cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular relaxation and metalloenzyme active site modeling

Metalloenzymes represent a broad class of important biomolecules containing an essential metal ion cofactor in their catalytic active sites, forming biologic metal complexes that perform a wide range of important functions: activation of small molecules (O2, N2, H2, CO), atom transfer chemistry, and the control of oxidation equivalents. The structures of many metalloenzyme active sites have been defined by X-ray crystallography, revealing transition metal ions in unique low-symmetry environments. These bioinorganic complexes present significant challenges for computational studies aimed at going beyond crystal structures to develop a detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanisms. Considerable progress has been made in the theoretical characterization of these sites in recent years, supported by the availability of efficient computational tools, in particular density functional methods. However, the ultimate success of a theoretical model depends on a number of factors independent of the specific computational method used, including the quality of the initial structural data, the identification of important environmental perturbations and constraints, and experimental validation of theoretical predictions. We explore these issues in detail and illustrate the effects of molecular relaxation in calculations of two metalloenzymes, manganese superoxide dismutase and galactose oxidase. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002
Personal Entropy and the Satiric “Incorporation” of Characters in William Gaddis's JR

The twenty-year division separating William Gaddis's first encyclopedic fiction, The Recognitions (1955), and his subsequent novel, JR (1975), did little to diminish the writer's concern with the depiction of fragmented literary figures as representations for a prevailing human loss of self. But the experimental form of JR foregrounds fragmentation as a method of narrative discourse, making the novel's characters appear more severely dislocated than even The Recognitions's partial selves. As postmodern technique, however, Gaddis appropriates fragmentation in JR for an underlying neohumanistic purpose: to satirize the members of a corporate society proves the best means to their potential redemption, or at least returned wholeness.
Common and Unique Biological Pathways Associated with Smoking Initiation/Progression, Nicotine Dependence, and Smoking Cessation

Twin and family studies reveal a significant genetic contribution to the risk of smoking initiation and progression (SI/P), nicotine dependence (ND), and smoking cessation (SC). Further, numerous genes have been implicated in these smoking-related behaviors, especially for ND. However, no study has presented a comprehensive and systematic view of the genetic factors associated with these important smoking-related phenotypes. By reviewing the literature on these behaviors, we identified 16, 99, and 75 genes that have been associated with SI/P, ND, and SC, respectively. We then determined whether these genes were enriched in pathways important in the neuronal and brain functions underlying addiction. We identified 9, 21, and 13 pathways enriched in the genes associated with SI/P, ND, and SC, respectively. Among these pathways, four were common to all of the three phenotypes, that is, calcium signaling, cAMP-mediated signaling, dopamine receptor signaling, and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Further, we found that serotonin receptor signaling and tryptophan metabolism pathways were shared by SI/P and ND, tight junction signaling pathway was shared by SI/P and SC, and gap junction, neurotrophin/TRK signaling, synaptic long-term potentiation, and tyrosine metabolism were shared between ND and SC. Together, these findings show significant genetic overlap among these three related phenotypes. Although identification of susceptibility genes for smoking-related behaviors is still in an early stage, the approach used in this study has the potential to overcome the hurdles caused by factors such as genetic heterogeneity and small sample size, and thus should yield greater insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying these complex phenotypes.
Algorithm development for Maxwell's equations for computational electromagnetism

A new algorithm has been developed for solving Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field. It solves the equations in the time domain with central, finite differences. The time advancement is performed implicitly, using an alternating direction implicit procedure. The space discretization is performed with finite volumes, using curvilinear coordinates with electromagnetic components along those directions. Sample calculations are presented of scattering from a metal pin, a square and a circle to demonstrate the capabilities of the new algorithm.
Business and Security Executives Views of Information Security Investment Drivers: Results from a Delphi Study

AbstractA Delphi study used two expert panels of 24 CEOs and 22 security executives to identify and rank factors that motivated organizations to invest in information security. Both panels agreed that legal and regulatory compliances were the most important drivers. However, their different perspectives about other drivers, particularly the extent to which information security provided a competitive advantage, implied that business executives were more likely than security executives to view information security as a cost center rather than a business enabler, thus the author suggested a greater need for technology executives to help business executives better understand how information security investments could provide competitive advantage. In general, the study highlighted the need for more dialogue and information sharing between security executives, who are responsible for designing the organization’s security infrastructure, and business executives who must allocate the funds to support that infras...
An in vivo model system for the study of avian osteoclast recruitment and activity

