cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Hydro Turbine Model for Medium and Long Term Power System Stability Analysis with Sharing Long Common Tunnel

Based on the theoretical derivation of hydraulic coupling relationship between the hydropower units sharing long common tunnel,the non-linear hydro turbine model with sharing long diversion tunnel system is established and order-reduced in accordance with the demand of power system simulation. And according to the complex structure characteristics of surge tank,a method of correcting surge tank storage constant with surge tank structure coefficient is proposed. This hydro turbine model can reflect the influence of surge tank and sharing common tunnel in the power system long term process,the accuracy of model is proved by comparison of simulation results and actual recording data in power system.
A Multi-module Approach to Calculation of Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Environmental Benefits

Environmental benefits are one of the motivations for management restoration of depleted bivalve populations. We describe a series of linked modules for benefits calculation. The modules include: oyster (Crassostrea virginica) bioenergetics, materials transport via the tidal prism, and benefits quantification. Quantified benefits include carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal and shell production. The modules are demonstrated through application to the Great Wicomico River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, USA. Oysters on seven reefs (total area 2.8 × 105 m2) are calculated to remove 15.2, 6.2, and 0.2 tons per annum of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, respectively, from the Great Wicomico. Oyster mortality contributes 108 tons per annum dry weight shell to the reefs.
Implementation of a linear transitive closure algorithm in relational database design

This paper describes a correction to an existing linear transitive closure algorithm found in [1], explains how the algorithm works and provides an example of how it works. Relational database design involves the generation of relational schemes that avoid unnecessary repetition of information. At the same time the ability to accurately retrieve all data stored in the database must be preserved. A transitive closure algorithm can be used in the design process to identify the correct attributes that can be removed without jeopardizing the accuracy of data retrieval [2]. Linear run time can be achieved with the corrected algorithm described in this paper.
Performance Analysis and Technical Feasibility Assessment of a Transforming Roving-Rolling Explorer Rover for Mars Exploration

This paper explores a two state rover concept called the Transforming Roving-Rolling Explorer (TRREx). The first state allows the rover to travel like a conventional 6-wheeled rover. The second state is a sphere to permit faster descent of steep inclines. Performance of this concept is compared to a traditional rocker-bogie (RB) architecture using hi-fidelity simulations in Webots. Results show that for missions involving very rugged terrain, or a considerable amount of downhill travel, the TRREx outperforms the rocker-bogie. Locomotion of the TRREx system using a continuous shifting of the center of mass through “actuated rolling” is also explored. A dynamics model for a cylindrical representation of the rover is simulated to identify feasible configurations capable of generating and maintaining continuous rolling motion even on sandy terrain. Results show that in sufficiently benign terrain gradual inclines can be traversed with actuated rolling. This model allows for increased exploration of the problem's design space and assists in establishing parameters for an Earth prototype.
Evaluation of circular DNA substrates for whole genome amplification prior to forensic analysis

Forensic biological evidence often contains low quantities of DNA or substantially degraded DNA which makes samples refractory to genotype analysis. One approach that shows promise to overcome the limited quantity of DNA is whole genome amplification (WGA). One WGA technique, termed rolling circle amplification (RCA), involves the amplification of circular DNA fragments and this study evaluates a single-stranded (ss) DNA ligase enzyme for generating circular DNA templates for RCA WGA. Fast, efficient ligation of several sizes of ssDNA templates was achieved. The enzyme also ligated double-stranded (ds) DNA templates, a novel activity not previously reported. Adapter sequences containing optimal terminal nucleotide ends for increased ligation efficiency were designed and ligation of adapters to template DNA was optimized. Increased amplification of DNA templates was observed following WGA; however, no amplification advantage for ssDNA ligase treatment of templates was evident compared to linear templates. A multi-step process to utilize ssDNA ligase prior to WGA was developed and short tandem repeat (STR) analysis of simulated low template (LT) and fragmented DNA was evaluated. The process resulted in the loss of template DNA and failed STR analysis whereas input of linear genomic DNA template directly into WGA prior to STR analysis improved STR genotyping results compared to non-WGA treated samples. Inclusion of an extreme thermostable single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) during WGA also increased DNA yields. While STR artifacts such as peak imbalance, drop-in, and dropout persisted, WGA shows potential for successful genetic profiling of LT and fragmented DNA samples. Further research and development is warranted prior to use of WGA in forensic casework.
Extracellular pressure stimulates adhesion of sarcoma cells via activation of focal adhesion kinase and Akt

