cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface wave propagation over a rough talus slope at 160 MHz

Field experiments of air surface wave propagation at 160 MHz were performed on a rough non-conductive dielectric talus slope of granite blocks, all of the same composition. Amplitudes for both vertical and cross polarization were measured meter by meter along linear transects 250 and 500 m long, along with GPS measurements of position and elevation. Attenuation rates for both polarizations were greater for smoother transects, with height standard deviation of about one third free space wavelength, than for rougher transects with up to one wavelength deviation. This unexpected finding resulted from the smoother dielectric surfaces permitting loss of energy into subsurface head waves, as evidenced by the nearly range-squared dependency of the surface waves. The results suggest direct point-to-point communications over rough terrain can be realized over multi-km distances.
Learning to Eat in an Obesogenic Environment: A Developmental Systems Perspective on Childhood Obesity

Abstract— Currently, children are developing in an obesity-promoting, or obesogenic, environment, which has emerged within the past 3 decades. This rapid change provides a rare opportunity to investigate the phenotypic outcomes that result from the expression of human genetic predispositions in a new environment. Unfortunately, the environmental changes that have occurred are associated with epidemic obesity rates in all age groups. Using a developmental perspective, this article argues that this probabilistic outcome is not predetermined, however. The article also provides examples of learning paradigms—familiarization and associative and observational learning—that present opportunities for parents and caregivers to restructure children’s environments in early life, increasing the likelihood of healthy weight-status outcomes in the context of the current obesogenic environment.
Moisture and sodium levels in commercial goat cheeses compared with cow cheeses

Abstract Characteristics of moisture and sodium contents of goat cheeses were evaluated with reference to cow cheese counterparts. Thirty different varieties of commercially produced goat cheeses were obtained from 14 manufacturers located in 12 different U.S. States. Least square means of moisture for plain soft, semi-soft, hard and garlic, herb and pepper cheeses were: 59.8, 43.2, 27.4, 64.3, 59.1 and 57.3%, respectively. Least square means of Na for the corresponding cheeses were: 415.8, 322.9, 446.7, 331.3, 336.2, and 298.0 (mg/100 g wet basis), respectively. Ranges of Na contents for plain soft, soft with spices and hard goat cheeses were: 225.8–1026.0, 207.6–742.9; 211.2–967.7. Of the goat cheeses, 2 3 were soft varieties. Spiced cheeses contained more moisture than the other varieties. Hard and plain soft varieties had greater Na than the spiced and semi-soft cheeses. A considerable variation in salt-to-moisture (S/M) ratios existed in the tested goat cheeses, indicating that manufacturing conditions greatly influenced levels of moisture and Na in the final products. It was concluded that most varieties of goat cheese in the study contained more moisture and lower Na levels compared with cow cheese counterparts.
Analysis of edge birefringence.

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the phenomenon of edge birefringence that appears near boundaries of transparent objects which are observed with high extinction and high resolution polarized light microscopy. As test objects, thin flakes of isotropic KCl crystals were immersed in media of various refractive indices. The measured retardation near crystal edges increased linearly with both the crystal thickness (tested between 0.3 and 1 micron), and the difference in refractive indices n between crystal (n = 1.49) and immersion liquids (n between 1.36 and 1.62). The specific edge birefringence, i.e., the retardation per thickness and per refractive index difference, is 0.029 on the high refractive index side of the boundary and -0.015 on the low refractive index side. The transition through zero birefringence specifies the position of a boundary at a much higher precision than predicted by the diffraction limit of the optical setup. The theoretical study employs a ray tracing procedure modeling the change in phase and polarization of rays passing through the specimen. We find good agreement between the model calculations and the experimental results indicating that edge birefringence can be attributed to the change in polarization of light that is refracted and reflected by dielectric interfaces.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 1-aminocyclobutane-1-[11C]carboxylic Acid (1-[11C]-ACBC) for detecting recurrent brain tumors

Abstract This study was done to determine whether 1-[ 11 C]ACBC PET has any advantages over 2-[ 18 F]FDG PET, CT, or MRI in detecting recurrent brain tumors, and whether quantitative 1-[ 11 C]ACBC PET information improves the accuracy of “visual” image interpretation. Twenty patients with recurrent brain tumor underwent dynamic PET. Images were analyzed by visual interpretation; in addition, standardized uptake values (SUVs) and Patlak values (k 1 *k 3 /k) were evaluated. 1-[ 11 C]ACBC identified 19/20 recurrent brain tumors, [18F]FDG 13/19, MRI 13/19, and CT 8/16. Based on SUVs, the average tumor-to-contralateral gray matter ratio of 1-[ 11 C]ACBC was 5.0 and 0.5 for 2-[ 18 F]FDG. Mean Patlak values of 1-[ 11 C]ACBC were 0.044 ± 0.047 for high and 0.034 ± 0.026 for low grade tumors. However, visual interpretation was effective without quantitative PET data. 1-[ 11 C]ACBC, accurately detects recurrent tumors for selecting biopsy sites and treatment planning.
Some semantically closed languages

