cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rise of China and Foreign Direct Investment from Southeast Asia

This paper discusses foreign direct investment from Southeast Asia to China. With the exception of some government-linked companies, most investments from Southeast Asia have been dominated by the region’s overseas Chinese businesses. In addition to cheap labour costs, large domestic market and growing economy, China has provided business opportunities to investors from Southeast Asia thanks to their geographic proximity and ethnic connections, at least during the initial investment period. However, the network effects seem to decline soon after. As the Chinese economy becomes more globalised and more competitive, the success of foreign investment in China will increasingly depend on business competency rather than ethnic relations.
A numerical study of various asymmetric quantum well structures

Numerical studies of transient and steady state one-dimensional transport through resonant tunneling structures (RTSs) have been widely reported. For the most part, the structures studied have been symmetric and single welled. Following the method of Buot-Jensen, we apply a lattice Weyl-Wigner 1D single band transport code to both double barrier (DBRTS) and triple barrier (TBRTS) GaAs/AlGaAS structures which are spatial asymmetric (barrier/well thicknesses). Both the transient and steady state behaviors are studied. Preliminary results show that the current-voltage characteristics (a) vary drastically from those obtained from the associated symmetric structure.
ATP depletion + pyrimidine depletion can markedly enhance cancer therapy: fresh insight for a new approach.

In the 1980s, necrosis was considered the mode of cell death induced by DNA-damaging anticancer agents because of the activity of PARP. [3][1] PARP is activated by the DNA strand breaks caused by anticancer agents and cleaves the glycolytic coenzyme, NAD+, leading to formation of poly(ADP-ribose)
Voltage ride-through capability verification of wind turbines with fully-rated converters using reachability analysis

Wind turbines are required to meet grid interconnection codes for voltage ride-through, which mandate that they should not disconnect during a specified range of grid disturbances. One of the tasks of a turbine's design verification process is to ensure that it will be able to withstand any such event. This paper sets forth a powerful computational technique for design verification of Type-4 permanent-magnet synchronous generator-based turbines with fully-rated grid-side converters. The proposed method can provide assurance as to whether the currents and voltages will remain within acceptable bounds. To this end, reachability theory is employed to find sets that enclose all possible trajectories for the system states caused by a given set of unknown-but-bounded disturbances. The computation of the reachable sets is carried out by using on-the-fly linearization of the nonlinear system dynamics, zonotopes, and interval analysis.
The Search for Double Layers in Space Plasmas

Auroral Phenomen Other Planets Geophysical Mon © 2012. American 10.1029/2011GM Localized, quasi-static parallel electric fields that are created as a result of charge separation in plasmas have been studied by scientists over the last century and have become known as double layers (DLs). DLs are important because they can efficiently accelerate charge particles, dissipate energy, and cause a local break in the frozen-in condition. As a result, they are expected to be an important process in many different types of space plasmas on Earth and on many astrophysical objects. This paper presents a brief review of the history of DLs over the last century leading to the now well-established fact that they do occur naturally in space plasmas. The paper also presents some of the latest understanding of the basic properties of DLs in the aurora region and discusses some open research questions.
Estrogen Receptor Beta Does Not Influence Ischemic Tolerance in the Aged Female Rat Heart

Introduction Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in aged women, with a 2- to 3-fold increase in incidence following menopause. Clinical trials have failed to demonstrate cardioprotective benefit from chronic estrogen (E2) replacement therapy, yet protective effects of E2 have been demonstrated in adult animal models and are mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes ERα and ERβ.
L-Type Ca2+ Channels Are Essential for Glutamate-Mediated CREB Phosphorylation and c-fos Gene Expression in Striatal Neurons

The second messenger pathways linking receptor activation at the membrane to changes in the nucleus are just beginning to be unraveled in neurons. The work presented here attempts to identify in striatal neurons the pathways that mediate cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and gene expression in response to NMDA receptor activation. We investigated the phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos , and the induction of a transfected reporter gene under the transcriptional control of CREB after stimulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors. We found that neither AMPA/kainate receptors nor NMDA receptors were able to stimulate independently a second messenger pathway that led to CREB phosphorylation or c-fos gene expression. Instead, we saw a consecutive pathway from AMPA/kainate receptors to NMDA receptors and from NMDA receptors to L-type Ca2+ channels. AMPA/kainate receptors were involved in relieving the Mg2+ block of NMDA receptors, and NMDA receptors triggered the opening of L-type Ca2+ channels. The second messenger pathway that activates CREB phosphorylation and c-fos gene expression is likely activated by Ca2+ entry through L-type Ca2+ channels. We conclude that in primary striatal neurons glutamate-mediated signal transduction is dependent on functional L-type Ca2+ channels.
The effect of nodule segmentation on the accuracy of computerized lung nodule detection on CT scans: comparison on a data set annotated by multiple radiologists

