cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-J-18: Measurement of Contaminant Signals in Clinically Relevant CBCT Image Acquisition Geometries and Performance Evaluation of Bowtie Filters

Purpose: Bowtie filters are known to reduce fraction of the scatter signals in CBCTimaging, particularly in cylindrically symmetric image acquisition geometries. However, patient anatomy and imaging geometry during daily CBCTimaging for radiation therapy often lack this symmetry. In this work, the performance of bowtie filters on reducing contaminant signals was investigated for clinically relevant CBCTimage acquisition setups. Methods: A torso phantom with elliptical cross section was imaged using a clinical CBCT system mounted on a linac gantry. A lead beam stopper array was placed around the phantom to sample contaminant signal distribution as a function of gantry angle. CBCT 2D projection images were acquired with and without bowtie filter at two different isocenter locations in the phantom: one at the center (prostate imaging geometry), and one at the periphery of the phantom (liver or lungimaging geometry). For each image set, contaminant‐to‐primary signal ratios (CPR) were calculated in 20 projection views with equiangular spacing. Also, bowtie filter's efficacy on reducing the dynamic range of total image signal (primary+contaminant) was evaluated. Results: For centrally located isocenter (prostate case), the median CPR was reduced from 1.1 (80th percentile range: 0.39–2.44) to 0.955 (0.49–1.89) with the use of bowtie filter. Relative total signal ranged from 0.21 to 18.4, and it was reduced from 0.25 to 10.72 with the bowtie filter. For peripherally located isocenter (lung/liver case), the median CPR decreased from 1.27(0.48–3.32) to 1.25(0.41–2.4) with bowtie filter. Relative total signal ranged from 0.17 to 13.57, and it increased from 0.24 to 31.6 with the bowtie filter. Conclusions: Although the use of bowtie filter may appear to be simple and effective in reducing contaminant signals and the dynamic range requirements, a single universal design may have suboptimal efficacy for the variety of patient imaging geometries typically observed in radiation therapy setting.
Excitatory amino acids are released from rat primary afferent neurons in vitro.

Multiple lines of evidence implicate the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) (L-aspartate (L-Asp) and L-glutamate (L-Glu) as excitatory transmitters in the spinal cord. The specific objective of this study was to determine whether the EAAs are released from primary afferents. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from 2 to 18-day-old rats dissected and cultured for 1-2 weeks were washed in modified Ringers recording solution for a period of 1 h to allow equilibration. The mean +/- S.E.M. baseline concentrations of EAAs recovered during a 5 min interval were 533.29 +/- 65.59 nmol for L-Glu and 106.67 +/- 14.05 nmol for L-Asp. Stimulation of DRG organotypic cultures with potassium resulted in a significant concentration-dependent increase in the release of both EAAs. The concentration of Asp increased to 166 +/- 17% and 203 +/- 13% in response to 5 min exposure of the culture to 25 and 50 mM potassium, respectively. The concentration of Glu increased to 155 +/- 12% and 226 +/- 18% of control in response to the same stimuli. In response to application of 50 mM potassium for 25 min, peak concentrations increased to 465 +/- 53% for Asp and 312 +/- 51% for Glu of the basal concentration. Exposure of the cultures to 1 or 10 microM capsaicin also caused release of both EAAs. The concentrations of Asp and Glu significantly increased to 204 +/- 11% and 165 +/- 15% of basal concentrations, respectively, in response to a 5 min exposure to 1 microM capsaicin. High [K+]e failed to increase the release of EAAs from cultures where DRG cell bodies were removed 72 h prior to release experiments. These results confirm results demonstrating release of EAA from mammalian spinal cord tissues and directly demonstrate for the first time that primary afferent fibers are specifically involved in this release.
Low standby power state storage for sub-130-nm technologies

Handheld and other battery-powered ICs require process scaling to increase functional integration and reduce active power consumption. Scaling also increases leakage current components to the point where standby power is frequently a limiting design factor. A scheme combining low-leakage thick-gate shadow latches and high-performance transistors is presented that decouples performance from standby power in sub-130-nm technologies. Circuit design and operation, including pulse-clocked latches, use of dynamic circuits, and inclusion of scan is presented. The approach is validated by experimental results on a 90-nm process.
A Quantitative Evaluation of Heart Size Measurements from Chest Roentgenograms

In order to assess the accuracy of radiographic parameters of left heart enlargement, quantitative biplane angiographic data was compared to chest X-ray data in 254 adults with various heart diseases. Cardiac silhouette volume measured from PA and lateral chest roentgenograms compared most favorably to the sum of the left ventricular mass, end-diastolic volume, and left atrial maximal volume (r = 0.78, P < 0.01; 79% accuracy). The cardiothoracic ratio gave 70% accuracy (r = 0.64, P < 0.01). Subgrouping of patients according to specific left ventricular hemodynamic alterations did not improve correlations. The roentgenographic relationship of the left ventricle and inferior vena cava correlated poorly with left ventricular size. Of 99 patients with increased left atrial maximal volumes, 81 had visible posterior displacement of the barium-outlined esophagus by the left atrium.
Price-based Measurement of Financial Globalization: A Cross-Country Study of Interest Rate Parity

