cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Product Architecture Under Technological Change: Modular Upgradeability Tradeoffs

A modularly upgradeable product allows customers to keep pace with technology by replacing modules instead of updating the entire unit, thus minimizing development and production costs for the firm. Despite these advantages, seemingly few consumer products are modularly upgradable (rather they are integral from the users' perspective). To offer possible explanations, and help guide firms in enhancing the relative attractiveness of modularity, we develop an economic model where the firm's frequency of product introduction and the end-users' frequency of upgrades are endogenous. We characterize the firm's introduction decisions under 1) an integral upgrade strategy, where the entire product is newly designed each generation, and 2) a modular upgrade strategy, where individually upgraded components are offered. We find that, contrary to intuition, the value of modularity diminishes with the overall rate of innovation in component technologies. On the other hand, the value of modularity increases with the difference in the rates of improvement between components, and increases when customers are more technically sophisticated, when production costs are high, and when the performance loss due to modularization is low.
Unmasking the mechanisms for Vernier acuity : evidence for a template model for Vernier acuity

Abstract The goal of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying Vernier acuity, over a range of spatial scales using narrow-band Vernier stimuli and oblique masking. Specifically, the test stimuli consisted of a pair of vertical ribbons of horizontal cosine grating with a vertical Vernier offset between the ribbons. These stimuli have two important advantages for studying Vernier acuity: (1) they are relatively well localized in vertical spatial frequency, and (2) they are localized in their horizontal extent (width). We measured the orientation, spatial frequency and width tuning of Vernier acuity over a wide range of ribbon spatial frequencies, using a simultaneous oblique masking paradigm. Our masking results suggest that the mechanisms underlying Vernier acuity are tuned to the orientation, spatial frequency and width of the ribbon stimuli. The peak of the bimodal orientation tuning function varies systematically with the spatial frequency of the ribbon. The peak of the spatial frequency tuning function varies systematically with both the ribbon spatial frequency, and the ribbon width (i.e. the grating length). A ‘template’ model, in which the ‘mechanism’ is a windowed version of the stimulus is able to account for many features of the data, including results which cannot be easily accounted for by standard multi-scale filter models. Specifically, the template model can account for: (i) the bimodal orientation tuning function, (ii) the systematic variation in the peak of the orientation and spatial frequency tuning functions with spatial frequency, and (iii) the systematic effect of ribbon width on spatial frequency tuning.
Issues of Federalism in Response to Terrorism

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, provoked, among other reactions, considerable commentary about the future of American federalism, particularly predictions of administrative centralization. To assess the potential impact of terrorism on U.S. intergovernmental relations and the ways the federal system should respond, members of the American Political Science Association’s Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations were surveyed in late 2001. Generally, these federalism scholars believe the September 11 terrorism will have little effect on intergovernmental relations or on the U.S. Supreme Court’s state–friendly jurisprudence, and the surge in public trust and confidence in the federal government will be short–lived. The scholars tend to support a highly federalized response to terrorism, but with intergovernmental cooperation. Partisan differences among the scholars on policy options, however, mirror the party differences in Congress and the resurgence of “politics as usual” less than a year after September 11, 2001.
Joint allocation of measurement points and controllable tooling machines in multistage manufacturing processes

Stream of variations (SoV) modeling of multistage manufacturing process has been studied for the past 15 years and has been used for identification of root causes of manufacturing errors, characterization and optimal allocation of measurements, process-oriented tolerance allocation, fixture design, and operation sequence optimization. Most recently, it was used for optimal in-process adjustments of programmable, controllable tooling (controllable fixtures, CNC machines) in order to enable autonomous minimization of errors in dimensional product quality. However, due to the time and resources needed to take the measurements and the high cost of controllable tooling, it is plausible to strategically position such measurements and controllable devices across a manufacturing system in a way that the ability to mitigate quality problems is maximized. In this article, a distributed stochastic feed-forward control method is devised to optimally (in the least square sense) reduce the variations in dimensional wor...
Spatial and Temporal Variation of the Gill Rakers of Gizzard Shad and Silver Carp in Three Midwestern Rivers

AbstractImproved management of invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the upper Mississippi River basin may be possible by better understanding the feeding abilities of this population. Food collection for filter-feeding fishes, such as Silver Carp, is influenced by the species-specific structure of their gill rakers. To investigate structural variation in gill rakers of Silver Carp, the morphology of gill rakers was quantified and compared with that of a native filter-feeding fish species which may compete with Silver Carp for food resources, Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum. Intra- and interspecies variation of gill rakers was examined in both species collected from three locations among four months. Interspecies analysis indicated the size of pores in gill rakers of Silver Carp were much larger than the interraker spacings of Gizzard Shad (95% CI ranged from 80.69 to 185.75 μm versus 16.72 to 47.36 μm, respectively). Intraspecies variation of gill rakers from Silver Carp was related to the...
A proposed architecture for the GENI backbone platform

