cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of Effective Leadership in the Chinese Context

Leadership has attracted a significant amount of scholarly attention in the past few decades. However, most research and theory contributions are to a great extent limited to accounting for leadership practices in the West (Littrell, 2002). This study is designed to develop an effective leadership model that works in the Chinese context. Paternalistic leadership, a dominant leadership style in an Eastern business environment, is compared with transformational leadership, a dominant leadership style in a Western business environment. The notion of transformational leadership was developed under the tutelage of Bernard Bass (1998). Transformational leadership is found to be compatible with collectivistic values (Walumbwa & Lwwler, 2003) and is believed to be appealing and generalizable to Chinese leadership situations (Chen & Farh, 1999). Other researchers have found that within Chinese organizations, leader behaviors are quite distinct from transformational leadership, referring to this leader style as paternalistic leadership (Redding, 1990; Cheng, 1995). The questions are asked, “Transformational or paternalistic leadership, which one is more effective in Chinese organizations? Is one type of leadership superior to the other one in the Chinese culture?” To answer these questions, a model is proposed to clarify the mediating effects of trust and harmony on the relationship between leadership style and its effectiveness, and to interpret the moderating effects of generation on the relationships between both paternalistic and transformational leadership with trust and harmony. Most theories of leadership in organizational behavior originated in the United States and Western Europe and are hypothesized to be universally applicable to non-Western contexts. Departing from this tradition, the current study proposes a Chinese culture-specific leadership theory, built on traditional Confucianism. The principle aim is to examine and articulate a culturally informed and warranted ground for a leadership model in the Chinese context. The results of the study provide a new perspective on leadership in the Chinese context by focusing on three dimensions of paternalistic leadership (authoritative, benevolent, and moral leadership) that are ignored in the Western leadership literature. The results also suggest that trust in the leader and harmonious relationships in an organization are key mechanisms for explaining effective leadership in Chinese organizations regardless of whether paternalistic or transformational leadership is used. What’s more, as the younger generation is becoming the dominant workforce, a successful leader in China should use Western practices and integrate them to fit in Chinese organizations in a way that also acknowledges Chinese traditions.
Validation of Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA): Granular description of a function

Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) is a methodology for obtaining linguistic summarizations from data that are associated with cases. It contains 13 steps which are mathematically described in [2]. In this paper we focus on the validation of fsQCA by using it to obtain a granular (linguistic) description of a function as a collection of fuzzy IF-THEN rules, where the rules may be viewed as a summary of the function.
Rapid plasticity follows whisker pairing in barrel cortex of the awake rat

Synaptic plasticity can be induced easily throughout life in the rodent somatic sensory cortex. Trimming all but two whiskers on one side of an adult rat’s face, called ‘whisker pairing’, causes the active (intact) whiskers to develop a stronger drive on cortical cells in their respective barrel columns, while inactive (trimmed) whisker efficacy is down-regulated. To date, this type of activity-dependent plasticity has been induced by trimming all but two whiskers, letting the rats explore their environment from 1 day to 1 month, after which cortical responses were analyzed physiologically under anesthesia. Such studies have enhanced our understanding of cortical plasticity, but the anesthesia complicates the examination of changes that occur in the first few hours after whisker trimming. Here we assayed the short-term changes that occur in alert, active animals over a period of hours after whisker trimming. The magnitude of barrel cortex evoked responses was measured in response to stimulation of the cut and paired whiskers of rats under several conditions: (a) whisking in air (control), (b) active whisking of an object by the rat, and (c) epochs of passive whisker stimulation to identify the onset of whisker pairing plasticity changes in cortex. The main difference between whisking in air without contact and passive whisker stimulation is that the former condition induces an increased response to stimulation of inactive cut whiskers, while the latter condition increases the responses to the stimulated whiskers. The results support the conclusion that whisker pairing plasticity in barrel cortex occurs within 4 h after whisker trimming in an awake, alert animal.
Involvement of actin microfilaments in the transcription/replication of human parainfluenza virus type 3: possible role of actin in other viruses.

Multifunctional involvement of actin microfilaments during viral infection has been documented in many studies. The molecular mechanism underlying this important host-virus interaction, however, remains poorly understood. We have investigated the role of actin microfilaments in the life cycle of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3), a paramyxovirus that causes severe respiratory illness in children. In vitro transcription with purified viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex showed a requirement of cellular actin, in the polymeric form, for mRNA synthesis in vitro. This was further confirmed by using recombinant actin, which interacted with the viral RNP and also activated mRNA synthesis in vitro. Consistent with the role of the polymeric form of actin, the actin microfilaments of the cytoskeletal framework participate in the virus replication in vivo. Biochemical and immunological analyses revealed the association of viral RNPs with cytoskeletal framework during early stages of infection, and involvement of these RNPs in the synthesis of mRNAs and genome-length RNA. Immunofluorescent labeling and confocal microscopy showed that the viral nucleocapsids colocalize with the actin microfilaments. Treatment of cells with cytochalasin D, which depolymerizes actin microfilaments, inhibited viral RNA synthesis and RNP accumulation. These data indicate that actin microfilaments play a critical role in HPIV3 life cycle, specifically at the level of viral transcription and replication. Involvement of the cytoskeletal framework in the life cycle of several viruses containing RNA and DNA genomes is reviewed.
3H)morphine localization in myenteric plexus