Abstract Background The effect of extracellular pressure on adhesion and adhesiogenic focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Akt signaling in sarcomas was investigated. Methods Human sarcoma cells (HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, KHOS-240S osteosarcoma, and A-673 rhabdomyosarcoma) were subjected to increased pressure followed by adhesion assay. Two cell lines were pretreated with the FAK inhibitor 1,2,4,5-benzenetetraamine tetrahydrochloride (Y15) or Akt IV inhibitor, followed by Western analysis for activated FAK and Akt. Parallel studies were conducted in cells from a resected human fibrous histiosarcoma. Results Pressure increased adhesion in all 3 sarcoma lines and primary histosarcoma cells by 7% to 18% (n = 6; P P P Conclusions Pressure increases sarcoma cell adhesiveness via Akt and FAK. Perioperative manipulation or forces in lymphatic or circulatory systems may potentiate local recurrence or distant metastasis.
Facts, rules and procedures in normal calculation: Evidence from multiple single-patient studies of impaired arithmetic fact retrieval

This article presents results from multiple single-case studies of brain-damaged patients with impairments in retrieval of arithmetic facts (i.e., "table" facts such as 8 x 7 = 56). The results provide a basis for exploring the types of knowledge implicated in simple arithmetic performance, the internal representations for the various knowledge types, the processes operating upon these representations, and the ways in which the representations or processes may be disrupted by brain damage.
Mammalian Scent Marking

Mammals mark frequently in any situation where they are both intolerant of and dominant to other members of the same species. In other words, they mark when they are likely to attack another member of the same species, and are likely to win if they do attack. Such a situation occurs, as Hediger (13) pointed out, in connection with territoriality but it also occurs in other kinds of social systems. Frequent, vigorous marking occurs at times when there is reason to infer that the animal is motivated to aggression. The effects of marks and marking upon other individuals are poorly understood. Many species mark with more than one source of scent in response to one stimulus or set of stimuli.
Computer-assisted analysis of chromosomal abnormalities: detection of a deletion in aniridia-Wilms' tumor syndrome.

A chromosome translocation, t(8p + ; 11q -), in a patient with aniridia and Wilms' tumor, appeared balanced by standard techniques, including trypsin banding. Computer analysis of optical microscope scanning profiles of chromosome pairs 8 and 11 revealed an interstitial deletion of the short arm of 8. Computer analysis coupled to the new banding techniques provides greater resolution for the detection of subtle chromosomal variations not recognized by banding methods alone.
Oogenesis and Effects of Neuroendocrine Tissues on in Vitro Synthesis of Protein by the Ovary of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii (Girard)

ABSTRACT In the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii oocyte development was classified into seven stages according to morphological characters: (1) oogonial (< 10 μm), (2) immature (10-65 μm), (3) avitellogenic (66-160 μm), (4) early vitellogenic (161-245 μm), (5) midvitellogenic (246― 455 μm), (6) late vitellogenic (456-980 μm), and (7) postvitcllogenic and resorptive. Stage 1 (oogonial) is a multiplication stage, and oocyte maturation occurs in stages 2-6. Follicle cells become arranged around the oocytes in stage 3. Stages 4, 5, and 6 are the yolk granule development stages, with strongly acidophilic yolk granules accumulating in the cytoplasm. Yolk granules first appear at the periphery and then gradually spread throughout the cytoplasm. The ovarian index increases steadily up to stage 6, but in stage 7 the ovarian index decreases. The incorporation of 14C-leucine into ovarian or oocyte proteins occurs throughout vitellogenesis. When ovarian tissue was incubated with the eyestalk neuroendocrine tissues, leucine incorporation was inhibited, whereas when other neuroendocrine tissues, brain, subesophageal ganglion, or thoracic ganglia, were added to the incubation medium, leucine incorporation into ovarian proteins increased significantly. The inhibition produced by the eyestalk tissues was presumably due to the well-documented ovary-inhibiting hormone, whereas the stimulation produced by the other organs was presumably due to an ovary-stimulating hormone.
Base-dependent competitive adsorption of single-stranded DNA on gold.

We characterize the room-temperature adsorption of single-stranded DNA homo-oligonucleotides from solution onto polycrystalline Au films, including competitive adsorption between all possible pairs of unmodified oligomers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy analysis of the resulting films shows that oligonucleotides adsorb with a strongly base-dependent affinity, adenine (A) > cytosine (C) ≥ guanine (G) > thymine (T). In competitive adsorption experiments on Au, oligo(dA) strongly dominates over the other oligonucleotides. The relative adsorption affinity of oligo(dA) is so great that it competes effectively against adsorption of thiolated oligomers and even causes hybridized oligo(dA)·oligo(dT) duplexes to denature in the presence of Au.
Molecular profiling of cholangiocarcinoma shows potential for targeted therapy treatment decisions.

