cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Organization of Water at the Hydrophilic Silica/Liquid Interface Probed by Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

We Investigate the orientation and structuring of strong protic solvents as a model system for separation techniques. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) is an alternative mode to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for separating highly polar and amphiphilic analytes. However, inconsistency of retention mechanism contributions has limited the advancement of the separation technique. The consensus is that both the liquid/liquid and solid/liquid interfaces may play a vital role in shedding light to these contributions. Knowing the specific molecular organization near surfaces may pave way to understanding the functional role of the liquid solvent mixture adsorbed at the interface. Surface selective vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) is a second order ultrafast spectroscopic technique suitable for such studies, where the interfacial layers are selectively probed. We present here spectroscopic measurements of a double-layer formation of liquid methanol at the interface as well as probing the interfacial organization of water at the hydrophilic silica/liquid interface. Measurements of the methyl region of liquid methanol on hydrophilic surfaces have remained elusive, but here we report the first observation on the CH stretch spectrum.
Motility of the Turtle Embryo, Chelydra serpentina (Linné)

Uridine phosphates may be obtained by heating uridine with inorganic phosphates for 9 months at temperatures as low as 65°C. Under similar conditions, uridine-5′-phosphate, in addition to forming u...
Examining weekly relationships between obsessive-compulsive and eating disorder symptoms

Abstract Background Despite the severity and high rate of co-occurrence between eating disorders (ED) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), less is known regarding the longitudinal sequencing of their comorbidity and whether and how their symptoms may influence one another over time. The current study sought to answer these questions by testing if a bidirectional, longitudinal relationship exists between ED symptoms and OCD obsessions and compulsions. Methods We examined the relationship between ED symptoms, obsessions and compulsions across five time points, each one week apart using auto-regressive cross-lagged panel modeling. The final sample consisted of 358 individuals from the community with moderate levels of ED and OCD symptoms, the majority of whom identified as White and male. Results Bivariate correlations revealed that ED symptoms, obsessions and compulsions were associated with one another across the five weeks. Two cross-lagged panel models indicated that ED symptoms predicted OCD symptoms at numerous time points and vice versa. However, we found this significant longitudinal associations across only certain weeks. Notably, the models found that only ED symptoms and OCD obsessions predicted one another across different time points across the five weeks; ED symptoms and OCD compulsions did not predict one another. Limitations. Due to the non-clinical nature of the sample, there is limited generalizability to clinical populations. Conclusions Our results provide preliminary evidence that there is a bidirectional, longitudinal relationship between ED symptoms and OCD symptoms among a community sample, particularly with respect to cognitive as opposed to behavioral symptoms.
Pesticide Drift and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice

The widespread but virtually invisible problem of pesticide drift -- the airborne movement of agricultural pesticides into residential areas -- has fueled grassroots activism from Maine to Hawaii. Pesticide drift accidents have terrified and sickened many living in the country's most marginalized and vulnerable communities. In this book, Jill Lindsey Harrison considers political conflicts over pesticide drift in California, using them to illuminate the broader problem and its potential solutions. The fact that pesticide pollution and illnesses associated with it disproportionately affect the poor and the powerless raises questions of environmental justice (and political injustice). Despite California's impressive record of environmental protection, massive pesticide regulatory apparatus, and booming organic farming industry, pesticide-related accidents and illnesses continue unabated. To unpack this conundrum, Harrison examines the conceptions of justice that increasingly shape environmental politics and finds that California's agricultural industry, regulators, and pesticide drift activists hold different, and conflicting, notions of what justice looks like. Drawing on her own extensive ethnographic research as well as in-depth interviews with regulators, activists, scientists, and public health practitioners, Harrison examines the ways industry, regulatory agencies, and different kinds of activists address pesticide drift, connecting their efforts to communitarian and libertarian conceptions of justice. The approach taken by pesticide drift activists, she finds, not only critiques theories of justice undergirding mainstream sustainable-agriculture activism, but also offers an entirely new notion of what justice means. To solve seemingly intractable environmental problems such as pesticide drift, Harrison argues, we need a different kind of environmental justice. She proposes the precautionary principle as a framework for effectively and justly addressing environmental inequities in the everyday work of environmental regulatory institutions.
In the Dark: Challenges of Caring for Sons with Klinefelter Syndrome

The purpose of this mixed method study was to describe family management challenges for parents who have sons with Klinefelter Syndrome (KS). Standardized survey results showed that stress, quality of life and family management struggles varied by parent age. When interviewed, parents described feeling uninformed and without support to make decisions about managing their sons' KS. Parents reported that a lack of guidance and case coordination created barriers in caring for their sons throughout childhood. Given the prevalence of KS, health care providers need to be prepared to provide comprehensive evaluation and anticipatory guidance for KS boys and families.
DDoS Attacks in Service Clouds