Preferential binding of 3H-labeled morphine to satellite cells, but not to large neurons in the myenteric plexus, is demonstrated autoradiographically. Microfluorometric spectra of the plexus show nerve fibers that contain norepinephrine and impinge on satellite cells. Cells containing serotonin occur occasionally on longitudinal muscle outside the myenteric plexus.
The Academic Legacy of Berta Vigil Laden

Berta Vigil Laden was a scholar who helped raise our understanding of minority-serving institutions generally and Hispanic-serving institutions in particular. She approached her work with empathy and compassion. This article reviews her major contributions.
A reassessment of the role of tidal dispersion in estuaries and bays

The role of tidal dispersion is reassessed, based on a consideration of the relevant physical mechanisms, particularly those elucidated by numerical simulations of tide-induced dispersion. It appears that the principal influence of tidal currents on dispersion occurs at length scales of the tidal excursion and smaller; thus the effectiveness of tidal dispersion depends on the relative scale of the tidal excursion to the spacing between major bathymetric and shoreline features. In estuaries where the typical spacing of topographic features is less than the tidal excursion, tidal dispersion may contribute significantly to the overall flushing. In estuaries and embayments in which the typical spacing between major features is larger than the tidal excursion, the influence of tidal dispersion will be localized, and it will not markedly contribute to overall flushing. Tidal dispersion is most pronounced in regions of abrupt topographic changes such as headlands and inlets, where flow separation occurs. The strong strain rate in the region of flow separation tends to stretch patches of fluid into long filaments, which are subsequently rolled up and distorted by the transient eddy field. The dispersion process accomplished by the tides varies strongly as a function of position and tidal phase and thus does not lend itself to parameterization by an eddy diffusion coefficient.
Dissimilar material joints with and without free-edge stress singularities: Part I. A biologically inspired design

An integrated experimental and numerical investigation was conducted for removing the free-adge stress singularities in dissimilar material joints. A convex inter-face/joint design, inspired by the shape and mechanics of trees, will result in reduced stress singularities at bimaterial corners for most engineering material combinations.In situ photoelasticity experiments on convex polycarbonate-aluminum joints showed that the free-edge stress singularity was successfully removed. As a result, the new design not only improves the static load transfer capacity of dissimilar meterial joints, but also yields more reasonable interfacial tensile strength evaluation. For convex polycarbonate-aluminum and poly(methyl methacrylate)-aluminum joint specimens, the ultimate tensile load increased up to 81% while the total material volume was reduced by at least 15% over that of traditional butt-joint specimens with severe free-edge stress singularities.
Reliability and maintainability of machinery and equipment, part 1: Accessibility and assessing machine tool R&M performance

This article is the rst of two that review some of the practical machinery reliability and maintainability (RM those to be covered in the second part include benchmarking best maintainability practices, cost-eectiveness of predictive maintenance, and equipment life-cycle cost analysis. These articles review the contemporary subjects on R&M. In addition, a case study is presented that oers a road map
Combining and Contacting of Two Rough Surfaces with Asymmetric Distribution of Asperity Heights

The statistical approach of describing rough surfaces is extended to include the contact oftwo rough surfaces in which their distribution of asperity heights can either be symmetricor asymmetric, and the asymmetry is modeled using the normalized Weibull distribution.In considering the contact between two rough surfaces, as in most practical applications,the contact can be approximated by an equivalent rough surface in contact with a smoothplane. The roughness parameters of the equivalent surface are obtained using the spectralmoment method, and its validity is veriﬁed using realistic surface roughness measure-ments. This paper presents a method to obtain the equivalent rough surface with a Weibulldistribution of asperity heights, in which the standard deviation and skewness parametersof asperity heights of the actual contacting surfaces are preserved. The advantages of thismethod are demonstrated via direct comparisons with a previously proposed method aswell as with exact numerical simulation of the contact parameters of several differentactual surfaces from magnetic storage and MEMS applications. For practical engineeringapplications, where the roughness parameters of each individual surface are known,contour plots for the skewness value of the equivalent rough surface are provided forpractical ranges of combinations of standard deviation ratios and skewness values. Asexpected when the roughness of one of the contacting surfaces dominates, the skewness issolely determined by the rougher surface. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1614822#
William Morris’s Conditional Moment