The GENI Project (global environment for network innovation) is a major NSF-sponsored initiative that seeks to create a national research facility to enable experimental deployment of innovative new network architectures on a sufficient scale to enable realistic evaluation. One key component of the GENI system will be the GENI backbone platform (GBP) that provides the resources needed to allow multiple experimental networks to co-exist within the shared GENI infrastructure. This paper reviews the objectives for the GBP, the key issues that affect its design and develops a reference architecture that provides a concrete example for how the objectives can be met, using commercially available subsystems.
Emil Kirdorf and the Nazi Party

The extent to which German big business aided Hitler in his rise to power is still a matter of controversy. For Marxists, or at least those who follow the Moscow line, there is no problem, since they regard Nazism as a manifestation of the monopoly stage of capitalism. Non-Marxists, however, are widely divided. Some have reached conclusions similar to those of the Marxists; others have exonerated the capitalists. Most have concluded that big business gave some support to the Nazis but have not specified its extent or significance. In part, this wide range of opinion is the result of ideological differences. But just as importantly, the evidence on which existing studies of the subject rest is scanty, sometimes ambiguous, and often of questionable validity. Few aspects of National Socialism have been so inadequately researched. Even the most basic facts remain in doubt, and before any further general interpretations can usefully be put forward toward a resolution of the controversy, it is necessary to return to the fundamental task of setting the record straight. A great deal more evidence is available for this purpose than is generally recognized, enough, in fact, to clear up many disputed issues and produce more than a few surprises. A case in point is that of Emil Kirdorf, long universally regarded as an early and loyal backer of Hitler and National Socialism in the camp of big business.
ROS-Inducible DNA Cross-Linking Agent as a New Anticancer Prodrug Building Block

Some antitumor drugs react with DNA by inducing DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) which can block DNA transcription and replication.[1] ICL-inducing agents, such as nitrogen mustard, mitomycin C, cisplatin, and psoralens have been used in cancer therapy.[2] However, the major disadvantage of these agents is their poor selectivity for cancer cells. One novel approach to reduce the toxicity of cross-linking agents for normal cells would be the creation of prodrugs that undergo tumor-specific activation. Inducible DNA cross-linking or alkylating agents have been developed by several research groups.[3-6] However, few of them can induce DNA crosslinks selectively under tumor-specific conditions. One of the exclusive features of cancer cells is the high level of oxidative stress that is associated with the increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS).[7-10] Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop novel cross-linking agents that can be activated by the high level of ROS in cancer cells.
Effect of intrauterine administration of tetracyclines on cynomolgus monkeys

Cynomolgus monkeys were used to screen for chemicals which potentially could be used as tubal occluding agents. Intrauterine administrations of solution or pellets of tetracycline and its analogues (100 mg doses) were tested for their effects on morphologic changes in the reproductive tract of monkeys. These effects were compared to monkeys receiving intrauterine administration of quinacrine pellets (36 mg) since quinacrine has been used successfully in the clinical setting. Blood levels of drugs, blood chemistry and hematology determinations and liver and kidney pathology data were also obtained as indices for toxicity. Morphologic damage to the uterine lining and intramural section of the tube (including necrosis, inflammation or scarring) was elicited by intrauterine tetracycline and doxycycline in the same frequency and severity as quinacrine. In contrast, saline or sham control monkeys showed no morphological damage of the tube or uterus. Although all drugs could be detected in the blood 4 hours after intrauterine administration, levels were near or below the limit of detection by one week. No evidence was found for toxicity of tetracycline or its analogues for the dosage given. Because of these results and the extensive literature on tetracycline toxicity, further studies should be directed toward the use of tetracycline as a sterilizing agent in women.
Nonlinear estimation of torque in switched reluctance motors using grid locking and preferential training techniques on self-organizing neural networks

The torque of a switched reluctance motor (SRM) can be estimated using a topology-preserving self-organizing neural network map. Since self-organizing maps tend to contract at region boundaries, a procedure for locking neuron weights at specific locations in a region is presented. A strategy for preferentially training neuron weights on the region boundaries is introduced. As an example of these training techniques, a one-dimensional neural network will approximate a nonlinear function. In general an n-dimension mapping can be used to approximate an m-dimensional system for n >
Ribosomal DNA replication fork barrier and HOT1 recombination hot spot: shared sequences but independent activities.