In computerized nodule detection systems on CT scans, many features that are useful for classifying whether a nodule candidate identified by prescreening is a true positive depend on the shape of the segmented object. We designed two segmentation algorithms for detailed delineation of the boundaries for nodule candidates. The first segmentation technique was a three-dimensional (3D) region-growing (RG) method which grew the object across multiple CT sections. The second technique was based on a 3D active contour (AC) model. A training set of 94 CT scans was used for algorithm design. An independent set of 62 scans, each read by multiple radiologists, was used for testing. Thirty-three scans were collected from patient files at the University of Michigan and 29 scans by the Lung Imaging Database Consortium (LIDC). In this study, we concentrated on the detection of internal lung nodules having a size ≥3 mm that were not pure ground-glass opacities. Of the lesions marked by one or multiple radiologists, 124 nodules satisfied these criteria and were considered true nodules. The performance of the detection system in the AC feature space, RG feature space, and the combined feature space were compared using free-response receiver operating curves (FROC). The FROC curve using the combined feature space was significantly higher than that using the RG feature space or the AC feature space alone (p=0.02 and 0.03, respectively). At a sensitivity of 70% for internal non-GGO nodules, the FP rates were 2.2, 2.2, and 1.5 per scan, respectively, for the RG, AC, and the combined methods. Our results indicate that the 3D AC algorithm can provide useful features to improve nodule detection on CT scans.
Dependence of the paired motor unit analysis on motor unit discharge characteristics in the human tibialis anterior muscle.

The paired motor unit analysis provides in vivo estimates of the magnitude of persistent inward currents (PIC) in human motoneurons by quantifying changes in the firing rate (ΔF) of an earlier recruited (reference) motor unit at the time of recruitment and derecruitment of a later recruited (test) motor unit. This study assessed the variability of ΔF estimates, and quantified the dependence of ΔF on the discharge characteristics of the motor units selected for analysis. ΔF was calculated for 158 pairs of motor units recorded from nine healthy individuals during repeated submaximal contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle. The mean (SD) ΔF was 3.7 (2.5) pps (range −4.2 to 8.9 pps). The median absolute difference in ΔF for the same motor unit pair across trials was 1.8 pps, and the minimal detectable change in ΔF required to exceed measurement error was 4.8 pps. ΔF was positively related to the amount of discharge rate modulation in the reference motor unit (r2 = 0.335; P < 0.001), and inversely related to the rate of increase in discharge rate (r2 = 0.125; P < 0.001). A quadratic function provided the best fit for relations between ΔF and the time between recruitment of the reference and test motor units (r2 = 0.229, P < 0.001), the duration of test motor unit activity (r2 = 0.110, P < 0.001), and the recruitment threshold of the test motor unit (r2 = 0.237, P < 0.001). Physiological and methodological contributions to the variability in ΔF estimates of PIC magnitude are discussed, and selection criteria to reduce these sources of variability are suggested for the paired motor unit analysis.
On the stereochemical aspects of the 1,1-cycloaddition reaction of diazoalkenes

Abstract Allyl substituted diazoalkenes undergo intramolecular 1,1-cycloaddition with complete retention of configuration to give 1,2-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-enes.
Interpersonal relations: Cooperation and competition.

Abstract Social relations between two persons require that consequences each receives depend at least in part on the responses of the other. Historically, research in several areas has focused on two contingencies, cooperation and competition, in which reinforcement is determined by the responses of both participants. A major research question in social psychology and applied behavior analysis has been: Which contingency is more effective with regard to the quantity or quality of some response? Although this question has not been addressed in the experimental analysis of behavior, this area provides a perspective and method to more fully investigate the relevant controlling variables. Among these are the frequency of opportunities to audit the performances of others, information (or lack of it) provided by social or nonsocial stimuli with regard to reinforcement and performance, degree of face-to-face interaction, types of reinforcement contingencies, and number of participants. A neglected dependent variable is cost effectiveness—amount of behavior maintained by a given reinforcer amount. The larger agenda for the experimental analysis of interpersonal relations includes a variety of forms of reinforcement interdependence that raise issues of basic and applied interest.
Is there a valid association between skin tags and colonic polyps: insights from a quantitative and methodologic analysis of the literature.