1. For some time two main obstacles have been seen to stand in the way of the formalization of natural languages. The first is the difficulty in specifying "rules of formation" for natural languages, that is in giving some effective procedure for determining whether or not an arbitrary string of symbols is a well formed or meaningul sentence with regard to a certain language. Recently progress has been made by various people, Chomsky and Montague, for example, in dealing with this problem. The second obstacle stems from the fact that natural languages are universal, or semantically closed, in that they are capable of at least expressing semantical concepts which apply to themselves. It is to this feature that Legniewski traced the rise of the semantical antinomies. In the mono-
Adaptive Distribution-free Regression Methods and their Applications

We consider the model Y = βx + Z, where the random variable Z has a continuoustype distribution that can be badly skewed, contaminated, or censored. To test the hypothesis H 0 : β = β0, we use the distribution-free statistic K(β0) = Σc(Q i )a(R i ), where c(·) and a(·) are increasing score functions and Q i and R i are the respective ranks of x i and y i – β0 x i . The score functions c(·) and a(·) can be adapted or chosen after observing the data without destroying the distribution-free nature of the test. A Monte Carlo study is presented which illustrates the excellent performance of an adaptive test when a wide range of distributions is considered for the residuals. Interval and point estimates of sβ can be found by employing the “inverse” of the testing procedure. These results are used to find estimates of the percentile lines. Two examples are given which involve lifetimes of electric motor insulation and grade point averages of beginning university students, respectively.
Intense Femtosecond X-ray Photoionization Studies of Nitrogen - How Molecules interact with Light from the LCLS

Photoionization studies of molecular nitrogen have been performed using intense femtosecond x-ray pulses produced by the Linac Coherent Light Source. Partial ion yields and kinetic energy release spectra reveal a new regime of light-matter interaction.
Relationships between the frontal sinus and climatic conditions: a skeletal approach to cold adaptation.

Previous studies in physical anthropology, using superficial facial features, show that the relationship between human facial morphology and climate is not clear. An alternate approach to the problem is the investigation of the deeper facio-anatomical structures (i.e., cranial sinuses and/or foramina) in relation to climatic variables. The present investigation statistically analyses the relationship between climatic conditions (wind chill equivalent temperatures and absolute humidities) and the occurrence and size of frontal sinuses in 153 Eskimo crania. Conditional results from tests of significance of differences and correlation suggest a relationship between low wind chill equivalent temperatures and small frontal sinus surface areas. These results are interpreted in light of cranial sinus function and environmental physiology.
The Impact of Interstate Foreclosure Cost Differences and the Value of Mortgages on Default Rates

Previous research on mortgage default has focused on the costs, benefits, and characteristics of the mortgagor. In such studies default rates have been taken as a measure of mortgage risk. In this paper we present a model where the position of the lender affects the default-foreclosure process. Important to the lender's decision to foreclose rather than renegotiate an existing loan are the value of mortgage and the legal costs associated with foreclosure. The empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that both the value of the mortgage and legal foreclosure costs affect the foreclosure rate. In those states where legal foreclosure costs are high rates are significantly less than where costs are low. This suggests that previous models which include only the costs and benefits of default to the borrower are incomplete and that foreclosure rates can not be taken as a strict measure of mortgage risk. That is, low foreclosure rates may indicate that losses occur in other forms of loan negotiation rather than in expensive legal costs.
Unusual case of renal candida fungus balls

Renal fungus balls are rare in the adult population. A case of asymptomatic renal pelvic fungus balls is presented, and several approaches to treatment are discussed.
Volumes des représentations sur un corps local

Let Γ be a locally compact second countable group, F a local field of characteristic zero and G an F-almost-simple F-algebraic group. In this paper we study the space X(Γ,G) of Zariski-dense representations ρ : Γ → G = G(F) using the natural morphism of cohomological functors ρ* : H*(G, ·) → H*(Γ, ·) (where H denotes the continuous cohomology).
Information loss in emergency medical services handover of trauma patients.

Introduction. Little is known about how effectively information is transferred from emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to clinicians in the emergency department receiving the patient. Infor...
The effect of nitrite on 14C-sulphathiazole (4-amino-N-2-thiazolyl[U-14C]benzenesulphonamide) metabolism in the rat

1. Rats given a meal containing 613 p.p.m. of 14C-sulphathiazole (4-amino-N-2-thiazolyl[14C]benzenesulphonamide) excreted less 14C-activity in urine and more 14C-activity in faeces as nitrite in the meal was increased (0, 10, 100 or 1000 p.p.m.). As nitrite in the meal was increased from 0 to 1000 p.p.m. the total 14C-residues in the gastrointestinal tract six hours after dosing increased, but decreased in other tissues. 2. High nitrite in the meal resulted in increased methanol insoluble 14C-activity in the gastrointestinal tract but had little or no effect on the methanol-insoluble activity in liver and blood. 3. Conversion of 14C-sulphathiazole to 14C-desaminosulphathiazole (N-2-thiazolyl[U-14C]benzenesulphonamide) in the rat was greatly increased by nitrite in the meal.
Homotopies for computation of fixed points on unbounded regions

