cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bridging the Gap: Evaluation of a Pilot Project to Facilitate Use of Psychosocial Strategies Across an Occupational Therapy Curriculum

The integration of psychosocial strategies into pediatric and physical disabilities coursework presents an issue of importance to advancing the outcomes for both occupational therapy education and practice. After curriculum mapping and modification to course content, a retrospective student survey and review of educational outcomes were undertaken in one curriculum. The programmatic formative evaluation results demonstrated that all students felt moderately prepared to use cognitive-behavioral strategies in their future practices, preferring behavioral strategies over cognitive strategies for changing client thinking. Implications for the importance of integration of psychosocial content across curricula and for future study of effective teaching methods within classroom learning activities and fieldwork are included.
An interspersed region of the sea urchin genome represented in both maternal poly(A) RNA and embryo nuclear RNA.

The sequence organization and transcriptional expression of a 17-kb region of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome are described in this report. This region includes a transcription unit, designated “gene 88,” that is represented by a typical low prevalence maternal poly(A) RNA. The predominant maternal gene 88 transcript is about 9.5 kb in length, and analysis of the sequence organization of the cloned genomic region encoding this transcript shows that it contains a high density of low and moderately prevalent repeat sequences, as well as ≥2 kb of single-copy sequence. Genome blots carried out with DNA from different individual sea urchins show that several allelic forms of this single-copy region exist. The transcribed single-copy sequence is only slightly less polymorphic than is the average single-copy sequence of the S. purpuratus genome. Gene 88 single-copy sequences appear to be represented in at least three smaller transcripts in the polysomal RNA of 16-cell embryos. The nuclear RNA of later embryos also contains gene 88 transcripts. RNA gel blots indicate that polyadenylated gene 88 transcripts are also 9.5 kb in length in blastula and gastrula nuclear RNAs and these transcripts are probably colinear with the major maternal RNA transcript.
Turning heterogeneity into an advantage in wireless ad-hoc network routing

With increasing diversity of wireless devices, heterogeneity in transmission power is expected to commonly appear in ad-hoc networks. We observe that the existence of high-power nodes may adversely affect the performance of traditional ad-hoc routing protocols such as AODV and DSR. A simple fallback strategy (i.e. high-power nodes transmitting at low-power levels) may solve the problem, but may not be efficient since it ignores the extra capability of high-power nodes. In this work, we view different levels of power heterogeneity as different tiers in the network. We propose a Tier-based RoutIng Framework (TRIF) which tackles the asymmetric link problem while taking advantage of long-range transmissions by high-power nodes. In contrast to other approaches that require periodic beaconing, TRIF allows the source to discover paths with symmetric links on the fly. By avoiding dependence on periodic beaconing, TRIF requires low overhead and is robust to network dynamics. TRIF does not require changes to the MAC layer, and can be utilized by any wireless devices that support dynamic transmission power control. TRIF can be leveraged to compute the optimal transmission power level over each link in order to reduce interference. Our simulation results show that TRIF can significantly outperform traditional ad-hoc routing protocols in heterogeneous environments.
Protein dynamics and solvation in aqueous and nonaqueous environments

Herein we report the results of molecular dynamics simulations of a protein in an organic solution. We present a detailed analysis of the dynamics and structure of both protein and solvent. These results are compared and contrasted with corresponding results from simulations of protein in water. We find that placement of protein in an organic medium results in a dramatically increased hydrogen bond network. We propose that it is this increase in intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions that is responsible for the experimentally observed properties of proteins in organic solvents. Furthermore, on the basis of our results we propose that creation of salt bridges will significantly enhance the thermostability of enzymes in nonaqueous solvents
Spermatogenesis‐defective (spe) mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provide clues to solve the puzzle of male germline functions during reproduction

In most species, each sex produces gametes, usually either sperm or oocytes, from its germline during gametogenesis. The sperm and oocyte subsequently fuse together during fertilization to create the next generation. This review focuses on spermatogenesis and the roles of sperm during fertilization in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where suitable mutants are readily obtained. So far, 186 mutants defective in the C. elegans male germline functions have been isolated, and many of these mutations are alleles for one of the approximately 60 spermatogenesis-defective (spe) genes. Many cloned spe genes are expressed specifically in the male germline, where they play roles during spermatogenesis (spermatid production), spermiogenesis (spermatid activation into spermatozoa), and/or fertilization. Moreover, several spe genes are orthologs of mammalian genes, suggesting that the reproductive processes of the C. elegans and the mammalian male germlines might share common pathways at the molecular level.
All-Trans-Retinoic Acid and the Glycolipid α-Galactosylceramide Combined Reduce Breast Tumor Growth and Lung Metastasis in a 4T1 Murine Breast Tumor Model