Summary Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly lethal cancer of the biliary tract. The intrahepatic subtype of cholangiocarcinoma is increasing in incidence globally. Despite technologic advancements over the past decade, little is known about the somatic changes that occur in these tumors. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of common oncogenes in resected cholangiocarcinoma specimens that could provide potential therapeutic targets for patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 94 resected cholangiocarcinomas were used to extract DNA from areas comprising more than 20% tumor. Specimens were evaluated using the Sequenom MassARRAY OncoCarta Mutation Profiler Panel (San Diego, CA). This matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry single genotyping panel evaluates 19 oncogenes for 238 somatic mutations. Twenty-five mutations were identified in 23 of the 94 cholangiocarcinomas within the following oncogenes: KRAS (n = 12), PIK3CA (n = 5), MET (n = 4), EGFR (n = 1), BRAF (n = 2), and NRAS (n = 1). Mutations were identified in 7 (26%) of 27 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 16 (24%) of 67 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. When combined with IDH1/2 testing, 40 (43%) of the 94 cholangiocarcinomas had a detectable mutation. MassARRAY technology can be used to detect mutations in a wide variety of oncogenes using paraffin-embedded tissue. Clinical testing for somatic mutations may drive personalized therapy selection for cholangiocarcinomas in the future. The variety of mutations detected suggests that a multiplexed mutation detection approach may be necessary for managing patients with biliary tract malignancy.
Tactical Targeting By Structural And Correlation Analysis

In this paper, a syntactic analysis approach for target classification and a correlation analysis approach to detect target formations (patterns) are defined and evaluated. Examples of simulation results are also given. In the syntactic approach, the structural relationship of target primitives is analyzed through a grammar set. These primitives can be interior components of a large target or individual small targets in a target grouping. A contextfree grammar (CFG) is constructed to describe different targets and target formations. This approach was demonstrated on a large target of an airport and on a target cluster of cars on the highway. In target formation detection, spatial correlation between the target and all predefined reference formations is analyzed to determine the best match. This correlation analysis approach was evaluated on a "mesh" formation of residential houses, a "line" formation of cars on the highway, a "U" formation of residential houses, and an "L" formation of planes in a plane parking area.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Adaption Problem for Nonsymmetric Convex Sets

We study the problem of optimal recovery in the case of a nonsymmetric convex class of functions. We compare adaptive and nonadaptive methods and prove a bound on how much better adaptive methods can be. We use new inequalities between Gelfand widths and Bernstein widths and new relations between these widths and optimal error bounds for adaptive and nonadaptive methods, respectively.
Multi-Step Forward Finite Element Method for the Numerical Simulation of Sheet Metal Forming

The multi-step forward finite element method is presented for the numerical simulation of multi-step sheet metal forming. The traditional constitutive relationship is modified according to the multi-step forming processes, and double spreading plane based mapping method is used to obtain the initial solutions of the intermediate configurations. To verify the multi-step forward FEM, the two-step simulation of a stepped box deep-drawing part is carried out as it is in the experiment. The comparison with the results of the incremental FEM and test shows that the multi-step forward FEM is efficient for the numerical simulation of multi-step sheet metal forming processes.
Curriculum-Based Evaluation: What You Think Is What You Get.

This article presents rules for focusing the thinking and actions of evaluators. First it briefly explains the need to link curriculum-based evaluation to the development of individualized educational plans. Then it provides a specific set of rules for focusing evaluator thought.
CT alignment probe for the dose profile insert

One of the most accepted methods of characterizing the dose in computed tomography (CT) is by measuring the dose profile. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's) arranged in a stack are scanned in a plexiglass phantom. Unfortunately with this system there is no assurance that the scan properly intercepts the stack. Mispositioning will not be apparent until the TLD's are read, entailing at least a 24 h delay before rescanning. We have designed a simple alignment probe that insures that the scan will be centered on the stack to within 1 mm.
OpenFst: An Open-Source, Weighted Finite-State Transducer Library and its Applications to Speech and Language

Finite-state methods are well established in language and speech processing. OpenFst (available from www.openfst.org) is a free and open-source software library for building and using finite automata, in particular, weighted finite-state transducers (FSTs). This tutorial is an introduction to weighted finite-state transducers and their uses in speech and language processing. While there are other weighted finite-state transducer libraries, OpenFst (a) offers, we believe, the most comprehensive, general and efficient set of operations; (b) makes available full source code; (c) exposes high- and low-level C++ APIs that make it easy to embed and extend; and (d) is a platform for active research and use among many colleagues.
Prime ideals and the ideal-radical of a distributively generated near-ring

