cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of serum parathyroid hormone levels for bone turnover in patients on chronic maintenance dialysis

With the increasing occurrence of adynamic bone disease, it is essential to determine the level of bone turnover in chronically dialyzed patients before instituting vitamin D therapy. To assess the value of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels for prediction of bone turnover, we determined sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value positive of serum PTH, alone or in combination with other variables, in 79 patients who underwent one or two bone biopsies. Serum PTH levels were determined by a radioimmunometric assay and were obtained at the time of bone biopsies. Patients were classified into (1) low or normal and (2) high bone turnover according to the value of activation frequency of bone. There were 57 biopsy specimens taken from hemodialysis patients and 39 specimens from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients (CAPD). All patients with serum PTH levels within or below the normal range had low or normal bone turnover. Values of serum PTH above 450 pg/mL were 100% and 95.5% specific for high bone turnover in hemodialysis and CAPD patients, respectively. Values of serum PTH between 65 and 450 pg/mL had worse predictive value positive in CAPD patients (48.6% to 78.6%) than in hemodialysis patients (67.3% to 87.1%). When other characteristics of the patients were taken into consideration, only age in hemodialysis patients and serum ionized calcium in CAPD patients improved the predictive value of serum PTH. All hemodialysis patients younger than 45 years of age with serum PTH levels above 65 pg/mL (n = 15) had high bone turnover, and CAPD patients with low or normal bone turnover had higher serum ionized calcium. However, overall, bone turnover could not be predicted by serum PTH measurements in 30% of hemodialysis and 51.3% of CAPD patients. The data suggest that for patients with serum PTH levels between 65 and 450 pg/mL, bone biopsies are indicated to precisely assess bone turnover prior to initiation of vitamin D therapy.
Dissonant or conciliatory humor? Jean Paul'sSchmelzle and Hoffmann'sKater Murr

An anonymous reviewer of Kater Murr noted in the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung in 1822 that although Hoffmann's writings provide on a first reading "eine recht angenehme, mitunder wirklich geistreiche Unterhaltung," they do not stand up to repeated readings, unlike Jean Paul's works, "in denen man immer mehr and immer Neues entdeckt ." 2 The reviewer's complaint about the lack of depth in Hoffmann's cheerful, yet often scurrilous "Laune" echoed similar critical sentiments of the time, including Richter's own in the 1821 preface to the second edition of Die unsichtbare Loge . There he recanted his earlier praise of the Fantasiestucke in Callo(s Manier by condemning Hoffmann's humorous characters, whose spectral madness had been driven to a "romantische Hohe" without daylight or a "fester Erdboden ." 3 Despite Richter's coolness, Hoffmann sent him the second volume of Kater Murr, clearly expecting a positive reception of what he considered his best work. There is no evidence that Richter read it, and Hoffmann died several months later . 4 The anonymous reviewer's critique calls attention to a problem that has received all too little attention in interpretations of both authors, namely, how the reading process is directed by the very different narrative stances and techniques of the two writers . How does one account for the feeling that Hoffmann's whims and caprices are ultimately less satisfying to the reader than Jean Paul's more serious, critical, and troublesome humoresques and comic narratives? This paper is an attempt to outline how narrative humor functions as strategy and technique in Hoffmann's Lebens-Ansichten des Katers Murr and Jean Paul's Des Feldpredigers Schmelzle Reise nach Fliitz . Humor can be roughly defined as a method of dealing with human folly, moral weakness, and/or an oppressive social reality through sympathetic laughter and various distancing techniques . Jean Paul's theory of humor has not, I believe, been substantially improved on since it was worked out in the Vorschule der Asthetik in 1804. Central to his theory is the negative contrast of the finite with the infinite, the real with the ideal, the microscopic with the macroscopic . When his metaphysical categories are transposed into a framework of narrative theory, the following characteristics of a humorous narrative attitude emerge : 1) preoccupation with minute detail ; 2) preference for the eccentric, contradictory, and incongruous ; 3) identification with human folly and tolerance of fools and eccentrics ; 4) simul-
Reactions of oxygen atoms with hydrocarbon radicals: a priori kinetic predictions for the CH3 + O, C2H5 + O, and C2H3 + O reactions

