cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uniqueness and existence in plasticity models for unsaturated soils

The paper investigates the mathematical structure of plasticity models for unsaturated soils and provides a strategy to capture the loss of uniqueness of the incremental solution upon loading and/or wetting paths. To derive bifurcation conditions in simple analytical form, the analysis is restricted to isotropic stress states. This choice has allowed the inspection of the most common classes of constitutive models through a unified notation, as well as the study of different forms of coupling between plasticity and state of saturation. It is shown that, similar to saturated soil plasticity, the loss of admissibility of the plastic solution is governed by critical values of the hardening modulus. At variance with the classical case, however, these moduli can be positive even if the plastic flow rule is associated (bifurcation in the hardening regime). The paper shows that such non-trivial features derive from hydro-mechanical coupling, i.e. they depend on the approach used to reproduce suction effects and evolving retention properties. In other words, although the problem of loss of uniqueness affects all classes of plasticity models for unsaturated soils, different constitutive assumptions may not have the same outcome in terms of bifurcation potential. As a result, new concepts are introduced to compare the mathematical robustness of the different constitutive approaches, as well as to interpret their predictions in the light of precise bifurcation criteria.
Isotopic enrichment in herbivorous insects: a comparative field-based study of variation

Researchers will be able to use stable isotope analysis to study community structure in an efficient way, without a need for extensive calibrations, if isotopic enrichment values are consistent, or if variation in enrichment values can be predicted. In this study, we generated an experimental data set of δ15N and δ13C enrichment means for 22 terrestrial herbivorous arthropods feeding on 18 different host plants. Mean enrichments observed across a single trophic transfer (plants to herbivores) were −0.53±0.26‰ for δ13C (range: −3.47‰ to 1.89‰) and 1.88±0.37‰ for δ15N (range: −0.20‰ to 6.59‰). The mean δ13C enrichment was significantly lower than that reported in recent literature surveys, whereas the mean δ15N enrichment was not significantly different. The experimental data set provided no support for recent hypotheses advanced to explain variation in enrichment values, including the proposed roles for consumer feeding mode, development type, and diet C:N ratio. A larger data set, formed by combining our experimental data with data from the literature, did suggest possible roles for feeding mode, nitrogen recycling, herbivore life stage, and host plant type. Our results indicate that species enrichment values are variable even in this relatively narrow defined group of organisms and that our ability to predict enrichment values of terrestrial herbivorous arthropods based on physiological, ecological, or taxonomic traits is low. The primary implications are that (1) mean enrichment may have to be measured empirically for each trophic link of interest, rather than relying on estimates from a broad survey of animal taxa and (2) the advantage of using stable isotope analysis to probe animal communities that are recalcitrant to other modes of study will be somewhat diminished as a consequence.
CRM Systems with Social Networking Capabilities: The Value of Incorporating a CRM 2.0 System in Sales/Marketing Education

Implementation of a customer relationship management (CRM) 2.0 system can provide both a valuable pedagogical tool and a needed skill set in a marketing and sales curriculum. A CRM 2.0 system incorporated in the sales and marketing curriculum can help manage relationships between students, practitioners, and faculty while teaching students a valuable skill set. Preliminary survey results suggest that students perceive value in incorporating the proposed CRM 2.0 system into the marketing and sales curriculum.
Residential demand for electricity

Abstract Short- and long-run responses by households to changes in the price of electricity are estimated using data which permit measurement of the marginal price of electricity, the infra-marginal demand charge, and estimates of household appliance stocks. The price elasticities of high- and low-level users of electricity are compared. The theoretical bias in price elasticity estimates resulting from neglect of the infra-marginal demand charge is shown to be empirically insignificant.
Isotopic spin and mass quantization

In studying π-H collisions, the cosmotron group has meanwhile found two cases of V1/0-production. Assuming π+H → V1/0+ one neutral particle, the latter would have to be a heavy meson in both cases, (mass ~ 1300 mine) with a life time > 4.1010 sec. This reaction may correspond to π+H → V1/0 + Π0 in the present picture. Furthermore one case has been observed of the production of a V1 with chargee. The existence of V1− would necessitate that 2P3/2 rather than 2P1/2 is the next lowest state, corresponding to Λ ≈0,45 ħ/Mc. This new situation would not alter any of the qualitative results of this work.
The pharmacologic fate of the antitumor agent 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole in the dog.

