cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taxonomy and ecology of Ceratinini of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

A key, synonymy, descriptions and distributions are given for twelve species of Ceratina (Euceratina), including three new species, C.maghrebensis, C.neocallosa, C.saundersi; two species of Ceratina (Ceratina, s.s.); and two species of Pithitis. A neotype is designated for C.callosa and lectotypes for C.callosa algeriensis, C.chalybea, C.cyanea imitatrix, C.decolorans, C.laevifrons moricei, C.mocsaryi and C.nigrolabiata. Ecology of bees in overwintering nests in Tunisia is discussed. Evidence is given for congeneric interference competition for nesting substrates and resource partitioning. C.dallatorreana is shown to reproduces probably entirely by thelytoky and thus is unique among Apoidea.
Antibiotics for the allergist: part 2

Objective To review antibiotic use and selection for disorders commonly seen in allergy practice. Data Sources MEDLINE searches were performed cross-referencing antibiotic , antimicrobial , management , and treatment with multiple disorders commonly seen in allergy practice. References of the chosen articles were also examined. Study Selection Articles were selected based on their relevance to the subject matter. Results A large body of research is available relevant to both conventional and novel uses of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics is in question for some disorders, whereas novel approaches to therapy with macrolide antibiotics are areas of active investigation. Meanwhile, patterns of microbial resistance continue to evolve. Conclusion For decades, antibiotics have been traditional first-line treatment for many disorders. Currently, this paradigm appears to be shifting as periods of observation come into favor and nonbacterial causes of inflammation are under greater scrutiny. Nonetheless, appropriate antibiotic selection often remains a key element in the treatment of these disorders. Knowledge of the relevant microbiology is an inherent requirement in selecting antibiotic therapies and necessitates awareness of current trends in bacterial resistance.
The role of microfauna in detrital utilization by the polychaete, Nereis succinea (Frey and Leuckart)

Abstract Net incorporation rates of detritus derived from carbon-14 labelled seaweed, Gracilaria foliifera (Harvey) Taylor, by the polychaete, Nereis succinea (Frey and Leuckart), were measured in the presence and absence of the ciliate, Aspidisca sp. Net incorporation rates averaged 79 in the absence and 129 μg dry wt detritus·mg −1 dry wt worm·day −1 in the presence of ciliates. Ciliates did not significantly affect oxidation rates. In the presence of Nereis succinea , however, oxidation rates approximately doubled due to respiration and feeding activity. The increase in net incorporation probably resulted from a combination of stimulation of bacteria by grazing, fragmentation of detritus by ciliates, and ingestion of ciliates. The rate of heterotrophic uptake of tritiated glucose was used as a relative measure of microbial activity in the sediment. Glucose flux was greatest when N. succinea and Aspidisca were present together. Our data clarify the regulatory role of the microfaunal community in the transfer of energy from detritus to the macrodetritivore and the role of macrofauna in enhancing microbial activity in the sediment through bioturbation.
Lymphatic malformation of the sphenoid sinus in a pediatric patient.

Abstract Lymphatic malformation is a benign vascular lesion resulting from lymphatic tissue being isolated from the remainder of the lymphatic system. They are present at birth and up to 90% are diagnosed by 2 years of age. More aggressive lesions are usually diagnosed earlier, with low-grade lesions presenting later with fewer complications. These lesions are hamartomas and not true neoplasms. The term hamartoma is used to describe an abnormally large mass of histologically normal tissue in a normal location. The lymphatic malformation is composed of lymph-filled channels lined with a single layer of flat endothelial cells on a basement membrane. They present with either generalized edema and poorly defined borders (microcystic) or a localized area of multilocular cysts (macrocystic). The term lymphatic malformation has replaced many other outdated terms, such as lymphangioma, cystic hygroma, lymphangioma circumscriptum, and lymphangiomatosis. In this study, we present a case report of a pediatric lymphatic malformation of the sphenoid sinus. To our knowledge, this lesion has not been described in the pediatric population and has been described only once in an adult in the German literature. 1 EBM rating: C.
Teaching Science through Computation

We present a computational pedagogy approach to teaching an interdisciplinary science course. Modeling and simulation tools allow us to introduce a science topic from a simplistic framework and then move into details after learners gain a level of interest to help them endure the hardships and frustration of deeper learning. More than 90% of students in course surveys state that modeling improved their understanding of science concepts. Students appear to appreciatelearning not only the use of simulation tools to design and conduct science experiments, but also basic programming skills to simulate a science experiment using a simple algebraic equation, new = old + change. A strong link is established between computational and natural sciences. Students learn in a simplistic framework how laws of nature act as the source of change.
The US-Pakistan relations after a decade of the war on terror

This essay examines the arc of the US–Pakistan relations amid the developments of the last decade of the war on terror. It argues that Washington's pursuit of dehyphenated relations with India and Pakistan, and failure to follow through on early promises to Pakistan, made it more likely that Pakistan would again return to a policy of supporting the Taliban and increase Pakistan's dependence upon Islamist terror groups to prosecute its security interests. After a decade of fraught ties, culminating in a particularly tumultuous year in 2011, the US and Pakistan seemed poised for collision. With no remedy in sight, this rupture in the US–Pakistan relations will have enormous implications for regional and international security.
Hippocampal neurotrophic factor: characterization and response to denervation.