This article argues that William Morris’s “The Defence of Guenevere” (1858) writes history through a singular unit of the time, the ephemeral moment. The moment is constructed through sensory experience, lodging historical narrative in the body and departing from mainstream Victorian progressive narratives. Morris constructs what I call an historiography of conditionality, an historical consciousness predicated on the immanent self-contradiction of memorializing any particular moment. In doing so, Morris anticipates what Walter Benjamin and others, following Karl Marx, theorized as historical materialism. My reading of “The Defence of Guenevere” departs from critics who have labeled Morris as escapist, nostalgic, or someone who uses the past to critique the present. Instead, Morris creates a poetic historical consciousness that weighs the cost of memorialization for the present day.
Association of the Blood/Air Partition Coefficient of 1,3-Butadiene with Blood Lipids and Albumin

Pulmonary gas uptake is a function of the blood solubility of a vapor, indicated by the blood/air partition coefficient. We hypothesized that blood lipid compositions are associated with the blood/air partition coefficients of lipophilic toxic vapors such as 1,3-butadiene. Our goal was to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and albumin to the blood/air partition coefficient of butadiene. We collected blood samples from 24 subjects at three time points: a fasting baseline and 2 and 4 hr after drinking a standardized high-fat milk shake (107 g fat, 80 g sugar, and 27 g protein). The blood/air partition coefficient was determined using the closed vial-equilibrium technique. Triglycerides and total cholesterol were analyzed by an enzymatic method, and albumin was analyzed with an immunoassay technique. We used multiple linear regression and general linear models to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship, respectively. The results showed that the blood/air partition coefficient of butadiene was cross-sectionally associated only with triglycerides at baseline, and longitudinally related to baseline triglycerides, total cholesterol, and the change in triglycerides over time. The blood/air partition coefficient of butadiene increased, on average, by approximately 20% and up to 40% for subjects with borderline higher triglyceride levels after ingestion of a standardized milk shake. In addition, a time factor beyond lipids was also significant in predicting the blood/air partition coefficient of butadiene. This may represent the effects of other unmeasured parameters related to time or time of day on the blood/air partition coefficient of butadiene. Because the blood/air partition coefficient is a major determinant of gas uptake, ingestion of a high fat meal before this type of exposure may significantly increase an individual's absorbed dose, possibly increasing the risk of adverse effects.
Reconstitution of Human Excision Nuclease with Recombinant XPF-ERCC1 Complex

The human XPF-ERCC1 protein complex is one of several factors known to be required for general nucleotide excision repair. Genetic data indicate that both proteins of this complex are necessary for the repair of interstrand cross-links, perhaps via recombination. To determine whether XPF-ERCC1 completes a set of six proteins that are sufficient to carry out excision repair, the human XPF and ERCC1 cDNAs were coexpressed in Sf21 insect cells from a baculovirus vector. The purified complex contained the anticipated 5' junction-specific endonuclease activity that is stimulated through a direct interaction between XPF and replication protein A (RPA). The recombinant complex also complemented extracts of XP-F cells and Chinese hamster ovary mutants assigned to complementation groups 1, 4, and 11. Furthermore, reconstitution of the human excision nuclease was observed with a mixture of five repair factors (XPA, XPC, XPG, TFIIH, and RPA) and the recombinant XPF-ERCC1, thus verifying that no additional protein factors are needed for the specific dual incisions characteristic of human excision repair.
Distribution of fine neurites of stomatogastric neurons of the crab Cancer borealis: Evidence for a structured neuropil

The neuropil of the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab Cancer borealis contains many neuronal processes that may be arranged either at random or in some form of orderly structure. In this study, we provide evidence for two types of order in the neuropil, a segregation of the processes based on their size and a cell-specific distribution to the fine neurites. Identified neurons were injected with Lucifer yellow, fixed, and imaged as whole mounts with a confocal microscope. Four cell types were analyzed using the serial images, two pyloric neurons, one mixed pyloric/gastric neuron, and one gastric neuron. All of the neurons consisted of a approximately 60-microns-diameter soma, a approximately 20-microns-diameter primary neurite projecting into the center of the neuropil, a number of < 10-microns-diameter medium-sized neurites radiating away from the center, and many < 3-microns-diameter fine neurites around the periphery of the neuropil. The neuropil can, therefore, be divided into three layers, a central core containing the largest neurites, an intermediate region containing both medium-sized and fine neurites, and a peripheral neuropil containing mostly fine neurites. The distribution of the fine neurites was mapped using a three-dimensional grid. We found that the fine neurites were distributed not at random within the neuropil but in consistent, cell-specific patterns.
Superadditive and subadditive effects of "hot spot" mutations within the interfaces of placental ribonuclease inhibitor with angiogenin and ribonuclease A.