The concepts of a prime ideal of a distributively generated (d.g.) nearring R, a prime d.g. near-ring and an irreducible R-group are introduced1). The annihilating ideal of an irreducible R-group with an R-generator is a prime ideal. Consequently we define a prime ideal to be primitively prime if it is the annihilating ideal of such an R-group, and a d.g. near-ring to be a primitively prime near-ring if it acts faithfully on such a group. The intersection of all the primitively prime ideals of a d.g. near-ring is called the ideal-radical; this ideal contains all the nilpotent ideals of the near-ring and a relationship between it and the quasi-radical of the near-ring is established. In section 2 we consider d.g. near-rings R which satisfy the descending chain condition for left R-modules. In this case, the ideal-radical is nilpotent. Any non-zero prime d.g. near-ring is a primitively prime d.g. near-ring. All irreducible R-groups with an R-generator of a non-zero prime d.g. near-ring R are shown to be isomorphic to the finite number of direct summands of the group R + N, where N is the quasi-radical of R. If R has finite order, then it has, to within an isomorphism, but one faithful representation on an irreducible R-group with an R-generator and all its irreducible R-groups with R-generators are homomorphic images of R-subgroups of this group. In section 3, a number of equivalent conditions is given for a d.g. near-ring to have a nilpotent radical. One of them is that all its proper prime ideals are maximal ideals. In section 4, we construct an example of a finite d.g. near-ring whose radical is not nilpotent and whose quasi-radical is not an ideal.
Live long and prosper: germline stem cell maintenance revisited (retrospective on DOI: 10.1002/bies.201000085).

In many animals there is an apparent trade-off between reproduction and lifespan. Reproductive capacity is often determined by germ line stem cell (GLSC) function. These cells undergo self-renewing divisions to give rise to a gametogenic daughter cell that differentiates into one or more gametes, and a stem cell daughter that remains in the stem cell niche. If GLSC aging is slow or their mitoses are biased towards self-renewing conditions, then theymay last longer and enable animals to undergo late-life reproduction, associated with increased longevity. In contrast, if GLSC aging is rapid or their divisions tend to produce gametogenic daughters, then they may limit animals with such cells to early-life reproduction and shortened lifespan. Kazmarczyk and Kopp recently suggested that variation in GLSC maintenance may mediate this trade-off. Their hypothesis predicts that allelic variation in GLSC genes in short-lived strains would show bias towards “short term alleles” driving high, early-life expression of GLSC maintenance genes; in long-lived strains, “long term alleles” driving high, late-life expression of stem cell maintenance genes would predominate [1]. However, female flies from a longlived lineage show little change over their lifespan in expression levels of genes associated with oogenesis and stem cell division: they do not downregulate these genes with age, in contrast to shorterlived control females [2]. Moreover, there was no clear overlap between the results of this next generation sequencing study and an independent microarray-based
Heme regulation in traumatic brain injury: relevance to the adult and developing brain

Intracranial bleeding is one of the most prominent aspects in the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Substantial amounts of blood products, such as heme, are released because of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages, intraparenchymal contusions, and hematomas. Despite this, surprisingly few studies have directly addressed the role of blood products, in particular heme, in the setting of TBI. Heme is degraded by heme oxygenase (HO) into three highly bioactive products: iron, bilirubin, and carbon monoxide. The HO isozymes, in particular HO-1 and HO-2, exhibit significantly different expression patterns and appear to have specific roles after injury. Developmentally, differences between the adult and immature brain have implications for endogenous protection from oxidative stress. The aim of this paper is to review recent advances in the understanding of heme regulation and metabolism after brain injury and its specific relevance to the developing brain. These findings suggest novel clinical therapeutic options for further translational study.
SUMOylation is essential for sex-specific assembly and function of the Caenorhabditis elegans dosage compensation complex on X chromosomes

The essential process of dosage compensation equalizes X-chromosome gene expression between Caenorhabditis elegans XO males and XX hermaphrodites through a dosage compensation complex (DCC) that is homologous to condensin. The DCC binds to both X chromosomes of hermaphrodites to repress transcription by half. Here, we show that posttranslational modification by the SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) conjugation pathway is essential for sex-specific assembly and function of the DCC on X. Depletion of SUMO in vivo severely disrupts binding of particular DCC subunits and causes changes in X-linked gene expression similar to those caused by deleting genes encoding DCC subunits. Three DCC subunits are SUMOylated, and SUMO depletion preferentially reduces their binding to X, suggesting that SUMOylation of DCC subunits is essential for robust association with X. DCC SUMOylation is triggered by the signal that initiates DCC assembly onto X. The initial step of assembly—binding of X-targeting factors to recruitment sites on X—is independent of SUMOylation, but robust binding of the complete complex requires SUMOylation. SUMOylated DCC subunits are enriched at recruitment sites, and SUMOylation likely enhances interactions between X-targeting factors and condensin subunits that facilitate DCC binding beyond the low level achieved without SUMOylation. DCC subunits also participate in condensin complexes essential for chromosome segregation, but their SUMOylation occurs only in the context of the DCC. Our results reinforce a newly emerging theme in which multiple proteins of a complex are collectively SUMOylated in response to a specific stimulus, leading to accelerated complex formation and enhanced function.
Management of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer by thoracic surgeons in North America.