Abstract The rat hippocampus contains an acidic macromolecular neurotrophic factor (NTF) whicsupports the survival of cultured chick ciliary ganglion cells. Hippocampal NTF increases approximately 2-fold from birtto adulthood witno further change witaging. Disruption of extrinsic inputs to the hippocampus from the entorhinal cortex, locus coeruleus or contralateral hippocampus, but not from the septum, results in an increase in the concentration of NTF in the hippocampus. Destruction of intrinsic hippocampal neurons by kainic acid treatment is accompanied by a large increase in hippocampal NTF, a result consistent wita glial origin for the factor. This conclusion is supported by the finding that a lesion-induced rise in NTF can be suppressed by administration of methotrexate, an inhibitor of gliosis.
Anion exchange in human erythrocytes has a large activation volume

Abstract Sulfate equilibrium exchange in human red cells has an activation volume of +150±20 cm3/mol over the pressure range 0.1 to 83 MPa (15 to 12000 lb/in2) at 30°C. This value greatly exceeds the expected contribution from sulfate binding to the anion exchanger. We suggest that the activation volume reflects conformational changes during the transport cycle.
Epidermal-dermal tissue interactions between mutant foot skin and normal back skin: a comparison of the inductive capacities of scaleless low line and normal anterior foot dermis.

The inductive capacities of 9- to 16-day anterior foot dermis of scaleless low line and normal embryos were compared by recombining them with a common source of epidermis, i.e., 7-day normal back epidermis. Tissue recombinants were cultured as grafts to the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Both normal and scaleless low line dermis of 12 to 13 days of incubation began to lose their ability to elicit feather production in 7-day normal back epidermis. Normal foot dermis began to elicit scale production at 12 to 13 days, whereas scaleless low line anterior foot dermis maintained feather production at a low level. It is inferred that without being associated with scale placode formation, scaleless low line anterior foot dermis does not acquire specific inductive capacities related to the production of an outer scale surface in the overlying epidermis. Feather placodes do not function as surrogates of scale placodes. The difference between normal and scaleless low line anterior foot dermis in terms of specific inductive capacities related to scale production is interpreted as a secondary effect of the action of the scaleless allele in interfering with scale placode formation in the scaleless low line anterior foot epidermis.
Oxametallacycle formation via ring-opening of 1-epoxy-3-butene on Ag(110): a combined experimental/theoretical approach

Abstract Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the interaction of 1-epoxy-3-butene (EpB) with the Ag(1 1 0) surface. The goal of this study was to better understand the nature of the strongly adsorbed EpB species reported for the silver-catalyzed butadiene epoxidation process. EpB dosed on the Ag(1 1 0) surface at 300 K ring-opens to form a stable surface oxametallacycle intermediate. DFT geometry optimizations were utilized to calculate the structure of the oxametallacycle; subsequent frequency calculations were used to predict the vibrational spectrum of this intermediate. Comparison of the predicted vibrational spectrum with the experimental HREEL spectrum of this intermediate conclusively identifies the oxametallacycle. This oxametallacycle undergoes 1,2- and 1,4-ring-closure reactions during TPD to form EpB and 2,5-dihydrofuran (2,5-DHF), respectively. This reaction represents the first demonstration of a surface oxametallacycle ring-closure to form an epoxide, and thus we suggest that the strongly adsorbed surface intermediate in the butadiene epoxidation process is a surface oxametallacycle. Furthermore, in light of the similarity between butadiene epoxidation and other epoxidation processes, surface oxametallacycles may be of general importance in silver-catalyzed olefin epoxidation.
Transcriptional regulation of alpha 2(I) collagen gene expression by fibroblast growth factor-2 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) stimulates proliferation and inhibits differentiated function of osteoblasts by suppressing synthesis of type I collagen and other proteins. However, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms regulating the suppressive effects of FGF-2 on type I collagen synthesis in osteoblasts. The zinc finger transcription factor Egr-1 and the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of proteins have been implicated in the regulation of genes crucial to mesodermal cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this study was to determine whether Egr-1 and TWIST might be potential transcriptional regulators of the inhibitory effects of FGF-2 on α2(I) collagen expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts which undergo a developmental sequence in vitro. Upon treatment of undifferentiated MC3T3-E1 cells with 1 nM FGF-2, Egr-1 mRNA increased with the effect maximal after 30–60 min. TWIST mRNA also increased with the effect maximal at 2 h. We analyzed the transcriptional control of α2(I) collagen gene expression by FGF-2 by transient transfection of an α2(I) collagen-luciferase construct (pH5) into undifferentiated MC3T3-E1 cells. The activity of the pH5 luciferase promoter decreased in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with.01 and 1 nM FGF-2. We identified putative Egr-1 and TWIST recognition sequences in the proximal region of the promoter for the murine α2(I) collagen gene and a putative Egr-1 site in the 5′ region of the murine TWIST promoter. In gel mobility shift assays, potential Egr-1 response elements in the 5′ region of the murine TWIST and α2(I) collagen genes demonstrated specific Egr-1 binding activity with bFGF-treated nuclear extracts obtained from MC3T3-E1 cells. These results indicate that Egr-1 and TWIST are expressed in undifferentiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells following treatment with FGF-2 and they may be potential transcriptional regulators of FGF-2s negative effects on α2(I) collagen gene expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 80:550–559, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Naturalness, Morphonology, and the Icelandic Velar Palatalisation

