cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantization noise, fixed-point multiplicative roundoff noise, and dithering

The author considers the characteristics of the error resulting when a continuous amplitude signal x/sub n/ is quantized and then multiplied by a constant multiplier a under fixed-point roundoff arithmetic. It is shown that the overall error of such an operation can be decomposed into two terms: one being a scaled version of the error due to the quantization of x/sub n/ and the other due to rounding off the product aQ(x/sub n/). Exact first- and second-order moments are derived for the quantization error, the roundoff error, and the overall error as a function of the multiplier a and the distribution of x/sub n/. Sufficient conditions are given for the quantization error and the roundoff error to be individually uniformly distributed and white up to the first- and second-order moments, and also for them to be mutually uncorrelated. It is also shown that regardless of the probability distribution of the input signal x/sub n/, it is always possible to add a suitable dither signal to the input of the system so that both the quantization error and the roundoff error are uniformly distributed, white, and mutually uncorrelated. For Gaussian inputs, the sufficient conditions given are not satisfied. >
Sensitivity of irradiated mice to bacterial endotoxin.

Exposure to radiation, especially in the lethal range, caused a marked increase in sensitivity of mice to S. typhosa endotoxin. This was most pronounced on the third day after irradiation. At that time the endotoxin LD/sub 50/ in mice given 1000 rads was 0.5 mu g compared to a control value of 480 mu g per 20 g mouse. Shielding the hind legs was without effect on endotoxin LD/sub 50/ (2.5 mu g for 850 r, 200 Kv x rays). Shielding the back, including the adrenals, was partially effective (LD/sub 50/, 55 mu g). Treatment with cortisone had an effect comparable to that of shielding the back. Shielding the front of the animal, including practically all of the intestinal tract, was very effective in spite of the fact that the adrenals were irradiated (LD/sub 50/, 410 mu g). Shielding a small portion of the abdomen was also quite effective in reducing endotoxin sensitivity in the irradiated inice (LD/sub 50/, 155 mu g).
Relation of structure to the microhardness of human dentin.

THE HARDNESS of human dentin has been reported by a number of investigators using a variety of methods. Wright and Fenske' used an abrasion method which gave macroscopic results and reported that there was no relationship between hardness and anatomic position in dentin. They also reported that dentin in the teeth of females was significantly harder than in males and that the hardness of dentin in both approached a maximum at an age of 31 to 40 years. Hodge and MeKay2 used a microscratch method and stated that crown dentin was somewhat harder than root dentin, although the difference observed seems to be within the limits of experimental error. Zieger3 reported that the dentin increased in hardness with age, and Richter4 observed that dentin under areas of attrition or caries was harder than normal dentin. Likewise transparent dentin was reported by Proell and Schubert5 to be harder than normal dentin. Previous microhardness measurements from this laboratory6 on crown dentin established an average Knoop hardness number (KHN) of 68. It was determined that the standard deviation for dentin was 5 KHN and that approximately 15 per cent of the hardness values had such large deviations from the average that they were considered to be outside the range of experimental error and to represent areas of different hardness. The largest variations in the hardness of dentin were observed in the transverse section just below the occlusal enamel surface and in the dentin near the dentinoenamel junction. Measurements in the latter area were generally discarded because unsymmetrical indentations were obtained as a result of uneven surfaces produced by polishing areas of different hardnesses (enamel -dentinoenamel junction-dentin). In this work it was not possible to relate hardness measurements to the histologic structure of dentin. There was some indication, however, of a relation between the histologic structure of dentin and the hardness. The purpose of the present study is to correlate the mnicrohardness of dentin with differences in structure. A modified Pollak trichrome staining technic7 was selected to relate these hardness values to the structure of dentin. The staining method indicated areas worthy of investigation, thereby greatly reducing the number of hardness measurements required.
An efficient synthesis of 3-(N-piperidinemethyl)-2, 2, 5, 5-tetramethyl-1-oxy-3-pyrroline, a promising radioprotector for cancer radiotherapy

Nitroxides can ameliorate the toxic effects of radiation during cancer therapy. Nitroxides are paramagnetic and can be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) to monitor in vivo oxidative stress status. Compound 5 (3-(N-piperidinemethyl)-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxy-3-pyrroline) was found to be the most effective nitroxide radioprotector. An efficient synthesis for this promising radioprotector was developed.
[Ni(PPh2NAr2)2(NCMe)][BF4]2 as an electrocatalyst for H2 production: PPh2NAr2 = 1,5-(di(4-(thiophene-3-yl)phenyl)-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane)