We have developed a model system for the study of osteoclast recruitment and activity using devitalized bovine cortical bone slices implanted onto the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken embryos. Bone slices were examined after 3, 6, and 8 days of incubation on the CAM. A marked cellular reaction to the bone was observed, characterized by a prominent angiogenic response. Upon histological examination, numerous multinucleated giant cells were associated with the undersurface of the bone slice and concentrated towards its periphery. These multinucleated cells were often associated with resorption lacunae and demonstrated ruffled borders when viewed by transmission electron microscopy. Removal of the cells and examination of the bone surface by scanning electron microscopy revealed numerous resorption pits characteristic of osteoclastic activity. These pits were evident on day 3 of incubation and appeared to be more extensive by day 8. This work demonstrates that the cells recruited to such ectopically implanted devitalized bone slices are functional osteoclasts, and that this system may provide a useful model for the study of osteoclast recruitment and activity.
Resistivity And Induced-Polarization Probing in the Vicinity of a Spherical Anomaly

The mathematical formulae governing the interaction of a low-frequency source of electric current with a spherical anomaly are given. These formulae are used to determine the apparent resistivity and induced-polarization response between electrodes located within boreholes in the medium. Numerical results are given illustrating the spatial variation of these parameters.
DIY for CHI: methods, communities, and values of reuse and customization

People tinker, hack, fix, reuse, and assemble materials in creative and unexpected ways, often codifying and sharing their production process with others. Do-it-yourself (DIY) encompasses a range of design activities that have become increasingly prominent in online discussion forums and blogs, in addition to a small-but-growing presence in professional/research forums such as CHI. This workshop will explore DIY practice from the ground up--examining DIY as a set of methods, communities, values and goals and examining its impact in the domains of traditional crafts, technology development, and sustainable design.
Meditation in Higher Education: Does It Enhance Cognition?.

We predicted that students in a sociology course that included contemplative practices (i.e., mindfulness meditation) would show an increase in performance on higher level cognitive abilities (executive functions) over the semester compared to a control group of students. Change in executive functions performance was not significantly different between the two groups. However, when looking within the meditation group, the time spent meditating predicted the amount of executive function improvement, suggesting that the amount of time spent meditating is strongly related to the level of improvement. This finding provides preliminary support for benefits of meditation for students’ higher level cognitive abilities.
What is a Damascus steel

Abstract The comments by Wadsworth and Sherby (W-S) on our recent article that attempted to use their method to make Damascus blades raise questions about what constitutes a genuine Damascus blade. Seven characteristics of a genuine Damascus blade are proposed, and data are presented on a new genuine blade recently given to the authors for study. The criticisms of W-S on our article are then discussed.
Anomalous sedimentation of a small Brownian sphere in a vertical circular cylinder of periodically varying radius

The mean velocity of a Brownian sphere sedimenting under the influence of gravity through a viscous fluid confined within a vertical circular cylinder whose radius changes periodically along its effectively infinite length is investigated for circumstances where, owing to the small radius of the sphere relative to the minimum cylinder radius, conventional hydrodynamic wall effects are absent. Using generalized Taylor dispersion theory, explicit results are presented for the case where the periodic changes in cylinder radius occur abruptly, representing the computationally and conceptually simplest configuration. Despite the apparent absence of wall effects, the (mean) settling velocity of the sphere is always less than its Stokes law value, and depends nonlinearly upon the gravity force. Moreover, the sphere’s dispersivity fails to obey a Stokes–Einstein relation. This anomalous behavior may be exploited to enhance the force-driven separation of physicochemically disparate Brownian particles.
Increased leukotriene B4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma of endotoxemic pigs.

Abstract We hypothesized that leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) might be produced during endotoxin-induced acute respiratory failure (ARF) observed in young pigs. We used radioimmunoassay (RIA) and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to determine the presence of LTB 4 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of saline- and endotoxin-treated pigs. Endotoxin was infused at 5 μg/kg for 1 hour (hr) followed by 2 μg/kg/hr for an average of 3 hrs. Arterial plasma (collected at 0.5 hr intervals for 4 hrs) immunoreactive (i)-LTB 4 was significantly increased from 2.5 to 4 hrs of endotoxemia with the peak value occurring at 3.5 hrs (i.e. 282% of baseline value). Analysis of plasma extracts using RP-HPLC revealed an ultraviolet (UV) absorbance peak (270 nm) that was coincident with authentic LTB 4 standard. The levels of i-LTB 4 were significantly increased in BALF recovered from endotoxemic pigs (337 ± 71 vs 53 ± 13 pg/ml for saline controls). Endotoxin also increased the postmortem wet/dry ratio of bloodless lung and BALF albumin concentration, indicating pulmonary edema and increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane, respectively. We conclude that LTB 4 is increased in plasma and BALF recovered from endotoxemic pigs and that this lipoxygenase metabolite could possibly be an important factor contributing to the pathophysiology of endotoxin-induced ARF.
Using research data to impact consumer protection legislation: lessons learned from CITY100 dissemination efforts

