cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A concurrent scheme for passing dislocations from atomistic to continuum domains

Abstract This paper presents a concurrent atomistic–continuum (CAC) methodology for three-dimensional dynamic simulation of dislocation nucleation, migration and interaction. The method is based on a new continuum field formulation of balance laws with relevant atomistic information (the arrangements and interactions of atoms) considered. In this work, we show that the new CAC method allows the smooth passage of dislocations through sharp interfaces between the atomistic and the coarse-grained finite element domains without unphysical reflection of dislocations or the need for heuristic rules; meanwhile, complex dislocation phenomena such as dislocation nucleation, dynamic strain bursts associated with nucleation and migration avalanches, formations of Lomer–Cottrell locks, dislocation–rigid boundary interactions, formation of intrinsic and extrinsic stacking faults, deformation twinning, and curved dislocation loops can be reproduced by the CAC method. All of the CAC simulations are directly compared with the corresponding atomic-level molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The efficiency, accuracy and potential applications of the method are discussed along with necessary additional development of criteria for coarse graining.
Grass–Legume Proportions in Forage Seed Mixtures and Effects on Herbage Yield and Weed Abundance

Formulating grass–legume mixtures requires knowledge of how the proportion of species in a seed mixture (i.e., species evenness) affects productivity and weed abundance. We hypothesized that mixtures with more equal proportions of species in the seed mixture (i.e., greater species evenness) would have greater productivity and fewer weeds than mixtures dominated by one or two species or monocultures. Two experiments with 15 mixtures and monocultures of orchardgrass (L.), quackgrass (L.), alfalfa (L.), and white clover (L.) (Exp. 1) or 15 mixtures and monocultures of meadow fescue [ (Huds.) P. Beauv.], reed canarygrass (L.), red clover (L.), and kura clover (L.) (Exp. 2) were sown in autumn 2008 at four locations in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In each experiment, there were four monocultures, four mixtures dominated by one species, six mixtures dominated by pairs of species, and one equal mixture. Mixtures and monocultures were harvested four to five times each year from 2009 to 2011. Mixtures often had more biomass than the average of legume or N-fertilized grass monocultures. Mixtures with more equal proportions of species in the seed mixture, however, did not have more biomass or fewer weeds than other mixtures. Rather, differences in yield were related to the dominant species in the mixture. Optimal legume percentages (30–40%) in the harvested biomass were achieved with a wide range of grass and legume seed proportions, which suggested that farmers have wide flexibility in formulating seed mixtures for pastures.
Normal osteoclast number and function in rat pups lacking parathyroid hormone

In parathyroidectomized suckling rats, bone modeling and the number and activity of cells in the osteoclast population are normal. These findings are at variance with observations in older animals and suggest that factors other than parathyroid hormone influence osteoclast formation and function in the neonate.
The biogeography of prediction error: why does the introduced range of the fire ant over-predict its native range?

Aim The use of species distribution models (SDMs) to predict biological invasions is a rapidly developing area of ecology. However, most studies investigating SDMs typically ignore prediction errors and instead focus on regions where native distributions correctly predict invaded ranges. We investigated the ecological significance of prediction errors using reciprocal comparisons between the predicted invaded and native range of the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta ) (hereafter called the fire ant). We questioned whether fire ants occupy similar environments in their native and introduced range, how the environments that fire ants occupy in their introduced range changed through time relative to their native range, and where fire ant propagules are likely to have originated. Location We developed models for South America and the conterminous United States (US) of America. Methods We developed models using the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP) and 12 environmental layers. Occurrence data from the native range in South America were used to predict the introduced range in the US and vice versa. Further, time-series data recording the invasion of fire ants in the US were used to predict the native range. Results Native range occurrences under-predicted the invasive potential of fire ants, whereas occurrence data from the US over-predicted the southern boundary of the native range. Secondly, introduced fire ants initially established in environments similar to those in their native range, but subsequently invaded harsher environments. Time-series data suggest that fire ant propagules originated near the southern limit of their native range. Conclusions Our findings suggest that fire ants from a peripheral native population established in an environment similar to their native environment, and then ultimately expanded into environments in which they are not found in their native range. We argue that reciprocal comparisons between predicted native and invaded ranges will facilitate a better understanding of the biogeography of invasive and native species and of the role of SDMs in predicting future distributions.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION BY MASS SPECTROMETRY OF THE HUMAN ESTROGEN RECEPTOR LIGAND-BINDING DOMAIN EXPRESSED IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