Givenf: Rnź Rn* with some conditions, our aim is to compute a fixed pointx ź f(x) off; hereRn isn-dimensional Euclidean space andRn* is the collection of nonempty subsets ofRn. A typical application of the algorithm can be motivated as follows: Beginning with the constant mapf0:Rn ź {0} źRn and its fixed pointx0 = 0, we deformft ast ź ź tofźź f and follow the pathxt of fixed points offt. Cluster points of thext's ast ź ź are fixed points off.
Narrative as deliberative argument

This essay argues that narratives or stories are an essential communication mechanism that define the differences between two conflicting groups, especially in asymmetric conflicts. Stories told during conflict resolution experiences are typically assumed to be subjective and emotional versions of reality, but I argue that stories function as arguments. Stories provide a foundation for reasons and are used as evidence to justify positions; this makes them fundamentally argumentative in nature. Interaction data from various Israeli–Palestinian dialogue groups are used to display turns at talk that illustrate the functioning of narratives as arguments during deliberation.
Multiphoton ionization of liquid benzene: the ionization mechanism

Abstract The multiphoton ionization of liquid benzene at 355 nm is found to be a three-photon process involving a two-photon produced intermediate state which lives 10 ns or longer. Polarization experiments can be rationalized if the two-photon absorption at 177 nm (6.99 eV) involves transitions into a mixture of final molecular states having A 1g , E 1g and/or E 2g symmetries.
THE SRN1 REACTION IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. A REVIEW

(1978). THE SRN1 REACTION IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. A REVIEW. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 225-253.
Attitudes to the Use of Alternative Assessment Methods in Mathematics: A Study with Secondary Mathematics Teachers in Sydney, Australia

Given issues related to differences in learner characteristics, effective sam- pling across the content domain, and recent emphases on assessing meaningfully contex- tualised abilities and higher-order cognitive processes, the 'traditional' mathematics test arguably does not provide a valid measure of student ability. Consequently, there is a need to incorporate alternative methods of assessment that are able to effectively assess the range of students' mathematical abilities. The present study investigated methods of assessment used by 60 mathematics teachers from 11 secondary schools in metropolitan Sydney, as well as their attitudes to a range of alternative assessment methods, together with reasons why they would or would not implement these. Results showed that teachers were satisfied with traditional tests as valid measures of student ability, particularly for senior school years. Teachers generally did not favour implementing alternative assessment methods, although those with the least years' teaching experience reported more positive attitudes. A major concern raised by teachers about the use of alternative assessment methods related to their perceived subjectivity. Explanations for these findings are advanced for teachers who have varying lengths of teaching experience.
Structure of Mesoporous Silica Thin Films Prepared by Contacting PEO106−PPO70−PEO106 Films with Vaporized TEOS

Highly ordered mesoporous silica thin films have been prepared on silicon substrates by contacting PEO106−PPO70−PEO106 (Pluronic F127) triblock copolymer films with hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilic...
Why do Tax and Expenditure Limitations Pass in State Elections

This article uses information on the actual conditions in all states over the extended period 1978 to 1990 to estimate the probability of tax and expenditure limitation (TEL) passage in state elections. This probability is a function of economic, fiscal, demographic, and political factors in the state, as well as specific features of the TEL; these variables are chosen to measure demand-side and supply-side features of the political process in the state. The estimation procedures use maximum likelihood techniques; a special feature of the estimation is correction for the sample selection bias that may occur with standard probit estimation because a threshold set of conditions must exist before any limitation is even placed on a statewide ballot and a voting outcome is actually observed. The results show that increases in both property taxation and local revenues relative to state revenues increase the probability of TEL passage; however, increases in total state tax revenues are associated with a lower li...
Density versions of two generalizations of Schur's theorem

Abstract Given a finite partition of the natural numbers, we show that there is one cell with the property that many (in a density sense made precise later) sequences have all of their finite sums in this one cell. We also show that many arithmetic progressions, together with their increments, lie in this one cell.
Vitamin C-Induced Oxalate Nephropathy