. We characterize the relationship between ex post exchange rate depreciation and the interest differential for both developed and emerging market economies. The measured ex post uncovered interest differentials in terms of both levels and absolute values are then related to a set of variables that capture macroeconomic and policy conditions. We find that a wide diversity in the coefficient relating depreciations and interest differentials can be attributed to differences in inflation volatility, financial development, capital account openness, legal development and the nature of the exchange rate regimes. The robust results are mainly found in the emerging market country grouping.
Hybrid teleoperated/cooperative multirobot system for complex retrieval operations

Cooperative multirobot systems are capable of performing fairly complex tasks even while operating in an autonomous or semi-autonomous mode. The multiple views of an object afforded by a multirobot system enhance the overall level of information that is vital for success in such tasks as satellite retrieval operations. Our previous studies along these lines indicated that although simple control strategies were sufficient for the success of such a mission, limitations in the accuracy of the visual sensors led to misses during the grasping phase. This paper extends the cooperative multirobot system framework that was previously presented for more complex retrieval operations such as the recovery of a tumbling satellite. The subsumption architecture that is used for control of the multirobot system is capable of the recovery of a satellite spinning about its long axis. In this paper, it is shown that it is impractical for a free-floating multirobot system to perform the same task for a tumbling satellite. The reach-space limitations of free-floating platforms dictate a free-flying approach to the problem. In addition, using current visual sensing technology, such a system must also include a teleoperated interface due to the accuracy concerns noted in the previous study. We also present the results of an experimental simulation study of a tumbling satellite retrieval by three cooperating robots. This simulation includes full orbital dynamics effects such as atmospheric drag and non-spherical gravitation field perturbations.
Interscalene regional anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A safe and effective technique

There has been resistance to the use of interscalene regional block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery because of concerns about potential complications and failed blocks with the subsequent need for general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess whether interscalene regional block is safe and effective and offers many advantages over general anesthesia for outpatient arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Through a retrospective chart review of consecutive arthroscopic shoulder surgeries over a 2.5-year time period, in a tertiary university medical center with an anesthesiology residency, 277 interscalene blocks (96%) were successful; 12 (4%) required general anesthesia because of an inadequate block. There were no seizures, pneumothoraces, cardiac events, or other major complications. There was a 1% rate of minor complications, all of which were transient sensory neuropathies that resolved within 5 weeks on average. We conclude that interscalene block can provide effective anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Detecting event anomalies in event-based systems

Event-based interaction is an attractive paradigm because its use can lead to highly flexible and adaptable systems. One problem in this paradigm is that events are sent, received, and processed nondeterministically, due to the systems’ reliance on implicit invocation and implicit concurrency. This nondeterminism can lead to event anomalies, which occur when an event-based system receives multiple events that lead to the write of a shared field or memory location. Event anomalies can lead to unreliable, error-prone, and hard to debug behavior in an event-based system. To detect these anomalies, this paper presents a new static analysis technique, DEvA, for automatically detecting event anomalies. DEvA has been evaluated on a set of open-source event-based systems against a state-of-the-art technique for detecting data races in multithreaded systems, and a recent technique for solving a similar problem with event processing in Android applications. DEvA exhibited high precision with respect to manually constructed ground truths, and was able to locate event anomalies that had not been detected by the existing solutions.
The Effect of Histamine, Antihistamines, and a Mast Cell Stabilizer on the Growth of Cloudman Melanoma Cells in DBA/2 Mice

The growth rate of Cloudman S91 melanoma cells was compared in groups of normal and immunologically compromised DBA/2 mice that had undergone thymectomy and treatment with antilymphocyte serum. Tumor growth was markedly accelerated in the immunosuppressed animals. Other groups of normal and immunosuppressed animals were treated with daily injections of either histamine, the H-2 antihistamine cimetidine, the H1 antihistamine pyrilamine; or the mast cell stabilizer proxicromil. Histamine treatment accelerated tumor growth, but only in normal animals and had little effect on tumor growth in immunocompromised hosts. Cimetidine treatment tended to increase tumor growth in normal hosts but this was statistically significant in only 1 of 3 experiments. In contrast, treatment with cimetidine, pyrilamine, or proxicromil always resulted in significant retardation of tumor growth in immunosuppressed animals. These data are consistent with the notion that thymectomy and treatment with antilymphocyte serum results in enhanced tumor growth that is in part due to activation of histamine-dependent suppressor cells. In this system, histamine activation of suppressor cells may be reversed by treatment with either antihistamines or proxicromil, a drug that prevents mast cell release of histamine. However, since the effects of these drugs seem to depend on the immune status of the host, thorough evaluation of immunoregulatory function and careful testing to determine whether histamine blockers reduce or promote tumor growth would seem indicated when immunomodulatory treatment with these drugs is contemplated.
Relationship between DST nonsuppression and shortened REM latency in schizophrenia

