists are complex and difficult to unravel. Proposed factors include cultural stereotypes, childhood socialization, lack of women mentors and role models, lack of critical mass, family responsibilities, dual-career-couple status, isolation from collegial networks, different research and publishing strategy, and less adequate access to institutional resources [c.f., Widnall, 1988; Zuckerman et al., 1991].
Attitudes towards establishing a daily supervised school-based toothbrushing programme--determined by Q-sort methodology.

PubMed

Trubey, R J; Chestnutt, I G

2013-03-01

This study used Q-sort methodology to determine the views of staff involved in a national school-based daily toothbrushing programme. Q-methodology is a mixed-method approach in which participants are asked to sort a collection of statements according to degree of agreement with them. Factor analysis identified subgroups of like-minded participants and revealed areas of consensus and disagreement. 24 Community Dental Service staff managing or delivering the toothbrushing programme were asked to rank 49 statements derived from previous qualitative interviews. Varimax rotation produced a three-factor solution with five/six participants loading significantly into each group. Groups divided largely according to staff role: Factor 1, mainly support workers (assistants with no oral-health background); Factor 2, managers; and factor 3, oral health educators (dental nurses with teaching qualifications). As staff new to the area of oral-health, the views of support workers were of particular interest. Unlike others, this group saw Designed to Smile as a unique health promotion scheme and wanted to involve as many children as possible, regardless of oral-disease risk. Managers' perceptions of issues affecting the establishment of the programme differed from those staff in day-to-day contact with the 515 schools in which the toothbrushing took place. This study used a long established but little used technique to ascertain the commonality of views of staff These data may be of value not only in managing the current programme, but for anyone who may be considering developing such a toothbrushing scheme.
Connecting NSF funding to patent innovation in nanotechnology (2001-2004)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zan; Chen, Hsinchun; Li, Xin; Roco, Mihail C.

2006-12-01

Nanotechnology research has experienced growth rapid in knowledge and innovations; it also attracted significant public funding in recent years. Several countries have recognized nanotechnology as a critical research domain that promises to revolutionize a wide range of fields of applications. In this paper, we present an analysis of the funding for nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its implications on technological innovation (number of patents) in this field from 2001 to 2004. Using a combination of basic bibliometric analysis and content visualization tools, we identify growth trends, research topic distribution, and the evolution in NSF funding and commercial patenting activities recorded at the United States Patent Office (USPTO). The patent citations are used to compare the impact of the NSF-funded research on nanotechnology development with research supported by other sources in the United States and abroad. The analysis shows that the NSF-funded researchers and patents authored by them have significantly higher impact based on patent citation measures in the four-year period than other comparison groups. The NSF-authored patent impact is growing faster with the lifetime of a patent, indicating the long-term importance of fundamental research.
Maternity staff perspectives regarding resource demands of breastfeeding supportive practices in accordance with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative accreditation: a Q methodology approach.

PubMed

Huang, Chiu-Mieh; Hung, Wei-Shu; Lai, Jung-Nien; Kao, Yu-Hsiu; Wang, Ching-Ling; Guo, Jong-Long

2016-06-01

To explore the resource demands of implementing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative among maternity staff. Implementing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is the most recognized global strategy for ensuring that hospital routines support breastfeeding. The maternity services of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative accredited hospitals are evaluated according to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Q methodology was applied to investigate the perspectives of 60 maternity staff in Northern Taiwan. Data were collected from May - December 2014. An online Q-sort platform was designed for the participants to perform sorting. The Q-sorts were subjected to factor analysis by using PQ Method software. Factors were extracted using principal component analysis with a varimax rotation. A combination of eigenvalues and a scree plot were employed to determine the number of retained factors. Four factors retained in the final model accounted for 56% of the total variance: (1) emphasis on implementing an institutional policy; (2) emphasis on providing supportive practices for breastfeeding mothers; (3) emphasis on establishing continual breastfeeding support; and (4) emphasis on managing breastfeeding supportive practices concerning a designated time period. The participants that were associated with Factors 1 and 3 emphasized the necessity of allocating resources to Steps 1, 2 and 10 of the Ten Steps. The participants associated with Factors 2 and 4 emphasized allocating resources to Steps 2-5 and 7. This study revealed the various perspectives of maternity staff regarding the resource demands of implementing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. These perspectives may serve as a reference for decision-makers in prioritizing resource allocation. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A Q-methodological study of smoking identities.

PubMed

Farrimond, Hannah; Joffe, Helene; Stenner, Paul

2010-10-01

In contrast to the psychological literature on adolescent smoking, little research has investigated the social identities of adult smokers. This study aimed to identify shared 'smoking identities' amongst a sample of 64 British smokers from different socio-economic groups using Q-methodology. Participants were asked to sort 70 items concerning smoking and smokers according to their agreement/disagreement with them. The 64 Q-sorts were then subjected to a by-person factor analysis yielding six factors, with the first four interpretable factors being presented here. Each factor is understood to represent a distinct 'identity position'. The first two, the 'addicted' smoker, and the 'in control' smoker, oriented around a biomedical model of smoking as an addictive health risk. The final two, the 'no big deal' smoker and the 'proud' smoker reflected alternative understandings and values. The identity positions also differed in the extent to which smoking was considered a core part of self-identity. Unpacking the 'smoking identities' of current smokers offers the opportunity to devise targeted health promotion.
Bicaudal-D1 regulates the intracellular sorting and signalling of neurotrophin receptors

PubMed Central

Terenzio, Marco; Golding, Matthew; Russell, Matthew R G; Wicher, Krzysztof B; Rosewell, Ian; Spencer-Dene, Bradley; Ish-Horowicz, David; Schiavo, Giampietro

2014-01-01

We have identified a new function for the dynein adaptor Bicaudal D homolog 1 (BICD1) by screening a siRNA library for genes affecting the dynamics of neurotrophin receptor-containing endosomes in motor neurons (MNs). Depleting BICD1 increased the intracellular accumulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-activated TrkB and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) by disrupting the endosomal sorting, reducing lysosomal degradation and increasing the co-localisation of these neurotrophin receptors with retromer-associated sorting nexin 1. The resulting re-routing of active receptors increased their recycling to the plasma membrane and altered the repertoire of signalling-competent TrkB isoforms and p75NTR available for ligand binding on the neuronal surface. This resulted in attenuated, but more sustained, AKT activation in response to BDNF stimulation. These data, together with our observation that Bicd1 expression is restricted to the developing nervous system when neurotrophin receptor expression peaks, indicate that BICD1 regulates neurotrophin signalling by modulating the endosomal sorting of internalised ligand-activated receptors. PMID:24920579
Bicaudal-D1 regulates the intracellular sorting and signalling of neurotrophin receptors.

PubMed

Terenzio, Marco; Golding, Matthew; Russell, Matthew R G; Wicher, Krzysztof B; Rosewell, Ian; Spencer-Dene, Bradley; Ish-Horowicz, David; Schiavo, Giampietro

2014-07-17

We have identified a new function for the dynein adaptor Bicaudal D homolog 1 (BICD1) by screening a siRNA library for genes affecting the dynamics of neurotrophin receptor-containing endosomes in motor neurons (MNs). Depleting BICD1 increased the intracellular accumulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-activated TrkB and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) by disrupting the endosomal sorting, reducing lysosomal degradation and increasing the co-localisation of these neurotrophin receptors with retromer-associated sorting nexin 1. The resulting re-routing of active receptors increased their recycling to the plasma membrane and altered the repertoire of signalling-competent TrkB isoforms and p75(NTR) available for ligand binding on the neuronal surface. This resulted in attenuated, but more sustained, AKT activation in response to BDNF stimulation. These data, together with our observation that Bicd1 expression is restricted to the developing nervous system when neurotrophin receptor expression peaks, indicate that BICD1 regulates neurotrophin signalling by modulating the endosomal sorting of internalised ligand-activated receptors. © 2014 The Authors.
From the NSF: The National Science Foundation's Investments in Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education through Research and Capacity Building

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

James, Sylvia M.; Singer, Susan R.

2016-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a long history of investment in broadening participation (BP) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A review of past NSF BP efforts provides insights into how the portfolio of programs and activities has evolved and the broad array of innovative strategies that has been…
Weighted sum of gray gases model optimization for numerical investigations of processes inside pulverized coal-fired furnaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crnomarkovic, Nenad; Belosevic, Srdjan; Tomanovic, Ivan; Milicevic, Aleksandar

2017-12-01

The effects of the number of significant figures (NSF) in the interpolation polynomial coefficients (IPCs) of the weighted sum of gray gases model (WSGM) on results of numerical investigations and WSGM optimization were investigated. The investigation was conducted using numerical simulations of the processes inside a pulverized coal-fired furnace. The radiative properties of the gas phase were determined using the simple gray gas model (SG), two-term WSGM (W2), and three-term WSGM (W3). Ten sets of the IPCs with the same NSF were formed for every weighting coefficient in both W2 and W3. The average and maximal relative difference values of the flame temperatures, wall temperatures, and wall heat fluxes were determined. The investigation showed that the results of numerical investigations were affected by the NSF unless it exceeded certain value. The increase in the NSF did not necessarily lead to WSGM optimization. The combination of the NSF (CNSF) was the necessary requirement for WSGM optimization.
Wakimoto discusses role as NSF's incoming assistant director of geosciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-12-01

Roger Wakimoto's adrenaline “is starting to pump,” the incoming assistant director for geosciences (GEO) at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) told Eos during an exclusive interview at this month's AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco. Wakimoto, whose scientific expertise is in extreme weather, is scheduled to take charge as head of the NSF directorate for geosciences starting in February 2013. During his 4-year appointment at NSF, Wakimoto, 59 and an avowed workaholic, will head up the GEO directorate, which has about an $880 million annual funding portfolio and provides about 55% of federal funding for geosciences basic research at U.S. academic institutions. The directorate currently includes the divisions of atmospheric and geospace sciences, Earth sciences, and ocean sciences. In addition, NSF's Office of Polar Programs is slated to become a GEO division under a realignment plan announced on 7 September; Wakimoto said that shift had “no bearing” on his decision to accept the position.
Expanding Science Teacher Preparation: the Role of External Funding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindberg, John M.; Vokos, S.; Seeley, L.; Close, E.

2006-12-01

The Department of Physics and the School of Education at Seattle Pacific University are in the early stages of expanding the scope and reach of our science teacher preparation. We will describe how we are putting the puzzle together and our results to date. * Supported in part by NSF grant #ESI-0455796, NSF grant # DUE-0630460, NSF grant DUE-0310583, The Boeing Corporation, PhysTec and the SPU Science Initiative.
LRRK2 phosphorylates pre-synaptic N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion (NSF) protein enhancing its ATPase activity and SNARE complex disassembling rate.

PubMed

Belluzzi, Elisa; Gonnelli, Adriano; Cirnaru, Maria-Daniela; Marte, Antonella; Plotegher, Nicoletta; Russo, Isabella; Civiero, Laura; Cogo, Susanna; Carrion, Maria Perèz; Franchin, Cinzia; Arrigoni, Giorgio; Beltramini, Mariano; Bubacco, Luigi; Onofri, Franco; Piccoli, Giovanni; Greggio, Elisa

2016-01-13

Lrrk2, a gene linked to Parkinson's disease, encodes a large scaffolding protein with kinase and GTPase activities implicated in vesicle and cytoskeletal-related processes. At the presynaptic site, LRRK2 associates with synaptic vesicles through interaction with a panel of presynaptic proteins. Here, we show that LRRK2 kinase activity influences the dynamics of synaptic vesicle fusion. We therefore investigated whether LRRK2 phosphorylates component(s) of the exo/endocytosis machinery. We have previously observed that LRRK2 interacts with NSF, a hexameric AAA+ ATPase that couples ATP hydrolysis to the disassembling of SNARE proteins allowing them to enter another fusion cycle during synaptic exocytosis. Here, we demonstrate that NSF is a substrate of LRRK2 kinase activity. LRRK2 phosphorylates full-length NSF at threonine 645 in the ATP binding pocket of D2 domain. Functionally, NSF phosphorylated by LRRK2 displays enhanced ATPase activity and increased rate of SNARE complex disassembling. Substitution of threonine 645 with alanine abrogates LRRK2-mediated increased ATPase activity. Given that the most common Parkinson's disease LRRK2 G2019S mutation displays increased kinase activity, our results suggest that mutant LRRK2 may impair synaptic vesicle dynamics via aberrant phosphorylation of NSF.

A sorting system with automated gates permits individual operant experiments with mice from a social home cage.

PubMed

Winter, York; Schaefers, Andrea T U

2011-03-30

Behavioral experiments based on operant procedures can be time-consuming for small amounts of data. While individual testing and handling of animals can influence attention, emotion, and behavior, and interfere with experimental outcome, many operant protocols require individual testing. We developed an RFID-technology- and transponder-based sorting system that allows removing the human factor for longer-term experiments. Identity detectors and automated gates route mice individually from their social home cage to an adjacent operant compartment with 24/7 operation. CD1-mice learnt quickly to individually pass through the sorting system. At no time did more than a single mouse enter the operant compartment. After 3 days of adjusting to the sorting system, groups of 4 mice completed about 50 experimental trials per day in the operant compartment without experimenter intervention. The automated sorting system eliminates handling, isolation, and disturbance of the animals, eliminates experimenter-induced variability, saves experimenter time, and is financially economical. It makes possible a new approach for high-throughput experimentation, and is a viable tool for increasing quality and efficiency of many behavioral and neurobiological investigations. It can connect a social home cage, through individual sorting automation, to diverse setups including classical operant chambers, mazes, or arenas with video-based behavior classification. Such highly automated systems will permit efficient high-throughput screening even for transgenic animals with only subtle neurological or psychiatric symptoms where elaborate or longer-term protocols are required for behavioral diagnosis. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Stabilization of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in contaminated rice paddy soil using starfish: A preliminary study.

PubMed

Moon, Deok Hyun; Hwang, Inseong; Koutsospyros, Agamemnon; Cheong, Kyung Hoon; Ok, Yong Sik; Ji, Won Hyun; Park, Jeong-Hun

2018-05-01

Lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contaminated rice paddy soil was stabilized using natural (NSF) and calcined starfish (CSF). Contaminated soil was treated with NSF in the range of 0-10 wt% and CSF in the range of 0-5 wt% and cured for 28 days. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test was used to evaluate effectiveness of starfish treatment. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses were conducted to investigate the mechanism responsible for effective immobilization of Pb and Zn. Experimental results suggest that NSF and CSF treatments effectively immobilize Pb and Zn in treated rice paddy soil. TCLP levels for Pb and Zn were reduced with increasing NSF and CSF dosage. Comparison of the two treatment methods reveals that CSF treatment is more effective than NSF treatment. Leachability of the two metals is reduced approximately 58% for Pb and 51% for Zn, upon 10 wt% NSF treatment. More pronounced leachability reductions, 93% for Pb and 76% for Zn, are achieved upon treatment with 5 wt% CSF. Sequential extraction results reveal that NSF and CSF treatments of contaminated soil generated decrease in exchangeable/weak acid Pb and Zn soluble fractions, and increase of residual Pb and Zn fractions. Results for the SEM-EDX sample treated with 5 wt% CSF indicate that effective Pb and Zn immobilization is most probably associated with calcium silicate hydrates (CSHs) and calcium aluminum hydrates (CAHs). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Evolving Evaluation Process for NSF Broader Impacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Straub, J. A.; Lawrence, J. E.

2016-12-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports basic research in all non-medical fields of fundamental science that benefit society. To pursue this goal, NSF uses two merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. As defined by NSF, intellectual merit "encompasses the potential to advance knowledge," while broader impacts "encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes." Articulating compelling broader impacts is increasingly critical as limited available funding means that both sets of criteria will impact the final proposal outcome. Although societal relevance has been valued by NSF since the foundation was established, recent events have placed increased emphasis on its importance: the America COMPETES Act encouraged increased efforts across agencies in educating the future STEM workforce (2007); NSF prioritized broader STEM participation (2008); the Obama administration issued a memo on transparency and open government (2009); and the National Science Board revised the NSF merit review criteria to emphasize that the same five elements should be considered for both merit review criteria (2012). Principal Investigators, reviewers (including panelists), and Program Officers are being asked to justify how the broader impacts contribute significantly to the project. As broader impacts become increasingly emphasized in the merit review process, it is important to understand not only how Principal Investigators are responding, but how reviewers are evaluating this aspect of proposals. To examine how reviewers are responding to this change in NSF's evaluation policy, an assessment of broader impacts in the Division of Earth Sciences is being conducted. The data were analyzed to see how reviewers have shifted their feedback in the last ten years. Data so far suggest that policy changes to the Grant Proposal Guide in 2012 have caused a notable shift to reviewers being more evaluative of broader impacts, rather than descriptive, in their review of proposals in the core research programs.
Scientific Applications of two U.S. Antarctic Program Projects at NSIDC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scharfen, G. R.; Bauer, R. J.

2001-12-01

The National Snow and Ice Data Center maintains two Antarctic science data management programs supporting both the efforts of Principal Investigators (PIs), and the science that is funded by the NSF Office of Polar Programs. These programs directly relate to the OPP "Guidelines and Award Conditions for Scientific Data", which identify the conditions for awards and responsibilities of PIs regarding the archival of data, and submission of metadata, resulting from their NSF OPP grants. The U.S. Antarctic Data Coordination Center (USADCC) is funded by NSF to assist PIs as they meet these requirements, and to provide a U.S. focal point for the Antarctic Master Directory, a web-based searchable directory of Antarctic scientific data. The USADCC offers access to free, easy-to-use online tools that PIs can use to create the data descriptions that the NSF policy data requires. We provide advice to PIs on how to meet the data policy requirements, and can answer specific questions on related issues. Scientists can access data set descriptions submitted to the Antarctic Master Directory, by thousands of scientists around the world, from the USADCC web pages. The USADCC website is at http://nsidc.org/NSF/USADCC/. The Antarctic Glaciological Data Center (AGDC) is funded by NSF to archive and distribute data collected by the NSF Antarctic Glaciology Program and related cryospheric investigations. The AGDC contains data sets collected by individual investigators on specific grants, and compiled products assembled from many different PI data sets, published literature, and other sources. Data sets are available electronically and include access to the data, plus useful documentation, citation information about the PI(s), locator maps, derived images and references. The AGDC website is at http://nsidc.org/NSF/AGDC/. The utility of both of these projects for scientists is illustrated by a typical user-driven case study to research, obtain and use Antarctic data for a science application.
Advancing the state-of-the-art of the optical atomic clock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Jun

2014-05-01

The continued advance in laser phase coherence has permitted an improvement of the stability of optical lattice clocks by a factor of 10. This measurement precision has facilitated characterization of systematic effects, allowing us to improve the lattice clock accuracy by a factor of 20. The accuracy and stability of the JILA Sr clock now reach the 10-18 level. Owing to these advances, the lattice clock has also emerged as an effective laboratory to study many-body spin correlations. NIST, NSF, DARPA-QuASAR.
The Therapeutic Alliance: Clients' Categorization of Client-Identified Factors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simpson, Arlene J.; Bedi, Robinder P.

2012-01-01

Clients' perspectives on the therapeutic alliance were examined using written descriptions of factors that clients believed to be helpful in developing a strong alliance. Fifty participants sorted previously collected statements into thematically similar piles and then gave each set of statements a title. Multivariate concept mapping statistical…
Daycare Children of Divorce and Their Helpers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overland, Klara; Storksen, Ingunn; Thorsen, Arlene Arstad

2013-01-01

Caring for children of divorce may prevent emotional and behavioural problems. This study investigates daycare staff's beliefs about caring for young children who have experienced parental divorce. Q methodology was applied for this purpose, and 33 participants sorted 40 subjective statements. The Q factor analyses resulted in four factors or…
The NSF/RANN FY 1975 program for geothermal resources research and technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kruger, P.

1974-01-01

The specific goal of the NSF geothermal program is the rapid development by industry of the nation's geothermal resources that can be demonstrated to be commercially, environmentally and socially acceptable as alternate energy sources. NSF, as the lead agency for the federal geothermal energy research program, is expediting a program which encompasses the objectives necessary for significant utilization. These include: acceleration of exploration and assessment methods to identify commercial geothermal resources; development of innovative and improved technology to achieve economic feasibility; evaluation of policy options to resolve environmental, legal, and institutional problems; and support of experimental research facilities for each type of geothermal resource. Specific projects in each of these four objective areas are part of the NSF program for fiscal year 1975.
Plasma Physics at the National Science Foundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukin, Vyacheslav

2017-10-01

The Town Meeting on Plasma Physics at the National Science Foundation will provide an opportunity for Q&A about the variety of NSF programs and solicitations relevant to a broad cross-section of the academic plasma science community, from graduating college seniors to senior leaders in the field, and from plasma astrophysics to basic physics to plasma engineering communities. We will discuss recent NSF-hosted events, research awards, and multi-agency partnerships aimed at enabling the progress of science in plasma science and engineering. Future outlook for plasma physics and broader plasma science support at NSF, with an emphasis on how you can help NSF to help the community, will be speculated upon within the uncertainty of the federal budgeting process.
Patterns in clinical students' self-regulated learning behavior: a Q-methodology study.

PubMed

Berkhout, Joris J; Teunissen, Pim W; Helmich, Esther; van Exel, Job; van der Vleuten, Cees P M; Jaarsma, Debbie A D C

2017-03-01

Students feel insufficiently supported in clinical environments to engage in active learning and achieve a high level of self-regulation. As a result clinical learning is highly demanding for students. Because of large differences between students, supervisors may not know how to support them in their learning process. We explored patterns in undergraduate students' self-regulated learning behavior in the clinical environment, to improve tailored supervision, using Q-methodology. Q-methodology uses features of both qualitative and quantitative methods for the systematic investigation of subjective issues by having participants sort statements along a continuum to represent their opinion. We enrolled 74 students between December 2014 and April 2015 and had them characterize their learning behavior by sorting 52 statements about self-regulated learning behavior and explaining their response. The statements used for the sorting were extracted from a previous study. The data was analyzed using by-person factor analysis to identify clusters of individuals with similar sorts of the statements. The resulting factors and qualitative data were used to interpret and describe the patterns that emerged. Five resulting patterns were identified in students' self-regulated learning behavior in the clinical environment, which we labelled: Engaged, Critically opportunistic, Uncertain, Restrained and Effortful. The five patterns varied mostly regarding goals, metacognition, communication, effort, and dependence on external regulation for learning. These discrete patterns in students' self-regulated learning behavior in the clinical environment are part of a complex interaction between student and learning context. The results suggest that developing self-regulated learning behavior might best be supported regarding individual students' needs.
Environmental species sorting dominates forest-bird community assembly across scales.

PubMed

Özkan, Korhan; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Jeppesen, Erik

2013-01-01

Environmental species sorting and dispersal are seen as key factors in community assembly, but their relative importance and scale dependence remain uncertain, as the extent to which communities are consistently assembled throughout their biomes. To address these issues, we analysed bird metacommunity structure in a 1200-km(2) forested landscape (Istranca Forests) in Turkish Thrace at the margin of the Western Palaearctic (WP) temperate-forest biome. First, we used spatial regressions and Mantel tests to assess the relative importance of environmental and spatial factors as drivers of local species richness and composition within the metacommunity. Second, we analysed species' abundance-occupancy relationship across the metacommunity and used null models to assess whether occupancy is determined by species' environmental niches. Third, we used generalized linear models to test for links between species' metacommunity-wide occupancy and their broader WP regional populations and assessed whether these links are consistent with environmental species sorting. There was strong environmental control on local species richness and composition patterns within the metacommunity, but non-environmental spatial factors had also an important joint role. Null model analyses on randomized communities showed that species' occupancy across the metacommunity was strongly determined by species' environmental niches, with occupancy being related to niche position marginality. Species' metacommunity-wide occupancy correlated with their local abundance as well as with their range size and total abundance for the whole WP, suggesting that the same assembly mechanisms act consistently across local to regional scales. A species specialization index that was estimated by bird species' habitat use across France, incorporating both niche position and breadth, was significantly related to species' occupancy and abundance at both metacommunity and WP regional scales. Hence, the same niche-related assembly mechanisms appear to act consistently across the WP region. Overall, our results suggest that the structure of the Istranca Forest' bird metacommunity was predominantly controlled by environmental species sorting in a manner consistent with the broader WP region. However, variability in local community structure was also linked to purely spatial factors, albeit more weakly. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2012 British Ecological Society.
Saccharin fading is not required for the acquisition of alcohol self-administration, and can alter the dynamics of cue-alcohol memory reconsolidation.

PubMed

Puaud, Mickaël; Ossowska, Zofia; Barnard, Jordan; Milton, Amy L

2018-04-01

Animal models of alcohol-seeking are useful for understanding alcohol addiction and for treatment development, but throughput in these models is limited by the extensive pretraining required to overcome the aversive taste of ethanol. Work by Augier et al. (Psychopharmacology 231: 4561-4568, 2014) indicates that Wistar rats will self-administer alcohol without water deprivation, exposure to sweetened ethanol solutions or intermittent access to ethanol. We sought to replicate and extend the work of Augier et al. by comparing the acquisition of instrumental self-administration of ethanol in Lister-Hooded rats that had been previously saccharin faded (SF group) or not (NSF group). We also aimed to determine whether NMDA receptor antagonism with MK-801, given at memory reactivation, reduced subsequent ethanol-seeking behaviour in both groups of animals. Finally, we assessed the ethanol preference of SF and NSF rats using the two-bottle choice procedure. Both SF and NSF groups acquired instrumental self-administration of ethanol, though SF rats consumed fewer of the earned reinforcers. MK-801, given at memory reactivation, had different effects on NSF and SF rats: impairing the capacity of an ethanol-paired conditioned stimulus (CS) to support reinstatement in NSF rats, and enhancing it in SF rats. Finally, neither SF nor NSF rats showed a preference for ethanol. Our data support those of Augier et al. (Psychopharmacology 231: 4561-4568, 2014) that pretraining is unnecessary for rats to acquire instrumental self-administration of ethanol. Indeed, saccharin fading may produce a weaker memory that extinguishes more readily, thus accounting for the different effects of MK-801 on SF and NSF rats.
Stratified Shear Flows In Pipe Geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harabin, George; Camassa, Roberto; McLaughlin, Richard; UNC Joint Fluids Lab Team Team

2015-11-01

Exact and series solutions to the full Navier-Stokes equations coupled to the advection diffusion equation are investigated in tilted three-dimensional pipe geometries. Analytic techniques for studying the three-dimensional problem provide a means for tackling interesting questions such as the optimal domain for mass transport, and provide new avenues for experimental investigation of diffusion driven flows. Both static and time dependent solutions will be discussed. NSF RTG DMS-0943851, NSF RTG ARC-1025523, NSF DMS-1009750.
Importance Sampling, Large Deviations, and Differential Games

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

National Science Foundation (NSF- DMS-0072004, NSF-ECS-9979250) and the Army Research Office (DAAD19-00-1-0549, DAAD19-02-1-0425). �Research of this author...supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF- DMS-0103669). Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting...Process. Appl., 20:213�229, 1985. [2] S. Asmussen. Risk theory in a Markovian environment. Scand. Acturial J., pages 69�100, 1989. [3] S. Asmussen, R
Adaptive Importance Sampling for Uniformly Recurrent Markov Chains

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

the National Science Foundation (NSF- DMS-0072004, NSF-ECS-9979250) and the Army Research Office (DAAD19-00-1-0549, DAAD19-02-1-0425). †Research of this...author supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF- DMS-0103669). Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public...Appl., 20:213—229, 1985. [2] S. Asmussen. Risk theory in a Markovian environment. Scand. Acturial J., pages 69—100, 1989. [3] S. Asmussen, R
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Manifesting a Decade After Exposure to Gadolinium.

PubMed

Larson, Krista N; Gagnon, Amy L; Darling, Melissa D; Patterson, James W; Cropley, Thomas G

2015-10-01

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a fibrosing skin disorder that develops in patients with kidney failure and has been linked to exposure to gadolinium-containing contrast agents. The time between exposure to gadolinium and the initial presentation of NSF is typically weeks to months but has been documented to be as long as 3½ years. We report a case of NSF developing 10 years after exposure to gadolinium. A long-term hemodialysis patient was exposed to gadolinium several times between 1998 and 2004 during magnetic resonance angiography of his abdominal vessels and arteriovenous fistula. In 2014, he was seen at our clinic with new dermal papules and plaques. Biopsy of affected skin showed thickening of collagen, CD34+ spindle cells, and increased mucin in the dermis, supporting the diagnosis of NSF. The clinical history and histopathological features of this case support the diagnosis of NSF 10 years after exposure to gadolinium. Although the use of gadolinium contrast agents in patients with kidney failure has markedly decreased, patients with exposure to gadolinium years to decades previously may manifest the disease.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and class labeling of gadolinium-based contrast agents by the Food and Drug Administration.

PubMed

Yang, Lucie; Krefting, Ira; Gorovets, Alex; Marzella, Louis; Kaiser, James; Boucher, Robert; Rieves, Dwaine

2012-10-01

In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration requested that manufacturers of all approved gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), drugs widely used in magnetic resonance imaging, use nearly identical text in their product labeling to describe the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Accumulating information about NSF risks led to revision of the labeling text for all of these drugs in 2010. The present report summarizes the basis and purpose of this class-labeling approach and describes some of the related challenges, given the evolutionary nature of the NSF risk evidence. The class-labeling approach for presentation of product risk is designed to decrease the occurrence of NSF and to enhance the safe use of GBCAs in radiologic practice. © RSNA, 2012.
CAREER opportunities at the Condensed Matter Physics Program, NSF/DMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durakiewicz, Tomasz

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity, offering prestigious awards in support of junior faculty. Awards are expected to build the careers of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research. Condensed Matter Physics Program receives between 35 and 45 CAREER proposals each year, in areas related to fundamental research of phenomena exhibited by condensed matter systems. Proposal processing, merit review process, funding levels and success rates will be discussed in the presentation. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members from CAREER-eligible organizations and encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply. NSF/DMR/CMP homepage: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5666
Presenting Bionic: Broader Impacts and Outreach Network for Institutional Collaboration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Storm, K.

2014-12-01

Broader Impact plans are required of all NSF proposals. In 2011 the National Science Board, which oversees NSF, reconfirmed NSF's commitment to Broader Impacts in its task force report on the merit review system. At many institutions there are professionals that focus their work on supporting the Broader Impact work of researchers. This session will share the Broader Impacts and Outreach Network for Institutional Collaboration (BIONIC) plan to create a professional network of individuals and offices committed to planning and carrying out effective Broader Impact programming. BIONIC is an NSF Research Coordination Network that is recommended for funding through the Biology Directorate. In this session we will share the goals of BIONIC, and the progress to date in reaching those goals (of which one aspect is the curating of effective Broader Impact initiatives).
Experimental Evaluation and Workload Characterization for High-Performance Computer Architectures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

El-Ghazawi, Tarek A.

1995-01-01

This research is conducted in the context of the Joint NSF/NASA Initiative on Evaluation (JNNIE). JNNIE is an inter-agency research program that goes beyond typical.bencbking to provide and in-depth evaluations and understanding of the factors that limit the scalability of high-performance computing systems. Many NSF and NASA centers have participated in the effort. Our research effort was an integral part of implementing JNNIE in the NASA ESS grand challenge applications context. Our research work under this program was composed of three distinct, but related activities. They include the evaluation of NASA ESS high- performance computing testbeds using the wavelet decomposition application; evaluation of NASA ESS testbeds using astrophysical simulation applications; and developing an experimental model for workload characterization for understanding workload requirements. In this report, we provide a summary of findings that covers all three parts, a list of the publications that resulted from this effort, and three appendices with the details of each of the studies using a key publication developed under the respective work.

Unconventional Electron Pairing and Topological Superconductivity in Proximitized HgTe Quantum Wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Hechen; Hart, Sean; Kosowsky, Michael; Ben-Shach, Gilad; Leubner, Philipp; Brüne, Christoph; Buhmann, Hartmut; Molenkamp, Laurens; Halperin, Bertrand; Yacoby, Amir

Coupling s-wave superconductors to systems with exotic Fermi surface spin textures has been recently proposed as a way to manipulate the nature of the paired state, in some cases even leading to a topological phase transition. Recently, we studied the behavior of Fraunhofer interference in HgTe quantum well-based Josephson junctions, in the presence of a magnetic field applied in the plane of the quantum well. Here we theoretically analyze our system and compare the predicted behavior to our experimental results. We find that the in-plane magnetic field tunes the momentum of Cooper pairs in the quantum well, directly reflecting the response of the spin-dependent Fermi surfaces. This momentum tuning depends crucially on the type of spin-orbit coupling in the system. In the high electron density regime, the induced superconductivity evolves with electron density in agreement with our model based on the Hamiltonian of Bernevig, Hughes and Zhang. This agreement provides a quantitative value for g/vF, where g is the effective g-factor and vF is the Fermi velocity. Our new understanding of the interplay between spin physics and superconductivity introduces a way to spatially engineer the order parameter from singlet to triplet pairing, and in general allows investigation of electronic spin texture at the Fermi surface of materials. NSF DMR-1206016; STC Center for Integrated Quantum Materials under NSF Grant No. DMR-1231319; NSF GRFP under Grant DGE1144152, Microsoft Corporation Project Q.
Hyperuniform disordered photonic bandgap materials, from microwave to infrared wavelength regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Man, Weining

Recently, we have introduced a new class of hyperuniform disordered (HUD) photonic bandgap (PBG) materials enabled by a novel constrained optimization method for engineering the material's Fourier transform to be continuous, isotropic and stealthy. Their structure factor S (k) is equal to zero for small kand exhibits a broad ring of maximum values around a characteristic wave-length range. Experimentally, an isotropic complete PBG (at all angles and for all polarizations) in an alumina-based HUD structure and single-polarized PBGs for plastic-based HUD structure have been demonstrated. Using measured and simulated transmission and phase delay information through these HUD structures, we also unfolded their band structures and reconstructed the effective dispersion relations of propagating electromagnetic modes in them. The intrinsic isotropy in these disordered structures is an inherent advantage associated with the lack of crystalline order, offering unprecedented freedom for functional defect design impossible to achieve in photonic crystals. In the microwave regime, we have shown the creation of freeform waveguides, which can channel photons robustly along arbitrarily curved paths and around sharp bends, and be decorated with defects to produce sharply resonant structures useful for filtering and frequency splitting. Recent simulation and experimental results for waveguides and modulators based on submicron-scale planar hyperuniform disordered PBG structures further highlight their ability to serve as highly compact, flexible and energy-efficient platforms for photonic integrated circuits. NSF DMR-1308084, EPSRC (UK) DTG Grant KD5050, EPSRC (UK) Strategic Equipment Grant EP/M008576/1, NSF SBIR-1345168, NSF MRI-1040444.
Sequential Actions of Rab5 and Rab7 Regulate Endocytosis in the Xenopus Oocyte

PubMed Central

Mukhopadhyay, Amitabha; Barbieri, Alejandro M.; Funato, Kouichi; Roberts, Richard; Stahl, Philip D.