Abstract The reactions of oxygen atoms with methyl, ethyl, and vinyl radicals are studied with a combination of ab initio quantum chemistry, variational transition state theory, and classical trajectory simulations. The interaction between the two radicals is examined with multi-reference configuration-interaction calculations employing augmented double zeta and augmented triple zeta basis sets. The implementation of analytic representations of the ab initio data within variable-reaction-coordinate (VRC) transition state theory (TST) yields predictions for the high-pressure limit addition rate coefficients. The dynamically corrected theoretical predictions for the CH3 + O, C2H5 + O, and C2H3 + O high-pressure rate coefficients are well reproduced by the expressions 9.20 × 10−11T0.050 exp (136/RT), 5.26 × 10−11T0.032 exp (394/RT), and 1.71 × 10−11T0.205 exp (427/RT) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively, where R = 1.987 cal mol−1 K−1, for temperatures between 200 and 2500 K. For the CH3 + O reaction, these predictions are in remarkably good agreement with the extensive experimental data, while for the C2H5 + O and C2H3 + O reactions the theoretical predictions appear somewhat lower and higher, respectively, than the rather limited experimental data. VRC-TST analyses also suggest that the abstraction reactions to produce C2H4 + OH and C2H2 + OH have rate coefficients that are about 10% of the corresponding addition rate. Notably, the latter predictions have a significantly greater uncertainty, probably about a factor of 2, than do those for the addition. For comparison, the abstraction was experimentally observed to be about 21 ± 8% of the total for C2H5 + O, but was not observed in C2H3 + O.
Product Models for the Vitrification of West Valley High-Level Wastes

Property models have been developed for the major properties that need to be controlled in the production of borosilicate glasses for West Valley high-level nuclear waste immobilization. The chemical durability is the most important parameter for product performance, while melt viscosity is the most critical parameter in assuring the processability of the glass. Simple models for these properties are described that are based on data from numerous glasses which were prepared with compositions in the region around the West Valley reference glass. A scheme for optimization of the target glass and for predicting the acceptability of glasses resulting from natural process variations is illustrated. This involves integration of the product models with a process model that was described previously. This approach has guided the present placement of the West Valley reference glass.
DNA-based identification of Alaska skates (Amblyraja, Bathyraja and Raja: Rajidae) using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coI) variation

Variation at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mt-COI) gene was examined in 15 species of North Pacific skates. Thirteen species had unique sequences, indicating that a DNA-based barcoding approach may be useful for species identification.
Ultrastructure of the Ductuli Efferentes in Monkeys

The epithelium of the ductuli efferentes in monkeys consists primarily of ciliated and nonciiated cells, although occasional macrophages, intraepithelial lymphocytes and basal cells are present. Beneath the epithelium is a thick basal lamina (2-8 Mm) deep to which are found dense bundles of collagen fibers. The ovoid or spherical nuclei (8 X 11 Mm) of the ciliated cells are large, contain predominantly electron lucent euchromatin and are located in the middle or apical regions of the cell. The smaller nuclei (5-8 Mm) of the nonciliated cells are situated near the basal lamina of the epithelium and are bizarre-shaped due to numerous indentations of the nuclear envelope. They also contain electron-dense heterochromatin especially adjacent to the inner nuclear envelope. The cytoplasm of both cell types extends from the basal lamina to the tubule lumen. The ciliated cells are characterized by numerous mitochondria and a lightly stained cytoplasm. A few dense bodies, presumably lysosomes, are also present in the supranuclear cytoplasm. In addition, well developed ciliary rootlets containing a regular pattern of 70-80 nm cross striations frequently extend to the perinuclear zone far beyond the apical cytoplasm. Micropinocytotic vesicles, membrane-bound dense bodies, and numerous vacuoles of different sizes filled with flocculent material are densely packed in the cytoplasm of the nonciliated cells. Some mitochondria and lysosomes are also scattered throughout the cytoplasm of these latter cells. In both cell types there is a paucity of other organelles, particularly Colgi and endoplasmic reticulum. These morphological features suggest a low capacity for protein synthesis and elaboration of secretory products. The nonciliated cells are known to absorb large quantities of fluid from the tubular lumen. The micropinocytotic vesicles and numerous vacuoles in these cells are likely involved in this process. The abundant mitochondria in the ciliated cells are no doubt necessary to provide energy for ciliary motion.
Performance evaluation of content based routing with in-network caching

In order to meet the overwhelming demands of content retrieval for mobile end users, the community effort has been made on designing next-generation Internet from a clean slate. In this paper, we present the design and performance evaluation of Integrated Caching, in which we assume each router on the Internet can cache contents that pass by and reply to content requests with its local copy. This assumption is made valid by the fact that storage is rapidly becoming both available and affordable. With this assumption, we advocate a content retrieval enhancement technique: Content Broadcast, which lets each router advertise its cached contents to the immediate neighbors so that a router can direct subsequent content requests to nearby caching nodes. Each router builds its own content based routing table. Through detailed simulations, we show that the technique can lead to significant performance improvements compared to baseline integrated caching schemes. More importantly, this performance gain can be achieved with a minimal communication overhead by limiting content broadcast only within one hop. Also, we demonstrate that the storage requirement of the discussed scheme is moderate.
Abnormal early cleavage events predict early embryo demise: sperm oxidative stress and early abnormal cleavage.