Abstract A new cyclic 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane ligand was prepared with phenyl substituents on phosphorus and (thiophene-3-yl)phenyl substituents on nitrogen. This ligand reacts with [Ni(CH3CN)6][BF4]2 to form the corresponding [Ni(PPh2NAr2)2(NCMe)][BF4]2 complex, 3, which is an active electrocatalyst for H2 production. Kinetic studies indicate that the catalytic rate is first order in catalyst and second order in acid at low concentrations of acid, but at higher acid concentrations the catalytic rate becomes independent of acid concentration. The rate-determining step at high acid concentrations is attributed to the elimination of H2 from a reduced Ni species. The modest overpotential of 280 mV and a turnover frequency of 56 s−1 confirm that 3 is a relatively active catalyst for H2 production in acetonitrile solutions. Oxidation of the pendant thiophene substituents of 3 results in the formation of films on glassy carbon electrode surfaces. However these films are not electroactive, and electrocatalysis of proton reduction is not observed with these modified electrodes.
Instrumentation at the National Institue of Standards and Technology for bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements

A description is given of the goniometric optical scatter instrumentation (GOSI) which has been developed at NIST for measuring the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) from surfaces. The source, goniometer, and receiver are described. The systematic optical and electronic noise of the system is reported. The systematic electronic noise and background scatter have been reduced to allow a detection limit of 1 X 10-9 sr-1. This value is the Rayleigh scattering level from the air molecules in the room with a field of view of 7.2 cm at the sample position for 633 nm incident laser light.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Micro-channel diffusion characteristics of an implantable drug delivery device for age-related macular degeneration

There is an increasing need to develop implantable drug delivery devices for effective therapeutic management of chronic ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this work, we designed four different micro-channel configurations for an implantable device and elucidate drug diffusion characteristics using both simulation and experimental measurements. Our simulation and experimental results show that three micro-channel configurations are capable of sustaining drug release and can be incorporated into an implantable device to exert long-term drug release required for therapeutic management of AMD.
Interval scaling of landscape preference by direct- and indirect-measurement methods

Abstract Buhyoff G.J., Arndt L.K. and Propst D.B., 1981. Interval scaling of landscape preference by direct- and indirect-measurement methods. Landscape plann. , 8: 257–267. While interval-level scaling of landscape preferences may be desirable, the psychometric techniques which can be used to derive such measures are quite complex. These methods require intensive subject involvement and extensive data manipulations. This paper investigates the relationship between landscape preference metrics derived under an indirect method through the application of the Law of Comparative Judgment and a more direct, less data-intensive magnitude-estimation method. Results for two landscape stimulus sets indicate that extremely similar interval scales emerged from both techniques.
Use of the MMPI with adolescents: A review of salient issues

Abstract The MMPI has received extensive use as a clinical assessment instrument with adolescent respondents. Despite increasingly widespread clinical utilization of this instrument, there have been few research investigations concerning MMPI characteristics of adolescent respondents. The purpose of this paper is to present the available literature on this topic and to identify salient issues surrounding the MMPI response patterns of adolescents. Specifically, issues related to conversion of raw scores to adolescent and adult norms are presented with emphasis on historical trends, clinical correlate data and factor analytic findings. Typical response characteristics from adolescent clinical samples are delineated for scoring procedures using adult and adolescent norms. The complexity and controversy surrounding selection of appropriate norms for adolescents are described and the need for further research on establishing clinical correlates of adolescent codetypes is underscored.
Early diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal injuries from prolonged intubation in adults

Abstract Prolonged endotracheal intubation can cause injuries to 1 or more regions of the larynx, making safe extubation impossible and leading to tracheostomy in many patients. Unfortunately, a considerable number of these patients do not benefit from early laryngeal evaluation, which may reveal potentially treatable soft, obstructive tissue before it undergoes irreversible fibrosis. Between July 1992 and December 1995, we performed immediate direct telelaryngoscopy on 142 adults who required tracheostomy because of failed extubation. When present, obstructive tissue was removed with microsurgical techniques. One hundred twenty-nine (90%) patients were decannulated within 3 weeks. The 2 main reasons for failure of early decannulation were intractable granulation (in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes) and coexisting tracheal stenosis. Immediate telelaryngoscopy is recommended in all patients who require tracheostomy because of failed extubation. Flexible laryngoscopy is not adequate for thorough assessment of laryngeal damage from prolonged intubation. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:25-9.)
The thermal decomposition of scandium formate and oxalate

Abstract The thermal decomposition of scandium formate and scandium oxalate in vacuum and various atmospheres has been studied using an automatic recording thermobalance. Scandium formate, Sc(HCO 2 ) 3 , decomposes to Sc 2 O 3 , CO, and H 2 O, as expected, plus a significant amount of CO 2 as well as detectable amounts of H 2 , HCOOCH 3 , and CH 4 . In the scandium oxalate series the dodecahydrate, hexahydrate, dihydrate, anhydrous oxalate, and the oxide have been identified. No definite carbonate intermediate was found. The decomposition gases, aside from hydrate water, are CO 2 and CO, with the CO 2 in excess.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass Increases Permeability of the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier

Background The integrity of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) has not been systematically studied, especially in children. We tested the hypothesis that the blood-CSF barrier is disrupted by CPB. Methods The study randomized 25 piglets (mean weight, 11 kg) to five groups (5 per group): anesthesia alone (control); CPB at 37°C with full-flow (FF); CPB at 25°C with very low flow (LF); and HCA at 15°C and 25°C. pH-stat strategy was applied during CPB. An epidural catheter was inserted into the cisterna magna for collection of CSF. CSF and blood samples were collected at seven points: after induction of anesthesia (baseline), at 10, 50 and 115 minutes after start of CPB, just before the end of CPB, and at 30 and 120 minutes after CPB. Albumin levels in CSF and plasma were measured to assess blood-CSF barrier integrity and the albumin ratio (CSF/plasma) was calculated ( Q Alb ). Results In both HCA groups, the Q Alb was significantly higher than in the control and 37°C FF groups (all p Q Alb in the 37°C group was not significantly different vs control. Conclusions The blood-CSF barrier is impaired by CPB with 1 hour of 15°C or 25°C HCA. Further investigations are needed to understand the behavior of the blood-CSF barrier during CPB and its role in neuroprotection.
Does Cultural Recognition Obstruct Immigrant Integration? Evidence From Two Historic Case Studies

Is multiculturalism compatible with immigrant integration? While effects of minority rights and cultural recognition are controversial, I argue that not only the analysis of multicultural policies in their interaction with other structures and policies deserves more attention, but also that a historical discussion may inform current debates. Comparing and analyzing the French Huguenots in Brandenburg-Prussia (1685-1809) and Germans in the Volga region (1764-1878), I find that incorporation outcomes, despite similarly extensive cultural rights, are driven by differing opportunity structures. These findings contribute to the growing literature on multiculturalism in Europe and advocate a new approach to its analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
An Essay on Statistical Decision Theory

(2000). An Essay on Statistical Decision Theory. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 95, No. 452, pp. 1277-1281.
The effect of diflubenzuron [1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea] on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] photosynthesis, respiration, and leaf ultrastructure

Abstract The effect of the insecticide diflubenzuron [1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea] on photosynthesis, respiration, and leaf ultrastructure of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr., cv. Swift] was examined on plants treated at the second trifoliate leaf stage with 0, 0.067, and 0.269 kg of active ingredien/ha of diflubenzuron. Photosynthesis and respiration were measured with an infrared CO 2 analyzer in an open flow system prior to diflubenzuron application and at 4, 24, 48, and 96 hr after treatment with diflubenzuron. Diflubenzuron had no effect on soybean photosynthesis at any rate examined. Respiration was stimulated by the high rate (0.269 kg/ha) in a transitory manner. Tissue samples removed from both old and new leaves, 9 days after diflubenzuron application, were used for the ultrastructure study with the transmission electron microscope. The lower trifoliate leaves contained more starch grains than the upper ones being formed after treatment, but no aberrations or degradation of leaf ultrastructure due to diflubenzuron treatment were evident.
Intellectual property rights protection and location of R&D by multinational enterprises

This paper explores the determinants of R&D location of US multinational enterprises (MNE). The major aim is to determine the impact of intellectual property rights protection on R&D investment by US multinationals in a sample of developed and developing economies. Some of the major findings show that in developing economies, MNEs primarily rely on the scope of foreign direct investment, while locating their R&D facilities overseas. On the other hand, for developed countries, the scope of patent protection laws is a major factor for MNEs to undertake R&D investment. Another finding is that in developing economies, location of R&D is motivated by the need to adapt products and processes to conditions in foreign markets. Further, in the food and chemical industry, evidence shows that weaker patent protection may be desirable for technology to flow to these sectors in developing economies. An important policy implication is that entry of firms enhances global innovations.
On the Logical Structure of the Ontological Argument

