Size, Temperature, and Strain-Rate Dependence on Tensile Mechanical Behaviors of Ni 3

This study focuses on exploring the mechanical properties and nonlinear stress-strain behaviors of monoclinic Ni3Sn4 single crystals under uniaxial tensile test and also their size, temperature, and strain-rate dependence through constant temperature molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using Berendsen thermostat. The deformation evolution of the Ni3Sn4 atomic nanostructure during the tensile test is observed. In addition, the tensile yield strains of various Ni3Sn4 single crystals at different strain rates and temperatures are characterized through unloading process. At last, by way of linear regression analysis, the corresponding normal elastic stiffness constants are approximated and then compared with the literature theoretical data. The radial distribution function analysis shows that Ni3Sn4 single crystal in a one-dimensional nanowire configuration would become a highly disordered structure after thermal equilibration, thereby possessing amorphous-like mechanical behaviors and properties. The initial elastic deformation of Ni3Sn4 single crystal is governed by the reconfiguration of surface atoms, and its deformation evolution after further uniaxial tensile straining is characterized by Ni=Sn bond straightening, bond breakage, inner atomic distortion, cross-section shrinking, and rupture. The calculated normal elastic constants of Ni3Sn4 single crystal are found to be consistent with the literature theoretical data

The orchid MADS-box genes controlling floral morphogenesis

Orchids are known for both their floral diversity and ecological strategies. The versatility and specialization in orchid floral morphology, structure, and physiological properties have fascinated botanists for centuries. In floral studies, MADS-box genes contributing to the now famous ABCDE model of floral organ identity control have dominated conceptual thinking. The sophisticated orchid floral organization offers an opportunity to discover new variant genes and different levels of complexity to the ABCDE model. Recently, several remarkable research studies done on orchid MADS-box genes have revealed the important roles on orchid floral development. Knowledge about MADS-box genes' encoding ABCDE functions in orchids will give insights into the highly evolved floral morphogenetic networks of orchids

To Explore the Research and Development Competence and School-to-Work Transition for Hospitality Students

This research focuses on the research and development competence and school-to-work transition on occupation selection for hospitality students with the use of social cognitive career theory. The positive attitude construct is the most identifiable for the research and development competences. For the school-to-work constructs, the most identifiable is the construct of learning and exploration, while the most identifiable among the self-efficacy constructs is the personal work attitude construct. The students' research and development competence and school-to-work transition to occupation selection are revealed. While the expectation result of professional competence is not significant; the others show significantly positive impact

An overview of the Phalaenopsis orchid genome through BAC end sequence analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Phalaenopsis </it>orchids are popular floral crops, and development of new cultivars is economically important to floricultural industries worldwide. Analysis of orchid genes could facilitate orchid improvement. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) end sequences (BESs) can provide the first glimpses into the sequence composition of a novel genome and can yield molecular markers for use in genetic mapping and breeding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used two BAC libraries (constructed using the <it>Bam</it>HI and <it>Hin</it>dIII restriction enzymes) of <it>Phalaenopsis equestris </it>to generate pair-end sequences from 2,920 BAC clones (71.4% and 28.6% from the <it>Bam</it>HI and <it>Hin</it>dIII libraries, respectively), at a success rate of 95.7%. A total of 5,535 BESs were generated, representing 4.5 Mb, or about 0.3% of the <it>Phalaenopsis </it>genome. The trimmed sequences ranged from 123 to 1,397 base pairs (bp) in size, with an average edited read length of 821 bp. When these BESs were subjected to sequence homology searches, it was found that 641 (11.6%) were predicted to represent protein-encoding regions, whereas 1,272 (23.0%) contained repetitive DNA. Most of the repetitive DNA sequences were gypsy- and copia-like retrotransposons (41.9% and 12.8%, respectively), whereas only 10.8% were DNA transposons. Further, 950 potential simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were discovered. Dinucleotides were the most abundant repeat motifs; AT/TA dimer repeats were the most frequent SSRs, representing 253 (26.6%) of all identified SSRs. Microsynteny analysis revealed that more BESs mapped to the whole-genome sequences of poplar than to those of grape or <it>Arabidopsis</it>, and even fewer mapped to the rice genome. This work will facilitate analysis of the <it>Phalaenopsis </it>genome, and will help clarify similarities and differences in genome composition between orchids and other plant species.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using BES analysis, we obtained an overview of the <it>Phalaenopsis </it>genome in terms of gene abundance, the presence of repetitive DNA and SSR markers, and the extent of microsynteny with other plant species. This work provides a basis for future physical mapping of the <it>Phalaenopsis </it>genome and advances our knowledge thereof.</p

Autonomic Dysfunction Because of Severe Tetanus in an Unvaccinated Child

Tetanus is rare in a country with a national vaccination program. When it does occur, the associated autonomic dysfunction is a challenge for physicians. We report here a case of an unvaccinated 5-year-old boy who suffered from tetanus complicated by autonomic dysfunction, which was successfully controlled by the infusion of magnesium sulfate. This is the first case that demonstrated the therapeutic effect of magnesium sulfate in a child with tetanus. This case highlights the importance of implementing a vaccination program

Primary Urothelial Carcinoma of the Ureter: 11-Year Experience in Taipei Veterans General Hospital

BackgroundUrothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract is relatively rare, occurring in 5% of all urothelial tumors. Ureteral urothelial carcinoma is even less common than that of the renal pelvis, accounting for about 25% of all upper urinary tract tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior, survival, recurrence and prognostic information of primary ureteral urothelial carcinoma from our 11 years of experience at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 111 patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma who had been treated in our hospital between January 1993 and December 2003. Tumor staging was according to the 2002 AJCC TNM classification and stage groupings. Patients with stage 0a and stage 0is were categorized as stage 0a/is, and patients with pathologic T stage pTa and pTis were categorized as pTa/is for statistical analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.ResultsThere were 69 males and 42 females, with a mean age of 70.5 ± 9.4 years at diagnosis. Of the 111 patients, 5 presented with stage 0a/is, 38 with stage I, 23 with stage II, 21 with stage III, and 24 with stage IV. Nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision was performed in 78 patients, 12 patients received segmental resection of the ureter, 4 received ureteroscopic laser coagulation, and 17 underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both. Tumors were located on the left side in 53 patients, on the right in 53, and bilaterally in 5. The most frequent initial presenting symptom was gross hematuria (65%). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 49.3 months. Disease recurrence in the nephroureterectomy group occurred in 36 patients (46.2%), with 17 (21.8%) at the urinary bladder, 2 (2.6%) at the retroperitoneum, 1 (1.3%) at the contralateral ureter, 6 (7.7%) with distant metastases to the lung, bone, distant lymph nodes or liver, and 10 (12.8%) at multiple sites. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 100% for pTa/is, 95.2% for pT1, 69.4% for pT2, and 43.8% for pT3. All 3 pT4 cases died of cancer in a median of 12 months. Significant prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival by univariate analysis were pT (p = 0.00001), stage (p = 0.00001), type of treatment (p = 0.00001) and grade (p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only stage (p = 0.0001) and grade (p = 0.014) were significant for cancer-specific and overall survival. Stage (p = 0.0001), pT (p =0.0001) and grade (p = 0.026) were also significant prognostic factors of recurrence in multivariate analysis.ConclusionOur experience showed that patients with pTa/is and pT1 tumors treated with radical surgery have excellent prognoses. Tumor stage and grade are the only significant prognostic factors for both cancer-specific and overall survival

Discordant Findings of Skeletal Metastasis Between Tc99m MDP Bone Scans and F18 FDG PET/CT Imaging for Advanced Breast and Lung Cancers—Two Case Reports and Literature Review

Traditionally, Tc99m methyl diphosphate (MDP) bone scintigraphy provides high-sensitivity detection of skeletal metastasis from breast and lung cancers in regular follow-up. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), based on the glucose metabolism of malignant cells, plays a role in describing rumor growth, proliferation of neoplasm and the extent of metastasis. In general, concordant findings of skeletal metastasis are seen on both types of image, especially in cases of breast and lung cancer. However, there were extremely discordant findings of skeletal metastasis between bone scans and F18 FDG PET/CT imaging in two cases among 300 consecutive F18 FDG PET/CT follow-up exams of patients with malignancies, during the past year, in our center. Both cases, one of breast cancer and one of lung cancer, had negative bone scintigraphic findings, but a diffusely high grade of F18 FDG avid marrow infiltration in the axial spine, leading to the diagnosis of stage IV disease in both cases. Owing to variant genetic aberrance of malignance, F18 FDG PET/CT reveals direct evidence of diffuse, rapid neoplasm metabolism in the bone marrow of the spine, but not of secondary osteoblastic reactions in vivo. F18 FDG PET/CT should always be employed in the follow-up of patients with malignancies

System size dependence of elliptic flows in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The elliptic flows in both Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider are studied in a multi-phase transport model. For both collisions at same reduced impact parameter and minimum bias collisions, the elliptic flow of partons in Cu+Cu collisions is about a factor of three smaller than that in Au+Au collisions at same energy. The reduction factor is similar to the ratio of the sizes of the two colliding systems and is also related to the combined effects of initial energy density and spatial elliptic deformation in the two reactions. A similar system size dependence is also seen in the elliptic flow of charged hadrons from minimum bias collisions.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, revised version, to appear in PL

Differentiation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Infected pigs from Vaccinated Pigs Using Antibody-Detecting Sandwich ELISA

The presence of serum antibodies for nonstructural proteins of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) can differentiate FMDV-infected animals from vaccinated animals. In this study, a sandwich ELISA was developed for rapid detection of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) antibodies; it was based on an Escherichia coli-expressed, highly conserved region of the 3ABC nonstructural protein of the FMDV O/TW/99 strain and a monoclonal antibody derived from the expressed protein. The diagnostic sensitivity of the assay was 98.4%, and the diagnostic specificity was 100% for naïve and vaccinated pigs; the detection ability of the assay was comparable those of the PrioCHECK and UBI kits. There was 97.5, 93.4 and 66.6% agreement between the results obtained from our ELISA and those obtained from the PrioCHECK, UBI and CHEKIT kits, respectively. The kappa statistics were 0.95, 0.87 and 0.37, respectively. Moreover, antibodies for nonstructural proteins of the serotypes A, C, Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 were also detected in bovine sera. Furthermore, the absence of cross-reactions generated by different antibody titers against the swine vesicular disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was also highlighted in this assay's specificit