The ligand binding domain of the human estrogen receptor (hER-LBD), encompassing the sequence MDPS282AG...V595, has been expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli from a pET-23d vector, and a purified preparation has been characterized both by mass spectrometry and biochemical methods. Inclusion bodies from the bacterial expression were solubilized by sonication and the hER-LBD was purified to near homogeneity by affinity chromatography over an estradiol-Sepharose column in urea-containing buffer. This material ran as a single peak on reversed-phase HPLC, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed a band with apparent molecular mass of 31-32 kilodaltons (kDa), somewhat smaller than that expected from the construct (35.6 kDa). Edman degradation revealed a single sequence of MDPSAGDMRA, consistent with an intact N terminus. Further characterization of this material using low resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry indicated an...
University Faculty In Partner Schools

A common component of teacher preparation reform includes the development of partner schools. As more universities create partnerships, the impact on faculty rewards, rank and status are significant concerns. This research examined these issues with National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER) institutions. The amount and nature of faculty work in partner schools varied considerably across NNER institutions suggesting that progress is variable and/or that institutions are arriving at different solutions regarding partnerships. In addition, the provision of formal and systematized teaching load credit or course release for faculty who work in partner schools is only slowly emerging at some institutions. Finally, only a small percentage of institutions reported changes in tenure and promotion guidelines recognizing partner school work, with about one third indicating that such changes were under discussion, while half reported no changes. Reasons for these findings are offered and analyzed in terms of ch...
A fast algorithm for particle simulations

An algorithm is presented for the rapid evaluation of the potential and force fields in systems involving large numbers of particles whose interactions are Coulombic or gravitational in nature. For a system ofNparticles, an amount of work of the orderO(N2) has traditionally been required to evaluate all pairwise interactions, unless some approximation or truncation method is used. The algorithm of the present paper requires an amount of work proportional toNto evaluate all interactions to within roundoff error, making it considerably more practical for large-scale problems encountered in plasma physics, fluid dynamics, molecular dynamics, and celestial mechanics.
Reassembling Technical Communication: A Framework for Studying Multilingual and Multimodal Practices in Global Contexts

Drawing on a case study of an Israeli start-up company, this article maps out a theoretical and methodological framework for linking local multilingual and multimodal literacy practices to wider institutional, cultural, and global contexts. Central to this framework is attention to the linking of tools, texts, and people distributed across space-time. This process foregrounds the complex mediation of activity and the dynamic pathways shaping the ways English is being reassembled in local-global ecologies.
Phase I study of vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, NSC 701852) in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced and relapsed solid malignancies

Introduction Vorinostat is an inhibitor of histone deacetylase 6, which acetylates tubulin and stabilizes microtubules. Since taxanes also stabilize microtubules, we hypothesized that the administration of vorinostat followed by docetaxel should result in synergistic cytotoxicity. We conducted a phase I trial to determine the dose level of vorinostat plus docetaxel that would result in dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in ≤30% of patients. Methods Eligible patients had castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) or relapsed urothelial or non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after ≥1 prior chemotherapy regimen not containing docetaxel, performance status of 0–2, and adequate organ function. Vorinostat was given orally for 14 days beginning on day 1 of a 21-day cycle, with docetaxel given intravenously over 1 h on day 4. The time-to-event continuous reassessment method (TITE-CRM) guided dose escalation. Dose levels (DL) -1, 0, 1 and 2 corresponded to vorinostat 100, 100, 200 and 200 mg plus docetaxel 50, 60, 60, and 75 mg/m2, respectively. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed on days 1 and 4 of cycle 1. Results Twelve patients were enrolled: median age 65 years (range 49–74); 9 male, 3 female; 4 CRPC, 5 urothelial, 3 NSCLC. The median number of cycles administered was 2. Two patients were treated at DL -1, 4 at DL 0, 5 at DL 1 and 1 at DL 2. Five DLTs occurred in 5 patients: neutropenic fever/sepsis (2), anaphylactic reaction (1), myocardial infarction (1) and gastrointestinal bleed (1). Other toxicities included grade 3/4 neutropenia (4), peripheral neuropathy (1), and gastrointestinal bleed (n = 1). The estimated probability of DLT for DL -1 was 0.32 (90% posterior probability interval [PI], 0.11 to 0.53) for DL 0, 0.38 (90% PI, 0.16 to 0.58) and for DL 1, 0.43 (90% PI, 0.23 to 0.64). The trial was stopped due to excessive toxicity. No responses were noted. Conclusions The combination of vorinostat and docetaxel was poorly tolerated with excessive DLTs that required early study termination. No responses were identified. Vorinostat and docetaxel pharmacokinetics were comparable to previous reports in the literature, without obvious drug-drug interactions.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Do Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Play a Role?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by multiple endocrine disturbances, and its underlying causes, although uncertain, are likely to be both genetic and environmental. Recently, there has been interest in whether endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment, particularly Bisphenol A (BPA), may contribute to the disorder. In animal models, exposure to BPA during the perinatal period dramatically disrupts ovarian and reproductive function in females, often at doses similar to typical levels of human exposure. BPA also appears to have obesogenic properties, disrupting normal metabolic activity and making the body prone to overweight. In humans, cross-sectional data suggest that BPA concentrations are higher in women with PCOS than in reproductively healthy women, but the direction of causality has not been established. As this research is in its infancy, additional work is needed to understand the mechanisms by which EDCs may contribute to PCOS as well as the critical periods of exposure, which may even be transgenerational. Future research should also focus on translating the promising work in animal models into longitudinal human studies and determining whether additional EDCs, beyond BPA, may be important to consider.
The Multivariate Case of the Shine-Bower Single-Subject ANOVA:

The Shine-Bower single-subject ANOVA is extended to the multivariate case, i.e., the case of more than one dependent measure or variate. Two cases of between-variate dependencies among within-subject errors are considered. The first case assumes a restricted pattern of between-variate dependencies among within-subject errors. This case allows the use of standard multi-variate ANOVA procedures. The second case assumes no between-variate dependencies among within-subject errors. This case allows the use of simplified multivariate ANOVA procedures.
Multimorbidity and depression treatment.

Abstract Objectives We compare treatment for depression among individuals with multiple chronic physical conditions to those with single chronic physical condition, after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, access to care and the number of outpatient visits. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, we analyzed data on 1,376 adults age above 21 years, with depression and at least one chronic physical condition in the following clusters: cardiometabolic (diabetes or heart disease or hypertension), respiratory (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) and musculoskeletal (arthritis or osteoporosis) from the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for depression treatment. Results Overall, 56.2% used antidepressants, 21.4% had psychotherapy and 22.5% reported no depression treatment. After adjusting for factors, there were no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of type of depression treatment. Conclusion Individuals with multiple conditions are as likely as those with single condition to report treatment for depression perhaps due to increased contact with the health care system. Our findings suggest that competing demands due to multiple chronic conditions may not affect depression treatment.
Anisotropic 2D wavelet packets and rectangular tiling: theory and algorithms

We propose a new subspace decomposition scheme called anisotropic wavelet packets which broadens the existing definition of 2-D wavelet packets. By allowing arbitrary order of row and column decompositions, this scheme fully considers the adaptivity, which helps find the best bases to represent an image. We also show that the number of candidate tree structures in the anisotropic case is much larger than isotropic case. The greedy algorithm and double-tree algorithm are then presented and experimental results are shown.
Rediscovery of Dictya disjuncta Orth (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) with Descriptions of All Life Stages and Life Cycle

Abstract. Eighty-nine years after the only known specimen of Dictya disjuncta Orth was collected, in Mississippi in 1921, the species was rediscovered in Indiana, U.S.A. in 2010. A gravid female laid eggs that gave rise to two generations of flies. The egg, three larval stages, puparium, and adult female are described and illustrated for the first time, the life cycle is elucidated, the holotype male is redescribed, and the geographical distribution of the species is depicted.
Genetic Dissection of a Genomic Region with Pleiotropic Effects on Domestication Traits in Maize Reveals Multiple Linked QTL

The domesticated crop maize and its wild progenitor, teosinte, have been used in numerous experiments to investigate the nature of divergent morphologies. This study examines a poorly understood region on the fifth chromosome of maize associated with a number of traits under selection during domestication, using a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping population specific to the fifth chromosome. In contrast with other major domestication loci in maize where large-effect, highly pleiotropic, single genes are responsible for phenotypic effects, our study found the region on chromosome five fractionates into multiple-QTL regions, none with singularly large effects. The smallest 1.5-LOD support interval for a QTL contained 54 genes, one of which was a MADS MIKCC transcription factor, a family of proteins implicated in many developmental programs. We also used simulated trait data sets to investigate the power of our mapping population to identify QTL for which there is a single underlying causal gene. This analysis showed that while QTL for traits controlled by single genes can be accurately mapped, our population design can detect no more than ∼4.5 QTL per trait even when there are 100 causal genes. Thus when a trait is controlled by ≥5 genes in the simulated data, the number of detected QTL can represent a simplification of the underlying causative factors. Our results show how a QTL region with effects on several domestication traits may be due to multiple linked QTL of small effect as opposed to a single gene with large and pleiotropic effects.
Productivity Growth without Technical Change in European Agriculture before 1850

Output per farm worker in the northern United States and Britain in the early nineteenth century was many times that inEastern Europe or in medieval England and wages were correspondingly higher. Technical progress explains little of the high American and British productivity in the early nineteenth century, nor, in the American case, does abundant land per worker. Instead, most of the difference derived from more intense labor in America and Britain.
Challenges to effective information and communication systems in humanitarian relief organizations

An effective information and communication system (ICS) is a central component of successful humanitarian relief efforts. An ICS involves not only IT but also people, practices, policies, and organizational environments. This paper explores major issues and challenges inherent to developing an effective ICS within the humanitarian relief non-governmental organization (NGO) sector. Although closely related, the issues and challenges inherent in both intraand inter-organizational communication in NGOs are discussed separately. The analysis goes beyond the IT issues usually focused on, emphasizing the enormous impacts of human, organizational, and environmental issues such as organizational structure, coordination, security, politics, and funding. We discuss both the strategic impact of these issues as well as the impact on an NGO's ability to communicate effectively during emergency response efforts.
Gene silencing by double-stranded RNA.