Objective: To assess the reported association between skin tags and colonic polyps and to evaluate the methodologic rigor of the studies.Design and data identification: English-language literature search using MEDLINE,Index Medicus, and bibliographic reviews of texts and all pertinent articles to perform a quantitative and methodologic analysis of all studies from 1983 (the original publication) assessing the association under study. Eligible studies were independently assessed using explicit methodologic guidelines for validity and generalizability of observational research. Two appraisers independently performed tests for heterogeneity and used meta-analytic methods in an attempt to provide summary estimates of the overall strength of association. Measurements and main results: Significant statistical heterogeneity across studies indicated sharp differences in the direction and magnitude of the odds ratios for the association between skin tags and colonic polyps (chi-square test of homogeneity=37.42, 9 degrees of freedom; p<0.005). This marked disparity prevented meaningful pooling of the individual data. The degree of statistical heterogeneity was not significantly reduced after an analysis of specific subgroups of studies. Limitations potentially responsible for the varying outcomes included lack of blinded ascertainment of clinical information, noncomparability of subjects, differing diagnostic evaluations of the colon, and uncontrolled confounding. In addition, all but one study were performed in a tertiary care setting, seriously limiting the results to the “average” subject seen in primary care settings. Conclusion: Methodologic limitations and inconsistencies in study outcomes preclude the aggregation of data necessary to compute a valid and meaningful summary estimate of association. Sufficient variability prevents any consensus regarding the association between skin tags and colonic polyps. In addition, the applicability of the results is limited primarily to subjects seen in tertiary care centers, limiting the overall clinical usefulness of skin tags as “biomarkers” of colonic polyps. Recommendations for further research are provided.
Spectroscopic characterization of soybean lipoxygenase-1 mutants: the role of second coordination sphere residues in the regulation of enzyme activity.

Lipoxygenases are non-heme iron enzymes, which catalyze the stereo- and regiospecific hydroperoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Spectroscopic studies on soybean lipoxygenase have shown that the ferrous form of the enzyme is a mixture of five- and six-coordinate species (40 and 60%, respectively). Addition of substrate leads to a purely six-coordinate form. A series of mutations in the second coordination sphere (Q697E, Q697N, Q495A, and Q495E) were generated, and the structures of the mutants were solved by crystallography [Tomchick et al. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 7509-7517]. While this study clearly showed the contribution of H-bond interactions between the first and the second coordination spheres in catalysis, no correlation with the coordination environment of the Fell was observed. A recent study using density-functional theory [Lehnert and Solomon (2002) J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 8, 294-305] indicated that coordination flexibility, involving the Asn694 ligand, is regulated via H-bond interactions. In this paper, we investigate the solution structures of the second coordination sphere mutants using CD and MCD spectroscopy since these techniques are more sensitive indicators of the first coordination sphere ligation of Fe-II systems. Our data demonstrate that the iron coordination environment directly relates to activity, with the mutations that have the ability to form a five-coordinate/six-coordinate mixture being more active. We propose that the H-bond between the weak Asn694 ligand and the Gln697 plays a key role in the modulation of the coordination flexibility of Asn694, and thus, is crucial for the regulation of enzyme reactivity.
IDEAS AND CONFUSION IN LEIBNIZ

In a paper published over thirty years ago,2 Margaret Wilson argues that Leibniz sometimes conceives of sensible qualities like redness, heat and light as mental representations (i.e. sensations) b...
Outcomes for Rural Medicaid Clients with Severe Mental Illness in Fee for Service versus Managed Care

This study compared outcomes for rural Medicaid clients with severe mental illness in fee for service versus managed care programs. Interviews were conducted with 305 Medicaid clients in rural Oregon (166 in fee for service and 139 in managed care). Logistic and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine client satisfaction, safety, symptoms, functioning, and family satisfaction in the fee for service versus managed care groups. There was no evidence that conversion of the Medicaid mental health system from fee for service to managed care led to changes in outcomes for rural clients with severe mental illness.
Analysis of effect of fabrication errors on performance of surface-acoustic-wave m-sequence correlators

The paper describes in detail the statistical analysis used in a study of the degradation produced by imperfections in surface-acoustic-wave correlators. We consider the effect of errors in either one or both of the generator/detector pair when the input signal is either a single or a periodic m-sequence. A theoretical model, which incorporates taper, band limitation, random amplitude variations and spurious signal level, accounts for a large measure of the experimentally observed degradation of performance.
Heterodyne detection for Fiber Bragg Grating sensors

In this paper, we present a Fiber-Bragg-Grating-based temperature sensor. The technique employs heterodyne detection using two Fiber Bragg Gratings. One of the gratings is used as a reference (local oscillator) and the second as a sensing arm. This sensor uses a Folded Mach-Zehnder interferometer. As the temperature changes, the Bragg wavelength of the FBG shifts. The heterodyne detection is used to detect the frequency difference between the reference and sensing signals that is caused by the temperature change. The dynamic range and sensitivity of the sensor were analyzed and presented.
Re-thinking accountability in child welfare

This paper observes that PL 96-272 has largely focused on the development of external mechanisms, such as citizen's boards and court reviews, to strengthen accountability in the child welfare system. The paper suggests that we might be reaching the limits of what these mechanisms can accomplish, and that further external regulation might have the unanticipated effects of blurring the lines of accountability and of discouraging skilled workers from entering or staying in the field. Instead, the paper argues for renewed attention to structuring child welfare systems in ways that support skilled casework practice. Only then will real accountability be achieved.
A Latitudinal Cline in Leaf Inclination of Dryas octopetala and Implications for Maximization of Whole Plant Photosynthesis