1997-01-01

To explore the role of GTPases in endocytosis, we developed an assay using Xenopus oocytes injected with recombinant proteins to follow the uptake of the fluid phase marker HRP. HRP uptake was inhibited in cells injected with GTPγS or incubated with aluminum fluoride, suggesting a general role for GTPases in endocytosis. Injection of Rab5 into oocytes, as well as Rab5:Q79L, a mutant with decreased GTPase activity, increased HRP uptake. Injection of Rab5:S34N, the dominant-negative mutant, inhibited HRP uptake. Injection of N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor (NSF) stimulated HRP uptake, and ATPase-defective NSF mutants inhibited HRP uptake when coinjected with Rab5:Q79L, confirming a requirement for NSF in endocytosis. Surprisingly, injection of Rab7:WT stimulated both uptake and degradation/activation of HRP. The latter appears to be due to enhanced transport to a late endosomal/prelysosomal degradative compartment that is monensin sensitive. Enhancement of uptake by Rab7 appears to function via an Rab5-sensitive pathway in oocytes since the stimulatory effect of Rab7 was blocked by coinjection of Rab5:S34N. Stimulation of uptake by Rab5 was blocked by Rab5:S34N but not by Rab7:T22N. Our results suggest that Rab7, while functioning downstream of Rab5, may be rate limiting for endocytosis in oocytes. PMID:9087439
A case for the use of Q-methodology in disability research: lessons learned from a training workshop.

PubMed

McKenzie, Judith; Braswell, Bob; Jelsma, Jennifer; Naidoo, Nirmala

2011-01-01

Q-methodology was developed to analyse subjective responses to a range of items dealing with specific topics. This article describes the use of Q-methodology and presents the results of a Q-study on perspectives on disability carried out in a training workshop as evidence for its usefulness in disability research. A Q-sort was administered in the context of a training workshop on Q-method. The Q-sort consisted of statements related to the topic of disability. The responses were analysed using specifically developed software to identify factors that represent patterns of responses. Twenty-two of the 23 respondents loaded on four factors. These factors appeared to represent different paradigms relating to the social, medical and disability rights models of disability. The fourth factor appeared to be that of a family perspective. These are all models evident in the disability research literature and provide evidence for the validity of Q-method in disability research. Based on this opportunistic study, it would appear that Q-methodology is a useful tool for identifying different view points related to disability.
A Computational Chemo-Fluidic Modeling for the Investigation of Patient-Specific Left Ventricle Thrombogenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mittal, Rajat; Seo, Jung Hee; Abd, Thura; George, Richard T.

2015-11-01

Patients recovering from myocardial infarction (MI) are considered at high-risk for cardioembolic stroke due to the formation of left ventricle thrombus (LVT). The formation of LVT is the result of a complex interplay between the fluid dynamics inside the ventricle and the chemistry of coagulation, and the role of LV flow pattern on the thrombogenesis was not well understood. The previous computational study performed with the model ventricles suggested that the local flow residence time is the key variable governing the accumulation of coagulation factors. In the present study, a coupled, chemo-fluidic computational modeling is applied to the patient-specific cases of infracted ventricles to investigate the interaction between the LV hemodynamics and thrombogensis. In collaboration with the Johns Hopkins hospital, patient-specific LV models are constructed using the multi-modality medical imaging data. Blood flow in the left ventricle is simulated by solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and the biochemical reactions for the thrombus formation are modeled with convection-diffusion-reaction equations. The formation and deposition of key coagulation chemical factors are then correlated with the hemodynamic flow metrics to explore the biophysics underlying LVT risk. Supported by the Johns Hopkins Medicine Discovery Fund and NSF Grant: CBET-1511200, Computational resource by XSEDE NSF grant TG-CTS100002.
Perinatal Medical Variables Predict Executive Function within a Sample of Preschoolers Born Very Low Birth Weight

PubMed Central

Duvall, Susanne W.; Erickson, Sarah J.; MacLean, Peggy; Lowe, Jean R.

2014-01-01

The goal was to identify perinatal predictors of early executive dysfunction in preschoolers born very low birth weight. Fifty-seven preschoolers completed three executive function tasks (Dimensional Change Card Sort-Separated (inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility), Bear Dragon (inhibition and working memory) and Gift Delay Open (inhibition)). Relationships between executive function and perinatal medical severity factors (gestational age, days on ventilation, size for gestational age, maternal steroids and number of surgeries), and chronological age were investigated by multiple linear regression and logistic regression. Different perinatal medical severity factors were predictive of executive function tasks, with gestational age predicting Bear Dragon and Gift Open; and number of surgeries and maternal steroids predicting performance on Dimensional Change Card Sort-Separated. By understanding the relationship between perinatal medical severity factors and preschool executive outcomes, we may be able to identify children at highest risk for future executive dysfunction, thereby focusing targeted early intervention services. PMID:25117418
Morphometric MRI features are associated with surgical outcome in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis.

PubMed

Garcia, Maria Teresa Fernandes Castilho; Gaça, Larissa Botelho; Sandim, Gabriel Barbosa; Assunção Leme, Idaiane Batista; Carrete, Henrique; Centeno, Ricardo Silva; Sato, João Ricardo; Yacubian, Elza Márcia Targas

2017-05-01

Corticoamygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) improves seizure control, quality of life, and decreases mortality for refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). One-third of patients continue having seizures, and it is pivotal to determine structural abnormalities that might influence the postoperative outcome. Studies indicate that nonhippocampal regions may play a role in the epileptogenic network in MTLE-HS and could generate seizures postoperatively. The aim of this study is to analyze areas of atrophy, not always detected on routine MRI, comparing patients who became seizure free (SF) with those non seizure free (NSF) after CAH, in an attempt to establish possible predictors of surgical outcome. 105 patients with refractory MTLE-HS submitted to CAH (59 left MTLE; 46 males) and 47 controls were enrolled. FreeSurfer was performed for cortical thickness and volume estimation comparing patients to controls and SF versus NSF patients. The final sample after post processing procedures resulted in 99 patients. Cortical thickness analyses showed reductions in left insula in NSF patients compared to those SF. Significant volume reductions in SF patients were present in bilateral thalami, hippocampi and pars opercularis, left parahippocampal gyrus and right temporal pole. In NSF patients reductions were present bilaterally in thalami, hippocampi, entorhinal cortices, superior frontal and supramarginal gyri; on the left: superior and middle temporal gyri, temporal pole, parahippocampal gyrus, pars opercularis and middle frontal gyrus; and on the right: precentral, superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri. Comparison between SF and NSF patients showed ipsilateral gray matter reductions in the right entorhinal cortex (p=0.003) and contralateral parahippocampal gyrus (p=0.05) in right MTLE-HS. Patients NSF had a longer duration of epilepsy than those SF (p=0.028). NSF patients exhibited more extensive areas of atrophy than SF ones. As entorhinal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus are reduced in NSF patients compared to those SF these structures might be implicated in the network responsible for the maintenance of postoperative seizures. Duration of epilepsy is a predictor of seizure outcome. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Linking the GLOBE Program With NASA and NSF Large-Scale Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filmer, P. E.

2005-12-01

NASA and the NSF, the sponsoring Federal agencies for the GLOBE Program, are seeking the participation of science teams who are working at the cutting edge of Earth systems science in large integrated Earth systems science programs. Connecting the GLOBE concept and structure with NASA and NSF's leading Earth systems science programs will give GLOBE schools and students access to top scientists, and expose them to programs that have been designated as scientific priorities. Students, teachers, parents, and their communities will be able to see how scientists of many disciplines work together to learn about the Earth system. The GLOBE solicitation released by the NSF targets partnerships between GLOBE and NSF/NASA-funded integrated Earth systems science programs. This presentation will focus on the goals and requirements of the NSF solicitation. Proponents will be expected to provide ways for the GLOBE community to interact with a group of scientists from their science programs as part of a wider joint Earth systems science educational strategy (the sponsoring agencies', GLOBE's, and the proposing programs'). Teams proposing to this solicitation must demonstrate: - A focus on direct connections with major NSF Geosciences and/or Polar Programs and/or NASA Earth-Sun research programs that are related to Earth systems science; - A demonstrable benefit to GLOBE and to NSF Geosciences and/or Polar Programs or NASA Earth-Sun education goals (providing access to program researchers and data, working with GLOBE in setting up campaigns where possible, using tested GLOBE or non-GLOBE protocols to the greatest extent possible, actively participating in the wider GLOBE community including schools, among other goals); - An international component; - How the existing educational efforts of the large science program will coordinate with GLOBE; - An Earth systems science education focus, rather than a GLOBE protocol-support focus; - A rigorous evaluation and assessment component that will collaborate with the Geosciences Education assessment contractor and with the GLOBE Office's evaluation and assessment activities; and - Contact and discussions with the GLOBE Office regarding understandings of roles and responsibilities. The following link is a PDF document with full explanation of the GLOBE Program's new direction.
Astrophysicist nominated to head NSF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwynne, Peter

2013-09-01

US president Barack Obama has nominated astrophysicist France Córdova as the next director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) - the country's biggest funder of basic research with an annual budget of 7bn.
76 FR 76769 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-08

.... FY 2012 Transfer Authority. Update on NSF FY 2013 Budget Development. Policies and planning for... STEM education plan. Discussion of the NSF STEM education research portfolio: getting from theory to...
Creation and the empirical validation of the dignity card-sort tool to assess factors influencing erosion of dignity at life's end.

PubMed

Periyakoil, Vyjeyanthi S; Kraemer, Helena Chmura; Noda, Arthur

2009-12-01

Patients often experience erosion of dignity as they cope with the dying process. Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing erosion of dignity at the end of life. We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 18 themes that were used to create a card-sort tool. The initial 18-item tool was administered to nurses (n = 83), nonhospice community-dwelling subjects (n = 190) and hospice patients (n = 26) and a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the 6 primary factors. The key item in each factor as identified by the PCA was used to create the final 6-item dignity card-sort tool (DCT). The DCT was also administered to physicians caring for palliative care patients (n = 21). For each of the final 6 items, the correlation between the respondents (nurses, physicians, nonterminally ill subjects, and subjects receiving hospice care) was calculated using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. The nurses were very highly positively correlated with the physicians (correlation coefficient = 0.94) and the community-dwelling nonterminally ill subjects were highly positively correlated with the subjects receiving hospice care (correlation coefficient = 0.67). More importantly, both the nurses and physicians were negatively correlated with both community dwelling nonterminally ill subjects and the subjects receiving hospice care. The health professionals in the study felt that treating a patient with disrespect and not carrying out their wishes resulted in erosion of dignity. In contrast patients thought that poor medical care and untreated pain were the most important factors leading to erosion of dignity at life's end. The DCT is a promising tool that may help clinicians identify key factors resulting in perceptions of erosion of dignity in adult palliative care patients.
Creation and the Empirical Validation of the Dignity Card-Sort Tool To Assess Factors Influencing Erosion of Dignity at Life's End

PubMed Central

Chmura Kraemer, Helena; Noda, Arthur

2009-01-01

Abstract Patients often experience erosion of dignity as they cope with the dying process. Preserving patient dignity is a sentinel premise of palliative care. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of factors influencing erosion of dignity at the end of life. We conducted an open-ended written survey of 100 multidisciplinary providers (69% response rate) and responses were categorized to identify 18 themes that were used to create a card-sort tool. The initial 18-item tool was administered to nurses (n = 83), nonhospice community-dwelling subjects (n = 190) and hospice patients (n = 26) and a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the 6 primary factors. The key item in each factor as identified by the PCA was used to create the final 6-item dignity card-sort tool (DCT). The DCT was also administered to physicians caring for palliative care patients (n = 21). For each of the final 6 items, the correlation between the respondents (nurses, physicians, nonterminally ill subjects, and subjects receiving hospice care) was calculated using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. The nurses were very highly positively correlated with the physicians (correlation coefficient = 0.94) and the community-dwelling nonterminally ill subjects were highly positively correlated with the subjects receiving hospice care (correlation coefficient = 0.67). More importantly, both the nurses and physicians were negatively correlated with both community dwelling nonterminally ill subjects and the subjects receiving hospice care. The health professionals in the study felt that treating a patient with disrespect and not carrying out their wishes resulted in erosion of dignity. In contrast patients thought that poor medical care and untreated pain were the most important factors leading to erosion of dignity at life's end. The DCT is a promising tool that may help clinicians identify key factors resulting in perceptions of erosion of dignity in adult palliative care patients. PMID:19708793
Continuous-flow separation of live and dead yeasts using reservoir-based dielectrophoresis (rDEP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Saurin; Showers, Daniel; Vedantam, Pallavi; Tzeng, Tzuen-Rong; Qian, Shizhi; Xuan, Xiangchun

2012-11-01

Separating live and dead cells is critical to the diagnosis of early stage diseases and to the efficacy test of drug screening etc. We develop a novel microfluidic approach to continuous separation of yeast cells by viability inside a reservoir. It exploits the cell dielectrophoresis that is induced by the inherent electric field gradient at the reservoir-microchannel junction to selectively trap dead yeasts and continuously sort them from live ones. We term this approach reservoir-based dielectrophoresis (rDEP). The transporting, focusing, and trapping of live and dead yeast cells at the reservoir-microchannel junction are studied separately by varying the DC-biased AC electric fields. These phenomena can all be reasonably predicted by a 2D numerical model. We find that the AC to DC field ratio for live yeast trapping is higher than that for dead cells because the former experiences a weaker rDEP while having a larger electrokinetic mobility. It is this difference in the AC to DC field ratio that enables the viability-based yeast cell separation. The rDEP approach has unique advantages over existing DEP-based techniques such as the occupation of zero channel space and the elimination of in-channel mechanical or electrical parts. NSF
Ultrafast optical measurements of surface waves on a patterned layered nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daly, Brian; Bjornsson, Matteo; Connolly, Aine; Mahat, Sushant; Rachmilowitz, Bryan; Antonelli, George; Myers, Alan; Yoo, Hui-Jae; Singh, Kanwal; King, Sean

2015-03-01

We report ultrafast optical pump-probe measurements of 12 - 54 GHz surface acoustic waves (SAWs) on patterned layered nanostructures. These very high frequency SAWs were generated and detected on the following patterned film stack: 25 nm physically vapor deposited TiN / 180 nm porous PECVD-grown a-SiOC:H dielectric / 12 nm non-porous PECVD-grown a-SiOC:H etch-stop / 100 nm CVD-grown a-SiO2 / Si (100) substrate. The TiN layer was dry plasma etched to form lines of rectangular cross section with pitches of 420 nm, 250 nm, 180 nm, and 168 nm and the lines were oriented parallel to the [110] direction on the wafer surface. The absorption of ultrafast pulses from a Ti:sapphire oscillator operating at 800 nm generated SAWs that were detected by time-delayed probe pulses from the same oscillator via a reflectivity change (ΔR) . In each of the four cases the SAW frequency increased with decreasing pitch, but not in a linear way as had been seen in previous experiments of this sort. By comparing the results with mechanical simulations, we present evidence for the detection of different types of SAWs in each case, including Rayleigh-like waves, Sezawa waves, and leaky or radiative waves. This work was supported by NSF Award DMR1206681.
Strong Inter-channel Effects in Dipole Photoionization of d-subshells of Xe, Cs, and Ba Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manson, S.; Amusia, M.; Baltenkov, A.; Chernysheva, L.; Felfli, Z.; Msezane, A.

2003-05-01

In the framework of a specially modified Random Phase Approximation with Exchange approach (SPRPAE) developed for half-filled atomic subshells the dipole angular anisotropy parameters β(ω) for the 3d-photoionization of Xe, Cs and Ba atoms have been calculated. The main point of this approach is that we consider the 3d electrons of these atoms as belonging to two semi-filled atomic levels that contain two different sorts of electrons, namely that six electrons form the 3d_5/2 subshell (called "up"), while the other four electrons form the 3d_3/2 subshell (called "down"). This permits to apply straightforwardly the RPAE for these semi-filled subshells. We show that the interaction between "up" and "down" electrons results in a qualitative alteration of the frequency (ω) dependence of β_5/2(ω) and β_3/2(ω) that define the photoelectron angular distribution from the 3d_5/2 and 3d_3/2 levels. In all these atoms the effect of 3d_3/2 upon 3d_5/2 leads to the creation of an additional maximum near the photoionization thresholds, while the effect for 3d_3/2 is rather weak. Work supported by CRDF (No ZP1- 2449-TA-02), ISTC grant 1358 and NSF
Spatiotemporal dynamics of membrane remodeling and fusion proteins during endocytic transport

PubMed Central

Arlt, Henning; Auffarth, Kathrin; Kurre, Rainer; Lisse, Dominik; Piehler, Jacob; Ungermann, Christian

2015-01-01

Organelles of the endolysosomal system undergo multiple fission and fusion events to combine sorting of selected proteins to the vacuole with endosomal recycling. This sorting requires a consecutive remodeling of the organelle surface in the course of endosomal maturation. Here we dissect the remodeling and fusion machinery on endosomes during the process of endocytosis. We traced selected GFP-tagged endosomal proteins relative to exogenously added fluorescently labeled α-factor on its way from the plasma membrane to the vacuole. Our data reveal that the machinery of endosomal fusion and ESCRT proteins has similar temporal localization on endosomes, whereas they precede the retromer cargo recognition complex. Neither deletion of retromer nor the fusion machinery with the vacuole affects this maturation process, although the kinetics seems to be delayed due to ESCRT deletion. Of importance, in strains lacking the active Rab7-like Ypt7 or the vacuolar SNARE fusion machinery, α-factor still proceeds to late endosomes with the same kinetics. This indicates that endosomal maturation is mainly controlled by the early endosomal fusion and remodeling machinery but not the downstream Rab Ypt7 or the SNARE machinery. Our data thus provide important further understanding of endosomal biogenesis in the context of cargo sorting. PMID:25657322
Determinants of community structure of zooplankton in heavily polluted river ecosystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Wei; Li, Jie; Chen, Yiyong; Shan, Baoqing; Wang, Weimin; Zhan, Aibin

2016-02-01

River ecosystems are among the most affected habitats globally by human activities, such as the release of chemical pollutants. However, it remains largely unknown how and to what extent many communities such as zooplankton are affected by these environmental stressors in river ecosystems. Here, we aim to determine major factors responsible for shaping community structure of zooplankton in heavily polluted river ecosystems. Specially, we use rotifers in the Haihe River Basin (HRB) in North China as a case study to test the hypothesis that species sorting (i.e. species are “filtered” by environmental factors and occur at environmental suitable sites) plays a key role in determining community structure at the basin level. Based on an analysis of 94 sites across the plain region of HRB, we found evidence that both local and regional factors could affect rotifer community structure. Interestingly, further analyses indicated that local factors played a more important role in determining community structure. Thus, our results support the species sorting hypothesis in highly polluted rivers, suggesting that local environmental constraints, such as environmental pollution caused by human activities, can be stronger than dispersal limitation caused by regional factors to shape local community structure of zooplankton at the basin level.
75 FR 21678 - Business and Operations Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-26

... Management/Leadership Development. May 19, 2010 NSF Strategic Plan Update--2010-2015; Future NSF-2013 Lease... Director; Closing Committee Discussion/Wrap-Up. Dated: April 21, 2010. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management...
A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research: Recommendations of a New Study from the National Academes of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weller, R. A.; Bell, R. E.; Geller, L.

2015-12-01

A Committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine carried out a study (at the request of NSF's Division of Polar Programs) to develop a strategic vision for the coming decade of NSF's investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research. The study was informed by extensive efforts to gather ideas from researchers across the United States. This presentation will provide an overview of the Committee's recommendations—regarding an overall strategic framework for a robust U.S. Antarctic program, regarding the specific areas of research recommended as highest priority for NSF support, and regarding the types of infrastructure, logistical support, data management, and other critical foundations for enabling and adding lasting value to the proposed research .
Status of the profession

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyce, Peter B.; Beichman, Charles A.; Abt, Helmut A.; Bauer, Wendy Hagen; Burbidge, Geoffrey; Cochran, Anita L.; Dorfman, Robert; Harris, Hugh; Havlen, Robert; Jones, Christine

1991-01-01

The number of astronomers has grown by about 40 percent over the past decade. The number of astronomers with jobs in industry, or with long-term, non-tenured, jobs has increased dramatically compared with traditional faculty positions. The increase in the number of astronomers and the declining share of the NSF budget going to astronomy has led to extreme difficulties in the NSF grant program and in support of the National Observatories. In 1989, direct NASA support of astronomers through the grants program exceeds that of NSF, although the total of the NSF grants program over decade far exceeds that of NASA. Access to major new telescopes will be important issue for the 1990s. US astronomers, who once had a monopoly on telescopes larger than 3 meters, will, by the year 2000, have access to just half of the world's optical telescope area.

NSF Perspective on Engaging the NRC and the Community in Developing Priorities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wakimoto, R. M.

2015-12-01

NSF pursued a new strategy to assess the balance between funding for core research and infrastructure in a time of limited budgets in the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE). The latter constraint uniquely distinguished this report from previous community attempts to define future research priorities. The process that ultimately led to "Sea Change: 2015-2025: Decadal Survey of Ocean Sciences" report was closely monitored by Congress, OMB/OSTP, the National Science Board, NSF Senior Management, and the community. The Sea Change recommendations were specific and difficult but highly strategic. They also recommended immediate implementation. NSF and GEO were pleased with the outcome of a process that was initially viewed with some trepidation. Additional thoughts on the report and the process will be presented as well as future plans to engage the NAS and community in defining research priorities.
From the NSF: The National Science Foundation’s Investments in Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education through Research and Capacity Building

PubMed Central

James, Sylvia M.; Singer, Susan R.

2016-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a long history of investment in broadening participation (BP) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A review of past NSF BP efforts provides insights into how the portfolio of programs and activities has evolved and the broad array of innovative strategies that has been used to increase the participation of groups underrepresented in STEM, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. While many are familiar with these long-standing programmatic efforts, BP is also a key component of NSF’s strategic plans, has been highlighted in National Science Board reports, and is the focus of ongoing outreach efforts. The majority of familiar BP programs, such as the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (now 25 years old), are housed in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. However, fellowship programs such as the Graduate Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships under the Directorate for Biological Sciences (and parallel directorates in other STEM disciplines) are frequently used to address underrepresentation in STEM disciplines. The FY2016 and FY2017 budget requests incorporate funding for NSF INCLUDES, a new cross-agency BP initiative that will build on prior successes while addressing national BP challenges. NSF INCLUDES invites the use of innovative approaches for taking evidence-based best practices to scale, ushering in a new era in NSF BP advancement. PMID:27587853
Congressional hearing reviews NSF major research and facilities projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-03-01

An 8 March congressional hearing about the U.S. National Science Foundation's Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (NSF MREFC) account focused on fiscal management and accountability of projects in that account and reviewed concerns raised by NSF's Office of Inspector General (OIG). NSF established the MREFC account in 1995 to better plan and manage investments in major equipment and facilities projects, which can cost from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars, and the foundation has funded 17 MREFC projects since then. The Obama administration's proposed fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget includes funding for four MREFC projects: Advanced Laser Gravitational-Wave Observatory (AdvLIGO), Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST), National Ecological Observatory (NEON), and Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). The hearing, held by a subcommittee of the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, reviewed management oversight throughout the life cycles of MREFC projects and concerns raised in recent OIG reports about the use of budget contingency funds. NSF's February 2012 manual called "Risk management guide for large facilities" states that cost contingency is "that portion of the project budget required to cover `known unknowns,'" such as planning and estimating errors and omissions, minor labor or material price fluctuations, and design developments and changes within the project scope. Committee members acknowledged measures that NSF has made to improve the MREFC oversight process, but they also urged the agency to continue to take steps to ensure better project management.
Lmo1656 is a secreted virulence factor of Listeria monocytogenes that interacts with the sorting nexin 6-BAR complex.

PubMed

David, Daryl Jason; Pagliuso, Alessandro; Radoshevich, Lilliana; Nahori, Marie-Anne; Cossart, Pascale

2018-06-15

Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm ) is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, a rare but fatal disease. During infection, Lm can traverse several physiological barriers; it can cross the intestine and placenta barrier and, in immunocompromised individuals, the blood-brain barrier. With the recent plethora of sequenced genomes available for Lm , it is clear that the complete repertoire of genes used by Lm to interact with its host remains to be fully explored. Recently, we focused on secreted Lm proteins because they are likely to interact with host cell components. Here, we investigated a putatively secreted protein of Lm , Lmo1656, that is present in most sequenced strains of Lm but absent in the nonpathogenic species Listeria innocua. lmo1656 gene is predicted to encode a small, positively charged protein. We show that Lmo1656 is secreted by Lm Furthermore, deletion of the lmo1656 gene (Δ lmo1656 ) attenuates virulence in mice infected orally but not intravenously, suggesting that Lmo1656 plays a role during oral listeriosis. We identified sorting nexin 6 (SNX6), an endosomal sorting component and BAR domain-containing protein, as a host cell interactor of Lmol656. SNX6 colocalizes with WT Lm during the early steps of infection. This colocalization depends on Lmo1656, and RNAi of SNX6 impairs infection in infected tissue culture cells, suggesting that SNX6 is utilized by Lm during infection. Our results reveal that Lmo1656 is a novel secreted virulence factor of Lm that facilitates recruitment of a specific member of the sorting nexin family in the mammalian host. © 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
Development of a novel cell sorting method that samples population diversity in flow cytometry.

PubMed

Osborne, Geoffrey W; Andersen, Stacey B; Battye, Francis L

2015-11-01

Flow cytometry based electrostatic cell sorting is an important tool in the separation of cell populations. Existing instruments can sort single cells into multi-well collection plates, and keep track of cell of origin and sorted well location. However currently single sorted cell results reflect the population distribution and fail to capture the population diversity. Software was designed that implements a novel sorting approach, "Slice and Dice Sorting," that links a graphical representation of a multi-well plate to logic that ensures that single cells are sampled and sorted from all areas defined by the sort region/s. Therefore the diversity of the total population is captured, and the more frequently occurring or rarer cell types are all sampled. The sorting approach was tested computationally, and using functional cell based assays. Computationally we demonstrate that conventional single cell sorting can sample as little as 50% of the population diversity dependant on the population distribution, and that Slice and Dice sorting samples much more of the variety present within a cell population. We then show by sorting single cells into wells using the Slice and Dice sorting method that there are cells sorted using this method that would be either rarely sorted, or not sorted at all using conventional single cell sorting approaches. The present study demonstrates a novel single cell sorting method that samples much more of the population diversity than current methods. It has implications in clonal selection, stem cell sorting, single cell sequencing and any areas where population heterogeneity is of importance. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
A task analysis of the shift from teacher instructions to self-instructions in performing an in-common task.

PubMed

Grote, I; Rosales, J; Baer, D M

1996-11-01

Three preschool children repeatedly did four kinds of sorts with a deck of stimulus cards: a difficult, untaught target sort and three other sorts considered analytic of self-instructing the target performance. The untaught target sort was to find in a deck of cards those matching what two sample cards had in common. Most preschool children must be taught to mediate this problem. The three other kinds of sorts taught skills involved in the target performance or its mediation. As correct self-instructive talk emerged in the target sorts, it was confirmed. The untaught target sorts were interspersed infrequently among the three alternating directly taught skill sorts, to see if accurate target sorts, and accurate self-instructive talk about the target sorts, would emerge as the three skill sorts were mastered. As all the sorts progressed, increasing accuracy was seen first in the skill sorts and then in the untaught target sorts. All three subjects showed subsequent generalization to new target sorts involving other stimulus sets. Correct spontaneous self-instructions about the target sorts increased from near zero at the beginning of the experiment to consistency at its end. Thus the three skill sorts appeared sufficient for the emergence of a self-instructed solution to the previously insoluble target performance.
Parallel sort with a ranged, partitioned key-value store in a high perfomance computing environment

DOEpatents

Bent, John M.; Faibish, Sorin; Grider, Gary; Torres, Aaron; Poole, Stephen W.

2016-01-26

Improved sorting techniques are provided that perform a parallel sort using a ranged, partitioned key-value store in a high performance computing (HPC) environment. A plurality of input data files comprising unsorted key-value data in a partitioned key-value store are sorted. The partitioned key-value store comprises a range server for each of a plurality of ranges. Each input data file has an associated reader thread. Each reader thread reads the unsorted key-value data in the corresponding input data file and performs a local sort of the unsorted key-value data to generate sorted key-value data. A plurality of sorted, ranged subsets of each of the sorted key-value data are generated based on the plurality of ranges. Each sorted, ranged subset corresponds to a given one of the ranges and is provided to one of the range servers corresponding to the range of the sorted, ranged subset. Each range server sorts the received sorted, ranged subsets and provides a sorted range. A plurality of the sorted ranges are concatenated to obtain a globally sorted result.
College Faculty-Oriented Programs of the National Science Foundation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kormondy, Edward J.

1979-01-01

Describes the contributions of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the development of college faculty in 1958, 1968, and 1978. The described activities are NSF institutes, faculty research participation, and fellowship programs. (HM)
Dr. Tulga Ersal at NSF Workshop Accessible Remote Testbeds ART'15

Science.gov Websites

;Enabling High-Fidelity Closed-Loop Integration of Remotely Accessible Testbeds" at the NSF Sponsored project (2010-2013) "Internet-Distributed Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation". Sponsored by U.S
77 FR 12086 - Committee Management Renewals

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-28

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Committee Management Renewals The NSF management officials having... follows consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration... Bolton, NSF, at (703) 292-7488. Dated: February 22, 2012. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer...
Doing science, technology and society in the National Science Foundation : commentary on: "Engaged, embedded, enjoined: science and technology studies in the National Science Foundation".

PubMed

Gorman, Michael E

2011-12-01

The author describes his efforts to become a participant observer while he was a Program Director at the NSF. He describes his plans for keeping track of his reflections and his goals before he arrived at NSF, then includes sections from his reflective diary and comments after he had completed his two-year rotation. The influx of rotators means the NSF has to be an adaptive, learning organization but there are bureaucratic obstacles in the way.
Research Misconduct: Policy and Practice at the NSF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manka, Aaron

2004-03-01

Under NSF's Office of Inspector General mandate to prevent fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving NSF's proposals and awards, our office also investigates allegations of research misconduct. I will discuss our office's handling of such matters, focusing on the ethical and legal obligations of proposal submitters and awardees and the role of the scientific community. To illustrate some other points that are of interest to the physics community, I will also discuss some of our investigative activities relevant to: duplicate funding, the accuracy of information in proposals, and collaborations.
Reauthorization of the National Science Foundation, 1985. Hearing before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United State Senate, Ninety-Eighth Congress, Second Session on Examining the Reauthorization of Appropriations for the National Science Foundation for Fiscal Year 1985 (April 4, 1984).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

These hearings focused on the reauthorization of appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF) for fiscal year (FY) 1985. (The Reagan administration's request for the NSF was $1.5 billion, an increase of 13.6 percent over the FY 1984 budget.) The hearings include a prepared statement from Edward Knapp (NSF director) which provides an…
Student Perceptions of Factors Influencing Success in Hybrid and Traditional DPT Programs: A Q-Sort Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cherry, Lance; Blackinton, Mary

2017-01-01

There is a dearth of literature in physical therapy education regarding factors students believe to influence success, and little to no literature describing such beliefs related to hybrid education in the health professions or specific to physical therapy. The overarching purpose of this investigation was to determine students' perceptions of…
From the NSF: The National Science Foundation's Investments in Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education through Research and Capacity Building.