Background Stage IIIA(N2) non-small cell lung cancer is a heterogeneous spectrum ranging from microscopic lymph node metastases to bulky multistation nodal disease. While some favor surgical resection after neoadjuvant therapy, others favor definitive chemoradiation for treatment. Our aim was to determine practice patterns of thoracic surgeons. Methods We invited 2,539 active surgeons identified on the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network as expressing interest in general thoracic surgery to participate in an anonymous Web-based survey. The participants evaluated clinical vignettes of a patient with single station N2 disease. Results In all, 513 surgeons (20%) responded, with 222 (43%) in academic practice. For microscopic N2 disease, 84% (n = 430) preferred neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. For grossly involved N2 disease, 62% (n = 318) favored neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery if N2 disease was downstaged. In patients with normal pulmonary function tests, requiring pneumonectomy, in the presence of bulky, single station N2 disease, there was less consensus: 32% (n = 163) favored neoadjuvant therapy followed by lobectomy (less radical surgery than initially predicted) if feasible and N2 disease had downstaged, 30% (n = 159) favored neoadjuvant therapy followed by pneumonectomy if N2 disease downstaged, 12% (n = 60) would favor surgery regardless of N2 disease downstaging, and 22% (n = 114) favored definitive chemoradiation. If the patient did not have adequate pulmonary function for pneumonectomy but could tolerate lobectomy, 50% favored neoadjuvant therapy followed by reassessment for lobectomy and 41% favored definitive chemoradiation. Conclusions There is no clear consensus on management of patients with stage IIIA lung cancer in the United States. Diversity of opinion is greatest in patients with more advanced lung cancer, and limited pulmonary function.
SAS: a yield/failure analysis software tool

As the device sizes decrease and the number of interconnect levels and wafer size increase, the device yield and failure analysis becomes more complex. Currently, software tools are being used to perform visual inspection techniques after many operations during which defects are detected on a sample of wafers. However, it has been observed that the correlation between the yield predicted on the basis of the defects found during such observations and the yield determined electrically at wafer final test is low. Of a greater interest to yield/failure analysis software tools is statistical analysis software. SASTM can perform extensive data analysis on kerf test structures' electrical parameters. In addition, the software can merge parametric and yield/fail bins data which reduces the data collection and data reduction activities involved in the correlation of device parameters to circuit functional operation. The data is saved in large databases which allow storage and later retrieval of historical data in order to evaluate process shifts and changes and their effect on yield. The merge of process parameters and on-line measurements with final electrical data, is also possible with the aid of process parameter extraction software. All of this data analysis provides excellent feedback about integrated circuit wafer processing.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Changes in antidepressant metabolism and dosing across pregnancy and early postpartum.

Objective Little information about the disposition of individual antidepressant drugs during pregnancy has been published. We examined the dose requirements and level-to-dose (L/D) ratios of citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline during pregnancy and after birth. Method Women aged from 32 to 43 years with major depressive disorder according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders participated in the study. Doses were charted across each week of gestation and post-partum. Samples were collected at 20, 30, and 36 weeks' gestation; delivery; and at 2 and 12 weeks postpartum. Plasma trough levels were obtained 8 to 15 hours after dose intake. Across pregnancy and postpartum, the mean dose-corrected plasma concentrations (L/D ratios) of S- and R-citalopram and S-sertraline, and the corresponding primary chiral metabolites S- and R-desmethylcitalopram and N-desmethylsertra-line were assessed. The samples were analyzed for concentrations of stereospecific parent drug and metabolites. The study was conducted from 2003 to 2006. Results Three women received citalopram, 2 women were treated with escitalopram, and 6 women received sertraline. In 4 of 5 subjects who received citalopram or escitalopram and 5 of 6 subjects who received sertraline, the L/D ratios for the stereoisomers of the parent compound and primary metabolite decreased between 20 weeks gestation and delivery, which reflects increased drug metabolism. By 12 weeks postpartum the L/D ratios were similar to those detected at 20 weeks gestation. Conclusions Our cases illustrate that dose requirements frequently increase during the second half of pregnancy to offset increased drug turnover and maintain optimal pharmacotherapy. These findings replicate and extend earlier published data with other antidepressants. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00279370.
Time-averaged moire method for in-plane vibrational analysis