The Correlates of Indoor Tanning in Youth (CITY100) project evaluated individual, built-environmental, and policy correlates of indoor tanning by adolescents in the 100 most populous US cities. After CITY100's completion, the research team obtained supplemental dissemination funding to strategically share data with stakeholders. The primary CITY100 dissemination message was to encourage state-level banning of indoor tanning among youth. We created a user-friendly website to broadly share the most relevant CITY100 data. Journalists were a primary target audience, as were health organizations that would be well positioned to advocate for legislative change. CITY100 data were used to pass the first US state law to ban indoor tanning among those under 18 (CA, USA), as well as in other legislative advocacy activities. This paper concludes with lessons learned from CITY100 dissemination activities that we hope will encourage more health researchers to proactively address policy implications of their data and to design relevant, effective dissemination strategies.
Hot filament chemical vapor deposition of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) thin films using tert-butyl peroxide as an initiator.

We have demonstrated the successful deposition of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) thin films using hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) with tert-butyl peroxide as the initiator. The introduction of the initiator allows for film deposition at low filament temperatures (<200 °C) and greatly improves the film deposition rates. The retention of the pendant epoxide chemical functionality and the linear polymeric structure in the deposited films were confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The number-average molecular weight of the PGMA films can be systematically varied from 16 000 to 33 000 by adjusting the filament temperature and flow ratio of the initiator to the precursor. The apparent activation energies observed from PGMA deposition kinetics (100.9 ± 9.6 kJ/mol) and from molecular weight measurements (−54.8 ± 2.0 kJ/mol) are close to the calculated overall activation energies for the polymerization rate (104.4 kJ/mol) and number-average molecular weight (−5...
Does increased PGF2α receptor concentration mediate PGF2α-induced luteolysis during early diestrus in the pig?

Abstract The mechanism by which multiple injections of PGF2α result in premature luteolysis in pigs is unknown. In the present study we evaluated whether PGF22α receptor concentrations on large luteal cells changed when gilts were injected IM with 12.5 mg of PGF2α every 12 hours from the morning of day 5 of an estrous cycle (estrus = day 0) until ovariectomy on day 6, 7, 8, or 9. Luteal PGF22α receptor concentrations remained constant from day 6 through 9 in the PGF2α-treated group, but increased linearly (P > 0.05) in control gilts from day 6 to 9. Receptor affinity for PGF2α did not change throughout the study in either PGF2α-treated or control gilts. Luteal progesterone concentrations were significantly lower in PGF2α-treated gilts than in control gilts only on day 9. Histological examination of luteal tissue obtained from PGF2α-treated gilts revealed definite evidence of luteolysis by day 8. We conclude that PGF2α-induced premature luteolysis is not mediated by an increase in luteal PGF22α receptor concentrations and, based on luteal progesterone concentrations and histological features, that the PGF2α-based protocol used to shorten the estrous cycle is accompanied by premature functional and structural luteal regression.
Nesting patterns of southern flying squirrels in managed northern hardwoods

Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) use multiple nest trees for foraging and protection, but nest trees can become scarce following harvests of hardwood forests. In northern Wisconsin, the Managed Old-growth Silvicultural Study tested techniques to remediate logging impacts on forest-dependent wildlife. Three types of canopy treatments were applied (multicohort harvest [0.4-ha and 1.2-ha irregular group shelterwoods], medium gaps [18-m- and 24-m-diameter gaps], and small gaps [11-m-diameter gaps]). To evaluate the effects of treatment on nest tree selection by southern flying squirrels, we tracked 33 radiocollared southern flying squirrels once a week for 5 weeks in late summer, locating 82 nest trees (X 5 2.73 nest trees per southern flying squirrel [95% confidence interval: 2.28–3.18 nest trees]). Canopy treatments were important predictors of nest tree switching. Probability of switching differed by canopy treatment (listed from lowest to highest probability): multicohort harvest: 0.29 (0.17–0.42), medium gaps: 0.44 (0.32–0.56), control: 0.57 (0.41–0.73), and small gaps: 0.73 (0.61–0.85). Lower nest tree switching in the multicohort harvest compared to the small gaps likely reflected availability of habitat resources. Spatial arrangement of canopy gaps and associated effects on southern flying squirrels should be considered when planning timber harvests in northern hardwoods.
Robust expectation-maximization algorithm for multiple wide-band acoustic source localization in the presence of non-uniform noise variances

Wideband source localization using acoustic sensor networks has been drawing a lot of research interest recently. The maximum-likelihood is the predominant objective which leads to a variety of source localization approaches. In this paper, we would like to combat the source localization problem based on the realistic assumption where the sources are corrupted by the noises with non-uniform spatial variances. We study the respective limitations of two popular source localization methods for solving this problem, namely the SC-ML and AC-ML algorithms and design a new expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we demonstrate that our proposed EM algorithm outperforms the SC-ML and AC-ML methods in terms of the localization accuracy.
Polyspherical approximation to the Φ4 scalar theory on a hypersphere