PubMed

James, Sylvia M; Singer, Susan R

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a long history of investment in broadening participation (BP) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A review of past NSF BP efforts provides insights into how the portfolio of programs and activities has evolved and the broad array of innovative strategies that has been used to increase the participation of groups underrepresented in STEM, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. While many are familiar with these long-standing programmatic efforts, BP is also a key component of NSF's strategic plans, has been highlighted in National Science Board reports, and is the focus of ongoing outreach efforts. The majority of familiar BP programs, such as the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (now 25 years old), are housed in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. However, fellowship programs such as the Graduate Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships under the Directorate for Biological Sciences (and parallel directorates in other STEM disciplines) are frequently used to address underrepresentation in STEM disciplines. The FY2016 and FY2017 budget requests incorporate funding for NSF INCLUDES, a new cross-agency BP initiative that will build on prior successes while addressing national BP challenges. NSF INCLUDES invites the use of innovative approaches for taking evidence-based best practices to scale, ushering in a new era in NSF BP advancement. © 2016 S. M. James and S. R. Singer. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2016 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).
75 FR 63865 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-18

... the National Science Board Web site http:[sol][sol]www.nsf.gov/nsb for additional information and schedule updates (time, place, subject matter or status of meeting) may be found at http:[sol][sol]www.nsf...
75 FR 9616 - Committee Management Renewals

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-03

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Committee Management Renewals The NSF management officials having... follows consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration... Bolton, NSF, at (703) 292-7488. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2010-4233 Filed 3...
Conference OKs science budgets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

With the budget process all but complete for next fiscal year, the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration observers were saying that science had not done that badly in Congress, for an election year. NSF got half the budget increase it requested, NASA two-thirds. The Space Station did well, at the expense of environmental and social programs, which are funded by Congress from the same pot of money as NASA and NSF.A House-Senate conference finished work on a $59 billion appropriations bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and independent agencies, including EPA, NASA, and NSF, in early August. The House and Senate then quickly passed the measure before their recess; the President is expected to sign it soon. Included in the Fiscal Year 1989 spending bill are $1,885 billion for NSF, a 9.8% increase over FY 1988, and $10.7 billion for NASA, 18.5% more than the year before.
POCA Update: An NSF PAARE Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walter, Donald K.; Brittain, S. D.; Cash, J. L.; Hartmann, D. H.; Howell, S. B.; King, J. R.; Leising, M. D.; Mayo, E. A.; Mighell, K. J.; Smith, D. M., Jr.

2011-01-01

We report on the status of "A Partnership in Observational and Computational Astronomy (POCA)” under the NSF's "Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE)" program. This partnership includes South Carolina State University (a Historically Black College/University), Clemson University (a Ph.D. granting institution) and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. We have reached the midpoint of this 5-year award and discuss the successes, challenges and obstacles encountered to date. Included is a summary of our summer REU program, the POCA graduate fellowship program, faculty research capacity building, outreach activities, increased use of NSF facilities and shared resources. Additional POCA research presentations by the authors are described elsewhere in these proceedings. Support for this work was provided by the NSF PAARE program to South Carolina State University under award AST-0750814 as well as resources and support provided by Clemson University and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.
Polar advisory committee focuses on NSF realignment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-11-01

With the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) realignment that moves the agency's Office of Polar Programs (OPP) back to the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), "the emphasis on the importance of the polar program at NSF doesn't change," NSF director Subra Suresh reassured members of the federal Advisory Committee on Polar Programs during a committee meeting on 5 November. "The polar program in its entirety stays as the same entity. Nothing changes," he told committee members, regarding the realignment that began on 1 October (see Eos, 93(43), 427, doi:10.1029/2012EO430003). "Nothing changes in terms of our commitment to the polar program. Nothing changes in terms of infrastructure support. Nothing changes in terms of people in the polar program speaking for the polar program to the external world and internally. And nothing changes in terms of how individual scientists interact with the polar program."

Scripps museum receives NSF grant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scripps Institution of Oceanography has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for a 37,000-square-foot museum exhibition on ocean sciences entitled “Exploring the Blue Planet.” The exhibition will be installed in the Scripps Hall of Oceanography of the new Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum. The facility is under construction at the University of California, San Diego, and is scheduled to open in fall 1992.NSF is providing approximately half of the funds required for “Exploring the Blue Planet,” which is designed to help visitors explore the many fields of oceanography. “This NSF grant will fund interactive exhibits and changing displays featuring the latest Scripps research that will allow children and adults to experience science as an approachable, creative process that can be used to understand the changing world,” said Luther Williams, NSF Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources.
International Opportunities and Programs at NSF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wodarczyk, F.

2006-05-01

The National Science Foundation's Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) promotes the development of an integrated, Foundation-wide international strategy for international science and engineering activities both inside and outside NSF and manages international programs that are innovative, catalytic, and responsive to a broad range of NSF interests. Specifically, OISE supports programs to expand and enhance leading-edge international research and education opportunities for U.S. scientists and engineers, especially at the early career stage. It works to build and strengthen effective institutional partnerships throughout the global science and engineering research and education community, and it supports international collaborations in NSF's priority research areas. This talk will highlight opportunities for international collaboration for individuals at all levels of their careers, from student to established researcher, with examples of supported programs. Some recent activities focus on bringing together researchers in scientific disciplines and experts in cyberinfrastructure to promote and enable international data collection, manipulation, storage, and sharing via high-speed networks.
The NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence: Translating Identity Management and Cybersecurity into Scientific Collaboration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welch, V.

2016-12-01

Scientists care deeply about their collaborations: who is a member, who can access, produce, and correct data, and manager instruments critical to their science missions. The communities of cybersecurity and identity management professionals develop tools to support collaborations and the undertaking of trustworthy science, but there are large cultural and linguistic gaps between these communities and the scientists they service. The National Science Foundation has recently funded a NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to help its community of projects by providing leadership and addressing the challenges of trustworthy science. A key goal of this NSF Center has been translating between the goals of the science community into requirements and risks understood by identity management and cybersecurity communities. This talk will give an update on the Center's efforts and other services it provides to the NSF community to bridge these cultures.
Sorting Out the Video Game Controversy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crespi, Pam

1983-01-01

This article looks at the controversy over video games; arguments for and against them are offered, along with a list of regulations in force around the country and nine important factors agencies should consider before leasing the machines. (JM)
An Empirically Derived Taxonomy of Factors Affecting Physicians' Willingness to Disclose Medical Errors

PubMed Central

Kaldjian, Lauris C; Jones, Elizabeth W; Rosenthal, Gary E; Tripp-Reimer, Toni; Hillis, Stephen L

2006-01-01

BACKGROUND Physician disclosure of medical errors to institutions, patients, and colleagues is important for patient safety, patient care, and professional education. However, the variables that may facilitate or impede disclosure are diverse and lack conceptual organization. OBJECTIVE To develop an empirically derived, comprehensive taxonomy of factors that affects voluntary disclosure of errors by physicians. DESIGN A mixed-methods study using qualitative data collection (structured literature search and exploratory focus groups), quantitative data transformation (sorting and hierarchical cluster analysis), and validation procedures (confirmatory focus groups and expert review). RESULTS Full-text review of 316 articles identified 91 impeding or facilitating factors affecting physicians' willingness to disclose errors. Exploratory focus groups identified an additional 27 factors. Sorting and hierarchical cluster analysis organized factors into 8 domains. Confirmatory focus groups and expert review relocated 6 factors, removed 2 factors, and modified 4 domain names. The final taxonomy contained 4 domains of facilitating factors (responsibility to patient, responsibility to self, responsibility to profession, responsibility to community), and 4 domains of impeding factors (attitudinal barriers, uncertainties, helplessness, fears and anxieties). CONCLUSIONS A taxonomy of facilitating and impeding factors provides a conceptual framework for a complex field of variables that affects physicians' willingness to disclose errors to institutions, patients, and colleagues. This taxonomy can be used to guide the design of studies to measure the impact of different factors on disclosure, to assist in the design of error-reporting systems, and to inform educational interventions to promote the disclosure of errors to patients. PMID:16918739
Web page sorting algorithm based on query keyword distance relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Han; Cui, Hong Gang; Tang, Hao

2017-08-01

In order to optimize the problem of page sorting, according to the search keywords in the web page in the relationship between the characteristics of the proposed query keywords clustering ideas. And it is converted into the degree of aggregation of the search keywords in the web page. Based on the PageRank algorithm, the clustering degree factor of the query keyword is added to make it possible to participate in the quantitative calculation. This paper proposes an improved algorithm for PageRank based on the distance relation between search keywords. The experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the method.
Interactions and Interventions: Current Research on Improving Informal Astronomy Education via the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manning, James G.; Gurton, S.; Hurst, A.; Berendsen, M.; Storksdieck, M.; Haley-Goldman, K.; Stein, J.; Pompea, S.; Garmany, C.; Sparks, R.; Pollock, W.

2007-12-01

In building national capacity for better informal astronomy education and public outreach (EPO), what sorts of professional development interactions are most effective in what situations--and what interventions for improvement can be effectively applied? Building on previous experience, the ASP, in conjunction with its partners, is conducting two National Science Foundation (NSF) funded projects investigating astronomy teaching and learning in informal contexts to explore these questions in both museum-based and amateur astronomy club settings. "Astronomy from the Ground Up" (AfGU) develops capacity for hands-on astronomy education in small and medium-sized science centers and nature centers through on-site and online professional development workshops and the establishment of a "community of practice" network. The ASP, in collaboration with the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) and the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), is investigating which model--face-to-face or online professional development--works best and will be sustainable for that target group. "Sharing the Universe" (STU) builds on the Night Sky Network in which amateur astronomy clubs, through the ASP with financial and logistical support from NASA and its missions, are provided tools and training to conduct EPO activities with their public audiences. The ASP, in collaboration with the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI), launched a national survey in late 2007 to investigate the factors that either support or discourage sustained amateur astronomer EPO efforts, followed by an in-depth study of a subset of both successful and struggling clubs, and leading to the development of interventions that support amateur astronomy outreach within the context of a nurturing club environment. The presentation will offer some early and initial results of the AfGU project--which reveal some interesting and unforeseen advantages of the online model over the on-site model--and some insights into the STU national survey of astronomy clubs as this project gets underway.
NCALM: NSF Supported Center for Airborne Laser Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, R. L.; Carter, W. E.; Dietrich, W. E.

2003-12-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded a grant to create a research center to support the use of airborne laser mapping technology in the scientific community. The NSF supported Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) will be operated jointly by the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida (UF) and the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California-Berkeley (UCB). NCALM will use the Airborne Laser Swath Mapping (ALSM) system jointly owned by UF and Florida International University (FIU), based at the UF Geosensing Engineering and Mapping (GEM) Research Center. The state-of-the-art laser surveying instrumentation, GPS systems, which are installed in a Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft, will collect research grade data in areas selected through the competitive NSF grant review process. The ALSM observations will be analyzed both at UF and UCB, and made available to the PI through an archiving and distribution center at UCB-building upon the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory (BSL) Northern California Earthquake Data Center system. The purpose of NCALM is to provide research grade data from ALSM technology to NSF supported research studies in geosciences. The Center will also contribute to software development that will increase the processing speed and data accuracy. This presentation will discuss NCALM operation and the process of submitting proposals to NSF. In addition, it will outline the process to request available NCALM seed project funds to help jump-start small scientific research studies. Funds are also available for travel by academic researchers and students for hands-on knowledge and experience in ALSM technology at UF and UCB.
The Early Tech Development Course: Experiential Commercialization Education for the Medical Academician.

PubMed

Servoss, Jonathan; Chang, Connie; Fay, Jonathan; Ward, Kevin

2017-04-01

Research produced by medical academicians holds promise for developing into biomedical innovations in therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, and health care information technology; however, the road to biomedical innovation is fraught with risk, including the challenge of moving from basic research insight onto a viable commercialization path. Compounding this challenge is the growing demand on medical academicians to be more productive in their clinical, teaching, and research duties within a resource-constrained environment. In 2014, the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School and College of Engineering codesigned and implemented an accelerated, biomedical-focused version of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. The UM Early Tech Development (ETD) Course, designed for medical academicians exploring the commercial potential of early-stage ideas, covers the NSF I-Corps concept; supports the formation of teams of faculty, graduate, and medical students; and accommodates medical academicians' schedules. From 2014 to 2015, the ETD Course graduated 39 project teams from UM and other institutions. One-third of the teams have continued to pursue their projects, receiving additional funding, engaging industry partners, or enrolling in the NSF I-Corps program. The ETD Course, a potential pipeline to the NSF I-Corps program, captures a target audience of medical academicians and others in academic medicine. To better understand the long-term effects of the course and its relationship to the NSF I-Corps program, the authors will conduct a study on the careers of all ETD Course graduates, including those who have enrolled in NSF I-Corps versus those who have not.
Global nanotechnology development from 1991 to 2012: patents, scientific publications, and effect of NSF funding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hsinchun; Roco, Mihail C.; Son, Jaebong; Jiang, Shan; Larson, Catherine A.; Gao, Qiang

2013-09-01

In a relatively short interval for an emerging technology, nanotechnology has made a significant economic impact in numerous sectors including semiconductor manufacturing, catalysts, medicine, agriculture, and energy production. A part of the United States (US) government investment in basic research has been realized in the last two decades through the National Science Foundation (NSF), beginning with the nanoparticle research initiative in 1991 and continuing with support from the National Nanotechnology Initiative after fiscal year 2001. This paper has two main goals: (a) present a longitudinal analysis of the global nanotechnology development as reflected in the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) patents and Web of Science (WoS) publications in nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) for the interval 1991-2012; and (b) identify the effect of basic research funded by NSF on both indicators. The interval has been separated into three parts for comparison purposes: 1991-2000, 2001-2010, and 2011-2012. The global trends of patents and scientific publications are presented. Bibliometric analysis, topic analysis, and citation network analysis methods are used to rank countries, institutions, technology subfields, and inventors contributing to nanotechnology development. We then, examined how these entities were affected by NSF funding and how they evolved over the past two decades. Results show that dedicated NSF funding used to support nanotechnology R&D was followed by an increased number of relevant patents and scientific publications, a greater diversity of technology topics, and a significant increase of citations. The NSF played important roles in the inventor community and served as a major contributor to numerous nanotechnology subfields.
The Early Tech Development Course: Experiential Commercialization Education for the Medical Academician

PubMed Central

Chang, Connie; Fay, Jonathan; Ward, Kevin

2017-01-01

Problem Research produced by medical academicians holds promise for developing into biomedical innovations in therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, and health care information technology; however, the road to biomedical innovation is fraught with risk, including the challenge of moving from basic research insight onto a viable commercialization path. Compounding this challenge is the growing demand on medical academicians to be more productive in their clinical, teaching, and research duties within a resource-constrained environment. Approach In 2014, the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School and College of Engineering codesigned and implemented an accelerated, biomedical-focused version of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. The UM Early Tech Development (ETD) Course, designed for medical academicians exploring the commercial potential of early-stage ideas, covers the NSF I-Corps concept; supports the formation of teams of faculty, graduate, and medical students; and accommodates medical academicians’ schedules. Outcomes From 2014 to 2015, the ETD Course graduated 39 project teams from UM and other institutions. One-third of the teams have continued to pursue their projects, receiving additional funding, engaging industry partners, or enrolling in the NSF I-Corps program. Next Steps The ETD Course, a potential pipeline to the NSF I-Corps program, captures a target audience of medical academicians and others in academic medicine. To better understand the long-term effects of the course and its relationship to the NSF I-Corps program, the authors will conduct a study on the careers of all ETD Course graduates, including those who have enrolled in NSF I-Corps versus those who have not. PMID:28351064
Assessment of urinary inhibitor or promoter activity in uric acid nephrolithiasis

PubMed Central

Doizi, Steeve; Rodgers, Kathy; Poindexter, John; Sakhaee, Khashayar; Maalouf, Naim M.

2017-01-01

Purpose To assess the presence of a reduced inhibitor activity or an increased promoter activity in urine of idiopathic uric acid stone formers (IUASF) compared to non-stone formers (NSF) independent of urinary pH. Methods 30 IUASF, 9 obese NSF and 12 lean NSF collected 24-hour urine under metabolic diet. Three urine aliquots per subject were used to assess spontaneous nucleation (SN, de novo crystal formation), crystal growth (CG) using a 0.1 mg/mL seed of anhydrous uric acid (UA) and steady state (SS) of UA solubility using a 5 mg/mL seed of UA (assessing maximum amount of UA dissolvable in urine). All experiments were conducted for 6 hours at a constant pH of 5.0. UA concentration was measured in filtered aliquots at 0, 3 and 6 hours. Results At baseline, 24-hour urinary pH was significantly lower and UA saturation significantly higher in IUASF. No significant SN occurred and a similar SS UA concentration was reached in the three groups. IUASF and lean NSF displayed a similar decrease in UA concentration during CG, while obese NSF started with higher UA concentration and consequently displayed higher magnitude of decrease in UA concentration for CG. Conclusions This study suggests that there is no significant difference between IUASF and NSF in terms of promoter or inhibitor activity in whole urine against UA stone formation when urine pH is maintained constant. The findings suggest that UA stone formation is dictated by a high urinary saturation with respect to UA, driven primarily by a low urine pH. PMID:26723865
Correspondence between mothers' self-reported and observed child-rearing practices.

PubMed

Kochanska, G; Kuczynski, L; Radke-Yarrow, M

1989-02-01

The correspondence between self-reported child-rearing attitudes and practices and actual child management was examined among 68 mothers of young children. Data on mothers' verbal and physical control techniques along with children's responses (cooperation vs. resistance) were obtained during 90 min of spontaneous interaction in a naturalistic setting. Self-report data (the Block Q-Sort) were obtained 1-2 weeks later. The Block Q-Sort factors were combined to represent authoritarian and authoritative patterns of attitudes. The authoritarian pattern was positively associated with the use of direct commands, physical enforcements, reprimands, and prohibitive interventions, and negatively associated with the use of suggestions. The authoritative pattern was positively related to the use of suggestions and positive incentives, and negatively related to the use of physical enforcements, prohibitive interventions, and direct commands. Mothers' enjoyment of the parental role and their negative affect toward the child, as expressed in the Block Q-Sort, were more a result of the child's cooperation/resistance during the interaction than predictors of maternal control strategies.
Grain size analysis and depositional environment of shallow marine to basin floor, Kelantan River Delta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afifah, M. R. Nurul; Aziz, A. Che; Roslan, M. Kamal

2015-09-01

Sediment samples were collected from the shallow marine from Kuala Besar, Kelantan outwards to the basin floor of South China Sea which consisted of quaternary bottom sediments. Sixty five samples were analysed for their grain size distribution and statistical relationships. Basic statistical analysis like mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis were calculated and used to differentiate the depositional environment of the sediments and to derive the uniformity of depositional environment either from the beach or river environment. The sediments of all areas were varied in their sorting ranging from very well sorted to poorly sorted, strongly negative skewed to strongly positive skewed, and extremely leptokurtic to very platykurtic in nature. Bivariate plots between the grain-size parameters were then interpreted and the Coarsest-Median (CM) pattern showed the trend suggesting relationships between sediments influenced by three ongoing hydrodynamic factors namely turbidity current, littoral drift and waves dynamic, which functioned to control the sediments distribution pattern in various ways.
Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit Graduates Show Persistent Difficulties in an Intra-Dimensional Shift Card Sort

PubMed Central

Kittler, Phyllis M.; Brooks, Patricia J.; Rossi, Vanessa; Karmel, Bernard Z.; Gardner, Judith M.; Flory, Michael J.

2014-01-01

Neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) graduates, a group at risk for attention problems and ADHD, performed an intra-dimensional shift card sort at 34, 42, 51, and 60 months to assess executive function and to examine effects of individual risk factors. In the ‘silly’ game, children sorted cards (airplanes and dogs) so they were not the same as targets. In the ‘same’ game they did the opposite. Performance on the ‘silly’ game was poor, especially when it was presented first. Success in following ‘silly’ game rules improved with age, and was significantly linked to maternal education and birth weight for gestational age, a measure of intrauterine stress. Degree of CNS injury differentiated children who completed the task from children who did not, and also affected the need to repeat instructions in the ‘same’ game. These results confirm an increased likelihood of impairments in executive function during preschool years in NICU graduates. PMID:24683313
Retrograde Signaling from Progranulin to Sort1 Counteracts Synapse Elimination in the Developing Cerebellum.

PubMed

Uesaka, Naofumi; Abe, Manabu; Konno, Kohtarou; Yamazaki, Maya; Sakoori, Kazuto; Watanabe, Takaki; Kao, Tzu-Huei; Mikuni, Takayasu; Watanabe, Masahiko; Sakimura, Kenji; Kano, Masanobu

2018-02-21

Elimination of redundant synapses formed early in development and strengthening of necessary connections are crucial for shaping functional neural circuits. Purkinje cells (PCs) in the neonatal cerebellum are innervated by multiple climbing fibers (CFs) with similar strengths. A single CF is strengthened whereas the other CFs are eliminated in each PC during postnatal development. The underlying mechanisms, particularly for the strengthening of single CFs, are poorly understood. Here we report that progranulin, a multi-functional growth factor implicated in the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia, strengthens developing CF synaptic inputs and counteracts their elimination from postnatal day 11 to 16. Progranulin derived from PCs acts retrogradely onto its putative receptor Sort1 on CFs. This effect is independent of semaphorin 3A, another retrograde signaling molecule that counteracts CF synapse elimination. We propose that progranulin-Sort1 signaling strengthens and maintains developing CF inputs, and may contribute to selection of single "winner" CFs that survive synapse elimination. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Global Analysis of Yeast Endosomal Transport Identifies the Vps55/68 Sorting Complex

PubMed Central

Schluter, Cayetana; Lam, Karen K.Y.; Brumm, Jochen; Wu, Bella W.; Saunders, Matthew; Stevens, Tom H.

2008-01-01

Endosomal transport is critical for cellular processes ranging from receptor down-regulation and retroviral budding to the immune response. A full understanding of endosome sorting requires a comprehensive picture of the multiprotein complexes that orchestrate vesicle formation and fusion. Here, we use unsupervised, large-scale phenotypic analysis and a novel computational approach for the global identification of endosomal transport factors. This technique effectively identifies components of known and novel protein assemblies. We report the characterization of a previously undescribed endosome sorting complex that contains two well-conserved proteins with four predicted membrane-spanning domains. Vps55p and Vps68p form a complex that acts with or downstream of ESCRT function to regulate endosomal trafficking. Loss of Vps68p disrupts recycling to the TGN as well as onward trafficking to the vacuole without preventing the formation of lumenal vesicles within the MVB. Our results suggest the Vps55/68 complex mediates a novel, conserved step in the endosomal maturation process. PMID:18216282
GGA3 mediates TrkA endocytic recycling to promote sustained Akt phosphorylation and cell survival

PubMed Central

Li, Xuezhi; Lavigne, Pierre; Lavoie, Christine

2015-01-01

Although TrkA postendocytic sorting significantly influences neuronal cell survival and differentiation, the molecular mechanism underlying TrkA receptor sorting in the recycling or degradation pathways remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Golgi-localized, γ adaptin-ear–containing ADP ribosylation factor-binding protein 3 (GGA3) interacts directly with the TrkA cytoplasmic tail through an internal DXXLL motif and mediates the functional recycling of TrkA to the plasma membrane. We find that GGA3 depletion by siRNA delays TrkA recycling, accelerates TrkA degradation, attenuates sustained NGF-induced Akt activation, and reduces cell survival. We also show that GGA3’s effect on TrkA recycling is dependent on the activation of Arf6. This work identifies GGA3 as a key player in a novel DXXLL-mediated endosomal sorting machinery that targets TrkA to the plasma membrane, where it prolongs the activation of Akt signaling and survival responses. PMID:26446845
75 FR 55359 - Notice of Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-10

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Information Collection AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF). ACTION: Notice of information collection. SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is... opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork...
76 FR 3180 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-19

... Board Web site http:[sol][sol]www.nsf.gov/nsb for additional information and schedule updates (time, place, subject matter or status of meeting) may be found at http:[sol][sol]www.nsf.gov/nsb/notices...

76 FR 20720 - Committee Management; Renewals

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-13

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Committee Management; Renewals The NSF management officials having.... 1861 et seq. This determination follows consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General... Susanne Bolton, NSF, at (703) 292-7488. Dated: April 8, 2011. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer...
78 FR 21979 - Committee Management; Renewal

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-12

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Committee Management; Renewal The NSF management officials having.... 1861 et seq. This determination follows consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General... Susanne Bolton, NSF, at (703) 292-7488. Dated: April 8, 2013. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer...
Defining linkages between the GSC and NSF's LTER program: How the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) relates to GCDML and other outcomes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Inigo, Gil San; Servilla, Mark; Brunt, James

2008-06-01

The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) invited a representative of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) to its fifth workshop to present the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) metadata standard and its relationship to the Minimum Information about a Genome/Metagenome Sequence (MIGS/MIMS) and its implementation, the Genomic Contextual Data Markup Language (GCDML). The LTER is one of the top National Science Foundation (NSF) programs in biology since 1980, representing diverse ecosystems and creating long-term, interdisciplinary research, synthesis of information, and theory. The adoption of EML as the LTER network standard has been key to build network synthesis architectures based on high-quality standardized metadata.more » EML is the NSF-recognized metadata standard for LTER, and EML is a criteria used to review the LTER program progress. At the workshop, a potential crosswalk between the GCDML and EML was explored. Also, collaboration between the LTER and GSC developers was proposed to join efforts toward a common metadata cataloging designer's tool. The community adoption success of a metadata standard depends, among other factors, on the tools and trainings developed to use the standard. LTER's experience in embracing EML may help GSC to achieve similar success. A possible collaboration between LTER and GSC to provide training opportunities for GCDML and the associated tools is being explored. Finally, LTER is investigating EML enhancements to better accommodate genomics data, possibly integrating the GCDML schema into EML. All these action items have been accepted by the LTER contingent, and further collaboration between the GSC and LTER is expected.« less
Defining linkages between the GSC and NSF's LTER program: how the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) relates to GCDML and other outcomes.

PubMed

Gil, Inigo San; Sheldon, Wade; Schmidt, Tom; Servilla, Mark; Aguilar, Raul; Gries, Corinna; Gray, Tanya; Field, Dawn; Cole, James; Pan, Jerry Yun; Palanisamy, Giri; Henshaw, Donald; O'Brien, Margaret; Kinkel, Linda; McMahon, Katherine; Kottmann, Renzo; Amaral-Zettler, Linda; Hobbie, John; Goldstein, Philip; Guralnick, Robert P; Brunt, James; Michener, William K

2008-06-01

The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) invited a representative of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) to its fifth workshop to present the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) metadata standard and its relationship to the Minimum Information about a Genome/Metagenome Sequence (MIGS/MIMS) and its implementation, the Genomic Contextual Data Markup Language (GCDML). The LTER is one of the top National Science Foundation (NSF) programs in biology since 1980, representing diverse ecosystems and creating long-term, interdisciplinary research, synthesis of information, and theory. The adoption of EML as the LTER network standard has been key to build network synthesis architectures based on high-quality standardized metadata. EML is the NSF-recognized metadata standard for LTER, and EML is a criteria used to review the LTER program progress. At the workshop, a potential crosswalk between the GCDML and EML was explored. Also, collaboration between the LTER and GSC developers was proposed to join efforts toward a common metadata cataloging designer's tool. The community adoption success of a metadata standard depends, among other factors, on the tools and trainings developed to use the standard. LTER's experience in embracing EML may help GSC to achieve similar success. A possible collaboration between LTER and GSC to provide training opportunities for GCDML and the associated tools is being explored. Finally, LTER is investigating EML enhancements to better accommodate genomics data, possibly integrating the GCDML schema into EML. All these action items have been accepted by the LTER contingent, and further collaboration between the GSC and LTER is expected.
Denni Algorithm An Enhanced Of SMS (Scan, Move and Sort) Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aprilsyah Lubis, Denni; Salim Sitompul, Opim; Marwan; Tulus; Andri Budiman, M.

2017-12-01

Sorting has been a profound area for the algorithmic researchers, and many resources are invested to suggest a more working sorting algorithm. For this purpose many existing sorting algorithms were observed in terms of the efficiency of the algorithmic complexity. Efficient sorting is important to optimize the use of other algorithms that require sorted lists to work correctly. Sorting has been considered as a fundamental problem in the study of algorithms that due to many reasons namely, the necessary to sort information is inherent in many applications, algorithms often use sorting as a key subroutine, in algorithm design there are many essential techniques represented in the body of sorting algorithms, and many engineering issues come to the fore when implementing sorting algorithms., Many algorithms are very well known for sorting the unordered lists, and one of the well-known algorithms that make the process of sorting to be more economical and efficient is SMS (Scan, Move and Sort) algorithm, an enhancement of Quicksort invented Rami Mansi in 2010. This paper presents a new sorting algorithm called Denni-algorithm. The Denni algorithm is considered as an enhancement on the SMS algorithm in average, and worst cases. The Denni algorithm is compared with the SMS algorithm and the results were promising.
Surface Proteins of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Mechanisms of Their Targeting to the Cell Wall Envelope

PubMed Central

Navarre, William Wiley; Schneewind, Olaf

1999-01-01

The cell wall envelope of gram-positive bacteria is a macromolecular, exoskeletal organelle that is assembled and turned over at designated sites. The cell wall also functions as a surface organelle that allows gram-positive pathogens to interact with their environment, in particular the tissues of the infected host. All of these functions require that surface proteins and enzymes be properly targeted to the cell wall envelope. Two basic mechanisms, cell wall sorting and targeting, have been identified. Cell well sorting is the covalent attachment of surface proteins to the peptidoglycan via a C-terminal sorting signal that contains a consensus LPXTG sequence. More than 100 proteins that possess cell wall-sorting signals, including the M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes, protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, and several internalins of Listeria monocytogenes, have been identified. Cell wall targeting involves the noncovalent attachment of proteins to the cell surface via specialized binding domains. Several of these wall-binding domains appear to interact with secondary wall polymers that are associated with the peptidoglycan, for example teichoic acids and polysaccharides. Proteins that are targeted to the cell surface include muralytic enzymes such as autolysins, lysostaphin, and phage lytic enzymes. Other examples for targeted proteins are the surface S-layer proteins of bacilli and clostridia, as well as virulence factors required for the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes (internalin B) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (PspA) infections. In this review we describe the mechanisms for both sorting and targeting of proteins to the envelope of gram-positive bacteria and review the functions of known surface proteins. PMID:10066836
Building Global Capacity for Conducting Operational Research Using the SORT IT Model: Where and Who?

PubMed

Zachariah, Rony; Rust, Stefanie; Berger, Selma Dar; Guillerm, Nathalie; Bissell, Karen; Delaunois, Paul; Reid, Anthony J; Kumar, Ajay M V; Olliaro, Piero L; Reeder, John C; Harries, Anthony D; Ramsay, Andrew

2016-01-01

Research capacity is weakest in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where operational research is highly relevant and needed. Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) courses have been developed to train participants to conduct and publish operational research and influence policy and practice. Twenty courses were completed in Asia, Africa, Europe and the South Pacific between 2009 and 2014. In the 20 completed SORT IT courses, to assess where the research was conducted, who was trained, who became facilitators in subsequent courses and course outcomes. A cohort study of completed SORT IT courses. There were 236 participants (41% female) including 64 nationalities who conducted research in 59 countries, mostly from Asia and Africa (mean course duration = 9.7 months). Most participants (68%) were from government health programs and non-governmental agencies. A total of 213(90%) participants completed all milestones successfully with 41(19%) becoming subsequent course facilitators, 88% of whom were from LMICs. Of 228 manuscripts submitted to scientific journals, 197(86%) were either published or in press; in 86%, the principal investigator (first author) was a LMIC national. Papers were published in 23 scientific journals (impact factor 0.5-4.4) and covered 21 disease categories (median publication time = 5.7 months). Published papers (186) had 94,794 cumulative article views/downloads. Article views/downloads for immediate open access articles were double those from closed access journals. The SORT IT model has been effective in training personnel to produce relevant operational research in LMICs. It merits continued commitment and support for further scale-up and development.
Improved Isolation, Proliferation, and Differentiation Capacity of Mouse Ovarian Putative Stem Cells.

PubMed

Yazdekhasti, Hossein; Hosseini, Marzieh Agha; Rajabi, Zahra; Parvari, Soraya; Salehnia, Mojdeh; Koruji, Morteza; Izadyar, Fariborz; Aliakbari, Fereshte; Abbasi, Mehdi

2017-04-01

The recent discovery of ovarian stem cells in postnatal mammalian ovaries, also referred to as putative stem cells (PSCs), and their roles in mammalian fertility has challenged the long-existing theory that women are endowed with a certain number of germ cells. The rare amount of PSCs is the major limitation for utilizing them through different applications. Therefore, this study was conducted in six phases to find a way to increase the number of Fragilis- and mouse vasa homolog (MVH)-positive sorted cells from 14-day-old NMRI strain mice. Results showed that there is a population of Fragilis- and MVH-positive cells with pluripotent stem cell characteristics, which can be isolated and expanded for months in vitro. PSCs increase their proliferation capacity under the influence of some mitogenic agents, and our results showed that different doses of stem cell factor (SCF) induce PSC proliferation with the maximum increase observed at 50 ng/mL. SCF was also able to increase the number of Fragilis- and MVH-positive cells after sorting by magnetic-activated cell sorting and enhance colony formation efficiency in sorted cells. Differentiation capacity assay indicated that there is a basic level of spontaneous differentiation toward oocyte-like cells during 3 days of culture. However, relative gene expression was significantly higher in the follicle-stimulating hormone-treated groups, especially in the Fragilis- sorted PSCs. We suggest that higher number of PSCs provides us either a greater source of energy that can be injected into energy-impaired oocytes in women with a history of repeat IVF failure or a good source for research.
Rmax: A systematic approach to evaluate instrument sort performance using center stream catch☆

PubMed Central

Riddell, Andrew; Gardner, Rui; Perez-Gonzalez, Alexis; Lopes, Telma; Martinez, Lola

2015-01-01

Sorting performance can be evaluated with regard to Purity, Yield and/or Recovery of the sorted fraction. Purity is a check on the quality of the sample and the sort decisions made by the instrument. Recovery and Yield definitions vary with some authors regarding both as how efficient the instrument is at sorting the target particles from the original sample, others distinguishing Recovery from Yield, where the former is used to describe the accuracy of the instrument’s sort count. Yield and Recovery are often neglected, mostly due to difficulties in their measurement. Purity of the sort product is often cited alone but is not sufficient to evaluate sorting performance. All of these three performance metrics require re-sampling of the sorted fraction. But, unlike Purity, calculating Yield and/or Recovery calls for the absolute counting of particles in the sorted fraction, which may not be feasible, particularly when dealing with rare populations and precious samples. In addition, the counting process itself involves large errors. Here we describe a new metric for evaluating instrument sort Recovery, defined as the number of particles sorted relative to the number of original particles to be sorted. This calculation requires only measuring the ratios of target and non-target populations in the original pre-sort sample and in the waste stream or center stream catch (CSC), avoiding re-sampling the sorted fraction and absolute counting. We called this new metric Rmax, since it corresponds to the maximum expected Recovery for a particular set of instrument parameters. Rmax is ideal to evaluate and troubleshoot the optimum drop-charge delay of the sorter, or any instrument related failures that will affect sort performance. It can be used as a daily quality control check but can be particularly useful to assess instrument performance before single-cell sorting experiments. Because we do not perturb the sort fraction we can calculate Rmax during the sort process, being especially valuable to check instrument performance during rare population sorts. PMID:25747337
76 FR 39905 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-07

... Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the...
Astronomy education awards in the IUSE:EHR portfolio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kevin M.