The ontological argument of Saint Anselm, one of the most famous in the entire history of philosophy, has fascinated men’s minds for centuries. And yet, as Hartshorne1 makes abundantly clear, much of its subtlety has been missed by some of the keenest commentators. Although it has been discussed again and again, little work seems to have been done, even up to the moment, in probing at all deeply the logical forms needed for an exact statement.2 Part of this is due no doubt to the subtlety of the argument itself, but part of it is due to the fact that the key ideas involved are not of the kind that easily lend themselves to being handled within the standard kinds of logic.
Heat-shock proteins and molecular chaperones: implications for pathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Cells react to physical (e.g., heat) or chemical (e.g., anoxia, low pH) stressors, mounting a stress (heat-shock) response. Most genes are turned down or off, while a few are activated. The latter encode the stress or heat-shock proteins (Hsps), whose levels increase in stressed cells. Various Hsps are molecular chaperones. These, and other molecular chaperones that are not Hsps, help the other cellular proteins to achieve their native state (correct folding or functional conformation), reach their final destination (e.g., the endoplasmic reticulum or the mitochondria), resist denaturing by stressors, and regain the native state after partial denaturation. Thus the Hsps and molecular chaperones occupy the stage's center whenever and wherever there is cellular and tissue injury caused by local or systemic stressors via protein damage. This feature, their participation in protein folding and transport, and their evolutionary conservation within the three phylogenetic domains, strongly suggest a vital role for Hsps and molecular chaperones. Their importance in pathogenesis, and as diagnostic markers and prognostic indicators, is beginning to be appreciated. The role of Hsps and molecular chaperones in cell recovery from injury by a variety of noxae of clinical and surgical relevance is also being assessed. Consequently, the potential of these molecules (and corresponding genes) as targets for treatment or as therapeutic tools is emerging and is being explored. Stroke, myocadial infarction, inflammatory syndromes, infectious and parasitic diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and aging are but some examples of conditions in which Hsps and molecular chaperones are being scrutinized. The era of Hsps and molecular chaperone pathology has dawned. It is likely that genetic and acquired defects of Hsp and molecular chaperone structure and function will be identified, and will play a primary, or auxiliary but determinant, role in disease.
Fagin's Coin of Truth: Economic Belief and Representation in Oliver Twist

This essay examines Fagin from Oliver Twist as a villain whose construction joins Victorian anxieties about counterfeiting and economic deceptiveness with separate yet related concerns about the author's role in representing criminal life. Dickens triangulates Fagin's identity through cultural fears about Jewish participation within secondary markets, increased distance between purchaser and seller in an expanding credit economy, and moral ambiguities in respect to fiction-making. Read against non-literary Victorian writing about counterfeiters and crime, Fagin can be understood as a forger of identities and narratives. His ability to exploit interpersonal belief and economic value is a central feature of his villainy and one with precedent in other aspects of Victorian financial life. Dickens critiques capitalist culture by associating it with the imitative, fictional, and Jewish culture. In contrast, he aligns sincerity and truth with the middle-class, normative characters. Throughout, he marks the dist...
Training rates and willingness to perform CPR in King County, Washington: A community survey

Abstract Background It has been hypothesized that high rates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in a community will lead to improved survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, factors to consider when designing a far-reaching community CPR training program are not well defined. We explored factors associated with receiving CPR training in the survey community and characteristics contributing to willingness to perform CPR in an emergency. Methods A telephone survey was administered to 1001 randomly selected residents in September 2008 assessing CPR training history, demographics, and willingness to perform CPR. Characteristics of survey respondents were compared to examine factors that may be associated with reports of being trained compared to reports of never being trained. A stratified analysis compared characteristics of respondents who reported a high level of willingness to perform CPR in those trained compared to those never trained. Results The survey response rate was 39%. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents reported ever attending a CPR training class. A majority of people (53%) attended their most recent class more than five years ago. People who had never been trained in CPR were older, were more likely to be men and were less likely to have at least a 2-year college degree than those who had ever been trained. Among those who had been trained, younger age, male gender, time of last training and number of times trained were all significantly associated with willingness to perform CPR and none of these factors were associated with willingness in those who had not been trained. Conclusions Retraining rates, methods for reaching underserved populations and measures that will improve the likelihood that bystanders will perform CPR in an emergency should be considered when designing a community CPR education program.
Vav1 Phosphorylation Is Induced by β2 Integrin Engagement on Natural Killer Cells Upstream of Actin Cytoskeleton and Lipid Raft Reorganization

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1 regulates actin polymerization and contributes to cytotoxicity by natural killer (NK) cells. An open question is how Vav1 becomes activated and what receptor can signal upstream of actin cytoskeleton rearrangement upon NK cell contact with target cells. Using transfected insect cells that express ligands of human NK cell receptors, we show that engagement of the β2 integrin LFA-1 on NK cells by intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 led to a tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav1 that was not sensitive to cholesterol depletion and to inhibition of actin polymerization. Vav1 phosphorylation was blocked by an inhibitor of Src-family kinases, and correlated with activation of its downstream effector PAK. Binding of activation receptor 2B4 to its ligand CD48 was not sufficient for Vav1 phosphorylation. However, coengagement of 2B4 with LFA-1 resulted in an enhancement of Vav1 phosphorylation that was sensitive to cholesterol depletion and to inhibition of actin polymerization. Vav1 was recruited to a detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fraction only when 2B4 and LFA-1 were coengaged, but not after LFA-1 engagement. Therefore, binding of LFA-1 to ICAM-1 on target cells may initiate an early signaling cascade in NK cells through activation of Vav1, leading to cytoskeleton reorganization and amplification of signals from other activation receptors.
Subclassification of Clinical Stage T1 Prostate Cancer: Impact on Biochemical Recurrence Following Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose: We investigated biochemical outcomes following radical prostatectomy across subclassifications of clinical stage T1 prostate cancer.Material and Methods: Of 8,658 men who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical stage T1 prostate cancer 85, 156 and 8,417 had clinical stage T1a, T1b and T1c disease, respectively. Age, race, prostate specific antigen, year of surgery and preoperative Gleason scores were compared across clinical stage T1 subcategories. Time to prostate specific antigen recurrence was compared among groups using Kaplan-Meier and Cox hazards modeling.Results: Patients with clinical stage T1a prostate cancer had more favorable postoperative pathological features, including lower prostatectomy Gleason scores (p <0.001), rates of extraprostatic extension (p <0.001), lymph node invasion (p <0.001) and positive surgical margins (p = 0.006). Patients with T1a cancer also showed significantly lower rates of biochemical recurrence on Kaplan-Meier analysis than men with T1b and T1c disease...
Floating Codes for Joint Information Storage in Write Asymmetric Memories