Abstract A new method is proposed for the determination of the in-plane displacement components of bodies subjected to cyclic loading. The recording on a photographic film is done statically, with exposure times longer than the period of vibration (time-average). A grating printed on the body surface is perturbed by the motion and the displacements are analyzed by photographing the grating lines. For relatively small amplitudes of vibration an alternative technique is proposed requiring the use of a master. Fringes are then photographed directly. In this case it is convenient to use a carrier which can be obtained by rotation of the master over the surface of the vibrating body. It is proposed to use Fourier filtering to convert frequency variation moire fringes to the conventional intensity variation fringes. The application of the method is illustrated with the determination of u and ν components of displacement in a ring and in a disk subjected to cyclic diametral compression. As do other time-averaged methods, the proposed method has the advantage of permitting the static study of vibration phenomena.
Numerical modelling as a cost-reduction tool for probability of detection of bolt hole eddy current testing

Probability of detection (PoD) studies are broadly used to determine the reliability of specific nondestructive inspection procedures, as well as to provide data for damage tolerance life estimations and calculation of inspection intervals for critical components. They require inspections on a large set of samples, a fact that makes these statistical assessments time- and cost-consuming. Physics-based numerical simulations of nondestructive testing inspections could be used as a cost-effective alternative to empirical investigations. They realistically predict the inspection outputs as functions of the input characteristics related to the test piece, transducer and instrument settings, which are subsequently used to partially substitute and/or complement inspection data in PoD analysis. This work focuses on the numerical modelling aspects of eddy current testing for the bolt hole inspections of wing box structures typical of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion aircraft, found in the air force...
General solution for interaction of solitary waves including head-on collisions

A corrected version of the Boussinesq equation for long water waves is derived and its general solution for interaction of any number of solitary waves, including head-on collisions, is given. For two solitary waves in head-on collision (which includes the case of normal reflection) the results agree with the experiments known.
Modeling Hydrodynamic Nonequilibrium in Cavitating Flows

A nonlinear numerical model has been developed to assess nonequilibrium effects in cavitating flows. The numerical implementation involves a two-phase treatment with the use of a pseudo-density which varies between the liquid and gas/vapor extremes. A new constitutive equation for the pseudo-density is derived based on the bubble response described by a modified form of the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. Use of this constitutive equation in a numerical procedure permits the assessment of nonequilibrium effects. This scheme provides a quantitative description of scaling effects in cavitated flows. With minimal modifications, the model can also be used for bubbly two-phase flows.
Transport, magnetic and structural properties of bulk In2-xFexO3

Bulk samples of In2-xFexO3 were synthesized for x ≤ 0.40 in a body-centered cubic phase. Their structural, transport and magnetic properties were investigated as a function of composition. The lattice parameters of the solid solutions decrease with increasing Fe-content. The electrical data showed reduced conductivities for higher Fe compositions. The magnetic measurements showed paramagnetic behavior for x values of 0.1 and 0.2, and a small degree of ferromagnetism for x = 0.4. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Duplicate Publication in the Field of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery:

OBJECTIVE: This study establishes the approximate prevalence and patterns of duplicate publication in the medical literature in the specialty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: All of the authors and articles published in the American Medical Association Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were identified and listed for an 8-year period. During this time, 1965 authors published 1082 articles in the Archives, and this same set of authors published a total of almost 50,000 articles during the 12-year period between January 1977 and December 1988. Of the same set of 1965 authors, we picked 1000 at random and found that they had published a total of 24,353 articles. The titles of these articles were then screened for similar titles, and when similarities were noted, the complete articles were obtained when possible and compared for the degree and pattern of duplicate publication.RESULTS: Of the 1000 authors studied, we found that 228 authors had published 938 articl...
Mineral regulation of vitamin D metabolism

Abstract The pediatrician's interest in vitamin D metabolism stems from the once-endemic rachitic deformities induced by vitamin D deficiency; later, clinical research of inherited forms of rickets established further principles of vitamin D metabolism and action. Constantine Anast, as both clinician and researcher, maintained an enthusiastic interest in vitamin D metabolism. His investigative esprit fostered my interest, as a fellow in his laboratory, in the synthetic pathway of active vitamin D. The best known active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25(OH) 2 D, is formed by 1βhydroxylation of 25(OH)D, the most abundant circulating form of the vitamin. This well-characterized biochemical conversion is the rate-limiting reaction in the synthesis of 1,25(OH) 2 D [1]. The classical homeostatic role of 1,25(OH) 2 D is predominantly that of a calcemie agent, an action largely resulting from the metabolite's stimulation of intestinal transport of calcium [2]. Intestinal phosphorus transport, to a lesser extent than calcium transport can be stimulated by 1,25(OH) 2 D [3]. Furthermore, skeletal [4] and perhaps renal activity [5] of 1,25(OH) 2 D can increase circulating concentrations of calcium. These in vivo effects of 1,25(OH) 2 D on mineral homeostasis raise the question of whether feedback control, via mineral regulation of 1,25(OH) 2 D production, exists, and the significant mechanisms involved. Here, I will briefly review evidence from earlier studies supporting the notion of calcium and phosphorus regulation of 1α-hydroxylase activity, and present data generated in collaboration with Dr Anast examining vitamin D metabolism in magnesium deficiency.
Breakdowns in communication of radiological findings: an ethical and medico-legal conundrum

