cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What role will 'gliptins' play in glycemic control?

The gliptins, a new class of oral drugs for type 2 diabetes mellitus, lower blood glucose levels by a novel mechanism: ie, by inhibiting the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 4, thereby increasing the circulating levels of incretins (gut hormones that can boost insulin levels). This article reviews the current evidence on the effectiveness of gliptins and suggests several ways in which these agents could be used in diabetes treatment.
Thermal degradation of IM7/BMI5260 composite materials: characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract Thermal degradation mechanisms of the graphite/polymeric composite (IM7/BMI5260) have been characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Binding energies of carbon fibers can be uniquely determined due to their electrically conducting nature, whereas those of the polymeric matrix are shifted by the amount of bias voltage applied to a charge neutralization electron flood gun. This effect turns out to be useful in separating the contribution from carbon-fibers and polymeric matrix, thereby changes associated with photoelectron peaks for carbon-fibers and polymeric matrix can be measured independently. An ‘in-situ’ oxidation chamber was constructed to simulate the environmental conditions. It was found that the thermal degradation was initiated by preferential oxidation of weakly bonded carbons in BMI5260, converting to carbonyl species, followed by the total degradation of polymer backbone structure. No change in the carbon fibers was detected throughout the course of ‘in-situ’ treatment.
Apparent reduction in the number of nerve membrane sodium channels in the house fly in relation to metabolic resistance to insecticides

Abstract Nerve membrane sodium channels were assayed by measuring [ 3 H]saxitoxin (STX) binding and its displacement by tetrodotoxin (TTX) from house fly head membrane preparations. Activity was measured in a susceptible strain and in strains with single or combinations of genes for target site resistance to pyrethroids and metabolic resistance to insecticides. The affinities ( K d values) for STX binding were similar in all strains, indicating that qualitative differences in sodium channels associated with STX binding were not involved in resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. The amount of STX binding ( B max ) was the same in a susceptible strain and a strain with only target site resistance to pyrethroids, indicating that quantitative differences in sodium channels were not involved in resistance. In cotrast, the amount of STX binding was reduced in strains with metabolic resistance to insecticides. The results explain contradictions reported from several previous studies of STX binding in relation to pyrethroid resistance and suggest that the use of strains combining target site and metabolic resistance was responsible for the previous findings.
Starch-gel electrophoresis of citrate-condensing enzyme from pig heart

Abstract Citrate-condensing enzyme from pig heart can exist in vitro as two distinct species which are separable by starch-gel electrophoresis. Several mild types of treatment can interconvert these enzymes and suggest that the separate forms arise in the process of purification; the two enzymes may differ only in the state of reduction of their sulfhydryl groups.
Workspace and force capabilities of a miniature multi-functional surgical robot

This paper describes the capabilities of a miniature multi-functional in vivo robot designed and developed for Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery (LESS). The paper outlines several competing design criteria including robot size, workspace volume, endpoint speeds, and endpoint forces. In this paper, the robot is evaluated according to these criteria. The workspace is described and the maximum no-load endpoint speeds and maximum attainable endpoint forces are presented. Finally, the robot capabilities are discussed, related to medical applications, and demonstrated in an animal surgery.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Iprrdiation Damage of MOS-FETS Operating in the Common Source Mode

Thirty-three MOS-FETS were operated at various bias points under 60Co gamma irradiation up to a total dose of approximately 107 R. The n-channel depletion, n-channel enhancement, and p-channel enhancement devices were operated at constant drain voltage in the common source mode. The results demonstrate effects of lateral oxide charge distributions along the channel between source and drain terminals. A tendency for the n-channel devices to gradually turn off is observed in addition to the threshold voltage shifts previously reported. A factor of ten improvement in radiation resistance can be obtained by using optimum device types (n-channel) at gate voltages which minimize threshold voltage shift (approximately zero volts).
Sources of energy for the brain and physical dependence on ethanol

Abstract This paper describes a proposed biochemical mechanism to account for physical dependence on ethanol. Long-term exposure to a continuous and plentiful supply of ethanol-derived hydrogens in NADH and ethanol-derived acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) may lead to a decreased rate of production of endogenous hydrogens in NADH and endogenous AcCoA in compensation. It is proposed that physical dependence on ethanol occurs when ketolytic-and glycolytic-based NADH and AcCoA synthetic rates fall below the rate of utilization by the brain; the brain then "depends" on alcohol-derived NADH and AcCoA for normal function.
Chronic GABA treatment downregulates the GABA A receptor α2 and α3 subunit mRNAS as well as polypeptide expression in primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons

Abstract Chronic GABA exposure of mammalian primary cultured cortical neurons results in a downregulation of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. In the present study, the mRNA levels, as well as polypeptide expression, for the GABAA receptor α2 and α3 subunits in cultured embryonic mouse cerebral cortical neurons (7 day old) were examined using northern analysis and immunoblotting techniques following chronic GABA treatment. The α1 subunit mRNA or polypeptide could not be detected in these neurons. The steady state levels of mRNA for the GABAA receptor α2 and α3 subunits showed a decrease in comparison with untreated neurons. There was no change in the level of the β actin or poly(A)+ RNA under the same experimental conditions. This agonist-induced reduction in the GABAA receptor α2 and α3 subunit mRNA was blocked by the concomitant exposure of neurons to R 5135, an antagonist of GABAA receptor. The polypeptide expression for the GABAA receptor α2 and α3 subunits in chronically GABA-treated neurons also showed a decline and this change was also blocked by the concomitant exposure of cells to GABA and R 5135. These results indicate that the chronic exposure of the GABAA receptor complex to agonist downregulates the expression of the α subunits of the receptor complex, which may be related to an observed decreases in the number of binding sites and GABA-induced36Cl-influx in the cortical neurons.
Definitive Radiation Therapy for Stage I and II Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma: Report of a Prospective Study

group, the 3-year rate for out-of-filed CNS recurrence was 25%.Late neurotoxicity of WBRT was encountered in two 65-year-old patients and in 4 patients less than 60 years of age. Two patients over 60 years old and a 58-year-old patient treated with PBRT developed treatment-related late neurotoxicity. Conclusions: PBRT seems to be a feasible treatment option for solitary PCNSL. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the superiority of PBRT over WBRT. Author Disclosure: M. Iwabuchi: None. C. Sugie: None. S. Ayakawa: None. F. Baba: None. H. Ogino: None. Y. Shibamoto: None.
Interferon regulatory factor-2 induces megakaryopoiesis in mouse bone marrow hematopoietic cells.

Megakaryopoiesis is associated with inflammatory reactions. To investigate the role of interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) in inflammation-associated megakaryopoiesis, mouse bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were analyzed. IFN-γ treatment induced IRF-2 expression as well as the expression of CD41 and IRF-1 in HSCs. An in vitro clonogenic assay showed that IRF-2- but not IRF-1-overexpressing cells increased the number of megakaryocytic colonies. IRF-2 transfection up-regulated CD41 promoter activity in hematopoietic cell lines. The number of CD41-positive bone marrow cells increased in mice injected with IRF-2-expressing bone marrow cells. These findings suggest that IRF-2 plays an important role in megakaryopoiesis in inflammatory states.
Speeds of Sound in Fluid Ammonia to 3.8 GPa and 680 K

Speeds of sound in fluid ammonia have been measured by Impulsive Stimulated Scattering, to a pressure of 3.8 GPa and along isotherms of (297, 476, and 680) K. Speeds are compared with previous measurements and with predictions of equations of state.
Some software for computing robust linear or nonlinear regression estimators

One reason that robust methods are often not used in practice is the lack of affordable easy to use software. This paper addresses this issue by providing instructions, examples, and code for using Fortran and LISPSTAT to compute MM-estimates and other robust regression estimates. LISPSTAT is a graphical computing environment available for Unix-based, Dos and Macintosh computers at no charge to the user.
Resolution of bronchospasm by atropine: report of a case.

A case of bronchospasm during general anesthesia is presented in which atropine appeared to reverse bronchoconstriction, after high halothane concentrations, intratracheal lidocaine, and isoproterenol i.v. had all proved ineffective. This case illustrates a rational approach to the treatment of bronchospasm during anesthesia, based on determination of the most likely site of origin of bronchoconstriction within the tracheobronchial tree.
The ππ total cross section: Its scale and massless pion limit

Abstract The question of the scale of the ππ total cross section is considered. We first give a simple intuitive argument for expecting cross sections in the massless chiral world to be finite. Assuming the universality of P-f Regge couplings, we give a simple dispersion theoretic evaluation of the asymptotic ππ total cross section, σ ππ . We deduce an algebraic expression for σ ππ and find that its scale is determined by 1/ m ϱ 2 or, equivalently, 1/ f π 2 — just as Pagels conjectured. This relation has a smooth, finite limit as m π tends to zero. Numerically, we obtain σ ππ = 17 ± 4mb for physical mass pions and 14 ± 3mb for massless pions.
On refined nonlinear theories of laminated composite structures with piezoelectric laminae

In this paper geometrically nonlinear theories of laminated composite plates with piezoelectric laminae are developed. The formulations are based on thermopiezoelectricity, and include the coupling between mechanical deformations, temperature changes, and electric displacements. Two different theories are presented: one based on an equivalent-single-layer third-order theory and the other based on the layerwise theory, both of which were developed by the senior author for composite laminates without piezoelectric laminae. In the present study, they are extended to include piezoelectric laminae. In both theories, the electric field is expanded layerwise through the laminate thickness. The dynamic version of the principle of virtual displacements (or Hamilton’s principle) is used to derive the equations of motion and associated boundary conditions of the two theories. These theories may be used to accurately determine the response of laminated plate structures with piezoelectric laminae and subjected to thermomechanical loadings.
Evaluation of the impacts of refrigerant charge on air conditioner and heat pump performance