Using a polyspherical approximation, we formulate the φ4 theory on the hypersphere S3. It is shown that this model, in 3 + 1 space-time dimensions, is consistent with being free when the momentum cut-off is large.
Effects of aphid-tending Argentine ants, nitrogen enrichment and early-season herbivory on insects hosted by a coastal shrub

The presence of the exotic Argentine ant, Linepithema humile Mayr (Hymenoptera: Dolichoderinae), nitrogen enrichment, and early-season herbivory by the specialist beetle Trirhabda bacharidis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) have been shown, through separate experiments, to affect the densities of insect herbivores of the coastal shrub Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae), in Florida. Using a fully-factorial field experiment, we examined the relative importance of all three of these factors to the six most common insect herbivore species utilizing this host plant in a West Central Florida coastal habitat. The presence of ants affected more herbivore species than either early-season herbivory by larval T. bacharidis or nitrogen enrichment. Experimental reductions of L. humile resulted in reductions of an aphid, its coccinellid predators, and adult T. bacharidis, and increases of two species of leafminers and one species of stemborer. Due to the strong negative effects of stemborer herbivory on host plant survival, the increase in stemborer abundance led to increased host plant mortality. Early-season herbivory by larval T. bacharidis only affected the abundance of aphids and their predators, both of which were more abundant on trees with reduced early-season herbivory. Nitrogen fertilization had the most limited effects and only T. bacharidis larvae achieved higher densities on fertilized trees. Our results indicate that aphid tending by the exotic L. humile affects other insects on B. halimifolia more so than herbivory by the exploitative competitor T. bacharidis or nitrogen as a limiting nutrient.
An Alternative to Felt Pledgets in Cardiac Surgery

Control of bleeding frequently requires the application of pledgeted sutures. While Teflon pledgets are useful and effective for the preparation of large pledgets, they are undesirable and frequently impossible to use when small pledgets are needed. Pledgets made of pericardium were found to be effective and can be fashioned in any needed size.
Cities and the Geographies of “Actually Existing Neoliberalism”

This essay elaborates a critical geographical perspective on neoliberalism that emphasizes (a) the path–dependent character of neoliberal reform projects and (b) the strategic role of cities in the contemporary remaking of political–economic space. We begin by presenting the methodological foundations for an approach to the geographies of what we term “actually existing neoliberalism.” In contrast to neoliberal ideology, in which market forces are assumed to operate according to immutable laws no matter where they are “unleashed,” we emphasize the contextual embeddedness of neoliberal restructuring projects insofar as they have been produced within national, regional, and local contexts defined by the legacies of inherited institutional frameworks, policy regimes, regulatory practices, and political struggles. An adequate understanding of actually existing neoliberalism must therefore explore the path–dependent, contextually specific interactions between inherited regulatory landscapes and emergent neoliberal, market–oriented restructuring projects at a broad range of geographical scales. These considerations lead to a conceptualization of contemporary neoliberalization processes as catalysts and expressions of an ongoing creative destruction of political–economic space at multiple geographical scales. While the neoliberal restructuring projects of the last two decades have not established a coherent basis for sustainable capitalist growth, it can be argued that they have nonetheless profoundly reworked the institutional infrastructures upon which Fordist–Keynesian capitalism was grounded. The concept of creative destruction is presented as a useful means for describing the geographically uneven, socially regressive, and politically volatile trajectories of institutional/spatial change that have been crystallizing under these conditions. The essay concludes by discussing the role of urban spaces within the contradictory and chronically unstable geographies of actually existing neoliberalism. Throughout the advanced capitalist world, we suggest, cities have become strategically crucial geographical arenas in which a variety of neoliberal initiatives—along with closely intertwined strategies of crisis displacement and crisis management—have been articulated.
In Situ Ellipsometric Study of the Electroprecipitation of Nickel Hydroxide Films

Ellipsometry was used to study the electroprecipitation of Ni(OH){sub 2} films onto mirror-finished Pt or Ni electrodes from 0.1 M Ni(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} solution at current densities of {minus}0.075, {minus}0.15, {minus}0.30, and {minus}0.60 mA/cm{sup 2}. An automatic self-compensating ellipsometer was used to monitor in situ the as-deposited Ni(OH){sub 2} film properties until a charge density of 380 mC/cm{sup 2} was passed. Plots of the measured ellipsometric parameters {Delta} and {Psi} vs. precipitation charge density revealed differences in the nature of the four films as well as the kinetics of the deposition process. The initial stage of Ni(OH){sub 2} deposition (up to 100 mC/cm{sup 2}) at all current densities produced films with very similar optical and electrochemical properties. However, pronounced differences in the optical properties of the films appeared at longer precipitation times, with the films becoming less compact. Numerical analyses of the ellipsometric data provided evidence in support of a two-step electroprecipitation process, and indicated that the densities of freshly precipitated Ni(OH){sub 2} films fall in the range 1.25--1.50 g/cm{sup 3}, depending on the magnitude of the applied current density.
Probing the Dependence of Long-Range, Four-Atom Interactions on Intermolecular Orientation. 1. Molecular Hydrogen and Iodine Monochloride