Previous single-site mutagenesis studies on the complexes of ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) with angiogenin (Ang) and RNase A suggested that in both cases a substantial fraction of the binding energy ...
Limit on W L -W R mixing in the SU(2) L ×SU(2) R model

An upper limit of 0.005 on the ${W}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{W}_{R}$ mixing angle in the $\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{R}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ model is derived using semileptonic-decay data. This limit is possible because of the recent data on $B$ decays, provided we assume only three generations.
Nonlinear Inverse Calibration Heat Conduction Through Property Physics

This paper proposes a nonlinear calibration approach for inverse heat conduction. A set of observations is put forth based on reformulating the heat equation in terms of thermophysical properties. An emerging pattern suggests a fundamental format for the development of a calibration integral equation that accounts for temperature-dependent thermophysical properties. An arbitrary kernel expansion is proposed in terms of a Taylor series expansion in temperature possessing undetermined coefficients. These undetermined coefficients are estimated using an additional calibration run. This concept preserves the features of the linear calibration methodology previously reported by the authors, while extending the methodology to include temperature-dependent thermophysical properties. This paper articulates an encouraging preliminary study that highlights the initial steps toward developing a nonlinear calibration inverse method. Preliminary numerical results based on simulated data using the proposed generalized ...
THE EFFECTS OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT ON CHILDREN

SUMMARY Various effects of maternal employment on infants, preschool children, school age children and adolescents were reviewed. The importance of differential effects according to sex and social class was noted, although many studies by failing to control for these variables may have obscured effects. Adequate substitute care is important in alleviating possible ill effects, and satisfaction of the mother whether or not she works, is crucial in determining effects. Future work should deal more with additional processes which may mediate effects of maternal employment. Neglected mediators which might be studied further include the cultural milieu, maternal characteristics such as achievement motivation and sex-role typing, and the family interaction process, including the husband's attitude toward the wife's work.
CONTROL OF MOVEMENTS BY THE CEREBRAL CORTEX IN PRIMATES

Summary Only the area frontalis agranularis of the agranular isocortex allocated by Economo & Koskinas to the cytoarchitectural motor type of cortex (man and macaque) has yielded contraction of skeletal muscle by stimulation with electric currents. Regions surrounding Flechsig's primary areas, characterized by large pyramids in layer IIIc, were electrically excitable in the macaque; but in man no movements so far have been obtained from areas 18 and 22. Areas which share ho cytoarchitectural features of these electrically excitable regions have responded to stimulation with the electric current. With one exception it is impossible to allocate these results to particular cortici-fugal systems. Regions from which movements of eyes and ears were obtained shared either cortico-tectal or cortico-bulbar systems. The frontal lobe of the monkey contains the neural mechanisms which maintain posture, start progression and choose the skeletal muscle to be innervated. The purposive use of that muscle in mass organization depends upon extrapyramidal systems; that in discrete organization upon the pyramidal system. Atrophy of skeletal muscle followed lesion of the pyramidal tract; hypertonia, contracture, brisk tendon reflexes, and clonus, followed ablation of extrapyramidal systems stemming from area 4; the ‘grasp reflex’ (reflex contraction of flexor muscles maintained by stretch) followed removal of extrapyramidal systems from area 6. Coincident with the remarkable mosaic type of localization of sensibilities within the three posterior lobes, control of movement, the initiation of contraction, fixation of more proximal muscles, distribution of tone, sequence of contraction with innervation of prime movers and of co-operating muscles have migrated as a whole to the frontal lobe of the primate, Macaca mulatta. Compared with the cat, in which extrapyramidal activity is distributed generously in three of the four lobes of the cortex cerebri, the frontal lobe of the monkey, like that of man, ‘serves in the motor aspect of the mind’.
In situ graphite lubrication of metallic sliding electrical contacts

Decoupled graphite lubrication of monolithic silver brushes on a copper rotor was studied in an ambient air environment under current varying from 0 A/cm2 to 200 A/cm2 using a custom designed electrical contact tribometer. Bifurcation of the positive and negative brush wear rates was observed at a current density of 200 A/cm2 . Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed transfer of copper from the rotor to the lower wear negative brush. Scanning electron microscopy of worn brush surface cross-sections created by focused ion beam milling revealed a fine-grained metallic layer below the graphite transfer layer on the negative brush surface; no such layer was found on the positive brush surface. At 40 A/cm2, steadystate brush wear rates were very low (<10 −11
Influence of stimulation rate and loudness growth on modulation detection and intensity discrimination in cochlear implant users.