Human embryos resulting from abnormal early cleavage can result in aneuploidy and failure to develop normally to the blastocyst stage. The nature of paternal influence on early embryo development has not been directly demonstrated although many studies have suggested effects from spermatozoal chromatin packaging, DNA damage, centriolar and mitotic spindle integrity, and plasma membrane integrity. The goal of this study was to determine whether early developmental events were affected by oxidative damage to the fertilizing sperm. Survival analysis was used to compare patterns of blastocyst formation based on P2 duration. Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrate that relatively few embryos with short (<1 hr) P2 times reached blastocysts, and the two curves diverged beginning on day 4, with nearly all of the embryos with longer P2 times reaching blastocysts by day 6 (p < .01). We determined that duration of the 2nd to 3rd mitoses were sensitive periods in the presence of spermatozoal oxidative stress. Embryos that displayed either too long or too short cytokineses demonstrated an increased failure to reach blastocyst stage and therefore survive for further development. Although paternal-derived gene expression occurs later in development, this study suggests a specific role in early mitosis that is highly influenced by paternal factors.
Potential Methods for Prediction of Onset of Slip in Gait During the Transition From Double Support to Single Support

This paper investigates two methods for the prediction of onset of slip in gait during the transition from single support to double support. The first method employs an optimization-based gait prediction simulation to determine the threshold of walking velocity that results in stable gait for one stride length and one subject. In order to determine the threshold, the simulation is carried out with progressively increasing walking velocities (initial conditions) until the gait becomes unstable. The zero moment point (ZMP) and support region are employed as criteria for stable gait, i.e. as long as the ZMP remains within the support region throughout the duration of gait, the gait is said to be stable. The second method employs a probabilistic simulation to predict the likelihood of slip, where the likelihood of slip is related to the available and required friction for gait.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
IMPORTANCE OF HORIZONTAL PLANE CELL MASS INTEGRITY IN WOUND CONTRACTION.

Summary and conclusionsRepeated radial incisions which interrupt the horizontal integrity of the “picture frame” area of specialized cells in a full-thickness wound significantly decrease the rate of contraction of the wound edges. The rate of movement of a segment of advancing wound edge is retarded significantly by partially isolating such segments from the horizontally oriented picture frame cell mass. Rate of secondary wound contraction is not significantly different from rate of primary wound contraction. These data suggest that physical integrity of a horizontally oriented cell mass in the “picture frame” area of a contracting full-thickness skin wound exerts a measurable influence on rate of the contracting process.
Attributional Style in Schizophrenia: An Investigation in Outpatients With and Without Persecutory Delusions

The attributional style of outpatients with schizophrenia with and without persecutory delusions was investigated. Thirty individuals with schizophrenia were divided into persecutory-deluded and non-persecutory-deluded groups based on a score of 5 or higher on the suspiciousness item from the Expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-E). The two resulting groups, and a nonclinical control group, were administered a battery of attributional measures, and their attributional responses were coded by both the subjects themselves and a pair of independent raters. The results showed evidence of a self-serving bias for subjects with persecutory delusions; however, this bias was not unique to those with persecutory delusions, and it disappeared when independent raters evaluated subjects' causal statements on a reliable measure of attributional style. Subjects with persecutory delusions tended to show a stronger bias toward blaming others rather than situations for negative outcomes, and there was a linear association between persecutory ideation and a self-serving attributional style. Finally, there were significant discrepancies between the attributional ratings of the persecutory-deluded subjects and those of independent judges. Implications for future research are discussed.
An electrochemical fabrication process for the assembly of anisotropically oriented collagen bundles.

Abstract Controlled assembly of collagen molecules in vitro remains a major challenge for fabricating the next generation of engineered tissues. Here we present a novel electrochemical alignment technique to control the assembly of type-I collagen molecules into highly oriented and densely packed elongated bundles at the macroscale. The process involves application of electric currents to collagen solutions which in turn generate a pH gradient. Through an isoelectric focusing process, the molecules migrate and congregate within a plane. It was possible to fabricate collagen bundles with 50–400 μm diameter and several inches length via this process. The current study assessed the orientational order, and the presence of fibrillar assembly in such electrochemically oriented constructs by polarized optical microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, second harmonic generation, and electron microscopy. The mechanical strength of the aligned crosslinked collagen bundles was 30-fold greater than its randomly oriented-crosslinked counterpart. Aligned crosslinked collagen bundles had about half the strength of the native tendon. Tendon-derived fibroblast cells were able to migrate and populate multiple macroscopic bundles at a rate of 0.5 mm/day. The anisotropic order within biocompatible collagenous constructs was conferred upon the nuclear morphology of cells as well. These results indicate that the electrochemically oriented collagen scaffolds carry baseline characteristics to be considered for tendon/ligament repair.
VASCULARIZATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL COLLAGEN HYDROGELS USING ULTRASOUND STANDING WAVE FIELDS