The scalability and dynamic configuration of service clouds can be susceptible to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The attack on web services causes a performance decrease in the cloud applications or can shut them down. Additionally, due to the high distribution of the service cloud components, finding the original attacking service becomes a far more complex task. This paper advocates a DDoS attack detection approach for service clouds and develops efficient algorithms to resolve the originating service for the attack. The detection approach is composed of four levels such that each level detects symptoms of DDoS attacks from its local data. The detection results of all levels are corroborated to confirm the victim and attacking services. We evaluate our proposed solution by using a random dataset. The results indicate that it is a promising solution to mitigate the DDoS attack in the service cloud.
A comparison of two glucocorticoid regimens for acceleration of fetal lung maturation in premature labor

Abstract This study compares fetal corticoid response from conventional dose (12.0 mg.) intramuscular betamethasone to large dose (1,000 mg.) intravenous cortisol administered to women in premature labor for acceleration of fetal lung maturity. To compare these two regimens, 14 women selected at random were treated in groups of seven with either cortisol or betamethasone. Peripheral levels of unconjugated estriol were measured by specific radioimmunoassay prior to the corticoid dose and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 hours following the dose. The rate of corticoid delivery to the fetal hypothalamic-adrenal axis was estimated by the per cent suppression of unconjugated estriol at each post-treatment interval. Least-squares regression lines fitted (P
Markov Chains and Mixing Times

This book is an introduction to the modern approach to the theory of Markov chains. The main goal of this approach is to determine the rate of convergence of a Markov chain to the stationary distribution as a function of the size and geometry of the state space. The authors develop the key tools for estimating convergence times, including coupling, strong stationary times, and spectral methods. Whenever possible, probabilistic methods are emphasized. The book includes many examples and provides brief introductions to some central models of statistical mechanics. Also provided are accounts of random walks on networks, including hitting and cover times, and analyses of several methods of shuffling cards. As a prerequisite, the authors assume a modest understanding of probability theory and linear algebra at an undergraduate level. ""Markov Chains and Mixing Times"" is meant to bring the excitement of this active area of research to a wide audience.
Review and practice guidelines for celiac disease in 2014.

AbstractCeliac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is defined as a state of heightened immunologic responsiveness to ingested gluten (from wheat, barley, or rye) in genetically susceptible individuals. Ingestion of the offending proteins leads to inflammation and intestinal mucosal damage, which may result in a spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional abnormalities, and systemic complications ranging from anemia and osteoporosis to secondary autoimmunity and malignancy. The genetic influence in the pathogenesis of celiac disease is indicated by its familial occurrence. Celiac disease does not develop unless a person has alleles that encode for human leukocyte antigen DQ2 or DQ8 proteins. The clinical picture of celiac disease has changed considerably during the past 30 years. Diarrhea, which was the presenting symptom in > 90% of celiac disease patients before 1981, is now the chief complaint in < 40%. In contrast, the increased frequency of atypical celiac disease presentations, including...
A review of the species of Psammophis Boie found south of Latitude 12° S (Serpentes: Psammophiinae)

Abstract The status, relationships and zoogeography of the 14 taxa of Psammophis found south of Latitude 12° S are reviewed and the following taxonomic changes are proposed: Psammophis trinasalis and P. namibensis, previously treated as subspecies of P. leightoni, are recognised as good evolutionary species which show ecological differences. Psammophis orientalis, previously regarded as a subspecies of P. subtaeniatus, differs from the latter in a suite of characters and is parapatric with it in Zimbabwe, so it is now recognised as an evolutionary species. Psammophis brevirostris and P. leopardinus, previously regarded as subspecies of P. sibilans (Linnaeus), are recognised as relict evolutionary species. The Zambian populations previously assigned to P. leopardinus have been described as a new species (Hughes & Wade, in press).
Spatio-temporal attributes of left ventricular pressure decay rate during isovolumic relaxation.

Global left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation rate has been characterized: 1) via the time constant of isovolumic relaxation τ or 2) via the logistic time constant τL. An alternate kinematic m...
Randomized Clinical Trials in Breast Cancer

Before the second half of this century, treatment approaches to breast cancer were radical and disfiguring. In the past four decades, however, multiple prospective randomized trials have made highly significant advances in the management of patients with this disease. These trials have established, in select patients, breast conservation therapy as a primary therapeutic procedure, and radiation therapy as a means to improve local control and survival. This article provides an overview of some of these trials.
Brown pelicans: improved reproduction off the southern California coast