The Icelandic palatalisation of velar plosives has been used in several recent studies as evidence in the continuing search for an adequate model of phonology. Limitations of the naturalness of the rule in the modern language have led to suggestions that it is no longer a phonological but rather a morphonological process. The present paper reviews in some detail the status of the rule against a background of other phonological and morphological regularities in Modern Icelandic. It is concluded that while not every instance of a palatal consonant must necessarily be derived from an underlying velar, the evidence for the rule is overwhelming. The separation of phonological and morphonological rules is critically examined in the light of the Icelandic data and rejected; its untenability is further strengthened by the history of the rule. It is argued that while mechanical phonetic tendencies play a role in the rise of innovations, their entrenchment in the phonology of a language is not bound by such considerations. In effect phonological rules must always be to a greater or lesser extent unnatural.
Hypothesis Testing and Multiplicative Interaction Terms

When a statistical equation incorporates a multiplicative term in an attempt to model interaction effects, the statistical significance of the lower-order coefficients is largely useless for the typical purposes of hypothesis testing. This fact remains largely unappreciated in political science, however. This brief article explains this point, provides examples, and offers some suggestions for more meaningful interpretation.I am grateful to Tim McDaniel, Anne Sartori, and Beth Simmons for comments on a previous draft.
On the category of weak Cayley table morphisms between groups

Weak Cayley table functions between groups are generalized conjugacy-preserving homomorphisms, under which products of images are conjugate to images of products. There is a weak Cayley table bijection between two groups iff they have the same 2-characters. In this paper, weak Cayley table functions are augmented to include the specific conjugating elements, leading to the concept of a weak (Cayley table) morphism. If the conjugating elements are chosen subject to a crossed-product condition, then the weak morphisms between groups form a category. The forgetful functor to this category from the category of group homomorphisms is shown to possess a left adjoint. Two weak morphisms are said to be homotopic if they project to the same weak Cayley table function. As a first step in the analysis of the category of weak morphisms, the group of units of the monoid of weak morphisms homotopic to the identity automorphism of a group is described.
Electric-Analog and Digital-Computer Model Analysis of Stream Depletion by Wellsa

Electric-analog or digital-computer models are used to compute the effect of ground-water withdrawal or recharge on streamflow. The results can be generalized on a map showing lines of equal elapsed time. The lines indicate the time of recharging or discharging that is needed to affect the streamflow by a given fraction of the amount pumped or injected. The generalization is based on the similarity in shape of the relations between pumping time and stream depletion for (1) semi-infinite homogeneous aquifers drained by a straight, fully penetrating stream, and (2) complex heterogeneous aquifers. Response curves from a model reflect the combined effect of stream sinuosity, irregular impermeable boundaries, areal variation in aquifer properties, and imperfect hydraulic connection between the stream and aquifer. The elapsed-cime lines are identified by sdf (stream depletion factor) values. These values can be calculated from observations made on an electric-analog model and then may be used in a digital-computer program for determining the effects of ground-water pumping or recharge on streamflow.
Spontaneous copolymerization of 4‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxolanes with maleic anhydride

The copolymerization of methylenedioxolanes, such as 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (I) and 2,2-dimethyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (II), with maleic anhydride (Manh) gives rise spontaneously to the alternating copolymers by the participation of charge-transfer (CT) complexes. The formation of CT complexes I-Manh and II-Manh was ascertained by UV and NMR spectroscopies. The equilibrium constants (K) could not be determined but were assumed to be small (K ≪ 1). For comparison with these systems an investigation of I-dimethyl maleate (DMM) and II-DMM systems was carried out to estimate K values 0.115 and 0.157 L/mol, respectively. To clarify the copolymerization mechanism I-Manh-acryronitrile was terpolymerized. Consequently it was concluded that the spontaneous copolymerization of I-Manh and II-Manh systems is effected by the CT complex monomer mechanism.
Strategies Used by Small Business Entrepreneurs