2017-01-01

Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program that addresses immediate challenges and opportunities facing undergraduate STEM education. IUSE endeavors to support faculty as they incorporate educational research results into the classroom and advance our understanding of effective teaching and learning. Note that IUSE is an NSF-wide framework. This paper will focus upon IUSE:EHR - the IUSE program administered from NSF's Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR) through the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). Other branches of IUSE operating within this framework include IUSE:RED in the Engineering Directorate and IUSE:GEOPATHS in the Geosciences Directorate.
Serving Community College Students: Student Preparation, Development and Growth through the REU Experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, C. S.; Osborn, J.; Smith, M.

2014-12-01

Effectively recruiting and engaging community college students in STEM research experiences is an increasingly important goal of the NSF but has not historically been the primary focus of most NSF-REU Site programs. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Earth and Environmental Sciences (SURFEES) program at Chapman University, a primarily undergraduate institution in Southern California, is the site of the first NSF-REU program in the NSF's Division of Earth Sciences that selects participants exclusively from local partnering community colleges. Building on and now running parallel with a successful internally-funded summer research program already in place and available only to Chapman undergraduates, the SURFEES program incorporates specific mentor and participant pre-experience training, pre-, mid-, and post-assessment instruments, and programming targeted to the earth and environmental sciences as well as to community college students. Perhaps most importantly, the application, selection and pairing of student participants with faculty mentors was conducted with specific goals of identifying those applicants with the greatest potential for a transformative experience while also meeting self-defined targets of under-represented minority, female, and low-income participants. Initial assessment results of the first participant cohort from summer 2014 and lessons learned for creating/adapting an NSF-REU site to involve community college students will be discussed.
National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Mentoring Plan Requirement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehr, Dana

2010-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 09-29) contains new guidance regarding compliance with the mentoring requirement of the America COMPETES Act. NSF Program Staff will review the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan Requirement with regard to NSF proposal submissions. Each NSF proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include, as a supplementary document, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral researchers supported by the project, irrespective of whether they reside at the submitting organization, any subawardee organization, or at any organization participating in a simultaneously submitted collaborative project. Examples of mentoring activities include, but are not limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of grant proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional practices. The proposed mentoring activities will be evaluated as part of the merit review process under the Foundation's broader impacts merit review criterion. Proposals that include funding to support postdoctoral researchers, and, do not include the requisite mentoring plan will be returned without review.
Old Theories versus Changing Environment,

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-10-01

factors will keep him from complaining; however, they will not make him work harder or more effec- tively. It’s sort of the "gold-plated sweatshop ...each of which must be attended to regularly. Specifically, Herzberg’ sI research has indicated that those factors which tend to make an individual...contends it may be an inefficient concept in terms of providing motivation to improve productivity or efficiency. Rather, another set of factors should be
Engaging hard to engage clients: a Q methodological study involving clinical psychologists.

PubMed

Lister, Matthew; Gardner, Damian

2006-09-01

This research uses Q methodology to collate a number of techniques, and to investigate what techniques are used to encourage engagement across a number of clinical psychology specialities. Eleven groups of participants from different clinical specialities were interviewed in order to develop a set of 51 statements reflecting engagement techniques that clinicians felt that they were likely to use with 'hard to engage' clients. Seventy-five participants from a similar range of specialities were then asked to Q sort these statements and provide other demographic information. Forty-four participants returned completed Q sorts which were factor analysed by a tailored program (PQ Method) to investigate how the statements fall into patterns that reflect ways clinicians approach engagement. Varimax rotation produced five factors, four of which were able to be interpreted by participant information and comments. These accounts were taken back to some of the initial participants for 'reflexive correction' (Stainton Rogers, 1995). The four factor patterns are discussed in relation to existing literature and the research questions. These identified factors are: (i) the client focused approach; (ii) the interpersonal professional; (iii) the 'eclectic' or systemic approach; (iv) the expert listener. The implications for training, clinical practice and research are discussed.
Differences in Preferential Sorting of Fine Particles in the Panama Basin Over the Past 25 kyr: Effects on 230Th-derived Focusing Factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveley, M. R.; Marcantonio, F.; Lyle, M. W.; Wang, J. K.

2013-12-01

In this study, we attempt to understand how preferential sorting of fine particles during redistribution processes in the Panama Basin affects the 230Th constant-flux proxy. Fine particles likely contain greater amounts of 230Th, so that preferential sorting of fine particles may bias sediment mass accumulation rates (MARs). We examined sediments that span the past 25 kyr from two new sediment cores retrieved within about 56 km of each other in the northern part of the basin (MV1013-01-'4JC', 5° 44.699'N 85° 45.498' W, 1730 m depth; MV1014-01-'8JC', 6° 14.038'N 86° 2.613' W, 1993 m depth). Core 4JC, closer to the ridge top that bounds the basin (Cocos Ridge), has a thin sediment drape, while the deeper core 8JC, has a thicker sediment drape and lies further from the ridge top. 230Th-derived focusing factors from 4JC are similar and suggest winnowing with average values of about 0.5 and 0.6 during the Holocene and the last glacial, respectively. For 8JC, calculated average focusing factors are significantly different and suggest focusing with values of about 2 during the Holocene and 4 during the last glacial. Since the two sites are close to each other, one would expect similar rain rates and, therefore, similar 230Th-derived MARs within similar windows of time, i.e., the rain rate should not vary significantly at each site temporally. In addition, the radiocarbon-derived sand (>63μm) MARs should behave similarly since coarser particles are likely not transported by bottom currents. Sand MARs are, indeed, similar during the Holocene and the last glacial at each site. During the last glacial, however, sand MARs are about a factor of 3 higher than those during the Holocene. On the other hand, there is little variability in the 230Th-derived MARs both spatially and temporally. We interpret the discrepancies between the radiocarbon-derived sand and 230Th-derived MARs as being due to preferential sorting of fine particles during the redistribution of sediments by deep-sea currents. The 230Th-derived focusing factors are being overestimated at the deeper site and vice versa at the shallower site, and the degree of inaccuracy varies temporally. We discuss this temporal variability and its relationship to deep-sea current velocities.
Analysis of Chinese women with primary ovarian insufficiency by high resolution array-comparative genomic hybridization.

PubMed

Liao, Can; Fu, Fang; Yang, Xin; Sun, Yi-Min; Li, Dong-Zhi

2011-06-01

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as a primary ovarian defect characterized by absent menarche (primary amenorrhea) or premature depletion of ovarian follicles before the age of 40 years. The etiology of primary ovarian insufficiency in human female patients is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential genetic causes in primary amenorrhea patients by high resolution array based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis. Following the standard karyotyping analysis, genomic DNA from whole blood of 15 primary amenorrhea patients and 15 normal control women was hybridized with Affymetrix cytogenetic 2.7M arrays following the standard protocol. Copy number variations identified by array-CGH were confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction. All the 30 samples were negative by conventional karyotyping analysis. Microdeletions on chromosome 17q21.31-q21.32 with approximately 1.3 Mb were identified in four patients by high resolution array-CGH analysis. This included the female reproductive secretory pathway related factor N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) gene. The results of the present study suggest that there may be critical regions regulating primary ovarian insufficiency in women with a 17q21.31-q21.32 microdeletion. This effect might be due to the loss of function of the NSF gene/genes within the deleted region or to effects on contiguous genes.
Lengths of Orthologous Prokaryotic Proteins Are Affected by Evolutionary Factors

PubMed Central

Tatarinova, Tatiana; Dien Bard, Jennifer; Cohen, Irit

2015-01-01

Proteins of the same functional family (for example, kinases) may have significantly different lengths. It is an open question whether such variation in length is random or it appears as a response to some unknown evolutionary driving factors. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate existence of factors affecting prokaryotic gene lengths. We believe that the ranking of genomes according to lengths of their genes, followed by the calculation of coefficients of association between genome rank and genome property, is a reasonable approach in revealing such evolutionary driving factors. As we demonstrated earlier, our chosen approach, Bubble-sort, combines stability, accuracy, and computational efficiency as compared to other ranking methods. Application of Bubble Sort to the set of 1390 prokaryotic genomes confirmed that genes of Archaeal species are generally shorter than Bacterial ones. We observed that gene lengths are affected by various factors: within each domain, different phyla have preferences for short or long genes; thermophiles tend to have shorter genes than the soil-dwellers; halophiles tend to have longer genes. We also found that species with overrepresentation of cytosines and guanines in the third position of the codon (GC3 content) tend to have longer genes than species with low GC3 content. PMID:26114113
Lengths of Orthologous Prokaryotic Proteins Are Affected by Evolutionary Factors.

PubMed

Tatarinova, Tatiana; Salih, Bilal; Dien Bard, Jennifer; Cohen, Irit; Bolshoy, Alexander

2015-01-01

Proteins of the same functional family (for example, kinases) may have significantly different lengths. It is an open question whether such variation in length is random or it appears as a response to some unknown evolutionary driving factors. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate existence of factors affecting prokaryotic gene lengths. We believe that the ranking of genomes according to lengths of their genes, followed by the calculation of coefficients of association between genome rank and genome property, is a reasonable approach in revealing such evolutionary driving factors. As we demonstrated earlier, our chosen approach, Bubble-sort, combines stability, accuracy, and computational efficiency as compared to other ranking methods. Application of Bubble Sort to the set of 1390 prokaryotic genomes confirmed that genes of Archaeal species are generally shorter than Bacterial ones. We observed that gene lengths are affected by various factors: within each domain, different phyla have preferences for short or long genes; thermophiles tend to have shorter genes than the soil-dwellers; halophiles tend to have longer genes. We also found that species with overrepresentation of cytosines and guanines in the third position of the codon (GC3 content) tend to have longer genes than species with low GC3 content.
45 CFR 680.11 - Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... teaching careers to spend a year or two at NSF and then return to research and teaching, usually at the... investigator and his or her laboratory or group (if any) in the same general field of science, engineering, or...

48 CFR 2527.7002 - NSF patent policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 true NSF patent policy. 2527.7002 Section 2527.7002 Federal Acquisition Regulations System NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GENERAL... Department of Commerce in all its funding agreements for the performance of experimental, developmental, or...
Summary Report of the NSF/EPA WATERS Network Workshop

EPA Science Inventory

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organized a workshop to support The WATer and Environmental Research Systems (WATERS) Network project. The WATERS Network is a new joint initiative of the environmental engineering and hydrol...
Hemodynamics of the Aortic Jet and Implications for Detection of Aortic Stenosis Murmurs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Chi; Seo, Junghee; Bakhshaee, Hani; Mittal, Rajat

2016-11-01

Cardiac auscultation with a stethoscope has served as the primary method for qualitative screening of cardiovascular conditions for over a hundred years. However, a lack of quantitative understanding of the flow mechanism(s) responsible for the generation of the murmurs, as well as the effect of intervening tissue on the propagation of these murmurs has been a significant limiting factor in the advancement of automated cardiac auscultation. In this study, a multiphysics computational modeling approach is used to investigate these issues. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to explore the fluid dynamics of the jets formed at the aortic valve and the pressure fluctuations generated by the interaction of this jet with the aortic wall. Subsequently, structural wave propagation in the tissue is resolved by a high-order, linear viscoelastic wave solver in order to explore the propagation of the murmurs through a tissue-like material. The implications of these results for cardiac auscultation are discussed. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from NSF Grants IIS-1344772, CBET-1511200, and computational resource by XSEDE NSF Grant TG-CTS100002.
Fluid Dynamics of Thrombosis in Transcatheter Aortic Valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Jung Hee; Zhu, Chi; Dou, Zhongwang; Resar, Jon; Mittal, Rajat

2017-11-01

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with bioprosthetic valves (BPV) has become highly prevalent in recent years. While one advantage of BPVs over mechanical ones is the lower incidence of valve thrombosis, recent clinical studies have suggested a higher than expected incidence of subclinical bioprosthetic valve thrombosis (BVT). Many factors that might affect the transvalvular hemodynamics including the valve position, orientation, stent, and interaction with the coronary flow, have been suggested, but the casual mechanisms of valve thrombosis are still unknown. In the present study, the hemodynamics associated with the formation of BVT is investigated using a novel, coupled flow-structure-biochemical computational modeling. A reduced degree of freedom, fluid-structure-interaction model is proposed for the efficient simulation of the hemodynamics and leaflet dynamics in the BPVs. Simple models to take into account the effects of the stent and coronary flows have also been developed. Simulations are performed for canonical models of BPVs in the aorta in various configurations and the results are examined to provide insights into the mechanisms for valve thrombosis. Supported by the NSF Grants IIS-1344772, CBET-1511200 and NSF XSEDE Grant TG-CTS100002.
Tenfold increase in the Rabi decay time of the quantum dot hybrid qubit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thorgrimsson, Brandur; Kim, Dohun; Simmons, C. B.; Ward, Daniel R.; Foote, Ryan H.; Savage, D. E.; Lagally, M. G.; Friesen, Mark; Coppersmith, S. N.; Eriksson, M. A.

The quantum dot hybrid qubit is formed from three electrons in a double quantum dot. In previous work, we showed that the hybrid qubit has the speed of a charge qubit and the stability of a spin qubit. Here, we show that the hybrid qubit is also highly tunable, and can be tuned into regimes with desirable coherence properties. By changing the interdot tunnel rate by only 25%, from 5 GHz to 6.25 GHz, we are able to increase the Rabi decay time by a factor of ten, from 18 ns to 177 ns. We attribute this improvement to the refinement of an extended ``sweet spot'' in the energy dispersion of the hybrid qubit, where the qubit is less susceptible to charge noise, which is a dominant source of decoherence. This work was supported in part by ARO (W911NF-12-0607) and NSF (DMR-1206915 and PHY-1104660). Development and maintenance of the growth facilities used for fabricating samples is sup- ported by DOE (DE-FG02-03ER46028). This research utilized NSF-supported shared facilities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Helping Scientists Become Effective Partners in Education and Outreach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laursen, Sandra L.; Smith, Lesley K.

2009-01-01

How does a scientist find herself standing before a group of lively third-graders? She may be personally motivated-seeking to improve public understanding of scientific issues and the nature of science, or to see her own children receive a good science education-or perhaps she simply enjoys this kind of work [Andrews et al., 2005; Kim and Fortner, 2008]. In addition to internal motivating factors, federal funding agencies have begun to encourage scientists to participate in education and outreach (E/O) related to their research, through NASA program requirements for such activities (see ``Implementing the Office of Space Science Education/Public Outreach Strategy,'' at http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/pubs/edu/imp_plan.htm) and the U.S. National Science Foundation's increased emphasis on ``broader impacts'' in merit review of research proposals (see http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf032/bicexamples.pdf). Universities, laboratories, and large collaboratives have responded by developing E/O programs that include interaction between students, teachers, and the public in schools; after-school and summer programs; and work through science centers, planetaria, aquaria, and museums.
In Referees We Trust? Controversies over Grant Peer Review in the Late Twentieth Century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldwin, Melinda

While many accounts of external refereeing assume that it has been a consistent part of science since the seventeenth century, the practice developed far more slowly and haphazardly than many observers realize, and it was not until after the Second World War that ''peer review'' became considered an essential part of scientific publishing or grant-making. This talk will explore refereeing procedures at American grant-giving organizations in the twentieth century, focusing especially on the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The creators of the NSF and the NIH put refereeing systems in place at their foundation. However, the form and function of these systems differed from modern ''peer review'' in several important ways. At the NSF the initial purpose of the referee process was to advise the NSF program directors, not to dictate funding decisions. At the NIH, small ''study sections'' devoted to particular subjects made recommendations to the NIH leadership, which rendered final judgments. However, beginning in the 1960s a series of controversies about NIH and NSF grants placed refereeing procedures at these organizations under more intense scrutiny. These debates culminated in six days of Special Oversight Hearings into the NSF's peer review process in the summer of 1975. Following the hearings, both the NSF and NIH reformed their review processes to place more emphasis on referees' opinions about grant proposals, making peer review increasingly responsible for decision-making. These controversies illustrate that refereeing continued to undergo significant changes in form and purpose throughout the twentieth century, and further suggest that both the scientific community and the public placed increased emphasis on the role of the referee during the late twentieth century.
Parallel integer sorting with medium and fine-scale parallelism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dagum, Leonardo

1993-01-01

Two new parallel integer sorting algorithms, queue-sort and barrel-sort, are presented and analyzed in detail. These algorithms do not have optimal parallel complexity, yet they show very good performance in practice. Queue-sort designed for fine-scale parallel architectures which allow the queueing of multiple messages to the same destination. Barrel-sort is designed for medium-scale parallel architectures with a high message passing overhead. The performance results from the implementation of queue-sort on a Connection Machine CM-2 and barrel-sort on a 128 processor iPSC/860 are given. The two implementations are found to be comparable in performance but not as good as a fully vectorized bucket sort on the Cray YMP.
Sort computation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dorband, John E.

1988-01-01

Sorting has long been used to organize data in preparation for further computation, but sort computation allows some types of computation to be performed during the sort. Sort aggregation and sort distribution are the two basic forms of sort computation. Sort aggregation generates an accumulative or aggregate result for each group of records and places this result in one of the records. An aggregate operation can be any operation that is both associative and commutative, i.e., any operation whose result does not depend on the order of the operands or the order in which the operations are performed. Sort distribution copies the value from a field of a specific record in a group into that field in every record of that group.
Derivation of sorting programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varghese, Joseph; Loganantharaj, Rasiah

1990-01-01

Program synthesis for critical applications has become a viable alternative to program verification. Nested resolution and its extension are used to synthesize a set of sorting programs from their first order logic specifications. A set of sorting programs, such as, naive sort, merge sort, and insertion sort, were successfully synthesized starting from the same set of specifications.
Spin-the-bottle Sort and Annealing Sort: Oblivious Sorting via Round-robin Random Comparisons

PubMed Central

Goodrich, Michael T.

2013-01-01

We study sorting algorithms based on randomized round-robin comparisons. Specifically, we study Spin-the-bottle sort, where comparisons are unrestricted, and Annealing sort, where comparisons are restricted to a distance bounded by a temperature parameter. Both algorithms are simple, randomized, data-oblivious sorting algorithms, which are useful in privacy-preserving computations, but, as we show, Annealing sort is much more efficient. We show that there is an input permutation that causes Spin-the-bottle sort to require Ω(n2 log n) expected time in order to succeed, and that in O(n2 log n) time this algorithm succeeds with high probability for any input. We also show there is a specification of Annealing sort that runs in O(n log n) time and succeeds with very high probability. PMID:24550575
76 FR 35482 - Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-17

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION National Science Board Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice The National Science Board's Committee on Strategy and Budget's Task Force on Data Policies, pursuant to NSF.... A room will be available for the public and NSF staff to listen-in on this teleconference meeting...
Position Paper. Cutting the NSF-OSIS Budget: Potential Disaster for Information Science and Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Joshua I.

1974-01-01

A statement submitted on behalf of ASIS to the Subcommitte on Science Research and Development of the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives on the NSF Authorization Act 1975, HR 12816. (Author/JB)
48 CFR 2527.7002 - NSF patent policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

....7002 Section 2527.7002 Federal Acquisition Regulations System NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS Disposition of Rights in Inventions 2527.7002 NSF patent policy. As authorized by the National Science Board at its 230th meeting, October 15-16, 1981, the...
48 CFR 2527.7002 - NSF patent policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

....7002 Section 2527.7002 Federal Acquisition Regulations System NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS Disposition of Rights in Inventions 2527.7002 NSF patent policy. As authorized by the National Science Board at its 230th meeting, October 15-16, 1981, the...
48 CFR 2527.7002 - NSF patent policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

....7002 Section 2527.7002 Federal Acquisition Regulations System NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS Disposition of Rights in Inventions 2527.7002 NSF patent policy. As authorized by the National Science Board at its 230th meeting, October 15-16, 1981, the...
48 CFR 2527.7002 - NSF patent policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

....7002 Section 2527.7002 Federal Acquisition Regulations System NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS Disposition of Rights in Inventions 2527.7002 NSF patent policy. As authorized by the National Science Board at its 230th meeting, October 15-16, 1981, the...
5 CFR 5301.104 - Participation in NSF-supported conferences.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

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2014-01-01

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45 CFR 680.12 - One-year NSF post-employment restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

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5 CFR 5301.104 - Participation in NSF-supported conferences.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

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5 CFR 5301.104 - Participation in NSF-supported conferences.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Participation in NSF-supported conferences. 5301.104 Section 5301.104 Administrative Personnel NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION § 5301.104 Participation in...
5 CFR 5301.104 - Participation in NSF-supported conferences.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

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78 FR 12044 - DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-08

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Magnetic Reconnection in MHD and Kinetic Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loureiro, Nuno; Boldyrev, Stanislav

2017-10-01

Recent works have revisited the current understanding of Alfvénic turbulence to account for the role of magnetic reconnection. Theoretical arguments suggest that reconnection inevitably becomes important in the inertial range, at the scale where it becomes faster than the eddy turnover time. This leads to a transition to a new sub-inertial interval, suggesting a route to energy dissipation that is fundamentally different from that envisioned in the usual Kolmogorov-like phenomenology. These concepts can be extended to collisionless plasmas, where reconnection is enabled by electron inertia rather than resistivity. Although several different cases must then be considered, a common result is that the energy spectrum exhibits a scaling with the perpendicular wave number that scales between k⊥- 8 / 3 and k⊥- 3 , in favourable agreement with many numerical results and observations. Work supported by NSF-DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering, Award No. DE-SC0016215, and by NSF CAREER Award No. 1654168 (NFL); and by NSF Grant NSF AGS- 1261659 and by the Vilas Associates Award of UWM (SB).
Safe sorting of GFP-transduced live cells for subsequent culture using a modified FACS vantage.

PubMed

Sørensen, T U; Gram, G J; Nielsen, S D; Hansen, J E

1999-12-01

A stream-in-air cell sorter enables rapid sorting to a high purity, but it is not well suited for sorting of infectious material due to the risk of airborne spread to the surroundings. A FACS Vantage cell sorter was modified for safe use with potentially HIV infected cells. Safety tests with bacteriophages were performed to evaluate the potential spread of biologically active material during cell sorting. Cells transduced with a retroviral vector carrying the gene for GFP were sorted on the basis of their GFP fluorescence, and GFP expression was followed during subsequent culture. The bacteriophage sorting showed that the biologically active material was confined to the sorting chamber. A failure mode simulating a nozzle blockage resulted in detectable droplets inside the sorting chamber, but no droplets could be detected when an additional air suction from the sorting chamber had been put on. The GFP transduced cells were sorted to 99% purity. Cells not expressing GFP at the time of sorting did not turn on the gene during subsequent culture. Un-sorted cells and cells sorted to be positive for GFP showed a decrease in the fraction of GFP positive cells during culture. Sorting of live infected cells can be performed safely and with no deleterious effects on vector expression using the modified FACS Vantage instrument. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Short communication: Associations between feed push-up frequency, feeding and lying behavior, and milk yield and composition of dairy cows.

PubMed

Miller-Cushon, E K; DeVries, T J

2017-03-01

Feeding management factors have great potential to influence activity patterns and feeding behavior of dairy cows, which may have implications for performance. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of feed push-up frequency on the behavioral patterns of dairy cows, and to determine associations between behavior and milk yield and composition. Lactating Holstein dairy cows (n = 28, parity = 1.9 ± 1.1; mean ± SD) were housed in tiestalls, milked twice per day, and offered ad libitum access to water and a total mixed ration (containing, on a dry matter basis: 25% corn silage, 25% grass/alfalfa haylage, 30% high-moisture corn, and 20% protein/mineral supplement), provided twice per day. Cows were divided into 2 groups of 14 (balanced by days in milk, milk production, and parity) and individually exposed to each of 2 treatments in a crossover design with 21-d periods; treatment 1 had infrequent feed push-up (3×/d), whereas treatment 2 had frequent feed push-up (5×/d). During the last 7 d of each period, dry matter intake and milk production were recorded and lying behavior was monitored using electronic data loggers. During the last 2 d of each period, milk samples were collected for analysis of protein and fat content and feed samples of fresh feed and orts were collected for particle size analysis. The particle size separator had 3 screens (19, 8, and 1.18 mm) and a bottom pan, resulting in 4 fractions (long, medium, short, fine). Sorting was calculated as the actual intake of each particle size fraction expressed as a percentage of the predicted intake of that fraction. Feed push-up frequency had no effect on lying time [11.4 ± 0.37 h/d; mean ± standard error (SE)], milk production (40.2 ± 1.28 kg/d) and composition (milk protein: 3.30 ± 0.048%; milk fat: 3.81 ± 0.077%), or feed sorting. Cows sorted against long particles (78.0 ± 2.2%) and for short (102.6 ± 0.6%) and fine (108.4 ± 0.9%) particles. Milk fat content decreased by 0.1 percentage points for every 10% increase in sorting against long particles and was not associated with lying behavior or other cow-level factors. Milk protein content decreased by 0.03 percentage points for every hour decrease in lying time and by 0.04 percentage points for every 10% increase in sorting against long particles. These results suggest that sorting against long ration particles may negatively affect milk composition. Additionally, we did not find that altering feed push-up frequency affected feed sorting or cow standing and lying patterns. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Psychological Correlates of the Transmission and Acceptance of Rumors about AIDS = Correlates Psychologiques Entre la Transmission et l'Acceptation des Rumeurs sur le SIDA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimmel, Allan J.

Public reactions to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) crisis are accompanied by the sorts of emotional and cognitive factors that have been identified by researchers as predictors of rumor generation and transmission. The present investigation attempted to ascertain the extent that various subjective factors (including anxiety,…
The Frontal Hypothesis of Cognitive Aging: Factor Structure and Age Effects on Four "Frontal Tests" among Healthy Individuals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez-Aranda, Claudia; Sundet, Kjetil

2006-01-01

With 101 healthy aging adult participants, the authors investigated whether executive functions are a unitary concept. The authors established the factor structure of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST; E. A. Berg, 1948), the Stroop color and word test (C. J. Golden, 1978), verbal fluency using the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT;…
An Empirical Analysis of Job Satisfaction Factors.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

have acknowledged the importance of factors which make the Air Force attractive to its members or conversely, make other employees consider...Maslow’s need hierarchy theory attempts to show that man has five basic categories of needs: physiological, safety, belongingness , esteem, and self...attained until lower-level basic needs are attained. This implies a sort of growth process where optional job environments for given employees are
Design and realization of sort manipulator of crystal-angle sort machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ming-shun; Chen, Shu-ping; Guan, Shou-ping; Zhang, Yao-wei

2005-12-01

It is a current tendency of development in automation technology to replace manpower with manipulators in working places where dangerous, harmful, heavy or repetitive work is involved. The sort manipulator is installed in a crystal-angle sort machine to take the place of manpower, and engaged in unloading and sorting work. It is the outcome of combing together mechanism, electric transmission, and pneumatic element and micro-controller control. The step motor makes the sort manipulator operate precisely. The pneumatic elements make the sort manipulator be cleverer. Micro-controller's software bestows some simple artificial intelligence on the sort manipulator, so that it can precisely repeat its unloading and sorting work. The combination of manipulator's zero position and step motor counting control puts an end to accumulating error in long time operation. A sort manipulator's design in the practice engineering has been proved to be correct and reliable.
Undergraduate Research as a Process for STEM Teaching and Learning Systemic Change: Lessons Learned from the Council on Undergraduate Research NSF CCLI and TUES Projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambos, E. L.; Havholm, K. G.; Malachowski, M.; Osborn, J.; Karukstis, K.

2013-12-01

For more than seven years, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), the primary organization supporting programs, services, and advocacy for undergraduate research, has been working with support from the NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) to enhance, sustain, and institutionalize undergraduate research in diverse STEM disciplines and higher education settings. The Council on Undergraduate Research comprises more than 9000 individual and 670 institutional members within a divisional structure that includes geosciences, as well as 11 other thematic areas. Through its most recent grant: 'Transformational Learning through Undergraduate Research: Comprehensive Support for Faculty, Institutions, State Systems and Consortia' (NSF DUE CCLI III Award #09-20275), CUR has been collaborating with six higher education systems, each selected after a rigorous national application process in 2010 and 2011. These six systems, which collectively represent 79 individual institutions, are the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), University of Wisconsin System (UWS), California State University System (CSU), City University of New York (CUNY), Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The more than 350 participants of faculty and senior-level administrators from the six systems are engaged in shared multi-faceted and multi-year professional development experiences. Teams from each system attended customized institutes facilitated by CUR experts in 2011-2012, during which the teams developed specific action plans focused on institutionalizing undergraduate research on their campus and within their system. The systems were reconvened as a group a year after the first institute, to chart progress toward achieving their goals. Based on interviews and surveys with participants, campus teams are making substantial progress toward implementation of robust undergraduate research programs, and are making concerted efforts to affect policy, workload, tenure and promotion and resource issues, which are often core factors in any STEM education change process. Several systems are now connecting individual campus-based undergraduate research efforts more effectively, and tying undergraduate research to regional workforce and economic development programs. Many campus teams are moving their department and colleges toward curricular innovations that emphasize scaffolding undergraduate research throughout the undergraduate curriculum. An NSF EAGER/WIDER supplement to the CUR CCLI III award was received in October 2012 and expanded the scope of the project to include deeper study of the changes processes underway at each of the six systems and to tease out the factors that can either promote or retard expansion of undergraduate research as a teaching and learning paradigm. Lessons learned from one of the six systems, the University of Wisconsin, will be highlighted.
Bill sets NSF on path to double its budget

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

The US. National Science Foundation (NSF) is one step closer to having its budget more than doubled over the next five years, thanks to legislation approved 14 November by both houses of Congress.President George W. Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
Information for Graduate Research Fellows.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA. Directorate for Education and Human Resources.

This booklet, intended for recipients of National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowships, provides specific information in 14 sections covering: (1) the awarding agency and conditions; (2) communication with NSF; (3) the coordinating official at the college or university; (4) procedure for changing address or name; (5) the fellowship period…
Directory of Awards. FY 1986.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Directorate for Science and Engineering Education.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides awards for education and research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. This publication contains information on fiscal year 1986 awards. An introductory section reviews the goals of NSF's education program and the long-range goals of the Directorate for Science and Engineering Education.…
NSF Establishes First Four National Supercomputer Centers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lepkowski, Wil

1985-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded support for supercomputer centers at Cornell University, Princeton University, University of California (San Diego), and University of Illinois. These centers are to be the nucleus of a national academic network for use by scientists and engineers throughout the United States. (DH)
77 FR 12884 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

... colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research... welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering.'' NSF has had a... scientists, engineers, and science and engineering educators. NSF funds research and education in most fields...
45 CFR 617.4 - General duties of recipients.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... subrecipients, and the instrument under which the Federal financial assistance is passed to the subrecipient... NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF AGE IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM NSF § 617.4 General duties of recipients. Each recipient of Federal financial assistance from NSF shall...
78 FR 46330 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-31

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Office of Science... High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat... CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy...

77 FR 64799 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-23

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Department of Energy... Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires... Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25...
45 CFR 613.2 - Requesting access to records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PRIVACY ACT... access to NSF records about yourself by appearing in person at the National Science Foundation or by... should be sent to the NSF Privacy Act Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite...
45 CFR 613.2 - Requesting access to records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PRIVACY ACT... access to NSF records about yourself by appearing in person at the National Science Foundation or by... should be sent to the NSF Privacy Act Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite...
45 CFR 613.2 - Requesting access to records.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PRIVACY ACT... access to NSF records about yourself by appearing in person at the National Science Foundation or by... should be sent to the NSF Privacy Act Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite...
Rural Educators Identify Job Stressors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Robert E.; Manera, Elizabeth S.