Abstract In cochlear implants (CIs), increasing the stimulation rate typically increases the electric dynamic range (DR), mostly by reducing audibility thresholds. While CI users’ intensity resolution has been shown to be fairly constant across stimulation rates, high rates have been shown to weaken modulation sensitivity, especially at low listening levels. In this study, modulation detection thresholds (MDTs) were measured in five CI users for a range of stimulation rates (250–2000 pulses per second) and modulation frequencies (5–100 Hz) at 8 stimulation levels that spanned the DR (loudness-balanced across stimulation rates). Intensity difference limens (IDLs) were measured for the same stimulation rates and levels used for modulation detection. For all modulation frequencies, modulation sensitivity was generally poorer at low levels and at higher stimulation rates. CI users were sensitive to modulation frequency only at relatively high levels. Similarly, IDLs were poorer at low levels and at high stimulation rates. When compared directly in terms of relative amplitude, IDLs were generally better than MDTs at low levels. Differences in loudness growth between dynamic and steady stimuli might explain level-dependent differences between MDTs and IDLs. The slower loudness growth associated with high stimulation rates might explain the poorer MDTs and IDLs with high rates. In general, high stimulation rates provided no advantage in intensity resolution and a disadvantage in modulation sensitivity.
Penetration of angiotensin II into the brain.

Abstract The volume of distribution of angiotensin in the brain was determined after intravenous injection of labeled angiotensin II in mice. The volume of distribution was significantly larger than the plasma volume but smaller than the volume of distribution of inulin. Autoradiography of the brain indicated that angiotensin penetrates into the cerebrospinal fluid from the blood.
Penetrating Wounds of the Heart

Two cases of injury to the interatrial septum are presented. In one, tamponade effect and permanent damage of the conduction system occurred after an ice pick wound. Electrocardiographic findings of A-V dissociation are shown. In the second case, a bullet injury to the interatrial septum with lodgement of the missile and acute tamponade, no injury to the conduction system has been evidenced. The reasons for surgical exploration in each instance are given.
PROBLEMS DEFINED BY THE TRANSPORT CONFERENCE IN A RURAL PERINATAL PROGRAM

One of the major strategies of the Vermont/New Hampshire Regional Perinatal Program has been the “Transport Conference.” The purpose of this conference is to return to a community hospital to discuss the total management of mothers and their neonates (both at the community hospital and at the perinatal center). The team from the center consists of a nurse, an obstetrician, and a pediatrician, who meet with their counterparts who provide care at the community hospital. Ten items were found to recur throughout hospitals in the Vermont region. 1. Failure to recognize and refer high-risk mothers. 2. Failure to assess gestational age adequately prenatally (hence premature C. Sections and postmaturity). 3. Failure to give corticosteroids when premature labor noted. 4. Failure to assess the newborn after prolonged rupture of membranes. 5. Inappropriate orders and usage of oxygen. 6. Inappropriate use of sodium bicarbonate. 7. Inappropriate suctioning to prevent meconium aspiration syndr. 8. Recognition of infection, but failing to culture. 9. Recognition of hypoglycemia and pneumothorax, but failing to treat. 10. Failure to liberalize policies when babies referred back to community hospital.
Interdisciplinary expansion of conceptual foundations: Insights from beyond our field

The field of gifted education is very complex, covering broad and deep conceptual terrain. Insights about giftedness and talent are available from diverse academic disciplines and at multiple levels of analysis. These levels are captured in an interpretive framework that moves from the macrolevels of broad sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts through the levels of the immediate classroom context and psychology of the individual to the microlevels of organic structure, microbiology and the subatomic realm. From each level, examples of insights of possible relevance to gifted education are provided as illustrations of the potential an interdisciplinary and interlevel search has for expanding the conceptual foundations of the field.
Superfluid 3 He Josephson weak links

Josephson weak links between samples of macroscopic quantum systems such as superconductors, superfluids, and Bose-Einstein condensates provide a unique tool with which to explore quantum mechanics and an opportunity to create applications based on macroscopic quantum physics. In this review we describe the development of the field of weak links in superfluid ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}.$ We review the basic techniques used to study this system and then describe the experimental and theoretical milestones that have led to our present understanding.
Biological and environmental factors affecting ultrasound-induced hemolysis in vitro: 1. HIV macrocytosis (cell size)

This paper reports the results of a further test of the hypothesis that the extent of ultrasound (US)-induced cell lysis in the presence of a US contrast agent to enhance cavitational effects is a function of cell size. The present data support the hypothesis. Human adult erythrocytes in vitro derived from patients with HIV (n = 15) and apparently healthy individuals (n = 15) were compared for US-induced hemolysis in vitro. The anticoagulated whole blood from patients with HIV and macrocytic erythrocytes had significantly greater (p > 0.05). There were also no statistically significant differences in viscosities or hematocrits of the whole blood or plasma in vitro from HIV-macrocytic or apparently healthy individuals but, for all blood types, a pooled correlation existed between hematocrit and whole blood viscosity.
A survey of current practice in aerospace software development