Abstract Eukaryotes silence gene expression in the presence of double-stranded RNA homologous to the silenced gene. Silencing occurs by the targeted degradation of mRNA. Biochemical reactions that recapitulate this phenomenon generate RNA fragments of 21–23 nucleotides from the double-stranded RNA. These stably associate with an RNA endonuclease and probably serve as a discriminator to select mRNAs. Once selected, mRNAs are cleaved at sites 21–23 nucleotides apart. This mechanism, termed RNAi, has functional links to viral defense and silencing phenomena, such as cosuppression. It also functions to repress the hopping of transposable elements.
Global Food Systems: Feeding the World

The global food system could be defined as the activities involved in producing, processing and distributing food to feed the world; it links national and local food systems on a global scale through trade, technology, knowledge sharing, and labor and capital exchange. For over 10 000 years, it has evolved from the primitive utilization of vegetative plants and livestock domestication to the large scale, precision farming operations of industrialized agriculture currently in operation. Although important innovations have scaled this system to cover an exponentially increasing population and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, participation in, access to, and benefits of today’s global food system remain elusive to the 80% of the world earning <$10 per day. It is indeed shocking to consider that over one billion people are food-insecure and will go to bed hungry every night in 2011. This is equivalent to the population of the United States, the European Union, and Canada combined. Despite increasing yields, the global food system has failed to make the world food secure, a state characterized by food availability, food accessibility, food utilization, and food stability. The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization and other groups that track the points along the food value chain, note that we produce enough food on a global level to feed everyone; the failure lies in access and distribution. All lives should have equal value and in some manner, we should all feel accountable to rectify this tragic inequity amongst humanity. Understanding the global food system, how to improve upon it, and how best to prepare the human resource capacity to provide services within it, will require a background review of some of the key drivers for change.
Ethanol-induced neural crest apoptosis is coincident with their endogenous death, but is mechanistically distinct

The ability of both acute and chronic ethanol exposures to elicit cell death within specific embryonic and adult tissues is believed to partly underlie ethanol's pathogenicity; however, the mechanism underlying this cell death is unknown. This study partially characterized the mechanism of ethanol-induced neural crest cell death in a chick embryo model of fetal alcohol syndrome. In situ DNA end-labeling demonstrated this cell death was apoptotic and occurred at embryonic ethanol levels as low as 42 mM. Regardless of the initial exposure time, this apoptosis always appeared at a distinct developmental time point simultaneous with the normal deletion of a cranial neural crest subset. This suggested that ethanol might act through aberrant activation of the endogenous death pathway; however, ethanol exposure failed to induce two components of this pathway, the homeotic transcription factor msx-2 and the growth factor bone morphogenetic protein 4. Both endogenous and ethanol-induced death were blocked by local application of an interleukin-1β converting enzyme/CED-3 protease (caspase) inhibitor, showing that the two paths converge mechanistically and suggesting the potential to prevent this aspect of ethanol's teratogenicity. Ethanol exposure did not significantly alter cell proliferation within neural crest-populated regions, suggesting that susceptibility to ethanol-induced death did not involve exit from the cell cycle. Apoptotic deletion of cranial neural crest could partially explain the craniofacial deficits characteristic of the fetal alcohol syndrome.
Recent Advances in High Voltage, High Energy Capacitor Technology

Summary form only given. Capacitors continue to be major components of pulsed power systems, especially as energy storage and pulse discharge devices. Qn-going research and development at GA-ESI (formerly "Maxwell") in capacitor technology and dielectric materials has resulted in significant expansion in several dimensions of the film capacitor operating envelope. Examples of such advances include increased energy density, increased energy per unit, longer DC life at high energy density, lower temperature (cryogenic) operation, faster discharge capability, higher continuous working specific power, and higher reliability. Future improvements are expected in all of the above performance parameters as well as higher temperature operation.
An Interactionist Analysis of Small Group Peer Assessment