Vitamin A compounds are promising for cancer prevention and reducing risk of recurrence. Herein we have evaluated the combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A metabolite, and alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer), a lipid immune activator, in Balb/C mice inoculated with syngeneic 4T1 breast tumor cells on reduction in breast tumor growth and lung metastasis. In Balb/c inoculated with the syngenic 4T1 primary tumor, and administered dendritic cells treated with RA + αGalCer, the size of the primary tumor and the number of lung metastatic foci were reduced. When 4T1 cells were introduced into the circulation as a model of hematogenous spread of tumor cells and RA and αCalCer were administered directly to mice without dendritic cells, lung metastatic foci were reduced 70% (P < 0.05), whereas each agent alone resulted in an intermediate decrease. Concomitantly, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), membrane type-1 (MT1)-MMP and MMP3, were reduced by RA + αGalCer in lung. MMP3 protein...
Location Matters: The Go Local Developers' Perspective

In collaboration with the National Library of Medicine, librarians at the Health Sciences Library and researchers at the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, developed the Go Local concept. NC Health Info was the first Go Local project and served as a model for other states wishing to connect their own collections of health services with MedlinePlus®. In the wake of Go Local's discontinuation, it is important to look back and address the challenges and benefits of creating and maintaining Go Local and discuss lessons learned then and for the future.
Thinner females and heavier males: who says? A comparison of female to male ideal body sizes across a wide age span.

Objective To examine the possibility of a more restrictive thinness standard for females than males across a wide age span. Method Ratings of ideal male and female body sizes were elicited from 303 children, 427 adolescents, 261 young adults, and 326 middle-age adults. Line drawings of babies, children, young adults, and middle-age and older adults were portrayed, ranging in size from very thin to very obese. Results Most subjects irrespective of gender selected similar ideal body sizes for males and females in each comparison. Very few consistently selected a thinner female than male ideal size. Young adults were more likely than other groups to prefer thinner females. Discussion The selection of similar thinness standards for both genders is encouraging from a health perspective. However, in all groups, a small bias existed favoring thinner females. This bias may contribute to body concerns in the female population.© 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 45–50, 2001.
Utility of routine laboratory testing in management of chronic urticaria/angioedema.

Background Laboratory tests are routinely ordered to identify or rule out a cause in patients with chronic urticaria/angioedema (CUA). The results of these tests are usually within normal limits or unremarkable. Objective To investigate the proportion of abnormal test results in patients with CUA leading to a change in management and in outcomes of care. Methods Retrospective analysis of a random sample of adult patients with CUA from 2001–2009. Results Cases totaled 356: 166 with urticaria and angioedema (AE), 187 with urticaria, and 3 with only AE. Patients were predominately women (69.1%) and white (75.6%), with a mean age of 48 ± 15 years. Abnormalities were commonly seen in complete blood counts (34%) and in complete metabolic panels (9.4%). Among the 1,872 tests that were ordered, results of 319 (17%) were abnormal. Of 356 patients, 30 underwent further testing because of abnormalities in laboratory work. This represented 30 of 1,872 tests (1.60%). Only 1 patient benefited from a subsequent change in management. Conclusions Laboratory testing in CUA patients referred for an Allergy and Immunology evaluation rarely lead to changes in management resulting in improved outcomes of care.
Different response requirements for IFNγ production in ELISPOT assays by CD4+ T cells from mice early and late after immunization

Abstract Antigen specific immune responses that occur early after antigen exposure differ from those that are present late in the response. The present study focused on detecting changes in production of IFNγ by CD4+ T cells over time during chronic antigen exposure. (C3H × CB17)F1 mice were primed with recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (rHBcAg) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant to allow persistent antigen exposure. To assay the CD4+ T cell response to HBcAg, splenocytes from immunized mice were restimulated with rHBcAg for 24 or 48 h in vitro and tested for IFNγ and IL-5 secreting cells by ELISPOT. Results showed that early after antigen exposure (7 days for primary and 3 days for secondary exposures), the maximal number of IFNγ secreting cells was detected in the ELISPOT after 24 h of restimulation. However, late after antigen exposure (28 days for primary and 14 days for secondary exposures), the maximum number of IFNγ secreting cells was not detected until 48 h of restimulation in this assay. This delay in IFNγ production was related to the availability of IL-2, since addition of IL-2 allowed the delayed cells from late responses to develop peak IFNγ production in vitro by 24 h, equivalent to that of cells from early responses. This IL-2 dependent delay occurred in Th1-type IFNγ responses but not in Th2-type IL-5 responses. These observations indicate that, when detecting IFNγ secreting cells it is important to screen responses at different times of restimulation or in the presence and absence of IL-2 to ensure optimal detection. This approach should prove critical, particularly when evaluating patients with chronic infections and in determining the effectiveness of vaccines since these deal with both early and late responses.
Fluctuations in a parametrically excited subharmonic oscillator

The behavior of the classical degenerate parametric oscillator ( \omega_{i} = \omega_{s} ) with small linear dissipation is considered and an expression for the steady-state probability distribution for the subharmonic amplitude is obtained. The treatment is limited to the case 1 \ll Q_{p} \ll Q_{s} where Q p and Q s are the Q factors at respectively the pump and signal frequencies. The behavior is analogous to that of the Brownian motion of a particle in a bistable potential well. This leads to a tractable equation for the relaxation towards the steady-state distribution by thermally activated jumps over the barrier. Near threshold, the behavior is similar to that of a system undergoing a second order phase transition in the mean field approximation. Analogies between first-order phase transitions and transitions in oscillating systems are also pointed out.
A Client Perspective on Counselor Disclosure (Brief Report).