Although a multitude of syndromes have been thoroughly described as a result of vitamin deficiencies, over consumption of such substances may also be quite dangerous. Intratubular crystallization of calcium oxalate as a result of hyperoxaluria can cause acute renal failure. This type of renal failure is known as oxalate nephropathy. Hyperoxaluria occurs as a result of inherited enzymatic deficiencies known as primary hyperoxaluria or from exogenous sources known as secondary hyperoxaluria. Extensive literature has reported and explained the mechanism of increased absorption of oxalate in malabsorptive syndromes leading to renal injury. However, other causes of secondary hyperoxaluria may also take place either via direct dietary consumption of oxalate rich products or via other substances which may metabolize into oxalate within the body. Vitamin C is metabolized to oxalate. Oral or parenteral administration of this vitamin has been used in multiple settings such as an alternative treatment of malignancy or as an immune booster. This article presents a clinical case in which ingestion of high amounts of vitamin C lead to oxalate nephropathy. This article further reviews other previously published cases in order to illustrate and highlight the potential renal harm this vitamin poses if consumed in excessive amounts.
The Sobolev inequality on the torus revisited

We revisit the Sobolev inequality for periodic functions on the d-dimensional torus. We provide an elementary Fourier analytic proof of this inequality which highlights both the similarities and differences between the periodic setting and the classical ddimensional Euclidean one.
Consecutive Bilateral Retinal Artery Occlusion

An 81-year-old hypertensive woman sustained an embolic retinal branch artery occlusion in the right eye followed in 24 hours by a central retinal artery occlusion in the left eye. Rapid and sequential bilateral thromboembolic retinal infarctions are extremely rare, even in the setting of symptomatic carotid artery disease. This condition suggests the possibility of a predisposing hematologic aberration.
Another case of pediatric cecal diverticulitis

We have recently reported in this journal a report of two pediatric patients with cecal diverticulitis, a 15-year-old female and a 3-year-old female. There have been no documented reports subsequent to ours; however, we have since encountered an additional pediatric patient with cecal diverticulitis to add to this case series. This most recent patient is a 10-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of worsening abdominal pain. Her parents reported subjective fevers at home, but denied any nausea or emesis. In the emergency department, her vital signs were within normal limits. Physical examination was notable for tenderness to palpation in the right lower quadrant. Her white blood cell count was 12,500 mm with 72 % neutrophils. An abdominal ultrasound was performed which could not visualize the appendix, and did not demonstrate any free fluid. A computed-tomography scan was then obtained which showed a cecal wall diverticulum with wall thickening and adjacent marked inflammatory changes consistent with cecal diverticulitis. The appendix was visualized and appeared normal. Free fluid was present in the right lower quadrant, however, no pneumoperitoneum was present. The patient was started on intravenous piperacillin/ tazobactam. Based on the radiographic findings and a worsening abdominal examination, the decision was made to proceed with operative exploration. Similar to our prior cases, a transverse abdominal incision was made in the right lower quadrant. The cecal wall was found to be thickened and a rubbery mass was palpated within the wall of the cecum. An ileocecectomy was performed. Pathology revealed a perforated ‘‘false’’ cecal diverticulum with organizing serositis. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged on postoperative day 6. This case is very similar in presentation, operative findings, and pathology results to the two previous cases we have reported. We are seeing an increased incidence of pediatric cecal diverticulitis. Further investigations are necessary to understand the etiology of this disease in the pediatric population, and to clarify the possibility of an increasing incidence in childhood.
WROUGHT IRON FROM THE USS MONITOR: MINERALOGY, PETROLOGY AND METALLOGRAPHY

The metal and its slag inclusions from the USS Monitor are mineralogical and geological artefacts of a vessel that has catalysed and documented the technology of maritime construction and warfare since 1862. Petrological study of a wrought iron disc from the hull of the Monitor reveals low-carbon, high-phosphorus ferrite with 4.8 vol% silicate slag, which includes phosphoran olivine, glass, wustite and a silica polymorph. The sample, although made at the height of wrought iron manufacture, is of only mediocre quality and has a mineralogy, petrology and metallography that reflect the latter stages of puddling, rolling, annealing and 140 years of corrosion.
Electrodynamic field equations for composite superconducting structures in the mixed state

Governing vector partial differential equations for the linear electrodynamic response of an isotropic type-II superconductor in the mixed state are derived. A continuum theory of vortex motion is used, and two-fluid effects are also accounted for. The governing equation is sufficiently general to reduce to either normal metal or dielectric material results in special limits. The complex-valued conductivity tensor of the mixed state is made explicit, and is also discussed for an anisotropic superconductor. The theory is illustrated with a planar superconducting waveguide problem, wherein the complex propagation constant, phase velocity, and surface impedance are obtained.
Evaluation of a non-radioactive DMA probe for detecting Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival specimens

This study compared the ability of a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe and anaerobic culture to identify subgingival Porphyromonas gingivalis. Total cellular DNA from P. gingivalis ATCC 33277T was labeled using the Genius kit from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals. Anaerobic culture was performed using VMGA III transport medium and enriched brucella blood agar. The DNA probe could detect as little as 1000 P. gingivalis cells added to supragingival plaque. Also, the probe could detect P. gingivalis when it was present in proportions too low to be visualized on overgrown bacterial plates. The probe showed no visible reaction with strains of various oral species or with thousands of non-P. gingivalis colonies from plaque samples. VMGA III could maintain the viability of P. gingivalis for up to 6 days, as evidenced by DNA probing of colony blot of subgingival cultures. A total cellular DNA probe for detecting P. gingivalis seems to offer a simple and reliable method of detecting the organism in subgingival specimens.
Response and Modeling of Cantilever Retaining Walls Subjected to Seismic Motions