Nonsuppression of cortisol following dexamethasone administration (DST nonsuppression) and short REM latency were originally considered to be "biological markers" of major depressive disorder (MDD) (Carroll et al 1981; Rush et al 1982; Reynolds and Kupfer 1987). Several recent studies have, however, documented both these abnormalities in a substantial number of schizophrenic patients (Zarcone et al 1987; HolsboerTrachsler et al 1987; Tandon et al 1991a, 1992; Keshavan and Tandon 1993). Although many hypotheses have been advanced, the neurobiological basis of these abnormalities in MDD and schizophrenia is not precisely delineated. In MDD, a strong association between these findings has been observed in both correlational and categorical analyses (Asnis et al 1983; Rush et al 1983; Kerkhofs et al 1986), leading to the suggestion that a common pathophysiological mechanism or process may underlie the findings of short REM latency and DST nonsuppression in MDD (Poland et al 1989). The relationship between DST nonsuppression and shortened REM latency in schizophrenia has not been studied; knowledge about this relationship may be useful in defining the neurobiological underpinnings of these abnormalities in schizophrenia. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate this issue. The sleep data from most of these patients was summarized in a previous report (Tandon et al 1992)
Cross-correlation for flow cytometric histogram background subtractions.

Background subtraction is a widely encountered problem in flow cytometry applications for which the currently available analysis techniques are unsatisfactory. The 99% division line method, also referred to as the threshold or marker method, is widely used because it is computationally simple but it has poor accuracy and tends to underestimate the percentage of positive cells when there is overlap between histograms. Model-based approaches are preferred when there are overlapping peaks, but these methods require curve fitting and strong assumptions regarding the shape of the underlying distributions. This report assesses a mathematically rigorous, computationally facile, non-parametric technique called cross correlation for the background subtraction problem. A metric, positivity, derived from cross correlation is shown to overcome the disadvantages of both the 99% division line and model-based methods without compromise.
Magna International, Inc. (A)

Magna International, Inc., a Canadian-based automotive parts manufacturer, is considering whether and how to unwind its dual-class ownership structure. A family trust controlled by the founder owns a 0.65% economic interest in the company but has 66% of the votes via a super-voting class of shares. Officers of the company are considering how to fashion a transaction that will end the family's control and win the approval of both classes of shareholders. The Magna (A) case asks the students to weigh the costs and benefits of dual-class ownership and the best way to convert to single-class. The Magna (B) case describes the proposal that Magna's board put to a shareholder vote. Students are asked to evaluate it and decide whether they would approve it.Learning Objective: The Magna (A) and (B) cases are intended to support a general discussion of the costs and benefits of dual-class ownership structures, which are common in many countries. In the specific case of Magna, students are asked to quantify the potential benefits of unwinding a dual-class structure that has been in place for more than 30 years, and to consider how the value created should be divided between two classes of shareholders.
PEM Fuel Cell Operation at − 20 ° C . II. Ice Formation Dynamics, Current Distribution, and Voltage Losses within Electrodes

Initially measured cell voltages during isothermal, galvanostatic operation at -20°C were analyzed. Individual contributions from various known voltage loss sources, including electrode resistances, were either measured a priori or modeled in order to quantify. Similar to nonfrozen conditions, voltage losses due to the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction persist at subfreezing temperatures, contributing a majority of the overall losses. Membrane and cathode catalyst layer resistances also contribute a significant portion, due to decreased proton conductivity at subfreezing temperature. Catalyst utilization modeling within the cathode electrode thickness indicates that oxygen reduction reaction favors the electrode/membrane interface at moderate current densities. Cryo-scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirm this prediction, which indicates that filling the electrode with ice occurs from the membrane outwards toward the diffusion medium. At lower currents, where the model predicts more uniform catalyst utilization across the thickness, more even filling of the electrode appears from cryo-SEM images. Due to the sensitive time-dependency of anode and cathode catalyst layer resistances, as well as membrane resistance, direct In Situ measurement of these parameters to elucidate voltage losses during operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells at subfreezing temperatures is presently difficult, if not impossible.
Stigma and help seeking for mental health among college students

Mental illness stigma has been identified by national policy makers as an important barrier to help seeking for mental health. Using a random sample of 5,555 students from a diverse set of 13 unive...
Perceived Popularity During Early Adolescence: Links to Declining School Adjustment Among Aggressive Youth