This descriptive study of 184 small firms identified strategies most frequently used by their managers. These strategies were identified using the Entrepreneurial Strategy Matrix, a situational model in which the identification of levels of innovation and risk lead to prescriptions of appropriate strategies. Concurrently, this model was empirically tested and its validity supported. Of the strategies used, the five most common were: “work to create a competitive advantage,” “maintain innovation,” “lower the costs of developing and/or maintaining one’s venture,” “defend product/service as it is now,” and “create a first mover advantage.” In addition, there were no differences between the use of strategies by entrepreneurs in service and manufacturing industries.
Birefringence measurements in human skin using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography enables cross-sectional imaging of tissue structure to depths of around 1.5 mm, at high-resolution and in real-time. Incorporation of polarization-sensitivity enables the birefringent properties of tissues to be visualized and quantified. We present polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography images and quantitative birefringence analysis of in vivo human skin. From measurements on a sample of 5 human volunteers, mean double-pass phase retardation rates of 0.340 ± 0.143, 0.250 ± 0.076 and 0.592 ± 0.142°/μm were obtained for normal skin at the dorsal hand, temple and lower back regions respectively. Compared to these values measured in normal skin, a reduction in birefringence was observed and quantified in human skin following thermal injury. Conversely, increased birefringence was consistently measured at skin sites following wound healing and repair.
Research Advance on Comprehensive Utilization of High Iron Bauxites

How to effectively use high iron bauxites to alleviate the shortage of bauxite resources has become an hot topic in China. According to the technological characteristics, the method of comprehensive utilization of high iron bauxites can be included: first iron then aluminum, first aluminum then iron and simultaneous recycling iron and aluminum. This paper will review the research progress on the comprehensive utilization of high iron bauxites.
The multi-country transfer problem

Abstract A general formula is derived for the welfare effects of a set of transfers among several countries in a two-good model with production and substitution, and compatible with Walrasian stability. The relation to recent work on transfer paradoxes is sketched.
On the characterization of the exponential distribution by the independence of its integer and fractional parts

It is well–known that the fractional part and integer part of an exponentially distributed random variable are independent. Under some regularity conditions, the independence of the fractional part and integer part of a positive random variable characterizes the exponential distribution.
Binding isotherms and the interaction between proflavine and a DNA of high G · C content

Binding isotherms corresponding to several situations of ligand binding to a linear polymer are calculated, including cases of cooperativity or anticooperativity between the bound ligand states, multiple binding modes that are competitive or non competitive, and possible exclusive of an arbitrary number of adjacent sites upon occupancy of a site by a single ligand. The sequence generating function method of Lifson and Bradley is used, requiring the assumption that no end effects are involved. The case of strong binding of the dye proflavin to a DNA of high G-C content, that of M. lysodeikticus, is considered in detail, and a single model capable of reconciling the available kinetic and equilibrium data on this system, involving two competing binding modes, is discussed.
Influence of the method of drug administration on analgesic response

The appropriate control group in studies of placebo-induced analgesia has not been established. A traditional control has been a 'no treatment' or natural-history group. In some studies, the natural-history group receives a hidden infusion of vehicle, a physiologically inactive substance such as saline solution, to eliminate differences in expectation of the outcome on the part of the experimenter. To evaluate whether 'hidden' as well as open infusion of vehicle can elicit a placebo response, we have now tested a different natural-history group, one which received an infusion of vehicle from a syringe pump controlled by a programmable timer. A comparison of these two control groups provides evidence that hidden infusion of vehicle can elicit a placebo response. Use of this new control group also permitted a clear distinction between a naloxone-antagonizable component of placebo analgesia and naloxone antagonism of endorphin-mediated analgesia induced by surgical stress. Our study underscores the power of the placebo and emphasizes that even the most subtle cues can elicit a placebo response.
Management of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting

Management of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) includes both prevention and therapy. Primary prevention involves implementation of measures to modify risk factors. Secondary prevention involves prophylaxis and treatment with 5HT 3 receptor antagonists (5HT 3 RAs) with or without corticosteroids, dopamine antagonists, antihistamines, or anticholinergics. 5HT 3 RAs are also useful in treatment of RINV with significantly better outcomes, compared to other antiemetics or placebo. Agents include ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron, and tropisitron. These agents may be useful in both the radiotherapy patient and the individual who has been accidentally exposed to ionizing radiation.
Inherent-Structure View of Self-Diffusion in Liquids †

Molecular dynamics computer simulations have been conducted to examine the self-diffusion process for the liquid phase of the classical Dzugutov model. Mean-square particle displacements as a function of time have been evaluated over a wide temperature range, at reduced density 0.85, for both the continuous Newtonian trajectories and the corresponding piecewise-constant inherent-structure trajectories. Both representations yield the same self-diffusion constants but display distinct asymptotic offsets. These offsets possess different temperature dependences, with a crossover well into the supercooled liquid regime, close to reduced temperature T ) 0.7. Lindemann ratios have been obtained for both the stable bcc crystal and the liquid, showing a characteristic jump upon melting. Although its magnitude appears to be model-dependent, this jump signifies a marked difference in geometric character of the inherent-structure basins that respectively underlie the two phases, and that have correspondingly different interbasin transitions controlling the rate of self-diffusion.
Damage engineering on Purion XE™ high energy ion implanter