In the ribosomal DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sequences in the nontranscribed spacer 3′ of the 35S ribosomal RNA gene are important to the polar arrest of replication forks at a site called the replication fork barrier (RFB) and also to the cis-acting, mitotic hyperrecombination site called HOT1. We have found that the RFB and HOT1 activity share some but not all of their essential sequences. Many of the mutations that reduce HOT1 recombination also decrease or eliminate fork arrest at one of two closely spaced RFB sites, RFB1 and RFB2. A simple model for the juxtaposition of RFB and HOT1 sequences is that the breakage of strands in replication forks arrested at RFB stimulates recombination. Contrary to this model, we show here that HOT1-stimulated recombination does not require the arrest of forks at the RFB. Therefore, while HOT1 activity is independent of replication fork arrest, HOT1 and RFB require some common sequences, suggesting the existence of a common trans-acting factor(s).
Effect of process and formulation variables on the preparation of parenteral paclitaxel-loaded biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles: A co-surfactant study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of process (homogenization speed and evaporation time) and formulation (aqueous/organic phase ratio, surfactant concentration, polymer type and concentration, and drug amount) variables on the preparation of paclitaxel-loaded biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles using modified solvent evaporation technique. Thereafter, a formulation was selected and subjected to evaluation of inclusion of a co-surfactant for further reduction of particle size. Particle size, encapsulation efficiency and in-vitro drug release kinetics were evaluated. It was observed that the inclusion of vitamin E TPGS (0.01%), Poloxamer 188 (0.5%) or Tween 80 (0.25%) reduced the particle size of nanoparticles to 230, 244 or 301 nm from 438 nm, respectively. Encapsulation efficiency increased for both vitamin E TPGS and Poloxamer 188 up to concentration at 0.010% and 0.25%, respectively, while this was not the case for Tween 80. Comparison of drug release kinetics demonstrated that drug release accelerated from paclitaxel-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles prepared with the inclusion of Tween 80 but was delayed for Poloxamer 188 and vitamin E TPGS. Thus, it was concluded that the particle size of the nanoparticles could be reduced further and the paclitaxel release kinetics could easily be adjusted by taking advantage by the inclusion of a co-surfactant.
Autoantibody Testing of Autoimmune Neuromuscular Junction, Hyperexcitability, and Muscle Disorders

Serological evaluation for neuromuscular disorders expands commensurate with understanding of their autoimmune etiology. In myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton syndrome (LES) and stiff person syndrome (SPS), there is a clear link between an autoantibody and disease pathogenesis, while the association of autoantibodies and inflammatory myopathies is less clear. Despite the uncertainty of the pathogenic role of autoantibodies in certain disorders, their detection may be useful in diagnosis and prognosis. This chapter reviews use of serological evaluation in diagnosis of neuromuscular junction disorders, hyperexcitability syndromes, and inflammatory muscle diseases.
The advent of the LLP in India

In 2008, India passed a ground-breaking law to introduce the Limited Liability Partnership form into Indian business law. The Indian LLP Act was the first major introduction of a new business form in India in over 50 years. While the partnership and corporate forms (i.e. companies under the Indian Companies Act) have long flourished in India, both forms have presented challenges for certain Indian businesses. The Indian government’s impetus for the LLP Act was to develop a business association form that could better meet the needs of entrepreneurs and professionals with respect to liability exposure, regulatory compliance costs and growth. This chapter begins with a broad overview of the political and legislative process which led to the adoption of the LLP Act. It then addresses the critical aspects of the Indian LLP Act, and analyzes some of the challenges and uncertainties that may derail the success of the LLP form.
On the Need for Research Evidence to Guide the Design of Computer Games for Learning.

Computer games for learning (also called video games or digital games) have potential to improve education. This is the intriguing idea that motivates this special issue of the Educational Psychologist on “Psychological Perspectives on Digital Games and Learning.” Computer games for learning are games delivered via computer that are intended to help people learn academic knowledge and skills. Given the documented commercial success of computer games for entertainment, it makes sense to ask how educators can harness their motivating power to improve academic learning. As with other aspects of technology-supported learning, once again educational psychology is a driving force in contributing to theory and practice concerning the educational use of computer games. This commentary summarizes the four articles in this special issue and then suggests what is not needed and what is needed to move the field of game research ahead.
Progress Towards Diesel Combustion Modeling

Progress on the development and validation of a CFD model for diesel engine combustion and flow is described. A modified version of the KIVA code is used for the computations, with improved submodels for liquid breakup, drop distortion and drag, spray/wall impingement with rebounding, sliding and breaking-up drops, wall heat transfer with unsteadiness and compressibility, multistep kinetics ignition and laminar-turbulent characteristic time combustion models, Zeldovich NOx formation, and soot formation with Nagle Strickland-Constable oxidation. The code also considers piston-cylinder-liner crevice flows and allows computations of the intake flow process in the realistic engine geometry with two moving intake valves. Significant progress has been made using a modified RNG {kappa}-{var_epsilon} turbulence model, and a multicomponent fuel vaporization model and a flamelet combustion model have been implemented. Model validation experiments have been performed using a single-cylinder heavy duty truck engine that features state-of-the-art high pressure electronic fuel injection and emissions instrumentation. In addition to cylinder pressure, heat release, and emissions measurements, new combustion visualization experiments have also been performed using an endoscope system that takes the place of one of the exhaust valves. Modifications to the engine geometry for optical access were minimal, thus ensuring that the results represent the actual engine.more » The intake flow CFD modeling results show that the details of the intake flow process influence the engine performance. Comparisons with the measured engine cylinder pressure, heat release, soot and NOx emission data, and the combustion visualization flame images show that the CFD model results are generally in good agreement with the experiments. In particular, the model is able to correctly predict the soot-NOx trade-off trend as a function of injection timing. 44 refs., 21 figs., 6 tabs.« less
PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS : URSODIOL EFFECTIVE, BUT THINK TRANSPLANTATION SOONER