Laser-induced fluorescence and action spectroscopy experiments have identified multiple conformers of the D2...ICl van der Waals complex for both ortho-D2 (o-D2) and para-D2 (p-D2). As with the analogous H2...ICl van der Waals complexes [Darr, J. P.; Crowther, A. C.; Loomis, R. A.; Ray, S. E.; McCoy, A. B. J. Phys. Chem. A 2007, 111, 13387], the C2v conformer with the deuterium molecule localized at the iodine atom end of the dihalogen is significantly more stable than the asymmetric conformer that has the deuterium positioned orthogonally to the ICl bond axis, D0'' = 223.9(2.4) versus 97.3(8)-103.9(3) cm(-1) for p-D2...I(35)Cl(X, v''=0). For both conformers, complexes containing p-D2 are found to be more strongly bound than those with o-D2. The electronically excited D2...ICl(A, v') and D2...ICl(B, v') complexes are found to have equilibrium geometries that are nearly the same as those of the ground-state asymmetric structures. Calculated D2...ICl(B, v'=3) energies and probability amplitudes obtained using a simple scaled He + ICl(B, v'=3) potential provide clues to the nature of the different excited-state levels accessed.
A low incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is being used to treat a wide spectrum of clinical disorders but opportunistic infection remains an important factor determining outcomes for these patients. Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are being reported more frequently in HSCT recipients and the incidence of NTM infections in adult recipients is reported to be 0.4%-4.9%. However, the incidence and severity of NTM infections are less well described in pediatric HSCT recipients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines were used to define definite and probable NTM infection among 132 children undergoing 169 HSCT between January 2000 and December 2004 at our institution. NTM infection was diagnosed in 5 of 132 pediatric recipients (3.8%). There were no NTM infections diagnosed in the autologous HSCT recipients and the incidence of NTM in allogeneic HSCT recipients was 6.4% (95% confidence interval, 0.8-11.9). The mean age of the HSCT recipients who developed NTM infections was 8 years (range, 2-19 years); 3 were male and 2 were female. Four conditioning regimens included alemtuzumab and 3 had antithymocyte globulin. Of the 5 patients with NTM infections, 2 met the criteria for definite infection and 3 for probable infection. Of the 2 patients with definite NTM infection, 1 had disseminated disease with Mycobacterium avium complex and the other had Mycobacterium chelonae catheter-related bloodstream infection. The probable NTM infections were 1 skin infection with Mycobacterium kansasii and 2 lower respiratory tract infections with M avium complex. Median time to NTM infection was 115 days (range, 14-269 days) after HSCT. Two patients had graft-versus-host disease at the time of NTM infection. All 5 patients received 3-4 antimycobacterial drugs and all NTM infections resolved. In summary, the incidence of NTM infection in pediatric HSCT recipients appears similar to that described in adult HSCT recipients and the outcome appears to be excellent with the proper antibiotic therapy. The increased use of anti-T cell antibodies appears to be associated with an increased risk of NTM infections in pediatric HSCT recipients. Multicenter studies are needed to identify the risk factors, early diagnostic criteria, and optimal therapy.
Struggling with/for democracy: a case study of community in a US third‐grade classroom

Countries around the world have identified early childhood education as a major priority in providing the foundation for inclusive democratic participation. In US early childhood practice, creating a classroom community is recognised as a part of ‘quality’ education and a means to teach democratic principles. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how a teacher and her students understand classroom community. The teacher and children defined community as: safety and comfort, helping others, inclusion, and being good democratic citizens. As the children and teacher participated in community activities, their ideals of democracy are interrupted by public school practices and curriculum that favour control and conformity. The struggle highlights how classroom community building is not a guarantee for learning to live in a democracy. However, participation in community building can become an opportunity for inquiry and critique of our social contexts—a vital aspect of democratic living. De nombr...
Animated Stones: Giorgio de Chirico’s Le Bal and the Neo-Classical Body

Abstract In his set and costume designs for the 1929 production Le Bal, Giorgio de Chirico critiqued two aspects of the Ballets Russes' legacy: the troupe's increasing reliance on the Classical tradition and its longstanding allegiance to the Gesamtkunstwerk. The mismatched shards of classical architecture in de Chirico's designs undermined the corporeal harmony and grace central to the Classical ideal in art and dance. His uncanny substitution of inorganic materials for body parts undermined the belief, shared by many artists in this period, in the potential of human surrogates to aid them in their progress toward the total artwork of the future.
Single-random-valley approximation in vibration-transit theory of liquid dynamics