1985-01-01

Twenty-five rural educators completed a 12-item Q-sort on stress factors. Resolving parent/school conflicts was the most stressful, followed by handling student discipline, and completing reports on time. The stressors varied somewhat from stressors listed by urban teachers, but only slightly. (BRR)
A Task Analysis of the Shift from Teacher Instructions to Self-Instructions in Performing an In-Common Task.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grote, Irene; And Others

1996-01-01

Three preschoolers performed four sorts with stimulus cards--an untaught target sort and three directly taught alternating sorts considered to self-instruct the target performance. Accuracy increased first in the skill sorts and then in the untaught target sorts. All subjects generalized to new target sorts. Correct spontaneous self-instructions…
Pediatric nurses' differentiations between acceptable and unacceptable parent discipline behaviors: a Q-study.

PubMed

Ho, Grace W K; Gross, Deborah A

2015-01-01

Nurses are mandated to report suspected cases of child maltreatment. However, it is unclear how nurses decide what constitutes child abuse or evidence for reporting. It is crucial to examine how nurses define various forms of child maltreatment, including child abuse and its differentiation from physical discipline, to enhance our services to families with young children. The present study examined pediatric nurses' views on acceptable versus unacceptable discipline behaviors to better understand parent behaviors that nurses are likely to deem reportable to child protective services. Using Q methodology, a convenience sample of 48 pediatric nurses from one urban medical center sorted 71 statements related to the behavior or outcome of punishing a child via the Internet application FlashQ. The statements were sorted on a predefined continuum ranging from "Most Unacceptable" to "Most Acceptable." By-person factor analysis was used to uncover groups of nurses with similar sorts and to generate a unique sort that represented the viewpoint of nurses in that group. Two distinct viewpoints were uncovered. Although there was consensus on what constitutes most acceptable and most unacceptable parent behaviors, nurses varied on their endorsement of using physical force as a form of discipline, suggesting a potential for discrepant tendencies to identify and report child abuse. Copyright © 2015 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Assessing the role of detrital zircon sorting on provenance interpretations in an ancient fluvial system using paleohydraulics - Permian Cutler Group, Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Findlay, C. P., III; Ewing, R. C.; Perez, N. D.

2017-12-01

Detrital zircon age signatures used in provenance studies are assumed to be representative of entire catchments from which the sediment was derived, but the extent to which hydraulic sorting can bias provenance interpretations is poorly constrained. Sediment and mineral sorting occurs with changes in hydraulic conditions driven by both allogenic and autogenic processes. Zircon is sorted from less dense minerals due to the difference in density, and any age dependence on zircon size could potentially bias provenance interpretations. In this study, a coupled paleohydraulic and geochemical provenance approach is used to identify changes in paleohydraulic conditions and relate them to spatial variations in provenance signatures from samples collected along an approximately time-correlative source-to-sink pathway in the Permian Cutler Group of the Paradox Basin. Samples proximal to the uplift have a paleoflow direction to the southwest. In the medial basin, paleocurrent direction indicates salt movement caused fluvial pathways divert to the north and northwest on the flanks of anticlines. Channel depth, flow velocity, and discharge calculations were derived from field measurements of grain size and dune and bar cross-stratification indicate that competency of the fluvial system decreased from proximal to the medial basin by up to a factor of 12. Based upon the paleohydraulic calculations, zircon size fractionation would occur along the transect such that the larger zircons are removed from the system prior to reaching the medial basin. Analysis of the size and age distribution of zircons from the proximal and distal fluvial system of the Cutler Group tests if this hydraulic sorting affects the expected Uncompahgre Uplift age distribution.
Building Global Capacity for Conducting Operational Research Using the SORT IT Model: Where and Who?

PubMed Central

Zachariah, Rony; Rust, Stefanie; Berger, Selma Dar; Guillerm, Nathalie; Bissell, Karen; Delaunois, Paul; Reid, Anthony J.; Kumar, Ajay M. V.; Olliaro, Piero L.; Reeder, John C.; Harries, Anthony D.; Ramsay, Andrew

2016-01-01

Setting Research capacity is weakest in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where operational research is highly relevant and needed. Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) courses have been developed to train participants to conduct and publish operational research and influence policy and practice. Twenty courses were completed in Asia, Africa, Europe and the South Pacific between 2009 and 2014. Objectives In the 20 completed SORT IT courses, to assess where the research was conducted, who was trained, who became facilitators in subsequent courses and course outcomes. Design A cohort study of completed SORT IT courses Results There were 236 participants (41% female) including 64 nationalities who conducted research in 59 countries, mostly from Asia and Africa (mean course duration = 9.7 months). Most participants (68%) were from government health programs and non-governmental agencies. A total of 213(90%) participants completed all milestones successfully with 41(19%) becoming subsequent course facilitators, 88% of whom were from LMICs. Of 228 manuscripts submitted to scientific journals, 197(86%) were either published or in press; in 86%, the principal investigator (first author) was a LMIC national. Papers were published in 23 scientific journals (impact factor 0.5–4.4) and covered 21 disease categories (median publication time = 5.7 months). Published papers (186) had 94,794 cumulative article views/downloads. Article views/downloads for immediate open access articles were double those from closed access journals. Conclusion The SORT IT model has been effective in training personnel to produce relevant operational research in LMICs. It merits continued commitment and support for further scale-up and development. PMID:27505253
To sort or not to sort: the impact of spike-sorting on neural decoding performance.

PubMed

Todorova, Sonia; Sadtler, Patrick; Batista, Aaron; Chase, Steven; Ventura, Valérie

2014-10-01

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a promising technology for restoring motor ability to paralyzed patients. Spiking-based BCIs have successfully been used in clinical trials to control multi-degree-of-freedom robotic devices. Current implementations of these devices require a lengthy spike-sorting step, which is an obstacle to moving this technology from the lab to the clinic. A viable alternative is to avoid spike-sorting, treating all threshold crossings of the voltage waveform on an electrode as coming from one putative neuron. It is not known, however, how much decoding information might be lost by ignoring spike identity. We present a full analysis of the effects of spike-sorting schemes on decoding performance. Specifically, we compare how well two common decoders, the optimal linear estimator and the Kalman filter, reconstruct the arm movements of non-human primates performing reaching tasks, when receiving input from various sorting schemes. The schemes we tested included: using threshold crossings without spike-sorting; expert-sorting discarding the noise; expert-sorting, including the noise as if it were another neuron; and automatic spike-sorting using waveform features. We also decoded from a joint statistical model for the waveforms and tuning curves, which does not involve an explicit spike-sorting step. Discarding the threshold crossings that cannot be assigned to neurons degrades decoding: no spikes should be discarded. Decoding based on spike-sorted units outperforms decoding based on electrodes voltage crossings: spike-sorting is useful. The four waveform based spike-sorting methods tested here yield similar decoding efficiencies: a fast and simple method is competitive. Decoding using the joint waveform and tuning model shows promise but is not consistently superior. Our results indicate that simple automated spike-sorting performs as well as the more computationally or manually intensive methods used here. Even basic spike-sorting adds value to the low-threshold waveform-crossing methods often employed in BCI decoding.
To sort or not to sort: the impact of spike-sorting on neural decoding performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Todorova, Sonia; Sadtler, Patrick; Batista, Aaron; Chase, Steven; Ventura, Valérie

2014-10-01

Objective. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a promising technology for restoring motor ability to paralyzed patients. Spiking-based BCIs have successfully been used in clinical trials to control multi-degree-of-freedom robotic devices. Current implementations of these devices require a lengthy spike-sorting step, which is an obstacle to moving this technology from the lab to the clinic. A viable alternative is to avoid spike-sorting, treating all threshold crossings of the voltage waveform on an electrode as coming from one putative neuron. It is not known, however, how much decoding information might be lost by ignoring spike identity. Approach. We present a full analysis of the effects of spike-sorting schemes on decoding performance. Specifically, we compare how well two common decoders, the optimal linear estimator and the Kalman filter, reconstruct the arm movements of non-human primates performing reaching tasks, when receiving input from various sorting schemes. The schemes we tested included: using threshold crossings without spike-sorting; expert-sorting discarding the noise; expert-sorting, including the noise as if it were another neuron; and automatic spike-sorting using waveform features. We also decoded from a joint statistical model for the waveforms and tuning curves, which does not involve an explicit spike-sorting step. Main results. Discarding the threshold crossings that cannot be assigned to neurons degrades decoding: no spikes should be discarded. Decoding based on spike-sorted units outperforms decoding based on electrodes voltage crossings: spike-sorting is useful. The four waveform based spike-sorting methods tested here yield similar decoding efficiencies: a fast and simple method is competitive. Decoding using the joint waveform and tuning model shows promise but is not consistently superior. Significance. Our results indicate that simple automated spike-sorting performs as well as the more computationally or manually intensive methods used here. Even basic spike-sorting adds value to the low-threshold waveform-crossing methods often employed in BCI decoding.
Sorting and recycling of domestic waste. Review of occupational health problems and their possible causes.

PubMed

Poulsen, O M; Breum, N O; Ebbehøj, N; Hansen, A M; Ivens, U I; van Lelieveld, D; Malmros, P; Matthiasen, L; Nielsen, B H; Nielsen, E M

1995-05-19

In order to reduce the strain on the environment from the deposition of waste in landfills and combustion at incineration plants, several governments throughout the industrialized world have planned greatly increased recycling of domestic waste by the turn of the millennium. To implement the plans, new waste recycling facilities are to be built and the number of workers involved in waste sorting and recycling will increase steadily during the next decade. Several studies have reinforced the hypothesis that exposure to airborne microorganisms and the toxic products thereof are important factors causing a multitude of health problems among workers at waste sorting and recycling plants. Workers at transfer stations, landfills and incineration plants may experience an increased risk of pulmonary disorders and gastrointestinal problems. High concentrations of total airborne dust, bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria and fungal spores have been reported. The concentrations are considered to be sufficiently high to cause adverse health effects. In addition, a high incidence of lower back injuries, probably due to heavy lifting during work, has been reported among workers at landfills and incineration plants. Workers involved in manual sorting of unseparated domestic waste, as well as workers at compost plants experience more or less frequent symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS) (cough, chest-tightness, dyspnoea, influenza-like symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle ache, joint pain, fatigue and headache), gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and diarrhoea, irritation of the skin, eye and mucous membranes of the nose and upper airways, etc. In addition cases of severe occupational pulmonary diseases (asthma, alveolitis, bronchitis) have been reported. Manual sorting of unseparated domestic waste may be associated with exposures to large quantities of airborne bacteria and endotoxin. Several work functions in compost plants can result in very high exposure to airborne fungal spores and thermophilic actinomycetes. At plants sorting separated domestic waste, e.g. the combustible fraction of waste composed of paper, cardboard and plastics, the workers may have an increased risk of gastrointestinal symptoms and irritation of the eyes and skin. At such plants the bioaerosol exposure levels are in general low, but at some work tasks, e.g. manual sorting and work near the balers, exposure levels may occasionally be high enough to be potentially harmful. Workers handling the source-sorted paper or cardboard fraction do not appear to have an elevated risk of occupational health problems related to bioaerosol exposure, and the bioaerosol exposure is generally low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
NSF Anticipates Pushing Boundaries on Open-Access Plan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basken, Paul

2013-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF), in carrying out the Obama administration's new push for greater public access to research published in scientific journals, will consider exclusivity periods shorter than the 12-month standard in the White House directive, as well as trade-offs involving data-sharing and considerations of publishers'…
77 FR 35430 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-13

... Board's Committee on Science and Engineering Indicators, pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR part 614... policy Companion to Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 on the topic of state funding of public... refer to the National Science Board Web site www.nsf.gov/nsb for additional information and schedule...
77 FR 35430 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-13

... Board's Committee on Science and Engineering Indicators, pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR part 614... policy Companion to Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 on the topic of state funding of public... National Science Board Web site www.nsf.gov/nsb for additional information and schedule updates (time...
Career Achievements of NSF Graduate Fellows: The Awardees of 1952-1972.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harmon, Lindsey R.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellows of calendar years 1952-1972 were followed up in this study to determine their subsequent career achievements. Career achievements of these individuals are discussed in terms of the following criteria: doctorate attainment, postdoctoral fellowship awards, faculty membership, dissertation…
Evaluation of NSF's International Research Fellowship Program: Final Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martinez, Alina; Epstein, Carter; Parsad, Amanda; Whittaker, Karla

2012-01-01

Among the National Science Foundation's (NSF) postdoctoral programs, the International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP) is unique in its emphasis on providing postdoctoral fellows with international research experiences. Established in 1992, IRFP provides financial support to postdoctoral scientists for a research experience abroad lasting…
National Science Foundation Grants and Awards for Fiscal Year 1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.

Provided is a listing of all National Science Foundation (NSF) program grants and contracts awarded in Fiscal Year 1982. The listing is organized by specific NSF programs within these areas: (1) mathematical and physical sciences; (2) engineering; (3) biological, behavioral, and social sciences; (4) astronomical, earth, and ocean sciences…
National Science Foundation. Grants and Awards for Fiscal Year 1981.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.

Provided is a listing of all National Science Foundation (NSF) program grants and contracts awarded in Fiscal Year 1981. The listing is organized by specific NSF programs within these areas: (1) mathematical and physical sciences; (2) engineering; (3) biological, behavioral, and social sciences; (4) astronomical, atmospheric, earth, and ocean…
The Impact of Budget Cuts on Three Directorates of the National Science Foundation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

General Accounting Office, Washington, DC.

This report provides comments and opinions from National Science Foundation (NSF) officials on proposed agency budget cuts which could affect three NSF Directorates: Science and Engineering; Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences; and Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs. Specific topics discussed focus on personnel levels,…

Directory of Awards. Fiscal Years 1987 and 1988.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Directorate for Science and Engineering Education.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides awards for education and research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. This publication contains information about awards for the 1987 and 1988 fiscal years. An introductory section reviews the goals of NSF's education program and the long-range goals of the Directorate for Science and…
The Integration of Science and Mathematics Education: Highlights from the NSF/SSMA Wingspread Conference Plenary Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berlin, Donna F.

1994-01-01

Summarizes plenary papers presented at the NSF/SSMA Wingspread Conference to explore ways to improve science and mathematics education through integration. Themes included analysis of integration; divergence of mathematics education from science education; technological perspectives; promoting mathematical and scientific inquiry; and school…
Evaluation of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers: Descriptive and Correlative Findings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Directorate for Engineering.

This report presents results of a survey of participants in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program. The program promotes more rapid technological innovation by creating linkages between industry and university scientists. The Centers function as university research groups, with partial…
National Science Foundation - Annual Report 1985. Thirty-Fifth Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1985.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.

The 35th Annual Report of the National Science Foundation (NSF) describes recent achievements of NSF sponsored research in viral structure, semiconductors, genetic engineering, Mayan culture, astronomy, physiology, paleontology, robotics, physics, material science and pollution. Major 1985 initiatives included: (1) establishing six university…
45 CFR 617.10 - Mediation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Mediation. 617.10 Section 617.10 Public Welfare... OF AGE IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM NSF § 617.10 Mediation. (a) NSF will refer to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service all complaints that fall within...
Cornell Center for Materials Research - An NSF MRSEC

Science.gov Websites

Cornell Center for Materials Research Cornell Center for Materials Research | An NSF MRSEC Search Research Atomic Membranes for 3D Systems Structured Materials for Strong Light-Matter Interactions Mechanisms, Materials, and Devices for Spin Manipulation Seed Projects - Exploratory Research Acknowledging
Our Story | Materials Research Laboratory at UCSB: an NSF MRSEC

Science.gov Websites

this site Materials Research Laboratory at UCSB: an NSF MRSEC logo Materials Research Laboratory at & Workshops Visitor Info Research IRG-1: Magnetic Intermetallic Mesostructures IRG 2: Polymeric Seminars Publications MRL Calendar Facilities Computing Energy Research Facility Microscopy &
77 FR 38834 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-29

... Conservation Act of 1978 AGENCY: National Science Foundation. ACTION: Notice of permit applications received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required... Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act. This...
76 FR 38429 - Notice of Availability of Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-30

... marine geophysical scientific research using seismic surveys that are funded by NSF or conducted by the... Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS/OEIS) for Marine Seismic Research Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) or Conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) AGENCY: National...
1968 Listing of Swimming Pool Equipment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Sanitation Foundation, Ann Arbor, MI. Testing Lab.

An up-to-date listing of swimming pool equipment including--(1) companies authorized to display the National Sanitation Foundation seal of approval, (2) equipment listed as meeting NSF swimming pool equipment standards relating to diatomite type filters, (3) equipment listed as meeting NSF swimming pool equipment standard relating to sand type…
Strategic Research Partnerships: Proceedings from an NSF Workshop (Washington, D.C., October 13, 2000). Special Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jankowski, John E.; Link, Albert N.; Vonortas, Nicholas S.

This document contains the proceedings from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop on Strategic Research Partnerships. Papers include: (1) "Strategic Research Partnerships: Results of the Workshop" (Albert N. Link and Nicholas S. Vonortas); (2) "Strategic Research Partnerships: Evidence and Analysis" (Stephen Martin);…
78 FR 21631 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-11

... of a possible role for CEH in enhancing retention of undergraduates in STEM education; and (3) update on the NSTC's committee on STEM education (CoSTEM) activities and their implications for NSF. STATUS... Science Board's Committee on Education and Human Resources, pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR part 614...
Colloquy on Minority Males in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Didion, Catherine; Fortenberry, Norman L.; Cady, Elizabeth

2012-01-01

On August 8-12, 2010 the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), convened the Colloquy on Minority Males in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), following the release of several reports highlighting the educational challenges facing minority males. The NSF recognized the…
77 FR 33449 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-06

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Office of Science... High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat..., Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of Energy; SC-25/ Germantown...
78 FR 12043 - DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-21

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOE/NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel AGENCY: Office of Science... High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat... INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kogut, Executive Secretary; High Energy Physics Advisory Panel; U.S. Department of...
45 CFR 607.9 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Refunds. 607.9 Section 607.9 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.9 Refunds. (a) NSF will promptly refund to an employee any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to NSF when...
45 CFR 607.9 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Refunds. 607.9 Section 607.9 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.9 Refunds. (a) NSF will promptly refund to an employee any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to NSF when...
45 CFR 680.11 - Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... SCIENCE FOUNDATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RULES OF PRACTICE Rules of Practice for the National Science Foundation § 680.11 Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards. (a)(1) Many scientists... field of science, engineering, or education, notwithstanding that the focus of the work may change in...
45 CFR 680.11 - Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... SCIENCE FOUNDATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RULES OF PRACTICE Rules of Practice for the National Science Foundation § 680.11 Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards. (a)(1) Many scientists... field of science, engineering, or education, notwithstanding that the focus of the work may change in...
45 CFR 607.9 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Refunds. 607.9 Section 607.9 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.9 Refunds. (a) NSF will promptly refund to an employee any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to NSF when...

45 CFR 607.9 - Refunds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Refunds. 607.9 Section 607.9 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.9 Refunds. (a) NSF will promptly refund to an employee any amounts deducted to satisfy debts owed to NSF when...
45 CFR 680.11 - Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... SCIENCE FOUNDATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RULES OF PRACTICE Rules of Practice for the National Science Foundation § 680.11 Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards. (a)(1) Many scientists... field of science, engineering, or education, notwithstanding that the focus of the work may change in...
45 CFR 680.11 - Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... SCIENCE FOUNDATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RULES OF PRACTICE Rules of Practice for the National Science Foundation § 680.11 Staff involvement with NSF proposals and awards. (a)(1) Many scientists... field of science, engineering, or education, notwithstanding that the focus of the work may change in...
45 CFR 674.6 - Submission of information to NSF.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Submission of information to NSF. 674.6 Section 674.6 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION... expedition organizers pursuant to § 674.5(b) shall be furnished to the National Science Foundation's Office...
The 1983-1984 NSF Chautauqua-Type Short Course Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zeitler, William R.; Ogletree, Owen, Jr.

1984-01-01

National Science Foundation (NSF) Chautauqua-type short courses offer undergraduate science teachers the opportunity to absorbe new ideas from highly respected scholars. A complete list of courses, course directors, locations, dates, and registration fees for the 1983-84 program is provided. Subject areas include: instructional composting, cells…
Septin dynamics are essential for exocytosis.

PubMed

Tokhtaeva, Elmira; Capri, Joe; Marcus, Elizabeth A; Whitelegge, Julian P; Khuzakhmetova, Venera; Bukharaeva, Ellya; Deiss-Yehiely, Nimrod; Dada, Laura A; Sachs, George; Fernandez-Salas, Ester; Vagin, Olga

2015-02-27

Septins are a family of 14 cytoskeletal proteins that dynamically form hetero-oligomers and organize membrane microdomains for protein complexes. The previously reported interactions with SNARE proteins suggested the involvement of septins in exocytosis. However, the contradictory results of up- or down-regulation of septin-5 in various cells and mouse models or septin-4 in mice suggested either an inhibitory or a stimulatory role for these septins in exocytosis. The involvement of the ubiquitously expressed septin-2 or general septin polymerization in exocytosis has not been explored to date. Here, by nano-LC with tandem MS and immunoblot analyses of the septin-2 interactome in mouse brain, we identified not only SNARE proteins but also Munc-18-1 (stabilizes assembled SNARE complexes), N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) (disassembles SNARE complexes after each membrane fusion event), and the chaperones Hsc70 and synucleins (maintain functional conformation of SNARE proteins after complex disassembly). Importantly, α-soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP), the adaptor protein that mediates NSF binding to the SNARE complex, did not interact with septin-2, indicating that septins undergo reorganization during each exocytosis cycle. Partial depletion of septin-2 by siRNA or impairment of septin dynamics by forchlorfenuron inhibited constitutive and stimulated exocytosis of secreted and transmembrane proteins in various cell types. Forchlorfenuron impaired the interaction between SNAP-25 and its chaperone Hsc70, decreasing SNAP-25 levels in cultured neuroendocrine cells, and inhibited both spontaneous and stimulated acetylcholine secretion in mouse motor neurons. The results demonstrate a stimulatory role of septin-2 and the dynamic reorganization of septin oligomers in exocytosis. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
[Expression of AMPA receptors and related protein in immobilization stressed rats and effect of Xiaoyaosan].

PubMed

Yue, Guang-Xin; Wang, Zhu-Feng; Zhang, Qiao-Li; Zhao, Xin; Yue, Li-Feng; Ding, Jie; Chen, Jia-Xu

2008-05-01

To observe protein expression changes of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor and related regulatory protein in the hippocampus and amygdala in chronic immobilization stressed rat and Xiaoyaosan's regulatory effect. Rats were tied 3 h per day to establish immobilization stress condition and treatment with Xiaoyaosan. After 7 days and 21 days stress, the protein expression of AMPA receptor subunit (GluR2/3), N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) in hippocampus and amygdala were detected by using Western blot techniques. The expression of GluR2/3, NSF in dentate gyrus (DG) and amygdala were markedly attenuated (P < 0.05) and PICK1 in CA1 region were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 7 d immobilization stressed rats while 7 days xiaoyaosan treatment showed an effective regulatory result to PICK1's changes. Under 21 days immobilization stressed condition, the expression of GluR2/3, NSF in CA1 region showed an increasing trend, and GluR2/3 showed a markedly increase (P < 0.01), but showed an significantly decreased trend in amygdala, Xiaoyaosan showed an effective result to such changes above (P < 0.05). The expression of PICK1 showed increasing trend in amygdala and xiaoyaosan could lower its expression (P < 0.05). There are different trends of the expression of AMPA receptor in repeat short-term stress versus chronic immobilization stress, and in hippocampal CA1 region versus amygdala. Xiaoyaosan has better regulation effect on the expression of AMPA receptors in the condition of chronic immobilization stress than those of repeat shortterm stress.
Estimating Public and Patient Savings From Basic Research-A Study of Optical Coherence Tomography in Managing Antiangiogenic Therapy.

PubMed

Windsor, Matthew A; Sun, Sissi J J; Frick, Kevin D; Swanson, Eric A; Rosenfeld, Philip J; Huang, David

2018-01-01

To compare patient and Medicare savings from the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in guiding therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) to the research investments made in developing OCT by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Observational cohort study. Main outcome measures were spending by Medicare as tracked by Current Procedural Terminology codes on intravitreal injections (67028), retinal OCT imaging (92134), and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment-specific J-codes (J0178, J2778, J9035, J3490, and J3590). These claims were identified from the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries from 2012 to 2015; 2008 claims were acquired from the 100% FFS Part B Medicare Claims File. OCT research costs were determined by searching for grants awarded by NIH and NSF from inception to 2015. All costs and savings were discounted by 3% annually and adjusted for inflation to 2015 dollars. From 2008 to 2015, the United States government and nvAMD patients have accrued an estimated savings of $9.0 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, from the use of OCT to guide personalized anti-VEGF treatment. The $9.0 billion represents a 21-fold return on government investment into developing the technology through NIH and NSF grants. Although an overall cost-benefit ratio of government-sponsored research is difficult to estimate because the benefit may be diffuse and delayed, the investment in OCT over 2 decades has been recouped many times over in just a few years through better personalized therapy. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Retrospective analysis of patients for development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis following conventional angiography using gadolinium-based contrast agents.

PubMed

Hoppe, Hanno; Spagnuolo, Sara; Froehlich, Johannes M; Nievergelt, Helga; Dinkel, Hans-Peter; Gretener, Silvia; Thoeny, Harriet C

2010-03-01

The purpose was to retrospectively review the data of 27 patients with renal insufficiency who underwent conventional angiography with gadolinium-based contrast agents (GDBCA) as alternative contrast agents and assess the occurrence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) together with associated potential risk factors. This HIPAA-compliant study had institutional review board approval, and informed consent was waived. Statistical analysis was performed for all available laboratory and clinical data, including dermatology reports. Type and amount of the GDBCA used were recorded for angiography and additional MRI studies, if applicable. Serum creatinine levels (SCr) pre- and post-angiography were recorded, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) were calculated. Ten female and 17 male patients who underwent angiography with GDBCA were included. The mean amount of GDBCA administered was 44 +/- 15.5 ml (range 15-60 ml) or 0.24 + 0.12 mmol/kg (range 0.1-0.53 mmol/kg). At the time of angiography all patients had renal insufficiency (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). Mean eGFR pre-angiography was 26 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and 33 ml/min/1.73 m(2) post-angiography. The mean follow-up period covers 28 months, range 1-84 months. Additional MRI studies with GDBCA administration were performed in 15 patients. One patient with typical skin lesions had developed biopsy-confirmed NSF. Conventional arterial angiography with GDBCA may play a role in the development of NSF in patients with renal insufficiency. Alternative contrast agents, such as CO(2) angiography or rather the use of low doses of iodinated contrast agents, should be considered in these patients.
Microfluidic sorting of protein nanocrystals by size for X-ray free-electron laser diffraction

PubMed Central

Abdallah, Bahige G.; Zatsepin, Nadia A.; Roy-Chowdhury, Shatabdi; Coe, Jesse; Conrad, Chelsie E.; Dörner, Katerina; Sierra, Raymond G.; Stevenson, Hilary P.; Camacho-Alanis, Fernanda; Grant, Thomas D.; Nelson, Garrett; James, Daniel; Calero, Guillermo; Wachter, Rebekka M.; Spence, John C. H.; Weierstall, Uwe; Fromme, Petra; Ros, Alexandra

2015-01-01

The advent and application of the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) has uncovered the structures of proteins that could not previously be solved using traditional crystallography. While this new technology is powerful, optimization of the process is still needed to improve data quality and analysis efficiency. One area is sample heterogeneity, where variations in crystal size (among other factors) lead to the requirement of large data sets (and thus 10–100 mg of protein) for determining accurate structure factors. To decrease sample dispersity, we developed a high-throughput microfluidic sorter operating on the principle of dielectrophoresis, whereby polydisperse particles can be transported into various fluid streams for size fractionation. Using this microsorter, we isolated several milliliters of photosystem I nanocrystal fractions ranging from 200 to 600 nm in size as characterized by dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking, and electron microscopy. Sorted nanocrystals were delivered in a liquid jet via the gas dynamic virtual nozzle into the path of the XFEL at the Linac Coherent Light Source. We obtained diffraction to ∼4 Å resolution, indicating that the small crystals were not damaged by the sorting process. We also observed the shape transforms of photosystem I nanocrystals, demonstrating that our device can optimize data collection for the shape transform-based phasing method. Using simulations, we show that narrow crystal size distributions can significantly improve merged data quality in serial crystallography. From this proof-of-concept work, we expect that the automated size-sorting of protein crystals will become an important step for sample production by reducing the amount of protein needed for a high quality final structure and the development of novel phasing methods that exploit inter-Bragg reflection intensities or use variations in beam intensity for radiation damage-induced phasing. This method will also permit an analysis of the dependence of crystal quality on crystal size. PMID:26798818
Microfluidic sorting of protein nanocrystals by size for X-ray free-electron laser diffraction

DOE PAGES

Abdallah, Bahige G.; Zatsepin, Nadia A.; Roy-Chowdhury, Shatabdi; ...

2015-08-19

We report that the advent and application of the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) has uncovered the structures of proteins that could not previously be solved using traditional crystallography. While this new technology is powerful, optimization of the process is still needed to improve data quality and analysis efficiency. One area is sample heterogeneity, where variations in crystal size (among other factors) lead to the requirement of large data sets (and thus 10–100 mg of protein) for determining accurate structure factors. To decrease sample dispersity, we developed a high-throughput microfluidic sorter operating on the principle of dielectrophoresis, whereby polydisperse particles canmore » be transported into various fluid streams for size fractionation. Using this microsorter, we isolated several milliliters of photosystem I nanocrystal fractions ranging from 200 to 600 nm in size as characterized by dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking, and electron microscopy. Sorted nanocrystals were delivered in a liquid jet via the gas dynamic virtual nozzle into the path of the XFEL at the Linac Coherent Light Source. We obtained diffraction to ~4 Å resolution, indicating that the small crystals were not damaged by the sorting process. We also observed the shape transforms of photosystem I nanocrystals, demonstrating that our device can optimize data collection for the shape transform-based phasing method. Using simulations, we show that narrow crystal size distributions can significantly improve merged data quality in serial crystallography. From this proof-of-concept work, we expect that the automated size-sorting of protein crystals will become an important step for sample production by reducing the amount of protein needed for a high quality final structure and the development of novel phasing methods that exploit inter-Bragg reflection intensities or use variations in beam intensity for radiation damage-induced phasing. Ultimately, this method will also permit an analysis of the dependence of crystal quality on crystal size.« less
Design of monitoring system for mail-sorting based on the Profibus S7 series PLC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Jia, S. H.; Wang, Y. H.; Liu, H.; Tang, G. C.

2017-01-01

With the rapid development of the postal express, the workload of mail sorting is increasing, but the automatic technology of mail sorting is not mature enough. In view of this, the system uses Siemens S7-300 PLC as the main station controller, PLC of Siemens S7-200/400 is from the station controller, through the man-machine interface configuration software MCGS, PROFIBUS-DP communication, RFID technology and mechanical sorting hand achieve mail classification sorting monitoring. Among them, distinguish mail-sorting by scanning RFID posted in the mail electronic bar code (fixed code), the system uses the corresponding controller on the acquisition of information processing, the processed information transmit to the sorting manipulator by PROFIBUS-DP. The system can realize accurate and efficient mail sorting, which will promote the development of mail sorting technology.
Matching nuts and bolts in O(n log n) time

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Komlos, J.; Ma, Yuan; Szemeredi, E.

Given a set of n nuts of distinct widths and a set of n bolts such that each nut corresponds to a unique bolt of the same width, how should we match every nut with its corresponding bolt by comparing nuts with bolts (no comparison is allowed between two nuts or between two bolts)? The problem can be naturally viewed as a variant of the classic sorting problem as follows. Given two lists of n numbers each such that one list is a permutation of the other, how should we sort the lists by comparisons only between numbers in differentmore » lists? We give an O(n log n)-time deterministic algorithm for the problem. This is optimal up to a constant factor and answers an open question posed by Alon, Blum, Fiat, Kannan, Naor, and Ostrovsky. Moreover, when copies of nuts and bolts are allowed, our algorithm runs in optimal O(log n) time on n processors in Valiant`s parallel comparison tree model. Our algorithm is based on the AKS sorting algorithm with substantial modifications.« less
Culture of Cells from Amphibian Embryos.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanisstreet, Martin

1983-01-01

Describes a method for in vitro culturing of cells from amphibian early embryos. Such cells can be used to demonstrate such properties of eukaryote cells as cell motility, adhesion, differentiation, and cell sorting into tissues. The technique may be extended to investigate other factors. (Author/JN)
Sorting nexin 9 differentiates ligand-activated Smad3 from Smad2 for nuclear import and transforming growth factor β signaling

PubMed Central

Wilkes, Mark C.; Repellin, Claire E.; Kang, Jeong-Han; Andrianifahanana, Mahefatiana; Yin, Xueqian; Leof, Edward B.