Although positive peer relationships have been shown to promote healthy school involvement and academic achievement, subpopulations of perceived popular (i.e., socially prominent, high status), but aggressive, youth have been identified who exhibit poor school functioning. The objective of this study was to examine whether attainment of perceived popularity may be a contributing factor in the school difficulties of these aggressive youth. Data were collected from 208 early adolescents (95 boys; 113 girls) during the fall and spring of their fourth- and fifth-grade years. Latent growth curve analyses indicated that, for children with above-average levels of aggression, perceived popularity predicts trajectories of increasing school avoidance and declining academic performance. These results were significant even after accounting for how integrated children were in their social network (i.e., how many friends they had), providing further support to the contention that for aggressive youth, social status serves as a risk factor for school maladjustment.
A resonance crossing-symmetric confluent-hypergeometric function model with complex trajectories

A model employing confluent hypergeometric functions is presented which admits complex trajectories while satisfying many requirements ofS-matrix theory, and a theorem is proved relating the average asymptotic spacing of zeros and poles of a meromorphic function to its asymptotic behavior.
Dissemination of System Time

This paper considers the problem of estimating the offset in timing of like events at geographically separated locations as a basis for establishing common knowledge of time and, hence, system synchronism. Configurations discussed involve interrogation and reply between a user and a single donor, and one-way propagation between a user and the multiple sites of a reference system. The latter category includes navigation systems, which are shown to be appropriate means for disseminating time. Further ramifications of time dissemination are discussed, including the characteristics of clocks suitable for airborne application. Variables and their relationship and solution are defined for stationary and moving users, and for users of atomic and crystal clocks. For the case in which frequency is offset between clocks, as is likely when crystal oscillators are used, methods are described that permit the estimate of offset in frequency as well as in time. Recursive minimum-variance methods are examined in some detail, and a parametric analysis of performance relative to random and systematic sources of error is given.
Advantages of using fuzzy class memberships in self-organizing map and support vector machines

The self-organizing map (SOM) is naturally unsupervised learning, but if a class label is known, it can be used as the classifier. In a SOM classifier, each neuron is assigned a class label based on the maximum class frequency and classified by a nearest neighbor strategy. The drawback when using this strategy is that each pattern is treated by equal importance in counting class frequency regardless of its typicalness. For this reason, the fuzzy class membership can be used instead of crisp class frequency and this fuzzy membership-label neuron provides another perspective of a feature map. This fuzzy class membership can be also used to select training samples in a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. This method allows us to reduce the training set as well as support vectors without significant loss of classification performance.
Dimensions of innovation during the high growth stage of materials and energy production

Life-cycles studies provide a comprehensive insight into innovation behavior and innovation constants. The study has led to making the connections between Green energy and Green materials. The authors have noted in the past that production and patent activities may be correlated to such an extent that they may be superimposed to a large degree, for all growth stages, simply by an origin-shift (OR) in the life cycle. The relative drive-force (defined as the ratio of the production and patent growth constants, DF) is noted to scale with the origin-shift. The value of this drive-force determines the amount of production of materials or energy that is influenced by patents. The slope of drive- force against the origin-shift ratio curve is noted to be a constant across all materials and energy categories. We find that even early stage production displays an origin-shift. The life-cycle approach collapses the energy categories/sources into two groups. Group 1, containing coal, natural gas, wind, renewable, fossil fuel, solar and total energy, is composed of energy categories/sources whose patent activity could be inferred as driving their production. On the other hand energy production from biomass, biofuel, geothermal and nuclear energy are identified in Group 2, in which patent activity is driven by the production activity. Retaining Stage III behavior occurs when the (OR) is slightly less than one and the (DF) less than one as this leads to a situation where with time, a higher innovation enhanced growth stage is possible. A very low (OR) and a low (DF) on the other hand lead to a transition from high-growth Stage III to a no-growth Stage IV with time. We discuss our findings in the Schumpeterian framework of constructive and destructive innovation and the Sekhar model of innovation-enhanced production. Green Materials are identified as those aligned with Green Energy. This article also focuses on disruptive and radical innovation during the Stage III life thus making connections with radical innovation concepts introduced by Dismukes.
The use of descriptive data from bilingual children to inform theories of specific language impairment

In her Keynote Article, Paradis reviews evidence from bilingual language development to assess the claims of two opposing theoretical views of language disorders. Specifically, she examines the evidence for similarities in language profiles of typically developing (TD) sequential bilingual (second language [L2]) children and monolingual children with specific language impairment (SLI) with respect to Rice's extended optional infinitive (EOI) account. A limited processing capacity (LPC) account of SLI, Leonard's surface hypothesis, is evaluated within the context of comparisons among bilingual children with SLI, monolingual children with SLI, and TD bilingual children. Paradis concludes that the evidence from bilingual children poses challenges for both accounts of SLI.
Particle induced X-ray emission of lake sediment