Anticipating the renewed clinical trial of the antitumor agent 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole (AT, NSC-4728), we have studied the pharmacologic fate of AT-5-14C in beagle dogs. The drug was only minimally metabolized in 5 h; the radioactivities in the urine, and particularly in the plasma, resided almost entirely in unchanged AT. In four dogs, after IV administration of AT-5-14C at 10 mg/kg (200 mg/m2), 150–200 μCi per animal, the terminal plasma t1/2 of AT was 13 h, and less than 10% of the administered dose appeared in the urine in 5 h. When the dose was raised to 25 mg/kg (500 mg/m2) in four dogs, the average plasma t1/2 of AT was 10 h; the 5-h cumulative excretion of the agent was 9% of the dose in the urine, 0.3% in the bile, and 0.1% as 14CO2 in the expired air. The average total clearance of AT was 0.70 ml/kg/min. Drug concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were 95% of those in the plamsa at semi-steady state. At autopsy 5 h after dosing, more than 75% of the administered radioactivity was retained in the body, the highest amounts in terms of micrograms per gram of wet tissue being in the liver, kidney, lung and stomach. No appreciable changes in AT pharmacokinetics were evident upon simultaneous IV administration of allopurinol at 30 or 60 mg/kg. AT was less than 7% bound to dog plasma protein at 25° C in concentrations of 12–100 μg/ml.
Predictive statistical models linking antecedent meteorological conditions and waterway bacterial contamination in urban waterways

Although the relationships between meteorological conditions and waterway bacterial contamination are being better understood, statistical models capable of fully leveraging these links have not been developed for highly urbanized settings. We present a hierarchical Bayesian regression model for predicting transient fecal indicator bacteria contamination episodes in urban waterways. Canals, creeks, and rivers of the New York City harbor system are used to examine the model. The model configuration facilitates the hierarchical structure of the underlying system with weekly observations nested within sampling sites, which in turn were nested inside of the harbor network. Models are compared using cross-validation and a variety of Bayesian and classical model fit statistics. The uncertainty of predicted enterococci concentration values is reflected by sampling from the posterior predictive distribution. Issuing predictions with the uncertainty reasonably reflected allows a water manager or a monitoring agency to issue warnings that better reflect the underlying risk of exposure. A model using only antecedent meteorological conditions is shown to correctly classify safe and unsafe levels of enterococci with good accuracy. The hierarchical Bayesian regression approach is most valuable where transient fecal indicator bacteria contamination is problematic and drainage network data are scarce.
GRAMPS - A graphics language interpreter for real-time, interactive, three-dimensional picture editing and animation

GRAMPS, a graphics language interpreter has been developed in FORTRAN 77 to be used in conjunction with an interactive vector display list processor (Evans and Sutherland Multi-Picture-System). Several of the features of the language make it very useful and convenient for real-time scene construction, manipulation and animation. The GRAMPS language syntax allows natural interaction with scene elements as well as easy, interactive assignment of graphics input devices. GRAMPS facilitates the creation, manipulation and copying of complex nested picture structures. The language has a powerful macro feature that enables new graphics commands to be developed and incorporated interactively.Animation may be acheived in GRAMPS by two different, yet mutually compatible means. Picture structures may contain “framed” data, which consist of a sequence of fixed objects. These structures may be displayed sequentially to give a traditional frame animation effect. In addition, transformation information on picture structures may be saved at any time in the form of new macro commands that will transform these structures from one saved state to another in a specified number of steps, yielding an interpolated transformation animation effect.An overview of the GRAMPS command structure is given and several examples of application of the language to molecular modeling and animation are presented.
Parametric modeling and estimation of the spatial characteristics of a source with local scattering

The recent surge in the application of antenna arrays for wireless cellular systems has opened up new problems in the area of array signal processing. One key issue is multipath propagation and local scattering, which requires the modification of the conventional point source model and the associated estimation techniques. In this paper we propose a parametric physical/statistical model for the distribution of angles of arrival of waves, originating from a far-field source through a scattering medium that is local to the source. Based on this model, we derive a compact and mathematically-tractable spatio-temporal cross-correlation function for the signal received by an antenna array. In the sequel we propose a simple yet asymptotically efficient technique for the estimation of the parameters of the spatially distributed source using an array of antennas. The computational complexity of the proposed method is much less than the other asymptotically efficient counterparts. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to verify the theoretical predictions.
The selection of a standard convention for analyzing gait data based on the analysis of relevant biomechanical factors

The gait cycle is usually analyzed using one of two conventions: heel contact initiates the cycle and stance is followed by swing phases or toe-off initiates the cycle and swing then stance phases are analyzed. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate that based on a consideration of relevant biomechanical measures, a convention identifying toe-off as the beginning of the gait cycle and presenting swing followed by stance phases is the superior convention. Net joint torques and electromyographic (EMG) data from selected muscles in the lower extremity were obtained from four subjects while walking and running. Data were collected for consecutive swing, stance and swing phases to compare the variables at the swing-to-stance and stance-to-swing transitions. Larger joint torques were observed at the swing-to-stance transition at the hip and knee for both gaits compared to the other transition. EMG results showed greater activation levels for five of the six muscles at the swing-to-stance transition. Results indicated that the subjects needed to prepare for the initiation of stance and the application of relatively large external forces and moments. Further, the transition from stance to swing did not seem to be as critical a point in the gait cycle since the moments and EMG were relatively low. This being the case, the stance-to-swing transition should be used as the beginning and ending of the gait cycle (toe-off initiating the cycle) and the more meaningful transition of swing-to-stance phases should occur in the middle of the analysis.
Newer techniques in intracorporeal tissue approximation: Suturing, tissue adhesives, and microclips