Abstract This paper integrates the premise that current software level practices within the aerospace industry are weak and that there is a lack of rigour in both technical and managerial areas. Results from a survey of practitioners are presented that indicate a lack of information interchange exists and that the use of formal techniques is limited. The paper proposes that this is indicative of poor life-cycle practices and that more rigorous methodologies, ones that integrate formal methods with quality practices, are required. A two-level model is proposed to address the issue.
Development in High Frequency Ultrasonic Imaging and Transducers

There has been intense interest recently in ultrasonic imaging in the frequency range from 20 MHz and beyond in biomedicine. High frequency ultrasound has applications in dermatology, ophthalmology and intravascular imaging because of its superior resolution. The performance of ultrasonic imaging systems especially at high frequencies depends critically upon the transducers/arrays, the design of which in turn is determined to a large degree by the materials and fabrication methodology of the piezoelectric element and supporting structures. Recent developments in these areas are discussed in this paper.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
SU-FF-J-13: A Simple Method to Calibrate Stereo-Vision System In Image-Guided Radiotherapy

Purpose: To calibrate a 3D stereovision system (or 3D camera in short) with complex planning and treatment systems to implement a 3D image‐guidedradiotherapy system. Method and Materials: A calibration template with a printed grid is used to correlate the treatment machine coordinate system to the 3D cameraimage coordinate system. The calibration template is carefully placed on the top of the treatment machine table and precisely aligned with the corresponding machine axes. A 3D surfaceimage of the template is captured by a 3D camera mounted on the ceiling of treatment room. Nine points of the 3D surfaceimage are manually digitized and used to calibrate two coordinate systems. Two algorithm, analytical method and multi‐points registration method are conducted to find the transformation parameters. The analytical method only needs 3 points to find a rigid transformation between two coordinate systems. Trigged by least‐squares approximation, the multi‐points method uses 9 points to find an optimum rigid transformation between two coordinate systems. Results: Results from a set of experiments demonstrated that both methods can provide acceptable accuracy (<1‐mm) for the image‐guidedradiotherapy. Ideally, all points of the template surface transformed from the calibration should be in the O‐XY plane but due to image nose and calibration uncertainty, large error (up to 2 mm) can be introduced by the analytical method. In contrast, for the same template image, the multiple‐point registration approach provided image transformation with the maximum error in the template plane less than 1.0 mm under the noisy circumstance. Conclusions: Both methods can be used for accurate image system calibration. However, the multiple‐point registration method yields more reliable results than that of the analytical method. Both methods are simple and the calibration can be conducted weekly with the QA of radiotherapy systems.
The RNA interference pathway affects midgut infection- and escape barriers for Sindbis virus in Aedes aegypti.

Background The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway acts as an innate antiviral immune response in Aedes aegypti, modulating arbovirus infection of mosquitoes. Sindbis virus (SINV; family: Togaviridae, genus: Alphavirus) is an arbovirus that infects Ae. aegypti in the laboratory. SINV strain TR339 encounters a midgut escape barrier (MEB) during infection of Ae. aegypti. The nature of this barrier is not well understood. To investigate the role of the midgut as the central organ determining vector competence for arboviruses, we generated transgenic mosquitoes in which the RNAi pathway was impaired in midgut tissue of bloodfed females. We used these mosquitoes to reveal effects of RNAi impairment in the midgut on SINV replication, midgut infection and dissemination efficiencies, and mosquito longevity.
Degradation of the parasporal crystal produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.

Abstract Degradation products of the parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki obtained by treatment with alkali, gut juice from larvae of Bombyx mori, and various plant and mammalian enzymes were compared for elution pattern, approximate molecular weight (MW), and toxicity. The results indicated that with alkaline treatment the most toxic extract was obtained with 0.05–0.1 M NaOH. Toxicity was found associated mainly with a protein peak of 230,000 MW although other toxic peaks were found in the tailing. Heat-treated midgut juice from larval B. mori gave similar results. After digestion of parasporal crystals with clarified midgut juice, five peaks causing toxicity and having MW of approximately 235,000, 67,000, 30,200, 5000, and 1000, respectively, were identified. Treatment of B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxin with α-chymotrypsin gave peaks causing mortality of approximate MW 235,000, 34,000, 5000, and 1000. Trypsin, pronase, carboxypeptidase, and enterokinase digests of the B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxin gave toxic components ranging from 235,000 to 30,000 MW. The protein protoxin molecules are digested to give small toxic subunits that may be of practical value for structural determinations and for molecular mode of action studies.
CaNb2P2O11: A new calcium niobium (V) oxophosphate with a quasi-one-dimensional structure