Ursodiol may slow the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis, but treatment is still mainly palliative, and liver transplantation is the only definitive therapy.
Hypersonic Aerodynamic Control and Thrust Vectoring by Nonequilibrium Cold-Air MHD Devices

In this paper, theoretical investigation of hypersonic aerodynamic control with cold-air MHD devices was conducted. Arrays of MHD devices can be positioned at the bottom of the vehicle aft of the combustor, where the density is close to that in the freestream, and/or on the top of the vehicle. The cold hypersonic flow is ionized by electron beams injected along the magnetic field lines. The j B × G G accelerating or decelerating forces together with the Joule heating of the flow can ensure both angle-of-attack and steering control. The tangential forces were shown to vary dramatically with the ratio χ of the applied electric field to the product of freestream velocity and the magnetic field at the surface. Computations for Mach 8 demonstrated how the profile of j B × G G forces changes with χ, from predominantly decelerating forces (drag) at low χ to a combination of deceleration near the surface and acceleration of the outer flow at χ≈0.5, to only acceleration (thrust) at χ=1. Varying the tilt angle of the magnetic field was shown to increase the flexibility of MHD control. The normal (lift) force created by the MHD region turned out to be substantially stronger than the drag/thrust force, with the lift-to-drag (for MHD generators) or lift-to-thrust (for accelerators) ratios increasing from about 2 with magnetic field tilted against the flow or normal to the surface to more than 3 with aft-tilted magnetic field. Computations performed for representative generator and accelerator cases in the range of Mach numbers from Mach 6 to Mach 10 revealed that, while both tangential (drag – for generators, and thrust – for accelerators) and normal (lift) forces tend to increase with Mach number, the lift-to-drag (for MHD generators) or lift-to-thrust (for accelerators) ratios monotonically decrease with Mach number.
Public Policy, Technology, and Ethics: Marketing Decisions for NASA's Space Shuttle:

Operation of the space shuttle fleet, which offers tremendous technological opportunities, raises a number of complex marketing questions. Explication of key marketing issues may stimulate further ...
Editor's Column: A Reflection on Studies Using Retrospective Record Review

Purpose In this column, the Editor of the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology reflects on the value of retrospective record review and considers the design elements that contribute to sou...
Study of Adverse Reaction of APDT

[Objective]To understand the adverse reactions of whole cell pertussis combined vaccine(WPDT) and acellular pertussis combined vaccine(APDT) after inoculation.[Methods]From 2006-2009,single blind method was used to divide 1000 children aged 3 months to 2 years into 2 groups in clinic of Dianbai County CDC,247 children were inoculated with WPDT,while 753 received APDT.The local and systemic reactions were observed.[Results]The total incidence of adverse reaction of children with WPDT and APDT was 6.50% and 1.3% respectively,the difference was significant(χ2=19.48,P0.01).[Conclusion]The adverse reaction of APDT is lighter than that of WPDT,with good safety.
Stable Isotope-Enabled Pathway Elucidation of 2,4-Dinitroanisole Metabolized by Rhizobium lichtii

Recently developed military explosives are safer to handle, but more environmentally mobile, than traditional explosives. The new insensitive munitions, including 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), have been sparsely studied, making the use of bacterial and/or plant-based remediation approaches unfeasible without further information about the transformation of these compounds. To that end, Rhizobium lichtii isolated from willow tree tissues were studied and observed to completely degrade 5 mg L–1 DNAN within 24 h in liquid media with added carbon and nitrogen. The use of DNAN, [13C6]DNAN, and [15N2]DNAN enabled the identification of 11 previously unknown metabolites resulting from sulfation, acetylation, and/or methylation processes. Accurate mass analysis revealed DNAN metabolites with ion formulas of C7H7N2O6S, C7H7N2O7S, C9H9N2O5, C8H7N2O4, and C9H9N2O4. Further mass spectral analysis provided evidence of various combinations of amino and hydroxylamino DNAN metabolites. Nitro reduction was observed for the fir...
The Impact of Impeller Simplification on the Hydrodynamic Feature of Axial Flow Blood Pump