Great strides have been made in the discovery of alternative tissue approximation techniques for use in laparoscopy. Although none of the techniques have eliminated the need for suturing laparoscopically, their potential in achieving this end is promising. When an ideal approximation technique is discovered that is easy to use, safe, and reliably able to hold tissue together laparoscopically, laparoscopic reconstructive surgery should become less formidable and more appealing to urologists.
Coupling transcription factor occupancy to nucleosome architecture with DNase-FLASH

It is currently not possible to resolve the genome-wide relationship of transcription factors (TFs) and nucleosomes at the level of individual chromatin templates despite rapidly increasing data on TF and nucleosome occupancy in the human genome. Here we describe DNase I-released fragment-length analysis of hypersensitivity (DNase-FLASH), an approach that directly couples mapping of TF occupancy, via quantification of DNA microfragments released from individual TF recognition sites in regulatory DNA, to the surrounding nucleosome architecture, via analysis of larger DNA fragments, in a single assay. DNase-FLASH enables coupling of individual TF footprints to nucleosome occupancy, identifying TFs that precisely demarcate the regulatory DNA-nucleosome interface.
Clinical correlations with serum C1q levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Previous studies have suggested that serum C1q levels measured during the first 5 years of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be predictive of the extent of subsequent joint damage. To further evaluate the clinical significance of this marker in RA, levels of C1q were measured by radial immunodiffusion in serum samples from 107 well-characterized patients with RA. Mean levels of C1q were higher in patients with a disease duration less than or equal to 5 years (173 micrograms/ml) than in patients with a disease duration greater than 5 years (148 micrograms/ml) (P = 0.032). Serum C1q levels were correlated with total joint counts and activities of daily living scores, but no correlation was observed with erythrocyte sedimentation rates or with radiographic scores. The results suggest that C1q may be a useful early marker of disease activity in patients with RA.
Three Basic Residues of Intracellular Loop 3 of the Beta-1 Adrenergic Receptor Are Required for Golgin-160-Dependent Trafficking

Golgin-160 is a member of the golgin family of proteins, which have been implicated in the maintenance of Golgi structure and in vesicle tethering. Golgin-160 is atypical; it promotes post-Golgi trafficking of specific cargo proteins, including the β-1 adrenergic receptor (β1AR), a G protein-coupled receptor. Here we show that golgin-160 binds directly to the third intracellular loop of β1AR and that this binding depends on three basic residues in this loop. Mutation of the basic residues does not affect trafficking of β1AR from the endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi complex, but results in reduced steady-state levels at the plasma membrane. We hypothesize that golgin-160 promotes incorporation of β1AR into specific transport carriers at the trans-Golgi network to ensure efficient delivery to the cell surface. These results add to our understanding of the biogenesis of β1AR, and suggest a novel point of regulation for its delivery to the plasma membrane.
Cytochrome P450 phenotypic ratios for predicting herb-drug interactions in humans.

Objectives Phytochemical-mediated modulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity may underlie many herb-drug interactions. Single-time point phenotypic metabolic ratios were used to determine whether long-term supplementation of St John's wort, garlic oil, Panax ginseng, and Ginkgo biloba affected CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4 activity. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers (6 females) were randomly assigned to receive either St John's wort, garlic oil, P ginseng, or G biloba for 28 days. For each subject, a 30-day washout period was interposed between each supplementation phase. Probe-drug cocktails of midazolam, caffeine, chlorzoxazone, and debrisoquin (INN, debrisoquine) were administered before supplementation (baseline) and at the end of supplementation. Presupplementation and postsupplementation phenotypic trait measurements were determined for CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, and CYP2D6 with the use of 1-hydroxymidazolam/midazolam serum ratios (1-hour sample), paraxanthine/caffeine serum ratios (6-hour sample), 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone/chlorzoxazone serum ratios (2-hour sample), and debrisoquin urinary recovery ratios (8-hour collection), respectively. Results Comparisons of presupplementation and postsupplementation ratios indicated that St John's wort significantly induced the activity of CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 (P < .0001). Among female subjects, St John's wort produced significantly greater increases in CYP3A4 phenotypic ratios that appeared to be unrelated to body mass index. This finding is suggestive of a sexual dimorphism in CYP3A4 inducibility. Garlic oil reduced CYP2E1 activity by 39% (P = .030), whereas no significant effect on CYP activity was observed for P ginseng and G biloba. Conclusions Single-time point phenotypic metabolic ratios may provide a practical means of predicting CYP-mediated herb-drug interactions in humans. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2002) 72, 276–287; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2002.126913
Metastatic breast carcinoma of the jugular foramen: A rare case of Villaret syndrome