Mean leaf inclination of the arctic and alpine shrub Dryas octopetala is a function of latitude and this functional relationship is consistent with a model that maximizes photosynthesis of the total plant canopy.
Feature Selection for Classification of Polar Regions Using a Fuzzy Expert System

Labeling, feature selection, and the choice of classifier are critical elements for classification of scenes and for image understanding. This study examines several methods for feature selection in polar regions, including the list, of a fuzzy logic-based expert system for further refinement of a set of selected features. Six Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Local Area Coverage (LAC) arctic scenes are classified into nine classes: water, snow / ice, ice cloud, land, thin stratus, stratus over water, cumulus over water, textured snow over water, and snow-covered mountains. Sixty-seven spectral and textural features are computed and analyzed by the feature selection algorithms. The divergence, histogram analysis, and discriminant analysis approaches are intercompared for their effectiveness in feature selection. The fuzzy expert system method is used not only to determine the effectiveness of each approach in classifying polar scenes, but also to further reduce the features into a more optimal set. For each selection method,features are ranked from best to worst, and the best half of the features are selected. Then, rules using these selected features are defined. The results of running the fuzzy expert system with these rules show that the divergence method produces the best set features, not only does it produce the highest classification accuracy, but also it has the lowest computation requirements. A reduction of the set of features produced by the divergence method using the fuzzy expert system results in an overall classification accuracy of over 95 %. However, this increase of accuracy has a high computation cost.
Lack of thyroid hormones but not their excess affects the maturation of olfactory receptor neurons: A quantitative morphologic study in the postnatal rat

Abstract To study quantitatively actions of thyroid hormones on maturation of olfactory receptor neurons (ORN), surface density and total number of receptor knobs (1 knob/ORN) were measured in 1 μ sections from septal olfactory epithelium of newborn, 12- and 25 day normal, hypo- and hyperthyroid rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by adding to drinking water n-propylthiouracil (0.1% w v ) from birth. Hyperthyroidism was induced by daily injection of pups with T4 (1-thyroxine, 0.3 μg/g b.w. s.c.). Experimental pups showed all the signs of hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Between days 1–25, normal pups showed marked increase in surface area of septal olfactory epithelium (6 ×), total number (12 ×) and surface density (#/mm2, 2 ×) of mature ORNs. Thyroid deficient rats showed, by day 12, marked reductions in epithelial surface area and total number of mature ORNs; these and the surface density deficits became very pronounced by 25 day (30% area, 27% density, 47% # mature ORNs). Hyperthyroid rats, however, did not show an increase in any of these parameters over controls. Although total number of ORNs (mature and immature), as measured by number of nuclei, was also reduced in hypothyroid pups, surface density was not altered, indicating that maturation of ORNs, but not their local accretion is altered in thyroid deficiency. The results indicate that thyroid hormones are essential for normal proliferative expansion of olfactory epithelium and for maturation of ORNs postnatally. These actions of thyroid hormones are not increased or accelerated by excess T4 suggesting saturation of the hormone receptor system at the normal plasma level.
Thermal expansion of polycrystalline Ti3SiC2 in the 25°-1400°C temperature range

We measured the volume thermal expansion of Ti3SiC2 from 25° to 1400°C using high-temperature X-ray diffraction using a resistive heated cell. A piece of molybdenum foil with a 250 μm hole contained the sample material (Ti3SiC2+Pt). Thermal expansion of the polycrystalline sample was measured under a constant argon flow to prevent oxidation of Ti3SiC2 and the molybdenum heater. From the lattice parameters of platinum (internal standard), we calculated the temperature by using thermal expansion data published in the literature. The molar volume change of Ti3SiC2 as a function of temperature in °C is given by: VM (cm3/mol)=43.20 (2)+9.0 (5) × 10−4T+1.8(4) × 10−7T2. The temperature variation of the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is given by: αv (°C−1)=2.095 (1) × 10−5+7.700 (1) × 10−9T. Furthermore, the results indicate that the thermal expansion anisotropy of Ti3SiC2 is quite mild in accordance with previous work.
Abrupt propranolol withdrawal in angina pectoris: effects on platelet aggregation and exercise tolerance.