Memories whose storage cells transit irreversibly between states have been common since the start of the data storage technology. In recent years, flash memories and other non-volatile memories based on floating-gate cells have become a very important family of such memories. We model them by the write asymmetric memory (WAM), a memory where each cell is in one of q states - state 0, 1, middotmiddotmiddot, q - 1 - and can only transit from a lower state to a higher state. Data stored in a WAM can be rewritten by shifting the cells to higher states. Since the state transition is irreversible, the number of times of rewriting is limited. When multiple variables are stored in a WAM, we study codes, which we call floating codes, that maximize the total number of times the variables can be written and rewritten. In this paper, we present several families of floating codes that either are optimal, or approach optimality as the codes get longer. We also present bounds to the performance of general floating codes. The results show that floating codes can integrate the rewriting capabilities of different variables to a surprisingly high degree.
Anatomy of hepatic arteriolo-portal venular shunts evaluated by 3D micro-CT imaging.

The liver differs from other organs in that two vascular systems deliver its blood – the hepatic artery and the portal vein. However, how the two systems interact is not fully understood. We therefore studied the microvascular geometry of rat liver hepatic artery and portal vein injected with the contrast polymer Microfil®. Intact isolated rat livers were imaged by micro-CT and anatomic evidence for hepatic arteriolo-portal venular shunts occurring between hepatic artery and portal vein branches was found. Simulations were performed to rule out the possibility of the observed shunts being artifacts resulting from image blurring. In addition, in the case of specimens where only the portal vein was injected, only the portal vein was opacified, whereas in hepatic artery injections, both the hepatic artery and portal vein were opacified. We conclude that mixing of the hepatic artery and portal vein blood can occur proximal to the sinusoidal level, and that the hepatic arteriolo-portal venular shunts may function as a one-way valve-like mechanism, allowing flow only from the hepatic artery to the portal vein (and not the other way around).
Acute hemarthroses: the benefits of early versus late treatment with recombinant activated factor VII.

In hemophiliacs without inhibitors, response to treatment for joint and soft tissue bleeding is much more effective when factor VIII is given early. The same is true in hemophiliacs with inhibitors treated with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven®) for peripheral muscular hemorrhages [1]. In the present report, we analyzed the responses to rFVIIa given to treat acute hemarthroses. We compared the amount of rFVIIa used in the treatment of acute hemarthroses in persons with hemophilia A and B with inhibitors and those with acquired hemophilia in the compassionate use, dose-finding, and United States (US) home treatment studies. We also compared the response rates in each of these studies. As in previous analyses for intramuscular hemorrhages, the average number of doses given for acute joint bleeding was significantly less when treatment was instituted early (as in the US home treatment study). Response rates were also much greater in the US home treatment study than in the dose-finding or compassionate use databases. It is clear that early treatment of acute hemarthroses with rFVIIa results in a greater rate of success, with fewer doses of product being required. Home treatment with rFVIIa results in greater convenience, cost savings and reduced morbidity.
The incretin hormones: from scientific discovery to practical therapeutics.