Although still about 30 percent too low for population stability, productivity of California brown pelicans at their two northern colonies has improved significantly since 1971. Numbers of adults breeding probably reflect food supplies and recruitment from more successful colonies to the south, but improving fledging rates (up to 0.9 young per nest in 1974) reflect better egg survival and improving eggshell condition, with declining DDE contamination in anchovies, their major food source.
Microdetermination of levulose with the phenol reagent

Abstract A method is described for the quantitative estimation of levulose when alone in the 0.5 to 2 mg. range based on the green color developed with the phenol-sulfuric acid-acetic acid mixture. Calibration curves are needed in the presence of other sugars.
The cochlear amplifier: augmentation of the traveling wave within the inner ear

Purpose of reviewThere have been many recent advancements in our understanding of cochlear function within the past ten years. In particular, several mechanisms that underlie the sensitivity and sharpness of mammalian tuning have been discovered. This review focuses on these issues.Recent findingsTh
Microwave radiances from precipitating clouds containing aspherical ice, combined phase, and liquid hydrometeors

A numerical algorithm based on Eddington's second approximation to the equation of radiative transfer has been developed in order to compute the radiances with horizontal and vertical polarization that emerge from precipitating clouds. This algorithm yields a rapid solution to problems pertaining to clouds with vertically inhomogeneous structure. Precipitating clouds containing liquid, mixtures of phases, and ice hydrometeors are modelled. It is shown that the lower-frequency radiances are sensitive to liquid precipitation at low altitudes while the higher-frequency radiances are more sensitive to the ice hydrometeors at the cloud tops. The extinction coefficients of aspherical hydrometeors are presented as a function of rainfall rates. The fact that vertically polarized radiances are warmer than horizontally polarized ones at high rainfall rates, with the difference diminishing at lower frequencies, is due to aspherical ice hydrometeors in the upper regions of precipitating clouds.
The trace-element variations in clinopyroxenes from spinel peridotite xenoliths from southwest Poland

Abstract Major- and trace-element content, and Sr- and Nd-isotopic composition are reported for clinopyroxenes from anhydrous spinel peridotites (SW Poland). LREE enrichment which occurs in all samples is decoupled from relatively high 143 Nd 144 Nd ratios (0.51286–0.51291), indicating that mantle metasomatism took place relatively recently. REE and HFSE (high-field strength element) abundances show marked variation but, interestingly, correlate with each other: samples with U-shaped REE patterns have Ti Zr > 700 ; samples with a REE concave-downward pattern have Ti/Zr of 20–200 and samples with a REE concave-upward pattern are characterized by Ti/Zr of 2–40. We suggest that trace-element enrichment is the result of interaction between basaltic melt migrating through the veins and contiguous wall-rock peridotites. Modal composition and trace-element characteristics of samples with U-shaped REE patterns probably reflect interaction of depleted peridotite residue with carbonatite melt.
Disentangling behavioral intention and behavioral expectation

Abstract Social psychologists have extensively researched behavioral intention and its relation to future behavior, usually within the framework of M. Fishbein and I. Ajzen's (1975, Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley) theory of reasoned action. However, the field has confounded two separate constructs while investigating intention: behavioral intention (BI) and what P. R. Warshaw, B. H. Sheppard, and J. Hartwick (in press, in R. Bagozzi (Ed.), Advances in marketing communication, Greenwich, CT: JAI Press) have coined behavioral expectation (BE), which is the individual's self-prediction of his or her future behavior. In this paper we define both constructs and explain how they differ in terms of the processes by which they are formed, their roles in determining behavior, and their utilities as behavioral predictors. We propose that behavioral expectation is the more accurate overall predictor since many common behaviors are unreasoned (i.e., mindless or habitual) behaviors, goal-type actions, or behaviors where the individual expects his or her intention to change in a foresseable manner. These are all cases where present intention (BI) is not the direct determinant of behavior but where the individual may be capable of appraising whatever additional determinants exist and of including them within his or her behavioral expectation. A study (N = 197) is reported in which student subjects received either a BE (n = 113) or a BI (n = 84) version of a questionnaire pertaining to their performance of 18 common behaviors. Overall, behavioral expectation was the better predictor of self-reported performance.
Evaluation and applicability of hybrid transfinite-element formulations with particular reference to radiation

The evaluation and applicability of hybrid transfinite element formulations are described for transient nonlinear thermal models with particular reference to account for radiation effects. The formulations are developed from basic concepts and evaluated for both one- and two-dimensional thermal models. The methodology presented is a hybrid approach as it combines finite elements, classical Galerkin schemes, and transform methods. Basic features of the hybrid formulations and the associated solution scheme used are first described. Therein, numerical test models are presented to evaluate the applicability for predicting the nonlinear transient response in one- and two-dimensional thermal models influenced due to radiation effects.
Evaluation of the propensity for coal spontaneous combustion based on catastrophe theory