Many IC and CIS manufacturers still rely heavily on batch high energy ion implanters such as the Axcelis HE3 and Paradigm XE systems. Angle control continues to become increasingly important with the scaling of devices and the increasing use of channeled implants to reduce the number of implant steps needed to produce a box-like dopant profile. The use of channeled implants limits the use of batch ion implanters for these applications due to the cone angle effect. The introduction of serial high energy ion implanters to replace the batch implanters has exposed subtle differences in damage characteristics related to the differences in tool architecture. Investigation into second order differences in the damage characteristics of the single wafer and batch implanters have resulted in the development of a new system for modifying the electrostatic scanning of the ion beam on the Purion XE with implications for improvement in damage reduction, low dose stability and utilization of the system's mechanical throughput limit.
Symbolic Play in Normal and Language-Impaired Children

The symbolic play of 15 normally developing (CA, 16–22 months) and 15 language-impaired children (CA, 32–49 months), whose productive language skills were at the single-word utterance level, was co...
Potassium conductance changes in skeletal muscle and the potassium concentration in the transverse tubules

1. When one hyperpolarizes a muscle fibre by passing electric current, the K conductance declines with time. Voltage-clamp experiments on frog sartorius muscle fibres showed that two components contribute to this decline. 2. A rapid component operates when the fibre is hyperpolarized to potentials more negative than −120 mV. Decline by this mechanism is reversed completely within 200 msec. The large effect of temperature on the kinetics of this process indicates that it represents a time-dependent membrane permeability change. 3. A slow component operates also at less negative potentials. Recovery at −65 mV takes place with half-times of about 0·4 sec. The Q10 for the rate of recovery is 1·3, indicating that this process is diffusion limited. 4. After prolonged hyperpolarization to potentials positive to −120 mV, membrane current at the resting potential is outward and persists for several seconds. At that time, the potential measured in the absence of membrane current is shifted in the negative direction by 3–5 mV. 5. This shift and the time course of currents near the resting potential after hyperpolarization as well as the Q10 of 1·3 indicate that the slow process is due to changes in tubular K concentration and not to a time-dependent membrane permeability change. 6. At potentials less negative than −120 mV, tubular depletion can satisfactorily account for the decline of K conductance. At more negative potentials, the decline appears to be due to both depletion and a permeability change.
Pseudophakia and glaucoma.

Abstract A retrospective study of 40 eyes with pseudophakia and glaucoma is presented. Consideration of pre-existing and secondary types of glaucoma is given. Complications relating ta pseudophakia and glaucoma are included as well as a discussion of mechanisms. Visual function results are given and medical and surgical therapies are outlined.
Markov and Bernstein inequalities in for some weighted algebraic and trigonometric polynomials

Bernstein inequalities are given for polynomials of degree at most (where ), weighted by , in norms on , and also in related spaces of weighted trigonometric polynomials. Also, Bernstein and Markov inequalities valid on are derived for polynomials of degree weighted by .
Flashlamp probe source for nanosecond spectroscopic studies in the ultraviolet.

Implementation of a high-pressure (7.5-atm) compact arc flashlamp as a probe source for ultraviolet spectroscopic measurements is described. Trigger circuitry is given which operates the lamp in simmered mode with discharge voltages up to 6 kV (energy 3.6 J) producing a 1-μs (FWHM) duration flash. Spectral outputs of lamps with argon, krypton, and xenon fill gasses are compared. Excellent UV output is obtained for both krypton and xenon with peak spectral output between 200 and 300 nm as measured by an optical multichannel analyzer. The lamps are inexpensive and have lifetimes of >100,000 flashes.
Plant communities of a tussock tundra landscape in the Brooks Range Foothills, Alaska

We present the first vegetation analysis from the Arctic Foothills of northern Alaska according to the Braun- Blanquet approach. The data are from the Imnavait Creek and Toolik Lake regions. We focus on associations of dry and mesic upland surfaces and moderate snow accumulation sites; other upland plant communities, i.e. those of blockfields, non- sorted circles, and water tracks, are briefly described. Sum- mary floristic information is presented in a synoptic table. Five associations and 15 community types are tentatively placed into seven existing syntaxonomical classes. The com- munity descriptions are arranged according to habitat: dry exposed acidic sites, moist acidic shallow snowbeds, moist non-acidic snowbeds, moist acidic uplands, and moist non- acidic uplands. Many of the communities are Beringian vicariants of associations previously described from Green- land and the European Arctic. The described communities have a widespread distribution in northern Alaska. The rela- tionship of the associations to complex environmental gradi- ents are analyzed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis. Community composition is controlled primarily by meso- topographic relationships (slope position and soil moisture), microscale disturbances, and factors related to long-term land- scape evolution.
Magnetic resonance imaging-guided cryoablation of recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: initial single institution experience.