Background The differential diagnosis of skull base masses is diverse and includes benign and malignant neoplasms, vascular anomalies, congenital lesions, as well as infectious and inflammatory processes. Metastatic masses of the skull base are a rare manifestation of systemic malignancies. Breast cancer is the most common cause of skull base metastases.[1] Villaret syndrome refers to cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII and sympathetic chain neuropathies. It is a clinical subtype of jugular foramen syndromes. Methods and Results A 62-year-old woman with a history of breast carcinoma presented with hoarseness dating to shortly after her mastectomy years earlier. CT angiography showed enhancing tissue just outside the right jugular foramen, and biopsy confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with breast cancer. Conclusion Villaret syndrome caused by breast cancer metastases has not been previously described. We present a case of Villaret syndrome caused by metastasis of invasive breast adenocarcinoma and a review of the literature of metastases of breast cancer to the skull base. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E146–E149, 2015
Full range polarization-sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography

A swept source based polarization-sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) system was developed that can acquire the Stokes vectors, polarization diversity intensity and birefringence images in biological tissue by reconstruction of both the amplitude and phase terms of the interference signal. The Stokes vectors of the reflected and backscattered light from the sample were determined by processing the analytical complex fringe signals from two perpendicular polarizationdetection channels. Conventional time domain OCT (TDOCT) and spectrometer based FDOCT systems are limited by the fact that the input polarization states are wavelength dependent. The swept source based FDOCT system overcomes this limitation and allows accurate setting of the input polarization states. From the Stokes vectors for two different input polarization states, the polarization diversity intensity and birefringence images were obtained.
High molecular weight stress proteins: Identification, cloning and utilisation in cancer immunotherapy

Although the large stress/heat shock proteins (HSPs), i.e. Hsp110 and Grp170, were identified over 30 years ago, these abundant and highly conserved molecules have received much less attention compared to other conventional HSPs. Large stress proteins act as molecular chaperones with exceptional protein-holding capability and prevent the aggregation of proteins induced by thermal stress. The chaperoning properties of Hsp110 and Grp170 are integral to the ability of these molecules to modulate immune functions and are essential for developing large chaperone complex vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. The potent anti-tumour activity of the Hsp110/Grp170-tumour protein antigen complexes demonstrated in preclinical studies has led to a phase I clinical trial through the National Cancer Institute's rapid access to intervention development (RAID) programme that is presently underway. Here we review aspects of the structure and function of these large stress proteins, their roles as molecular chaperones in the biology of cell stress, and prospects for their use in immune regulation and cancer immunotherapy. Lastly, we will discuss the recently revealed immunosuppressive activity of scavenger receptor A that binds to Hsp110 and Grp170, as well as the feasibility of targeting this receptor to promote T-cell activation and anti-tumour immunity induced by large HSP vaccines and other immunotherapies.
Displacing the Voice: South African Feminism and JM Coetzee's Female Narrators

In her now famous essay, ‘Can the Subaltern Speak?’, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak claims ‘if, in the context of colonial production, the subaltern has no history and cannot speak, the subaltern femal...
The first five years of high-Tc superconductivity

Abstract After the 1986 discovery and confirmation of superconductivity in doped La 2 CuO 4 , a “gold rush” occurred in the following year when the transition temperature in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ exceeded the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. In 1988, even higher T c 's were reported in new compounds without rare-earth ions. The preparation techniques started to be improved substantially and results on scholarly conducted experiments became available. Since then, the data obtained with different techniques fitted together like pieces of a puzzle, and continue to do so. Early in 1987, high critical magnetic fields and currents were reported in epitaxial films and single crystals. This opened the way for application-oriented research and has led to first true successes in 1990/91. The following is a near verbal transcript of my presentation.
Swallowing and speech therapy after definitive treatment for laryngeal cancer

As the trend in laryngeal cancer treatment shifts towards organ-conservation surgeries and organ-preservation protocols, patients will more often retain anatomy vital to communication and swallowing. Despite a conservative approach, results of treatment may have debilitating effects. Rehabilitation efforts are directed towards a return to functional, if not normal, status. Although there are predictable trends in voice and swallowing disorders of patients with laryngeal cancer, posttreatment dysphonia and dysphagia are diverse in presentation. Considering the significant diversity of this population, speech pathologists should work closely with otolaryngologists to determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. As this article demonstrates, voice and swallowing therapy are necessary components of the rehabilitation process following treatment for head and neck cancers. As always, treatment is tailored to the specific individual and based on information obtained during a thorough evaluation by a speech pathologist. Fortunately, with the help of voice and swallowing therapy, many patients return to functional communication and oral feeding.
Thermophysics of alkali and related azides I. Heat capacity of NaN3 from 5 to 350 K

Abstract The heat capacity of sodium azide was determined from 5 to 350 K by adiabatic calorimetry and a thermal anomaly associated with a structural transformation of the crystalline lattice was observed in the heat capacity at (293.0±0.1) K. The excess entropy associated with this transition was determined to be only (0.008±0.001) calth K−1 mol−1. At 298.15 K, the values for Cp, S, {H(T)−H(0)} T , and −{G(T)−H(0)} T , respectively, are 18.31, 23.15, 11.813, and 11.340 calth K−1 mol−1.
Production by murine spleen cells of an activity stimulating the pha-responsiveness of thymus lymphocytes.