Communication problems in diagnostic testing have increased in both number and importance in recent years. The medical and legal impact of failure of communication is dramatic. Over the past decades, the courts have expanded and strengthened the duty imposed on radiologists to timely communicate radiologic abnormalities to referring physicians and perhaps the patients themselves in certain situations. The need to communicate these findings goes beyond strict legal requirements: there is a moral imperative as well. The Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association points out that "Ethical values and legal principles are usually closely related, but ethical obligations typically exceed legal duties." Thus, from the perspective of the law, radiologists are required to communicate important unexpected findings to referring physicians in a timely fashion, or alternatively to the patients themselves. From a moral perspective, radiologists should want to effect such communications. Practice standards, moral values, and ethical statements from professional medical societies call for full disclosure of medical errors to patients affected by them. Surveys of radiologists and non-radiologic physicians reveal that only few would divulge all aspects of the error to the patient. In order to encourage physicians to disclose errors to patients and assist in protecting them in some manner if malpractice litigation follows, more than 35 states have passed laws that do not allow a physician's admission of an error and apologetic statements to be revealed in the courtroom. Whether such disclosure increases or decreases the likelihood of a medical malpractice lawsuit is unclear, but ethical and moral considerations enjoin physicians to disclose errors and offer apologies.
Developmental properties of transactional models: the case of life events and mastery from adolescence to young adulthood.

That behavior reflects ongoing transactions between person and context is an enshrined proposition of developmental theory, although the dynamic properties of these transactions have not been fully appreciated. In this article, we focus on reciprocal links between the Pearlin mastery scale and life events in the transition to adulthood, a strategic relationship given that control orientations are thought to mediate links between stressors and a range of indicators of distress, and given that life events become increasingly likely in young adulthood. Drawing on 12 waves of data from the Youth Development Study, spanning ages 14‐15 to 26‐27, we examine a series of growth curve models that interrelate mastery and life events. Results for females reveal that mastery during the senior year of high school predicts life events for the following 4-year period, which in turn predicts mastery over the 5-year period spanning ages 21‐22 to 26‐27. For males, mastery during the senior year ~and perhaps the sophomore year! predicts subsequent life events, which in turn have short-term implications for mastery. Thus, transactions between life events and mastery are observed, although the temporal patterns of these exchanges are complex. These findings are discussed in terms of the developmental properties of transactions between person and context.
Fabrication and electrical characterization of Au/molecule/GaAs devices

Metal/molecule/semiconductor (MMS) heterostructures were studied in a Au/molecule/GaAs configuration. Stable monolayers of alkanemonothiols, alkanedithiols and aromaticdithiols were self-assembled on heavily doped p-type (p/sup +/) GaAs. FTIR spectroscopy and ellipsometry indicate the formation of uniform and reasonably thick crystalline monolayers. A low-energy indirect path technique was used to evaporate Au on the molecular layer without damaging or penetrating it. Current voltage (I-V) measurements on the Au/molecule/GaAs devices indicate a substantial increase in conductivity due to the presence of the molecular layer. The results are consistent with the presence of molecular dipole moments at the interface and seem to indicate strong molecular coupling to the contacts with a significant density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level (E/sub fm/). Variable temperature I-V measurements exhibit very little temperature dependence in the MMS devices implying that transport through the molecular layer is tunneling-based.
Passive Identifiers for Boundary Adaptive Control of 3D Reaction-Advection-Diffusion PDEs

The prevalent identification technique in existing results on adaptive control for PDEs is the "passive," also known as "observer-based" approach. However, it has so far not been used in boundary control problems. In this paper we prove a separation principle/certainty equivalence result for a class of backstepping boundary controllers applied to a class of unstable reaction-advection-diffusion PDEs in 3D.
Asian continental aerosol persistence above the marine boundary layer over the eastern North Pacific: Continuous aerosol measurements from Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation 2002 (ITCT 2K2)