2015-01-01

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic protein secreted from essentially all cell types and primary tissues. While TGFβ’s actions reflect the activity of a number of signaling networks, the primary mediator of TGFβ responses are the Smad proteins. Following receptor activation, these cytoplasmic proteins form hetero-oligomeric complexes that translocate to the nucleus and affect gene transcription. Here, through biological, biochemical, and immunofluorescence approaches, sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) is identified as being required for Smad3-dependent responses. SNX9 interacts with phosphorylated (p) Smad3 independent of Smad2 or Smad4 and promotes more rapid nuclear delivery than that observed independent of ligand. Although SNX9 does not bind nucleoporins Nup153 or Nup214 or some β importins (Imp7 or Impβ), it mediates the association of pSmad3 with Imp8 and the nuclear membrane. This facilitates nuclear translocation of pSmad3 but not SNX9. PMID:26337383
Dissecting Stop Transfer versus Conservative Sorting Pathways for Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Proteins in Vivo*

PubMed Central

Park, Kwangjin; Botelho, Salomé Calado; Hong, Joonki; Österberg, Marie; Kim, Hyun

2013-01-01

Mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that carry an N-terminal presequence are sorted by one of two pathways: stop transfer or conservative sorting. However, the sorting pathway is known for only a small number of proteins, in part due to the lack of robust experimental tools with which to study. Here we present an approach that facilitates determination of inner membrane protein sorting pathways in vivo by fusing a mitochondrial inner membrane protein to the C-terminal part of Mgm1p containing the rhomboid cleavage region. We validated the Mgm1 fusion approach using a set of proteins for which the sorting pathway is known, and determined sorting pathways of inner membrane proteins for which the sorting mode was previously uncharacterized. For Sdh4p, a multispanning membrane protein, our results suggest that both conservative sorting and stop transfer mechanisms are required for insertion. Furthermore, the sorting process of Mgm1 fusion proteins was analyzed under different growth conditions and yeast mutant strains that were defective in the import motor or the m-AAA protease function. Our results show that the sorting of mitochondrial proteins carrying moderately hydrophobic transmembrane segments is sensitive to cellular conditions, implying that mitochondrial import and membrane sorting in the physiological environment may be dynamically tuned. PMID:23184936
Ballistics: a primer for the surgeon.

PubMed

Volgas, David A; Stannard, James P; Alonso, Jorge E

2005-03-01

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on ballistics and to sort through the plethora of myth and popular opinion. The trauma surgeon is increasingly faced with gunshot wounds. Knowledge of ballistics is important to help in assessing the patterns of wounds that are seen. There are many factors that affect the flight of a bullet to its target. Many of these factors also affect the behaviour of the bullet after it strikes the target. It is primarily these factors that interest the surgeon.
SU-D-18C-01: A Novel 4D-MRI Technology Based On K-Space Retrospective Sorting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Y; Yin, F; Cai, J

2014-06-01

Purpose: Current 4D-MRI techniques lack sufficient temporal/spatial resolution and consistent tumor contrast. To overcome these limitations, this study presents the development and initial evaluation of an entirely new framework of 4D-MRI based on k-space retrospective sorting. Methods: An important challenge of the proposed technique is to determine the number of repeated scans(NR) required to obtain sufficient k-space data for 4D-MRI. To do that, simulations using 29 cancer patients' respiratory profiles were performed to derive the relationship between data acquisition completeness(Cp) and NR, also relationship between NR(Cp=95%) and the following factors: total slice(NS), respiratory phase bin length(Lb), frame rate(fr), resolution(R) andmore » image acquisition starting-phase(P0). To evaluate our technique, a computer simulation study on a 4D digital human phantom (XCAT) were conducted with regular breathing (fr=0.5Hz; R=256×256). A 2D echo planer imaging(EPI) MRI sequence were assumed to acquire raw k-space data, with respiratory signal and acquisition time for each k-space data line recorded simultaneously. K-space data was re-sorted based on respiratory phases. To evaluate 4D-MRI image quality, tumor trajectories were measured and compared with the input signal. Mean relative amplitude difference(D) and cross-correlation coefficient(CC) are calculated. Finally, phase-sharing sliding window technique was applied to investigate the feasibility of generating ultra-fast 4D-MRI. Result: Cp increased with NR(Cp=100*[1-exp(-0.19*NR)], when NS=30, Lb=100%/6). NR(Cp=95%) was inversely-proportional to Lb (r=0.97), but independent of other factors. 4D-MRI on XCAT demonstrated highly accurate motion information (D=0.67%, CC=0.996) with much less artifacts than those on image-based sorting 4D-MRI. Ultra-fast 4D-MRI with an apparent temporal resolution of 10 frames/second was reconstructed using the phase-sharing sliding window technique. Conclusions: A novel 4D-MRI technology based on k-space sorting has been successfully developed and evaluated on the digital phantom. Framework established can be applied to a variety of MR sequences, showing great promises to develop the optimal 4D-MRI technique for many radiation therapy applications. NIH (1R21CA165384-01A1)« less
Seminal plasma affects sperm sex sorting in boars.

PubMed

Alkmin, Diego V; Parrilla, Inmaculada; Tarantini, Tatiana; Del Olmo, David; Vazquez, Juan M; Martinez, Emilio A; Roca, Jordi

2016-04-01

Two experiments were conducted in boar semen samples to evaluate how both holding time (24h) and the presence of seminal plasma (SP) before sorting affect sperm sortability and the ability of sex-sorted spermatozoa to tolerate liquid storage. Whole ejaculate samples were divided into three aliquots immediately after collection: one was diluted (1:1, v/v) in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS; 50% SP); the SP of the other two aliquots was removed and the sperm pellets were diluted with BTS + 10% of their own SP (10% SP) or BTS alone (0% SP). The three aliquots of each ejaculate were divided into two portions, one that was processed immediately for sorting and a second that was sorted after 24h storage at 15-17°C. In the first experiment, the ability to exhibit well-defined X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm peaks (split) in the cytometry histogram and the subsequent sorting efficiency were assessed (20 ejaculates). In contrast with holding time, the SP proportion influenced the parameters examined, as evidenced by the higher number of ejaculates exhibiting split and better sorting efficiency (P<0.05) in semen samples with 0-10% SP compared with those with 50% SP. In a second experiment, the quality (viability, total and progressive motility) and functionality (plasma membrane fluidity and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species) of sex-sorted spermatozoa were evaluated after 0, 72 and 120h storage at 15-17°C (10 ejaculates). Holding time and SP proportion did not influence the quality or functionality of stored sex-sorted spermatozoa. In conclusion, a holding time as long as 24h before sorting did not negatively affect sex sorting efficiency or the ability of sorted boar spermatozoa to tolerate long-term liquid storage. A high proportion of SP (50%) in the semen samples before sorting reduced the number of ejaculates to be sorted and negatively influenced the sorting efficiency, but did not affect the ability of sex-sorted spermatozoa to tolerate liquid storage.
Stochastic Model of Vesicular Sorting in Cellular Organelles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vagne, Quentin; Sens, Pierre

2018-02-01

The proper sorting of membrane components by regulated exchange between cellular organelles is crucial to intracellular organization. This process relies on the budding and fusion of transport vesicles, and should be strongly influenced by stochastic fluctuations, considering the relatively small size of many organelles. We identify the perfect sorting of two membrane components initially mixed in a single compartment as a first passage process, and we show that the mean sorting time exhibits two distinct regimes as a function of the ratio of vesicle fusion to budding rates. Low ratio values lead to fast sorting but result in a broad size distribution of sorted compartments dominated by small entities. High ratio values result in two well-defined sorted compartments but sorting is exponentially slow. Our results suggest an optimal balance between vesicle budding and fusion for the rapid and efficient sorting of membrane components and highlight the importance of stochastic effects for the steady-state organization of intracellular compartments.

Identification and genetic analysis of cancer cells with PCR-activated cell sorting

PubMed Central

Eastburn, Dennis J.; Sciambi, Adam; Abate, Adam R.

2014-01-01

Cell sorting is a central tool in life science research for analyzing cellular heterogeneity or enriching rare cells out of large populations. Although methods like FACS and FISH-FC can characterize and isolate cells from heterogeneous populations, they are limited by their reliance on antibodies, or the requirement to chemically fix cells. We introduce a new cell sorting technology that robustly sorts based on sequence-specific analysis of cellular nucleic acids. Our approach, PCR-activated cell sorting (PACS), uses TaqMan PCR to detect nucleic acids within single cells and trigger their sorting. With this method, we identified and sorted prostate cancer cells from a heterogeneous population by performing >132 000 simultaneous single-cell TaqMan RT-PCR reactions targeting vimentin mRNA. Following vimentin-positive droplet sorting and downstream analysis of recovered nucleic acids, we found that cancer-specific genomes and transcripts were significantly enriched. Additionally, we demonstrate that PACS can be used to sort and enrich cells via TaqMan PCR reactions targeting single-copy genomic DNA. PACS provides a general new technical capability that expands the application space of cell sorting by enabling sorting based on cellular information not amenable to existing approaches. PMID:25030902
Gravity effects on sediment sorting: limitations of models developed on Earth for Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, Nikolaus J.; Kuhn, Brigitte; Gartmann, Andres

2015-04-01

Most studies on surface processes on planetary bodies assume that the use of empirical models developed for Earth is possible if the mathematical equations include all the relevant factors, such as gravity, viscosity and the density of water and sediment. However, most models for sediment transport on Earth are at least semi-empirical, using coefficients to link observed sediment movement to controlling factors such as flow velocity, slope and channel dimensions. However, using roughness and drag coefficients, as well as parameters describing incipient motion of particles, observed on Earth on another planet, violates, strictly speaking, the boundary conditions set for their application by fluid dynamics because the coefficienst describe a flow condition, not a particle property. Reduced gravity affects the flow around a settling partcile or over the bed of a watercourse, therefore data and models from Earth do not apply to another planet. Comparing observations from reduced gravity experiments and model results obtained on Earth confirm the significance of this error, e.g. by underestimating settling velocities of sandy particles by 10 to 50% for Mars when using models from Earth. In this study, the relevance of this error is examined by simulating the sorting of sediment deposited from water flowing on Mars. The results indicate that sorting on Mars is less pronounced than models calibrated on Earth suggest. This has implications for the selection of landing sites and, more importantly, the identification of strata potentially bearing traces of past life during rover missions on Mars.
Gravity effects on sediment sorting: limitations of models developed on Earth for Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, N. J.; Kuhn, B.; Gartmann, A.

2015-10-01

Most studies on surface processes on planetary bodies assume that the use of empirical models developed for Earth is possible if the mathematical equations include all the relevant factors, such as gravity, viscosity and the density of water and sediment. However, most models for sediment transport on Earth are at least semi-empirical, using coefficients to link observed sediment movement to controlling factors such as flow velocity, slope and channel dimensions. However, using roughness and drag coefficients, as well as parameters describing incipient motion of particles, observed on Earth on another planet, violates, strictly speaking, the boundary conditions set for their application by fluid dynamics because the coefficienst describe a flow condition, not a particle property. Reduced gravity affects the flow around a settling partcile or over the bed of a watercourse, therefore data and models from Earth do not apply to another planet. Comparing observations from reduced gravity experiments and model results obtained on Earth confirm the significance of this error, e.g. by underestimating settling velocities of sandy particles by 10 to 50% for Mars when using models from Earth. In this study, the relevance of this error is examined by simulating the sorting of sediment deposited from water flowing on Mars. The results indicate that sorting on Mars is less pronounced than models calibrated on Earth suggest. This has implications for the selection of landing sites and,more importantly, the identification of strata potentially bearing traces of past life during rover missions on Mars. try, 2001
Evidence for a role of SNX16 in regulating traffic between the early and later endosomal compartments.

PubMed

Hanson, Brendon J; Hong, Wanjin

2003-09-05

Sorting nexins (SNXs) are a growing family of proteins characterized by the presence of a PX domain. The PX domain mediates membrane association by interaction with phosphoinositides. The SNXs are generally believed to participate in membrane trafficking, but information regarding the function of individual proteins is limited. In this report, we describe the major characteristics of one member, SNX16. SNX16 is a novel 343-amino acid protein consisting of a central PX domain followed by a potential coiled-coil domain and a C-terminal region. Like other sorting nexins, SNX16 associates with the membrane via the PX domain which interacts with the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. We show via biochemical and cellular studies that SNX16 is distributed in both early and late endosome/lysosome structures. The coiled-coil domain is necessary for localization to the later endosomal structures, as mutant SNX16 lacking this domain was found only in early endosomes. Trafficking of internalized epidermal growth factor was also delayed by this SNX16 mutant, as these cells showed a delay in the segregation of epidermal growth factor in the early endosome for its delivery to later compartments. In addition, the coiled-coil domain is shown here to be important for homo-oligomerization of SNX16. Taken together, these results suggest that SNX16 is a sorting nexin that may function in the trafficking of proteins between the early and late endosomal compartments.
The overexpressed human 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor mediates endocytosis and sorting of. beta. -glucuronidase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watanabe, H.; Grubb, J.H.; Sly, W.S.

1990-10-01

The authors studied the function of the human small (46-kDa) mannose 6-phosphate receptor (SMPR) in transfected mouse L cells that do not express the larger insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Cells overexpressing human SMPR were studied for enzyme binding to cell surface receptors, for binding to intracellular receptors in permeabilized cells, and for receptor-mediated endocytosis of recombinant human {beta}-glucuronidase. Specific binding to human SMPR in permeabilized cells showed a pH optimum between pH 6.0 and pH 6.5. Binding was significant in the present of EDTA but was enhanced by added divalent cations. Up to 2.3{percent} of the total functionalmore » receptor could be detected on the cell surface by enzyme binding. They present experiments showing that at very high levels of overexpression, and at pH 6.5, human SMPR mediated the endocytosis of {beta}-glucuronidase. At pH 7.5, the rate of endocytosis was only 14{percent} the rate seen at pH 6.5. Cells overexpressing human SMPR also showed reduced secretion of newly synthesized {beta}-glucuronidase when compared to cells transfected with vector only, suggesting that overexpressed human SMPR can participate in sorting of newly synthesized {beta}-glucuronidase and partially correct the sorting defect in mouse L cells that do not express the insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor.« less
77 FR 46771 - Notice of Permit Application Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-06

... emissions and waste water (urine, grey- water, and human solid waste. All wastes would be packaged and... (NSF) has received a waste management permit application for Quark Expeditions' cruise ships to conduct...-8030. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF's Antarctic Waste Regulation, 45 CFR Part 671, requires all U.S...
76 FR 48182 - Notice of Permit Application Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-08

.... Designated pollutants would be associated with camp operations [typically air emissions and waste water... (NSF) has received a waste management permit application for operation of a field research camp located...: NSF's Antarctic Waste Regulation, 45 CFR part 671, requires all U.S. citizens and entities to obtain a...
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center at MIT Home

Science.gov Websites

Research Summary Research Details of Project A (Stem Cell Vehicle Subthrust) and Project B (Targeted ) 253-0805 | Facsimile (617) 253-2400 | e-mail: bpec-www@mit.edu Current NSF ERC-Supported Research Vehicle Subthrust) Other Projects Related to NSF-Funded Research (coming soon) Home | People | Education
NSF in a Changing World: The National Science Foundation's Strategic Plan.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) role as a leader and steward of the Nation's science and engineering enterprise faces new tests--promoting new approaches to research, education, and workforce training that reach all Americans; responding to the increased importance of science and engineering in many aspects of daily life; modernizing the…
Hand-held Calculators: Past, Present, and Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Max; And Others

1977-01-01

Recommendations of several publications with regard to the use of hand-held calculators in the mathematics curriculum are presented. Relevant portions of the NACOME and Euclid Conference reports are cited as well as a report to NSF and recommendations from an NIE/NSF conference. Recommendations support expanded use of, and research concerning,…
77 FR 43373 - Emergency Clearance; Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-24

... postsecondary students in basic and applied research in STEM. If NSF must follow the normal OIRA clearance... request will assure continuation of the collection of information on student participants in the Research... undergraduate research experiences, NSF will have no other means to consistently document the number and...
Creation of a Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Hydrologic Literacy: An Applied Ethnography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hancock, Elizabeth S.; Uyeda, Steven

Science programs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) are increasingly involved in science education reform. Such entities are funded for science research and are expected to pursue educational activities with K-12 students and teachers. These efforts are often guided by ideas from current science education reform. The NSF Science and…
Community Colleges and Appropriate Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, Washington, DC.

A roundtable on Appropriate Technology (AT) was sponsored by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC) and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a result of a mandate from Congress to develop an AT program. The roundtable report first discusses the role of the NSF in including community colleges in the…
75 FR 71465 - National Science Board; Sunshine Act Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-23

... Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1235, Arlington, VA 22230. All visitors must report to the NSF... Session: 9:50 a.m.-11 a.m., Room 1235 Approval of Minutes. PCAST Report: Prepare and Inspire: K-12.... Update on NSF's Response to the STEM Innovators Report and Other Recent STEM Education Policy...
National Science Foundation FY 2004 Performance and Accountability Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, 2004

2004-01-01

The information provided in this report documents that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is a well-managed and effective organization with an outstanding staff dedicated to ensuring that America's future is secure and prosperous. Despite its small size, NSF is widely recognized as the catalyst for the advancement of basic research in America.…
78 FR 41959 - Notice of Permit Modification Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-12

... Conservation Act of 1978 AGENCY: National Science Foundation. ACTION: Notice of permit modification under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95-541. SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is... Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part...
Increasing Access for Economically Disadvantaged Students: The NSF/CSEM & S-STEM Programs at Louisiana State University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Zakiya S.; Iyengar, Sitharama S.; Pang, Su-Seng; Warner, Isiah M.; Luces, Candace A.

2012-01-01

Increasing college degree attainment for students from disadvantaged backgrounds is a prominent component of numerous state and federal legislation focused on higher education. In 1999, the National Science Foundation (NSF) instituted the "Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships" (CSEMS) program; this initiative was designed to…
Development of a Consensus Standard for School Equipment: NSF/NSSEA 380

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breitner, Ashlee

2011-01-01

For many years, the school supplies and equipment industry has investigated methods to ensure product safety and compliance across all its product categories. In early 2010, NSF International and the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA) came together to develop quality standards for products and equipment designed for use in…
Equity: Ownership by Minorities and Women of Research Projects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkinson, Patricia; Sher, Lawrence

Beginning in 1987, a reform movement was heavily funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to change the teaching of calculus. Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) received seven NSF grants over an eight-year period, allowing the college to: establish a state-of-the-art calculus computer lab; purchase calculators, graphing…
Gender Differences in Major Federal External Grant Programs. Technical Report Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hosek, Susan D.; Cox, Amy G.; Ghosh-Dastidar, Bonnie; Kofner, Aaron; Rampal, Nishal; Scott, Jon; Berry, Sandra H.

2005-01-01

The Wyden amendment to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Authorization Act of 2002 sought to determine whether federally funded educational programs other than sports comply with Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination. At the request of NSF, this report analyzes administrative data from fiscal years 2001 through 2003 describing the…

Gender Differences in Major Federal External Grant Programs. Technical Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hosek, Susan D.; Cox, Amy G.; Ghosh-Dastidar, Bonnie; Kofner, Aaron; Ramphal, Nishal; Scott, Jon; Berry, Sandra H.

2005-01-01

The Wyden amendment to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Authorization Act of 2002 sought to determine whether federally funded educational programs other than sports comply with Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination. At the request of NSF, this report analyzes administrative data from fiscal years 2001 through 2003 describing the…
77 FR 74517 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Education and Human Resources Project...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-14

... descriptive information gathered from education and training projects that are funded by NSF. NSF will... categories of descriptive data: (1) Staff and project participants (data that are also necessary to determine... scientific experts, a census rather than sampling design typically is necessary. At the individual project...
Accommodating Scientific Illiteracy: Award-Winning Visualizations on the Covers of "Science"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gigante, Maria E.

2012-01-01

The International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge, recently established by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is an alleged attempt at public outreach. The NSF encourages scientists to submit visualizations that would appeal to non-expert audiences by displaying their work in an annual "special feature" in "Science" magazine,…
Leveraging the NSF Broader-Impacts Criterion for Change in STEM Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathieu, Robert D.; Pfund, Christine; Gillian-Daniel, Don

2009-01-01

In an attempt to move, if not balance, the scales of activity toward increasing scientific capability across a diverse national population, U.S. federal funding agencies are purposefully linking research funding to broad national impact. Among United States federal agencies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has led the way in the integration…
Cyberlearning Community Report: The State of Cyberlearning and The Future of Learning with Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahn, June; Asbell-Clarke, Jodi; Berland, Matthew; Chase, Catherine; Enyedy, Noel; Fusco, Judith; Gardner, Shari; Grover, Shuchi; Halverson, Erica; Jona, Kemi; Lane, H. Chad; Martin, Wendy; Mercier, Emma; Moher, Tom; Ogan, Amy; Pinkard, Nichole; Polman, Joseph; Roschelle, Jeremy; Schank, Patricia; Taylor, Katie Headrick; Wilkerson, Michelle; Worsley, Marcelo

2017-01-01

Cyberlearning researchers envision and investigate the future of learning with technology. As of summer 2017, the Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies (CFTL) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) had made 279 research grant awards. In addition, several hundred other NSF research projects have cyberlearning themes. Many of…
Distributed Memory Compiler Methods for Irregular Problems - Data Copy Reuse and Runtime Partitioning

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

addition, support for Saltz was provided by NSF from NSF Grant ASC-8819374. i 1, introduction Over the past fewyers, ,we have devoped -methods needed to... network . In Third Conf. on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, pages 241-27278, 1988. [17] G. Fox, S. Hiranandani, K. Kennedy, C. Koelbel
76 FR 47271 - Implementation of Scientific Integrity Principles: Draft Plan for Public Comment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-04

... Communications The Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA) is the authorized news media liaison for NSF... follows: Media Policy: Purpose This document establishes NSF's media policy governing media communications... conduct our merit review process and make funding decisions to adhere to the highest standards of ethical...
45 CFR 617.7 - Compliance reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Compliance reviews. 617.7 Section 617.7 Public... Compliance reviews. (a) NSF may conduct compliance reviews of recipients that will permit it to investigate... the Act has occurred. (b) If a compliance review indicates a violation of the Act, NSF will attempt to...
Performance on the Wisconsin card-sorting test and serum levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaobin; Ru, Bu; Sha, Weiwei; Xin, Wang; Zhou, Honghui; Zhang, Yumei

2014-09-01

Some evidence suggests that neurotrophic growth factor systems might be involved in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor from the transforming growth factor-β family that plays a role in the development and function of the brain. This study aimed to test whether GDNF in serum was abnormal in MDD, and whether it was related to the cognitive impairment of MDD. Serum GDNF levels in MDD patients (n = 32) and normal controls (n = 32) were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. All subjects were assessed for performance on the Wisconsin card-sorting test (WCST). Performance on the WCST in MDD patients was significantly poorer than that in controls. Serum GDNF levels in MDD patients were significantly decreased compared to that of the control subjects (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the decrease in the serum GDNF levels positively correlated with performance in the WCST-% CONC and negatively with performance in the WCST-P in MDD patients. The findings suggest that MDD patients have extensive impairments of executive functioning, and lower serum GDNF might be involved in the pathogenesis of MDD, which may be associated with the cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
Evaluation of motility, membrane status and DNA integrity of frozen-thawed bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa after sex-sorting and recryopreservation.

PubMed

Montano, G A; Kraemer, D C; Love, C C; Robeck, T R; O'Brien, J K

2012-06-01

Artificial insemination (AI) with sex-sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa has led to enhanced management of ex situ bottlenose dolphin populations. Extended distance of animals from the sorting facility can be overcome by the use of frozen-thawed, sorted and recryopreserved spermatozoa. Although one bottlenose dolphin calf had been born using sexed frozen-thawed spermatozoa derived from frozen semen, a critical evaluation of in vitro sperm quality is needed to justify the routine use of such samples in AI programs. Sperm motility parameters and plasma membrane integrity were influenced by stage of the sex-sorting process, sperm type (non-sorted and sorted) and freezing method (straw and directional) (P<0.05). After recryopreservation, sorted spermatozoa frozen with the directional freezing method maintained higher (P<0.05) motility parameters over a 24-h incubation period compared to spermatozoa frozen using straws. Quality of sperm DNA of non-sorted spermatozoa, as assessed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), was high and remained unchanged throughout freeze-thawing and incubation processes. Though a possible interaction between Hoechst 33342 and the SCSA-derived acridine orange was observed in stained and sorted samples, the proportion of sex-sorted, recryopreserved spermatozoa exhibiting denatured DNA was low (6.6±4.1%) at 6 h after the second thawing step and remained unchanged (P>0.05) at 24 h. The viability of sorted spermatozoa was higher (P<0.05) than that of non-sorted spermatozoa across all time points after recryopreservation. Collective results indicate that bottlenose dolphin spermatozoa undergoing cryopreservation, sorting and recryopreservation are of adequate quality for use in AI.
Cognitive Shifting as a Predictor of Progress in Social Understanding in High-Functioning Adolescents with Autism: A Prospective Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berger, Hans J. C.; And Others

1993-01-01

This prospective study of 17 high-functioning residentially treated adolescents with autism found that cognitive shifting, as measured by card sorting tests, was the only significant factor in predicting progress in social understanding. (Author/JDD)
Microfluidic cell sorting: a review of the advances in the separation of cells from debulking to rare cell isolation.

PubMed

Shields, C Wyatt; Reyes, Catherine D; López, Gabriel P

2015-03-07

Accurate and high throughput cell sorting is a critical enabling technology in molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and medicine. While conventional methods can provide high efficiency sorting in short timescales, advances in microfluidics have enabled the realization of miniaturized devices offering similar capabilities that exploit a variety of physical principles. We classify these technologies as either active or passive. Active systems generally use external fields (e.g., acoustic, electric, magnetic, and optical) to impose forces to displace cells for sorting, whereas passive systems use inertial forces, filters, and adhesion mechanisms to purify cell populations. Cell sorting on microchips provides numerous advantages over conventional methods by reducing the size of necessary equipment, eliminating potentially biohazardous aerosols, and simplifying the complex protocols commonly associated with cell sorting. Additionally, microchip devices are well suited for parallelization, enabling complete lab-on-a-chip devices for cellular isolation, analysis, and experimental processing. In this review, we examine the breadth of microfluidic cell sorting technologies, while focusing on those that offer the greatest potential for translation into clinical and industrial practice and that offer multiple, useful functions. We organize these sorting technologies by the type of cell preparation required (i.e., fluorescent label-based sorting, bead-based sorting, and label-free sorting) as well as by the physical principles underlying each sorting mechanism.
Microfluidic Cell Sorting: A Review of the Advances in the Separation of Cells from Debulking to Rare Cell Isolation

PubMed Central

Shields, C. Wyatt; Reyes, Catherine D.; López, Gabriel P.

2015-01-01

Accurate and high throughput cell sorting is a critical enabling technology in molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and medicine. While conventional methods can provide high efficiency sorting in short timescales, advances in microfluidics have enabled the realization of miniaturized devices offering similar capabilities that exploit a variety of physical principles. We classify these technologies as either active or passive. Active systems generally use external fields (e.g., acoustic, electric, magnetic, and optical) to impose forces to displace cells for sorting, whereas passive systems use inertial forces, filters, and adhesion mechanisms to purify cell populations. Cell sorting on microchips provides numerous advantages over conventional methods by reducing the size of necessary equipment, eliminating potentially biohazardous aerosols, and simplifying the complex protocols commonly associated with cell sorting. Additionally, microchip devices are well suited for parallelization, enabling complete lab-on-a-chip devices for cellular isolation, analysis, and experimental processing. In this review, we examine the breadth of microfluidic cell sorting technologies, while focusing on those that offer the greatest potential for translation into clinical and industrial practice and that offer multiple, useful functions. We organize these sorting technologies by the type of cell preparation required (i.e., fluorescent label-based sorting, bead-based sorting, and label-free sorting) as well as by the physical principles underlying each sorting mechanism. PMID:25598308
NSF-Sponsored Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allison, M. D.; Chandler, C. L.; Copley, N.; Galvarino, C.; Gegg, S. R.; Glover, D. M.; Groman, R. C.; Wiebe, P. H.; Work, T. T.; Biological; Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office

2010-12-01

Ocean biogeochemistry and marine ecosystem research projects are inherently interdisciplinary and benefit from improved access to well-documented data. Improved data sharing practices are important to the continued exploration of research themes that are a central focus of the ocean science community and are essential to interdisciplinary and international collaborations that address complex, global research themes. In 2006, the National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) funded the Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO) to serve the data management requirements of scientific investigators funded by the National Science Foundation’s Biological and Chemical Oceanography Sections. BCO-DMO staff members work with investigators to manage marine biogeochemical, ecological, and oceanographic data and information developed in the course of scientific research. These valuable data sets are documented, stored, disseminated, and protected over short and intermediate time frames. One of the goals of the BCO-DMO is to facilitate regional, national, and international data and information exchange through improved data discovery, access, display, downloading, and interoperability. In May 2010, NSF released a statement to the effect that in October 2010, it is planning to require that all proposals include a data management plan in the form of a two-page supplementary document. The data management plan would be an element of the merit review process. NSF has long been committed to making data from NSF-funded research publicly available and the new policy will strengthen this commitment. BCO-DMO is poised to assist in creating the data management plans and in ultimately serving the data and information resulting from NSF OCE funded research. We will present an overview of the data management system capabilities including: geospatial and text-based data discovery and access systems; recent enhancements to data search tools; data export and download utilities; and strategic use of controlled vocabularies to facilitate data integration and improve interoperability.
Finding common ground: perspectives on community-based childhood obesity prevention.

PubMed

Porter, Christine M; Pelletier, David L

2012-11-01

To support successful and inclusive community organizing for childhood obesity prevention, this research identified stakeholder perspectives on what communities should do to prevent childhood obesity. It employed factor analysis on statement sorts (Q methodology) conducted by 95 people in an upstate New York community. These participants sorted 36 statements about the issue by how much he or she agreed or disagreed with each. Participants were recruited through strategic snowball sampling to sample a variety of perspectives. The four resulting factors, or perspectives, were interpreted in the context of presort demographic surveys and postsort interviews. This research found one stance that fits the environmental perspective common in public health. The other three factors indicate important variations among perspectives centered on individual responsibility, ranging from libertarian to technocratic views. However, overall, results revealed a substantial degree of agreement among the four perspectives, including on providing access to family activities and on making fruits and vegetables more available and affordable, for example, through subsidies. This article points to common ground for community action on childhood obesity prevention, highlights areas likely to generate considerable contention, and shows whose views are not being accounted for in, at least, this community's childhood obesity prevention project.
A Binary Array Asynchronous Sorting Algorithm with Using Petri Nets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voevoda, A. A.; Romannikov, D. O.

2017-01-01

Nowadays the tasks of computations speed-up and/or their optimization are actual. Among the approaches on how to solve these tasks, a method applying approaches of parallelization and asynchronization to a sorting algorithm is considered in the paper. The sorting methods are ones of elementary methods and they are used in a huge amount of different applications. In the paper, we offer a method of an array sorting that based on a division into a set of independent adjacent pairs of numbers and their parallel and asynchronous comparison. And this one distinguishes the offered method from the traditional sorting algorithms (like quick sorting, merge sorting, insertion sorting and others). The algorithm is implemented with the use of Petri nets, like the most suitable tool for an asynchronous systems description.
A Quality Sorting of Fruit Using a New Automatic Image Processing Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amenomori, Michihiro; Yokomizu, Nobuyuki

This paper presents an innovative approach for quality sorting of objects such as apples sorting in an agricultural factory, using an image processing algorithm. The objective of our approach are; firstly to sort the objects by their colors precisely; secondly to detect any irregularity of the colors surrounding the apples efficiently. An experiment has been conducted and the results have been obtained and compared with that has been preformed by human sorting process and by color sensor sorting devices. The results demonstrate that our approach is capable to sort the objects rapidly and the percentage of classification valid rate was 100 %.
Influences on eating: a qualitative study of adolescents in a periurban area in Lima, Peru.

PubMed

Banna, Jinan C; Buchthal, Opal Vanessa; Delormier, Treena; Creed-Kanashiro, Hilary M; Penny, Mary E

2016-01-15

Peruvian adolescents are at high nutritional risk, facing issues such as overweight and obesity, anemia, and pregnancy during a period of development. Research seeking to understand contextual factors that influence eating habits to inform the development of public health interventions is lacking in this population. This study aimed to understand socio-cultural influences on eating among adolescents in periurban Lima, Peru using qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews and pile sort activities were conducted with 14 adolescents 15-17 years. The interview was designed to elicit information on influences on eating habits at four levels: individual (intrapersonal), social environmental (interpersonal), physical environmental (community settings), and macrosystem (societal). The pile sort activity required adolescents to place cards with food images into groups and then to describe the characteristics of the foods placed in each group. Content analysis was used to identify predominant themes of influencing factors in interviews. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analysis was completed with pile sort data. Individual influences on behavior included lack of financial resources to purchase food and concerns about body image. Nutrition-related knowledge also played a role; participants noted the importance of foods such as beans for anemia prevention. At the social environmental level, parents promoted healthy eating by providing advice on food selection and home-cooked meals. The physical environment also influenced intake, with foods available in schools being predominantly low-nutrient energy-dense. Macrosystem influences were evident, as adolescents used the Internet for nutrition information, which they viewed as credible. To address nutrition-related issues such as obesity and iron-deficiency anemia in Peruvian adolescents, further research is warranted to elucidate the roles of certain factors shaping behavior, particularly that of family, cited numerous times as having a positive influence. Addressing nutrition-related issues such as obesity and iron-deficiency anemia in this population requires consideration of the effect of social and environmental factors in the context of adolescent lifestyles on behavior. Nutrition education messages for adolescents should consider the cultural perceptions and importance of particular foods, taking into account the diverse factors that influence eating behaviors.
Performance evaluation of firefly algorithm with variation in sorting for non-linear benchmark problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umbarkar, A. J.; Balande, U. T.; Seth, P. D.