Abstract The paper provides results that show the impact of charge level on capacity and efficiency for several units tested in the laboratory. To evaluate the performance, capacity ratio and COP ratio were determined from measurements at various refrigerant charge levels and operating conditions. For all systems considered in this study, a refrigerant charge reduction of 25% led to an average energy efficiency reduction of about 15% and capacity degradation of about 20%. To evaluate the economic value of charge detection and correction, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and annual cost of electricity were determined for some case studies based on the tested units. The results imply that charging inaccuracies could cause significant decreases in SEER, leading to increases in the operating costs. When the refrigerant was charged to 75% of design, the SEER value decreased by 16% and annual operating cost was increased by US$ 100 per ton of capacity.
Obstructive total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.

Obstructive total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) has a florid presentation in the neonatal period from the resulting pulmonary edema. A complete anatomical and functional diagnosis is usually possible by transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization with its attendant risks can usually be avoided in the sick neonate. Currently balloon atrial septostomy has a limited role in palliation of these neonates. Corrective surgery on urgent basis has gratifying results and prevents progression of pulmonary vascular occlusive disease. Pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the early post-operative course needs to be avoided and treated vigorously if it were to develop. Late post-operative course can be complicated by anastomotic obstruction or progressive narrowing of the individual pulmonary veins. Although the former can be dealt successfully by re-operation, surgical treatment of the latter is not satisfactory. Balloon dilatation of the obstructed pulmonary venous pathway, native and post-operative, has been reported with equivocal results. Infant heart-lung transplant is a viable option in patients with diffusely narrow pulmonary veins or complex TAPVDs.
Application of the Urban Airshed Model to forecasting next-day peak ozone concentrations in Atlanta, Georgia.

ABSTRACT Twenty-four to forty-eight-hour ozone air quality forecasts are increasingly being used in metropolitan areas to inform the public about potentially harmful air quality conditions. The forecasts are also behind “ozone action day” programs in which the public and private sectors are encouraged or mandated to alter activities that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Presented here is a low-cost application of the Urban Airshed Model (UAM), an Eulerian 3-dimensional photochemical-transport grid model for generating next-day peak ozone concentration forecasts. During the summer of 1997, next-day peak ozone concentrations in Atlanta, GA, were predicted both by a team of eight forecasters and by the Urban Airshed Model in Forecast Mode (UAM-FM). Results are presented that compare the accuracy of the team and the UAM-FM. The results for the summer of 1997 indicate that the UAM-FM may be a better predictor of peak ozone concentrations when concentrations are high (> 0.095 ppmv), and the te...
Dopaminergic and serotonergic activity in the hypothalamus during early and late pregnancy.

Abstract Push-pull cannulae were implanted into the arcuate nucleus of pregnant or ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and the perfusate samples were analyzed for biogenic amines and their metabolites. Injection of parygline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, resulted in a decrease in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in the samples, and detectable amounts of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), which were usually not measurable prior to injection. Administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan resulted in a sharp increase in 5-HIAA and 5-HT levels in the perfusates, and no change in DOPAC levels. Push-pull perfusion was done between midnight and 06.00 h on day 8 and 16 of pregnancy. In those rats which showed a nocturnal prolactin (PRL) surge on day 8, 5-HIAA levels were very high compared to those that did not, or compared to those on day 16, which had chronic low PRL levels. DOPAC levels were not significantly different in the 3 groups. Perfusion of medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) fragments taken from mother rats on day 8 of pregnancy during the PRL surge spontaneously released more DA or 5-HT than did fragments taken on day 16 at the same time of day. These results suggest that serotonergic activity in the MBH is higher on day 8 of pregnancy, in parallel with the occurrence of PRL surges, than on day 16 when no surges are present. Dopaminergic activity, as measured by DOPAC levels in push-pull samples, does not appear to be different between the two days.
Clinical Psychology As Science and Profession: A Forty-year Odyssey

Psychology as Science and Profession: A Forty-Year Odyssey. By David Shakow. Price, $12.50. Pp 350. Aldine Publishing Company, 529 S Wabash Ave, Chicago 60605, 1969. David Shakow has long been a creative contributing scientist in the field of clinical psychology. He has worked with other distinguished people such as David Rappaport and taught many students who rose to high positions. More than that, he has influenced his profession toward achieving high standards of practice and research. To know him is to like and admire him, to read his writings is to be informed and stimulated. This volume is a collection of 27 papers concerned with clinical psychology as science and profession but these are only a fraction of his original publications. The epilogue for the collection is a beautiful expression of the present status of clinical psychology and its relationship to other fields. Read these sentences: "This rapidly changing world may be calling for quite different approaches and we must allow for such changes. Nevertheless, some of us believe that there are a few eternal verities. Among these is quality of performance." This epitomizes Shakow's professional life. The book should be owned and read by all students of psychology and psychiatry. Those already in these professions will delight in rereading and restudying the collected papers. ROY R. GRINKER, SR., MD
Developmentally regulated alternative splicing in a novel synaptojanin.

Phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PIPs) perform central functions in signal transduction and membrane traffic. Synaptojanin is a PIP 5-phosphatase that is expressed in a brain-specific and a ubiquitous splice variants and is thought to constitute the major PIP 5-phosphatase in mammalian brain (Woscholski, R., Finan, P.M., Radley, E., Totty, N.F., Sterling, A.E., Hsuan, J.J., Waterfield, M. D., and Parker, P. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 9625-9628). We now describe synaptojanin 2, a novel isoform of synaptojanin that, similar to synaptojanin 1, contains an N-terminal SAC1-like sequence and a central 5-phosphatase domain but a distinct, unique C-terminal sequence. Transfection studies demonstrated that synaptojanin 2, like synaptojanin 1, is an active PIP phosphatase. An interesting feature of synaptojanin 1 is the presence of a long open reading frame in the 3' region of the brain mRNA that in non-brain tissues is joined to the coding region by alternative splicing, resulting in a shorter synaptojanin 1 form in brain and a longer form in peripheral tissues (Ramjaun, A. R., and McPherson, P. S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 24856-24861). Although it exhibits no homology to synaptojanin 1 in this region, synaptojanin 2 also contains an open reading frame in the 3' region that is subject to alternative splicing. Similar to synaptojanin 1, alternative splicing of synaptojanin 2 is tissue-specific and creates a shorter isoform expressed in brain and a longer form in peripheral tissues. The similar alternative splicing of two homologous proteins in a region of non-homology raises the possibility of evolutionary convergence and supports the significance of the variants. Analysis of mRNAs from three brain regions at different developmental stages revealed that alternative splicing of synaptojanin 2 is a developmentally late event, occurring only after the first postnatal week after the generation of neurons and initial synaptogenesis.
Multiple-valued logic based multiprocessor using polarization-encoded optical shadow-casting

Abstract An efficient technique for the design of a multiple-valued logic based multiprocessor using polarization-encoded optical shadow-casting is presented. As an illustration, this technique is used to design a multiprocessor which can perform trinary full addition and full subtraction both in parallel.
CLL clonal heterogeneity: an ecology of competing subpopulations.

In this issue of Blood , Schuh et al report the detection of heterogeneous patterns of clonal evolution in 3 patients with IgHV unmutated CLL over the lifetime of their disease using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).[1][1] One of the clinical hallmarks of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the high
Influence of salt and pH on the solubility and structural characteristics of transglutaminase-treated wheat gluten hydrolysate ☆

Abstract Hydrolyzed wheat gluten (GH, 77–85% protein) was prepared by limited chymotrypsin digestion at 37 °C for 4 h (degree of hydrolysis = 6.4%) and 15 h (degree of hydrolysis = 10.3%). Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) treatment (55 °C for 1 h, or 5 °C for 18 h) effect on the solubility and structural characteristics of GH was examined under selected food processing conditions (pH 4.0–7.0, 0–0.6 M NaCl). The MTGase treatment increased solubility of GH by 3–29-fold (P
Variations in Bran Carotenoid Levels within and between Rice Subgroups

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major grain in the human diet and carotenoids are valuable antioxidants. However, little is known about varietal differences in the carotenoid contents of the rice bran. The objective of this study is to determine the relative differences in bran carotenoid levels among all the five subgroups of rice. Measurements were made by a recently described, rapid non-destructive fluorescence quenching method. Confirmation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after solvent extraction of the bran indicated that the major carotenoid was lutein. Our data showed that carotenoid levels were stable over 10 years of storage. Tropical japonica rice, the most consumed subgroup in the United States, tended to have the lowest levels of carotenoids in the bran while temperate japonicas had the highest. These differences in carotenoid content may open up new opportunities for identifying or breeding rice varieties with higher nutritional value.
A reconstitution assay for the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein of the adenylate cyclase system using turkey erythrocyte membranes as the acceptor preparation

Abstract The turkey erythrocyte beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system has the unusual property that neither GTP nor Gpp(NH)p are effective in activating adenylate cyclase unless a beta-agonist is present simultaneously. This property results in essentially no basal activity and the inability of GTP or Gpp(NH)p alone to activate the catalytic moiety. In this study, we have exploited these characteristics to utilize turkey erythrocyte membranes as the acceptor preparation in a reconstitution assay. Rat reticulocyte or turkey erythrocyte membranes that have been activated with isoproterenol and Gpp(NH)p followed by solubilization with sodium cholate serve as the donor source of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (N). By reconstituting this Gpp(NH)p-activated N protein, it has been found that: (1) exogenous Gpp(NH)p-associated N could activate the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase in turkey erythrocyte membranes; (2) this system can be used to assay N protein activity; (3) the endogenous pathway for activation of turkey erythrocyte membrane adenylate cyclase by hormones and fluoride remains qualitatively functional; and (4) the effects of combined activation via the endogenous and exogenous pathways are additive and saturable.
High‐performance GaN/InGaN double heterojunction bipolar transistors with power density >240 kW/cm2