The incretins are gut hormones secreted in response to nutrient/carbohydrate ingestion and act on the pancreatic beta cell to amplify glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Incretin hormone-based treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes represent a major advance in diabetes therapeutics. The ability of the incretin agents (glucagon-like peptide 1 [GLP-1] agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase IV [DPP-4] inhibitors) to improve glycaemia with a low associated risk of hypoglycaemia, together with beneficial/neutral effects on body weight, offers a significant advantage for both patients and treating clinicians. In this edition of ‘Then and Now,’ it is useful to look back 25 years and reflect upon the developments in this field since Nauck and colleagues published two seminal papers. In 1986 they first documented a reduced incretin effect in patients with type 2 diabetes (Diabetologia 29:46–52), and then in 1993 they demonstrated that, in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a single exogenous infusion of an incretin (GLP-1) increased insulin levels in a glucose-dependent manner and normalised fasting hyperglycaemia (Diabetologia 36:741–744). In the ensuing 26 years, progress in the field of incretin hormones has resulted in a greater understanding of the relative roles of GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide secretion and activity in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and the important recognition that native GLP-1 is quickly degraded by the ubiquitous protease DPP-4. This has led to the development of GLP-1 agonists that are resistant to degradation by DPP-4 and of selective inhibitors of DPP-4 activity as therapeutic agents. GLP-1 agonists (exenatide and liraglutide) and DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin and linagliptin) currently represent effective treatment options for patients with type 2 diabetes. Several additional agents are in the pipeline, including longer acting DPP-4-resistant GLP-1 agonists. More exciting, however, is the increasing recognition that the incretin agents have numerous extra-glycaemic effects that could translate into potential cardiovascular and other benefits.
Analysis of the interaction of 16S rRNA and cytoplasmic membrane with the C-terminal part of the Streptococcus pneumoniae Era GTPase.

Era, an essential GTPase, plays a regulatory role in several cellular processes. The Era protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae has recently been shown to bind to 16S rRNA and the cytoplasmic membrane. However, exact locations of Era responsible for RNA- and membrane-binding were unknown. To identify the regions in Era that interact with the RNA and membrane, the C-terminal part of S. pneumoniae Era was systematically deleted while the N-terminal part, responsible for the GTPase activity of the protein, was kept intact. The resulting truncated Era proteins were purified and characterized. The C-terminal deletion of 9 or 19 amino-acid residues did not affect 16S rRNA-binding activity while further deletions of the C-terminus (29–114 amino-acid residues) abolished the activity. These results indicate that the integrity of the putative KH domain of Era, spanning the amino-acid residues between ≈ 22–83 from the C-terminus, is required for 16S rRNA-binding. Furthermore, the Era proteins with a deletion up to 45 residues from the C-terminus retained membrane-binding activity, but longer deletions significantly reduced the activity. These results indicate that part of the putative KH domain is also required for membrane-binding. Thus, these results indicate for the first time that the regions critical for the membrane- and 16S rRNA-binding activities of Era overlap. The era gene with a deletion of 9 or 19 codons from its 3′ terminus complemented an Escherishia coli mutant strain deficient in Era production whereas the genes with longer deletions failed to do so, thereby indicating that the KH domain is essential for Era function. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that the putative KH domain is required for 16S rRNA-binding activity and that part of the KH domain is also required for membrane-binding activity. The results also suggest that the interaction between Era and 16S rRNA is essential for bacterial growth.
Within-arm somatotopy in human motor areas determined by positron emission tomography imaging of cerebral blood flow.

Within-arm somatotopy was identified in multiple motor areas of six normal human subjects who performed a visuomotor tracking task during positron emission tomography (PET) measurement of relative cerebral blood flow (relCBF). A randomly moving target, presented on a computer monitor, was continuously followed with the index finger (movement at the metacarpopha-langeal joint), thumb, fist (movement at the wrist), forearm (movement at the elbow), elbow (movement at the shoulder), and eyes alone (control task) during sequential imaging. Segmental limb movements were associated with relCBF responses in the contralateral motor, supplementary motor, cingulate, and parietal cortex, and in the ipsilateral cerebellum. Localization of responses after stereotaxic transformation into Talairach atlas space, as well as within-subject analysis without anatomic deformations, demonstrated an overlapping somatotopic distribution in the motor cortex, with thumb responses most ventrolateral and shoulder responses most dorsomedial. Proximal limb movements induced relCBF responses of greater magnitude than distal movements. Somatotopy was also identified in the supplementary motor area, with index finger responses dorsal and anterior to shoulder responses. An additional set of somatotopic responses were located in the cingulate cortex, also with finger responses anterior to shoulder responses. Somatotopy was not identified in the anterior cerebellum. The distribution of relCBF responses is concordant with electrophysiologic studies in nonhuman primates that demonstrate a fractured somatotopy on a fine scale and a general somatotopic scheme of the limb on a large scale in multiple discrete motor areas.
Reconstruction of the W(110) surface induced by hydrogen adsorption.

We report here new LEED data for the H/W(110) surface, showing that W(110) undergoes a reconstruction induced by adsorption of hydrogen above a critical coverage. The structural change consists of a lateral shift of the top layer of W atoms relative to the bulk. We also propose a driving mechanism for the transition which may be important in other chemisorption systems as well. The surfaces most likely to undergo this type of reconstruction are those with adsorption sites consisting of flat potential wells.
Effect of Atropine upon Atrophy and Neuromuscular Regeneration.