[1] We report analyses of aerosols collected for the 2002 Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation experiment (ITCT-2K2). Sampling was conducted 15 April to 25 May 2002. Data are from three sites: a sea level site at Trinidad Head, California, a coastal mountain site 1 km altitude (Trinity Alps), and an inland mountain site near 2 km altitude (Mount Lassen). Aerosols were continuously collected in eight size bins (0.09 to 10 micrometers aerodynamic diameter) using eight-stage rotating drum impactors. Samples were analyzed in 3-hour time steps by synchrotron x-ray fluorescence. We find the following. (1) Aerosol chemical composition at Trinidad Head was generally dominated by marine aerosols with varying minor contributions from local sources. Despite the presence of Asian continental aerosol above the marine boundary layer, significant concentrations of Asian aerosols were observed at sea level only during a strong frontal passage between 22 and 25 April. (2) At the elevated sites, aerosol elemental composition was predominantly Asian despite wide swings in concentration. Analysis of soil-forming elements shows that Asian continental dust and associated combustion products overwhelmed local-source aerosols through the first half of the sampling period; in the latter half, Asian aerosols present in the free troposphere were regularly delivered to the mountain sampling sites by nocturnal subsidence. (3) Asian aerosols in the lower free troposphere, although highly variable, were very persistent, not arriving only in discrete “transport events.” We conclude that throughout the experiment the aerosols in the lower free troposphere over the northeastern Pacific Ocean and western North America were dominated by continental outflow from Asia, with little marine or North American continental influence. Viewed in the context of previously published analyses of the long-term aerosol history for Mount Lassen that showed frequent, strong Asian influence throughout spring, summer, and fall, the Asian impact appears likely to be quasi-continuous for much of the year.
Collegiate Recovery Communities: What They Are and How They Support Recovery

Nearly 2 million American men and women are annually treated for substance abuse (SAMHSA, 2002). Unfortunately, as most substance abuse patients will relapse within a year or even within the first few months (Weisner, Matzger, & Kaskutas, 2002; Bond, Kaskutas, & Weisner, 2003), it is clear that treatment alone does not translate into long-term abstinence. What appears to help many but certainly not all of those wishing to remain abstinent is affiliating with mutual help support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) (Emrick, Tonigan, Montgomery, & Little, 1993; Tonigan, Miller, & Connors, 2000; Tonigan, Tocova, & Miller, 1996).
Model based diagnostics and prognostics of three-phase induction motor for vapor compressor applications

In this work, a novel scheme for detection and prediction of multiple simultaneous faults in a three-phase induction motor in the context of vapor compression applications is presented. Induction motors used in vapor compression systems operate under variable speed conditions with variable frequencies. Such dynamic operating conditions may cause an occurrence of multiple, simultaneous faults including insulation degradation and a rotor bar breakage. These faults, when left undetected, lead to the failure of the motor and the entire vapor compression system. Hence, a condition monitoring of induction motors is essential. Conventional fault detection methods have various drawbacks including high implementation costs, requirement of extensive testing and offline training, and are difficult to implement for small machines. In this study, a modelbased fault detection approach is used where fault detection and prediction employs an online estimation of system states. The faults under consideration are incipient electrical faults: insulation degradation and broken rotor bars. A nonlinear observer with neural network online approximator is employed to discover the system parameter degradation thus learns the unknown fault dynamics. Another online approximator is used to facilitate fault isolation, or root-cause analysis, and a time to failure (TTF) prediction before the occurrence of a failure.
Localization of kainate receptors to the presynaptic active zone of the rod photoreceptor in primate retina.

Visual information is encoded at the photoreceptor synapse by modulation of the tonic release of glutamate from one or more electron-dense ribbons. This release is highest in the dark, when photoreceptors are depolarized, and decreases in grades when photoreceptors hyperpolarize with increasing light. Functional diversity between neurons postsynaptic at the synaptic ribbon arises in part from differential expression of both metabotropic (G-protein-gated) and ionotropic (ligand-gated) glutamate receptor. In the brain, different subunits also modulate the presynaptic active zone. In hippocampus, ionotropic kainate receptors localize to the presynaptic membrane of glutamatergic axon terminals and facilitate depolarization of the synapse (e.g. Lauri et al., 2001). Such facilitation may be helpful in the retina, where consistent depolarization of the photoreceptor axon terminal is necessary to maintain glutamate release in the dark. We investigated whether such a mechanism could be present in primate retina by using electron microscopy to examine the localization of the kainate subunits GluR6/7 at the rod axon terminal, where only a single ribbon synapse mediates glutamate release. We scored 54 rod axon terminals whose postsynaptic space contained one or more GluR6/7-labeled processes and traced these processes through serial sections to determine their identity. Of 68 labeled processes, 63% originated from narrow "fingers" of cytoplasm extending from the presynaptic axon terminal into the postsynaptic cleft. Each rod terminal typically inserts 4-6 presynaptic fingers, and we scored several instances where multiple fingers contained label. Such consistency suggests that each presynaptic finger expresses GluR6/7. The physiological properties of kainate receptors and the geometry of the rod axon terminal suggest that presynaptic GluR6/7 could provide a steady inward current to maintain consistent depolarization of the rod synapse in the long intervals between photons in the dark.