The successful fabrication of large, three-dimensional (3-D) tissues and organs in vitro requires the rapid development of a vascular network to maintain cell viability and tissue function. In this study, we utilized an application of ultrasound standing wave field (USWF) technology to vascularize 3-D, collagen-based hydrogels in vitro. Acoustic radiation forces associated with USWF were used to noninvasively organize human endothelial cells into distinct, multicellular planar bands within 3-D collagen gels. The formation and maturation of capillary-like endothelial cell sprouts were monitored over time and compared with sham-exposed collagen constructs, which were characterized by a homogeneous cell distribution. USWF-induced cell banding accelerated the formation and elongation of capillary-like sprouts, promoted collagen fiber alignment and resulted in the maturation of endothelial cell sprouts into lumen-containing, anastomosing networks found throughout the entire volume of the collagen gel. USWF-induced endothelial cell networks contained large, arteriole-sized lumen areas that branched into smaller, capillary-sized structures indicating the development of vascular tree-like networks. In contrast, sprout formation was delayed in sham-exposed collagen gels and endothelial cell networks were absent from sham gel centers and failed to develop into the vascular tree-like structures found in USWF-exposed constructs. Our results demonstrate that USWF technology leads to rapid and extensive vascularization of 3-D collagen-based engineered tissue and, therefore, provide a new strategy to vascularize engineered tissues in vitro.
Vascular complications with newer generations of angioseal vascular closure devices.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of newer generations of a single vascular closure device (VCD), Angioseal, compared to contemporaneous manual compression. Background: Previous assessment of VCD safety and efficacy has been based primarily on outcomes associated with the original VCD. Few data exist comparing safety and efficacy of modifications of the original VCDs. Methods: We evaluated in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing diagnostic cath and percutaneous coronary intervention at a single center: 3,898 with manual compression and 3,898 with the Angioseal VCD. Three generations of the Angioseal device were studied: Generation 1, 7/97–4/00; Generation 2, 5/00–6/02; and Generation 3, 7/02–12/03. Propensity analysis was used to match patients within each generation for clinical and procedural covariates. Results: Closure success was 98.5% for Generation 1, 98.6% for Generation 2, and 98.1% for Generation 3, P = NS. The odds ratio for any vascular complication comparing Angioseal to manual compression was 0.92 (0.42–2.01) for Generation 1; 0.83 (0.49–1.41) for Generation 2; and 0.75 (0.32–1.77) for Generation 3. Multivariate logistic regression identified closure success and Angioseal device Generation 3 versus Generation 1 as predictive of reduced vascular complications during the entire study period. Conclusion: These data indicate that the newest generation of the Angioseal VCD is at least as effective as the original device. Moreover, use of the Angioseal VCD was associated with vascular complications similar to or lower than vascular complications following manual compression for each generation of Angioseal device analyzed.
X-Radiation from Van De Graaff Accelerator Ion Sources

The presence of a positive ion beam of the JN accelerator was necessary for the production of any significant radiation. Most of the bremsstrahlung produced is a result of electrons striking the focus electrode and the third electrode of the accelerator tube. For the operating conditions discussed above, this source of radiation was about five times as intense as a 1 millicurie co60 source placed at an equivalent distance from the JN spectrometer. A second source of radiation of less intensity was found to originate in the vicinity of the gas reservoir above the ion source. This could be due to bremsstrahlung being scattered at 900 by the reservoir bottles. From these results, it is recommended that the region around the focus electrode of the accelerator tube be shielded more effectively or that the material of the electrode be changed to a smaller Z material (e.g. beryllium) to reduce radiative loss of the electrons. The CN accelerator ion sources exhibit more structure in the intensity distribution measurements. This structure persists at 3, 4, and 5 million volts on the terminal, although the intensity of the x-radiation observed increases rapidly with terminal voltage. The most intense radiation observed with the d.c. beam R.F. ion source came from the base of the ion source glass bottle. Intense bremsstrahlung was also observed as originating at the upper focus electrode nozzle shoulder and at the base of the nozzle.
The microscopic structure of the shell and ligament of cardium (cerastoderma) corbis martyn

The shell of Cardium corbis is composed of three layers, an outer periostracum of conchyolin and two layers of aragonite. The outer aragonitic layer presents a laminated appearance, but in reality is made up of fibers which extend across several of the curved lamellar lines. Each fiber is enclosed in an organic sheath which can be dissolved in potassium hydroxide. The inner aragonitic layer is composed of vertical prisms which are made up of two sets of fibers inclined to each other at an angle of 55 to 60°. The outer layer of aragonite is secreted by glands on the mantle edge outside the pallial line; the inner layer is secreted by glands on the mantle area within the pallial line. The dentition is formed of the same material as the inner aragonitic layer. The ligament is composed of two layers, the outer being less impregnated with calcium carbonate than the inner. Both layers are continuous with the organic matrix of the shell.
Quinacrine fluorescence microscopy of formalin-fixed tissues.