Abstract Data collected before the initial reports of myocardial infarction following sudden withdrawal of propranolol are presented here to evaluate possible mechanisms for this phenomenon. Twenty patients with angina pectoris were randomized into placebo and propranolol (160 mg./day) treated groups and followed for 50 weeks at which time treatment was abruptly discontinued. Measurements of exercise tolerance, the product of heart rate and blood pressure at exercise end-point (HR × BP), and platelet aggregation thresholds in response to ADP and epinephrine were made before, during, and after treatment. Prior to propranolol, mean total work performance was 765 ± 125 k.p.m., HR × BP (heart rate-blood pressure product) was 16,800 ± 1,535. Mean platelet aggregation threshold with ADP was 1.32 μM ∗ ∗Geometric mean.; with epinephrine 1.26 μM ∗ . Patients treated with propranolol demonstrated significant improvement in exercise performance (1,790 ± 285 k.p.m., p ∗ (p ∗ (p ∗ with ADP and 0.57 μM ∗ with epinephrine. In six patients platelets were significantly more hyperaggregable than prior to therapy. Anginal frequency increased in all, but no acute infarction was observed. Abrupt withdrawal of propranolol may be deleterious in patients, sometimes causing "rebound" platelet hyperaggregability associated with increasing anginal frequency and decreasing exercise tolerance.
Boundary-layer evolution over Phoenix, Arizona and the premature mixing of pollutants in the early morning

The 2001 Phoenix Sunrise campaign was a field measurement program to investigate the early morning chemical and meteorological processes associated with the development of ozone pollution in Phoenix, Arizona. As part of that study, atmospheric structure was measured using wind profiling radars, sodars, and radiosondes at several locations in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Chemical measurements made by other investigators showed that vertical mixing of pollutants began prior to sunrise on a number of occasions. This was surprising, since we expected sustained mixing to occur only after sunrise and the onset of solar heating. We have used the meteorological measurements to identify a density current that commonly arrives in downtown Phoenix in the hour or two before sunrise when conditions are undisturbed. Both winds and cold advection associated with this feature act to destabilize the lower atmosphere, and the resulting mixing continues through the morning transition to convective conditions. Because photochemical production of ozone is non-linearly dependent on the concentrations of precursor species, this early mixing will need to be properly represented in combined meteorological and chemical models if they are to be fully successful in simulating ozone concentrations.
Ocular Side Effects of Cancer Chemotherapy

The ocular side effects of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs are relatively uncommon. Patients with cancer may develop ocular problems due to metastases to the eye or central nervous system, side effects and radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or totally independent eye disorders. We present a review of the reported ocular toxicities of chemotherapeutic agents to assist the oncologist caring for such patients.
Antiparkinsonian Drugs: Inhibition of Dopamine Uptake in the Corpus Striatum as a Possible Mechanism of Action

A variety of antiparkinsonian drugs are potent, noncompetitive inhibitors of dopamine uptake into synaptosomes in homogenates of rat corpus striatum. Inhibition of dopamine uptake may potentiate the synaptic actions of dopamine in the striatum and could explain the antiparkinsonian effects of these drugs. This hypothesis accounts for several clinical features of Parkinson's disease and predicts compounds which may be new therapeutic agents.
Regulation of adipogenesis and osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells by vascular endothelial growth factor A

Understanding the mechanisms by which bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts and marrow adipocytes is crucial to develop strategies for the treatment of several bone diseases. Age-related bone loss resulting in osteopenia and osteoporosis has been associated with reduced numbers of osteoblasts and increased numbers of adipocytes, likely originating from differentiation defects in BMSCs. Although many factors involved in the complex regulation of osteoblast and adipocyte cell lineages have previously been identified, their functional interactions in the context of BMSC differentiation and maintenance of bone homeostasis during ageing are unknown. Recent discoveries have provided important new insights into the mechanisms by which the nuclear envelope protein lamin A and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) mutually control BMSC fate. Particularly interesting is the finding that VEGF in this context functions as an intracellular protein, unaffected by neutralizing antibodies, and not as a secreted growth factor. These insights may not only facilitate the identification of new targets for treating bone diseases but also lead to improved design of tissue engineering approaches aimed at stimulating bone regeneration and repair.
Route and rate of hydrallazine administration as determinants to its hypotensive effect in rabbits.

SUMMARY 1. The cardiovascular responses to varying doses of hydralazine were studied in renal hypertensive rabbits. 2. The depressor effect of hydralazine was independent of the rate of its i.v. administration (bolus v. a 15 min constant infusion). 3. Intraperitoneally administered hydralazine was significantly less active than equimolar i.v. doses, and the relative potency (i.p. v. i.v.) did not increase with increasing doses. 4. In spite of inferential evidence to the contrary, we did not find any pharmacodynamic support for non-linear processes being involved in metabolism of hydralazine.
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: new identification of testicular blood flow and varicocele after treatment with gonadotropins.