Disclosure by counselors and therapists to clients may be most useful when it is desired by clients. This study sought to explore the amounts and types of disclosures desired by actual clients and compared these to responses generated by an undergraduate student sample. The primary instrument employed was the Counselor Disclosure Scale, a newly developed measure assessing amount of disclosure desired by clients or potential clients. The results indicated virtually no differences in disclosure preferences between undergraduate and client participants. Implications of these findings for counseling practice are discussed.
Considering physical intervention as a manual handling procedure: learning lessons from our general nursing colleagues

Mental health staff are at risk of sustaining injury from the application of physical intervention, two recent studies reporting that the risk is almost one in every five inidents. It is important that health care organisations are proactive in attempting to reduce the injuries to staff from all sources. Current physical intervention training focuses on safeguarding staff from physical assault and little time is dedicated to ensuring that staff use ergonomically safe and efficient body postures while using physical interventions, in spite of the risk of work‐related musculoskeletal disorders. To combat this problem, those in general nursing have produced a variety of risk assessment tools and conducted research on optimal ways of conducting manual handling training so that staff receive optimal uptake and transference of information from training. This article reviews the research in general nursing and analyses it with a view to informing future physical intervention training programmes.
Toward an integrated approach to the study of inpatient treatment of schizophrenia.

A multistage methodology is described for understanding diferences in inpatient treatment orientation among psychiatric units.
Effects of Frozen Storage on the Ultrastructure of Bovine Muscle

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out on bovine semitendinosus samples that were subjected both to long-term frozen storage and to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Samples frozen at –18°C and stored up to 26 wk showed essentially no change in muscle ultrastructure. Samples frozen at liquid nitrogen temperature and stored at 2–3°C did show ice crystal damage within the muscle fiber. Repeated freeze-thaw produced essentially no change in muscle ultrastructure.
Internal economies of scale in performing arts organizations

The evidence for diseconomies for performing arts organizations seems overwhelming. In their classic analysis Baumol and Bowen (1966) report that the gap between income and operating expenses is large and is likely to grow: performing arts organizations cannot expand their productivity by much; there are fixed technologies yet increasing labor costs; and, there is a lid on the amount they can increase their attendance fees. Netzer (1978) further specifies these assumptions in terms of scale when he concludes that there can be no economies of large size in cultural productions since there is no reduction in the cost per unit as total output increases. Although sociologists (DiMaggio, 1984; Martorella, 1983) suggest that diseconomies of large scale can be overcome through organizational means, such as sharing facilities and improved managerial practices, their conclusions indicate that savings are achieved primarily by hiring expert administrators and consultants. Paradoxically, the resulting salary increases probably have negative effects on expenditure to income ratios, at least in the short run. In any event, there is some evidence that suggests that performing arts organizations, in reaction to reductions in federal subsidies in the early 1980*5, and perhaps in reaction to the pessimistic forecasts of economists, have engaged in retrenchment. For example, in describing the trends in professional theaters Anderson and Maltezou (1977:64) report efforts to "economize" through "smaller casts, smaller orchestras, fuller houses,.... lower-salaried casts, sparser sets." Therefore, the conclusion that performing arts organizations exhibit constant diseconomies over time is subject to some qualification owing to changes in public arts policies, higher levels of private and corporate support, and also to an apparent increase in public interest in the arts. Schwarz and Peters (1984) report that during the decade
Measurement problems in quantifying the distributional effects of subsidy programs

Abstract Use of estimated compensating or equivalent variation benefit measures to analyze the distributional effects of subsidy programs can lead to biased results. The vast majority of previous studies have used average elasticity parameters to calculate individual compensating or equivalent variations. This can lead to measurement errors which are systematically related to program targeting criteria and result in biased distributional impacts being identified from analysis of cross-sectional estimated program benefits. The seriousness of this problem is illustrated in a case study with simulated data. The results suggest that much greater effort and care are warranted in ascertaining the robustness of estimates of the cross-sectional variation in the benefits of many subsidy programs.
Basal cell carcinoma of the scrotum. Report of three cases and review of the literature.