An increase in thymidine uptake was found when murine thymus cells were cultured together with spleen cells in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The results of experiments with γ-irradiated and mitomycin C-treated cells indicated that this effect was due to enhancement of the PHA responsiveness of thymus cells by spleen cells (Thymocyte Stimulating Activity: TSA). TSA was found to be present in supernatants of cultures of spleen cells but not of bone marrow or thymus cells from normal or hydrocortisone-treated mice. Some TSA were present in cultures of lymph node cells. TSA did not enhance the PHA responsiveness of spleen or lymph node cells. The PHA-responsiveness of bone marrow cells was stimulated only to a small degree. PHA was a necessary requirement for the production of TSA. TSA was not mitogenic for thymus cells in the absence of PHA. The absence of adherent cells did not prevent production of TSA.
Social support, personality, and performance

Abstract Evidence is growing that perceived social support, more often than actually received support, is an important contributor to health and personal adjustment. Perceived support may also play a role in performance. People high in social support report experiencing less cognitive interference than do those with lower levels of perceived support. This article describes two concepts that are linked with perceived support and that relate to skill development and performance: (1) the sense of support and (2) the sense of acceptance. A description of the ways in which these concepts influence exploratory behavior, reasonable risk-taking, the sense of personal control and performance level is provided. Examples of applications of this analysis to sports are given and the need for research on the supportive aspects of coaches' behavior and team cohesion is identified. “It is not so much friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us.” Epicurus 13th Century B.C.
Effects of sulfhydryl reagents on synthetic and hydrolytic activities of multifunctional glucose-6-phosphatase.

Abstract 1. 1.Comprehensive, systematic studies of inhibitions of both Glc -6-P phosphohydrolase and carbamyl -P: glucose phosphotransferase activities of rat liver microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) by three classes of sulfhydryl reagents—mercaptideforming reagents, thiol-oxidants, and thiol-alkylating agents—have been carried out. 2. 2.Essentially equal, parallel patterns of time-dependent inhibitions of both activities were noted with all enzyme preparations tested—microsomal suspensions, detergent-dispersed microsomal preparations, and partially purified preparations—indicating that inhibitions by relatively low concentrations of thiol reagents may be produced regardless of the physical state of this membrane-bound enzyme. 3. 3.Inhibitions were dependent on (a) the nature of the inhibitor ( p- chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate > Hg2+ > N- ethylmaleimide > iodosobenzoate > iodoacetate), (b) duration of exposure of the enzyme to inhibitor, and (c) reaction pH. Various thiol compounds— l -cysteine, GSH, and β-mercaptoethanol—partially reversed inhibitions, while phosphate substrates (but not d -glucose) slowed the rate of reaction of the enzyme with inhibitor. 4. 4.Exposure of the enzyme simultaneously to inhibitor and substrate for short periods of time produced kinetics resembling those of inhibition competitive with respect to phosphate substrates. Unit change in the slope of Dixon plots near pH 8.7 also implicates enzyme sulfhydryl in Glc -6-P binding. 5. 5.These observations, in toto, support the presence of functional sulfhydryl group or groups in glucose 6-phosphatase-phosphotransferase. Further, they suggest that such sulfhydryl may be located at or near the active site, and possibly might be involved in enzyme-phosphate-substrate binding.
High-Pressure crystal chemistry of spinel (MgAl2O4) and magnetite (Fe3O4): Comparisons with silicate spinels

High-pressure crystal structures and compressibilities have been determined by x-ray methods for MgAl2O4 spinel and its isomorph magnetite, Fe3O4. The measured bulk moduli, K, of spinel and magnetite (assuming K′=4) are 1.94±0.06 and 1.86±0.05 Mbar, respectively, in accord with previous ultrasonic determinations. The oxygen u parameter, the only variable atomic position coordinate in the spinel structure (Fd3m, Z=8), decreases with pressure in MgAl2O4, thus indicating that the magnesium tetrahedron is more compressible than the aluminum octahedron. In magnetite the u parameter is unchanged, and both tetrahedron and octahedron display the 1.9 Mbar bulk modulus characteristic of the entire crystal. This behavior contrasts with that of nickel silicate spinel (γ-Ni2SiO4), in which the u parameter increases with pressure because the silicon tetrahedron is relatively incompressible compared to the nickel octahedron.
Effect of collisions on dust particle charging via particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collision