Generally, different prevention measures should be taken according to spontaneous combustion propensities. The current methods to evaluate the propensity of coal spontaneous combustion, such as chromatographic method of oxygen adsorption, oxidation kinetics method and activation energy method, are mostly affected by human factors. Their boundaries among different classes of propensities were all established by subjective judgments. A new evaluation method using catastrophe theory is introduced. This method can accurately depict the process of coal spontaneous combustion and the evaluation index, “catastrophe temperature”, be obtained based on the model. In terms of catastrophe temperature, the spontaneous combustion propensity of different coals can be sequenced. Experimental data indicate that this method is appropriate to describe the spontaneous combustion process and to evaluate the propensity of coal spontaneous combustion.
Evidence for Sex and Recombination in the Choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta

Summary Nearly all animals reproduce sexually through the production and fusion of sperm and egg cells, yet little is known about the ancestry of animal sexual reproduction. Moreover, the sexual cycle of the closest living relatives of animals, the choanoflagellates [1, 2], remains completely unknown. The choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis possesses a "meiotic toolkit" of genes [3], but the lack of polymorphisms detected during genome sequencing precluded inferences about its ploidy or sexual cycle [1]. Here, we report that a related choanoflagellate, Salpingoeca rosetta [4, 5], has a sexual life cycle and transitions between haploid and diploid states. Haploid cultures of S. rosetta became diploid in response to nutrient limitation. This ploidy shift coincided with anisogamous mating, during which small flagellated cells fused with larger flagellated cells. Distributions of polymorphisms in laboratory strains of S. rosetta provided independent evidence of historical recombination and mating. The ability of S. rosetta to produce morphologically differentiated gametes and to engage in sexual reproduction has implications for both reconstructing the evolution of sex in the progenitors of animals and establishing classical genetics in choanoflagellates.
Normal Contact of Elastic Spheres With Two Elastic Layers as a Model of Joint Articulation

An analytical model of two elastic spheres with two elastic layers in normal, frictionless contact is developed which simulates contact of articulating joints, and allows for the calculation of stresses and displacements in the layered region of contact. Using various layer/layer/substrate combinations, the effects of variations in layer and substrate properties are determined in relation to the occurrence of tensile and shear stresses as the source of crack initiation in joint cartilage and bone. Vertical cracking at the cartilage surface and horizontal splitting at the tidemark have been observed in joints with primary osteoarthritis. Deep vertical cracks in the calcified cartilage and underlying bone have been observed in blunt trauma experiments. The current model shows that cartilage stresses for a particular system are a function of the ratio of contact radius to total layer thickness (a/h). Surface tension, which is observed for a/h small, is alleviated as a/h is increased due to increased load, softening and/or thinning of the cartilage layer. Decreases in a/h due to cartilage stiffening lead to increased global compressive stresses and increased incidence of surface tension, consistent with impact-induced surface cracks. Cartilage stresses are not significantly affected by variations in stiffness of the underlying material. Tensile radial strains in the cartilage layer approach one-third of the normal compressive strains, and increase significantly with cartilage softening. For cases where the middle layer stiffness exceeds that of the underlying substrate, tensile stresses occur at the base of the middle layer, consistent with impact induced cracks in the zone of calcified cartilage and subchondral bone. The presence of the superficial tangential zone appears to have little effect on underlying cartilage stresses.
New volcanoes discovered in southeast Australia

Scientists have discovered three new active volcanoes in the Newer Volcanics Province (NVP) in southeast Australia. Researchers from Monash University in Melbourne describe in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences how they used a combination of satellite photographs, detailed topography models from NASA, the distribution of magnetic minerals in the rocks, and site visits to analyze the region.
The theoretical and experimental bases of the frontal plane ventricular gradient and its spatial counterpart

Abstract 1. 1. The theoretical basis of the ventricular gradient concept is re-examined. 2. 2. The effect of changing pathway of ventricular activation is analyzed in Wilson's experiment and in a corresponding human case. 3. 3. Normal limits for the magnitude of the ventricular gradient are calculated and tabulated for a group of 107 healthy men and for corresponding material available from the literature. 4. 4. Analysis of the literature reveals that very few cases even with advanced myocardial involvement exceed these normal limits. 5. 5. No correlation is found between the manifest QRS and T areas in any of three different experimental normal groups even when the area measurements are made by means of an electronic integrator, which is described in appendix II. 6. 6. Analysis of the existing literature on the spatial gradient reveals that no adequate method of measurement has yet been described. 7. 7. A simple method for measuring the spatial ventricular gradient based on determination of a null point for the QRS-T area at the fifth intercostal space is developed. 8. 8. Some representative normal values of the spatial ventricular gradient and its components are given. 9. 9. A strong positive correlation between the spatial QRS and T areas is found in contrast with the negative correlation implied by conventional ventricular gradient theory. 10. 10. A theoretically more satisfactory definition of a spatial ventricular gradient is proposed based on the stereovector theory. 11. 11. Technical electronic means for instananeous determination of the spatial ventricular gradient are described. 12. 12. The results do not encourage further use of the frontal plane ventricular gradient in clinical electrocardiography. The value of its spatial correlate remains to be proved.
Effects of dorsal noradrenergic bundle lesions on recovery after sensorimotor cortex injury.