Se describen tres proyectos de investigacion relacionados con analisis de materiales con haces de iones realizados por el grupo nuclear del “Hope College”. Se reporta el exito en el analisis de sedimentos lacustres asi como del analisis elemental de esos sedimentos como huella digital ambiental. Adicionalmente proponemos un metodo novedoso de analisis con haces de iones de compuestos organohalogenos retardadores de llamas en espuma de poliuretano. Cada uno de estos tres proyectos de investigacion ha involucrado un intenso entrenamiento de estudiantes de nivel licenciatura en lo que toca a: coleccion de muestras, adquisicion y analisis de datos. La combinacion de una investigacion cientifica publicable y el entrenamiento de estudiantes utilizando analisis con haces de iones, se sugiere como un modelo que puede llevarse a cabo en cualquier sitio que cuente con un laboratorio con un acelerador de particulas.
Functional Interactions between the DNA Ligase of ESCHERICHIA COLI and Components of the DNA Metabolic Apparatus of T4 Bacteriophage

T4 phage completely defective in both gene 30 (DNA ligase) and the rII gene (function unknown) require at least normal levels of host-derived DNA ligase (E. coli lig gene) for growth. Viable E. coli mutant strains that harbor less than 5% of the wild-type level of bacterial ligase do not support growth of T4 doubly defective in genes 30 and rII (T4 30- rII- mutants). We describe here two classes of secondary phage mutations that permit the growth of T4 30- rII- phage on ligase-defective hosts. One class mapped in T4 gene su30 (Krylov 1972) and improved T4 30- rII- phage growth on all E. coli strains, but to varying degrees that depended on levels of residual host ligase. Another class mapped in T4 gene 32 (helix-destabilizing protein) and improved growth specifically on a host carrying the lig2 mutation, but not on a host carrying another lig- lesion (lig4). Two conclusions are drawn from the work: (1) the role of DNA ligase in essential DNA metabolic processes in T4-infected E. coli is catalytic rather than stoichiometric, and (2) the E. coli DNA ligase is capable of specific functional interactions with components of the T4 DNA replication and/or repair apparatus.
Factors affecting retention time of turtle scutes in stomachs of American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis

Abstract Crocodilians are able to consume larger meals than most vertebrates. The varied diet of many crocodilians makes them excellent models to study the effects of meal size and temperature on gastric retention time. Consumption of turtles by American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, is expected to be overemphasized because of prolonged stomach retention of epidermal scutes. We conducted experiments to identify exogenous factors that control gastric retention time of turtle scutes. Stomach contents of nine juvenile alligators, fed various percentages of their body mass, were used to compare retention intervals of turtle scutes. As meal size increased, the stomach retention interval increased. The retention interval of scutes was not affected by ambient temperatures over the range of 30–35 C.
The measure of dynamic coupling of Space robot systems

The dynamic coupling of a Space robot system with a free-floating base that could be a Spacecraft, Space station, or satellite, is discussed. The dynamic coupling factor of robot end-effector motion is formulated with respect to base motion, and vice versa. Based on the coupling factor, a measure is defined to characterize the degree of the dynamic coupling. The measure can be considered as a performance index in planning robot motion, or in evaluating robot trajectory for minimizing base motion, or in optimizing the robot configuration design and selecting the robot base location. An example is given to illustrate the computational procedure and simulation results of the defined measure. A force coupling factor and the corresponding measure are developed, by which it is clarified that minimizing the base force transmission is not equivalent, but opposed to minimizing the base motion coupling. >
Association of Dopamine Transporter Reduction With Psychomotor Impairment in Methamphetamine Abusers

OBJECTIVE: Methamphetamine is a popular and highly addictive drug of abuse that has raised concerns because it has been shown in laboratory animals to be neurotoxic to dopamine terminals. The authors evaluated if similar changes occur in humans and assessed if they were functionally significant. METHOD: Positron emission tomography scans following administration of [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate (a dopamine transporter ligand) measured dopamine transporter levels (a marker of dopamine cell terminals) in the brains of 15 detoxified methamphetamine abusers and 18 comparison subjects. Neuropsychological tests were also performed to assess motor and cognitive function. RESULTS: Methamphetamine abusers showed significant dopamine transporter reduction in the striatum (mean differences of 27.8% in the caudate and 21.1% in the putamen) relative to the comparison subjects; this reduction was evident even in abusers who had been detoxified for at least 11 months. Dopamine transporter reduction was associated with mo...
Upregulation of collecting duct aquaporin-2 by metabolic acidosis: role of vasopressin.