This research investigates the relative and interactive effects of rater-, ratee-, relationship-, situational-, and group-level contingencies on peer assessments of open communication. A round-robin analysis of variance and covariance was used to analyze peer ratings for 54 subjects participating in 9 small groups on two occasions. The results suggest that, given certain procedural conditions, peer assessments are highly reliable and valid. Rater bias accounted for a relatively small amount of rating variance. Ratings were best predicted by stable individual differences associated with ratees and situational contingencies. The results are discussed in light of the current controversy surroundingpeer assessments and the utility of an interactionist approach for understanding communication behavior in small group settings.
Acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome in the injured patient

Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome are clinical entities of multi-factorial origin frequently seen in traumatically injured patients requiring intensive care. We performed an unsystematic search using PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to January 2012. The purpose of this article is to review recent evidence for the pathophysiology and the management of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome in the critically injured patient. Lung protective ventilation remains the most beneficial therapy. Future trials should compare intervention groups to controls receiving lung protective ventilation, and focus on relevant outcome measures such as duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, and mortality.
Considering scores between unrelated proteins in the search database improves profile comparison

Profile-based comparison of multiple sequence alignments is a powerful methodology for the detection remote protein sequence similarity, which is essential for the inference and analysis of protein structure, function, and evolution. Accurate estimation of statistical significance of detected profile similarities is essential for further development of this methodology. Here we analyze a novel approach to estimate the statistical significance of profile similarity: the explicit consideration of background score distributions for each database template (subject). Using a simple scheme to combine and analytically approximate query- and subject-based distributions, we show that (i) inclusion of background distributions for the subjects increases the quality of homology detection; (ii) this increase is higher when the distributions are based on the scores to all known non-homologs of the subject rather than a small calibration subset of the database representatives; and (iii) these all known non-homolog distributions of scores for the subject make the dominant contribution to the improved performance: adding the calibration distribution of the query has a negligible additional effect. The construction of distributions based on the complete sets of non-homologs for each subject is particularly relevant in the setting of structure prediction where the database consists of proteins with solved 3D structure (PDB, SCOP, CATH, etc.) and therefore structural relationships between proteins are known. These results point to a potential new direction in the development of more powerful methods for remote homology detection.
What controls aqueous humour outflow resistance

The bulk of aqueous humour outflow resistance is generated in or near the inner wall endothelium of Schlemm's canal in normal eyes, and probably also in glaucomatous eyes. Fluid flow through this region is controlled by the location of the giant vacuoles and pores found in cells of the endothelium of Schlemm's canal, but the flow resistance itself is more likely generated either in the extracellular matrix of the juxtacanalicular connective tissue or the basement membrane of Schlemm's canal. Future studies utilizing in vitro perfusion studies of inner wall endothelial cells may give insights into the process by which vacuoles and pores form in this unique endothelium and why inner wall pore density is greatly reduced in glaucoma.
Physiological measurements of luminal stirring in the dog and human small bowel

The resistance to absorption resulting from poor stirring of luminal contents (RLum) is considered to be equivalent to an unstirred layer of greater than 600 microns in the human small intestine. We measured RLum in the jejunum of conscious dogs by assessing the absorption rate of two rapidly absorbed probes, glucose, and [14C]warfarin. When RLum was expressed as an unstirred layer, the maximal thickness of the unstirred layer (assuming negligible epithelial cell resistance) was only approximately 35 and 50 microns for perfusion rates of 26 and 5 ml/min, respectively. Maximal unstirred layer thickness for the human jejunum, calculated from previous studies of glucose absorption, yielded a mean value of only 40 microns (range: 23 to 65 microns). Since epithelial resistance appears to be negligible during absorption of low concentrations of glucose, the maximal unstirred layer of 40 microns should be close to the true value for glucose in the human small intestine. We conclude that the unstirred layer for rapidly absorbed compounds in dogs and man are less than one-tenth of previously reported values, but this layer still may remain the rate limiting step in absorption of rapidly transported compounds.
Metazoan parasites of flounder Platichthys flesus (L.) along a transect from the southwestern to the northeastern Baltic Sea

In connection with the BMB/ICES Sea-going Workshop “Fish Diseases and Parasites in the Baltic Sea”, 200 specimens of flounder Platichthys flesus from eight stations (25 from each) distributed from the southwestern (Mecklenburg Bight) to the northeastern Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland) were examined for metazoan parasites. A few species (e.g. Hysterothylacium aduncum, Cucullanus heterochrous, Cucullanellus minutus, and Pomphorhynchus laevis) were found at virtually all stations. Typical “marine” species (Podocotyle atomon, Brachyphallus crenatus, Anisakis simplex, Holobomolochus confusus, and Lernaeocera branchialis) were found at the western stations only, whereas the metacercariae of Diplostomum spathaceum, and Cotylurus sp., immature Corynosoma sp., the larvae of Raphidascaris acus and Contracaecum osculatum were most common towards the east and north. Echinorhynchus gadi only occurred at the western and southern stations. The small encapsulated larvae of the bird nematodes Contracaecum sp., Paracuaria sp., and Cosmocephalus sp. were found at most stations. The effects of salinity on the patterns observed in relation to the distribution of intermediate and final hosts are discussed.
Ultrafast decay and hydration dynamics of DNA bases and mimics