Background: Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy, only 21 cases involving the scrotum have been previously reported. Objective. Our purpose is to describe three additional cases of scrotal BCC and review the literature summarizing the clinical features and identifying any predisposing factors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases of scrotal BCC and described three new cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in our biopsy specimens. Results: Scrotal BCCs present as persistent ulcerations or plaques without identifiable predisposing factors. Lymphatic, pulmonary, or skin metastases were present in 3 of 24 cases (13%) resulting in death in one case. PCR did not detect HPV DNA in our three cases. Conclusion: Scrotal BCC rarely occurs and should be considered in the diagnosis of a persistent scrotal ulcer or plaque. Metastatic disease maybe more common than with other BCCs and wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery may be the most appropriate initial therapeutic approach.
Sustained Anabolic Effects of Long-Term Androgen Administration in Men with AIDS Wasting

Fifty-one human immunodeficiency virus-positive men with hypogonadism and wasting were randomized to receive testosterone enanthate, 300 mg im every 3 weeks, or placebo for 6 months, followed by open-label testosterone administration for 6 months. Subjects initially randomized to placebo gained lean body mass (LBM) only after crossover to testosterone administration (mean change ± standard error of the mean, -0.6 ± 0.7 kg [months 0-6] vs. 1.9 ± 0.7 kg [months 6-12] ; P = .03). In contrast, subjects initially randomized to testosterone continued to gain LBM during open-label administration (2.0 ± 0.7 kg [months 0-6] vs. 1.6 ± 0.6 kg [months 6-12]; P = .62) and had gained more LBM at 1 year than did subjects receiving testosterone for only the final 6 months of the study (3.7 ± 0.8 kg vs. 1.0 ± 1.0 kg; P = .05). Testosterone administration results in sustained increases in LBM during 1 year of therapy in hypogonadal men with AIDS wasting.
Foregut carcinoids: A clinical and biochemical analysis☆

Abstract Background: Gastrointestinal foregut carcinoids make up a small percentage (3% to 6%) of all reported carcinoids. Because these tumors are so uncommon, comparisons between the subtypes have been difficult. The goal of this study was to compare the hormonal and clinical characteristics of gastric, duodenal, and pancreatic carcinoids. Methods: A prospective database of approximately 750 carcinoid patients seen by one author over 25 years was reviewed, and the 104 patients with gastric (33), duodenal (17), or pancreatic (54) carcinoids were selected as the subgroup for analysis. These patients were compared with regard to hormone levels, clinical course, treatment, and survival. Results: Duodenal carcinoids exhibited significantly lower serotoninergic hormone levels than did the gastric and pancreatic carcinoids (urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [mg/24 h], 5 ± 1 vs 16 ± 5 and 47 ± 12, respectively, P = .03). Pancreatic carcinoids presented with more advanced stage (distant metastases 87% vs 42% and 20% for gastric and duodenal, respectively) and had worse outcomes than patients with gastric and duodenal tumors with 10-year survivals of 10%, 59%, and 58%, respectively ( P = .003). Conclusions: Pancreatic carcinoids produce higher levels of serotoninergic hormones and have a significantly higher stage and worse outcome than other foregut carcinoids. This study demonstrates that the organ of origin is an important determinant of hormonal activity and clinical course for patients with foregut carcinoids. (Surgery 1999;126:1105--10.)
Increasing the Communicative Competence of Foreign Language Students Through the FL Chatroom

The popular online “chatroom” can be incorporated into course syllabi of foreign language courses as a regular homework assignment to encourage students to use the target language actively and frequently. By scheduling regular visits to an FL-specific chatroom, the FL instructor can greatly increase the amount of time students spend communicating in the target language. The FL chatroom allows the instructor and students to continue more in-depth discussions–grammatical, cultural, and literary–outside of the classroom. Further, these discussions can be opened up to include other sections and classes, as well as guests from outside the institution. Thus, students from all levels of language learning can benefit from a shared knowledge base.
Twenty years ago today: Celebration, history, and Human Resource Development Quarterly

Celebration is an ancient ritual. It gives us a way to feel good about ourselves, and our accomplishments. When we celebrate we are reinforcing something important to us. Without it we simply maintain the status quo and candidly have a lot less fun. We typically don’t celebrate things that we dislike or do not value or that have no historical significance for us. Celebrations can be good or bad, joyous or somber. We celebrate beginnings and endings such as birth and death. We celebrate important acts through awards for bravery and accomplishment. We also celebrate the passage of time and longevity of people and events: people’s birthdays, the birth of a nation, the inauguration of a president or other important leader. Celebration is historical. Without celebration, there would be no markers or milestones by which to gauge or judge history. Celebration enables professions to mark important events and people, and reflect on what has been in the past in order to envision what might be in the future. Celebration is also part of the socialization process within a profession. One of the tenets of a profession such as human resource development (HRD) is the importance and act of celebrating. Solidarity and cooperation are enhanced when we celebrate together something we value. This 20th volume is a historical milestone for Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ), the Academy of Human Resource Development, and the HRD profession. Twenty years ago there was not a single journal dedicated to HRD research. That’s right: none, zero, zip, zilch. Against the skepticism of scholars and practitioners who doubted that an HRD-oriented research publication could survive, the journal’s founders remained steadfast in their belief that the profession needed and would support HRDQ.
Recovery and Repeatability of EMG Measures during Low-Intensity, Intermittent Isometric-Isotonic Shoulder Efforts