We report GaN/In0.03Ga0.97N npn double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) grown on sapphire substrates for high power applications. High current gain and high power density are obtained using a simple single-growth mesa etching process. A device with an emitter area (AE) of 20×20 µm2 achieves a peak d.c. current gain (β) of 84, a maximum collector current density (JC) of 7.2 kA/cm2 and a maximum power density > 240 kW/cm2. A large-area (AE = 12163 μm2) multi-finger device also shows a peak β = 30, maximum collector current (Ic) = 200 mA and maximum d.c. power = 3.76 W. These values are among the best for the reported III-N HBTs to date (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Cycling Frequency and Temperature on the Fatigue Life of 60 Tin/40 Lead Solder

The effects of cycling frequency and temperature on the fatigue life of solder has been analyzed. Mechanical fatigue life experiments were conducted under load control while varying the temperature and cycling frequency. Using the experimental data, a fatigue model was formulated based on the Basquin and the Coffin-Manson relations, introducing the effects of temperature and frequency. The model parameters were obtained by a statistical method incorporating multiple linear regression. Using the model, estimated values of cycles to failure at each of the testing temperatures and frequency were calculated. Using the estimated values, an evaluation of each of the models was conducted, resulting in strong correlations between the model’s estimation and the experimental data.
The Symbolic Capital of Social Identities: The Genre of Bargaining in an Urban Guatemalan Market

This article examines bartering speech in a Guatemalan market as a particular type of discourse, the genre of bargaining. It also investigates marketers' uses of that discourse as facilitating a process of negotiating their identities as social actors. The article examines, first, how the invocation of the genre of bargaining orders marketers' speech into a stable and coherent discourse; second, how the genre's connections with social, ideological, and political-economic relations invest marketers' speech with pre-established associations; and third, how marketers may manipulate social and ideological associations established by past conventions in order to negotiate the social value of their identities at present.
Two-body Bose-Einstein correlations in simulated relativistic heavy ion collision events

An algorithm for generating Bose-Einstein momentum space correlations in the particle distributions of simulated relativistic heavy-ion collision events is extended for applications to experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Quality fits to the momentum space correlations for spherical and nonspherical source geometries are obtained for both the like charged pion $[({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+})$ and $({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})]$ and unlike charged pion $({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ two-body distributions predicted for $200A$ GeV Au+Au central collisions. The momentum space correlations not directly constrained in the fitting algorithm are examined, and strong correlations are found for both the like and unlike charged pion spectra indicating that the correlation signals generated by the algorithm are robust. The model is well suited for the simulation needs of present and future heavy-ion experiments.
Quantitative analysis of debranched amylopectin by HPAEC-PAD with a postcolumn enzyme reactor

Abstract The chain-length distribution of debranched amylopectin was analyzed by using high performance anion-exchange chromatography with an amyloglucosidase (AMG) reactor and a pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-ENZ-PAD). The effects of reactor length, reactor temperature, and additional a-amylase reactor were studied. Results showed that a 2 mm i.d. x 23 mm AMG reactor at 25%°C was sufficient to convert HPAEC-separated amylodextrins to glucose; the PAD response for the hydrolyzed amylodextrins of different chain-length was consistent, and quantitative results were achieved. With this enzymatic treatment, amylodextrin with DP up to 77 was detected for a debranched tapioca amylopectin sample. The chain-length distribution profile of debranched tapioca amylopectin showed three fractions with peak DPs 48± 1 (Fl), 19 (F2a), and 12 (F2b).
Personalized low dose CT via variable kVp

Computerized Tomography (CT) is a powerful radiographic imaging technology but the health risk due to the exposure of x-ray radiation has drawn wide concern. In this study, we propose to use kVp modulation to reduce the radiation dose and achieve the personalized low dose CT. Two sets of simulation are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of kVp modulation and the corresponding calibration. The first simulation used the helical body phantom (HBP) that is an elliptical water cylinder with high density bone inserts. The second simulation uses the NCAT phantom to emulate the practical use of kVp modulation approach with region of interest (ROI) selected in the cardiac region. The kVp modulation profile could be optimized view by view based on the knowledge of patient attenuation. A second order correction is applied to eliminate the beam hardening artifacts. To simplify the calibration process, we first generate the calibration vectors for a few representative spectra and then acquire other calibration vectors with interpolation. The simulation results demonstrate the beam hardening artifacts in the images with kVp modulation can be eliminated with proper beam hardening correction. The results also show that the simplification of calibration did not impair the image quality: the calibration with the simplified and the complete vectors both eliminate the artifacts effectively and the results are comparable. In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility of kVp modulation and gives a practical way to calibrate the high order beam hardening artifacts.
Equal weighting vs. differential weighting of subtest scores on short forms of Wechsler's intelligence scales