Abstract Several lines of evidence suggest that the recovery of the ability of rats to traverse a narrow beam after unilateral injury to the sensorimotor cortex is noradrenergically mediated. We tested the hypotheses that the influence of norepinephrine on beam-walking recovery occurs, at least partially, through effects in the contralateral and/or ipsilateral cerebral cortex. Rats had either a selective left or right 6-hydroxydopamine lesion or sham lesion of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle (DNB) 2 weeks before suction-ablation or sham injury of the right sensorimotor cortex. The rats’ abilities to perform the beam-walking task were measured over the 10 days following cortex surgery. DNB lesions did not affect the initial severity of the beam-walking deficit and had no effect on the performance of the task in rats with sham cortex injuries. Lesions of the contralateral but not ipsilateral DNB significantly impaired recovery. Further, in cortically lesioned rats with contralateral DNB lesions, norepinephrine content in the cerebral cortex opposite to the sensorimotor cortex lesion was significantly correlated with recovery. These data suggest that the effect of norepinephrine on recovery of beam-walking ability may be partially exerted in the cerebral cortex contralateral to the injury.
Broadband nulling of a vortex phase mask

A pulse transmitted through a helical vortex phase mask undergoes a temporal Hilbert transform. The fluence transmitted into the unfavorable plane wave mode is found to increase as the square of the bandwidth and, to first order, is independent of the topological charge.
Is There an Association between Low Birth Weight and Caries in the Primary Dentition

Objectives: An association between low birth weight and caries in the primary dentition has been suggested but not demonstrated. This study analyzed this association using data from
Interpoint squared distance as a measure of spatial clustering

The expectation and variance for the mean interpoint squared distance are presented. In order to evaluate these expressions it is necessary to calculate the moments of a bivariate uniform distribution defined over an arbitrary polygon. Expressions for these moments are presented, allowing the mean interpoint squared distance to be used as a measure of spatial clustering. The distribution and power of this test statistic is explored on the unit square, and the spatial distribution of 11 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is investigated to illustrate an application of the approach.
Racial Discrimination, John Henryism, and Depression Among African Americans

Evidence from previous studies indicates that racial discrimination is significantly associated with depression and that African Americans with higher levels of socioeconomic status (SES) report greater exposure to racial discrimination compared to those with lower SES levels. Coping strategies could alter the relationship between racial discrimination and depression among African Americans. This study first examined whether greater levels of SES were associated with increased reports of racial discrimination and ratings of John Henryism, a measure of high-effort coping, among African Americans. Second, we examined whether high-effort coping moderated the relationship between racial discrimination and depression. Data were drawn from the National Survey of American Life Reinterview (n = 2,137). Analyses indicated that greater levels of education were positively associated with racial discrimination (p < .001) and increased levels of racial discrimination were positively related to depression (p < .001), controlling for all sociodemographic factors. Greater levels of John Henryism were associated with increased odds of depression but there was no evidence to suggest that the relationship between discrimination and depression was altered by the effects of John Henryism.
Combined right and left ventricular infarction: Pathogenesis and clinicopathologic correlations☆

Abstract An autopsy examination was made in 102 consecutive cases of fatal myocardial infarction that occurred in a coronary care unit. Thirty-five of the patients (34 percent) were found to have right ventricular infarction. All of the right ventricular infarcts were associated with transmural infarction of the posterior left ventricle or the interventricular septum, or both. The group with right ventricular infarction was compared with that without right ventricular infarction. Both groups had a predominant pattern of coronary arterial atherosclerosis consisting of severe stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending and proximal right coronary arteries with variable involvement of the left circumflex and left main coronary arteries. There was no significant difference between the two groups in severity or distribution of coronary arterial atherosclerosis. However, the group with right ventricular infarction had twice as many recent coronary arterial occlusions as did the group with left ventricular infarction and at least one recent coronary arterial lesion was present in 86 percent of those with right ventricular infarction, compared with only 30 percent of the group with left ventricular infarction. The majority of the acute coronary arterial lesions in both groups were thrombotic, but many intramural hemorrhages within atherosclerotic plaques were also found. In both groups the greatest number of recent coronary arterial occlusions was in the proximal right coronary artery, but the acute lesions were distributed throughout the coronary arterial tree.
Wake-Field Acceleration And Compact Accelerator Considerations