The ultrafast decay of the excited-state of DNA bases, reported here and elsewhere [Peon & Zewail, Chem. Phys. Lett. 348 (2001) 255], makes very difficult the probing of the full hydration dynamics in DNA. Here we present studies of the natural DNA base mimic, 2-aminopurine (2AP), whose excited-state decay is much longer, in water and, for comparison, in bulk ethanol. Guided by these solvation results, which directly reflect the role of orientational and translational diffusion, we reexamine the ultrafast decay rates for the natural nucleotides and nucleosides. The results are important for the mechanism of energy disposal in DNA.
Surgical management of stone disease in patients with primary hyperoxaluria.

Objective To present our experience with surgical management of nephrolithiasis in patients with primary hyperoxaluria (PH). Methods A retrospective chart review from 1994 to 2012 was performed to identify patients with diagnosis of PH. Results A total of 14 patients with PH were identified with a median follow-up of 18.6 years (range, 0.9-51 years). Median ages at initial symptom and subsequent diagnosis were 6.7 years (range, 1.1-35.5 years) and 0.42 years (range, 0-33.25 years), respectively. Patients underwent a total of 54 procedures at our institution, including ureteroscopy (27 [50%]), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (15 [28%]), shock wave lithotripsy (8 [15%]), and combined procedures (4 [7%]). Overall nonintraparenchymal stone-free rate after the first, second, and third procedures were 59%, 76%, and 78%, respectively. On average, 1.6 procedures (range, 1-4) were required to rid patients of symptomatic stones, which subsequently afforded them a mean of 3.62 years (range, 0.25-21.5 years) without the need for additional intervention. There were 6 Clavien grade ≥III complications in 4 patients, including immediate postoperative end-stage renal disease in 3 patients. Conclusion Despite optimal medical and surgical management, patients experience recurrent acute stone events requiring multiple urologic interventions. Significant complications such as end-stage renal disease can occur secondary to surgical intervention.
The Cornerstone of Hospitality Management Education: An Interview with Lendal H. Kotschevar

(1993). The Cornerstone of Hospitality Management Education: An Interview with Lendal H. Kotschevar. Hospitality & Tourism Educator: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 37-40.
Congenital Malaria: An African Survey

Even in malaria-endemic areas, congenital malaria has been considered to be rare. Some recent reports suggest, however, that up to one fourth of newborns in some areas may be parasitemic. In an effort to determine current prevalence rates of congenital malaria, malaria smears were done on peripheral blood from 100 peripartum mothers and on cord blood from their offspring at each of seven sites spanning sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence rate of maternal parasitemia was 15% overall and varied from 4% to 30% at the different sites. Congenital malarial infection was found in 7% of newborns, the prevalence rate varying from 0% to 23% at the different sites. There was no apparent relationship between the season of sampling and either the prevalence rates of parasitemia or the penetrance of malaria from mother to offspring. In summary, congenital malarial infection is not rare in sub-Saharan Africa, but the prevalence rate of neonatal parasitemia varies from site to site.
Tissue distribution of Na+/H+exchanger isoforms NHE2 and NHE4 in rat intestine and kidney

We present evidence that tissue distribution of two highly conserved Na+/H+exchanger isoforms, NHE2 and NHE4, differs significantly from previously published reports. Riboprobes unique to each of t...
A chromatographic estimate of the degree of surface heterogeneity of RPLC packing materials. III. Endcapped amido-embedded reversed phase.

Abstract The difference in adsorption behavior between a conventional monomeric endcapped C18 stationary phase (3.43 μmol/m2) and an endcapped polymeric RP-Amide phase (3.31 μmol/m2) was investigated. The adsorption isotherms of four compounds (phenol, caffeine, sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate, and propranololium chloride) were measured by frontal analysis (FA) and the degree of heterogeneity of each phase for each solute was characterized by their adsorption energy distributions (AED), derived using the Expectation–Maximization method. The results show that only certain analytes (phenol and 2-naphthalene sulfonate) are sensitive to the presence of the polar embedded amide groups within the RP phase. Their binding constants on the amide-bonded phase are significantly higher than on conventional RPLC phases. Furthermore, an additional type of adsorption sites was observed for these two compounds. However, these sites having a low density, their presence does not affect much the retention factors of the two analytes. On the other hand, the adsorption behavior of the other two analytes (caffeine and propranololium chloride) is almost unaffected by the presence of the amide group in the bonded layer. Strong selective interactions may explain these observations. For example, hydrogen-bond interactions between an analyte (e.g., phenol or naphthalene sulfonate) and the carbonyl group (acceptor) or the nitrogen (donor) of the amido-embedded group may take place. No such interactions may take place with either caffeine or the cation propranololium chloride. This study confirms the hypothesis that analytes have ready access to locations deep inside the bonded layer, where the amide groups are present.
Delayed Onset of Crystallinity in Ion-Containing Aqueous Nanodrops.