Objiect:Two types of miniature axial flow pump,type I and type II,have been developed by our group in recent years.The hydrodynamic featured of an axial flow pump were strongly infected by its impeller configuration.With the believe about the pump desgin that "the simplest is the best " in mind,various impellers were compared to optimize pump structure in our research.Methods:The axial flow pump is composed of a mortor sator with columnar pump shell and a propeller set,including flow straightener,diffuser,impeller and magnetic rotor.Impellers of uniform dimension but different structure were sequentially replaced in a same pump to evaluate its alteration in hydrodynamic characteristics in a mock circulation.All of the impellers were 13.8 mm in diameter and 28 mm in length.Results:The impellers with continuous and intercept blades were particularly compared.In vitro study shows that two types of the impeller could produce output of 5L/min against the pressure of 100 mmHg,which was enough for left ventricular assistance,while significant change in the hydrodynamic feature was produced by the replacement of the pump impeller.The hydrodynamic output was slightly decreased with the impeller of continuous blades,indicating that the intercept blades was more effective.Conclusion:The pump with intercept blades has excellent characteristics.Although the impeller of continuous blades would slightly decrease the pump hydrodynamic efficiency but they possess the advantages of simpleness in structure and facility for fabricating.Simplifing the impeller structure with continuous blades is still feasible in further optimization of axial flow pump.
Early trophic feeding improves growth and prognosis in very low birth weight infants:a quasi-randomized controlled trial

Objective To investigate the effect of early trophic feeding on clinical outcomes in very low birth weight infants(VLBWI).Methods A controlled,prospective study on preterm infants,weighting less than 1 500 g at birth and requiring ventilatory support and parenteral nutrition,was performed in the NICU of Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical School from January 2007 to January 2009.Preterm infants enrolled into the study were divided into trophic feeding group and control group according to odd and even numbers.Trophic feeding group received trophic feeding from day 3(0.5-1 mL·h-1) along with parenteral nutrition until ventilatory support was finished.Control group received parenteral nutrition alone."Nutritive" milk feeding was then introduced to both groups.Clinical outcomes were measured including total energy intake and growth over the first six postnatal weeks,sepsis incidence,liver function,milk tolerance,duration of respiratory support,duration of hospital stay and feeding related complications incidence.Results According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,40 VLBWI hospitalized in the NICU were enrolled into the study,18 in trophic feeding group and 22 in control group.There were no significant differences in birth weight,gestational age and neonatal clinical risk index scores(CRIB) between the two groups.There were significant differences in energy intake(mean difference=261.1 kJ·kg-1,P=0.03),weight gain(mean difference=120 g,P=0.02),head circumference gain(mean difference=0.6 cm,P=0.04),fewer episodes of culture confirmed sepsis(mean difference=35%,P=0.02),less parenteral nutrition(mean difference=9.5 days,P=0.03),tolerated full milk feeding(150 mL·kg-1·d-1) earlier(mean difference=12 days,P=0.03),reduced requirement for supplemental oxygen(mean difference=21.5 days,P=0.02) and being discharged from hospital earlier(mean difference=20.5 days,P=0.03) between trophic feeding group and control group.There was no significant difference in the feeding related complications such as bloating,vomiting,necrotizing enterocolitis and aspiration pneumonia.Conclusions Trophic feeding could improve clinical outcomes in very low birth weight preterm infants requiring parenteral nutrition.
Prevention of reperfusional damage from ischemic myocardium.

Reperfusional damage refers to the serious structural, functional, and metabolic derangements commonly observed during restoration of coronary circulation following cardiopulmonary bypass. Damage is believed to result from ischemic injury incurred during aortic cross-clamping and unmasked in the recovery period and/or certain metabolic processes activated during postischemic reperfusion. It has been postulated that reperfusional damage can be minimized or eliminated if normal myocardial metabolic parameters can be maintained or restored before the initiation of reperfusion. Studies have tested a variety of cardioplegic solution compositions and administration modes. However, much controversy exists over the different methods. We have tested the hypothesis that improved myocardial protection during cardioplegia can prevent reperfusional damage and investigated the possibility of achieving optimal myocardial protection. Elective cardiac arrest was induced in isolated perfused rat hearts, under working conditions reported previously. We tested two arresting temperatures (8° C and 28° C), three infusion frequencies (single, double, and multiple dose), and different combinations of cardioplegic additives with demonstrated benefits (glucose, adenosine, creatine, and albumin). Metabolic and hemodynamic functions were used to evaluate the protection of the ischemic myocardium. Glucose (0.5%) and adenosine (1 mmol/L) provided clear benefits under all experimental conditions. Double-dose cardioplegia at 8° C also surpassed the single- and multiple-dose groups. When oxygenated cardioplegic solution containing glucose and adenosine was reinfused for 1 minute after 30 minutes of cross-clamping, no measurable changes were detected after ischemic arrest, as compared with normal hearts. Reperfusional damage was eliminated by this procedure. We concluded that an optimal condition for myocardial preservation during elective cardiac arrest in our model was established.
The African Data Manager System (ADMS): Principles, Procedures and Future Developments