The importance of producing accelerating gradients larger than those achievable with radiofrequency acceleration is well recognized. Large gradients will be necessary for the next generation electron-positron colliders and, in the more moderate energy range, for compact high brightness linacs suitable for applications as the injector for free-electron lasers. Among the alternative acceleration techniques of current interest are the laser-plasma, plasma wake-field and wake-field acceleration process. For those acceleration mechanisms involving plasmas, the periodicity of the structures is in general on the order of sub-millimeters so that accelerating gradients on the order of 1 GV/m is theoretically possible. Wake-field cavities are on the order of a few millimeters, thus will yield lower gradients on the order of 150 MeV/m. This gradient, if achieved empirically in particle acceleration, is sufficient for near term applications. Moreover, it probably is the most practical technique among those that were proposed recently from the point of view of fabrication and ease of phase matching in linac application. A program to investigate the feasibility of wake-field acceleration with an emphasis on the use of ellptical cavities is discussed here. A complete modal analysis was carried out which yields a full description of the wake-field acceleration mechanism. Experimental studies are in progress.
Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment

Human-driven ecosystem simplification has highlighted questions about how the number of species in an ecosystem influences its functioning. Although biodiversity is now known to affect ecosystem productivity, its effects on stability are debated. Here we present a long-term experimental field test of the diversity-stability hypothesis. During a decade of data collection in an experiment that directly controlled the number of perennial prairie species, growing-season climate varied considerably, causing year-to-year variation in abundances of plant species and in ecosystem productivity. We found that greater numbers of plant species led to greater temporal stability of ecosystem annual aboveground plant production. In particular, the decadal temporal stability of the ecosystem, whether measured with intervals of two, five or ten years, was significantly greater at higher plant diversity and tended to increase as plots matured. Ecosystem stability was also positively dependent on root mass, which is a measure of perenniating biomass. Temporal stability of the ecosystem increased with diversity, despite a lower temporal stability of individual species, because of both portfolio (statistical averaging) and overyielding effects. However, we found no evidence of a covariance effect. Our results indicate that the reliable, efficient and sustainable supply of some foods (for example, livestock fodder), biofuels and ecosystem services can be enhanced by the use of biodiversity.
Surgical management of large paraesophageal hernia with complete intrathoracic stomach.

Between 1971 and 1986, the author operated on 30 patients, 23 women and 7 men, with large paraesophageal (PE) hernias and complete intrathoracic stomach. The average age of the patients was 70 years. Thirteen patients required urgent repair because of incarceration causing complete obstruction, bleeding, and, in one instance, perforation. Only 2 patients had a prior history of esophageal reflux. Surgery, always transabdominal, included excision of the sac, closure of the defect with pledgetted sutures, and anterior gastropexy. Four extremely poor-risk patients underwent anterior gastropexy alone under local anesthesia. Two other patients underwent anterior gastropexy alone for different reasons. There were no deaths or major complications and no recurrences. The author's experience suggests that: (a) an abdominal approach is preferable to a transthoracic repair; (b) ancillary antireflux surgery, such as fundoplication, should be used only when indicated on the basis of a prior history of reflux esophagitis, which was the case in only 2 of our patients; (c) because the symptoms and complications of PE hernias result from the gastric volvulus rather than from the hernia per se, formal repair of the defect is not always necessary. Thus, patients whose general condition does not permit a major abdominal operation under general anesthesia can be completely relieved of their symptoms by an anterior gastropexy done under local anesthesia; (d) a PE hernia is a life-threatening condition and elective repair should be recommended once the diagnosis is made.
Measuring adherence and persistence to disease-modifying agents among patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Objectives To measure disease-modifying agent adherence and persistence among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Multispecialty, salaried group practice in southeast Michigan, between June 1, 2004, and June 30, 2006. Patients 224 insured adult patients with relapsing remitting MS with an outpatient visit. Main outcome measures Medical record–documented receipt of medication recommendation and prescription. Pharmacy claims data–derived measures of dispensing and among patients with two or more dispensings, medication possession ratios (MPRs), and proportion of gap days were estimated. Among those initiating agent use, persistence was estimated. Results Mean cohort age was 47.6 years, while 77% of participants were women and 39% were black. Of patients, 81.8% had a recommendation for a disease-modifying agent, 75.0% had a prescription, and 66.5% had two or more dispensings. Among those with two or more dispensings, mean MPR between the first and last dispensing date was 83.8% (95% CI 80.8–86.8), while mean MPR for the entire 24-month period was 68.0% (64.4–71.7). MPR for the 24-month period decreased with increasing drug copayments and was lower among black patients, while MPR between the first and last dispensing date increased with increasing age. Among those initiating therapy, 43% were nonpersistent with medications within 14 months. Conclusion Medication adherence and persistence among patients with relapsing remitting MS is far from monolithic. Measuring medication adherence and persistence among defined populations is useful for understanding the relationship between medication use and outcomes in practice and for targeting patients and programs to improve medication adherence.
Outcomes of Premature Infants Receiving Serial Outpatient Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin (RSV-IGIV) Infusions † 1445