Abstract The crystal structure of a new calcium niobium (V) oxophosphate, CaNb2P2O11, has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the space group C2 c (No. 15) and Z = 4. The lattice parameters are a = 14.930 (3)A, b = 10.824 (3)A, c = 5.214 (2)A, β = 93.59 (2) A, and V = 840.9 (4)A3. The structure contains a double layer of zig-zag corner-sharing NbO6 octahedral chains. These octahedral chains are structurally isolated by PO4 tetrahedral groups, each of which shares three oxygen atoms with NbO6 octahedra to form a quasi-low-dimensional network structure. The interconnected octahedral chains are arranged parallel to each other so that channel structures are formed. The fourth oxygen atoms of the PO4 tetrahedra are pointing into the channel where the calcium atoms are located. A structure comparison with the isotypic compound BaNb2P2O11 and a discussion of the NbO framework formation related to that in the purple molybdenum bronze are presented.
Reply to the ‘comment on “$ per W metrics for thermoelectric power generation: beyond ZT”’ by G. Nunes, Jr, Energy Environ. Sci., 2014, 7, DOI: 10.1039/C3EE43700K

The comment by Nunes suggests a welcome refinement to an approximation made in the original paper. We show here that Nunes' refinement is identical to a modified effective thermal conductivity, keff = k(1 + γZT), where k is the thermal conductivity, ZT is the usual material figure of merit, and γ is in the range 0.4–0.5. This form of keff was already identified in Section 3.3 of our original paper as an option to improve the accuracy of the calculations and is itself an approximation to the more sophisticated keff analysis of Baranowski, Snyder, and Toberer [J. Appl. Phys. 113, 204904 (2013)]. As noted by Nunes and ourselves, the main downside of such refinements is that they complicate the universality of the main result, the universal cost surface in Fig. 2 of the original paper. The simplified results in the original manuscript are justified and reasonable for ZT ∼ 1 or less, for physical insight, scaling, and rapid screening. For the best accuracy in real systems, exact numerical solutions of the coupled cost and power equations are most appropriate, examples of which we have recently published for 30 bulk and thin film materials in Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 32, 313–327, 2014.
Radioactivity in the galactic plane

The paper reports the detection of a large concentration of interstellar radioactivity during balloon-altitude measurements of gamma-ray energy spectra in the band between 0.02 and 12.27 MeV from galactic and extragalactic sources. Enhanced counting rates were observed in three directions towards the plane of the Galaxy; a power-law energy spectrum is computed for one of these directions (designated B 10). A large statistical deviation from the power law in a 1.0-FWHM interval centered near 1.16 MeV is discussed, and the existence of a nuclear gamma-ray line at 1.15 MeV in B 10 is postulated. It is suggested that Ca-44, which emits gamma radiation at 1.156 MeV following the decay of radioactive Sc-44, is a likely candidate for this line, noting that Sc-44 arises from Ti-44 according to explosive models of supernova nucleosynthesis. The 1.16-MeV line flux inferred from the present data is shown to equal the predicted flux for a supernova at a distance of approximately 3 kpc and an age not exceeding about 100 years.
Mirror Neurons: Reflecting on the Motor Cortex and Spinal Cord

Neurons in the monkey motor cortex that project to the spinal cord to control particular muscle contractions and movements have been found to discharge again while the monkey simply watches another primate make similar movements: monkey see; monkey not do.
Effective mass and width of pions at T ≠ 0

Abstract We calculate the effective mass and thermal width of the pions in hot hadronic matter based on an effective chiral lagrangian. The lagrangian includes the vector and axial-vector mesons explicitly. The effective mass is obtained from the pole position of the pion propagator at finite temperature and the inverse of the screening length. The results obtained from both cases decrease with temperature but are different numerically. The thermal width of the pion is computed from the imaginary part of the pion self-energy in the medium. The width is almost negligible at low temperatures but increases rapidly with temperature at T s $ 100 MeV .
CALCULATED AND EXPERIMENTAL LOW-ENERGY CONFORMATIONS OF CYCLIC UREA HIV PROTEASE INHIBITORS

One important factor influencing the affinity of a flexible ligand for a receptor is the internal strain energy required to attain the bound conformation. Calculation of fully equilibrated ensembles of bound and free ligand and receptor conformations are computationally not possible for most systems of biological interest; therefore, the qualitative evaluation of a novel structure as a potential high-affinity ligand for a given receptor can benefit from taking into account both the bound and unbound (usually aqueous) low-energy geometries of the ligand and the difference in their internal energies. Although many techniques for computationally generating and evaluating the conformational preferences of small molecules are available, there are a limited number of studies of complex organics that compare calculated and experimentally observed conformations. To assess our ability to predict a priori favored conformations of cyclic HIV protease (HIV-1 PR) inhibitors, conformational minima for nine 4,7-bis(phen...
Ischemic Preconditioning Targets the Respiration of Synaptic Mitochondria via Protein Kinase Cε