Metabolic acidosis is associated with alteration in fluid and electrolyte reabsorption in a number of nephron segments. However, the effects of metabolic acidosis on urine osmolality and aquaporin-...
Combined Inhaled Diesel Exhaust Particles and Allergen Exposure Alter Methylation of T Helper Genes and IgE Production In Vivo

Changes in methylation of CpG sites at the interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-g promoters are associated with T helper (Th) 2 polarization in vitro. No previous studies have examined whether air pollution or allergen exposure alters methylation of these two genes in vivo. We hypothesized that diesel exhaust particles (DEP) would induce hypermethylation of the IFN-g promoter and hypomethylation of IL-4 in CD4 1 T cells among mice sensitized to the fungus allergen Aspergillus fumigatus .W e also hypothesized that DEP-induced methylation changes would affect immunoglobulin (Ig) E regulation. BALB/c mice were exposed to a 3-week course of inhaled DEP exposure while undergoing intranasal sensitization to A. fumigatus. Purified DNA from splenic CD4 1 cells underwent bisulfite treatment, PCR amplification, and pyrosequencing. Sera IgE levels were compared with methylation levels at several CpG sites in the IL-4 and IFN-g promoter. Total IgE production was increased following intranasal sensitization A. fumigatus. IgE production was augmented further following combined exposure to A. fumigatus and DEP exposure. Inhaled DEP exposure and intranasal A. fumigatus induced hypermethylation at CpG 245 , CpG 253 , CpG 2205 sites of the IFNg promoter and hypomethylation at CpG 2408 of the IL-4
Restoration of acid secretion following treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

Abstract Background & Aims: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are covalent inhibitors of the gastric H + ,K + -adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) forming disulfide bonds. Recovery of acid secretion after PPI inhibition may be due to de novo synthesis of pump protein and/or disulfide reduction and reactivation of inhibited pump. The half-time of recovery of acid secretion in rats following omeprazole treatment is ~15 hours, whereas pump protein half-life is 54 hours. In humans, the half-life of the inhibitory effect on acid secretion is ~28 hours for omeprazole and ~46 hours for pantoprazole. Whereas all PPIs bind to cysteine 813, pantoprazole additionally binds to cysteine 822, deeper in the membrane domain of TM6. Their different durations of action may reflect different rates of pump reactivation due to differing accessibility of the disulfides to glutathione. Methods: Rats were stimulated and treated with 30 mg/kg of each PPI. Gastric ATPase was prepared and reversal of inhibition of the H + ,K + -ATPase was measured as the time-dependent restoration of activity by incubation with dithiothreitol or glutathione. Results: One hundred percent reactivation of ATPase following inhibition in vivo by omeprazole or its enantiomers was seen with dithiothreitol and 89% with glutathione. Similar data were found for lansoprazole or rabeprazole. No reactivation by either reducing agent was seen following inhibition by pantoprazole. Conclusions: Recovery of acid secretion following inhibition by all PPIs, other than pantoprazole, may depend on both protein turnover and reversal of the inhibitory disulfide bond. In contrast, recovery of acid secretion after pantoprazole may depend entirely on new protein synthesis. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:1588-1597
Physician integration revisited-An exploratory study of monetary and professional incentives in three countries.

Abstract Discussions – and definitions – of “integration” in health services and systems are abundant, but little is known about the inducements that organizational leaders use to win the support of physicians within integrated systems. This paper, drawing on a qualitative exploratory survey of sources within 151 integrated care organizations in three nations (the U.S., England, and Germany), explores the mix of monetary and professional inducements these organizations employ to attract and retain physicians. The organizations we sampled do not rely exclusively, and seldom preponderantly, on selective monetary incentives, but rather employ a composite portfolio of the two types. These inducements appear with remarkable consistency at the “micro” level of organizations in our three nations, notwithstanding the marked differences in their “macro” health systemic contexts. Since public policy sets the framework for the design of inducements and individual organizations are in charge of their implementation, our findings call for closer attention to the big motivational picture, and especially to the importance of professional considerations within it, if healthcare organizations hope to deploy effectively the whole spectrum of available incentives for physician–organization integration in the future.
Does Fiscal Stimulus Stimulate

The recession of 2008-2009 one of the longest and deepest since the Great Depression has made the effectiveness of fiscal stimulus packages one of the most prominent policy debates in economics today. These packages typically attempt to smooth out business cycle fluctuations through a combination of increased government purchases of goods and services and tax cuts. Unfortunately, the existing empirical evidence on the size of the spending multiplier is limited. This paper investigates the impact of changes in personal income on consumer’s spending. The result is that the spending multiplier shrunk. This paper shows that consumers are less responsive to an increase in their disposable income and, in turn, it makes the fiscal –stimulus programs less effective and therefore creates slow recovery. This paper can provide a useful benchmark in thinking about the design and effectiveness of fiscal stimulus program.
Commentary: Mentally Disordered Offenders in Prison—Old Problems That Still Require Solutions