Outcomes of Premature Infants Receiving Serial Outpatient Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin (RSV-IGIV) Infusions † 1445
Small Proline Rich Proteins (SPRR) Function as SH3 Domain Ligands, Increase Resistance to Injury and are Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in cholangiocytes

Background/Aims Deficient biliary epithelial cell (BEC) expression of small proline-rich protein (SPRR) 2A in IL-6 −/− mice is associated with defective biliary barrier function after bile duct ligation. And numerous gene array expression studies show SPRR2A to commonly be among the most highly up-regulated genes in many non-squamous, stressed and remodeling barrier epithelia. Since the function of SPRR in these circumstances is unknown, we tested the exploratory hypothesis that BEC SPRR2A expression contributes to BEC barrier function and wound repair. Methods The effect of SPRR2A expression was studied in primary mouse BEC cultures; in a BEC cell line after forced overexpression of SPRR2A; and in human livers removed at the time of liver transplantation. Results Forced SPRR2A overexpression showed that it functions as a SH3 domain ligand that increases resistance to oxidative injury and promotes wound restitution by enhancing migration and acquisition of mesenchymal characteristics. Low confluency non-neoplastic mouse BEC cultures show a phenotype similar to the stable transfectants, as did spindle-shaped BEC participating in atypical ductular reactions in primary biliary cirrhosis. Conclusions These observations suggest that SPRR2A-related BEC barrier modifications represent a novel, but widely utilized and evolutionarily conserved, response to stress that is worthy of further study.
Growth of callus initiated from cucumber hypocotyls on galactose and galactose-containing oligosaccharides

Abstract Initiation and growth of cucumber hypocotyl callus on galactose, glucose, sucrose, melibiose, raffinose, stachyose, and sucrose + galactose (1 : 1, w/w) were examined. Abundant callus was produced on all of the above carbon sources. However, callus grew best on stachyose or raffinose after a substantial lag period (relative to growth on sucrose). Callus growth was similar on sucrose or galactose. α-Galactosidase activity was detected in hypocotyl explants and in calli grown on raffinose, melibiose, sucrose and galactose. Regardless of carbon source, cultured cells accumulated primarily sucrose, glucose and fructose internally. Free space sugars varied depending on carbon source and provided evidence of an extracellular location for α-galactosidase and invertase from cucumber cells.
Mucosal T lymphocytes—peacekeepers and warriors

Normal immune homeostasis of the intestine requires peaceful coexistence with commensal flora, combined with host defense against pathogens. Perhaps as a result of this unique dilemma, distinct populations of regulatory and effector T lymphocytes are found in the lamina propria and epithelium of the intestine. Here we summarize the properties and functions of these unusual T cells, and describe the molecular and cellular interactions that lead to their development and function. Some mucosal T cells, sometimes called type a, are conventional activated/memory T cells that have received instructions to migrate to the intestine during priming by dendritic cells in the mesenteric lymph node and elsewhere. Others, however, particularly subsets residing permanently in the epithelium, are intestine-specific T cell subpopulations generated by an atypical differentiation pathway.
Review of Friendship Development Across the Life Span.

A review of research literature indicates that friendship develops from a basis of mutual liking and shared activities in early childhood, to include loyalty and mutual aid in late childhood. Intimate
Genetic diversity and structure in the annual vernal pool endemic Limnanthes vinculans Ornduff (Limnanthaceae): implications of breeding system and restoration practices

Many California vernal pool plants are endangered requiring information on genetic diversity and structure to inform conservation efforts. We determined the temporal, and range-wide population genetic status of the outcrossing endangered vernal pool forb Limnanthes vinculans, endemic to Sonoma and Napa Counties with 10 microsatellite markers. Allelic diversity was threefold higher than in an endangered self-pollinating congener. Most populations showed heterozygote deficiency indicating past bottlenecks, inbreeding or genetic drift. Analysis of molecular variance and Bayesian ordination revealed genetic distinction at the county scale (F CT = 0.158); within Sonoma County, population genetic distinctions were lower (F SC = 0.043). Eight gene flow barriers demarcated most natural populations (F ST > 0.05). We found temporal genetic structure among six natural populations (F ST = 0.07). We conclude that breeding system and natural, anthropogenic, and temporal seed inputs combined to influence the patterns of genetic variation we found in natural and created populations informing conservation of the species.
Sharding for literature search via cutting citation graphs