(1973). Quinacrine Fluorescence Microscopy of Formalin-Fixed Tissues. Stain Technology: Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 193-195.
Response to Mark Graber's review of Judges and Their Audiences

I appreciate Mark Graber's review of Judges and Their Audiences. The review is generous, but it is also perceptive about the book's argument and its implications. As the author, I learned from Graber's thoughtful discussion of what I did and did not do in the book.
Hydroxy-telechelic poly(ethylene-co-isobutylene) as a soft segment for thermoplastic polyurethanes

Facile preparation of linear amorphous hydroxy-telechelic poly(ethylene-co-isobutylene) (PEIB) was enabled by ROMP of a new monomer, (Z)-5,5-dimethylcyclooct-1-ene (Me2COE). Control of the equivalent isobutylene content and the resulting thermal properties was accomplished via copolymerization with COE. The applicability as a prepolymer was demonstrated by the synthesis of a tough, elastic and free-standing polyurethane film.
Characteristics and dynamics of two major Greenland glacial fjords

The circulation regimes of two major outlet glacial fjords in southeastern Greenland, Sermilik Fjord (SF) and Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord (KF), are investigated using data collected in summer 2009. The two fjords show similar flow patterns, with a time-dependent, vertically sheared flow structure dominating over the background estuarine flow driven by buoyancy input. We show that this time-dependent flow is consistent with circulation induced by density interface fluctuations at the fjord mouth, often referred to as intermediary circulation. One difference between the fjords is that the hydrographic and velocity structure below a surface modified layer is found to be three layer in KF in summer, compared to two layer in SF. Outside each fjord, large-scale geostrophic currents dictate the stratification at the mouth, although the way in which these large-scale flows impinge on each fjord is distinct. Combining the observations with estimates from existing theories, we find the magnitudes of the estuarine (Qe) and intermediary (Qi) circulation and show that Qi >> Qe, although along-fjord winds can also be significant. We expect that the critical parameter determining Qi/Qe is the sill depth compared to the fjord depth, with shallower sills corresponding to weaker intermediary circulation. Finally, we discuss the implications of strong intermediary circulation on calculating heat transport to the glacier face and its potential feedbacks on the background circulation in these highly stratified estuaries.
Power absorption by thin films on microwave windows

A recent theory for power absorption by continuous thin surface films on microwave windows is compared with experimental data, focusing on diamond gyrotron windows. Two measurement techniques, the dc method by Jory and the radio-frequency (RF) method by Heidinger et al., are used to estimate the fraction of the average power absorbed by the thin films, assuming that these films are spread uniformly over the window surface. Both measurements indicate that, on the average, about a fraction of 1% of the incident power is absorbed by the thin films, even though the local absorption coefficient may reach 50%. Discontinuous surface films, where the surface contaminants have a patchy or island structure, are modeled with an equivalent transmission line circuit. The discontinuous film model is also applied to alumina windows with TiN coatings, and the results are compared with the continuous film model.
Curvature Effects on Discrete-Hole Film Cooling

A numerical study has been conducted to investigate the effects of surface curvature on cooling effectiveness using three-dimensional film cooling geometries that included the mainflow, injection hole, and supply plenum regions. Three surfaces were considered in this study, namely, convex, concave, and flat surfaces. The fully elliptic, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations were solved over a body-fitted grid. The effects of streamline curvature were taken into account by using algebraic relations for the turbulent viscosity and the turbulent Prandtl number in a modified k-e turbulence model. Computations were performed for blowing ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 at a density ratio of 2.0. The computed and experimental cooling effectiveness results were compared. For the most part, the cooling effectiveness was predicted quite well. A comparison of the cooling performances over the three surfaces reveals that the effect of streamline curvature on cooling effectiveness is very significant. For the low blowing ratios considered, the convex surface resulted in a higher cooling effectiveness than both the flat and concave surfaces. The flow structures over the three surfaces also exhibited important differences. On the concave surface, the flow involved a stronger vorticity and greater mixing of the coolant jet with the mainstream gases. On the convex surface, the counter-rotating vortices were suppressed and the coolant jet pressed to the surface by a strong cross-stream pressure gradient.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Metamict Transformation of Silica

Alpha quartz can be transformed to a metamict phase in a physical reaction such as irradiation with fast ions, neutrons and electrons. As truly inspired by this fact, we design a simple experiment to produce disordered silica and at the same time watch the transformation using a transmission electron microscope. This work simply presents electron-damaged silica in dark field at Bragg reflection. Since the transformation is not complete, disordered silica (at the sample edge) and retained quartz can be compared in each image. Not surprisingly, more speckles are found in the quartz than in the disordered structure. But it is too early to say no medium-range ordering in amorphous silica because the experiment only shows one Bragg diffraction. Systematic work to complete and measure the disordering again is being pursued.
Carrier-Envelope Phase Stabilization of Ultrashort Optical Pulses

The recent melding of ultrafast technology with laser stabilization techniques has enabled the stabilization of the carrier-envelope phase. This has impacted optical frequency metrology and optical clocks and promises advances in ultrafast sciences.
Hepatitis C and alcohol: interactions, outcomes, and implications.