The first goal of vibration-transit theory is to be able to calculate from a tractable partition function and without adjustable parameters the thermodynamic properties of the elemental monatomic liquids. The key hypothesis is that the random class of potential energy valleys dominates the statistical mechanics of the liquid at temperatures above melting $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{T}_{m}$ and that these valleys are macroscopically uniform in the thermodynamic limit. This allows us to use a single random valley to calculate the vibrational contribution to liquid properties, exactly in the thermodynamic limit, and as an approximation at finite number of particles $N$. This approximation is tested here for liquid Na with a physically realistic potential based on electronic structure theory. Steepest descent quenches were made from the molecular dynamics equilibrium liquid $(N=500)$ at temperatures from $0.90{T}_{m}$ to $3.31{T}_{m}$, and six potential parameters were calculated for each structure, namely, the potential energy and five principal moments of the vibrational frequency distribution. The results show temperature-independent means and small standard deviations for all potential parameters, consistent with random valley uniformity at $N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$, and with finite-$N$ broadening at $N=500$. The expected error in the single random valley approximation for Na at $N=500$ and $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{T}_{m}$ is 0.1% for the entropy and 0.5% for the internal energy, negligible in the current development of liquid dynamics theory. In related quench studies of recent years, the common finding of nearly temperature-independent means of structural potential energy properties at $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{T}_{m}$ suggests that the single random valley approximation might also apply to systems more complicated than the elemental liquids.
Immunolocalization of myosin Iβ in the hair cell's hair bundle

The hair bundle, the hair cell's sensory organelle, transduces acoustical or vestibular stimulation into a change in membrane potential. The actin-based stereociliary processes of the hair bundle contain a number of myosin isoforms that may be important to the bundle's function. One of these isoforms, myosin Ibeta, has been proposed to constitute an adaptation motor controlling sensitivity of the hair bundle to mechanical displacement. To gain insight into myosin Ibeta's function, its distribution within the hair bundle was examined. A polyclonal antibody was produced that recognizes a protein surface loop within the head domain of myosin Ibeta. This antibody was used to localize myosin Ibeta in the hair cell by indirect-immunofluorescence microscopy and indirect-immunoelectron microscopy. Within the hair bundle, myosin Ibeta immunoreactivity was located along the sides of the stereociliary actin core, concentrated in the distal two-thirds of the stereocilia. Within the hair cell soma, myosin Ibeta immunoreactivity was located throughout the cytoplasm exclusive of the cuticular plate.
Dispersion Pattern and Association of House Fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), Larvae and Both Sexes of Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acari: Macrochelidae) in Response to Poultry Manure Moisture, Temperature, and Accumulation

Poultry manure exhibited a moisture content range of 21.0–88.2% ($\bar x$ = 68.7%) and a temperature of 14.8–44.2°C ($\bar x$ = 26.0°C). Third-instar house flies, Musca domestica L., were recovered from a moisture range of 37–80%, with 85.9% found from 60 to 79% moisture. Over half of Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) adults (61.8%)were found in the 50–69% moisture range, with 26.2 and 30.7% of the females and males, respectively, recovered from 70 to 79% manure moisture. Third-instar house flies, showing a wide temperature tolerance, were recovered from ca. 17 to 35°C. The mites had a similar temperature range. Few of the sampled third-instar house flies (5–7%) were found in areas of manure cone formation, but a majority of the mites (60.1–75.3%) was recovered from this type of accumulation. Dispersions of larvae and mites were independent according to a x2 test for independence and Lloyd's index of interspecific patchiness (IP) for measuring spatial overlap. Mite sexes were positively associated and IP indicated a 7.71-, 3.327-, and 3.53-fold higher probability of encounter in the three quadrat sizes used in the study than would be the case if both sexes were distributed randomly in the habitat. Mean female/male sex ratios of 3.1:1, 2.4:1, and 2.8:1 for M. muscaedomesticae were observed.
Assessing the misrepresentation of health problems

Although respondent misrepresentation in many areas of psychological testing has been widely studied, little is available for evaluating misrepresentation during health-related psychological assessments. In this article, I report the empirical development and validation of such scales for 2 screening inventories: the Psychological Screening Inventory (the HPO scale; Lanyon, 1970, 1978) and the Multidimensional Health Profile (the HPE scale; Ruehlman, Lanyon, & Karoly, 1998a, 1998b, 1999). In each case, judges were asked to simulate the misrepresentation of health problems. Items were selected whose frequencies differed from normal responding; these items were screened for marked content irrelevance and further refined using data from additional respondents. Validation data showed that for both scales the group means for persons with genuine health problems were up to 1 SD above the normative mean, and the means for suspected and actual simulators were about 2 SDs higher than the health-problem groups.
Dorothy Day: A Love of Fiction and Her Love of the Poor.