Objective To establish the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–guided cryoablation in patients with previous radical prostatectomy and MRI visualized biopsy-proven local recurrence of prostate adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods Eighteen postprostatectomy patients (mean 67, 57-78 years) were treated with MRI-guided cryoablation for recurrent prostate carcinoma. Patients were found to have a hyperenhancing nodule using multiparametric MRI with endorectal coil followed by a positive transrectal ultrasound–guided biopsy. Of 18 postsurgical patients, 6 had additional salvage external beam radiation with subsequent recurrence. Under general anesthesia and MRI guidance (wide-bore 1.5T MRI), 2-5 cryotherapy probes were placed in or around the recurrence by transperineal approach and cryoablation performed. The patients were stratified into 2 groups: the initial 9 consecutive patients had cryoprobes placed 1 cm apart with 2 freeze-thaw cycles (group 1), and the subsequent 9 patients had cryoprobes placed 0.5 cm apart with 3 freeze-thaw cycles (group 2). Results In group I, the average preprocedure prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 1.21 ± 1.12 ng/mL, and 1-3 months postprocedure PSA was 0.14 ± 0.11 ng/mL (P <.01). Sixty-seven percent of patients had PSA ≤0.2 ng/mL at 1-3 months follow-up, but only 25% at 4-6 months. No change in impotence or incontinence occurred. In group II, average preprocedure PSA was 2.24 ± 2.71 ng/mL, and 1-3 month postprocedure PSA was 0.08 ± 0.10 ng/mL (P <.05). Eighty-nine percent of patients had PSA ≤0.2 ng/mL at 1-3 months follow-up and at 4-6 months. Complications in group 2 included worsening incontinence in 3 patients. Conclusion MRI-guided salvage cryoablation of postradical prostatectomy prostate cancer recurrence is safe and feasible. Both techniques produce early PSA decrease with more lasting PSA results in the more aggressive group II methodology.
Nonlinear Aeroelastic Analysis of Joined-Wing Aircraft with Fully Intrinsic Equations

Joined-wing aircrafts are characterized by statically indeterminate structures, i.e. structures with multiple load paths. In this paper a new way of analyzing these configurations is introduced. Using this method, NATASHA (Nonlinear Aeroelastic Trim And Stability for HALE Aircraft) has been updated so that it is now capable of analyzing joined-wing configurations. This new formulation is based on the fully intrinsic equations, which introduce neither singularities and nor infinite-degree nonlinearities caused by finite rotation. The formulation makes use of an incremental form of the kinematical equations, which allows preservation of the main advantageous features of the fully intrinsic equations. The method is applied and validated for a joined-wing structure.
On the performance of the POSIX I/O interface to PVFS

The ever-increasing gap in performance between CPU/memory technologies and the I/O subsystem (disks, I/O buses) in modern workstations has exacerbated the I/O bottlenecks inherent in applications that access large disk resident data sets. A common technique to alleviate the I/O bottlenecks on clusters of workstations, is the use of parallel file systems. One such parallel file system is the parallel virtual file system (PVFS), which is a freely available tool to achieve high-performance I/O on Linux-based clusters. Here, we describe the performance and scalability of the UNIX I/O interface to PVFS. To illustrate the performance, we present experimental results using Bonnie++, a commonly used file system benchmark to test file system throughput; a synthetic parallel I/O application for calculating aggregate read and write bandwidths; and a synthetic benchmark which calculates the time taken to untar the Linux kernel source tree to measure performance of a large number of small file operations. We obtained aggregate read and write bandwidths as high as 550 MB/s with a Myrinet-based network and 160MB/s with fast Ethernet.
Summary of at the 45th Annual Pancreas Club Meeting Proceedings

Background The 45th meeting of the Pancreas Club was held on 5 and 6 May 2011 at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center in Chicago, IL. An outstanding program of 47 oral presentations (Table 1) and 137 poster presentations was chosen from a record number of submitted abstracts. Ten posters each day were chosen for presentation as part of the Professor Rounds portion of the formal poster viewing program. Summaries of the oral presentations are provided; published work is referenced. Full abstracts are available on the Pancreas Club website: http://pancreasclub.com.
Protoporphyrin-induced photodamage: studies using cultured skin fibroblasts.

A new system is described for the study of protoporphyrin-induced photodamage of cells. This system differs from those previously described in that fibroblasts are induced to synthesize protoporphyrin from its precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid. Fibroblasts were cultured from skin biopsies of 6 normal individuals and 6 patients with protoporphyria. All cell lines in both groups accumulated protoporphyrin when incubated with δ-aminolevulinic acid in the absence of iron. Irradiation for 2 min with long-wave UV light caused death of cells which had accumulated protoporphyrin, but not of cells which had been incubated without δ-aminolevulinic acid. Cell damage could be quantitatively assessed by the release of chromium-51 into the medium. Examination of irradiated protoporphyrin-rich fibroblasts by electron microscopy revealed no significant differences between lines from patients with protoporphyria and normal individuals. The earliest indications of photodamage were rarifaction of the mitochondrial matrix with dilatation of cristae. dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, and loss of plasma membrance integrity. Condensation of the cells correlated with cell death. These structural alterations suggest a generalized cellular injury.
Cyclic steady state stress–strain behavior of UHMW polyethylene