AbstractBackgroundAlcoholism and chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection are common causes of liver disease worldwide. Hepatitis C virus and alcohol use frequently coexist, and together lead to more rapid progression of liver disease.GoalsTo critically review the literature pertaining to the combined ef
The Solvation Structure of Na(+) and K(+) in Liquid Water Determined from High Level ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Knowledge of the hydration structure of Na+ and K+ in the liquid phase has wide ranging implications in the field of biological chemistry. Despite numerous experimental and computational studies, even basic features such as the coordination number of these alkali ions in liquid water, thought to play a critical role in selectivity, continue to be the subject of intensive debates. Simulations based on accurate potential energy surfaces offer one approach to resolve these issues by providing reliable results on ion hydration. In this article, we report the results from molecular dynamics simulations of Na+ and K+ hydration based on a novel and rigorous strategy designed to overcome the challenges of QM/MM simulations of solvent molecules in the liquid phase. In this method, which we call Flexible Inner Region Ensemble Separator (FIRES), the ion and a fixed number of nearest water molecules form a dynamical and flexible inner region that is represented with high level ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) method...
BAYESIAN FINITE POPULATION IMPUTATION FOR DATA FUSION

In data fusion, data owners seek to combine datasets with disjoint obser- vations and distinct variables to estimate relationships among the variables. One approach is to concatenate the files, specify models relating the variables not jointly observed, and use the models to generate multiple imputations of the missing data. We show that the standard multiple imputation estimator of the sampling variance can have positive bias in such contexts. We present an approach for correcting this problem based on Bayesian finite population inference. We also present an approach for data fusion when some values are confidential and cannot be shared.
Studies of Urobilinogen. VI.: Further Experience with the Simple Quantitative Ehrlich Reaction. Corrected Calibration of the Evelyn Colorimeter with a Pontacyl Dye Mixture in Terms of Urobilinogen

In part V of the present series of papers, a simple method was described for the quantitative recording of the Ehrlich reaction, as carried out with urine and feces. This method may be employed with the Evelyn photo-electric colorimeter or with a comparator block with a series of standard dilutions of a suitable mixture of pontacyl carmine and pontacyl violet. The results with the two methods of colorimetry were shown to be in excellent agreement. From the number of queries which have been received, it would appear, however, that the description of the method was inadequate in certain respects, and that as a result, some difficulty has been encountered in making use of it. Furthermore, we have subsequently noted a rather curious discrepancy with relation to the calibration of the Evelyn photo-electric colorimeter for this determination. The purposes of the present communication are: to present a corrected calibration; to clarify portions of the previous description which have appeared ambiguous to some; and to present certain additional data which one may gain from the simple quantitative Ehrlich reaction on a single, or a two hour, sample of urine, as compared with the quantitative determination of urobilinogen in a twenty-four hour sample.
Wireless P2P: Problem or Opportunity?

P2P is currently considered a problem by many wired and wireless providers, especially because of the large amount of traffic it generates. However, given new technology developments such as Wi-Fi Direct, we see an opportunity for P2P in mobile settings that, rather than treating mobiles as second-class citizens, seeks to take advantage of their capabilities over stationary devices. In this paper, we outline a new approach for fully decentralized mobile P2P that allows mobiles to run a variety of services and at the same time alleviates data overload in mobile networks. We consider mobiles integral and a richer class of nodes, and assume that they are capable of forming P2P networks without necessarily relying on the aid of stationary hosts or servers. We present a new architecture based on JXTA middleware, which is meant to not only optimize mobile resources, but also aims to take full advantage of the features that mobiles offer, such as mobility, ubiquity, location-awareness and sensors. Keywords-Wireless; Peer-To-Peer; Mobiles; Broadbands.
Intrapartum Management of the Diabetic Patient

Perinatal mortality and morbidity rates have decreased for the infant of the diabetic mother because obstetricians have realized the importance of control of blood glucose within physiologic levels, constant antepartum surveillance of fetal status, and reliable methods for the assessment of fetal lung maturity. An atraumatic delivery, coupled with meticulous control of maternal blood sugar during the intrapartum period, is essential to lowering perinatal morbidity. Several strategies for achieving these goals are discussed.
Genetics of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma: From Bench to Bedside

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are non-Hodgkin lymphomas of skin homing T cells. Although early-stage disease may be limited to the skin, tumor cells in later stage disease can populate the blood, the lymph nodes, and the visceral organs. Unfortunately, there are few molecular biomarkers to guide diagnosis, staging, or treatment of CTCL. Diagnosis of CTCL can be challenging and requires the synthesis of clinical findings, histopathology, and T cell clonality studies; however, none of these tests are entirely sensitive or specific for CTCL. Treatment of CTCL is often empiric and is not typically based on specific molecular alterations, as is common in other cancers. In part, limitations in diagnosis and treatment selection reflect the limited insight into the genetic basis of CTCL. Recent next-generation sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of the mutational landscape in this disease. These analyses have uncovered ultraviolet radiation and recombination activating gene (RAG) endonucleases as important mutagens. Furthermore, these studies have revealed potentially targetable oncogenic mutations in the T cell receptor complex, NF-κB, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Collectively, these somatic mutations drive lymphomagenesis via cancer-promoting changes in proliferation, apoptosis, and T cell effector function. We expect that these genetic findings will launch a new era of precision medicine in CTCL.
Invisible Hands Behind 3.5 GHz Spectrum Sharing