Abstract Dorothy Day's love of the poor originated from reading novels that portrayed the poor as persons worthy of respect. This article explores how Day's reading novels opened her mind and heart to the realities of poverty. The methodology is literature-based. Dorothy Day's autobiography reveals the novelists who captivated her mind and cultivated a religious heart: Charles Dickens, Upton Sinclair, Jack London, and the Russian authors Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Leo Tolstoy. As a journalist and writer, Day described how the poor struggled to survive and how love is needed to counter the challenges that poverty presents. Finally, two novels by authors favored by Day will serve as examples for educating young adults religiously and encouraging love for the poor.
Moving toward a Zero Injury Objective

In the past decade the terms “zero accidents” and “zero injuries” have been used a great deal by construction firms espousing their commitment to safety. Studies have shown that many construction firms, especially those in the industrial sector, have enjoyed significant improvements in their safety performances. These performance statistics have been considerably better than those of the overall construction industry and provide clear testimony of the effectiveness of efforts to improve safety. Although safety performances have been impressive among many of these firms, a study was conducted to see if additional improvements could be made. The study was conducted with a selected group of large, primarily industrial, firms to determine if any changes had been made since the Construction Industry Institute publicized its findings on effective means to improve safety performance. Results show that additional changes have been made by many of these firms and that the benefits were also realized. Safety perfor...
Commentary on innovations in dialectical behavior therapy

The articles in this series on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) have each identified a population of patients for whom emotion dysregulation appears to be functionally related to their presenting problems. Each paper describes how the original (and now standard) form of DBT might be modified to better fit patients with problems and/or diagnostic disorders differing from the suicidal, borderline adult women treated in the first randomized trial of DBT. Each application is designed to treat individuals with personality disorders but with varying presenting problems. The principal differences among the various applications are in the specification of additional behavioral targets to address the differing presenting problems in each population of patients. The rapid increase in new applications of DBT as exemplified in the articles presented here is exciting and suggests a value of principal driven treatment manuals.
Stereospecificity of the hydrogen transfer catalyzed by human placental aldose reductase.

Placental aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21) was incubated with glucose in the presence of [4A-2H] NADPH prepared in the oxidation of [2-2H] isocitrate by isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) or [4B-2H]NADPH prepared in the oxidation of [1-2H]glucose by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49). The sorbitol formed from [4A-2H] NADPH contained deuterium and from [4B-2H] NADPH it did not. Therefore, aldose reductase in an A-type enzyme.
Evaluating Real-Time Publish/Subscribe Service Integration Approaches in QoS-Enabled Component Middleware

As quality of service (QoS)-enabled component middleware technologies gain widespread acceptance to build distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems, it becomes necessary for these technologies to support real-time publish/subscribe services, which is a key requirement of a large class of DRE systems. To date there have been very limited systematic studies evaluating different approaches to integrating real-time publish/subscribe services in QoS-enabled component middleware. This paper makes two contributions in addressing these key research questions. First, we evaluate the pros and cons of three different design alternatives for integrating publish/subscribe services within QoS-enabled component middleware. Second, we empirically evaluate the performance of our container-based design and compare it with mature object-oriented real-time publish/subscribe implementations. Our studies reveal that both the performance and scalability of our design and implementation are comparable to its object-oriented counterpart, which provides a key guidance to the suitability of component technologies for DRE systems.
Elimination of marker genes from transformed filamentous fungi by unselected transient transfection with a Cre-expressing plasmid.

Abstract A convenient method to remove selectable markers from fungal transformants permits the markers to be used for sequential transformations, and should also reduce public concerns and regulatory impediments to applications involving environmental release of genetically modified fungi. We report a method for marker removal that requires no genetic selection. Protoplasts from Neotyphodium coenophialum, Neotyphodium uncinatum and Epichloe festucae transformants containing a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) flanked by loxP sites in direct orientation were transiently transfected with a Cre-recombinase expression plasmid, and then cultured without selection. The marker was eliminated in 0.5–2% of the colonies, leaving a single loxP sequence and no other exogenous DNA in the genome. This approach was also applied to the yA gene of Aspergillus nidulans as a laboratory exercise to demonstrate multiple principles of transformation and genome manipulation. Thus, the Cre-expression plasmid and transient transfection approach was rapid, flexible and useful for diverse filamentous fungi.
Clinical tools for the 90s: magnetic resonance spectroscopy and metabolite imaging.