To increase the long-term performance of total joint replacements, finite element analyses of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) components have been conducted to predict the effect of load on the stress and strain distributions occurring on and within these components. Early models incorporated the monotonic behavior of UHMWPE without considering the unloading and cyclic loading behavior. However, UHMWPE components undergo cyclic loading during use and at least two wear damage modes (pitting and delamination) are thought to be associated with the fatigue fracture properties of UHMWPE. The objective of this study was to examine the fully reversed uniaxial tension/compression cyclic steady state stress-strain behavior of UHMWPE as a first step towards developing a cyclic constitutive relationship for UHMWPE. The hypothesis that cycling results in a permanent change in the stress-strain relationship, that is, that the cyclic steady state represents a new cyclically stabilized state, was examined. It was found that, like other ductile polymers, UHMWPE substantially cyclically softens under fully reversed uniaxial straining. More cyclic softening occurred in tension than in compression. Furthermore, cyclic steady state was attained, but not cyclic stability. It is suggested that it may be more appropriate to base a material constitutive relationship for UHMWPE for finite element analyses of components upon a cyclically modified stress-strain relationship.
Evidence for inner core super-rotation from time-dependent differential PKP traveltimes observed at Beijing Seismic Network

SUMMARY In an effort to confirm and constrain inner core rotation, we examine earthquakes from the South Sandwich Islands recorded at the Beijing Seismic Network. We obtained a total of 109 high-quality measurements of PKP(BC)-PKP(DF) differential traveltimes by waveform cross-correlations from earthquakes spanning over 30 years. The results show robust temporal changes in PKP(BC)-PKP(DF) residuals along this pathway, providing new support for the differential inner core hypothesis. We also observed evidence for a lateral velocity gradient in this part of the inner core. Assuming that the temporal changes result from a shift of a lateral structure due to an inner core rotation, we estimate the inner core rotation rate to be about 0.41 ± 0.12° yr−1 faster than the mantle.
China's International Relations in the 21st Century: Dynamics of Paradigm Shifts

Chapter 1 List of Tables and Figures List of Abbreviations Preface Chapter 2 Understanding China's Behavior in World Politics Chapter 3 International Relations Theory in China Chapter 4 Escaping the Periphery Chapter 5 Multilateralism in Chinese Foreign Policy Chapter 6 Nationalism, Globalism, and China's International Relations Chapter 7 Chinese Understanding of International Political Economy Chapter 8 Cultural Norms and the Conduct of Chinese Foreign Policy Chapter 9 Chinese Approaches to International Law Chapter 10 List of Contributors Bibliography Index
Interleukin-1 alpha production during Rickettsia rickettsii infection of cultured endothelial cells: potential role in autocrine cell stimulation.

Rickettsia rickettsii infection results in numerous responses by cultured endothelial cells, among them a rapid, transient increase in steady-state levels of tissue factor mRNA (L.A. Sporn, P.J. Haidaris, R.-J. Shi, Y. Nemerson, D.J. Silverman, and V.J. Marder, Blood 83:1527-1534, 1994). In this study, production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was measured during infection and its potential role in autocrine cell stimulation was investigated. A fivefold increase in levels of IL-1 alpha antigen was measured in cell lysate samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 18 h of infection. The majority of IL-1 alpha remained cell associated, as no significant increase was detected in culture medium. No IL-1 beta antigen was detected in cell lysates or culture medium from either control or infected cultures. A dramatic increase in the levels of IL-1 alpha mRNA occurred following infection, as measured by reverse transcriptase PCR, which revealed the appearance of the expected 421-kb product with RNA extracted from cells infected for 4 h and no detectable product from control cell samples. The presence of functional, cell-associated IL-1 alpha activity in infected cells was confirmed, following disruption, by the ability of the infected cells to induce tissue factor expression in target endothelial cells. Such induction was eliminated by pretreatment of the disrupted cell samples with neutralizing antibodies against IL-1 alpha but not against IL-1 beta. To investigate whether endogenously produced IL-1 participates in the stimulation of tissue factor expression, neutralizing antibodies against IL-1 or the IL-1 receptor antagonist were added to culture medium during infection. Both anti-IL-1 alpha and the IL-1 receptor antagonist resulted in approximately 40% inhibition of tissue factor expression, thus implicating IL-1 alpha in autocrine cell stimulation.
Detection of chromosomal alterations affecting the 1cen–1q12 region in irradiated granulocytes and lymphocytes by multicolour FISH with tandem DNA probes