The African National Integration Project (ANIP) was organized in 1967 at Northwestern University to generate, systematize, distribute and analyze quantitative information on African political systems. The project has been located at York University (1970–1975), MIT (1975–1981) and the University of Washington (1981–1983) where work has continued on the expansion of the ANIP data holdings. This chapter is a report on the storage and distribution system of the project and the design for its future development.
Radiation Dosimetry of Proton Beams

This chapter aims to review the currently practiced radiation dosimetry principles and procedures for passively scattered and magnetically scanned proton pencil beam spots (PPBS). Usefulness and limitations of various dose measuring devices, like ion chambers, films, solid-state detectors, gel, and plastic and liquid scintillators that are used in proton dosimetry are reviewed. Absolute or reference dosimetry procedures using calorimeter, ion chambers and Faraday cup are described. Relative dosimetry techniques for beam data collection are presented. Monitor unit calculation procedure for patient treatment fields for passively scattered fields using simple dosimetry factors is discussed. The detector size effects in the measurement of PPBS profiles and integral depth-dose are described. The importance of the contribution of low-dose envelopes present in PPBS profiles to 3-D dose distribution is discussed, and possible ways to measure and account for them in the modeling of PPBS in the treatment planning system are outlined. The feasibility of 3-D dosimetry using gel and liquid scintillators is discussed. Our experience at the Proton Therapy Center in Houston with the dosimetry of passively scattered and discrete spot-scanned proton beams including dose verification of patient treatment fields with intensity-modulated proton therapy is presented.
Stalking Victimization and Substance Use in College Dating Relationships: An Exploratory Analysis.

Traditionally, most dating violence research has focused on physical aggression and has left stalking behaviors largely unexamined, despite evidence that stalking of an intimate partner occurs with...
Clonidine in Hyperactive, Mentally Retarded Children

The effects of oral clonidine on hyperactive children with comorbid mental retardation were examined in 10 children (mean age 7.6 years) treated at the Department of Psychiatry, King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, India.
Neurosurgery for Psychopaths? The Problems of Empathy and Neurodiversity

Dietmar Hubner and Lucie White (2016) argue, persuasively, that deep brain stimulation (DBS) would be unethical as a treatment for imprisoned psychopaths. Although I agree with this conclusion, I w...
Energetic costs of calcification under ocean acidification

Anthropogenic ocean acidification threatens to negatively impact marine organisms that precipitate calcium carbonate skeletons. Past geological events, such as the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, together with modern experiments generally support these concerns. However, the physiological costs of producing a calcium carbonate skeleton under different acidification scenarios remain poorly understood. Here we present an idealized mathematical model to quantify whole-skeleton costs, concluding that they rise only modestly (up to ∼10%) under acidification expected for 2100. The modest magnitude of this effect reflects in part the low energetic cost of inorganic, calcium carbonate relative to the proteinaceous organic matrix component of skeletons. Our analysis does, however, point to an important kinetic constraint that depends on seawater carbonate chemistry, and we hypothesize that the impact of acidification is more likely to cause extinctions within groups where the timescale of larval development is tightly constrained. The cheapness of carbonate skeletons compared to organic materials also helps explain the widespread evolutionary convergence upon calcification within the metazoa.
Into Centuries of Centuries: Reflections on Marc. R. Poirier (1952-2015)

This essay reflects on the contributions to property law scholarship and teaching made by Marc R. Poirier (1952-2015), Professor of Law at Seton Hall School, over the course of his twenty-five year career in the legal academy. Marc Poirier was a distinguished scholar and great friend to many in the property law world. The essay recounts Poirier’s formative experiences as a student at Harvard Law School and in practice in Washington, D.C. It details his teaching innovations and his many institutional contributions to Seton Hall and the wider legal academy. It also provides a brief overview of Poirier’s remarkable range of scholarship on property law, emphasizing his syncretic, inter-disciplinary approach to property law and theory, environmental law and law dealing with gender identity and human rights. It draws attention to Poirier’s iterative, generous, and, above all, caring approach to scholarship, teaching and life.
P139 HLA antibody identification by Luminex single antigen – Interlaboratory comparison