A study was conducted to determine the adequacy of several recovery periods following a series of intermittent tasks, and to evaluate repeatability of changes in muscle fatigue measures during such efforts. Seven college-age students participated in this study that involved light intermittent abductions of the arm, performed in a supine posture. The exercise was maintained either until exhaustion or up to one hour, with contraction levels set at 20% of muscle strength. The same exercise was performed on five different days (Day 1, 2, 6, 8, and 11). Data collected included strength, perceived muscle discomfort, and amplitude and median power frequency of the myoelectrical signals obtained from the middle-deltoid muscle. Despite non-significant day effects, trends indicated that a minimum of two-day recovery period between sessions is needed. Additionally, poor intra-class correlations were found for changes in electromyography-based measures, indicating that care is needed when interpreting myoelectrical d...
3 2P distribution into 2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid from human erythrocytes following molybdate-catalyzed hydrolysis

Abstract Normal human washed erythrocytes were incubated in autologous plasma with 3 2P for varying periods of time. 2,3-Bisphosphoglyceric acid the major organic phosphate ester of red cells, was first isolated and purified by anion-exchange chromatography; subsequently, the C-2 Pi was selectively hydrolyzed by a molybdate-catalyzed reaction. The C-2-bound Pi of 2,3-P2-glyceric acid was found to have a significantly higher specific activity than C-3 Pi. Intramolecular equilibration was not reached until the 180-min incubation. No evidence of overhydrolysis or internal randomization by the molybdate reaction was noted which was confirmed following hydrolysis of double-label 2,3-P2-glyceric acid3 2P C-2, 3 3P C-3.
Youth Tobacco Product Use in the United States

BACKGROUND: Noncigarette tobacco products are increasingly popular among youth, especially cigarette smokers. Understanding multiple tobacco product use is necessary to assess the effects of tobacco products on population health. This study examines multiple tobacco product use and associated risk factors among US youth. METHODS: Estimates of current use were calculated for cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah, e-cigarettes, pipes, bidis, kreteks, snus, and dissolvable tobacco by using data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey ( n = 24 658), a nationally representative sample of US middle and high school students. Associations between use patterns and demographic characteristics were examined by using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Among youth, 14.7% currently use 1 or more tobacco products. Of these, 2.8% use cigarettes exclusively, and 4% use 1 noncigarette product exclusively; 2.7% use cigarettes with another product (dual use), and 4.3% use 3 or more products (polytobacco use). Twice as many youth use e-cigarettes alone than dual use with cigarettes. Among smokers, polytobacco use was significantly associated with male gender (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] = 3.71), by using flavored products (aRRR = 6.09), nicotine dependence (aRRR = 1.91), tobacco marketing receptivity (aRRR = 2.52), and perceived prevalence of peer use of tobacco products (aRRR = 3.61, 5.73). CONCLUSIONS: More than twice as many youth in the United States currently use 2 or more tobacco products than cigarettes alone. Continued monitoring of tobacco use patterns is warranted, especially for e-cigarettes. Youth rates of multiple product use involving combustible products underscore needs for research assessing potential harms associated with these patterns.
Renormalizability of D=3 topologically massive gravity

Abstract The theory of topologically massive gravity in three spacetime dimensions, conjectured to be renormalizable by Deser and Yang, is analyzed using the recently-developed technique of nonlocal regularization. The validity of this technique, however, depends on the existence of a gauge-invariant measure for the nonlocal theory. Assuming that such a measure exists, we show that the possible obstacle to renormalizability found by Deser and Yang does not appear.
To help and help not.

Although CD4+ T cell help is required for effective pathogen control, persistent antiviral CD4+ T cell help can, paradoxically, impair the generation of neutralizing antibody responses and thus potentially limit protective immunity.
Chlorpromazine and amphetamine effects on three operant and on four discrete trial reinforcement schedules.