Data from the standardization samples for the WISC-R, the WPPSI, and the WAIS-R were employed to compare the validities and reliabilities of each of several short forms, using (a) the multiple regression weights based on those data, and (b) equal weights. For the short forms of the WISC-R, comparisons were also made using (c) the multiple regression weights reported by the investigators who proposed the short forms, based on their data. The validities and reliabilities varied little from one set of weights to another, so that a strong case can be made for the use of equal weights, which also possess the advantages of simpliciity and robustness.
Successful After-School Programs

(2006). Successful After-School Programs. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 3-12.
Elusive '68: The Challenge to Pedagogy

Teaching ′68 presents pedagogical challenges far greater than assembling a set of workable classroom materials. Divisive controversies that were the hallmark of the time—e.g., the debate over the nature and appropriate use of violence—are with us still, though in a somewhat different form. Further, the instructor′s own politics and positionality can hardly be ignored—as they will certainly not be overlooked by our students. Additionally, this essay argues that fundamental terms (such as who qualifies as a ′68er) remain problematic; that the instrumentalization of the Holocaust by the German New Left continues to affect political decisions down to the present; that our investment as teachers in poststructuralist literary theory may—perhaps inadvertently—affect the way we view and therefore teach ′68; and, finally, that there is a pressing need, despite a recent explosion in Germany of publications celebrating the fortieth anniversary of ′68, for a didacticized reader designed for the North American German Studies classroom.
A game theoretic fault detection filter

The fault detection process is approximated with a disturbance attenuation problem. The solution to this problem, for both linear time-varying and time-invariant systems, leads to a game theoretic filter which bounds the transmission of all exogenous signals except the fault to be detected. In the limit, when the disturbance attenuation bound is brought to zero, a complete transmission block is achieved by embedding the nuisance inputs into an unobservable, invariant subspace. Since this is the same invariant subspace structure seen in some types of detection filters, we can claim that the asymptotic game filter is itself a detection filter. One can also make use of this subspace structure to reduce the order of the limiting game theoretic filter by factoring this invariant subspace out of the state space. The resulting lower dimensional filter will then be sensitive only to the failure to be detected. A pair of examples given at the end of the paper demonstrate the effectiveness of the filter for time-invariant and time-varying problems in both full-order and reduced-order forms.
Landscape Planning for Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction I: A Geographical Allocation Framework

Agricultural nonpoint source pollution remains a persistent environmental problem, despite the large amount of money that has been spent on its abatement. At local scales, agricultural best management practices (BMPs) have been shown to be effective at reducing nutrient and sediment inputs to surface waters. However, these effects have rarely been found to act in concert to produce measurable, broad-scale improvements in water quality. We investigated potential causes for this failure through an effort to develop recommendations for the use of riparian buffers in addressing nonpoint source pollution in Wisconsin. We used frequency distributions of phosphorus pollution at two spatial scales (watershed and field), along with typical stream phosphorus (P) concentration variability, to simulate benefit/cost curves for four approaches to geographically allocating conservation effort. The approaches differ in two ways: (1) whether effort is aggregated within certain watersheds or distributed without regard to watershed boundaries (dispersed), and (2) whether effort is targeted toward the most highly P-polluting fields or is distributed randomly with regard to field-scale P pollution levels. In realistic implementation scenarios, the aggregated and targeted approach most efficiently improves water quality. For example, with effort on only 10% of a model landscape, 26% of the total P load is retained and 25% of watersheds significantly improve. Our results indicate that agricultural conservation can be more efficient if it accounts for the uneven spatial distribution of potential pollution sources and the cumulative aspects of environmental benefits.
Presenting problems in black children referred for outpatient psychological consultation in South Africa.

Summary.-An examination of outpatient referrals for psychological consultation at a psychiatric hospital in South Africa was undertaken. Over an 18-month period, 87.1% of a total of 31 children were referred with problems of poor school ance. Behaviour problems were underrepresented. The results are discussed in the context of inadequate community mental health services, which are implicated in the under-detecuon of childhood psychopathology. Racist policies and segregated health services in South Africa have had serious effects on the health of the black majority. Children are significantly affected in this regard, considering the high infant mortality rate, malnutrition, and infectious diseases often related to inadequate immunization programs, poor living conditions, and sanitation. The effects of the 'apartheid' policy on mental health have long been recognized. Dawes (1985) described these discriminatory laws as "psychopathogenic,'' with the government jeopardizing the mental health of its people. Mental health services for black children are few and far between. In addition, psychatric hospital facilities for black patients are often in poor, dilapidated condition and not necessarily conducive to therapeutic milieu. This issue of physical facilities in South African psychiatric hospitals was extensively documented by the American Psychiatric Association (1979) following their investigation. A further problem is that most mental health practitioners, especially clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, are white and unskiUed in black languages. This poses obvious difficulty in the consultation process, since many black children and their parents are not fluent in English. Presently, less than 5% of the country's clinical psychologists are black, a situation that has not improved substantially over the past five years. While some universities have attempted to address this issue by increasing their admission of black students, this has had only a marginal effect on the chronic imbalance. Clearly, there is a need for a widespread, energetic, and truly affirmative action (rather than lip-service) approach to the recruitment, funding, and training of black students in clinical psychology. There is also a need for English
CO2‐delayed crystallization of isotactic polypropylene: A kinetic study