Objective To investigate testicular changes in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) after treatment with gonadotropins. Design Patients with HH were investigated and followed before and after treatment. Setting Urology and andrology clinic of a teaching hospital. Patient(s) Consecutive male patients with diagnosed HH. Intervention(s) All patients were treated with gonadotropins during the study period and later. Main Outcome Measure(s) The hormonal status and scrotal color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) of patients was recorded before and after treatment. Result(s) Twenty-six patients with HH (ages 18–43 years) were followed for 8–29 months. After treatment, serum T and secondary sex characters improved in all and spermatogenesis developed in 61.5% of patients. Before treatment, testicular (intraparenchymal blood flow) was undetectable in all and barely detectable in three patients. This improved significantly to 4.53 ± 5.44 and 4.27 ± 4.97 cm/second, respectively, after treatment. Subcapsular arterial flow and testicular size also improved significantly. Similarly, after treatment, transverse epididymal diameter (TED) increased significantly. At baseline, no patient had detectable varicocele on CDUS. After treatment, varicocele was demonstrable in 23% of patients. This finding was further evaluated retrospectively from our 76 HH patient files. None of them had varicocele before treatment, but after treatment 19.73% were found to have varicocele. Conclusion(s) Patients with HH responded to gonadotropins by improvement in testicular blood flow and increase in TED. In some patients, varicocele was found to develop after treatment.
Burlingame and the Inauguration of the Co-operative Policy *

Of all the Western diplomatic personalities who served in Peking during the nineteenth century, Anson Burlingame was perhaps the most celebrated figure. He acted as the first American resident minister in Peking from 1861 to 1867. He also acted as the first ‘Chinese’ envoy to the Western courts from 1867 to 1870, when his untimely death at St Petersburg cut short his colourful diplomatic career. Viewed against this unusual background, it is not surprising that his diplomacy in and out of China became something of a cause celebre among his contemporaries. With the passing of the events and men associated with his name, however, a new and deatched appraisal of the man and his diplomacy is in order. It is outside the scope of the present paper to treat his spectacular diplomatic mission on behalf of China in the Western capitals, better known as the burlingame Mission. This paper focuses instead on his role in the inauguration of the Co-operative Policy. In doing this, the apper attempts to shed some light on the origins of one of the most significant Western policies toward China.
Continuous polymerization of lactam–lactone block copolymers in a twin-screw extruder

Continuous copolymerizations of ϵ-caprolactone with ϵ-caprolactam and ω-lauryl lactam were carried out in a modular intermeshing corotating twin-screw extruder. Sodium hydride (initiator) and N-acetyl caprolactam (coinitiator) were used to synthesize lactam–lactone copolymers in a twin-screw extruder. We consider the variables of feeding order and feed rate of comonomers on the reactive extrusion of lactam–lactone copolymers. It was observed that simultaneous feeding of both monomers with initiator and coinitiator in the first hopper produced a mixture of homopolymers. When we fed the lactam into the first hopper and caprolactone sequentially into the second hopper, we obtained the lactam–caprolactone block copolymers. However, when we fed caprolactone first into the first hopper and the lactam into the second hopper, the extruded product was a mixture of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and lactam monomer. We synthesized high molecular weight copolymers of poly(caprolactam-b-caprolactone) and poly(lauryl lactam-b-caprolactone) with different block lengths by sequential feeding of monomers. The block length of the block copolymer could be adjusted by controlling the feed rate of each monomer during reactive extrusion. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1429–1437, 2003
Sampling and flow effects in sedimentation field flow fractionation

Abstract Transparent model channels for sedimentation field flow fractionation (SFFF) were devised so that sample-introduction patterns and primary flow characteristics could be visibilized. If a sample is injected at a point beyond the channel inlet, just where the full width of the channel is realized, less band broadening and more accurate retention results are obtained, as compared with injection of particles with the entering mobile phase stream via a valve loop. However, this injection method was found to be less convenient. Valve-loop injection can be used with good results, providing that loops of relatively small volume are utilized, and the sample is slowly swept from the loop into the channel inlet with the mobile phase. Expected retention of particles in SFFF experiments was obtained only with optimum injection techniques designed to place the sample as a sharp pulse at the channel inlet.
On the Lavrentiev phenomenon

Additional assumptions, besides convexity and coercivity, are investigated to guarantee that the Lavrentiev phenomenon does not occur in a basic problem of the calculus of variations.
Long-term growth of human T cell lines and clones on anti-CD3 antibody-treated tissue culture plates.

Abstract Long-term growth of antigen-specific human T cells requires, in addition to IL-2, periodic exposure to antigen and accessory cells. In certain cases, accessory cells are not available or their presence in culture is undesired. We have developed a method of growing and sustaining human T cell lines and clones in long-term tissue culture in the absence of specific antigen or accessory cells. The requirement for antigen and/or accessory cells could be replaced by a monoclonal antibody to the CD3 determinant of human T cells (OKT3) bound to the surface of plastic tissue culture wells. Autoreactive, alloreactive, and antigen-reactive T cell lines and clones were maintained in culture for 8–12 weeks without antigen or accessory cells. The antigen specificity of these T cells was maintained.
Statistical comparison of the AGDISP model with deposit data