@A series of nonlinear, explicit finite differ- ence analyses were performed to determine the dynamic response of a cantilever retaining wall subjected to earth- quake motions. This article outlines the calibration and validation of the numerical model used in the analyses and comparisons are presented between the results from the finite difference analyses and results from simplified techniques for computing dynamic earth pressures and permanent wall displacement (i.e., Mononobe-Okabe and Newmark sliding block methods). It was found that at very low levels of acceleration, the induced pressures were in general agreement with those predicted by the Mononobe- Okabe method. However, as the accelerations increased to those expected in regions of moderate seismicity, the induced pressures are larger than those predicted by the Mononobe-Okabe method. This deviation is attributed to the flexibility of the retaining wall system and to the observation that the driving soil wedge does not respond monolithically, but rather responds as several wedges. Ad- ∗ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rugreen
Entrance effects in liquid film flow

Finite difference numerical solutions have been obtained to the Navier-Stokes equations for entry-region flow in a falling liquid film issuing from a slot. The iterative method developed does not neglect surface tension forces, however the effect of surface tension on the film acceleration is shown to be small. The results show a smooth transition between the initial velocity profile and the final fully-developed profile. The starting length, defined as the distance required for the surface velocity to reach 95% of its final value, is on the order of 20 times the initial film thickness and increases with Reynolds number. A comparison of the calculations with available experimental data shows fair agreement. On a obtenu des solutions numeriques finies de difference dans le cas des equations de Navier et Stokes relativement e l'ecoulement, dans la region de l'acces, d'une pellicule de liquide qui tombe et provient d'une encoche. La methode iterative qu'on a mise au point tient compte des forces de tension superficielle; toutefois, on indique que l'effet de la tension superficielle sur l'acceleration de la pellicule est faible. On voit par les resultats obtenus qu'il y a une transition sans heurts entre le profil initial de vitesse et le profil final en pleine amplitude. La longueur au stage initial, qu'on definit comme la distance requise pour que la vitesse superficielle atteigne 95% de sa valeur finale, correspond a 20 fois l'epaisseur initiale de la pellicule et augmente avec le nombre de Reynolds. On voit, par comparaison, que les calculs concordent assez bien avec les resultats experimentaux disponibles.
A general analysis of approximate lumping in chemical kinetics

A general analysis of approximate lumping is presented. This analysis can be applied to any reaction system with n species described by dy/dt =f(y), where y is an n-dimensional vector in a desired region Ω, and f(y) is an arbitrary n-dimensional function vector. Here we consider lumping by means of a rectangular constant matrix M (i.e. ŷ = My, where M is a row-full rank matrix and ŷ has dimension n not larger than n). The observer theory initiated by Luenberger is formally employed to obtain the kinetic equations and discuss the properties of the approximately lumped system. The approximately lumped kinetic equations have the same form dŷ/dt = Mf/My) as that for exactly lumped ones, but depend on the choice of the generalized inverse M of M. {1,2,3,4}-inverse is a good choice of the generalized inverse of M. The equations to determine the approximate lumping matrices M are presented. These equations can be solved by iteration. An approach for choosing suitable initial iteration values of the equations is illustrated by examples.
The Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem applied to rumour transmission

The results of the Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem are extended to continuous dynamical systems. It is shown that if there exists a compact convex positive invariant set for the dynamical system, then this convex positive invariant set contains an equilibrium point. The existence of an interior equilibrium is shown for a general model of rumour transmission.
“I Believe It Is Wrong But I Still Do It”: A Comparison of Religious Young Men Who Do Versus Do Not Use Pornography

Brigham Young UniversityWhile researchers have found a negative association between religiosity and pornog-raphy use, little, if any, research has examined the speci c aspects of religiosity thatmight be related to the use of pornography. Therefore, the purpose of this study ofreligious young men was to compare those who view pornography with those who donot on indices of (a) family relationships, (b) religiosity (i.e., beliefs, past/presentpersonal religious practices, and past family religious practices), and (c) personalcharacteristics (identity development, depression, self-esteem, and drug use). Partici-pants were 192 emerging-adult men ages 1827 ( M age 21.00, SD 3.00) attendinga religious university in the Western United States. While they all believed pornogra-phy to be unacceptable, those who did not use pornography (compared to those whodid) reported (a) higher levels of past and recent individual religious practices, (b) pastfamily religious practices, (c) higher levels of self-worth and identity developmentregarding dating and family, and (d) lower levels of depression.Keywords:
Charge and electric field fluctuations in aqueous NaCl electrolytes.