Aim Single antigen bead (SAB) assays are widely used for histocompatibility testing to detect and measure the strength of HLA antibodies. The aim of this study is to compare the SAB data among labs to examine variability in antibody reporting. Methods Labs participating in the UCLA Flow and Virtual Crossmatch Exchange tested sera with a broad range of class I and/or class II specificities. The study collected and analyzed Luminex SAB data reported by participants from 4 sera sent 3 times/year from 2014 to 2016. Data collected included HLA specificities, MFI values, class I/class II cutoffs, vendor information, and lot numbers. The coefficient of variations (%CV) were calculated using the center-specific MFI values to analyze the variability in the reporting of antibody strength among labs. Results Participants tested 36 total samples over 9 Exchanges. Among labs, their positive cutoff values ranged broadly from 300 to 3000 for A, B, DR, and DQB1 loci and 300–15000 for C, DPB1, and DQA1 loci, as good agreement was achieved in detecting antibodies with MFI values >5000. However, in the reporting of antibody strength, there was variability. Table 1 lists the MFI %CV of class I/II loci for peak specificities reported with consensus. (No DQA specificities were included as none reached consensus.) Mean %CV ranged from 25% to 34% over the 9 Exchanges. Generally, in the presence of strong antibodies (MFI > 15000), %CV fell below 25%. As MFI strength decreased, the %CV increased, in some cases to above 60% when MFI values were Conclusions In conclusion, the data shows consistency in the detection of HLA antibodies among labs; however, variability in reporting positive cutoff values and antibody strength exists. Thus, educational activities should continue to provide standards for quality control of antibody testing methods. Download : Download high-res image (603KB) Download : Download full-size image
Growth and Development of American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Chicks at Marsh Lake, Minnesota, USA

Abstract. The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is an iconic waterbird breeding in the Prairie Pothole and Upper Midwest Regions of North America. Significant variation in recruitment occurs among years. However, mechanisms affecting recruitment, such as variation in size at hatching and chick growth, have not been quantified. In this study, size at hatching and growth rates of American White Pelican chicks were examined at Mash Lake, Minnesota, USA, during 2010–2012. On the day of hatch, the mass and lengths of tarsus, wing and culmen were recorded for the oldest chick in 2-egg nests. No difference was detected in skeletal size at hatching during 2010–2012, but mass of chicks was 11% lower in 2010 than in 2011. Growth rates for mass and wing did not differ between 2011 and 2012, but over 40% of the variation in absolute and instantaneous (relative) growth rates of tarsus was explained by year, with higher rates in 2011; in 2011, nest initiations were started later than other years. Littl...
Phototransduction in Rods and Cones

Phototransduction is the first step in seeing, whereby photons absorbed by the retinal rods and cones trigger an electrical signal, which is then transmitted synaptically to higher-order retinal neurons for processing. The mechanism of phototransduction is now extremely well understood, especially that of rods, and is in fact the exemplary G-protein-mediated signaling pathway understood down to quantitative details. The molecular identifications of the various proteins involved in phototransduction and their mutations have also helped understand many hereditary diseases affecting vision.
Informal physics learning from video games: a case study using gameplay videos

Researching informal gameplay can be challenging, since as soon as a formal study design is imposed, it becomes neither casual nor self-motivated. As a case study of a non-invasive design, we analyze publicly posted gameplay videos to assess the effectiveness of a physics educational video game on special relativity. These videos offer unique insights into informal learning through gaming, as players do not only describe the gameplay mechanics, but also explore physics concepts in a think-aloud fashion while they ponder the experience and effects. We find that while this methodology has substantial limitations, it is complementary when it comes to assessing motivations and attitudes, as well as to gathering data on conceptual hurdles.
Current Status and Applications

In this chapter we discuss the current status, applicability, and utility of behavioral assessment. We examine the status of the paradigm through several indices: (a) the use of behavioral assessment methods in published treatment outcome studies, (b) circulation of behavioral and nonbehavioral journals, (c) membership in professional organizations, (d) the status of behavioral assessment in graduate training programs, and (e) the use of behavioral assessment methods in clinical practice. In the second section of the chapter we discuss the applicability and utility of behavioral assessment.
Congenital unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery. The importance of flow in pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract This review and supporting experiments in which the left pulmonary artery was ligated on the first day of life, have clearly implicated an increased pulmonary blood flow from the time of birth as an important factor in the genesis of pulmonary hypertension. Ninety-eight cases of unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery, including four new cases, have been collected from the world's literature and are reviewed in this paper. This lesion is frequently undiagnosed and may be more common than is generally appreciated as shown by the marked increase in case reports in the past ten years. The blood supply to the affected lung has been explained on an embryologie basis, and two distinct embryologic faults have been implicated. The incidence of pulmonary hypertension in the isolated cases was 19 per cent, and when combined with a cardiovascular shunt the incidence was 88 per cent. In view of the high incidence of pulmonary hypertension when UAPA is associated with a cardiovascular shunt, it is important to recognize these patients at an early age and correct the associated shunt to prevent or reverse pulmonary hypertension, if possible. It is evident that this lesion must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and cyanotic congenital heart disease.
The Fundamental Inequalities and Related Matters

In this initial chapter, we shall present many of the fundamental results and techniques of the theory of inequalities. Some of the results are important in themselves, and some are required for use in subsequent chapters; others are included, as are multiple proofs, on the basis of their elegance and unusual flavor [1].
The impacts of policy alternatives and foreign demand fluctuations on the US rice market