2017-06-01

The field of nature inspired computing and optimization techniques have evolved to solve difficult optimization problems in diverse fields of engineering, science and technology. The firefly attraction process is mimicked in the algorithm for solving optimization problems. In Firefly Algorithm (FA) sorting of fireflies is done by using sorting algorithm. The original FA is proposed with bubble sort for ranking the fireflies. In this paper, the quick sort replaces bubble sort to decrease the time complexity of FA. The dataset used is unconstrained benchmark functions from CEC 2005 [22]. The comparison of FA using bubble sort and FA using quick sort is performed with respect to best, worst, mean, standard deviation, number of comparisons and execution time. The experimental result shows that FA using quick sort requires less number of comparisons but requires more execution time. The increased number of fireflies helps to converge into optimal solution whereas by varying dimension for algorithm performed better at a lower dimension than higher dimension.
Alternative Perspectives on Risk: Individual Differences in Problem Structuring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orasanu, Judith; Fischer, Ute; Connors, Mary M. (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

Team decision making involves contributions of multiple players toward a common goal. While much has been written about the importance of developing shared mental models in order for teams to work together effectively, little has been done to determine the value of alternative perspectives on problem solving and decision making. Early studies of expertise contrasted experts with novices and noted that the two groups differ in the way they structure problems and in their selection of information as salient. Little attention has been given to differences among experts who differ in their specializations. A series of experiments was conducted to determine: (1) what dimensions of flight-related problem situations pilots judge to be most important when making flight-relevant decisions; and (2) whether pilots in different crew positions differ in the way they interpret problems relating to flight decisions. A sorting task was used to identify underlying dimensions judged as salient to individual pilots. Captains, first officers, and flight engineers from two major carriers participated in the study. Twenty-two flight scenarios were developed based on ASRS reports. Pilots were required to make judgments about how they would respond in each case and to sort the scenarios on the basis of similarity of decision factors. They were also asked to provide a verbal label that described each of their sorted categories. A second study required a different group of pilots (also captains, first officers and flight engineers) to sort on predetermined bases.

A Comparative Analysis of Information on National Industrial R&D Expenditures. Special Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burke, Mary V.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) annually publishes information generated by its survey of research and development (R&D) expenditures by United States industry. These data are collected for NSF by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Other organizations also publish information on industrial R&D expenditures collected by surveys or derived…
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION: JOINT (NSF-EPA) VERIFICATION STATEMENT AND REPORT HYDRO COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT, INC. HYDRO-KLEEN FILTRATION SYSTEM, 03/07/WQPC-SWP, SEPTEMBER 2003

EPA Science Inventory

Verification testing of the Hydro-Kleen(TM) Filtration System, a catch-basin filter designed to reduce hydrocarbon, sediment, and metals contamination from surface water flows, was conducted at NSF International in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A Hydro-Kleen(TM) system was fitted into a ...
Top-Down, Routinized Reform in Low-Income, Rural Schools: NSF's Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bickel, Robert; Tomasek, Terry; Eagle, Teresa Hardman

2000-01-01

Describes and evaluates the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative, a six-state consortium for academic improvement supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), that focuses on low-income rural schools. The 1-day, one-school site visits that constitute program reviews in this initiative are unlikely to enhance achievement in either science…
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-14

entirely in some other part of the federal budget, such as the Department of Defense (DOD) budget, the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget, or...4 One National Science Foundation Ship............................................................................5 Summary...Alaska. Operations to support National Science Foundation (NSF) research activities in the Arctic and Antarctic has accounted in the past for a
45 CFR 607.3 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Applicability. 607.3 Section 607.3 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.3 Applicability. The regulations in this part are to be followed when: (a) NSF is owed a debt by an individual who is a current employee of the NSF; o...
78 FR 10640 - Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-14

... NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Sunshine Act Meetings; Notice The National Science Board's ad hoc Committee Regarding Recommendations for NSF Director, pursuant to NSF regulations (45 CFR Part 614), the National Science Foundation Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1862n-5), and the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b), hereby gives notice in...
Civic Engagement, Graduate Education, and the Broader Impacts Criterion of the National Science Foundation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lima, Marybeth

2017-01-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research proposals on the basis of two review criteria: intellectual merit (IM) and broader impacts (BI). The intellectual merit criterion is well-established and understood, but the broader impacts criterion, which is focused on the ways in which research can benefit society and/or meet NSF-identified…
45 CFR 607.3 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Applicability. 607.3 Section 607.3 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SALARY OFFSET § 607.3 Applicability. The regulations in this part are to be followed when: (a) NSF is owed a debt by an individual who is a current employee of the NSF; o...
The Reemergence of the National Science Foundation in American Education: Perspectives and Problems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hlebowitsh, Peter S.; Wraga, William G.

1989-01-01

Criticized are the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded curriculum reforms during the post-Sputnik epoch. The parallels and contrasts between the proposals of today's NSF and those supported during the late 1950s and early 1960s are outlined. The proper role of a policymaking body in American education is recommended. (YP)
78 FR 20359 - Sunshine Act Meetings; National Science Board

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-04

... for May 2013 meeting. STATUS: Open. LOCATION: This meeting will be held by teleconference at the... visitors must report to the NSF visitor desk located in the lobby at the 9th and N. Stuart Streets entrance... information and updates (time, place, subject matter or status of meeting) may be found at http://www.nsf.gov...
77 FR 47441 - Notice of Permit Application Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-08

... (NSF) has received a waste management permit application for Dr. Harry Anderson to conduct a flight... George Island where he will land, refuel, and take off for return to Punta Arenas. The application by Dr... address or (703) 292-8030. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF's Antarctic Waste Regulation, 45 CFR part 671...
Master Teachers in Residence: Bringing a Classroom Perspective to Course Reform for NSF's Oklahoma Teacher Education Collaborative (O-TEC).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramsey, Sarah; Neathery, Faye; Fholer, Gwen; Weger, Elayne; Voth, Bonnie; Townsend, Joyce; Campbell, DeAnn; Boedecker, Martha

Master teachers can be influential in course revision. The Oklahoma Teacher Education Collaborative (O-TEC) teacher reform effort is a consortium of nine higher education institutions working with the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) reform effort to produce teachers better equipped for teaching science and mathematics. The reform emphasizes…
Critical time for NSF, NASA funding bills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Richard

Although the new fiscal year does not start until October, the next few weeks will be critical in determining the amount of money which the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration receive. Scientists who want to communicate their views to key representatives and senators about these agencies should do so now.Every year Congress must pass new funding, or appropriations, legislation. Both NSF and NASA funding come under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees for the Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies. These two subcommittees have already heard from NSF officials, and will wrap-up official NASA testimony this week. Several days of hearings from public witnesses are also scheduled.
NAS Panel endorses science center concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Science and technology centers, as proposed by President Ronald Reagan in his January 1987 State of the Union message, could make “significant contributions to science and to the nation's economic competitiveness,” according to a new report by a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel. What will be necessary to realize these contributions, the panel cautioned, are proper management, adequate resources, and, “above all, the selection of programs for which the centers are the most effective form of organization.”NSF plans to support science and technology centers, beginning October 1, 1988, which is the start of fiscal year 1988. NSF requested guidance from the NAS panel in implementing the program. Although other government agencies will participate in the program, NSF will play the primary role.
Self-Fulfillment Development among the Arab Sector in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emad, Gith

2017-01-01

Self-determination and fulfillment are central components of personal development in both developing and developed societies. These terms are used frequently by many researchers, especially in the work by Maslow, who particularly emphasized this concept. This article presents a roadmap of sorts that describes the factors that can leverage and…
Memory Retrieval and Interference: Working Memory Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radvansky, Gabriel A.; Copeland, David E.

2006-01-01

Working memory capacity has been suggested as a factor that is involved in long-term memory retrieval, particularly when that retrieval involves a need to overcome some sort of interference (Bunting, Conway, & Heitz, 2004; Cantor & Engle, 1993). Previous work has suggested that working memory is related to the acquisition of information during…
Coherence and Dynamics of a High- β Metallo-dielectric Nanolasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Si Hui Athena

Metal-clad nanolasers with high spontaneous emission factors (β) represent a class of ultra-compact light emitters with applications in fiber-optic communications, optical computing, imaging and sensing. In-depth studies on both the coherence and dynamical properties of these emitters are necessary before practical applications can be realized. However, the coherence characterization of a high- β nanolaser using the conventional measurement of output versus input intensity (L-L curve) is inherently difficult. We conducted the second order intensity correlation measurement, or g2 (τ) - a more definitive method to confirm coherence - on a high- β metallo-dielectric nanolaser. Our result indicates that full coherence is achieved at three times the threshold conventionally defined by the kink in the L-L curve. Additionally, we observed that the g2 (τ) peak width shrinks below and broadens above threshold. Rate-equation analyses reveal that the above-threshold broadening is due to dynamical hysteresis. We propose that this dynamical phenomenon can be exploited to determine the lasing regimes of a unity- β nanolaser, whose threshold is inherently ambiguous and difficult to observe. National Science Foundation (NSF); Office of Naval Research; Army Research Office; Cymer; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (DGE-1144086).
Learning cellular sorting pathways using protein interactions and sequence motifs.

PubMed

Lin, Tien-Ho; Bar-Joseph, Ziv; Murphy, Robert F

2011-11-01

Proper subcellular localization is critical for proteins to perform their roles in cellular functions. Proteins are transported by different cellular sorting pathways, some of which take a protein through several intermediate locations until reaching its final destination. The pathway a protein is transported through is determined by carrier proteins that bind to specific sequence motifs. In this article, we present a new method that integrates protein interaction and sequence motif data to model how proteins are sorted through these sorting pathways. We use a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent protein sorting pathways. The model is able to determine intermediate sorting states and to assign carrier proteins and motifs to the sorting pathways. In simulation studies, we show that the method can accurately recover an underlying sorting model. Using data for yeast, we show that our model leads to accurate prediction of subcellular localization. We also show that the pathways learned by our model recover many known sorting pathways and correctly assign proteins to the path they utilize. The learned model identified new pathways and their putative carriers and motifs and these may represent novel protein sorting mechanisms. Supplementary results and software implementation are available from http://murphylab.web.cmu.edu/software/2010_RECOMB_pathways/.
Birth of kids after artificial insemination with sex-sorted, frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa.

PubMed

Bathgate, R; Mace, N; Heasman, K; Evans, G; Maxwell, W M C; de Graaf, S P

2013-12-01

Successful sex-sorting of goat spermatozoa and subsequent birth of pre-sexed kids have yet to be reported. As such, a series of experiments were conducted to develop protocols for sperm-sorting (using a modified flow cytometer, MoFlo SX(®) ) and cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa. Saanen goat spermatozoa (n = 2 males) were (i) collected into Salamon's or Tris catch media post-sorting and (ii) frozen in Tris-citrate-glucose media supplemented with 5, 10 or 20% egg yolk in (iii) 0.25 ml pellets on dry ice or 0.25 ml straws in a controlled-rate freezer. Post-sort and post-thaw sperm quality were assessed by motility (CASA), viability and acrosome integrity (PI/FITC-PNA). Sex-sorted goat spermatozoa frozen in pellets displayed significantly higher post-thaw motility and viability than spermatozoa frozen in straws. Catch media and differing egg yolk concentration had no effect on the sperm parameters tested. The in vitro and in vivo fertility of sex-sorted goat spermatozoa produced with this optimum protocol were then tested by means of a heterologous ova binding assay and intrauterine artificial insemination of Saanen goat does, respectively. Sex-sorted goat spermatozoa bound to sheep ova zona pellucidae in similar numbers (p > 0.05) to non-sorted goat spermatozoa, non-sorted ram spermatozoa and sex-sorted ram spermatozoa. Following intrauterine artificial insemination with sex-sorted spermatozoa, 38% (5/13) of does kidded with 83% (3/5) of kids being of the expected sex. Does inseminated with non-sorted spermatozoa achieved a 50% (3/6) kidding rate and a sex ratio of 3 : 1 (F : M). This study demonstrates for the first time that goat spermatozoa can be sex-sorted by flow cytometry, successfully frozen and used to produce pre-sexed kids. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Concept mapping as a tool to engage a community in health disparity identification.

PubMed

Risisky, Debra; Hogan, Vijaya K; Kane, Mary; Burt, Beneta; Dove, Cassandra; Payton, Marinelle

2008-01-01

To engage a community to critically examine local health disparities. Concept mapping is a tool used to rapidly assess the variations in thinking of large stakeholder groups' about a particular topic. Jackson, Mississippi. Community members. Dialog groups and community meetings were held, and participants were asked to respond to the statement, "A specific thing that causes African Americans to get sicker and die sooner is..." Aggregate responses were rated for importance and feasibility and then sorted into related groups. Aggregate sorts and ratings were then processed by using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. There were 132 (unduplicated) reported contributors to health disparities. These responses fell into eight general clusters: economic issues, government, contextual factors, cultural factors, HIV, stress, environment, and motivation. Factors respondents felt were the most important contributors to disparities (economic factors, contextual factors, stress) did not correlate with those that they thought were most likely to be changed in society (contextual factors, government, motivation). Concept mapping provided a mechanism for rapidly documenting community thinking about health disparities. This mechanism stimulated community dialog and was used as a first step toward the long-term goal of creating equal community, academic, and medical partnerships for addressing disparities. The concept mapping process stimulated critical thinking about contributors to health inequities and uncovered contextual factors previously unknown to researchers and public health planners. The process allowed for active engagement and exchange of knowledge between the community and researchers and allowed a mechanism for identifying and rectifying disconnects in knowledge within and between stakeholder groups.

Sorting drops and cells with acoustics: acoustic microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

PubMed

Schmid, Lothar; Weitz, David A; Franke, Thomas

2014-10-07

We describe a versatile microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorter that uses acoustic actuation to sort cells or drops at ultra-high rates. Our acoustic sorter combines the advantages of traditional fluorescence-activated cell (FACS) and droplet sorting (FADS) and is applicable for a multitude of objects. We sort aqueous droplets, at rates as high as several kHz, into two or even more outlet channels. We can also sort cells directly from the medium without prior encapsulation into drops; we demonstrate this by sorting fluorescently labeled mouse melanoma cells in a single phase fluid. Our acoustic microfluidic FACS is compatible with standard cell sorting cytometers, yet, at the same time, enables a rich variety of more sophisticated applications.
Report: NSF Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Grants in Chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1997-01-01

The 1996 awards in chemistry under the Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Program (ILI) of the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) have been announced and are listed below. The ILI program provides matching funds in the range of 5,000 to 100,000 for purchasing equipment for laboratory improvement. Since the recipient institution must provide matching funds equaling or exceeding the NSF award, the supported projects range in cost from 10,000 to over 200,000. The 311 chemistry proposals requesting 13 million constituted 21% of the total number of proposals submitted to the ILI program. A total of 3.9 million was awarded in support of 110 projects in chemistry. The instruments requested most frequently were high field NMRs, GC/MS instruments, computers for data analysis, and FT-IRs; next most commonly requested were UV-vis spectrophotometers, followed by HPLCs, lasers, computers for molecular modeling, AAs, and GCs. In addition, one award was made this year in chemistry within the Leadership in Laboratory Development category. The next deadline for submission of ILI proposals is November 14, 1997. Guidelines for the preparation of proposals are found in the DUE Program Announcement (NSF 96-10), which may be obtained by calling (703) 306-1666 or by e-mail: undergrad@nsf.gov. Other information about DUE programs and activities and abstracts of the funded proposals can be found on the DUE Home Page at http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/DUE/start.htm. We thank Sandra D. Nelson, Science Education Analyst in DUE, for assistance in data gathering.
Clinical and histologic studies of olfactory outcomes after nasoseptal flap harvesting.

PubMed

Kim, Sang-Wook; Park, Kyung Bum; Khalmuratova, Roza; Lee, Hong-Kyoung; Jeon, Sea-Yuong; Kim, Dae Woo

2013-07-01

Since the introduction of an endonasal endoscopic approach in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, reports of perioperative olfactory changes have presented conflicting results. We examined the incidence of olfactory loss in cases of endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery with skull base repair using the nasoseptal flap (NSF) and the effects of monopolar electrocautery commonly used in designing the NSF. Case-control study. Fifteen patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery with skull base reconstruction using the NSF were divided into cold knife (n = 8) and electrocautery (n = 7) groups according to the device used in the superior incision of the NSF. Patients were followed regularly to monitor the need for dressing or adhesiolysis around the olfactory cleft. All subjects received olfactory tests before and 6 months after surgery. Septal mucosa specimens obtained during posterior septectomy were incised with different devices, and the degree of mucosal damage was evaluated. One patient in the electrocautery group demonstrated olfactory dysfunction postoperatively, but the other 14 patients showed no decrease in olfaction. In histologic analyses, 55.8% and 76.9% of the mucosal surface showed total epithelial loss when the mucosa was cut with cutting- and coagulation-mode electrocautery, respectively. In contrast, only 20% of the mucosal surface exhibited total epithelial loss when the mucosa was cut with a cold knife (P < .01). Olfactory impairment is not common after use of the NSF. Use of the cold knife in making superior incision may reduce tissue damage with better olfactory outcomes. Copyright © 2013 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.
Advancing Capabilities for Understanding the Earth System Through Intelligent Systems, the NSF Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gil, Y.; Zanzerkia, E. E.; Munoz-Avila, H.

2015-12-01

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) and Directorate for Computer and Information Science (CISE) acknowledge the significant scientific challenges required to understand the fundamental processes of the Earth system, within the atmospheric and geospace, Earth, ocean and polar sciences, and across those boundaries. A broad view of the opportunities and directions for GEO are described in the report "Dynamic Earth: GEO imperative and Frontiers 2015-2020." Many of the aspects of geosciences research, highlighted both in this document and other community grand challenges, pose novel problems for researchers in intelligent systems. Geosciences research will require solutions for data-intensive science, advanced computational capabilities, and transformative concepts for visualizing, using, analyzing and understanding geo phenomena and data. Opportunities for the scientific community to engage in addressing these challenges are available and being developed through NSF's portfolio of investments and activities. The NSF-wide initiative, Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and Engineering (CIF21), looks to accelerate research and education through new capabilities in data, computation, software and other aspects of cyberinfrastructure. EarthCube, a joint program between GEO and the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Division, aims to create a well-connected and facile environment to share data and knowledge in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner, thus accelerating our ability to understand and predict the Earth system. EarthCube's mission opens an opportunity for collaborative research on novel information systems enhancing and supporting geosciences research efforts. NSF encourages true, collaborative partnerships between scientists in computer sciences and the geosciences to meet these challenges.
Current trends on 2D materials for photonics devices: an NSF perspective (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fallahi, Mahmoud

2017-05-01

Recent advancements in two-dimensional (2D) materials have opened significant research opportunities in optics and photonics. While the initial focus on 2D materials was on Graphene, new generation of 2D materials such as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), monolayer black phosphorous (BP) and other monolayer structures have shown unique electrical and optical properties. For example, h-BN is an insulator, while monolayers of some TMDCs such as MoS2 and WSe2 are direct band-gap semiconductors. Depending on the choice of material compositional and layer variations their optical properties can be engineered, making them particularly attractive as novel light sources, photodetectors, modulators and photovoltaic components, in particular for few photon applications. Plasmonic properties of 2D materials make them suitable for nanophotonics and monolithic integration with other conventional materials. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a US federal agency dedicated to promote progress of science and engineering. NSF is the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. NSF has recently supported several initiatives related to novel 2D material and device research. In this talk, I will first give an overview of the NSF programs and funding opportunities. The second part of the talk will be focused on the programs related to 2D materials for photonic devices and program specific initiatives. Several highlights of the recent achievements and awards in the field of 2D materials for photonic devices will be presented.
Surface acoustic wave actuated cell sorting (SAWACS).

PubMed

Franke, T; Braunmüller, S; Schmid, L; Wixforth, A; Weitz, D A

2010-03-21

We describe a novel microfluidic cell sorter which operates in continuous flow at high sorting rates. The device is based on a surface acoustic wave cell-sorting scheme and combines many advantages of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and fluorescence activated droplet sorting (FADS) in microfluidic channels. It is fully integrated on a PDMS device, and allows fast electronic control of cell diversion. We direct cells by acoustic streaming excited by a surface acoustic wave which deflects the fluid independently of the contrast in material properties of deflected objects and the continuous phase; thus the device underlying principle works without additional enhancement of the sorting by prior labelling of the cells with responsive markers such as magnetic or polarizable beads. Single cells are sorted directly from bulk media at rates as fast as several kHz without prior encapsulation into liquid droplet compartments as in traditional FACS. We have successfully directed HaCaT cells (human keratinocytes), fibroblasts from mice and MV3 melanoma cells. The low shear forces of this sorting method ensure that cells survive after sorting.
A Study of NSF Teacher Enhancement Program (TEP) Participants and Principal Investigators: 1984-1989. Volume I: Summary Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supported more than 600 inservice teacher training programs between 1984 and 1989 under its Teacher Enhancement Program (TEP). Two studies were undertaken of TEP: the first was a survey of the 600 Principal Investigators (PIs) who had operated inservice teacher enhancement projects and the second, a survey of…
Year-Long Peer Mentoring Activity to Enhance the Retention of Freshmen STEM Students in a NSF Scholarship Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutright, Teresa J.; Evans, Edward

2016-01-01

The last year of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded scholarship program was used to provide pseudo-formal peer mentoring activities to engineering, mathematics, and science undergraduates. A one-credit class was used to afford time for peer mentors and mentees to interact. During the fall semester, seniors augmented each week's topics with…
Building a Community of Scholars: One University's Story of Students Engaged in Learning Science, Mathematics, and Engineering through a NSF S-STEM Grant

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalevitch, Maria; Maurer, Cheryl; Badger, Paul; Holdan, Greg; Iannelli, Joe; Sirinterlikci, Arif; Semich, George; Bernauer, James

2012-01-01

The School of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science (SEMS) at Robert Morris University (RMU) was awarded a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund scholarships to 21 academically talented but financially challenged students majoring in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each…
78 FR 56743 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-13

...The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.
78 FR 56744 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-13

...The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.
77 FR 30330 - Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information Collection for the NSF Graduate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-22

...The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action plan for information collection.
A Patron for Pure Science. The National Science Foundation's Formative Years, 1945-57. NSF 82-24.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

England, J. Merton

Provided in this book is a legislative and administrative history of the National Science Foundation (NSF) during its formative years (1945-57). The 15 chapter book is organized into three parts. Part 1 ("The Long Debate, 1945-50") narrates the legislative history of the Foundation's creation. Part 2 ("Beginning, 1950-54")…
Access-Control Schemes for Real-Time and Store-and-Forward Multiple-Access Communication Channels

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

N00014-78-C-0778 and SThe National Science Foundation under Grant NSF-EN677- 20799 Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the...by the Naval Research Laboratory under Contract NRL-N00014-78-C-0778 and by the National Science Foundation under Grant NSF-ENG77- 20799 . Special thanks
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION JOINT (NSF-EPA) VERIFICATION STATEMENT AND REPORT PERFORMANCE OF INDUCTION MIXERS FOR DISINFECTION OF WET WEATHER FLOWS, GAS MASTRRR SERIES 32 SUBMERSIBLE CHEMICAL INDUCTION MIXERS

EPA Science Inventory

The Wet-Weather Flow Technologies Pilot of the EPA's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program under a partnership with NSF International has verified the performance of the GAS MASTRRR Series 32 Submersible Chemical Induction Mixers used for disinfection of wet-weather...
Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: Fiscal Year 1996. Detailed Statistical Tables.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA. Div. of Science Resources Studies.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950 stipulates that NSF must maintain a program for determining the total amount of money for scientific and engineering research received from federal agencies by each educational institution and appropriate nonprofit organization and to report these data annually to Congress and the President. NSF…
Federal S&E Obligations to Three Types of Minority-Serving Institutions Decline in FY 2007. InfoBrief. NSF 09-319

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennof, Richard J.

2009-01-01

This analysis first addresses federal science and engineering (S&E) support findings for all academic institutions, followed by an analysis of the major findings on minority-serving institutions. The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) latest statistics from the Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and…
Industrial Funding of Academic R&D Continues to Decline in FY 2004. Info Brief. NSF 06-315

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Britt, Ronda

2006-01-01

Industrial funding for research and development in academic science and engineering (S&E) dropped by 2.6 percent in FY 2004, the third consecutive year of declining support from this sector, according to data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges (table 1). The…
Exploration of NSF-ATE Projects Approaches in the Integration of Technology and Engineering Education at the K-12 Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strobel, Johannes; Mendoza Díaz, Noemi V.

2012-01-01

Access to post-secondary education, specifically in the technical, two-year institution area, is a topic of growing interest in the country. Funding agencies, such as NSF, via the Advanced Technological Education Program (ATE), are supporting initiatives and research aimed at increasing the number of technicians and engineers and improving…
Effective Professional Development for Teacher Leaders: Lessons Learned from K-6 Mathematics Teacher Enhancement Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friel, Susan N.; Bright, George W.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported a wide variety of teacher enhancement projects in order to identify and explore strategies that are effective in bringing genuine, long-term teacher change, and, ultimately, long-term systemic change in schools. In November 1994, with funding provided from NSF (Grant Number ESI-9452859), a small,…

Evaluation of NSF's Program of Grants and Vertical Integration of Research and Education in the Mathematical Sciences (VIGRE)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academies Press, 2009

2009-01-01

In 1998, the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched a program of Grants for Vertical Integration of Research and Education in the Mathematical Sciences (VIGRE). These grants were designed for institutions with PhD-granting departments in the mathematical sciences, for the purpose of developing high-quality education programs, at all levels,…
The Path to Pedagogical Reform in the Sciences: Engaging Mutual Adaptation and Social Movement Models of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kezar, Adrianna

2012-01-01

One of the dilemmas that policy makers, campus leaders, and individual faculty members often describe with chagrin is the difficulty of scaling up successful innovations. Officials at the National Science Foundation (NSF), for example, admit they are discouraged because the results of most NSF-funded projects are not disseminated beyond the target…
NSF announces diversity programme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruesi, Liz

2016-04-01

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has initiated a new funding programme that will create schemes to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The initiative - Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) - aims to increase the participation of women, those with a low socioeconomic status, people with disabilities and those from minority racial backgrounds.
Reviews of Data on Science Resources, No. 29. Current and Future Utilization of Scientific and Technical Personnel in Energy-Related Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Div. of Science Resources Studies.

This National Science Foundation (NSF) bulletin summarizes the NSF program of energy manpower studies that assessed the impact of past energy developments and future options for scientific and technical manpower. This document summarizes the utilization of scientific personnel in energy-related activities in private industry in 1975 and shortages…
Building Bridges Between EPO Professionals Across Scientific Disciplines: Partnerships with NSF Centers (First Steps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinberg, D.; Black, K.; Schultz, S.

2010-08-01

NASA, NSF and other funding organizations support science education and outreach to achieve their broader impact goals. Organizations like ASP and the NSF Research Centers Educators Network (NRCEN) are building networks of education and public outreach (EPO) professionals to enhance programmatic success in reaching these goals. As the professionals who provide these programs to the various scientific communities, we are often the key connectors between investigators at cutting-edge research centers, the education world and the public. However, our profession does not have strong ties for sharing best practices across the different scientific disciplines. To develop those ties, we need to identify our common interests and build on them by sharing lessons learned and best practices. We will use the technique of concept mapping to develop a schematic of how each of us addresses our broader impact goals and discuss the common and divergent features. We will also present the education and outreach logic model that was recently developed by the 27 Education Directors of NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC). Building on this information, we will collaboratively develop a list of key areas of similar interest between ASP and NRCEN EPO professionals.
Congressional geohazards showcase presented by NSF and AGU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlenbrock, Kristan

2011-10-01

On Wednesday, 7 September 2011, two weeks after the magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Mineral, Va., and a week after Hurricane Irene struck the U.S. East Coast, AGU cosponsored a showcase of National Science Foundation (NSF)—funded hazards research in recognition of National Preparedness Month. This annual event highlights NSF—funded hazards research from all over the United States, with more than 30 exhibitors demonstrating the latest research and technology on hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and oil spills, as well as emergency and social responses to these events. The event took place at the Hart Senate Office Building, where many members of Congress and their staff could attend and discuss the importance of hazards research with the researchers and NSF staff. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) kicked off with a panel of speakers, which included remarks by Mary Voytek, a member of the AGU Board of Directors, and Subra Suresh, director of NSF. Expert presentations were also given on hazard prediction, human safety, and social response. Following the event, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) hosted a small event to meet directly with a few of the exhibitors to discuss the importance of investment in scientific research and development.
Tornado-like transport in a magnetized plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poulos, Matthew; van Compernolle, Bart; Morales, George

2017-10-01

Recent heat transport experiments conducted in the LAPD device at UCLA in which avalanche events have been previously documented have also lead to the identification of a new tornado-like transport phenomenon. These tornados occur much earlier than the avalanches events, essentially in the interval following the application of the bias voltage that causes the injection of an electron beam from a ring-shaped LaB6 cathode into the afterglow of a cold, magnetized plasma. The tornados exhibit a low-frequency (4 kHz) (much lower than drift-waves), spiraling, global eigenmode whose transient behavior is responsible for significant radial transport well outside the heated region. Detailed experimental observations are compared with a Braginskii transport code that includes the effects of ExB convection induced by the spiraling global eigenmode. New insights are gained into the necessary modifications of classical transport to accurately simulate the spiraling effects and the possible interaction with avalanches. This work is supported by the NSF/DOE partnership in basic plasma science and engineering, Grant Number 1619505, and is performed at the Basic Plasma Science Facility, sponsored jointly by DOE and NSF. Sponsored by DOE/NSF at BaPSF and NSF 1619505.
Nanowire surface fastener fabrication on flexible substrate.

PubMed

Toku, Yuhki; Uchida, Keita; Morita, Yasuyuki; Ju, Yang

2018-07-27

The market for wearable devices has increased considerably in recent years. In response to this demand, flexible electronic circuit technology has become more important. The conventional bonding technology in electronic assembly depends on high-temperature processes such as reflow soldering, which result in undesired thermal damages and residual stress at a bonding interface. In addition, it exhibits poor compatibility with bendable or stretchable device applications. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to attach electronic parts on printed circuit boards with good mechanical and electrical properties at room temperature. Nanowire surface fasteners (NSFs) are candidates for resolving these problems. This paper describes the fabrication of an NSF on a flexible substrate, which can be used for room temperature conductive bonding. The template method is used for preparing high-density nanowire arrays. A Cu thin film is layered on the template as the flexible substrate. After etching the template, a Cu NSF is obtained on the Cu film substrate. In addition, the electrical and mechanical properties of the Cu NSF are studied under various fabrication conditions. The Cu NSF exhibits high shear adhesion strength (∼234 N cm -2 ) and low contact resistivity (2.2 × 10 -4 Ω cm 2 ).
a History of Funding for WOMEN’S Programs at the National Science Foundation: from Individual Powre Approaches to the Advance of Institutional Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosser, Sue V.; Lane, Eliesh O'neil

The biennial reports on women, minorities, and persons with disabilities produced by the National Science Foundation (NSF) because of congressional mandate laid the statistical foundation for NSF initiatives to redress the underrepresentation of these groups. Programs established in the 1980s such as Research Opportunities for Women, Visiting Professorships for Women, Graduate Fellowships for Women, and Career Advancement Awards provided support to individual women for their research. In the 1990s, the NSF also began to focus on systemic initiatives, creating the Program for Women and Girls, although it continued to address the problem through support of individual researchers in the newly created Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education (POWRE) initiative. The responses from more than 400 awardees during the 4 years of POWRE provide insights into the current issues these women perceive surrounding their grants, funding, and interactions with NSF bureaucracy and staff members. The results of the POWRE survey support the institutional, systemic thrust of the NSF’s new ADVANCE initiative to attempt to solve problems such as balancing career and family that cannot be addressed solely by supporting research projects of individual female scientists and engineers.
Nanowire surface fastener fabrication on flexible substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toku, Yuhki; Uchida, Keita; Morita, Yasuyuki; Ju, Yang

2018-07-01

The market for wearable devices has increased considerably in recent years. In response to this demand, flexible electronic circuit technology has become more important. The conventional bonding technology in electronic assembly depends on high-temperature processes such as reflow soldering, which result in undesired thermal damages and residual stress at a bonding interface. In addition, it exhibits poor compatibility with bendable or stretchable device applications. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to attach electronic parts on printed circuit boards with good mechanical and electrical properties at room temperature. Nanowire surface fasteners (NSFs) are candidates for resolving these problems. This paper describes the fabrication of an NSF on a flexible substrate, which can be used for room temperature conductive bonding. The template method is used for preparing high-density nanowire arrays. A Cu thin film is layered on the template as the flexible substrate. After etching the template, a Cu NSF is obtained on the Cu film substrate. In addition, the electrical and mechanical properties of the Cu NSF are studied under various fabrication conditions. The Cu NSF exhibits high shear adhesion strength (∼234 N cm‑2) and low contact resistivity (2.2 × 10‑4 Ω cm2).
Learning Cellular Sorting Pathways Using Protein Interactions and Sequence Motifs

PubMed Central

Lin, Tien-Ho; Bar-Joseph, Ziv

2011-01-01

Abstract Proper subcellular localization is critical for proteins to perform their roles in cellular functions. Proteins are transported by different cellular sorting pathways, some of which take a protein through several intermediate locations until reaching its final destination. The pathway a protein is transported through is determined by carrier proteins that bind to specific sequence motifs. In this article, we present a new method that integrates protein interaction and sequence motif data to model how proteins are sorted through these sorting pathways. We use a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent protein sorting pathways. The model is able to determine intermediate sorting states and to assign carrier proteins and motifs to the sorting pathways. In simulation studies, we show that the method can accurately recover an underlying sorting model. Using data for yeast, we show that our model leads to accurate prediction of subcellular localization. We also show that the pathways learned by our model recover many known sorting pathways and correctly assign proteins to the path they utilize. The learned model identified new pathways and their putative carriers and motifs and these may represent novel protein sorting mechanisms. Supplementary results and software implementation are available from http://murphylab.web.cmu.edu/software/2010_RECOMB_pathways/. PMID:21999284
A New Algorithm Using the Non-Dominated Tree to Improve Non-Dominated Sorting.