Water exhibits remarkable properties in confined spaces, such as nanometer-sized droplets where hundreds of water molecules are required for crystalline structure to form at low temperature due to surface effects. Here, we investigate how a single ion affects the crystallization of (H2O)n clusters with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of size-selected La3+(H2O)n nanodrops containing up to 550 water molecules. Crystallization in the ion-containing nanodrops occurs at n ≥ 375, which is approximately 100 more water molecules than what has been reported for neutral water clusters. This frustration of crystallinity reveals that La3+ disrupts the hydrogen-bonding network of water molecules located remotely from the ion, a conclusion that is supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings establish that a trivalent ion can pattern the H-bond network of water molecules beyond the third solvation shell, or to a distance of ∼1 nm from the ion.
Modeling of Thermal Dissociation in Nonequilibrium Hypersonic Flows

Numerical simulations are presented of steady state, hypersonic blunt body nitrogen flow for conditions under which there is considerable thermal dissociation. The internal energy relaxation processes of vibrational energy transfer, dissociation and recombination were treated using state-to-state kinetics of diatomic nitrogen. The state-specific rates were incorporated into a solution of the master kinetic equations coupled to the fluid dynamic equations to describe the thermo-chemical nonequilibrium phenomenon in high temperature hypersonic flowfields. Results of the detailed flowfield simulations were compared with Park model and depletion model. The state-specific dissociation and recombination rates were employed in the study of vibrational bias and depletion effects. Vibrational bias was strong for both the dissociation process and the recombination process at temperatures ranging from 6,000 to 20,000 K. The shock-standoff distance of the full state-kinetic implementation and the depletion model were consistent with each other and resulted in a greater shock-standoff distance compared with the Park model for a Mach 19 nitrogen flow past a hemisphere cylinder of radius 0.1524 m.
Human Tolerance and Histopathologic Effects of Long-Term Administration of Intranasal Interferon-α2

Fifty-two healthy adults were randomly assigned interferon-alpha 2 (HuIFN-alpha 2), 8.4 X 10(6) U/day, or placebo by intranasal spray for 28 days. Symptoms, nasal examinations, and histologic analysis of nasal biopsy specimens obtained three days before and one day after exposure were evaluated under blind conditions. HuIFN-alpha 2 was associated with signs of mucosal irritation (dry mucous membranes, crusts, and friability) and/or symptoms (blood-tinged mucus) in 23% of recipients. Moderate or marked epithelial acute inflammation with ulceration occurred in 19% of HuIFN-alpha 2 recipients. Pronounced submucosal lymphocytic and mononuclear cell infiltrates developed in 58%. These histopathologic abnormalities resolved within eight weeks of stopping exposure. These results indicate that long-term or indefinite intranasal administration of HuIFN-alpha 2 at the dosages used in this study is not feasible strategy for prophylaxis of respiratory viral infections.
Investigation of hygienic status of centralized air conditioning ventilation system in public place of Changzhou in 2011-2012

Objective To investigate the hygienic status of some public places with centralized air conditioning ventilation system in Changzhou,Jiangsu province,and to provide the basis for standardize the central air conditioning ventilation system health management in public places.Methods According to Hygienic Standards for Centralized Air Conditioning Ventilation System in Public Place,PM10,dust,the total count of fungi,the total count of bacteria,β-hemolytic Streptococcus and Legionella pneumophila were determined.Results The qualified rates of the PM10,the total count of fungi,the total count of bacteria in 2012 were significantly higher than those in 2011(P0.05).The qualified rates of dust weight,the total count of fungi,β-hemolytic Streptococcus were significantly higher than those in 2011(P0.05).Conclusion The hygienic status of some public places with centralized air conditioning ventilation system in Changzhou is better in 2012 than before,but hygienic monitoring should still be strengthened in this field.
Development of an amperometric glucose biosensor with high stability