In this paper, the effect of collisions on the charging and shielding of a single dust particle immersed in an infinite plasma is studied. A Monte-Carlo collision (MCC) algorithm is implemented in the particle-in-cell DEMOCRITUS code to account for the collisional phenomena which are typical of dusty plasmas in plasma processing, namely, electron-neutral elastic scattering, ion-neutral elastic scattering, and ion-neutral charge exchange. Both small and large dust particle radii, as compared to the characteristic Debye lengths, are considered. The trends of the steady-state dust particle potential at increasing collisionality are presented and discussed. The ions and electron energy distributions at various locations and at increasing collisionality in the case of large particle radius are shown and compared to their local Maxwellians. The ion-neutral charge-exchange collision is found to be by far the most important collisional phenomenon. For small particle radius, collisional effects are found to be imp...
Outcome differences in younger and older patients with laryngeal cancer: a retrospective case-control study.

Purpose: Younger or older age has a significant impact on the outcome of patients with head and neck cancer. However, the data regarding outcomes based on age are conflicting. The aim of this article is to determine the impact of age on the outcome of laryngeal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed including all patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx for over a 9-year period. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on age. The younger age group included patients 40 years of age and younger, the older group included patients over 80 years of age, and the remaining patients served as the control group. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize study data. Nonparametric quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test, respectively. Survival analysis was performed using the generalized Wilcoxon test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 209 patients with laryngeal carcinoma presenting to our institution over a 9-year period, 20 (10%) were ≤40 years and 15 (7%) were ≥80 years of age. No differences in TNM stage at presentation, treatment, or treatment-associated complications were observed based on age. However, younger patients were less likely to report tobacco (50%; P Conclusions: The presentation and outcome of laryngeal cancer is influenced by the age at presentation. The differences may be related exact reason for the observed survival differences needs to be determined.
Sarcomatoid Lung Carcinomas Show High Levels of Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1)

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is a coinhibitory inducible receptor present on T-cells and macrophages. Tumor cells with increased programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) are believed to escape immunity through activation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and suppression of effector-immune responses. Recent strategies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have shown promising results in patients with several tumors types, including lung carcinomas. Preliminary data suggest that PD-L1 protein expression might have predictive response to such therapies. Sarcomatoid carcinomas (SCs) of the lung include rare subtypes of poorly differentiated non–small-cell lung carcinomas of high grade and aggressive behavior. The biology of these neoplasms is poorly understood and they frequently show increased local inflammatory and lymphocytic infiltration. Here, we report the expression of PD-L1 in 13 SCs from two large retrospective lung cancer cohorts. Using automated quantitative immunofloresence and a mouse monoclonal antibody directed against the extracellular domain of PD-L1, we show that 9 of 13 patients (69.2%) with SCs are positive for PD-L1 and their levels are higher than in conventional non–small-cell lung carcinoma. These results provide rationale for the potential use of targeted immunotherapy in lung SCs.
Creativity in the Early Childhood Classroom: Perspectives of Preservice Teachers

This study examined how preservice teachers view the nature and role of creativity in light of the complexities of contemporary early childhood classrooms. A multiple methods approach was utilized and data were collected with the Questionnaire Examining Student Teachers' Beliefs about Creativity (Diakidoy & Kanari, 1999) survey instrument and through a qualitative examination of a learning community whose members were preservice teachers engaged in their student-teaching semester. Findings from both the survey and qualitative measures indicate that the vast majority of preservice teachers valued creative thinking; however, they voiced concerns over their own unclear understandings of how to support children's creative endeavors in complex classroom environments. Additionally, this research strongly suggests that early childhood teacher educators take a supportive role in the development of preservice teachers' understandings of the interrelationships between content, pedagogy, and creativity in early chil...
Nation Building—One Child at a Time: Early Childhood Music Education in South Africa

A brief examination of early childhood music education in South Africa, through an investigation of government documents and academic literature, leads to an impression that music is embraced in a broad framework of meeting young children's cultural and artistic needs. There is an overriding consciousness of the value of providing children with connections to their cultural heritage and instilling in them appreciation for one another's cultures and respect for diversity. More specific policy for each age level of early childhood in several governmental departments is needed to protect children's voices and to ensure not only that their musical heritage and artistic creativity are nourished and fostered but also that we listen to what they say through their music.
Classification of storms based on their boundaries and cloud top temperatures using satellite imagery