The effect of CO2 on the nonisothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied with high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry at cooling rates of 0.2–5 °C/min. CO2 significantly delayed the melt crystallization of iPP, and both the crystallization temperature and the heat of crystallization decreased with increasing CO2 pressure. The crystallization rate of iPP, as characterized by the half-time, was also prolonged by the presence of CO2. With a modified Ozawa model developed by Seo, the Avrami crystallization exponent n of iPP was calculated. This value was depressed by the addition of CO2 and was strongly dependent on the CO2 pressure at low cooling rates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1518–1525, 2003
A Question of Managerial Legitimacy

There is a reciprocity between the corporations and society which, through the divorce of ownership from control, has been left in an ambiguous state. The inheritor of responsibilities and privileg...
Working Toward a Common Goal? American Views on German Historiography and German-American Scholarly Relations during the 1960s

In March 1966, the German historian Fritz Fischer wrote to several American colleagues, announcing that he would soon send them a copy of his Assistent Helmut Bohme's dissertation Deutschlands Weg zur Grosmacht and asking whether they would be willing to review it in one of the leading American journals. Bohme's study on socio-economic aspects of the German unification contained a strong ideological and methodological critique of the extant German historiography on the German Empire, which he—and Fischer—saw as dominated by old-fashioned diplomatic historians who revered the Iron Chancellor. Thus, Fischer apparently anticipated a negative reaction from the West German historical profession and attempted to rally American support.
Performance Evaluation of The SYN-MAC Protocol in Multihop Wireless Networks

Due to the complexity of throughput analysis in wireless networks with multiple collision domains, how to model system performance in multihop wireless networks remains challenging. Based on our previous proposed synchronized medium access control (SYN-MAC) protocol and its performance analysis in single collision domain, we propose an effective analytic model with low computational complexity for evaluating the performance of SYN-MAC in multihop wireless networks. Our simulation results verify the numerical analysis very well, showing the effectiveness of our proposed approach. Furthermore, an enhanced SYN-MAC protocol is presented to optimize its channel efficiency and throughput in multihop wireless networks. Our simulation results show the SYN-MAC protocol significantly outperforms IEEE 802.11 in all scenarios, regardless of the payload sizes, network sizes, or nodal densities.
Seed, seedling and sub-canopy survival in monodominant and mixed forests of the Ituri Forest, Africa

The central Ituri Forest of Zaire is characterized by monodominant stands of Gilbert- iodendron dewevrei (mbau forest) within a matrix of mixed forest whereJulbernardia seretii is subdomin- ant. Both species produce supra-annual, synchronous (mast) seed crops. The relationship of mast seed production to monodominance for the two tree species was evaluated by investigating: (1) the relationship between seed density and seed survival, (2) the relative impact of mammal versus insect seed predators in high and low seed density areas, and (3) post-germination survival in the understorey. For the latter, tagged seedlings were monitored over 10 years and both species were censused in different understorey size classes. Percentage seed survival was significantly greater for Julbernardia (but not for Gilbertiodendron) in areas of high conspecific seed density. Generalist fruit- and seed-eating mammals were the principal predators on seeds of both species when removed to areas without seed-fall. In mast areas high seed densities appeared to satiate mammalian seed predators but not the specialized beetle seed predators that were the major cause of seed destruc- tion. Gilbertiodendron seedlings survived longer in the forest understorey than did seedlings of Julber- nardia. Furthermore, Gilbertiodendron made up a greater proportion of the larger subcanopy size classes in monodominant forest than did Julbernardia in mixed forests. These results suggest that, irrespective of mortality to seeds, the ability to persist in the understorey may confer on Gilbertiodend- ron a greater probability of reaching and dominating the canopy.
Free vibration analysis of classical single-story multi-bay planar frames:

This paper concerns free vibration analysis of single-story multi-bay planar frame structures. An exact analytical solution is obtained using a wave vibration approach, in which vibrations are described as waves propagating along uniform structural elements and are reflected and transmitted at structural discontinuities. The coupling effects between bending and longitudinal vibrations in the multi-bay frames are taken into account. Both natural frequencies and modeshapes are obtained. Numerical examples are presented along with comparisons to results available in the literature.
Effects of diet and injection of bovine somatotropin on prepubertal growth and first-lactation milk yields of Holstein cows.