An amperometric glucose biosensor was developed based on the immobilization of glucose oxidase in organically modified silicate( Ormosil)-polyvinyl acetate( PVA) matrix onto a Prussian Blue( PB)-modified glassy carbon electrode. A highly stable PB modified electrode was prepared by the electrochemical deposition of FeCl 3,K 3 [Fe( CN) 6 ]and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid( EDTA) using cyclic voltammetry( CV). The effects of the scanning potential range,applied potential,pH and temperature were investigated. The detection limit of the glucose biosensor was 8. 1 μmol / L( S / N = 3) with a linear range from 20 μmol / L to 2 mmol / L( R = 0. 9965). Within the range of low concentration from 20 μmol / L to 100 mmol / L,the glucose biosensor still presented a good linear relationship( R = 0. 9938). The biosensor had a fast response and good selectivity. Additionally,excellent reproducibility and stability of the biosensor were observed.
Extent of glomerular injury in active and resolving lupus nephritis: a theoretical analysis

Patients with diffuse, proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN) were subjected to differential solute clearances (n = 22) and serial renal biopsy (n = 11) before and again after 6-12 mo of immunosuppressive therapy. Glomerular sieving of dextrans of graded size was analyzed with a heteroporous membrane model. This revealed active DPLN to be associated with 1) a reduction of overall pore density accompanied by a 53% depression of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and 2) appearance of a subset of large, nondiscriminatory pores, which accounted for the observed nephrotic level of proteinuria. Morphometric analysis of biopsy tissue provided evidence of reduced filtration surface area due to global or segmental occlusion of capillary loops in glomerular tufts. Activity of DPLN resolved posttreatment. A computed increase in pore density was associated with a 24% increment in GFR; a marked reduction in the fraction of shuntlike pores was accompanied by a parallel reduction of proteinuria into a subnephrotic range. Repeat biopsy revealed diminished glomerular cellularity, fewer immune deposits, and an ensuing increase in the fraction of tuft area occupied by patent loops. Epithelial filtration slit frequency also increased. Neither functional nor structural recovery was complete, however. Residual pore density approximated only 23-35% of that in healthy controls, and corresponding shuntlike pores were threefold more prominent. We conclude that severe DPLN is only partially reversible by current modalities of treatment and that the ensuing residual injury is far more severe than suggested by conventional tests of renal function.
Severe thrombocytopenia in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient associated with pentamidine-dependent antibodies specific for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa

Severe thrombocytopenia developed in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome during treatment with intravenous pentamidine for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The patient's bone marrow contained adequate numbers of megakaryocytes, suggesting peripheral platelet destruction. Platelet counts ranged between less than 3 and 20 x 10(9)/L for 2 weeks despite cessation of pentamidine, platelet transfusions, high-dose intravenous IgG, and 2 mg/kg/d prednisone. Thereafter, the platelet count increased to prepentamidine levels (95 x 10(9)/L0, permitting rapid withdrawal of steroids. Testing by immunofluorescence disclosed a high-titer, pentamidine-dependent IgG antibody in the patient's acute-phase serum that almost entirely disappeared by the time the patient's platelet count returned to baseline levels. This antibody reacted only with platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa as shown by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies specific for various GPs, and was absorbable by normal, but not by GPIIb/IIIa-deficient platelets (from a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia). The pentamidine-dependent antibody could not be demonstrated by immunoprecipitation using the patient's serum and 125I-labeled normal platelets, although a separate pentamidine-independent antibody was detected by this method. This latter antibody reacted with two GPs having molecular weights consistent with GPIIb/IIIa, and was present in postrecovery as well as acute-phase sera. However, only the pentamidine-dependent antibody was temporally associated with the severe thrombocytopenia. Therefore, we believe that these studies demonstrate, for the first time, that intravenous pentamidine therapy can provoke formation of drug-dependent antibodies that induce immunologic thrombocytopenia.
Communicating Affection: THINKING ABOUT AFFECTION: THE THEORIES

They do not love that do not show their love. – William Shakespeare To fully appreciate the implications of social scientific research, one must begin with both a working knowledge and a critical assessment of the theory or theories in which that research is grounded. For two reasons, this is particularly important for understanding the research on affectionate communication. First, a great deal of the research has been exploratory and atheoretic. This is not problematic in principle, but it ought to encourage consumers of this research to consider the theoretic implications that findings from such studies might have. Second, the theory-driven research on affectionate communication has used multiple theories that represent considerable diversity in assumptions and foci. This requires that the conscientious reader exercise caution when comparing studies to each other. The literature on affectionate communication is a theoretically eclectic one, and there are at least two reasons why. One is that researchers studying affectionate communication have directed their attention toward a diversity of questions, so theories that are useful in one area have not necessarily been useful in others. For instance, theoretic principles that can explain why a given affectionate behavior is or is not reciprocated during an intimate exchange may not be able to explain why highly affectionate people have greater immunocompetence than their less affectionate counterparts. The second, and perhaps more important, reason is that, before now, there has not been a comprehensive theory about affectionate communication to use.