Crystalloluminescence, the long-lived emission of visible light during the crystallization of certain salts, was first observed over 200 years ago; however, the origin of this luminescence is still not well understood. The observations suggest that the process of crystallization may not be purely classical but also involves an essential electronic structure component. Strong electric field fluctuations may play an important role in this process by providing the necessary driving force for the observed electronic structure changes. The main objective of this work is to provide a basic understanding of the fluctuations in charge, electric potentials, and electric fields for concentrated aqueous NaCl electrolytes. Our charge analysis reveals that the water molecules in the first solvation shell of the ions serve as a sink for electron density originating on Cl(-). We find that the electric fields inside aqueous electrolytes are extremely large (up to several V/A) and thus may alter the ground and excited electronic states in the condensed phase. Furthermore, our results show that the potential and field distributions are largely independent of concentration. We also find the field component distributions to be Gaussian for the ions and non-Gaussian for the O and H sites (computed in the lab frame of reference), however, these non-Gaussian distributions are readily modeled via an orientationally averaged nonzero mean Gaussian plus a zero mean Gaussian. These calculations and analyses provide the first steps toward understanding the magnitude and fluctuations of charge, electric potentials, and fields in aqueous electrolytes and what role these fields may play in driving charge redistribution/transfer during crystalloluminescence.
Epstein-Barr virus, lymphoma risk and the potential role of HIV infection in IBD patients undergoing immunosuppression

For decades, lymphoma has been considered a dreaded and untoward complication of autoimmune disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet until recently, the data linking inflammatory bowel disease with an increased risk for lymphoma has been equivocal. With the publication of the CESAME trial in 2009, a greater understanding of lymphoma risk has begun to emerge. In this Falk Symposium paper, I discuss the available data from studies that interrogated the relationship between lymphoma and IBD, thiopurines and TNFα-directed agents. While recent data has clarified some aspects of lymphoma epidemiology in patients with IBD, causality and the mechanisms that underlie it remain very poorly understood.
Measuring Plant Cell Wall Extension (Creep) Induced by Acidic pH and by Alpha-Expansin

Growing plant cell walls characteristically exhibit a property known as 'acid growth', by which we mean they are more extensible at low pH (< 5) (1). The plant hormone auxin rapidly stimulates cell elongation in young stems and similar tissues at least in part by an acid-growth mechanism (2, 3). Auxin activates a H(+) pump in the plasma membrane, causing acidification of the cell wall solution. Wall acidification activates expansins, which are endogenous cell wall-loosening proteins (4), causing the cell wall to yield to the wall tensions created by cell turgor pressure. As a result, the cell begins to enlarge rapidly. This 'acid growth' phenomenon is readily measured in isolated (nonliving) cell wall specimens. The ability of cell walls to undergo acid-induced extension is not simply the result of the structural arrangement of the cell wall polysaccharides (e.g. pectins), but depends on the activity of expansins (5). Expansins do not have any known enzymatic activity and the only way to assay for expansin activity is to measure their induction of cell wall extension. This video report details the sources and preparation techniques for obtaining suitable wall materials for expansin assays and goes on to show acid-induced extension and expansin-induced extension of wall samples prepared from growing cucumber hypocotyls. To obtain suitable cell wall samples, cucumber seedlings are grown in the dark, the hypocotyls are cut and frozen at -80 degrees C. Frozen hypocotyls are abraded, flattened, and then clamped at constant tension in a special cuvette for extensometer measurements. To measure acid-induced extension, the walls are initially buffered at neutral pH, resulting in low activity of expansins that are components of the native cell walls. Upon buffer exchange to acidic pH, expansins are activated and the cell walls extend rapidly. We also demonstrate expansin activity in a reconstitution assay. For this part, we use a brief heat treatment to denature the native expansins in the cell wall samples. These inactivated cell walls do not extend even in acidic buffer, but addition of expansins to the cell walls rapidly restores their ability to extend.
Inorganic materials: nanocrystals branch out.

Inorganic colloids now come in many forms — spheres, discs and rods. With the addition of branched tetrapods to this list, the potential for creating materials with interesting mechanical, optical and electrical properties is even greater.
Boundaries of the universal K3 region and plateau region of the dynamic structure factor for DNA