SummaryThe daily administration of large doses of atropine to rats failed to retard the rate of atrophy of denervated muscle and did not enhance the rate of neuromuscular regeneration. Atropine did not significantly affect the creatine concentration and in vitro oxygen utilization of denervated and control muscle. When expressed as a fraction of the final body weight the strength and weight of the control muscles of the atropine-treated rats were found to be inferior to those of untreated control muscles. The change in weight of the contralateral control muscle following atropine administration invalidates any estimation of the extent and rate of atrophy or regeneration based solely on the differences between the terminal weights of the control and experimental muscle.
Leg Deformities: Inability to Increase Severity by Increasing Body Weight of Chicks and Poults

Five 4-week experiments were conducted to determine the effects of body weight on the severity of leg deformities in broiler chicks and turkey poults reared on raised wire floors. In order to make the influence of body weight independent of genetic, environmental, and nutritional effects, increasing body weight was achieved by harnessing steel weights on the backs of poults and chicks. In the first experiment, 3-day-old male and female chicks were harnessed with 0-, 1-, 2-, or 3-g weights (nine chicks per weight load). Weights were changed every 3 to 4 days until 4 weeks of age such that the artificial weight averaged 0, 3, 4.5, or 8.5% of their body weight. In Experiments 2 and 3, three replicates of 10 female chicks were assigned to isocaloric diets containing 18, 21, or 24% crude protein. Five chicks in each treatment and replicate were harnessed at 3 days of age with weights averaging approximately 13% of their body weight. Weights were changed weekly. Experiments 4 and 5 were designed similar to Experiments 2 and 3 except that male and female turkey poults were fed 22, 25, or 28% dietary crude protein and were harnessed with weights equal to about 8 to 10% of their body weight. Body weights of the birds were recorded weekly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Resolving Disputes Between Nations: Coercion or Conciliation?

The use of force and coercion to settle disputes between nations is a central problem of our time. Martin Patchen considers the circumstances that lead nations to use coercive means in disputes with other nations and also examines the effectiveness of other means of resolving international disputes. Patchen examines conflict and cooperation as general social processes and builds on previous work to present an overall theoretical framework that encompasses the conflict situation, perceptions of the adversary, decision-making, bargaining, and interaction and influence sequences.
Partial Hydatidiform Mole With False-Negative Urine Human Chorionic Gonadatropin Test in the Emergency Department

Abstract Background Hydatidiform mole (molar pregnancy) is a benign tumor of placental trophoblastic cells, which release human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Several case reports have described complete hydatidiform moles with false-negative urine qualitative hCG tests. These negative pregnancy tests have been attributed to the hook effect. We report an unusual presentation of a partial mole and review an alternative explanation for the negative hCG test. As partial moles are usually not associated with a large proliferation of trophoblastic cells, levels of hCG are commonly Objective In a pregnant patient, vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain are common presentations. Molar pregnancy is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding that should be considered. Case Report A 47-year-old female presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Urine qualitative hCG was negative and serum quantitative hCG was 1,094,950 mIU/mL. Pelvic ultrasonography showed a uterine cavity containing a soft-tissue mass with multiple cystic lesions and the hydatidiform mole was extracted with suction curettage. Tissue pathology confirmed partial hydatidiform mole. Conclusions In addition to the hook effect, we present another possible explanation for the false-negative test; namely the inability of some assays to detect hCG-degradation products, which may be higher in clinical samples from patients with hydatidiform mole. This case underscores the importance of knowing the limitations of the commonly used hCG assays.
A Numerical Method for Computing an SVD-like Decomposition

We present a numerical method for computing the SVD-like decomposition B = QDS-1, where Q is orthogonal, S is symplectic, and D is a permuted diagonal matrix. The method can be applied directly to compute the canonical form of the Hamiltonian matrices of the form JBTB, where $J=[{0 \atop -I}{I \atop 0}]$. It can also be applied to solve the related application problems such as the gyroscopic systems and linear Hamiltonian systems. Error analysis and numerical examples show that the eigenvalues of JBTB computed by this method are more accurate than those computed by the methods working on the explicit product JBTB or BJBT.
Latent infection: a low temperature survival strategy in steinernematid nematodes

Abstract 1. Entomopathogenic nematodes penetrate and kill Galleria mellonella within 48 h at optimal temperatures. 2. Low temperature induces infection latency, preventing host death until optimal conditions resume. 3. Infected Galleria survived 25 days at 5°C. On transfer to 25°C, 100% and 12.5% of Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema riobravis infected larvae died within 72 h. 4. Infective juvenile penetration decreased with decreasing temperature; declining from 49.7 and 49.3 nematodes/host at 25°C to 6.3 and 0.25 nematodes/host at 5°C for S. carpocapsae and S. riobravis , respectively. 5. Latent infection occurs, albeit infrequently, due to low host penetration at low temperature.
CD44 modulates Smad1 activation in the BMP-7 signaling pathway