Distributed information retrieval will be a general practice of searching in the exponentially growing scientific literature. At the core of the success for efficient and effective distributed literature search is an adequate sharding policy. This paper proposes a novel sharding policy for literature search that bases on cutting the document citation and co-citation graphs. Experiments on the iSearch test collection reveal that relevant documents for a given query distribute over the shards generated through citation graph cutting in such a pattern that a few shards becomes optimal shards thus can be leveraged in a selective search strategy, potentially leading to efficient and effective literature search solutions.
Comparative distribution and metabolism of triamcinolone acetonide and cortisol in the rat embryomaternal unit

Triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) is teratogenic in rats while cortisol has been reported as not teratogenic. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether this difference in teratogenicity could be due to a difference in the metabolism and distribution of the parent compound in the embryomaternal unit. 3H-TAC and 14C-cortisol were administered intramuscularly to pregnant rats on day 12 of gestation. These dams were killed at each of the following time points after injection: 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hr. Maternal plasma and embryos were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid scintillation counting. The plasma concentration of parent TAC was significantly greater than that for parent cortisol at all time points. The plasma elimination half-life for TAC, 86 min, was also calculated to be significantly longer than that for cortisol, 8 min. Furthermore, the percentage of total plasma radioactivity representing HPLC resolved TAC was much higher than that representing cortisol at all time points. The concentration of TAC in the embryos was significantly greater than for cortisol at all time points. The elimination half-life for unchanged TAC in the embryos was 142 min compared to 22 min for cortisol. The percentage of total radioactivity in the embryos representing unchanged TAC was similar to that found in maternal plasma while the percentage of total radioactivity representing unchanged cortisol was much lower than that found in maternal plasma. These findings support the hypothesis that differences in the distribution and metabolism of the parent compound are a critical factor in determining the teratogenicity of that compound.
Observations of a surface mixed layer

Abstract The turbulent energy budget is empirically evaluated for an actively mixing surface layer, and Niller 's ( Journal of Marine Research , 33 , 405–422, 1975) mixed layer model is shown to be consistent with observation during both wind stress driven and convection driven periods. The entrainment rate is best predicted when the turbulent energy production from shear stress at the mixed layer interface is assumed to be mostly dissipated and unavailable for entrainment processes. Other observations include the remarkable persistence of a non-turbulent shear flow on a relic mixed layer interface and the rapid decay of turbulent fluctuations when the driving force stops.
Effect of a nonwhite reflection series spectrum on pulse estimation

where S,(f) is the magnitude squared of the seismic pulse’s Fourier transform, and S,(f) is the reflection series power spectrum. A common approach to wavelet extraction is to measure the smoothed periodogram of seismic data averaged over a number of adjacent traces, and to equate the resulting spectral estimate with the spectrum of the pulse. The validity of this approach depends upon satisfaction of two conditions: (1) a good quality estimate of the seismic spectrum can be obtained; and (2) the reflection series spectrum is white. The purpose of the work reported here was to determine whether these conditions are in fact satisfied in typical geologic contexts. From the theory of the smoothed periodogram, it is shown that the first of the above assumptions is severely strained in many situations where this spectral estimator is used. Using a data base of 21 wells, it is also shown that the second assumption is violated quite often. We have found that the combined effect of estimator variance and spectrum nonwhiteness degrades the pulse estimate enough to produce distortions in one-dimensional inverse models computed with the pulse.
Congenital bronchial artery to pulmonary artery fistula presenting as hemoptysis

A 51-year-old male presented with 2 weeks of hemoptysis. Pulmonary angiography was performed and identified a bronchial artery to pulmonary artery fistula of the right upper lobe. Despite angioembolization, the hemoptysis recurred 1 year later. It was hypothesized that the recurrence occurred due to retrograde filling from the pulmonary arterial side of the abnormality. Right upper lobectomy was performed and resulted in resolution of hemoptysis. We present a case report of a rare, congenital bronchial artery to pulmonary artery fistula.
A system dynamics approach to investment-function formulation and testing

Abstract This paper discusses system dynamics techniques for formulating and testing dynamic theories of capital investment. The paper includes conceptualization guidelines intended to make investment functions more descriptive of actual decision-making. Also included are model-behavior tests to extend conventional statistical tests by examining the effects of alternative investment hypotheses on behavior of system models. The usefulness of the proposed approach is illustrated by formulating and testing a generalization of the standard neoclassical investment function (SNC). The generalized investment function is shown to include six disequilibrium hypotheses omitted from the SNC and to better fit quarterly data for capital appropriations in durable and nondurable manufacturing industries. Model-behavior tests showing the importance of the six hypotheses are also summarized.