Several doses of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and amphetamine (AMP) were given to rats trained on one of three operant schedules of reinforcement (VI 60″, FI 60″, or FR 100) or one of three discrete trial schedules (conditioned approach, CA; conditioned discrimination, CD; or stimulus self selection, SSS). The discrete trial procedures were more resistant to disruption by CPZ than were the operant schedules. AMP facilitated behavior only in the VI and FI schedules and had differential effects in the CD schedule (milk reward showed much greater resistance to disruption than water rewarded behavior). AMP was also given to Ss trained to respond on one of three response levers for milk, water or food reinforcement. Food responding was most disrupted while milk responding was least disrupted. It is concluded that depressants—like CPZ—can be studied equally well in many behavioral procedures while compounds which activate—like amphetamine—require a variety of behavioral procedures to show their many different effects.
How can Asian social psychology succeed globally

The present article is inspired by the provocative ideas of Atsumi, Hofstede, Leung, and Ward expressed in this Special Issue on the past achievements, current status, and future opportunities and challenges of Asian social psychology as an international (vs a regional) endeavour. I believe that the success of Asian social psychology as a new voice and emerging perspective in social psychology hinges upon several factors: (i) adoption of an international (vs regional) outlook; (ii) not letting arbitrary geographical or intellectual boundaries restrict creative expansion of research ideas; and (iii) striving to craft a global identity with an Asian character by developing communicable theories that describe and explain important Asian social psychological phenomena for the benefits of Asia and beyond.
Voltage and Reactive Power Estimation for Contingency Analysis Using Sensitivities

Operational reliability is normally checked using contingency analysis, thus requiring the solution of the power flow problem under a wide variety of system conditions. As power flows are computationally expensive and approximate solutions are usually acceptable, fast estimation methods are used. Real power distribution factor methods provide a good trade-off between accuracy and speed. Reactive power and voltage sensitivities-based methods have not been as successful, partially because equipment limits are ignored. This paper discusses the estimation of post-contingency voltages and reactive power generation and flows using sensitivities. Employing piecewise linear estimates, the effect of equipment limits on the estimates is effectively captured. Representative results are presented using the IEEE 14 and 57-bus test systems. The results show that VAr limits have a significant influence in post-contingency voltages and reactive outputs and flows
Activation of IL-11/STAT3 pathway in preconditioned human skeletal myoblasts blocks apoptotic cascade under oxidant stress.

Aim: To determine whether our novel approach of diazoxide-induced stem cell preconditioning might be extrapolated to human skeletal myoblasts to support their survival under lethal oxidant stress. Methods & results: Using an in vitro model of H2O2 treatment of human skeletal myoblasts, we report the ability of diazoxide-preconditioned human skeletal myoblasts to express cytokines and growth factors, which act in an autocrine and paracrine fashion to promote their own survival. Preconditioning of skeletal myoblasts was cytoprotective and significantly reduced their apoptotic index (p < 0.05). IL-11 gene and protein expression was significantly increased in preconditioned skeletal myoblasts. Transfection of skeletal myoblasts with IL-11-specific siRNA incurred their death under oxidant stress. The cytoprotective effect of diazoxide preconditioning was blocked by Erk1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (20–100 µM), which abrogated STAT-3 phosphorylation, thus confirming a possible involvement of Erk1/2/STAT3 signaling down...
The Milk Fat Globule Membrane as an Ingredient: Why, How, When?

This paper presents a personal view on the potential applications of the milk fat glob- ule membrane as an ingredient in the processed foods area. Several factors are of importance for this dissertation: the biological origin of the membrane, the voluminous literature on its individual components and their relationship with health and wellness, the biological role of milk in nutrition to mammals and the innovation on scientific tools being applied in many fields of chemistry and biology. We hope to give a glimpse of the reasons on why it is a good idea to use more efficiently the components of the milk fat globule membrane. In addition we consider current advances in the fractionation of milk components to propose how this ingredient can be produced. However, we leave the timing question, when?, open for discussion in the different scientific and technological fields. milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) / isolation / analytical tools / biological activities
Reason and the absolute

The following article, “Reason and the Absolute” was submitted to the Journal in the hope of arousing interest in an outstanding problem of American broadcasting. It should be read in conjunction with the vigorous reply by Mr. Howard Bell that starts on p. 199. Mr. Breitenfeld's central point is that guarantees of the First Amendment have little relation to current criticisms and actions being directed against broadcasters who possess a technological monopoly (although with economic competition) of a priceless national resource. Mr. Bell holds that freedom of speech guarantees should apply to the communication of ideas, regardless of the technology of the medium; and that flourishing economic competition should dispell fears resulting from technological monopoly.
Point Set Registration via Particle Filtering and Stochastic Dynamics

In this paper, we propose a particle filtering approach for the problem of registering two point sets that differ by a rigid body transformation. Typically, registration algorithms compute the transformation parameters by maximizing a metric given an estimate of the correspondence between points across the two sets of interest. This can be viewed as a posterior estimation problem, in which the corresponding distribution can naturally be estimated using a particle filter. In this work, we treat motion as a local variation in pose parameters obtained by running a few iterations of a certain local optimizer. Employing this idea, we introduce stochastic motion dynamics to widen the narrow band of convergence often found in local optimizer approaches for registration. Thus, the novelty of our method is threefold: First, we employ a particle filtering scheme to drive the point set registration process. Second, we present a local optimizer that is motivated by the correlation measure. Third, we increase the robustness of the registration performance by introducing a dynamic model of uncertainty for the transformation parameters. In contrast with other techniques, our approach requires no annealing schedule, which results in a reduction in computational complexity (with respect to particle size) as well as maintains the temporal coherency of the state (no loss of information). Also unlike some alternative approaches for point set registration, we make no geometric assumptions on the two data sets. Experimental results are provided that demonstrate the robustness of the algorithm to initialization, noise, missing structures, and/or differing point densities in each set, on several challenging 2D and 3D registration scenarios.
Technical Note: A Monte Carlo study of magnetic-field-induced radiation dose effects in mice.