We commend Simpson et al. for addressing an important topic: the care and treatment of prisoners with serious mental illness. We welcome the authors' conclusions, but we identify some problems that can often frustrate attempts to improve services to this group.
Bell correlation of thermal fields in photon-number fluctuations

We wish to report a recent experimental observation of the Bell correlation from the polarization measurement of thermal fields in photon-number fluctuations, indicating the successful simulation of a Bell state. The same mechanism can be applied for the simulation of a multi-photon GHZ state and N -qubits for N ≫ 2.
Improved Designs for Cluster Randomized Trials

Studies in which clusters of individuals are randomized to conditions are increasingly common in public health research. However, the designs utilized for such studies are often suboptimal and inefficient. We review strategies to improve the design of cluster randomized trials. We discuss both older but effective design concepts that are underutilized, such as stratification and factorial designs, as well as emergent ideas including fractional factorial designs and cluster randomized crossover studies. We draw examples from the recent literature and provide resources for sample size and power planning. Given the inherent inefficiencies of cluster randomized trials, these design strategies merit wider consideration and can lead to studies that are more cost-effective and potentially more rigorous than traditional approaches.
HIRB — The Centrifuge Facility at Clarkson

The International Center for Gravity Materials Science and Applications at Clarkson University has constructed the only centrifuge facility in the world dedicated solely to materials processing research and related flow visualization. This centrifuge has been named “HIRB,” which is an acronym for “High Inertia Rotating Behemoth.” HIRB is a modified variable-speed boring mill with an arm radius of 1.524 m. The maximum attainable rotation rate is 90 rpm, which corresponds to a maximum acceleration of approximately 13.8 g (g = 9.81 m/s2). This paper will focus on the main characteristics of HIRB and its capabilities for gravity materials science experiments. Equipment used for gravity materials processing experiments on HIRB are described. A low cost, low weight and low power gradient freeze furnace was designed, constructed and tested on HIRB under high gravity conditions.
Credit Risk Measurement, Leverage Ratios and Basel III: Paper Presentation at the Third International Conference on Credit Analysis and Risk Management August 2014

This paper is aimed at providing an analysis of the recent updates which have taken place in respect of the Basel III Leverage Ratio and the Basel III Supplementary Leverage Ratio – both in relation to recent amendments introduced by the Basel Committee and proposals introduced in the United States.As well as highlighting and addressing gaps which exist in the literature relating to liquidity risks, corporate governance and information asymmetries, by way of reference to pre-dominant based dispersed ownership systems and structures, as well as concentrated ownership systems and structures, this paper will also consider the consequences – as well as the impact - which the U.S Leverage ratios could have on Basel III.Even though it is widely acknowledged that systems founded on concentrated ownership systems (that is, where a dominant shareholder prevails) are less susceptible to information asymmetries, it cannot be conclusively argued that such systems are immune from or less culpable of those issues associated with lack of transparency and inadequate disclosure requirements.Disclosure, stringent accounting, audit requirements which operate to a greater extent in many capital market economies and predominantly based dispersed ownership systems and structures, should serve as means of fostering greater transparency, disclosure and accountability.Hence should it still be concluded that structures based on concentrated ownership models are less susceptible to information asymmetries?
Illness trajectories and their relevance to the care of adults with kidney disease.

Purpose of review Existing practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease advocate a stage-based approach to management, in which treatment recommendations are based largely on the severity of kidney disease, and future risk for adverse health outcomes. However, the course of kidney disease can vary widely among patients with similar levels of kidney function, and each patient will experience their illness in unique ways. Recent findings We summarize recent studies of patterns of kidney function over time among patients with chronic kidney disease, and discuss these findings in the context of relevant conceptual models of illness and communication. Although knowledge of disease severity can provide useful information on life expectancy and risk for future health events, an understanding of each patient's illness trajectory and their unique experience of illness is essential in supporting patient-centered care for patients with kidney disease. This information can be helpful in setting realistic expectations for the future, in communicating about prognosis and in aligning treatment decisions with each patient's goals and preferences. Summary We here explain how an understanding of illness trajectories may be useful in predicting and guiding care and decision-making in patients with kidney disease. We highlight the importance of competing disease trajectories, the heterogeneity in renal function trajectories among patients with kidney disease, and the variability in these trajectories over time in individual patients. We discuss how individual disease trajectories can shape each patient's experience of illness. Finally, we explain how an understanding of an individual patient's illness trajectory and experience of illness may be useful in guiding discussions about prognosis and treatment decisions and in supporting a patient-centered approach to care.
A Note on One-Sided Directional Derivatives

(1968). A Note on One-Sided Directional Derivatives. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 147-150.
Comparison of Physical and Chemical Means of Feed Restriction in Broiler Chicks