A system for interpreting and classifying severe weather patterns is presented. The system uses several image-processing and pattern-recognition techniques to detect storms in satellite cloud cover imagery. It performs several basic satellite image-interpretation tasks, i.e. cloud boundary detection, cloud top temperature and height estimation, cloud systems motion analysis, and storm classification. Some preliminary results on actual satellite images are presented. >
Neurocognitive Aspects of Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Studies pertaining to the neurocognitive functioning and learning of children in whom sickle cell disease is diagnosed are reviewed, and findings suggest diffuse neurocognitive deficits, with much variability across subjects. A hypothesis is presented about the cumulative nature of such deficits in children who have not sustained cerebral vascular accidents. Important methodological shortcomings in the literature are identified and recommendations are made for future neurocognitive research with children in whom sickle cell disease has been diagnosed. Studies pertaining to the psychosocial development of these children are also reviewed, and it is concluded that behavioral problems, low self-esteem, and disturbances of body image are frequently characteristic of these children. Recommendations are made including early special education and psychosocial intervention programs for children with sickle cell disease.
Is There Evidence for Potential Harm of Electronic Cigarette Use in Pregnancy

Background Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other nicotine containing products is increasing among women of reproductive age. The short- and long-term effects of these products on both mother and fetus are unknown. Methods Because e-cigarettes are nicotine delivery systems, we sought to conduct a comprehensive review of the effects of nicotine on the fetus. Results In utero nicotine exposure in animal models is associated with adverse effects for the offspring lung, cardiovascular system and brain. In the lung, this included reduced surface area, weight, and volume, as well as emphysema-like lesions. In adulthood, exposed offspring demonstrate elevated blood pressure and increased perivascular adipose tissue. In the brain, exposure alters offspring serotonergic, dopaminergic, and norepinephrine networks, which in turn are associated with behavioral and cognitive impairments. We also review current data on the lack of efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy in pregnant women, and highlight different nicotine containing products such as snuff, snus, and hookah. Conclusion We conclude that no amount of nicotine is known to be safe during pregnancy, and studies specifically addressing this risk are crucial and an imminent public health issue. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:186–195, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vibrational spectra of dense, hydrous magnesium silicates at high pressure: Importance of the hydrogen bond angle

Changes in configuration and hydrogen bonding are inferred from the complex responses of peak parameters (frequency, width, height, and area) to compression for various hydroxyl groups in dense, hydrous magnesium silicates (DHMS). Stretching frequencies ({nu}{sub 1}) depend not only on both O-H...O bond length but also bond angle, which suggests a need to re-examine frequency-structure relationships at 1 atm. For phase B [Mg{sub 12}{sup VI}Si{sup IV}Si{sub 3}O{sub 19}(OH){sub 2}], {nu} of the most intense OH peak determined from IR spectra at nearly hydrostatic pressures (P) decreases to a minimum at 5 GPa, and then rises to a broad maximum near 35 GPa, whereas {nu} of the other intense peak decreased to a broad minimum near 30 GPa. This behavior shows that compression of phase B initially moves O19 toward H2 on O21 and rotates H1 about O20 away from O19 and toward O21 inside the triangle of O atoms, thus increasing the H1-O20-O19 bond angle (from 12 to 21{degree} at 37 GPa). H-H repulsion rotates H2 outside of the triangle by 11{degree} at 37 GPa. Changes in O-O bond length and H-O-O angle calculated from the trends of OH frequency with increasing pressure are consistent with the relatively incompressible layermore » of SiO{sub 4} tetrahedra. Widths, areas, and heights of the hydroxyl peaks also increase with P (whereas areas of the lattice modes are constant), with H1 being much more affected: This response suggests that the H1 bond bends further with compression. Raman spectra of stoichiometric OH{sup {minus}} modes in superhydrous phase B [Mg{sub 10}{sup VI}Si{sup IV}Si{sub 2}O{sub 14}(OH){sub 4}] roughly parallel these trends, consistent with similarly paired hydroxyls with bend bonds. For phase A [Mg{sub 7}{sup IV}Si{sub 2}O{sub 8}(OH){sub 6}], the Raman OH{sup {minus}} bands depend linearly on P, and with constant peak height with slopes similar to those observed for weak stretching modes of trace H in phase B. This behavior is common and is associated with linear hydrogen bonds and unpaired OH{sup {minus}} groups. Combining this data with previous results reveals systematic, linear relationships of d{nu}/dP{vert_bar}{sub i0} with {nu} that suggest high-polyhedral bulk moduli for DHMS.« less
Sieve data; size and shape information

ABSTRACT Natural sediment samples consisting of a narrow size range of very fine sand were sieved in a cascadograph, essentially a stack of 20 identical sieves. The pan fraction was removed periodically during the sieving of single samples and analyzed using Fourier methods. It was found that sediment with the largest harmonic amplitudes was also that with the longest residence time within the cascadograph. That is, it takes longer for more irregularly shaped particles to pass a sieve than more equant and smooth particles. Thus, sieve analysis results are a function of the sample shape distribution as well as size distribution. Nuances of sievesize distributions may well be attributed to shape, and for detailed analysis, other sizing techniques should be used. The cascadograph is a successful nd relatively simple shape analysis tool and its results correlate with those of Fourier methods.
Putting the pathway back into protein folding