Purpose: Magnetic fields are known to alter radiation dose deposition. Before patients receive treatment using an MRI-linear accelerator (MRI-Linac), preclinical studies are needed to understand the biological consequences of magnetic-field-induced dose effects. In the present study, the authors sought to identify a beam energy and magnetic field strength combination suitable for preclinical murine experiments. Methods: Magnetic field dose effects were simulated in a mouse lung phantom using various beam energies (225 kVp, 350 kVp, 662 keV [Cs-137], 2 MV, and 1.25 MeV [Co-60]) and magnetic field strengths (0.75, 1.5, and 3 T). The resulting dose distributions were compared with those in a simulated human lung phantom irradiated with a 6 or 8 MV beam and orthogonal 1.5 T magnetic field. Results: In the human lung phantom, the authors observed a dose increase of 45% and 54% at the soft-tissue-to-lung interface and a dose decrease of 41% and 48% at the lung-to-soft-tissue interface for the 6 and 8 MV beams, respectively. In the mouse simulations, the magnetic fields had no measurable effect on the 225 or 350 kVp dose distribution. The dose increases with the Cs-137 beam for the 0.75, 1.5, and 3 T magnetic fields were 9%, 29%, and 42%, respectively. The dose decreases were 9%, 21%, and 37%. For the 2 MV beam, the dose increases were 16%, 33%, and 31% and the dose decreases were 9%, 19%, and 30%. For the Co-60 beam, the dose increases were 19%, 54%, and 44%, and the dose decreases were 19%, 42%, and 40%. Conclusions: The magnetic field dose effects in the mouse phantom using a Cs-137, 3 T combination or a Co-60, 1.5 or 3 T combination most closely resemble those in simulated human treatments with a 6 MV, 1.5 T MRI-Linac. The effects with a Co-60, 1.5 T combination most closely resemble those in simulated human treatments with an 8 MV, 1.5 T MRI-Linac.
Minimization of secondary effects in SOI: a 32-bit ANT logic adder implementation

This paper presents a review of circuit design techniques related to silicon on insulator technology (SOI) CMOS circuits. The most important design considerations are parasitic bipolar effect, floating body effect and hysteric variation in the threshold voltage. These effects lead to the reduction of the noise margin and under serious circumstances may lead to a wrong output. Dynamic circuits are most vulnerable to these effects due to the presence of a soft node at the top of the pull down stack. We have studied the various existing techniques and have proposed a design modification which alleviates the floating body effect without compromising other parameters like speed and without penalizing the charge sharing present. The approach is based on adding an extra transistor which will minimize the floating body effect without worsening charge sharing. The effectiveness of our design technique is demonstrated through its implementation in a 32-bit ANT logic carry look ahead adder using BSIMSOI models. Results show that the performance of the modified circuit is reliable and minimizes the floating body effect without adversely affecting charge sharing
Collisional quenching of iodobenzene ion one-photon photofragmentation

Abstract The one-photon photodissociation of iodobenzene ion at 514.5 nm is quenched to a substantial extent by ion—neutral collisions at pressures in the 10−6−10−5 Torr range. This indicates that a major fraction of the ion population dissociates with rates less than or of the order of 102 s−1. The quenching results are in accord with quasi-equilibrium theory calculations. Reinterpretation of threshold photodissociation data in the light of this collisional quenching leads to a heat of formation of 1135 kJ mol−1 for phenyl cation.
Possible research‐projects in snow‐surveying and stream‐flow forecasting in the western states