Abstract To determine effects of rapid prepubertal growth on first-lactation milk production, Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to one of three treatments. Thirty-five heifers were fed a standard diet to meet NRC recommendations and produce 0.8kg of body weight (BW) gain/d (standard). Thirty-five heifers were fed a diet with higher energy (2.8 Mcal of metabolizable energy/kg) and protein (19.7% crude protein; high diet) to produce 1.2kg of BW gain/d (high). Thirty-five heifers were fed the high diet and injected daily with bovine somatotropin (bST) (25µg/kg of BW; high-bST). Diets were fed and bST was injected from 135kg of BW until pregnancy was confirmed. Heifers were inseminated after BW exceeded 363kg. Pregnant heifers were commingled and fed similar diets through gestation, parturition, and lactation. High and high-bST heifers had greater prebreeding average BW gains than standard heifers. Conversely, standard heifers had a greater average BW gain during gestation than high and high-bST heifers. High and high-bST heifers were approximately 90 d younger than standard heifers at first insemination and first parturition. Postpartum BW, body condition scores, and withers heights at parturition, and calving ease scores were not different among treatments. Standard heifers produced 14% more milk than high heifers but not more than high-bST heifers. The high-protein, high-energy diet decreased age at first parturition and first-lactation milk production, but did not affect reproduction. Injection of bST during the pre-pubertal growth period combined with the high diet decreased age at first parturition without reducing milk production.
Nursing during an era of change: A challenge and opportunity

Healthcare in the United States and other nations is changing dramatically at an unprecedented pace. In the United States, these sweeping changes are partially a result of the Affordable Care Act. Across the world including the United States, the other driving forces include an aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic, lifestyle related diseases, advances in technology, and pressures to lower costs. Nursing has always led and adapted to changes in healthcare delivery. Based upon a review of the literature and an analysis of forecasted changes, this paper outlines seven driving forces of change confronting nurses today. These changes are presented as both challenges and opportunities. These changes redefine the role of nurses today. Five specific changes in role are discussed as well as seven specific actions for nurses to take to embrace the vast changes characterizing healthcare today and shaping healthcare tomorrow. The key for nurses is to take deliberative action to seize opportunities arising from these changes, to reshape challenges embedded in these changes, and to stimulate a change agenda aligned with the unique role and competencies of nursing as a profession.
Resolving and exploiting the k-CFA paradox: illuminating functional vs. object-oriented program analysis

Low-level program analysis is a fundamental problem, taking the shape of "flow analysis" in functional languages and "points-to" analysis in imperative and object-oriented languages. Despite the similarities, the vocabulary and results in the two communities remain largely distinct, with limited cross-understanding. One of the few links is Shivers's k-CFA work, which has advanced the concept of "context-sensitive analysis" and is widely known in both communities.Recent results indicate that the relationship between the functional and object-oriented incarnations of k-CFA is not as well understood as thought. Van Horn and Mairson proved k-CFA for k ≥ 1 to be EXPTIME-complete; hence, no polynomial-time algorithm can exist. Yet, there are several polynomial-time formulations of context-sensitive points-to analyses in object-oriented languages. Thus, it seems that functional k-CFA may actually be a profoundly different analysis from object-oriented k-CFA. We resolve this paradox by showing that the exact same specification of k-CFA is polynomial-time for object-oriented languages yet exponential-time for functional ones: objects and closures are subtly different, in a way that interacts crucially with context-sensitivity and complexity. This illumination leads to an immediate payoff: by projecting the object-oriented treatment of objects onto closures, we derive a polynomial-time hierarchy of context-sensitive CFAs for functional programs.
You Are All Loved so Much

This research explores relational maintenance within the context of parasocial relationships. The New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), one of the most popular musical groups in the late 1980s and early 1990s, abruptly disbanded in 1994. In 2008, after a 14-year hiatus, the band announced their reformation. Members of NKOTB blogged about their reunion on the group’s website (www.nkotb.com), and a thematic analysis was conducted, using both deductive and inductive procedures, of 2,122 postings by audience members to these blog entries. Analysis revealed that audience members utilized, in various ways, both positivity and assurance maintenance strategies (Canary, Stafford, Hause, & Wallace, 1993). The results suggest that audience members enacted relational maintenance to express support for NKOTB and to demonstrate that they had remained committed to their parasocial relationship with NKOTB, despite the group’s absence. These actions positively reinforced NKOTB’s decision to reunite and conveyed fans’ desire for ...
Modulation of Na+-K+-ATPase cell surface abundance through structural determinants on the α1-subunit

Through their ion-pumping and non-ion-pumping functions, Na+-K+-ATPase protein complexes at the plasma membrane are critical to intracellular homeostasis and to the physiological and pharmacologica...