A sufficiently long semiflexible filamentous macromolecule is theroretically expected to exhibit three different domains of behavior of its apparent diffusion coefficient Dapp(K) as a function of scattering vector K: (1) the small wave vector limit, where Dapp(K) = D0 is the translational diffusion coefficient of the center-of-mass; (2) the universal K3 region, where Dapp(K) = (kBT/6πη)K is a universal function of Kindependent of any property of the molecule itself; (c) the plateau region at large K2, where Dapp(K) approaches either a plateau, or gradually sloping quasiplateau, characteristic of local (elastic) rigid-body motions of the filament. The existence of each of these different domains has now been established experimentally for at least some polymers. The boundaries of the universal K3 region and the plateau region are determined theoretically here using precise quantitative criteria for universal or plateau behavior of Dapp(K) for a Rouse-Zimm model containing N + 1 subchains with rms subchain extension b. Allowing a maximum of 13% nonuniversal behavior, the domain of the universal K3 region is given by K2R2G = K2Nb2/6 ≥ 7 and K2b2 ⩽ 0.54. Allowing as much as 10% nonplateau behavior, the boundary for onset of plateau behavior is K2b2 = 18.3. Dapp(K) is at least 50% nonuniversal when K2b2/6 = 6 ln 3. Extension of these results to DNA is examined theoretically, and good agreement of the pertinent predictions with published experimental data is demonstrated. It is concluded that no truly universal K3 region exists for DNA with Mr ⩽ 107 and persistence length a ≥ 450 A, although marginally (⩽17% nonuniversal) universal behavior, is exhibited in a very narrow domain 0.64 × 1010 ⩽ K2 ⩽ 0.84 × 1010 cm−2 for ϕ29 DNA (Mr = 11.5 × 106). More than 50% of Dapp(K) is governed by local (elastic) rigid-body motions when K2 = 5.23 × 1010 cm−2. The existence of a very wide region of nonuniversal apparent K3 behavior extending up to very large K2, far into the plateau region, is demonstrated in a plot of Dapp(K)/K vs K2 for the Rouse-Zimm model. This is shown to stem in part from visual artifacts of plotting Dapp(K)/K vs K2, even for rigid species.
Antigen-specific IgE in sinus mucosa of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis patients.

BackgroundLocal tissue production of antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) has been shown in patients with allergic rhinitis and in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps. I...
UNDERSTANDING THE DETERMINANTS OF USER ACCEPTANCE OF ENTERPRISE INSTANT MESSAGING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

As modern organizations increasingly depend on information systems (IS) to enhance work productivity and seek new business opportunities, communication effectiveness has become one of the key factors that underlie the effective performance of IS implementations and applications. Instant Messaging (IM) presents a revolution in enterprise communication. As more organizations are findings ways to utilize this near-synchronous computing communication technology to enhance communication effectiveness in the workplace, there is a compelling need to understand the factors that are important for the adoption of enterprise IM. We have developed an integrative model based on constructs of the existing IT adoption models as well as theories on motivation, innovation diffusion, and critical mass. Using responses from 140 intended subjects, we have found the results of survey data support the contentions that perceived usefulness, compatibility, enjoyment, and security are significant predictors of intention to use en...
Object-goal positioning influences spatial representation in rats.

Three tests investigated how the geometric relation between object/landmarks and goals influenced spatial choice behavior in rats. Two groups searched for hidden food in an object-filled circular arena containing 24 small poles. For the “Proximal” group, four distinct objects in a square configuration were placed close to four baited poles. For the “Distal” group, the identical configuration of objects was rotated 45° relative to the poles containing the hidden food. The Proximal group learned to locate the baited poles more quickly than the Distal group. Tests with removed and rearranged landmarks indicated that the two groups learned to use the objects differently. The results suggested that close proximity of objects to goals encouraged their use as beacons, while greater distance of objects from goals resulted in the global encoding of the geometric properties of the arena and the use of the objects as landmarks.
Chromosomal subunits in active genes have an altered conformation

Ten percent digestion of isolated nuclei by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I preferentially removes globin DNA sequences from nuclei obtained from chick red blood cells but not from nuclei obtained from fibroblasts, from brain, or from a population of red blood cell precursors. Moreover, the nontranscribed ovalbumin sequences in nuclei isolated from red blood cells and fibroblasts are retained after mild deoxyribonuclease I digestion. This suggests that active genes are preferentially digested by deoxyribonuclease I. In contrast, treatment of red cell nuclei with staphylococcal nuclease results in no preferential digestion of active globin genes. When the 11S monomers obtained after staphylococcal nuclease digestion of nuclei are then digested with deoxyribonuclease I, the active globin genes are again preferentially digested. The results indicate that active genes are probably associated with histones in a subunit conformation in which the associated DNA is particularly sensitive to digestion by deoxyribonuclease I.
Acclimation/reacclimation to salinity conditions and its relationship to the transport of suspended microspheres on the gill of Mytilus edulis

Abstract 1. 1. Changes in the lateral metachronal wave activity were studied on isolated nerve/gill preparations of the bivalve, Mytilus edulis . 2. 2. The changes in metachronal wave were first observed in mussels kept at a habitat salinity of 30% and then subsequently compared to those maintained at various acclimation salinities (18 → 9 → 3%) and reacclimation salinities (9 → 18 → 30%). 3. 3. The average rates of transport of suspended micropheres were also investigated and compared to the percent metachronal wave activity. 4. 4. There appears to be a definite relationship between an increase in the lateral metachronal wave activity and the average rate of transport of particles on gill lamellae.
Selective complexing agents designed after adenosine receptor as percutaneous permeation enhancers of drugs