It is not the writer's intention in this paper to outline problems of research, give methods of attack, or to give definite locations for their research. However, problems will be advanced for the various phases of snow-surveying and forecasting for which knowledge is lacking and which should be investigated further. In discussing these problems it is perhaps best to start with measurement of snow and follow the subject through forecasting, in the first place, it is highly desirable to have one or more mountain meteorological stations established to study the measurement of snow, evaporation from snow, temperature-effects on melting of snow and upon density of snow, and precipitation in summer. There is a decided lack of records, especially of temperature and of precipitation , in the higher reaches of the mountains where the major runoff supplying western streams originates. Take, for instance, tne Humboldt Basin in Nevada which has an area of over 14,000 square miles. Less than ten per cent of this area represents the water-produeing region of the Basin, yet not a single weather-station is in that portion of the watershed. Climatological records to supplement the snow-surveys would be of considerable value. This spring the snow-cover water-content in eastern Nevada on courses above 7000 feet increased ten to 20 per cent during March and at one station at 9000 feet increased 100 per cent by May 1 over the measurement received on March 1. Generally the maximum accumulation is obtained about March 1 at all but the higher stations, and the April 1 measurements show about the same amount of water or sligtly less. The valley weather-stations this spring gave nearly normal temperatures during March and April, thus shedding no light upon the reason for the continued accumulation of snow and again demonstrating the necessity for high-level weather-stations.
Annealing effect on the recovery of training effect in FeO/sub x//CoFe polycrystalline systems

Summary form only given. In our previous work (Zhang et al. JMMM vol.235, p.319-328, (2001)), we reported that the training effect observed in iron-oxide/ferromagnet (F) exchange coupled bilayer systems is caused by the combination of locking, releasing, and stabilizing of the net surface moments of the AF grains during the training cycles, and pointed out that the thermal effect also plays some role in the training process. In the same systems we observed some recovery of training effect at room temperature. To investigate this phenomenon we performed an annealing experiment. A sample with the structure of Si(100)/FeO/sub x/(70 nm)/CoFe(5 nm)/Ta(10 nm) after 25 cycles of training was annealed at 70/spl deg/C with a magnetic field applied along the pinned direction up to 32 hours with successive interruptions for the measurement of the exchange bias field H/sub eb/, coercivity H/sub c/ and switching fields H/sub sw//sup +/ (pinned direction) and H/sub sw//sup -/ (opposite direction). The training effect after annealing was confirmed to be similar to the as-deposited state with some difference in detail. The activation energy for the recovering process was estimated to be about 1.13 eV by curve fitting of H/sub sw//sup -/, indicating that the distribution of activation energy responsible for the annealing effect is rather narrow. This is consistent with the report by Hou (1999), in which vacancy relocation model was proposed as a mechanism for changing the effective net surface spin moment of each AF-grain by low temperature annealing. This implies that the thermal switching effect (switching of whole spin configuration in a gain) in training and the thermal effect in recovery is different from each other.
Optimization of Multitype Branching Processes

We consider either a discrete time or an age-dependent branching process where the population consists of k types of individuals. Each time an individual is born, an action is chosen, for him which affects his lifetime, the number and types of his offspring, and the reward received. The problem of maximizing the expected reward is shown to be equivalent to a generalized Markov decision problem where the k × k transition, matrices are non-negative but not necessarily substochastic. It is shown that this branching process decision model can account for immigration, that it can be viewed as a controlled population process or infinite particle system, and that it has a number of applications including marketing and biology.
Inactivation of vegetative cells, but not spores, of Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. subtilis on stainless steel surfaces coated with an antimicrobial silver- and zinc-containing zeolite formulation

Stainless steel surfaces coated with paints containing a silver- and zinc-containing zeolite (AgION antimicrobial) were assayed in comparison to uncoated stainless steel for antimicrobial activity against vegetative cells and spores of three Bacillus species, namely, B. anthracis Sterne, B. cereus T, and B. subtilis 168. Under the test conditions (25°C and 80% relative humidity), the zeolite coating produced approximately 3 log10 inactivation of vegetative cells within a 5- to 24-h period, but viability of spores of the three species was not significantly affected.
Global Stacking of Broadband Seismograms

INTRODUCTION Stacking is a technique that combines large numbers of seismograms with different source-receiver geometries into a single composite image that typically has better signal-to-noise ratios than the individual records. This method has been routinely used by the oil industry for some time to image crustal structure from digital waveform data obtained using controlled source experiments. The increased availability of digital recordings of earthquakes from both local and global networks has made it possible to apply the stacking approach to studies of deep Earth structure. Walck and Clayton (1984) combined short-period vertical records from the Southern California Seismic Network to obtain upper-mantle velocity structure. Similarly, Vidale and Benz (1993) used vertical short-period records from seismic networks in the western United States to image upper-mantle discontinuities in the vicinity of deep earthquakes. Stacks of long-period Global Digital Seismograph Network seismograms have been used to image global body- and surface-wave phases (Shearer,...
4K-1 Volume Visualization and Error Analysis Using 3D ARFI Imaging Data

The utility and accuracy of volume visualization using 3D ARFI image data was investigated. Volumes of ARFI data were collected of custom tissue-mimicking phantoms by using a translation stage to increment the position of the imaging transducer through the elevation plane. Both vessel phantoms with stiff or soft plaques and a liver phantom with a stiff inclusion were used in the study. Simple displacement threshold techniques were used to segment inclusions from phantom background materials. ARFI-based measurements of inclusion volume were accurate to within 4% error for the liver phantom and 10.6% error for the vessel phantoms