There has been considerable discussion surrounding the barriers to spectrum sharing in the literature. Among those is the ‘trust gap’ that exists, according to the PCAST report. Trust is a complex human construct that significantly includes risk. In this paper, we examine the risks faced by the different user classes proposed by the FCC for sharing in the 3.5 GHz band. We argue that the “invisible hands” of spectrum sharing in this band is the balance between spectrum sharing gain and associated risks. We find that both gains and risks can be linked to the distance between incumbents’ systems and Citizen Broadband Radio Services (CBRS)’ systems. The risk portfolio is linked to spectrum rights that each tier has, since the rights they have determine risks and risk mitigation strategies. We further propose a model to calculate spectrum sharing utilities for different tiers. The optimized utility determines the distance between incumbents and CBRS systems.
Dietary opportunism, resource partitioning, and consumption of coffee berry borers by five species of migratory wood warblers (Parulidae) wintering in Jamaican shade coffee plantations

Diets reflect important ecological interactions, but are challenging to quantify for foliage-gleaning birds. We used regurgitated stomach samples from five primarily insectivorous species of long-distance migrant warblers (Parulidae) wintering in two moderate-elevation shade coffee farms in Jamaica to assess both foraging opportunism and prey resource partitioning. Our results, based primarily on 6120 prey items in 80 stomach samples collected during a one-week period in March 2000, confirm opportunism. The diets of all five warblers, including American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla), Black-and-White Warblers (Mniotilta varia), Black-throated Blue Warblers (S. caerulescens), Northern Parulas (S. americana), and Prairie Warblers (S. discolor), overlapped strongly based on consumption of the same prey types, even many of the same prey species (4 of 10 interspecific overlaps >0.9, range = 0.74–0.97). Moreover, all five species fed on similarly small, often patchily distributed prey, including coffee berry borers (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera, Curculionidae). Nonetheless, permutational multivariate analysis of variance also revealed that the diets of these species differed significantly, primarily with respect to prey mobility (winged vs. sessile); American Redstarts fed on the most mobile prey, and Northern Parulas on the least mobile prey and a relatively restricted set of prey taxa compared to the other four species of warblers. Overall, our results suggest both dietary opportunism consistent with a migratory life-history, and interspecific resource partitioning consistent with differences in morphology and foraging behavior during a food-limited season. Having provided evidence of the three necessary conditions, namely intraspecific competition, resource limitation, and interspecific overlap in resource use, the results of our study, in combination with those of other studies, also provide evidence of interspecific competition among wintering migrant insectivores. We thus argue that diffuse interspecific exploitative food competition may be more important than previously recognized.
Happiness and Education: Places and Nature

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, policymakers are promoting globalization and a strong global economy. Schools are urged to adopt “world-class” standards and to produce graduates who will maintain the status of the United States as an economic leader. Where does a love of place fit into this picture? Should schools teach for an understanding and love of place or should they now offer curricula designed to transcend place? Is there a way to avoid the dichotomy built into these questions? We'll start this chapter with a brief discussion of love of place and how that love has so often contributed to human happiness. Then we'll move to a more general level and explore the human connection to nature. Finally, we'll consider how schools might balance the tasks of preparing students for a global economy and of promoting the love and care of place that figure so importantly in human flourishing. Love of Place Many of us associate home more with a geographical region or community than with a house. Love of place is a theme that runs through fiction, poetry, and biography. John Adams, for example, had a lifelong love of Braintree and the Massachusetts coast where he was born. His biographer, David McCullough, writes: Recalling his childhood later in life, Adams wrote of the unparalleled bliss of roaming the open fields and woodlands of the town, of exploring the creeks, hiking the beaches…. The first fifteen years of his life, he said, “went off like a fairytale.”
Securing Cyberspace: Man versus Machine

ABSTRACTIn the 1960s the computer would take up a whole room to do simple tasks. Today a computer can fit in the palm of our hand and give society any type of information with just one click. Although the technology has made life easier, it has also come with a price. Cyberspace has also created a risk for many organizations in the private sector. This article will discuss who is responsible for securing cyberspace, the strategies used today, the dangers that can occur when organizations are not careful and the controversy between the private and public sector partnership.
Metastatic papillary serous uterine cancer presenting as a rash