PubMed

Gustavsson, Patrik; Syberfeldt, Anna

2018-01-01

Non-dominated sorting is a technique often used in evolutionary algorithms to determine the quality of solutions in a population. The most common algorithm is the Fast Non-dominated Sort (FNS). This algorithm, however, has the drawback that its performance deteriorates when the population size grows. The same drawback applies also to other non-dominating sorting algorithms such as the Efficient Non-dominated Sort with Binary Strategy (ENS-BS). An algorithm suggested to overcome this drawback is the Divide-and-Conquer Non-dominated Sort (DCNS) which works well on a limited number of objectives but deteriorates when the number of objectives grows. This article presents a new, more efficient algorithm called the Efficient Non-dominated Sort with Non-Dominated Tree (ENS-NDT). ENS-NDT is an extension of the ENS-BS algorithm and uses a novel Non-Dominated Tree (NDTree) to speed up the non-dominated sorting. ENS-NDT is able to handle large population sizes and a large number of objectives more efficiently than existing algorithms for non-dominated sorting. In the article, it is shown that with ENS-NDT the runtime of multi-objective optimization algorithms such as the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) can be substantially reduced.
SORLA regulates calpain-dependent degradation of synapsin.

PubMed

Hartl, Daniela; Nebrich, Grit; Klein, Oliver; Stephanowitz, Heike; Krause, Eberhard; Rohe, Michael

2016-09-01

Sorting-related receptor with A-type repeats (SORLA) is an intracellular sorting receptor in neurons and a major risk factor for Alzheimer disease. Here, we performed global proteome analyses in the brain of SORLA-deficient mice followed by biochemical and histopathologic studies to identify novel neuronal pathways affected by receptor dysfunction. We demonstrate that the lack of SORLA results in accumulation of phosphorylated synapsins in cortex and hippocampus. We propose an underlying molecular mechanism by demonstrating that SORLA interacts with phosphorylated synapsins through 14-3-3 adaptor proteins to deliver synapsins to calpain-mediated proteolytic degradation. Our results suggest a novel function for SORLA which is in control of synapsin degradation, potentially impacting on synaptic vesicle endocytosis and/or exocytosis. Copyright © 2016 The Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Optimization of the Design of Pre-Signal System Using Improved Cellular Automaton

PubMed Central

Li, Yan; Li, Ke; Tao, Siran; Chen, Kuanmin

2014-01-01

The pre-signal system can improve the efficiency of intersection approach under rational design. One of the main obstacles in optimizing the design of pre-signal system is that driving behaviors in the sorting area cannot be well evaluated. The NaSch model was modified by considering slow probability, turning-deceleration rules, and lane changing rules. It was calibrated with field observed data to explore the interactions among design parameters. The simulation results of the proposed model indicate that the length of sorting area, traffic demand, signal timing, and lane allocation are the most important influence factors. The recommendations of these design parameters are demonstrated. The findings of this paper can be foundations for the design of pre-signal system and show promising improvement in traffic mobility. PMID:25435871
Trafficking of plant plasma membrane aquaporins: multiple regulation levels and complex sorting signals.

PubMed

Chevalier, Adrien S; Chaumont, François

2015-05-01

Aquaporins are small channel proteins which facilitate the diffusion of water and small neutral molecules across biological membranes. Compared with animals, plant genomes encode numerous aquaporins, which display a large variety of subcellular localization patterns. More specifically, plant aquaporins of the plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) subfamily were first described as plasma membrane (PM)-resident proteins, but recent research has demonstrated that the trafficking and subcellular localization of these proteins are complex and highly regulated. In the past few years, PIPs emerged as new model proteins to study subcellular sorting and membrane dynamics in plant cells. At least two distinct sorting motifs (one cytosolic, the other buried in the membrane) are required to direct PIPs to the PM. Hetero-oligomerization and interaction with SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor protein attachment protein receptors) also influence the subcellular trafficking of PIPs. In addition to these constitutive processes, both the progression of PIPs through the secretory pathway and their dynamics at the PM are responsive to changing environmental conditions. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Uncertainty quantification of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy for material property and single crystal orientation estimation on a complex part

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aldrin, John C.; Mayes, Alexander; Jauriqui, Leanne; Biedermann, Eric; Heffernan, Julieanne; Livings, Richard; Goodlet, Brent; Mazdiyasni, Siamack

2018-04-01

A case study is presented evaluating uncertainty in Resonance Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) inversion for a single crystal (SX) Ni-based superalloy Mar-M247 cylindrical dog-bone specimens. A number of surrogate models were developed with FEM model solutions, using different sampling schemes (regular grid, Monte Carlo sampling, Latin Hyper-cube sampling) and model approaches, N-dimensional cubic spline interpolation and Kriging. Repeated studies were used to quantify the well-posedness of the inversion problem, and the uncertainty was assessed in material property and crystallographic orientation estimates given typical geometric dimension variability in aerospace components. Surrogate model quality was found to be an important factor in inversion results when the model more closely represents the test data. One important discovery was when the model matches well with test data, a Kriging surrogate model using un-sorted Latin Hypercube sampled data performed as well as the best results from an N-dimensional interpolation model using sorted data. However, both surrogate model quality and mode sorting were found to be less critical when inverting properties from either experimental data or simulated test cases with uncontrolled geometric variation.
Glycoprotein production for structure analysis with stable, glycosylation mutant CHO cell lines established by fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

PubMed

Wilke, Sonja; Krausze, Joern; Gossen, Manfred; Groebe, Lothar; Jäger, Volker; Gherardi, Ermanno; van den Heuvel, Joop; Büssow, Konrad

2010-06-01

Stable mammalian cell lines are excellent tools for the expression of secreted and membrane glycoproteins. However, structural analysis of these molecules is generally hampered by the complexity of N-linked carbohydrate side chains. Cell lines with mutations are available that result in shorter and more homogenous carbohydrate chains. Here, we use preparative fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and site-specific gene excision to establish high-yield glycoprotein expression for structural studies with stable clones derived from the well-established Lec3.2.8.1 glycosylation mutant of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. We exemplify the strategy by describing novel clones expressing single-chain hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF, a secreted glycoprotein) and a domain of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3d). In both cases, stable GFP-expressing cell lines were established by transfection with a genetic construct including a GFP marker and two rounds of cell sorting after 1 and 2 weeks. The GFP marker was subsequently removed by heterologous expression of Flp recombinase. Production of HGF/SF and LAMP3d was stable over several months. 1.2 mg HGF/SF and 0.9 mg LAMP3d were purified per litre of culture, respectively. Homogenous glycoprotein preparations were amenable to enzymatic deglycosylation under native conditions. Purified and deglycosylated LAMP3d protein was readily crystallized. The combination of FACS and gene excision described here constitutes a robust and fast procedure for maximizing the yield of glycoproteins for structural analysis from glycosylation mutant cell lines.
Improved Access to NSF Funded Ocean Research Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandler, C. L.; Groman, R. C.; Kinkade, D.; Shepherd, A.; Rauch, S.; Allison, M. D.; Gegg, S. R.; Wiebe, P. H.; Glover, D. M.

2015-12-01

Data from NSF-funded, hypothesis-driven research comprise an essential part of the research results upon which we base our knowledge and improved understanding of the impacts of climate change. Initially funded in 2006, the Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO) works with marine scientists to ensure that data from NSF-funded ocean research programs are fully documented and freely available for future use. BCO-DMO works in partnership with information technology professionals, other marine data repositories and national data archive centers to ensure long-term preservation of these valuable environmental research data. Data contributed to BCO-DMO by the original investigators are enhanced with sufficient discipline-specific documentation and published in a variety of standards-compliant forms designed to enable discovery and support accurate re-use.
Potential of nano-silver fluoride for tooth enamel caries prevention

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, Amitis V. C.; Mota, Cláudia C. B. O.; Teixeira, Joás. A.; Lins, Emery C.; Gomes, Anderson S. L.; Rosenblatt, Aronita

2018-02-01

This ex vivo study evaluated the efficiency of nano-silver fluoride (NSF) to enamel remineralization of deciduous teeth submitted to a high cariogenic challenge. 33 specimens of sound enamel were distributed into three groups: treated with sodium fluoride, with NSF, and deionized water. All specimens were submitted to microhardness test before chemical caries induction; post-induction of caries; and post-cariogenic challenge. The high cariogenic challenge was carried out in 14 daily cycles. There was no significant statistical difference (p=0.958) of enamel microhardness between NSFtreated and NaF-treated specimens. However, it presented significant difference between water-treated specimens and both NSF-treated and NaF-treated specimens (p=0.003).Furthermore, optical coherence tomography was employed for caries diagnosis, as it can be used in clinical environment.
Extracting Spectroscopic Factors of Argon Isotopes from Transfer Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manfredi, Juan; Lee, J.; Tsang, M. B.; Lynch, W. G.; Barney, J.; Estee, J.; Sweany, S.; Brown, K. W.; Cerizza, G.; Anderson, C.; Setiawan, H.; Loelius, C.; Xu, Z.; Rogers, A. M.; Pruitt, C.; Sobotka, L. G.; Elson, J. M.; Langer, C.; Chajecki, Z.; Chen, G.; Jones, K. L.; Smith, K.; Xiao, Z.; Li, Z.; Winkelbauer, J. R.

2017-01-01

A spectroscopic factor (SF) quantifies the single particle occupancy of a given state in a nucleus. For the argon isotopes, there is a discrepancy of the SF between studies that use transfer reactions and knockout reactions. Understanding the SFs of these isotopes, and in particular how the SF changes across the isotopic chain, is important for understanding how single particle structure changes with neutron number. The transfer reactions 34Ar(p,d) and 46Ar(p,d) were measured at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) using the same beam energy (70 MeV/u) as from the previous knockout measurement. Spectroscopic factors were extracted from measured angular distributions via ADWA calculations. Preliminary findings will be presented. The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory is supported by the NSF (PHY 1102511), and Juan Manfredi is supported by the DOE NNSA Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship.

Particle Transport and Size Sorting in Bubble Microstreaming Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thameem, Raqeeb; Rallabandi, Bhargav; Wang, Cheng; Hilgenfeldt, Sascha

2014-11-01

Ultrasonic driving of sessile semicylindrical bubbles results in powerful steady streaming flows that are robust over a wide range of driving frequencies. In a microchannel, this flow field pattern can be fine-tuned to achieve size-sensitive sorting and trapping of particles at scales much smaller than the bubble itself; the sorting mechanism has been successfully described based on simple geometrical considerations. We investigate the sorting process in more detail, both experimentally (using new parameter variations that allow greater control over the sorting) and theoretically (incorporating the device geometry as well as the superimposed channel flow into an asymptotic theory). This results in optimized criteria for size sorting and a theoretical description that closely matches the particle behavior close to the bubble, the crucial region for size sorting.
Neural network hardware and software solutions for sorting of waste plastics for recycling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stanton, S.L.; Alam, M.K.; Hebner, G.A.

1992-12-31

While plastic recycling efforts have expanded during the past several years, the cost of recovering plastics is still a major impediment for recyclers. Several factors contribute to the prohibitive cost of recycled resins, including the present low marketability of products made with mixed recycled materials, and costs of collecting, sorting and reprocessing plastic materials. A method for automatic sorting of post-consumer plastics into pure polymer streams is needed to overcome the inaccuracies and low product throughput of the currently used method of hand sorting of waste plastics for recycling. The Society of Plastics has designated seven categories as recyclable: Polyethylenemore » terephthalate (PET); High Density Polyethylene (HDPE); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Polypropylene (PP); Polystyrene (PS); and Other (mixtures, layered items, etc.). With these categories in mind, a system for sorting of waste plastics using near-infrared reflectance spectra and a backpropagation neural network classifier has been developed. A solution has been demonstrated in the laboratory using a high resolution, and relatively slow instrument. A faster instrument is being developed at this time. Neural network hardware options have been evaluated for use in a real-time industrial system. In the lab, a Fourier transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) scanning spectrometer was used to gather reflectance data from various locations on samples of actual waste plastics. Neural networks were trained off-line with this data using the NeuralWorks Professional II Plus software package on a SparcStation 2. One of the successfully trained networks was used to compare the neural accelerator hardware options available. The results of running this ``worst case`` network on the neural network hardware will be presented. The AT&T ANNA chip and the Intel 80170NX chip development system were used to determine the ease of implementation and accuracies for this network.« less
Neural network hardware and software solutions for sorting of waste plastics for recycling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stanton, S.L.; Alam, M.K.; Hebner, G.A.

1992-01-01

While plastic recycling efforts have expanded during the past several years, the cost of recovering plastics is still a major impediment for recyclers. Several factors contribute to the prohibitive cost of recycled resins, including the present low marketability of products made with mixed recycled materials, and costs of collecting, sorting and reprocessing plastic materials. A method for automatic sorting of post-consumer plastics into pure polymer streams is needed to overcome the inaccuracies and low product throughput of the currently used method of hand sorting of waste plastics for recycling. The Society of Plastics has designated seven categories as recyclable: Polyethylenemore » terephthalate (PET); High Density Polyethylene (HDPE); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Polypropylene (PP); Polystyrene (PS); and Other (mixtures, layered items, etc.). With these categories in mind, a system for sorting of waste plastics using near-infrared reflectance spectra and a backpropagation neural network classifier has been developed. A solution has been demonstrated in the laboratory using a high resolution, and relatively slow instrument. A faster instrument is being developed at this time. Neural network hardware options have been evaluated for use in a real-time industrial system. In the lab, a Fourier transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) scanning spectrometer was used to gather reflectance data from various locations on samples of actual waste plastics. Neural networks were trained off-line with this data using the NeuralWorks Professional II Plus software package on a SparcStation 2. One of the successfully trained networks was used to compare the neural accelerator hardware options available. The results of running this worst case'' network on the neural network hardware will be presented. The AT T ANNA chip and the Intel 80170NX chip development system were used to determine the ease of implementation and accuracies for this network.« less
Sperm sex-sorting and preservation for managing the sex ratio and genetic diversity of the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

PubMed

O'Brien, J K; Roth, T L; Stoops, M A; Ball, R L; Steinman, K J; Montano, G A; Love, C C; Robeck, T R

2015-01-01

White rhinoceros ejaculates (n=9) collected by electroejaculation from four males were shipped (10°C, 12h) to develop procedures for the production of chilled and frozen-thawed sex-sorted spermatozoa of adequate quality for artificial insemination (AI). Of all electroejaculate fractions, 39.7% (31/78) exhibited high quality post-collection (≥70% total motility and membrane integrity) and of those, 54.8% (17/31) presented reduced in vitro quality after transport and were retrospectively determined to exhibit urine-contamination (≥21.0μg creatinine/ml). Of fractions analyzed for creatinine concentration, 69% (44/64) were classified as urine-contaminated. For high quality non-contaminated fractions, in vitro parameters (motility, velocity, membrane, acrosome and DNA integrity) of chilled non-sorted and sorted spermatozoa were well-maintained at 5°C up to 54h post-collection, whereby >70% of post-transport (non-sorted) or post-sort (sorted) values were retained. By 54h post-collection, some motility parameters were higher (P<0.05) for non-sorted spermatozoa (total motility, rapid velocity, average path velocity) whereas all remaining motion parameters as well as membrane, acrosome and DNA integrity were similar between sperm types. In comparison with a straw method, directional freezing resulted in enhanced (P<0.05) motility and velocity of non-sorted and sorted spermatozoa, with comparable overall post-thaw quality between sperm types. High purity enrichment of X-bearing (89±6%) or Y-bearing (86±3%) spermatozoa was achieved using moderate sorting rates (2540±498X-spermatozoa/s; 1800±557Y-spermatozoa/s). Collective in vitro characteristics of sorted-chilled or sorted-frozen-thawed spermatozoa derived from high quality electroejaculates indicate acceptable fertility potential for use in AI. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Encapsulation of sex sorted boar semen: sperm membrane status and oocyte penetration parameters.

PubMed

Spinaci, Marcella; Chlapanidas, Theodora; Bucci, Diego; Vallorani, Claudia; Perteghella, Sara; Lucconi, Giulia; Communod, Ricardo; Vigo, Daniele; Galeati, Giovanna; Faustini, Massimo; Torre, Maria Luisa

2013-03-01

Although sorted semen is experimentally used for artificial, intrauterine, and intratubal insemination and in vitro fertilization, its commercial application in swine species is still far from a reality. This is because of the low sort rate and the large number of sperm required for routine artificial insemination in the pig, compared with other production animals, and the greater susceptibility of porcine spermatozoa to stress induced by the different sex sorting steps and the postsorting handling protocols. The encapsulation technology could overcome this limitation in vivo, protecting and allowing the slow release of low-dose sorted semen. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of the encapsulation process on viability, acrosome integrity, and on the in vitro fertilizing potential of sorted boar semen. Our results indicate that the encapsulation technique does not damage boar sorted semen; in fact, during a 72-hour storage, no differences were observed between liquid-stored sorted semen and encapsulated sorted semen in terms of plasma membrane (39.98 ± 14.38% vs. 44.32 ± 11.72%, respectively) and acrosome integrity (74.32 ± 12.17% vs. 66.07 ± 10.83%, respectively). Encapsulated sorted spermatozoa presented a lower penetration potential than nonencapsulated ones (47.02% vs. 24.57%, respectively, P < 0.0001), and a significant reduction of polyspermic fertilization (60.76% vs. 36.43%, respectively, polyspermic ova/total ova; P < 0.0001). However, no difference (P > 0.05) was observed in terms of total efficiency of fertilization expressed as normospermic oocytes/total oocytes (18.45% vs. 15.43% for sorted diluted and sorted encapsulated semen, respectively). The encapsulation could be an alternative method of storing of pig sex sorted spermatozoa and is potentially a promising technique in order to optimize the use of low dose of sexed spermatozoa in vivo. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Sortilin 1 Loss-of-Function Protects Against Cholestatic Liver Injury by Attenuating Hepatic Bile Acid Accumulation in Bile Duct Ligated Mice.

PubMed

Li, Jibiao; Woolbright, Benjamin L; Zhao, Wen; Wang, Yifeng; Matye, David; Hagenbuch, Bruno; Jaeschke, Hartmut; Li, Tiangang

2018-01-01

Sortilin 1 (Sort1) is an intracellular trafficking receptor that mediates protein sorting in the endocytic or secretory pathways. Recent studies revealed a role of Sort1 in the regulation of cholesterol and bile acid (BA) metabolism. This study further investigated the role of Sort1 in modulating BA detoxification and cholestatic liver injury in bile duct ligated mice. We found that Sort1 knockout (KO) mice had attenuated liver injury 24 h after bile duct ligation (BDL), which was mainly attributed to less bile infarct formation. Sham-operated Sort1 KO mice had about 20% larger BA pool size than sham-operated wildtype (WT) mice, but 24 h after BDL Sort1 KO mice had significantly attenuated hepatic BA accumulation and smaller BA pool size. After 14 days BDL, Sort1 KO mice showed significantly lower hepatic BA concentration and reduced expression of inflammatory and fibrotic marker genes, but similar degree of liver fibrosis compared with WT mice. Unbiased quantitative proteomics revealed that Sort1 KO mice had increased hepatic BA sulfotransferase 2A1, but unaltered phase-I BA metabolizing cytochrome P450s or phase-III BA efflux transporters. Consistently, Sort1 KO mice showed elevated plasma sulfated taurocholate after BDL. Finally, we found that liver Sort1 was repressed after BDL, which may be due to BA activation of farnesoid x receptor. In conclusion, we report a role of Sort1 in the regulation of hepatic BA detoxification and cholestatic liver injury in mice. The mechanisms underlying increased hepatic BA elimination in Sort1 KO mice after BDL require further investigation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Reducing 4D CT artifacts using optimized sorting based on anatomic similarity.

PubMed

Johnston, Eric; Diehn, Maximilian; Murphy, James D; Loo, Billy W; Maxim, Peter G

2011-05-01

Four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) has been widely used as a tool to characterize respiratory motion in radiotherapy. The two most commonly used 4D CT algorithms sort images by the associated respiratory phase or displacement into a predefined number of bins, and are prone to image artifacts at transitions between bed positions. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate a method of reducing motion artifacts in 4D CT by incorporating anatomic similarity into phase or displacement based sorting protocols. Ten patient datasets were retrospectively sorted using both the displacement and phase based sorting algorithms. Conventional sorting methods allow selection of only the nearest-neighbor image in time or displacement within each bin. In our method, for each bed position either the displacement or the phase defines the center of a bin range about which several candidate images are selected. The two dimensional correlation coefficients between slices bordering the interface between adjacent couch positions are then calculated for all candidate pairings. Two slices have a high correlation if they are anatomically similar. Candidates from each bin are then selected to maximize the slice correlation over the entire data set using the Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm. To assess the reduction of artifacts, two thoracic radiation oncologists independently compared the resorted 4D datasets pairwise with conventionally sorted datasets, blinded to the sorting method, to choose which had the least motion artifacts. Agreement between reviewers was evaluated using the weighted kappa score. Anatomically based image selection resulted in 4D CT datasets with significantly reduced motion artifacts with both displacement (P = 0.0063) and phase sorting (P = 0.00022). There was good agreement between the two reviewers, with complete agreement 34 times and complete disagreement 6 times. Optimized sorting using anatomic similarity significantly reduces 4D CT motion artifacts compared to conventional phase or displacement based sorting. This improved sorting algorithm is a straightforward extension of the two most common 4D CT sorting algorithms.
Q and you: The application of Q methodology in recreation research

Treesearch

Whitney Ward

2010-01-01

Researchers have used various qualitative and quantitative methods to deal with subjectivity in studying people's recreation experiences. Q methodology has been the most effective approach for analyzing both qualitative and quantitative aspects of experience, including attitudes or perceptions. The method is composed of two main components--Q sorting and Q factor...
Ultrasonic scanning for pallet part grading

Treesearch

Mohammed F. Kabir; Daniel L. Schmoldt; Mark E. Schafer; Philip A. Araman

2000-01-01

Sorting and grading of wooden pallet parts are key factors for pallet manufacturing quality and pallet durability. The feasibility of ultrasonic scanning for defect detection in pallet manufacturing is examined in this report. Scanning was conducted by two pressure-contact rolling transducers in a pitch-catch arrangement. Pallet part deckboards were fed through the...
Algorithmic Procedure for Finding Semantically Related Journals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pudovkin, Alexander I.; Garfield, Eugene

2002-01-01

Using citations, papers and references as parameters a relatedness factor (RF) is computed for a series of journals. Sorting these journals by the RF produces a list of journals most closely related to a specified starting journal. The method appears to select a set of journals that are semantically most similar to the target journal. The…
NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB): list sorting test to measure working memory.

PubMed

Tulsky, David S; Carlozzi, Noelle; Chiaravalloti, Nancy D; Beaumont, Jennifer L; Kisala, Pamela A; Mungas, Dan; Conway, Kevin; Gershon, Richard

2014-07-01

The List Sorting Working Memory Test was designed to assess working memory (WM) as part of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. List Sorting is a sequencing task requiring children and adults to sort and sequence stimuli that are presented visually and auditorily. Validation data are presented for 268 participants ages 20 to 85 years. A subset of participants (N=89) was retested 7 to 21 days later. As expected, the List Sorting Test had moderately high correlations with other measures of working memory and executive functioning (convergent validity) but a low correlation with a test of receptive vocabulary (discriminant validity). Furthermore, List Sorting demonstrates expected changes over the age span and has excellent test-retest reliability. Collectively, these results provide initial support for the construct validity of the List Sorting Working Memory Measure as a measure of working memory. However, the relationship between the List Sorting Test and general executive function has yet to be determined.
Manual sorting to eliminate aflatoxin from peanuts.

PubMed

Galvez, F C F; Francisco, M L D L; Villarino, B J; Lustre, A O; Resurreccion, A V A

2003-10-01

A manual sorting procedure was developed to eliminate aflatoxin contamination from peanuts. The efficiency of the sorting process in eliminating aflatoxin-contaminated kernels from lots of raw peanuts was verified. The blanching of 20 kg of peanuts at 140 degrees C for 25 min in preheated roasters facilitated the manual sorting of aflatoxin-contaminated kernels after deskinning. The manual sorting of raw materials with initially high aflatoxin contents (300 ppb) resulted in aflatoxin-free peanuts (i.e., peanuts in which no aflatoxin was detected). Verification procedures showed that the sorted sound peanuts contained no aflatoxin or contained low levels (<15 ppb) of aflatoxin. The results obtained confirmed that the sorting process was effective in separating contaminated peanuts whether or nor contamination was extensive. At the commercial level, when roasters were not preheated, the dry blanching of 50 kg of peanuts for 45 to 55 min facilitated the proper deskinning and subsequent manual sorting of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut kernels from sound kernels.
Automated spike sorting algorithm based on Laplacian eigenmaps and k-means clustering.

PubMed

Chah, E; Hok, V; Della-Chiesa, A; Miller, J J H; O'Mara, S M; Reilly, R B

2011-02-01

This study presents a new automatic spike sorting method based on feature extraction by Laplacian eigenmaps combined with k-means clustering. The performance of the proposed method was compared against previously reported algorithms such as principal component analysis (PCA) and amplitude-based feature extraction. Two types of classifier (namely k-means and classification expectation-maximization) were incorporated within the spike sorting algorithms, in order to find a suitable classifier for the feature sets. Simulated data sets and in-vivo tetrode multichannel recordings were employed to assess the performance of the spike sorting algorithms. The results show that the proposed algorithm yields significantly improved performance with mean sorting accuracy of 73% and sorting error of 10% compared to PCA which combined with k-means had a sorting accuracy of 58% and sorting error of 10%.A correction was made to this article on 22 February 2011. The spacing of the title was amended on the abstract page. No changes were made to the article PDF and the print version was unaffected.
A Simple Deep Learning Method for Neuronal Spike Sorting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Kai; Wu, Haifeng; Zeng, Yu

2017-10-01

Spike sorting is one of key technique to understand brain activity. With the development of modern electrophysiology technology, some recent multi-electrode technologies have been able to record the activity of thousands of neuronal spikes simultaneously. The spike sorting in this case will increase the computational complexity of conventional sorting algorithms. In this paper, we will focus spike sorting on how to reduce the complexity, and introduce a deep learning algorithm, principal component analysis network (PCANet) to spike sorting. The introduced method starts from a conventional model and establish a Toeplitz matrix. Through the column vectors in the matrix, we trains a PCANet, where some eigenvalue vectors of spikes could be extracted. Finally, support vector machine (SVM) is used to sort spikes. In experiments, we choose two groups of simulated data from public databases availably and compare this introduced method with conventional methods. The results indicate that the introduced method indeed has lower complexity with the same sorting errors as the conventional methods.
NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB): The List Sorting Test to Measure Working Memory

PubMed Central

Tulsky, David S.; Carlozzi, Noelle; Chiaravalloti, Nancy D.; Beaumont, Jennifer L.; Kisala, Pamela A.; Mungas, Dan; Conway, Kevin; Gershon, Richard

2015-01-01

The List Sorting Working Memory Test was designed to assess working memory (WM) as part of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. List Sorting is a sequencing task requiring children and adults to sort and sequence stimuli that are presented visually and auditorily. Validation data are presented for 268 participants ages 20 to 85 years. A subset of participants (N=89) was retested 7 to 21 days later. As expected, the List Sorting Test had moderately high correlations with other measures of working memory and executive functioning (convergent validity) but a low correlation with a test of receptive vocabulary (discriminant validity). Furthermore, List Sorting demonstrates expected changes over the age span and has excellent test-retest reliability. Collectively, these results provide initial support the construct validity of the List Sorting Working Memory Measure as a measure of working memory. However, the relation between the List Sorting Test and general executive function has yet to be determined. PMID:24959983
Combination of COFRADIC and high temperature-extended column length conventional liquid chromatography: a very efficient way to tackle complex protein samples, such as serum.

PubMed

Sandra, Koen; Verleysen, Katleen; Labeur, Christine; Vanneste, Lies; D'Hondt, Filip; Thomas, Grégoire; Kas, Koen; Gevaert, Kris; Vandekerckhove, Joël; Sandra, Pat

2007-03-01

The previously reported COmbined FRActional DIagonal Chromatography (COFRA-DIC) methodology, in which a subset of peptides representative for their parent proteins are sorted, is particularly powerful for whole proteome analysis. This peptide-centric technology is built around diagonal chromatography, where peptide separations are crucial. This paper presents high efficiency peptide separations, in which four 250 x 2.1 mm, 5 microm Zorbax 300SB-C18 columns (total length 1 m) were coupled at operating temperatures of 60'C using a dedicated LC oven and conventional LC equipment. The high efficiency separations were combined with the COFRADIC procedure. This extremely powerful combination resulted, for the analysis of serum, in an increase in the uniquely identified peptide sequences by a factor of 2.6, compared to the COFRADIC procedure on a 25 cm column. This is a reflection of the increased peak capacity obtained on the 1 m column, which was calculated to be a factor 2.7 higher than on the 25 cm column. Besides more efficient sorting, less ion suppression was noticed.
GGA3 Functions as a Switch to Promote Met Receptor Recycling, Essential for Sustained ERK and Cell Migration

PubMed Central

Parachoniak, Christine Anna; Luo, Yi; Abella, Jasmine Vanessa; Keen, James H.; Park, Morag

2011-01-01

Summary Cells are dependent on correct sorting of activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) for the outcome of growth factor signaling. Upon activation, RTKs are coupled through the endocytic machinery for degradation, or recycled to the cell surface. However, the molecular mechanisms governing RTK recycling are poorly understood. Here, we show that Golgi-localized gamma-ear containing Arf-binding protein 3 (GGA3) interacts selectively with the Met/Hepatocyte Growth Factor RTK when stimulated, to sort it for recycling in association with “gyrating”-clathrin. GGA3 loss abrogates Met recycling from a Rab4 endosomal subdomain, resulting in pronounced trafficking of Met towards degradation. Decreased Met recycling attenuates ERK activation and cell migration. Met recycling, sustained ERK activation and migration require interaction of GGA3 with Arf6 and an unexpected association with the Crk adaptor. The data show that GGA3 defines an active recycling pathway and support a broader role for GGA3-mediated cargo selection in targeting receptors destined for recycling. PMID:21664574
The woman's birth experience---the effect of interpersonal relationships and continuity of care.

PubMed

Dahlberg, Unn; Aune, Ingvild

2013-04-01

the aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of how relational continuity in the childbearing process may influence the woman's birth experience. RESEARCH DESIGN/SETTING: a Q-methodological approach was chosen, as it allows the researcher to systematically assess subjectivity. 23 women were invited to sort a sample of 48 statements regarding their subjective view of birth experience after having participated in a pilot project in Norway, where six midwifery students provided continuity of care to 58 women throughout the childbearing process. The sorting patterns were subsequently factor-analysed, using the statistical software 'PQ' which reveals one strong and one weaker factor. The consensus statements and the defining statements for the two factors were later interpreted. both factors seemed to represent experiences of psychological trust and a feeling of team work along with the midwifery student. Both factors indicated the importance of quality in the relation. Factor one represented experiences of presence and emotional support in the relationship. It also represented a feeling of personal growth for the women. Factor two was defined by experiences of predictability in the relation and process, as well as the feeling of interdependency in the relation. According to quality in the relation, women defining factor two experienced that the content, not only the continuity in the relation, was important for the birth experience. relational continuity is a key concept in the context of a positive birth experience. Quality in the relation gives the woman a possibility to experience positivity during the childbearing process. Continuity in care and personal growth related to birth promote empowerment for both the woman and her partner. Relational continuity gives an opportunity for midwives to provide care in a more holistic manner. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Regulation of synaptic activity by snapin-mediated endolysosomal transport and sorting

PubMed Central

Di Giovanni, Jerome; Sheng, Zu-Hang

2015-01-01

Recycling synaptic vesicles (SVs) transit through early endosomal sorting stations, which raises a fundamental question: are SVs sorted toward endolysosomal pathways? Here, we used snapin mutants as tools to assess how endolysosomal sorting and trafficking impact presynaptic activity in wild-type and snapin−/− neurons. Snapin acts as a dynein adaptor that mediates the retrograde transport of late endosomes (LEs) and interacts with dysbindin, a subunit of the endosomal sorting complex BLOC-1. Expressing dynein-binding defective snapin mutants induced SV accumulation at presynaptic terminals, mimicking the snapin−/− phenotype. Conversely, over-expressing snapin reduced SV pool size by enhancing SV trafficking to the endolysosomal pathway. Using a SV-targeted Ca2+ sensor, we demonstrate that snapin–dysbindin interaction regulates SV positional priming through BLOC-1/AP-3-dependent sorting. Our study reveals a bipartite regulation of presynaptic activity by endolysosomal trafficking and sorting: LE transport regulates SV pool size, and BLOC-1/AP-3-dependent sorting fine-tunes the Ca2+ sensitivity of SV release. Therefore, our study provides new mechanistic insights into the maintenance and regulation of SV pool size and synchronized SV fusion through snapin-mediated LE trafficking and endosomal sorting. PMID:26108535
Graduate Enrollment in Science and Engineering Grew Substantially in the Past Decade but Slowed in 2010. InfoBrief. NSF 12-317

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kang, Kelly

2012-01-01

Approximately 632,700 graduate students were enrolled in science, engineering, and health (SEH) programs in the United States as of fall 2010, a 30% increase from approximately 493,300 students in 2000, according to the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS). The growth…

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