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) regulates cellular metabolism in embryonic and adult tissues. Signal transduction occurs through the activation of intracellular Smad proteins. In this paper, using a yeast two-hybrid screen, Smad1 was found to interact with the cytoplasmic domain of CD44, a receptor for the extracellular matrix macromolecule hyaluronan. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the interaction of Smad1 with full-length CD44—interactions that did not occur when CD44 receptors truncated within the cytoplasmic domain were tested. Chondrocytes overexpressing a truncated CD44 on a background of endogenous full-length CD44 no longer exhibited Smad1 nuclear translocation upon BMP-7 stimulation. Further, pretreatment of chondrocytes with Streptomyces hyaluronidase to disrupt extracellular hyaluronan–cell interactions inhibited BMP-7–mediated Smad1 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation of Smad1 or Smad4, and SBE4–luciferase reporter activation. These results support a functional link between the BMP signaling cascade and CD44. Thus, changes in hyaluronan–cell interactions may serve as a means to modulate cellular responsiveness to BMP.
Serum dihydroxyvitamin d metabolite concentrations in patients on chronic anticonvulsant drug therapy: Response to pharmacologic doses of vitamin D2

Abstract We examined the effects of chronic anticonvulsant drug administration on the serum concentrations of dihydroxy-vitamin D metabolites and the response of these metabolite levels to short-term treatment with pharmacologic doses of vitamin D2. Twelve patients maintained on chronic combined diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital therapy were studied before and after the administration of vitamin D2, 75,000 units/week for 6 weeks. Prior to vitamin D2 administration, the patient group demonstrated decreased serum calcium (P
Strategies for supporting orphans and vulnerable children: an exploratory study of an exemplary model of care in Kenya.

This qualitative study explored the extent to which programs in a religiously affiliated agency in Kenya incorporate 12 internationally sanctioned strategies for supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa (Olson, Knight, & Foster, 2006). The results indicated that all 12 strategies were being employed, though to varying degrees. The authors describe how each strategy was used by the agency and make recommendations for practice and future research.
Challenging the notion of a thematic preference in young children.

Many researchers have argued that early cognitive development is characterized by a conceptual preference for thematic over taxonomic relations. However, more recent research indicates that infants and toddlers may not favor thematic relations. To resolve this discrepancy, the conceptual preferences of children ranging from 2 to 4 years of age were examined, using a forced-choice task including a target (e.g., a carrot), a thematic alternative (e.g., a rabbit), and a taxonomic alternative (e.g., a tomato). The effects of age, experimenter's instructions, hierarchical level (basic vs. superordinate), and stimulus medium (pictures vs. objects) were examined systematically. Children revealed no pervasive preference for either thematic or taxonomic relations. This challenges the notion of a developmental shift in conceptual preferences and suggests a more continuous trajectory in early conceptual development.
The light at the end of the CMOS tunnel

In spite of numerous predictions to the contrary, Silicon technology is marching along past the 22nm node and on to ever finer dimensions. Innovations at the technology device, circuit and system levels continue to enable us to scale in spite of what sometime appear to be insurmountable problems in power, lack of performance, manufacturability and so on. To a large degree, these innovations are necessary because no substitute technology has been found as yet and, in fact, it does not appear likely that any such technology will become practical this decade. This leaves us with the need to anticipate and predict the near and medium term futures of CMOS for the next handful of technology nodes. This talk will focus on doing just that, and will show how an important new constraint on future system scaling is circuit resilience. Resilience is the ability of circuits to operate in spite of challenges like noise, difficult environmental conditions, ageing and manufacturing imperfections. These factors conspire to cause transient or permanent errors that are indistinguishable from traditional "hard" faults typically caused by defects during fabrication. Without significant innovation at the circuit and system levels, the probability of these events can rise quite dramatically. In the area of SRAM, such phenomena have existed for the last three or four technology nodes, but significant investments in this area have indeed allowed continued system level scaling with ever larger on-chip memories. As these same phenomena start attacking integrated circuits more pervasively, there is an urgent need for research and development in this area to avert the problems certain to arise with increased defect rates. This keynote paper explores the link between the old subject of manufacturing variability and its well-known impact on circuit performance, and the new subject of the way that same variability -in the extreme- can cause complete circuit failure. With care, we will find that the light at the end of the CMOS tunnel is the opening of new opportunities to enrich CMOS with new technologies like MEMS, optics, sensors and even biological devices. Otherwise, that light is likely to be another train…
On correlating structural tests with functional tests for speed binning

The utilization of functional vectors has been an industry standard for speed binning purpose. This practice can be prohibitively expensive as the ICs become faster and more complex. In comparison, structural patterns can target performance related faults in a more systematic manner. To make structural test an effective alternative to functional test for speed binning, structural patterns need to correlate with functional test frequency closely. In this paper, we demonstrate the correlations between the functional test frequency and that of various types of structural patterns on MPC7455, a Motorola processor executing to the PowerPC/sup /spl trade// instruction set architecture.