A multicolour tandem labelling fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure was used to compare the frequencies of radiation-induced chromosome breakage and hyperdiploidy of chromosome 1 occurring in non-cultured granulocytes and Go lymphocytes with those observed in cultured metaphase and interphase lymphocytes. Whole blood, obtained from healthy male donors, was exposed in vitro to 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 cGy of ionizing radiation from a 137Cs source. Aliquots containing granulocytes and Go lymphocytes from each dose were treated immediately with hypotonic KCI on ice and harvested. Cells were hybridized with alpha- and classical satellite probes to the 1cen-q12 region of chromosome 1 and the frequencies of hyperdiploidy and breakage affecting this region were determined. Elevated dose-related frequencies of breakage were detectable in both lymphocytes and granulocytes immediately following radiation and decreased rapidly over the first 0.25-2 h. In a second series of experiments, the frequencies of hyperdiploidy and breakage for uncultured granulocytes and Go lymphocytes were compared with interphase and metaphase cells following 48-51 h of culture. Similar and significant dose-related increases in breakage were seen for the granulocytes, Go lymphocytes, 48 h cultured interphase and metaphase lymphocytes. A minor increase in hyperdiploidy was seen in the irradiated cultured cells, whereas no hyperdiploid cells were detected in the non-cultured cells. These results indicate that, in general, granulocytes and lymphocytes show similar sensitivity to radiation-induced damage and that cell culture is not required for chromosome breakage to be observed microscopically using this FISH procedure.
High frequency short-term demand forecasting model for distribution power grid based on ARIMA

Short-term load forecasting is an important issue for power system planning, operation and control. Operating decisions such as dispatch scheduling of generating capacity, reliability analysis, and generation planning can be benefit on accurate load forecasts. So, many research efforts have been expended to increase the accuracy, especially for short-term prediction such as hourly prediction for the next month. In this paper, a high frequency forecast model based on ARIMA was proposed to estimate the relationships between user's demand and various variables. This method is used to forecast hourly and quarter-hourly electricity demand for next few days ahead. The performance of this methodology is validated with real data from the Guangdong Power Grid Corporation (GPGC), which is the largest province grid corporation in China.
Random Conic Pursuit for Semidefinite Programming

We present a novel algorithm, Random Conic Pursuit, that solves semidefinite programs (SDPs) via repeated optimization over randomly selected two-dimensional subcones of the PSD cone. This scheme is simple, easily implemented, applicable to very general SDPs, scalable, and theoretically interesting. Its advantages are realized at the expense of an ability to readily compute highly exact solutions, though useful approximate solutions are easily obtained. This property renders Random Conic Pursuit of particular interest for machine learning applications, in which the relevant SDPs are generally based upon random data and so exact minima are often not a priority. Indeed, we present empirical results to this effect for various SDPs encountered in machine learning; these experiments demonstrate the potential practical usefulness of Random Conic Pursuit. We also provide a preliminary analysis that yields insight into the theoretical properties and convergence of the algorithm.
Parallelizing molecular dynamics using spatial decomposition

Several algorithms have been used for parallel molecular dynamics, including the replicated algorithm and those based on spatial decompositions. The replicated algorithm stores the entire system's coordinates and forces at each processor, and therefore has a low overhead in maintaining the data distribution. Spatial decompositions distribute the data, providing better locality and scalability with respect to memory and computation. We present EULERGROMOS, a parallelization of the GROMOS molecular dynamics program which is based on a spatial decomposition. EULERGROMOS parallelizes all molecular dynamics phases, with most data structures using O(N/P) memory. The paper focuses on the structure of EULERGROMOS and analyses its performance using molecular systems of current interest in the molecular dynamics community. EULERGROMOS achieves performance increases with as few as twenty atoms per processor. We also compare EULERGROMOS with an earlier parallelization of GROMOS, UHGROMOS, which uses the replicated algorithm. >
Salinity as a constraint on growth of oligohaline marsh macrophytes. II. Salt pulses and recovery potential

The ability of common oligohaline marsh macrophytes of the northern Gulf of Mexico coast to recover from pulses of increased salinity was investigated in a greenhouse experiment with Eleocharis palustris, Panicum hemitomon, Sagittaria lancifolia, and Scirpus americanus monocultures. Components of salinity pulses applied were final salinity reached (6 or 12 g/L), salinity influx rate (3 d or 3 wk), and duration of exposure (1, 2, or 3 mo). After each exposure period, we placed plants into freshwater until the end of the 120-d experiment to determine recovery potential. The four species varied in their ability to recover from the salinity pulses. Within a species, recovery varied with final salinity level and duration of exposure, and to a lesser extent with salinity influx rate. Scirpus americanus, growth of which was stimulated by <3 mo of exposure to 6 g/L, was able to recover even under the most extreme conditions of exposure to 12 g/L salinity for 3 mo. Ability to recover decreased with increased salinity and increased duration of exposure for the remaining three species. Recovery of specific aspects of growth was also suppressed in these species by a rapid salinity influx rate compared to a slow influx rate. The complex variations in recovery patterns displayed by the different species may lead to changes in species dominance following the short-term salinity pulses that can occur during storm events, which in turn may affect marsh plant community composition and structure.