Abstract An aerial spray Agricultural Dispersal (AGDISP) model was tested against quantitative field data. The microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was sprayed as fine spray from a helicopted over a flat site in various meteorological conditions. Droplet deposition on evenly spaced Kromekote cards, 0.15 m above the ground, was measured with image analysis equipment. Six complete data sets out of the 12 trials were selected for data comparison. A set of statistical parameters suggested by the American Meteorological Society and other authors was applied for comparisons of the model prediction with the ground deposit data. The results indicated that AGDISP tended to overpredict the average volume deposition by a factor of two. The sensitivity test of the AGDISP model to the input wind direction showed that the model may not be sensitive to variations in wind direction within 10 degrees relative to aircraft flight path.
Research Spotlight: Spooky action at a distance, for earthquakes

[1] On 27 February 2010 a magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked millions of Chileans from their slumber, but the South American people weren't the only ones so affected. New research by Peng et al. suggests that the trembling off the Chilean coast could have triggered a swarm of shallow earthquakes nearly 10,000 kilometers away in central California. The team identified four earthquakes with magnitudes of 2 or higher, with the largest of the group being a M 3.5 quake that rattled the Coso geothermal field. The affected region is plagued by small earthquakes, but when the authors calculated the chance of a swarm so neatly following the Chilean earthquake, they inferred that the two seismic events were probably connected. The authors also saw a cluster of deep, low-frequency earthquakes along the Parkfield-Cholame section of the San Andreas Fault that also appeared to be influenced by the Chilean event. The researchers suggest that the timing of the California earthquakes was affected by the arrival of Love waves—horizontal surface movement that would have traveled out from the epicenter of the Chilean earthquake, pushing already stressed faults over the edge. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2010GL045462, 2010)
WE-C-BRB-07: Benchmarking of the TOPAS Monte Carlo System against Phantom Dose Measurements in Proton Therapy

Purpose: To validate the accuracy of Monte Carlo(MC) simulations performed with TOPAS (TOol for PArticle Simulation; to be released to the proton therapy community) against phantom measurements in proton therapy.Methods: We used TOPAS, a new MC simulation tool that provides a user‐friendly interface to the Geant4 package, to simulate proton depth‐dose curves from the MGH gantry treatment heads in double‐ scattering mode. Simulations were compared to QA measurements of SOBPs. Field flatness and field symmetry from all clinical options (i.e. combinations of double‐scattering system, range modulator wheel and beam current modulation settings) have been simulated and benchmarked against measurements performed with 2D dose detectors. A step‐compensator consisting of two sections of different thickness was placed upstream a water phantom in which we measured lateral and longitudinal dose profiles. Results: For all treatment options TOPAS depth‐dose curves are within clinical required accuracy, the range being within +1/−1.5 mm and the modulation within ±3 mm of the requested specifications. SOBP simulations also validate time‐dependent geometry and beam current in TOPAS, as the modulator wheel is rotating with the beam current modulation changing at the same time. The field flatness of simulated protons is within ±2% the average dose measured in a plane transverse to the beam axis. Field symmetries show slight discrepancies compared to measured data. In the case of the step‐compensator, TOPAS correctly predicts the lateral width of the beam and longitudinal profiles at different transverse positions. In the transverse profiles, the edge scatteringeffects due to multiple Coulomb scattering were correctly reproduced by TOPAS. Conclusions: We demonstrated TOPAS accuracy to reproduce measured dose profiles in a variety of homogeneous phantom setups relevant for proton therapy. The accuracy in the benchmarking achieved with TOPAS simulations provides the basis for routine clinical dose calculations. NIH/NCI P01 CA021239
Baylor Pediatric SBIRT Medical Residency Training Program: Model Description and Evaluation

ABSTRACT. Background: The Baylor College of Medicine SBIRT Medical Residency Training Program is a multilevel project that trains residents and faculty in evidenced-based screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment methods for alcohol and substance use problems. Methods: This paper describes the training program created for pediatric residents and provides an evaluation of the program. Ninety-five first-year pediatric residents participated in the training program. They were assessed on satisfaction with the program, self-rated skills, observed competency, and implementation into clinical practice. Results: The program was successfully incorporated into the residency curricula in two pediatric residencies. Evaluations indicate a high degree of satisfaction with the program, self-reported improvement in SBIRT skills, observed proficiency in SBIRT skills, and utilization of SBIRT skills in clinical practice. Conclusions: SBIRT skills training can be incorporated into pediatric residency trainin...
Circular Inhomogeneity with Viscoelastic Interface Under Antiplane Shear

This investigation addresses in detail a circular inhomogeneity with a viscoelastic interface subjected to remote uniform antiplane shear stresses. Both the inhomogeneity and the surrounding matrix are assumed to be elastic and quasi static, and the interface is viscoelastic, modeled by a linear spring and dashpot. Exact closed-form solutions for both the Kelvin- and Maxwell-type viscoelastic interfaces are obtained by means of the complex variable method. It is observed that when the matrix is subjected to remote uniform shear stresses, the stress field inside the inhomogeneity, although time-dependent, is still uniform. The derived solutions are then used to predict the time-dependent effective shear modulus of the composite based on the Mori-Tanaka mean-field approximation.
Introduction to the special issue about perspectives on teachers’ disciplinary knowledge of reading processes, development, and pedagogy