Abstract The effect of feed restriction of broiler chicks during the 2nd wk of age on subsequent feed consumption and body growth to 49 days of age was investigated in two studies. From 7 to 14 days of age, female and male (in parentheses) birds were allowed to consume feed providing 35(36) or 60(65) kcal/bird per day or ad libitum-fed diets containing either 1.5 or 3% glycolic acid. The period of restriction was followed by ad libitum feeding. A marked reduction in feed intake was achieved by both physical feed restriction and inclusion in feed of the chemical additive. Final body weights and feed:gain ratios (0 to 49 days) of the restricted birds were consistently less than for the unrestricted (control) birds. No significant differences were observed in abdominal fat or in breast muscle as a percentage of body weight. The results show that dietary glycolic acid can serve as an anorectic agent and replace the traditional physical feed restriction regimen.
Regulation of the international bench

What are the contours of the supranational judge’s legal and ethical duties? How should international courts be structured so as to enable her to discharge those obligations? These fundamental questions remain very much open almost a century after the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) held its first sitting in 1922. In contrast to elaborate domestic codes, little is said on the matter in international courts’ chartering statutes, and international codes of ethics remain few in number and limited in content. In a sense, this is to be expected. Despite the longevity of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the PCIJ before it, international courts have not traditionally been prominent in global affairs. Many international courts were not born until the thaw and aftermath of the Cold War and longer-standing institutions have only recently begun to garner a significant caseload. The need for a comprehensive international judicial ethics has not been long felt. Twenty-first century efforts to respond to that recent need have made important initial strides, but standards remain vague and incomplete, especially with respect to those ethical challenges peculiar to international courts. In assessing these efforts, this chapter considers the purpose of codes of judicial ethics and defines the issues worthy of focus, identifies three core ethical challenges peculiar to the international judiciary, evaluates existing efforts to address those issues, identifies priority areas for reform, and reflects on the aspirational nature of such reforms.
Here Today and Gone Tomorrow? Conclusions and Invitations

This chapter is an invitation to further work on deictics and their larger implications about issues like lyric immediacy and subjectivity. These intellectual areas of inquiry are variously facilitated and threatened by developments in professional practices, such as the emphasis on sweeping generalizations. The chapter focuses particularly on the movement known as the new formalism(s).
Thoughts on the Construction of Innovative Research Rooms In Higher Educational Schools

The paper analyzes two characteristics(education innovation and knowledge innovation) of innovative research room team,and gives some thoughts on the construction of innovative research rooms.
ENDOSCOPY OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY

Endoscopic techniques for surgery of the upper extremity show great promise based on recent discoveries of anatomic tissue planes. These planes can be dissected using new technology consisting of endoscopic balloons that create optical cavities that permit "incisionless" surgery. This article contains a review of the anatomic principles, new surgical technology, and development of endoscopic tools, as well as an example of endoscopic tissue expansion placement for soft-tissue augmentation in the upper extremity. Endoscopic techniques as they relate to fractures, synovectomy, and peripheral nerve decompression are discussed.
The Future of Cryosurgery

The future of cryosurgery is intricately related to imaging technologies in progress; particularly those for in vivo real-time use.
Why Adolescents Avoid Drugs: Light Users and Non-Users

The preceding chapters have established, if nothing else, the ubiquity of drugs in the world of those adolescents who use them. We have concentrated on those who are heavy users, who take drugs for granted as a part of social life and who have mastered the techniques for obtaining and using drugs. In this chapter we will look at those who do not use drugs, or who use them very infrequendy and with caution. A reasonable if ironic question to ask about adolescents who are non-users or light users is: how come they do not take drugs?
Detection of Mycoplasma Contamination of Cell Cultures by Electron Microscopy

Since mycoplasma infections of cell cultures are a frequent and serious problem, it behooves the cell culturist to find reliable and reasonably easy methods for the detection of mycoplasma contamination. In this chapter we will discuss the electron microscope as a tool for the detection of mycoplasma infections of cultured cells. We will describe how mycoplasma infections appear in the scanning and transmission electron microscope and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of electron microscopy in terms of reliability, sensitivity and practicality. The reader is referred to other chapters of this book for thorough discussions of various methods of detection and for discussions of the particular ways which mycoplasma alter the physiology, chemistry and morphology of cell cultures. It is often necessary to employ more than one technique to detect mycoplasma or to be reasonably certain that a culture is mycoplasma free. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Different techniques for detecting mycoplasma, therefore, often complement each other.
Other questions that count: Introductory comments on assessing significance in historical archaeology

It may be observed that the treatment of historic sites in federally-mandated historic preservation programs does not do justice to those resources. Indeed, the review and compliance procedure is inconsistent and at times capricious in dealing with archaeological sites of the Historic period. Accordingly, so that the intent and purpose of historic preservation legislation can be fully realized, affirmative steps must be taken to correct present deficiencies in the system.