Background We report diagnosis and management of stage IV papillary serous uterine cancer with initial clinical presentation as a skin rash.
Littlewood-Offord theory and controllability of random structures

Motivated by recent developments in random matrix theory through the study of inverse Littlewood-Offord problems, we investigate the controllability of random binary symmetric matrices. We show that, as the dimension of the state space goes to infinity, the probability of (A,b) being controllable approaches one for many choices of the vector b including elements of the standard basis, the all-one vector, and random binary vectors. In particular, we verify a conjecture of Godsil [1] and show that most systems are controllable from single inputs.
Screening for Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly

Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the elderly involves complex decision-making at the interface of gastroenterology, general internal medicine, geriatric medicine, public health, and medical ethics, and represents a unique and controversial issue in the modern health care landscape. Unlike starting and continuing screening, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the upper age limit, or appropriate set of circumstances, which would allow elderly patients to forgo CRC screening. This chapter will review issues pertaining to screening for CRC in elderly patients, including benefits and harms of screening, impact of screening on patient survival, and decision-making by patients and health care providers.
Leading in Extremis Situations: How Can Leaders Improve?

In extremis leadership is a situation in which the leader’s life and those of his/her team are, or are perceived to be, in danger. Because dangerous situations are difficult to study, and most of the literature is theoretical, little is known about how leaders communicate with their teams and make sense of these contexts. We proposed research to address this gap and understand how leaders sensemake in in extremis situations and sensegive to their teams and how this affects in extremist situation outcomes. Our study was a qualitative study of thirty US Army leaders from West Point who recently have returned from combat tours in the Middle East. Our data demonstrate that sensemaking and sensegiving in that context differ from those processes in more commonly studied benign situations. We found that leaders who have mental flexibility, sense of duty, and self-confidence were the best prepared for these dangerous situations. Our study has implications for both theory and practice.
Lack of Both Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain-Containing Proteins 1 and 2 Primes T Cells for Activation-Induced Cell Death.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-containing proteins Nod1 and Nod2 play important roles in the innate immune response to pathogenic microbes, but mounting data suggest these pattern recognition receptors might also play key roles in adaptive immune responses. Targeting Nod1 and Nod2 signaling pathways in T cells is likely to provide a new strategy to modify inflammation in a variety of disease states, particularly those that depend on Ag-induced T cell activation. To better understand how Nod1 and Nod2 proteins contribute to adaptive immunity, this study investigated their role in alloantigen-induced T cell activation and asked whether their absence might impact in vivo alloresponses using a severe acute graft versus host disease model. The study provided several important observations. We found that the simultaneous absence of Nod1 and Nod2 primed T cells for activation-induced cell death. T cells from Nod1 × 2-/- mice rapidly underwent cell death upon exposure to alloantigen. The Nod1 × 2-/- T cells had sustained p53 expression that was associated with downregulation of its negative regulator MDM2. In vivo, mice transplanted with an inoculum containing Nod1 × 2-/- T cells were protected from severe graft versus host disease. The results show that the simultaneous absence of Nod1 and Nod2 is associated with accelerated T cell death upon alloantigen encounter, suggesting these proteins might provide new targets to ameliorate T cell responses in a variety of inflammatory states, including those associated with bone marrow or solid organ transplantation.
Evaluating phecodes, clinical classification software, and ICD-9-CM codes for phenome-wide association studies in the electronic health record

Objective To compare three groupings of Electronic Health Record (EHR) billing codes for their ability to represent clinically meaningful phenotypes and to replicate known genetic associations. The three tested coding systems were the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Clinical Classification Software for ICD-9-CM (CCS), and manually curated “phecodes” designed to facilitate phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) in EHRs. Methods and materials We selected 100 disease phenotypes and compared the ability of each coding system to accurately represent them without performing additional groupings. The 100 phenotypes included 25 randomly-chosen clinical phenotypes pursued in prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and another 75 common disease phenotypes mentioned across free-text problem lists from 189,289 individuals. We then evaluated the performance of each coding system to replicate known associations for 440 SNP-phenotype pairs. Results Out of the 100 tested clinical phenotypes, phecodes exactly matched 83, compared to 53 for ICD-9-CM and 32 for CCS. ICD-9-CM codes were typically too detailed (requiring custom groupings) while CCS codes were often not granular enough. Among 440 tested known SNP-phenotype associations, use of phecodes replicated 153 SNP-phenotype pairs compared to 143 for ICD-9-CM and 139 for CCS. Phecodes also generally produced stronger odds ratios and lower p-values for known associations than ICD-9-CM and CCS. Finally, evaluation of several SNPs via PheWAS identified novel potential signals, some seen in only using the phecode approach. Among them, rs7318369 in PEPD was associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Conclusion Our results suggest that the phecode groupings better align with clinical diseases mentioned in clinical practice or for genomic studies. ICD-9-CM, CCS, and phecode groupings all worked for PheWAS-type studies, though the phecode groupings produced superior results.