In the brain, ischemic preconditioning (IPC) diminishes mitochondrial dysfunction after ischemia and confers neuroprotection. Activation of e protein kinase C (ePKC) has been proposed to be a key neuroprotective pathway during IPC. We tested the hypothesis that IPC increases the levels of ePKC in synaptosomes from rat hippocampus, resulting in improved synaptic mitochondrial respiration. Preconditioning significantly increased the level of hippocampal synaptosomal ePKC to 152% of sham-operated animals at 2 d of reperfusion, the time of peak neuroprotection. We tested the effect of ePKC activation on hippocampal synaptic mitochondrial respiration 2 d after preconditioning. Treatment with the specific ePKC activating peptide, tat-ψeRACK (tat-ψe-receptor for activated C kinase), increased the rate of oxygen consumption in the presence of substrates for complexes I, II, and IV to 157, 153, and 131% of control (tat peptide alone). In parallel, we found that ePKC activation in synaptosomes from preconditioned animals resulted in altered levels of phosphorylated mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins: increased serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of 18 kDa subunit of complex I, decreased serine phosphorylation of FeS protein in complex III, increased threonine phosphorylation of COX IV (cytochrome oxidase IV), increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased H2O2 production. In brief, ischemic preconditioning promoted significant increases in the level of synaptosomal ePKC. Activation of ePKC increased synaptosomal mitochondrial respiration and phosphorylation of mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins. We propose that, at 48 h of reperfusion after ischemic preconditioning, ePKC is poised at synaptic mitochondria to respond to ischemia either by direct phosphorylation or activation of the ePKC signaling pathway.
Metamodels of production line transient behaviour for sudden machine breakdowns

SUMMARY Production controls based on mean value analysis and steady-state conditions are incapable of making on-time decisions that cope with unexpected dynamic events which are due to interruptions in complex work flow characteristic of modern production lines. One of the most significant dynamic events in production situations is a sudden machine/operator breakdown/outage. Computer simulation is known to be a useful tool for modelling the dynamic response of a system to machine breakdown, but it takes too long to perform its analysis to provide the response time necessary for control procedures. Analytical methods provide formulae which are suitable for real-time analysis, but there are no results available for transient behaviour associated with machine breakdown. Metamodelling is the process of summarizing the results of a simulation study in analytical form. In this paper, we present our metamodels for the dynamic behaviour of both time in system and number in system for a general arrival time, gener...
What we have learned from an antibiotic trial in fetal fibronectin positive women.

Clinically silent upper genital tract microbial infections have been strongly associated with spontaneous preterm delivery, especially prior to 32 weeks gestational age. This condition represents a potentially preventable or reversible cause of preterm birth using safe, readily available, and inexpensive antibiotics. Fetal fibronectin detected in cervical and vaginal secretions between 22 to 24 weeks’ gestation is a powerful predictor of subsequent risk for spontaneous preterm delivery. Evidence indicates that the detection of fetal fibronectin in cervical/vaginal secretions could represent a marker for clinically silent upper genital tract microbial infection. Thus, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (NICHD MFMU) Network performed a randomized clinical trial to determine if antibiotic treatment (metronidazole plus erythromycin) of asymptomatic women with a positive cervical or vaginal fetal fibronectin test in early pregnancy will reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. No significant difference was observed between the antibiotic- and placebo-treated groups for spontaneous preterm delivery before 37 week’s gestation (relative risk 1.17, 95% confidence interval 0.80-1.70). Therefore, use of the fetal fibronectin test to identify women for antibiotic treatment in an effort to prevent preterm birth should be discouraged, and current clinical use of the fetal fibronectin test should be limited to its negative predictive value.
Vertical Integration of Excel in the Thermal Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Microsoft Excel is a ubiquitous tool used frequently by practicing engineers. A recent survey of alumni from The University of Alabama’s Department of Mechanical Engineering regarding software tools revealed that 100% of the respondents used Microsoft Excel regularly on their jobs, while a low percentage used standard packages such as ANSYS or MATLAB, and that none used software tools which had been bundled with textbooks. The spreadsheet environment offers a great platform for computation and organization of engineering work, and the Visual Basic engine allows for great extensibility of Excel through the development of special functions and add-in modules. This paper reports on a proof-of-concept project to implement sustained emphasis on Microsoft Excel in the thermal mechanical curriculum at The University of Alabama. Specific add-in modules for use in thermodynamic analysis and heat transfer analysis have been developed and are continually being refined. These add-in modules have been utilized in a sequence of courses Thermo I, Heat Transfer, Thermo II, and Energy Systems Design. Features of the add-in modules are detailed in this report and feedback from students and teachers are given.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
THE EFFECT OF INDUCED PANCREATIC (EXOCRINE) ATROPHY ON THE RAT SUBMAXILLARY GLAND.

Abstract The object of this study was to determine the effect of induced pancreatic (exocrine) atrophy on the submaxillary gland of the rat. Submaxillary gland weight in the operated animals was found to be 39 per cent less than in controls. DNA analyses indicated that was probably due to a decrease in cell volume and a decrease in total cells per gland. The RNA content and the protease activity of the glands also was decreased.