U.S. Government commodity programs have both direct and indirect effects on farmers, consumers, and taxpayers, and play a leading role in the U.S. agriculture. By some measures announced by U.S. Congress, agriculture receives more federal support relative to importance than any other sector of the economy. Specially, the U.S. rice industry is mostly influenced by the government policy because the rice industry is smaller than other grain industries;Export-oriented policies of Thailand can have dramatic consequences on the U.S. rice industry. Thailand, as the largest exporter and competitor against the U.S., has contributed to price and export variability in the U.S. rice market as well as in the world market;Furthermore, small swings in foreign demand for world rice market are important to analyze the U.S. rice industry because the U.S. rice industry heavily depends upon the world rice market, with more than 60 percent of national rice production as an outlet for exports;Under a Stackelberg duopoly assumption, Thailand as a price-leader and U.S. as a price-follower, an economic supply-demand model that represents economic forces acting in the U.S. rice industry was formulated. Then the effects of alternative policies of U.S. and Thailand, and world demand fluctuations of U.S. rice economy were examined by using this economic framework;Empirical study for 1960-1985 shows that an aggressive export policy of Thailand, an expansionary total production policy of major importers, and market-oriented policy of U.S. Government, might seem to hurt the rice farmers because of the lower farm price and supply, and hence loss of expected returns to rice farmers. Simulation result also shows that the Thailand export policy has much more significant impacts on the U.S. rice market than the U.S. support price policy and the expansionary production policy of major importing countries.
Biosurety in the Post-9/11 Era

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights biosurety in the Post-9/11 era. The anthrax mailings in the fall of 2001 fundamentally altered the security landscape in government and private biological laboratories. Originally feared to be a follow-on attack after the 9/11 airplane hijackings, the anthrax mailings were determined to be domestic in origin. Identifying and investigating the possible sources and perpetrators required a massive investigation, referred to as “Amerithrax,” by the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Amerithrax case highlights the need for a system ensuring that co-workers, as well as supervisors, maintain a sense of responsibility for the well-being of each other and the safety and security of their laboratories. No biosurety system can be successful without the endorsement and full cooperation of laboratory directors, principal investigators, and the research community at large. The fact that an individual does not pose a risk when hired does not mean that life and personal circumstances will not change. Initial screening of those working with BSAT should be discrete, based on valid risk factors, thorough, executed expertly, and repeated at intervals or in response to behavioral and other life changes. With an enhanced biosurety program in place, risks can be detected and addressed before adverse events occur.
Foster parent self-care: A conceptual model

Abstract Foster parents play a critical role in the lives of youth in foster care, experience myriad stressors, have high rates of turnover and in turn the child welfare system ultimately over relies on relatively small numbers of caregivers to care for the majority of foster children. While there is a small literature that includes an examination of how foster parents care for themselves and maintain their well-being, to date there is only one study that has primarily examined foster parents' self-care. The purpose of the current article is to highlight the need for greater attention to foster parent self-care and integrate the research literature about foster parent stressors and self-care to propose a conceptual model of foster parent self-care. This manuscript describes the stressors faced by foster parents to illustrate the need for greater attention to foster parent self-care. It then proposes a conceptual model that seeks to expand the notion of self-care beyond a set of practices to an understanding of self-care practices as the result of internal and external factors that contribute to or inhibit foster parent self-care. The authors make recommendations for foster parents, researchers and agencies interested in improving the health and well-being of foster parents.
The Exhibition Catalogue Awards for 1992

Sixty-nine exhibition catalogs were submitted for judging this year in the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Awards, an increase from last year’s total of 51 entries. This was the seventh year the awards have been presented. The Exhibition Catalogue Awards Committee spent four and a half hours in deliberations at the San Antonio judging sessions, after having read each catalog during the fall—a short time in comparison to the countless hours spent by those who prepared the catalogs, but a testament to the high quality of the catalogs submitted. Criteria for . . .
Drug-Induced Renal Lesions

In the symposium on Drug Effects on the Kidney held in Sidney in 1979, practically all the papers delt with various aspects of nephrotoxicity. To my knowledge, there was not a session dedicated to renal injury related to drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions. The chapters in this section address this topic, a task made very difficult by the ignorance that still persists in this area of nephropathology. During the last decade, but especially during the last 3–4 years, drug-induced hypersensitivity has received increasing attention due to its importance in clinical medicine and the accelerated pace of progress in basic research. There is evidence, based on experimental models, human disease, or both, that the four main mechanisms of hypersensitivity, namely (1) antibody reacting with renal antigens, (2) immune complex formed in situ or in the circulation, (3) cell-mediated hypersensitivity, and (4) immediate IgE-type hypersensitivity, may by activated, independently or synergistically, by drugs and that the kidney may be a target organ.