The objective was to evaluate selective complexing agents, naphthalene diamide diimide (I) and naphthalene diester diimide (II), as transport facilitators of adenosine across skin. Molecular modeling was used to show favored binding, energetically and conformationally, between adenosine and its selective complexing agents. The energy-minimized conformational structure of the adenosine-diamide diimide (I) complex indicated favored binding conformationally and energetically by potential energy saving of 8.26 kcal/mol. Permeation studies of adenosine alone (control) and with the complexing agent were conducted across polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), whole thickness human skin and isolated human stratum corneum using vertical franz diffusion cells and infinite dose technique. Adenosine flux across PDMS was increased 10-fold by diester diimide (II) (0.28 μg/min per cm2 versus 0.027 μg/min per cm2 for the control). During permeation across whole thickness human skin, adenosine was primarily metabolized to inosine, which further metabolized to hypoxanthine, and adenine was formed in small amounts by a minor pathway. The Vmax and Km values for adenosine metabolism were 6.7 × 10−4 mM/min and 6.4 × 10−3 mM, respectively. Thus, extensive metabolism within the skin concurrent with diffusion prevented the estimation of mass transfer rates of adenosine alone or in the presence of the complexing agent. Adenosine permeation across isolated stratum corneum was not enhanced by diester diimide (II); however, increased amounts of hypoxanthine and inosine were found in the receptor phase, indicating enhanced uptake of adenosine. These results also suggested residual metabolic activity in the stratum corneum. A novel mechanism was demonstrated for permeation enhancement of drugs across lipophilic solid-phase and biological membranes, using lipophilic selective complexing agents as transport facilitators. However, the inherent metabolic activity of biological membranes profoundly influences drug transport and synthetic lipophilic membranes may therefore have limitations as models of biological barriers.
Nonlinear vibration of laminated plates using a refined shear flexible finite element

A finite element model based on a higher order shear deformation theory is developed to study the large amplitude-free vibration of laminated composite plates. The large deformation is accounted for by using von Karman strain-displacement relations. The higher order theory accounts for the parabolic variation of transverse shear strains through the thickness of the laminate. A C° nine noded isoparametric element with seven degrees of freedom at each node is implemented. The direct iteration method is used to solve the nonlinear equations which are evaluated at the point of reversal of motion. A wide variety of case studies are performed to examine the nonlinear vibration characteristics of laminated plates.
Somatostatin in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Early efforts to identify the hypothalamic stimulating factor for growth hormone (GH) release from the pituitary inadvertently resulted in the discovery of a hypothalamic inhibitor of GH release [57]. Despite initial skepticism regarding its existence, this inhibiting factor, somatostatin (SS; also called somatotropin release-inhibiting factor, SRIF), was subsequently isolated and structurally characterized by Brazeau et al. [17]. As has been true for most of the brain neuropeptides identified over the last two decades, the known neuroregulatory effects of the tetradecapeptide SS have expanded far beyond its originally discovered role. The possibility that alterations in SS might reflect or contribute to the pathophysiology of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) was first examined by Patel et al. in 1977 [75]. Subsequently, a variety of reports appeared describing decreased SS in brain and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with several neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and depression. These studies of SS in neuropsychiatric disorders will be reviewed in this chapter, as will the evidence supporting a role for SS as a modulator of CNS activity.
End-wall plasma characteristics in the Tandem Mirror Experiment

An array of emitting and collecting probes was used to measure the characteristics of the plasma at the end wall of TMX. The emitting probes indicated a plasma potential with a characteristic value of approximately 8 V, measured at 2 cm and 10 cm from the grounded wall. The potential in the plug varied from 300 to 1000 V. The collecting probes indicated a cold plasma present near the wall, with an electron temperature of about 5 eV and a cold-electron density of about 2 × 109 cm−3, while the hot-ion density at the wall was about 6 × 108 cm−3. The density of electrons in the plug was about 2 × 1013 cm−3. The electron temperature measured at the wall was decoupled from the temperature of the electrons in the plug and the central cell. The plasma wall sheath was established to balance the flux of hot ions and cold electrons. An additional species of electrons, i.e. secondary electrons produced at the end wall, was also identified. These secondary electrons had a directed energy comparable to the local plasma potential, an energy spread of less than 7 eV, and a density of about 4 × 108 cm−3. The experimental results are shown to be consistent with a simple model involving cold-gas recycling from the end wall.
Personality pathology and its relation to couple functioning

The study aimed at understanding the relationship between personality pathology and couple functioning, both in terms of general functioning and communication specifically, in a sample of 146 psychiatric outpatients. The results indicated that couple communication was best predicted by a combination of the symptoms within each of the three personality disorder clusters and the total number of personality disorder symptoms while general family functioning was best predicted by the total number of Axis I disorders. No demographic variables were found to be related to the level of couple functioning. Future research needs to focus on understanding what makes it difficult for people with personality disorder traits to function in relationships.