Abstract Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a flexible tool with real clinical utility. Examples from our experience in over 250 cases of clinical proton MRS are presented. Shorter echo time and reproducible water suppression increases the number of metabolites which can be detected and identified. Case reports illustrate the significance of altered ratios of N-acetylaspartale, choline, total creatine, myo-inositol, glutamate, glutamine, lactate, glucose, ketones, and, as an incidental finding, ethanol. Significant new information has resulted by applying proton MRS in chronic hepatic encephalopathy, diabetes mellitus and severe hypoxic encephalopathy (‘near-drowning’). Potentially useful measurements have been made in normal brain maturation, ethanol related diseases, dementia (normal-pressure hydrocephalus), urea cycle defect and neuronal disease presenting as seizures. Metabolite imaging, particularly with proton, is clinically valuable, documenting the heterogeneity of biochemical disorders in seemingly focal lesions. A new method of specific 31-phosphorus — phosphocreatine imaging provides information in partially denervated skeletal muscle and is expected to have applications in brain.
Assessment of Rotational Instability with Disruption of the Accessory Collateral Ligament of the Thumb MCP Joint: A Biomechanical Study

Objectives The objective of this paper was to biomechanically investigate rotational stability of the thumb after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and accessory collateral ligament (ACL) disruption and repair at the metacarpal joint of the thumb.
The current status of electrogastrography.

Most of our present concepts and basic knowledge of gastric muscle electrophysiology are based on animal studies. A brief review of those studies which are relevant in understanding the human studies are presented. The studies of human electrogastrography and the present concepts of clinical electrogastrography are reviewed. The various types of electrodes used to record the electrogastrograms, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The physiological data presently available from electrogastrograms are presented.
Addressing challenges in bar-code scanning of large-volume infusion bags.

Purpose A hospital pharmacy’s efforts to identify and address challenges with bedside scanning of bar codes on large-volume parenteral (LVP) infusion bags are described. Summary Bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) has been shown to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety. After the pilot implementation of a BCMA system and point-of-care scanning procedures at a medical center’s intensive care unit, it was noted that nurses’ attempted bedside scans of certain LVP bags for product identification purposes often were not successful. An investigation and root-cause analysis, including observation of nurses’ scanning technique by a multidisciplinary team, determined that the scanning failures stemmed from the placement of two bar-code imprints—one with the product identification code and another, larger imprint with the expiration date and lot number—adjacently on the LVP bags. The nursing staff was educated on a modified scanning technique, which resulted in significantly improved success rates in the scanning of the most commonly used LVP bags. Representatives of the LVP bag manufacturer met with hospital staff to discuss the problem and corrective measures. As part of a subsequent infusion bag redesign, the manufacturer discontinued the use of the bar-code imprint implicated in the scanning failures. Conclusion Failures in scanning LVP bags were traced to problematic placement of bar-code imprints on the bags. Interdisciplinary collaboration, consultation with the bag manufacturer, and education of the nursing and pharmacy staff resulted in a reduction in scanning failures and the manufacturer’s removal of one of the bar codes from its LVP bags.
Agronomic Management and Fungicide Effects on Oat Yield and Quality

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is an important crop in the U.S. The primary uses for oat in Wisconsin are for establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) underseedings, livestock forage, grain, and straw production, and for human nutrition. Therefore, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of oat are of great importance. The objective of this study was to detect the effects of variety, seeding rate, seed treatment, and foliar fungicide on total grain yield, groat proportion, test weight, plant height, lodging severity, and β-glucan content using data from two separate trials which were established from 2011 to 2013 at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station. The results from the two 3-yr studies highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate oat variety with superior yield and quality characteristics. The use of a high seeding rate had no effect on any of the examined characteristics. However, treated seeds with Rancona Crest exhibited increased groat yield compared to untreated seeds by 187 kg ha⁻¹. An important finding of this study is that the use of a foliar fungicide increased total and groat yields, and reduced lodging severity without impacting β-glucan content. The results of this study indicate that the use of a superior variety such as ‘Badger’ and ‘BetaGene’, use of Rancona Crest seed treatment, and use of Headline foliar fungicide can increase oat yields in Wisconsin without reducing the crops’ quality characteristics.
Purification and properties of fructose 1,6-diphosphatase from Polysphondylium pallidum☆

Abstract Fructose 1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) has been purified 400-fold from the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium pallidum. As isolated, the enzyme specifically hydrolyzes the C-1 phosphate group of fructose 1,6-diP and sedoheptulose 1,7-diP with the production of stoichiometric amounts of fructose 6-P and sedoheptulose 7-P, respectively. The enzyme has an alkaline pH optimum (9.0–9.5), requires Mg++ or Mn++, and is active with low concentrations of substrate. It exhibits no activity at pH 7.5 unless EDTA is added. In the presence of 0.1 mM EDTA, the activity at pH 7.5 becomes equal to that at pH 9.5. Cysteine, diethyldithiocarbamic acid, and 2-mercaptoethanol were also effective in inducing enzymic activity at pH 7.5, but much higher concentrations were required than with EDTA. The enzyme was not significantly inhibited by AMP, dAMP, or FDP. There was no alteration in the level of FDPase or phosphofructokinase activity during the course of morphologic differentiation.