Reading acquisition is arguably the most complex, developmentally interesting cognitive task that children are expected to undertake while in school. Although there is growing recognition that certified and highly trained teachers positively influence student learning and development (Darling-Hammond, 2000), the effective teaching of literacy skills requires not only knowledge cultivated through basic preand in-service programs, but also that educators acquire and apply a sophisticated understanding of the nuances of the English language. Additionally, the increasing diversity of students’ cognitive, linguistic, and academic abilities in today’s classrooms has put even greater pressure on teachers to develop varied strategies that will foster student literacy growth. Similarly, as we aim to support the literacy development of all children both before and throughout their formal education, it is important to recognize that teachers at different grade levels must acquire different types of knowledge and utilize different strategies in order to best support their students. As our education system attempts to identify the most effective strategies to minimize the discrepancies between underserved and more advantaged populations, it is critical that both educators and researchers recognize the powerful impact that teacher knowledge of early literacy skills can have on students’ long-term academic success and continue empirical explorations of exactly how, when, and why teachers have this influence. In the past three decades, the field of teacher knowledge in the domain of literacy has grown considerably. Researchers have continued to more specifically characterize the knowledge that teachers and teacher educators must acquire and apply (Almasi, 2002; Ball, 2000; Joshi et al., 2009; Shulman, 1986, 1987), craft professional development programs that help teachers cultivate such knowledge (McCutchen
Glycosyl α-aminoacids via stereocontrolled buildup of a penaldic acid equivalent. An asymmetric synthesis of thymine polyoxin C

Abstract A new strategy for assembly of glycosyl α-aminoacids via the stereocontrolled buildup of a serine-derived penaldic acid equivalent (i.e. I → II) is illustrated by the asymmetric synthesis of thymine polyoxin C.
PHOSPHOINOSITIDE SIGNALING: NEW TOOLS AND INSIGHTS

Phosphoinositides constitute only a small fraction of cellular phospholipids, yet their importance in the regulation of cellular functions can hardly be overstated. The rapid metabolic response of phosphoinositides after stimulation of certain cell surface receptors was the first indication that these lipids could serve as regulatory molecules. These early observations opened research areas that ultimately clarified the plasma membrane role of phosphoinositides in Ca(2+) signaling. However, research of the last 10 years has revealed a much broader range of processes dependent on phosphoinositides. These lipids control organelle biology by regulating vesicular trafficking, and they modulate lipid distribution and metabolism more generally via their close relationship with lipid transfer proteins. Phosphoinositides also regulate ion channels, pumps, and transporters as well as both endocytic and exocytic processes. The significance of phosphoinositides found within the nucleus is still poorly understood, and a whole new research concerns the highly phosphorylated inositols that also appear to control multiple nuclear processes. The expansion of research and interest in phosphoinositides naturally created a demand for new approaches to determine where, within the cell, these lipids exert their effects. Imaging of phosphoinositide dynamics within live cells has become a standard cell biological method. These new tools not only helped us localize phosphoinositides within the cell but also taught us how tightly phosphoinositide control can be linked with distinct effector protein complexes. The recent progress allows us to understand the underlying causes of certain human diseases and design new strategies for therapeutic interventions.
Mentoring as a Professional Development Tool

(1990). Mentoring as a Professional Development Tool. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education: Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 26-30.
An eight-year study of online lecture use in a medical gross anatomy and embryology course

Online lectures have been used in lieu of live lectures in our gross anatomy and embryology course for the past eight years. We examined patterns of online lecture use by our students and related that use to academic entry measures, gender and examination performance. Detailed access records identified by student were available from server logs. Total views per page of lecture material increased over the first six years, then decreased markedly between years seven and eight, possibly due to the recent availability of alternate forms of lecture audio. Lecture use peaked in midafternoon and again in the evening, although some use was seen at all hours. Usage was highest at midweek and lowest on Fridays as might be expected. Individual student's use varied widely from rates equivalent to less than one viewing/page to more than three viewings per page. Overall use by male students was greater than that of females and gender-specific differences in the daily pattern were seen. Lecture use was correlated to the Medical College Admission Test(®) (MCAT(®)) Verbal Reasoning and Physical Sciences scores but not to composite MCAT scores or undergraduate grade point average. Overall use appeared to be driven by scheduled team-based learning (TBL) sessions and major examinations. Specific subsets of lecture material were most often viewed before related TBL sessions and again during review for examinations. A small but significant correlation between lecture use and examination and course performance was seen, specifically in the male student population. These findings, along with earlier observations, suggest that varied use of online lectures is attributable to multiple factors.