The article by Liwo et al. in this issue of PNAS (1) on ab initio simulations of the folding pathway of a number of representative small proteins marks a renaissance in efforts to simulate the mechanism of protein folding without prior knowledge of the native structure. While there has been recent progress in predicting the three-dimensional native structure of a protein (2, 3), the most successful approaches incorporate many knowledge-based features (e.g., use of already solved protein structures and predicted secondary structure) that render the assembly mechanism provided by such simulations physically meaningless. On the other hand, the first principles of simulation of the folding process at complete atomic detail, including water that starts from the random state and finishes with the native structure, is computationally intractable for all but the simplest systems (4). For the near future, as in Liwo et al. (1), reduced models that describe the protein by a subset of its constituent atoms and implicitly treat solvent and that search conformational space by using Langevin or molecular dynamics (5) offer the most promising way of exploring how proteins fold. Remarkably, although Liwo et al. (1) examined the folding of only seven proteins, representing all secondary structural classes, their simulations demonstrate a richness that addresses key questions in protein folding. Is there native-like secondary (6) or even tertiary structure in the denatured state (7)? Does a protein collapse first and then the secondary structure (helices and β-sheets) appears, or does the secondary structure appear first, and then the native tertiary assembles (8)? Alternatively, perhaps secondary and at least loose, tertiary structures simultaneously assemble (9)? Partial evidence supporting the first and third scenarios is provided in the Liwo et al. (1) article. Furthermore, a molten globule state (10) is believed to form quite rapidly, with more or …
CVPS: An operator solving complex chemical and vertical processes simultaneously with sparse-matrix techniques

Abstract We present a locally, one-dimensional operator that couples complex Chemical and Vertical Physical processes with Sparse-matrix techniques (CVPS) for multi-dimensional regional photochemical transport models. The CVPS operator solves fundamental interaction between chemical reactions and vertical physical processes in the atmospheric boundary layer at each time step, and may be used to simulate chemicals sensitive to both vertical mixing and photochemistry at a time step. The CVPS operator is numerically stable and computationally efficient in atmospheric boundary layers over California. The computational advantage originates from sparse-matrix techniques and the low frequency for communicating feedbacks between CVPS and other local operators. Based on surface Ox (O3 + NO2) simulations in the Southern California Air Quality Study domain ( Harley et al., 1993 ; Jacobson et al., 1996 ) on a dual quad-core Linux processor, the ratio of simulation/computer times may reach two for three-dimensional modeling using a classic horizontal advection solver and the CVPS operator.
Erratum: “A model of thermomechanical fatigue in a lead-base alloy” [J. Mater. Res. 8 , 745 (1993)]

When this article appeared in the April issue of Journal of Materials Research, two of the figures were published incorrectly. The correct figures with their appropriate captions are shown below.
Student Choice Behavior in Shopping Area Selection

The 1960’s and 1970’s produced much effort in the revi-talization of central business districts. Spurred on by central business district merchants and federal money, many cities undertook extensive construction and beautification projects. Now that sufficient time has passed since the projects were completed, many central business district merchants and local government officials have found the results of their efforts less than satisfying. Some of these groups have turned to marketing for answers as to these past unsuccessful efforts and strategies for future improvement. This paper will describe an effort by the authors to provide such assistance. The paper will contain several sections including 1) a brief review of the retail image literature, 2) methodology, 3) results, and 4) uses of the findings.
Body Size Evolution in Snakes: Evidence from Island Populations

Abstract The current literature reports divergent conclusions on the patterns of body size change in island snakes. I reviewed body size data in the published literature and tested the effects of island biogeographic variables on such changes. I found that none of the physiographic variables (island area, island age, distance to mainland, and latitude) was important in determining changes in size of island snakes. Additionally, a current hypothesis of phylogenetic history had no effect on changes in body size. Rather, the proportional change in body size of island snakes was bimodal, consistent with a diet alteration hypothesis that suggests that snake body size is principally influenced by prey size and that island snakes encounter prey that are larger or smaller in size compared with those on the mainland. Also, snakes that became small on islands did so to a relatively greater degree than those that became large. Ontogenetic changes in foraging strategies appeared to explain this pattern. The distribut...
Nurses With Disabilities: Self-Reported Experiences as Hospital Employees:

Since enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, U.S. employers have been mandated to provide reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities. Nurses with disabilities have described their experiences, reflecting occurrences that might be noncompliant with these mandates. There is little information available regarding the work experience of nurses with disabilities practicing in hospitals. How these workers view their work world and how they perceive the way others within that environment think of them and their contributions to patient care is important because these individuals must be included as equal participants in a profession that relies on teamwork to function effectively. An exploratory study was conducted to gain a context-based understanding of the lived experiences of hospital-employed nurses with disabilities. Grounded theory methodology was used to uncover themes and to identify factors comprising “disability climate”; such factors might inform the future developmen...